I Got Inked

I've known for years that I wanted to get a tattoo - probably since sometime in high school. Over the years I changed my mind about what I wanted, where it should go, etc. Because I kept changing my mind, I never actually got one. I figured if I thought of a tattoo idea and it stuck with me for more than a short while, that's how I would know the time was right to get one.

I finally found an idea that stuck with me for more than a week.

Smokey Mesquite BBQ Kraft Fresh Take Review

By now I've sampled several of the Kraft Fresh Take line of cheese and breadcrumb mixes. I haven't reviewed all of the ones I've tried, but I did share my thoughts on the Italian Parmesan version.

We tried the Smokey Mesquite BBQ version on boneless pork chops. The directions are pretty much the same on all packages so we just followed what temperature/time/etc. the directions said. However, since I've done this a few times I've learned to only coat the top and sides (if it's a thick enough cut of meat) with the coating, NOT THE BOTTOM! Even if I put foil down and spray it with cooking spray, the bottom ends up burnt and kind of gross most of the time. Instead of wasting that coating, I just pile it up on top.

After baking for the correct amount of time, it looks like this:

We had it with mashed potatoes and a huge salad that night.

So now I bet you're wondering how it actually tasted. It was actually pretty good. I'd probably put it as second favorite, only to be outdone by Southwest Three Cheese. It had the BBQ taste down for sure and with the hint of cheesy goodness...YUM! I imagine this being a great topping for chicken, especially if you're in an area that gets especially cold winters like we do in Ohio and you find yourself craving something reminiscent of summer. This just might do the trick! It's got a great BBQ sauce taste without all the mess and without having to fire up a grill.

Another great benefit of all the Fresh Take flavors I've tried, regardless of whether or not I liked the actual flavor, is that they do an amazing job at locking the moisture in the meat. I have yet to overcook or dry out a piece of chicken with this coating on it, nor have I turned pork chops into thin, crispy, very crunchy "bat wings*" that they can sometimes turn into if you don't keep an eye on them.

Have you tried any of the Kraft Fresh Take flavors? Which is your favorite?

*"bat wings" refers to a scene in the movie The Three Amigos where the guys are eating bat wings in the dessert. As children, my sister and I thought our mom's pork chops sometimes resembled these bat wings.

10 Things I Miss About Chicago

Some of you may know, but most of you probably don't, that I spent my first two years of undergrad at a university in Chicago. Coming from small town Ohio this was a HUGE step, but one I felt I was ready for. Even though I ended up transferring back home to be closer to family, I don't look back at my experiences there with regret, I actually look back and wish I'd had more!

The city was so exciting and there was always SOMETHING to do somewhere - both on campus and off. I was thinking back recently and it's been 10 years since I left (Holy cow time moves fast!) and probably 8 or so since I've been back. I miss the city dearly and there are probably way more than 10 things I miss, but these are the top things.

It's worth mentioning that these are in no particular order.

Braided/Beaded Bracelet - Project Pinspiration #7

The picture for this Project Pinspiration idea is super long, sorry about that!

And here's how mine turned out:

March 2013 Favorites - Beauty, Craft, Food and Lifestyle

[Insert quips about the month going too fast, the year flying by, etc.]

This month when I was walking around my house trying to remember all the things I had been using and loving in March, I realized I need a better system. Maybe I'll start a list somewhere when I have that "I need to share this in my monthly favorites" thought and add to it as the month goes on. I have no idea, but something has to be better than just wandering around the house looking for things.

Beauty

Homemade Lip Gloss/Balm

I got this as part of a Christmas stocking from my bosses at work and I've been loving it ever since. I have no idea what they made it out of, but it works great when my lips are super chapped. Over the last month or so I've been having quite a bit of dental work - which is what happens when you don't go to the dentist for a few years - and that has been really drying out my lips. If I put this on right after I'm done at the dentist, my lips don't get gross and peely or flaky.