My VMA comments

My opinions on the VMAs--
not a huge "awards" fan usually- Grammys, Emmys, whatever but I try to watch them when I can. Now, I try to keep an open mind about them. I like hip hop music, appreciate rap, and love pop songs. However, tonight, I was a little scared. Maybe this is what is wrong with the world today. Oh my word--that sounds like something my dad would say.

Anyway-here goes:

1. Lady Gaga- I get that she wants attention. BUTTTT didn't she get enough already? She came on as a MAN. A creepy man. Not even an attractive man. And then she proceeded to have these weird ticks and was all hunched over looking stoned. I just didn't get it.

2. Love Katy Perry. Love. But why does she have a cheese hat thing on and a circle pin on her shirt? Her skirt matches the bulletin board paper I just put at the school for my word wall.
Oh and all pink hair, no big deal.

3. Lil Wayne- I was loving his act until he stripped and was dancing around like an idiot with his underwear exposed. He looked like the guys in the high school that don't pull their pants up high enough. Then his song had so many "bleep outs" that I thought Hurricane Irene was back affecting the TV.

4. Beyonce- No bad reviews. I love her. She rocked the song, the heels, and is a proud momma to be! :) My dad has always loved Beyonce too.

5. Justin Beiber- He is precious. But tonight he was dressed like a Justin Timberlake/Harry Potter maybe? or a girl. But his words were so sweet. He thanked Jesus. What a doll. Love his songs, too.

6. The commercials. Here is one for a new MTV show about leaving your pants on or something. I think it is called "You should have left your pants on" or something. So far the content sounds like quality. ;-)

Ok maybe I am sounding old, but I'm only 25 and this crap is just weird.

2 things that will drive you crazy...

1. A fly that will not, under any circumstances leave you alone. It just buzzes around you all day long.

2. A tiny tiny piece of eggshell that drops into the bowl that you have to chase around with a utensil and whenever you get near it it seems to grow hind legs and jumps out of the way.

Oh, here's a bonus one: When a hurricane ruins the last weekend of your summer, your fiance's birthday celebration, and your tickets to a Phillies game. I love how they assume people that have tix to a SATURDAY night game will be able to attend on some random weeknight in Sept. Umm that will be a school night.

Restaurant Review

Monday (August 22) was the official 5 year mark for dating Corey. He worked all day at his temp. job in Philly area so he came home exhausted and I fully expected we would just chill out at home. Wrong. He was so sweet. He called and said "be ready in 20 minutes." For most girls this is an issue. I just slipped on a dress and heels and was ready to EAT!

We went to this smalllllll Italian restaurant in downtown Easton. It looked like a house. It was called Cherubina's. We didn't have a reservation and got lucky they had ONE table left. And so begins our 4 course meal of deliciousness. Everything was served on one big plate and it was chef's choice so we didn't pick anything out.

Course 1: The best bruschetta ever!! The tomatoes were perfect! The fresh basil was so yummy. The bread was soft and had a garlicky taste.

Course 2: Fresh warm bread and chicken in wine sauce. Ok so I am thinking that this is chicken PIECES. No- whole chicken breasts. TWO. Umm- that's usually more than I eat for dinner. The wine sauce perfectly complimented the chicken, which was tender and juicy with a hint of lemon.

Course 3: An ENORMOUS platter of antipasto. I swear they put a pound of meat at least on there. Tons of cheese. And my fav: the grilled veggies-squash, eggplant, red pepper. All tossed in a light vinaigrette dressing.

Course 4: The main event. A bowl of meatballs (2 big ones) and Italian sausage in tomato sauce. A platter of 4 different pasta dishes: eggplant rollatini, penne with pesto sauce, rigatoni in a vodka sauce, and linguine primavera. Yeahhh...it was all delicious. My favorite, surprisingly, was the penne with pesto. But the eggplant rollatini was awesome, too.

