Clean Up

I am happy to report I finally cleaned our computer area in our media room. This is what it looked like before I got to it:



Papers all over the place, things stacked on top of each other. No place to sit... this is hardly a work space. After an hour of sorting and sifting, I finally got it to a place where I can finally not twitch every time I pass by it.

Turkey Meatloaf w/ sauteed Spaghetti Squash Recipes

Turkey Meatloaf (serves 6)

1.25 lbs ground lean turkey
1 egg
1/8 cup bread crumbs
1/2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 tsp Seasoning Salt
1 tsp Paprika
1.5 tbsp water
2 tbsp Parmesan cheese

1. Preheat oven 350°F.
2. Mix ingredients together
3. Spray cupcake pan and place mix into cups.
4. Bake for 40 minutes, until golden brown.

Serve with a touch of BBQ sauce for an extra little kick!


Sauteed Butter Herb Spaghetti Squash

1 small Spaghetti squash
1 tablespoons I can't believe it's not butter
1 tablespoons finely chopped mixed soft herbs, such as basil, chives, parsley and sage
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1. Preheat oven 375°F.
2. Cut squash down in half and with a spoon, take out the seeds.
3. Lightly spray it Pam and place on pan in the oven. Bake for 20 minutes, or until brown. (goes faster in a toaster oven).
4. Once baked, set it aside to cool.
5. In a pan, heat up the rest of the ingredients
6. When able to touch it, using a fork or spoon, gently pull the strands of squash away from the peel and place the squash strands into the pan.
7. Toss squash around to get coated.
8. Serve immediately or cover to keep warm.

Results:




Nutrition
Turkey Meatloaf (Per Serving)



Sauteed Butter Herb Spaghetti Squash (Per Serving)

Trail Mix

We're big snackers at the planner household. While at the farmer's market, the hubby asked if we could get fruit for trail mix. We bought some apples and bananas, and used the peaches we already had at the house. After cutting everything up we put them in the dehydrater. This is one of our favorite random kitchen gadgets! After 12+ of waiting, everything was done. Once we took everything off the racks, we packaged it up in small little baggies. Also in the trail mix is our homemade granola, serving of almonds (salted), a few chocolate chips, a few peanut butter chips, and a small pinch of walnuts.








Ohhh sooo good! Do you make snacks at home?

Honey-Balsamic Chicken Recipe

If you're looking for something super easy to make in advance, this is a good one!

Honey-Balsamic Chicken

2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon honey
12 oz of lean chicken breast (about 4 chicken cutlets)
A few dashes of Poultry Seasoning, Seasoning Salt
1 Garlic clove (minced)



1. Mix wet ingredients together with garlic
2. Place chicken in pan and season it.
3. Pour mixture on top of chicken and cover it. Let it sit overnight.
4. When ready to bake, preheat oven to 375°F and bake fore 20 minutes (or until brown).

This goes great with sauteed veggies or sweet potatoes!

Outcome:


Nutrition
Honey-Balsamic Chicken (per serving)

Random facts

It's been a while since i posted some random facts about lil 'ol me so here goes:

I've begun planning another big vacation. Between now and when we actually go on said trip I think we will have gone on two other small trips. :)

On my desk are tickets to Knott's Scary Farm. I've been there 9 years, and will be going my 10th time!

I currently have 15 magazines at home I haven't touched.

My favorite NEW show this summer was The Colony. We LOVE LOVE LOVED IT!

This weekend is the annual garage clean up. During this time, all seven boxes (yes 7!) of Halloween goodies will be brought down from the rafters!

I'm in desperate need to a closet clean up. I keep adding things but have yet to take things out to give away

My favorite shoes in the world are a pair of 5 inch heels. They are soo comfy! Kudos to Michael Kors on the designing them!

Second favorite pair are black flip flops

I've sketched out 5 different landscape designs for the backyard. I can't wait till it's December so we can start the remodel!!!

I love to read my Google reader while I'm working out.

I get anxiety when I don't have a lunch made for work the night before. It's the OCD in me!

Have a fabulous Thursday!!!

To Do List before Oct 09 -- Update #1

This month is a cooking to-do list.

1. Cook 30 meals (includes breakfast, lunch, and dinner) -- 22 meals!!!
2. Post 10 homemade recipes --2 posted, 4 more ready to post
3. Use 10 new ingredients -This didn't really happen. I will move this till next month
4. Crack open recipe books and cook from each of them at least once -- I choose to look online for inspirations
5. Re-organize kitchen cabinets (it's a thing to do every 6 months) 6 down, 6 to go!

Off the Rack and Into my Closet

Lately I've been buying some pieces to fit into my wardrobe. One thing I love about fall are the colors. I'm not talking about reds and browns, I'm talking deep purples and greys. With my first swing at using polyvore, here are some things I want to rip off the screen and toss into my closet!

lmp1 by lilmissplanner featuring Anthropologie

Included are a few staples of mine: leather jacket, handbag, and killer heels! You know I love my heels. The taller the better I say!

Have you started to update your wardrobe yet and ifso, what is your favorite new thing?

Another event to add to the calendar...

I'm one of those people who LOVE LOVE LOVE to have an active calendar. Every weekend has some sort of event or party on it. When days come around where we are home alone we cherish it. In any case, I'm always on the lookout for new and exciting things to do. One of the things the hubby and I said we wanted to do is go to some holiday performance. Okay, the hubby is just going along with it but I know the one I found will be an extra special treat!



At the Disney Concert hall, the Preservation Hall Jazz Band from NOLA are performing a Creole Christmas! We saw them during Christmas time two years ago right after we got engaged. We sat on the floor and clapped to the music. We laughed with our fellow guests and took in the history of this place. It was one of the best evenings on the trip.

I know this is a few months away but I love the idea of starting off our holiday vacation with something like this.

photo source