Making the big MOVE...Early!!!

Well I have decided to make the big move a little early!! Come visit me at my new site!! http://karensunhee.wordpress.com/

I will no longer be writing on this blog...please save my new blog on your favorites.

I'm Thankful

For my family

Joe and Maddie

Friends

and many more friends not pictured :)

My Thanksgiving festivities ended today with a quick trip down to Missouri to visit Joe's family. The whole weekend was wonderful to spend time with family and friends!!

Amigurumi

My first Amigurumi crochet project...very rough draft...this was a bit harder than I thought!!! Another cake job under my belt. I thought this was a fun and cute cake for a 13 year old Birthday!! I joined Aspen to start working out, so far so good. Oh and Blogger is really starting to annoy me with all this layout mishaps... why won't my pics go to the center!! Too tired tonight to try to fix it.

Pictures as promised

What does pink sugar, giant sprinkles, mountains of powder sugar equal...GIANT PINK CUPCAKE!!

Giant Cupcake for the Cure

Everyone should go to Ephemera on Saturday October 24!!! Why?? Check our their blog Good News #3. I am going to make a giant pink cupcake and whoever donates the mosts money will get it...so go check out their store and get a cupcake!!!

Giant cupcake will have a pink vanilla liner with strawberry cake inside! Pics to come!!

Hello Comfort Food

This morning I started my day off right with a 3 shot Americano (3 espresso shots, hot water, splash of milk, 1 splenda and splash of sugar free vanilla syrup). It was great...and I didn't even need any coffee at work.

Last night I prepped my Real Simple Chicken Pot Pie and did everything except add my pie crust top. When I got home tonight from work, put on the crust and popped it in the oven. The result...delish!! And other than the crust I think it was pretty healthy. I used skim milk, veggies and boiled chicken breast. If you look at the recipe, I did change a few things. Instead of dry white wine I used chicken broth and changed the veggies a bit. I served it with flakey buscuits...ahhh so good. Perfect for tonights chilly weather.

Here are my "grown up" plate. I packed up my old chipped college plates and put my new beautiful plates on the shelf. These are the large dinner plate, I have raincheck for the smaller salad plates. I got 12 plates and 8 more green ramekins from World Market for $21!! Rediculous!!! That was with my 25% off coupon but still, $19.99 is the normal price, you can't beat that. The 12 salads plates are only $16.99. They are so simple, perfect for me.

Oh and FYI

As you can see in my last post I have issues with spacing and format (all the time) in Blogger so I have a Wordpress site I am working on getting going for the new year. I know thats a few months away. But I can't fix the spacing in my last post...trust me I have tried about 5 times. And it DRIVES ME CRAZY, call it OCD, call it control issues, whatever it is...drives me nuts! So come January...Hello Wordpress!!!

Missing in Action

Its been a busy busy month or 2...thats why I  have been MIA for so long. Lets see what have I been up to?

• 
  
  work (of course)
  
  
  
• 
  
  KC trip! Go State - too bad we lost by 1 pt! Boulevard tour!!! Fun!!
  
• sick for the first few weeks of Sept. (still fighting off my cough!!)
  
• few dinners out with friends
  
• more work
  
• Owen soccer game
  
• some birthdays
  
• little shopping
  
• OUCH flu shot at work this week...my arm still hurts :( I am such a wimp.
  

Last nights meal was pulled pork sandwiches, sweet potato fries and sweet corn!! Yum, it was great! I am proud of myself, after eating out most of Sept, I cooked Mon-Wed this week.

Tonights meal wasn't homemade but it was very inexpensive! $1 all you can eat Chili at HyVee...wow...and guess what, tonight was really chilly and Chili was the perfect meal and it tasted great!

I think I am going to be very grown up this weekend and get some new plates. I went to World Market this week for a gift and found these ramekins for me!! Only $2.99 for 4 of them...and in one of my favorite colors. Time to get rid of my chipped flowery plates that I got when I went to college...uhhhh 9 years ago! I think I am going to get some simple white plates.

Worst Blogger Ever?

ME!!! Wow... I have been MIA...but I will be back :) Just not right now...now I need to sleep...

