'so late it's a day early' mid-week meal share: mini cheesecakes

Y'all, I know. I've been slacking on the one routine thing I had hoped for this little blog. But hey, such as this train that is my life we get extremely busy with work, school, chores, kids, and other shit but in the spirit of FAT TUESDAY I'm giving you guys a fabulous treat yo'self recipe along with making preparations to share another recipe tomorrow. And the crowd goes wild.

PayPal update: UPS closed their second case saying that delivery of the package could not be confirmed. Where the hell was this verdict 3 weeks ago? I don't know, but they gave us forms to fill out to be reviewed at which point I'm hoping we'll get compensation. Do I feel a little bad about my anger towards Buyer? Only slightly, isn't it okay to just be angry sometimes?

And you know what will ease your negative emotions into bliss?

MINI NO BAKE CHEESECAKES! Simple, delicious and unforgiving to your thighs, hips and your children's psychotic sugar buzz state of mind.

Cost effective: decently; around $14/dozen factoring out things like sugar and butter that would normally be in your fridge or cupboard.

Easy to concoct: yaass, but you may get frustrated trying to get even layers of goodness.

Here's what you're gonna need:

1 package (8 oz) softened cream cheese

¼ cup softened butter

¼ cup melted butter

¼ cup sugar

1 tbsp vanilla

1 cup melted white chocolate chips (I splurged on Ghirardelli because.. duh)

8 oz whipped cream

1 cup crushed graham crackers *approximately 8 whole graham crackers

6 tsp seedless raspberry jam *or other if you don't like or are unfortunately allergic

cupcake liners

I BOUGHT A HAND MIXER!!! LSDKFJOIWEJFOISJDF!!! Be proud.

1. In a bowl combine cream cheese, SOFTENED butter, sugar and vanilla with a hand mixer. Blend on a plate if you're feeling adventurous.

2. Melt your chocolate chips and then fold them in.

3. Add in your whipped cream. The original recipe stated to fold it in, but mine was still somewhat frozen (which I didn't think would harm the recipe since the last step is to freeze them) so I used my handy dandy hand mixer to finish it up.

4. Crush up your graham crackers. I used a food processor even though it may have been overkill. 

5. Line a muffin tin with your cupcake liners. Riddle me that.

6. First add a layer of cream cheese mix; you may or may not use your finger to spread the mix around..

7. Add a layer of jelly; again the finger thing..

8. Add another layer of cream cheese mix; finger..

9. Finish it off with a layer of pulverized graham crackers. Which, pulverized is probably not the best route, or maybe I used too much butter. My grahams were sticky as shit and were not easy to spread.

10. Freeze for one hour. This is by far the hardest step.

11. ENJOY!

Did I add some chocolate sauce on top? Mmmmmmmhmmmmmmmmm. I felt it was necessary since I didn't have anymore whipped cream or fruit garnishes. Other than not measuring out ½ tsp of jelly per cheesecake I made no alterations to the recipe.

And let me say these beauties have survived more than a day! I'm still not sure how.. probably because Piper can't open the freezer and Kennedy is usually well mannered enough to ask before indulging in sweets.

We will definitely be making these again. They may just become a staple in this household. I am eager to try other filling flavors and I don't think it would be that difficult to alter the cheesecake flavor, either. Add some cocoa mix? I think so.

And I lost my receipt so I looked up prices online, and if you were ever curious a 50 pound carton of cream cheese can be purchased on the internet.

Maybe I'll grab one now..

Leia

super bowl sunday

Gooooooooo..... SPORTS TEAM!

But honestly, I didn't realize that the super bowl was today until I saw the new filters on Snapchat. Other things I've done today:

• posted a discussion for my online sociology class
• composed a four page paper for my online nursing class that I didn't realize was due and that I didn't realize had to be 3-5 pages long - I will forever be grateful for double spacing
• gave the girls a bath whilst typing a paper on the toilet
• made a lovely stew for dinner that will probably hit the blog in three weeks
• neglected a food post again because that involves me getting the pictures onto my phone/computer
• texted Granny to let me know when the half time show was so I could be sure to record it and not have to fast forward through the game to see it
• earned points for being too lazy even for DVR
• study all the arteries and the veins of the human body
• not shower
• read a couple chapters from Wildflower while Pipeypoo napped on me - the best excuse for not being 'productive' while your kids are napping: "The kid was asleep on me."
• did some planning on turning our teeny tiny hall closet into an open 'mudroom'
• going to hopefully continue watching The Jinx

I hope the team you were rooting for won!

Leia

seventeen thirty-eight

Haha, sometimes I just can't help myself. Yes, I referenced Fetty Wap because I can barely keep my eyes open these days.

And literally, my computer autosaved this as 'noeyemoney.jpg'. I can't.

