A Colorful Kitchen for Christmas!

Looking forward to 2014 - it's sure to be filled with lots of seasoning, mixing, baking, and eating!

Like everyone else, we'll be looking to get leaner and meaner in the new year, and it'll be tough with all my new kitchen gadgets begging to be coated in sugary, buttery goodness.

I also got a new collection of delicious-smelling Yankee Candles for my office. I have the best sister.

Here's a look at them and the bright, new items and carousels in my kitchen:

"Magnificent" Homemade Loaded Baked Potato Soup

This is not a recipe for low-fat, no-fat, or lean potato soup. This is your grandma's thick, hearty, fattening, fill-you-up potato soup that doesn't hold punches. You've been warned.

Homemade Loaded Baked Potato Soup

Ingredients:

8 slices of bacon roughly chopped into small bits
3/4 cup of butter
2/3 cup all-purpose flour
6 cups milk (I use whole milk)
6 medium russet potatoes or 4 large baking potatoes, baked, peeled and cubed (I leave about 1/2 the skins on)
1/2 cup chopped green onions, additional for garnish
1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese, additional for garnish
1 cup sour cream
1 box/container of chicken broth (I think it's a quart?)

Directions:

In large stock pot on medium heat, brown bacon bits and reserve some for toppings. Leave remaining bacon bits and grease in the pot. Add the butter and stir until melted. Whisk in flour slowly, and continue to stir for smooth consistency. Once all flour is added, stir for an additional 2 minutes.

Begin adding milk one cup at a time, slowly. Whisk each cup into the flour and fat mixture as it's poured in. Cool or cold milk will cause the roux to thicken momentarily, so continue to whisk/stir to keep clumps out of the base.

When all milk is incorporated, add diced potatoes and green onions. At this point, I add about 2 cups of chicken broth as well to keep the soup from being too thick. Bring the soup to a boil, then simmer on low. Add the cup of cheese, cup of sour cream, and any additional chicken broth to reach desired consistency.

The soup is like lava, so I caution you to not serve it immediately, but let it sit for a moment.

Add sour cream, cheese, bacon bits, and green onions as a garnish. Salt and pepper as desired.

Enjoy!

The soup will thicken as it sits, but I just pour more chicken broth into the mix and give it a stir if needed.

I think croutons would be  great addition as well, but we enjoyed it all by its lonesome.

A Note About Faith & Religion Following a Jehovah's Witness Visit

I've been waiting to post this, because I didn't want to just fire off a couple sentences late at night on Facebook. I wanted to take a little more time and write a blog post. Here we go.

Last weekend, we got a knock on the door and put Bravo away before he could chew the door off its hinges. An older woman and a younger boy dressed in a suit stood out front holding brochures and a Bible. JWs. And I have Halloween decor out and about. Sweet.

I'm never rude, and I rarely turn away Witnesses from my door without talking to them a bit. I figure they have pretty rough mornings with people ignoring them, making rude comments, etc. There's usually a kid along for the ride, so I like to show them how caring, compassionate human beings act. It takes guts to go door to door and talk about your faith no matter who you are, so I will step outside, smile, and indulge them.

The situation and question they present is always something like "There are a lot of bad things going on right now in our world. What do you think causes those things, and why doesn't God help? Do you think God wants those bad things to happen?"

No matter the answer I give, the next step is for them to read a few verses from the Bible about these awful things coming to pass and Jehovah preparing us for the end times.

I always accept the recent Watchtower from them (the brochure they carry), but I also let them know FIRMLY, that we are of the Baptist faith, and we believe in the Bible's teachings, including Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and as the Holy Spirit - something JWs deny. Sometimes, I get a look up and down. Sometimes an eye roll. Other times, they're just fine with it and ask me about the military t-shirt I'm wearing or compliment me on a pretty German Shepherd dog.

It's the eye rolls, awful looks, and the aggressive ministry that sometimes follows even AFTER I've stated my strong faith that questions their tactics.

No matter your beliefs or mine, I'm willing to have a conversation about faith or non-faith with anyone. Anytime. My walk is different than yours, and if you can just be a good person, you're doing better than most. I really believe that. So I don't judge people for their religious beliefs, but I do get upset when you come to my house, I'm more than gracious to you, and you take advantage of that kindness by continuing to push after I've said my peace. There are enough people out there who think Christians are nutjobs who believe in things they can't see because a book written by men says so. In my opinion, we don't need religious people telling other religious people they're wrong for what they do.

