The Most Wonderful Place in the World.

One of my hobbies that I don't get to really indulge in is taking random photos. So this week while on vacation I took an opportunity to strike out on my own for an hour or so and go on a hike.

While on the Cape Lookout Trail, I discovered some beautiful trees and cliffs. But when I went off of the main trail I found something even better. So here is a photographic guide to my hour of solitude.

I know it isn't really visible in the photo, but the white area you're seeing at the bottom of the photo isn't the sky, it's the beach.

An odd angle

Perfect for a tree swing

just another angle of the swing tree

The tiny trail I decided to follow

The top of my tiny trail

You can see clear to Sand Lake from up there

Looking West

Looking down. I was about 500 feet up

And the hated self photo as a reminder that I really had some time to myself =)

This next round of photos are just some that I took last week when I went on a day trip to see my friend Christina and her daughter Hannah while they were camping at Cape Lookout.

Hannah and Garrett Jaxson

We heart the ocean

Christina and I

Hannah and I

Sunset

Christina and Garrett

Christina and I. We didn't know the zoom was on

Garrett Jaxson and Hannah

Christina and Garrett

Disgustingly Rich Brownies

I have been slacking in terms of blogging, but seeing as how Bethany is the only regular reader, and I talk to her all of the fricken time any way, I don't feel too bad. =)

This is a recipe that I've been using since I was about 8. My neighbor down the street used to come over and we would make the batter and then sit on the back steps and just eat the raw batter.

When I was a kid, my mom got my older sister and I a kids cook book. Kids Cooking. A Very Slightly Messy Manual It has EVERYTHING in it. From Buried Treasure Muffins, to spaghetti, brownies, and even homemade play-doh and giant bubbles. It even has a recipe for doggy men treats. It is an all around kick ass kids cook book that I recommend to anyone who has a child that shows an interest in making messes in the kitchen (because let's be honest, that's how I started). 


And just a warning. This recipe is stupidly simple, and AMAZINGLY delicious. (Even my Fairy God Mother, who HATES chocolate, loves these brownies.)


I am embarrassed to admit that my "nephew" Mason, didn't know that you could make brownies and cookies "from scratch" I'm pretty sure he thought that all of that kind of stuff just came from the store. I had to make brownies!

What you'll need:

2 cups sugar
1/14 cup flour
4 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla (I always use more)
2 cubes butter (melted)
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup walnuts, optional (I NEVER choose this option. I am adamantly opposed to nuts in my baked goods)
8 or 9 inch square baking pan
Non stick spray shit
1 medium bowl

Start with the cocoa powder and sugar, mix well.

Add the melted butter, stir well

Add the 4 eggs and vanilla, stir well (I'm beginning to notice a pattern here...)

toss in the flour and salt, mix well (but don't over mix, it makes the dough tough. Also, if you're going to add walnuts, now is the time)

Bring out your pan and non stick spray shit, and let them become friends.

Pour the batter evenly into coated pan and bake at 350 degrees for about 40 minutes.

The trick I have learned is to get a clean spatula and cover it in non stick spray shit and then try and smooth out the batter.

Let them cool for about 15 minutes (at least) and then plate them up.

Super simple, absolutely delicious brownies! They will dry out, so it's best to cover them with cling wrap while they are still warm, and don't let them sit out too long. And if you do, you can always pop them into the microwave for 15-20 seconds and they will soften up a bit. =)

Meatloaf, smeatloaf, double-beatloaf. I hate meatloaf.

Tonight's meal is brought to you by the drink: Coffee and the music of : She Wants Revenge, Placebo and The Naked & Famous

Meatloaf is one of those foods that I can get Garrett to eat every time. He LOVES it. He actually asks for meatloaf almost every time I ask him what he wants for dinner. He also LOVES to help me make it. I pour all of the spices in his hands and let him put them in the bowl, and if he wants to I'll let him help me mix everything up in the bowl.

It's one of those meals that is super delicious, super easy and not super bad for you if you buy lean burger. This can also be made with deer or elk burger. Or even just 2 pounds of turkey if you're on a strict diet. You can also add one egg per pound of meat if you'd like, but I forgot tonight, and it was still awesome. Moist, not soggy, but firm. 

