Skinny Fat Kid

Holy Hiatus!

2012-06-04T07:59:00.000-07:00

Life got the best of me recently. But it has been all good things. A new job. An engagement to Skinny Fat Kid. It's been a whirlwind few months and I'm ready to get back into the blog world.

I've been thinking about where to go with this blog. My life has gone to the dogs in more ways than one. I still love to cook (and eat) but can SFK only be about dogs?? A first post back after a hiatus is a lot of pressure. A friend of mine told me about Pitty Post day, and I figured it would be perfect! Izzy, SFK and I have quite the list of our favorite pitties. So here goes:

Izzy's #1 BFF, Minnie! Izzy met Minnie on a walk one day and turns out, nearly two years later, these girls and their owners are still friends! Minnie has since moved to the 'burbs but we still get together for playdates, BBQs and of course our Pittie Pack walk!

Hugs!

Jonas is an adoptable pitbull who is super sweet. He gets along great with other dogs, does well with kids and is pretty much a great all around pup. We escorted him to an adoption event this weekend. He hopped right in the car, popped his bum down and enjoyed the ride. He was easily one of the best behaved dogs at the event. We're pretty positive he was snoring in the back seat the entire way home.

http://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/23044825

Wiggles is another adoptable pitbull but if SFK had his way, she would be adopted by him. Wiggles can be a bit shy around new people but bonds super quick. Good thing I'm not the jealous type because she was all over SFK yesterday before, during and after our pack walk. She can be dog selective but is non-reactive just being around other dogs. And in my opinion, if she could stand walking next to crazy Izzy for 4 miles, she can pretty much tolerate most dogs.

http://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/17744925

I can't leave out another fave, Mr. Beau. Beau lives a block away from us and started up the pack walks with miss Izzy. Beau's a pretty well behaved guy and loves nothing more than a bag of treats and his mom and dad. Beau loves to run and play but is no match for Izzy's lab/pointer legs. This blocky boy is a tank when he plows around the park...I know from experience.

I've never met a pittie I didn't like and I've never met one that behaved worse than crazy Izzy. They're loving, sweet dogs who just need a chance. I would have no concerns about bringing any of these dogs into my home or placing them in loving families.

Paleo Shallot Chicken

2012-03-11T18:59:00.000-07:00

This week, we are cavemen. A friend of ours turned us on to the Paleo diet. He's been eating paleolithic for a few months now and has had successes. It makes sense to me to some degree. It is based on the hunter-gatherer diet of consuming plants and animals. I'm no expert, but this makes sense to me. Limited dairy is allowed on some plans. Refined oils are the way to go. This was my first time using coconut oil and I was pleasantly surprised. Smelled amazing, but the solid state at first turned me off. Within a few minutes, the coconut oil had melted and all was good again.

This recipe sounds super simple and I was skeptical as I turned my chicken and it looked a tad bit unappetizing. Boy, was I surprised! The caramelized shallot taste was amazing, and I didn't even have enough shallots. I'll be making this again for sure.

We had mashed sweet potatoes and some asparagus with it. I felt totally satisfied after and look forward to Paleo, day 2.

Recipe adapted from paleoplan.com.

Ingredients:

4 tablespoons coconut oil
3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
3 shallots, sliced into rings
2 tbs fresh rosemary, chopped (I used half this and dried. I don't love the taste of rosemary)

Directions:

Season chicken with salt and pepper.
Heat coconut oil over medium-high heat.
When pan is hot, add shallots and rosemary and cook for a minute.
Add chicken and pan-fry until golden brown and cooked through.

Happy Two Year Adopt-a-versary Izzy!

2012-03-10T08:37:00.000-08:00

Two years ago this past weekend, we scooped up an adorable, well-behaved pup named Bridget. Today, we have an adorable, crazy, off-the-wall dog who we now call Izzy, the Wiz, Wiztini and whatever else seems to be appropriate for that day. We didn't want to adopt a puppy. And we didn't see ourselves with a lab mix. But we're so glad we changed our minds and adopted her. Izzy has given us a run for our money these past two years with insane behaviors and crazy antics, but we love her just the same. In the past year, she's been a great foster sister (for the most part) to six foster dogs and has managed to learn how to co-exist with her "cousins". She has lunged at countless numbers of skateboards and manged to jump off a moving boat even with a fear of water. She has developed habits like throwing pillows off the couch every time we leave and barking at random objects around the house that have been there for years. She survived an 11-hour car ride with minimal vomiting and has proved time and time again that she is one of the best snugglers on earth. We couldn't imagine life without the Wiz!