So, whether you're a rattlesnake evangelist, Catholic, atheist, voodoo witch doctor, or otherwise, come to my door and I'll answer. Talk to me. Have a conversation. Let's teach each other. But don't look at me or treat me like I'm lesser than you or like I'm a lost soul because my faith is not the same as yours.

I don't think that's what sharing this earth is all about. :)

A Sweet Deal: Yankee Candle Small Tumblers Only $8 When You Buy 3

This should almost be a "Triple M Favorite Things" post. I LOVE candles. Specifically, I LOVE Yankee Candles. I received an email notification this morning that for the next 3 days, you can get their small tumblers (normally $15.99) for $8 when you buy 3 or more!

Use the promo code TUM13, or click the image above. My discount was automatically applied, but be sure it applies for you as well. I've got Farmers Market, Autumn Wreath, and Apple Cider in my cart now. I think I'm ready to make the leap into autumn-scented candles since it seems the cooler weather is here to stay. :)

Enjoy the savings! Let me know if you order - I want to know your scent choices!

Triple M Favorites: Quaker Real Medleys Oatmeal

Just taking some time to point out another favorite of mine. Today, I'm thankful for Quaker Real Medleys. Once the lid is off, you add boiling water to the fill line, cover it and let it sit, then dig in! Unlike Quaker Instant Oatmeal, this isn't oat mush with weird, spongy fruit squares. Depending on the flavor you grab, you could have real almond slices, pistachios, apples, cherries, and multigrains.

Honesty time: I skip breakfast. OFTEN. I know I shouldn't, but I've always been that way. When I get hungry in the mornings, I am so happy when I have one of these cups to grab. I use the hot water dispenser on the office coffee maker, and I'm ready to go. The flavors are above-average for any food item you can make on-the-go. Sure, a homemade bowl of oatmeal with chopped nuts, honey, and berries would probably be that much better... but not everyone has the time, and Quaker Real Medleys work out great.

So... I encourage you to grab some of these guys off the cereal shelf next time you're at the grocery store. :)

And Now, A Collection of Pumpkin Recipe Memes

Because they're incredibly relevant right now.

Pumpkin Pie Dip with Green Apples and Graham Crackers

Yum. This was my first pumpkin recipe of the fall season, and it was perfect! The weather is just cooling off here in Houston, and it's not quite time for a pumpkin roll or bread yet, IMO.

We've been really busy at work, so I thought it'd be nice to share my goodies with the team. I made this pumpkin dip recipe, placed it in a Graham Cracker crust to chill and serve, and laid it out for our design team with apples and crackers. I hope you'll enjoy it as much as we did!

Pumpkin Pie Dip

Ingredients

• 2 blocks (8oz each) cream cheese, room temperature
• 1 1/2 cups of pumpkin puree - NOT the easy pie filling you see on shelves in the fall
• 1 cup light brown sugar
• 4 tablespoons honey
• 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice (I cheated - if you want to use your own combo of ginger, cloves, cinnamon, go for it!)

• Graham Cracker crust
• Graham Crackers, ginger snaps, or even pretzels
• Apple slices

Directions

In large bowl, mix cream cheese and pumpkin (if you buy the 15oz can of Libby's, it's almost the whole can) until smooth. Add spices, honey, and sugar. Mix well. Pour into serving dish or Graham Cracker crust and chill for at least 1 hour.

Serve with dippers, and pass on the recipe!

My Favorite Bath & Body Works Deal: 5 for $15 Anti-Bac

My absolute favorite deal at Bath & Body Works is their 5 for $15 Anti-Bacterial Foaming Hand Soap. For $3 each, you can have new, seasonal scents at each sink in the house AND back-ups to get you through busy entertainment seasons for less than a dinner-for-two.

We're still using up Kitchen Lemon, Country Pear, a lavender scent, and a strawberry scent now. That's not keeping me from being tempted to snatch up these pumpkin scents! Yum.

Follow the image for a great deal, and let me know which scents you order in the comments below. :)

[UPDATED] My Beef with Crock-Pot - This is NOT a Recipe

UPDATE 9/14/13:
After publishing this post and reaching out to Crock-Pot on Facebook, I received a phone call from a very nice representative named Jesica. She was more than helpful, and with just a few questions about model and part numbers, she told me a new lid would arrived in 6 to 8 business days.

