Christmas at the Ritchies'

and the boo tree! now the jingle tree...

Margaritas!

6 shots Jose Cuervo

3 shots Triple Sec (orange flavor)

(or you could do 4 and 2 if that is too strong!)

Regular Margarita mix

ICE.

Mix some ice in a blender for about 6 seconds. Then add some margarita mix and mix again. Then add 3 shots jose cuervo and 1 shot triple sec and mix. Then add a lot more ice so it's frozen and not watery, and the rest of the ingredients.

Put in a glass with a lime and straw...and DRINK UP!

karen's christmas tree

christmas decor

My christmas tree :) and the fabric wreath i made! Ya'll should try it it's super easy! Just cut the fabric you want with pinking shears and tie the strips on a ring from hobby lobby or a wire hanger. My mom came up with the idea!

cute yarn wreaths

we could totally make these :)

www.etsy.com/shop/knockknocking

karen's doggies' christmas pics

CHRISTMAS!!!!

Merry christmas!

El & I put up our christmas tree with the decorations Sarah got us for our wedding gift! Can't wait to see you girls in about a month for our reunion! Miss you so much! Here is what it looks like:

yum.

http://www.hilton.com/en/hotels/content/AUSLKES/media/pdf/AUSLKES_breakfast.pdf

Take a look-the bfast menu for the embassy suites we will be staying-we can eat the Sunday of the girls trip. YUM!

karen c's verde enchiladas

KC tried to post this but it wasn't working so i'm posting for her :) (because it's delicious!)

karen c's verde enchiladas

1 roasted whole chicken (can buy
pre-made at store) or 4-6 chicken breasts
2 cans verde sauce (HEB preferably)
20 fresh HEB tortillas
2 packages shredded cheese

1. Boil chicken if uncooked. Shred.
2. Roll shredded chicken and cheese in tortillas.
3. Place open side down in 13x9 pan.
4. Pour sauce over rolled enchiladas and add remaining cheese on top.
5. Bake in oven for 20 min at 425 degrees.

Nacho Chicken

2 Tbs mayonaise
2 Tbs Ranch dressing
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp dried Italian seasoning
4 skinned and boned chicken breast halves
1 C or more crushed Doritos
2 Tbs melted butter

Combine first 4 ingregients, spread on both sides of chicken. Dredge chicken in crushed chips. Place chicken on a lightly greased baking sheet. Drizzle with butter. Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes or until chicken is done.

Fantasy Fudge

Jamie-Congratulations on your new job. I'm so freakin' excited for you!! You better post one of the new designs you make for them!! Maybe if I live in Austin (ever...) I'll go to church there haha. Do you church there or just work there?

I also wanted to post an amazing recipe.

FANTASY FUDGE (Also on the back of the Marshmallow Creme)

NEED:
3 cups sugar
3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) butter or margarine
1 can (5 oz) evaporated milk
1-1 1/2 pkg BAKERS Semi-Sweet Chocolate, chopped
1 jar (7oz) JET-PUFFED Marshmallow Creme
1 cup chopped PLANTERS Walnuts
1 tsp. vanilla

LINE 9-inch square pan with foil. Bring sugar, butter, and milk to full rolling boil in large saucepan on medium heat, stirring constantly. Boil, stirring constantly. Remove from heat.
ADD chocolate and marshmallow creme, stir until melted
POUR into pan. Cool.

NEW JOB!

hey! So I got a job!!!!! I figure this is the easiest way to tell everyone. It is at Hill Country Bible Church, and I am the graphic designer there!!!! I am way excited. It is still paid hourly, so it is not a full time job- which is the only downside. But I will be working 30 hrs/week, which allows me to keep my internship that I have right now. So ya! They hired a web designer too, so I won't have to do web design... thank goodness! I will be doing their print materials. So I will design the logos and designs for their sermon series, events, youth group or college stuff. things like that. And I get to meet with "clients," (who are really the ministry leadership in the church - like the children ministry or whatever), and discuss their design needs. ANYWAYS... just wanted to let y'all know! I am so pumped! I start on Monday, so I will let ya know how it goes.

lovvveeeeeeeeeeee youuuuuu!

