I never get to bed on time...

I just wanted to let everyone know that blogs have become one (yes, just one) of the reasons that I do not get to bed on time. I'm not sure if anyone else feels like this but at about 9 or 10 at night, I suddenly feel like my house is a mess, nothing is done, and why not do everything now?!  But first, I have to look at my blogs. Poor Jeff, I have a terrible sense of time and never get to bed when I say I'd like to. Thank goodness he still loves me.  Have a great week!

A Secret Date!

Jeff took me on a secret date tonight! It was a very special time.  I came home from working out and was expecting us to have the typical discussion of "Where do you want to go?  I don't care, where do you want to go?  I don't care...."   But no!  Jeff says "You have 25 minutes until we are leaving on a date."  The anticipation was killing me. I don't do well with that.  I mean, it's fun but I was continually begging for clues or hints as to what's going on.  So anyways, he took me to the Olive Garden in Kokomo (He had the best dish I have had anywhere in a LONG time.  It was called braised beef tortellino.) After the Olive Garden, we went to WalMart where he gave each of us $5 to find a gift for the other person within 15 minutes. So fun!  We did that last year in Tennessee with my family.  After WalMart, he took me to Target and gave each of us $20 to find a gift for the other person.  This one took a little while longer but was still so much fun.  What a creative husband!  Then we went to Chili's to have dessert.  Each step of the date was a surprise and I didn't know where we were going until each place.  So anyways, just wanted to give kudos to my husband for being so thoughtful and creative!  We have a big game at St. Francis tomorrow.  Go Wildcats!  

Wow, how fast time flies!  We are into conference games now and each game seems to come quicker and quicker.  I realized at the last game that I may get into it a little too much.  I am really going to start trying not to shout my disappointment at the refs but only encouragement for our team (yeah right, huh Jeff?) But I will do my best. 

These past few weeks have been such a fun time with family and friends!   My sister and her boyfriend came home over Christmas and I got to see my cousin Cassie, who is doing missions in South Africa.  And of course my brother, Justin was there :) And my parents moved into their new home!  I'm so happy for them!

Back to basketball...we had a couple of the guys over tonight to eat homemade pizza, play dirty marbles and watch some of the Fiesta Bowl.  Amy and I both love to entertain people.  It makes for a fun time being coach's wives.  

How cute is this ornament that Jeff got me for Christmas?! A little snowman family!!! :)

This is Amy and I being silly with Photo Booth.
Jeff and I at my parents house.  Jeff hates to look at the camera or when he does, he makes some goofy face.
Me and my sis at the basketball game in California.  

And this is my niece, Emery who is soooooo cute and sweet!

Redeem the time,

Tiff

 

Oh my gosh...is this a post I see?!!!

Sorry for the long delay.  No excuse other than lack of energy. You'd think watching biggest loser would be a motivator for me to get off the couch and stop eating homemade cookies, but it's not looking too good.  I barely made the minimum 3/week 20 min workouts for IWU.  It's not like I don't like to workout, but there are like a 100,000 different things I'd rather do than change my clothes and go out in the cold to work up a sweat and then have to take my 2nd shower of the day. Doesn't that sound like fun? But now lets talk about food.

I haven't made many dishes lately but I did make one that I sampled before I gave to my friend, Amie, who just had a baby.  Why is it that I try out new dishes on other people before I ever try them myself?  It's like I'm compelled to make other people suffer too if the food doesn't taste good.  But really, I don't think I've ever made a bad meal. Oh wait, yes I did.  Jeff will agree that my first and only try at some homemade fries were a BUST!   Not enough oil and not enough cooking makes for a nasty raw potato.  And then I tried to get my friend Amy to sample them. Poor girl, she didn't know what was coming.  She's a trooper for trying my new recipes!

So here's the latest easy chicken recipe that I made.

Cheesy Chicken and Rice Casserole

3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (cooked in the crockpot with seasoning and then shredded/chunked)

2 cans cream of chicken soup

1 can cream of celery soup

1 cup uncooked rice

1/2 cup mayo

~ 1 cup of shredded cheddar (again, I never measure cheese)

Stir all ingredients together and put in a greased 9x13.  

