Mmmm.. Cheeseeeee

Hallelujah for delicious Mexican foooddd!! {And cheese! Oh my gosh I love cheese!} These enchiladas are seriously worth its weight in gold! I was a little nerve to make them {I have never made enchiladas in my life!} But they turned out great!!! And it seriously was not hard at all!

 

 

 

 

 

Chicken Enchiladas

With White Sauce & Green Chili's

Ingredients

·   10 soft taco shells

·   2 cups cooked, shredded chicken

·   2 cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese

·   3 Tbsp. butter

·   3 Tbsp. flour

·   2 cups chicken broth

·   1 cup sour cream

·   1 (4 oz) can diced green chillies

Directions

1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Grease a 9x13 pan

2. Mix chicken and 1 cup cheese.  Roll up in tortillas and place in pan.

3. In a sauce pan, melt butter, stir in flour and cook 1 minute.  Add broth and whisk until smooth.  Heat over medium heat until thick and bubbly.  

4. Stir in sour cream and chilies.  Do not bring to boil, you don't want curdled sour cream.

5. Pour over enchiladas and top with remaining cheese.

6. Bake 22 min and then under high broil for 3 min to brown the cheese.

Who hates shredding chicken!?! Well let me give you a little trick that might make your life a little simpler! USE YOUR KITCHENAID! It works wonders! {If you don't have a Kitchenaid... then what the heck is wrong with you!? Go get one right now!}

DIY T-Shirt Rug {You're Gonna Love It}

So I don't want to sound conceited but.... This rug is ridiculously awesome! Like who wouldn't want this in their house!? Andddd it's made entirely out of old shirts! Pretty sweet yeah?! {Lie. I did also use someee fabric scraps... but still recycling!}

Ok, I'm going to share my secrets with you! BUT... I will warn you first! It did take me three months to do this. THREE! ...Yeah I might have put it off every so often... and I might have been a little lazy about it... Wait actually both are extremely true... like seriously... I think my sister would have killed me if I didn't get this project out of our living room in the next five seconds! But I had every right! It's a veryyy tedious and time consuming {Obviously} project. But just look at it! It's beautiful!

{DIY T-Shirt Rug}

Can I just say that I am totally excited to write this blog! A) Because it means I'm finally done! And B) because this rug makes me so happy and I just want to share it with the world! {Hope you like pictures! Becaue this blog has a lot of them!}

First of all, you are going to need a lot of shirts! {The more T-shirty, the better!} I wanted it to be very colorful as you can tell! So that made it easy to collect a bunch of random colors!

{I totally raided bags of my mom's old clothes that I found in the garage! So I had a lot of color options, which made it easy to pick the colors I wanted! I also asked my other family members if they had any clothes they were planning on getting rid of, because frankly... I don't have many clothes that I want to give up!!}

Cut the shirts into strips, 3 to 4 inches long and about a 1/2 inch to an inch wide. Whatever you want, its not a huge deal. {My strips were all over the place! Some were fat and short some long and skinny... I think it just adds to the crazy!

  

{The fabric will come later. A tip: do not underestimate the number of strips you need!!! YOU NEED A LOT! I was cutting more strips all throughout this project.}

Get a larger shirt {or any kind of thicker material} and cut out the shape and size you want your rug. {I used the back of an extra large shirt}I did a rectangle but you can seriously do whatever! I think a circle one would be pretty cool! After you have it all cut out, start cutting little slits in a line. Leave and inch space around the boarder! {I just pinched the fabric with the scissors and it made the perfect size slits}

{You don’t have to cut the whole thing before you start adding the strips. I cut as I went because the rows that I finished were a good guide for the rows that I was doing next. It doesn’t have to be perfect!!!}

{Adding the strips}

To shove the strips into the slits I used a letter opener, I suggest you have something pointy like that to help you get them through. {I used a thicker plastic needle at the beginnig and that was good too, but what I liked about the letter opener was that if the hole was too small I could use it to make the hole a little bit bigger}

You will be working mostly from the back. Go the direction that the slits are horizontal {I know I said it doesn't have to be perfect... But it would make your life easier if these lines were lined up}

                      

Push the strip through the slit, then push the other end through the slit next or above depending on how you are looking at it.     

then push the other end through the slit next or above depending on how you are looking at it.

