Favorite-Recipe Friday: The Amigo Sandwich

Why Favorite-Recipe Friday you ask? Well, what better time to try a new recipe than during the weekend.

I got this idea from a local restaurant (The Red Baron) that I used to work in years ago and that has been closed for awhile now.  I've never seen another one like it at any other restaurant.  It was my favorite sandwich, so I thought I would recreate it.

The Amigo Sandwich

Ingredients: (this will yield 3-4 sandwiches)
•6-8 slices of sourdough bread
•2 8oz packages of Hillshire Farm Deli Select® roast beef -or- roast beef from your deli
•1 8oz package of cheddar cheese
•1 small can of diced green chili peppers
•1 jar of your favorite salsa (we like Tostitos® Restaurant Style)

Directions:
1. Preheat your griddle to about 350° (you can use a frying pan or whatever you prefer)
2. Shred the cheese into a bowl and set aside.
3. Open and drain the chili peppers
4. Lay out your bread slices (3-4) and divide the roast beef evenly among them (enough for 3 or 4 sandwiches)
5. Top with a thin layer of chili peppers (you may not need the whole can)
6. Top with the shredded cheese and then another slice of bread
7. Lightly butter the top and bottom of your sandwich and grill until golden brown and cheese is melted
8. Remove from heat and cut in half diagonally
9. Pour salsa into small bowls so you can dip the sandwiches in the salsa

10. Enjoy!

I hope you enjoy your sandwiches, and have a great weekend!

Do you have a favorite recipe that you would like to share?  Send it to me and I will feature it on my blog.  Better yet, consider doing a guest post with me.    

A Few of My Favorite Things: Awesome App Edition, vol. 1

I told you that I am an app queen, so I thought I would share a few of my favs...

Tweetcaster- This is an awesome Twitter client.  It has Twitlonger integration and it links with Facebook.  You can create smartlists to make things more organized.  It also has the cool "zip it" feature to hide topics (or people) that annoy you.

Facebook- The native app has been improved upon lately and I actually really like it. It's pretty compatible with the full site.

Pinterest- OMG! What can I say about this?! Pinterest is just fun and addicting, and with this app, I can pin on the go! Seriously, if you haven't tried Pinterest, you're missing out!

Evernote- This is one awesome app and organizational tool! I have it on my computer, on my Kindle Fire, and on my iPhone; it stays synced across all of them.  It's great for jotting down ideas, creating lists, etc.  You name it, it's great for it.  I've even written whole blog posts on it and copied it to my blog later.

Goodreads-  This site and app are a bookworm's dream.  Such a great way to discover books and make lists of what you want to read and have read, and share your opinions with others.

Foursquare-  This is a lot of fun.  A great way to check in.  I like it better than the facebook check-in because you can add pics, and you can share it on Twitter and Facebook at the same time. There's also a bit of a game aspect to it, and it notifies you if one of your friends are nearby.

Instagram-  This is a really fun app for sharing pics on Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, Tumblr, Foursquare, and Posterous.  It has some fun filters that can spruce up your pics.  It's a social site all its own too...this one is only in iTunes right now, but they are working on an app for Android and Windows phones.

Boxcar- I love using this for notifications from Twitter and Facebook. It can also be used with Google voice and many other apps, and it can also be linked to some email accounts.  You can customize a different sound for each one. It has a "quiet time" feature so that you don't have to worry about it waking you...this one is also iPhone only right now, but one for Android is in the works.

Instapaper-  This is great for when you run onto a news story, blog post, etc. that you don't have time to read, but want to save for later.  A lot of other apps support this app, so it's easy to save from them. You can customize the appearance to make it more comfortable to read.

Textfree Voice + VM-  I really love this app! Yes, it's free unlimited text messaging (pic messaging too), plus you can earn or buy minutes (quite cheap) for phone calls, and it has voicemail too.  I have really bad service with my current provider and this app has saved me more than once!  You get an actual number (you get to choose from a list) and it has some fun ring tones and text tones, and cool wallpapers.

