I have been writing in an online journal since I was a freshman in college, circa 2000. The site that started my love of writing in an online journal for creepy internet strangers to read closed earlier this year and as sad as it made me, I knew it was coming. The site had many struggles, a hacking or two, and flat out crappy management. The proverbial writing was on the internet wall. Once the site started failing, I stopped writing and checking places. Life gets in the way sometimes of the things you are used to doing that aren't a necessity.
So much has changed since my last entry. I miscarried. I found out my then husband cheated, was a liar, and an even bigger asshat than I thought he was previously. I asked him to leave. I had limited visitation of my stepdaughter who I raised since she was 2. I took on a second job at a bar. I was a big girl and paid all of my bills on my OWN without the help of any man. (huge thing since I had a rather large mortage, car note, and a ton of credit card debt from aforementioned asshat). I started dating a man I've known for a very long time and never thought of in that way before. I found out I was pregnant. I found out two days later I would never be allowed to see my stepdaughter again when my soon to be ex husband found out I was seeing someone (even though he had dated many women since we separated and even introduced my sweet girl to these random women). I studied for and PASSED my Series 6 a few weeks after finding out I was pregnant. I got divorced. I've fallen into the best thing in life, true damn happiness.
I never in a million years thought that I would ever find this level of happiness in life when I asked for a divorce. I thought my one shot at that whole spending your life with one person was over with.
Parrish just truly completes me. He is by far the sweetest man I've ever met. He holds my hand when I need him. He lets me stew when I need it. He tells me to sit my butt down and put my feet up and REST when he knows I've worked myself into a tizzy. He talks to my belly and tells our baby girl to settle down in there when she is dancing the rumba up in there! More importantly he makes me feel like the only lady in the entire world and I know he has my back no matter what happens.
We've had some bumps in the road, not in our relationship, but with family things. It will all be done soon enough once this sweet baby girl is born. I am having a baby, in less than 2 weeks. A sweet, soft, loving, pooping, throwing up, all mine and you cant ever take her from me EVER baby girl. I wish my first baby girl would be in my life still so I could share this time with her as well. My heart hurts every day missing my Alesi. I know she knows I love her no matter what nonsense she is fed. She knows I would never abandon her. I am not the type of parent to do that.
She will grow up resenting people and I can rest assured every night knowing I will not be the one she resents. Every dog has their day and trust me, he will have his. I mean he has his every day. I thank God every day he was stupid enough to do what he did. I wasn't happy and hadn't been happy for a while. The happiness I feel today right here and now trumps any happiness I ever had with my ex husband It scares me because I question my judgement of marrying my ex husband. I know now that I married him for my stepdaughter, for Alesi. I don't regret that time spent with her at all. I am sad I can't hug her or tell her daily I love her. I hope she thinks of me often and remembers my loving words and manners I taught her.
So I am back. I am back from the proverbial blogging dead and I am glad to be here.
I am happy, pregnant (and soon to pop!) and ready to start this new chapter in my life. Love is an amazing thing!
Friday, March 14, 2014
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
All things Half Pint!
Please accept my apologies for lack of entries lately. Changing jobs, trying to focus more on my family, and just enjoying life area all to blame for this!
I know as our kiddos grow up, we don't have baby books or huge milestones anymore to record their likes/dislikes, mannerisms, light bulb moments, and overall personality changes.
My little girl asks often about what she was like as a baby or growing up in her first year. I gently remind her that I have been in her life since she was 2 and reinforce her inquisitive behavior with stories that I can recollect of her at age 2 and older. I remind her she can ask her dad once he gets home from work and we will definitely get those answers for her.
Now I want to record right here and now things that make me giggle or grin about her at this time!
She loves my red beans. She doesn't like canned red beans and is quick to tell you they "aren't like her mommas" but with a smile. She whispered that to my mom not long ago about my dad's beans. I couldn't help me laugh at that point because my dad is who taught me how to cook for the most part!
She sings in the shower and I mean LOUDLY! She loves to sing Adela, Maroon 5, and that boy band that sings "That what makes her beautiful." Their name escapes me right now and I am too lazy to look it up since I know as soon as I type this, I'll remember their name! One direction, told you I'd remember!
She loves music and keeps it in her life in every way possible. She knows all the words to most songs and it makes me smile :) She definitely takes after me on this one!
She is protective of me and her dad both, but more so for me. I love that she still curls up in my lap and cuddles with me every possible chance.
She is growing like a weed and is really tall for her age. I don't really know where she gets that height from but I know she'll enjoy it once she gets older.
She loves going to church and praying. We say grace at the table and she loves to lead it!
She enjoys school most days and always surprises me with her skills.
She is such a good care giver. My friend Sherrie had a sweet baby boy 4 weeks ago and she loves all over him like he is her own brother. It breaks my heart to see how much she yearns for a sibling but I know we will have one when the good Lord is ready to help with that!
I am so blessed to have such an amazingly sweet little girl!
I know as our kiddos grow up, we don't have baby books or huge milestones anymore to record their likes/dislikes, mannerisms, light bulb moments, and overall personality changes.
My little girl asks often about what she was like as a baby or growing up in her first year. I gently remind her that I have been in her life since she was 2 and reinforce her inquisitive behavior with stories that I can recollect of her at age 2 and older. I remind her she can ask her dad once he gets home from work and we will definitely get those answers for her.
Now I want to record right here and now things that make me giggle or grin about her at this time!
She loves my red beans. She doesn't like canned red beans and is quick to tell you they "aren't like her mommas" but with a smile. She whispered that to my mom not long ago about my dad's beans. I couldn't help me laugh at that point because my dad is who taught me how to cook for the most part!
She sings in the shower and I mean LOUDLY! She loves to sing Adela, Maroon 5, and that boy band that sings "That what makes her beautiful." Their name escapes me right now and I am too lazy to look it up since I know as soon as I type this, I'll remember their name! One direction, told you I'd remember!
She loves music and keeps it in her life in every way possible. She knows all the words to most songs and it makes me smile :) She definitely takes after me on this one!
She is protective of me and her dad both, but more so for me. I love that she still curls up in my lap and cuddles with me every possible chance.
She is growing like a weed and is really tall for her age. I don't really know where she gets that height from but I know she'll enjoy it once she gets older.
She loves going to church and praying. We say grace at the table and she loves to lead it!
She enjoys school most days and always surprises me with her skills.
She is such a good care giver. My friend Sherrie had a sweet baby boy 4 weeks ago and she loves all over him like he is her own brother. It breaks my heart to see how much she yearns for a sibling but I know we will have one when the good Lord is ready to help with that!
I am so blessed to have such an amazingly sweet little girl!
Monday, May 7, 2012
The trouble with trifle
I make a dessert that I call trifle. It's a tweaked recipe that took me a little while to perfect but it's ridiculously good, but ridiculously easy. I don't ever let on how easy it is usually, but I'm calling myself out in this entry to tell you how stinkin' easy it is! The issue with it is once you master how to make it, people beg you to make it over and over. I'm so tired of making this, my chocolate brownie trifle, and my spinach and artichoke dip. OVER IT!
I make a few variations and the one I am going to post about today is the strawberry cheesecake version. You will need the following ingredients to make an average size trifle bowl. I never ever make this version, I always double it because it goes and it goes fast! If you've ever been lucky enough to been at any function I've been at--you've eaten it and can tell the world that you better grab it when you see it because it goes in a flash!
Strawberry Cheesecake trifle
Ingredients
Slice pound cake into 1-inch slices. Put aside.
Mix water and condensed milk until fully combined. Mix in the cheesecake pudding until fully combined. Then mix in 8 oz. of Cool Whip.
In a large trifle bowl, put the first layer down of pound cake. Put half of the pudding mixture. Top with half of the remaining Cool Whip. Layer half of the strawberries on top. Layer the other half of ingredients the same way.
