Repost

It's back to school time, and I'm going to be a cluster teacher (one subject traveling to classrooms instead of having my own class) for the first time in four years. The last time was my very first year of teaching, and now I'm entering year five. When I finish this year, I'll have outlasted at least 50% of my peers in this career, though I strongly suspect that the current statistic is higher. This doesn't mean that I qualify as a "veteran" teacher or that I have all the answers. I'm still nervous going in to work today and will likely be even more nervous meeting my new classes tomorrow! Still, it's important to look back from time to time and see how far I've come in the past few years. I found something I wrote after my very first week of teaching and I thought I'd share it here. It's hastily written, but I was inspired by it and I hope others will be as well.

So, I've officially made it through my first week as a teacher! I'm not sure how to describe it because I could go on for pages and pages and still wouldn't be able to paint a complete or accurate picture of what it's really like. I will say that it's been insanity, but in a mostly good way. I knew I was going to have to do more work than I've ever done in my life, but I've been managing to do it and to get almost enough sleep, but I wasn't really prepared for what it would actually be like. I wake up and everything is a blur and I'm just running and running everywhere and everything is so fast and I run to my classes and I run to the cafeteria to pick up my next class and I'm still a minute late and I run to my room to print out worksheets for my next lesson and I run to the grocery store to get something that I can cook before it closes and I run to this or that bar with this or that teacher because teachers work hard but they party hard too and the only thing I haven't done is had time to sit down and breathe and reflect. Because in those rare moments that I do, like between putting my head down on the pillow and falling quickly asleep, or on the subway ride home, those are the most wonderful moments because I remember the look of concentration and pride on Winston's face while writing the sentence "My favorite color is blue" or how Daniel put his arm around me and said I was going to be his "teacher-friend" or how, in a moment of stress, David took my hand and said "Miss French! Miss French!" and I said "Yes David?" and he said "Smile!" and flashed me the most adorable smile I've ever seen. So it's been good. I still can't believe that I'm a real teacher and that I'm a full-fledged adult I guess, it's crazy that this is my life and I know I could do better, sometimes I don't know if I'm doing a good job, but the important thing is that I'm doing it, I'm in there now and there's no going back.

Last Wedding Review: Stan Wiest Music

This is my last wedding review post before I get my photo album! Today I reviewed my reception "musicians" and cake bakery, but I'm only posting my comments about the Music company because I had the most to say about them. Not much to say about the cake; it was yummy and looked beautiful. Hats off to The Rolling Pin! Okay, okay, I'll post another one of Igor's awesome photos:

Now, onto the controversy! I had sort of a mixed opinion of my experience with Stan Wiest Music. Don't get me wrong, I had so much fun at the wedding and I don't regret choosing them, but this guy promised perfection. I mean, check out his website. For all his dorky boasting, we trusted all the experience he had and all the excellent reviews we found. But if everything was perfect, where would all the interesting stories come from?

First, the positive: Stan made himself available to address our questions and concerns and answered emails and calls very promptly and professionally. He was always quick to say that his company was the best in the business and that he would not disappoint. It definitely made me feel comfortable when booking his company for a DJ and a pianist for our wedding reception. I also liked that he had a seven-page questionnaire, which really made me feel like the company cared about our personal choices. The pianist who played during the cocktail hour was excellent, and the DJ had a lot of energy. He managed to make sure that people were always dancing (except during dinner), without having to ask them to get up like some DJ's do. The price of the service seemed like the fairest in the area.

The negative: For all the boasting Stan did about his company, and for all the time I spent filling out the questionnaire, I expected the evening to live up to my admittedly high expectations. As I said earlier, it's not like I had a bad time, but it was my wedding after all, and I figure I'm allowed to be picky. First, the DJ was not available to meet with us in person before the wedding. We talked to him on the phone briefly and agreed to have an email conversation, but he never emailed us back. Perhaps if we had met beforehand, he would have gotten more of the details right! Our first dance song and the song for the groom and his mother were both incorrect versions of the songs we requested. He also didn't play any of the genres of music I asked for in the questionnaire, except for the usual Top 40 music you'd expect to hear at most Long Island clubs. One of Stan's big bragging points was that the music would never be too loud. It's all over his contracts and website. Well...the music was too loud. Finally, some of the DJ's behavior was less than professional, such as his use of bad language.

Overall, I can't really complain about the experience. My husband and I had a great time at the wedding as did our guests. But I wish our DJ had been a little more accommodating of our wishes. If you're considering Stan Wiest, I would recommend meeting with your DJ in person before the wedding, to make sure that you communicate exactly what you want and figure out if you're a good match. Our DJ made sure that our reception was fun and lively, but we might have been able to find someone better suited to our personalities.

