Doin' Some Cookin'... Crock Pot Meatloaf

Meatloaf is the only meal Little Man will request. I've only made it once in his 6 years under my roof. He must be getting it elsewhere and needing his fix. Ha! He randomly requested a meatloaf sandwich recently and told him I'd need to plan for it so I could gather the needed ingredients. Between you and me, meatloaf isn't something I crave or get excited about cooking. After my first attempt at a glazed meatloaf and three days worth of leftovers I think I had my fill for another 20+ years. It was such a heavy meal. Ugh!

But... anything for my son. This time no food processor and instead an easier cooking method, the crock pot. I mean easy!

So easy, I took a quick break from work to put this together. I had all of the ingredients mixed, shaped into a loaf, and set in the crock pot within ten minutes. No one even knew I left the building. One of the perks of living right across the street from work. Shh! Our little secret.

It was so nice coming home from work and only needing to put together a side dish, and the house smelt amazing. I served the meatloaf with a side of roasted carrots. Little Man ate two helpings of the meatloaf!!!

This meatloaf was not as heavy tasting as the glazed meatloaf and had me looking forward to leftovers for meatloaf sandwiches the next day. I'll be making this one again but with more spices.

Crock Pot Meatloaf

Adapted From: Moms With Crockpots

Makes 6 Servings

Stars of the Show:

• 2 eggs, beaten
• 3/4 cup milk
• 3/4 cup dry breadcrumbs
• 1 (1 oz) envelope french onion dip mix
• 2 lbs ground beef
• 1/4 cup ketchup

And Action:

Line the crock pot with aluminum foil, coming up the sides for easier removal once cooked.

In a large bowl, combine eggs, milk, breadcrumbs, and french onion dip mix. Mix well, then add meat. Mix thoroughly and shape into a rectangle or oval that won't touch the sides of the crockpot. Place in the crockpot. Cover and cook on low for 6 hours or high for 3 hours. 

Minutes before its finished cooking brush the top with ketchup. Cover and allow to finish cooking.  

Doin' Some Cookin'... Kale Salad with Feta, Garlic Panko Breadcrumbs, and Fried Egg

This is one of the best kale salads I've ever had and this time it was picked up at a Starbucks.

The salad is mixed with Mediterranean inspired ingredients on a bed of sauteed kale, topped with a fried egg, and then sprinkled with garlic panko breadcrumbs and feta cheese making this the perfect meatless meal option.

The runny yolk acts as a dressing after you cut into the egg. If you're really hungry you may want to double your portion. It's that good!

Kale Salad with Feta, Garlic Panko Crumbs, and Fried Egg

Adapted From: Jeanette's Healthy Living

Makes 4 Servings

Stars of the Show:

• 8 cups kale, stems removed and cut into bite size pieces
• splash of rice vinegar
• 4 tbsp olive oil
• garlic powder, to taste
• sea salt and black pepper, to taste
• 1 tomato, cut into bite size pieces
• 1/2 red onion, thinly sliced
• 4 oz black pepper feta cheese
• 16 kalamata olives
• 4 fried eggs, for topping

And Action:

Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the kale and saute until wilted, then add a splash of rice vinegar. 

To make the garlic panko breadcrumbs: heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a small skillet over medium heat. Add garlic powder and panic breadcrumbs. Sauce until lightly browned. Season with salt and pepper. Set aside. 

While you fry the eggs begin assembling the salad. Top kale with with the tomatoes, onions, feta cheese, and olives. Top with the fried egg on each portion and then sprinkle with the garlic panic breadcrumbs. Enjoy!

Livin' It Up... Cleaning Up My Space

Clean In The Morning:

Chores, ugh! It helps to put the most daunting tasks at the beginning of the day when I'm most recharged from a good nights' sleep and it's out of the way to enjoy the rest of the day.

Put A Time Limit On It:

Being a person who likes routine and schedules, I'll set a timer for one hour a day and clean. Because the house gets cleaned daily it makes it easier to give something a quick wipe down just to maintain it's shine and minimal messes to clean up.

Make A List:

I've created a spreadsheet for each room and will work my way through the list during my hour of cleaning remembering where I left off the day before. A spreadsheet of chores is kinda like the Google Maps of cleaning.

Put On Music:

I avoid distractions such as a favorite TV show since I get sucked into the show and won't put a lot of effort into cleaning. Instead I put on a favorite music channel, crank it up, and get to cleaning. It is a slight distraction when a song comes on that makes me wanna shake my ass I have to take a minute or two break.