This is just the tip of the iceburg of the list of apps that I really like. Notice that the title says vol. 1.  I'm sure I'll have another list for you in the near future...stay tuned...

Do you have some apps that you just couldn't live without?

Disclaimer:  I was in no way compensated for sharing my thoughts about these apps, and these opinions are my own. 

A House and A Home

I sometimes look around at all the new, big, and fancy houses that seem to be popping up everywhere these days and I admit that I do get jealous because our house, though not tiny, is a smaller, modest, older home.  I find myself feeling down that we can't afford more right now.  There are a few reasons our financial situation isn't what it could be, but one of the main ones is that we decided to make a few sacrifices so that I would be able to be home with our son and then later, be able to work from home, which I do and love.  These are decisions that I don't regret, but do wish I could contribute more financially, especially when I see these beautiful homes...

Lately, however, it hasn't bothered me as much because the money situation will get better in time and there is light at the end of the tunnel.  An even bigger reason though is what so many people have said when they have been in our home.  I've had one friend say, "I just love your house, it is so dang cute!" Our neighbor, who comes to visit quite often, always makes comments on how I have it decorated and she says, "I just love it in here."  We have another friend who has commented on more than one occasion that he loves coming to our house because it's so warm and inviting, and that he always feels at ease and welcome here. He followed it up by saying, "I can just feel the love in this house."  That comment really struck a cord in me...



One of my favorite views.



When I've had so many people say so many positive things, it has occurred to me that it's not the size or the price that should matter to me; it obviously doesn't matter to those who are important to us and really know who we are. What matters is that my husband and son have a place that is clean and welcoming to come home to every day; a house that is a home. What matters is how people feel when they come to visit, not if they're impressed by the size. What matters is if a house is truly a home and welcoming to all those who enter. What matters is that what it says to the right, in the "About Me" section of my blog page, is true...Mine is a place where the coffee is always hot, the wine is always chilled, the food is always good, and the conversation is always welcome...I've put my personality and my heart into my house and made it a home, and I am so glad that people can feel that when they walk in...

I must always keep things in perspective and be very grateful for what I DO have, and always keep in mind what really matters...





Proud to be a Burbank.



I love to display photographs.







Until next time, thank you so much for stopping by...stay tuned.

Just Some Random Facts About Me

I just thought I'd share some random, funny, and interesting facts about myself, you know, in case you were wondering. 

I'm an only child.  Yes I was spoiled, but my parents made good and sure that I was not one of THOSE only children; the kind who get everything they want and never have to work for anything.  I got a job when I was 16, bought my own car, and paid my own way...thank you very much! 

I'm a coupon-clipping fool.  Seriously, a coupon queen!  It's not to the point of extreme couponing, but I think that's only because I don't have enough time.

I'm a klutz.  Its true!  I'm clumsy as all get out! I run into stuff, trip over stuff, trip over my own two feet, etc., etc.  I've always got a bruise or boo boo of some sort.  I've also been in an Aircast boot due to said clumsiness. (My husband makes fun of me.)

I have a potty mouth.  Uh huh, I do.  It's definitely not one of my more lady-like or attractive traits, and I'm definitely not proud of it.  I have a hot Irish temper and I tend to swear like a sailor use colorful language when I'm being all impatient, annoyed, frustrated, etc. feeling passionate about something...yeah, I really need to work on that.

I'm always the girl with a plan.  I always have a plan A, usually a plan B, sometimes a plan C, and occasionally a plan D if I feel it's necessary.  I'm a bit anal to say the least. My husband just told me the other day that I have a five-track mind.  Yup, I tend to over think things and worry a bit much.  I also try to multitask, which, for me, is never a good idea...

I'm a shoe & bag/purse freak.  I mean what girl doesn't love accessories right?!...I have two door-hanger organizers for my purses...and a few purses on shelves...and maybe a couple more hanging on my bedroom doorknob...and, well you get the picture.  I have two different closets with shoes stacked on the floor.  The shoe addiction is really funny now that I work from home and am usually in fuzzy socks or slippers.

