Christmas Pics.

Miguel and me at my uncle's house. Miguel is actually (almost) smiling! And I look like I took this picture of us. However, my cousin was just sitting incredibly close and had the camera right in my face. Yay for a fat face picture!



















Me, my cousin Maya, and my sister. Maya is deaf, which means I get to stumble through...er...I mean...use my Sign Language once or twice a year. She just got engaged to a great guy. So hopefully, I'll get to travel to California in June for their wedding.

(I stole these pictures from Sacha's facebook page.)

Christmas honesty

Christmas this year was incredibly low-key. We spent two days with family, and had a wonderful time enjoying one another. Despite the relaxed atmosphere, God faithfully used circumstances to reveal some long-standing, difficult issues in my life. How kind of Him to show me my heart, even during a season full of distractions.

Do you remember those Christmases as a child, where your best friend rode down the street on her new bike? And you sat inside looking at the pj's your grandmother made for you? I remember longing for what I did not have-jealous would be the appropriate term. During each phase of my life, I can times of intense jealousy and discontentment. During college, I was in 10 weddings (I wish I was joking); all I wanted was to be in my own. After graduating, I envied my friends who made more money than I did. All I wanted was to teach special education AND make bank.

Now that I am in the possible realm of child-bearing, I have found myself thinking, "The announcement she just made was one I really wished I could've made." This year at Christmas, my sister-in-law made THE announcement. You know, the one that makes your skin prickle from jealousy. The one that makes you cringe on the inside and fake-smile on the outside?? She is pregnant with her second baby. The moment she announced it, I immediately felt sorry for myself. Sorry for myself, not because we've had an intense struggle with infertility. Sorry for myself, not because we've even been trying to have a baby!!!! Sorry for myself because....well....plain and simple, I am discontent with my current situation and want what I do not have! And that right now is a baby. In the next season, it will probably be a bigger house, or a newer car, or nicer dishes (that is a vice of mine!!!).

After wrestling with a serious attitude, God gently reminded me that He has blessed me beyond measure during this season. I have a job that is five minutes away. I have a house that I love. I have a husband who works hard to ensure that we are never in need or want. I have the time and energy to invest in my girl friends. I have the freedom to schedule outings and not worry about getting a sitter. I have the luxury to read Harry Potter when I want for as long as I want. AND I have the pleasure of holding the kids, and then handing them back when they drive me nuts!!!! So I say, bring on "aunt-hood" as I wait for his perfect and sovereign timing.

Snowy Day

As a kid, I loved the book, "The Snowy Day" by Ezra Jack Keats. In it, a young boy wakes up to discover his world is covered in snow. I didn't wake up to a blanket of snow, however, our forecast for a dusting to 2" has slowly become 5"+ and still falling.


Here is my snowy day (we got off at 1:00):





















































"Special" Hot Chocolate Recipe
2 C. milk
3 T. baking cocoa
2 T. Splenda
2 squares dark chocolate
1 t. (or more) cinnamon
A good bit of Kahlua (I just poured it in until it tasted good!)

Using a whisk, combine all ingredients in a small sauce pan . Stir continually over medium-low heat until hot. Pour into two mugs. Serve with Cool Whip.

Winter, con't.

I felt like a school kid today. As we sat in the classroom, I glanced out the windows and saw snow flurries. "It's snowing?!!" shouted one student. "Do you think we'll get off two hours early?" I asked, then laughed at myself.

Hours later, this was the view off of my deck. Can you see the snow settling on the railing? I love this sight. Though it's not significant accumulation, it's enough to make me excited.




































(sorry for the glare in this last picture. It was the only way I knew of to capture the snow falling.)


















I think I'll go make some hot chocolate, and think about Miguel as he freezes his tooshie off at the Raven's game!

Holidays

During our reading class at school, I have my kids respond in writing to a simple question. Today, it was "What do you love about winter?" I got answers ranging from "Drinking hot chocolate inside" to "Making snow angels." I realized that I love this time of year. I love shopping amidst the insanity. I love buying just that right gift. I love chopping down our Christmas tree. I love seeing all of the Christmas lights beginning to sparkle. And I really love the extra opportunities to see family and friends. (This year, I am going to visit my best friend, Andrea, in St. Louis!)

What do you love most about this time of year?

addition

What do you get when you add:

13 hours worked on Monday
+
12 hours worked on Tuesday
=Wednesday off!!!

