Weekend Delight

We had a wonderful weekend with my parents back in Maryland. It was great to see them again and get to spend some quality time. Friday night Justin and I got in too late to have dinner around 8:30 pm, so we stopped on our way at the Hagerstown Outlets, we got a slice of pizza at the food court and the went to the Underarmour store! They had some great deals, Justin got 2 shirts and I got 3! I am going to wear one tomorrow for my jogging! We got home and showed my parents the wedding photos on the big screen TV. I was pretty cool to see them so big! Then it was bed time.

Saturday morning we got up and my Mom made us cheesy omelets with asiago rolls from the bakery! I didn't get to take any pictures though because my camera died and I forgot to bring the charger...fail. We lounged around for awhile and then got dressed and went to Bloomingdale's to complete our registry for our china! WE had a 20% off coupon and we were going to get maybe 3 more sets of our china pattern. (It is Alana by Waterford, so elegant) But it turned out if we signed up for a Bloomies card then we would get an extra 20% off on top of the other 20% and have free shipping! So we just went ahead and got the rest of our china! It was a really great deal. I cannot wait to use it!

After Bloomies and a few other stores we went to P.F. Chang's for lunch! I love their lettuce wraps. This is when I wished my camera had not died so I could have taken pictures. We got the chicken lettuce wraps to share and Mongolian beef and crispy honey shrimp to share for our entrees. For dessert the banana spring rolls with pinapple coconut ice cream! So Amazing!

We went to Trader Joe's to pick up a few things to bring back to WV, because we dont have one here. :(
Then back home to watch the PSU vs. Alabama game. PSU was doing great in the very beginning and then it was a tough game from there, needless to say PSU lost :( boo.

It was still a great weekend! Today we went to church then we took my parents to an amazing sushi place called Rolls n' Rice for lunch/dinner! After that we packed up the car and it was time to come back home. Now, I am relaxing, posting this entry, and enjoying a Blue Moon Harvest Pumpkin Ale! Hopefully pictures tomorrow, I need to charge my camera!

Save the Fruit

For lunch today I had some a leftover enchilada and it was very delicious! We are going to be leaving this evening to drive to Maryland. My issue is that I have fruit that I know is going to go bad unless it is eaten. Justin for some reason does not like bananas so that is an issue when I buy a bunch and I am the only person that eats them, they get to ripe to quickly and I can't eat 2 bananas at a time, and really who wants to do that. We also had peaches that I cut up that were going bad. They were super ripe. I had some as a snack after my lunch but I don't think I can eat anymore. I just hate seeing food go to waste.

I guess I will just have to throw them out before we go. I could take the bananas home, I guess...Does anyone know a good way to save bananas that are already ripe but you can eat them right away? I have put them in the fridge but they always get freezer burnt.

Someone help me save the fruits!

Black Bean & Spinach Enchiladas

So colorful!

This recipe was given to me by Justin's Aunt Maureen! I made it yesterday for dinner and it was awesome!! I loved it and so did the hubs! :) Without any further ado here is the recipe and then I will tell you what I used for certain things.

Black Bean & Spinach Enchiladas

• 1 frozen package chopped spinach (cooked) 
• 1 can (15 oz) black beans, drained (and I also like to rinse them too)
• 1 cup salsa
• 1 pkg flour tortillas (6 inch)  (What I actually used was the 100 calorie tortillas by the La Tortilla Factory, they are much better for you than regular tortillas)
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 1 tbsp lime juice (I used a fresh squeezed lime but the juice from the bottle would work too.)
• chopped tomatos ( grape or cherry, then cut in half)
• approx. 1 cup shredded Monterrey Jack cheese (you can substitute whatever cheese you like, I think I used a Mexican blend)
• 2 scallions finely sliced

Preheat over to 375°. Combine spinach, black beans, and salsa. Fill tortillas with filling and roll. Place in a (lightly oiled, spray with cooking spray) 8x13 pan and bake for 15 min. Combine sour cream and lime juice and cut all veggies while the enchiladas are baking. Remove enchiladas from oven and spread sour cream and lime jucie mixture on top of enchiladas. Top with shredded cheese, tomatos, and scallions. Return pan to the oven for 5 min.

Serve and enjoy!! This recipe was so good and it is pretty healthful! For us it made 5 large enchiladas. A good option if you have a no meat dish once a week. In our home it happens more often than that!

