Being a working Mom is truly awesome... especially when I get to work AT MY SON'S SCHOOL!  All three of them come into my classroom to either give me a quick kiss, ask for food (I'm the cooking teacher) or to ask for money... LOL... but it's great.

Today, we had our annual Christmas Party, with all the food cooked and provided by our fantastic ACAF members.  We received our Christmas bonuses, had a White Elephant Gift Exchange, just had a chance to see and talk with the other teachers we don't get to see very often.  The food was AWESOME... my friend Angie, cooks me UNDER THE TABLE!  I would seriously eat her garbage... and it was wonderful because I DIDN'T HAVE TO DO ANYTHING AT ALL... I got to really enjoy the day.

***

All of our Catering jobs are done... so I truly get to relax for the next two weeks... focus on my home, my sons, and just BEING...

This Christmas we aren't going to travel outside of our home, and get mistreated again... we are going to stay home, invite some friends over, and just chill.  I'll be cooking the Feast of Seven Fishes with my Mama this year... not worry about some small minded people that think blogging is waste of time or that I am talking about them.  AS if!  It has been a wonderful, idiot free year...

***

I FINALLY get to concentrate on the Holidays, now that work is done for a little while.  I need to finish my shopping.  Really, I need to start my shopping... so that means I really shouldn't be on here... but now that I'm off work, I gravitated toward my blog...

***

To all that matter, MERRY CHRISTMAS...

Random stuff all jammed into one post...

I got an email today from a student that wanted me to email him the recipe for Fettucine.  HOW COOL IS THAT!!!  Young adults are making PASTA FROM SCRATCH!!!  I love my job!

Unfortunately, I didn't get the email until 3 hours after he sent it... so I hope he was able to make the pasta anyway... I've really got to check my emails more often on the weekends.

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Tomorrow is my 19th Wedding Anniversary. NINETEEN years... who knew!!  Pretty soon, I will have been with my husband longer than I was single.  It literally feels like just a few years...

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Has anyone else been watching that new show Pan Am? I love it.  It's so old school.  I just LOVE how they hold their hands out with gloves on when holding their purses... love the clothes... love the story... love it.

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Got an Ipad 2 a couple of months ago... and HOLY COW... I love, love, love it!!!  It's the coolest thing.  May Steve Jobs rest in peace... I sure hope he's doing some great things in heaven... because he sure did some amazing stuff down here...

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My middle son played in his first Varsity game, starting as Quarterback on Friday night... he is only a Freshman... and he did an AWESOME job... we lost... but we now have a passing game!! YAY!!!

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I gotta go... I have to ork in the morning... and I drank way too much iced tea today...

It's been so long!!!

I think about this all the time.  I get ready to post something on here... then a student walks into my classroom, or the dishes need to be done... or this... or that...

BEING A WORKING MOM is soooo different from being a Stay at Home Mom!!!

I was called every name in the book last January for being a blogger...

Can you believe it?  It wasn't even from a stranger... it was from a RELATIVE!!!  Ha ha!!!
 
She told me to "just stick to cooking and 'your men" and stop blogging"... she took high offense to the fact that I like being Italian, and named my blog "Italian Mama" and how dare I think I am "so Italian"... blah, blah, blah...  Funny right??

I was all gung ho to continue blogging, in spite of the rashen of crap I got from "her", then the school I teach at decided to give me two more classes for the new semester... and voila!! 12 hour days doing what I love!  I bet she thought I stopped blogging because of her tirade... HA!!! She doesn't know me very well...

I am still teaching Culinary Arts at my son's High School... AND I ADORE MY JOB!!!  Truly adore it.
Being at work makes me happy.  I don't remember what I did before!!! 

I teach two classes a day, and I also run a lunchtime homework session for middle and high schoolers.

Maybe one day I'll write a book about the fun stuff that happens at our school... some of the things kids say and do are hilarious!!!

My sons attend a Christian/Private High School, and we have the greatest group of young minds... thoughtful, polite, well mannered... and soooo funny!!!

