Better The Second Time Around

 I met up with some friends at Matt’s Chicago Dog for lunch on Thursday. I’ve never been there before but heard rave reviews about this place so I was long overdue for a visit. So many hot dog selections and combinations to get! Being a first timer I  got the Chicago Style Dog combo.

I’ve never had a dog with peppers and tomatoes on it before so it was a bit different but tasty none the less. Kinda bummed that they didn’t put ketchup on it as I’ve recently discovered ketchup is super good on dogs but still–I dug!

That night I really wasn’t feeling the leftover pork chops I had from the other night so I scraped the cranberry preserves off then cut up and heated up in the microwave for a minute and had some pork tacos

This was a simple, quick meal to make and was wonderful but tacos aren’t tacos without dairy (in my book at least). I was hoping to have some plain greek yogurt on hand so I could mix with the salsa but no go.

After I finished those, I laid on the couch and was about to zonk out. But it was only 7P so that was just unacceptable so I had to get started on a project. I saw an intriguing Pumpkin Bar recipe on Hungry Meets Healthy and decided to go for it. I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again-I’m not a baker so when I decide to bake something, it’s kind of a big deal in my world.

I couldn’t find canned pumpkin so I used pumpkin pie filling instead (and cut down on the brown sugar amount she used for hers)

The result? Scrumptious!! Tasting these made me feel like fall is right around the corner (despise the 90+ degree weather outside) and I will be making these bad boys again! I even brought some into work so I wouldn’t eat the entire pan so I only have a few left sitting in my fridge. Thanks Xtina for sharing the recipe!!

What I didn’t love? The mess that came with it

I’m not used to multi tasking in a small kitchen and disaster after disaster kept happening

1) My xanthan gum fell out of the cupboard and it had no clip to close it so all over my microwave and blackberry it was.

2) I had a mini explosion of pumpkin pie filling that ended up on my shirt, toes, baby ghetto girl earrings and hair. It looked like a baby spit up on me and then Lincoln started licking it off my toes. Ew.

3) Add a flour explosion to that as well–not fun.

When I was buying the ingredients for the pumpkin bars, I made a stop at the deli and noticed something new (or maybe it just never caught my eye before?) Buffalo Wing Sharp Cheddar Cheese. I love all things buffalo wing  so I had to get a few slices to try out. I had visions of grilled cheese with Laughing Cow bleu cheese wedges in my head but started out making an egg scramble with the cheese folded in. Eek, horrible picture quality.

I had a BOGO coupon at Qdoba to use by the end of Friday one of my coworkers went splitsies on it and both got nachos and a drink (only $5 each not too shabby) and the new guy on our team came down and met us there to chat.

It’s sad because I like all the newer people on my team and will miss them. As many of you know, I rarely take lunch breaks so getting out for an hour and enjoying the day like a normal human being was special for me. We noshed on our food and bitched about work and some of the idiots there-it was fabulous!  I will be a bit sad to leave them on my last day (except Stinkalicious-I hate that smelly bastard) but they already let me know they are taking me out for drinks on my last day-holla!

The hippies were out for one of the last Fridays of the year (they usually leave early October) and I stocked up on some goodies-all for under $7

To celebrate my new job and my friends new job (which she started this wk), I met up with some friends at Mac’s Speed Shop on Friday night for beers and yummies

Even though I got the brisket last time, I had to go for old faithful this time. I got the Little Pig sandwich with a side of their mac n cheese. This is the only thing I ever order there and last time I wanted to try something new and the brisket was amazing but didn’t hold a candle to the Little Pig

Can we say heaven in unison?

For lunch today, I hit up The Common Market. It was another day in the 90’s and I just didn’t feel like being outside at all. I need this weather to go away for the sake of my sanity. I hate working out outside when it’s hot out and would love to start walking (maybe even start running) again on the regular. It’s annoying. It’s fall wtf is up with 90 degree weather? Anywho, Common Market. Last time I went, I got the Mid Eastern Wrap but needed something more substantial this time around. I got the Jack Kennedy on sour dough bread—egg salad with bacon and horseradish mayo. Did he really like this sandwich? No clue but why not give it a shot. I was famished by the time I got it and had to break into it in my car so I would drive safely and not be a raging bitch on the road.

Holy yum batman! I’ve never had an egg salad sandwich with bacon but bacon always makes everything better. But the star was the horseradish mayo—I don’t even like horseradish but it added a huge kick to the sandwich and I loved it!

I haven’t made pizza rolls in a looooooooooooong time and thought with WVU playing against LSU at 9P tonight, it would be a perfect opportunity to make them. I would normally go to a bar to watch the game but don’t feel like spending money and being hungover tomorrow. A one beer drinker I am not.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. I use the Pillsbury Pizza Dough…..which apparently posting a picture of the packaging is in violation of Photobucket terms? I had one up before and now it’s saying that….hmmmm. Anywho.

 

Roll out pizza dough on a greased pan and cut into eight pieces (you can make bigger or smaller pieces if you want but eight has always been my magic number when making these)

Take four slices each of salami and provolone and cut in half and place on pizza dough

Then I take turkey pepperoni and cut into halves and place on top of the cheese

Roll each piece from corner to corner -I also stretch out a bit once they are rolled

In a separate bowl, mix extra virgin olive oil (about three to four tbsp), oregano, red pepper flakes(if you like spice) and grated parmesan cheese then brush over the rolls

Pop in the oven for 14 minutes (or when golden brown)

I also heat up some marinara sauce in the microwave for a minute for dipping.

After that enjoy!

Seriously, this weather needs to get cooler. I am so off the ball with my work outs…if you have noticed the lack of them, yeah so have I. I just don’t feel like doing anything and really need to cut down on my eating out which is clearly occuring a lot more than normal. I chopped a bunch of veggies this morning so they will be easily accessible to me throughout the next few days and am going to cook up a storm tomorrow to have meals on hand for the week. I need to get back into the swing of things because I don’t like not working out, eating out more and  spending more money while my waistline expands. Happy weekend everyone!

OH! I forgot….I finally joined the Twitter! If you want to follow me, there’s a button on the side bar. Let me know what your twitter is 🙂