A Lotta 'Ladas

Hey there howdy. Here's another food-related "try new stuff" endeavor. We're entering January's backlog, so slowly but surely I'm catching up to myself!

I'd never made enchiladas from scratch. Probably mostly because I don't love enchiladas that much. But I think the sauce is growing on me — not literally, that would be messy. But J wanted something Mexican and I wanted to cook, so I gave it a whirl.

"From scratch" ... let's talk about that. I didn't make the sauce, something I might try someday. I didn't make the tortillas, something I'm 97% sure I'll never do. But I did find a great Tyler Florence enchilada recipe to try. This is something new in and of itself, as T Flor is generally outside of my realm of cooking comfort. I'm a begintermediate cook. Skills past an amateur but definitely no expert. I'm also a tad impatient. (Understatement.) So as much as I love being in the kitchen, cooking for more than 60-90 minutes definitely sends me into grumpy pants mode.

Anyway, here's the recipe. It was super flavorful and tasty. We froze half of the filling to make another batch later. The leftovers (from the initial batch) were just ok but I think that could be fixed by not completely covering the tortillas in the enchilada sauce ... maybe just one side? I'm just not big on soggy bread/tortillas.

The stuff to make it:

3 tbs. veggie oil

1.5 pounds boneless skinless chicken breast

Salt and pepp

2 tsp cumin

2 tsp garlic powder

1 tsp Mexican Spice Blend (Google the recipe if you prefer. I couldn't find it at my store and didn't want to make a trip to a specialty store. Nor did I want to buy all the stuff to make it. So I just used fajita or taco seasoning. Recipe was not ruined.)

1 small red onion chopped

2 cloves garlic minced

1 cup frozen corn, thawed (I believe I omitted this. For no good reason...)

5 canned whole green chiles, seeded and chopped (I used pre-chopped chiles because I'm smart like that. Or lazy.)

4 canned chipotle chiles, seeded and minced (I kept some, not all, of the seeds to add some heat.)

1, 28 oz. can stewed tomatoes

1/2 tsp all-purpose flour

16 corn tortillas

1.5 cups canned enchilada sauce (though reviewers of the recipe will have you sent to the stakes for using canned. Snobs.)

1 cup shredded cheddar and jack cheeses (believe we just used Mexican blend cheese)

Garnish: chopped cilantro leave (obviously left out ... I'm 'lergic) chopped scallions, sour cream, chopped tomatoes. (We only used the sour cream.)

How to make it:
1.) Coat large saute pan with oil. Season chicken with salt and pepp. Brown chicken over medium heat, 7 minutes each side or until no longer pink. (Just say no to salmonella!) Sprinkle chick (the food, not that girl over there) with cumin, garlic powder and Mexican spices before turning. Place chicken on a plate/platter and let cool.

2.) Saute onion and garlic in same saute pan (no need to rinse it out). Add corn and both kinds of chiles. Stir to combine and add tomatoes. Saute 1 minute.3.) Shred chicken breasts with hand or fork. Add chicken to pan and mix it well with veggies. Dust the mixture with flour to help it set
4.) Microwave tortillas for 30 seconds. Coat the bottom of 2, 13x9 pans (if you're making the whole recipe) with ladle of enchilada sauce. Using a large shallow bowl, dip each tortilla in enchilada sauce to lightly coat. Spoon 1/4 cup chicken mixture in each tortilla. Fold over filling and place in pan, seam side down. Top with remaining enchilada sauce and cheese. (We also added some shredded cheese to the inside of the enchiladas. What can I say, we're cheesy like that.)

5.) Bake for 15 minutes at 350 or until cheese melts. Garnish to your heart's desire. Optional: serve with Spanish rice and beans. Required: serve with Corona. See?

OG AG

I like to tell people I'm part of the original class of the American Girl generation. OG AG, if you will. The company started in 1986, two years after I cried my first cry. But there were inevitably some start-up years, so by the time I was of fancy doll age, American Girl had taken off.

I've told you of my nostalgic memories/obsession with this company and its products. So it should come as no surprise that when I finally got to step foot in an American Girl store for the first time last December, I was a lotta bit excited. And since that flagship trip was at the age of 26, I had to suppress said excitement to inner monologue (and by "monologue" I mean "freaking out squealing") in order to appear the mature woman I've become.

You see, my niece was to receive her very own American Girl doll for Christmas. So naturally, I insisted on fueling what's sure to be a doll trunk full of clothing and accessories. The fad with this era of AG'ers is to get the dolls made that look like you instead of flocking to a pre-selected character, complete with story books, era clothing and accessories. To each her own. (I think we all know what I'd pick, though.)

I was blown away with the selection, and prices, of all things American Girl. I mean, I understand that wearing headgear is a traumatizing period in life, (actually I don't, because I never had it. And actually, do they even do that anymore?) But asking mom and pops to drop $40 so your doll can be humiliated with you? Wow. I shouldn't be so judgmental. There were some awesome accessories, too. But there's something about the classic three — Molly, Kirsten and Samantha — that just begs to be restored and supported.

