Biscuit Delight

I needed a quick meal tonight for both a hungry hubby and a tired me who didn't want to spend a lot of time in the kitchen after work. I saw the biscuits in the fridge and just thought to do the classic butter and jelly spread and maybe some eggs. Then, this beauty below dawned on me! SO, I made turkey, egg, and cheese biscuits with herbed potato slices and a salad. Delish and quick! And, much more of a delight to eat than plain biscuits and butter/jelly.

Andrew loved it. My tummy is happy.

For the potatoes (an A&J favorite), just slice them up and cook over the stove in olive oil. Add herbs (Parsley) and maybe some seasoned salt. Wait until golden brown and you're good to go!

***

After this week of being at a conference, I have discovered the following:

I could never do a desk job.

I get home more tired than ever after sitting all day! It's exhausting to fill your head with knowledge and be constricted to a seat. Maybe after working as an RN where I'm constantly on my feet, always doing something different, I have become dependent on movement and excitement to keep my energy up. Kind of seems backwards . . .  This is reassuring that I am in the right profession though!

***

Planning to check one of those DIY to-do's off my list tomorrow! Stay tuned!

Diy Project To Do List

These projects are on my mind! When I accomplish them, I'll let you know and show you my work!

     Make These Peanut Butter Chocolate Fudge Brownies

And This Pumpkin Swirl Cheesecake

Make this fall artwork (with more fall-ish colors)

Sew a Scarf! 

Learn how to Fishtail braid my hair

Make DIY candles with a fall/holiday twist.

I've had all of the supplies for a while and can't wait to get started making these!

Sew this DIY skirt out of a men's shirt.

These projects are on my mind. Can't wait for some days off to make a dent in this list (that honestly changes by the day!). If you have not discovered Pinterest yet, you are missing out (where I discovered many of these projects/ideas). Check it out and let me know if you need an invite!

Do you have any great projects on your mind?

Go Pink!

Today was Portland's Susan G. Koman Race for the Cure. Andrew and I were hoping to take part and thought we could sign up last minute, but they closed the sign ups just in time for us to miss it. We could have signed up to "sleep in" for the cure. I thought that was both hilarious and clever. Anyways, I took part in spirit by dressing in pink and enjoying pink-frosted cupcakes that I made and took to work for a TGIF treat on Friday. 

Breast cancer falls close to my heart as a very special person in my life is fighting to beat this bugger right now. I think of her and pray for her often and am amazed at how strong she has been. Praise the Lord for finding it early and treating it quickly.

 

Breast Cancer random factoids (according to the American Cancer society):

Top 3 states in 2009-2010 with highest incidence of breast cancer (in Caucasian women)
    1. New Jersey
    2. New Hampshire
    3. Oregon

• Utah had the lowest incidence last year  
• 88% 5-year survival rate among white women with breast cancer. 
• 1 in 8 women will get breast cancer in their lifetime

Male or female, you should care about breast cancer. It affects so many around us and may even affect you some day!

Broccoli Pie

 

A childhood favorite of mine: Broccoli Pie. 

So easy and so delicious! As I am not much of a meat eater, I have been trying to come up with ways to make more meat for my meat-loving husband. 

These are the ingredients I used:

1. 1 pie crust
2. Ground beef
3. Cubed Frozen Broccoli
4. Cheese (Cheddar, Mozzarella, or Monetary Jack.... whatever you have, it all works)
5. Onion
6. 1 Egg
7. Cream Cheese 
8. Milk
9. Salt & Pepper

(I don't really measure, so here's my best attempt at giving you instructions. You can also look up recipes online as there are many different options). 

Cook the ground beef and add chopped onions to the mix. When onions are nearly cooked, add broccoli (I used 2/3 of a frozen veggie broc bag). Mix these ingredients on the stove top and add salt & pepper and other spices if desired. In a mixing bowl, mix 1 egg, a few spoonfuls of cream cheese, and 1/3rd cup of milk (I didn't measure, but I'm guessing it was about that much). Add some cheese to the mixture and pour into the beef/broc mix on the stove top. Mix all ingredients in the pan on the stove top. In a pie crust, cover bottom of crust with cheese and add entire ingredient-mixture into the pie crust and top with cheese. Cook on 350 until crust is golden brown. You can also add a top crust. Instead, I made the mixture extend to two broccoli pies. Great for to-go lunches for work or school!

Give it a try!

Time to Organize!

 

This would be ideal.  If only. However, I am very thankful for a laundry closet in our apartment! So glad I don't have to lug the laundry bins to a basement or laundromat. What a blessing. Though this is probably my favorite part of our apartment, I sure have not respected it by keeping it organized and clean. Since we moved in, this closet was the "throw all/hide all" spot. Everything that doesn't have a normal home belongs here.  This is the spot before the organization took over...

 

-Before-

Messy, cluttered, DISASTER, no idea what is in here. No clear pathway to the machines.

 

I purchased these see-through bins and a LABEL MAKER (love love love it) for storage. I contemplated getting cute little baskets or nicely colored bins, but decided to be more practical and go with the see-through, lid covered bins. Now, we can easily tell what is in each bin via simply looking and reading the label! 

 

-After-

Much better right? It still may not look pretty, but it's all nicely organized and clean. And.... there's room for more! 

I love to organize, but it's a process! 

