Jalapeno Apricot Salmon

June 10, 2014: Well, folks, it's Birthday Week for the Strickland family, and today is MY birthday! Since 28 is just getting started, I don't have a lot to report yet. I can tell you that thus far, 28 has consisted of a big "Happy Birthday!" from the fabulous fiance when I woke up, a good workout while watching I Love Lucy, a round of "Happy Birthday to Kate & Alma (a co-worker)" sung by my new co-workers, and numerous calls/texts/Facebook posts. That about sums it up, but you know I'm not going to end the post there. 

Mom, me, and dad at our birthday celebration
June 8, 2013
Cabana #3
Eagle Mountain Lake

Instead, I thought I'd reflect back on what an amazing year 27 has been for me. Let's start in Summer of 2013. Strickland Birthday Week 2013 was spent at the lake, celebrating my 27th, my mom's 65th, and my dad's 70th. The next weekend we celebrated as my college roommate, Hayley, married her husband, Ben, in Fredericksburg, Texas. The rest of the summer included 4th of July at the lake, a Hilbers family reunion, my other college roommate, Erin, and her husband Alex's 1st anniversary party, a baby shower for my bestie, and the 3rd anniversary of Andy and my first date.

Me, Jennifer, Shannon, and Erin
The Bryant's 1st Wedding Anniversary Party
July 13, 2013
Fort Worth, Texas

Fall of Year 27 was the season of football. Of course there was TCU Frog football, But I also became a Saints fan.  There was also the football themed baby shower for my dear friend, Chelsea, and the TCU v. UT football game (see ENGAGED below!) Kolt David made his appearance in San Antonio, Texas. We zip-lined and hiked our way through Costa Rica. And on October 26th, there was a little bit of excitement as we got ENGAGED (eee!! 158 days!!) before the TCU v. UT game. We cheers'ed to Andy's 29th birthday at Shaw's Burgers, and spent many Saturdays at The Omni Hotel wedding planning. We were a Cowboys Cheerleader & Walter White for Halloween, and I played my first season of kickball after watching from the sidelines for 3 years. Fall of Year 27 was, and always be, pretty damn tough to beat, but Winter of Year 27 sure gave Fall a run for it's money.

Andy and I got engaged!
Cabana #3 & The Hickman's House
October 26, 2013

There were snow days, ice days, and ice days that turned into perfectly sunny days. We were stuck in our house for 5 days straight (for better or for worse, right?) There were four Christmases spent with the Jennings, the Rivers, the Stricklands, and the Poirots. We danced the night away at one of the girls I used to nanny for's deb party. Andy and I hosted our first (hopefully annual) New Year's Eve party and rang in the new year with some of our favorite friends. We sang along with Ryan Bingham at Billy Bob's, and we went to the rodeo three times. Chelsea gave birth to her & Chris' beautiful baby, Campbell Grace, who I could snuggle with for hours.

Andy and me at our First Annual New Year's Eve Party
December 31, 2013
Fort Worth, Texas

Then came Spring of Year 27, and with spring came weddings and more babies. First, I went back down to Fredericksburg for my Kindergarten friend, Frances', bachelorette. We watched so many friends marry the loves of their lives- The Comptons, The Dubans, and The Sims. We celebrated as Charleigh Marie turned 3... and speaking of kids growing up? This year Greyson turned 4, Sloane turned 1, and Kameron turned 8. They sort of have their own Birthday Week: April 30, May 1, and May 5. Spring of Year 27 also brought with it a job change for me, and a new truck for Andy.

Sloane Sawyer turned 1 year old on April 30, 2014
Princess Sloane's 1st Birthday Party
May 28. 2014
Wichita Falls, Texas

Greyson Senter turned 4 on May 5, 2014
Greyson's Dino Dig Birthday Party
May 18, 2014
Wichita Falls, Texas

So that brings us to Summer of Year 27. Thus far, Summer of 27 has included The Colonial, Paige & Kyle's baby, Kaden's, debut, Memorial Day at Cabana #3, toasting to another happy couple- The Broyles, and watching my beautiful cousin, Tiffany, walk down the aisle to her husband, Scott.

