Super Cheese Sunday

Another  Pinterest recipe success!

At this very moment, I am sitting next to my father and we are making a pretty big dent in some warm bean dip! It's just so....cheesy. Here's the original pin:

Source: the-country-cook.blogspot.com via Emily on Pinterest

This was one of the very first things I pinned when I started using Pinterest.  But it's definitely a recipe that calls for an occasion and a group of people to share it with.  And, frankly, it screams "Super Bowl Snack!"  I mean, what's more "Super Bowl" than a dip that calls for FOUR CUPS OF CHEESE?!

Sidenote: I just relocated myself across the room because that is the only way I am going to stop shoveling this dip in my mouth.

I didn't go to any sort of Super Bowl party this year, but my parents and I went to my grandfathers house to "watch it" (I say that like I'll have any clue what is happening in the game...) and eat junk food—perfect time to try this recipe!  

Another Sidenote: Relocation did me no good.  I just walked across the room and stuffed my face some more.

It's a really simple recipe.  Mix some stuff up, cover it with cheese, pop it in the over, bada bing!  If you can open a can and open a bag, you can make this recipe. Unfortunately for me....

Apparently I've been using the can opener BACKWARDS for 20 years!  Add this to the list of things I can't do properly because I'm a lefty...

And...

Whoever is responsible for putting that little "Tear Here" notch in bags of cheese has it out for me.

But, I prevailed and ended up with this:

You gotta love a recipe that looks like this!

Mix everything up, pop it in a pan, and cook for 20-25 minutes.  Take it out, cover it with even more cheese, and cook about 5 minutes longer.  

Perfection.

AND if that wasn't enough cheese to get your arteries sweating, then take a gander at this:

Basically, my mother is a genius.  She took my favorite cheese (Brie) and wrapped it in crescent rolls.  And it's the definition of amazing.  The saltiness from the brie and the slight sweetness from the crescent rolls are perfect together.   To make these, just wrap a small wheel or a wedge of brie cheese (we used La Bonne Vie brand) with crescent rolls and bake according to the directions on the can of rolls.  Easy.  Breezy.  Delicious.

In general, I don't enjoy eating that much.  There are very few foods that are worth the calories or the resulting stomach ache to me.  But this dip and the brie and crescent rolls?  Totally worth it. There's just something about cheese...

Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to take a tums, run a marathon, do 1,000 sit ups, and make friends with the veggie tray.  

Happy snacking!

Warm Bean Dip

*Recipe found on "The Country Cook"

• 2 cans (16-oz.) refried beans (I used fat free)
• 1 can (10.5-oz) diced tomatoes (I couldn't find a 10-oz can, so I just used 14-oz.  It worked just fine)
• 1 Tablespoon taco seasoning
• 4 cups colby jack cheese

1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees.
2. Drain excess juice from the tomatoes using a strainer.
3. In a medium bowl, combine refried beans, tomatoes, taco seasoning, and 2 cups of cheese.
4. Spray an 8x8 dish with cooking spray.  Pour combined ingredients into a dish a spread around evenly.
5. Bake for 20-25 minutes until thoroughly heated through.
6. Add remaining 2 cups of cheese and bake for another 5 minutes until cheese is melted.
7. Serve warm with your favorite tortilla chips.

*You can have fun with this recipe!  Try it with Rotel tomatoes or use mexican style or pepperjack  cheese.  Tweak it to your taste.

Hello broccoli.  You are so....not covered in cheese...

Asian Salad

Friends are fun.  Good food is fun.  The SAG awards are fun.  Put all three together, and you've got a lot of fun.

Last night, I got together with some friends at my friend Charlynn's house for soup, salad and SAGs!  It was a lot of fun.  We all brought a soup, salad, bread or sweet to share.  There was so much good food!  I brought asian salad and deep dark chocolate cookies!  

Asian salad is a recipe that my mom's made for a long time.  It's super yummy and my mom said I could share the recipe with all of you! 

What I love about this salad is that you can make it ahead of time!  Well, actually, you really need to make  it ahead of time.  Everything needs time to marinade.

First you need to crunch up a couple bags of ramen noodles and dump them in the bottom of a big bowl.  I think the ramen noodles might be my favorite part of the salad :)

Cover the noodle with a couple of bags of broccoli slaw, some sunflower seeds and some slivered almonds....

And then add some green onions...

I have a bit of a problem with onions.  I guess I'm just super sensitive.  They don't just make me cry.  They really make my eyes burn!  Even if the onions are in the next room.  So while chopping the green onions, my eyes started to burn really bad.  My mom remembered that at one point in the movie The Help, they mentioned that putting an unlit match between your teeth will help appease the onion burn.  I'm not sure if it worked, though, because we didn't really think to try this until after I chopped the onions.  I guess it took away the residual sting...

Now time for the dressing.  Take the two beef seasoning packets from your ramen noodles and mix it with sugar, oil and white vinegar.

Next, pour it all over the salad. 

Now, this next part is really important: DO NOT STIR IT!  Put a lid on it, put it in the fridge, and ignore it for 4-24 hours.  Don't stir it until just before you serve it.

