Monday, March 25, 2013

Wax Burner

I am to say the least disappointed in my flameless wax burner. I am not sure if it is a universal suck-iness that comes with the flameless burners or if I just got a bad one. But here's the deal, it takes FOREVER to burn any of it away at all. Its like the never ending bowl of wax. And problem number two is that it only smells good for the first few minutes while its melting down and then it doesnt smell at all. What is the point of this at all? If it isnt going to burn away the wax and if it isnt going to smell while it doesnt burn away the wax then wth. Should I look for a better one or is this typical? I got it from Yankee and I dont use the wafers you are supposed to use bc I use reworked wax from old candles. Is that my problem? Do they only work well with the special wax wafers? Someone help!!

Friday, March 22, 2013

Blackening Seasoning

1 Tblsp Paprika
2 1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp onion powder
1/2 tsp ground red pepper
1/2 tsp white pepper
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/2 tsp thyme ( I use ground thyme)
1/2 tsp oregano

I typically make this recipe times 5 because I put it in a small tupperware container and use it as necessary so I dont have to make it everytime I want to use it.

Thursday, March 21, 2013

Concerts

So, about 5 years ago, god didnt realize until I type that its been that long, it was a great couple of years for concerts. All of my favorite bands were on tour and we saw a lot of people multiple times. There were a ton of shows here in town, as well as Cinci, Indy, and Columbus and we went to them all! The last three years have not been as great for concerts. The end of last year started to pick up, we got Static X  late last year and LoG early this year. And it seems like we are back on the up and up swing of shows coming to town. Since the new Diamonds has opened, (which btw is just the old Jillians building now being used again when Jillians was open we used to get quite a few shows in there) anyhow Diamonds seems to be attracting more bands again. Headliners doesnt have some of the amenities that Diamonds ahs built in since it was a Jillians and it is a little larger with a REAL parking lot. But back to the point at hand, Im going to see Fear Factory in a few weeks which I am pumped about bc the last two times theyve been the in area I missed them. A few weeks after that Chimaira will be here and Im going to that as well. On another note slightly related Korn has gotten back together, meaning Head one of their main guitarist has returned to the band! I am so excited bc this means they will probably go on a big tour and I am hoping we can get them at the Yum! Center. That would be excellent! I always wanted to see Korn but when Head left I didnt want to see just some of the band with a random replacement. Plus anyone who knows Korn knows that Head and Munky worked very closely in song writing and have a special connection when it comes to playing. I am super duper hoping that they put together a tour soon and get there butts on the road!

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Buffalo Chicken Pasta Bake

If you dont like wings then dont make this! But it is fairly easy and you can cook the chicken ahead of time, (or use that canned stuff if it floats your boat) which will save some time in the evening. First you will need 2-3 chicken breast seasoned, cooked off, and cubed or chunked. Then you need one box of penne cooked off as well. In one bowl mix one cup of ranch (or bleu cheese, your choice) dressing and one cup of Franks hot sauce. I would taste it at this point and see if you would like it more ranchy or more hot and adjust the sauce from there. Now mix the pasta and chicken in a big bowl with one cup of shredded cheddar cheese, then pour in 9x12 pan, now pour the sauce you made over it, if it doesnt distribute well you may need to stir it again so that the sauce is on all the chicken and noodles. Last step is to put a layer of shredded cheddar on top, pop in the oven at 350 for 20 minutes and BAM buffalo chicken pasta bake.

Monday, March 18, 2013

Carne Gasada

Confession I made this last Thursday but have been slacking on the blog, in my defense my off day Saturday was ruined by an awesome migraine. But anyhow back to the point at hand, this is a longer meal, meaning you need to be at home while it cooks but in general its super simple. Also, Leslie it HAS to have onions in it but I promise that if you make it while Adams not home he will never ever know there are onions in it I swear!
First off you will need 4-6 cups cooked rice for this dish, PS you are gonna have leftovers unless half the people you know are over for dinner. I dont care how you end up with cooked rice, these days you can get 2, 10 and 15 minute rice, there rice in a bag pre-portioned or that you measure out. Moral of this story have cooked white rice ready when its done, 4-6 cups.
You will need to start one onion diced small, one large green bell pepper diced medium, one can of tomato sauce (you want the little short can of Red Gold tomato sauce), 2 lbs beef tips in 2-3 inch chunks, you want lean meat, be careful with stew meat sometimes its older cuts, lastly 28 ounces beef broth. So, take the meat and toss it in 3 tablespoons flour with salt and pepper amounts of your liking. Heat vegetable oil in a large stew pot on the stove, use enough for a thin layer in the bottom of the pan. Then pour in the meat and sear it brown on all sides, as soon as its seared through in the onion and peppers and cook it while turning until transparent. Now pour in the beef broth half at a time and deglaze the meat pieces on the bottom of the pan (meaning scrape them off into the gravy). Add the tomato sauce and cook this all on a low simmer for 2-3 hours, closer to three. If it doesnt thicken some on its own you can add a little cornstarch that has been dissolved in cold water first then boil for one minute and let stand that will help it thicken. Otherwise serve over rice and enjoy!

