Copycat Cooking WIN

Like I said yesterday, we have had some pretty lofty recipe goals the past few days.

Its been SO fun! We (I) waste some good time on pinterest searching for delicious sounding recipes, walk a few blocks to the grocery store to buy the ingredients, and we cook pretty much every night!

So far we've made honey balsamic chicken, white wine sauce for pasta with chicken and veggies, copy cat Chuy's creamy jalepeño dip, and copycat Chili's southwestern eggrolls!

As you all know by now, I'm pretty much the most horrible food photographer in the world, but I'm so excited about the success of these recipes that I felt the need to share :)

**I did NOT come up with these recipes, therefore I will NOT be posting tutorials on how to make them, but I will be posting the source of the recipe! :)

If you don't live within reach of a Chuy's, then you probably haven't had this delicious dip. (and I'm very sorry!)

Creamy Jalepeño dip- YUM. Seriously, this recipe turned out so well! It would have made a massive amount (a good party size!) so we 4thed the recipe. If you know the Chuy's dip well, you'll know that it isn't exactly the same, but is still Very good! A must try :)

Now on to Baked Southwestern "Egg rolls"

Drew mincing jalepeños

sautéing onions 

ingredients: onion, black beans, chicken, corn, spinach, chili powder, and cumin (just missing the pepper jack in this photo! 

YUM!!!

I would Not call myself an experienced chef, so for us these were definitely a two person project! 

They were DELICIOUS and pretty stinkin good leftover as well! They were pretty spicy, so for my taste I would half the spices and jalepeño next time :) and there will most definitely be a next time!

One of the great things about the dip recipe, is that you can always chose healthier options for ingredients such as fat free mayo and light sour cream. And the "egg rolls" are baked, not fried, so they really are fairly healthy!! I'm curious to try baking them with egg roll wraps instead of wheat tortillas at some point, but I'm really pleased with how these turned out.

These recipes are worth giving a try, so let me know what you think! :)

HOW TO: Make dinner without grocery shopping. Ever.

Ok, so I exaggerated a little bit. Its not like I don't ever grocery shop....I just pretty much put it off for as long as possible ;)

Today I am channeling my inner Darbi Elliott, who by the way has a hysterical (slightly undiscovered, and I really don't know why!!!) blog about food/eating/cooking. Good grief, she will have you rolling! Go visit her right now!!

I've been on muscle relaxers, which isn't making me as loopy as I've heard it would...bummer....just kidding. Kind of. (that really doesn't pertain to my post, I just thought I'd let y'all know) but on top of them not really making me loopy, they aren't even really working!! Yet at least. I've heard it needs to build up in your system a bit though....so here's hopin'!!
I pretty much feel like I should delete all of that but its there, so there ya go...

FOOD!

A lot of times I want to eat something substantial, but I don't really want to put the effort into preparing a meal, you know??

Today I made this interesting concoction: how about the final photo first?

Yes, I am aware of my MAD food photography skills...maybe one day.

I had frozen tortellini, but no sauce...and lunch meat.....but no bread (good, right?)

So anywho, boiled up some tortellini (love it), drained, and added olive oil, garlic salt, pepper, and parsley.

Don't add too much olive oil. Thats gross.

You betcha, I scrambled eggs in that same pan for lunch! What....eggs and ham go together...

Fried chopped lunch meat. Awwwww yeah. Now you know I'm REALLY a grad student.

Throw it all together and YUM. 

Now I'm wishing that these photos were pinterest worthy because this recipe I just pulled out of who knows where is so good.  Try it!!!

Remember that one time I made up a soup recipe?

Follow me on Bloglovin/Pinterest/Instagram/Twitter

ONE MORE THING! Yes I'm feeling quite loopy now, but seriously guys I'm catching up on The Voice (WHICH IS THE BEST EVER WHY AM I YELLING?!) and this is just a bunch of holy cow I just died of goodness or maybe my heart is just melting great singing. On. Repeat.

Celebrating 100

We (the Baylor Wind Ensemble) are officially on the road headed home after an extremely fruitful 7 day tour.

