These are the first bloomers at my new house. Yayyyy for spring!
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
I'm not trying to toot my own horn but.. Toot Toot!!
So, my new year's resolution for 2011 was to cook at least two recipes a week. Surprisingly, I have been all over this resolution and have stuck with it, sometimes exceeding my own expectations and making three or four recipes a week.
This is not a cooking blog, LORD knows, I'm not that good of a cook to have a blog about solely my culinary skills but I do have to give credit where credit is due! This is a blog about everything and yet nothing and so I will toot my own little horn and say that I am becoming quite the little chef! Who knew that I would find such self-gratification and peace of mind with cooking?..
Last night, I baked fish and it was delish!!! I am almost feeling confident enough to host a dinner party. Who wants to come? I tweaked the recipe a bit (yes, I'm getting that good) but here is the recipe. Baked Fish.
This is not a cooking blog, LORD knows, I'm not that good of a cook to have a blog about solely my culinary skills but I do have to give credit where credit is due! This is a blog about everything and yet nothing and so I will toot my own little horn and say that I am becoming quite the little chef! Who knew that I would find such self-gratification and peace of mind with cooking?..
Last night, I baked fish and it was delish!!! I am almost feeling confident enough to host a dinner party. Who wants to come? I tweaked the recipe a bit (yes, I'm getting that good) but here is the recipe. Baked Fish.
Check out last night's dish:
Thursday, March 10, 2011
What happened to DEMOCRACY???. .
Missourians-- pay attention to the Wisconsin Unions and what the teachers, public employees, and the middle class workers are facing because WE are next, it will eventually happen to us. After everything that happened in Egypt last month, we are now seeing chaos in our own country; a country that has rarely seen such large and tense demonstrations. We are watching people storming the Wisconsin capital doors with picket signs and 'It's About Freedom' t-shirts, people are now rising up and wanting to be heard. We should all go help demonstrate for the dispossessed in Wisconsin, every single one of us. It's a time to come together and fight; fight for this assault on working families, the attack on public employees, and this slander on education. The rich keep getting richer and the poor keep getting poorer. Republicans are waging war on the middle class!!!
Wednesday's disrespect for the people was blatantly shown when Wisconsin Republicans passed a bill that stripped public sector unions of some of their rights. Their disrespect for the people of Wisconsin and their rights is an outrage that will never be forgotten. Less education, less health care, and fewer jobs means hurt people and a hurt economy.Where is President Obama? And why is he not addressing the bullying the Wisconsin Government is doing?
What's an even bigger travesty to our nation it that the teacher's are being used as the scape goat in the middle of all of this mayhem. The country is not in turmoil because of teachers. If teaching were just a "job" then pay them babysitter wages or minimum wage and teachers would make more than they do now. Teachers do pay in to their health care anywhere from 20-50%, which is comparable if not more in some cases than those in the private and/or corporate world. Teachers pay into their own pension, as well, from their own salary. When they finally can retire, often into their 60's, their pension contributions will have been paid 95% out of their very own pockets! Many districts, towns, and the government do NOT match contributions as many who have a 401k. Teachers subsidize their retirements by contributing to an unmatched 403b plan. Teachers pay out of pocket for supplies and extras, lunches and coats or sneakers for children that don't have it. They pay for graduate classes and many have Master's and PhD's in their field. Do other 'jobs' have such requirements? Missouri Teachers-- This is what we are facing!! It's starting now, small, but it is starting with HB 628. Union busting bills are being introduced in at least 10 states, including Missouri. ( MNEA Union)
Unions work together, labor and management to reach a mutual agreement. Teachers have made many concessions, taken increases on co-pays, premiums contributions, pay freezes or no raise at all which in turn means they actually take home less and less each year. Teachers need to make a living wage just as any other professional or any other American for that matter. Who is paying your health care? How much do you actually contribute to it? Who is paying for your medicare? Who is paying for your pension when you retire? A union is simply a voice! There are many reasons why the economy is in the state it is in and it is real simple to choose an easy target to blame the unions. This will not solve the problem, nor will ignorance.
America, you need to truly get informed. You need to educate yourself on the facts, not the twisted hype or spin that the media sensationalizes. If you don't, then you are continuing to live in ignorance and the real problems will never be resolved. Teachers are not the problem, public employees, and middle class workers are not the problem, they are part of the solution and they are doing everything they can to survive in this economy. Taking away their voice is simply wrong. What happened to Democracy? As the beginning of democracy is beginning in Middle East we are now seeing it end in the midwest. That is what the people in Wisconsin are thinking, that is what many of us are thinking. Nothing says democracy like voting with no notice, preventing the public from observing, and locking the doors of the capitol. We have to stand up for what is right.
People power is a beautiful thing. I support you #wiunion.
Wednesday's disrespect for the people was blatantly shown when Wisconsin Republicans passed a bill that stripped public sector unions of some of their rights. Their disrespect for the people of Wisconsin and their rights is an outrage that will never be forgotten. Less education, less health care, and fewer jobs means hurt people and a hurt economy.Where is President Obama? And why is he not addressing the bullying the Wisconsin Government is doing?
