Football Food Friday

Well, it's official: it's September 5! In my mind, this means Fall is about to be in full swing. I.love.fall. It is officially my favorite season. I have living in Virginia to thank for that one. And just because we now live in Texas and don't have the mountains, crisp morning air (yet), and leaves changing doesn't mean I can't still enjoy the season!

With fall comes one of my other favorite things: college football, Baylor football in particular. I have my best friend to thank for this. I never imagined that 6 years ago, I would fall in love with football. Katie, thanks for taking the time to sit down with a girl at a football game who "didn't know what inning we were in." Because of your patience and teaching me the game, I am forever changed! (And Dad said just yesterday, he never would have imagined he would have thought I would love football this much). So thanks! It has become one of my favorite past times and something Scott and I enjoy watching together. And on the occasion I get to go to a game, a place where great memories are made. We can't wait for BU Homecoming 2014 and watching our Bears in the new McLane Stadium!

So, in honor of football season, I thought I would start a new Friday Football season tradition and post some of my favorite football-watching snacks-let's just call it Football Food Friday! Hopefully it will be a good place where I can share some of my favorite recipes before the start of the weekend and all the football-watching we will partake in the upcoming weekends ahead! So, here goes Football Food Friday: Edition 1.

1) Buffalo Chicken Dip:

I made this for the Super Bowl party we attended, and it was a HUGE hit. It.was.gone. It is a recipe I got from a friend, so sorry it is so long and I couldn't link to it, but it is worth it, I promise!

1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts (cut into chunks to help cook faster)

1 C ranch dressing

1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese softened

1/3-1/2 hot pepper sauce (I use Texas Pete's…use whatever amount you want for heat…I lean more toward the 1/3).

2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Place chicken into a saucepan. Cover with water and bring to a boil. Simmer over medium heat until chicken is tender enough to pull it apart with a fork. Drain and cool until you can touch it to shred it, but you don't want it too cool that it's difficult to shred. Shred of chop chicken.

Mix the cream cheese into the chicken until well blended, then stir in the ranch dressing and hot sauce. Pour mixture into a 1 to 2 quart casserole dish. (I typically use a 9x9 pyrex). Then, top mixture with cheddar cheese.

Bake uncovered 15-20 minutes until cheese is browned and sauce is bubbly. 

I served this with french bread, which I cut up, spread with butter, and baked on 350 for 3-5 minutes. I also served celery, which both hold up to the density of the dip. ENJOY!

2) Saltine Toffee

One of my college roommates used to make this, or a similar recipe and it was always SO good. So I needed an easy recipe this past weekend for our BU watch party and came across this. It was another hit! I used saltines, but I think next time I make it, I will use Keebler Club Crackers. Also, I saw one recipe where they used Hershey bars instead of chocolate chips, and I think I will also try this next time too. I also saw where some people used 1 cup of chocolate chips and 1 cup of chocolate chips and some recipes where people crushed Heath Bars and sprinkled those on top instead of pecans. I only put pecans on half for those that weren't huge pecan lovers! So, feel free to take this recipe, get creative, and make it your own. But it is perfect for football-watching because it's a little grab and go snack! 

3) Chex Mix

I make this all.the.time. And it is a hit every time. Bottom line: you can't go wrong with chex mix. If you want to get creative try adding ranch. It's also a hit! 

4) Caramel, Marshmallow, Chocolatey Goodness Chex Mix

Another one of my college roommates introduced this to me and it is SO delicious. Another one that is a complete hit! So yummy! 

5) Spinach Dip

I made this for another party recently, and again, HUGE hit and it is SO easy I almost feel bad! Honestly, it is super easy to make but has the taste of something that took hours to make! And it's a crock pot recipe, so it is a definite win-win! I promise it will be a hit at your football watching party too! And be sure to check out Shay's foodie blog for more wonderfully tasty recipes. I tell everyone I know about this because it really is full of wonderfully tasty and easy recipes! 

Hope everyone is enjoying the start of Football and Fall as much as we are and Sic Em Bears!!!!!!

Southern Charm

Last week, Scott and I took a little trip down south. We had plans to go visit his family, so we decided to go a few days early and take a little trip to Charleston, SC to have a mini anniversary celebration. We always fly in and out of Myrtle Beach when we visit the Stiers, which is only a couple hours from Charleston. So we rented a car and were on our way! It ended up being the perfect little getaway. We were only there for three days, but it was just the right amount of time. We soaked in the Southern Charm, had so much wonderful food, and saw some beautiful sites (College of Charleston, I'm looking at you). It was some much needed R&R and we cannot wait to go back again!  

Where we Stayed: Inn at Middleton Place (Highly recommend)

Places we Ate: Blossom. Market Street Deli. California Dreaming.

