So, you've been busy running errands all day, haven't made it to the grocery yet, and dinner is supposed to be on the table in 30 minutes... what do you do?

Have you ever tried pulling everything you have at the ready from your fridge and creating a recipe from scratch? Well, welcome to my life as a recipe creator :)

I wanted to show my viewers and subscribers how to basically create something from nothing, without following a recipe. Here are the basics of what the average household has available in their refrigerator at any given time:

Meat (beef, poultry, seafood, pork)
Vegetables
Eggs
Fruit
Cheese

Such a small and simple list in comparison to your average grocery list, yes?

Here are a few ideas for your small list to become a delicious dinner, no matter the picky eaters' preferences:

Cheddar Chicken Tenders with Bacon 

- Oven at 360 for 30 minutes

• 1 Egg (for coating chicken)
• 1/2 cup shredded cheese
• 1 cup fresh bacon bits (baked or fried)
• 14 oz. chicken breast

Chicken & Veggie Stirfry

In a large sauce pan of wok, combine:

• vegetables (broccoli, carrots, mixed veggies, peas, etc. Anything will work)
• Soy sauce 
• Ginger
• Garlic
• 14 oz Chicken breast diced into bite size pieces
• 1 egg (add to pan and mix in last )

I have had so many requests to start talking and posting more about my recipes and the creation process of a GOOD recipe. My Instagram account is full of delicious tasty morsels and I hope to pass along some very interesting creations to any who come across my pages!

Being a recipe creator is something that started as a child always being in the kitchen on the family farm. In the South, women are raised to be caregivers and supportive to the men who are hard at work daily, and for the youngin's, this meant learning to cook and clean early!

By the age of 7, I was an independent cook in the kitchen and had most of my mother's recipes memorized. By age 10-12, I already learned how to assess the additives of herbs/seasonings for the best taste. By high-school, I never used recipes or cookbooks anymore... sometimes, you just know what you need for the best consistency and taste!

When friends or family ask for a recipe, I have a hard time giving them the information needed because the recipe is not exact! Well, lesson learned. I started writing down my recipes and have been able to share them with others :)

I am interested in branching out and trying new ideas. Please comment with a unique meat, ingredient, and so on, that you would like to see included in a new recipe! I am very excited to start this new process of sharing exact recipes with others.

That being said, here is a list of the most popular and most viewed items on my menu:


Aged Cheddar Throw Scones with Rosemary

Bourbon Bacon Jam on Homemade Biscuits

Mom's Good Chicken

Raspberry Muffins with Lime Zest

Expresso Muffins

Peach and Prosciutto Breakfast Pizza

Orange Lemon Poppy Seed Pop-Tarts

Sicilian Quiche


Don't forget to comment with an idea for a new recipe! I eagerly await :)

XO- Steph

                         

...you guessed it: Adventures!

My husband and I made a decision to live life fully, not letting finances, family, our careers, or any other hinderence stand in our way of following our dreams.

Both being from religious, and very large, families, we are feeling the pressure to start a family and "settle down". I hate that word: settle -

                 1.

adopt a more steady or secure style of life, especially in a permanent job and home.

               "one day I will settle down and raise a family"

I get the "itch" to leave a job after just 6 months... This stems from not feeling satisfied in my work because I am not doing what I am most passionate about.  Why is it important to pursue your dreams, even at a later age in life, you ask? Because there are proven studies relating stress, health, depression, and emotional mood-swings to unsatisfied and unhappy people working in what they believe to be a dead end job.

This makes my heart hurt to know that there are millions of people losing sleep dues to stress at a job they hate. It takes 21 days to end a habit, and begin a new one (clarification: this doesn't mean 21 days to end a habit, and an additional 21 days to begin a new one. It's 21 days TOTAL!).

I challenge you to break the habit of negative thinking surrounding your job, to not be available after hours (this will reduce your stress), and to create a new attitude for yourself.

It takes 66 days to change your life.

Let me repeat: it takes 66 days to change your life. This is the timeframe to end a habit, create a new one, and allow that new one to become the habit overall.

This year, I am breaking the habit of doubt in myself and my abilities, my goals and dreams, and pursuing them with all that I have in me. Nothing will keep me from creating the life I plan to have.

You can do anything you set your mind to - never settle.

What are some of your goals this year? I'd love to know.

Xo
Steph

Check out some of my photos from recent adventures!

ablondesadventures.vsco.co

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At the last  minute,  my husband and I decided to drive his grandmother up to see family in Virginia for July 4th weekend. I packed thinking, okay virginia... That's wilderness, right? I packed hiking clothes, a swimsuit, a sundress, my Nike's, and comfy lounge clothes for around the house.

