Wedding

Wow.  I am so happy.  It makes me almost speechless.  I have so many loved ones around me.  Especially, TJ.  He makes me feel so beautiful and so happy.  Planning a wedding, getting ready for the holidays, considering moving, and living my life has been stressful.  However, on Monday I was dying to go dress shopping again.  My first time was at David's Bridal.  I found some beautiful dresses, and it was more so to get my feet wet.  I thought I liked this one by Vera Wang that was a Grecian dress with a sash.  I loved it and I always have wanted to wear Vera Wang.  However, I knew I wasn't ready.  So a month later I heard Priscilla of Boston was closing their business and everything was discounted.  I tried on over 20 dresses!  Everything was a giant blur. However, I learned that I liked high empire waist dresses, and I found a gorgeous dress.  But it was $1700 for a VERY simple dress.  I would've had to add a lot to make it sparkle.  So I said no.  Finally, I decided to go to a boutique in the Springs called Something New.  They had a fabulous selection, and it was kind of last minute.  I tried to find something, but nothing was coming close.  At the second to last dress, I tried on a gorgeous A-line dress with amazing embellishment.  I knew as soon as I put it on.  My heart was warm.  I thought of my fiance, my family, my friends.  Everyone close in my life was on my mind in this dress.  I didn't stop smiling.  I didn't want to get out of the dress.  My wonderful consultant, Lisa, grabbed two bridesmaid dresses, one purple, one sage, and a dark grey jacket, put everything next to me, and that's when I broke down.  It was that moment when I knew I found my eternal partner, and that he was going to be my husband and best friend forever and ever.  My heart dropped and I walked around the store for 30 minutes because I didn't want to get out of that dress.  Saying farewell to my dress, I immediately called my dad.  I explained the dress to him and sent him pictures.  My dress is on clearance so it is a lot cheaper.  And I hardly need any alterations since it has a corset back, just a hem and bustle.  That's it.  And of course it needs to be cleaned.  Plus the fixing of the beading is free and the steaming is, too!!!  After convincing my dad, I was sad not talking to my mom.  She is currently on a cruise in the Caribbean.  How fun.  However, the next day my mom was in port somewhere and texted me!  I sent her pictures.  She said I had to get it and it made her cry.  =]  Today, I went to the shop.  Bought my Maggie Sottero named Nevaya, stopped at work to kiss my fiance.  Now I'm home wearing my dress as I type this.  I feel amazing.  It makes me happy.  Planning the wedding and finding a dress has been difficult, but now I have a symbol of hope.  The dress is proof that this is not a dream.  Now I need a venue and everything after that falls into place. 
My colors are lavender, sage green, and ivory.  The theme is "Fall in Love" since that date is October 5, 2012.  I was thinking of having it at the Fine Arts Center, Red Rocks Amphitheater, or the Denver Opera House.  I'm hoping by the end of the year we will have decided.
We made an awesome wedding website where we will be posting information for our guests over the next year for every detail.  http://madisontyler.ourwedding.com/.  It will have our registry, place of wedding, ideal accommodations for everyone's budget, and fun things to do while you are in town.  Also I might make a FAQ after I get more questions about the wedding.  We are just so excited and it's all TJ and I ever talk about now.  We love our loved ones, and we both can not wait til we share our day with you.

"You know when you're in love when you can't fall asleep because reality is finally better than your dreams.
-Dr. Seuss.