My oldest is graduating this year. {{sigh}}

He has applied to his number one choice of college... a month early... he REALLY wants to go to Azuza Pacific University... and private Christian College about an hour from here. I hope he gets in... but I just don't know how we'll swing the $48,000 a year... lots of prayer, I suppose??? We've been paying tuition for the past 12 years for all three of our boys...so this should just be a continuation... right... HA!

I need to get 8 more jobs.  Fast.

Sedona and Vegas trip!

We've just arrived to our first destination... Our Las Vegas Timeshare Polo Towers...This is in the lobby.

Bad shot... good day... My birthday lunch having my favorite meal... Lettuce Wraps from Cheesecake Factory... with my favorite men...

My favorite part about Vegas?  The HUGE bathtub in our villa... We get a little over zealous with the bubbles...

goofball

After 4 days in Vegas... time to head to Sedona!

We tried to head to the SkyWalk... but it would have been $500 bucks just to step on it then leave... we had to get to our destination before sundown... so we ended up not doing it...;(

Wow... our first glimpse of the Red Rocks...stunning!

I was in AWE!

Then we got to our suite... 1500 sq feet of sheer bliss! This is the living room!

My domain... the great sized kitchen! Yes... I cooked on vacation!

One of the Master bedrooms... doors go out to the back patio!

One of the two HUGE bathrooms... and Triangular tubs!!! Not as comfy as the Vegas one.. but the shower made up for it...

LOVE a walk in shower!

LOVE!

Can you tell I'm a bathroom suite girl?  I want what I don't have... our home bathrooms are so small, you can sit, take a shower and wash your hands at the same time!

Our master bedroom

Dining area

 Our entryway!

 Our lovely sinks... I'm thinking of getting these for home!

                                                                        Our back porch!

On our way to Slide Rock!

Hello!!!!!!!
Long time no write!!!

Just returned from a week long vacation to Las Vegas, The Grand Canyon and Sedona ...  Such Fun!!!!
I am officially IN LOVE with Sedona... have you ever been there???  It was like God chiseled each and every one of those mountains out especially for all of us visitors...  I loved the people, the scenery, the mom and pop places, EVERYTHING about it....

I've missed writing on here.  I just completed my first year teaching at my 3 son's school... and now have a little time to spare each day, since I have the summer off...

I am going to write mostly about my cooking escapades...

You see... I'm going to start up a YouTube cooking show this summer!!!  I can't wait!!!! I'm going to have my son Alex film it for me, since he has a steady hand, and an "eye" for this kind of stuff... he takes really great pictures... Soooo many people have told me I should have my own show... and since Food Network isn't coming, knocking down my door, I'm going to do it myself!!! LOL

My butt hurts right now from sitting in the car all day... Bill got us home in 6 hours... record time... so I have a ton of laundry to do... I'll post pictures of our FABULOUS suites we stayed in... and of the fantastic views in Sedona... after I find my camera...

Ciao!

It's been a while...

Gosh... I am really wondering whether to keep this blog up or not...

With my new job (LOL... new, I've been teaching for 7 months now...) I just don't seem to find the time to write on here...

I absolutely REFUSE to write about my class or students... unless it's in a positive way... but even then... no one is interested in positivity, right?? LOL

Let's see... what's been going on around here...

Ummm.... I still adore my job and my students... they are all getting really good at making food, and making it really well... it's sooo cool when my students post on FB all the dishes they make at home... it just warms my heart.

My Mom and I have been very, very busy catering... it's sooo exciting getting all the bookings we are getting... we are actually turning business away!!!

William had made the decision to go on the school Mission Trip to Costa Rica next year.  I am sooo excited for him!  All of the students that took that journey just came back, and it seemed like a once in a lifetime trip.  We also had student go to the Ukraine, and I think I am going to go on that one next year...as a chaperone.  It depends on how my hip feels. The Costa Rica trip involves the students helping out in a Christian Kids camp. The pictures were incredible of the jungle, and lush greenery and all the people they were in contact with. William will have a life changing experience, that's for sure...
I need to sell 600 loaves of bread to pay for the trip.  That's how I decide how I make the necessary cash to pay for big items... "how many loaves will I have to sell to pay for that?"  LOL.. so at $5 a loaf, I need to sell 600...

