{Meet My New Friend: Ricotta}

My life always involves food and new recipes and combinations. I don't always want to include my recipes in my normal blog postings, so I am writing a separate blog post just to share a few recipes from this past weekend.

Friday afternoon I wrapped up at work a little early, so after stopping at UPS to drop off a package I decided to do a little dilly-dallying. In reality, I decided to run one more errand since I was so close by. I had a few things to pick up for Christmas gifts at Old Kentucky Chocolates. After making about three complete loops around the store to check out every single item I made my purchase and headed out. I was feeling a little lazy about dinner so I decided to stroll into the Fresh Market next door and see if they had anything pre-made that would strike my fancy or just inspire me. This grocery store overwhelms all of my senses. It is filled to the brim with the freshest flowers, fruits and veggies, meats, cheeses and pastries galore. You can find the most exotic ingredients and lots of organic items as well. 

Well, in my "it's Friday at 6 p.m.", state of mind it was a little too overwhelming and I wasn't feeling too inspired. I decided to pick up a few lasagna noodles and ricotta cheese to use with the fresh spinach and tomato I had waiting at home. Of course, I also had to create a pick-6 pack of beer for Alex and I as well.

I used the recipe on the back of the whole wheat organic lasagna noodles as a guide with my own ingredients and came up with a very fresh, "healthier", less-filling lasagna for two. Lasagna is usually easy to assemble, but it does require some patience to wait for it to finish baking. 

Lauren's Impromptu Spinach Lasagna

{You can use whatever ingredients you have laying around, and just eyeball it based on your preferences! In parentheses I've marked down approximately how much I used of each ingredient, but it truly doesn't matter. Just make sure there is enough sauce because that's what makes the noodles tender!}

• One package of No-Boil Whole Wheat Lasagna (Used half a package)
• Shredded Mozzarella Cheese & Parmesan (1 1/2 cups)
• Fresh spinach & tomato (2 cups)
• Pasta sauce (1-2 cups)
• Part-skim ricotta cheese (1 cup)

I use my medium size pyrex container (6 cup) to make the perfect amount for two! Enough for dinner and one round of leftovers. 

1. Pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees. Lightly spray the baking dish with cooking spray. Lay two sheets along the bottom slightly overlapping. Add a layer of sauce and then the spinach and tomato. You could also add onions, cooked italian sausage etc. Add another layer of lasagna sheets. Spread a layer of ricotta over the sheets. Then add a layer of cheese and your vegetables or other fillings. Add one last layer of lasagna noodles and cover with sauce and a little bit of cheese. 

2. Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 40 minutes  Uncover and bake another 20 minutes. Let lasagna stand 10 minutes before serving. Serves 2-4. 

After eating our delicious lasagna I was inspired for the next morning's breakfast menu by the ricotta and pulled out a recipe from The New Abs Diet Cookbook (obsessed with this guide to healthy eating!). My dear sweet Alex put the plan in action and I woke up to find him cooking with the table already set with napkins, candles and fresh coffee. What a multi-talented guy. 

French-Toast, Italian-Style

(For one-serving)

• 2 tablespoons part-skim ricotta cheese
• 2 slices whole grain bread
• 1 tsp honey
• 1 tablespoon sliced almonds
• 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1 egg
• 1 tablespoon 1 percent milk
• Handful of fresh berries

1. Spread the ricotta on 1 bread slice. Drizzle the honey over the ricotta, top with the sliced almonds, and sprinkle lightly with cinnamon. Top with the remaining bread to form a sandwich.

2. Coat a nonstick griddle or skillet with cooking spray and heat over medium heat. Whisk the egg, milk, and add any  remaining cinnamon in a shallow bowl. Dip the sandwich into the egg to coat both sides. Place in the pan and cook until the break is lightly browned on both sides. Serve with the berries. 

What The New Abs Diet Cookbook has to say about ricotta: Ricotta cheese is technically not a cheese at all because it's made from the whey (liquid) drained from other cheese. But that makes it naturally low in fat and sodium with a fat content of 4 to 10 percent. 

After some wrapping of Christmas gifts yesterday I happened to stumble across another version of a ricotta-inspired breakfast that Alex made this morning. So easy and a nice twist on a classic.

Ricotta Pancakes

• 2 c. instant pancake mix
• 3/4 c. water
• 8 oz ricotta cheese
• 1/2 tsp nutmeg
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1 tbsp honey
• 1/2 t orange or lemon zest

{We did not have enough ricotta left to follow this recipe to a T so Alex improvised and used the rest of the ricotta and added a little more water until he had the normal consistency for pancakes}.

1. Lightly mix together all ingredients. Pour 1/3 cup of batter on a warm, buttered cast iron skillet. Cook until golden brown on each side. Serve with berries. 

The possibilities for ricotta are really endless and I am still learning, but we also like to use it in post-workout or snack size smoothies!

Despite the fact that it's not technically cheese, I still love it because it's related. I love ingredients that can be used in savory and sweet dishes or for any time of day!

'Tis The Season To Be Jolly

I'm quite jolly that I am finally getting around to blogging this morning. It's Sunday morning, and I woke up to a heavy rain outside my window. I left Alex sleeping and I am making myself some coffee and am curled up on the couch in front of our Christmas tree. I love the way the lights twinkle and the ornaments reflect the light. Our Christmas tree gives off such a warm glow and evokes happy thoughts, which stem from a childhood of Merry Christmases. Once I put the tree up, I never want to take it down.

The past two months have flown by. I had so many thoughts for a blog posting and just never gave myself enough time to sit down and do it. Even though I blog for fun, it's still a creative process for me and I have to be in the right state of mind so that it doesn't start to feel like another chore on my to do list.

{A little sidebar on my found love for blogging: I have always loved to read and write. I would devour books when I was younger and still love to read. I would keep a diary when I was in elementary school and gradually got into writing through my classes at school. I had a pen pal in England that I wrote to for years. I was in an advanced reading class and still read for pleasure every night before bed, whenever I wasn't talking to a boy on the phone. I loved to write poetry in my spare time and for class. I eventually became an Editor for a poetry group through the Cincinnati Library as well as the Co-Head Editor of my high school yearbook. I considered starting a novel and even saved a few beginnings on my computer.

