From Joey O. to Jessie O.

This weekend, for the family get together, I made one of my favorite appetizers, cold-cut bread! My dad has been making this delicious stromboli-like bread for as long as I can remember and it always hits the spot. It's always a staple on New Year's Day, and on the nights we have wings and nachos. 

Before I moved out I made sure to study my dad making his signature breads. Sometimes when I see him with the pizza dough I think he may have missed his calling in the Pizzeria biz. These babies can be stuffed with just about anything but we prefer either sausage, peppers and mozzarella or ham, pepperoni and mozzarella. Just so you know, even if there isn't a slice of deli meat in the dough, it's still called cold-cut bread to us!

First, buy a 1lb. dough from your local pizzeria and work it out the best you can to look like this! 

  

Fill it with a layer of ham, and a layer of pepperoni. Trick is to make sure the meat is sliced thin, otherwise it can become greasy. This particular bread only had half ham because we have a non pig lover in the bunch.

Sprinkle evenly with mozzarella cheese! Then, roll longways. You will need to stick toothpicks in when you get to the end to keep the dough rolled properly. For the ends, fold excess dough over and fork like you would a pie crust. 

Before cooking, coat with egg-wash for a nice shine. Pop that bread in a 350 degree oven on a greased cookie sheet or piece of foil for 30-40 minutes or until golden brown. Mangia!
Thank you Daddy!

Time well spent

I am so happy it's Friday. This week is just one of several busy weeks I'll be undertaking at work but oddly it has dragged. I'm really looking forward to this weekend because I'll be having some of my family over including my parents, sister, brother in-law, aunt, uncle and cousins. There will be 11 of us in Brian and I's 1 bedroom apartment and while it may be cramped I like to think it will be cozy.

Tonight, I'll be food shopping for the menu. It's sure to be one of those trips to the grocery store that has me pondering how even though I have cabinets and a refrigerator full of food it's never the food that's necessary to make the meal I want. 

Here's hoping you all have a lovely weekend filled with delicious food and family. That's my favorite kind of weekend.

Like pulling teeth

I hate the dentist, not the actual dentist (she is a lovely woman) but the trip to the chair that results in an hour of pure torture. As a kid, I recall popping in and out of the dentist chair in under 15 minutes. These days I am there no shorter than 2 episodes of 'Seinfeld' which is what was on the flat screen above my head this evening.


Apparently, I have terrible oral health. I thought using all of the Crest Pro-Health line would get me out of a painful visit but unfortunately that didn't happen. God bless my hygienist who stuck with me after several rinses, apologies and inquires on how I can stop the madness in my mouth. I swear when I sit in that chair I feel 9 years old asking what the best way to brush my teeth is and how to floss properly.


The outcome of my visit was this: I am a tarter builder. Apparently, some of us just are made that way due to genetics and chemicals and such. Secondly, I am a bleeder and squeamish. My gums can not handle being poked and prodded and my body fights it all the way down to my toes. Another thing is that I need to visit the dentist every 3 months until they say otherwise. I will pay for this. Lastly, my top two wisdom teeth need to be pulled. This just put me over the top and I cried the whole way home. Trips to the dentist have just become too much for me.

Back in the groove

Last year after Brian and I moved to our new complex we went in search for a gym. After many weeks of being snowed in we we're looking for a way to get out and be active. I was amazing about going in the beginning and found myself dragging myself there after work simply because it made me feel good. Within a few weeks I was no longer ambitious and it felt more like a chore. I quickly became every gym's dream. I have been paying for a year-long membership since last March and haven't been since summer.


Today, Brian and I made our way to the gym, my first time in what felt like years! It was physically easy to go back since my gym back was still packed but mentally I was dreading it. Once we were there we had a great time. Today, we took it easy and played basketball for quite some time. I was surprised to find how exhausted I was running around the court. After the gym we hit up Kohl's for their President's Day sale, if I'm going back to the gym, I'll need new sneaks!

Love my new Nike sneakers that can be found at Kohl's

No soup for you

Did you ever wake up and know it was going to be a heck of a day? Today I knew. I fought through the morning to a point where I could finally smile without forcing it. After a long meeting I was actually happy to head back to work so I could get a jump on the piles of clutter sitting on top of my desk, but first lunch.

Today I brought soup for lunch. It's an odd choice because I don't even really like soup but I thought it would be a nice change. It was one of those pull tops. I guess I have arms of steel because I pulled the tab right off. I then proceeded to push down on the top of the can, I'm not buying lunch today, I'll get this can open if it's the last thing I do.

Next thing I know, I am wearing Italian style vegetable soup. It's dripping from my hair, has splashed on my glasses and has now filled my ballet flats. Gross. Half a sick day for me. I knew it wasn't my day.

Like mother, like daughter

I have a hard time understanding the upset women feel when they finally realize they've turned into their mother. At 24, I know I've been her for years and I don't need children to prove it to me nor am I saddened or depressed by it. To be honest, I am more amazed by it. When did this happen? In between teen and early twenties I have acquired some of my mom's most admirable traits. 

First, I am frugal, and no, I am not ashamed. I am a girl with a budget who lives below her means.This means, just like Mom, I am a Valued Customer at Kohl's where everything is nearly always free and when I'm done grocery shopping I'm always most excited to see how much money I saved. Second, I have become quite the nurturer. I've found that I find great joy in taking care of someone else even if it is something as simple as cooking a nice dinner at the end of the night. Lastly, I have a big heart which I wear upon my sleeve. You will always know how I'm feeling - good or bad.

