What's Cooking? Wednesday: Mediterranean Pasta Bake Recipe

**UPDATE: I've tried making this with a can of quartered artichokes (drained), and it is PHENOMENAL. Add it to the step with the tomatoes and red wine vinegar.
Also, you do not have to mix the pasta halfway through baking. It will come out just fine if you leave it in the whole time**

I've got an absolutely YUMMY dish for you today. Since it's Wednesday, wanna know What's Cooking?

Join along if you have a recipe you've made, or found one you want to make on Pinterest, and link up!

This week I found a Mediterranean Pasta Bake recipe and knew I had to try it!

What You Need:

-1 lb. ground turkey

-1 box pasta (I used ziti, original recipe calls for rigatoni)

-1 bag of baby spinach

-1 can diced tomatoes (we used the No Salt Added), undrained

-1 cup feta cheese

-1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

-1 cup heavy cream

-2 Tbsp. Greek seasoning, divided (I used Cavenders)

-1 tsp minced garlic from a jar

-olive oil

-2 Tbsp red wine vinegar

What You Do:

1. Cook the pasta according to package directions in a large pot. Drain and return to pot.

2. Preheat the oven to 350. 

Brown the turkey meat until no longer pink in a medium skillet on the stove. Then add in 1 Tbsp of the Greek seasoning, the garlic and the baby spinach. Keep over medium heat until the spinach is wilted.

spinach is NOT wilted in this picture

3. Add in the tomatoes and the red wine vinegar. Mix.

4. Add this mixture to the pot with the drained pasta. Mix together, and then move the mixture to a 9x12 baking dish. You can mix things up a bit more in here.

Add the feta and mozzarella cheese, heavy cream and the remaining 1 Tbsp Greek seasoning to the top.

5. Cover the dish with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Stir it once during the cooking process to mix everything up and to keep the pasta from drying out.

6. Serve it up with whatever you'd like, or plain.

MG ooh'ed and ahhh'ed and said "oh my god" the entire time that he was eating it. This made us 6 servings so we had plenty of leftovers (and it was great as leftovers). The next time I make this, I might add in a can of artichokes.

Can't wait to see what you all are cooking! Link up below!

Cute-day Tuesday

Sometimes you just need a dose of cuteness to make it through the beginning part of the week. That's definitely the case for me this week--it already feels like it should be Thursday but it's only Tuesday. Wah.

I know what usually helps me feel better and puts a smile on my face....things that are cute, and make me go "awww," so I figured if I'm struggling this week, there are probably a few others of you out there who are struggling, too.

Without further ado....prepare for cuteness:

So. Stinking. Cute!

little bun bun!

Awwww!

*sigh*

If I have a daughter one day...this is happening :)

Certainly doesn't help the touch of baby fever
from the weekend....

All of these were from Pinterest....

Now if cute animals, and kids dressed like animals (or cute monsters) doesn't help set your day right, I can't help you. At least not until around 5pm when Happy Hour starts :)

Hope that helped get a smile on your face!

Weekend Update

Today is proving to be a busy one already, so here's my quick weekend recap!

Friday MG and I got our Save the Date envelopes printed, sealed and stamped. We dropped them off at the post office on Saturday morning so I'm expecting some people to be getting theirs today! Super excited to have them out, and to check off another box on my To-Do list!

MG and I also stopped by Blinds to Go to get some blinds for our kitchen. We currently have some, but you can see in at night when the light is on--I've told MG it wigs me out a little bit, especially when he's gone on trips, so he took the time to get it taken care of since he's still on furlough. The guy comes to install them today, so yay for privacy!

Friday night we went to dinner at one of our favorite places, Cava Mezze (the scene of our first date), with a couple friend of ours. It was good food, great company, and the night was an absolute blast--my cheeks hurt from laughing so much with them. 

{via}

Saturday we went over to our neighbor's place....who happens to be the couple that we've had issue with. And, surprisingly, I was actually acknowledged this time, given a hug, and spoken to. Shocker! We spent a little bit of time there before walking over to the local Oktoberfest celebrations. Weirdly, the temps were in the 90s which is SO not typical for this area at the start of October, so it was a hot one outside. But we had a lot of fun sampling the different restaurants' beers and food, and then spent a majority of the rest of the day at a new restaurant that had just opened up the day before called Copperwood Tavern which was really big and had a very cool and different vibe than any other place in the Village. 

