This Week's Sweets and Eats: Don't be Chicken

This week's 'Sweets and Eats'

There are usually two nights a week that we can count on needing a quick and easy dinner. Tuesdays and Wednesday evenings we are out with ministry events. Wednesday nights I don't even plan out a meal on our weekly menu, simply because odds are, it's just not going to work out. It's just a part of our life and we are comfortable with our weekly routine, but there are some weeks where our budget ever so softly reminds us that eating out after church, or running through chick-fil-a just isn't the BEST option. I am always looking for quick and easy meals that require little or no preparation, and this week I hit the jackpot.

With some fresh deli slices, swiss cheese and fresh whole wheat bolillos rolls (which are 8 for $1 just about anywhere I go), I was able to prepare a quick, delicious and cheap meal for us. It didn't make a mess. It didn't require any preparation, and best of all, I didn't have the "this really didn't fit into my budget" guilt. Along with picking up some cold cuts in the deli, I also picked up a rotisserie chicken which we used for sandwiches, and later used the remaining chicken for our Chicken Tortilla Soup. It was already cooked, and I got 3 meals out of it for only $4.98 at Walmart. I cut the rolls in half, piled on the meat (turkey for Seth, shredded chicken for me), added some swiss, salt and fresh cracked pepper, put it in the over on high (broil) for about 5 minutes. Then I added some mayo, deli mustard, oil and vinegar (EVOO and Red Wine Vinegar - Subway style) and BAM... soooooo good.

Like I said, we used the rest of the chicken in a pot of Chicken Tortilla Soup. The flavor from the rotisserie chicken is much better than just plain ol' boiled chicken. Do yourself a favor, and just try it! Don't be a... well, you see where this is going right???

I digress.

This is one of the best, if not the absolute best Tortilla Soup recipe I've ever made. I usually make it 2 or 3 times during the winter months and this time I tried a new recipe which proved to be an excellent idea. Of course, I added some of my own flare to the recipe and here it is: (my changes and additions are in bold)

1	tablespoon	canola oil
1	tablespoon	butter
1	medium	yellow onion, chopped
1	rib	celery, chopped
2	cloves	fresh garlic, minced ( I used 3)
4	cups	chicken stock (I used 2 containers)
1		red bell pepper, chopped
1		poblano pepper or green bell pepper, chopped (I used a poblano)
1/2 1	handful	jalapeño pepper, seeded and finely minced (omitted this) Cilantro
1/2	teaspoon	salt
1/4	teaspoon	pepper
1/2	teaspoon	ground cumin
1/2	teaspoon	ground coriander (I didn't have any, so I omitted this)
1	tablespoon	sugar
1	tablespoon	chili powder (I used 1 tsp because I didn't want it to be too spicy for baby Kai)
15	ounces	can tomato puree
1	tablespoon	Worcestershire sauce
1 1	pound can	cooked chicken, cubed or pulled whole kernel sweet corn
Cheese sauce
2	tablespoons	butter
2	tablespoons	flour
1	cup	heavy cream, half and half or milk
1/2	teaspoon	salt
1/2	teaspoon	pepper
8	ounces	cheese, grated (I used a Mexican Blend)
Garnish
		Tortilla chips, crumbled (or if you can find them, tortilla strips)
		Sour cream
		Fresh cilantro, roughly chopped Chopped Avocado

1. Make the soup: Heat oil and butter in a large stock pot or dutch oven over medium heat. Sauté onions, celery and garlic until soft.

2. Add a splash of chicken stock, and then the red bell, poblano or green bell and jalapeno peppers. Cook for 2-3 minutes to soften.

3. Add the cilantro and all of the spices (salt, pepper, cumin, coriander, sugar, chili powder), and stir until fragrant

4. Add the remaining chicken stock, tomato puree and Worchestershire sauce. Mix well and bring to boil.

5. Add chicken and corn, then reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes (or more – the longer a soup simmers, the better!)

6. Make the cheese sauce: Melt butter in a heavy-bottomed sauce pan over medium heat. Stir in flour to create a paste.

7. Slowly add the dairy, stirring constantly, until a thick, creamy sauce is formed. Season with salt and pepper and remove from heat. Add grated cheese and stir to completely incorporate into the sauce.