Wedding Review: David's Bridal of Massapequa and Bayport Flower Houses

Here's some more Long Island wedding flavor for you all. After this, I just have to review two more vendors and that free photo album is mine! (Let's hope it's nice!)

Today, I'm reviewing David's Bridal of Massapequa, NY where I got my dress, veil, and shoes, and Bayport Flower Houses, who did the bouquets, boutonnieres, ceremony flowers, and cake design. First, the photos! (Copyright Dorothy Bandura and Igor Bass.)

A closeup of some of the beading detail on the dress.

Coming down the stairs.

The back of the dress.

Bridesmaid bouquets (mine is in the background!)

I've heard David's Bridal described as the Wal-mart of wedding dress shops, but I don't care what people say. My dress was gorgeous, and I got so many compliments on it. It was exactly what I wanted. I was also impressed by the shoes and other accessories available at the store. If everything looks beautiful, fits nicely, and holds up through the day, who cares if it came from David's or some snooty "Say Yes to the Dress" store? I paid less than $1,000 for a dress, veil, and shoes, but I did get my alterations done elsewhere, because the Massapequa location was sort of a far drive from where I live. Thank you, David's Bridal, for helping me find beautiful, recession-proof wedding attire!

Bayport Flower Houses was also a great choice, but for different reasons. It's a family-owned establishment that has served the community for years. The staff there are kind, knowledgeable, and professional. It was the perfect place for me, who had no idea what I wanted my flowers to look like, and only brought a color palette to work with to my first meeting. Within minutes of talking and sketching, Christine had whipped up a sample bouquet that blew me away! She and the other staff members worked with the church and the catering hall so I didn't have to worry about a thing, and they were on top of all the little details that I would never have thought of. All this while working with me to stay in my budget. (Although it did help that we were using non-floral centerpieces. The cost of flowers can add up quickly, and this place is no exception.) On the day of the wedding, the flowers arrived on time and looked impeccable. Even the tossing bouquet managed to look great after being nearly torn in half. But that's a story for another time.

Wedding Review: Smithtown Landing

The Knot has promised me a free photo album if I review at least five of my wedding vendors, so in the spirit of this blog, which was originally intended to be a review blog, I figured I'd enhance and re-post some of my opinions here! If you're considering getting married on Long Island, they may be helpful! If not, well, you're getting my honest opinion of the way things went on the fateful day, 7/2/11.

Smithtown Landing Country Club is the venue where the reception took place. Everything about the hall was as close to perfection as anything can be. Here are a few photos (Copyright: Igor Bass for the first two and Denise Polley for the third) that may give an idea of what the space is like:

One of the tables in the ballroom.

Best Man/Maid of Honor Speeches

Some fine-looking individuals on the outdoor deck during the cocktail hour.

Willie and I originally wanted a beach wedding reception, but we were on a budget and weren't finding any venues that were both beautiful and affordable. Some of the places we visited had beautiful beach views but little to offer in their indoor areas or in terms of food. Others just reeked of the Jersey Shore vibe. We hadn't even considered Smithtown Landing, but when we checked it out on a tip from my aunt, we were so glad that we did! Although it's not on the water, it has a picturesque outdoor deck, unique and beautiful details inside and out, and a spacious interior. The price was also right for our budget, and included an extra "enhancement" if we booked within a week of our visit. (We did, which is how we were able to have the table of dessert liquors and pastries.) Rich, the General Manager, handled all of our requests and emails with timeliness and care, and helped us create little extras to add our personality to the reception, including the Pimm's Cup and Bourbon Lemonade as our specialty drinks. His flexible and friendly demeanor really helped decrease the amount of stress that can go into planning a wedding. The food was memorable (lobster rolls at the cocktail hour!!) and the Maitre'D and Bridal Attendant were attentive without being overbearing. Overall, I couldn't be happier with my experience at Smithtown Landing. If you're planning a wedding on Long Island, do not let this place slip under your radar! It was almost an afterthought on our list of possible venues, but I'm so glad that we didn't pass it by.

Summer Cooking 2: Mediterranean Meal

Summer's just about here, but luckily the heat wave of early June is over. Life has been so busy with the wedding now less than two weeks away! I started this post on June 9, which I remember because it was the hottest day we've had this year and I agreed to walk to my coworker's apartment for lunch which was "only a seven minute walk." Well let me tell you, fourteen minutes in 95-degree heat walking in platforms that haven't been broken in yet was complete agony.

