Organization Attempt: I repeat "attempt"

Alright so I am going to turn over a new leaf, as some say, and I am going to *attempt* to plan out meals. Not that I don't enjoy running to the grocery store or nearest Super Target as the oven preheats to grab those couple ingredients I didn't bother to check on beforehand. I always wonder if the cashier is thinking "Hmm wonder what y'all are having tonight" as my jars of marinara, couple of onions, and loaf of garlic bread  go sliding down the.....conveyer belt? What is the name for that slidey thing - is it really just a mini conveyer belt? If someone knows the name please tell me. Oh dear, I just got the feeling that it is super obvious and everyone knows but it temporarily slipped my mind. Oh well, moving on. I figured if I posted our plan it would keep me slightly more accountable...maybe. Click on the meal below and it will lead you to the original recipe!

Monday: Mini Meatball Sandwiches

Tuesday: Stuffed Mexican Chicken Shells

Wednesday: BBQ Beer Chicken

Thursday: Oven Baked Tacos - these are so good I have to resist making them every single week!

Friday: Hopefully convince my hopefully-not-too-tired husband to go out somewhere! If not, there's always a good PB&J :)

If y'all have a good recipe, pass it along! Happy Monday!

My strength and my song.

The Lord is absolutely amazing in all that He does and all that He is! He planned out each one of our days before even one came to be. He knows exactly what we need, when we need it, and blessed is the one who knows that what the Lord has provided is enough. Last weekend I was feeling very stressed about finishing everything I needed to. Starting this day with a feeling of stress, I voiced my concerns (ok...I might have been complaining/venting) to James before opening up my daily devotional. I was astounded that God planned these words so far in advance, knowing the day I would need them especially. I would love to share those words from Jesus Calling by Sarah Young and I hope they are a balm for anyone who is also feeling stresses or pressures:

"Trust Me and refuse to worry, for I am your Strength and Song. You are feeling wobbly this morning, looking at difficult times looming ahead, measuring them against your own strength. However, they are not today's tasks - or even tomorrow's. So leave them in the future and come home to the present, where you will find Me waiting for you. Since I am your Strength, I can empower you to handle each task as it comes. Because I am your Song, I can give you Joy as you work alongside Me."

So sorry for the lack of updates and recipes! Life has been crazy busy to say the least. School has consumed my life, yet it is my daily goal to really balance home and work. Of course, as I type this, I realize James and I have been spending quality time watching the return of our favorite shows....and I've been doing school work the whole time. So that goal continues! First grade is flying by - I can't believe it's almost October!! I have been willing on fall and cooler weather by enjoying my first pumpkin spice latte of the season, proudly bearing fall colors, and barely reigning in the urge to whip out a scarf despite the 95-degree heat. 

I have some precious kiddos in my class this year who never cease to make me laugh with the things they say. Favorite quote....as kid is rubbing his forehead where a red bump is rapidly forming he says to me, "Mrs. Sebesta...I thought my lollipop would be soft....but it was really hard." Love him!

In terms of recipes, the start of the school year has resulted in a much-increased rate of eating out/random dinners (salad and Eggos anyone?). I did manage to pull together this new recipe and oh man, was it tasty!! And super easy which is perfect for a weeknight!

Mexican Bubble Pizza

From: http://www.greensnchocolate.com/2011/03/mexican-bubble-pizza-two-ways.html

1 1/2 lb lean ground beef

1 pkg taco seasoning

3/4 cup water

1 can condensed tomato soup 

(I just used a can of tomato sauce because that's all I had on hand...worked great!)

1 can refrigerated buttermilk biscuits

2 cups shredded Mexican blend cheese

Optional toppings:

lettuce, tomatoes, salsa, sour cream, avocado, green onions

1. Preheat oven to 375.

2. Brown meat and drain. Add taco seasoning, water, and soup and mix well.

3. Heat to boiling, reduce and let simmer for 3 minutes. Remove from heat.

4. Separate dough into 8 biscuits. Cut each biscuit into 8 pieces (not gonna lie...I cut some into 6 and some into 4. Patience is not my forte at times...)

5. Add the biscuit pieces to the beef mixture and stir gently. Spoon into ungreased 9x13 casserole dish.

6. Bake for 20-22 minutes uncovered or until sauce is bubbly and biscuits are golden brown. Sprinkle with cheese then bake for 10 minutes longer, or until cheese is bubbly.

7. Cut into squares, top with any additional toppings and enjoy!

Calling all control freaks...

Proverbs 19:21 "Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails." I read this short and simple verse of Scripture the other day and wondered why I have not kept these words near and dear to my heart since I could first compose a to-do list?? What an awesome reminder of who exactly is in charge of your life! When I get stressed or worried about the future, when I can't turn my mind off from the "but what ifs" and the "but why didn'ts" I just remind myself that a plan without the Lord is futile. God's purpose for our lives, which luckily is a wonderful purpose since we serving an awesome God who loves us beyond our own comprehension, is the only plan that can and will always fall into place. And on that note....relax, God's got it all under control. :)

First off I'd like to apologize for my lack of posts recently. Life became extremely busy after Easter with the end of the semester and all and we had James' graduation and my sister's wedding within a week of each other! Both events were absolutely wonderful and amazing! I've had these recipes on my list of things to share forever and I'm finally able to share! I'm a preschool teacher...I'm all about sharing...

