I Missed Last Week!

I tried, y'all, I tried.

I missed blogging last week. It was a week where things just got away from me. So here I sit while all sorts of dinner is going in the kitchen.

We bought an Instant Pot this weekend because I kind of stink at remembering to take meat out of the freezer ahead of time. I threw in a chuck roast tonight with garlic and pepperacinis and the Pot says that it will be done in 45 minutes. I am slightly skeptical but I'll keep y'all posted.

Chili is simmering on the stove and I cut up a bunch of fruit and got it in the fridge. Of all the things that we buy and don't eat the fruit and veggies are probably where we waste the most. I have found that if fruit is cleaned and cut up then we eat it. So currently we've got a bunch of fruit in there. Plus I've been making overnight oatmeal for breakfast on work-out days and I can throw some into the mason jar before running out the door in the morning.

(I guess this is a food post, huh...)

I also baked some bread this weekend, a sandwich bread, and I am so looking forward to some with chili tonight. I've been rethinking and rebuilding my relationship with food this past year. So we try to eat mostly clean in terms of baked goods. I make everything myself, and we try to not have anything just sitting around the house. But I feel better eating something I made and knowing what went into it. I recently went back to a shake/smoothie in the morning on the days I work out. But instead of loading it with fruit and ice and milk (none of which is bad) I've just been doing a scoop of protein powder and a scoop or two of superfood greens in a blender bottle with water. Then I can also eat oatmeal which helps keep me full. I have realized that I am not a smoothie only girl. I need to chew something to feel satiated. I'm also loving how much more excited I am about having eggs and sausage or bacon on the mornings that I don't work out!

BOOKS OF THE WEEK
Currently I'm reading Smoke & Summons by Charlie N. Holmberg which is a fantasy book. It's got a lot of fantasy and a fair amount of good verses evil in the forms of religion and demons.

Recently Finished:
The Forgotten Hours by Katrin Schumann which deals with some heavy topics like statutory rape and how well we know the people that we love.

Up Next:
A Beautiful Work in Progress by Mirna Valerio
And yes, I'm still putting off reading Obsidio. I don't want the series to end.

Link just reminded me that he has some YouTube cat video time scheduled in a minute, so guess I have to wrap this up!

I think this will be the first post I link on Facebook, so, tell me what y'all are eating this week!

Italian Easter Bread - Minus the Eggs

I know, I know. I always say I'm going to write more and then I don't. And you all sit at home staring at your computer screen screaming "WHHHHHHHY?????" Well, maybe not.

Per my usual MO, I had to try baking something new this Easter. I can't be fine with the regular sugar cookies or dying eggs. Nope. I have to try something new. This year's experiment is Italian Easter Bread. It's spiked with anise and orange zest and right now my kitchen smells amazing. It also, incidentally, smells like bacon. When I bake something new and tomorrow is a day off of work, there may or may not be some wine involved. Which leads to breakfast at 10:30pm, as it should. Because sustenance is needed when baking! And there's 2 hours left to go between baking and cooling loaves.

Now....before anyone who is an Italian scrolls down and notices that there are no hard cooked eggs dotting my bread, can I just say that I find whole eggs in bread weird? I'm sorry. Maybe I'm more German than Italian? But it just gives me the heebie jeebies. So this is a hard cooked egg free version.

Does anyone remember when two years ago I attempted quick bread at Easter and it was as flat as pancakes? In case you need a reminder....

My caption on Facebook was "My bread didn't rise but Jesus did!"

Yeast bread scares the crap out of me. If the liquid is too hot you kill the yeast. If it's too cold the yeast doesn't activate. And you won't know until it's too late. If you underproof or overproof the world will end, according to Paul Hollywood. Supposedly you can tell if it's over or under based on the crumb and the density? All I know is bread is bread is bread is bread. Luckily this recipe rose beautifully both through the first and second proofing. Here's a picture of the unglazed loaves that are cooling at the moment.

It's a recipe from Brown Eyed Baker (http://www.browneyedbaker.com/italian-easter-bread-recipe/) and she talks about Pgh...so this has to be good, right? Incidentally, this is the second time in 4 months that I have overrun my Kitchen Aid mixer. This dough is a beast. It's 8 cups of flour and so by the time all the liquids and fats were added, it was coming all the way up to the attachment housing. Is this a sign that E should get me the industrial mixer next time around? Where would we even store it? Guess I'll have to keep the one I have.

I'll have to try and remember to post a picture of the finished products before they're wrapped and gifted. If I don't eat it all before then.

I hope everyone has a wonderful Easter weekend!

Weekly Recap

You know, since it's almost the weekend I thought I'd recap. It is almost the weekend, right? I did forget what day it was just last week. Or maybe this was a few days ago? Eh, who cares.

New Meals and Baking
I can't cook for just the two of us. Does anyone else have this problem? Cooking for an army instead of just for two? Currently there is a crock pot full of taco chicken chili goodness in my kitchen. I want to eat the air, that's how good it smells in here. Which is good because there's enough in there to eat it for a week.