AMAZING work, Crock-Pot. Thanks for your help. :)
---

Crock-Pot,

I love you.  I thought I could always rely on your cookware, and you've broken my heart.

I bought a special edition French Bull Crock-Pot just over 2 weeks ago. Since then, I've cooked 2 meals in it and hand washed and dried the pot and lid. Guess what greeted me when I grabbed it off the shelf this morning?

Rusted washers on the inside of the lid. What the hell? Where do I get replacements, and who is paying for them?

So-Good, Slow-Cooked Pepper Steak

I'm at it again with the Crock Pot. Today, we enjoyed Pepper Steak and Garlic Butter Noodles. The steak was SO easy to prepare in the Crock Pot, and it was waiting on us when we got home 8 hours later.

Slow Cooker Pepper Steak

Ingredients
2 lbs boneless round steak 3/4-1 in. thick
1 small can tomato paste (6-8oz)
1 10-12oz bag of frozen fajita peppers and onions
1 12-15oz can of whole stewed tomatoes
salt
pepper

Toppings/Side Dishes
Rice, noodles, hoagie buns, or cheese

Directions
This really is going to blow your mind. Cut round steak into serving-size pieces (it's going to fall apart anyway - just cut it to fit into the slow cooker). Season with salt and pepper, then place in the bottom of the crock. Mix paste, tomatoes, and peppers together in a bowl, and add the mixture on top of the steak. I added my ingredients directly to the pot and didn't even stir it, but I'm being cautious here...

     

Put the lid on and cook on low for 8-9 hours. I served ours with garlic butter noodles and a little mozzarella.

Husband approved!

Easy, Make-While-You-Work Crock Pot Chili Mac

By the time I get off work and make my 1 1/2 hour drive home, I'd love nothing more than to cook a nice, hot meal for my husband and me. Too bad my body and mind aren't on the same page. More often than not, we end up with a hasty meal of whatever meat I can thaw out quickly enough, canned corn, and canned beans. If we've got it, I'll whip up mac and cheese. The flavors aren't complex, and there really isn't a lot of love put into it.

Enter the Crock Pot.

We both work 8+ hours Mon-Fri. We're out of the house before 6:30am, and no one is home again until at least 4:30pm. While that means I have to skip the "5 hours on low" slow cooker recipes, I have no qualms with leaving an "8 hours on low" meal simmering for 9-10 hours if I must.

This week, we bought ingredients for 5 slow cooker meals. Meal #1 is Chili Mac. Here we go!

Slow Cooker Chili Mac


Ingredients:
oil, for skillet
1 yellow onion, diced
3 cloves minced garlic (or jarred equivalent)
1.5 lbs ground beef
1 can chili beans in gravy, undrained
1 can Rotel (diced tomatoes w/ green chiles), undrained
1 8-10oz can beef broth
1 green bell pepper, seeds and membrane removed, diced
1 tsp cumin
2 tbsp chili powder
1 tsp salt
1 tsp black pepper
4 servings cooked macaroni noodles (prepared just before serving)

In an oiled skillet on med-high heat, soften diced onions and garlic. Before onions become translucent, add ground beef and brown.

 

Add beef mixture to slow cooker, and combined with beans, Rotel, broth, pepper, and seasonings. Give it a stir.

 

Slow cook on low for 8 hours or on high for 4 hours. I made mine the night before and placed in the refrigerator overnight. It's cooking at home as I type this.

30 minutes before serving, boil/prepare 4 servings of macaroni and add to the pot. Stir and allow for 20 or so minutes on low setting.

Serve with shredded cheese, sour cream, corn bread, or tortilla chips.

I'll upload final photos later tonight. Enjoy!

UPDATE: AHHHMAZING! This chili mac turned out great. We'll be having it again for sure. :)

Make-Ahead Work Day Lunches: Grilled Chicken Salad, Yogurt, and Fruit

I've found that if I pack myself a lunch and take it to work, I'll eat it. If I don't bring a lunch and rely on myself to make healthy choices in the company dining room or at a nearby restaurant, I end up eating something awful for me.

Though I didn't have much extra time this evening, I was able to use some of my new Ziploc containers to throw together 3 pre-made salads. My phone was nearby, so I figured I could document it for all 2 of my blog readers.

