I'M DONE! I'M DONE! Well, almost. Oh, and a new recipe!

I've made a list. I've checked it twice. Although I cannot determine who has been naughty or nice, I can determine that I AM DONE WITH CLASS WORK FOR MY UNDERGRAD DEGREE! I'm not talking about a figurative list, either. I'm talking about the list I made a few weeks ago of EVERYTHING I needed to finish before finals. Now, the only things standing between me and that $60,000 piece of paper are time and three more finals that I will take next week. I'm almost in tears as I write this. How can this be? It seems like just yesterday I was starting my first semester at Hardin-Simmons, and now I'm literally done with everything, with the exception of finals. Surreal does not even begin to describe it.

The last three days have been a blur. I sat down at our kitchen table Sunday morning around 8 am and didn't leave the table until 5:30 that evening. I mean, let's be honest- I got up to eat, drink, and use the restroom. But, I did not do anything else expect try to finish everything so I could mark it off of my list. Exhaustion got the better of me, though, so it took until today for me to finish everything. 

I also have to brag. I took three classes this semester which required me to give a presentation or a speech. I gave my last speech last week, we gave our last group presentation today, and I gave my last short topic presentation this evening. I mentioned in my last post that I had not given a speech or presentation since 8th grade. I am (was/still kind of am) scared to death of speaking in front of people. I'm extremely shy in front of people I don't know (people who know me are probably laughing at that), but I really am. But, I survived, And you know what? I made a 98 on my last speech! 

I was complaining in a group text to my husband, mom, dad and sister that I just want graduation to get here and I want to go to Port Aransas. My sister told me to enjoy it and that the anticipation was all part of the experience and excitement. She was right. I'm finally figuring out that a lot of hard work, blood, sweat and tears have gone into my education the last three years and now that everything is winding down, it's time to enjoy it. Pretty soon, it will be time to start the next chapter of our lives. The song "You're Gonna Miss This" comes to mind....

Before our wedding, my sister made a scrapbook for me that had pictures and letters the people closest to me had written for me to read while I was getting ready. One letter that has stuck with me, especially this semester, was the one my cousin, Krista, wrote advising me to just breathe. "Breathe" is something my mother tells me almost on a regular basis, and I think it is so important. All of that to say, I am going to continue to breathe and enjoy the next week and a half! 

Now, how about a recipe? 

Sloppy Joe Tater Tot Casserole

Ingredients:

1 lb hamburger meat

1 can of corn

1 can of Sloppy Joe sauce

1 bag of frozen tater tots

Shredded cheddar cheese

Directions:

Brown the ground beef, add corn and sauce. Pour mixture into an oven safe pan, top with tater tots and cheddar cheese. Bake at 375 degrees until tater tots are crispy and cheese is melted. Enjoy! We topped it with mustard and it was delicious!

There is nothing healthy about this recipe. In my defense, I did say in my last post it would be the end of May before I would begin posting "healthy" recipes! :P

Just an Update and Ramblings About Life

Well, it's been over two weeks since my last update. Stress and lack of time have somehow managed to creep back into my days and make life hectic. 

With that being said, we've barely cooked. What we have made (sandwiches, $0.60 macaroni, and hot dogs) aren't worth posting about. My husband and I are very fortunate to live 15 minutes from my mom and dad, AND my grandparents, who have literally fed us almost every day over the last week and a half. 

I know we're supposed to enjoy every day as if it were our last, but over the last month (and probably for the next two weeks) I am in survival mode. Graduation is 19 days from today. NINETEEN. I may be the type of person who worries about everything, and though I usually welcome change, I am panicking.

I've been in a school setting for over 17 years. I've been a student, a daughter, a friend and recently a wife- in that order- for as long as I can remember. Now what am I supposed to do? Then you take into account that for the last two summers I've either been in summer school or planning a wedding and no longer have a clue as to what people do during the summer. Not that I'm complaining about that. In fact, I am EXTREMELY excited to rediscover how to enjoy a normal summer. 

Now throw into the mix the fact my husband MAY have a job opportunity that could change our lives as we know it. We've seen each other almost every day for the last three years, and now we may not be seeing each other for more than 20 days out of the month?!? However, if everything works out (we've been saying lots of prayers!) this opportunity may allow us to pay off all of our student loans ($10,000 for him and an upwards of $60,000 for me) in just a FEW YEARS. We would have to sacrifice our time together; however, we have tried to see it as an opportunity to sacrifice now in order to not have to suffer later on in life. God has a plan and we have chosen to continue to trust His plans for our lives. 

