The Bar Exam is Over!

Last Thursday afternoon, JW left Baylor Law School with the Bar Exam behind him.  The three day test he studied for for months and the last thing in his way before becoming a practicing attorney is complete.  JW feels good about how he did, but won't get his results until November.  

Needless to say, I am extremely proud, and we are thrilled to be on the other side of the bar.  JW had not gotten a hair cut in months and had a bit of a 'fro' going.  So, when he got back home to Houston on Thursday night, we gave him a buzz.  JW figured since he has about a month before he starts working, if ever there was a time to get rid of his hair just for fun, this is it. 

JW's locks before

The final product- Joey with a buzz

Look at all that hair.  Looks like a girl's curly locks. :)

Friday, I took off work and we spent the day relaxing together.  I was in Florida the whole week before for work, and then with JW in Waco the following week, we were due some quality time together.  We spent most of the day on the couch in our jammies and then went to Studio Movie grill for the first time to see The Dark Knight Rises. :)  Who doesn't love a good vedge day?

Then, on Saturday, JW's new law firm had organized a family fun day at Moody Gardens in Galveston.  It was a lot of fun to meet some of the attorney's JW will be working with and their families.  And, it had been years since either of us had been to Moody Gardens, so we had a good time.

Our monkey friend in the rain forest pyramid

This picture is of me and JW nice and sweaty in the humid rain forest pyramid.  We also visited the Aquarium pyramid just in time to watch the seals get fed and JW's favorite, penguins.  It was a fun day and life is happy around here post-bar exam.  We get to go visit friends in Dallas this weekend, and then our Jamaica vacation is just around the corner!  We can't wait!

Graduation Day!

Oh, how we've dreamed of this day!  On April 28, 2012, JW graduated from Baylor Law School with honors.  He was one of eleven students to graduate cum laude because not only did he finish Baylor Law School, which is referred to the Marine Corps of law schools, he did it while maintaining a 3.4 GPA.  Needless to say, I was a proud wife when they called JW's name to walk across that stage.

We had lots of friends and family make the trip to be in town to celebrate with us... 25 people to be exact.  We had a large cheering section and were so honored to have loved ones there for the momentous occasion.

Most of my pictures turned out blurry, so we're going to have to get copies of the ones the professional photographer was taking.

Such a handsome graduate!

Hance Family: Macie, Matthew, Angie, JW, me, Joe, and Jennifer

Proud daddy!  JW and Joe

Momma Hance, JW, me, and Jenn

 

Nana, Papa, Carol, JW, me, and Jennifer

Mullings crew: Claire, Hunter, JW, me, Mom, and Dad

Gotta love that wind!

With the Perry's: me, JW, Adam, and Lauren

Uncle Randy, Aunt Gigi, JW, me, Erica, and Jake

That wind was picking up!

Howard, JW, me, and G-Ma

The graduate and his proud wife

After graduation, we had a party in a room at our church.   We ate lunch, visited, and then had a pick-up basketball game.  You know Joey has never turned down the opportunity for competition, and when we reserved the party room at church, we got half of the basketball court too.  So, we had friends bring a change of clothes so they could play basketball after lunch.  JW had a blast!  It was really fun to watch them and was a perfect ending to a pretty great day.

With the Hitte's: me, JW, Cory, and Lauren

Meg, JW, and me

Rich had a youth event for church, so he couldn't make the trip, but Megan came in and represented the Roush's.  We missed you, Richie Rich!

Papa, JW, me, and Nana

Momma Hance, JW, and me

JW and Dana

This is one of the judges in Ft. Worth that Joey clerked with last summer.  She and her district staff have been so sweet to keep up with JW.  We were honored to have her there to celebrate with us.

I spent all day Friday cooking 15 lbs. of pulled pork, sides, and dessert.  Momma Hance, Jennifer, and Nana and Papa came in that afternoon in time to help me finish up some centerpieces, take us out to dinner, and go and setup the party room.  They were a huge help!

