Licensing Update

Great News. I spoke with a VERY nice and helpful person with the State Insurance Commissioner's office who told me exactly what the hold-up is with my license. She needs a simple fax which I've supplied this afternoon. She believes my approval will be processed within the next couple of days.

I'm so excited!!!

Thank you everyone who has prayed for this positive outcome. Please continue to pray the I receive the actual license in-hand before training with my preferred company begins next week.

All my very best!

Aunt Melissa

What's on your needles & What's for Brunch?

Waiting for License approval from the State can be excruciating!

How do I spend my days?

1st: Check job scouts. Send Resumes & Applications. (Wait for phone to ring.)

2nd: Cook Brunch - Something like Organic Tofu, Organic Sprouted Barley Toast and Local Honey

3rd: Knit for a while..





Step 1: I don't think you really want to see pictures of job scouts, resumes, careerbuilder, monster, DICE, Caljobs.ca.gov.............. oh boy


Step 2: Organic Tofu - Easy and Nutritious!

1 lb. organic tofu (medium firm)
1/4 cup thinly sliced onions
3 T. Canola Oil
1 T. Butter
1/4 cup well rinsed and thinly sliced leeks
1 teaspoon Cumin
1 1/2 cups sliced mushrooms
Fresh Parsley
Fresh Basil

Place Oil and butter in warm skillet. Add onion and leeks, cooking until onions become transparent. Add mushrooms and saute', stirring occasionally. (Mushrooms will throw off moisture which should eventually cook off.) Add cumin and fresh herbs. Last, add cubed tofu, heating and folding together until most moisture cooked off and flavors have had a chance to blend.






Mmmm.... fuel for further activities.... =)














Step 3: Knit for a while .... which brings me to "What's on your needles?"


Project 1: completed in a few short hours was an "Adopt Me" blanket. Pattern can be found in "Knitting for Peace" by Betty Christiansen. As you may know, I'm a hopeless dog lover and the very moment I have a job offer (if not before) there will be a new adopted member of this household... but in the meantime I receive email updates daily from local animal shelters. One of the most recent of which made a plea for blankets and comforters for pets awaiting adoption. Read about it here: Blankets of Love

I used odds and end balls of yarn I had sitting around from past projects. Two shades of Lion's Brand Homespun and one ball of Lion's Brand Suede, all three shades knit together using Size 15 needles. The result is very soft and densely "cushy". I'm hoping a small dog will feel comfy, safe and happy on it until the right family comes along to give him/her a forever home. ( sniff...)






















Project 2: My first pair of socks! It took two days and a lot of knitting on tiny needles to get to the first heel, but I'm there! =) Very satisfying, indeed! I'm using instructions from Knitting Rules by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee





















Project 3: A quick and fun knitting bag from "Knitting to Go" I've been wanting to knit for ages but only made possible upon arrival of my new Denise interchangeable knitting needles ($5 from each purchase goes to Breast Cancer Research). I love this set and with possibly one or two tiny exceptions, I shouldn't have to purchase additional needles for projects ever again. (You have to know that my collection of "straights" is pretty extensive already. The only size I thinkI might need in the forseable future is a set of Size 2 double pointed needles for future sock projects...

The bag was knit in an afternoon using Lions Brand "Landscapes" . Although this yarn is 50% wool and 50% acrylic, the label clearly states that it should felt, so as soon as there's a load of Jeans ready for washing, this project gets thrown into the mix. I'll let you know how it turns out!

And finally (actually there are more projects on needles, but there's just not time today.... )



Project 4: Some of you have asked how my first cable project is coming along, and truth be told, all that remains to be done is knitting the neck edge and assembling front and back. I'm not sure* what keeps me for completing it, but alas, here it is. I came SO CLOSE to finishing before a recent outing just so that I could wear it... but (sigh) perhaps tomorrow?

*Perhaps the fact that I've ripped this poor sweater apart and started over maybe 20 times in the last year???? Nahh... that has nothing to do with it..



