White Pizza

Here is my White Pizza from Monday night.

I found the recipe here and this is my variation on it

White Pizza

2 Tbsp. butter

1/2 of a medium sweet onion sliced thinly

refrigerated pizza dough

(I got mine from Sunflower Market but you could probably find it at Trader Joe's)

olive oil

2 cups shredded pizza blend cheese (Italian blend works too)

2 cloves garlic minced or chopped finely

1 pinch thyme

1 pinch pepper

2 small-medium sized mushrooms, sliced thinly

1 medium tomato sliced thinly

5 basil leaves coarsly chopped

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

2. Melt butter in a saucepan and add chopped onion. Cook over medium heat until the onions are carmelized. Remove from heat and set aside.

3. Roll out pizza dough into a circle on a cookie sheet. Lightly coat dough with olive oil and bake for about 10 minutes until the crust is very lightly starting to brown.

4. Remove pizza crust from the oven and top with cheese, garlic (evenly), thyme, and pepper. Add the tomato slices in a single layer and scatter carmelized onions, mushrooms, and basil over the top.

5. Place pizza back into 425 degree oven and bake until the crust is golden brown and cheese is bubbly and completely melted

6. Remove from oven and enjoy!

This was the first white pizza I had ever made or eaten and it was delicious! I will definetly be making this one again.

Happy Wednesday Eating!

(and thanks everyone for sweet comments from yesturday's post ♥)

Hi My Name is Mari

Hi I'm Mari(sela). I write this silly blog and am soo happy you have stopped in to be silly with me.

I'm a 20 year old senior at ASU and love Arizona sunsets, sweet tea, tattoos, old lady hobbies, watching old musicals, listening to Muse and Queen and reading and writing blogs.

I take too many pictures of myself and write about anything that comes to me but in Come Fly With Me I'll be mostly blogging about traveling and the adventures I have with family and friends in the Tempe, Phoenix, Mesa, and Queen Creek area and hopefully I'll blog from the rest of the world too.

If you stay for the ride you'll read about Ross, my fantastic boyfriend, who is the best guitar player I've ever heard, and sweeter than the sweetest naval orange. I'll write about my hilarious mom, Maria, and the woes of being just another young blogger trying to conquer the world.

You can reach me at comeflywithme.mari@gmail.com or on my twitter.

Happy Birthday To You

This weekend I spent my time working and doing homework until Sunday. My sweet guy's birthday was yesterday and since my heart is happy and light and I can't find much else to write about I'll tell you how it all went down.

Ross likes cheesecake. He likes it when I make cheesecake for him and I really like making him cheesecake and making him happy. My cake decorator self asked what sort of cake he would like for his birthday and he said "Cheesecake" and me being me I made cheesecake.

I didn't make one. or two. but three birthday cheesecakes on Saturday night.

Ingredients

and a whole lot of cream cheese

Springform pans

I made a huge mess

but they came out beautiful!

Strawberry Cheesecake

Peanut Butter Cup Cheesecake

Oreo Cookie Cheesecake

Red Velvet Birthday Cupcakes

White Fudge Iced Birthday Cupcakes

I went over Sunday afternoon and we spent the evening together watching 2001 A Space Odyssey (his favorite movie)

I really liked it but did not understand it at all! Anyone wanna help a girl out?? lol

Monday was Ross's actual birthday and I had school and he had work and Mondays are usually my longest days but I decided to play hooky and do something special for his day. I took a test and then my French class luckily got cancelled and I decided to not go to my evening class and instead I snuck into his apartment that is down the street from ASU's campus (and is it really sneaking in if you have a key??) and cleaned his place from top to bottom.