I found an old bread recipe that I had pinned...twice...and never tried. Recently DH and I were gifted a Le Creuset dutch oven as a housewarming gift and I knew just what to put in it. BREAD! I believe that homemade means we can eat it all in one day and not feel bad about it. You know, because there's no preservatives. Anyway, here is the link. Simply So Good Crusty Bread. I'm making an herbed version tonight. And I made a loaf last night. Because I can't ever have too much bread. That's like having too much cheese. Or too many donuts. Or too much 15 year Glenlivet.

Donuts are on the menu this weekend, thanks to Joy the Baker making it so dang easy! This could be disastrous for my already-slightly-too-snug-pants.

Working Out
I went to kickboxing class last weekend with friends. Despite all predictions to the contrary, I didn't break a single bone. I did bruise my knuckles, which just made me feel bad ass, and I had trouble walking for the next couple days. This will be repeated this weekend. I'm also trying a few 30 day challenges. Yes, you read that right. A few. See, I can't fathom that doing 20 jumping jacks and a few pushups will actually make a difference. So I'm attempting 3 of them simultaneously. Burpees are the bane of my workout existence. I want to puke after 9. Not 10. Not 8. But 9.

Giving Back
Do any of you shy away from giving? My bible study is working through James and we were in Chapter 2 this past week. It's a good hard look at do I give? I have a heart for the homeless but I realized only on my terms. I'm such a jerk! If I'm in the car and there is a homeless person on the corner I'll give cash if I have it and food if it's with me. But if I see them in a parking lot when I'm getting gas or taking my groceries to the car? I consciously avert my eyes and fervently hope they don't approach me. It's too uncomfortable for me without the safety of my car door and power windows. I don't think it's a giving heart if I only am willing when it's convenient. I'm praying this can change for me.

So You Think You Can Dance
I'm sad that there's only one more week in this season. One more show to see what majesty Travis Wall comes up with. One more week to wonder why contemporary dance moves me to tears even if I can't explain it. There's no clear winner to me this season. I may bite off all my fingernails between today and next Wednesday.

Gotta go bake bread!

12 Insights into My Soul

Ok, so maybe that's not quite the line from You've Got Mail, but it sort of fits. There's been this game going around Facebook where friends give you a number and you have to post a list with that number of items people may not know about you. (I recognize the ridiculous length and roundaboutness of that sentence.) I have been so busy (no, not lazy) this week that this fad may already be over and I'm just getting on board.

A friend gave me the number 12. So here are 12 things you may or may not already know about me!

1. I Have a Fear of Closets
When I was a younger there was a live action Alice in Wonderland movie that was on TV. The Jabberwocky scared the underpants off of me. I became convinced that the Jabberwocky lived in my closet. To this day I cannot sleep if there is a closet door ajar in the same room with me. Let's take the crazy one step further. When I stay somewhere other than my own house I have to check the closet in whatever bedroom I sleep in. Ingrained weirdness.

2. I Had a Blankie
I was a blankie lover. I could have given Linus a run for his money if he weren't a fictional cartoon character. I would stand under the clothes line, sucking my thumb, while hanging on to one corner of it while it dried from washing.

3. Do Re Mi
I took private voice lessons for 7 years. For the majority of that time I had a voice teacher who terrified me into practicing every day. Which made me a much better singer. I wanted to be an actress when I was younger. I loved being on stage becoming another character. I loved singing through a show. I still love to sing. I just do it in the car or around the house instead of on stage. When DH is out of the house I'll hook up the computer to the TV, turn it all the way up and sing my heart out along with any musical soundtrack or some Sutton Foster.

4. Beets Taste Purple
They just do and I can't stomach that. Purple, people, purple. One of the few foods I cannot stand.

5. I Take My TV Seriously
When the Bestie and I lived together the very first year in Da Burgh, she had never watched Grey's Anatomy regularly. I adored that show. I never missed an episode, even if I had to record it on VHS. Yes, you read that right. VHS. One night after a day of clinic and class we were eating dinner and sitting on the couch. Every couple seconds she would ask another question. I calmly waited until a commercial, turned to her, picked up my fork and said "If you say one more word during this episode I will stab you with this fork." She took it pretty well considering I had just threatened physical violence over Mer and McDreamy.

6. Go Away Bing Crosby
I really really REALLY can't stand Christmas music until a couple weeks prior to Christmas. I feel this is a safe place that I can share this.

7. Hollywood Ain't Got Nothing On Me
My imagination is incredibly overactive. I can watch movies that cover any subject...as long as it would stay daylight forever. Maybe that's another reason to consider emmigrating to Scotland. It stays light outside for a looong time part of the year. Once the lights go out, I start to think of all the weird messed up things that happen in movies and then I'm too terrified to move. I have restrained myself from waking DH up and making him stay up with me up to this point, but it's probably not far off. I just try to avoid all horror and scary sci-fi movies.

8. Is Mom In the Room?
I am becoming more and more like my mom in weird ways. Like when I talk and cry at the same time, I sound just like her. I say things that she's always said them. Things slip out and I think "Oh goodness, there's mom." It's not bad, just a weird transition as I'm growing older.