I took a cue from my mom and corresponded with both of my grandmothers the old fashioned way once I moved away for college. Although I considered applying to Ohio University's Journalism Program, I somehow wound up at Ohio State in the Business Program focusing on Marketing, which also relies heavily on words. Somewhere between graduating from high school and college I was introduce to the world of blogging. I always loved scrapbooking and taking pictures so it seemed to be a natural fit. Now it's a way for me to express my creativity and keep in touch with everyone. I still think it would be fun to write a children's book with my mom, but I am still trying to figure out my true passion}

October included two more beautiful weddings which concluded the wedding season for 2012.

We thoroughly enjoyed our time in Cincinnati and our weekend trip to Chattanooga, but there is truly no place like home! The last weekend in October we made a day trip to Elk Creek Winery to meet up with my parents to celebrate my Dad's birthday. Although it was slightly chilly weather we had a great day together and it was fun to explore somewhere new.

In November we enjoyed some down time, but also had some visitors to Lexington. Pat and our friends Rob and Tricia came in for a weekend and we visited the Woodford Reserve Distillery in Versailles, KY. The weather was absolutely perfect for our adventure. The men also had some business to attend to with their new venture, One Twenty Properties. Since then, things have been progressing smoothly with their first rental property, but I'll leave that to Alex to share. I am so proud of all of the hard work they've done so far, but mostly I am so ecstatic to see one of Alex's dreams becoming a reality. He's such an inspiration to me.

Tricia snapped a picture of us at Woodford that became our Christmas card for this year!

The following weekend we finally bought a washer and dryer after a year and a half without one! It's taken quite a while, but our house finally feels like a completely home, although the projects will never end. As excited as I was to get a washer and dryer it was a little bittersweet. Alex and I would go to the laundromat every other Sunday before church. We'd let the clothes dry while we went to church right now the street. Then we'd come back and fold everything together. It was married teamwork at it's finest. It's one of the moments I think I'll always remember as part of our journey as newlyweds.

We then spent Thanksgiving with my family in Toledo, and Alex's family in Cleveland. It was also a nice chance to see many of our friends in Cleveland. I love that we can always count on our friends to get together for the holidays. The following weekend it was time to switch months and holidays and go to my work Christmas party. This weekend we did a little Christmas shopping and gift wrapping. Alex is spending today studying for his finals which come up in a few days. I'll be finishing up all our of Christmas cards and doing some things around the house, maybe even letting myself watch a cheesy holiday flick while I am at it.

I can't believe Alex is almost done with his first semester at UK! It was a challenge from the start for both of us, but we've adapted pretty well and it should get easier from here. It seems like as soon as you adapt to your set of circumstances everything changes, and you have to start again. I've been keeping myself busy with a book club, work out classes and plenty of chores and errands. I am always signing myself up for more home improvements too. They never end! After Alex's finals this week, we'll be heading to Louisville for his work Christmas party. It'll be a great chance to unwind and have a little fun. After that it'll be time for Christmas in Cleveland and then another round in Cincinnati. Phew! It can be an exhausting, stressful time of year, but I have made every attempt to keep it simple this year and just remember 'tis the season to be jolly for so many reasons. 

{Beef Stew - The Basic & The Lazy Version}

My beautiful and talented friend Michelle made beef stew and shared the photo (below) on facebook. Obviously it looks amazing, but it also sounded delicious and so perfect for the chilly, rainy days we've been having intermittently so I asked her for a copy of the recipe! Below is her version of the recipe, and my super  lazy version using the crock pot. 

Recipe from: Americanfood.about.com and Michelle Marx

Basic Beef Stew

Ingredients:

• 1 ½ lbs beef stewing meet

• 3 Tbsp vegetable oil

• 1 tsp salt

• 1 Tbsp freshly ground pepper

• 1 yellow onion, cut into 1-inch chunks

• 1/8 cup flour

• 2 cloves garlic, minced

• 1/2 cup red wine

• 2 1/2 cups beef broth (low sodium)

• ½ tsp dried rosemary

• 1 bay leaf

• ½ tsp dried thyme

• 3 carrots, peeled, cut into 1-inch slices

• 3 stalks celery, cut into 1-inch slices

• 6 baby red potatoes cut in 4ths

• fresh parsley to garnish (optional)

Directions:

1.     On medium-high heat, add the vegetable oil to large heavy pot (one that has a tight fitting lid).

2.     When it begins to smoke slightly, add the beef and brown very well.  Do in batches if necessary.  Add the salt and pepper as the beef browns.

3.     Once browned, remove the beef with a slotted spoon.  Set aside.

4.     Add the onions and sauté for about 5 minutes, until softened.

5.     Reduce heat to medium-low, and add the flour and cook for 2 minutes stirring often. 

6.     Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute.

7.     Add wine and deglaze the pan, scraping any brown bits stuck to the bottom of the pan.  The flour will start to thicken the wine as it comes to a simmer.

8.     Simmer wine for 5 minutes, and then add the broth, bay leaves, thyme, rosemary, and the beef.

9.     Bring back to a gentle simmer, cover and cook on very low for about 1 hour.

10.  Add potatoes, carrots, and celery, and simmer covered for another 45 minutes or until the meat and vegetables are tender.  Taste and adjust seasoning.

11.  Turn off heat and let sit for 15 minutes before serving.  Garnish with the fresh parsley if desired. 

(Best made day before for better flavor) 

And now my version...

The Lazy Version

Gather all of the same ingredients. I doubled the wine and skipped the bay leaf and parsley because I didn't have them on hand. Add all of the liquid ingredients to the slow cooker (water, wine, broth). Add flour and stir. Then add the beef and everything else. Cook on high for 4-5 hours or on low for 7-8 hours. 

Fall into Love

Fall is one of my favorite seasons. Fall in Lexington is perfection. There's a crispness to the morning air that makes me break out my favorite jackets, but then it seems that most days end up being warm and sunny with a refreshing breeze. The perfect type of day to drive with your windows down. The leaves are changing colors, but the grass is still green and the flowers are still in bloom. UK tailgating begins, as does the Fall Meet at Keeneland, and best of all of, all of the orchards boast fresh apple cider and homegrown pumpkins. I love the cozy feeling our house takes on in the fall, and the way my pumpkin candle permeates the air in the house. I could go on and on, but this fall has been even more special because it's been filled with so many reasons to celebrate.

Last weekend Alex and I traveled to Columbus, OH to celebrate the wedding of Karleya & Bryan. I could scarcely believe it was already that time of year. It felt like they had only just got engaged, but at the same time it also felt like it had been a long time coming. Writing my speech truly made me realize just how much we've been through together as friends, and how much we've been there for one another on our journey in finding our significant others.


