Good morning,
It's Saturday morning. And I'm at work. And I got home from work last night at 10pm. I started today at 6:30am. Today is going to be a busy day. I have a costume ball at LACMA with my mother tonight and I haven't finished my costume. I am trying to get back into the grove I had going at our old place. I haven't been cooking much at all even though I now have use of a much better oven. I also need to get used to being around other people again. This is only really a problem when I am cooking or when I get home from work. I really can't handle anyone but Jono right when I get home from work. And the longer the day the less I can handle. When I'm cooking, as I have said before, I listen to my stories. This becomes an issue when other people want to come in and talk to me while I'm listening. Now anyone who reads a lot knows how annoying this can be. I have to stop what I'm doing to turn off the story to listen to them and then turn it back on. I get rather annoyed with this and it throws me off completely. Maybe this is why I haven't really been cooking. But I have hopes for this weekend. I hope to be able to cook at least something tomorrow. I have realized how unused to seeing people other then Jono at home I have become. I have to get used to dealing with other people. I've gotten so used to being by myself so much of the time. This is going to take a little getting used to.
hugs+kisses
mce
Saturday, October 29, 2011
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
let the madness begin!
Good morning!
It's Tuesday. I know you may know this but I need to remind myself. I've been so busy over the weekend that I've lost track of the days. Do you want to hear about my weekend? Well if you don't stop reading right.....now.
We moved!!!!! Surprised? I am. We decided Friday night that the drive was no longer worth it for Jono. Before he was driving on the 405 at off hours so he didn't have too much traffic. But with his new hours he hits all the traffic. So we moved in with his mom again. Not ideal but it's better then where we were. We still have to pay rent for November so we didn't move all our stuff. Only our bed and a dresser. We moved into her guest room so we moved all the stuff that was in there out. We did all that yesterday. Needless to say I am completely exhausted. We still have most of our stuff at our other place and none if it is packed. Which is ok since we need to make room for it all in the garage before we move it. I didn't realize how much location really means to me till we moved. I am so much happier. We've taken the first step but there are a lot more to go.
I hope you all had a productive weekend!
hugs+kisses
mce
It's Tuesday. I know you may know this but I need to remind myself. I've been so busy over the weekend that I've lost track of the days. Do you want to hear about my weekend? Well if you don't stop reading right.....now.
We moved!!!!! Surprised? I am. We decided Friday night that the drive was no longer worth it for Jono. Before he was driving on the 405 at off hours so he didn't have too much traffic. But with his new hours he hits all the traffic. So we moved in with his mom again. Not ideal but it's better then where we were. We still have to pay rent for November so we didn't move all our stuff. Only our bed and a dresser. We moved into her guest room so we moved all the stuff that was in there out. We did all that yesterday. Needless to say I am completely exhausted. We still have most of our stuff at our other place and none if it is packed. Which is ok since we need to make room for it all in the garage before we move it. I didn't realize how much location really means to me till we moved. I am so much happier. We've taken the first step but there are a lot more to go.
I hope you all had a productive weekend!
hugs+kisses
mce
Saturday, October 22, 2011
New path
Good evening!
I'm back at work on a Saturday night. Thankfully it's only the twins and we are sitting watching movies till it's bed time. But that's not what I want to talk about.
I want to talk about life. Through all the issues I've been dealing with lately I have also been changing my life. And I am loving it! I have started to train with Jono a few times a week. It sucks, but in a good way. It hurts like hell when I'm doing it and I almost dropped a wight on my head last time but after I know I've done the right thing. I have been eating well. It's not been easy for me in any way and it's been a lot of changes I wasn't sure I could or wanted to make. But I have made them and feel so much better for having done so. I am sore from working out but I know it's a good thing. I know that I worked hard when I'm sore the next day. I know I put 100% into my workout and worked as hard as I can. It's not easy to be healthy. Needless to say I wouldn't be working at this if I didn't have Jono to help me. I don't think I've ever met someone who balances me out so well, other then family I mean. I'm just loving life so much right now and am so healthy I thought you all should know.
Hugs and Kisses
mce
I'm back at work on a Saturday night. Thankfully it's only the twins and we are sitting watching movies till it's bed time. But that's not what I want to talk about.
I want to talk about life. Through all the issues I've been dealing with lately I have also been changing my life. And I am loving it! I have started to train with Jono a few times a week. It sucks, but in a good way. It hurts like hell when I'm doing it and I almost dropped a wight on my head last time but after I know I've done the right thing. I have been eating well. It's not been easy for me in any way and it's been a lot of changes I wasn't sure I could or wanted to make. But I have made them and feel so much better for having done so. I am sore from working out but I know it's a good thing. I know that I worked hard when I'm sore the next day. I know I put 100% into my workout and worked as hard as I can. It's not easy to be healthy. Needless to say I wouldn't be working at this if I didn't have Jono to help me. I don't think I've ever met someone who balances me out so well, other then family I mean. I'm just loving life so much right now and am so healthy I thought you all should know.
