Obsessions + Confessions

Hiya!

Time for another edition of my current obsessions + confessions. I love these posts. Hope you do too!


Justified is back on! Is Raylan Givens not the epitome of manness? My family grew up in Harlan, KY :)

One more Christmas obsession.... before I have to wait another 11 months.... this Winter Berry Salad Wreath w/ Lemon Poppyseed Dressing... omgomg!

Homemade marshmallows are on my bucket list. Dip em in chocolate and toasted coconut and call it a day.

Girl Scout cookie season is upon us! Mmm, homemade Black Bottom Samoa Cookie Bars.

This Chocolate Crepe Cake is a foodie masterpiece!

This Smoked Salmon Spread would be a nice addition to your Super Bowl roundup. What are you all making for the big day?

This gorgeous White Pizza could be my Friday night date. All the cheeses!

New Oreo flavors coming out soon. Can not wait.

And Red Velvet M&Ms? She seriously has all the scoop! Need these in my life like stat. 

Still trying to find these bad boys too. Why yes those are chocolate covered Lay's potato chips.

Is it just me or is everyone just overreacting a tad to the Seahawk's Sherman's rant? Really, a thug? It's football! It was the heat of the moment and he just won the NFC championship! I guess I'm just used to the smack talk cuz I watch so much UFC. Poor lil Erin Andrews looked so uncomfortable though lol. 

This deaf NFL player inspired a little girl, and he took the time to let her know how much she inspired him too. Can we just talk about how times have changed? You don't even have to mail a letter anymore... just post it on twitter. Try to ignore the grown man's spelling errors though... which was hard for me cuz I'm a grammar nut! Grammar aside, it's a sweet story.






I hope it snows tomorrow and they cancel my class and I don't have to take my midterm. Fingers crossed! 

And now I want a pet baby lamb.




Peace, and bacon grease!

Spinach and Artichoke Dip

Can I just tell you how happy I am to be healthy again!?

Last week was the week from hell. I was so sick, throwing up for days and missed a bunch of work and my first week back to school. I never thought Gatorade and water could taste so good when I could finally keep it down.

And now I'm finally back to eating foods!

I slowly but surely crawled my way back into a bacon and sushi-filled life. It's good because I was missing the old me! 

And just in time for The Secret Recipe Club and to make and enjoy this delicious dip from Rachel at The Avid Appetite. She's the cutest! I really enjoyed reading her blog and getting to know her better... sounds like we both share a love of food, our men, and trying new restaurants! I bet we'd be good friends.

Plus the girl knows how to cook a mean dip. That's the kinda friend you definitely want by your side.
 





Spinach and Artichoke Dip
adapted from The Avid Appetite

• 1 teaspoon olive oil
• 1 medium yellow onion, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 10 oz fresh spinach, rinsed, drained, and chopped
• 1 (14 oz) can artichoke hearts, chopped
• 1/2 cup milk
• 8 oz cream cheese, softened
• a few dashes of Frank's Red Hot Sauce
• 1 cup shredded or grated parmesan cheese, divided
• salt and freshly ground black pepper
• tortilla chips, crackers, veggies and more for dipping
• cooking spray

In a large saucepan, heat the oil over medium heat. Saute onions until soft, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and saute for 1 minute more. Mix in the spinach & artichokes and heat through. Transfer to a bowl and set aside.

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. 

Meanwhile, add milk to the saucepan and warm over low heat, being careful not to boil the milk. Whisk in the softened cream cheese. Mix the spinach mixture back into the milk mixture. Add 1/2 cup parmesan cheese, hot sauce, salt and pepper. Mix well and pour into a baking dish lightly greased with cooking spray. Top with remaining 1/2 cup parmesan cheese and bake for 20 minutes or until lightly browned and bubbly.


Printable Recipe

This is the perfect dip for the big game coming up! Who are you guys rooting for? I love me some Peyton Manning :)





 



Linking up here.
 

Peace, and bacon grease!

Leftover Carnitas Grilled Cheese Melt

Remember those glorious Crockpot Carnitas I told you about the other day?

And I was all proud that I thought of using the leftovers to make a grilled cheese? (It's the little things that make me feel accomplished, people)!

Well, here it is.

Leftover carnitas + sliced avocado make for the perfect grilled cheese.

Use however much carnitas per sandwich that you desire. I suggest not overdoing it on the meat on each sandwich... you wanna be able to taste all that ooey gooey oozing cheese! It is a grilled cheese, after all. I used 2 slices of pepper jack cheese per sandwich like I usually would for my grilled cheeses, but I think I put just a bit too much carnitas on it because I wanted more cheese!!!