As we were waiting for the check of course the table next to us gets this broken chocolate dessert. A TOWER of broken chocolate pieces on top of vanilla bean ice cream. We knew we couldn't go there, but promised ourselves that next time we are only eating an appetizer and getting a dessert.

I give the restaurant 5 stars. Lovely service, great food, nice atmosphere, easy to get to, and of course my date was pretty sweet, too. He also opened the car door for me which was the first time ever, I'm pretty sure. :)

Blue Box Blues

I wonder what it will feel like in a couple of weeks when I have to WAKE UP at 6:00AM and not be able to just sit on the couch watching TV until 3 AM. My body is in for a rude awakening, I fear, because it is JUST NOT USED TO IT. And eventually I do get used to waking up early and can do it without an alarm clock...you know when that happens? Around April. Yup. It takes 7 months for my body to get into the routine and about....4 days to get off of it in the summer. :o)

So tonight I will paint a picture for you all...I'm sitting on the couch...TV is on (QVC jewelry)...rubbing the cat with my foot...parents upstairs sleeping...all the lights on downstairs...dog is snoozing in the hallway dreaming because his paws keep fluttering...and I am just checking my websites and browsing online. I did a "year at a glance" for the middle school kids and the 7th/8th grade syllabus.

Tonight I made dinner for Corey, mom, dad, and myself. It was a rainy night (surprise! what the heck is with this incredibly rainy August?) and we had lots of boxes of the good stuff: "mac n cheese!" Yup. So I threw together a yummy casserole that started with a box of mac and cheese! Let me share it below. Everyone seemed to enjoy it!
20 3 50

• 1 package of mac and cheese
  
• 1 pound ground beef
• 1 cup chopped green pepper
• 1/2 cup chopped onion
• 1 can (14-1/2 ounces) Italian diced tomatoes, drained
• 2 cups (8 ounces) shredded cheddar cheese, divided
• 1 cup French-fried onions

How-To:

• Prepare macaroni and cheese according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a large skillet, cook the beef, green pepper and onion over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain. Add to prepared macaroni. Stir in tomatoes.
• Put HALF of the mixture into a greased 3 qt. casserole dish. Sprinkle with HALF of the cheese. Put the rest of the macaroni on top. Top with the rest of the cheese and the french fried onions.
  
• Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 30 minutes.

You can divide the mixture in half and freeze half for a meal during the week or if you are eating alone. Just thaw it in the fridge the night before and take it out of the fridge 30 minutes before you bake it.

Corey was sooooo hungry while it was baking, he told me that he was sure it was ready after 25 1/2 minutes. He even said "I will love you more if you take it out of the oven right now." :)

Vintage Monopoly

You know what is so frustrating to me? That I know what I like individually but fail to be able to put things together to form a big picture in my head. For instance, I can tell you which pair of shoes I am in love with. I can't tell you how to even begin wearing them.
I know parts of what I want in a hairstyle, but can't tell you how to cut my hair.
I know what kind of jewelry I like, but not which outfits to put it with.

And so this problem is frustrating to me and it is manifesting into a big ordeal in almost every aspect of my life. Ok that was a bit of hyperbole. But...take wedding planning for example. I always knew I wanted an orange wedding. I get engaged and decide I want a chartreuse green wedding. Ok....now...what to put with it? I don't know. I can no longer make a decision. I change my mind. I see a picture and it totally doesn't fit the wedding theme or whatever: rustic, elegant, classy, whatever those things are called. Genre? Is that just a literary term?

So I know what I like for flowers, etc. but NO ONE ONLINE has pictures of it and I am too dense to see the big picture so I just get frustrated and give up.
Also....one more thing: VINTAGE. I want to take this word and shove it in a hole. Why is everything vintage? I mean EVERYTHING. Every blog, every magazine, every fashion, every bird hair piece, every wedding...vintage vintage vintage. I used to like vintage things but I don't want a vintage wedding. I want a 2012 wedding and I CAN'T PUT IT TOGETHER BECAUSE ALL OF THE EXAMPLES ARE VINTAGE!!!!!!!!!!!!!I*!EUTe*!(*U#@E@((@***!