Place in the fridge for at least 4 hours to meld all together! I usually make it the night before to ensure it tastes as yummy as possible!
A few tips:
do not use angel food cake. It breaks down too easy and it tastes like soggy mush. The pound cake is heavy enough to not break down completely.
You can substitute any fruit you have but I haven't ever made it with anything other than strawberries. It's up to you if you want to use pie filling but I don't know how that would taste.
Sometimes I put my strawberries in a bit of sugar and let it make it's own juice. It just depends on how I feel that night when I make it :)
Hope you enjoy!!
I make a few variations and the one I am going to post about today is the strawberry cheesecake version. You will need the following ingredients to make an average size trifle bowl. I never ever make this version, I always double it because it goes and it goes fast! If you've ever been lucky enough to been at any function I've been at--you've eaten it and can tell the world that you better grab it when you see it because it goes in a flash!
Strawberry Cheesecake trifle
Ingredients
- 1 whole Pound Cake (premade is fine if you want to save time!)
- ½ cups Water
- 1 14 Oz. Can Condensed Milk
- 1 3.4 oz box Jello Cheesecake Pudding mix
- 1 8 oz tub of cool whip
- 1 12 oz tub of cool whip
- 2 cups sliced strawberries
Slice pound cake into 1-inch slices. Put aside.
Mix water and condensed milk until fully combined. Mix in the cheesecake pudding until fully combined. Then mix in 8 oz. of Cool Whip.
In a large trifle bowl, put the first layer down of pound cake. Put half of the pudding mixture. Top with half of the remaining Cool Whip. Layer half of the strawberries on top. Layer the other half of ingredients the same way.
Place in the fridge for at least 4 hours to meld all together! I usually make it the night before to ensure it tastes as yummy as possible!
A few tips:
do not use angel food cake. It breaks down too easy and it tastes like soggy mush. The pound cake is heavy enough to not break down completely.
You can substitute any fruit you have but I haven't ever made it with anything other than strawberries. It's up to you if you want to use pie filling but I don't know how that would taste.
Sometimes I put my strawberries in a bit of sugar and let it make it's own juice. It just depends on how I feel that night when I make it :)
Hope you enjoy!!
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Changes are happening
There are choices we are all faced with from time to time.
We weigh the pros, the cons, and the indifferents.
As a mom and wife foremost, my family comes first to me. At the end of the day, nothing else really matters. There needs to be love, a roof over our head, and some sort of food to feed us.
Right now, there are some big changes happening in my life and I am ready to take them head on.
It will be tough in the beginning but the end result is worth the stress and worry.
Some of you know what's going on and others do not. I appreciate your patience until everything is official with the changes.
I hope you stick along for the ride!
We weigh the pros, the cons, and the indifferents.
As a mom and wife foremost, my family comes first to me. At the end of the day, nothing else really matters. There needs to be love, a roof over our head, and some sort of food to feed us.
Right now, there are some big changes happening in my life and I am ready to take them head on.
It will be tough in the beginning but the end result is worth the stress and worry.
Some of you know what's going on and others do not. I appreciate your patience until everything is official with the changes.
I hope you stick along for the ride!
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
TIme flies
With my husband's job change last November comes added shifts and extra shifts. That makes for a hectic life for me!
I am hopefully leveling out and can handle everything I am juggling.
I decided to re-open my Etsy shop soon and I am hoping it brings in extra money needed for my girls trip to Mexico for my best friend (aka almost sister) Heather!
If I have any rogue readers out there left, feel to ask me anything you want to know about me.
PS-in 10 days I will be the mother of a 7 year old. WHO told her she could grow up?
I am hopefully leveling out and can handle everything I am juggling.
I decided to re-open my Etsy shop soon and I am hoping it brings in extra money needed for my girls trip to Mexico for my best friend (aka almost sister) Heather!
If I have any rogue readers out there left, feel to ask me anything you want to know about me.
PS-in 10 days I will be the mother of a 7 year old. WHO told her she could grow up?
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Some days you just have to run
Any Dixie Chicks fans out there? Remember that song, some days you gotta dance? Well some days in my life you gotta run. I've been hitting the gym in such a dedicated manner that I am even confusing my child. She told me last night that I spend too much time at the gym and I am healthy enough already. I told her I have 50+ lbs to go to be healthy enough and well, that is that! She doesn't like me going to the gym but I explain that I will be happier and healthier, so she shrugs and runs off to go watch Victoria or play on her DSi.
The announcement today is that I have been running on the treadmill. Yes, this girl right here has been running. The only real time I've run before now is after my kid if she escaped my grasp as a toddler or maybe after an Icee truck if he forgot to refill the machines at Sam's? Either way, I've started my running regiment. Let me tell you, it sucks to be on a treadmill for 45 minutes+. I get bored. Granted I have my iPhone, a TV, and an android phone all within reach but I am still bored. I hate commercials so TV annoys me. I am music spastic so I skip songs often. There aren't many songs I can listen to it's entirety but I am trying very hard to listen to songs from start to finish. I often say my music spastic qualities might end up getting me divorced one day, but I think for now he'll stick around, lol.
My current songs I run to and keep up the pace:
Stronger-Kelly Clarkson. I love her, love love that she is producing music like her first album. Love her!
Countdown-Oh Beyonce I love you. I mean I think the money you spent on blue ivy's nursery is a bit much, but I love this song. I also rock out to Single Ladies too and you can see me holding a hand up sometimes on the treadmill while running/walking doing that dance. Oh yes ma'am!
Set Fire to the Rain-Adele-you rock. I love your voice. I also love Glee's take on your songs and their mash-ups of them.
Good Feeling-Flo Rida. Bring it on, buddy. I've got this!
Not over you-Gavin DeGraw. Love love the upbeat tempo!
N in Paradise--I rock it. I don't use the N word, ever and don't like the use of it but the song makes me run for the most part.
Moves like Jagger-Maroon 5. This just makes me smile b/c my little girl loves this song and we dance to it anytime it comes on. I'm sure some people in traffic were getting a good laugh at us the other day
Now I'm off to make some soup for a coworker for a favor they did for me and get my butt up and dressed!
Have a great Thursday, ya'l1!
The announcement today is that I have been running on the treadmill. Yes, this girl right here has been running. The only real time I've run before now is after my kid if she escaped my grasp as a toddler or maybe after an Icee truck if he forgot to refill the machines at Sam's? Either way, I've started my running regiment. Let me tell you, it sucks to be on a treadmill for 45 minutes+. I get bored. Granted I have my iPhone, a TV, and an android phone all within reach but I am still bored. I hate commercials so TV annoys me. I am music spastic so I skip songs often. There aren't many songs I can listen to it's entirety but I am trying very hard to listen to songs from start to finish. I often say my music spastic qualities might end up getting me divorced one day, but I think for now he'll stick around, lol.
My current songs I run to and keep up the pace:
Stronger-Kelly Clarkson. I love her, love love that she is producing music like her first album. Love her!
Countdown-Oh Beyonce I love you. I mean I think the money you spent on blue ivy's nursery is a bit much, but I love this song. I also rock out to Single Ladies too and you can see me holding a hand up sometimes on the treadmill while running/walking doing that dance. Oh yes ma'am!
Set Fire to the Rain-Adele-you rock. I love your voice. I also love Glee's take on your songs and their mash-ups of them.
Good Feeling-Flo Rida. Bring it on, buddy. I've got this!
Not over you-Gavin DeGraw. Love love the upbeat tempo!
N in Paradise--I rock it. I don't use the N word, ever and don't like the use of it but the song makes me run for the most part.
Moves like Jagger-Maroon 5. This just makes me smile b/c my little girl loves this song and we dance to it anytime it comes on. I'm sure some people in traffic were getting a good laugh at us the other day
Now I'm off to make some soup for a coworker for a favor they did for me and get my butt up and dressed!
Have a great Thursday, ya'l1!