 

Flip it over and pull the strips tight {The more you do the harder it is to find the stip you are working on!} 



The Front will look like this  

 And the back like this

Before you know it your rug will be exploding with craziness like this! 

Three Months Later….

 Almost there!!!

DONEEEEEE!!!!

I love how the back looks too!

This part is optional.. I just thought the rug would be bunching up and would get messed up a lot.. soooo.. I got this plastic grid mat to put on the bottom to make it a little more sturdier.

The holes were itty-bitty so I cut them bigger

Then I made it stay by threading some extra strips through the mat and the rug

I am a little worried about it not staying on as good as I want, it was pretty sturdy... But I don't know... I might add some more after awhile... I was just soooo ready to be done that I stopped there!

**UPDATE!!**

I finally just hot glued the mat to the rug because the strips weren't holing it together. Also the hot glue gave it a little grip so it stays in place on the hard floor better.

Completely finished! {The best feeling in the world!!}

Remember how I said I used some fabric strips? Well... After starting my rug I started working on my ruffled shower curtain and I had leftover fabric so I cut it up and added it to my rug! Genius... I know(:

SEE! They go together so well! Life is just wonderful!!

All the hard work was so worth it, because if you couldn't tell.. I love this rug! A few months ago... That was definitely NOT the case... But now I'm glad I stuck through it! {I could totally use this rug as an object lesson someday... Ha I can see my future kids sayin.. "Ohhh.. Mannn... Mom's telling the rug story again..." I crack myself up!}

\

TOTAL COST: $1.50

{And that was for the mat!!}

{Kelsey: Win.}

Oh my goodness! I was so distracted that I didn't even mention Pinterest! My bad...

 ...Oh hey guys.. I got this idea from Pinterest......

Pour Me A Tall One!

Evey single person in this world likes smoothies! Seriously think about it! There is not one single person you can offer a smoothie to and there reply be.. "Oh no thanks, smoothies aren't my thing man..." Like that just doesn't happen!!!! So. That is why I am dedicating this blog to the worlds greatest liquid invention! ...

{The Fruit Smoothie.}

Now that I have convinced all y'all that smoothies are thee best I'm going to talk about the worlds second greatest love! {Obviously smoothies are number one!} Convenience. "Naw man.. Convenience isn't my thing either.. I like to take the long hard route bro..." Just doesn't happen. {Who the heck is this guy!?!??}

So lets put these two wonderful things together.. and we get...

{Premade Freezable Fruit Smoothies!!}

{Cut up fruit is seriously the most beautiful thing in the world! It makes me so happy!}

Alright enough chitchat! Let me throw this down for ya... 

Get all the fruit you want! Seriously there is no limits here! Whatever your heart desires! Go crazy! And a tub of yogurt, I do not recommend the plain kind.. its really gross!! {Learned that the hard way!} Its not horrible when its mixed in with the fruit.. but it could be better! The Light and Fit is a really good choice because its like half the calories than Yoplait! Or Greek yogurt is super good for you! Just make sure there is a little flavor in there!

{But in case you have a hard time deciding here is what I got.. blueberries {frozen}, blackberries {frozen}, strawberries, pineapple, kiwi, and bananas!}

So I suggest you use a mini muffin pan to freeze the yogurt, but if you don't have one a cookie sheet will work too. {That's what I did} So spoon a heaping tablespoon in each cup

{Or spoon it onto the pan in little piles and don't let them touch if you are using a pan!}

After you have popped the yogurt in the freezer start cutting up your fruit. Remember these will be frozen when you put them into the blender so don't make them too big, just normal size.

As I was cutting up the kiwi I was like how the heck do you get the skin off!? Right before my last one I was like A VEGETABLE PEELER! At the moment I felt like a super genius! Ha but now I look back and think.. duh that was totally obvious!! Just thought I'd share my blond moment just in case you have the same problem.

Dezi loves when we cut up fruit cuz we cant help throw her a piece every five seconds with that cute little face! 

And my daddy loves when we cut up fruit because we save the scraps and bring them over for his compost! {I'm all about the compost!}

Lay the fruit out so its not touching and freeze it.

