My Posts Are Getting Up There...

I'm almost at 250 posts.

Technically I've been blogging since I started college in 2001 got my first computer, but the technology wasn't quite what it is today. So when I started looking for a "Real Job" after I graduated I took it down. And then I never posted and I totally forgot the website where it was hosted.

So for your entertainment, here's old school McTatty. This was even BEFORE I got the nickname McTatty. I was skinny. I had no fat on me. I ran 7 - 10 miles almost daily. And I literally bleached my hair as blonde as I could get it. I was your typical sorostitute. Hmm, maybe my life is more interesting than I think it is...

So my college life is out there, somewhere, in cyber space. Life BEFORE Bimmer Man. OMG, McTatty without Bimmer Man. That's really hard to remember... Ok, not so much. It was more like making out with boys and keggers and quitting the Interior Design Program at the U of MN while working 3 part time jobs. I'm definitely NOT that crazy anymore!

Go figure. I'm seriously that organized that I forget which blog hosting site my super old blog is on. I think it was called an "online diary" even...

In any case - here's some favorite recipes since 2005 (ACK! Yes, really, 2005!!).

Byerly's Wild Rice Soup

Crock Pot Chicken Noodle Soup

Chili - with a Twist (this from when I used to eat red meat, now I don't, just use ground turkey instead)

Fake Snicker's Squares

Enjoy!

Free Samples

Yogi Tea

Quaker True Delights

O.B. Tampons (Yes, seriously)

Pantene Pro-V

Emergen-C (Click on free samples in the upper right hand corner)

Nature's Bounty Odorless Fish Oil

Tide Total Care Detergent

Trident Gum (I think you'll get a kick out of Joe Biden's teeth)

Have fun with all the free stuff!

And Bimmer Man Cooks

Did you know that? Bimmer Man cooks.

Eh, er, um. Not all the time though. Because you wouldn't really want him to.

He makes tacos. With soy sauce. And er, um, well, you know. Taco Bell doesn't use soy sauce.

So he picked out a lovely stir fry recipe and decided to make dinner. So here goes.

I decided not to take pictures, simply because, well, er, um, I was too busy teaching one how to chop garlic and cut thin strips of uncooked chicken.

But BIMMER MAN MADE THIS ALL BY HIMSELF

Quick and Easy Chicken Stir Fry

1 tbsp vegetable oil 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breast, thinly sliced 1 tsp minced garlic 1 ½ cups water 1/3 cup sodium-reduced soy sauce 1 tbsp granulated sugar 2 cups Minute Rice® Instant White Rice 1 lb frozen vegetable stir-fry blend

1. Heat oil in a large skillet set over medium-high heat. Add chicken and garlic; stir-fry for 5 minutes or until chicken is evenly browned. 2. Add water, soy sauce and sugar. Bring to a boil. Stir in the rice and vegetables; return to the boil. Cover and reduce the heat to low; simmer for 5 minutes. 3. Remove from heat and stir well. Let stand, covered, for 5 minutes

And amazingly, he also ate the leftovers for lunch today.

I need Bimmer Man to cook more often...

McTatty Randomness

I think that I have a decorating phobia. It's not that I don't want to decorate. Partially we don't have money (but that doesn't mean that I can't shop in my own home) and partially I'm just, well, lazy.

Ok, I've said it. Lazy.

And I have to turn to magazines, blogs, whatever I possible can to get inspiration to decorate.

And the weather. Please Spring, come soon. I'm ready for the sun! But I digress, because I've been so random lately... well, here's some random links to reads if you get bored.

So, all these links are kinda relating to my life at the moment in one way or another. Have fun reading! Sometimes it gets me out of a funk...

Obama's Foreclosure Fix

Decorating the Kitchen from Real Simple

Acorn Birdhouse from Anthropologie $38
Clear Glass Jars from West Elm ($19 & $29)

Eh, I'm in such a random and sluggish mood today. I really do need to cook - maybe salmon tonight?

But I can't forget about my to-do list!

McTatty

Amazon.com Deals - Italian Food

Yes, seriously. Italian.