I also may have caught a slight touch of baby fever when our friends brought their little one out with them, and I got to hold her...and then she fell asleep in my arms. Shhh, it's ok. No rush in that department just yet....:)

Yesterday was just a day of errands and watching football. 

MG's mom also got a surprise gift from his dad, in the form of a brand new puppy. She's adorable and we are gonna have to go up there soon to see her. We're still waiting on the video of his mom's reaction because I can only imagine that it was pretty priceless!

I think they are calling her Ginger. So, now Cooper has a playmate for when we go up to Philly (and will probably have to get used to not being the star attraction anymore haha).

Anyway, that was the weekend in a nutshell. I hope yours was fab as well! 

Peace out, girl (and maybe some boy)scouts!

 


  

5 on Friday

T.G.I.F.!!!

Ohhh yessss, it's Fridayyyyy!

The end to another week with the weekend staring me in the face....definitely a good thing!

Let's get to some 5 on Friday action, shall we?

{1}-Furlough

Like I mentioned yesterday, MG is on furlough this week...looking like next week, too. It's different having him home--more chores and things get taken care of more frequently with him there (he even mentioned maybe doing the back splash in our kitchen if he's off next week), but it's also thrown off my schedule. I'm now getting ready for work in the dark because he's still sleeping, and since he's home to work out earlier than when he was working, I dont have the extra little time I had to watch my Bravo shows that I had before (I just watch them later). It's little stuff, but it's my routine, and I'm a creature of habit. Those things are small potatoes compared to MG not getting paid, so let's hope, for all of the reasons listed, that the furlough comes to an end SOON! Maybe after I get my back splash tho... :)

{2}-Oktoberfest

Tomorrow MG and I have plans to go to Oktoberfest in the little village by our place. The only semi-kicker is that we're also going to celebrate the guy's birthday who is a part of the wedding drama. He and MG talked recently and we're all trying to 'move forward' (I'm guessing that means acting like adults when they are around us and no more sh*t talking on their part?) I'm not exactly sure what that looks like to be honest, but I'm just curious to see how I'm treated by the girl who has sent me those emails, spread lies about me/us, and ignored me at every social event we've been at. She's begun adding me to email invites again, which I guess is a first step? Let's hope no drama pops off this weekend. If it does, I'm out.

{3}-Bachelorette Party

Wow, we are already talking about this and it's still 6 months away. MG and his Best Man have been discussing their Bachelor party, and trying to find a date that works for everyone, which made me think I should get on this since I want to make sure everyone can come to mine, too. My Maid of Honor and I thought it would be a fun idea to have it near my birthday in March, so that way I could be around all of the girls I enjoy for my birthday AND my bachey party. Love this idea, so we're gonna get on this soon.

 I also feel like I should point out that MG and his Best Man are planning the Bachelor party, but they still haven't picked out/ordered their suits yet. Boys....

{4}-New Shoes

{via}

I love wearing boots in the Fall..and even the winter. I already have two pairs of brown boots (one set is suede-ish and slouchy and the other is more like a riding boot), and one pair of black ones from Steve Madden that I like. I was on the lookout for a good cognac colored pair and found one on Steve Madden's website. They were $99, and I just had to get them (I love the black pair that I have). When they came, MG was like "another pair of boots? You already have brown ones" so I went to put on one and show him the other, and how DIFFERENT they were. Win for me because he actually SAW the difference up next to each other (heh heh). They're a little more cowboy looking in person than in the picture, but I still like them.

Let's hope he's as understanding when I have two pairs of flats and wedge booties coming next...eeep! (And I can't hide them because now he's home when the mail comes, dangit!)

{5}-COOPER is FIVE today

When did my little 3 month old tiny ball of fluff puppy turn into a 5 year old??? 

he looks so different!

I love this little guy more than I ever knew was possible to even love an animal. He's the best dog I could ever ask for. I feel lucky on a daily basis that I have this cutie to brighten up the days. Cuddles and snuggles from him make my heart melt. His little wiggly tail makes me smile. His little humpy self...well, that's a little embarrassing, but I still love him all the same.

I feel very lucky to have had this little guy in my life for the last 5 years and I can only hope to be lucky enough to spend many many more with him! Happy birthday, Coopy poopy! 

And on that note, happy Friday, and happy weekend!

Furlough....Phooey!

I try not to get political on here because we all have our different viewpoints and opinions, and we're entitled to them. And today's post isn't really political, anyway, so don't worry.

