Quick chicken cordon bleu for two

So I said I'd put the recipe for this meal I made last night up on here.


Quick chicken cordon bleu for two

It was super good. I've been craving a lot of hot and comfort-food type meals lately. I also was craving some butternut squash. My mom's made it, but I'd never tried it before. So that was a bit trial and error... mostly error. I burned the shit out of myself in the process like four times, but ah, what can you do.

So this is what is is meant to look like

I got the idea from a website I always get my food recipes off of, because on there they really try to make things as healthy as possible, but still have hot yummy meal ideas. 

Here's my finished product. Looks pretty good, but tasted even better! It was easy too. Believe me, if I can do it, you can. I never even cooked really before I moved here, but when you're forced to cook for yourself or eat 100% shit food, then you learn to cook. Trust me. 

So it took about 40 minutes total I'd say. Less if you aren't a slow ADD chef like me. I get distracted by everything. I also have Lawrence over my shoulder asking me "why" I'm doing every single thing I'm doing as I go. I love him, but I want to punch him in the face when he is a backseat chef. But he knows this. :) 

Okay so here's what you'll need: 

• 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (10-12 ounces), trimmed and pounded out with a tenderizer. (I used three breasts. Lawrence eats two.) 
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper, divided
• 1/8 teaspoon salt (make sure you only use this to TASTE. If you use prosciutto, then that is super-salty. I did, so I cut down on the salt.)
• 3 tablespoons shredded Gruyère or Swiss cheese (we used mozerella because we are ghetto-fabulous.)
• 1 tablespoon reduced-fat cream cheese (or whole-fat cream cheese if you want to get some junk in that trunk)
• 2 tablespoons coarse dry whole-wheat breadcrumbs (BUY PANKO breadcrumbs.  You will not regret it. If not pop the bread in the toaster and get it REALLY crunchy and mash it up by hand. That's what I did. Also because we are ghetto.)
• 1 1/2 teaspoons chopped fresh parsley or thyme (I used regular old thype... this is also because I am poor :) )
• 2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
• 2 tablespoons chopped ham (about 1/2 ounce) (I used prosciutto or parma ham because we are lucky and its pretty cheap here because we're closer to Italy. It's sooo delicious though and worth a couple extra bucks.) 

PREPARATION

1. Preheat oven to 400°F.
2. Sprinkle chicken with 1/8 teaspoon pepper and salt. Combine cheese and cream cheese in a bowl. Combine the remaining 1/8 teaspoon pepper with breadcrumbs, parsley (or thyme) and 1 teaspoon oil in another bowl.
3. Heat the remaining 1 teaspoon oil in a medium, ovenproof nonstick skillet over medium heat. Cook the chicken until browned on both sides, about 2 minutes per side. Move the chicken to the center so the pieces are touching. Spread with the cheese mixture, sprinkle with ham, then top with the breadcrumb mixture.
4. Bake until the chicken is no longer pink in the center and an instant-read thermometer registers 165°F, 5 to 7 minutes.

I served it with some steamed broccoli (do this with caution. Broccoli seriously does make your entire house smell like someone ripped a huge fart). 

And butternut squash. I cut the squash in half and baked it on the same heat for like 40 minutes. GIVE THE SQUASH plenty of time. It pissed me off. SPread butter over both halves and sprinkle some nutmeg cinnamon and salt and pepper over them before popping them in the oven.

TIPS & NOTES

• Tip: It can be difficult to find small chicken breasts. Remove the strip of meat from the underside of a 5- to 6-ounce breast—the “tender,” about 1 ounce of meat—to yield a perfect individual portion.
•  Freeze the tenders and use them in a stir-fry.
• Note: “Panko breadcrumbs" are bomb. Find them in the natural-foods section of large supermarkets. To make your own breadcrumbs, trim crusts from firm sandwich bread. Tear the bread into pieces and process in a food processor until coarse crumbs form. Spread on a baking sheet and bake at 250°F until dry, about 15 minutes. One slice of bread makes about 1/3 cup dry breadcrumbs.

NUTRITION

 280 calories (wow!!!!)




Good luck. I hope y'all like it. 

Want some London in your Life?

I thought I was fashionable until I moved here. Even Lawrence told me when I first arrived that I looked "American" when we went out for dinner one night. Looking American whilst being here I took as an extreme insult. When I think American, I think UHMURRRRICAN (think fannypacks and huge oversized Hard Rock T-shirts and Abercrombie sweatpants). 


