Jesus Calling by Sarah Young December 14th 2016

December 14, 2016

I work at a doctors office and like every other doctor’s office, we schedule appointments.  In the morning around 11:30, I pull patient charts for the afternoon and organize them by appointment time.  In the afternoon around 4:30, I pull more patient charts for the next morning and organize them by appointment time.  Throughout the day, our office manager will answer the phone and without a doubt every time she picks up the phone I will hear "yeah, come on this way, we will work you in”.  I HAD a perfect plan for how I was going to make it through the afternoon with everyone being seen on time, which room they will be seen in, and how each patient will get their therapy.  Now, I don't. 

This week I needed to return some items, and thought, while I am on that side of town, I would run into a couple stores and get Christmas gifts while they were on sale.  I planned on leaving straight from the office, hitting the first, second, then third store and bam, I'm home.  I returned the items, no problem.  Store #2 did not have what I needed.  No biggie, I have a back up.  I run to the back up store which didn't have a thing that sparks my interest or on sale.  Store #3 has the item but the sale ended yesterday... Not to mention, my hanger (Hunger + anger) is looming.

Most mornings, as I am heading out the door, I take a quick photo of the daily devotional on my phone to make sure.  I'm not the kind of person to rush to work in the mornings just to get there in the knick of time.  My idea of rushing to work is to get there at least 40 minutes early. I enjoy spending this time to myself.  It is in these minutes I open up the office, check messages, make photo copies, file charts away, and read the devotional. I'm not sure why, but I feel like reading the devotional at work allows me to pray in a place that can bring so much frustration, anxiety, and chaos.  Sometimes throughout the day, I will remember standing in a certain place only hours before reading the devotional, and can at least spend another couple seconds praying. The world seems to calm if for just a bit.

What would happen if I didn't worry about getting the charts organized for the day?  What would happen if I didn't rush to work to get so many things done without people around?  What would happen if I took a second to look around me and see all the festive Christmas decoration in all the stores this time of year, and allow myself to be inspired?  What would happen if I allowed myself to not dictate each second of my day and let things happen while I simply tried to help people?

It is amazing to think what God can do in your life and how much meaning He can bring into your day-to-day life.  It is easy for me (and I assume everyone) that little unexpected and unpleasant things can grow into a big problem. But maybe if I would have let Him guide me through the day, I would have found something other than frustration, irritation, and hanger.  Maybe I would have had the patience to truly connect with each patient.  Though I try to remind myself throughout the day to walk with Him and depend on Him continually, it is very easy to get carried away and not think of all the things He has given me. 

I have seen Him work in my life time and time again in big ways that led me to where I am now.  Why won't I let him work in small ways too?

A Dinner or Two: Butternut Squash

I haven't always been a person who likes squash of any kind.  I used to only eat it with a cornmeal coating fried in oil then sprinkled with salt and dipped in ranch dressing.  Yum.  But as I've gotten older and more interested in different flavors for the different seasons, I have started to enjoy a heartier squash recipe now and again.

This weekend I couldn't decide which way to highlight butternut squash as the main ingredient so I just made two!  Leftovers are my jam.

Both hearty meals are made even better with a glass of wine and sitting by a Christmas tree!

The first recipe has a background story.....

Every other weekend I go to Memphis to visit my boyfriend and it has become a tradition (or maybe expectation, wink wink) that I concoct something that we can feast on throughout the weekend.  This weekend cold temperatures were on the horizon and a little birdie mentioned this recipe last weekend and the seed was planted.  Throughout the week I gathered the ingredients I had on hand, made list of what I needed, and headed up to Memphis.

Preparing the Butternut Squash is simple.  All you will need is:
- sharp knife
- vegetable peeler
- cutting board
- large skillet
- olive oil
- seasoning

Cut the top and bottom off of the squash so you have a flat stable surface to work with.  Peel the skin off the squash and dice making sure to remove the seeds.  Add the diced squash to a skillet coated in olive oil and add any seasoning you want.  I used salt, pepper, and sage because I knew I was going to add it to two separate recipes and sage goes great with butternut squash. Cook until softened and browned a little on the outside.

I used a 1/4 cup measuring cup to scoop the seeds and insides right out.

*At this point I divided the cooked squash into two to add to each recipe

Recipe #1: Hotty Toddy Beer Chili from The B.T.C. Old-Fashioned Grocery Cookbook

The ironic thing is that I don't think a single bowl of chili was had this weekend.  We used the chili to make a dip and chili cheese dogs.

The dip is very easy and consisted of cream cheese smeared in the bottom of a baking dish.  Topped with chili then cheddar cheese and baked in a 350 degree oven until the cheese in melted and bubbly. Let the dip cool slightly before digging in with some good old Fritos or your chip of choice.  Thank you Carol!!

