Birthday Week

Another year has come and gone and I am just thankful it has. I thought I would be anxious about entering my mid-20's but really I am more concerned about getting this dang baby weight off. I could go on for paragraphs but I'll spare you the bitching and moaning. For now anyways. I had a great birthday week and the best part is that it's not over yet!

To kick off my birthday Bryan took my to Saul Good on Friday for lunch. We had a great lunch (as I blogged below) and I cannot wait to return. Bryan had a golf tournament all weekend so we really didn't do much.

Meemaw left to go camping on Sunday morning in the Great Smoky Mountains, and I had told her we would join her for a night. Bryan made sure to have a short day on Monday and we left that afternoon. Though I was upset because we ended up leaving later than planned we still got there with enough day light to set up the tent and enjoy the mountain stream.

As a child we went camping most summers up until I was about 12. Then we stopped. I think we stopped because my Great-grandfather got sick, but I have been eager to continue this camping tradition for years. We even reserved a spot at the same campsite we camped at when I was young; a beautiful little site called Elkmont. It is about 6 miles up in the Smokies from downtown Gatlinburg. We had lots of fun hanging out and cooking s'mores over the fire. I bit off more than I could chew by making breakfast the next morning over the campfire. I'm not talking any breakfast, I'm talking eggs, bacon, and pancakes. FYI: cooking pancakes over a campfire is a disaster. I still got it done though and everyone seemed to enjoy it.

We went on a fun little nature hike that afternoon before we left and found the most beautiful old cabin. It had a 2-story tall stone fireplace and was right on the mountain stream. The place hadn't had anyone living in it for years though. It was a shell of a once beautiful house. It actually made me sad that someone had to give this gem up. You would have to drag my dead body outta there! No one has been allowed to reside in the state park since the late 80's, early 90's. Anyone still living there after a certain date had be removed legally.
*I have pictures of the house I promise I'll post soon. I am having trouble d/l'ing them from my email to my MacBook.

On Wednesday Bryan took me to Carrabba's for my birthday dinner. His sister, Kristin, and her boyfriend, David, joined us for the feast. To my delight Wednesday is $10 off bottles of wine and sangria. We took advantage of this deal and shared a pitcher of yummy red sangria. I ordered the pesto basil salmon and he had a sirloin marsala and Chicken Bryan combo. I usually order the Chicken Trio, but I was trying to be healthy(er) by ordering the salmon. Bryan said his meal was one of the best he had ever had and I was pretty satisfied with mine. We skipped dessert so that we could go home and grub on leftover ice cream cake that his parents had gotten me for my birthday.

(Those DANG maternity jeans make yet another appearance)

I wanted to post some recipes in my blog this week but I haven't cooked one time yet! I even had to put some meat BACK in the freezer so that it wouldn't go bad. I'll be back at it next week though. I am going to start making my own baby food tomorrow so I'll let you know how that goes and I'll post some recipes and how-to's. My little guy seems to be picky so wish me luck!

I wanna Happy Meal mom!

It's Saul Good

Last Friday as an early birthday lunch Bryan took me to Saul Good Restaurant and Pub. I had dinned there a few years a go when it first opened and I was not very impressed with what I got and it has taken me a few years to try it again and boy am I glad I did! It was delish!

I'm all for second chances. I figure I gave Bryan a second chance and he turned out to be awesome the second time around so giving Saul Good a second chance was the least I could do. Plus their zebra pring awning is pretty cute. I love restaurants that are privately owned and not chains. There are only a few here Lexington compared to other larger cities. Saul Good is one of the few that aren't chains.

Their menu is quite unique for the Lexington, Kentucky palate. As I stated before Lexington is over-saturated with chain restaurants. I have nothing against chain restaurants. Carrabba's and Bonefish happen to be two of my favorite, but nothing can beat a great little privately-owned spot. Their menu is made up of an eclectic take on dishes, such as the southern chicken and waffles and Parisian pizza. You can find chocolate popcorn and fondue on their dessert menu. Their steak and beer cheese nachos are a must-try for my next visit.

