Thursday, May 26, 2011

Fave new store in Starkville!!

So today on my way home from lunch with the baking bride and watkins wave ride I decided I would stop by this new store that I had passed a couple of times over the last few weeks but never had time to stop. The name of the store is THYME and its a cooking supplies store!
And it is beautiful!! and has tons of fun useful things for cooking , precious dishes, and A bountiful display of Le Creuset cook ware.
The best part is the amazing kitchen that is located in the store where they hold demonstrations and cooking classes! I could tell that the salesgirl could tell I was in love by the way she brought me the newsletter sign up list which usually lies on the desk next to the cash register. And I am in love. I talked to her about the classes and demonstrations that they have and asked if they did private parties like wedding showers or grown up birthday parties and she said that that was in the plans soon! How exciting to have such a cool place for a party here in Starkville. Please go by and check out this store and the lovely owners!

Always,
Chels

** if any of you reading this plan to be in my wedding party eventually, you need to remember how much I loved the idea of this place**

Food Blog- Buffalo Chicken Bites


So here is a delicious recipe that I put together for the Grey's Finale Party at the Watkins Wave Ride home. The Baking Bride and The Rodgerses were also in attendance and we ate these little puppies up!

And the BEST part of them is they are Totally South Beach!! I actually got the recipe of my little south beach app and they are probably my new go to party dish...

Buffalo Chicken Bites
3 tbsp ICBINB (I cant believe its not butter) 2 tbsp Hot Sauce (I used the cheapest at the PIG)
1 tsp Canola Oil 1/4 tsp Salt Pinch of Black Pepper
3 Skinless Chicken Breasts cut into 1 inch cubes
3 Celery Stalks cut into 1 inch sections

Melt ICBINB in a small sauce pan. Whisk in Hot Sauce and cook for 1 to 2 Minutes or until slightly thickened and set aside.
Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium high heat. Season chicken with salt and pepper and add to pan. Cook chicken turning occasionally, until browned on all sides, about 6 minutes. Add Hot Sauce mixture to pan and gently toss chicken until well coated on all sides. 1 to 2 Minutes.
Remove chicken from pan and skewer each with a toothpick and then skewer 1 piece of celery at the bottom of the toothpick. Arrange on a platter and serve with dip. (I used Ranch because I'm sometimes overwhelmed by Blue Cheese but either would do well)
These were so yummy and you can add more hot sauce if you'd like... I didn't really measure that well and ours could have used a bit more, but we like things on the spicier side.

I hope you enjoy at your next tailgating or gameday party!!
-Chels

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

a weekend in the swamp

Ok guys... I think I'm really on my way to be a real blogger. There were several times this weekend when I thought to myself "I need to blog about that when I get back". Now I just need to get a little memo pad so I can remember what all I wanted to share with you.

On to the weekend....

1st... Diet News....
Well because we are never consistent in my parents home on where we will be and when so that means that any diet I ever am on when I go there goes out the window... plus it was baccalaureate service at church sunday and we went to Copelands... no one in their right mind would give up a free meal at a fancy restaurant to cook their own healthy food. Enough about that... I do not regret my decision to enjoy myself with my family, but I will get back on the boat this morning.

2nd.... Swamp People....
So my mother and sister were quoting this show all weekend and I was trying to figure out what they were saying. They were quoting lines from the A&E show "Swamp People". It is about natives from the waters all over the south Louisiana hunting alligators with hook, chicken or beef, and a rifle. Its so intriguing and I'm now officially addicted. I find it strange that I don't need the subtitles... A&E thinks we should need them but I can understand everything they said.

3rd... Family....
This was the first time in a long time that we just all had a good time together with minimal fighting. We even all sat on my parents bed and talked while my dad was trying his new fishing shirts on that he got for his B-Day... It was weird and nice at the same time. Some of you know that I have a family time limit of about 48 hours.. Really, I do... And although I love my sister, 48 is all we can take of each other. She's a bossy pants and I am used to living by myself and doing what I want when I want it... So that is our main beef most of the time other than the back and fourth about who's clothes are in Who's suitcase... haha

4th... The drive...
Its a 4 hour drive from here to Slidell, LA so I do alot of praying and singing of country music. God really revealed some things to me this road trip for which I am very grateful! I'll talk about those in a later post when they flesh out a bit.
I listen and sing along with the never ending variety of country music stations on the way down Miss 101, 97 okk, b 95, k 99, and Kicker 108. Yep thats the order from Northern MS to Slidell. And they all play the top hits of today which are The Band Perry's new song, "The way you lie" and I now know all the words and timing of it. I'm pretty sure that if there was a chance for me to sing it karaoke style I would do a great job at it.

Well, I'm sure there is more but this is already a long post so when I remember I'll let you know!

Enjoy the day, You can't take it with you!
-Chels

Friday, May 20, 2011

a success and a unquenchable craving

So on this weight loss journey of mine I have my ups and downs...

Thursday was an up. I didn't cheat at all. I didn't get too hungry and kept busy and accomplished alot on that lazy day. I even made a great appetizer SB style that i'll blog about later.

But...

