Celebration Monday

Well, since I failed epically at my "post-more-often daily-topic" blogging last week, I'll just pick up right where I left off. Monday means menus (or recipe, for that matter) and because I'm celebrating 26 years of me today, I thought I'd post one of my favorite dessert recipes. But let's face it, I am a self-diagnosed sugar addict, so I can't pick a true favorite. I might have the sweetest tooth known to man; if something that contains sugar is within 20 yards of me, I can't help but eat it. I've tried the whole "don't buy sweets" thing in an attempt to curb my habit, but it doesn't work. The only way that would ever happen is if Brad began doing the grocery shopping, and hello! Not happening, because that would mean relinquishing that small piece of control I have. Ahem, back to the reason we're here. Favorite (two) recipes for desserts:

BLUE-NANA PIE (yields two pies)
[Background]: I was introduced to this pie the very first time I went to Brad's parents house in north Texas. Apparently, it was a favorite of Brad's and as soon as I sunk my teeth into it, it became a favorite of mine as well. I [try to] make it every year for his birthday.

3-4 bananas, thinly sliced
1 can blueberry pie filling
2 premade pie crusts
1 8-oz package cream cheese
1 c sugar
2 packets Dream Whip
1 c milk
1 tsp vanilla

1. Bake pie crusts according to package directions for un-filled pie and allow to cool.
2. Beat cream cheese until fluffy, adding sugar slowly while beating
3. Prepare Dream Whip according to package directions using milk and vanilla
4. Line pie crusts with banana slices
5. Dollop pie filling over bananas (1/2 can per pie)
6. Fold together cream cheese and whipped topping
7. Spread 1/2 of creamy mixture over each pie.
8. Chill before serving.


LEMON PUDDING CAKE
[Background: my Grandmother Grace didn't do much cooking, but this recipe was passed from her to my dad and I jotted it down during a visit home while in college. I'm not really sure if she ever cooked it herself, but I like to think she did.]

3 eggs, separated
2 T margarine (or butter -- whatever fancies you)
1 1/4 c milk
1 1/2 c sugar
1/2 c flour
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 c lemon juice
1 tsp lemon zest (optional, but worth it)

1. Mix egg yolks, melted margarine, milk, sugar, flour, salt and lemon juice in large bowl
2. Beat egg whites until thick and frothy.
3. Fold egg whites into lemon mixture
4. Pour combined mixture into 1 quart casserole dish
5. Place dish in deep baking dish/pan
6. Fill baking pan with 1 inch of water
7. Bake 45 minutes @ 375 or until dark brown on top

I haven't made this in a very long time, so I think this might be my birthday dessert!

Enjoy!

Menu Mondays

In an attempt to blog more often, I'm going to try something new:

MONDAYS: "Not Me, Monday!" with MckMama or Menu Monday

WEDNESDAYS: Wordless Wednesday where I will show a favorite picture of the past

THURSDAYS: Thankful Thursdays

FRIDAYS: "Show Us Your Life" with Kelly (unless I have nothing to contribute)

Since today is Monday, I'll try my hand at sharing one of our favorite recipes with you! I'll be honest...Brad does most of the cooking around here. When I'm working a 12-hour shift, there just isn't a lot of time for me to get home, cook dinner, eat and have some quality time together since I don't arrive until after 7:30. Brad actually enjoys cooking, and I [usually] clean up. So, more power to him.

We haven't really gotten good enough to spout off food from random ingredients yet, so we get our recipes from a variety of sources. Case in point:

FIRECRACKER ENCHILADAS

from Rachael Ray

3 T Olive Oil

1 large onion, chopped

3 T all-purpose flour

29-oz can tomato sauce

1 T chili powder

2.5 tsp ground cumin

1.5 tsp salt

1 lb muenster cheese, grated

2 lb chicken, shredded (this can be a pre-cooked rotisserie, or you grill 3-4 breasts)

3 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce - seeded and chopped

12-18 6-inch corn tortillas

1. Heat oil over medium high heat. Add 2/3 onion and cook ~5 minutes.

2. Stir in flour and cook 2 minutes. Whisk in 1.5 cups water, tomato sauce, chili powder, cumin and salt. Bring to a boil, then simmer for 5 minutes. Set aside

3. Meanwhile, preheat broiler.

4. In large bowl, mix shredded chicken, 2/3 cheese and chiles.

5. In large casserole dish, spread 1 cup of enchilada sauce evenly across bottom. (I use two smaller dishes, thus splitting the 1 cup of sauce between the two.) Dip 1 tortilla in remaining sauce, coating both sides. Transfer to plate and fill w/ chicken mixture. Roll up, transfer to dish seam side down. Repeat with remaining tortillas and mixture.

