{recipe} buffalo chicken enchiladas

I originally made these puppies in Chicago when I went to visit Seth.

Whipped out the recipe again when one of my good friends from home came to visit!

{laura is in the adorable tiny little thing in the middle!}

We ate these enchiladas while anxiously waiting for the Bachelorette to air. HELLO! Poor Arie. 

I applaud Emily for getting her feelings out in the open before it came time for him to get down on one knee...

but still. That poor, poor man. He looked absolutely heart broken!

I still don't see Jef and Emily together at all?

But I'm happy that they are happy!

I am also happy that I have regained control of my Monday nights from 8-10 PM... ;)

What are your thoughts on the Bachelorette season finale?!

I was hoping that Sean was going to show up and make a comeback.

Oh well. He'll be the next bachelor (for sure!)

Anyways.

Back to the enchiladas!

If you like buffalo sauce, enchiladas, or cheese... these are for you.

Make them for your guy. I'm sure you'll knock his socks off!

Buffalo Chicken Enchiladas 

Recipe credit to The Novice Chef

Ingredients:

• 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cooked and shredded - {check out my tutorial here!}
• 14 oz can red enchilada sauce
• 1/3 cup buffalo sauce
• 5 chopped green onions, divided
• 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
• 4 large whole wheat tortillas
• 1/3 cup crumbled gorgonzola cheese
• 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, coarsely chopped - I opted out for the cilantro this time because Laura absolutely despises it.

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray an 8x8 glass dish with non-stick spray.
2. In a medium bowl, mix together enchilada sauce and slowly mix in buffalo wing sauce...stopping to taste and adjust as you go. I used a little over 1/3rd a cup wing sauce, but we like it spicy! You as little, or as much as you like. Set aside.
3. In a large bowl, toss together shredded chicken, half of the green onions, and 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese. Slowly pour in 1/2 cup of the enchilada sauce mixture and stir until combined.
4. Pour 1/2 cup enchilada sauce into the prepared glass baking dish and spread mixture to the edges. Working with one tortilla at at time, fill with 1/4 of the chicken mixture. Roll the tortilla and place it seam-side down in the dish. Once all tortillas are filled, pour the remaining enchilada/buffalo sauce on top of tortillas and add the remaining mozzarella cheese.
5. Bake for 20 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and the sauce its bubbling. Immediately after taking enchiladas out of the oven, top with gorgonzola cheese, cilantro, and the remaining onions. Serve immediately!
6. Store any remaining sauce in the fridge for 1-2 weeks, and use if reheating leftover enchiladas.

According to The Novice Chef, you can easily double or triple this recipe.

Just make sure that you adjust the baking dish to fit!

I hope you enjoy this fun recipe.

I can see lots more times making it in future {football} events!

xo, Jen

{life} blogger 411

This is a fun link-up to help y'all get to know the girl behind the blog a little bit better. :)

1. How long have you been blogging? And what got you started on blogging? Has your blog changed?
I have been blogging since April 2010. In typical college student fashion, I started this blog while delirious at the library during finals week. Oops! I originally started blogging because I enjoyed reading lots of different food blogs. I wanted a place to record which recipes I whipped up in my college kitchen. I also wanted a digital scrapbook. :) My blog has changed in the way I present recipes. I have added lots more personal anecdotes and stories lately! I also have been blogging about a wider range of subjects.

2. Did you go to college? If so where, and what did you study?
I just graduated from Florida State University in April 2012. I now have a bachelor's degree in psychology with minors in family & child sciences and criminology. Of course... now I want to go into elementary education... so off to grad school it is for me!

3. Where have you traveled?
Whew. Lots of places! US: I have been to lots of places in FL (obviously), GA, AL, LA, MS, NY, RI, IL, CA, AZ, CO, NV, OR, WA, and AK. Outside of the US? Bahamas, Canada, the UK, France, and Italy. Moving to Spain in 4 months though.... I'll be adding lots more to my Europe list then. :)

4. If you won the lottery, what would be the first thing you would buy?
Hmm... honestly? Probably clothes & housewares. Next would be plane tickets for my parents and I to go somewhere we have never been before.

