unKreative Kirsten

Playoffs Weekend complete with a light version of Franks Buffalo Chicken dip

2012-01-08T16:14:00.000-08:00

Welp, it's half time of the AFC Wild Card Playoff game between my Steelers and the Denver Broncos. I am experiencing a small fit of anxiety as the Broncos are up 20-6. I am pretty passionate about Steeler's football and I am not conditioned to seeing a score like this, ESPECIALLY against the Denver Broncos... I could rant for about a day. But we will just have to wait and see what the second half has in store for us.

On a better note - It's been an absolutely perfect weekend! Nick and I are taking advantage of the Playoffs and this amazing January weather (70s & Sunny) by spending our afternoons outside BBQing. I feel spoiled -- yesterday we made cheese filled hamburgers (completely worth cheating and having one) and today some amazing chicken legs. I am continually impressed with Nick's novice but delicious grilling skills. <3 I love my man!

In the spirit of football and barbeques, I made a light and scrumptious version of Franks Redhot Buffalo Chicken Dip.

Light Version of Franks Redhot Buffalo Chicken Dip (by: Kirsten)

8 oz package of neufchatel cheese, softened
1/2 cup Ranch Dip (1 McCormick seasoning packet made w/ 16 oz non fat greek yogurt)
1/2 cup Franks Redhot Original Pepper Sauce
1/3 cup low-far mozzarella cheese
2 chicken breasts, shredded
Cracked Black Pepper, to taste

Directions:

Place neufchatel cheese in baking dish (I use a 1 1/4 quart round ) and stir until smooth
Mix in ranch dip, Franks Redhot & mozz cheese to creamed cheese
Stir in shredded chicken until will mixed
Top with Cracked Pepper to your desire & add some extra mozz if needed (Nick insisted on it for us)

Bake at 350 or until bubbly and heated through.

Serve with an array of fresh Veggies (celery and orange & yellow peppers are my fav) & Baked Chips for those who want a little something different.

This dip is addictive! Enjoy~

Our Set-Up: Can't forget the Terrible Towel for some MUCH NEEDED luck!

Where in the world did 2011 go?!

2012-01-03T11:24:00.000-08:00

Welcome 2012

I am so happy for a new and exciting year. Almost a little embarrassed to be blogging on here again..its been almost 6 months without a peep...but I am back!! Happy Twenty12 to everyone who happens to stop by and have a read. 2011 was pretty amazing, actually my favorite year to date but I am excited and anxious for this new year. I have a number of things I want to focus on in 2012 to better myself, my relationship and the way I view life. Here's a list of some of my more reasonable resolutions...perhaps blogging these things will make me feel more accountable to stick to them.

2012 Goals

*Start planning weekly menus to save time, $$ & calories.

*Fall back in love with Bikram Yoga (1x per week minimum).

* Take advantage of where we live, unwind from work with a daily beach walk w/ my handsome man.

*More Tea, Less Coffee

* Photo a Day for the entire Year. (trendy...but I know I would love the end result)

*Stop making excuses and start making progress... this pertains to EVERYTHING

*Random Acts of Kindness

*Read More

*Explore the world of D.I.Y.

I've been off of work for the past 10 days. (&& it has been absolute Heaven!) I am sadly back at work today. With the big gray cloud of responsibility and late nights looming over my head, I had a "Come to Jesus" moment last night. Although work can be extremely draining and the addition of school to that busy 50+ hour work week, it has become all too easy to make excuses for myself. I am far too young with too many opportunities to not take advantage of every one that I can. I am ready to start 2012 off with a BANG!!

My favorite memories of 2011 in photo-form.

2011 New Years Eve with my Love

Steelers SuperBowl!! We didn't win but we made it to the big Dance!!

Moving into our very tinsy but equally sweet home.

Pittsburgh with Mom for my Gram's 83rd Birthday!

Happy 27th Birthday to Nick! Stayed at the amazing ACE Hotel in Palm Springs.

4th of July Fireworks @ the Oceanside Pier

Our Favorite Band, J. Roddy Walston & the Business, came to the Casbah! Amazing Show!

My First Vegas Trip--Labor Day 2011

Halloween!! Nick got to choose our costumes this year --Frankenstein and his Bride <3

Our First Christmas Tree

The blurriest NYE 2012 kiss ever.. Still a perfect memory to start an amazing year - taken exactly at midnight!!

&& probably my most favorite thing about 2011 - Adopting these two sweet peas! Mojo (orange) & Billie

Hope 2012 is the best year to date for all of us!

See you Soon.. for real this time!

xoxo

-K

Failure

2011-06-22T15:01:00.000-07:00

.... Not only did I wait until the last minute to order my Dad a gift for Father's Day (which has yet to come in the mail) and forget to bring his card to our Family BBQ (which I showed up late to).. I neglected to post on this here, the World Wide Web, how grateful I am for my Father.

Here's to you, Dad!

You are the most incredible father!!! Thank you for working harder than any man I've ever known and never letting our family go without.. even if it meant late nights and extra shifts. You have shown your love in more ways than I think you even realize. I am eternally grateful for the values you've instilled in our family and the example you've been to me and everyone who comes into your life. Thank you for showing me that someone who is patient, understanding, supportive and shows unwaivering love for their spouse and family truly does exist, and even more so, thank you for teaching me I am worth all of that and more.
Thank you for supporting my decisions and taking time to comfort me when life gets rough. And one more thing...Thank you for making Nick feel welcome in this family. It means the world to me!

