Thoughts...

Sometimes I wonder if things in my life are going to be okay. I wonder if I will be successful in my career. I wonder if I will be in a loving relationship with a family. I wonder all of these things, and I try to control them and align the stars so these things will happen. I am having a lot of trouble living “day to day” and it is greatly affecting my relationship with Mircea. He is so laid back and comfortable in his own skin, and I am constantly second guessing myself and his feelings for me (and my own self-worth). I just don’t know if it’s worth holding onto anymore. I would love to continue a relationship with him, but I’m also scared that if we are holding onto emotional wounds of the past several months, that there really isn’t a point. I know life isn’t all roses, but can one ever recover from emotional wounds that they have inflicted on each other? Can you get through these rough patches when people are stressed and pushing each other away? I just don’t know. I need to stop worrying and just live my life. Easier said then done.

Recipe MondayThursday

Ok everyone. Sorry I posted stupid song lyrics on Thursday, but I was busy (but not too busy for that) Here's recipe Thursday on Monday!!


Pumpkin Pecan Pie
This can be made up to a day ahead of time.

Ingredients
1 9 inch unbaked pie shell
1 15 oz can pumpkin
1/3 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup granulated sugar
3/4 tsp cinnamon
3/4 tsp powdered ginger
1/8 tsp salt
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
2 eggs (well-beaten)
1/2 cup milk
Topping
1/4 cup butter
1/2 cup sugar
3/4 cup coarsely chopped pecans

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2. In a mixing bowl, combine the pumpkin, brown sugar, granulated sugar, cinnamon, ginger, salt, vanilla, eggs, and milk. Mix until well blended.
3. Pour into the unbaked pie shell. Bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes.
4. Meanwhile, mix the topping ingredients until crumbly. Sprinkle the topping on the pie and bake an additional 25 minutes.

5. Cool and refrigerate at least a few hours for easist slicing.

Notes
Prep time: 5 minutes for pie, 10 minutes for the crust, baking time: 65 minutes, serves 8

Why Do I Like This Song?

T-PAIN (f/ Akon) LYRICS Bartender

[Intro - T-Pain]Yeah...Uh-Huh...Yeah...Yeah...

[Verse 1 - T-Pain]
Broke up with my girl last night so I went to the club (so I went to the club)Put on a fresh white suit and a Minicos sitting on dubs (sitting on dubs)
I'm just looking for somebody to talk to and show me some love (show me some love)
If you know what I mean... Uh-Huh...
Everybody jackin' me as soon as I stepped in the spot (I stepped in the spot)
200 bitches and man aint none of them hot (aint none of them hot)
'Cept for this pretty young thang that was workin' all the way at the top (all the way at the top)Shawty what is your name?

[Hook 1 - T-Pain]
Oooo she made us drinks, to drink
We drunk 'em, Got drunk
And then I think she thinks I'm cool
She gave me a wink, I winked back
And then I think that, we headed out something proper like...

[Chorus - T-Pain]
I like the bartender(Oooo If you're lookin' for me)
I'm at the bar with her(Uh-huh, Ok)
I like the bartender(Yeah if you're lookin' for me)
I'm at the bar with her(Oooooh Uh-huh, Ok)

[Verse 2 - T-Pain]
Got a brand new girl so I'm feeling all good inside (all good inside)
Feel like I put some new 24's on a brand new ride (on a brand new ride)
Triple shot of patron on the rocks with little bit a lime (with a little bit a lime)
I'm just keeping it real (Uh-huh)
Baby still working at the club so I'm getting in free (so I'm getting in free)
Wednesday night I'm on the list T-Pain plus 3 (T-Pain plus 3)
Everytime I hit the spot baby girl taking care of me (taking care of me)
How do you think I feel?

[Hook 2 - T-Pain]
Oooo she made us drinks, to drink
We drunk 'em, Got drunk
And now I know she thinks I'm cool
She gave me a wink, I winked back
And then I think that, we 'gon have fun at my spot tonight...

[Chorus - T-Pain]
I like the bartender(Oooo If you're lookin' for me)
I'm at the bar with her(Uh-huh, Ok)
I like the bartender(Yeah if you're lookin' for me)
I'm at the bar with her(Oooooh Uh-huh, Ok)

[Verse 3 - Akon]
Shorty I'm sure you heard that I really never come out (never come out)
Unless I'm in the M6 doing tricks freeway burnt out (freeway burnt out)
Got a passenger side that's empty wanting it to be your spot (be your spot)
But you on my billboard ? like the charts 'gon end up on top (end up on top)
Don't smoke don't drink that's why I don't be by the bar baby (baby)
Just lookin' at you from a distance looking like a god damn star baby (baby)
So my girl don't see me T-Pain can I get those keys to the car? (those keys to the car?)
'Bout to go and Bang Bang Boogie with my cutie and I'll see you tomar' (see you tomar')

[Hook 3 - T-Pain, Akon]
Oooo she made us drinks, to drink
We drunk 'em, Got drunk
And now I know she thinks I'm cool
She gave me a wink, I winked back (Uh-huh)
And then I think that, (Uh-huh) we 'gon have fun at my spot tonight... (Oh yes)

[Chorus - T-Pain]
I like the bartender(Oooo If you're lookin' for me)
I'm at the bar with her(Uh-huh, Ok)
I like the bartender(Yeah if you're lookin' for me)
I'm at the bar with her(Oooooh Uh-huh, Ok)

Go Giants! (But Not Too Much)

Once again I have almost won the football pool at Mircea's work. Had I not made a last minute change, I would have won, but I had some faith in the damn Chicago Bears. (I was wrong, thanks Patty!) Now, I need to have the total score of tonight's game equal less than 30 points. This can happen, but it is scary. Please cross your finger's that my sweet Peyton's little brother can win...but back it off and just make a couple of scores and Atlanta needs to just take a knee for the whole game and not score anything. That sounds reasonable.