Yay for a looooooong holiday. Did you know that Monday is the first day of gun hunting in PA? That means NO SCHOOL for staff or students. Wow, I love living in the sticks.

Check out this cute comic.

Dukem

I love my book club. I truly do. The girls have become some of my most enduring and faithful friends. We meet once a month (at least), and never are in want of good conversation, GREAT food, and belly-aching laughs. After reading "A Long Way Gone" (see previous post), our host decided that we'd be adventurous and try an Ethiopian restaurant in Baltimore. We met at 1:00 at Dukem, a little restaurant right on Maryland Avenue. It looks like a hole in the wall, but the upstairs dining area was surprisingly cute and cozy.

We ordered a combination platter which allowed us to try lamb, tibs (beef cubes), chicken, lentils, and several vegetables. The meal was served with a crepe-like bread that was tangy. The bread was used as our utensil. Ethiopian restaurants do not provide diners with knifes, spoons OR forks! Each meat option was in some sort of sauce, ranging from mild and flavorful to spicy and "nose sniffling."

I had a blast sampling a new cuisine and loved the experience of eating an entire meal with my hands. The food was delicious (loved the spicy lamb) and the experience was one I'll never forget.

Pairings and Recommendations

Miguel and I recently bought a wine fridge. We then promptly went to Wine World and bought a case of wine. Now I love to research food and wine pairings. With that said, here are my wine recommendations for Thanksgiving!

Main Course: Turkey (duh!)

Riesling: Schmitt Schone OR Chateau Ste Michelle
First one is German, second is from Washington St.

Pinot Grigio: Smoking Loon
California. We love everything Smoking Loon!

Beaujolais: Georges Duboeuf Beaujolais-Villages
This French wine is inexpensive ($7/bottle) , but you'd never guess that from the taste and quality! One of my favorites.

What are your favorites?? I am always wanting some new bottles to try!

Nov.

I forgot to post my book club's reading for the month of November. We are reading (some of us have already finished) another non-fiction memoir. A Long Way Gone, by Ishmael Beah, is the story of a young boy, caught in the violent civil war in Sierra Leone during the '90s. Survival meant fighting. And not fighting as we may think. But fighting in all of its violent and gruesome aspects. After years of wandering, pillaging and murdering, Ishmael is saved by a government organization, rehabilitated, and then sent to America to live. In A Long Way Gone, Ishmael details his personal struggles and triumphs as he desperately attempts to regain his life and childhood. Beah's memoir was riveting and made me grateful for the safety and security we know in this country.

Amanda

Amanda is a truly gifted artist. Many of us see her regularly in the "church" setting, but never get to experience her in a "performance" setting. Last night, Kristin and I drove to D.C. We watched Amanda's band, Never in Denver, perform at a great little coffee house called Ebenezer's. Amanda was phenomenal. Nothing short of breathtaking. I am by no means an expert on anything musical, but I do know that she has an incredible gift. Make sure you check out her my space page to listen to her latest recordings.

Velvety Squash Soup

I made this soup tonight for dinner. It was a wonderful cold-weather soup! It's so hearty that we had this as our main meal. The recipe calls for molasses, which I didn't have. So, I simply left it out.

I love making soups, and have enjoyed trying new recipes like this one. What is your favorite soup recipe?

10, 20, 30...

10 years ago, I was...

in my senior year of high school
trying desperately not to like stupid boys
taking the SATs and applying to colleges

20 years ago I was

in 2nd grade
loving being a "eager beaver" in Ms. Wilma's class
learning that I was a perfectionist

30 years ago I was

not born....=)

I tag all of you ladies reading this!

Help!

I need some date ideas. I am attempting to come up with a list of at least 10 new ideas for dates. So far I have two! Please post any ideas you may have for fun outings. These dates can include new restaurants to try, new sights to see, etc. It doesn't matter if they cost money or not!

Thanks ladies!

"God Grew Tired of Us"

Miguel and I are members of Blockbuster On-Line. It's Blockbuster's version of Netflix. We don't watch a ton of movies, but the $10.99 price tag for unlimited movies makes it worth our while. All that to say, I watched a fantastic documentary this week. To be honest, I wasn't aware it was a documentary, and probably would not have put it in my queue if I would've know!