Between all the homework I've got to keep up on (whether online or from campus), the studying I have to prioritize and the girls I feel like a zombie. Maybe a MOMBIE is more accurate. And let me say approximately 50% of my homework is ridiculous. I have an online math class this semester and the work is by no means hard, but it's time consuming and the questions just make me laugh.

Why on Earth does anyone want to know how many miles per hour hair grows at?! And I can tell you that this number is either over exaggerated or I am the exception. 

Also Piper. If this kid would just sleep through the night, I think my exhaustion issues would be less apparent. Last night was my last shift before my six days off, so I got home around 12:30a which meant a tight turn around that would land me at school this morning at 8a. Not only did she wake up, but she woke up and stayed up. Around 1a her alarm sounded and it didn't stop until 3:30a. I initially just brought her in to lay with us so she would fall back asleep so I could plop her back into her crib. Jokes on me, right? She did in fact fall back to sleep quickly, but the moment I carried her back over the threshold into her room she was miraculously wide awake and crying again. So, back to my room we go because I've got roll out of here in approximately 6 hours at this point and I can assure you I am not going to budget the time to 'properly' soothe her back to sleep in her room. Needless to say she tossed and turned until 3:30-4a when she finally fell into a deep slumber which is when I was able to also. 

Trying to keep my chin up, but this week I did poorly on two tests. One being a chemistry quiz and the other my first exam for physiology. I can cut my losses in chemistry knowing that our lowest quiz grade will be dropped at the end of the semester but I am overly stressed about my physiology exam. The points I lost are gone forever. There are some extra points built in so I'm hoping to put myself into overdrive and get the job done.

2,3-dinitrobenzoic acid

Leia

the fat jew IRL

About two weeks ago The Fat Jew started advertising for parties to commemorate the launch of his new book and it was sponsored by Four Loco (still cracking up about this). One of my best friends Caytee pitched the idea of taking a group trip to the closest one to us. Columbus, OH.  Though neither of us are huge drinkers we are huge fans of Josh Ostrovsky, so I RSVP'd. It ended up just being the two of us and it didn't go as planned but we still had a blast.

Wahoo, road trip! 3 hours and 20 odd minutes ended up taking us almost 4 hours and 30 odd minutes; this meant we had less time to get ready for the show.

Less time to get ready meant we left our hotel via Uber at 8:10p instead of 7:45p which meant we didn't get to the venue until 8:20p.. 20 minutes after the line 'officially' started. Hundreds upon hundreds of people! We guessed maybe we were 1200th in line for this thing. The line began at the doors of the venue and wrapped around the block, placing us at BOOM.

It was cold and we were freezing. We were trying to remain positive but when 10pm rolled around it seemed less likely that we were going to make the cut. Once we crossed the actual threshold onto the property security started coming outside periodically to give updates.

Update 1: everyone behind this mark (which was behind us) can plan on leaving now, you're not getting in.
Update 2 (5 minutes later): we are letting people in for 5 more minutes.
Update 3 (30 seconds later): 20 more people and that's it; everyone surges forward and I fear I might be trampled.
Update 4 (maybe 5 minutes after): venue is full, don't bitch and moan because we'll call the cops. Just leave now.

We were so close, but still so far.

Understandably, I knew the odds of people leaving early after getting in was slim to none, but I thought it was ridiculous that we weren't allowed to keep a line even if we were being courteous.

So, now what to do? We were frozen to the bone and we were starving, so let's order another Uber because it's quick and convenient and get some grub! We ended up in the downtown portion of campus called 'Short North'. The first place we stopped had just closed the kitchen, the next place we stopped closed in 30 minutes. Finally, we found Bakersfield. TACOS. TEQUILA. WHISKEY. What could go wrong with this choice?

The food.. SO GOOD.

And then after filling out tummies it was back to the hotel where we snapped some dramatic selfie's with my selfie stick that I refused to be rendered useless.

Was the goal of putting these 'on the line' to garner attention from The Fat Jew and get some sort of recognition for traveling and subsequently freezing half way to death to not gain entrance to the party? Maybe. Did I get a like from him and Babe Walker? YES. Recognition enough? For the fan girl in me, yes.

Is White Girl Rose unpleasant to drink? Yes. It could be because I don't really like wine to begin with, but hey. Celebrity. Novelty. These are things I love. No shame.



#whitegirlfrozen
Leia

end/beginning-week meal share: mini chicken pot pies

So this past week has just been one for the record books. PayPal still has me fucked up but that's just an issue we're trying to just stomach. This weekend was eventful, but that will come later. For now.. FOOD. GLORIOUS FOOD. THE ENTITY THAT FIXES ALL!

And especially this one. So yummy and comforting, even if you forget to add the peas. Which truthfully I was really bummed about.

