{Recipe: Oven Baked Fajitas}

Source: Real Mom Kitchen

Ingredients

• 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into strips
• 2 Tbsp vegetable oil
• 2 tsp chili powder
• 2 tsp cumin
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp dried oregano
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 (15 oz.) can diced tomatoes with green chilis
• 1 medium onion, sliced
• 1 large bell pepper, seeded and sliced
• 12 flour tortillas
• Toppings such as cheese, sour cream, and guacamole

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Place chicken strips in a greased 13x9 baking dish.
2. In a small bowl combine the oil, chili powder, dried oregano, and salt.
3. Drizzle the spice mixture over the chicken and stir to coat.
4. Next add the tomatoes, peppers, and onions to the dish and stir to combine.
5. Bake uncovered for 20-25 minutes or until chicken is cooked through and the vegetables are tender. Serve on tortillas with desired toppings. 

Enjoy with a margarita and you've got a fantastic meal! 

love,

sam

{This Week's Menu}

Welcome to a new week! I comprised this week's menu from some main ingredients we already had in our freezer. Ground turkey, 12 wings, and chicken breasts. 

• Monday: Turkey Stuffed Bell Peppers - These stuffed peppers are loaded with flavor and make a great dinner with a salad on the side.
• Tuesday: Chicken Pesto Bake - Baked chicken breast topped with skinny basil pesto, tomatoes, mozzarella and parmesan cheese.
• Wednesday: Wings 'n' Wedges - Baked, not fried, these wings will be a hit! We like our wings served with Ore-Ida frozen seasoned french fries. 
• Thursday: White Chicken Chili - One of the easiest and the tastiest chili's you will ever make. 
• Friday: French Bread Pizza Night - I can't wait to try this Pinterest recipe. It looks easy, inexpensive, and delicious! 

Enjoy! Have a great week! 

love,

sam

{This Week's Menu}

Monday: Potato and Leek Soup with Caesar Salad - Easy, warm, and delicious! Makes enough for 4 with leftovers, but most of the time they don't make it :) Tip: I use a tea ball for the seasonings instead of the leek leaves.

The Jasch Journal

The Jasch Journal

Tuesday: Baked Lemon Shrimp with Fettuccine - I found this recipe on Pinterest. It doesn't link back to anywhere, so let me know if this is your recipe. This recipe is also featured on my friend's blog, Eat.Pray.Love.Run. 

Ingredients:

• 2 Large Lemons
• 1 lb of shrimp, peeled and rinsed
• Butter  ( I used 1/4 of a cup but the original recipe called for way more)
• 2 Tbsp minced garlic
• Italian Seasoning

  What to do: Line a shallow pan with foil.  Slice lemons and lay out flat all over foil.  Place shrimp on top of lemons.  Melt butter in bowl and stir in minced garlic.  Pour mixture over shrimp & lemons.  Sprinkle with Italian Seasoning. Bake at 350 for 10 - 15 minutes. Serve over pasta. 

For something a little lighter try Olive Oil and Lemon Baked Shrimp. 

from Pinterest

Wednesday: Salmon Couscous Salad - I think this is a recipe that I just threw together one afternoon. Maybe from one of my WW cookbooks. It's super easy and fills you up! Feeds 2 hungry people. 

Ingredients:

• 2 salmon fillets (1 inch thick)
• EVOO (Extra Virgin Olive Oil)
• Salt and Pepper
• 1 cup of whole wheat couscous
• 1 lemon
• 1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
• 1/4 cup reduced fat feta cheese crumbles
• 1 ripe avocado, peeled, pitted, and chopped
• 1/4 cup kalamata olives, chopped 

What to do:

Heat your oven to 350 degrees. Line your baking sheet with foil. Place your salmon fillets skin down. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Brush with Extra Virgin Olive Oil. Squeeze the juice from half a lemon over top. Bake 10-12 minutes or until they flake easily with a fork. Cook couscous on the stovetop according to package directions. Meanwhile, you can chop up your toppings. 1 pint cherry tomatoes - slice in half and 1 avocado - cut in chunks, 1/4 reduced fat feta cheese crumbles, and 1/4 chopped kalamata olives. Grab two bowls and divide cooked couscous between them. Take your cooked salmon fillets and "shred" with a fork; then divide among the two bowls. Next, take your toppings, divide among the bowls. Lastly, squeeze the juice from the remaining lemon half over everything. Enjoy! 

