tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10182829858146560812012-02-09T15:13:03.254-05:00do what you love & you will love what you doDianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798746461135182925noreply@blogger.comBlogger1031100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1018282985814656081.post-80144155036385060152012-01-31T15:25:00.000-05:002012-01-31T15:25:20.386-05:00

I know this isn't the best picture.  It was taken one handed at night in my poorly lit kitchen with my cell phone.  But trust me when I tell you that this is a delicious recipe and that you should try it immediately. My food-related New Years resolution is to use my Crock-Pot more often.  Now that Hennebaby is awake more and more, and now that I've gone back to work, it's so easy to

Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798746461135182925noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1018282985814656081.post-59658806615557415202012-01-13T22:02:00.002-05:002012-01-13T22:02:59.946-05:00

Sometimes you gotta go for it.  You gotta take the new job.  You gotta have that second glass of wine.  You gotta say I do.  You gotta close your eyes, open the door and just do it. Sometimes, you gotta buy raspberries in January. I know, I know.  I believe in buying in season like all the organic earth mothers out there.  Usually summer fruit is reserved for summer.  But...but...there

Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798746461135182925noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1018282985814656081.post-10549850510827261402011-12-29T16:35:00.000-05:002011-12-29T16:35:02.823-05:00

Merry Christmas!  I hope that you all are in the midst of a wonderful and joyous holiday season! Our Christmas was the most exciting one I've ever had.  As we were opening the presents with the baby on Christmas morning, my perception started to seem like a movie home video montage. It struck me, as I unwrapped bath toys and blocks and a huge stuffed Curious George, that we were actually

Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798746461135182925noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1018282985814656081.post-20592179422761826072011-12-19T12:40:00.000-05:002011-12-19T12:40:43.830-05:00

One of my favorite nights of the year happened several weeks ago:  the night we put the flannel sheets on the bed.  I love flannel sheets.  There's something so incredible about snuggling down under the warmth and softness of cozy sheets.  It makes it super duper awfully hard to get out of them in the morning.  Especially when you're snuggled in flannel sheets with a cuddly little warm body.

Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798746461135182925noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1018282985814656081.post-23683261313454397872011-12-18T14:53:00.000-05:002011-12-18T14:53:48.365-05:00

Last night we had an ugly sweater party, with our nearest and dearest coming together to eat, drink and be merry in their most garish Christmas attire.  It was a lot of fun and a lot of food.  One of the things that I love about our house is the entertaining that we've been able to do.  We had only been living here for two weeks when we threw our first party, Halloween 2009.  I've always dreamed

Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798746461135182925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1018282985814656081.post-62667403349448533232011-12-12T12:52:00.001-05:002011-12-13T10:49:34.928-05:00

This year, I participated in the Great Food Blogger Cookie Swap of 2011 (typed in my best Madison Square Garden announcer voice), hosted by Julie at The Little Kitchen and Lindsay at Love & Olive Oil.  (Check out their blogS - love it!)  The idea was like any other cookie swap, that we would each bake a dozen cookies to send to 3 other bloggers and would receive 3 different kinds in return.

Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798746461135182925noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1018282985814656081.post-89324911435619873012011-12-10T12:23:00.001-05:002011-12-10T18:48:57.717-05:00

Our little one has decided to start sleeping longer and longer at night - last night he was asleep by 12.45 and woke up at 7.30 - which is pretty awesome, for sleeping purposes.  What this means, though, is since he eats roughly 10 times per day, we now have much less time to get those 10 feedings in.  So now, he's hungry every what feels like 6.37 seconds.  I used to be able to nurse him

Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798746461135182925noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1018282985814656081.post-23336935787631113352011-12-05T13:53:00.001-05:002011-12-05T14:57:31.025-05:00

Can you believe it's December already?  As the end of the year (and the end of my 27th year as of tomorrow, haha) approaches, I've been looking back over 2011 at all the changes and excitement we've had.  I graduated and passed the boards and started working as a nurse.  We got pregnant and had a baby.  We rearranged the entire house.  We made new friends and stayed close with old ones.  We

Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798746461135182925noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1018282985814656081.post-75045215840145389912011-11-27T20:40:00.001-05:002011-12-05T15:09:51.193-05:00

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving!  Ours was full of family, food and relaxation, which in my book makes it about the best holiday you could have.  Since we've been a little busy, what with having a newborn and all, my mother in law offered to cook this year.  Our families gathered together over turkey, wine and applesauce. Baby's first Thanksgiving - he was even sleeping

Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798746461135182925noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1018282985814656081.post-9344102859110776782011-11-21T15:25:00.001-05:002011-12-05T14:57:31.072-05:00

I believe in recycling.  I reuse boxes and gift bags.  I wear clothes long past their fashion window.  I freecycle. I hate to throw things out.  I don't like to waste anything.  Especially chocolate.   Especially chocolate and booze.  That's a sin. So when I had some leftover chocolate sauce from last week's post about Chocolate Jack Daniel's Cake, I knew that I had to do something

Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798746461135182925noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1018282985814656081.post-59952686412797685382011-11-13T15:16:00.001-05:002011-11-13T16:45:35.791-05:00

Baby Chase is 11 days old today.  He's such a good baby!  Eats, sleeps, poops...again and again and again.  We're having a great time hanging out together, mostly he sleeps and I just stare at him. How could you not?  Have you ever seen a more beautiful baby?   I really had no idea how much you could love another person until I first laid eyes on this squirmy, squeaky little man. 

Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798746461135182925noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1018282985814656081.post-75206919653321462782011-11-09T12:08:00.000-05:002011-12-05T15:09:45.955-05:00

Chase Robert Hennefer November 2, 2011 at 12.05 pm 7 pounds, 19-3/4 inches long Love you! Mommy

Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798746461135182925noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1018282985814656081.post-77363886994987207312011-10-25T16:45:00.000-04:002011-10-25T16:46:50.250-04:00

Hennebaby watch:  Day 257 (Week 36) I haven't had too many cravings during this pregnancy, and the ones I've had have been kind of tame.  At the beginning (before I got sick), I went a whole week craving coconut.  Then I moved on to macaroni and cheese, green beans, iced tea and mashed potatoes with gravy from the hospital cafeteria.  I thought I had a craving for Ben & Jerry's Schwety

Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798746461135182925noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1018282985814656081.post-3398241449099033512011-10-16T13:52:00.000-04:002011-10-16T13:52:34.392-04:00

I was in the mood to bake the other day.  I was NOT in the mood to go to the grocery store.   One of my New Years resolutions this year was to waste less, especially where food was concerned.  I try really hard to use up everything I buy, but sometimes I open the crisper to find a wilted crown of broccoli or move the eggs and discover a bag of grapes has turned into raisins.  This has happened

Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798746461135182925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1018282985814656081.post-87652978969554065432011-10-07T21:24:00.000-04:002011-12-05T15:09:45.970-05:00

Things that give me heartburn: Water.  Tea.  Milk.  Tomatoes.  Cheese.  Bread.  Apples.  Yogurt and granola.  Chocolate.  Cinnamon.  Pancakes.  Chinese food.  Macaroni and cheese.  Chicken and broccoli.   Sitting up.  Laying down.  Walking.  Things that make my heart happy: My hubby and my puppy. Feeling Hennebaby kick.    Knowing that my friends and family love me

Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798746461135182925noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1018282985814656081.post-30149415992088281942011-09-14T12:30:00.000-04:002011-09-14T12:30:52.443-04:00

A few weeks ago, some dear friends of ours bought their first home.  In the time between then and now, our area experienced an earthquake, a hurricane, and some massive flooding.  Luckily, their new house has withstood all that nature could throw at it, and they're safely back home to settle in.  As we were going to visit for the first time and give them a little housewarming, I knew that

Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798746461135182925noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1018282985814656081.post-36846562150257208132011-09-04T21:23:00.001-04:002011-09-04T21:24:46.676-04:00

Dear Layla, Happy 3rd birthday! Thank you for being our dog.  Every since we met you, you've wiggled your way into our hearts and turned us into a family.  Even though I tell everyone that we adopted you, I know the truth - that you adopted us.   You came to us at a turning point in my life, when I had left behind my job and embarked on this journey to nursing school and beyond

Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798746461135182925noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1018282985814656081.post-86157573302565295372011-08-31T21:13:00.003-04:002011-08-31T21:14:31.028-04:00

We were lucky enough to survive Hurricane Irene with little damage around here, but my heart goes out to those who are dealing with the destruction.  Around here, it feels like Irene brought us autumn. I love fall.  I love the warmth of the sun on the downslope of summer.  I love the richness of autumn veggies and fall recipes.  I love sweaters and jeans.  I love the chill in the air when I

Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798746461135182925noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1018282985814656081.post-13808633715128396942011-08-26T17:02:00.000-04:002011-08-26T17:02:52.821-04:00

Apparently, it's going to rain this weekend.  Judging by the crowds of people stocking up on toilet paper and bread, Hurricane Irene promises to be the biggest thing to hit the Northeast since, well, since the Snowpocalypse of 2010.   Or, if you believe the newscasts, The Great East Coast Earthquake of 2011. Our hurricane preparation:  Buy bottled water and batteries.  Bring in the patio

Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798746461135182925noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1018282985814656081.post-9524919458295289022011-08-06T10:15:00.001-04:002011-08-06T10:19:35.877-04:00

As a brand spanking new nurse, I have a preceptor for several weeks who's there to make sure that I'm comfortable taking care of all my patients and to answer the 1001 questions that I have every day.  My preceptor, Kelly, is pretty awesome, and I'm very lucky to have her to learn from.  Plus, we eat lunch together and get coffee in the afternoons. Last week she had a handful of salted

Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798746461135182925noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1018282985814656081.post-11329485838075325832011-07-31T16:22:00.000-04:002011-12-05T14:57:31.014-05:00

Right now, as I write this, I'm sitting down, feeling Hennebaby play soccer in my belly and eating a piece of heaven.  All three things are equally exciting - sitting down, feeling the baby and eating heaven.  In the past less than two weeks, I have taken an unfortunate trip home for my grandmother's funeral, painted a bedroom, worked 6 twelve hour shifts, relocated all the furniture in our

Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798746461135182925noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1018282985814656081.post-88893751579215373042011-07-12T21:14:00.000-04:002011-07-12T21:15:22.356-04:00

Baby Watch, Day 173:  Last week we found out that Hennebaby is a boy!!  So now it's time to paint the nursery, buy some furniture and start our collection of blue baby blankets.  :-) In other news:  since putting together our grill last summer, I've been looking for new things to try on it.  Hubby would be content with Bubba burgers and hotdogs, but I was feeling a little creative this

Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798746461135182925noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1018282985814656081.post-18702153780608261422011-07-04T20:41:00.000-04:002011-12-05T15:09:45.942-05:00

Happy Independence Day!!  Today we had a little barbecue with the in-laws today.  Knowing that they would supply enough meat to feed the troops, I stopped at the farmer's market on my way home today for some produce.  Red tomatoes, blueberries and raspberries beckoned to me patriotically from the stands.  I decided this was the perfect opportunity to try out a new recipe I found on one of my

Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798746461135182925noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1018282985814656081.post-40037982549885570802011-06-26T14:49:00.000-04:002011-06-26T14:49:10.153-04:00

When I begrudgingly accidentally grumpily optimistically moved to Jersey 5 years ago, I imagined it as the land of parking lots, strip malls, toxic waste and Tony Soprano.  It was the place you scoffed at from other states; where fresh air was a pipe dream and the roads were clogged with big haired women in oversize SUVs on their way to the mall.   OK, so maybe I still scoff at North Jersey. But

Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798746461135182925noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1018282985814656081.post-12801086067127976062011-06-22T16:26:00.001-04:002011-06-22T16:33:18.867-04:00

Happy First Full Day of Summer!!  It's been a busy few weeks - I started my new job two weeks ago!  So far, I love it.  It's interesting and challenging, and I'm learning more from my preceptor than nursing school ever taught me.  The other nurses on the floor are extremely helpful and sweet, and I'm starting to feel like I fit in.  The twelve hour shifts have taken a little getting used to, but

Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798746461135182925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1018282985814656081.post-21329632912057684532011-05-24T22:59:00.002-04:002011-06-22T16:43:24.883-04:00

For the past few days, my best friend Theresa and her new baby Nevaeh have been staying with us during a move.  It's been awesome to have them here, and I'll be very sad to see them go tomorrow.  It's always fun to have a baby around, and Nevaeh is such a sweetie pie.  Hubby, pup and I have had a little taste of what's in store for us in November.  Oh boy.  :o) I took the opportunity of having

Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798746461135182925noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1018282985814656081.post-26336842822179269882011-05-18T11:00:00.000-04:002011-12-05T14:57:31.030-05:00

Hennebaby is 13 weeks!  We had our first ultrasound last week - it was incredible to see this tiny little life bopping around inside of me.  I can't wait until I get a bump and can start to feel the little guy (or girl) in there!  This itty bitty little person that we made.  That we're responsible for creating and growing and nurturing for the rest of its life. And that is itself responsible

Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798746461135182925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1018282985814656081.post-75720311542881166202011-04-25T10:40:00.000-04:002011-04-25T10:40:33.898-04:00

The trees are budding, the flowers are blooming, the puppy is shedding and it's finally feeling like springtime!! It's been quite a while since I've posted anything - don't worry, nothing terrible has happened in the past few weeks.  I just don't have anything yummy to post.  I haven't been feeling well since ACE-a-palooza, because, well....I'm pregnant!!  Hennebaby is due November 18, and we're

Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798746461135182925noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1018282985814656081.post-41253930361935523102011-03-27T21:11:00.002-04:002011-06-22T16:41:43.702-04:00

Well, folks, we did it.  My classmates and I are officially nurses!!  Last Saturday was our exit exam, and I passed with flying colors (not to brag, haha).  It was a crazy, wild ride, and while I can't honestly say that I enjoyed every second of it, I'm definitely grateful for the experience.   So now that insanity is over, I'm recovering from a year of no sleep and mucho stress.  This past week

Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798746461135182925noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1018282985814656081.post-81231896642416128012011-03-10T21:34:00.001-05:002011-06-22T16:46:05.490-04:00

My little sister turns 21 today.  21.  The age of adulthood.  And drinking.  And gambling.  And generally having fun in a legal-ish type way. But first, before all of that, I had to make her something to celebrate with.  Rachel loooooooves peanut butter.  Loves it with a capital L.  So, taking this all into consideration, I made her my homemade version of our favorite Girl Scout cookie, the

Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798746461135182925noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1018282985814656081.post-73645085282401342842011-03-04T12:31:00.003-05:002011-06-22T16:48:24.463-04:00

School is almost over.  In 15 more days, I will have successfully completed the requirements (I hope) to graduate this program, sit for the NCLEX and become a Registered Nurse.  We are soooooo close.  I can feel it.  I can taste it.  I can see it.  Over the past few weeks, my classmates and I have been stumbling around, exhausted, overworked and stressed to the max.  Now, this is changing a

Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798746461135182925noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1018282985814656081.post-79770461266946939222011-02-24T18:46:00.001-05:002011-06-22T16:50:55.287-04:00

My wonderful, sweet, supportive, smart, funny, awesome husband's birthday is tomorrow.  When asked what he wanted me to make for his special day, he answered, "Cupcakes.  And macaroni and cheese.  And blueberry muffins."   With fun sprinkles!! No, he's not five. Dinosaurs and celestial themed! He's just a laid back, easygoing guy with good taste.  Nothing fancy. It's one of the reasons I

Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798746461135182925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1018282985814656081.post-53346310541099620312011-02-14T09:49:00.001-05:002011-06-22T16:54:06.143-04:00

Today, I'm officially renaming Valentine's Day "Life by Chocolate" Day.  I think this name better captures the essence of what modern V-Day is all about - loading our loved ones up with sugar.  Honestly, I'm all for it.   Hubby and I don't go all out for Valentine's Day, since we just had Halloween, Thanksgiving, my birthday, Christmas, New Years, and his birthday (in two weeks).  We kind of

Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798746461135182925noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1018282985814656081.post-45000394692720147272011-02-03T17:58:00.002-05:002011-06-22T16:56:27.520-04:00

Time for midterms!! For what is hopefully the last time, my classmates and I are cramming for midterm week.  This quarter (hopefully our last) we have fluffy classes like "Leadership and Management" (which strangely reminiscent of a corporate training seminar), Ethics (what is the answer to life the universe and everything?) and "Research and Nursing" (a hypothesis is an educated guess).  We're

Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798746461135182925noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1018282985814656081.post-52923188259870371972011-01-27T20:53:00.002-05:002011-06-22T16:58:39.200-04:00

Hey, guess what.  There was a little bit of snow last night.  Just a tad.  Like, this much: Layla was in frolicking heaven.  She tries to run through it, but it's a little too deep for that, so she ends up with this bunny hop/kangaroo kind of move.  It's hysterical!  There's nothing quite like a happy, carefree dog to make you feel like all is right in the world. Since for some reason this

Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798746461135182925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1018282985814656081.post-23781966707589231642011-01-21T10:54:00.002-05:002011-06-22T17:02:21.322-04:00

It's 10 am and it's officially the end of my third week for this last quarter of school.  That means that in 8 more weeks, I'll be a nurse.  Well, I'll at least be done with nursing school and getting ready to pass the boards.  But I'll be done with school, which is really what I'm looking forward to as I stare at the mound of work and textbooks on my desk. Eight weeks!  When we all went to

Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798746461135182925noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1018282985814656081.post-57202437282352998072011-01-17T21:57:00.002-05:002011-06-22T17:04:48.327-04:00

I'm slightly competitive.  Just a little.  Growing up I was never good at sports.  Even grown up, now, I'm not good at physical activity.  Even walking at a slow pace on a flat surface requires the kind of visual-spacial-hand-foot-eye coordination I barely possess.  This made it a little difficult to find a good, un-awkward outlet for my competitive streak.  "I read more books than you!  I

Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798746461135182925noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1018282985814656081.post-748012188956772332011-01-13T21:17:00.003-05:002011-06-22T17:07:31.389-04:00

Recently, I won a give away from The Cilantropist (check her out - beautiful pictures and awesomely yummy food).  It may have been the first time in my life that I've ever won anything, besides a Lisa Frank pencil and paper set in a raffle in fourth grade.  That's a pretty long run, over 17 years.  Hm.  There must have been a $1 scratch off lottery ticket in between there somewhere. Hmmmm...

Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798746461135182925noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1018282985814656081.post-20760569280220390092011-01-07T17:18:00.002-05:002011-12-05T14:57:31.019-05:00

OK, folks.  Here it is. The moment you've all been waiting for. Here is my secret to Life, the Universe and Everything. It's not 42. It is the dessert that started it all.  The food that made me (not really) famous.  The reason that I get invited to parties. It's my recipe for Cinnamon Yum-Yums, formally known as Cinnamon Cream Cheese Cookie Bars. Colloquially called "those awesome

Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798746461135182925noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1018282985814656081.post-12968139364778307142010-12-31T11:58:00.002-05:002011-06-22T17:11:41.412-04:00

Not to wax poetic for you, but 2010 was a wonderful year.  A lot of great things happened this year - I left my despised job, we adopted Layla, I started school, Bob had a successful year at the golf course, we traveled some, I discovered solace in baking and started this blog.  Just about all of my 2010 resolutions came true.  Except that one about becoming a Victoria's Secret model and writing

Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798746461135182925noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1018282985814656081.post-12388430093131511192010-12-29T23:05:00.001-05:002011-06-22T17:14:14.863-04:00

It snowed here on Monday, about 12 inches.  I love snow.  Snow means that my hardworking golfer husband gets to take it easy for a few days.  Since school doesn't start again until Jan 3, we get another entire week together this week!  So far we've laid around, ate a lot, played in the snow with Layla, caught up on our DVR'd television, did the whole post-holiday clean up and generally relaxed. 

Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798746461135182925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1018282985814656081.post-623644451615217262010-12-27T17:27:00.001-05:002011-06-22T17:16:09.807-04:00

For Christmas, my wonderful husband gave me a new camera!  It has a "food" setting!!  And it took these beautiful pictures... Merry Christmas morning from the Hennefers! Bob and I had two Christmases this year - with his family on Christmas Day, and with my family when they came the day after.  I cooked dinner for Christmas 2.0.  I walked around the grocery store on Christmas Eve with a cart

Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798746461135182925noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1018282985814656081.post-18392203423940356642010-12-25T18:39:00.002-05:002011-06-22T17:21:34.218-04:00

Merry Christmas to you and yours! Sugar Cookies with Eggnog Royal Icing Real Simple's Basic Sugar Cookies Royal Icing1 egg white4 cups powdered sugar3 tablespoons eggnog3 tablespoons milkBeat the egg white into the powdered sugar.  Beat in the eggnogg until smooth - mixture will be very stiff.  Beat in the milk until you get the desired consistency.  Because I wasn't flooding my cookies, just

Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798746461135182925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1018282985814656081.post-18663164722825933172010-12-22T13:24:00.001-05:002011-06-22T17:23:22.319-04:00

That song always makes me thing of home, especially around Christmas, mostly because I'm from Pennsylvania and we always had homemade *some kind of* pie around our table.  Makes me all warm inside.   What I have for you today is not pumpkin pie.  It is not pie of any kind.  But it is homemade.  And it is delicious enough to drive from Tennessee for. Last night was Bob's employee Christmas party

Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798746461135182925noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1018282985814656081.post-11965328369873050932010-12-20T22:50:00.001-05:002011-12-05T15:09:45.928-05:00

Because we need a little Christmas, right this very minute... I'm back!  Lest you think that I failed all my finals and jumped off the Ben Franklin Bridge, I've returned.  Finals actually went better than expected, a pleasant surprise.  For my first week of vacation, the husband, pup and I drove from New Jersey to the Keys.   We're going in the car?!?!  The car!!!!! We spent some time in

Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798746461135182925noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1018282985814656081.post-65322486895888243652010-12-07T14:31:00.001-05:002011-06-22T17:26:52.581-04:00

We're halfway done with exams.  I've actually done really well on them so far, so here's hoping that the stream of luck will continue.  During a study break on Sunday, I decided that my classmates and I needed something to help us get through these stressful and anxiety-ridden times. So I made Valium cookies. Or rather, the generic version, diazepam cookies. Warning:  may cause a yummy taste on

Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798746461135182925noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1018282985814656081.post-44065220980858478642010-12-03T22:14:00.001-05:002011-06-22T17:28:53.606-04:00

My birthday is on Monday.  I'll be 27 years old.  Somehow 27 seems so much more grown up than 26.  When you're 26, you're still in the mid-twenties, you can still get away with being a "retired college kid" (as my husband calls us) and the life is all ahead of you.  By the time you're 27, you're closer to 30 and to figuring out how to be good at this thing called life.  I'm 27 and starting over

Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798746461135182925noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1018282985814656081.post-5199026892794516792010-11-30T22:18:00.002-05:002011-06-22T17:30:39.747-04:00

Finals are next week.  In five days.  I should be studying drugs for multiple sclerosis and interventions for children with cardiac defects.   Or reviewing the evaluations I have to turn into my clinical professor tomorrow.  Or looking at community health powerpoint packets. But to tell the truth, I'm a little burnt out at this point.  Today was the last day of classes for the quarter.  We have

Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798746461135182925noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1018282985814656081.post-38799755788175139742010-11-26T14:39:00.001-05:002011-06-22T17:32:37.900-04:00

After the turkey was carved and the plates were mostly washed, it was time for my favorite part of Thanksgiving dinner - serving dessert!  I made two desserts for our Thankful Thursday:  Cherry Apple Pie and Bobby Flay's Pumpkin Bread Pudding.  So much happiness on one little plate... (I'm not going to post the recipe for Bobby Flay's, because my pictures don't do it justice and the recipe is

Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798746461135182925noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1018282985814656081.post-69316310032148146912010-11-24T10:21:00.002-05:002011-06-22T17:34:55.921-04:00

