birthday gift for mom

For my mom for her birthday, I put together a few mixes!

Here's what I put in:

Pulled Pork Spice Rub

Santa Fe Spice Rub (source)
2 tablespoons chili powder
1 tablespoon ground cumin
1 tablespoon celery salt
1 tablespoon black pepper
1 1/2 teaspoons garlic salt
1 1/2 teaspoons dried leaf oregano, crumbled
Combine all ingredients and seal in ziploc or vacuum seal bag
(or jar) or spice jar.

Excellent in burgers, add 2 tsp per lb of meat.

Cappuccino Chocolate Chunk Muffin Mix (adapted from:source)
2 cups flour
1 cup Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chunks
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup finely ground coffee
2-1/2 tsp. Baking Powder
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp. salt
To make muffins:
1 pkg mix
1 egg
1 cup milk
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter or margarine, melted.

Combine all and mix, batter will be slightly lumpy.
Spoon batter into prepared muffin pan, filling each cup 2/3 full

Bake at 375°F for 15 to 20 minutes

butternut squash soup

As part of our effort to try to eat a little healthier, I went looking for soup recipes that I could easily make and take to work, and that would be good for me.

I immediately thought of a butternut squash soup, since that would give me a veggie at lunch, which I hardly ever eat while I am at work.

As a bonus, this soup is vegetarian, so would make a good lunch even on our meatless day.

This soup turned out really good, even though it was a little thick for my taste. I think next time if I use the whole butternut squash (which I did) I will need to increase the other ingredients so it's more soup-like and less babyfood-like.

Butternut Squash Soup

1 Butternut squash, about 2 pounds
2 tablespoons peanut oil
1 cup chopped onion
1 1/2 teaspoons chopped garlic
1/2 cup thinly sliced carrot
1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 tablespoon finely minced jalapeno pepper
2 cups chicken stock
1/4 cup heavy cream

1. Peel the squash, cut it in half, and scoop out the seeds. Cut into 1 inch pieces. In a large pot, heat oil over medium heat. 

2. Add onion and garlic and cook, stirring often, until they begin to brown, about 5 minutes. 

3. Add the carrot, cumin, salt, and pepper. Cook for 1 minute, and then add squash, jalapeno pepper, and chicken stock. 

4. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 15- 20 minutes, or until the vegetables are tender. 

5. Remove from the heat and puree the soup using an immersion blender, or transfer to a blender or food processor. Puree until smooth. 

6. Return to the heat, add the cream and adjust the seasonings.

 

Source: www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/the-essence-of-emeril/butternut-squash-soup-recipe/index.html

replacement cardigan

I was shopping the other day (as a treat for passing my GMAT!) and I went to JCPenny, just browsing. I found this sweater jacket on sale for $8.67! I know that the black cardigan I have (that I wear ALL the time) is starting to wear out in the elbows, so I got a great deal on a replacement!!

valentine's day cookies

I know this post is a little late - I know that Valentine's Day has been over for a couple weeks, but I had to post about these cookies that a friend and I made for our Valentine's Day bake-off at work.

They are Valentine's Day and Anti-Valentine's Day cookies...because Valentine's day isn't for everyone! ;)

sugar cookie bars

I made these sugar cookie bars (more about why they are bars in a minute) for my cheer girls for Valentine's Day. They are sugar cookie bars and not sugar cookies because I needed 60+ of them to hand out, and I did not have the time to make and frost individual cookies! (Our teams have gotten so big!)

They were super easy to make, and turned out delicious!

Sugar Cookie Squares

Ingredients:

1/2 cup butter, softened

1 cup granulated sugar

1 egg

1 egg white

1 Tbsp sour cream

1 tsp vanilla extract

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

1 recipe vanilla frosting, recipe follows

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Butter a 13″ x 9″ baking dish, set aside. In a mixing bowl combine flour, baking powder and salt, set aside. In the bowl of an electric mixer, whip together butter and sugar until pale and fluffy about 3-4 minutes. Stir in egg and egg white. Add sour cream and vanilla and mix until blended. Slowly add dry mixture and stir until well combine. With buttered hands, gently press (so gently almost patting) mixture into buttered baking dish. Bake 16 – 19 minutes until toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean and edges are lightly golden. Cool completely, then frost and cut into squares.

