Getting to Know You!

Mississippi Women Bloggers is having a "get to know you" survey.  I really think these things are fun!  Check out my answers and then go see what my fellow Mississippi bloggers answered!  Get to know us!  :-)

Read more at http://www.mississippiwomenbloggers.com/#WOf021Mb88eFj9rP.99

1. Are you a morning or night person?
Do I have the option of saying neither?  I really don't like getting up early but can't really sleep late.  But I can't really stay up late either: midnight is about the latest I can do but I start fading around 10!
 
2. Are you a collector of anything?
I "collect" boxes.  This kind of started out of necessity.  My dad went on lots of mission trips when I was little and he started bringing back boxes as souvenirs.  They are now all over my house and I can't bear to get rid of any.
 
3. If you were given 1 million dollars, what do you do with it?
First I'd give to my church, then pay off debt (love medical school debt), probably take a vacation, and put some away in savings.

4. What is your worst pet peeve?
Hmmm...not sure about my worse pet peeve.  My husband just said "change of plans."  That's a pretty good one but I'm not sure if that counts as a pet peeve (though I really do NOT do well when what I have planned gets put by the wayside.  It really throws me for a loop).  Again, my husband came up with this but it's a pretty good one - patients being late to clinic appointments (I'm talking 20+ minutes, not just a couple).  Please, just get there on time.  If you are 20 minutes late, it means you got them 35 minutes after we asked you to arrive. (After experiencing this I have made an effort to really try to arrive that 15 minutes "early" that is requested to my doctor appointments)
 
5. What is the best thing about your hometown? (Psst…we’d love to hear all about it in a guest post for August’s “Local Flavor” theme.)
I'd say community.  People know other people, try to help out, have pride in the town and schools, participate in local events, markets, etc.
 
6. If you were stranded on a desert island, and your iPod could only hold 10 songs, what would they be (assuming the battery lasts forever, of course)?
First, I don't have an iPod, so I guess none!  However, I'd probably have "In Christ Alone" from the Getty's, "Defying Gravity", "Music of the Night," "The Prayer," some sort of Manheim Steamroller Christmas song, "Just to See You Smile" (this was on a cd David made for me our first Valentine's together.  I had never heard it before but it definitely made ME smile because I knew exactly why he had put it on the cd!), "When I Fall in Love" (first dance song), "Bring Him Home," some sort of Beetles song (I know, specific, right?!), and a version of "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing" (I really like the new chorus combo of the old hymn with a new bridge).

7. If you could have a do-over in only one area of your life, would you want one? And if so, what would it be?
I have a couple, probably everyone does.  We'll go with the silly, childhood area.  I really wish I could go back and keep playing softball.  You see, I gave it up in 4th grade because at that point, the YMCA league stopped and you had to go to the city competition league.  It was (and still is) VERY competitive.  I just wanted to play for fun and not worry about whether winning was important or not.  Looking back, I REALLY wish I had kept playing.  It was fun!  Do I wish I had kept playing in band when I stopped in 10th grade because they wouldn't let me (an oboist) only do concert season and skip marching season...no.  But I do regret quitting softball in 4th grade!
 
8. What is your absolute favorite meal. (Pretend calories don’t exist.)
This is so hard for me!  I still think I'd say a good vegetable meal: fried green tomatoes, FRESH red tomatoes, sauteed squash, black eyed peas, green beans, okra, corn bread...maybe corn pudding.  Then blueberry pie and ice cream for dessert. 
 
9. Do you have a hero? If so, who is it?
A hero!?  hmmm, I've never really thought about a hero in those terms.  I have plenty of people that I respect, but I don't really know that I could say I have a hero.

10. Why do you blog?
I started blogging back in 2005.  WOW!  TEN YEARS!  I think I started because I liked reading the other blogs that were out there and I enjoyed cooking.  So, I thought I'd add a little hobby.  I has also been a way to try new recipes.  At that time, I think I wouldn't really have tried new things.  Now, I still try new things despite having less time to blog.  I have considered not blogging but it's still fun to share what I've been doing with other people.  So, even though I am much more random and sporadic at blogging, I will keep blogging.  I mean, who wouldn't want to share baking experiences with such a cute sous chef as I have...and a new sidekick coming soon!?

