Hey Y'all!!! I hope you had a wonderful long weekend!! I know we did - filled with the three 'F's: friends, family, and fun! More on that tomorrow =)
Yesterday I was charged with the task of making a dessert. I was going to use my default: chocolate chip cookies or cupcakes. When I got to the store, I found I wanted something more refreshing - something more in line with summer [read: side of ice cream]. I took to Pinterest - thank goodness for this site, am I right?! Google is great and all, but Pinterest knows exactly what I need.
I came across this recipe by Love, Pomegranate House.
It seemed relatively easy and the ingredients consisted mostly of items I would normally have at home. The apples were the only item listed that I needed to buy.
Apple Crisp
{Ingredients}
10 cups apples cored and sliced (I read 10 apples yesterday when I made this!)
1 cup white sugar
1 tbsp flour
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 cup water (this is not always necessary as sugar makes the apples release juices)
2 cups quick cooking oats
2 cups flour
2 cups brown sugar
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1 cup butter softened
{How To}
1. Preheat the oven to 350*
2. Toss sliced apples (I diced mine into squares) with white sugar, flour, nutmeg, and cinnamon. Place coated apples in a 9x13 pan. Pour water evenly over mixture (you don't NEED the water....I did this but found that I would have been fine without. It made for a runny mixture after it baked)
3. Combine oats, flour, brown sugar, baking powder, and baking soda in a large bowl. Cut the butter into the mixture - **I actually mostly melted the butter for this step so that I could get the dry mixture wet to create a dough-like mixture.
4. Crumble evenly over the apple mixture
5. Bake for 45 minutes. Allow to cool for 10 minutes.
6. Serve with vanilla ice cream*
Number six was MY addition =) It was delicious with a little ice cream! This was such a quick and easy recipe. What took longest was the baking. The Husband loved the crumble so much, he suggested we make that piece alone without the apples.
I LOVE making new recipes. I hate when they don't work out. This one did work out and I'm SO glad that I decided to try it! I call it the Adult Grilled Cheese. It was so easy to make - literally I think it took a total of 20 minutes...which is perfect because that was the estimated time on the original recipe.
Ingredients
2 ounces cream cheese, softened
1 tablespoon sourcream
10 pickled jalapeno pepper slices, or to taste - chopped
Cut chicken into small pieces. cook through on medium heat in pan on the stove.
Combine the cream cheese, sour cream, and pickled jalapeno in a small bowl. Set aside.
Slice each roll in half horizontally, then slice the rounded tops off the ciabatta rolls to make a flat top half.
Spread 1 teaspoon butter on the bottom bun and 1 teaspoon butter on the now flattened top bun.
Place half of the cream cheese mixture on the non-buttered side of the bottom bun. Put the cut up chicken pieces on the top of the cream cheese mixture. Add half the shredded cheese on top of the chicken. Place the top half of the bun on the sandwich and place the sandwich on the hot skillet. Repeat with the second sandwich.
Grill until lightly browned and flip over, about 3 to 5 minutes; continue grilling until cheese is melted and the second side is golden brown.
This was so delicious! I can't wait to eat it again! Seriously - there isn't anything we would change. Actually I did deviate from the original recipe - I added the chicken. The original recipe can be found here.
While cooking, I explained to The Husband how much I enjoy new recipes. He agreed and we decided on Monday night when we tried this recipe, that we are going to attempt new recipes more often. AND it is even better when we cook together!
OH AND P.S. - I am really bad about taking pictures of my food because I am so excited to try it - I have a very hard time remembering to actually take a picture of the food we make!!
This year, we hosted Thanksgiving. I was so excited to do so but so nervous! There was so much food to be prepped and cooked and I had the scary task of undertaking the pecan pie. This may seem silly to you, but for the entirety of my life, my mother has made THE best pecan pie ever. I had to live up to that standard. I was so scared. I wanted to bake it and then try it and if it was good, I would make another. Well with us trying to get completely settled before Thanksgiving, I didn't have the opportunity to make a pie and try it. Thanksgiving morning was the only time I had to make the attempt. Needless to say it was amazing. My mom LOVED it - she liked it better than what she had made. Well low and behold, the recipe I used was one that she lost in a move ten years ago. So this was her original recipe from her grandmother =)
:Ingredients:
Pillsbury pie crust (in the refrigerated section)
1 cup Karo Syrup
1 cup sugar
1 cup chopped pecans
3 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
:Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350
Over low heat, combine Karo and sugar in a small pot. Stir the mixture periodically until sugar has melted (I complete the next steps and by then the sugar has melted)
Roll out pie crust into a pie pan -- be sure to sprinkle a little flour into the bottom of the pie pan before you insert the pie crust. Also sprinkle a little flour onto the dough before adding the pie part.
