The last major deadline of the filing season is finally behind me!! I finished getting signed forms from clients around 6:30 last night and it felt so good to be done!
November 15 is a deadline for some Not-for-Profit entities, but most of mine will be extended until February and can be extended again until May.
I looked at my calendar for the rest of the year yesterday and, at most, I will be in Nashville for four weekends between now and the new year. Between trips to Gatlinburg and Florence, Thanksgiving, my trips to Disney World (fun trip) and Chicago (work trip), the choir Christmas cantata and my Christmas break from work the weeks add up! I think since I'll be working for most of the first four months of the new year, I should enjoy weekends away as much as possible!
I'm also, most likely, not going to have to work outside of 8-5 until January. That is, hands down, the best part about the slower time at work. I did have to work late today because of a wreck that shut down Interstate 65. My 20 minute commute became close to two hours, but thankfully that is the exception, not the norm. It's an extra (and much needed) incentive to get moving in the morning when I know I only have to work for 8 hours and not 10-12!
Hopefully, now that I have "extra" time on my hands, I can get to a dry cleaner. Otherwise, I am going to be completely out of work clothes. It's starting to get ridiculous!! :)
I can't keep my eyes open any longer, but I'll try to post pictures of the changing leaves in Gatlinburg after the weekend!
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Thursday, October 11, 2012
The Klutz is Back
Mother wanted to name me Grace when she was pregnant with me. Daddy said no. For years, I've said it might have helped to make me more graceful had Daddy agreed. Either it would have been helpful or very ironic!
Anyway, I've showed just how much of a klutz I am over the past few weeks. It all started because I was cleaning my kitchen after dinner one night. I put a baking sheet away and somehow managed to dislodge my pizza stone which rolled out of the cabinet and on to my big toe. I know I shouldn't keep a round object on its side in a cabinet, but I don't have a drawer that is wide or deep enough for it. To make a long story short, I cried for several hours, took some medicine and didn't sleep all night from my poor throbbing, rapidly-brusising toe and toenail. I couldn't walk easily the next day and ended up at the doctor for an x-ray. I also expected they would drain the blood under my toenail to relieve the pressure, but they didn't. I ended up with this:
Two weeks later, I finally felt better and, of course, on the first day I wore heels, I broke another toe. I was rushing to get to work early because I had to give a presentation and had yet to print my PowerPoint slides. As I was going into my closet to get shoes, my foot had a close encounter with the closet door. After straightening out my now crooked toe, I put my big girl panties on, shoved my aching foot into a heel and went to work. Needless to say, I did not have the best day.
So far, I don't have any new injuries. Knock on wood!! Let's hope I've gotten a good bit of my clumsiness out of my system and will have an injury-free several months. That doesn't mean I'm not going to hold on to the handrail going up AND down any stairs. We don't want a repeat of the Florence Post Office incident*.
*Really embarassing story: I was 9 and fell down all the Florence Post Office stairs. I was wearing a dress. People stopped and got out of their cars to make sure I was ok. Not my finest moment.
Anyway, I've showed just how much of a klutz I am over the past few weeks. It all started because I was cleaning my kitchen after dinner one night. I put a baking sheet away and somehow managed to dislodge my pizza stone which rolled out of the cabinet and on to my big toe. I know I shouldn't keep a round object on its side in a cabinet, but I don't have a drawer that is wide or deep enough for it. To make a long story short, I cried for several hours, took some medicine and didn't sleep all night from my poor throbbing, rapidly-brusising toe and toenail. I couldn't walk easily the next day and ended up at the doctor for an x-ray. I also expected they would drain the blood under my toenail to relieve the pressure, but they didn't. I ended up with this:
Two weeks later, I finally felt better and, of course, on the first day I wore heels, I broke another toe. I was rushing to get to work early because I had to give a presentation and had yet to print my PowerPoint slides. As I was going into my closet to get shoes, my foot had a close encounter with the closet door. After straightening out my now crooked toe, I put my big girl panties on, shoved my aching foot into a heel and went to work. Needless to say, I did not have the best day.
So far, I don't have any new injuries. Knock on wood!! Let's hope I've gotten a good bit of my clumsiness out of my system and will have an injury-free several months. That doesn't mean I'm not going to hold on to the handrail going up AND down any stairs. We don't want a repeat of the Florence Post Office incident*.
*Really embarassing story: I was 9 and fell down all the Florence Post Office stairs. I was wearing a dress. People stopped and got out of their cars to make sure I was ok. Not my finest moment.
