Thursday = Breakfast for Dinner Day.

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.

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

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

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

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!

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

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