Goal #9: Make an at-home face mask for a sister date

When my sister and I decide to hang out for a morning, afternoon, evening or entire day... we call them Sister Dates. Basically that means, its me and her, 100% attention and focus is on each other and our sisterly love. It doesn't really matter what we do, just as long as we're together. It's dates like these that I truly believe have kept our friendship so close and connected.

For this sister date, I wanted to do some fun at-home masks. You always read articles about using items in your own pantry for beauty treatments: avocado, eggs, cucumbers, olive oil, lemon, etc. But who knew honey was such a beauty resource? When searching for "great at-home face masks," I was shocked by how many posts and reviews I read that include one, single ingredient - HONEY.

And as you can see, I had JUST enough for two face masks for my sister and I.

BEFORE: honey is ON!

AFTER: beauty with attiTUDE.

Goal #46: Go apple picking

Why apple picking, you ask? Firstly, do you see this photo here? This view is exactly what I was hoping to experience when completing this goal.. isn't it so pretty? Ya, I know *dust ya shoulda off*

This list is all about doing things you maybe wouldn't normally think of, wouldn't normally take the opportunity or time to complete, things that open your eyes to the world around you. Apple picking is probably the perfect example of all of that put together. Living in Orange County, I remember seeing groves of orange trees and large strawberry fields in my community. I used to think how cool it would be to pick my own fruit (I obviously wasn't interested in growing anything, just picking the end results!). So when a friend told me she was going, I thought, Oh! Why not? And that's how it ended up on this list, and now on this blog as happily completed.

What made goal even more fun to complete, was the friend I had there to complete it with! Let me introduce you to Amanda....

Amanda is my coworker at my latest, and absolutely greatest job (will share in a separate post soon). She's a super fun and energetic person that I freakin' love! I couldn't be more blessed to know her and continue to get to know her every week. And, you will all be happy to hear that she's going to be starting a DZP list! It should be no surprise, it's kind of contagious.

So everyone, this is Amanda, say hi and be nice. I have a feeling you'll be seeing a lot of her...

Goal #15: Take a cake decorating class

At my last birthday, in oh... February. Madalyn gave me a certificate for a cake decorating class. Perfect DZP gift from my BeeEff! Well, then our class got cancelled and I almost wasn't sure this goal was going to be completed, but then Duff's Cakemix happened and all was well in my DZP world.

It was... awesome! Not only was it reasonably priced, but the staff was friendly, everything was well organized and stocked with all the go-to tools for awesome cake decorating.

We had a blast. My fave creation was my L&C ode to the blog I love so much!

If you're ever thinking of trying something new or want an awesome gift for a friend, I highly suggest this place.

Mix it Up: Oven Baked BBQ Chicken / Goal #34: Try 12 new dinner recipes (6/12)

{baked bbq chicken, homemade potato salad, corn bread muffin!}

What to do when you buy a bunch of chicken legs because they're on sale? Make BBQ chicken. And when it's too hot outside to actually run your BBQ... Make BAKED BBQ chicken. And that's how I found The Hungry Mouse and her fabulous step-by-step recipes! I'm sharing the text version of this recipe, but if you're looking for some photo snapshots for each step - check out her blog here.

Baked BBQ Chicken
The Hungry Mouse
Serves 2

Ingredients:
- 4 chicken leg quarters
- kosher salt
- spray canola oil
- favorite barbecue sauce
- 1/4 cup cilantro, chopped

Directions:
- Line a sheet pan with foil.
- Set a rack in the pan and set aside.
- Preheat your oven to 375 degrees.
- Rinse and pat dry your chicken leg quarters.
- Season them with kosher salt.
- Heat a nonstick pan on the stove over high heat and spray with a little canola oil.

- When the pan is hot, drop in a few chicken leg quarters, skin-side down. Don’t crowd the pan (or your chicken will steam, not sear), so do this in a batches.

- Cook them on high until the skin is nice and brown.

- When the skin is browned, transfer the chicken to your prepared pan and repeat until all the chicken is done.

- Using a brush, coat each piece of chicken on all sides with your choosen barbecue sauce.
- Once coated, pop the pan into the oven and bake for 15 minutes.
- Take the pan out of the oven and brush with additional barbecue sauce, covering each piece on all sides again.
- Put the pan back into the oven and continue to bake for 30-35 minutes more, until they’re cooked through completely with a nice crust. (thermometer reading of 165 degrees).

- Transfer to a serving platter.

- Sprinkle with chopped cilantro.
- Serve!

