Holy mother of Sweetness! I got an AWARD!

Thanks to Kira of Bite This for giving me my first blog award!

I feel so honored and Humbled! WOW! I can't WAIT to Chris about this! SWEET!


And of course there are some rules that come attached to this great award:
- Add the logo in your blog.
- Add a link to the person who gave you the award.
- Nominate 10 other (refreshing…like lemonade) blogs of your choice.
- Don’t forget to add links to those blogs in yours.
- Also leave a message for your nominees in their blogs, informing them about the award.

So here are my 'nominees':
http://ellysaysopa.com/
http://elizabethsedibleexperience.blogspot.com/
http://togetherbetter.wordpress.com/
http://annieseats.wordpress.com/
http://thewwchick.blogspot.com/
http://crockpot365.blogspot.com/
http://melissaheartsfood.blogspot.com/
http://beas-numyummy.blogspot.com/
http://kickinkitch.blogspot.com/
http://www.goodthingscatered.blogspot.com/

These are great sites that are all stared multiple times in my google reader!

Creamy Tomato Soup and Grilled Double Cheese

So in reviewing a few of my post i've noticed that i'm always telling you what Chris thought about what i made... because most of the time he's the only one that taste it... so i thought i should explain Chris to ya'll so you'll understand what a big compliment it is if he likes something. Chris WAS a very picky eater. I think this steamed from when he was a child he would try something and not like it (i know shocking for a five year old not to like something, lol) and then his mom would never make it for him again. And honestly i don't blame her because trying to get Chris to eat or do something that he doesn't want to eat or do is a feat! BUT i make it REALLY easy for him so we don't fight about it... i make dinner, he can eat it or make his own, SIMPLE! I love cooking but i'm not a short order chef, so what i make you eat!
Actually this has worked out QUITE well because Chris normally starts the meal complaining about how he's not going to like it (b/c it might have vegetables in it or something equally crazy) and then sneaks into the kitchen hoping i don't notice him getting seconds! HAHA! OKay it's not THAT bad but pretty darn close!
Since we've been married Chris now eats and enjoys broccoli, tomatoes, artichokes, ground turkey, and numerous others.

So last night i decided it was a great night for tomato soup and grilled cheese. I was going to be lazy about it and buy the soup and just throw together some grilled cheese, but then the "what's cooking board" got the better of me and caved to making it myself! So i got a great recipe from Epicurious and tweaked it a bit and then decided my grilled cheese should be with American cheese AND cheddar! Yummm! Once i told Chris that i made homemade Tomato soup he was INSTANTLY disappointed (yes, my husband is special), at least he was disappointed until he tasted it! Huge hit! He LOVED it! We were both sad i didn't make more to freeze for another date! So without further ado!!!

Ingredients
5 tbsp butter
1/2 c chopped onion
4 tbsp flour
4 c milk
1/2 bay leaf
1 1/2 tsp sugar
1 1/2 tsp salt
3/4 tsp garlic powder (my own add)
3/4ish tsp black pepper (my own add and more so to taste, not sure the exact amount)
1/2 tsp baking soda (i did a little more then this b/c i added more tomatoes
3 c shopped canned tomatoes (i did 42 oz, about 4 c)

Directions
Melt butter in a soup pot. Add onion and cook over medium heat, stirring, until the onion is softened but not browned. Sprinkle flour over the butter mixture and continue to stir and cook for 2 minutes. Slowly add milk, bay leaf, sugar, salt, garlic, and pepper. Continue to cook and stir until slightly thickened. Stir baking soda into the tomatoes. Add tomatoes to milk mixture and bring to just a simmer. Take mixture now into a food processor (or blender, like i did) and puree. Throw back in pot (okay please don't throw, pour, gezzz) and reheat before serving!
Sprinkle top with a little pepper and whala!

