FOOD: PBBPC Sandwich

There is this little restaurant called PB and U and it specializes in peanut butter based foods; smoothies, pizza, fondue, and sandwiches.
But they aren't just ANY peanut butter sandwiches... PB and U makes their own peanut butter and you can choose from a variety of toppings to put on your sandwich including: apples, carrots, cream cheese, bananas, and pretzels. If you can't decide what might go well together; they have recommended combinations to try.
When I first visited I chose to stick with something I knew I was sure to like - PB, nutella, marshmallow fluff, and strawberries. My friends all got something different but the favorite combination of the entire group of friends was the peanut butter, bacon, pickles, and cheddar sandwich.
Now at first it kind of sounds disgusting, but really it's like a bacon cheeseburger, but instead of a burger, it's peanut butter...? Hey, the King of Rock and Roll loved peanut butter and bacon sandwiches. It must not be that bad.
Everyone at the table insisted it was delicious, and I believed them, but being a vegetarian I just HAD to find an alternative to their choice.

So I made a PBBPC sandwich with veggie bacon instead.

Here's what you need:

• Bread
• Natural peanut butter (The natural stuff is what PB and U uses since they make their own, and it tastes much more "authentic" and delicious!)
• Bacon (I used Morning Star veggie bacon)
• Pickles 
• Cheddar cheese

Now the important part; the order of each layer. See, you don't want it to be too dry on one side and too moist on the other, or too crunchy and too soft. Trust me, this is something I worked on for about three sandwiches. It's best when you spread only one slice of the toast with the peanut butter; pickles on top, two layers of bacon (because the more bacon, the better), then the slice of toast with melted cheese. Bread, PB, pickles, bacon, cheese, bread.

Fry up the veggie bacon in a skillet over low to medium heat. Be careful not to overcook them. When I used to eat "normal" bacon, I loved it extra crispy. However, I've found that trying to cook veggie bacon extra crispy is not the best way to do it.
Cook each strip so that they become a light brown color on both sides - after that, they start to burn. You want to avoid that...

Cut up enough cheese to cover one slice of bread.
Place the cheese on one slice of bread. The sandwich is so much better with melted cheese so make sure it gets nice and gooey. I use a toaster oven, but you can toast the bread in a toaster and pop it into the microwave for 30 seconds or throw the bread in a skillet and melt the cheese like a grilled cheese.

Toast the other piece of bread and add your peanut butter. I couldn't tell you how much to put on, as it is a matter of preference; however, (to give you an idea) I like my PB&J's loaded with peanut butter and jelly, but I do not like my PBBPC's loaded with as much.

Now ASSEMBLE!
Place the bacon on top of your cheese toast.
Place the pickles on top of the bacon.
Place the pb toast on top of the pickles. (I'm sure you could have figured that out on your own!)

Cut however you'd prefer (diagonal triangles anyone?), and eat while it's still warm. I'm told it goes great with a glass of milk.

31 Days of Halloween

ABC Family has this thing they do during December where they play 25 Christmas movies leading up to the holiday. But in October they only play 13 Halloween movies!!

I want 31 movies since Halloween is on the 31st, just like Christmas is on the 25th therefore it gets 25 movies. See!?

Thirteen is JUST NOT ENOUGH.

So in protest of ABC Family (as well as not having TV...) I'm making my own list!  It might end up to be more than 31, but why would that be a bad thing?

Here's where I'm at so far:

1. Evil Dead (2013)
2. Absentia
3. Nightmare Before Christmas
4. House at the End of the Street
5. Thirteen Ghosts
6. Slither
7. Pet Semetary
8. The Shining
9. Donnie Darko
10. Coraline
11. Trick R Treat
12. The Cabin in the Woods
13. House on Haunted Hill
14. Tucker and Dale vs. Evil
15. Carrie
16. Frankenweenie
17. Evil Dead 2
18. Possession
19. Paranormal Activity 4 (why we chose to watch this in the first place... idek...)
20. Hocus Pocus
21. Zombie eXs (YAY!)
22. Freddy vs. Jason
23. The Alphabet Killer
24. Practical Magic
25. Devil

Any suggestions are much appreciated!! :)

FOOD: Taco Soup? Corn and Black Bean Chili!!

As Summer began to come to a close, I quickly felt Fall approaching. And then all my Fall needs and wants began to kick in...

The past few weeks I've really been in the mood for soup. All sorts of flavorful, hearty, soups! I even have a special board on Pinterest dedicated to soups only.

Yesterday I finally decided which soup I was going to make first. Taco Soup! Taco soup is just what the name says, a taco in soup form. It's a tomato based soup, with various beans, corn, ground beef, and taco seasoning (of course!)

I really wanted to cook this in my mini crock pot while Matt and I were at work, that way it'd be all ready to go when we got home. So I put everything together, and when I came home, the crock pot had just about overflowed! So I learned that I cannot fill my crockpot up so full when cooking something that will release juices. AND this experiment ended up being more like a chili anyway, not a very liquidy soup. Next time I'm sure I'll figure it out...

Here's what you need:

• 1/2 (15 oz) can whole kernel corn
• 1/2 (15 oz) can black beans
• 1/2 (15 oz) can pinto beans (or other bean of your choosing)
• 1 small can (10 oz) diced tomatoes with habanero peppers (you may choose "green chillies" for a more mild flavor)
• 1 1/2 tsp. taco seasoning
• 1/2 package Lightlife "Smart Ground" soy crumbles
• Shredded mozzarella cheese (optional)
• Tortilla chips (optional)

Here's the easy part!

Combine all ingredients except cheese and chips into the crock pot. Stir well.

Cover and heat on high for at least an hour. Return to low and let sit until ready to eat.

Top with shredded cheese for garnish and either garnish with chips, or use them as spoons (because who doesn't enjoy eating with their hands!?)

**My recipe is adapted to a 1.5 qt crock pot, it was just enough chili for 4 servings. Doubling it may require extra cooking time to warm up all parts of the chili**

Fall To Do List!

Autumn is my most favorite time of the year. The warm sun, the cool, crisp air. The colorful leaves that crunch under your feet. And probably the best part about Fall is that smell in the air. 

You know what I'm talking about! You step outside and you can just smell a difference in the air; wet leaves, bonfires, and that cold "smell" that tingles inside your nose.

Oh I just love this season!

So I wanted to comprise a list of things I want to try and do before fall is through. Being a little over ambitious about fall, I may have to remind myself that I don't need to knock everything off my list in a week haha.

-Decorate for Halloween
-Visit the Renaissance Faire
-Go apple picking
-Find my way through a corn maze
-Make an apple pie
-Make pumpkin everything: bread, pie, roasted seeds, pancakes, truffles, cookies
-Jump into a leaf pile
-Watch/participate in a Halloween parade
-Make s'mores
-Warm up by a bonfire
-Host a kick ass Halloween party
-Make hard cider
-Drink lots of tea
-Fall cleaning
-Remember to take lots of pictures!
-Go on a hike
-Carve a pumpkin
-Finish a book
-Go to at least three haunted houses
-Watch as many horror movies as possible. 

Anyone wanna have a horror movie marathon with me while we bake pumpkin thingies?