Well, my first impressions of the Virginia mountains were, to say the least, impressed. The hills were so fully covered with greenery, it appeared to be a fluffy down blanket covering the sharp cragginess of rocks. 

Once we got to my husband's family home, we made a decision to explore and have a blast while in Lynchburg, VA! That being that, we turned to trusted pal, UrbanSpoon (if you do not currently use this App, download it to your phone/device!) and found a restaurant called Market at Main. 

An interesting and old-timey setting (think 20's sandwich shop meets 21st century taste) that has everything from mouth watering battered okra and seared green tomatoes, to shredded beef stew and mouth-watering chicken salad sandwich. 

All of this, at a very reasonable price! 

(Above: Market At Main's menu)

(Above: Seared Green Tomatoes with beer batter peppercorn mustard)

(Above: Country Chicken Salad Sandwich)

After eating this savory and satisfying lunch, I immediately asked our waitress if she knew of any good local dessert shops. Conveniently, 2 doors down, was Cao Artisan Chocolate shop (https://www.facebook.com/CaoChocolate). 

One word: Fan-tas-tic! 

Everything in this chocolate shop is fair trade, organic, local, raw, and homemade. (Literally right in front of you. 

(Above: raw cocoa beans about to be mashed to be put into gelato)

(Above: the most delicious 4 oz. of pistachio gelato ever!)

(Above: Midnight Rasberry Truffle) 

The Cau Chocolate shop is hands down a perfect little place to admire great recipes design from the old days, with kind service, and a modern twist in decor. Prices were reasonable for organic, homemade, and fair trade ingredients.

Don't forget to walk or drive a couple blocks up the hill to Church street to see St. Paul's cathedral. It's gothic and eerie exterior make you want to take Europe by storm! Here are some photos below of the surrounding few blocks from the lunch spot and dessert shop! 

I hope you enjoyed the post! 

Xo- Steph 

Can you take the leap?

This year, in 2014, I have set several goals for myself. 

Some seem so unattainable yet, my mind is fixated on them. In my heart, God has placed such a passion for life. Does that sound generic or cliche'? From getting a fitness sponsorship to landing a lead role in a feature film, I will achieve and surpass each and every goal set. 

What stops us from dreaming and striving to live in that dream? When do adults quit daydreaming and just... go through the motions? Have you given up on your aspirations due to people's opinions, your fears, or any other barrier? Why?

Is it worth the unsettled feeling in the pit of your stomach every day while sitting at the computer typing up a spreadsheet, doing a job you hate? Is it worth the longing you feel in your spirit every time you watch a Vine video, a Yahoo featured story, and so on.. of someone who did something. 

Want to know what makes my heart eager and full of longing? This video: 

Why you ask? Because not only am I a Christian and the mission field is where my heart is... but I LOVE foreign travel, learning new cultures, being in the moment of something so surreal and out of my element. Even as I write this post (and am once again listening to the music from the above video), my adrenaline is pumping, heart is beating, and my limbs are almost unsettled for lack of not DOING something with my life. 

Gosh, I think I just motivated myself into moving blocks into place to start something. An new adventure? A new life, job, dream? I will delve further into this but the point of this post is to motivate my amazing readers and any new faces that come across my blog. 

Do not be the dreamer your whole life, sitting idle, living precariously through a friend, a respected influence. Stop putting your aspirations aside aside! There are too many success stories of people just quitting and going after it. 

What is it to you? 

Make a list of all of your passions, aspirations, hopes, and dreams...

Then ... 

Go and do.

XO- Steph 

I read recently that if you share your New Year's resolution, you are less likely to achieve the goals set for yourself. I happen to agree with this as I have already seen friends lose momentum while striving for a healthier life; mentally, spiritually, and physically.

So, no, I will not be sharing my goals for 2014. Instead, I will share my Bucket List per your request, with things I will do in the next few years. I actually made a little something out of some scrap materials: painted clothes-pins, an old picture frame from Goodwill, and yarn.

Still adding things daily...but here it is:

Backpack in Iceland

Take A homeless Person To Dinner

Swim with Whale Sharks

Inspire someone to change their life

Kayak in Italy 

Fly FIrst Class

Swim Naked in the ocean

Road Trip to No Destination

Go to the water cinema-Fiji

Get a fitness sponsorship

This seriously only takes about 5 minutes to do. So easy and always looks great.

Here is the video tutorial on YouTube!

Enjoy!