Today is not the day for all the details about the rest of the tour, but I can say that is was fantastic and a HUGE success for both our ensemble and the university!

Hugs to all my new GFC and Bloglovin friends! I'm very excited you are here. 

Be sure to say hello so I can stop by your blog in return!

Now-I still feel like a total newb to the blogging world, but today I'd like to do a little recap of where I've been so far so we can get to know each other!!

1) Once upon a time, I wanted to be a fashion blogger, but "ain't nobody got time for that!!!"

     I did have SO much fun on my photoshoot with Sarah though, and you can see more of her photos 

 here and here!

2) I shared my guacamole recipe with you. I promise its bomb.

    I also tried my hand at experimental made up recipies and came up with a delicious "tortilla soup!" 

3) I bragged about my super talented awesome boyfriend.

4) I shared my Pinterest decorating idea.

5) I've talked about my dog, Winston. A lot. 

6) I shared with you, my blogging family, my exciting story about how I decided to move to England.

I hope you've enjoyed getting to know me a little better! 

Happy Friday everyone, Welcome, and leave a note with your blog address so I can find you in return!

This Weekend, No. 6

Guess what guys....its Monday. UGH. This week is just going to be a load of productive misery for me and I will most likely be absent from the blogging world. Say a little prayer for me! Flying to Illinois on Friday for my Artist Diploma program audition on Saturday! EEP

I'm linking up with Syndal and Sarah for a quick weekend re-cap! Don't forget to let us know how your weekend went!

I started of this weekend with a spring in my step. 

Found these lovely jeans on clearance at Marshall's for just $15!! Felt very fortunate someone else didn't snag them up first...

This weekend I attempted another Pinterest recipe. If I had taken a photo of the final product it could have been on one of those awesome "pinterest fail" websites, BUT it was yummy anyways!

This is that recipe floating around for pancakes made out of one mashed up banana and one egg. 

I had to try this for myself, and surprisingly the result didn't taste like banana scrambled eggs! It was actually pretty delicious (I added blueberries), but the final presentation was just awful since I couldn't get the shape to hold! 

Has anyone else had better luck with banana pancakes? Do share!!

This weekend the weather was beautiful and I enjoyed some quality time sitting in the sun with my pup.

This weekend my parents got back from their cruise and I had to give Winston back :(

I did NOT cry, however I felt like it when I got home last night and realized there would be no puppy snuggles before bed. I miss him already!!!

Until next week...

Happies and Crappies- part 3

Happy February! Linking up with Sarah and Stephanie for their third weekly....

happies

First of all, precious little man was here all week. I. Love. Him. I can't even describe my joy from how many times I got to snuggle him.

We ate pretty well this week! (and by pretty well, I mean healthy, not like your grandma's-delicious-chicken-spaghetti-and-Pizza-Hut well)

Photo numero uno shows a breakfast I was especially proud of- "wilted" spinach (FANCY) with a fried egg (not quite so fancy), but yum!

Photo numero dos, when adding two handfuls of spinach which are not pictured, represents the amount of fruits/veggies Drew and I consumed in one sitting. Hazzah for juicing!

Tie-up shirt: Valerie Bertinelli (Marshall's)

Sweater: "Ultra-Soft" Cardi (Target)

Jacket: Forever 21 (Amelia's find!)

Denim: YMI (also an Amelia's find)

Shoes: Target (worn here)

Threw together this outfit that turned out pretty fun. I also figured out that straightening my bangs prevents the fun humidity inspired Farrah Fawcett hair-who knew? (Nothing against Farrah Fawcett! I just don't pull that look off quite as well...)

Shoes: Nine West

New!! You guys. I can't help it!!! 

1) Marshall's is great. 

2) The best boyfriend ever bought them for me.

3) Loafers!

4) Tassles.

crappies

....yeah, I can't think of any right now!

I hope you all have a very blessed start to your brand new month, and don't forget to link-up to share your weekly highlights!

-PB

Food Creations

Now that I'm in grad school and have a little more time on my hands (but not really...) I am super enjoying learning to cook and/or experimenting in the kitchen.

