Sort-Of Homemade Birthday Cake

Tuesday was my dad's birthday- he turned 49 again......weird!!

He is definitely responsible for my sweet tooth, because when I asked what kind of cake he wanted he said "chocolate on chocolate".  DONE AND DONE! 

Here is what I did for this sort-of homemade cake:

- Baked 1 box of Duncan Hines chocolate fudge cake and split it in half horizontally

- Utilized 2 cans of Duncan Hines whipped chocolate frosting, and frosted the middle and outside of the cake

- Bought a bunch of my dad's favorite junk food (i.e Oreos, mini kit kats, and chocolate chunk cookies) to decorate (I added Oreos in the middle layer with the frosting and decorated the outside of the cake with the kit kats, cookies and some sprinkles)

Super healthy right?!?!

Happy Birthday Faja!!

Jillian

Hot Dog Cuban Sandwich

Happy Monday Errybody!  I hope your weekend was filled sunshine, booze, pools, and Orange is the New Black.  I'm 3 episodes in and it's nothing too crazy so far, but the ish is about to hit the fan *eeeek!*

I've totally been overloading on cheeseburgers and hot dogs and it did not help that this month's issue of Food Network Magazine had an entire section devoted to fancying up hot dogs.  It's not enough that there were guacamole hot dogs and French fry hot dogs, but they had a Cuban hot dog #dead.

I first fell in love with the Cuban sandwich in college.  There was a cute little cafe that had pastries, sandwiches and paninis, and they offered "The Cuban Cubano" panini.  It was amazinggg-aaaa.  One time I bought 2 because I knew I wouldn't be back in town for a few days and couldn't help myself.  Another time I ate half and left the other half at my friend's house.  It's still hard to talk about.  I'm sort of kidding.

I know that there are a few different ways to make this sammie, and here is mine!

To make one sandwich:

- 1 hamburger bun

- 2 slices of deli ham

- 3 thin slices of a pickle, halved

- 1 dollop of mustard

- 1 hot dog, cooked, then quartered lengthwise

- 2 slices of mozzarella cheese

- Butter

Open the hamburger bun and add the ham, pickle and cooked/sliced hot dog to one half of the bun.  On the other half spread on the mustard and add the mozzarella on top. Close the sandwich and butter the top of the bun.  

In a nonstick pan add about a tablespoon of butter, and heat the pan on medium.  When the butter is almost melted, add the sandwich to the pan, and cook until golden brown.  Flip the sandwich and cook the other side until golden brown and the cheese has melted.

Cut in half to serve!

Can't.  Get.  Enough.  

For me it's the combo of the mustard, pickles, and the ham and/or hot dog that gets me every time.  Yuuuuum!!

Jillian

Screen Capcha Friday

As I scroll through Instagram/Facebook on the hourly daily, I find myself screen shotting things that make me LOL, things that make me get a little teary, and things that I screen shot and immediately send to Boyfriend with a "please buy me onneeeeeeee" text (it's usually a puppy FYI).  Here are a few screen shots, or screen caps as I call them, that I had in my Camera Roll this week.

Enjoy your weekend!!!

Jillian

Stovetop Chicken Parm

It feels like 45 years since I posted a recipe #whoops!  I was in the woods this past weekend and it was lovely.  It's kind of really creepy at night (#sasquatch), but during the day when the sun is shining and the animals are chirping it's beautiful.  There was not much cooking involved, aside from s'mores on the stove and breakfast sammies galore.  Yuuuuum!

I am currently watching Jurassic Park for the 45th time this week because AMC and SyFy have been running it every. night.  I'm not complaining.  Brian's complaining.  I am totes making him take me to see Jurassic World, although he might hate it/me and might also drive me nuts the entire time (no offense Babe).  See, he is a man of science, so I am already hearing about how Dinosaur A cannot exist with Dinosaur B because they lived in different eras and therefore if Dino A and Dino B lived together it would eff up evolution and oh my god I'm falling asleep.

Food!

Tuesday night is our date night, and Brian was craving "Italian - like Chicken Parm or something".  Halleluuuuujah!  Chicken Parm it is.  With sauce and pasta and garlic butter sauce weeee!!

What you will need to serve 2:

For the Chicken Parm

• 4 large chicken breasts
• 3 eggs
• 2 cups of seasoned breadcrumbs
• 1 handful of grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 cup olive oil 
• 1 bag of shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1 jar of marinara sauce (I used Bertolli)

For the Garlic Butter Sauce

• 2 sticks of butter
• 3 large cloves of garlic, minced
• Sprinkles of basil and parsley

Chicken Parm

Thin out the chicken breasts using a meat mallet (is that even what it's called?!).  Scramble the eggs in one bowl and pour the breadcrumbs into a second bowl.  Take a handful of Parmesan cheese and mix it in with the breadcrumbs.  Dip one chicken breast into the egg, then coat with the breadcrumbs and set aside.  Repeat with the remaining chicken boobs.

In a large nonstick skillet, heat the olive oil for a few minutes, and place each chicken breast into the pan (you might need to do this in shifts depending on the size of your pan).  Cook on each side until golden brown, about 10 minutes.

While the chicken is cooking, heat up your sauce whichever way you please.

When both sides are cooked, top with the mozzarella, and cover the skillet to allow the heat to melt the cheese.  If you cooked the chicken in shifts, I suggest turning your oven on the lowest possible temperature and to keep the finished chicken warm until it is ready to be served.

Top the chicken with sauce right before serving.

For the Garlic Butter Sauce and Pasta

Cook the pasta as per the package instructions and set aside.

Mince the garlic and set aside.  Cut the sticks of butter into quarters and melt in a small nonstick skillet.  When the butter starts to melt, add the garlic.  Cook on low, stirring occasionally until the butter completely melts and becomes fragrant.  Sprinkle the basil and parsley into the mixture.  Add to the cooked pasta and toss to combine.

Apparently Brian likes sauce on his sauce.


Happy Hump Dayyyy!!




Jillian

Screen Capcha Friday

As I scroll through Instagram/Facebook on the hourly daily, I find myself screen shotting things that make me LOL, things that make me get a little teary, and things that I screen shot and immediately send to Boyfriend with a "please buy me onneeeeeeee" text (it's usually a puppy FYI).  Here are a few screen shots, or screen caps as I call them, that I had in my Camera Roll this week.

We must stand united!

#FrankAndRosie

<3

LITERALLY can't even

Have a great weekenddd!!

Jillian