\

Kameron & me
Tiffany & Scott Chilcutt's Wedding
June 6, 2014
Grapevine, Texas

So bring it on, Year 28. You have some tough competition, but I have a crazy feeling you'll be the best year yet. 

Jalapeno Apricot Salmon
Main Dish to Spicy Roasted Butternut Squash- see story there
Servings: 2; Weight Watchers Points Plus Value: 9

• 2 tbsp EVOO
• 2 jalapenos, seeded & sliced into rings
• 1 tbsp minced garlic
• 1/2 c white wine, I used Pinot Grigio so I could drink the rest after :)
• 3 tbsp whole-grain mustard (I used Grey Poupon)
• 1 c apricot preserves (Smuckers makes a light, sugar free one)
• 4 (6oz) salmon fillets
• 2 tsp sea salt
• 1 tsp ground black pepper
• 4 sprigs fresh rosemary
• 1 lemon, zested

Jalapeno Apricot Salmon & Spicy Roasted Butternut Squash

1. Preheat oven to 400
2. Saute oil over medium heat
3. When hot, add jalapenos to caramelize
4. Add garlic then add white wine
5. Add mustard & apricot preserves and bring to a simmer
6. Simmer over low heat for 20 mins, then let cool completely
7. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper (to make it less messy- not required)
8. Place salmon on baking sheet and sprinkle with S&P
9. Liberally apply Jalapeno Apricot mixture atop and top with rosemary sprig
10. Cook on 400 for anywhere from 5-15 mins, depending on taste and preference
11. Serve topped with lemon zest

Keep on cookin'!

-Katherine

Chicken Spaghetti

Andy and me in Maui, HI

When sifting through recipes online a month ago, I asked Andy if he'd ever heard of Chicken Spaghetti.  "Heard of it?" he surprisingly asked.  "Well yeah, we used to have it every week before our soccer games.  The moms would rotate cooking it for our team."  Turns out Chicken Spaghetti is much more popular than I ever knew- geez, I'd never even heard of the stuff until I came across the recipe. 

Mr. & Mrs. Jennings at the Pro Football Hall of Fame

Speaking of Andy's mom, that night we went to meet her, Andy's dad, Andy's sister (Carly) and brother-in-law (Slate), and Andy's precious nephew, Greyson, at Patrizio's for Carly's birthday dinner.  Carly and Slate had been in the Dominican Republic at the beginning of July, and Andy and I had just gotten back from Hawaii.  To add to it, Andy's parents had been on a road trip to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, so we all had vacation stories to share and Carly's birthday to celebrate.  And actually, for lunch that day, we had met Andy's cousin (Clint), Clint's wife (Patty), and their two sons (Guy and Coleman) for lunch at Joe T's.  It was quite the Jennings family day!

Coleman and me at Joe T's for lunch

But back to dinner... Greyson wasn't feeling very well, and we had him watching both Hop and Dora the Explorer on two different iPhones to keep from crying about his sore throat.  He wasn't satisfied with either Hop or Dora, so double screen time it was. 

Slate in the Dominican Republic

Carly professed that she'd forgotten her camera when they went to the Dominican, but was able to show us pictures from her iPhone (when it wasn't being used by Greyson- cue the crying).  I was prepared with our 550 photos on my friend, Whitney's, iPad that she had graciously let me borrow for our Hawaiian adventure.  (Thanks, Whit!)  We probably looked like super iGeeks in the middle of the restaurant, but it was fun to relive all of our trips.

Carly in the Dominican Republic

I did my best to try Chicken Spaghetti.  Given that it was from Cooking Light, I'm sure it wasn't as good as what Andy had growing up (let's be honest, full-fat foods often win that contest).  However, Andy claimed that he did like it, and was pleased that it was lighter and lower-fat than traditional Chicken Spaghetti.

