PuMpKiN ShOrTcAkEs

Scenario: It's Saturday morning and you're all out of eggs AND Buckwheat pancake mix. Your awful tires aren't suitable for the wintry mix outside. You've got Bisquick and leftover pumpkin. Time to improvise... :)

I looked online for a pumpkin biscuit recipe, but I couldn't find anything that really seemed like what I was looking for. So I took the original Bisquick shortcake recipe (minus the strawberries, of course) and added pumpkin. Here's what I came up with (I think!). 

2 1/3 C Bisquick

3 Tbsp. melted butter

1/2 C of milk (add more if dough is too stiff)

Approx. 3/4 C pumpkin puree

1 Tbsp. pumpkin spice, plus a dash of extra cinnamon

3 Tbsp. white sugar

3 Tbsp. brown sugar

Use a spoon to combine ingredients in a large bowl. Then, use hands to mix properly until all ingredients are incorporated and dough is soft. Spoon giant, over-sized tablespoons onto an ungreased baking sheet. Cook @ 425 for 14 minutes. Directly out of oven, go over outsides of shortcakes with the end of a stick of butter and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar. Spread with butter when cut. Serve with pumpkin spice coffee. 

Enjoy!

 

Anybody out there?

I don't really fit into any one "political party."

At the same time, I feel very strongly about my civic responsibilities to vote and to hold our government accountable.

That being said... I'm ultra-frustrated (as usual) at my options for next year. Will my ideal candidate ever appear?

I want to put someone in office who's not afraid to propose drastic changes (to everything). Our "system" is obviously not working - I'm afraid that merely "reforming" it won't do. I want someone who's going to cut government spending on those taking advantage of my tax dollars. I am in no way saying that we should get rid of public welfare systems - but at some point the argument for spending which benefits "the good of society" must give way to the realization that such readily available handouts clearly aren't doing our society any "good." "Good" would be motivating our fellow citizens to compete for a position in the work force, not encouraging unemployment and laziness. Yes, I want my taxes to help others. I want our nation to work together, even economically...  but I'm tired of leading the upcoming generation in the wrong direction. I know several people in that narrow socioeconomic margin (it should be termed limbo) who make the bare minimum, work their tails off at multiple jobs, pay their own rent, buy their own groceries, make responsible choices about family planning and try their best to contribute to the community rather than be a "burden" to it - and yet these very same people are the ones "making too much." They are denied health care funds while their neighbors, sitting at home all day, are able to take themselves and their many children to a doctor sans charge. For years... and years... and years.

What happened to working hard?

I want a candidate who is, above all, serious about the environment. If the government is to regulate anything, it should be related to taking care of this quickly-diminishing resource we call "earth." Yes, I believe our climate is in crisis - global warming is, in my opinion, irrefutable. However, I have not yet been exposed to overwhelming evidence that climate change is directly related to carbon emissions. While it would certainly appear that way, looking at the climate history of the earth... this place is so prone to change and more change and back again that there's just no telling whether the current trend would've happened regardless. Despite this uncertainty, we should be competing to perfect clean energy forms. Yes, alternative fuels would decrease (and hopefully, one day, eliminate - once we can get rid of these nasty plastics) our dependence on the foreign oil market - but to me, that's just a nice side effect. Bottom line: stop being stupid. If we don't take care of the earth, it's not going to take care of us. Any candidate supporting additional drilling is completely off of my roster. Being the most powerful, intelligent species in the world comes with a responsibility to be good stewards of our resources and our fellow species - it's not a green light to overconsume, nor is it a ticket to exploit other species or to interfere with their habitats. Biggest. pet. peeve. ever. Anyway... and I'm serious when I say this - government-mandated recycling. Cut the war budget, bring our troops back home, stop trying to overhaul a culture that's entirely different than our own - and put that money toward social education programs and incentives that teach citizens and corporations how to reduce our negative impact on the environment.

I want a candidate who's willing to do everything in his/her power to decrease our dependence on China, for a myraid of reasons (concern for human/animal rights, cheap/easily dispensable products, TAKING JOBS FROM AMERICANS...).

I want a candidate who'll promise to take a second, third, and hundredth look at our justice system. Get it together, Congress - this "good behavior" thing is down right sinful. I'm not sure that we, as humans, are justified to end another human being's life - but to dishonor the victims who've been kidnapped and raped and mutilated and murdered by releasing their killers is just about the most nauseating thing I've EVER heard of.

