Finals ALMOST completed!

Finals.  Ugh.  Every college student's evil nemesis.  Even those of us finishing school ten years later than originally planned (oops) dread this week.  So, because I'm so incredibly awesome at foresight, I re-start the blog at the beginning of the most hated week ever.  Brilliant, I tell you.

You can obviously read how well THAT endeavor turned out. I guess I should clarify.  Most of the week was actually pretty good.  I've got some serious work to do this weekend regarding breakfasts and lunches, but we have had some amazing dinners from home this week.  In fact, every night except for Tuesday (class night) we had dinner.  I call that a success. (My blog, my award system)

So here's how we fared:

I made Peruvian Chicken Monday night.  I freaking love this stuff.  For real.  I am pretty sure that I could eat it every day.  I still long for the real Pio Pio in NYC (which is not a negotiable on my NYC trip in 2.5 weeks.  We WILL eat there), but I am getting pretty dang close with my recipe.  It's a little Peru via NYC via KS. I also made Cilantro Lime Rice (I add extra lime) to go with it, and sauteed some asparagus.  DELISH.

I know that I've mentioned time and time again what troopers my kids are when it comes to trying new foods.  They really are, though.  When I make this now, even they love to get extra Aji Verde sauce.  You know how there are some things that sometimes you are secretly glad that only you enjoy?  Because maybe you are a tiny bit selfish about some things still?  Yeah, this used to be one of those things for me.  Now its a fight to see who gets the last drop of the sauce.  I even doubled it this time. 

Tuesday night was class.  That meant a crappy sandwich...but afterwards I enjoyed a lovely Tallgrass Oatmeal Cream Stout.  Its my current favorite stout. (mmmm...speaking of...)

Wednesday night I decided to try another brand new recipe. Before I post it, though, I have to admit something.  I am one of those individuals who is completely guilty of pinning TONS of recipes on Pinterest that I NEVER get around to making.  They look amazing, and I may even make a pretense of a list to get the ingredients to make some of the things...and no.  I'm resolving to change some of that, and this is one of the recipes that I've had on there the longest that I've been wanting to try.

I made these Buffalo Chicken Eggrolls, because I figured they were a.) pretty dang healthy, and b.) pretty dang easy.  When you can get healthy AND easy, and as an added bonus the stuff comes out tasty...you are pretty much supermom.  Cape optional.

They were actually good.  Were they as good as fried egg rolls?  Do you even need to ask that question?  But I was pleased with how they turned out.  I made some for the kids without the hot sauce, and was declared the best cook in the galaxy by my four-year old.  That's right son.  Don't you forget that mommy's the best.  :)

Moving on to Thursday.  I have to admit, this is the night we *ALMOST* blew it, but thankfully, in a moment of clarity, we persevered.  I hadn't set anything out the night before, so I really had no idea what I should make.  Then I remembered that I had some Pernil (which is an outstanding Puerto Rican style pork) that I had made up about a month ago, and had frozen.  I popped that package in the microwave, whipped up another batch of Cilantro Lime Rice, simmered a can of black beans on the stove with a little butter (1 T. per can of beans), and fired up the grill.  I took a zucchini out of the fridge and sliced it on the diagonal, and then gave it a toss in some EVOO and minced garlic.  When the grill was hot, I grilled the zuchinni, and then assembled everything  listed above into a tortilla,  plus some shredded cheddar cheese (of course.  A burrito is simply NOT a burrito without shredded cheese), and some of our favorite salsa (if you LOVE some heat to your food, I highly recommend you trying this salsa.  You're welcome in advance.)

Once everything was in the tortilla, I spritzed it with a little EVOO, and plopped it back on the grill to crisp up. 

I'm in love.  Like, leave-me-alone-while-I'm-eating-this-or-you-might-lose-a-limb love.  I love it when stuff I throw together COMES together.  And I kept it healthy (aside from the carb-loaded tortilla, but who's counting that?)

So, we move on to Friday.  Have you ever heard the term "Friday night letdown?"   Doobs always used to tell us that on Friday nights, and we didn't understand why she could possibly have no energy left ?  Friday nights are party nights, right?  Enter Kylie's thirties...exit party nights.  Friday nights=Friday night letdown. Talk about hitting walls.  (yes, plural)  This whole last week, I had wanted to try a pizza on the grill, though, and this seemed like a great night to try it.  (Especially because I had a paper due at midnight.  That's always a good time to experiment with all things culinary).  I decided to try a meatless option, and I'm sure glad I did.  I even made the crust (just the dough on that link, nothing else.  I also subbed 1 1/3 c. of white flour with whole wheat flour).