Baked Chicken Parmesan

From: http://www.skinnytaste.com/2009/04/baked-chicken-parmesan.html

4 chicken breast halves, sliced in half (horizontally)

3/4 cup seasoned breadcrumbs

1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

2 Tbsp butter, melted

3/4 cup mozzarella cheese

1 cup marinara sauce

Cooking spray

1. Preheat oven to 450. Spray large baking sheet lightly with cooking spray.

2. Combine breadcrumbs and Parmesan cheese. Melt butter and lightly brush onto chicken. Dip chicken into breadcrumb mixture and place on baking sheet. Repeat with remaining chicken.

3. Lightly spray a little more cooking spray on top of chicken and bake for 20 minutes. Turn chicken over and bake for 5 more minutes. Remove from oven, spoon sauce over chicken and top with shredded Mozzarella. Bake 5 more minutes or until cheese is melted.

Incredibly good and incredibly easy! Why didn't I think of this before??

 ---------------------------

Ground Beef Enchiladas

From: http://jamiecooksitup.blogspot.com/2011/09/ground-beef-enchiladas.html

Sauce:

1 Tbsp canola oil

1 Tbsp flour

1 (28 oz) can enchilada sauce

2 cups chicken broth

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp pepper

2 Tbsp fresh cilantro, chopped (I omitted)

Filling:

1 1/2 pounds ground beef

1 medium onion, chopped

2 (4 oz) cans chopped green chilies

1/2 tsp salt

12-14 white corn tortillas

3 cups cheddar cheese, grated

1/2 cup black olives, chopped (I omitted)

1 cup green onions, chopped

1/2 cup cilantro, chopped (I omitted)

1. Heat large, deep skillet over medium high heat. Pour in oil, followed by flour, whisk together.

2. Pour in enchilada sauce, chicken broth, cilantro, salt, and pepper. Whisk together to combine.

3. Bring to a boil, then reduce and let simmer for 20 minutes.

4. Heat separate skillet and add ground beef, onion, and salt. Brown the meat over medium high heat, stirring occasionally.

5. When meat is done and onions and transparent, (drain excess fat if necessary), remove from heat and add green chilies.

6. Chop green onions, olives, and cilantro.

7. Spray a 9x13 pan with cooking spray and pour 3/4 cup of sauce in bottom.

8. Heat up large griddle, spray with cooking spray, and cook tortillas until each side is crisp and golden, about 2 minutes per side. This will make it easier to fill them and less likely to crack.

 **I didn't want to have to clean another thing so I just stuck my tortillas in our toaster oven for a while to get them cooked a bit on both sides. But it really does help with the whole  tearing thing that corn tortillas always insist on doing**

9. Take tortillas one at a time and dip them in the red sauce mix, making sure to coat each side. Lay tortilla on a cookie sheet (or a plate like I used) and cover it with meat, green onions, olives, cilantro and cheese.

10. Roll tortillas up and place seam down in the 9x13 pan. Pour remaining sauce over all enchiladas and sprinkle with cheese. You can also top with any remaining onions or olives.

11. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes or until bubbly.

It looks like a lot of steps but it's really not! And totally worth it!

------------------------------

So I wanted to make James a cake for his graduation/commissioning celebration and wanted a challenge. Don't get me wrong, I love me some Duncan Hines, Pillsbury, and my good friend Betty C. but I wanted to see if I could make a yellow cake completely from scratch. (Didn't forsee staying up til all ends of the night the night before on a total frosting high the night before the big day but it's whatev..) This one was really  not hard at all and came out super fluffy and light. I made the cake ahead of time and froze it until I was ready to frost it a few days later and it was a little more crumbly by the time we ate it. But that first night straight out of the oven...oooh mama was it fluffy! And the frosting...so fresh and so chocolatey. Is the overly obese kid trapped inside of me coming out? I try to reign her in but it's impossible!

Homemade Yellow Cake with Chocolate Frosting

Cake from: http://smittenkitchen.com/2009/07/best-birthday-cake/

Frosting from: my Grandma Mary Jane

Cake:

4 cups plus 2 Tbsp cake flour (not self-rising)

2 tsp baking powder

1 1/2 tsp baking soda

1 tsp salt

2 sticks unsalted butter, softened

2 cups sugar

2 tsp vanilla extract

4 large eggs, room temperature

2 cups buttermilk, well-shaken

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter and flour (or just spray with cooking spray) cake pans (either two 

9-inch round pans or one 9x13 rectangular pan).

2. Sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl.

3. In a large mixing bowl, beat together butter and sugar at medium speed until light and fluffy, then beat in vanilla. Add eggs one at a time, beating well and scraping down the bowl after each addition. At low speed, beat in buttermilk until just combined (the mixture will look curdled).

4. Add flour mixture to wet mix in three batches, mixing until each addition is just incorporated.

5. Spread batter evenly in cake pan, then rap on counter several times to eliminate air bubbles. Bake for 35-40 minutes until golden and toothpick test comes out clean.

6. Cool in pan on rack for 10 minutes, then run a knife around the edge of the pan. Invert onto rack and cool completely, about 1 hour.

