Things I'm looking forward to this week.
1) Working happy hour tomorrow to get some of this grad school work completed. I love study groups!
2) 1/2 day training on Wednesday! I get an afternoon break. And the training is near my old school. I'm definitely going to pop in and see some of my old teaching pals and check in on my 7th graders. I miss them! I got an email from one of my kiddos two weeks ago. :( Makes me miss teaching!!!
3) Decorating for Halloween. I can't stand it anymore. I have tons of stuff. My new rats and bleeding red wax candles deserve to be showcased. HEB better have some pumpkins!
4) My birthday is on Friday! I'm not too excited that I'll be 27! Doesn't that sound so old? But I am excited to share my special day with my mom and celebrate with friends.
5) Pecan Street Festival on Saturday with Jana! I love arts and crafts or as Rands calls them "arts and crap."
Have a great week!
Monday, September 20, 2010
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Chef Chat
It's been awhile since I've posted any recipes. So you're getting a whopping two! I made these things this week, and they were pretty tasty.
I have to say, I love recipes. But what do I love more? Not following them! Yep, you read that correctly. It is so liberating for this uber strict rule follower to break a rule. I mean what's a little non-measuring going to hurt? Granted, nothing tastes the same twice, but I get this skill from my mother. Do you know that she doesn't even own measuring spoons? I don't know how she bakes things! Once again though, your favorite dish might not be your favorite on round 2.
So I find every which way not to follow a recipe. I love shakes of this, and pinches of that. And can we talk about omitting things? I love taking things out and adding something that's a left-over or a staple in the pantry. I know you must be drooling now:) We usually eat around 7pm if you want to stop by.
A new twist on breakfast!
Bacon and Egg Quesadilla (perfect for I'm tired of cooking the same old thing all the time. And everyone needs a breakfast dinner at least once a month!)
large tortillas (1 per person unless you want left-overs for breakfast in the morning)
eggs (I have no idea how many, umm let's go with 2 per person)
bacon (2 or 3 strips )
Shredded pepper jack cheese (follow the rule here, you can tell)
1 can of black beans-rinsed and drained
Cook your bacon. Reserve some bacon fat (you should take your dog for a walk after this one, and it won't be so bad, or you could do that spray 0 calorie butter but why?)
Scramble your eggs in a skillet over medium-low heat. (I mix mine in a bowl first with salt/pepper/milk)
Transfer eggs to a bowl and clean skillet.
Butter one side of each tortilla and put scrambled eggs/bacon/black beans and monterrey jack cheese on on side.
Place in skillet (butter side down) that's on medium-high heat and fold up one side. Flip after a couple of minutes (I don't know when. Just check and if it's lightly brown, flip). Cook on other side.
Smash an avocado with lime juice, salt, and cumin. Serve avocado smash and salsa with quesadillas.
Monterrey Chicken Casserole (my additions/omitions (is this a word?) are in parentheses)
This recipe won the grand prize in the Ortega Simple Mexican Meals Cookbook. It was good, but not grand prize worthy. There are many other recipes in the book that take the gold. But that could be partly to blame on my deviance in the kitchen. Maybe you should ignore the parentheses and go with the original recipe.
-1 lb. (4 cups) cooked chicken breast meat, cut into 3/4 to 1-inch pieces
(I used 2 cups chicken breast meat--we're not feeding an army here)
-1 bottle (16 oz) Ortega taco sauce
(love this stuff- buy Ortega!- I actually used an 8 oz. bottle bc that's what I had. I was not going back to HEB. So you're thinking that I must have 1/2 the entire recipe since the chicken and taco sauce are off...I didn't!)
-2 cans (4 oz each) Ortega Diced Green Chiles (Hill Country Fare taste just the same)
-1 cup frozen whole kernel corn
-3/4 cup instant rice
(confession: I can't use instant rice. I just can't! How hard is it to make rice? I don't own instant rice. My mom would be so ashamed if she raised me to cook with instant rice. I think it's gross and rubbery. I went all out and used my leftover Spanish rice from the night before.)