Close-up of cables:




By the way, the cables were the easy part of this sweater. The seemingly easy pattern was so decptive for me. I would be happily knitting along, thinking my dreamy thoughts, solving the world's problems, watching movies, thinking I was making GREAT progress, only to inspect my work a few hours later and realize I had made a tiny mistake (a knit instead of a pearl) 7 or 8 inches back. This sweater, more than any project to date, has taught me how to "unknit" as well as "knit". =) I know, I know, it's the only way to become proficient... practice, practice, practice. And it is a great exercise in staying "in the present" and aware at all times!

Happy knitting everyone!

Aunt Melissa

Chicken Salad Quesadillas

Aunt Melissa's Chicken Salad Quesadillas:

1-1/2 - 2 cups of chicken salad (recipe below)
4 Flour Tortillas
3/4 cup shredded Mexican-style cheese

Servings: 2

• Heat Griddle or Large Skillet on Medium Heat

• Assemble Chicken Salad (Recipe Below)

• Place Tortillas on Griddle and sprinkle with approx 1/4 cup shredded cheese on each

• Layer Chicken Salad on top of cheese
• Sprinkle with the remaining cheese and cover with second tortilla over each
  

• Oversee process carefully, carefully turning when bottom tortilla is somewhat crisped and mottled with lovely golden brown flecks. [Much care must be taken in the flipping, or chicken salad flies everywhere! =) ]
  

• Slice into Quarters and serve with your choice of side dish. Tortilla chips and salsa is a family favorite, but kettle chips work really well, too!

*Aunt Melissa's Chicken Salad [All Measures Approximate(~)]

1 Cup Roasted Chicken, chopped
1/2 - 3/4 cup Salad Cream
2 Ribs Celery, strings removed and chopped
1 Med - Large tart, crisp apple, peeled & Chopped
1/2 cup Pecan pieces, chopped to smallish sizes

Combine all ingredients and chill. If Salad Cream is unavailable (somewhat hard to find), Mayonnaise may be substituted, but you might add a tiny pinch of dried mustard for added zing.


Happy Friday Everyone!

Aunt Melissa

Orchids (?) and Roast Chicken - But Not Together!

Good Morning/Afternoon. Photo left is for you, Mom. I'm not certain what type of tree this is, but it looks so much like an orchid, I thought of you. Please forgive the backlighting and darkness. Truth is, I took this photo with my Treo and I'm completely unable to see images in the viewfinder by sunlight. I should post the other three attempts for a good laugh... taking photos blind is not a good hobby unless you enjoy really bad photographs, that is.





There's not much to report on the career front, but I'm still plugging away.


Food.


You might have noticed this guy hanging out earlier this week. Roast chicken is always good and I usually only cook whole chickens because leftovers are so wonderful in so many dishes.


I particularly love this little roasting stand because the fats and juices collect in the bottom of the pan and the resulting skin is nice and crispy.




Each time I roast chicken I use different spices, depending on what's on hand.


Here you see this week's lineup.


First I take probably 2-3 Tablespoons of butter or margarine, softened at room temperature.

I Add a tiny, tiny pinch of Rosemary (goes a long way)
2 teaspoons of garlic paste
2 teaspoons of ginger paste
1 heaping teaspoon of dried mint
1 heaping teaspoon of cumin
1 teaspoon lemon pepper
1 teaspoon white pepper

Combine all seasonings with the softened margarine (this is where it gets messy)
and separate the skin from the meat and insert the herb/butter mixture in small amounts everywhere accessible. I usually concentrate the most seasonings in the breast area, both sides of the back and inside the cavity. For a 3 pound chicken, bake at 375 degrees for 45 minutes, reduce heat to 350 degrees for another 45 minutes . Chicken is ready when skin is a nice crisp brown and juices run clear. When unsure, I always slice a thicker portion to inspect. Allow the bird time to rest upon leaving the oven (the husband makes jokes that it must be very tiring getting baked =/ ) ohwellanyway.