I hope if I have a daughter that a) American Girl is still around, 2) She'll have the sense to choose a character instead of a doll that looks like her. Said sense may or may not be egged on by her mom, just saying.

Therein lies something new I did. In December. (Whoops.)

The Right Wreath

For reasons unexplainable, I was obsessed with wreaths this holiday season. It's a weird fascination to have, considering there are only so many places to put them before becoming the Clark Griswold of circle-shaped "greenery."

I ended up making two wreaths for Christmas. (Lie ... I made three including the Card Wreath.) One for the boyfriend's house and one for my sad little Scrooge apartment. (Almost all of my decor is displayed at his house. It just looks better there. But my place needed a little love, too!) The wreath at J's house took more internet scouring than it did crafting. I just purchased a grape-vine/twig wreath and found some battery-powered C9 light bulbs online since his 80+ year old house was not built with outdoor outlets to equip Christmas lights. (Those lazy Roaring 20-ites.) The result is kind of funky and random but I like the melding of country crafter with retro lighting. I might be using this wreath to re-adorn it with seasonal flair to make it a year-round door greeter.

The wreath for my apartment was a tad more involving, but still super simple. I purchased a small wire wreath base, a box of white lights with white wiring and two white feather boas. Wrapped the lights around the wreath base and then did the same with the boas. And here we have a sassy, glowing wreath!

The picture really does it no justice. But I absolutely love this final product. It's one of those things that makes me smile whenever I walk past it.

And yes, I have a window hanging on my dining room wall. Guess what: right next to it is a door, complete with gaudy garland leftover from trimming the tree. I'm sure you think it's silly that I didn't hang the wreath on the door, but there are pictures hanging on it. Duh!

And just for good measure ... since this will be the last holiday project post 'til next Christmas rolls around ... here's another little fun little tidbit.

I did these on either side of the front porch stairs at J's house. Just cut off some sprigs of his giant blue spruce, got some coordinating balls (ha), red velvet ribbon and voila! Festive flower pots.

What's your favorite piece of holiday decor?

Centerfold

I'm so very behind on my blogging, I know. I thought I'd catch up by doing a few a week 'til my "new things" were current. I thought wrong. Then I thought I'd just ignore it and blog like it was normal to talk about my holiday endeavors 'til February, but I realize I've finally reached the threshold. So I apologize that the next several blogs will not be timely or relevant. But maybe your holiday hangover has subsided, and you'll be inspired to try something new when the next yuletide season approaches.

Last year, my holiday centerpiece on the dining room table was just a glass bowl filled with glass ball ornaments. Festive but kinda plain. I still keep it around but J actually asked if I was going to do something new... when he even comes close to forming an opinion about these kind of things, I oblige faster than a fat kid who hears "would you like to see the dessert menu?"

So once again, Martha Stewart came to the rescue with these Christmas trees made out of magazines. I love that they're homemade AND sustainable. It's not that I go around hugging trees every day. But I try to do the little things that can maybe make a difference. So I tried my hand, and 45 minutes later, this is what we had.

(If you must know, this is an old issue of Golf Digest. I wish I had a dirty magazine of some kind just so I could giggle to myself when people marveled at my craftiness.)

Unfortunately, that's as far as I got. I prefer odd numbers when it comes to decorating but because there aren't a ton of size variations when it comes to magazines (especially ones I have in my house), I knew I'd only make two of these suckers. And I didn't even make it that far, let alone getting around to spray painting them gold and dusting them with glitter. So this will be on the docket for next Christmas. Guess you'll have to wait 11 months to see the final product!

If you want to try this out, I definitely recommend checking out the video that's on the how-to article. Very helpful! When I finish my trees off, I'll be using one of those tiny cookie recipe books — the folding might prove difficult, but at least I'll have my size variation darnit!

Did you take on any holiday projects this year?

Occupational Therapy

I by no means earned a hiatus from blogging over my holiday break. (Oh "holiday break" heaven forbid if I ever enter an industry that doesn't have one or that my own ever strays away from the pattern.) But I took blogabbatical (see what I did there? blog ... sabbatical ... no?) so deal with it. It mostly happened because I inadvertently kept a "hands off computer" mantra for the week's duration, save the two days leading up to my imminent return to the work life. Of course, I still caught up on ever-important tweets, Facebook-age and sports updates on my handy dandy iPhone, but should I ever post a new blog from that smarty pants mobile device, it'll consist of a picture or two and maybe a sentence. (Guessing you'd prefer that?)

So picking up where I left off ... here's something I did that's new. I started a new job at the end of November. Probably not news to Blogging Molly clientele, but it deserves a spot in this little e-diary I'll one day peruse with wonderment. (Of my idiocy.)

Sure I've gotten a new gig before. Once I switched from Tad's Tropical Sno to Juice Stop. From a price point, Juice Stop is a step up. But I gotta say, making Hawaiian Ice sno cones requires quite a bit of skill. And you must possess certain skills ... like cold-tolerant hands. (Ok that's about the only skill required.)

