Lawyerboysbakergirl

I really liked working at Target. It is a great company to work for and an even better store to shop at! They do a lot of great things and are supportive of local groups. Having to rush from subbing to Target and then getting home late at night wasn’t ideal, but as strange as it may seem, Supertarget was my one constant. I knew two weeks in advance what my schedule would be. I generally worked with the same people. I knew what was expected of me. Plus, I would get asked to do special tasks such as condense seasonal items, which I loved because I got to organize!

I genuinely liked my co-workers and they made me feel like they were happy to see me. The unfortunate thing was there were some people you’d get to know pretty well working quite a few hours together, and then you’d find out they quit or sometimes were let go and you didn’t even get to say good-bye. I find people interesting and it was neat to observe how shoppers interacted with the people they came with as well as other shoppers. Also, it was interesting to observe how team members interacted with shoppers and each other. It was intriguing to watch. I have always loved to observe people. It started when I was young. I noticed very early how people really enjoy talking about themselves. (I am not saying this is a bad thing. I am more reserved and although I wear my heart on my sleeve, I am not an open book. This may seem contradictory! People can tell from my body language if I am hurt or sad, as well if I am touched or glad. However, I rarely voice my opinion.) I noticed this again with my co-workers at Target. I really enjoyed listening to them. Plus, it made ‘zoning’, which is straightening and pulling the items forward on the shelves, go so much faster!

I did make a few pretty good friends. I guess one would say they were strictly work friends, because we didn’t talk much outside. I looked forward to seeing them at work and a couple of people asked for my phone number which I tried very hard to avoid giving! Here is a snippet of just a few of the many people I met:

There was a guy who was in my same situation. His wife was in law school and he worked full-time at Target. They were from North Dakota, too and he liked to hunt so we had those things to talk about. Another guy was dating a girl from North Dakota, so we had that in common and he and I just joked around about nothing in particular, which was fun, but he could be moody! Another college boy and I loved to talk about clothes and TV shows! He was awesome, but rarely showed up and was let go. Another guy only worked on the weekends. His dad was a pilot for Delta and he told me about the places he had traveled, his love for snowboarding, and his on-again-off-again relationship with his girlfriend. I also really got along well with all the executives. There were three in particular, they all told me that they thought I was awesome, but couldn’t talk to me too touch on a friend level because the execs couldn’t be friends with team members. They all tried to encourage me to consider applying to be an exec for Target. They said I would make way more money than teaching. I love teaching too much. One exec, Erin, had a few things in common with me. One is our love to run and the other is our love for the fabulous Kelly Ripa. 🙂 One girl named Sara was a college student and she had a great work ethic. She liked to talk about boys and I listened. We were put together to do a lot of projects and we did talk about how much we both loved Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups as we were zoning or condensing seasonal candy! The execs would often give us candy at team huddles, which occurred every night. If Sara or I picked, it was usually peanut butter cups. Peanut Butter Blossom Cookies are one of my favorite cookies, because they are just the opposite of peanut butter cups! The peanut butter is on the outside and the chocolate is in the middle and they are oh so good!

Peanut Blossom Cookies

Preheat oven: 375 degrees – Bake: 8 minutes + 4 minutes – Prep Time: 60 minutes – Makes: 35 to 40

1 cup shortening

1 cup white sugar + a scant 1/4 cup

1 cup brown sugar

1 cup peanut butter

2 eggs

4 tablespoons milk

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 teaspoons salt

2 2/3 cup flour

40 Hershey Kisses

Mix shortening (I use Crisco), sugars, and peanut butter together. Add the eggs, milk, and vanilla and mix well. Next, add the salt and then the flour. Put the 1/4 cup sugar on a small plate. Also, unwrap the Hershey Kisses and put them on a plate so they are ready to be added to the cookies. Form cookies into balls. Roll in sugar. I fit 15 on a cookie sheet. Bake for 8 minutes. Take out and put a chocolate kiss in the center. Return the cookie sheet back to the oven and bake another 4 minutes. (Watch this. It could be a minute less or more.) Place cookies on a cookie rack or on wax paper that is on top of a white dish towel.

These are better than Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups in my opinion, and I love a good peanut butter cup! These are the one cookies I make pretty small. They are still bigger than most people’s. Since they are smaller, I eat two to three at a time. If you have self-control, congrats to you! 🙂

Yep. That basically sums up what was always in the back of my mind. I remember being worried about money all summer before we even moved here, and I worried even more once I got here. While we were were still living at Steph and Mike’s place, I was talking about things we couldn’t do that we used to, such as going to a movie and going out to eat. Lawyerboy exclaimed, “We’re not desolate!” I replied with, “Pretty much.”

With being a substitute, you weren’t guaranteed work each day. Luckily, I had proven that I was reliable and was getting called every day. I remember emailing my mom that I had four days subbing for Sue and was so grateful because I knew we needed the money. Not just to pay for our rent, vehicles, insurance, food, and all our other bills, but because it was now December and Christmas was drawing near. No one expected a gift from us, but my family always did fun exchanges and games and I am a huge advocate for giving on Christmas! Plus, I love going shopping for others. This year we would definitely be on a tight budget! We also needed to travel home, which you guessed it, costs money! While I was stressing about paying the bills and how we were going to purchase some gifts and get back to North Dakota for Christmas, Lawyerboy was stressing for other reasons. He was starting to get ready for finals.

