#15 - Cook home meal(s) (41/143)

Tuesday night I made shy poke eggs (TX appetizer) and hot burger steaks.  Now you're probably wondering what shy poke eggs are...they are on a crispy flat tortilla, 2 kinds of cheese (cheddar and Monterrey Jack) and jalapenos.  When put together it looks like an egg with a nice spicy kick, must bake in oven for about 10 mins to melt the cheese.  The hot burger steaks are essentially 2 quarter pounders stacked together with jalapeno pepper jack cheese in the middle, then grilled.  They are so big that I could only eat half of one!  Mom made healthy steak fries, basically cut up a potato, sprinkle with Lawry's and bake for 25 mins.

Wednesday night I made chocolate lava cakes.  You bake them in little 6 oz ramekins for about 20 mins.  Then you pop them out upside down and place vanilla ice cream on top.  They are chocolately rich and yummy!

#15 - Cook home meal(s) (39/143)

Last night I made dinner for my parents. Usually when my parents come to visit they do all the cooking. It's great coming home to a home cooked meal ready to go on the table. Anyways...they reversed it on me last night and I was nominated the chef for the evening. I made my favorite Swiss enchiladas, Mexican rice and re-fried beans. The meal turned out superb and it wasn't that difficult.

First I poached the chicken with salt and pepper.  After cooking 15 mins, I copped up enough for 2 cups. Then I mixed in green chili verde and jalapenos. Next I warmed up corn tortillas, rolled in the chicken mixture and placed them in a 13x9" pan. I covered them with heavy whipping cream and Monterrey Jack cheese and placed them in the oven for 15 mins. The rice I had started earlier, first I browned white rice and then added in chopped tomatoes, onions, green pepper and chili seasoning. It had to simmer for 25 mins. The re-fried beans were easy...they came from a can. In the middle I put some more jalapenos and topped it with Monterrey Jack cheese and in the oven it went. There were hardly any leftovers!

Five Addictions

I've been tagged by Amanda!

Here are the rules: Copy and paste the rule instructions in your post. When posting on receiving the award, make sure you include who gave you the award and link it back to them. Post five winners and link it back to them as well. Post five of your addictions.Add the award image. Let the winners know you gave them an award by leaving them a comment on their blog.

1. Dancing (1 or 2 stepping) - I don't know how I lived without dancing before...I HAVE to dance at least once a month to get my fix.  If I could I'd dance every weekend.  Plus it's great exercise!

2. Cheese - Any way you slice it, it's Gouda! 

3. Coffee - The aroma from a cup of joe stimulates my mind and body in the morning.

4. Vampire movies/books - What's the eternal allure of vampires you ask?  Why are women so attracted to vampire novels and movies?  Beautiful, powerful, seductive, resistance/submission, conflicted (good/evil), etc.  Vampires can be summed up in one word, they are a metaphor for....well, I'm sure you can guess.    

5. Heels - A friend pointed out to me the other day my love of heels.  Most of my shoes have at least a 3" heel.  The tough part, finding jeans long enough to wear them!

Who else?  I think everyone has been tagged....

If I'm allowed to add a #6 it would be naps!  Siestas!

#44 & 45 - Failure

All I'm going to say is darn holidays!

I'm guessing this wont be back on track until the new year.

Happy Holidays!

"Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, martini in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming "WOO HOO what a ride!" "

~Unknown

#81 - Donate blood at least 3x’s a year (3/9)

3x's the charm!  Tuesday morning I saved a life by donating blood.  :-D

#15 - Cook home meals (38/143)

Monday night I made Chicken Carbonara with butter garlic rice from Super Suppers.  The meal was just OK, there really wasn't that much flavor.  Even with the sauce it was bland, but it was easy to cook!  :-)

[caption id="attachment_341" align="alignnone" width="400" caption="Chicken Carbonara with butter garlic rice"][/caption]

#15 - Cook home meal(s) (37/143)

Dinner last night was pink soup (tomato soup) and grilled cheese.  Yummy!

Weekend in Houston

This past weekend Malek and I went to Houston.  We saw BuckCherry perform Friday night at the Warehouse.  They were awesome!  Two bands opened for BuckCherry.  I have no clue who the first band was that performed.  I didn't catch their name and I didn't really care for their music...a little too hard rock/heavy metal for me.  The second band was Drowning Pool...I only knew one of their songs, "Bodies".  I was thrilled when BuckCherry took the stage.  Out of the songs they sang, I knew all but one song!  That's unheard of for me...usually I only know a couple songs.  They were very entertaining and sounded amazing live.  Totally worth it!

#51 - Visit JK in Houston
On Saturday we met up with JK and Travis  at Papasitos for lunch.  I finally got to meet their new baby daughter, Jayden.  She's so sweet!  It was great to catch up, especially since its almost been a year since I last saw them. 

[caption id="attachment_336" align="alignnone" width="448" caption="Visiting JK & Travis in Houston"][/caption]

#15 - Cook home meal(s) [i.e. eat out less] (36/143)

Thanksgiving is a great time to cook and spend quality time with family.  I actually enjoyed two Thanksgiving dinners this year.  The first one was in Ohio with my relatives; Jonathan flew home with me for this one, and I made the sweet potatoes (it's my thing).  The second dinner was back in MI with my immediate family.  Over severl days of cooking I made the pumpkin spice tiramisu, sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, cranberry crab cream cheese puffs and helped with the pork stuffing.  Whew!  Lots and lots of baking.  It was all worth it because the food was excellent!

Malek and the kids picked me up from the airport after my trip and we headed to the grocery store.  We bought ingredients to make broccoli cheese soup from scratch and mini cheesecakes topped with cherries.

So I think that counts for at least 3 meals.  :-)

#40 - Read more than just fiction novels/books (IP)

Over the Thanksgiving holiday week/end I flew home to MI.  A nice, relaxing 10 day vacation.  Flying it seems is the only time I can force myself to read.  I really should make more time for reading, I do enjoy it.

I read "Twilight" on the way to MI.  The book was OK.  It took about half way through before it really caught my interest.  After I finished the book, Karen and I saw Twilight in the theater; the movie was actually very close to the book.  The 2nd book "New Moon" sounds much more exciting after reading the teaser. (Yes, I realize this is Fiction)

I also started "Eat, Pray, Love".  I'm about 1/3 of the way through this book and am very happy with it.  It's entertaining, funny and I feel like I have a connection to the author given similar experiences.  Now that I'm home though, no clue as to when I'll finish it...but at least it's started!     It's about a woman in her early 30's who goes through a divorce and travels to Italy, India and Indonesia.  The first part really hit home.