Thursday, March 14, 2013

Birthday

Birthday is the 4th and final installment to the Ring series of books I have been reading. This book was quite a surprise and maybe my favorite next to the first book, but without all the other books it could not exist. Here's why, the book is actually 3 short stories all that take place during different parts of the 3 books previously read. The first story reveals what happens to Mai Takano from her perspective after Ryuji had died. It is an integral part of the story from the second book we were never able to see into until now. The second story is the longest half of it takes place at the same time as what happens to Mai Takano and half is from the past when Sadako first lived and was part of the theatre group in the 60s. So, it fills in some wholes from both the first and second book. It also lets you see inside the Sadako character a little more. In the third story it is the epilogue of the final book Loop, we get to find out what happens to Reiko and what the final outcomes of Kaoru sacrificing himself lead to, he ends up being a martyr in both the Loop and the real world, but it does make the entire dark long sometimes scary story end with an unexpected happy ending and it has the closure to the story I figured would just never come.

Casserole- Now Accepting Names

Normally, I wouldnt make two latino/mexican type dishes two nights in a row, but my menu planning wasnt the best for how my work schedule was going to work out this week and I needed something easier that I could start mid-day.
I cook the chicken in the morning when I am home for lunch. I take chicken breasts and cover them in blackening seasoning, I have a good recipe that I like better than the stuff you buy in the stores it tends to be too salty out of a packet/canister. Let me know if you want me to post the recipe its simple. Anyhow then cook the chicken breasts on non-stick something in the oven, yesterday I did 450 degrees for 35 minutes but last time I had more time so I did 350 for 45 minutes. After I remove it from the oven I just let it set until I get home from work.
When I get home I cook 4 cups for brown rice and gather the rest of the ingredients. Make sure you chop the chicken into manageable bit size pieces as well. Put the chopped chicken in  a large bowl and pour these ingredients over it, one can green chilies, one can drained and rinsed black beans, 1 cup frozen corn, 1 cup sour cream (or plain greek yogurt), 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese, finally pour in cooked rice and mix all the ingredients well, make sure the sour cream/yogurt and cheese are distributed well. Then pour all of this into a large 9x12 sheet cake pan and spread evenly cover with a thin layer of cheese and cook for 20-25 minutes at 350. Let cool for a moment before serving, serve with jalapenos, salsa, extra cheese and sour cream. All of those are optional but I think that the salsa is 100% necessary.

Tuesday, March 12, 2013

Taco Soup

Taco soup is also a fairly easy and quick dinner.
First you brown a pound of hamburger in a pot (like you will use for the soup, in the end it all ends up here) once the hamburger is cooked drain it and return it to the pan. Then you need to make your cheese sauce, (I make the sauce at the same time I am browning meat but you have to be careful not to overcook/scortch either) in a small saucepan (very small) melt two tablesppons butter, do not brown it. Add then two tablespoons flour and whisk it together to make a roux, cook this for a couple minutes but do not let it overcook. Then add 1 cup milk and mix together well, season with salt and pepper and cook for 3-4 minutes until it starts to thicken. Once it is a good thickness take off the heat and add one cup shredded cheddar cheese stir until melted and smooth set aside. Put over the meat 1 packet taco seasoning, one 10oz can of rotel, undrained, and one can of black beans 15oz, drained and rinsed, mix those ingredients well pour in 1 and 1/2 cups milk and cheese sauce and mix together well. Heat all for about 5 minutes once you bring it to a simmer. Remove and let set. Now you can serve it with whatever taco things you like, jalapenos, more cheese, sour cream, and they suggest you serve with tortilla chips, I use all the above!

