A quick Saturday post for you! 10 fast food/chain restaurant food items you can't live without!

Everyone has them, not just me, right, those fast food/chain restaurant food items that you crave??  What are your 5/10/50??

My top 10 are:

1.  Croutons from Ruby Tuesdays - love that salad bar!
2.  Peanut Butter Pie from Uno's
3.  Any pear/candied walnut/chicken or turkey salad with cranberries, but usually from the British Beer Company
4.  Wendy's fries, Jr hamburgers, and cokes - they're all from the same restaurant, so they count as one;)
5.  TGI Friday's mac and cheese!
6.  Any soft taco from taco bell - no sour cream, please!
7.  Papa Gino's cheesy breadsticks!
8.  Dunkin Donut's brownies!
9.  Outback's bread!
10.  and last, but not least, Burger King's frozen soda thing - I don't even know if they still have it, that's how long it's been since I've been to BK (don't really live near one anymore) - but those were worth the stop!

Friday night seafood night - Pan seared tuna and onion soup mix/roasted potato things:)

Happy Friday, everyone!  Usually I say happy Friday because it's the end of a hard-worked work week:)  This week I say it because I finally am feeling a little better, and even a little hungry!  Yippee!  I was able to eat about a half portion of what I usually eat for dinner, with a few "snacks" during the day - think banana chips, rice, and fat free frozen yogurt - so that is pretty much more than I've eaten all week!  Yay Yay Yay!  The husband and I were discussing how he always seems to get colds, where as I always get stomach bugs, but we never seem to give them to each other.  At least one of us is usually healthy:)

Hasn't this weather (we're in MA) been amazing??  I haven't been able to enjoy it of course, but I'm hoping to be able to tomorrow, and that the nice weather will continue!  I've got to start on my couch potato to 5k plan (eeek) and I need to be better to do that!

But anyways, enough late night blabbering - how did I make tonight's meal you say?  E-A-S-Y! 

I marinated 2 regular-size tuna steaks and 1 really small one in about a 1/2 cup of soy sauce, 1/4 cup honey, and crushed red pepper for 2 hours.  I then pan-seared it over medium high heat, in about an 1/8 cup of olive oil, for about 4 minutes per each side.  They were a little more "cooked" than I would've liked (the husband agrees) but I love pan-seared seafood!   And I always love these potatoes!!

Fingers crossed that I wake up tomorrow early (errands and mucho things to catch up on) and feel better than today!  I'd like to eat a 3/4 portion meal please;) 

 husband's first helping/plate

my sad plate - it's super close up, so it looks like more;)  I want more food!

Have a great night and weekend, everyone!  I'll be back Sunday with a new crockpot recipe for you:)

Smelled so good, wish I could've eaten it - Cajun Chicken and Rice!

Simple and easy again tonight, as I'm still sickly - ugh, how annoying!  Positive thoughts that tomorrow I'll feel better!  I must've subconsciously known something was going to be up this week because even though the menu has new things on it, they're quite simple, phew!

Tonight I modified a recipe off the side of a Zatarain Spanish Rice box.  I can't wait to have it again since it smelled soooo good and the husband loved it!  Since I'm disappointed I couldn't eat it, I'm hoping it's a sign my stomach is coming around:)

What you'll need:

• 3 boneless chicken breasts, cut in half
• Cajun seasoning, as much as you'd like
• 2 tbsp margarine
• 1.5 cups cut up tomatoes
• 1/2 cup chopped green onion
• 1.5 cups water
• 8 oz spaghetti sauce
• 1 box Zatarain Spanish rice

Heat the margarine over medium high heat in a large skillet until melted.  Coat chicken with as much Cajun seasoning as you'd like, then brown the chicken pieces in the margarine.  Once brown, remove from skillet and set aside.

Add rice, water, veggies, and spaghetti sauce, mix together, and put the chicken back in.  Bring to a boil, then cover, turn to medium low, and cook until until done, about 25 minutes.  How easy was that!  The little bit of thickness the spaghetti sauce brought to the rice mixture smelled so wonderful - again, hoping it's a good sign over here.  It's hard to cook when you don't want to taste things!

Fingers crossed for tomorrow!  Also, has anyone else seen this advertised or been the previous 2 years they've toured?  I love this show, and have never heard of this "tour" but I'm thinking maybe I would like to go - it would be so fun!