I love motorcycles.  Yes, besides my love of old muscle cars, I adore motorcycles, preferably a Harley...but any nice bike will do.  I used to go for rides with my dad all of the time when I was little.  I had my own little helmet and everything...He wasn't thrilled with my love of bikes as I got older, but it was his own fault after all. Lol.

I have an interesting music library.  Interesting because of the variety.  I have old classic rock, hard rock, heavy metal and those awesome hair bands from the 80s and early 90s.  I have a lot of other 80s music; I was born in the *ahem* 70s, so I love my late 70s and 80s music! I, of course, also love country music. I like alternative, grunge, R&B, pop, hip-hop, and rap. I even like classical and some opera. Switching from one song to the next, if set on random shuffle, is not only like switching gears, but like grinding gears and maybe missing a few!...I wonder what that says about me....

I sang in a choir.  Speaking of music, I sang in choirs from second grade, all the way to my junior year in high school.  I even had a solo or two...I can't sing quite as well as I used to though.  I guess your instrument can get rusty if you don't use it... (get your mind out of the gutter! Yes, Blake [my hubby], I mean you!)

I really do love gadgets.  Yes, a total gadget junkie! I have an older mp3 player, a couple different cameras, my iPhone, my Kindle Fire, and of course my desktop PC...and I plan on getting a laptop, a regular Kindle, an iPad, and when I upgrade my cellphone plan, I'm going to go Android and change my iPhone into an iPod touch (yes, you can do that; I've already checked)...I won't even go into gadgets for cooking and cleaning!...I may need an intervention!

I really am a wine lover.  I don't think it's to the point of being a wino (even though my hubby calls me one). There is just something about a great glass of wine. One of the most relaxing and therapeutic things for me is sipping a glass of wine while cooking a great meal...not to mention soaking in a hot bath while sipping some. Yup, it doesn't get much better than that.

I really do love my coffee!  For me, coffee isn't just a beverage that you consume to acquire caffeine. Coffee is a whole experience, from the aroma that fills the room while it is brewing to savoring that amazing flavor that comes with the first sip.  I love to just sit and relax, feel the warmth of the mug, and savor my coffee.  Don't get me started on some of the amazing creamers that are out there!..If you just drink coffee, but don't experience it and truly enjoy it, then you're drinking the wrong coffee.  And, no, not all coffee brands are created equal (just sayin).

So, there you have it, some random, funny, and interesting facts... when I get writing them all down, it occurs to me that I may need therapy...(Blake, you just shush!)

So, do you have any funny little quirks?....Please tell me I'm not the only one with issues!

Favorite-Recipe Friday: My Go-To Chili Recipe

Why Favorite-Recipe Friday, you ask? Well, what better time to try a new recipe than on the weekend?

It's winter and cold out, so what better time to make a big pot of chili. Here's my go-to recipe:

Ingredients:
•1.5 lbs lean ground beef
•1 small onion -or- 1/4 cup dried chopped onion
•1 tsp minced garlic (more or less to taste)
•2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
•1 tbsp Chili powder
•1 tbsp cumin
•2 tbsp sugar
•1 tsp salt
•1/2 tsp pepper
•1 tbsp parsley flakes
•1 15 oz can tomato sauce
•1 cup spicy V8 Juice®
•1 cup beef stock (gives it a slow-cooked flavor)
•2 cans Chili beans
•2 cans red beans (drained)
•2 cans pinto beans (drained)
•1 can pork & beans

Directions:
1. In a large pot, brown ground beef with onions and garlic.
2. Add tomato sauce, beef stock, V8 juice, & Worcestershire sauce. Stir.
3. Add dry ingredients and stir.*
4. Add cans of beans and stir.
5. Bring to a boil, stirring ocassionally.
6. Reduce heat to low, and cover.
7. Allow to simmer for 30 minutes, stirring ocassionally.
8. Remove from heat, allow to cool and enjoy!

