Back to Reality

Break is over. Time to get back to all that fancy book learning. Part of me is really excited. Part of me is sick of trying to balance school with a job I don't even like most days. Such as life right? Baking and Pastry here I come. If I can find my camera maybe I'll post pics of what we make? Cool? I think so.
I love you for stopping by...Also Happy New Year

From my Kitchen Friday: Meatballs and Blasphemy

For the longest time I have had one philosophy... well actually I have a few but for the purpose of this post I have one. And it is this: Soup is NOT filling. It's just not. Seriously who gets full from soup? No one, that's who. Well until last night that is. I went against my self and made a filling soup.

Inspiration: I wanted chicken soup but not the normal kind. To the fridge I went.

Ingredients:

• 1lb ground chicken
• 1 egg slightly beaten
• 3 tbsp Bread crumbs
• salt
• pepper
• onion powder 
• garlic powder
• paprika
• 2 tbsp worcestershire sauce
• Italian seasons
• 1 bag frozen Cheese tortellini
• Frozen Soup Veggies
• Beef Broth
• Chicken Broth
• 1tbsp butter
• 1 tbsp olive oil

* Did you catch it? We're making meat balls people. Let's get this party started

Directions:

1. In a large bowl mix ground chicken, egg, bread crumbs , worcestershire sauce, and other seasonings. Mix gently with your hands but don't over do it. Otherwise they get tough
2. Form meatballs fairly small, like golfball size and set aside (should make at least 20)
3. In a decent size pot heat half a box (I use the boxed kind) of chicken broth and half a box of beef broth. If you're using cans use two of each. Add your frozen vegetables. Bring to a boil over medium heat.
4. Season broth with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. Once the pot is boiling add your cheese tortellini
5.  In a skillet heat butter and olive oil. When the pan is hot add your meat balls in batches of five. Brown on one side for three minutes then flip and let them brown on the other side. Once each batch is done transfer meatballs into the pot.
6. Once all the meatballs are in the pot turn your heat to low and cover. Simmer for 20 minutes.
7. Enjoy :)

What.? I even have pictures this time

So good

paired with breadsticks 

Notes:

• This time around there weren't any tense moments
• Feel free to use fresh veggies
• If you rather not use the beef broth just double up on chicken broth

From my Kitchen Friday: Lunch Edition

So I usually don't eat much in the daytime. Which is a problem that I'm working on. If you've come across my blog before then you know that a while back I was on weight watchers. (I recently renewed my subscription by the way) So I wanted to share with you a recipe I used to eat all the time for lunch.

Inspiration: Learning not to wait until like 6 to eat something.

Ingredients:

• 1 whole wheat tortilla
• 1 serving of your favorite brand turkey lunch meat
• 2 strips turkey bacon cooked crisp
• 1 tbsp light mayo
• 1/4 cup reduced fat Mexican cheese
• barbecue sauce (use how ever much you like)
• 1 handful fresh baby spinach ( I never really measured)

Directions:

1. Stir mayo with your favorite barbecue sauce and spread onto your tortilla
2. Press spinach into mayo spread
3. Top with Turkey
4. Break up your bacon just a little and sprinkle your cheese
5. Roll and enjoy

Notes:

• Usually I paired this with veggie chips, strawberries and a diet iced tea. It's an amazing filling luch
• Feel free to make substitutions and tell me about it

From my Kitchen Friday: Mocha Brownies

Oh. My. God. Post 100. I'm sorry this is so late. I decided I was going to take a short nap after I got off work. It turned out not to be so short. Anyway, For such a momentous occasion I decided my time will best be spent talking about chocolate.

Inspiration: I really wanted a java chip frappucino today, which I couldn't go get because I was stuck at home. So I really needed a chocolate/coffee something...anything really

Ingredients:

• Your favorite boxed brownie mix or use whatever your go to scratch recipe like this one.
• 1 cup heavy whipping cream
• 2 packets instant expresso powder ( If you don't have packets teaspoons will suffice. I'd use four but it's up to you)
• 1/4 cup of powdered sugar
• Mini chocolate chips (optional)

Directions:

1. If you're using a mix prepare following provided instructions...same goes for the scratch recipe just add the expresso (2 tsp) at the very end.
2. While brownies are baking pour heavy cream in a clean bowl and whip with remaining powdered sugar an expresso .
3. When brownies are completely cooled top with whipped cream and mini chocolate chips
4. Enjoy :)

Notes:

• For presentation I bake mine in cupcake liners so everyone has the same amount of brownie. Portion control is important folks
• There will be a tense moment when you think the whipped cream won't whip...or that you've done something wrong. Give it some time . You'll be fine. If the whipping cream doesn't work for you...feel free to use Cool Whip. No judgement here

I send you love from my kitchen. Happy Friday

From my Kitchen Friday: Black Bean Chicken Chilli

Hey lovely people,

It's the end of the week and time for the first installment of FMK Friday. Sadly I won't have pictures taken by me this time around because I worked all week...actually I have to work later but I am committed to this. And I'm going to prove it.

