Man-Pleasing Chicken

Andy's new "Man Room"

After having dated for two years, Andy and I took the plunge in 2012 and moved in together.  In addition to saving money (from having two places), saving gas (from driving back and forth to spend time at each others' places), and time, we felt we were ready to take the next step in our relationship.  After my throat/sinus surgeries in February of 2012, Andy had practically been living at my house anyway, so why not make it "our" house?

Andy's new Man Room- I prefer to call it the "Sports Room"

Living with a boy takes some time to adjust.  When my friend, Keri, married her husband, Bradley, she had a "Things Every Bride Needs" shower.  I wrote Keri a note that said I didn't know what every bride needed, but I had learned a thing or two about what every woman living with a man needed.

1. Febreeze Room Deodorizer: cause living with a boy can be stinky.
2. Positive Affirmations (a dish towel from Francesa's that says, "When I count my blessings, I count you twice"): cause sometimes we girls forget to look on the bright side of things.
3. Wine Opener: cause nothing is more frustrating than not having one when you really need want a glass of wine.

Andy's Sports Room

We moved Andy in the Summer of 2012.  It was a muggy summer day, but we were able to get most of Andy's things over in a day or so.  He sold a lot of the big furniture items on Craig's List or to friends, so there wasn't a ton to move.  Since I have been cooking for two for a while now, I figured "Man Pleasing Chicken" was a good place to start for the new man in my home.  I saw the recipe on Pinterest, and it sounded like an interesting title, so I gave it a go.  It was really juice & moist, and the rosemary was picked from from our garden.

Andy's Sports Room

I'm happy to report that Andy and I have been successful roommates for a few months now.  I was quick to hang up his super cool Texas map in the living room and put a "J" on the wall in replace of my "K"s.  Andy wanted to turn the front office room into a "man room," which I agreed to on two conditions: 1) We would call it the "sports room" and not "man cave" and 2) I could turn the closet in said "sports room" into a craft closet.  Fine by Andy- that just means less glitter & wreath bobbles laying around without a place to be stored. 

My craft closet in the sports room

As it turns out, living together is pretty great.  He makes fabulous baked potatoes to go with my Katherine in the Kitchen meals, and he doesn't mind sweeping or doing yard work.  I think I'll keep him around ;-)

Man-Pleasing Chicken

Servings: 2

Man-Pleasing Chicken and Rosemary Red Potatoes

• 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 1/2 cup Dijon mustard
• 1/4 cup maple syrup
• 1 tbsp rice wine vinegar
• 2 tbsp fresh rosemary (I have PLENTY if you want some!)

1. Put the chicken thighs into the oven, and let them bake for 40 minutes at 450° 
2. Baste the tops of the chicken with more sauce half way through. 
3. Let the chicken rest for 5 minutes before serving. 
4. Plate the chicken, making sure to spoon some extra sauce over the top. 
5. Sprinkle some fresh rosemary on top.

Keep on cookin'!

-Katherine

Mediterranean Chicken

My DIY improvement on my builder mirror

In an effort to make some much-needed home improvements, Andy and I adventured to Lowe's last weekend.  A couple of hours and a full shopping basket later, we checked out and were headed to yet another Lowe's... because the first one didn't have the mini-pendant to install with our new light above the kitchen sink to match the other one we already have above the kitchen table.  SO then THREE hours later, we were headed home with a truck full of what was to be new lighting, an improved toilet, and better-than-builder mirror. 


New kitchen lighting! I really wish I had a before & after

Well, the lighting turned out to be a MUCH bigger ordeal than we expected.  I was flexed from work, but on-call, so despite being off work, that meant I was pretty much stuck at home for the day.  I called my parents and asked them to come over and help me for the day.  Little did I know what we were getting into.  My dad promptly discovered that I was missing a part for the light in the sitting nook.  That explains why the chandelier was falling out of the ceiling.  Stupid builder.  Then, upon beginning to install the new light above the kitchen island, my dad read that we needed a drill and a dremmel for the installation.  Great.  Pack into the car, go BACK to Lowe's (I should've gotten them to start stamping a card for me- 10th visit and maybe I'd get a free light bulb.), then to my parents' house to get the dremmel and the drill.  Then back to my house.  

