More, please...

I need to make a more conscious effort to eat more of these:

I was wondering some ways that ya'll prepare veggies. I usually do them stovetop or roast them. I'm thinking of getting one of these:

It's a food steamer/rice cooker

Some other ways people have suggested are in tinfoil on the grill... I'm afraid of the grill because I almost blew myself up lighting it a few years ago. Yes, that's right... BLAMMO! I let it sit with the gas too long before I put the match in... the top was shut, but when I hear the "BAM!" explosion noise, it was also accompanied by the sound of the grill lid slamming back down. Yup... blew the top open and then shut again. Ever since then I've been afraid... however, if someone else lights it for me, I have NO ISSUE grilling... ;-) Now I'm hungry for veggies...! REALLY hungry! Nom, nom, nom!

I think my head will explode soon

I've been studying up a storm for my Spec. Ed. test Weds. morning!!! I'm excited because I think this may really be a good fit for me... I've always enjoyed helping kids that need it the most, and it's so much more rewarding to see students grow by leaps and bounds!

I'm pretty well prepared as it is... I'm just going over some final things regarding laws and rights and services to special education students and their families... and then I will be completely prepared! I called the testing services today to check about parking, so I feel completely ready... and even more exciting is the fact that I get to meet up with Jamey downtown for lunch Weds!!! I have no idea where we'll grab a bite, but it will be an adventure considering it's been quite a while since I've explored the downtown area! We really ought to go eat at the Guenther House but I'll have to do some research on Yelp and see what people recommend in the area around her office building.

Anyhow, back to studying... I'll blog more later!

My decision is final

Well, after all the unwanted text messages and emails and the 'victim' status messages on myspace by my ex... I've decided he'll just get cut out of my life completely. I'm going to forget that he ever even existed in any capacity in my life. I think if I can successfully do this, eventually, he won't exist in my life anymore. Well, I hope at least. In the meantime, I know I have some people I can call on for help if I ever come face-to-face with him.

Other than that, it was a nice weekend. Friday after subbing and going home to rest, I met up with Jamey at India Palace off 281 for some WONDERFUL Indian food. If you've never tried it, you should. Some of it looks really scary, but it's quickly become one of my favorite foods to eat! If I could make it and it would taste the same, then I totally would make it every other week! Now she and I just need to figure out when we can go pick up some gyros from Demo's! Yum! Another great food style; THINK GREEK!

Saturday I slept in and it was marvelous! Then I spent the day at the house. I watched some tv for a bit, did some cleaning, took a shower and got ready, and then I ran to the bank to deposit my check from NEISD... after which I went to Petsmart, and a few places searching for Across the Universe (it just released on DVD a couple weeks ago). I came home and then I read some of my book. After awhile I got a call from Daughn... we met up at her parents' and ran to Walmart... we were looking for stuff for Dustin's 3rd birthday pirate party. Anyhow, we got the candy for the kids goody bags and I found my movie there! After, we went back to her parents to get his invitations done! In line with his pirate themed party, Daughn found the coolest invitations on Oriental Trading... We had 24 of them to fill out for family/close friends... she really only wanted to send them to houses that have kiddos coming because it's so neat! Anyhow, she had asked if I would fill out all the address things as well as the scroll of the invitation inside the bottle because I can write smaller than her and very legibly... Of course I wouldn't have said no... so, we worked on those and the goody bags all night... it took us til nearly midnight.

Then Sunday I went to church, and then we went to visit my Grandma... Afterwards we came home... and I just rested and did laundry. Yesterday I subbed over at Jordan Intermediate... it was nice, I always have a good experience there, the kids are really sweet and polite. And I got to see my aunt (she works there as a special ed. aide). So, it was very nice... and hopefully the impression I made on those people I met through my aunt will help me to get a job! Hope everyone has a GREAT week!

Some really good recipes

If you're watching your fat and calorie intake... here's a couple recipes that are REALLY yummy!

BURRITO PIE-- This one is 7 Weight Watchers points a serving (Serves 8). It's REALLY yummy... note that if you're not watching your fat/calorie intake, then you could most certainly use different meat and could use regular refried beans and tortillas; also if you're eating vegetarian then others have substituted Boca meatless ground burger for the meat. Also note that this makes quite a bit... so you may want to half the recipe and use a smaller baking pan if you're only feeding 2-3 people. I was only serving my parents and myself and we are STILL eating leftovers!

1. 1 pounds lean ground turkey (season with salt/pepper and season-all if you like)
   
2. 1 onion, chopped
3. 2 teaspoons minced garlic (about 2 cloves chopped very finely)
   
4. 1 (2 ounce) can black olives, sliced
5. 1 (4 ounce) can diced green chili peppers (I only used about 1/3 of the can)
   
6. 1 (10 ounce) can diced tomatoes with green chile peppers
7. 1 (16 ounce) jar taco sauce (this is near the salsas... I used Old El Paso Taco Sauce... it's in a squeeze bottle)
   
8. 2 (16 ounce) cans refried beans (I used non-fat refried beans)
   
9. 12 (8 inch) flour tortillas (I used 6 Heart Healthy Mission Flour Tortillas... they're big enough that you only need 2 tortillas per layer)
   
10. 9 ounces Reduced Fat (or Fat-Free) Shredded Cheese
    

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. In a large skillet over medium heat, saute the meat until cooked through. Add the onion and garlic, and saute for 5 more minutes. Drain any excess fat, if desired. Mix in the olives, green chile peppers, tomatoes with green chile peppers, taco sauce and refried beans. Stir mixture thoroughly, reduce heat to low, and let simmer for 15 to 20 minutes.
3. Spread a thin layer of the meat mixture in the bottom of a 13x9 inch baking pan/cake pan (I lined mine with foil so there's less clean up). Cover with a layer of tortillas followed by more meat mixture, then a layer of cheese. Repeat tortilla, meat, cheese pattern until all the tortillas are used, topping off with a layer of meat mixture and cheese.
4. Bake for 20 to 30 minutes in the preheated oven, or until cheese is slightly brown and bubbly.
5. I cut it into eight servings (this is important if you're counting points so that you are getting a correct serving)... this recipe makes a lot but the leftovers are REALLY good (in fact, they taste better when the flavors come together a bit more).

Chocolate Muffins

If you're a chocoholic you'll LOVE this one! If you're counting Weight Watchers points, one muffin is 3 points.


Ingredients:
1 Box Devil's Food Cake Mix
1 Can Solid Packed Pumpkin (Not pumpkin pie filling... there's a difference...)

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Mix together... it will be VERY thick and seem like you should thin it out with something.... DON'T! Mix half the cake mix with the pumpkin and blend well... then add the rest of the cake mix to make sure it's thoroughly blended. Fill lined cupcake tins ALL THE WAY full of the mix.... this should make 12 cupcake sized muffins (you may have just a little 'batter' leftover). I placed a cookie sheet on the rack under my tins b/c I was afraid they may bake over and spill out... but mine didn't... Bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes. They're REALLY good... even without icing... and you can't taste any pumpkin... all you taste is chocolate... they're also quite filling (would be great for a quick breakfast).