Friday's Letters

T.G.I.F. 
Do I really need to say anything else?!?

Today I am linking up for the first time to write some Friday Letters!

Dear work - please be really busy tonight and tomorrow night so that I can make lots of cash money and so my nights won't drag!  Christmas is just around the corner and this girl's got a reputation as the world's best gift giver to uphold, and we all know that the world's best gifts cost a pretty penny.

Christmas Countdown

Dear office building that I work in - you are FREEZING!  Why?!?  I'm seriously considering wearing mittens while working next week cuz my fingers are ice cubes right now!

Dear weather - thank you for being so lovely today.  I enjoyed walking back to the office after lunch today.  55 degrees in November?  I'll take it!

Dear Vincent - thank you for being so amazing!  Good things are just around the corner for you...I can feel it!  I love you more and more every single day!

Dear Sunday - you're my only day off so hurry up and get here!

Dear Emma - I can't believe your 4th birthday party is this weekend!  I can't wait to see you and the rest of the family!

Dear Thanksgiving - Hurry up already.  I want to stuff my face with delicious food!

Dear Marley - You are the cutest and best doggie in the whole world!  Thank you for being adorable.  You're also the hardest little guy to leave in the mornings when I go to work.  You make me so sad with your little puppy dog face!

Dear Life - I love you!

That's all I got today!

Happy Weekend (almost)!

XO. Tarah

Saw it. Pinned it. Did it. Stuffed Shells.

Hello!  It's Thursday, I'm wearing a lovely new shirt that I got for a super awesome price, it's almost Friday, and all is right in the world.

Well on Monday I talked about how I made Sausage and Spinach stuffed shells for Vinnie's mom and her boyfriend when they came over for dinner Sunday night and today I will be sharing that wonderful recipe.  

I know last Thursday I linked up with Katie and Steph and shared a couple of recipes so it's really lame that I'm linking up and sharing another recipe but, in my defense, I have been quite busy this week and have not had time to partake in any cute crafty nights.  So, hopefully next week I have a better post for this link-up but for today this is going to have to do.

Sausage and Spinach Stuffed Shells

Original Source

 

 

 

Ingredients:
1 12-oz. package jumbo pasta shells
1 tbsp. olive oil
1 cup yellow onion, finely chopped
1 lb. Italian sausage, casings removed
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 large egg, lightly beaten
1 15-oz. container ricotta cheese
6-7 oz. fresh spinach, chopped OR 10 oz. frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained
1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese, divided
1 tbsp. chopped fresh basil or 1 tsp. dried basil
1/4 cup bread crumbs
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
1 28-oz. can chopped tomatoes with herbs, including the liquid

Directions:
Bring a large pot of salted water to boil.  Cook pasta shells according to package directions.  Drain, rinse with cold water, and set aside.

Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.  Add the onions and cook until softened, about 5 minutes.  Add the sausage to the pan, breaking it into smaller pieces as it cooks.  Cook until the sausage is completely cooked through and no pink remains, about 5 minutes.  Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds.  Remove from the heat.

In a large mixing bowl, combine the egg, ricotta, spinach, 1/2 cup of the Parmesan, basil, bread crumbs, salt, and pepper.  Stir together to combine.  Add the cooked sausage mixture to the bowl and stir until evenly mixed.

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.  Spread a thin layer of the chopped tomatoes in the baking dishes (either three 8×8″ pans, or one 9×13″ and one 8×8″).  Stuff each shell with some of the sausage and cheese mixture, and arrange in the baking dishes, open side up.  Spread the remaining tomatoes over the top of the pasta shells.

Cover the pans with foil and bake for 30 minutes, until hot and bubbling.  Remove foil and sprinkle with remaining Parmesan cheese.  Bake, uncovered, for 10 more minutes. 

I pretty much followed this recipe verbatim but I didn't really measure out some of the ingredients (I always end up doing this).  It was very time consuming but turned out really well and everyone thought it was delicious.  I will definitely make this meal again sometime!

Obviously I almost forgot to take a picture of my finished product but then remembered after already taking several bites out of it.  Oh well!  Yum!

In other news, Vinnie and I went to see 'Flight' (the new Denzel Washington movie) last night and I have to say I was actually pretty disappointed.  I love Denzel and have always thought that he can't make a bad movie, but this one was really long and I found myself thinking about other things (like sleeping) at some points.  I'm not saying it was a bad movie but I was expecting better.  