Cost effective: more pricey than usual, but anytime you add meat the price can jump a bit, so at $24 you're able to get 6 medium pies.

Easy to concoct: slightly time consuming and you do have to get a little crafty puff pastry.

The list is long with this one:

2 tbsp butter

1 cup chopped carrots (I went with canned and sliced)

1 cup chopped onions

½ cup chopped celery

2 cups chopped potatoes (I went canned and diced)

1 tsp salt

1 tsp pepper

2 tsp garlic powder (1 tsp minced garlic)

½ tsp thyme

½ tbsp dried parsley

4 cups chicken broth

2 cups cooked and cubed (shredded) chicken

2 tbsp flour

puff pastry

egg wash

If you do not want to use a Crock-Pot go ahead and boil, bake, or grille your chicken and begin at step 3! Also do not forget to allow your Puff Pastry's to thaw (40 minutes)!

1. So the absolute first thing I did was whip out my Crock-Pot. Once I started cooking and shredding chicken in that bad boy I have never turned back. 2 pounds of breast tenderloin with a bottle of marinade on high for 3 hours? Fo'get about it! And hey, leftovers!

2. If you are like me and took the Crock-Pot route you'll want to start in on the other steps once you have about 30 minutes left on the timer.

3. In a medium-large pan melt your butter. Since I can never remember that it's 2 shakers of onion powder I have and not 1 garlic and 1 onion.. SO I used minced garlic and I added it right in with the butter to assure better mixage in the end.

4. Once your butter is melted go ahead and add in your carrots, celery, onions, salt and pepper.

5. I can assure you I cooked as recommended: until onions are translucent.

6. Trip over Piper and her random slice of half eaten bread while you head back to the stove with your chicken broth. Once again, please ask in advance and I can provide you with a Piper so you can properly cook this meal.

7. Add your chicken broth, potatoes, thyme, parsley and your garlic powder if you have the appropriate spices in your pantry.

8. Bring this mixture to a boil.

9. If you've opted for Crock-Pot method, now should be the perfect time to get your chicken out and shred it to bits. These claws are still one of the best kitchen tools I own.

10. Once your broth is boiling, add your chicken.

11. Throw your flour into a small mixing bowl. From your pan, ladle out some broth to mix into your flour. Once you've mixed it together pour back into your mix.

12. Wait for mix to thicken and add in your peas. Please add in your peas FOR ME. At this point I turned the mixture down to the lowest heat setting to prepare my puffs!

13. Preheat your oven to 400°F.

14. One egg plus a splash of water or milk and you have your egg wash. And be proud! I can't keep my spice pantry in check but I bought a proper tool!

15. Roll out your Puff Pastry's, and since I reminded you at the beginning you will not have to twiddle your thumbs for 20 minutes waiting for them to thaw.

16. I used a small Pyrex bowl for size and was still able to get two bowls from one sheet. Cut two and leave as-is, cut two and cut a ring around the outside - do not pull it out, leave in tact.

17. Brush your egg wash on the uncut pieces, then place your cut pieces on top, then egg wash again.

18. Place in oven for 20-25 minutes.

19. When Kennedy see's you about to throw 'Play-Doh' in the trash she'll want to play with it first. And it really did seem like their was a lot of wasted Puff Pasty.. damn geometric shapes!

20. Once they're done, cut out the top piece, pull out some potential undone bits from the center, and fill with your wonderful pot pie filling!

21. Enjoy!

These were so good. I was actually surprised at how well the little bowls turned out!

I thought for sure they would have been a flat little mess. Instead my disappointment came from forgotten peas. But hey! I didn't know how important the frozenness was and left them in the freezer and the rest is history. We will definitely be making these again.

Marie Callender, who?

Leia



planting cat grass: a photo series

On Saturday, before things got really nasty with PayPal, Kennedy planted cat grass. A few weeks ago we visited my mom, Granny, at work and one of the other office ladies gave Kennedy a 'grow your own cat grass' kit; mind you, my mom works at an animal hospital. Unfortunately between school and work and more school and homework and then just trying to catch up from exhaustion (which usually takes all 6 of my off days), I find that I am constantly asking Kennedy to hold on, or telling her I'll just be one more minute.

I feel horrible about this, but right now it's just my normal and I'm hoping in her four year old brain she can rationalize this and continue occupying her time with dad and lil' Pipes.

Either way! She's had this kit for weeks and she has been ever asking me if we can plant it. So, we finally did. I also let her have an ice cream sandwich for no reason aside from her asking for one, and when we took a trip to see Granny I let her pick our lunch spot. I wanted Arby's, she wanted Culver's. I went with Culver's out of 'fairness' but of course she didn't eat more than three bites because of that damn ice cream sandwich.

Ta-da! Poor Piper just wanted to play in that dirt so bad, but c'est la vie.

*waiting for grass to grow*

Leia