Hugs and Kisses
mce
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Midweek break
Good Morning!
So it's been a few days since I updated. In that time I went to see my family, came home, and worked. I'll start with the weekend.
I drove up Saturday morning. It was a really nice drive. I took the new car (I truly love that car) and a few books on my ipod and just drove. I've never made that drive on my own though lord knows I've gone up there enough times. I was a little worried since the second half (from Santa Barbra to los osos) always makes me tired. even when I'm driving down that part is always the hardest. But I made it just fine. We started cooking around 2 and I actually got everything I was trying to make done and on the table only a half hour behind our original dinner time. Pretty good I would say. I always love cooking with my family and in that kitchen. People wonder in and out and join the conversation as they come. There is always music playing in the background and laughter from the other rooms. So overall I would say dinner was a success.
Sundauy we had pancakes. For those of you who know grandma Marti's pancakes no more needs be said. For those of you who don't you are missing out. They are thin and have a different flavor. They are not those cakey pancakes you get in restaurants. They are truly amazing. After breakfast my dad, uncle david, and I went into Moro Bay. I hadn't been there is a while and it was really fun to go see all the places I remember from my childhood. We had a lot of fun. It was a beautiful day and I wish I could have stayed longer. But I had to drive home that afternoon. The drive home was fine and I got home in good time and was able to get ready for work on Monday.
Monday was a little crazy at work. The mom is off work or something this week and so she picked the twins up around 1 so I got off early. It gave Jono and I time to go take Bella to a clinic to get her shots updated. Yesterday was less crazy and I got to go in 2 hours later then normal.
Today I plan on cleaning and finish the filing (I left it all over the bedroom floor in piles). Here are the recipes I used this weekend. Hope you like them!
Roast Chicken with pancetta and olives
From gourmet Italian kitchen
serves: 8
active time: 25 minutes
start to finish: 1 1/2 hours
Ingredients
2 Chickens (about 3 1/2 lb each), backbones cut out and each chicken cut into 12 pieces (wings, drumsticks, thighs, and each breast cut into 3)
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
1 1/2 Tbsp chopped Thyme
1 Tbsp chopped Rosemary
1 Tbsp fine sea salt
1/2 tsp hot red-pepper flakes
10 garlic cloves, peeled
2 (1/4 inch thick) slices pancetta, cut into 1 inch pieces
1 cup dry white wine
24 oil-cured black olives
Preheat oven to 450f with rack in middle.
Toss chicken with oil, thyme, rosemary, sea salt, red-pepper flakes, and 1 teaspoon pepper, rubbing mixture into chicken.
Arrange chicken, skin side up, in 1 layer in a 18-by-13 inch heavy rimmed baking sheet. Scatter garlic and pancetta on top and roast until chicken begins to brown, about 20 minutes.
Drizzle wine over chicken and roast 8 mintues more.
Scatter olives over chicken and roast until skin is golden brown and chicken is cooked through, 15-20 minutes more.
Let stand for 10 minutes.
Souffléd Gnocchi
from Gourmet Italian Kitchen
serves: 6
Active time: 35 minutes
Start to Finish: 2 hours
Ingredients
3 cups whole milk
3/4 cup semolina (3 oz. sometimes labeled "semolina flour")
3 eggs
7 Tbsp grated Parmigiano-Reggiano
4 1/2 Tbsp unsalted butter, softened
Bring milk with 3/4 teaspoon salt to a simmer in a 2 to 3 quart heavy saucepan over medium-low heat. Add semolina in a slow stream, whisking, then simmer, stirring consantly with a wooden spoon, 12 minutes (mixture will be very stiff).
Remove from heat and stir in eggs 1 at a time, then stir in 6 tablespoons cheese and 3 tablespoons butter.
Spread into a 1/2 inch thick slab on an oiled baking sheet using a lightly oiled rubber spatula, then chill, uncovered, until cool to the touch, about 10 minutes.
Cut out rounds from gnocchi with cookie cutter dipped in cool water (incorporating scraps as you work) and gently transfer rounds (they will be VERY soft), slightly overlapping, to butter baking dish. chill gnocchi uncovered, 1 hour.
