Monday, January 16, 2012

Weekend Update

Ok, so it's not technically the weekend... But today was a holiday, so it was a 3-day weekend... so it counts. Plus I have some news:

I survived the first week of school!! That's not really news, but whatever. It's a big deal to me. One week completed is one less week I have to go to complete this terrible semester.

The third semester in my nursing program is notorious for being the most difficult of the four. When I was in my first semester, the class in the third semester lost 13 people. Thirteen people failed! Out of 50-60 people, that's a lot. That's why it is one of my New Years Resolutions to be a better studier.

My class has a facebook group, and today, one of my friends changed the group description to: "See course description in Dante's Inferno." It's seriously awful. I am already fairly overwhelmed. The only saving grace is that my clinical instructor seems fairly laid back and my clinical group is full of people I like. And I'm sure that the classroom stuff will be fine- with studying.

Moving on... Since I didn't have any patient prep work to do last Tuesday, I actually had time to make a meal and bake some cookies (gasp!). I adapted one of Giada's recipes and made a delicious pasta. Here is the recipe.

My changes are this: First of all, I didn't measure anything. And instead of using garlic croutons to make the bread crumbs, I just used regular breadcrumbs with Italian seasoning. I roasted 2 red peppers on my stove, while cooking the pasta. Then I sauteed some garlic in some olive oil and added a few handfuls of spinach to it. I sliced the red peppers and added them in with the garlic and spinach. Then I added the cooked pasta, mixed it all up, and sprinkled in some breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, and almonds (remember, I didn't measure anything). I also added a few spoonfuls of pasta water (Giada recommends that sometimes), a little more olive oil, and salt and pepper. It was yummy!

Fiery goodness

The final product

Earlier in the day, I was in the mood for a little treat to have with some tea.  I made Paula's Tea Cakes.  They were really good- not too sweet and perfect to go along with an afternoon tea.  I halfed the recipe (because I'm a pig and would have eaten all of them) and I didn't have any buttermilk.  I improvised and was going to use the lemon juice trick for the buttermilk, but I didn't have any lemons.  I did have a lime, so I used lime juice instead and it worked fine.  I want to make them again with some almonds and almond extract and maybe with some lemon juice and zest.

Afternoon treats


On Sunday, I headed to the Long Beach Swap Meet with Caitlin and my mom.  It was a very satisfying morning.  While the weather was less than desirable, the vendors did not disappoint and the people-watching was spectacular as usual.  We have decided that swap meets are the ultimate hipster hang out.  You should see the people at these things... between the hipsters and some of these old ladies... wow.  I should have taken some pictures.  Next time.  

Mom insisted the "was a draft" in the car and used 
the sun shield thing as a blanket.

Cait- umbreallaless, hoodless, and hatless


Well, that was my week.  Coming up this week... First patient care days and a ton of studying to do for my first test next Monday.  Should be spectacular!

4 comments:

  1. That picture of me,under the sun shade, looks creepy, don't you think?

    Look at you my child, a regular Becky home-ecky.

    Proud of you, as always. Balancing a whole lot and doing a great job.

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  3. "I halfed the recipe (because I'm a pig and would have eaten all of them) " you are so kind to yourself! Ha, you are the farthest thing from a pig. Also, I was just reminiscing about random nights at your "house" through the canyon when queso and chips were suddenly necessary. That was some piggy action right there.

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