Good eats!

Let's bring back some food posts, shall we?

This past weekend was 4 days long. 4 days. FOUR days. I loved it.
My Great Aunt Sharon & her hubby came down from Massachusetts, and I was able to cook for them and Corey. FYI: Parents are dieting, so they aren't so fun to cook for anymore! But, I am so PROUD of them!!

Anyway, I tried 3 NEW recipes, and also made an old stand by fav (Cor's favorite meat loaf).

1. Parmesan Tilapia
2. Italian Wedding Soup CASSEROLE




3. Dessert: Cranberry Pear Crisp

Obviously, this wasn't all for the same meal time. They were our 3 dinners plus one night we went out for VDay compliments of his Aunt Tracy and Uncle Will (THANK YOU!!!!).

Let's start with #1. Tilapia. I hate fish, for the most part. But, it is healthy. And delicious-- WHEN you put a yummy Parmesan topping on it and pop it under the broiler. I made 6 fillets and they were all gone. I served it with crisp pea pods and a salad and lemon wedges. I seasoned with Old Bay and some dried basil and took me literally 15 minutes from start to TABLE. Here is the recipe. At just about 200 calories per fillet, it is a great diet food that doesn't taste so diet. AND I EVEN ATE THE FISH! hahah

#2. I made what I THOUGHT was going to be soup, but it turned into a creamy pasta casserole. The recipe was definitely adapted by me to include rotisserie shredded chicken and mom's mini homemade meatballs (instead of the frozen ready to use ones). I also used reduced fat chicken soup and whole wheat pasta. Even if spinach and you don't get along, you will after this! Trust me. Such comfort food. Again, I made several changes mentioned above, but for the basic recipe, click here. Please don't be intimidated by the long list of ingredients!!!

OK, well I'll stop there instead of putting you on recipe overload. But, seriously, if you are looking for 2 new things to make for dinner, TRY these.

Some LOVE for the HATERS

I would say that about 50% of people love Valentine's Day, and about 50% wish the day never existed. I am in the first category. I would venture a guess that my fiance is in the latter category. Disclaimer: these stats are not reliable or valid.

Here is my viewpoint: I realize Hallmark and media and marketing may be the impetus behind getting your loved one a gift or card or flowers, in a way making it forced, BUT let's just be real. Who wouldn't want an excuse to chow down a box of chocolates or eat a chocolate covered strawberry? Who wouldn't want a giant hug? Who doesn't love getting a card- no matter the reason. Who doesn't love the sight of bright red heart decor and pretty pink ruffled hearts? And who doesn't love the smell of fresh red roses?

Now, that is my view for people in a relationship who feel forced to show love on Feb. 14. Here is my viewpoint for those who are not in a relationship: take this day to count your many blessings. Take this day to treat yourself! Take this day to feel loved and show love to someone in your family. Or your friend!

We are told to love others. I find it helpful and convenient that a day is set aside to remind us that LOVE is the most important thing there is. We all need it. We all should show it. Now, what is not convenient is when you have to work, it falls on a Tuesday, and you have a meeting after work...or if your fiance (on your only Vday to be engaged) is in a different state. BUT, that will not stop me from celebrating.

I am decorating and baking and planning on watching one of my favorite TV shows tomorrow night.
Here is a peak at Valentine's Day in my house:

 #1: Pink Popcorn. I made this to give away to friends at Christmas and I changed it to make it appropriate for Valentine's Day. It is SO good. I always have to sample some. Just pop 2 bags of light/natural popcorn, melt a bag of candy melts- in this case pink- and pour it over the spread out popcorn. Be sure to pick out the annoying unpopped kernals. Then toss in Valentine's Day M and M's -about a whole bag and shake with big sprinkles. Don't use the small crystal sugar- it would probably melt. 

 Spread it on wax paper to dry for a little before bagging it up for friends.

 #2: Chocolate Covered Strawberries. This is a gift from my mom. One of these is for my sister...I don't get both unless she is MIA for a long time, then I may secretly eat hers, too. I love these! I would rather eat them in a warm bubble bath in a cottage in the Swiss Alps- but I will eat them at my house by myself tomorrow and it will be OK.

 

 #3. Fancy Tables: Ok maybe this isn't fancy, but it sure is festive! Most of these things are compliments of my Great Auntie Linda in Massachusetts. She sent me some of these things for my birthday this year. Even though I probably will not be dining with anyone tomorrow night, I enjoy it looking as though I will be.