5. What are your 3 biggest pet peeves?
Blaringly obvious grammatical errors - your & you're. to & too. there & their. etc. Rude and ignorant people. (I'm looking at you news article commenters.) The last would be people who blatantly ignore social norms. ie. those fun people in public places who scream into their phones about inappropriate topics.

6. What is your favorite movie?
One of my campers at work asks me this all of the time. I never have a good answer for her and I don't have one now.

7. What is your drink of choice; wine, beer, or liquor. Or Water, Soda, Tea?
Alcoholic beverages? Wine is my top choice. I love a cold beer every now and then. I hate liquor unless it is in a margarita. As for the nonalcoholic beverages? Water!

8. What is something you enjoy to do when you have me time?
Read my kindle. I have read 4 books in the month of July alone. Become my friend on Goodreads if you have an account. I am always looking for new book recs. :) 

9. If you could have a $10,000 shopping spree to one store, which store would it be?
If I could spend that much money at one store it would probably be Target. I love their decor & fashion items, and always love a good deal.

10. Share with us an embarrassing moment of your past? Or present.
Hmm.. well. One day I was walking on campus with one of my sorority sisters through the student union. (AKA the busiest little area ever.) I completely tripped over absolutely nothing and fell on my face. A kind, kind boy walking by ran over to me, helped me up, and asked me if I was okay. Meanwhile, a group of fraternity boys that were tabling in the union at the time literally pointed and laughed. Hmph.

11. What day would you love to relive again?
One day? That is a hard one. I would love to relive my spring break week junior year of college. I went to the keys with my (now) boyfriend, one of my best friends, and her boyfriend. We went out on Ben's boat, went fishing & snorkeling, went to the beach, cooked fresh lobster & fish Ben caught, and had an all-around relaxing and wonderful time.

     
12. If your life was turned into a movie... what actor would play you?
I really have no idea!

13. What are the jobs you had in high school/college/the early years?
I love how I am still considered to be in the early years. My first job was a bagger at Publix. I was 15. Then I was a hostess at a restaurant. Next was "floor model" at Hollister. After that I worked at a law firm. My job during my senior year of college was as an after school teacher for kindergartners. I am currently a summer camp counselor for the same elementary school.

14. Show us a picture from high school or college.

Amanda, Amanda, Kels, & I took this picture outside of our sorority house when we were taking all of our graduation pictures around campus. Phi Mu HQ somehow saw it and ended up putting it up on the website to use as one of their cover photos. Pretty cool. :)

15. If you could travel anywhere in the world, all expenses paid, where would you go?
I really want to go to China. I am half Chinese and my grandparents grew up there before they moved to the US. 

16. Show us the most current picture of you or you, or your family, or anything of meaning to you. 

My parents & I the night of my graduation from FSU! 

17. Where do you see your life 5 years from now?
I will hopefully be in my first year as an elementary school teacher.

This was such a fun link-up. If you'd like to join, head on over to From Mrs. to Mama! 

xo, Jen

{recipe} vanilla protein waffles

Y'all. These are so easy & delicious. 

And incredibly healthy.

No flour. No oil.

Plus, you are getting 5 grams of protein per waffle.

Recipe adapted from Meals and Moves

Makes 8 waffles.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup uncooked old fashioned oats
• 1 cup fat free vanilla greek yogurt*
• 6 egg whites or 1 cup of the liquid egg whites
• 1 scoop vanilla protein powder**
• 1 TB vanilla extract
• 1/2 - 1 TB cinnamon to taste

*Original recipe called for cottage cheese. Y'all know my stance on that stuff though. I didn't have any in my fridge, so I just went with my trusted vanilla chobani greek yogurt & they turned out just fine!