I love you more than words can express. I am blessed to call you my Father. I love you Daddy! ~Happy Fathers Day!!

Thursday = Breakfast for Dinner Day.

2011-06-16T20:46:00.000-07:00

It has been a very busy few weeks for me. Between Papa's birthday, a Palm Springs get away, playing mama to our new kitten and a new position at work.. I haven't made much time for blogging.. or any down time really.

This is short and sweet because honestly, I am exhausted and it's very possible I may be in bed before 9 pm this evening.

Nick has been bugging me to make pancakes the past few weekends. I've managed to cram way too much into my weekends to want to wake up and make pancakes before starting the day.

This afternoon I realized pancakes are about as simple as it comes and I was not in the mood to plan anything elaborate for dinner, so Pancakes for dinner it was......Chocolate-Chip pancakes, turkey bacon, apple-chicken sausage, a scramble and hash browns. Seems like a feast and maybe it was, but once I got started I remembered how fun and delicious breakfast is.

Breakfast has always been my favorite meal to eat out. I figure that's probably because I never make time for a tasty breakfast. My breakfasts usually consist of a yogurt and some fruit or a microwavable oatmeal shortly after I get into the office... God knows, I am not going to be the person to have a bowl of cereal, let along an egg at home before leaving the house at 7:30 a.m.

So, after Nick and I enjoyed our breakfast for dinner tonight.. I am officially going to do Breakfast for Dinner each Thursday night (if life permits) so I can try some of the delicious breakfast recipes I have been saving over the past year! I am reallllly looking forward to it... stay tuned!~
I suggest you try Breakfast for Dinner next time you're stumped on what to prepare for your hungry household.

Sharing is Caring.

2011-06-06T09:15:00.000-07:00

I've been taught since I can remember that Sharing is Caring. I obviously care for you, so first and foremost, I am kindly asking you NOT to throw away those brown mushy bananas left behind in your fruit bowl. (I know how it goes, they are only .19 cents a piece and it's easy to bring home a bunch of 8 at that price.) This is when you will thank yourself for overbuying and ME for sharing this amazing recipe.

I love me some Banana Bread...unfortunately, I was put on this earth with an allergy to Walnuts! I am always looking for banana bread recipes that don't sound like they will be lacking if I forgo the walnuts. So, I came across this delicious recipe from Our Best Bites. Go ahead, try it! I PROMISE you will not be disappointed.

CHOCOLATE SWIRLED BANANA BREAD

2 c. flour
¾ tsp. baking soda
½ tsp. salt
1 c. sugar
¼ c. butter, softened
1 ½ c. mashed ripe bananas (about 3-4 medium bananas)
2 eggs
1/3 c. plain lowfat yogurt or sour cream
½ c. chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly spoon flour into measuring cups and level. Combine flour, baking soda, and salt. Cream sugar and butter. Add bananas, eggs, and yogurt, beating until just blended. Add flour mixture. Beat on low until just moistened. Microwave chocolate chips in a medium bowl for 1 minute. Stir until smooth. Cool slightly. Add 1 c. batter to chocolate, stirring until well-combined. Spoon chocolate batter alternately with plain batter (so you have stripes of plain and chocolate batter) in an 8 ½” x 4 ½” loaf pan coated with cooking spray. Swirl batters with a knife.
** this is where I sprinkled about 1/2 cup of brown sugar on top. It made a delicious crunchy topping.**

Bake at 350 for 1 hour and 15 minutes (give or take a little; I’d probably set your timer for 1 hour and 10 minutes to be safe) or until a knife comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes in pan and then remove and cool completely on a wire rack.

Please make this. You WILL thank me!

I heard (maybe discovered it myself) that peanut butter spread over the top of a warm slice of this delicious banana bread is as close to heaven as you will get here on earth.~ dead. serious.

First Attempt at Pork Chops

2011-05-26T11:06:00.000-07:00

I've not had many encounters with pork chops throughout my life. I can think of maybe once or twice that I had them growing up and I'm not even sure if I had liked them at the time. I found some on super sale at Fresh & Easy and thought I would give them a try anyway....they were truly too cheap to pass up. I searched the internet for some recipes that sounded tasty, but couldn't come to terms on one, so I mixed a few of them together and the final product was actually pretty delicious!

Easy Italian Pork Chops

(may not be pretty, but sure are delicious)

Ingredients-

1 cup cornmeal (flour will also work)

Salt

Pepper
2 cloves garlic, peeled and chopped

3 eggs, lightly beaten

3 tablespoons milk (Almond milk was all I had, and it seemed to work just fine)
1.5 cups Italian bread crumbs

1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

2 tablespoons fresh parsley
red pepper flakes

garlic powder

2 tablespoons olive oil

4-6 pork chops depending on size

Directions-

1. Preheat Oven to 325 F

2. In a small bowl, mix cornmeal and chopped garlic with salt and pepper to taste.

3. Trim excess fat from rinsed pork chops and dredge in cornmeal mixture. Let sit.

4. In a small bowl mix together eggs and milk. In another small bowl mix together bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese, fresh parsley, red pepper flakes and garlic powder. (I've learned that using personal preference on things like red pepper and garlic powder also turns out a little better. I used just under a tablespoon of each)

5. Heat olive oil in large oven safe skillet over medium heat.

6. Dip dredged pork chops in egg mixture and then into the bread crumb mixture. Repeat once. Place coated chops into skillet and brown each side 3-5 mins depending on thickness (mine were very thin, 3 mins was sufficient)

7. Place oven safe skillet with pork chops in preheated oven and cook for 25 mins or to an internal temperature of 160 degrees F.