New kitchen lighting as seen from the backdoor

The next few hours were spent with our necks craned and arms above us, Michelangelo style.  I'm totally empathetic with his Sistine Chapel painting now- I couldn't do it for two hours, yet alone contorting himself that way for all of four years.  Yeesh.  However, after many grunts and breaks to shake out our rubbery arms, the lights were up and shining.  A HUGE thank you to my electricity-savvy father for all of his help- we had no idea what were were getting into, but it looks great now! In celebration on Monday night of our work-filled Sunday (well, my work-filled Sunday... Andy was at a cook out then with our friends watching True Blood!), we had this Mediterranean Chicken on Monday night.  It was very light and island-like, and it looked great under our new lights! No more stark, bleaching fluorescent lighting for us.

Mediterranean Chicken
www.copywriterskitchen.com
Servings: 2; Weight Watchers PointsPlus Value: 5

Mediterranean Chicken

• 1/2 c dry white wine
• 2 tbsp fat-free chicken broth
• 1 clove minced garlic
• 1 tsp thyme
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 1 tsp dried rosemary (or 1 tbsp fresh)
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp ground pepper
• 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

1. Combine all ingredients in a small bowl
2. Place chicken in a large baggie
3. Pour in marinade
4. Allow chicken to marinate for 1+ hours, or overnight if possible
5. Grill chicken over medium heat- appr. 6 mins/each side depending on thickness

Keep on cookin'!
-Katherine

DIY Batiking Shirt

Okay, so this is another DIY project that isn't exactly a recipe.  But to my credit, I still had to follow step-by-step instructions, and I made it in my kitchen (and partially in the sink), so I think it could easily be included on Katherine in the Kitchen!

My TCU Batiking Shirt I made-
"We're gonna beat the hell outta you... and you, and you, and you and you and you!"

Pinterest.com has recently become my new obsession.  From recipes to DIY ideas to party planning to fashion to interior decorating, Pinterest has it all.  I have nine boards: In the Kitchen (shocker, I know), InStyle (fashion), Home Sweet Home (decorating), To have and to hold (wedding), Baby Love, Give me a patio & a marg (cocktails), Group Ideas, Helpful Hints, and A girl can dream (vacation destinations).  The idea is that users create a virtual pinboard of ideas and suggestions, all of which are then organized in topics and presented as photos.  Each photo is a link to the site from which it came.  Here's a link if you want to follow my pinboards.

Among the thousands of ideas I have gotten on Pinterest, I recently completed a t-shirt project, and I'm hooked.  I made a TCU shirt, and I'm really looking forward to making more!  I've even had some girls offer to pay me to make them shirts, but we'll see if that ever happens. 

Batiking is a method of sort-of reverse-dying something.  The shirts are super easy to make, and all it takes is the shirt, some glue, fabric dye, and salt!  Here you'll find a link to the website where I found how to make these shirts- so click the link, and try one for yoursel! (Or pay me, and I'll make you one, too!)

Thanks, Pinterest, and "happy pinning!"

Keep on craftin'!
-Katherine

DIY Cooktop Covering

My new Cooktop Covering!

This entry is a bit different than most, as it is not a recipe.  With fall comes football season, and with football season comes more house guests.  Whether it is friends coming over for a Fantasy Football draft party, a Cowboys/TCU/UT football game watching party, a Halloween party, or my Annual Christmas Party, I feel like guests frequent much more often from September through December.  Cleaning is an arduous chore of which I've never been very fond, but it is a necessity when I'm expecting guests.  So begins the scrubbing, mopping, vacuuming, Windexing, and general clutter pick up (although my house is rarely cluttered- there's a place for everything and everything in it's place).

I think the house chore that I dislike the most is mopping.  I have tile in my kitchen, bathrooms, and laundry room, so mopping is necessary, but I absolutely detest it.  Lucky me, I have a very helpful and selfless boyfriend who has agreed to mop this time, if I will do all of the rest.  Done deal.  I went  in today to clean the oven and the stove top, and I realized there just might be a chore that I dislike as much as mopping.  Okay, not quite, but still- all of that caked on, baked on grease and grime is awful!  I always do my best to scrub the stove and cooktop, but it never quite looks clean.  So, I embarked on a DIY project today- a cooktop covering that would double as surplus counter space.

Buy a plain cutting board that matches your kitchen's countertop or wood cabinets

Inspired by a cover my mom made for our cabana's stovetop, I went to Bed, Bath, and Beyond to buy some cutting boards.  (I also ran into 3 members of the Hudgens Family, who I adore, and was very happy to hear Mrs. Hudgens is a KITK fan!)  Although the opaque plastic cutting boards would have done the trick, and for far less money, I just couldn't bare to have my DIY project be half-a**.  Not to mention, my friend, Michelle, who is Queen of DIY is coming over this weekend, so I wanted to be able to show off my mad skills.  It didn't take much skill, though, I'll be honest.