Vanilla Frosting

Ingredients:

1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened

2 cups powdered sugar

2-3 Tbsp half and half

1 tsp vanilla

Pinch of salt

Several drop food coloring (optional)

In a mixing bowl, with an electric mixer, whip together butter and powdered sugar and half and half until fluffy. Stir in vanilla and salt. Add in optional food coloring and mix until well blended.

You can find the original recipe at: http://www.makeaheadmealsforbusymoms.com/sugar-cookie-squares/

I don't pay for TV.

My cheerleaders know that I like to watch Glee, so they like to discuss the show with me. The problem: Glee airs on Thursday nights, while we are all at cheerleading practice. So, I watch them online after the fact. One of my cheerleaders in particular likes to ask me why I haven't watched the latest Glee yet, which led to an interesting conversation, that went something like this.

Her: Did you watch Glee yet?

Me: Nope, it's not free on Hulu yet.

Her: Haven't you ever heard of recording?

Me: I don't have DVR.

Her: Why don't you get DVR or Hulu Plus?!

Me: I don't pay for TV.

Her: You pay for cable.

Me: Nope, I do not.

Her: What?! You're so weird. You don't even have cable?

I know that she thinks that I'm weird, and that everyone else she knows has cable. But, I don't see the point in paying for something I'm not going to use - I'm not in my apartment enough to pay for cable. And, I certainly watch enough TV as it is.

I even know that this seems weird to most people, but we're on a budget, and just can't pay for things that aren't a priority. And, you know what, even if we weren't, I think I still wouldn't want cable. Cable takes up so much of your time, because there's always something on TV. I like that on Saturdays and Sundays there's nothing on, and I have to find something else to do.

chocolate chip cookie in a mug

I just made myself one of these, and it was DELICIOUS! I'm not a huge fan of the cake in a mug things, or the brownie in a mug things...but a single serving chocolate chip cookie?! Had to try that one.

I can't take ANY credit for this one though!

Go check it out at:
http://www.number-2-pencil.com/2012/03/chocolate-chip-cookie-in-cup.html

meat on sale

If there's one thing I can't resist, it's meat that is on sale. I went to the grocery store the other day for a pork shoulder to make pulled pork with and they only had half shoulders. And...they were on sale!

I normally would have just bought one, since half a pork shoulder makes more than enough pulled pork for two people...but since they were on sale I bought three! I froze the extra two.

In total, I saved  $5.42.


Hey, it's not like I won't use them!

honey oatmeal rolls

For Christmas, I made honey oatmeal sourdough bread for my friends and family. Alex liked it so much that he requested rolls to take on his next business trip. He will be doing a lot of driving, so it's hard for him to get good food, since fast food is most definitely not good for you! He'll pack the rolls in the cooler to snack on when he gets hungry. Taking food with him also helps him to not spend a fortune on food eating out!

I had some issues with this recipe at first, and had to modify it a little bit to work better with my starter. You can find the original recipe here.

Honey Oatmeal Sourdough Bread

2 cups active starter
1 cup warm milk
2/3 cup warm water
1/4 cup oil or melted butter
1/4 cup honey
1/2 cup sugar
1 cup quick oats
2 1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1 1/2 cup bread flour
1 1/2 cup white flour
3 tsp salt 

Mix all ingredients except salt for 2-3 minutes. Allow the dough to rest for about 20 minutes.
Add salt and knead dough for about five minutes. If dough is too sticky, add slightly more flour but dough should be soft and not dry and stiff. Place in oiled bowl and allow dough to rise for 6-8 hours or until nearly doubled in size.
Divide dough into two pieces and shape into loaves and place in two greased medium bread pans, or five pieces and five small bread pans. If a free form loaf is desired, place on greased baking sheet. Spray with oil and cover with plastic wrap to keep from drying out. Allow to rise for 6-8 hours.
When dough has risen, bake at 400 degrees for 30-35 minutes. For even browning, turn loaves halfway through baking time.

jewelry organizer

I saw this idea for a jewelry organizer on Pinterest awhile ago. I'd been thinking of getting an actual jewelry box, but this looked so cute I had to try it! The bonus was, I already had an extra bulletin board, so I didn't have to buy anything except the ribbon.

