Quarter Life Weekend Update #3

I can't believe December has gone by with only 1 post.  Sorry everyone!  Needless to say, these past few months have been a whirlwind, and the break went by quickly as well.

The holidays were somewhat low key.  To be honest, I had a fever starting on Christmas Eve and have been sick ever since.  Sadly, that meant no holiday baking and not much of anything, to be honest.  It has, however, left me plenty of time to get ready for my next position.  The position I had since September ended a week before winter break, and I was incredibly sad to go.  I had taught a subject I was incredibly passionate about, with an age group I ended up really enjoying.  I don't think I could go back to elementary education.  I'm happy to be using my degree and sharing my love for science with older students that can really get into the material and appreciate it.  Middle school was incredibly difficult, but I cannot see myself continuing down any other path.

My next position starts right after New Year's, and I will be teaching 6th grade Earth Science for most of the remainder of the school year.  It'll be an interesting experience to say the least, since my first unit is on minerals and I know much less about minerals than I do about cells, for example.  Plus, I will also be teaching an 8th grade computers cycle class, which should be interesting as well...

I am both excited for and terrified by the arrival of 2013.  2013 will bring a lot of changes and take me out of my comfort zone, which is both thrilling and intimidating.  I had such a wonderful experience at my last position that it makes it hard to leave, but I know I will grow to like this new school as much as my old one.  It'll be difficult to start over in a new school with new students, parents, and staff, not to mention an additional 40 minute commute.  However, every new experience simply adds to my repertoire, and I'm not going to lie, I kind of hope the second half of 2013 begins with a full-time position...

New Year's Resolutions?  Same as every year I guess...keep up with my workout routines, run a 10K, and to continue to push myself to develop as a teacher (in both my lessons and my classroom management).

I hope 2013 brings you health and happiness and you get to spend New Year's Eve with loved ones :)

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Posted by Ali B at 11:56 AM

Thai Curry Noodle Soup

Growing up, my parents always cooked the standard meals.  We'd rotate between steak, chicken, and pork, with pasta and fish thrown in.  I think most of it is because I was the pickiest eater when I was little.  For a while, I went through this stage where I would only eat tan foods.  And then my parents had to put up with me being vegetarian for about 3 years.  Needless to say, I was (and still kind of am) a high maintenance eater.

When I did finally begin to branch out in college and start to eat more diverse foods, I forayed into the world of Asian cuisine.  It started with sushi, and then different types of noodle dishes (my favorite tan food), and now I'll eat bibimbap and curries.  I've attempted to recreate some of these dinners at home, but one of my most recent favorites was this Thai curry noodle soup.  It wasn't based off of something I had eaten in a restaurant, but more or less something that I saw on Pinterest.  This soup combines a lot of my new favorite flavors and can be adapted to fit many different types of pallets.

You need to start with a curry base, which you can buy in mild, medium, or hot.  Then you pick your veggies and protein (we went with red peppers, green onion, and tilapia).  Finally, you decide whether or not coconut milk is too sweet for you (we left it out) and pick out your favorite type of noodle.  Allow to simmer and reduce for about 15 minutes and you have an easy out-of-the-box weeknight dinner.  Even though it is a soup, the meat, vegetables, and noodles make it very filling.  This soup was really enjoyable and made enough for 4 plus some leftovers!

Thai Curry Noodle Soup

Serves: 4

Prep Time: 10 min

Cook time: 20 min

Ingredients

-     2 tbsp vegetable, peanut, or olive oil

-     2 - 3 fillets tilapia

-     ½ tsp sesame oil (optional)

-     1 ½ c Yellow Curry Simmer Sauce (mild)

-     1 ½ c water or coconut milk

-     1 red pepper, sliced

-     2 green onions, chopped

-     1 head broccoli, diced

-     6 – 8 basil leaves

-     1 (3/4 lb) package Lo Mein noodles

Directions

Heat a medium-sized frying pan over medium-low heat and add the oil.  When hot, add the tilapia and fry until both sides are just golden brown.  Set aside.

