Table Talk Tuesday- Pasta Pasta & more Pasta!

My favorite day ever!! Here I am again with another amazing recipe to share! It is comfort food to a TEE and is beyond delicious! You can find the original recipe Here! 

Side note- it took my just over an hour to prep,cook and plate.

This is mine :) 

Creamy Sausage Rigatoni Pasta

Here is what you will need: 

1 lb mild Italian sausage (to kick up the heat you could get hot)

1/4 onion, chopped

3 tsp. Minced garlic 

1 can San Marzano tomatoes, drained 

Paprika 

1 bay leaf 

1 cup chicken stock 

3 tablespoons heavy cream

Shredded Parmesan Cheese

5 slices provolone cheese

Rigatoni Pasta (half box; remember Pasta doubles in size when cooked) 

8x8 baking dish

Baking spray

I want to advise you to use a LARGE skillet with high sides for this recipe! We have one from COSTCO that I should have used #lessonlearned You can find it Here!

1.Preheat oven to 400 degrees & start a large pot of salted water for your pasta.

2. Take your Italian sausage out of the fridge about 15 min before using. (I find it easy to brown when it is not super cold.) 

3. Brown sausage. Drain grease.

4. Add chopped onion and minced garlic. 

[ Helpful hint here! Pat and I love to cook but we realized we HATED mincing garlic. We would smell like it for days. So we invested in jarred minced garlic. AND I will NEVER go back. When I told my mom this she said nothing is as good as fresh garlic and I said mama you don't even know the simplicity!!!]

5. Sauté the meat,onion and minced garlic for 5 minutes on medium heat. 

Once water is boiling, add pasta for 8-10 minutes to cook.

6. Coat the top of the meat mixture with a sprinkle of paprika. 

7. Add in the bay leaf, tomatoes and chicken stock. Reduce to medium-low heat. Allow mixture to simmer for about 10-15 minutes. 

8. Once a large amount of liquid is gone, remove the bay leaf. No need for this to end up in someone's dish :) 

9. Sprinkle a hefty handful of Parmesan cheese over the mixture. Then add your 3 Tablespoons of heavy cream. Stir entire mixture together. 

10. Drain pasta and add to mixture. Give the entire dish a good mix! 

11. Spray the bottom of 8x8 to prevent sticking. Transfer pasta and meat mixture to baking dish. 

12. Take 4 full pieces of provolone cheese and cover dish. Use only half of the fifth piece to cover your center! 

13. Bake in over for 9-11 minutes or until cheese starts to brown. 

14. Dish up and enjoy :) I always prefer pasta in bowls. Yumm 

[ We ate our meal with another simple side salad. I used the left over ingredients from last week that were still in the fridge!]

Weekend Recap- Superbowl Edition

Hello There!!! And hello Monday once again!

First off why do we have to work after the Superbowl??? Too much good food and good drink to have to come in to work today!

Alright so Thursday and Friday I was down at ISU with our varsity team for the IHSA State Competition.

On Thursday we drove down. We had a drumline sendoff and then we were on our way to ISU! 

We had some downtime once we got to the hotel and I was able to finish my first book of 2017!!! Winter Stroll was SOOOO good and I highly recommend it! I cannot wait to read more from Elin Hilderbrand.

We got dressed nice and headed to Biaggis! We had a great meal :) I got the 4 cheese ravioli and they were AMAZE!

We had an early morning so we headed back to the hotel to hit the hay!

On Friday, we woke up for a long day of competition! The girls had a great performance and I was so happy to be apart of all the state fun on Friday! We did not make it to day two, which for us meant staying up late, in our comfy clothes and going out to a casual dinner at Avantis! An ISU classic :) These girls were hilarious all weekend. Such a special time to spend together!

Saturday we went back to watch all the teams in our division compete for the state title. We cheered them on and then headed home.

Pat is a saint and picked me up from school. It was INSANELY cold this weekend, so have a chauffeur was quite nice :)

We got some dinner then called it an early night at home. We are obsessing over The Crown. SO GOOD!! 

I wasn't feeling good on Sunday so I laid low all morning. Pat had to work some water polo games before we headed to our friends for Superbowl.

We spent the big game with our close friends eating, drinking and playing squares! It was so relaxing and just what we needed!

I also dressed for comfort for the game :) My go to Park Lane Cross necklace and my Blardigan. 

(Squares is my go to game for the superbowl! We made ours 50 cents a square and everyone pitched in and signed up for squares. This will always remind me of Superbowl Sunday with my papa. He always used to come over back in the day and we would play squares and eat chili!) 