-1/2 cup water (I think I filled the empty taco sauce bottle up 1.5 times.)
-1 can (2.25 oz) sliced ripe olives, drained (omit, I hate olives as much as I hate instant rice!)
-1 pkg. (12) Ortega taco shells, crumbled
(I used some tortilla chips-less crumbling work)
-2 cups (8oz.) shredded cheddar cheese
(Look at the recipe title, it says "Monterrey" in the title. Shouldn't this be Monterrey Jack cheese instead of cheddar based on the title? Why can't people just follow the rules when it comes to recipes? I'm not a poser, so I used Mont. Jack.)
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Combine chicken, taco sauce, chiles, corn, rice, water, and olives in a large bowl. Spoon into ungreased 13x9 baking dish. Combine taco shells and cheese in a medium bowl (unless you like washing dishes, just put the shells and cheese on top. You don't need to mess up another dish.) Sprinkle over chicken mixture.
Bake for 30-45 minutes or until top is golden brown. Top with green onions, tomato, and other desired garnishes (i.e. lettuce and sour cream).
Let me know how it turns out!
I have to say, I love recipes. But what do I love more? Not following them! Yep, you read that correctly. It is so liberating for this uber strict rule follower to break a rule. I mean what's a little non-measuring going to hurt? Granted, nothing tastes the same twice, but I get this skill from my mother. Do you know that she doesn't even own measuring spoons? I don't know how she bakes things! Once again though, your favorite dish might not be your favorite on round 2.
So I find every which way not to follow a recipe. I love shakes of this, and pinches of that. And can we talk about omitting things? I love taking things out and adding something that's a left-over or a staple in the pantry. I know you must be drooling now:) We usually eat around 7pm if you want to stop by.
A new twist on breakfast!
Bacon and Egg Quesadilla (perfect for I'm tired of cooking the same old thing all the time. And everyone needs a breakfast dinner at least once a month!)
large tortillas (1 per person unless you want left-overs for breakfast in the morning)
eggs (I have no idea how many, umm let's go with 2 per person)
bacon (2 or 3 strips )
Shredded pepper jack cheese (follow the rule here, you can tell)
1 can of black beans-rinsed and drained
Cook your bacon. Reserve some bacon fat (you should take your dog for a walk after this one, and it won't be so bad, or you could do that spray 0 calorie butter but why?)
Scramble your eggs in a skillet over medium-low heat. (I mix mine in a bowl first with salt/pepper/milk)
Transfer eggs to a bowl and clean skillet.
Butter one side of each tortilla and put scrambled eggs/bacon/black beans and monterrey jack cheese on on side.
Place in skillet (butter side down) that's on medium-high heat and fold up one side. Flip after a couple of minutes (I don't know when. Just check and if it's lightly brown, flip). Cook on other side.
Smash an avocado with lime juice, salt, and cumin. Serve avocado smash and salsa with quesadillas.
Monterrey Chicken Casserole (my additions/omitions (is this a word?) are in parentheses)
This recipe won the grand prize in the Ortega Simple Mexican Meals Cookbook. It was good, but not grand prize worthy. There are many other recipes in the book that take the gold. But that could be partly to blame on my deviance in the kitchen. Maybe you should ignore the parentheses and go with the original recipe.
-1 lb. (4 cups) cooked chicken breast meat, cut into 3/4 to 1-inch pieces
(I used 2 cups chicken breast meat--we're not feeding an army here)
-1 bottle (16 oz) Ortega taco sauce
(love this stuff- buy Ortega!- I actually used an 8 oz. bottle bc that's what I had. I was not going back to HEB. So you're thinking that I must have 1/2 the entire recipe since the chicken and taco sauce are off...I didn't!)