9. Get In Ma Belly!
I can eat. A lot. Like, a lot a lot. I had to prove to DH that I wasn't all talk. He was duly impressed. I think it's because I'm a fairly small girl. Except for that booty. But otherwise I'm pretty petite. So when I say things like I can put away an entire large pizza in one sitting, or a half dozen donuts, or a whole batch of rice krispie treats in one work day, I have to prove that my stomach is as big as my mouth. Which in turn leads to that booty.

10. Dream On
I don't know if this is common, but I dream in all five senses. I also remember a lot of my dreams, dream almost every night, and I have recurring dreams since childhood that I can recognize while in the dream. I've heard and read different things about dreaming in all five senses. So I don't know if this is odd or not. I will say it's an odd feeling to be dreaming and find myself thinking "Oh, this frog guy again. Ok, so this will happen next. And then this. And here comes the flipping land rover right on cue." Maybe I'm in a real world Inception?

11.  Curse You, Pie Crust!
I am a pretty stellar baker. However I do have an arch nemesis. Her name is Pie Crust. Only a woman could be this cruel, hence Pie Crust is a she. I can get a good batch of pie crust maybe 10% of the time. Even the No Fail recipes fail me. Seriously?!?!? I was given a special pie fork by my original MAPC (Masters Against Pie Crust) which has proven ineffective. Pie Crust, you are my Kryptonite.

12. I Love Trashy TV
I will turn on Bravo or TLC on my day off and leave it on all day. It's a sickness.

Tastes Like Home

Feeling like a taste of home so I made this tonight.

Cobbler here is very different from cobbler in the north, much more fruit and less pastry. Sorry, y'all, but I do like my momma's cobbler best!

Happy Sunday, y'all.

A Dash and A Pinch

Mama Kat always has some great writing prompts, and the nice thing is that there is enough of a range that if you are married, single, parents, not parents, old, young, in-between, sharing today or sharing years ago...you can always find one if not two or three or four prompts that would be an option.

A prompt option this week was:  If you could change career paths now and be anything you wanted to be…what would you be and why?

If you've been reading my blog, well, ever, then you know that I would be a chef. A pastry chef to be perfectly clear. 

There is something so absolutely absorbing about baking. I lose myself in whatever it is that I'm making, whether it's a *gasp* box mix or from scratch. I honestly prefer to bake from scratch. Otherwise it's too easy; and by that I mean I have less time to lose myself. 

When I have time in the kitchen to bake it is one of the most relaxing pieces of my day. I had a moment the other night that turned into the realization that I can start to call myself a baker. Girls night in and brownies were needed. I pulled out the baking books to find a recipe and everything was way too complicated. We needed chocolate and we needed it pretty freaking quick. So I used trusty old Pinterest to find an easy brownie recipe. 

Now, hang on. I know you're thinking "What makes her think she can call herself a baker from following a pinterest recipe for easy brownies?" Well, the thing was I didn't have everything the recipe called for....including the right size pan. 

In my head I thought "I can totally wing this". Then I crossed my fingers and hoped for the best since I was making these for everyone. I sorta kinda almost doubled the recipe, threw in some cinnamon to make up for the lack of vanilla and a mix of special dark and regular cocoa. 

Seriously they were the best brownies I have ever made in my life. And I've made a lot of brownies. A lot. They tasted like box mix brownies - the chewy, fudgey kind. Usually homemade brownies that I've made in the past taste more like cake in texture and taste. These totally rocked my face off.

They made me believe that even if I'm not a baker by trade, I just may be one by choice.

Link up, you brilliant bloggers!

Sunday Social: The Internet/Technology

I totally missed Sunday Social last week and I'm so glad to be back. It has been one of those weeks. I'm just happy that usually I only have one of those weeks rarely! Now on to the topic of the week

Technology/Internet...um, yeah. I am not the first person in the know when new things come out. But I'm not the last either! I lament the changes that Facebook forces upon us along with my friends. But I wouldn't necessarily know how to make it better either. And when my computer at work doesn't do what it's supposed to my first instinct is to throw it out the window. Luckily our windows don't open wide enough, or I would be out of a job by now.

1. What is the first website you log on to each day?

It's a tie between Facebook and Blogger. 

I know, what could have possibly happened on Facebook in the 8 hours I was asleep? Sometimes A LOT. But most days not much in Facebook world. 

Blogger, though, is always hopping. I think I must have a good mix of blogs that post in the morning and in the evenings with a sprinkling in the middle. Usually there is something new to read whenever I check Blogger.

Pinterest is closing in as a bronze medalist though. I've been in the Pinterest mood this week. I blame it on all the awesome tug at my heart fall pins.

2. Give us some funny websites you visit that we need to know about

If DH was posting this he would say Reddit or CollegeHumor. I don't check anything funny other than the blogosphere. Sigh. Does this seal the deal that I have no idea what's cool anymore?