 #4: Heart Wreath. I made this a few weeks ago. I LOVE it. I took the idea from a blog I enjoy reading: Little Birdie Secrets. How To make the wreath. My mom used red fabric and made a red one. I used three different pink patterns- those fat quarters you get at JoAnn's fabric store or something like that.

Tonight I hope to make a batch of chocolate dipped sugar cookies- heart shaped of course! And watch the Bachelor! :) I wish you all a very happy Valentine's day!! I hope to celebrate with my sweetie when I see him this weekend! 4 day vacation from work!!!!!!

Happy Favorite Month!

I think I have blogged before on how much I love the short and SWEET month of February. But, this year, it seems even better since our temperatures have been in the high 40s, 50s, and even mid 60s! All the sweetness, none of the snow!

Today started out rough when I spilled my entire bowl of milk (from eating my Cheerios) all over...me. And my work pants, and my suede boots, and my socks, and a puddle on my wool coat, and...my underwear were even soaked. I didn't have time to change because I was already running a few minutes late, so I blotted everything with a paper towl, mopped up the floor, and went to school with more milk than a cow. But, alas....milk doesn't show up on anything I was wearing. It was like a magic trick! Praise the Lord.

I have a feeling tonight will be better. I am going to see Corey for the first time in um...18 days I think? My sister and I are going to my parents house tonight and Courtney is driving up from Virginia. Probably all for the Superbowl, I am sure. ;-)

This time last year we had ice storms and it was gross. I remember driving to the casino for my birthday-for a hamburger, not the slots- and it was disgusting out. So this is so much better!

Also upcoming: Florist appointment tomorrow (for the wedding)
Valentine's Day on the 14th- which will be spent making heart shaped foam crafts with my 12 students while Corey is in NJ, unless of course he reads this and decides it would be amazing if he drove to my place and surprised me.
5 1/2 year anniversary celebration with Corey
4 day weekend from school- thank you dead presidents.

Just for fun- here are some of my favorite February memories:

 This pic was probably my favorite VDay ever- 2010- Corey came to Lititz, took me to the General Sutter Inn where we had an amazing dinner and hilarious entertainment provided to us by the creepy couple behind us. We laughed the whole time and then walked through the town where they had the Fire and Ice Festival. (See below)

 Fire & Ice Feb. 2010

These Red Velvet Whoopie Pies were what I made Corey and my parents last VDay 2011. Corey got me beautiful red roses, too. 

 Here is another favorite birthday memory- when I turned 24, my students at the middle school surprised me and had a cupcake tree (above), banners, balloons, and decorated the chalkboard. They gave me a card that sang to me. Dalia, a sweet girl who I miss very much (she moved back to her home country of Mexico) even brought the milk in (below) since I once joked that it was bad to eat chocolate without milk. ;-) I think I cried when I saw how sweet they were to do this.

So happy February! May it be sweet for you, too! :) Remember it is LEAP YEAR. So make this February count!

MISSING

My motivation is missing: have you seen it?

I am very unmotivated to do anything this week. Like I just want to crawl in a hole and watch The Bachelor for 10 hours and eat nachos. With my heated blanket.

But, that is a fantasy. I am already sitting at my desk, awaiting the arrival of my students. Today marks the start of the 3rd quarter!!! Yahoo!

It also marks the 4th week of my portfolio class for my Master's...which we shouldn't talk about since I haven't done too much on my "portfolio"....ugh, I haven't started and I have only 4 weeks left. You would think I would be motivated, since when that is finished I will have my Master's. But in all honesty, when you get to your 11th class, you feel kind of soggy-brained.

The worst part of this Monday morning, aside from the fact I woke up 5 times in the middle of the night last night, is that my baggie of Cheerios must be sitting on my dining room table. And I am sitting here. With no breakfast.

Ok....I'm finished now. COME ON MOTIVATION! I NEEEED YOU!

An Audience of One

I am pretty sure that only one person reads my blog: my wonderful cousin Tricia. So, I decided to make a post about her and what a blessing she is.