I made my famous brie boat, and there was an amazing selection of apps for us to enjoy!

To begin with.... OH MY LUKE BRYAN!!!! Hello um sir you are GORGEOUS!!! He was flawless. Amen.

Ok 2nd. Halftime : SPEECHLESS!!! HOW AMAZING!!! Gaga was truly awesome. Such a classy yet fun and entertaining show!!

THEN! THE ENDING!!! Oh my.... I so wanted the Falcons to win. Another title for Tom Brady? Really? Pretty cool though to witness history :)

ANYWAY! We stayed up past our bedtime, which is why my post is a little later today.

We are so going to bed early and by early I mean after The Bachelor :)

It's 47 today in Chicago!! CAN YOU SAW SHORTS?? lol. Have a great Monday :) See you back here tomorrow BRIGHT AND EARLY for Table Talk Tuesday!!!

“Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You.” -Dr. Seuss

Friday Favorites

Happiest of Fridays to you!!! Once again like always on Friday's I am linking up with Momfessionals, TabandErika and Grace&Love.

WOO!!!

Here are some of my favorites from this week :)

We are spending the weekend at ISU for the IHSA Competitive Cheerleading Competition. Our varsity team made it to state, so I have the opportunity to spend the weekend with them while they compete! Back in the day ;) LOL when I roamed the streets of ISU; staying up late, drinking too much coffee at all hours of the day and creating lifelong friends and memories, times were much more simple. If I could go back and tell my younger self to go to those 8 ams, study more and join more clubs, ohhh I SO would!! I loved ISU and my experience there, so going back brings back all sorts of memories. Right Pat :)

This week new Evy's Tree hoodie FINALLY came in the mail! Can I get an AMEN?! I stumbled upon these amazing hoodies on one of the blogs and I have a slight obsession with them. I have a grey, purple, floral, and now black hoodie all in the same design #bless I will share more about these amazing hoodies next week :)

My crockpot has been my bff in the kitchen these days. I have truly enjoyed prepping meals, eating the goodness of what I made, and then having an easy clean up. For the most Pat has loved everything from the crockpot. He is the real MVP for always taking care of it and turning it to warm before I get home! I had one meal the other that he wasn't a fan of but I will redeem myself next week
 :)

This weekend I did a little shopping and I was all about the #sales. I had been looking for a blue puffer vest to wear with my plaid shirts but I just wasn't able to find one that was 1.affordable 2. stylish. Lone behold Old Navy!!! I found one on sale for $20 and this was a score!! My mom and I agree that Old Navy has ABSOLUTELY changed since back in the day and it can be hit or miss. That day it was a hit!

Last but not least OMG superbowl is SUNDAYY!!! We are going to watch the game with our good friends and eat #allthefood. I have planned to make my very popular Brie Boat. Now I was first introduced to this amazing loaf from my neighbor. I do have to say mine will never be like Mrs. Ward's ( like how does she get all the bread pieces in a uniform shape!?!?!?) but I have to say mine come's very close! It is her recipe I use, so all the credit goes to Roberta :)

That's all I have for you today!!! Have a wonderful weekend and enjoy lots of appetizers on Sunday!

xo

Mind. Body. Soul

Today I am focusing on all that is good for your mind, body and soul. My thoughts to start a blog stemmed from the busy schedule I have on a daily basis. I want my blog to be a place people can retreat to when life has them busy and they feel like there aren't enough hours in a day to accomplish what they need to. 

As a teacher and coach, my week days can get exhausting. Leaving  at 630 am and at times not returning until 12 hours later after I am done coaching.When I come I want to relax, decompress and spend time enjoying my home. 

Here a few tips and tricks to help your mind, body and soul rejuvenate after a long day.

Mind: 

Turn off the work email. It can wait. THIS is a challenge that I work at every day. The emails don't need a response at 1030 pm. 

Decompress on the way home. Leave everything at school or work. Don't bring the negative energy with you. I enjoy my XM NBC nightly news on my drive home. It helps me clear my head of anything that was stressful during the day. Listen to your favorite song, playlist or even podcast.

Body: 

Bubble bath. Calming scents and warmth. Being on your feet all day can be painful for not just your feet but the rest of your body as well.

Candles. The simple, dim glows are soothing. Find your favorite and let it burn while you relax. Right now we are loving Mahogany Teakwood from Bath and Body works.  