As far as cooking is concerned, Pinterest has been my best friend and worst enemy. Whyyyy recipe, do you look so good but in reality you suck?!

You might remember a few weeks back when I wrote about my super exciting crock pot recipies that I found via Pinterest. Not so good. Super bummer- I was really excited about them!

*Sidenote- the Italian chicken was GREAT because I realized that these work much better when baked in the oven instead of in a crock pot with added water. In the crock pot all the flavor seems to cook out! Weird- maybe this would be different if you add broth instead of just water. Food for thought.

Today I thought I would introduce my own recipe. Well.....Can you call it a recipe when you made it up as you went? Anywho- this is what rescued my not-so-great chicken fajita crock pot recipe:

I didn't think of taking those fancy step-by-step photos until I tasted this soup and thought "Oh my goodness this is so easy/I'm a genius/I should blog about this!" So, a final product photo is all you get!

I call it: Tortilla Soup. (Original, right?)

But really, thats all it is! I had the leftover chicken that had some onions/tomatoes/peppers and I needed some way to not waste them.

Steps:
1) Chicken broth- I used the (sodium rich, not so good for you) Knorr bouillon cube boiled in two cups of water.
2) Dump in leftover chicken- So eloquent, I'm aware.
3) Dump in leftover rice- Mine just so happened to be of the "spanish" variety.
4) Added several large spoonfuls of rinsed (canned) blackbeans- My measurements are SO spot on, like I said, made this up as I went!
5) Added several drained spoonfuls of corn.
6) Done!

Product- Deliciousness!

I served it up with a light sprinkle of mozzarella, crunched up tortilla chips, and cubed avocado!

Now- get to screwing up some homemade chicken fajitas so you can make this delicious soup!

-PB

 *Sidenote again: My Pinterest YUM board (other than having way to many pins) contains my comments on the recipies I have actually tried, generally with the date, and what I would do to modify the recipe. 

The Facts of ME!

Today I'm linking up with Whitney at I Wore Yoga Pants to Work for this fun me me me me post! Thanks Whitney!

I feel like this post should be a lot easier than it has been. I mean, I know myself pretty well...right? 
...until I try to make a list, that is. Then I am reduced to ".....I have the cutest dog ever!"
So let us start with that :)

• I have the cutest dog EVER. Oh wait...I guess that isn't so much a fact about me as it is a fact about my adorable pup. Ok ok ok, but seriously, just one pic.

*melts*

• My favorite food group is meat. That or we could probably just narrow it down to bacon.

• I'm at that baby stage in my cooking experience where I need confirmation of the fact that I did a good job. Poor Drew... "Did you like it?!"  "Is it okay??"  "DID I RUIN IT!?!?"

          Ok maybe thats a bit of an exaggeration, but not really.

• I have a twin brother, Parker. No, we are not identical (think about it). Yes, we are close. Yes, I love sharing birthdays.

*side note on sharing birthdays: 

For as long as I can remember, Parker has been the "wake-up-early on Christmas morning/wakeup-wakeup-wakeup its our birthday" half of our twin-ship. On our birthday, first thing in the morning we would hug each other and say "Happy Birthday" (daw). Not until I moved out of the house did I realize the sentiment of this tradition that we had un-knowingly formed. I'm pretty sure I cried our first birthday apart (don't tell him that) but now we call each other at midnight to be each other's first "Happy Birthday" each year.

          That was a little more sentimental than I had planned. But to answer your last question, Yes, we have          

          twin super-powers.

• I also have super hearing powers. That or I just have a weird brain problem (Drew would probably vote for that option). 

          Ex:  Drew's watch. I could hear the second hand and it drove me nuts! Not only did this   

          freak him out because he couldn't hear it at all, but I actually found the dang thing when he thought he 

          had lost it (it was in his car) because I could hear it ticking in a box in the back seat. 

          Not going to lie, I'm actually pretty proud of that moment.

          Needless to say, Drew's Christmas present was a new watch without a second hand. Sneak sneaky ;) 

          *The watch was not the listed price, because I am a poor grad student and Amazon is great.

