Our Friday

This past Friday was the only day either of us would have the full day off together for a while, so we decided to make it a date day!

We slept in and then headed to Knoxville for lunch at Dead End BBQ. 

This was our first time to eat here, and its was really good. John T. got ribs, and I got a combo of pork & chicken. They served a choice of sweet or jalapeño cornbread or Texas toast, & we both tried the sweet. It was so good!They had lots of high school & UT sports memorabilia, & it was a pretty cool atmosphere. 

After lunch, we headed to mall for a little shopping, then to Target (they were having a huge sale on bulk items, and I could have went crazy! love Target!), then finally to the movies to see The Vow. It was a sweet movie, but I actually didn't like it as much as other Nicholas Sparks movies. Don't get me wrong, I loved the movie, but it wasn't as emotional for me as others, like The Notebook, Dear John & especially The Last Song.

The best part of the day was when John T. suggested we stop by the Cup before heading home! :o) He got two Tuxedo cupcakes, & I tried the Island Dream...it was scrumptious!! 

We had a wonderful, great, amazing day!!

When we got home, we went to watch Jayden play in one of her last basketball games of the season. 

I hope everyone is having a wonderful weekend!

Super Bowl Sunday {better late than never}

Last Sunday night, our friends Tim & Amber had us over to their house for a Super Bowl party. We are huge Colts fans, and well, we all know how their season went this year, so we pulled for the next best player & team, Eli & the Giants!

We had the best time, with lots of food, catching up & playing with Brayden & Addy!

We had so much yummy food! 

{Giants inspired cupcakes by Carly Harrison} 

Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta

Last night, I made one of John T.'s favorite meals. I'm pretty sure it would make anyone happy! 

The first time I made this was on new year's eve after I found the recipe on Pinterest. It is very rich, so I can't have too often, but once in a while never hurts. :o)

My absolute favorite thing to order at Chili's (besides their chips & salsa) is the Cajun Chicken Pasta. This recipe is strikingly similar (minus the chives & tomatoes)!

{I tweaked the Pinterest recipe for those of you have it pinned like me!}

Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta

What you need:

2 bags of refrigerated chicken breast strips (LOVE these)

1/2 box linguine, cooked according to package instructions (more or less depending on how many you are cooking for)

2 teaspoons cajun seasoning

{I like this brand}

2 tablespoons butter

3/4-1 cup heavy whipping cream

2 tablespoons chopped sun-dried tomatoes

{I like love this brand}

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon dried basil

1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper

1/8 teaspoon garlic powder

1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese

{side note: when it comes to spices, I rarely measure...I typically just throw in a pinch here & there until it "looks right" to me}

How you make it:

Place chicken and Cajun seasoning in a bowl & toss to coat. (In the meantime, boil your water & cook your pasta.)

In a large skillet over medium heat, sauté chicken in butter until chicken is heated through, about 5 minutes.

Reduce heat, add heavy cream, tomatoes, basil, salt, garlic powder, black pepper & heat through.

Pour over hot linguine and toss with Parmesan cheese.

I served ours with garlic toast.

YUM-O!

I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!

John T.'s 26th Birthday

Yesterday was my hubby's 26th b-day! I had our families over for a little party last night, and it was really fun!

The theme was orange white for the Vols!

We had chicken nuggets from Chick Fil-A

Cheese and Bacon Potato Rounds, via Pinterest

and, of course, cake!

{Cake by Carly Harrison}

It was so fun to have all of our families there together.

After we ate, John T. opened his presents, & we played the Wii for a little while. 

It's hard to believe we both turn 26 this year! :o)

This morning, we went to church, did some grocery shopping at Target & had lunch at Salsaritas. I love, love, love our Sundays together!

Have a great week, everyone, & for those of you who are off tomorrow for the MLK holiday, enjoy it! 

Loving it

I have come across some of the cutest things lately, starting with this orange & white chevron platter I got with one of my Christmas gift cards to Alumni Hall

I am so excited to use it this weekend for John T.'s 26th birthday party! 

I am in love with chevron right now, so I had to pick this up when I saw it at Target last week

{Valentine's Day}

I am also loving my KitchenAid that my mom & dad got me for Christmas. I have used it twice already, to make this & this and I love it! 

I picked this frame out as a Christmas present from John T.'s granny, and I am loving it! I think our picture from the Arkansas game fits it perfectly!

{ella minnow pea}

Football & Taco Dip

I always seem to be looking for a good excuse to make taco dip & Monday's national championship seemed like the perfect occasion. 

I made chicken fajitas, & we had chips & taco dip. It was so good!

My good friend, Jessica, gave me the recipe when we were in college, and it is always a big hit when I make it.

Here's what you need:

1 block cream cheese

1 small container of sour cream

1 packet taco seasoning

1 jar of your favorite salsa (my fav is below)

lots of shredded cheese

How you make it:

Combine cream cheese, sour cream & taco seasoning in a mixer or bowl. Transfer mixture to the bowl you will use for the dip. Pour salsa over mixture. Sprinkle cheese on top & heat in microwave for 3 minutes or until cheese is melted. 

My favorite salsa from Target. It is the best! 

It doesn't look perfect, but it sure is yummy! :o)

The Best Homemade BBQ

I am not one to try to make my own BBQ. I would much rather just go to Buddy's & buy some! However, there is a recipe in January's Southern Living that I thought I had to try. Oh my...this was delicious, if I do say so myself! Perfect for winter & super easy!

The recipe is under the food section of the mag called "fix it and forget it," & that's exactly what I did.

{Slow-cooked Barbecued Chicken}

What you need:

2 tsp. salt

1 1/2 tsp. paprika

1/2 tsp. garlic powder

1/2 tsp. pepper

1 (3-to 3 1/2-lb.) cut-up whole chicken (I used boneless, skinless chicken thighs because they were on sale at Target)

1/2 cup cola soft drink

1/3 cup ketchup

1/4 cup firmly packed light brown sugar

2 Tbsp. apple cider vinegar

2 Tbsp. bourbon (I left this out)

1 lemon, sliced

How you make it:

1. Stir together first 4 ingredients in a small bowl. Sprinkle over chicken. Place chicken in a single layer in a lightly greased 6-qt. slow cooker.

2. Whisk together cola soft drink and next 4 ingredients in a small bowl. Slowly pour mixture between chicken pieces (to avoid removing spices from chicken). Place lemon slices in a single layer on top of chicken. 

3. Cover and cook on HIGH 5 hours (or LOW 6 1/2 to 7 1/2 hours<

4. Transfer chicken pieces to a serving platter; discard lemon slices. Skim fat from pan juices in slow cooker. Pour pan juices over chicken; serve immediately.

I also served ours with this side (wish I would have taken a pic...must get better at that): 

{Sweet Potato Cornbread}

What you need:

2 cups self-rising white cornmeal mix 

3 Tbsp. sugar

1/4 tsp. pumpkin pie spice

5 large eggs

2 cups cooked mashed sweet potatoes (about 4 sweet potatoes)

1 8-oz. container sour cream

1/2 cup butter, melted

How you make it:

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Stir together fiist 3 ingredients in a large bowl; make a well in center of mixture. Whisk together eggs and next 3 ingredients; add to cornmeal mixture, stirring just until moistened. Spoon batter in a lightly greased 9-inch square pan.

2. Bake at 425 degrees for 35 minutes or until golden brown.

Both recipes from Southern Living.