Recipes

This week was full of new experiences. First of all, this was the first time I had to contact human resources for any company. I called about a hospital's position for new graduate nurses. Looking for a career job is so different than looking for a job for extra cash. I had to actually look at benefits. Healthcare. Maternity (not any time soon though). Some hospitals have labor unions for nurses. What does this mean? Do I have a choice? Is the hospital private or community (not for profit)? All of these things matter. I got a little overwhelmed, but things seemed to simmer once I just stopped worrying about it and looked at it more objectively (Clay helps me with this).

Also, this week I spent two days in the local health department. I did STD screenings and a few annual pap smears for the female clients. I learned a lot, but it was a new environment. I found myself really having to check my affect (appearance, demeanor, overall "room presence"). I did not want to be judgemental or look shocked by some of the answers some people would state in their interview (for instance, I tried not to look suprised when one famales "history" conisted of 22 men in the past year). Did some people not get as freaked out as I did at the pictures of STD's in middle school and highschool ???

I made a few new recipes this week. I made meat loaf "south beach diet" style. I adapted the recipe to what I had available in my refrigerator:
1 lb of LEAN ground beaf
1/2 of a tomato (diced
1 egg
1/2 cup of brown rice (although, this was Clay's least favorite part, so I will leave it out next time)
1/4 tsp. of salt (I ran out of salt though, so I used a creole seasoning that has salt in it...yum)
1/4 c. of black beans
1/2 cup of publix's "seasoning vegetables" which is pretty much onions, red/green bell peppers, and some other seasonings (found in their frozen vegetable section)

Saute the 3tbsp of olive oil with the vegetable mix. Mix all the ingredients together and form a loaf. I then placed mine on a broiler pan (so the extra fat could drain) but you can put it in a bake-safe dish. Bake at 325 degrees for 45 minutes, but keep an eye on it because my oven tends to cook too fast. Check the inside of course for "pinkness." Raw beef is no good.

This week I am going to make a healthy black bean soup. I'll fill you in =)

Another NEW thing: My friend is going to help me play with my 35mm camera that I got a few years ago. She is an amaizing photographer and I am so excited to learn NEW things.

God Bless you all,
*B*