Dreams, Goals, and Applications

The past few days have been very interesting. I have been pushing myself to gain a career. This means resume after resume, cover letter after cover letter, e-mails after e-mails have been made. It's almost a full time job to find someone that will hire you. And lately the response has all been the same--NOTHING. No note to say thanks for your interest, but sorry we can't/won't be hiring you. Just NOTHING. It becomes a bit frustrating to say the least, and yet my pursuit continues.

Then last night, I sat on top of a mountain side late in the wee-hours of the morning with two wonderful friends, and a bunch of strangers, to watch as rocks came skidding into the atmosphere. Treats in a picnic basket, a blanket, and fresh baked cookies helped me open my eyes to the heavens. As we sat staring to the darkened sky, even the glitter of stars couldn't be as enjoyable, as laughing together when joke upon joke came from our mouths. I realized something. I was content. I came home and as I entered that portal of a door to my lonely sanctuary I call home, I spoke aloud and said, "Well, I just had the perfect day." And I realized it was true.

This morning I woke-up and took my time with everything I did. Even my morning cereal was a delight to be enjoyed. And as I followed my feet down the hill on 200 South, I thought about my dreams, my goals, and which applications to send out next in the sweltering heat.

My thought it is that I need to become something. It is probably everyones dream to be admired for what they do. To make a name for themselves. To be given the chance to shine. And then I sat outside with my raspberry Italian soda (with a splash of cream) and opened my computer to check my e-mail only to find yet again, NOTHING.

And so I walked home. Hot and sweaty, thinking what to do next. How do I get a response. A response of any kind. And as nothing came to mind I sat in my room, in the heat, and zoned in front of the T.V. Wanting cooler temps I found a movie to go to and drove downtown to sit in air-conditioning to watch Julie & Julia.

It was a good movie, a good one. Maybe it was the love of cooking, maybe it was the refreshing air, maybe it was the buttered popcorn. Who knows but when I walked out of the theater and into the cool summer night air, I realized something. It's not about becoming someone, its recognizing that you already are someone. I do shine. I am somebody.

I already have a name for myself, and it is one that people don't usually forget. On the mountain top last night, I was me, laughing, eating, and gazing into an environment I hold so dear, and a friend told me I was her Mom away from Mom. In the past I hated this statement. I didn't want to be the Mom of my friends. But this afternoon I realized it's not about the title, it's about the nature. I am a caring person that wants to experience and share the world around them with others. I am a girl who tries to always put others first. And I am a person who wants to help others achieve their dreams.
Now all this might sound very ME, ME, ME, but as Julie said in the movie, "Isn't that what a blog is." So this blog is for me. My name is Denver and I already have more than NOTHING.

Fresh Cherry Far

So there is a long story behind making this dessert, but I will spare you the details here. To make a long story short, it was more than worth the wait. This is probably my favorite dessert I have made in my life, and that is saying something because I like my desserts. Hope you find it delicious too.

Ingredients:
2 cups milk
3 large eggs
1/2 cup sugar
5 T. unsalted butter
1/2 t. vanilla extract
dash salt
3/4 c. flour

1 c. fresh cherries (pitted and cut in half)
1/3 c. dried cranberries
1/2 c. water
1/3 c. Triple Sec

Powdered sugar

In a blender place milk, eggs, sugar, butter, vanilla, and salt. Blend for one minute. Add in flour and whirl around until mixed. Place in your refrigerator to chill for at least 3 hours or over night. (I recommend over night).

In a sauce pan place cherries, cranberries, and water. Bring to boil and cook until water is almost all evaporated. Add in triple sec. Return to boil. Place fruit mixture in bowl and let sit until at room temperature. (This can also be done the night before).

Butter cake pan and dust with flour. Place parchment paper on the bottom. Re-blend flour mixture and place in cake pan. Sprinkle fruit mixture over all the mixture. In a 375*F oven, place cake pan on bake sheet on center rack. Cook for an hour or until a knife comes out clean from the center.

Cool completely. Run knife along edge of cake and then transfer to serving dish. (This is a two step process. Place plate over cake, tip over until free of pan, then place serving dish on bottom of the dessert and tip over again.) Dust the top with powdered sugar and serve. Makes a great breakfast too.

Basil and Apple Rolled Chicken

Ingredients:
1 chicken breast (makes enough for 2)
1 apple (sliced thin)
1 clove garlic (minced)
fresh basil leaves
salt and pepper
oil

Butterfly chicken all the way through. Pound out each half until flat. Salt and pepper each side of chicken. Sprinkle on one side with garlic. Place apple slices along with basil on chicken and roll. Pinch chicken together with toothpicks. Heat oil in skillet and place chicken inside. Brown each side of chicken. Press down with pan lid, or such, until chicken is fully cooked. Enjoy.

I sided this with an easy cucumber and tomato salad that was drizzled with red wine vinegar and oil with a bit of salt and pepper to taste.

Cornmeal Chicken with Fresh Salsa

This is by far the easiest recipe I know. Plus the fresh salsa is perfect for using your summer garden.

Ingredients:
1 Chicken Breast (serves 2)
corn meal
water
Plain yogurt


Fresh Salsa:
Tomato
Jalapeno
onion
garlic

Take chicken breast and cut butterfly all the way through. Pound out each side until flat. Place in water and then move to cornmeal and coat each piece of chicken. Fry in skillet until well browned and cooked through.

Make Salsa. Cut everything in chunks and stir together.

Place chicken breast on plate. then side with salsa. Add small dish of plain yogurt to dip chicken in when eating.
Enjoy!