Chop up pecans, until you have 1 cup; set aside. In a mixing bowl, beat 3 eggs. Add sugar/syrup to eggs and mix together. Gradually mix in chopped pecans. Add 1 tsp vanilla and mix together. Pour pie mixture into pie crust. Bake 45-60 minutes; or when top is golden brown and the pie doesn't jiggle =)
This was SO YUMMY-LICIOUS that I made a SECOND pie Saturday afternoon and one at my parent's house for them Saturday night =)
Any time ANYONE would say 'Red Robin' last night, my family and I would sing 'yum' -- you know, like the commercial does??
It was quite comical =)
J had to work last night so he wasn't able to make it BUT it was fun going out as 'The Original Four' (what my mom likes to call it lol).
So, anyhow, we made the HOUR + drive to get there but it was SO worth it! AND Look at the happiness I got from my family =)
Love from Jess & Doug
Love from Mommy and Daddy!
The waitress brought me a balloon and I even got to pick the color. You know you're jealous =)
For dinner, we each ordered a different burger:
Dad - Prime Chophouse Burger
Me - Guacamole Bacon Burger
Mom - Whiskey River BBQ Burger
Jess -- Red Robin Gourmet Cheeseburger
I had forgotten they serve unlimited fries. Let's be honest though, I couldn't order more -- I couldn't even completely finish my burger! After finishing our meal, our waitress (Kara - who ROCKED it) brought me an ice cream sundae and they sang for me.
My Unnecessary Ice Cream Sundae
After dinner, we took J some food because he HAPPENED to be working about ten minutes from Red Robin (YUM!)
It was good to see him on my birthday =)
We were told last night that our city would be getting a Red Robin (YUM) by the end of the year! SO. EXCITED!
I HAD to share this picture:
We found the name of this restaurant to be, well, inappropriately humorous =) Just Saying!
Now I'm pumped for this weekend and the festivities that will ensue!
Good Morning and Happy Wednesday to all of you lovelies!!
First – Welcome to all my new followers!!! So glad you have found me and want to stay! I have enjoyed reading your blogs and getting to know you!
Second – I really feel I need to apologize for my lack of substance lately. We have been so busy with life in general. We are working hard to get on our feet and move in a forward direction.
We have come to some obstacles as of late…these obstacles have nothing to do with our relationship.
I don’t want to go into detail but I will tell you the absolute biggest piece of my life that is keeping it all together is our marriage. No matter what we have to come into contact with, I know we can make it through because we have each other and we support each other 100%.
It occurred to me on my drive home earlier this week, that at the end of the day, that is what is most important. All these things that are weighing me down and sending me into a pity party state are so inconsequential. We are approaching our obstacles hand in hand, on our feet and head on. It hasn’t been easy – they aren’t kidding when they say the first year of marriage is the hardest. That isn’t always necessarily to do with the relationship you have with your new spouse – it is all encompassing.
He is supportive and caring even when I am irrational (and I tend to be + overdramatic = possible meltdown lol) but he is there to hold my hand, give me a hug and talk me off the ledge…OK sometimes that means he laughs at me for being so over the top, but it helps me out =)
Along with my amazing husband who loves me unconditionally, I am fortunate to have strong family/friend unit. My family is my friends and my friends are my family – they become one in the same. Yes, of course, my ACTUAL family is different but each individual whether actual family or ‘extended’ family holds a special place in my heart.
When I look around and see the people in my life who love me and who will stick by me as long as I continue to be myself and the good person I attempt (and sometimes struggle) to be, they will be there. They will love and support me.
When we were making our guest list for the wedding, we started looking at the people who would be there for us, who would help us if we struggled – those were the people that we wanted there the most. The ones who supported us when we were just friends; then when we were dating; while we were engaged and then would support us in our commitment to one another. That is why during our ceremony we asked for the love, support and blessing of each person present at our wedding: Two people in love do not live in isolation. The love between J and Ashley is a source of strength to each other and to the community around them. In turn, their community has a responsibility to support them. Do you who are present here today promise to surround J and Ashley in love, offering them celebration in times of joy and counsel in times of concern? If so, answer we do.
We are a strong couple together – we are a stronger couple because we have an unbelievable support system.
