Saturday, March 30, 2013

New Beginnings

Easter comes upon us on Sunday. It represents NEW LIFE, thus, new beginnings.  Monday, April 1st, brings on a new start. I begin my internship on that day with Merit Lilin, a company that provides monitoring systems.  It is the "break" that I have been needing since I was permanently "laid off" by Tetra Tech almost a year and a half ago.  This internship, though it is unpaid, is something that will eventually lead me to the career that I have been longing to have since I went to CSUF 19 years ago.

Fingers crossed that things will go well... Update on Monday!

Friday, March 29, 2013

Cauliflower Crust Pizza

I have attempted yet another Pinterest recipe.  I was searching through the "pins," and came across a pizza recipe that uses CAULIFLOWER, instead of pizza dough.

To begin with, you will need:

FOR THE CRUST:
  • Half of a large cauliflower
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 cup mozarella cheese, thinly shredded
  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • 1/2 tsp minced garlic (dry or fresh)
  • 1/2 tsp onion salt
FOR THE TOPPINGS:
  • 1/2 c tomato-basil marinara or pizza sauce
  • 1/2 c mozarella cheese, thinly shredded
  • Canadian bacon, sliced
  • 1/2 c pineapple tidbits
*PLEASE NOTE:  You can use any kind of sauce and toppings.  I enjoy Hawaiian pizza, so opted to make it this way.

Grate the cauliflower with the box grater, using the big holes, until you have approximately 2 cups.
Microwave the cauliflower for 8 minutes to dry it out.
Next, add the egg, cheese and spices.  Mix together.
Preheat the oven to 450ºF.
Spray a 9" round pizza pan or cookie sheet with nonstick spray.

Press the cauliflower mixture onto the pan (as above).
Spray top of "crust" with nonstick spray.
Heat in oven for 10-15 minutes or golden brown.
Add sauce and 1/4 cup of shredded cheese.
Then, top with Canadian bacon and pineapple.
Finally, top the pizza with the remaining cheese.
Set oven to broil, and put pizza under broiler for 3-4 minutes (or until cheese melts).


Wednesday, March 27, 2013

From the bottom of my heart...

It's been over a couple of years since my mom passed away. There isn't a day that doesn't go by where I don't come across something that will remind me of what she said or did. I still can't believe that she isn't here, and I truly miss her. OK, so my point for this blog was because, the the first couple of episodes, "Army Wives" has done a farewell tribute of some sort to Kim Delaney's character, Claudia Joy Holden. As I watched these two episodes, I closely related to Emmalin, the character's youngest and only surviving daughter. I felt her grief, her sorrows and tears, her need to drop everything to care for her father. I went through that. It brought me back to that day I walked through the front door, and received the news from my dad.... the day of my mom's memorial.... her cremation... and finally, bringing her to the Philippines for her final resting place. I was heartbroken that my mom had requested all of this. The thought of not having her close for me to visit her. However, I knew that she will always be with me in spirit. I was saddened over the thought of not having her at my college graduation, watch me get married, and to hold her grandchild -- everything that Emmalin wished that Claudia Joy would be sharing these memories with her.

I am now beginning to feel OK with my mom being gone in her physical state. Every once in awhile, I feel her spirit around me. Every so often, the grief that I have felt for almost two and a half years comes back, in particular, the holidays. There are times I would recall with my husband all the best memories I have of my mom. Those are sometimes the happiest, but yet the saddest times I will feel.

Ok, well, I thank you for letting me share this...