Read more at http://www.mississippiwomenbloggers.com/#ob2WdX6XT0PP2fLB.99

From A to Z

Okay, I have seen this on several blogs and it just looks like too much fun! 
A - Age: 28
B - Bed Size: Queen
C - Chore you hate: Dusting!
D - Dog's Name: I don't currently have one, but when I was little her name was Honey.  When I do get one, I was to name it Oliver!  :-)

E - Essential start your day item: I've been enjoying coffee with my quiet time recently.
F - Favorite Color: Pink!
G - Gold or Silver: Silver please
H - Height: 5' - 3"
I - Instruments you play: Piano and oboe
J - Job Title: Pediatric Resident - PGY2
K - Kids:  No but I would love to have them one day!
L - Luxury you wish you had: Weekends!!!...but like Delaney said, I cleaning person would be nice!
M - Mom's Name: Alice, Miss Alice, Mama, Mom
N - Nickname: Claire Bear, Clarence, Clara, Clarice, Cler, Lizzie, Chocolate E-clair
O - Overnight hospital stay other than birth: ALL THE TIME!!!!!  Last month every 4th night, of course all of that is job related!

P - Pet Peeve: People not throwing things away in the peds lounge; at home, people putting dishes on the counter on TOP of the dishwasher but not in it!  Five seconds people, five seconds!

Q - Quote from a movie: "Inconceivable.  You keep saying that.  I do not think it means what you think it means"  The Princess Bride

R - Right or Leftie?: Leftie!!

S - Siblings?: I have a younger brother and a great sister-in-law
T - Time you wake up: Mostly around 6am
U - Underwear: Um...ok.  Yes, please?
V - Vegetable you dislike: Hmmmm...not sure.  I really like most of them.  I don't like BAKED sweet potatoes.  Just can't handle it, but roasted they're good.

W - Ways/ reasons why you run late: I forgot something or didn't make my lunch the night before.  I don't snooze the alarm ever and usually give myself enough time to get ready.

X - X-Rays you've had: Teeth and knee

Y - Yummy food you make: Most of my cookies are good...see below for a recipe!  I want to make more "real" food.  I can do some yummy stir fry, too.

Z - Zoo Favorite: Hmmm, I like the monkeys and the seals!

So, join in if you want!  Hope you had fun learning about me from A to Z!  Now for a yummy cookie.

  This is the third cookie I made from my new cookie book.  Once again, mostly because I had the ingredients and didn't want to go grocery shopping!  I love a good nutty cookie and this one was not a disappointment.  Please be sure to toast the nuts prior to adding to the dough...it makes a world of difference!

Pecan Crispies from Southern Living Incredible Cookies
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup shortening
2 cups brown sugar, packed
2 eggs
2 1/2 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup chopped pecans, toasted

Preheat oven to 350.  Cream butter and shortening.  Cream in sugar until fluffy.  Add the eggs and mix well.  Stir in the dry ingredients.  Stir in pecans.  Drop onto baking sheet or stone in tablespoonfuls.  Place in oven and bake for 12-14 minutes or until golden.  Cool slightly and remove to cooling rack.  Enjoy!

Pie and Pictures

I don't know if y'all have seen the picture meme going around, but I have and thought it looked like fun. However, I don't do memes unless I'm tagged. Well, I finally got tagged by Jill! So...here it is. I'm supposed to choose the fourth folder and fourth picture in my picture file. Unfortunately, it's not a very good picture. This is from my friend Rachel's wedding. I was trying to be artsy and get her in the picture with the cake; instead, it just looks silly! Oh, well! Now, I tag Red Dirt Mummy, Emily, Brilynn, and Jane.

Now, on to the pie! My family doesn't really have a traditional Christmas dessert. We do always have prime rib roast, though it's not my favorite, and squash casserole, one of my favorites! So, this year, when Mama asked what we were having for dessert, I said that I wanted to try an apple pie. I had never made one until now and have wanted to try for a while. When I think of apple pie, I think of a wonderfully layered pie, with yummy tart apples. Well, mine was NOT wonderfully layered...I used a pie plate that was too large in diameter. I wanted it's depth but should have gone with the smaller plate. I think that would have helped the topping more concentrated over the apples. In the end, I had fun and dressed it up a bit with caramel sauce and cinnamon. Despite it's original humble look, it turned out pretty good, and, as my dad said, looked homemade! I'm taking that as a compliment! Apple Crumb Pie (from Mama's recipe box)

Pie Crust (from Granny)

1 cup sifted flour

1/2 teaspoon salt

3 T water

1/3 cup shortening

Sift flour and salt into bowl. Remove 1/4 cup flour and blend to a paste. Cut shortening into remaining flour until pieces are size of small peas. Add paste to flour mixture. Mix with fork until dough comes together and can be shaped into a ball (this is best done by putting a piece of saran wrap over the bowl, dumping it, and pressing the dough together.) Place in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes (not a must, but I find it works better this way). Roll out crust to 1/8 inch thick to cover 9-inch pie pan