I don't think he meant I was that disabled in the fashion department, and I still hold that comment over him and bitch at him about it. Poor guy :) mwahaha. But I did definitely stick out a bit when I got here. Women here just seriously dress SO unbelievably differently. But I fell in love with the things I was seeing almost instantly. If I had all the money in the world I'd throw away every single thing I own and start from scratch with an all European wardrobe. 


I've gotten bits and pieces and am proud to say I'm reinventing myself slowly but surely. I love switching up my style- I find it a challenge. I catch myself taking double-glances at girls that I see on the street wearing something I'm dying over. 


I thought I'd share some of the things I'm absolutely loving fashion, hair, and makeup-wise here that I don't think would be too difficult/expensive to pull off on a budget and whilst living in the states. 


I think more girls should be taking little risks in their wardrobe. It makes a HUGE difference. 


While I list these things off, I shall be listening to 'the xx'. The most legit band ever- based out of London. And you should check them out. So chill and relaxed. Check em out. I dare you. 


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pib8eYDSFEI&ob=av2e (This is my favorite song of theirs right now). 


Okay so here goes: 


Everyone here is rocking the messy topknot bun. EVERYONE.

This is an example. CUH-YOUTE, eh?!

 It makes me want to slice my wrists open for whacking my f**king hair off. (Don't call the ambulance, I'm just melodramatic. But still I'm popping prenatals like they're going out of style and praying to the hair Gods every night.) 


But seriously though- this style is SO easy, and what's good about it is that the messier it is, the cooler it seems to look. If you suck at making buns, like I do- then there is hope for you. There are donut roll-type hair accessories that they're selling all over the place here that help. And they come in different colors to match your own hair color. 

If you are in the states and can't find one of these you STILL don't have an excuse not to try doing the messy topknot because you can make one out of a SOCK. Do you own socks? I bet your little happy ass does. Unless you live in a nudist colony... or Hawaii. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I13J7ArHTkM

This video is a great tutorial on the "sock bun" 

You might think it looks crazy at first, but trust me: the messier, the trendier. 

Bokay. Next up. Denim shorts. They really can be super-short, baggy, tight, high-waisted. Anything really. Here are some pictures of ones that inspired me. 

I have this leopard cross Tee from UO. Definitely going to rock this when I get my shorts. (:

Even the most bootylicious of shorts can be rocked out in the winter if you throw some tights underneath. If you've already got some runs in some black hose take a razor to them (not while you're wearing them please) and made them even hole-ier (that isn't a word.) Looks hot. 

Another thing I'm seeing a ton of lately are brother creepers. I absolutely love these. I mean... I just love disgusting men that roam the halls of a house full of ladies of the night. They just really get me going.... mmmmmm.

Mwahahaha. Kidding. 

Brother creepers are shoes. Never fear, my young ones. I'm pretty sick and twisted... but I am not THAT sick and twisted. Creepers are so unbelievably different and super cute. If you wear or have heard of oxford's, they're somewhat simliar, but with more of a stacked and chunky/detailed sole. Here are a few examples that I dig. 

Love. These are more my style. 

These kick some surrrrrious ass. 

I think these might be my favorites. 

Onto the next. This is something I'm seeing absolutely EVERYWHERE. One of my biggest pet peeves used to be when I'd see girls looking like they'd piled on every single freaking item of jewelry they'd ever purchased in their entire life on their bodies on one given night. It seriously irked me. Good news: this is now acceptable. Well, at least somewhat acceptable if you do it in the right way. Bring out your bracelets and bangles, bitches. 

LAYERED BRACELET TREND

What I've REALLY loved about seeing this is how they're using watches. I'm not usually a watch-wearer, but seeing how this is done makes me want one. Especially in rose gold like this one above. Absolutely in love with this. 

So do it. Personally I think a watch REALLY makes it make a statement. If you don't have one, go get a cheap gold one from Target or Icing, somewhere like that. Or even an old men's watch- one from your grandpa, shit like that. Stack everything on your arm- you can't go wrong- just wear it like you mean it- you can pull anything off that way. 

Okay: so now for some randoms. I'll describe why I really love these though. 

Love the oxfords. And the collared shirt done up all the way up the neck is really chic right now. Love the fringe back. Put fringe on something, and I fall in love with it. Weird.