We shared the Saul Meat pizza, Buffalo Chicken appetizer, and their yummy White chocolate cheesecake. The pizza was amazing. It had bits of pepperoni, sausage, tomato sauce on a thin crust. I am a HUGE buffalo anything fan. Put buffalo sauce on it and I will most likely devour it. So naturally we chose their buffalo chicken appetizer. I really enjoyed the taste of the sauce and it wasn't too hot so it could appeal to a palate that wasn't a fan of spicy hot foods. I pretty much let him chose the cheesecake. I figured I am not a big white chocolate fan so I would be safe with a bite or 2. I was wrong. It was so creamy and delicious that I think I ate more than he did.

All-in-all I was satisfied with our meal and will definitely return and very soon. I know a lot of people in the area have already been here, but if you  haven't it's a place you should add to your list.

The Fruit of My Garden

When I started dating Bryan he lived in a spacious studio apartment. It had everything the two of us needed-a bathroom, 1 bedroom, and a kitchen, all which totaled about 500 sq. ft. Now we reside in a small, very small 1,200 sq. ft. 2 bedroom apartment. It's funny how one small little baby can make your space seem so much smaller than before. His stuff is EVERYWHERE. Today for instance, as we were getting ready for a walk I said, "grab the stroller out of the bathroom, please." Yes, we store diapers, wipes, baby tubs, toys, clothes, and the stroller in our spare bathroom.


I am not much of a gardener. In fact I am quite sure that if I had flowers in my yard they would all die. However, I am a fan of gardens. The type that produces actual food. My great grandparents have had a garden for as long as I can remember. For as long as I can remember I did not appreciate all the fresh fruits and vegetables it produced. But since we have lived here the past 6 years I have really enjoyed having a garden all summer. It is so cost effective to have your own garden and I really enjoy cooking with vegetables that I know where they came from.


These two paragraphs seem to have nothing in common but the point I was trying to make is if I had a house with a yard I would definitely grow my own garden. Unfortunately my apartment is far too small to farm a garden every spring. I long for the days when we own our own house so that I can hoe my garden. For now though I must go to my grandmother's to get my garden fix.

Soup mixes are one of the great things that gardens produce. Grab every vegetable from the garden to make your own soup mix to freeze for the coming winter. Here in Kentucky it stays cold for a long time and warm soups are nice to have. Okra, potatoes, green peppers, onions, squash, tomatoes can all be cut up and canned or placed in freezer bags and stored in the freezer. You can cater the soup mixes to your taste as well by adding as much or as little as you want. When that cold air of winter creeps around just reach in your freezer (or cabinet if canned) and place in the crock pot. Add water and canned tomatoes for a delicious home made soup that is not only satisfying, but good for you.

Another great plus of having a garden is all the tomatoes it produces. Admittedly I am not the biggest raw tomato fan. I do however love it in soups and sauces. I'll even eat a grilled tomato. I guess it's just something about the cold texture. Every year my great grandmother would boil and peel the tomatoes in order to can enough tomatoes until next spring. This is great because you have something fresh and homemade that doesn't take all that much effort. The cans you buy in the store are very convenient and loaded with sodium. You can use the canned tomatoes in soups, chili, and it makes a mean salsa.

If you don't have a garden another quick way to get fresh tomatoes is to buy them from the store. I always buy organic, but you can buy whatever you prefer. Tonight I  made chili. I diced about 4 roma tomatoes and tossed another three in the food processor to make it into a liquid. I added that to my ground beef instead of a can from the store and seasoned it to my preference. An easy red Italian sauce can be made by blending your tomatoes in the processor with fresh garlic and basil. Add your own seasonings to taste (I prefer a little italian seasonings and pepper), heat it on the stove and serve over pasta.

