Piles...

I sometimes feel like my life is reduced to piles.
Let's face it; we all have piles of dishes, piles of laundry, those piles of important papers you are going to file............tomorrow  next week.

I have even managed to pile things such as friends (this friend goes in this category, this one goes in that category).
I have piles of things that need to be boxed, piles that need to go to the storage unit, piles that need to be organized (yeah, right...), and piles of recipes that need to be made.

And until recently I was able to keep my job out of the "piles" category. *Sigh* Until I was reduced to back scanning all eight file cabinets at work.That is right; removing staples -lots of staples-, paperclips, binder clips, and figuring out why we kept this or that paper for the last 18 years. One month down and another (or so) to go...and I find myself creating.....

                                                                           piles.

It's a love-hate thing...

Monday night 11:57 p.m.




I love:

-Chef Waier - he's awesome. You don't even KNOW!

-Egg Cookery - oh yes, that's right...egg cookery...seriously...

Scotch Eggs - I made some, but these aren't mine.
But mine looked just like them. Basically a hard boiled egg encased in sausage,
breaded and then...fried...that's right...you heard me. FRIED. yum.

-Being all tired and not feeling good but totally forgetting all about it when I am so completely wrapped up in doing what I love.

yum.

-The energy and "high" from being with people who love food like I do.

Students from my school

I hate:

-The energy and "high" that comes from doing what I love and being with people who are doing the same...cause it means that I won't come crashing down and be able to sleep for at least another hour...*sigh*

A few of my favorite things...

Yum. This was dinner for me and a friend recently.  I think it's time for a repeat!

First came the Macadamia-Crusted Barramundi with Mango Cream Sauce

Then Saffron Rice and Sauteed Asparagus

All beautifully together on my plate (yes I ate it all - don't even ask)

This poor mango slice gets eaten moments after this picture.

Can we have a moment of silence for the blueberry shortcake? Obviously with fresh whipped cream.

Macadamia-Crusted Barramundi (You can really use any white fleshed fish)

1 Mango peeled, seeded, diced
1/2 cup heavy cream
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1/2 cup chopped macadamia nuts
1/4 cup seasoned bread crumbs
1 teaspoon olive oil
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 pinch of red pepper flakes
1 pound fresh fish (bass, barramundi, something that can withstand a good crust)
salt and pepper to taste
2 cloves minced garlic
1 Tablespoon olive oil

Combine nuts, crumbs 1 teaspoon olive oil, pepper, and red pepper flakes in a food processor and process in pulses until finely ground (don't just let it go or you'll have macadamia butter, which is tasty, but not good for this recipe). Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175 Celsius for those of you outside the U.S. - or Belize...)
In a small sauce pan heat cream, mango, and lemon juice over medium heat until boiling then reduce the heat and simmer until thick. You may have to use a blender to get the consistency you want. I used my immersion blender...that I love so...
Season the fish with salt and pepper then begin packing on the crust. Place the fish on a cooling rack set over a sheet pan. (This allows the fish to cook more quickly and also keeps the bottom from getting soggy.) Then place the fish into the oven. Roast until cooked through. Serve with the oh-so-amazing mango cream sauce.

I don't have the exact recipe for the blueberry shortcake anymore. But if anyone would like it I can certainly find it.

I also apologize for the pics. Something is up with my camera and until I find out what it is...or get a new one...I think I am stuck with that foggy spot towards the bottom of the pictures.

Spiders...I think

So this is the second time in two weeks that I've woken up with an unexplainable malady. The first time it was some sort of itchy bites on my fingers that looked like poison ivy, it went away after a day. And this morning? I woke up with what looked like a goiter sticking out of the side of my neck. Okay. Okay. Not a goiter. But I definitely had to forgo the ponytail I was counting on wearing this morning.

Here's the crazy thing though...I'm pretty sure my bed (which was recently downsized from a queen to a twin size day bed *sigh*) is barely big enough for ME! What are these spiders thinking?! Are they just trying to prepare me for the upcoming holiday? I wasn't even planning on dressing up...

Hope I live to see 31...

Sad Slacker

Ok, it's been WAY too long. Time to get back to it. I apologize to all 2 readers of my blog for keeping you in such suspense of my life.

Alright, well nothing too incredibly exciting has happened unless you want to count going to Botswana, having an "I miss Africa" freak-out, planning a trip to Ghana then going on it, snagging a boyfriend while I was there, coming back and starting culinary school as exciting.

I'm just worn out from typing it. SEE! This is why I haven't written updates...I'm too...busy?

Well, let's just put the past behind us.

Start fresh.

Today, nothing exciting happened...
I suppose that's not entirely true as the day has not quite ended.

However, I guess this post is just to state that I intend to do better in the future.

UPDATE!!

So, my boss, Drew Springer, comes to me today and asks how the fund raising is going. I told him I was close to being halfway there. Then he drops a bombshell. He's going to give me some money but he said he will match whatever I get in the next week or two. HE'LL MATCH IT! That means if I get $50 in donations, he'll give me $50. If I get $500, he'll give me $500. So, what I need to do, is obviously get $1,000 of donations from people with in the next couple of weeks...obviously...

I guess this brief blog is my plea...if you have planned on giving it would be great if you could get it to me or the church in the next week or two.


Thanks so much!

p.s. - There is no time limit on the prayer coverage...just...so...you know...

Leavin' On a Jet Plane...

Five years ago, I left Ghana. In my heart, I knew someday I would go back to Africa. From that time, on the plane, God has been preparing me to go back. I believe this summer is my opportunity.
This blog post is to inform you of my intention of going to Botswana and also to ask for your support. From July 25 through August 9, 2009 a team from New River Fellowship will travel to Botswana, Southern Africa to minister to the peoples of Maun, Botswana. We will serve through construction, hut-to-hut evangelism, working with AIDS orphans, visiting the village churches and so much more. We will serve alongside the Lackey family, founders of Love Botswana Outreach Mission (www.lovebotswana.com).
Botswana is a fairly peaceful country. It is roughly the size of Texas and has an 81% literacy rate, $15,800 income per capita and a population of approximately 1.7 million people. Although it seems to be a sparsely populated country (mostly due to the excessive mortality rate of AIDS), Maun, Botswana is a crossroads not only to other parts of Botswana but to most of Southern Africa. Love Botswana Outreach Mission was set up in Maun to provide a central base to train and educate others to minister in the area.
Your prayer support is coveted. Having served in the bush of Africa I know spiritual forces are not to be taken lightly. I’m asking that you pray for me and for our team that we may carry the truth of God boldly and speak His words faithfully, that we will stand up to Satan with the strength that only God can give and that we will obey the Spirit of God wherever He may lead us.
I am also letting you know of another need. You guessed it, money. The estimated cost of the trip is approximately $4,000. If you feel God is leading you to help me cover some of these expenses I would greatly appreciate it. Checks should be made payable to New River Fellowship (please put my name and Botswana on the memo line) and are tax deductible as a charitable donation. Send money to:

New River Fellowship
Attn: Betsy Admire
3252 E I-20
Hudson Oaks, TX 76087

Lastly, I want to thank you, whether by prayer or donation, for any way you are able to support me in this mission. I feel so strongly that God is calling me to make a difference in lives during this trip, as well as continue shaping me into the woman of God he has called me to be. I look forward to sharing with you how God worked through your prayers and financial support.

In His Strength,

Mary Beavers