To my friends and family who read this – thank you so much for all of your love and support. Sometimes J and I need you to cheer us up, be our silver lining and help brush the dirt off. I promise, we will do the same for y'all =)
Since I won’t be going into detail about some of the trials we have had to deal with, I am going to share What I’m Loving Wednesday! Link up here!
I'm Loving...My Hot Super Amazing and Loving Husband
This is what he text me yesterday "I love you like crazy"
how cute is he?!
I'm Loving...My wonderful friends
*Not all pictured here
I'm Loving...My Parents and Sister
I'm Loving...That my birthday is in ONE WEEK!
I'm Loving...this new single from Blake Shelton Honey Bee
*I'm loving that he has short hair lol
I'm Loving... that it is Wednesday! and right now it is barely 60* out!! That is so much more bearable than the 90* it was yesterday -- ick! haha
I'm Loving... these cupcakes I found over at My Life Unzipped!! How cute are they?!
I can't wait to try them -- she also posted a link for some Whiskey chocolate cupcakes with Bailey's frosting! I am so looking forward to trying these 2 new recipes!
I'm Loving...that I am getting back into a work out routine -- a little P90X + a splash of cardio = an emotionally stable and happy Ashley
Happy Halfway through the week Everyone! I hope you are having a great week and Wonderful Wednesday!
My father-in-law has been raving about this cake that a lady makes for him every year when he and my mother-in-law go to the beach for vacation. The lady finally gave up the recipe this year and I decided I would try my hand at it and make him one. So since Monday was my day off, I figured it was THE perfect time to bake it.
Preheat oven to 350*. Lightly grease 13x9x2-in baking pan.
In a large bowl, combine cake mix, 1/2 c. of butter, and egg. Beat at low speed until combined. Press evenly in bottom of baking pan; set aside.
in a large bowl, beat creak cheese at medium speed until creamy. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Gradually beat in confectioners sugar until smooth. Add remaining melted butter, beating at low speed until combined. Stir in coconut and pecans.
Pour mixture over cake mix layer, spreading evenly. Bake for 45 minutes (center should remain slightly gooey)
Remove from oven; let cool completely before cutting into squares.
The recipe came from a July/August 2007 copy of Cooking with Paula Deen. It's AMAZING!! It's so yummy! If you like cake and want something a little different, this is your recipe! I would love to hear what you think if you try this at home!
While perusing Faith's blog, I found this amazing recipe. It seemed pretty easy and I thought, what the hey, I'm always looking for something new to try!!
{INGREDIENTS}
2 c. Cream of "something" Soup
2 Boneless, Skinless, Chicken Breasts
2 T Italian Seasoning
1 T Sugar
1/4 t Black Pepper
1 t Salt
2 Cloves Minced Garlic (I used 5 lol)
1 block of Cream Cheese
Noodles or Rice
{DIRECTIONS}
Put everything except for the cream cheese and noodles/rice into the crock-pot. cook on low for 6 hours, or until the chicken is cooked through and begins to shred. Shred the chicken with two forks and mix in block of cream cheese. Turn it to high and cook for another 30 minutes, or until cream cheese is fully melted.
While the Cream Cheese is melting, boil noodles or rice. Serve cream cheese chicken over rice/noodles.
This recipe made me fall in love with my crock-pot all over again! =) I can't wait to make this one for a second time!
Yesterday was a big day for lots of people. An amazing amount of weddings were held on 10.10.10, as there were last year on 09.09.09. People are kind of funny about dates. =)
It was special day for J and I as it marked 3 years of being together as a couple. Wow! THREE YEARS! Where has the time gone?! I know for some, 3 years isn't a huge amount of time, HOWEVER, it marks the longest either of us have been in a relationship. Now that we have a wedding anniversary, we won't be making QUITE a big deal about October 10th going forward, but it's still an important day. Therefore, we have decided that we will at least make the effort to spend as much of the day together as possible.
We slept in yesterday, which was a nice change and we weren't in a hurry to do things. Eventually we left the house and ran some errands and took care of some things that needed to be done.
We wanted to have a nice dinner together but didn't want to go out. J suggested that we have bacon wrapped surf and turf (shrimp and steak). I suggested we make potatoes as our side and cook them in foil on the grill.
It was AMAZING! When we cook like this, we always ask each other why we ever bother going out. Our conclusion is always "because it's easier".
I had HOPED to go to The Melting Pot for dessert -- I have wanted to do this for a long time now. Since that wasn't going to happen this year, J suggested that we have homemade fondue!