{via}

While Congress is busy getting their heads out of their asses trying to settle on terms, MG is on furlough. This means that he's home all day and won't be getting paid unless they retroactively pay him once they get this all settled. Let's hope that happens because there is no way my teacher's salary can support the mortgage and the wedding we are paying for. Wah!

But, let's not get this all down in the dumps. Instead, let's look at the positives of having, what I have lovingly deemed him.....a house husband.

True, it's hard going to work when he can be at home doing whatever he wants every day (dang, that must be how he felt when I was on summer break), but in the last day and a half of having a "House Husband," the following has gotten accomplished:

-Cooper was bathed

-the dishwasher was emptied

-the bedroom was cleaned, including a dusting of my nightstand and dresser

-I got to drive House Husband's car to work....

-because he took my car to get it washed and detailed

-Cooper was walked in the afternoons by House Husband (not me)

-the bathroom was cleaned

-laundry has been folded

-House Husband was around to sign for a package that needed to be signed for

-he made calls to get tuxes/suits for the wedding

-he got us a good deal on our Verizon services/bill

And that was just in the first day and a half! If this thing goes on for 2 weeks, we will be poor beyond belief, BUT our condo will be spic and span...and who knows what else since MG can't sit still all day long.
Maybe I should call him HH from now on instead of MG haha...nah...

In the meantime, I'll be working to bring home the bacon! Except...we won't be able to afford bacon. That will be a luxury item lol

Mean People Suck

Some people really piss me off.

Apparently over the weekend one of MG's "friends" (someone who he used to hang out with, but really has nothing to do with anymore...thankfully, because he is the epitome of a piece of sh*t), decided that he needed to take one of our engagement pictures that had Cooper in it, and send it around in a text message to a group of guys (MG's friends...and probably even some people he doesn't know) with stupid comments on it. I don't know exactly what it said, but knowing this guy, it was nowhere close to nice.

This is the same guy who takes pictures of girls that he takes home at night, while they are sleeping naked in his bed, and then sends it to his guy friends (see why MG doesn't hang out with him anymore?). Quality person.

Why does someone feel the need to take something nice and innocent, that MOST engaged people do, and turn it into something that's not nice? Oh, another person to rain on our parade and cast a dark cloud over what is SUPPOSED to be a happy time?? Awesome. JUST what I wanted.

Why aren't we allowed to be happy and enjoy this time? We have to deal with people telling us to change our date, then colors, and dresses, and suits and invitations, and then have lies spread about us, then I'm treated like I don't exist and I'm a horrible person. And just when that was calming down, this ASSHOLE decides that he needs to do this. Did he include MG on it? Of course not. He just felt the need to make stupid comments while circulating our picture. Apparently he has nothing better to do with his life and time than stupid crap like this. Well done. What a class act.

Since it's apparently ok to take people's pictures and do what you want with them....

Joey B., (oh, how I debated using his full name, and even linking to his facebook profile...) you are the definition of what it is to be an asshole. Get a life and leave us the hell alone. The only thing you accomplished was making yourself look like an even bigger a-hole than everyone already comments that you are. Well played, a**face. I feel sorry for you because it is so obvious how pathetic you truly are. You play it all big and bad, and act like a tough guy, but what it really comes down to is, you're a nobody. This is what you feel like you should spend your time doing?? Real productive. Why don't you take a little of that time to look in the mirror instead of coming up with stupid crap to text your friends, or different ways to try and bring someone down?

Sorry for the rant. I'm just tired of these jerks trying to ruin everything that's supposed to be happy with this time. Really freaking sick of it.

I appreciate all of your sweet comments on the pictures yesterday. Everyone, with the exception of this jack-hole, has had nice things to say and I very much appreciate the love and support all of the positive people have shown, so thank you.

Engagement Pics

Happy October!

I've been so excited to share our engagement pics with you all, and today's the day!

MG and I went on a Sunday afternoon to our photographer's house in Reston, VA to have our engagement pics done. She lives on a little lake, which made for a great backdrop for our pictures. Here are some of the highlights: (It's a bit of a photo dump, be forewarned!)

Had to get Coop in on the action!

Love this "family" photo!

This is absolutely one of my favorites from the whole day

I'm really pleased with how they all came out. We had tons more, but these are definitely some of my favorites! Special shout out of thanks to my friend P!nky for helping me pick out the white tank top for some of the shots. I wish we'd gotten a few in that outfit without Cooper, but oh well!

I just had to share, because I think they came out great. Our photographer, Anne Lord, did a great job, and I can't wait to see the great photos she takes on our wedding day!