Shoes. Omigod shoes. Aren't they cute, though?

Anyway, after a day like that, I needed a quick fix for dinner that required as little cooking and as little time on my feet as possible. I headed to a source that I often use for seasonal cooking, the blog CheapHealthyGood. Although they seem to be on a vacation now, a quick search through their archives lead me to what I needed--a no-cook summer wrap. I tweaked their recipe only slightly, adding fresh mozzarella cheese to turn it from vegan into vegetarian, although in retrospect, I bet it would have been awesome with a little drizzle of balsamic vinegar at the end. Also, if you read that blog post, please be aware that "Funhouse" is a much better episode of The Sopranos. Just saying.

Next, I needed something to serve on the side, and the Mediterranean feel of the wraps made me think of tabouli. If you're not familiar with tabouli, or tabbbouleh, it's a flavorful salad in which bulgur wheat is the main ingredient. Bulgur wheat is a delicious whole grain packed with fiber and protein, that can be substituted for rice or couscous. You can probably find bulgur in the "organic" or "natural" section of your local grocery store, but if you have any ethnic groceries around, particularly middle-eastern, you will likely find it cheaper there. Come to think of it, if you're lucky enough to have a Trader Joe's near you, that might be a good place to look. Also, I'm jealous of you! But I digress...

The tabouli recipe comes from The New Moosewood Cookbook, which I cannot recommend highly enough if you're vegetarian, know and love a vegetarian, or just don't feel like eating meat sometimes. The recipes are satisfying, full of flavor, and emphasize simple, natural ingredients. I particularly like the tabouli recipe because it can be adapted based on your mood or tastes. This time, I branched out from the way my mom usually makes tabouli because I wanted to use up some edamame that's been living in our freezer for a while. You can make the tabouli ahead, as it's one of those dishes that tastes better the next day when its flavors have had time to meld in the fridge for a while. You can serve it hot, room temperature, or cold, but cold is my preference, especially on a hot day.

These are the recipes as I made them, but as always, they can be altered to your tastes and preferences. I should also mention that the only cooking time needed is for boiling water on the stove. How great is that on a 95-degree day?

White Bean Red Pepper Wrap and Tabouli

Ingredients
 
1 (15 oz.) can white beans, rinsed and drained
1 (7 oz.) jar roasted red peppers, drained thoroughly
baby spinach
fresh mozzarella cheese
tortillas or wraps
3 cloves of garlic
1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon olive oil, divided
1 large bunch of fresh parsley
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons lemon juice, divided
zest of 1 lemon1 cup bulgur
1 pint grape tomatoes, halved
2/3 cup edamame, shelled
4 scallions, finely minced (whites and greens)
salt and pepper

Instructions

1. Boil 1 1/2 cups of water on the stove. Add bulgur and remove from heat. Cover and let stand at least 20 min., until tender. 
2. In the meantime puree the beans, peppers, 2 tablespoons lemon juice, 1 tablespoon olive oil, 2 cloves garlic, about 1/3 of the parsley, and 1/2 teaspoon each salt and pepper in a food processor.
3. Spread about 1/4 to 1/3 cup of the bean mixture on each tortilla or wrap. Top with a few handfuls of baby spinach and sliced mozzarella cheese. The wraps are done!
4. Mince the remaining parsley and the last clove of garlic.
5. In a large bowl, combine bulgur with 1 tsp salt, parsley, garlic, lemon zest, the remaining 1/4 cup of lemon juice and olive oil, and black pepper to taste. If making ahead, cover tightly and refrigerate until ready to serve.
6. Add the tomatoes, edamame, and scallions and mix well.

As written, the recipe makes 6+ servings of tabouli and can yield 6 wraps, although we ended up saving the leftover bean and pepper mixture in the fridge and using it as a dip with crackers, which is also delicious. One serving of the tabouli contains about 210 calories, while one wrap contains about 360, depending on your choice of wrapping implement. (I used Mission whole wheat tortillas, which are 130 calories each). So for under 600 calories, you can have a fresh, hassle-free summer meal that is packed with nutrition. And since it's such a snap to prepare, you'll have plenty of time to soak your aching feet. Oh, the things we do for shoes!