-2 cans (4 oz each) Ortega Diced Green Chiles (Hill Country Fare taste just the same)
-1 cup frozen whole kernel corn
-3/4 cup instant rice
(confession: I can't use instant rice. I just can't! How hard is it to make rice? I don't own instant rice. My mom would be so ashamed if she raised me to cook with instant rice. I think it's gross and rubbery. I went all out and used my leftover Spanish rice from the night before.)
-1/2 cup water (I think I filled the empty taco sauce bottle up 1.5 times.)
-1 can (2.25 oz) sliced ripe olives, drained (omit, I hate olives as much as I hate instant rice!)
-1 pkg. (12) Ortega taco shells, crumbled
(I used some tortilla chips-less crumbling work)
-2 cups (8oz.) shredded cheddar cheese
(Look at the recipe title, it says "Monterrey" in the title. Shouldn't this be Monterrey Jack cheese instead of cheddar based on the title? Why can't people just follow the rules when it comes to recipes? I'm not a poser, so I used Mont. Jack.)
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Combine chicken, taco sauce, chiles, corn, rice, water, and olives in a large bowl. Spoon into ungreased 13x9 baking dish. Combine taco shells and cheese in a medium bowl (unless you like washing dishes, just put the shells and cheese on top. You don't need to mess up another dish.) Sprinkle over chicken mixture.
Bake for 30-45 minutes or until top is golden brown. Top with green onions, tomato, and other desired garnishes (i.e. lettuce and sour cream).
Let me know how it turns out!
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Jeremiah 29:11
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Homework!
Ugghh I hate the sound of that word. I desperately need to do some of that tonight. Monday night will be here before you know it, and I have a professional disclosure statement with my name on it. Actually, this is all I have on it at the moment;)
I also have tons of reading to do.... The topic is solution focused small groups. I'm about to start some counseling small groups. I love that I work at a place which fosters counseling practices within the school curriculum. Next week I'll be visiting all of the classrooms and doing guidance lessons. I'm really blessed to be able to have the support of my principal and colleagues to foster development in the personal, social, and academic domains.
Are you bored yet? Man aren't you glad I rarely talk about serious stuff? But seriously, I am super passionate about counseling. I have good days and bad days. It's so hard to learn a new job. Not only are you learning the ropes of your job, but the system as well. Not to mention getting to know teachers and kids. This has been the hardest part. It's hard to build rapport and relationships with students when you see them randomly in the hallway and 20 minutes at lunch.
The conversation I'm sick of having...
Me: "Hey how's it going?" (clearly I don't know their name, because I would have said it after the word "hey.")
student: Hi Mrs. Lueders, do you remember my name?
groan....why do they all want me to know their name?....There's one of me and about 500 of my kiddos.
Me: "Your name is Awesome!"
Luckily this has worked so far. I know my days are numbered. I took an old yearbook home tonight, so I can start learning some names that way. My goal is to know all of their names by the end of the year. Think I can do it?
Sure! Do you know how many synonyms there are for the word "awesome?"
This is when I'm thankful for my weird name. Penny! See how easy that is. Not many Pennys walking around. If they are, they have four legs (dogs) or using a walker (old person). Common names are tough. I've met a gazillion people with the same first name. Future parents, name your children unique things so their school counselors can remember it....like Oprah or Juniper. That would be helpful...Thanks!
Well my rambling can only take me so far. I'm stalling. My homework is feeling the love!
I also have tons of reading to do.... The topic is solution focused small groups. I'm about to start some counseling small groups. I love that I work at a place which fosters counseling practices within the school curriculum. Next week I'll be visiting all of the classrooms and doing guidance lessons. I'm really blessed to be able to have the support of my principal and colleagues to foster development in the personal, social, and academic domains.
