drammatical

As promised:

20 medium mushrooms
3 tbsp. minced onion
½ cup butter or margarine, divided
1/3 cup of dry bread crumbs (I use both plain and Italian herb)
¼ cup shelled, roasted/ salted pistachios, finely chopped
2 tbsp. chopped parsley (either fresh or dry works)
¼ tsp. marjoram, crushed
¼ tsp. salt

Remove stems from mushroom caps; finely chop stems. Sauté stems and onion in ¼ cup butter until tender. Add breadcrumbs, pistachios, parsley, marjoram and salt. Mix well. Spoon Stuffing into mushrooms caps. Place on baking sheet; drizzle with remaining melted butter (I never have any remaining butter so I just add more butter). Bake 350° F., 5 minutes or until hot.

N loves these and so do I! If you make any please let me know how they came out. Also, I sprinkle parmesan cheese over them just before I put them in the oven.

I'm so happy and relieved yesterday is over with. Was a rough one but in the end it all worked out. Thanks Felicity for the great insight!

I've been trying to fight being SAD and have been pretty successful. The only thing I'm not to proud of is that I've slacked on my running. Must make a better effort to start this up again.

In an effort to lift my spirits up last night I baked some pumpkin walnut loaf. Wasn't able to try it till this morning and man was it good! Really, not to toot my own horn but I've always loved to bake. It's like my hobby! So after I had the bun in the oven we sat down to watch Maxed Out [gulp]. Talk about a scare. I recommend that everyone watch this film. Hell I'm even going over to my parents tonight just to make sure my baby brother watches this. To sum the movie up its a documentary-type film about debt and finance. All the fees attached, gimmicks people fall for, and the true value of all that we pay for. Both N and I make pretty good money, we don't drive luxury cars, our debt isn't out of control but after this film we feel like we've just realized we've been bent over for the last ten years. In other words we're cutting up our credit cards.

Seems like we both have had certain ideas on life and they're all being validated by all these documentaries we're watching. I mean we're not taking what they say word for word but the idea, the concept is right on. It's so scary, terrifying even that so many of us go on without a clue to whats going on around us.

Living is easy with eyes closed
Misunderstanding all you see
Its getting hard to be someone, but it all works out
It doesn't matter much to me

Yes, I have taken the the red pill...

This song pretty much sums up my day today...

Help, I need somebody,
Help, not just anybody,
Help, you know I need someone, help.

When I was younger, so much younger than today,
I never needed anybody's help in any way.
But now these days are gone, I'm not so self assured,
Now I find I've changed my mind and opened up the doors.

Help me if you can, I'm feeling down
And I do appreciate you being round.
Help me, get my feet back on the ground,
Won't you please, please help me?

And now my life has changed in oh so many ways,
My independence seems to vanish in the haze.
But every now and then I feel so insecure,
I know that I just need you like I've never done before.

Help me if you can, I'm feeling down
And I do appreciate you being round.
Help me, get my feet back on the ground,
Won't you please, please help me.

When I was younger, so much younger than today,
I never needed anybody's help in any way.
But now these days are gone, I'm not so self assured,
Now I find I've changed my mind and opened up the doors.

Help me if you can, I'm feeling down
And I do appreciate you being round.
Help me, get my feet back on the ground,
Won't you please, please help me, help me, help me, oh.

... for some california grass.

I'm back, from Mexico, Thanksgiving, Out-of-town assignment, and so on. Luckily I won't be going anywhere for work anytime soon. At least not till January/ February until I'm assigned a new job. But enough about that. Now to some fun stuff.

#1. Mexico. Was. Fucking. AWESOME. So much so we were literally depressed coming back. The people, my people, the food, the environment, the water, the booze, the gra… it was all so great. Beyond great.

We went to Ixtapa/ Zihuatanejo. This place is so beautiful. Still so very virgin, which made it so breathtaking. Both N and I have always talked about moving to Mexico, away from this Matrix world. A place full of peace and love and all that. No, we’re not tree huggers, at least not yet. Anyway, it was so refreshing to see people in there domain. Living freely, without a worry. I mean yes people work hard, they work their asses off but in the end it pays off. Here we work our asses off and for what? A Porche? A BMW? To live in the 90210? Seriously, I can’t live like this anymore. The commercial American way that is. So yes, this trip was not only relaxing but also an eye opener. More like a validation to our already thoughts on life. I can seriously go on and on but I’ll stop right here. Just make it to this place if you can, and please go with an open mind. Please treat people with respect. Treat the land with respect. Unfortunately we did see some American tourists already bringing the ways of the gringo down there.

#2. Thanksgiving. This was really our first Thanksgiving here in the States as a married couple. We hosted N’s mom and sister for brunch at our little casita and then headed off to my sister’s in the boondocks for dinner. Except we were so full from brunch we didn’t eat. Whoops. Fun was had all day though. Lots of drinking of course and catching up with my sis. I love her to death and I hate that we don’t spend more time together.