• I absolutely cannot (not using the contraction of cannot looks very strange) study/do homework/read in the library. Does anyone else have this problem? I get so overwhelmed by all the pretty books that I just wander around looking at the shelves and reading titles! Its fascinating to me! It also makes me wish I had spent less of my under-grad on facebook and more time reading all the pretty books. Oops. 

          But seriously- I love books.

• I have played the flute so much I have tendinitis and my hand swells up when I play, but I do it anyways. Embarrassing...or Awesome.

• My Baylor Lariat feature includes the worst cheesy newspaper caption to date...

       *Guitar hero- seriously? Thats the best you could do?!

• I got my letterman jacket in high school from spring board diving as a freshman, and not from playing the flute (which is what most people would expect....because you know, high school letter jackets are super important and all....yes I'm 23).

• I threw a flat out temper tantrum and pretty much cried the last time Drew and his friends made me watch a scary movie.

• When I get stressed out, this is my go-to mental state:

       For the best example, see my favorite blog post in the history of ever: RIGHT HUR. I hope you pee    

       your pants laughing. Which is pretty much what I'm doing right now.

Who are YOU? Link up :)

-PB

This Weekend, No. 4

Happy long weekend to all of you lucky people (like me) that get an extra day off!

This weekend, I started season 2 of Downton Abby. so good.

This weekend, (err...Friday) I was pretty excited about my outfit for the Carol Wincenc masterclass. 

Three points about this photo:

1. Yes, I often take photos in this mirror. Its the woodwind grad "office" (AKA large practice room with extra stuff) and the only full length mirror I have access to without standing on the edge of my tub to see my outfit in the bathroom mirror.....come on, you know you've done that too...
2. Hair day win!
3. I swear I took the leg warmers off before I went on stage. It was cold that morning!!

Shirt: ELLE Lace Peplum Top in Ivory (here!) 

Skirt: Target (here!)

Belt: came with skirt

Shoes: Blowfish Cherie flat (at DSW)

Now, this is a special skirt and I feel that I must explain. First of all, it was party of my Christmas present from Drew- thanks baby! Second of all- it fits. Never have I ever had a pencil skirt that fit in the (little more full) behind region without making me feel like a skank-ho! SO- go check it out!

This weekend, We actually visited the adorable mom and pop style cafe next door to Drew's house. The bacon was fantastic. I brought my own coffee. Is that rude?

This weekend, I got to hang out with my man's bestie (RP3) and his awesome woman Sarah a lot. Well, two nights in a row is a lot for us and it was great!

The first night of together-ness included an action packed two hour wait for food at La Fiesta- Who's idea was it to go on Friday night?? But, I did get this cutie guy (who actually still lives on my dashboard, Sarah, just so you know).

This weekend, I cooked pork chops for the first time! And quite successfully, I might add.

I mean, I seared them and everything. Definitely have never done any cooking that required searing and baking (go me!). Even the broccoli was extra good!

I used a recipe that has been floating around pinterest that supposedly makes the best broccoli ever.
You shake this brocc up with olive oil, salt, and pepper, cook the brocc on high heat for a short amount of time, then sprinkle with lemon juice and permesan cheese. It was pretty darn good!

(Looks great right? Like I've said in previous posts- most def not a food photographer)


This weekend, I helped with a program that my flute professor, Dr. Arnone, started at Baylor called "Honor Flutes". She invites all the high school and middle school flutists in the area to join a (free) flute choir that she conducts. The music is a challenge for most of them, but the Baylor flute studio jumps in the rehearse and perform with them- the goal being to give them a musical opportunity they might not regularly have the chance to take part in. We also hope that they have a good time, which we all did!

How did you spend your weekend?

This Weekend, No. 3

Happy Monday morning! I'm linking up with Syndal for "This Weekend, I..."

This weekend was actually a major bummer for me.

Long story short- I've been working very hard towards a handful of auditions for Artist Diploma programs next year. Sent in pre-screening recordings (takes forever to get them "just right"), and was not nearly as successful as I had hoped.

