Whats on the Menu tonight!

Yummy Yummy in my Tummy

So since we have been on our own I have started cooking so much more.  Ever night it is simple recipes like hamburgers, hamburger mac, steaks on the George foreman, etc. but I have also been on the search for new recipes and Pinterest lead me to an Oven Fried Chicken Recipe which was amazing.  I did however give it a little twist of my own and I know one thing I will never waste my money on shake and bake ever again.

Other than all the cooking and cleaning I have really been enjoying leaving on my own.  I also have been enjoying our pool at the apartment.  Soon we will start the gym here, we got the key today, and I am super excited to get back into shape.  We have all become comfortable at our new home even my baby girl aurora has finally settled in :).

Aurora Jade Eddy

 For now here are a couple recipes for you to try.

Oven Fried Chicken:

2 Boneless Chicken Breast cut into strips (make about 6 strips)
Milk
1 egg
Cayenne pepper
Granulated garlic (or Garlic powder)
Season All (I used LA creole seasoning which I prefer over Tony's
Salt
1 Cup of all Purpose Flour
1/2 stick of butter
9 x 13 inch baking pan
Pam or any kind of cooking spray

Whats great about these ingredients is that every Cajun home has these on hand or at least most of it.

Steps:

1) In a large enough bowl pour about 2 1/2 cups of milk. Add your egg, 1 tsp of salt, 1 tbsp of Cayenne, and 1 tbsp of Granulated garlic.  Whisk the ingredients together and set aside.

2)  Next if you have not done so yet clean up your chicken breast and cut each into 3 strips (if your chicken breast are small you may only be able to cut them into 2).  Then use the seasonings above except the season all to season your chicken to your liking (easy on the Cayenne if you do not want it to be spicy).  Add your seasoned chicken to the seasoned egg and milk mixture.  Let the chicken soak about 20 to 30 mins.  So in other words go get some of your daily house work done :).

3) Cut your stick of butter into thin slices and spread along your pan.  Preheat your oven at 400 degrees.  Place your pan of butter into the oven as it preheats in order for the butter to melt.  Once the butter is fully melted take it out of the oven.  Make sure that your butter is evenly spread across your pan.  Spray with Pam to insure that your chicken will not stick to the pan.

4) In another large bowl (Ziploc bag)  add 1 cup of flour, 1 tbsp of your choice of Season All, 1 tsp of cayenne, and 1 tsp of granulated garlic;  whisk together (shake ziploc bag to mix the flour and seasonings together). You may add more of each seasoning if you prefer or are like me and always just eyeball your measuring.

5) Coat your chicken breast strips with the seasoned flour mixture.  Make sure that it is evenly coated and that you shake off the excess flour before placing into your buttery pan.

6)  Once your chicken is coated and placed into the pan pop it into the oven for 20 mins (use your kitchen timer) then once your first 20 mins are up flip each strip and cook for another 20 mins.  Then is time to grub.

                         

This recipe was a hit, my boy friend kept complementing me on how good it was. So in Cajun terms it was  Ça c'est bon! But belive me if you try this you will never buy Shake and Bake again.  The chicken comes out nice and crispy (yes not as crispy as good old fried chicken but still).  I will be making this more often that is for sure.

Well I know I promised you guys two recipes but I'm not sure if I am ready to share my fettuccine recipe yet. Plus I need to get my house work done because it will not get itself done.  So guys look out for my next blog because hopefully I will be getting my things together to make my own soy candles and I will share with yall how they came out.  I can not wait to get the oils in like lavender, Victorian rose, gardenia, and coconut :) super excited to start on those. 

As always I hope you guys enjoy my latest post.  If you do try this recipe please let me know how it turns out.  

XOXO

       

      Janice :)

Week One

Week one:

It amazes me how fast our first week on our own has passed.  Although we hit a few bumps in the road we are working on them.  We are settling in and although I am not 100% sure about this city living I am enjoying the freedom of being on my own.  Even though I do miss my mom and family very much (love you guys).

Tonight we are just relaxing and enjoy each others company and waiting for the AC to work.  We called maintenance and to my surprise they came right away and fixed us up for the night and will send someone tomorrow to check out the problem.   I mean it is almost summer and there was no way in hell we could of slept with out it. I can not wait to go back visit tomorrow and get some home cooking (I miss some good rice and gravy).  So far we have cooked burgers, marinated meat, meat loaf, fajitas, and hamburger helper.  All where delicious but not my mom or granny's cooking.