Award winning dog model

As soon as you walk away, I'm going to destroy this couch!

Pack Walkin'

Snoozin on her boxing gloves

Favorite Thing to Do

Cousins

Big Time Snuggler

So proper

Izzy and Foster Peeps. Play drunk.

Izzy does South Carolina.

Jarlsberg Pork Cutlets

2012-02-27T05:00:00.000-08:00

I used to enter quite a few more recipe contests before my blog went to the dogs...so I'm back at it. Jarlesberg USA and Kitchen Play have teamed up to offer "29 Ways to Leap into Jarlsberg Dip". Not only do I LOVE cheese, but I LOVE dip. Combine the two and I'm in heaven. So I jumped at the chance for this.

The challenge was a creative serving suggestion. I picked it up at the store with no clue on what I was going to do with it. I had already defrosted pork chops for tonight's dinner and figured I would open up the Jarlsberg Dip to see what it had to offer.

I melted about half of the dip in the microwave, per the instructions on the package. It created an ooey gooey cheesy goodness that I figures would be great on my chops. Instead of dipping in egg, I dipped in cheese dip! After cheese came the breadcrumbs and I seared it on the stove. Into the oven it went while I made up the salad.

Cheese is good on anything and Jarlsberg is no exeption.

To celebrate the arrival of Jarlsberg Dip, they are also hosting a giveaway on our facebook page. Simply “like” Jarlsberg USA on facebook and let them know in the comments on our giveaway post over there. Better yet, give them your ideas for using Jarlsberg Dip!

The giveaway includes a tailgate tote stocked with:

Jarlsberg Lite Cheese
new Jarlsberg Cheese Dip
Snofrisk (a Norwegian style cream cheese)
crispbreads
honey crèmes
honey vinegar

I was compensated for purchasing and writing about the cheese dip.

Valentine's Day

2012-02-14T11:00:00.000-08:00

I've never been a huge fan of this holiday. SFK and I have been together nearly 6 years and we typically feel pressure to go out to a fancy dinner and eat lots of chocolate. Christina from Hungry Meets Healthy shares a similar feeling and thought it would be fun to do a blogger swap ti make the 'holiday' a tad more enjoyable.

When I told SFK about my new valentine named Tony, he asked if I was cheating. Once he saw the three pound bag of gummy bears, that went out the window.

Obvious why I got this one....

Izzy got a new toy!

Charleston goodies. One of my favorite places! And who knew Benne wafers were so good!

We got quite a few goodies! I'm feeling like what I sent was a bit weak now, but hope they enjoy it!

Pittie Pack Walk

2012-02-12T19:22:00.001-08:00

When we took on our first foster dog, Mr. Peeps this year, I googled "dog foster blog" and came across Love and a Leash. From there, I started reading Two Pitties in the City, Our Waldo Bungie, Two Grad Students and a Pittie and Pittiefull Love, among others. Are you sensing a theme?? Sure, I'd probably read Two Grads and a Lab or Two Huskies in the City but I don't think they exist. Those that seem to have the same passion and enthusiasm for dogs are all pit lovers and fosters. So what, I have a lab mix. Big deal. Guess what?? She likes pitbulls and so do I.

Inspired by Izzy's training issues and these blog's local "pack walks" that they often wrote about, I figured it was about time to join one. After taking a look, there were a few in the area, but nothing completely local. I put the word out and found two awesome "pack leaders" to join on with me, creating Positive Pittie Pack Walk. Today was our first walk. Three labs and a bunch of pitties. We had a great time, Izzy was a bit out of control, but just hyper and excited. Hoping she'll be calmer next time!

Adoptable Star http://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/21766973

Kip

Beau

Typical Izzy...bouncing.
Picture courtesy of Chris Langston (chrislangston.tumbr.com)

Statue of Liberty action with Gracie
Picture courtesy of Chris Langston (chrislangston.tumbr.com)

Miss Minnie!

