eaten: oven fajitas

Steve always gets fajitas when we go out to eat. Well not always but more than I do. For our anniversary we got fajitas for two at a local restaurant and I was sold. Why do I not get them more? Why don't I try and make them at home? So when I saw this recipe for oven fajitas I knew it would be a hit.

Instead of using the glass pan I used my cast iron skillet. I made sure to adjust the timing, it still took about 35 minutes to cook and get a nice roast. I also doubled the meat and made enough for leftovers.

These were amazing and so easy. Besides having to prep a bunch of veggies, you just throw it in a pan, toss with oil and seasonings and let the oven do the rest. Serving with the lime totally made them divine and since neither Steve or I like sour cream, we topped with grated cheese. Delicioso!

Oven Fajitas
Recipe and pic from budgetbytes

Ingredients

SEASONING

• 1 Tbsp chili powder
• ½ Tbsp paprika
• ½ tsp onion powder
• ¼ tsp garlic powder
• ¼ tsp cumin
• ⅛ tsp cayenne pepper
• 1 tsp sugar
• ½ tsp salt
• ½ Tbsp corn starch

FAJITAS

• 2 small (or 1 lg.) onion
• 2 medium green bell peppers
• 1 medium red bell pepper
• 1 lb. chicken breast*
• 2 Tbsp vegetable oil
• 1 medium lime
• 8 (6-inch) tortillas
• ½ cup sour cream (optional)
• ¼ bunch cilantro (optional)

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Mix all of the ingredients for the fajita seasoning in a small bowl and set aside (chili powder, paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, cumin, cayenne pepper, sugar, salt, and corn starch).
2. Cut the onion and bell peppers into ¼ to ½ inch wide strips. Place them in a large 9×13 inch casserole dish. Slice the chicken breast into very thin strips and add it to the casserole dish with the vegetables.
3. Sprinkle the seasoning over the meat and vegetables. Drizzle the vegetable oil over everything and then use your hands to toss the ingredients until everything is well coated in oil and seasoning. Bake in the preheated oven for 35-40 minutes, stirring once half way through. Squeeze the juice from half of the lime over top of the meat and vegetables after it comes out of the oven.
4. Scoop a small amount of meat and vegetables into the center of each tortilla. Top with a few sprigs of cilantro, a dollop of sour cream, and an extra squeeze of lime if desired.

Lately....

Where has the week gone? Here are some things we have been up to of late:

• Henry went through a rough patch last week and didn't want to go to preschool. He would cry in the hall outside his classroom and had to be coaxed in. I sat for up to 30 minutes playing with the other kids until I could sneak out. Luckily his teachers are wonderful at the art of distraction. I think it comes down to one kid he doesn't want to play with. Hopefully now that we have pin pointed the problem, we can talk about it at home and ease his concerns. 
• I have been reveling in the return of tv. This is my favorite time of year. The beginning of the holiday season, the impending fall weather and a whole slew of new and returning tv to watch. Anyone else get really excited like me? In preparation I have been binge watching New Girl Season 2 and re-watching Scandal. No, I don't make a schedule of what show is on which day...
• Speaking of Scandal, I recently read an interview with Kerry Washington and loved this wisdom she shared, "The women I look up to had careers in lots of different mediums, across decades-people like Julie Andrews, Barbra Streisand and Rita Moreno and Diahann Carroll. They're women who committed to rediscovering themselves as artists through this journey of life." Its a good reminder to keep evolving and trying new things in my field.
• This year I have finally wised up to Georgia's ways and have not expected a turn in the weather prematurely. Ever since we moved here, from Utah, I have expected crisp mornings and boot weather come September. Wrong. Fall doesn't officially start here for another few weeks and I have mentally prepared this year. Instead of willing it to be fall by wearing jeans and sweaters and coincidentally sweating like a pig, I have (finally) acclimated nicely. And my reward is the cool early mornings we are now enjoying and finally a break in the heat. Hooray!
• I have been in a funk lately. I try and spend all of Henry's preschool time working but I have hit a lull between seasons and awaiting new fabric arrivals. I have nothing to do. So I have been decluttering the house. When was the last time you cleaned out and organized your scrapbook paper box? Or your sock drawer? Why did I have over 30 pairs of white athletic socks? I also finally went through all of Henry's old clothes and made room to put away his recent set of outgrown clothes which had been sitting on a chair in his room for months. This is a dangerously freeing mood. 
• Henry told me he wants to be a werewolf for Halloween. Better than an Angry Bird.