Mix it Up: Crispy Cheddar Chicken / Goal #34: Try 12 new dinner recipes (5/12)

{finally remembered to take a picture!}

One day as I was getting ready to leave work, I couldn't think of what to do with the chicken I had waiting for me at home. Then I realized, I've been pinning recipes on Pinterest for how long now, and I still haven't put any of them into practice! So straght to my feed.me board I went and came up with this yummy recipe. You should definitley try it! Easy peasy, lemon squeezy!

Crispy Cheddar Chicken
Adapted from Jamie Cooks it Up, thanks to Pinterest

Ingredients:
- 4 large chicken breasts
- 2 sleeves Ritz crackers
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp pepper
- 1 tsp cayenne pepper
- 1/2 cup milk
- 3 cups cheddar cheese, grated
- Dried parsley

Directions:
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees
- 2 ways to start! Cut each chicken into 3 large chunks OR Leave your breasts whole, I've done it both ways.
- Grind up Ritz crackers
- Pour the milk, cheese and cracker crumbs into 3 separate small pans
- Toss the salt, pepper and cayenne pepper into the cracker crumbs and stir to combine
- Dip each chicken into the milk...
- Then the cheese, pressing the cheese into the chicken with your fingers. Some will fall off when you add it to the cracker crumbs, but it's ok.
- Then press chicken into cracker crumbs.
- Then place into a spray coated 9x13 pan
- Sprinkle dried parsley over the chicken
- Cover the pan with tin foil and bake for 40 minutes
- Remove the tin foil, and bake for an additional 10 minutes, or until the edges of the chicken are golden brown and crispy.
- Serve, with anything!

Mix it Up: Chicken Enchilada Casserole / Goal #34: Try 12 new dinner recipes (4/12)

{Cooking Light}

A while back, Madalyn and I made this dish together after work one night and it's been a staple in my household ever since! I've adapted it a bit for my own yummy preference and am sharing the altered recipe for you below. Madalyn shared the original recipe over at her blog, you can check it out here.

Chicken Enchilada Casserole

Adapted from Cooking Light

Ingredients:

- Cooking spray

- 4 chicken breasts, cooked and shredded
- 1/3 cup chopped fresh cilantro, divided
- 1/3 cup (3 ounces) 1/3-less-fat cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 tsp. ground red pepper
- 1/2 tsp. ground cumin
- 1/4 tsp. kosher salt
- 1/4 tsp. black pepper
- 2 cups chopped onion, divided
- 6 garlic cloves, minced and divided
- 1 cup fat-free, lower-sodium chicken broth
- >1 jar Herdez salsa verde, The recipe only calls for 2/3 cup salsa, but I've found it is very dry this way. I tend to use a lot of salsa. Nearly one whole jar to keep it moist. Use your discretion.
- 1/4 cup water
- 2 tbsp. chopped pickled jalapeño pepper, I use a whole 4oz can of La Costena jalapenos for extra kick
- 9 (6-inch) corn tortillas, Every time I make this recipe, I use more than 9 tortillas (fyi)
- 1/4 cup (1 ounce) shredded sharp cheddar cheese

- Sour cream

Directions:

- Preheat oven to 425°.
- Cook and shred your chicken breasts. I leave this open to preference as far as technique is concerned. The point is to have yummy shredded chicken.
- Place shredded chicken in a medium bowl.
- Add 1 1/2 tablespoons cilantro, cream cheese, red pepper, cumin, salt and pepper to chicken and toss to combine.
- Return pan to medium-high heat.
- Add 1/2 cup onion and sauté 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Add 3 garlic cloves and sauté 30 seconds, stirring constantly.
- Add onion mixture to chicken mixture and stir to combine.
- Combine remaining 1 1/2 cups onion, remaining 3 garlic cloves, broth, salsa, 1/4 cup water, and jalapeño in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat and bring to a boil.
- Reduce heat, and simmer 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Add 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro during the last 5 minutes of simmering.

- Remove from heat and let stand 10 minutes.

- Heat tortillas over the stove or in the microwave, and cut tortillas into quarters.
- Spread 1/2 cup salsa mixture in the bottom of an 8-inch square glass or ceramic baking dish coated with cooking spray.
- Arrange tortilla quarters over salsa mixture to cover the bottom.
- Spoon half of chicken mixture over tortillas.
- Repeat layers, ending with tortillas.
- Pour remaining salsa mixture over tortillas and sprinkle evenly with cheddar cheese.
- Bake at 425° for 15 minutes or until bubbly and lightly browned.
- Top with remaining cilantro.
- Serve with sour cream!