3. Pinterest or Facebook? Why?

Despite what I said in #1, Pinterest might win out. And here's why. I love Facebook for keeping in touch with my friends. But I despise Facebook in an election year. And then you add in all the posts that are from Pinterest? I might as well just go to Pinterest. At least then I can look at the pictures and pins that interest me without having someone else's political or social views shoved in my face in an offensive way. I'm all for free speech, but be respectful people! Don't put it out there if you would call me intolerant for having the opposing view stated in the same manner. I actually have to block friends because I can't STAND the constant barrage of opinion that is really inflammatory. After November I'll unblock them and we can all talk about Christmas.

4. Twitter or Instagram? Why?

I'd have to go with Instagram because I don't have a Twitter account. I know, I know. I'm living in the dark ages! 

5. Favorite youtube video...post it!

Hands down.....

6. Biggest online pet peeve?

This is a hard one...the fact that no one has invented the scratch and sniff screen? Think of it....look at the picture of that amazing dish and be able to smell it. Yep, that's my biggest pet peeve, something that is impossible.

Next week's questions:

What was your favorite trip/vacation/activity this summer?

Favorite outfit look of the summer/clothing item?

What is one thing you wish you had gotten to do this summer?

Favorite Song of the Summer?

Favorite movie/tv show of the summer?

Maybe It's the Lack of Sleep

I'll apologize now if I'm a little non-existent in the blogosphere this week. I'm just not feeling it. Ever happen to any of you talented bloggers???

Maybe it's the lack of sleep. It was a busy weekend!

Friday night DH and I went on a date. Now, this is not uncommon. We go on dates a lot. Like, he calls me early in the week and asks me to go on a date. How sweet is he? We've gone on a lot of dates, and this Friday we went on the same date we originally went on right after we met. Well, along with a detour or three. And while the mexican food was still great and the drinks were still wet your whistle good, we had this wet stuff that falls from the sky....I think the rest of the country calls this "rain". It wasn't raining when we went into The Flying Saucer but it sure was when we left!

At first we were sad to be so sopping wet.

But then we realized that a little walk in the rain could be fun.

Saturday brought an early morning after a late night, cat adoptions and a field trip for Henry. He spent the weekend at DHs. They spent time bonding while I went and volunteered for Classy Cats. Classy Cats is a no-kill shelter and pretty much rocks. So if you have an extra bajillion dollars hanging around torturing you with it's presence, feel free to donate to them! Henry wiled away the hours being entranced by the cows on Minecraft and occasionally chewing on DH's feet. We also introduced him to the sun. See, my and Roomie's house is quite dark. There's not a lot of direct sun and in the summer it's super hot inside if you leave the blinds up. Couple these facts with small shallow windowsills and Henry had no idea of the sunny spots to be used.

We opened up DH's blinds and Henry sat perched staring into the backyard. He couldn't believe his eyes. And then he decided he'd love to sleep in the sun, thank you very much.

He loved it so much that he slept long after the sun went down and we were watching The Hunger Games.

This meme makes me laugh and then it get's stuck in my head and then I question my priorities in life and then I laugh again. It's a vicious cycle.

(Courtesy of http://peetatoast.tumblr.com/post/24773832896 via Pinterest)

I got sidetracked. Back to the lack of sleep. Henry typically sleeps in the laundry room, but since he was on a field trip he was allowed to sleep in the bedroom. Which meant behind my knees, on my feet, against my ribs and most sleep-depriving....in my face. I woke up to find him staring at me and purring like a mad thing. It's sweet but so loud it woke me up. Seriously? And in between all of that he managed to give me a heart attack by knocking the cup and toothbrush into the sink which of course led me to think the Martians were attacking. I'm not very logical when awoken suddenly. Last week I left the weather radio plugged in and it took years off my life when it blared a 90dB warning signal at 3am because of flash flooding. I couldn't figure out why the house alarm was suddenly SO LOUD. Again, the first thought was that we were being attacked. We're sweet girls, I don't know why I expect to be attacked by aliens.

Clearly Henry also needed some extra sleep as he spent most of Sunday sacked out in various spots.

It was another early day today. Henry went to the vet's to become a eunuch. Sigh. He was not happy about being the carrier and I was trying to not break into tears at the thought of leaving him. I actually did cry. I'm going to be a horrible mother someday...not the beat them with coat hangers kind of horrible, but the unable to be strong and brave kind of horrible. Henry looked a little like he wanted to comfort me. And he's a cat. That's just pathetic.

Clearly I needed to make some rocking S'more bars to ease my pain and suffering.

(The recipe was courtesy of www.loveintheoven.com but this picture is mine. I wouldn't want anyone to think this passes as presentable for her!)

So, showkids, if I get some sleep then maybe I'll post more than I think I will. But if I'm a little light on the posting it's because I'm snuggled under my comforter and I've beat my alarm clock into submission.

Sunday Social: Food Glorious Food

I am so sad, y'all, that I missed last week's social. I heart fall. I adore fall. I would run away and elope with fall (Sorry DH!). Fall is by far my favoritist season. But last weekend we were in San Antonio with DH's family, so I was MIA for all the great fall posts. 

Have no fear, though...I'm back! And the topic this week is also near and dear to my heart. Food.

