Realization...

So apparently I only write on this blog when it's time to do research... I was looking at old posts and realized that I started doing the blog when I was working on my master's, tried again to work on the blog when I was working on my dissertation proposal and am now trying AGAIN to work on the blog when I am supposed to be starting to analyze my dissertation data. Coincidence? I think not! If I hadn't already realized this awhile ago- this would be a pretty big wake-up call that research is clearly not my passion in life. I do enjoy it once I get into it, but it's really not something I can do all the time. There will be no pumping out of manuscript after manuscript for me. One every year or three is more like it. Oh well, luckily I love my clinical work more than enough to make up for this lack of research drive...

Lots of big changes have been happening over the past few months. The BF is opening up a restaurant in about a week, I've been interviewing for internships in the Northeast, and this should be my last semester down here in Texas. I'm having trouble believing my 4 years here are coming to a close forever. At this point my life is kinda up in the air. I have no clue what I will be doing (or where I will be doing it next year), hence I'm not sure if Chris and I will be able to start living together or not. Frankly at this point I'm not even sure when I'm going to see Chris again, because he's going to be so busy with the restaurant over the next few months. In case you don't know, not having a clear plan for the future year, let alone next few months is not fun for me. I am a planner. I do not like uncertainty or having a lack of control over my life. So it's a pretty anxiety filled time for me right now. Hence I am trying to come up with things to do to manage my anxiety and try to grow from this experience.

One of those things is trying out new recipes and today's recipe is Chicken Chili. The idea for this recipe came from watching the Barefoot Contessa yesterday, but I've played around with it a bit:

In a big pot saute 2 small (or 1 large) onions and garlic in olive oil
Add 2 chopped peppers (I used green, can use any color)
Add 2 cans of San Marzano tomatoes (I bought them whole and then crushed them in the blender)
Add 1 shredded roasted chicken (I bought the already roasted one at the grocery store- it makes this recipe super easy!)
Add 1 can of Cannellini beans
Add a package of Chili Seasoning (I used McCormick), Salt, Pepper & Red Pepper flakes to taste
Simmer until all the flavors have blended together nicely (or until the football game you're watching goes to half-time...)
Serve with shredded cheese broiled onto the top and tortilla chips- yum!