Dressing on the bottom - this keeps all the crunchy or lettuce-y bits from getting soggy. I'll shake it up before eating. I alternated Wishbone House Italian and Hidden Valley Ranch. I know, Hidden Valley Ranch might as well be melted butter. I don't care. This salad is STILL better than eating a cheeseburger.

Sugar snap peas are next, followed by pre-grilled chicken strips and wedges of tomatoes.

Romaine mixed lettuce and crispy onions as a topper.

Hello, Homeowners!

What an eventful weekend!

Closing Time
We both took off work on Friday for our closing. After walking around Wharton's downtown square to kill time, we met our Realtor at the title company around 9:30am. There were a couple things holding us up, so while the title company shuffled paperwork, we chatted with our Realtor and the sellers' agent. We even caught a glimpse of the sellers on their way out. He was in a big rush, but she was friendly and stopped to shake our hands. She told us they had just planted a Satsuma orange tree in the back yard and were worried it wouldn't make it. I promised to take care of it and take pictures of it once it was back to full health.

Just when the nerves were ready to take over, they called us back to sign papers. I've been at the closing table before as a Realtor, but it's a whole different ball game being on the buyers' side. Friends and family warned us over and over how tedious this part was going to be, but I really don't think it was that bad. The title company explained every page we signed, and we were still out of there in just over an hour.

By 11:30am, we were homeowners. We skipped off to our new home to check it out.

Something's Broken
As soon as we stepped onto the back porch, I noticed something wrong with the water softener. The tank looks a lot like a large SCUBA oxygen tank - it stands vertically. When I saw it, it was collapsed. The tank was still in one piece and standing, but it was as if the air/water had been sucked out of it. Electricity was turned on in the house, so what could the problem be? With inspection of the water well pump, we discovered the pump had lost its prime during the time the electricity was off in the home.

9 gallons of water and a lot of shouting across the yard, flipping the breaker, and being disappointed later, the pump was primed, and we were free to enjoy our home with running water. The softener filled back up without issue, and we've been going ever since.

First Night
Vince and I spent that night in our new home. We had only our bed (on the floor), a change of clothes, and some delivered pizza. It was a perfect night. Silent, alien, surreal, and perfect.

Moving Day
Saturday morning, we met the movers at our storage unit. In 30 minutes, everything was loaded up. They followed us to the house, and had our belongings inside in another 30 minutes. It was like magic. If you're in the Wharton County area, I recommend these guys to anyone: Mund Moving Co.

Now
Skip ahead to Tuesday morning, and I'm at work, writing this blog post. Sunday and Monday have been spent cleaning, organizing and just enjoying our new home. We were supposed to receive our fridge yesterday, but Sears Home Delivery is TERRIBLE, and it is going to be another week. Vince haggled with a Best Buy manager to get a good deal on a nice floor model fridge. It'll get moved out to the garage later, but we have a fridge in the kitchen for now.

Bravo has learned what fire ants are, and we've learned how big an acre is and what it's like to mow it with a 22" self-propel mower. I still have work to do in the garden, but that'll wait until the weekend. Our plan is to save the big stuff for the weekends and unpack a couple boxes each night. It's hard to remember to slow down and enjoy the new house with all the things that need to get done, but our relaxing back porch makes it easier.

No pictures for now, but I'll try to stay on top of that. More updates to come as we try to fix a crack on our water pump this evening. We might have to re-prime the pump again, so that'll be fun.

I have so many ideas for crafts, DIY, recipes, and more. There should be lots going on here in the near future.

Long-Awaited Drum Roll...

... aaaaaand we got the "clear to close" from our loan officer today!

After not hearing from him late yesterday or early today as promised, I gave him a call myself at 3:45pm. He apologized, said he thought he emailed me, and told me "Oh, yeah. You're clear to close. Friday at 9:30am."

Very uneventful for my first ever home purchase. Especially after the ordeal we went through, I expected more of a "Congratulations, Mrs. Morales! Great news! You're clear to close!" Oh well.

So without further ado, a montage of happy animals to express how I feel:

So, let's make it to Friday without any anxiety attacks, get moved in, and send out housewarming invites! See you there! :))

Living In A Cardboard Box

No, we aren't at that point yet. But I AM ready to pull my hair out.