And, I would have missed out on a phenomenal film. "God Grew Tired of Us" is a beautiful and moving film. National Geographic follows the story of three men born in Sudan during a time of intense civil war. These boys, "the lost boys," as they called themselves, were part of 27,000 boys who walked over 1,000 miles to safety and freedom. Upon entering adulthood, these three men were offered the opportunity to move to the United States to live, work, and play.

The film made me laugh: Imagine all of the "new" experiences that tribal people would have upon entering an airport in America. Escalators can be quite scary, I'm sure!

The film made me cry from sadness: Images of children literally wasting away from lack of food.

The film made me cry from joy: A man reunited with the mother he had not seen or known since he was 5 years old.

Have you watched an other great "unknown" flicks lately?

Hymn

I have a worship CD that has this song on it. Though I haven't listened to it in a while, I woke up with these lyrics running through my mind. I hope they encourage you as you face your daily trials.

Whate’er my God ordains is right:
His holy will abideth;
I will be still whate’er He doth;
And follow where He guideth;
He is my God; though dark my road,
He holds me that I shall not fall:
Wherefore to Him I leave it all.

Whate’er my God ordains is right:
He never will deceive me;
He leads me by the proper path:
I know He will not leave me.
I take, content, what He hath sent;
His hand can turn my griefs away,
And patiently I wait His day.

Whate’er my God ordains is right:
His loving thought attends me;
No poison can be in the cup
That my Physician sends me.
My God is true; each morn anew
I’ll trust His grace unending,
My life to Him commending.

Whate’er my God ordains is right:
He is my Friend and Father;
He suffers naught to do me harm,
Though many storms may gather,
Now I may know both joy and woe,
Some day I shall see clearly
That He hath loved me dearly.

Whate’er my God ordains is right:
Though now this cup, in drinking,
May bitter seem to my faint heart,
I take it, all unshrinking.
My God is true; each morn anew
Sweet comfort yet shall fill my heart,
And pain and sorrow shall depart.

Whate’er my God ordains is right:
Here shall my stand be taken;
Though sorrow, need, or death be mine,
Yet I am not forsaken.
My Father’s care is round me there;
He holds me that I shall not fall:
And so to Him I leave it all.

Dave Harvey

Do you have those speakers that you simply love to listen to? Preachers whose messages impact your life, whose words stick with you for years? I remember a message preached years ago by a pastor about Mary and Martha. It has stuck with me. I am a Martha who desperately wants to be a Mary. Recently, I heard a message preached by the same pastor on trials.

I have trials in my daily life, don't we all? My trials in this season are not health related; they are not earth shattering, but they are very personal and very real. My tendency is to question God's faithfulness and to worry (hello, Martha). One thing that the pastor stated has stuck with me throughout the past few weeks. "This is exactly what you need." My trials are exactly what I need at this exact time in my life. I do not understand why they are here. I don't even understand how they could be good or needed. I don't know when or if they will ever end. But can I trust that God is sovereignly, slowly, working for my good and His ultimate glory? Yes, I surely can!

I have done a lot of self-talk over the past weeks, taking stock of my long-term vision and faith. I am struggling to see the purpose in these trials, but I know beyond a doubt, that these trials are exactly what I need! How confusing and amazing is God's faithfulness to me.

Cookbook Love

Here is a quick and easy recipe for healthy, hearty waffles. The recipe is from my beloved South Beach Quick and Easy Cookbook.















1 C. Whole wheat flour
1 C. old-fashioned rolled oats
1 T. plus 1 t. baking powder
3 T. granular sugar substitute (Splenda)
3 T. Canola Oil
1 1/4 C butter milk***
1/2 C. Water
1 Large Egg

Combine flour, oats, baking powder, and sugar in a medium bowl. Whisk together oil, buttermilk, water, and egg in a separate bowl. Pour the buttermilk mixture into the flour mixture and stir until combined.

Heat waffle iron; coat lightly with cooking spray. Add a generous 1/2 C batter per waffle. Cook about 5 minutes, until brown.

Makes 4 waffles.

***To make buttermilk: add 1 T. lemon juice to 1% or skim milk and let sit 10 min.

October's Book Club

Kabul Beauty School: An American Woman Goes Behind the Veil


Our latest book club read is, again, a non-fiction work. Debbie Rodriguez details her journey into Afghanistan in a compelling and inspiring memoir. I'm half-way through, and don't want to put it down. Debbie's life is fascinating (she married an Afghan man she'd known for less than a month!), but honestly, the book is not superbly written. However, it has made me wonder, "Do I see my gifts as a tangible way to serve others in need? Am I thinking outside "the box" concerning avenues in which to use my talents?"