5 to 7 tart apples (5 cups)
1/2 cup sugar
3/4 t. ground cinnamon
1/3 cup sugar
3/4 cup flour
6 T. margarine

Pare apples, core, cut into eighths, arrange in unbaked pie shell. Mix 1/2 c. sugar and cinnamon. Sprinkle over applies. Mix 1/3 c. sugar, flour, cut in margarine till crumbly. Sprinkle over apples. Bake at 400 degrees for 35 to 40 minutes 'til done. Serve warm with ice cream.

Tagged - edited

I was recently tagged by The French Kitchen to do a meme. I'm supposed to tell you 7 random or strange things about myself. I've done this before but hopefully I can come up with NEW weird things!!! Here goes!

1 - My middle toe on my right foot is shorter than my left. I mean, the top of it is even with the fourth toe! It kind of feels like I'm missing one the joints in it, but I think it's just sitting low on my tarsals (the bones that make up the main part of your foot right behind your toes.

2 - I hated my surgery rotation but my favorite part was trauma call. I know, who likes to be forced to stay overnight, get no sleep, see people come in with gunshot wounds, do random exploratory surgery at 3am and almost pass out from hypoglycemia, and then have to do a half day of work the next day? I did...but that call was only Q10-12 (every 10-12 nights) instead of the normal Q4 for wards!

3 - I like fresh cherries but do NOT like any kind of candied, marachino (that is SO not spelled right!), or chocolate covered cherries. Ick!

4 - I lived in Bishkek, Kygyzstan for a year (during my fifth grade year). Learned how to make several local dishes. I also had the opportunity (hmmm?) to try horse. Not bad but won't do that again!

5 - This was kind of prompted by TFK, but, I could SO lived without ketchup; however, I do like it with roasted sweet potatoes and salmon. Otherwise, I don't use it!

6 - This is a random one...I would love to have a child with curly, auburn hair! I have really red highlights in my very DARK hair, so the auburn is possible. My hair is pretty straight but it has some wave but nothing NEAR curly. Maybe if I marry someone with curly hair it would happen. :-)

7 - I've never had lobster, scallops, mussels, oysters, mahi mahi, or tuna (the real kind, not canned!)...but I LOVE seafood!

Now, I'm supposed to tag 7 other people - and I'm back to do it! Y'all have fun doing this and I'll have fun at home all by myself while my parents go to an out of town wedding and my brother and his girlfriend go to an out of town concert!

Here are the rules:
1. Link the person that tagged you and post the rules.
2. Share 7 random or weird facts about yourself.
3. Tag 7 people at the end and link to their sites.
4. Let each person know about the tag in the comment section of their site.

Now, I tag:
1. Pearl of Fresh and Pure
2. Katrina from Baking and Boys!

3. Jessica from Coffee and a Cookie
4. Gail from More than a Song
5. Stacy from Exceedingly Mundane
6. Maryanna at Taste and See
7. Red Dirt Mummy

Quirky Jerky - EDITED

Tomorrow I take my United States Medical Licensure Exam Step 2 Clinical Knowledge (USMLE Step2 CK for short!). Through studying for boards, I prepared for this AND I've been studying for the past two weeks....SO I am quite ready for it to be done with. I've stopped studying for the night and have decided to resond to a meme. Yes, I've been tagged. Jane tagged me to let you in on 6 quirks that I have. Here are the rules:Link the person who tagged you.Mention the rules in your blog.Tell about six unspectacular quirks of yours.Tag a new set of six bloggers by linking them. Now to the quirks!

Let's see, this is kind of hard! I'm sure if my family was here, they could come up with some pretty easily!

1. I don't like spur of the moment things. I mean, I used to be REALLY bad! At one time, if I had packed a lunch but someone asked me if I wanted to go get lunch, I seriously couldn't handle it! I would just cringe inside and say "I don't Knooowww." I mean, I had already planned to have the such and such that I brought, right?! NOW, I'm not that bad anymore. I can do spur of the moment lunches...but I'd rather have things planned!

2. I don't like avacados but I like guacamole...even the kind with just avacado, lemon juice, and yogurt. Don't ask, I don't know!

