I don't know what triggered my craving for cookies this week, but I decided to walk up to the grocery store today to get the ingredients I needed to make a batch of chocolate chip cookies (Grandmas recipe). If you want it, contact me and I am more than happy to give it to you. While I feel a little guilty every time I stuff one into my mouth given how dedicated I have been to eating healthy the last few weeks and working out at the gym, I think I deserve to just be bad this weekend. Order will be restored come Monday.
Decided to make my cheese enchiladas. The recipe is top secret, so don't even ask me for it. You may be able to coax it out of me with some help from Benjamin Franklin though.
Decided to break in my Calphalon classic nonstick bakeware springform pan that Michael got me as a housewarming gift off my Amazon wishlist and make an Oreo cheesecake. It's quite heavenly and I am having an extremely hard time from not wanting to just devour the entire thing in one sitting. If you would like to try making it yourself, you can find the recipe here. Although I did not top it off with a dollop of whip cream as I did not have any, I think it would be a nice finishing touch, and will definitely do it in the event that I make it again.
The continual decrease in freelance work (See "The Ups and Downs, The Twists and Turns"), the seizure (See "The Seizure" and "Doctor, Doctor give me the news"), and the upcoming move (See "Tick tock tick tock tick tock"), has certainly put a strain on my finances as of late. While I'm fortunate that I've not yet had to resort to desperate measures to make ends meet, I find myself worrying more and more that I may have to if something doesn’t change soon. Obviously paying the bills supersedes buying things on my list I would like to get for the new apartment. I'm quite determined to do both though even if it means at least 85 days of misery. Here’s a list of things I've already done or intend to do in order to make it happen.
Canceled my Blockbuster Online subscription: I enjoy watching movies, but I have not enjoyed doing so as much since I moved here, so I canceled it. I will now be saving $12.98 a month. I'm planning on eventually utilizing Redbox, but not until after the move at the earliest.
Selling my unused possessions on Craigslist and eBay: So far I've made $318 and hope to double that by week’s end (See "Gimme Your Wad" for more details).
Canceled my Go Daddy hosting plan: Since my sister and I both wanted hosting for our professional websites, I agreed to split a plan with her. She has never paid me for her half and I no longer want hosting, so I canceled it. I will now be saving $4.99 a month.
Froze my tanning membership: My inability to drive until I’ve been seizure free for six months has made having a membership a waste of $25.95 a month. Although I could have canceled it, I decided to freeze until after the move at the earliest. It costs $5.00 a month and accumulates as store credit. I will now be saving $20.95 a month. In the meantime I have been running shirtless, which yields tan lines, but a adequate alternative for the time being.
Getting rid of my car: My inability to drive until I’ve been seizure free for six months has made having a car a waste of $246.88 a month. I think turning it in when the lease is up on July 26, 2009 and walking and/or utilizing public transit to get to my destinations instead is the smartest decision I can make given my current situation. I made my final payment on June 26, 2009 and all that is left to pay is a $250 disposal fee. I will soon be saving $246.88 a month in addition to bi-annual insurance payments of approximately $382.50 (See "Think Progressive"), and a variable amount in gas and other maintenance expenses. I'm planning on eventually getting a car again, but not until October 5, 2009 at the earliest and only if I have secured a full time job.
Ingredients ■ 1 1/2 c. flour ■ 2 tsp. baking powder ■ 1/2 tsp. salt ■ 1 tsp. sugar ■ 1/3 c. melted butter or margarin ■ 1 c. milk ■ 2 eggs ■ 1 1/2 tsp. butter flavoring
Directions: Stir together dry ingredients adding melted butter. Add milk alternately with beaten eggs. Bake in preheated waffle iron. Bake until golden brown. Serve and enjoy.
I apologize in advance if this post makes anyone hungry, but if you are in the need for a new recipe might I suggest this one for Cheddar Chicken & Rice Skillet. It's one of my favorites!
... and 2 Screwdrivers are what got me drunk this weekend. I had a blast in the gayborhood though, so it was well worth it... until I woke up the morning after.
Remember last month when I told ya’ll how embarrassed I was when my Grandma threw a fit about her Cosmo Martini not being made properly at the restaurant we went to the night before my graduation? Well in order to use up all of my vodka I decided to make some Cosmo Martinis (using her recipe of course) and thought this would be the perfect opportunity to share it with ya’ll. Cheers!
Ingredients: 1 oz Vodka 1 oz triple sec 3/4 oz fresh squeezed lime juice 1 1/2 oz cranberry juice
Alright folks. I got my stainless steel straight cocktail shaker from CB2 the other day so I hit up the liquor store today and picked up some stuff to make some Bomb Pop Martinis tonight. Here is the recipe if anyone wants to make some.
Ingredients: 1 oz. Blue Island Pucker 2 oz Bacardi Razz Splash of Sweet & Sour Splash of Sprite Procedure: Shake, strain, and add grenadine.
Tried out another new recipe today called Bruschetta Chicken Skillet that was featured in my Kraft Food and Family magazine. It was pretty darn tastey (although probably not as good as that cheeseburger from the other day), but it is definitely something I would make again.
As you may know I have a pretty busy day on Tuesday with classes starting at 11:00am and not ending until 7:35pm, so by the time I am done with my last class I am exhausted and really have no desire to prepare one of my oh so scrumptious meals. With that being said, I have decided to declare Tuesday as Red Robin Tuesday. After I get done with my last class I am going to call in an order for a Red Robin Bacon Cheeseburger and pick it up on my way home from class. I had never eaten at a Red Robin until this past December, but let me tell you what, their bacon cheeseburger is mouthwatering, and for the next 16 weeks my mouth will be watering every Tuesday. Yum yum!
Went to P.F. Changs today with my friend David and Robert (sorry I couldn't resist), and got the cashew chicken dish. Even though I have tried to go out of my comfort zone and try out other dishes, which have included the crispy honey chicken and the sweet and sour chicken, I just can't seem to get the courage to try anything else.