The chili dogs are very self-explanatory.  Hot dog bun, hot dog, chili, cheese, and any other topping you want! (8 chili dogs were consumed between the 2 of us this weekend....oops)

Obviously, there were leftover as the recipe above serves 8.  We split the leftover chili between the two of us and back to Oxford I came with a stock pot of chili in my back seat.

All I did was add the butternut squash to the chili to make it go father, add nutrients, add another texture, color, and flavor.

Recipe #2: Creamy Butternut Squash Alfredo

This recipe was what I followed with two exceptions.  I didn't have bacon or milk so I just left out the bacon and substituted milk for white wine.

Now, I have dinner for the week with just one butternut squash and ingredients that I had on hand.  Nothing in these recipes is difficult or hard to find and all recipes are easily adaptable.  Just use what you have, don't get out in the cold.  Cozy up with some chili or alfredo, sip on some wine, and enjoy!

Walking in Memphis: LBOE

Last night, my man and I went walking around in Memphis with one specific place in mind: LBOE (pronounced elbow).  Through my never ending Instagram searches I found LBOE's page and found endless variations of burgers. Burgers with Mac N' Cheese.  Burgers with guac.  Burgers with donuts.  Burgers with pepperoni.  Burgers with all the spice.

Despite a fire a few months back, they have reopened to serve Memphis with some pretty diverse burger options.

Our night started with a beer and loaded french fries with cheese, bacon, jalapeños and a BBQ ranch dipping sauce

Before:

After:

Followed by our burgers......

Mac-N-Cheeseburger

LBOE Burger

Great place to watch the game! Go Grizz!

LBOE has the potential to be great and maybe it was before the fire.  Their Instagram gave me very high expectations.  The loaded fries were great.  The BBQ ranch dipping sauce was good.  The burgers, so-so.  It seemed as though the patties were pre-made and not made to order as they claim.  The meat was flavorless and dry and the ciabatta bun over-powered the burger as a whole.  For the price, it was not what I was expecting.  The burgers are huge but the flavor is not.  We were ready to enjoy a night of beer, basketball, and burgers and were a little let down.  

With all that said and although our experience was not the best, I would go back and try it another time.  I would try another burger on another night in hopes of finding the big, juicy originally crafted burger I was hoping for.  

********

We capped off our night by walking down the street a couple of blocks to Lafayette's Music Room.  This place seems to always be a hot spot.  Its not a place for a fancy mimosa or martinis (although they can oblige).  Lafayette's wide range of bourbon and local beers will satisfy even the snobbiest of drinkers.  Though we have not been able to actually get a table to sit down, we have been able to sit at the bar, sip our drinks, soak in the atmosphere, and enjoy the music with our excellent view of the stage.  Each time there have been great performers and musicians.  One day, I will report back on the food and fair but for now the beer, wine, and spirits get a two thumbs up.

Apartment Christmas Decor

When storage is low but the desire to decorate for each season is high you have to make as much impact as you can with what you have.

My landlords are quite particular about what I have in my apartment.  More so than any other landlords I have had in the past.  It is interesting and actually it is a very delicate balance between keeping them happy and my love for Pinterest and all things Christmas.

My father and brother are my landlords and have recently purchased the condo I live in which is why my situation is so unique.  Over the last few months they have been decorating the apartment piece by piece.  I should also mention that they live in Virginia while I am here in Mississippi.  It has been tricky decorating from afar but with modern technology we make it work.  Throughout my first few weeks I noticed I was a few items shy when taking inventory and decorating the new place.  (Hmm...I wonder what, or who, could have happened to my things).  I was also given strict orders to throw unnecessary items out.  After 12 bags donated to Salvation Army I was still being told to get rid of things and go through my clothes.  Sigh.  This is what I'm up against.

I have been allowed a big green storage container of Christmas decorations that stays in the guest room closet.  In it contain a few items that I have purchased over the years.  My first piece of advice, shop Christmas home decor on Black Friday or the after Christmas.  Find things that are classic and of course, on sale!

Here is what I have done with my apartment...

Its a fake tree but it has held up for 5+ years and my tree skirt is just a blanket I had lying around.  It reminds me of a Charlie Brown Christmas!

Adding pops of red and green!

Luckily, Ole Miss's colors are red and blue which go perfectly with any seasonal decor, but especially Christmas.

I've added a variety of ornaments to my Christmas tree including two sizes of lights.

Some of these things I have gotten at local home decor boutiques and some have come from Pinterest (the car and tree pillow case).  But, over the years I have collected and I think for my little pace it all comes together quite nicely! 

Chocolate Pumpkin Bundt Cakes

I haven't been able to bake much this fall/winter and each time I open up Pinterest or Instagram there are posts from various bloggers that seem so seasonal.  Pumpkin-y, cinnamon-y, nutmeg-y, allspice-y, and chocolate-y goodness fills my new feeds and I'm jealous of what their kitchens must smells like and of the sweet treats they get to devour.

