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.