You can tell with a quick scroll of the mouse wheel that I haven't been updating. Meh. Are people subscribing and reading? Not so much. That takes most of my bloggers guilt away. For anyone still following along with the bouncing ball, here are some updates in the different parts of the life of Magnificent Mrs. Morales.

The Apartment

Doesn't exist anymore. I'm no longer trapped in the 700-ft prison cell in that wretched city of Houston. We're back in the slow, quiet country where I belong and Vince is falling in love. We moved out around June 14th and have been in Wharton with my parents as we wait for our house to close.

The New House

The new house is 1,600 square feet located on a manicured acre with 3 bedrooms, formal dining, and a hollywood bath. (Half bath located in both the hallway and master, connected by a shower/tub room.) We were supposed to close on the house this past Friday, but because of a couple setbacks, we're looking at a closing date closer to July 31st - this coming Wednesday. We can't wait to be there, and I'm sure I'll cry all day when we get in the house.

The Puppy

Well, I say "puppy," because Bravo is still only 3 1/2 months old. He's too big to carry around comfortably, and he's wet or muddy most of the time. That said, he's the cutest, smartest, best dog I've ever seen, and we love him. We can't wait to spoil him rotten in the new house/yard. Bravo is a beautiful German Shepherd Dog, and his instincts are already very apparent. He likes to patrol the yard, and he's protective of me. Any time my parents' dog wants attention, Bravo is right there to beat Oscar to the punch. Oscar is a miniature dachshund, and he's never had any real training or discipline in his life. If you open the gate to the back yard, that little weenie would turn into a rocket ship and blast out of the neighborhood before you realized he was gone. It'll be nice to get Bravo into a more calm environment where we can start training him.

The Business
When I say "business," I don't mean the full-time job. I'm, of course, talking about Kapeesh. My ambition, my life goal, my passion. We've got several new followers on Facebook/Twitter, and I'm busy enough that this next sentence is a thing. I have a new designer on board! It's not just me anymore, and it feels WONDERFUL. I've got websites, logo designs, and consulting gigs going on right now, and word of mouth in the 03XX community is growing. My discount program for Marine Infantry Vets may not make me much money, but I'm proud to have a solid reputation in that market. Not everything is free or discounted in that sector, so my hopes are to get more and more of those customers as loyal clients who rely on Kapeesh for their whole marketing department. Overall, good stuff. Like everything else, the new house will help tremendously.

The Marriage
Vince and I couldn't be happier here in Wharton. Things are calm, and we like that. We spend more time talking and less time bitching about traffic or noise or inconsiderate strangers. Living with my parents isn't ideal - alone time is minimal, but we shut the door to our guest room and we're usually left alone. We just keep telling ourselves "this is temporary, we'll get through it," and that has gotten us through thus far.

So, overall - good things. Lots of waiting and lots of trying really hard to be patient. I know we'll get there. I've been talking to God more and more about things, and the more I do, the more calm I feel about most things.

Hope any of you readers out there are doing fantastic, and I promise I'll be blogging when I get into the new house. I'll have plenty of recipes (double ovens!) and DIY things to share.

Healthy Crock Pot Recipe: Salsalito Lime Chicken

You'll need:
3-4 frozen chicken breasts
3 jalapeno peppers (or more for heat), seeded and diced
24oz jar of picante sauce or salsa
1 small yellow onion, diced
1 teaspoon minced garlic
3 limes
1/2 tbsp each:
cumin
salt
black pepper
paprika
onion powder

Optional for serving (not all paleo):
shredded cheese
cilantro
sour cream
tortillas or chips

Directions:
Add chicken breasts to bottom of Crock Pot. Add juice from 3 limes, jar of salsa, diced onions, garlic, jalapenos, and spices to pot and cook on low for 6-7 hours.

Top with cheese, sour cream, cilantro, or tortilla chips.

We enjoyed ours on flour tortillas with sour cream. Easy peasy and delicious.

How to Cook Perfect Boiled Eggs Every Time

With these steps, you'll never get a half-cooked yolk or one of those over-cooked, gray yolks. Ever since I've learned this technique, I've had no problem making perfect boiled eggs for salads and deviled eggs. They even peel easier!

1. Place eggs in the bottom of a pot or saucepan in a single layer (do not stack or pile the eggs on top of each other) and fill water to one inch above eggs. Add a couple pinches of salt.

2. Uncovered and on high, heat eggs to a rolling boil. Allow rolling boil for 30 seconds, then remove eggs from heat and cover tightly with lid.