In a medium saucepan, combine the sesame oil, curry simmer sauce, and water or coconut milk and bring to a low boil.  Add the vegetables and let simmer for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.  Then, add the Lo Mein noodles, stirring constantly so they break apart.  Add in the tilapia and allow to simmer for about 5 more minutes.  Serve immediately.

Adapted from: Zen Family Habits

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Posted by Ali B at 11:58 AM

Chicken and Gnocchi Soup

I'm a little bit of an Italian restaurant snob.  Whenever we're choosing a place to go out to dinner, I usually steer away from Italian restaurants because, "I can boil pasta at home."  Now, I know that is incredibly naive and stubborn of me, but if I'm going to spend money on going out to eat, I want to get something like Korean BBQ or all you can eat sushi.  I do have to say that I once had a lovely meal at an Italian restaurant in the city, and if I do happen to come across an Italian restaurant that boasts homemade pasta I will choose to go there.  Most of the time, I'll spend my money elsewhere.

Unless, the Italian restaurant is Olive Garden  (I know, it's not a real Italian restaurant.  Bear with me here...).

My mom and I like to have "Mommy and me lunches" at Olive Garden.  Unlimited soup, salad, and breadsticks?  There's nothing better in my book.  During the week I had off from school I was hoping to find an open Olive Garden so my mom and I could get our favorite lunch, until I came across this recipe on (where else) Pinterest.  Why go out when I can make something almost as delicious at home?

The soup is really easy to make and comes together relatively quickly.  You just need to remember to stir it often so you don't get that nasty skin on the top, and keep the heat on medium-low so that you do not scald the 1/2 and 1/2.  Yes, this soup is made with a quart of 1/2 and 1/2.  Be sure to share it with family members and friends so you don't end up eating that quart on your own.  Balance it with a salad made with this dressing and some bread for the whole Olive Garden experience, without having to leave the comfort of your home.

Chicken and Gnocchi Soup

Serves 6

Prep time: 5 min

Cook time: 20 min

Ingredients

-     4 tbsp butter

-     4 tbsp olive oil

-     ½ onion, diced

-     2 – 3 cloves garlic, minced

-     ¼ c flour

-     1 qt half and half

-     1 (18 oz) package gnocchi

-     1 c cooked chicken breast, cubed

-     1 2/3 c chicken broth

-     1 c fresh spinach, coarsely chopped

-     ½ tsp dried thyme

-     Salt and pepper, to taste

Directions

Heat the butter and olive oil in a medium sized pot over medium heat.  When the butter is melted, add the onion and cook until translucent, about 5 minutes.  Add the garlic and cook for an additional 2 minutes.  Add the flour and combine completely to form a roux.  Then, add the half and half and bring the pot down to medium – low heat, stirring constantly

Cook the gnocchi according to the directions on the package.  Drain and set aside.

Once the soup begins to thicken (after about 10 minutes), add the chicken, chicken broth, spinach, seasonings, and cooked gnocchi.  Simmer for an additional 10 minutes, stirring often.  Serve immediately.

When reheating this soup for another day (because this recipe makes a lot of soup), you might want to thin it with some more chicken broth.  The soup will thicken overnight.

Adapted from: Pass the Sushi

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Posted by Ali B at 4:52 PM

Giving Thanks

This post is going to be short and sweet (like myself....)

I just wanted to stop in to say Happy Thanksgiving to you and your loved ones!  Thank you for being a part of Quarter Life Crisis, and a special thank you to those who still check in with the blog even when I'm swamped with teaching and don't get to post as often.  I have another fall recipe to post, some end-of-term thoughts as my long-term teaching position comes to a close, and maybe even some crafts and workouts.  Thank you for reading, sharing, and commenting.  This blog (much like my life) has taken many different turns over the past two years, thank you for joining me on this journey.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving everyone!

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Posted by Ali B at 4:47 PM

Broccoli and Bacon Mac and Cheese

I've been wanting to make my own mac and cheese for a while.  Once, I tried to make mac and cheese before running off to a work function and just combined shredded cheese with my warm pasta.  That resulted in clumps of cheese, which is not as pleasant to eat as one might think.  I decided to use a real recipe to make my mac and cheese.

