...my Valentine's project...frosting recipe to follow after I figure out where I put it, oops!
Texas Sheet Cake
2 cups Sugar
2 cups All-Purpose Flour
¼ cup Unsweetened Cocoa
1 teaspoon Baking Soda
1 cup Water
½ cup Butter, cut into pieces
½ cup Shortening
½ cup Buttermilk
2 large Eggs
1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
Chocolate Icing
Grease and flour a 15*10 inch jelly-roll pan. Set aside. Whisk together first 4 ingredients in a large bowl, set flour mixture aside. Bring 1 cup water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Remove from heat; add butter and shortening. Let stand 5 minutes or until butter melts, whisking occasionally.
Whisk in buttermilk, eggs, and vanilla. Whisk egg mixture into flour mixture until blended. Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake at 400 F for 18 to 20 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool cake in pan 10 minutes. Spread icing over warm cake.
Friday, February 4, 2011
A very delays rants on life...
1---
So that's how you treat relationships? Come on now, who are you kidding with this crap? I can see through you because I know the real you. You have convinced yourself you genuinely care about this person, but what's going to happen in the next six months when you get bored? Well, here's your answer...you'll call me because you made a mistake and don't know what to do about it. Here's what will happen, you'll ride it out as long as possible until you make them miserable and they do everything possible to make you happy and it will never be enough. Why, you ask? Because you're trying to prove everyone wrong. You want people to believe you've grown up and are tired of playing game. Have you? Yes. Was this the right move? No because you have unresolved issues elsewhere.
2---
Okay, I can deal with a lot but how are you going to jump from relationship to relationship like that? Love doesn't grow on trees. I realize that you are desperate to find your soulmate, but we all know you can't generate a relationship out of thin air.
3---
The world is NOT your playground.
4---
I told someone I loved my bf the other day, they laughed and said they didn't think I had the heart to love. Wow, shows how much you know me. They said good luck with that one...how considerate? Like I don't have enough to consider by feeling this way about someone who appears not to believe in love or the possibility of it. I say look, I can tell in the thing he says that something is there. He's not one to waste time with something because there isn't a point. I'm tired of hearing the reasons people think he won't say the "L" word. Consider the fact that people get hurt a lot, from bits of stories I've caught him talking about some girls did some crappy things to him before and no one can overlook that. Yeah, he shouldn't carry that with him into a new relationship, but everyone does, even if it's just a little bit. I can't blame him. My body image issue is because of things an ex said to me. Not that any of this should matter to anyone, people should realize I'm happy, happier than I have been in such a long time. You may not like me, the things I say, the things I do, and you may not like him, but have a little respect for yourself and shut up, you make yourself look stupid when you open your mouth.
So that's how you treat relationships? Come on now, who are you kidding with this crap? I can see through you because I know the real you. You have convinced yourself you genuinely care about this person, but what's going to happen in the next six months when you get bored? Well, here's your answer...you'll call me because you made a mistake and don't know what to do about it. Here's what will happen, you'll ride it out as long as possible until you make them miserable and they do everything possible to make you happy and it will never be enough. Why, you ask? Because you're trying to prove everyone wrong. You want people to believe you've grown up and are tired of playing game. Have you? Yes. Was this the right move? No because you have unresolved issues elsewhere.
2---
Okay, I can deal with a lot but how are you going to jump from relationship to relationship like that? Love doesn't grow on trees. I realize that you are desperate to find your soulmate, but we all know you can't generate a relationship out of thin air.
3---
The world is NOT your playground.
4---
I told someone I loved my bf the other day, they laughed and said they didn't think I had the heart to love. Wow, shows how much you know me. They said good luck with that one...how considerate? Like I don't have enough to consider by feeling this way about someone who appears not to believe in love or the possibility of it. I say look, I can tell in the thing he says that something is there. He's not one to waste time with something because there isn't a point. I'm tired of hearing the reasons people think he won't say the "L" word. Consider the fact that people get hurt a lot, from bits of stories I've caught him talking about some girls did some crappy things to him before and no one can overlook that. Yeah, he shouldn't carry that with him into a new relationship, but everyone does, even if it's just a little bit. I can't blame him. My body image issue is because of things an ex said to me. Not that any of this should matter to anyone, people should realize I'm happy, happier than I have been in such a long time. You may not like me, the things I say, the things I do, and you may not like him, but have a little respect for yourself and shut up, you make yourself look stupid when you open your mouth.
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Guess who is crafty now...