Memories I have of growing up with Tricia:

1. Camping at Camp Sankanac: Remember Marylou?
2. Our shows at family gatherings- we put on stellar shows and would come out to the family holding hands, giggle, say we weren't ready yet, and then run away. We must have been cute. Either cute or annoying.
3. Girls weeks at the shore: with nan and pop pop. Making dinner for them and the next door neighbor, Dolly, who was older and lived alone. We would also do shows for Nan and Pop at the shore. Not sure they were amused.
4. Pancake eating competitions. Trish always beat me by like 2 or 3 pancakes. She could house those flapjacks!
5. Going through our preciously plump stages together...and coming out of them eventually. But, somehow, God made her taller and leaner so she won that competition, too, I guess. ;-)
6. Introducing us to her friend, Liz. I wish I had a friendship as close as theirs is with a girl friend.


Reasons why she rocks today:
1. She is embarking on a new blog journey (Sips, etc.) and she is really creative. SIPS, etc. Check it out!
2. She married a wonderful husband, who fits in well with our family. We love Adam and even though I don't get to see him a lot, every time I do, it is fun and he is so friendly and loving. Good choice, Trish!
3. She is willing to get up and go. It takes a lot of courage to leave your whole family and grandparents and uproot to Idaho when you just get married, then Colorado. But, she did it and did it well. I am happy she has had new experiences. And, I hope to go visit her in Denver when she gets a cute little place...I am sure we would have a great time!
4. She is encouraging to others.
5. She is beautiful and has good fashion advice.
6. She loves the Lord and is following his plan for her life.

So, this post is dedicated to my faithful reader. If you also read my blog "secretly" then please leave a comment to let me know! :)

A wedding update

Things are moving along with wedding planning! When we got engaged we had 351 days to plan...or something like that. Now, we are at 160 days. Which seems like a long way off, but the months are flying by.

I have my wedding dress at home. Needs to be altered, but I love it! It took 6 months to come in, and I was nervous that I wouldn't like it as much when I tried it on 6 months later. Wrong. I liked it more. A lot more! :)

I ordered a veil! With really pretty scattered gem/rhinestones on it.

We had our first meeting at the Architects Club. Didn't know it was a tasting, so had a somewhat full belly...but the food was awesome. We picked out 2 entrees (chicken francaise or tilapia that melted in your mouth delicious).

The bridesmaid dresses are ordered after A LOT of problems with that! The should be in at the middle/end of Feb!

Hair and makeup appts. are reserved.

I am working on centerpieces with mom and we have collected a few items for those.

Corey booked our honeymoon!!!! We will be going to the southern coast of Barbados. I can't wait for a nice beachy vacation.

My mom is in the middle of sewing a really pretty ring bearer's pillow with an "F" embroidered on it and our wedding date. I really love it.

We had our first meeting with the church wedding planner and our first counseling session with Pastor Larry. He told us he needs at least another 10 meetings with us. :-P



I am so excited to get married. :)

Love,
The soon to be Mrs. Fazekas (crap that is so much harder than Palmer) hah.

A Healthy Wardrobe

Here is the dilemma:

1. I have too many clothes. So many that some are at my parents still (filling an entire dresser, and 1.5 closets), I have a closet full at my house (mostly work clothes), a large chest of drawers, a bin of sweatshirts, and 2 bins in the attic ...or 3...of off season clothes. I know what you're thinking- first world problems. Ok you may judge me.

2. I don't wear 40% of the clothes.

3. I can't get rid of anything. I always try to go through and end up with about 3 articles in a bag. The rest I say "well what if one day I need a purple tank to go under things? and put it back in my drawer."


I just see this as a dilemma because I am so disorganized. I try to vary my outfits a lot at work, and I do a pretty good job, but I am not being creative with the pieces that don't get worn. I put about 15 minutes or less into getting ready for work-after my shower of course. 5 of those are drying my hair. 5 more are doing makeup. OK so maybe I put 5 minutes into dressing for work, too.

But, I go thru phases. It's like this- I will read a blog, go to the mall, see a magazine-get inspired and then dress awesome-ly for 3 days. Then back to black pants and a cardigan.

I need the fashion cops to come in and take all the crap--er- nice clothes I don't wear-- out of my room and set up outfits for me. Hmmm I am starting to hear the name "Julie" in my head. Perhaps she will be summoned soon to do this task. Because seriously, if I am sharing a bedroom with a guy in 5.5 months, I gotta clean up my act with the clothing stuff.

Here's to a new year of only organized clothing that I wear and WANT to wear...because I just keep getting more clothes (not that I buy a lot because I DON'T) but I get more and keep the old too.