The Lord is my Shepard

What do these photos I took have to do with the following post? Very little... But, I think they are calming.

 What comforts you? As I was trying to fall asleep last night, my mind wandered back to my young days as a first grader who had just moved 3,000 miles away from home (to the Philippines). A new world I entered into with new frights and challenges. My loving mother taught me this famous passage and I had it memorized as a 6 year old. I use to lay in bed each night in those early days reciting this passage over and over again in my head and aloud. What peace and comfort it brought me! Though I do not have those same fears, this passage brought me peace and comfort this week. God brought this into my mind and I did my best to recite it aloud to my husband (whose mind was scattered in preparation for his first exam in the morning). Though I did not recite it perfectly, a smile was brought to my face as I realized that God knows just how to comfort his sons and daughters.

¹ The LORD is my shepherd;
         I shall not want.
 ² He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
         He leads me beside the still waters.
 ³ He restores my soul;
         He leads me in the paths of righteousness
         For His name’s sake.
    
 ⁴ Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
         I will fear no evil;
         For You are with me;
         Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
    
 ⁵ You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
         You anoint my head with oil;
         My cup runs over.
 ⁶ Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
         All the days of my life;
         And I will dwell in the house of the LORD
         Forever.

        Psalm 23

This is a passage to memorize and carry with you in your heart and mind every day. 

Food Treats

The following 3 foods have been such a treat the past couple of days: Homemade Salsa, Eggplant Parmesan, and Breakfast Crepes!

 You can make it too! Ingredients include: tomatoes, green onion, onions, garlic, and spices to your liking. I used Cajun and chile powder along with some salt and pepper. The proportions are up to you! Try it out and experiment with what tastes best. This is my favorite way of cooking! Especially when the result is delicious and so fresh tasting! Chop all your ingredients up and blend away! I'm eating some now with chips..... just can't get enough!

 Eggplant Parm was a success! I made it lasagna style by simply layering the bread-crumbed eggplant layers with spaghetti sauce and cheese (parm and mozzarella). Andrew loved it and ate it for breakfast the next day!

 We enjoyed crepes this morning for breakfast. Ever had chocolate with blueberries? Me either.... until this morning. Not bad! Great way to start the day!

In other news... Andrew's first exam is on Monday. He is studying diligently, but we ask for prayers as this is the first of many to come! 

I began my training in the expanded care nursery (where we care for sick newborns: drug withdrawal, infections, etc) and I am truly loving it! My first day was crazy, but I am feeling more encouraged that this is where I am supposed to be. God is good and he always provides. I have so much to be grateful for. 

I hope you all are having a wonderful weekend!!! 

First Sewing Attempt & Craft Date

I made my first quilt! It's quite rough around the edges--- literally. However, it was so much fun and I look forward to making more, better-improved quilts! I fell in love with these fabrics for a baby quilt because they are so gender neutral and aren't the typical yellow/green. What do you think?

 My new friend Catherine and I got together today for a craft project. Inspired by Pinterest and numerous other bloggers to include (Urban Nester & A Fortunate Accident). Painted jars/glass vases! The only problem is that we did not have the correct paint. So... no water goes in these jars... I still like the look of them and can use them for candles or little pen/pencil containers or something.

 

It has been a true blessing to have met Catherine and her husband (who is attending med school with Andrew). We are both nurses, both new to Portland, and have so much in common. It's just nice to be meeting new people and be encouraged by fellow believers. Stay tuned for more Catherine/Jenna craft projects!

Blackberry Pie!

Fresh farmer's market blackberry pie!

I used this Recipe

Braided crust adds an artistic flair! I saw this on pinterest and couldn't wait to try it. I purchased pre-made crust and cut it into strips to braid. Worked perfectly!

 Serve with vanilla ice cream and enjoy!

Dahlia Days

What a great start to Labor Day weekend! 

It all started with a birthday dinner with my family on Friday night. My Grandma stayed in Portland with us and we had lots of fun adventures today to include: riding the street car to PSU's Farmer's Market, riding the aerial tram up to OHSU and back with Andrew, and going to Canby's Dahlia Festival! The weather was perfect!

 

My sweet mom made Cake Pops for birthday dessert. Though a hassle to carry, they were delicious!

Instead of going out, we ate in on the roof patio! They surprised me with my favorite- La Hacienda Real Mexican food: chicken fajitas and cheese enchiladas. So thoughtful and absolutely yummy!

 

I got a sewing machine!!! Now I can fully jump into my domestic-wife-self and sew things! I've been wanting one for a few years now and am thrilled! My first big project to start: Baby quilt blankets. Working on an OB floor, I see many homemade blankets and have been wanting to make some myself! Now I just need friends to have babies so I can give them one!  *hint hint* you know who you are...

My grandma taught me to sew when I was a little kid. So excited she could be here with me to get it all set up!

The Farmers Market was so much fun! I look forward to going again. I ended up purchasing heirloom baby tomatoes, an egg plant, & blackberries. 

This is where Andrew attends Med school: Oregon Health & Science University. I think it is beautiful. He rides this air tram each day to get there. So convenient and sustainable!  

 Now off to the Dahlia Festival! Swan Island Dahlias is the largest Dahlia producer in the US!

 Gorgeous flowers, gorgeous day. Thankful for time with my Grandma and family.

"The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever." Isaiah 40:8