Thursday's Thought

“You can never get a cup of tea large enough or a book long enough to suit me” -C.S. Lewis




What are you currently reading?

7 Things...

...your dog shouldn't eat:
1. Chocolate-3 oz of dark or 7 oz of milk could kill your dog.
2. Alcohol-even a small amount could give send your dog into a coma.
3. Grapes-cause renal failure, but not sure why
4. Coffee-Raises a dog's heart rate and triggers seizures (hm, sounds like some PEOPLE I know!)
5. Macadamia nuts-even a few can cause tremors or paralysis in a dog's hind legs.
6. Garlic and unions-break down a dog's red blood cells and cause kidney failure

Amazing what one can learn while reading! The crazy tidbits were discovered while browsing "National Geographic Magazine." Thanks to my granny, I now have a monthly subscription. I have officially gone from book lover to book nerd.

Book Report

Now that I am officially the "book review" blog, I figured I had better post the latest read of my book club.

Title: Freakonomics
Authors: Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner


Freakonomics is a wonderfully quirky, yet analytical view of previously unanswered and unthought (is that a word?!) of questions. Levitt masterfully looks at data to discover the hidden links between two seemingly unconnected issues or people. While I don't agree with some of Levitt's moral stances, I do find his writing intriguing.

What made crime plummet in the 1990's? What makes a perfect parent? Why do drug dealers still live with their mothers? Well....Read Freakonomics to uncover Levitt's data-supported theories!

Support the Cause

Ladies,
I just bought mine...Check out these cute (and super functional) insulated lunch bags from lean cuisine! They are only $9.95, and that's the final cost. No shipping, handling, or tax added on! $5 of every sale is donated to the Susan G. Komen foundation. They are only on sale for a limited time. Order quickly, as they really do sell out!

Restaurant Review

I love to try new restaurants, but I am not especially fond of chain restaurants. However, last night, Miguel and I went to the Bonefish Grill to celebrate his birthday. Wow. The restaurant just had its grand opening in Bel Air on Monday. The atmosphere was a little chaotic (I think every single server they had was on the floor!), but the food was incredible.

We started the evening off with the Bang Bang Shrimp, which came high recommended from a Connell. When a Connell says something is worth trying, IT IS! The appetizer is served with a creamy, spicy sauce. The sauce is one I will definitely try to replicate. And to top it off, we got to use chopsticks, very fun.
For dinner, Miguel had a rockfish version of chicken chesapeake, with a nice spinach, tomato topping and a lime dressing. So good. I had to steal several bites.
I had the ahi tuna (rare) with a warm mango salsa. Delicious. Miguel doesn't prefer raw fish, but he loved the way the tuna melted in your mouth.

The restaurant was a tad pricey, but definitely worth it. Oh, and a fun side note: Brenda Hranj (Jennifer Lyttle's mom) works there, so you'll bump into a friendly face if nothing else!

Did You Know?

All of these things were invented for and first seen at the 1893 World's Fair in Chicago:

The Ferris Wheel
Cracker Jacks
Pabst Blue Ribbon Beer
Zippers
Moving Pictures (This side of the Atlantic, at least)
Aunt Jemima's boxed pancake mix
Juicy Fruit gum
Shredded Wheat cereal

I found these facts fascinating. I'd never thought of their time or place of inception before reading "The Devil in the White City."

Words

Recently, the books I have been reading contain few, if any, unknown words. This past week, however, I started a new book titled "The Devil in the White City," by Erik Larson, which details the building and goings on of the World's Fair in Chicago at the brink of the 20th century. Very fascinating history. The books is incredibly well written, and contains a plethora of new vocabulary words. Today, I stumbled across this one:

Somnambulistic: affected by sleepwalking.

I love reading books that make me think (and use a dictionary)!

Adventures in Cooking

Admittedly, I am not a fantastic cook, and I am more than FAR from being a great baker. In fact, I rarely bake; it scares me. This summer, I decided that I would make at least one new recipe each week to broaden my horizons. I scoured all of my cookbooks, categorized recipes by protein, and made lists of recipes that sounded good. Slowly, I've been making my way through the lists.