The tutorial I found for this covered a piece of corkboard in fabric then framed it, adding ribbons and tacks for the jewelry last. I used a bulletin board, which gave me the piece of corkboard already framed. I covered the frame in pretty ribbon, and added complimenting ribbon for the jewelry. (You could also paint the frame of the bulletin board!)

My only complaint with this was that the ribbon that is holding the earrings tends to droop over time. As I add more earrings, it gets heavier and starts to sag. To fix this, I put a couple extra tacks in the ribbon, so it stays straight across and the earrings don't fall off.

You can find the source here.

pulled pork

Awhile back, I found this recipe for pulled pork at http://www.crumblycookie.net/2008/05/30/crockpot-pulled-pork/. I've been using it for a couple years now, and it's the best! Everyone I've made it for or given the recipe to likes it!

I mixed up some of the spice rub and sent it to to her, along with the recipe, for her birthday! That's how much I like this pulled pork. And, it makes a ton, and I always like leftovers!

Crock Pot Pulled Pork

Spice Rub:
1 tablespoon ground black pepper
1-2 teaspoons cayenne pepper
2 tablespoons chili powder
2 tablespoons ground cumin
2 tablespoons dark brown sugar
1 tablespoon dried oregano
4 tablespoons paprika
2 tablespoons table salt
1 tablespoon granulated sugar
1 tablespoon ground white pepper
1 (6-8 pound) bone-in pork shoulder
½ teaspoon liquid smoke (optional, I never put it in since I never have any)
2 cups barbecue sauce

1. Mix all spice rub ingredients in small bowl.
2. Massage spice rub into meat. Wrap tightly in double layer of plastic wrap; refrigerate for at least 3 hours. (For stronger flavor, the roast can be refrigerated for up to 3 days.)
3. Unwrap roast and place it in slow cooker liner. Add liquid smoke, if using, and ¼ cup water. Turn slow cooker to low and cook for 8-10 hours, until meat is fork-tender.
4. Transfer roast to cutting board; discard liquid in liner. “Pull” by tearing meat into thin shreds with two forks or your fingers. Discard fat.
5. Place shredded meat back in slow cooker liner; toss with 1 cup barbecue sauce, and heat on low for 30-60 minutes, until hot. Serve with additional barbecue sauce.

birthday chocolate cheesecake

A friend of mine had a birthday in January, and I told her I'd make a cake. When I asked her what kind, she didn't care, so I decided on chocolate cheesecake! (After confirming that she likes cheesecake, of course!) My uncle has a SPECTACULAR chocolate cheesecake recipe, so I decided to do that!

It turned out awesome! (She was generous enough to give me a piece!)

pro rodeo

Since the National Western Stock Show was in town, and both my cousin and I wanted to go see the rodeo, we convinced our significant others and got tickets to the Pro Rodeo!

The event did end up being a little expensive, $61 for two tickets, but Alex and I had planned on seeing some kind of show this winter, so I think we got off pretty easy.

And...we had a blast!

We saw...

Bareback Bronco Riding

Mutton Bustin' (That's right, that's a 6 year old on a sheep!)

 Team Roping (One rider was responsible for lasso'ing the feet, the other the head)

 Saddled Bronco Riding

 A cowboys and indians skit, complete with bison

 Barrel Racing

Bull Riding

 Cow Tying

 Steer Wrestling

vegetarian dinners

We are trying to eat a little healthier, and as a part of that, we are trying to designate one day a week to be vegetarian. So, I need vegetarian dinners! 

This one was my first attempt. It's not that I've never made anything that was meatless, but this was the first time I went looking for a recipe that was meatless.

I came across the recipe for this dish online, it's a pasta/broccoli casserole. To be honest, not the best dinner we've ever had, so I'm not going to post the recipe.

But, it was made, it was vegetarian, and we ate it. Steps in the right direction. 

(Did I mention it was also a really cheap meal? Pasta, broccoli, cheese...that was about it. It's hard to figure out where it went wrong.)

