Binx Vs. Crowley

November 11th, 2013

Somehow I forgot to include the most recent addition to our family. 

Back in the beginning of October, Kacey (Jage's 2nd oldest sister) and I went to Walmart to get some groceries...and low and behold there was a woman in the parking lot giving away kittens. 

I was bound and determined to not get one because both Jage and I are allergic, and not only was this little fuzz-ball a kitten...but he was long haired too. But, after holding him and realizing that a kitten is so much less work than a puppy or a baby...I decided to go ahead and bring him home. 

Jage wasn't exactly pleased...and at first he was sucking down A LOT of Benedryl to try and not suffocate. But, with me bathing the little monster once a week, and Jage building up a tolerance to him...we have successfully and indefinitely added him to our family. 

*I love black cats and have had two previously to this one (Little Wee and Bagheera) ...they are the ONLY cats that don't make me itch or sneeze...which makes me think they're either my "familiars" or it's a purely psychological allergy. 

Now I named the kitten in the car... I mean, it's a no brainer.

October-Halloween-Black Cat-Hocus Pocus = BINX

Hahaha...Jage hated it. Said it was a stupid name. And so I went through a whole list of names appropriate for a 1 pound black fur-ball that I brought home in October. 

Salem

Shadow

Lucifer (I should have stuck with this one...)

Atticus

Binx

Crowley

Well Jage is such a "Supernatural" fan that of course he wanted Crowley...

That lasted about a week. It's too much of a mouthful to yell when he's sharpening his claws on my sofa, or chewing through the piece of yarn I am working with on a project!!!

And so it went back to Binx. 

Jage doesn't like it one bit, and refers to him as "Your cat", "Cat", "Creeper", "Fuzz Brain" etc. 

I'm waiting for him to slip up and call him by his actual name...then I will tease him forever. 

Chicken Pot Pie Yet Again...lol

November 11th, 2013

Ok...so I know I haven't been the greatest about keeping you guys up to date with my kitchen conquests. 

A lot of that has to do with me starting a new job, learning to crochet and clipping coupons... 

BUSY BUSY BUSY...that's me. I work, I work out, I swim, I crochet, I coupon, I clean, I do laundry and go grocery shopping...and it seems that by the time I finally have a minute to breathe, well by then I'm in bed. 

Anyways, here's a few pictures of tonight's dinner (Jage's dinner...I ate a tomato sandwich)

* I cheated a little and used pre-made biscuits for the top...I'm too tired to make pie crust tonight. 
But, I saved the bacon grease from Jage's breakfast the other day...so I used that when I made my roux for the filling. I hope he likes it!!!

Introducing Mr. Picky Pants and The Mad Chef

My Menu Upside Down and Golumpkies for Kacey and Me.

October 31st, 2013

I was pretty tired Tuesday after getting home from work...so I shuffled my weekly menu ideas around. 

Instead of making my Gramma's amazing stuffed cabbage, or as I know them "Golumpkies"...I decided to opt for an easier dinner...which ended up being English Muffin Pizzas.  

Hooray right? An easy home cooked meal ready for Mr. Picky Pants as soon as he woke up before work. 

Hahaha...if only! Jage came into the kitchen and took one look at them and I knew it was pure instinct that had had me warm up the remainder of the chicken pot pie I had made the night before. 

And, of course he sat down and devoured the rest of that and I ate my English Muffin Pizza's that were in fact DELICIOUS. So delicious that I neglected to take a picture of them...whoops.

Yesterday, I was lucky enough to not have to work (well I didn't work today either), but I was Hell bent on making stuffed cabbages...which is exactly what I did.

I mixed up the ingredients for the filling and stuffed the pre-boiled cabbage leaves then stuck them all on the steam rack in my crock pot. I let the little buggers steam for about 6 hours and then took one out to try.

YUM!!!! They were AMAZING.

I had spent a few hours that afternoon making cookies with Jage's sister Kacey and her 3 kids, and while she was here she had asked if I would share my golumpkies. I of course said yes, and when they were done I packed some up and took them to her work so she could enjoy them for her dinner. 

She really liked them, which was a blessing because Mr. Picky Pants did not...so he ate the left over tuna casserole I had made them all for lunch (yuck). I indulged on several delectable golumpkies and Kacey came over after work and enjoyed a few more. So between the two of us, we polished off this whole pot of sheer deliciousness.

All in all, I'd say it was a successful dinner...even though Mr. Picky Pants snubbed his nose at this Polish treat. 

Onward to the next recipe!!

-Leanne

An Epic Chicken Pot Pie.

October 31st, 2013

Well, sometimes you have to take the bad with the good. Mr. Picky Pants (Jage) LOVED the pot pie I made him the other night. I only was able to eat a small wedge of it and he gorged himself on the rest. I'm pretty sure the massive thing weighed at least 5.5 pounds. 

Beautiful wasn't it???
Like I said, he LOVED it...so much that he did not share. 


I was actually pretty sad because it was so good I wanted more...

OH WELL! Lol

This Week's Menu (Hopefully)

October 28th, 2013

Alright everybody! Are you waiting on the edges of your chairs waiting for my first meal post??? 

Well, you're going to have to wait until tonight, because right now I am just posting my Meal Menu for this week. 

I've checked Pinterest, asked multiple friends for their input, watched my favorite show "The Pioneer Woman" and finally decided on these seven dinner meals for the next seven days. 

Monday: Classic Chicken Pot Pie with a Not so Classic Leanne TWIST.

Tuesday: GOLUMPKI!!! And for those of you who are not Polish, Stuffed Cabbage. 

Wednesday: Crock Pot Mac 'N Cheese Baby!!!

Thursday: First Time Navajo Tacos. (Fingers crossed please?)

Friday: Parmesan Crusted-Broiled Tilapia with Brown Rice, and Roasted Asparagus. 

Saturday: Whole Wheat English Muffin Pizzas with a Tossed Salad and Homemade Croutons

Sunday: Crock Pot Beef Roast with Red Potatoes, Carrots and Baking Powder Biscuits 

Keep checking in for photos and new posts for each of these nights. 

-Leanne

A Very Hungry Beginning

October 27th, 2013

Dear Friends, Family and Fellow Readers,

I have in fact decided to start a new blog that will chronicle my daily meal ideas and recipes. 

I am doing this largely because I am currently madly in love with Mr. Picky Pants, (as I affectionately like to call him when he's not around) and unfortunately the homemade meals I grew up on as a child don't seem to tickle his fancy as much as I'd once hoped. 

So, in my attempt to entice his palate with something other than his beloved "Tuna Casserole" and "Mac and Tom" concoctions...I have come to Blogger to help me record the recipes I create or recreate that he actually likes...and the ones that are an epic failure. 

I hope you'll enjoy my posts about our crazy life, my insane cooking tactics, my infrequent kitchen meltdowns and the results from it all. 

-Leanne