3. Let covered pot sit for 10 minutes without opening lid, then drain hot water from pot and add cool water and a handful of ice cubes.

You're finished!

I peel my eggs under slowly running water as soon as they're cool enough to handle, and I've never had a problem making pretty, clean peeled eggs. :)

Easy and Delicious Crock Pot Red Beans and Sausage with Rice

You'll need:

1 lb red beans or kidney beans (rinsed and soaked overnight)

1 link pork & beef sausage

3 stalks of celery, roughly chopped

1 medium onion, diced

4-5 cloves garlic, minced OR 1 tsp jarred, minced

1 green bell pepper, diced

2 tablespoons Tony's or favorite creole seasoning

2 cans chicken broth

Cooked white rice

Crock Pot :)

Directions:

Slice sausage into coins with 1/2" thickness and drain beans.

Add everything except for rice to Crock Pot. Top off with water and give it a stir. Cover with lid and cook on low for 6-7 hours.

Serve over rice.

Terrible Day at Work? Eats a Salad.

Today was rough one at work. I've had busier days and days with more issues, but today just got under my skin. I made it home over an hour later than usual, and I was starving. I surprised myself by not going straight toward the 2 packages of Keebler cookies in the pantry (that my husband has seemingly forgotten about... shh), but by reaching for a bowl, some romaine, grape tomatoes, and fresh sliced carrots. Once I sat down with my salad, I stopped to make a puzzled face directed at myself and my shocking behavior.

"Amy, are you really assuaging your cubical woes by eating a salad?" It was so, and the moment deserved to be noted. So, here it is. A blog post and a meme-style image for all 3 of my readers to enjoy.

Leftover Oranges = Good-Smelling House

We had several leftover small navel oranges this week, and I've been needing a new candle or potpourri around here. I opted to simmer the sliced oranges on the stove while I did laundry, and it smells great. I was worried the spring weather would ruin the normally fall/winter scents, but it worked! I used about 3 cups of water, two small oranges, a teaspoon of ground cloves, and 3 caps of vanilla.

I brought the mix to a bubble on high, and then reduced to simmer. Ta-da!

Stale Ideas, Fresh Food

I've got several web design projects working right now, and I have a couple logo design projects as well. With my full-time job getting busier and several personal things making life hectic, my own creativity and business flow is suffering.
One of my most clear-minded moments was during a recent 2+ mile walk with my husband around the neighborhood. Our little apartment doesn't do me any inspiring favors.
While the man of the house snoozed away on the couch, I made fresh guacamole and pico de gallo tonight. We bought some reduced fat Triscuits to keep around the house for snacking, and those two dips will work perfectly.
I'm excited to pack some of the guac and pico in my lunch tomorrow. Hopefully, my design ideas will be as fresh as my snacks this week. I'm ready to be out of this funk.
Have to be awake in 3 hours to send the hubby off to work, then I'll make my way to work as well. Yikes.

Food Diary 1/10/13: Apples and Pork Don't Mix

I decided to change the naming of these posts, since I'm obviously not doing the juice fast. Done with it.
Breakfast and lunch consisted of my regular work day meals. Omelet and salad.
For dinner, I seasoned boneless pork chops with sage, thyme, paprika, and allspice, and I grilled then up nicely.
I used the same pan to cook down 1/2 an onion, 1 pear and 1 apple. When they were caramelized, I added 1/2 cup of fresh juiced apples. I let that reduce while the chops rested.
I served the chops sliced, with the apple mixture on top. My husband swears that apples and sweet things don't go well with pork. Lol. So, I might not be making this one again.

Not A Juice Fast: Day 3

WEDNESDAY

Okay, so at this point my breakfasts and lunches are about the same every day.

Breakfast: Egg white omelet with spinach and pico de gallo from the dining room at work. Some days, I add hot sauce. And lots of black pepper, because apparently I am afraid they are running out of the stuff.

Lunch: Garden salad with ham or baked/grilled chicken. I know. Black beans are beans, and they are totally not paleo. I'm a big, fat, fraud liar-head. Get over yourself.

Dinner is where things get interesting. Wednesday night, I made a paleo version of chicken cacciatore. It was fresh, and full of tomato, onion, and garlic flavors. Yum.

One more day until cheat day. Not because it's Friday, but because it's our 3-year wedding anniversary. Woo! :)