The weather was beyond perfect and their wedding day was so beautiful. To K & B - although I've probably already said this in a few different ways, thank you for your friendship. I was honored to be a part of your wedding day and I wish you both all of the love and happiness in the world. I also wish you safe travels as you leave for your honeymoon in Europa today! How exciting!

On Karleya & Bryan's two day anniversary, Alex and I celebrated our two year anniversary. Where has the time gone? This year instead of buying each other gifts we decided to buy the rest of our beer making supplies! There are so many opportunities in life to spend money on meaningless gifts, so we decided that we wanted to invest in something that will be the start of a new tradition for us and will lead to more memories with one another. Everything has officially arrived and we'll spend part of our weekend making our first batch of beer in Lexington! One of our future dreams is to open a brewery one day! Alex and I are little schemers and I love day dreaming about the two of us doing something together that we love. I know we make a great team and I cannot wait to see what is in store for us.

Back to reality... Since Alex has class Monday-Wednesday, Thursday has unofficially become our date night. Last night we went out to dinner to kick off the anniversary celebrations. Alex surprised me with a new restaurant downtown where we sat outside on the patio and enjoyed dinner and a glass of wine. He definitely has my restaurant preferences down pat! Then we had a little fun being silly and documenting the night...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Also, major props to Alex for having flowers created especially for me! When he gave them to me he walked me through each flower and the meaning behind it. He even incorporated flowers from our wedding. What a thoughtful guy. Most impressive though, was the fact that he knows me so well... he cut the grass, made our bed, washed a huge pile of dishes, emptied the dishwasher, took out the recycling, cleaned up the house and had my pumpkin candle going strong when I got home from work! You know you're married when you appreciate things like this more than any gift. It's truly the little things he does to let me know he appreciates me.

I am excited to spend time at home this weekend just doing our normal routine as well as a little beer making! As much as we love to travel, at the end of the day we love to just be home together. The fall love fest continues next weekend with Amy & John's wedding! Talk about a wedding in the making; Amy and John have been dating since high school! I couldn't think of two people more perfect for each other. To A & J - For as long as I have known you both, you've been the perfect couple and finally tying the knot will just be the start of a new chapter in your fairytale romance! As a bonus, I get to see all of my college roommates too!

The following weekend will be our last wedding of the season in Chattanooga, TN for Theresa & Billy. We've been traveling north lately, so it will be nice to head in a different direction and explore a new town! I can't wait to explore the area, especially at this time of year.

I just love fall and I love love.

 

Growing Up Is Hard To Do?

Unfortunately for Alex and I we are no longer experiencing the "good" kind of growing pains. Alex just turned 27 a few days ago, and my 26th birthday happens to be today. We are no longer growing taller or stronger (well let's be honest, I think we both hit our maximum height in the 8th grade). Nope, now that we're officially closer to 30 we're both starting to enjoy the effects of getting older. Don't get me wrong, we're both perfectly healthy, but it's interesting to notice the slight changes, like how we can't sit indian style for too long and how our back hurts when we sit in the car for hours on end.

All in all, neither of us mind "growing older," but what really makes us feel old, is not growing old itself, but watching others around us grow up. Witnessing all of our friends and peers getting married has been a blessing and it's so great to see them settle down in their happiness. For those of our friends that are having babies, you are definitely making me feel old! While we may be in our mid-20's we don't always feel that way at heart. Perspective is a tricky thing, sometimes I feel like high school was just a couple years ago and other times I feel older than I truly am. I also learned this past weekend at Jon and Jen's wedding that the Cleveland gang will never outgrow the double dutch, and the boys will never outgrow Ignatius or singing the alma mater... Somethings never change.

Jon & Jen's Wedding - 9.8.12

One of the most surreal experiences lately was seeing Ethan, Alex's youngest brother, off to college. When Alex and I started dating he was in 8th grade! He chose to go to OSU (good choice) and happened to end up in Morrill Tower, which is the matching dorm to the one both Alex and I stayed in when we were freshmen. While we were unloading the car and taking his stuff up to his room it felt exactly the same as it did when I moved in, but this time I wasn't the one moving in. I felt nostalgic at the time because I had wonderful memories at OSU, but I am definitely over that phase of my life and am happy to be where I am now. It will be fun to tailgate with Ethan and pick him up for holidays on our way up to Cleveland.

OSU 2007

Ethan's move-in day

There was another Janesz that started at a new school in August named Alex. He started the two-year evening MBA program at the University of Kentucky. I am so proud of him for having the guts and the determination to go after his dream, although it has had it's challenges already. Now that Alex is back in school I feel like even more of a grown up because in order to support him and let him make the best use of his time I have the opportunity to do everything around the house (that's not to say that he doesn't help out when he can). I have told Alex  numerous times already that I almost feel like his mother because I'm always hitting the grocery store and buying things for his dinner and asking him if he has finished his homework and how his class went. 

While Alex has his full class schedule, he's also busy at work with his co-worker retiring next month. We both seem to be challenged at work and home lately, which doesn't always feel like a good thing at the time, but it forces us to grow as individuals and as a couple. There are still a few key weddings to go this season, as well as our two year anniversary, but we're looking forward to having a few weekends at home to enjoy fall in Lexington. 

“Life is change. Growth is optional. Choose wisely.” {Karen Kaiser Clark}

A Summer of Vows

There are all types of vows. I vowed to myself that I would write in this blog religiously, not just to chronicle our life, but also to give myself a method for relieving stress. Alex and I made a vow to each other to eat healthier, try to get more sleep and encourage one another to work out more often. Most of the daily vows we make to ourselves and our partners are made with the best intentions to lead a healthier, more well-rounded, joyful life.

The actual wedding vows we stated during our wedding were no exception to that. As Alex and I approach our two year anniversary in October it amazes me to reflect on all of the different circumstances we've already dealt with in such a short period of time. I know there is so much more to come, but I love seeing how much we've strengethened our relationship from when we started dating. I also can't help but think of our marriage journey often this summer as we attend weddings and related-festivities for our close friends and family members.