Thankfully his place was not as bad some guy's places I've been in and it only took a couple hours to get everything super clean. After that I made a white vegetarian pizza for when he got home (I'll post the recipe of that tomorrow for What to Eat Wednesday) and we ended up hanging out with his neighbors listening to music, sipping cold beers, and just talking on their candle-lit patio. It was such a nice night and when we came back inside he quickly updated his facebook status to this:

"I want to thank everyone for their birthday wishes and especially Marisela for making this the best birthday ever! :)"

and then I melted. We ended the night watching The Office and 30 Rock on Hulu and him playing his guitar for me. I forgot he had one, but we also looked at his myspace music page and I listened to some of the stuff he has recorded and posted on there. You should go and take a listen and see how UH-MAZING he is and then you can understand how I just turn into a puddle of gush whenever he plays for me (the last two tracks are not him singing and just friends and him goofing around..LOL)

The past two days have been so incredible and I'm soo happy that I play a part in making this a really happy birthday for Ross. He told me how he wonders how he got so lucky to get such a great girlfriend. (AHHH and I melt)

and yeah, "girlfriend" we sort of made it official ♥

But nothing changes! We're two still very happy people coming together and being awesome (lol)

"Can you die of happiness??"

I hope not.. but I hope all you lovely people have a very happy Tuesday!

I have Ricotta Cheese in my Backpack...Right NOW.

I'm sitting in class waiting for my 3 hour class from hell to begin and I being to think about the fact that I have a large tub of ricotta cheese chilling in my backpack. I have it there because I'm making these lasagna roll-ups for that special someone tonight and I had a huge break in between classes so I went to the store and got all the ingredients then. I figured that we'll be starting this evening sort of on the late side and I have to cook everything so I don't want to make the time we get together tonight any shorter by factoring in a shopping trip after class into that. It's sort of warm outside and it got really hot in my car so I figured I would save the ricotta by keeping it with me for the next 3 hours. The cookies I baked last night can stay in there along with my three pairs of shoes, blanket, four-five outfits, work clothes, make-up, pj's, toilet paper, and yarn.

Yeah I sorta live out of my car right now.

It wasn't always like this. Today instead of freaking out over making it to school on time after I woke up way late, I freaked out about not getting to blow dry my hair. Yeah I did my make-up in my car during that huge brake today and the hair makes me look homeless. Any other day I wouldn't have cared how I look. My car wouldn't be a war zone and I wouldn't be buying a second toothbrush thats purpose isn't to come home and stay with me. It's gonna stay with him...

I had to really stop myself from buying this one. I really wanted to match my new Hello Kitty debit card. Damn that B of A and their enticing ways.

Is this normal? Have you felt like this before? planing, re-planning and re-arranging and strategizing for time? I live about 40 min from ASU (Tempe), about 1.5 hours from ASU (West), 20 mins from Work Store 1, 25 mins from Work Store 2, and 50 mins from Work Store 3 adn so I an micromanaging my time to get the most time I can...for him.

please tell me you have done this before. I'm not the only one. I think we are just both smitten. Completely smitten. I may live out of car, not sleep regular hours, and see more of the freeway than my own room but I'm deliriously happy.

Taken about 15 mins ago in class.

ps. I am soo done if he ever sees this blog. Die of embarrassment?? Oh yeah, you betcha.

pps. Maybe I won't of embarrassment after all after all the stupid, spazy stuff I have done in front of him already. That requires a full post on it's own.

Lasagna

As I was walking from my lab section to the MU to grab something yummy before my lecture class I walked right past these beautiful flowers and couldn't help but stop and snap some quick camera pictures.

Spring in Arizona is like a big huge present we get to make up for how stinking hot it will be in about 6 weeks.

Any-who it is once again Wednesday so I am back with a meat-free recipe to whip up for dinner tonight. I, in fact, will be making this for dinner tonight for that oh so sweet guy I once in awhile blog about while we watch Brad Pitt kill some Nazi's in Inglorious Bastards. Just screams romance doesn't it? Especially eating something this red and saucy but we've been craving it so oh well.

Lasagna Roll-Ups

from an AMAZING vegetarian food blogger I found Leslie Sarna

1 box lasagna noodles

Tomato sauce

1 large tub ricotta cheese

a handful of fresh parsley, chopped

a handful of mozzarella, shredded

a handful of grated parmesan cheese

a handful of fresh spinach chopped

a handful of fresh basil chopped

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Combine all the filling ingredients in a bowl. Cook teh lasagna noodles till they are done, but still al dente. Cover the bottom of a 9x13 baking dish with the tomato sauce and on a clean surface, lay a noodle down and spread cheese mixture in the center an=bout 3/4 of the noodle. Start at one end and roll up noodle and place in the prepared baking dish. Repeat with all noodles. When you are done, cover them with the tomato sauce and sprinkle some mozzarella and parmesan cheese. Bake for 30 min until the cheese is bubbly and beginning to brown .

