Lemon Drop Cookies

I totally fell off the recipe wagon for a few weeks there.  It’s not that I’ve run out of recipes to share – on the contrary, I have a giant pile of pictures and recipes waiting to post – but now that I don’t have my personal computer and all my files with me in the lab, when I’m waiting between experiments on the weekends, I can’t post.  And by the time I get home, I often try to do things and see people so I don’t feel like I TOTALLY wasted a weekend in the lab, and the recipes are sacrificed in the process.

But this weekend, I knew I had to post about the January CRAFT:along… considering it is the last day of January and all.  Last year, the ~along featured all sewing projects, so I didn’t participate.  It’s not that I can’t sew, because I can, it’s just that I don’t own a sewing machine right now, and let’s be honest – I don’t have the time to start picking up a sewing project each month.  But this year, the CRAFT:along decided each month to feature one sewing project, and one non-sewing project.  I was expecting something actually craft related… like, you know, knitting or paper-crafting… but instead, a recipe for lemon drop cookies was chosen.

Let me tell you how lucky I am that this was the case, because I had seen this very same recipe and passed over it, and that would have been a HUGE mistake.  These cookies were fantastic!  Sugary, lemony, and an absolutely delicious change of pace from heavy chocolate, peanut butter, or oatmeal cookies.  I made this for a weekend I went to visit my grandmother in the hospital, and my parents just couldn’t get enough of them – even my father, who normally does not like lemon flavoring.

While it may be a bit late for you to participate in the event (you’d have to post your pictures to the Flickr group by midnight tonight to be considered for a prize), you should absolutely make these at some point later.  I know I will be making them again!

Lemon Drop Cookies

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup unsalted butter
• 1/4 cup trans-fat free vegetable shortening
• 1/4 cup cream cheese
• 3 cups granulated sugar
• zest of 3 lemons
• 3 egg yolks
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon cream of tartar
• dash of salt
• 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 300F.
2. In the bowl of a mixer, fitted with the paddle attachment, cream butter, shortening, and cream cheese at medium speed until smooth, about 2 minutes.
3. In the bowl of a food processor, combine granulated sugar and lemon zest.  Pulse several times to combine.
4. Add two cups of lemon/sugar combination, baking soda, cream of tartar, and salt to the mixer bowl and beat for several minutes to combine.  Add egg yolks, lemon juice, and vanilla and beat to combine.  Turn mixer to slow speed and gradually add flour.
5. Roll dough into 1” balls and roll balls in remaining lemon/sugar mixture.  Place 2” apart on a baking sheet fitted with parchment paper or a silipat mat.  Bake 12-14 minutes, until just barely browned.

I'm a Mac... and I suck.

Three weeks ago, I received my "New Year's Present" from the lab:

And a little piece of my died inside. Have I mentioned how much I hate Macs?

Now, it was nice to finally get a computer. I was really starting to feel like a second-class citizen. When I first joined the lab, the rule was that since money was tight, no more computers would be purchased -- graduate students had to provide their own (i.e., bring in our own personal laptops), and post-docs and techs had to make-do with the current computer situation. But then they started getting upgraded computers, and the other grad student had an unfortunate incident with her laptop and a can of peach spritzer (laptop: 0, peach spritzer: 1). She declared that it was the fault of dragging her laptop back and forth everyday (and not the fault of storing a can of liquid in her laptop case) that it met its untimely end and she would not be bringing her new computer in the lab... so of course, the lab bought her one. And before I knew it, everyone had a fairly new-ish computer... except me.

Then, the lab decided that since everyone else was too lazy to back up their computers on a regular basis, and Macs have a habit of running totally smooth and then just up and dying one day (hence resulting in regular, major data loss), we were going to invest in a terabyte hard drive and network all the computers to it for nightly back-ups. Except that everyone had to be on a Mac... and I still had my PC. And hence, a brand new 20" iMac appeared next to my desk.