3. I have to have the fan (unfortunately, not a ceiling fan...a little white one that sits on my desk) on to sleep. Apparently, I'm so aware of it that one night when our power went out, I woke up and thought "Something is not right" (Anyone recognize where that comes from? If not, I'll clue you in at the end of the post!) Then I realized that the fan wasn't on and turned over to see if my clock was on.

4. If I sit in the back seat of a car, I have to sit on the driver's side. I don't know why, but when I sit on the other side I feel out of place and am more prone to feel car sick.

5. I am a rules person. If I've been told not to do something, I get extremely uncomfortable doing it. (Not that this is a bad thing, sometimes I'm just a bit too rigid) For instance, my first year in medical school, after Hurricane Katrina, a group of my classmates decided to go on an "adventure." They picked me up...without telling me what we were doing and started driving. I figured out where we were going and wasn't thrilled. Imagine my delight when we arrive at our destination, a state park, and see road blocks and signs saying "DO NOT ENTER!" Oh, darn...we can't go. RIGHT...the driver drove AROUND the signs. I mean, I was freaking out, near tears. Then they decide to go to the OLD church on the ground and explore the cemetary. I WOULD NOT go! I had just read a book about a murder that had taken place (fictional mind you!) in that cemetary (Deep South by Nevada Barr...great, you should read it). Then they want to cross a tree bridge to explore the abandoned town...NO! I refused to go, so no one went. I'm such a party pooper!

6. My mom reminded me of one when I was at home this past weekend...I talk to cars! I don't have road rage, but if someone does something stupid or is in the way, etc. I talk to them. Sometimes, I'll even be on the phone and say "WHAT are you doing?" My mom says, "What do you mean?" Then my response..."Oh, I was just talking to a car!" Hmmmm....

Don't think I'll tag anyone, I'm too tired to think of people to tag right now! Gotta go get some rest for my test tomorrow! :-)

The answer to the quote...It's from Madeline books! Miss Clavele always woke from her sleep, sat straight up in bed and said, "Something is not right!" :-)

A meme

I love doing these things but never do it unless I'm specifically invited/tagged...so, if you say whoever wants to do this, do it...I won't! I just don't have the time...unless I'm tagged...and I have been! Abby tagged me and now I will comply!

The rules of the game get posted at the beginning.- Each player answers the questions about themselves.- At the end of the post, the player then tags 5 people, posts their names, and then leaves a comment on their blogs, letting them know they've been tagged. Here we go....

What was I doing 10 years ago (April 1998)?
I was in 9th grade at Sumner Hill Jr. High, my city's 9th grade school. Yes, we have a school with only ninth grade. Our high school houses 10-12. The other schools hold K-1, 2-3, 4-5, and 6. Yes, strange, but it works. I was getting ready to try out for Attache, our high school's nationally known and celebrated show choir. I sang "Outcast" from Disney's Hunchback of Notre Dame. It was fun even though I didn't make it.

5 Things on my "To Do" list today/tomorrow:
Go with Mama to The Fresh Market and The Loft
Make cookies for Daddy
Go to the pediatric department resident vs. attending softball game
Study some more in 1 Peter
Get ahead on my peds rotation: start CLIPP cases and buy a book

5 Things I would do if I were a Billionaire:
Pay off my med school loans.
Buy a house
Give more to my church
Go to Greece, the Holy Land, and New York...oh, and Prince Edward Island, the land of Anne
Go crazy on gifts for the kids at the hospital during Christmas

5 Bad Habits:
Biting my nails - I'm not as bad as I used to be, but sometimes things just happen!
Not calling people to do things
Chewing on my lip
Forgetting to pluck my eyebrows
getting defensive

5 Places I have lived:
Alexandria, VA
Clinton, MS
Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
Jackson, MS
Oakridge, TN

5 Jobs I have had:
Tutor
Babysitter
Church Music Intern
Chemistry Researcher
Medical Assistant - in ophthalmology, family medicin, and pediatrics (all in different summers)

Now, I'm supposed to tag people:
Casey - Blog A La Bradshaw
Kristen - Dine and Dish
Red Dirt Mummy
Paula - The Cookbook Junkie
Jennifer - Weekly Dish

The First Meme of the Season

This is a food free post, but I love these little questionaires. If you'd like to do it as well, feel free to copy and try it out!