Frosting:

1 pound powdered sugar, sifted

1/2 cup evaporated skim milk

2 tsp vanilla

dash of salt

4 unsweetened baking chocolate squares

1 stick butter

1. Cream together powdered sugar, milk, vanilla and salt.

2. Melt butter and chocolate in top of double broiler; blend into creamed mixture.

3. Frost cooled cake.

Seriously, I could not stop myself from licking the bowl after every spread on the cake. I'm pretty sure I'd make this even with a boxed cake mix. And my self control? Head butted out the window by that inner overly obese child I was telling you about earlier. Too bad we're BFF. 

Happy eating sweet friends!

Cheese Louise.

2 Corinthians 3:3 "You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts." You are a living, breathing testament to God's work in you and His love for you. Now it is time to examine our lives to see if we are living in such a way to truly display Christ's mark. Remember - the Almighty Father created us in His own image and Scripture tells us that we are growing more and more like Him every day! You are a letter from Christ, sharing the story of His grace, mercy, and atoning sacrifice to all those around you!

Prepare to be stuffed with cheese. Seriously, I want to find the person who first invented (created? I don't know if cheese is considered an invention.) cheese and give him my utmost, sincerest thanks. Plus maybe a big smackaroo...don't tell James. Pinterest led me to this cheese-stuffed-heaven and all I can say is "Cheese louise, look at all this cheese!" (Back story on that quote...my college roommate uttered those infamous words while walking into the grocery store one day. She actually said "geez" but I heard "cheese" and then proceeded to mock her appropriately for the complete nerdy-ness of that phrase. And yet it stuck...)

Pesto Chicken Stuffed Shells

From: http://joelens.blogspot.com/2010/05/pesto-chicken-stuffed-shells.html

12-16 jumbo pasta shells

4 oz cream cheese, softened 

(I think I used a little less, just because there is a lot of other cheese in this recipe)

1 cup grated Parmesan or Asiago cheese + 1/4 cup for topping

3 Tbsp prepared pesto

2 cups shredded cooked chicken

2 cloves garlic, minced

Salt and pepper to taste

1. In a large pot over high heat, boil water and prepare pasta shells as directed on the package. Cook pasta only until al dente. The pasta will finish cooking when the dish is baked. Drain pasta and set aside.

2. In a large bowl, combine rest of ingredients, except the 1/4 cup of cheese for the topping. Fill the pasta shells with the filling and place in baking dish. (Hint: run pasta under cold water first before attempting to fill - I learned the hard way!) Sprinkle the remaining cheese over filled shells.

3. Bake at 350 degrees uncovered for 30 minutes or until shells are bubbling hot and cheese melts. I stuck mine under the broiler at the end for a few minutes to brown the cheese all nice and toasty.

O.M.G. Believe me when I tell you these shells are delicious but incredibly filling!! I ate one more than I probably should have and had that miserably yet wonderfully full feeling the rest of the night. I would have asked James to compare food babies but I don't know how he'd react. All I can say is mine was definitely around 8 and a half months at least! 

This next recipe I got from my new cookbook "Simply Suppers" that my sister got me for my birthday. I've always been tempted to make my own spaghetti sauce but I thought it might be a little too complicated. Wrong. Super easy and hardly any prep work involved. The only thing better than this Mama's spaghetti would be to watch "Mama Mia" while shoveling it into my mouth. However, I believe Abba's soundtrack might prove to be too much of a strain on our marriage. And I kinda like this guy. So nix that idea....but this recipe was totally worth it, musical or not!

Mama's Spaghetti

From: "Simply Suppers" by Jennifer Chandler

1 Tbsp olive oil

1 pound ground beef

1/2 cup finely diced yellow onion

1/2 cup finely diced green bell pepper

1 clove garlic, minced

1 can (28 oz.) crushed tomatoes with juice

1 tsp dried basil leaves

1 tsp dried thyme

1 tsp dried oregano

Salt and pepper

1. In a large stockpot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat, warm the oil. Add meat and cook until meat is browned and cooked through, about 5 minutes.

2. Transfer the cooked meat to a colander and drain excess fat.

3. Drain all but about 1 tablespoon of fat from pot. Add onion, bell pepper, and garlic. Reduce heat to medium and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft, about 4 minutes.

4. Stir in tomatoes, basil, thyme, and oregano. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

5. Return meat to pot and stir to combine. Over high heat, bring sauce to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer, covered, until thickened, about 45 minutes. (We got hungry before then so I didn't simmer mine the full time). Adjust seasonings as needed.

6. Serve hot over warm pasta and enjoy!

I completely forgot to take a pic but believe me when I say it was a really awesome, really basic spaghetti sauce!

This next recipe I got from Pinterest, of course, and tweaked it a bit. Super simple, super easy, and would be really good to serve at any sort of get-together. They called there's beef-stuffed crescents but for some reason that name just is not very appealing to me. So I present to you....

Mexican Crescent Rolls

Adapted from: http://www.tasteofhome.com/Recipes/Beef-Stuffed-Crescents-2

1 pound ground beef

1 can (4 oz) chopped green chilies

1 package (8 oz) cream cheese, cubed

1/4 tsp cumin

1/4 tsp chili powder

3 tubes refrigerated crescent rolls

I added: 

Shredded fiesta cheese

Diced white onion

Diced jalapeno 

(in my halved version of this recipe, I did half a jalapeno. This recipe needed more spice so next time I would do a whole jalapeno. I'd also up the amount of chili powder, but that's just me!)