Wicked Cheap Wednesday - non-St. Patrick's Day related, oops!

Sorry to all of you hoping for a St. Patty's Day post - not a fan of cornbeef and cabbage...any recommendations I can try for next year?

Since I'm still using what's in our freezer/cabinets, I made/improvised a recipe from the side of a can of turkey gravy.  It became a hot turkey and stuffing sandwich!  Yes, yes, I forgot the cranberry sauce and have profusely apologized to the husband - I apologize, again!  Will not happen again!  See what happens when I don't put something on my list - it gets forgotten!  Does this happen to you?

You will need:

• 1 lb turkey breast pieces - either deli meat or cutlets - I used cutlets - $5.50
• 1 10.75 oz can of turkey gravy - $1.00
• 1 box turkey stuffing - $1.50
• bulky rolls - .75 cents
• 1 box of frozen breakfast sausage - $1.00 on sale

Plus salad stuff and fries we already had = $9.75!  I didn't eat it because I was/am still down and out with the bug, but it smelled good, I think;)  The husband ate 2 sandwiches (hefty ones) and there was enough left for at least 2 more.  Very simple, thank goodness because I didn't have the energy or attention span to put too much thought into this one!

Preheat oven to 350.  Make stuffing as directed on the box.  While that is pretty much making itself, cook the entire box, 10 pieces, of breakfast sausage in the microwave for 5 minutes.  When done, cut into very small pieces, add to the cooked stuffing, and place all of it in an 8x8 pan and bake for 15 minutes, or until crispy.

While that is happening, heat the can of gravy to a boil in a skillet.  Once boiling, add the turkey pieces and cook until done.  Once both that and the stuffing are done, load as much as you'd like onto any kind of bread/roll you'd like and eat up! 

And oh yes, cranberry sauce...

Here's hoping tomorrow night I can eat the recipe I make :(

Sorry about the lack-of followup post!

Hey all, sorry about the lack-of followup about Sunday's meal.  I've been hit with a lovely bout of some sort of stomach bug and food, um, isn't that appealing right now.  I will force myself, quickly, to post the outcome of Mexican Fiesta.

The husband liked it - gave it a 9 I think.  I should've known I was getting sick when I couldn't stomach looking at it or eating it...

I still think it looks horrendous - I know I'm still sick, though.  This is what I tried to eat that night:

It didn't go well...I ended up eating a salad, which didn't even sit well (sorry for the details).  I think this recipe would definitely have been better as a kind of appetizer/dip for nachos.  It was more a like a Mexican stew.  With eliminating some of the liquid, either from the beans, or tomatoes, or maybe one of the soups, I don't think it would've been so soupy and to me, yuck looking.  I'll have to try it again when I don't have a stomach bug on the horizon!

Hopefully I can eat something normal, not toast or Cheerios, soon!  Have a great day, everyone!  Wish me luck and good health!

Happy Pi Day!

That is to you, my husband, and your friends;)  I love my computer man genius:)

How is your weekend everyone?  Great over here!  Got to finally enjoy Up in the Air (to me, who knows nothing about the craft of acting, it was amazing), Frost/Nixon, and Precious - yes, it rained all weekend;)  Precious was intense but I see now why Mo'nique won an Oscar, etc. 

Oh yes, I did cook this weekend;)   Tonight I'm making Mexican Fiesta in the crockpot, and an Ultimate Carrot Cake, just for the man:)  I'm going to post the recipes and pictures below, then let you know we thought of them tomorrow night:)

Mexican Fiesta - what you'll need:

• 1 lb hamburg
• Pam spray
• 1 can red kidney beans
• 1/2 bag white corn tortilla chips
• 3 cups shredded cheddar cheese
• 1 can cream of mushroom soup
• 1 can cream of chicken soup
• 1 15oz can diced tomatoes and chiles
• extra small can of chiles if you like extra spice
• 2 tbsp chili powder
• 1/2 cup red onion, chopped

 Brown the hamburg, and once browned, mix in the beans, undrained.  Spray the inside of the crockpot with Pam Spray.  Place half the tortilla chips in the bottom, then put half of the hamburg/bean mixture on top of that.

In a separate bowl, mix together the soups, tomatoes/chiles, chili powder and onion.  Place half of this mixture on top of the hamburg mixture, then put half of the shredded cheese on top.  Repeat steps one more time, then cook on high for 3 hours.

