More Crock pot Recipe’s

Just like it says, more crockpot recipes! I have felt really accomplished lately, this is the third and fourth new Pinterest recipes that I have made since I moved. Don’t worry though, I’ll share all the others that I’ve made in the past too, nine more! On Monday I made one amazing tuna noodle casserole. Can I say YUM?! The only thing I would change is sautéing the onions before, they didn’t cook down far enough for my liking. Then last night I made some super awesome cinnamon apples. Oh my goodness you guys, those apples! I put them over some vanilla ice cream, and instant heaven. My roommates love that I cook all the time. Since I don’t eat wheat and there are SO many recipes that aren’t gluten free that look like fun to make, I asked my roommates if they would be my guinea pigs. Of course they said yes, so I will be making some really amazing recipes soon! Any ways, here are the recipes.

Crock Pot Tuna Noodle Casserole

Ingredients:

4 cups egg noodles

1 10 ¾ ounce can condensed cream of mushroom soup

1/4 cup water

1/3 cup onion, finely chopped (I only had frozen chopped onions and sautéed  them first)

2 cans drained tuna 1/2 cup sour cream

Directions:

 1. Cook noodles according to package and drain.

 2. Spray crock pot with cooking spray. Pour in cream of mushroom soup and water. Mix together.

3. In a bowl, mix noodles, tuna, and onion (save the sour cream for later).

4. Pour into crock pot and stir.

5. Cook on high 1.5-2 hours.

 6. During last half hour add in sour cream and mix well. 

*remember to sauté the onions before adding to the crockpot.

Crock-Pot Cinnamon Apples


Ingredients
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup walnuts, chopped
2 Tbsp margarine or butter
1 tsp cinnamon
6 Gala or Macintosh apples, cored, peeled and sliced
1/2 cup apple juice

Ice Cream {optional}

Instructions
In your crockpot mix brown sugar, walnuts, margarine or butter, cinnamon, and apple juice together {be sure to use a utensil that won't scratch your crockpot}
Peel, and slice your apples
Place apple slices in crockpot and stir together with apple juice mixture
Set crock-pot to cook on high for 1 hour, or until apples are soft

·         I would suggest that you cook the apples for 2-3 hours, depending on how soft you want your apples.

Enjoy the recipes, let me know what you think!

Comment!

Love,

Kate

Monday Mornings and Ocean Trips

Hey everyone! I hope everyone’s weekends were amazing, mine was. I got to celebrate my best friends 21^st birthday at a hotel on a beach, and we had amazing weather! We got to just hang out and chat. We rented scooters and she conquered her fear of riding one, I’m so proud. We ate at the best pizza place ever, and got to sleep in, well kind of. Here are some pictures from our trip.

It was a great trip, and it was nice to get away and have fun! Did anyone do anything super fun this last weekend?
Comment!

Love,
Kate

Birthdays and Wishing for summer!

             Hey Y’all! Hope everything is going good. I don’t have too much to talk about today. I got to go home! Oh my gosh your guys. It was so nice! I was able to visit with both of my grandmas.  I got to go out to dinner and enjoy a comedy show with a good friend, and spend time with my family. It was a bit of a packed weekend. I got home and went out to dinner with my dad, visited with one of my grandmas and got to hang with my best friend. Then went onto a crazy Saturday helping with my church’s middle school camp check in, and many other fun things. Sunday though, was amazing. I got to see so many people that I have missed terribly. One of my friends made me a care package that included no bake cookies, gluten free pasta, homemade marinara sauce, popcorn, and more!  I just want to thank everyone that made my weekend!

           OK, on to some important stuff. Today everyone, my BEST friend turns 21! I don’t know if I have told you guys about her yet. Tiffany is one of the best people I have ever met. She is so kind, and sweet it’s kind of weird ;) I love to tell the story of how we met. It was actually at a winter camp that our church had for middle school students that we both attended. We were in the same cabin but didn’t interact much. That was until I decided to do a polar bear swim – I know, stupid. Once I was done my leader asked Tiffany to walk me back to our cabin and make sure I got into a hot shower right away… my lips were starting to turn blue. The whole way back she talked to me. I thought she was so wired, I wondered why and even how someone could be so friendly to someone they had really just met. Well that was the start of our friendship. I am so blessed to have her as a friend. She is always there to say something positive in the midst of anger or sadness, and to comfort me when I need it. We tend to communicate through sending pins back and forth, and through new girl quotes. I know it seems weird but it fits us. She loves cats WAY too much, but that’s what’s fun about her. So in honor of Tiffany here is one of her favorite cat pictures, courtesy of Pinterest.

         So because I have had summer on my mind lately I thought I would share one of my favorite summer money saving drinks!

                                              DIY light Frappuccino recipe

Enjoy a homemade version of Starbucks Light Frappuccino from the convenience of your own kitchen. Each low calorie frozen blended cappuccino has just 2 Points + per serving, making it an ideal frozen coffee fix for Weight Watchers Members.