1. In a large skillet, cook beef, chilies, onions, and jalapenos (if adding) until meat is no longer pink; drain. Add the cream cheese, cumin, and chili powder. Add shredded cheese (if using), allow to melt, cool slightly. *Since I added the shredded cheese I believe I used a little less cream cheese.

2. Separate crescent dough into 24 triangles. (In my halved version, I just used one can of crescent rolls, aka 8 triangles. I had a little meat filling leftover but James just ate that in a tortilla). Place 1 tablespoon of mixture along the short end of each triangle; carefully roll up. (I definitely did more than a tablespoon!)

3. Place point side down two inches apart on ungreased baking sheet. Bake at 375 for 11-14 minutes or until golden brown.

This final recipe I also got from the "Simply Suppers" cookbook. Just looking at the page it seemed like it would be a little more time-consuming but it really wasn't too bad at all! Just a heads-up it's not a super saucy dish - the sauce is the kind that just kinda sticks to your noodles and doesn't swim around in the bottom of your bowl. This could be due to the fact that I completely omitted the heavy whipping cream (I don't keep it on hand and for the sake of our pants fitting the next day) but even with this omission, I would definitely make this dish again! I halved this recipe when I made it since it can serve 6 to 8 people.

Chicken Tetrazzini

From: "Simply Suppers" by Jennifer Chandler

4 Tbsp unsalted butter, divided

1 cup grated Parmesan cheese

1/4 cup Italian style breadcrumbs

1 Tbsp olive oil

8 oz button mushrooms, cleaned, trimmed, and thinly sliced 

(I omitted...not a mushroom fan)

1/2 cup finely diced yellow onion

4 gloves garlic, minced

1/4 tsp dried thyme

1/2 cup dry white wine

2 cups shredded cooked chicken

1 box (16 oz) linguine, cooked per package directions

1 cup frozen peas, thawed

1/4 cup finely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves, divided 

(I eye-balled and used dried parsley)

1/3 cup all-purpose flour

3 cups milk

2 cups heavy cream

(Like I said, I omitted altogether)

1 cup chicken stock

Salt and pepper

1. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Lightly grease a 9x13 baking dish and set aside.

2. In a small bowl, combine bread crumbs and Parmesan cheese and set aside.

3. In a large saucepan over medium-high heat, melt 1 tablespoon butter and oil. Add the mushrooms and cook, stirring frequently until the liquid from mushrooms evaporates and they become slightly golden, about 10 minutes.

4. Add the onion, garlic, and thyme. Cook until the vegetables are soft, about 5 minutes. Add the wine and cook until the liquid has almost evaporated, about 2 minutes.

3. Transfer the mixture to a large bowl. Add the shredded chicken, cooked linguine, peas, and 2 Tbsp of parsley and set aside.

4. In the same pan used for the onions, melt the remaining 3 Tbsp of butter over medium-low heat. When butter starts to foam, add the flour and cook, whisking, until thickened, about 1 minute. While continuing to whisk, gradually add the milk, heavy cream, and chicken stock. 

Over medium-high heat, bring the mixture to a boil.

5. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer, whisking constantly, until the mixture thickens, about 5 to 8 minutes. Pour the sauce over the pasta mixture and toss until well combined. 

Season with salt and pepper to taste.

6. Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle the bread crumb mixture and remaining 2 Tbsp parsley evenly over the pasta. Top with thinly sliced pats of butter (I omitted just to save a few calories). Bake until golden brown, about 30 minutes.

Life lessons brought to you by Mumford and Angelo.....

 There is nothing better than clean laundry fresh from the dryer!

 Everyone appreciates some help.....

But sometimes enough is enough!

In the end, let's all just be friends!

Good news, Great joy!

Luke 2:9 "An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find the baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.' Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.'" No other news that we can possibly receive in our lives can even compare to the good news the shepherds first received thousands of years ago. A savior came and still lives in us, one who saves us from our sin with a single drop of His precious blood! And like the angel said, this good news is for all people. Let us go out this Christmas season and spread the wonderful truth with those around us - God sent his Son to save each and every one of us! Glory to God!

Pesto Chicken Noodle Soup

from: blogs.babble.com/family-kitchen

6 cups low sodium chicken broth

3 Tbsp tomato sauce

1 heaping Tbsp pesto

1-2 cups egg noodles (I cooked mine prior to making this recipe)

1-2 cooked chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces

1-2 Tbsp olive oil

Salt to taste

1. Bring broth, tomato sauce, and pesto to simmer in a large pot over medium heat.

2. Add noodles and chicken and simmer on medium-low heat for 5 minutes.

3. Add salt as needed (I didn't since I didn't have low sodium broth...mmmm salty).

4. Serve with a little olive oil and a sprinkle of parmesan cheese. I added black pepper as well.

THAT. IS IT. So tasty and comforting on a cold night!! The pesto really adds to it.

I had a tupperware of leftover canned pumpkin that I had no idea what to do with. Lucky for me, I found this incredible recipe for pumpkin chocolate chip cookies. O. M. G. The biggest, softest, moistest pumpkin bread-like cookies with gooey chocolate chips. Seriously, what could be better? Plus think of all the vitamin A you are getting! That means we can eat them for breakfast right....