So... for pictures, while I was making the mixture of spinach, beans, and salsa I completely forgot to take photos, fail on my part. But this recipe is pretty self explanatory.

I only remembered to start taking pictures after the enchiladas were in the oven...oops.

fresh squeezed lime juice

combining sour cream and lime juice

Justin made margaritas on the rocks while enchiladas were baking!

Like the new table cloth?!

only thing missing is a little extra salsa for dipping!

This recipe seems like there is more spinach than black beans but hey that's OK with me!

If you make this recipe tell me how it was or if you added anything different!! What is on your menu for tonight? And what do you have planned for the weekend?

We will be going back to Maryland to visit our parents and to get some more things that we forgot to pack during our move! Maybe I can make some yummy meals for my parents! Enjoy your weekend!

Productivity Hooray!...and good eats!

Today has been a fairly productive day so far. I got up with Justin today at 7 am, then slowly made myself some breakfast checked email and watched some news so it was a fairly relaxing morning. And I made another wonderful bowl of oatmeal. Except this time I was lazy and I just used the instant microwave packets, this oatmeal was flavor maple strudel, but I added my own fixin's of course!

Mixed in the oatmeal was some Silk light vanilla soy milk, and chia seeds. I was already flavored oatmeal so that was all it needed. Toppings: Cinnamon, toasted walnuts, coconut, cinnamon, and a dollop of PB&Co Cinn. Raisin Swirl! I really like the walnuts in the oatmeal this time! yum!

Coffee with So Delicious coconut milk creamer! a new fave!

After breakfast I puttered around the apartment organizing and making the bed, which I actually enjoy doing now because it looks so darn pretty when I do! I love our quilt!! Then I got my butt in gear and got dressed and headed out for a jog. I jog/walked about 2 miles and I climbed the stairs up to the Law school building. I have done this 2 days in a row now and I like it. I got around the stadium twice and up and down the stairs twice. I think I actually do more walking than jogging but I just need to start slow and then build from there. It felt really good! I needed exercise back in my life! After that I came home and took a shower, folded the laundry that was in the dryer and then did some reading. After all that it was about time to make lunch.

So for lunch we had a bunch of left over kale from when I made Kale Chips for the first time. Which I love and will be buying tons of kale just to make them all the time! So I made a plate full and then I had a Honeycrisp apple from Brown's! I love that place they have the best fruit ever! I had my apple with cinnamon and cinnamon raisin swirl peanut butter from P.B. & Co. and it took some time for the kale to bake so I arranged my apple into a pretty edible flower...really what else do I need to be doing?!

I think I should go into apple arranging...no?

Honeycrisp apples are the best ever, especially when they are fresh from a local orchard!

Now here is my kale before and after! These are so easy and so delish! Just tear into pieces spread out on a cookie sheet drizzle with a little olive oil, or I just sprayed the pan with Pam olive oil spray. Sprinkle with a little salt and pop in the over for 15 mins at 375 degrees! And you have your own veggie chips!!

Before: Fresh kale with a sprinkle of salt!

After: Crispy yummy kale chip goodness!

Thats Lunch! A bit of my sun tea I made yesterday, it turned out OK but I don't think there was quite enough sun so it was pretty weak.

Oh! I got a job offer at a nearby childcare center, so I am going to be working there started next Wednesday! It isn't my dream job, but I love working with kids and I think I will like it there! I should get the schedule emailed to me today. I will let you know more later. And I didn't get to make the enchiladas because yesterday evening Justin called and asked if I wanted to grab a drink with his co-worker/friend at Damon's. So I got to meet somebody new and then we ended up going to his house and I met his wife too! So it was a great evening, but I didn't get to make my enchiladas so that is on the menu for tonight and if I have enough time (and Justin doesn't hog the computer (: ) I will post the recipe and photos, and give ya my opinion! Have a great rest of the day!

Cozy: Oatmeal, Candles, and Quilts

Good Morning! What a lovely one it is! No pouring rain this morning! I can even see the sun peeking out from behind the clouds.

Well this morning I made a delicious bowl of oatmeal! I have been reading the Kath Eats Real Food blog and she has so many amazing recipes, not just of oatmeal but basically everything! I love reading her blog.

So here is my first bowl of oat made the KERF way!

Mixed in to the (1/2 cup) oats while cooking was a banana, 1 tbsp chia seeds, 1/2 cup Almond Breeze unsweetend chocolate almond milk, 1/2 water, splash vanilla extract...and I think that is it. I think it would have been overall a little bit sweeter if my banana was a touch more ripe...oh well.