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Some days you have to say shove it
I love my job. I do. Really! There aren't many days I walk out of here or take my lunch shaking my head when it comes to people. Sure, I let out a giggle to myself sometimes or joke with coworkers about their level of stupidity, but for the most part I love my job.
Today, however I want to tell Wednesday to take a flying leap and land in some dog poop or something!
My customers today have really given me some "hum dinger" kind of questions/statements leaving me wanting to kick a kitten.
Add to that my frustrations with a few other things in life right now, I just want to kick a kitten.
Did I mention I'm going to the gym like 5-6 times a week now? Yep, this girl right here is hitting the gym. I do at least 30 minutes on the treadmill and 15 minutes on the bike, and then at least 20 minutes doing the weight circuits. So far, so good.
I gave up coca cola. Stop the presses. Hold the phone. Get out of freaking dodge. You may not know this but I am addicted to it like its a drug.
I shall be Ok.
My boss says to include in this post that I like nuts. In my mouth. The kind you can swish around.
She says they are Niiice and then I had to turn in a fit of giggles and realized that the brand name is Nice. She also likes to suck on them!
Enough said!
Today, however I want to tell Wednesday to take a flying leap and land in some dog poop or something!
My customers today have really given me some "hum dinger" kind of questions/statements leaving me wanting to kick a kitten.
Add to that my frustrations with a few other things in life right now, I just want to kick a kitten.
Did I mention I'm going to the gym like 5-6 times a week now? Yep, this girl right here is hitting the gym. I do at least 30 minutes on the treadmill and 15 minutes on the bike, and then at least 20 minutes doing the weight circuits. So far, so good.
I gave up coca cola. Stop the presses. Hold the phone. Get out of freaking dodge. You may not know this but I am addicted to it like its a drug.
I shall be Ok.
My boss says to include in this post that I like nuts. In my mouth. The kind you can swish around.
She says they are Niiice and then I had to turn in a fit of giggles and realized that the brand name is Nice. She also likes to suck on them!
Enough said!
Sunday, January 8, 2012
GEAUX TIGERS!!!
i am a huge ball of nerves. LSU is playing for the national title tomorrow! OMG I am going to pee myself with worry between now and tomorrow!
To make me calm down and laugh at myself, let me share some previous LSU pics to show you my time there!
This was when I worked for Winn Dixie and Mike came in to shop!
Senior LSU pic 2003. What was I thinking with those roots???
Wow random picture of what engagement ring I wanted! Sorry had to include this because it was super random!
BIg night of going out!
I guess I was competing for Miss America LSU
Joel and I!
CHEEEEEEEEESE!!!
Good times!
oh wow!
When I still dresssed hot!
after a LONG night of partying :)
Drunk in Ihop!
My husband, before he was my husband!
My sweet Alesi being a tiger fan before Joe and I were even in love :)
Drunk at Pat O's!
I love my tigers! Sorry this is blurry---not sure where the original jpeg is :(
To make me calm down and laugh at myself, let me share some previous LSU pics to show you my time there!
This was when I worked for Winn Dixie and Mike came in to shop!
Senior LSU pic 2003. What was I thinking with those roots???
Wow random picture of what engagement ring I wanted! Sorry had to include this because it was super random!
BIg night of going out!
I guess I was competing for Miss America LSU
Joel and I!
CHEEEEEEEEESE!!!
Good times!
oh wow!
When I still dresssed hot!
after a LONG night of partying :)
Drunk in Ihop!
My husband, before he was my husband!
My sweet Alesi being a tiger fan before Joe and I were even in love :)
Drunk at Pat O's!
I love my tigers! Sorry this is blurry---not sure where the original jpeg is :(
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Hello 2012!
2011 was a year. My husband started off the year unemployed, but now is gainfully employed with a job he loves. I think this is the first job he has had that he loves. I'm proud of him for being one of our area's newest Sheriff's Deputy!
It was also a year of hoping to get pregnant and not being successful. I know I'll have my day, but it's hard for someone with my OCD traits to not have it happen when she wants it to. My BFF Heather is getting married in Mexico this October and she said it best last night. Maybe my niece or nephew doesn't want to be conceived until I get married in Mexico. Here, here Heather!
Alesi has grown by leaps and bounds. She is my heart and soul and has flourished so much this year. I'm going to try very hard to post more pictures here of her so our family can stay in the loop of what is going on. She is such a wonderful child, and I am beyond blesssed. She isn't perfect and she has her moments, but man am I ever lucky! She has maintained the A honor roll this year and always comes home in a great mood from school. She is a great eater and has very few things she won't touch. A few of those things that she doesn't like-cabbage, broccoli that is cooked too much, or Brussels sprouts ( I had no clue there is an S at the end of brussels. I've always called them brussel sprouts. I shall change that in my vocabulary immediately!) If you look at what she doesn't eat, it's all weird texture foods. Things she loves and requests often-salads of all kinds, black eyed peas, and oh lordy she requests red beans every single week! Yesterday at 3 pm she said "mom please make red beans." I had to giggle and tell her no, and asked her to stop asking for them so much in 2012! Needless to say, I'm so very lucky and I know this. I can only hope any other children we may have will be as awesome as her!
As far as me, well I have a ton of personal goals to achieve this year. I want to love harder, laugh more, eat less, travel more, and enjoy my friends to the best of my ability. I am so very blessed to have so many amazing friends. From Cali, to Mass, all the way back here to LA and everywhere in between--my friends are nothing less than freaking AWESOME! I couldn't get thru life without them dropping a little happy in my life randomly! Some of them have had a super hard year--but we all know our shoulders are there for one another to lean on!
My family--it's been a year with that. My brother got married this year and I truly think it has bridged the gap in our life. I have an amazing sister in law and two wonderful new nephews and one niece to add to our family. I've got amazing parents who do anything and everything for us. I also have kind and loving in laws who help anytime I ask and are awesome just as well. My other SIL recently gained full custody of our niece and I am very happy and excited to have her in our life more often. It was always hard for me to ask to have her over for the night with my SIL only having her every other week. Now she is full time with her mom and only every other weekend with her father, so now I have more chance to have her spend the night with us.
Life changes for me in 2012. I'm going back to the healthy eating track, and cutting out soda and all the treats I make. I want to hold myself more accountable for what I consume and set a good example for my sweet girl.
For you few readers I have--I will write more. I read everyone like nobody's business, but I fail at writing to update you what's going on with me. That stops here and I will write more. I want to be able to look back later in life and read exactly how I felt at this point in time in my life.
Happy 2012 everyone--it's going to be an amazing one!
It was also a year of hoping to get pregnant and not being successful. I know I'll have my day, but it's hard for someone with my OCD traits to not have it happen when she wants it to. My BFF Heather is getting married in Mexico this October and she said it best last night. Maybe my niece or nephew doesn't want to be conceived until I get married in Mexico. Here, here Heather!
Alesi has grown by leaps and bounds. She is my heart and soul and has flourished so much this year. I'm going to try very hard to post more pictures here of her so our family can stay in the loop of what is going on. She is such a wonderful child, and I am beyond blesssed. She isn't perfect and she has her moments, but man am I ever lucky! She has maintained the A honor roll this year and always comes home in a great mood from school. She is a great eater and has very few things she won't touch. A few of those things that she doesn't like-cabbage, broccoli that is cooked too much, or Brussels sprouts ( I had no clue there is an S at the end of brussels. I've always called them brussel sprouts. I shall change that in my vocabulary immediately!) If you look at what she doesn't eat, it's all weird texture foods. Things she loves and requests often-salads of all kinds, black eyed peas, and oh lordy she requests red beans every single week! Yesterday at 3 pm she said "mom please make red beans." I had to giggle and tell her no, and asked her to stop asking for them so much in 2012! Needless to say, I'm so very lucky and I know this. I can only hope any other children we may have will be as awesome as her!