His grade in four out of five classes, was depending upon one test. Other than the one class that he took a practice test in, he had yet to experience what a final in law school would be like. His legal writing class had points throughout the semester, so that was one class he could feel good about. The rest, were cause for concern for all One L’s in their first semester. There was a lot of pacing going on around our apartment. One of Lawyerboy’s go-to study methods was to talk aloud to himself while he walked around. I was rarely here to see it happen, but it was happening.

What we both needed was something light and fluffy to ease our minds. We’d be getting it soon since it is one of my mom’s staples at holidays. The men in my family: my dad, my brother, my Uncle Ray, and Lawyerboy, are all big fans of it. I like it, but prefer apple pie, bars, and/or cookies. 🙂 It being, Fluffy Dessert. It truly is light and fluffy and a great way to forget your troubles for as long as it lasts… Which isn’t very long.

Fluffy Dessert:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees – Bake: 15 minutes – Prep Time: 40 minutes – Serves: 8 to 15

Layer 1:

1/2 cup butter, softened

1 cup flour

1/2 cup nuts, chopped ( I only use 2 to 3 Tablespoons)

Layer 2:

1 (8 ounce ) package cream cheese, room temperature

1 cup powdered sugar

1 (8 ounce) container Cool Whip

Layer 3:

2 (3.4 ounces) packages instant chocolate pudding

2 1/2 cups milk

Layer 3:

1 (8 ounce) container Cool Whip

Layer 1: Mix the butter and flour together. Nuts are optional. I added a few tablespoons of chopped walnuts. Press into a 13 X 9 pan. I use a glass pan and spread a little butter on the bottom. Then, I press the mixture onto the bottom of the pan. Bake it in a 350 degree oven for 15 minutes. (It may be a few minutes less based on your oven.) Take out and make sure it cools completely before adding the next layer. *My mom usually makes the crust the night before. She lets it cool. She then covers it and puts it in the fridge.

Layer 2: In a medium or large glass bowl, add cream cheese and powdered sugar. Stir really, really well with a spatula. (You may also use a mixer.) Add the container of Cool Whip and whip it all together until it is smooth and fluffy. Place on top of the cooled crust layer and spread evenly.

Layer 3: In a bowl, put 2 packages of instant  chocolate pudding plus 2 and 1/2 cups milk. Use a mixer or hand mixer to beat until well mixed and thick. Put on top of layer 2. Spread evenly. Chill for a few hours in the refrigerator.

Layer 4: Before serving, add the last layer, which is good ‘ol Cool Whip.

It is the start of a new month and a new week, so that means the phone will probably ring at 6. And it did. I was asked to go out to Hmong school that I had really enjoyed in the past. It was to teach first grade. When I got there, I was told it was for Sue’s class. She had always been so sweet to me whenever I had taught in the building. Her co-teacher came over and said Sue wanted me to call her. She had foot surgery on Friday and thought she would be able to come right back to work. The doctor told her she needed to take two weeks off. Sue said that there was no way she could take that much time, but was excited that I was there for her and asked if I could teach for her until at least Thursday and then she would see how she was feeling. “I would love to!” She told me where she kept her emergency plans and what she had been teaching them. I used some of her plans and also incorporated some of the new things she wanted taught.

It took a few months, but I was getting to know teachers and schools I felt I fit into. I was so excited to know what my schedule was for the next four days! Plus, I was getting to make some of the lesson plans which I enjoy doing! The students were darling! It was such a great experience. We read a lot of stories and did many activities. They loved to listen to me read, so I brought a lot of my children’s books from home. The girls would rub my legs and feet as I read to them! At first I was taken aback because I wasn’t sure what she was doing, but she looked up at me and said, “Your skin is so soft!” It was adorable.

We also made their teacher ‘Get Well’ cards. The students are so creative, thoughtful, and caring.

We played word BINGO one day. I said, “Pretty. P-R-E-T-T-Y. The horse is pretty.” Ginseng, (I love his name!) said to me after I said that, “You are pretty. I want to marry you!” They melt your heart!

I went back to the same school on Friday, but it was for another teacher. I went down to talk to Sue to see how she was doing and of course to see her class! They are all so sweet. They make me think of simplicity and sweets. Rice Krispie bars are simple and sweet. If you want to make them even sweeter, mix in Fruity Pebbles and you have Fruity Pebble Krispies!

Fruity Pebble Krispies:

Prep Time: 10 minutes – Makes: 6 to 15 bars depending on size of the pan and the size you want!

1/4 cup butter

1 1/2 bags marshmallows (small or large marshmallows work)

3 cups Fruity Pebbles

4 to 5 cups Rice Krispies

I measure out the cereal first, so it is ready to be poured into the marshmallowy goodness once it is mixed. Melt the butter and marshmallows in a microwavable bowl between 1 minute to 1 minute and 30 seconds. Mix it really well with a spatula. Add the cereal. Stir until all the cereal is coated with marshmallow. Put into a greased 9 X 9 or 13 X 9 pan. Cut into squares and enjoy!

*Note: I only use 3 cups of Fruity Pebbles and it adds a lot of extra sweetness. You can use more or less! I also start with 4 cups of Rice Krispies and usually add a little more because I like the extra cereal so it isn’t overly marshmallowy. If you prefer a more marshmallowy taste, only add a total of 7 cups of cereal!

*I put mine into a smaller pan if it is only to serve a few people. When I am serving more, I put them in a larger pan. They just aren’t as thick.