You probably don't care much about the menu, but I want to remember what we had, so here's the list:

Appetizers:

Salsa and Spinach Artichoke Dip with pita chips and crackers

Lunch:

BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwiches on rolls, Potato Casserole, Fruit Salad, and Cole Slaw

Dessert:

 Spice Cake, Lemon Snowball cookies, and Momma Hance made her famous Cheesecake, brownies, and Hermits

I had never cooked for 30 people before, so we definitely aired on the side of having too much food rather than not enough.  JW had the idea to purchase disposable tupperware so that our guests could take left-overs home with them.  That ended up being a great idea and many people took food home with them.

For the centerpieces, I got three different sized mason jars and tied natural, yellow, and green raffia around the top, filled them with sliced lemons and limes, and fresh flowers.  They went on top of burlap in the middle of each table and turned out pretty cute!  I will definitely save the jars to use for parties in the future.  Math is not my strong suite and I had a major brain fart when buying them, so we actually have twelve of each.  Thank goodness Momma Hance arrived before I had put flowers in all of them! :)

Friend table: Lauren, Adam, Cory, Lauren, and Meg

Mom, me, and Claire

The ladies in my family all ended up wearing the same color and it wasn't even planned.

Angie, Macie, and Jennifer

Pretty ladies!  This turned out to be a really cute picture.

Let the games begin...

We are very blessed to have such amazing friends and family to celebrate life with!  Law school has been a challenging chapter that has taught us a lot.  We are thankful for the support of friends and family throughout the journey and look forward to beginning our new chapter in Houston very soon.

Hip Hip Hooray!

Today was a big day at the Hance house!  Joey finished law school, and we finalized the lease for our new house in Houston! 

The housing search has been a tedious one that we could not have done without the help of my mom.  The housing market close to the Galleria area near to where JW and I will both work moves very fast.  We learned quickly that if we found something online that we liked, we needed to move fast in order to be considered.  Most of the houses we liked had 4-5 applications on them a couple of days after they were listed.  Mom was so great about helping us call the listing agents and getting over there to see them for us since we are three hours away.  She saw 10 houses for us this month and drove by a few additional ones that she was not able to walk through.  You would be surprised how different a house can look in person from the pictures.  Monday, mom was one of the first to see this one. 

She liked it, we put in an application not even an hour later, prayed a lot, and the owner chose us!  We haven't seen it in person yet, but I'm sure we are going to love making it our home.  Our lease will start the second week in May and we will be completely moved in by the end of the month.

Joey took his last ever law school final today and is now officially done with school!!!  I could not be more proud, and we are both very excited for graduation this weekend and being able to celebrate with all of our friends and family coming in to join us.  The month of May is going to be a whirlwind I know.  We are so grateful for all the things falling into place.  The Lord is good!

Light at the End of the Tunnel

Today marked the last class day of PC 1 & 2 for JW!  It's not over yet.  He will have a final this Saturday, and then two next week, on Tuesday and on Friday.  But around here we are celebrating that the evenings of reading and briefing an intimidating number of cases and rules to prepare for class the next day are over.  Don't get me wrong, school will by no means be a walk in the park for the remaining two quarters Joey has left, but from what we understand, the worst is behind us when this quarter is over next Friday. 

Joey came home today and put his last tally mark on the refrigerator.  He has been counting down, making a tally mark on our refrigerator for each day of PC this quarter that he accomplished.  I am proud, and I know he is, of those 47 tally marks.  Time after time I am reminded of my husband's character as I watch him through this challenging part of law school.  He is not interested in just getting by, simply passing, or not fully preparing for class with the hope that he just won't get called on.  He gives it his all, the same way he strives to do most things in life.  I am ready to have my hubby back though.  JW has done a great job trying to balance things, but I know it has been a challenge.  School has been all-consuming this quarter.  I think we can do anything for a season, but are certainly thankful this one is nearing its end.  Seeing the light at the end of the tunnel and recognizing that in six more months JW will graduate is motivation for that final push. 

