Ima Foodie

Some days I wonder if I am in the right profession.  I LOVE teaching but I also LOVE food.  I am finding as I watch shows like Master Chef and Chopped I want to go buy the ingredients from their mystery boxes and see what I can make out of them.  I spend half the time watching the show debating about what I could make or how I could change something they are doing and make it better.


I have to this point been a recipe girl.  I make a lot of recipes all of the time, the right way first, and after that I make the necessary tweaks to make it just a bit better.  I have recently decided that I am going to be a brave cook and make up my very own creations.  I mean, I have all the essentials, I can cook an egg...right... several ways, I can even cook chicken.  Yes, people don't cook these seemingly easy things properly...who knew? I know what flavors absolutely don't go together and some that don't seem like they would work but do.  I feel as though I should be braver and bolder!  So I shall!


Speaking of food...my menu has been working out brilliantly.  I had to switch a few things around but so far delicious is the word that describes everything I have made!  I have a few brief notes however:


1.  Tequila Glazed Chicken...perfect.
2. Bourbon Glazed Pork Chops...might try marinating those bad boys and then glazing while they cook.
3. Asian Glazed (apparently I am into glazing right now)Chicken Thighs....flavor AMAZING but I would grill rather than bake on a broiling rack.
4. Basil Chicken Breasts...tasty but WAY too buttery (I know, I know, Julia would disagree, but I am counting calories!)


Tonight we have Slow Cooked Beef Tips and Pearl Onions served over Old Fashioned Smashed Taters.  This is similar to a bourginon (and yes, I should know how to spell this but alas...I don't.) but not quite the same.  I started it at 8:15 this morning....my house smells like slow cooked amazingness right now!!!

I intended to blog about all the school madness that is going on in my world...but food was much happier and more inspiring today! 

B

Monday Mania

So I got a text from my principal last night that read, "Stop planning.  I need to meet with you tomorrow at 10:30."  Naturally, being the worry wart that I am I INSTANTLY freak out. My goes to all the places it shouldn't...first being that I got let go (since MCS has decided they may not actually want people to teach English or History) or second, that...dum dum dum...I was going to have to teach 10th grade...neither of which was the case but I did successfully and completely worry myself into a mess all night.  Come to find out all is well, I still get my Juniors and Seniors and bonus...I get to coach an intramural sport...softball I believe...that should be a story in and of itself since I haven't the foggiest about it.

I got to school this morning and was greeted by one of my summer senior's smiling silly face and I was so happy because suddenly I was not freaking out anymore.  He mauled me with a bear hug and talked forty miles a minute telling me all the news I missed all summer as he escorted me down the hall.  I had been wondering all summer what going back to school would be like, as this was my first "teacher summer," and it was just wonderful.  I missed the smell of the halls and all my friends smiling and eager to talk with each other.  I missed my wild and crazy bunch of students who all hugged me like they hadn't seen me in a year...it was, well, like coming home. 

All of these happenings today got me thinking about just how thankful I am that I am at my school (most people think I am nuts but I love my school...alternative and all!), and how lucky I am to have a been, thus far, shielded from the mass lay offs.  I have felt all along like I have a purpose for being at my school, God has led me a lot of places I didn't like but needed to be and this time I feel like I want and need to be where I am.  I hope He has the same idea in mind!

With that in mind I have decided on a few verses I am going to STRIVE to live by, prayerfully and I think they will help me be daily more the kind of person my students need in their lives.

"Do all things without grumbling or questioning..."  Philippians 2:14

"She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue."  Proverbs 31:26

Really all of Proverbs 31 is relevant but I think I am going to take it one verse at a time.  Lastly, is of course on of my favorites:

"I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength."  Philippians 4:13

B

A Little Dinner Delight

As you may or may not know...I love to plan.  Everything.  All summer I have been working on various projects....one of which I should be doing right now instead of typing but it is just going to have to wait...anyway...I have accomplished a lot!   Most of it is painting and touch-ups around the house and you saw the curtains already but my big planning this week is:

Skip Christmas Trip to Cancun Money Saving Extravaganza!!!!