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapping paper, though bags are easier.
2. Real tree or artificial? Artificial. I took the top two sections of our old tree and use it. My miniature one just depressed me!
3. When do you put up the tree? the weekend after Thanksgivig
4. When do you take the tree down? sometime soon after the new year
5. Do you like eggnog? never tried it but my guess is no!
6. Favorite gift received as a child? Hmmm...I guess my bike
7. Do you have a nativity scene? I've got two...one that my mom got me and stays up all year, and another that I got at Kirklands last year.
8. Hardest person to buy for? my brother
9. Easiest person to buy for?mom
10. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? ummm...I can think of one but I'm not going to say what it was...I never used it, though. I can also think of my brother's worst gift, but I wont say it either.
11. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail if I send them
12. Favorite Christmas Movie? The Santa Clause
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? whenever I know what I want to get and find it!
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? don't think so
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? the wheat squares and nuts from Trash (i.e. chex mix!)...and squash casserole. BUT I LOVE baking for Christmas treats.
16. Clear lights or colored on the tree? Both. My tree has clear, our den tree has colored, and the themed tree has clear.
17. Favorite Christmas song? hmmm...I dont know. I like O Holy Night and Silent Night. Birthday of a Kin is good too.
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Now I travel since my parents live in TN.
19. Can you name all of Santa’s reindeer? Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitsen, and Rudloph (!)
20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Angel or weird Kyrgyz thing
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Christmas morning
22. Most annoying thing about this time of year? lines, traffic
23. What I love most about Christmas? Of course, we celebrate because Jesus came to give us life but I'll go outside of that and say giving. It's so much fun! I just bought a lot of toys for the children at our hospital and just love it!!!

The Interview

There's an interview meme going around. I've already done one of these at my other blog but thought that a food blog interview would be fun. After seeing Peabody's answers, I thought it would be a great time to ask someone to interview me. Now that my Step 1 exam is over and I have two lovely weeks of summer, I have time to answer the questions. So, if you want to know a few things about me, read on!

1. You seem very close with your family. Have you always been close or is
this something that has come about as you were an adult?

Well, this is something to think about. I think we've always been close. I enjoy being around them and they always encourage me in what I do and pray for me daily. I think that being in medical school, in an apartment has made me realize what a blessing they are to me. My parents are such awesome examples to me of what a husband and wife should be and what parents should be. This year they moved from our hometown of 23 years in Clinton, MS to Jackson, TN. That was really hard for me but I think I appreciate home even more now! Mama and I talk almost every day and definitely e-mail if we don't talk. Daddy doesn't really talk on the phone but "keeps up" with me through this blog (ROSES!!!!!!). So, we've always been close, but I think have gotten closer over the past couple of years.

2. How on earth do you find time to study for medical school and run a food
blog?

That is a good question! Sometimes, my study breaks are used to write posts. This second semester I seemed to get busier and posting was more infrequent. I'm afraid that next year will be even worse, as I will be at the hospital most days all day. We have to go around and see all our patients before rounds, which are sometimes at 8. Hopefully, I'll still be here cooking and posting! I really enjoy it and cooking is a pleasure for me...if only I had more people to cook for!

3. You seem to cook a lot of healthy dishes on your blog. What food if it
had no calories would you eat all the time?

Hmmmmm...this really is a hard one! There are foods that I don't make for myself but will eat other places, but those truly are not foods I would want to eat all the time. I guess I would have to say dessert! I don't eat dessert that often but do enjoy it. As you can see from my blog, I also like making it! However, usually when I make it, it's either for someone else or I eat one piece and then no more. My other thoughts were peanut butter, cheesy stuff, and fried foods...oh, maybe fried foods!

4. You are a Southern gal. What is your favorite "Southern" dish?

I LOVE cornbread...I guess if I went with a "Southern" meal, I would say either fried catfish (which I now usually get grilled), turnip greens (recently discovered as yummy) but not cooked with ham hocks, I just don't like that!, and cornbread or a yummy vegetable dinner! Those are great!

