Mr. Grad Student

Paul with my family on his graduation day.

This week, Paul officially started his Library Science Masters program with San Jose State and I couldn't be more proud. We have been through a lot of loops, ups and downs with figuring out what to do for school and I am so happy that we have finally reached the place where G-d intended for us to be. There is an overwhelming peace that comes with knowing that we are where we are supposed to be and I am so thankful.

Paul and I with our lovely friend Courtney at Biola.

Good Morning

Paul bought me a box of my favorite tea last night and all I want
to do is sit and drink cup after cup after cup...

(via aaronmace)

Food Inc.

Last night, Paul and I finally watched Food Inc. We have had it in our Netflix queu for a long time and at last, we were able to watch it. It gave us a lot to think about.. to be honest, this is something we are passionate about and we have already been thinking this way for some time now but this was just the push we needed. I am so thankful for this documentary and I hope that you all will take the time to watch it. It will be a slow transition for us but we will do it, and it starts now. Take a looksie.

Greek Turkey Burgers

Still dreaming of a normal camera.. one day.

I've been trying to come up with a healthier spin on the dinners that I usually make and this one came out perfectly. This was so filling.. no need for a side because there is so much going on inside the burger. This dish was inspired by a recipe I saw done by Ellie Krieger. I made a salad from one of the left over patties today and I think it was even better than last night. :)

Greek Turkey Burgers

• 1 pound lean ground turkey meat
• Whole wheat hamburger buns, 4
  
• 1/4 of a white onion, finely chopped
  
• 1/2 cup feta cheese
  
• 1 cup fresh spinach, chopped
  
• Extra virgin olive oil
  
• 1 cup plain Greek yogurt
• 1 clove garlic, minced
  
• 1/2 of a lemon, juiced
  
• Cucumber
• Lettuce
• Red onion
  
• Salt and pepper
• Avocado (optional)

>>Saute olive oil and onion in a non-stick pan until onion is translucent. Add spinach, stir occasionally until wilted down. Add feta cheese and freshly ground black pepper and mix together. (No need for salt because the feta is salty enough.)
>>Form turkey patties to desired size and stuff with the onion, spinach and feta mixture. Seal each burger so that the mixture doesn't make a mess on the grill. Place patties on a grill pan over medium high heat, 8-10 minutes on each size.
>>In a bowl, mix together yogurt, garlic, lemon juice, 1/8 tsp salt and pepper.
>>Once the turkey patties are cooked through, you can build your burger. Top each pattie with a spoonful of the yogurt, a few slices of cucumber, avocado, lettuce and red onion .. and enjoy!

You can always add fresh, chopped dill to the yogurt to gain a more intense Greek flavor. We are not fans of dill in this house.. unless it's a dill pickle. ;)

For Haiti.

I hope that most of us are aware of the tragedy going on in Haiti right now. My heart goes out to the people there as I am praying for G-d's mercies in that place. If you would, please take the time to leave a comment on this blog post because for every comment that is made, $1 will be given to World Mission to help Haiti in their time of need. It just takes one minute but it will hopefully help many people.

Healthy Morning

I am so thankful for this day off from work. What better day to be home than on a cold, rainy morning, it's been lovely. I cuddled in bed with Tootsie for a while today listening to the rain and after some time passed, I figured it was time to get myself up. I started out with a little morning yoga which was so refreshing. (I'm keeping up with my 2010 goals and I've been doing well with trying to work out several times a week.) Then I danced around the kitchen with good music blaring and made a little breakfast: Raspberrry Vanilla Whole Grain Cream of Wheat.

>>Follow the instructions for a single serving of Cream of Wheat and put into a bowl. (Oatmeal would be tasty too.)
>>Add in 1/2 tsp of vanilla extract and 2 Tbps of raspberry preserves.
>>Add a splash of low fat milk for richness. (Optional)
>>Whisk together and enjoy.

This was very easy to make and a healthy alternative to pouring spoonfuls of sugar into your breakfast. You could always add a any fresh or dry fruit that you might have on hand. Change up the flavors too if you don't like raspberry. :)

Paul will be getting home earlier than normal today so we are going to try and do something fun in the rain. For dinner tonight, I am going to make a chicken and brown rice dish accompanied by Julia Child's french green beans, I'm pretty excited to make them. For Christmas, Paul's parent's got me The French Chef with Julia Child which is a full season of her cooking show and it is delightful. I have learned many things from her, I am striving for culinary excellence after all. :)

I always have music playing when I'm home, it's just something I can't live without because it brings me so much joy. So here is my theme song for the day. I hope it brings you as much happiness as it did for me this morning. Watch the cute video too. :) Happy Monday.

Food for Thought

"We can complain because rose bushes have thorns,

or rejoice because thorn bushes have roses."

Abraham Lincoln

Happy Birthday Mother

In her truest form.

Today, I am wishing my mom a very happy birthday. I am so very glad that she was born and for all that she has done for me. We are celebrating tonight at our house with Nordstom cookbooks' recipe of chicken tortilla soup (yum!) and homemade salsa. Oh and of course, birthday cake.

Happy Birthday Mom :)

Kale and White Bean Soup

This is a recipe taken from the most recent Real Simple Magazine and Paul and I love loved this dish. I made it on New Years Eve before we went out for the night and it was the perfect meal. It was so full of flavor and filled us up. The left overs were even better because the soup was able to sit and soak up the flavors even more. I'm definitely on a soup kick right now and this was a favorite.