I want a candidate who's going to stop focusing so much on "the war on drugs" and who'll spend that time creating ways to intrinsically motivate our nation as a whole to make better choices.

I know it's unrealistic, but I haven't completely given up hope. If anyone knows of such a candidate, please let me know. Until then I'll be living under a giant rock via sustenance farming with all of the endangered species.

Peace.

How do you kick a cold?

So I beat a cold for the *very first* time (takes a bow in response to the generous applause). I know you're probably thinking... really? You've never gotten over a cold?

It's true. I have the immune system of a frail old woman. Even when I'm in peak physical condition and eating right, I can't fight anything off. It doesn't help that I need to have my tonsils removed - I've had strep throat every couple of months for the last year. But with my severe TMJ I'm terrified of having my jaw stretched too far again, so I'm hoping that my tonsils will just randomly disappear.

Anyway, every time I'm sick it lasts for weeks. A simple cold will inevitably turn into a nasty sinus infection. I always end up having to rush to the doctor for antibiotics. Airborne and all the vitamin C in the world won't touch it. And we all know, after taking the same antibiotics over and over, that they become ineffective.

I was camping last week with my runny-nosed 7th graders in Pennsylvania. Sharing a cabin with 7 crazy middle schoolers and running around on no sleep was the perfect cocktail for a monster cold. I came home for the weekend, experienced the sniffles, and when I returned to camp this week with 8th grade I was fighting it full-on. Without the time, patience, or money for the doctor, I decided to put good ol' vitamin D to the test.

I had read an article several months back about how vitamins are a rip-off; anyone who shares my distrust of the pharmaceutical industry has my immediate attention. While I don't normally consider Reader's Digest to be a reliable medical journal, they were right on. The author stated that vitamin C won't do anything for the immune system, and that vitamin D is the only effective tool against illness - something my best friend's mom has been telling me for years. I used to supplement with D, but I'm now convinced I wasn't taking enough. I started taking 8 a day. Symptoms decreased almost immediately. I also added hot tea to my regimen; I absolutely loathe tea of any kind, especially hot tea - but hot, herbal/green tea with no sugar soothed my sore throat, and I started to drink several cups a day. I don't think it's any coincidence that my condition improved.

Combine all this with a humidifier to comfort the membranes and ease the breathing, a generic Unisom for good sleep (first sleeping aid I've ever taken that actually works), Alka Seltzer to fight congestion, ibuprofen to reduce swelling in the throat and lots and lots of fresh air and even sunshine (more vitamin D!)... and there you have it. My very first win against the common cold.

So what are you secret weapons against the cold season?

Adventures in New England

This past July I met up with former roomies of mine from Denver in Worcester, MA. I had the pleasure of travelling through the West coast of Africa a few years back with Jaime, the girl who hosted us - and she had no shortage of plans for our girl's weekend. After catching up over various drinks the night we arrived, we were tipsy enough to crave copious amounts of sugar. 

First stop: Sweet, a dessert bar in Worcester. We all know that feeling... when you walk into what you imagine will be an ultra-trendy establishment and there are maybe two other parties there... and you're faced with a choice: Stay and get the party started or head back home. We, of course, opted to get the party started. I wasn't impressed with the food - pastries were generally dry, accompanying sauces too thick or too sweet, that sort of thing. But we were friends with the wait staff in no time and rocking out to bad pop music while drinking Prosecco. What more could a girl ask for? The menu was limited but fun; French donuts with peanut butter and jelly, Cracker Jack popcorn ice cream... creative, to say the least. But they lacked in execution. Still, we had a fabulous time.

Next was Newport, RI. We opted for a cheap hotel and fully expected roaches and strands of hair in the shower, of which there were none. Having spent the day on the beach (and I wish I remembered the name of the beach, the water was really serene and pleasant), we dragged our sunburned selves back for the ultimate girly-girl time: getting ready. After much deliberation, advice, and trading undergarments/accessories/hair products, we were ready for a night out. We ate at a restaurant on the water - the food was, again, unmemorable, but eating while watching the sunset at the dock was magical. The bar scene in Newport was interesting. Combine the preppy, upscale, trying-to-be-exclusive feel of D.C. with the  coolness of Canton - et voila. I had a blast. Despite parking tickets and tired feet, we bar hopped until we were ready to crash, and loved every minute. I'll definitely be visiting Newport again.