And use whatever kind of Mexican cheese you like. Monterey jack, pepper jack, or even get fancy with some Manchego. Whatever you do, don't skimp on the cheese!


Leftover Carnitas Grilled Cheese Melt
a SteakNPotatoesKindaGurl original

*Yields: 2 sandwiches

• leftover Crockpot Carnitas
• 4 slices of bread
• 3-4 tablespoons butter, melted
• sliced Mexican cheese (pepper jack, monterey jack, Manchego, whatever you'd like!)
• 1 avocado, sliced

Dip one side of each slice of bread in melted butter. To make two sandwiches at once, place 2 slices, butter-side down in a preheated large skillet. Top with cheese slice(s), carnitas, avocado slices, cheese slice(s), then a slice of bread with butter side up. Flip both to brown on other side.


Printable Recipe









































I'm gonna make these again and again. Not only because I need a better photo with oozy melted cheese, but because I LOVE LOVE LOVE these carnitas and the possibilities with them! I can't wait to get creative with more ideas.

Flavorful, tender, melt-in-your-mouth pork goodness with that perfect balance of crispiness, paired with tons of cheese and creamy avocado on a comforting grilled cheese sandwich. Done done and done.

Linking up here.


Peace, and bacon grease!

Crockpot Carnitas

It's a new year and thus time for new recipes! 








































I got a giant 6-quart slow cooker for Christmas from my mama-in-law and have been determined to use it! First on the list.... crockpot carnitas.

Cooked all day in a blend of seasonings and lime juice, orange juice, and beer. There's all kinds of flavor bursting from this oh-so-tender pork. You best believe it.

At first, I didn't leave it under the broiler long enough, and it didn't really get crispy and just tasted like delicious pulled pork. I kept wondering, "what makes this carnitas and not pulled pork?!" Hello, google. I googled carnitas and found out that it's actually supposed to be the perfect balance of tender and crispy pork... tender because it's slow cooked for hours in the crockpot, and crispy because of a little *broilage. #myownDesilanguage.

So yeah, broil that pork! Seriously, it's amazing. To be so perfectly tender yet have that perfect amount of crisp... it's like magic.


Pure pork magic.





































Crockpot Carnitas
ever-so-slightly adapted from Pinch of Yum

• 4-5 lbs. pork shoulder picnic
• 5 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon salt
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 teaspoon oregano
• 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1 tablespoon hot sauce
• juice of 2 limes
• 1/2 cup orange juice
• 12 ounces beer (I used Yuengling lager)
• 1/2 cup salsa (I used a chipotle salsa)

Place the pork shoulder in the crockpot. Rub minced garlic into the meat. Season meat with all seasonings and rub into the pork on all sides. 

Add hot sauce, lime juice, orange juice, beer, and salsa to the crockpot. Cover and cook on low for 8 hours, or on high for less but check the temperature after 4-5 hours. It should be at an internal temp of 155-160 degrees. 

Shred meat with two forks directly in the crockpot. It should fall apart easily and be tender. 

Preheat broiler. Place the shredded meat on a baking sheet and pour a few spoonfuls of sauce over top. Broil for 5-10 minutes, until the edges of the pork are browned a bit and a little crispy. Keep an eye on the broiler though and don't stray too far!

Printable Recipe














































If you want, you can serve it on tortillas with fresh cilantro, avocado, and a squeeze of lime juice like we did  :) Or just eat it straight up. It's that good.

Oooh, oooh! And you can use leftover carnitas in so many things! Just google 'leftover carnitas recipes' and you'll find some good ideas. My idea though? How about a carnitas grilled cheese? :) It'll be on the blog here soon. I'm the least creative person eva eva, so I was kinda proud when I thought of that idea and didn't see it already invented and showing up all over the world wide web. Not that I really invented it... it's just a grilled cheese with some carnitas thrown on top + a little something extra. No biggie, really. 

Except it is.

Prepare your bellies. I warned you.

*broilage: (noun) the act of crisping food in a broiler. 

Linking up here.

Peace, and bacon grease!

Obsessions + Confessions

Hello hello hello!

It's a new year, folks. And with a new year, comes new wishes for this blog. I really really really hope to blog more often this year and share more recipes. That's my main blog goal. More recipes. More posts. More often. I think I can handle that. After all, it is how I love spending the little bit of leisure time I have. So here's to more recipes and posts this year! Hold me to that, k?