Ingredients

§  2 Tbsp instant coffee granules (regular or decaf)

§  2 Tbsp fat free vanilla flavored coffee creamer, powdered

§  1/2 cup fat free milk

§  8-10 ice cubes

Instructions

1.    Blend all ingredients together in a blender and process until smooth. If desired, sweeten with Splenda.

PER SERVING: 95 calories; 0 g fat; 17 g carbohydrates; 4 g protein; 0 g fiber

*I used the Starbucks Iced Caramel Via as well as other instant coffees.

Let me know what you think!

Comment!

Love,                                                                                             
Kate

Hot Corn Dip, Studying, and Tests.

Hey everyone! These last couple of days have been great! The title says it all, I've been up to nothing but studying, and making hot corn dip. You have to have good study food right? Well I found this recipe on Pinterest and decided I had to make it. Oh my goodness you guys, it was phenomenal! My housemates thought so too! It’s super easy to make and really cheap! Here’s the recipe!

Hot Corn Dip

Ingredients:                               
(2) 11 oz. cans MexiCorn, drained
(2) 4.5 oz cans Green Chiles, drained
2 cups (about 8 oz.) Monterrey Jack cheese, shredded
3/4 cups Parmesan cheese, shredded
1 cup Mayonnaise
Fritos Scoops for dipping


Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease 13x9 casserole dish. Combine MexiCorn, Green Chiles, cheese & mayo in a large mixing bowl. Spread evenly in a casserole dish and bake uncovered for 30 - 40 minutes, or until hot and bubbly around the edges. Serve warm out of the oven with Fritos Scoops.

Let me tell you guys, I didn’t want to go and buy more chips. I already had some blue corn tortilla chips as well as some of my favorites -Juanita’s- and they were super good! I do have to say though, one of the best study foods ever.

                On to the test aspect of my title, I had my very first test of the program to study for. Yay, fun! Well, I don’t really know if fun is the right word to describe studying, but oh well. I think I did OK on my test. I studied pretty hard and felt confident while taking it. I did all of the things that are good for you while you study. I listened to classical music, and didn’t study for long intervals. Are there any other good study techniques that you know or have helped you?!

Comment!

Love,
Kate

Brownies and Face Time!

Hey, I hope everyone’s weekend was great! I know mine was! Due to the fact that I left my clothes at home my mom was an angel and brought them to me. Not only did she bring me my clothes, but she also brought me extra food, and things I forgot to bring! This is how amazing my family is everyone, my aunt even came with her and we made a weekend out of it! It was really nice to see my mom and just be able to relax and not HAVE to do anything this weekend. We got go shop, have dinner, get some amazing chocolate, and relax. I mean, how much better can it get?! All in all my weekend was amazing!

                Yesterday I made some amazing brownies! And here is the better part, they’re GLUTEN FREE! I found out that I was allergic to wheat a couple of years ago and my mom went on the hunt for good gluten free recipes. So I am making these brownies and I ask my roommates if the oven works- I have to ask because I found out the hard way that our dishwasher didn’t work- and found out that it bakes weird. So after 40 or so minutes I was too impatient and took them out of oven. When I poked a knife into it, it came out clean so I thought it was done! Well they were really gooey in the middle, but let me tell you, they were amazing! Once I figure out how to make them in this new oven well I will give you the picture, but for now here is the recipe!

Gluten-Free Dark Chocolate Brownie Recipe

Ingredients:

5 ounces high quality 60-70% cocoa dark chocolate

1/2 cup organic coconut oil

1 cup light brown sugar (not packed)

1/2 cup almond meal

1/4 cup sorghum flour

1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

2 organic free-range eggs, beaten

1 tablespoon bourbon vanilla*

Optional:

1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts, if desired

Dark chocolate chips for the top, if desired

Instructions:

Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Line an 8x8-inch square baking pan with parchment paper.

Melt the dark chocolate and coconut oil in a saucepan over low heat, gently stirring.

(Or melt in a microwave safe measuring cup and stir together to combine.)


In a mixing bowl whisk together the brown sugar, almond meal, sorghum flour, fine sea salt and baking soda. Make a well in the center and add the beaten eggs, vanilla extract and melted dark chocolate mixture. Beat on low-medium for two minutes, until the batter begins to come together. At first it will seem thin, like cake batter, but keep beating until it thickens and becomes smooth and glossy.

If you are adding nuts, stir in the nuts by hand and spread the batter into the prepared baking pan. Even out the batter with a silicone spatula.

Stud the top with some dark chocolate chips and press in slightly.

Bake in the center of a preheated 350ºF oven for 32 to 35 minutes, or until the brownies are set. The top will crack, like a flourless chocolate cake.

Cool on a wire rack; and remove the cooled brownies from the pan by gripping the foil edges and lifting the brownies out as a whole.


Chill for an hour before cutting. (Though warm and gooey is really divine, if you don't mind them falling apart.)

Yield: 16 servings

*For chocolate-mint brownies use 1 teaspoon peppermint extract and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract.