I read a blog post about graduating the other day and thought I would share the part that stuck with me:

"Above all else, I’m scared. I don’t know what this next journey will bring to me. Saying goodbye to happy hours, skipping class, and making the best worst decisions is one thing, but saying goodbye to ourselves is another. Azar Nafisi summed our almost post-college feelings perfectly: “You get a strange feeling when you’re about to leave a place. You’ll not only miss the people you love but you’ll miss the person you are now at this time and this place, because you’ll never be this way ever again.”

My biggest challenge right now is giving my last speech tonight. I spent 7 hours yesterday writing it, a few hours this morning rehearsing, and have to give it tonight around 6:30. I somehow managed to make it from 8th grade to senior year in college without giving a speech. That should tell you how much I enjoy talking in front of other people. I've chosen to just try and enjoy the last few weeks of college. It's bittersweet and it's scary, but it's also very exciting. 

AND in 20 days we'll be sitting on the beach, so there's always that to look forward to!

I am looking forward to having more time after graduation to focus on cooking and living a healthier lifestyle. This will probably be my last post until the end of May, but I'll be back with lots of delicious new recipes, I promise!

Passion Tea Lemonade (That Won't Break the Bank)

I love Starbucks. I'm not a coffee person, but I love (LOVE!) tea. Unsweet tea, green tea, passion tea, and passion tea lemonade are my favorites. However, I don't enjoy spending almost $3 every time I go to Starbucks.

I have seen this recipe on Pinterest and finally decided to try it today. It was a Pinterest SUCCESS! It tastes exactly like what you get at Starbucks. The amount I paid for all of the ingredients (which will make a lot!) MIGHT have bought only TWO passion tea lemonades at Starbucks.

Passion Tea Lemonade (That Won't Break the Bank)

Ingredients:
Minute Maid Light Lemonade
Tazo Passion Tea Bags
Water & Ice

Directions:
1. Fill a small pan with water and bring to a boil.
2. Add 1 tea bag and remove pan from heat. 
3. Fill a small tea pitcher with water and add the tea from the pan.
4. In a closed container (I used a water bottle) add tea, lemonade, and ice. Shake well.
5. Pour over ice and add a sweetener if needed. Enjoy!

The Absolute BEST Alfredo Sauce

The first time my mother and I made this, we had to make it two more times in the same WEEK. Each time, it was fought over and gone in about five seconds. It is also the same recipe my mother-in-law, Kathleen, used when she served spaghetti and fettuccine alfredo  at our rehearsal dinner. Guests RAVED about both, so I decided to share the recipe with all of you!

The Absolute BEST Alfredo Sauce



Ingredients:
4oz cream cheese
2 sticks salted butter
1 pint heavy cream
2 cups shredded Parmesan cheese
2 tbsp garlic powder
Salt and pepper to taste

Servings: 4

Directions:

1. In a sauce pan, melt butter and cream cheese.

2. Add cream, whisk until smooth.

3. Add Parmesan cheese, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Continue to whisk until cheese has melted.

4. Serve over fettuccine with garlic bread. (It's also okay to just dip the garlic bread in the sauce and eat it while you're cooking!! :D )

 Note: You may add more milk or cream until you have reached the desired consistency. 

Semi-Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup

I haven't blogged in a few days because I haven't had to cook! We visited the Newman family in Roxton this weekend and were able to enjoy FIVE home-cooked meals! We enjoyed Miriam's favorite meatloaf Friday evening, two wonderful breakfasts, Syd's grilled chicken and ribs on Saturday, and Kathleen's root beer glazed ham with macaroni and cheese Sunday after church. It may have spoiled us just a LITTLE bit, and we even got to bring home a bag of Kathleen's delicious chocolate chip cookies! 

For a few of Kathleen's recipes, including the meatloaf recipe (the sauce is delicious!), click here! 

Unfortunately, it was back to Abilene Sunday afternoon, which meant back to cooking at home! We have both been under the weather for the last few days, and I received two more shots and a prescription today for bronchitis. Fortunately my evening class was cancelled, so I decided to make chicken soup for dinner tonight. 