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.  Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."
James 1: 2-4

Home Cooked Sunday: Fall Themed

Tonight our menu is fall inspired.  We had a couple of days this week that were pretty cool.  We even turned our air conditioning off for a few days, and it made me want to make a something warm that tastes like fall.  When I think about fall food, I picture stew slow cooking all day and filling the house with a delicious aroma, maybe a warm apple or pear cobbler, chili, root vegetables, squash, pumpkin, and spices like cinnamon and nutmeg.  So, it's probably not quite cold enough to keep the air off and bundle up, but tonight we are going to crank up the air and enjoy some warm soup and a pumpkin infused dessert.  Fall will get here, even if it's just a few days between now and winter. :)

Menu
Dinner: Taco Soup and Corn Bread
Dessert: Pumpkin Cheesecake

Taco Soup

recipe adapted from one by Paula Deen

Ingredients

• 2 lbs. ground beef
• half of an onion, diced
• 1 (15.5 oz.) can pinto beans, drained
• 1 (15.5 oz.) can pink kidney beans
• 2 (15.25 oz.) cans whole kernel corn, drained
• 1 (14.5 oz.) can Mexican-style stewed tomatoes
• 2 (14.5 oz.) cans diced tomatoes
• 1-2 (14.5 oz.) cans tomatoes with green chiles (depending on how much spice you like.  I stuck with 1.)
• 1 (1.25 oz.) package taco seasoning mix
• 1 (1 oz.) package ranch salad dressing mix
• beef broth, to add moisture if needed
• Corn chips for serving
• Sour cream for garnish
• Grated cheese for garnish
• Chopped green onions for garnish

Directions

Brown the ground beef and onion in a large dutch oven, drain excess fat, then transfer back to pot or slow cooker.  Add the beans, corn, tomatoes, taco seasoning, and ranch dressing mix, and cook for 6-8 hours in a slow cooker or simmer for 1 hour in pot on the stove.  If the soup needs more moisture throughout cooking, add beef broth for desired consistency.  To serve, place a few corn chips in a bowl and ladle soup on top.  Top with desired garnishes. 

I also made corn bread to go with the soup.  This one is perfect for dunking!

Pumpkin Cheesecake

recipe courtesy of Paula Deen

Ingredients

Crust:

• 1 3/4 cups graham cracker crumbs
• 3 tablespoons light brown sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 stick melted salted butter

Filling:

• 3 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, at room temperature
• 1 (15-ounce) can pureed pumpkin
• 3 eggs plus 1 egg yolk
• 1/4 cup sour cream
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/8 teaspoon fresh ground nutmeg
• 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
• 2 tablespoon all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

For crust:
In medium bowl, combine crumbs, sugar and cinnamon. Add melted butter. Press down flat into a 9-inch spring form pan. Set aside.

For filling:
Beat cream cheese until smooth. Add pumpkin puree, eggs, egg yolk, sour cream, sugar and the spices. Add flour and vanilla. Beat together until well combined.

Pour into crust. Spread out evenly and place oven for 1 hour. Remove from the oven and let sit for 15 minutes. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 4 hours.

Happy Fall... even if we have to pretend it's cold outside and our leaves are changing colors!  This is the last week of law school classes before finals start, so prayers for JW and our other law school friends to finish strong are appreciated.

Home Cooked Sunday

Next week Joey and Dana have been assigned to go against each other in a mini trial exercise for school.  So, the strategies for each one of their sides of the case was a big topic of conversation at dinner tonight.  Everyone was pretty into it, and I think it helped them both to talk it out, but it was just another affirmation to me that the right spouse is in law school. :)  I'm not a huge fan of arguing, (unless it's with Joey and I know I'm right).  I was pretty tense throughout dinner, but everyone liked the meal and seemed to be enjoying their heated discussion, so I was happy to stay out of it.  The menu this Sunday was:

Dinner: Turkey Enchiladas with Guacamole and Chips
Dessert: Pineapple Upside Down Cake

Turkey Enchiladas

recipe courtesy of Mom

Ingredients:

• 10 flour tortillas
• 2 (14.5 oz.) cans diced tomatoes
• 2 (8 oz.) cans tomato sauce
• 1 poblano pepper, chopped
• 1/2 cup chopped green onion
• 1/4 cup chopped parsley
• 1 tsp. chili powder
• 1/4 tsp. crushed red pepper
• 1/4 tsp. ground cumin
• 2 cups cooked turkey, chopped (Thanksgiving leftovers are the best, but otherwise I use ground turkey cooked in a skillet with salt, pepper, and cumin)
• 4 oz. cream cheese
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Directions:

Heat oven to 350 degrees and wrap tortillas in foil and put them in oven to warm for 10 minutes.