Reward Yourself:

Everyone deserves a pat on the back for accomplishing the task at hand. Why not be the one to give it to yourself? Treat yourself to brunch (hello! eggs benedict!) or lounge around in the newly cleaned space.

My "Dust Bustin'" Playlist:

* Jet: Are You Gonna Be My Girl
* Mark Ronson: Uptown Funk
* Taylor Swift: Blank Space
* Taylor Swift: Shake It Off
* Meghan Trainor: Lips Are Moving
* Trey Songz: Bottoms Up
* Modest Mouse: Float On
* Alex Winston: Host
* Jenny Owen Youngs: Pirates
* Walk The Moon: Shut Up And Dance
* Ciara: 1, 2 Step
* Florence And The Machine: Dog Days Are Over
* MGMT: Kids
* Ra Ra Riot: Dance With Me
* MC Hammer: U Can't Touch This
* Sir Mix-A-Lot: Baby Got Back
* Fall Out Boy: Young Volcanoes
* Ingrid Michaelson: Girls Chase Boys
* Weezer: Buddy Holly
* Lou Bega: Mambo No. 5
* Avril Lavigne: Sk8r Boy
* Avril Lavigne: Here's To Never Growing Up
* Big Sean: I Don't Fuck With You
* Beyonce: 7/11
* Spice Girls: WannaBe
* Ain't No Love: Summa
* Sam Smith: I'm Not The Only One
* Hozier: Take Me To Church
* Lana Del Rey: Summertime Sadness
* Ariana Grande: Problem
* Kenny Loggins: Footloose
* Billy Joel: Uptown Girl
* Iggy Azalea: Work
* Petey Pablo: Could You Get Me Outta Jail
* The Cataracs: Big Dipper
* Kiesza: Hideaway
* 3Oh!3: My First Kiss
* The All American Rejects: Gives You Hell
* Dusty Springfield: Son Of A Preacher Man
* Alt-J: Left Hand Free
* MKTO: Classic
* Passion Pit: Take A Walk
* AJR: I'm Ready
* 5 Seconds Of Summer: She Looks So Perfect
* The Vamps: Can We Dance
* Devo: Whip It
* Bon Jovi: You Give Love A Bad Name
* Dexy's Midnight Runners: Come On Eileen
* Katrina And The Waves: Walking On Sunshine
* Rixton: Wait On Me
* Milky Chance: Stolen Dance
* OneRepublic: Love Runs Out
* The Kooks: Seaside
* Hall & Oats: Rich Girl
* Latch: Disclosure &
* Barry Louis Polisar: All I Want Is You
* Marina And The Diamonds: Oh No!
* Karmin: Brokenhearted
* Becky G: Shower
* Selena Gomez: The Heart Wants What It Wants
* Macklemore: Thrift Shop
* The Weeknd: Often
* Mumford & Sons: Awake My Soul

Livin' It Up... Love Of Coffee

Saw the above quote.

I'm not a dessert person and consider coffee to be a decadent treat, especially, when it's full fat from Starbucks and not one of those skinny nonfat sugar free choices. My current obsession is their Chestnut Praline Latte. Ahh!

So the quote above would be edited to read, "I want someone to look at me the way I look at a cup of coffee."

It's hot but still appreciated when cold, within reach, something I don't want to rush through and look forward to enjoy slowly on the weekends, most appreciated on it's own, acceptable in any social situation, and there's no time of day when it's not appropriate. Just a taste is enough to make me miss it when I haven't had it for a while and something I always want in my life.

My "Starbucks Love" Playlist:

* Jack Johnson: Banana Pancakes
* Jack Johnson: Traffic In The Sky
* Jack Johnson: Sitting, Waiting, Wishing
* Landon Pigg: Falling In Love At A Coffee Shop
 * The Brobecks: Love At First Sight
* Ink Spots: Java and Jive
* The Lumineers: Ho Hey
* Frankie Valli: Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You
* Dean Martin: You're Nobody Til Somebody Loves You
* The Neighbourhood: Say My Name (Destiny's Child Cover)
* The Neighbourhood: Sweater Weather
* Ingrid Michaelson: You And I
* Ingrid Michaelson: Can't Help Falling In Love
* The 1975: Sex
* The 1975: Falling For You
* Ed Sheeran: I See Fire
* Ed Sheeran: Thinking Out Loud
* Ed Sheeran: Stay With Me (Sam Smith Cover)
* Ed Sheeran: I'm A Mess
* Ed Sheeran: Kiss Me
* John Mayer: Slow Dancing In A Burning Room
* John Mayer: XO
* John Mayer: Who Says?
* Matt Nathanson: Come On Get Higher
* Alexander Rybak: If You Were Gone
* Fall Out Boy: Alone Together
* Sam Smith: Stay With Me
* Sam Smith: Lay Me Down
* Incubus: Drive
* Barenaked Ladies: Pinch Me
* Coldplay: Clocks
* Coldplay: The Scientist
* Edward Sharpe: Home
* Milky Chance: Stolen Dance
* Mika: Love You When I'm Drunk
* Norah Jones: By My Somebody
* Plain White T's: Hey There Delilah
* Maroon 5: She Will Be Loved
* Michael Schulte: I Will Follow You Into The Dark
* Amy Winehouse: I Heard Love Is Blind
* Nick Urb: Matter Of Time

