Quick easy pocket dinner

Good evening every body and happy Saturday,

I am on a health food working out kick (hoping if won't just be a kick but finally sinks in and stay around for well...ever lol) so I decided for dinner to make a healthier chicken meal that is quick and easy. It is a spin off of a side dish my mom and dad used to make. The only difference is that mine has chicken and theirs didn't. This is great for a quick meal tht doesn't take long to prepare and is a quick clean up.

Preheat oven to 425*

What you will need:
Boneless, skinless chicken breasts- i have one large one cut in half for two meals
2 small potatoes (and yes I know the picture has three, I decided that 3 was to many) and cut into          small cubes
1 rib of celery cut in half length wise and diced
Baby carrots cut length wise and then in half
Half of a small onion diced
Smear of butter- or oil if you want just a little so nothing sticks
Season salt and ground black pepper
2 pieces of foil

 Cut up all of your ingredients and place on a piece of foil- estimate how much you want of the ingredients in each packet- i have 1 potato, half of a rib of celerey, and 4 baby carrots per pouch.

 Fold up and place in over. 

 Cook for 35 minutes and remove. Careful there is lots of steam and steam is HOT! And enjoy!

 I hope you enjoy this quick fix meal.

What do you make in a pinch?

Happy eatings,
Smashley

MMMM Pot Roast!!!

Happy Saturday Al!!

Today couldn't have been a better day for a wonderfully tender pot roast. It was cool, and for the most part gloomy. Perfect for crock-pot pot roast and studying for neurobiology and growth and development. Studying- not so great. The pot roast- FAB! So good.

I used the normal recipe of cream of mushroom soup and onion soup powder mix, but jazzed it up a bit. I added baby carrots, celery, onion, some Italian seasoning, and some Winking Owl Chardonnay. Very glad I added all of the extras. To go with the pot roast I made some cauliflower mashed "potatoes", some cheesy garlic bread, and some frozen peas. The cauliflower was meh. Not the best but not awful. It tasted fine, but didn't have to creamy fluffy texture like potatoes. Good to know for the next time.

Pot Roast:
3lbs chuck roast-  I got mine at Wal*Mart- be on the look out for mark downs. Mine was marked down $4 because the sell by date was 2 days away. Much cheaper- seasoned with garlic, salt, and pepper
Handful of baby carrots
2 stalks of celery cut into chunks
2 cans "Fit and Active" brand cream of mushroom soup (I love Aldi, just saying)
1 package of powdered onion soup mix
A few dashes of Italian seasoning
A few splashes of chardonnay.

All of the ingredients went into the crock pot. It was set to high for the first two hours and then on low for about 5 more hours.

The cauliflower recipe I got here, and I am not knocking their recipe, just wasn't quite what I wanted as my side.

The roast was wonderful, though I did do a lot of scooping off grease. I got probably about a half of a cup of grease off. Just an FYI. I would say it was worth it. The meat was tender and juicy. I wish I had a larger to eat more ;) The wine in the cup is Oliver honey wine with black cherry flavoring, not as good as their soft red/rose/white.

Well- happy eatings,
Smashley

Critic VI- 5 Guys Burgers and Fries

Hey everybody,

Its been a while since my last food critic entry. Today before class I got the brilliant idea to stop at Five Guys Burgers and Fries. Best decision today! I love this place. I probably don't really even need to write this review because most people know the awesomeness that is 5GB&F, but I feel they deserve a profession of my love. 

Their burgers are juicey, large, and reasonably priced. Its messy,has the perfect amount of grease, and so many combinations possible. Their fries are on the same level of awesomeness- fresh cut thick fries from real potatoes. They even have a delish Cajun salt mix, but it does pack some heat, so just be aware. 

With that said, If you have never been there here are some helpful hints:
1- if you are not a monstrous eater and can't eat a whole cow, the little burger will fill you up. I am quite full after eating a little burger. They are slightly larger than a regular burger from a fast food joint. 
2- They are generous with fries- I can split a regular fry with a friend and still have more than enough.
3- It will change your life;)
4- Don't expect the get your food as fast as a fast food place- they don't cook the burgers until you order, you can see it cooking. I waited for about 7 minutes to get my food. It is worth the wait though for a quality burger. 

So, to summarize- go there now! They are awesome! The end. 

Where is your favorite burger joint?

Happy eatings,
Smashley