Those Who Can't Do, Teach.

As a therapist, I spend most of my job helping people get unstuck from negative thinking patterns, learning to change their negative, self-defeating thoughts, and identifying and eliminating negativity from their values, actions and relationships.  I think it's a common myth (at least among those who haven't actually known a therapist or someone who works in mental health) that we must be sane, normal and have it all together, as well as have completely awesome and authentic relationships, be able to deal with changes, and have a fulfilling personal life.  Well, wrong.  Like the saying goes, those who can't do, teach. Or at least, that's how it feels, especially after a break up.  I guess only time will tell if that is the truth...

Vacation From Vacation

Annapolis, MD...just before the storm!

It's been such a whirlwind summer, and although I'm having a blast...I feel like I need a vacation from vacations!  After spending time in Annapolis, Nantucket, Charlottesville, getting ready to move rooms, and having an awesome birthday party...I just need some rest!  Hopefully this weekend while the guy is away in Atlanta...another weekend trip I had to pass on for work....I can get caught up on sleep, laundry, and dry cleaning.  Not to mention cooking and attempting to repair my balcony garden..some type of blight got my tomato plants and then spread to most of the herbs.  I'm hoping I can recover the few that haven't been touched and replenish the rest with starts from the nursery or farmers market, although its rather late in the season.  I'm hoping to try and make some sort of makeshift greenhouse out of my sunroom this winter though so I can keep enjoying the benefits of fresh ingredients even with snow on the ground.

Snip, Snip, Snip

I really think there are few things more satisfying than quickly mincing garlic or dicing tomatoes with a perfectly sharpened chef's knife that is just the right weight...but cutting people out of your life is one of those things...once you get past the anger at yourself for letting them (back) in (again) despite feeling like you should have known better from the beginning. But regardless of the number of times I made the mistake before...I won't again. And even though making that cut was hard, painful and at times really kind of sucks...the rest of the time, I honestly feel better..gone from cell phone, g-chat, and my life all together is the constant wondering if things are going to fall through, what the next fight will be, why I'm always at fault, why I'm supposed to put up with everything, yet never get any slack myself...gone, gone, gone, bye, bye, bye. 

I even once made cookies with nuts in them for this guy...what the hell was I thinking!  The first sign I was in a toxic non-relationship was when well, I let the toxins in. Classy move, classy move. Oh well, the past the past..again...but this time, it will stay that way! 

Changes

I never update, and not that I really think anyone reads this, but I feel like I should update because I want to take some time for myself. Lots of changes and yet none at all, moved, broke up with boyfriend, got back with boyfriend, broke up again; had my position cut, took a part time job, had my position restored when the budget was actually voted on; stepped up my working out in a big way only to have it drop off in the last few weeks.  I've also bought several new cookbooks and been growing my own herbs and vegetables again...can't wait for the tomatoes to start being ready to eat :)

In a summary of other news, my mom has suggested I try online dating (creepy only coming from her), I'm off work for 10 days in a row in July (mostly because I don't want to have to acknowledge my birthday) and I've amended my major life goals to now include becoming a trophy wife or at last getting a guy wealthy enough to pay for the plastic surgery I will start needing in a few years.  So basically I want to become some totally awesome mix of Chelsea Handler, Paula Deen, and Teresa Giudace.  

New Kitchen

I'm finally all moved and settled (well, unless you count the guest bedroom/study which is still full of boxes and just stuff) and glad to be done with most of the moving.  I organized the kitchen, bathroom, my bedroom and figured I would put all the remaining things in the extra room so the clutter doesn't stress me out and I could actually take time to go through stuff and get rid of things...I feel like I am forever on a quest to get rid of things, yet I keep going shopping.  Maybe I need counseling regarding that...go figure.

I have a long list of things I want to do today, but for some reason, I'm still in bed. Maybe it was staying up until 3 am, maybe it is not having unpacked any paper or notebooks to make a list, or maybe its because its a rainy Sunday.  Either way...its 1:00 p.m. and I haven't even had a glass of orange juice yet. 

Seared Scallops

I took a break from packing tonight to cook one of the last dinners I'll make in my old kitchen...which not only helped clear my mind from all the packing clutter, but helped clean out the freezer a bit.  I found a bag of frozen bay scallops (the little, dime and nickel sized ones) and set them in the fridge to thaw out earlier in morning, so they were mostly defrosted by the time I went to make dinner. I've "rapid defrosted" them before by placing the scallops in a strainer and running cold water over them, but last time I wasn't very satisfied because I felt like it made them dry and a bit stringy.  Probably my imagination or just bad job of flashfreezing, but oh well since it wasn't an issue this time.