LOVE how simple this is. Smaller cross-body bags are really doing it for me right now, too. Love how her legs look ten miles long by wearing the black leggings with the black chelsea boots. Less really is more. I think people in the states wear TOO much. You can look so much more chic and put together wearing something as simple as this outfit. 

Crossbody bag again- love it. I'm sure some of our older family members (think gmas/aunts etc.) have some bags like this lying around. A few years ago, I'd not set eyes on a bag like this, but now I'm loving it. Here are the denim shorts again rocked with opaque black tights and some oxfords.  

Collar done up all the way. Oxfords w/ socks. Super cute. 

Love the layered bracelets, denim shorts high waisted, tights socks and oxfords WITH the high bun and super adorable pop of color with the cross-body red satchel. This basically puts together everything I'm loving about fashion in London right now. 

FULL BROWS

A trend I'm seeing here that I wish would catch on more over in the states are absolutely GORGEOUS full eyebrows. It is rare that I see a terrifyingly over-tweezed eyebrow anymore.

I was a culprit of this. And I'm talkin' it was baaaaaaaaaad. Like super-skinny chonga eyebrows. Not good. A while ago I decided to make a change. I am going to share a photo with you that I am ashamed of, but it is to make my POINT and to persuade you to put DOWN YOUR TWEEZERS. 

Oh yes, folks. This is me. Can you see my eyebrows? What's that? No, you can't? Well that's because I tweezed them to within an inch of their tiny little eyebrow lives. And I look like a permanently startled earwig. I'm even so depressed about how disgusting these brows look that I'm chugging champagne. Hahahh. No, but really. 

This was when I came to London the second time to visit Lawrence last year. I was without tweezers and my eyebrows began to grow back so I figured I'd give it a shot and see if they'd grow. I made a pact to not tweeze them for as long as possible. I also purchased some CASTOR OIL from Alpine Glow in Casper. Sounds crazy, but I read that it helps grow back overtweezed brows if you put it on every night before you go to bed. It worked. 

Here's what my brows looked like after a few months.

Huge difference. I do help myself out with a little filling in with a brush and some dark colored eye-shadow. I never use pencil. A small angled brush with light strokes and to not use a heavy hand is the key. I read somewhere that your eyebrows should be "sisters, not twins." I really like that. 

Beautiful. 

Just don't go this far :). It might work for the runway, but let's leave it to that. 

So give the tweezers a rest for a while. 

I think it's super easy to try new things with fashion and hair and makeup. You just have to take risks, and be willing to screw up sometimes. I think all of these things would be great to try no matter where you live, but I thought I'd show my lovely friends that are still over in the states a little hit of what I'm seeing and loving here. Give some of it a try. Comment on this post and give me some feedback if you'd like more like it. 

Catwalk school... no, but for realzies.

Another question I've gotten multiple times is asking how I like my school... or what my new University is like. Honestly I don't know if half of you would believe me if I described it, but I'll try... 


In college... I'm used to the hole get-up-and-go scenario. If it was a super-late night from the night before I haven't even been above waking up and going to my 8AM class in the hoodie and sweats that I slept in. Yep, we've all been there and done that. If you haven't, then you aren't an American college student. Or you're just not normal. Or maybe you're European. 


Here, I can forget about that, because my school is a 180 degree flip from what I'm used to in the states. 


Here in the UK, college (they call it University, or "Uni" for short, because college is what they call highschool... it's confusing) is extremely cheap. Especially compared to the freaking prices in the states where it wouldn't matter if you were the CEO of a huge company two years out of school because you'll be paying off student loans until you were 56. I'd say it's about 3,000 pounds (British currency) or so for a low-end college. And that's per year. Okay, so pick your jaws up off of the floor now, right? 


I couldn't go to one of these schools because my credits wouldn't transfer. So I had to find an American -based school that would transfer me. I finally found one in my current school. They are an American University based in the heart of London. The tuition is similar to that of like Metro State in Denver, or possibly the University of Wyoming if you were paying out-of-state tuition. 


I had no idea what to expect when I first started school ... I figured it would be different but I didn't expect what I got, that's for sure. 