If I were smart, I would have remembered to take a picture once I stirred it.  But I'm not smart, so I didn't.  But trust me...It's a pretty salad! And it's pretty tasty too :)

Keep an eye out for a post about the deep dark chocolate cookies and pictures from SAGgy Girls night! :)

Asian Salad

• 2 packages broccoli slaw
• 2 packages beef flavored ramen noodles
• 1 cup sliced almonds
• 1 cup sunflower seed kernels
• 1 bunch green onions, chopped
• 1/3 cup white vinegar
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 3/4 cup oil

1. Break up your ramen noodle and dump them in the bottom of a large bowl.  Set the seasoning packets aside.
2.  Add the broccoli slaw, almonds, sunflower kernels and green onions. 
3. In a separate bowl, combine the seasoning packets from the ramen, vinegar, sugar and oil.  Whisk until thoroughly combined.  
4. Pour the dressing over the salad.  DO NOT STIR!  Cover the salad and put it in the refrigerator for 4 – 24 hours. 
5. Stir right before serving and enjoy!  

What a Pinteresting Thought!

Pinterest is something that is still relatively new to my life, but it's obvious that I was instantly addicted.  I've already made two Pinterest recipes (and plan on making two more this week)!  It's inspired me to finally learn to crochet!  I've got my future "When I Get Insanely Rich" wardrobe all planned.  I love it!  If you haven't been to Pinterest, you really need to check it out! That is, unless you have something really important on your agenda.  If you have an important agenda, I suggest you wait until you're done with it, because all shreds of productivity fly out the window as soon as you start pinning.

Once again, I'm taking a cue from Mel at Little Mrs. Married.  She knows where to find all of these cute blog link-ups!






Share your Pinterest finds on your blog and link up at The Vintage Apple!

I think I'm going to spread this out over a few Wednesdays and devote each post to a specific Pin Board.  Otherwise, I might bombard you with more pictures of buttery, cheesy foods and expensive outfits and perfectly styled homes than a person could handle in one post.  Today's board: Favorite Recipes.

Let me begin my saying that I think my favorite things that I find on Pinterest are the recipes!  Of course they're all loaded with fat. But until I can find an excuse to make these dishes, it's at least fun to look at the pictures and drool.

Source: laurenslatest.com via Emily on Pinterest

I've been staring at this bread for weeks.  Haven't built up the courage to make it yet, though.

Source: divine-baking.com via Emily on Pinterest

I see these in my near future.

Source: tastykitchen.com via Emily on Pinterest

I love fried okra, but it's unfortunately only a "sometimes food."  But this oven-fried version looks worth trying!

Source: the-country-cook.blogspot.com via Emily on Pinterest

So. Much. Cheese!

Source: closetcooking.com via Emily on Pinterest

Yumm!  Bread topped with Spinach and Artichoke Dip!

Source: plainchicken.com via Carolyn on Pinterest

This dip is all over Pinterest.  It's called "Crack Dip" because it's supposedly so yummy it's addicting.

Sidenote: I actually got to make crack dip tonight!  The people at the grocery store didn't give my bag with the dressing mix or the chips (so frustrating!), so I improvised and used ranch dressing and cut back on the sour cream.  I definitely want to try it again the right way, but even before sitting for 24 hours, it was still damn good! Pictures to come tomorrow (maybe)!

Source: chefjulieyoon.com via Emily on Pinterest

It seems like every time I bake I'm calling my mom and asking her about some sort of measurement conversion, so this will be really helpful too!

In order to join Pinterest and start making your own boards, you actually have to be invited.  You can either request to be invited and wait for an invite from Pinterest (which I did and let me tell you, I do not think 72 hours could have possibly gone any slower) OR you can post your e-mail in a comment and I'll gladly send you an invite.  :) Because really, who likes to wait?

And now it's time for the 30 Day Photo Challenge!  Day 23: Sunset!

I like sunsets.  They mean I've made it through another day.

Bloggity Bloggity Blog

Tonight, I am cooking myself dinner for the first time in a month and a half.  Nothing fancy, but I figure it's a step up from the Beef Ramen and buttered pasta I've been making for myself.

Tonight I'm making Ranch Chicken.   It's super simple.  So simple, in fact that even though I haven't looked at the recipe since I stumbled across it 6 weeks ago, I was still able to make it.  I took half of a chicken breast, put it in a gallon ziploc bag with some ranch dressing and smooshed it around so that it was coated.  I would have shown you pictures, but ranch dressing is one of those foods that, as tasty as it can be, can look kind of disgusting. Then I transferred the chicken into another gallon ziploc bag with some Italian style bread crumbs and shook it around until it was completely coated.  Put it on a greased cookie sheet, spray it with some Olive Oil spray and put it in a 350 degree oven. 30 minutes later, you have safe-to-consume chicken!

It turned out good enough.  It wasn't as flavorful as I expected it to be and I'm not sure if I like the flavor that the breadcrumbs add.  I may try it again and let the chicken "marinade" in the dressing for a few hours and then use Panko breadcrumbs instead of Italian breadcrumbs.  Nothing ventured, nothing gained, right?  I am fed and I took a step and ventured out of the microwave for the first time in a while. I'm proud of that.  And that's all the really matters, right?

On a completely unrelated note, this cold I'm recovering from has left my Diet Coke tasting like Pepsi.  Cold, you have crossed the line! I am not pleased.

Enough of that! Now it's time for Day 22, Trees!

This picture was taken during my junior year of high school.  My choir took a trip to Spain to sing in several cathedrals.  This picture was from the first night.  We spent 13-ish hours on a plane and then drove 10 more hours to our first city, Sevilla.  We were exhausted and jet lagged, but somehow found the energy to walk around the city for a bit once we arrived.  This tree was near our hotel and was huge!  We never figured out what kind of tree it was, but it was big enough that there was no way we could get a picture of the whole tree or even the whole trunk.  Cool tree.  Cool tree.

And now I leave you with a song I've been listening to a lot lately.  My goodness, I love the Ben Folds Pandora station and the artists it introduces me too.