As for the food, I actually took it upon myself to become Suzy Homemaker for a day. I did all the prepping/ cooking on Wednesday and on Thursday it was nothing but reheating. I made two quiches (thanks G!), stuffed mushrooms, gravy, brownies, and a fruit salad. I wanted to also make a pumpkin pie but I was really done by the end of the night. I took pictures too! But those will be uploaded later, I swear. As for my recipes:

*My modifications are in italics
Quiche alla Geefunk
10 oz Chopped Spinach [TJ’s frozen]
1 pkg Cubed Pancetta [TJ's] (I used sweet Italian and spicy sasauge from local Italian market)
1/2 an Onion (used brown onion)
1/2 cup diced Mushrooms (maybe next time I’ll add a bit more)
8oz Sour Cream
1/2 pkg TJ's 4 Cheese Italian Shredded Cheese (used 4-cheese from Italian mrkt)
4 Large Eggs (used 5)
3/4 cup half & half
1 1/2 tsp Dry Parsley (used fresh Italian Parsley)
2 - 9inch unbaked pie crusts (used TJ’s frozen pie crusts)
Salt & Pepper

Preheat Oven to 375°

Cook cubed pancetta (sausage) and set aside on paper towel to drain. Cook
spinach according to pkg instructions and allow to cool. Sauté diced onion until transparent. Add diced mushroom and sauté for 2-3min. Mix in cooked pancetta (sausage) and remove from heat. In a bowl mix the sour cream with the drained spinach [use your hands to squeeze out liquid] and season with salt and pepper. In another bowl whisk the eggs, half & half, dry parsley, and salt & pepper. Split mixtures into the 2 pie crusts in this order - spread the sour cream/spinach mixture evenly for the 1st layer, add the onion/mushroom/pancetta (sausage) mixture for the 2nd layer, add a cheese layer, and top with the egg mixture to coat the top. Remember to spread everything evenly on both pie crusts.
[Side note: I felt the need for more of the egg mixture. I think next time I'll use another egg] (Thanks for the rec G!, it worked better with the xtra egg)


Place the 2 quiches on a baking pan and pop in the oven. Cook for 40 mins - until top is golden. Allow to cool for 5-10min. (I only put them in for 30 min since my oven is like Satan’s lair)



Brownies
13 ounces of butter
11 ounces of chocolate chips (usually come in 12 ounce packages – this allows for a little chef snack!)
2 1/2 ounces of dark chocolate
1/4 cup of corn syrup
2 cups granulated sugar
4 eggs
1 tablespoon vanilla
1 1/2 cups flour
1 1/2 cups cocoa powder
6 ounces nuts (walnuts, pecans, etc.), chopped

Preheat the oven to 300F. Spray or grease a baking sheet and line with parchment paper. You may also use a silpat.

Melt the butter in a medium sauce pan, remove from the heat and stir in the chocolate chips, chocolate and corn syrup until fully melted and mixture is well combined. Set aside to cool.

Whip the sugar, eggs and vanilla on medium speed until light and fluffy. When the chocolate mixture has cooled to just about room temperature, add it to the sugar and egg mixture until incorporated. Continue mixing and sift in the flour and cocoa powder until combined.

Spread mixture evenly on prepared sheet. Spread the chopped nuts over the top, pressing down with your hands. Bake for about 1 hour until the top is springy to the touch. (all ovens are different, I only have mine in for 40 minutes) To cut, let cool, turn upside down onto a cutting board, remove the parchment paper, reinvert and cut into desired pieces.

Stuffed Mushrooms
... will post later

Every morning I wake you up with my alarm clock. You even have to endure several snoozes. All you do is look at me without a single word. For that I'm so great full for. You have patience, for me. You encourage me. You teach me, about life in general and about me, in general. We can talk again. About anything and everything. I love having our nightly discussions on life, sports, the Discovery channel. I've learned so much this year and I have you to thank. You are my Guru. You are my Sherpa. You are my heart. I love you ND.

Today last year was my last day at work for what was to become a whole 4 weeks off. That was the bestest vacation my adult life has ever had. Today, however, is not my last day at work. Spent it thinking about regulations and report writing. Not to fun. I did also spend it looking for a nice vacation spot to go to next week. Looking like its going to be in sunny Mehico (again)! That's cool with me because I know wherever we do end up going we'll be there together, and that's all what it's really about folks.

I love spending time with you babe. You always have me gasping for air... You can always make me smile, even when I'm being pissy and acting like I'm 5 years old. I was looking at our wedding pictures and I'm practically hysterical in all of them! Makes me all giddy with excitement remembering all the excitement and happiness of that day. What I remember clear as day was how at ease I was. When we were together everything was quiet. You do that to me. You make all the world go quiet whenever we're together. You bring me peace. You give me love. You make me laugh. Te amo mucho mi amor. Sin ti no soy.

Today marks the beginning of my wedding anniversary month. Last year this time I was so excited/ nervous/ stressed to have been getting married in 11 days. In just 11 days! This is a happy month for me so no more pity party. No more feeling sorry for myself. And no more bitching about serious stuff either, no more bitching period. Gravity stay the hell away from me. (John Mayer)

Every day leading up to my anniversary I will write about my love for my husband. No more complaining about what he's done, or hasn't done for that matter. No more bullshit from me either. I've started a personal journal for all my shit. Whenever I have the urge to get all negative or sad or angry or just plain bitchy I'll turn to this book and divulge it all.

I love my husband so much I really can't bear to think of my life without him. Sometimes I hear people talk about their significant others and wonder if they'd never met them what life would be like. For me this concept is unfathomable. My heart starts racing in a really bad way just thinking about this. He is the only person that actually gets me. He understands me. He can read me. At all times he knows my moods, thoughts, and feelings. This man is really my soul mate. We connect in way that is indescribable. He's my protector, lover and therapist all at once. Because of him I am. He has impacted my life in so many ways, too many to begin to describe. He is kind, generous, loving, smart, strong on all levels, and has the best heart I have ever known.

I love you sweetie so much and I'm sorry for all the times that I've negatively altered your mood. You always try to make me happy and for that I am happy.