When Life Gives You Lemons, Make This

So.
I was bummed when I realized that it was the first Thursday of the month, I had no groceries after being away with dad's funeral, and I had nothing for the Pintertest Kitchen.
Then I looked at the length of time that I had to post, and decided that I wanted to make this.  I love all things lemon.
There are so many fun things to rant about with this recipe.  Learn from my tales of woe as we go.  I promise, the final results are worth it.  Even if you've never worked with yeast dough, I would say this is worth a shot.  Even if you have to throw the first attempt in the garbage like I did.  Yeah.  It was a fun afternoon.
I present to you now The Whimsical Cupcake's Lemon Scented Pull-Apart Coffee Cake:

Things to Put in Things: Unfried Refried Beans

So.
J and I love Mexican.  We eat it a lot when we go to visit his family in the States.  You know, where people eat Mexican food.  As opposed to where we live where there is no Mexican.  As a result, we eat tacos and their ilk at home on a fairly regular basis.  I buy Rotel and Pace picante sauce to bring home and help in my quest for yummy Mexican.  I think I have some enchilada sauce as well right now after not being able to find it for the enchilada soup earlier this year.
So on one of my many cruises of Pinterest, I found a pin for Unfried Refried beans in the crockpot.  You know, ones that taste waaaay better than those that come out of a can and smell like...like...I'm not even sure.
Then I was cruising Pinterest and I discovered the blog Budget Bytes and her black bean quesadillas.  Upon further poking around, I found her recipe for the same.  Today, I made them.
I present to you now my hybrid of Six Sisters and Budget Bytes Unfried Refried Beans in the Crockpot:

Planning: November 2-9, 2012

So.
I haven't been cooking much recently.  We've been busy.  I've been busy.  My dad died.  Cancer Sucks.
Yeah, that.  We've been away for most of the past week for the visitation, memorial service, and interment.  But, we're back!  I've had a couple of days to prepare, and today we went to the grocery store.  Tomorrow is football, and we're staying in.  I've declared tomorrow Pajama Day.  It's also cooking day. 
Here's the plan:

Friday:  Broiled salmon, mashed potatoes and broccoli.  We still have leftover Halloween chocolate too.

Saturday:  I want to make the pull apart lemon bread.  I missed the Pintertest Kitchen.  I can still post.  Unfried refried beans for dinner as a part of burritos, along with nacho cheese dip and a veggie tray.  We bought everything for gorgeous sandwiches for lunch too so we don't have to go to Subway.

Sunday:  Pork fried rice with the leftover smoked pork loin we brought home after the memorial service, and won ton soup for dinner.  Apparently it's Food Inspired by the Far East day.

Monday:  Tuscan Chicken Stew, Salad, and whole wheat rolls

Tuesday:  Leftovers.  I have School Council.

Wednesday:  Not quite sure.  There are choices.  We'll see what I come up with. 

Thursday:  We're getting the winter tires put on the car, so we're going out - Southern Style BBQ.  Southern Fried Chicken, here I come!

Friday:   Leaving for football.  Something quick on the road.

So, it looks like a good week.  Let's see how it goes.

Easy Weeknight Meal: Fajita Salad

So.
My birthday is this week.  It hasn't happened yet, and we're going out to celebrate.  But the celebrations have really already started on the mountain.  We had cake and ice cream and presents with my parents this week.  Well, Mom, J and I had cake.  Homemade pineapple upside down  yum.  Dad had Boost.  Cancer is evil.
We also had presents.  I got a dehumidifier for the basement and this book:

Yeah, I can't spin the picture.  But it's still exciting!  400 pages of new recipes.  I spent Sunday night on the couch reading titles to J of things I want to make.  I'm excited about cooking.  Even if there's no time.
Enter this recipe.  Not a whole lot of time to put together, and with some garlic bread, a wicked filling meal.  I present to you now The Looneyspoons' Collection Eata Fajita Salad:

Pintertest Kitchen: Apple Fritter Cake

So.
I've been in a rut, and I haven't been cooking.  That's kinda changed this week, and this cake got the ball rolling.  I pinned this from my friend Lee-Ann.  I've pinned a lot of great things from Lee-Ann.  I've made lots of them too.  Maybe I should have saved Lee-Ann a piece of this cake.  J's piece.  Cause mine disappeared quickly every night.  I'm just saying.  Here's the pin:

I present to you now Nerdy Baker's Apple Fritter Cake:

