Love Kniddles

Custom Portrait - Spring Giveaway

Giveaway time! it's been awhile now hasn't it!?

via paintingbliss.typepad.com

Everyone should check this out and enter to win. This chick has serious skills with any and all mediums she gets her hands on!

What's better than boycotting chores?

Why hello there, world. Let's catch up a bit. I've been super busy lately. Days off don't exist in my world, haha. Food? I've been making it, slacking on but not abandoning my diet. Right now, I am indulging in a home-made milk shake topped with home-made whipped cream. There may be some Saint Brendan's thrown in for kicks....Hehe. Well, I deserve it. I work extremely hard and exercise just as hard.

What have I been up to? Working. Constantly. Biking every day. Throwing in multiple flights of stairs, random yoga moves, squats, six inches, etc you get the point. I haven't had time to do what I want or need to do. I am currently watching Batman 'toons, with my phone off, checking out crochet patterns, boycotting my long list of to do's. I have to work early in the morn and I want a break. So here it is, world! 

Want more food pictures, let's do it. =]

The delicious pesto chicken and asparagus recipe I test, substituting broccoli since Mi Amour isn't a fan of asparagus. Twas quite nice.

I put the pesto chicken and broccoli over penne. Yummmmmmy!

I got some not so great news yesterday, and after feeling very down, Mi Amour came to my rescue. Made one of my comfort foods, pasta, yet again! I do love pasta haha. Cheese ravioli tossed in alfredo topped with oregano and parm.

Now this wasn't my best creation in my oppinion, however! I made TWO big casserole dishes of this stuff, Shrimp and spinach penne with mozzarella and parm. It didn't last two days! And I got just a small serving of it. It was a hit! (From my previous post)

My parent's got a kick out of this one. White Mrs. Butterworth. I've seen this done with old ketchup bottles and it is silly not to do! Every time I make pancakes, I always make tooooooo many. Well, my world, my baby sister, is quite picky, but will eat pancakes! Since I was making them just for her, I made them from scratch emptied the syrup into a mason jar, and used the Mrs. Butterworth bottle to make cutesy pancakes for her. And it can stay in the fridge for later! 

Well, I think that is all on food. I should get off of here now and continue my boycott! Have a lovely weekend, world!

Been awhile

Oh world, I do apologize for slacking this past week. I haven't really cooked anything homemade except for the breakfast for dinner, because my sister is quite picky but WILL eat pancakes! Well, anyways. It is Monday night, I've slacked off all day, didn't get anything done I was supposed to. However! I do have two casseroles in the oven! I made entirely too much. Mi amour complains that I cook for giant Italian families when it is just the two of us. And, I did it again! Well, my friends may have to come eat it up tomorrow! 

Shrimp Penne Casserole is on the menu for the evening! Along with coffee! Ok, not REALLY coffee....I don't have a coffee maker *le sigh*, but I do have french vanilla cappucino mix (I know....) Well, throw in a bit of 2% milk, Saint Brendan's and we have a drink, I say! Although, I am wishing I had some heavy whipping cream about now to whip up a fluffy top for this scrumptious creation. 

Well, I must run, shall post pictures tomorrow!

Goodnight, world.

Why hello, on my way to bed, I decided to follow up on my previous post of the day. After a long day of deep cleaning, I decided to attempt a delicious looking recipe I stumbled upon last night. http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2008/11/spicy-orange-garlic-shrimp/ I, however, did not have fresh garlic, so used minced instead. Oh boy! I should have listened to the writer, and when he says you need Old Bay for the sauce he did NOT lie. Needless to say, mine did NOT turn out as well as promised, however, twas my fault I should have gathered the necassary ingrediants instead of attempting to substitute. Anyways, it did turn out beautiful. I laid the shrimp on cheesy corn and a bed of white rice. 

The beginning, cooking the shrimp.

Waiting for the sauce to cook before adding the cooked shrimp.

Fast forward to the completed dish. Beautiful, yes, and tasty. BUT, not as good as it could be. So I shall be attempting this again! Different size next time instead of rice and cheesy corn.

Well, yes, this is a short post. However, I have a VERY busy day tomorrow and need my sleep. More cleaning, nanny-ing, then multi-tasking cooking, cleaning, and babysitting my rambunctious sister. Thus, goodnight, world.