It has been such a fun-filled Thanksgiving and it isn’t quite over yet! It is still the weekend so of course that means working at Target for me. I requested to work the opening shift, so I could get home and get ready to go with Burton, Erica, and Lawyerboy to a Minnesota Vikings game. This was going to be a first for Lawyerboy and me. We both love football! I have since I was little. My mom, brother, and Uncle Ray are longtime Vikings fans. Football was always on in our house on Sunday’s, and my sister’s and I would watch some. As I got older, I watched more and more. While we lived in Minot, I would have football on while I was doing other things, such as baking! Lawyerboy would rather play video games or watch movies. Since we’ve moved here, he has finally gotten on the bandwagon!

I told Burton and Erica that I wouldn’t be home until after 4:45. I had asked them to not come before that so I could feel I had a moment to change and I wanted to show them our place. I know that sounds silly, but I had never gotten to show any visitors our place yet, because I was hardly there. Our place wasn’t anything special. It is just a regular apartment. However, I am an introvert and I like moments to myself to collect my thoughts before seeing a lot of other people, like all the people at a NFL game!! I had also told Lawyerboy all this. Guess who is already in our apartment when I get here? I keep a lot inside and don’t orally request a lot, and this is why!

Burton and Lawyerboy hung out in the living room and had a beer while Erica visited with me while I got ready. Then, we were off to the Metrodome. I love the Metrodome! I know I am one of only a few, but I don’t care! It is what I would look for outside my family’s vehicle as we’d drive by downtown Minneapolis when I was little and I equate it to the Twins and Vikings and time with family!

We had seats pretty high up in the end zone, but not all the way to the wall! Karlene texted and we were able to spot them on the fifty yard line a few rows up before it got filled with people! Lawyerboy and I met Lexi and Karlene half way around and Lexi and I took a picture. She and Tate had gotten all decked out in Vikings make-up! It was super cute!

The game was a blast! And we beat the Chicago Bears!! Being at a NFL game really is a neat experience. Erica and I took a lot of selfies on the way back to our place! We talked about them staying, but they needed to get back and I assumed I would be getting a morning phone call to teach somewhere! Plus, they were leaving early to head back to North Dakota in the morning. 😦 I am so thankful they were here this weekend and shared some of their time with us!

*While we were at the Metrodome, I smelled the fried mini donuts. My brother loves mini donuts. As much as I love donuts, I prefer homemade a million times more than the mini donuts you can buy at fairs and games. Whenever I see or smell them though, I think of my brother. I also think of my mom because one thing we do really well together is make Homemade Donuts! It works best to have two when you fry them! One does the dropping and the other keeps them apart and flips them in the grease!

*I also bake them once in awhile using a donut baking pan. They taste better fried, but are a little better for you when baked!

Homemade Donuts:

Prep Time: 10 minutes – Donut Dropping Time: 50 to 60 minutes – Makes: Many donuts, so you can eat more than one or two!

5 eggs, beaten

2 cups sugar

1 cup cream

2 cups buttermilk

3/4 cup sour cream

2 teaspoons baking soda

3 teaspoons nutmeg, ground

1/4 teaspoon ginger, ground

1 teaspoon salt

6 cups flour

*1 tablespoon vinegar

*lard

Beat eggs well. Add sugar and beat. Then, add the cream and buttermilk and mix well. Next, I add the baking soda, nutmeg, ginger, and salt. I add 3 cups of flour at a time and mix slowly. It is optional, but my mom taught me the trick of adding one tablespoon of vinegar to help the donuts to be less greasy when you are frying them! They have the best flavor if they are fried in lard, but cooking oil works, too. Lay out jelly roll pans with paper towels on them so you can set the done donuts on the pan and the towels can collect any extra grease. You may also roll the donuts in cinnamon and sugar, sugar and/or powdered sugar while they are still hot if you so desire. As much as I love sugar, I love these donuts plain the best!

*Baking Donuts: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Fill each donut shape 3/4 full in the donut pan. Bake for 11 to 13 minutes. Let cool on a cooling rack. These donuts are bigger and fun to frost with a chocolate or maple glaze! Frost when cooled.

Saturday! That means Target for me and a morning of relaxation for Lawyerboy. I had to work at 8:00, which was much better than 4:30! It was a busy day again! I was trying to stock shelves, but constantly being interrupted to help guests find this or that. I am not complaining. The workday goes fast when you are helping others! I worked until 4:30.

I rushed home because the Wymans were going to be at our place. The Wymans are from my hometown of Newburg. Karlene and Ian are a great couple and have raised three of the sweetest kids. I taught both Lexi and Tate. Lexi is now in the sixth grade and Tate is in third grade. They decided to leave their youngest, Ally, at home for this trip. They were here to see a Vikings game tomorrow! We too were going to be at the game, but we were going with Burton and Erica.

I have kept in touch with both Karlene and Lexi, mostly through e-mails. Lexi let me know that they would be coming for a game and wanted to know if they could see us. “Of course!” I couldn’t wait! We had planned to go see the Holidazzle Parade together on Nicollet Mall in Minneapolis and then eat at Buca di Beppo.

It was so great to see them and get hugs! I changed my clothes and we all got into their vehicle, with Lawyerboy driving. (We know what it feels like to drive in a large city when you come from a place where you can drive for miles before seeing another car, and neither Ian nor Karlene wanted to drive downtown!) We found a parking ramp and then walked to the street to watch the parade. It was pretty cold, but not freezing. Neither Lawyerboy nor I are real big into parades, but we both love lights, especially Lawyerboy! The parade was short, the lights did not disappoint, and the Wymans thought it was neat, too. It was a win, win, win!