Total Money Makeover

So yesterday marked the first day of starting Dave Ramsey's Total Money Makeover.  TJ and I have always agreed on how we spend our money.  We each have our own expenses.  And luckily I have no debt.  So I plan on helping TJ, not financially, but more so keeping him on track and dealing with the debt collectors.  We are sick and tired of being sick and tired.  We may not be married yet, but we want to start investing in our future, and if not for that then just for ourselves.  We made our budget for the month and will do so each month.  We will put together a $1000 Emergency Fund fast, then work on paying off the debt.  We were so happy about making a budget.  We want to control how our money is spent, and how much.  We give ourselves an allowance of $20 every two weeks and that is for anything we want!  So I budgeted for food, and we get about $14 a day to spend on dinner.  If we spend less, that surplus goes into the Emergency Fund as extra.  I am reading the TMM right now.  I am a little more than halfway done.  I have learned and extensive amount of information.  It can be a little overwhelming, but as Dave says, "You have to live like nobody else, so later you can live like nobody else."  It makes sense!!!  DOY!  And TJ and I live a very frugal life, and this plan is going to jumpstart our life and we should be fast ahead than everyone else.  No debt.  No new car payment.  No new house we can't afford.  We are very grounded and we both know what we can afford.  I AM NOT SAYING WE DON'T DAYDREAM or WISH FOR NICE THINGS, but the reward of being smart with money is so much greater that having car payments, house payments, medical payments, etc. for the rest of our lives.  And we want to retire early.  I want to help my parents and repay them for everything they ever did for me and my sisters.  I want to send them on their dream vacation.  I want to pay for their mortgage (Bucket List item =]).  I want their retirement to be easy.  I love my parents so much, and I want to give so much back to them even if it means a few Christmas presents will be cheap.  Maybe one Christmas I can pay for the whole family to go a CRUISE for Christmas.  Then it will be worth it.  For now, FRUGAL is my middle name.

Thank goodness I found someone who has the same ideas on money and allows me to be the budgeter and the one in charge.  I may be in charge, but we discuss every payment and everything we buy and do the math for a budget.  I love him so much and appreciate him more and more each day for it.
So 50% of marriages in America end in divorce.  75% of those divorces are from money problems and not being able to agree on money. Just a little "did you know" fact.

I am ready for this.  I am ready to live like no one else, so later I can live like no one else.  Let's get this Total Money Makeover going!!!


"Broke people giving financial advice is like a shop teacher with missing fingers."
-Dave Ramsey

"It Was 100 Degrees As We Sat Beneath A Willow Tree"

Oh my gosh I love summer so much!!!!  It has been a blast being outside and enjoying the sweet air.  Of course, it has been hotter than heck fire outside!  Plus, our A/C broke about a month ago, and the office is "trying" to fix it.  At least, I have a small fan that can keep me somewhat cool.

TJ and I have been going out and doing lots of things with each other and our sweet puppy, Max.  We kicked off the summer with meeting the one and only Chelsea Handler.  We drove up to Boulder for the day and went to one of her book signings.  She was so wonderfully nice and appreciative, nothing like you imagine you would meeting her. 

This was the best picture I could get of her!!!

She signed a copy for me!!! =]

I taught a baking class at church for the Young Women.  We made frozen yogurt pie and S'mores cupcakes.

We attended Territory Days in Old Colorado City.  It's this giant fair with cool booths with food, crafts, and neat little trinkets.  It was my first time.  Pretty fun, but $7 for a turkey leg?!?!?! Heck no.  One booth that I loved was La Henna Boheme's booth.  They are this awesome store in Manitou.  They did a couple of hennas for me!!  I loved it!  Max did mine and he was awesome!

 "Inner Happiness"

I asked Max if he could just get creative and do what he wanted.  Came out awesome!

We spent a lot of time in Manitou, getting mates (Maht-ays), shopping, eating ice cream and fudge, and the going to Graffiti Falls.  The first we went was with our awesome friends from work Jared and Miles, and then we went again with our awesome couple friends Jared and Laura.

 Miles is crazy!  He scooted all the way across that thing!

 Behind the falls!

 My awesome friend, Laura!!!

 Scared of heights much?

 Eating ice cream and being ever so silly.

My name is Bass Clef.

We went to Florida to visit my family!!  It was one of the best vacations ever!!  TJ immediately clicked with my family.  Within the first hour TJ was carrying Isabelle around the house.

My parents ran out to get some food, and came home to TJ running around with Isabelle.

We went to the beach and spent the week at my grandparent's beautiful beach house.  We celebrated the 4th of July with a golf cart parade.

We played in giant trees!

 

 My sweet sisters!

 Isabelle is so funny!

My handsome fiance and I.

We got free slurpees on 7/11 (in dixie cups).  We went downtown and celebrated Pride Fest with best friend and Man of Honor, Ryan Jones and his sweet boyfriend, Kevin.  Ryan and I got matching hennas to celebrate our awesome friendship.