Inspiration: The White Bean Chicken Chilli from Olga's Kitchen. Pair that up with a spinach pie and you have the  best lunch on the planet.

Tweaked because: I'm a rebel and I do what I want. Personally I prefer black beans over white beans but you can use whatever you like.

Ingredients:

• Chicken Breasts (I use 3) diced
• Salt
• Pepper (red and black)
• Cumin
• Chilli Powder
• Garlic powder
• Bacon (3 strips...plus 1 for snacking)
• Corn (1 can or small bag frozen)
• Black Beans (1 can)
• 3 pepper and onion blend (found in the frozen food section.)
• Jalapenos *optional*
• Reduced Fat Mexican shredded cheese
• Tortilla Chips *optional*

The best thing about this recipe is that it's a one pot thing. You just  throw it into a pot and let it all go. Usually when I make it I end up feeding four or five people depending on their appetites. Plus it doesn't take long to cook however I will say the longer it simmers the better and it's phenomenal on the second day.

Directions:
*This dish is cooked on medium heat at all times. Unless specified*

1. Brown bacon in the bottom of pot. Remove when cooked through leaving drippings at the bottom
2. Season raw chicken breast with salt, pepper, and cumin then drop it into the pot. We're seasoning in layers so don't be too heavy handed at this point. Stir
3. When chicken is almost completely cooked through add peppers and onions. Season with all aforementioned seasonings. stir.
4. When peppers soften add your corn. Season and stir
5. Add black beans (liquid and all). Season and stir
6. Cover pot and let simmer on low for 15-20 minutes.
7. Lift cover and 1/4 cup of reduced fat cheese and stir.
8. *Once cheese is completely melted add jalapenos (I used pickled )
9. Remove pot from heat and add your reserved bacon (crumble it in)
10. Serve with tortilla chips and a dollop of reduced fat sour cream *optional*

This recipe is always a hit at my house and you don't have to spend all day at the stove. (Even though I love doing that) Try it out and see how it works for you. Send some pics. Tell me your ideas. I send love from kitchen. Have a great weekend

CM 107

Hello all! I hope you had a great weekend. Mine was pretty good! Great actually. With minor dashes of irritation of course. This is my life. It is to be expected. I'll post thoroughly on my weekend in a day or two. I have a bunch of homework that I neglected (sue me it was my birthday) And a Food and Culture test in 45 minutes. EEEP! Wish me luck.!

Ta for now.

Starting Something New

So, as all three of my readers know...I love food. Eating, Cooking, Reading, Writing. If it has to do with food then I'm all for it. So bearing that in mind I have decided to start a food blog. I want to share my recipes with the world. The successful experiments and the not so successful ones. I'm still going to keep up with my Tips Tidbits and Shiny Stuff but this way it won't just be a featurette. I'm giving in to my obsession and I'm excited about it. I haven't figured out a name or what it it's going to look like but it is definitely coming soon. *Dorky Happy Dance*


Oh and on a totally unrelated note. I'm handing over the reigns of this crazy thing. At least for a post anyway. The lovely Sunshine is going to guest edit for me so look for that. She's totally quirky and awesome and I love her so I'm going to share her with you...Look at me being all nice and what not...



XOXO, Gossip Girl..... (Hahahaha I've always wanted to do that :) )

*Bonus Feature* Tips, Tidbits and Shiny Stuff Part II: It keeps getting better

Merry meet readers. I'm back with the tips, the tidbits and the shiny stuff. Strap yourself in and enjoy the ride because this time I have a lot to say. Ah hell I always have a lot to say. I could go on and on but let's move on shall we?(Ten bucks to who can tell me where I got that from)

Lets talk about Movies.!!!!

As you probably already know, I LOVE movies. If you can only say one thing about me to anyone, It'll be that I watch a lot of movies. Surprisingly enough I thoroughly HATED my intro to film class...go figure. The following movies will be ones that probably everyone in the entire world has already seen but I'm going to write about them anyway.

First up is... Beastly

Beastly is quite obviously a modern retelling of Beauty and the Beast. We all know the story...and probably still have the VHS gathering dust in a closet or in a basement somewhere. However this does deviate from your normal story. Instead of being told from the view of the girl it is told from the view of the "Beast". That I believe is to be commended. This movie is based on a book of the same name by Alex Flinn. Which of course I -being the bookworm and broke college student that i am- bought from Walmart for seven  dollars and read in a day and a half.

