Simple Spinach Salad & Mandarin Orange Chicken

Recently I've been cheating when I cook, I've been picking things up from TJ's (my favorite grocery store) throwing them together. Sometimes it is more cost effective with just the two of us and not to mention really easy. I bought the Mandarin Orange Chicken and cooked it to the oven specifications on the package, serve over rice. Now I don't know why but I suck at cooking rice. It's one of the first things I was taught in culinary school yet I can't make it to save my life.
I love Spinach so of course I love Spinach Salad. I think it's because I really dislike soggy salad and Spinach seems to hold up against dressing very well. 

For the salad:
Baby Spinach
Mini Heirloom Tomatoes
Persian cucumbers, sliced
Balsamic Vinaigrette
Sprinkle of sea salt and fresh ground pepper

Mix together, serve with Mandarin Orange Chicken...BOOM dinner.

Now I know that's not really a recipe but sometimes It's good to see what other people make to get ideas. Joe was one happy guy with this meal.

Cheese Review: Hirtenkase

Name: Hirtenkase

Origin: Germany

Type: Cow's Milk, Very Firm

Why I picked it: TJ's was sampling this cheese with a green olive and a piece of Columbus peppered salami.

Thoughts: I enjoyed this cheese, while chewing on the Hirtenkase it had a very creamy texture. Joe "liked" it but wouldn't say it was his favorite (cheese snob, he use to be a cheese guy at some Michelin rated restaurant).

Buy Again?: I'd buy again but not tomorrow.

Purchased From: Trader Joe's

*All opions expressed in this review are my own. I do this for fun and for the love of cheese.

Baby Holden

Scott Andrew (local photographer) and his sweet family could use a Christmas miracle. His baby boy Holden is struggling to stay healthy and needs a little help from a very pricey feeding clinic [not covered by insurance]. If you have any room to give this holiday season, please consider the Andrew family. Scott has made a touching video you can check out on his blog. And please spread the love and the word on this post...strenth in numbers people!

http://scottandrewstudio.com/blog/loving-holden/

Joe and I donated $20 dollars, as did Kristen!

New Chair...lady in red.

Our "living"room that we haven't lived in much has got a new piece of furniture, I call the chair "lady in red". Joe's mom got us this beautiful chair that I we wanted for Christmas. The chair arrived over the weekend and fits perfect in the room. After Christmas our tree will be gone and we'll be moving in a bar we have in our garage. The "living"room has a insert so we've been using the room a lot more, since our home has been very cold. I love the chair, kind of excited to put away christmas now.

Curtain Fabric

After 1 year of being in our home (Happy 1 year of home ownership to us!), I have finally selected a fabric for our nook and kitchen windows, it's a little bold and loud (kinda like me) but I love it! Last night my mom and I went to the fabric store and made 3 of the 5 panels our nook is done. Now on to the kitchen. Hoping to be finished by next Tuesday.

 

Fabric: Waverly "Solar Flair Lime Indigo"

Pepperocinis Beef Sandwich

I modified a recipe I saw on A year of slow cooking, this recipe was beyond simple. I served the sandwich with au jus from a jar.

2 pounds beef chuck roast (thawed)

1 (16-ounce) jar peperoncini peppers

1 small yellow onion (chopped)

1 tablespoon of garlic powder

Place beef followed by the other 3 ingredients in crock pot. Cook on high for 5 hours. Drain mixture. Place on a toasted roll with pepper jack. Serve with au jus.

(after being drained, back in the crock pot)

Wreath making

I have been wanting to make a wreath for our front door since we bought our home, which is almost a year ago on the 13th (we moved in on the 10th but technically we closed on the 13th). Andrea and I got all the stuff we needed over the weekend to make one for her home and mine. We bought wood letters and spray painted them, armed with our glue guns here is the finished product. If you are interested in purchasing a wreath please contact me.

*Our initial is a little hard to see, I am painting our door a lighter color in January.