Buffalo Chicken Mac n' Cheese

I've had a few requests for this recipe, so here is my twist on it:

Ingredients


16 oz of uncooked elbow macaroni
2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts (1 package)
Cheddar cheese soup* (please look below for homemade recipe)
1 cup of milk (I used almond milk because it's healthier)
8oz of VELVEETA (add what you feel is right)
1 - 1.5 cups shredded cheddar cheese
2 cups Monterey Jack cheese
Franks Red Hot sauce (add to taste)

-----------------------------------------
*Cheddar cheese soup
NOTE: You can purchase canned cheddar cheese soup by Campbell Soup. I did not do this because of all the additives in their products. I felt a homemade mix was the better way to go.

Ingredients:
3 tbsp butter
3 tbsp flour
1 cup milk (I used almond milk)
1 cup cheddar cheese

Directions:
1. Melt butter in a sauce pan, then add flour and wisk until smooth and bubbly.
2. Remove from heat; add milk, whisking to keep smooth.
3. Return to heat, bring to gentle boil, whisking until thickened.
4. Add cheese. Stir until melted.
-----------------------------------------

Directions


1. Boil chicken, drain water, and cut chicken into bite-size pieces.
2. Cook pasta according to directions. Drain and place into a large casserole baking dish. Stir in chicken.
3. HEAT soup, milk, and cheeses (1 cup Monterey Jack) in a medium sauce pan, stirring until cheese is melted. Stir in Franks Red Hot sauce (add to taste).
4. Pour sauce over pasta and chicken; mix well.
5. Top with remaining Monterey Jack cheese

Optional: top with battered bread crumbs (pull apart bread, add it to a little melted butter in a pan, mix around, and place on top of mac n' cheese. After baking, it should be nice and crunchy.)

BAKE at 350 degrees F for 30 min. or until hot and bubbly.

Prep time: approx 1 hour

Total time: 1.5 hours.


**If you have any questions, please leave a comment or contact me directly**

Homemade Strawberry Lemonade

1 Cup Chopped Fresh Strawberries
1/2 Cup Lemon Juice
1/4 Cup Honey
2 Cups Water
Ice for Serving

1. Puree strawberries and honey in a blender or food processor until smooth and transfer to a pitcher.
2. Pour the strawberry mixture, water and lemon juice in a pitcher and stir to combine.
3. Chill and serve over ice.

Credit: Homesteading/Survivalism

Sociable, but stuck...no more

I've always considered myself a social person. I love to talk, discuss, and think with other people like me and with people who are the opposite. Through these experiences, I have learned a lot of positive and negative things about the human populous. On the positive side: we laugh, help others, are honest with ourselves, donate, volunteer, and do good for the world. On the negative side: we cheat, lie, deceive, hurt, and cause pain. Over time, one can learn a lot about people through the above mentioned.

Because of what I've experienced and what I seem to think I know through the positives and negatives, I find myself constantly thinking about the negatives that the human race is capable of. I then ask myself this from time to time: who can I really trust? If I know what people are capable of, surely I am capable of having something negative come against me as well.

Because of my understanding of the world, does this potentially create a confusing world for me? Does it make me want to hide from the world? Will it create potential disasters on a personal level in the future?

I crave information about people; I want to know more. I want to learn more about people.

Is this setting me up for my own disaster? Is it creating a sense of insecurity for me? How can I trust others if I know what they're capable of?

One thing that keeps me going and having hope for people are the positives that I posted earlier. Yes, humans are fully capable of massive destruction on both personal and worldly levels. However, we are also capable of doing some really great things along with having reason and understanding of each other. Life should never be lived in fear simply because destruction has been created. Together, we are capable of a lot of things in life. If we hold back from experiencing aspects of life, we'll never live. To live means to experience both the positives and the negatives of life. If everything was always positive, it would grow old and we'd never learn to appreciate it. So, I say bring on the negativity so that I can enjoy the positive aspects in life when they come along.

The important message that can be taken from this is to always trust, but keep your eyes open to the fact that people can turn on you and will at some point hurt you. Not everyone will hurt you, but it's important to remember that people are capable of doing so. A good balance between the the 2 worlds of good and evil, I think, will keep life interesting and better help you in the future.

----------------------------
Purpose: The sole purpose of this post was to piece together some things that I have been thinking a lot about lately. I keep asking myself how I can still trust people even though I've been hurt and deceived in the past. Now I understand why I hold on.

