Veni Vidi Vici

Homemade Mac n Cheese—- Panera Style! [#358 (3/25)]

Elle — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 12:06:32 +0000

Okay so if you thought that Saturday’s recipe was awesome, then you’re going to love this one. Panera Mac & Cheese. No lie! Again, this is another recipe that I pulled from Pinterest (I wasn’t kidding about my obsession ya’ll).
Panera Bread’s Signature Macaroni & Cheese
Adapted by Head Chef Dan Kish

Ingredients
1 (16-ounce) package of rigati pasta (or other small pasta shells)
¼ cup butter
½ cup all-purpose flour
2½ cups 2% reduced fat milk (or cream)
6 slices white American cheese, chopped
1 cup (8 ounces) shredded extra-sharp white Vermont cheddar
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon kosher salt
¼ teaspoon hot sauce

Directions
1. Prepare pasta according to package directions.
2. Melt butter over low heat. Whisk in flour and cook 1 minute, whisking constantly.
3. Gradually whisk in milk (or cream); cook over medium heat, whisking until mixture thickens and bubbles. Remove from heat.
4. Add cheeses, mustard, salt, and hot sauce, stirring until cheese melts and sauce is smooth.
5. Stir in pasta and cook over medium heat for 1 minute (or until thoroughly heated).

Serves 4 to 6

This stuff is great ya’ll! And, in true Elle style, it’s incredibly easy to make. Now, I love Kraft Mac n Cheese Deluxe as much as the next girl, but this stuff takes the cake! Enjoy!

Homemade Chick-fil-a Nuggets #358 (2/25)

Elle — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 12:57:59 +0000

Who doesn’t love Chick-fil-a nuggets? They may be the best bite sized food known to man. You can’t even begin to fathom how excited I was when I came across a copycat recipe for these little bits of heaven. The recipe couldn’t be easier, if I can do it, you can do it for sure!

2 skinless and boneless chicken breasts
1 cup milk
1 egg
1 1/4 cups flour
2 TBSP powdered sugar (I used a little bit of granulated sugar instead)
2 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
peanut oil (is best) or canola oil (I used canola)

In a medium bowl whisk the egg and stir in the milk. Trim any fat away from chicken. Cube chicken into bite size pieces. Place chicken in milk mixture,and cover. Let it ‘marinate’ for 2-4 hours in the fridge. This will make the chicken very nice and tender. In a gallon size resealable baggie combine flour, powdered sugar, salt and pepper. Seal and shake to combine. Place about 2 inches of oil in a medium deep pot. Over medium high heat (more towards the high side) heat oil until hot. If using a thermometer let the temperature reach 375°. Using a fork or tongs remove cut chicken from milk mixture and place in the flour mixture. Seal and shake until nuggets are completely coated. Place about a 6-8 nuggets into hot oil and let them cook until golden brown, turning half way through once the edge of your chicken starts to turn white. About 1 minute each side. Always double-check to see if any chicken you make is cooked through. Remove and drain on a paper towel. Repeat until all nuggets are cooked. Serve with your favorite sauce!

All I can say is YUM!!!!! These little suckers are amazing! My roommate loved the so much that she had me help her make them the very next day. At that point, we were completely out of canola oil and we ended up using regular old vegetable oil. I can tell you that the nuggets weren’t nearly as good as they were when I used canola oil.

My tummy is grumbling… I think I’ll go whip up some more nuggets

A Place of My Own

Elle — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 21:56:26 +0000

Number 91 on my list is to own my own home. I am currently renting a 3 bedroom 2 bathroom condo with two of my good friends. The place is spacious, 1700 square feet. My roommates and I get along for the most part, there have been a few bumps in the road but I haven’t killed anyone yet and they have yet to murder me in my sleep.

As it turns out, I quite like the independence. I was always free to come and go as I pleased when I lived with my parents, but there’s something to be said for being solely responsible for your own well-being. Since moving out, I’ve discovered that I’m a pretty good cook. Before, my mom always cooked my meals so I never really had an opportunity to explore with food. Thanks to having to cook my own meals and my new obsession with Pinterest (I see some of you have found me on there!), I’m making all kinds of good stuff! I can’t wait to share the recipes with you all!

Another thing that I’ve learned about myself is that I’m pretty crafty! I’ve seen a few really awesome projects on Pinterest that I’ve created. I gotta admit, this addiction has become kinda handy.

Although I have no plans of buying a house of my own, I’m finally at a point now where I can start thinking about it. The thought of me actually wanting to settle down scares me…but for now, a girl can dream.

Project 365

Elle — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 13:53:47 +0000

#263 on my list is to complete a 365 Photo Challenge. In this challenge, you share one photo each day for a year. I have attempted to start this project on 2 other occasions. Each time, I get about 30 days into the project before I forget to take a couple of pictures.

This time, I decided to post pictures on my Facebook Page rather than post them periodically on here like I did before. Check out the album to see what I’ve been up to.