Boston was next. And shame on me, teaching U.S. History, never having been there. Philly's great, I love D.C., and I adore Manhattan - but I've gotta say, Boston is my favorite U.S. city so far. So full of history, so old-town New England... and it's just so unexpectedly green. I wished we had stayed for the night (hey, something to do next time, right?) I'm dying to try the restaurants and bars... to meet locals... just seems like an interesting place. We walked around and enjoyed just taking the city in. 

That evening we ventured out in Worcester to a place called Evo. It was cute and artsy and everything you'd expect from a vegetarian-friendly establishment (options for everyone). My salad was amazing - greens, blue cheese, walnuts, some other-worldly vinaigrette - as was my salmon. The drinks, though, were my favorite. Clean and crisp, never too sweet, perfectly mixed. I love this place. And then, after a good night's sleep and plenty of girl-talk, it was time for Martha's Vineyard. 

Yessss.

I expected something better than Cape May (and maybe I'm just partial at this point) - and while it wasn't the Cape, I fell in love with its quiet charm. I absolutely must get back to MV (didn't get a chance to go to the Black Dog, but it's on the list for next time). It was too overcast to do much swimming, but Jaime showed us the bridge where we'll jump off into the water next time around. Can't wait. Rather than bore you with the details of every single place we visited (as I tend to do), I'll highlight my three favs: 

- The Gingerbread Houses. At first, I compared them to the Victorian houses in Cape May, but my snobbery was quickly put to rest when I heard the history. Do some Google-ing - very, very cool. 

- Gay Head cliffs. Iconic, beautiful, peaceful. Loved it.

- 

- Sweet E's Bakery. A little background: I've been searching for the perfect cupcake for two years. Since cupcakeries are popping up everywhere, I decided a while ago that one of these trendy new shops is bound to have the world's best cupcake. While admittedly I had only made it through the Potomac region, I was fairly certain it would take a lifetime. I even waited in line for 3 hours at Georgetown Cupcakes (site of TLC's show, DC Cupcakes), only to be completely disappointed. The secret to the soft, plump look of their cupcakes? Cream cheese icing. In just about everything. Cream cheese icing should be reserved for spice cakes and the occasional lemon cake. They were also WAY to sweet. Sweet E's was adorable, and I never expected to completely fall in love, but I did. And fast. I'll let the pictures do most of the talking.

Okay... seriously? Perfect. Perfect. A chocolate on chocolate cupcake needs to be just right - perfect balance of that deep chocolatiness and sweetness, perfect icing-to-cake ratio, perfect texture, traditional buttercream... and Sweet E's did it all. I kid you not, I'll be back to MV just for the cupcakes. We actually waited for the shop to open, so it was as fresh as it could be. Needless to say, the search is over. A little anti-climactic, if you will (they were here on the East Coast the whole time) but I'll certainly enjoy hunting down a runner-up. :)

I love you, New England, and I'll be back next summer to run amok! 

Foodie Heaven at the Cape (June 2011)

So happy to have returned to Cape May this summer (don't get me wrong, Miami was fabulous - but a whole year without Cape May?!) While we usually go to all of our normal spots to dine, we were motivated to try new places this year - and we did. Lucky for us :) Here's a quick rundown of our new dining experiences, as well as some highlights of our traditional ones. It's not Las Vegas, but I promise you, as far as food goes, you can't go wrong in Cape May.

The Washington Inn - classic, upscale American dining. Pricey? Yes. Worth it? Ohhh yes. My favorite restaurant of all time. (Refer to previous post about their crabcakes.) They know how to cook a filet better than anyone in the area. Flawless sides. Excellent cocktails. Impeccable service. Hazelnut-encrusted halibut = pure deliciousness. I can't say enough about it.

A Ca Mia - Italian, moderately priced, worth the trip for the shrimp scampi alone. I was sad to hear, however, that the baker (they also have a small bakery) who's made the classic pig sugar cookies for years has retired. :(

410 Bank Street - eclectic Island cuisine, moderately priced. Tried it for the first time this summer - WHOA. I'd have to say it's one of my favorite restaurants for the atmosphere alone. I love that sound of wine-induced conversation. We started with quail over summer greens. Neither of us had ever had quail and, needless to say, it's all we can talk about now. It was the tenderest, juiciest, most flavorful bird I've ever tasted. You couldn't cook a chicken that way if you wanted to. It was truly perfect. Their blackened sea scallops are a local favorite: thinly sliced fan-style, the scallop pieces are blackened individually, making the dish pop with flavor. Yes, they were awesome, but if you're going to impress me with scallops, do it by cooking the entire piece (a difficult feat, to be sure). The prime rib and salmon were also very nice. It certainly didn't hurt that we brought our own bottle of Argetine Malbec (straight from Argentina, a gift from a friend) :).