Its the little things I miss. But its not like I'm in another state. Most of all I miss my baby boy Helix James (aussie).  I hate that we had to leave him behind but his dad is highly allergic to him and apartment life would not be for him. Aurora is stressing me out enough she is fine when we are home but when we are gone she has a panic attack   as a pet mommy I hate knowing my babies are under stress.  

If anyone knows anything of how to help aurora adjust please comment.  If anyone just wants to leave a lovely comment please do.  As always love you guys

XOXO

:)

moved OUT & moved IN

On My Own!

So since my last post we have moved out and moved into our own place.  Our cozy little abode is coming along slowly but surely.  It is exciting and exhausting moving out between the packing, loading, unloading, and unpacking but it has been worth it.

The morning we arrived we began unloading the remainder of the boxes that we had not brought over the night before.  I have to say I never realized how much stuff I had.  I mean a trailer full and 4 truck loads is a little excessive but I'm a women what do you expect.

Our first night was fun and nerve racking.  Our little Shih-Tzu Aurora is not adjusting as well as I hoped but she will in time.  I on the other hand, will need a few nights to get use to living in the city because this country girl is use to pitch black rooms and quite nights.  I am hopping that covering the window with covers will help for now.

Our first grocery trip was a success a little bit crazy but it was fun we got a lot of good stuff and now we have a pantry full.  We also finished getting our kitchen supplies which allowed me to set up our kitchen.  Next is our living room.  Although we have our furniture set up our walls are empty and it needs to feel more like a home so  tomorrow we will set up our pictures as we wait for our guest to come over for dinner.

Well just wanted to post a update to let everyone know we are doing well.

Goodnight All
XOXO

Janice

Expected/Unexpected Changes of Life

Life as I knew It.....

About a month ago my life took on some drastic changes.  At first the changes were exciting because me and my boy friend began looking into apartments and finally found one we both agreed was the best place for us to begin a new chapter in our lives.  With the new apartment came the excitement of buying stuff for my own place like kitchen supplies and furniture.  The furniture had to be the best part  because even though me and my guy have totally different taste (me more retro, him way more classic and modern) we agreed on our lovely living room set the minute we saw it.  Other than the anxiety of me moving out and being on my own things where great.  But then the unexpected happened on the early afternoon of April 15,2013 and no I am not referring to what happened in Boston; this was something that hit home an unexpected tragedy.   

On this Monday I was doing my normal routine at work until I got an odd text from my boyfriend. The text read "Call Me Now"  me of course thinking him and his best friend got into some kind of trouble was expecting some long funny story and how they got out of it.  But when I called him he was in the lobby at work which had me confused but when he spoke the words of the tragedy my family was just handed my knees felt weak, my stomach was sick, and my mind was in disbelief.  The news he gave to me was something I would never have imagined would of happened.  On that day I was reminded that great people are taken away from us way to soon.  On that day I lost my cousin Damein Andre Johnson and since then things have not been the same.

I miss him so much every day.  I wake up thinking about him and go to bed wondering why this happened why he had to go. Why was life so difficult for him?  I try not to dwell on it, try to act like I'm ok and that it doesn't hurt as bad as it actually does.  I think about what my family is going through especially his parents. But more so his sister because although she is one of the strongest people I know, I know she is hurting and its hard to know there is nothing any of us can do to take away their pain.  I will try and remain strong for my family and to keep that smile on my face like D kept on his.  I know I have to move on with my life, I know that I will never not think of him and how his life ended way to soon. 

I am taking things day by day.  This week however has been more difficult then I thought it would of been.  The reason is because it was finals week at school (the last place I saw him) and I knew he was suppose to be there studying and working hard to finish his first year of college.  I am also feeling a little guilty for living my family even though I am just moving 30 mins away but I am so close to them and I know they need me.  I also feel guilty for leaving my mom because it has be just me and her for so long but she knows I am always her baby girl and that I love her with all my heart and soul.

On the other hand I am excited about starting my life with my wonderful boyfriend.  He has been amazing through everything.  We move this coming Wednesday.  I'm excited but I want my family to know that I am just a phone call away and that we will make it through this because we are strong.  We have our ups and downs but what family doesn't.  

Life as I know it is changing there is some parts I can not control but others I can and I will make the best of everything that has been sent my way because god will give me the strength to get through this.

XOXO

Janice

RIP DJ

Damein, Me, Danni, Ronny, Sammi, Colin, Micah

My amazing cousins!