Gosh... I've been sitting here staring at this screen for a long time now... and that's about all i have to say...

What's going on with you???

What to dwell on...

So much has been going on lately...

Just this past week alone, I've cut my hand pretty deeply, my Dad has knee replacement surgery, our backyard neighbors' dog barked INCESSANTLY all day and night, I went over to talk to the nuisance neighbors instead of call the police about their SCREAMING, and too LOUD music, to get threatened AGAIN with bodily harm by the drunkards... AGAIN...

Needless to say.. it's been a fun week.

I don't want to be a Debbie Downer... so here's what went RIGHT this past week...

My Dad's surgery went well, and he's on the road to recovery...

I was offered continued employment at my job, for next school year... and recieved a GLOWING report from my bosses... that was REALLY nice...

The school bought me a chest freezer for my classroom... AWESOME!

I got to cook for the Faculty during our In Service Day yesterday.

I got to cook for our Basketball Team one last time for our Banquet and I had TONS of help and it was TONS of fun!

I was able to see Johnathon's Play on Thursday, where he sang a solo... AND HE WAS AWESOME in it!!!  It made me bawl like a baby... and the BEST part??? While he sang, he stared at me the entire time... it was so special!!!!

I got to go to lunch with a sweet friend that I haven't seen in a long time...

I learned how to make tortillas... and who knew... THEY ARE SO EASY!!!!

I need to choose to rejoice in the good, and not dwell on the bad... huh???

The Blogging Teacher Natalie Monroe

I've got a bone to pick... and I'm gonna pick it here...

Recently, in the news, there was a bunch of hoopla about a teacher (Natalie Monroe) writing about her opinions, observations and experiences in her teaching career.  She said a bunch of stuff that was true to her, and to a lot of people in the teaching profession, as well as non teachers.  It also struck quite a nerve with her Superiors, her students and with her students parents.

I gotta say this... WE LIVE IN A FREE COUNTRY... and she can write about whatever she wants to write about... ESPECIALLY SINCE SHE DIDN'T MENTION ANY NAMES...  It's really no different than someone writing a novel online on a blog... just because someone sees similarities in their lives and the novel, doesn't mean the novel is about them.. ya know?

Having been accused, recently, very recently, of writing about "things I shouldn't be" writing about, like, my experiences in life, my kids, my life, my cooking, my extended family, my being Italian and loving it (I know, I know... sooooo stupid to be called out on writing ABOUT MY LIFE!!! Oh, shudder the thought!!!) I can totally understand the blogging teacher's feelings, on a much smaller scale, of course... I won't pretend to understand what it feels like to be under the nation's scrutiny.  It's RIDICULOUS to call her out on her words if she didn't mention names or pictures... because really, for all we know... she could have been making it up too...writing stories... maybe thinking out loud on possible manuscripts... WHO KNOWS... WHO CARES!!!

Have you ever been to the movies and seen the little blurb at either the beginning or the end of the movie that says something like... "Any similarities in the characters lives and your life in completely coincidental" or something like that... THERE IS A REASON FOR THAT!!!!! PEOPLE ARE CRAZY and REALLY believe if a movie character has blonde hair and her name is Daphne, and drives a red car and lives in a house with a red door, THE WRITER OF THE MOVIE STOLE HER LIFE and put it up on the screen!!!

If this teacher's experience at school was with lazy kids, kids that cussed, talked about sex all the time, talked about drug use all the time and were rude, "entitled" and disrespectful... WHY IS SHE WRONG TO SAY SO????  Did she say... "Sally Saucy is a rude, entitled hag, whose parents don't give a darn about her"???? NO... she was using GENERAL TERMS... no different than a newspaper columnist writing about the state of our public schools.

