I Have Returned!!

So, after a very long (unintended) hiatus -- I'm back to the blogging world!!

I'm sure that some of you can relate, coming back to school after working full-time for 4 years has been QUITE the adjustment. Summer I and Summer II, I did manage, however to achieve a 4.0!!

*WHOOP WHOOP* Go me!!

Now, I'm in the midst of my fall semester, and its begining to get hectic. I'll begin my 1-week teaching practicum the 1st week of October, and then my 2-week practicum begins in November. I will also be presenting at the South Carolina state Social Studies conference, which is October 21st-23rd, so that's a little stressful, but I keep telling myself that it will all fall into place, and it will all get done.

On a lighter note, AB, the fam and I just got back from the Bourbon Festival in Bardstown, KY this past weekend. SOOOO much fun!! Some members of my family had a little more fun than others (*ahem, AB and my Fah-jah). I will try to get some pictures up soon! And so now the next trip back home will be in October for Court Days in Mt. Sterling and the Keeneland Fall Meet. Can't wait!!

With that said, several of my bloggy-bud-ettes have started the 10 Day Blogging challenge, and I thought what a better way to catch back up on my blogging schedule, but not have to think about it too hard, since my brain is already spread so thin! :)

So over the next 10 days, I will be following this schedule:

Day 1: Ten things you want to say to ten people right now.

Day 2: Nine things about yourself that most people don't know.
Day 3: Eight things you couldn't live without.

Day 4: Seven things that cross your mind a lot.
Day 5: Six things you wish you could change or wish you would have never done.
Day 6: Five people who mean a lot to you.
Day 7: Four turn offs.

Day 8: Three turn ons.
Day 9: Two words that describe your life right now.
Day 10: One confession.

Sooooo -- DAY 1: TEN THINGS I WANT TO SAY TO TEN PEOPLE RIGHT NOW

1. Jess: I miss you and I am so sad that we did not get to see each other while I was home for the Bourbon Festival... But I understand that you had a bachelorette party to go to, and being the amazing friend you are, you would never miss a prior engagement like that. Thank you for being there for me, and being my friend for so long!! (We wont't go into how long, because some of our younger blogging buddies might think we are old!!) :)

2. AB: You are an amazing boyfriend and you make me proud every day. Your determination and ability are something that I admire about you so much, and I am blessed to call you mine. I love you.

3. My Human Development Teacher: I dread your class every Monday and Wednesday morning... Not because the material is hard, but because your class is so awful! I realize that at this time next year, I will be in your shoes, and my students will be criticizing me -- but COME ON!!! You are sooooo all about "student centered learning" and "thinking outside the box", but your class is anything but!! EVERYONE I've talked to in that class thinks the same thing! The worst part is that you have the data to back it up, but you refuse to think that the problem is YOU!! You would rather just continue to berate us, and call us lazy... Well, do what you want, because I learn more from reading the book at home every night by myself than I will ever learn from you. Thanks.

4. The Jersey Girl that sits in front of me: GET OVER IT!! You CHOSE to come to school in the South, so quit saying negative things about the South and Southerners in every sentence that comes out of your mouth!! Did you ever stop to think that maybe its the way that you approach people that makes them seem rude to you?? Maybe its the fact that you're a raging hypocrite and contradict yourself all the time -- not to mention the fact that you are sooooo disrespectful to others! Please, for once, just be quiet!! GRRRRR!!! (It takes every fiber of my being to not yell at this girl everyday!!!)

5. My Brother: You are so smart and I do not want you to stop challenging yourself or trying to better yourself because of the girl you are dating. I have done that, thinking that the relationship I was in was the end-all, be-all, and as long as I was with him, it would be okay. Look out for you first, and don't make the same mistakes that I've made.

6. A. Matt. & B. Matt.: (These are 2 teachers that I had in middle school). Thank you, thank you, thank you! You two are the greatest examples of teachers and some of the greatest human beings that I have had the privilege of knowing. You truly taught me more than you can ever know.