I served my chops up with some garlic mashed potatoes and asparagus. Papa raved all night long =) There's something about his raves that make me feel especially accomplished.
~Bon Appetit!

Kitty Perfect

2011-05-17T11:19:00.000-07:00

Papa and I are now truly "Mama and Papa" to this sweet little girl!!!

I am absolutely over the moon about her! She is a Seal Point Siamese mixed with Tabby, so not only gorgeous, but as soft and cuddly as they come. Maybe I am biased.. but she really has to be one of the prettiest kittens I've seen.. and to think up for adoption. She was rescued from a hospital in Escondido, Ca, where they Euthenize! I can't imagine anyone in their right mind killing something so tiny, sweet and innocent!

I got the kitty bug last week and had to get a kitten asap. (I don not know why I am like this, but once something is in my head.. it's a done deal.) I started looking online and in the PennySaver with my heart set on a RagDoll kitten, which are gorgeous cats, but it seems silly to buy a "name brand cat" when there are so many to save.

I came across an organization called "SPOT-Saving Pets One at a Time" and found a ton of babies that would melt any normal persons heart... and No, I do not consider cat haters "Normal People", I am convinced they must be missing a chromosome somewhere in the mix. On a better note, I really encourage anyone looking for a kitten or puppy to try and exhaust their adoption options first. There are TOO many loving babies that don't have the love and comfort of a home that they deserve.

We are naming her Billie, after the amazing Billie Holiday and as soon as she weighs enough to be fixed and can come home with us, we plan on spoiling this little joy... rotten!

Spicy Honey Lime Enchiladas

2011-05-11T13:01:00.000-07:00

As I'm sitting here enjoying my delicious left overs, it dawned on me that these enchiladas are just too fantastic not to share! Not only delicious, but different and simple!

Spicy Honey Lime Enchiladas

(Papa and I like it spicy.. feel free to choose not to include any spice factors with an * if you are not a fan of heat)

Ingredients -

7 tablespoons Honey
Juice of 1 and 1/2 limes
1 tablespoon chili powder
*1 tablespoon Sriracha
*1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
*1 can Rotel Hot Diced Tomatoes with Habaneros (have mild options with chilies instead)
4 cups chicken, cooked and shredded (about 2 large breasts or 6 tenderloins)
1 can black beans rinsed and drained
Tortillas (medium sized corn or flour)
1 large can Green Enchilada Sauce
2.5 cups shredded cheddar cheese
1/4 cup chopped green onion

Cooking Instructions-

Preheat oven to 350F

Boil Chicken until cooked through. Let cool, then shred and set aside.

Mix together the Honey, lime juice, chili powder, red pepper and sriracha until it is no longer the thick consistency of honey.

Marinate chicken in sauce for at least 1 hour (the longer the chicken sits in this sweet spicy goodness.. the tastier your enchiladas will be)

Cover bottom of 9"x13" baking dish with a thin layer of enchilada sauce.

Assemble enchiladas by placing a thin layer of cheese in middle, spoonful of beans, spoonful of diced Rotel tomatoes, and heaping spoonful of chicken. Roll up tortilla and place in baking dish. Continue process until baking dish is full. Top with remaining sauce but do not drown the enchiladas, it is ok to have some left over if necessary. Sprinkle diced green onions and remaining cheese over the dish.

Bake for 25-35 minutes until cheese is bubbly and edges are crisp.

I added a dab of sour cream over mine before eating..I suggest you do the same! (unless you're a boring picky eater like Papa) The creaminess of the sour cream with the sweet and spice of the enchiladas goes perfectly together.

ENJOY~

Happy Mothers Day!

2011-05-08T10:28:00.000-07:00

I may be biased (although I do have a fair fight) but I have been blessed with the worlds greatest mother. A woman of unwavering faith, strong values and the kindest heart you'll ever meet. I consider myself lucky to call her my very best friend. She is the first person I ever go to for advice or with an aching heart and will always be the one person who can put me at ease. I am eternally grateful for my mother.

Happy Mothers Day to the most wonderful woman in the world. I love you endlessly Momma!

Happy Cinco de Mayo

2011-05-05T09:26:00.000-07:00

Until I moved to San Diego.. I am not sure that I heard much about Mexico's celebration of their heritage and Freedom. A VERY quick history lesson...on May 5,1862, Mexico defeated the French at the Battle of Puebla... hence, the celebration on the 5th of May!

Being so close to the border, San Diego celebrates big when May 5th rolls around. Papa and I won't be going out to join the party tonight.. the semester is coming to a close and we both have a fair amount of homework to focus on. So NOT fun!!
At the very least, I do plan on making a delicious Mexican feast! I think you all should do the same. My sweet friend The Pioneer Woman posted a drool worthy blog this morning. Thought I would share. I promise you, every recipe of hers or one that she has suggested has been absolutely amazing! Take a shot at one tonight!