The topping made this breakfast amazing! Some coconut, a sprinkle more of chia seeds, and my favorite peanut butter from Peanut Butter & Co. Cinnamon Raisin Swirl! This peanut butter is sooo yummy.

I had coffee with So Delicious Coconut creamer, which is wonderful and I will be getting it again! My Candles by Victoria candle is burning in the background!

Candles by Victoria is such an awesome company! The candle I have is a mystery one so I don't know the name of the scent but it smells like something yummy and chocolatey! Lovely to burn on chilly mornings! I love all the candles I have purchased from Victoria! They are super scented and give off the best smell when they are burning! I just put in an order a week ago for a bunch of candles and I am sooo excited to get them! One scent I love is Honey I Washed the Kids, it smells just like a Lush soap!! So good! I also love the Almond Pastry scent, this is one of my favorites!! It reminds me of the almond croissants I always bought when I went to Bonte a Belgian waffle place in Philadelphia, the cafe is so cozy and smells like bakery heaven! I miss it....hmmm maybe I can convince the hubby to take a trip to Philly!!
But I love Candles by Victoria you should check it out! You will not be disappointed they have a scent for everyone!

I also want to show a picture of the beautiful quilt Justin's grandmother made for us for our wedding 10 lovely ladies worked on this quilt for 6 months! And you can tell because of the quality and the beauty of it!! I love it and we have a very proud grandma!! :)

I love all the blues and the greens in this quilt! We will use this forever. It is pretty cozy!

So that is all for now! Tonight I am making a new enchilada recipe that was given to me by Justin's Aunt Maureen! So I am looking forward to doing some cooking!! I will blog the recipe and picture either tonight or tomorrow!

Update on the Job Search/ Labor Day Weekend!

     SO...I realized I forgot to update (whoever reads this blog) about the job interviews that I have had. So far so good I had one today at another local daycare and this one I like the best! Also they gave me the best pay per hour! I really hope I get a call back from them.

     I had another interview yesterday and I liked that daycare as well. If I did get the position there I would be a lead teacher in a 2 year old classroom with 14 2 yr olds! Which I would really like and I think it would give me some freedom to incorporate a lot of music into the classroom. I still have not heard back from them yet. That daycare had me go into the 2 yr old classroom and observe/participate. I enjoyed it, but I really do think that the daycare needs stronger teachers. The two ladies that were in the classroom were very quiet and didn't say much to me or the children, they just didn't seem like teachers to me. I just decided to plop myself down on the floor and read a book to the kids, which they loved. I colored with them for awhile and then left. I don't know... I am going to wait til Tuesday til I call them back.

     Justin and I are traveling to Ephrata, PA to spend Labor day weekend with his family, a picnic is always on Sunday after church. It should be a fun weekend and I should have some photos to post. It is a long drive there but Justin says he is so glad that he has someone to make the drive with him. Me too! :) Have a great weekend everyone!

Burritos!

These Tortillas are amazing by La Tortilla Factory. They are only 80 cal., 48% of your daily fiber, and 8g of protein...amazing. I am going to have to get more of these!

Sour cream is not the greatest for you so this is a swap, I have heard about, i decided to mix one wedge of the cheese into the yogurt, and you know what...I can't tell the different between this and sour cream!

Cooking lean gound turkey with 3 pepper and onion blend, and green chiles with a sprinkle or two of fajita seasoning!

Nice and colorful! and healthy!! I just used a bit of PAM spray olive oil for the pan, so very little oil.

This meal would not be complete without some cervesa! This beer was nice and light, very good esp. with lime!

my faux-sour cream mixture, I loved it, Justin isn't the biggest fan of the sour cream in the first place but he liked it too! I cannot tell the different when it is mixed in with all the yummy flavors of my burrito.

So here is everything, turkey mixture, shredded lettuce, cheese (yes I gotta have my cheese, that is probably the only not so healthy thing on here!) some Spanish rice, and faux-cream! OH! Don't forget the salsa and a little guacamole on the side!

Loved, loved, loved the burritos! I will be making again, or possibly making enchiladas with the tortillas. I have been enjoying cooking so much. More eats up soon! Try this out and let me know what you think. I would love to here about it! We love burritos but making them at home is cheaper and healthier. Two things that I like very much!