Put oven racks in upper and lower thirds of oven and preheat oven to 450 f
Melt remaining 1 1/2 tablespoons butter and brush over gnocchi, then sprinkle with remaining tablespoon cheese. Bake in upper third of oven for 10 minutes, then switch dish to lower third of oven and continue to bake until gnocchi are slightly puffed and lightly browned, about 10 more minutes. Let stand for 5 minutes before serving.
Notes: This I also prepared the day before. The gnocchi can be chilled up to one day after cut and placed into baking dish. You just cover it after 1 hour.
Hugs+kisses
mce
So it's been a few days since I updated. In that time I went to see my family, came home, and worked. I'll start with the weekend.
I drove up Saturday morning. It was a really nice drive. I took the new car (I truly love that car) and a few books on my ipod and just drove. I've never made that drive on my own though lord knows I've gone up there enough times. I was a little worried since the second half (from Santa Barbra to los osos) always makes me tired. even when I'm driving down that part is always the hardest. But I made it just fine. We started cooking around 2 and I actually got everything I was trying to make done and on the table only a half hour behind our original dinner time. Pretty good I would say. I always love cooking with my family and in that kitchen. People wonder in and out and join the conversation as they come. There is always music playing in the background and laughter from the other rooms. So overall I would say dinner was a success.
Sundauy we had pancakes. For those of you who know grandma Marti's pancakes no more needs be said. For those of you who don't you are missing out. They are thin and have a different flavor. They are not those cakey pancakes you get in restaurants. They are truly amazing. After breakfast my dad, uncle david, and I went into Moro Bay. I hadn't been there is a while and it was really fun to go see all the places I remember from my childhood. We had a lot of fun. It was a beautiful day and I wish I could have stayed longer. But I had to drive home that afternoon. The drive home was fine and I got home in good time and was able to get ready for work on Monday.
Monday was a little crazy at work. The mom is off work or something this week and so she picked the twins up around 1 so I got off early. It gave Jono and I time to go take Bella to a clinic to get her shots updated. Yesterday was less crazy and I got to go in 2 hours later then normal.
Today I plan on cleaning and finish the filing (I left it all over the bedroom floor in piles). Here are the recipes I used this weekend. Hope you like them!
Roast Chicken with pancetta and olives
From gourmet Italian kitchen
serves: 8
active time: 25 minutes
start to finish: 1 1/2 hours
Ingredients
2 Chickens (about 3 1/2 lb each), backbones cut out and each chicken cut into 12 pieces (wings, drumsticks, thighs, and each breast cut into 3)
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
1 1/2 Tbsp chopped Thyme
1 Tbsp chopped Rosemary
1 Tbsp fine sea salt
1/2 tsp hot red-pepper flakes
10 garlic cloves, peeled
2 (1/4 inch thick) slices pancetta, cut into 1 inch pieces
1 cup dry white wine
24 oil-cured black olives
Preheat oven to 450f with rack in middle.
Toss chicken with oil, thyme, rosemary, sea salt, red-pepper flakes, and 1 teaspoon pepper, rubbing mixture into chicken.
Arrange chicken, skin side up, in 1 layer in a 18-by-13 inch heavy rimmed baking sheet. Scatter garlic and pancetta on top and roast until chicken begins to brown, about 20 minutes.
Drizzle wine over chicken and roast 8 mintues more.
Scatter olives over chicken and roast until skin is golden brown and chicken is cooked through, 15-20 minutes more.
Let stand for 10 minutes.
Souffléd Gnocchi
from Gourmet Italian Kitchen
serves: 6
Active time: 35 minutes
Start to Finish: 2 hours
Ingredients
3 cups whole milk
3/4 cup semolina (3 oz. sometimes labeled "semolina flour")
3 eggs
7 Tbsp grated Parmigiano-Reggiano
4 1/2 Tbsp unsalted butter, softened
Bring milk with 3/4 teaspoon salt to a simmer in a 2 to 3 quart heavy saucepan over medium-low heat. Add semolina in a slow stream, whisking, then simmer, stirring consantly with a wooden spoon, 12 minutes (mixture will be very stiff).
Remove from heat and stir in eggs 1 at a time, then stir in 6 tablespoons cheese and 3 tablespoons butter.
Spread into a 1/2 inch thick slab on an oiled baking sheet using a lightly oiled rubber spatula, then chill, uncovered, until cool to the touch, about 10 minutes.
Cut out rounds from gnocchi with cookie cutter dipped in cool water (incorporating scraps as you work) and gently transfer rounds (they will be VERY soft), slightly overlapping, to butter baking dish. chill gnocchi uncovered, 1 hour.