For sauce: Heat next eight ingredients in a saucepan.  Bring to a boil.  Reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 5 minutes. 

Combine half of the sauce with the turkey, cream cheese, and half of the cheddar.  Place mixture in tortillas, roll, and place in a 13"x9" baking dish- seam side down.  Pour sauce and remaining cheese on top and cover with foil.  Bake covered for 20 minutes.  Remove foil and bake uncovered for 10 more minutes.

This dish is my brother, Taylor's, favorite thing my mom makes.  So, it's tradition for her to make it for his birthday in July and the day after Thanksgiving with leftover turkey.  It is a good one that was a hit tonight and any other time I have made it.

Pineapple Upside Down Cake

recipe adapted from one by Emeril Lagasse

Ingredients:

• 1 can sliced pineapple, drained
• 3/4 cup (1.5 sticks) unsalted butter
• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• pecan halves
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp. baking powder
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1.5 tsp. vanilla extract
• 2 Tbs. rum

Directions:

Melt 4 tablespoons of butter in a 12 inch iron skillet, over medium heat.  Add the brown sugar and stir to combine.  Increase the heat to medium high and cook until the sugar mixture is bubbly, about 2 minutes.  Add 1 tablespoon of rum.  Arrange pineapple slices in the skillet in a pleasing pattern and continue to cook for 2 minutes.  Turn the pineapple slices over and remove the pan from the heat.  (The mixture will continue to cook event though the heat is off.)  Arrange the pecan halves in the middle of the pineapple rings.  Set aside to cool slightly.

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.  Stir together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a bowl.  In the bowl of an electric mixer, cream together the remaining 1/2 cup of butter and the granulated sugar until light and fluffy.  Add the eggs, 1 at a time.  Alternately add the flour mixture and buttermilk mixture at a low speed.  Stir in the vanilla and the remaining tablespoon of rum. 

Spoon the batter evenly over the pineapple slices in the skillet.  Bake in the middle of the oven until golden brown and a tester comes out clean, 35-40 minutes.

Cool the cake in the skillet for only 4 minutes.  Then, invert the cake onto a cake plate and replace any fruit that gets misplaced or stuck to skillet.  I served the cake warm with whipped cream.  It was delicious and a great evening with friends... legal debate and all!  Hopefully JW and Dana are still friends after this week. :)

Home Cooked Sunday: on the grill

On the menu this Sunday for our weary law student friends is:

Dinner- Guacamole Burgers, Grilled Corn, Avocado, and Tomato Salad with Honey Lime Dressing, and Sweet Potato Fries
Dessert- Hot Fudge Spoon Cake and Vanilla Ice Cream

Guacamole Burgers

Ingredients

• 1.5 lbs. ground beef
• 1/2 tsp. garlic powder
• 1 tsp. Emeril's Original Essence
• 1 Tbs. dried parsley
• 1/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
• 1/4 cup bread crumbs
• 1 tsp. olive oil
• dash of salt and freshly cracked pepper
• slices of cheese, to top burgers

Guacamole:

• 2 ripe avocados
• 2 Tbs. fresh pico de gallo
• 1/4 tsp. garlic powder
• dash of salt and freshly cracked pepper

For guacamole, mash avocados first, and then add remaining ingredients and mix.  Let sit in refrigerator for 5-10 minutes for flavors to mingle.

In a large bowl combine ground beef and remaining burger ingredients.  Mix well using hands to ensure all ingredients are incorporated.  Form into hamburger patties about 1 inch thick and grill.  I usually put a slice of pepper jack cheese on the burger patties during their last couple minutes of cooking.  This is also a good time to put the buns on the grill to toast them as well.  Once done, spread guacamole on bun and build burger with desired toppings.