I had measured my cook top, and I knew it would take two cutting boards to cover the whole thing.  I bought the two cutting boards at Bed, Bath, and Beyond.  Then, I walked next door to Michael's, where I bought 8 cork pieces to use for legs.  After a lengthy conversation with Maude the Michael's Employee, I decided on a "craft cement" that claimed it worked on wood and plastic.  There were plenty of glues for wood, but corks are made up of plastic and wood, so I needed something that'd cover both materials.

Glue the "feet" on so your cover isn't just resting on the burners on your cooktop

I glued four feet on the bottom of each cutting board, making them slightly elevated so they weren't just sitting on the burners, sliding around everywhere.  And, voila! Not only was my Never100%CleanCooktop covered up, but I had about 4 square feet of extra counter space, as well!  *Note- since I glued my feet on, I will have to remove the coverings when I want to use the oven since my cooktop gets very hot from the heat put off by the oven.  You could screw the feet on, if you buy wood feet, and want to do so.

Before

After!

Keep on craftin'!
-Katherine

Grilled Chicken Salad

Abbie and My 2010 Holiday Card

This holiday season was one of the best (and busiest!) that I can remember.  I had the opportunity to be with my friends, loved ones, and, most importantly, family.  The kickoff to my holiday season was a Christmas party hosted by two of Andy's good friends, Clay and Michelle Montgomery.  Michelle and Clay's 2nd annual party was definitely a hit- they have a really fun group of friends.  Michelle has a DIY blog that I love love- check it out when you have time.  The party was complete with some of Michelle's custom wine labels, Alfredo Meatballs, Allie's cakeballs, chipotle cream cheese dip, grilled jalapenos, and pink panty droppers!  (Recipe to come later!)  For her party, Michelle had made some really cute wreaths, and I was thinking that I wanted to try to make one, too.  The next morning, there was Martha Stewart on The Today Show making a sparkly wreath, so I took this as a sign that I needed to scoot on over to Hobby Lobby and pick up some supplies.    Hey, if they could do it, I could, too.  This is what it turned out looking like- see below.  The pink feathers sticking out are from my best friend's bachelorette party that was back in April, so it is sentimental as well as sparkly!

The Christmas wreath I made!

Our next Christmas party was a week later at our friends, Natalie and Thomas McDaniels', house.  Andy knows Thomas from Midwestern State University, but I know him from high school in Fort Worth- small world, huh?  They had a White Elephant gift exchange.  I took a giant bag of peanut M&M's, but left with a couple of candles and Febreze to go.  Bank!  Andy took a jumbo pack of black Sharpies from Costco... gag gift, much?

Andy and Me at The McDaniels' Chinese Gift Exchange

The next day, Andy and I went to Henrietta, Texas, for his mom's family Christmas.  Henrietta is a tiny town just south of Wichita Falls, where he and I both have family.  The Coleman family is truly blessed, as they still have both of Andy's grandparents living.  I hadn't spent a Christmas at a grandparents' house in a long time, and it was bittersweet.  I loved being able to meet his grandparents, but it was tough remembering that I no longer have any of my own.  (Oh well, at least their recipes still live on!)  The adults on the Coleman side of his family do a Chinese gift exchange for gift cards... very fun and clever! I brought a Best Buy one that Mr. Jennings ended up with, Andy got a Dillard's one, and I, sneakily, managed to get the Target one that Andy had brought! I think I may do a Chinese exchange next year... hmmm...


Andy and his 7 month old nephew, Greyson

 After Henrietta, we hauled booty back to Fort Worth because it was the night of my 3rd Annual Holiday Cocktail Party! If you read my pots about MaryEllen's Texas Caviar, you've already gotten the history.  If not, click here for a background of my holiday cocktail.  This year had a great turnout!! We didn't stop partying until about 3:00am, so I'm pretty sure everyone had fun! Must've been the beer pong... or was it the prolific amounts of food?


Andy and me at my 3rd Annual Holiday Cocktail Party!



Christmas Decor ready and waiting for the Cocktail Party!

