Burned

I am almost burning my mouth right this second. I cannot wait for my dessert to cool down!

One of the benefits of being on your own and having a day off is that you can do whatever you want whenever you want. If you lose track of time, no one complains. Here on the western side of the time zone, there was still visible light on the horizon at 9 p.m. Summer screws me up because there are no good cues for when I should go to bed. I realized I was really hungry about two o'clock this afternoon and had not had lunch. When 7:30 rolled around, but the sun was out, I realized I had not thought about dinner. So I improvised again.

I had picked up some kale to make kale chips for a snack while I did work. Instead, I had them for dinner. You just wash and tear up the kale. Spread it on a cookie sheet. Spray with oil and sprinkle something on it if you want, and bake at 350 to 375 for 15 to 20 minutes (depends on your oven, but keep an eye on them). The first time I made them I did plain olive oil and salt. This time, I did chipotle olive oil. For dipping, I mixed up some Greek yogurt and dill seasoning mix.

I still have phyllo, so of course I cannot let it go to waste! I layered the phyllo, spraying in between with plain olive oil. Then scooped some Nutella on, added an over-ripe banana, honey, walnuts, marshmallows, and some cinnamon and nutmeg.

 Then I stuck it in the oven at 375 for maybe 30 minutes.

I think I could have used less phyllo, but it is still delicious. Look out for the bubbling sugary goodness that spills out of the phyllo pocket if you try this at home. Oh. And I forgot to add the raspberries and chocolate chips I had taken out of the freezer for the little banana packet. Next time.

Improvise

If you ever read my "recipes", I rarely follow recipes to a T. I picked up some phyllo sheets recently to make this brie and phyllo recipe that I pinned. Only, apparently for that recipe they used preformed phyllo cups. I have a couple of recipes from my mom and sister with phyllo sheets.

Let me cut to the chase: I do not understand phyllo. I had phyllo sheets and makings for a salad in the fridge. I was home early, went for a run, and did not want a salad. I (half) thawed some chicken and sliced it in half (because it was not thawed enough to pound flat). Sauteed up some mushrooms, onion, seasoned with tarragon, salt, and pepper. Splashed a healthy amount of white wine in there. Decided to add some frozen carrots (sliced mixed carrots from TJ's). I then pulled out some phyllo sheets and sprayed some delicious olive oil in between the sheets every couple of sheets, split the chicken and veggies between them, and added some slices of brie (rind on). I folded up the phyllo and put it seam down on a baking stone. Cooked it about 40 minutes at 350 degrees and ended up with this deliciousness.

 The best part was countless layers of crispy phyllo.

Step it up

My research has gone well enough over the past year that I should be able to put together a decent manuscript of my work. This is great for many reasons: disseminating your research is important to your funding source, your career, your ability to get funding/jobs. Plus, it is exciting to have enough data to put together a story about what you think it all means.

I still have some stuff to do in lab, but my boss would like to start revisiting the beginnings of a manuscript I started last summer/fall. I had two analyses I intended to finish this week on Wednesday and Thursday that I did not do.

I had a dream last night that I was sitting in a seminar, and my boss and her colleague (a nice man who gave me great feedback on my grant application that was funded) were sitting behind me. I heard the colleague say to my boss that I had really good ideas and my research was headed in a good direction (YAY! even if it my brain making up the dream conversation). Then his voice hushed a bit as he said something to the effect of, "But she hit this peak of productivity and isn't getting as much done now," as he made a dramatic up and down motion with his hand. The only thing missing was some sound effects.

I guess my subconscience thinks I need to start working harder, or at least having more evidence of my productivity. Admittedly, my conscience agrees.

Not just another day

Make this.

I took the second picture, then ate the cake, then found that the photo was blurry. Click on the link if you want to see a more attractive photo of this microwave nutella cake. 5 minutes start to finish. Great dessert to my apple cinnamon white cheddar and ham panini Easter supper.

It was a long and rewarding day, so having a couple of beers with my cat and an easy dinner, plus a 20 minute nap was fine with me!

I played hand bells at church. Many people came up to me after saying I looked like a pro. Remember, I just officially joined the church last week. I did readily admit that I had played bells before. I think the church is happy to see young(er) members who are involved.

Then I had volunteered to work for a 2.5 hour shift at a local food kitchen, figuring I would head home and do work after. Only they were short staffed for the second shift when they were actually serving dinner. So I was on my feet for almost 5 hours doing cooking and prep and serving and cleaning. It was great though, and I had no other commitment.

I made my grandmother's day by calling her on Easter on my way home. I do not know why I don not call more often because it is only a 5 minute conversation.

If Easter or Passover are you thing, I hope they have been wonderful. I think it is officially spring now.

In the car

On my way home tonight, I sang along to two favorite songs. This one I love singing along with.

Well that night was long, there was one more song and then we were on our way
Driving slow, no place to go and nothing more to say
And the rain came down around that car like we were underneath the sea
In the back seat, almost drowning, holding on to me

It was almost fine, you were almost mine
And from town to town we chased it down on a broken white line

The beginning of this song gets me every time. For many reasons. And I do not think I have posted it before.

We bid our friends goodbye
We promised we would write them
And headed north up 95
Into the great unknown
We turned up our stereo
And felt so reckless and alive
We didn't know who we would be
We didn't know where we would end up
When we headed down that road
[...]

And it's a long way to Michigan and back
And it's a long way
Cause it's a long way, the clouds upon our backs
And it's a long, long, long, long way

A new home.

A while back, I posted about a church to which I had started going. Since then I have been going to the young adult bible study, participated in a couple of work days on a Habitat for Humanity house, and attended church when I am in town. Actually, yesterday I was at the Habitat house, and I am SORE. I was basically kneeling to cut pieces of trim and then standing up using my legs alllll day. My quads are so sore that it hurts to crouch down. If I did not know better, I would say I did a couple hundred squats yesterday or something.

I was actually posting to say that I joined the church. I vacillated about this a lot. I really enjoy the church and have many opportunities of service through the church and the music is great. But, I did not know how much longer I would be in the area, and I feel that joining a church is a pretty big commitment.

And it is yet another decision I am making on my own and for myself that I thought I would be making with CF. I also had to let go of the fact that the other two people joining the church are in their mid-20s and getting married in July.

It was the right decision though. I think I have more anxiety about doing new things right now in my life than I ever have, but not really about this. There were little bios in the announcement today, and people were asking me about Boston, Vermont, and my research after the service. There was cake. I got a hand knit prayer shawl. Last week I started going to the bell choir rehearsals, and the director (and group) is really happy to have me. I will ring next week at the Easter service.

The only thing left is to make sure my name is not 'Jennifer' in the church directory. Why do people always try to make my name longer? I am 32 years old. I think I know what my name is. God probably does too.