As far as me, well I have a ton of personal goals to achieve this year. I want to love harder, laugh more, eat less, travel more, and enjoy my friends to the best of my ability. I am so very blessed to have so many amazing friends. From Cali, to Mass, all the way back here to LA and everywhere in between--my friends are nothing less than freaking AWESOME! I couldn't get thru life without them dropping a little happy in my life randomly! Some of them have had a super hard year--but we all know our shoulders are there for one another to lean on!
My family--it's been a year with that. My brother got married this year and I truly think it has bridged the gap in our life. I have an amazing sister in law and two wonderful new nephews and one niece to add to our family. I've got amazing parents who do anything and everything for us. I also have kind and loving in laws who help anytime I ask and are awesome just as well. My other SIL recently gained full custody of our niece and I am very happy and excited to have her in our life more often. It was always hard for me to ask to have her over for the night with my SIL only having her every other week. Now she is full time with her mom and only every other weekend with her father, so now I have more chance to have her spend the night with us.
Life changes for me in 2012. I'm going back to the healthy eating track, and cutting out soda and all the treats I make. I want to hold myself more accountable for what I consume and set a good example for my sweet girl.
For you few readers I have--I will write more. I read everyone like nobody's business, but I fail at writing to update you what's going on with me. That stops here and I will write more. I want to be able to look back later in life and read exactly how I felt at this point in time in my life.
Happy 2012 everyone--it's going to be an amazing one!
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
First grade TURDS!
My little girl is 6, she will be 7 in April. Christmas has been magical
since her being in my life circa 2007. I love it and it's the best
thing to see her eyes light up and just very happy about all the things
Santa brought her. The way we explain it here in our house is that
momma and daddy pay Santa for the toys he brings to our house. 2008
brought us Jack Jack (our super cute spoil rotten dog), 2009 brought
momma a blown out back and lots of fun games and toys, 2010 was a tight
Christmas and 2011 is was shaping up to be awesome
until my sweet adorable FIRST GRADE child tells me on Friday that Jayce
and Jaquawn told her there is no Santa Clause. When I asked her what
she retorted back to them, she said that you have to believe in santa in
order for him to be real and that they were dumb boys who didn't
believe but Santa is alive and real and she knew it!
It broke my heart that one lame butt first grade repeat kid and another little follower had nerve to tell my child as well as all of their classmates that Santa Claus was not real. I wanted to punch his face in but what is a nice mom like me to do? The ring leader goes to religion class on Mondays where I teach, so I did pull his mom aside and talk to her. She was mortified and said that he still believes, she has no clue why he told Alesi that but she was sorry. I told her I covered it well, no worries.
Let me tell you how I did so!
I put up Christmas decor outside today because work has been crazy and I refuse to put the decor up in the freezing cold snap we had last week. I had to go get stakes to put the rope lights up along the driveway. While I was there, I passed a pink mini tree, complete with base and nearby were tiny purple bulbs to put on it. I decided right then and there I was going to "write" a letter "from Santa" as a thank you for believing in him. So the note read as follows:
Dear Alesi,
Sorry I used your notebook, but I left mine at the North Pole. I just wanted to say thank you for believing in me. You have been such a good girl this year so the elves cleaned your room and made your bed. Please make sure to keep being a good girl for mom and dad. I will make sure you get everything you asked for this year.
Santa Claus
PS-Rudolph asks that you leave extra carrots this year.
She came home and went to her room to pick something up and came out without noticing the note left. She was like mom you cleaned my room, and I acted dumb and said of course I didnt! She then asked where I got the tree from and I was all like "you are full of bologna" and she made me go see. She read most of the note and was so excited. Ya'll, her eyes were like glazed donuts she was so excited.
Take that you little first grade assholes.
It broke my heart that one lame butt first grade repeat kid and another little follower had nerve to tell my child as well as all of their classmates that Santa Claus was not real. I wanted to punch his face in but what is a nice mom like me to do? The ring leader goes to religion class on Mondays where I teach, so I did pull his mom aside and talk to her. She was mortified and said that he still believes, she has no clue why he told Alesi that but she was sorry. I told her I covered it well, no worries.
Let me tell you how I did so!
I put up Christmas decor outside today because work has been crazy and I refuse to put the decor up in the freezing cold snap we had last week. I had to go get stakes to put the rope lights up along the driveway. While I was there, I passed a pink mini tree, complete with base and nearby were tiny purple bulbs to put on it. I decided right then and there I was going to "write" a letter "from Santa" as a thank you for believing in him. So the note read as follows:
Dear Alesi,
Sorry I used your notebook, but I left mine at the North Pole. I just wanted to say thank you for believing in me. You have been such a good girl this year so the elves cleaned your room and made your bed. Please make sure to keep being a good girl for mom and dad. I will make sure you get everything you asked for this year.
Santa Claus
PS-Rudolph asks that you leave extra carrots this year.
She came home and went to her room to pick something up and came out without noticing the note left. She was like mom you cleaned my room, and I acted dumb and said of course I didnt! She then asked where I got the tree from and I was all like "you are full of bologna" and she made me go see. She read most of the note and was so excited. Ya'll, her eyes were like glazed donuts she was so excited.
Take that you little first grade assholes.
Friday, November 11, 2011
Take that, Banquet! *chicken pot pie recipe*
I buy a pair of whole chickens at Sam's usually once a month. I can usually buy them for .79 a lb so it's a pretty decent deal. My mother in law bought me an electric roaster a year or two ago and I use it for a bunch of different things. I usually roast my chickens in that with my own simple recipe. I rinse both chickens and pat them dry. I sprinkle them with sea salt, season all, garlic powder and ground savory or sage. I had to buy those seasonings for something one time so I use them when I roast chickens. I also put half an onion on the inside of each chicken and a couple of garlic cloves if I have them on hand. I like to season my food well, I don't like bland food at all. If you are watching your salt content, simply leave out the sea salt. I roast the chickens overnight usually on 200-250 depending on when I put them in to when I wake up. I get up at 6 so if I go to bed at midnight, they get put on 250 for 6 hours. I also peel carrots (I buy a 5 lb bag of whole carrots at Sam's for usually $2) and put them whole in the bottom of the roaster, as that constitutes as my veggie side! So that's how I roast my chicken. Now for my chicken pot pie recipe, use whatever kind of chicken you want but I try to cook in abundance to use for more than one recipe. For instance, with those two roasted chickens I've made roasted chicken, chicken pot pie, chicken salad, and chicken noodle soup today!
Ok back to the recipe at hand. I like chicken pot pie. In college, the banquet or swanson turkey and chicken pot pies were a favorite of mine b/c it was quick and easy. Now that I'm a momma and responsible for feeding my husband and half pint quality nutritious food, well I've had to adjust and I love it. I love to cook and try new things. I can't ever ever remember my mom making chicken pot pie. I'm from south Louisiana and we really don't eat that from scratch here.
I've tried a few recipes for chicken pot pie but the one I had last night really took the cake for me. My only regret was that I used a bag of veggies that had green beans and corn in it and it threw the taste off for me but I loved the base of it. I'm long winded, sorry ya'll! Here is what it looked like:
Here is my recipe:
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons flour
1.5 cup half and half
3 tablespoons cream cheese (cut into small cubes)
2 cups chicken stock
1 16 oz bag of frozen peas and carrots
1 cup cubed potatoes (preboiled to almost done)
2 cups shredded chicken (if you dont like as much meat, you can reduce this to the amount you
prefer)
1 can crescent rolls
Seasonings you prefer-garlic powder, sage, season all, sea salt, cracked pepper, Tony's, paprika, etc
In medium pot, melt butter. Once fully melted, add flour and cook down for 2-3 minutes. Add cream cheese and melt it completely. Add in the half and half, all while whisking. It will get clumpy. It's ok--the stock will thin it out but remember to continue to wisk. Let it cook about 2-3 minutes. Add stock and wisk in completely. Add seasonings according to your taste buds. Let cook for approx 10 minutes. Then add shredded chicken and veggies. Preheat the oven to 350 at this point. Cook for about 15 minutes.