bexcaliber: cosy red and blue inspiration board

Red, white and blue is a classic color combo but can verge on being too patriotic for my tastes. Warmed up with greys and a variety of wood and metal finishes and the colors can be down right inviting. Varying shades of raspberry, poppy red and coral can help soften the Americana vibe.

So am I the only one completely in love with this coffee table? Sleek glass on a natural base. The florentine mirror and leather palette pillow add luxurious texture. Animal prints and pillows keep it quirky.

Starburst Chevron in Coral and Grey from bexcaliber
Alameda Flat Weave Rug from Hattan Home
Bowl from Ferm Living
Round Florentine Mirror from Ethan Allen
Hudson Cabinet with Steel Base from Room and Board
Birshire Sofa from Vielle and Francis
Cheetah Cushion Cover from H&M
Conran Elder Chair from JcPenney
Large Abstract Painting from Jolina Anthony
Hipster Llama Quote Poster from ArcadiaGraphic
Orbit Trio Floor Lamp from Target
Mudhut Suzani Vine Window Panel from Target
Dunn Cocktail Table from Room and Board
Black Leather Palette Cushion Cover from H&M

bexcaliber: new fall designs

 There is something about the beginning of the holiday season that motivates me into productivity. I love fall and wanted to revisit a favorite design back from my applique days. I used to hand cut trees and hearts and sew them on with my machine. It took hours and I am so happy with how this printed version came out. So much easier and so many more custom options.

 I also wanted to add another print to my Halloween stash. Bright white skulls on orange and black are definitely edgier than anything I've done. The black one kind of reminds me of Goonies.

Skulls in Orange and Black can be found here
Falling in Love Tree can be found here

eaten: one hour skillet focaccia bread

 Make this bread. Do it. 

We love bread. Could never be gluten free. This bread is heaven in a skillet. Crisp on the bottom, soft on inside and buttery, cheesy on the top. I made it to accompany a baked ravioli dish and this was the star of the meal. And so easy too. I am so excited to have a quick recipe to accompany soups for fall.

And I only made one change. I melted the butter and brushed it on but then sprinkled cheese and the seasonings on independently both times. 

One Hour Skillet Focaccia

Pictures and recipes from crunchycreamysweet

Ingredients for the dough:

1. 3/4 c warm water
2. 1/2 tsp granulated sugar
3. 1 1/2 tsp yeast 
4. 2 Tbsp olive or canola oil
5. 2 c all-purpose flour ( divided )
6. 1/2 tsp salt
for the parmesan butter brush:
7. 3 Tbsp unsalted or salted butter, melted
8. 1 Tbsp grated parmesan
9. 1/2 tsp Italian seasoning

Instructions

1. Place water and sugar in a large mixing bowl of a stand mixer. Stir until sugar dissolves.
2. Sprinkle yeast over the water and stir few times. Let sit until foamy ( about 5 minutes).
3. Turn the mixer on low speed and add 1 cup of flour and salt. Mix until combined.
4. Add oil and mix well.
5. Gradually add as much of the remaining cup of flour as you can ( it can be only 3/4 of it) and mix until the dough pulls away from the sides of the bowl.
6. In the meantime, preheat the oven to 220 degrees F and when it's ready turn it off. Keep the door closed.
7. Grease the skillet.
8. Place dough onto a floured surface (use the remaining flour from the second cup) and fold the dough a few times until you feel it's smooth and not sticky anymore. Shape into a ball.
9. Roll out the dough into a size of your skillet.
10. Place in skillet. Stretch up the sides. Cover with a kitchen towel and place in the oven for 20 minutes.
11. Take the skillet out of the oven and preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Make indentations in the dough with your fingers.
12. Mix melted butter, parmesan and seasoning in a small bowl. Brush the dough with half the butter.
13. Place skillet with dough in the preheated oven and bake 20 minutes, or until golden brown. Brush with remaining butter. Let cool until safe to the touch and slice. Serve.