Thai Red Curry Coconut Chicken Recipe

Here is a recipe that I made today with my own spin:


Ingredients
• 2 teaspoons olive oil
• 1 pound skinless, boneless chicken breast – cut into thin strips
• 4 – 5 Tablespoons Thai red curry paste
• 1 ½ (14oz) can light coconut milk
• 1 red bell pepper
• ½ cup sliced carrots
• 1 onion
• 2 tablespoons fish sauce
• 1 tablespoon grated lemon zest
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 2 tablespoon brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon lime juice
• Red pepper flakes

Directions
Add oil to hot wok; add curry paste and let it heat for a bit. When it starts to boil, add the coconut milk/cornstarch mixture. Let everything come to a boil. Add chicken, lower heat, and let simmer for about 5-10 minutes. Then, stir in carrots, onion, red bell pepper, fish sauce, brown sugar, lemon juice, and grated lemon zest. Simmer until chicken is cooked, about 15 minutes.

7 Liquor Ass-Kicker

This is an alcoholic beverage made popular at my workplace:

7 liquor ass-kicker

*Ingredients*

Jack Daniels
Captain Morgan
Vodka
Grand Marnier
Midori
Chambord
Peach Schnapps
Pineapple juice
O.J.
Grenadine

Speak Everything?

Imagine a world where every person spoke what was on his or her own mind whenever possible. Not only would everyone know what everyone was thinking, but I think there would be utter chaos and hatred among the masses of people.

I find that people tend to ask this question from time to time: "Why is (insert name) always lying or bending the truth?" I am a full believer that people tell little lies because they want to protect others feelings. I think this is necessary to do so to keep peace. If we always said what was on our minds, I think people would always be angry with us. At the same time, what if we always said what we thought and people learned to respect us instead?

I think there needs to be a fine line, or filter, with what kind of information we spill to others. While I believe that honesty is most important, I also feel that filters are needed in order to protect some things. Is it proper or moral to tell people something that might hurt their feelings? Perhaps not. There are some people who will spill this information without even blinking an eye. Then you run into the situation of whether you know the other person can handle it or not. I find through observation that people who speak their mind constantly always have some form of drama or another in their lives. Why do they have this drama? First, a filter was not applied. Secondly, they didn't previously assess whether or not they thought the person could handle it.

I am a full supporter of the 1st Amendment to our U.S. Constitution. However, I am always aware that limitations must be set. Just because we can speak or say something doesn't mean we should. Some things should simply be left protected. Example: John Doe has really disgusting body odor. Do you tell this person or do you hide it from them? Now we have to deal with how well we know the person. If this was someone off of the streets that I never met before, I will most definitely not tell them because I risk getting into a fight, hurting their feelings, or causing some form of other ruckus. However, if it was a close friend that I know I could tell anything to, I would most definitely say something knowing that I was not be lashed at for doing so.

See the difference? This is what is called filtering, knowing your limitations, and where to draw the line. Some people cannot make this distinction and therefore ALWAYS have drama in their lives. I find this quite unfortunate for people and I feel bad for them because they lack those types of social skills that are deemed necessary for a calm and peaceful life.

In conclusion, speak your mind, but do so with a filter by knowing when to say it, what to say, and who to say it to, all in the right time when it is needed. Protecting the feelings of others is important, yet sometimes we must break the barriers when we know that we can.

Leading for followers

Today's post digs a little deep because it's been something on my mind within the past year.

Ever since I was little, I knew that I was some form of a leader. My personality and my actions have both portrayed me as some type of leader. I am an individual and I follow my own path for the most part. What yanks my chain is when I have people who follow me as though they are in a cult or a groupie following a band.

This is for sure an ego booster. Who wouldn't want to have followers? ....right?

Well I have found that this isn't always the best case. How does one go from being a leader to an actual follower? Should one go from being a leader to a follower for the mere purpose of stopping certain actions of other people?

My personality is strong.

I really wish that others would follow their own path instead of following mine. I'm honored, really I am. But in the difficult world that we live in, we must follow our own way and not that of others. Having people follow me, sometimes, puts me in bad positions because others look to me for my next move and wonder which course of action I will take. Based on this course of action will determine what others will do.

I see this occurring more and more as time goes on.

I must set a tone for this before it continues to get out of hand.

I know what the solutions is, but taking the necessary steps to do it will be the hardest challenge to date.

In conclusion, I do not mind being a leader. It's who I am and who I will continue to be, I just wish I didn't have groupies following me while I strum my guitar.