Three weeks later? I hate Macs even more than I did before... and I didn't know that was possible. Now, if you're not particularly knowledgeable about computers, I get that they are straightforward and far more idiot-proof than a PC. But... they just don't do the things I want! I know my way around a computer well, and made dozens and dozens of tweaks to my PC to have everything run exactly the way I want. And the Mac? It just doesn't do that. In three weeks, I have called Apple seven times to ask how to get something to work the way I want it to, and seven straight times I was told that Macs just don't have those capabilities. Really? Why on earth would anyone pay significantly more money for an equivalent computer that doesn't do what a PC does? Considering the price, I would expect the Mac to go above and beyond my PC... and it has failed, terribly.

Boo.

Although, the 20" screen will be useful come poster-making time... if only all the figures I previously made would show up on the Mac (they won't). Just look at the difference between my tiny little portable laptop, and my new ginormous lab computer!


On the other hand, I do sorely miss having all my personal things with me in the lab. Waiting for 10 hour column runs on the weekend is so utterly boring when I don't have my own files (hence the lack of posts lately -- everything I want to post requires pictures, and all the pictures are on my home computer).

However, a big screen isn't enough to sway my vote. Two thumbs down for Apple.

Barack Obama is Ruining My Life

48 hours in office, and President Obama is already on my shit-list. (And, speaking of becoming the president, I will post about my experiences attending the inauguration... it just may take a while. Now that my pictures are all at home, I am far less motivated to do anything picture-related since I can't put it together while in the lab).

So what, you ask, could the President have already done?

He invited his mother-in-law to move in and help raise the children.

Which lead to a phone call from my mother-in-law, insisting that if the President lets his mother-in-law move in to raise the children, then she damn well expects that when we eventually have children, she will be able to move in with us and help raise the children.

Thanks a lot, Barack. Thanks a lot.

My response was that if my husband is able to buy us a home equal in size to the White House, then she is welcome to come move in to a wing far away from me. One square inch smaller than the White House, however, and there will be a no mothers-in-law clause (regarding moving in; mothers-in-law will be permitted to visit.... occasionally).

I'm wondering if I can receive some sort of Presidential Pardon to prohibit my mother-in-law from moving in. It might be my only hope. Either that, or a hysterectomy.

Victory is Sweet

...and against the Ravens, it's even sweeter.

Superbowl, HERE WE COME!!

In Roethlisberger We Trust.

And any Eagles fans out there, my condolences for the unfortunate end to your season. I remember all too well the pain of being stopped at the conference championships (thank you Patriots and Colts), and my husband is currently in his bed in Philadelphia, probably crying himself to sleep. But, I have to admit, I'm kind of glad it won't be the SuperPABowl... I'm not sure my marriage could survive that.

Hospital Billing Blows

I have many other things about which I have been meaning to write, but seeing as how I had to take an entire afternoon off of the lab to return home, call insurance companies, and fight while pacing back and forth throughout my tiny little condo... I need to rant.

We all know how much I absolutely loath UnitedHeathcare. It sucks a huge, fat ass, and ever since our university switched to UHC, I've spent countless hours arguing with them. But, since I live in Washington, D.C., where the cost of housing is equal to two arms, a leg, and the promise of my first-born, UHC it was. My stipend barely covers my rent, utilities, and food... so going out and getting better healthcare other than what my program provides for free was not an option.

Then, I got married... and on June 16, 2008, my husband started his first day as a real, working doctor. This excitedly meant that he had better healthcare options, and I could tag along for a much smaller fee than me trying to pursue other healthcare options on my own! So now, we pay a bit over $200/month for each of us to have really good insurance.

While the competency of my insurance has increased.... the competency of those in billing has drastically decreased. See, because of a problem since birth that should have been surgically corrected but the orthopedic surgeon thought could fix itself, I've been in physical therapy since March, and will probably be going for many years to come. Insurance Problem #1 comes with the timing of switching from UHC to Husband's BlueCross. While he started working in June, he had to complete tons of paperwork, wait for the results of his drug test to come back, and wait until Jupiter was properly aligned with Mars before we received our shiny, new, better insurance cards. As such, we didn't receive them until August. Come August, I happy handed over my new card to billing for my PT and asked them to switch me over for future appointments. Future appointments, as in, from that day forward.