Topping:

1 sleeve of crackers, crushed

1/4 to 1/2 stick of butter melted (I use less just so I don't add another 1000 calories to the dish)

Bake at 350 for about 35-40 min or until bubbly

An update on our lives:

My sweet friend Amy's birthday is tomorrow (Friday)! Happy Birthday Amy!! LOVE YOU TONS!!!

I only have a couple people to still by Christmas gifts for.

I am headed to my cousin's musical tomorrow in Fort Wayne.

Jeff is busy with basketball.

We are headed to California next week with the team, but I will get to see my sister, Natalie who lives in the same city that we are going to! What a co-inky-dink.  Can't wait!

Busy time but I love the Christmas time and love looking at our tree! I don't have a picture of it but hopefully I will post a picture soon.  

Hope you all have a very Merry Christmas and remember Jesus is the reason for the season! :)

A Cooking Drought...

I am SO sorry for the long delay since the last post!  Life has been a bit crazy and honestly, I have only made 1 meal this week!  And that was a joint effort with Amy :).  Basketball season, recruiting trips and life has gotten crazy almost instantly.  But I love the basketball games so I am NOT complaining.  I have had several really good things lately so I am going to post a couple recipes :)

TRIPLE CHOCOLATE CAKE

1 box Dark Chocolate Fudge or Devils Food Cake Mix

1 small box instant devils food pudding mix

1 bag of chocolate chips (any kind you want - milk chocolate is great in this!)

1 3/4 c. milk

2 eggs

Mix together and bake in a greased (make sure it is REALLY greased) bunt pan at 350 for about 1 hour.  Then let it cool completely before removing it from the pan (probably at least an hour).

CHEESY POTATOES AND SAUSAGE

1 bag of shredded hash browns

1 can cream of chicken

16 oz sour cream

1 lb browned and drained sausage

shredded cheddar

Frosted Flakes

My friend who made this doesn't really measure things either :)  She just dumps the cheese soI have no idea how much to use! :)  You don't need to put sausage in this, but if you do, it makes a great "breakfast" casserole.  And the sweetness of the frosted flakes is AMAZING.  

Bake at 350 for until hot and done :)  about 40 minutes.

I don't really love cake, I'd rather have a brownie or a cookie.  But this triple chocolate cake is SO moist and wonderful.  Let me know what you think of them!!

Sweet and Sour-licious Meatballs

Thanks to my great friend Amy, I was able to make something new for dinner tonight without have to resort to spaghetti.  These sweet and sour meatballs are fantastic!!!  I served them with brown rice and peas.  However, after dinner Amy told me they are good served with green beans. So next time, I'll try it w/ green beans.  Here's the recipe I used:

2 lbs ground beef, thawed

Italian style bread crumbs  ( I don't measure, but it was probably about 3/4 c.)

Garlic Powder

Onion Powder

1 Egg

1 bottle sweet and sour sauce

A splash of barbecue sauce

Salt and Pepper

Mix all of that together like you would meat loaf.  Preheat the oven to 375.  Cover a cookie sheet w/ some foil.  Make little meatballs and place on the foil.  I should have lightly sprayed my foil w/ some spray because my meat was very lean and the meatballs kind of got stuck in some places.  Bake them for 35-40 minutes until done.  Then put them in a pan on the stove w/ some sweet and sour sauce (you can also add in some barbecue sauce).  I used Maui Mountain Sweet n Sour (what Amy uses).  Let the sauce get hot and then serve them over rice.  They are wonderful - a great twist to meat loaf.  Hope you like them!

Thanks to my mom...

I haven't said much about anything else but food on here but I really want to talk a little about my mom.  She is the reason I LOVE to cook.  My mom let me help in the kitchen ever since I was little.  My grandma tells a story of how my parents weren't home and my aunt and grandma were home with us kids.  We were going to make spaghetti and I guess I was the little boss telling them where everything was and how to make spaghetti.  (I'm guessing I was about 7 or so).  Ever since I can remember I have loved helping my mom in the kitchen. She is an excellent cook and almost all my recipes are from her. So thanks mom for all your love and instruction in the kitchen!!    Love you mom!!

Now I want to post a few pictures of my favorite little man :) Our wonderful friends, Greg and Amy, just had a baby a little over 5 weeks ago.  Jace Gregory Tonagel is adorable and I just can't get enough of him. They are so sweet to let me see Jace almost every day! It's so fun to see Greg and Amy as parents and they are truly wonderful at it!  Love you guys!