Grilled Corn, Avocado, and Tomato Salad with Honey Lime Dressing

recipe courtesy of For the Love of Cooking

Ingredients

• pint of grape tomatoes, cut in halves
• 1 ripe avocado
• 2 ears of fresh sweet corn
• 2 Tbsp. fresh cilantro, chopped

Honey Lime Dressing:

• Juice of 1 lime
• 3 Tbsp. Olive Oil
• 1 Tbs. honey
• sea salt and freshly cracked pepper, to taste
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• dash of Cayenne pepper

Add all the dressing ingredients to a small bowl and whisk to combine.  Set aside.  Slice the tomatoes in half.  Remove the husks from corn and grill over medium heat for 10 minutes.  The corn should have some char marks and be tender, but not mushy.  Cut the corn off the cob and scrape the cob with the back of your knife to get the juices.  Set aside and let cool.  Dice the avocado and chop the cilantro.  Add the tomatoes, corn, avocado, and cilantro to dressing and mix gently so that everything is evenly coated.  Be careful no to mash the avocados.  Let the salad sit for flavors to mingle 10-15 minutes in the refrigerator.  Enjoy!

Hot Fudge Spoon Cake

recipe courtesy of Gooseberry Patch

Ingredients

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 3/4 cup brown sugar, packed and divided
• 1/4 cup plus 3 Tbs. baking cocoa, divided
• 2 Tbs. baking powder
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 1/2 cup milk
• 2 Tbs. butter, melted
• 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1 3/4 cup hot water
• Optional- vanilla ice cream

Combine flour, one cup brown sugar, 3 Tbs. cocoa, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl.  Whisk in milk, butter, and vanilla.  Spread evenly in slow cooker.  Mix together remaining 3/4 cup brown sugar and 1/4 cup cocoa.  Sprinkle evenly over top of batter.  Pour in hot water; do not stir.  Cover and cook on high setting for 2 hours or until a toothpick inserted 1 inch deep comes out clean.  Spoon warm cake into bowl and top with vanilla ice cream.

I haven't tried this recipe yet, but how can you go wrong with warm chocolate gooeyness?  That's what I'm thinking at least. :)  It has been wet and cool outside today, so I am looking forward to huddling by the grill and not sweating tonight.  We've had a productive weekend, but I'm certainly not ready for it to be Monday yet...  I'm going to go cuddle up by my hubby on the couch for the rest of the Texans game and pretend our weekend is not almost over! 

Home Cooked Sundays: The Menu

Back in August I told you about a tradition I was starting for PC in Joey's last year of law school - Homecooked Sundays.  I have been cooking dinner on Sunday nights for PC students to come over to our house and have a home cooked meal and a break from school.  I have prepared some of my favorite meals, so I thought I would start sharing a few recipes. 

Week 1 Menu:
Dinner: Chicken Tetrazzini, Garlic Bread, and Salad
Dessert: Fresh Peach Cake

Since I already shared my Chicken Tetrazzini recipe, here is a recipe I got from my G-Ma for Fresh Peach Cake.

Fresh Peach Cake
recipe courtesy of G-Ma

Ingredients:

1 box yellow cake mix

3 eggs

1/2 cup sour cream

1 cup butter, softened

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

1 (0.3 oz.) sugar free Peach Jell-O

2 fresh peaches, peeled and sliced

Grated fresh nutmeg- for top

Heat oven to 350 degrees.  Grease and flour 13 x 9 inch baking dish.  Mix cake mix, eggs, sour cream, butter, vanilla, cinnamon, and peach Jell-O on medium speed until well mixed about 2 minutes.  Spread in prepared baking dish and then line sliced peaches to cover top.  Grate nutmeg and sprinkle additional cinnamon over top of peaches.  Bake 35-45 minutes.  Serve with vanilla ice cream or Cool Whip.

Week 2 Menu:
Dinner: Lasagna, Ciabatta Bread, and Salad
Dessert: Sopapilla Cheesecake

The lasagna recipe I use is my mom's.  Her lasagna is famous in our family.  Many have tried to make it, but hers is always best.