8. Add cheese sauce to the soup, stirring to mix well. The soup should now be creamy, but not necessarily spoon-hugging thick.

9. To serve: ladle into bowls, then sprinkle on cilantro. Add a spoonful of sour cream, chopped avocados, and top with tortilla chips/strips

I think that if you were being a little more strict with counting calories that this soup would still be absolutely delicious without the cheese sauce mixed in. I had a small bowl while it was simmering, before I mixed in the sauce, and it was still oh-so tasty.

Now, for the proverbial "icing on top". . . I hate to rub this in if you aren't close to an HEB Central Market, but holy WOW! They have a fresh baked bread section with all sorts of beautiful breads! The jalapeno cheddar has been tempting me for a while now, and after coming off of this fast and having gone 3 weeks with no carbs, I was so weak, and I caved! I'm so glad I did because this was the perfect addition to the soup. I sliced it, buttered it, toasted it, and sprinkled some cheese on top and served the crunchy, chewy, tasty slices with the soup. Total success.

To balance the swiss cheese and carb overload, we mixed some of our own trail mix complete with broken up pieces of rich dark chocolate sprinkled in with the raisins, almonds, cranberries and other goodies. The dark chocolate is a much healthier and more figure-friendly alternative to m&m's. It turned out to be a totally yummy, low-cal, healthy snack! We mixed it all in a huge bowl and then divided it up into air-tight containers so it would keep longer.

That's my version of sweets and eats this week. We are glad to be off of the fast, but still wanting to watch what we eat and continue the weight loss attempt. Seth has lost over 20 lbs and I am right behind him with 14! It feels SO good and is totally worth any food sacrifice that we have to make in order to continue in that direction!

2011

After just about a year long break, I am on my way back to the never ending inspiration, fresh creativity, laughter, support, shared passion and the beauty that never ends in the hearts of those who choose to go through this life searching for inspiration and daring to be brave enough to live creatively.

I do not like to lay out distinct resolutions at the beginning of each year. I take each new year as an opportunity to evaluate where my priorities have been the past year, and if any adjustments need to be made, I make them. (which is always the case, by the way.) This year has been a doozie! After many life altering moments and circumstances, I can honestly say that I love 2010 for all of the challenges, amazing memories, and fun times, but I was more than ready to welcome 2011 in. Upon my reflecting, It was quite obvious that there's just something that isn't the same as far as my creative outlets go. I design now for a living, but something was still definitely missing. I don't think that the one thing missing can be narrowed down to a blog, but I do think that it has been my long lost presence in the creativity realm. The past year has been so busy and so full of earth shaking... and some earth-shattering circumstances, that my energy levels have been completely focused on our new life in texas, my husband, my son, and my overall health. Sometimes you just have to put everything aside (even the "good" things that you like) so that you can focus on the things that matter most in life. I hope that as time progresses and I continue to find freedom and peace, I will have stories of triumph and personal victories to share, but for now I am just happy to be easing myself back into the mindset of aiming to inspire. I am not too sure exactly what it will look like, or how it will all play out, but I am sure that I am so ready to dive back into this world of unbelievable beauty that you all have helped create here on the world wide web.

My priorities for 2011 are quite simple, but all carry deep significance for me.

1. Maximize mornings.

This is something that I am not good at, have never been good at, and although I will probably never achieve to be a morning person, I can at least make the best of them. Here is just a little taste of what mornings look like for me...

...not so pretty, eh?!

2. Blog regularly. Find healthy creative outlets.

...workin' on it!

3. Focus on having a healthier view of food and eating.

This is something that can consume me if I let it. It's a struggle to have a healthy balance.

4. Purge the house. Get organized. Everything has to have a place.

Even if it looks like this... I'm totally OK with that!

5. Make a workspace in the new house and make things!

...this goes hand in hand with #2, but it's important enough for me to make it a stand alone priority. Maybe a future Etsy shop is on the horizon?!