As case would have it, the billing department stacks up appointments in groups, and bills all at once. So while I did not have a card or a group number or any possible way to use my BlueCross insurance until August, I happened to catch them at the end of the cycle.... and 6 of my previous visits, from June and July, were all billed to BlueCross, without my knowledge. Following 10 appointments, in order for insurance to continue paying, the physical therapist needs to call up and state why more appointments are necessary. You see where this is going, right? If 6 visits were billed to my new insurance, and I wasn't aware of this, because they weren't SUPPOSED to be billed.... then I hit that 10-visit limit a month and a half earlier than anticipated. And not knowing this, I kept going. Until I received a $4,500 bill in the mail for the PT claim that was denied by my insurance. And of course, since this fell in the previous year for the UHC insurance, they do not want to pay for those 6 visits for which they should have paid in the first place. Despite hours upon hours upon hours of calling, nothing seems to be resolved, and in the meantime, the hospital is threatening to send bill collectors for the $4,500 that I don't actually owe because billing fucked up and not me, and I've had to discontinue my PT until it is all resolved.

Then, last week, Insurance Problem #2 arose. One of my previous migraine medications caused drastic changes to my vision, and as it has been known to cause glaucoma and blindness, my doctor send me off to ophthalmology to check the pressure in my eyes and a thorough exam of my eye structure. Upon arriving, I had to fill out the requisite paperwork, all about my medical history, and to update my insurance information. As in, I sat there and wrote on a piece of paper that I have BlueCross. Then, I handed over my insurance card to the receptionist, where she scanned in said BlueCross card. I know it was the BlueCross card, because I don't even carry my UnitedHealthcare card with me, as I have zero intentions to use it as primary insurance.

Imagine my surprise, then, when I receive a bill in the mail for $206.00 for my ophthalmology visit. So, this afternoon, on my designated insurance fighting day, I called up billing at the hospital to ask why I was sent a bill, rather than my insurance company. At which point, I was told that UHC paid for half, and I was responsible for the other half. As in, despite the fact that I filled out the form and handed over my BlueCross card, they still decided to bill the insurance company that was listed on record from my last MRI in February. WHAT IS THE POINT OF FILLING OUT INSURANCE INFORMATION IF THEY'RE NOT EVEN GOING TO LOOK AT IT?!?! Give me a freaking break.

I was planning on going back to lab this afternoon, but having spent the past 4 hours on the phone fighting, I'm just too exhausted. And in the meantime, I need to switch my migraine medication back to what I was on previously (got the all-clear from the ophthalmologist) because I've had 5 migraines in 6 weeks with what I am on now... but I'm terrified that if I go to my doctor and see him for all of 5 minutes just to ask for a script, I'm going to be billed $150 for my non-examination.

Too bad my husband is too darn ethical to write the script on my behalf. I mean, honestly, what's the point of marrying a doctor if you can't get a script slipped to you now and then??

Chickpea Potato Curry

I was going to post a recipe for one of the many cookies/brownies/truffles that I made for our Chrismukkah party several weeks ago, but then I realized that it might be mean to taunt anyone who resolved to eat healthier with pictures of things they are trying to avoid. I'll still post things later, but to help everyone off in the New Year, here's something a bit healthier... but just as delicious (okay, fine, maybe not... but still pretty darn good).

Chickpea Potato Curry

Ingredients:

• 2 1/2 cups vegetable broth
• 2 (15-ounce) cans chickpeas, drained and rinsed
• 14.5 ounce can stewed tomatoes
• 6 baby Yukon Gold potatoes (approx. 12 ounces), quartered
• 1 medium onion, diced
• 1 Tbsp unsalted butter
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp cumin (ground)
• 1 tsp coriander (ground)
• 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
• rice (we use brown), cooked accordingly
  

Directions:

1. In a large pot, combine the broth, chickpeas, tomatoes, potatoes, onion, butter, ginger, salt, cumin, coriander, and cayenne. Stir to mix and nestle the potatoes into the liquid.
2. Set the pot, uncovered, over medium heat. Simmer vigorously for 35 minutes, or until the potatoes are tender and most of the broth has evaporated.
3. Serve in bowls over rice.

