Chicken Cordon Bleu

Dinner last night was very boring in comparison to the last meal we shared since the fire department didn't join us... 

I decided to try something new for a healthier version of Chicken Cordon Bleu. We were quite pleased with the results! 

 

Healthy Chicken Cordon Bleu:

Total: 35 minutes

Serves: 4

Ingredients:

• 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts (1.25-1.5 pounds) 
• 1/2 teaspokn fresh ground pepper, divided
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/3 cup shredded Swiss cheese
• 2 tablespoons reduced-fat cream cheese 
• 1/4 cup coarse dry whole-wheat breadcrumbs
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley 
• 4 teaspoons of extra-virgin olive oil, divided
• 1/4 cup chopped ham (approximately 1 ounce)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. 
2. Sprinkle chicken with 1/4 teaspoon pepper and salt. Combine cheeses in a bowl. Combine remaining 1/4 teaspoon peppe with breadcrumbs, parsley, and 2 teaspoons oil in separate bowl. 
3. Heat 2 teaspoons oil in (ovenproof) skillet over medium heat. Cook until brown on both side, approximently 2 minutes per side. Move chicken to center and touching. Spread with layer of cheese mixture. Sprinkle layer of ham. Top with layer of breadcrumb mixture. 
4. Bake in oven for 5-7 minutes (chicken no longer pink). 

Here's what it looked like after step 3. 

 

Our final product!

 

Let us know how it you like it! Send us any of your favorite dinner recipes we need to try!

XOXO

A & J

The Safe Dowry

The safe 'dowry' has become one of those jokes that will never go away. I thought my parents were buying me a big Bowning safe as a house warming present when in reality it was bought for Jojo as a "thanks for proposing to her" reward. I know, I thought dowries were outdated too... I was wrong. So it seems the going rate to get rid of your daughter with a strong personality is a big safe. I'm slightly offended that they don't think I'm worth more than a safe... however we are accepting applications for suitors, I have a younger sister!

 

I had the safe delivered in what I thought was the perfect place, somewhere the pizza delivery guy couldn't see. Yet again, I was wrong. I lost the battle for the location of the safe. 

See we had this perfectly fine wall opening up to our living room. Behind the perfectly fine wall is the garage. 

  

While sitting in the recliners watching football one lazy Sunday the men (Jojo and my dad) decided there should be a hole cut in the wall for the face of the safe to be the focal point and a room built around it to "keep the safe out of humidity."

Did I mention I lost the battle yet? 

Despite my protesting, the Mr. and his dad (who made a special trip from Pennsylvania for this project) got to work cutting a hole in the wall, building a new wall in the garage, and raising the garage floor to match the living room (the attic hatch also had to be moved to accommodate but who's counting).

  

 

 

 

 

We now have a safe as the focal point in our living room, as soon as you walk in the front door... 

Suggestions on camouflaging it and making it not look so awkward with the cut out above are greatly appreciated! I used some of our holiday decorations to jazz it up a bit but I need something more long term! The Mr. seems to think a giant elk head mount above it would be the perfect way to "complete the look"! People I need help! The elk head is not an option! 

 

XOXO

A & J

Engagement Pictures

For our engagement pictures we want something symbolic of our relationship. Sugarcane is central to our story. My old job and Jojo's new job is at the John Deere Thibodaux factory where they manufacture many pieces of equipment but mainly the sugarcane harvester. Double Windsor Photography had an amazing suggestion to take our pictures at an old sugarcane plantation and mill. It was perfect! As engineer nerds we were constantly getting distracted looking at all the old pieces of equipment!

Here is a few of our favorite pictures all taken by Double Windsor Photography!

 

  

    

  

 

 

Double Windsor Photography featured our engagement pictures on their blog, head over there for more details and pictures! 

Our engagement pictures were also featured in Southern Celebrations Magazine. 

*** Disclaimer: we are not being paid to promote Double Windsor Photography or Southern Celebrations Magazine, we just love their work.

Vendors-

Photographer: Double Windsor Photography

Her Attire: Shirt, sweater, and necklace by J. Crew. Wax skinny jeans from Ruby. Shoes by Betsey Johnson.

His Attire: Shirt by J. Crew. Sweater by Polo.