Oh Sweet, Sweet Summer, Where Have You Gone? A White Bean Salad Perfect Anytime

Hola my friends! I am quite sad that my summer is almost over. Not that I have to go back to school or anything, I just dread the whole 7-months-of-cold-weather thing. I do enjoy a little big of the cooler fall weather but after that I am ready for warmth again. Unfortunately all I get is cold, cold, cold.

The end of August brings a few fun milestones, some bittersweet. My birthday is on Tuesday. I am happily entering my late twenties (27) with open arms. I really don't mind aging as much as I thought I would. My baby boy just turned 4 months old yesterday! Four freaking months old! I am going to be a case of tears on his first birthday, I just know it. I feel like it was yesterday that that the doctor was telling me to "just push through the ring of fire". If you have already birthed a child naturally then you know what I'm talking about! If haven't yet experienced the joy of childbirth then you are quite lucky my friend.

My love has a birthday coming up on September 2nd and honestly I am looking more forward to his than mine. I have SO MUCH stuff planned for his birthday. I love birthdays. I always try to make my family's individual birthdays special. I always make a cake, a special dinner, balloons, and matching themed decorations, and his will be no different. I don't want to divulge too much information yet but I'm thinking a golf themed cake and rice crispy treats. 

Many of you have already seen the pictures I had made of Bryson and I. The wonderful Ali Garey from Ali Ann photography took them. She is awesome and I highly recommend her. I absolutely cannot wait to give them to him. I am so happy that this time next year we will be MARRIED and no longer living in sin. I know my Meemaw is somewhere thanking God right now as she is reading this. I'll stop blabbing now and continue with the recipe I was going to share with you all before I got to talking.

I have had this recipe for a white bean salad made with tomato, basil, and garlic. It is so yummy. I have made it a few times for large family gatherings and holidays. It's pretty cheap to make too, especially if you grow your own basil and beans are about the cheapest protein you can buy. 

Here lately I have been preparing this staple at home. I cut the recipe in half when I am making it for just a couple of people. Bryan is not a huge fan of raw tomatoes so I get the whole thing to myself:). I like to make this when I am making anything Italian. It goes great with pan-fried french bread, kind of like a bruschetta. I am doing a very low-carb diet so I even used it as a pasta substitute in my spaghetti the other night. At lunch today I still had some left over so I added a whole can of drained tuna fish to the leftovers and it was delish. I am even thinking of adding this yummy dish to my wedding menu...

Tomato, Basil, and, White-Bean Salad

serves 6

2 cans (19 oz each) cannellini beans, drained and rinsed

1/2 lb small roma tomatoes, cut into 1-inch pieces

1/2 cup fresh basil leaves, torn into 1-inch pieces

1 teaspoon salt

Pepper to taste

1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil

1/4 red onion, chopped into 1/2 to 1 inch pieces

1.) Combine beans, tomatoes, basil, and salt in a bowl, and season with pepper

2.) Heat oil in skillet over medium heat. Add garlic, and cook, stirring, until fragrant but not browned. 1 1/2 to 2 minutes. Pour over bean mixture, and gently toss. Let stand 30 minutes before serving to allow the flavors to melt. Salad can be covered and kept at room temperature for up to 4 hours.

Whole Chicken: A Frugal Woman's Dream

Ok, Ok, so maybe the best adjective to describe me is definitely not frugal, but at least I try. To me being frugal means buying the cutest shirt at Forever 21 for 10 bucks and a bracelet to match for $3.80. Seriously though, if you are on a budget (and we try to be!) then a whole chicken is definitely for you and your family. I loved the bang it gave my buck so much I now have a whole freezer stockpile of medium-sized whole chickens. I go the extra buck or 2 and buy the organic, hormone and range-free chicken. I like to know that my chicken was treated fairly and able to roam free before she was humanely killed for my dinner table. If you don't really care about the treatment of your chicken then buy the cheapest one you can find.

