Cooking Adventures

Since being abroad I have had to take up a lot more home cooking. I never thought I was a bad cook, I just didn't do it often. I didn't think I had cooking creativity. At first, being here I realized there is so much you need to cook things. The basics will only do for so long. But then tonight I took the basics to another level!! I made my own little pasta dish with some ingredients I discovered are good for many purposes.

-Pasta
-Steak
-Spinach
-Cherry Tomatoes
-Mushrooms
-Cheese
-Tomato sauce

That's all it took! A handful of ingredients I already had on hand. I cooked the steak, spinach, mushrooms, and tomatoes on the stove in some oil. Placed all that on the pasta with a bit of sauce and a dash of cheese on top! Waa-Laa a main course meal for one! The ingredients are good for you and its not a frozen pizza! I may be a little too pleased for creating a pasta dish, but this was my best quick pull together of fresh ingredients. Normally all my veggies go bad before I use them up. I can only eat sandwiches so many times too. Pasta noodles never go bad but they can be dull. I spiced up my cooking and it tastes delicious!! As pleased as I am, I am still taking recipe! Well eat on!

Blissful Fall

Fall is easily my favorite season, and over the past few years October has become one of my favorite months. I have always loved Halloween, but the rest of October never seemed much different than the rest of fall. I learned it is the best time in fall.The past few years the weather has been delightful through October and it is when things are so pretty and finally feeling the fall spirit.

 The colors of fall are so beautiful! I have been trying to spend as much time outside or at least admiring nature as I can. Sunny days make all the colors of the leaves pop and the sky seems more blue this time of year. I got a nice fall inspired manicure with an autumn red and pumpkin orange glitter colors.

Of course another fall favorite is the flavors of fall! I have been having all kinds of pumpkin fraps, coffees, and pastries! I love going to coffee shops extra this time of year to get fall flavors and enjoy the atmosphere and read/do homework. Halloween has been popping up everywhere and I couldn't be more thrilled! I am like a little kid in a candy store when I hit up Halloween isles. There is even Halloween art up at the coffee hag! Also since leaves have changed and started to fall I think it is about time to rack up a pile and jump in it!

With the change of season came a self change. I cut off my hair and dyed it ombre! I have never had hair so light before. It was a good change for the season and for my life changes.

 Top- Urban Outfitters

Card- H&M

Pants- Heartbreaker

Shoes- Urban Outfitters

I have been working the denim trend a lot this fall. I like the mixing of denims also. I am really into my pink jeans as well. Colored pants are fun to had a little twist to an outfit.

Top- Forever21

Scarf-China

Belt- Forever21

Jeans- Heartbreaker

I have also been working sweaters this fall! This is a lighter one, but they are so simple yet make the whole outfit. Scarfs are always big too. Fall is a great time for layers and pattern mixing.

What are your fall favorites?
 

Weekend&Fashion Wrap Up

I had a very busy weekend, but in a good way! On Friday we had a big party for my grandfathers birthday! We had a band and everything. It was nice to see family and eat yummy food. Then on Saturday my friend Amy and I went to visit our friend Allie at St. Olaf college! The three of us went to MOA to go shopping and then hung out on campus. I will be having quit a few outfit posts coming up with all my new clothes. Then finally on Sunday after getting back to town Amy and I went to the International Festival at MSU!

Crepe from MOA! Yum!

 International fest is so much fun! There were so many booths of food from tons of countries! I drank so much Mango Lasi! The flavors of the world are the most delicious! You could get food for $1-4. There was also performances of dance from around the world and tons of booths with stuff to buy, like jewelery, fairtrade treats, and baby bamboo trees.

As for my fashion this weekend I got spring fever all over again. Here is what I wore Sunday.

 Dress: Forever21

Cardigan: H&M

Belt: Target

Earrings: Forever21/Ebay

I am more than in love with this dress! It will be perfect for summer concerts, festivals, and gatherings. I plan on wearing a jean vest with it once it warms up a little more. I do wear a slip under it (from target). This dress is all lace and not lines, so a slip or something should be worn under it. Or use it as a cover for your swimsuit beach days! The mullet dress is a pretty big trend and I am glad I found one I like. 