5. What kind of doctor do you want to be(meaning, what will your specialty
be) and did you always want to be a doctor?

OH! I want to be a pediatrician. Last summer I worked in the ambulatory clinic at my hospital and absolutely loved it. I mean, I get to play with babies, take care of little sick kiddos and make them better, and encourage parents. Given, there are some times when the parents can be hard to deal with and when 6 year-olds don't want to have their throat swabbed for strep test (if you close their nose, they'll open their mouth!), but in the end it's rewarding and most kids get better. I've been told by MANY people that they can see me doing that and I have the personality for it, so I can't WAIT for my pediatric rotation, which, unfortunately, is my last rotation NEXT April!
Did I always want to be a doctor? WELLLLLL, when I was little I said I was going to be a nurse but found out they practiced giving shots on each other and quickly gave up that idea. This year I practiced drawing blood on a classmate and she did the same to me! Can't get away from it! In sixth grade, I thought I'd be a physical therapist. After about eighth grade, I don't think I really knew what I wanted to be, just that I liked science and math. I went to college and majored in chemistry and minored in math...all while having medical school in the back of my mind. My concerns were over the time that it takes to complete training and the time required during that training. You see, I wanted (and still desire) to have a family - to be a wife and a mama - and didn't see how medical school and being a physician would work with that.
So, my junior year, I took medical physiology and loved it. It was hard but I enjoyed learning how the body worked. I came to the conclusion that God was calling me to go to medical school and serve Him through being a doctor. I just decided one day, that's what I'm going to do...I have to. After that, I had such a peace that I was doing the right thing and have not doubted it since. I am SO excited about what is to come in my life and how I'm going to be able to work with people, encouraging them and hopefully helping them get better.

So, now you know some more about me...what about you? Do you want to be interviewed? Here are the directions:
1. Leave a comment saying, “Interview me.”
2. I will respond by emailing you five questions. Beware, I may ask personal questions! Please make sure I have your email address.
3. You will update your blog with the answers to the questions.
4. You will include this explanation and offer to interview someone else in the same post.
5. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions.

First Letter Meme

I found this meme over at Gail's site. It looked like fun, so I did it. I'm not tagging anyone but feel free to try it out. Come back tomorrow for a yummy recipe!

Rules: Use the 1st letter of your name to answer each of the following…They must be REAL places, names, things…NOTHING made up! If you can’t think of anything, skip it. Try to use different answers if the person in front of you had the same 1st initial. You CAN’T use your name for the boy/girl name question.

Your name: Claire
1. Famous Athlete: Carlos Zambrano
2. 4 letter word: coat
3. Street name: Central Avenue (did I make that up?)
4. Color: celadon
5. Gifts/presents: cookie scoop
6. Vehicles: Camry (mine!)
7. Tropical Locations: Carribean
8. College Majors: Chemistry (mine!)
9. Dairy Products: Cottage cheese
10. Things in a Souvenir Shop: candles
11. Boy Name: Caleb (love it!)
12. Girl Name: Caitlyn
13. Movie Titles: Chocolat
14. Alcohol: Champaign
15. Occupations: Cruise director
16. Flowers: Calalily
17. Celebrities: Christopher Lloyd
18. Magazines: Cooking Light
19. U.S. Cities: Charleston, NC
20. Pro Sports Teams: Chicago Cubs!!!!
21. Something Found in a kitchen: Cooktop
22 Reason for Being Late: clock didn't go off
23. Something You Throw Away: cans
24. Things You Shout: Come on!
25. Cartoon Character: Cinderella

Butter? It worked!

I recently commented to Anna at Cookie Madness that I don't like using butter for cookies because they always seem to get flat and crispy. She showed me one of her recipes for some cookies that use butter but don't flatten out. She's right! These are GREAT. I don't know if this will make me use butter more often, but these I will make again.

Her cookies are puffy and tender. One different thing is that the flour is bread flour. Anna said that this probably gives the cookies their tender nature. I also thought it was interesting the difference in the batter when the egg and vanilla were added, the color lightened and the batter immediately smoothed (check out the pictures below). The only thing I changed from her recipe was to use mint chocolate chips in the cookies rather than bittersweet chocolate, and I made Tablespoon sized cookies rather than 1/4 cup large cookies. These cookies do harden a bit (maybe because I made smaller ones) over time but soften quite well with a few seconds in the microwave. Who doesn't like warm cookies anyway? Try these cookies and stop by Anna's sight for more...she always has GREAT recipes!

Anna's Giant Chocolate Chunk Cookies
No mixer required!
1/2 cup pecan pieces

1/2 cup rolled oats

1/2 cup unsalted butter -- melted and slightly cooled (about 5 minutes)

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup white sugar

1 large egg

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 1/2 cups bread flour

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon (optional)

1/2 teaspoon salt1 (6 oz) dark or bittersweet chocolate bar, cut into chunks

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Spread pecan pieces over half of a large cookie sheet. Spread oats over other half of cookie sheet.