Tips:
•This recipe makes a very big pot of Chili, but it freezes very well, so that's a great option if you have a lot of leftovers; that's what I usually do.
•Try different bean combinations; kidney beans or black beans are a great alternative.
•Top with shredded cheese and sour cream if you like.
•My hubby likes to top his with salsa.
•Serve with crackers or corn chips.
•Mix all the dry ingredients together, in a small bowl, ahead of time to makes things a little quicker and easier.*

I hope you enjoy your Chili, and have a great weekend!

Do you have a favorite recipe that you would like to share? Send it to me and I will feature it on my blog. Better yet, consider doing a guest post with me.

My Thoughts to Music

After my blog posts The Houses and Towns That Built Me-part 1, The Houses and Towns That Built Me-part 2, and my How We Met guest post, I got to wondering what songs would describe my feelings when I was writing these, and this is what I came up with:

The Houses and Towns That Built Me-part 1 would probably be John Cougar Mellencamp's - Small Town...

The Houses and Towns That Built Me-part 2 would definitely be Miranda Lambert's - The House That Built Me...

The How We Met guest post's song doesn't really go with what I was feeling when I was writing it, but more how I was feeling when I fell in Love with my hubby. It's our song, Rascal Flatts - Bless the Broken Road...

I hope you enjoyed my song selections. They just felt like the final touches to those posts.

Until next time, thank you for stopping by. Stay tuned...

How I Met My Husband

 The story of how I met my husband is a slightly eyebrow-raising one that has a surprise twist, but if you want to read it, you are going to have to head on over to A Girl Named Michael because I'm guest posting there with my scandalous how-we-met story. So, get going, and while you're there, check out some of her blog posts. She's quick witted and funny, and I know you'll love her. 

Favorite-Recipe Friday: Easy-Peasy French Dip Sandwiches

Why Favorite Recipe Friday, you ask? Well, what better time to try a new recipe than on the weekend?

I actually found this recipe idea in the coupons that come in the Sunday paper. It was on the same page as the Campbell's® Soup coupons, and I decided to give it a try. It ended up being a hit, and it's so easy!
  
Easy-Peasy French Dip Sandwiches 
  
Ingredients: 
•1 can (10 1/2 oz) Campbell's® condensed French Onion Soup & one can of water
•1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce 
•1/4 cup beef stock (optional*) 
•3/4 lb thinly sliced deli roast beef 
•4 hoagie rolls 
  
Directions: 
1. Heat soup, 1 can of water, Worcestershire sauce, and beef stock in a 2 qt saucepan over med-high heat to a boil. Add meat and heat through, stirring occasionally. 
2. Toast rolls. (I do this on a griddle)
3. Divide meat among rolls. 
4. Pour the soup mixture into small bowls for au jus for dipping. 
5. Enjoy! 
  
*I love using beef stock because it gives it a slow-cooked flavor. 
  
Other tips: 
•You can also top the sandwiches with Provolone or Swiss cheese. 
•Grilled onions and green bell peppers are always good. 
•Banana peppers are also another great addition. 
•Or just use your imagination and top with whatever you like. 
  
Do you have a favorite recipe that you would like to share? Well, send it to me and I'll share it for you. Better yet, consider doing a guest post on my blog. 
  
Have a great weekend!  

The Houses and Towns That Built Me-part 2

 I grew up in a small town, but I spent most of my weekends in the country.  Both of my parents grew up on farm/ranch operations northwest of Brigham City, so I have some very strong country ties.  I spent a good part, if not all, of my weekends at one grandparents' place or the other.  I spent the majority, however, at my Grandma & Grandpa Berchtold's (my Dad's parents), and I think that this is the place that "built" me and influenced who I am the most.



Looking back towards Brigham
from our land



I love the peacefulness and quiet of the country; the sights and smells (you get used to the smell of dairy farms, lol) of Russian Olive trees and sagebrush, and fresh-cut hay; the sounds of crickets, birds, and the gentle breeze in the leaves of the trees; the wide open spaces that take you back to a simpler time.  There's just something about the different seasons in the country too; my grandpa's rose and peony bushes, and the smell of wet sagebrush in the spring; sitting under the giant Poplar and Box Elder trees while sipping a cold drink in the summer; the change of color in the leaves, and playing in the huge corn fields in the fall; and then those vast spaces with the mountains in the distance, all covered in snow in the winter.  This may sound cliche, but there's really nothing like a good old fashioned Thanksgiving and Christmas on the farm.

