Top Chef

How sweet are these???

New Laptop Bag

So, I have decided that I want a new laptop bag. I like my bookbag for travel but I wanted something a little more girly and fun. But I still need the bad to be functional and keep all of my work stuff organized. I scoured the internet for hours and read many many reviews. I looked at Crumpler bags, Clark and Mayfield, but I ended up with a Kensington K62535US Contour Balance Notebook Case in Onyx. I bought it on Amazon and it was pretty cheap. Here is a picture.

Shopping

What else is there to do on a Sunday afternoon but to hit the mall. I needed to see my girl Estee for more foundation and then I decided to stroll through the shoes and handbags at Macy's. I couldn't find a bag that I had to have or shoes that I could live without. I was bummed!! I headed for the perfume counter and ran across the HARAJUKU LOVERS fragrance counter. I first smelled the Harajuku fragrances in a SELF magazine before Christmas and instantly loved it! I finally picked up G today after months of stopping by the fragrance counter. I absolutely love the packaging.

Autobiography: Payne Stewart

I have been reading an autobiography about Payne Stewart, PGA player that died on 25 October 1999. PS was a great professional golfer but struggled to get to the top. 2009 marks the 10 year anniversary of his death and I am sure that the PGA players still miss Payne. Great Read!

Unfortunate Picture

Yesterday, I needed to have a passport picture taken for my CCW application. The lady taking the picture said that I needed to look down and I couldn't smile. So, I am thinking awesome..I am going to have a couple chins plus I don't know how to take a picture without smiling. So, she snaps the picture and I figure it can't be too horrible, otherwise, the lady probably would have taken it. OHHHH how wrong I was....She hands me the folder with 2 of these babies in it!

Did I mention....AWESOME!!

Tarragon Turkey

Tarragon Turkey and Pasta

Easy Turkey Recipe for the Crockpot. I skipped the pasta tonight because I have had pasta 2 nights this week. I guess I need to plan better!

1.5-2 lbs turkey tenderloin

1/2 cup thinly sliced celery

1/4 cup thinly sliced green onions

4 Tbsp fresh tarragon, minced

1/4 cup dry white wine

1 tsp salt

1 tsp freshly ground pepper

1/2 cup plain yogurt

1Tbsp fresh minced Italian parsley

1 Tbsp lemon juice

1.5 Tbsp cornstarch

2 Tbsp water

Combine turkey, celery, green onions, 2 tbsps tarragon, wine, salt and pepper in Crockpot. Mix thoroughly. Cover; cook on LOW 6 to 8 hours or on HIGH for 3.5 to 4 hours or until turkey isn't pink.

Remove the turkey from the Crockpot and cut into 1/2" thick medallions. Turn Crockpot to HIGH. Add the yogurt, remaining tarragon, parsley and lemon juice to the juices in the Crockpot.

In a small bowl combine the cornstarch and water. Add the mixture tot he Crockpot and cook until the juices thicken. Serve turkey and drizzle with tarragon sauce.

Roast Chicken with Peas and Prosciutto

Yum! Tonight's dinner was super easy and tasty. I couldn't find the Prosciutto at the store yesterday and I didn't feel like stopping anywhere else.

This recipe came from the CrockPot cookbook. I love the CrockPot.

1 Whole Roasted Chicken (~2.5 lbs)
Salt and Pepper, to taste
5 oz Prosciutto, diced
1 small white onion, finely chopped
1/2 cup white wine
1 package (10oz) frozen peas
1/2 cup heavy cream
1 & 1/2 Tbsp cornstarch
2 Tbsp water
4 cups farfalle pasta, cooked al dente

Season chicken with salt and pepper. I tossed the whole roasting chicken in the crockpot. Combine chicken, prosciutto, onion, and wine in crockpot. Cover, cook on High 3.5 to 4 hours or on Low 8-10 hours.

During the last 30 minutes of cooking, add frozen peas and heavy cream to cooking liquid.

Pull the chicken out when done and no pink remains. Carve meat (the meat will probably fall off the bone) and set aside on a warmed plate.