Monday, March 11, 2013

Food- Tater Tot Casserole

My friend Leslie brought to my attention that I cook a lot, by asking me how many nights a week I actually cook dinner, and I decided that I could inspire some people to cook more by blogging about what I make and if its simple enough how I make it. Right now Im not talented enough to do step by step pictures like those fancy blog ladies who are stay at home moms and can make money off blogging.
So, this Monday is Tater Tot Casserole, Chase freaking loves this casserole, my friend Jeremy joined us one evening and he also thought it was delicious. I chose to make this on Monday bc I have a long break for lunch and I can make the hamburger then, plus we will be here late today since we have a 615 new pt and I can just throw the rest together and cook it when I get home with little effort and time involved.
This is the rundown of how I do it. At lunch I pre-cook the hamburger, 1lb. But first I dice/chop one SMALL onion or cut one in half and dice it instead. Then I cook off the onions and hamburger, you want the onions to be transparent and the meat to brown. I at this point also make my cream of mush soup substitute. I do not use cream of whatever soup ever. I make a roux, with 3 Tbsp butter and 3 Tbsp flour. You melt the butter first but do not brown it! Then add the flour and mix it with a whisk, let it cook for a couple minutes but do not let it stick or boil. After this you add 1 and 1/4 cup liquid* add it slowly and mix it well! It needs to cook for a few minutes until it thickens some it will thicken more while it sits, again very important dont let it stick! (*when using with hamburger I use beef broth, when I make it for mini pot pies I use chicken broth, you can use beef broth and add mushrooms if you want it to be mushroomy, or just use the shit in the can whatever floats your boat.) I then pour the cooked meat and onions into a glass 9 inch pie pan and stick that and the microwave until I get home from work.
When I get home you pour the thickened soupness on the meat and onions, I then get out the frozen mixed veg and cover it with a layer of that, then cover with a layer of shredded cheddar cheese, then cover with one solid layer of tater tots, I make sure they are touching and covering every tiny section of the casserole. It needs to cook on 350 for like 45 -55 minutes basically until the tater tots are brown crispy and done. Bam! Tater tot casserole!

Friday, March 8, 2013

Awards Two

So, my friend Leslie nominated me for a blog award because she is super sweet and awesome, but I am not going to nominate anyone myself. But I do super appreciate it! I already answered Elizabeth's questions in my previous awards blog, so I wont report 7 things you dont know about me. But I will answer Leslie's questions...
 
1. What is your favorite part of the day? getting home from work, if its a non-work day when I can sit down at the end and have nothing left to do for the day

2. What is your favorite Disney movie? oh well hell, this is not fair at all.... anyone who knows me knows I am Disney obsessed and having to choose one is almost blasphemous.... IF I have to choose one overall I guess I will go with Alice in Wonderland

3. Star Wars - yes or no? UM, HELL YES

4. Name one crafty thing that you don't know how to do or haven't tried but would like to. Oh, so many things, one thing I would love to do but dont think I can achieve is the putting a picture on wood

5. Top 3 favorite animals Well, at least you give me 3 this time, lion (bc it was what I always said when asked as a child), wolf, whale

6. Describe what would be the ultimate awesome dinner. Gorgonzola encrusted fillet cooked med rare, with twice baked potatoes the way mom makes them, with asparagus and hollandaise sauce and maybe a fancy restaurant caesar salad (no anchovies please)

7. What's your go-to way to get caffeinated? green tea, every morning

8. What's your current favorite TV show? Walking Dead, which will soon be replaced by Game of Thrones, if you meant overall I guess Ill go Modern Family

9. How many nights a week do you cook dinner? 5-6 seriously every week

10. What are you most looking forward to about the warmer weather ahead? suns out longer means I might get outside before dark sometimes

11. Favorite candle scent- dang one again? my winter fav was mountain berry, bathroom fav is pink blush which smells soooo good, and sweet strawberry if I have to pick overall or maybe fresh cut roses... btw all Yankee Candle scents
 

Loop Review- Finally

So, I have already posted about this book a couple times so I will try to get through this quickly. I am also not really sure how to approach this but I suppose I will start at the end. At the end of the book we get a huge twist, turns out the first two books took place in a computer program and the third book was the only one in the real world. Our main character of this book turns out to be a clone of someone we knew in the first book. Yes, a real life human clone of a "person" in a computer program, and the program was known as the Loop. This book definitely is a little on the sci-fi side of things but of course that doesn't bother me. Turns out in the Loop is where the Ring virus was born and it was then able to escape from the program but when it came into the real world it then evolved into the MHC, the metastatic human virus which was the center of the plot. Both Kaoru's father, mother, and his girl friend (who he acquires while we are hearing the story) all have the virus. Reiko, his gf, also had a child Ryoji and he had the virus, Kaoru was his tutor and that is how he and Reiko met. Ryoji's entire life has become consumed by tests and surgeries and he ends up committing suicide in the middle of the book, which is a little hard core bc hes like a 7 year old kid. Reiko also finds out she is pregnant and Kaoru then becomes concerned his unborn child will get MHC and have no life. He starts to question his father more about the Loop project. He ends up going to America and finds the founder and second to last living member of the Loop project Cristoph Eliot, he confirms all the things Kaoru has figured out so far and then fills in the blanks. He also tells Kaoru he is the only way to stop the MHC but basically he has to sacrifice himself and then re-enter the Loop with all the knowledge of this world and the next and live out his existence knowing his "family" is on the other side. BUT also knowing that his sacrifice would save them and the world in general. It was a good ending and completely out of left field, at first when he was told he was born of the Loop and was a clone of one of the first books main characters I was like "WHAT?! That's bull crap."But then he explained it more thoroughly and I got one board. Now I am extremely interested in what will happen in Birthday bc I have no idea which Birthday I will be learning of...