Mike & Rosanna's Wedding in Scranton, PA - the Eaton LDP gang

Karleya's Bridal Shower in Mansfield, OH

Karleya & Bryan's Surprise Stock the Bar Party! Columbus, OH

Bob & Lynn's Wedding, Toledo, OH

Admist all of the weddings this summer, the immediate Janesz clan was also able to get together for a family vacation to celebrate Ed & Linda's upcoming 30th anniversary in September. We rented a cabin in Patoka Lake, Indiana for a few days of R&R. It was the perfect opportunity for everyone to get away. Alex and I took the remainder of that week off and had a mini "staycation" as well. It was definitely needed, although I may need another after October. And, I can't fail to mention that my own parents will be celebrating their 34th wedding anniversary in September!

Patoka Lake, IN

While witnessing all of these marriage vows and anniversaries, there's been an unspoken vow, one that we all make, that has become evident to me lately; the one to support our friends and family to our best ability during their good times and bad. Sometimes it can be challenging to be there whether it's due to traveling, work schedules or financial reasons, but once you're there you realize it's worth it. The relationships we have in life are what makes life worth living. So bring on the rest of the bridal showers, couple's showers, bachelorette & bachelor parties, rehearsals and weddings because we love you all and can't wait to celebrate with you.

An edit to the traditional vows:  During our rehearsal I accidentally said "partied by death" in place of "parted by death" due to my nerves; insert image of my nervous giggling. During the ceremony I had to work hard to keep my composure during that part of the vows. That incident really captures our relationship.

Coincidences Happen for a Reason

Sometimes things come together in a specific way and it almost seems like a crazy coincidence; It's so fitting for your life at that moment. Many times for me it's someone calling me when I was just thinking about them, or seeing a sign or billboard with a message that calms me or helps me with a problem I'm having at that moment. There are so many examples of this and many times it goes unnoticed.

Alex and I recently had one of those days where everything "clicked" into place and when we were discussing all of the "coincidences" that day Alex said to me, "you know Lauren, I think things like this are God's way of letting us know that we're not going unnoticed." I have always believed in the notion that everything happens for a reason, but I also feel that if something happens and you don't understand why you just have to have faith that the reason will become apparent in the future as part of God's plan for your life.

A couple of weeks ago we were planning on attending a small group session hosted through the Marriage Ministry team at our church. They had already hosted a few seminars earlier in the year that we weren't able to make it to because they're always held on Friday nights and we tend to travel quite a bit on the weekends. Finally, there was one we were able to make it to, so I put it on the calendar. Also happening the same evening was a small rock band concert featuring a guy that Alex works with. I had missed their debut show and was looking forward to hearing them play as well.

We decided that we'd go to the Marriage Ministry seminar and see if we had any time leftover to stop by the show. On our way to church it dawned on me that there was a reason the date was sticking out in my mind. It was Alex and I's quasi-anniversary of when we started dating 5 years ago. The topic for the evening just so "happened" to be stages of a marriage. Of course, I couldn't help but think about how many stages of our relationship we've already gone through during all of the time we've dated and been married. The evening was enjoyable for both of us and it was valuable, not only because of the priest's message, but also because we were able to listen and take advice from all of the married couples in the room as well.

As the meeting ended we made our way over to the outdoor concert. This was also a fitting way to reminisce about when we starting dating because the night that I gave Alex my phone number, we were at an outdoor rock concert/party where he was playing drums. Giving him my phone number was very out of character for me and not the best timing, but to this day I still remember how propelled I felt to give it to him. I truly believe it was God pushing me out of my comfort zone...

And every since then I've been pushed outside of my comfort zone to try new things and grow as a person by Alex. Now that is definitely no coincidence. Can't wait to see what the next 5 years bring.

2007

2012

It's Been a Year Already?

This upcoming weekend the Derby will take place in Louisville. This time last year we had just moved into our first home together. I can't even believe how fast this past year went. I am absolutely convinced that each year of my life will go faster than the last; I hope that'll be due to the fact that I'm having fun and doing the things I love. It has been a year of fun and quite a few changes.

One of the things that has certainly kept us busy, and that we've definitely had fun doing, is alll of our home improvements. We have officially painted every single room in the house (minus a few closets), organized all of our things and made room for new pieces too, mounted curtains and artwork in every room, switched out door handles, door stops, air vents, painted bathroom vanities and baseboards galore, pulled weeds, seeded and fertilized the yard, chopped branches and trimmed bushes... phew.. the list goes on and on. Still yet to come..  a landscaping overhaul, a garage re-organize, a house painting project, bathroom renovations and well, let's be honest, that type of list never shrinks!

Moving into our home has also brought us new friends, including a canine one for me (Alex likes this because it's gotten him off the dog hook for a while longer). We've also continued to grow our other friendships as well as gain new ones. Before moving into our house, we'd only been in Lexington for six months and were still trying to get involved. Now, we seem to have so much on our calendar that we have to opt out of things. I have to say, it's a much nicer predicament to be in then the former. Along with beach volleyball, the Women's Guild Meetings at church, the Brewer's of Central Kentucky meetings, my involvement with Awesome Inc, and our recent membership to the Andover Golf & Country Club we have no shortage of avenues to meeting new people.

We were originally introduced to Andover through some co-workers of Alex's. Now it will be a great way to relax (golfing for Alex, poolside for me) and meet new friends as well as work contacts. Alex is also in the process of applying for the MBA program at UK in order to expand his work opportunities and quench his personal interests in business. After undergoing a period of self-exploration, I started a new job in a small town outside of Lexington. Everything from the office location, to my co-workers, to the job duties and the office itself are in stark contrast of my last position with Resource Interactive. After the initial shock to my system, I've settled in and find myself being challenged as well as challenging my colleagues.

Now that our schedules have gotten so hectic during the week with work and our social lives we do cherish our weekends that much more. We have had so many friends and family members in to visit and it's been rewarding to play hostess to them and show them around our new home and city. When we aren't entertaining on the weekend, we're either running errands and working on our latest home improvement project or we're visiting family and friends out of town. Looking back at the past year it feels like we've been out of town at least half of the weekends, but it's a different feeling to come home to our house than to a rented apartment.

There's something to be said for our home sweet home. It's been quite a lot of work, but well worth it and I couldn't imagine going through this crazy journey with anyone other than Alex. [See our journey through pictures].

One day, we'll look back at all these adventures and this time in our life and we'll say... Remember our first house when we lived in Lexington?

Just Say "Yes"

In saying yes to Alex's marriage proposal I had no idea what was truly in store for me.

Flash forward almost two and a half years later...

