Meat Pie

I'll admit, as I was cooking this, I thought I was going to hate it. The smell of the chorizo just wasn't appetizing, and I had to call in the other person to remove it from the casings. Totally disgusting. But, it turned out pretty darn tasty and was super filling - enjoyable enough to be the first actual food post in 2013, and the only one since, um, well, a long time ago.

Filet Mignon, Apple Brats, Chorizo, Tenderloin

The chorizo was part of the great Wild Turkey Farms stock up from the last Farmer's Market of the season. All that (local and humanely raised!) for only $20! Score.

Preheat oven to 400. Thaw the chorizo and remove from casings. Chop one sweet potato and 1/2 sweet yellow onion. Saute all three until sweet potato is tender (~15 mins?). Increase heat to cook off moisture. Mix in 3T goat cheese and set aside.

Meanwhile, after thawing a puff pastry sheet for about 45 mins, line a removable bottom tart pan with one sheet to form the crust. Press against edges. Bake 8-10 minutes using pie weights if available (if not you will need to poke down the bottom before adding filling).

Transfer chorizo-squash filling to tart pan, spread evenly, and pack down. Crumble 2T more goat cheese on top. Bake at 400 for 20 mins, and finish with a 3 min broil. Remove and and let it sit slash set for about 5 minutes.

Definitely a late fall or winter meal.

Pin It Best of 2012

With Twitter and Pinterest taking over YJDKIY internet time in 2012, there wasn't a lot of time for blogging....mainly because it takes too many words. In case you missed out on the fun, this year I've pinned nearly 2500 images on 42 boards, and amassed well over 300 followers (except for that one board with over 41,600 followers...see below).

It helped me organize recipes and keep track of things I cooked. Gave holiday crafty inspiration and kept a running wish list for home decor. I filed away useful household tips, won a vacation (check out the mention on Mashable here), collected things in Tangerine Tango, filled up a read and to-read bookshelf, and documented my infinite search for the perfect hair style. Pinterest let me laugh a little, reflect, and dream of fancy life and far away places. There are gift ideas and unattainable wants, planning and ideas, stuff I love, and even stuff I don't know what to do with!

I wouldn't say I was pin-happy or even an over-pinner, but choosing the best of the best was quite an exhausting year end task. Here they are in no particular order, my most useful pins of the year:

It seriously works:

Source: anacissastipsntricks.blogspot.co.uk via Emily on Pinterest

Makes your house smell yummy

Source: morganmoore.typepad.com via Emily on Pinterest

When pestilence strikes

Source: countryliving.com via Emily on Pinterest

The #JetsetterCurator winning announcement tweet

Source: facebook.com via Jetsetter on Pinterest

And the one that secured my free trip!

Source: google.co.uk via Emily on Pinterest

Style inspiration

Source: pinterestpicks.com via Emily on Pinterest

Celebration treats we actually made

Source: the-girl-who-ate-everything.com via Emily on Pinterest

Useful for weaning off coffee

Source: google.com via Emily on Pinterest

Recipes worth repeating

Source: bhg.com via Emily on Pinterest

Mexican pins wins again

Source: the-girl-who-ate-everything.com via Emily on Pinterest

Easy crafty fun I could actually do

Source: theidearoom.net via Emily on Pinterest

and these

Source: newlywoodwards.com via Emily on Pinterest

On the theme of easy...a pop of pattern for the kitchen

Source: cottageandvine.blogspot.com via Emily on Pinterest

Made one of these for neighbors

Source: julieblanner.blogspot.com via Emily on Pinterest

And saved cans all summer to make these lights.

Source: lowescreativeideas.com via Emily on Pinterest

But my first Pinterest craft of 2012 was this in red and heart shaped!

Source: Uploaded by user via Emily on Pinterest

Stay tuned for the top tweets of the year coming tomorrow!

Two Things

That I am seeing EVERYWHERE.

One that I love:

(tip: it's oxblood. do not call it burgundy!)

And one that the jury is still out on:

we haven't done THIS in a while!

The Emmy Red Carpet 2012!

Is this the year of hi-low hems? Personally, I think it is sooo 2011. 
C (the shoes are hideous!)

Love this hipster take on the red carpet - and the color.
A

Can't complain!
A-

Hayden looked like a fruit rollup with a blue toga. Somehow it sort of works for her.
C

Sofia is feeling a little like Madison? She's beautiful, but the dress is not!
C

Mis Sally looking cute as ever, but with some grown up heels this year!
B+

Patty Hewes must have been stuck in court when it was time to go shopping..
D

Looking oddly similar, but 1029% better than normal, Betty Draper .
B (only because she is normally a D!)