I found out shortly after I started school that my school is the most expensive liberal arts college in the entire United Kingdom. In other words, any parent who has a child that can't get in to the super intellectual elite schools like Oxford or Cambridge wants to look fancy and send their kid to a school they have to pay the big bucks for, and that school is Regent's. For me personally, and my family, the school isn't expensive in American standards. But here in England, paying 20 grand a year is fit for a king. 


I go to school (apparently) with two Arabian princesses, a Russian model, just to name a few. Every person that I've spoken to is from some exotic country and has millionaires for parents. It's like something out of a movie, I swear. The one amazing thing about my school is that everyone is from ALL over the place. In one of my classes, there are about 15 of us, and every.single.person is from a completely different country. Sweden, Switzerland, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Norway, the Ukraine, Ghana.... everywhere. You walk the halls and hear every single language coming at you. 


It's so hard to even wrap my mind around what I see/hear sometimes. One girl left class the other day... she told the teacher she had to go give her "driver" her keys. I am not kidding you. Another girl in class with me was telling me that she would call her Grandfather's driver to come pick her up. 


Every single one girl I pass is wearing designer haute couture from head-to-toe. Designer hand-bags... and I'm not talking about the newest Coach bags. Coach would be like a $2 patent leather Target tote to these girls. They'd just as well be carrying a garbage bag. I'm talking Chanel, Chloe, Miu Miu, Gucci, Louis.... and more. Chanel from head to toe, real fur coats, sky-high stiletto Christian Louboutins. The kind of clothes that you only see in vogue. I'm not kidding you. It makes me feel like frickin' Cinderella, let me tell you. 


Not only the girls are dressed to the nines. The guys at my school are decked out just as much. Perfectly groomed some with slick combovers (which is really in over here right now? Why....) Most even carry their own little designer man-bags (think like across the body satchel type things.) I can't even type the word satchel without laughing because I think of Allen from the Hangover... :) Haaaa. 



In every college I've ever been to, they have a student lounge or a some type of food bar. No... my school has a "Brasserie," a little cafe with marble floors and mahogany wooden panelling. They sell fresh pastries and espressos. They even sell hard alcohol and wine. Students can be seen sitting in there on their breaks over a bottle of Pino Grig.... not even kidding you. 


There have been three separate occasions where I've walked outside to commence on my journey home (on the bus) and a lamborghini or maserati is parked outside waiting to pick someone up. I almost don't even notice anymore because it's such a common sighting. I took a picture once, but I'm pretty sure I looked like a peasant girl in awe, so I averted my eyes. Haha. 

The Lambo... I risked looking like a servant girl snapping this....

It's been so hard to meet people and make new friends in this atmosphere. It's almost impossible to relate to the types of lives these people are living. I feel like an outsider looking in most times- just in awe of what I'm experiencing. If you think you're around bitchy girls that act better than you, think again! I've never experienced something like this in my life. 


Almost everyone I've spoken to has the most weird and f**ked up accent I've ever heard. The reason being is because they are from some foreign country for example Sweden. But 99% of them have parents that shipped them off to American boarding schools in 3-4 different countries between the ages of 10-19, so they've adopted the accents of each of these countries with an American twist. It is so unbelievably bizarre. 


Don't get me wrong, I've met some amazing people along this journey. And there is the odd down to earth girl that has a millionaire for a father, but they are few and far between. I am getting a very amazing experience in such a diverse student body, though. I am learning. Most importantly I'm learning to really appreciate where I'm from. 


Being from Casper really did give me good morals and values, and now I feel like I truly appreciate the small things in life. I am more grateful. However I'd still probably give up my first born child for one of those Chanel handbags. :) 

It may have a pretentious student body, but it sure is purdy. :) The courtyard at my school.

Tootles for now, all. xxx

I promise I won't quit again...

Okay. So here's the deal. I really am going to try and not suck at keeping a blog this time, because I am sick of having so much word-vomit that is dying to erupt from my mouth- or fingers, rather- and I should just not deprive myself of being able to share it with y'all. I know I can't be there to annoy all of you in person, but I will now do my best from across the Atlantic.

So... just to sort of explain the totally old and random posts that precede this one... They are from when I first came to London two years ago. They're pretty hilarious if I do say so myself, not gonna lie. Especially looking back on them. So if you choose to go back and read, you may or may not enjoy yourself. :)

I enabled comments on all my posts, and to keep me going, I'd love to see feedback and spark discussion with them so it'd be great to see what you all think.