Whatever you are reading into that title is true, guaranteed!  As many of you know, the Husband HATES to spend money...I should video tape it sometime he looks like someone died or like he might die at any moment.  It's funny business.  However, it causes me all kinds of trouble...like having to save every penny I can think of so he feels like he is justified....crazy man!  So, because of ALL of that I have planned a glorious menu of dinners for the next week and a half.  I cook most nights anyway but having an actual menu calms the inner scrooge in my husband.  I am pretty excited about it:

Saturday:  Bourbon Grilled Pork Chops with an Onion Tart and Salad
Sunday:  Leftover day (I made lasagna this week and he will eat it ALL)
Monday:  Los (we always go out on Monday)
Tuesday:  Tequila Glazed Grilled Chicken Thighs w/ Grilled Corn and Salad
Wednesday" Asian Glazed Chicken Thighs w/ Rice and Edamame
Thursday:  Leftover night (we must not waste!)
Friday:  Steak Night with Baked Sweet Potatoes and (you guessed it) Salad
Saturday: Basil Grilled Chicken Breast with Homemade Potato Chips
Sunday:  Something in the slow cooker, haven't decided yet...probably a roast
Monday:  Los
Tuesday:  Broiled Shrimp with Green Beans and Broccoli
Wednesday: Blackened Tilapia with Boiled Okra, Black Eyed Peas, and Salad

Whew!   That's a lot of cooking!  I will let you know how it all comes out and how well we stick to it!!  All of these recipes are "healthified" as well so if any are interesting let me know and I will post you some links!!

So now for the Cancun of it all...the fabulous First Lady and her hubs decided they wanted to go on vacation and "skip Christmas"  so naturally they invited the Tryko and her hubs...they were sharing all about it and asked if we wanted to join....So...we will be having Christmas on the sandy shores of a beach resort...which all came as perfect timing.

I am very excited because I have something HUGE as a goal so I stay on top of things!  Plus I get to plan like a fool...which always makes me happy!

I still have more I want to share but I will try and save it for later!  

B

P.S.  Harry Potter is out and boy am I excited....Harry Potter has been around since I graduated high school...so he's a pretty big deal!

Give a hoot!

Wow, I didn't realize that I have not blogged since June, my apologies!  I had a wonderful weekend last week, I gotr to have my 9 year old niece for a few days and we had a blast.  I have told several of you all about it so I am just going to post our fun in some pics:

And this is Nellie's opinion of all that fun:

Well that's all for this little update!  I have one to follow right after this but I can't make them fit together so you get a Friday bonus blog!  I know you are thrilled!

B

Living the Lubbock Life

Well, I thought I would post a little more of my Lubbock fun!

For one thing there are jack rabbits everywhere and they are just huge and awkward, like so:

Also, I found out that you can purchase all kinds of crazy "exotic" animals here, including prairie dogs.  Now I was extremely amused by this as they live all over the sides of the roads in good 'ol Colorado...but here...pets.  Obviously, since I had never had the opportunity before...I had to hold one.  He was fat and squishy and sorta soft...he had ugly teeth though...and he LOVED a good belly rub!  I also learned that they have no depth perception and if left on a high surface...will walk right off of it and kill him self and not have a clue...ha....prairie dogs.  You can also buy marmosets, which is weird and cool all at once...so tiny...so cute:

We pretty much shopped til we dropped all day!  We went to Texas Tech again to go to their greek shop because i thought a XO t-shirt with Texas Tech on it would be a great souvenir...they were sol out so i ended up with a keychain and a luggage identifier...Rho Beta go Chi O!!!!

We also went to all these cute decorating shops.  They have some interesting trends here in Texas!  They like to paint metal and cut out words and such then glue glass and beads, etc on them to make them pretty...I got two pieces to bring home, I will take pics and post once they are hanging in their new homes at my house!!!

We also ate at this little burger joint called Blue Sky Burgers...they were SO good.  It's like a fast food/sit down place...man that trend is spreading like wild fire!   It was one of the best burgers I have had and um...can I just say...we have all had Huey's so I know a good burger when I meet one!

The highlight of the day though had to be Painting with a Twist.  It's this little shop, apparently we have one in Germantown...I will be frequenting it, and they have painting classes several nights a week.  Now this is not a technique painting class, they simply walk you through steps to paint the painting you signed up for off of their calendar.  It's so fun, go at your pace...and you end up with a pretty neat piece of art...but you know what else is cool?   You can bring wine!  Yea!   You can also have painting parties and you get to pick out the painting your group wants them to show you how to paint.  Tonight we did "Looking Up,"  I think it turned out nicely:

Well, I start the trek back to Memphis tomorrow afternoon.  I am NOT going straight through all 12 hours this time!  Going to stop in Dallas, spend the night and get up and hopefully be back to my house and my pup and my wonderful husband by lunchtime or shortly thereafter on Saturday!!!  Texas is a fun adventure but turns out...I like to be at home with my man!!

See you soon Volunteer state!!!

Trek through Texas...

HOLY WOW FOLKS!!!   One, Texas is HUGE...I drove through it all day and I never got to the other side...like for real...9 hours and there were at least 300 miles left when I reached my destination!

