Showing posts with label food love. Show all posts
Showing posts with label food love. Show all posts

June 9, 2010

Picture Wednesday


I’m all about making dinner as easy as possible (YES, I do on occasion prepare recipes that require multiple steps & preparations) and tonight’s dish was no exception.  Here’s a rundown of what we used: Tostitos Multigrain Tortilla Chips, Bush’s Fiesta Grillin’ Beans, Perdue Grilled Chicken Strips, and shredded cheddar cheese.  A few minutes of baking in the oven, and voila: Fiesta Nachos!   We also added some fresh salsa and guacamole on the side .  Oh, and of course I can’t forget the most important piece – a nice, cold, refreshing Margarita (Jose Cuervo’s  mix is quite yummy).  Delish!

(I know, maybe not the healthiest meal….but it’s easy, quick & cheap – that count’s for something, right?)

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February 20, 2010

Who Doesn’t Love A Free Pretzel?

Ok, so for anyone who’s ever tasted the yummy, buttery, deliciousness that is an Auntie Anne’s pretzel, you know how unbelievably irresistible they truly are!  Am I right?  Personally, way back when I used to favor the cinnamon version, in all it’s sweet, sugary glory.  However, these days we stop by to get a treat for the peanut, and always go for the regular (sometimes unsalted) pretzel…..and boy does she love it!  So warm, so fluffy, so YUM!

Anywho, today Auntie Anne’s is offering a special promotion that I thought was too good not to share: TODAY ONLY (Sat. 2/20) they are offering FREE PRETZEL DAY from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.  That’s right, you get a FREE pretzel (either cinnamon or original, one per person).

Love it!

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February 10, 2010

Easy Honey-Mustard Chicken Wings

I’m not much of a cook, by any means, so the fact that I’m writing a post wherein I dispense a recipe is pretty funny.  But, really I had nothing to do with this anyway since it was all my hubby who cooked up this tasty dish for us last Sunday.  I just bought all the ingredients – that counts for something, right?   Anyway, these wings were truly yummy and so I thought ‘why not share it with all my bloggy peeps & tweeps’!  And the best part?  It involves a slow cooker!

You’ll need:
  • about 3lbs of chicken wings/drum sticks (fresh or frozen)
  • 1/2 cup of your favorite BBQ sauce (you can add more, depending how ‘saucy’ you like them)
  • 1/2 cup honey
  • 2 tablespoons spicy brown mustard
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 3 to 4 thin lemon slices
1. Rinse chicken parts, pat dry and sprinkle with salt & pepper.

2. Place pieces in pan and on boiler rack – broil for about 10 minutes, 4 to 5 inches from heat, turning halfway through.  Place in slow cooker when done.

3. Mix honey, BBQ sauce, mustard & garlic in small bowl (mix well)  and pour over chicken parts.  Top with lemon slices.

4.  Cover & cook on LOW 4 to 5 hours. Remove lemon slices and serve with sauce.

You can really make this recipe to your taste, depending on how you like your wings.  For example, the hubby used a spicy tabasco mustard, plus added extra garlic & some hot sauce to kick things up a notch.

We both loved how the wings turned out, and really, the whole thing was a pretty simple process!

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February 7, 2010

Holy Snow!

So, ya….it snowed around here yesterday.  Just a tad.  A little over 2 feet. No biggie.  WHA???  Seriously, we haven’t seen that much of the white stuff in a long time (thinking the Blizzard of 2003 was my last encounter with mountains of snow).  Even though I’m very much a warmer weather girl, I actually looked forward to the weekend, to being snowed in and spending lots of time chillaxing with my two peeps.  And honestly, when those first few flakes started falling Friday night as we were heading home from dinner at On The Border (OMG, have you tried their Margarita’s?? simply fabulous!), I was a bit giddy with anticipation.  And Saturday was indeed nice – we vedged,  we ate, we watched a movie, and we ate some more.  Now, two days later……uh, not so much!  Now all we’re left with is dirty snow, dirty cars, and delayed school hours cutting into my ‘Mama time’.  And the aforementioned food consumption that took place this weekend?  OOFAH….I’m actually afraid to step on the scale for fear of  looking down and seeing “Jeez woman – what did you do, eat your body weight in donuts, chocolate & cookies??”.  I’m not even joking.  I don’t know what was wrong with me.  I. COULD. NOT. STOP. EATING!  Gonna’ have to kick it into high gear at the gym this week.  And maybe lock up the pantry & the refrigerator. 

Anywho, don’t mind me.  There are still 133 days until summer.  There is another possible Nor’easter with significant snow forecasted for Tuesday/Wednesday.  A chocolate frosted donut is already calling my name & will undoubtedly be tempting me at breakfast tomorrow morning (darn you Dunkin Donuts!).  And all this makes me grumpy.


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January 13, 2010

Exercise, Eat Right & Sleep – Easy As Pie, Right?

So, I think the thing I find most annoying about being a 30-something mama, is that I’m no longer 20-something maintaining a healthy body that I can live with seems to get harder by the freekin’ minute!