Pour chicken mixture into a square pyrex. I used a smaller 3 or 4 quart deep dish. Remember you have to use just one can of crescent rolls for the topping so you have to have enough dough to fit the dish. After you pour the mixture, lay each stretched out crescent roll on top of the mixture to cover it completely.
Bake at 350 for 26-30 minutes.
Enjoy!
Ok back to the recipe at hand. I like chicken pot pie. In college, the banquet or swanson turkey and chicken pot pies were a favorite of mine b/c it was quick and easy. Now that I'm a momma and responsible for feeding my husband and half pint quality nutritious food, well I've had to adjust and I love it. I love to cook and try new things. I can't ever ever remember my mom making chicken pot pie. I'm from south Louisiana and we really don't eat that from scratch here.
I've tried a few recipes for chicken pot pie but the one I had last night really took the cake for me. My only regret was that I used a bag of veggies that had green beans and corn in it and it threw the taste off for me but I loved the base of it. I'm long winded, sorry ya'll! Here is what it looked like:
Here is my recipe:
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons flour
1.5 cup half and half
3 tablespoons cream cheese (cut into small cubes)
2 cups chicken stock
1 16 oz bag of frozen peas and carrots
1 cup cubed potatoes (preboiled to almost done)
2 cups shredded chicken (if you dont like as much meat, you can reduce this to the amount you
prefer)
1 can crescent rolls
Seasonings you prefer-garlic powder, sage, season all, sea salt, cracked pepper, Tony's, paprika, etc
In medium pot, melt butter. Once fully melted, add flour and cook down for 2-3 minutes. Add cream cheese and melt it completely. Add in the half and half, all while whisking. It will get clumpy. It's ok--the stock will thin it out but remember to continue to wisk. Let it cook about 2-3 minutes. Add stock and wisk in completely. Add seasonings according to your taste buds. Let cook for approx 10 minutes. Then add shredded chicken and veggies. Preheat the oven to 350 at this point. Cook for about 15 minutes.
Pour chicken mixture into a square pyrex. I used a smaller 3 or 4 quart deep dish. Remember you have to use just one can of crescent rolls for the topping so you have to have enough dough to fit the dish. After you pour the mixture, lay each stretched out crescent roll on top of the mixture to cover it completely.
Bake at 350 for 26-30 minutes.
Enjoy!
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Banana Pudding
I think I made the best banana pudding I've ever had in my life, ever.
You know the kind--vanilla wafers, banana's, some serious condensed milk.
Would you be interested in the recipe?
You know the kind--vanilla wafers, banana's, some serious condensed milk.
Would you be interested in the recipe?
Friday, September 30, 2011
Halloween Ideas
I've begun decorating my front porch for Halloween. I love to decorate ya'll. I wish I had more hours in the day to decorate every single little thing. I mean for example right now, I have the fall leaf garlands draped over my curtains in the living and dining room. I live to decorate, for everything. You should see when Alesi's birthday comes around. Everything is themed! I even have themed towels handing on the stove handle. Yes, I'm that mom.
So when I saw this on pinterest, I fell in love. I never ever ever thought of spray painting christmas garland. I have a metric ton of that stuff!
Let me show you the picture so you can stop wondering "what the heck is this chick blabbering about?"
Specifically I want to make this
I didn't want to spend a fortune however on the pumpkins. So in a quick fix at target, I bought three halloween candy buckets and am going to glue them together. I will make sure to throw something heavy in the bottom pumpkin so it doesn't tip over. I might make some fun arrangement or something in the open top of the pumpkin. We'll see how this project turns out!
So when I saw this on pinterest, I fell in love. I never ever ever thought of spray painting christmas garland. I have a metric ton of that stuff!
Let me show you the picture so you can stop wondering "what the heck is this chick blabbering about?"
I didn't want to spend a fortune however on the pumpkins. So in a quick fix at target, I bought three halloween candy buckets and am going to glue them together. I will make sure to throw something heavy in the bottom pumpkin so it doesn't tip over. I might make some fun arrangement or something in the open top of the pumpkin. We'll see how this project turns out!
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Oh Thursday!
I've been up since 6:00 am.
So far, I've gotten half pint dressed, fed and on the bus.
I've consumed a cup of coffee.
I've taken a shower and put make up on.
My hair is wet.
I have a lunch date with a coworker at 12:30 or so.
I need to dry my hair.
I dont wannaaaaa do ittttttttttttt.
Private Practice's new season premiers tonight.
Benjamin Bratt doesn't look so hot anymore since he is super skinny. I need him to eat some cheeseburgers and bulk up at the gym.
I have a long list of things I want to accomplish today and tomorrow and nothing has gotten done yet.
Did I mention I worked 6 days straight?
Did I mention there was a huge article on yahoo yesterday about an iPhone gathering Tuesday to discuss something.
Are you thinking there will be an iphone 5 launch? That's what we've been thinking at work for the last two months.
If my vacation gets pushed back in Nov, I'm going to cry.
I can't believe stupidSTUPID apple will launch a new phone so close to Christmas. Do they know what they're going to do to me? My feet will die, my knees will be blown out and my legs will hurt like nobody's business!
I'm being selfish. I know.
UGH!!!!
So far, I've gotten half pint dressed, fed and on the bus.
I've consumed a cup of coffee.
I've taken a shower and put make up on.
My hair is wet.
I have a lunch date with a coworker at 12:30 or so.
I need to dry my hair.
I dont wannaaaaa do ittttttttttttt.
Private Practice's new season premiers tonight.
Benjamin Bratt doesn't look so hot anymore since he is super skinny. I need him to eat some cheeseburgers and bulk up at the gym.
I have a long list of things I want to accomplish today and tomorrow and nothing has gotten done yet.
Did I mention I worked 6 days straight?
Did I mention there was a huge article on yahoo yesterday about an iPhone gathering Tuesday to discuss something.
Are you thinking there will be an iphone 5 launch? That's what we've been thinking at work for the last two months.
If my vacation gets pushed back in Nov, I'm going to cry.
I can't believe stupidSTUPID apple will launch a new phone so close to Christmas. Do they know what they're going to do to me? My feet will die, my knees will be blown out and my legs will hurt like nobody's business!
I'm being selfish. I know.
UGH!!!!
Saturday, September 10, 2011
Coworker Birthdays
My coworker Becky is celebrating her 20th birthday this weekend. Since I start my vacation on her birthday and she has vacation this weekend, I am making her birthday treat to bring to work on Friday. I semi started a tradition to make my coworkers a baked goodie on their birthday but I haven't followed thru with all of them because of their days off conflicting with my work days and not knowing when they come in.
My girl Becky loves her some cookies! I think she'd kill me if I didn't make her some sort of cookie for her treat. We work together in retail in a mall at a cell phone store so her normal go to cookie spot is The Great American Cookie Co. Her favorite cookie is a double doozie and man are they a double doozie of a taste and price! Those stinkers are almost $4 a pop! This is what it looks like:
If you do not have a GACC, shame on your town. Or maybe you live in a itty bitty town, in which you should totally start a petition and make all of your neighbors sign it in order for your mayor to make GACC open a location near you.
There is an alternate way to achieve this cookie above and one of my friends came up with the recipe. Hillary over at The Sassy One blog posted this recipe and I knew the minute she posted it, my coworker would enjoy them for her birthday! So using this recipe, I set out to make the cookies. My first batch came out uneven and jagged edges so I just used a teaspoon full of cookie dough, rolled it into a ball and flattened them with my palm to bake them. I wanted to eat them straight out of the oven they were SO GOOD! From here on out, that will be my go to chocolate chip recipe! I definitely used the mini chips and loved the flavor and amount of chocolate that came out in them. After they cooled and I begged my husband to pick up heavy cream on his way home from police academy because I forgot to get some, I set out to make the cake batter cream. Heaven--it's all I can say!