Super Soft Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

from: www.joythebaker.com

2 cups flour

1 1/2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp ground cinnamon

1/4 tsp nutmeg

1/4 tsp ground cloves

2 eggs

1 cup sugar

1/2 cup oil

1 cup canned pumpkin

1 tsp vanilla

1 cup chocolate chips

1. Preheat oven to 325. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.

2. Stir flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and spices together in medium bowl and set aside.

3. In large bowl, beat eggs and sugar on medium speed until smooth and lightened in color, about 1 minute.

4. On low speed, mix oil, pumpkin, and vanilla until blended.

5. Mix in flour mixture to incorporate it. Mix in chocolate chips.

6. Using 1/4 measuring cup, scoop mounds of dough onto prepared cookie sheets about 2 1/2 inches apart. Smooth and flatten the rounds.

7. Bake about 16 minutes until top feels firm and a toothpick inserted into center comes out clean. Allow to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to wire rack to cool complete.

8. Dust the cookies lightly with powdered sugar.

***NOTE: I used my sifter to sprinkle each with a beautiful dusting of powdered sugar....only to have that powdered sugar soak into the cookie and leave the top sticky. So, either skip this step or do it right before you enjoy them!

This next recipe we tried last night for dinner and oh my goodness, was it good. I got it off of one of my usual reads online but I believe it came originally from McCormick's recipe inspiration packets of spices. I didn't have one of those pre-portioned packets but luckily the blogger took a picture of the back and I could just make out the writing. Luckily I had everything! So cheesy, so warm, so delicious. Nothing is better than Mexican comfort food on a chilly night!

Quesadilla Casserole
from: pearls-handcuffs-happyhour.blogspot.com

Spices in the McCormick packet (or in your own pantry):
2 tsp chili powder
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp minced garlic
1/2 tsp oregano
1/2 tsp crushed red pepper

1 lb ground beef
1/2 cup chopped onion
2 (8 oz.) cans tomato sauce
1 (15 oz.) can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 (8 3/4 oz.) can whole kernel corn, undrained
1 (4 oz.) can chopped green chiles, undrained
6 flour tortillas
2 cups shredded cheese

*I halved the above amounts for James and myself and it worked out perfectly. We each got our fill and still had enough to take for lunch.

1. Preheat oven to 350.
2. Brown beef and onion, drain excess grease.
3. Add tomato sauce, beans, corn, and green chiles. Mix well.
4. Add all the spices except red pepper. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer for 5 minutes.
5. Add red pepper to taste.
6. Layer half of the beef mixture on bottom of a baking dish (for the halved version I used an 8x8. If you're going full use a 9x13).
7. Top with half of your tortillas. Add half of the remaining beef mixture and top with half of the cheese.
8. Layer rest of the tortillas, followed by remaining beef mixture, then remaining cheese.
5. Bake for 15 minutes and enjoy!

You're hot then you're cold!

Psalm 73:23-26 "Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory. Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength and my portion forever." I read this verse this morning and I absolutely love it! I just love the rich promises within these words. God will, without a doubt, guide us throughout each and every day with his all-knowing, all-loving counsel. And we can eagerly await the wonderful glory that will come! This verse also made me stop and think about my level of spiritual maturity and my own relationship with Christ in truly desiring absolutely nothing else other than Christ on this earth. Are there things keeping us back from fully and solely wanting Him? God's word reminds us that the things of this earth fade and shatter but that God stands forever. He is the one who was, who is, and who is to come. Nothing else can compare!

You might notice a theme among these recipes. We got a taste of cooler weather and it left me wanting more! So I decided that warm, cool-weather food will most definitely make our fall stick around for a while! Well, my plan didn't exactly work out, thank you very much fickle Texas weather! But that didn't stop us from enjoying some yummy food!

Chili
From: pearls-handcuffs-happyhour.blogspot.com

1 Tbsp olive oil

1 lb ground sirloin (I used ground beef)

1 medium yellow onion, chopped

2 jalapenos, chopped

2 garlic cloves, finely chopped

1 Tbsp chili powder

1 tsp ground cumin

1 (15 oz.) can black beans

1 (15 oz) can pinto beans

1 (10 oz) can Rotel

salt and pepper to taste

1. Heat oil over medium high heat. Add beef and cook for 7-10 minutes.

2. Add onion, garlic, chili powder, cumin, and jalapenos and cook on medium-low heat for 5 minutes.

3. Add beans (don't drain) and Rotel. Bring to a simmer and cook for 25-30 minutes covered, stirring often.

4. Remove from heat and season with salt and pepper.

The most difficult part of this whole meal (other than keeping your balance and not slipping in the puddles of drool brought forth by the wonderful aroma in your kitchen) is chopping...and there's not very much of that! Just let it simmer away and you are in for a treat! I love the pinto and black beans in this chili..it gives it more of a tex-mex taste, which who doesn't love?? I topped ours with lots of cheese and served it with honey cornbread muffins (click on this link and it will take you to the post with that recipe...you might have to scroll down a bit). 