Love,

Kniddles

A Little Change

Good morning, movers and shakers. Upon waking up to surf for recipes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, I decided to skim over my blog. I swear my awkwardness cracks me up at times, and the flightyness of my talents makes me shake my head. I have always been good at whatever I picked up, artistically that is. Although I'm 6" even, put a ball of any sorts in my hand and my body automatically tangles falling all over itself attempting to be coordinated enough to play whatever sport that ball requires. However, capturing moments with a camera was always my thing, but can't seem to take a proper planned photo, until I put my cooking creations in front of the lens. Now, my writing is flat, dry, rushed, and just not interesting. Well, world. From now on, whether short or long, each post will have my personality splashed in to be almost as beautiful as those pictures I tag along.Another change will be the step by step process of making each meal, as well as the recipe I chose. And one thing, I would like a little feedback on this post. I'm focusing this blog mainly on my meals, would the world like to hear about me as well, or just the meals?

 

Well, down to it, eh? I am at a slow start today, I stayed up late (for me) with mi amour. Today is the first day of yet another part-time job. Yet another I say? Yes. I have about four jobs. Each one isn't very big or corporate even. Only one is actually payroll. Well, what do I do? Well, world. (Wow, I say well alot!)

Job number one, I am a nanny for two girls, 10 and 4. Although part-time right now, this summer will be full-time. Tues-Fri 7:30AM- 5:00pm, maybe later.

Job number two, very small, and most of you will say, really? REALLY? You charge your mom?!?! Well, yes, yes I do. I babysit for my mom, twice a week, Tues and Sun. I am 21 years old with a 3 1/2 year old sister. "Nah, she's probably yours and you're just saying she's your sister and letting your mom raise her." Is what you may be thinking, most people I meet when I have her is that exact thought. Nope, I have pictures of my 17 year old head laying on my mom's 8month pregnant belly. And my sister is a handful and requires 100% of my time and attention when I have her. So, yes, I do charge. However, even if I didn't, my mom wouldn't let me NOT get paid.

Job number three, the payroll job. I am a housekeeper at a hotel, Fri, Sat, and Sun. It is a seasonal job since I live in a tourist attraction town. You may have heard of it, Myrtle Beach, SC? Well, I don't live in Myrtle Beach, a bit south in Surfside Beach, and work in Garden City. To anyone that didn't grow up here though, it all blends together and is just the "Myrtle Beach area". You ask a native though, and they will tell you, there is a big difference in each small one blink section of the long strips of highway. Anyways, this job, although dirty, at the moment is kind of nice. It sits on the one thing that truly rings "home" for me. The marsh. It sits on the beach side of a concrete bridge that crosses the marsh. There are only two ways to cross by car, Seabreeze, and Atlantic. I imagine once the season kicks in, I have to clean used condoms, messy toilets, and other disgusting messes, the only thing to hold me together will be walking out on either side of these suites and smelling the pluff mud and gazing out into the inlet. Watching the many different birds swoop down to grab fish from the murky waters, or people mucking in boots crabbing, avoiding being horrifically cut on the oyster beds. Although the hardest, I do believe just for that, it will be my favorite.

Job number four, yet again, a housekeeper, every other Mon. I am a private housekeeper for my old land-lady who is like my mother. Her son and I were best friends from the time we were 15 til recently. We still chat, but to be honest, she and I are closer. I love her like a mother, and she loves me like the daughter she never had. Cliche, right? Well, I am her private housekeeper and dog caretaker when her son is off doing his thing and she and her boyfriend, also really awesome, go out of town. I wouldn't charge for taking care of the dogs though. I love them so much, and it is so easy to take care of them. Feed them, let them out into the fenced yard, brush them, wash them, cuddle them. Easy. That is something I would NOT mind doing, and I could multi-task to crochet while doing that! 

Anyways, my schedule revised?

Every other monday-private housekeeper

Tues-2pm-5pm nanny, 4pm-10pm babysitter for my mom

Wed-2pm-5pm nanny

Thurs-2pm-5pm nanny

Fri-9am-1pm housekeeper, 2pm-5pm nanny

Sat-9am-4pm housekeeper, or if I'm off at the hotel 7:30am-5pm nanny

Sun-9am-4pm housekeeper, or if I'm off at the hotel, 10am-6pm babysitter

And I bike to all of these places, they are all on the same route though, that is awesome. So my summer is packed. No time to crochet for my own business, or to crochet for the show I was supposed to be in. Which saddens me, but my bills are being paid, so no real complaints. But on top of all of that time, I bike with mi amour when I get off, do yoga twice a week, and cook and clean constantly. I am one busy housewife, and I'm not married!

Wow this is a long post, I should get a move on. I guess I should actually share my meals today, eh?

Breakfast-oatmeal with light brown sugar and strawberries.

Lunch-packed turkey and pepperjack cheese on whole wheat with pita chips and an orange.

Dinner-spicy orange garlic shrimp, Idk what for a side yet though. Maybe on a bed of rice and corn? Suggestions? Well, here is the recipe, enjoy! http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2008/11/spicy-orange-garlic-shrimp/

Ahhh, after one looooooooooooong post, no pictures, and one recipe, I must get a move on, head over to day one of housekeeping privately! Haha!

