Flipagram 2013

Made this video using Flipagram! It was so fun and I love looking back on all the great memories we made during the last year! 

New year, new blog?

You know when write a post saying that you are coming back, way back, and you'll be writing new posts like crazy but then you never do? Well, that's this blog. More than anything, I barely have time to cook or bake let alone write about it and post pictures. So the plan is to try something different. I plan on filling this space with pictures of my favorite people and writing about what's going on in our lives.

2013 was a big year- lost a momma, gained a nephew. Some of the hardest and some of the greatest days filled this year. 

Let's start with my mom. You know when you tell yourself that it's not that bad so that you feel better about a situation? Well, I think that's what I did for the last couple years with my mom. It hurts my heart to think how much I underestimated her illness. I never wanted to think about the reality.  I thought, she fought it for 14 years, why can't she do it for 10 more? I think we all saw her getting sicker but just really hoped she would come back from it like she always did.  I put the blame on a lot of things like her medicine not being right or her not eating or resting enough. It wasn't any of those things, it was cancer and cancer sucks. I miss her like crazy but I am so thankful she isn't in pain anymore. She lived so selflessly for so long and she deserves to be free and enjoying the best beaches in Heaven. 

She was beautiful!!!

Bennett James came into the world on April 18th and changed everything! Jessie, my sister and Bennett's mama, graciously let me be with her for his birth. It was the most amazing thing I've ever been apart of! It felt so special to be there the moment he came into the world.  I was instantly in love.  I think I saw him everyday for two weeks straight and then maybe took one day off (wanted to give his mom and dad a little space!!!). I was, and still am, crazy about this boy. I cannot describe how much I love him and love being his aunt! 

2 days old

The greatest part of 2013 was becoming closer to my siblings. We've gone through some tough things together and I feel so blessed to have them.  I cannot imagine my life without them! 

2013 was a great year but I am looking forward for 2014! In 170 days, I am getting married!! I love this guy and cannot wait to start a new chapter with him! 

Love, 

Missy

I'm baaaaaaaaaack!

Oh gosh- it's been so long since I've posted!! My life was CrAzY busy during the school year and I am just finally starting to relax and enjoy my time off.  Time off= cooking! During the school year, I made some new things once in awhile but I was too exhausted and busy to ever post about them! My year went well but I definitely missed not being able to try new recipes. I am hoping someday I can use my love of cooking & baking as a career!! That is definitely a dream of mine. :)

So I have been back in the kitchen and have been making meals almost every night of the week! I have been craving yummy homemade meals since we spent a lot of the school year eating quick dinners/going out! Ick!

Here is a recipe I used for dinner this week.  It was delicious.  I even packed some up and brought it for my brother-in-law to have for lunch!  Check out the blog often for new recipes! I will be updating a lot more often! :)

Penne with Spicy Vodka Tomato Cream Sauce

Prep Time: 10 minutes                               Cook time: 15 minutes
Yields: 8 servings

Ingredients:

1 pound uncooked penne pasta
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
4 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
3/4 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons vodka
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
1/4 cup chopped parsley
2 links sweet italian sausage

Directions:
1. Bring large pot of lightly salted water to a boil.  Add pasta and cook for 8-10 minutes or until al dente. Drain.

2. In a large skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Remove casing from sausage and add to skillet. Cook, breaking up meat, until brown.  Add garlic and red pepper.  Cook, stirring until garlic is golden brown.

3. Add tomatoes and salt; bring to a boil.  Reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes.

4. Turn heat to medium-low.  Add vodka and cream; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and add pasta, toss for 1 minute. Stir in fresh parsley and serve!


Hope you try it & love it like we did!

~Missy

Avocado Tacos

     So tonight for dinner we had super yummy tacos! I found this recipe a few weeks ago when I was looking for some low-cal meals.  It was really easy, quick, and delicious!  The original recipe was a bit boring so we adding some more spices and toppings! We also had it with Spanish rice and some tortilla chips! If you are looking for a tasty, low-cal meal, this if for you! 