We got another little teasing taste of fall weather last week so I was all over anything warm on Pinterest. Unfortunately, by the time I made this meal, our cool fall weather had left. Nevertheless we enjoyed this absolutely delicious soup and turned the A/C down a little bit. Think of the perfect marriage between broccoli cheese soup and potato soup. Now throw in some added veggies and there you have it! And the best part is, this soup is uber-creamy but does not contain any heavy whipping cream (perhaps it's the ten pounds of cheese that does it.....)

Cheesy Vegetable Chowder

From: luluthebaker.blogspot.com

2 Tbsp butter

1/2 cup chopped onion

1 cup finely chopped carrot

1 stalk celery, finely chopped

1 Tbsp minced garlic

4 cups chicken broth

2 large baking potatoes, peeled and chopped

1 Tbsp flour

1/2 cup water

2/3 cup milk

2 cups chopped broccoli

2 heaping cups shredded cheddar

1. Melt butter in large soup pot.

2. Add onions, carrots, and celery and saute over medium heat until tender.

3. Add garlic and saute 1-2 more minutes.

4. Add chicken broth and potatoes and bring to a boil. Cook until potatoes are tender.

5. Mix flour with water and add, simmer until slightly thickened.

6. Add milk and broccoli and cook until broccoli is just tender and soup is heated through.

7. Stir in cheese, allow to melt, and serve.

I topped ours with pepper and a sprinkle of dried rosemary. O.M.Good!! I've been eating the leftovers every day for lunch for the past 2 days and could probably eat it at every meal. Add it to your recipe book for this winter!

I found this next recipe on Pinterest as well when we were craving something sweet but didn't have any dessert in the house (a first for us...ha). I'm not gonna lie. The thing that most attracted me to this recipe on Pinterest is the words "no bake". Those words are almost as delicious in my mouth as these bites!! The best part is you can truly add whatever you want (or whatever you happen to have on hand in my case) to these puppies. The second time I made them (2 days after the first batch) I added a little bit of dark chocolate chips and slivered almonds just for kicks. So simple and so addicting!!

No-Bake Energy Bites 

(aka Granola Balls according to my husband)

From: smashedpeasandcarrots.blogspot.com

1 cup oatmeal

1/2 cup peanut butter

1/3 cup honey

1 cup coconut flakes (omitted...didn't have and not a huge fan)

1/2 cup ground flaxseed (again, I omitted)

1/2 cup chocolate chips

1 tsp vanilla

I added: a handful of slivered almonds and a sprinkle of dark chocolate chips

1. Mix peanut butter, honey, and oatmeal together in bowl.

2. Add your mix-ins (chocolate chips, flaxseed, etc.) and stir until well mixed.

3. Add vanilla, stir.

4. Chill in refrigerator for at least 30 minutes then roll into small balls and enjoy!!

So I might have omitted the parts that are good for you (except for the oatmeal) haha but these have definitely become a staple! A delicious dessert where I don't have to get out the hand mixer or use kitchen equipment whatsoever?? I'm sold :)

We tried this new dish, yet another Pinterest find, last night and OMG so fast and so yummy! And for a guy who claims to not like Asian dishes (not that mine is super authentic), my husband loved it!! The recipe says to serve it cold but I served mine hot and added chicken and stir-fried veggies.

Spicy Thai Noodles

From: asmallsnippet.blogspot.com

1 box linguine or angel hair pasta

(Of course I wouldn't check to see how much linguine I had left so I used a mixture of whole wheat linguine and egg noodles)

1-2 Tbsp crushed red pepper

1/4 cup vegetable oil

1/2 cup sesame oil

6 Tbsp honey

6 Tbsp soy sauce

Green onions, cilantro, peanuts, toasted sesame seeds for topping

**For my halved version I added one chicken breast (cooked and shredded) and a handful each of chopped broccoli and carrots.

1. Boil noodles, drain.

2. Chop green onions, cilantro (I omitted), and peanuts.

3. Heat both oils and red pepper over medium heat in small pan.

4. Strain out pepper and reserve oil.

5. To oil, whisk in honey and soy sauce.

6. If adding veggies, stir fry over medium high heat in skillet.

7. Toss sauce (and any add-ins) with noodles.

8. Refrigerate and serve cold, or serve immediately warm.

9. Before serving, top with green onions, cilantro, peanuts, and sesame seeds.

Just the right combo of spicy from the red pepper and sweet from the honey. We are definitely having this again!! And the best part is, I'm taking the leftovers to work for lunch and trying it out cold. I added some chopped napa cabbage to make it into a cold asian pasta salad. Looking forward to naptime!!

So this past weekend I made a trek to the wonderful world of Hobby Lobby's discounted Christmas decor and had to majorly practice my prioritizing and "just say no" skills. After putting the majority of the items in my cart back, debating, putting back in, debating some more, then taking them out again (I looked insane, muttering to myself and furiously adding up numbers on my list), I decided to sacrifice some of the decorative items to put that money toward a Christmas tree! I did, however, get some goods to make a Christmas wreath for our front door! I stopped at the Dollar Tree to get a few extras as well. Thus commenced the sweatshop! Not only did James get to sit and watch football, he also got to watch his insane wife shed hundreds of tiny twigs all over the living room rug, furiously poke and twist wire, acquire scratches up and down her legs, and cackle with delight at the finished product! Unfortunately I have to wait until after Thanksgiving to hang my new obsession on our door (don't make me start my "Give Thanksgiving a Chance!!!" tirade - poor James had to bear the brunt of that one in Walmart as their Christmas trees show up way too early), but I am in love! And the best part about it.....less than 20 bucks spent baby!!!