My one chicken gave my enough meat for 3 meals PLUS 2 whole cups of chicken broth. A larger chicken would give you probably 4-5 cups. I don't have a large enough crock pot for a large chicken so I just bought a smaller one. Although you could probably bake a larger one in the oven and get the same results. I personally added store bought chicken broth because I wanted to make sure I got enough to make another recipe. It would have still yielded about a cup. You can use any seasonings/herbs you have on hand. Rosemary would be great with this chicken although I had no rosemary on hand. After we finished eating the chicken for dinner I pulled off the rest of the meat and made chicken salad AND Paula Deen's chicken casserole, which just happen to use 2 cups of homemade chicken broth:) and all for under 10 bucks. So Voila! A frugal woman's dream!

Ingredients:
1 whole chicken
2 TBSP cold butter, cut into thin slices
1/2 onion, sliced into 1-1 1/2 long pieces
2 TBSP chopped chives
Salt, pepper, garlic (and any other seasonings/herbs you want to use) to taste
Chicken broth (optional)
8 oz's of whole mushrooms

1. Turn a large crock pot on low.
2. Wash chicken and take out innards. Pat dry. Take 4-5 pieces of aluminum foil and loosely form into balls. Set in the bottom of crock pot. This is to elevate the chicken and it is supposed to make the skin more crispy.
3. Place chicken in crock pot and gently pull up the skin of the chicken without removing the skin. Place pats of butter under the skin along with 1/4 of your onion slices
4. Season the outside liberally (you can also carefully season under the skin), add chives, and place the rest of the onion slices on top. It is OK if some of the onion falls to the bottom of the pot.
5. You can leave your mushrooms whole or quarter them if you want. Place them in the bottom of the pan, along the sides of the chicken.
6. Pour a 1/2 cup to a cup of chicken broth in the bottom of the pan. This is optional. I wanted a moist, juicy chicken with lots of broth. Cook overnight or all day (at least 7 hours). Use leftovers to make chicken salad, casserole, or any other varieties of chicken dishes. Below is the recipe for Paula Deen's chicken casserole...

*The onions and mushrooms were soooo yummy cooked in the chicken's natural juices.

Paula Deen's Biscuit-Topped Chicken Cobbler
Serves 8-10 (again I cut recipe in half)
*Next time I prepare this recipe I will DEFINITELY cook the biscuits separately because I felt that it absorbed a lot of the casserole.
1/2 cup butter, divided
1 cup chopped celery
1 cup chopped carrots
1 cup chopped onion
1 (8-oz) package sliced fresh mushrooms
1 cup frozen peas, thawed (I omitted the peas)
2/3 cup all-purpose flower
4 cups reserved chicken broth
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
4 cups reserved chopped cooked chicken
1 TBSP minced fresh thyme (omitted)
1 1/2 TSP salt
1 TSP black pepper
2 (7.5-oz) bags complete buttermilk biscuit mix
1 cup shredded parmesan cheese (I used 1/2 parm, 1/2 cheddar)
1 cup whole milk

1.) Preheat oven to 400*. Spray 13x9 inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
2.) In a large skillet, melt 1/4 cup butter over medium-high heat. Add celery, carrots, onion, and mushrooms; cook 5-6 minutes or until tender; stir in peas. Set aside.
3.) In a large dutch oven, melt remaining 1/4 cup butter over medium heat. Add flour, and cook, stirring constantly, for 2 minutes. Add chicken broth, cream, whisking until smooth. Cook, whisking constantly, for 3-4 minutes or until mixture is thickened.
4.) Add reserved chicken, celery mixture, thyme, salt, and pepper to broth mixture. Spoon mixture into prepared baking dish.
5.) in a medium bowl, combine biscuit mix, cheese, and milk, stirring just until combined. Drop dough by heaping TBSP's onto cobbler (or baking dish if your want to cook separately). Bake for 18-23 minutes or until biscuits are golden brown and cobbler is hot and bubbly.

This recipe was seriously DELISH! The cheddar biscuits were amazing and they reminded me of the ones you get at Red Lobster.