Lasagna

recipe courtesy of Mom

Sauce:

1.5 lbs. ground beef

1/2 onion, chopped

1 clove of garlic

16 oz. can petite diced tomatoes

2 - 8 oz. cans tomato sauce

6 oz. can tomato paste

2 Tbl. basil

1 tsp. salt

Cheese filling:

2.5 cups ricotta cheese

3/4 cup Parmesan (reserve 1/4 c. for topping)

2 eggs

2 Tbl. parsley

1 lb. sliced mozzarella cheese

Brown the meat with the onion and drain.  Add remaining ingredients in sauce and simmer.  Mix first four ingredients for cheese filling.  Cook noodles following package instructions or assemble a day ahead without cooking noodles.  Spread thin layer of sauce in bottom of 13 x 9 baking dish.  Layer half of the noodles, cheese mixture, mozzarella slices, and sauce in that order.  Repeat a second layer.  Top with remaining 1/4 cup Parmesan and refrigerate until ready to cook.  Bake at 350 degrees for 37-45 minutes if refrigerated overnight or 30 minutes if noodles are cooked and hot.

Week 3 Menu:
Dinner: BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwiches, Potato Salad, and Fruit
Dessert: Berry Peach Cobbler

BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwiches

recipe courtesy of Paula Deen

Dry rub:
2 tablespoons salt
2 tablespoons black pepper
2 tablespoons dark brown sugar
2 tablespoons paprika
1/2 tablespoon cayenne

4 pound shoulder pork roast
2 cup apple juice
1 cup apple cider vinegar
2 tablespoons Worcestershire
1/2 tablespoon liquid smoke
1/2 tablespoon garlic powder
6 soft hamburger buns with seeds
Bbq sauce
Cole slaw
Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.

Mix the dry rub ingredients in small bowl. Sprinkle dry rub all over the pork roast, pressing into the pork. Cover with plastic and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.

Combine liquid ingredients and the garlic powder in a medium bowl and pour into a large Dutch oven. Place pork in the oven and tightly cover with aluminum foil then lid. Roast for 4 hours or until fork tender and shreds easily. Brush the roast with cooking liquid every hour.  Remove from oven and let stand until cool enough to handle. Shred the pork with a fork or tongs into bite size pieces.  Serve on hamburger buns topped with BBQ sauce and cole slaw.
*I posted this recipe last year.  For pictures click here.

Week 4 Menu:
Breakfast for Dinner:
Spinach and Bacon Quiche, Pigs in a Blanket, Bacon, Fruit and Cinnamon Rolls

Spinach and Bacon Quiche

recipe courtesy of Paula Deen

Ingredients:
1 9 inch refrigerated pie crust, fitted to a 9 inch glass pie plate
1 1/2 cups shredded Swiss cheese
1 lb cooked bacon crumbled
2 cups chopped fresh baby spinach, packed
Salt and pepper to taste
6 large eggs beaten
1 1/2 cups heavy cream

Preheat the oven to 375. Combine the eggs, cream, salt, and pepper in a food processor or blender. Layer the spinach, bacon, and cheese in the bottom of the pie crust, then pour the egg mixture on top. Bake for 35 to 45 minutes until the egg mixture is set. Cut into 8 wedges.

*We were out of town week 5 for Shay's wedding, and didn't have a Sunday dinner that week.*

Week 6 Menu:
Dinner: Spaghetti and Meatballs, French Bread, and Salad
Dessert: Spice Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

Spaghetti and Meatballs

this is a recipe I adapted from Bobby Flay

For the Meatballs:

2 Tbs., plus 1 cup olive oil

4 cloves of garlic, finely chopped

2 large eggs

1/4 cup finely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley

2 Tbs. dried basil

1 Tbs. onion powder

1.5 lb. ground beef

1 lb. ground Italian sausage

1/4 cup grated Parmesan

1/4 cup bread crumbs

salt and ground black pepper

For Tomato Sauce:

1/4 cup olive oil

1/2 onion, chopped

4-6 cloves of garlic, rubbed to paste

1 teaspoon red chili flakes

1 can tomato paste

3 (28 oz.) cans peeled whole tomatoes and their juice, mashed up with a whisk

1 can petite diced tomatoes with olive oil and garlic

1 Tbs. dried parsley

1 Tbs. dried basil

1 tsp. onion powder

salt and freshly ground black pepper

1 lb. spaghetti noodles

Shredded Parmesan to top

Directions for meatballs: Heat 2 Tbs. of olive oil in skillet over medium heat.  Add garlic and cook until soft.  Whisk together the eggs, parsley, and other spices in large bowl.  Add browned garlic, meats, and cheese and use hands to mix together.  Add bread crumbs, salt, and pepper and mix together thoroughly.  Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.  Form the meat into 1.5 inch balls. (I used a small scoop so that my meatballs were consistent in size.)  Heat remaining 1 cup of olive oil in a large saute pan over high heat.  Add the meatballs in batches and fry until golden brown on all sides.  Carefully remove to a baking sheet lined with paper towels.