Copper Fish - upscale seafood. Pricey but worth every cent. Blueberry scallops were to DIE for. My mouth is watering as I type. Tad enjoyed the Firecracker calamari, as well as an outstanding Kobe meatloaf. My salmon was cooked to absolute perfection - flaky, flavorful but not overly fishy, paired perfectly with the potatoes. I will definitely be returning to Copper Fish. It's a fairly new place and the decor is beautiful and a lot more mod than most restaurants in the area, but I do wish the atmosphere wasn't quite so hushed.

The Blue Pig - classic American upscale, lots of seafood to choose from. Pricey - worth it, depending on what you order. I will first say that their outdoor dining is my favorite. There's something about being under those garden lights on a summery night right next to the Congress Hall hotel. Just sitting there feels ultra-classy. :) However, you really have to be choosy about your dish. Don't expect a whole lot of flavor with any white fish they serve, or to be completely blown away. Their salads and sides, however, are fantastic.

Stumpo's - R.I.P. We missed you and we're sad to see our favorite lunch spot go.

The Mad Batter - Breakfast and pub fare. Reasonably priced. Chances are, if you're in Cape May, you're staying at a B&B that already provides breakfast. Mad Batter is the perfect choice for breakfast or brunch when you've arrived in town before check-in. While the crowd (and it is ALWAYS crowded) makes service sub-par, the food is excellent. Try the pancakes, for sure. Country potatoes and omelettes are also delish.

Martini Beach - tapas. Overpriced. The food just doesn't cut it. I know tapas is trendy, but if you're going to do it, do it right. They do, however, offer a fantastic bar menu, and dining right on the beach (beach view from the table) is always fun.

The Ugly Mug - pub. Cheap. Good for a quick sunburn-recovery meal, like fajitas.

Jackson Mountain Cafe - pub. Cheap. Perfect for late-night snacks. Definitely get the roast beef au jus.

The Brown Room - bar @ Congress Hall. Probably the best bar in Cape May, even if it's crazy expensive. The live music and fancy drinks are totally worth it :)

I think that about sums it up. Hope this inspires you to head up to the Cape and try something new. More on where to stay some other time :) Happy eating!

Why I won't be an educator forever.

The disclaimer for this post is a stereotypical one about how wonderful it is to change young lives by exposing them to new thought patterns, by working for that moment when you can see the light bulb go off, etc. etc. etc. You can probably guess, so I won't write it out. But I will say that teaching is truly one of the most rewarding things you can do with your life, and I really don't know how I'll ever be anything else.

That being said, I know the day will come when I have to walk away from education. I started as an aide for the child care center that's attached to the school where I work. I quickly became a preschool teacher, and moved from there to running the Aftercare program. Finally, after graduating college, I started teaching foreign language to the elementary students. My position was changed yet again this year when an opening in the upper school (5th - 8th grades) was offered to me. I couldn't be happier teaching this age group. I've had this emptiness in my life since I left my old church where I spent a significant amount of time as a youth mentor/leader. I watched the lives of those kids change, and all the late-night sleepovers and convention trips and holding teenage girls while they cried their hearts out was worth it. I left that church, however, because as I got older I saw the truth in the direction they were headed, and decided to follow Christ instead. In the years after I struggled to find my place in ministry; people would ask all the cliche questions about where my life was headed, what were God's plans for me, etc. I always felt like there was some direction for me lying right around the corner, but could never say "Yeah. This _____________ is what's next." It became very clear to me at the beginning of the school year that this is what's next. That attending private school doesn't mean these kids are any less lost than the rest, any less hurting, any less starved for someone to simply understand them. Finally, that empty space once occupied by making a difference is filled.

While it's all fantastic, I have the gut-wrenching feeling that it's only temporary, and it saddens me deeply. I once was venting my frustrations to some coworkers about teaching 6th grade math. Despite all my best efforts - using the Smartboard, doing physical math, visual illustrations, practice tests, after-school tutoring - some of these students simply don't understand. A fellow teacher looked at me and said, "Sometimes, that's all you can do." For years I refused to accept this travesty - how nauseating to think that someone is "unteachable." I've always believed that everyone can reach any given plane of understanding - it's just finding the means to get there. My naivety has recently given way to reality, and while I retain a faint glimmer of hope that it can be done, I am fully aware that you can only do so much.