I will try to sneak a picture of the finished product tonight (and of him if I can!!) but again I don't want to scare him off with my paparazzi skills just yet.

Happy Wednesday Everyone!

Queen

It is the Monday after Spring Break and I need to keep my sanity if I'm going to make it until summer break.

How do I stay sane??

Queen

♥

No...Not that one. Though I did see this movie in 3D this weekend and that was pretty fun.

♥

Nope. Not this one either.. Her crown in pretty but I'm not down for the fur.

♥

This one's not it either. Bt as a kiddie I always thought she had the best make-up of all the Disney villains.

♥

While Kirsten looks awesome in this movie she still is not the Queen that keeps me sane..

This Queen is

♥

Why hello Freddie Mercury! Why yes I do adore you

♥

and your glittery outfits

♥

and when we sing together in the car, bathroom, while cooking, etc.

♥

Thanks guys for helping me through all the ups and downs there are. For every time I needed you there's been a song that I feel has been written just for me.

♥

I can't say what Queen song is my absolute favorite just yet but right now I am in love with their album A Night at the Opera and I'll be there Sweet Lady any day because Queen is the Love of My Life and I wish me and Freddie could go on a Seaside Rendezvous where I would tell him "You're My Best Friend" and together we would just be Good Company sitting there Lazing on a Sunday Afternoon.

What's your favorite Queen song??

"You Can Kiss My Irish A$$"

St' Patrick's Day was a blast. I'm just going to leave you with some pictures from the festivities while I recover for all the fun that was had last night.

Beautiful Arizona Weather + Cold Guiness + Best Girl Friend= Awesome Day!

Here was the completed outfit!

and thank you, thank you, thank you for all the "hott body" comments... I'm sucking it so hard right now in hopes to take a good picture! lol

The Bollox!

Loving up on our Guiness

forget "Got Milk"...

Got Guiness?

I'll leave you with a very myspace-esque photo from when we were getting ready.

Just had to snap a quick pick for that special guy of mine =)

I hope everyone had a fantastic day pretending to be Irish!

Veggie Burritos

Here I am with a yummy vegetarian recipe for What to Eat Wednesday

This one I found at TastyKitchen.com

and you can find the original post here but I have made these burritos twice now and have had one for lunch almost everyday. I make like 12 in a sitting and then wrap em in aluminum foil and stick em in the fridge until I want one. Then I just pop it in the microwave and I have yummy, healthy meat-free burrito that is just as good if not better than having one with meat.

Roasted Veggie and Black Bean Burrito

from Tasty Kitchen member Aggie's Kitchen

2 whole Sweet Potatoes, Peeled And Cubed Small

2 whole Jalapenos Diced

1 whole Red Pepper, Diced Small

1 whole Red Onion, Diced Small

2 teaspoons Olive Oil

1 teaspoon Cumin

1 teaspoon Chili Powder

1 pinch Salt And Pepper

1 can Black Beans, Rinsed And Drained (15 Ounce Can)

½ cups Fresh Cilantro, Chopped

2 teaspoons Fresh Lime Juice

2 cups Shredded Cheddar

1 package Burrito-Sized Wheat Tortillas Or Wraps (6-10 Count)

In a bowl, toss your raw veggies in olive oil and season with spices. Place in a large baking dish and roast in 425 degree oven for 20 minutes, tossing around halfway through.

Let cool. Add your roasted veggies to a can of rinsed black beans. Add cilantro and squirt of lime juice. Combine gently. At this point, mixture can be stored for later use.

Warm your wheat tortillas or wraps in microwave according to directions on package. Spray a casserole dish with nonstick spray or olive oil spray.

Add two heaping tablespoons of vegetable and bean mixture to center of wrap. Top with shredded cheese. Fold over, fold in sides, place in pan and continue to roll the others. Place into your baking dish, seam side down so that they stay together.

Bake in 375 degree oven for about 15 minutes or until golden brown. Baking this way will make the tortilla wrap crisp. For a softer burrito, spray burrito with nonstick spray, then wrap in aluminum foil and bake for same amount of time.

(or don't bake at all and just stick em in the fridge and grab one for lunch each day!)