What has spring inspired you to wear lately?

Bon Appetit

I am a big snacker and I love making little stops at local shops for a quick delicious bite to eat! I just wanted to share a few tasty treats I have been enjoying! And in case you need an idea of where to get some nice food in Mankato, I will help you out!

 I love the Coffee Hag! They always have the most delicious treats! In the first picture I had a St. Patty's day drink and scone. My scone is a mint and dark chocolate one, and in the second picture its a brownie with powder sugar! YUM! Both these drinks are my spring and summer time favorites, a chocolate milk with Irish cream syrup and the other is a vanilla Italian cream soda.

This is delicious chicken and sausage gumbo from the wonderful Pappa George! This is a local bar and restaurant. They are known for steaks and their hospitality! I have known the owners forever and I babysit their son, little Pilot! When I had this gumbo for dinner I ended up ordering a second bowl! Haha that's how good it was.

I am OBSESSED with Tandem Bagels! Mankato finally got their bagel shop back! This place makes the best bagels, cream cheeses, sandwiches, soups, salads, and treats! I ate their 3 days in a row this week. Their pizza bagels are to die for..or at least to wait in line for a long time!

Hope everyone is eating local and enjoying what food your town has to offer!

Bruschetta Chicken and Pasta Recipe

I haven't done much cooking or baking lately, so the other night I told Mark I wanted to cook us dinner. I found a delicious sounding Chicken Bruschetta recipe in a magazine.

Ingredients-
-1 can Diced tomatoes (we used Italian marinated ones)
-3/4 cup shredded Italian blend cheese (we added a bunch more on top our chicken)
-1/4 cup chopped basil (I didn't measure, I just sprinkled all I wanted)
- 5 Small boneless chicken breasts  (I used just 2 since there was only 2 of us!)
-1 can tomato sauce
-1 tsp minced garlic
-Since there was going to be a lot of extra sauce we decided to cook up some noodles to add with our chicken.
Instructions-
-Mix cheese, diced tomatoes, and basil together in a bowl and mix.
- Put the sauce into a skillet with the garlic. Bring to a boil.
-Add chicken and top it with the tomato mix.
-Cover skillet and simmer for about 15-20 mins. Depending on how thick the chicken is.
-Cook your choice of noodles.
-Mix your noodles and chicken and sauce and Enjoy!

  We both loved this dinner! I think it will become one of our regular dinners. It was so easy, fast, and yummy!!!! We both really like Italian food so this was a perfect dish for us to try.

Colorado Wrap Up!

I'm back! I had a great vacation visiting my mom, step-dad, and foster siblings out in CO! I did some shopping, some cooking, and some family fun! My first night my mom and I shared a bunch of Indian food! So Yummy! It was just my mom, the kids, and I for the first two days. On Tuesday I went shopping with my friend Devin! We went to the 16th street mall!

 We went to a huge Forever 21 and a H&M! When we were leaving we found this adorable little cup cake stand! It was called Gigi's Cupcakes and had the cutest sweetest looking cup cakes! When we went to order we discovered it was buy one get one free! I ended up getting a chocolate moose and a peppermint candy cane flavored cup cakes! They were only $3.50 each and since it was a deal thats all we payed for two delicious treats!

 Once the rest of my family arrived on Wednesday we started all the family fun. We helped the kids make gingerbread houses and gingerbread cookies! It was so nice out we spent a lot of time outside. It was really nice to get to spend time with my foster siblings. I can't put any pictures of them up, but they are super cute! They leave us in about 2 weeks to go live with their grandparents. It is hard and sad but at least we know they are going somewhere where they are very loved. They really liked eating all the candy for the gingerbread houses and cookies. Once we were all done I let Angelita eat off my gingerbread house so she could keep hers all decorated.

We had a delicious thanksgiving! We ate so much food we were all in a food coma! I watched some football and took a little cat nap. Later at night we played games and went back for seconds. On Friday my aunt, little cousin, grandma, and I all went black Friday shopping. We went at about 11 am in stead of super early in the morning. We went to the Flatiron mall and Pearl st in Boulder. I picked out some Christmas gifts and got myself some amazing boots! Later that night we let the kids open some Christmas gifts we got them so we could have a Christmas with them. They went wild over all their new toys! I even got to open an early present and got my first Monster High Doll! My mom got me Ghoulia Yelps!