Are you bored yet? Man aren't you glad I rarely talk about serious stuff? But seriously, I am super passionate about counseling. I have good days and bad days. It's so hard to learn a new job. Not only are you learning the ropes of your job, but the system as well. Not to mention getting to know teachers and kids. This has been the hardest part. It's hard to build rapport and relationships with students when you see them randomly in the hallway and 20 minutes at lunch.
The conversation I'm sick of having...
Me: "Hey how's it going?" (clearly I don't know their name, because I would have said it after the word "hey.")
student: Hi Mrs. Lueders, do you remember my name?
groan....why do they all want me to know their name?....There's one of me and about 500 of my kiddos.
Me: "Your name is Awesome!"
Luckily this has worked so far. I know my days are numbered. I took an old yearbook home tonight, so I can start learning some names that way. My goal is to know all of their names by the end of the year. Think I can do it?
Sure! Do you know how many synonyms there are for the word "awesome?"
This is when I'm thankful for my weird name. Penny! See how easy that is. Not many Pennys walking around. If they are, they have four legs (dogs) or using a walker (old person). Common names are tough. I've met a gazillion people with the same first name. Future parents, name your children unique things so their school counselors can remember it....like Oprah or Juniper. That would be helpful...Thanks!
Well my rambling can only take me so far. I'm stalling. My homework is feeling the love!
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
today has been....
total crap!
I'm ready for bed so tomorrow will hurry up and be here. Everything about today sucked!
The only highlight was my Pottery Barn rats came in the mail:) That and Randy wants to ride around and look at the retention ponds because he knows they are flooded. Don't be jealous you don't have words like "retention pond" floating around your dining room table.
But back to my crappy day, did I mention it was CRAP!
Yah just so you know, it was! c-r-a-p!
I'm ready for bed so tomorrow will hurry up and be here. Everything about today sucked!
The only highlight was my Pottery Barn rats came in the mail:) That and Randy wants to ride around and look at the retention ponds because he knows they are flooded. Don't be jealous you don't have words like "retention pond" floating around your dining room table.
But back to my crappy day, did I mention it was CRAP!
Yah just so you know, it was! c-r-a-p!
Monday, September 6, 2010
Century Post
Can you believe it! I have blogged 100 posts! A huge shout out to my dear friend Leslie who started me on this blogging adventure. I have discovered etsy, blog layouts, followers, and tear jerking blogs just by knowing her. She's taught me everything I know:) I love you dear! Kudos to you for helping me unleash my inner blogging self. I am now obsessed with blogging.
Happy Labor Day people! Enjoy your fabulous day off by heading to Chick Fil A! Wear a sports team shirt and get a free spicy chicken sandwich! I recommend it with the Chick Fil A sauce! Yummy! Thank you Chick Fil A by providing the most free food out of any other fast food restaurant. Oh yah and for saying things like "My pleasure" when I say thank you or "may I refresh your drink?" We are so above the word "refill." :)
Today I'm working on some guidance lesson plans and creating the ground work for my next arts and craft project. Hint: it deals with Halloween! I can't wait to feature it in my upcoming "Crafts with Penny" blog post.
Randy is fixing our toilet upstairs. It's been leaking. I told him about a week ago. What does he do? He puts one of my tupper ware dishes under the leak to catch the water. Fabulous! So we are heading out of the house this morning to go to Lowe's to finally purchase some replacement parts. I very sweetly ask, "Do you need to write anything down or take a picture of the part?" He confidently says, "It's a standard part."
Well Randy bought two parts because the "standard" part comes in 4 different varieties. He mentioned to me he might need to go back later for the other 2 parts. When asked why he didn't just buy all four options, his response had something to do with the word "pride." I couldn't hear all of his answer because I was to busy laughing and playing the "I told you so" song in my head. It's my favorite song!
Happy Labor Day!