Bake pecans and oats for 8-10 minutes or until pecans are aromatic and toasted. Remove from oven and let cool.
In a medium bowl, stir (by hand) melted butter, brown sugar and white sugar until smooth. Stir in the egg and vanilla, being careful not to over-beat.
Mix together the bread flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and salt and stir into sugar mixture. Stir toasted oats and pecans. Stir in chocolate chunks.
Using a packed quarter cup measure or tablespoon if making smaller cookies, shape dough into balls and place on a dish. Refrigerate shaped dough balls for at least 3 hours.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a cookie sheet with parchment and place thoroughly chilled dough balls about 3 inches apart on cookie sheet. If making smaller cookies they can be placed closer together.
Bake cookies for 15 minutes for large cookies and 10-11 minutes for smaller cookies, or until done. Remove from baking sheets to cool on wire racks. Let cool completely
This recipe yields between 9 an 11 large cookies and 36 smaller cookies.

Now for a 3 things meme:
Three people/things that make me laugh: weird dreams, my mom, The Princess Bride
Three things that scare me: stinkbugs (!), 18-wheelers, taking the Step 1
Three things I love: my family, God's incredible grace, real friends
Three things I hate: bad grammar, smoking, studying
Three things I don’t understand: why I have to memorize hundreds of drugs only to forget them again and use a PDA to look them up when I need to use them, guys, my brother (I guess those could be the same thing)
Three things on my desk: 2 jewelry boxes, a fan, papers I need to find a place for Three things I want to do before I die: Go to New York, go to more Cubs games, win a recipe contest
Three things I can do: cook, sing, perform a medical physical exam and take a history. Three things I would like to learn: sign language, ballroom dancing, golf
Three favorite foods: squash, fruit (all kinds!), Spring rolls
Three beverages I drink regularly: water, lemonade, coffee (I've just started drinking it in the morning since it's cold again)
Three TV shows/Books I watched/read as a kid: Anne of Green Gables, Little House on the Prairie, Ramona

Okay, here are my tags:
VC at Sugar Delirium
Alisha at Cooking, Stamping, and Scrapping
Mandi at Red Dirt Mummy
Anna at Cookie Madness

Spinach Salad and a Meme

Yesterday, my Sunday school class had a potluck lunch. I ended up taking two dishes because I couldn't decide which to make. Later, I'll post the recipe for the pineapple casserole; tonight it's all about spinach. Now before you think "Ew, spinach," listen! You may think of spinach as that stuff that popeye pops out of his cans when he needs strength...I agree, THAT spinach is gross. However, fresh spinach is a totally different story. Fresh spinach is one of the healthiest and most delicious greens you can use. Even if you don't like it cooked, there is a high possibility that you will like it as a salad green. Also, this salad has TONS of yummy extras in it! SO, check out my Aunt Margaret's spinach salad. As it is full of antioxidants, this is my entry for Sweetnicks, ARF Tuesday.

Mandarin Orange, Bacon, and Brittle Spinach Salad

1 bag fresh spinach

1 large can mandarin oranges in orange juice

7-8 slices of turkey bacon (this really is better because it gets crispy and is easy to break)

1 box peanut brittle (I use about half but you can use more)

1 small bottle Italian dressing (light or fat-free will work as well) - I don't use the whole bottle, just put enough on to cover the spinach when tossed

Cook bacon until crispy. Put spinach is a large bowl. Crumble bacon over the spinach. Drain oranges and add to the greens. Break brittle into small pieces and add to salad. Just before serving, pour desired amount of salad dressing over the salad. You need enough to cover the spinach. Toss and enjoy.

Now for the meme. I've been tagged by Rachel at Rachel's Bite to tell 6 weird food things about myself. Here goes:

1. I've never had sushi. Apparently this is really a horrible thing. When I was teaching an ACT review session one Saturday, I told the kids this and they all just gasped in horror. Maybe I should try it!

2. I've eaten horse. Yes, when I lived in Kyrgyzstan, we ate at the home of a national (for about 5 hours, 8 courses, a LOT of food!). One of the appetizers they had was horse. It's pretty fatty but tastes alright. Can't say I'd eat it again, though.

3. I can't drink tea. Yes, I'm from the South and I don't like tea. I taught myself to like coffee but there is just something in my body that keeps me from liking tea. sorry!

4. I like butternut squash but I don't like sweet potatoes. Once again, something in my body just can't handle it. The first two bites are okay but after that I can't swallow any more potato. Sweet potato fries, however, are a different matter!

5. When I was little, I would mash my cake and ice cream together until it resembled mush. It's really very good. Try it some time in the privacy of your own home.

6. I think Papa John's pizza is really gross. The crust is gummy and the sauce just isn't right. This is a bad thing when we have pizza for free lunch at the med center...the ALWAYS get papa john's.

