paintin pumpkins

This year the need to decorate hit me like a tidal wave.  Like a ton of bricks. Like a... like a... ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-cherry bomb!  So, when I saw these pumpkins, I felt inspired and wanted them all for myself.


They are crazy easy, and crazy cheap.  For under $10, I picked up some ceramic and foam pumpkins from Tuesday Morning and Michaels.  Then, another $5 for spray paint, and VOILA!

So, a layer of plaint white (to kinda smooth the lines.)  Then a layer, or five, of the metallic paint...  

Let dry. Arrange. 

And bask in their glory.  


So, whaddaya think?  I had a moment where I thought it odd to start decorating a house that is 1/2 done, (I mean, come on!  The window behind these decorations is lacking, you know, TRIM.)  But... what the hell.  Tis the season for pumpkins!!!




Oh, and pay no attention to those pine cones.  Their day in the spotlight will come soon enough.

movin' on up to the east side!

Things, my friend, have changed!

1) My beau moved in.  And so did his stuff.  This is a good thing!  ...he has a KitchenAid.*

2) Old roomie moved out.

3) Almost every room in the house has been re-arranged.

4) The beau is hitting the ground running & helping get this place up-to-snuff!  Which means, small little home improvement projects EVERYWHERE!**

5) I am really, REALLY behind on posting about all of these.....

So, what is going to happen is, I will do a room-by-room update- from original condition to pre-bf condition to current.  BUT FIRST!  Take a gander at the mayhem:

waBAM!  That's right.  Solid. Wall. Of. Boxes.  AND this was after some "reorganizing so I can actually get in and out of the house"!

 There was a small aisle to get to the fishies (we realized that the poor buggers actually needed food.  And light-control.***)

Don't even think about getting back there!  ...sadly, the beau would ask where something was and I would immediately remember that it was in the back room.  The furthest room.  The hardest-to-get-to room.  Figures.

Oh, and the reason we didn't move everything straight into their delegated rooms (or at least, to more than ONE room), was that my renter was still in the house for another week.  Yup.  This was a week-long pleasure.  Next house: storage.  

The Sunday after move-in-Saturday, we re-arranged the master bedroom.  Even though the beau sold most of his old furniture, (except for a TV stand and DVD shelving unit,) we did keep his bedroom set.  Liked it more. This meant... 

 .... does anyone else live with a dresser covered in handy items?  Never know when you may need to grab that box-cutter & rush to a DIY emergency!

*KITCHENAID!!!!!

**Yup.  Tons of little projects.  No documentation.  Maybe I should make a New-Fall's Resolution...

***We've since put the fish light on a timer.  This is an excellent idea, if I do say so myself.  Makes life a lot easier for all those times we go out to dinner or sleep in... the fish can count on a regular cycle of "sun".

twist and shout: black pepper & parm twists

It's alive... ALIVE!!!*

So, I am still plagued by my broken keyboard at home, (no "c" or apostophe keys,) which makes my enthusiasm to use the computer increadibly minuscule.  And if I suffer, than so must you!**

I made these Black Pepper & Parmesan Twists (with Dip) for a celebratory party at work.  I loved the crackers (/twists... whatever.)  But, they did have a HUGE pepper kick to them.  It's easy to forget that good ol' table shaker black pepper actually can give a kick, but it does!  Especially, when you use a lot of it or use it as a highlighted flavor.  Anyways, I would say this recipe verged on too much black pepper.  I have cut the required amount in half for the recipe posted below, (though, I admit I have not tried it like this!  Whoops!)  But, I feel this will allow you to be liberal with sprinkling it on top if you taste and find it lacking a punch.  Don't get me wrong!  I loved these.  I liked the spice that, after a moment, left a lingering desire for more!  And was cooled off well with the dip.  Just think this would satisfy a largely crowd if not as intense.

Sadly, I don't have a recipe for the dip.  Because I made it up and didn't think to write it down!  It was sun-dried tomatoes, feta, sour cream and any leftover parmesan.... yup, that's all you get!  AND it was a HUGE HIT!  So, that makes it even worse.  Here's a picture and rave reviews for a dip that I will not tell you how to make.  You're welcome.


*It = the blog.  Not the pictured dip.... that would be weird.
**Yes, in this situation, you "suffer" by not being graced with my blog posts.  I know, I know... make it stop!


Black Pepper and Parmesan Twists
Adapted from Naturally Ella

1c whole wheat flour

1c white flour

1tsp baking powder

1tsp salt

1/2c parmesan cheese, plus extra for topping

1Tbsp black pepper, plus extra for topping*

4Tbsp olive oil

3/4c water

Pre-heat oven to 400degrees.

Combine whole wheat flour, white flour, baking powder, cheese, and black pepper in a food processor.  Pulse to combine.  Add 3Tbsps of olive oil and pulse until it looks like coarse meal.

