My 6 month vacation and a Tres Leech cake

For those of you who may be unaware, I have been unemployed for the last 6 months.  I have sent out applications every day and have only gotten 3 call backs, all of which did not end up hiring me.  I don't think I have ever had so much rejection in so little of a time period.  People say the economy is bad and California is number 2 in the country for unemployment, so you may want to ask me, "Why are you surprised?  It's taking everyone a long time find employment these days."  Whatever, these kind of things don't usually happen to me I always use to have a good job, until now.  SO in light of this, I decided to compile a list of positive things that has happened in the last 6 months, that couldn't have been accomplished if I was working:

• I have successfully grown out my bangs.  Yes, ladies, you know what I am talking about.  No awkward period at work, where you end up looking like a 12 yr old with your hair pinned back.  If you are unemployed, people expect you to look a bit whack.  Whackness accomplished and now they are grown out, new, potential employer, none the wiser.
• I have managed to see EVERY episode of the original Beverly Hills 90210 on the Soap channel.  You see when I was growing up, this was my favorite show and I had only seen 2 or 3 episodes, because we didn't have cable or get FOX, you needed cable in order to see FOX.  We only got 4 channels, one of them being PBS. I used to have one of my friends tape episodes for me and I would watch that one episode like 40 times, made me feel more in the loop with my teen years, you know?
• Successfully set up a drip irrigation system in my front yard.  Lord knows, I wouldn't have had the patience for this if I actually had a 40 hour a week job and would've hired someone to do it instead.  Turns out it is painfully easy and now I am getting ready to set one up in the back yard.

Ok, so that may be a short list, but I like to look at it as a list of accomplishments, since it seems I haven't done much else in a pretty long time frame.  Damn, I should have lost 30 pounds by now.  Speaking of 30 pounds, I made a Tres Leche cake yesterday.  Side note, when texting tres leche on my IPhone to Jenn every day, it would auto correct to tres leech cake.  Apparently my IPhone doesn't speak Spanish.

Tres Leche Cake- again with the milk, I know, I swear I am borderline lactose intolerant, but it's sooooooo good.  (Stolen from: http://www.suite101.com/)

CAKE:

1 cup sugar

5 large eggs, separate

1/3 cup milk

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

1 cup all-purpose flour

1-1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp cream of tartar

MILK SYRUP:

1 can (12 oz) evaporated milk
1 cup sweetened condensed milk
1 cup heavy (or whipping) cream
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 Tbsp dark Cuban rum

• METHOD:Preheat oven to 350F. Generously butter a 13 x 9-inch baking dish. CAKE: Beat 3/4 cup sugar and the egg yolks until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Fold in the milk, vanilla, flour and baking powder. Beat the egg whites to soft peaks, adding the cream of tartar after 20 seconds. Gradually add the remaining 1/4 cup sugar and continue beating until the whites are glossy and firm, but not dry. Gently fold the whites into the yolk mixture.

Glossy, firm whites
• Pour this batter into the buttered baking dish.Bake the cake until it feels firm and an inserted toothpick comes out clean, about 30-45 minutes. Let the cake cool completely in baking dish. Pierce the cake all over with a fork, taking care to not tear it up.

• MILK SYRUP: Combine the evaporated milk, sweetened condensed milk, cream, vanilla and rum in a mixing bowl. Whisk until well blended. Pour the syrup over the cake, spooning the overflow back on top, until it is all absorbed.

• When ready to serve, cut a slice and plate it. Top with a dollop of freshly whipped cream or a side of ice cream, dust cake and cream with some fresh cocoa powder and place a slice or two of fresh mango on the side. This cake is addictive- you’ve been warned! Enjoy!

Read more at Suite101: Best Tres Leches Cake Recipe: A Latin American favourite that's summertime perfection! http://www.suite101.com/content/best-tres-leches-cake-recipe-a23668#ixzz1AT2cLAAP

Unrelated side note:  I need to get one of these immediately!  http://www.whiteflowerfarm.com/79002-product.html?utm_source=rkgkeywords&utm_medium=ppc&utm_campaign=Spring20111220&utm_term=laurus+nobilis

-Jenny