30 friend dates

 

(Colorado Dragon Boat Festival - great example of a free festival!)

Ok, here it is! My list of things to do with friends that are relatively inexpensive!

Out and About
1. coffee
2. go for a walk
3. window shopping
4. hiking
5. free festivals/fairs
6. movies - find a theater that does $5 Tuesdays or Sundays!
7. sand volleyball
8. ride bikes
9. photography list
10. laser tag
11. mini golf
12. take your dog to the dog park
13. volunteer
14. bowling
15. wine tasting
16. frisbee or frisbee golf
17. yard sales/flea market

At Home
18. make dessert
19. watch favorite tv shows
20. workout video at home
21. game night
22. video games
23. no-money poker night
24. borrow a movie from the library or redbox
25. tye-dye something
26. do a puzzle
27. pot luck
28. cookie exchange
29. paint nails 
30. make dinner (split the ingredients)

What else?!

the girl at the car dealership

I'm posting today to report a major win the in the friendship hunt! I've been posting about the book MWF seeking BFF, and in my last post, I wrote about how to find friends.

Number 3 on that list was to introduce yourself to that girl at the [insert public place here]. I also admitted that I had never actually done that, but I did it last night!

I went to get an oil change (on a Friday night, glamorous, I know) and the girl at the desk in the waiting area seemed like she was probably about my age. At first, I sat in a chair reading, not expecting to have any conversations.

After awhile, she asked me what book I was reading (Bride for a Night, just something I grabbed from the library because it was available), and continued to talk to me from there. Instead of just going back to my book, we had a good conversation about working with kids (we both coach sports teams), customer service experiences, what her boyfriend does, and where we grew up.

When my car was done and I went to pay, I worked up some courage and dug one of my business cards out of my wallet. (They had to come in handy sometime, right?) I wrote my personal e-mail address on it and told her if she ever wanted to hang out to e-mail me. She seemed a little surprised, but pretty receptive. 

So, if she e-mails, she e-mails. If she doesn't, she doesn't. There was nothing to lose by throwing it out there, and I'm very proud of myself.

I'll keep you posted if I hear from her!

meeting friends

It was pointed out to me that in my post about the book MWF seeking BFF, I listed that I had learned two things from the book, and the first one was to make friends, you have to meet people.

I skipped this one as I was writing, moving right along to talk about how friends are expensive. But, I did want to come back to this idea!

Some of the things that Rachel Bertsche, the author of MWF seeking BFF, did in the book to meet people are, by themselves, expensive.

She talked about how she attended a yoga class, for example. Although I think a yoga or fitness class would be really fun, I don't have the budget for that at the moment. She also tried websites that are similar to a dating website, but for friends, which would also cost money.

However, here's a list of things that you can do for (almost if not) free to meet people, some from the book, some not.

1. Join a club (running, painting, etc)
     You can find groups of people doing various outings at meetup.com. I've used this website a couple times, going to a couple meetups. Be forewarned, though, a lot of the meetups have a fee. Sometimes the fee is $2, sometimes it's upwards of $10, $30, $50. Most groups charge a little something, since there is a fee to own a group on the site.
2. Join a church group
     I have recently joined a book study through my church, open to 20-something ladies. I've met a really cool group of girls and enjoy our weekly meetings! (My church also does groups of people that run, or hike, and lots of other activities)
3. Introduce yourself to that girl at the gym/grocery store/clothing store/park/restaurant
     This one is a little scary, I know, but it's all about putting yourself out there. In the book, the author went on friend dates with girls she met in almost all those places. The worst that can happen is he or she is completely not interested, and you never see him or her again. (I have to admit, I have not done this one...still a little chicken!)
4. Bond with work friends
     The people you work with are the people you see the most, so you have to be careful with this one. Even though they may turn into friends, they will still be your colleagues. That being said, I have a pretty regular game night with a group of friends from work, and it's going just fine. :)
5. Get a second job
      This seems counter-intuitive, but if you get a second job doing something that you love, you will meet other people who most likely share that interest. I have a second job coaching cheerleading, and although I wouldn't call my fellow coaches really close friends, I enjoy spending time with them a couple nights a week, and it is pretty social.

How else do you meet people?