Check it out here

Untraditional Mothers Day...

2011-04-29T09:17:00.000-07:00

Ever spend $70+ on flowers for a loved one, only to see them in the trash less than 2 weeks later. This year I am saving my money and putting more thought into my Mothers Day presents. Planning on making my mother a beautiful oversized bouquet of Poppies this year! Found these cute tutorials on Marth Stewarts website.

Giant Paper Poppies

also thought these Paper Dogwood branches were very sweet!

You can pick up an oversized vase just about anywhere (Target, TJ Maxx, Marshalls..etc.) for less than $25. Fill one up with a large bunch of either of these sweet paper concoctions and you have a gift that will be sure to leave a lasting impression on your ever so deserving Mother!

I always trust Ree... so here it is, The Best Lasagna Ever

2011-04-22T12:01:00.000-07:00

My very best friend, Miss Ginny Blue got married in December. I am more than happy that she has finally settled down with her one true love... but there is a giant negative factor in all of this for me. She is moving across the country to sweet little Fort Walton Beach, Fl on Monday! Ok, it's not giant or negative, I'm just selfish. Naturally, I want to spend as much time as possible with her before she goes. She and her husband Brent were able to come down for dinner this week. I was excited to show off our little place since it was Brent's first time seeing it, so I planned on making something that is always a crowd pleaser.

Lasagna! Who doesn't love lasagna? (vegetarians don't count, I don't trust them) Meaty, garlicky, cheesy, comforting.. I could go on.

I'll be honest, this was my first time making Lasagna...ever. I don't typically order it out in restaurants because I feel like it's too safe of a bet and I always want to try something new and exciting. Growing up, my mom never once made a traditional Lasagna. So, let's just say this was new for me. I won't lie, I get nervous every time I cook, because I don't trust myself quite yet....Thank goodness this is just about the easiest recipe I've ever made!

Being a pretty novice chef, I have found a few talented women to gain some insight from. Ree Drummond a.k.a. The Pioneer Woman happens to be my favorite. If I have something in mind and need a recipe I go to her book or website first! That is where I found this fabulous recipe!

my changes "suggestions" in italics

The Best Lasagna. Ever. The Pioneer Woman Cooks Ree Drummond:
Ingredients
1-½ pound Ground Beef
1 pound Hot Breakfast Sausage
2 cloves Garlic, Minced *used 2 VERY large and 1 regular sized clove
2 cans (14.5 Ounce) Whole Tomatoes
2 cans (6 Ounce) Tomato Paste
2 Tablespoons Dried Parsley
* 1 teaspoon Red Pepper Flake (added to sauce when parsley and basil is called for) ok, I added a few but I don't expect everyone to love heat like I do.
2 Tablespoons Dried Basil
1 teaspoon Salt
3 cups Lowfat Cottage Cheese
2 whole Beaten Eggs
½ cups Grated (not Shredded) Parmesan Cheese
2 Tablespoons Dried Parsley *I used fresh parsley in the cheese mixture.
1 teaspoon Salt
1 pound Sliced Mozzarella Cheese
1 package (10 Ounce) Lasagna Noodles *Trader Joes offers nice no cook lasagna noodles, they worked really well. (side note: If you use No Cook noodles cover them completely in sauce, if a corner is left uncovered it becomes a very crunchy addition to your beautifully baked otherwise gooey and delicious pasta dish.)
(add 1/2 Teaspoon Salt And 1 Tablespoon Olive Oil To Pasta Water)

* I added Black Olives and Mushrooms between the cottage cheese and mozzarella for a little something extra.

Preparation Instructions
Bring a large pot of water to a boil.
Meanwhile, in a large skillet or saucepan, combine ground beef, sausage, and garlic. Cook over medium-high heat until browned. Drain half the fat; less if you’re feeling naughty. Add tomatoes, tomato paste, 2 tablespoons parsley, basil and salt. After adding the tomatoes, the sauce mixture should simmer for 45 minutes while you are working on the other steps.
In a medium bowl, mix cottage cheese, beaten eggs, grated Parmesan, 2 more tablespoons parsley, and 1 more teaspoon salt. Stir together well. Set aside. Cook lasagna until “al dente” (not overly cooked).
To assemble:
Arrange 4 cooked lasagna noodles in the bottom of a baking pan, overlapping if necessary. Spoon half the cottage cheese mixture over the noodles. Spread evenly. Cover cottage cheese with a layer of mozzarella cheese. Spoon a little less than half the meat/sauce mixture over the top.
Repeat, ending with meat/sauce mixture. Sprinkle top generously with extra Parmesan.
Either freeze, refrigerate for up to two days, or bake immediately: 350-degree oven for 20 to 30 minutes, or until top is hot and bubbly.

Try it and Enjoy! I promise you won't be disappointed!

Home Is Where The Heart Is.

2011-04-21T22:52:00.000-07:00

Papa and I have already been in our place for over a month...I am kicking myself for not taking pictures when the place was bare and looked about as big as a sardine can. (not exaggerating) We have to space out our spending, so its a work in progress, but I really feel like everything is coming along.

*disclaimer-I have absolutely NO photography skills.

-Welcome to our Home-

This is essentially the entire little nest... but it's pretty cute. Nick managed to find this coffee table off Craigslist for $45 bucks. (So thankful for him.. I never realized coffee tables could cost $300)
What I did realize is that I can spend wayyy too much money in Pier One Imports....but I managed to find the blue pillows and adorable throw on a pretty decent sale.