What's an even bigger travesty to our nation it that the teacher's are being used as the scape goat in the middle of all of this mayhem. The country is not in turmoil because of teachers. If teaching were just a "job" then pay them babysitter wages or minimum wage and teachers would make more than they do now. Teachers do pay in to their health care anywhere from 20-50%, which is comparable if not more in some cases than those in the private and/or corporate world. Teachers pay into their own pension, as well, from their own salary. When they finally can retire, often into their 60's, their pension contributions will have been paid 95% out of their very own pockets! Many districts, towns, and the government do NOT match contributions as many who have a 401k. Teachers subsidize their retirements by contributing to an unmatched 403b plan. Teachers pay out of pocket for supplies and extras, lunches and coats or sneakers for children that don't have it. They pay for graduate classes and many have Master's and PhD's in their field. Do other 'jobs' have such requirements? Missouri Teachers-- This is what we are facing!! It's starting now, small, but it is starting with HB 628. Union busting bills are being introduced in at least 10 states, including Missouri. ( MNEA Union)
Unions work together, labor and management to reach a mutual agreement. Teachers have made many concessions, taken increases on co-pays, premiums contributions, pay freezes or no raise at all which in turn means they actually take home less and less each year. Teachers need to make a living wage just as any other professional or any other American for that matter. Who is paying your health care? How much do you actually contribute to it? Who is paying for your medicare? Who is paying for your pension when you retire? A union is simply a voice! There are many reasons why the economy is in the state it is in and it is real simple to choose an easy target to blame the unions. This will not solve the problem, nor will ignorance.
America, you need to truly get informed. You need to educate yourself on the facts, not the twisted hype or spin that the media sensationalizes. If you don't, then you are continuing to live in ignorance and the real problems will never be resolved. Teachers are not the problem, public employees, and middle class workers are not the problem, they are part of the solution and they are doing everything they can to survive in this economy. Taking away their voice is simply wrong. What happened to Democracy? As the beginning of democracy is beginning in Middle East we are now seeing it end in the midwest. That is what the people in Wisconsin are thinking, that is what many of us are thinking. Nothing says democracy like voting with no notice, preventing the public from observing, and locking the doors of the capitol. We have to stand up for what is right.
People power is a beautiful thing. I support you #wiunion.
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Ohhhh what a WONDERFUL weekend...
It is really Sunday already?!?!?? I guess that's the signs of a wonderful weekend.
Friday, I went out with some coworkers to one of my favorite places in Kansas City, Trezo Mare. We had some delicious food & some yummy drinks. That restaurant is amazing!!!!!! The atmosphere is just what I needed to set the tone for the weekend. Dim lights and soft jazz does it for me everytime. It was such an enjoyable time that we decided to have an after hours get together at my house. Until Friday, I haven't really entertained in my new house, cheesy as it sounds, it was a really special night for me just for that reason alone. The six of us and a lovely fellow enjoyed each other's company with great conversation and lots of laughs.
Saturday, I spent the day shopping for a special birthday gift for a lovely fellow. After an hour of shopping, I really think I found the perfect present... thank you Macy's! Saturday night, I went to dinner with my lovely fellow to a place I have never been called The Blue Moose. If you don't me, well here's something to know....I love going to new places. The Blue Moose is in Overland Park, KS. It reminds me something similar to the restaurant Houlihans. A place where you can still wear jeans but it's still a kind of more upscale place. The place was filled with KSU people which was wack but other than that it was a nice little place to start the evening. After dinner we went to Paddy O'Quigleys on 119th and OMG I have not had that much fun people watching in such along time!! The crazies were definitely out on Saturday! The night was filled with karaoke and dancing and chuckling. Did I mention that I met my lovely fellow's friends???? Did I mention they were the crazies???
Sunday, I woke up and had chocolate chip pancakes cooked by my lovely fellow, I love a man that can cook!! Mmmmm, that could almost make a wonderful weekend alone by itself. <3
Friday, I went out with some coworkers to one of my favorite places in Kansas City, Trezo Mare. We had some delicious food & some yummy drinks. That restaurant is amazing!!!!!! The atmosphere is just what I needed to set the tone for the weekend. Dim lights and soft jazz does it for me everytime. It was such an enjoyable time that we decided to have an after hours get together at my house. Until Friday, I haven't really entertained in my new house, cheesy as it sounds, it was a really special night for me just for that reason alone. The six of us and a lovely fellow enjoyed each other's company with great conversation and lots of laughs.
Saturday, I spent the day shopping for a special birthday gift for a lovely fellow. After an hour of shopping, I really think I found the perfect present... thank you Macy's! Saturday night, I went to dinner with my lovely fellow to a place I have never been called The Blue Moose. If you don't me, well here's something to know....I love going to new places. The Blue Moose is in Overland Park, KS. It reminds me something similar to the restaurant Houlihans. A place where you can still wear jeans but it's still a kind of more upscale place. The place was filled with KSU people which was wack but other than that it was a nice little place to start the evening. After dinner we went to Paddy O'Quigleys on 119th and OMG I have not had that much fun people watching in such along time!! The crazies were definitely out on Saturday! The night was filled with karaoke and dancing and chuckling. Did I mention that I met my lovely fellow's friends???? Did I mention they were the crazies???
Sunday, I woke up and had chocolate chip pancakes cooked by my lovely fellow, I love a man that can cook!! Mmmmm, that could almost make a wonderful weekend alone by itself. <3
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Chef Andi STRIKES AGAIN!!!!
Tonight, I continued the journey of exploring my kitchen skills and made some of my Great Grandma Sharp's Bread Pudding. In conversation a few weeks back my Grammy told me that her mom would make bread pudding with the bread that wasn't eaten during the week rather than throwing it out. This inspired me to try and make it myself. My Grammy wrote down the recipe just as her mom made it and tonight I attempted to follow it to a tee and make it just the way they both have done time after time.
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