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Wednesday, June 2, 2010

Bowman and Blue Cheese

This week I dove headlong into studying for the NCLEX (or nursing boards). Except it wasn't so much of a dive as it was like someone came up and pushed me in a cold pool, clothes, cell phone, and all. That's besides the point today.

Last week I was in Baltimore visiting my sister, brother-in-law and new nephew Bowman (who just started his own blog, you should check it out)! He loves drinking, pooping, sleeping, fussing and U2. And he is, of course, the cutest baby in the world. See exhibit A.

Exhibit A.
See what I mean? Any-who, while I was there I stumbled upon a culinary treat: blue cheese. Now, I am not entirely a blue cheese lover, but in moderation it is superb. We ate at The Dogwood in Hampden. Semi-fancy restaurant, with walls that look like a 5 year old painted. It was local and community focused, which is cool. There I had blue cheese macaroni. The blue cheese was a little overpowering, but I was inspired nevertheless.

Later that week I ventured to make my own version of a blue cheese pasta. I adapted the recipe from the good 'ol Betty Crocker Cookbook. Here's what happened:

1) Gather ingredients: 2 tbs butter, 2 cups milk (I used half cream half milk), garlic, some blue cheese (adapt based on how much you like, I used around 1/2 a cup crumbled up), 1 cup of shredded mozerella cheese, 1/2 a cup of parmesan, pasta (we used whole wheat spaghetti) 2) Cook spaghetti. Once it's a done as you like it (I prefer a little al dente) drain and put back in pot (maybe add a little olive oil to keep it from sticking if you want)

3) Meanwhile (I love when recipes say that because it means you have to be MULTI-TASKING in the kitchen, which is always fun), melt the butter and add the garlic to saute for a little bit. Turn head on med-low and add the milk. Warm milk til it coats the spoon.

3) Now dump the cheese in the milk mixture. Stir the cheese in to melt it.

4) Once it's mostly melted, pour that into the pasta and mix it in real good. Some of the cheese will be goopy (or at least it was for me because I'm impatient). Now cover the pot and let it sit there. For a while. Like ten minutes or so. Or longer depending on what you have to get done.


4) Garnish with some basil. Why basil? It's what we had. Now EAT IT. and enjoy.

Thursday, May 20, 2010

Life

It happens. I feel like it (life) has been running past me at sprinter speed and I'm doubled over trying to catch my breath in the slow lane. Since I last blogged I graduated from college, moved out of my house, went to Disneyland, and came to Baltimore (my current location). It's been a whirlwind of fun.

This is such a time of life transition and I haven't totally processed it yet. It's odd to think that I've been in school of 16 years and for the first time since I was 4 I won't be heading back to the classroom in August. A little part of my identity has to change (woah - things just got deep). But until reality has to hit me I'm just going to avoid it by cuddling my adorable nephew, who is fussing right now...so I should go....

Thursday, May 6, 2010

It is finished.




I don't mean to be blasphemous. I meant my thesis is finished. All 81 pages of it. Glorious. It was a labor of love, and hate. Kind of one of those things that I never actually thought I would finish when I started going to U of A 4 (!!!!) years ago. But I wrote it. It is a continuation of the research I started when I went to Vancouver last summer on women with breast cancer. I learned a ton about research and writing papers and can't wait to do it again (not!).

Friday, April 30, 2010

Bliss

I know a picture is worth a thousand words, so please enjoy this 5,000 word essay on one of the happiest days of my life!



Wednesday, April 7, 2010

the bacon that changed my life and other thoughts


Stop what you're doing. Right now. Go to the grocery store and buy bacon and brown sugar (unless you have them). Make this recipe. Immediately. It will rock your world.

Last week marked the last day in a hospital working un-paid! I had my last day working in the pediatric intensive care unit, and while the experience was overall really wonderful, I am happy to be done.

Now, instead of doing 12-hour days at the hospital, I'm working furiously on my thesis. 28 days and counting until I have to be done.

Cheesiest (but best) thing I've done in awhile is start the Saucy Supper Society with 2 other lovely ladies. We get together and make delicious (and sometimes not so delicious) food we wouldn't dare make on our own. It's fantastic! Check the picture above to see our lovely Tapas Night spread!

Also, if you don't yet, watch Modern Family. It's my favorite show right now. It will make your life better.

Saturday, March 13, 2010

Self-decalred Foodie

I'm claiming it out loud. I'm a foodie.

I've watched three episodes of Gourmet's Diary of a Foodie just today. And baked pecan rolls.

Thursday, March 4, 2010

Pathways to joy in work













One of my classes this semester is Leadership and Management in Nursing (or something like that). As I studied a lecture on Motivation for my midterm I found a slide about Pathways to Joy in work. Our book covered Manion's work on personal pathways that individuals used to find joy in work.

Three of these pathways to joy (the love of work pathway, the achievement pathway and the recognition pathway) were pretty average. People find joy from loving their job, people find joy from praise, blah blah blah. But my favorite pathway was the connections pathway. It identifies that relationships were the primary source of joy for all participants in the study. The relationships were with colleagues, patients or families and involved caring for, talking with, relating to, or helping others. All these aspects exemplified the pathway of connections that leads to joy.

I've always known this. I've grown up hearing my dad say "relationships are everything" and have firmly believed in cultivating friendships over dedicating hours to working. Jesus talks about this too, after all He tells us to love one another. And to hear this verified by legitimate study in my textbook is pretty exciting. You can find joy in any job because of relationships. One more thing to look forward to in starting in the real world: finding more joy.

photo link: http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh253/SUZIEPEREZ/jumping-for-joy-6-1.jpg