I had to take a picture of our bookshelf. I love that we ended up have the perfect space for one. All of my books happened to be boxed up and put in the garage...but we are hoping to fill this with records, cookbooks and a few of my favorite series.. "cough cough"...Harry Potter & Twilight.

Our kitchen! It's my favorite room! I realize I may sound really weird getting this excited about having my own kitchen... but it IS exciting to have your own dishes, pots and pans!!
We found the perfect kitchen cart to give us some extra counter space. Seems to be a trend.. trying to make the most of what little space we have. I guess that's what you get trying to afford to live a block from the beach! And no, I am NOT complaining ;)

One of the little things I love about Oceanside is the Thursday night sunset market which is held by the pier every week. Last Thursday was our first trip this year, I saw the sign below at one of the stands and couldn't resist!
-"Oh, I'm sorry. You must be confusing me with the maid we don't have."

Our room is cozy and that bed may not look like heaven, but it is! We've invested in a 3 inch memory foam mattress topper...and have a REALLY hard time getting out of bed on the weekends! Papa obviously let me pick out the bedding. I am mildly obsessed with the color orange right now.. I know this may be just a little too much for some people to handle, but I fell in love with it.

This is the corner of the house I think needs the most work. My parents were kind enough to pick up this giant 9 drawer dresser at an Estate Sale, we had our clothes on the floor for 2 weeks.. great size and great condition.
We love Banksy... but aren't sure about the picture. To be honest, I'm still trying to figure out what to do with this area. I do love my flowers though. Papa, somehow got the "girls love flowers" memo. I lucked out!

Couldn't leave ~~Papa's office~~ our bathroom out of the tour. It's small but practical and dressed in white and and my favorite shade of green.

Thanks for stopping by!

I love our little home. I am dying to have summer beach BBQ's with our friends and family!

.

Cutest Easter Dessert to Date

2011-04-21T16:10:00.000-07:00

I wish I had kiddos so I would have a reason to drop everything and make these tonight. Instead, I will race home only to debate going to the gym for a split second... then put on the most comfortable pajama pants I can find, pour myself a glass of wine, make a simple dinner and snuggle up next to my man!

BUT maybe I will find some time this weekend to make them with my sweet little nugget, Leuc! (just had to find a reason to post this picture... he is honestly.. too. cute. for. words!)

Back to the real reason of this post, I have seen some cute Easter desserts, but these take the cake....without being cake at all. I love how you can decorate the outside however you wish to make them a little fancier or more colorful. Simply put, these just make me smile.

For the recipe which is so conveniently posted on Rice Krispies website... Click HERE

Cake in a Jar? Sold!

2011-04-19T12:14:00.000-07:00

I came across this fun recipe this morning. I am in love! I made Papa a neon "rainbow" birthday cake last year.. this just takes the same idea and makes it a little more interesting. You dont have to use the bright rainbow cake inside, although it's appealing to show off the vibrant colors. You can really take this idea and make it your own. I personally think the idea of cake in a jar is awesome enough in itself with or without the colors! I'm thinking....red velvet with cream cheese frosting or funfetti (my personal favorite) with some fluffy pink icing & sprinkles!!!

In my opinion, (being one who loves frosting) a pint sized mason jar is just too much cake and too little frosting. I am planning on making these in small 4 oz mason jars or even recycled baby food jars to resemble more of a cupcake. These would be perfect for any bridal/baby shower or party. I can not wait to try it out!

Checking in...with a Tasty Recipe!

2011-03-30T16:28:00.000-07:00

We have officially been living in our new little beach cottage for 15 days. I am not sure that life gets better than this. I have been on a constant high for the past 2 weeks just soaking in the fact that I have my own space, my own furniture, my very own pots and pans and a wonderful man to share everything with.

The initial move was simple.. maybe I say that because Papa moved everything in while I was working. I would venture to say we are about 70% done with the place at this point. I am kicking myself for not taking pictures of it when it was empty. It has much more potential than I thought it would. I remember our second walk through, the night we placed our deposit, I went back to Nicks and cried because it seemed so plain and tiny. I couldn't be happier with our decision though! I can't wait to post pictures! It truly is the cutest beach bungalow you will ever see!!

We went out and purchased a very sexy 46" LCD TV. I had that gut feeling that I lost my boyfriend the minute we loaded it into the bed of his truck. I would have to say it's Nicks favorite part of the new place.. the TV paired with Netflix! Netflix is Genius. Simple as that.

Now..

MY favorite part of our home has to be my kitchen. It's all mine and soo cute (and small) but I have been really enjoying cooking. We've made home made meals almost every night we've spent at home. It's been really enjoyable and its nice to be able to use organic meats and locally grown produce.

Well the whole purpose of this post is to share a delicious recipe with everyone. My very best friend Ginny came over to see our new digs and stayed for dinner. I was all sorts of excited to have her over to MY home and make her a meal in MY kitchen. She is such a picky eater (and she will argue that she isn't.. but SHE IS) so when I came across this recipe on Our Best Bites I knew it was a pleaser.