While I'm happy with  many of the positive qualities my mom gave me there is one thing that she passed down that I loathe. I am a sufferer of chronic migraine headaches, just like my mom. This is something she apologizes for giving me almost weekly. We've both been suffering since we've been tweens. We only find solace from the pain in a dark room, where it is quiet. In the past week I have had four debilitating migraines that have had me on the verge of tears. I've often thought about her during these times and recalled how often I can remember her migraines keeping her bed bound on holidays and special occasions. When I feel like lifting my head off the pillow is impossible, I know she understands how I feel. Most times she calls me to check up on me and says, "You're just like your mother."

Converse

Brian and I were talking last night and were trying to figure out how many Valentine's Days we've been together. We've been celebrating as a couple since 2007. Though, oddly enough Brian can remember what I was wearing the Valentine's Day months before we started dating. I remember too. I was decked out in skinny jeans, a shirt that said "Valentine's Day Stinks!" and pink, high top Converse. As Brian has said, it was to very "emo" of me.


As I am sure you can conclude Valentine's Day has never been my favorite holiday. I always thought if you loved someone you should tell them every day. I still believe that. Not only should you tell someone you love them everyday, but you should show them as well. This holiday is not just for overpriced roses and Russel Stover chocolates but it's for letting people know we care about them in any way we can. It's not just for people who belong to a couple, but it's for friends and family too. Tell someone you love them today and everyday, better yet, show them. And throw a little pink or red on for good measure.

Snooze

Ah, the weekend is finally here! After a very long week away on business I'm so happy to have some down time. It's nearing 5pm and I just got into the shower and out of my pajamas. Not only did I sleep 10 hours (I can sleep for a lifetime) but I fell asleep on the couch this afternoon! Brian says I look like a huge man when I sleep. He can't understand why someone so small needs so much room and can sleep so hard.


While sleeping has always been one of my favorite activities I really don't know why I do it for so long. I always wake up feeling even more exhausted and achy. I'm feeling like a big waste and the guilt of all the hours wasted has begun to eat at me. Now tomorrow I'll have to squeeze in everything I didn't do today like bill paying, food shopping and a trip to the gym. We'll see.

Just minutes away

I've finally arrived home today after 4 days in National Harbor, Maryland at the Gaylord National. What a beautiful hotel and a fun little town. I'm definitely interested in going back some time in the warmer weather when I can experience the beauty of the water, spend some time in the shops, and eat 3 delicious meals a day at the chic restaurants. If you're looking for a nice weekend away I suggest taking a look at this harbor-side town just minutes from the heart of DC.

The view from Gaylord National Resort

Make my day

Today, like everyday that I stay at a hotel I left a thank you note and a tip for housekeeping. I was surprised to find this upon my return.

Strange how I thought that a small tip would make someone's day a little brighter but this response actually made mine.

I got a toothbrush, some toothpaste

Today I venture out on a 4 day business trip. While I know traveling has its benefits I always have to convince myself that I'll survive being away for a bit. Right now, all I can think about is how much I will miss the comfort of my apartment and those in it. I'm working overtime to persuade myself that 4 days away wont be the death of me, even if it's not my favorite. I've conjured up a bunch of good reasons why it will be nice to go

• Much needed time outside the office.
• Paid meals, 3 times a day-which means I don't have to worry about what to make for dinner!
• Great opportunity for gaining knowledge and skill building.
• Someone will make my bed and clean my bathroom, that's fabulous.
• Resume builder!

A clean home is a happy home

I spent Saturdays when I was younger dusting and vacuuming the house. Mom made Michelle and me take on this task not only every Saturday but every Wednesday as well. I think we had the cleanest house in all the neighborhood. Many times my mom made me dust more than the usual 2 times a week because my performance was less than stellar. Mom was, and still is a stickler for a spic n span home.

These days, having an apartment of my own, I have no idea how she kept everything so spotless. While I think I live in a clean place it's by no means anywhere close to as clean as the house I grew up in. Today, I'll spend the day making this place shine. Dusting, vacuuming, cleaning the bathroom and kitchen and making Mama proud. 

Green, White & Red

Rarely does anything exciting come in the mail anymore. I know I am officially a grown up when even the thought of a Shop Rite circular is something I look forward to in the mail slot. Typically the mail consists of our monthly bills and credit card offers. 99% of the time Brian rips up the countless attempts for our credit before even opening it. Yesterday, was a good mail day! One of my favorite things popped up in the pile of our usually boring mail, the March issue of Food Network magazine.

As a Christmas gift, Brian's mom subscribed me for a year. While I really like to cook and can't wait to try the recipes, I think that I enjoy salivating over the pictures just as much. Some recipes I'm interested in trying this month are agnolotti with artichoke sauce and Neapolitan ice cream sandwiches. Recipes I just drooled over include: tiramisu, portobello parmesan and pea-prosciutto sauce. In case you didn't notice, this issue was dedicated to everything Italian. Mangia!

 

I can't wait for fresh Jersey tomatoes! This picture courtesy of  Food Network magazine.

Tease

I can not believe it. I can see the grass! After weeks of snowfall after snowfall piling on top of each other the sun has finally melted some of the white stuff. During lunch today I took a drive to one of my favorite local pizzeria's and was shocked to see that my dashboard said it was 53 degrees out. I am really having a hard time grasping this since I know some of my friends on the northern end of the state either got the day off or were delayed because of the ice.

You may not think 53 is warm but I can assure you with how cold it's been it almost feels like a late spring day. The snow is melting so fast off the roof of the building that I an actually see it being forced down the drain and hear it pour onto the ground. When I got in my car I took a deep breath of my Yankee Candle Coconut Bay air freshener which reminds me of what warm weather smells like. Summer is in the air, or at least spring. Even Punxsutawney Phil thinks so!

Short and sweet

Sometimes all that you are feeling and need to say can be found in a song. I wanted to post John Mayer's "Bigger than my Body" because it says it best. Enjoy one of my personal favorites!