Chicken Corn Chowder

2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
2 stalks of celery, finely chopped
1 medium bell pepper (I prefer red for color), finely chopped
1 medium onion, finely chopped
1 jalapeno, finely chopped, seeds and membrane removed (do not omit)
1/4 Cup thinly sliced or chopped ham or canadian bacon
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 14 oz cans chicken broth
3 Tablespoons flour
3 ears of fresh corn kernels (I usually end up using frozen corn)
2 large chicken breasts, cooked and shredded
4 oz softened cream cheese
1 Cup milk
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 Cup shredded cheddar cheese

Place olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Saute celery, bell pepper, onion and jalapeno until softened. Stir in garlic and ham; cook for another 3 minutes. Whisk the broth with the flour in a large bowl then stir into soup. Stir in corn and chicken. Bring to a low boil and reduce heat. Whisk together the cream cheese and milk in a large bowl until smooth. Stir into soup along with the salt, pepper and cheddar cheese. Simmer until ready to serve.

Triple Berry Coffeecake

2 cups flour

2 1/2 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

1/2 cup butter

3/4 cup sugar

1 egg

1/2 cup milk

2 cups fresh or frozen berries**

1/2 cup flour

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

1/4 cup butter

1. Grease 9x9x2 inch or 8x8x2 inch baking pan; set aside. In a medium bowl combine the 2 cups flour, baking powder, and salt; set aside.

2. In a medium bowl beat butter on medium speed for 30 seconds. Add the 3/4 cup sugar and beat on med-high until light and fluffy. Add egg, beat well. Add flour mixture and milk alternately to beaten egg mixture, beating until smooth after each addition.

3. Spoon batter into prepared pan. Sprinkle with berries. In another bowl combine the 1/2 cup flour, the 1/2 cup sugar, and cinnamon. Using a pastry blender, cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs; sprinkle over berries. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 50-60 minutes. Serve warm. Makes 9 servings.

**Raspberries, blueberries and strawberries. The triple berry mix at Costco is great when you don't have fresh berries.

Pita Chip Pizza

10 ounces Stacy’s Simply Naked or Stacy’s Parmesan, Garlic & Herb Pita Chips
8 ounces fresh mozzarella cheese, sliced or grated
4 tablespoons prepared pesto
2 to 3 roasted red peppers, sliced

Preheat oven broiler.
Slightly crush chips on a baking sheet.
Sprinkle pesto evenly over the surface.
Cover surface with mozzarella.
Arrange roasted red pepper strips evenly over the surface.
(May add optional ingredients such as green olives, onions, etc.)

Broil for just a couple of minutes, or until cheese is just starting to bubble. You want the chips to remain crispy! Cut into squares and serve immediately.

(8 - 12 servings)

Southwestern Black Bean Salad

Servings: 12 • Size: 1/2 cup • Prep Time: 10 minutes • Calories: 106 • Points: 2.5

1 15.5 oz can black beans, rinsed and drained
9 oz frozen corn, thawed
1 tomato, chopped
1 small hass avocado, diced
1/4 cup red onion, chopped
1 scallion, chopped
1 lime, juice of
3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 tbsp cilantro
salt and fresh pepper

Combine beans, corn, tomato, onion, scallion, cilantro, salt and pepper. Mix with lime juice and olive oil. Marinate in the refrigerator 30 minutes. Add avocado before serving.

4th year updates

ER at Morristown 5/25 - 6/21
Renal at SMMC 6/22 - 7/5
Clinical Pharm 7/20 - 8/2
Anesth at UT Southwestern, Dallas, TX 8/3 - 8/30
SICU at CCF, Cleveland, OH 8/31 - 9/27
Anesth at Thomas Jefferson, Philly, PA 9/28 - 10/25
Anesth at UW, Seattle, WA 10/26 - 11/22
Neuro at SMMC 11/23 - 12/20
Rest .... TBD

Simple Thoughts for Happy Life

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch.
5. Pay off your credit cards every month.
6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.
9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.
10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.
13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.
15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.
16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.
19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.
20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.
21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.
23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.
24. The most important sex organ is the brain.
25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.
26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years, will this matter?'
27. Always choose life..
28. Forgive everyone everything.
29.. What other people think of you is none of your business.
30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.
31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
33. Believe in miracles.
34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.
35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.
37. Your children get only one childhood.
38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else’s, we’d grab ours back.
41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
42. The best is yet to come.
43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
44. Yield.
45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift."

