The Art of Cooking

I have always enjoyed cooking because I find it relaxing, but I have found that while I have mastered a handful of recipes, with my busy work, school and social schedule, I have neglected to expand my menu much since college.

One of my favorite things about cooking meals at home is that I know what is being put into them. There is no added butter or hidden calories. Plus, I can be sure that the ingredients are fresh and organic (where possible). I decided that I am going to start blogging some of my new attempts at getting creative with food.

This week I made homemade tostada salads. I have been on the hunt for tostada shell baking tins since college when my roommate's mom bought some for her for Christmas. Well, it was my lucky week because I found some at Ross for $3! They are so easy to use. (Technically these are semi-homemade because clearly I did not grow corn and hand roll these tortillas for the tostadas)!

All you do is preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Get some medium sized tortillas (I used organic multigrain tortillas). Press them into the tostada baking tin and bake for 10 minutes. Then, remove the baked shells from the tins and let them cool for about 5 minutes and fill them with whatever salad ingredients you would like, and enjoy!

In our tostada we layered fat-free refried beans, long grain wild-rice, shredded seasoned chicken breast, lots of lettuce, homemade guacamole (I have a great recipe that I may share later), corn, salsa, fat free sour cream and skim cheese. 

Tostada Salad

These were delicious and the leftovers were great too :)

A little bit of country is good for the soul....

This past weekend I was able to take in the Gorge at George for the second time this Summer. This time around we saw Brad Paisley and Darius Rucker. The concert was wonderful. The view was breath taking. The company was stupendous and hilarious. Let me tell you, if you have not been to the Gorge in Washington for a concert, add it to your bucket list immediately! It is the most beautiful, natural venue you will ever get to enjoy a concert at. (Plus, there is an amazing winery with delicious champagne within walking distance of the Gorge at Cave B winery. Not to mention the phenomenal lodging and camping areas close by).

The Gorge at George. Go enjoy a concert there and just try to complain while you are looking out at this view.

Dressing the part for the country concert. Adam has this down since he lived in Kentucky while he was playing baseball :)

Beautiful view.

Sunset at the Gorge.

Back to School... Again!

It's finally here! My first day back to school. After over a year of studying/taking/passing the (5 hour long EACH) West-E and West-B tests, taking prerequisite courses, meeting with graduate school advisors to decide which school to attend, completing the extensive application, interviewing with Northwest's faculty board members, tracking down transcripts (an accomplishment in itself with the many schools I took prerequisite courses at), getting accepted and working out how to pay..... 

The adventure finally begins. 

Naturally, I woke up an hour and a half before my alarm went off and could not go back to sleep because I was so excited for my first day back to school. The smell of new text books and the thought of new pens, freshly sharpened pencils and carefully selected spiral notebooks awaiting my use, has kept a smile plastered on my face all week.... but with all of this planning and preparing what is the one question I can't seem to stop pondering all day???

Exactly what do I use for a backpack now that I'm a grad student?! It makes me laugh that after all of my hard work preparing for this day, the one thing I have yet to decide upon is what to do about this backpack debacle....

As a side note, yet one more reason that my best friend, Jenni, and I are soul mates; after going through all of my large purse, shoulder bag and backpack options in my head on my commute to work from Bellevue to Seattle attempting to make a decision about which to use for class this evening... Jen texts me as I am walking into work and asks, "Random question but what are you going to use for a backpack now that you are a grad?!?!" 

Best friends think alike :)

Wish me luck! In 10 months I will be a certified 5th-12th grade English teacher with my Masters in Teaching! Woohoo! I am so looking forward to being this excited for the first day of school for many more years to come! What a fun time of year! Pumpkin spice lattes, cute boots, new school clothes, freshly cleaned desks, new text books, new students and neatly packed backpacks (Or large purses/shoulder bags?) for life! 

On tonight's agenda? Curriculum Design and Instruction in Rice Hall.

Food for thought this week:

Godliness with contentment is great gain.  


1 Timothy 6:6

For we have brought nothing into this world and can take nothing out of it. 

My goal for this life: Be joyfully content. Enjoy where I am, as I am, and the people that love and surround me. Exude the love of Jesus. Give as generously as possible. For what do I have that I have not been given? Share the things that God has entrusted to me. Pray openly. Forgive quickly. Love extravagantly.  

Date Night Idea ;)

Gather your classy red keg cups, blankets, beach chairs, a sweatshirt, pop some popcorn and poor some wine into a nonalcoholic beverage bottle so that you can smuggle it in with you like a teenager again!

Outdoor movie nights in your local park are not only fun, romantic and full of community, but also contribute their donations to a charity of choice normally. So, enjoy your date night, family night or solo time and be a do-gooder all while watching some classic movies from the comfort of your beach chair!

For this "PG date night" Adam and I went to Marymoor Park in Redmond and saw Princess Bride (Which is secretly one of his favorite movies). 

P.S. Well behaved dogs are allowed into the outdoor movie area at this park, so bring Fido with you for some fresh air and socialization!  :)

A Nice Walk Through Nature

Although I am terrible about consistently updating my blog, I have good intentions to keep it up-to-date each time I go on a blogging spree... which generally only lasts about a week. I think the problem is that when I really have exciting things in life to blog about, I am too busy to sit and blog about them. Anyhow, here goes my latest attempt to keep my blog fresh.

While those who know me would tell you that I am far more of a "fly by the seat of her pants" type of girl than I am a planner; I do have a knack for finding new, entertaining activities to take on during my free time.

This past week Adam and I both had Wednesday off, which is a rare occasion for us both to have the same day off right now, what with our out of the norm work schedules. Adam decided that we should indulge in one of our "PG date nights," as our friends call them. We often get teased for going on dates that any kid could easily mistake for a field trip.

We, as always, wanted to find something new to do. We got up early, got some coffee, packed up my pup, took the top off of Adam's Jeep and headed out to explore a new hike. Adam had heard that there was a hike just before Snoqualmie Pass that followed a creek and eventually ended at a big waterfall and swimming area.

Because Adam and I are both such non-planners, we of course, did not even really know which exit to take off of I90, how long the hike would take, if dogs were really allowed or if it really even existed. But, we found the trail with ease, dogs were welcome (on a leash of course), the hike was only about 2 miles each way, the scenery was beautiful, the trails were manicured, and the waterfall and swimming area at the end actually did exist!

I would highly recommend this hike to anyone. It is fairly easy and is a nice short hike for anyone with kids. There are a handful of spur trails that offer beautiful views of Denny Creek, and a few ancient, HUGE, trees that grace the trail along the way. Plus, the swim and waterfall at the end are perfect for cooling off on a hot day.

Getting there: From Seattle, take I-90 east to Exit 47 (before Snoqualmie Pass). Turn left at the stop sign, and cross to the north (left) side of the freeway. At the "T," stay right on Road No. 58, and pass Denny Creek Campground at about three miles. A short distance past the campground, turn left onto a .2-mile road (No. 5830).

Happy Sunday!! :)

Here's a little Beyonce to get your week started out right! :)
I'm not sure if this video makes me want to clean my house or breakout my signature "Burns dance"... hmmm.