I followed a recipe (below) from my Christmas present to myself, The All-New Ultimate Southern Living Cookbook for pan-seared scallops, which looked similar to the recipe used for the pan-seared scallops we had at the now defunct Carytown Seafood Restaurant in Richmond, with the exception of using a ziploc rather than a prep bowl to coat the scallops and making the sauce after the scallops. The recipe was pretty straightforward, and for once, I pretty much went by the book.  The only changes I made were adding a bit of basil and garlic to the flour mixture, and adjusting the amounts since I only used 1lb of scallops rather than 1.5.  The white wine I used was a nice dry Mediterranean White I found on sale at Harris Teeter for $4.99 while picking up all my prescriptions yesterday.  The pretty label attracted me at first more than the price, but I was pleasantly surprised by the glass I drank while eating dinner.  However, with the actual meal I drank my favorite reisling, Cheateau St. Michelle.

I was surprised by how nice they turned out- making bay scallops is always a challenge in avoiding overcooking, and I wasn't really sure how mixing the balsamic vinegar and white wine would work together.  The sauce actually ended up being delicious, but I think this recipe would work better with sea scallops, since the flavor from the bay scallops was a bit overshadowed by the sauce.  Either way, it was delicious and fun to try something new.  Scallops are one of my favorite foods, so I always love finding a new twist to an old classic.

  Recipe is below with my additions & comments in italics.  

Ingredients

• 3  tablespoons  all-purpose flour
• 1/2  teaspoon  salt
• 1 1/2  pounds  sea scallops
• 2  teaspoons  olive oil
• 1/2  cup  dry white wine
• 1  tablespoon  balsamic vinegar
• Fresh parsley sprigs (optional)
• Garlic Salt (to taste depending on the flavor of the spice you are using, but about a teaspoon)
  
• Dried Basil (approximately 1 teaspoon)
  

Preparation

Combine first 3 ingredients in a large zip-top plastic bag; add scallops. Seal bag, and shake to coat.
Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add scallops; cook 3 minutes on each side or until done. Remove from pan; keep warm. I have found with the smaller bay scallops that once they have been seared on one side until brown, constant stirring and flipping works the best, while with the larger sea scallops, searing on each individual side yields the best results. 
Add wine and vinegar to pan; cook 3 minutes or until slightly thick, stirring with a whisk. Stir in scallops; remove from heat. Garnish with parsley sprigs, if desired.

Ugh, Frustration!

No posting or cooking in a while because I've still been feeling like crap! despite just completing two weeks of antibiotics on Tuesday.  I kept feeling rapidly worse and called the ENT doctor (I'm way too lazy to try and figure out how to spell otorhinolargyinologist correctly at this hour) on Thursday in hopes that maybe I could get an appointment.  I think the receptionist felt pity on the barely-there sound of my voice and squeezed me in for a quick visit at the hospital in between surgeries this afternoon.  Apparently my cold which turned into a sinus infection had spread into my ears and upper throat, so I'm now on ridiculously strong antibiotics, steroids, two inhalers, Mucinex, probiotics and some other pills that are supposed to keep the antibiotics from destroying my stomach lining....for 21 days.  That is sure going to be fun.  My pharmacy total came to $65.18, which was nice because I was honestly expected a much higher number. Thank goodness for health insurance!   I go back in three weeks for follow up and hopefully all will be well so I can keep putting off the sinus surgery I was supposed to get last year.  Fingers crossed for me!

I've also been busying trying to get ready to move next week this week, despite feeling like crap.  I've been working hard though...and so far have packed a grand total of...two boxes. I've thought alot about what to pack, and made lots of lists though, so I feel like I should celebrate some progress at least...right?!?! I also in a clear display of priorities, updated all my magazine subscription addresses online and then remembered I should probably tell my bank about me moving too.

Okay well here is hoping the PM cold medicine kicks in soon and that I can actually sleep rather than be up half the night coughing and sneezing.  I need to be nice and refreshed tomorrow, because in addition to packing and starting to move things to the new house, grocery shopping MUST occur. There are absolutely NO vegetables, fresh or frozen, in my kitchen and I have REALLY been craving grilled asparagus lately.  Mmmm...getting hungry just thinking about it. 

PS..A friend and I decided to go to the Virginia Wine Showcase in February and they have an entire seminar dedicated to olive oil tasting hosted by All Things Olive, a really cute little shop in Maryland that has the most amazing flavored olive oils ever.  And I found out that Dave Matthews owns a vineyard that offers $5 lunch at tastings Monday-Saturday.  Next time I have to drive down to Charlottesville to see my oncologist I'll definitely be stopping to make the day and drive a bit more enjoyable.  Fortunately it will be this summer since I've been cancer free for almost 3 years now :).

Okay, bedtime for real now.