Baked Chicken-Bacon Alfredo

8 oz. penne or bowtie pasta

1 recipe Guiltless Alfredo Sauce (1 16-oz. jar would work in a pinch)

2 chicken breasts, grilled and chopped (about 2 c. chopped chicken)

6 oz. (1/2 package) cooked bacon, chopped

1 14-oz. jar marinated artichoke hearts, drained and chopped

1/2 c. chopped green onions (about 1 decent-sized bunch)

1 c. shredded mozzarella cheese, divided

Salt and pepper, to taste

Preheat oven to 350.

Prepare pasta according to package directions.

While pasta is cooking, prepare Guiltless Alfredo sauce. When pasta is done, drain and add to the sauce. Toss with chopped chicken, bacon, artichoke hearts, green onions, and 1/2 c. mozzarella. Season to taste.

Transfer mixture to an 8×8″ baking dish and sprinkle with remaining 1/2 c. mozzarella cheese. Cover with aluminum foil and bake at 350 for 20 minutes or until heated through and cheese is bubbly.

I subbed out the Artichoke hearts for peas for my picky eaters and it was still delicious. Can't wait to try it again with the Artichokes though! Please if you take the time to make this....USE the recipe suggested for the Guiltless Alfredo Sauce...it is full of flavor, sooo easy to make and the whole "Guiltless" factor makes it a much more enjoyable dish. (if you have a crazy calorie counting troll in the back of your head like I do)

~bon appetit!

Changes...

2011-03-15T09:19:00.000-07:00

So, its a day short of a month since I last posted. Although I love the idea of the blog, I haven't had much to write about. Lets see.. in the past month:

I turned 25. That was fantastic. Spent the day in downtown San Diego with my dearest friends
Put a deposit on an apartment.
Our dear friends Nathan and Dana got hitched!! 3.5.11
.........

Maybe that's why I haven't blogged. Although I could have posted a ton of stuff to do with the wedding and pictures from my birthday. I've just been BUSY with the boring stuff....and packing!!

The reason for this post! wait for it...

I MOVE TODAY!!!

I am overly excited. This is the first real time I am leaving the nest (not counting those 6 months I was a 19 y.o. rebel and couch surfed... my poor poor parents) and I am moving in with Papa which makes the whole experience that much more exciting!

I promise there will be pictures to come (before & after).. give me some time though. We will be settling in and enjoying the Pacific Ocean which happens to be .1 miles away according to Google Maps.

Wish me luck!

BHLDN - [Beholden]

2011-02-16T19:04:00.000-08:00

Lets do the math

Wedding blog/wedding anything obsessed person
+
Who has a deep love for most everything Anthropologie
=
a serious freak out when that person saw this.

The creative minds behind Anthropologie just released their wedding line this week! I'm dying... My wedding will be on a much tighter budget... but a girl can dream, right?!

le sigh

...those little things you don't need.

2011-02-15T16:00:00.000-08:00

I am sure you have all wanted something that was completely unnecessary.

Here is mine for the time being:

Not sure what it is about it.. but I keep going back to the site to look at it. Maya Brenner has a ton of amazing different pieces of jewelry.. mostly out of my budget...but still amazing! This is not something I will treat myself to any time soon because I can think of a million other things to buy for $300 and less but I just thought I would share.. maybe some lucky person who can actually afford to treat themselves to something nice, will fall in love with it, purchase it...and then I will live vicariously through them!

play on repeat

2011-02-08T10:45:00.000-08:00

I am not sure about any of you, but occasionally (and not occasionally enough) I get HOOKED on a song. Something about the lyrics and the beat, but I can easily play this song on repeat for an unhealthy amount of time. I bought Florence and the Machine's album "Lungs" right before Christmas. When I bought it I only knew one of her songs...but I quickly fell in love with this one:

Just wanted to share. Its perfect to work out to, drive to.. or just sit in your office and listen to...like I am right now.

-Oh, the entire album is amazing if you are interested in something different.

Soon to be a Mrs. - Celebration Time

2011-02-07T21:54:00.000-08:00

Well here I am again Slacking.. this is the first time I have opened my blog since my last post. I have been insanely busy at work (thanks to my 2' high pile of filing I have put off since Oct.).. and after spending 5 days away from my other half, I found it hard to spend any of my free time without him.

Papa and I have the pleasure of participating in a wedding on the 5th of March. One of Nick's closest friends found his match and I couldn't be more pleased with his pick. It makes me happy because by default all of Papa's friends are mine.. and none of them have had stellar girlfriends until Dana came along. I couldn't have hand picked a better woman for Nate. She is the type of person who you are drawn to because of her personality and contagious smile. I am so thrilled for them! Anyways, a few weekends ago we celebrated both their Bachelor and Bachelorette parties. The boys packed up on a Thursday and headed north somewhere up in Monterey for a "guys fishing trip", ironically where ever they were, had zero cell reception (clever guys!) and I had to be OK with the occasional text to keep me sane. Turns out, their trip went well.. and the only injury was to the groom, a fish hook through his cheek! Nothing broken and all came back with fresh air in their lungs so I would say it was a successful Bachelor weekend.