We went to a Sky Sox game, and realized we were broke and didn't have enough money to pay for food.  So we left and went to Costco and go to hot dogs and drinks for $3.22!!!  Oh by the way, the Sky Sox won.

I had to go to the hospital because I had an ovarian cyst rupture.  I hated it!!!  The doctor prescribed me pain killers and I rested for 5 days straight.  It was hard to get back into the swing of things again, but TJ took excellent care of me, along with all the people who brought me dinner.  Thank you so much Sister Gremillion, Brother and Sister Butcher, and Brother and Sister Stockton!  I began to feel better after I received a blessing from Brothers Gremillion and Stockton.  I do have another cyst on the same ovary, and fortunately it has not given me any trouble.  =]

TJ and I went to Denver to visit IKEA after a week it opened.  It was crazy busy!  We bought for items for $4.97!  That's a steal!!!  We passed the time at Park Meadows mall because we didn't want to go home in rush hour traffic.

We went to the Shops at Briargate (where we work) every Thursday night and watch a free movie.  Everyone would bring chairs and blankies and curl up with some dinner.  The movies included, Despicable Me, Megamind, Back to the Future, Toy Story 3, Shrek, and How to Train a Dragon.  We got rained out at a couple, but it was such a blast.  We would set up, eat dinner, and watch the sun set.  It was very romantic, especially with hundreds of kids running around!!!

Today is Saturday.  The last Saturday before school starts on Monday.  I know that I'm going to be a lot busier, but I hope that all the things I did this summer, I will continue to do in the Fall.  I am most looking forward to getting to see my sister, Emily, for Thanksgiving!

TJ and I requested today off to spend time with Max.  We went to this dog day event at Briargate.  They had tons of fun booths set up with lots of yummy treaters.  =]  After being there for a while, we laid back in the grass under the shade and people/dog watched.  Max got lots of compliments on his blue/white eyes.  This one woman came up to us and asked if he was up for adoption.  I said no, he was ours.  She said, "Too bad, I would love to have this pretty boy."   Max loved all the dogs and people.  He was so tired he would go under booths' tables and just lay there.  We are so proud of him.  He is a total Mama's boy though. 

 Little Happy Family.

 My sweet boy.

 Pretty Boy.

My boys.

 The quote in the title of this post is from the song "Crooked Teeth" by Death Cab for Cutie.  I like to say that this is the theme song of this summer.  From adventures to romance, this song defines it.

"It was one hundred degrees, as we sat beneath a willow tree,
Who's tears didn't care, they just hung in the air, and refused to fall, to fall.
And I knew I'd made horrible call,
And now the state line felt like the Berlin wall,
And there was no doubt about which side I was on.
Cause I built you a home in my heart,
With rotten wood, it decayed from the start."

-Death Cab for Cutie

Love is in the Air

I can not wait to spend the rest of eternity with TJ.  Everyday I feel happier with him.  There is no other person like him.  We agree about money, how we spend our time, and that we need to be hard working people.  I love him so much.  Only 341 more days!!

Boobs

Why I dare ask, why everyone is obsessed with being the best and having the best?  Is it from what we are told when we are young?  Is it pressure from high class society?  I am sick of everyone being competitive and cut throat.  It's just disgusting.  Also, I am sick of everyone obsessing about their appearance.  I admit, I give it a bit of effort to look nice and presentable, but I'm not going all the way for a stupid boob job.  Seriously, what is that going to accomplish?  Everyone will see your big, fake, plastic knockers, and not realize you are a complete airhead.  You think people don't notice because of your looks, when in actuality, it's because you are boring!!!  Did you know that women with implants are twice as likely to commit suicide?  It's because after a while, they realize their deadbeat husband truly doesn't love them, just the jugs, and they want to end it all.  It is so sad that girls who have no confidence are going straight to the bank for a loan or asking "Mommy" and "Daddy" for money to help pay for them.  A boob job can cost about 3 grande.  A good boob job can cost up to 7 grande.  That kind of money can be donated.  Remember Japan?  Remember Haiti?  Remember Katrina?  There are people who are suffering in the world and you care about your insecurities so much that you have to make yourself feel better by making you B's to DD's.  People need to check themselves and others.  So many people don't do anything but pity.  Truthfully, those third world people don't want your pity.  They are the ones who pity you because you can not find happiness in yourself.  Loved ones died, houses washed away, cities destroyed, but people still find hope and love in life, in themselves.  I bet you some Haitian women don't care about their boob sizes after the earthquake. 