Banana Pudding

5 or 6 Bananas

Box of Vanilla Wafers

1 1/2 cups of cold water

1 Can of Eagle Brand Milk (original )

1package of Instand Vanilla Pudding Mix

( it is either 5.6 or 6 oz. box)

1 - 8oz of Cool Whip

Mix together the cold water, eagle brand milk and the puding mix.

with electric hand mixer for about 3 mins until it is mixed well.

Then set it aside for about 5 mins ( it will gel)

Then by spoon mix the Cool Whip in.

Slice the bananas up. Then in an 8 X 8 square pan or casserole dish

put a little of the pudding mix and spread lightly on the bottom of pan.

Then put a layer of wafers on that and then put a layer of bananas on that.

Then gently spread half of the pudding mix on top of that.

Then take some wafers and stand all around the edges of this.
Repeat with layer of wafers and then bananas and top off with the pudding mix

after you have done this take about 4 or 5 wafers and put in a jip lock bag

take a cup or glass and roll over the bag and crush the wafers fine

then spread the crumbs lightly over the top of the Banana Pudding.

will serve about 8 to 10 if you double this recipe then use a 9 X 13 pan.

Pat Green-What I'm For

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j43qZK_GZqs

one of my fav songs

Toll House Pie

1 9inch pie crust
3/4 C butter, melted and cooled
2 eggs
1/2 C flour
1/2 C sugar
1/2 C brown sugar
6 oz pkg semi sweet chocolate chips
1 C chopped pecans (optional)

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. In large bowl, beat eggs until foamy. Add flour, sugar, and brown sugar; beat until well blended. Blend in room temperature butter. Stir in morsels and nuts. Pour into pie crust and bake until set, about 1 hour. Serve warm with whipped cream or ice cream.

Flavored Coffee

I'm sure you (Jill) know already...haha! I just bought some of the new VIA from starbucks. It's not nasty like the regular coffee-it's flavored ones like vanilla, mocha, caramel, and cinnamon spice...and it's delicious!! And you can get a free drink if you buy a pack-ya'll should try it I love them! haha

KT

stuffed mushrooms

Ingredients

• 12 whole fresh mushrooms
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 1 tablespoon minced garlic
• 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Spray a baking sheet with cooking spray. Clean mushrooms with a damp paper towel. Carefully break off stems. Chop stems extremely fine, discarding tough end of stems.
2. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add garlic and chopped mushroom stems to the skillet. Fry until any moisture has disappeared, taking care not to burn garlic. Set aside to cool.
3. When garlic and mushroom mixture is no longer hot, stir in cream cheese, Parmesan cheese, black pepper, onion powder and cayenne pepper. Mixture should be very thick. Using a little spoon, fill each mushroom cap with a generous amount of stuffing. Arrange the mushroom caps on prepared cookie sheet.
4. Bake for 20 minutes in the preheated oven, or until the mushrooms are piping hot and liquid starts to form under caps.

Rugs and Scents

Hey J-That rug making stuff looks super cute. A little high maintenance for me, but cute haha! I'm sure you artsy folks would very much enjoy making those.

Ren-Your apartment is so much more stylish than mine ha!

I want to do a coffee theme eventually for my kitchen...right now I only have a few items, but It'll get there...I only wish I could paint! Living room=pretty dull, but at least I have furniture!! Feel free to give me tips for mine ladies.

The scents around the post are twilight woods, dark kiss, and secret wonderland-New ones from Bath & Body!! (Dark kiss is sooo good!!)

KT

pinwheel print

ok... so i it is official! i am going to start my own etsy store. my company name is going to be "Pinwheel Print," and i am going to sell wedding invitations, stationary, thank you cards etc... i am so excited!!! i know i said i never want to do freelance or start my own business, and this is kinda like this, BUT etsy makes it really easy! they handle the payment process, and lots of people look on etsy so i don't really need to promote myself much. if it doesn't work out that is okay, i just want to try it! and i like designing that stuff anyways :). Here is my logo!!! let me know what you think. should i change the colors, type or anything else with the logo? i need ideas!!!! (even you girls not in design... your input matters!) So... that is also what i have been up to. hope ya like it!

blah blah blah

ohhhhh my gosh!!!!! i saw the first picture and thought it was your design inspiration from a blog or magazine or something... then i realized it was your apartment!!!!! that is awesome!!! i love it! and i love the prints too :).

now you just need a really cute graphic rug. i found a diy rug tutorial i am going to do... you get a big rug that is cute and it only costs $30 rather than a couple hundred!! i am thinking you should make one in that light teal color in your chair. there are two tutorials (i am doing the one where you paint it) here are the links:

http://high-heelfootinthedoor.blogspot.com/2010/04/diy-chevron-rug.html
http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2010/06/diy-chevron-rug.html

love your burned sweet potato recipe ahha!