When making the sauce, you need to play with it a little bit.  If the sauce starts to get hard to stir, add a little pasta water.  Also, be sure to use freshly shredded cheese.  The pre-shredded cheese you buy at the store is coated and doesn't melt as well as freshly shredded cheese.

I like the combination of flavors in this dish.  To be honest, cheese on top of anything is fine in my book.  I'll definitely be using this sauce as a base to experiment with different cheese and mix in combinations.  Any suggestions?

Broccoli and Bacon Mac and Cheese

Serves 2

Prep time: 5 min

 Cook time: 15 min

Ingredients

-     1 c penne pasta

-     2 slices of bacon, diced

-     ½ c broccoli, diced

-     ¼ c plain yogurt or light sour cream

-     ½ c shredded cheddar cheese

-     Dash of salt and pepper

Directions

In a medium pot, boil the water for the pasta and cook according to directions on the back of the box.  Reserve about ½ c of pasta water before draining.

While the pasta is cooking, fry the bacon in a skillet over medium heat and remove once the pieces are crispy.  Allow to drain on a plate lined with a paper towel.

In a small pot, boil the water for the broccoli and cook for about 3 to 4 minutes, or until tender.  Drain and set aside.

Drain the pasta and pour the pasta into a large bowl.  Add ¼ c of pasta water, the sour cream or yogurt, and about half of the shredded cheese.  Stir continuously until the cheese has melted.  Add the rest of the cheese a handful at a time and stir continuously to prevent clumping.  If the cheese sauce is too thick, add more of the reserved pasta water. 

Stir in the broccoli and bacon and season with salt and pepper.  Serve immediately.

Note: This recipe is best eaten the day it’s served.

Adapted from: Confections of a Foodie Bride

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Posted by Ali B at 6:11 PM

Fried Green Tomatoes

This is something that I have been wanting to make for a very long time.  Whenever I see fried green tomatoes on the menu, I will always get them.  Some of the best fried green tomatoes I've ever had were at the Dinosaur BBQ in Harlem.  They serve them crispy and hot with this tangy, spicy, creamy dressing and they are to die for.

There weren't any posts about my garden this summer because my garden was mostly non-existant.  The basil did well, until I cut it all up to make this pizza, and my dad planted beans so we were able to get about a single harvest of green beans.  However, the tomato plants I grew from seeds did not do too well, and we were left with lots of green tomatoes on the vine; tomatoes that refused to turn red.  So I decided to slice them up, bread them in my favorite breading, and deep fry them to perfection.

I've been told that there are different green tomatoes that you're supposed to use for fried green tomatoes, but the unripened tomatoes in my backyard worked just fine.  I served them with some Chipotle Ranch dressing and it was like I was at the Dinosaur BBQ.  They're crispy, yet the tomatoes retain a lot of their juice even after frying.  Also, we heated a few up the following day in the toaster oven and they were still crispy.  If your garden was a dud or if you happen to find green tomatoes at your grocery store, this is an excellent way to use them.

Fried Green Tomatoes

Serves 6 – 8

Prep time: 5 minutes

Cook time: 2 – 3 minutes per batch

Ingredients

- 2 c oil or vegetable shortening for frying

- 3 green tomatoes, sliced

- 1 c flour

- 3 eggs, scrambled

- 1 c Panko bread crumbs

- 1 c Italian bread crumbs

- Dash of garlic powder, salt, and pepper

Directions

Heat the oil in a medium sized pot until the oil reaches 350F. 

Grab 3 bowls and place the flour in one, the egg wash in another, and the Panko, Italian breadcrumbs, and seasonings in a 3^rd.  Dredge the green tomato slices in the flour, then coat in the egg wash, and then coat in the bread crumb and seasoning powder. 

Place 2 or 3 slices into the oil at a time, depending on the size of the pot.  You do not want to overcrowd your pot because it will drop the temperature of the oil dramatically.  Keep the oil between 325 and 350F.  Fry until both sides are golden brown (about 2 – 3 minutes each piece) and then place on a plate lined with a paper towel to drain.  Sprinkle the fried green tomatoes with a little bit of salt to keep them crispy.  Serve immediately with chipotle ranch dressing. 

An Ali B original

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Posted by Ali B at 7:23 PM