Craving...

I just got to thinking that I haven't had any good Chinese food in ages. I love Chinese food and I especially love eating Chinese takeout with my girls. It is just fattening and heavy and goes good with chick flicks and staying up late. I have to recommend my favorite takeout, Pei Wei. They only have Pei Wei in really populated places so I only get to enjoy their greatness when I go to Denton to visit Piper or some place like that. Piper always makes fun of me because I always order a lot of food. I don't eat all of it but I always take it back home with me for left overs. I mean, I have to because I rarely get to eat there. Anyways I just wanted to share that tid bit because I am really craving some good Chinese food, so if any of you have a Pei Wei near indulge and eat some for me. LOL

Fabulous Friday

End of Summer

I just can't seem to steer clear of great recipes but I really need to try since it only makes me miss home that much more. Anyways, as summer comes to a close and it starts to cool off a bit you can try some of these grilled vegetables recipes. They are a perfect pair with a steak or other hearty dishes to kick off fall. They also give me a few new ideas that I could use to spice up other meals later on. My mom, Lara, and I were talking, while I was home, how you run out of things to cook. I know that sometimes everyone gets in a rut where you have the same menu so hopefully this will help you change it up a bit. I have to get to work and homework now so enjoy and eat a serving for me.

Slumber Party

While I was home, my girlfriends came over to my mom's and we had a slumber party. It was an adult slumber party with myself, Heather, Piper, Rachael, Lara and my mom but we did some of our little girl things. I cooked chicken scampi, which if I don't say so myself turned out better than Olive Garden's. I got the recipe a while back but had never made it and decided there was no better time than then. I cooked and we all drank wine and talked about anything and everything.

This picture is one that was taken as we were trying to uncork a bottle of wine. All my mom had was one of the cork screw things and it was so hard to pull out. Heather had to hold the bottle as I struggled with the cork. We finally were able to get it out.

After dinner we had to make the Piper & Megan chocolate cake. This is a cake that Piper and I have been making since like the 3rd grade. We got the recipe off the back of the Hershey's coca and have made it for the past 13 years. I am sure this will be a lasting tradition with Piper until we die. Piper isn't a very good cook so we made a deal with her.... she had to mix and make the entire cake by herself but WE had to read her the instructions as she went along. Heather read and I supervised Piper's progress.

She surprised me on her increasing kitchen knowledge and of course the cake turned out perfect and delicious. After eating our cake we moved on to pedicures and watching "our" movie...The Sweetest Thing. Heather headed home to Matt and Athen around one a.m. and the rest of us went to bed. Piper, Rachael, and I slept in my brother's bed and I bet we didn't fall asleep until 3:30. We were talking, reminiscing and giggling forever. It was so much fun to get together with my girlfriends and I know that we are so close that things like this won't be a rare thing even after we are all settled in our adult lives.

Fall

I changed my blog background today to something a bit more fall-ish and it got me thinking about seasons. My favorite season used to be summer and I hated winter but now as I grow older so does my appreciation for other seasons. I still hate winter for the most part. I mean it is a nice change from the hot but if it stays cold too long I don't like it. Texas winters are perfect not too long not too short just right. You can build a fire, cuddle with your hubby, and make those hearty recipes. Now, my favorite would have to be a tie between summer and fall. If I absolutely had to pick one it would be summer. Summer is just great; it is hot, you get to have all sorts of outdoor fun that includes water and it is a relaxing, happy time. Fall is well appreciated because you finally start to get a break from the blistering heat that Iraq and Texas bring. The trees start to lose their leaves and it becomes cool enough to cuddle with your honey with a light blanket. Fall is also the perfect camping weather. Last is spring and it is OK. The only really great thing about spring is that it means winter is over and summer is well on its way. I guess this post really has no real purpose just my thoughts. Have a good Wednesday.

Missing my Kitchen

Ok, finding all these food blogs was great because when I get back home Tee and I will benefit greatly from them.....but until then they are just torture and yahoo has joined in the tortorous ranks. I found these recipes this morning while checking the news and hot topics. I would love to try all of them except the mushroom burger but that is only because I'm not a big mushroom fan but it still sounds great. Hopefully some of you can spice up your regular menu with some of these recipes.