Livin' It Up... Ringin In The New Year, Kiss-Less in 2015

So I have this movie that replays in my head. No, it's not one that ever played on the big screen but in real life. My life!!! 

The movie is of a kiss, well... two very memorable kisses but not just any kiss. It was that crave worthy grab me by the back of my head-pull me in-and hand on the face kiss. Pulling me in for another.

It happened almost two years ago and I crave it every day. Like drinking salted water it makes the thirst stronger. In fact, I can close my eyes and transport myself back to that moment and get those butterflies all over again. 

Being that it was New Year's Eve a couple of my girlfriend's and I went out for dinner and then headed to a local bar to ring in 2015. The only person I could even think to save that kiss for could not be there with me. While I watched every one else make out at midnight I sat there with a smile on my face and butterflies in the pit of my stomach. I replayed that movie and it was the perfect reminder of what I seek. A feeling of passion like you see in the movies. Here's to 2015 and letting things happen organically and not forcing opportunities. 

Speaking of passionate kisses, here is a montage of some other kiss worthy scenes:

V-Jay Day in Times Square: Photographed by Alfred Eisenstaedt.

Vancouver Riots: A moment of love, fierceness, and defiance.

Spiderman: Saved by a superhero, soaking wet and impatiently peels part of the mask sharing a unique kiss full of sensuality.

Dirty Dancing: Hot Summer nights filled with dancing. The best part of a kiss is those moments leading to it. She seems to be the aggressor. I like it!

The Notebook: "So it's not going to be easy. It's going to be really hard; we're going to have to work at this every day, but I want to do that because I want you. I want all of you, forever, everyday. You and me... everyday."

Sin City

Vintage Kiss

Friends With Benefits: The way she looks at him!

Gossip Girl: This is where I see it going next.

My "Hold Me Tight, Neck in Hand, and Kiss Me" Playlist:

* Sam Smith: Latch

* Sam Smith: Lay Me Down

* Arctic Monkeys: Do I Wanna Know?

* Arctic Monkeys: I Wanna Be Yours

* The Neighbourhood: Flawless

* The Neighbourhood: Sweater Weather

* Troye Sivan: Touch

* Chris Brown: Don't Judge Me

* Chris Brown: New Flame

* The Righteous Brothers: Unchained Melody

* Etta James: At Last

* Belle and Sebastian: Little Lou, Ugly Jack, Prophet John

* Charlie Puth: Kiss Me

* Little Dragon: Ritual Union

* Bon Iver: Skinny Love

* Ed Sheeran: I See Fire

* Ed Sheeran: Kiss Me

* Ed Sheeran: Give Me Love

* Ed Sheeran: Thinking Out Loud

* Ed Sheeran: All Of The Stars

* Chris Issak: Wicked Game

* Fleet Foxes: Can't Help Falling In Love

* Franz Ferninand: Take Me Out

* Jack Johnson: Banana Pancakes

* Plain White T's: Rhythm of Love

* Alice Jemima: No Diggity

* Parachute: Kiss Me Slowly

* Fleetwood Mac: Dreams

* Milky Chance: Stolen Dance

* Taylor Swift: Wildest Dreams

* Hozier: Take Me To Church

* The 1975: Sex

* The 1975: Chocolate

* Nick Jonas: Jealous

* The Weeknd: Wicked Games

* Zendaya: Replay

* Selena Gomez: The Heart Wants What It Wants

* Jack and Jack: Cold Hearted

* All American Rejects: Dirty Little Secret 

* Neon Trees: Sleeping With A Friend

* 5 Seconds of Summer: Never Be

* The Cab: Bad

* Ray J: Sexy Can I