jessica*bree

Photos from random happenings

Since I started working on Project: Life Memorabilia (see blog here), I not only collect more junk, but I also snap more quick phone photos.  I figure even if I decide to not use the photos, the date stamp of the photo will help job my memory when it comes time to scrap about my everyday life.  Figured today that these are good for blogging too!  Love that :)

 

Lunch at Blue Fin Sushi

We went to BFS for my coworker Keiko's last day at work.  I already miss her!  I got the soy sauce flavored Ramen with roasted pork on top.  Good!  Made me long to go back to Japan again.

Goofing around with Christine

You should have seen me push her around our area, up and down the hallway in front of the offices (everyone was out)...  And how cute is Christine!  Even stuffed in a moving bin :)

Knitting with Jennifer & Ellen

I want to work on my afghan more!  I need to try to get out with Ellen and Jennifer to knit/crochet more :)

 

Tasca - Tapas with Ellen & Lucinda

Tried this new tapas & latin food place with Lucinda & Ellen... sorry for the awful photos but it was pretty dark in there :)

 

CPK 

This morning I woke up and wanted to go out to eat... I tried like 3 or 4 people and everyone was busy, so I ended up at CPK alone.  I read my book so all was good.  I just like how this photo came out using Hipstamatic.  The pic is of my mango lemonade which I LOVE at CPK

Good BBQ...

  

When I was at Taste of Atlanta last year, I tried the ribs and slaw from Jim n Nick's BBQ.  It was so good!  I have been wanting to head out to one of their restaurants since then and finally made the trek out to The Avenues to visit them.  They have a pretty big menu.  I opted for the ribs and two of the veggies of the day - fried green tomatoes & corn on the cob.  I tried the BBQ ranch with the tomatoes at the reco of the staff.  The ribs were tasty (but smaller than the ones I had at Taste of Atlanta) and the sides were fresh and good.  The BBQ ranch was a great reco.  I want to go back and try the pulled pork and some of the other sides.  But for now, my BBQ craving has been fed.

Caramel Cupcake Goodness

Its a friend at work's bday this week and his favorite cake is Dulce De Leches Cake.  So he "challenged" me to make a cupcake inspired by this dessert.  I took the easy way out, and googled some recipes and viola, ooey gooey cupcake magnificence.  

You can find the cake recipe here at Playing House (adorable food blog!) and the frosting I used was a tad diff than hers, its here.

I am usually a box mix for the cake, topped with homemade kind of frosting girl, but this was super easy and yummy.  I liked the texture of these a bit more than a box mix and it had a nice flavor.  But the STAR of this cupcake is the yummy rich frosting.  This buttercream can melt a bit if it gets too warm.  And its enough frosting for 2 dozen cupcakes so I ended up with a LOT left over.  I threw some out but saved 1/2 cup!  It may be my downfall :) 

My only complaint - these cupcakes are a bit monochromatic so they do not make for the best photos ;)  

Oh and for the record, this is TOMORROW's post a bit early.  I am still counting this in my 30 days of blogging goal!

J'adore Paris

Seeing the movie An Education a while back reminded me of how much I love and miss Paris!  So a few things to help get you in the French mood too!

SPEAK: Pimsleur French

I love these language lessons.  They focus on accent, listening and speaking.  You can find them in lots of places, like Barnes & Nobel.

COOK: Warm Goat Cheese Salad

Seriously one of my fav things to eat in Paris.  Pair it with a simple Croque Monsuer.  Recipe here.

 

GO: French Food or Something Close

French food is often insanely over-priced in the US.  While its not the best ever, I do like La Madeleine.  Its affordable and yummy.  Find one near you!  Bon Appetit!

http://www.lamadeleine.com/

WATCH: French Kiss

So not a real French film, but a cute take of the differences between Americans, Canadians, and the French.  I love this movie as much as I love Paris!  One of my favorite lines from this movie - donnez-moi a break! 

