W.O.W. Look-a-like: A little Chili's when it's chilly...

We encountered another snow day yesterday and I, of course, spent most of my down time figuring out what I could create in the kitchen.  I will preface this Chili's remake by saying Blake and I do not eat out at Chili's very often 1. because it's not good for you 2. it's always crowded with "mall folk" and 3. there are SO many better places to eat.  That being said every once in awhile when we're lazy and craving grease it fits the bill.  Our go to appetizer is their Southwestern Eggrolls.  They are an eggroll filled with blackbeans, corn, red bell pepper, chicken, cheese, a blend of southwest spices, etc.  They are deep fried and served with a spicy ranch.  Good-yes.  Good for you-NO.  Because of our love for these little nuggets and my urge to be able to eat them I came up with these. 

Blaked Southwestern Eggrolls

Num, num, num!  They turned out really well.  The only thing I would change is that I would flip them half way through the cooking time so that one side didn't cook slighly darker than the other. 

Since I was home all day yesterday I took the time to take pictures of all of the steps.  Having daylight helps tremendously with this.  They aren't all perfect, but they certainly help you get the idea of how making them works.  The mixture contains cooked diced chicken, bacon, corn, black beans, red bell pepper, jalenpeno, spinach, pepper jack cheese, cumin, chili powder, cayenne, garlic powder, s&p.  Cook the diced bacon first until crispy, remove it from the pan.  Add the diced chicken and cook through.  To the chicken add 2/3 of a cup of corn and drained and rinsed black beans.  Add 1/2 diced red bell pepper, 1 diced jalepeno, and one package of frozen spinach that has been defrosted and squeezed of all excess water.  Add bacon back in.  One teaspoon each of chili powder and cumin.  Dash of cayenne, garlic powder, s&p.  After everything has cooked together for 5-7 minutes over medium heat remove the pan from the heat and stir in a cup and a half of shredded pepper jack cheese.  Allow mixture to cool slightly and start stuffin'!  Here is the mixture after it has cooked all together:

Place the eggroll wrapper in front of you laying so that it looks like a diamond.  Next place about 3 tablespoons of mixture in the middle of the eggroll wrapper. 

Fold the corner closest to you over the mixture.  Pull the two sides in over the first flap.  It will look like an open envelope at this point.  Wet the top corner with a little water and roll all the way up.

Place a cooling rack on a parchment lined cookie sheet, spray with non-stick spray, and place the eggrolls.

I like to use a cooling rack on the cookie sheet so that the heat in the oven can circulate all the way around the eggrolls.  No one wants soggy rolls.  Bake at 400 degrees for 12-14 minutes flipping half way through the cooking time.  I served them with low fat avacado ranch and it was delish.  These would have been perfect for the super bowl, but we already had too much on the menu.  I would dare to say that any time you need a good appetizer to share these would be much appreciated. 

Mangia!

Xo-Wife of Wright

Ding ding, Round 2!

Hello all!  I know I have been M.I.A. for the past week, but I couldn't help it.  Just look what happened!

Nothing about a foot of snow on the ground was motivation to get on the computer.  Being stuck at home in the snow WAS motivation to cook a lot though.  Here's how I kept myself busy while hubby was still working from home. 

Day One:  Breakfast

We were warm and cozy on Tuesday morning while the snow was coming down.  What better motivation to get up than a warm plate of biscuits, turkey sausage gravy, eggs and bacon.  Got the blood flowing, or slowing.  Your choice...

Day One:  Mid-Afternoon

Pomme Frites a.k.a. French Fries.  I had never made them at home before.  Did it the right way with oil and double frying.  Very time consuming and probably wouldn't do it again without a small fryer instead of adjusting temperature in my dutch oven over and over again.  Made a nice little Pesto Aioli to dip them in.  Yum.

Day Two:  Dinner

I had a can of whole San Marzano tomatoes in the pantry as well as the ingredients for a soffritto to get a nice sauce started right.  A soffritto is the aromatic flavor base for most Italian sauces.  In this case I used onion, carrot, celery, and garlic in olive oil.  I also added a bay leaf.  These things scent and flavor the entire dish.  After that it's simply adding the pureed tomatoes and letting the sauce reduce and the flavors combine.  Toss with hot al dente pasta and top with parmesan and parsley. 

Yesterday for the super bowl I slow cooked a pork shoulder for pulled pork and made Smoked Sausage, Wild Rice and Corn soup.  Both were very tasty, but alas I forgot to take pictures.  Eek!  I will post the soup recipe tomorrow.  It made a ton, as did the pork shoulder.  I know what Blake and I will be eating all week!  I guess it's a good thing though because Round 2 of Snowmegedon 2011 is due to start tomorrow evening.  It's the darndest thing I've ever seen.  I plan on making one last grocery trip tonight so that I can play with a few new recipes if the storm hits.  Snow is not good for your waistline, but it sure is tasty!