Get off that poor Natalie Monroe's back!!!  I, for one, feel for her!  Would I write about my students? No, unless I am bragging about how fantastic they are... because they really are... but any problems I have with any students aren't going to be broadcast on a blog... but if that other teacher wants to... SHE TOTALLY CAN!!!  Sally Saucy's Mama is gonna have to deal with it... and parent her daughter better, if she "see's" herself in the blog post...

What's Cookin around here...

I know... I know... another food post... but really... with work and what I now do for a living... teach cooking... THIS IS MY LIFE!... LOL

 Above, is the filling for some homemade ravioli I made today... Chevre cheese, mozzarella, romano, and spinach with salt and pepper...

 My awesome Pasta and Ravioli maker...

 My newest acquistion... a rolling pin that rolls over pasta and filling to make ravioli!!!

Isn't it lovely???

 Obsession of the week... Naan... I can't stop making it... my family can't stop eating it...

My lunch was roasted eggplant and roasted peppers...

This is what my family ate... homemade ravioli...

I can't WAIT to share my Naan making with my class next week.

Tomorrow, Mama and I are catering a Race Across America dinner at my school.. to raise funds to support a special education department at our private high school.

Such a worthy cause.

I'm so proud to be a part of it.

I made 14 batches of dough to bake up tomorrow... Tomato Rosemary, Olive Tapenade and Rosemary.

My Sons are going to help serve.

The cool thing is... I get to cook it all in my classroom kitchen!!!

***

I've begun my second semester last week.  I now teach three classes a day. I get paid to laugh and cook... what a job!!!

It's a lot of hard work, and I really, really, really need Teacher's Assistants... but I can handle it.

The kids are all really wonderful, especially my high schoolers, and their enthusiasm makes it all go so quickly.

I hear there is a waiting list to get into my class... that's really flattering... but I truly believe that it's the food they want... where there's food, there's people... ya know?

***

OH!!!! I almost forgot.. Alex's school baseball coach told me, my older son William and Alex, that Alex really needs to get a pitching coach... because HE ALREADY HAS COLLEGES LOOKING AT HIM!!!He's in 8th grade, and he's 5'10, and can pitch so accurately it's mind boggling... and a pitching coach would really help hone his craft...

I heard the word 'COLLEGE' and my ears perked up...

then I heard the words "Scholarship" and my ears burned!!!

So when I was stunned to silence and didn't know what to say to that, the next day, he cornered my older son and told him to tell me... and then he told Alex to tell me... LOL

Apparently Alex is a prodigy... and we didn't know it!!!

Of course, I need to get on my knee's, do some praying... and thanking... just kinda ask for guidance...

But it is sooo cool to even THINK of it!!!

Food experimentation...

Here's what I've been up to lately...

I've been experimenting with making the most common store bought items... from scratch...

AND LOVING IT!!!

I don't buy pasta at the store anymore... we make all our own now... AND IT' EASIER, QUICKER, and more nutritious to make if ourselves... this was my first attempt a few weeks ago...

My men said it was DELISH!!!

Yesterday, I made homemade crackers... YES... CRACKERS... needless to say.. they are GONE!!!

I'm gonna make a new flavor today.. they were THAT easy...

No more buying cannoli shells for my catering jobs... from now on... I will make them from scratch... WITHOUT bad fats... these were lighter, flakier and tastier than the LARD made ones from the Italian store...

Rosettes...

Because they are hard to find... AND SOOOOOOOO EASY to make... and fun too!

Writer's Workshop - Too much after school stuff???

 

3.) It has been said that kids these days are pushed into too many extra-curricular activities and are not given the freedom to play and be bored and to use their imaginations. Is this true?

Is it true?? Yes and No...

I, for one, have never pushed any of my kids into doing/playing any sport.  HOWEVER... that being said, I have presented the sport in a favorable way so the child will want to play.
I believe sports are so important in a child early years.  It teaches coordination, confidence, cadence, sportsmanship, among a host of other great qualities.
Not to mention the amount of memories, fun and exercise a child gets from physical activity.