The girls had something very mellow planned. Saturday morning we were off to spend the day at Glen Ivy. I had no clue what kind of treat I was in for! That place is literally a grown woman's Disneyland. General admission is a bit high ($52) on the weekends but I was happy to be there and would have possibly spent more if I wasn't on a serious budget due to this wedding and moving out mid-March. We spent four hours sun bathing, in and out of the lazy pool, sweating in Sulphur pools (don't wear any sterling silver in, I learned the hard way), relaxing in the Saline pool, covering ourselves with mud and trying the Cold/Hot plunge (my personal favorite). It was the perfect day. Dana's mom is a serious saint and treated us all to adult beverages and some snacks...as if I didn't already love her. I am thinking about adopting that lady. She may not even have a choice in the matter.

After a relaxing day at Glen Ivy we headed back to our suites in Temecula to get ready for the Bride's choice of Line Dancing at Stampede. I personally have never thought twice about visiting a Country Bar...and would have never pictured myself attempting to Line Dance... but it was a BLAST! I will be returning. I feel like I stepped into a different world when I walked into that Country Bar. I think it was a successful night, as Dana maybe sat out a total of three songs the entire night. We finished off chatting at the hotel room til the wee hours of the morning and headed home after breakfast on Sunday. It was a nice weekend get away, and I highly suggest Glen Ivy to all. (possible Valentine's gift for those of you who are still trying to figure out what to get your significant other)

This past weekend was Dana's Bridal Shower. Another successful event. Myself and the rest of the Bridal Party planned everything via email and that thread was VERY long. Everything came together perfectly though. I feel like we all had the same vision.
Dana's cousin was kind enough to let us use her gorgeous home in Huntington Beach. We were able to get there early enough to set up before the older crowd known for their early arrivals came.
We all decided on the "Love Birds" theme and each of us were responsible for little details.

Here is the gorgeous "Bride to Be"

The food table was simple but delicious. As for the desserts...

...they were scrumptious!

Some of the our center pieces. (I turned the birdhouses into picture holders by simply shaping and hot gluing flower wire to the back)

Needless to say Dana got spoiled, with 40+ guests I suppose its hard not to! I am so excited for her. Next event -the WEDDING!!- 03.05.11

This Woman is Genius...

2011-01-28T09:58:00.000-08:00

The Pioneer Woman is hands down my favorite blog to read. She is hilarious and witty and her recipes are all divine.... well, I've only tried six or seven but they were fantastic. I love the way she posts her recipes! You will more than likely see a number of them displayed here on unKreative Kirsten. She is my e-mentor, and doesn't even know it.

Well anyways. I am super excited for Super Bowl Sunday.. if you haven't figured that out yet! I have no clue if we will be hosting a party or attending but I will be cooking! Ree (The Pioneer Woman, we are now on a first name basis) made a new category solely for Super Bowl dishes! I am eyeing the Shrimpo de Gallo, Quesdillas de Camarones, and the Mexican Layer Dip! Check it out!
And tell me this doesn't look D.E.L.I.C.I.O.U.S!

Shrimp de Gallo

Samoas may be the key to my heart... well, one of the many

2011-01-27T22:24:00.000-08:00

What could make Girl Scout Cookies better than they already are?

Wait? Is that possible? I'm not sure that I could have imagined something better than my favorite seasonal cookies that come so perfectly packed in that little purple box ... until I imagined them FRESH out of the oven?

My friend shared a tasty link with me the other day.. and it's just too great not to pass along.
There is something about Girl Scout Cookies that really takes me back. What a better way to be "taken back", than in your own kitchen. I can't wait to try these!

Homemade Girl Scout Cookies: Samoas

2 sticks (1 cup) unsalted butter at room temperature
1 cup superfine sugar (or granulated)
1 large egg
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 teaspoon kosher salt
3 cups unbleached, all-purpose flour
Dipping Caramel (recipe follows)
1 cup unsweetened shredded coconut (available at health food stores)
12 ounces of chocolate chips

1. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream together butter and sugar. Beat until light and fluffy. Add in egg and beat until well incorporated, scraping down the bowl, if necessary. Add in vanilla. Beat until smooth. With mixer on low, add in salt and flour. Mix until completely incorporated and dough is uniform. Pull dough together and shape into a cylinder with a diameter of about 2 1/2 inches. Wrap in parchment paper and freeze for at least 25 minutes.

2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Slice dough into 1/8 inch disks and place on baking sheets, about an inch apart. Once you have made 30 cookies, wrap up the cookie dough, freeze, and save for another time. Use a tiny circle shaped cookie cutter or a large round cake decorating tip to cut a hole in the center of each disk. Refrigerate for an additional 10 minutes. Bake for 8 minutes, or until crisp. Let cool completely.

3. Add coconut into the caramel. Warm the caramel in the microwave for about 10 seconds if necessary. Take cooled cookies and gently dip them completely in the caramel. Place on a parchment paper lined baking sheet. Freeze until set, about 5 minutes.

4. Melt chocolate in a microwave safe bowl in 30 second intervals, stirring well after each interval, until fully melted. Place the caramel coated cookies in the chocolate. Use a fork to pull them out of the chocolate and place them on a parchment line cookie sheet. Use the chocolate still on the fork to drizzle stripes over the top of the cookies. Refrigerate until set.