Adoptable Noel http://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/21809866

Goofy

Adoptable Alesha http://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/21109393

Adoptable Amigo http://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/21809889

The Pack

The Aftermath

Nose Work and Thundershirts

2012-02-08T19:31:00.000-08:00

I have no clue what this blog is about anymore. I love food. I love Izzy. So until I figure out what I'm doing, I will just continue to share my two loves with you.

Tonight, Izzy and I went for a run. I use the term "run" loosely. According to Nike Runner, my stats were pretty weak tonight, so I won't go there. When we came back, we noticed a package from Amazon.com. It was our Natural Balance Duck and Sweet Potato treat roll!

Since we've been hard at work on Izzy's reactivity, we've been giving her hotdogs. I've always been into feeding her healthy treats, so I just couldn't bare to pump her full of nitrates anymore. I think we have found our substitute! After some nosework fun in the living room, on went the Thundershirt so I could make dinner.

Sometimes Izzy dodges the shirt and I think its because she doesn't want to sleep. She'd rather be bouncing off the walls. Two minutes with the shirt on and there she was...

I like to call this Thundershirt drunk. Makes for one enjoyable evening!

PS...how gray is her muzzle?? She is 2 and looks like an old lady!

Slacker and Slow Cooker

2012-02-07T19:52:00.000-08:00

I haven't really been slacking. Just busy. I obviously still eat. Been working. Still hang with the dog. Still working. Taking pictures. Mostly of dogs. Back to work. You get the idea. When I feel like being a slacker, the crockpot is my best friend. Home from work at 9 and dinner ready by 9:30! Much better than grabbing takeout.

I opened the freezer last night and noticed a package of ribs had a slice taken out of the plastic wrap and was beginning to get freezer burn. Yuck! I pulled them out and decided I had to make them or they would be trash. Ribs are a summer food for me. I guess they're also a football food though. And since I couldn't enjoy the Superbowl goodies due to severe anxiety over my Patriots, I figured why not. I made butternut squash to go along to help me winterize it.

Recipe adapted from About.com.

Ingredients:

Pork rib end (or whatever other kind of ribs you like)
1/3 cup brown sugar
1 tablespoon paprika
1 teaspoon cumin
3/4 teaspoon black pepper
3/4 teaspoon ground oregano
1/2 teaspoon cayenne
1/4 cup BBQ sauce

Directions:

Combine dry ingredients in a bowl and rub over the surface of the ribs. Place ribs in slow cooker standing on edge, with the meat side out. Cook on low for about 8 hours.

Remove ribs from crockpot. Preheat broiler to high. Pour BBQ sauce over ribs and spread evenly. Broil until the ends get a bit crispy and delicious (about 5 mins).

Photo Fun

2012-01-31T19:48:00.000-08:00

I've had my camera for nearly 4 months now. I still have no clue how to properly use it. I take a lot of pictures, which has always been the way I learn. I learn by doing. I have a huge book on my nightstand for the Rebel, but I've yet to tackle it. I have plans to go out with a friend to take pictures and have her teach me the ISO, aperture and how to adjust the settings to take the best pictures. I take pictures of mostly dogs and food, for obvious reasons. I've entered a few photo contests where my creativity vs. my photography skills have allowed me to get some recognition.

I've been following Click It Up A Notch for a while now and decided to enter their latest contest! Here's another favorite from Izzy's snow shoot. Enjoy!

65 & Crabby

2012-01-29T19:27:00.000-08:00

This weekend we threw a big bash for my dad's 65th birthday. The theme was "65 and Crabby" for a few reasons, one being that he's a marine environmental consultant. My mom loves to go over the top with the theme so this was an easy one for her to go way overboard....

My present to my dad. A picture of the anchor from the cruise we just went on. I propped it in front of the guest book since it went with the theme!

The treasure chest. Filled with lots of goodies and chocolate crab lollipops to take home.

Crab bread bowl. A local bakery went above and beyond to get this one done. It was whole wheat too!!

We wore sailor hats as our name tags. My mom was the first and last mate.

Looks a bit like a haunted house, but nautical themed decor was all over the place, including the dining room chandelier.

Craig's Crabby Cocktail. Made by me of course!

The amazing cake. Ginger on the bottom, white chocolate raspberry on top. Yum!

