Protein Waffles + A New Job

I have my sister, Emily, to thank for this great waffle recipe.  We had this for dinner the other night and I didn't even feel bad.  

Let's be honest, I wouldn't have felt bad even if was the "real thing".

But really, these were so yummy and actually pretty healthy.  

^^my mouth is watering^^

Ingredients:

4 eggs

1 cup cottage cheese

1/2-1 cup of flour (I used about 3/4 cup)

I also added...

2 tablespoons of vanilla 

A few pinches of cinnamon

Throw it all in a blender and you've got your batter!  We used our waffle maker which made this easy peasy, but you could also just use the batter for pancakes.  

We made two batches and kept the leftover batter for the next morning....genius!  I was full for hours!  

So, I got a new job.

Let me say that again, I GOT A NEW JOB!!!!

It's been a long time coming guys.  A long time coming.  

Not that I don't love the job I have now, I'm pretty much obsessed with my patients.  It's actually kind of a bittersweet transition.  Especially since the whole first grade was lined up waiting to "race" with my patient during recess today.  You'd be surprised how fast those power chairs can go! They were even chanting his name cheering him on during each race. I wanted to cry it was so precious.  

Plus, he told me he wanted to listen to Taylor Swift during therapy today.  He pretended he didn't like the song, "We Are Never Getting Back Together", and then sang all the lyrics when he thought I wasn't looking.  

^^ All the kiddies lined up.  I told them they had to race two at a time ^^

So ya, it's definitely bittersweet.  

I'll be working full-time at the Reproductive Care Center in Sandy.  Pretty excited to do something totally different, and branch out!  I'll get to be trained in intrauterine insemination, ultra sounds, and assist with in-vitro.  Things we don't even learn to do in nursing school so I'm both excited and nervous.  

Also I'll be talking to adults so that might be weird.  I've gotten really used to turning treatments into a game, or singing/dancing my way through therapy.  I'm afraid I'll be starting an IV on an adult and tell them to put on their Vampire teeth and think bloody thoughts.... (it works guys).   

Feeling pretty blessed about this new adventure! My first 8-5 job....wish me luck!

^^  You're lookin at the newest impregrante-r of Sandy, Utah folks ^^

I'm not really sure if, "come visit me!" is appropriate here?

Thanks for reading!  Have an awesome weekend.  

Our New Apartment + Yellow Curry

We are finally (almost) moved into our new apartment!!  I'm just in the very fun stages of organizing and deciding where to put all of our stuff.  How can two people have so much stuff??  I swear I've donated about three garbage bags full of things we don't need anymore and the stuff just keeps coming!  

On a side note, I feel like I need to re-write all of my thank you letters for my wedding gifts.  All of our kitchen gear was in storage while we lived at my Dad's and it was so fun unpacking!  I kept saying, "Mom who got me this?? It's so cute!"  I've found things I haven't even used yet.  Oh ya, and I have about 37 mixing bowls.  So if you ever need one....

P.S. thanks Mom for helping me put together my kitchen.  Don't know what I'd do with out you

P.S.S. thanks family for helping us move our storage units!  Especially Sara and Brent who let us use their truck.  They bought a truck cause they love helping people move so much- so anyone moving let me know and I'll just give you guys their number!  (don't worry Sar I'm kidding)

When we moved into our first apartment I made us a little Mexican fiesta for our first meal.  I decided to stick with the "international foods" tradition and went with Thai Yellow Curry for the "first meal" celebration.  To say it was a hit would be an understatement.  Braedon told me it was the most legit curry he'd had since his mission and he was having flash backs to the curry dishes he ate in Siem Reap.  I think it was the best compliment of my cooking to date!  

*I modified a few of the ingredients/ directions and took out the peas and the cashews* 

Ingredients:

2 large chicken breasts cut into cubes

4 tablespoons yellow curry paste (I only used 3- the recipe said add to taste. I thought it was spicy but Braedon didn't feel a thing)

2 (13.5 oz) cans coconut milk

1/2 cup bamboo shoot- drained (you can get this at Walmart)

1 cup water

1 cup crushed pineapple-drained

1/2 cup chopped carrot (I just used two large carrots)

5-8 basil leaves

4-6 cups steamed jasmine rice

I honestly think the yellow curry paste made all the difference.  I've made curry recipes before using several store bought spices and it just isn't the same as the "real deal".  I would recommend hitting up your nearest Asian market.  I think I could get lost for a few hours there....

Also, I think I have enough curry paste to last me for three years and it was only like three dollars.  Get ready for some more curry recipes.  

Directions: 

1. Add the coconut milk and the curry paste to a large pan. Start with half of the curry paste if you are unsure.  Heat until boiling

2.  Add the cubed chicken and potatoes and continue to boil

3.  Once the chicken is about 1/2 way done add the carrots and cook until the carrots are tender

4.  Add basil, pineapple, and bamboo shoots and cook 2 more minutes

5.  Add water.  We like our curry a little thicker so I only added about a 1/2 cup.  

6.  Serve over rice

7. Find husband to stir while you continue unpacking (wink wink)

We used our Wok to make the curry and it made it SO easy!  A large pan will do, but we are convinced a Wok is necessary for authentic Asian food ;)

^^ I know I look scary, however, I've been moving all day, K? ^^

Hip hip hooray for a new place!  We toasted with some Martinelli's and finished off our night eating frozen yogurt at Top It and talking about how much we love Holladay. Can't wait to see what this new adventure has in store for us!   

Chocolate Souffle Fail....Sort of

Alright so I found this recipe as I was browsing Pinterest and thought it would be the perfect "after date night movie treat".  It's super easy and only takes 2 1/2 hours in the crockpot so the timing was perfect.  

Braedon would disagree that this was a fail.  He even gobbled it up for breakfast the next morning.  It was really only a half fail.  I mean how can you fail at a dessert that the ingredients include a chocolate cake mix, chocolate pudding, and chocolate chips??

It just didn't do it for me.

I'm posting it anyways in case you'd like to test it out yourself.  If you have any suggestions on how to make it better, I'm all ears.  I actually found another chocolate soufflé recipe that I'm going to try next- bonus: it doesn't involve boxed cake.  I grew up in a house full of dessert snobs...we don't even make brownies from a box. Now I feel like I'm a little (maybe too?) picky and can "taste the fake".

But still, who can go wrong with chocolate, chocolate, chocolate, and ice cream??

Ingredients: 

1 box chocolate cake mix

1 1/4 cups milk

1/2 cup vegetable or canola oil

3 eggs

1 box chocolate pudding

2 cups milk (for pudding mix)

1 12 oz. bag chocolate chips

parchment paper

First line your crockpot with parchment paper, and spray the sides with cooking spray.  This will prevent the sides from burning. You can do it without the parchment paper, just watch it closely.  

 Pour your chocolate cake mix into a large mixing bowl and add 1 1/4 cup milk, 3 eggs, 1/2 cup vegetable oil.  Beat on medium speed until the batter gets nice and glossy, about 2-3 minutes.  Pour into the crockpot. 

Next, mix the pudding and 2 cups cold milk into a bowl.  Beat it until the pudding thickens, should take about 3-4 minutes.  This is where I'm not sure if things went as planned.  My pudding just sunk into the cake batter than making a second layer....oops.  

Final step, cover the top with the whole bag of those lovely chocolate chips.  Set your crockpot to low for 2 1/2 hours or until the top of the cake is set.  Enjoy!  Super easy.  

Stay tuned for when I make this recipe from Pinterest.  Instead of the crockpot you use a muffin pan, and you get these cute personal sized soufflé's.  Looks like a little more work, but I think it will pay off!