If you could only eat one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Oh I love and hate this question! My first thought is mashed potatoes, homemade of course. But then I think what about bread? And cheese? And beer? It's a food, right? Can I pick a category of food? Thank you, I'll just have carbs. Any and all carbs. In this hypothetical world, though, I'm guessing that since we can only eat one thing that the one thing will not ever cause us to gain weight, right? Cause friends, I'll be as big as a HOUSE if all I eat are carbs!

What's your guilty pleasure/comfort food?
Doughnuts. I can eat a dozen glazed doughnuts easy. Nope, you didn't read that wrong. Cake doughnuts are my favorite but I can only eat four or five at a time since they're heavier. Just because I CAN doesn't mean that I DO. Um, so all the girls from work are not allowed to comment here. Let's pretend that never happens.

The Canadian Healthcare from Hypnotic donuts. It's amazing. Courtesy of:
http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/pSZz8-G7xIUPbcGx4osgew?select=e2LKSN4Bj4oTb784U9XiGA#e2LKSN4Bj4oTb784U9XiGA

What's the weirdest/craziest thing you've ever eaten?
I think I may have tried pickled pigs feet as a kid. Not sure though. My grandmother was Czechoslovakian and made a variety of pickled foods to eat. My uncles would eat pickled pigs feet and pigs knuckles on New Year's Day every year when we grew up. I'm sure I tried them at some point. DH has eaten fried crickets. Since I'm engaged to him, can I claim that? 

What foods do you avoid at all costs?
Beets. People, listen up. Beets taste purple. Admit it, you all think they do but I'm the only one who will say something. Purple. Liver because my mom tricked us one time and told us it was steak. Yeah, sure. Not unless that steak was bad. Haggis. This hasn't yet been a problem, but DH and I have a trip coming up and something tells me that we'll be offered some haggis along with a wee dram. So I'm just preparing now to avoid it, the haggis that is.  I'm a planner like that.

What meal reminds you of your childhood?
Potato soup and homemade biscuits. My mom was a SAHM for most of the time growing up. My favorite memory is of walking in the door from school, the snowflakes still stinging my cheeks and feeling like I'd entered a giant cloud of bread. She often made bread from scratch and biscuits were always from scratch. Whenever there was soup there was biscuits or bread and cheese. I'd never thought about it until DH and I had beef stew the first time. I cut a bunch of chunks of cheese and ripped into a loaf of fresh Italian to go along with it while he looked perplexed. I assumed everyone ate these things together. 

Anyway, potato soup was a staple growing up. It was a hearty but not rich soup that had parsley and bacon or ham in it, and sometimes cheese melted through. The pot seemed gigantic when I was little but there was never very much left over. In the days that we used food wisely, it was a meal where we could eat until our little kid bellies bulged and we rolled away from the table.

I never learned how to make it. Mom, that can be my wedding present! Teach me how to make your soup.

Share one of your favorite recipes and the story behind it.

One night DH and I were jonesing for some Mexican, and we started looking through a cookbook that my bible study bought for me before I moved to Texas. Everything in the book sounded amazing but required a lot of forethought and work or special ingredients. We decided that we'd try making the enchiladas. I think the recipe called for roasting the chicken ourselves which led to us thinking "Rotisserie chicken, naturally!" and from there we chucked the book. It was a risk but really the worst that could happen is we ended up going out to eat if it was awful. They turned out to be freaking brilliant. You can jazz these up or down depending on what you like and how much heat you can stand. Substitute jalapenos for the chiles or salsa for the Ro-Tel!

DH and I's Easy Chicken Enchiladas

1 rotisserie chicken

1 regular can each of Ro-Tel, corn, black beans 

1 small can chopped green chiles

1 bag fiesta cheese or mexican cheese mix

1 jar or can of enchilada sauce - whatever flavor floats your boat

1 bag tortillas...flour work best for rolling but corn taste just as good

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Shred your chicken and add the contents of all the cans, drained. We usually leave a little bit of the rotel juice, but not much unless you want really wet enchiladas. Mix in a handful of the cheese to help it all hold together when you bake it.

Lightly oil a 13x9 pan or spread a spoonful of enchilada sauce in the bottom to help the tortillas not stick. 

Take a tortilla, swirl a little enchilada sauce on and fill with as much mixture as needed. We usually use about enough that it's sqooshing out the ends when we roll them. You'll have a LOT of the mix, so feel free to use as much as you want. Roll the filled tortilla and place seam side down in the dish. We jam as many as possible in, even along the sides. 

Cover with enchilada sauce to your liking, cover with as much cheese as you like and cover with foil. Bake for thirty minutes.

We eat the leftover filling by itself while waiting for the enchilada's to bake. it's also great in scrambled eggs in the morning. For those of you watching what you eat, according to Spark recipes they're roughly 130 cals using the corn tortilla - 3g fat, 12g carbs and 15g protein.

Next week's questions:

1. What were you like in Middle School/HS?(pictures)

2.  What were your favorite past times?

3. What songs were you obsessed with?(Backstreet Boys anyone?)

4. What fashion statement do you look back on and cringe?

5. Who was your celeb crush?

6. What were your favorite tv shows/movies?

Come link up with Neely and Ashley's Sunday Social!