Smoked Cheddar BBQ Mac & Cheese

2012-01-25T20:11:00.000-08:00

Growing up, my sister and I were big fans of the Kraft mac and cheese. We would make up a batch with that powdered cheese for lunch on weekends or when my parents weren't home to make us dinner. Of course we would devour the entire box and likely be left hungry afterword. I've had some pretty good mac and cheese over the past few years, including a truffle mac and cheese that blew me away. At the end of the day, nothing really compares to the comfort of that good old boxed stuff though.

I'm always willing to try a new mac and cheese recipe with the hopes that I can make it a tad bit healthier. Ok, I admit. This isn't the world's healthiest mac and cheese. But I did my best to make it as healthy as possible. After all, comfort food can't be super healthy, or else it won't be comforting.

I came across this Picky Palate recipe while playing around on Pinterest.

Ingredients:

1 pound whole wheat pasta
3 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons whole wheat flour
1/2 teaspoon fresh cracked black pepper
2 cups skim milk
2 cups low fat/low sodium chicken broth
3 cups maple smoked cheddar cheese
2 cups part skim mozzerella
2 cups shredded BBQ chicken (cooked chicken with BBQ sauce)
1 cup maple smoked cheddar

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain and set aside.
Melt butter in a large dutch oven over medium heat. Whisk in flour and pepper, cooking 1 minute. Slowly whisk in milk and chicken broth, until smooth. Increase heat and stir until liquids come to a boil.
Reduce heat to low and add in first 5 cups of cheese and pasta.
Pour mixture into baking dish, topping with chicken and additional cheese. Bake for 25 minutes or until cheese bubbles.

Hooray for Snow!

2012-01-21T11:37:00.000-08:00

Even with just a few inches, Izzy is having the time of her life in the snow. Burying her face, rolling around and shaking it all off!

Vacation (in photos)

2012-01-16T19:38:00.000-08:00

The Hills

Relaxation

Toast for my parents' 35th Anniversary

Cake. Complete with singing waiters.

Lazy Hammocks

Of course there had to be a dog in the bunch...

Beach Friendly

Jamaica

Pool Toys

Windy

Chicken and Sausage Gumbo

2012-01-02T17:24:00.000-08:00

We've lucked out so far this winter with the warmer weather. Today was an exception. It was cold. It was windy. I hated it. What better to make up for it than a nice hot piping bowl of soup. Oh wait. Skinny Fat Kid hates soup. I've never made gumbo and am not sure I've even had it more than once. But this picture sold me and and I figured it would be a good compromise to a hearty meal that's not quite soup.

Adapted from Annie's Eats.

Ingredients:

8 slices turkey bacon, chopped
1lb chicken legs
1lb hot italian turkey sausage
2 tablespoons canola oil
1/4 cup flour
2 green bell peppers, seeded and diced
4 stalks celery, diced
1 onion, diced
4 cloves garlic, minced
3 tablespoons tomato paste
4 cups fat free low sodium chicken broth
4 cups water
1/2lb okra, sliced into discs
1/2 tablespoon oregano
1/2 tablespoon paprika
1/4 tablespoon cayenne
black pepper to taste

Directions:

In a large Dutch oven, cook turkey bacon. Remove, set aside. Add in chicken legs and sear, about 4-5 minutes per side. Remove, set aside. Add in turkey sausage and sear, about 5 minutes. Remove, adding to chicken.

Put the two tablespoons of oil in pan and heat through. Add in flour, stirring constantly until dark brown. Add in peppers, celery and onion. Cook, stirring, about 5 minutes. Add in garlic and tomato paste. Cook 2-3 minutes.

Meanwhile, heat water and chicken broth in a pan. Once broth mixture is hot, begin adding slowly to veggie mixture, stirring constantly. You may not use all the broth. I didn't even come close, but used the remaining for brown rice. You want to add enough liquid for your desired gumbo consistency, plus a bit more.

Once you have your consistency set, add back in the chicken legs, lower heat to simmer and cook about 1 hour until chicken is falling off the bone. Remove chicken and set aside to cool. Add the okra, spices and return the bacon and sausage back to the pan. Simmer at least 30 minutes.

When chicken is cool enough to touch, pull it off the bone and add back into the gumbo.

I served this over brown rice with a side salad. Was perfectly filling and delicious!