Good Friday we found ourselves loading the car and heading to Toledo to visit my grandparents. It had been too long since we'd seen them last and we had a considerably good visit, albeit a short one. I love to see Alex interact with my parents, aunts and grandparents. Whenever we visit with my family, there's always usually at least one moment where I notice Alex out of the corner of my eye and I think to myself, "Wow, he's so good with my family, how did I ever get so lucky." I always hoped that my future husband would get along with my family, but I never could've imagined Alex.

After a 2 p.m. happy hour and a local fried perch dinner we headed east to Cleveland. The rest of Friday evening was spent preparing for the Holy Saturday Sausage Making with Alex's parents and siblings. Saturday was filled with extended family, neighbors and 200+ pounds of freshly ground meat.

My parents drove over from Toledo as well and were welcomed into the festivities for the second year in a row. I never could've imagined more loving and welcoming in-laws and siblings. Alex and his family have enveloped all of us into their uber-large Janesz clan and every time I see them I enjoy myself more and more as they become my family. Being an only child, it's also an amazing feeling to have my parents there to experience it all with me. Saturday evening my parents and my in-laws went out for dinner and Alex and I prepared for the 9 p.m. Easter Vigil Service. (By prepare I mean guzzled down some coffee).

Knowing that our friend Chase was going to be welcomed into the Catholic Church Alex immediately said yes we'd be there. Coming from a non-Catholic background I was a little unsure what I was getting myself into; I went into it originally thinking it was going to start at 11 p.m. and would last for three hours. Being there to support Chase, as well as Alex's Aunt Chris (a leader of the RCIA program), was well worth it. The ceremony started at 9 p.m. and ended around 11 p.m. It was a great experience, and we concluded the evening with a round of beers to celebrate Chase's accomplishment and friendship. (Why not go out at midnight?)

The next morning we slept in a little and then it was time for church again with the family! (Once again, Alex said yes...) It's such a wonderful tradition to all gather together and fill up an entire pew at church. Due to the Easter holiday, it ended up being almost three pews! I love to look around and see all of those familiar faces. It definitely makes sharing the peace an adventure. I love the importance the family has put on this tradition and look forward to the day when Alex and I will take up our own pew (or section) with our own family. The guys played golf and then we celebrated Adam's 20th birthday. The next morning Alex and Ethan played golf again and I met a couple girlfriends for coffee. (Alex definitely never says no to golf haha).

During our morning coffee we had the typical girl talk and at one point one of the girls asked where Alex got his dreamer and entreprenuer mentality. I was a little bit stumped. Alex definitely has characteristics of both of his parents, but at the same time he's quite different. I told them I wasn't sure and said that was one of the things I have discovered more and more about him since we've been married.

Since we met in college Alex and I have matured a little bit with one another, but I also think that there are characteristics that have become more promiment once we got married. I told my friends that I have had the realization frequently as of late that I have married the right person. (Not that I didn't think that from the beginning, but there was definitely a transition phase when you go from being engaged and living in two different cities to being married in a new house). Now that we're passed the honeymoon stage and the transition stage, we're in what I'll call the "just say yes" phase.

After an exhausting, yet rejuvenating weekend with our family and friends we were on our way home and I posed the question to Alex as to where he got his motivation and drive from. His short answer was "the world." (Cheesy, but true!) He told me that he's motivated by all of the people around him in his daily life; their examples push him to live his life to the fullest, reach for his dreams and give back at the same time. He said, "at this point I just want to say yes to everything that I can so that I have no regrets." (He put it much more poetically, but that's the gist). I felt very moved when he was through explaining himself and together we agreed to say "yes" more often. (I truly love those random thought-provoking car conversations that bring us closer to one another).

The next day Alex reacapped this same conversation to his coworker Mike and they had their own bonding moment. His coworker agreed wholeheartedly and told him that when he looks around their house at all of the things that they've accumulated over the years those things mean nothing to him. It's the memories you make that really count.

In short... I've discovered that since I said yes to Alex's marriage proposal, I've been saying yes to things I never fathomed and my life has been more fulfilling because of it.

Thank you Alex for being one of the people surrounding me that motivates me to enjoy life more and be a better person.

Lucky in Love & Life

Unfortunately, I haven't had the chance to do a blog posting in a while and (my fingers are itching to type), but the reasons behind my lack of writing have been good ones. I'm feeling very lucky in love and life right now, although I wouldn't mind having a little more luck rub off on me this weekend during the St. Patrick's Day festivities. (All of the good things in my life aren't just from luck, it's also due to hard work and God's blessings).


At the end of February, Alex and I were fortunate enough to take a vacation with some of his friends from his work that are stationed throughout the US. We met in Houston and drove down to Galveston, TX to catch our Carnival Cruise Ship to Mexico. We spent 5 days cruising around Mexico.

Progesso, Mexico - Yucatan Penisula

LMFAO Theme Night

The weather was gorgeous and we were even able to enjoy a little time in Houston post-cruise as well. It's always fun to explore a new city, especially when you have friends to be your tour guide! It was perfect timing for both Alex and I to get away and was our first big trip post-honeymoon (next up Europe or Australia?). Alex has to be the most easy-going travel companion ever, which makes vacation feel like just that, vacation. It's such an amazing experience to be able to travel with friends. Hopefully, we'll have some family trips on the schedule soon too.


A few days after returning form our cruise I found myself back in the work place. Starting a new job has certainly been an adventure and an adjustment. Since moving to Lexington a year and a half ago I haven't been in an office environment on a regular basis. After a couple weeks I finally feel like I am emotionally and physically acclimated to being on a tight schedule again, but I do miss being able to take my time cooking dinner. Luckily, Alex knows his way around the kitchen and is happy to help out with everything around the house. (Could I find a more supportive and helpful guy?)

My drive to work

Brand new desk

We've also been keeping ourselves busy during the week with some new extra-curricular activities. Along with the Women's Guild at CTK and our weekly dodgeball games, Alex joined BOCK, the Brewers of Central Kentucky, and I became involved with an organization called Awesome, Inc which helps entreprenuers start businesses. I'll be doing some blog postings and helping out with some upcoming events, team building and some marketing.


As always our house also keeps us plenty busy. I finally finished prepping and painting our Master Bathroom. We've also been adding some new furniture and accessories to our bedroom and are nearing completion. Finally, the house is feeling like a true home!

Although, with our planner personalities Alex and I will never officially be done with the house. This spring we're discussing landscaping options, painting the outside of the house, organizing and painting the garage, replacing the ceiling fans and the list goes on and on. It's challenging to put as much time into the house a we would like to considering that we travel so much on the weekends.