Okay, I'm not tagging anyone this time because I've tagged for a meme like this before and don't remember who I tagged. If you'd like to do this, go ahead and they let me know! :-)

I Can Show You the World...

Friday night a friend and I went out to eat and to the ballet! The company that did the performance is a local Christian ballet company. They are fairly well known (worldwide) and have dancers from all over the world in their company. It is called Ballet Magnificat. The professional troupe is WONDERFUL and is headed up by Kathy Thibodeaux the only American to have won the International Ballet Competition silver medal. She's amazing...50 years old and still dancing beautifully! She is married to Keith Thibodeaux, who most of you will know as little Ricky on I Love Lucy! Anyway, the ballet was called A Christmas Dream and was set to the music of The Nutcracker. It was a beautiful presentation of our struggles with sin and how Jesus rescues us and welcomes us into His eternal kingdom. Beautiful! This picture is from a dance called Kingdom Kids. The girl in the green on the left is a little girl I used to take to ballet class...Go, Katie!!! NOW, on to the food.

Before the ballet we ate at a little Mediterranean restaurant called Aladdins. It was really good and gave me leftovers. If you're ever in the Jackson, MS area and want a local, "hold in the wall" restaurant, I recommend this place. They offer chicken, beef, lamb, and vegitarian fare. Vickie got the gyro plate. I haven't had lamb in forever and this was wonderful. Well flavored and tender.

I got the chicken lula. The waitress told me that it was ground chicken, with the spices ground into the meat, shaped into kabobs. Well, it wasn't exactly in a kabob shape. To me they looked like a fish filet. But the flavor was really good...nice spices. Both plates came with fresh hummus, salad, and rice. I'll definitely go back...I can even walk to it from my apartment!

Now, here's a meme that I picked up from Stacy at Hambones. It's not really food related but it's Christmas themed and is fun!

Holiday: Christmas or New Years? Christmas for sure! I've never really done anything on New Years. Usually I babysit; most of my friends now are either married or dating, so hanging out with them wouldn't be much fun. Hopefully I can cook something up!

Cookies: Sugar or Gingerbread? Sugar - I love the simplicity of it!

Decorations: Santa or Snowmen? Snowmen, in fact I just bought some $1 snowmen glasses at Kroger today!

Decorations: Reindeer or Elves? I guess I'd pick reindeer, but really neither.

Colors: Red or Green? Hmmm...I like both, but I guess green.

Colors: Gold or Silver? I really don't know, probably silver but I'm starting to like gold a little more now.

Tree Topper: Star or Angel? An angel. It's on my parents' tree. Mine has a gaudy looking something we got in Kyrgyzstan.

Stocking Stuffer: Fruit or Candy? Well, I've never gotten fruit in my stocking and I don't know if I'd want to because I eat that ALL the time. So, I guess I'd go with candy.

Tree: Real or Artificial? Artificial.

Cartoons: Charlie Brown or Rudolph? I don't know if I've actually seen either all the way through.
Movie: It’s a Wonderful Life or A Christmas Carol? I don't watch either of these but the preference would be It's a Wonderful Life.

Stocking Stuffer: Jewelry or Gift Card? If I was dating someone...jewelry. Alas, I am not, so I'll go with gift card.

Christmas List: Naughty or Nice? Niiiiice! Unless you start talking about microbiology.
Drink: Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate? Honestly, NEITHER

Holiday Ghost: Past, Present, or Future? I don't understand the question!

Vacation Spot: North Pole or Winter Wonderland? Winter Wonderland. I DREAM of a white Christmas.

Holiday Song: Jingle Bells or Silver Bells? Jingle Bells
Holiday Song: Silent Night or O’ Holy Night? O Holy Night!

More Fun: Christmas Eve or Christmas Day? Both are so different. Christmas Eve we usually go to Christmas Eve service, which I love. And it is fully of cookies...um, hello! Christmas Day is fun, too! We spend it together just relaxing and celebrating the greatest gift of all, Jesus Christ, who came to be the sacrifice for us!

Lights: Clear or Multi-Colored? I like both! My tree has white but colored is more homey to me.
Ornaments: Bulbs or Bows? Bulbs
Tree Decor: Ribbon, Popcorn, or Garland? None of these.

Gifts: Wrapping Paper or Gift Bags? I prefer wrapping paper.

Better To: Give or Receive? Okay, honestly they are both mucho fun, but I like giving and seeing people love the gift!

Okay, if you'd like to do this, go ahead. I'm not tagging anyone specific because I know how busy it is. But if you do this, let me know so I can check your answers out!