6. Wear/buy brighter colors

I've had many requests lately to do a blog about my outfits and wardrobe. I'm loving the idea... but I've got to get out of the black and gray rut! As you can see I've already started working on it.... and future pictures will not just be of my shoes, by the way! =)

7. Settle into who I am and aspire to be and more importantly who God wants me to be, so I can stop worrying so much about my own aspirations. (Don't you just love how that works hand in hand?)

Happy 2011 everyone!

I will be seeing you on here much more often.

That's right, I said TEXAS!

I apologize for the delay in explaining what in the WORLD is going on with Pretty City Sweets and why there have been NO updates for the past month or so.

In a nutshell:

Me and my husband took a job in Texas, in the exact area that I grew up in, and in the past month have sold our house, packed our house, and last weekend moved from Illinois, cross country to the East Side of Houston to be on staff at an amazing church.

That's right, I said TEXAS!

Until we find house here in the area, we are living in a two bedroom apartment... which is a little cramped, but only temporary. Needless to say, Ive been a bit pre-occupied, so my blog has just had to sit here for a while.

Seth has already started working this past week, but I will not be starting until May 1. We are basically both doing the same sort of thing we did at our last church, it's just on a little bit larger scale because we are in a thriving metropolis as compared to a small mid-west town. Seth is of course the Youth Pastor and I will be doing the media/ graphic design and Church Marketing. The potential here is incredible and we just feel totally blessed and honored to get to be a part of what God is going to do through this church. On top of everything, just within a few short meetings we are so encouraged by the students that are already active at our new church home and are anxious to get to know them better and start pouring into their lives!

Malakai has adjusted wonderfully. From the 13 hour long car ride down here, to the new apartment and new friends, he has been an angel! He turns one in just 2 weeks!

I am only a little over one hour from my mom and sisters and just 3 short hours from my dad and his family, so I have already go to see a lot of them in the past week.

For now, I am just going to say that I am taking a small break from the blog world. Hopefully when I start back to work on May 1, and enter into more of a routine, I will find the time to relax and get lost in this world of creativity and inspiration that I have come to love so dearly.

I covet your prayers as we continue to adjust to life here and form new friendships, along with dealing with missing our precious friends and family from Illinois.

I am still on twitter and facebook and am always updating... while I step away from my pretty City Sweets for a few weeks, I would love to meet you there!

Love in the Windy City

For Valentine's Day we...

Went to Chicago!

It was snowy and cold...

We got there just in time to freshen up and head to see the band, Sleeping at Last at Lincoln Hall. Which is also where we met up with our best friend Josh.

Josh is a very talented musician who lives in Nashville, he had connections to the band, which made things even more fun.

We grabbed some food afterwards.

We said goodbye to Josh and he headed on his way to Canada, and we stayed in a swanky little place... on the 17th floor.

We woke up and went shopping... and ate some good food... and shopped some more.

We walked hand in hand, talked, shopped, picked out clothes for each other, splurged here and there, laughed and carried on all day. It was cold, but not too cold. The sun was shining and the wind was calm for us. It was fun to be in love and pretend like we didn't have a care in the world for just a few hours.

We started out our day about 10am and ended it about 8pm.

We ended the day with coffee and a blueberry cake doughnut... and a few more stores.

All in all... one of our best trips yet!

We hurried home so we could love on our baby boy before it was time for him to go to bed!

Made with Love, for Love

As promised, I did not buy my husband a box of chocolates... instead, me and Missy, made them! Nothing too fancy, just some homemade "X" and "O"cookies and lots of different goodies dipped in milk and white chocolate and sprinkles!

It was easy and so much fun and the end results were so precious!

Here's a cupcake order I did this weekend for a baby shower too! Lots of baking and making going on lately! Love it!

XOXO

So, I had a frustrating day.

Lots of things just didn't go as planned.

Not that I always count on things going as planned, but today it just seemed like I had nothing.

During the few minutes that I got to spend with my husband today, he informed me that he is taking me to Chicago for Valentines day.

My heart immediately smiled and got an instant boost of energy that held me up through the rest of today.

Chicago is one of my most favorite places in the whole world.

