Stories From the Road Part 1

AHH! Im already in love with the midwest. We started out a little off schedule which is totally usual for a Riley family trip. I drove the first leg to Memphis, TN. Driving though Mississippi was about as interesting as watching paint dry. (no offense to mississippians, of course, you're not bland!). We did pass through Tupelo, so in true tourist fashion, we said our respects to the king and moved on. You can't go to Mississippi without talking about Elvis! Onto to Memphis. I was so excited when I realized that The Neely's (who are chefs on the food network) have a restaurant in Memphis! If you know me, you know I am a huge fan of the food network. Therefore, you can understand my excitement! We found the restaurant and it was delicious! I had their specialty which was BBQ spaghetti. Weird, yes. But absolutely amazing! Definitely something I'm going to have to add to the recipe book.

Next leg I switched to co-pilot and mi padre took over. We drove through Arkansas, hitting the major spots. At this point we've been in the car for 8 hours and everything is starting to look the same and I feel like we're driving in circles. All the while I've been torturing my parents with Justin Bieber, Hanson, BSB, and any other boy band I can think of. I mixed in a little Mumford and Sons/Civil Wars before they decided to mutiny and throw me out of the car. It's been really fun so far getting to hang out with my parents. I had my reservations at first, who wouldnt after being at college for 4 years without them. I'm glad they both decided to come, I feel so loved. Especially since my father informed me he was missing Lord of the Dance in Birmingham this weekend for me. I am one lucky girl :)

By this point we've made it through Arkansas with little issues besides construction and people driving like they are in the Indy 500. Crossing over the Arkansas-Oklahoma line I felt the need to belt out that forever endearing line, "OOOOklahoma where the wind comes sweeping down the plains", and that was about it seeing as I don't really know the rest of the song...but who does? It is starting to get dark by this point and what do we come across? Checotah. Sound familiar? It's where Carrie Underwood hails from! They even have a massive sign on the interstate in case you forgot. And being the tourists we are, we stopped and took a picture of the exit sign.

So now we are stopped for the night after exactly 12 hours of driving and we are pretty much half way there! Tomorrow we'll get to see the likes of Texas, New Mexico, and then finally Arizona! I cant believe this is actually happening! Today while I was driving it hit me what I was actually doing and for 2 seconds I had a moment of panic and wanted to turn the car around to head back to my safety net.  Then I realized that was even crazier than driving out here in the first place so I changed my mind.  I'm sure I'll have more stories from the road tomorrow! Until then.

3 days+10 page paper+packing=chaos

3 days til the road trip begins! I still can't believe I'm actually doing this.  Tuesday is my last day of "nursing" school.  How bittersweet this week is going to be.  I'm still not sure if it has totally sunken in that I am actually a SENIOR in college. Seniors in college are supposed to know what is going on and have their life together. yeah. whatever. This adventure is going to be amazing but sometimes I still get a little sad thinking I won't see anyone I know for 2 whole months. Thank goodness for skype.

I was in the car yesterday and Mama's Song came on by Carrie Underwood. I don't know if you've ever heard it before but even though I've heard it multiple times it struck a heart string and I bawled through the whole song (which seems to be the theme lately). Not that I'm getting married and leaving my family but thinking about my family and how I'm not going to see them for 2 months is a little sad :( I think every song I've heard on the radio lately has made me cry! Goodness.

My sweet sister along with my roommates threw me a going away party and it was awesome! Thanks to everyone who came! It meant so much to me! It makes leaving Wednesday a little bit easier. Sorry if this post was a little scattered, it pretty much sums up how my brain feels right about now.

Next post I'll probably be in Arizona or somewhere in the middle of the desert trying to get there! Pray for safe travels!

14 days!!!

Oh my goodness. I can't believe it! 2 weeks until I pack up the Edge and head to the wild west with the parents in tow. I am so excited that both of them are going to be able to go out there with me. It will make the 23ish hours a lot more exciting! I've started my packing list and its stressing me out just a little. No worries though, there is always FedEx and UPS just in case I forget something!