We then walked to Buca di Beppo. This is an Italian restaurant done ‘family style’. Tate wanted hot wings, but there obviously wouldn’t be wings here! He got a pizza. The rest of us choose a salad, bruschetta, a couple of pasta dishes, and the mother in Karlene thought we better have a vegetable, so we got green beans to share. We also ordered a bottle of wine. It was very good indeed and we were all too full for dessert. Ian and Karlene were stinkers and insisted on paying! It was so thoughtful. They are always very generous.

It was so great to see friends from back ‘home’ here in the Twin Cities two nights in a row! We were going to make it three, because tomorrow evening we would all be at the Vikings game!

A week after we had seen the Wymans, I got the sweetest gift in the mail. It was a handwritten letter from Lexi. I taped a picture of the two of us from the Vikings game on it and hung it on our front closet to remind me that some friends are like family. I wish I would have had time to make a dessert for them while they were here. I would have made them Chunky Apple Cake with Homemade Carmel Sauce. It is one of Lexi’s favorite desserts that my mom makes!

Chunky Apple Cake:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees – Bake: 45 to 50 minutes – Prep time: 25 minutes – Serves: 12 to 15 pieces

1/2 cup butter, softened

2 cups sugar

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

2 eggs

2 cups flour

1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon

1 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

6 cups tart apples, peeled and chopped

In a large mixing bowl, put in cream butter and sugar. Add the vanilla and mix in well. Next, add the eggs, one at a time, beating well each time. Next, combine the flour. Then, add the cinnamon and nutmeg and the salt and baking soda. Mix well; batter will be stiff. Wash, peel, and cut up five to six apples into chunks. Add to the batter. It will seem like there are more apples than batter! Spread into a 13 X 9 greased cake pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 to 50 minutes. Cool 20 to 30 minutes before serving.

Carmel Sauce:

Prep Time: 5 minutes

1/4 cup butter

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup whipping cream

In a small saucepan, put in butter and brown sugar. Turn the heat on medium to low. Stir. Then, add the whipping cream. Continue to stir until well blended and it starts to simmer. Remove from heat. Serve warm or room temperature. Pour it onto the Chunky Apple Cake. Put any reserves in a small serving jar or gravy boat. Cover and place in the refrigerator.

The day after Thanksgiving is one of the biggest shopping days of the year in the United States, and many people take part in it. People of all ages start lining up the evening of Thanksgiving. When I was growing up, people wouldn’t start to line-up until around midnight for stores that opened at 5 or 6 o’clock. Now, some stores are opening at midnight or in the wee early hours that follow, so people start getting in line even earlier, starting on Thanksgiving. I have never taken part in this phenomenon. My mom and sister, Kathryn, have gone shopping on the morning or afternoon of Black Friday, but rarely go early enough to stand in line. I was gone a lot of times during this time hunting in Montana with my dad, sister Micky, and brother Andrew.

So today I was going to experience my first Black Friday, but not amongst the many shoppers that were waiting in lines all night. I was going to be working. Target was opening at 5 A.M.. I had to be there at 4:30. There was a line when I got there! There were tons of team members scheduled to work. Most of us were placed back in electronics and toys. It was definitely busy and there was running and some shoving for the GPS systems and flat screen TVs. The day went really fast. I was home by 2:00, which felt strange!

Lawyerboy and I were looking forward to the afternoon and evening. Our friends Burton and Erica were in Maple Grove with their two little boys and Erica’s family for Thanksgiving. We drove out there and Lawyerboy dropped me off with the girls and he went to find the boys. The girls were doing some Christmas shopping and the boys were having a drink and wings. Erica, her mom, aunts, and cousins are all very nice people. We all met back up at Erica’s aunt and uncles where they made Thanksgiving leftovers and had some drinks. One of their favorites leftovers to make are fried mashed potato balls. After we ate, we played cards, drank, and snacked. Well, Lawyerboy drank and I snacked. I was enjoying a sweet treat that was covered in almond bark and had peanut butter inside. I asked Erica how to make them and she said she didn’t know. I have since googled them and have made them a few different ways to get them the way I like them. Almond Bark Balls are a fun snack. Sort of like eating a fun size candy bar.

On a side note, we were having a blast, but left before midnight. We had driven our truck. The gas tank doesn’t work and we keep track of when we need gas based on the mileage. We talked about getting gas on the way there. We were both so excited to see our friends that we decided/convinced ourselves that we had enough fuel. We even thought about it on the way back to St. Paul, but still figured we’d make it. We were on I-94, about one mile from the Snelling exit we were going to take, and it happened. My dad would kill me! He always says to never let the tank get below a quarter of a tank because it isn’t safe! Uh oh. Lawyerboy grabbed the jerrycan from the back of the truck that we own because of the time he ran out of gas a few years ago in Minot with his old car. It was pretty cold and I had on flats with no socks, but we got out, and started to run along the side of the road. Almost immediately, a car pulled over. It was a feeling of relief and fear all at once because you never know who is in the car. A young girl asked if she could help. Her name was Ashley. She told us that she was driving home from work where she is a bartender. She said a man had come in and paid for another family’s meal that was there and didn’t even let the family know. She said she decided she needed to start doing more good deeds and when she saw us, thought this could be her first act. She figured since there was a girl along, it was pretty safe! She took us to the Lexington exit, the one after Snelling, because there was a gas station right off that exit. Lawyerboy filled the jerrycan with gas, ran in to pay, and we were headed back to our truck in no time. She waited to make sure our truck started before she left. We had no cash or anything to give her! She said she didn’t want a thing from us and was happy to help. We call her Angel Ashley! Thank you a million times over!

