Moody Blues

I just had to do my least favorite thing in the whole world. Call people on the phone. Is it weird that I am essentially a secretary ...prolly. I had to call 6 High School children and tell them they just got 2000 dollars. Should be fun right? Nope. They were not as excited as I would have expected. I think 2 grand is a lot of money. Maybe someday they will too. They all seemed reluctant to come to our induction ceremony. They get recogniziton, to be on TV, and a free dinner for them and two family members. all in all not a bad deal... but no. I had to talk to a mother. I just gave your kid money! why are you a bitch! I didn't want to talk to you anyway you didn't win anything! I hope someday soon I can go back to having a job where I don't have to talk to customers or donors or patrons. I would be a much happier girl writing little tiny numbers on things than explaining to someone for the 15'000th time that no we don't sell baseball cards.... we are a museum. Okokok.. I think im done.
Not that I am taking my job for granted. Lots of people would be jealous of my job. I get paid 12 dollars an hour to surf the web. Currently I am at work writing this. Here is a rundown of things I have done today. 8-930 did some work for Joe (my boyfriend not my boss). 9:30-12 read all my comics, the news, the eagle, the Oregonian. 12-1 lunch .. I watch the cobert report during lunch. 1- 2 I called the high school kids. Now I have til 4 to waste. Definitely more news on the horizon for me. It's not like I am the only one that does this.. If I turn around I can see one of my bosses playing tetras. Ahh nonprofit jobs.
It's times like this where I dream of getting a new job. or perhaps winning the lottery. even my old job would be better. At least there were people I could talk to and there was a mission.
Maybe Paul Allen will call me soon and offer me that job.

Chickpea / Sweet Potato Casserole

Chickpea / Sweet Potato Casserole
A few people have been asking for this so here it is.
It is my new comfort food.

1 cup dried chickpeas cooked for two hours. or 1 can
2 medium sweet potatoes (yams also work)
1 small onion (diced)
1/2 Jar Salsa
1 red pepper (diced)
1/2 tsp chili powder
8 corn tortillas (taco sized)
dash of cayanne pepper
salt and pepper
oil


Sauce
1 1/2 cup Milk
3 or 4 Tbs flour
1 1/2 cups of grated cheese

Cooking
-- Chickpeas. If you are using dried (which tastes better but is slightly more work) soak the beans in water (in a bowl or container with a couple of inches covering the beans all day or overnight) Drain and rinse the beans. Put the beans in a sauce pan with a few inches of water covering them. Bring to a boil then simmer for 2 hours.
-- Sweet potatoes. peal the tato and dice into cubes, toss with oil and salt and pepper and bake for about 40 minutes. or grate and pan fry in a few tablespoons of butter for ten minutes or boil and mash.
(I usually do those first two steps the night before while I am cooking that nights dinner. then the rest doesn't take that long.)

-- In a large skillet heat the oil over medium heat. Add the onions and peppers and cooked till tender (about 5-10 minutes).
Add the salsa, potatoes, Chickpeas, seasonings, salsa. Heat through.
-- Meanwhile. Heat 1 and 1/4 of the milk over meduim heat. Mix the remaining 1/4 with the flour. When the milk is warm whisk in the flour. Whisk for about a minute. Slowly add and whisk in the grated cheese. The sauce will be thick.
-- Cut the tortillas in half and layer the bottom of a greased 8 x 8 baking dish with 1/2 the torts. Add the filling. Layer the top with remaining torts. Pour on milk sauce. Sprinkle a little more cheese. Bake for 20-25 minutes at 350.
-- serve with sour cream (optional)

Last time I made this it was enough food for Joe and I to eat dinner and two lunches.

So Tired.

We have been busy. We went to Seattle to visit and see the Sox. Dave came for a few days. I feel like I haven't slept in in ages. I don't see that happening til mid-June. Ouch. This weekend is the Rose Festival. So we may head out to the Grand Parade that goes through downtown. I doubt we will get to see much of it because they allow you to camp on the route the night before.. and we are totally not doing that. I am sure it will be the biggest parade I have ever seen in person. I think somewhere around 300,000 people pack into downtown to see the parade. Sunday is my first day of volunteering at my neighborhood farmers market! I took the early morning shift so joe and I could still have the day to do weekend things. I am super excited about the market. Soon joe and I will be eating vegetables grown on a sustainable farm just 1.5 miles from our house! Recently I have been reading a lot of foodie books. So now I dream about owning a farm.. not really all the work just the benefits of yummy veggies and grass fed meat. I bought a powerball ticket this week. so we shall see.