I have found out that I am going to be working in the Pulmonary Med/Surg unit which is similar to a step down unit from critical care. I am really excited about it! At first, I was a little hesitant because it has "med surg" in the title and if you ask anyone in nursing school that word is pretty much taboo. But there is obviously a reason why the Lord has placed me there and I know in the end it'll be worth it. I also found out who my preceptor is! I didn't realize how nerve wracking it was actually going to be to call a complete stranger in hopes that she actually knows that she is going to precept me. After dialing the number and psyching myself out a couple times, I finally called. Ring, Ring, Ring, Ring...answering machine. I have never been so happy to hear an automated voice. I left a message and now I'm waiting to hear back from her. Although, if she doesn't have a clue that she is precepting me, she probably thinks I'm some crazy hick that has no idea what is going on. Let's hope she knows I'm coming!

The more I think about my trip coming up the more excited I get! It is going to be such an adventure and I can only hope to impart a small piece of our southern culture on these people. Definitely making some Paula Deen recipes for the nurses at the hospital!

One thing I do ask is that y'all be in prayer for our medical/mission trip to Ecuador that is coming up in 3 weeks! It is going to be an awesome trip and I know the Lord is going to do great things there! Pray that the villagers will be receptive to us and to the message we are bringing them!

I leave you with this:
"Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Matt 28:19-20

New Year. New Adventure. New Blog

Here we go! Im going to actually try and keep up with blogging this time.  I am now a month out from leaving for Phoenix, Arizona to embark on a journey that a year ago I would have never thought I would do.  Leaving the South and going to Arizona? Am I crazy? Quite possibly. As much as I joke, I really do feel like the Lord is calling me to a different place.  Away from everything I am comfortable with to draw me closer to Him.

I will be working at a hospital out in Phoenix hopefully in either the ICU or the ER. I haven't found out the name of my preceptor yet but I am praying that she/he is someone who is willing to teach me.  I can't wait to see what the Lord has waiting for me out there in the desert!

I hope this is a start to a great relationship with me and the blog. Seeing as it will probably be the only thing that will listen to me rant about the craziness that will be my life in the next month.  I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

Its been so long!

Oh my goodness, I can't believe that it has been over 2 months since I last blogged! I have been so incredibly busy with school and cooking that I haven't even thought about it! I'm going to try and keep up with it this semester since I have some time and my schedule is a little bit more routine. My roommate is going to be the reason I keep doing this! She is my reminder! The first recipe I decided to include on my first blog back from the hiatus is this fantastic chocolate truffle cake. I made it for one of my roommate's birthday and it was awesome but so rich that a sliver is just enough. The recipe looks a tad daunting but if you follow it step by step it will turn out just fine.

Chocolate Truffle Cake

2 8oz. packages unsweetened-chocolate squares (16 1-ounce squares)

1 cup plus 6 tablespoons margarine or butter (2 3/4 sticks), at room temperature

3 large eggs

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

2 2/3 cups all-purpose flour

2 cups sugar

1 1/4 teaspoons baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar

3/4 cup heavy cream

10 1-ounce squares semi-sweet chocolate

1. Grease three 9-inch round cake pans with butter. Preheat oven to 325 degrees

2. In heavy 4-quart saucepan over low heat, heat 12 squares unsweetened chocolate, 1 cup (2 sticks) margarine or butter, and 2 1/2 cups water, stirring frequently, until melted and smooth. Remove from heat; cool slightly

3. In large bowl, with wire whisk or fork, beat eggs and vanilla extract. Gradually beat in chocolate. (it's best to temper the egg mixture first by adding small amounts of the chocolate mixture to bring the eggs up to temperature so they don't scramble)

4. To chocolate mixture, add flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt; continue beating with wire whisk or fork until batter is smooth and well blended.

5. Pour batter into cake pans. Bake 25 to 30 minutes until toothpick inserted into the center of cake comes out clean. Cool cakes in pans on wire racks 10 minutes. Remove from pans; cool cakes completely on wire racks.