Xo-Wife of Wright

Penne, Pesto, and P....Shrimp

Friday evening Blake and I were craving some delicious carbs.  Let's be honest, when I am I NOT craving carbs?  Especially when it comes to pasta.  I could eat pasta every single day.  Maybe every single meal.  If I were stranded on a desserted island and I could bring three items, pasta would be one of them.  Yea pasta!

I immediately knew I was going to use some whole wheat penne I had, but what to go with it.  After glancing through the cabinets, fridge, and freezer I decided it was a pesto and shrimp night.  Normally I like making pesto from scratch.  It's not hard and your food processor does all the work.  This summer though I found a really great jarred pesto at Sam's.  It now has a permanent home in our fridge.  It is in the refrigerated section next to the fresh pasta and it is as close to homemade as I have found.  It's very bright, fresh, and so easy to use when you don't have the right ingredients on hand, or just don't feel like dragging out the processor.  Plus having ready made pesto in your fridge gives you an unlimited amount of breakfast, lunch, dinner, and appetizer options.  Mix some into your scrambled eggs, spread some on your sandwich at lunch, drizzle some over some grape tomoatoes and mozzarella, mix in with any hot/cold pasta, or over any grilled meat or veggies.  Yummy times infinity.  I highly suggest giving it a try. 

Pesto Penne with Garlic Parsley Shrimp

The picture above is before I fully dressed the dish.  Here's how it works.  Truly one of the easiest recipes ever.  Put on a large pot of water and bring to a boil.  Liberally salt the water and add the pasta of your choice.  While the pasta is boiling coat the shrimp with some olive oil, garlic, cayenne pepper, salt and pepper.  Heat up a tablespoon of olive oil and a tablespoon of butter in a pan and saute the shrimp until opaque, about 3 minutes.  Move to the side.  When the pasta is al dente drain and place into a large bowl.  Add anywhere between 1/4 and 1/2 a cup of the prepared pesto depending on how saucy you like it.  Add in the shrimp.  Mix.  Salt and pepper to taste.  Bowl and sprinkle with lemon juice, parmesan, and parsley.  Eat until your hearts content, or until you're about to explode, whichever comes first.  The end. 

ANYONE can do this! 

On a lighter note (haha) we're getting ready for Snowmagedon 2011 in Oklahoma City.  Supposedly we could get anywhere from six to twelve inches over the next twenty four hours.  Bring it on!  I'm ready for a grand snow in (with electricity of course).  I already have two soups and a new pasta dish on my list of things to do while we're hibernating tomorrow.  Anyone else have snow day plans?  I'll keep you updated!

Xo-Wife of Wright

Hello January 28th, nice to meet you!

The weather in Oklahoma City right now is glorious!  It is above 70 degrees, not a cloud in the sky, and there is a pleasant breeze.  It's supposed to stay this way through tomorrow and then start to cool off again.  Possibility of ice and snow Monday and Tuesday.  Can anyone say snow day??!!

Have a wonderful weekend.  Ours is going to be filled with cooking, cleaning, putthing things away, and hopefully relaxing.  I can't wait!

Xo-Wife of Wright

15 Minute Re-model

I had about 15 minutes to kill over my lunch break today and what do you know if there's not a TJ Maxx right next to where I work.  The luck!  It's amazing how much money I can "spend" in a 15 minute period of time.  I walked in and immediately walked over to a $200.00 purse.  Happens every time, I guess that's how I roll.  As I worked my way back to the home goods I found this.

 I look cute right?  $39.00

I think it would feel right at home in our entryway, but not without these...

$10.00 a piece

On the entry way table of course.  And if we're re-doing the entry way then we might as well make our way into the living room, they are connected for goodness sake.  I thought this guy would make a good edition.

$349.00 down from $700.00!

And of course on the unique side tables that will be found eventually would go these...

The floral lamp in the middle.  $10.00

$29.00

And to wrap it all together this

$129.00 5x8

Who doesn't like a nice fluffy rug underfoot? 

Now I wouldn't necessarily put all of these things together if I really got to looking/thinking on them, but individually they are all great pieces.  For someone who is on a budget and is starting out with nothing, it's a great place to start.  According to my calculations you could walk out of TJ's with everything I listed above for $576.00 before tax.  Or you could make it $776.00 and walk out with that fabulous bag I spoted on the way in as well.  A girl can dream can't she? 

Tomorrow I think I'll go on the hunt for some funky pillows for "our" couch.  I love "shopping"!!

Xo-Wife of Wright

"It's not a grilled cheese, or a potato chip!"