Monday, October 8, 2012
New Recipe: Sugar Cookie Bars
I needed a quick and easy recipe for a sweet coworker's birthday last Wednesday and guess where I turned? That's right, my good friend, Pinterest! It's pretty obvious that I like to cook (and eat) since nearly half of my total pins are food-related.
I decided to make these sugar cookie bars from High Heels and Grills. I love how I keep finding new food blogs to follow from pins I like on Pinterest! There are tons of interesting recipes on this blog and I can't wait to try something else soon!
Ingredients:
Cookies:
2-1/2 cups bread flour (or all-purpose flour is fine)
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
1 egg
1-1/2 Tbsp. sour cream
1 tsp. vanilla extract
Frosting:
1/2 cup butter, softened
4 cups powdered sugar
1/4 cup half and half
1 tsp. vanilla
Pinch of salt
Several drops of food coloring (optional)
Directions:
COOKIES: Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit and grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.
In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside. I sifted my dry ingredients. Just something I always do when baking.
In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. (The longer you beat it, the fluffier your cookies will be.)
Add egg and combine well.
Add sour cream and vanilla and mix until completely blended.
Slowly add the flour mixture and stir until well combined.
Gently press the batter into the greased baking dish and spread out with hands. (If you butter your hands, this will help with the stickiness.)
Bake 17-20 minutes, or until edges become lightly golden.
Set aside to cool completely.
FROSTING: In a medium bowl, cream together butter, powdered sugar, and half and half until light and fluffy.
Stir in vanilla and salt, combine well.
Add food coloring until desired color.
Frost your cooled cookie bars evenly.
Cut into squares and serve.
These cookies are VERY good! The cookie turns out to be almost like a shortbread cookie. Since shortbread is one of my favorites, this was a definite plus!
I made one recipe for work last Wednesday and there were none left at the end of the day. I liked them so much (and I had sour cream and half and half left), so I made another recipe on Saturday for my family. I think it would be fun to use different colors and maybe add sprinkles for different holidays or occasions!
I'll definitely make these cookies again!
I decided to make these sugar cookie bars from High Heels and Grills. I love how I keep finding new food blogs to follow from pins I like on Pinterest! There are tons of interesting recipes on this blog and I can't wait to try something else soon!
Ingredients:
Cookies:
2-1/2 cups bread flour (or all-purpose flour is fine)
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
1 egg
1-1/2 Tbsp. sour cream
1 tsp. vanilla extract
Frosting:
1/2 cup butter, softened
4 cups powdered sugar
1/4 cup half and half
1 tsp. vanilla
Pinch of salt
Several drops of food coloring (optional)
Directions:
COOKIES: Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit and grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.
In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside. I sifted my dry ingredients. Just something I always do when baking.
In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. (The longer you beat it, the fluffier your cookies will be.)
Add egg and combine well.
Add sour cream and vanilla and mix until completely blended.
Slowly add the flour mixture and stir until well combined.
Gently press the batter into the greased baking dish and spread out with hands. (If you butter your hands, this will help with the stickiness.)
Bake 17-20 minutes, or until edges become lightly golden.
Set aside to cool completely.
FROSTING: In a medium bowl, cream together butter, powdered sugar, and half and half until light and fluffy.
Stir in vanilla and salt, combine well.
Add food coloring until desired color.
Frost your cooled cookie bars evenly.
Cut into squares and serve.
These cookies are VERY good! The cookie turns out to be almost like a shortbread cookie. Since shortbread is one of my favorites, this was a definite plus!
I made one recipe for work last Wednesday and there were none left at the end of the day. I liked them so much (and I had sour cream and half and half left), so I made another recipe on Saturday for my family. I think it would be fun to use different colors and maybe add sprinkles for different holidays or occasions!
I'll definitely make these cookies again!
Monday, September 24, 2012
New Recipe - Thick and Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies
Last week, my good friend Molly came to town for a work event. Lucky for me, I got to have dinner with her after she got into town! Her birthday was the week before, so I decided I needed to bake a little something to help welcome in 26! I needed something quick, easy and easily transportable since she would be taking whatever I made back to Memphis with her. After a quick trip to What Megan's Making, I decided I would make these Thick and Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies.
I decided to double the recipe in order to have enough to take to work on Monday and to give to Molly on Monday night. All in all, a double batch yielded about four dozen cookies when made as the recipe suggested (a scant quarter-cup of dough per cookie).