Peppermint Fudge

2011-12-27T08:53:00.000-08:00

Is it too late to do my holiday cookie postings??!! This holiday season snuck up on me fast. I spent hours the night before I left for the holidays baking away...dog treats, fudge, pecan pie bars and rugelach. The hours I spent baking left me zero time to write a post. I missed out on all the holiday blogging fun. So now, I will recap! I know I'm sick of all the holiday treats and the fact that I actually have to put on a bathing suit in two short weeks for vacation is motivation enough to stay away from this stuff for now. So instead of eating the leftovers, I will just talk about them.

Every year, my sister and I take on a few different cookies for our holiday celebrations. I've managed to keep one going, the Pecan Pie bars. Nothing like them. They are amazing! I use a recipe on Allrecipes.com. This year, in honor of my grandfather who passed away, I decided to try rugelach. When I saw a recipe using only puff pastry and filling, I figured I had to give it a shot! Not only was it easy, but it gave me an excuse to use Nutella. These were a fan favorite as well.

I had bookmarked this recipe for peppermint fudge months ago and was lucky enough to find it for the holidays. Was so good! We still have some of this in the fridge that I'm snacking on, but I'll try to hold back due to that looming bathing suit...

Find original recipe here. I used candy canes crushed up because I couldn't find the Andes Peppermints. And then of course I found them at my parent's house in my stocking. Oh well!

Homemade Apple Dog Treats

2011-12-11T15:18:00.001-08:00

I've been meaning to make my own dog treats since last Christmas. My mom (or maybe my sister) gave me a mix from Crate & Barrel. All you need to do is add eggs and chicken or beef broth. Every time I think to make them, I don't have one of the ingredients.

With our influx of foster dogs, we go through treats like crazy. The rescue gives us some they receive as donations, but it still seems like we're always flying through them. Mia got adopted on Saturday, so I figured I know needed to replenish the treat Tupperware for Izzy. Our treat jar broke last weekend...was a sad day. Good thing the holidays are right around the corner! Izzy is hoping Santa brings her a new one.

I found this recipe on Pinterest and made few changes. This was one of the few recipes I could find that didn't use peanut butter. I didn't peel my apples because I didn't want to spend the time. I did drop them quick into the food processor, and you can see the bits of apple in there. I used an ice cream cone cookie cutter because that was all I had. Don't ask.

See original recipe here.

Ingredients:

2 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
1/2 cup cornmeal
2 small finely chopped or grated apples (could probably do 1 large/medium)
1 egg
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1/2 cup cold water

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease baking sheet.
Combine flour and cornmeal. Add in apples, egg, oil, brown sugar and water.
Flour your work surface and roll out dough. I rolled mine about 1/2 inch thick. Cut your cookies and place on baking sheet.
Bake for 35 minutes. Turn off oven and leave cookies in there for another 30-45 minutes to let them crisp up.
Store in airtight container.

Izzy is not the world's best behaved dog, but she does have a pretty reliable "leave it" when it comes to treats. She was a good sport through my photos and got two treats as compensation for her hard work. She loved 'em!

Chicken Cutlets with Tropical Raw Sauce

2011-12-04T19:07:00.001-08:00

I've been a Food Network fan ever since I first laid eyes on it. For no good reason at all, we didn't have cable growing up. When I turned 17 and was going off to college, my dad decided it was a fabulous time to get cable. Not only did he get basic cable, but he got the whole deal. HBO, Showtime, you name it. I spent my entire childhood running to my friend's house to watch The Real World so that I could join in the conversation.

When I first hit the Food Network scene, Rachael Ray was huge. She was everywhere! She started with her 30 minute meals, and I used to watch it around 6pm and then go help my mom make dinner. We tried a few RR recipes and I acquired a few RR cookbooks over the years. Her recipes aren't always super healthy, but are easy to modify slightly to lower the fat or calories.

This one is from her Big Orange Book. You can find the recipe here. I used white onion because that's what I had. And I skipped the cilantro. I thought it would be too much in this!

Slow Cooker Heaven

2011-11-29T20:10:00.001-08:00

There's nothing I love more than coming home from work and having dinner most of the way done. I know that I can never count on Skinny Fat Kid to cook. He's tried a few times reluctantly and messes up every time. The only thing he will cook is plain chicken and veggies, no sauce, no seasoning, no nothing. I'm definitely not eating that.

