Well, it's about damn time...

I'm just going to post a bunch of pictures of food I've made in the last year and a half because I just don't seem to keep track of these things like I used to when I had a Xanga and was in High School and there really wasn't a whole lot worth writing about but for some unknown reason that's all I did when I got home... blogged. Now I'm older and should be more mature, but I'm still a major slacker apparently... I will eventually get around to posting the recipes for all of these delicious meals... just not today.
Anyway... Food.

So, I found this really neat idea for baking potatoes on Pinterest... You thinly slice the potato (not all the way through) and then drizzle it with olive oil and bake for 45mins...Faster than traditional bakers and you don't have to add butter after because it's already moist from the EVOO

So, I cooked some bacon and then sauteed my onions in the bacon fat and then browned my burger buns in the left over juices from the bacon and onions. Mmmmm

Cheesecake... very traditional, nothing fancy.

So, this was my attempt at a spinach and parm quiche... yeah, super bland and not very good at all. Gonna have to tweak the recipe quite a bit before this one is successful.

Mmmmm Lasagna cups!! These were a bit of a hassle but I really enjoyed them. Though I think I make a better traditional lasagna better. 

Stuffed Bell Peppers. My only warning about these are that when you steam them in the hot water and then pull them out... you run the risk of getting pepper sprayed. I did and it did NOT feel good! So just watch your eyes.

So, This was my "actually watching a football game from home and not in the stands" snacks that I made. Red and White Cake Balls (because it was an OU game. Don't judge me for supporting my boyfran) Roasted Pumpkin Seeds (from the pumpkins that I carved with the girls) and Cream Cheese Stuffed Jalapenos Wrapped in Bacon (mmmmmmmmmmmmmm)

These little guys I made for my work Halloween party. They're mummies and ghosts! OooooooOOOooo Have to say that I haven't quite gotten down the technique for dipping them yet, but I still think they're fun to make!

Check out this spread! This lovely platter was my Christmas gift from Natalia and Ryan and I used it for a Thunder Watch Party with Drew and Rachel! We've got salami to the right then moving clockwise around the platter we have Blue Cheese, Cheddar, Gouda, Munster, Something I can't remember, and Assiago. The Dips (moving left to right) are roasted red pepper hummus, Homemade Bruschetta, and mixed nuts. I also had crackers and toasted points. NOM NOM NOM!

So, this was something I threw together that really didn't work out as well as I wanted it to. My butternut squash was not cooked all the way, but other than that it was pretty good. Slow Cooker Chicken, black beans, tomatoes, rice.

Soooo...I got a KitchenAid for Christmas!! This is my first attempt at pasta. It was a TON of fun!

Can I just tell you how difficult it is to take a picture of yourself rolling pasta?? DIFFICULT!

So, my only problem was that I should have rolled the dough a little bit thinner... It turned out to be more like the noodles for Chicken and Noodles than it did to be linguini...

But it was REEEEAALLLYYYY good!

So, I am obsessed with my KitchenAid and I decided I couldn't just use it for cakes and pasta... I made PIZZA! The left side is Pepperoni and Fetta for Brian and the other side is Tomato, Basil, and Moz for me.

I make a kick-ass pizza. MMMMmmmMMMMMMMMM!

This is the spread for the Super Bowl. We've got (from the front to the back) Toast Points & Bruschetta, Hummus, Salsa, Garlic Rolls, Veggie Tray, Tortilla Chips, Fruit Bowl, and Fruit Dip, and Chocolate Chip Cookies... But wait! There's more!! Look Below!

Here we have our AWESOME 3 pot cock pot with (from back to front) Little Smokies, Cheese-O (Velveeta & Rotel) and Chocolate for Dipping. Needless to say, we had a GREAT Super Bowl!

So, this is my traditional lasagna. I think it was better than the cups, personally.

Brian and I have a tendency to randomly cook out... I usually let him do the grilling because for some reason I am extremely uncomfortable grilling. I always under cook but get burnt outsides... HOW DOES THAT HAPPEN?!? Anyway, my contribution to everything is my mad flavor skills when it comes to marinades. This beauty is soaked in Daddy Hinkle's Hott'n $700 marinade with a little bit of Yoshidas ... Lemme tell ya, the Heat, then the Sweet, yeah dawg (imagine Guy Fieri saying that and it's funnier)!

These Beauts I made for Rachel's Bachelorette Party... They really should be at the top of the post because, well her wedding was only 6 months after Ryan and Natalia's...Not until I got to these pictures did I REALLY realize how much time had gone by since I last posted... I'm going to have to post something that is more of a what happened in my life besides food... anyway...We've got Carmel Apple Cupcakes and Guinness Cupcakes

Here we have Key Lime Cupcakes which really turned out to be the best out of them all!