Hillary--You get 42 thumbs up from our store because my coworkers loved them! Even the chick fil a employees across from us got to indulge in a few and they loved them too!
Today is my last day of work before I start a week long very well deserved vacation. Since my girl is in school and hubby is in police academy, I'm going to enjoy a staycation. I will be pulling down the fall bins from the attic to fall-ize my mantle and house! I can't wait! Thanks to Pinterest, I've found a ton of fall inspiration and I am transforming the entire house! I also found quite a few fall projects I will be indulging in for her class and teachers! It's going to be AWESOME!!!!
Thanks for visiting my blog. I think this coming week's agenda will also consist of a tutorial on how to make cajun (read: not spicy like everyone thinks it is) jambalaya--Cajun Fleur Style!
My girl Becky loves her some cookies! I think she'd kill me if I didn't make her some sort of cookie for her treat. We work together in retail in a mall at a cell phone store so her normal go to cookie spot is The Great American Cookie Co. Her favorite cookie is a double doozie and man are they a double doozie of a taste and price! Those stinkers are almost $4 a pop! This is what it looks like:
If you do not have a GACC, shame on your town. Or maybe you live in a itty bitty town, in which you should totally start a petition and make all of your neighbors sign it in order for your mayor to make GACC open a location near you.
There is an alternate way to achieve this cookie above and one of my friends came up with the recipe. Hillary over at The Sassy One blog posted this recipe and I knew the minute she posted it, my coworker would enjoy them for her birthday! So using this recipe, I set out to make the cookies. My first batch came out uneven and jagged edges so I just used a teaspoon full of cookie dough, rolled it into a ball and flattened them with my palm to bake them. I wanted to eat them straight out of the oven they were SO GOOD! From here on out, that will be my go to chocolate chip recipe! I definitely used the mini chips and loved the flavor and amount of chocolate that came out in them. After they cooled and I begged my husband to pick up heavy cream on his way home from police academy because I forgot to get some, I set out to make the cake batter cream. Heaven--it's all I can say!
Hillary--You get 42 thumbs up from our store because my coworkers loved them! Even the chick fil a employees across from us got to indulge in a few and they loved them too!
Today is my last day of work before I start a week long very well deserved vacation. Since my girl is in school and hubby is in police academy, I'm going to enjoy a staycation. I will be pulling down the fall bins from the attic to fall-ize my mantle and house! I can't wait! Thanks to Pinterest, I've found a ton of fall inspiration and I am transforming the entire house! I also found quite a few fall projects I will be indulging in for her class and teachers! It's going to be AWESOME!!!!
Thanks for visiting my blog. I think this coming week's agenda will also consist of a tutorial on how to make cajun (read: not spicy like everyone thinks it is) jambalaya--Cajun Fleur Style!
Monday, September 5, 2011
First sign
I woke up this morning and the breeze was blowing. It's been hotter than I don't want to tell you what comes to mind, but it's been smoldering. So when I went outside and I wasn't sweating, err I mean glowing, between my boobs--I knew fall was on the horizon! I know I live in the deep south and I know it's supposed to be hot down here. It doesn't mean I have to keep my heat fussing to a minimum!
So with the cool weather on the horizon and leftover shredded chicken in my fridge, I knew chicken sausage and okra gumbo were on the horizon! I even took pics of almost all of the steps to show you how it looks because I know cooking cajun food can be interesting to say the least!
So we start out with some oil in a large pot.
Chop one large onion into small pieces. I don't like huge onions so I cut them fine. Put them in the pot on medium to high heat. I put mine on 6-7 on a scale of 10. I also added a chunk (read this as half) of a bell pepper. When I get bell peppers on sale, I dice them up and freeze them. I take out what I need and presto. I had red and yellow in the freezer, but you can use green if that's what you have.
See how frozen it is?
Well I put the lid on the pot for 3-4 minutes and when I remove it, it's all defrosted so I break it up!
Then I add two stalks of celery after peeling it and get most of the strings out. Onions, bell pepper and celery are considered the trinity in cajun cooking ;) I also add some pressed garlic as well to my onion mixture!
So you want to cook it down for a while, and at this point if you are cooking with gas, turn it to medium low. I also throw in some tony's I'm always talking about!
So you want the trinity mixture to resemble about this, if not a little more cooked down.
Then you want to add some fresh or frozen okra. Frozen was cheaper so that's what I used. However, I picked the tops out of it. The top of the stalk, I threw those away. You don't have to put okra in it but I like to sneak it in there. If you don't use okra, skip the next few steps!
Ok it's in the pot! You will have to cook it down a ton to get rid of the slime.
This is the beginning stages of cooking it down. I like for mine to cook down to hardly anything but partial skins and seeds. This isn't what it looks like that but I'm showing you the cooking stages I shot.
I want mine cooked down more so I turn it to medium and cook it down some.
I notice mine is starting to burn so I add in about an inch of water to the pot and throw in two chicken bouillon cubes.
It's cooking down nicely and you see in the below picture it's starting to really break down.
So I don't know how to make a roux so since I conquered frying chicken yesterday, I figured my super powers would carry over to making a roux. so here is the oil heating up.
I added flour and started browning it down. So far so good, right?
Meanwhile, I throw in my sausage and shredded chicken to the other pot as well as about 6-8 cups of water and another 2 bouillon cubes. You can eye ball it on the amount of chicken. I used the meat from one whole chicken I cooked in the crock pot. You could definitely use a rotisserie chicken here and use that meat. I also use about 2 lbs and a half of sausage but this makes a HUGE pot!
Look at this goodness going on in the gumbo pot!
What's going on with my roux you ask? Well I cooked it down until it started cooking down and getting darker. I always have trouble when I add the roux to the gumbo pot that it coagulates and is clumpy and just not right. So I tried to add some of the broth from the gumbo pot into the roux to see what happens. This is what happens--it curdled and sucks and is awful!
Thank HEAVEN for roux in a can/jar/shaker! I put in about a tablespoon in at a time and stir so it doesn't clump.
This is what I call magic in a bag tho right here below. I add this entire bag in my gumbo (before I add the chicken and sausage in) just a little at a time and stir well. I keep doing this until the entire bag is in. You have to do this slowly or you will have clumps!
From there, I let it cook down for a good hour and a half. I also add file powder but that's a local thing here to use. Serve over rice and you can't forget about the potato salad!!!
So with the cool weather on the horizon and leftover shredded chicken in my fridge, I knew chicken sausage and okra gumbo were on the horizon! I even took pics of almost all of the steps to show you how it looks because I know cooking cajun food can be interesting to say the least!
So we start out with some oil in a large pot.
What's going on with my roux you ask? Well I cooked it down until it started cooking down and getting darker. I always have trouble when I add the roux to the gumbo pot that it coagulates and is clumpy and just not right. So I tried to add some of the broth from the gumbo pot into the roux to see what happens. This is what happens--it curdled and sucks and is awful!
Sunday, September 4, 2011
You know I like my Chicken fried
You know I like my chicken fried, cold beer on a friday night, pair of jeans that fit just right and the radio uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuup! Oh how I love you Zach Brown Band!
I am from the south--we fry everything. Let me rephrase--I enjoy purchasing fried things but I don't know how to fry things. Shocker? For those of you who know me personally, you know I can cook anything. I can make creme brulee for crying out loud! There are a few things I haven't managed to master in the kitchen--frying things being one of them. I mean, it couldn't be that hard, right? For my birthday in July, I asked my mom to buy me a fry daddy. She bought me this one and I have to say--it's awesome!
I looked everywhere for a plain recipe of how to bread and fry chicken wings. I had two small packs in my freezer for a bit and took them out to thaw yesterday to ensure I would use them. With it raining cats and dogs outside thanks for Tropical Storm Lee, I figured today would be the day that I conquer my fear of frying things. Chicken wings I paid maybe $3 total for the two packs were the prime target. If I ruined them, I could always make some mac and cheese and make grilled ham sammies to go with it, right?
