Fish Food

Holy Moses.  So much has been going on over here!  I feel like I am just now catching my breath after these last few weeks.  

One of the new things is that Hubs and I are TRYING to eat healthier.  We are pathetic when it comes to healthy eating, because we are so picky about what we eat.  It has been a huge challenge since we got married...almost a year ago!!  

We started simple...replacing spaghetti noodles with spaghetti squash.  It's amazing...try it!  Next, we decided to try fish.  This was a HUGE step for us.  I have NEVER eaten fish before...I don't even like THINKING about fish.  *Shudder*  And Hubs, is VERY particular when it comes to eating fish.  

Now, because this was a first for us, we made a few mistakes.  Mistake #1:  We bought frozen, already seasoned, fish from Target.  I have no idea if frozen fish is ever good, but it is most certainly the wrong place to start if you're a first-timer.  Mistake #2:  We ate it.  We both kind of thought we shouldn't be doing the frozen fish thing, but our lazy selves did it anyway.  Fast forward to us scarfing down Izzo's, while barely touched fish (we each took one bite) sat on plates next to the queso.

Tragedy.  This was honestly no surprise to us.  The biggest surprise to us was that we actually attempted to be "healthy" and eat the fish.  Izzo's wasn't just our back-up plan, it was our reward for trying.  Another tragedy.  Who thinks like this?!

But alas, a breakthrough in the fish eating world!  Hub's good friend, our new "culinary expert", gave us a fool-proof fish recipe.  


Baked Tilapia:
Fresh Tilapia...we got ours from Whole Foods (super cheap).
Citrus Pepper...also from Whole Foods.
Hubs soaked the fish in milk for a little while...no idea if this is necessary, but with our fish history we weren't taking chances!  He then rinsed the fish, sprayed each side with cooking spray, sprinkled Citrus Pepper on both sides and broiled it in a pan for 8 minutes.  


I wish there was a video of how fast I ate dinner that night.  The fish was delicious and we are hooked!  It's probably the easiest thing in history to cook and it's so good.  

Sorry there are no pictures, I literally ate it THAT fast.

Spaghetti Squash

I never (ever) thought I would be that person posting about healthy food alternatives.  I have a very limited food palette...aka I eat like a very picky child.  Plus, I can't cook.  Unless, of course, you're a hungry child...then I have you covered!

So, apparently the new "IT" thing is spaghetti squash.  Actually, I'm almost positive that I'm just real real late to the healthy food party.  But it's all I've been hearing about lately and there are tons of recipes for it online, so I gave in and tried it.

HOLY SQUASH.  

Hubs actually cooked this meal, but I found the recipe.  So, really I made this happen.

Neither one of us had ever tried spaghetti squash and we were both AMAZED by how good it was.  Seriously, if I can EAT it and ENJOY it...you know it's good!

Skinny Spaghetti Squash Alfredo

Original recipe

We loooooved it, but I was too full to finish mine!  Healthy AND it fills you up!  WIN.

Birthday Wrap-up

This past weekend was my 28th (AAAHHHHHHH!!!) birthday.  I was fortunate enough to celebrate for two whole days...one with Hubs and one with the girls...so much fun!  

I won't go into a play-by-play of events, but here are two of my favorite things from my birthday.

1.  On Friday (my actual birthday), after a fun afternoon of doing all my favorite things, Hubs took me out to dinner.  We decided to eat somewhere new (to us) and our decision was DiGiulio Brothers.  Y'ALL...OH MY STARS.  I have no idea why it took us this long to eat at such a phenomenal restaurant.  Seriously, GO.  NOW.


2.  This.

My new beach bag/summer tote...Isn't it pretty?!  I pointed to this from across the store once on a grocery shopping trip to Target when Hubs was with me.  And then he went online and ordered it.  And surprised me with it when I woke up on my birthday.  MAJOR points for Hubs...I love it when he is secretly paying attention!!

So far, 28 isn't so bad...I just HATE the fact that it's SO close to 30.  (Dying a little...)


ANNNND I'm just a little sad that no one made me this......

http://www.theendlessmeal.com/birthday-cake-popcorn/

Guess there's always next year.  Hint, Hint.

Homemade Pancakes

I have many weaknesses and one of them is breakfast foods, particularly pancakes.  But only "homemade" pancakes that my dad makes.  It was a Sunday morning tradition growing up and I still get them every time I visit my parents in Colorado.  My dad uses a mix and adds milk, egg(s) and oil.  They are FAR more delicious than the mixes you only add water too...BARF or nasty old IHOP...double BARF.