My DG Family- itb! Ashlea (my grandlittle), me, and JZet (my little)

The morning after the cocktail, Andy and I drug our exhausted selves out to Eagle Mountain Lake to meet my parents for the Fort Worth Boat Club's Annual Christmas Luncheon.  This has been a tradition in my family for as long as I can remember, and I was happy I got to share it with Andy this year.  I took my obligatory annual picture with Santa, and I even made Andy take one, too! But the holiday celebrations still weren't done!

25th Annual Santa and me picture

Andy and me with Santa at the Boat Club

Round six meant off to Wichita Falls for Andy's dad's Christmas.  I met more family, and ate more food! Andy's dad made some delicious brisket and BBQ ribs- so good that Andy thought they surely had been catered.  We gave his younger cousin a Texas duffle bag (good man, right there, liking the Longhorns already!)  We then spent a few days in Falls Town.  I went to the infamous Casa Manana, P2, and Toby's, and we tried a new place called Denim and Diamonds.  All were fun, and it was good seeing some of our (randomly mutual) old friends!

Andy's Nephew, Greyson, at Jennings Family Christmas

"Hey, do you know Kacie Skipworth?" Just one of our random mutual friends!

Greyson's First Christmas

Christmas Eve, I returned home to Fort Worth for Christmas morning at my parents' house with my parents and brother, Geoff.  After hustling to unwrap our gifts and a few mimosas, it was time to pack up again... and then, yep, back in the car to go BACK to Wichita Falls. This time it was for my mom's family Christmas.  There were so many people and SO much delicious food!!   In attendance were my Aunt Rhonda, Uncle Richard, cousin Ashlea, cousin Kameron, cousin Tiffany, Rhonda's parents, Rhonda's nephew, Rhonda's best friend, Sherry, my parents, my brother and his girlfriend, Kristi, a few of Rhonda & Richard's friends, Andy, and Andy's parents were able to join us, too.  Despite being super nervous about our families meeting, it went off without a hitch!  Afterwards, my parents, Andy, and I bundled up and went to go walk around the Burns Family Festival of Lights at Midwestern State University- a tradition from my younger years, re-instated.

Mom, Geoff, me, and Abbie on Christmas morning at my parents' house

Geoff, Dad, me, and Abbie at my parents' house on Christmas morning

Me and Geoff modeling our new L.L. Bean vests!

Kameron and me ("Aunt Kate") at my Aunt Rhonda & Uncle Richard's house in Wichita Falls, Texas

My cousin, Ashlea, and me in Wichita Falls, Texas on Christmas Day night

Me and Andy trying to catch bubbles from the robot at MSU's Fantasy of Lights

Me and Andy and the Little Engine That Could at MSU's Fantasy of Lights

This was Andy & my favorite when we were little- Santa soaking his feet after a long day!

Me and Kameron after she made a giant cupcake

Christmas Tree at my parents' house- so many presents!

About now, I'm sure you're thinking how you really don't care about my bajillion Christmas parties and want to know what recipe I'm going to share... well, here it is.  I don't think I stopped eating from the start of The Montgomery's Christmas party until the next year.  This extensive list includes, but is not limited to, the following: cakeballs, Oreo truffle balls, white bean queso, bourbon meatballs, turkey, pork, BBQ, ranch dip, cookies, peppermint bark, pumpkin squares, cherry pie, pumpkin pie, cheesey potatoes, Texas Caviar, Chick-Fil-A, wine, beer, mimosas, and, of course, egg nog... oh, sick, I suddenly feel nauseous. 
Andy and I decided that we need a little green in our lives.  So, I got on my "Cook This, Not That," app on my iPhone, and found a recipe for Grilled Chicken Salad.  It's nothing special, but if, like me, you have had too much fat, grease, and sugar- get back on track with this easy salad!

Grilled Chicken Salad
Makes 4 servings- 500 calories/serving
WeightWatchers Points Plus Value: 8

• 12 cups arugula (or 1 prewashed bag)
• 1/4 cup Honey Mustard Vinaigrette (light honey mustard is the healthier option)
• 1 avocado, pitted, peeled, and sliced
• 1/4 cup walnuts, roughly chopped
• 1/4 cup dried cranberries (or Craisins)
• Salt and black pepper to taste
• 12 oz cooked chicken
• 1/4 cup crumbled goat cheese (or feta)

1. Combine the chicken, arugula, cranberries, avocado, goat cheese, walnuts, vinaigrette, salt and pepper in a large bowl
2. Use your hands or 2 forks or salad tongs to toss.

I made this tonight, but forgot the cheese... it was still delish!