We don't really do other extra curricular things but sports... and I suppose the people that complain about kids being in too many things after school have a problem with music, math competitions, and spelling bees too...

Nowadays, with parents letting the stupid, idiot producing video gaming industry, babysit and desenstize their kids every. single. day... without a break... that music, sports or spelling would be a welcome respite.
I don't believe there are a bunch of "imaginative" gamers in the world...
Constantly killing people on an idiot box, pushing buttons incessantly isn't inspiring much imagination.

So am I a fan of extra curricular activity? HECK YEAH...
Especially if it takes the place of video games...

Is it that obvious that I am not a fan of video games??? LOL

Finals Week...

Finals are this week...

My boys are furiously studying for them...

Why cram?  Just do all your work during the semester and then it's just review... ya know???

I never had to cram for tests in High School... while others were racing against the clock, I just re read my notes, went over some things that I didn't know well, and ate a good breakfast and got some good sleep...

I don't like putting things off for the last minute...

That's just who I am... sometimes it serves me well... sometimes it doesn't...

So I'm getting all the good breakfast items for the week ready for them, so they have a good start...

Steel Cut oatmeal, eggs, fresh bread for toast, fresh squeezed Orange Juice from our oranges out back... and lots of coffee...

My boys... waiting till the last minute to soak up knowledge...

They are my hubby's sons....:)

But I adore them all... I can't help it.

I'm back!

I feel refreshed... renewed... reopened... and ready to take 2011 on...

Nothing like a good cry, or a little "shake up" to put things into perspective... HUH?

The past three weeks have been a little weird... but it's okay... I've learned soooooo much from all of it.  I just know God had to speak a little louder than a whisper to me, to get my full attention.

I'm not going to go into full detail... but I am going to say that never have I believed more... the statement that...
"God wouldn't put you in it, if he didn't plan to pull you through it" or something like that...

I kinda felt like things were going along just a little to smoothly for a while there... and He felt like I needed to be pulled up by the shorts a little... LOL...

The beautiful thing about going through some turmoil... is you really see who you have on your side... who is REALLY there for you, in a big way.  I've always known my husband has been a big support in my life... but boy did he really show me the past three weeks... and I wasn't even looking for it... but he just really came to my rescue... didn't point fingers... didn't say stuff like... "Well... you know... blah blah blah..." He just held me close, told me to listen to his heart beat, that it beats for me, and that he's truly on my side. NO matter what."
I just don't give him enough credit.  He really knows what to say... at the right time... in the right way. 

And my Father in Law... if my Hubby is my biggest cheerleader... then my Father in Law is a very close second... even on the phone... I can feel how much he loves me... and respects me... and I have to tell you... the feeling is definitely mutual.

When the enemy comes knocking at your door... it's disconcerting if you aren't ready for it.  My kids really rallyed around me too... they were saying things that just really boggled my mind... they were so insightful, and grown up in their views... it was thrilling to hear them say things that most 45 years old don't grasp.

Maybe God let this mishap happen in my life... just so I can see how loved I am.  Maybe I've been taking advantage or for granted the love I have in my life.  Maybe I just needed to refocus on Him... and stop focusing so much on me, me, me.  Whatever it was... it worked... I'm a more focused woman now. Focused on my relationship with the Lord... more focused on my relationship with my husband.. and focused on the fact that all I really need... in my life... are the awesome people living in my home... and whoever else knows who I really am... I will no longer focus on people that only see what they want to see...and believe what they deem is truth in their own minds...

My blog is open again.  I won't allow anyone to censor me anymore...

Peace. Love... and tiny flowers...

A 6 foot what???

Did you know there are restaurant out there that make and SELL 6 foot Burritos?

Have I been living in a cave?

Why have I never seen this before?

One showed up in my classroom today for a meeting with students...

and I was ASTONISHED to see...

A 6 FOOT BURRITO!

Unbelievable!

Six foot sandwiches... I've seen those... 6 foot long arm of Octopus on a table? I 've seen that too...

but never a Burrito...

Wish I had thought of it...

I really wish I had my camera on hand...