Chili Tortellini

So today, since it's actually the first winter like weather we have had in a while, I decided that it would be a great day to make soup. So I found a recipe on Picky-Palate with a good recipe for a Chili Tortellini soup. Now it didn't turn out the way I wanted it too, but it was still good and very tasteful. 


Ingredients: 

• 1 pound dry tortellini (2 lbs instead of one. It might have been too much pasta)
• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 1 cup finely chopped onion
• 2 tablespoons fresh minced garlic
• 1 pound lean ground beef (We used beef and ground italian sausage) 
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic salt
• 32 ounces reduced sodium chicken broth
• two 15 ounce cans beans, I used black and red beans, whatever you prefer
• 15 ounce can Rotel diced tomatoes MILD version
• 2 tablespoons ground cumin
• 1 1/2 tablespoons chili powder
• 1/2 cup fresh chopped cilantro

Directions: 

1. Cook tortellini according to package directions. Heat olive oil into a large dutch oven over medium heat. Saute onion and garlic for about 5 minutes then brown beef until browned. Drain if necessary. Add broth, tomatoes, beans, cumin, chili powder and cilantro. Add cooked tortellini and heat for 10 minutes or until hot. Reduce heat to a low simmer until ready to serve.

MY TIP: If you do use more than 1 lb of meat, adjust your seasonings. You will need more seasonings with the more meat you use. It was still really good, I just wish it would of thickened up just a little bit more than it did. 

Oven Baked Chicken Fajitas

So as part of my New Years resolutions I decided that I would cook at least 3 new recipes every month. I am determined to start eating healthier. So that is my goal. Tonight was the first recipe I tried. Instead of stove cooking in oil chicken fajitas, I decided to bake them. I found the recipe on pinterest, which took me to Real Mom's Kitchen. Really good website/blog. I haven't had chance to look the place yet, but I'm sure it's full of good recipes and tips and tricks. It turned out great. Even the ones who would normally only have once serving ended up going back for seconds and some even thirds. I was impressed. I learned that I should double the recipe for the next time I make it.

Since I am going to try and make this a normally thing with blogging it. I will add photos, from either when it is finished or just before I throw it in the oven. Also I will include the directions and ingredients.


Oven Baked Chicken Fajitas 

Ingredients:

1lb boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into strips
2 tbsp Vegetable oil
2 tsp Chili powder
2 tsp Cumin (I didn't add this in because we didn't have any on hand, still taste amazing)
1/2 tsp Garlic powder (used granulated garlic instead)
1/2 tsp Dried oregano
1/4 tsp  Salt
1 (15 oz) can diced tomatoes with green chilies
1 medium onion, sliced
1 large bell pepper (we used two, and I think it could of used more bell peppers)
Tortillas
Toppings (Cheese, sour cream, etc.)

Directions:

1. Preheat over to 400* F. Place chicken strips in a greased 13x9 baking dish.
2. In a small bowl, combine oil, chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, oregano, and salt.
3. Drizzle the spice mixture over the chicken and stir to coat.
4. Next add the peppers, onions, and tomatoes to the dish and stir together with chicken.
5. Bake uncovered for 20-25 minutes or until chicken is cooked through and the vegetables are cooked through.
6. Serve on tortillas with desired toppings.


My Tip: After I had mixed everything together, I actually let it sit and meld together for about 15 minutes so that everything can soak together. I don't know if it really a difference but it was good.

The Year Of Jessica!

Ive decided that this year, 2014, is going to be the year of ME! I am going to do whatever it takes to make me happy and content with my life. I will not hesitate to tell someone how I feel. I will not hesitate to tell someone no. I refuse to be a pushover for my family. I am going to stand my own ground. This is going to be my year. I am moving forth in school and when that happens, I will be on my way to the job I've always wanted. To be a teacher. To open up the minds of today's youth and let them know about the history of their country, of their families, of themselves.

Live each day like it's your last. Make the most of it.

Welcome 2014...