bexcaliber: mood board, one couch, three ways

For my room inspiration this week I wanted to show how mixing up fun accessories can really change the feel of a space. I started with a basic white couch--which coincidentally I wouldn't buy as the reviews online are poor but I didn't read them until after I was done with the pictures--and a wooden side table with clean lines. The perfect blank slates.

Just by adding a few coral and turquoise pillows and a touch of cowhide, you get a delightful southwestern feel. Go for deeper tones to avoid that 1990's Taco Time feel. The modern lamp and retro planter keep it fresh while the pom pom pillows is to die for.

I love that gold has made a serious comeback and I especially love it in this playful lamp by Jonathan Adler. (P.S. JcPenney has some amazing home decor stuff these days, who would have thought?) Gold detailing on pillows warms up an otherwise stark color combo. This buffalo painting is organic and has great movement.

Mint is having a major moment these days and paired with coral it is sure to enliven any room. Varying shades within the color scheme adds depth. I love travel posters and this one for Dubai just seemed to fit. A luxurious leather clock and intricate lamp base add texture.

Luxe Three Seat Sofa from World Market
Fretwork Side Table from West Elm

Southwestern Charm:
Magical Thinking Woven Mirror from UO
Hip Haven Short Bullet Planter for UO 
Cowhide Pillows from Home Decorators Collection 
White Linen Drum Shade from Target
Threshold Ombre Lamp Base from Target
Tassel Trace Pillow from Anthropologie
Chevron Applique Pillow Cover from bexcaliber

Black, White and Gold:
Jonathan Adler Elephant Accent Lamp from JcPenney
Geometric Sleepy Buffalo from geometricink
Gold Pillows from Sukan
Black and White Lacquer Boxes from Gramercy and Co
Starburst Pillow Cover in Black and White from bexcaliber
Custom Love Print in White on Black Pillow Cover from bexcaliber

Coral and Mint:
World Travel Dubai Print from Fab
Pasha Basketwork Table Lamp from World Market
Coral Burlap Table Lamp Shade from World Market
Michael Graves Faux-Leather Mantel Clock from JcPenney
Cuddle Fleece Blanket from Nordstrom
Circles Squared Pillow Cover in Mint Chip from bexcaliber
Starburst Chevron in Midnight and Teal Pillow Cover from bexcaliber

Henry: The Speed Button

Henry has been hilarious lately. And while he has moments where I wish I was miles away... most of the time he is so energetic and cute and lovable.