So for those of you that don't know I work for a non-profit called The Catholic Foundation of Oklahoma.  We award scholarships for Catholic students and provide grants for Catholic parishes and schools.  It's a great organization and I highly recommend checking it out if you're looking for a great charity to give to. 

Because I work at the Archdiocese and for the foundation I sometimes receive very interesting calls.  Sometimes people are looking for financial aid, food, or shelter.  Those calls are normal and expected and I direct them to Catholic Charities so that they can get the help that they need.  Other times people would like to speak to the Archbishop, or better yet the Pope.  This is not going to happen for a multitude of reasons, the main one being I don't have a direct line to the Pope!  Weird right?  You would think every Catholic employees job came with one of those, but for some reason they don't. Lame. 

The phone call I received yesterday takes the cake on strange requests.  A specific, to remain nameless man (let's call him T.R.N. to shorten things up for the sake of the post) has been calling our offices for the past week or so.  Apparently he calls around to many of the metro churches and other Archdiocesan offices on a fairly frequent basis making different requests.  When I answered the phone yesterday he asked to speak to our director.  I asked who was calling and when he verified that he was in fact T.R.N. I politely told him that the director was in a meeting and asked if I could take a message.  T.R.N. told me that he really needed to speak to our director.  I told him I was sorry and that I could take a message and get it to him.  T.R.N. then said that he wasn't really sure he had the right office and asked me what the foundation did.  I explained to him what we did and asked again if I could take a specific message for him.  T.R.N.  then said he had the wrong office.  I explained that if he would tell me what exactly he needed I could better direct him.  Here's where it gets good. 

T.R.N.-"Well I have discovered something that no one seems to care about, but I think it's a miracle."

Me-"Okay, well if I can ask what it is, maybe I can put you in contact with the correct person."

T.R.N.-"I planted a tree in my yard when it was a baby and Jesus' face grew into the side of it.  Who should I tell?  I would like to talk with the Pope, or at least the Archbishop, I want this to go as high as it can go!"

Me-(Deep breaths)  "Well sir, I would suggest that you start with your own priest and if he finds interest in your tree he can contact the appropriate people."

T.R.N. "But what if he doesn't care?  Then should I just go to another church and another priest?"

Me-(More deep breathing) "Yes sir, that's what I would do."

T.R.N.-"I mean this is way better than what you see on t.v., It's not a grilled cheese, or a potato chip!"

Me-(Remember to breathe) "It sounds like it sir, but I can only refer you to your personal priest."

T.R.N.-"Okay, thanks for your help."

Now don't get me wrong, I fully believe in miracles and believe that stranger things have happened in the church's history. I just don't think it's coming from T.R.N.  Maybe it's because he calls on a daily basis asking for different things, or maybe it was his tone, but something was off.  I do know that if he calls me back I am going to refer him to this website.  It's dedicated to stuff that looks like Jesus.  I'm quite sure someone there will provide him with more comfort than I could muster. 

Xo-Wife of Wright

Home again, home again, jiggity jig jig!

Crested Butte, CO was amazing!  I had never been to a ski town before, and I was a little bit apprehensive.  I am a beach girl.  There is really nothing that I like about cold weather.  I was so pleasantly surprised though.  Crested Butte is nestled down in a little valley next to Crested Butte mountain.  There are only about 1,200 residents permanently and they are all so nice and accomidating.  The weather while very cold, is dry and the wind doesn't blow like it does here in Oklahoma.  When it's sunny it's even kind of pleasant in the cold crisp air.  I would highly recommend this sleepy ski town to anyone looking for a nice ski town to visit that doesn't want the over commercialized touristy vibe.  I'm sold can you tell?! 

The wedding was absolutely gorgeous and went off without a hitch.  The bride looked like a super model and the groom looked like he stepped off the pages of GQ.  The reception was mountain chic with fabulous food and great music.  The wine and beer flew freely and fun was had by all!

Here are some of my favorite pics from the night.

I used a vintage pic app on my phone and snapped Blake and I's place cards on the table with our glasses.  Those specs you see on the table...Lavender, it smelled heavenly.

Using the same photo app on my phone I got this one of our entire table mid-cheers.  We had such a good time thanks to the bride and groom and the group of friends I was blessed to be there with was amazing.

Last but definitely not least these two had quite the night. 

Joe FINALLY put a ring on it!  I'll let her share of the details and pics, but I wanted to share the good news since it was such a big moment during our trip.  It was so sweet and special and it was magical being there with them to celebrate.  So congrats first to Jacqui and Justin on starting their life together, and second to Tyler and Joe.  I pray for the best for you during your engagement and upcoming marriage.  I can't wait for the parties to begin!

Xo-Wife of Wright