On my trek I saw the following (in order of appearance):

Texas Ranches complete with horses and cows, Dallas, Six Flags, Cowboys Stadium, tumbleweeds, Ft. Worth, lots of empty land, mesas, Abilene...and then....the wonder of the trip....ocean of wind mills.   Literally...there were so many wind mills I couldn't keep count or track of where I was even counting.  They were on all sides of me...everywhere.  I couldn't stop and take a picture on my way but I plan to on they way home.  For those who are curious they looked like this:

The husband and the Nellio seem to be surviving day/night one without me....poor Dinah kitty though, she is probably feeling very neglected...how could anyone neglect this kitty?

I am looking forward to my few days here in good 'ol Lubbock, on the list of things to do are the Chi Omega house at Texas Tech, a painting class, and....well...that's all we have so far...ah the big city...ha.

Alright, 12 hours of road has made exhausted!  I will finish reading Bossypants and go to sleep, I remembered my own pillow and the husband put the white noise app on my phone so it should be a good night!!!!

Life is sew fun!

I finished up the piano room curtains today and they are beautiful!  Could not have done it without the help of my FABULOUS mother-in-law, I like to call her Mama O!!!!  Here they are and man am I proud:

Beautiful fabric

Just sewed on the European Black linen---fancy huh?

Side view

Front view--going to have to figure out how to anchor the middle of that rod

Opposite side of the room view

Finally some decent light...shouldn't have used the phone camera!

Yea!  Curtains in a picture story!  I will have to take a better picture later with my real camera so you can get the full effect of the big, amazing print!  All in all it took about 4 hours to make these bad boys.  Now that I know how to add fabric to the bottom and make the side seams and lengths match...I think I will be much faster the next time.

Oh and just so you all know...this is what miss Nellio thinks of my curtains and that fact that I am blogging right now and not throwing her a ball...R.O.T.T.E.N.

"Why won't she ever get off that infernal computer....gah!"

In other Otey Abodey news....the room formerly known as "the empty room of sorrow" has now been occupied by the husband's mountains of boxes for work.  Until he removes them I shall call it, "the room of cardboard and potential."  I think I might just stack the boxes into the form of a chair and a side table...at least then the boxes have a purpose outside of making my giant empty room look like an animal moved in....thanks husband.

Cooking lesson of the day:

When making a glaze and using cornstarch....let the stuff actually get hot enough to thicken your glaze or guess what?   Your glaze will remain runny.  There is good news though, even when runny, Tequila Glazed Grilled Chicken Thighs are spicy and delicious, especially with homemade potato chips!

Glaze: Tequila, Honey, Pineapple juice, and Red pepper Flakes

They're a little blurry but: grilled boneless chicken thighs

Homemade potato chips....they make Lays look depressing!

Well that is all the merriment I have to share today!   Future blogs include:  Escapades in Trenton, Weekend Cooking Madness, and Trek to the Desert aka Lubbock, TX!

Until then.

Just Another Thursday

So, week one of summer has been nice so far.  I have gotten to workout everyday, on MY schedule...that rocks.  I don't have to make all kinds of food decisions for lunches, just a nice easy, healthy salad.  I finally feel like I have a handle on the mess that has been me the last several months.  No school, on both counts, its all very refreshing.

Last night I made two new recipes and they were amazing!!  I made flank steak with a gorgonzola cream sauce and stuffed zucchini.  Here are some pics!

zucchini in prep

Complete!!!!

  Lastly for today, I am seeking a new title for this little blog of mine.  So if you have any suggestions let me know!!!  Short one for today, I have lots of cleaning to do for the weekend...maybe I will be more clever tomorrow,,,today, its all food!!!

P.S. readers, if you find errors....I am OK with them...I am not perfect and so neither is my blog.

Summer, oh sweet summer!

They were the best of times, they were the worst of times yet somehow...I lived...technically...I am not done with this year until 3 pm....but I am going to consider making it until today a victory.  I learned SOOOO much more than I can ever type in one sitting so plan on a summer filled with stories and teaching lessons.  I have two for today:

• Never, and I do mean NEVER let teenagers see you cry.  I did not cry because I am a tough cookie...but my neighbor across the hall did and she had a world of trouble from that day on...the students will eat you if they know you have a weakness....

• Turns out.....I don't like anyone under the age of sixteen, they are squirrely and want to touch EVERYTHING....they make me want to kick puppies...and we all know that I LOVE puppies....so freshman....beware!  