Almond Bark Balls:

Prep Time: 30 minutes – Makes: 16 balls

*Note: You can double, triple, quadruple, (you get my point!) if you so desire.

*Second Note: You can also omit the sugar for a “healthier” version. 🙂

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup peanut butter

1/2 cup white corn syrup

3 cups Rice Krispies

1/4 peanuts, chopped

4 squares almond bark

Measure out 1/4 cup peanuts and give them a rough chop; set aside. Also, measure out the 3 cups of Rice Krispies; set aside. In a medium or large sauce pan, add a 1/2 cup each of sugar, peanut butter, and corn syrup. Bring to a boil, stirring continually. I use a spatula because the mixture won’t stick to it. This doesn’t take long to boil, so don’t leave it. Turn off the heat. Add the Rice Krispies and peanuts. Mix until coated. Let stand for one or two minutes and then begin to form balls. This will be hot so be careful! I always scoop the mixture I am going to form into a ball onto the spatula to cool a few more seconds before shaping it into a ball. Once formed, place them on wax paper. Then, melt 4 squares of almond bark in a microwavable safe bowl. (You can use more almond bark if you like it really thick and well coated.) Take one of the balls and turn it around in the almond bark using a spatula. Place it back on the wax paper to cool.

I was still on a “Wicked” high. It was the Thursday morning of Thanksgiving. (Well clearly. When has Thanksgiving not been on a Thursday? :)) I had worked past 11:00 at Target getting things ready for “The Day After Thanksgiving” shopping or “Black Friday” as some call it. The next morning I got up early to work out, and then get ready for Thanksgiving dinner! I was beyond excited! Today, I was going to get to cook and bake! Plus, Kathryn had left her “Wicked” CD with Lawyerboy while we were at “Wicked” Tuesday night for him to upload it onto our computer because she knew I would want the music. I have such a smart sister! I turned on the computer to listen to the soundtrack and got to work while Lawyerboy relaxed on the couch until I called him to dry a round of dishes for me. He dried dishes three times that morning! I only have so many Pyrex Prepware mixing bowls! 🙂

I was in charge of bringing mashed potatoes and dessert. I decided to make as much as I could make in the morning hours. I made mashed potatoes, chocolate chip pumpkin bread, and pumpkin pie (AKA Lawyerboy’s favorite!). I got started with the pie crust first so it could chill a little in the refrigerator. Next, I mixed up the chocolate chip pumpkin bread. While that was baking, I rolled out the pie crust and mixed together the filling for the pumpkin pie. When the bread came out of the oven, I put the pumpkin pie in it to bake. Then I boiled potatoes to start making my mom’s mashed potatoes that are The World’s Best Mashed Potatoes. I put the potatoes and all the extra ingredients in the mixer I got from all the Newburg School staff as a bridal shower gift. It went around a couple of times and then it died on me. I called my mom and said, “I need a Kitchen Aid!” I knew however that couldn’t happen for a while since they are expensive! My mom suggested that I may have too many potatoes in the mixing bowl for the mixer to handle. I mashed them with a hand masher and whipped them by hand with a spoon for a bit. Both were a workout! Then I tried the mixer again and it worked. Phew! (Maybe the mixer was sad that it hadn’t been used in months!) After they were whipped, I put them in the Crock-pot to keep them warm and for easy transfer. Lastly, I took the pumpkin pie out of the oven.

It was all ready to go! Lawyerboy was showered and ready to get his drink on! I quickly got ready and we hauled down the goodies and our drinks to the car. Where were we headed? To my cousin, Steph, and her husband Mike’s house… our second home here in the Twin Cities! We hadn’t seen them since my birthday. Kathryn was also going to be there, along with some of Steph’s friends.

The year before, we were in the Twin Cities for ‘Thanksgiving 2007’ at Steph and Mike’s place. Lawyerboy and his friend Tyler were flying out the next morning for the Grey Cup in Canada and that is when I experienced my first Broadway Musical, “The Lion King”, with Kathryn, as well as Steph and Mike. We had heard that Steph and Mike throw an awesome Thanksgiving Day get-together and when we came in 2007 and experienced it for ourselves, we concurred! Therefore, Lawyerboy and I were ecstatic to have the whole day off together where we didn’t need to think about school or work and could eat, drink, play games, learn to booty dance, and be thankful.

There is something about Steph and Mike’s place. Or maybe, more accurately, it is just Steph and Mike. But they are incredible hosts, and one of the neatest couples I know. This year’s Thanksgiving was a great time, but it was a little different from last year. Steph, Mike, and Kathryn all agreed it was quite different from last year and all previous years they’ve had Thanksgiving together, as well. This year, one of Steph’s friends brought their mom. I think I can speak for all of us that we have nothing but the utmost respect for moms and this mom was no different. For some reason though, there was a strange vibe throughout the day. After they left, we unanimously decided that parents were not allowed at Thanksgiving. Not even our own parents! (Clearly we are joking Mom, Dad, Aunt Tena and Uncle Steve… sort of.)