Women today in Modern times have to embrace their "flaws".  Cellulite, show it off.  Gross birthmark, who cares?  Big butt to no butt, wear those juicy jeans.  The point is that when a woman embraces these so called "flaws" she feels confident.  And nothing, I repeat, nothing is sexier than a confident woman who loves herself and the way she was made.  People were made a certain way for a reason.  It is to challenge our inner feelings, and we don't want to listen, we just want to take the easy way out.  The unnatural way.  If you hate your body's flaws that can be controlled, then it is your fault.  But don't be lazy and get lipo, eat healthy, exercise, do more fun activities out of the house.  Those are the kind of things that lead to loving yourself even more.  Scientifically, having a healthy lifestyle releases endorphins, and makes you happy, thus loving yourself and others around you.

It took me forever to realize this.  I love my body.  I love myself.  I know my family loves me for me.  I know my fiance loves me for me.  I know Heavenly Father loves me for just being me.  I may wish my stretchmarks were smooth, but I accept them as a part of me and I embrace them.

I am tired of seeing girls complain on Facebook about being fat, hating their noses, tired of being tall, and of course, small-big boobs.  Get over yourself and your body issues and grab a tissue.  Think about others before yourself.  You will see that maybe not the world, but your world will start to change.

A true woman who showed true sexiness and confidence.

And my favorite quote by my favorite woman.

"Nobody can make you feel inferior without your consent."
-Eleanor Roosevelt

Pie Shop

I found this picture after my last post.

"I am taking you to the bakery of your choice, and serving you a big, hot slice of humble pie"
-Rachel Berry, Glee

Poor Little Rich Girl

I'm so tired of being poor all of the time.  I can afford food and going out to eat once a week to 2 weeks.  I have been so use to it, I didn't even realize it.  But I am happy.  At this age, I'm not suppose to have a lot.  I am happy with no cable, old clothes, Max, and especially TJ.  TJ and I have learned how to make up for those things.  We love to watch Netflix.  It's like crack.  "Say crack again...crack."  We like to go out and find free things to do in the community, like the fair, movies showing for free, going to Manitou, graffiti falls, and having fun at the dog park with our beautiful dog.

 We love to cook for each other, however I think TJ enjoys it a little more.  He's loves everything I come up with.  At Costco, I bought a thing of mashed potatoes and I still have 5lbs of rice left.  So one night I am planning on making Tandoori Chicken with rice, Lemon Garlic chicken and mashed potatoes, and another night of making Shepherd's Pie.  Can not wait!  I just need to get my but to the grocery store.  Lately, it's been a lot of frozen pizzas and quesadillas, so I am hoping to get a little protein and veggies in our diet these next few days.

Oh I thought of another fun free thing we did!!!  Last Thursday, we went up to the new IKEA in Denver.  We got lunch and split some Swedish meatballs, and just wondered for 2 hours.  Of course, we had to get a souvenir!!!  We left with a flower shaped ice tray, a mug for TJ, and coasters, all for $4.97!!!!  We wanted to head home, but it was rush hour so we passed the time at Park Meadows.  I never realized how many fancy schmancy stores were in there!!!!  They did have a Lego's store.  I loved Lego's when I was little and now Isabelle is obsessed, too.  I took a picture of myself outside of the store and sent it to Isabelle, trying to make her jealous.

This is the picture I sent to Isabelle.

She was jealous, but not as jealous as I was when she told me she took a cooking class of Oprah's vegetarian chef that morning!!!!  She was in San Fransisco with my Dad and he just so happened to be able to take her!!!  WHAT REALLY?!?!?!  GAAAHHHH!!!!!  Oh well.  It's funny, because Isabelle wished she had been to the Lego store more than going to a cooking class with Oprah's chef!