Italian Food Deals

Go ahead, you know you wanna look at the deals. Here's a super short preview.



And even

Giada's Steak & Black Olive Viniagrette

So, this might be a very long post. I preapologize for any time this takes away from your work.

But, whatever. It's steak. And black olives and Bimmer Man's Birthday.

I let him pick out his absolute favorite meal - steak with mashed potatoes and asparagus with a black olive vinaigrette for the steak.

My pee smelled like an old person's home for 3 days.

But black olives are absolutely lovely. You'll start this meal by making the vinaigrette first - that way you won't get distracted while searing the steak or mashing the potatoes and realizing that you left out one of the most important parts of the meal.

Red wine vinegar, grainy mustard (Excuse me sir, but do you have any Grey Poupon? I miss those commercials!), black pepper, coarse salt, oil (both olive AND vegetable oil).

Go ahead and put all the necessary ingredients in the food processor.

But I thought I read 2 tablespoons of mustard, really it's 2 TEASPOONS of mustard. Oops.

Go figure. So I'm a little disorganized.

Mix together the oils in a large bowl that you'll be able to pour it out of.

Mix it in a large bowl that you'll be able to pour it out of. I obviously didn't do that.

So I put it in a plastic Bacardi cup instead so I could pour it through the small hole in the food processor. Whoops.

And then let 'er rip!

Yum... this is really good over pasta too!

Red meat. I don't really eat too much of it, so the stark redness kinda gives me the shivers.

Olive oil, salt, black pepper and Herbes de Provence. Rub it all over.

Then go ahead, sear the wonderful juices of cow into the meat.

6 - 8 minutes per side.

Meanwhile, boil your potatoes and let them drain.

Notice all the dirty dishes in my sink? Some of the potato water got on the floor.

And the perfectly MEDIUM steak. Crusty on the outside, all nice and juicy on the inside.

After you've taken the steak out of the pan, immediately throw the asparagus on. It needs to cook ONLY 2 - 3 minutes per side. You still want it to have a BITE.

Mmm... all put together on the plate...

Look at that steak juice... And gravy and asparagus...

Oh man...

Rib-Eye Steak with Black Olive Vinaigrette

Recipe courtesy Giada De Laurentiis

Ingredients

Rib-eye Steak:

• 1 2-inch rib-eye steak, boneless
• 1 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 tablespoon herbes de Provence
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Black Olive Vinaigrette:

• 1/2 cup black olives, pitted
• 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
• 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
• 1 garlic clove
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 6 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 6 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley

Directions

For the Rib-eye: Preheat your grill pan on medium high heat. Coat the beef with olive oil and sprinkle with the Herbs de Provence, salt, and pepper. Cook for 6 to 8 minutes a side until the meat is medium-rare, remove from heat, and allow to rest.

For the Black Olive Vinaigrette: Combine the olives, red wine vinegar, mustard, garlic, salt, and pepper in a blender and blend until mixed. In a small pitcher combine the olive oil and vegetable oil. Drizzle the oil into the blender with the machine running. Transfer the vinaigrette to a serving dish. Stir in the parsley and serve with the rib-eye.

Enjoy!

Simple Frittata Egg Bake Something or Other

I love eggs and I love anything with eggs. Really, I do. So this is THE PERFECT breakfast. And cheese.

And potatoes.

And bacon. Who doesn't love bacon besides vegetarians?

MONSTER loves the kitchen.

Cut bacon into bits and fry up.

Make sure it's nice and crispy.

Take out the bacon and then toss in the chopped SMALL onion.

For healthy people, drain the fat off on a paper towel.

Mm... bright yellow egg yolks. Next time I'd use 4 eggs instead of three.

Mix in the hot sauce and soft cheese (for creaminess)...

Toss the potatoes into the pan and brown them up a bit so they're crispy.

Then add in the egg mixture, bacon bits and top with cheese.

And then put in the oven at 425 and bake for 12 - 15 minutes.

Mmm... all my favorites all in one pan.

Bake until the eggs have set and the cheese is all melty.

Enjoy!