YYyyyyuuuummmm!

Ok folks, you will thank me for this later, trust me! I found this recipe in Better Homes Mag., but I altered it for the crockpot, my faithfulist of cooking partners:) If you want the normal recipe, you're gonna have to call me, too much for me to type.

Braised Beef Shanks with Mushroom & Olives

Ingredients:

2 Tbsp olive oil

I used a Beef Chuck Roast (4lbs.) (or 4 bone-in beef shanks 1 1/4 in. thick)

salt & pepper

2 large onions, chopped (2 cups)

2 med. carrots, coarsely chopped (1 cup)

3 cloves garlic, minced

3/4 cup dry red wine

1- 14 1/2 oz can undrained diced tomatoes with basil, garlic, and oregano

1 cup beef broth

12 oz cremini or button mushrooms (I used mushrooms), quartered or halved

3/4 cup pitted assorted olives

gnocchi (is optional, but I used it & loved it!)

*****

1 recipe Fresh Herb Topper:

1/4 cup chopped fresh Italian (flat leaf) parsely

2 tsp finely shredded lemon peel (I used Lemon Peel spice)

3 cloves garlic, minced

****

Directions:

Sprinkle beef with salt & pepper. Put in crockpot. Add onions, carrots, and garlic. Add wine, tomatoes, beef broth. Cover and cook on low 6 to 8 hours. Last half hour add in the gnocchi, mushrooms, and olives. To serve, sprinkle the Fresh Herb Topper on top and enjoy!

Seriously loved this recipe!!

 I haven't blogged about my job much on purpose I think. I am still not 100% sure why, but I think I can guess that I may be holding back on that because I am afraid of losing it some how. I really love what I am doing now. I love it love it love it! I am not perfect at it by any means. I deal with the 7 year gap in Special Ed everyday, but the instinct I have always had with kids is still there. The rest I am drawing on from when I was last an ECSE (Early Childhood Special Educator) for the most part, and from trainings & the classes I am taking right now. I am learning and relearning a lot right now, and I love it! I worry though, of course I do, that's who I am. I worry that HR will find a away. I worry that I will end up getting kicked out of Grad. School because of how long ago I started the program. I also worry about how people perceive me in this new role, because I left as a Supervisor (a job with status), and because  of how I left. Even though many people were happy to see me back, I feel like I came back under a cloud. Most days my former life feels like a distant memory. There are moments that remind me of the cloud every so often though. Could be something simple like seeing my old desk discarded in the hall, or how someone treats me that hurts. I have been finding out who really are the people that care about me. I have been working through things one day at a time. I have to give moments like I just described to God, and each day I pray that God takes my need to show people I can do this job (my ego) out of the equation so I can do what he needs me to do with each of his kids I am working with. This has made big difference for me. I like who I am becoming. I like my role now working with teachers so much more than I ever use to. And I love  each of the kids I work with:)

For Bobby and Karen

My List for Qualities I would love to have in my Future Husband:

(As written in 1/21/07)

1. Loves God & is active in Relationship with him.

2. Sense of humor.

3. Intelligent but down to earth.

4. Able to listen & give.

5. Able to appreciate who I am on the inside & how far I have come.

6. Able to show feelings.

7. Strong in spirit & in body.

8. Able to take care of me, but also able to be taken care of.

9. Love for music- singing or playing.

10. Willing to be a partner.

11. Love for the outdoors- camping & hiking.

12. Good with money.

13. Has a good family-that will love me too.

14. Nonjudgmental & not prodigious.

15. Will love my faults too.

16. Will know my heart despite what I say.

17. Animal lover.

18. Doesn't mind cleaning or cooking also;)

19. Independent but committed to me.

20. Able to forgive.

21. Has no major addictions, but if he does has worked through them.

So, I have thought a lot about this, and it isn't the physical that I want. It is just easier to talk about physical characteristics. I have said that, there is a lot more I am looking for. I also have said that I typically don't fall for guys that are beautiful to look at, far from it usually. Just as a side note here too, I know it may be impossible to find someone with all these qualities, but hopefully he has the major ones.