Mix it Up: Charred Tomato & Chicken Tacos / Goal #34: Try 12 new dinner recipes (3/12)

{via Eating Well}

Tacos can be considered a staple in Southern California. I mean, it's quick, easy and simple. And then if you're like me, you get tired of meat and a tortilla. So one night I decided to look up some more interesting variations to chicken tacos and found this yummy recipe. I have left it completely untouched and adapted. So all credit goes to Eating Well and their yummy low cal fixin's.

Charred Tomato and Chicken Tacos
Eating Well
Serves 6, 2 tacos each
Ingredients:
- 1 pound ripe plum tomatoes, cored (about 4-5)
- 2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, trimmed and cut into 1-inch chunks
- Salt & freshly ground pepper
- 1 large white onion, finely chopped (about 1 1/2 cups)
- 2 cloves cloves garlic, very finely chopped
- 2 jalapeño peppers, seeded and very finely chopped
- 2 tablespoons lime juice
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
- 4 scallions, chopped
- 12 corn tortillas, warmed
- 1/4 cup reduced-fat sour cream for garnish
- 2 limes, cut into quarters

Directions:
- Heat a large cast-iron skillet over high heat until very hot.
- Place tomatoes in the skillet and turn occasionally with tongs until charred on all sides, about 10 minutes.
- Transfer to a plate to cool slightly.
- Cut in half crosswise; squeeze to discard seeds. Chop the remaining pulp and skins, set aside.
- Add 1 teaspoon of the oil to the pan and heat over high heat until the oil is very hot.
- Add chicken and season with salt and pepper.
- Cook, stirring occasionally, until the chicken is browned on all sides and no longer pink in the center, about 5 minutes.
- Transfer to a plate and set aside.
- Reduce the heat to medium and add the remaining 1 teaspoon oil.
- Add onions and cook, stirring, until softened, about 5 minutes.
- Add garlic and jalapeños and cook, stirring, for 1 minute more.
- Add lime juice and the reserved chicken and tomatoes.
- Bring to a simmer and stir in cilantro and scallions.
- Season to taste with salt and pepper.
- Cover to keep warm.
- Spoon filling into warm tortillas, roll up and serve with sour cream and lime wedge

Not only is this totally yummers, but very healthy too! Check out the nutritional information here, just scroll to the bottom and it's all there.

Mix it Up: Spicy Asian Soup / Goal #34: Try 12 new dinner recipes (2/12)

{not mine, but it looks a lot like this}

If there's one thing I love, it's a spicy soup. Back in the colder months I finally decided I needed to learn how to make my own spicy Asian-style soup. After a few Google searches and recipe look-ups I did what I do very often - I took bits and pieces from each recipe i.e. ingredients I prefer, ingredients I had on hand, techniques I felt confident I could execute, techniques that were quicker, easier, etc. and created my own, very yummy, very spicy, Asian inspired soup.

Obviously I'm sharing this recipe far too late now that we're hitting triple digit scorching weather! But after having a Saturday filled with heavy drinking, Sunday a spicy soup was just the fix for my aching hangover. In the spirit of hangover cures... Enjoy.

Spicy Asian Soup

Adapted from many Google searches

Ingredients:

- Soba noodles, I go with maruchan's fresh yaki-soba noodles*
- 1/2 cabbage, chopped
- 2 tbsp. soy sauce
- 2 tsp. chopped garlic
- 2 tsp. chili oil, I prefer Sun Luck chili oil
- 2 tbsp. chili pepper flakes
- 4 cups chicken stock
- 2 tbsp. chili pepper paste, I prefer Huy Fong chili garlic paste
- Fresh lime juice
- 6-8 oz. cooked protein (chicken, brisket, pork, tuna, tofu, etc.)
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
- 1/4 cup chopped green onion

Directions:

- Cook noodles according to package directions, cut to 4 inch lengths and set aside.
- In a large soup pot over medium heat, stir fry cabbage with soy sauce, garlic, chili oil, and chili pepper flakes for a few minutes, or until the leaves begin to look transparent.
- Add broth and bring to a boil.
- Reduce to a simmer and stir in chili pepper paste.
- After 10 minutes, add in noodles and cook for 4 more minutes.
- Add protein to each bowl. Ladle broth and noodles into bowl and top with lime juice, cilantro, green onion and salt to taste.

*I'm very new to Soba noodles and other Asian-style noodles. So I have no stake here on what's best to purchase. I personally bought maruchan's fresh yaki-soba noodles, found near the tofu/veggie burger/vegan food, and I liked. There are tons of other kinds to buy, but any curly, Asian, soup noodle will suffice for this.

Hump Day Fave: Starbucks Refresher!

{via}

Very Berry Hibiscus Starbucks Refresher to be exact! Oh-Em-Gee is this yummers. Whole blackberries and real fruit juice combined for a yumm way to recharge! It's my new fave, for sure. Not to mention the added benefits of the green coffee extract doesn't hurt.