Mom came to take care of me Wednesday night (I had a clumsy moment involving my foot and my pizza stone.) and she ate my leftover cookies and baked the last bit of leftover dough. She took the last few cookies home and "ever so kindly" allowed my Dad to try them just because he wasn't feeling well. Usually, he complains that he doesn't get more than a taste of anything I make. He has since said that he prefers these cookies to the famous cookies at the DoubleTree. I think that's quite a compliment since they are my very favorite cookies!
Also, I didn't think that it would be necessary to make a ball of dough, split it in half and then reattach the halves, but after baking these cookies were so pretty! I think it's worth the extra step to have pretty cookies!
The recipe is below for anyone who doesn't want to click through the links!
Thick and Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies from What Megan's Making
Ingredients:
2 cups plus 2 Tbsp (10 5/8 oz) all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
12 Tbsp (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, melted and cooled until warm
1 cup packed (7 oz) light or dark brown sugar
1/2 cup (3 1/2 oz) granulated sugar
1 large egg plus 1 egg yolk
2 tsp vanilla extract
~1 1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips or chunks (I prefer chocolate chunks!)
Directions:
Adjust the oven racks to the upper and lower middle positions and heat the oven to 325. Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper or spray them with nonstick cooking spray.
In a medium sized bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda and salt and set aside. Using an electric mixer, beat the butter and sugars until thoroughly blended. Beat in the egg, yolk, and vanilla until combined. Add the dry ingredients and beat at low speed just until incorporated. Stir in the chocolate chunks to taste.
Roll a scant 1/4 cup of dough into a ball. Hold the dough ball with the fingertips of both hands and pull into 2 equal halves. Rotate the halves 90 degrees and, with jagged surfaces facing up, join the halves together at their base, again forming a single ball, being careful not to smooth the dough's uneven surface. This will give the cookies a bakery-like appearance. Place the the formed dough balls on the prepared baking sheets, jagged surface up, spacing them 2 1/2 inches apart.
Bake until the cookies are light golden brown and the outer edges start to harden, yet the centers are still soft and puffy, 15-18 minutes. Rotate the baking sheets front to back and top to bottom halfway through the baking time. Cool the cookies on the sheets to retain their chewy texture.
I decided to double the recipe in order to have enough to take to work on Monday and to give to Molly on Monday night. All in all, a double batch yielded about four dozen cookies when made as the recipe suggested (a scant quarter-cup of dough per cookie).
Mom came to take care of me Wednesday night (I had a clumsy moment involving my foot and my pizza stone.) and she ate my leftover cookies and baked the last bit of leftover dough. She took the last few cookies home and "ever so kindly" allowed my Dad to try them just because he wasn't feeling well. Usually, he complains that he doesn't get more than a taste of anything I make. He has since said that he prefers these cookies to the famous cookies at the DoubleTree. I think that's quite a compliment since they are my very favorite cookies!
Also, I didn't think that it would be necessary to make a ball of dough, split it in half and then reattach the halves, but after baking these cookies were so pretty! I think it's worth the extra step to have pretty cookies!
The recipe is below for anyone who doesn't want to click through the links!
Thick and Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies from What Megan's Making
Ingredients:
2 cups plus 2 Tbsp (10 5/8 oz) all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
12 Tbsp (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, melted and cooled until warm
1 cup packed (7 oz) light or dark brown sugar
1/2 cup (3 1/2 oz) granulated sugar
1 large egg plus 1 egg yolk
2 tsp vanilla extract
~1 1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips or chunks (I prefer chocolate chunks!)
Directions:
Adjust the oven racks to the upper and lower middle positions and heat the oven to 325. Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper or spray them with nonstick cooking spray.
In a medium sized bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda and salt and set aside. Using an electric mixer, beat the butter and sugars until thoroughly blended. Beat in the egg, yolk, and vanilla until combined. Add the dry ingredients and beat at low speed just until incorporated. Stir in the chocolate chunks to taste.
Roll a scant 1/4 cup of dough into a ball. Hold the dough ball with the fingertips of both hands and pull into 2 equal halves. Rotate the halves 90 degrees and, with jagged surfaces facing up, join the halves together at their base, again forming a single ball, being careful not to smooth the dough's uneven surface. This will give the cookies a bakery-like appearance. Place the the formed dough balls on the prepared baking sheets, jagged surface up, spacing them 2 1/2 inches apart.