6. Meanwhile, prepare truffle mixture: In heavy 2-quart saucepan over low heat, heat remaining 4 squares unsweetened chocolate, stirring frequently, until melted; cool slightly. With spoon, stir in confectioners' sugar, remaining 6 tablespoons margarine or butter (3/4 stick), and 1/4 cup heavy cream until mixture is smooth and blended.

7. Prepare glaze: In heavy 2-quart saucepan over low heat, heat 8 squares semisweet chocolate and remaining 1/2 cup heavy cream, stirring frequently, until melted, smooth, and slightly thickened; keep warm.

8. Assemble the cake: with metal spatula spread 1 cake layer with 1/2 cup truffle mixture. Top with second cake layer, pressing down gently but firmly. Spread with another 1/2 cup truffle mixture; top with third cake layer.

9. Glaze the cake: Over assembled cake, pour prepared glaze. With metal spatula, spread glaze to completely cover top and side of cake.

10. Remove cake off of cooling rack and place on cake plate. Pipe with remaining truffle mixture if you want.

*I took 1 of the semisweet squares, chopped it up and sprinkled it over the top.

So yummy!!!

Well I hope you enjoy this one! I'm off to get some sleep before going to Georgia tomorrow for a clinical site!

Cake Balls!!

Oh my goodness what a weekend! My family and I pulled off a surprise birthday party for my mom's 50th birthday and it was crazy! I now know that my life as a party planner would never work out. My type A personality can't take it. But it was so much fun and I think she loved it! I made so much I dont know which one to post first....this one is my very favorite so I figured it would be a good one! These are the easiest things to make and everyone will think you are the best baker ever!

Cake Balls
1 box of yellow cake mix (Duncan Hines is my favorite)
1 tub of vanilla icing
1 pkg of chocolate candy coating

Make cake mix according to directions. Line a muffin tin with paper cups and pour mixture into prepared cups. This normally makes around 18 cupcakes. Let the cupcakes cool completely. Unwrap and place the cupcakes in a large bowl. With a fork, crumble the cupcakes until it is very crumbly. Add about 3/4 of the icing to the cupcakes. Stir until it is completely mixed. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes. Take out of refrigerator and uncover mixture. Make balls and place on cookie sheet. Place candy coating in a bowl and mircowave in 30 second intervals until the chocolate is just melted. Spray another cookie sheet with non-stick spray and set aside. Dip cake balls into the chocolate and place on prepared pan. Refrigerate until the chocolate is set and enjoy!

Marshmallow Delights

Another dessert. I promise I make more than sweets but here lately that's all I've been wanting! Stevie and I (Stevie is my sous chef HAHA and my right hand gal when it comes to anything cooking/advice/life) made these and they were the perfect pair to the drama on the Bachelorette! Yay for Frank! I loved his date with Ali. I think he is definitely going to be on there for a long time unless he screws up royally. And can we say thank goodness Craig M. is gone?! I was going to jump through the tv and punch him in the face myself! I often ask myself why I put myself through watching this stuff but it's just so addicting! Ok so enough about tv drama bring on this recipe!

Marshmallow Delights
1 can crescent rolls
1 bag large marshmallows
1/2 stick butter, melted
1 cup sugar
2 tblsp. cinnamon

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Prepare muffin pan with non-stick spray and set aside. Take a marshmallow, dip in butter and roll in cinnamon and sugar, and place on each crescent roll. Pull crescent roll dough up and around the marshmallow bringing the edges together like a pouch. Dip the top in butter and cinnamon and sugar and place it sugar side up in the muffin pan. Bake for 12 minutes. Enjoy while they are warm!

*Note: They will puff up so don't open the oven until you take them out because it will cause them to deflate. Also, the marshmallow will melt into sugar so there will be no marshmallow in the middle just a sugary inside! We didn't think about this before and when we bit into it there was no marshmallow and we were a tad shocked!

This recipe only makes 8 but you are definitely going to want to make atleast 2 batches because they go fast!