lesson # 17: don't by glass topped furniture

(okay, doesn't look so bad here...maybe it's really is just me. bummer)

Don't be fooled.  Yes, mid-way through the full day ikea trip, which undoubtedly accompanies any big move, you'll be tired.  Trapped in the maze of furniture, trying to keep track of call numbers and warehouse locations, you eyes will glaze over.  You will loose track of your end goal, an adorable yet easy home decor.  And, don't get me wrong, the glass topped coffee table, bathroom unit, kitchen tables look super classy.  Fun, with a hint of sophistication.  But don't do it.  

See, only a few months ago, I found myself wandering the sample tables.  Wood, metal, white, black, purple.  Short, tall. Round, square, rectangle. With drawers, without drawers.  Even full coffee/end table matching sets.  So many choices, and what did I end up with?  A well-crafted white rectangular coffee table, with bottom shelf and pretty glass top.  It seemed perfect.  In the showroom it stood about among all the others.  I could practically see it in the center of the living room.  Maybe the box was a bit heavy, that's really just an issue from store to car, car to home.  

...until we started actually using it.  Now, maybe this lesson doesn't apply to everyone.  For instance, if you enjoy cleaning daily, or if you eat over the sink and just look at your coffee table. But for us messy couch-eaters, us tv-watching crafters, us lotion-wearing, nail-painting, living in the living room masses, the glass table top just plain sucks.  I clean the darn thing a few times a week, and still, as the light from the front windows shifts, MORE smudges.  I apparently don't know how to clean a table, or this particular table is out to get me.  maybe both. 

Trust me.  You've been warned.  

lesson # 16: how to fake a recipe; or pissing off peta*

No body knows you better than your family, especially a sister.  From diapers to dating, a sister see it all.  The triumphs and the failures.  The mood swings, the pimples, the heartbreaks and the break ups.  Sisters are a constant source of encouragement when you're sad, and a steady source of motivation when you're just being plain old lazy.  Like this past week.  I haven't posted anything.  So what happens?  Little sister steps up to give me a good old kick in the butt.  She wrote an awesome post, which I have so generously added below.  Or is she generous for doing my job for me?  Eh, see sisters are love and frustration.  And support.  Don't have an adorable little sister to annoy and adore you?  Here, borrow mine, and enjoy Jillian's deliciously easy meat-lover's recipes:

***

So, I hate Mayo. Not just Hellmann's Mayonnaise, but also Miracle Whip.  This is unlike my sister, Rachel, who loves mayo.  Since a lot of recipes include Mayonnaise, I decided to find a substitute.  That way, I could still enjoy any amazing recipes I find that include mayo.  

Backed Taco Chicken is one of my favorite recipes because it's under 200 calories and incredibly easy!  I substitute the 1/4 cup mayo for 1/4 cup light ranch dressing.  Now, yes, Rachel loves mayo, but she loves ranch even more, so she might like my recipe better if she wasn't a vegetarian.  I have found that almost any recipe including Mayo can most likely be swapped for ranch, including Tuna Salad.  I also play around a lot with switching up meats, such as steak instead of pork, or sometimes I will combine them, like making a dish with steak and chicken.  Also, I'm a big fan of adding veggies that I like, or taking out the ones I don't.  Don't be shy to mix it up!

        Baked Taco Chicken 

• 1/4 cup mayonnaise
• 1 1/2 - 2 tablespoons finely crushed tortilla chips
• 2 teaspoons taco seasoning mix
• 2 tablespoons shredded Cheddar cheese
• 4 boneless skinless chicken breast halves
• Salsa
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line a small shallow baking pan with heavy foil. Spray with nonstick spray.
• Place breasts on foil.
• In a small bowl, stir together mayonnaise and taco seasoning mix. Spread over chicken. Sprinkle chips over, pressing them in lightly. Sprinkle with cheese.
• Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until cooked through.
• Spoon salsa across the top. Serve with additional salsa.

Another trick that I have learned while trying to impress my boyfriend with my cooking skills is making things we had out at a happy hour.  Happy hour foods are the best ones to make at home because they are the easiest.  The most successful dish so far has been Bacon Wrapped Dates. (Once again, I'm sorry it's not a Vegetarian dish, Rachel.)   My man and I had these one night and he loved them. A week or so later, I decided to try them at home.  They were a big hit!  So, if your man loves bacon as much as mine, you'll be sure to impress him with these. Or you can try his other favorite dish I have made him, Bacon Wrapped Steak.  The trick to making these is putting cheese between the bacon and the steak, and broiling the meat for about 10-20 minutes, depending on how thick the steaks are.  He'll love you for it!

         Bacon Wrapped Dates

• 1 (8 ounce) package pitted dates
• 10 ounces Bleu cheese, crumbled
• 1 pound sliced bacon, quartered
• Preheat the broiler.
• Slice open an end of the date, and stuff each with cheese. Wrap each date with a quarter of a bacon slice, and secure bacon with toothpicks.
• Arrange wrapped dates on a medium baking sheet, and broil 15 minutes in the preheated oven, turning once, until bacon is evenly browned.

The thing I have found to be true of cooking, is that it can be FUN!  Whether it is cooking with the boy, making food for the week ahead of time, or experimenting with new things (just don't make too much the first time around), have fun with it! 

-Post by Jillian Pfennig

*I, Rachel, should take this opportunity to mention that I do, indeed, support PETA by not eating bloody animal corpse.  So, no disrespect intended to such an influential organization.  But if I did eat meat, you can bet I'd be trying these fun ideas by little sister.  

lesson # 15: there is always something new to learn

wheelbarrow: a small hand-propelled vehicle with one wheel, usually used in gardening and yard work

wheelbarrel: not a thing

who knew?

not me, i spent a good ten minutes this weekend arguing for the wrong word.  but, in the age of the internet and instant information, i was forced to realize i was wrong.  and thus, still learning new things every day.  

know you know.