What's Cooking?

I wish I could say I haven't posted anything new in a while because we've been SO busy with fun and exciting things... But then I'd be lying. So, this is pretty much just a little update on what we've been doing... or haven't been doing.

Well, this week I'm 30 weeks along! I am glad it's down to, hopefully, the last 7-10 weeks.

Me at 30 weeks (my face looks weird :S)

We went shopping last month for some of our first baby purchases. And I refuse to go again till the end of this month. For those of you who don't know I studied accounting, and both my parents have finance or accounting backgrounds. What's this mean? It means I'm cheap and try hard to save money and search for the best deals. Even if that means procrastinating what has to be done. So, all we have bought so far are 2 boxes of diapers and crib bedding. I left the store and wanted to return it all (happens quite frequently when I shop). I figured we could put the baby in a box with a blanket, or my sister suggested a laundry basket. She really won't know the difference as long as she's comfortable, right? (I really had these thoughts; maybe that makes me a bad parent already?)

Anyway, now I'm trying to see if I can make any of the bedding for cheaper. The only problem with this idea is that I am GREAT at starting projects or having a wonderful idea, I'm just really bad at finishing or following through. So, hopefully I can get at least an easy thing, like a dust ruffle for the crib, made before the baby comes.

So, really there isn't much else going on. With gas prices ridiculously high, a baby coming, and housing prices still pretty high here in the Seattle area, we find ourselves at home a lot trying to save money.

However, there is one other thing that is always on my mind: DINNER. I really despise coming up with dinner ideas for the week. I don't know why it's so hard for me, but it is. I like to come up with a week full of dinners, then I can make one shopping trip and hopefully save me time and money! But I also get paranoid about repeating meals. I could care less about eating the same thing over and over, or eating mac and cheese or ramen noodle. But there is someone else to feed in this home besides me. Not that he's picky, I just like to have variety for him.

And, I should mention, I don't really like to cook. My interest has grown some since I've been married. But I'm really really slow (Seriously, ask my husband. I look at a recipe and the estimated time and double it to know how long it'll really take me.) when it comes to cooking, or doing anything. (I can't help it!) So, the easier the recipe, the better. And the fewer the ingredients, the better for my wallet! It seems I'm asking for a lot, but I've been doing better at getting a list of meals each week. I'm keeping track of all the ones we like in hopes to collect around 90 recipes that we like. Then I can just choose from there, or create a 3 month schedule and rotate it, and this way no meal is eaten more than about 4 times a year! You all probably think I'm crazy, but I'm loving my plan. :) Life will be so much easier.

That was lots of writing! Sorry! Unfortunately not many pictures from the past month and a half. But we're hoping to take a small weekend trip in the next week or two, so maybe then I'll have something interesting to post about :)

Cafe Rio?

One of our favorite places to eat in Utah is Cafe Rio/Costa Vida (for me they are pretty much the same). While we've lived in the great North West, there have been plenty of times we wished there was one close by. And the last two times we've gone home we have made sure to eat there at least once during our stay. (When we arrived for Thanksgiving break we asked Matt's sister to bring us some to the airport when she came to pick us up. That's how badly we were craving it.)

Well, on Sunday we were going to have quesadillas. And then we decided to make it pork quesadillas and see if we could copy the sweet pork quesadillas from Cafe Rio. I found a recipe from this site: Favorite Family Recipes.

We're pretty sure it's not the exact same as the restaurant, BUT it was delicious! The Mr. actually said he thought it just might taste better. Guess we'll have to test it out some time in the future. Also, I try to make a Sunday dinner that's better than the last, he said this was his favorite Sunday dinner so far. I think it might be hard to beat.

We definitely recommend the recipe!

*Clarification: So to make the quesadilla, we placed a tortilla in a large frying pan over medium heat. Covered it in as much cheese as you'd like, then covered the frying pan with the lid. We let all the cheese melt then added the pork on top before folding the tortilla in half, and removing it from the heat. Pretty much we just tried to copy what we've seen done at Cafe Rio and Costa Vida. And I think it turned out pretty well. :)

Date Night: Exploration

headed out for date night

For our date last night (which was actually the first in a little while) we went to an outdoor mall located by the University of Washington. The suggestion came form our bank teller who told us they had a great pasta place and cupcake shop.

Matt was NOT impressed with the pasta at all. Seeing how he lived in Italy for 2 years, it makes sense he'd have high expectations. But even I was disappointed with the food. Well, it turns out we went to the wrong pasta shop.

Since I've been unemployed for the past month and a half I've had plenty of time to watch tv. Well, a couple of favorite stations are TLC and Food Network. And I find it incredible that cakes, and now cupcakes, are the IT thing for the year. Some people do do some amazing work with their baking though. And I LOVE sweets (I have a major sweet tooth). Anyway, I guess my expectations for this cupcake shop (I won't share their name to spare them the embarrassment) were high. After all, they were ranked #1 in Seattle. Well, it was $3 a cupcake, and it was just ok. I've had better in Utah, and I looked up the ones I enjoyed in Utah, and it's a whole $.25 cheaper. So, I was disappointed. I think I'll just learn how to make great cupcakes and bake my own from now on.

But, date night wasn't a complete failure. We walked around the shops and stopped at Pottery Barn. I'd never been there before. It was wonderful. I love the styles. I love the quality. I just don't love the prices. Maybe some day when we're making the big bucks I'll be able to actually shop there and not feel bad about spending that kind of money. But yay for Pottery Barn, which gave me the inspiration and, maybe even, desire to decorate our dull apartment. :)