Back to the point.  We are very wise and careful with what we spend.  It's hard, sometimes I want to go clothing shopping, but I can't afford it, not even Goodwill.  I want to eat out more often, but I can't.  I want to buy nice things, but I have to save save save.  I am happy.  Very happy.  I like my life.  I like earning things and working hard for it instead of it being just handed to me.  I know one girl who moved to a big city and her parents pay for everything, and all she does is party and complain about sleeping in.  I appreciate everything I own.  I work hard.  I make sacrifices.  But I am so happy doing it and willing.  I had some extra money when we went to IKEA and I have dying for a casserole dish, and this one at IKEA was $12! You can not beat that! I was so modern and pretty looking.  But I knew that saving that extra $12 could buy us dinner one night, even if that casserole dish can make us dinner.  TJ has been donating plasma, and we are saving up to buy a Wii so we can watch Netflix on there, and ask for video games by Christmas.  It will be a symbol, I think.  Here is something very nice, that we both worked hard for and saved up for a long time.  I'm proud of him.  I'm proud of us.

Oh and this is not a pity post.  I just felt like saying ya I'm tired of being poor, but I am grateful for it, too.  Humble and Happiness.  That's what matters.

"It's better to be a lion for a day than a sheep all your life."
-Elizabeth Kenny

Changing

So I've had this blog for almost 2 years.  Have I been super dedicated to it, no.  Have I liked typing my thoughts into it, yes.  But I know why I haven't had many posts.  I have many culinary adventures every day.  But I get so bored with typing the same thing.  So I am here to say that I will no longer be typing just about food encounters.  I want to do fun things about my life.  About my family.  About my friends.  About my love, TJ.  Yes, I will give out recipe ideas, and talk about yummy food,  but I am looking for a change.  I like what my sister does.  Her blog is so darling!  I check it almost every day because she is so good at expressing herself online just like how you would talk to her in person.

Times have been crazy.  I go to Costco almost everyday.  I love my puppy, Max.  I love my kitty, Brooklyn.  Boyfriend picked me sunflowers the other day.  He is so thoughtful.  Boyfriend has been taking care of me since I got sick.  Hopefully, we can go grocery shopping today, since it is pay day after all.  I heard money when I woke up this morning.  

I recently got engaged to Boyfriend.  Oh so exciting!  We went to Florida, and after 4 days of meeting my parents he asked them for their permission and they said YES!!

I still work at Panera, and I'm really excited to say that I am going on a business trip to Castle Rock for them!  I will help open a store with a new team!  So exciting!

The picture thing on here isn't working so I'll just come back later and post more!

MMMM Bye! =]

Quatro De Mayo

Ok so it is not exactly Cinco de Mayo yet, but I'm to excited to wait to blog tomorrow. I'm pretty sure Mexican is probably my favorite kind of food, besides Indian. I am so excited to eat yummy Mexican food. TJ and I are going to go to Salsa Brava tomorrow for dinner. Oh so excited. Last time I had their Chile Relleno. Oh my Spanish it was good, might have to get it again. Thinking about Cinco de Mayo made me realize how much Mexican food I eat. I eat quesadillas and salsa and guacamole and Chipotle and nachos all the time.
Lately though, I haven't been eating enough veggies and fruits, so I'm not changing my diet, but adding to it. More vegetables and fruits, I say! So far I have been doing pretty well. It's just about the choices. With Cinco de Mayo tomorrow I wanted to make a yummy salsa dip type thing. It's called "Cowboy Caviar". It's my sister Emily's recipe. Check out her blog @ http://emilyandtyhenrie.blogspot.com/. I always make her make it when I see her. It's so simple, and it's full of veggies.

Cowboy Caviar

Ingredients:
-3 avocados, diced
-3 roma tomatoes, diced
-1 tbsp of onion, diced
-Half a can of corn, drained
-Half a can of black beans
-Italian dressing seasoning package
-Canola oil
-White wine Vinegar
-Salt and Pepper
-Tostito's scoops chips

Directions:
-Mix all the veggies together. I don't like beans, so I never use them.
-Follow the directions on the Italian dressing package for oil and vinegar. Some water might be required. Add the seasoning first to the veggies, then coat with oil and vinegar mixture. You won't need the whole mixture.
-Salt and pepper to taste.
-Refrigerate for 30 minutes.
-Serve with chips.
-Enjoy!
See it's so easy and healthy and yummy! Again, I hate beans, but if you need more fiber, go for it!
I hope everyone has an awesome Cinco de Mayo!!!
Adios!