The Jasch Journal

Thursday: Crockpot Chicken Tortilla Soup - Another Pinterest recipe that I've been wanting to try. I'll let you know how it turns out.

from BakedbyRachel.com

Friday: Date night! Sushi, anyone? 

Saturday: Leftover Crockpot Chicken Tortilla Soup

Sunday: Cheese Tortellini with Italian Side Salad - This is another recipe that you can just throw together on Sunday night while your'e enjoying your favorite TV show... Revenge! :) 

Ingredients:

• 1 (9 oz.) refrigerated package cheese tortellini 
• 1 1/2-2 cups tomato sauce
• 2 Tbsp basil, chiffonaded  
• 1 beefsteak tomato, cut into wedges
• 1/4 cucumber, sliced or chopped
• 1/2 bell pepper, sliced,
• 1/4 red onion, sliced
• 1/4 cup reduced fat feta cheese crumbles
• 1/4 cup kalamata olives, sliced
• 4 Tbsp Italian dressing, divided
• 1 bag of romaine lettuce 

What to do: 

Cook tortellini according to package directions. In another pot heat your tomato sauce over low heat and stir occasionally. (I use Giada's Tomato Basil sauce from Target). While your pasta is cooking slice up your ingredients for your salad. 1 beefsteak tomato, 1/4 cucumber, 1/2 bell pepper, and 1/4 red onion. Sprinkle with 1/4 cup reduced fat feta cheese crumbles and kalamata olives. Top your bag of salad with toppings and your favorite Italian dressing. When your pasta is done, drain it, and top with your tomato sauce and chiffonaded basil leaves. Enjoy! 


Let me know if you have any questions or if something is unclear. Enjoy! 


love,
sam

{Color Change}

I've made the hair appointment that I've been putting off and it's time for a color change! I know I'm going RED-ish but now I have to decide what shade to choose. Which one would you pick? Suggestions appreciated :)

Light and Bright

Dark

Darkest

Thanks to Emma Stone for the inspiration! 1 / 2 / 3

love, 
sam

{Happy Monday!}

It was hard enough to get up today and walk downstairs to my home office, so I applaud those who actually changed out of their pj's and went to work today. You are brave :)

Happy Monday!


love,
sam

{Recipe: Olive Oil and Lemon Baked Shrimp}

Hey! It's Wednesday! That means you've made it half way through the week, and at our house it means WINE. Yeah, Wine Wednesday. I also decided to try a new recipe this week and it turned out awesome! Here it is:

Olive Oil and Lemon Baked Shrimp
Serves 4

2 lbs. large shrimp, peeled and deveined
3 Tbsp chopped garlic
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
4 Tbsp lemon juice
2 tsp salt
1 Tbsp red pepper flakes (as I'm typing this I realized I only used 1 TEAspoon, and it was pretty spicy)
3 Tbsp chopped parsley (I used dried parsley and just sprinkled it on top of our bowls)
1/4 cup chopped fresh tomatoes (I probably used 1/2 cup)
1/4 cup white wine

Preheat oven to 375.
Combine all ingredients in an oven safe saute pan and bake for 10 minutes.
I also boiled some spaghetti for two and spooned the shrimp and sauce over the pasta! Yum!
THAT'S IT! ENJOY!

love,
sam

{Weekend Re-cap}

Friday: We sent our friend Stacy off for the summer (to Spain and Indonesia) with a night out on the town! First, dinner at Chuy's and then off to the Mean Eyed Cat. Michael and I had never been before, but it was our kind of laid back place and all built around a giant tree.