7. My Fellow M.A.T. classmates: Thank you for the laughs, support, and understanding. I have truly found where I'm supposed to be.

8. The IDIOT drivers on 501 and 17 everyday: GET OUT OF MY WAY -- I'M RUNNING LATE FOR CLASS!!!

9. My Ex: I am SO GLAD that I realized how horrible our relationship was before I made a lifelong mistake. You go your way, I've gone mine... I wish you no harm, but I never want anything to do with you, EVER again.

10. My Followers: Thanks for being there. I really feel like some of us are friends, even though we've never met (and my posts are sporadic). Love you all!

SUCCESS!!

My Derby Party turned out fabulously!!

I made the Benedictine dip, Hot Browns, potato salad, baked beans, and Kentucky Pie served with vanilla ice cream -- all of which were a hit!!

The only down-side to my party was that my camera was as dead-as-a-doornail!! :( So, unfortuneatly, I don't have any pictures to share but this one of AB from my iPhone, so the quality is not the greatest.

AB also managed to pick the top 4 finishers out of the 20 horses in the field, so I told him we were going back to KY for the fall meet at Keeneland, no quesions asked!! But that will work out perfectly, because I want to go back for Court Day this year too!

However, I wanted to share the recipes with all of you so that you could throw a Derby Party of your own with these tasty treats!! Just click on the name of each item to go to the orignial webpage where the recipe is found.

BENEDICTINE DIP: (This one is soooo easy, and was def. a favorite!!)

SERVINGS – 2 CUPS

INGREDIENTS:
2 cucumbers, peeled

1 md. onion

1 lb. cream cheese

2 to 3 drops green food coloring

INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Grate cucumber and onion (may use food processor) and drain well in a strainer, pressing down with spoon to remove all liquid. Discard liquid.

2. Add drained cucumbers and onion to cream cheese and mix well in food processor.

3. Color with 2 to 3 drops green food coloring.Use as a sandwich spread or as a dip. Benedictine may also be used to stuff cherry tomatoes for an hors d'oeuvre tray.

HOT BROWNS: (THE absolute hit of the night -- a must!!)

SERVINGS: 8 open-faced sandwhichs

INGREDIENTS:
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
3 cups milk
6 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
1 egg, beaten
2 tablespoons heavy cream
salt and pepper to taste
2 pounds sliced roasted turkey
1 tomato, thinly sliced
8 slices white bread, toasted
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
8 slices crispy bacon

INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir in flour with a whisk or fork, and continue to cook and stir until it begins to brown slightly. Gradually whisk in the milk so that no lumps form, then bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Mix in 6 tablespoons of Parmesan cheese and then stir in the beaten egg to thicken. Do not allow the sauce to boil once the egg has been mixed in. Remove from the heat and stir in the cream.
2. Preheat the oven's broiler. For each hot brown, place two slices of toast into the bottom of an individual sized casserole dish. Cover with a liberal amount of roasted turkey and tomato slices. Spoon sauce over the top of each one and sprinkle with some of the remaining Parmesan cheese. Place the dishes under the broiler and cook until the top is speckled brown, about 5 minutes. Remove from the broiler and arrange two slices of bacon in a cross shape on top of each sandwich. Serve immediately.

KENTUCKY PIE: (D.lic.ious!!)

SERVINGS: 1 Pie

INGREDIENTS:

2 eggs, beaten

1 cup sugar

1/2 cup flour

1 stick butter, melted

1 cup walnuts/pecans,chopped

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1 cup chocolate chips

1 9-inch graham cracker crust

INSTRUCTIONS:
Blend all ingredients together with a wooden spoon until moistened and pour into pie crust. Bake at 325°F for 45 to 50 minutes. Cool 30 minutes. Serve with whipped topping and/or ice cream.

I hope that you all had as wonderful of a weekend as I did, and that you all are staying dry (as much of Kentucky is now flooded). Enjoy the recipies and let me know how they turn out!

Until next time,