Bake until the cookies are light golden brown and the outer edges start to harden, yet the centers are still soft and puffy, 15-18 minutes. Rotate the baking sheets front to back and top to bottom halfway through the baking time. Cool the cookies on the sheets to retain their chewy texture.
Thursday, September 13, 2012
Oh Happy Day!!
Oh Happy Day is DEFINITELY right!
I think I'm just about finished with all of my deadline work for September--just a few last-minute projects to help other people out!
My huge, impossibly hard return (that I've worked on for WEEKS) was delivered today!
I don't have to work this weekend on a return for a client I've never worked on before--without help from the manager! Even better, I don't have to do it NEXT week, either!
I'm not working late tonight or tomorrow night (if I can help it!)
My house is clean(er) due to a mad cleaning spree last night after getting home from work at 7 o'clock and not 10 o'clock! I may be tired, but my house is cleaner!
I'm going to grill something yummy tonight and sit on my deck to enjoy the food and my outdoor furniture!
"Oh, what a beautiful morning, oh what a beautiful day, I got a beautiful feeling everything's going my way!" - Oklahoma
Monday, September 10, 2012
Recipes and a New Cooking Blog
As I promised, here are the recipes for the super yummy pizza I made over Labor Day weekend. I made four thin-crust pizzas with one dough recipe and it was more than enough to feed five adults when served with a side salad. Keep in mind that both of these recipes are made using a food processor--quite possibly the best kitchen appliance ever!
For the pizza dough, I used this recipe from my earlier post. This time, thanks to some good advice, I used bread flour only instead of bread flour and all-purpose flour like the first time I made this dough. I think the crust was crisper and it was simpler to just use one type of flour when I was busy making this dough after 9 o'clock at night!
I also made homemade sauce from a blog I was recently told about called, What Megan's Making. This is now one of my favorite cooking blogs and it's so much fun to see what good food Megan's been making! This sauce is so good and comes together in 30 seconds or less! I don't think I'll ever buy store bought pizza sauce again!
I topped two pizzas with store bought shredded mozzarella and pepperoni (the Publix deli has the best pepperoni, by the way) while the other two had mozzarella, pepperoni, Italian sausage, red bell peppers and tons of olives (A treat for my Dad--I think he'd eat an olive pizza if I'd allow it!).
I also made pie crust again the week before Labor Day. Practice makes perfect, right? I made another chicken pot pie to thank my Dad for working on my car, a few homemade pop tarts that weren't the best (needed more filling) and then used the last crust to make a chocolate fudge pie to take to Mom over Labor Day weekend. I think my impromptu pie crimping lesson before choir practice really paid off since these pies looked much better this time! I hate to say something bad about a Martha Stewart recipe, but my "surrogate aunt's" recipe is so much easier to roll out and work with! I really do think part of the difference was using shortening vs. butter (in the MS recipe). I didn't ask for permission to share that recipe with anyone and, since it originally came from her MIL, I better not share it for now.
Daddy said he was disappointed Chef Katie didn't come home for the weekend, so I must be doing something right! I was a little to busy cleaning the kitchen to get it all dirty again making dinner on Saturday. I'll have to come up with something else to impress him with before my next trip to Florence!
For the pizza dough, I used this recipe from my earlier post. This time, thanks to some good advice, I used bread flour only instead of bread flour and all-purpose flour like the first time I made this dough. I think the crust was crisper and it was simpler to just use one type of flour when I was busy making this dough after 9 o'clock at night!
I also made homemade sauce from a blog I was recently told about called, What Megan's Making. This is now one of my favorite cooking blogs and it's so much fun to see what good food Megan's been making! This sauce is so good and comes together in 30 seconds or less! I don't think I'll ever buy store bought pizza sauce again!
I topped two pizzas with store bought shredded mozzarella and pepperoni (the Publix deli has the best pepperoni, by the way) while the other two had mozzarella, pepperoni, Italian sausage, red bell peppers and tons of olives (A treat for my Dad--I think he'd eat an olive pizza if I'd allow it!).
I also made pie crust again the week before Labor Day. Practice makes perfect, right? I made another chicken pot pie to thank my Dad for working on my car, a few homemade pop tarts that weren't the best (needed more filling) and then used the last crust to make a chocolate fudge pie to take to Mom over Labor Day weekend. I think my impromptu pie crimping lesson before choir practice really paid off since these pies looked much better this time! I hate to say something bad about a Martha Stewart recipe, but my "surrogate aunt's" recipe is so much easier to roll out and work with! I really do think part of the difference was using shortening vs. butter (in the MS recipe). I didn't ask for permission to share that recipe with anyone and, since it originally came from her MIL, I better not share it for now.