Today is another story. I can't get full, I haven't felt full all day and instead of just going to sleep or soothing it with tv watching I can't stop thinking about what i can eat... and i feel miserable because I want to be skinny but right now my desire to be thin is overwhelmed by my desire to eat... thats my biggest problem with weight loss... Food is more enjoyable to me right now because i can't see the end result and see how much i will love being thin.

So today i'm feeling down... but tomorrow I will wake up and start all over again... one day at a time right? One day at a time!

- Chels

Thursday, May 19, 2011

First Food Blog- Pecan Crusted Chcken

So phase 1 of south beach is pretty much a no sugars or starches, processed or natural. Meaning that it mostly consists of lean meats, cheeses, most nuts and veggies.
As I was craving nugs (chicken nuggets) the other day I just knew there had to be a suitable, delicious, phase 1 alternative. That is when I found a recipe for pecan crusted chicken thighs, with a few changes to the original, I made it SB friendly and totally yummy!! Now I will share it with you!

Easy Pecan Crusted Chicken

Ingredients

1 1/2 c. crushed pecans 1 tsp salt 1/2 tsp Ms Dash 1 tsp Tony's

2 egg whites 4 servings of boneless,skinless, chicken thighs



Almost completely thaw chicken.


Grind or pound pecans to fine as possible, add 1st 3 ingredients & mix well.


Whisk egg whites. Then dip breast in egg & pecan mix making sure to cover both sides. Roll back into shape.

Place in a baking dish & Bake at 350 for about 35 min. or until brown & juices run clear.

I made some green beans to go along as a side with my chicken and it was so good.

What is so great about this recipe was that everything I needed to make it I already had in my freezer or pantry. Its so great to just pull a few simple ingredients and make such a delightful dish! Hope you enjoy with your family!


Love always,

Chels

Starting South Beach

Hi friends,

If you've read my post a couple of posts ago you know that I'm on a mission to lose weight. Well, kind of. The stress of graduating and finishing up with school got the best of me, but NOW i'm doing something about it. I've started the south beach diet again.


I did this with my roommates The baking bride and Watkins Wave Ride when we all lived together before they got married and left me!! But it worked so I'm going on it again.

Roomie Photo!! Man that was a long time ago!!

Its harder this time. I'm doing it by myself. I have a skinny roommate now and there is no one here to judge what or how much I am eating. I've been on it 3 days and cheated each of those days, but the important thing is that each morning I wake up and commit to it again. No matter how bad I mess up (from one value sized coke to a horrible late night taco bell run-I know... its horrible... I know) I will get back on the diet in the morning and just make it through tomorrow.

That said I will be sharing this journey, my successes and not so great days. I will also share my favorite recipes with photos. So... Keep me honest, encourage me and keep me on track. I need the support and the accountability.

I Love Y'all!
Chels

Sunday, May 15, 2011

Fresh air and bugspray

The scents that get a girl in the mood for a good hike... so... I went!!

Yes, there are hiking trails in MS and although they are mostly short 1 mile round trip trails, it was perfect today. Here are some photos from my adventure.

This is the map of the trail of hwy 25 outside of Starkville.




Trees recently fallen from the storms a couple of weeks ago... they were so pretty and
I felt like a real explorer as I climbed over them.


You can't tell it from here but this view of the winding trail is just breathtaking and looks alot like a photo I used a couple of posts ago.. I love nature!


And this is ME!! It was cool enough wear a sweatshirt in the middle of may... weird.

The best part of hiking is the conversations you get to have with God. Some real hard conversations and problems have been resolved while on a hike. I just love it and am so glad to find a trail that is close to my home.

love always,
Chelsea-Lou

Saturday, May 14, 2011

I Miss Mondays


No, I've not gone crazy and i know that mondays are probably the most hated and dreaded days each week ...

But....

Not for me!

I've come to love mondays this past semester. They have actually become one of my favorite days for a couple of reasons... and I'm so sad that summer has come and stolen my routine!!

Reason 1 why I love Mondays this spring:
I held a girls bible study with some of the most amazing girls
that are part or have been a part of the ZTA sorority here on campus. I'm not part of ZETA but I LOVE THESE WOMEN!! We just have an hour and a half each week to share life and just pray and seek the word together. I miss them so much and that time with them is truly treasured by me.

Reason 2:
Supper Swap...
Some of you know what this is and some of you are about to be enlightened.

Supper Swap is an idea that my favorite neighbor and friend came up with where 4 or 5 households eat together each night of the week, each household buying groceries and cooking dinner one night a week. You can just pick up your food or are welcome to stay around and fellowship or watch WHEEL but nothing is required other than cook on your night. This was started to keep us all out of the drive thru as we are all trying to lose a few lbs. and has worked for the nights we are together.
Well.. Monday nights are my night but we have taken a break over the summer and are now just cooking only one night a month... Which is good and frees everyone up for traveling and doing family things later in the day since it doesn't get dark until 8:30 now... but its bad because I miss getting to cook a big meal. I love to cook ... LOVE IT... but i don't like to cook when i'm the only one eating because its really hard to just cook for one and i'll eat it all tonight if its in the fridge for tomorrow's lunch.. so I miss cooking for people and i miss having those people in my home.

So there it is.. I miss mondays.
love always,
Chels

PS.. if anyone wants someone to eat meals with during the week I'll be in starkville most of the summer! Just facebook me and i'll cook for you!!