Anyway. Now I can begin my first in a long string of posts.

The question I'm getting asked most is "how is London?!?!" London is great. It really is an amazing and beautiful city to be living in. However, it really couldn't be more different than Casper.

I decided there are stages of homesickness. I totally experienced this. I was in LOVE with everything "London" when I first got here... total honeymoon phase. 100%. Couldn't get enough of the damn place. I was in awe of how everyone around me managed to sound so much damn more sophisticated than me just because of their lovely British accent.

You never feel more insecure of your own American accent than when you live here, let me tell you that right now. I feel like the words coming out of my mouth just can't even measure up! Not only that, but now I'M the one with the accent.

I was deathly ill the other day and stopped at a pharmacy to get some medicine before I hobbled back home and I asked for what I needed (Night Nurse: the UK's version of NyQuil. NyQuil is the love of my life, if you know me personally. If you don't know me, well... now you know.) I asked for Night Nurse, and the pharmacist looked at me like I was speaking the most exotic an foreign tongue. Dude... don't get too excited. I still can't wrap my mind around the fact that I'm the one with the accent. Not to mention it's not even a cool NYC accent or slow southern drawl. Whatevs.

But back to homesickness stages. I'm past the honeymoon time period. Yes, I still love London. Yes, I am far away from home and in one of the most amazing cities in the world. But can I just bitch for a moment. Let me tell you a little bit about this place and the things that irk me.

Okay:
#1. Here are all of the things I am currently living without.

a. A microwave. I don't think you realize the sweet, sweet luxury that is a microwave until you have the joy of owning one ripped out of your innocent & wee little fingers. Because that is my life right now. Picture this: you make some bomb.com macaroni and cheese one night, put the rest in the fridge for later. You'll eat it the next day, easy as. Right?? WRONG. Enter my world of not owning an effing microwave. I put said macaroni in cheese in a pan and heat it up in the freaking OVEN. It takes about 9803820498209342039 and a half years to heat up. This is retarded. Lawrence's parents also have not and have never owned a microwave. Why? This is one of the many mysteries of the British. Don't ask.

b. I also do not own a dryer. That's right folks. I hang my clothes up to try them like I am a medieval bar wench sweating over my laundry. So that's fun. But I don't mind that much, as my clothes seem to keep their color a lot more and shrink a lot less. But shivering down the street with freezing cold butt cheeks from half-dry skinny jeans is an experience I would pass on.

c. The stairs up to my flat are about 6 flights. I shit you not. Need I say more? At least my ass is in good shape.

d. I don't have a car. Public transportation sucks balls. End of discussion. I am throwing all of this "living green" bullshit out the window right now. You will not care one bit about the damn global warming when you're traveling 1.5 hours back and forth from school via bus and the underground.

e. They don't have Ranch dressing here. WTF. Yeah... you can cry for me later.

There is a lot more shit that I am living without right now, but at this moment my brain cannot think of them. I'll inform you when my brain fart ceases.

#2. People here are weird. I know that's a really broad statement but you just have to be here to experience it. Firstly, people here just keep their heads down and they don't say shit. I think that must be deeply imbeded in the brain of every Londoner. I am not joking. Even if someone was screaming in pain on the side of the road, or if someone screamed out "HEY!!!!!!!!!!!!! LOOK!!!!!!! I AM GOING TO RIP OF ONE OF MY LIPS!!!!!!" No one would take a second look. They wouldn't even care which pair of lips this poor individual was planning on ripping off.
Straight-up, I just don't get this.
Lawrence says that I look at people TOO much. I don't know... I'm just fascinated, I guess. I mean.... if I see a hobo dressed in a tutu with one of his eyes dangling out of its socket, I'm going to look. (Mind you, I didn't actually see this. Just an example.) I seriously incapable of averting my eyes. I hope this doesn't get me stabbed one day.
Another instance of weirdness here is the clothing that people wear to the gym. Is that weird of me to notice? (This is probably another instance of me not being able to avert my eyes.) But picture this- some wear like converses (to the gym?!) and like normal jean shorts, normal t-shirts... I sound really inarticulate right now, but it isn't the sea of Nike dri-fit shirts and yoga pants you see in an American gym. It's just super strange....

Jesus. I seriously sound like the biggest uber-bitch of all time, but I just have to get things like this out. I really do love it here... it's just getting used to the things that are different that is important.