 

Feel free to share your other French inspired ideas :)  

j*b

Cook for Now & Later - Idea 3

Another ground turkey idea for my healthy cook in bulk suggestions.  This idea is to make a bunch of meatballs and eat some now and freeze the rest.  Unless they are going in tomato sauce, I tend to keep my meatballs very basic, no fillers.

Meatballs:

2.5 lbs Lean Ground Turkey

1 packet of lipton onion soup mix

The soup mix will give the meatballs more of a beefy taste.  Mix together and roll into golf ball size meat balls.  This should make about 10 "servings", with ME eating one serving, but DH eating 2 servings.  Place the meat balls on a cookie sheet and bake at 350 for 30 minutes or until done.

Split up the meatballs into 2 batches.  On one batch add a sauce made of 1 can of reduced fat cream of mushroom soup and 1 packet of lipton onion soup mix (I don't add all of the lipton mix, add to taste) and 1 can of water or milk.

The other half can be served with pre-made sweet and sour sauce, beef gravy, or tomato sauce and pasta.

These freeze very well plain OR in sauce.

Cook for Now & Later - Idea 1

So I have been blogging about trying to cook less often and freezing a bunch of meals.  Not everyone is ready for full on "once a month" cooking, so I thought I would share recipes/ideas for making extra meals each time you cook.  The idea would be cook 2-3 meals worth of food at once and either save the other meal for later that week or freeze for another time.

My first idea - Taco Meat!

I will include notes each time of how to prepare the food for a family of 2 vs. family of 4-5.

Shopping List

2 lbs  ground turkey or lean beef

2 packets of taco seasoning

1 can rotel tomatoes (mild if you are cooking for kids)

1 can of corn

Baked Tostitos

Shredded cheese (reduced fat)

Taco Shells *optional - see note below

Shredded Lettuce

Salsa

Sour Cream

Any other taco toppings you like

Brown the 2lbs of meat in a large pan (or brown one at a time if you have to).  Add the two packets of taco seasoning and cook as directed on packet (adding water and simmering).  Half of the meat can be using NOW for tacos or taco salad.  For a family of just 2, you might have enough for two nights, so you can do tacos one night and taco salads later.

Place the other half of the taco meat in a bowl and add the beans (drained), corn (drained) and tomatoes (DO NOT DRAIN).  Freeze or refrigerate in a casserole dish (or flat in a ziplock bag or in freezer container of your choice).  When you are ready to eat the casserole, top with 1 cup each of crushed baked tostitos and shredded cheese.  **For just two people, split this into TWO casseroles.

You can eat the other chips with the taco salad if you want, OR instead of tacos make nachos with the chips.

I know these are not such perfect directions so I hope it made sense!

Once a month cooking done healthy

I am lucky to have a stay-at-home hubby.  Only small issue is that his cooking abilities are pretty basic!  So when I stumbled today on the idea of once a month cooking (OAMC), I thought PERFECT!  I can make bunch of food on a Sunday and freeze it.  Then Thomas can thaw and heat.  Only issue is finding healthier OAMC recipes.  I am not sure I can find that many so I am also going to make some WW or healthy recipes that I expect will freeze well.

I plan to share my process for anyone that wants to play along.  I helps to read about the concept in general online first.  I liked this beginner's guide as a start.

I am thinking I will try making several dishes this Sunday and then several more next Sunday.  Baby steps :)  Plus I don't need 30 dinners.  We eat out at least once a week, plus I crop a lot of weekends, and we order in every so often.  So I am targeting more like 15 to 20 meals. I will say I have a few challenges - 1) no beef or pork, 2) healthy and 3) nothing too exotic.  

Dishes I am considering right now:

1. Chicken and Rice (I might just freeze the shredded chicken and broth and have Thomas add the rice when he heats it)
2. White Chicken Chili
3. Swedish Meatballs 
4. Sweet & Sour Meatballs
5. Chicken Parm (No cheese or sauce, just a seasoned breaded breast)
6. Chicken Enchilada Soup (I actually have this in the freezer already)
7. Taco Bake 

I could use more ideas!  If you have any healthy freezer friendly recipes, please send them my way :)