Candy Cane Blossoms #358 (1/25)

Elle — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 22:22:51 +0000

I have a confession to make. Pintrest has made me into a chef, a baker and a crafter. I may be the next Martha Freaking Stewart. My newest goal is to try 25 new recipes and Pintrest is helping do just that!

I may have found a new favorite Christmas cookie! I made these cookies to take to my mom’s house this Christmas. They are ridiculously addictive! This recipe was a nice twist on my family’s traditional peanut butter and Hershey kiss cookies.

**Tip** Purchase the Candy Cane Kisses early in the holiday season, they can be hard to come by the week of Christmas.

Candy Cane Blossoms

recipe from Hershey’s

1 bag Hershey;s Kisses brand Candy Cane Kisses

1/2 cup butter, softened

1 cup granulated sugar

1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 egg

2 cups all purpose flour

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

2 tablespoons milk

Red and Green colored sugar

Preheat over to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Remove wrappers from candies (approx. 35)

Beat butter, sugar, vanilla, and egg in large bowl until well blended. Stir together flour, baking soda and salt; add alternatively with milk to butter mixture, beating until well blended.

Shape dough into 1 inch balls. Roll in red and/or green colored sugar. Place on ungreased cookie sheet.

Bake 8 – 1o minutes or until edges are lightly browned and cookies is set. Remove from oven; cool 2 to 3 minutes. Press candy piece into center of each cookie. Remove from cookie sheet to wire rack. Cool completely. Yields approximately 35 cookies.

My ABC’s of Travel

Elle — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 06:51:54 +0000

My blogging buddy Erik of On My Feet or In My Mind nominated me to complete My ABC’s of Travel.

A: Age you went on your first international trip: I was just a toddler when I went on my first international trip. My dad was in the military and got stationed in Iceland. My mom, my baby brother and I lived in New York until there was housing available for the family. When it came time for us to make the move, Mom had to lug both of us kids around the airport in baby carriers. It must have been a nightmare!

B: Best (foreign) beer you’ve had and where: I have to be completely honest with you, I drink crappy beer. I’m a BudLight girl. You may make fun of me now.

C: Cuisine (favorite): Ooooh as a fat girl I love me some food! My favorites are Thai, Italian, Chinese, Mexican, Caribbean, and Japanese.

D: Destinations, favorite, least favorite and why: Favorite: Like all travelers I have a hard time narrowing this answer to just one destination. So… I break it into parts. My favorite international city is London. My favorite American city is Washington DC. These two are my favorites because of the history, the culture, the attractions, the people and the food. My favorite island is St. John (Antigua is a close second!) because it’s so natural and untouched. My favorite country is Belize because of the ruins, the water, the jungles, and the people.. Least favorite? My lease favorite place is The Cayman Islands. It is so overdeveloped for a small chain of islands. It’s just a giant banking district that lacks culture.

E: Event you experienced abroad that made you say “wow”:

On my first trip to Paris when I was sixteen years old, my friends and I sat in the Notre Dame Cathedral listening to the choir perform. It was such an incredibly moving experience.

F: Favorite mode of transportation: Either taking the metro, walking or boats. Where I live we have to drive everywhere because our public transportation system is terrible…and since we’re at sea level we can’t exactly have an underground.

G: Greatest feeling while traveling: The feeling of doing something or seeing something that I can’t experience at home.

H: Hottest place you’ve traveled to: Ugh, Washington DC in the summer time!! This is saying a lot considering I’m a Florida girl. I worked my itinerary so that I spent a bulk of my late morning and mid afternoon in museums when the sun was the hottest. However, one morning I went to visit the Ford Theater and the Peterson House (where Lincoln passed away) and I nearly fainted while waiting in line to get into the house. I started getting incredibly dizzy and my vision got screwy so I hopped out of line and sought air conditioning.

I: Incredible service you’ve experienced and where: My friend Sara and I spent a weekend in downtown Atlanta this summer. While we were there we stayed at Melia. I swear that every manager in the place made a point of coming over and speaking to us while we were in the roof top bar or in the coffee shop.

J: Journey that took the longest: Flying from Miami to Paris in the middle seat next to a crying baby. Enough said.

K: Keepsake from your travels: I tend to buy practical things while I travel. A sarong in St. Thomas, a wooden bowl in Belize, sun glasses from various islands. My favorite keepsakes are the ones that I can incorporate in my every day life.

L: Let-down sight, why and where: Hmmm…. The London Eye. It cost us around $30 USD to ride The Eye for 30 minutes (see Is The London Eye Worth the Cost?) and although the views were wonderful, I would have rather spent my money on something else.

M: Moment where you fell in love with travel: Age sixteen. I was on a trip with some of my school mates that took me to France and Spain. My life hasn’t been the same since.

N: Nicest hotel you’ve stayed in: My goal is to spend as much time out of my hotel as possible so I stick with nice, small hotels. I don’t need fancy schmancy.

O: Obsession—what are you obsessed with taking pictures of while traveling?: Architecture… specifically hallways.

P: Passport stamps, how many and from where?: Not sure exactly how many. I have several from when I lived in Iceland and we would travel back and forth to America. I don’t have any stamps from the Caribbean and I don’t think they stamped my passport in Spain.