Hope you all have a good Thursday!  I'll be stuck working all night :( BOOO!

XO. Tarah

My feelings after the election...

Last night Barak Obama was re-elected to another term as President of the United States.  In my opinion, this election has brought out the worst in many people.  I understand voicing your opinions because you have a right to but attacking other people and spreading your negativity all over social media is getting a bit ridiculous and I just wish it would stop.  

So maybe the end results didn't turn out the way you would have liked them to.  Be thankful that you live in a country that is free and where people can vote for their leader.  Life could be so much worse.  You can't change the results.  It's time to get over it and stop spreading your negativity.

 

Happy Election Day!

XO. Tarah

Flashback and a Salad Recipe

Monday.  Boo you whore!  I obviously watched a little 'Mean Girls' over the weekend.  That movie just doesn't get old.  Ever.

I don't have much of a weekend recap for you today because I didn't really do much over the weekend.

Friday night I didn't have to work (for once) so I met my friend Megan at a restaurant called 'Fountainhead' for dinner and drinks.  I have been friends with Megan since I was in jr. high.  We were literally inseparable back then.  Every weekend we had sleep overs at each others houses.  We stayed friends throughout high school and even college.  Now that we are both adults it's a little harder to keep in contact but, here's the kicker, we both live in Chicago.  There is seriously no excuse for why we don't hang out more because we live minutes away from each other.  Not many of our close friends live close to us anymore so even though we are both very busy with our lives and work, we both decided that we need to start making more effort to hang out with each other.  Our dinner was amazing, the drinks were going down smooth, and the conversation was endless.  We had fun.  Of course I forgot to take any pictures while we were together so I went through facebook and found some good oldies of me and Megan.

This actually isn't old.  At our friend's wedding this summer.  Megan is all the way to the right.

This is a couple years ago at the wedding of our close friend Jenna.

Summer 2010

Summer 2010

Summer 2010

Summer 2010

4th of July 2010

Megan's Birthday - December 2009

Aww.  This makes me miss those college days!

I got home around 9:30 pm and Vinnie wanted to go to a movie but since I'm an old geezer I was too tired to go out anymore.  I passed out at about 10:30 pm.  My poor boyfriend, he didn't know he was going to be dating such a lame-o after she turned 25.  What happened to me?!

Anyways, Saturday I lounged around all day until I had to work at 7.  I had to close that night and I ended up not getting home and in bed until about 4 am, yikes!  So I obviously slept in on Sunday and got up just in time to watch the Bears game.  Then I went shopping for ingredients for what I was planning on making for dinner that night and Vinnie cleaned our apartment because his mom and her boyfriend came over for the first time to see our apartment and eat dinner.  I was so nervous about dinner but it ended up being awesome!  I cooked sausage and cheese stuffed jumbo pasta shells!  I'm saving the recipe for later in the week but here's a picture:

MMMMM.  My mouth is watering just thinking about that meal.  Vinnie's mom and her boyfriend, Scott, also thought the meal was delicious.  I also made a pretty tasty salad and I will share that recipe.  It's a candied walnut salad and it's perfect if you are looking for a salad that isn't your typical spinach, carrots, tomatoes, and ranch dressing salad.

Candied Walnut Gorgonzola Salad:

Original Source

Ingredients:
1/2 cup walnut halves
1/4 cup sugar
3 cups mixed greens
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1/2 cup Gorgonzola cheese
1 tbsp raspberry vinaigrette
1 tbsp white vinegar
1 tbsp olive oil

Directions:
1. Place walnuts and sugar in a skillet over medium heat, stirring constantly until the sugar dissolves into a light brown liquid and coats the walnuts,  Remove walnuts from skillet, and spread them out on a sheet of foil to cool.

2. Place in a large salad bowl the mixed greens, cranberries, cheese, vinaigrette, vinegar, and olive oil.  Toss gently; add candied walnuts, toss again.

So the only thing I did different with this recipe is I didn't use the vinaigrette, vinegar, and olive oil for the dressing.  I kept it simple and easy and just used a light raspberry vinaigrette dressing by Kraft.  It was delicious.

