New House Pics

The walls are up! It finally looks like a house and I am dying to move in already.

Fireplace in the living room

Master bedroom. Look at all that natural light!

Standing in the living room, looking at the dining room and kitchen.

Going to the chapel...

and we're gonna get married! It's official. After 10 years of off and on dating, Chad and I are getting married. We went to look at the new house on Friday and he popped the question in the master bedroom. My ring is gorgeous and I can't wait to start planning for the big day.

Beef...its whats for dinner

Chad bought a new cast iron skillet yesterday and he just had to try it out immediately. He decided to make steaks and I decided they needed a horseradish crust. We work well together :) Anyways, it turned out delicious as always and I think you should try it.

Filet with Horseradish Topping

- Start by preheating a oven safe skillet/pan over medium high heat with oil and/or butter.

- Preheat the oven to 425 degrees

- Season the steaks with salt, pepper, and garlic powder (or whatever you like)

- Add the filets to the hot pan and sear on one side for 4-5 minutes.

- While the steaks are searing mix together equal parts prepared horseradish and bread crumbs until it forms a paste. Cut in one pat of butter with a fork.

- Turn steaks over, add horseradish topping and transfer pan to the oven for 9-1o minutes (this cooks the steak to medium)

Happy Birthday To Me!

I just love birthdays...especially when the birthday is mine! Yesterday I turned 26. Yikes. I know that's not old but it sounds old to me. I had a great day, well actually days celebrating my birthday. Every year it always starts with receiving my grandparents card in the mail about 4-5 days early (she really wants to make sure it arrives on time). Then on Friday my co-workers thew me a little party. Saturday (my actually birthday) was filled with good company, food, and shopping. I am a very lucky girl!

New bowl from my parents along with lots of other goodies. They are the best!

Beautiful flowers from my beau

Confetti poppers thank to my co-workers

Delicious strawberry cake from co-worker

DIY Project #2

I'm going to apologize now if this post is wacky...I'm a little high on paint fumes. My attempt at being thrifty has left me with paint stained hands, a sore forearm and a stuffy nose. Chad and I bought these chairs and a matching table for $30 at South Eastern Salvage. They aren't very sturdy or comfortable and the paint quickly started chipping but I think they would look great on the new front porch. Just for show of course :) I decided to sand them down and apply a new coat of brown paint. It was very easy and now I have the crazy urge to spray paint everything. If Chad comes home and his bike is painted pink it wasn't me.

Cloudy with a chance of meatballs

Growing up I can't remember eating meatballs....spaghetti, yes, but never meatballs. I think it was fear of the unknown. I mean meatballs is very vague. What kind of meat are we talking about here? See there was this one time when I thought I was eating sausage gravy until my stepdad informed me it was SQUIRREL gravy. Did I mention I'm from West Virginia? There was also another time when I chowed down on what I thought was chicken legs and later learned it was frog legs. So you can see why I am very wary of the "meat" I eat. Anyways, the point of this blog is now I love meatballs. Well my meatballs, the ones where I control what goes into them.

Leanne's No Surprise Meatballs

- 1 pound of ground chuck
- 1/2 cup of bread crumbs
- 4 large eggs
- 1/2 cup of whole milk
- 1/2 cup of grated Romano cheese
- 1/3 cup grated or finely diced onion
- 4 teaspoons of garlic
- 1/4 cup finely chopped basil

Combine all ingredients thoroughly. If mixture is too wet add more breadcrumbs.
Roll meatballs into golf ball size and place on a lightly greased baking sheet.
Bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes. After 20 minutes I move the meatballs around to make sure they aren't sticking to the baking sheet.

You Gotta Try This

Pioneer Woman has done it again. I just can't get enough of her recipes. Her latest and greatest is a caramelized onion and blue cheese sauce. Now that's how you spell delicious! Chad and I immediately tried it out on Friday night and loved loved loved it.

Caramelized Onion and Blue Cheese Sauce
- Cut 1 large yellow onion or 1 1/2 small onions in half from root to tip then cut into thick slices.
- Add 1/2 stick of butter or 4 tablespoons to a pan on medium high heat.
- When the butter melts add onions and cook for 15-20 minutes or until they get brown and caramelized.
- Turn heat down to low and add 1 cup of heavy cream. Let that cook for about 5 minutes
- Season with some salt and pepper
- Add 1/2 cup of blue cheese crumbles. Allow that to melt and make the sauce very creamy.
- Serve with your favorite cut of steak.

Seriously if you don't try this than we aren't friends anymore ;)

House Update

We have officially creeped out the construction workers by driving by EVERY day. Now we try to wait until after 6:00pm or Sundays when we know they are gone.
Finishing up the roof.

Look at our green bathtubs. I freaked out when I first saw it but Chad assured me it was just a protective cover and they were white underneath. Whew!

Windows and doors are in.

Can't wait to get in and start cooking in the new kitchen.