So I guess I shouldn't say "nothing" went my way...

Wow. I love, love, love him.

XOXO

Public Baltzell Announcement!!!!

I am trying to write this all within a few minutes while it is lunch time, so forgive any errors:

This will be the first time I share this on an open forum!

Let me start off by saying this and by being totally transparent:

1.) I REALLY struggle with being transparent. I really kinda suck at it.

2.) As a result of struggling with being transparent, I REALLY struggle with being vulnerable.

I am very aware of both of these things in my life and I am on a constant journey of opening up and learning to let my walls down. Even saying this is difficult. Which is stupid, because it shouldn't even be that big of a deal.

Because of my silly issues, when big things happen in our life (Me and my husband, Seth) I tend to not talk about them very openly, for fear that the may not come to fruition. What I am about to write about has CONSUMED my thoughts, my prayers, my heart and has shot itself all of the way to the top of me and Seth's priority list. So, what is it you ask?!? Well... deep breath... here we go:

From the time we had our first serious, "how many kids do you want to have?" talk, Seth and I have known that we wanted to adopt a child one day. It was in both of our hearts from the beginning. I think we both just always assumed that it would be after we had our own children. I had done a little research here and there, but never thought in a million years that it would be anytime soon. Without going into the whirlwind of details that have led us to this point, after a lot of prayer and lots of faith, we have decided to begin pursuing the adoption process immediately, and have already begun to do so.

It makes me swell up with joy to say that we are now in the process of adopting a child.

As if the adoption process would not be hard enough, we specifically feel led to adopt an orphan from Haiti. Because of the chaos that has settled over the country of Haiti right now, many details are up in the air as far as what the federal government is going to allow and also the Haitian government. If necessary, we will adopt a child who was not specifically orphaned by the earthquake, but one who was already in an orphanage in order to make room for the massive influx of new orphans that will be pouring into the missions and orphanages here in the next several months. So rather than changing one life, we have the potential to change two. Haiti is the most destitute country in the western hemisphere and pre-earthquake had an estimated 380,000 orphans. That number is rapidly growing more and more every day.

Since the start of this process, God has opened several doors and allowed us to make some amazing connections to help with this process. I would have not even known where or how to start. In the middle of everything, we discovered that some friends of our are pursuing adopting a Haitian orphan as well. Sarah and Jason will be walking along side of us throughout this amazing Journey. Sarah has already been a wellspring of help, support and encouragement.

For obvious reasons, the doors to Haiti are currently closed completely for adoption, but our agency tell us that by the time we complete our home study and paperwork the doors won’t just be opened, but orphans will most likely be allowed into the states on humanitarian visas in large numbers.

We are praying for favor, open doors, wisdom, the financial means, and an expedited and smooth process. We realize that most adoptions do not fit that description, however we believe that God has placed this in our hearts “for such a time as this” and we refuse to put any limits on the miracles that we are expecting to see! We have no real time estimate. Basically, we will have everything done, approved and will be ready to go when we get the call that the doors are open.

Every moment of our lives is so much bigger than us, and it just keeps getting bigger. I don’t even know how it’s going to get accomplished. I can’t explain what God has done in our hearts the past few weeks to bring us to this point. It’s a passion that runs so deep, it is leaving us at a loss for words… all we can say is that God said DO IT and has been paving the way ever since we decided to take the first step. There are a million details that are going to need to fall into place now. We cannot do this without Him and without the ones we love supporting us. I am unashamedly, selfishly asking, please put us on your prayer list and pray for us daily.

One of my best friends, Missy (who you can meet, HERE) has a heart for Haiti, and just a few short months ago gave up part of her summer and went on a mission trip there. She is one of my most cherished friends who is a constant source of encouragement and inspiration in my life. We are both BIG dreamers, who are also determined to pursue every last one of our dreams, no matter how big the obstacles. As I was writing this post, she sent me a message that I will hold close to my heart in the months to come. Here is part of what she sent:

"This dream about adopting is no longer a dream It has moved into the classification of REALITY! So Keep preparing for that Haitian child and keep thanking God in advance for giving him to you. He's YOURS already

.Point 1.: The process is a mere detail to God.