Sites we Saw: Gardens at Middle Place. College of Charleston. Charleston City Market. Battery Park. Rainbow Row. The Citadel. 

Until next time be blessed.....

Three Years and Counting

Three years ago today, this happened:

It is hard to believe that three years have gone by already. Boy has it flown! Most days it feels like we just got married, and then other days it feels as if we have been married for years. But I really cannot believe we are three years in already! 

I recently had a friend get engaged, and she asked me if I had any marriage advice. As I sat there and thought, my first reaction was, "I am not the person to be giving marriage advice. I still haven't gotten this thing figured out and we are almost three years in!" The longer I sat there and the more I thought about it I realized, no, I do not have any "good advice" to give. However, I have learned a few things along the way. And while I don't know much about marriage, I definitely know more than I did the day I walked down the aisle. Boy, do I know more. In fact, that day I basically knew nothing,  which is funny because Scott and I thought we were so prepared for marriage. But as much planning and premarital counseling as we did, nothing quite prepared us for what lie ahead. Like nothing. Except maybe a vision from God into our first year of marriage. But I guess some things you just have to learn as you go. Here's a few things I have learned along the ride......

1) Don't sweat the small stuff. I am so far from perfect in this category, mostly because I am type-A and can be a little stuck in my ways (and maybe sometimes think others should be stuck in my ways too). However, I recently had someone tell me a story of an elderly lady she had recently met. The elderly lady told a story about how her husband had recently died, but when he was alive, he would spill his coffee every morning on the table and leave it there and she would have to come behind him and clean it up. Every. single. day. I can imagine that would be annoying. However, now that her husband was gone, she missed cleaning up that coffee spill every day. This was a kind reminder not to sweat the small stuff, because there are more important things in life than coffee stains. As the old saying goes, there's no use crying over spilled milk......... 

2) Let your spouse be themselves. This one has probably taken me the longest to figure out. For those of you that know me and Scott, we could not be more opposite. We also have so much in common, but on the external, we could not be polar opposites. I am an introvert to the extreme. In fact, I would be happy being in a room, by myself, writing and reading pretty much 95% of the time. When we go out in public, I would be fine going in, not talking to a soul, and then leaving to go about my day. In fact, I have been known to be called a wallflower, and if you see me in public, you may see me standing against a wall waiting on my husband. Because Scott, he talks to everyone. In fact, he could talk to people for days. And when we go somewhere, he will work a room and make sure he has talked to everyone. And on top of that, he sometimes talks loud, is very gregarious, and most people know when he (or we) enter a room. For the longest time, this was so hard for this girl who just wanted to slip in quietly somewhere without being seen or noticed. And on top of that, he eats weird things. Like really weird things. However, I have learned that when I tried to squelch that gregarious spirit or tell him what he can and cannot eat and try to form him into a mold that I think is the right mold, I was only squelching his spirit. So, while I far from perfect at this, marriage has taught me to let my spouse be who he is. God created him to be that way, so God wants nothing else! 

3) Have fun and be spontaneous but realize romance isn't everything. I wish I would have learned this about 15 years ago. It would have made my life so much easier. Don't get me wrong, I am a huge romantic. I mean Scott proposed to the tune of Pride and Prejudice, complete with a Mr. Darcy outfit. If you don't know I am a hopeless romantic by now, well, I am at a loss. I love it when Scott brings me flowers and takes me on dates and surprises me with getaways. There really is not much that makes me happier. And it is important to continue to date each other in marriage, have fun, and be spontaneous. Do things like dance in the kitchen or go on a picnic or eat cake at 10 at night. Because you are creating memories and memories are good. But honestly, while I love these moments, marriage has been teaching me to appreciate the mundane with Scott and not to expect the flowers and presents all the time. Because honestly, about 85% of our time (if not more) is spent on the mundane, like groceries, dishes, laundry, cleaning the house, going to meetings, getting the oil changed in the car, running errands, taking care of each other when we are sick (which has been a lot lately for this pregnant self), and finances. I have realized that the mundane tasks of everyday life are acts of love too and can convey things that flowers and fancy dinners and surprise getaways cannot. Being romanced is fun, but the everyday activities of life are good and meaningful too. And can be fun if you make them. Just add ice cream. Ice cream makes everything better.....well except finance meetings. That calls for something a little stronger than ice cream around the Stier home.....like lots of Diet Coke and a little tuning out by this spender. 

4) Find something you both like to do and do it together. Take a walk. Play a game (our favorite is rummikub). Travel. Canoe. Ride a bike. Whatever it is, find something you like to do together and do it. Traditions are fun and another way to make memories. Oh, and Taco Tuesday is a highly recommended Tuesday tradition from the Stier household. You won't regret it. 