I had my first taste of coffee at my Grandma B's house, and to this day, I can't find coffee that tastes quite as good as hers; maybe it was the water out there, or maybe it was just her special touch...

I always took that I had such a great place to escape to for granted; I thought that everybody's grandparents lived on a farm when I was growing up. When I was older, however, I realized just how lucky I was... We still own the majority of the land, but the house and some of the surrounding acres have been sold.  I envy just a bit those people who live there now, and I hope they appreciate how lucky they are.  That house that they live in has such a history, and so many amazing and wonderful memories.



Looking at Sulphur Creek and
Little Mountain from
our land



I still go out to the pastureland quite often.  It's a great place to unwind and relax; all my troubles and worries seem so much smaller when I'm there.  It's still so peaceful, the sights, sounds, and smells are all still the same.  Everything seems untouched by the passing of time, and still takes me back to a simpler one... There is another cliche that rings very true with me, "You can take the girl out of the country, but you can't take the country out of the girl."

Until next time, thank you so much for stopping by. Stay tuned... 

The Houses and Towns That Built Me-part 1



Historic Main Street



 I was born and raised in a small town in Northern Utah called Brigham City. Like the majority of cities in Utah, Brigham is a predominantly Mormon community.  Like most towns, it has grown a lot through the years.  There used to be a lot of fields, and cherry and peach orchards (for those not familiar with northern Utah, besides great snow, we are known for our fabulous peaches) where there are now big houses, apartment complexes, and strip malls.  When I was little, there were quite a few family restaurants and only one or two fast-food places.  Now there are only one or two family restaurants and southern Main Street is "fast-food row." We usually had to drive south to Ogden if there was something special we wanted to shop for or if we wanted to go to a mall; it is still that way to some extent.  Living in a small town has its inconveniences, but it definitely has its up side too. The pros and cons are all a matter of perspective, I guess; one man's pro is another's con and visa versa, but I, for the most part, feel very blessed to have grown up in a small town. The cons of a small Mormon community are that some of the people can be a bit behind the times and narrow minded, live in a bit of a bubble, and in a small town, people tend to snoop and be in everybody's business. The pros are the emphasis on and importance of family, the strong sense of community, and neighbors look out for and care for one another. There is also something appealing about the quiet of a small town.  Another thing I love about Brigham is that it really is a beautiful town in a fantastic location.  We have rural communities just to the north and south, vast farmland and wetlands to the west, and absolutely gorgeous and awe-inspiring mountains to the east.  Not to mention the fact that we have an abundance of trees, which (for me) just adds to the appeal. The portion of main street in the center of town is historic with all its old buildings, very quaint and picturesque.  I used to think I wanted to live in a big city, but now I appreciate my small town.  It, after all, helped "build" me into the person I am today.  I also have some strong country ties, but I will talk about those in part 2 of this blog post...stay tuned!... 



A great view of The Chamber of Commerce, The Old
Courthose, and our beautiful mountains!



The Old Courthouse





What's In A Name?

What's in a name?  Do you assume things about people because of their name?  A lot can be, and has been, assumed about me because of my name...Trinity.  My name is Latin and, roughly translated, it means the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.  Many people assume I got my name because of my parents' religious affiliation.  I've had many people say, "Your parents must be really religious to have named you Trinity." That would be an easy thing to assume and a simple explanation, and even quite sweet, but maybe a bit boring compared to how I really got my name.  I am actually not Catholic (I have been asked that a lot), but I'll save my religious affiliation for another blog post because it's complicated and could end up being a long post (I'm from Utah, and I drink coffee and wine...you do the math).  My name actually was an idea my parents got from a friend who got the idea from some old Clint Eastwood style, Italian spaghetti westerns (my dad is a huge fan of spaghetti westerns and old westerns), My Name is Trinity (1970) and Trinity is STILL My Name (1971).  That, of course, is where I got the idea for the name of my blog as well.  That's right, the name Trinity also belonged to a man who was a goofy and crazy cowboy. I'm kind of quirky, goofy, and maybe a little crazy, so it's actually quite fitting! (hahaha *wink*)