And here we have a Classic Vanilla Cupcake with a Whipped Cream Topping and Fresh Strawberries

Whad did the Daddy Tomato say...

to the baby tomato when he fell behind?
He stomped on him and said, "KETCHUP!"
 
For starters, let me say that WOW! I didn't realize it had been so long since I updated... and I'm a little sad because my Halloween post did not go up for some unknown reason. ??

So, recap of my last month--

I saw a taping of Wait, Wait... Don't Tell Me! live w/ my daddy. And I laughed harder than I think I had in a long time.

My BFF got married!

Natalia, Ryan, Danielle, and Brian 9/25/10

It was a ridiculous wedding. I caught the bouquet. Danced my rear-end off (beware, there is evidence on YouTube somewhere) and cried during my toast. It was amazing. And now Natie-light is married!!

I carved pumpkins with Nancy!

Nancy's Ghost Pumpkin & My Classic Jack-o-lantern

 (that's what the post that didn't show up was supposed to be about) and we got really messy and it was AWESOME!

I made some totally awesome cupcakes for my neighbors to celebrate the festivities...

My Spider & Flies-that-really-look-like-Ghosts Cupcakes

They were a BIG hit!!

My big sister came home for OSU Homecoming (my sorority placed 5th in House Dec!!)

Annie, Me, and Erin at the Homecoming Game

Her stay was short, but we got to have a sister sleep over with all 3 of us girls!

I went to the Watch Party for a few candidates and got to see some famous Okies...

Me and Johnathan Kayne (Project Runway Season 3)

Me and Wayne Coyne (Flaming Lips)

 Unfortunately all of the candidates I was there for lost... Hello, Reddest of all Red States!

I went and got my hair cut and colored by miss RyRobs...

My hair in foils as the color sets

I love it! It is beyond cute!! (I don't have a better pic of the final look right now, but maybe soon).
 
And last and most importantly,
I got my car back!!!!
YAY!!
I am mobile again!

Wow, that was a lot happening!!!
I have some food pics to put up, but it's mainly homemade food. I haven't been to any new places as of late, even though my list keeps growing! I will tell you this: SAUCED on the PASEO is re-opened!! HOORAH! New owners and a new look, but I hope to have my thoughts for you soon.

Oh, and warning: be prepared for maybe quite a few updates in a row...
Still to come:
My homemade food adventures
Fall looks that I love
and A new look at Sauced... how has it changed?

Never have I ever...

YIPES!!

It's been almost two weeks since I posted last!

So, because I'm lamo-bahjamo and didn't get this out sooner, I'm gonna go ahead and post about my State Fair Fun!

Well, because of my best friend's wedding I was afraid that I wasn't going to be able to go to the Great State Fair of Oklahoma this year. HOWEVER my boyfriend is awesome and as we were driving home we had this convo...

B: "What do you want for lunch? IHOP?"
Me: "I donno...mmmm I do know! I want and Indian Taco!"
B: "Do you really? Should we go to the Fair?"
Me: "No... we don't have to go to the Fair. We can go to IHOP I can have an Indian Taco another time."
B: "We can go to the fair if you want."
Me: "OKAY! LET'S GO TO THE FAIR!"

And to the Fair we did go!!


Once inside the grounds we were on a mission! 1. Corn dog. 2. Dan's Indian Tacos!!
We stopped and got Brian a corn dog and then off to Dan's!

Dan's Indian Taco Stand

 Oh. Man. I had waited for so long for the awesomeness that is Dan's. I walked up to the window and said,
"I want one with everything on it! And a jalapeno!" And that, my friends, is what I got!

I couldn't even wait to take a picture before diving in!

After we stuffed ourselves full of Corn Dog and Indian Taco, we started our trip around the grounds.
I was fine going to the Auto Show (I saw a Honda Element & I want one!! Silver, please) and other buildings, but my FAVORITE is the Made in Oklahoma Building. It's my favorite place to go and see all sorts of vendors from around OK and learn what's new. And to be totally honest, I love the OK made wine.

After walking around we decided it was time for some rides. The Ferris Wheel was a must... except we chose the janky one that had me a little frightened. But it was a lovely ride...

Atop the Ferris Wheel

 And the view was awesome!

Not only is it a great view of the Fair, but you can see the City in the background!

--Side bar... did you know that there was the "World's Smallest Horse" at the Fair this year?? I was super curious, but I feel like it's a little cruel to charge to see a poor animal that couldn't help that it was born tiny. --

After riding the Ferris Wheel we decided on something a little more scary...
It wasn't the best idea...
Maybe if we hadn't spent the whole night before partying it up for free at the Skirvin it wouldn't have been so bad.
Just so you're warned: The Space Roller is dangerous, but fun. That is, if you like the being flipped upside down, backwards and plunging head first into a crowd.
Never have I ever wanted to throw up at the Fair-until after riding this ride.

Space Roller- beware!