Dipping Caramel
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar)
4 tablespoons corn syrup
6 tablespoons water
pinch of salt
6 tablespoons butter
6 tablespoons heavy cream* (DO NOT use plain whipping cream)
1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

1. In a heavy bottomed saucepan with high sides, combine sugar, corn syrup, water, and salt. Whisk until combined, and set over medium-low heat. Swirl the pan every now and then to help distribute the heat. Use can use a pastry brush dipped in water to brush the sugar crystals down the sides of the saucepan. When the sugar dissolves completely, raise the heat to medium. When it comes to a boil, watch very carefully for the bubbles to become more viscous (this means that the water has evaporated and that it is ready to go through the candy stages). As it is bubbling away, you want it to turn a deep amber color. When it does, remove the heat and, working quickly, use the spoon to scoop up a small amount of the candy and drop it into the small glass of water. If the blob turns hard like lollipop, then it is ready. If the blob is still soft, put the pan back on the heat. Keep testing until the candy is hard. Remove from heat.

2. Whisk in butter, 6 tablespoons of cream, and vanilla (Careful here, as the mixture should bubble violently for about 10 seconds). If the caramel isn’t smooth right away, return the pan to low heat and whisk until smooth.

*To clarify, this cream should be heavy cream, or heavy whipping cream, not whipping cream.

Enjoy!

Update from the Slacker...

2011-01-25T11:14:00.000-08:00

Why is it so much easier to forget about this thing.. well not really forget but not have something come to mind for an entire week to blog about? I guess I am just new at this and truly don't know if anything that exciting is going on in my life that would warrant someone else actually wanting to read about it.
My day to day routine is typically the same... I wake up at 6:45 (there is nothing good about a morning that starts before nine), then I work till 5 pm, spend my evenings with Papa or make some sort of plans with a girlfriend, go to bed and repeat. I am constantly counting down my work weeks for the weekend. It seems like a waste to wish away 5 days of every week... but those two days off truly save my sanity. I suppose I can't beat myself up too badly over a slow start to this blog. At least I am spending my free time doing the things I love... so that is something to blog about in itself.
I had a wonderful weekend. Papa and I went house hunting on Saturday which was probably not the best idea because we still have another month until we are ready to move. I have my heart set on about 3 places that will be long gone by the time we are ready to sign a contract and move in. But!... it was nice to get a feel of what we can expect in our budget. We are hoping for something quaint and quirky where we can add our own touch and hopefully walking distance to the beach in Carlsbad or Oceanside.
I CAN NOT WAIT to decorate!!
We spent Sunday in Palm Springs at my brother's place. (Side Note: I am slowly but surely falling in love with La Quinta, Ca) It was Leuc's 2nd birthday party and my Steelers Division Championship game. The party was great! Tania (my sis in law) did a wonderful job with the food and football cupcakes. Everyone really seemed to enjoy themselves until the tantrums started. I feel like once one child cries, the rest will surely follow in his footsteps and throw a fit of their own. I couldn't believe how many babies were there! Let's just say.. Papa and I are getting a pup as soon as we move into our place. Something..anything..needs to help curb this baby fever I've got going on. My goodness!
Sunday afternoon I experienced my first family football day. I grew up in a home who never turned on the television on Sundays, we usually spent the majority of the day at church. But this past Sunday, everyone was sporting their Steeler's gear. There was a great energy with THAT many Steeler's fans in one room and I had a good time waving my Terrible Towel. The second half of the game definitely had me on my toes, but my Steelers pulled through! We are heading to Super Bowl 2011! For those of you who don't care about football enough to know what it feels like when your team, which is one out of 32 in the league, makes it to the final game...It's a little bit like Christmas in February. I came across this photo and couldn't help but laugh.

School started yesterday..I attempted to get an English class I need in order to transfer from my JC, but every one of the 6 online courses had a wait list of at least 10-20. Apparently my college broke a record this year with the number of students enrolled, which only means next semester it will be equally as hard to get the classes I want and need. This semester I will be focusing on "Music of the World" I suppose it seems interesting.. not something I would take if I didn't need to fill my arts credits but I'm determined to pass all of my courses with A's, so I will embrace it!

I know the whole point of this blog is to post recipes and fun DIY crafts but I am having a hard time with this. I am planning a Bridal Shower and Valentines Day is coming up shortly after that. I've been working on some things but don't want to post until after the events! Papa is probably my only follower and it would surely spoil the surprise(s) for him. And..I will be very honest, I have not been in the kitchen to make anything from scratch in a few weeks! Things will definitely turn around when I have my own kitchen and free time!

For the time being... Happy Tuesday!!

My Little Nugget....turns TWO!!

2011-01-17T10:59:00.000-08:00

Happy Birthday to the cutest sweetest boy ever...my Nephew, Leuc Allen!

Auntie Kirsti & Uncle Nick Love YOU!

I remember when you were just brand new. It seems like yesterday. We all waited for months to meet you....then you were almost here. I remember pacing the corridors of the hospital just waiting for a sign (we had waited there for HOURS). Then it came... I never loved anyone as much as I loved you from the very second I laid eyes on you. You were perfect and my own brother and sweet sister in law created YOU. You were our blood and now the light of our lives.

I wish I knew where the time has gone. Two already and smarter than anyone realizes. You are healthy and witty and growing up so quickly. I love watching you light up your grandparent's lives. I have never seen Grammy and Pappy so complete. You are a giant ray of sunshine to this family. As you grow, I continue to feel like the luckiest Aunt in the world. Don't tell your future siblings.. but you will always be my favorite. You are the one that showed me just how much love I have in my heart.

Can't wait to see you for your party. Thinking of you always.

Love,
Auntie K.