Weekend Story - Monster Post

 

Friday

 

On Friday I called in sick to work. I pretty much hung out at home and did nothing. Later on we went to my Mom's house for dinner. She made Beef Tongue Tacos. So good!

 

This is Chester and I am his favorite Master. This is an Instagram pic of his evil laser eyes.

 

 

Saturday

Saturday we headed to the river with my pals! I brought homemade chicken salad, watermelon, lemonade, chips, pringles and some Pinot Grigio - classy! I didn't take many pictures because my phone was hidden away in Tony's backpack. I managed a couple and my pal Connie took a cute one of Tony and I in the water :) Connie is the official group photographer and she also snapped these other pics!

 

That is my pal Connie, Tony and I taking a trelfie. Tripe Selfie. Yes I just said it.

 

 

This is Connie, myself and my pal Crystal

 

 

 

 Tony and I

 

 

 

 

 

We got home from the River exhausted. We took a shower and rested for a bit and headed out for some Chinese! There's a place walking distance from our house and we took off on foot. I must say I was a bit dissapointed with the food, it had good flavor but was too salty. We probably won't be going there again.

 

 

Sunday

Sunday I was up early and Tony slept in a little longer. I headed out to my Momma's house to hang out there for a while and pick up some Corundas she made, I found this picture online. Corundas are basically tamales without meat and in a smaller rounder form. They usually have green sauce or cheese inside. You serve them with sour cream and more green sauce.

 

 

My mom wasn't home so I just hung out with my sister in law and my nephew. I affectionately call my 6 year old nephew my Sugerplum, he's not too keen on it but I can't resist. I took this Snapchat of him creatively searching through the pantry. I mean he's too cute!

 

 

And I couldn't resist snapping a few pics and making a collage of Chester because look at that face! Love my Ches.

 

After I left home I went to the mall and I got a swimsuit from Forever 21 for $7! I love me a good deal :)

 

Then I stopped by Trader Joe's for some groceries and headed home to Tony. We decided to head out to the Sonoma County Fair!!! We checked out the Flower Show which was "Peace, Love and Fair" themed. Then we saw the livestock, a Sea Lion show and we walked around and grabbed some yummy fair food. On the Fair Menu: Giant Corndog, Chili Cheese Fries, Cinnamon Funnel Cake, Fresh Squeezed Lemonade and Pasta!

 

 

 

The cows were super cute! I felt terrible knowing that they are going to be slaughtered :( I honestly questioned whether I want to eat Beef anymore.

 

I also took this live picture of a cow peeing. Let me tell you, right before I took this picture there was a cow propelling poop a few feet directly in front of me. Once Tony told me to watch out I BOOKED it. My life flashed before my eyes... kidding, but seriously I was terrified of getting poop on me.

 

 

We walked around some more and I took this oh so sexy Snapchat of Tony and I with no makeup, duck face and frowny face included.

 

 

 

We came home around 8 PM and watched a couple of episodes of our current favorite show on Netflix before bed:

My First Home on TLC

 The episodes are old but this show takes you into the homebuying process of first time homeowners. We always crack up when they mention the prices these people pay for full size homes in the midwest and east coast. What's that? $120,000 for a 4 bedroom, 3 bathroom, 1800 Square Feet home? It makes us question home ownership in our Bay Area California where you need to spend at least $450,000 to get a decent 1500 Square Feet home. Jeez.

 

And that's all folks!

 

~Mely

 

 

Mely's Chocolate Chip Cookies

 Years ago I started playing around with a few different cookie recipes. I wanted a cookie that exemplified the true definition of what a cookie should be: buttery, sweet but not too sweet, nice texture, good chocolate chip ratio, soft and good flavor. So I came up with one recipe and it was a hit (people tell me I should sell these). It's my go to recipe and I swear by it. I know it by heart and I make it often for family gatherings, coworkers, holidays, so on and so forth. The best part about this recipe is that it is very versatile. You can add nuts, omit chocolate and add raisins, oatmeal and cinnamon or mix in different types of chocolate (I like to make a triple chocolate chunk on very special occassions*) So here it is!

 

This recipe yields about 2 dozen large cookies

 

Ingredients:

1 C. (2 sticks) softened salted butter

1 large egg

1 1/2 C packed brown sugar

1 TSP Pure Vanilla Extract

2 1/4 C All Purpose Flour

1 TSP Baking Soda

1/2 TSP salt

12 OZ Semisweet Chocolate Chips*

Optional - 1 C. Chopped Walnuts

Preheat your oven to 375 Degrees

 

Beat butter, sugar, egg and vanilla on medium-high with an electrical hand mixer until well blended and no chunks of brown sugar appear

 

Add in your flour, baking soda and salt. Use your hands to combine and form your cookie dough. Then add your chocolate chips.

 

Drop rounded tablespoonds on a cookie sheet, 12 per sheet. Bake on the top rack for 8-10 minutes until golden brown. Do not overbake, you want your cookies soft and chewy after cooling. Remember to let  your cookies cool on their sheet after removal from the oven.

 

Enjoy :)

 

*Sometimes I like to buy three 4 OZ baking bars of Ghirardelli white, dark and milk chocolate and chop them up to make triple chocolate chunk cookies when I'm feeling fancy. I suggest you do the same if you're also feeling fancy ;) Remember to use a good quality chocolate chip if you want to do the original cookie recipe.

My Cookie Baking Adventure will be posted soon and will contain pics of the process. Just wanted to post the recipe already :)

~Mely

Jalapeno Popper Stuffed Chicken Breasts

Today I am linking up with Andrea over at http://www.momfessionals.com/ to post a "fall-ish" recipe. I love this recipe because it totally reminds me of football season and Football Sunday. And you know I love me some Football. 

 

I ran into this recipe over at Skinny Taste a few years ago and it has quickly become one of my favorite recipes! Every time I make it it gets rave reviews. If you love Jalapeno Poppers, this recipe will not dissapoint.

 

And guess what? It's low fat! Now, don't be intimidated by the "stuffed" part (it usually intimidates me when I see that word and I automatically assume it's super difficult.)

 

I snagged this pic from my Instagram account "Melybeeg17" to the left is the yummy filling and the right the finished product all cheesy and gooey. Yum!

Here's the recipe!

Ingredients: 
2 slices center cut bacon, cooked and crumbled
3 jalapeños, chopped (remove seeds for milder)
3 oz 1/3 less fat cream cheese, softened
4 oz reduced fat shredded cheddar jack (Sargento)
2 tbsp chopped scallions
8 thin sliced skinless chicken breast cutlets, 3 oz each
1/2 cup Italian seasoned whole wheat breadcrumbs
1 1/2 juicy limes, juice of
1 tbsp olive oil
salt and fresh pepper
olive oil non-stick spray


Wash and dry chicken cutlets, season with salt and pepper. Preheat oven to 450°. Lightly spray a baking dish with non-stick spray.

Combine cream cheese, cheddar, scallions, jalapeño and bacon crumbles in a medium bowl.

Lay chicken cutlets on a working surface and spread 2 tbsp of cream cheese mixture on each cutlet. Loosely roll each one, secure the ends with toothpicks to prevent the cheese from oozing out.

Place breadcrumbs in a bowl; in a second bowl combine olive oil, lime juice, salt and pepper.

Dip chicken in lime-oil mixture, then in breadcrumbs and place seam side down on a baking dish. Repeat with the remaining chicken. When finished, lightly spray the top of the chicken with oil spray.

Bake 22-25 minutes, serve immediately.

I hope you like this recipe as much as I do!