               

                Props to my mom for finding the recipe!

I have had the best week, aside from the getting settled in and semi missing my own bed at home, I had a really good week! Here are a few pictures from my week!

The way I do homework

Getting to face time with my best friend and getting to say hi to her amazing grandma (she’s a little sassy)

Well I think that’s all, please comment if you bake the brownies and let me know what you think! Don’t be shy about commenting! Remember, you don’t have to be signed up to blogger to comment!

Comment, comment!

Love,

Kate.

Just me and my Netflix!

Hey everyone!

Sorry it’s been a couple of days since my last post. I started my official classes on Wednesday. Monday and Tuesday were orientation days and getting to know you/ going over the rules. After school I have been going home and doing my homework, but when I get done with my homework all I have been doing is watching Netflix. Wow I feel so lazy lately! My house mates are really cool though, we all just mind our own business and do our own thing. I don’t really know what to say now… I haven’t cooked anything new this week, or done anything really exciting.

                Does anyone have good advice for a college student? Any good stories of things to avoid? Comment! Comment! Tell me!

                Things you can look forward to for next week are NEW RECIPIES! I’m sure to do something silly or have a really great quote form someone. Well, until next time!

Comment!

Love,

Kate

Orientation Day

Hey everyone! Thought I would make this post as short and sweet as possible. I made it through my first day! I had orientation this morning. I don’t know if fun is the correct word or not… but it was OK. We went over the guidelines and rules, got our student ID’s and worked with financial aid… and that concludes my first day! After that I needed some ‘me’ time and took myself out to a cheap lunch.  Since then I have been everything but productive… watching Netflix and sleeping is all my day has consisted of! It’s nice to have this day to do whatever until I have to get down to business tomorrow.

OK, I think that’s all for now. Thanks for reading!
Comment!
Love,
Kate

Settling In

Well I just spent my first night in my apartment here at school. I got some decorations up on the walls and unpacked my clothes in my drawers. Wow… I’m here, I still can’t believe it! Last night’s good bye with my parents was tearful, but manageable.

Let me tell you all about yesterday. It started off well we got everything packed into the trailer to bring down (yes I needed a trailer, I had a mattress to bring with me). It wasn't until we got half way here that I realized that I forgot my clothes at home. Yes you read right, I forgot my clothes at home! I did bring anything I would need to sleep in and pants but I forgot all of my shirts and cardigans. So on top of what my parents and I had to buy to get me settled in, we got to buy me new clothes.

I meet my roommate! Let me tell you, I was so worried that they would pair me with some person that I would absolutely hate, but I got lucky! Her name is Ivy and she is the sweetest thing ever! I am in a weird housing situation though.  Because I know someone that already goes here I requested to room with her and I was told I could. The only catch is that her roommate graduates her program on the 30^th of January and I have to room with someone else until I can move in with her.  So I will be moving again here in a couple of weeks, but for now here is what my room looks like for the moment.

This whole moving out semi on my own thing is kinds wired. Usually when I cook things for my lunches it would be something quick and we would already have the stuff in the fridge, but on my own I had to plan ahead. I made chicken soup for dinner tonight and for lunches. Let me tell you, its way easier to just bring the left overs form dinner the night before as an afterthought for lunches.

Well that’s all I can think of for now. Here are some things to look forward to. Many more pictures of my adventures, recipes that I make, and really good college stories.

Comment!

Love,
Kate

Hello!

Hello everyone!

Welcome to my new blog! I am really excited to share this time with you! Let me start off by telling you a bit about myself. I am 19 years old, daughter of two wonderful people and a little sister of two amazing brothers. Some of the things I love are Pinterest crafting, reading a good book, planning events, and being around my family. I attended school in the small town I grew up in. That’s right I live in one of those small towns that you really only hear about in books. Even though it has grown up a lot since I was little, it’s still home. I gradated a 13 year senior. What’s that you ask? Well my school district is small enough that we only have one elementary, middle, and high school, so I went to school with about 50 of the same people from K-12! Yes, thirteen years with the same kids! My dad is an associate pastor at a local church, and has been since before I was born. My mom has stayed at home with my brothers and myself all of our growing up years. The one last little bit about me is really important, and I am sure I will talk about it quite a bit. For years I have dreamed about being an event planner for years, and now I am getting ready to leave for school so I can pursue my dream!

                I actually am moving tomorrow to get settled in my apartment before my class starts on Monday. Let me tell you a little bit about the school I am going to. It’s a school that specializes in Hospitality and Airline services. I will be attending for their Hotel, Restaurant, and Event Management course. It is a nine month course that I will be completing in September. I am so excited to begin this new chapter in my life. I took a semester off and didn't start in September so I could save up some money, which was a blessing! That is about all I know about school for now! Be assures that I will be updating you on school often!

                For those of you that followed me from my previous blog, THANK YOU! Not only for being amazing, but also for baring with me through all of my crazy life!

                Well folks, I think that all for now! I promise to write and tell you all about my first days as a student again!

Love you all!
Kate