Q: Quirkiest attraction you’ve visited and where: Probably the London Dungeons. I went despite my guidebook saying that it was a complete rip off and a waste of time. The Dungeons were a unique approach to the gory part of London’s history. It touched on subjects such as Jack the Ripper, the plague, the great fire, etc through multiple mediums such as videos, a ride and skits.

R: Recommended sight, event or experience: Zip lining! This is by far my favorite thing I’ve ever done! Words cannot begin to describe how awesome it is to soar above a rain forest canopy supported only by a harness and a piece of cable. It was such an amazing experience!

S: Splurge; something you have no problem forking over money for while traveling: Museum fees. I’m such a nerd that I don’t mind shelling out the money to scope out a great collection of art or a nation’s prized historical pieces.

T: Touristy thing you’ve done: Getting a kiss at the top of the Eiffel Tower. Okay, so maybe it wasn’t quite the romantic kiss that I imagined it to be but it was a smooch none the less.

U: Unforgettable travel memory: All of them. For good and for not-so-good.

V: Visas, how many and for where?: Zilch

W: Wine, best glass of wine while traveling and where?:

There is nothing better than sipping on sangria while relaxing at a cafe in the Puerta del Sol in Madrid?

X: eXcellent view and from where?:

There is nothing more beautiful than looking out onto the Caribbean Sea from the highest point of an island, whether it be St. Thomas, St. John, St. Maarten, Antigua, Tortola, etc, etc. The contrast of greens, blues and white is spectacular!

Y: Years spent traveling?: I made a promise to myself in 2005 that I would leave the country at least once a year. So far I’ve kept that promise.

Z: Zealous sports fans and where?: It’s GREAT to be a Florida Gator!!

My New Years Resolution

Elle — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 18:14:38 +0000

So, now that I’ve given you 25 New Years Resolutions to Consider, it’s time for me to share my own resolution with you. After taking a trip out west this summer, I realized that there is so much of my own country that I have yet to explore. At the end of my trip I challenged you all to get out there and explore your own back yard. This year I have made it my goal to do just that. My New Years resolution is to explore more of America. At this point, weekends in Boston and New York are in the works. What is your New Years Resolution? Join the conversation on Facebook!

25 New Years Resolutions for you to Consider

Elle — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 05:00:56 +0000

Spend more time with your family.
Volunteer.
Redecorate one of the rooms in your house.
Get organized.
Get moving- exercise!
Take the vacation of your dreams.
Make time for yourself.
Write a book.
Give up fast food.
Visit a new country.
Learn a new language.
Give up something: alcohol, smoking, fast food, television, coffee, chocolate, toilet paper
Learn a new skill- cooking, knitting, sewing, an instrument, film editing.
De-clutter.
Discover your passion.
Save more money.
Get out of debt!
Read more books.
Run a marathon.
Live a healthier lifestyle.
Send a care package out each month.
Make a better effort to keep in touch with people.
Forgive someone.
Try 5 things that are completely out of your element.
Share your feelings

Happy Holidays

Elle — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 14:02:38 +0000

I Wanna Get Lost With You (#73)

Elle — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 13:39:52 +0000

I am a huge fan of music. Music moves me in a way nothing else can. It is how I express my thoughts, feelings and emotions. It’s how I let out my anger and my frustration. It’s how I unwind after a long day. Music is powerful.

I’ve had a bit of a tough time lately. There is a lot going on in my personal life that has caused me to be a ball of emotions. I have felt overwhelmed, love, confusion, sadness, joyfulness, loneliness, contentment, resentment, exhaustion, and an overall sense of feeling lost and unable to control what is going on in my life. I have been a wreck ya’ll. An absolute mess. And I don’t know what to do with all of these feelings so I lash out at the one person that I love more than anything. Why? Because I know that at the end of the day, they will still love me, despite the fact that I’m a basketcase.

I can’t tell you how many times I have belted a song out at the top of my lungs. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve hit repeat on a few songs. Music is my way to escape the world.

Back in October, things were starting to collapse in my world. I needed to a way to let out all of my emotions before they got the best of me.

Enter Hanson.

Hanson has been my favorite band since 1997, more than ½ of my life. In October, a friend and I drove 7 hours to see them play. That night I sang my heart out and I danced my ass off. In a room that where people were huddled together with barely any breathing room, I had about 4 feet of space to myself where I could dance along with my favorite song. The night was incredible.

Things seemed to die down a little after the show. I was able to release a lot of negative energy and felt rejuvenated, at least for a little while. After sinking 30+ hours into a school project and battling with a slew of emotions, I was in dire need of another night of singing and dancing. For Christmas, I bought my bestie a ticket to join me in Ft. Myers, FL for a gig Hanson was playing with Michelle Branch, Gavin DeGraw, Parachute and Fitz and the Tantrums.

The show served its purpose and I once again felt like I was prepared to handle everything that was going on in my life.

What moves you? What do you like to get lost in?