For more information about cooking times and safe handling instructions, visit USDA.gov

That's all I have time for today, but tomorrow or Sunday, perhaps, I'll tell you how to make an excellent, healthy and easy dish with couscous, vegetables and some of that leftover chicken. A dish that's on the table in probably 20 minutes! I love that!

Happy Friday Everyone!

Aunt Melissa

Interview Update & Biscuits

Haven't felt too much like blogging the past few days, but as you can see, things have still been happening in Aunt Melissa's kitchen.

The position I've been interviewing for the past 4 months has been put on hold. I'm told I'm the candidate they would like to pursue, but there is no estimate of when it might be approved and that they understand that I must do what is right for me. They will contact me upon approval to learn if I'm still available.

This news is a lot easier to accept, knowing that upon my license approval there will be opportunities for self-employment. Worst case, the self-employment will sustain me until a full-time offer comes through, or best case, I will be wildly successful and will not be interested in working for someone else. Either way, forging ahead with applications and study increases the odds of God blessing my efforts.

Regarding photos above. The secret to good biscuits, either homemade or from a mix is the kneading... directions often suggest kneading a few times, but kneading is what makes layers of dough with air incorporated between. For the longest, I would follow package instructions and not understand why my biscuits were flat little pucks. Upon my sister's advice, I began kneading until the dough gets a little firm, even. My initial concern was that the biscuits would be toughened by overdeveloping the gluten, but this isn't the case. Knead until it becomes slightly difficult. Roll out and bake in a hot oven. You biscuits will double in size. As you can see above, the following day, leftover biscuits are heavenly when they are split and toasted with margarine and drizzled with honey.... mmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Happy Breakfast!

Aunt Melissa

Hike to Observe the New Moon

The New Moon last night was a tiny, tiny crescent and the dear husband and I took a tiny road trip to Simi Valley and hiked up a trail to catch a glimpse.

Too bad my camera's resolution is not sufficient to share the beautiful sight with you here. In the photo at left, there should be a tiny, tiny sliver of a moon... but alas no luck in sharing. What might be evident, however, is that the views were very nice.


This is one thing I love about living in California. I know family and friends have a difficult time understanding why I would want to live in such a crowded place where everything is so expensive and the air quality is so poor....

But the photos at left pretty much sum it up...

This short hike was maybe 11 miles from my front door. It only took us about 15 or 20 minutes to reach the trailhead after leaving home. And the weather was PERFECT. ... just enough chill in the air to make the climb very comfortable and a light jacket welcome when the sun went down.























What this means is that we can literally have a regular Sunday ( at our house, that means I went to church...).

I came home and cooked a full-out old-fashioned Sunday dinner (this happens almost every Sunday. What is it about church that makes me so hungry??? I bet my Mom is reading this and laughing right now because she remembers(!) as soon as the final "Amen", every Sunday, the first words out of my mouth were ALWAYS, "I'm Hungry".)













In the oven above were Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes, Homemade cornbread (yes, I said homemade... no mix here) and slow cooked pinto beans. The cornbread was probably the best I've ever made. (Katya, I have YOU to thank for that!) The secret to the best cornbread, is baking it in a cast-iron skillet. My best friend gave me a set of cast-iron skillets for my birthday and I've been faithfully seasoning the set every chance I get and it has paid off in great cornbread.

As most Southern cooks know, the best way to make cornbread is to float a thin layer of cooking oil in a cast-iron skillet. Heat it in the oven at least until the oven has preheated. Yesterday I put the skillet in the oven at the same time as I began baking the scalloped potatoes, so it probably heated for about 30-40 minutes. When it was time to uncover the scalloped potatoes for browning, I added the cornbread batter and it sizzled and fried a nice crust on the bread immediately. After 20 minutes, the cornbread was ready and the potatoes browned sufficiently to serve.

I noticed that Sunday dinner had a lot of carbs, but then again, we both had plenty of energy to hike up the mountain to watch the crescent moon.

=)

Happy Monday everyone!

Aunt Melissa

Doing the Happy Dance!

I passed. I passed. I passed my State Exam.