• Pictures were inspired from an idea on Pinterest. The angry face makes me terrified for his teenage years. And whenever you ask him to make a silly face, this is what he pulls out. Scared? Maybe he is happy to be scared? Crazy kid!
• One thing that Henry has been saying a LOT is "Mommy, look at this." "Look at this, Mommy." And its not like what I am looking at is ever anything more exciting than him jumping off the couch (again) or biting into a piece of sandwich. This actually brings me a huge helping of guilt as I can't always look and lose patience in actually wanting to look. Sigh...
• Henry has discovered these "buttons" on his body. He will push his fast button on his tummy and then race through the apartment. He has turn buttons, stop buttons, jump buttons and even a slow button. Sometimes he uses this excuse "my fast button is broken" or something similar when I am trying to get him to cooperate. 
• Henry has been loving preschool! That is a total understatement. He has even made a couple of friends: Franny and Ruby. I was hoping he would befriend some males. Nope. He comes home singing new songs with a backpack full of artwork and a head full of stories to tell me. Its so neat to see him growing already. He can explain to me things that happened that were important to him and without me prompting him. For example, he told me this whole story about sharing the swings with a little girl who had swirly yellow hair.
• One thing I was most interested to see when he started preschool was the influence of other people on him. This is the first time he has been away from us and learning from other people who aren't Steve and I and people we really know. One of my favorite things are the songs he sings that I didn't teach him. This little light of mine, I'm going to let it shine...
• There is a church in Athens that recently had a fire. Henry calls this church the "hot church." He is obsessed with it. And the obsession goes from fascination to terror. One day he was crying when he found out we'd be driving by it so I had to drive around campus another way. Luckily, they are tearing it down and putting up a new church. Hopefully it will be done soon so we can move on. But his noticing of fire stretches to everything now. There is a guy in the Avengers show, the Human Torch who Henry calls the "hot guy." It took us forever to figure out what he was talking about. I was relieved when it was the torch guy and not him thinking Iron Man was cute. 
• Henry has started to notice when he gets angry. Being upset is fine but we're working on how he shows it. Sometimes he throws things or pouts off into his room. My favorite thing he does is he'll get all mad in the face and say, "I'm going to get angry. Here are my claws." Then he dramatically lifts his hands that have been scrunched into claws. He doesn't hit anyone with them he just uses it as a way to express his frustration. 
• He will also come up to me in amazement and say "Mommy, look at what is happening." He'll lift his hands and they will start to turn into claws as if he has no control over them. Its pretty amusing. He also turns into a puppy a lot too. 
• His favorite movie right now is Peter Pan. He watches it every day. He even has a whole scene memorized and acts it out while running around the house pretend sword fighting. He also is enjoying Aladdin and is fascinated by the cave of wonders. He watches that part while hiding behind a chair and peeking out until the cave has sunk back into the sand. 

Lately...

Here are a few things we have been up to in the last week or so...

• I recently got the hankering to reorganize the kitchen. I was able to find a cool, pot rack option at Ikea and love having all our pots out and a whole new cupboard available. In fact, it is empty except for a little bit of home canning. I cannot wait to fill it up with homemade applesauce in the fall.  We got the Grundtal Wall Shelf from Ikea in the 31.5" length with about 10 S-hooks. We picked it up on our way home from the airport coming home from Washington. I have been really happy with all the storage it provides. Soon every inch of the apartment will be filled--I keep thinking we have just about reached our limit and then I find a whole new way to use the space--and I send a bunch of stuff to Goodwill too.
• Moving the pot rack in meant moving the bulletin board out of our kitchen. It is happily now installed next to the front door. I also added three hooks beneath for Henry to hang his backpack and for purses and coats when the weather changes. I was even clever enough to mount our mail catcher on the bulletin board using push pins. Bye bye, kitchen counter clutter. Being semi-organized every so often is really awesome.
• Steve is the super hero Mr.-Fix-It and figured out how to fix our washing machine online. Thank heavens for youtube. He ordered the part and installed it all by himself, saving me from having to hand wash all of Henry's underwear. 
• One thing I didn't anticipate from our new seminary routine would be all my outfit changes. Some days I feel like I go through 3-4 outfits. I have to wear a skirt or dress to teach and then I change to go to the gym and then I put on my real outfit for the day. And if it is different--ie not a skirt-- that's 3 a day. And if I have somewhere to be like a girl's night out or a date night, I change again. My laundry is adjusting slowly to such a change. Its almost as bad as when I started working out.
• Another routine change I didn't anticipate from Henry being in preschool would be my need to still get out of the house. Before preschool started, Henry and I would usually run errands or have outings in the morning. Now I am moving those to either right after preschool or in the afternoon. It kind of helps to break up the day as I am usually working at home the whole time he is at school. One of the things we love to do is Sam's Club lunch and it has been nice to continue having that weekly date. 
• We have been trying to re-sleep train Henry to fall asleep on his own. Sigh. He is sobbing right now in his room. So tired but protesting that he "is not even tired."
• I hosted Bunco this month and was able to cross another life goal off my list. The theme was Black and White. For some reason I have always wanted to host a black and white party (life goal #72). Everyone wore black and white and we had appropriate fare like oreos and white cheddar popcorn for snacks and coconut (white) cake and double chocolate (black) cake for dessert. I didn't make the dinner black and white although thinking back I could have done black beans and rice but the Indian food was much better.
• We had a wonderful weekend this past week. We started with Publix sandwich lunch with Steve who spent the morning with us. Then Henry and I spent some time at the library and then tooled around Target. Yes, we got popcorn. That evening we went to a party for Steve's department. Saturday I went to the gym and then we went and saw Turbo at the $1 theater. It was pretty cute and Henry was really good. He sat through the whole thing and didn't get antsy or anything. The rest of the day he wanted to be super fast like Turbo. That evening we ordered pizza in and lounged around watching college football on the computer. It was so relaxing and fun just being together doing simple, enjoyable things.
• Steve promised Henry that we could download Super Mario on our Wii. Well he sure didn't forget. Henry has loved playing it and has gotten okay. Sometimes I have to come in and help him get to the next level. I am surprised at how much I remember from my childhood. I do have to say, I have a new level of appreciation for my mom who had to listen to that tinny music for hours on end. It sure is grating after awhile. Thanks Mom!