Gina's Skinny Taste came through as always on this one! Carnitas!! I didn't rub my overnight because I can't plan that far ahead, but this was still great. And I didn't top mine with avocado because the last two I bought I ended up trashing because I didn't plan my meals right.

Simple spanish brown rice with a can of medium heat Rotel.

Thanks for Giving

2011-11-24T10:42:00.001-08:00

I’ve never been a huge do - gooder. But this year I was inspired. I was inspired by my coworker who gave up EVERY Sunday to help feed the homeless in New York City. I was inspired by my friend who changed her lifestyle to train for her first half marathon and raise money for brain cancer research in honor of her mother who had passed away. I was inspired by my brother-in-law who rode his bike for two days, through two states, in support of MS. And I was inspired by a mother, wife and professional woman who had devoted nearly all her free time, even giving up sleep, to help make a difference in the lives of animals.

In June, I was introduced to Amy Hofer and A Pathway to Hope. I was looking for a dog rescue where I could donate my time to make a difference and was sent Amy’s way by a friend. From the first adoption event where I volunteered, I knew that I wanted to make myself a part of this extraordinary organization. A Pathway to Hope pulls mostly Northern breed dogs from kill shelters down south. However, they often don’t turn away dogs and cats in need.

This month, Amy sent her volunteers an email. Two small puppies had been found in a backyard in South Carolina.

To keep them in the yard, their owner had tied a rope around their necks when they were young puppies. As puppies do, these girls began to grow. As they got bigger, the ropes grew tighter and tighter until they became embedded in their skin and had compressed their tracheas. Mia and Mya were found just in time. They were in need of urgent medical care. Pneumonia had ravaged their lungs due to the compressed trachea. They were extremely underweight, appearing to be young puppies when they are nearly a year old. They were so scared of humans that they cowered together when rescue came to save them.

Mia and Mya arrived in New Jersey last Sunday. They’re currently living with Amy, her family and her many dogs. After Thanksgiving, I will pick up Mia and foster her until she is adopted. The dog that was found outside, starving and neglected, will come have a soft spot on my couch. Have a meal every day. Have lots of toys and even a “foster sister” to play with.

I’ve donated to many causes in the past, but have not quite devoted as much of my time. To be able to see a dog come into my home as a foster and leave as someone’s beloved pet has been the most rewarding part. While I may not always be able to give financially, I can easily give my time and care to these dogs.

So thank you to Amy for giving so much to these dogs and allowing me to be a part of something so fulfilling. And thank you to my friends, family and coworkers who have inspired me to give in a way that puts a smile on my face and costs me so little, but gives so much.

Sausage and Zucchini Cheesy Pasta

2011-11-17T19:33:00.001-08:00

Do you "pin"? I'm trying to get into Pinterest. Still trying to figure it all out. My friend convinced me to join saying she has found a lot of great recipes. So I gave it a whirl. I've slowly started pinning if you will and today searched for my dinner. Success! Not only can I find food blogs, but I found some super cool Boston/NYC prints for our man cave. I can share my new pics too!

Here's the recipe for dinner at Coupon Clipping Cook. I made a few modifications, mostly because bell peppers are the devil. One food I just cannot get behind. Blech! Zucchini did the trick! And I'm sure I added more cheese than this called for, but nothing wrong with that!

Do you pin??

Hiking, Football and Chili

2011-11-14T10:59:00.001-08:00

This past weekend, we took Izzy to South Mountain Reservation to meet up with her best bud Minnie to do some hiking. I use the term hiking loosely. The first trail we headed up turned out to be a road, and not so much a trail. There were downed trees and branches from the recent freak snow storm in October which made it a bit more challenging, but we were quite disappointed.

After attempting to read a map, we headed up another real trail, heading the wrong way, but enjoying ourselves none the less. Izzy and Minnie had a great time being "country dogs" and us humans got some exercise.

The hike wore Izzy out to the point that after getting her leash on for her evening walk, she planted in the doorway and refused to go out. Skinny Fat Kid carried her outside where she finally got on her feet and stopped being so stubborn!