Avocado Tacos

Prep Time: 20 minutes                  Cook Time: 3- 5 minutes

Yields: 6-8 servings 

Ingredients: 

3 avocados, peeled, pitted, and mashed

1/4 cup onion, diced

1/4 cup tomato, chopped

1/4 tsp cumin

1/4 tsp cayenne

1/4 tsp garlic salt 

1 tsp lemon juice

black beans 

lettuce

cilantro

Mexican taco cheese

sour cream

jalapeno pepper sauce 

salsa

corn tortillas 

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. 
2. In a medium bowl, mix avocados, onion, tomato, cumin, cayenne, garlic salt, and lemon. 

1. Arrange corn tortillas in a single layer on a large baking sheet, and place in the preheated oven 3-5 minutes, until heated. 
2. Spread tortillas with avocado mixture. Garnish with cilantro, jalapeno pepper sauce, black beans, cheese, sour cream, and salsa. 

Hope you enjoy it! Like always, let me know if you try it!  

:) Missy 

Popcorn

I have to admit something to you. I had been majoring slacking on working out and eating healthy!!! I went away for a weekend with Kyle & his band, The Scrubbers, so I wasn't able to workout that weekend and then I got a HORRIBLE cold when I got home. Then I got lazy....  I've lost track of how long I went without working out but I'm pretty sure it was three weeks!! I used to be nearly obsessed with eating healthy and working out. Kyle just reminded me that I used to constantly talk about being healthy and now I try to avoid the conversation so I don't have to admit how lazy I've been! Good news though... I worked out yesterday and today.  It's been a little rough.  I'm not fully committed to being there yet so almost the whole time I want to leave!!!

Foooooooood. I haven't been eating bad but not great either so I'm trying to get back on the healthy (healthier???) food track. It is so hard eating healthy! I would much rather goes to No. 1's for chinese food than have a salad! Anyone else feel my pain?!

I do want to share something amazing I just tried! I am a popcorn JUNKIE and I really try not to eat microwave popcorn because it doesn't seem as healthy as the homemade stuff and because of this article!  (After doing some more research, I found the harmful chemical is used in the lining of the bag to make it grease resistant. ) I also think homemade popcorn tastes way better! So, when I was doing my student teaching, I had a woman that owned a popcorn store come in to talk to us about economics.  She told us that you could make homemade popcorn in the microwave using a brown paper lunch bag.  I was excited about the idea but hesitant that I would start my house on fire.  Soooooo, I decided to try it at work the other day. ;) Good news- NO FIRE! This is how you do it.... (I'm not quite sure on the measurements because I usually just eyeball it. I'll let you know more specific measurements soon!)

Homemade Microwave Popcorn

Prep Time: 1 minute               Microwave Time: 3 minutes

Yields:  4 cups

Ingredients

brown paper lunch bags.
Popcorn kernels
oil


Directions

1. Add some kernels to the bag. (maybe about 1/4 cup)
2. Add some oil to the bag. (maybe about 1 tbsp.)
3. Shake the bag.
4. Lay the bag flat and make sure the kernels are in a single layer.
5. Fold the bag twice.
6. Put in the microwave for about 3 minutes. (Listen for the popping to slow. You know, just like with store bought microwave popcorn!)
7. Enjoy however you like it!

Please try this. It is totally worth it.  It is a lot quicker and easier than making it on the stove! It is also MUCH healthier than the store bought stuff! You will not be disappointed!

:) Missy

Being healthy and Chile con Queso?!

My New Year's resolution was to get healthy.  This meant working out and eating better! I'm proud to say that I am still going strong! I just read an article that said 45 % of people give up on their resolution by the end of January! YIKES! I honestly wasn't sure I would last but Kyle & I got a gym membership at Anytime Fitness, which we LOVE, so that helped.  Also, we are going to Florida with my mom, sister, and brother-in-law in April so that definitely motivates us.  :) 

Ya know when you first start dating someone and no matter how poor you are, you go out to eat all the time which, of course, includes appetizers, drinks, and plenty of food?! Well, that's what happened to us.  Not only did we spend too much money but we both gained a bit of extra weight... almost 10 pounds! (Hopefully Kyle doesn't mind me telling you this!) We knew we needed to make some changes!

The beginning of January was a bit of a joke when it came to working out because we weren't really going very often but we have been pretty dedicated since then.  We work out almost everyday! We usually try to workout around the same time but lately I've been going after work to get it done! It's nice because it has become pretty routine for us.  I've heard it takes about 65 days for something to become a routine and I'm happy to say that I think we are there! 