Later today we'll be making our way to Cleveland to celebrate St. Patrick's Day and see our family and friends. I am truly looking forward to it; in the four and a half years of being with Alex, this is one holiday I have never experienced Janesz style! While I'm not Irish at all, I've definitely married into a big Irish-Hungarian family. Next weekend will find us in Cincinnati to visit my family and friends. All of the traveling can be exhausting, but we're so thankful to have our family relatively close-by and friends anywhere we go. This seems to be a reoccuring theme in my blog posts lately... I am truly lucky in life and especially when it comes to love.


May you find a little bit of luck this weekend. Don't forget to wear green!

My 365 Day Valentine & A Modern Day Love Note

Last week Alex and I were chatting and I was going over my schedule for the following week and mentioned Valentine's Day. His response, "Oh, when's that again?"

He never forgets Valentine's Day, but usually he does something a little more sentimental, like write me a love note. He claims it's a made-up holiday that doesn't really mean anything. His view is that you should have special moments constantly throughout the year, instead of forcing it and going overboard on one day that everybody else is too. How special is it when you know everyone else is undertaking similar romantic ventures and you're admiring your similar bouquets of flowers?

I have a mixed reaction to this perspective. Of course, the romantic girl in me wants to be swept away, especially if everyone else is too. Aren't I worth it after all? But, my practical side also knows he has a solid point. So we settle on low-key. I can live with that.

Mostly, I can live with that compromise because I do have my Valentine every single day of the year and that's way more special. Normally, I try my best not to talk about how wonderful my husband is all the time ( (on facebook or otherwise) because that's obnoxious and no one can feel like that 100% of the time, but I figure it's Valentine's Day so this is as good a time as any to be a little mushy. Mostly, I want to share a little insight into the Alex I see, because I think that most people don't get to see all of his sides.

Alex's stance on Valentine's Day is the ideal example of how he is always true to himself and he's not willing to compromise that or act like someone he's not. I love this about him. Along the way this personality trait has ruffled a few feathers and at the same time helped him make fast friends. By both words and action he has led me to search for my true self and find worth in just being myself. His supportive and nurturing nature have also assisted immensely in that quest. For such a talker, he's also an amazing listener.

He is passionate and a dreamer through and through. He has big ideas and he's not afraid to share them with anyone who might be interested, even if it sometimes garners a few skeptical laughs. Sometimes I can't help but laugh too at his grandiose ideas, but I also know that one day Alex will be the one laughing and saying, "I told you so" with a twinkle in his eye.

He's perceptive and observant which make him so great with people (and dealing with me haha). When we met his easy nature with people was one of the things I admired most, and I still do. Slowly, but surely he's rubbing off on me. I hope.

One of the things I've come to discover about him more and more, even lately, is his love for planning. We sit on the couch with our backs against the sides and our feet touching in the middle with a beer in hand (or in the summer on the patio as the sun sets) and talk and plan about anything and everything. Sometimes there is even a pen and paper or an excel file involved. Now we're talking my love language.

While he has so many qualities (obviously enough to convince me I should marry him), my favorite has to be his ability to make me laugh every single day. He never fails. He's especially good at making me laugh when I'm attempting to be annoyed with him. Which is annoying in itself.

So Happy Valentine's Day to my Alex, who I'm lucky enough to have as my Valentine 365 days of the year.

“Sexiness wears thin after a while and beauty fades, but to be married to a man who makes you laugh every day, ah, now that’s a real treat.” - Joanne Woodward on Paul Newman

A History of My Canine Relationships & A Little Imagination

No, I’m not referring to my husband.

Growing up I didn’t have any brothers. I did have two “sisters.” When I was born my parents had a beautiful red golden retriever named Shannon. She had a gentle soul and was a good influence on me (for example she always used the sidewalk and never ran into the street after her ball). I was in first grade when she passed on so I don’t remember much of her besides what I see in pictures (I have a mostly terrible, sometimes amazing memory). Pictures of her in my tent with me, next to me on my first day of school, accepting a tennis ball from me when I was just a toddler and so on and so on. I never had any invisible friends (from what I can remember), but I did imagine that Shannon was the closest thing to an older sister. My parents had adopted her long before I ever came along and needless to say losing her was extremely tough on everyone.

A few years went by and apparently I was going through dog withdrawal and starting asking my parents for another dog. I would sometimes even crawl onto my mom’s lap and make panting noises as if I was a puppy. I might not have had imaginary friends, but I definitely had an interesting imagination that’s for sure. Finally, my parents relented. When I was in third grade (I think…) we drove a few hours North to pick up a white fluffy golden retriever that we named Daisy (middle name Roo).

If Shannon was equivalent to an “older sister”, Daisy was definitely a troublemaker “younger sister” that was spoiled just like youngest children usually are. Despite emergency trips to the vet and other mishaps she was also a wonderful dog and companion to all of us. She was always there waiting for you with a wagging tail and a kiss so you could hardly stay mad at her. After I left for college it became evident that Daisy was no longer a happy go lucky puppy anymore and after receiving treatments for multiple types of cancer it was then her turn to leave us. Just because you’ve experience something before, it doesn’t mean it’s any easier the second time.

After that quite a few things happened: years passed, I graduated from college and also got married and moved to Kentucky. Now my parents were really empty-nesters. With my own new-found happiness I really wanted to share that feeling with my parents somehow and the opportunity came in Zeus. Long story short, Zeus was a dog I met and loved immediately. The time came when he needed a new home and I thought he would be perfect for my parents and they in turn would be perfect for them (there I went running away with my imagination again, making up stories in my head about how happy they would all be together). He came into my parents lives around the time that he was a year old. It was definitely a leap of faith for my parents to uproot their lives and schedule in order to add another addition into the family as well as to overcome the fear of once again opening themselves up to loss.

After having female golden retrievers for so long, it was an interesting adjustment to learn the nuisances of a male dog of a mixed breed. Now after almost a year everyone is well adjusted and happy. Zeus loves their backyard to run in and is obsessed with playing ball. He follows my parents around everywhere and they have a mutual affection for him. My mom texts me funny pictures of Zeus and when I talk to my Dad on the phone he frequently thanks me for bringing Zeus into their life. It may sound incredibly silly to those who have never had a dog before, but the simple joy and love they can bring about is truly astounding.  