Combine cornstarch and water. Add to cooking liquid in CrockPot. Cover and cook on High for 10-15 minutes or until thickened.

To serve, spoon pasta onto individual plates. Place chicken on pasta and top each portion with sauce.

*** YUM ***

I totally meant to take a picture before I ate, but I guess I was more interested in trying the dish that photographing it!

Pork Chops l'Orange

I tried a new recipe for dinner tonight - Pork Chops l'Orange. Recipe came from my VersaWARE Crockpot recipe book. Easy recipe and quite tasty. Just know that a little sauce goes a long way. I think I overdid it when I served the pork chops.

**Note: I can use my crockpot on the stove. May need to use a pan instead.**

Ingredients:

2 Tbsp EVOO
4-8 pork chops
1/3 cup OJ (I used simply orange)
2 Tbsp honey
1 tsp salt
1 tsp brown sugar, packed
1 tsp orange zest
2 Tbsp cornstarch
1/4 cup water


Heat EVOO in crockpot on low on the stove, turn to medium after a few minutes. Once the oil is hot, sear each pork chop for 1-2 minutes or until the pork chop is lightly browned and then remove.

Place the OJ, salt, honey, brown sugar, and orange zest into the crockpot. Stir to mix. Add pork chops and turn to coat each side with the sauce. Transfer the crockpot to the heating base unit. Cover and cook on HIGH for 1-2 hours or LOW for 4-5 hours.

Remove pork chops to a warmed plate and transfer the remaining liquid to a small, heavy saucepan. Heat the liquid over medium-high heat until the liquid begins to boil. In a small bowl combine the cornstarch and water. Mix well and add to the orange sauce. Stir the orange sauce to mix together the sauce completely. Reduce the heat and simmer for 5 minutes.

To serve, spoon the orange sauce over the pork chops and serve immediately.

They have finally arrived!

We have been waiting for this day for months....the arrival of our Christmas present from my bf from the Nati!! That's right.....we got our Snuggies......the blanket with sleeves. Not sure how I will use the snuggie, but I will make sure to catch those special moments on camera!

Picture to come!

Would you like to smell my ball?

On Wednesday night, I found myself at Pampa Lanes picking out a new bowling ball. I decided that since I am playing in 2 leagues, I needed to upgrade my 10.5lb plastic ball. It was so light that I was swinging it around my body and I was totally inconsistent! Seriously, though I am not the best bowler so it is probably just me. Anyway, here is what I picked out....a 13lb Teal and Pearl Purple Tropical Storm. I didn't know at the time, but it is scented. I couldn't place the scent....so I looked it up online...Red Currant. I definitely need more practice, but I am loving the new ball!

I like Shoes!

So, winter in Michigan just won't quit....although today it is a balmy 42. However, with the wind it feels like 35. Seriously, that's a heat wave!!

Anyway, I have been looking for snow boots for ever, but the boots that I have found all have suede and I don't want to ruin the suede. And then, I found these......

They are the most comfortable shoe I own.....with the exception of the other crocs that are in my closet. The boots have the typical croc material on the bottom which is so easy to wipe off the salt and the suede upper is super cute. OK maybe not super cute to everyone, but I like them. I like them so much that I bought a second pair in black. They were on sale, so it was totally worth it!

I want these too. But they didn't have my size in black. I will for sure be checking on these.

Total Croc count: 10

Are you ready for some football?

Today is Superbowl Sunday! I have my squares and made the food and now I am ready to relax and watch the commercials! We are heading to a friends house tonight and I thought I would share my superbowl foods!!

First, I made football chocolates; dark and milk chocolate. The milk chocolate candies have malted milk crunchies in them!

Second, I made funfetti cookies. They are so easy and yummy! If I had more time, I would have iced them too. I wish I could make choc chip cookies from a cake mix...such a time saver.

Third, I made a Tuscan Cream Cheese Spread....my personal favorite! It's loaded with sun-dried tomatoes, artichoke hearts, garlic, green onions, chives, and parsley!

We are making a seven-layer Tex-Mex dip, but its not done yet! I will have to get before and after pictures of that one.