So of course (as I told my lovely boyfriend) "If I'm gonna suck at the flute at least I'm going to look awesome doing it!" Which was a little dramatic of course, because I'm kinda pretty far from sucking at the flute.....but anyways. He sympathetically "Ok baby'd" me and we went shopping.

Found this lovely gem at one of my local faves, Amelia's. $7!!

Also from Amelias, a fun Forever 21 jacket. $14!!!

I felt a little better.

This weekend I successfully bruched with Drew- my first time making french toast! Yummy

And This morning, I woke up to a freezing Waco, and these fun little not-quite-snow-like beads were everywhere.

Happy Monday everyone- I hope you have a lovely lovely day and a pleasant week!

How was your weekend?

H54F part 1

Linking up for High Five For Friday!

1.

I love Pinterest, y'all. But how often do we (I) actually accomplish the DYI or meal projects that we pin?

Yesterday, Thanks to a post by Looks Like Homemade, my freezer is now stocked with 7 pre-made yummy meals (for 2 with leftovers)! After two hours of prep time, all of these meals are completely ready to go- crock pot, go to school, done! It makes me giddy just thinking about it. 

I did make some modifications to the recipies presented (and left out the soy chicken since my main man is not a fan of soy sauce, sad day right?!) so if you are interested I can post a follow up on how the recipies turned out!

2.

This happened. Coolest dad ever, right? :)

3.

Learned that I CAN trim my own bangs without just ruining my whole life.

Also, I love my Cover Girl NatureLuxe balm.

4.

Date night at one of our local favorites- Sams on the Square, or affectionately "Tacos and Tequila"

But seriously, white queso and black bean dip with a delicious margarita?! YUM.

Hope you all had a lovely week! Its about to be back to the grind- are you ready?

Avocado crazy!

I'm not sure about you, but I sure am thankful for the avocado craze (and also, bacon).

Today I am excited to have an apartment dinner party with friends so caring that they make up a little non-blood related family. Wonderful!!

My contribution to dinner is, of course, guacamole! Can you believe that just a handful of years ago, I swore to HATE and to always HATE avocados-- I wouldn't even touch one. Silly, silly me, sure am glad I got over that one!

This recipe is fool proof. That is unless you mess it up (tehe). But the great part about this recipe is that everything is 'to taste'! Don't like something? Take it out! Want more of something? Add it!

Of course I need to give credit to my friend Andy Lott, who in time has developed this fantastic concoction of spices and was so generous to share his secrets with me!

**DISCLAIMER: I am not nor will I ever be a food photographer. Or a photographer in general. So, please no passing of judgement on my food photography skills, thanks!

You will need: avocado(s)
                      garlic salt
                      pepper
                      Cavendar's (or a comprable greek seasoning)
                      Tony's (everyone is familiar with Tony's...right?)
                      lemon or lime juice
                      salsa (take your pick!)

First I like to gather my ingredients- to make sure I don't forget anything, which is very likely to happen.

After scooping out the avocados, I like to use a knife to chop them up in to smaller pieces to make the mashing stage a little more managable.

(This is not the most beautiful avocado- sad! But it still tastes great!)

Easy on the garlic salt! It is by far the most potent ingredient. 

Lightly dust the top of the avocado with your garlic salt, pepper, Cavendar's, and Tony's. Andy's advice was to use more Tony's! I trust him.

I generally will add one light squirt of lemon juice and about two spoonfuls of salsa per avocado.

Thoroughly mix and mash, to your textural preference, and enjoy!!!!

I hope you have enjoyed my super cookbook worthy terminology and mega cooking experience (Hah!)

This is by far the best guacamole recipe I have tried- Drew and his roomies devour it.

*maybe useful hint* The first time I attempted to use garlic salt in guacamole, I ruined it. Big time. If this happens to you (which I'm sure it wont!) try adding a can of shredded chicken (looks like a tuna can) and dish it up on sandwiches! This might actually be Drew's favorite meal that I make. Yum!!!


Do you have a super secret (or not so secret) yummy avocado recipe?

-PB