So, the majority of people have assumed that my name had to do with religion...But, there is the younger generation of The Matrix fans who have said things like, "OMG! Your name is Trinity?! How cool! Like that badass girl in The Matrix!" And there have been rare cases where people were amused by my name.  Well, you see, when I was in high school I waited tables at a local restaurant called the Red Baron, and we had a night manager, Cole, who was always joking around. He made a name tag for himself that said "His Majesty." He seated some people in my area and they had a good laugh at his name tag.  Well, when I came up to the table, one lady started laughing and said, "That one is even better! Hahaha, Trinity!" She was embarrassed and apologetic when I told her that it was in fact my name.  I wasn't offended; it WAS funny...and they left a great tip!  But there have been a select few who have actually asked, "Hey, have you seen those western movies?! They are so funny!" ...I've never actually watched them; I guess I really should do that one of these days...my dad would be so proud...  

On a side note, my middle name is also interesting.  My middle name is Cass.  Can you guess my middle namesake?  If you guessed Cass Elliot (Mama Cass) from the Mamas & the Papas, you'd be right! My parents loved them.  That name is also somewhat fitting; I grew up singing in a choir and could sing pretty well.  I can still sing pretty well...ish...

Well, until next time, thank you for stopping by. Stay tuned... 

Allow Me to Introduce Myself

 Hello there! I hope you are having a wonderful New Year!  My name is Trinity Burbank.  My friends and family call me Trin.  I'm a small-town girl with country ties.  I'm a coffee addict by day and a wine lover by night.  I love beauty products and fashion, i.e. shoes, purses/bags and other must-have accessories, and I can shop 'til I drop with the best of them (when I have the money that is), but there is a little tomboy in the mix; I like to go camping, fishing, hiking, and I kind of like the mud (okay, maybe I like it a lot).  I also have a major appreciation for old muscle cars (there is a friendly and ongoing Mustang vs. Camaro debate in our household).  I'm a bookworm, app queen, gadget junkie, scrapbooking enthusiast, artist, and new blogger who loves music, is a sucker for a great quote, and loves to cook.  Last but certainly not least, I'm a wife and mom, and a work-at-home medical transcriptionist.  I'm a relatively normal person with just enough quirkiness to keep things interesting (*wink, wink*). 

I've been meaning to start this blog for quite awhile, but life and, to be honest, insecurity have been getting in my way.  I love to write and always have (I was told that I was pretty good at it by a few teachers as well), and I express myself best through writing, so this just seems like an obvious way to connect with people and really truly be myself.  It will be a bit of therapy for me too, my open journal to the world, if you will.  I've decided to quit worrying, to stop over thinking it, to throw caution to the wind, and just be myself and speak from my heart.  This isn't going to be a theme blog (not yet, anyway); I'll write and ramble about a wide variety of topics.  I plan to share recipes with you, favorite quotes, fabulous things I find, the everyday happenings in my life, and whatever else pops into my head; there are many things rattling around in there!  I'll keep it as positive as possible because I don't like reading negative blogs and I don't want to write one either.  Having said that, this blog is about my life, and my life isn't always wine and roses and I might want to blog about a bad day or something serious that is on my mind, so I'll keep it positive...but real.  I will spend the next few blog posts writing about the towns I grew up in, how I got my name, how my blog got its name, etc., so you can get a better idea of who I am and what I'm all about. And I will be guest posting about how I met my husband over at A Girl Named Michael (you won't want to miss that one; it's a rather interesting and eyebrow-raising story).

So, welcome to my world; it should be a fun ride! I am so glad you stopped by and took an interest in me.  Whether you're family, a long-time friend, somebody I've known a short while, or just someone I've barely met, I'm excited to tell you about my journey so far and I'm excited that you'll be a part of my journey to come... Stay tuned!...