Stacy's "As Big As Yo Face Burrito!" to show the Spaniards 

Stacy and I posing by the bubble wall

See the tree on the left? Pretty neat

Saturday: We hung around the house, did a little grocery shopping, made a pizza and rented "This Means War" starring Reese Witherspoon, Chris Pine, and Tom Hardy. I really enjoyed it and even MJ was laughing out loud. We give it a 8 out of 10. 

Two top CIA operatives wage an epic battle against one another after they discover they are dating the same woman.

Sunday: We overslept, made pancakes, did some clothes shopping for my BIL's upcoming wedding, MJ grilled us some steaks, and watched the original "Total Recall" (I had never seen it) starring Arnold Schwarzenegger in anticipation for the new Total Recall starring Colin Farrell and Kate Beckinsale.  


Next weekend: My brother in law Peter is getting married to his fiance Crystal in The Woodlands! 


Hope you had a good weekend as well! 


love,
sam

{Weekend Recap}

This weekend was almost as casual as it gets and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Friday we ordered a pizza from our favorite place Niki's. You can get an XL pizza with 3 toppings for $10... yeah! We rented "Man on a Ledge" from Redbox, starring Sam Worthington, Elizabeth Banks, and Ed Harris. We gave it a 6/10.

As a police psychologist works to talk down an ex-con who is threatening to jump from a Manhattan hotel rooftop, the biggest diamond heist ever committed is in motion...

Saturday we spent some time in the yard making it look good. Then, we hit the neighborhood pool to cool off! In the mean time, MJ was smoking some baby back ribs on the grill which we had for a late lunch with loaded mashed potatoes and salad.

mmm hmm

I also got my delivery from Amazon with my Kindle and Babyliss hair straightener. I did some searching on Amazon and downloaded the first book in the James Patterson Women's Murder Club Series. Have you heard of or read these books yet? There are 11 books so far and if you like murder-mystery type books you'll like these.

"Four women-four friends-share a determination to stop a killer who has been stalking newlyweds in San Francisco. Each one holds a piece of the puzzle: Lindsay Boxer is a homicide inspector in the San Francisco Police Department, Claire Washburn is a medical examiner, Jill Bernhardt is an assistant D.A., and Cindy Thomas just started working the crime desk of the San Francisco Chronicle.

But the usual procedures aren't bringing them any closer to stopping the killings. So these women form a Women's Murder Club to collaborate outside the box and pursue the case by sidestepping their bosses and giving one another a hand.

The four women develop intense bonds as they pursue a killer whose crimes have stunned an entire city. Working together, they track down the most terrifying and unexpected killer they have ever encountered-before a shocking conclusion in which everything they knew turns out to be devastatingly wrong."

Sunday we drove up to Maypearl to visit my parents for Father's day! My dad, the chef, was of course making grilled chicken, smoked ribs (yeah ribs twice in one weekend), and a blueberry cheesecake! We all pitched in for an outdoor hammock which I didn't get a picture of, but here are a few pics I did get. We love you daddy! 

Blueberry cheesecake with an almond crust... oh yeah

Pioneer Women cookbook for the chef

Tractor suspenders for when he's on the tractor of course

Daddy and his girls

I hope you had a good weekend too! 

love,
sam

{High Five For Friday}

Can you say whoooo hoooo!? It's Friday! I just had one of those weeks when it felt like every day was Monday. Hate that! But overall this week was pretty fantastic. Here are my five favorite things from this past week.

1. My bestie Leeann came to visit us in Austin. We went kayaking, shopping, eating, and rode the Metrorail downtown. It was perfect. We love her so much! 

2.  Michael turned 29! We spent the whole day together and it was so much fun. See this post to see what we did. 

As part of our household budget we each get $100 every two weeks as our allowance. Usually once I get my allowance I spend it, almost immediately. So for me to have saved over $300 is nothing short of a miracle. (Michael might have hidden my money from me also...) and I didn't even have anything in mind I was saving for but today I ordered:

3. A Kindle

4. A new amazing hair straightener! If you're looking for a new one the Babyliss Nano Titanium is great! (I've had the same CHI for almost 6 years!)