There, I feel so much better now. Thanks! :)



Disclaimer: I really do love all of the things I am seeing about vintage weddings, but it's totally not me and doesn't fit my dress. So this is not meant to bash OTHER vintage weddings. I just need some creative ideas for unvintagy weddings. And in case you needed a new word: unvintagy. Just made it up. Now. Right now. August 2011. Not in the 1950s or 40s. Its not a vintage word.

THE banana cream Pie.

I mentioned making a banana cream pie with fresh blueberries in an older post.
Well, last night we got to sample this creamy, fresh, summer pie that took minutes to put together.
If you can't make this one soon, copy and paste the recipe into a document for the next time you need to bring a pie to a gathering. Best part? No crust to worry about. You can literally place whole vanilla wafers in the bottom of a deep dish pie plate and that's it. No crushing crackers, no messing with cracked crusts, and no dough rolling.
PLUS, the batter is totally edible (licking of the spoon required) and you don't have to turn the oven on!
It does have a little bit of a cheesecake flavor, which I adore.

Ingredients

• 6 oz. cream cheese
• 1 can (14 ounces) sweetened condensed milk
• 3/4 cup cold water
• 1 package (3.4 ounces) instant vanilla pudding mix
• 1 cup heavy whipping cream, whipped
• 2 medium bananas, cut into 1/4-inch slices
• 2 teaspoons lemon juice
• about 35 vanilla wafers
• 1 cup fresh blueberries

How-To:

• In a large bowl, beat cream cheese until smooth. Beat in the milk, water and pudding mix. Fold in whipped cream.
• In a resealable plastic bag, add bananas and lemon juice; toss until bananas are coated. Drain and discard lemon juice.

• Line an ungreased deep-dish 9-in. pie plate with vanilla wafers. Spread with half of the cream cheese mixture. Top with bananas and blueberries. Spread with remaining cream cheese mixture. Refrigerate for 3 hours or until set. Refrigerate leftovers.

Tips to lighten this up:
I made several changes to lighten this pie up. First, I used vanilla wafers that were 60% less fat than traditional wafers. Second, I used light cream cheese. I used FAT FREE condensed milk (totally still tasted fine!) I also used sugar free vanilla pudding. So those 4 steps make this less guilty. The only thing full fat was the heavy cream and you need that because it has to be creamy.


Also, TIA and TAMARA are back on tv with a reality show and one is pregnant and the other is getting married? I need to watch this. Sister, Sister! :)

A Mexican Lunch

Pizza. I never get tired of it. Today for lunch was a pizza of the Mexican sorts.
Soooo yummy!!!!!

One thing I loved about it was that I already had the chicken cooked and seasoned a couple of days ago. I made another chicken dish (pan frying extra chicken) and set half aside, seasoned it with the fajita seasoning and put it in a bowl in the fridge with a note warning residents of Palmer household that if they ate the pizza chicken there would be consequences. Voila! It was safe and sound after church today.


This would be the PERFECT game day food. I cut it up into squares. It is supposed to serve 6, but it served 4 hungry people here.

Ingredients:

• 1 tube (13.8 ounces) refrigerated pizza crust- I like Pillsbury
  
• 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts, cubed
• 3 teaspoons canola oil, divided
• 1 teaspoon fajita seasoning mix
• 1 medium sweet red pepper, julienned
• 1 medium green pepper, julienned
• 1 medium onion, halved and sliced
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 1/2 cup salsa
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 1-1/2 cups Mexican cheese blend

How-To:

• Unroll crust into a 15-in. x 10-in. x 1-in. baking pan coated with cooking spray; flatten dough and build up edges slightly. Bake at 425° for 7-10 minutes or until golden brown.
• Meanwhile, in a large nonstick skillet, saute chicken in 2 teaspoons oil until no longer pink. Sprinkle with seasoning mix; cook 30 seconds longer. Remove and keep warm.
• In the same skillet, saute peppers and onion in remaining oil for 3 minutes. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer or until vegetables are crisp-tender. Remove from the heat; stir in the salsa, pepper and reserved chicken.
• Spoon chicken mixture over crust; sprinkle with cheese.
  