Sprite Cake

So I'm thinking I'm not a famous enough blogger that the Coca-cola company will come after me for using their trademark name... but maybe they do have spies out even here and will... so if the name changes, you know what happened.
So last night Chris was moaning around that he was hungry and kept saying i should bake something and kept mentioning cupcakes... well i took the hint, sort of...
We had a box of lemon cake mix (don't ask b/c i don't buy the stuff) and decided, THAT's what he'll get! So here's the low down...

Ingredients/directions
Box of lemon cake mix... prepare according to the boxes directions (oil, water, eggs) and then add the juice of one lime and the zest of one lime.
Cook according to boxes directions (cupcakes, cake whatever... i did cake b/c it would be quicker, esp when i iced it.

icing
Buttercream but instead of vanilla add in lime juice and lime zest.... ice your cake

Now enjoy your tasty Treat! Chris sure did!

Ey Ey Ey Chicken

This was my "What's Cooking" chat room inspired Chicken Dish. I gave my Fellow nesties the mission of what should i make with Chicken, Limes, Tomatoes, and a Jalapeño and boy did they come through! they totally inspired me to make a Mexican party in my kitchen! And i have to say it wasn't bad! Quite yummy actually... next time though i think I'm going to try to give it more kick!

Ingredients
3 boneless, skinless chicken breast
2 Tbsp Olive Oil
1-2 shots of Tequila (depending on how you're feeling!~)
1 tsp of cilantro (more if you have fresh, i didn't~)
1 tbsp of lime juice
some zest of a lime (not too much)
salt and pepper to taste
1/4ish tsp of cumin
1/4sh tsp basil
1/4 c chopped tomato
1 tbsp chopped jalapeño
1/4 c chopped onion

Fresh Salsa (amounts depend on quantity you want to make)
2 Tomatoes, seeded and chopped
1/2 jalapeño seeded and chopped
1/2 onion chopped
1 tsp fresh lime juice
1/4 tsp red pepper flakes

reduced fat Mexican shredded cheese

Take the first nine the chicken ingredients and cook in a large skillet over medium heat until chicken is at least half way cooked. Then add final three ingredients and cook until chicken is fully cooked.

Take chicken breast and put on plate, top with as much cheese as you would like and then top with Salsa and enjoy!

New Must have!

Saw an example of these on Katie's Hyper Homemaker blog and OMG! It's SOOO me! I'm such a pokadot FREAK! Plus i could get the black one and red one and be SOOOO NC State! Go Wolfpack!! Don't you think!?!?

Margarita Pizza!

Only this is a weight watchers kind... sort of... well it's supposed to be~
So it would have been EXCEPT instead of using wheat pizza dough i used pizza dough i already had made in the freezer~ So for the sake of giving you a weight watchers recipe we're going to pretend that i used the correct pizza crust! It was a big hit though, can't say if i can really use this review though for you since it was the wrong crust, but whateve!~

Ingredients
3 roma tomatoes, sliced thin
1/2 c (i think) of FF Mozzarella cheese
2 ish tbsp freshly chopped basil
1/2 small onion sliced
1 tbsp ish of extra virgin olive oil
1 wheat pizza dough, pre cooked, thinly

Directions
Preheat oven to 450
take your pre cooked pizza dough and top with tomatoes, onions, basil, and cheese
Now sprinkle with olive oil
bake a/b 10 mins or until cheese is melted.

I forgot the point value so i'll look it up when i get home!

Lemon Pie!!

What is better then pie, except a Weight Watcher Pie that taste AMAZING! Yes it's true! I made this for my girls night, since i knew other Weight Watchers would be there and oh was it a hit! Chris even loved it so much he finished off what was left on Sunday!