Last night we celebrated my friend Kristen's birthday with a surprise dinner celebration at Benihana.  When her husband Tony and I were planning the dinner, I asked what kind of cake she would like.  Tony suggested that I get a cookie cake from Mrs. Field's at the mall.  Buy a cake?!?  That is essentially a big cookie??  I self-appointed myself to the challenge of once again recreating a homemade

Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798746461135182925noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1018282985814656081.post-7604761157199120022010-11-17T22:14:00.002-05:002011-12-05T14:57:31.052-05:00

I rarely think of what I make as perfect.  I'm usually hard on my creations, and my second bite is often chewed thoughtfully, as in "this could use more garlic" or "that could have been in the oven another 2 or 3 minutes".  These, however... Wow. Holy crap. These are perfection in chocolate. The brownies are from the recipe on the back of the King Arthur Flour bag, and I added (more leftover

Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798746461135182925noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1018282985814656081.post-83549662248223748402010-11-14T21:41:00.002-05:002011-06-22T17:39:39.622-04:00

My new oven has an incredible feature.   It has a "Proof" option. That's right. My new oven can set itself at a pleasantly warm enough temperature for yeast dough to rise happily.   This might be one of those things that everyone knows about but me.  Like jeggings.  Or how to get mustard  stains out of a white sweatshirt.  Either way, when I looked across the Sears appliance department and saw

Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798746461135182925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1018282985814656081.post-34562562224538464002010-11-13T10:54:00.001-05:002011-06-22T17:51:44.407-04:00

Something very exciting happened this week.  One of the integral parts of this blog was replaced. No, it wasn't the girl. Let me out, let me out!! And it wasn't the dog, either. So that leaves....the oven!! Yay!! Our new stove/microwave finally came this week!  Our old stove was about 1000 years old, and the front two burners didn't work.  The oven space was tiny and the attached microwave

Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798746461135182925noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1018282985814656081.post-59723946233781298192010-11-10T08:59:00.001-05:002011-06-22T17:55:05.190-04:00

Things have gotten a little nuts around here!  We're so lucky to have such amazing friends, and as a result have been having a great deal of fun lately, with dinners, a comedy show, football tailgating and other good times.  I have several recipes from the past week or so to post, but I knew that this one had to be the first in line. Back in Pennsylvania, my family rarely gets together in the

Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798746461135182925noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1018282985814656081.post-70406032546606143152010-11-03T22:13:00.001-04:002011-12-05T14:57:31.035-05:00

Things that are good: Layla. Husband.  Friends. Family. Pretty flowers.  Dessert. And this dessert is good.  Gooey, like a candied apple.  Handy, like a bar cookie.  Sweet and cinnamony, like any good fall treat.  Gooey Caramel Apple Goodness.  Gooey Caramel Apple Goodness(from Taste of Home Halloween)Crust:5 cups all-purpose flour1-1/4 teaspoons sugar1-1/4 teaspoons salt1-1/4 cups butter,

Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798746461135182925noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1018282985814656081.post-11065551070433963502010-10-31T15:35:00.001-04:002011-06-22T18:06:44.037-04:00

The treats have been made, the party was thrown, the drinks were imbibed and then slept off.  Time for trick or treaters! But first, some pumpkin carving. Isn't my husband a hottie?  Needs a shave, though.  :o) One of the other desserts that I made for last night's party was Trick or Treat Cheesecake Cups.  You think you're getting traditional orange colored cheesecake.  You unwrap the little

Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798746461135182925noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1018282985814656081.post-47376519008656926962010-10-29T17:26:00.001-04:002011-12-05T15:04:13.189-05:00

There's a chill in the windy air, the smell of smoky leaves and a nearly bare tree outside my window.   There are also bloody hand prints on my door. Maybe Dexter was here? This can mean only one thing.  It's Halloween!! In honor of Halloween and a good friend's 30th birthday, we're throwing a party tomorrow night.  Dessert is one of my contributions, so I've been busy this

Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798746461135182925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1018282985814656081.post-61055393782313780532010-10-24T16:35:00.000-04:002010-10-24T16:35:19.353-04:00

Today I am excited that our evil giant cable conglomerate has opted to show the Steelers game, and I get to watch my boys play the Fish. Layla is excited that in the midst of my biweekly bread baking, I decided that she also needed a fresh baked treat.   For the past few weeks, I've been buying her treats from the natural pet store.  They aren't very much more expensive, and I feel good about

Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798746461135182925noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1018282985814656081.post-66686759359543061792010-10-21T13:02:00.001-04:002011-08-06T10:20:32.370-04:00

I've stopped buying food.  By that, I mean, I've stopped buying a week's worth of groceries that seem like a good idea at the time, but inevitably lose their excitement or appeal by the time I do with them whatever I had planned.  Like the broccoli that sits in the crisper until I remember that it's there and think that broccoli and red pepper calzones would taste yummy...and then when I go to

Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798746461135182925noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1018282985814656081.post-41262040951892873552010-10-19T09:03:00.001-04:002010-10-19T09:07:29.975-04:00

Last post, I tried to tempt you with a little teaser about pumpkin cinnamon cookies.  Did it work?  Like on Law & Order, where the murder victim is just minding her own business, and then bam - cut to crime scene!  Insert Briscoe and Green!  Briscoe wisecrack.  Bum BUM bumbum bumbum bum... Yeah, I love Law & Order. Fact:  If you type "Lenny Bris" into the Google search bar, the second search that

Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798746461135182925noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1018282985814656081.post-13754123415802038172010-10-17T11:57:00.002-04:002011-12-05T15:09:45.935-05:00

...the person in our circle of friends who doesn't eat dessert.  I was all set to post some amazing pumpkin cinnamon cookies that I made for the Phillies game last night.  This person, who shall be called He Who Hates Sweetness, was complaining that I had too many baked goods on my baking blog.  Keep in mind, this is the same person who once said that anyone who eats dessert cannot be taken

Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798746461135182925noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1018282985814656081.post-7041912952592704662010-10-14T22:05:00.001-04:002011-08-06T10:21:18.648-04:00

...and thankfully not my luggage! Hubster and me We're back from the city by the bay.  It was a blast out there, despite the fact that I got sunburned.  Sunburned!  I thought San Francisco was supposed to foggy!!  Honestly, though, if the only thing I have to whine about is nice weather, you can tell how much fun we had.  I also had something really interesting happen for the first time

Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798746461135182925noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1018282985814656081.post-28731721097899620092010-10-07T17:22:00.001-04:002011-08-06T10:21:53.751-04:00

Anticipation.  That's about probably the best word to describe my day.  The gang and I are going to San Francisco this weekend.  Wait - let's rephrase that.  At this moment, my husband and all my local friends are in San Francisco or on a plane there.  I am at home.  I have one more day of clinical before I can hop on my own flight and spend the glorious three day weekend on the other coast,

Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798746461135182925noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1018282985814656081.post-43235871424405308702010-10-02T16:33:00.001-04:002011-08-06T10:22:11.994-04:00

Now that I'm on this mission (mission: something I think about when I should be writing nursing care plans for clinical or scrubbing my bathtub) to make my own slightly more wholesome and homemade versions of our favorite processed/chemical preservative-laden treats, I've been thinking about what to make next.  The homemade oreos turned out to be delicious, despite the small problem I seem to

Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798746461135182925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1018282985814656081.post-45585815653811425742010-09-27T21:34:00.001-04:002011-08-06T10:22:26.587-04:00

Between trying to get through various nursing textbooks, keeping my house clean, watching the entire last season of House, MD to be ready for the new season, throwing the tennis ball for Layla, starting my workouts again and cleaning the fish tank, I've made it my mission (read: something I want to do occasionally) to turn all my favorite hydrogenated/high fructose corn syrup laden/over

Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798746461135182925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1018282985814656081.post-2083013651792594712010-09-24T15:02:00.002-04:002011-08-06T10:22:41.257-04:00

Make some cupfins! I had some brown bananas, left over from my first Cooking for Canines experiment.  (More of those to come, hopefully in the upcoming week.)  I have a fantastically easy recipe for banana bread that seems to be a big hit with everyone (including my former boss - I'm still required to take him two loaves every Christmastime) but honestly, another loaf of banana bread

Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798746461135182925noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1018282985814656081.post-6342225778512415752010-09-23T10:18:00.001-04:002010-09-24T18:08:23.228-04:00

This week is the Adopt an Adoptable Pet Week!  If you're looking for a pet, look in shelters first.  Look at the black dogs.  Look at the senior dogs.  Look at the scared dogs.  They'll look back at you like this: How can you say no? I'm not going to reiterate again why you should look at a shelter first, or never buy an animal from a pet store, or make sure that you're going to a responsible

Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798746461135182925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1018282985814656081.post-71439988685718410932010-09-18T22:23:00.001-04:002011-12-05T14:57:31.046-05:00

Sometimes, you're just in the mood for chocolate.  The way that my husband was in the mood for meat.  So, we decided to host a Meat-A-Palooza, a little "grill/deck warming" party.  He got his meat, I got my chocolate.  Win! I wanted something easy to make, chocolaty, with a crunch.  These bars fit the bill on all accounts, and I was able to make them with what I already had on hand. 

Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798746461135182925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1018282985814656081.post-27013864619999198212010-09-14T21:21:00.001-04:002011-08-06T10:23:22.472-04:00

I cheated on this dessert.  There's no excuse for this.  I was looking for tomato sauce.  Instead, I found my weakness.  Sitting there, on the top shelf of the lazy susan, staring at me. My nemesis...my love.. Cherry pie filling. I brought it out onto the counter.  I stared at it.  You will not beat me, processed fake pie filling!  I will not use you!  I will not give in to your

Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798746461135182925noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1018282985814656081.post-55685335849934485612010-09-12T22:29:00.000-04:002010-09-12T22:29:31.029-04:00

First things's first:  Here we go, Steelers, here we go!!  1-0 baby!!! Ok, now that we've taken care of that. Food for thought: what does your pup eat? Last week, on Layla's birthday, we got her some treats from Jake's Dog House.  For as much as they cost, they weren't as great as I thought they would be.  The cupcake was hard and dry, and though I didn't taste it, it didn't smell

Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798746461135182925noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1018282985814656081.post-1455307823237072192010-09-11T19:44:00.001-04:002011-08-06T10:23:58.051-04:00

What should I do on this lovely Saturday afternoon?  I weeded the backyard.  I sat outside and read.  I threw the tennis ball for the Layster.  I made some scones.  What else should I do?  Giant box of grill. How about putting together the grill? Ooooohhhh...so shiny! It'll be a great way to surprise hubby when he comes home from work. How hard can it be? Just a few

Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798746461135182925noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1018282985814656081.post-77518022776329578782010-09-10T15:47:00.001-04:002011-12-05T14:57:31.057-05:00

They say the key to every marriage is compromise.   When Hubby and I were getting ready to tie the knot, a big piece of me was afraid we would become those people with a "marriage".  Marriage sounded like something you had on your mantle that needed weeded and watered and dusted and sacrificed for.  That sounded like work.  I didn't want that kind of work. I just wanted to stand up in front of

Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798746461135182925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1018282985814656081.post-48852517299565324012010-09-08T23:07:00.000-04:002010-09-08T23:07:19.672-04:00

Happy birthday to you! Layla's officially two!  Her birthday was on Sunday, so we celebrated at the shore.  (Well, OK, we were at the shore celebrating Labor Day and the end of exams and the start of my two week break.  But we can pretend it's all for her.)  We presented her with a doggie cupcake from Jake's Dog House.  She was patient, practicing her "shake". Then she was curious.

Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798746461135182925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1018282985814656081.post-10666135554158456962010-09-02T19:00:00.001-04:002011-08-06T10:25:09.542-04:00

Finals week is almost over.  Tomorrow at 3 in the afternoon, I will have (successfully, I hope) taken 7 exams in 4 days.  Seven!!  In four days!!!  This kind of stress requires advanced planning.  This kind of ridiculousness can only be helped by one thing:  chocolate.   Who wouldn't rather be out enjoying the pre-fall sunlight?  OK, it can also be helped by Red Bull and goldfish

Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798746461135182925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1018282985814656081.post-2005334418396867792010-08-28T12:20:00.000-04:002010-08-28T12:20:46.087-04:00

Next week is finals, so you may not hear much from me until that craziness is all over.  In one last little fit of procrastination, here is your final Bread Week recipe:  scones!!  I've been reading Mr. P's blog Delicious Delicious Delicious for some time now, and his recipe for English Scones made my mouth water - I knew I had to try them for myself.  When I mixed these up and had them on the

Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798746461135182925noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1018282985814656081.post-7207018920130331542010-08-26T22:21:00.000-04:002010-08-26T22:21:28.963-04:00

Happy Thursday! Tomorrow is our last clinical for the second quarter.  I'm somewhat sad, because we had some great experiences this quarter and I learned so much more than I thought it was possible to learn.  I'm also glad that we're moving on to the next thing.  I feel pretty good about the content thus far, and I'm ready to take the finals (well, almost ready to take the finals) and build upon

Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798746461135182925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1018282985814656081.post-35510585663325400912010-08-24T23:18:00.001-04:002010-08-25T16:09:34.893-04:00

Last full day of class for Quarter 2!  This week is the last week of clinicals, then we have review sessions on Monday, finals all next week and then - two weeks of vacation!  I can't wait to have a break from all this.  There are some yummy things I'd like to work on, interspersed with Thursday brunch and beach time.  :-) During my bread experimentation, I decided to make one of Hubby's

Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798746461135182925noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1018282985814656081.post-12036096196006522802010-08-22T22:53:00.000-04:002010-08-22T22:53:57.177-04:00

It's Bread Week at Girl, Dog,Oven!!  In honor of my favorite food group, I'm officially christening this week "Bread Week" - a celebration of yeast and flour and yumminess.  Over the past month or so, I've branched out from good old wheat bread into some different kinds.  This week I'm going to post them, starting with what has become Hubby's new favorite breakfast item - cinnamon swirl bread! 

Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798746461135182925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1018282985814656081.post-16503059957343576592010-08-18T18:05:00.001-04:002011-08-06T10:25:35.622-04:00

I read a book a few days ago, an actual novel with a plot and characters and no reference to blood pressure medications or post-op interventions.  Do I have time to just go around, reading whatever I please and blowing off my school work?  Not really, but I did it anyway.  Because sometimes you just have to.  Anyway, this book was called "The Secret Intensity of Everyday Life" by William

Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798746461135182925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1018282985814656081.post-30192147550990145672010-08-16T21:22:00.001-04:002011-08-06T10:25:51.336-04:00

Sometimes, you have to step back from the textbooks and allow life in.  Last week was a busy week, and we needed something in my house to get us through.  Layla was sick, for the first time since we've had her.  She's much better now, but it was a little scary when she wouldn't eat anything!  Now, two trips to the vet and $700 later, she's taking her doggie Pepcid and seems to be feeling just

Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798746461135182925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1018282985814656081.post-87812762402081903552010-08-10T19:07:00.002-04:002011-12-05T14:57:31.067-05:00

These bars were the other new hit at our Buffett tailgate this past weekend. I'll warn you, they're not pretty.  They're not easy to photograph and come out looking mouthwatering.  You're going to have to trust me, they smell and taste a hundred times more beautiful than they look.  I'm sure if I had more time and energy, I could have found a way to make them lovely.  I would have decorated

Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798746461135182925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1018282985814656081.post-63480790279467770472010-08-08T16:24:00.001-04:002011-08-06T10:26:22.712-04:00

Fins to the left, fins to the right... This weekend was BUFFETT WEEKEND!!!  Jimmy Buffett is playing two shows in Philadelphia/South Jersey this year - one yesterday and one on Tuesday.  In my circle of friends, this annual tradition is as close to Christmas in the summer as one can get.  It might actually be better than Christmas - there's more margaritas and less snow.  We tailgate like

Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798746461135182925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1018282985814656081.post-31015156321215494322010-08-04T20:26:00.001-04:002011-12-05T15:04:13.182-05:00

Since moving into our house, I've been clamoring to host a party.  I didn't care who came or how many there were or what we were eating, I just wanted to play Martha Stewart.  So, less then 2 weeks after we moved in, we had a Halloween party.  Then we hosted Thanksgiving for both our families.  Then we had a Christmas party.  Then we hosted Christmas dinner for both our families.  Then I took a

Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798746461135182925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1018282985814656081.post-71362321972993924822010-07-30T15:03:00.002-04:002011-12-05T14:57:31.040-05:00

Week 6 of clinicals, complete!   This nursing program is all about endurance.  Midterms weren't as bad as they could have been, and the little three day weekend was much needed.  It was hard to get up and go back on Monday, but I'm excited to see what we're going to learn for the rest of the quarter.  We're getting close to being halfway done.  It's weird to think about how much we've

Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798746461135182925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1018282985814656081.post-85213908733360840822010-07-27T19:27:00.003-04:002011-12-05T15:04:18.686-05:00

 Summer, anyone? First, you take the graham. You put the chocolate on the graham. Then you roast the mallow. When the mallow's flaming, you put it on the chocolate.   Then you cover it with the other end. Then you stuff it. If you got that reference in under 5 seconds, we might be best friends!  It's been too hot to roast mallows outside, so I opted to use the broiler

Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798746461135182925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1018282985814656081.post-10155848973863500292010-07-23T12:56:00.005-04:002011-08-06T10:27:42.482-04:00

Midterms are over! I'm determined not to slack off for the second half of this quarter like I did last quarter, so instead of sleeping in the sun for the next three days, I'm going to stay on top of the clinical work and reading that we have to do (in between sessions of sleeping in the sun). I do have a long list of things that I want to make over the next few weeks, so expect some sweet (and

Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798746461135182925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1018282985814656081.post-14293234891241375372010-07-21T10:29:00.004-04:002010-07-21T10:34:39.995-04:00

Midterms are only half over - and afterwards I have some fun things to share! Lemon cookies, cinnamon bread and a little summer night surprise (if it turns out). For now, I leave you with some comfort from the pupster:It's ok, you can pass these tests! I believe in you!

Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798746461135182925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1018282985814656081.post-58975996345406712282010-07-19T10:16:00.004-04:002011-12-05T15:09:45.948-05:00

Now that we're in the hospital 3 days a week, grab and go foods have reemerged into my diet. I carpool with a friend in the morning - she brings the coffee and I whip up the breakfast sandwiches, and we enjoy our mornings on the road. With breakfast at 6 am every morning, by lunchtime/ after care discussion at 12, I'm starving!! Necessity is the mother of new recipes, so I made some

Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798746461135182925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1018282985814656081.post-3285976210547146342010-07-11T15:21:00.010-04:002011-08-06T10:28:27.434-04:00

I should start calling the blog "things to do with millions of blueberries". Today is blueberry tart day. I found this recipe in Real Simple last year and adapted it to hand pastries that I could take to picnics and Mandatory Mojito and Margarita Movie Monday (which is exactly what it sounds like) with the gang. They were a big hit, and I decided to make them again to commemorate a second

Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798746461135182925noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1018282985814656081.post-64536926356280169312010-07-11T15:02:00.007-04:002011-08-06T10:28:37.440-04:00

Interesting factoid of the day: The self-proclaimed "Blueberry Capital of the World" is in Hammonton, NJ, about 25 minutes or so from here. One of the members at hubby's golf course owns a blueberry farm in Hammonton, and every year sends home a ginormous box with 12 pints of blueberries. This is generally a highlight of the summer- I love blueberries. I eat them with yogurt, on toast,

Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798746461135182925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1018282985814656081.post-81366182688955742402010-07-10T21:20:00.006-04:002011-12-05T15:05:17.754-05:00

Today was the first truly rainy day we've had in weeks, and it brought the temperature down to bearable. Kristen and I went to the farmers market this morning and got soaked! When I got home, I curled up in my sweats and finished the work I had for clinical next week. The lazy, dreary day needed some sugar and spice to pep it up. Enter....beanless chicken chili. I'm not sure where this

Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798746461135182925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1018282985814656081.post-76928386758895501432010-07-07T17:14:00.004-04:002011-08-06T10:29:32.889-04:00

I'm not an air conditioning kind of girl. That being said, it's currently 103 degrees outside, so yes - I am sitting in front of the vent on the kitchen floor, trying not to spontaneously combust. Must.....eat....frozen....deliciousness..... In all honesty, I'm probably being a baby about it, since today I've scurried from the door to the car to the hospital to the car to the door. All in all

Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798746461135182925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1018282985814656081.post-60211608268714529242010-07-05T22:32:00.005-04:002011-12-05T15:04:37.389-05:00

I love the Fourth of July. It might be one of my favorite holidays - the sun, the grilled hamburgers, the beach, the fireworks, the saltwater taffy...love it!! (I love saltwater taffy...so much we gave it away at our wedding!) We spent the long weekend at the shore with my family, and when we came back I realized that dinner was going to be an interesting problem - I haven't been to the store

Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798746461135182925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1018282985814656081.post-77204370214560657852010-06-30T21:11:00.004-04:002011-08-06T10:30:14.662-04:00

Onions have layers. This cake has neither ogres or onions, but it does have layers. Layers of ice cream and chocolate yumminess. Earlier this week, we had a little dinner party with our very good friends and their beautiful new baby girl. That day, it was hot. When I say hot, I mean, 95 degrees. I'll look for any excuse to eat ice cream, and this seemed like a great opportunity to break out

Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798746461135182925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1018282985814656081.post-36274633308086765702010-06-27T15:03:00.005-04:002011-08-06T10:30:26.670-04:00

It's been a crazy kind of first week back to school! Monday and Tuesday are full classroom days, and the rest of the week we're out in the hospitals with real patients, doing real things. I think that my favorite rotation is going to be the maternity clinical - babies! I'm a little baby crazy right now, as a married 26 year old woman living in a house with two empty bedrooms. I read through

Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798746461135182925noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1018282985814656081.post-78526946624947950202010-06-20T10:27:00.008-04:002011-08-06T10:30:44.970-04:00

Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there...mine especially! We don't look related, do we? I made my dad a special something for today - Gramma K's chocolate peanut butter fudge. You hear the story about how everyone thinks that their grandmothers make the best chocolate chip cookies from their secret recipes, only to discover that the cookies are made from the recipe on the back of the

Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798746461135182925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1018282985814656081.post-35547810153082562242010-06-18T15:51:00.006-04:002011-08-06T10:30:59.958-04:00

The muffins that I made the other day were a big hit with hubby; I, personally, thought it was the coconut streusel that sealed the deal. I love coconut. Love everything about coconut. You can drink it, bake it, sprinkle it, roll iced things in it - there is nothing you can do with coconut that I will not adore. Aaaaaand, since I already had my oven on today for bread...coconut cookies it is

Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798746461135182925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1018282985814656081.post-16704675588637978112010-06-16T20:31:00.005-04:002011-12-05T14:59:12.590-05:00

(Like the new look? I got creative today!) So cute when they're little! Hubby and I had a day off together yesterday, and we spent it at the shore. We found this little guy on the sand down by the water. Adorably awesome! I wanted to keep him, by Bob made me send him back to the sea... Inspired by the turtle, I found my recipe for caramel-chocolate-pecan brownies, and I was all set to make

Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798746461135182925noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1018282985814656081.post-87262309423748448582010-06-13T22:20:00.005-04:002011-12-05T15:09:45.963-05:00

OK, so hubby came up with the title for this one. Today I made blondies with butterscotch ganache and pierogies for dessert. Or, maybe it was supposed to be the other way around. Anyway, whichever way you eat it, they were both delicious! This recipe I adapted from Real Simple. I can't find the original on their website, and I changed it up a bit anyway. Next time I would use ground

Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798746461135182925noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1018282985814656081.post-58295760590518073252010-06-12T18:58:00.009-04:002011-08-06T10:32:47.677-04:00

Our house is now completely painted! I would have taken pictures of my hard work, but the color is so light that it doesn't show up very well. It looks very finished in person, though! I said that I would post a picture of the blueberry toast that B eats every morning on the homemade bread. I broke out the good china for these pictures, haha. Bob's Blueberry Toast 2 pieces of bread, lightly

Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798746461135182925noreply@blogger.com0