Grapevine wreath.......$4.99 

(sadly, wreaths weren't on sale - but still pretty cheap!)

2 red berry picks.......$1.27

2 garland picks.......$1.99

Letter "S".......$2.99

Ribbon.......$5.00

(I'm obsessed with this sparkly ribbon and will have to fight the urge to put a bow on everything in our apartment this holiday season....poor James.)

Ornaments.......$2.00

(You can get a tube of 7 ornaments for a buck at the Dollar Tree! Granted, they are plastic but they did the trick!)

The Sweetness of Friendship {St. Louis Trip}

John 15:13 "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." God is just so many things to us. Our holy father and creator. Our rock, our redemption, our salvation, our strength, our security, and the list goes on and on. But He is also the most amazing friend that any one of us could EVER have! To hand over His Son to a bunch of unworthy sinners to lay down his own pure, blameless life to wash clean not only the sins of that generation but of every single generation to come. Now that true, awe-inspiring friendship. Makes us evaluate the relationships in our lives doesn't it? If we deeply desire to become more and more like Christ every day, then we can use His amazing example of friendship to enrich our own relationships!

Quick C25K news....that random, horrible, who-else-does-this-happen-to run-in with the shower faucet left me with a giant (at least like half an inch long) gash surrounded by a swollen, black and purple bruise. This delightful injury literally left me unable to wear any shoes with a back for a week! AKA no running since last Sunday! Noooooo! (Actually I wasn't too torn up haha)! My pathetic stamina that I have grudgingly built up over the past 6 weeks has been defeated by a freak accident (I'm the freak in this scenario). It's almost healed now and I hope to get back on the running saddle soon.

I was so incredibly blessed to be able to visit my other, shorter half in St. Louis this weekend! Allow me to explain: when I went off to college in a state I had never been, nor did I have any friends in this state, God totally intervened (as He always does) through the potluck system of dorm roommate selection. She was also from out-of-state and there is no doubt that without each other, we would not have been able to survive! God is so good and I just love if when you can tangibly feel His hand in a situation! I went this random potluck route, which can be scary and dangerous...I've heard horror stories.....and ended up with Natalie! We instantly bonded and lived together all four years of college! I always wonder what percentage of potluckers do that.

One of the first pics we took together! Freshman year, 2007, in the midst of rush (which was completely planned by God  too - like I'm surprised - He plans everything!!)

May 2011. We recreated the pic, going back to the exact same patio of our freshman dorm, in the exact same outfits! We even had to jump the fence all un-ladylike, just like four years previously when we got locked out! 

Needless to say, after living together for all four years, it has been quite an adjustment for both of us not seeing each other's faces every single day! She is most definitely going to change the world and I have watched God increase her passion and fire for Him and His kingdom more and more every semester. She is at grad school at St. Louis University for social work and I had the wonderful opportunity to visit her for 3 days! I had absolutely no regret leaving those needy little children (just kidding, I love them) and taking Friday off, although I did miss them by Sunday night.  I am so excited to share my visit to such a cool and charming city with you! I hope you find it as interesting as I did!

After a delicious lunch at Pei Wei on the way home from the airport (that honey seared chicken is to die for!), we stopped at her super cute apartment then went on a little tour of the city and of the St. Louis University campus. I fell in love with the architecture of all the buildings! Apartment complexes, hotels, you name it had really cool ornate and antique detailing. Plus the day was absolutely gorgeous - warm in the sun but cool at the same time. First time in forever that I could wear jeans and a cardigan outside and actually be on the cool side - not die of heat exhaustion!!

Catholic basilica...absolutely stunning on the inside as well as the outside!

That thing with all the colorful abstract sculptures is one of the many dog parks all over the city!

Me, being the pseudo-mom to ten children Monday through Friday, forced her to take an awkwardly precious pic by the SLU sign.

They have the cutest cafes on every corner with little umbrellas...love!

After a little sight-seeing in which I was the total tourist and had my upper body hanging out the window to take pics, we stopped at the cutest cupcake shop ever...The Cup!

Reese's peanut butter cup cupcake....incredibly moist chocolate cupcake, peanut butter buttercream frosting, crushed peanut butter cups on top. I seriously think that one will be waiting for me when I die and go to Heaven.

We totally planned to coordinate with the umbrella....and with each other!

After we slipped into a somewhat sugar-coma from our cupcakes, we got some much-needed chill time together, complete with the non-stop talking that took place the entire weekend. Then we headed to Forest Park for Balloon Glow! Tons of hot air balloons, booths with every kind of fair food you can imagine (not gonna lie, those funnel cakes and cans of Mike's hard lemonade were very tempting. Luckily we ate some appetizers before we went!)

After the super cool balloon display and firework show, we headed to a late-night dinner at the best pizza place in St. Louis - pi! Actually it was the pi sign but I don't know how to make that on here :) The words "amazing" "delicious" "cracker crust" and "I fell in love with a slice of pizza" do not even begin to describe how good it was!! More non-stop talking, then took a slight break to sleep. Day 1 - amazing!