        

5) Love deeply. This has really hit me hard lately. I learned about an acquaintance that recently lost her husband at age 27. Ever since I heard about this, it has weighed heavily on my heart and mind. The night I found out about it, I lay in bed next to my husband realizing that this young widow would never lay next to her husband again. Tears started rolling down my face, mostly because I was convicted. I realized in that moment, I do not do the best job at loving my husband well. I do not do the best job of loving him deeply. I do it to others around me, but at times when I am called to love the person I am closest to, I fail, mostly because I know he will be there with open arms to take me back in, while I cannot say the same for others. In addition, on that particular night, Scott and I had gotten in a fight before bed. That night, I was given some perspective, very deep and grave perspective. Then I began to think, "What if that was the last thing I said to him?" And it hit me like a ton of bricks. Love well. Love deep. Because the Lord gives and the Lord takes away and let's make the moments count while we have them. 

Last, leave room for grace, lots and lots of grace. Like limitless amounts of grace. Because we all make mistakes. And marriage lasts a lifetime. That's a lot of mistakes that call for a lifetime amount of grace. And I am not saying grace is easy. It is hard and marriage is sometimes really hard. But with a lot of grace (and a lot of laughter), you will teach each other more about the heart of Jesus and show each other the love and grace of Jesus in ways that no one else can and that's pretty neat. 

Happy Anniversary Love. Here's to learning more about life and marriage and to learning how to love better and more deeply with you by my side. It really is a privilege to journey alongside life with you. 

Until next time be blessed..................

Stier Family Update

Because It's Just Too Beautiful Not to Post

Well, back to the airport again. This time, I was dropping off my better half. One the way to the airport, we got to talking about flying. I think Scott mentioned how terrifying it really can be when you really think about it. (to which I murmured, "I'd rather not at the ungodly hour of 4:30). This then led to my discussion of a recent video I watched about two ladies who flew for the first time.

With all my flying woes and travel stories lately, I hesitated to watch this video for fear that it would give me another thing to fear during travel. However, it kept popping up on my Facebook news feed, so I figured it must be pretty good. What I found was not disappointing.

Sometimes it is easy to see the negative in things, like traveling, flying, work, other people, or just life in general. And then that negativity can lead to anxiety, worry, and flat out terrifying thoughts (aka: plane going down). But watching this video gave me a much needed fresh perspective. I found this video inspiring. I hope it inspires you too. All you have to do is insert something that you have considered mundane or boring or even terrifying. Then watch this and realize that sometimes those things that you do all the time, others don't get to experience, so you might as well relish the moment and enjoy it from a different perspective. Because God's handiwork does look pretty beautiful from that angle.

Until Next Time Be Blessed…...

With a Side of Brussels Sprouts

Well, I suppose I have officially hit adulthood or something because I officially admit to liking brussels sprouts. You know, those things kids usually turn their noses up at. But alas, my "nose turning" at brussels sprouts has ended, thanks to a very tasty recipe from one of my favorite restaurants in Greenville, SC that we eat at occasionally when we travel there for work.

So since I thought some of you might like to get on the brussels sprouts bandwagon, I thought I would share three of my favorite brussels sprouts recipes for your tasting pleasure.

Before getting to the recipes, I should mention that I originally priced sprouts at the grocery store and they were a little more than I wanted to pay. But then one day I was at Costco browsing their produce and saw a large bag for only $4! So, if you are looking for somewhere to buy your sprouts at a more affordable price-try Costco! (I realize that when you divide how much a Costco membership cost over the price of everything we buy there in a year's time, combined with the fact that I can never seem to get out of there without spending $100 may not make the items purchased there "cheaper," but enlighten me….) (I should also mention that I realize I shop at Costco when we are feeding a mere two and not a family of oh say ten or twelve, but we go through a lot of food, and I cook for four most meals….that is a different blog for a different day, but it basically sums up to the fact that my husband is on some protein kick where he only eats a can of tuna (gross) and yogurt for lunch and is starving when he gets home) (I should also note that when he says he is "starving" I sometimes (most of the time) remind him that African children are starving, he simply hasn't eaten in 4 hours….)

So without further adieu, the recipes:

1) The Lazy Goat Recipe: This is the recipe that turned my taste buds onto brussels sprouts. Were it not for the lazy goat and their delicious brussels sprouts, I would not have gained the courage the branch out, try them, and play around with the following two recipes below. I have only made this recipe once because some of the ingredients are pricey, and it takes a little bit of time. But if you have the time and money, it is well worth it. Also, I made it with asiago and bacon to give it a slightly less expensive flair, and that was good too!