Sunday Social: Dream Job

Sunday Social!!! This week may just be my favorite topic so far.


1. What is your dream job?

     Oh, a pastry chef! Or a chef! Or a sous chef....nah, forget that. I would love to be able to make money by spending time in the kitchen. You can see some of my cookies here, here, and here. Oh, and here!

2. If you had just won the lottery and didn't need to work for money, what would you do with your time?

    I would bake! And I think I would still work. I love being able to help kiddos and their families. I love my job. I would be a little lost without it and I would feel incomplete! I heart ears. 

3. When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?

    You spunky showkids, I was gonna be a STAR on Broadway! That was my longest lasting career plan. I fell in love with the stage around 6th grade, started private voice lessons in 7th grade, have an undergrad in Fine Arts and while I passed stage design I can't build you a model scene that involves stairs to save my life. I miss being on the stage at times even now. I don't sing as much as I used to. I haven't lost myself in a role in years. It's a bit sad.

4. What piece career advice would you give to someone just starting out in your field?

     Do everything you can to avoid student loans, because the fact of the matter is we do not make enough to offset what a doctorate costs. It's a fact, no matter what student loan officers will tell you! I guess that's really just good advice for anyone. Um...audiology advice. Be committed to your patients. Be present when you are at work, despite what else is going on in your life or home. Don't half-ass it because the only people that suffer are your patients.

5. Biggest Pet Peeves either in life or in blogging or at work

    Hold on to your hats! Talking around an issue - just say it already! If you can't communicate directly then I have a really hard time knowing what the heck you have a problem with. Overflowing trash cans. People leaving common spaces dirty or not put away for the next person. Being so preoccupied with self that things aren't ready for others. Icing that doesn't come out to the color or consistency it should be. 

Although my number one pet peeve would be bass. Yes, bass as in boom boom boom. If I am in a building and you are driving past, my breastbone and ossicles (or ear bones) should not be resonating. I know that it's job security for myself because you are losing your hearing by being an idiot, but it's that vibration in my bones that drives me bonkers!

6. Biggest Fears

    Being inadequate. Not walking in the Word. Losing DH before we're old and gray and die hand in hand because anything else is unthinkable. Being too self absorbed to see the hurt around me. Not reaching out enough to those who need a hand. Getting fat - it's true, even if it's such a selfish thing...oh wait, that's a self absorbed thing...Dang. 




Next week's questions, which actually make this set my second favorite because I adore Fall:

1. What is your favorite Fall activity?

2. Do you follow a football team? if so which one and why?

3. What is something fun about Fall in your area?

4. Fav Fall outfit staples?

5. Thing you are looking forward to most about this coming Fall season?

6. Favorite Fall holiday? Traditions?

Ay ya ya.....fiesta!

When I think of fiesta I think of The Three Amigos, sombreros, margaritas, pinatas and burros or donkeys. So when Little Monkey's 3rd birthday theme became a fiesta complete with taco bar and chili pepper pinata, I knew that I had to make donkey cookies.

I love to bake. I love starting with flour and sugar and a little salt, add some heat and voila! Cookies! Cake! Pastry! Pie dough...well, we're working on that one. Anyway, there is something magical and soothing about being in the kitchen for me. It's a way for me to pour my love into something that is shared with others. I never keep an entire batch of anything for myself. Pieces and slices and servings are doled out to friends, co-workers, family, DH's coworkers. Anyone. If it wouldn't be weird, I would leave anonymous  baked goods on strangers front doorsteps.

I hum, sing, dance and concentrate fiercely when I'm baking. When I'm icing cookies I end up with hand cramps and a chapped lower lip. I am like a small child concentrating on getting it "just right" and subconciously alternate between licking and biting my lower lip while I pipe and add details.

My kitchen looks perfect when there is disarray such as below...

The end result wasn't as great as I'd have liked, but I will be the first to admit that I am a very large Type A. Nothing short of perfection makes me happy when it comes to what I put out there.  I figure that no one at the party will even notice the uneven blankets when they taste the killer chocolate icing. Oh yeah, no dyed brown icing here....it's chocolate all the way!

Baking is my way of having my dream job for a few hours. Surrounded by baked goods...that's a great job!

I'm Thankful

So the fantastic Stasha is once again giving me something to think about with her Monday Listicle. This week it's thanks. Wow. It's so easy for us to forget what we can have to be thankful for and focus on the what isn't working for us.

10 Things to Be Thankful For

1. Sculpt class this morning at the gym. People, there was grunting, heavy breathing, sweating, and almost tears. I yawned at one point to try and pop my ear and the instructor caught me. That earned us some extra bicep work. Sorry classmates!!!! Seriously, after Zumba last week I was thinking group classes were not for me. But these women were encouraging, all sizes, laughed and got after it. I can totally do this type of class! As for how hard I worked, it's a little uncomfortable just to type and when I talked to DH earlier, it hurt to hold my cell phone by my ear.

2. DH. I am so thankful that God brought my perfect mate to me in His perfect timing. I had a mini-meltdown yesterday and DH wasn't sure what to do with me, but he knew to ask me what I needed and to reassure me when I confessed some of my fears to him. How amazing is it that I am marrying a man who makes me feel complete, even in the face of my insecurities.