And now for another dose of my imagination… I’ve always wondered what goes on in a dog’s mind and what  they would say if they could talk (there is a book I distinctly remember my mom reading to me about a dog talking after eating alphabet soup, so it could happen) and whether or not they have feelings.

In honor of the goofy, gangly “little brother” I’ve gained in Zeus I’ve tried to tap into his mind in order to write a funny little story from a his point of view. It’s also a reminder to not take for granted the joy that the simple things in life can bring. Enjoy.  

A Morning in the Life of Zeus (Ricky Bobby Ginger Pye Caboose):

My internal alarm just went off. I wonder how long I’ll have to lay here until she opens her eyes and acknowledges me. She’s facing me this morning and I know she can see me from her pillow, now if she would just open one darn eye. Maybe if I sigh loud enough. Ah ha! Gotcha! I just saw her eyes flutter underneath the lids, this is a good sign. Now I just have to act cool so she thinks it was her idea to wake up. I was a little skeptical at first of my new bed, but now I can see the true benefit. The edge gives me a great post for observing to the point where I can easily act like I’m sleeping still. Thank you Mommy.

Finally, one leg is inching its way from underneath the covers; followed by the other leg and now the entire woman. YESSSSSSSSSSSS. And I’m up and have resumed my position by her side. First I’ll follow her to the bathroom and then I’ll be one step closer to the highlight of my morning. I don’t understand why it takes her forever to get down the stairs. Two leaps and I’m rounding the corner to the kitchen and the back door. It looks a little chilly out there, but I already see a couple birds and a squirrel that I would like to introduce myself to so let’s get the show on the road. Come on already. Argh.

My ears hear the sweet sweet noise of the door unlocking. I inch my way over to the right just a hair, the door opens a sliver and I’m out. Phew. Now that I’ve stretched and trotted over to the grass the question is squat or leg lift? I’m feeling a little lazy this morning so I’m gonna go with the squat. Not much of a stream there, probably because Dad wouldn’t let me have any more water last night even though I was unbelievable thirsty from that peanut butter flavored toothpaste. Darn him. How would he like it if I had banned him from a thirst-quenching beer during the football game last night? Same thing if you ask me. Unfortunately, I haven’t discerned how to use these gangly paws to open the refrigerator. Maybe that can be on my to-do list today after the ‘rents leave for work. After my nap of course.

Now that I’ve relieved myself it’s time to make to make the mandatory lap around the yard and make sure there isn’t anyone that I haven’t said hi to yet. Rounding the pine trees I see one of my squirrel friends and something circular and orange. Could it be my bouncy ball? Is that my ball? Holy crap… I think it’s one of my balls. Time to investigate. Oh, nope. False alarm, it’s just a piece of paper. A post-it note. Hmmm... I think it’s trying to say that even though it’s not my ball it would be okay to put it in my mouth and give it a taste. Hmmm… not too crunchy. Easy to chew. Yuck. Crud, what in tarnation was that? Oh tastes like glue. Hmm… to continue to eat or not? I think not. Moving on.

Alright, back to finish my round of the yard. Not much to see here. All I know is that I’ve worked up an appetite. Oh right, it’s breakfast time. I could get used to this leisurely schedule. I see Mom through the window with her tea in the hand. How long are you going to make me wait out here lady? Once again, door barely ajar, squeeze myself through, now where is my breakfast? Oh, there it is, right where you always put it. Man she is good. Too bad it’s also the same stuff as always. Huge disappointment. Better eat it fast so I don’t have to even taste it. Great strategy, although it’s a little dry on my throat. Need some water. Ahhhhhhhhhhh much better. Uh oh, Mom looks like somebody made a mess with the water over here you better get over here and wipe it up.

Okay, time to find my main ball-throwing man. I’ll just trot over here to the living room. Nobody. Downstairs bathroom. Nope. Better run up the stairs and see if I see anything from up there. Two leaps. Can’t see or hear anything from my perch up here. How long am I going to have to wait to get a little ball action around here sheesh. Better go back downstairs and see if maybe Mom wants to play. Looks like she’s heading for the stairs. Must beat her up them. Phew. I’m a little tired from all this action. 

I think I’ll just lie down and watch her get ready. Ooooohh maybe if I use my sad eyes on her she’ll give me a few pity throws in the backyard before she leaves. Or maybe I can get outside and get in the car and go with her. Much better plan. There’s nothing I love more than a good car ride. Except maybe my ball, but that’s a given. I am feeling very sleepy. I’ll just close one eye and watch her with the other so I don’t miss anything. I’m bored already. I think I’ll just close the other just for a second….

Why Husbands Can't Be Substituted for Time with the Girls

A couple weekends ago Alex and I made a trip to Cincinnati for my friend Amy's birthday as well as some quality time with my family. Upon arrival in Cincinnati Alex was carted off with my dad to do some male bonding while my mom and I were left to lunch on our own.

My mom and I promptly started to brainstorm places that we could go for lunch. There was quite a lot of consideration that went into it, and even some time spent asking for recommendations from friends. This is something that I don't think men understand. They're happy to just pick a place and go. I want to know where the restaurant is, if it is easy to park, if it will be busy, what kind of food they have, what's the ambiance, have I been there before, or have any of my friends, what's the dress code, cost and the list goes on and on. We finally determine a restaurant that fit the bill of what we were looking for, Terry's Turf Club.

I drove us to the restaurant in Alex's new car. Since it's a new car and I haven't completely figured out how to parallel park it I opted to go on down the road until I reached a spot that I could pull in to. (This is another thing that my mom understood, but I'm not convinced that Alex would. He probably would have teased me). We put our names in and waited outside, luckily it was an unseasonably warm January day. We passed the time by talking. Now, for anyone that knows Alex they know that talking is one of his strengths, but when women get together the conversation always steers to people and life events. They are completely different conversations when there are men around. 

Finally we were seated at the bar. Terry's Turf Club is a small hamburger joint... and for my mom and I this means milkshakes. Unfortunately for us, their neon signs were not 100% indicative of their offerings so we were out of luck. Alex is a fan of ice cream, but getting a milkshake with Alex would just not be the same as getting one with my mom. It's hard to pinpoint the exact reason for this, but I think that my mom and I have a similar appreciation for milkshakes and therefore I enjoy milkshakes more when I'm with her because I know she is enjoying hers as much as I am mine. 