Side Note: if you are ever in Greenville, SC, give The Lazy Goat a try-it is on the river, has a nice atmosphere and, is very delicious! It is a little pricier than my usual dining dig, but I like to simply eat appetizers and there are enough to share and fill you up! A few of my other favorites are fried goat cheese and toasted garlic shrimp. Oh and olives. I like to get olives. I'm salivating as I write. Why is The Lazy Goat so far away???? Where is that lazy goat when you need her?

2) Soy Sauce Brussels Sprouts:  I made these with pork chops rubbed in soy sauce and brown sugar, so it was a good side for that dinner (along with some brown rice). Very tasty.

3) Balsamic Vinegar Brussels Sprouts: These are the ones I cook most of the time. They are super tasty and SUPER easy and quick. I cook these probably once a week with some seasoned chicken (my favorite is to marinate the chicken in Italian dressing) and some couscous. SO yummy. I usually just cut up half a bag, toss them in a bit of olive oil, salt and pepper, and balsamic vinegar and bake them for 15-20 minutes. They are delicious!

So that's all for the sprouts recipes! Side note: I had no clue brussels sprouts had an "s" on the end of "brussel" until this blog. Which led me to thinking of saying that three times fast before signing off….and made me think of how grateful I am that I don't have a lisp because that is a hard word to say…...okay enough shenanigans…….

Happy Cooking and Until Next Time….Be Blessed………….

My Jet Plane Is Back

Well, I am sure that most of you have been on pins and needles since my last post just wondering if I made it home safe.

I had a wonderful week in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina for work. I should clarify: things are always good once I get to my destination. I love my job, and I always love the time I get to spend with my co-workers. Not only because we all work well together, but because it is the nice change-up from my typical days working from home by myself. It is just the getting there that can sometimes be anxiety-filled.

Best rest assured, I made it home safe and sound. It was not without a few mishaps, a delayed flight, and a run through the airport, but other than that, it was relatively smooth sailing. So thanks for the prayers and encouragement as I made my way to North Carolina by way of 35,000 feet. It was felt and much appreciated. Despite the smooth sailing, I did come away with a story:

I was sitting in the gate area waiting to board the plane. As I sat there reading my book and "minding my own business," the lady came on overhead announcing that the plane was too small to fit rolling bags in the overhead bins (side note: this typically means prop plans, which are not my favorite, but this time I was lucky that the plane was just small). Anyway, we were told to please check any rolling bags at the gate and to remove any items we needed from the bags, as well as lithium batteries for safety reasons (can anyone explain why lithium batteries are a safety hazard underneath the plane but not in the cabin-this has always confused me and slightly terrified me) (also, who carries lithium batteries on a plane anyway….I digress…..)

Luckily, I had already checked my bag at the previous gate. But those around me started unloading things from their rolling bags (such as medicines and stock piles of lithium batteries) that they didn't want to go under the plane. Thus began my people watching. In addition to my neo-flight anxiety, frequent traveling has also given me a new affinity for people watching in the airport. Yes, I am the girl that stares (actually I have always been the girl that stares and mom would always say, "Amy don't stare," but we will blame it on the frequent traveling as of late). But honestly, people fascinate me and sometimes do the oddest things in public places. And I am of the impression that you can't miss a beat because as Dad always says, "Stories are all around you." Boy isn't that true. So I stare.

Anyway, the couple sitting across from me gained my attention. They starting pulling all sorts of things out of their rolling bag, like medicines (they literally had enough to fill an entire pharmacy), books, and even a purple plastic bin. I wondered how that fit in the rolling bag small enough to fit in the overheard bin in the first place, but that is neither here nor there. It was in this moment when the man said to the woman, "Will you hand me my purse?" And said wife reached inside her carry-on bag, pulled out a purse, and handed it to him. And he put it on like a purse (a cross-body purse if you must know). And I stared, slightly in amazement and slightly in shock and slightly in embarrassment for him. Now, I have heard about a man carrying a murse (man bag for those of you that are behind), but this was not such item. A murse is almost like a satchel, a book bag, a laptop case, or even a briefcase. And most men who carry a murse call it a "bag." And carry it as such. And that is completely normal for a man to have a bag or satchel. Nothing odd about that.

Not this bag. And not this man. He called his bag a purse and wore it like one. And did it unashamedly. As if it were completely normal for a man to call his "bag" a purse and wear it as one. I kept wanting to say, "It's a bag!!! Please call it a bag! Wear it however you want, but call it a bag!!!!!" No such luck. But hats off to him….I actually admire his confidence and ability to be comfortable in his own skin…despite societal norms….

So, there is my story of the man that carried a purse and called it such and wore it as such. And did so proudly in gate D18 of the Atlanta Airport.

See…traveling isn't all about anxiety. It can be fun too….and funny…and enlightening…and if nothing else, it gives me something to write about on this blog…because stories are all around you….

Until next time be blessed…….