Prep work looks delish, huh???

After all was grilled, I set the squash/zucchini to the side, put the blackened peppers in a Ziploc baggie for about half an hour (this lets the skin steam, and it will peel right off).  I split the dough into two pizzas, and saved one of the crusts for tomorrow.  The other I placed on the grill, brushed with EVOO, and waited until it started to brown a little.  Then I flipped it to cook on the reverse.  I used Pesto for my sauce (of the Trader Joe's variety), and fresh mozzarella as my cheese (again, no cheese= not a real pizza).  I topped with all my grilled veggies, and when all was melted, I pulled it off the grill, and while still hot, added the Pièce de résistance....a sprinkling of goat cheese.  Who needs meat?  I would literally eat this every. single. day.

And my wonderful, glorious, fantastic piece...

So, that is our dinner menu for the last week.  I've got lots of plans for this weekend to help us get the whole package (you know, breakfast, lunch, AND dinner) thing down, so stay tuned!

Cheers!

Round 2

Holy Cow.  It has been three months since I've blogged.  Three. Stinking. Months.  Where has the time gone?  I mean, I know people say that all the time, but really?

First things first.  Confession time.  I stink at holding myself accountable.  I get on a bandwagon for a good three, four weeks at a time...and then I fall off the face of the earth.  Maybe it's commitment issues?  I'm not sure. Once I stopped writing, we slowly fell back into our old habits. You know things have gotten out of control when your husband asks you if it would be possible for you to cook something. Oops.  Finals, homework, kids, etc...it's not an excuse.  Everyone has a busy schedule, and I am certainly no exception to that rule.

The thing is, I really LOVE to cook...and not to toot my own horn, but I'm pretty damn good at it, too.  I've mentioned it time and time again on here.  It's my therapy.  Some people shop, others drink...and I while I do enjoy  both of those things immensely as well, cooking is MY time.  I don't like to have others in the kitchen while I'm cooking.  It's a freaking chaotic mess.  I'm here, I'm there...and please don't be in my way, or I'll get irritated...and that's exactly what I'm trying to get over while I'm in there.

So, here we go.  Back to the basics.   I can say that I am more confident starting this time around, since finals are nearly over. I also am going to cut myself some slack.  If I don't post every single night? I know that you won't stop being the loyal readers that you are.  I hope you are as excited as I am to tackle this project again. Also, before too long, my garden will start producing...and things will get REAL exciting then.  (see?  total foodie nerd.)

Ok, so here's the game plan.  I have exactly three weeks and 2 days before I leave for New York.  During that time, I would like to cook as many meals as possible from home because; 1.) I want to save money to actually GO to NYC and 2.) I want to lose another 8-10 lbs before I go.  Once in NYC, all bets are off, as I will be enjoying every single last morsel of food and drop of wine.  Upon return, the blog is back up and running, but this time, it's not just about a thirty day challenge. 

This time around is also going to include my progression towards my first 5k.  I started training about a month ago...and it's been about two weeks since I've done anything toward that, too.  Geesh.  Issues, I tell you.  I want to do the Koman Race for the Cure race in August in KC.  Obviously, it an important cause to me (Love you Doobs)...but finally losing the rest of my weight also helps decrease the chance that I, too, could develop breast cancer.

So here goes.  Round 2.  Less Pressure.  A built in fan base and cheering club.  Are you ready for this?

Dinner tonight:  Marinated sirloin steak with blue cheese sauce,  Grilled sweet potato medallions (if you have never had sweet potatoes on the grill, go fire that bad boy up RIGHT. NOW.  I promise you that you will call me and thank me.), and frozen SteamFresh peas.  I even grilled the steaks and potatoes myself (I'm high fiving myself.  Seriously. Score 1 Kylie.) This meal was delicious.  My kids ate every single bite on their plates, including some of the sauce.

I should have taken a before picture of my refrigerator before Chris cleaned it out today, but it was insane...and now it's ready to go for our new and improved challenge.  I went to the grocery store, and stocked up on everything healthy.  We've got healthy snacks, sides, main courses.  It's going to be fantastic.  While it doesn't seem like three months ago, I do know that I felt SO much better when I was in charge of what was going in my family's mouth.  Physically, I felt better myself.  Processed food just makes you feel so lethargic and tired, and you fall into this vicious cycle of eating out because you're tired, when really...it's probably what is making you tired.  So, again...

Ready...Set...Go.