1/2 My List Done, More to Come

• Clean
• bake
• grocery store
• date night (Joe isn't aware of this but he is going to take me on a date)
• dog park
• maybe a little shopping :)
• find my camera battery (probably find when cleaning)

Ok not everything off my list. But I did get a date night :) Joe and I didn't see a movie we wanted to go see but we went to dinner at Texas Roadhouse for some BBQ...It was pretty good, not as good as my fav Woody's Smoke Shack but tasty.

I didn't get to the Dog P-A-R-K either (I have to spell it out or Maddie will go crazy!! But I did finally get her out on a walk. I have been avoiding walks because of my allergies and cough. Makes me weezy...

I went to the allergist yesterday. They decided I didn't need to do allergy testing again so thats good. Family doc today...finally got some strong cough syrup...so I am getting better!!!

GO STATE!!!

Ugh boredom...

Well...here I am on my first night of my looooong weekend, on the couch blogging, watching Criminal Minds (my new fav show) and eating my pepperoni calzone. I am bored out of my mind. Why I am sitting here, well instead of going to the I Cubs game with Joe and friends, I was fearful of an allergic breakout :( I kind of feel like Nancy Drew trying to diagnois myself with my allergies, a few nights ago I thought it was tomatos, which obviously I don't think its that anymore, since I devoured my tomatoey pepperoni Calzone :) I guess we will just call it medical testing, lets see what happens. But really, I think it might be my shower gel, which is weird since the breakouts started after I have used almost the whole bottle...hmm so many things...whats it going to be...Ok all this allergy talk is TMI. Here is my yummy calzone which in now in my tummy.

 

 

LOOK my couch partner fell asleep with her tongue out...too cute.

Sooo long weekend...these are my plans...CLEAN, CLEAN, CLEAN...that is actually what I should be doing right now, but my procrastination is getting the best of me :)

In addition to cleaning I think some baking is in order...I am thinking pumpkin cookies from Martha Stewart Cookies... they have been calling my name.

Weekend plans

• Clean
• bake
• grocery store
• date night (Joe isn't aware of this but he is going to take me on a date)
• dog park
• maybe a little shopping :)
• find my camera battery (probably find when cleaning)

Ok enough blogging about my boring night...

 

The Terrible 2-7

I am just complaining...negative nancy. It all started with a great dinner with my parents and brother. Now that sounds nice doesn't it, well it was :) A great time eating and talking with the fam. On my way home, I started getting really itchy....eeek...makes my skin crawl thinking about it. By the time I got home, I was full on allergy breakout!! From what???? WHO KNOWS...I don't thats for sure...its been 5 DAYS of this....FIVE days. No fun. I have been keeping track of what I eat and drink and products I use, etc, hanging out with Benadryl like its by new BFF. The allergist couldn't get me in until Friday Sept 11th...and that was because of a cancellation, otherwise it would have been October. But the best mom in the world got me in for quick visit on Tuesday, yay!! So until then, I will be the girl all drugged up on Benadryl sitting in her cube trying to keep her eyes open. But I will say my night time sleep has been wonderful, thanks Benadryl.

Other news besides this?

• First ISU football game tonight...Joe is there representin'
• September already!!!!! AHHH time is flying
• Fall is in the air...I am thinking I might have to get out Paula Dean's pumpkin bar recipe...yum
• I haven't been baking much, but that will change soon, I am sure once I am feeling better (did I mention I have had a cold for 2 weeks too,  bahumbaug)

Ok next post I am sure will be much more happy and up beat!!

Grande Finale

Well as August comes to an end...another fun birthday month wraps up....The grande finale this year was with my girlfriends for spa day at East Village Spa. There were plenty of massages and pedi's to keep us happy and relaxed. This was such a fun place for a get together. They were very accomadating and friendly. We ordered in lunch from Jason's Deli to be delivered. It was there before we got there! Talk about prompt great service. We ate, talked and laughed, got our spa services, then CAKE!!! YUM....Fresh Strawberry Cake from Let Them Eat Cake in Valley Junction. Yes it was as good as it sounds. No there is none left...sorry.