"I was 32 when I started cooking; up until then, I just ate."
-Julia Child

Starving College Student

Yes, behold, the poor post. I knew this post would come. I am a very starving college student, and it doesn't help that I obsess over food. For the past few weeks, I feel like I have been doing well maintaining my food budget. As Dave Ramsey likes to call it, "Living on a rice and beans." Which I have had rice with almost all my meals. The other day I made one of my favorite poor meals. You buy chicken breast, Picante salsa, pepper jack cheese, rice, limes, and cilantro. Super cheap and you can omit the cilantro and lime juice if you want. You place the chicken in a casserole dish squeeze one whole lime on top and dump a whole jar of salsa evenly on the chicken. Bake at 425 for about 25 minutes. With the rice add 2 limes and a handful of cilantro. With the last five minutes of the chicken place sliced cheese on top of each breast. Put the rice down first on the plate then on top add the chicken and salsa juicy goodness. I spent about $20 and made enough for six people. This was for Easter dinner this Sunday. All of us poor kids sitting on the couch, watching stand up, eating Mexican food on Easter. That's a memory right there.
So there's a little poor recipe right there. And if you make enough rice You can poor salsa on top and cheese. There was a sale at Safeway 2 jars for $5 so of course I got two! So I think I might have that for dinner tonight. Well, just as long as TJ's room mates don't eat my cheese, salsa, or rice, I should be good. Ok vent session: Someone ate my Pumpkin chocolate chip bread over there, and I found out that his roommate ate the pizza I bought on Saturday. There was a whole pizza!!! Ugh I was so mad! Why can't people respect other people's belongings and property. Room mates are the worst! Well, not all room mates. I love my room mate, Shannon. But I just can't stand people who don't respect my property. I spent money and that, not TJ, so it's my things. I'm not leaving my stuff over there anymore. End scene. I feel better.

So anyway, the life of a poor college student. Times have been hard with the lack of money. And I hate getting paid sometimes, which I know is weird, but when I do I want to spend it all. Celebrate, reward myself. Then after two days, half my paycheck is gone. UGHHHH!! It's fine though. I have one more week before my next paycheck and I have to make $50 work with gas and food. Ha wish me luck. I told TJ last night that this week it's going to be a lot of "rice and beans." Thank goodness he understands. So here's to lots of frozen meals, microwave dinners, and Ramen. Oh and speaking of Ramen, here's another good recipe! Cook the Ramen (Preferably chicken) and add one egg. Let the egg white cook. Don't break the yolk, yet! Add lots of hot sauce, I like Smoked Tabasco. Pour into a bowl. Break the yolk and stir! There you have it, Egg drop hot soup. Probably one of my favorite poor people's foods. Too bad I can't afford eggs. Ugh.
Well, time to enjoy the rest of my day off. It's rainy and cold outside, so maybe I'll take a shower and read. That sounds nice. Thanks for reading my post about being a poor college student. I know my mistakes with money, but how else am I ever going to learn? Leave a comment if you have any cheap recipe ideas!!! I'm always open to making yummy food for a cheap buck.

"Poor is a state of mind. Broke is, 'I'm just passing through."
-Dave Ramsey

Viva La Italia!!!

Ciao everyone! It's 7:30 AM and I am so tired, but I can't sleep. So of course, gotta meet me blog deadline. I feeling a little in touch with my Italian roots today, thanks Mom for that by the way. I love telling people my heritage, especially since I'm half Italian or a quarter or something like that, and I love cooking the foods from my heritage. I miss Sunday night dinners with my family because it was always pasta and red sauce! Yum! My mother has had Italian food every Christmas Eve has since she was born. True Italiano! However this past Christmas, my mother threw her hands in the air and said, "This year, we are breaking tradition!!" HHHHHHUUUHHHHHHHHH? Um I'm sorry, what? Every Christmas it's been lasagna, meatballs, homemade sauce, antipasto salad. My mother was ready for a change, something new and fun! So I jumped on the committee to help Christmas Eve dinner. We finally decided on T-Bones, Crab legs, Artichokes, and Baked Potatoes. Oh my it was finger licking good, literally! I was worried at first about this change in tradition and breaking it. I mean don't your ancestors come in while you are sleeping and yell at you telling you that you dishonor them? Ummm I guess not. Doesn't mean I didn't sleep with one eye opened that night.
I love things to have a specific place in life with a little spontaneous moments. However, my mother is one to keep tradition. I looked at her in a way. What we eat every year on Christmas Eve doesn't matter! It's the fact that we are with each other, loving one another, laughing. And good food, no matter it's traditional or not. Thanks for that lesson, Mom. Good food, good people, what else do you really need?