Happy Labor Day people! Enjoy your fabulous day off by heading to Chick Fil A! Wear a sports team shirt and get a free spicy chicken sandwich! I recommend it with the Chick Fil A sauce! Yummy! Thank you Chick Fil A by providing the most free food out of any other fast food restaurant. Oh yah and for saying things like "My pleasure" when I say thank you or "may I refresh your drink?" We are so above the word "refill." :)
Today I'm working on some guidance lesson plans and creating the ground work for my next arts and craft project. Hint: it deals with Halloween! I can't wait to feature it in my upcoming "Crafts with Penny" blog post.
Randy is fixing our toilet upstairs. It's been leaking. I told him about a week ago. What does he do? He puts one of my tupper ware dishes under the leak to catch the water. Fabulous! So we are heading out of the house this morning to go to Lowe's to finally purchase some replacement parts. I very sweetly ask, "Do you need to write anything down or take a picture of the part?" He confidently says, "It's a standard part."
Well Randy bought two parts because the "standard" part comes in 4 different varieties. He mentioned to me he might need to go back later for the other 2 parts. When asked why he didn't just buy all four options, his response had something to do with the word "pride." I couldn't hear all of his answer because I was to busy laughing and playing the "I told you so" song in my head. It's my favorite song!
Happy Labor Day!
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Football season!
Can I just tell you what a good mood my husband is in these days? I am loving it over here!
The announcers, the play calling, the everything! We are way excited over here.
We even went to a Friday night football game. We watched Belton High School take on Austin High!
Do we know any players on the team? Nope!
How about, did we go to school there? Big fat no!
I know, We must like the school colors? Uhhh...Austin High is maroon (yuck) and Belton says things like "Go Big Red." Gross!
So why were we at this random football game.....
Oooh I know!
The Belton quarterback is committed to come to Texas NEXT year!
DUH!!!
Yah, and Austin High School has this amazing wide receiver. He's a junior, and Randy wants him to come to Texas so badly in TWO years!!!
We are into following recruits over here. I could care less! But the game did go into overtime. It was exciting with the teams scoring 60 something points. I don't know the exact score. Can you blame me? It was near 11 o'clock, and the game was still not over. Butt burn was definitely my diagnosis.
Randy in the car....
"I wonder after the game if the Belton quarterback went over to the star from Austin High and tried to talk to him about coming to Texas?"
P: "I'm sure no one else in attendance tonight had that same thought."
R: "You don't like it when past UT players go over to each other at the end of NFL games and talk."
See, he said at the "End." That means it's over....kinda like my attention span. I don't stay around to stare at Espn's Erin Andrews while she interviews former Longhorns slapping each other on the butts. This hot chicka is usually doing something glamorous after a game, like washing the dip dish.
The announcers, the play calling, the everything! We are way excited over here.
We even went to a Friday night football game. We watched Belton High School take on Austin High!
Do we know any players on the team? Nope!
How about, did we go to school there? Big fat no!
I know, We must like the school colors? Uhhh...Austin High is maroon (yuck) and Belton says things like "Go Big Red." Gross!
So why were we at this random football game.....
Oooh I know!
The Belton quarterback is committed to come to Texas NEXT year!
DUH!!!
Yah, and Austin High School has this amazing wide receiver. He's a junior, and Randy wants him to come to Texas so badly in TWO years!!!
We are into following recruits over here. I could care less! But the game did go into overtime. It was exciting with the teams scoring 60 something points. I don't know the exact score. Can you blame me? It was near 11 o'clock, and the game was still not over. Butt burn was definitely my diagnosis.
Randy in the car....
"I wonder after the game if the Belton quarterback went over to the star from Austin High and tried to talk to him about coming to Texas?"
P: "I'm sure no one else in attendance tonight had that same thought."
R: "You don't like it when past UT players go over to each other at the end of NFL games and talk."
See, he said at the "End." That means it's over....kinda like my attention span. I don't stay around to stare at Espn's Erin Andrews while she interviews former Longhorns slapping each other on the butts. This hot chicka is usually doing something glamorous after a game, like washing the dip dish.
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