Chicken Spaghetti
Cooking Light
Servings: 6; Weight Watchers PointsPlus Value: 8

Chicken Spaghetti

• 1 c fat-free shredded cheddar cheese
• 12 1/2 oz canned chicken, drained & flaked
• 10 3/4 oz Campbell's 98% Fat-Free Cream Of Chicken Soup, undiluted
• 10 3/4 oz Campbell's 98% Fat-Free Cream Of Mushroom Soup, undiluted
• 10 oz canned tomatoes with green chilies, drained
• 1/2 fresh mushrooms, chopped
• 1 small onion, diced
• 1 medium green pepper, diced
• 1/2 tsp garlic salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 14 1/2 oz cooked whole-wheat spaghetti

1. Combine cheese, chicken, condensed soups, green chilies, mushrooms, onion, green pepper, garlic salt, and black pepper in a sauce pan on the stovetop
2. Cook spaghetti per instructions on box
3. When sauce mixture is hot and cheese is melted within, and spaghetti has been cooked and drained, pour sauce mixture over noodles

Keep on cookin'!
-Katherine

Birthday Cake Popcorn

The wreath I made for Charleigh Marie's nursery

My friends, Natalie and Thomas, who I have mentioned many times in previous blog entries, were expecting a baby girl, Charleigh Marie, on May 4, 2012.  I offered to help Natalie's sister, Lauren, throw a baby shower.  Lauren and Natalie's friend, Kara, had most of the shower covered, so she assigned me to party favors.  After seeing numerous cute baby shower posts on Pinterest for "_____ is about to pop!" pop-themed parties, we decided to go with that.  I had my friend, Michelle, make up some cute labels for both the party favors and the champagne bottles.  Michelle's labels for the champagne said, "Natalie is about to pop!" and the labels for the party favors said, "Thanks for popping by!"

"Thanks for POPPING by!"

I looked up recipes for creative popcorn, but I wasn't really pleased with any one in particular.  Again, in true Katherine in the Kitchen style, I took a recipe, and I made it my own.  "Birthday Cake Popcorn" was basically candied popcorn with an assortment of sprinkles mixed into it, but for Natalie's shower, I chose pink sprinkles for a baby girl.  The popcorn was sweet from the candy coating and salty and crunchy from the popcorn- one of those "M&M's and popcorn" or "fries dipped in milkshake" kind of tastes- you don't know why the contrasting flavors taste so good- they just do.

Itty bitty Charleigh!

Natalie and Thomas' Benbrook home was beautifully decorated for the shower, complete with modern decor and delicious food.  Natalie chose to have her guests bring their gifts unopened, so we could all see each of the presents- from the itty bitty teeny weeny yellow polka dot bikini to the wreath I made with a large "C" for Charleigh.

Welcome, Charleigh Marie! Harper's Bluebonnet Bakery Cake

I made this popcorn again for a staff meeting at work, but the meeting was cancelled due to inclement weather.  Good thing, too, because there was a grand total of seven tornadoes that touched down in the metroplex that night.  I am the Birthday Coordinator for the unit, so I was bringing the March birthday cards and birthday treats to the meeting.  I took my ginormous bag of Birthday Cake Popcorn to my Intake and Inpatient co-workers, despite the weather, because God knows that I didn't want to be hunkered down in "the room in the most central area of my house with no windows" with a hugmongous bag of sugary goodness. Everyone absolutely loved it! I was asked for the recipe by six people, and my co-worker, Meredith, even claimed to have dreamt about it the next night.  That may be the best compliment that I've ever gotten about my food!

Andy and Charleigh

Making this stuff is MESSY.  You get it all over your hands, but it's not like I was complaining to have to lick the candy coating off of my fingers (when I was done of course!)  Because the coating gets so thick, you can't really drizzle it on the popcorn, so you have to just stick your hands in it, pick up some of the popcorn, and toss the popcorn with the coating.  Despite being super easy, like I said it is super messy, but would definitely be fun to make with kiddos.

Natalie is about to Pop party favors

So instead of just zapping a bag of popcorn in the microwave next time and dumping in a bag of M&Ms, try Birthday Cake Popcorn.  Just making it is deliciously fun, and it's a yummy snack to take to any celebration!

