#12 | Go to the Omaha Zoo

On Tuesday, I took the day off and went to the Omaha Zoo with a family I babysit.  The kids are on spring break this week and even though it is a little chilly and there is still a hint of snow on the ground, we decided we were going to have a little bit of fun.  Neither one of us had been to the Omaha Zoo so it was a new experience for all of us!

 ^^You know, just picking noses.

 ^^Love this kid!

 ^^4 month old lion cubs.

Even though I don’t get spring breaks anymore, I’m so glad I got to go with these kids!  We had so much fun!

25 of 101

Completed: March 26, 2013

#33 | Visit a State I’ve Never Been To

^^ Entering Nebraska for the first time to visit the Omaha Zoo.  (It says Welcome to Omaha.)

24 of 101

Completed: March 26, 2013

#10 | Get a Massage

I hate to say that this one was a major let down, but it was.  When you think of getting massage you think of being relaxed and feeling amazing afterward.  

I'm pretty sure my back and neck will be one huge bruise in a few days.  

......

At the beginning of this month, mom had a gift certificate to get a massage at some cute little place in KC.  They close at 6 and are only open on the week days.  It was her first massage so I went with her just to watch her feel relaxed and rejuvenated.  

We got home and found another gift certificate to a place in town.  They were open on weekends and I decided to get one too.  I was so excited.  My back had been hurting for a few weeks and I thought this would fix it.  

Just kidding. 

I am not one to bruise easily and can handle pressure fairly well, but this lady was rough.  I ended up leaving the salon feeling about 5 times worse than when I went it.  If this is what all massages are like, I'm never having another one again.  But I know that's not true because I hear about how great they are.  And mom's first one was so much better than this one (she left feeling uncomfortable after this one too, but she only a a 30 minute one, I had an hour.)

Seriously, I'll be shocked if I don't bruise in a few days.  This next week is going to be tough sitting in a computer chair and in this much back/neck pain.

Maybe one day I'll try another massage, but definitely not anytime soon....

23/101

Completed: March 23, 2013

40 Recipes | # Brown Sugar Blondies

Ingredients:
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/8 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup butter
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 egg
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 cup to 1 1/3 cup M&M's

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C).

Mix together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt and set aside.

Melt 1/3 cup butter.  Add 1 cup firmly packed brown sugar and mix well. Cool slightly.

In a mixer, add egg (beaten) and vanilla and blend well.  Add the butter/brown sugar mixture.

Add flour mixture, a little at a time, mixing well.  Mix in 2/3 cup M&M's.

Spread in a greased 9 x 9 x 2 inch pan. Sprinkle 1/3 to 2/3 cup M&M's on top.

Bake for 20 to 25 minutes.

Store in airtight container at room temperature.

Thoughts:  This was super easy to make and had excellent taste.

Verdict:  Make again?  Yes!  It was similar to a cookie but less time consuming.

Recipe Source: Pinterest
Original Recipe found here.

Made : February 26, 2013

40 Recipes | # Cheese Enchiladas

Recipe Source:  Pinterest : Recipe from Allrecipes
Made : January 27, 2013

Ingredients:
1 (15 ounce) can tomato sauce
1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
2 teaspoons Creole-style seasoning
1 (12 ounce) package corn tortillas
1 (8 ounce) package Cheddar cheese, shredded, divided
1 onion, diced (small onion)
1 (6 ounce) can sliced ripe olives
1 (6 ounce) can sliced mushrooms

Directions:
1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2.  In a medium bowl combine tomato sauce, tomato paste and Creole-style seasoning.
3.  Warm tortillas in microwave, or in oven; dip them in the tomato sauce mixture and lay them in a 9x13 inch casserole dish.
4.  Fill each tortilla with cheese, onion, olives and mushrooms; roll. Repeat until dish is full. Sprinkle a small amount of cheese on top.
5.  Bake in preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes, or until cheese is melted and bubbly.

Thoughts:  We did quite a few things differently.  First we did not warm the tortillas.  Ours were soft and we didn’t feel it was necessary.  Since the recipe did not specify, we only dipped one side of the tortilla in the tomato mixture.  We also sprayed the casserole dish.  We used 8 flour tortillas.  Since we had left over tomato mixture, we poured the remaining on top of the rolled tortillas.  And we used much more cheese than specified.  We used about 3 cups (12oz) of Cheddar cheese on the inside and 1 cup (4oz) of Cheddar cheese on the top.

Verdict:  Make again?  I thought they were pretty good, but they didn’t have a real enchilada flavor.  Dad didn’t like it because the tomato taste was too strong and it was more like pizza sauce than enchilada sauce. I don’t think we will be making this recipe again for this reason, but are still looking for a good enchilada recipe if anyone has one.

#3 | Go to the Kansas City Aquarium

22/101

Completed: January 12, 2013

40 Recipes | #7 Cheesy Chicken Monterey

Recipe Source:  Wal-Mart Ad

Ingredients:
1 package Knorr Rice Sides, chicken flavor
1 can (15.25 oz) Del Monte whole kernel corn
1 can (15 oz) Bush’s black beans, drained and rinsed
1 can (4 oz) chopped green chilies, undrained
1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts, thinly sliced
1 cup (4 oz) shredded Monterey Jack cheese

Directions:
1.  Prepare Knorr rise Sides according to package directions.  Stir in corn, beans, and chilies.
2.  Heat 1 tbsp vegetable oil in 12” nonstick skillet over medium-high heat and cook chicken, stirring frequently, 4 minutes or until chicken is thoroughly cooked.
3.  Arrange rice mixture on serving platter, then top with chicken and cheese.
Thoughts:  We had chicken and broccoli rise and used that instead.  Mom doesn’t like beans, so I added about ¾ of the can.  I don’t like chilies and only put in about ½ of the can.  We also didn’t have Monterey Jack cheese and used cheddar instead.

Verdict:  Make again?  Absolutely!  This was so good and super easy.  Now I just have to make it again to see if it will pass the dad inspection.