Day 2 started with a leisurely getting-ready time with coffee and the traditional "Gilmore Girls". Then we walked to this precious cafe, 2Schae, that once again had those little umbrellas and a red and white striped awning. Unfortunately, it was a little too cold and gray to sit outside, but don't worry, the owner offered to take our pic outside as if we were pretending to eat there. We had previously discussed this idea and thought he might make fun of us....wrong!

After one of the best breakfast burritos I have ever had (egg, cheese, bacon, avocado all wrapped in a huge wheat tortilla with a side of salsa and more coffee....yum!), we began our day of wonderfully-random stops! Stop #1: a huge farmer's market! Not only did they have the best-looking veggies, fruits, and anything else homegrown, they had totally random items such as purses and sunglasses that looked straight from Chinatown, BBQ stands, and anything else that you could possibly want!

Super cute spice shop....I felt a little ashamed when I thought of all the Great Value off-brand spices in my pantry at home. The smells were amazing! I also got the best idea that I cannot wait to try on my own - baking bread in flower pots! (An all-included kit with bread mix was available for purchase. That's too easy. I'm going to attempt to do it on my own. Dear Lord, please don't let a flower pot explode in my oven haha!

After the farmer's market and a stop at a precious wine-garden-gifts shop across the street where I found inspiration for another holiday decoration I want to steal, I mean, "borrow", we visited the arch! I have not seen very many U.S. landmarks in my short life so far in this world so I was like a giddy little kid whipping out my camera and once again, embracing the role of the embarrassing tourist!

The building to the right is a church. There was a wedding going on while we were there - so hard not to peak in the windows! We later saw the bride, groom, and whole wedding party drive by in a horse-drawn carriage! What a cool place to get married. Talk about awesome pics!

I had to.

After the arch came something that (almost) blew my  mind as much as the landmark....a Goodwill outlet store! I cannot describe this amazing phenomenon without using the term "feeding frenzy". Picture a huge warehouse room with giant blue, almost garbage-like, bins that contain some of the most random discarded items (I don't need to buy an empty Ragu jar, I can get that on my own). They roll out new bins of stuff every 20 minutes and the frenzy commenced. They actually had to come on the loudspeaker and ask people not to approach the bins until they had come to a complete stop. And everything there is priced by the pound! So people would fill up carts literally to the brim and roll them onto large floor scales by the register...how cool is that! I found one treasure that I just couldn't resist - a book all in French from 1952! I was first drawn by the pretty, faded red cover that would go so well with the colors in our living room. Then I opened it, spotted the date, and deliciously-aged pages and fell in love! My whopping grand total spent at the Goodwill outlet:

$0.68

After the exciting Goodwill adventure, two large Dr. Peppers were a must for us, followed by some more relaxing/non-stop chatter time at her place. The weather was gray and chilly, perfect for settling down in the couch with Rory, Lorelai, and some DP! Sunday went by way too fast, as every Sunday does, and I was soon on my way back to Aggieland. Not without some flight delay, confusion, and a stifling hot cabin sitting on the runway, of course. But I made it back safe and sound! I think my husband was glad to see me, mainly due to the fact that he ate a grilled ham and cheese for almost every meal!

Speaking of meals, I tried out this new recipe that I sorta combined with others for Monday night. The combination of grunting and "Mmmmm"-ing came out once more for this delicious sub! I have never made my own meatballs before and found a recipe for them in a Rachael Ray cookbook for kid-food (my sister thought it would be a good gift a while back for my picky eater of a husband). Then I combined that with some tasty bread and bottled spaghetti sauce and voila...

Homemade Meatball Subs

1 pound ground beef, 93% lean

1 egg, beaten

1/2 small cooking onion, finely chopped

2 cloves garlic, minced

1/4 cup grated Parmigiano Reggiano (I used good ol' Great Value shredded Parmesan cheese)

1/2 cup Italian breadcrumbs 

(I just had plain breadcrumbs so I added a couple shakes of Italian seasoning to the mix)

Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

4 sub rolls 

(I intended to use wheat hoagies but I found wheat bolillos instead. Had never heard of them but they were cheaper. And really, any bread is good in my book!)

4 slices Provolone

Jar of spaghetti sauce of your choice (I used Ragu with some sort of cheese/herb flavoring)

For meatballs:

1. Combine meat, egg, onion, garlic, cheese, bread crumbs, and a little pepper in bowl.

2. Heat about a tablespoon of olive oil over medium-high heat in deep, nonstick skillet.

3. Form small balls and drop into hot pan. Once all meatballs are in skillet, give the pan a good shake and cover. Cook for 8 minutes, frequently shaking the pan to prevent burning. If meat is browning too fast, reduce heat a little.

4. Once meatballs are done (I had to cut some of the bigger ones in half to get the middle cooked), pour enough spaghetti sauce to cover and moisten the meatballs.

Meanwhile, preheat your oven to 375 degrees. Slice bread almost all the way through and open like book. Place cheese on one side, put on baking sheet, and bake in oven until cheese is melted and edges of bread are slightly crisp. Once cheese is melted, top open sandwich with meatballs (I squeezed about 5 on top of the cheese), close, and enjoy! 

I inhaled mine in record time before making my hungry husband another one :)

I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend and a great Monday!