Seeing Green

Happy St. Patrick's Day Everyone!

I am sooo ridiculously excited to be celebrating my first real St. Patrick's Day this year. How am I gonna pretending in Irish? By seeing The Bollox, Metric, and Flogging Molly tonight and drinking as much green beer as I can!

Now I can't go out not wearing green and after looking around I noticed I didn't have the right green shirt to wear for tonight so I picked up this shirt in the boys section at Wal-Mart for $4 and made a proper uniform for my green beer drinking ways. =)

Lay your shirt out flat

cut off the arms from the shirts on the inside of the seam

you will then cut off the collar at the straight line just under collar of the shirt

this is how your shirt will look without sleeves (we're aiming for Red Neck at this point)

I had some funky edges from the bottom of the arm hole

so go ahead and cut that out and even things up a bit. If the shirt fits really big this is were you would cut off more from the sides and pin it and re-sew the shirt to fit you

turn your shirt inside out and pin sides together to sew

sew the sides making sure to backstitch at the start and end

for the top I just folded the shirt over (while inside out) and sewed it for a finished look

This is the finished product!

and the full outfit for tonight (sans green beads and hair clip)

I sort of really love Arizona for being able to get away with wearing a tube top and jean skirt mid -March...but give us 8 weeks until we are melting =(

Hope you all have a fabulous night. I'll be out enjoy my first pint of green beer!

ps- I'll be back later today for What to Eat Wednesday!

That Dress

I've caught a couple episodes of My Life as Liz and it's weirdly scripted/reality can be pretty entertaining but boy oh boy did I swoon when I saw what Liz wore to go to the prom.

This is perfection for me...on a do-able level; like this I could do at home..

and you best be believing I will figure out a way to look like this.

Prom or no prom, I'm pretty sure I can rock this at the grocery store.

♥

Happy Friday Everyone and WHOO Spring Break!!

On Eating Meat

It's been over a week since I last ate any meat.

I'll be honest I never thought that I would become a vegetarian and even now I can't see myself as one. I'm more like a person who is not eating meat from factory farms. Yes even the organic, natural, hormone free stuff comes from factory farms (about 99% of poultry in grocery stores is from factory farms) and really isn't so nice and pleasant when you get down to the facts. That leaves me a whole whopping 1% of chicken to eat that isn't factory farmed that I haven't found yet...so that makes me vegetarian.

I love to cook, and I honestly could, would, eat chicken for every meal, every day. I still miss it sometimes and crave it but reading Eating Animals has really changed what I choose to put in my body. The entire time I was reading I just kept thinking to myself "I never knew" and now that I know I can't go on putting that unnatural and unhealthy stuff into my body anymore. I'm getting flack for it from my parents though and that makes things a little difficult..It's very much that scene in My Big Fat Greek Wedding where they find out that "he don't eat no meat??" and instead invite the soon to be husband over for lamb because he is vegetarian. They don't understand why I'm not eating meat anymore, so while they keep pushing roasted chicken, chicken tenders, and chicken breast at me I just want to try give them the facts on what is in all this meat so they can know and decide.

I'm still a firm believer in the Lion King "circle of life" logic. The part where Mufasa is telling Simba that they eat the gazelles but one day they will die and become grass and then the gazelles will eat them. I'm still true to that logic but no where in that circle is there a huge farm that is mistreating animals, or injection hormones and antibiotics into them to get them big and keep em alive until they slaughter them.

This interview with the author of the book, Jonathon Safron Foer, on the Ellen show does a really good job of opening the conversation of where our meat really comes from and what changes we can make to be more conscious consumers and eaters.

In trying to spread awareness and give some support to those who maybe want to switch up their dietary habits a bit. I will be utilizing this here blog on Wednesday's to post some meat-free recipes, vegetarian friendly sites and alternatives as well as document my change from a total meat eater and lover to a vegetarian/factory farmed meat-free girl.

If anything please look into the issue of factory farmed meat and decide for yourself. I was a very curious child growing up and wanted to know all the facts and opinions about any given topic before deciding where I stood and I still feel the same today and after learning all this new information I want to share the resources with all of you so you can go out and get informed and decide for yourself.

My goal is to live a long and healthy life and I'd love for you all to do that too.

Happy Wednesday Folks!