Intro to Cooking: Muy Delicioso Meatloaf

meatloaf1.jpeg

I love to have a big, hunka meat right in my face, teasing and seducing me.

I’m talking about dinner, you dirty birdies!

My fave plate of anti-vegetarianism is without a doubt the beloved meatloaf. But that’s one meal that can easily turn bland and pack in the saturated fat like Brit Brit on a junk food binge. Luckily, I came across an amazing recipe that’s gonna knock your flip flops off (if you still have them on; damn you, end of summer weather!).

This ain’t yo mama’s dry, crumbly meatloaf with mysteriously colored ingredients! Not only is this recipe simple and healthy (if you’re trying to maintain that bangin’ bikini bod), you can dress it up with your favorite flavors. In this recipe from Hungry Girl, we take taco night to the next level…the meatloaf level!

Ingredients:
1 pound raw extra-lean ground turkey
2 slices fat-free cheddar cheese
1/2 cup shredded fat-free cheddar cheese
1/2 cup canned sweet corn kernels
1/4 cup chopped green bell peppers
1/4 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup salsa
1/2 packet of taco seasoning mix (I use the entire packet…kicks it up a notch)

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

2. Cook peppers and onions for 3 minutes over medium heat in a nonstick pan sprayed with Pam.

3. In a large bowl, combine onions and peppers with turkey, corn, and seasoning mix.

4. Spread half the mixture evenly into the bottom of a loaf pan (about 9″ by 5″) sprayed with Pam.

5. Layer the two slices of fat-free cheese on top of the mixture. Evenly top with the remaining meat mixture and pour the salsa over the top of the loaf (by now you should be craving a strawberry margarita).

6. Bake in the oven for 30 minutes. Top loaf with shredded cheese and return to the oven for another 15 minutes (or until the gooey goodness has melted).

Now that your taco meatloaf is ready to feed you and 5 friends, whip up your favorite margarita and turn up the Ricky Martin playlist on your Ipod (What? You don’t have one too?). Livin’ La Vida Loca!


Intro To Cooking: Pancake Cupcakes

pancake cupcakes

I love baking, but I’m not the hugest fan of following directions. As a result, I often end up mis-measuring things or adding my own little touches to otherwise boring recipes. Hey, sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t.

Anywho, there is nothing that works better with my “add this, throw in that” cooking style than pancakes. Plain pancakes are good, but chocolate chip granola pancakes are fantastic. And pancakes that look like cupcakes? Could there be anything more amazing? I found this recipe on katin cooks and I can’t get enough. It’s simple and delicious, the perfect canvas for fun add-ins and has fool proof instructions that even I can follow. Plus, these little babies make great hangover food! Read More »


Four Easy (I Mean EASY) Lunch Ideas!

23237431.jpgI’m probably one of the hardest gals to please when it comes down to what’s for lunch.

I love flavor, I need my food to be moderately healthy, not too expensive, and easy to make. I do love cooking elaborate meals, but not in the middle of the day when I’m consumed with everything else I’m doing.

So over time, a few simple lunches have worked their way into my mental cookbook, simple lunches that I’m now going to share with you! Here are four options that are delicious, easy, and relatively cheap to make, as well as healthy for you…well, healthier than Wendy‘s…that’s for sure.

1. Toast whole wheat bread. Spread your favorite hummus across both pieces of the bread (I prefer using the really spicy stuff). Then add turkey or your favorite lunch meat.

2. Stuff a whole wheat wrap with avocado slices, tomato slices, and mozzarella cheese. This is AWESOME, trust me! Read More »


Beauty Basics for the Busy Girl

You’ve got your life.

Your social circle.

Your intellectual endeavors.

Your means of generating income.

So you’re busy.

And believe me, I’m a perfect example of a girl with naturally great skin who screws it all up on the grounds of being “busy”.

I pass out with my make up on, don’t stop to wash my hands after eating the most disgusting slice of pizza ever OR after manhandling the railings in the New York City subways all day long.

However, I have finally learned how to combat these horrible habits that seem to come along for the busy ride of life. It’s not exactly impossible, you just have to make certain things more accessible for you in order to attend to your basic beauty needs as frequently as you can.

So here are some tips: Read More »


Will WooMe Woo Thee Towards Online Dating?

WooMe

~CHecK oUT mY FRee WeBcaM!~

No thanks, Fembot.

Online-dating sites, while fun and successful for those in the know, can be very daunting to your average, not-so-computer-savvy individual. Getting lost in the sea of PC-murdering spam and creepy come-hithers when looking for a date online is quite simple when you don’t have a clue what to do.

What gives, internet?

Bridging the gap between the informal, formal and humorous is WooMe, an intuitive way to meet people online in a more interactive fashion. Read More »


Celebrity Fall Fashion

katie holmesAre you ready for fall weather?

Now that it’s getting colder, most of us have finally admitted to need to bundle up. But what to wear?

This year, celebrities are coming out in droves, sporting this season’s biggest trends: color, prints, and an all around put-together outfit.

It looks great, is easy to find in stores (thank God!), and still allows of our individuality to shine through.

The best part? It’s nothing us poor college students couldn’t afford! Celebs are keeping it simple and chic this fall…finally!

Check out some of Hollywood’s hottest and the totally awesome looks they’ve put together recently!

Check out the Celebrity Fall Fashion Gallery after the jump! Read More »


ICE Your Cell Phone NOW!

ICE

In an emergency Paramedics and EMTs will turn to a victim’s cell phone for clues to that person’s identity. You can make their job much easier with a simple idea that they are trying to get everyone to adopt: ICE.

“ICE” stands for In Case of Emergency.

If you add an entry in the contacts list in your cell phone under ICE, with the name and phone number of the person that the emergency services should call on your behalf, you can save them a lot of time and have your loved ones contacted quickly.

It only takes a few moments of your time to do.

Paramedics know what ICE means and they look for it immediately.

ICE your cell phone NOW! All the cool college whipper-snappers are doin’ it!


Shot of the Week: Banana Split

banana splitSometimes, when it comes to our drinks, all we want is simplicity.

Simple ingredients, easy to make, tasty, and above all—fun. Whether you’re out with your girls or hanging inside the dorm celebrating the end of a horrible midterm, fun shots that won’t break the bank are the way to go.

Here’s a two-ingredient shot that tastes awesome. It’s named after one of the best ice cream treats of all time, and, vodka has almost no carbs, so you can have your treat without feeling guilty.

…Although I would never advocate for the total elimination of ice cream from your diet. Ice cream is holy.

Banana Split

1 oz. banana liqueur

1 oz. good quality vodka*

maraschino cherries (optional)

Add the liqueur to your shot glass after the vodka. Stir once and drink. Bite into a maraschino cherry afterwards to take some of the edge off. Read More »