Alfredo Bowtie Pasta

Alfredo Bowtie Pasta

Makes 6 servings- for me it was 6 Weight Watchers points per serving

Ingredients:

-          8ozs bowtie pasta cooked

-          1 jar Alfredo sauce (I used light)

-          1 1/2 cups cubed carrots

-          1 1/2 cups frozen peas

-          1 Tablespoon of butter

-          1 Tablespoon minced garlic

-          2 Tablespoons fresh basil chopped

-          1 cup pasta water

-          Salt and pepper

-          1 Teaspoon dried oregano

Let’s get cooking:

1)      While the pasta is cooking melt your butter in a large skillet and add your cubed carrots sauté over medium heat with a lid on until carrots start getting tender 

2)      Once your carrots are tender add in your garlic and frozen peas and continue to cook and till the peas are heated through 

3)      Add in the spices, Alfredo Sauce, and basil and let cook until the Alfredo Sauce is heated through

4)      Lastly add in your pasta and mix, use the pasta water to thin the sauce to the consistency you would like.

This would be delicious served with chicken or shrimp on top. This was six very large servings so feel free to cut the pasta and veggies down a little but I would leave the whole jar of sauce in you just will not need as much of the pasta water. Please leave a comment if you try it and let me know what you think! 

                                                                                                  Jenny

Dreams Come True!!

I am very proud to announce that I am a Registered Nurse!!!!!!! I have said since I was 3 years old that I would be in the medical field and it finally came true. I am overwhelmed by the love and support I have received through this process it has been a long time coming but my dreams are officially coming true!! Now its on to the tedious search to find a job. I was hoping to have a job offer before I even took the nclex but the job market is different this year most facilities are looking for experienced nurses not new graduates. But, I know that God has a perfect plan for me and where I should be I just need to continue to search, apply, and pray that an opportunity arises. I am really interested in a PCU or step down icu. I also really enjoy emergency medicine but whatever position I am hired for I will make the most of.

Now moving onto my weightloss journey. It is going but not so great I cant seem to lose the weight. I go through phases of being really strict with what I eat and working out and then other times I just cant seem to be motivated. I took last week off from the gym because I was studying constantly so now I am having to work back up to where I was. I have been struggling to push through the cardio but I love weight training so I am hopeful that I will continue to see changes in my body. I need to work harder on meal planning and being consistent. As of this week I have lost 7lbs.

Plans for the future. Well I am hoping to start posting more recipes and possibly doing reviews of everything from products to food items. I am also in major reorganization and cleaning mode at home trying to go through all of my school things and getting rid of things I no longer need.

Any suggestions or things you want to see on here please just let me know?
                    Jenny  

Bunny Bait!

Well since we are a few days from Easter and I am babysitting my niece I decided we should make some Bunny Bait. We will be leaving the Easter bunny a baggy with some in it so he will have a snack. 

There really isn't any exact measurements you can simply adjust the amounts but this is what I used:

1/2 bag of the simply balanced popcorn 

1/2 bag pretzel rods broken

1 cup m&ms 

8 cubes of almond bark (not pictured) 

And sprinkles

Assembly time: 

My niece poured the popcorn, pretzels, and m&ms together and mixed them while I melted the almond bark. Once the almond bark is melted let it sit for about 30 secs so that it doesn't melt the m&ms then pour it in and stir till everything is coated. Next, spread this mixture over some waxed paper and top with sprinkles and any almond bark left in the bowl can be drizzled on top. 

Let the mixture harden on the wax paper then just break it up and store it in an air tight container. 

This is a delicious snack but also really fun for the kids to make. My niece is 4 and she did most of the pouring and mixing except when it came to the hot almond bark. 

Ups and Downs

As I type this I am listening to a disaster relief lecture, but my head is spinning in a million different ways. After today is over I will only have 1 week of classes left then onto testing. I still cant seem to get that into my head that I only have 1 week left of class so crazy. I have spent the last 19 or so years in school and now its going to be over at least for a few years (I will get my masters eventually). It is absolutely insane for me to think that these last few weeks are rushing by. I am trying to enjoy every moment and soak in every detail but it is completely overwhelming. I have been applying for jobs, studying my butt off, and planning my graduation party. Life is crazy exciting right now hopefully this is the beginning to what I have dreamed of my entire life.
                                                                       Jenny

Oven Burritos

Oven Burritos are one of my favorite meals. I love that I can make them on a Sunday and have them for lunch or dinner during the week. 

Ingredients:

1 pound of ground beef 

1 onion diced (I used half of a bag of frozen onions and garlic) 

1 tablespoon minced garlic 

1 can Mexican red sauce (I use el pato brand) 

1 can of refried beans

1 tsp cumin 

1/2 tsp chili powder 

1/2 tsp dried oregano 

3 plum tomatoes diced 

1 cup shredded mild cheddar cheese 

8 medium flour tortillas 

Toppings of your choice (I like lettuce, cilantro, cucumber, Salsa, lime, and sour cream or guacamole) 

Now lets get started cooking 

Start by preheating your oven to 350 

Then cook your ground beef and onions until the beef is completely cooked through and drain off any extra fat. Once it is completely brown add in the cumin, oregano, chili powder, and 3/4 of the can of Mexican  sauce and let it simmer until it has thickened. 

While the meat is cooking heat up your refried beans and tortillas and get ready to assemble! 

Start assembling by smearing some of the warmed refried beans onto a soft tortilla. 

Top the beans with the seasoned meat mixture. Make sure not to stuff them to full so that you can roll them.

Lastly add a little bit of cheese and some diced tomato. Then roll them up and stick them in a 13x9 casserole dish that has been sprayed with pam. 

Once you get them all in the dish poor the last 1/4 of the can of the sauce on top of the burritos and sprinkle with any remaining cheese. Put them in the preheated oven for about 10 min until the cheese melts and the sauce gets bubbly. 

Serve with the toppings of your choice. They reheat wonderfully in the microwave. 

I hope you enjoy this recipe let me know in the comments if you try it!!

                                                       Jenny 

Life is Starting to Get REAL!

As I sit here in class I am 39 days away from my college graduation. It is completely unreal to me that I will be finished with school (for the time being anyways). So as life is getting faster and faster I am preparing for graduation, final exams, my board exam (nclex), and getting a real/adult job. All the while trying to work on losing weight and trying to become a healthier and happier me.I have been blessed with all the motivation I have found on instagram.

I really want to get into blogging more so wondering what everyone would like to see? You can leave a comment here or on my instagram.

                                                     Jenny

Typical food prep Sunday.

On Saturdays I grocery shop so on Sundays is normal my prep day. Today I made banana bread muffins ( first picture) and a loaf of banana bread to freeze (recipe coming soon). I also prepped stuff for a breakfast parfait for during the week by washing and chopping some berries, making some homemade granola, and started some overnight oatmeal. I also normal make my biggest dinner on Sunday so I made crockpot honey sesame chicken.  I will try and post on all my big prep days let me know if you see a recipe you would like to try. 

F