The meatloaf was paired with cheesy mashed potatoes and garlic bread

What you need:
















1 pound ground gobble
1 pound burger
3/4 cups oats
1 large onion, chipped
2 LARGE tablespoons minced garlic
1-2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
4 tablespoons chopped basil
2 tablespoons parsley flakes
1 tablespoon chilves
salt and pepper to taste (I use about a tsp of each)


1 1/2 cups Panko crumbs
BBQ sauce

large bowl
small bowl

non stick spray shit
baking sheet
aluminum foil

Dump the meat, spices, oats, onions, garlic, worcestershire sauce (and eggs if you choose to use them) into the large mixing bowl. Stick your hands in and mix it all together until well blended.

pour panko crumbs into the small mixing bowl

I like to form mine into individual mini loafs.  (about the size of two decks of cards stacked on top of one another

Once i have a mini loaf formed I roll them in the panko crumbs and place on the foil lined/non stick spray shit covered baking sheet. I try to make them all about the same size so that they all cook evenly. Out of this batch I got 7 mini loafs.)

Bake in a moderate oven (350) for about 45 minutes.

Remove from oven and pour the bbq sauce over the top and bake another 15-20 minutes until it's turned darker and the edges are bubbling.

Remove from oven and let cool a few minutes and serve!


For the Cheesy mashed potatoes 

5 medium sized potatoes
1/4 cup of milk
1/4 cup of butter
1/3 cup of sour cream
3/4 cup shredded cheese (I used Tillamook Extra Sharp Cheddar tonight)
salt and pepper to taste

Peel and dice the potatoes into about 1 inch cubes.
*Really weird step that you can skip, but I refuse to*
I dump all of my potatoes into the pot I plan on cooking them in and cover the potatoes with water then dump it out. I do this 4-6 times until the water in the pan is totally clear. this step removes excess starch and helps with the potatoes being just a little bit more creamy.

Fill the pan (with the potaotes in it) with enough water to cover the potatoes by about an inch and a half

boil until tender

Dump the potatoes into a large maxing bowl (I use out giant kitchen aid)

pour in everything but about 1/2 of the shredded cheese, mix well.

pour into an oven safe dish (don't forget that non stick spray shit IS your friend) top with remaining cheese

bake for 15-20 minutes at 350 and the broil (on high) for about 3 minutes until the cheese is awesomely golden brown and bubbly.

Unloved Chips

Bethany made a comment that I should start putting my recipes on my blog.

So I am taking a page from her book and adding photos along with my recipes.

Today was nacho day. Chicken nacho's to be exact. (They would have been turkey nachos, but my dad didn't take his glasses to the store and grabbed ground chicken instead of ground turkey, so today, we had chicken nachos) (also see previous post about why I don't like people buying things for me...)


I have a few quarks when cooking. First off, food always tastes better when the cook is having fun making it, so I usually turn on music and kick everyone out of the kitchen.

Secondly, drinking helps just as much, if not more so than the music. Tonight was Vodka Strawberry Lemonade. =)

Thirdly, a chip without cheese is a lonely chip, so do not skimp on the cheese. And if you do come across a chip with no cheese, make sure to eat it first so it knows that it is still loved. Always think of the chips feelings.


What you need:

A bag -o- chips (this brand is THE BEST I've ever had)

Shredded cheese -roughly 3 cups of each-  (I use Tillamook Sharp Cheddar and Tillamook Monterey Jack)

Diced Onions -about a half of a cup

Taco Seasoning - I use just about 1/4 of a cup (and yes, we do buy this stuff in bulk)

Ground Meat - 1 pound- (Today I used chicken, but turkey, beef and even deer and elk are awesome too)

Please don't forget to cook the meat.

Baking sheet, Aluminum foil and non stick spray shit (Spray the foil lined sheet with the non stick spray shit)

Layer 1) 1/2 if the bag o- Chips
Layer 2) 1/3 of the Cheddar Cheese
Layer 3) 1/3 of the Jack Cheese
Layer 4) 1/2 of the Onions
Layer 5) 1/2 of the Ground meat
Layer 6) The rest of the bag -o-chips. (to be honest, I don't use the crumbles, just the big ones I can grab)
Layer 7) 1/3 of the Cheddar cheese
Layer 8) 1/3 of the Jack cheese
Layer 9) the rest of the onions
Layer 10) the rest of the meat
Layers 11 and 12) the rest of the cheese (both kinds)

Bake a 350 until the cheese is melted and delicious looking (about 20-25 minutes)

then broil on high for about 5 minutes to get the chips extra crispy (watch them, they WILL burn if you aren't paying attention)


I serve mine with sour cream, guac, jalapenos and pico de gallo


You can either blame it on the booze (even tho I only had a very small one) or the fact that we all love to eat and couldn't wait, I forgot to take a photo of the finished product. But really, they are nachos, so come one. If one of my friend's doesn't know what nachos look like, I have NO idea why they are even my friend.