Next lay them out like this and take a beautiful delicious picture like this! Haaa just kidding, just kidding

Put 2-3 yogurts in each bag, along with a mix of about a cup and a half of fruit. This is the fun part! Making different combinations and such. my favorite one was a pineapple strawberry blackberry one! It was so good!

{After I was all done and putting the bags in the freezer I found another tray of fruit! Ha it was a bitter sweet moment.}

So when you're craving a smoothie or your in a hurry just dump a bag in the freezer with some milk {and maybe some protein or spinach} and you got a ticket to a quick delicious meal!!

Tip to make your life easier: 

Make sure the yogurt and fruit freeze all the way! Especially the yogurt! Because if you don't when you go to put the bags together the yogurt will melt super fast and when you freeze the bags the yogurt will just refreeze with all the fruit and make a huge frozen ball and it will be horrible and INCONVENIENT when you go to blend it!

Best Thing That Ever Happened To Me

I am all about the sugar cookies! They are definitely my favorite! And because they are my favorite its resulted me to trying dozens of recipes trying to find 'the one' I have found a couple that I seriously thought to myself: this is it! It couldn't possibly get any better than this! Until a month or two ago when I came across this lovely recipe on Pinterest! Like no joke I was so excited that I went to the store the next day and bought cake flour so I could make them ASAP!

You know how Paradise Bakery always has that buy one cookie get one free deal?? Well I don't waste my free cookie to try new flaves.. No sir! I just cut to the chase and get two sugars! So as you can imagine I was super psyched when I found this recipe.

 {This is not a joke. They seriously taste just like them! And they are so addictive!!!!}

 {Yup. Two whole cups of shortening! Kind of a turn off, yeah?? But just for a second don't think about how fattening the stuff is.. and think about how amazing these are going to taste!} 

Now I male two different sizes, little fat bites like these^^ and giant Paradise Bakery size ones that you'll see in a bit.

 {These are a little bit bigger than my usual, but what I like about the little bites is that they are so cute and soft {because I make them super fat!} and there is just something awesome about popping a little baby cookie into your mouth!}

 {I'm not going to explain myself on why I make a giant batch, because I don't need a reason to make a giant cookie!}

 {So beautiful}

WARNING: I know I have you drooling over your computer and all... But don't make these. Yes, they are the best thing that will ever happen to you.. But You will become addicted and you will regret it the next morning.

Paradise Bakery Sugar Cookies 

1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup powdered sugar
2 cups shortening {I have tried only using one cup and omitting some of the dry stuff, it was still good.. They just didn't have that melt-in-your-mouth quality}
3/4 teaspoon vanilla
1 large egg, beaten
4 1/3 cups cake flour
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
Plain or colored sugar, for decorating

Heat oven to 375 degrees.

In a medium bowl, cream together sugars and shortening using an electric mixer. Mix on slow speed 30 seconds, then scrape down the bowl with a spatula. Increase speed to medium and mix for 3 minutes.

Slowly add vanilla and beaten egg while mixing.

In a separate bowl, combine cake flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Gradually add the flour mixture to the creamed mixture, mixing on slow speed until just blended. Do not over mix.

Scoop with an ice cream scoop and roll in sugar. Place on baking sheet. Flatten slightly with palm of hand.

{I just kinda do my own thing here^}

Bake 9 to 10 minutes.

Cookies are done when small cracks appear and are pale golden. Ideally, do not let edges brown

Everybody Love's a Copycat(:

What is the first thing that comes to your mind when you think 'moving out'..? Bills, money, growing up..? Well not me! …Though I should have... The first thing I thought of was making delicious dinners! I love finding great recipes on pinterest! Other than my Because I'm a Cowgirl board... I think my favorite board is my Moooooree Food(: board! Seriously filled with delicious things! And I just couldn't wait to move out and try them! {"Why do you have to move out first to make these delicious meals??!" -That is what my mother just said right now as she is read this... Silly mom,,. Ya just do okay!? ;)That's how it works!}

So I have tried a few pinterest recipes here and there.. Chicken Parmesan Wraps were my first in the new place

{Turned out amazing! And I recommend them to the whole world!}

Then I made Chicken, Bacon, Cream Cheese Mini Tacos

{I'll admit mine did NOT look like this! Haha but they still tasted amazing and I'm going to make them again for sure!}

But today as I was pinteresting I came across these Chick-Fil-A {Favorite place in the world!} copycat chicken nuggets! I’ve seen them before, and was just like.. yeah that would be cool to make.. But today I was like I must make these today or I'll die!!!! Luckily we had everything!

