Monday, September 17, 2012

Pepperoni Pizza Puffs

I discovered Pinterest about 8-9 months ago and stayed up till 3 or so in the morning pinning anything and everything that I might want to do someday. And that is how it was for the first couple months of my experience with Pinterest just pinning pinning pinning. Around January/February last year it dawned on me that it was a major time consumption and simply stupid of me to just pin these things and never get around to doing them. So then I started trying the projects, in the future, I will go over and include the tutorials of my various projects but today I'm going to share just the recipe that we tried last night.. ohh it was so good! And super easy. Here it is:

Pepperoni Pizza Puffs



What you'll need:

  • 3/4 cup flour
  • 3/4 tsp baking powder
  • 1Tbsp Italian seasoning
  • pinch of salt
  • pinch of red pepper flakes (I didn't add this because my mouth burns at just the pepperoni!)
  • 3/4 cup whole milk
  • 1 egg, lightly beaten
  • 1 cup shredded Mozzarella cheese
  • 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 cup chopped pepperoni (cut pepperonis into quarters)
  • 1/2 pizza sauce 
What to do:

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Grease a muffin pan (mini or regular size).  In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, Italian seasoning, salt, & red pepper flakes; whisk in the milk and egg. Stir in the mozzarella, parmesan and pepperoni; let stand for 10 minutes.
2. Stir the batter and divide among the muffin cups. Bake until puffed and golden - approx 20-25 minutes.
3. Meanwhile, microwave the pizza sauce until warmed through. Serve the puffs with pizza sauce for dipping.


This just might be a regular in our house. Much better than frozen pizza! Oh yum.. I think I'll go warm up some of the leftovers!


Sunday, September 16, 2012

How to keep the house clean a little everyday:

Yet another list to add to my collection. Hey, its my thing :) This is a tip I learned from my best friend Melissa Anne -- A Week of Daily Cleaning Checklist. It makes life so much easier that I can do a little each day and if it doesn't get checked off I can check it off next week or the next day if I have extra time to do the item.

First thing - there are words that I hate --  'annoying' and 'moist' are a couple examples but 'chore' is definitely on the list. If I call these things 'chores' then I simply won't do them.  The word makes me feel like a child and that I won't get my allowance if I don't get my chores finished. Shoot, I am an adult. I don't have to do these things, I am choosing to check these things off the list in order to keep my home nice. (that's the end of my ranting :) ) So I call this my "To Do" list :)

Here's what we did: The words in the parenthesis aren't there, I just added them to this list so you'll know what I consider each subject to include. I like to have it typed up in a fun font so that its not so dreary and laminated (our version of DIY lamination is covering it with clear packing tape!). I make it into a "Table" with 2 columns and 3 rows so that each day has its own box except Saturday and Sunday are together.

MONDAY
__Laundry (wash,dry)
__Kitchen (dishes,counters,mail pile)
__Pets (food,walk,litter box,etc)
__Our Bedroom (make bed,pick up clothes)
__General Clean Up (living/dining area de-cluttered)
__Running/Exercise 
__Dinner Prep:__(what's for dinner?)__
__Our Bathroom (counter,mirror,sinks,toilet,shower)
__Ironing (optional ;) an almost forbidden word)

TUESDAY
__Laundry: Fold/Put Away
__Kitchen
__Pets
__Our Bedroom
__General Clean Up
__Running/Exercise
__Dinner Prep:_______________
__Vacuum/Swiffer: Downstairs
__Downstairs Bathroom


WEDNESDAY
__Laundry: 
__Kitchen
__Pets
__Our Bedroom
__General Clean Up
__Running/Exercise
__Dinner Prep:_______________
__Vacuum: Upstairs (bedrooms,hallway,office)
__Dust: Blinds, Ent Center, etc.

THURSDAY
__Laundry: Fold/Put Away
__Kitchen
__Pets
__Our Bedroom
__General Clean Up
__Running/Exercise
__Dinner Prep:_______________
__Our Bathroom
__Guest Room: Sheets/Dust

FRIDAY
__Kitchen
__Pets
__Our Bedroom
__General Clean Up
__Running/Exercise
__Dinner Prep:_______________
__Clean Garage
__Organize Closets

SATURDAY
__Pets
__Running/Exercise
__Change Bedroom Sheets
__Craftiness / Pinterest Projects
SUNDAY
__Kitchen
__Pets
__Garbage/Recycling, Coupons


Post Vacation Thoughts

So my previous post included an easy to follow running regime, totally thought I had it in the bag. Only now, it is more than 2 weeks later, and I have yet to go on another run... I realized that I had not planned the timing of starting a new work out routine very well. We left for a camping trip the morning that my 2nd run was supposed to take place, smart huh? The morning of a trip (at least, for me) consists of me running around like a chicken with its head cut off trying to cross everything off my lists and playing tetris to fit everything in our little car, all by the time that we need to leave. And then when I got there - the last thing I wanted to do when I wouldn't see a shower for 4 days was to go for a run. And by the time I came home from the trip, I had forgotten all about it! Whoops! Oh well, I'm going to try it again this week, starting tomorrow morning. YES!

I am also going to start taking some classes at Fit Plus Training center. I found a great deal a few weeks ago for 20 of their fitness classes for only $29 on Living Social. Living Social has tons of great local deals that you can choose from every day. I use their app on my iPhone and I assume they have an app for other smart phones as well. If you're looking to join a gym or get a massage or something, keep an eye on this website for a great discount!

This week's goals:
Run 3 times
Go to at least 2 fitness classes
Finish the first 1/3 of Baby G's blanket

Here we go!