Summer Cooking from a Non-Lettuce Lover: Tuna Burgers and Black Bean Salad

Summer is not technically here, but it sure feels like it's already arrived! I'm home sick from work today--nothing to worry about--but the effects of a potentially allergy-induced cold and cough have finally caught up with me, and I definitely needed some extra rest. Anyway, as I sit here with everyone's favorite sick day staple playing in the background, the temperature inside the apartment is a balmy 82 degrees, and the funny thing is, I wish it would stay that way. I love my air conditioners, but it's expensive to keep them on all day, like I did most of the time last summer, as my job required a lot of at-home hours. (Anyone in NY or the surrounding areas remember how hot it was last summer?) This summer, as many of you know, I will not be working because I'm getting MARRIED, so although I plan to escape the apartment as much as I can, I have to start thinking about two factors that may keep me at home more than I'd like to be: my love of cooking, and the inevitable post-wedding poverty.

Thus, a new mission is born (well, at least for this post): summer cooking! If the weather this summer is anything like a year ago, I need to adjust my regular dinner rotation so that what we make at home is super fast and uses as little heat from the oven or stove as possible. Bonus points if our recipes are healthy and require a minimum of cleanup. And there is one more thing: no lettuce. I enjoy the occasional green salad, but I don't believe they should be automatically equivocated to summer cooking. Personally, lettuce doesn't taste like anything to me, and nutritionally, eating lettuce is like eating air. Other greens like baby spinach and arugula are better, but still not what I love to eat and are disappointingly overpriced where I'm at. So, like the pasta salad I posted a while back, greens can be added, but will not be mandatory.

Ideally, I'd like to update regularly with new summer recipe finds, but honestly, I don't know if I'll be able to, seeing that this is only my second post since February and happens to be on a sick day...but in the meantime, here's a perfect pairing for you to enjoy, should you attempt it in your kitchen this summer. I'm pretty slow in the kitchen, but this dinner only took about a half hour for me to complete for both recipes, with only about 8-10 minutes of the stove being on for actual cooking. I made the salad while the burgers were cooking. Both of these dishes are very easily adaptable, which makes them great staples for the summer.

Tuna Burgers and Black Bean Salad

Ingredients
1 can tuna, drained and flaked (the recipe says a 6 oz. can but I don't think those exist in my area, so I use 5 oz.)
1 egg
1/2 cup seasoned breadcrumbs
1/3 cup finely chopped onion
2 sweet bell peppers (I used a red and a yellow)
3 tablespoons mayo (I use light, much to the chagrin of Husband-elect)
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1/2 tsp dill weed
dash of hot pepper sauce
dash of Worcestershire sauce
salt & pepper (to taste)
cooking spray (or oil for cooking)
buns or rolls for serving
1 can (15 oz.) black beans, drained and rinsed
1 avocado, pitted, peeled, and chopped
1 cup of your favorite salsa

Instructions
For tuna burgers:
1. Finely chop about 1/3 of one of the bell peppers and add to a large bowl with tuna, egg, bread crumbs, onion, mayonnaise, mustard, sauces, and seasonings. Mix well and shape into four patties.
2. Fry patties in a skillet coated with cooking spray on medium heat for about 4 minutes on each side, or until browned. Resist the urge to flip them too soon!
3. Serve on buns/rolls with whatever toppings you'd like. I won't judge you if one of them happens to be lettuce.

For black bean salad:
1. Roughly chop the remainder of the bell peppers and stir together with the black beans and salsa.
2. Gently mix in the avocado and season to taste with salt and pepper.

The salad makes about six servings for four burgers and contains about 160 calories per serving. I figured out the nutrition values for the tuna burgers using the variation I described, including Dijon mustard as the topping and served on an Arnold Sandwich Thin. One sandwich the way I made it contains about 250 calories, so you could have this quick, fresh, and tasty summer dinner for only 410 calories and still have room for ice cream!

If you like this recipe, maybe I'll be motivated to post more. For now, though, The Price is Right has long since been over. Time to switch to the Food Network.

Reviews in General

I've been very uninspired to write lately, and I'm not sure that I can attribute it to my usual excuse of life being busy. I'm just not excited about reviews. I think that I experience some pretty fun and cool things, but for whatever reason, I find that I'd rather just recap the event than put some sort of opinion across that others might find useful or interesting. Perhaps I need a change of theme. Gale and Bob share their art. Willie writes semi-fictional accounts of events with his own brand of witty flair. I feel like I'm sort of all over the place which makes it hard for me to begin when I want to write.

This summer, I'm going to have a good deal of free time, and I'd like to spend some of it writing, so I'm calling on my four or so readers for ideas. Should I stick to reviews? Start an all-out food blog? Amusing stories from the teaching world? An ordinary journal-type blog? Something completely different? Please share.