See, hi-low all over the place. The dress is cute, too bad the hair is so horrendous.
C

So cute.
A

LOVE dark hair on Kristin. Wonder if it is a wiig? Harha.
B+

Meanwhile, Megan's Chompers were tucked away in an ill-fitting, wrong era number, with bad hair.
D+

Part trend, part circus in the making!
D

Yay! Tina Fey must have a new stylist. She looks perfect.
A

And there's the other part of the circus. I want to like it. And I want to hate it.
C

Cute little bowtie!
A

If you are Heidi Klum and you are wearing a dress that makes you look 6 sizes larger than you are, something is very very wrong. It is pretty material and the shoes are cute, but she is not working this.
C-  

The style leaves a lot to be desired, but it's definitely a good execution of the IT color!
C+

Oh Blossom. Without the sleeves this could have worked for you. But  there are *cuffed* sleeves.
F

Yes, there are THREE pictures of Ginnifer Goodwin. That is how amazing this dress, and her entire look is.
Best Dressed! A+

*swoon*

Officially Official

The new blog is up and running. I'll be posting weekly menus there.

menuplanned.blogspot.com

Bookmark It! You might want to check in here occasionally, just in case YJDKIY ever gets back to posting again, but for now, that'll be it.

I should really just switch over to the new blog already...

since all you get here is menus!

S: Breaking the Rules Pizza Night!
S: Grilled Salmon with Creamy Dill Cucumber Salad
M: Wilted Kale Salad with Sesame Chickpeas and Tempeh
T: Tomato Soup & Grilled Cheese with Spinach
W: Tarragon Tuna Toasties
R: Other Cooker Indian Concoction
F: Leek & Asparagus Fritatta, Fruit Salad Yummy Yummy

Food Labor

S: Fish with Mac & Trees
S: Zucchini Black Bean Skillet
M: Basil Lime Chicken
T: Nature Burger
W: Sweet Potato-Spinach-Quinoa Salad
R: Pesto Pasta with Chicken Sausage & Brussels Sprouts

Closing out the month

S: Not dogs with Cole Slaw & Baked Beans
M: Tilapia Soft Tacos
T: Butternut Kale Quiche
W: take out!
R: Parmesan Polenta with Lemony Asparagus & Chick Peas
F: on you own

Celebration Station

This week gets cut short for a 60th Birthday Party! Fun times ahead!

S: Nature Burger Wraps
M: Veggie Pesto Pizza
T: Salad with Teriyaki Pan-Grilled Chicken Tenders
W: Spinach-Tofu Lasagna
R: leftovers

The Weekly

S - Three Bean Enchiladas, Broccoli
M - Zucchini Tuna Fritters, Beets
T - Eggplant & Artichoke Panini, Greens
W - Salads with Gardein
R - Chicken Salad Wraps
F - on your own
S - TBA!

what are we eating?

what we are eating!

S: Mediterranean Chicken Pasta Salad (ps: best blog name ever!)
S: Squash Casserole, bok choy, TJs Baked Cod
M: Tofu with Spinach & Chickpeas
T: Black Bean Cakes Over Romaine
W: Vegetarian White Lasagna
R: Shrimp & Veggies with Qunioa/Cous Cous
F: Tofu Parmesan, Side Salad

awwwwgust

get it?

S: Grilled Shiitake & Asparagus, Three Bean Salad, Balsamic-Rosemary Beets
M: Steamed Kale, Key West Chicken
T:  Broccoli & FauxBeef Tips with Brown Rice
W: Avocado & Black Bean Omelette
R: Blackened Tofu Scramble with Garlicky Grits & Greens
F: TJ's pork tenderloin florentine, fruit salad

Count Down!

You'd think I was counting down to Mexico based on this menu week, but I'm headed much farther north. Here's hoping this is the fastest week evah!

S: Fajitas
S: Neighborhood Picnic (what WILL I make?!)
M: Farmer's Market Polenta
T: Southwestern Salad with Tequilla-Lime Shrimp
W: Taco Stuffed Shells, Greens
R: Turkey-Cucumber-Crandberry RollUps
F: Whatever you can round up and shove in your mouth!

Creamy Lentil Wraps with Chicken & Fuji Apple

Hot summer days mean cool summer meals. While this one does involve some cooking, it is served cool or room temperature. 

One very crisp Fuji apple, 1/2 c lentils, and 2 green onions. Prepare the lentils as directed, and meanwhile, peel and chop up the apple and green onions. 

Mix the apple and onions with 2-3 wedges of Laughing Cow Original Light cheese. 

Once the lentils are tender, drain them well, season with a splash of cider vinegar and fresh ground pepper, and add to the apple mix. 

I had intended to make lettuce wraps using these large organic Romaine leaves. The leaves had other plans though and preferred to be served as a salad base. 

While that mix cools to room temperature, pan fry (< 1T olive oil) or grill chicken tenderloins (you know YJDKIY doesn't photograph those! gross!) seasoned with a bit of Worcestershire sauce. When cooked, chop into small pieces and stir into mix. The creamy Swiss, sweet apple, earthy lentils, tangy chicken, and crispy lettuce made for a filling mix of flavor and texture. Survey says: keeper!

Survey says: most pitiful puppy face on the planet!

The Fresh Prince's new defintion of summer madness

S: Avocado & Black Bean Omelet, WW Toast
M: Chick Pea & Cucumber (Pasta) Salad
T: Grilled Cheese with Kale, Tomato Soup
W: Chicken-Apple Lettuce Wraps
R: Tofu & Pepper Soba Stir Fry
F: Roasted Salmon with Green Herbs, Asparagus