Later that evening I headed over to my friend Amy's for an old fashioned sleepover. We had some wine and caught up for a while. The funny thing about girl time, especially when you're at a restaurant, is how long it takes to finally decide on what to have for dinner. Eventually someone has to take the lead, otherwise everyone will continuing talking indefinitely. I love that the conversations are always different than the ones I have with Alex. We can talk about girly things like recipes, clothes, interior design, weddings, blogging and share new stories and reminisce about old memories. (That's not to say that there aren't deep conversations as well, but those usually come later in the evening). 

Another thing I've noticed is that while girls can easily sit around and chat and do nothing for an entire evening, there are usually games involved. Girls will bring games with them to a friend's house. I doubt that thought would ever cross a guy's mind. Alex and I will sometimes play Sequence together, but it always ends up very competitive. With the girls, or even a mixed crowd, you play games to entice more laughter. We also had some birthday cake. I'm not sure if it's just my own experience or a general rule with females, but I find that birthday cakes are more important to my friends than to Alex. 

My girlfriends will always appreciate the little details of a cake, a card, a gift, or even just the effort of driving to see them. We ended the evening by changing into our pajamas and falling asleep to some episodes of Sex and the City. Even if Alex and I had a television in our bedroom, I highly doubt we would be falling asleep to SATC. It would definitely be ESPN ("I just want to see the score of the game..."). No thank you. 

The next day I met back up with my family and we spent the day with my extended family as a belated Christmas gathering. Later that afternoon Alex and I drove back to Lexington. The next weekend I had the opportunity to spend some time with Alex's family. I drove over to Louisville last Saturday morning to spend the day with his cousin Amanda and Aunt Brenda. Of course there was shopping involved. Whenever Alex and I shop together we always have a mission and Alex usually knows exactly what he's looking for before we go into the store. It's efficient, but that's not what I call shopping. 

Shopping with the ladies is more about the thrill of a find and a good deal. It's about finding something unexpected for someone else. It's about trying on clothes for the fun of it. It's also about giving your opinion and talking through potential outfits. It's about browsing through every single clothes rack and relaxing enough to just lose track of time. After spending an hour or two in the first store we were all starving. Considering we were all dressed appropriately and we were already out on the town the restaurant consideration went quite a bit faster than it had with my mom the weekend prior.

We decided on PF Chang's and each ordered something different to share. We ate our delicious food and got lost in conversation. I love when all the plates have been cleared and the bill has already come and gone and you still find yourselves talking without pause (It was already 2 p.m. by that time so we weren't in any hurry to give up our table). It's a wonderful feeling to know that I've gained more family than just Alex's parents and siblings, especially considering that Amanda and Aunt Brenda are so close by. After lunch we did a little more shopping at Von Maur which included some time spent playing dress up. You know you've found your shopping soulmates when you're all ready to head home at the same time. 

On my drive back to Lexington I called my mom to catch up. Before I knew it an hour had passed and I was already home. There's something rejuvenating about those types of phone calls. Although it was a tiring day I had enough energy to meet up with Alex and our friends for a night of bowling. Sunday Alex and I went to church and did a little book shopping. After a few hours we ended up coming home and ordering the books online. Typical. I did not feel energized after that shopping trip haha. 

Monday night I planned to have "Bachelor Viewing Party" for ABC's The Bachelor. When I had roommates, in college and after college, it was always a tradition to watch shows together. Mostly because it was entertaining and an excuse to get together that didn't include spending any money. It wasn't the best timing because a few of the girls had things come up and they weren't going to be able to make it after all. Alex said that if nobody was able to come he would watch The Bachelor with me. I appreciated the sentiment, but that wouldn't have been the same evening on any level (instead of adding to my entertainment he would've likely annoyed me with his commentary and criticism). 

Luckily, my friend Jasmine was able to make it over and we enjoyed a quiet evening of wine and The Bachelor while Alex went to work out (thanks for making yourself scarce honey). If shopping is relaxing and talking on the phone is rejuvenating than this type of evening would be considered therapeutic. By the time Jasmine headed home and Alex returned I felt perfectly content, as if I had just received a rose myself. (Although, with Ben as the bachelor I probably would've made like Brittney and left on my own accord).

Last night Alex and I joined our friends at Megan and Greg's house for dinner. The beginning of the evening we all congregated in the kitchen and chatted, later on the men ended up near the television where they could keep an eye on the games that were on while the girls ended up talking at the table. Some things never change!

The good times continue tonight with the first meeting of the New Year for the Women's Guild at my church. While I treasure all of the girlfriends I've made in Lexington thus far, it is a nice change of scenery to spend an evening with this group of ladies, the majority of whom aren't in my age bracket. You just never know what you'll learn! One thing I have learned lately (or I should say, been reminded of), is the fact that I have friends and family near and far and all I ever have to do is reach out to them for girl talk or to plan a girl's day or night out, or in. Because as much as I love Alex, he just can't be substituted for time with the girls. 

~

This week I was on a pistachio kick... Here are a couple simple recipes:

Baked Pistachio Chicken
from the AbsDiet Cookbook

• 1/2 tbsp. dijon mustard
• 1 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 tbsp. honey
• Salt and pepper
• 1/2 cup chopped pistachios
• 1/4 cup whole grain bread crumbs
• 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

1. Preheat the oven to 500 degrees. Coat a baking sheet with cooking spray.
2. Mix the mustard, oil, and honey in a shallow bowl; season with salt and pepper. Mix the pistachios and bread crumbs on a plate.
3. Dip the chicken in the mustard mixture to coat and then in the crumbs. Place the chicken on the baking sheet.
4. Put the baking sheet in the preheated oven. Turn the heat down to 375. Bake for about 20 minutes, until the chicken is no longer pink when tested with a knife. 

Pistachio Pudding Cake from my mom's collection of recipes (circa 1970’s)

• 1 pkg (4 serving) Pistachio Instant Pudding & Pie Filling
• 1 pkg 2 layer yellow cake mix (preferably not pudding mix)
• ½ t. almond or vanilla extract
• 4 eggs
• 1 ¼ cup water
• ¼  cup oil

Combine all ingredients in a large mixer bowl.  Blend; then beat at medium speed of electric mixer for 2 minutes.  Pour into greased and floured 10-in tube or Bundt pan.  Or can bake in a 13 x 9 in cake pan.  Bake at 350 degrees for 50 to 55 minutes or until cake springs back when lightly pressed.  Cool in pan 15 minutes.  Remove from pan and finish cooling on a rack. Sprinkle with powdered sugar if desired.