Trying something new

My husband has been asking me for awhile if I could try some new recipes and this week I decided to give it a go. I guess I had fallen into a rut when it comes to cooking, mostly because I am a new mama and my little man takes up most of my day. So naturally I would cook what I knew best and I have to admit even I was longing to jazz things up a bit. Finding time to eat or cook a meal at all has been a challenge for me since he was born, but now that hes technically not a newborn anymore I am finding it a tiny bit easier. Making the decision to try something new was the first step, then I actually had to locate some recipes that were affordable with our budget and "mama friendly," as I like to call it, (meaning they don't take too much time to cook).

A friend of mine had made a delicious meal for us one night while we were over for dinner and I was dying to try it myself. It was delicious! I actually went back for seconds it was so good! It's called crescent chicken and it was tasty. I found the recipe over at Comfy in the Kitchen  and I can tell you that we will be eating this often in our house! It was also husband approved so that's always a good thing. :) If you are looking for some tasty recipes head over to her blog and check it out. I actually found most of my recipes for this week on her site.

So here's what the crescent chicken looks like....Mmmmmmm! Writing this post is seriously making me hungry right now. ;)

[Note: This is not my image, credit is given to Comfy in the Kitchen]

All you need is:

-A package of crescent rolls (I use the big Pillsbury crescent rolls with 8 per can)

-2 chicken breasts (boiled for 25 mins)

-Grated cheddar cheese 

-1 can Campbell's Cream of Chicken soup (I used chicken & mushroom & it was delish!)

-Pyrex dish (I use an 11x7 but she recommends a 13x9)

First boil the chicken for about 25 minutes. Once fully cooked cut chicken into bite sized pieces. Unroll crescents and stuff with chicken and grated cheddar cheese. Wrap the crescents up and be sure to pinch the sides of the dough so they are sealed. Place into pyrex. In a bowl mix 1 can cream of chicken with a can of milk. Once mixed thoroughly pour over crescent chicken and then top with salt and pepper. Pop it into the oven at 350 degrees uncovered and cook for about 35-40 minutes. I usually cook mine for 40 just so the crescents arent too doughy, but you will be able to tell by how they look on top. They should be golden brown on top. Now let cool a minute or two and enjoy! :)

Mine didn't come out as pretty as the picture above but it was still delicious so in my book that's all that matters. I also made some roasted Brussel sprouts to go along with the chicken and they were so yummy! It was my first time making Brussel sprouts and I was pleasantly surprised. I got the recipe for them over at Comfy in the Kitchen as well.

[This was how my crescent chicken & Brussel sprouts turned out. Success!]

I am excited to post about the rest of the new meals I've made this week and have a few more posts lined up already! What recipes are you trying this week? :) 

xoxo

Lemon Basil Penne Pasta and Grilled Chicken

Have I ever mentioned that I love to cook? Mostly cause I'm a fatso at heart and I love to eat. This week I've been trying to change things up in our house and make a few new recipes.

 I'm obsessed with all the recipes from Ree Drummond, aka "The Pioneer Woman." You may have heard of her because she's simply amazing and if not well, then you've probably been living under a rock or something. Seriously, she's fabulous. 

Every single recipe I've tried has come out amazing. I made my first turkey, fried round steak, au gratin potatoes and so many more because of her delicious recipes.

 This week I was scouring her website trying to find some interesting new ways to prepare chicken when I came across this recipe. Lemon basil penne pasta with grilled chicken. In a word...delightful! 

The combination of the parmesan and romano cheeses with the lemon/butter sauce is to die for. The basil gives it that little something extra to make it taste complete. I'll definitely be making this again because it was  inexpensive and simple to make. :) 

I can guarantee this isn't the healthiest dish, but who eats healthy anyway? ;) If you haven't checked out her site do yourself a favor and go check out her delicious recipes. Your stomach will thank you, and so will your husband! Bon A petite! 

Thanksgiving Recap & an Update

Hello Lovelies! I don't know how many of you still even read my blog considering how sporadic my posts have been, but I figured an update was in store. I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving spent with family and friends, not to mention plenty of good food. :)

I had a fabulous thanksgiving myself and successfully cooked my very first turkey!! I was so incredibly proud of how beautifully it turned out, and how delicious and juicy it was!  

I spent the day over at my deployment buddy Brittany's house and we both helped in making the entire dinner. She made some fabulous home made pumpkin pie, and I ended up eating dinner and dessert twice that day! Shhhhh don't tell! 

This is a glimpse of our feast. Homemade mashed potatoes and gravy made from the drippings, green bean casserole, stuffing, cranberry sauce and some regular and King's Hawaiian sweet rolls. Oh and of course my beautiful turkey seasoned to perfection with delicious rosemary, garlic, onion, butter and salt & pepper. Yum!

I still can't believe how fast the month of November has flown by, and I am so anxious for December to finally arrive! I haven't mentioned it on my blog but I am going home for Christmas to see my friends and family. I couldn't be more excited! The one thing that could make it even more special is if my husband were gonna be home to go too. 

It has been over 8 months since I've seen his face or kissed his lips, and I'll admit lately it has been getting to me that we wont be able to spend Christmas together again this year, (last year he had duty xmas day). This lifestyle has challenged me more in the last two years than any of my previous life experiences and continues to push my ideas of pain and suffering. 

Homecoming is still a while away but I am trying to keep my head up and a smile on my face. After all, what else can I do? Although it has been the biggest challenge to be without the other half of my heart for the greater part of the last two years, I keep telling myself that God has a plan. I know that although there are trials there is still plenty to be thankful for. And I am so grateful that although we're apart I still have the man I love and my family & friends.

