Amy Warren, LMHC / WQ Mag Columnist's Blog – September 2009 Archive (10)

RELATIONSHIP TIP OF THE WEEK: Eliminate Tit for Tat

To respond to a partner (or anyone else) who is upset with you with a counterattack of what he did wrong is not fair game. It means you are not being accountable for your own actions. Plus, you aren’t really hearing your partner’s feelings.

Over and over again in couples therapy sessions, I hear partners employ this tactic to get the heat off them. It doesn’t; it only makes the situation worse. What ends up happening is that the wounded… Continue

Added by Amy Warren, LMHC / WQ Mag Columnist on September 29, 2009 at 2:00pm — 4 Comments

PUTTING ON MY APRON AT APRON'S: Intermediate Techniques, Week 3

Executive Chef Jim Hendry lost his voice and was unable to teach the Intermediate Techniques class at Apron’s Cooking School this week, but his usual sidekick, Mike McClure did a bang-up job of covering the whole class by himself. Mike led us in preparing Lobster and Shrimp Ceviche with Plantain Chips, Porcini Rubbed Beef Tenderloin with Haricot Verts, Risotto Caprese and Orange Lemongrass Panna Cotta with Vanilla Chiffon Cake. Now, do we eat good or… Continue

Added by Amy Warren, LMHC / WQ Mag Columnist on September 27, 2009 at 11:36am — No Comments

Seared Sea Scallops With Crispy Pancetta and Truffle Emulsion

The reviews of this dish prepared in the Intermediate Techniques class at Apron's Cooking School were rave. The Truffle emulsion is what made this dish exotic and phenomenal.

Ingredients:

18 sea scallops, 10/20 counts

1 Tbl. Olive oil

3 cups Butter lettuce, cleaned and chiffonade

1 cup rendered pancetta*

Method:

Pick all of the abductor mussels off of the scallops and rinse well in cold water.… Continue

Added by Amy Warren, LMHC / WQ Mag Columnist on September 24, 2009 at 4:25pm — No Comments

RELATIONSHIP TIP OF THE WEEK: Nuking Is For the Microwave

Often when people get hurt or angry, the tendency is to try to get back at the other person with hurtful words or actions. In the Relational Life Therapy I practice, we refer to retaliation as one of the losing relationship strategies. It’s based on the belief that if the other person feels the same pain you are feeling, then he will learn from it. Not!! The other person is only going to become infuriated, and the situation will escalate. This whole… Continue

Added by Amy Warren, LMHC / WQ Mag Columnist on September 22, 2009 at 2:30pm — 3 Comments

CHANGING MY VIEW FROM THE BALCONY

I decided to treat myself to a much needed night of rest and relaxation at home tonight (and yes, it was not supposed to include writing or any other form of work). Of course, it did have to include good food, so I prepared a gourmet meal and proceeded to dine in my favorite venue, outdoors.

When I moved to a condo several months ago, it was a stretch. I had always resisted condo living with the same excuse, “I love outdoor living; I have… Continue

Added by Amy Warren, LMHC / WQ Mag Columnist on September 21, 2009 at 9:00pm — 5 Comments

PUTTING ON MY APRON AT APRON'S: Intermediate Techniques, Week 2

In this my second week of the Intermediate Techniques class at Publix Apron’s Cooking School, I am suddenly aware of how today’s hectic schedules and busy lives have influenced our cooking habits. As we made a homemade consommé and filled and folded won tons for the Won Ton Soup, prepared and formed Sofrito Crab Cakes with a Roasted Red Pepper Beurre Blanc made from scratch, roasted vegetables for the Root Vegetable Hash, created a crumb topping to… Continue

Added by Amy Warren, LMHC / WQ Mag Columnist on September 20, 2009 at 3:30pm — 1 Comment

RECIPE OF THE WEEK: Grilled Vegetable Strata With Roasted Tomato-Goat Cheese Mornay

It was really hard to pick which recipe was the best from last week's class at Apron's Cooking School. This recipe makes a delicious vegetarian entree or side dish. The Mornay sauce which melds goat cheese and roasted tomatoes is luscious enough to make alone and serve over pasta. Now you have two recipes in one!

Serves Eight

Ingredients:

2 Eggplant

2 Red Bell Pepper

1 Zucchini

1 yellow squash

2 Red… Continue

Added by Amy Warren, LMHC / WQ Mag Columnist on September 15, 2009 at 1:30pm — No Comments

RELATIONSHIP TIP OF THE WEEK: Realities Differ

Each person’s reality of the same situation or incident will differ. We can be at the same place, at the same time and yet hear, see and interpret differently.

Recognize that your partner’s reality will differ from your reality. We do not come to each other with clean slates. We come to each other colored by our experiences and checkered with wounds from our past. Because we do not see through the same lens, we will have a different… Continue

Added by Amy Warren, LMHC / WQ Mag Columnist on September 14, 2009 at 5:30pm — No Comments

PUTTING ON MY APRON AT APRON’S: I’m Ba-a-a-ck!

The Basics in Culinary class at Publix Apron’s Cooking School was so much fun that I just couldn’t resist the opportunity to extend my culinary training with the Intermediate Techniques class. While most of my fellow students from the Basics Course intend to continue as well, many of them are waiting for another time when the timing is better for them. I, however, have never been into delayed gratification. So even though my plate is more than… Continue

Added by Amy Warren, LMHC / WQ Mag Columnist on September 13, 2009 at 8:30pm — No Comments

RELATIONSHIP TIP OF THE WEEK: Enlist Your Friends

Most of us like to confide in our girlfriends about whatever relationship issues we’re having. While it’s true that one of the great things about female friendships is that we do actually talk to each other about feelings; it’s also generally true that our friends will side with us no matter what. Instead, ask your friends not to side with you necessarily, but to side with your relationship -- a healthy relationship, that is.

Being open to… Continue

Added by Amy Warren, LMHC / WQ Mag Columnist on September 1, 2009 at 5:30pm — 1 Comment