bexcaliber: mood boards, unexpected luxury

Well it was love at first site with these tattooed ladies from artist Emily Martin over at the black apple on etsy. I loved the idea of creating an elegant but unexpected bedroom around these lovelies. And while I personally would never get a tattoo, there is something enchanting about these floral ones. Their hairstyles suggest an earlier time period so I'd like to imagine that they are usually pretty covered up with clothing and their tattoos are secrets just for them, hidden away. Unexpected art.

I stuck with a pretty neutral color palette (for me) on the amazing bed and traditional rug and curtains. But an aquamarine chair and bright orange pagoda mirror pack a punch. I seriously am crushing on this bamboo mirror. I loved these vintage deep blue side tables paired with the modern linear glass lamps. Heavier tables topped with light as air lamps, sounds good to me. And I couldn't resist this sweet elephant ring holder.

I pulled the colors for the pillows out of the citrus print, I do love a good botanical. The custom Love Print is created from Fall 2013 Pantone colors. I am digging this Linden Green paired with Deep Lichen Green. It is still bright but muted for fall and could easily transition into many other seasons.

Love Print Pillow Cover in Pantone Colors by bexcaliber on etsy
Citrus Floral Print by rifle paper company
Slam Dunk Tangerine Super Soft Pillows from Overstock
Linear Blown Glass Table Lamp from West Elm
Tangerine Pagoda Mirror from Horchow
Tess Chair in Aquamarine from Crate and Barrel
Braylin Rug from Pottery Barn
Ceramic Elephant Ring Holder from Urban Outfitters
Threshold Farrah Fretwork Curtains from Target
Tattooed Ladies Print Set from The Black Apple on etsy
Regency Linen Bed from Anthropologie
Vintage Lacquered Night Stands from Danish Modern LA

Early Morning

So this is happening^^^^

When I was released from Primary, I was actually called to be one of our ward seminary teachers. That's right, early morning seminary. At first I was worried because last year they met at 6:10 am (!) which in my opinion is way too early. But after a little persuading--seriously, high school doesn't start until 8:30--I got them to move it back to 6:40. A thirty minute triumph!

And it really isn't that bad. I actually like getting up and starting my day with somewhere I have to be. As a stay at home mom it is easy to just kind of drift through the morning if you don't have plans. Now I have plans.