Growing up, I never had to live with weight issues (thankfully!) and have always been on the skinny side from my teenage years and into my 20’s, even to now.  Of course, like everyone else, I hit that point, somewhere around 25, where things slowly started to change and that good old metabolism began to slow down.  Then, at 30, I got pregnant and had a baby, and with that bundle of joy came the almost 60 pounds of  weight gained by consuming everything that qualified as a food substance within a 20 mile radius for 9 months.  Needless to say, after that 6.5 lb baby left my belly, it was a bit of a shock to realize that this did not make much of a dent whatsoever in jump starting my weight loss & my post-baby body still required maternity pants (and would continue to do so for another 4 months!).  It took an entire year (much to my dismay) to get back to my pre-pregnancy size, but still my body has never been the same.  All the various parts that shifted around to make room for the HUMAN growing in my tummy (the whole thing always seemed very ‘Alien’-like to me) just somehow forgot where the hell they were originally located.  I mean, come on!   Never mind that my expanded hip bones decided to stay put, but why the frick  does my torso now seem to be longer??  Seriously, almost all of the shirts I wore in my previous life are now too short…weirdness!

Anywhosie, my point is that I am now at a place in life where, after entering a new decade & becoming a mama, so much of my/our time & energy is dedicated to discussing our weight and doing (or not doing) what it takes to maintain it….and really, that’s just irritating.  It seems every day, between the hubster and I, we fret over what (or what NOT) we’re eating,  and is it healthy, and dear God someone stop me from inhaling this super-size bag of french fries that is destined to go straight to my ass! 10 years ago I never gave thought to quantity or quality when it came to food – it was a downright free-for-all!  I miss those days….*sigh*.  I guess this is just the natural course of life, the way we progress from one stage of adulthood to the next.  The way our priorities and needs change when it comes to our bodies.

The good news is that about a year ago I finally figured out at least a piece of the puzzle – we joined a FABULOUS gym and I started exercising for the first time EVER!  And lo and behold, after about a month I actually started to notice a difference….I seriously looked in the mirror and was all ‘holy shit, are those muscles I see when I flex my arms?’.  And then as time went by, it all became a natural part of my weekly routine and then I did something I hadn’t done in a long time – I wore a bikini (all summer long)!  Woohoo, thanks Body Pump class (which totally rocks & brings results fast)!  I can now honestly say I feel & look better at 34 than I did at 24…......and I think that’s pretty darn cool, if I say so myself :) Of course, sometimes it’s just too easy to be lazy and fall out of sorts with my routine.  Especially right now, when I totally need to get my tushie in gear again to work off those gazillion carb-loaded sweets I ate over the holidays (I swear, every Christmas it’s like I’ve never eaten a sugar cookie before, that’s how fast I inhale them & every other chocolate confection that comes my way!).  BUT, I know that if I get back on track  it won’t be long until I’m right back to where I want to be.  I know I can do it!

Now, if I could just figure out how to do something about that lack of sleep that comes with the whole parenthood thing…..yeah, yeah -  not gonna’ happen!

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September 23, 2009

A Few Of My Favorite Things

I’m in a giving mood……so, for those living in the Southeastern PA suburban Philly area, I thought I’d dish out some blog love and share a few places that make my little corner of the world a bit easier to enjoy.

1. Limoncello Restaurant – It’s no secret that the hubby and I always appreciate great Italian food, and that is exactly what you’ll find at this little gem located in downtown West Chester.  Every item on their menu is absolutely delish, and the rustic & charming dining room/bar area provides for a great atmosphere, even when just stopping in for drinks.  And who knows, you just might run into Cole Hamels (pitcher for the Phillies) there, who’s been known to stop in from time to time.

2. Salon 926 – My FABULOUS hairdresser!   As I’m sure most ladies who care an ounce about their hair will agree, finding someone who will give you a great cut that you actually like & can re-create is like finding the holy grail…it’s certainly not easy, and once you do, you will travel limitless miles to get there.  Not only do I get stopped at least once a week by someone who compliments  me on my hair & wants to know where I go, but Kerri (who owns the salon) was the only stylist EVER to have carried me through the pains of growing out a pixie cut with relative ease, simply because she’s that good (now if that isn’t an indication of a talented coiffeur, then I don’t know what is)!  Of course, the rest of her staff is just as phenomenal!

3. ACAC Fitness Center  -  Trust me when I tell you that once you enter this place, you will never want to look at another gym ever again.  We spend most mornings there, and it has become an essential part of my (social) life.  Besides the obvious exercise classes (which include body pump, boxing, kettle bell, cycling,  yoga & pilates), cardio and weight training equipment, what really sold us were the extra perks……1. the outdoor waterpark & activity pool that can be used year round 2. the cafe where you can enjoy smoothies, salads, paninis, and lattes 3. the spa (think massages and facials) 4. the Kids Zone, where children are not just simply thrown into a day care area…but where, under structured supervision, they can do arts & crafts, play games & run around in a large arena,   jump on a moonbounce, or maybe even cook pancakes!  I gotta’ say, getting into shape is a heck of a lot easier when you not only enjoy the classes, but get to relax with coffee & friends afterward.

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