This week, I attempted two new recipes. Thursday, I made whole wheat crepes for dinner. I love breakfast for dinner! I've made crepes before, but this was a new recipe, including using ricotta cheese as filling. Needless to say, the crepes themselves were a disaster. They didn't flip well (I need to learn to flip things without a spatula like I see all the t.v. chefs do!). By the time I was finished, I had about a million crepe pieces piled on the plate. We made do. Another brilliant meal by me!

Then, last night, I made a Chocolate Covered Mango and Vanilla Ice Cream Bombe. Boy was that an adventure! It included pureeing mango to blend with ice cream, five hours of freezer time (running up and down stairs to get to the deep freezer in between layering ingredients), and one frantic call to a dear friend (Em C.) asking how to fix my clumpy, separated ganache (put it in the blender!). Coincidentally, Em was making the SAME dessert last night! Bet hers wasn't such an adventure! =/ And here were my final and exhausting results:

The second picture doesn't quite capture the layers. My knife was no longer clean during cutting, so the layers ran together. But, if you click on the above link, you'll see what it should look like ala Take Home Chef.

Not gorgeous, but delicious. Next time, I am going to try different ice cream flavors.

Tuesday's Terribles

Often, off-brand products are just as good (if not better, in my opinion) as name-brand products. With that thought in mind, I bought Suave's "Exhale Inspiring" Lime Verbena body wash, hoping it would live up to Bath and Body Works. Unfortunately, it does not even come close. I think the Coconut must be the key ingredient.

Has anyone found a great knock-off product??

Shock

Monday, I went to a plastic surgeon....No, not to remove my cellulite or rid myself of unsightly stretch marks (I am doomed during pregnancy!). I was having the mole on my face biopsied. We decided at my last visit to leave the mole and biopsy it first. If the results of the biopsy came back with negative results, then we'd proceed with removal. The surgeon stated that there would be a noticeable scar if I had the mole removed. My face is definitely not a place I want a scar. Besides, I've had the mole since childhood and barely notice it.

The biopsy procedure last less than half an hour, I got three stitches and nearly passed out. The doctor bandaged me up well, and told me to let the band aids fall off naturally. So I had no idea what was under the bandage. He said to come back on Tuesday to discuss the results of the biopsy and have the stitches taken out. Today, the edges of the band aids were coming loose, so I pulled them off. To my surprise, my mole is GONE! I had to go find Miguel. "Look, it's GONE!! He didn't just biopsy it, he whacked it off!" Miguel replied, "Well, sue him for malpractice!" What a go-getter husband =)

I do have the three stitches, but the mole, at least from my perspective, is definitely gone. Shocking.

Help!

I am looking to sell a few items of clothing-my wedding dress and a leather coat that I no longer wear. I know through e-bay I'd get about $10 for each, if that. So, I'd like to consign them both instead. Does anyone know of a good consignment shop in the Harford County/Baltimore area?

8 Things You Might Not Know About Me

1. I LOVE working out at the gym.

2. I am cheap and freak out when we spend money while on vacation.

3. I am supervising the building of our new deck (translation: I am watching while Miguel works!).

4. I love to take baths with Coconut Lime Verbena bubble bath.

5. I really hate my job.

6. I would love to go to law school for child/family law.

7. I would love to live in Lancaster County on lots of land and have a pig.

8. I stopped sleeping with my stuffed animal raccoon the day before I got married.

Friends: Repost on your blog, please!

Summer Salad

Here is a recipe for an incredible (and healthy) summer salad. I had it at a luncheon, and wasn't quite sure what the dressing was, so came up with my own. This is super hearty because of the chicken and pine nuts. I used it at dinner as the main course, and it was MORE than enough to satisfy us.

SALAD
Lettuce (I used a combination of green leaf and spinach, but you can use whatever you'd like)
2 chicken breasts, cooked and chopped
1/4 C. pine nuts
1/8 C. craisins
1 Granny Smith apple, chopped
Feta (I used reduced fat)

Wash and chop/tear lettuce. Add chicken, apple, craisins, pine nuts, and feta.

DRESSING

• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1/4 cup raspberry basalmic vinegar
  
• 1/4 cup Splenda
• 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
• 1/8 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper

Put all ingredients into a jar with a tight lid. Shake until well combined.