But this job switch was my first since I ventured into adulthood. It was time for a change ... a little occupational therapy, if you will. Making change always has the potential to be a bit scary, albeit exciting, but bidding adieu to your first job out of college has got to be exponentially more stressful. I'm proud of myself for taking a leap when things were comfortable. It wasn't an easy decision, but I'm stoked for a new scene and opportunities.

So here's Molly's New Job 101: totally basic and mostly boring.

On my first day, this little guy was my buddy while I filled out stacks of paperwork:



Among many new experiences, this is the first time I've worked in a building that requires elevators to get around. I kind of (always) forget where I am. Related, my desk is on the 9th floor. Here's the view:



On my first day, my spacious-to-me office was sad and bare.



I still haven't really had time to decorate, but it quickly got a small dose of personality with a little mess added in.




(Notice the blinds ... sadly, these end up pulled down most days because the sun gets way bright. It makes me a bit sad and I'm too lazy to put them up once those people leave.)

All in all, I'm really loving the new job. I think I'll really come to appreciate the location (right off the Plaza) even more than I already do when the weather is more pleasant - walking to grab lunch or shop over lunch could be the death of my paychecks, but by golly, I'll have fun doing it. I am anxious to escape the "new kid" stage but until then, I'm plenty busy writing about beauty products, textbooks and clothing. Oh, and there's an espresso machine at our disposal. So I get one of these bad boys (skinny hazelnut latte) to hang out with every morning:



What are your favorite (or not-so-favorite) things about starting a new job?

Wreath of kin

The year's last two months are when my mailbox is its fattest. And this extra padding is equal parts "YOU CAN'T MISS THIS SALE!!!!!!!!!!!!" announcements/catalogues and holiday greetings from friends and family. For the former, I take no issue with scanning for any sizable coupons and pitching them in the garbage. For the latter, I feel guilty when the cards and letters just sit in a towering stack on my coffee table. I feel like the best I can do in that situation is shuffle which smiles get to land on top for the next few days. And heaven forbid if any of my loved ones are claustrophobic. What if those holiday cards have voodoo doll-like tendencies?!

So this year, I used my newness mission to remedy the guilty pile situation. I now have a "wreath" to display all my favorite pretty faces!



This project was easy-peazy-Brett-Favre's-sleazy. Just get an embroidery ring, some clothespins, wood glue and ribbon. I picked up the biggest embroidery ring, because I'm clearly the most popular woman in the universe. Ridiculous lies aside, you just glue the clothespins around the perimeter, alternating which way the clasp faces. Let it dry for a while, cover the obnoxious metal with a ribbon and you're set to show off your loved ones in crafty fashion.

In the past, the only circle of cards I witnessed involved chugging cheap beer (in college, obvi.) This circle of cards is not only better for my liver, but a tad on the classier side, too. So if I'm not your mailing list, you should probably think about sending me a picture of your family. Don't you want a coveted spot on a clothespin in my boyfriend's kitchen? Sure you do.

How do you display your cards?

Credit to Martha Stewart for the idea!

Funky Acrophobia

J and I vacationed in Chicago a few weeks ago. I experienced several new things while there, despite having visited the Windy City multiple times before. But the most notable newness was my trip 103 stories into the sky at Willis Tower. (Formerly known as Sears Tower. Barf on that name change.)

Whether you stick your nose up at touristy activities, or embrace them as rites of passage, you must put Willis Tower on your "to do" list. Because not only are the traditional views spectacular, but there's also a new feature on the west side of the building in the form of plexiglass boxes that jut out from the side of the building. When you venture into one of these boxes, you're standing 103 stories up, looking down at your Chicago playroom ... the cars and buildings teensy weensy. And my oh my, was it terrifyingly awesome.

My fear of heights is bizarre. I love roller coasters. But put me in a multi-level mall, make me walk on the inside near those barriers that look down into the middle and you'll send my heart racing. Flying? It's fine. (Save for takeoff and landing. Gou to the let.) Standing on the edge of the rafters behind stage of my high school's auditorium ... forgetaboutit. (Clearly a traumatizing experience, almost 9 years later.) I can't really explain my phobia's inconsistencies.

Anywho ... when we finally made our way to plexiglass peril, J tugged on my arm for the imminent photo shoot, forgetting I'd need to ease into it. Our first pictures feature a nervous smile on my face, fists clenched in utter terror. (What you can't see is the massive amounts of sweat those palms were home to.) Gradually, I got more adventurous and took my heels off the carpet, allowing my soles to bear witness to all of Wacker Drive's tinyness.

I even let J leave my side and visit the box across from me.

But when he requested that I crouch down, the butterflies returned. Powered through...

Ultimately, I'm so glad I experienced this tourist attraction and would recommend it to anyone - visitors and Chicagoans alike. We went at sunset which made for some lovely views and photos.

Got any favorite tourist traps?