My boyfriend's mom had a Nordic Ware mini bundt pan that she was trying to give away. So, I gladly took it off her hands to have some baking fun with!  She had the bundt pan for many years and never used it. And with her birthday coming up, I stumbled upon the perfect opportunity to combine all of my favorite fall/winter flavors into a treat for her and everyone to enjoy!

I found this recipe on Pinterest and knew immediately that it was going to fit the bill of being the sweet treat I was craving.  

Chocolate Pumpkin Bundt Cake

Recipe is linked above for instructions but what you will need is:in

Bundt Cake Base Batter

1 1/2 cup butter

2 cups sugar

6 eggs

2 tsp vanilla

Pumpkin Batter

1 1/4 cups canned pumpkin

1 3/4 cups flour

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp nutmeg

Chocolate Batter

1 cup flour

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

3/4 cocoa powder

Then I decided that I need a bit more chocolate in this recipe so I made a Chocolate Ganache.

 This ganache recipe I found explains everything so well and all the different uses for ganache at all its different stages of cooling and becoming an icing.

I ended up with this

The chocolate ganache was so good it could be eaten with a spoon straight out of the bowl. The bundt cakes were great too, good flavor, bit somewhat dry.  I would suggest adding a little extra pumpkin puree to the pumpkin batter (maybe 1/4 cup or so) and leaving out a little but of flour when mixing the chocolate batter (maybe a 1/4 cup or so).

Overall, it is a great recipe and I would love to try it again soon!   Please let me know if you have any suggestions or if you try this recipe out!

French Fry Pizza

French Fries + Pizza

Yep.

As usual, I was at work perusing Instagram, and as usual, I found this gem of a recipe.  If there was any time to use the jazz hands emoji, this would be the time to use it!  This recipe was inspired by one of my favorite food bloggers Half Baked Harvest's French Fry Pizza. 

Both versions of this recipe can be adapted to any way you and yours like your pizza.  

As for me and my man, we go for the basics.  We ain't all that fancy.  Pepperoni please!

What you will need:

3 russet potatoes

2 tbsp olive oil
Salt
Pepper
1 tsp oregano (divided)
Garlic Powder (to taste)

2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

1/2 cup shredded parmesan cheese

~ 1 1/2 cups pizza sauce (store bought or homemade)

pizza toppings of your choice

Step 1: Preheat oven to 450 degrees.

Step 2: Rinse the potatoes and dry.  Cut the russet potatoes in the shape of french fries and add them to an ice bath.  Let the potatoes sit in the ice bath for 10-15 minutes.  This pulls out some of the starch in the potatoes allowing them to get extra crispy while baking.

Step 3:  Take potatoes out of the water bath and dry well with a kitchen towel or paper towel.  

Step 4: Place potatoes on a baking sheet and drizzle with olive oil.  Sprinkle with oregano, salt, and pepper.  Bake until crispy (approx. 30 min) turning half way through.

Step 5: Remove potatoes from oven and reduce the temperature of the oven to 350 degrees.

Step 6: In a baking dish, place a layer of french fries at the bottom of the pan roughly in the shape of a circle/pizza.  Add a layer of mozzarella and parmesan cheese, pizza toppings and then pizza sauce.  Repeat with another layer of french fries then cheeses, pizza toppings, and then pizza sauce.  Add the final layer of french fries then add pizza sauce followed by the cheeses then pizza toppings (mimicking how a normal pizza is assembled).

Step 7: Bake until the cheese is golden and bubbly (approx. 15 min)

We added a side dish of left over pizza sauce to dunk our fries in! Yum Yum!

Any questions about the recipe?!  Comment below!

Hello!

Hey there!

I am Amanda and have been fiddling with the idea of starting a blog for years now, and here it is.  Admittedly, this is not my first experience with a blog.  My six best friends and I started a blog about 10 years ago on the basis of the book/movie of Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants and converted the idea into our own Sisterhood of the Traveling Apron. As we passed the apron among us, we would post recipes that we deemed scrumptious enough to share.  Through the years we have taken different routes through life.  Some have gotten married, had children, gotten law degrees and doctorates, and moved to various parts of the country (or out of the country).  In short, we have traveled many miles from the place we all call home all while cooking, baking, shopping, and traveling our way through life and have let the blog go.  These girls, the love, and the moments we have shared together are what brought me to this blog.  

As you may understand, I found myself second guessing this whole decision.  Nerves can and will get the best of you.  But today, all it took was reading one of my favorite devotionals from Jesus Calling by Sarah Young and seeing this:

"Come away with me for a while.  The world with its nonstop demands, can be put on hold"

Today is December 6, 2016.

So here I go, starting my own.

For this little space of the internet there is no real guide.  This is a space for you and me to go on an adventure together to share thoughts, recipes, travels, trends, and experiences.  A place for us all to go on a journey together having time spent away from the nonstop demands of the world.  

So, this being the first of many...

Welcome to Read It, Make It, See It, Wear It!