 Time went way too fast! It was a great trip I just wish it didn't have to end! Now it is back to the real world! How was your thanksgiving? Hope it was filled with good times, good food, and good company!

Stuffed Shells Recipe! YUM!

For Marks birthday this weekend I decided to make him his favorite dish, stuffed shells! I was a little nervous because his mom cooks this for him almost every birthday. Also I am not exactly known for being a great cook (normally Mark does all the cooking). Luckily it turned out fabulous!

What you will need:

• Shell noodles (I used smaller ones but any size will be fine)
• 32 oz of Ricotta cheese
• 2 Packages of Italian cheese
• Portabella Mushrooms
• Any kind of Pasta Sauce 
• 2 beaten Eggs

How to prepare:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees
• Cook the shells till they are al dente (about 9-10 mins depending on shell size)
• While shells are cooking, mix ricotta, eggs, and one bag cheese together in a bowl

•  Add half the can of sauce into the baking pan (a large baking pan 9x13 or bigger)
• Add mushrooms into the pan also

• When noodles are done drain them and run some cool water over them to cool them off.

•  Use a large spoon to stuff the shells with the cheese mix and out them in the pan
• Once all the noodles are stuffed poor the rest of the sauce and cheese on top

• cook for about 45-60 mins
• Enjoy!

Bonus Meal!
For Breakfast today I made Mark Omelets! SoYuumy! I used out left over cheese, mushrooms, and eggs!

Wish List Wednesday

It has been getting Chillier here, so naturally I have been doing some online window shopping and trying to cozy up! Here are a few things I have found and would love to purchase!

How adorable and comfortable does this sweater look!! I love cats and I really love cats on my clothes! hehehe! I found this on Etsy.com for about $25. I have kept my eye open for some cheap sweaters to wrap up in! I'll be on the look for cat sweaters now!

I have wanted a vintage style dress for years. This one is very expensive on Etsy.com also. I like this shape and color of this dress. So springy and pretty.

I found these lovely little pair of heels on forever21.com for $22.80. They would go great with anything, something fancy or casual. They would be very cute with that blue vintage dress!

A money tree!!! Who doesn't want one of those?! If I had a money tree My wish list would be much shorter!

S.I.T Cafe in China! <3

My final wish this week is a yummy latte and a big bowl of the best noodles in the world from China! I miss it oh so much each day! Hopefully I can make it back someday not to far away!!!
What have you been wishing for?

Weekend Wrap up!

It was Halloween weekend this past weekend! One of my favorite weekends of the year! This Friday the family all got together to carve pumpkins. 

 On Saturday it was the second year Mark and I had a Halloween party. We get the house all decorated and have our friends over for drinks and fun. The night went so fast I was bummed when it was over. I also didn't get to take many pictures this year because I was distracted talking to people. Hopefully others have some good ones I can steal! This year I was Wonder Woman and Mark was Where's Waldo!

I kept my make-up pretty simple for my costume. I used Elf cover up powder, pure lux and manic panic eye shadows, glitter, Kendra hairspray, and cover girl lip stick.

Wonder Woman Make-up

  On Sunday it was my little cousins first communion, I am one of his godmothers. Then after the family, mark, and I all went to get breakfast at Busters! Yum! The rest of my Sunday was pure bliss. Mark and I did a quick clean up of the house and then laid in bed and watched Vikes football. We also made apple crisp, grilled cheese, and tomato soup! The delicious flavors of fall all in one meal. Finally we watched the new episode of the Walking Dead and The Thing!

The Apple Crisp is so tasty and easy to make. You just buy the box mix and then you just need butter and the apples. We used Honey Crisp, they are my favorite! It bakes for about 30 mins and then you put some ice cream on it and enjoy! All and all it was such a fun and cozy weekend with loved ones!
Hope everyone else had just as fab Halloween Weekend!