**The original poster noted you can completely omit the protein powder and they will still turn out fine. I did not try this though, so do at your own discretion.

Directions:

1. Blend all ingredients together.
2. Let batter sit for 5 minutes.
3. Cook on waffle iron as you normally would. You can also make these into pancakes! 
4. Top with whatever you'd like.

I topped my waffle with some smart balance peanut butter and a drizzle of agave.

The best part about these waffles is that you can make them on a lazy Sunday morning, freeze the leftovers, and then have a quick, hearty, and healthy breakfast on those weekday mornings that you just don't have time. It is as easy as taking one out of the freezer & popping it in the toaster.

Enjoy!

PS. I accepted my spot in the TtMadrid January course yesterday.
Officially moving to Spain first thing in 2013! :)

xo, Jen

{travel} chicago

I went to Chicago to visit my boyfriend over the 4th of July week.

Here is my trip in mostly pictures and a few words.

Monday:

Seth had to work Monday & Tuesday so I was left to explore Chicago on my own. I decided to have a total girls day (you know... something you just can't do with your BF around) & went shopping on Michigan Ave. I bought a few things from Loft (my weakness!) and just walked through the stores the rest of the time.

I started to get really hungry so I walked into a sushi restaurant on Michigan Ave, Hot Woks Cool Sushi. I ordered the Akira roll and a glass of Pinot Grigio. I settled in for my solo lunch date with my Kindle.

It was glorious.

After lunch, I walked on over to Millennium  Park.

I took a picture in the Bean because BF told me I was absolutely not allowed to do it.

"Too touristy."

Good thing I have no shame. ;)

Tuesday:

On Tuesday, I once again had to entertain myself. I also had to brave the bus system in Chicago.

I definitely thought that I was going to get lost...

Thankfully, I made it to Navy Pier in one piece!

Before I left FL I looked up shows to see in Chicago. I found the Chicago Shakespeare Theater's website and knew immediately what show I was going to see.

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST!

{source}

I was 100% the only person there without a child in tow, but I didn't even care. I was cheesily smiling the entire time thinking of my childhood and how much I used to sing all of these songs! If you are in the Chicago area I highly recommend you go see this production. The costumes, set, and cast are all absolutely wonderful. It only costs $25.00 per ticket and is a perfect way to get out of the summer heat.

Wednesday:

4th of July. 

This picture explains it all.

Thursday:

Woke up with the intentions of going to the Shedd Aquarium.
I didn't believe BF when he said that the line would be outrageous.
Um.... It was going to be a two hour wait to even get inside the doors.
We said NEVER MIND & went on a walk by the water.

Have I mentioned yet that it was hotter in Chicago than in FL pretty much the entire time I was there?

Historic heat wave. Fun stuff.

Needless to say, I refused to let my hair touch my neck until it cooled down some.

Friday:

Had a date day/night with the BF. We went and saw Ted. It was really funny.

If you like Family Guy, I definitely recommend it!

I took some pictures while we were walking around the city.

I fell in love with all of the pretty little side streets in Chi. The architecture is so beautiful!

Oh. And here are some pictures of my stubborn "I hate taking pictures" boyfriend.

Legit the only ones I got of him.

Hmph.

Friday night we went to THE BEST RESTAURANT EVER. But really. It was super fun & cute.

And delicious. You must go to Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba in Lincoln Park when you go to Chicago.

There was an hour wait for two people so we just grabbed seats at the bar.

The sangria is DELICIOUS.

Okay. Enough caps for one restaurant.

But really, please go. You will love!

We ordered the calamari & lamb tapas and an order of the paella. Yum.

The rest of the days I was there were very low-key. I made some buffalo chicken enchiladas one night and some south of the border burgers (soooooo spicy) another night. We snuggled and watched lots of Rescue Me.  You know, normal (non-long distance) couple things.

I had a great time in Chicago. It truly is a wonderful city.

xo, Jen