In other news, last night I made the BEST turkey meatballs in existance!  Now...they probably were not quite as healthy as I set off to make them but they were rocking good!  Should you want to attempt:

1 lb ground turkey
3 tbls Worschester (can't spell it or say it right)
1/4 cup italian bread crumbs
2 cloves minced garlic
3 tbls dried onion flakes
1/4 mozzerella cheese
1/4 parmesan cheese
1 egg
pepper...yeah I just ground a good bit in...

Mix and roll into meatballs, cook as desired, baking is best but I like to pan sear them.  Tweak as desired...the husband likes more worschester so sometimes I add more of that.  Meatballs can be eaten on a sub or in spaghetti (I use Spinach Al Dente noodles)!!!

I also made a new AMAZING blackened salmon recipe...I will have to save that for another day....teaser...come back and read more!

Nellie had an unexpected guest a few weeks ago and this is what they did all weekend:

Buckley and Nellie

He was ALWAYS trying to get in her bed!   Not sure why but Nell just would not scoot over and accomodate hime so he stole paret of her blanket...it's probably because he is a sneezer...I wouldn't want to sleep with him either!

In summer project news:

I am going to finish curtains for our piano room, empty dining room, and finally our guest bedroom.  I also have to paint at least two rooms but I am currently avoiding that project.  Here is a picture of the fabric for the piano room curtains:

It is going to be fabulous in my piano room!  I am going to add pops of color on the wall using any left over pattern I have.  I am going to spray paint it funky colors and frame them in funky ways for a wall collage...pics to come!!

Well I suppose I should go find something productive to do to finish the day with a bang.  I leave you a picture of two of my ....well...more memorable students on their Senior Day!  Oh...there will be stories!



Wayne, Justin, and Steven (in that order)

I will leave you to guess which two made me laugh and want to pull my hair out almost simultaneously on a daily basis!

Renewal

I am so excited, somethings have been going on at church that have been rocking my world.  I went to Lent this year, I had no idea it's not actually Catholic...did you know that?  Do some research you will learn a lot. 

Lent service was one of the most sobering, humbling things I have ever done.  It showed me just how selfish I really am and how self-centered my world is.  Even as I write this it is all, I, me, and my...I am focusing all my efforts on renewing my spirit and not being so selfish.  I am trying not to tell people I won't do things just because I am not in the mood or skipping out on things because I don't know people and feel uncomfortable...or even just going to the gym and forcing myself to say hello to people and take on the possibility of having a conversation I didn't plan on.

I have become very closed off, I only want to do what I desire and only with the people I desire to be with.  I never really go out of my way anymore and it makes me sad that I have become this way...so I change and grow.

We had three quotes in our bulletin this week that really hit me hard, I thought I would share:

"How much do you have to hate somebody to not proselytize (look it up, I sure had to!)?  How much do you have to hate somebody to believe that everlasting life is possible and not tell them that?  If I believed beyond a shadow of a doubt that a truck was bearing down on you, there is a certain point where I would tackle you, and this is more important than that."
                                     ~Penn Jillette, comedian and avid aethist  (Yes, Penn & Teller)

"The best argumentfor Christianity is Christians:  their joy, their certainty, their completeness.  But the strongest agument against Christianity is also Christians- when they are somber and joyless, when they are self-righteous and smug in complacent consecration, when they are narrow and repressive, then Christianity dies a thousand deaths."
                                     ~Sheldon Vanauken

Oh yes, and very unimportantly but exciting for me....it's finally Spring Break!!!!  Thank goodness!
        
         

Where's my Christina?

So, I know it's been a while and truly, I could have made time to type and fill everyone in on life...but....I have been lazy...like colossally lazy.  I got done with the hard semester of school and it's like I crash landed into a wall and have been stuck in the splatter. 

While determining if I am staying in the splatter or not I have watched all but 2 episodes of Grey's Anatomy.  I mean all....as in 6 seasons worth of surgical madness and drama.  I am not caught up to the current season because it is not on Netflix and my Tivo has a full schedule (yes, apparently I am a TV junky).  While watching the show though I did have a realization.....I need a Christina.

Meredith has Christina and their relationship is so important Derrick will literally leave his room so they can talk...I mean...that is some kind of friendship.  Now I don't need my husband to give up his side of the bed for another girl...but it would be nice to have a Christina.

Now don't get me wrong I have some seriously awesome friends but I was last to the party so they all already have their Christina.  All my friends have that one friend...the person they call at weird hours of the day and night and randomly go out with throughout the week; the one they don't feel silly or afraid to just call whenever....so....I have decided I need mine.  Don't have a clue when or how but surely....as Snow White looks for her prince....some day my Christina will come...haha