Kale and White Bean Soup

• 2 Tbsp olive oil
• 4 cloves garlic, chopped
• 2 stalks celery, sliced
• 1 large onion, chopped
• Kosher salt and black pepper
• 2 15.5 ounce cans cannellini beans, rinsed
• 1 cup small soup pasta (4 ounces)
• 1 bunch kale, thick stems discarded and leaves torn into 2 inch pieces (8 cups)
• 2 Tbsp chopped fresh rosemary
• 1/2 cup shaved Parmesan, plus 1 piece Parmesan rind
• 1 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
• 1 loaf country bread, warmed

>Heat the oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add the garlic, celery, onion 1&1/2 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, 4 to 6 minutes
>Add the beans, pasta, kale, rosemary, 8 cups water, and the Parmesan rind; cover and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer until the pasta and kale are tender, 4 to 5 minutes.
>Remove the Parmesan rind. Stir in the lemon juice and sprinkle with the shaved Parmesan before serving. Serve with the bread.

I served it with a lemon wedge to squeeze over the top because I always go for extra lemon, but you can do it how you like. If you try it, do tell! I'd love to know your thoughts. :)

One.Five.TwoThousandTen

Paul should be home in approximately one hour. He picked up 20 extra hours at work this week (which totals to 60 hours - yipes) and I am trying to be a good wife by making sure the house is clean, dinner is on the table and that I am dressed in my sweetest apron as he crosses the threshold. Real Simple's orange chicken with bulgar pilaf (sub quinoa for bulgar because the grocery store didn't have it, darn) will be served on our dinner table this evening and I hope it turns out just right. I am really trying to commit to my "2010 try to achieve" list this week (one week at a time) and I am doing that by staying in tonight and cooking for the two of us instead of going out. Feels good. :)

Another way that I am sticking to my list is by taking a picture everyday. So for today's picture, I give you this: my new favorite pillow. This was gifted to us by Mallory and Jonathan for our Christmas present and I couldn't be more thrilled about it. Here it rests on our couch and I look at it fondly every time I enter the room.

The little sign in front says "de Partee" (!)

I wish the picture could be better but as we know, the photo booth camera is going to have to have to cut it until something better comes along. Is this not the cutest thing? I have a lot of love for this little pillow. Please excuse Tootsie's behind, she was not willing to move for the photo. Happy Tuesday. :)

One.Two.TwoThousandNine - One.Two.TwoThousandTen

Under the chuppah just one year ago.

We were married exactly one year ago this past Saturday and I can hardly believe it. What a great day that was. To celebrate our anniversary, we spent the day in Pasadena, lunching and walking around the Norton Simon Museum, shopping on Lake and Colorado and dining at Green Street Tavern (just around the corner from where we got married) and it was marvelous. It was a slow moving, hand holding, take everything in and enjoy each others' company kind of day. I am so blessed to have been able to marry someone perfectly handpicked for me by our L-rd, who just happens to be my favorite person and best friend. It's mooshy but true. Pictures of our day later to come. :)

One.One.TwoThousandTen

I'm here at this new destination and I like the feel of it. I love having something new to work on and look at, so I am bringing in the new year with lots of new things and new improvements. Last night was New Years Eve and Paul and I spent it with some of our closest friends - singing loudly, laughing until our sides ached, dancing, hugging and kissing. It was a really great way for us to end the year. I can't believe 2009 is over. Did it fly by for you like it did for us? In looking back on all the we did, it blows my mind. Tomorrow is mine and Paul's one year wedding anniversary.. u n b e l i e v a b l e. I can't really put a feeling into words other than saying that my tummy flutters when I think about that day and thinking about what I was doing right now, one year ago. I saw my parents a couple of days ago and my dad asked me if it felt surreal thinking back on a year ago and seeing and experiencing how quickly it came and went. My dad has always said that time goes by quicker the older you get and I always listened but never knew quite grasped what he was saying. He talked about how their first year of marriage flew by for them and how the years following seems to go quick too. Now that I have grown up (just a bit), I know what he is saying. And it is a slightly eerie but at the same time, comforting feeling to be in the same place that my dad was in years ago.

So let's see... I'm going to make a quick list for what I would like to see happen in this new year. This isn't a resolution list, just a strive to achieve list. :) I've never been really good with resolutions. Here we go, I would like to..

...become a stronger woman of G-d.

...take more walks.

...read more books.
...buy fresh flowers weekly.
...write more hand written letters.
...wear my apron everyday.
...love Jesus more.
...make sun tea in my backyard.
...maintain a healthier lifestyle.
...stay home in the evenings more with Paul rather than us going out.
...craft a little bit everyday.
...bake flowerless cakes.
...travel!
...make handmade gifts for family and friend's birthdays.
...make more chicken tortilla soup.
...light more candles.
...take at least one picture everyday.
...grow closer to the L-rd everyday.
...finish all of the projects that I start.
...love my husband more (which isn't hard to do).
...make the bed at least 3 days a week.
...get control of my road rage (yipes).
...get more exercise.
...blog 1-2 times a week.
...help someone in need.
...spend more time with my grandma.
...love more.
...become a better wife, daughter, sister and friend.

I hope that everyone had a fun, safe New Years Eve. I am excited for 2010 and all that it will bring. And for now I leave you with this, of course it's Sufjan Stevens. I guess maybe he sings the theme song of my life. I love how he writes, how he sings and his creative ability. I hope you enjoy the song. Happy New Year and love to you all. :)