Strike out

I had it all planned, I was going to blog about how I made French bread this afternoon. I was going to talk about how I was dying for meatball subs, but I didn't have any buns or any good bread at all really. I kept trying to think of something else to make for dinner, and then it his me, duh! I can make my own French bread!

I was planning on telling you where I got the recipe, and sharing how easy it was, but then, well, I'm still trying to figure out what happened...

I've made bread before, lots of bread, I'm no stranger to using yeast. And the recipe that I found on Pinterest had a lot of great reviews, and it really was easy, but it tasted nothing like French bread, it didn't really look like it either.  It didn't taste bad, we used it to make meatball subs, which were wonderful, but I can't very well recommend a eclipse that I will never use again.

I'll just stick to buying day old French bread from the grocery store. That's all I've got for you today. Oh, no, wait, I did finish my fingerless gloves, they turned out cute huh?!

Yummy Mummy!

I told you yesterday that I LOVE Halloween. Today for lunch I made a Mummy Pizza, the recipe is from Yummy Healthy Easy and it is definitely very easy, and super quick! Enjoy your Halloween!

How I unwind

Some people gripe about having to cook dinner every night, I don't understand this, because personally I need that time to unwind. Making dinner is my transition from work to home, and it's something that I get to do all alone, in silence. When I cook I don't think about work, and I don't think about everything I have to get done after dinner, I just focus on what I'm doing.

So here's a picture of my space. It's not big, and it's not fancy, and at some point, down the road, when I find an extra million dollars, I might be able to have a kitchen that belongs in a magazine, but for now this is my space, and I love it because its comfortable. That is what I'm thankful for today!

Why do I...

Why do I always find myself drinking a glass of wine while making dinner (ok not ALWAYS, but still...)

What's for dinner tonight?

Pizza. Delivery. With a coupon. End of story.

Sorry, I wasn't feeling the super-woman thing today, I got home at 7:30 and have a to-do list a mile long, so sue me. We've all been there, thank goodness for take out and a husband who was willing to pay for it!

Character flaw

I don't like vegetables, there, I said it. I never have, but as a child I assumed that I would like them when I grew up, because my parents were grown-ups, and they ate vegetables. Well fast forward, I'm an adult now, and I'm still not particularly fond of them.

Now don't get me wrong, I tolerate them much better than I ever used to, and I generally eat them simply because I know I should, particularly in the presence of my students. But I would much rather waste calories on something that I actually enjoy eating.

And now we finally come to the actual point of this rant, there is one way that I have found to cook veggies that turn them into something that I can't get enough of (and my husband agrees, so it's not just me). Plus it's super easy, so easy in fact that it typically makes it onto my menu twice a week.

Start with pre-packaged vegetables (perfect because they are available year round and won't spoil in the freezer). We prefer a california blend (carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, and squash), but choose whatever you like. Thaw them before cooking.

Heat 2+ tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil in a large skillet. Add your veggies and cook until the edges begin to brown and vegetables are cook through. Enjoy, I promise they will taste like something you would get at a restaurant!

What's for dinner tonight?

I just finished eating dinner - and yes, I realize that it is almost 10pm, welcome to my life - and it was so easy and absolutely delicious that I had to share it with you.

Tonight I give you Chicken Pasta Salad. Basically, it's the most incredibly easy pasta salad with some chicken in it... I know, I'm really blowing your mind with this stuff right?!

Ingredients:
1 box rainbow rotini pasta
1 cucumber
Grape tomatoes (as many as you like)
1 pkg. pre-sliced pepperoni
1 1/2 to 2 cups shredded cheddar
1 bottle Italian dressing
2 small chicken breast

Directions:
Cook pasta according to directions, after draining and rinsing place in large bowl and pour 1/2 of the bottle of dressing on top, stir well or put a li on the bowl and shake it up. Refrigerate pasta while finishing the following directions.

Cut cucumber into thick slices, and then quarter each slice, do the same with the pepperoni slices, and finally, cut the grape tomatoes in half. Stir in with the cooled pasta. Add the shredded cheese (note:make sure the pasta is cool before adding the cheese or you will have chunks of melted cheese stuck to your pasta). Pour in the rest of the pasta salad and stir well (or shake).

I don't typically add chicken to my pasta salad, so those are the basic directions, but I knew that it would be dinner, as opposed to a side dish, so u threw it in to make it a little more filling. If you do want to add chicken to your pasta salad simply cube the chicken breasts and cook in a skillet along with 2 tablespoons of Italian dressing, after cooking the chicken toss it in the bowl with the rest of the pasta salad and you have dinner.

I will tell you that this makes a good deal of pasta salad, which works really well for us because we take it for lunch for a couple of days, but you'll definitely eat it all - and if you double the recipe it is perfect for a party or potluck! This is a recipe you'll use all summer long!