It was a good thing Izzy was exhausted because I needed to focus 100% of my attention on the TV for Pats vs. Jets. Huge game. Huge win. Easy dinner was ready to rock for kick-off. I think this chili was one of my first blog posts ever. Way better pics now with my Canon Rebel though! Click here for original recipe. And I made probably the best whole wheat cornbread ever. All in all, a nice little Sunday.

FINALLY!

2011-11-02T21:02:00.000-07:00

It's finally here. My Canon Rebel. I've waiting months for the right moment to splurge on this and thanks to my parents and Skinny Fat Kid, I didn't need to splurge at all! It's only day three with this bad boy and unfortunately it's been late nights at work since day one. Of course I've harassed the crap out of the dogs by taking their pictures non-stop.

I have no idea how to use this thing but I do know that I'm having fun with it and will figure it out in time.

In the meantime, enjoy the pics of my loyal subjects! Izzy and foster Topher and Brendan were good sports through most of the shoot...

PS...someone please adopt these puppies!!! For more info, visit www.apathwaytohope.org.

M.I.A.

2011-10-25T10:27:00.000-07:00

I've been M.I.A. lately. My mom has started to notice and we live 200 miles away. Where have I been?? If I'm not at work for 10 hour days or sitting on an 8 hour train to Boston, I'm hanging out with these little rascals.

Yes, they're for adoption. I'm not as crazy as you think by taking on two dogs for my own. Izzy is Thundershirt "drunk" and doesn't seem to mind. These things really work to take the edge off her anxiety!

I'm on a slowcooker kick. I guess that's what you do when you have two infants, right? I'm excited to get home and have asian chicken for dinner. And I'm sure Skinny Fat Kid is excited that he will only have to clean one pot.

In other news, the day has finally come. The Canon Rebel is on its way. This will be life-changing. I've been discouraged from blogging because my photos aren't what I want them to be. With the Rebel, I hope to change that all. Not to mention great pics of vacations, Izzy, friends, fun and more.

That's all my updates for now! Back to work...

Fall = Soup

2011-10-05T19:03:00.000-07:00

I love soup. I'm one of those people who is always cold so there's nothing like a bowl of piping hot soup. Skinny Fat Kid does not love soup. It is not a meal in his mind. When he asked me what was for dinner, I immediately answered "cornbread" to take his mind of the fact that I was making soup.

This one showed up in my Blogger dashboard last week. Being that it was starting to get cold, I was so ready for soup. I made a few small changes (Rotel for salsa, beef and chicken bouillon), but was pretty true to the recipe.

Check it out on Tried and True Cooking with Heidi

Kabobs

2011-09-29T16:11:00.000-07:00

I've found I can relax more now when I'm home. Why?

Puppy love. These two get in a good wrestling session and are out for hours. Now, if only I were home more often!

To pick my posts, I typically do whatever I had for dinner last night, or whatever pictures I like best. I've played with the Canon Rebel and I need it. Now. Just a matter of time before I drop the big bucks on that. I found these pics of some skewers that I felt I could get slightly excited about. For starters, they're taken in natural light. And I'm missing summer and grilling since NYC decided to go right into fall on us.

Chicken Kabobs (adapted from allrecipes)

Ingredients:

1/3 cup honey
1/3 cup low sodium soy sauce
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/8 cup olive oil
Boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into cubes
2 cloves garlic, minced

Directions:

In a bowl, whisk together honey, soy, pepper and olive oil. Before adding chicken, reserve a bit of the marinade for basting.
Add chicken and garlic to marinade and marinate in the fridge for at least 2 hours.
Pre-heat grill to medium/high heat. Thread chicken on skewers.
Cook about 10 minutes or until cooked through, turning and brushing with marinade.

Steak Kabobs (adapted from allrecipes)

Ingredients:

1/4 cup low sodium soy sauce
3 tablespoons brown sugar
3 tablespoons white vinegar
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
4oz lemon-lime seltzer
Sirloin steak, cut into cubes

Directions:

In a bowl, combine soy, brown sugar, vinegar, garlic powder and seltzer. Before adding steak, reserve a bit of the marinade for basting.
Add steak to marinade and marinate in the fridge for at least 2 hours.
Pre-heat grill to medium/high heat. Thread steak on skewers.
Cook about 10 minutes or until cooked through, turning and brushing with marinade.