Note: Since Husband prefers meat with his meals, I seared some chicken in a bit of the excess broth and spice mixture from the curry.

101 in 1001

I first read about the 1001 Days Project on Sherry's blog. The idea is simple -- come up with a list of 101 things you want to accomplish in 1001 days (roughly 2.75 years). I intended to start my list on my 25th birthday, but things were busy and hectic in June, and my list was stuck around 50. Time passed, and I forgot about it altogether... and last night, at a New Year's party, discussions of resolutions reminded me about the list. So while in lab today, I finished it up, and I'm officially starting today.


I'm bending the rules a bit -- not all of my tasks have a result that is clearly measurable for success. I'm not looking to do things short term (i.e., drink 8 glasses of water everyday for 2 months), but rather to do things frequently enough that by the time the 1001 days rolls around, they have become part of my daily routine and are normal for me. But hey, this is my list for myself, so I'm going to do it how I please.

I'll update on this page as tasks are completed -- follow along with my success [link on blog navigation bar].

Between January 1, 2009 and September 29, 2011, I will...

Professional:

1. Learn to love science again.
2. Write up experiment protocols and results for each experiment within 48 hours of completion.
3. Attend seminars on a regular basis (even if it means working 15 hour days to fit seminars around experiments).
4. Do an out-of-the-box, crazy experiment -- logical experiments aren't working, so maybe something crazy will!
   
5. Present a poster at a conference.
6. Submit a paper as a first author and have paper accepted.
7. Clean chemical bench every Friday.
8. Successfully defend thesis -- become Disgruntled Julie, Ph.D.
9. Regardless of when I defend, return to D.C. for graduation ceremonies.
   
10. Figure out what I want to do post-graduate school.
11. Find a job in desired field in Philadelphia area.
    
    Relationships:
    
12. Host a girls' night once a year.
13. Host a Game-a-thon.
14. Host a Dessert-a-thon.
15. Host an old-fashioned sleepover.
    
16. Mail a card or letter to a friend once a month.
17. Learn how to make the most of a long-distance marriage.
    
18. [personal]
    
    Growing Up:
    
19. Remake larger wedding album.
    
20. Move to Philadelphia to live with Husband.
21. Buy a house or condo.
22. Buy/lease/inherit (from Husband) a car if we are not living in a public transportation friendly neighborhood.
23. Find a synagogue we like and become members.
24. Actually drag Husband to services at said synagogue.
    
25. Establish long-term primary care physician in Philadelphia.
26. Make new friends in Philadelphia, but...
27. Keep in touch with old friends and visit as often as possible.
    
28. Purchase remaining items from our wedding registry.
29. Apply for passport with hyphenated last name.
30. Sign up for life insurance with Husband.
31. Draft a living will.
    
    Financial:
    
32. Take spare change to bank.
33. Transfer money to ING savings account on the first of each month.
34. Continue to track all finances in Microsoft Money, and make a better effort to stick to my budget.
    
35. Increase savings account by $10,000.
36. Pay off interest each month on Husband's medical school loans.
37. Have at least 15 "no spend" days per month -- spend absolutely no money at all.
    
    Domestication:
    
38. Bake the perfect challah.
39. Bake the perfect cherry pie.
    
40. Host major holiday dinner at our new abode in Philadelphia.
41. Host a formal dinner party (for no specific reason).
42. Take a cake decorating class.
43. Shampoo carpets in current condo.
44. Send cookie packages to soldiers through Operation Baking GALS.
45. Create a cookbook with favorite recipes.
46. Cook something different each night for a month.
    