Semi-Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup


Ingredients:
1 pkg dry chicken noodle soup mix-$3.00
12.5 oz can of cubed chicken breast, do not drain- $1.98
32 oz chicken broth - $1.86
3 cups water
3 chicken bullion cubes 
4 tbsp butter
1/2 cup chopped onion
2 cloves of garlic, minced
3 small potatoes, cut into medium pieces
Parsley, salt, pepper to taste
Served with garlic bread- $1.91

Servings: 8

Total: $8.75- A little over $1 per serving

Directions:

1. In a large pot, melt butter and saute garlic and onion.

2. Add chicken broth, water, bullion cubes, parsley, salt, and pepper. Bring to a boil.

3. Add potatoes and chicken. Boil for approximately 20 minutes. The potatoes do not have to be done.

4. Add the package of chicken noodle soup. Boil for 5 minutes.

5. Transfer the soup to your slow cooker. Cook on low for 3-4 hours.

On a different note, we were able to watch The Secret Life of Walter Mitty at home last night. I wasn't sure if I wanted to watch it because it did not get very many positive reviews. However, I should know by now not to read the critics' reviews- the movie was FANTASTIC. It was a beautiful, family-friendly film with a great message. I urge everyone to go see it in a theater near you!

Here's a clip of the trailer:

Spicy Tex-Mex Sloppy Joes

I found out today that I most likely have a peptic ulcer and have to start taking  150mg of Ranitidine two times a day--yay stress!!! The good news: I've already taken one of the pills and a few hours later, for the first time in weeks, my stomach growled and didn't feel like it was on fire! It's the little things.

Unfortunately, I will not be eating spicy food for a few weeks. So, I thought I would share my all-time favorite Spicy Tex-Mex Sloppy Joe recipe!

Spicy Tex-Mex Sloppy Joes




Ingredients

1 teaspoon olive oil
1 lb ground beef
Salt and pepper
1 cup chopped onion
1 jalapeño, chopped (seeds and ribs removed for less heat)
2 cloves chopped garlic
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
1/2 cup beef broth
1 (8 oz) can tomato sauce
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon Frank's Hot Sauce
4 burger buns
Pickled jalapeños, for topping
Fritos, for topping

Directions

Heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the garlic, onion, and jalapeño and cook until tender.

In a separate pan, brown the ground beef. Drain if necessary. Stir in the onion, jalapeño, garlic, chili powder, and cumin.

Add the beef broth, tomato sauce, Worcestershire sauce, and hot sauce. Bring to a bubble and cook until sauce thickens.

Serve on top of toasted buns topped with jalapeños and Fritos!

Slow Cooked Bacon Ranch Pork Chops with Potatoes

I found a recipe for slow cooked ranch pork chops on Pinterest several months ago and have been wanting to try it. I, like most people, love my slow cooker. Throw the ingredients in the crock pot before going to work or class, and come home at the end of the day to a home that smells wonderful and a meal that's ready to be served--who wouldn't love that?! 

I bought an entire bag of potatoes a week or so ago that haven't been used- anyone who knows my husband is probably gasping right now!- so I decided to throw those in with the pork chops as well.

It really was an easy and delicious meal, we could cut the pork chops with a fork, and we have left overs for lunch tomorrow!

I've decided to hold off on pricing meals until next week. I haven't been to the grocery store, we really have had all of these ingredients, and I don't want to continue posting "Oh! This meal was free! We had all of these ingredients!" 

Also, please excuse my pitiful excuse for what I call a "salad". It's shredded lettuce I bought to add to burritos. It was turning brown, so I decided to use it before it was time to throw it away. It's also a possibility that the salad dressing was out of date. It shows you how often I eat salad...and how much I mind expiration dates. I like to live life on the edge, what can I say?

Bacon Ranch Pork Chops




Ingredients:
1 pkg boneless pork chops 
1 small can cream of chicken
1 packet Hidden Valley Ranch mix
1/2 small bag real bacon bits
1 cup milk

Directions:

Place pork chops and potatoes in the bottom of your slow cooker.

In a separate bowl, combine cream of chicken, ranch dressing mix, bacon bits, and milk.  Spread mixture over pork chops.

Cover and cook on low for 6 hours.

Serve with a salad and your favorite veggies!