This salad was really good.  Definitely not a typical dinner salad though!  We had my Halloween brownies for dessert and we all drank a huge bottle of Merlot that they had brought.  I think everyone agreed that dinner was a success!  

Not an exciting weekend but a good weekend none-the-less.  Now hopefully the rest of this day flies by so I can be back at home and snuggling on the couch!  Hope you all had a good weekend! 

XO. Tarah

Laughs for Friday!

Today has just been one of those days.  When I woke up and started getting ready for work, I realized that all I wanted to do was just go back to bed, curl up, and sleep the day away.  I'm emotional, sick to my stomach, and just a big ball of nerves.  My dad is having surgery today and even though it is not a serious surgery at all, I still can't help but worry myself sick about

Then I found this video and suddenly, everything is not so bad.  Seriously, I've watched it twice and am dying!  

Thank you Ellen!

At least it's finally Friday, I actually don't have to work tonight, and I actually have plans to meet up with a friend and have dinner. 

Happy Friday!

XO. Tarah

 

Saw It. Pinned It. Did It. Halloween Treats.

You guys.  It's November.  Seriously???...how is it already November!?!  October is my favorite month of the year and it just flew right by!  I guess it's time to take down the Halloween decorations and put up the Thanksgiving decorations...Mmmm Thanksgiving.  At least we have that to look forward to!

Today I am linking up with 2 of my favorite bloggers to follow - Steph and Katie - for:

 Saw it. Pinned it. Did it.

So since last night was Halloween and all I decided to bake some Halloween treats.  This is what old lady Tarah does for fun on Halloween instead of dressing up as a sexy nurse/teacher/cat/devil/superhero and going out to get sloshed.  Let me tell you, my night was way more comfortable and warm and I didn't wake up wanting to take a hammer to my head to end my miserable hangover.  Both of the Halloween treats I made were very easy and very delicious!

First we have the Halloween Brownies:

Original Source

Ingredients:

• 1 19.5 to 19.8 oz. brownie mix
• 1/2 cup canola oil
• 1/4 cup water
• 2 large eggs
• 2 cups miniature marshmallows
• 1 cup candy corn
• 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

Preparation:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 9 x 13 pan with cooking spray.


2. Mix brownie mix, oil, water and eggs with a spatula or wooden spoon, about 50 strokes, until well-combined.


3. Spread brownie batter in prepared pan. Bake 23 minutes.


4. Remove brownies from oven. Sprinkle mini marshmallows, candy corn and chocolate chips over brownies. Return to oven, and bake another 5-8 minutes.


5. Let brownies cool completely before cutting into squares.

Makes 24 large Halloween brownies.

They turned out great and Vinnie (who is the master taste tester of brownies if you didn't know) approved!  FYI they're a little messy with the gooey marshmallows but it's totally worth it!

The next Halloween treat I made was even easier!

Vampire Bites!

Original Source

Items needed

•  Square waffle pretzels or mini twists
•  Hershey’s Kisses HUGS
•  Candy Corn

Instructions

1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2.  Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper or foil.
3.  Place pretzels on cookie sheet making sure none are touching.
4.  Bake 2-3 minutes, Hershey Kisses will start to get shiny.
5.  Take out of the oven and gently place a candy corn on top of the Hershey Kisses.
6.  Cool on counter or in fridge to speed the process.

Obviously you don't have to use Hershey's Hugs for these.  You can also use regular Hershey's Kisses or probably any other kind of chocolate that will fit on top of the pretzel.  I just think the Hershey's Hugs look really cute because they're striped.

 
These were so so yummy and it was hard to keep Marley away from the table all night as they were cooling off.  He would've eaten them all if I woulda let him anywhere near the kitchen!

My night consisted of watching scary movies (Friday the 13th, Texas Chainsaw Massacre, and the newest installment of Halloween), drinking wine, eating Halloween treats, and cuddling with my boys.  All of this was done in sweatpants, which is way more comfortable than any Halloween costume I've ever seen.  

And now I will leave you with this picture of my adorable niece and nephew all dressed up for Halloween.

Cowboy and Rapunzel

I just wish I could've been there to take them trick-or-treating!

Whether you spent your Halloween cuddled up on the couch watching scary movies like I did or out at a party with all the other crazy kids who dressed up, I hope you had a SPOOKtacular night (come on, I couldn't resist one cheesy Halloween pun)!

Happy November!

XO. Tarah