Then add 1/2c water and let the processor run.  If the dough does not start coming together, start adding more water tablespoon by tablespoon.  Pulse after each addition until the dough comes together.

Scrape dough out onto a floured surface and roll out until 1/4" thick.  Try to shape into a rectangle as you roll.  Brush dough with remaining olive oil and sprinkle with extra cheese and black pepper.  Cut strips 1/2" wide and ~3” long (or to your desired thickness and length) and twist.  Place on a parchment-lined baking sheet.  Bake for 14-15 minutes, until the twist are golden and crunchy.  You may need to adjust the baking time depending on thickness or size of twists.

*The original recipe called for 2Tbsp.  If you love black pepper, or want a cracker with a kick, up the dosage!  Just make sure not to go over 2Tbsps... or else!

to-may-to, to-mah-to

Wanna know a fun story?  ...you DO?!!  Well, here you are:

I knocked over my water, which in and of itself is nothing to write home about.  In fact, I would say I spill water almost everyday- either knocking it over or, more commonly, a bit of a dribble here and there when I try to drink from the klean kanteen (AWESOME gift, thanks Kray-dawg!)  Embarrassing, I know.  BUT, this time I got some on my lap-top.  And apparently, my reactions aren't what they used to be, because now the "c" and apostrophe keys don't work.  This makes typing VERY difficult, and shocker: to blog you need to type.  Oy.  But fear not!  I will work something out!

Meanwhile, the fella & I made pasta w/ tomato sauce.  Ooooh, Aaaah: the complexity! the excitement! the inventiveness & novelty of it all!  But, before you go, let me clarify!  This isn't just ANY tomato sauce.  Oh no, no no.  It's a tomato sauce with just 3 ingredients.  THREE!  The "recipe," if you can call it that, was all over the food blogs, and caught our interest.  So we made it.  

And the verdict?  It was delicious.  Simple, quick and elegant and all you need.  It is the perfect recipe to have in your back pocket just in case you got a jonesin for tomato sauce.  I think it is fin as it is, though wouldn't hold off on using it as a base for other, more elaborate meals, either.

Tomato Sauce with Butter & Onion

adapted from SmittenKitchen

28oz can whole peeled tomatoes (San Marzano)

5Tbsp unsalted butter

1 medium yellow onion

  

Peel & trim the onion and cut it in half.

Put tomatoes, onion & butter in a saucepan over medium heat.  Bring to a simmer, then turn to low- you want a slow but constant simmer for 45 minutes.  Stir now & again, and crush tomatoes against the side of the pan.  When done, remove from heat & throw away the onion.  Salt to taste.  Ta Da!!! Done!


And yes, that is a humongous piece of garlic bread.  And yes, I did have a second helping of bread.  I'm a girl who likes her garlic bread, so what?  Ya wanna fight about it?

grass is always less green...

I read blogs.  Food blogs, Renovation blogs, Decor blogs, Humor blogs.... and it's not often that I feel better about my house than others.  Ok, it's NEVER that I feel better about my house!  There are reasons: I've only been here a year while most everyone else is more established, I'm working on a really tight budget, my help is limited to when others are able to visit, my house was a dump to begin with, etc etc.

Except now, after seeing this post from Remodelaholic, I am feeling SO grateful that my place wasn't that bad!!!

So, while there are some rooms that reminded me of my own place....

.... I would have run away screaming after seeing these other rooms!

Everyone has a line.  I think mine is graffiti.  I get exhausted just thinking about all that work!  Let's hear it for people* willing to take on dilapidated houses!!!!  

*I believe the guy is a house-flipper.  His wife runs a family blog, which showed his awesome transformation.

feed me, semour!

I'm going to apologize to my readers for being MIA:

Sorry, Kristen, please forgive me for my lapse.  I am over here, sitting on recipes for grilled artichokes, phenomenal lime shrimp, green mango salad, strawberry-rhubarb galette, and blue cheese & beer tomato soup.  All while showing the hill who's boss and patching up annoying leaks.  But have I done anything about this?  Nope.

Until now!!

I got it into my head to stuff chicken breasts with a sun-dried tomato pesto.  And, thankfully, my beau is smart enough not to stand in the way when I get these kinda things in my head.  It's for the best.  For him.  And for his taste-buds.*

*Wow.  Boastful much?

I had been eying a recipe for Chili-Roasted Cauliflower with Cilantro Dressing, and really? the chicken was just an afterthought to my one true love: cauliflower.  We had leftover blended cilantro from a tube from Gourmet Garden, (bought for an earlier recipe first outta curiosity, and secondly because the store was out of fresh cilantro.)  I was quite impressed with this tube-o-herb, especially considering cilantro ALWAYS goes bad on me.  Always!*  However, bear in mind the uses are limited, (i.e. dressings, spreads, drizzling, etc.)  I've adapted the recipe below for this product, but follow the link if you have an abundance of the fresh stuff!