Daddy said he was disappointed Chef Katie didn't come home for the weekend, so I must be doing something right! I was a little to busy cleaning the kitchen to get it all dirty again making dinner on Saturday. I'll have to come up with something else to impress him with before my next trip to Florence!
Sunday, September 9, 2012
Labor Day and a Weekend at Home
It's been a while, hasn't it? I'm updating from my iPad now, so unfortunately I can't add any of my pictures from Labor Day. The fact that they are still on the card in my camera doesn't help, either!
Mom, Dad and I spent Labor Day weekend at our condo in Gatlinburg. I was able to get away a bit early on Friday and managed to beat a good bit of the traffic headed East. Saturday, Mother and Daddy went hiking with some good family friends while I kept Emma and our friends' new Westie. It was quite an adventure keeping Riley and Emma happy. At times, I had to hold both of them at the same time to keep everyone happy and under control.
For dinner on Saturday night, I made pizza using dough and sauce made in my food processor. I'll post the recipes later this week. I'm so glad I have friends that share recipes with me! I think I impressed my family and our friends--especially considering the small amount of leftovers at the end of the night.
Sunday was quite possibly the best day of the trip. I'd worked many extra hours that week and was feeling quite stressed. Without planning it, I slept for most of the day until I had to get ready for dinner. I must have really needed the rest considering I had no difficulties sleeping that night!! I'm starting to think I have narcolepsy again, though!!
Monday meant driving back to Nashville and getting ready for another busy week.
This past Friday, I decided I could escape for the weekend and didn't have to work. I may regret it tomorrow morning, but I'm glad I got to have some fun and helped Mother with things at home. Saturday, I cleaned house (I really like Mom's Dyson, by the way) and visited Grandaddy before another narcolepsy-induced nap. Sunday, I sang in the choir with my friends at church before going to lunch with my self-proclaimed surrogate aunt. Before I knew it, we'd been talking for two hours and it was time to check on Grandaddy again!! After visiting him, it was time to go back to Nashville. The drive passed much faster since I talked to my Grad School BFF the entire way!!
Now, I'm home and have to get ready for another busy week at work. I'm worried about a big project I've yet to start that is due in a week, but it will get done eventually. Somehow, these things always do!
I'll be back soon to share my recipes and the best cooking blog that was recently pointed out to me.
Mom, Dad and I spent Labor Day weekend at our condo in Gatlinburg. I was able to get away a bit early on Friday and managed to beat a good bit of the traffic headed East. Saturday, Mother and Daddy went hiking with some good family friends while I kept Emma and our friends' new Westie. It was quite an adventure keeping Riley and Emma happy. At times, I had to hold both of them at the same time to keep everyone happy and under control.
For dinner on Saturday night, I made pizza using dough and sauce made in my food processor. I'll post the recipes later this week. I'm so glad I have friends that share recipes with me! I think I impressed my family and our friends--especially considering the small amount of leftovers at the end of the night.
Sunday was quite possibly the best day of the trip. I'd worked many extra hours that week and was feeling quite stressed. Without planning it, I slept for most of the day until I had to get ready for dinner. I must have really needed the rest considering I had no difficulties sleeping that night!! I'm starting to think I have narcolepsy again, though!!
Monday meant driving back to Nashville and getting ready for another busy week.
This past Friday, I decided I could escape for the weekend and didn't have to work. I may regret it tomorrow morning, but I'm glad I got to have some fun and helped Mother with things at home. Saturday, I cleaned house (I really like Mom's Dyson, by the way) and visited Grandaddy before another narcolepsy-induced nap. Sunday, I sang in the choir with my friends at church before going to lunch with my self-proclaimed surrogate aunt. Before I knew it, we'd been talking for two hours and it was time to check on Grandaddy again!! After visiting him, it was time to go back to Nashville. The drive passed much faster since I talked to my Grad School BFF the entire way!!
Now, I'm home and have to get ready for another busy week at work. I'm worried about a big project I've yet to start that is due in a week, but it will get done eventually. Somehow, these things always do!
I'll be back soon to share my recipes and the best cooking blog that was recently pointed out to me.
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