Ummm... Now What?!

So, tonight I was putting together a package to send to Andrew. I was taping the box together and making sure it was secure. I flipped it over to start filling it, left to get the items I'm shipping, and came back to this.

I know that he misses Andrew, but really?

As I type this, he is sound asleep in the box. I guess he really thinks he's being shipped to New York.

I do know this... he is not going.

And- it's really hard to pack with him in the box.



Cheddar Baked Tilapia

They make this dish at the nursing home where I am doing my adult externship. I really like it there, and I wanted to try it on my own. I had a pretty good idea of how to make it from eating it the one time. So, I dug around until I found ingredients that would work. I must admit, it was a success!

Ingredients:

Tilapia Fillets

Cheddar Cheese

1/4 cup Italian Breadcrumbs

1/4 cup Parmesan Cheese

1/4 cup Ranch Dressing

Preparation:

Mix breadcrumbs, parmesan cheese, and ranch dressing together.

Place fillets in greased baking dish. Spread paste evenly over fillets.

Top with cheddar cheese.

Bake at 375 degrees for 20 minutes.

Remove and enjoy!!



Lemon Pepper & Parmesan Tilapia

As I said in yesterday's blog, I've been on a huge fish and broccoli kick. Luckily, I've come up with some pretty good fish recipes that are a breeze to make.

Here's one that I tried on Tuesday...

Ingredients

Tilapia fillets

Butter

2 Lemons

Grated Parmesan Cheese

Salt

Pepper

Preparation

Squeeze 1/2 of lemon over fillets. Dot with butter. Cover generously with cheese, salt, and pepper. Layer lemon slices over the top.

Bake at 375 degrees for 15 minutes.

Remove fillets to take lemon slices off. Reapply salt, pepper, and cheese if needed.

Bake for 5 more minutes.

Remove from oven and enjoy!!!



Unrivaled Broccoli Cheese Soup

I have been craving broccoli so bad for a week or so now. Broccoli and fish. Weird, I know. Anyway, the other night, I was so desperate for broccoli, that I picked all of the broccoli pieces out of a bag of frozen stirfry I had in the fridge. I knew then that I needed to do something about this craving.

Yesterday was chilly and rainy. Nothing sounds better on those kind of days than a hot bowl of soup. Broccoli cheese soup. The only problem? I needed a stellar recipe. When talking with my friend, Andrea, she said that she had the perfect recipe for me. Since she has given me awesome recipes in the past that have been blog worthy (mexican lasagna and reuben sandwiches), I knew she wouldn't steer me wrong.

Ingredients:

1 bunch broccoli (I used 2)

1/2 cup butter (I used olive oil butter)

1 medium onion, chopped

1/2 cup flour

2 cups milk

1 cup grated cheddar cheese

2 (10 ounces) cans chicken broth

1/4-1/2 block Velveeta cheese, cubed

Salt & Pepper to taste

Preparation:

Cut broccoli into flourets and steam, set aside

Cook onions in butter until tender and transparent

Stir in flour and cook for about 5 minutes, stirring continously

Add milk slowly, continue stirring

Stir in grated cheese until smooth

Slowly blend chicken broth into pot

Add Velveeta cheese and stir until melted

Add broccoli

Simmer and stir occassionally for about 15 minutes

Tips:

Begin cooking the onion and butter first.

Then, cut the broccoli into flourets and steam.

While the onion and broccoli are cooking, get the rest of your ingredients ready to go. You will need them handy because the process goes fairly quickly, and you'll be busy stirring.

I didn't let the soup simmer for very long. I just waited until it was hot throughout. I was too impatient to wait.

I'm telling you, I will never make another broccoli cheese soup recipe after trying this one. It is absolutely delicious. I must be honest and admit that I ate two bowls of soup last night.

I'm also enjoying a bowl as I type this.

I hope you enjoy it as well!

Mini Flower Bows

I've been meaning to learn how to make these adorable clippies for quite some time now. The other night, I decided to just do it. Boy, am I glad I did! They are TOO cute, and they might be my favorite items to craft using ribbon. They are just too adorable not to love.

I have these listed as a set with coordinating peanut bows on my Etsy page. They look so cute clipped right onto the hair, but they also look adorable clipped to a crocheted headband. My next project is going to be learning how to make butterfly mini clips. Stay tuned!



Giving it a Shot

I didn't think that I would be able to make bows. I've never been too big of a fan, but something made me want to try. My Etsy business has been doing really well, and I love adding to it. So, I decided to give it a shot. I've learned a thing or two about making them, but I think I've finally figured it out.

This was my first attempt. It is pretty cute. It included a lot of trial and error.

This is my second attempt.

I really, really like how this one turned out. I also really, really like working with 1.5 inch grosgrain ribbon. It works sooo much better than the smaller, silky kind. So, lesson learned.

This was my third attempt. I felt comfortable to be a bit craftier with this one. I think I take back the bad things that I've said about bows in the past ; )

Anyway, check them out here: www.etsy.com/people/TailorMadeByAbby if you wish!