Put oven racks in upper and lower thirds of oven and preheat oven to 450 f
Melt remaining 1 1/2 tablespoons butter and brush over gnocchi, then sprinkle with remaining tablespoon cheese. Bake in upper third of oven for 10 minutes, then switch dish to lower third of oven and continue to bake until gnocchi are slightly puffed and lightly browned, about 10 more minutes. Let stand for 5 minutes before serving.
Notes: This I also prepared the day before. The gnocchi can be chilled up to one day after cut and placed into baking dish. You just cover it after 1 hour.
Hugs+kisses
mce
Friday, October 14, 2011
Friday!
This is what my view out the window at work looks like right now. Beautiful isn't it. I wish I had a better camera to show you these amazing sights I see all the time. I actually think that the camera on my Iphone is better them my digital. I find that very sad. I would actually take pictures of the food I make more often if the pictures ever came out nicely. Oh well. While we are on the subject of wishes, I wish I had a dutch oven. Have you seen those beautiful le creuset ones? I swoon every time I see one in a store. If only the price tag wasn't so big. ugg. That is my next piggy bank project. Do you have any idea how many recipes I have right now that call for one? A lot. And trust me they all look amazing. I also want a kitchenaid stand mixer. Another object I swoon over often. Some of these are on my wedding present list. Yes I know it's still 5 years out and I very well may be able to get these things myself within 5 years. I just thought I would start the list now and add and subtract as I go. Kinda like a master wish list. I can dream.
SO does anyone have any idea what this heat is about? It is crazy hot here in LA. I'm glad to be getting away for the weekend. Speaking of getting away this weekend...packing is a hassle. Needless to say I have yet to start it. I'm hoping (figures crossed) to get out a little early today, so I can go home and clean and pack. The main thing I need to pack is cooking things. I feel like I should be writing the list on my arm so I don't forget anything. I'm glad that I can leave early tomorrow so I have plenty of time to cook and mess up. I have high hopes and big plans!!
hugs+kisses
mce
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Weekend Cooking
Good morning!
And it is a good morning. The sun is shining in a clear blue sky and the twins are playing in the backyard. I am sitting in the garage and listening to their laughter and music. It's that cool clear day that you know will heat up fast so you better get in a little chill while you can. As I sit here I am going through my weekend plans. They came together slowly and the next thing I knew I was planing to drive up to see my family. I can tell you that I am really excited.
Let me tell you a little back Baywood. Baywood is about 3-4 hour north of LA. I will always think of childhood when I go up there. It's quiet and calm and relaxing. There is nature everywhere and right on the bay. I love every moment I am there. This was a very last minute trip. I am driving up by myself in our new car (yay!) Saturday morning and driving home Sunday afternoon. Saturday night I am making dinner for my family Saturday night. I am excited about this. My grandmother's kitchen is always full of music and laughter and talking and love. I've only helped before never actually cooked. I've chopped and flipped and taken things out of ovens and tasted. But never actually cooked a meal. My family doesn't put any pressure on me about it but I am kinda nervous about it. It's a new kitchen to cook in and I will have family there. I think it will be amazing fun. I know no matter what my family will eat what I make, even if they spit it out later. It's like a run through for thanksgiving. I'm hoping to make something in that crazy mass of food and cooks and fun.
I'm also excited about the drive up. It's a drive I know well from years of going up there. I will be making it alone for I think the first time. I will have our new car and books to listen to. It will all be fun. I can't wait!
Of course because it's me I want to bring and make a ton of things for everyone up there. I already have dinner planed but I still have lunch and dessert to think about.
kisses+hugs
mce
And it is a good morning. The sun is shining in a clear blue sky and the twins are playing in the backyard. I am sitting in the garage and listening to their laughter and music. It's that cool clear day that you know will heat up fast so you better get in a little chill while you can. As I sit here I am going through my weekend plans. They came together slowly and the next thing I knew I was planing to drive up to see my family. I can tell you that I am really excited.
Let me tell you a little back Baywood. Baywood is about 3-4 hour north of LA. I will always think of childhood when I go up there. It's quiet and calm and relaxing. There is nature everywhere and right on the bay. I love every moment I am there. This was a very last minute trip. I am driving up by myself in our new car (yay!) Saturday morning and driving home Sunday afternoon. Saturday night I am making dinner for my family Saturday night. I am excited about this. My grandmother's kitchen is always full of music and laughter and talking and love. I've only helped before never actually cooked. I've chopped and flipped and taken things out of ovens and tasted. But never actually cooked a meal. My family doesn't put any pressure on me about it but I am kinda nervous about it. It's a new kitchen to cook in and I will have family there. I think it will be amazing fun. I know no matter what my family will eat what I make, even if they spit it out later. It's like a run through for thanksgiving. I'm hoping to make something in that crazy mass of food and cooks and fun.