We're excited -- can you tell?!
We bought chocolate (milk and white), strawberries, bananas, graham crackers, marshmallows, and apples. We bought the normal Baker's White chocolate bars to melt in our fondue pot that we received as a wedding gift. Since we only have 1 fondue pot, J suggested we buy the chocolate already in a container. I admit, I was definitely skeptical about the product. It was AMAZING!!
We don't EVER have to go to The Melting Pot -- dessert was unbelievable and we definitely over-indulged but we had a FABULOUS anniversary together! It's definitely been a fun ride together and we are looking forward to many more celebrations.
PSSST!!! Wednesday marks 7 months of marriage ALREADY!!
And is anyone else blown away by the fact that tomorrow is ALREADY OCTOBER?! What in the world -- where did the time go?! I feel like we were JUST celebrating my husband's birthday at the beginning of the month! Tomorrow marks 91 days until the end of the year -- which means there are LESS THAN 90 DAYS UNTIL
Christmas!!!
I know some of you are freaking out right now, but don't. This is a happy time! =) Just think, candy galore this month, stuffing your face for Thanksgiving next and then Christmas and holiday cheer! My favorite thing to do is watch "The Grinch". I watch it a couple times throughout the season. It really makes me feel like it's that time of year. My family and I always watch "The Preacher's Wife" as well and I really get into the spirit. This year, being it's our first MARRIED Christmas together, we are going to establish a couple of our own traditions. We'll see how that goes =)
I am getting way ahead of myself here. It isn't even OCTOBER yet -- until tomorrow. =)
Last night, J and I were driving around and we saw this:
What in the world is going on here?! In case you can't see it, this is a white van with neon yellow smiley stickers all over it. Whatever the reasoning behind this, it made us smile =)
My goal today was hunting down Hershey's Pumpkin Spice Kisses. I was SUCCESSFUL!! I had traveled to a couple Walgreens and CVS (ok I stopped in as I drove by, I didn't go out of my way - let's be real) AND Publix wasn't even carrying them. Thanks to good ol' Target, I found them!! And I am trying one...right now....
Hmmm..that's different. Don't get me wrong they are very good but completely the wrong consistency for Kisses OR pumpkin anything-I've-ever-had. =) My advice for this little piece of scrumptious is to make sure you eat it REMEMBERING it is NOT chocolate. That will help with the taste =)
One the SAME exact end cap, I found Caramel Apple Kisses!! WHAT?! YUM!!!
It's chocolate on the outside and the filling is flavored caramel apple! HEAVEN!
These are definitely yummy snacks to 'ring in' the fall season and October! =)
I found this recipe yesterday while browsing the Kraft Foods website. I originally wanted to attempt creme brulee...however, I am scared of the broiler and I don't have a double boiler SO...I had to come up with something else. It had to be something J would enjoy as today is his birthday and I wanted a yummy alternative to cake! Lo and behold, a trifle! yay!! AND the best part is I will be able to use my our new trifle dish! EEEP!!
Prep Time: 20 mins
Total Time: 20 mins Makes: 12 servings @ 2/3 cup ea
1 tub (8 oz) Cool Whip Tolling, Thawed, divided into quarters
Chips Ahoy! Cookies, chopped (I just broke mine up as I added them)
1 or 2 Bananas (optional)
Chocolate Syrup (optional)
2 Medium Mixing Bowls
1 Trifle Dish or 2 qt. serving bowl
READY, SET, MAKE!
1. Empty Pudding mixes, each, into a medium bowl
2. add 1.5 cups of milk to each
3. Beat with whisk approximately 2 minutes
4. Add Peanut Butter to Vanilla pudding mixture, mixing until well blended
5. stir in 1/4 of Cool Whip into each pudding mixture
6. Spoon Chocolate pudding mixture into Trifle Dish
7. slice up the Banana (if you opted for them) and create banana layer on Chocolate pudding layer
8. Cover with 1/2 the remaining Cool Whip
9. Layer with Chips Ahoy! cookies
10. Repeat layers using the Vanilla Peanut Butter mix
11. REFRIGERATE!!!
12. (optional) When serving, drizzle chocolate syrup over it for a little extra happiness
J and I agree that it's an AMAZING alternative to cake. It takes a LOT less time! We had some last night, I know it wasn't his birthday BUT it just looked so yummy-licious! It most certainly was! AND this was a NEW recipe which means I am 1 down of my new recipes attempts! WOO! =) Seriously -- you should try it = super easy and super yummy!
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