Directions for the sauce: Heat oil in large dutch oven over medium-high heat.  Add the onion, garlic, and chili flakes and cook until the onion is soft.  Add the tomato paste and cook for 30 seconds.  Stir in tomatoes and let simmer, uncovered for about 10 minutes.  Add the parsley and remaining spices, bring to a boil, and cook for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.  Add the meatballs, reduce the heat to medium, and continue cooking until the meatballs have cooked through and the sauce has thickened, about 30-45 minutes longer.

Cook spaghetti according to package instructions.  Top noodles with sauce, meatballs, and sprinkle with fresh Parmesan.

I hope you are able to enjoy some of these recipes with people you love!

Homecooked Sundays

Along with Joey, I have two college girl-friends going through their last year of law school, and therefore PC, right now.  Carolyn and Dana came over to our house for dinner one night the week before PC began.  The two of them and Joey sat there talking about what lies ahead and all the tricks and tips they had heard from friends and previous students in preparation.  That's when I got the idea for Homecooked Sundays.

I know from living with Joey that these poor students have class from 7:45 a.m. until 3 or 4:00 in the afternoon.  Reading and preparing for the next day starts immediately, and the only break Joey takes is for a quick dinner, and then he often is reading until after midnight.  While I am so happy to be able to handle the house, dinner, bills, and whatever else I can do so Joey doesn't have to, I have been thinking about my other friends who don't have anyone living with them to cook dinner, etc. 

Of course I have told them to call me if there is ever anything I can do to help, but have decided to schedule one night a week that I will cook dinner for a group.  No one is obligated to come, but my goal is to provide a homecooked meal and an opportunity to take a break and talk with other students who are in the same boat.  Sunday seemed to be a good day since week nights are so full, and last Sunday was our first one.  We had Chicken Tetrazzini, Garlic Bread, and Salad.  So, in honor of our first Homecooked Sunday, here is the recipe for my Chicken Tetrazzini.

Chicken Tetrazzini:

1 (7 oz.) package of vermicelli pasta

3 cups chopped cooked chicken

1 cup shredded Parmesean Cheese

1 (10.75 oz.) can Cream of Chicken soup

1 (10 oz.) container refrigerated Alfredo Sauce

1/2 cup chicken broth

1/4 tsp. ground pepper

1/2 cup slivered almonds

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Prepare pasta as directed on package.  Stir together chicken, 1/2 cup Parmesean cheese, and next 6 ingredients.  Stir into pasta.  Spoon mixture into lightly greased 13 x 9 baking dish.  Sprinkle with almonds and remaining Parmesean cheese.  Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.

One day down...

...47 more of this quarter to go.  Joey had his first day of PC- practice court, today.  PC will consume the next two out of three quarters Joey has left of law school.  Although, word on the street is that the first quarter is the most challenging.  I have not heard many good things about this part of law school.  It is tedious, grueling, and sometimes next to impossible to accomplish all the work that is assigned.  PC is what makes Baylor the third highest ranking law school in the nation for advocacy though.  It prepares its students like no other school for life in a court room.

Joey has worked hard to prepare for this day.  Last week he was in Waco after being gone all summer working internships.  He had a lot to get done and organized for a busy work load.  Joey and I spent many hours going through his syllabus and the materials he had trying to get organized.  It all ended up being a lot more complex than either one of us had anticipated, and he ended up missing plans we had in Dallas last weekend to stay home and prepare. 

Yes, all of the binders and books on that shelf are for the next two quarters and full of cases that Joey will read and study over the next several months.  And yes, that is a new shelving unit just to store all of the reading material in our study.

This is what Joey will cart to and from school every day to transport all of the material he will need for class. 

I am very proud of my husband already for what he has accomplished in law school and in preparing for his career.  I know it will all pay off one day, and we will look back at PC and Baylor Law School as a memory.  Until then, it looks like we will be counting down the days!