Birthday Cake Popcorn

Pinterest.com/Kate Strickland

Servings: 30

Birthday Cake Popcorn

 

• 3 bags un-buttered/un-salted popcorn
• 1 c vanilla candy wafers (available at Michael’s/Hobby Lobby in the cake decorating section)
• 1 c vanilla cake mix (just the powder- don’t mix up the mix)
• Small sugar sprinkles

1.       Pop popcorn in the microwave & allow to cool
2.       Melt wafers (about 1 min in microwave)
3.       Add cake mix to melted wafers & stir
4.       Melt wafers/cake mix another 10 secs
5.       Toss wafers/cake mix mixture with popcorn so popcorn has the sticky mixture all over it
6.       Sprinkle on sprinkles (the smaller sugar sprinkles work/stick best)
7.       Allow to dry

Keep on cookin’!

-Katherine

Salsa Chicken

Michael & me before going out for Michael's 25th Birthday, July 2011

The night before Andy and I left for Hawaii was also our friend, Michael's (who introduced Andy and me) birthday.  During the day of July 10th, we were invited to join Michael and some of our friends at Baker Street for drinks to celebrate Michael's 26th.  Since we were still busy readying ourselves for Maui, we knew we would need a quick, inexpensive, and easy dinner, so Salsa Chicken with Black Bean & Corn Side it was! 

Michael (a penguin) and me (Sookie Stackhouse) at Katie Fenn's Halloween Party, October 2011

Tuesday, July 10th, was one LONG day at work.  I constantly found my thoughts wandering to the beach and visions of frozen concoctions and succulently prepared exotic fish were swimming through my head.  Luckily, I was already packed (since I have such a to-do list obsession), so I was free to let my thoughts float to the waves and not to my suitcase.  I finished an admission at our partial-hospitalization program, and I was returning crisis phone calls when I got a text from Andy suggesting we go to Baker Street for Michael's birthday.  Now I knew Andy was far from packed, and I had a staff meeting after work, so I knew it was a hard-press, but that it would be fun to say hi to our friend for his big day.

Andy, me, Jesse, Will, Brian, & Michael at St. Patrick's Day in Dallas, March 2012

I could barely sit through the staff meeting- they said "Restraint and Seclusion" and all I could hear was "secluded island."  They said "new hire" and I thought "new adventure."  They said "Happy Birthday to the July birthday people" and the only celebration I could think of was Erin & Alex's fast-approaching wedding celebration.  It was tough!

Michael, me, and Andy in New Orleans, February 2012

I raced home and threw the oven into pre-heat.  I had pulled the chicken breasts out and marinated them with the taco seasoning and salsa the night before, so they were rarin' to go.  As soon as Andy came home, I popped the chicken in, dumped the cans for the side in a pot, and in 30 minutes we were scarfing it down.  As our last home cooked meal before our big trip, I'd say it was quite the easy preparation and cleanup.  After dinner, it was off to Baker Street.  We met Brian, Mallory, Sean, Elise, Ray, Laney, and (of course!) the birthday boy, Michael.  We only had a few beers, but it was fun catching up and watching the crazy rainstorm that hit Fort Worth out of nowhere.  Seriously- It was pouring so hard, I couldn't even see across the parking lot- it was white outside!

Thomas, Andy, Abbie, me, Michael, and Chris at my house watching a TCU game, September 2011

I was glad when we came home to not have a ton of dirty dishes and kitchen cleanup on my to-do list, and it was off to bed to dream sweet dreams of Maui sunsets and wedding shenanigans.


Salsa Chicken
All Recipes
Servings: 4; Weight Watchers PointsPlus Value: 5

Salsa Chicken with chips and Black Bean & Corn Side

• 4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
• 4 teaspoons taco seasoning mix
• 1 cup salsa
• 1 cup fat-free shredded cheddar cheese

1. Preheat oven to 375
2. Place chicken breasts in a lightly greased 9x13 inch baking dish.
3. Sprinkle taco seasoning on both sides of chicken breasts
4. Pour salsa over all
5. Bake at 375 degrees for 25-35 mins, or until chicken is tender and juicy and its juices run clear.
6. Sprinkle chicken evenly with cheese, and continue baking for an additional 3 to 5 minutes, or until cheese is melted and bubbly.