Ta Dah.! Book cover

Honestly I enjoyed the book more but I did enjoy the movie. It stars Vanessa Hudgens, Alex Pettyfer, Neil Patrick Harris and Mary-Kate Olsen. Of the entire cast I was most surprised to see Miss Olsen. It was a major departure from every single thing I have ever seen her in. She had some bitching wardrobe though. The movie left out a lot of elements that made me like the book in the first place and added some stuff that didn't make a shit lick of sense in my opinion. But that doesn't really subtract from the film. Although, I think the movie would have impacted me more if I was a doe-eyed 12 year old who still believed in romance and all that jazz. It was cute but I don't think anyone should be that pressed about seeing it.

Rating: 3 

And the next batter up is...Red Riding Hood

Red Riding Hood is the latest effort from Twilight director Catherine Hardwicke. It stars Amanda Seyfried who I have loved since her turn as Lily Kane in one of most under appreciated shows ever Veronica Mars. Like Beastly this is a modern retelling of a story we grew up with. Of course in it's origins Little Red Riding Hood is dark in it's own right. Seriously check these out . Anyway this movie pleasantly surprised me. It was really good. It showed how paranoia could make people do crazy things. Given any reason, humans can and will turn on each other. 

One of the coolest book covers I've seen in a while

Also in the same vain as Beastly, Red Riding Hood has a book that goes along with it. However instead of the movie being based on the book, the book is based on the movie. If you haven't seen it yet I do recommend that you read at least the first three chapters before you watch it as it does clear some things up that weren't addressed in the film. Also whatever theory you have about the identity of the wolf is probably wrong. Just thought I'd put that out there. What surprised me most was Billy Burke's performance. You may or may not know him as Charlie Swan from the Twilight series. I don't think I'll be able to look at him the same way.  Cesaire ( who he plays in the film) is a big departure from Charlie. I commend the guy for his performance. This movie definitely deserves more credit than it has received. I definitely plan on buying it when it comes out on DVD.

Rating: 3.75

Yes we have more ladies and gentleman. Next up is...Sucker Punch

Soooo much hotness

Have I mentioned how nice it is to see Vanessa Hudgens in movies that don't include singing or Zac Efron? It's really a beautiful thing. A beautiful...scantily clad...weapon toting thing. Ahhhh. I'm getting off track here. 

This movie stars Emily Browning, Abbie Cornish, Vanessa Hudgens, and Jena Malone. Oh and other hot girl who's name I forget at the moment. A girl (Browning) is put into a mental institution by her dick of a step father after her mother dies and he hurts her little sister. I myself think it is totally defensible to attack the son of a bitch who attacks your sibling. But that's me. So her and the other girls that she meets while there hatch a plan to get the fuck out of that creepy place.

I can't really say much more about it because I make a conscious effort not to do spoilers. The best performances in the movie were those of  Jena Malone and Carla Gugino. This movie was panned by critics but I think it was amazing. The effects were great and on top of that it isn't based off of a book. In this day and age that is rare

Rating: 4.5

Rounding out this line up is...I am Number Four 

Making his second appearance in this post is Alex Pettyfer

For all you Glee lovers out there Dianna Agron is in the film. And for those of us who enjoy Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Luke is in it. Feel free to hate him. This film was thoroughly amusing. It made me want a Chimera. Watch this one kiddies.

Rating: 4

And we have concluded the movie section of this post. Give yourself a round of applause ladies and gents. Lets move on to some thing else I love. FOOD.!

I want to talk about zeppole. Seriously it is fantastic. And it's simple to make to boot. All you need is

• butter
• flour
• eggs
• cinnamon 
• sugar and...
• water

Put them all together and this is what you get

Seeing as I can't remember the recipe off of the top of my head I'm going to link you to the lovely Giada De Laurentiis's recipe. I've made these 4 times and each time I only got like three before whoever was in my house descended upon them and only left me a small pile of cinnamon sugar

This dandruff looking pile is all I get for my efforts

Let me know how it works for you.

And you have made it to the end. It's time to check out the shiny stuff. Now I have been visiting this site religiously lately. Perhaps it is due to the fact that I need something to laugh at now that I have sent my facebook page to the internet graveyard. No matter the reason. I present to you the hilariously informative CRACKED. 

Okay what are you still looking at this for. Go try all this stuff out. NOW. GO! SHOO! Of course...check out the song first. Your regularly scheduled rants and stuff shall return when someone new pisses me off.