So that was a little bit of a tangent. I made one of my favorite things last week. Spaghetti and meat sauce with an egg on top! Yummy!!!! I made half a bag of spaghetti which was plenty! I bought a jar of fire roasted tomato sauce. For years I was always against jar sauce. Something about it freaks me out so I always made my own sauce. But I tried this one from Sunflower Market and it's amazing. Plus, I add red pepper flakes and salt and pepper to give it more of a kick. Then I brown some ground beef. Now here is the part that always throws people. I make an sunny side up or over easy egg to put on top of my pasta! Think I'm crazy? My mother said people do that in Italy all the time. True Italiano, again! And drink milk (or wine) with spaghetti and red sauce! The egg adds a wonderful creamy texture to the pasta. I love it so much!!! I suggest everyone tries at least once.

I mean really. How good does that look? I want some right now!!!

"Everything you see I owe to pasta."
-Sophie Loren

Yummy 'Bomb'ay Pizza

Ugh hello there bloggity. We meet again. It's been a total love/hate relationship with you. Hopefully, from now on it can be love.
I love to write. About anything. English was my best subject and I aced the English placement test in college so I don't have to even take any English classes, but I probably will since I like it so much.
Life has been so hectic...I know what you are thinking, here come the excuses, but seriously, I work just about everyday and it's hard to make time to do this, and I'm hardly ever alone. Which is fine, but I can't blog when someone is hovering over me.
So blog, let's do this. I am challenging myself to try and post 3 entries this week. So this is number one. I have until Saturday for the other 2. And yes, it's the middle of the week so that should light a fire under my booty patooty.

Ok so last Sunday, I decided that I wanted to try and cook dinner every night of the week instead of going out. It was a total success except for Saturday I wanted to go out on a date with my man. So on Sunday I really wanted to make pizza, but I had the craziest craving for Indian food. So I made 'Bomb'ay Pizza. Cute name, right? Ha, all me right there. The only that wasn't homemade was the dough, but I didn't want to make a big mess and I don't have a dough mixer so I bought some at Whole Foods, $3 ain't bad. So we decided the first night to do 4 little individual pizzas. I made a spicy curry tomato sauce and we topped it with tomatoes, garlic, peppers, green onions, mushrooms, and mozzarella. After it was in the oven, we topped it with prosciutto di parma, which is Italian bacon, and it was amazing. Luckily, there was still some left to put on the pizza. What....we wanted an appetizer. When the pizzas came out I topped it with cilantro and mango chutney. Delicioso!!!! Best pizza I ever had.
So we had a ton of leftover toppings and sauce so we wanted to make it again the next night, except this time we made just one large pizza! I took plenty of pictures on my phone and made sure to remember the recipe for my blog, well and for myself, too!!!

Indian 'Bomb'ay Pizza

Ingredients:
-1 lb of pizza dough
-1 80z can of tomato paste
-1 12oz can of tomato sauce
-1/4 cup of apple cider vinegar
-2 tbsp of curry powder
-1 tbsp of paprika, cumin, onion powder
-1 tsp of salt and pepper
-A pinch of cayenne
-2 cups of mozzarella
-1 tomato, diced
-1 bell pepper, diced (bright colors for a prettier pizza)
-8 mushrooms, sliced
-A handful of chopped green onions
-2 cloves of garlic, sliced or diced
-4 thin slices of Prosciutto (optional, but worth it)
-A handful of roughly chopped cilantro
-A little jar of mango chutney