6. Top enchiladas with remaining onion, sauce and cheese.

7. Broil until bubbly, 5-7 minutes. Turn off broiler and leave in oven an additional 5 minutes or until heated through.

This dish takes some time (shredding chicken, grating cheese) and is a little messy, so we normally just have some chips and salsa and guacamole as a side. YUM-O! as Rachael would say!

SIDE NOTE: We enjoy spicy food, so I typically leave the seeds of one pepper in!

SUYL: Favorite Vacation Spot

This week at Kelly's Show Us Your Life, we're talking about our favorite vacation spots.

Growing up, my family didn't really go on many vacations. My parents were both in public education and my Dad was in school quite a bit, so aside from trips with the church and weekend getaways to Dallas for some roller-coaster riding and CrackJack-eating fun, we didn't travel much. However, I have had several opportunities to go skiing in Colorado and that is my idea of a great vacation. It's a break from the hot humidity of Houston and it comes with periods of a good work-out and relaxation. Plus, the snow-covered mountains are just amazing:

[I'm actually going to my parents' this weekend, so if I find older pictures from Winter Park ski trips, I'll try to upload them. If I do find pictures, I'll fill you in on one of my most embarassing moments while growing up...]

Here I am in Breckenridge in 2008 with my then-future-in-laws:

And last year in Keystone with my new hubby (and friends that aren't pictured):

Big Christmas tree during a snow shower:

Now if only I could fit into those jeans again...

VOTE!!!

VOTE HERE!

My brother-in-law is in a brand new band called Air Review and they have a pretty awesome opportunity on the horizon. If you're from Texas (or elsewhere) and love music, you're probably very familiar with Austin City Limits. Air Review just played their first show two months ago (when the ACL Festival line-up was already established) and have a pretty good following all over. They're having a little contest over at Dell Lounge to win a spot at the Festival and the boys of the band need your vote! So take a listen, and vote once a day from now until August 28 to help them play a gig of their dreams!

Save the Date!

Yes, I realize we've already gotten married, but this Save the Date is for what might prove to be [one of] the hardest things I'll ever do. Brad and I just registered for the White Rock Half Marathon in Dallas on December 13.

So grab your scarves and hot chocolate (or heck, even your running shoes) and come cheer us on!

FURNITURE!

Since before we even got married, Brad and I have been looking for bedroom furniture. We've always kind of looked for a wooden sleigh bed with matching bedside tables and an extra-wide dresser (kind of like this). However, when walking through High Fashion Home here in Houston a few months back, I spotted THE bed. I've always wanted a nice, cozy traditional/contemporary house with a few antique accents and I think the bedroom may get the start. So here's the bed:







I love the distressed look to the gray wood and the headboard is upholstered behind the black iron. I honestly didn't think Brad would go for it, but he likes it almost as much as I do! I have so many more ideas for our bedroom since we're basically starting from nothing, but that's for another day and time. Just know that I plan on doing a lot of shopping in the [not-so-near]future!

Show Us Your LIFE: Honeymoon

I'm not a huge fan of summertime, which is one of the reasons I wanted a winter wedding. And with a winter wedding should come a winter honeymoon. So Brad and I skipped out on the beachy trip to Mexico or Jamaica or the Bahamas and he surprised me with a trip to NYC! I've always wanted to see the Big Apple at Christmas time, so here's a photo journal of what we did:

We saw the incredible Rockettes. It took me back to my high school drill team days. I acted like a fat kid in a candy store.

We spent lots of minutes looking at all the intricate detailed work that went into the window displays at Macy's, Lord and Taylor's, Neiman Marcus, etc.

I gawked at diamonds in Tiffany's:

We played in the outdoor markets:

And walked across the Brooklyn Bridge:

We stood outside the 86th floor of the Empire State Building:

And walked through Central Park:

We looked up at Lady Liberty:

And the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree:

And ate THIS at Serendipity: (Well, not all of it, but enough to make us sick)

We had so much fun even though it was really, really cold. We also went to see Wicked and Phantom of the Opera, visited Ground Zero and the Met, saw a hockey game at Madison Square Gardens, walked through Times Square and Grand Central Station and ate a LOT. However, we also walked about 50 miles that week, so I like to think it all evened out! We had such a blast and I can't wait to go back sometime.