I really wanted a Chocolate Covered Foot Long Rice Krispie Treat On A Stick... but after riding that ride and eating a IT... I just didn't think my body could handle it.  So we walked around a bit more and enjoyed the lovely weather and then departed.  On our way out we got to walk by my favorite view of the Fairgrounds.

Spirit of Oklahoma Plaza- In celebration of Oklahoma's Centennial

I was super happy that I actually got to go to the Fair this year when I didn't think I was going to.
I can't wait for next year when maybe we can re-live our Fair time of 2 years ago and my best friend and her now husband can join us and he and I can sing "Big Green Tractor" at the top of our lungs... Maybe...

Casa de los Milagros

After over a week of not getting to spend any time with my boyfriend and a weekend of complete girl time (that will come in another post) Brian and I finally got to see each other. B drove up from Norman and took me out to dinner and surprised me with flowers-- pink and orange daisies!

But this blog is not about how awesome my boyfriend is, it's about my other love. Food. So, on to the good stuff...


Casa de los Milagros


I guess I should say before I dive in, this is my second experiences here, so I will just focus on this most recent time.

The restaurant wasn't very busy, but all the booths were taken.  We originally got asked to sit at a "tall table"... Uhhhhhhhhh, no. I will not sit at a tall table. If I were there just to get my drink on and munch on set-up, maybe, but not when I'm on a date.  I have never really refused a table at an eating establishment, but it was not cool to be asked to get my big butt (in a skirt, might I add) up on a tall bar stool-like chair.   Instead we were seated in the middle of the back room.  I know, romance, right? HA! I know I've been with my boyfriend for a while, but common! In the middle of a room that was basically empty? Why not next to the window? I would have said no again, but I had already seemed slightly snotty, so I didn't say anything.

Our waiter was super friendly and we got our chips and salsa promptly.  We had to ask for a drink menu and waited a little while for it, but they have a pretty large selection.  I ordered the Casa Margarita and Brian ordered the Paloma Margarita.

Paloma Margarita on the Rocks, Frozen Casa Margarita 

 

The Paloma tasted kind of fizzy, like there was Sprite in it or something, it had and interesting sweetness. The Casa was very tart but all together good. I don't know that just one of them would knock you on your arse, but a couple and you would probably be feeling very pleasant. 

I can't quite put my finger on it, but there is something about their cheese sauce. It's not the most tasty I've ever had, but it's good.  It's kind of thick, and I haven't decided if this is a good or bad thing. The salsa, though not very spicy has a very nice flavor.  Their chips are a little on the salty side for me, but then again, I don't eat that much salt.


It was amazing how fast our food came out! We had barely gotten our drinks and already they were bringing us our food. That has to be the best part about this place, speedy service. 

Chicken Quesadillas, Sour Creme and Guacamole and Sour Creme, Chicken Enchilada, Rice and Beans

The food was hot and tasty! I have to say though, DO YOU SEE THAT SIDE OF BEENS?!? Yeah, I said, side.  GEEZ! It was a mammoth side! Mmmm, but that guac!! Holy cow. So good. And the chicken in the quesadilla was in nice big chunks and the chicken in the enchilada had such good flavor!  Obviously we had plenty left over and I'm glad.

Price point is pretty reasonable for the two of us we spent about $40. That's 2 entrees 1 side and 2 drinks. They do have some pricey-er things on the menu that all sounded really good (ie some AWESOME sounding Margs), so if you're on a tight budget you might want to be wary.

I would definitely recommend Milagros to anybody who is looking for a new Mexican place to try.

Zip zip zip

My mind is going about a bazillion miles an hour right now.

And it's all because there are so many things I want to say and want to write down.

I've noticed that I try to suppress the "real me" on my internet spaces. That is, I don't say every little thing that pops into my head, which is a  problem I have in real life. I haven't decided if this is a good thing or a bad thing. Sometimes I want to say things with lots of expletives or complain about work or about my family. 

I don't know why the internet seems like the place to go for that. It's dangerous. That complaint that is out there for the rest of eternity once I hit "post". I think that choosing more wisely who I unload on is much more reasonable than putting my angry thoughts out there for the world to see. Even if they are true, or even funny.  Plus, I don't want to offend anybody. If I get pissed at my sister I don't want her to then get angry with me for putting it out on the inter-webs. 

If the internet is going to be the thing that chronicles my life, I should put enough of myself into it that posterity can see the person who I was at any given moment in my life (isn't that scary!?), yet I don't want to be remembered as a negative or angry person. Just real.

These are the things that I want the world to know when they read the back-log of my life:

1. I loved, I lost, and I learned
2. Giving back more than I took out was important to me
3. I am passionate
4. I never wanted to be seen as a failure or a screw up

I have the desire for the world to know who I am and remember me, but I only want them to see and remember the good parts of me.  Which isn't the real me. Which is where this whole blog post started. Conflict.

I'm stuck in a mental circle, and I can't get out.