Since we were out of bread today, I drove down to the little grocery store around the corner to get some. I was just getting back into the car, when a man with a cell phone came running up to me and asking me to hold on for a moment. Assuming he was lost, I stopped and waited for him to quickly say goodbye to whoever was on the other line. But instead of asking for directions, he told me that a friend of his was starting a new business I could help with. Would I contact her? He handed me a card with a phone number and url written on it in pen.

The url was arousingposes.com.

...

I got spammed in real life! 

Sort of.

MY BOYFRIEND JUST GOT ME A CAR!!!

This is a cheap and delicious spin on ramen noodles. It really works with whatever meat or veggies you have around the house. I just threw some ginger in there because I had a bit left over from my last stir fry. I love ginger! 






Ramen Noodle Stir Fry

1 (3 ounce) package ramen noodles, cooked and drained
2 teaspoons oil, divided
1 large red bell pepper pepper, cubed
1 garlic clove, minced
Some ginger
1/2 cup reduced-sodium chicken broth (or 1/2 cup water with some of the seasoning packet mixed in)
2 teaspoons reduced-sodium soy sauce
Pork, carrots and red bell pepper

In a large nonstick skillet, stir-fry pork until cooked. Remove. Stir-fry veggies. Add the chicken broth, soy sauce, seasoning blend and noodles; toss gently.

I finally did it! I made a cake that didn't taste like crap. I should have stuck to the easiest recipes in the first place. This one is from my Fannie Farmer book. I tried to make a frosting as well, but it didn't thicken properly. I had to use Betty Crocker instead. Oh well. Baby steps! 






Chocolate Buttermilk Cake

1.5 cups flour
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 tsp vanilla

Preheat oven to 350 (325 if using glass pan). Butter and lightly flour two 8 inch rounds or one 9x13. Mix flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda and salt in bowl. Add the rest, beating until smooth.
Spread in pan(s) and bake, about 20-25 min for small or 35-45 minutes for large. Test with toothpick. Cool before frosting.

This one of those really lame H-E-B recipes that the sample ladies push. I usually just take the sample and walk away because even if it's good, I generally find all the ingredients too expensive to be worth buying, but M actually liked it too this time and he told me to get all the ingredients. He's been paying for everything and he doesn't seem to ever think about prices at the grocery store. The sample lady was really sweet too.

Southwestern Chicken Skillet

1 bag (12 oz) Fully Cooked Chicken Breast or Thighs (M just grilled some of his chicken in the backyard and we used that.)
1 can (15 oz) corn kernels, drained
1 can (15 oz) black beans, drained
1 can (14.5 oz) Diced Tomatoes, Mexican Style or with Green Chilies
1 cup HEB Southwest Marinade (You may have to use less - I think we used half a cup because it can get too spicy)
1 packet (8.8 oz) Uncle Ben's Ready Rice
shredded Mexican-blend cheese

1. Combine all but chicken in large skillet and bring to low boil.
2. Add chicken. Cover skillet; reduce heat to Medium and simmer 10-15 minutes or until heated thoroughly
3. Top with cheese.

Cookie Sticks

Cookie Sticks

1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
1-1/2 cups all purpose flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup (6 oz) semisweet chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 375.
Combine oil, sugars, egg and vanilla in mixing bowl.
Combine the flour, baking soda and salt in separate bowl. Gradually add to oil mixture. Divide dough in half.

On a grease baking sheet, shape each portion into a 15 in. X 3 in. rectangle (give space for rectangle to expand). Press chocolate chips into dough.

Bake at 375 for 6-9 minutes. Let cool for five minutes and cut with serrated knife.




These stay very soft. The neighbors' kids gobbled them up and asked me to make them again. I feel so domestic. But these are extremely easy to make. One of the hardest parts of cookie making is the creaming of the sugars. Here, I just use oil. I think it took less than half an hour to make these.

These were particularly satisfying when I compared them to the the oatmeal animal crackers I made earlier in the day. I nearly broke my teeth on those. Blech. Cookie cutters are more trouble than they're worth.

Changed my mind and harmony has returned to us once again. I'll be spending the summer with my boyfriend. I can find a job still, I think. PREP is awesome, but it's not like I make amazing money there. There are some summer programs still hiring here.

Yes, I am a pushover. Whatever. He's bending over backwards to make me comfortable in his house. It's really hard to refuse. I have time to find work still. There's a cute little grocery/cafe near him that's hiring. I enjoyed doing that kind of thing in Boston. I also see a lot of ads for transcription services and receptionist work. I'm sending out my application and resume like crazy.

I did really want to spend my summer here. We'll have such a good time - he's learning how to grill and I'm learning how to bake things other than chocolate chip cookies (and other types of chocolate chip cookies). We'll get fabulously fat. I'll be closer to the UT library for my research. We'll be able to see each other everyday. We could finally watch all those movies we never had time for during the year because of me freaking out about school (often completely unnecessarily). I'll be able to see my friends E and L, who both have work in Austin. Maybe some SA or Boston people could visit. I know Jessica and MT were talking about coming up for a bit. My sister might, if she ever gets time off. He's cool with my friends staying in the house. He loves people in his house. He hates being alone. (We're complete opposites in that respect.) 

I think this was a good decision. But I'm the queen of bad decisions so what do I know. I did really feel like living with my parents again was a bad decision. I don't think I'm ever going to do that again if I can help it. I'm really too old for that kind of thing. I do love my parents a ridiculous amount though. Even if they are getting increasingly insane. But I suppose that's what parents do.

He just wants me to stay with him so bad. Maybe I can still find a job here. Maybe I will stay. It'll be harder in some ways, but  a lot easier in others.

Fuck, he's coming over now. We're going to break up. This is really going to suck.