Unfortunately, working out doesn't work as well if you don't eat better. Wouldn't that be great though? As long as I put in 60 minutes a day at the gym I could eat whatever I wanted to?!? I'm jealous if that works for some people...

Anyways, I've been trying to find recipes that are a bit healthier but still tasty so I don't feel deprived.  I came across a delicious Chile con Queso recipe that is only 60 calories per serving (about 1/4 cup)! Of course the chips add some calories but I think it's worth it! It's also a really simple and quick recipe.  I don't have pictures to share yet but I'll be making it tomorrow for Survivor Night at Jess & Brad's so I'll post a couple then. Hope you try it for your next get together!

Chile con Queso

Prep Time: 10 minutes                    Cook Time: 10 minutes

Yields: 3 1/2 cups (serving size: 1/4 cup)

Ingredients

1 (14.5 oz) can diced tomatoes, undrained

1 (10 oz) can diced tomatoes and green chiles, undrained

1 teaspoon olive oil

1/2 cup onion, chopped

2 cloves of garlic, minced

1 (8 oz) block fat- free cream cheese, softened

6 oz light processed cheese, cubed (such as Velveeta light) 

1 teaspoon chili powder

cilantro (optional) 

Directions

1. Drain tomatoes and tomatoes with green chiles in a colander over a bowl, reserving 1/3 cup liquid; set tomatoes and reserved liquid aside. 
2. Heat oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add onions and garlic; saute for 4 minutes. Add cream cheese; cook until cheese melts, stirring occasionally.  Add tomatoes, reserved liquid, and chili powder.  Bring to a boil.  Add processed cheese; reduce heat and simmer for 3 minutes or until cheese melts, stirring constantly. 
3. Garnish with cilantro, if desired.  Served with tortilla chips.

This recipe is delicious.  It doesn't taste low-fat at all!

Also, if anyone has any recipe requests, let me know.  I have a lot more recipes to share with you and I'd love to hear some suggestions on what I should make next!

~Missy

Chicken Pot Pie

Thank you to those of you still reading my blog! I know I've been slacking but I promise I will now update regularly! Recently, we gave Kyle's mom a cookbook of our favorite recipes for her birthday which makes my life much easier because all the recipes are on my computer! :) 

I wanted to share with you my favorite meal! CHICKEN POT PIE! Who doesn't love chicken with vegetables (and potatoes if you want!) all inside a yummy warm crust?! Please try it. It is totally worth the long list of ingredients (which you probably already have at home) and somewhat lengthy prep work. It is seriously delicious! PLUS, it took me three times to get this post done because of computer problems so I want someone to try it! 

Chicken Pot Pie

Prep Time: 35 minutes            Cook Time: 50 minutes

Yields:1- 9 inch pie, about 8 servings

Ingredients
1 pound skinless, boneless chicken breast halves - cubed
1 cup sliced carrots
1 cup frozen green peas
1/2 cup sliced celery
1/3 cup butter
1/3 cup chopped onion
2 cloves of garlic
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon celery seed
2½ cups chicken broth
2 chicken bouillon cubes
1¼ cups milk
2 (9 inch) unbaked pie crusts
2 potatoes (optional)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
2. 

   In a saucepan, combine chicken, carrots, peas, and celery. If you want to add potatoes, you should also add them! Add water to cover with two chicken bouillon cubes. Boil for 15 minutes. Remove from heat, drain and set aside.
3. In the saucepan over medium heat, cook onions and garlic in butter until onions are soft and translucent. Stir in flour, salt, pepper, and celery seed. Slowly stir in chicken broth and milk. Simmer over medium-low heat until thick. Remove from heat and set aside.
4. Put one pie crust in pie pan and brush with whisked egg whites. Bake for 5 minutes.
5. 

   Place the chicken mixture in bottom pie crust. Pour hot liquid mixture over. Cover with top crust, seal edges, and cut away excess dough. Make several small slits in the top to allow steam to escape.
6. Bake in the preheated oven for 30 to 35 minutes, or until pastry is golden brown and filling is bubbly. Cool for 10 minutes before serving.

I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I do! Please let me know if you try it! :) 

Have a great weekend <3