The outcome is a an amazing addition to an already amazing family. He was born for you to be his mother. REALLY!? That gives me chills and tears in my throat.

.Point 2.: Relish the joy that comes with anticipating.

I have been trying to not get caught up in the process so much but am looking to the finisher of my faith to work all of that out. I encourage you to do the same. Set backs are sometimes giant steps out of the wrong direction and into the right direction. I never tend to look at it like that but I will be trying to because I understand God is sovereign.

I am praying oh so often about your 'process' but even more so for your new family of 4 because you already are that, "Baltzell, party of 4".

HOW FREAKING EXCITING!?!?!?

(I was shouting that)"

Not everyone is going to feel led to adopt. It is very expensive, and a huge process, and it is quite literally doing something that will forever change your life. However, every single person can do something to help this country that is in such desperate need. Donate. Go there. If you can't go, support someone who can go. Send supplies. Pray. Just do something. Be a part of something bigger than yourself! Life just isn't that exciting if you don't give yourself challenges to overcome.

I can't wait to share this journey with you! I will definitely be posting updates and specific prayer needs throughout this process.

Where we are now: We have an agency, a lawyer, connections in Haiti. Have already started the application process and are going to get our "fingerprints" done on Monday.

James 1:27

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

Controlled Chaos.... and cake

Cake is not on my diet, but if it was, this is the one I would want to eat.

A lot is going on in our lives right now. Besides the normal business, a dear friend and co-worker lost her 20 year old son, Jamie, in Afghanistan last week. The visitation is tonight and the funeral is tomorrow. Everything is taking place at the church where me and Seth work, so we've been a bit busy with helping with preparations. We are so proud of Jamie and the amazing sacrifice he made so that we can live in a country that is free. We feel beyond blessed to live in a country that is so bravely protected by so many heroes such as himself. Please pray for this precious family as they walk through such a difficult season.

I am currently switching all of my file over to my new...drum roll please.... my new mac!

After this week and all of it's events are over and I have all of my files moved and organized I plan to jump back on the blogging train. I apologize for the lack of posts lately. It has nothing to do with my lack of inspiration or not wanting to inspire others. We've just been very "caught up" with life, which isn't a bad thing at all, just a season of chaos that we have had little control over. Sometimes "too busy" just happens, whether we want it to or not. Being busy does no good to anyone or anything if you are not being productive. Busy is just becoming a way of life to us...as well as most people I know. To be productive in the busy times you have to rest and stop and smell the tulips in the "less busy" times. Blogging is one of my ways of stopping to smell the tulips in the less chaotic moments. I am continually inspired, which in return give me enough fuel to make it through the more chaotic seasons of life.

If you're going to be busy, figure out how to have fun while you're busy being busy. Learn to relax. Control your chaos. Find rest. Prioritize priorities. Don't just exist. Make time to make a difference.

XOXO

That's all for now.

Be back soon.

Thank you for sticking with me.

=)

*Karis*Rochelle*

The Best 1473 Days of my Life

Days since I met him: 1473
Days since we started going out: 1102
Days since I first kissed him: 1120
Days since I last kissed him: less than 1
Days since he first told me he loved me: 1117
Days since he told me he loved me: less than 1
Days since we got married: 920
Days since the first time he woke up next to me: 919
Days since I hugged him: less than 1
Days since we had a conversation: less than 1
Days since I’ve heard his voice: less than 1 minute

How did you meet?

It involves a million tiny precious details, but it all came down to my dad knowing him, us ending up on the same mission trip and dad introducing us in an airport, on our way to India New Years day 2006.

How often do you get to see each other?

Everyday…. If he's lucky =)

What is your favorite memory with him?

Watching him preach for the first time in India just days after we had met is definitely at the top of the list… Him performing the ceremony at my Dad's wedding… Back Porch Fellowship’s in Texas… The day he told me he can't imagine spending the rest of his life without me... Our wedding Day… Our 2nd Anniversary mini-vacation to St. Louis this past year… Our cruise…

What is your favorite thing about him?