I hurt my foot a month ago and had to spend a lot of time in bed the first few days.  Hubs was AH-MAZING and completely took care of me 110%!  That first weekend after hurting my foot, Hubs surprised me with breakfast in bed, flowers and a sweet card.  He is aware of my pancake "situation" and wanted to do his best to recreate my dad's pancakes.  But Hubs thought my dad actually made them from scratch and so he set out to do the same.

TOUCHDOWN. MATCHPOINT. CHECKMATE. HOMERUN.  (Do those even mean the same thing or make sense here?!)

Hubs completely surprised me by making the pancakes 100% from scratch and I surprised him by telling him my dad "cheats" with a mix.

The pancakes are sensational and he made them again yesterday.  God, I love this man!  I don't even care if they make me fat or anything.  I genuinely love that Hubs tried so hard to do something he knows I love and I enjoy every single second eating his delicious pancakes.

Sorry, dad, but Hubs is now right up there with you on the pancakes.  Now, if only I could master Mrs. Bunny's spaghetti or baked chicken without any help!

P.s...Hubs did have a little help from Martha and her pancake recipe...
http://www.marthastewart.com/338185/basic-pancakes

Easter Cupcakes

It's almost Easter, so I thought I would share these cupcakes I made over a year ago for my MIL (Mrs. Bunny)'s birthday party.  They were a huge hit at the party and I am still amazed at how cute they turned out!

I don't remember all the details of what I did since it was so long ago.  It was the first time I ever made sugar cookies and icing from scratch and did the "flooding" technique when icing the cookies.  It was intimidating at first, but really cool and EASY.  I really should start doing it more!

I put two toothpicks in each cookie (pair of ears) before baking them...to help secure them in each cupcake.

Green cupcake wrappers (sitting in grass) and white pom-pom tails for extra detail.

I LOVE how it looks like it has hair!

This was my first attempt (no time for practice), so I'm sure I could have made it look more polished had I had time for practice.  However, I still think they are just adorable!  (Except for the horrible lighting in my kitchen!)

Here is a good tutorial on icing cookies:

http://www.sweetsugarbelle.com/2011/07/outlining-and-filling-cookies-with-royal-icing/

Not Your Typical Greeting Cards

One day, on Pinterest (shocker, I know!), I ran across these fun cards and I just think they're the best!  She has them for all occasions, but here are a couple of my favorites...

Hahahaha...I just giggle every time.  I wish I would have had the bridesmaid ones for my wedding!  I mean, WHO wouldn't laugh out loud when they opened one of these!  Check out Julie Ann Art on Etsy.  

Girls' Night IN

Last week, while I was laid up and refusing to go out in the rain, I decided I needed a girls' night IN.  I mean, we all know I was not going ANYWHERE in the rain that was forecasted (and occurred) this past weekend.  So, with less than a week's notice, I texted the girls and threw together some stuff for a game night at home.  With it being so last minute, some of the girls already had plans, but it turned out to be a great time anyway!

I decided to make a few little snacks for the girls and they turned out so yummy.  Nothing fancy, but I'm really impressing myself in the kitchen lately!  I made chocolate covered pretzels, white queso, and some baked cauliflower (I'll do a post on that later!).  We devoured almost everything and ended up only playing one game, due to all of the catching-up that we had to do!

It was a great night that I wish happened more often!  Here are a few pics from Saturday night. 

                           

Rachel Ray who?

There really must be a first time for everything.  Even me and cooking.  

On Sunday, Hubs & I decided to expand our culinary experiences, because we basically just rotate the same 3 or 4 dishes every night for dinner.  Me, being the culinary chef mediocre popcorn-maker that I am, I wasn't exactly excited about the prospect of trying something out of my comfort zone.  (My comfort zone = popcorn, tacos, spaghetti & steamed veggies.)  However, since I am a newlywed (I guess that's the reason) I decided to jump in with both feet and try making one of the many dishes that I have pinned on Pinterest.

So, after a heinous shopping trip on Sunday afternoon (what were we thinking?!) to gather ingredients, I spent the rest of the day relaxing.  I mean, I had to  gear up for my big cooking debut the next night (tonight).  

Y'all.  I put on an apron.  I chopped cilantro.  I followed directions to a recipe that required more than two steps.  Hello, my name is Rachel Ray...and my cooking days are over.   Seriously.  I'm exhausted.  
But I am extremely proud of myself, because...
1.  I followed through with it. 
2.  Mine looked like the pictures, every step of the way!
3.  It turned out FREAKING AWESOME.  Seriously delicious.  (Hubs & I both were both a little worried.)

Here's the recipe I made tonight that everyone should try!  If I can do it then so can your toddler you.
http://skinnymom.com/2012/05/11/skinny-sour-cream-enchiladas/