  

What I loved most about this recipe was that it was super simple! And it doesn’t call for anything crazy! We had everything!

{Seriously the best copycat recipe I've made! Taste just like Chick-Fil-A! No joke!}

THEN I was talking to Em about a side dish.. and she was like sweeeet potatoes friesss! So I made a special trip to the store {when I say special I mean it! I HATE running to the store just to get one thing, just goes to show how excited I was for the sweet potato idea!} to but two sweet potatoes and some seasonings.

{I just think it was a funny checkout, defiantly picture worthy!}

The thinner you cut them, the better! {Well I think so anyway}

{Cutting sweet potatoes is seriously no fun! But the color of them makes me so happy!}

All these spices gave them a perfect spice!{Not too spicy.. But still makes your lips burn a bit} Sweet&spice.. friends for lifee!

{Anything with this many seasonings has to taste good!}

I would suggest leaving the skins on because first, it’s really good for you! And second, it really adds to the flavor!

 {Can’t get over how beautiful they are!}

20 minutes did the trick for me! Cooked perfectly!

I also made homemade ranch, because I refuse to use bottled! The chicken anddd the sweet potatoes were both really good with the ranch! The chicken also goes fantastic with bit of honey it taste awesome!

{One of the best meals I have ever made! And it was not hard at all! I cannot wait to make this again!}

Sweet Chicky Nuggets

Serves 4

Ingredients

      3 skinless and boneless chicken breast

{Original recipe called for two chicken, but I was like I totally need to have this for lunch tomorrow! I think there is enough flour mix to even use four if you want.}

1 1/4 cup milk
1 egg
1 1/4 cups flour
2 T powdered sugar
2 t salt
1 t pepper
peanut oil (is best) or canola oil

Directions

· In a medium bowl whisk the egg and stir in the milk. Trim any fat away from chicken. Cube

 chicken into bite size pieces. Place chicken in milk mixture, and cover. Let it 'marinate' for 2-4

 hours in the fridge. This will make the chicken very nice and tender.

· In a gallon size resealable baggie combine flour, powdered sugar, salt and pepper. Seal and shake to combine.

· Place about 2 inches of oil in a medium deep pot. Over medium high heat (more towards the high side) heat oil until hot. If using a thermometer let the temperature reach 375°. If you don't have a fancy gadget like most people, I always test my oil by dropping a few drops of water into it. You want it to sizzle and not pop too much. Adjust your heat if necessary.

· Using a fork or tongs remove cut chicken from milk mixture and place in the flour mixture. Seal and shake until nuggets are completely coated.

· Place about a 6-8 nuggets into hot oil and let them cook until golden brown, turning half way through once the edge of your chicken starts to turn white. About 1 minute each side. Always double check to see if any chicken you make is cooked through. I always just make a tiny cut to see if it's pink. Remove and drain on a paper towel. Repeat until all nuggets are cooked.

Spicy Sweet Potato “Fries”

Serves 4-6

Ingredients

2 large sweet potatoes
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1/8 teaspoon cayenne powder
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
3-4 tablespoon olive oil

{The recipe is a little modified; I cut the chili powder, cayenne powder, and cumin in half because the lady said they are super extremely spicy! I like spice… Just not like a crazy person! And they still were spicy}

Directions

    · Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Coat a sheet tray with cooking spray.

· Cut sweet potatoes into 1/4 inch strips. Toss with olive oil, adding enough to evenly coat all the fries. Combine the spices and toss them into the bowl and mix to coat.

· Spread the sweet potatoes in a single layer on the prepared baking sheets, being sure not to overcrowd.

· Bake until the sweet potatoes are tender and golden brown, turning occasionally, About 20 minutes. {I didn’t turn them cuz i forgot! Haha still turned out okay... But I bet they woulda been crispier if I did!}