My girlfriends are CrAzY and I love them...they got me a Tiffany's bracelet for my birthday...ah there is nothing more fun than undoing the white ribbon of a Tiffany's box :) Makes me happy (ok sorry my superficial side was just was totally exposed, but really c'mon its fun).

Fresh From the Farm...errr Farmers Market

A recent trip to the Des Moines Farmer's Market produced some corn and purple potatoes! Purple potatoes, never heard of them...but they were good :)

That night I made some Bulgogi.

• soy sauce
• sugar
• rice vinegar
• saki
• sesame oil
• onion
• garlic
• fresh ginger

I marinaded the thinly sliced beef for about 4 hours, then threw it on the grill. I roasted the purple potatoes with some olive oil, salt and pepper. Then steamed up the corn. It was a great meal :) will have to repeat soon...maybe add some sticky rice next time.

 

More?

Ok...after this one... I will only have...hmmm maybe 2 more Birthday Blogs :)

Yesterday a few of us from work and other people went to Centro for dinner in celebration of my birthday and Melissa's (coworker) birthday. Dinner was wonderful! I hadn't been there in years. They do a lot of wood oven cooking and Joe is not a fan of that style therefore we don't go very often. I had Stuffed Chicken Breast "Wood-grilled chicken breast stuffed with spinach, ricotta cheese and LaQuercia prosciutto Americano, finished with Alfredo and roasted grape tomatoes, served over fettuccine" and a glass of Summer Sangria. It was a very nice evening. I got to meet a few new people and hang out with good friends.

2 of my friends bought me my perfume that I was needing more of!!! YAY...its one of those things you really want and will probably buy...but hate going out and spending the money, it was perfect timing.

More Celebrations

Birthday month continues...Monday I had the day off to relax. I ended up making homemade pot stickers and crab rangoons for all my work friends. I never want to make them for a normal food days because I smell like fried food afterwards. Since I had the day off, I thought this would be the perfect opportunity.

That night we went to Dave and Amy's for dinner. Amy made Korean BBQ ribs!!! We also had some steamed veggies, sticky rice, seaweed, crab rangoons and pot stickers....what a feast! I didn't take any pictures! Here are what the ribs looked like, I got the pic from this website.

Birthday DMI Style

On Sunday night, my actual Birthday... Joe got me a card and some Milano cookies...my FAV!! For dinner he went and got some Chicken Pad Thai from Cool Basil...then guess what?! BIRTHDAY CAKE REMIX ICE CREAM for dessert...how yummy was it? I "gotta have it" size, thats how yummy. But you will be happy to know even I couldn't eat it all :)

Birthday Chicago Style

So it was my Birthday! Joe and I hit the road with Holly and Jess and headed to Chicago on Friday to visit Stacie and Marcus. We got in pretty late so after some talking we all went to bed so we could get up early. Saturday, Joe and I had tickets to the Cubs game. Boy was it HOT!! We both got a little sun...and some free visors...how fun!

Holly, Jess and Stacie went out on a sail boat on Lake Michigan for the Boat and Air Show (jealous!). After the game we met up with them and went to Millenium Park. I had been wanting to go to see Cloud Gate...the bean!!! After that we headed over to Lou Malnati's Pizzeria for some delish Chicago Style deep dish 'za...YUM so good...sorry no pics because we gobbled it up!!

It was a super fun weekend!! I had a great time with some great friends...a perfect way to celebrate. Notice the Fisheye made an appearance this weekend,

Karen and Joe's Throw Down...watch out Bobby Flay

I decided to test out my almond butter with a banana. It was pretty good. The almond butter is really really sticky. I have been enjoying it on my whole grain english muffins for breakfast at work.

So my friend got a new house so we had a mini housewarmning over at her place this past weekend. Another one of my good friends was also in town. I decided to pull out my new Martha Stewart Cupcakes book and whip up some tasty treats :) I made the Tres Leches cupcakes with cool whip and cinnamon on top. Look at the 3 milk mixture just sitting there. Its hard to believe that all that milk soaks into the cupcake. The cupcake had a very interesting texture. I am not sure if I was a fan or not, but my friends really seemed to like them!

I also made Marble Cupcakes with Dark Chocolate Frosting.. yum, I think these were my favorite. You can't go to girls night without chocolate!

