Truth

Scene:  Sitting in the car, waiting for Dad to come out of Walmart...

Me:  Thomas, I wish I knew what it's like to be you.

Thomas:  Yeah...just so you know, it's pretty awesome.

Black Bean Burgers

So I stopped cooking meat last November (except for bacon...bacon is its own food group you know) and it was really easy.  We eat a lot of beans, veggies, and pasta at home and the move certainly pushed me out of the unimaginative 'meat-vegetable-bread' dinner rut that I was in.  I found an easy recipe for homemade black bean burgers that is a perfect and delicious burger substitute.

Black Bean Burgers (original recipe can be found at  allrecipes.com.) 

1 (16 oz) can black beans, drained and rinsed
1/2 green bell pepper, diced
1/2 onion, diced
1 egg
1 TBS chili powder
1 TBS cumin
1 tsp chili sauce
2 slices sandwich bread, made into crumbs

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Mash beans with a fork and add diced pepper and onion.  In a separate bowl, mix egg, spices, and chili sauce.  Add egg mixture to beans along with bread crumbs and stir together.  Divide into 6 patties.  Bake 8-10 minutes per side on a prepared baking sheet.  If grilling, be sure place patties on a sheet aluminum foil that has been sprayed with cooking oil and grill 6-8 minutes per side.


 

You Can Call Me Al

Paul Simon's Graceland, the 25th anniversary edition, is being released today.  My cassette case is cracked and the only place I can listen to it is in my husband's truck but 25 years?  Has it really been that long?

If This Makes Sense To You...

...then where were you this past semester?  I could've used a personal, live-in, 24/7 chemistry tutor!

Fortunately, I escaped Chem II with a C.  Stupid chemistry.  Always messing with my GPA. 

I did much better in Physiological Psychology.  After a couple of opinion papers, a bibliography on meditation, 4 tests, a successful presentation at a brain fair for pre-k students, and a couple of opportunities for bonus points, I finished 5 points away from a perfect score.

Today, I start my summer class. From June 4th to July 6th I'll spend 3 hours a day, 5 days a week, learning all there is to know about Human Anatomy.  Wish me luck! 

Goodbye May!

The month of May was a busy blur.  It was also a dry, busy blur being that it didn't rain a drop the whole month.  Luckily, we're getting a few sprinkles today.  So today I'm going to curl up on the couch, listen to the rain, and enjoy not having to sign permission slips for school activities or get gussied up for various school programs.

(Just a few pictures from Nathan's Academic Awards Banquet)

Good Gravy!

Sunday morning the Knights of Columbus were serving doughnuts and coffee after church.  It was a very tempting offer but I was craving biscuits and gravy.  Fortunately, I have plenty of bacon grease stored in the fridge just for this purpose. 

Gravy

1/4 cup bacon grease
1/4 cup flour
2 cups milk
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper

Add grease to a skillet over medium high heat and when hot add flour.  Cook flour, stirring constantly, until brown.  Add milk, salt, and pepper; stir until there are no lumps and gravy has thickened.  You can always add a little more milk or water to thin it out some but I've been making this for years and it works for me. 

First...Last

I swear I can't get a picture of the boys together without one of them making a goofy face. 

Grades 2 and 4 are in the books.  They both did a lot of growing these past 9 months...and a lot of learning, too.  Nathan finished the second grade with all As while Thomas finished the fourth grade making honor roll during the 2 quarters that DIDN'T include science.  Poor thing seems to have inherited my anti-science gene.  Fortunately, they both inherited my pro-reading gene and we are looking forward to spending summer vacation at the library.

Next up, 3rd grade and fifth grade!