KT: yes... you are so good at finding fun things to do in cities not too far from us!!!! who thought to make a place where you could spend the night in a tree? so random but fun! well if we don't spend the night there we could have a slumber partay at my place! or we could get a hotel/B&B or something.

I am really itching to decorate my apartment. like seriously... i can't live with white walls and no couch!!!!! it is killing me. it is sad, but that kinda motivates me to find another job lol. hope ya'll have a good weekend!!

decorating ya know

Ok so I framed some of Jamie's prints. Love them! I'm proud to say my roommate made those! Love ya J.

Got some new curtains...at ikea. I still need to hem them. Wish yall were here to decorate with me!

burned sweet potato fries

ingredients:
1 sweet potato
4 Tablespoons brown sugar
butter

1. heat butter in pan
2. slice sweet potato
3. add brown sugar
4. turn on high
5. talk on phone

enjoy!

Austin Canopy Tours

So...I found another cool thing to do! Maybe you Austinites have heard of it? It's these Canopy Tours-it's like a zip line/bridge course through the trees. They also have a way that you can sleep in a treehouse for the night (although that part is pretty expensive)-look at that picture it looks so cute! Here's the website: http://www.cypressvalleycanopytour.com/ (yes, i finally figured out how to do a real link haha.)

KT

email notification!

Ok... there was a request to email our posts once we publish them on the blog! So hopefully this worked! If not just comment and let me know. Or let me know if you don't want to subscribe... no biggie we will just remove you.

PS: I love you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

-Jamie

Kemah Dinner Cruises

Ladies- I just HAVE to tell you about this it looks so fun! It's a dinner cruise on the Kemah Boardwalk (near Galveston) They have several choices: Murder Mystery dinner, Romantic dinner, or Sunday Brunch. All sound fun. Here's the calendar in case you want to check it out...I am definitely going to save a little to take Cory on one!! (its $60).

http://www.starfleetyachts.com/public-cruises/houston-dinner-cruise-events-calendar.aspx

KT

the future!!

Hey!

I know exactly how you feel girl!! But I really think that give it a year or so and then we will be more on our feet and able to work where we want to! (hopefully!) I like your new goal. Very ambitious!!! You should consider doing that thing that Jillian did and have a conversation partner. Maybe you could have a spanish speaking girl and have chats with her so you can learn more.

Ok so I just thought of the most brilliant idea yesterday. What if I started a company that specialized in creative wedding designs. So I would do the engagement & wedding photography, and the save the dates, wedding invitations and programs. Yes? I mean I wouldn't do it myself, I would definitely drag Karen C in it with me :). Maybe when we are moms, this could be our creative outlet lol.

I really think we should come up with at least one time every year where we have a vacation together! Like every 4th of July or something random. Flag day? It is in July also I believe. We don't even have to go anywhere expensive... just a get together! And we could trade off who plans it every year. (I might have read about this idea in Real Simple a while back). Ok sound good? Can't wait!!! Flag day here we come!!!!!

Dear Du Girls,

Dear Du Girls,

I have been feeling a little lonely lately. Sometimes I feel that I'm not doing much with my life right now after college and I know some of you feel the same since we aren't doing exactly what we had planned in our dreams of "after-college" life. But I have been thinking that it can only get better and more fun and productive from here since there are so many possibilities before us. My new goal: learn Spanish! I am planning to study up on my vocabulary so I can escape away to a foreign land when I feel confident and secure my fluency. I promise it's not an empty goal! What do you guys think? I feel that every day I meet someone who is bilingual, and after subbing in the bilingual class a few times...I know I can do it! I already have been using Spanish with the kids. Wish me luck!!