*Bonus Feature* Tips, Tidbits and Shiny Stuff

Yes I'm supposed to be posting about other thing. Yes I will post other things. However there are other things
I wish to share with you. Think of this like the random stuff they put at the end of DVDS. Except without the annoying trailers of movies you have either already seen or have no intention of seeing...

Speaking of movies...

I've watched a lot of random movies lately. This can be directly attributed to the fact that I am an insomniac. So while the rest of the world is tucked safely in their beds I am perusing the Comcast movie channels for something that isn't porn. And it's a lot harder than you think. One time I thought The Devil Wears Prada was on. I got all excited (Anne Hathaway and Merryl Streep = winning combination)  and quickly turned to the channel. Imagine my surprise when I figured out it was actually The Devil Wears Nada....

So I've found two movies in my insomnia fueled search that I think you should know about.  The first is Women in Trouble

This movie stars Carla Gugino (yeah the mom from Spy Kids),  Emanuelle Chriqui, and the totally adorable Isabella Gutierrez. It's the story of 10 women...well 9 women and one girl who's lives all intersect on this one hectic day. There's a pregnant porn star (Gugino) a clueless therapist, a wiccan child who smokes imaginary cigarettes and a Canadian masseuse among others. At points it was campy and looked like it was shot on the fly (which it was). But I think that was part of the charm of the film. It wasn't highly stylized or stereotypical. It wasn't a romance. Women in Trouble is a comedy led by a  female cast which is really rare. I don't want to give any of the plot away. But I will say that watching Carla Gugino and Connie Britton divulge life secrets in their underwear while stuck on an elevator was a definite plus. It is definitely worth the time to watch...There's going to be a sequel too which I'm really excited about so I say check it out. If I had to rate it...I'd give it 4.5 stars.(I wish it was longer)

The second movie I want to tell you about is The Chumscrubber 

This movie stars Camilla Belle, Glenn Close, Justin Chatwin and a bunch of other people that I've seen before but don't know their names. Ms. Perky from 10 Things I Hate About You (the movie) is in it. I like her. This movie is about the aftermath of  a drug dealer's death. I know that sounds kind of goofy but it was pretty good. It pretty much follows the main character guy who won't deal with the fact that his best friend (the dealer) hanged himself. Sprinkle in some clueless parents, a kidnapping ,two stabbing victims, and a wedding and you have yourself a movie. I think satires -if done correctly- can be some of the best movies. If darker humor isn't your thing then I highly suggest you watch anything other than this movie. Sure I watched it at 4 am but  I still think it's worth watching...And like before I don't want to give any of the plot away so I'm going to stop talking about this here. I give it a 4 (This is out of 5 by the way)

Now for my tips.

Subconsciously I probably just wanted a reason to talk about food. And this maybe just a matter of personal taste. But I feel I must tell you all that if you are going to fry chicken...A taco seasoning packet is a really great seasoning option.

Seriously!!! Try it!

Don't look at me like that. I'm not insane. I maybe a little off sometimes but I am not crazy. I promise. I made this discovery while surveying our cabinets, not sure what I was going to do with the chicken I had taken out for dinner. I felt like the damn thing was staring at me, daring me to use it. So being my adventurous self I said what the hell and marinated the chicken in it. I figured that if it sucked we could trash it and eat hot dogs. My brother is six. He doesn't care.

I won't say I was't apprehensive about it. That would be a lie. I was scared as shit. So I was pleasantly jumping off the walls when I tasted it and it was really good. It really holds up to the frying process well. How many times have you thought you've seasoned something well enough then fried it only to realize that it could use a lot more seasoning? Be honest.  So if you're feeling adventurous one night I say try it. Comment on how it works for you.

Before we move on to shiny stuff....let's talk about....CAKE

I just want to impart one little piece of undercover foodie wisdom...

Separated eggs:

equals fluffy:

 I'm pretty sure everyone does this but if you don't I want to put this out there for ya. Separate your eggs and beat the whites. Fold the whites into your already mixed batter (with the oil, yolks and such). I swear by this. It does wonders for a box cake. You might want to add some sour cream too but that is for another post.

Now on to shiny stuff

Which is honestly not shiny at all. Actually this is kind of dark...meaning it's in black and white mostly.
I'm speaking of the lovely GIRLTRASH! I found this web series while I was bored one night (I'm bored alot) and had no where to go. I'm not even going to say what it's about. I will say that it features Gabrielle Christian & Mandy Musgrave (South of Nowhere), Rose Rollins ( The L Word)  and  Amber Benson (Buffy the Vampire Slayer) If that doesn't pull you in...I don't know what will

This has been Tips, Tidbits and Shiny Stuff. Another should appear next month or so. The fictional people in my head (story characters) and I hope you have enjoyed it. Now back to your regularly scheduled rants and stuff.