Salsa Chicken with Black Bean & Corn Side

OMG Chicken

Me, Keri, Kate, Chaney, and Sam- 4 of my 21 Year Old friends
at lunch at Uncle Julio's

Do you ever have one of those weeks where it seems like everything that happens is too good to be true, and you find yourself asking, "Is this real life?"  My 2012 birthday week was one of those weeks.  All of my oldest girl friends, my "21 Year Girls" as I call them, happen to be in town from Houston, Austin, Colorado, California, and La Vernia.  All of my best friends had RSVP'ed "yes" to my birthday weekend at the lake.  I got to see my best college friend the weekend before because it was her bachelorette party.  It was, indubitably, the best week ever.  And yes, I mean ever.  I got to see every single one of my favorite people in the world that week, and it was my birthday, too!


Keri, me, Sam, and Kate
swimming at Sam's parents' house, high school style!

So, continuing with the perfection that was birthday week, I add in now quick and easy meals.  Part of the beauty of dishes that marinate overnight is that you have more free time the day on which you're planning to serve.  This is especially helpful for weeks like birthday week when all I wanted to do was socialize and have fun.  For example- OMG Chicken.  I found this recipe on Pinterest, only to discover that it is really from Hellmann's Mayonnaise.  Seeing as mayonnaise is just fat in a jar, I decided to figure out a way to healthify the recipe.


Whitney, me, Sam, Frances, Kate, and Keri
5 of my 21 Year Old Friends
at the lake for my birthday weekend

 I replaced the mayo with fat-free plain Greek yogurt, and I replaced the fatty Parmesan cheese with reduced-fat parmesan.  Plopped it in the pan, covered it, and dinner was rarin' to go for the next night.  All that was left to do was turn on the oven and bake.

Andy and me watching the sunset at the lake on my birthday weekend

Seeing that I had some free time, and this is my birthday week, I decided to take Ulta up on their offer for a free birthday brow wax.  (Yeah, PS, Ulta will give anyone a free eyebrow wax on their birthday- fun fact!)  I kept looking down at my toes, thinking of my chipping nail polish and how heinous that was going to be at my lake birthday party this weekend when my phone rang.  It was my mom, and she was wondering when we had appointments for our nails because she really needed a manicure before my godsisters' debutante party on Friday.  Great minds think alike.  "Well," I said, "I was just noticing how much my toesies need some TLC- wanna meet me up by Tom Thumb and get a birthday pedicure?"  As I've mentioned before, my dad's birthday is June 9, mine is June 10, and my mom's is June 11, so birthday week has always been a family tradition.

Whitney and me with Fernando, a birthday cake topping tradition
at the lake

I offered to pay for her manicure, and she offered to pay for my pedicure.  We had a little glass of wine and chatted it up, while she oo'ed and ahh'ed at her first shellack manicure.  "You mean to tell me that this will last more than one day?!"  She was amazed.  Truth be told, it's the only kind of polish that ever lasts on me, too.  Afterwards, we strolled on over to Charming Charlie where I found a $30 dress marked down to $19.  Even better, at the cash register? It rang up as only $10!  Happy birthday to me!  The best part of our afternoon girlie time was that I wasn't stressed out about getting home to make dinner.  I walked in the door, preheated the oven, and the OMG Chicken was on it's way.  I made Garlic Lime Asparagus, too, but that takes very little work, and was easy-peasy.  Thank you for both my pedicure, and a fun girls' day for birthday week, momma!  I love you more!


Andy and me at Bonnell's for my birthday dinner

 After our mother-daughter nail time, Birthday Week was officially rolling.  Andy and I had dinner at one of my favorite restaurants, Bonnell's, where we indulged in Elk Mini Tacos, Texas Shrimp and Grits, Pepper-Crusted Buffalo, and kangaroo.  Then came birthday weekend, which was kicked off with lunch at Uncle Julio's with 4 of my oldest girlfriends.  After that, we all went to our friend, Samantha's, house, to go swimming.  Later that night, we headed out to the lake for a weekend full of birthday fun in the sun.