He has passion with a purpose. He listens to God. He lives to love. Not a day goes by that he doesn't make me smile… if not laugh. His balance of humility, strength and submissiveness. He loves music and worshipping God through music. He's the kind of person that people respect the second they meet him… he doesn't have to earn it or demand it… He walks with a silent authority. I could go on and on…

Describe him in three words:

Solid. Passionate. Humble.

(if you read this... tag, you're it.)

My 10 for 2010!

There are actually probably a lot more than just 10... I have several that are personal and that I might talk about publicly as I have breakthrough, but for now these are the ones that made it to the actual "list" this year...

.1. Food overhaul. This is less about losing weight and more about a lifestyle change for us. In the grand scheme of things we have always eaten on the more healthy side, but we still have a lot of room for improvements. We are going for a complete food lifestyle make over.

Some of the specific changes will be:

Organic when possible. Living in a small city it is much harder to find organic food, but what we can find… we are making the switch.

No white/bleached flour. Whole wheat and grains only.

No processed sugar.

No creamy condiments or dressings.

No fatty dairy products. Soy and “light” or fat free only.

No fried ANYTHING. This will be SUPER hard considering French Fries are my favorite food on this planet!

More tea… less coffee. More water… less diet soda.

There are many more guidelines posted to our fridge, but these are some of the main ones. We believe that part of being a good steward of what God has given us, includes our bodies and our health. We have always had this conviction, but we are now taking it from the “diet” category to our every day way of life. So far we are doing great with this and loving it!

.2. Downsize wardrobe. This is VERY difficult for me. It has nothing to do with decreasing my shopping. It’s just something I really need to get a handle on. The main reason at this point is just because of lack of space. It is SO hard for me to keep my closet, shoe closet and jewelry organized because there’s just so much of it with limited places to put it. I am lucky enough to have my own walk in closet that my hubs gave allllll to me! But until my husband builds me my super-duper dream closet… this is what I must do.

.3. Write again as well as Create my own “work space” in the house. I’m a writer. It’s something that I am gifted at. I used to write all of the time, and now it is a very rare thing for me. So it’s simple… I want to start writing again. The workspace will be for writing... studying... sewing... and any other fabulous activity I can come up with.

.4. Make a list of all of the dvds I want to have on hand, and buy them as I find them for discounted prices.

.5. Let my guard down more. That's that.

.6. Be better at getting up in the mornings as well as develop a more defined schedule. Instead of having to be drug out of bed like a child, kicking and screaming. And although the thought of having a schedule really hurts my feelings… as a “free spirit” it’s something I need.

(This is me in the mornings for sure)

.7. Music. From my singing… to my listening… to writing… to giving lessons. More devotion this year.

.8. Kick the romance up a notch... or two... or three...

We said it wouldn't let it become a struggle after we had the baby... and it did.

.9. Keep a plant alive. I buy them… they die.

.10. Skin care. I’ve never really had to wash my face. All of these years, I should have been, but just haven’t been because I never break out. Even as a teen I just always had clear skin and never had the need to, so I never developed the habit. As I creep closer to 30, and with my mom owning her own day spa now, I have learned that there are more benefits to washing your face and taking care of your skin than simply to prevent breakouts. (I’ve washed my face ONCE since Jan 1. This might take a while!)

And one to grow on….

Calm down. I’ve never been a big worrier, but somewhere between having a husband , a house to keep, a baby, a demanding job, lots of demanding hobbies, lots of commitments, lots of past emotional scars, lots of dreams and aspirations… I’ve become a worrier. I NEVER worry about my past… but I do see that some of the scars from my past have influenced how I look at the future. I have found myself striving to be who I want to be, instead of pursuing my Creator and in return becoming who HE created me to be. Even with this list of resolutions, and all of the small ones I didn’t list, I find myself freaking out that I won’t get everything accomplished that I want to… or need to. This year I want to learn to find a place of peace again while I rest in the simple fact that I serve a faithful God who has plans to prosper me, and to give me a hope and a future. He will give me the desires of my heart and will lead my through the valley of shadows, as well as beside the still water.