OK so I set out looking for a recipe of how to bread them and it stick. In my previous attempts of frying, the breading has fallen off. I didn't understand why it fell off. Was the oil not hot enough? was it too hot? Did I marinate them and shouldn't have? Too much flour? not enough batter? I was at the end of my rope so I googled it. I didn't find a whole lot of anything that gave me a clear idea of what I was doing wrong. The directions they had online were what I had gone off of before and I failed then. I wasn't failing today.
I share recipes with my coworkers often at work. One of my cw's is from New Jersey and I love her to pieces. It was a rocky relationship in the beginning but I heart her and love working with her now. She had asked me before for a baked wing recipe to do hot wings, and it came up in convo before she knew how to fry chicken. So when I couldn't find what I was looking for, I went to the one person I knew would give me what I was looking for. She is just learning how to cook more, but let me tell you--she knew what she was talking about. She told me her mom taught her you dunk the seasoned chicken (just with salt, pepper, tony's, whatever else you were using) in ice cold water, flour them, dunk them back in the ice cold water and flour them all over again. I was VERY hesitant at this technique b/c wouldn't the seasoning blend come off when I dunked it in water, and then the flour come off when I dunked it back in there?
I was nervous but I did one wing her way before I did all of them. Holy schnikes--her momma knew her stuff! It fried crispy and perfect--I was so excited. I immediately texted her and told her that her momma knew her stuff and to tell her I love her. She laughed and said she would let her know and pump her head up for me. If her momma lived down here, I'd have totally went to find her, hug her and tell her I'd mop her floors or do some chores around her house. My frying fear had finally be conquered. I won the battle. Now my jeans won't like me this fall probably now but that's ok! I was hoping they wouldn't fit this fall anyways!
No Fail Fried Chicken Wings
however many chicken wings you need for your family
4 cups of flour seasoned with season all, salt, pepper, whatever you prefer
seasoning you prefer for your chicken
3 cups ice cold water
Enough oil for the pot/fryer you are using to fry said chicken
Heat oil to 375 and ensure it's that hot. Season chicken accordingly how you prefer it to be.
Dunk seasoned chicken quickly in ice cold water, ensure it all gets coated.
Flour the chicken completely.
Dunk chicken back in ice cold water, drip off and put back in flour.
Flour chicken again really well.
Once oil is heated to the desired temp, then drop wings in small groups in the oil. Your
chicken should be completely submerged in the oil. My chicken wings were fried 3 at a time in my fryer and it took 9 minutes to fry each batch. It was tedious but it's only three of us and I only friend 12 wings! The time really flew by!
I am from the south--we fry everything. Let me rephrase--I enjoy purchasing fried things but I don't know how to fry things. Shocker? For those of you who know me personally, you know I can cook anything. I can make creme brulee for crying out loud! There are a few things I haven't managed to master in the kitchen--frying things being one of them. I mean, it couldn't be that hard, right? For my birthday in July, I asked my mom to buy me a fry daddy. She bought me this one and I have to say--it's awesome!
I looked everywhere for a plain recipe of how to bread and fry chicken wings. I had two small packs in my freezer for a bit and took them out to thaw yesterday to ensure I would use them. With it raining cats and dogs outside thanks for Tropical Storm Lee, I figured today would be the day that I conquer my fear of frying things. Chicken wings I paid maybe $3 total for the two packs were the prime target. If I ruined them, I could always make some mac and cheese and make grilled ham sammies to go with it, right?
OK so I set out looking for a recipe of how to bread them and it stick. In my previous attempts of frying, the breading has fallen off. I didn't understand why it fell off. Was the oil not hot enough? was it too hot? Did I marinate them and shouldn't have? Too much flour? not enough batter? I was at the end of my rope so I googled it. I didn't find a whole lot of anything that gave me a clear idea of what I was doing wrong. The directions they had online were what I had gone off of before and I failed then. I wasn't failing today.
I share recipes with my coworkers often at work. One of my cw's is from New Jersey and I love her to pieces. It was a rocky relationship in the beginning but I heart her and love working with her now. She had asked me before for a baked wing recipe to do hot wings, and it came up in convo before she knew how to fry chicken. So when I couldn't find what I was looking for, I went to the one person I knew would give me what I was looking for. She is just learning how to cook more, but let me tell you--she knew what she was talking about. She told me her mom taught her you dunk the seasoned chicken (just with salt, pepper, tony's, whatever else you were using) in ice cold water, flour them, dunk them back in the ice cold water and flour them all over again. I was VERY hesitant at this technique b/c wouldn't the seasoning blend come off when I dunked it in water, and then the flour come off when I dunked it back in there?
I was nervous but I did one wing her way before I did all of them. Holy schnikes--her momma knew her stuff! It fried crispy and perfect--I was so excited. I immediately texted her and told her that her momma knew her stuff and to tell her I love her. She laughed and said she would let her know and pump her head up for me. If her momma lived down here, I'd have totally went to find her, hug her and tell her I'd mop her floors or do some chores around her house. My frying fear had finally be conquered. I won the battle. Now my jeans won't like me this fall probably now but that's ok! I was hoping they wouldn't fit this fall anyways!
No Fail Fried Chicken Wings
however many chicken wings you need for your family
4 cups of flour seasoned with season all, salt, pepper, whatever you prefer
seasoning you prefer for your chicken
3 cups ice cold water
Enough oil for the pot/fryer you are using to fry said chicken
Heat oil to 375 and ensure it's that hot. Season chicken accordingly how you prefer it to be.
Dunk seasoned chicken quickly in ice cold water, ensure it all gets coated.
Flour the chicken completely.
Dunk chicken back in ice cold water, drip off and put back in flour.
Flour chicken again really well.
Once oil is heated to the desired temp, then drop wings in small groups in the oil. Your
chicken should be completely submerged in the oil. My chicken wings were fried 3 at a time in my fryer and it took 9 minutes to fry each batch. It was tedious but it's only three of us and I only friend 12 wings! The time really flew by!
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Shrimp and Corn Bisque--a la quick style!
I love living in south Louisiana a good bit more now than I did growing up. I lived in my small town until I was 18 and moved to a larger city a bit north of my hometown to attend college. From there, I moved to NYC and finally realized the south is where I belong for a number of reasons. Many of those reasons include local things such as shrimp, crawfish, crabs, oysters, gumbo, jambalaya, oh and my momma and daddy mainly!! I couldn't live far away from my parents ever again, it's just not in my bones!
My husband went with a buddy of his on a fishing expedition to catch shrimp a few months back. Most of you who follow this blog prior to this entry do not know much about shrimping/trawling but it's a way of life down here. It is also a job for many people that live here. I can't tell you how often I see signs up or now posts on facebook that there are shrimp for sale at such and such place, so much for an ice chest. I can't tell you how many "shrimp peeling gatherings" that have taken place underneath my parent's carport. Growing up, I loathed hearing that my parents bought an ice chest of shrimp because it meant I had to help peel them and I knew my fingers would be sore and prune-y after all was said and done. Either way, my husband went in May to catch shrimp so I have several bags of peeled uncooked shrimp in my freezer right now. The other night, I wanted to try a recipe floating around in my head for shrimp bisque. I know this is why you are reading this so let me get to the point--it was amazing. My daughter said it was the best thing she's ever tasted, second only to my red beans but it was close!
Here's the recipe--sorry there isn't a picture to go with this post. My husband and child scarfed it right up in no time!