OMG Chicken
Hellmann's Mayonnaise, altered & healthified by Kate Strickland
Servings: 4; Weight Watchers PointsPlus Value: 7


OMG Chicken, Texas Toast Light, and Garlic Lime Asparagus

• 1/2 cup fat-free plain Greek yogurt
• 1/4 cup reduced fat Parmesan cheese
• 4 boneless skinless chicken breast
• 4 teaspoons Italian seasoned dry bread crumbs (or, place 1/2 c croutons in a ziplock bag. Add 1 tsp Italian Seasoning. Roll over bag with a rolling pin until finely crushed)

1. Place yogurt and cheese in a sall bowl and mix.
2. Lay chicken breasts on baking sheet (I line my baking sheet with parchment paper to make clean up easy)
3. Rub yogurt mixture evenly all over each chicken breast.
4. Marinate, covered, overnight for best results, but at least 2 hrs.
5. Evenly sprinkle bread crumbs atop each.
6. Bake for 25 min at 425.

Keep on cookin'!
-Katherine

Reese's Brownie Bars

This one sums it up the best.

Pinterest is really great for... well... everything.  Primary, it is really great for every dream wedding/recipe/workout/home in the world all combined into one.  And it's addicting.  "It's 11:30 on a work night, why am I pinning chocolate brownie cookie dough brownie batter sprinkled cupcake cookies?!"  Yeah- it's a cook's new, technologically savvy, best friend.  (Also, "cook" can be replaced with wedding planner/gym rat/woman/person/human- whatever).  Point being, if you like longing to fill your home with items you'll never be able to afford, workouts you'll never actually have time to do, and more recipes than the 365 days in a year will allow, go ahead and log on.  And then follow my pinboards: kstrickland.

and drool over amazingly delicious mouth-watering yumminess.

I have been working in our behavior health intake department since about March, and each time it is someone's birthday, we celebrate.  Cause, let's be honest, who needs a reason to take an hour out of your work day to stuff your face and fill your belly?  Over on the inpatient unit we have a bajillion staff members, so we just celebrate once per month, but the intake office gives everyone their own day to shine.  We print off signs of each others' favorite bands and themes and plaster them all over the (teeny tiny) office, we sing "Happy Birthday," we eat, and we exchange recipes.  At a co-worker's going away party last week, one of the only two male staff members was talking with a few of the staff ladies and myself.  We were all saying, "I made (this)" or "I made (that)"- Brad chimed in and said with a clever chuckle, "I made the money to buy those cookies over there!"  

Last month, it was two of our staff members, Stephanie & Cheryl's, birthdays.  We had a little fiesta that was seriously delicious down to the last tortilla chip crumb.  I immediately knew I wanted to bring something from Pinterest, so I started going through my "KITK Sugar, Aw Honey Honey" board.  Yeah, that's the name of it- don't be jealous that I'm wicked-creative.

For my monthly dinner club, I had made this same dessert but replaced the Reese's with Oreo cookies.  I gotta say- the original recipe was good, but this one was to die for.  My peers were raving, and the whole pan was gone in an hour.  Good thing I pre-cut Andy's take-home piece before they were devoured!  Now you may have read  my post on healthy substitutions and ways to lighten up meals... go ahead and print that off, put it in your recipe box, and don't think about it again until you've made these and relished in their sweet sugary amazingness.  There is NOTHING healthy about Reese's Brownie Bars, but I can assure you that they added enough sugar to my co-worker candy girls' birthdays.  Forget birthday cake- Pinterest would find that boring.  Who wouldn't want three rich, gooey, chocolatey desserts in one?!!

This totally happened to me today with the first quote on this post...
I was super stressed when I couldn't find it! Thank goodness for Google!

Reese's Brownie Bars
Pinterest.com

Ahhhh deliciousness doesn't even begin to describe these

• 1 tub Nestlé Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough (or make your own, but this is just as easy), room temperature
• 1 package brownie mix
• 10 packages of Reese's Peanut Butter Cups

Reese's Brownie Bars, pre-baking

1. Spread a piece of parchment paper in a 9x13 baking dish
2. Spread cookie dough in bottom of dish
3. Even place a layer of Reese's Peanut Butter Cups atop the cookie dough
4. Prepare brownie batter as indicated on box but do not bake
5. Pour brownie batter atop cookie dough/Reese's cups
6. Cover with foil
7. Bake at 350 for 30 mins
8. Uncover and continue baking for another 20 mins

Layers and layers of chocolatey amazingness

And a close up for your mouth-watering pleasure

Keep on cookin'!