Recipe Thursday

Chicken Gyros with Dill Sauce
This recipe is awesome. It's really easy to make and delicious. I often omit the onion, because I'm not a huge fan.

Ingredients
1 cup plain yogurt
3 Tbsp chopped fresh dill
2 cloves garlic (finely minced)
2 Tbsp lemon juice
1 pound boneless chicken breast (cut into 1/2 inch pieces)
1 tsp dried oregano
2 Tbsp Olive Oil
2 medium onions (thinly sliced)
4 pita rounds, heated
salt & pepper to taste

Directions
1. In a small bowl, blend together yogurt, 2 T dill, garlic and 1 T lemon juice. Season with pepper and salt. Set aside.

2. Heat 1 T oil in large skilled on medium/high heat. Add chicken with oregano, 1 T dill, salt and pepper. Saute until browned and cooked.


3. Transfer to a bowl. Add 1 T oil to skillet and saute onions until golden brown, about 10 minutes.

4. Return chicken to skillet. Add 1 T lemon juice. Stir about 2 minutes.

5. Top pita with chicken mixture. Spoon dill sauce over chicken and serve.

Notes
I omit the onions because I'm too lazy at the end of cooking the meal. I also make extra dill sauce because it is delightful and tangy.

Ye Olde Renaissance Faire

This weekend we (Mircea, Ben, Robyn, Malyna and myself) went to the Maryland Renaissance Faire. I hate the RennFest, let me just get that out there right off the bat. I think the outfits are really annoying, and it seems to be an opportunity to simply show a lot of freaky breasts and for other people to just dress like clowns. I have to say, some people might never have looked in a mirror, but they do at least have a little more self-esteem than I do. I am not sure I envy that, maybe I have a little more sense.

It was about 90 degrees yesterday (it felt like 400) and it was so dry that we had a thin layer of black dirt all over us. Despite the heat and my rip-roaring cold that I have right now, I had a pretty good time. We saw some really cool shows. My favorite was Hilby, the Skinny German Juggle Boy, who put on a great show that was very funny and witty.

We also saw the show Hack and Slash, which was pretty good too. Normally I find stuff like this a little painful, but this was pretty good. I actually had some trouble with my gag reflexes during the sword swallower (that's Johnny Fox), but all in all the shows were funny.

I had some other stuff to say about the faire, but can't seem to think of them right now. The only one I can think of is that a lot of those people looked to not have a lot of money and Robyn and I felt a little bad thinking about how they were spending their money on something like the Renn Fest...but everyone enjoys some time out...but still, it was a little weird.

Recipe Thursday

This is a staple at our house and I made it for dinner last night. It was so so so yummy. Definitely recommend serving with bread-it tastes so great dipped in the soup!

Zuppa Tuscana

A knock off of the wonderful Olive Garden staple. The crushed red pepper really adds a great kick.

Ingredients
1 16 ounce package spicy italian sausage (ground or removed from casing)
6 slices bacon
1 medium onion (chopped)
2-3 cloves garlic (finely minced)
1 quart water
2 Tbsp chicken boullion
2 medium potatoes (1/4 inch slices)
2 cups kale (shredded)
1/4 tsp crushed red pepper
1/2 cup whipping cream

Directions
1. Cook sausage over medium-high heat. Drain fat.

2. In same pot, fry bacon until crisp, drain on paper towels. Crumble and set aside.

3. Drain all but 1 t bacon fat from pot. Add onions and cook on medium heat until softened. Add garlic and cook for one minute.

4. Add water, chicken broth and potatoes. Bring a boil, reduce heat and simmer, covered, for 15 minutes or until potatoes are tender.

5. Return the cooked sausage and crumbled back to the pot. Add kale and red pepper; simmer for 4 minutes.

6. Stir in cream and cook until heated through, without boiling. Serve hot.

Notes
Don't use turkey bacon no matter how much you want to cut out the fat. It tastes terrible in this. Truly truly terrible.

Saving the Planet, but Endangering the Blind

I was driving to work in my lovely hybrid car (currently averaging 48.3 mpg) and I heard a news clip that blind people were having trouble detecting hybrid cars on the road. This news article expands a little more on it, but the takeaway is this:

A test was done at the National Federation of the Blind's Headquarters with a Toyota Prius and a Honda Hybrid. Testers said the Honda was quiet but they could not hear the Toyota at all.

"I never heard the car until it actually touched me, I was shocked," said Pare.




When I drive I definitely scare some people (ha ha). I had a cyclist that I was following at a safe distance, and he looked back at me and almost fell of his bike. He didn't know I was there. A woman with two kids walked out in front of me when I was in the Food Lion parking lot. I had my window down and I heard her say to the kids, "Mommy didn't even hear the car." A couple of years ago when I rented a Prius for the weekend, we were driving around the Ikea parking garage and no one would get out of our way and they kept walking in front of us. They simply couldn't hear us. I actually find it a little annoying and definitely see the danger in it...though I love that it is so quiet. Just thought this was interesting.