Ingredients
6 whole reduced-fat cinnamon graham crackers
2 tbsp butter
11 oz fat-free sweetened condensed milk
2 large egg(s)
1/2 cup(s) fresh lemon juice
1 tbsp lemon zest
Directions
- Preheat oven to 350ºF.
- Grind graham crackers in a food processor until fine, or place crackers in a resealable plastic bag and crush with a rolling pin. Place crumbs in a small bowl.
- Melt butter on stove top or in microwave and pour over graham cracker crumbs, mixing with a fork until completely moistened. Press crumbs evenly onto bottom of a 9-inch pie pan; place crust in refrigerator while preparing lemon filling.
- Place condensed milk and eggs into a bowl and mix until smooth. Add lemon juice and zest and stir until incorporated. Pour milk mixture into prepared crust.
- Bake pie for 15 minutes. Cool completely, and freeze for up to two weeks before serving. For best flavor, serve chilled.

Serving for 10 = 3 WW Pts

Bruschetta

This got HUGE reviews! I took it to a Church social and made it for my girls night and both nights they LOVED it! So easy and a total winner! I used a recipe from Epicurious and just added to it a bit~

Ingredients
* 8 ripe plum tomatoes, seeded and diced (only used 6)
* 2 tbsp finely minced garlic (got mine from the jar)
* 1/2 cup coarsely chopped fresh basil
* 1/4 cup finely chopped fresh parsley (oops only had dried... totally fine!)
* 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
* 1/2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
* 1 tsp finely minced fresh tarragon (yeah, i used ground)
* 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
* 2 baguettes, cut in 1/2-inch-thick slices
* 6 cloves garlic, cut in half (and i deleted using this)
I also added in crumbled feta cheese, around a cup or so.

Directions
In a bowl, mix all ingredients except bread. Add salt and pepper to taste. Set aside, unrefrigerated, 3 hours. Heat oven to 350°F. Toast bread on a baking sheet. Top with tomato mixture. I found people really liked them too b/c they sat on the bread for a while before they were eaten so the bread softened some. Many people commented that was one of their favorite parts!

Breakfast Wrap!

So many people ask what i have for breakfast since i've been on weight watchers. Well this is one of my favorites! It's quick, easy, and only 3.5pts! Oh and SOO filling!

Ingredients
-One single serving cup of egg whites egg beaters (You know there's three in a packet at the g-store... use one... it's like 2 egg whites i think?)
-around 1/2c chopped onions, bell pepper, and mushrooms (I get these b/c they are always cheap and i chop them up at the begining of the week so each morning i just scoop out what i need, celery is also good!)
-I can't believe it's not butter spray
-2tbsp about of reduced fat shredded cheese (i like mexican shreds)
-one low carb wrap. I tend to buy Mission. They have one that tastes just like a flour wrap and is small... i found if i get their wheat version, it's bigger which equals more points so i have to cut that in half and it doesn't wrap as well).

Directions
Place veggies in a microwave container, spray with the butter, and cook in micro for 1 minute and 45 sec.
Pour in your egg whites, cook for 45 sec
stir and cook for another 45 secs
use a fork to scramble
Sprinkle your cheese one your wrap, load it up with the eggs, and wrap it up!
So good!
Be careful though it might leak a little so have a plate or napkin under it~

WW pts: 3.5

Copy Cat Chicken

Honestly, i waited too long to blog about this... i'm not completely sure what all is in it... but i do remember throwing it together and then looking in cookbooks for ideas on how to improve it and realized that i made basically Coq au van.

So this is me: Wow i have chicken and red wine... i'll bet this will taste good!

So i took my pressure cooker and loaded with with chicken (that i tossed in flour with salt and pep), some red wine, chicken broth, carrots, potatoes, and various spices (unsure at the moment of which ones, but i'm sure i used salt, pepper, garlic, parsley, and basil).

Cooked it until almost done and then cooked it in a skillet to crisp it up a bit. And it was pretty freakin good! Amazing as a left over! And i have to admit it was pretty cool knowing I was all French without trying! LOL!

And an update for you!