There was so much food and it was all so good. As previously stated in other posts, I love bread, and when you add sugar and other goodies to make it into a quick bread, it makes me as happy as a kid in a candy store. The star on my Thanksgiving appetizer, main course, and dessert plate was none other than Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bread.

Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bread:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees – Bake time: Varies on loaf size; more than an hour – Prep time: 25 minutes – Makes: 16 to 20 slices

4 eggs

2 cups sugar

1 15 ounce can pumpkin

1 1/4 cup oil

3 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons cinnamon

1 1/3 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

Using a mixer, use a large mixing bowl and beat the eggs, sugar, pumpkin, and oil well. Add the flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon in with the wet ingredients. Mix together. Remove the bowl from the mixer stand and fold in the chocolate chips. You can split this batter into two, well-greased 8 X 4 bread pans or make one extra-large loaf. Bake at 350 degrees for 60 to 70 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool in the bread pan for a few minutes before allowing it to cool on a cooking rack or the ever popular towel with Saran Wrap method! I usually put all the batter into one pan and make one extra-large loaf. It needs to bake for at least 99 minutes! Once again, check it with a toothpick for doneness. This is such a perfect Autumn bread, but it really is nice any time of the year!

I love to use butter for baking. However, I am not one to put butter on things like almost every other person I know, especially Lawyerboy, my sister Micky, and my parents. They love butter on bread and potatoes. I think bread is too good to add butter to it and potatoes are best with cottage cheese in my opinion, but by all means, add butter if you so desire!

After returning from my North Dakota hunting trip, I got right back into the swing of things with work. I got to work at the Hmong school that I really liked a few times! I also was called to a Jewish school. I was told that I had to wear a skirt or a dress. This wasn’t a problem for me! I love skirts and dresses. It was a very small classroom and the boys and girls were separated. I taught the fourth grade boys in the morning and the girls in the afternoon. It was a unique experience.

My sister, Kathryn, called me to talk about her upcoming plans with her friend from back home, Amber. Kathryn was feeling pretty bummed because the two of them had gotten tickets to the Broadway musical “Wicked” and Amber was thinking that it wouldn’t work for her to be able to come anymore. Kathryn asked if I would be interested in going with her. I told her I’d love to see it and that I actually had that Tuesday evening of the show off from Target, but that I didn’t have the extra money to pay Amber for her ticket. Lawyerboy said I should go if Amber couldn’t make it, but I didn’t like spending money on unnecessary things.

Kathryn called two days later to say that Amber for sure wasn’t coming and that Amber said I could just have her ticket. I said that made me a little uncomfortable to not give her something, but Kathryn said it was fine. I talked to my mom and she said I should go with Kathryn. So it was official and I was ecstatic! Kathryn had taken me to my first Broadway musical experience at the Minneapolis Orpheum theater a year ago. We went to “The Lion King” and I loved it and couldn’t wait for my second experience!

Our friend from our small town in North Dakota, Tanner, was a freshman in college at The University of Minnesota. Kathryn made plans with him to meet her, Lawyerboy, and myself for supper before Kathryn and I went to the musical. Lawyerboy and I hadn’t eaten out in a while and we were looking forward to it! We ate at a place called Kafe 421. It was so great to see Tanner and catch up over supper! He was doing well and seemed to be enjoying college! We asked each other about our families. He adores my mom and wanted details about her. He said he misses her cookies. Both Tanner and Lawyerboy wished that they had tickets to see “Wicked”! I truly felt so lucky!

“Wicked” was purely magical! It was such a fantastic evening of acting, music, and time with my sister, Tanner, and Lawyerboy. Lawyerboy came and picked us up from the Orpheum after it was over and I smiled the whole way home!

Whenever I see Tanner, I think of home, and of course home consists of many things, but mainly my parent’s, our farm, Dovre church, and the Newburg school. When I was teaching there, I was also the Junior Class Advisor. When Tanner was a junior a couple years ago, he and his classmate, yes I said classmate as in singular!, the three of us had a Christmas party. I brought my favorite bars in for a treat. Tanner said they were one of his favorites, too! I copied the recipe from a church cookbook onto a single sheet of notebook paper when I was in elementary school. I don’t even know their name, so I call them Brenda’s Bars. Clearly I didn’t create this recipe, but the bars and I have a connection. There is oatmeal and peanut butter in these bars, so they can be eaten for breakfast. There is also brown sugar and chocolate, so they can also be eaten as a dessert or midday snack! I love, love, love these bars!

Brenda’s Bars

Preheat oven to 350 degrees – Bake time: 18 minutes – Prep time: 15 minutes – Makes: 20 to 24 bars

3/4 cup butter, softened

2 cups old-fashioned oats

1 1/4 cup flour

1 cup brown sugar

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/3 cup white syrup

Mix the butter and oats together. Add in the flour, brown sugar, salt, and baking soda. Stir all the ingredients together. Lastly, add the vanilla and corn syrup. Stir until combined. Put in a 13 X 9 jelly roll pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 18 minutes. *I have found 18 minutes to be about perfect. It is better to under bake them than over bake them!

Frosting:

1 cup chocolate chips

1/2 cup peanut butter

Melt together and frost while the bars are still warm.