• Bake for 7 more minutes or until cheese is melted.

Dreaming

I love to browse the internet for things I would like to own/buy in the future. I can do this for hours.
Right now, there are several things I would purchase if money grew on trees.

1. The bed I am viewing on QVC right now- but it's 2500.00. $$$ Ugh. However, my bed SUCKS. My grandmother (who has been in heaven for 11 years now) bought the bed I am sleeping on at a YARDSALE so who knows how old this gross bed is.
2. A honeymoon to some place ridiculous. Corey and I are having some fun (fun/tense/passionate) discussions as to our honeymoon destination. We both want to go everywhere and can't decide to go anywhere. ::Sigh:: All the resorts we check are out of our price range.
3. A new car. I don't want to buy one because I hate to drive. But Corey and I both need new cars. I have over 200,000 miles on mine now (it used to be my dads).
4. A house. Ahh, yes, to own a house would be nice. I found one I like 5 min from my school. Can't buy it because who knows where Corey will get a job and I don't want to buy a house in Lititz to have him uproot us to St. Louis (where he recently applied to jobs)
5. A new wardrobe for teaching

I feel greedy, but this post is just dreaming. I don't NEEEED any of this stuff. Just fun to think about! You know what else is fun to think about? Layers of chocolate/brownie.
I made this triple layer bar -incredibly delicious and cuts so nicely. I think everyone should try it. But make sure you have someone to share it with (a picnic, a church function) or you will eat it by yourself.

Fudge-Filled Brownie Bars Recip

• 1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 3/4 cup butter, softened
• 1 egg yolk
• 3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
  FILLING:
• 1 package fudge brownie mix (13-inch x 9-inch pan size)
• 1 egg
• 1/3 cup water
• 1/3 cup canola oil
  TOPPING:
• 1 bag of milk chocolate chips, melted
• 3/4 cup chopped nuts
  

How-To:

• In a large bowl, combine the first five ingredients. Press onto the bottom of a greased 15-in. x 10-in. x 1-in. baking pan. (This takes some patience!) Bake at 350° for 15-18 minutes or until golden brown.
• Meanwhile, in a large bowl, combine the filling ingredients. Spread over hot crust. Bake for 15 minutes or until set. Cool on a wire rack for 30 minutes.
• Spread melted chocolate over filling; sprinkle with nuts if desired. Cool completely. Cut into bars.
  I only put nuts on half since some like with and some like without.
  

PS- I caught my mom eating an entire ROW of these bars. I told her she had to put some of them back. :) It's my own fault. It's like the summer of desserts. Usually I cook more than I bake, but this summer I have been doing a lot of baking. I think because the ingredients are more likely to be on hand. And it never ends either...because tomorrow for dessert: Banana Cream Pie with Fresh Blueberries (ok at least there is fruit in it!)

Great Steak!

I have been trying to use up some of the meats we have in the freezer and the other morning, I started early by putting together a simple marinade for the chuck steak we had on hand. Chuck steak is typically a cheaper, less flavorful cut of me, at least from my experience. This is the part we make ground beef from and usually the kind we use for a pot roast.

If you start this at 10 AM, it will be ready to grill by 6:00. I could not believe the smell and flavor of the steak. My family agreed the marinade tasted like restaurant quality! Chances are, you have most of this stuff on hand anyway.

So, in a big ziploc bag combine these ingredients and then add the steak (I used a 2 lb. chuck)

1/2 cup red wine vinegar

1/2 cup soy sauce

2 tablespoons lemon juice

1 tablespoon brown sugar

1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauc

1/4 teaspoon onion powder

Then, throw it on the grill. Sooo yummy!

Life Stuff.