Thanks for all the prayers and positive thoughts! They obviously worked. =)

Please keep them coming, though, specifically that the Commissioner of Insurance approves my license. I should know something in a few weeks. Specific wishes are for NO DELAYS, so that I might begin working again right away!

Many, many thanks! Methinks tomorrow will be devoted entirely to church and later, perhaps a little knitting.

More recipes next week.

Have a happy weekend!

Aunt Melissa

4-4-08 What Beautiful Date

Yawn!

Nope, I'm not just getting up, we've been up for hours, but it was a very late night as my super-hero "Closet-Man" worked into the wee hours. The newly-organized masterpiece will be ready for photos by tomorrow? Sunday?! =)





Today I'm only posting a Quick Nutritious Breakfast and Quick, Quick blog because the great news is, MY STATE EXAM IS TOMORROW!!!! YIPPEEE!!!!

This oatmeal was inspired by a Diane Mott Davidson mystery in which she shares a recipe for "skier oatmeal", which involves combining all ingredients and leaving in the refrigerator over night. I loved her recipe, but began experimenting with different combinations and frankly, Aunt Melissa has a hard time remembering what day it is sometimes, much less putting breakfast in the 'fridge the night before!

Aunt Melissa's Yummy Healthy Oatmeal

Required:
Old Fashioned Oats
Water

Optional:
Dried Fruit
Milk (Any milkfat content, even powdered will do)
Coconut
Chopped nuts (Our favorites are walnut and/or pecan, but any nut will do)
Vanilla (I usually add this when I'm not going to sweeten. It gives a sweetness without the calories)
Brown Sugar
Cinnamon (Be very careful. a TINY amount will do and can easily overpower)
Butter or a Canola-based spread

• Measure the prescribed amount of oatmeal into an appropriately large saucepan.
  
• Add any combination of the Optional ingredients above and even come up with your own. (We usually like at least one fruit and one type of nut along with coconut. Knock yourself out, you'll feel very creative and smug later.)
  
• Add the milk/water combination (this varies according to how much milk happens to be in the house (heh, heh), most of the time I use 1/2 and 1/2.
  
• Cook according to package directions (frankly, I cook it LESS than the prescribed time because I don't like mush.
• Because I know how much butter and sweetener is preferred at our house, I add these to the pan and mix prior to placing in serving dishes. It's a little less messy than watching morning-clumsy sleepy people slop milk and butter around on placemats, counter, floor, yes strange things happen around here.)
  
• About the optional ingredients... I should add one caveat. Take my word for it, Peanut Butter doesn't work. Boy, was that ever a strange breakfast morning!
• Sit back and feel satisfied knowing about the extra calcium, fiber and cholesterol-fighting going on inside your tummy right now!

Enough craziness. It's study time again. Who knew there were so many types of Life Insurance, clauses and distribution methods?!?

=)

Pictures of closet available soon...

Happy Friday everyone!

Aunt Melissa


p.s. Prayers and positive thoughts in regard to State Exam tomorrow, much appreciated!

Humble Beginnings & Spinach Curry

Ah... the lowly grilled cheese sandwich.

Big trek to Simi Valley yesterday to pick up additional hardware for closet project.

Not much time for cooking, so grilled salami & Provolone with a cup of tomato soup. No doubt, our cholesterol is off the charts today.....hopefully the evening meal of vegetarian spinach curry made up for this lazy little culinary indulgence.



Can you get a clear view of the Chevron sign?

Regular: 3.67/gal
Mid grade: 3.77/gal
Premium: 3.87/gal
Diesel: 4.29/gal




This station is in the middle of the San Fernando Valley. It isn't next to a tourist trap (I've noticed before, for instance, that gasoline next to Universal City Walk/Universal Station is sometimes a nickel more than on the corner by my home.)


Hmm... This does make me wonder when the same tax breaks and incentives given to the oil companies will be extended to alternative energies.


And why can't I buy an electric car? !?!



I know photo left doesn't do it justice (note to self: buy decent camera once employed). But the taste was incredible.