As you know Joe and I LOVE Tasty Tacos!! So we have been trying to make homemade Tasty Tacos for while now. On The Food Network, Bobby Flay has that show where he challenges cooks that have mastered a certain signature dish. So one of the episodes we happened to catch was the Puffy Taco Throw Down. We went out and bought the Maseca that Bobby used and attempted to make the puffy tacos. They were not really what we were looking for but still good. It was like a very fresh corn tortilla, we decided we need to be using flour for sure. So for now that is 2 attempts (we have tried a different recipe before) with many more to come, until we figure it out :) And I think Bobby might have us beat on Puffy Tacos.... my tacos didn't really puff too much.

Cinnamon and Sugar, Whats Not to Like?

First I would like to point out my record high # of post this month. Second I would like to point out my birthday month is only 3 days away....thats right I said birthday MONTH!

When I got home from work today, I made some fruit salsa and cinnamon and sugar chips for Joe's sister.

This is probably one of my favorite food day treats to make. Everyone loves it! I have adapted this from the Better Homes & Garden cookbook. Below is the fruit I usually use, above I omitted the orange and added blueberries.

Fruit Salsa with Cinnamon and Sugar Chips
1 pint of fresh strawberries
1 can of crushed pineapple (drain the juice)
4 fresh kiwis
1-2 oranges

Cut up all the fruit into small cubes and mix! Thats it!!

For the chips, you will need a package of small flour tortillas, melted butter, cinnamon and sugar.

Mix about 1 cup of sugar with 1 tablespoon of cinnamon.

Brush the melted butter on a tortilla and sprinkle with the sugar mix, then take kitchen scissors and cut the tortilla, like you would a pie, I cut into 8 pieces. Place on baking sheet, butter/sugar side up (I used parchment) and bake until light golden brown and crispy. About 350 degress for 7-10 minutes. Bake as many chips that you think you'll need. Enjoy!

After making this I ran to the store because I never went this weekend and was OUT of food. Since I have been out of food, I have been eating at work, and its hard to make healthy choices at work! I found some yummy looking white peaches and stocked up on some staple food items. I did try something new tonight, inspired by a new blog I've been reading. I picked up some almond butter. I love PB and I love almonds, so almond butter... probably gonna like it! I had to sneak a taste before dinner and to be honest the verdict is still out. I think tonight I am going to try it with a banana. I will let you know if it becomes a favorite!

Baking Frenzy

Well, I got some new books that I am really excited about. I picked up 3 books that I have been really wanting at the 1/2 Price Book Store. What a GREAT deal, they were only about $35 for all 3. As far as I can tell, they were new. I got Martha Stewart Cookies, William Sonoma (a baking book), and Hello Cupcake. I went to go buy Martha Stewart Cupcakes there but they didn't have it, so unfortunately I bought it for full price at Barnes and Noble. Not that I wouldn't buy it for full price but 1/2 price is so fun.

This weekend Joe and I went to Dave and Amy's for Jared's going away (he is going to Japan for a year) and Joe's Grandma Velma's 95th Birthday!! Let me repeat that 95! Velma really likes Coconut Cream Pie, so I went out to Allrecipes.com and found one that I liked. I think it turned out pretty well and no one complained. I didn't make my own crust, I used the Pillsbury refrigerated crust that is already rolled out. I LOVED it! Totally using that every time from now on for any pie I make. I did make the inside cream part and it went pretty well, I always get nervous when I have to mix eggs on the stove top. I don't want to serve scrambled eggs ;)

I did have one tiny little mishap... who knew coconut burned so easily?? I was trying to toast the coconut for the top of my pie and this is the result :)

Velma really likes Oatmeal Cookies too, so for part of her gift I made some Oatmeal Raisin Cookies, another good recipe from Allrecipes.com. They were pretty good, but I think I remember my mom's recipe being a little more moist, I will just have to find it.

Healthy eating has been going ok... 2 weeks strong. This weekend I did eat pretty bad though. I had some corn shells in the fridge from a while back so I fried them up, grilled some chicken, diced some tomatoes for pico and had a mexican feast.