Taco Pizza

Ignore the foil...I left my pizza pan in the other apartment, so I had to improvise. I had heard of taco pizza (I have a true heart for pizza...I just love love love it!) before but never had it. I was attempting to use up some groceries we had in the house, because I HATE to buy more groceries when we haven't gone through everything first, and low and behold, I had ingredients for taco pizza. And, turns out, taco pizza is stinkin' delicious! And so, so simple! The method is below:

Brown the meat (I used ground turkey, but any ground meat will be perfect)

Add taco seasoning

Put seasoned meat on pizza crust

Top with mexican blend shredded cheese

Throw in oven at 425 degrees until cheese is melted

Remove from oven and top with chopped lettuce and crunched up taco shells

You can add anything to the top of the pizza that you would normally eat on a taco (peppers, tomatoes, olives, etc.) but, I live with a picky eater, so our toppings were restricted. We did add a bit of salsa and sour cream to each slice, and THAT really topped it off and pulled the whole thing together. Andy said it was the best pizza he had ever had! We'll definitely make it again.

I also have a new passion for frugal living and am particularly interested in eating well on a (tight) budget. So, as I post recipes, I'm going to include price breakdowns. For this one, I'm estimating prices but will be more exact in the future.

Ground turkey - $3.00

Taco seasoning - $0.85

Lettuce (from the Farmer's Market...delicious!) - $2.00 for the bunch. We used approximately 1/4 of the bunch, so $0.50

Cheese - $2.00

Pizza crust - $3.00 for a package of two crusts, so $1.50 for this pizza

Taco shells - $0.88

Sour cream and salsa - already had in the fridge (free for this recipe!)

Total: $8.73. However, the pizza provided three meals (me and Andy for dinner, and then Andy for lunch that week). That's a total of $2.91 per meal! Bet you can't get that delicious meal at a pizza place for less than $3.00.

A new home and a new degree!

Andy graduated last Saturday! We had both sides of the family up for the occasion and it was a fabulous weekend! I was so proud of Andy and he even enjoyed himself a bit too! On Saturday evening we had a graduation party and got to celebrate with lots of friends and family.

Monday officially started summer and I couldn't be happier. Though this year in residence life has been satisfying, the pace is so intense that summer vacation really is needed for a recharge. As of right now, Andy and I don't have any plans to travel, but we'll see what develops :-).

Andy is still enjoying his job at Sofa Mart, and continues to do really well. It's so rewarding to see him in a position that he loves.

This week we also moved into our new apartment, which we lovingly refer to as our "summer cottage". Our building is under construction this summer, so we've moved across campus into a cozy apartment across from our friends. Given that last night we played hours of Super Mario Brothers together, I think the new home is going to work just fine ;-:

Here's to enjoying summer and being patient about the future!

"Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us." Romans 5:3

It's a Dog Eats Cone World, People

I know that Spike loves living on campus. Sure, he loves the attention he gets from residents walking by our apartment as we're heading outside. He loves the big yard right outside our apartment. He loves his walks on campus. But, I'm starting to think that, the thing Spike loves the MOST is...ice cream cones. I cannot tell you how many ice cream cones that dog has consumed in the last 3 years. This week alone I think he's had at least three. Because our dining center is so fantastic, a large selection of ice cream flavors exist, and can easily be carried out of the center on top of an ice cream cone. However, what I've discovered is, the student changes his mind quickly; first he wanted the cone, now, he's done with it. He's so done with it, in fact, that he can't walk it to a trash can. Instead, he tosses it in the yard, to be consumed by Spike at his earliest convenience (e.g. when mom or dad takes him outside).

Dear Lord, thank you for the little things in life. Amen.

Easter 2010

Easter 2010 was great! We began the weekend with our friend, Amanda, who hosted a Seder Dinner. We learned all kinds of wonderful things and had a fantastic time sharing a passover meal. For anyone who cares, Amanda makes the best pot roast in town! On Sunday, we went to a beautiful Easter Service and then came home for a feast! I cooked enough for a small army and we invited the RAs who stayed for the weekend down for dinner. It was a great time with friends and food.

Last week, Andy and I went to pick up his graduation cap and gown and we also ordered his graduation cake! It's so amazing that graduation is coming this quickly. For those interested, Andy will graduate on May 8 at 2:30 p.m. I hope to be able to record the graduation, and then figure out how to upload the video to our blog, for those who couldn't travel up! I can tell that Andy is getting REALLY excited, so I am of course getting excited too!

Work continues to be busy for the both of us! The semester is quickly winding down for me, with only four more weeks left before closing. Andy is working quite a bit at Sofa Mart but is really enjoying his work. It's so wonderful to have him come home anxious to tell me stories about his day. Thank you Lord, for our blessings!

If I can figure out how to get videos uploaded, I'll post our Easter Egg hunt!

"It is because of the Lord's mercy and loving-kindness that we are not consumed, because His tender compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great and abundant is Your stability and faithfulness." Lamentations 3:22-23

I think Netflix may have accidentally changed my life this weekend...

After months of being Netflix-free, we reinstated our subscription. Since I've discovered that a movie theatre will allow you to walk in just for the concessions' popcorn, we're watching more movies at home. Plus, we can watch movies "instantly" on Andy's PS3, instead of waiting for discs to come in the mail. Anyhow, yesterday, on my day off for Spring Break, I watched The Business of Being Born and Food, Inc. As if that weren't enough, this morning I couldn't help watching No Impact Man, which chronicles Colin Beavan and his family as they embark on a year long journey to reduce their environmental impact to zero. Once it was finished, I ran to the computer and checked out Colin Beavan's blog. While Andy wasn't able to watch The Business of Being Born with me, he did catch most of Food, Inc. For the rest of the evening we were chatting, debating, planning, thinking. It was a lovely way to spend a Friday evening!

Spring 2010

What we've been up to so far in 2010...
Spike loves our friends' baby, Noah!
Andy's new tattoo.
The helmet I painted on Andy's head for the Super Bowl.
Homemade corn dogs.

A new job for Andy!

Praise the Lord, Andy has a new job! After three interviews in three days, Andy starts work at Sofa Mart on March 1! It's a true blessing; he's getting out of the fast food industry, away from unethical co-workers, and out of 5p-1a shifts! I'm really proud of him and think this could be the start to a career path! There are stores all over the country and he will be training as a manager...plus, most of the Sofa Mart stores are in college towns, or close, anyway, so there is a lot of potential for us! I know this work environment will be less stressful and more rewarding. And, to top it off, it's a Christian Company! Thank God for His faithfulness!!

January and February have been busy. In the last several weeks, RA Conference happened, then RA interviews and Selection, along with UMR-ACUHO winter meetings...and this week I'll be traveling to Oshkosh, WI to recruit full time professionals at OPE. Needless to say, I'm ready for the pace at work to SLOW DOWN.

Other than that, things are going well! I'm currently planning Andy's graduation party, as he will have his big day on May 8. Family will be coming up for the celebration, so I want to make it extra special for him. We'll also be moving that weekend, as my building is getting a sprinkler system this summer, so we aren't able to live in the apartment. Plans for now are to be in another apartment on the other side of campus.

The snow continues to fall in C.F. The winters seem longer each year. I'm definitely ready for green grass and warmer temperatures.

All for now,

Ashleigh and Andy