Have a grand day, loves.

Love,

Kniddles

Good evening world! Today was a lazy day, but in the evening when Mi Amour's stomach began to grumble, I began to surf the web for some type of steak recipe. I happened to stumble upon this: http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes/grilled_filet_mignon_with_herb_butter_texas_toasts.html And already had a broc&cheese recipe picked out, a must try as well! http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/parmesan-broccoli-recipe/index.html Both turned out absolutely amazing, and I can't stop tooting my own horn. =] Well, world, after that delectable dinner, I must do the clean up! Have a grand evening preparing for Monday morning!
Love,
Kniddles

Oh, dear world! I do apologize for the short post this morning. I was in quite a rush, the prep time for my breakfast took longer than I thought. As you may know, I am loosely following a meal plan from the healthy minds of Special K (my absolute favorite cereal). Although I do not follow the recipes ingredient for ingredient, I am using the ingredients suggested.
Thus, this morning, when my suggested meal was a parfait with bread, I made a fruit filled parfait with egg, turkey sausage, and spinach on whole wheat pita bread. The parfait was bursting with fruit. Apricots, pears, strawberries, mango, and peaches. It was utterly filling, and delicious! Like I said earlier, the cereal I used instead of plain (but my fave) Special K, I used Isabel's Way Calico Bunch Crunch. http://www.isabelswaycereal.com/ A must eat, even as just a snack.
Well, anyways, my breakfast was lovely, I didn't do much exercising today, which will be made up for tomorrow. I got straight to work today, then after noon ate a packed tuna salad and pita chips. It was quite nice, tuna, low-fat plain yogurt, red onions, pecans, tomatoes, and carrots used as an almost dip for the pita chips.
Fast forward to dinner, we went out to Gordon Biersch, a local micro-brewery. Fun fact about me, my weakness is a good wheat draught beer. Therefore, I did indulge in the delicious, Schwarzbier and Märzen. Both nommy.
Anyways, for actual dinner, I cut my portion in half since I indulged with very little exercise. Grilled chicken and avocado sandwich with tomato and spinach (of course). Delicious with lunch tomorrow!
Well, I realize I am ranting, therefore I will let you all (any of you) get back to your lives.
Love,
Kniddles

Good Morning, loves! Can't chat much, running a bit late. My first real day of work at my new job today. Don't have time to bike there, so postponed my daily exercise. However, I am starting with a wonderfully tasty breakfast!
Egg and turkey sausage pita with spinach and light honey mustard and a delicious parfait using my favorite oat cereal. It's like Honey Bunches of Oats, but organic and better! Isabel's Way, Calico bunch crunch.
Well, I've got to run, have a lovely day!
Love,
Kniddles

Good evening, folks! Today was busy and quite tiring for me. I only biked four miles instead of eight, and had a cookie between breakfast and lunch. However, everything in moderation, right?
Well, I thought I'd share my dinner with the world!
I did my own thing with the recipe, but it turned out awesome!
I baked Texas Toast directly on the racks, spread ricotta and pesto on each slice, then placed a pan seared slice of eggplant on one slice, a caramelized onion ring on top, parm on that, then a slice of tomato and put together! Soooo good. I also made just a bit of whole wheat spagetti noodles, topped with a a slice of eggplant, parm, and light alfredo. =] May not be the most healthy meal, however, I am stuffed and loved the outcome. =]

Well, world, I must return to the real world.
Have a lovely night!
Love,
Kniddles

Good morning world! Today is quite a busy day. And usually on such days most people would skip breakfast to sleep in, grab a bagged lunch from some greasy teenage job haven, and feel plumped all day. Well, I woke up earlier than my alarm to the birdies singing, one of my favorite parts of spring, ready to start the day.
Today at 9:30 I have training for a new part-time job, and since I bike everywhere now (to be economical and get daily exercise) I have to leave earlier than usual. It is wonderful because both of my part time jobs are on the direct route to my full time job. Tis very nice.
Well, let's get down to business, shall we?
Starting with a light breakfast, Special K cereal with cut up strawberries. For lunch I'm bagging up some grilled chicken and rice from the night before to make my own oddball chicken salad using low-fat plain yogurt.
And dinner, mmmmm I'm excited for this. I fell in LOVE with eggplant Parmesan while working at an Italian restaurant. My boss would make it special for me with Alfredo, so for dinner I am making my own healthy version of this Grilled Eggplant Parmesan Sandwich.

You can find the recipe along with the nutritional value right here:

http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes/grilled_eggplant_parmesan_sandwich.html

Well, world, I'm off to venture the wild's of my closet to prepare for my day! Stay healthy and remember, eating healthy doesn't mean chewing cardboard!
Love,
Kniddles