Creamy Turkey and Spinach Pie

4 oz Multi-grain pasta (or regular) pasta
1 8-oz pkg cream cheese (I used Tofutti)
3 eggs
1/2 cup light sour cream (I used Tofutti)
1/4 cup snipped fresh basil or 1 Tbsp dried basil, crushed
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp crushed red pepper
2 cups chopped cooked turkey
1-10oz pkg frozen chopped spinach, thawed, and well-drained
1 cup shredded reduced-fat Montery Jack Cheese (4 ounces)
1/3 cup chopped, bottle-roasted red sweet peppers.

Set oven to 350 Farenheit.

1. In a bowl, beat cream cheese (or Tofutti) with a hand-mixer until smooth.
2. Gradually beat in eggs and sour cream. Stir in basil, garlic powder, and crushed red peppers, turkey, spinach, shredded cheese and roasted peppers. Spread mixture into a prepared (greased) deep-dish baking pan.

Bake, uncovered, for 45 to 50 minutes or until heated through. Remove from heat, let sit for 10 minutes for maximum cohesion.

Now eat with abandon!!!!

I actually admit that I haven't tasted this yet, though Curtis was kind enough to wake up and go downstairs and taste it. He always says something is "really good." But over the next few days it may morph into "disappointing" or "spectacular", given the dish. We'll have to get back to you on this. In the meantime, make it yourself and see what YOU think.

Homemade Caramels

I learned something very important this evening. Never put the pan of caramels in the fridge to cool. Now I have to wait for the damned things to warm back up because they're un-cut-able. :)

Stress, Grumpiness and Fear.

First of all, I just loaded a Facebook app called "My Year in Statuses." I'm surprised to find that I'm not nearly as positive a person as I thought I was. I need to work on that. I grumble about damn-near everything. I am a happy person most days, and fun to be around, I think. I enjoy my work, I enjoy my kids, and I enjoy my life. But I bitch quite mercilessly on my statuses. Seems like I only notice the negative.

I think I should do some kind of stress-relief group. I need it. Curtis would probably be quick to agree with me. My happy-go-lucky day-to-day demeanor isn't at all consistent with what's apparently on my mind, though I guess my mind fights to cover it up to myself? I think I'm a master of disguise where my brain is concern. I'm concerned that my conscious and my subconscious are not nearly as well-acquainted as I thought.

As far as the rest goes, I don't subscribe to fear. Fear is stupid and counter-productive. There's no point in it. It doesn't help us, and it severely sends the wrong energy toward something. The worst thing you can do is think "I'm afraid I'm going to get in a car wreck" because then all you're doing is focusing on getting into a car wreck, and you will.
That being said, my sub-conscious is practically a different person. If I don't take something at night like Benadryl to shut my mind off, I fear all night. My dreams are about my animals getting sick, getting hurt, or dying. I worry about my Cat Hospital clients incessantly. I worry about keeping my house clean. I worry about stupid crap. Mostly I don't remember my dreams, and I don't know why I wake up with tension in my shoulders. But occasionally I do remember, and I think to myself, "why the heck did that feel so important at 3am?"

My cat might have cancer. I found 2 lumps today, and Dr. Percival thinks there might actually be 5. I'm trying not to be afraid. But I bet I will be when I sleep tonight.