So, some of you know that I like to dabble in crafty projects. I grew up in a not so craft oriented family on my dad's side. My family never taught me how to do anything domesticated. Everything I've learned I have pretty much taught myself. I learned how to make soy candles 2 years ago, scrapbooking about 5 years ago, so this year I am taking over quilting! I want to make a quilt for my grandparents 50th wedding anniversary in a few years and I want to get good at doing it so I can make it perfect for them.
My first quilting project was just a simple patchwork baby quilt. At first it was just a practice project and I was going to give it away, but I have decided you only make your first quilt once so I am keeping it for that "some day" when I have kids. I am pretty proud of myself right now. I just realized how much I do to keep my life going, ugh just thinking about it makes me sleepy.
Anyway, here are pictures of my little project...aww crap my memory card is in my car. Shoot, okay I'll post later, but you can find them on my facebook too (in the "There's always fun to be had album"). I did step by step pictures there.
My first quilting project was just a simple patchwork baby quilt. At first it was just a practice project and I was going to give it away, but I have decided you only make your first quilt once so I am keeping it for that "some day" when I have kids. I am pretty proud of myself right now. I just realized how much I do to keep my life going, ugh just thinking about it makes me sleepy.
Anyway, here are pictures of my little project...aww crap my memory card is in my car. Shoot, okay I'll post later, but you can find them on my facebook too (in the "There's always fun to be had album"). I did step by step pictures there.
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Student teaching and a little pot roast? hmm
As the week rounds out this weekend I'm looking back on my week and saying PHEW! I spent this week helping finish up the semester and getting my stuff ready for the new semester. It looks like I will be teaching Speech/Drama, Lit 1, and Lit 3 (2 regular classes and 1 TAG class!). I can't say that I'm not excited because I'm SO excited, especially to teaching Speech/Drama and the TAG class.
Meanwhile I'm still working on the baby quilt I decided last weekend I was going to make. I'm going to attempt to get the patchwork sewn up tomorrow. Looks like another trip to get the batting, how did I forget that? It's okay though because I need to decide on the color for the back too. Hmm, decisions, decisions...
It's been such a hectic week for me that I've barely talked to A either. Come to find out he's been just as busy at work. I miss him a lot. Some days it's easier than others, but I try not to think about it or I try to keep myself busy. I wish he was here to smack everyone who has baby fever. I told the bestie earlier tonight that all this baby fever makes a person scared to have sex! She laughed at me, but my point was people are constantly down my throat about having kids. I would bet that a more than a dozen people asked me when I got back from Cali if I had a ring or if we were going to have a baby. All I could do was stand there stunned, really people? Give me some time to readjust to being in a relationship, would ya? A and I joke about this stuff between, but that's us. Maybe me being so busy here will make people shut up about it for awhile.
Now for the meat and potatoes, literally...
Apple and Onion Beef Pot Roast
(This is a new recipe that I found today, kind of out of my comfort zone with apples and onions, but I'm trying it anyway.)
Ingredients:1 boneless beef sirloin tip roast (3 lbs), cut in half
1 cup water
1 teaspoon seasoned salt
1/2 teaspoon reduced-sodium soy sauce
1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1 large tart apple, quartered
1 large onion, sliced
2 tablespoons cornstarch
2 tablespoons cold water
1/8 teaspoon browning sauce
Directions:
Meanwhile I'm still working on the baby quilt I decided last weekend I was going to make. I'm going to attempt to get the patchwork sewn up tomorrow. Looks like another trip to get the batting, how did I forget that? It's okay though because I need to decide on the color for the back too. Hmm, decisions, decisions...
It's been such a hectic week for me that I've barely talked to A either. Come to find out he's been just as busy at work. I miss him a lot. Some days it's easier than others, but I try not to think about it or I try to keep myself busy. I wish he was here to smack everyone who has baby fever. I told the bestie earlier tonight that all this baby fever makes a person scared to have sex! She laughed at me, but my point was people are constantly down my throat about having kids. I would bet that a more than a dozen people asked me when I got back from Cali if I had a ring or if we were going to have a baby. All I could do was stand there stunned, really people? Give me some time to readjust to being in a relationship, would ya? A and I joke about this stuff between, but that's us. Maybe me being so busy here will make people shut up about it for awhile.
Now for the meat and potatoes, literally...
Apple and Onion Beef Pot Roast
(This is a new recipe that I found today, kind of out of my comfort zone with apples and onions, but I'm trying it anyway.)