Weeknight Dinner: Lemony Tortellini with Peas and Prosciutto

So.
J asks me to make this dish.  Like, a lot.  I don't really get it, despite the fact that I make it from time to time because it's simple, filling, and quick.  It's not that I don't enjoy this, it's just that there are other good things to make.  But when J asked a couple of weeks ago if I'd make this, I bought the ingredients.  Last night, I made it again and found it so much more better than I remembered.
Maybe my tastebuds have changed, maybe I'm at a different place in my life and so I like different things, or maybe my food rut has finally reached a point that I enjoyed the new and different flavour.
Either way, I present to you now Everyday Food's Lemony Tortellini with Peas and Prosciutto:

Planning: September 30-5, 2012

Ugh.
Work started, and I hit the wall.  We've been eating out A LOT.  I've been totally uninspired, both while looking at menus and when attempting to figure out what to cook for J and I.
Friday, we're leaving for points south and my first away football game.  We're eating here this week, and there are some new recipes.  I made a cake tonight that smells amazing.  With a new oven, I'm hoping I didn't overcook.  We'll see.
Here's the rundown of what we're eating here this week:

Monday:  Lemon Garlic Tilapia, rice and broccoli.  We continue to try and eat healthy.
Tuesday:  Lemony Tortellini with Peas and Prosciutto and Garlic Bread
Wednesday:  Leftovers from Tuesday
Thursday:  Grilled steak, potatoes and broccoli

So, two new recipes plus a cake.  I'd say it's a pretty good week.  And there's a plan.  A plan is always good.

Pintertest Kitchen: Garlic Brown Sugar Chicken

So.
According to Pinterest, I pinned this 26 weeks ago.  Half a year.  I was at a different school, in a different house, bemoaning different aspects of my kitchen than I am now.
The first day of school, I set out to discover if this chicken recipe was really the BEST ever.

I present to you now Food.com's Easy Garlic Chicken:

Planning: Sept 3 - 9, 2012

So.
I used to work with a principal who spent the last week of August singing, "It's the most wonderful time of the year".  While I am definitely not a part of that camp, I do recognize that it is time to return to work and no longer live the life of Reilly, or sloth.  Sigh.  The cat won't spend time with me anymore, and J will take over many of the tasks I currently perform.  That may not be a bad thing.
Nevertheless, cooking is still my realm.  We continue with J's and my need to eat healthy and my need to try everything I've pinned to Pinterest.  We also have football season to contend with now, and weekends away.  But it also means that there are more things to make and take away. 
Right.  To recap, busy fall; and I'll be cooking.  On with the planning.

Monday:  The end of summer.  We're celebrating by finishing a container of chocolate ice cream and eating chili dogs using Paco's hot dog sauce.

Tuesday:  Pinterst garlic brown sugar chicken.  We'll see if it is "the BEST ever."

Wednesday:  30 minute spaghetti and meatballs

Thursday:  Chicken stirfry and rice

Friday:  We're leaving for football.  Probably Wendy's.

So there you have it.  A short week with meals that go together fast to make up for the fact that I'm going to be hugely busy and exhausted.
Three cheers for the end of summer.  Bring on the adventures of the fall.

Oh, for F*ck's Sake, Buy My House Pasta

So.
As some of you are aware, J and I are moving.  With my latest promotion and his lack of employment, it doesn't make sense to live as far away from my job as we currently are.  As a result, we put our house on the market at the end of May to move closer to my job.  Originally, it was to cut the distance in half.  A crazy week in June later, I was only about 20 minutes away.  All good.
Buying and selling real estate is stressful.  You need to keep your house clean.  You're not really supposed to cook (not a huge problem, seeing as it was June and I was crazed).  You're supposed to remain unemotional and detached.  Yeah.  That doesn't always happen.
So early in July, the house was still on the market and being shown...a lot.  We had a couple come through twice and then make an offer.  It was ridiculously low.  Their parents were offering their input every step of the way.  Their agent was new and a total ditz.  And on, and on.
One week, I'd planned to make a pin from my boards on Pinterest (the lemon chicken and spaghetti in garlic gravy.  It still looks good) and bought all the ingredients.  After a trying day with the buyers wanting things they couldn't have (LIKE MY BBQ), I decided I couldn't take it anymore and didn't get off the couch in time to make the recipe.  I was also emotionally drained, and couldn't hack the thought of another restaurant.  When J asked what we were having for dinner, I told him I didn't know.  When he asked where we were going to eat, I told him at home, and to give me 30 minutes.  This is the result.
On the day that the idiot buyers take possession of my house, I present to you what I made that night, with the name that gained overwhelming support in my Facebook feed:  Oh, for F*ck's Sake, Buy My House Pasta.