Thursday, March 7, 2013

Almost done...

Just wanted to give an update on Loop, sorry it is taking me so long to get it done. But honestly last week I dont think I read even a paragraph. I was recovering from the beginning of the book which felt very repetitive to me. Now I have finally gotten to the last real section of the book. (There is a tiny section after this like a epilogue.) Once I got to the halfway point things finally started to change and happen. Also, in the last section it really took off and got interesting. I finally want to know what is going to happen and if he is going to solve the mystery of the virus and if his knowledge will fill in the little blanks about the story the previous two books have. I imagine they will but I know that whatever I find out in this book there is going to be a little more revealed in the 4th and final book.

Tuesday, March 5, 2013

Questions for a Quick Post!

I have a friend Elizabeth who has a blog chubbymadness.wordpress.com and she is an amazing person. She nominated some people for some blogger awards and I was reading them and the rules are in one you have to write 11 questions for the blogger you nominate to answer. Well, I was not nominated but I love questions and I felt the need to answer them, kinda like old schold myspace days, lol.
  1. What is your favorite color?
  2. What is the last book you read?
  3. When is the last time you cried and why?
  4. Who is the last person you told you loved?
  5. Why did you start your blog?
  6. Cherry Pie or Apple Pie?
  7. What is the last movie you saw and how did you feel about it?
  8. How did your pet get the name that it has?
  9. Do you have any tattoos? If so tell me the meaning of at least one?
  10. Who is the most famous person you have met?
  11. What do you love most about your body?

1. red all the way, dont know why just is, hope it doesnt have anything to do with my younger aged rage issues
2. Finished was Spiral, reading Loop- its a series actually the Ring series
3. Last Friday, when I watched the first season finale of GoT for the 4th time and they beheaded Eddard Stark, gets me every time
4. Chase
5. Bc I have three friends who do excellent ones and I wanted to try
6. Apple
7. Are we talking at home or in the theatre? New at home was Hit and Run it was actually quite funny. In the theatre it was Django Unchained and it was f***ing awesome.
8. Its Libby and she came with it from the Humane Society.
9. I have what looks like 6 but is actually 8 or 9, I had two added to over the years. My left foot is a saying I live by or at least try to “You’re going to reap just what you sow.”- it is also a song lyric in a couple songs I love, one Perfect Day by Lou Reed, and a Lamb of God song.  My right foot is my badass-ness my skull and crossbones. My leg is some badass flowers and vines (its two in one). My stomach is my first and its a butterfly, bc of my old friend Shelby and hell I was 18 and needed a tattoo like yesterday so its what I picked mostly for the placement. My side is my current most meaningful my little brother Zach has the same one it is an old Japanese kanji that means bond and it is solid red with red outline. My back is two in one, the fairy was there first and I got it with my ex-best friend Sara, and then I had the tiger lily and dragonfly added, bc lets be honest it was too small. Again this I picked for looks. Whats next you ask? I have some things on the horizon.
10. Eugene and Harry. No, seriously hmmmm. I dont know Ive met anyone noteworthy… Chimaira the band I suppose.
11. Can I say my tattoos? Lol, ok I never thought about it. I like my butt most guys like it too

There was another blog award that required you write 7 things no one knows about you. So, I guess 7 uncommon facts about yourself, bc I cant come up with 7 things no one knows, Im a bit of an open book but here are 7 things people might find interesting about me.

1. I have had to put down 3 of my dogs, 2 in less than a year.
2. I have been to 5 countries not including the US
3. I prefer to listen to Metal and rock but my second choice is actually classical
4. I consider myself to have 3 dads.
5. My JoJo is the most important person in my life.
6. I didnt meet my older brother until I was 15 and he was 17.
7. I love baseball