Colored Mason Jars

First of all who doesn't love mason jars. Something so simple but versatile that it can be used in so many different ways to add that extra something.  I really liked this pin when I saw it on Pinterest because I thought they were so cute and seemed so easy. I did some research to see which would be the best way to go about it as some said to use Modpodge while others said to use Elmer's Glue. Some said to apply it on the outside of the jars while others said to put it on the inside. Not being able to decide which one would be easier or better I did both.

Mod Podge vs. Elmer's Glue
Between these two I preferred the Mod Podge. It was thinner and easier to apply more evenly. I used the Elmer's Glue hoping that it would provide a more glossy finish that would help the glass look naturally tinted rather than painted. The Mod Podge I had on hand was mat finish which made the jars look like they were dirty/filmy. One of the directions also said to add water to the Mod Podge, do not do this! The water thins it out enough that it just streaks and drips.
Unfortunately the Elmer's Glue had the opposite problem, it was too thick. That made it really hard to apply it evenly. It was thicker in some places than othes, it took forever to dry and the brush strokes were very obvious.
Based on the finish of your Mod Podge I would recommend this over the Elmer's Glue anytime. Even though it's kind of difficult to get it on without streaks, as it dries much faster the streaks are far less obvious than the glue and it's just much easier to work with.

Inside vs. Outside
I'm not really sure which one of these methods was easier than the other. The outside method was easier to apply but was tricky to dry since I couldn't set it down because of painting the bottom. The inside method was slightly trickier to apply but super easy drying as I could just leave it on the table. One of the effects that I was trying to do was apply it heavier on the top and bottom to make those darker hence making it more realistic since the glass would be thicker at those points. For this, painting it on the inside was easier as any excess would collect at the bottom making it darker. Painting the jar from the outside made it trickier for the color to collect and be darker at those points.

Overview:
This project was actually a lot of fun. Once I figured out the method I liked better it took no time at all and I really enjoyed it's simplicity. The good thing as well as the bad thing is that it can easily be washed off. If you mess it up and want to try again just run some water over it and wipe it away unfortunetly the one I finally decided I liked the best accidentally got wet and it was ruined, so beware the danger.

*I also spray painted a couple of jars. I loved the way they looked and of course it was easy but they did have a problem with drips so I obviously need to work on my spray painting technique. If you are good with a can though I would say go for it because I really liked those ones.*

Overnight Baked French Toast

French toast is something that I've had to learn to love as I got older. When I was younger I thought it was kind of weird and we didn't really eat it in my family so it was only something that I ate when I was at friends houses or sleepovers. As I have gotten older not only do I realize that french toast is actually really good but it's also something that can easily go so wrong, hence the many years it took me to appreciate it.
I found this pin on Pinterest and thought it sounded pretty good and would make it so easy to have a delicious breakfast without having to put the work in so early in the morning. Unfortunately that's not what I got.
It was super easy and was nice to be able to just wake up, pop it in the oven and serve but it was so disappointing that I would have rather put the effort in and had a delicious meal. The first problem was the layer lining the bottom of the pan with brown sugar and butter. It was a pretty thick layer so I doubted that it would all soak into the bread which is what I assumed was the purpose but it didn't soak in at all and ended up just a thick crusty layer that didn't come out of the pan with consistency which made sugar lumps stuck to the bottom of the toast. Gross!
My second problem was the layers. The middle layer of course was able to soak up more of the egg mixture which made it super soggy while the top layer was more dried out. I really don't like soggy french toast.
Was this disgusting? No. It was just disappointing and definitely not something I will feel the need to make again. The flavor was boring and the texture wasn't great. I did love how easy it was and that it didn't require ingredients that meant a trip to the store. I will probably be searching out another recipe for baked french toast for that reason I'm just disappointed this one wasn't it.

Ease: Thumbs Up!

Cost: Thumbs Up!

Flavor: Thumbs Down

Overall Reaction: Thumbs Down

Pork Tenderloin

It's a pretty safe thing to say that I am a meat lover. I would never survive being a vegetarian because I honestly think that one of the greatest things in life is a delicious piece of meat.

This is the recipe as you will find it on Pinterest:

Pork Tenderloin

1⁄2 cups olive oil
1⁄3 cup soy sauce
1⁄4 cup red wine vinegar
Juice of 1 lemon
1-2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1-2 tbsp fresh parsley, finely chopped
2 tsp dry mustard
Freshly cracked black pepper, to taste
4 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
1 1-lb. pork tenderloin

Mix all ingredients together in a bowl. Place meat in gallon sized Ziplock bag and pour marinade mix over meat. Marinade for at least 3-4 hours. 

Preheat oven to 350º

In a skillet over medium-heat sear each side for 2-3 min. Place in the oven and bake for 30-40 min. or till a meat thermometer reads 160º

*These are the adjustments I made:

Prepare the day before and allow the meat to marinade in the fridge overnight till you are ready to cook it. 

Instead of cooking in the oven I cooked mine on the BBQ

I may be an overzealous marinader but I'm not totally convinced 3-4 hours is enough. If you are in a pinch for time I am sure this is fine but if you are planning ahead why not make it in advance that way the taste of the marinade can really be soaked up and make the meat more tender.

The end result was pretty fantastic!
Ease: Thumbs up!
Cost: Thumbs up!
Overall Reaction: Thumbs up!

Chicken Black Bean Enchilada Casserole

Chicken Black Bean Enchilada Casserole

I am not usually one to enjoy just any casserole and haven't had the necessity to appreciate their simplicity but as my inaugural recipe post I needed to share this great recipe. All the deliciousness of a more complicated enchilada but oh so much easier. This recipe and I will be becoming very familiar with each other as it was made it into my permanent rotation.

Here is the original pin on Pinterest:

2 cups shredded chicken breast meat (I used a rotisserie chicken for added ease)

1/2 teaspoon Cumin

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

2 Tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro

1 (15 oz) can black beans, rinsed and drained

1 (4 oz) can diced green chili peppers

1 (10 oz) can green enchilada sauce

8-10 corn tortillas

2 cups shredded Mexican Blend Cheese

1 (8 oz) tub sour cream

Preheat oven to 375º. Cook chicken with cumin and garlic powder. Combine chicken in a bowl with cilantro, black beans, and green chili peppers. 

Spread half of enchilada sauce in bottom of greased 11x7 baking dish. Layer pan with tortillas, cover with half of chicken mix. Cover with cheese and dollop with sour cream.

Layer again with tortillas and pour remaining enchilada sauce over tortillas. Spoon remaining chicken into pan and cover with another layer of tortillas. 

Cover pan in aluminum foil and bake for 30 minutes. Remove foil and cover with cheese and dollop with sour cream. Back for 5-10 minutes more or until cheese is fully melted. 

Overall: Thumbs Up!