Working from Home

So this is the very first time that I am updating my blog from home. Remember I used to keep up with this thing at work? Wellll, that's no longer possible. The company I worked for was dropped by Chrysler, and the following day, they closed their doors. There is a whole lot more to it then that and it all makes me rather upset, but I'll leave it at that. Sign of the times... So now I once again join the 10% of my fellow Michiganders who are without work. Yippee! I am praying that I find a job much, MUCH quicker than the last time around. Otherwise, Joel and I will be moving all of our stuff in to my parent's basement (and miss out on our $1,000 deposit). My eents-weentsy unemployment check is NOT going to cut it.

Right now I'm at peace with the situation and know that God has something better in store for me. Something that won't get me home after midnight and disallow me from spending dinnertime with my hubbs. I actually already had a semi-interview earlier this week at Campbell-Ewald, so right now I am banking on that because I have no other leads at the time (and I don't need to tell you there are very few jobs to choose from right now). I can foresee a total FREAK OUT if that job doesn't work out... So please pray for me/us!!

Joel's spring break was this week, and though we were both busy with our own things, him working on his PhD app, me applying for jobs, interviewing, babysitting and CLEANING like crazy, we still got to see a heck of a lot more of each other than we are used to and that was a wonderful thing. Goodnight House played a show in Toledo on Thursday night, which made for a very enjoyable time. It was quite exciting to have people in the crowd who had never heard us actually cheer for us. They made it very apparent that they enjoyed us :)

P.S. - If you haven't heard our music, you can check us out at myspace.com/goodnighthousemusic. You can also buy our music on itunes or cdbaby.com if you like what you hear :)

Sorry, just couldn't pass up a plug there.


In the meantime, during my short hiatus from full-time work, I need to start expanding my Etsy shop. I have yet to make any new earrings since my job went bye-bye, but that is going to change TODAY. Something else that is going to change today is my hairstyle. Bad hair day after bad hair day has led me to the decision to CHOP it. It's going to be transformed in just a few hours. Hopefully that will fix the bad hair day problem. I'll have to post a picture later today (as long as it's to my liking).

I'm going to leave you with a delicious, yet inexpensive recipe that has recently become a staple in our household. It is comforting and oh-so-delicious.


Baked Gnocchi
Adapted from Everyday Pasta by Giada de Laurentiis (my fave)
Serves 4

INGREDIENTS:

1 package potato gnocchi
1 1/2 cups heavy cream
1 1/2 cups skim or low fat milk
1/2 cup reduced sodium chicken (or veggie) broth
1/8 cup all purpose flour (I used whole wheat as usual)
pinch of salt
freshly ground pepper
pinch of grated nutmeg
5 ounces baby spinach
1 1/2 ounces fresh goat cheese
1/4 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese

DIRECTIONS:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Place gnocchi in a lightly greased 8 x 8 inch baking dish and set aside.

2. In a medium saucepan, whisk together cream, milk, broth, and flour over medium heat. Continue whisking until the sauce is simmering and thickened, about 5 minutes.

3. Add salt, pepper and nutmeg, and stir to combine. Add spinach and toss to coat in the cream. Pour the cream and spinach mixture over the gnocchi evenly, spreading the spinach out to cover all the potato dumplings.

4. Crumble goat cheese over the spinach. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese. Bake until the top is golden in places, about 30 minutes.


It is creamy and rich. I leave out the spinach, not by choice, but because my picky hubby thinks it's gross (along with the majority of vegetables), but it is still exquisite. Normally, I'd have a pic for you, but I discovered my camera's battery was dead as I attempted to capture the deliciousness in photo. Next recipe will definitely include one.