-Katherine

Ravioli Casserole

Andy and me before his 27th Birthday dinner at Daddy Jack's

Last year for Andy's birthday, we went to New Orleans- read about that trip and Blackened Chicken here.  I knew I wanted to try to do something almost as equally fun this year, but New Orleans had put up some tough competition.  I told Andy that we had plans on Saturday, November 12, but that he could not ask any questions.  Knowing Andy is not being a big fan of surprises, I told him to rest easy and that he would find out on the morning of the 12th what the game plan was.

The Flying Saucer Group

I sent out an invitation on Facebook to all of our friends, and organized Andy's 27th Birthday Surprise 80's Pub Crawl.  Despite Andy's numerous attempts to find out what our plans were, my friends and I managed to keep the plan a secret.  On November 9th, I took Andy to dinner at Daddy Jack's New England Lobster & Chowder House- which was also a surprise, but he had been talking for months about wanting to go there.  On Friday, November 11th, we went to Wichita Falls to have dinner with his family.  We went to Samurai of Tokyo- a Japanese hibachi restaurant that he loves.  We spent the night in Wichita that night and went back to Fort Worth for the big surprise the next morning.

The Jake's Group

Andy and me at Jake's

Andy's baseball themed cookie cake

The Library Group

I gave Andy his presents on the  morning of his birthday- a sign from Frame the Alphabet that says "Jennings," monogrammed scotch glasses with a "J" on them, and a card.  Inside the card was a poem that looked like this:

Andy's card telling him what the game plan was

If you can't read the poem, it went like this:

You've been waiting and waiting, and patiently so-

despite all your begging and wanting to know.

Now you will find out what your birthday plans are-

but how to pick where to go? How to pick which bar?

So instead of ONE place for us to play and have a ball,

I figured, heck, why not? Let's hit 'em all!

We'll start at 8.0 at 3 for some afternoon boozing,

then onto Flying Saucer for any beer of our choosing.

Then it's 5 o'clock somewhere, but we'll be at Jake's.

At 6 is Houston Street- we have cocktails to shake!

Fox is at 7, The Library at 8-

they're not much for books there, but their drinks are sure great!

Paddy Red's is at 9, and lastly VIP's-

oh, and did I mention?

The theme is 80's!

I hope you're ready for your 80's pub crawl fun-

You're turning 27- party like you're 21!

We ended up cancelling the theme because Andy is about as fond of themes as he is about surprises, but we had a great turn out and a (long) fun day of bar-hopping around downtown Fort Worth!  I surprised him with a cookie cake from Great American Cookie because he had mentioned loving cookie cake at another friend's birthday a few weeks prior (I pay attention to these things!)  Thank you to everyone who came out and celebrated with us, and thank you for keeping my secret so Andy was surprised!

The Houston Street Group

Sundays are always lazy for us, and this was was especially so, so I decided to make a crock pot recipe so I didn't have to deal with cooking much.  I found this one on Pinterest, and it seemed pretty healthy.  It made SO much that we had enough for both of us for dinner, lunches the next day, and I even froze some in individual tupperware containers so I could take them to work later.

The Paddy Red's Group

Ravioli Casserole
Pinterest.com
Servings: 10; Weight Watchers PointsPlus Value: 7

• 1 1/2 lbs. lean ground beef
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1 (15 oz.) can tomato sauce
• 1 can stewed tomatoes
• 1 tsp. oregano
• 1 tsp. Italian seasoning
• Salt & pepper to taste (I also added in some crushed red pepper to taste)
• 10 oz. spinach
• 16 oz. bowtie pasta, cooked
• 1/2 cup parmesan cheese, shredded
• 1 1/2 cup mozzarella, shredded

1. Brown ground beef with onion and garlic.  
2. Put in crock-pot and add sauce, tomatoes and seasonings. 
3. Cook for 6-7 hours on low.  
4. Add the last 4 ingredients during the last 30 minutes of cooking and turn crock-pot to high.  
5. Add the fresh spinach, pasta, parmesan and 1 cup of the mozzarella and mix.  
6. Add the last 1/2 cup of mozzarella to melt on the top.

Keep on cookin'!

-Katherine