I'm also excited about the drive up. It's a drive I know well from years of going up there. I will be making it alone for I think the first time. I will have our new car and books to listen to. It will all be fun. I can't wait!
Of course because it's me I want to bring and make a ton of things for everyone up there. I already have dinner planed but I still have lunch and dessert to think about.
kisses+hugs
mce
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Routine
Good Morning!
Today I would like to talk about routine. We all have our own little routines we go through during the day. Some of us stick more closely to these and others just have loose ideas. I never really like routines before. I hated doing the same thing every day. If I did the same thing too many days in a row I would get upset about it, and have to change it. This was before I started working. I was never good at keeping to a routine. But this job makes me love routines so much more. Now when life or circumstances change my routine I get testy and tense. With the family I work for routine is a foreign word. The only thing that is the same almost every day is the time I have to get to work. When I get off fluctuates about 3-4 hours either way. Which kids I have can change and what I need to do with them changes. Each week is different. For example today. Today is Wednesday. Supposedly my day off. Not today. I was told at hour 12 of a 13 hour work day yesterday that I needed to work today. See what I mean? This week started with a 8 hour day (it wasn't supposed to be as of that morning but by 4 the mom had picked up all the kids so I was done) yesterday was a 12.75 hour day. And who knows how long today or the rest of the week will be. With Jono's new change in schedule even life at home has changed. It makes me very outsy. I have made little routines for myself to try to keep level. I wake up and make my lunch. I let the twins watch cartoons and play in the living room in the morning. I drink my coffee ( I bring from home) and read my blogs, check my email, and write some. I leave about an hour early to get the kids at school and the twins start their nap on the way. I listen to KCRW in the car and sit in the parking lot at the school for about a half hour to an hour while I wait for the kids to get out. Once they get out that's where everything changes. I sometimes take them to the library. I drive around for a while to get the older two to nap ( doesn't always happen) and end up back at the house somewhere between 3-5. That's the end of anything I can predict. I try to keep the mornings as much the same as I can. I feel like it gives me a fighting chance to handle the rest of the day.
Here's another change to routine. I might, key word might, go see my family this weekend. I feel like a little weekend get away might help relax and calm me. It would also be better then sitting at home which is what I will do if I don't go. Since Jono works the whole weekend now I will be by myself all weekend. Doesn't sound like my ideal plan. But like I said it is all up in the air. I feel like my whole life is up in the air at the moment.
hugs+kisses
mce
Today I would like to talk about routine. We all have our own little routines we go through during the day. Some of us stick more closely to these and others just have loose ideas. I never really like routines before. I hated doing the same thing every day. If I did the same thing too many days in a row I would get upset about it, and have to change it. This was before I started working. I was never good at keeping to a routine. But this job makes me love routines so much more. Now when life or circumstances change my routine I get testy and tense. With the family I work for routine is a foreign word. The only thing that is the same almost every day is the time I have to get to work. When I get off fluctuates about 3-4 hours either way. Which kids I have can change and what I need to do with them changes. Each week is different. For example today. Today is Wednesday. Supposedly my day off. Not today. I was told at hour 12 of a 13 hour work day yesterday that I needed to work today. See what I mean? This week started with a 8 hour day (it wasn't supposed to be as of that morning but by 4 the mom had picked up all the kids so I was done) yesterday was a 12.75 hour day. And who knows how long today or the rest of the week will be. With Jono's new change in schedule even life at home has changed. It makes me very outsy. I have made little routines for myself to try to keep level. I wake up and make my lunch. I let the twins watch cartoons and play in the living room in the morning. I drink my coffee ( I bring from home) and read my blogs, check my email, and write some. I leave about an hour early to get the kids at school and the twins start their nap on the way. I listen to KCRW in the car and sit in the parking lot at the school for about a half hour to an hour while I wait for the kids to get out. Once they get out that's where everything changes. I sometimes take them to the library. I drive around for a while to get the older two to nap ( doesn't always happen) and end up back at the house somewhere between 3-5. That's the end of anything I can predict. I try to keep the mornings as much the same as I can. I feel like it gives me a fighting chance to handle the rest of the day.
Here's another change to routine. I might, key word might, go see my family this weekend. I feel like a little weekend get away might help relax and calm me. It would also be better then sitting at home which is what I will do if I don't go. Since Jono works the whole weekend now I will be by myself all weekend. Doesn't sound like my ideal plan. But like I said it is all up in the air. I feel like my whole life is up in the air at the moment.
hugs+kisses
mce
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)