Going on a Mission

I've just completed my papers to serve a mission :)

That means that in about two weeks, I'll receive a call in the mail telling me where I'm going and when I need to report. Then the next 18 months will be spent sharing my religion with any and all who will hear. It is going to be hard work. I will not be able to call home except on Christmas and Mothers' Day. I will be working from 6am to 10pm. I am very excited!

Made Cookies

I had to return some tupperware and I only believe in returning things like that full. So I made cookies. Now, most people make the pumpkin cookies with pumpkin and a spice cake mix - I do it with a chocolate cake mix and white chocolate chips. Sooo yummy!!!

I made the cookies, eating dough along the way (to make sure it tasted good...right?) and I had some leftover. I left them in the kitchen with a note for my roommates to "eat me!" I followed my own advice...my tummy regrets this choice, my tongue doesn't.

In other news. School is a pain. It is going to snow this weekend. I love having fresh sheets on my bed.

Yummy Breakfast

So zucchini was on sale the other day, and I bought a lot of it. So this morning, while I was running, I was planning out meals/recipes as I tend to do and I came up with a really good food. Zucchini matzo brei. I will put up a picture next time I make it.

Here's how:
-Shred about 1/2 zucchini
-Mix zucchini, 1 egg (or two egg whites), a bit of the cheese of your liking (I used a shredded Gouda), seasonings (I used the Garlic & Herb Mrs. Dash - no salt), and about a half a crushed matzo.
-pour and spread out on a non-stick or greased pan (there is cheese in this, so keep that in mind).
-cook for about three minutes on each side, depending on how thick you made it.
-Enjoy!

Note: If you don't have matzo, any cracker or bread product will work, but I would suggest toasting bread before using it and something that absorbs will is best.

Why I'm Going on a Mission

Some of my readers are unfamiliar with the concept of a mission. I just read a blog post of a girl I don't know who served her mission in England.

http://drippingwithpassion.blogspot.com/2009_09_01_archive.html

This is why I want to go. To share love.

Veggie LaCobbler

So I was inspired during my last class today. It's a cross between a lasagna and a cobbler with loads of veggies and goodness. Here's how it goes:

Ingredients (amount depends on size):
-fresh mashed pumpkin
-sliced tomato
-sliced onion
-steamed broccoli
-zucchini
-chickpeas
-cooked bulger wheat
-Textures Veg. Protein
-Parmesan Cheese

Sauce (Mine needed more sauce, but I think this ratio will work):
-Greek yogurt (3/4 c)
-chicken broth (1 1/2 c)

1. Spread pumpkin on the bottom of your dish


2. Layer the tomato slices and broccoli.
3. Saute the Onion and Zucchini (just a little pam in a pan will do then cook for about 10 minutes).
4. sprinkle chickpeas.



5. Spread the wheat over the top.
6. Mix the yogurt and broth and pour on top. Cover with foil and cook for about 20 minutes (until it's bubbly). Sprinkle the TVP and Cheese then bake for another 10 minutes uncovered.




The beautiful thing is you can play with it! Try couscous instead of the wheat or bread crumbs instead of the TVP. Play with cheeses and veggies and protein - maybe do chicken instead of chickpeas. I didn't put amounts because it just depends on what you like.

Making Crackers

Alright guys, I think I've got it down.

3 cups flour (I do half whole wheat)
salt (around a half teaspoon? I don't measure it)
baking soda (just a sprinkling)
1 cup water (plus more if needed)

Preheat oven to 400. Mix everything. Take chunks (about a fifth or sixth of the dough ball) and roll out really really thin (If you have a pasta sheeter, this is the time to use it). I roll it out on corn meal for some extra crunch, straight up flour works too, but make sure to dust the crackers off before baking. Cut into strips/triangles/hearts/whatever. Lay out on parchment paper on a baking tray. Spray with some Pam and then sprinkle some salt (and/or garlic powder or cinnamon sugar). Bake for 7ish minutes, then flip and bake for another 7ish minutes. These are actually better the browner they get.

So delicious, makes a good amount of crackers, and you actually know what is in them! Go read the label of a cracker box if you don't understand what I mean - I get like the first few ingredients out of it then I'm lost.

Next time I'll do pictures step by step.

Thoughts on Car Alarms

The other morning, at 3:30, a car alarm went off right outside my open window. It was quite annoying and I got to thinking, as nobody turned it off and I considered going to check that it wasn't my car. Car alarms are not useless, but don't function properly in our society. If they did, then your little clicker on your keychain would also start beeping and tell you to get out to you car because someone is trying to rob you. I understand that part of the point of the noise is to get anyone to look at it and therefore scare thieves away, but the thing is, a smart thief would just say "it's my car, I'm locked out" and everyone would believe him/her because that's what we do.