3. Fresh basil and tomatoes on pizza. I made one for lunch and it pretty much rocked my face off. The only way it would have been better was if I had the time and knowledge to make my own crust.

4. My mom who will tell me what I need to hear, not what I want to hear. I called her last night very frustrated about something and she let me vent, let me tell her my thoughts, and while she was sympathetic, there was a mom instinct that kicked in. She told me what she honestly believed was in my best interests both short and long term. She was loving but not condescending. She was honest and didn't talk around the issue so that my feelings were not hurt. I'm so thankful for her.

5. I'm very thankful that even though I forgot to add water to the stuffed peppers, I think I'll still be able to eat them. Just saying.

6. Henry. I love him. This is him in his new crinkle toy. Puppy doesn't know what to do with this.

7. Ross Dress For Less, I am eternally grateful for you keeping me elegant for very little moola. And my SIL for loaning me the killer earrings that were perfect. I'm a little less thankful for the new wedges that were pretty comfortable and then weren't.

8. Cheap nail polish. Wet n wild megalast is pretty amazing for only a couple bucks. I love me some OPI, but at almost $10 a bottle, I generally don't splurge on it for myself.

9. Money in the bank. I know that might seem like a silly thing to be thankful for, but when you go from not knowing how you'll make ends meet every month to being blessed with enough and then even a little extra, dang. That is something I try to thank God for every day. That I don't have to choose which bills to pay or to choose between electricity or food.

10. Lists, links and blog friends who keep me writing, expand my ideas of what my blog can be and how real I can be online. Thanks to many of you.

Valentine's Treats?

Well it's that time of year again, friends. Sugar and rainbows abound. Glitter and love is found everywhere. Red is the predominate color...wear it or be held accountable. When you say "February" out loud it sounds like "red roses".

I thought I would try using some pearl or luster dust on this year's cookies. I had a vision...which didn't work out. I didn't even attempt the vision for this holiday. My vision involves DH for his steady hand, an exacto knife, stencil sheets and a rectangular cookie cutter. The most important part? The cookie cutter, which I have yet to order much less have in hand.

Sooooo...instead I thought "hearts". Predictable, right? But hearts it is. Not knowing how well the luster dust would work or how easy it would be to work with, I came up with a genius idea! In theory, a genius idea. I used a large scalloped edge heart cookie cutter for the cut-out. After I piped the outline on I used a #3 tip and piped my best approximation of a heart in the middle of the cookies. My piping skills leave much to be desired.

I flooded the whole cookie with regular white royal icing. My theory was that I could then come back and paint the small inner heart with luster dust mixed with vodka. Well....this is what I ended up with.

If I had known how easy the luster dust was to use, I would've just painted the hearts on freehand instead of trying to paint over wonky piped hearts. Word to the wise, though: when you mix your luster dust and extract/vodka, the dust appears to be evaporating and sparkly. It can be distracting. Seriously though the alcohol evaporates pretty fast so work quickly!

I also did some small hearts. At least they all taste brilliant even if they look less than stellar.

And to offset the cookies and sweets I and DH are sure to eat this weekend, I started drinking this Glowing Green smoothie (thanks Pinterest for the pin!). Here is the blender pre-blend. Oh, and I adapted the recipe a wee bit to use pineapple instead of mango due to the large amount of carbs and sugar in mango.

And here is the beautiful smoothie! The best part is that you can make it the night before if you have to, so tomorrow's breakfast will consist of opening the fridge, grabbing the smoothie container and some greek yogurt.

Done and done.

Thanksgiving

DH and I spent Thanksgiving with his dad and family and then on our own and then with his mom and family.

We made it through three meals and still fit in our pants. I did take a bunch of pictures of the Thanksgiving meal we made at his place. It was pretty traditional as far as my family goes - turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, green beans, corn, rolls, gravy and pies. We forwent (is that a word like "forgoes"?) the sweet potatoes simply because my mom never made them - and aunt did - and we're only two people. We can only eat so much, even when we're talking Thanksgiving. Below are some of the pictures of the prep and the meal.

And maybe the most gratifying part of creating a meal as a couple? Cleaning up as a couple. He even wanted me to just go relax - love him.

DH's mom's family lives in a great rural area and we spent most of our day after Thanksgiving up there. They have these...

Luckily no one lost any fingers; they say Mikey and Caroline are biters.
P.S. I finally found a pie crust recipe that lives up to the "no fail" part of it's name!!!! I found it HERE and shall never stray again. Don't let the many steps or the smashing of the butter phase you...

Pre-Thanksgiving Thoughts

I am thankful for having baking skills. I am also thankful for DH who will eat my pies no matter what they look like. Y'all, I'm scared of pie crust. I'm trying yet another one this week. And I'm making my first ever pecan pie. Shaking in my pants scared.

I'm thankful for a running partner who doesn't let me stop. I wish she would come over tomorrow and rub my sore calves. Those hills can bite me. Sigh...actually, after a couple more weeks we'll OWN those hills. Or at least be running them a little more consistently.