Well lovelies it's time for bed and I have an early day at work tomorrow, but I promise to try and make more time for my blog. It's something I really miss.

Until next time-

I finally did it!!!!

Hello there bloggy loves! So after months and months of talking about changing my blog name, I finally took the plunge and did it!

I am officially now "The Vintage B." I was inspired to transition to "Vintage B" since it has been a nickname I've used for years and I feel like it just fits...in short, it's me. :0)

Don't worry, I'm still going to blog about the trials and triumphs of navy life, but I'd also like to include other topics and open my blog up to a wider audience.

I'm not sure how to change my url or if that will affect whether or not my followers will be able to see my posts in their readers, but once I figure it out I will be changing it.

I would also like to thank my real life bloggy friend Brittany over at Tales of a Sailor's Soulmate for all her help brainstorming and basically redesigning my entire blog!! I am loving it! :)

There are new and exciting things coming up on the blog and I believe that a giveaway is in the near future! I hope you all have a great Thursday!

Cooking makes me happy :)

Mostly because eating makes me happy...Either way, when I am cooking nothing else going on in my life matters. I forget my worries and my cares and for a brief moment life doesn't seem so bad. The one thing I love more than cooking (and eating) is seeing other people enjoy my food. 

I am by no means a great cook, but I am learning and slowly branching out and trying some new recipes. One of my deployment goals this year has been to learn and perfect 20 new recipes before my husband returns home next year. 

After a few of my friends on fb suggested I start posting the recipes I've tried I decided to take the plunge and post at least one new recipe a week until my husband comes home. 

I'm hoping to find some really great dishes to make for my husband once he is back in our cozy little home. ♥ 

This week I decided to make fried round steak, crash hot potatoes and biscuits. Perfect food to satisfy any one's appetite! (That is unless you're a vegetarian.)

This recipe is beyond simple and only requires a few ingredients. For the Steaks you'll need:

-2 to 4 cube steaks

-flour, seasoning salt, pepper & regular salt

-vegetable oil or canola oil 

For the Crash Hot Potatoes You'll need:

-Potatoes

-extra virgin olive oil 

-fresh rosemary

-salt and pepper

If you are making these together you should start the potatoes first. 

-Wash potatoes. Boil a pot of water and throw the potatoes in until tender. 

 -Next drizzle olive oil over a cookie sheet so the potatoes won't stick. 

 -Place the potatoes on the cookie sheet and smash with a potato smasher, or a whisk. 

-Next using a pastry brush coat potatoes in olive oil. Sprinkle with some fresh rosemary, salt and pepper. Use generously, you can never add too much! :)Preheat oven to 450 degrees and cook for 20-25 mins or until golden brown. Mmmmmm!!! Sooo good!

Once the potatoes have been in the oven for awhile start the steaks. 

-Mix 1 cup flour with seasoning salt, pepper and regular salt. Put as much as you like. Mix well.

-Sprinkle seasonings on both sides of the steak before coating both sides in flour mixture. 

-While you are doing this heat up the oil in a large skillet. Once it is hot enough put the steaks in and flip over once they are a nice crispy brown color. 

-Once they are done lay them on a plate with a paper towel to drain off the excess oil. Then you are done!

I also made a bunch of grands biscuits, (don't judge me, I'm not a pro)

And believe me, they were deeeelicious! :)

Over all I was soooo happy with this dinner. It was super easy and my deployment buddy Brittany enjoyed it too. ♥ 

She also made some amazing smore cookies....just look how gooey they were...Yummy!! 

Anyway, thats the first edition of "Cooking makes me happy" and I hope you all enjoyed it. What new recipes are you loving this week?

Busy Bee

I am happy to say, the days and weeks have been flying by. Why, tomorrow is Friday already and that means another week of deployment has come and gone! 

Speaking of deployment, I finally broke down and made a donut of misery. I had no idea how detailed those things are. 

I really don't need to know that I have a gajillion trillion seconds or however long until I see my husband again. (Ok so maybe I'm exaggerating, but you get the point.)

However, I do like looking at it as the donut slowly creeps towards 50%.

I can hardly believe how long its been since I've seen my hubby, but if the rest of this year goes by as quickly as the past few months he will be home before I know it. 

In the mean time I am keeping myself busy with work and surrounding myself with good friends. I am also trying to broaden my horizons when it comes to cooking. 

Remember this post, where I stated I wanted to learn and perfect 20 new recipes before my husband returned home? I haven't really counted  how many I've tried so far but I have been getting more creative.

For awhile I felt like I was in a "food rut," and couldn't think of anything new or interesting to make. Since I am obsessed with good food, or mostly just eating it, I've decided to add a recipe section to my blog. 

My goal will be to post at least one recipe each week of something I've made. Lets hope I can keep the commitment! ;)

On another note, this month marks our two year wedding anniversary and I have been fervently working on an extra special care package for my hubbs.♥

I will post pics once I know he has received it. My real life bloggy friend Brittany from "Tales of a Sailor's Soulmate" taught me how to make cake in a jar since I had never done it before.

It was a success and when I find the time, I'm going to post the step by step pics and instructions for those of you who are like me, and had no clue what I was doing.

Britt actually did most of the steps while I watched, asked questions and took pictures for said blog post. ;) 

She was a great teacher and we also made some tye dye cake, with some home made icing to boot. It was bomb.com. 

No, but really...it was amazing! 

Well, that's all for now my darlings...I have a 10 & 1/2 hour work day tomorrow so its time to get some beauty sleep. Lord knows I'm gonna need it! 

Happy Thursday lovelies!! ♥