Shrimp and Corn Bisque
1 lb peeled shrimp, uncooked
2 tablespoons of oil (olive or cooking, your choice)
1/4 cup green onions, diced finely
1/2 stick real butter
1 can cream of onion soup
3 cups milk (2% or whole)
2-3 tablespoons flour
3-4 small white potatoes (red can be substitued), peeled and chopped into small cubes
1 small bag of frozen corn
1 can of evaporated milk
2 tsps each of: savory seasoning (isnt a must, in case you don't have this), oregano, red pepper,
garlic powder, season salt (tony's is my choice being here in south LA), crushed rosemary
1 cup of shredded cheese, your choice of monterrey, colby, or gruyer. I just recommend a white
cheese with some flavor to it!
optional:
leftover crawfish tails from a crawfish boil you had at your house a month or two ago and needed to
use before they went bad from freezer burn
crab meat from the above mentioned boil
1. Heat oil in medium size pot. Add onions and green onions to the pot and sautee until cooked down to be soft and clear
2 Add chopped potatoes. Cook down until potatoes are soft and starting to come apart easily with a spoon. Add butter
3. Add in shrimp/any other seafood you are adding to the bisque as well as the frozen corn to the pot. Cook down until shrimp and corn are cooked thoroughly.
4. Add can of soup, can of evaporated milk, and seasonings to the pot and stir in completely. You want to make sure your soup isn't lumpy. Mix regular milk and flour in a separate cup thoroughly ensuring there are no lumps of flour in the milk mixture.
5. Add the milk mixture and cheese to the pot and let cook on low/simmer for about 20-30 minutes. You want to stir it often so it doesn't stick to the bottom of the bottom. If the soup gets too thick, you can add in whole or 2% milk in 1/2 cup increments, but make sure you cook it down to ensure it all blends in.
Enjoy!!
My husband went with a buddy of his on a fishing expedition to catch shrimp a few months back. Most of you who follow this blog prior to this entry do not know much about shrimping/trawling but it's a way of life down here. It is also a job for many people that live here. I can't tell you how often I see signs up or now posts on facebook that there are shrimp for sale at such and such place, so much for an ice chest. I can't tell you how many "shrimp peeling gatherings" that have taken place underneath my parent's carport. Growing up, I loathed hearing that my parents bought an ice chest of shrimp because it meant I had to help peel them and I knew my fingers would be sore and prune-y after all was said and done. Either way, my husband went in May to catch shrimp so I have several bags of peeled uncooked shrimp in my freezer right now. The other night, I wanted to try a recipe floating around in my head for shrimp bisque. I know this is why you are reading this so let me get to the point--it was amazing. My daughter said it was the best thing she's ever tasted, second only to my red beans but it was close!
Here's the recipe--sorry there isn't a picture to go with this post. My husband and child scarfed it right up in no time!
Shrimp and Corn Bisque
1 lb peeled shrimp, uncooked
2 tablespoons of oil (olive or cooking, your choice)
1/4 cup green onions, diced finely
1/2 stick real butter
1 can cream of onion soup
3 cups milk (2% or whole)
2-3 tablespoons flour
3-4 small white potatoes (red can be substitued), peeled and chopped into small cubes
1 small bag of frozen corn
1 can of evaporated milk
2 tsps each of: savory seasoning (isnt a must, in case you don't have this), oregano, red pepper,
garlic powder, season salt (tony's is my choice being here in south LA), crushed rosemary
1 cup of shredded cheese, your choice of monterrey, colby, or gruyer. I just recommend a white
cheese with some flavor to it!
optional:
leftover crawfish tails from a crawfish boil you had at your house a month or two ago and needed to
use before they went bad from freezer burn
crab meat from the above mentioned boil
1. Heat oil in medium size pot. Add onions and green onions to the pot and sautee until cooked down to be soft and clear
2 Add chopped potatoes. Cook down until potatoes are soft and starting to come apart easily with a spoon. Add butter
3. Add in shrimp/any other seafood you are adding to the bisque as well as the frozen corn to the pot. Cook down until shrimp and corn are cooked thoroughly.
4. Add can of soup, can of evaporated milk, and seasonings to the pot and stir in completely. You want to make sure your soup isn't lumpy. Mix regular milk and flour in a separate cup thoroughly ensuring there are no lumps of flour in the milk mixture.
5. Add the milk mixture and cheese to the pot and let cook on low/simmer for about 20-30 minutes. You want to stir it often so it doesn't stick to the bottom of the bottom. If the soup gets too thick, you can add in whole or 2% milk in 1/2 cup increments, but make sure you cook it down to ensure it all blends in.
Enjoy!!
Sunday, August 14, 2011
Cookies first, pasta second
I shamelessly told ya'll that you should stop what you are doing to make those cookies from last blog post. Did you do it? If not, you SHOULD! Hello, they are amazing.
This post is now to tell you to make this for supper tomorrow night. I made it tonight for us and my daughter cleaned her plate! The only change is that I added some mushrooms in the mix that I had leftover from another dish prep this week so I threw those in too.
OMG is it wrong that I'm wanting to eat it for breakfast tomorrow?
My hubby is working nights tonight so his opinion hasn't been established yet. I'll let you know tomorrow how he enjoys it :)
Hope everyone has a great week!
This post is now to tell you to make this for supper tomorrow night. I made it tonight for us and my daughter cleaned her plate! The only change is that I added some mushrooms in the mix that I had leftover from another dish prep this week so I threw those in too.
OMG is it wrong that I'm wanting to eat it for breakfast tomorrow?
My hubby is working nights tonight so his opinion hasn't been established yet. I'll let you know tomorrow how he enjoys it :)
Hope everyone has a great week!
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Unequivocally
I work with a bunch of greedy hungry people at work. I fit right in because I'm always trying to feed everyone so it's been a semi match made in heaven :) I say the greedy hungry with the upmost fun and giggle when I say it. I have fabulous coworkers who not only work well all together but they are genuine and truly love one another outside of work too.
So I have quite a few cookie monsters at work so I set out yesterday to find a good chewy cookie recipe. We have a cookie company in our mall but man they are almost $2 each per cookie! I mean it's highway robbery. So when I found this recipe, I was skeptical but I had all the ingredients so I said what the heck. I could make one batch to test them out, then if I didn't like them, we could enjoy cookie dough ice cream or something.
Very rarely do I find a cookie recipe that says they are chewy and soft batch-like and live up to that title. But man do these cookies right here really live up to it! I mean they are phenomenally delicious. I think you should stop what you are doing, put two sticks of butter on the counter and wait until it's room temp so you can make these cookies. I think it's key that the butter is seriously room temp and soft! I left mine out all day while I was at work yesterday so don't judge.
However, do not blame me if you gain any weight after you make 254254 batches of this cookie, ok?
I hope to update later on tonight more about our family and what's been going on in the Fanguy house. I might also share my shrimp and potato soup recipe that I have floating in my head and will cook tonight. I have a feeling it's going to be uh-maaaay-zing!
Just sayin'!
Because I'm a first grader, whatssuuuup!
So I have quite a few cookie monsters at work so I set out yesterday to find a good chewy cookie recipe. We have a cookie company in our mall but man they are almost $2 each per cookie! I mean it's highway robbery. So when I found this recipe, I was skeptical but I had all the ingredients so I said what the heck. I could make one batch to test them out, then if I didn't like them, we could enjoy cookie dough ice cream or something.
Very rarely do I find a cookie recipe that says they are chewy and soft batch-like and live up to that title. But man do these cookies right here really live up to it! I mean they are phenomenally delicious. I think you should stop what you are doing, put two sticks of butter on the counter and wait until it's room temp so you can make these cookies. I think it's key that the butter is seriously room temp and soft! I left mine out all day while I was at work yesterday so don't judge.
However, do not blame me if you gain any weight after you make 254254 batches of this cookie, ok?
I hope to update later on tonight more about our family and what's been going on in the Fanguy house. I might also share my shrimp and potato soup recipe that I have floating in my head and will cook tonight. I have a feeling it's going to be uh-maaaay-zing!
Just sayin'!
Because I'm a first grader, whatssuuuup!
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