Halloween Party Wrap Up and Hurricane Sandy!

So we are currently in a hurricane! Work is closed and I am working at home, watching the news, and relaxing in my PJs. I figured it was a good time to write my Halloween Party Wrap Up Blog!

The party was on Saturday and so much fun! I am usually stressed for hours/days before, but this year I was pretty prepared. I didn't actually take too many photos so I just thought I would share a few. I wish I had gotten a picture of a corned beef dip that I made that was a HUGE hit. I guess I'll be making that for every football game/holiday party coming up in the next few months. 

A few of my decorations. I had the whole house decked out. But those are a few of my favorites. :) 

Treats, treats, treats! Check out my Graveyard Brownie Pizza and Creepy Pretzel Fingers! Both big hits! 

 

And a few pictures of me with my friend Carlyn, Cousin Barb, and friend LeeAnne! 

Next year I'll try to take more pictures for a more detailed post!

Emma's Parmesan Onion Roasted Potatoes

I love red potatoes. I don't know why I like them so much, but I almost always have baby red potatoes on hand. So yesterday I decided to make some roasted red potatoes.

I am sure you could find a recipe exactly like this online, but since I didn't use one, I am claiming this one as all mine. So here are the details of Emma's Parmesan Onion Roasted Potatoes. 

First I cut about 6 baby red potatoes into quarters and about a quarter of an onion into this slices. I used a sweet onion because they are my favorite. I tossed the onion and potatoes into a roasting pan and coated them in about 1 tbsp of olive oil. I also sprinkled some Jane's Crazy Mixed Up Salt over the the potatoes. 

 

Then I put them in the oven at 425 and burnt my hand while doing it. (Cooking is always an adventure with me). 

I stirred the potatoes around 10 minutes and then let roast for another 10. I thinly grated some parmigiano cheese and for the last minute I added that to the top. About 2 tbsp worth probably. I used some really good cheese I got at Wegman's it was nice and strong and really made the potatoes yummy. 

And that's it! After the cheese had melted out it came and into a bowl. I added a little salt because I love salt, but other than the burn these are an easy peezy side dish. 

 

I actually ate them as my lunch, but in theory they really are a side dish. Hope you enjoy!

The Great Boot Hunt of 2012

Every year as soon as fall comes I get all excited when I see all these cute outfits paired with boots. Skinny jeans, leggings, cute fall sweater dresses. And every year I head right to the mall or DSW to find a pair of boots that fit me. And ever year I fail.

Apparently I have very fat calves. Yes, I know they made wide leg ones. They still don't make it over the portion of my legs right under my knee. Last year I was so frustrated. My mom took me boot shopping for my birthday and we tried on every boot we could find. Not a single pair fit. I did however get an amazing pair of UGGs for my birthday that I absolutely love.

So tonight we are off boot shopping. I told my Mom that I mind as well find out now if I am going to be able to find a pair that fits. That way I don't spend all fall and winter thinking, "oh, I'll go look for a pair of boots" and get frustrated.

Let's keep our fingers crossed I can find some fantastic pair like below that fit. :)

2012 Baltimore Marathon Relay !

This weekend was amazing! Joined by my friends Keith, Chelle, and Shelly, I  participated in the 2012 Baltimore Running Festival Marathon Relay.

Not only was it the furthest distance I have ever run (5.8 mi), but it was also the biggest race I have gotten to experience. I am so proud of myself and my teammates. Below are some pictures from the day.

My friend Carlyn and me. She ran the Half Marathon portion of the running festival and really rocked it! Shout out to my friend Sarah as well who ran the Half and did an awesome job! I didn't get to get a picture with her, but she deserves kudos big time!

Me post race with my yummy celebration beer in front of the crab! 

                                     

Post race! Team Cocktails and Coaching! Chelle, Shelly, Keith, & Emma. 

                           

Post Race Brunch at Clyde's of Columbia. I had a delicious and much deserved Turkey Burger, with fries, and a mimosa (or two). :)

I had such a great time and will definitely be participating in some part of the Baltimore Running Festival next year. 

Ritz Box Red Onion and Black Pepper Spread

A few weeks ago while while visiting my Dad's house I saw a recipe on the back of a Ritz Cracker Box for Red Onion and Black Pepper Spread. It looked easy and good so I took a picture of the back of the box and last week I finally got around to making it. Besides me making a mess of chopping everything it turned out really good! I was requested to make it again for an Orioles game get together this evening, so I thought I'd share.

Here's my great recipe saving/sharing skills (the iPhone picture).

A few notes:

- You know I used reduced fat cream cheese, no one needs all the fat in the regular kind, and it honestly doesn't taste any different. :) 

- It's a pain in the butt to chop all that onion. My eyes were watering like crazy. However, I actually added a little more onion than the recipe called for, probably a little under 1/2 a cup. 

- What the heck is pan toasted garlic? My friend who is a chef told me its the same thing as roasted garlic. So you could do it in the oven, but since its only 1 clove it was really easy for me just to dump the clove in a non-stick saute pan with a teeny tiny bit of olive oil and heat it for a few minutes on very low heat (I burnt the first one).

- I added a little bit of garlic powder to the mixture. Not much, maybe 1/2 a tsp, but it really had a great taste to it. 

- It never really hardened up in the fridge, its really messy to roll, just expect your hands to be covered in gooey cream cheese when you wrap and unwrap it. (PS. Make sure you add the parsley after you plate it).

Here's everything in the mixing bowl.

And of course I forgot to take a photo of the finished product but it did look exactly like it said it would. I served it with Ritz crackers and of course some veggies. I thought it was really good spread on a cucumber slice or on a piece of celery. 

So this back of the box recipe is definitely recommended by me. Happy snacking! :) 

Low Point Tuesday Dinner for One

I find it hard that I am usually just cooking for me. Most recipes are for a serving size of four and aren't always easy to cut down to one or even two. Plus, I'm not much of a leftover kinda girl. So usually I'm looking for easy items that can be made for one person. It doesn't always turn into the fanciest or the most delicious dinner, but it works for me.

So here is what my low point dinner looked like last night. I made a Perdue Refrigerated Breaded Chicken Breast  and some asparagus. My friend is a chef and had made this awesome red chile sauce and given me some last week. I have been using it on everything and last night I used it on the asparagus. So here is my dinner.

I put a little Sweet Baby Rays Barbecue sauce on my chicken (less than a tbsp) and had a glass of white wine. Dinner rounded out at 4 points for the chicken, 1 for the bbq, 1 for the asparagus (for the oil in the sauce), and 4 for the wine. Pretty good if you ask me! 

Not sure what I'll have tonight...but I'm thinking its time to be a little more creative. I'll see what I can come up with that's a little fancier to show. :)