Ham and Spinach Strata!

I try to keep things simple over at my house. There are a few things I have found while experimenting in the kitchen the past few years; lesson 1) if it seems too complicated it probably is. For example, I tried to make this eggplant parmesan recipe I found in my SHAPE magazine recently. It said "soak your eggplant in water for 30 minutes and then let dry on paper towels. Then dredge one side in bread crumbs....". Being that I am not really even a huge fan of eggplant I decided to just stop there and not even continue to read any further. I didn't like eggplant enough to let it soak in water.
 2) Some things are better in a  package. Case in point: While watching Buddy cook banana pudding on Kitchen Boss I decided that I wanted to try. Long story short I ended up making the banana pudding FROM SCRATCH and ended up in tears both times. I whisked that stupid pudding for like 30 minutes (he only did it for 4-5 minutes) and it STILL wasn't thickened. Basically the box pudding is quick, easy, good, won't make you cry, and will save 4 hours trying to make it from scratch.
3) Just keep it simple. I feel like the meals that save me time and money are sometimes my best meals. I tried to make crab cakes one time from scratch and failed miserably. I spent about, oh, 40 big ones trying to make them too. I cried that night too. BUT I was 6 months preggo so at least I had an excuse...

I constituted all my rules cooking tonight's meal-a ham and spinach strata. I'll first start with the definition so that you can better understand the foundation of a strata if you have never heard of one (my Meemaw had not).
Strata:
1. A layer or series of rocks in the ground.
2. A thin layer within any structure.
3. A very yummy breakfast casserole consisting of  eggs and bread.

Basically my ham and spinach strata consists of layers of some of my favorite foods-ham, onions, cheese, garlic, and of course, bread and eggs. I prepared it the night before and stored it in the fridge until I was ready to cook it for dinner. It would be a great breakfast dish too (obviously). This recipe is a good frugal staple and would be a great meal prepared from holiday leftovers, like turkey or ham and day-old bread. I love meals that are quick, can be prepared ahead of time, and only consist of ONE dish to wash afterwards:).

The beauty of this dish is the fact that you can pretty much put any vegetable, cheese, bread, and meat combo in it. I used what was in my fridge which was onions, spinach, cheese, and ham. I personally used a little more bread and cheese than the recipe called for. Paula Deen says that you should always follow a new recipe to the T the first time you make it and then experiment the second time around. I always try to stick to my recipe but I always add a little more of my favorite ingredients than the recipe calls for. I say if you really love a certain food then you can never have enough! Here is the recipe. I hope you enjoy!

Ham and Spinach Strata
Serves 8-10
1 TBSP butter, unsalted (room temp)
10 large eggs
2 1/2 cups of whole mild
1 TBSP Dijon mustard
1 TSP chili powder
1 TSP salt
Pepper to taste
1 loaf of bread (preferably day old bread), cut into 1-inch pieces
1 lb ham (deli or holiday), cut into bite-sized pieces.
1 medium-sized onion, diced
2 cups of washed spinach, torn into 1 inch pieces
8 ounces pepper jack cheese, shredded

Directions:
Heat oven to 350*
1. Place bread on a baking sheet and bake for 10 minutes or until lightly toasted.
2. Butter a 2 1/2 to 3-quart baking dish. In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, chili powder, salt, pepper,  and Dijon. Add bread when done baking.
3. Cook onions in a skillet on medium heat until tender. Add spinach towards the end and cook until spinach is soft and wilted.
4. Add onions, spinach, and ham to egg mixture and mix well.
5. Carefully pour mixture into greased baking dish. Cover and refrigerate overnight (or at least a few hours).
6. Pre-heat the oven to 350*. Pull Strata out of fridge and let sit for 15 minutes. Bake the strata, uncovered, until puffed and lightly golden brown, about 1 hour to 1 hour and 20 minutes. Let rest for 5 minutes before serving.

* I cut recipe in half but added 1 more egg (6 total) and about a half loaf of bread.