5. Sunday is father's day... and I love my daddy! He is an amazing husband and father. I have the utmost respect for him and he has always been there for us. Because I know my dad doesn't read this blog I can tell you we got him an outdoor hammock and The Pioneer Woman's cookbook. Can you tell he loves to be outside and to cook? I can't wait to see what he comes up with for Sunday.

On our wedding day, 09.06.2008

Have a great weekend and don't forget to link up with Lauren at From My Grey Desk for H54F!

{Michael's birthday in pictures}

1. Happy about a new shirt and baseball cap (not pictured) from his favorite bike shop.
2. Juan in a Million = best breakfast taco place in Austin
3. Several pounds of potato, bacon, eggs, and cheese or better known as The "Don Juan" 
4. Played some Ms. Pac-Man while waiting for our movie, Prometheus to start.
5. We always have to visit Whole Foods while downtown. The people, smells, and fooood. Love it. (Grabbed some iced tea and chocolate chip cookies for the movie). 
6. Took an evening drive in the '66. Pure bliss. 

I also made his favorite dinner, tortellini with marina sauce and a caesar salad. I hope you had a great 29th birthday, honey! 

love,

Sam

Happy Saturday!

Hey y'all! I'm back! I've been busy busting it at school and work but luckily the summer time is a little slower around here.

One thing I've been loving recently is all the raw summer berries and veggies. I had this Berry Nice smoothie at the Juan Pelota Cafe a few weeks ago and immediately wanted to re-create it. So, here is my version...

Berry Nice Smoothie

What you'll need:
1 cup frozen strawberries
1/2 cup frozen raspberries
1 whole banana
1 cup apple juice

Add everything into a blender and liquify! You can use fresh berries if you like but I like using the frozen ones (no sugar added) because then I don't have to add ice. If you use fresh berries then you will need to add ice.

Makes about a 20 oz. smoothie.

Pour it in a fancy glass, add a straw, and enjoy!!!


love,
sam

{And the Grammy goes to...}

In honor of the Grammy's tonight. Some fun things I found on Etsy. Enjoy!

Pause and Play Cufflinks

mixed tape print

Rockstar wall art

Hand stamped brass guitar pick

Moves Like Jagger onesie

Adele lyrics wall art

sheet music cuff

Rest in Peace, Whitney

Six-time GRAMMY winner Whitney Houston was one of the world's greatest pop singers of all time who leaves behind a robust musical soundtrack spanning the past three decades. Her powerful voice graced many memorable and award-winning songs. A light has been dimmed in our music community today, and we extend our deepest condolences to her family, friends, fans and all who have been touched by her beautiful voice.

Neil Portnow
President/CEO
The Recording Academy

love,
sam

{High Five for Friday!}

OH MY GOODNESS! It's FRIDAY! I could not be more excited for this weekend. I have literally  been looking forward to it for months! I am linking up again with Lauren with From My Grey Desk. Make sure you check her out!

One.
My mom and sisters are coming into town TODAY. We plan to celebrate January birthday's, see The Vow, eat Mexican food, and see the production of WICKED!

Birthday Trip San Antonio 2011

My lovely sisters on my special day 09.06.08

Crazies in San Antonio 2011

Two.
These earrings from Target. I'm pretty sure they were $5.99 and right now it's buy one get one 50% off jewelry!

Three.
This weeks episode of New Girl. I swear this show gets funnier every week.

"The Landlord"

Four.
This lipgloss from Bath & Body Works. CO. Bigelow's Mentha Lip Tint in Pink Mint. Ooo it makes your lips tingle. :)

Five.
OPI's new Holland line. Lovely colors.I think my favorite is the green "Thanks a Windmillion".

Have a great weekend!

love, 
sam