I know that you want an update on my status! SO here it is!
I have been following my weight watchers VERY well! I only took Saturday off! YES!
AND i've been working out! OOH yeah~ Last week i worked out 4 days! This week i worked out yesterday and i will continue the trend until Thursday! I'm so proud!
Yesterday i earned 5 workout points! I worked out for an hour doing jogging and weights in the gym and then i went home and cleaned my kitchen for around 4 hours! Sweet! See the beauty below!


And now for the results!?!?
I'm at 163! Down 7lbs!
YES! here's to tracking and working out!

And on this episode of Cribs...

Day one in my Seasonal Cleaning challenge to myself is my KITCHEN! I think i met this Challenge head on and earned one weight watchers point while i was at it! WHOO HOO!
I scrub the cabinets, walls (oh yes esp. above the stove, stuff floats up there!), cleaned out the entire fridge, the counters, in the cabients, and the floors (including baseboards, etc). This was not as small task, as i also moved the fridge and cleaned under it!
Sadly there are still a few things to be done
1. Pantry
2. Clean inside 2 drawers
3. Move Stove and clean
4. Clean inside oven.
5. Clean Freezer
And onto this episode of Cribs...

This is the only before Picture i have... i know i promised more but i was sooo ready to clean i forgot to take pictures!

And Here's My Fridge... i know you're all dying to know what i keep in there!Pretty basic... the real fun is in the freezer... maybe next time!

See we have other drinks besides beer and water! That is not Crystal Champaign... it's just left over from New Years~ Gotta replace my ketchup soon, i puffy heart that stuff!

Sparkle! Look how amazingly clean it is! It just sparkles!

Other side of my lil kitchen.

The new Man in my life! I am such a HUGE fan of the Magic Eraser and did you know... they now have a MOP! YEAH I know! SO FREAKING AWESOME! I almost peed in my pants out of excitement at Target when i saw it! Normally i have to get down on my hands and knees with a Magic Eraser and scrub my tile to get it to look clean... well now more! I can now stand on my own two feet while i scrub away! Da da da DA!

Aww my moppy man, i triple puffy heart you!

No More food... for now

So this week i've decided on a TOTALLY new format... even though i MIGHT have some food to post, i WILL NOT do it until next week... so THERE~ My new format for the week?? Cleaning!
I have noticed something in my life. It is more organized and i feel more in control of it and in my relationships when I'm "right with God". Now for you unbelievers out there (no i'm NOT putting you down)this may seem like a total crock but i SWEAR it is not! When i go to church and concentrate on being the person that God would want me to be then i
1. workout/ eat better (take care of myself)
2. cook more for Dh b/c i want him to be happy
3. pay attention to my dogs more
4. Am a better friend
5. Do a better job at work
this may seem silly to a few but i really believe this and so does my GF that is discovering God and then my pastor preached on this topic this past Sunday... coincidence? I think NOT!

BUT i must say that no matter how "together" i am... my cleaning is just NOT! AH we all have our down falls. Whatever... so i'm going to do what i have not done in a VERY long time... Seasonal cleaning and i'm using my good friend Katie's list to help me along (since it's been so long since i've done a REALLY good deep clean)... But don't worry i'm not going to ignore you... i'm going to show you pictures (no matter how bad the before picture is, i'll still post it... i'm shaking in my boots about what's under my refrigerator and stove!)

And off we go... i think tonight will be the KITCHEN!

Merry Christmas To ME!

So i told you pictures were on the way and they are here! I had a VERY domestic Christmas this year and LOVED every minute of it! So in addition to my AMAZING dyson Vacuum, that i still use often (as in every other day at least)I received the following:
Chris and I decided to buy this bedding set (a little after Christmas but whateve)b/c out previous one was C.H.E.A.P! This one i got off overstock.com! I just love it!! Do you have any ideas on what color i should paint our room? I was thinking maybe a nice tan and then do ivory and that same blue curtains??


Oh this is BY FAR one of my favorite gifts! I've been wanting a Kitchen Aid FOREVER! I registered for one but i didn't get it, so i'm SOOO excited to have received this from my in-laws! I've only used it once but i have BIG plans for it!

