Punkin

I love this time of year. Not because of the weather. Not because of Halloween. Not because of the changing leaves. But because Pumpkin is EVERYWHERE and in EVERYTHING! I can't tell you how much I love Pumpkin. I feel like Bubba Blue from Forest Gump I like Pumpkin so much. Some of my favorites are:

Michelob Jack's Pumpkin Spice Ale
Pumpkin Pie
Pumpkin Spice Lattes
Pumpkin Curry Soup
Williams Sonoma Pecan Pumpkin Butter
Williams Sonoma Pumpkin Spice Quick Bread
Pumpkin Butter Gooey Cake

If you like Pumpkin, check out 30 Ways To Eat Pumpkin!

Organic Milk

About a month ago I discovered organic milk. I bought it on a whim just to try and I was pleasantly suprised. Not because of the taste (taste like regular milk), but because it lasts so much longer than regular milk. Neither Frank or I are big milk drinkers so we always buy the 1/2 gallon size of 2%. We NEVER finish it. It always goes bad. However, this organic milk lasts so long we are finally able to finish a thing of milk.

Breakfast

I was never a big breakfast person. A couple years ago I started eating it every day and realized I was actually loosing weight. I like to find things I can eat on the go or at work because it is very hard for me to get up 15 minutes early to eat. My favorite breakfast right now consist of combining Vanilla yogurt, Raspberries, Blueberries, and Just Bunches Cereal. It is light, refreshing, and fills me up!

Farley, Farley, Farley

Frank and I went to the Irish Festival today. It has been a long time since we last went and it seems every time we have gone out there, the weather has been cloudy and rainy or cold. But it was such a beautiful day to be out side today, I am glad we went. A lot of people had their dogs out with them. I had the typical Irish Stew in a bread bowl washed down with a Guiness. We walked through all the booths and I got a cute ring and a green Irish wife beater (cause that's how I roll). I didn't bring my camera so I have no pics to post. Sooo yeah...

Cookie Dough Truffles

1/2 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
1/2 cup semisweet mini chocolate morsels
1 cup finely chopped pecans
1 1/2 lbs. chocolate bark candy coating, melted

In a large bowl cream butter and brown sugar with an electric mixer at medium speed until creamy. Add vanilla. Gradually beat in flour and add milk. Add chocolate morsels and pecans, mixing well. Shape into 1-inch balls. Place on waxed paper; chill 2 hours.

Melt chocolate bark candy coating in a double boiler. Using 2 forks, dip cookie balls into candy coating to cover. Place on waxed paper and chill to set. Store in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour.

Shiner Bock Chili

About once a year I make Shiner Bock Chili. It is usually Super Bowl weekend, although I don't make it for the super bowl, it's just a reminder that it's time to make chili. I add the Shiner Bock at the end and it gives it great flavor. Here is the recipe:

Ingredients
1 lb lean ground beef
1 (1 1/4 ounce) packet chili seasoning mix
1 (16 ounce) can dark red kidney beans
1 (14 1/2 ounce) can diced tomatoes or tomato sauce
1 bottle of Shiner Bock beer
Chopped red onion
Shredded cheddar cheese
Sour cream
Tortilla chips

Directions
- In a large sauce pan, brown meat until cooked through, drain any fat.
- Add chili seasoning, beans and tomatoes to pan.
- Stir to combine ingredients thoroughly.
- Add beer
- Simmer until hot, about 15 minutes.

Top with onion, cheese, and sour cream and serve with chips.

Palomino's

This past weekend Frank and I went to Palomino's in Dallas with our friends Todd, Kristi, Aaron and Tracie. We don't get to see them very often, but when we do, it is always a great time. In case you don't know, Todd and Kristi are our friends we met in Puerto Vallarta back in 2006. Aaron and Tracie are friends of Todd and Kristi that we met at their wedding in Tulum, Mexico. It's just too funny because we never meet friends local very often, let alone abroad, and we all hit it off so well.

Palominos was really good. I had a filet with cognac demi-sauce and a blue cheese risotto cake and for desert I had a Spanish coffee and crème brulee. At first I didn't like the Spanish coffee, but later that night and the next day I was actually craving it. I think it's normally served with coffee, but this one was just liquor served in a brandy style glass with a sugared rim. It consisted of Tia Maria, Bacardi 151, and Meyer's Rum. It was so strong, but so good.

Good times. Here are some pics. I wish I had got a picture of Aaron and Tracie together (sorry guys).

X-Rated Fusion

I found a great girly drink that is an easy choice at parties, X-Rated Fusion. Simply mix with sprite (zero) and ice and voila! It's a blood orange flavored French vodka liqueur. It's sweet without being overly sweet. If you are in the mood to try something new, check this out. It's really good!

What's For Dinner?

I am in a dinner rut. I feel like I always cook the same thing. I am looking for ideas online and on Food Network, but nothing really appeals to me. What do you cook for dinner?

Leave a comment and tell me what your dnner menu looks like for normal week!

Party Planning

Just in time for the holiday season (and Halloween). Here is a great site for party planning. There is a section for each holiday, milestone events, entertaining and more. There are recipes, decoration ideas, drinks, tips, activities, and a lot more. Click here to check out celebrations.com!

My New Favorite Treat

Haagen-Dazs Frozen Yogurt in Vanilla Honey and Granola. So yummy!!!

Houston Trip

I was an idiot and forgot my camera so this will be a rather boring trip report. Frank and I went to Houston this weekend to visit his sister and her family. His dad ended up being there to visit as well. It was a quick trip, but was nice to see everyone. Frank took the boys out on Saturday to buy toys and video games while his sister and I went to get pedicures and go shopping. We all went out to dinner Saturday night and left around lunchtime today to come home.

Our nephew Mikey, the ham of the family (next to Uncle Frank) picks up on everything he hears or sees and makes it his own. For example...Frank made the mistake of exposing the boys to "Business Time" by Flight of the Conchords (Click here if you have not see this yet) while showing his sister. So all weekend Mikey (8 years old mind you) walked around singing "it's business time, it's business time" and telling everyone "business hours are over baby" whenever they would leave a store or go to bed. Mikey also told us how his teacher makes him sign a red book when he gets in trouble, so Frank told him to tell his teacher next time she makes him sign the book, that "I wrote the red book"...and I am 200% sure he is going to actually do it. AND another piece of wisdom Frank passed on was for Mikey to write his teacher's name in the red book instead of his own. His poor mom. LOL!

Driving around Houston, you could still see a lot of damage from Hurricane Ike. There were piles of debris in front of almost every house awaiting pick up and several houses with blue tarps where there was roof damage. When Frank took the boys out on Saturday, they tried to go to Toys R' Us and they were still closed due to storm damage. We also tried a couple of different restaurants on Saturday night only to find they were also still closed. We ended up at Churrasco's. I had never heard of it before, and it was really good.

Good Restaurant

This weekend Frank and I went to a place called Chadra Mezza. Chadra is a small, neighborhood Mediterranean restaurant by TCU on Park Place off Forest Park. I was really impressed. They have a nice patio out back and have Doggy Happy Hour on Wednesdays from 4-7 where you can bring your dog and enjoy drinks on the patio. They even provide treats for your pups!

We started off with the humus. Then I got the eggplant lasagna and Frank got the steak kabobs and Greek salad with shrimp. For drinks, Frank got a really good Mediterranean type margarita and I got a pomegranate cosmo.