And with a little bit of preparation, I have found this new schedule completely doable. I make piles of clothing at night, I even get out my breakfast and place my keys on my purse so I don't have to rummage for them. I pack gym bags with my extra outfits and mentally prepare in case Henry wakes up in the night. Bedtime is around 10:00 with lights out around 10:30. I love being able to go to bed and just fall asleep out of sheer exhaustion. Which means, I am also not napping. A struggle? Yes, except on those days when I was sick and did nap and the one day where I came home, laid down and woke up an hour later without even meaning to. I love that I get to start the day in a positive way and I try to keep my momentum going. Granted we are now on week four and have just truly mastered the new routine, but mastered it we did.

Steve's schedule this semester is also conducive to me hitting the gym between seminary and dropping Henry off at preschool. Or the Monday solo grocery shopping run. He has been a great help getting Henry dressed and ready to go.

This year we're studying the Book of Mormon and it is a wonderful way to start each day. Our youth, all five of them, often surprise me with their energy and insight at such an early hour. I love working with the youth of the church and can see their growing testimonies and love their questions. They are a joy. I also have an incredibly bright and knowledgeable co-teacher who continues to amaze me with her familiarity with the scriptures. I need to step it up! which will be very good for me. At first the sheer volume of the material felt like an impossible task-the manual weighs like 5 lbs and there are over 160 lessons!-but as we keep plowing through I find it is either more manageable than I originally thought or I am better suited for the task than my self-doubt let me believe. Either way, it is going to be a great year.

eaten: baked creamy chicken taquitos

After roasting up some delicious chicken, we had quite a bit of leftover meat. I shredded it up and used a lot of it in these taquitos. Who doesn't love a good taquito? Or flauta? And homemade? And semi-healthy? Sold. 

These were really easy to throw together and I even made extras to freeze and they were wonderful reheated for a quick dinner with corn and beans. We used corn tortillas but I think flour would be good too.  Spraying with the oil and then sprinkling with salt gave these a wonderful faux-fried taste and texture.

Enjoy!

Baked Creamy Chicken Taquitos
Recipe and pic from ourbestbites

1/3 C (3 oz) cream cheese
1/4 C green salsa--I substituted a can of green chiles
1T fresh lime juice
1/2 t cumin
1 t chili powder
1/2 t onion powder
1/4 t granulated garlic, or garlic powder
3 T chopped cilantro
2 T sliced green onions--I left this out since I didn't have them on hand
2 C shredded cooked chicken (for extra yumminess, use grilled taco chicken!)
1 C grated pepperjack cheese--we used sharp cheddar
small corn tortillas (and actually, flour ones are really good as well)
kosher salt
cooking spray

Heat oven to 425. Line a baking sheet with foil and lightly coat with cooking spray.Heat cream cheese in the microwave for about 20-30 seconds so it’s soft and easy to stir. Add green salsa, lime juice, cumin, chili powder, onion powder and granulated garlic. Stir to combine and then add cilantro and green onions. Add chicken and cheese and combine well.You can prepare up to this step ahead of time. Just keep the mixture in the fridge.
Work with a few tortillas at a time and heat in the microwave until they are soft enough to roll without cracking. It helps to place them between damp paper towels. Usually 20-30 seconds will do it. If you find yours are cracking when you roll them or are coming unrolled right away, just try heating them longer and try the paper towel thing.
Place 2-3 T of chicken mixture on the lower third of a tortilla, keeping it about 1/2 inch from the edges.  Roll up tortillas and place seam down on a baking sheet, not touching one another.  Spray lightly with cooking spray, or lightly brush with olive oil and sprinkle lightly with kosher salt.  Place pan in oven and bake for 15-20 minutes or until crisp and the ends start to get golden brown.  Remove from oven and let cool slightly before serving.
For freezer, I just rolled them, put them on a plate and froze them individually before placing them in a ziploc. To heat right from the freezer, bake at 425* for 20-25 minutes. Don't forget to spray and salt!