*In fact, I do believe I have a bunch in my fridge right now.... I should do something about that....  

For the chicken, I first butterflied the breasts, then stuffed with the pesto before a quick pan sear & finished in the oven.  Quick tutorial on butterflying: 1) place chicken breast on cutting board, 2) place hand on top of the chicken, holding it firmly against the board with your palm, 3) using a very sharp knife, cut a pocket into the chicken breast running parallel/between your palm and the cutting board, 4) either run all the way through if you desire thinner chicken breasts or, like with this recipe, leave with ~3/4inch edge in tact.

sun-dried tomato pesto stuffed chicken

serves 4

2oz sun-dried tomatoes

1/2oz pine nuts

2 garlic cloves

2oz pecorino romano

1Tbsp basil

3/4tsp salt

1/2tsp pepper

1/2tsp red pepper flakes (or, to taste)

4 chicken breasts

Preheat oven to 350.

Put all ingredients into a food processor & pulse until combined and pesto-y.

Butterfly chicken breasts (if memory serves, this should be enough pesto for 4 breasts), and stuff with pesto.   Use toothpicks to close edges.

Heat a skillet with a couple tablespoons of olive oil (or butter).  Sear on each side for 3-5minutes, then transfer to an oven-safe baking dish.  Bake until cooked through, about another 10-15minutes.  Meanwhile, deglaze the pan with ~1/2cup chicken stock and let simmer until reduced & thickened.  To serve, remove toothpicks and drizzle pan sauce over chicken.

chili-roasted cauliflower with cilantro dressing

serves 4, adapted from serious eats

1 head cauliflower

2Tbsp olive oil

2tsp chili powder

1/2tsp salt, divided

Freshly ground black pepper

1/2tsp lime juice

1/2tsp white vinegar

1Tbsp + 1tsp Gourmet Garden cilantro

2 cloves minced garlic

2tsp water

Preheat oven to 425. 

Break up the cauliflower into large florets.

In a small bowl, combine olive oil, chili powder, 1/4 teaspoon of the salt and some freshly ground black pepper. Place the cauliflower florets on a baking sheet and toss well with the chili-oil mixture. Roast for 25 minutes, turning once halfway through.

Meanwhile, combine lime juice, vinegar, cilantro, garlic, and remaining salt.  

To serve, drizzle the roasted cauliflower with the dressing.

Oh, and by the way?  This cauliflower was DIVINE!  Will be repeated.

the best laid plans...

OMGTISFA!!!!!*

So, the beau is moving into my fabulous palace I call home at the end of the month, and talks of rearranging and new projects have been flying!  The possibilities!

Plans:
1) Closet-turned-minibar?
2) Back-room/ex-kitchenette/library-morphs-into-theater-room
3) Not one, but TWO new guest rooms
4) Re-finishing dressers to give them a funky new life

But, as we have a lot of furniture-merging to do, with not a lot of space to do it in, tape measurers** and creative thinking have come into play.  Enter: Roomle.***  Roomle is a website that allows you to make floorplans to plan your furnishings and layouts and share with friends!  Good-bye post-it-note-drawn-rooms, hello 3-D models!! (Did I mention you can make it 3D?  Because you can make it 3D.)  See below:

For more on this fantastic room, check out the renovation, curtains, and many, many aquarium posts.

This has Katie, (my cousin, bff, and home-decor/room-rearranging partner-in-crime... yes, all those things, all in one!) written all over it.  Please, Katie, rejoice with me.  Rejoice!!!****  

I will admit that it took me a while (and many oddly-placed walls) to get the hang of it, though it's fairly user-friendly.  The website does have tutorial videos, which I refuse to use.  Because I live life without instruction.  I will also say that they are a touch lacking on the furniture options & variety front.  I will allow this, for a while.  But then there will be hell to pay.  Hell, consisting of me shaking my fist at the computer screen.  And let me tell you, that is a mighty, mighty hell.  But as for now, most of the furnishings are erring on the side of "modern" and "cat-lover."*****

Has anyone else discovered Roomle?  Anyone wanna share their plans?


*Oh My God This Is So Freakin' Awesome
**"Measurers" is not a Chrome-recognized word?  I call BS on this one.  If "measurer" is a word, then it's plural should also be a word!  Get your shit together, Chrome.
***Credit where credit is due: the beau found this website.  He comes in handy.
****She has a label on her blog just for me!!!!  See???!??!?!  Love.
*****Seriously?  Just cat forts???  Where's a dog bowl or bed?  No fish tanks?  Haters.