Twist on a Classic

Ever get tired of the same ol white or wheat bread? Have I got a change for you! Waffles. Yep you read that right. The same delicious breakfast food has been turned upside down and made savory and a bit spicy with the addition of jalapenos and cheddar. Dont knock it til you try it. And I urge you to try it.

Turkey Club on a Jalapeno Cheddar Waffle

Makes 2 Sandwiches

- waffle mix, any kind will do

- 1 jalapeno chopped

- 1/4 cup cheddar cheese

- lettuce

- bacon

- turkey

- ranch dressing

Mix the waffle mix as directed (mine makes 4 waffles per batch) and add in jalapeno and cheese. Heat up waffle iron to medium high and a skillet for the bacon. Cook the bacon until nice and crisp. Pour the mix in the center of the waffle iron and press down. Let cook until its starts steaming and has a golden brown color. Assemble turkey, bacon. lettuce and ranch in between and waffles like you would bread. Then viola! New take on an old classic! 

Hello Fall

Fall has officially fell here in Northwest Ohio and I could not be happier!! I love the leaves changing colors, and the crisp cool air! It has been especially chilly the past few days. Nothing screams for soup more than chilly weather. I love chicken tortilla soup. It reminds me of my Grandma. She gets it anywhere and everywhere they serve it. I spiced this up a bit and its delish! Way easy too since I just threw everything in the crock pot.

Crock Pot Chicken Tortilla Soup

Serves 2 

- 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts

- 1 tsp cumin

- 1 tsp cayenne

- 1 tsp chili powder

- 1 tsp paprika 

- Salt and Pepper
- 1 7 oz can chopped green chilies
- 1 10 oz can Hot Rotel (we like it spicy but you can use regular if you arent a huge fan of the heat)
- 16 oz low sodium chicken broth
- 1 can black beans
- sour cream, cheese, tortilla strips, lime, avocado for topping

Place chicken in a well greased crock pot. Sprinkle Seasonings on top. Pour the rest of the ingredients over the chicken and cook on high for 4 hours or low for 6. You can take the chicken out to shred it or leave it in and do it that way. Either way it is so tender it falls right apart. Top with your preferred toppings!

Burger Remake

I have a love affair with burgers. Well actually I have a love affair with most foods, but thats besides the point. I stumbled upon this recipe and it sounded so interesting I had to give it a try. The only sweet potatoes Ive had are at thanksgiving with roasted peeps on top. Yes peeps. Ill save that for next month. Anywho I urge you to break out of your food comfort zone and whip this up. Its really quick and really good!

Terrible photo but you can only do so much with an iphone and a grumbling tummy

Smoky Sweet Potato Burgers with Roasted Garlic Cream and Avocado

Adapted from here

ingredients:

2 cups coarsely mashed sweet potatoes (or yams), about 2 large potatoes


2 bulbs of roasted garlic (cut top off, drizzle with olive oil & wrap in foil, roast at 375 for 45 min)

1 cup cannellini benas (rinsed and drained if canned)


2 garlic cloves, minced


1/3 cup oat bran

1 large egg, lightly beaten


1 1/2 teaspoons smoked paprika


1 teaspoon onion powder


1 teaspoon salt


1/2 teaspoon pepper


1/8 teaspoon cumin


2-3 tablespoons olive oil


1 avocado, sliced


2/3 cup plain greek yogurt or sour cream


1 teaspoon maple syrup


extra salt and pepper for seasoning yogurt/cream

directions:

Pierce potatoes (I used 2 large) all over with a fork and place on a paper towel, setting in the microwave. Microwave for 5 minutes, then flip and cook for 5 minutes more. Remove, slice in half and let cool until you can scoop out the flesh.

In a large bowl, coarsely mash beans with a fork. Add in sweet potato and mash together, then add in spices, salt and pepper, minced garlic, egg, panko and flour. Mix together until combined, then place bowl in the fridge for 15-20 minutes. This helps form them into patties, but as a warning they are still somewhat messy.

While mixture is chilling, combine yogurt/sour cream with 2 bulbs (squeezed out) of roasted garlic cloves, maple syrup and a sprinkle of salt and pepper in a blender or food processor. Process until smooth then set aside until ready to use.

Heat a large skillet over medium heat and add 2 tablespoons olive oil. Remove mixture from fridge and form into 4 equal patties, then place in the skillet once hot. Since the mixture can be wet and messy, do not move until they are fully cooked and golden on one side! This takes about 5-6 minutes. Then, add more oil if needed (this really helps cook them) and flip burgers very gently. Cook for another 5-6 minutes. Top with avocado

7 MONTHS

This month:

This past month you:

- swam in a baby pool for the first time! You loved it until you decided to try and eat your feet. That scared you a bit.

- have began eating gerber baby puffs! You finally got the hang of putting the little things in your mouth. You forgot to chew once or twice but thankfully they dissolve and you havent done it since!

- rolled off the couch :( I felt like the worst mama in all the world. I saw the whole thing happen and could not get to you in time. Luckily you weren't hurt, just a little (a lot) scared. We both had a good cry.