For as long as I can remember, I have been using Bath & Body Work's lavender vanilla hand lotion before bed. It has become part of my nightly routine and I cannot sleep without it. The scent is simple and light. I also find myself smelling my hands before laying down because of how calming the scent is.

Soul: 

Daily devotionals. Pat gave me Shauna Niequist's Savor two years ago for my birthday and we read it nightly. She shares a bible verse, personal story, and questions to think about for each day. We enjoy reading before because it gives up something to talk about other than work and coaching before we fall asleep. 

Quiet time. Do you give yourself enough quiet each day? In my job I am constantly answering, talking, lecturing, and giving advice. I find my brain exhausted after a long day at school. A minimum of 10 minutes a day should be quiet and to yourself. 

Make your home YOUR space. Decorate with pieces that bring you joy and happiness. If you have items in your home that are stressing you out...TOSS them! Your home is your space to unwind and be yourself. Make it warm and inviting, so when you get home at the end of the day, you WANT to be there and you WANT to feel relaxed. 

This hangs in our kitchen. It makes me smile every time I see it. Our home is our place to be together.

It's been a long week and I am so looking forward to the weekend. Did someone say Super Bowl snacks? Bring it on. 😍

Relax. Refresh. Revive.  

Entertainment with Emalie

Yes It's Wednesday! You are #halfway there!

Today I thought I would share a little bit about all the movies, shows and music I am into lately.

So grab a glass of wine, some popcorn, kick back and relax :)

To start off, Im going to share: Movies!

1. Secret life of pets. It was ADORABLE, but just not as funny as I thought. I loved the little girl dog with the squeaky voice and I loved how it was all about being you and finding your way. I give it a B+ and recommend it for a relaxing, cold winter nights in!

2. About two weeks ago as I was folding laundry and I put on the OG (original) Parent Trap! I had never seen it all the way through, and I thought it was the cutest! Such a classic, and the fashion in it.....OMG!!! It is definitely a great movie if you're in the mood for an oldie but goodie :) I also noticed SO many lines and phrases from the OG that were brought into the 90's version with Lindsay Lohan.

Next up Shows!

1. Pat and I recently started The Crown. I feel I am going to love the history and see how everything transpired for Queen Elizabeth. Crazy to think little Prince Charles is the little boy running around. I know it's a lot about politics but I am looking forward to it.

2. I have watched the Gilmore Girls: A Year In The Life, wait for it.... 3 times. Yes 3. I find it cute, whimsical, adorable, and quite interesting to say the least! It is an easy watch so if you enjoyed Lorelei and Rory back in the day, I HIGHLY suggest watching :)

3. Fuller House. Yes we have watched all the Fuller House episodes. I love seeing the gang back together and seeing where they are "supposedly" at in their lives! I am OBSESSED with Max Fuller to say the least. He is adorable and funny! This Netflix OG is WAYYY more adultish than the original sitcom and I LOVE it!! I cannot wait until season 3!

Lastly Music. 
What would our lives be without sound? Now just a heads up, most of mine are going to be throwbacks. I grew up in a house where my mom and dad introduced my brothers and I to the BEST albums, music has ever seen. I also have been fortunate to attend many of THE best concerts.

1. This song is so dang CATCHY!! It is on a commercial these days  and I am obsessed. I listen to it at least once on my drive home from work.

Jeans On 
By: David Dundas

2. Oh country music, how I adore you! I love Little Big Town.  I find them classy, talented and their songs are so real. Their songs never quite go along with my life or where I am at or what is happening, but the lyrics MOVE ME! I have been loving this lately....

Better Man
By: Little Big Town

3. Billy Joel. I find myself from time to time OBSESSING over Billy. Now, when I look at him on the cover of The Stranger and himself today, I find myself wondering, hmm..... where's all the dark hair? ANYWAY! No matter hair or no hair I LOVE Billy Joel. I have seen him before at Wrigley Field and just a heads up he is coming AGAIN in August! What a lovely birthday gift that would be :) Hint.. Hint..

The Entertainer 

Summer, Highland Falls 

Everybody Loves you Now 

Scenes From an Italian Restaurant

These 4 are my go to lately. Lesson planning= Billy. Getting ready= Billy. Cleaning= Billy. HE IS GOOD ALL THE TIME!!!!

Don't get me wrong though, throw on the any Billy Joel album or playlist and I will jam all day.


Today is short and sweet. This week is crazy as I have had to prepare sub plans for two days. It is stressful leaving my students for two days!!


Dig out your CD's or vinyls and listen to the soundtrack of your life.... These are a few of mine.