Today ended my true summer freedom. I had just about 10 days where I didn't have grad. work and/or work for Warwick and today I just started my next class. Supposedly, they say this is the hardest of the 10 classes. I can't believe this will be class number NINE for me in my Master's journey. It has gone by quickly, but at the same time, I am ready to be done and have a true break from all this stuff.
Corey is already asking which doctorate programs I like. I told him I need a break. :o)

Anyway, I will be finished with courses at the end of December and then I just need to complete my research stuff and should have my Master's by MARCH 2012. Woo hoo!

In the wedding world, I have been planning away during my week off and am amazed at how many things have fallen into place. Other than the church lady telling me the date was free that I wanted (and me putting down money at a venue) to find out it WASN'T free, it has been smooth sailing. Thank the Lord the venue has been AWESOME and won't charge a dime for moving the date back a day. A Sunday wedding was not my first choice, but it will work just fine.
So far I have accomplished:
1. the date
2. reserved the church/pastor
3. the venue (a gorgeous golf club in New Jersey)
4. my dress (ordered that 3 days after I got engaged!!)
5. my wedding day shoes have been purchased (a pretty pair of purple heels)
6. bridal party determined
7. bridesmaid dresses have been picked out (still need to order)
8. engagement photo shoot scheduled for 9/18 in new york city (at the botanical garden which is very special to us & Corey's alma mater, Fordham U.)
9. the Escalade limo has been reserved
10. flower girl dress is at my house and looks adorable on Taylor
11. set up registries (still to be finished, obviously)

I am enjoying planning, but really I wanted to get as much done before I start working again because then I will be 2 hours away and busy busy.

I really pray that a job opportunity opens up for Corey. But in the meantime, I am selfishly enjoying some time with him and it is wonderful. Saturday we went to the Eagles training camp- scored 9 autographs!- yesterday we started running again (convinced he is trying to kill me). Today we had a yummy lunch at the Olive Garden. Tonight he helped me cook a delicious dinner and dessert (post to follow!!). It has been glorious to get to spend time with him. In the next few days, we are going to go to the hospital to visit his new baby cousin, Matthew Sean, who was born this morning at 8:41- 9 lbs and 21.5 inches long. Matthew's father (Corey's Uncle Dominic) will be the best man in the wedding and his other son, Nicholas, will be the ring bearer). So we can't wait to go visit the newest addition!!


I hope everyone is soaking up these gorgeous August days before summer slips away!

The yummiest ice cream pie ever!!!

The Bachelorette and dessert go together like PB & J. You just NEED both.
For one episode this season, I made the simplest ice cream pie that turned out to be delicious.

We had Aunt Marybeth over and she gave it a good rating. You will most likely have extra sauce, so store it in the fridge to heat up and pour over plain ice cream.

I took this picture from tasteofhome.com because we ate it so quickly, I didn't have time for camera business.

Try it this summer. You will wow your friends and family.

• 1/2 gallon vanilla ice cream, softened, divided (you can use light recipe)
  
• 1 graham cracker crust (9 inches)
• 1/2 cup Heath bits (in the baking aisle near the chocolate chips)
  SAUCE:
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 can (5 ounces) evaporated milk, divided
• 1/4 cup dark corn syrup
• 1/4 cup butter, cubed
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• 1/2 cup Heath bits

How-To:

• Spread half of the ice cream into crust. Sprinkle with toffee bits. Spoon remaining ice cream over top. Cover and freeze until firm.
• In a large saucepan, combine the sugar, 3 tablespoons milk, corn syrup, butter and salt. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Combine cornstarch and remaining milk until smooth; gradually add to sugar mixture.
• Return to a boil, stirring constantly. Cook and stir for 1-2 minutes or until thickened. Cool to room temperature, stirring several times. Stir in toffee bits. Refrigerate until serving.
• Just before serving, transfer sauce to a small microwave-safe bowl. Microwave, uncovered, on high for 30-60 seconds or until heated through, stirring once. Serve with pie.