I'm thankful for family. I can't wait to talk with them on Thursday. I'll be missing my family, gathered around my parents dining room table. I'll probably cry for my mom at some point while making dinner for DH and I. She knows all the tricks. But I can't call her every 10 minutes when she's making her own feast for everyone.

I'm thankful for a break from work and a chance to plan for our Door Decorating contest after this break. I'm having fun just trying to figure out what the other teams are doing...especially the Circle Team. I'm incredibly tempted to cut just one circle into a square. Just one! I think it would be detrimental to my health though as Circle Cutting girl may cut me if I do that!

I'm thankful for grace, perspective, love, family, friends, running shoes, coffee, good books and pumpkin pie. But not pie crust.

So Excited!

My lovely strong wonderful handsome sweet thoughtful DH has a birthday this weekend! It's a weekend of celebrating the fact that he was born and was raised to be who he is, because he's perfect for me.

Plans: Stache bash including some killer cupcakes and fake mustaches, a birthday surprise event, and a Dutch Apple Pie.

Pictures will follow next week. Lots of goofy pictures, probably. The best kind to celebrate.

Sprinkles and Spooks

I'm trying to keep up with this posting at least every other day thing...tonight I had high hopes of writing a pretty hefty post after going for a run. Then I remembered that I needed to finish some cookies for both a weekend Halloweeny party and for DH's co-workers.

I totally adore these bats. I'm not sure why. Maybe I'm destined to have boys someday and I can make them a constant stream of batman themed cookies? Heavens, my possible future children are gonna be fatties.

The pumpkins were only a good idea in theory. I bought chocolate jimmies, or for you southerners "sprinkles" and was going to use them to emphasize the faces. That was only gonna be workable if I was going to place individual jimmies on the faces. This is the face I made when I realized the flaw in my plan!

On top of all of this my hands are stained grey and I tried to instigate a fight with DH because I'm tired and grumpy tonight. Luckily he deals with my particular brand of crazy well. Sigh. Maybe I should have gone running after all.

Because It's Fall and No Longer 90 Degrees Outside

The Deep South has finally dipped below the 90 degree mark. I have fingers crossed that this stays true and we don't have more Indian summer. DH and I made pumpkin pancakes this weekend because it's fall and I can now enjoy all things fall related!

Well, except for sweaters. And scarves. And long wool peacoats. And hot chocolate. And chili. And cool frosty mornings. Because it's hard to get into all this when it's still almost but not quite 90 degrees outside.

I did take some pictures of the pancake process, but nothing looked very appetizing once I looked at the frames, so I'll spare everyone. Y'all know what pancake batter looks like, right?

Pumpkin Pancakes
Makes around 12, depending on how big you like them
Heat griddle or large pan over medium heat. Coat with small amount of oil, cooking spray or butter. When cold water sizzles on the pan you are ready to go.

Pancakes
2 c flour
4 tsp baking powder
3/4 to 1 tsp salt - I use closer to 3/4 tsp since I have sea salt and it tastes saltier to me
2 tbsp sugar - sometimes I use a little extra when adding the pumpkin below due to the amount of spices being used.

Mix the above four ingredients to incorporate them together.

1 egg, well beaten
1 3/4 c milk
1/3 c oil

Mix together wet ingredients and add to dry. Stir together until just mixed - there will be lumps...that's ok.

Pumpkin part - I got this off the internet a couple years ago but have no clue from where, so I'm not trying to steal this as my own.
1 c pure pumpkin
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp nutmeg
1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
*I use 1/8-1/4 tsp clove in place of the pumpkin pie spice. Isn't pumpkin pie spice just cinnamon, nutmeg and clove anyway? So 3 tsp of spice may be overkill. Proceed cautiously!*

Mix pumpkin and spices then stir into pancake batter.

Drop 1/4 cup of batter onto pan. When the edges look dry and bubble it's probably time to flip them. Cook until brown on both sides.

This pancake recipe is one from an old old cookbook my momma has. It's a basic recipe and one that I have tweaked over the years, adding oats, taking away oil, adding applesauce. It's a great base.

So make some pancakes this week. Oh, and if it's cool enough, someone wear a sweater for me while sipping hot chocolate, ok?

Chicken Pot,Chicken Pot, Chicken Pot Pie: Friday Confessional

Did anyone else out there watch Just Shoot Me? The episode with Slow Donny who sang the chicken pot pie song? I would be rolling on the floor. To this day whenever anyone mentions chicken pot pie, which I love, it runs through my head.


Which brings me to pie. I am bound and determined to master pie dough. Pioneer Woman just had a guest post in her Cooking section about pie dough. I'm going to give this recipe a try. I love to make pies but have the worst time getting a dough that isn't wet or dry, that isn't full of holes or too thick, that isn't tough after it bakes.

I want to be Julia Child crossed with Ruth Reichl with a little Joy the Baker and Alton Brown thrown in. I want to be covered in a fine layer of sanding sugar and egg whites with flour under my fingernails. I want to start with the most basic of ingredients and create something unique.

Oh, and if anyone has a good chicken pot pie recipe that they'd like to share, I'm all about it!