It is done!

There's not alot of beauty that can be found here in the Texas scenery. The palm trees are nice but knowing that roaches breed in them make them unappealing. The beach is beautiful if you can visually ignore the big oil barrels and trash washed up from Alabama. The one thing I have found that is amazingly beautiful is the rising and the setting of the sun. It's pretty breathtaking seeing the intensely different colors blending together. The day I took this picture was the day I finished my last final for my last class for my pastry degree! WHOOOHOOOO!!!!!! (dancing around in a circle)

So folks, I am officially done! As Neo from the Matrix would say "It is done." (DORK!) So what does all this new free time have instore for Val? Hmm...well I am working 5 days a week now but other than that I get to actually read "Persuasion." Though, you know how things go. You want to read and you want to do all these things when you have no time then when you finally have the time, you don't want to anymore. So is life.I've decided this year to make our own stockings and christmas cards. The first stocking that I conquered is for Leben our Rotti. I sewed those paws onto the material and I even handstitched them because unfortunately I am not a superhuman housewife and don't own a sewing machine nor do I want to own a sewing machine until maybe I am 70. Speaking of 70, I heard on the radio this morning that a couple in India who are in their 70's gave birth to their first child. It's amazing! I was amazed anyways but then amazement turned into 'uhhh.' I felt bad for the poor kid. I'm sure they'll be great parents but they can never run around with them and play soccer with them. By the time they're 10, whos to say their parents will be also? So how fair is it to the child?

Right now I am actually blogging in bed! Sweet! I also did a facial mask. That hasn't happened in like 2 years. Seriously folks. School, work, dog, and a family takes so much of your time. Now that school is over and I don't have to study anymore I can pay more attention to Brandon and Leben. I have felt like a terrible wife these past year and a half. Between school and work, it was hard to keep the house clean and make time for others. Brandon did so much to help around the house so now I am glad to say I can finally take care of him again. He's actually flying right now. He was suppose to get home around 3pm but it's 4:30pm and he's not back yet. It always scares me when he is flying. You just never know but I really don't have to worry because I know God listens to my prayers.

Okay really, I will talk about baking. I got my dirty little hands on a can of pumpkin. It's been sitting in my pantry for like 3 weeks. It's my own recipe and I really thought it was quite tasty! It's healthy too ;-)

Soy Flaxseed Pumpkin Bars

Recipe by Valerie Adams

1 C soyflexseed cereal
1 C all purpose flour
1 1/2 ts baking soda
1/2 ts nutmeg, ground
1/2 ts cloves, ground
1 ts cinnamon, ground
1/4 ts salt
1 C sugar
3/4 C canola oil
1 egg, beaten
1 ts vanilla extract

1. Preheat oven 350 Degrees F and line a 10 in square pan with parchment paper and oil the sides of the pan.
2. Combine the dry ingredients together
3. Mix the liquid ingredients together and add to the dry ingredients and mix until just combined.
4. Pour into prepared pan and sprinkle some chocolate chips over the top if you would like
5. Bake 20-25 minutes or until done
   

Pescotti

It's a pecan! It's a biscotti! NO! It's a Pescotti!!!!!!!

Actually it's really just a whole wheat pecan slice. It looks like a biscotti though doesn't it? This was really simple to make and just so so so so so so SO delicious. The best thing is, actually the amazing thing is that it contains NO butter at all. SCORE! and they're whole wheat.

They are just the right amount of sweetness and I think they are best fresh out of the oven because the outside is crisp and the inside is tender and soft and warm. They are good once they are cooled too. They have the same texture as a biscotti once they have hardened and cooled. I'm not a huge fan of pecans alone but when they are this finely ground and sweetened, it's really tasty. Next time I will add some cranberries in there. I bet that would go well together.

Whole Wheat Pecan Slices aka 'Pescotti'

1.5 C sugar

3 C pecans, finely ground

3/4 C whole wheat flour

1 ts cinnamon

pinch of salt

1 1/2 eggs ( I used eggbeaters)

1/2 ts vanillia

Mix the dry ingredients together. In a separate bowl mix eggs with vanilla and pour into the dry ingredients. Combine together evenly and shape into 3 bars, flatten the top and place on greased baking sheet. Brush liberally with eggwash and bake 450 degrees F for 15-20 minutes. Be careful to watch closely as they burn really fast once they start to brown. Cut when cool, but I prepare to cut them warm and eat them warm. Emmm...soft.

Here is an update on work. It is going well and I enjoy it when I'm engrossed in my work but like all new jobs, I sometimes do not know if I am overstepping my boundaries so there was lag time sometimes, and I can not stand that. So, I went over to the culinary prep and helped them. See, I'm one of those that don't mind working for long hours ONLY if I am constantly busy, and I mean constantly. I'd rather keep running on my toes all night long then have it be slow. I did get to make a tiramisu. Right now I'm doing alot more salad preps and dessert plating than really making desserts. I guess cause their main focus is not desserts. I feel as though I am stepping on the toes of the current girl who works the pantry station too. So, hopefully she'll warm up to me. Everyone is nice though and they are all friendly. It's just the shifts are seriously long and from the looks of things, breaks only come when you work a double shift. I didn't get home last friday till midnight and last saturday I got home at 11pm. 11pm doesnt seem late compared to midnight and I am no night person, believe me. Here's to another weekend of work. Cheers.

SNAP! CRACKLE! CONFETTI!!!!

I don't think I've had rice krispie treats in like almost a year. Sometimes you just crave simple things like that. At least I do. I know Brandon likes these and I also stumbled into some confetti sprinkles today at the commissary. I can't say I'm familiar with the commissary here in Milton yet. They have a unique way to stocking things and I find things were I don't think they would ever be. It's quite the challenge just to get the items on my grocery list - but I'm getting there. I better, I go there enough. lol. It's scary that I can spend a good hour and a half at the grocery store when I don't have very many "neccessities" to get. It's time I take for myself I suppose. Most people might think I am nuts but I feel myself and worry-free at the store. Oh, instead of butter I used earth balance so this is totally IBS safe. ;-)

I think I have a handle of how my camera works now. I can't believe there are so many options on a little camera.

Bobby Flay is going to be in Mobile, Al this Saturday. SO sad I'm not going. The tickets I believe are like $75. I've decided that I like Bobby Flay alot. When I first started watching his show, he scared me a little. He seemed really strict and almost unapproachable. That is until he started filming his show Bobby Flays Throwdown. I LOVE that show, and it shows such a fun side of him, a more approachable, friendly, and less intimidating person.

I'd like to meet him. Him, and Alton Brown! I learn so much from Alton. Gotta love him.

Well tomorrow, I am hoping to attempt making a Pumpkin Challah, a recipe from Rosa's Yummy Yums. Wish me like, it looks delicious, plus I gotta take advantage of this time of the year. It gives me more than an excuse to make anything and everything pumpkin. SWEET!