Goal #96: Eat at 50/50

This goal has actually been completed twice over thus far! Slater's 50/50 is famously known for their Burgers by Design and whoa was it awesome. So awesome in fact, that during my first visit to Slater's 50/50, I was so excited I forgot to take a photo of my insanely yummy burger. Total bummer. But let me just tell you what I got...

The Flamin' Hot!

Spice things up with our signature fire beef patty, beer battered onion strings, fire roasted green chilli's, pepper jack cheese and chipotle mayo, served on a ciabatta roll.

*drrrooooolll*

I enjoyed it so much, I decided to go for my birthday, and get the exact same burger. Where, I also forgot to take a picture of my delicious burger, again! But I did get this lovely snapshot.

Happy Thirsty Thursday!

Goal #17: Color eggs for Easter with friends

 

For a fun girls date, we decided to get crafty and all cross this goal off our lists!

As always, we had a seriously awesome time, with some seriously high-larious moments. 

My sister recapped the night perfectly, check it out here.

Me, friendie-Shannon, sister-Alex

Goal #94: Bake and decorate cupcakes for someone special & Goal #37: Host a family board game night

When my sister's birthday was approaching in March, I knew this was the perfect opportunity to cross this baking goal right off my list. She made her birthday request for red velvet and this was the first time that I actually took baking seriously. I even measured out the mix for each cup in an attempt to have the most perfect even cakes ever!! and look how amazing these babies look...

By the look on her face, I think she loved them!

Then I hit it with a one-two-punch and decided to throw a mini-family celebration with board game night. It was a blast. I hope to have many more of these fun nights. I'm happy the birthday girl had a blasty-blast!

Goal #54: Eat at Pink's Hot Dogs

 And another one bites the dust!

One beautiful Saturday my sister asked me So what the heck do you want for your birthday? And I said, Hmmm, idk! Want to help me cross of something from my list? And of course she was IN!

So much so, she said You, me and Danny, my treat!

Hii, no complaints here! Even in blurr who can complain?

So off we went to Buena Park, CA where there is a PINK's at Knott's Berry Farm. Pretty awesome since we didn't have to hike all the way to Los Angeles for a hot dog. One thing to note, their menu is not as complete as the LA location, but you will get what you came for.

Our final order: one inferno dog, one planet hollywood dog, one chili dog, onion rings, fries and three sprites. I'm still full!

Thanks sis for helping me cross off one of my goals in honor of my 26th birthday! You're awesome!

I'm Feelin' Like...

...avocadosss!

{via}

This applies to SOO much!

...old beaus...

...old friends...

...old jobs...

...old bosses...

...hot sauce...

wait, what? I love hot sauce!

My future brother-in-law must have entered my thoughts. Damn David.

Sweet Anatomy Lesson

{via}

I'm Feelin' Like...

 ...ice cream cones.

Which made me think of ice cream trucks and I saw this...

{via}

...and couldn't stop laughing!

Happy *giggle-filled* Weekend!!

Mix it Up: Chicken Cacciatore / Goal #34: Try 12 new dinner recipes (1/12)

{not mine, but thanks Google images}

What a perfect incorporation: bring back the Mix it Up posts and complete a DZP goal!

Slow Cooker Chicken Cacciatore

Adapted from Fix-It & Forget-it *thanks shanny*

Yields: a lot!

Ingredients:

- 1 large onion, thinly sliced

- 1 1/2-2 lbs of chicken, cut up

- 2 6 oz cans tomato paste

- 4 oz can mushrooms, drained

- 1 tsp salt

- 1/4 cup dry white wine

- 1/4 tsp pepper

- 2 garlic cloves, minced

- 2 tsp dried oregano

- 1/2 tsp dried basil

- 1/2 tsp celery salt, optional

- 1 bay leaf

- 2 green peppers, thinly sliced

Directions

Place onion in slow cooker. Add chicken.

Combine remaining ingredients. Pour over chicken.

Cover. Cook on Low 7-9 hours, or High 3-4 hours.

Add bell peppers at the last 2 hours.

Serve over spaghetti.

We loved this recipe!  We topped the pasta with crushed red pepper flakes and Parmesan cheese... yummm!

Waffles!

Thanks to my skillzzzz at D& B's a few weeks ago,

waffles have became such a treat on Sunday mornings!

Birthday Adventures: Stop #5

Dinner at Acapulco!

Yummm! An annual fave, minus the flan.. yuck!

At 25, I am more than thankful for my friendships than ever before! Glad to be here..

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.7