5 on Friday!

I'm linking up with April, Natasha, Christina, and Darci again for 5 on Friday!

#1

This weekend I'm getting both alone time and girl time!  My husband is on a trip to Arizona with his grandpa so I'll be catching up on cleaning and reading at home AND enjoying some wine with my small group girlfriends and hanging out with my friend, Jennifer.  I'm pretty pumped!  Please pray for Kevin and Grandpa Bill - they're on a 17 hour roadtrip and then Kevin flies back on Monday.  I'm sure going to miss him!

 

 

#2

 

I recently found this amazing recipe for Crockpot Honey Sesame Chicken!  Kevin and I LOVED it!  It kind of tastes like chinese food from the mall food court but waaaay better and you know what's in it!  No MSG, not fried, no extra hormones.  We served it with white rice.

 



(photo by Table for Two)


#3

This one is about food too!  Even better....DESSERT!  For Valentine's Day, I made stuffed chicken breasts, jalapeno cheddar mashed potatoes, asparagus AND red velvet molten lava cake for dessert.  It was delicious!

(photo by Chelsey's Messy Apron)


 

#4

 

I want to share a little about an organization that I love and support!  Crystal, the executive director, is one of the most compassionate, go-get-em, driven people I know.  She worked with the International Justice Mission in the Philippines before helping run My Refuge House, a ministry that helps provide a safe home to empower and restore survivors of commercial sexual expoitation and abuse.  Kim, my friend and fellow IBCer (Irving Bible Church) just became MRH's Director of Engagements as well!  Congrats Kim! 

 

Visit the website!  Pray for the work they are doing!  I will share more about this in another post someday!

 

 

 

#5

 

Just so you know...it's almost baseball season!!!!  Woo hoo!!!  Kevin gets to go to a Spring Training Rangers game this weekend and I'm jealous.  We're ready for the season to start!  GO RANGERS!!

 

 



Holiday recipes!

You know what?!  I totally forgot about some recipes that I used since I last posted!  I apologize!

I made two pies for Thanksgiving: Chocolate Chip Pie and a traditional Pumpkin Pie.

 

Chocolate Chip Pie

 

This pie was definitely a hit!  Everyone loved it.  I will say...I had some trouble with it.  It took waaaaaayyyyyy longer to bake than what the recipe says.  It may have been my fault though.  I ended up with 20 sticks of margarine after my wedding because of an error on my part so I used that instead of butter.  I think that was the mistake.  My pie was a bit more doughy than this picture looks but it still tasted great!

 

 

Libby's Famous Pumpkin Pie

 

I made this traditional pumpkin pie and my husband and I loved it.  I just added a little nutmeg and the egg white of one more egg.  It baked perfectly!

 

 

Gingerbread Pancakes

 

A week after Thanksgiving, we had an ice storm and were stuck in our house for days.  I had a box of spice cake mix so I made these pancakes!  I didn't make gingerbread ones though...Kevin doesn't love gingerbread so I left the ginger out which made spice cake pancakes!  They were actually amazing!!  I also added some chocolate chips into them which was extra amazing!  I think I'll add the ginger in next time to see how it is!

 

This Thursday evening, we'll be hosting Kevin's work Christmas party so I plan to make a few desserts and dips then.  I'll let you know how they are!  More holiday recipes to come!





 



what's for dinner?

So...

I've obviously not been a good blogger.  I recently got married, was SUPER crazy busy and honestly thought "do I really have anything to say that's that interesting??"

Well...I LOVE reading random blogs.  I thought "what do I love to read?" I am not a super domestic woman, however, I love to cook.  I see each meal as a project and hope those that consume the meal are pleased (eek...see previous post about my approval addiction..workin' on it!).  I love finding recipes on random blogs.  I also love DIY projects and learning a little more about fashion...that's definitely not my forte.

So when I'm not blogging about something profound that the Lord has told me, I'm going to share recipes and DIY projects I found on other blogs/pinterest/etc and tried.  I'll say what I did wrong/right and what I'd do differently next time.  Pinterest never gives you that much info ;-)  How do you think your grandma got to be such a good cook?!  Trial and error starting in her 20's/30's!

I'll start out by sharing with you the blogs that I love to read lately (just to name a few):

Mix and Match Family Blog
Pinterest Told Me To
Six Sisters Stuff
I Hate Green Beans
Joyful Homemaking
The Larson Lingo

Here are some recipes that I tried recently and I've included the outcome as well!

Strawberry Green Smoothie

If you know me, you know I love smoothies for breakfast!  I always love a new healthy smoothie recipe.  I got this one from Pinterest and it turned out GREAT!  It tastes just like strawberries.  Don't let the spinach freak you out.  My husband hates (or thinks he hates) anything with greens in it, like this.  But he tasted this one and actually liked it, because he couldn't taste the spinach.  My variations:

1) I added about a tablespoon of agave nectar to make it sweeter.

2) I used a whole banana and didn't freeze it.

3) I added a few cubes of ice.

4) I added about 1/2 cup of water. (Mine wasn't blending well without it)

Pan-Roasted Chicken with Lemon-Garlic Green Beans

This recipe had so much potential to be amazing!  BUT wow...it calls for WAY too much lemon.  The green beans and potatoes were so tart that my husband and I couldn't finish them.  I'm going to make it again sometime and either use 1 tablespoon of lemon juice and not put the lemons on the bottom OR substitute the lemon juice for white cooking wine, tarragon vinegar, or just plain olive oil.  I think it'll be amazing next time!

Chili Pot Roast

This chili pot roast was a success!  My only variation was using a 3 lb roast instead of a 2 lb one, but it turned out the same.  I'd probably add some salt next time, but I tend to like saltier food.  My husband prefers it the way it was and it's probably better for you that way.

Pumpkin Crunch Cake

Holy moley, this dessert is awesome!  My husband and I loved it!  I love pumpkin recipes, but he doesn't and we BOTH loved it.  I prepared it exactly the way she says to.  I'd like to try spice cake instead of yellow cake next time though.

This lentil soup is in the Crockpot right now!  Assuming it's not destroyed and we eat it for dinner tonight, I'll let you know how it is!

Crockpot Lentil Soup