A new month brought more new schools. Those were some tough days. Thankfully, I did have some fun plans for November, some with and some without Lawyerboy. November brings whitetail deer season in North Dakota. This was the first year I wasn’t going to be there for all 16 1/2 days of hunting. I didn’t get to hunt all 16 1/2 days when I lived in North Dakota, but the six Saturday and Sundays, and most evenings of those days, were dedicated to hunting! I knew I shouldn’t take very many days off from subbing, and I had promised Target I wouldn’t miss any Saturdays or Sundays until Christmas, but I had a few days planned to go home and hunt.

November was also going to bring us Thanksgiving! I was very much looking forward to it because schools and Target were closed that day so I knew I had a whole day off! Plus, we had friends from back home that were planning trips to the Twin Cities over Thanksgiving and we had plans to see them!

One of the new schools I tried didn’t start until 9:00. I had to be there by 8:00. This school was east of the airport and the Mall of America along I-494, so I had some idea of the area. I got stuck in very slow-moving traffic on 494! I don’t know how people do this daily! The teacher I was subbing for was on jury duty and she had an EEL (Early English Learner) or ELL (Early Language Learner) teacher who co-taught with her. She explained the daily routine and what I would teach. I then read over the classroom teacher’s plans. At 9:00, we walked outside and over to a church that had the cafeteria. We helped the students with their breakfast as they arrived. It was different seeing a whole cafeteria of elementary kids going here and there with their trays, and I didn’t even know my students names! It turned out to be a pretty good day. It is always nice to have someone else there to guide you through the routine! The students leave after 4:00 for home. I really had to hurry back! I worked at Target at 6:00! I was of course stuck in traffic! I was not a happy girl and Lawyerboy got to hear all about it! I got home, changed into red and khaki, inhaled a bowl of Raisin Bran Crunch, and punched in at 6:05! I hate being late to work! Plus, other target team members had told me you get “talked to” when you are late, and if you are late too many times, they let you go. I found out from a coworker that you aren’t late until 6:06 on the time clock. Phew!

I got to experience another new school the next day. I got called right at 6:00 in the morning. The school started at 7:15 and was in Minneapolis. I was going to be a para, but they said they would pay me my usual licensed-teacher pay. I got there pretty smoothly, but had no idea where to park. I finally found a place, but was sticking out a bit too far on the street. I worried all day that I was going to get a ticket!

This school’s students were primarily Somali. I worked in two different second grade classrooms. When I asked what I should do, they both said they don’t really know what she does. It was neat to get to watch other teachers teach, but the day dragged on and on. I asked if I could correct papers or listen to kids read. The one teacher had me correct math tests. School got out at 2:30. It was nice to get home with a little time to actually do some laundry, cleaning, and take my time watching “Live with Regis and Kelly” before going to Target! Oh! And I didn’t get a parking ticket!

The next morning I got called back to the same school to be a para for special education. I spent most of my day with a kindergartener girl. She was adorable, but you could not take your eyes off of her. This was a super hard day for me. She would be singing and touching my leg and hair and the next second screaming and taking things that weren’t hers and trying to run out of the room. I definitely knew I wasn’t meant to be a special education teacher. The classroom teacher kept saying I was so good with her. My mind was screaming inside and I reminded myself to be patient a million times! I don’t know if I can be a para anymore. The day goes too slow. I like to teach the lessons and be involved with all the students in the class.

I spent the next couple days back teaching first grade out by the Mall of America for the teacher who was on jury duty. It was nice to get into a routine with her class, but I was racing to get home and to Target on time. I of course worked at Target on Saturday and Sunday. The following week I was going home to hunt for a few days!

While I would be away hunting, Lawyerboy was going to be busy working on his Legal Writing memo. This was Lawyerboy’s first big writing assignment in law school. It was also the first time he would receive a grade, so he was very nervous. The memo assignment required him to read a number of cases on a particular legal subject and write a memo analyzing the law.

Lawyerboy took me to work at Target on Tuesday November 11, so he could take me to the Amtrak station later. I had asked Target if I could sneak out a few minutes before 11:00 to be sure I didn’t miss the train! The train was scheduled to leave at 11:14 p.m. and was located about five minutes from work. Lawyerboy was outside waiting for me after work. He had my bag and all the things I needed there for me. The train was loaded and I was the last one there. The guy that took my ticket smiled and said I was cutting it close! I smiled back and I thought about how I wished I had more time in a day and could arrive earlier!

I was nervous to ride the train by myself. I had taken the train many times with my mom, sister, and/or Lawyerboy. I was hoping to get a seat to myself, which I did! We didn’t quite leave on time. Lawyerboy kept texting me to see if I was okay and if we had left. Once we got moving, I put in my headphones and tried to get some sleep. I got as much as one can on the train. I woke up when we were in Devil’s Lake. I called my dad to tell him it looked like we would be on time for him to pick me up. It was so great to see him! He told me about his new job driving truck for the oil boom in North Dakota and about the whitetail deer he had seen.

We got home and I got all my orange hunting gear ready. Then, I packed our lunch that of course consisted of some of my mom’s cookies! We spent Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday hunting. We hunted our usual go-to hot spots. We walked what we call Rudy’s multiple times in a day! My dad kept saying, “One of these times he’s gotta be in here!” It was just me and my dad this year. Since it was during the week, my brother, Andrew, was teaching and my sister, Micky, was living in Colorado. (My sister Kathryn and my mom do not hunt. Nor does Lawyerboy. He has on occasion come out and beat the bush with us. The other two… not so much!) Dad and I reminisced about our past hunts, and of course made time for lunch and a snack. There were still a lot of hunters everywhere, even though it was during the week. There was a lot of corn up, so we walked a lot of corn rows. I wasn’t having much luck this year. On the last day, dad saw a 15-inch buck lying in the corn. The little buck had no idea we were there! We snuck up on him and I took some pictures with my camera phone. I decided not to shoot in hopes we’d see something bigger. That never happened. I was skunked my 2008 deer season.