How do you think it will come out??  It's Mexican food and in a crockpot, what could go wrong??

Ultimate carrot cake!  How will this turn out?

You will need:

•  1 box of carrot cake mix, for example, Pillsbury
• 1/2 cup water
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 4 eggs
• 1/2 cup any kind of chopped nuts - I used almonds
• 10 oz pineapple, not drained
• 1/2 cup shredded coconut

Preheat oven to 350.  Spray a 13x9 pan with butter Pam Spray and then sprinkle with flour.  Mix together the carrot cake mix, water, oil, eggs, and pineapple.  Beat for 30 seconds on low and 2 minutes on medium.  Once mixed, add the nuts and coconut, then pour into the pan. 

Bake for 40 minutes, or until toothpick comes out clean.  Let cool for at least one hour, then frost with whatever type frosting you like - I used cream cheese frosting, just for the husband, and keep refrigerated until serving.

I'll give you a sneak of how we liked this one - I topped mine with the Purely Decadent Coconut Milk ice cream stuff I've been loving and um um um!  I scraped off my frosting though;)

So this continued the spring cleaning of sorts of our fridge/cabinets - another success in that aspect!  I'm so proud of us!  Grocery bills have gone down, and we're being creative:)

I've got some spreadsheets to make in regards to houses we're going to see soon, and I've got to watch Up in the Air again...love it so much:)  Then it's off to finish my book and start a new work week!  Lots of exciting things going on around here:)  What's exciting in your life?  What's in your pantry or freezer that want to use and what do you want to use them for. 

Here are 3 things I'm still trying to figure out what to do with:

1. can of chickpeas
2. 2 cans of mushrooms
3. flaxseed

Help!

See you tomorrow night - enjoy what's left of your weekend.  Is anyone as cranky about losing an hour's of sleep as me??

Yes, I'm still cooking from the freezer/cabinet leftovers:)

Happy Friday, everyone!  We made it thru another week!  The freezer is looking great, and next week will be the week I really tackle the cabinet with the canned items and boxed items!  Woohoo, how exciting;) 

Last night I made Baked Pork and Shrimp Wontons with leftover ground pork and shrimp.  As I suspected Wednesday night, it was time consuming, and since I grocery shopped, had to put that stuff away, etc, we ate dinner at 8pm.  I am not a fan of this.  I like to eat around 6:30.  I felt like I ate and it was time for bed!

Nonetheless, they were pretty tasty - I say pretty tasty because I felt they needed something more...maybe once you read the ingredients you can suggest something - a veggie, a sauce, a seasoning, something was just missing.  Husband gave them a 9.5 - I need a 10!

What you'll need:

• 1 package of wonton wrappers - I used about 25 of them and had plenty of mixture left with l lb ground pork - I was sick of folding them, though!
• 1/2 lb - 1 lb ground pork
• 1/2 lb small shrimp, uncooked, but de-shelled, and minced
• 8 water chestnuts, finely chopped
• 2 scallions finely chopped
• 2 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 lg egg, beaten
• 1 tsp sesame oil
• 1 tbsp cornstarch

Preheat oven to 375.  Combine all ingredients and let sit for 10 minutes.  Lightly spray a baking sheet with Pam.  Put 1 tsp of the mixture on each wonton wrapper and fold into somewhat of a pocket; seal with a small amount of water.  Bake for 15-20 minutes or until crispy and cooked thru.

Sounds easy right?  Well spooning that mixture onto each (about 20) wonton wrappers and folding them up takes a lot of time, too much for when you're starting to make dinner at 6:50! 

Did I forget to mention I have a steamer, which would be great for these things, but I'm scared to use it!?!

The best part of the meal to me was the Beef Rice-A-Roni.  All stuff from the freezer/cabinet makes me very happy though:)

Tonight was frozen flounder with crab stuffing that I did buy fresh last week and froze.  Easy, and nothing fancy because it's Friday night, and you know what, I am t-i-r-e-d!! 

I'm going back to watching the Bourne Identity with the husband hopefully followed by Up in the Air:)  See you all later this weekend AND please give me suggestions for those wontons - I'll post a picture of them later.

Last but not least - it's a Friday night, what's your drink of choice?  Mine you ask?

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