Time for some of my current obsessions and confessions. You ready?

Yeah, Christmas is over. But you can't tell me you don't still want this gorgeous Christmas Trifle with Layered Jelly. Don't even try to tell me that.  

First new years resolution: learn to make macarons. Second new years resolution: for next new year's eve, make these glorious New Year's Eve Macarons! I've never tasted a single macaron and I am obsessed, is that crazy?

Sweet Potato Bites with Avocado and Bacon. Say whaaaaaat?

These meatballs are the most elegant meatballs that ever existed. Those photos!

No-Bake White Chocolate Cranberry Cheesecake. My life just got 100 times better.  

Scones + Maple Glaze + Nuts. I needn't say more.

It's fr-fr-freezing outside! I can't handle it. Everything should be closed! Can that be the rule? I just want to stay inside and curl up on my couch with the heater pouring 75 degree heat all over me. Like literally, the space heater placed directly in front of my spot on the couch. And inhale a warm, comforting bowl of this Panera Bread Broccoli Cheddar Soup.

"Every young man needs an Uncle Phil." - Will Smith. And this scene. Gets.me.every.time. R.I.P. Uncle Phil!




Ok now that you're crying, how about some hilariousness?

I need these adorable Scallop-Tied Booties in my life like yesterday. At a lower price.

Let's just forget that the Bengals even played this Sunday. Or this season. Trying to forget.... still trying... damn it I can't forget. CAN WE PLEASE JUST WIN ONE FREAKING PLAYOFF GAME?!?!??!?!?!!?!? Ok all done. If you've been a Bengals fan for any amount of time, you feel my pain. 

The Bachelor started this week!!!! JUAN PABLO!! That tribute to my girl Gia was pretty sad though. 

I started a new tumblr account! It's mainly fashion-based and all things I find pretty and inspirational. Come check me out :) Any ideas on a cool tumblr name that's not already taken? It's almost impossible to find a cool name that's not already taken.

What are your guys' new years resolutions? I don't really have any when it comes to losing weight and blah blah blah, I've tried that too many times. My main goals for the year are things like improving my home and goals for the blog. And more budgeting sounds good. Are you pro- or anti-resolutions?

Recipes coming soon, promise!

Peace, and bacon grease!

 

2013 thru Instagram

Here's a look back at 2013 through my instagram. I love the song for the video too and think it fits well. My life can be pretty boring, but looking back through these pictures reminds me of the people I love, the hobby I love doing (cooking!), and the accomplishments I've achieved this year. 

 

And I couldn't be happier.

 

 

And here's the link since this video is so small. (Does anyone know how to make this video bigger without losing quality?)

 

http://flipagram.com/f/hew1EL8man#

Here's to hoping 2014 is just as prosperous!

 
Peace, and bacon grease!

SteakNPotatoesKindaGurl's Best of 2013

Hey yall! 




2013 was a good year, wasn't it? 

This past year marked 13 years with the love of my life. 

I made more progress towards earning my Masters degree and started counseling real actual clients!

I rekindled friendships with long lost childhood friends and made some new friends. 

I was asked to attend a few foodie blogger events.

I discovered my obsession with instagram and posted more on my Facebook page.

My food photography improved a bit and I FINALLY got accepted on Foodgawker!

Only bad thing? I haven't been blogging as much! And it's hurting my soul! Despite my lack of posting, I still have got to bring you SteakNPotatoesKindaGurl's Best of 2013!!! These are my personal faves, not necessarily the most popular, because I don't understand my stats page lol. Ready, set, go!


Avocado Bacon and Eggs





Bacon and Roasted Garlic Guacamole





Chipotle Ranch Dip

Pineapple Salsa





Tequila Marinated Grilled Chicken + Guacamole Tacos

Grilled Mexican Pizza






Bacon Spinach Cheese Ball

Strawberry and Blueberry Cheesecake Parfaits

Mashed Potatoes with Bacon and Caramelized Onions





Grilled Corn with Chipotle Butter and Lime Salt






Roasted Jalapeno Margarita






Savory Baked Pumpkin Flautas





S'mores Bites





I didn't review many restaurants this year, though I certainly did my fair share of dining out in 2013! Here are a few of the Best Restaurants Reviewed in 2013!

Hops House 99






Firehouse Subs






Final Cut Steakhouse - Sam Adams Beer Pairing Dinner





Here's to a fantastic 2014 filled with love, laughter, and good food :)

Happy New Year, friends.


Peace, and bacon grease!