I had to get back on the train that Friday night so I could work at Target on Saturday and Sunday. It was hard to leave. It was so quick. I got to spend a lot of time enjoying one of my favorite outdoor activities with my dad and a little time with my mom in the evenings. It was a bummer to come all the way home and see no one else, but once again, no time!

Lawyerboy picked me up after 7:00 in the morning on Saturday. I requested to work the afternoon shift that day in case the train was late. While I was back home at my parent’s, I got to eat a some of my mom’s cooking and goodies. Plus, I looked through her cookbooks, one of my favorite things to do! One recipe I came across was one of my brother’s favorites that I haven’t thought about or made in years. They are called Scotch Treats. Back in the day when we all still lived at home, my mom or I usually made these in the hot summer months. They are quick to make. We keep them in the refrigerator, so they were a cool treat in the summer! I of course wasn’t getting to bake during this time in my life, but I recommend that you stop what you are doing and make these! 🙂

Scotch Treats

Prep Time: 15 minutes – Makes: 15 to 20 bars

2 cups butterscotch chips

1 cup peanut butter

8 cups Rice Krispies

2 cups semi-chocolate chips

1 cup powdered sugar

4 tablespoons butter

2 tablespoons water

Melt the butterscotch chips and peanut butter together in a large saucepan over the stove. Once melted and mixed, add the Rice Krispies. Stir gently until all the cereal is coated. Put half of the Rice Krispie mixture on the bottom of a lightly greased 13 x 9 pan.

In a small or medium saucepan, put in the chocolate chips, powdered sugar, butter, and water. Heat over medium heat and mix until blended and melted. Put the chocolate mixture on top of the bottom layer of Rice Krispies. Spread evenly with an off-set spatula.

Add the rest of the Rice Krispie mixture on top of the chocolate so it can be the top layer of the bars. You now have made Scotch Treats. They need to set before cutting into them. I put mine in the refrigerator. I think they taste best when they are cold!

I had been starting to physically not feel like myself. My stomach hurt a lot. It was usually the same type of pain, but some times it was worse than other times. I woke up to a really sharp pain in my stomach just before 6:00 on Halloween morning. It was a Saturday and my shift at Target started at 8:00. I spent most of the morning in the bathroom. Luckily, I felt better with enough time to pull myself together. I took a quick shower and headed to work.

The only thing that made me feel like it was Halloween was being at Target! Back in Newburg, the day of Halloween or the day before, if Halloween fell on a weekend, we had class parties. The year before, Hess, put on a haunted house and games for the school and community. It was a great! No one at the school I taught at the day before was able to dress-up or bring candy. When I got to Target, it was time to start condensing all the Halloween costumes, candy, clothes, and décor into fewer aisles. I was put in charge of it. I love organizing and this was right up my alley! It was hard to work around all the people because why would anyone get candy and costumes before the day of Halloween?!? Before I knew it, it was 4:30 and it was time for me to go home! I had to hand off my work to a couple other teammates and I was bummed that I couldn’t stay to keep organizing. I was told that there would be plenty leftover Halloween items, and I could continue my job in the morning!

Lawyerboy was hanging out at home. We had thought about going to a Halloween party, but we hadn’t decided on a costume. Plus, I had to work at 8:00 the next morning, and I hadn’t been able to eat more than a banana at work, so we decided to enjoy our evening together. It was really great to relax, watch TV, and do nothing for a few hours!

Most of us have our favorite things to eat or drink when we aren’t feeling well and have that empty stomach feeling. Orange juice with citrus soda is always great. Another one I like is Jell-O, and not premade Jell-O that you buy in the store! I love my Mom’s Jell-O recipe. My brother and my cousin, Sarah, are probably the two biggest fans of Mom’s Jell-O! Sarah would ask my mom for the recipe and said she could never get it to taste like hers! She even made her mom, my Aunt Mary, buy a Tupperware container like my mom’s because she thought that was the secret! I think the container does contribute to the texture, but there really isn’t a secret. It is water, gelatin, and Jell-O! It is so simple. No baking necessary!

Mom’s Jell-O

Prep Time: 10 minutes – Makes: 15 Jell-O squares (or more or less depending upon size!)

1 box (4 packages) gelatin

9 ounces flavored Jell-O

1 cup cold water

3 cups hot water

In a small bowl, pour in four packages of gelatin. Add one cup of cold water and mix together. It will appear thick and gloopy. In a saucepan, boil three cups of water. While the water is heating, add nine ounces of your choice of flavored Jell-O to a medium-sized bowl. Once the water boils, slowly add the water to the Jell-O. Then, carefully add the cold mixture to the warm, colored mixture. Stir until smooth. Add it to a square or rectangular container. I us a 13 X 9 Tupperware container like my mom! Cover it. Put it in the refrigerator until it sets. Cut it into squares. I cut 15 to 20 squares when they are for a crowd. When it is just Lawyerboy and I, it is more like 8 to 10!