Memorial Day Weekend Retreat

This past weekend I was at Marywood University, Scranton, PA for my church's retreat. The theme was Abraham's journey. I thought it would be good but it was a bit confusing. The speaker was trying to speak from 2 perspectives, atheist and Christian. It would work if he wasn't contradicting himself. It got to a point where I couldn't figure out what he was trying to say. I understand that our journey with God changes as we understand Him more and how much we understands depends on God himself. I was able to get to know the speaker a bit outside of his sermon. He is definitely very clear in his thoughts but the sermon just didn't quite deliver.

The weekend also had 2 workshops. One of which was a women's workshop where it was the speaker's wife leading it. It was pretty good because she was able to give the perspective of being a 2nd generation Chinese American and how to deal with the American world and our parents. I now understand that much of my disagreements between me and my mom really stems from our differences and that we both don't really understand each other's world. It's something I would have work on for years to come. I always feel like it's very hard for me to explain to my mom and have understand what is going on my life. Most of the time, I choose to not to tell her much of my life away from home because I feel like it's one way to keep our disagreement to the minimum. Much work to do.

This weekend made me realize that I long to belong to a place, I long to call a place home. I didn't know any one there, and I was meeting new people every time and don't really how to get to close to them. I really feel like I was an outsider looking in. I don't know how to fix this. I'm really praying that God will help me find a church and a place that I can call my earthly home.

Ja-Jang-Myun (Korean Black Bean Paste Noodle)

Ingredients:
1/4 pound chicken / pork
1 medium onions -- chopped
1 medium zucchini -- chopped
1 cup cha jang (black bean paste, not sauce!)*
oil or shortening
1-2 cups chicken broth or water
1 tablespoon corn starch
1 tablespoon water
fresh chinese noodles -- cooked

*Look for this at a Chinese or a Korean Market. No substitutes!

Directions:
1. Cut the chicken into small pieces.
2. In a wok, over high heat, stir fry the onion and zucchini. Depending on
the size of the wok, you might have to do it in batches. Remove and set aside.
3. Stir fry the chicken till it is cooked, approximately 1 - 2 minutes. Add the vegetables and mix.
4. Add the chicken broth. Bring it to a boil.
5. While waiting for it to boil, heat the shortening or oil in another pan. The amount varies, depending upon the amount of the black bean paste, but don't be too stingy with the oil. Dump the paste in the wok, stirring quickly to avoid burning. Stir for approximately 2 -3 minutes.
6. Add the stir fried paste to the vegetable and chicken mix.
7. Mix the corn starch and water. Add it to the wok and stir til thickened and bubbly.
8. Serve immediately over cooked noodles.
9. Add sliced cucumber and egg to garnish.

Family Medicine 3

I just finish my 1st week of the super easy and chill family medicine. It is also my last rotation of my 3rd year. I only go in for about 2-3 hours a day and see about 4-5 patients. The drs. there were literally treating me as a 4th year even though I'm still technically a 3rd year. It's a little scary as how I'm going to get more responsibility as 4th year is coming up. They definitely expect that I know what the patient has and have an inkling in how to treat. I'm glad in a way because I get to see what 4th year is like without being one yet.

From 10 to 1 Most Important Words

The 10 most important words:
I won't wait for others to take the first step.

The 9 most important words:
If it is to be, it's up to me.

The 8 most important words:
If not me, who? If not now, when?

The 7 most important words:
Let me take a shot at it.

The 6 most important words:
I will not pass the buck.

The 5 most important words:
You can count on me.

The 4 most important words:
It IS my job!

The 3 most important words:
Just do it!

The 2 most important words:
I will.

The most important word:
Me

B.J. GALLAGHER AND STEVE VENTURA
IN THEIR BOOK:
(Who Are "They" Anyway?)