- Went to your first wedding! yeah you are show stealer :)

- got your two bottom teeth!! it was a rough week for mama and baby. you would only sleep with me and would hardly eat your baby food. They look so cute though. Maybe one day you will let me get a picture!

- put your hands in mamas mouth anytime she talks to you or sings to you. its odd but hey you like it.

- Love going grocery shopping! you yell and talk the whole time. its pretty darn cute.

- are almost crawling! you can move backwards but havent discovered forwards yet. 

- give mama the biggest smile whenever she comes in the room or gets you from your nap. This just melts my heart every time.

My sweet angel you are growing so fast! I cannot believe it has already been 7 months since the Lord brought you to me. You fill a part of my heart I never knew was empty. I just love you so much words cannot even describe.

*I know I just posted Lindseys 6 months. The pictures were on time but the post was a tad late...

The Good Stuff

I am beat. School is in full swing and baby has been teething for the past week. I barely have time to shower, let alone blog. I know I have seriously been slacking. Ill still post every now and then but right now, it just is not my top priority. I have a couple posts planned for this week, including baby girl's 6 months. Yeah thats how far behind I am.

Now to the good stuff. This recipe was just too amazing I knew I had to put it on here. If not for all of you, for me to remember to make it again. Yeah that good!! If you have never had goat cheese I strongly urge you to try it. You never know whether you like something until you give it a try :)

Herb and Garlic Roasted Chicken with Cranberry Goat Cheese and a Honey-Balsamic Reduction over roasted Asparagus

Serves 2

- 2 bonless skinless chicken breasts, pounded out to be a little thinner

- 1/4 cup Lawrys Herb and Garlic Marinade

- Cranberry Goat Cheese (use to your liking)

- 1/4 cup honey

- 1/4 cup Balsamic Vinegar

- 1 lb of Asparagus

- Salt & Pepper

- Olive Oil

I like to pound out my chicken a little to quicken the cooking process. I place the breast in a ziplock bag and go to town with a skillet. Mainly just to flatten the really fat part and make it the same size. After that, pour the marinade in the bag and let sit for 30 min-24 hours in the fridge. Once marinaded, preheat oven to 350 and place chicken in a baking dish. Bake for about 20-25 minutes, until juices run clear. Take the goat cheese out of the fridge to bring to room temperature. Meanwhile, rinse asparagus and break the woody ends off. Line a baking sheet with foil (easy clean up) and arrange asparagus. Drizzle Olive Oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Once chicken is cooked, turn your heat up to 400 and cook asparagus for 10 minutes. While asparagus is cooking, heat honey and balsamic vinegar in a sauce pan over medium heat. Whisk it together and let it reduce. It will thicken up and be done at the same time as the asparagus. Grab your plate and start to assemble.  Place some asparagus on the bottom of the plate, lay the chicken on top. This is where your own taste buds decide how much goat cheese to spread on your chicken. Drizzle with the honey-balsamic reduction and enjoy!

6 Months

I cannot believe my little princess is half a year old! Where has the time gone??

This past month you:
- have started only sleeping on your stomach
- have had peaches, pears, apples, peas, carrots, green beans, bananas, and sweet potatoes
- have started hating veggies so we put a little fruit in with the veggies and that seems to work
- had your first sinus infection
- started having stranger awareness and a couple meltdowns when someone new holds you
- are such a wiggle worm! ill put you in one place on the floor and your in a new one every time I look
- are sitting up all alone!
- still get up a few times in the night. Mommy misses her sleep
- have started making this really loud yelling noise every time we are in church, the grocery store and pretty much whenever you please. It is so adorable though.
- have grown out of a lot of your 6 month clothes! We have a chunky monkey on our hands!
- love giving mommy kisses :)

I love watching the world through your eyes angel. Everyday spent with you is the best day ever. Mommy loves you so very much.

Never Forget

Today marks 11 years since the terrorist attacks on America. I remember like it was yesterday watching on the news the second plane crashing into the World Trade Center. It felt as though all of America stood still.

Today in one of my classes we were discussing the anniversary and one girl said something that purely disgusted me. She said "Its been 11 years and people are still making a big deal about it." I could not even believe my ears. Of course people are still making a big deal about it because it was a big deal. No it was a HUGE deal. It was one of the biggest tragedies America has ever experienced and that we are still dealing with today. People lost mothers, brothers, sisters, fathers, husbands, wives, children. Over 3000 people lost their life due to a terrorist attack. I cant think of one year when it wont be a big deal. It had a huge impact on us as a country and still impacts us today. She was so ignorant about it.

Let us NEVER forget the men and women who LOST their life that fateful september morning. Those who have given their lives fighting for our country the years following that day. The men and women who went into those burning buildings to save as many people as they could. Some who didnt ever come back out. Never forget what our country went through. Never be as ignorant as that girl.

Faith

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith- and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God- not by works, so that no one can boast." Ephesians 2:8-9