Ingredients:1 boneless beef sirloin tip roast (3 lbs), cut in half
1 cup water
1 teaspoon seasoned salt
1/2 teaspoon reduced-sodium soy sauce
1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1 large tart apple, quartered
1 large onion, sliced
2 tablespoons cornstarch
2 tablespoons cold water
1/8 teaspoon browning sauce
Directions:
In a large nonstick skillet coated with cooking spray, brown roast on all sides. Transfer to a 5-quart slow cooker.
Add water to the skillet, stirring to loosen any browned bits; pour over roast. Sprinkle with seasoned salt, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce and garlic powder. Top with apple and onion.
Cover and cook on low for 5-6 hours or until the meat is tender.
Remove roast and onion; let stand for 15 minutes before slicing. Strain cooking liquid into a saucepan, discarding apple.
Bring liquid to a boil; cook until reduced to 2 cups, about 15 minutes.
Combine cornstarch and cold water until smooth; stir in browning sauce. Stir into cooking liquid. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened.
Serve over beef and onion.
Nutritional Analysis: One serving (3 ounces cooked beef with 3 tablespoons gravy) equals 173 calories, 6 g fat (2 g saturated fat), 69 mg cholesterol, 262 mg sodium, 4 g carbohydrate, trace fiber, 25 g protein.
RESULTS!!!
The recipes doesn't call for veggies, but I always add carrots. Later I added potatoes too.
This was right before I sliced potatoes.
End result...it wasn't too bad. The apples I was unsure of, but it added a little flavor. Normally, I think pot roast is bland and kind of tasteless. With the apples there was just a tiny bit off sweetness that made this taste delicious!
Add water to the skillet, stirring to loosen any browned bits; pour over roast. Sprinkle with seasoned salt, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce and garlic powder. Top with apple and onion.
Cover and cook on low for 5-6 hours or until the meat is tender.
Remove roast and onion; let stand for 15 minutes before slicing. Strain cooking liquid into a saucepan, discarding apple.
Bring liquid to a boil; cook until reduced to 2 cups, about 15 minutes.
Combine cornstarch and cold water until smooth; stir in browning sauce. Stir into cooking liquid. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened.
Serve over beef and onion.
Nutritional Analysis: One serving (3 ounces cooked beef with 3 tablespoons gravy) equals 173 calories, 6 g fat (2 g saturated fat), 69 mg cholesterol, 262 mg sodium, 4 g carbohydrate, trace fiber, 25 g protein.
RESULTS!!!
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
I survived the first day, only to have day 2 be a snow day...with a little protein shake recipe
This student teaching adventure is going to be another day longer. SNOW DAY! Don't get me wrong, this definintely helps my work schedule quite a bit. Today will be a long day working and then home to make my unit plan for my TAG class. Yesterday was an adventure of sorts. My first unit I get to plan and teach on my own will be on "The Great Gatsby." I may have read this book in school, but I just can't recall. I spent most of my day at school reading it yesterday. When I put the book down in several classes it was purely for behavioral issues with students. It is amazing how surprised you can be every day by the things your students are doing. Just the language they use is the flip side of how things were 10 years ago. It kind of felt like I was standing in a room full of 5 year old adults, not in a bad way, but they look so young and think they are in their mid 30s, what the heck? It's not really a shocker because I have been working with these students periodically over the last six months. I just can't see how society has change this much in such a short period of time.
Time to hit the go to work, hit the gym, and plan this unit!
Oooh, but before I go...yesterday I started drinking protein shakes again. I have always questions the whole peanut butter and bananas ideas, but no longer will I ever do that. I use 1scoop of vanilla whey protein, 1 bananas (better if they are a little bruised), a big spoon full of peanut butter, 6-8 oz skim milk. Blend that bad boy up and drink! This was SO good. I'm off to the store to get more bananas today.
Time to hit the go to work, hit the gym, and plan this unit!
Oooh, but before I go...yesterday I started drinking protein shakes again. I have always questions the whole peanut butter and bananas ideas, but no longer will I ever do that. I use 1scoop of vanilla whey protein, 1 bananas (better if they are a little bruised), a big spoon full of peanut butter, 6-8 oz skim milk. Blend that bad boy up and drink! This was SO good. I'm off to the store to get more bananas today.