    Crafting:
    
47. Use up yarn in stash.
48. Open Etsy shop.
49. Sell something from Etsy shop.
50. Learn to needlepoint.
51. Master knitting in the round.
52. Make blanket for Project Linus.
53. Make blanket for Spirit Jump (and hopefully make a new friend in the process).
    
54. Learn how to quilt.
55. Knit or crochet something for myself -- I've given away everything I've ever made to other people.
56. Hand make holiday cards and send to family and friends every year.
    
57. Create yearly photo books.
    
    Organizing:
58. Clean out closet and donate old clothes.
59. Organize bathroom storage under sink.
60. Organize recipes in Evernote.
61. Print copy of all recipes on recipe cards and store in binders (less potential for disaster than dragging laptop to kitchen every time I cook something new).
    
62. Organize magazines -- scan in articles of interest and recycle remaining magazines.
63. Organize bills from past year.
64. Organize health care paperwork from past year.
65. Organize bank statements.
66. Collect all old cards and mail to St. Jude's Ranch for Children Card Recycling Program.
    
    Health, Fitness, and Appearance:
    
67. Drink 8 glasses of water per day.
68. Floss every day, not just when I have extra time.
69. Take vitamins appropriately -- i.e., split up calcium pills morning and night, not both at the same time.
70. Find a weekday when I can return "home" to central PA to see my family dentist.
    
71. Lose 20 pounds.
72. Work out three times per week.
73. Track what I eat every day.
74. Do not eat after 8pm on weekdays.
    
75. Complete Couch to 5K program.
76. Stretch daily -- make physical therapist proud!
77. [personal]
    
78. Develop a skin care routine to ward off wrinkles.
79. Get over fear of dying hair, and cover up all the incoming grey hairs rather than pluck them until I am bald.
80. Get a fantastic haircut.
81. Donate blood.
    
    Hobbies & Skills:
    
82. Start playing piano again.
83. Complete Project 365.
84. Blog at least once per week.
85. Take a photography course.
86. Learn and feel comfortable using all features on my current dSLR camera.
    
87. Read 100 books.
88. Win my fantasy football league.
    
89. Take golf lessons.
90. Go scuba diving and pursue further advanced certification.
91. Go skiing with my father.
    
92. Learn conversational Hebrew.
93. Re-read the Tanakh, cover-to-cover, in order, on my own time.
    
94. Attend Screen on the Green and picnic with friends.
95. Eat at 15 new restaurants.
    
96. Re-learn how to parallel park -- haven't owned a car in seven years!
97. Back up computer every 2 weeks.
98. Take a real vacation with just Husband to someplace wonderful.
99. Take a family cruise with our parents.
100. Go camping.
     
     
101. Be happy with who I am and the direction my life has taken.
     

Apologies

I apologize for my sudden disappearance... here I am, leading you on with promises of wedding updates and weekly recipes, and then I just stop posting altogether. Things have been a wee bit stressful around here, and after the past two weeks, I am quite content to leave 2008 in the past.

Two weeks ago, I received a phone call that my grandmother had a stroke. The bleed was too deep in the brain for the neurosurgeons to attempt anything, so we just had to wait and see what happened over time. In a follow up CT scan, an unexpected pattern of shading was found, and after two subsequent MRIs, it was discovered that the bleed was surrounding a 5cm tumor (for those who do not deal with tumors on a regular basis, 5cm in the brain is enormous -- larger than a golf ball). The neurologist was astounded that my grandmother has been able to function with no problems up to this point -- only because the tumor has been extremely slow growing (slow enough that it has started to calcify) and her brain has been able to adapt to the giant mass.

Needless to say, between dealing with doctors and visiting and not knowing what the outcome will be, the 5 days I spent out of the lab were far from relaxing and enjoyable. We returned to D.C. on Monday, and I've slowly been easing my way back into the lab -- I need a vacation after my vacation.

Here's to hoping everyone has a happy, and healthy, 2009. I, for one, am ringing in the new year in the lab, fighting with my proteins -- brand new year, same old shit.