January 27, 2011

New Job

The first few months after moving to Nebraska was a little busy and stressful for me, to say the least. I just couldn't face adding training for a new job on top of my already overwhelming list:
- move
- adjust to husband in first semester of law school
- get settled/find friends
- finish up online classes (which were both more time consuming than expected)
- be a good mom

Lucky for me, I was able to interview for a nursing position on an L&D unit in a beautiful new hospital. They hired me, but were willing to let me start after things settled down a bit. AC and I thought after Christmas break things would be better. So, last week, I started at the new Medical Center just outside Omaha. I still have 2 1/2 weeks of training left - just enough time to get adjusted to the charting and how things are run. So far so good! The nurses I have met are all so friendly and in the words of Annie, "I think I'm gonna like it [t]here!"

Between my hour commute each way and my 12 hour shifts I don't get to see my daughter at all on the days that I work. It totally stinks. I cried on my way home Monday realizing that I wouldn't get to see her.  (I blame the tears on pregnancy hormones.)  Once I am off orientation I will work nights (7 pm to 7 am) and only two days a week. Then I will only miss a few hours of her awake time and she will barely know I am gone. I am excited for this new adventure and we will see how it goes! Wish me luck!

January 25, 2011

Spanish Tortilla

So the other day, I was reading Vanessa's blog and thought that her Spanish Tortilla sounded yummy, easy, inexpensive, and I had all the ingredients. Perfect! Dinner was solved. So I took her recipe and made a few adjustments.
I will say, the flipping is a little tricky - but if you have a plate, it probably would have worked better than me trying to use the lid of my frying pan (not as balanced).


Spanish Tortilla
adapted from Vanessa
vegetable oil
3 potatoes
8 Eggs
1/3 cup of milk
1 cup shredded cheese
1/2 tsp garlic
salt and pepper to taste
1-2 slices of thick ham, cubed
1/2 green bell pepper, cubed
cilantro, for garnish
1 tomato, diced, for garnish

Heat oil over medium-high heat. You want just enough to coat the pan and about half way up your potatoes. Cook until potatoes are almost fork-tender (about 8 minutes). Meanwhile, whisk together eggs, milk, garlic, salt, pepper, and cheese; set aside.
Once potatoes are browned and almost fork tender, drain oil. Reduce heat to medium or medium-low. Add in your egg mixture. Add ham and peppers. Gently stir the egg mixture for a few seconds. Cover pan with a lid. Once you feel like it is done on the sides and bottom, here comes the tricky part! Get a plate out and flip the pan over to the put the Spanish Tortilla on the plate. Then slide the Spanish tortilla off the plate and back into the pan so the other side can cook. (She made it sound so easy!) Once cooked through, remove from pan, garnish with cilantro and tomatoes.
Serve warm or room temperature. Serves 4-6 people.

January 17, 2011

Broiled Grapefruit

I love grapefruit and this time of year they are delicious. I was introduced to this way of eating grapefruit by one of my best friends when we were in high school. I didn't really like grapefruit at all, but this converted me. (I like it without sugar now too).
This is really simple to make too!


Broiled Grapefruit
serves 2
1 grapefruit (I prefer pink over yellow)
2 Tbsp brown sugar

1. Cut grapefruit in half, remove seeds if visible.
2. Sprinkle each half with 1 Tbsp (give or take depending on your preference)
3. Place under preheated broiler for 1-3 minutes or until sugar has dissolved and started to caramelize (I could have gone a little longer). Eat!

January 13, 2011

12 on the 12th - January 2011

I have followed Miranda's blog for a while and love these posts she does every month. I have only done it once before, but I hope to be a little better about it this year.



1. Yikes. My poor husband had to walk to his first day of school in that!
2. Breakfast - broiled grapefruit (recipe to come)
3. Went to see what she was up to - "just weeding"
4. Spent part of Lou's nap ironing shirts for my husband (this is about half of what I did)
5. After she woke up, and while I finished the last couple shirts - she drank three of these spray bottles full of water.
6. My daughter likes a lot of "boy things" -- she was very excited to see the tractor shoveling our apt complex's parking lot (post nap hair is so awesome)
7. Dinner - my version of Vanessa's Spanish Tortilla - (recipe to come)
8. Hit my 24 week mark!
9. My treat when the husband went back to school to study
10. How I found my shoes that night when I was tidying up.
11. My intended way to spend the evening -- only I got distracted by my new work schedule and trying to find babysitters
12. It was a long day, I got a lot done around the house... but I was exhausted and pregnant = emotional. I needed a couple of these.

January 12, 2011

What's in Season - January

So I am back. Thanks for all your wishes and help with this rough past month we had. Little Lou is doing great - crazier than ever. Her EEG came back normal. Just a febrile seizure. (Just - like it was nothing! ha. Little do they know her parents were slightly freaked.) We are healthy, happy, and have bigger appetites than before. We all must be going through a growth spurt.
Even though we are almost half way through January, (wow, seriously?!) I thought you still deserved to know What's in Season this month! I am so excited for all the citrus. Our local store was having a big sale this week. I am totally having a broiled grapefruit for breakfast tomorrow!



What's in Season in January:
Broccoflower
Broccoli
Brussels Sprouts
Cardoon
Cauliflower
Chestnuts
Endive
Escarole
Fennel
Rutabaga
Winter squash
Sweet potatoes
Turnip
Oranges
Apples
Grapefruit
Tangerines, tangelos, other mandarin oranges