Monday, January 10, 2011
Day 1
Monday, Monday, Monday (not said with enthusiasm either). Well the time has finally arrived, today I start my student teaching at Keokuk High School with my former English teacher. Here's to 12 weeks of juggling...all of my ad have said it's best not to work and student teaching, but seriously what choice do I have? So I'm up at 430 am today working, then school, then working out/working. I'm going to be one tired/busy/exhausted/relieved lady when April finally gets here. It looks like I'll have a day or two off from school this week already though because the snow is supposedly coming. What does this mean for me? Actually it's great for my work schedule because I can work a 12 hours day and free up a day at the end of the week for less to be on that To Do list of mine. I start my first class of the year next Tuesday which stacks on the rest of the deck. Three more classes and I'm done with that portion of this darned Master's program.
On the other side of things I talked to A last night finally. I haven't really talked to him for that last few days which kind of bugged me, but that's how weekends usually are for us. He's off work and busy doing whatever and I take that time to relax and catch up with my family and friends. Well it wasn't a good thing for me not being able to talk to him because I didn't sleep well. In three days I slept two hours...talk about TIRED! I'm used to talking to A before I go to bed and my body was asking what the heck was going on. Well getting back in the groove of things since I came back from Cali played a part in all that too. I was so used to A being there that coming home and remember my routine here was a joke.
Someone asked me the other day how I thought things were going...no complaints really. I miss him like crazy, it was so hard to come home. I'm here to finish up my stuff and get things straight in my world. He's there doing his thing. I can't lie and say it's easy because it's not, but I have a best friend who understand and family who seem to finally care about the guy in my life. My family is been strange about A. Normally, they wouldn't care who I was with or what was going on. This time around everyone is asking about him, how he is, when he deploys, how we are, if I talked to him, etc. It's been a very odd change of pace. I miss him like crazy. Seeing people you know out with their significant others is the hardest part about them not being here, but when you think of why he's not here, I smile because I'm proud of him. Every single time I think about him I smile, I almost cry, and then I smile again. A psychiatrist was describe that as masochism, ehhh some of us call this our normal for now.
Lesson of the morning: Blessings aren't always what you think they are, enjoy those that come into your life even if they are a world away. Never pretend to not care about someone because it may be what's holding them together.
More to come later on day one of the student teaching...it should be a quiet week at school. It's finals week for my students and I'll be planning lessons all week!
On the other side of things I talked to A last night finally. I haven't really talked to him for that last few days which kind of bugged me, but that's how weekends usually are for us. He's off work and busy doing whatever and I take that time to relax and catch up with my family and friends. Well it wasn't a good thing for me not being able to talk to him because I didn't sleep well. In three days I slept two hours...talk about TIRED! I'm used to talking to A before I go to bed and my body was asking what the heck was going on. Well getting back in the groove of things since I came back from Cali played a part in all that too. I was so used to A being there that coming home and remember my routine here was a joke.
Someone asked me the other day how I thought things were going...no complaints really. I miss him like crazy, it was so hard to come home. I'm here to finish up my stuff and get things straight in my world. He's there doing his thing. I can't lie and say it's easy because it's not, but I have a best friend who understand and family who seem to finally care about the guy in my life. My family is been strange about A. Normally, they wouldn't care who I was with or what was going on. This time around everyone is asking about him, how he is, when he deploys, how we are, if I talked to him, etc. It's been a very odd change of pace. I miss him like crazy. Seeing people you know out with their significant others is the hardest part about them not being here, but when you think of why he's not here, I smile because I'm proud of him. Every single time I think about him I smile, I almost cry, and then I smile again. A psychiatrist was describe that as masochism, ehhh some of us call this our normal for now.
Lesson of the morning: Blessings aren't always what you think they are, enjoy those that come into your life even if they are a world away. Never pretend to not care about someone because it may be what's holding them together.
More to come later on day one of the student teaching...it should be a quiet week at school. It's finals week for my students and I'll be planning lessons all week!
Friday, January 7, 2011
Sweet & Sour Chops!
We tried this recipe tonight, it wasn't bad, but I would suggest fairly thick chops and making the sauce before you cook them and marinading them for atleast 30 minutes. It would be more flavorful this way. Use again leftover sauce from cooking and mix with white/brown rices. Yum-tastic!
Sweet and Sour Pork Chops
Ingredients List:
½ cup sugar1/3 cup white vinegar
6 tablespoons canned pineapple juice
1 tablespoon corn starch
2 teaspoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
8 lean boneless pork chops
Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Directions:
1. In a small saucepan, combine the sugar, vinegar, pineapple juice, corn starch, and soy sauce. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to a simmer and cook until clear and thickened, 2 minutes.2. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add pork chops, season with salt and pepper, and brown on both sides, 4 to 5 minutes total. Pour sauce over chops, cover, and cook over low heat for 50 minutes, turning frequently.
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