My friend Jyhoti described to me how to make a traditional Indian Curry and I've tried and tried the last 3 years to do so with varying degree of success. By now, I've completely forgotten her instructions, but I WILL say that last night was the first time Uncle asked for seconds AND complimented me on this particular effort.

ADDED COMMENT 4 - 18 2008 - My wonderful friend from India warns that the following combination should eaten only rarely. Conventional wisdom says that combining spinach and tomatoes might contribute to kidney stones. I cannot confirm, but sincerely would want no one to suffer ill effects!

Aunt Melissa's (1st successful) Spinach Curry:

2 bunches fresh spinach leaves
Olive Oil
1 Large chopped onion
1 jalapeño pepper seeded and chopped
1 t. mustard seed
1 heaping teaspoon of minced garlic (approx 3 large cloves)
1 t. minced fresh ginger
2 T. (heaping) Garam Masala
2 t. curry powder (yellow)
2 t. cumin (aka comino)
salt
8 oz. can tomato sauce (Perhaps this might be deleted... See note above)
2-3 t. sugar
Prepared Rice

• Begin by cleaning the kitchen sink. Place the fresh spinach in the sink and fill with water, agitating occasionally. Drain the water and fill again. I do this alternately with beginning the rest of the process. It takes 3 or 4 sinks full of water to properly clean fresh spinach, as it carries much sand (similar to washing fresh leeks.)
• Wash and Prepare your favorite rice according to package directions. (I prefer Basmati or some such long grain rice with curries.)
  
• Place a Dutch Oven or similar deep pot over a medium flame and begin heating. (Swish the spinach and return).
  
• Liberally add olive oil to the bottom of the heated Dutch Oven. I say liberally because we will be adding many spices that will cook in this oil and we don't want any sticking to the pan.
• Chop the onion and add to heated oil, cooking until transparent.
• While onion cooking, seed a medium size chili (jalapeño) pepper, chop and add to the onion and oil, giving everything a stir.
• Add the garlic and ginger, stirring well
  
• Add perhaps 1 heaping T. of Garam Masala and stir.
• Add Cumin and continue stirring for a short time (cooking spices in oil is a technique often used in Indian cooking to release the flavor).
• Salt somewhat liberally at this point.
• Add 8 oz. tomato sauce and 2-3 t. sugar, stirring well.
• Rinse Spinach leaves for the final time and remove from stems.
• Lower the heat and add Spinach leaves to the pot, stirring well, and cover.
• Taste and add additional Salt, if necessary prior to Serving.
• Serve over rice.
  

Warning! This is a VERY spicy recipe and if you don't handle "heat" well, perhaps its not the one for you. I will say, though, that the DH is not so fond of spicy heat and loved this dish, as mentioned before.

Happy Curry Everyone!

Aunt Melissa

There's ALWAYS Time for Cookies!

Just a quick good morning.

Many errands and much business to take care of on the "Oh my goodness, I must get a job!" front.... but you know what they say...

There's always time for cookies!




































Now I must dash to pick up additional hardware for the closet project. Back soon for Exam Cram and Interview Thank You note time.

Happy Peanut Butter Cookies Everyone!

Aunt Melissa

Pancakes, Sausage & Work, Work, Work

No fancy recipes today. Plain ole' Pancakes to start the day.

Must feed hungry husband before he spends the day turning the nightmare closet into a masterpiece of organization.













Pancakes:

2 cups Bisquick Baking Mix
1 cup milk (great way to use milk past its prime, I prefer buttermilk)
2 eggs

Preheat cast-iron griddle or fry pan. If not completely seasoned, use a tiny bit of shortening. Pour batter on heated griddle when a drop of water dances on its surface. Pancakes are ready to flip when small bubbles form and begin to set.

********

Sausages were just an excuse to use the cute little baby skillet in the extra special set of nesting skillets gifted by my very best friend Katya. Katya, if you're reading, I am enjoying them every day!

Happy breakfast everyone!

Aunt Melissa