Let me know what you ladies goals are for the year-we can all pray that each others goals are fulfilled. I'm also going to pray that we can all meet for a visit together this year-it would be good for us to have some good girl fun! I didn't hear from anyone last time I said it-but I know you're all busy and we are it's hard to think about when we are all poor and living in different cities. Miss you all!

KT

7 Layer Dip

Might as well add this.... (oh and someone better add Victory Pasta and Ritz Cracker/Dorito Chicken!!)

Need:
1 large cake pan

Layer 1: one can re-fried beans
Layer 2: 16oz sour cream mixed with 1 package taco seasoning mix
Layer 3: 1 package guacamole
Layer 4: chopped lettuce
Layer 5: 1 large package Mexican style grated cheese
Layer 6: chopped tomatoes
Layer 7: 1 can sliced olives

Serve with Tostito scoops or Julio's!

-KT

STUFFED SHELL PASTA

This recipe is awesome!! It does kind of take a while, and makes a lot... but it is delicious!! Enjoy!


INGREDIENTS:

• 1 stick butter or 1/2 cup olive oil
• 1 package jumbo shell pasta
• 1 package sausage
• 1 8oz cream cheese
• 1 package frozen spinach (chopped and drained)
• 1 cup parmesan cheese
• 1 cup mozzerella cheese
• 1 cup chopped onion
• 3 tablespoons parsley (parsley flakes work)
• 3 tablespoons cilantro
• 1 jar marinara sauce (Classico brand: tomato basil)
• 3 garlic cloves
• pepper to taste

DIRECTIONS

• Cook pasta, place in cold water
• cook sausage & set aside
• Saute onion, parsley & cilantro in butter (or olive oil)
• When onions are soft, add sausage, spinach, garlic (use garlic press, or chop garlic), 1/2 cup mozzerella cheese, 1/2 cup parmesan cheese, cream cheese
• add pepper to taste
• once all ingredients are combined, stuff shells with mixture, and place in greased casserole dish
• top shells with marinara sauce, and the remainder of the cheese
• bake at 350 until hot (30 min, or 1 hour if frozen)
• cover with foil if cheese starts to burn

Takes 1 1/2 hours until it is ready
Makes 6 servings

Toasted Angel Hair with Sausage

I had this dish at my sister-in-law, Leila's, house and loved it! So I made it myself (and still loved it). It's so fresh and it's really easy to make. And it makes a ton, so you'll have a lot of leftovers.

You'll need:

1 lb. bulk hot Italian sausage (I think getting the hot kind really makes a difference. It wasn't as good using mild.)

2 medium red bell peppers

1 lb. angel hair pasta

3 garlic cloves

5.25 c. reduced-sodium chicken broth

1 c. fresh basil (This is the key ingredient!!!)

1 oz. parmesan cheese

1.) Cook sausage in the biggest skillet you have over medium heat for 8-10 minutes, or until it's no longer pink. Break it into crumbles as you cook it. When it's done, remove it from the skillet and set aside.

2.) Cut the bell peppers into thin julienne strips, removing all the seeds.

3.) Add pasta to the same skillet you cooked the sausage in and toast 8-10 minutes, stirring after each 2-minute interval. This is really hard to do without making a mess (especially if your skillet is a little small). Press garlic over pasta and add broth, all the peppers, and the cooked sausage. Bring to a boil. Cover and reduce heat. Simmer vigorously 5-6 minutes or until pasta is tender.

4.) As pasta simmers, chop basil, reserving half for garnish. When pasta is tender, remove from heat and stir in remaining basil.

5.) To serve, top with cheese and garnish with the remaining basil.

Serves 8

BON APPETIT!

love,

Jillian

DU GIRLS

Hey guys!!!!! Karen C and I had this awesome idea. I mean it's pretty epic. Since we don't have time to make this recipe book quite yet, we thought that right now we could just post some recipes that we like so we can all try them out! That way we can have them all online so later when we make the cookbook it would be a lot faster, and we could have some tasty dishes to try out :).

You can also post any other crafty ideas you have, photos of what is going on in your life, a poem or whatever else you feel like! This could be our way of kind of posting stuff for just the roomies to see what is going on with our lives.

LOVE YOU!

J