Pour dressing over salad, and toss gently to coat.

Serves 6+ I added more lettuce and was able to get another meal out of it.

point of view

Yesterday, Miguel and I spend several hours, and several trips, trying to buy a grill....that's a story for another time. As we were waiting for an employee to load our grill, an older woman approached the store. She had no teeth, scraggly hair, and a large purse over her shoulder. Instead of walking into the store, she headed for the ash tray bins. I though to myself that she must want a quick smoke break before heading in to buy construction materials. However, instead of pulling a cigarette out of her purse, she began to pick half-smoked butts out of the ash trays. She fingered through them, making sure she found "good" ones. I quickly alerted Miguel to this gross misconduct and snickered under my breath. "How disgusting. What a sad addict she must be." As we pulled away, Miguel suggested that perhaps she wasn't an addict but merely too poor to buy cigarettes. At that though, I was convicted. I had judged this woman because of her "sub-human" conduct, but didn't even think to offer to buy her a pack of cigarettes. I do not condone the habit, yet I could have met this woman's needs in a very practical way. Instead, I sat judging and laughing.

Today, as I shared the story with my sister, she relayed a similar story she'd heard on the radio. A man felt called to reach a desperately poor neighborhood in Philly. He knocked on a woman's door and was greeted by a cigarette and a naked baby. He quickly defended his visit by saying he wanted to share Jesus. She shut the door on him. Convicted by the Holy Spirit, he went back with a carton of cigarettes and some diapers. Nothing earth-shattering or super-spiritual. But he was able to meet the woman's physical needs and ended up meeting her spiritual needs as well. Incredible.

Needless to say, I often view people from a merely human standpoint. I do not think of their spiritual needs. Yesterday, I could have served that woman, and perhaps been given a divine opportunity to serve her spiritually as well. My point-of-view drastically needs to be altered. What opportunities is God providing for you to meet the practical (and spiritual) needs of others?

Relaxing??!

In high school, I remember John Pirog teaching us to pray dangerous prayers. You know, those prayers that you desperately want to pray, but fear God may just answer!! And He usually does. The ones where you beg Him to teach you patience, and He lets you sit in the longest line at the grocery store as the little old lady counts out her pennies to the cashier??

This weekend, I began our trip to the beach with a dangerous prayer. I asked the Lord to calm my spirit, make me laid-back and unaware of time. I didn't want to worry about our schedule and the things I desired to see happen from minute to minute.

A little synopsis of our weekend: We went with another couple and their two kids. The mom and two kids all got pink eye in both eyes. The second night, the son hit his head on a moving ceiling fan and had to get 7 stitches. The third night, the stitches broke open and the wound began to bleed again. Back to the emergency room. All the while, the kids fought; the parents argued and Miguel and I had no choice BUT to sit back and watch.

After arriving home, my aunt called to say that several items in her place had been broken and/or gone missing. Meaning, this vacation went from horrible to horrific. Miguel and I both admit that this was perhaps the worst vacatation we have EVER taken. But, through it all, God faithfully answered my dangerous prayer. I was able to remain calm and laid back about our time there (not so calm about the broken/missing items). We interceeded on our friends' behalf and truly felt this vacation was just a part of His sovereign plan in drawing them to Himself.

I have one more vacation to look forward to in August, and pray that He uses more gentle means to calm me and my uptight spirit!

Summer Posts

This is the first summer that I have been able to be a "real" teacher and NOT work. Not to say I won't be working, BUT, I will not be teaching. What a huge relief at the perfect time. In light of my new found freedom, I thought it would be fun to post again-from time to time. For my first post, a recipe for an easy to make summer appetizer.

Stuffed Portabellas

1 pkg. Baby Bellas or 4 Large Portabella caps
1/2 package Feta Cheese
1/2 t. Oregano
1/2 t. Rosemary
1/2 t. Basil
2 T. Olive Oil (more if needed)
1 T. Bread crumbs (more if needed)

1. Scoop feta into a bowl and mash with a fork.
2. Add spices to taste. Add oil and stir to form a mushy ball. Add bread crumbs until a firm ball forms.
3. Remove stems from mushrooms. Gently wash mushrooms.
4. Stuff each mushroom with cheese mixture.
5. Cook for 15-20 minutes at 350 degrees. Cheese will be lightly browned.