Directions:
-Preheat the oven to 450.
-Start by prepping all of your veggies, and put each veggie into different bowls. It's makes for a fun dinner activity for the family, especially little kids. You can do individual pizzas, or just make one large one and everyone can throw stuff on it.
-Mix your cans of tomato sauce and paste, add all the spices and seasonings, and apple cider vinegar. If it needs to be thinned out add a little bit of water.
-Do not be scared of the dough. It is your friend, and tastes pretty good, too! Do not knead the dough. Start out by stretching the dough on a lightly floured surface and add a touch of flour to your hands. Make circular motions by stretching the dough. After doing that about ten times, hold it with your knuckles and just lightly stretch out the dough by moving it from one hand to the other, keep in mind by using your knuckles. If you are still confused here is a link for how to stretch pizza dough. And you don't have to get all fancy and toss it in the air. You want to eat pizza, not floor pizza. http://youtu.be/72oe_j-0gwE
-Now it is time to build the pizza! This is probably the best part besides actually eating the pizza.
-Start out by spreading the sauce all over leaving one inch around the outside, remember we want the crust!
-Place just a handful of cheese on the sauce and the tomatoes. It's better to have the tomatoes under the cheese because they burn easier.-Place more cheese on top then add the veggies, then add the rest of the cheese!

-Bake in the oven for about 15-20 minutes, keeping your eye on it. If you want to, the last five minutes add the prosciutto to crisp it up or add it afterward. We did it both ways and each one is good!
-Add the cilantro, and/or prosciutto.

-Slice it up and drizzle some mango chutney on your big slice!!!

-I hope everyone enjoys this recipe, I know I did!

Welp it's time for work, see busy busy busy.

"Ideas are like pizza dough, made to be tossed around. "
-Anna Quindlen

Life and Food

Wow. Hi blog. How are you? Oh I'm fine thanks.
Lord have mercy, it has been almost 5 months since my last post. I decided to take a vacation from the whole blogging thing. I started to feel pressure and I felt like I was writing for others and not myself anymore. I made sure all of my grammar was right, and all the fun fonts were correct. But now I don't care. This is MY blog. If I spell something wrong, or make a mistake, I don't care. I can't obsess over things like that because then I am not enjoying writing anymore. Writing is about expressing your feelings and thoughts and having it mean something, if not to anyone, then yourself.
Life has been a little hectic as well. I moved out of my old apartment and in with my new room mate, Shannon! We have certainly been eating a lot. Between moving, school, work, and running errands, the last thing I wanted to do was sit down and write, which is a bummer because I love to write. Speaking of which, I decided that I want to continue to go to school after I get my three Associates, and go for my Bachelor's in Journalism. I want to go to school in Denver, Seattle, San Fran, or NYC. I want to work for Bon Appetit Magazine. Oh that is the ultimate dream. I noticed that my goals and dreams have changed over the past couple of years. For instance, I wanted to go to the Art Institute of Denver, I wanted to open a Dinner Theater, I wanted to be a personal chef, I wanted to work on a cruise line and travel, and I wanted to open a little delicatessen. Now it's "Big Time Food Writer For Bon Appetit, who appears on Top Chef and The Next Iron Chef to Judge" or something like that.

So Food! Oh glorious food! That's what this really about, right? Wonderful, decadent, scrumptious food! I must say, I have been eating rather well these past couple of months. I have been trying to cook more since I moved in, and so far it's going along nicely. Made pasta and Tikka Masala. As for everything else, it's been frozen gourmet Boca burgers, frozen pizzas, salads, quesadillas, cereal, and frozen tamales. Oh but don't you worry, I always like to spice up my college meals. I have all of these big, beautiful cook books sitting in my cupboard, and I plan on using at least one a week. Just open the James Beard Cookery book, and cook something gammit....gammit is my new favorite word. It's all about time, and really, who has that now-a-days? But I am always wanting to cook. Unfortunately, I took all my cooking classes, and now I have baking classes. BLEH!!! Just got push through it, I keep telling myself.

So more posts to come. I have so much to talk about, food wise that is. Can't wait!
Long live the blogs!!!!!!!

"I have long believed that good food, good eating is all about risk. Whether we’re talking about unpasteurized Stilton, raw oysters or working for organized crime ‘associates,’ food, for me, has always been an adventure."
-Anthony Bourdain