Funny story with these cake stands... I had been looking EVERYWHERE for these stands (b/c i like the idea of changing the ribbon to match the occasion) when low and behold there they were at a Home Goods Store! I RAN up to my husband and Mother-in-law with one in each hand about to pee in my pants i was so excited about it when she hung her head and said that i couldn't get the big one b/c she already bought it for me for Christmas! LOL, i felt so bad b/c i totally ruined her surprise without knowing~ But i was still just as happy when i got it on Christmas day!

So my mom has a lot of these pieces and i'm IN LOVE with them! I just think they are so pretty and classic! Plus you can throw them in the oven and fridge, etc! SWEET! So after mentioning to my parents over Thanksgiving that i don't have any serving dishes what did they do??? Bought me my first bowl! YES! Chris thinks the flowers look like weeds and he's not a big fan of flower prints any way but WHO CARES... as he puts it "The kitchen is the woman's domain" so my "domain" will have FLOWERS!

And here some more flowers on the platter they gave me! I'm so giddy with thoughts of what i want to serve on it! YES!

So i have one Apron that i use A LOT b/c i like one that COVERS me... i splatter~ And well it's around 2 1/2 years old so i thought i was time it got a friend. Well i'm much pickier about my Aprons now since i get picked on for wearing them, so i want them to "say something" about me... and well there are three things that everyone could agree on with me 1. I love pink, 2. I'm very girly, 3. I like "fun" things! So after searching FOREVER i found this apron through a blog to another blog to blah blah go to flirtyaprons.com and you'll see their wonderful works! I'm so happy with it and it's quality!

And last but not least... glasses, that even Chris LOVES! So when my parents visited for Christmas i was down to 6 matching glasses when oops, they broke another one~ Chris and i didn't care b/c we were planning on replacing them soon anyway, then you know what? My parents did it for us! These beauties are from Crate and Barrel! The Large glass is a whopping 19.5 oz!!! And the smaller one (for Chris's liquor drinks) is 15oz! We choose these because of their classic design, their large size, and we are thinking/hoping Crate and Barrel will keep these in stock for a while in case we keep breaking them~


OH, AND i totally forgot to take a picture but i also got this AWESOME cookbook holder from my Bother-in-law and his girlfriend, which is beautiful! This is great b/c 1. i spill stuff ALL over my recipes so it gets it off my counter and gives me more room and 2. it's wrought iron so it matches a lot of my decor! SCORE!

Da dada DA!

It's the new year! SOOO have you made your new years resolution? Clean more, eat in more, get out of debt, save money, travel more, workout more... oh here's an original one: Loose weight! Yeah that seems to be pretty typical but you know what??? It's mine! LOL! It started before the New Year though... I just started my tracking again after. I've been slowly getting into a pretty regular workout routine and now i'm upping my game. And starting yesterday I started tracking myself in my New Momentum Plan Weight Watchers tracking book. And NORMALLY i would NEVER start on the weekend, but you know what, no more weekend off for me! I tracked yesterday and said NO to a lot of foods that i wanted but didn't need and I did it! We had friends over and i STILL did it! It's POSSIBLE! I just had to REALLY think about was i hungry or did i just want to eat/munch b/c everyone else was.

So here is what yesterday looked like.
Coffee with FF creamer :2pt
4oz Sausage: 6pt (yeah i know... that stinks!)
1/2 c dirty rice :2pts
Salad w/FF dressing and a sprinkle of reduced fat cheese : 1pt
3 Miller 64 beers: 3 pts
2oz Potatoes: 1 pt
3oz chuck roast: 6pts
Veggies 1 1/2c : 0
misc. muchies: 2pts
Total: 23pts

I stayed within my points! I didn't workout but that's okay. I plan on doing most of my workouts during the week with hopefully a long run with Chris on the weekends... Here's to your new year and starting it off right!