30 Day Shred Update - Day 12.

Pardon the darkness of the vid; I messed up the settings and didn't feel like retaping.

Lovely Things + Menu.

Well, last week was less than pleasant for a couple of reasons, but mostly my attitude was in the dumps.  

Things that have really turned things my 'tude around include:

- getting a B+ on my Psych. exam; though it wasn't the A I'd hoped for, I am now only 3 pts. from an A in the course, which is my goal - obvi.
- 3 day weekend.  this needs no explaination because we all love a 3 day weekend.
- looking forward to having some beautiful souls over this weekend for a nice gathering.
- REDSKINS FOOTBALL!!!
- logging on and noticing a HUGE jump in pageviews and finding out I was featured on Make Ahead Meals

The weather is crappy and I'm away from my boy, but today is a good one.

My menu looks something like this:

Chicken w/ Portobellos
Chicken Parmesan w/ Creamy Pasta Bake
Shrimp Pasta w/ Feta Cheese
Country Fried Steak w/ Homemade Mashed Potatoes

The plan for the party includes:

BBQ Sliders
Fried Ravioli w/ Marinara Sauce
Cheddar & Shrimp Crostini
Buffalo Chicken Dip
Some Delicious Cocktail
Smores?  Necessary.

GAME DAY requests:
Buffalo Chicken Bites w/ Blue Cheese Dressing
Oreo Balls, Redskins styled

I have a loooot of cooking to do this week!  I hope yours started as awesome as mine.

30 Day Shred VLOG tonight!!!

Chicken Cordon Bleu Fake Out.

I'd planned to make this recipe, but forgot a key ingredient and didn't want it to take as long, so I basically eliminated the Ricotta and Egg.

Chicken Cordon Bleu Fake Out

1.5 lbs Chicken, cut into cubes

1/2 cup Flour

8 slices Ham

2 cups Shredded Colby Jack

1 jar Alfredo Sauce

1 cup Shredded Cheese (for topping)

1 cup Milk

2 cups Chopped Brocolli (I used frozen)

12 Lasagna Noodles

S & P to taste

Ready for the speedy version?  Okie dokie.

Boil your noodles until al dente - set aside.

Dredge your chopped up and SEASONED Chicken in Flour.  Season more, if desired; I always desire.  Add to a HOT pan drizzled with some EVOO on Medium Heat.

Meanwhile, mix your Cheese, Alfredo Sauce, Milk, Brocolli, & Ham into a GIANT BOWL :)

When the Chicken is all browned and cooked through, add it to your GIANT BOWL.

Now, begin layering, starting with a little of the mixture on the bottom of your baking dish.  Layer 3 noodles on top, some more mixture, 3 more noodles, etc.  Top that stuff with your additional Shredded Cheese and bake at 350 for about 15 minutes!

Toddler Aproved:

cheesin' the whoooole time!

Bacon Wrapped Pork Chops w/ Buttered Shells.

I will be loading you guys with two recipes today.  You. Are. Welcome.

The Buttered Shells part are just how they sound, but with a touch of Garlic Salt added.  Garlic makes many things taste yummier.

Bacon Wrapped Pork Chops

Bone-out Pork Chops

1 Slice of Bacon per Chop

1 tsp Dijon Mustard

2 tbsp Butter - softened

S&P to taste

Salt and Pepper your Pork Chops first, then wrap your Bacon around each Pork Chop - securing with a toothpick. Place Chops in a HOT pan drizzled with EVOO on Medium heat for about 8 minutes per side.

To make the garnish, mix together your Dijon and Butter.  Drop a bit on top of a steaming hot Chop and devour promptly.  I trust you will have no problem.

Well, Hello September! And Hello Fall!

I have many goals for the month of September.  Many of those goals, coincidentally, were also for August.  Le sigh.  

Things that September and Fall will bring:

{ORANGE! and these kinda clothes.}

{this groovy color pallet for my master bath/bedroom}





{this one has me in daydreams about a day i've been longing for.}



 

{i die for these baked potatoes with bacon slices}



{fall = comfort food}








{ohhhh pumpkin spice latte}



And, most importantly, Football.  Happy Game Day, friends.

Moody.

{at least I'm wearing one of my favorite dresses!}

Sometimes I have horrible, no good, very bad days. 

I feel sorry for Big Steven.  I am in a horrible mood today and I'm not sure when it's gonna get better.  It didn't start until I had to endure the ridiculous NOVA traffic.  I don't know how anyone, myself included, still lives anywhere near NOVA/MD/DC - it's the worst!  I leave my house at the same time every day; sometimes I'm at work early, sometimes I'm on time, and sometimes - like today - I am 30 minutes late for work!  Not only does this make me look like a total slacker, but the traffic gets me super anxious.

Other small things that have contributed to my mood include no utensils to eat my cereal with, no time for a trip to Starbucks (which, btw, would have shaped me up real fast), and no grades posted by my teachers.  I totes respect teachers, but I feel like they should also have a 'due date' so to speak.  Waiting around for weeks to get a grade is proposterous!

Now that I've successfully complained about things that don't really matter, I am trying to turn the day around.  I feel like I won't be successful at doing so until I get home and work out - but for now, I will try to feel better by consuming things that have zero nutritional value whatsoever:



                       {180 calories of nothingness}



I hope the rest of you have a day full of rainbows, flowers, and smiles!  Nevermind me, I'll snap out of it soon enough.

I Love a New Week!

I was a little late for work this morning, but I am feeling like a million bucks today.  I don't know why, but it's a nice change for a Monday.  The huge window in my office allows for a lot of natural light and today is GORGEOUS outside, so maybe that's playing a part in my mood this morning.

HELLO, delicious outdoors.

Today is Day 7 of The 30 Day Shred, so I've managed to get a full consecutive week in, which is unexpected, but nice.  More detes on that when I hit Day 10!  In other surprising fitness news, I am actually looking forward to getting a nice jog in today after work.  Taking a week off for my muscles to deal with one thing at a time has me itching to see what kind of changes have been made in my endurance.

Last week was an away game for the Skins, so I was wrong when I made my menu, but this week will make up for it.  I am undecided on whether to make Meatballs or Chicken Wings, but I'll consult the Season Ticket Crew and ask what they'd prefer.

As for the rest of the week:

Chicken Cordon Bleu Lasagna
Pork Cacciatori
Country Fried Steak w/ Rice Pilaf
Cheat Day: Chicken Tortillas and Refried Beans - made with Tortilla Stuffers
Bacon Wrapped Pork Chops w/ Buttered Shells
Game Day: Meatballs or Chicken Wings

Hopefully Big Steven and I get to spend some time together this weekend because my mom is planning to watch Little Steven Friday night.  We reallllly need some alone time.