I don't mean academically. I mean socially and behaviorally. Middle schoolers might be the most impressionable organisms on the planet. And while we try and try and sacrifice all of our time and patience, it all comes down to reinforcement. If at any given school a student is exposed to loving relationships and is taught how to be kind, generous and humble, he or she will only retain that information if these ideas are reinforced at home. Ten years ago (and yes, I can speak from experience) the parents involved in their children's educations were supportive. They allowed their children to make mistakes, because that is, after all, how we learn best. If a teacher approached them about their child's misbehavior, we were assured that there would be appropriate consequences at home. Sadly, and to the disappointment of anyone who's concerned in any way about the future of our nation, those days are long gone. As we move into the era of entitlement, each generation becomes progressively more self-seeking. Parents now defend the behavior of their children, regardless of the severity. A child screaming at the top of his lungs during an educational presentation "just because he felt like it" is not to be considered "wrong" - it is merely him "expressing himself according to his cultural norms." Disrupting the class, then, is now the norm. Children who judge, boss, and bully others are excused as "emerging leaders." Parents will lie for their students to prevent the fitting consequences. Children who arbitrarily display physical violence toward others are always, always, ALWAYS "provoked." (Really?! Because I just saw your child walk across the room and twist that little boy's arm until he cried for no reason.) Per friends who work in local centers, correction is no longer an option; behavior (we can't call it "bad" anymore) that is disruptive or dangerous is now "redirected." (Look, I know you just punched that little girl in the face, but here are some Legos to distract you/reinforce your horrendous behavior with, since you love to play. Enjoy.)

WHAT is happening?! For one, parents don't trust educators anymore. I understand that none of us are perfect... but we get paid in beans, and it's one of the hardest jobs on earth. Do you really think any of us took this job just to make your student's life miserable? I can't tell you how many parents call and complain about their student's grades when CLEARLY, phone call after phone call, detention after detention, their student hasn't been performing at his or her best. Missing homework, goofing off in class, relying on parents to do their work and, in doing so, bombing in-class assessments - um, yeah. Your student's not gonna get an "A". But when it's a C or D (or worse) on the report card, somehow it's our fault. We "don't like" their student; we "never gave him/her a chance"; or, my personal favorite, "he/she just wasn't challenged enough in your class. He/she is bored." These are the times I'm sure I will be bald by 30 from pulling my own hair out.

But I digress. Back to behavioral issues. With most of America more sue-happy than ever, no administration in the country wants to say "no" to a parent. One wrong move and you're being subpoenaed. No one wants to accept that their child is wrong; and so, as educators, we take the fall. An unruly student screaming at the top of his lungs while I teach algebra? Deal with it. A child bossing others around and then experiencing loneliness? My problem. Students who are blatantly disrespectful to everyone they cross paths with? Shh, don't say anything to their parents. "Who cares that my child bit her classmate and drew blood? It must be your classroom management."

It couldn't possibly be that America's moral compass is disappearing entirely. It couldn't be related to the fact that we're raising the upcoming generation to believe that the government, or the rest of society, owes them their fortune. It couldn't be that kids watch us sit on our behinds and live off assistance while contributing nothing to our community.

Hm.


I just spent 6 days camping with some of my students in PA at an awesome outdoor education facility. I saw parent chaperones doing their student's work for them, texting in the middle of devotional time, making derogatory comments about other students, interrupting instructors in the middle of class to (erroneously) correct them in front of the kids, talking loudly with their students during instructional time, shouting/grabbing food/making demands instead of asking politely at the dinner table... I was hoping that Michael Douglas was hiding in the woodwork and waiting to come out to tell me I was being filmed for a movie with a similar concept to "The Game." It felt like an experiment gone horribly wrong. (And let me just note that I have the patience of a saint.) And therein lies the secret to you can only do so much  - setting a decent example avails to nothing when what you're doing is completely undone at home.

And that, friends, is why I won't be retiring from a teaching job. Not just parents, but the general laziness/self-centeredness of the nation as a whole. The educational spectrum has moved from one extreme to the other without any middle ground. As soon as we stopped spanking children in school, we started serving them un-earned promotion on a silver platter. Yes, we need to let our kids know how wonderful they are. Of course we need to boost their self-esteem. But (and you can call me old-fashioned) I firmly believe that they need to be taught respect. They need to be exposed to their own weaknesses in order to turn them into strengths. I have so much more to say, but since I'm sure it would be just as unorganized as the rest of this post, I will simply leave you with what I consider the greatest criticism of modern education to date:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDZFcDGpL4U