Retraction: THIS is the Easiest Dinner Ever

The other night, I posted about what I thought was a pretty easy dinner. Well, tonight's dinner put that one to shame. I had a craving for baked tilapia, and luckily I still had some in the freezer. They literally take two minutes to thaw in hot water. Quick and easy!

Ingredients:

Tilapia fillets

Olive oil butter

Seasoning of choice

Preparation:

Thaw fillets. Place in a greased baking dish. Dot with butter. Sprinkle generously with seasoning.

Bake at 375 degrees for 15 minutes or until flaky.

Remove, serve with a healthy side dish, and enjoy!!

I'm telling you, if my dishes got done as quickly as this blog was posted, my world would be a better place. Why, oh why, do I hate dishes so much?!



Easiest Dinner... Ever

I enjoy cooking... a lot. I'm not a big fan of cooking for only one person, and I'm also not too fond of intensive recipes with lots of ingredients. I am a fan of quick and easy recipes that taste GOOD. Last night, I discovered of of these gems, and I just have to share it with everyone!

Ingredients:

4 boneless pork chops

1 can cream of mushroom soup

1/4 cup sour cream

Salt and Pepper to taste

Bacon, if preferred

Preparation:

Brown each side of the pork chop.

Mix cream of mushroom soup, sour cream, and salt and pepper together in a small bowl.

Layer pork chops in baking dish.

Pour soup mixture over pork chops. Add a layer of cooked bacon on top, if desired.

Bake at 375 degrees for 45-60 minutes, or until done.

Serve and enjoy!

Let me add this, I am not a fan of pork chops. I never have been. I'm also not a fan of gravy, but this is goooood!

I had several people ask me a while back how I made the chicken and gravy that I froze and sent to New York with Andrew. Well, this is how! This sauce mixture can be used with virtually any meat, I'm sure.

It the easiest meal for the busiest night. I hope you enjoy it as well!



I know the weather today is gorgeous, but...



... really?!?!

These goofy spring flowers were peeking their little heads above ground before the last snow was even melted. They sure are silly this year!

I hope that my crocus (first picture), daffodils, irises, and other spring flowers bloom this spring with such an early arrival.

Who would have thought that I'd see my spring flowers popping up in early February? They've been visible for a little under two weeks, and with the weather today, I swear they've grown half an inch since I took these pictures yesterday.

I thoroughly enjoy all of the seasons (with the possible exception of summer), but I'm always excited when it switches over to the next. I loved my snow, but today makes me yearn for more beautiful spring days!

My Favorite Creations

Out of all of my craftiness, there is one thing I enjoy doing the most. I really like creating made-to-match items. I just found out that my externship supervisor is having a baby girl. Perfect! I had the excuse I needed to whip out the hot glue gun and craft.

I started out with the outfit. She is due late June/early July, so I knew that I had to find something summery and cool. Luckily, summer items are already out in stores. I also had a coupon for $10 off a $10 purchase. Total? $2.14. Not kidding. What a steal!

I then picked three different flowers that match the outfit perfectly, assembled them, and fasten them to a white headband.

Ta-da! The finished product.

How adorable will this be on a summer day?

I am sad that I will be in New York when this precious life arrives, but I am so excited for my supervisor and her husband! God has blessed them with an amazing gift!



What happened to the "good old days"?!

While Andrew was home, we decided to give our nappy cat a bath. His fur was pretty gross, and he was long overdue.

The last time we gave him a bath, he was fairly well-behaved with the exception of his amazing strength and agility. We were prepared for a similar bathing experience.

Theodore; however, was plotting something different.

Let the story begin...

He first decided that hiding would be in his best interest. This began when he heard the bath water running. Notice the death stare?

I wish that I had pictures to document the bath. That just was not possible. At one point, I had both hind legs, Andrew had him by his front paws and back, and he was still sprawled out in the air like a flying monkey. This cat is amazing. He can bend and manuever in ways I never dreamed possible.

Moreover, he is STRONG! It literally wore the two of us out trying to give him a bath. That's understandable for me, the weakling, but certainly not for Andrew. He's also VERY loud. I didn't think this cat could sound so manly.

To safely remove him from the tub, I had to hold his hind legs in a death grip while Andrew kept the rest of him under control. I then wrapped him tightly in a towel to keep him from scratching Andrew with his back claws while trying to escape.

It's been decided that the vet will be bathing him from now on. With lots and lots of help. Or sedation.

It's obvious that he's still not happy. He is being a little bit better now considering Andrew's holding him and calming him down.

After his escape, he sulked and glared for about an hour.

And licked.

Don't tell me this cat isn't mad. He sure is cute though!

He's finally willing to forgive. Luckily he forgives as quickly as he angers. He didn't get to stay on my lap long though. I wasn't a fan of a wet lap.

At last, all is well in the world.

Gato is no longer nappy.

We live to tell the tale.

All is forgiven... and hopefully forgotten.