So with the New Year in full swing I guess it's time to start making my resolutions. I will say last night was probably the best New Years Eve I have ever had. It was so much fun making memories with old friends and a new one. It even got to the point where Mallory texted the Douche and told him she lost her best friend because of him because of something they did last year. Haha. It's a new year, 2013 is in the past... moving on to better things. Big things this year. Should be transferring to Merced this year. Yay go me!! Hoping to find some work because I hate sitting on my ass and do nothing with my life. Hoping to get back to Sonoma and Pomona for the Drags this year. Anywho... on to my resolutions...

1. Paying off more of my debt. (In a couple of months I will have 1 credit card left to pay off)
2. Lose more weight. (I've been doing pretty good and starting to eat healthier.)
3. Obtain clear skin. (Working towards that with my Clarisonic I got for Christmas.)
4. Pick up photography again. (I miss the days when I was at peace because I was taking pictures.)
5. Try and reach 20,000 tweets on Twitter. (Stupid I know, but this is my goal.)
6. Try at least 3 new recipes a month. (Got to widen my food pallet.)


I will probably update this over the next week or so.

HAPPY 2014!!!

Battlefield :: Lea Michele

It's easy to fall in love
But it's so hard to break somebody's heart
What seemed like a good idea has turned into a battlefield
Once lust has turned to dust and all that's left's held breath
Forgotten who we first met
What seemed like a good idea has turned into a battlefield

We both know it's coming
Does illusion count for something we hide?
The surface tension's gotta break, one drop is all it takes to flood out this lie

You and I
We have to let each other go
We keep holding on but we both know
What seemed like a good idea has turned into a battlefield
Peace will come when one of us puts down the gun
Be strong for both of us
No please, don't run, don't run
Eye to eye, we face our fears unarmed on the battlefield

We seemed like a good idea
We seemed like a good idea

No blood will spill if we both get out now
Still it's hard to put the fire out
What seemed like a good idea has turned into a battlefield
Feelings are shifting like the tide
And I think too much about the future
What seemed like a good idea has turned into a battlefield

We both know it's coming
Does illusion count for something we hide?
The surface tension's gotta break, one drop is all it takes to flood out this lie

You and I
We have to let each other go
We keep holding on but we both know
What seemed like a good idea has turned into a battlefield

Peace will come when one of us puts down the gun
Be strong for both of us
No please, don't run, don't run
Eye to eye, we face our fears unarmed on the battlefield

We seemed like a good idea
We seemed like a good idea
We seemed like a good idea

Christmas Has Come And Gone

Yes. Sadly the year is almost over. Where the hell did the year go?

Christmas eve was at my grandma's house. Nothing big just dinner and presents, and of course a drive by Mr. Christmas's house. Christmas day started at Chris' house, then off to his dad, then his grandma's and then back home for the big dinner. By then I was so tired I was out before I hit the pillow.

Don't really feel like writing a whole lot. Sorry.

Seriously

Ok. So we have been having some plumbing issues for the last couple of days. The showers won't drain when we shower, sometimes the toilets back up because the shower is backing up, which is causing them to over flow, and newly added, when we do laundry and the washer drains, it's all draining and backing up in the toilets. Now we are on day 3 of this issue. Chris' mother has known about this since it started. She has sat on it for the first day, went and bought some DIY stuff to try and that didn't work. It seemed to make it worse. Then today she called a plumber to see what she should do. They told her to rent a snake to try and unclog the clog. Ok. Mind you, none of us have actually showered since Monday. We have all been sponge bathing from the kitchen sink and washing out hair there as well. The toilets work on occasion, and yes people are still doing laundry even though it goes into the bathtub. She has decided to wait until this weekend to do anything about it. Why? None of us have any idea. Chris' stepdad got so frustrated last night that he ended up going to his mother's to shower because he needed to go to work. This house is starting to smell gross because of all this backed up water. I don't see how anyone can live like this. I am so ready to pack a bag and go spend some time at my house or my grandmother's house because there is hot water, not to mention peace and quiet from a screaming 2 year old who always gets his way and when I tell him NO, it's like the devil has arrived. It's a little bit of a hell hole here.

Well now that I've gotten this out of my head, I guess it's time to get on to other things...