XOXO
A & J

Greek Steak and Stuffed Roasted Tomatoes

Last night we had dinner and a show. I was trying to be super wife and have a healthy dinner timed perfectly and ready right as the Mr. got home after working late. In that aspect, it was an epic fail. The Mr. got a call from our security system when he was a couple blocks away asking if everything was alright because the fire alarm had gone off and I wasn't responding. He panicked because well let's just say I'm no longer allowed to use degreaser cleaners or fry food. So the fire department was dispatched and arrived shortly after the Mr. to a kitchen full of smoke. Side note, I'm extreamly impressed with the response time and professionality of the fire department responders, excellent use of my tax dollars! After the excitement calmed down, we ate dinner and it was delicious, which completely made up for all the commotion! (Yes I invited the firemen to join us for dinner, they politely declined.)

Here's the healthy recipe for Greek steak with stuffed roasted tomatoes and mushrooms. 

*** Just make sure you turn on your kitchen vent PRIOR to putting the steak on the griddle or just grill it outside! 

Greek Steak:

Hands-on: 12 minutes

Total: 12 minutes

Serves: 4

Ingredients:

• 4 (4-ounce) beef tenderloin steaks trimmed
• 3 tablespoons salt-free Greek seasoning
• Cooking spray
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh oregano
• 1 tablespoon chopped shallots
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
• 1/2 teaspoon grated fresh lemon rind
• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 8 pitted kalamata olives chopped

Directions:

1. Preheat grill to high heat. 
2. Sprinkle steaks with 2 tablespoons seasoning, coat steaks with cooking spray. Place steaks on grill coated with cooking spray. Grill 3 to 4 minutes on each side or until done to personal preference. 
3. Combine 1 tablespoon seasonings, parsley, oregano, shallots, olive oil, red wine vinegar, lemon rind, lemon juice, salt, and olives in a small bowl. Spoon Greek mixture over steaks and serve immediately. 

Stuffed Roasted Tomatoes:

Hands-on: 10 minutes

Total: 28 minutes

Serves: 4

Ingredients:

• 4 firm ripe tomatoes (~ 2 to 2.5 pounds)
• 3/4 cup panko (Japanese breadcrumbs)
• 1 ounce crumbled feta
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh oregano
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees. 
2. Cut tops off tomatoes; discard. Carefully scoop out tomato seeds and pulp, leaving shells intect; discard seeds and coarsely chop pulp. 
3. Combine 1/2 cup chopped tomato pulp, panko, feta, basil, parsley, oregano, olive oil, and salt in a bowl; discard remaining tomato pulp. Spoon mixture into each tomato. 
4. Place stuffed tomatoes on foil-lined baking sheet. Bake at 450 degrees for 18-20 minutes or until golden brown and crispy. 

Bellies full. House still standing. I call it a win! 

XOXO

A & J

Living Room Shelves

 

The first time we saw the house I said there needed to be chunky floating shelves framing the fireplace. The first major project we took on was the living room since we spend the most time there and I hated the way the previous owners had it arranged.

Before by the previous owners:

 

We began engineering our living room from a blank slate. I couldn't just make things easy and go pick out a sofa, the engineer in me needed a game plan with sizes and whatnot. So we busted out the tape and started marking out the minimum and maximum sizes for everything to accomplish the flow and look we wanted. 

 

Once we had measurements for the rug, sofas, and coffee table it was time to search the Internet for sales! For a while all we had was the rug and TV from the first and hopefully last Black Friday adventure of my life.

Finally our furniture came in! I was super nervous picking out things I had never seen but once it all arrived it was better than expected!

 

The only down side was the chunky floating shelves of my dreams was next on my list for the Mr... So we got to work making a cheap but strong alternative. 

 

First, we used 2x4s to frame the shelves. 

 

Then we wrapped each shelf with plywood. 

 

Finally, we got busy staining and sealing the wood.

 

 

We ran the TV wires through the wall and mounted the cable box and DVD player under the lowest shelf. After gathering up all the books, pictures, candles, and goodies from various moving boxes we started decorating! We loved the way the living room came together. The shelves really completed the room and look like they were built with the house.

The new problem is that the fireplace and mantel looks a bit lost... piddling with that replaced the floating shelves on our todo list. 

What do you think? How did we do with the floating shelves?

XOXO

A & J