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Daily Dose Law School

Self-Care in Law School

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So you failed a midterm? Rock the Final!

 

During our Fundamentals Week, which is basically a crash-course in law school etiquette and expectations, one professor took the time to explain self-care in a way I’d never heard. She introduced me to Spoon Theory. Ever heard of it?

It is a great model to explain the use of energy and how to get more of it. The theory was written by Christine Miserandino. She used it to explain the energy available for someone with a chronic illness, but we can certainly relate it to the struggles of law school as well.

Basically, you start the day with a certain number of spoons. Now, if you haven’t rested well, or stayed up to the buttcrack of dawn working on that Legal Writing Objective Memo due at 7:45am, then you can imagine that you probably don’t have as many spoons as the student in class who finished and proofed their memo the night before. Throughout the day, you’ll need to use a certain amount of spoons to complete tasks. But, what happens when you inevitably run out of spoons?

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Well, you have to get yourself more spoons. That’s right! You can earn them. You can take a nap, polish your nails, walk down all the aisles in Target and talk about absolutely nothing with your best friend. Do something that helps you relax or simply makes you feel good.

Now you may be wondering why I’m sharing Spoon Theory. I feel like it’s good to remind you that you’re working really damn hard. You’re busting your butt to make the grade you want/need/feel you deserve…and if you overwork those neurons – you’re going to burst! Pump the brakes and Treat yo’ self!

Sure you need to study, but you also must take a chill pill!

 

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Take a BREAK, love!

Midterms are over.

A few of my classmates showed up to exams in pajamas. They looked defeated before even walking into the exam. If I could have transferred some spoons, I would have. But, I don’t think I had any to spare.

That’s law school though, right? We’re supposed to be permanently exhausted, allergic to the sun, and scrambling to type up outlines.

NO. You’ll be a better student if you can get enough sleep to keep your days straight. Trust me. Your deadlines don’t seem to whiz by if you’ve taken the time to calendar them before taking an hour off to take your dogs to the park.

Now, don’t you dare lose your pool noodle and say that I told you to throw caution to the wind…because that’s not what I’m saying. I’m telling you to make time for you.
YOU.
Just YOU.

Law school is hard. Don’t make it harder by forgetting to take care of yourself.
Don’t stress about the exams you just took.
Focus on what you can improve on before getting to the Final.
You’ve got this.

Categories
Daily Dose Law School

Law School – Remember to Breathe

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Law school exams are terrifying. Maybe you are not of the same opinion, but I personally do not do well with uncertainty. Truly, I do not mind taking the exam. Waiting for grades to post however is what I find stressful.

This semester, midterms were a welcome break from classes. There is so much information poured into my brain on a daily basis, I was ecstatic to find a few hours a day to apply what I’ve learned. 

Now that exams are over, I’ve decided to alter my study methods. I recommend you take a long hard look at what is working for you, and what is not. Your legal education, especially in the 1L year, is tantamount to solidifying amazing internships and positions later on.

Pre-midterms, I read and briefed nearly every case for all classes. This is especially important in legal writing and research because it is impossible to keep all the cases straight without creating a case chart. I also dedicated at least 3 hours a day to reading and synthesizing my notes from each class.

Post midterms, I am spending at least two hours talking about the law aloud. I added this method to my study time and it made a world of difference for my understanding. You have to APPLY the law! Meaning, you need to actually work with it, change the fact pattern, and get down into the trenches of those circumstances.

Take the next few days to examine what you are doing well and what is time wasted. Law school, much like life, is about working smarter not harder. Learning the material is different for everybody, but you need to learn what works best for you.

This week is the best time to determine where you stand in each class, what you need to do to earn the best grade you possibly can, and to take stock of your abilities and shortcomings. This is no time to relax and lull yourself into a false sense of security.

These past 8 weeks flew past me.
You can bet I have set a plan in action and set meetings with professors to make sure I am making use of every tool available.

Make the best of your law school education as well. Get out there and be awesome!

Categories
Daily Dose Law School

5 Things No One Tells You about Law School

 

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I started law school one month ago and, despite having a full week of orientation where I ended up with more questions than answers, I have finally figured out a few things. However, I am still basically riding a bicycle that’s on fire, while I’m trying not to fan the flames.  Here’s the good, weird, and shitty things I’ve come to realize this semester:

  1. To your friends and family – you’re a lawyer, even if you’re not actually one yet! Before you even start school, friends and family (and even rando-acquaintances) will start asking you for legal advice. Honestly, why would anyone want advice from someone who basically is 1/18th of the way through law school and knows nothing about the system? Because you know more than they do! Remind these folks that you have no clue what you’re doing, but welcome them to keep you on retainer once you pass the bar!
  2. The DRAMA is real. Law school is said to be like high school, which is true. There’s way more drama than there should be with people who spend so much time together, they may as well be related. What no one talks about is how quickly your perception of people will flip-flop. Some students come in and impress the pants off of you with their ability to spew about Federal Question Jurisdiction and Contract Defenses before classes have even started. If you meet this person…RUN!really-gif_2
    You need to be on par with your study mates, otherwise, you’ll start to feel less than and it could lead to tanking your study methods, which could lead to lower grades.
  3. Food is LIFE – remember that! Studying is an all-consuming activity when school is your job. You forget to eat and start considering coffee as a major food group. Every professor tells you to “remember to eat healthy foods” and then follow that up with “I lived off of caffeine and the occasional Ramen cup…” So you start to think that it is physically acceptable to subsist on chai lattes and the occasional Kind bar. Now, not to throw shade on Kind bars (because really, they’re amazing and everyone should carry an extra on their person) but one of these delicious granola sticks is not sufficient enough to meet your caloric needs. I know it is a huge imposition to pre-pack a lunch and microwave it before heading to the library in order to silently fight someone over a study room – but your brilliant self will thank you for doing so.
  4.  Everyone feels like they’re drowning. EVERYONE. What you need to remember is that your legal education is a marathon, not a sprint. Sure, it sounds cliche, but this is the stone cold truth. You simply cannot read, brief, and interpret every case, for every class for the semester in 1 week, plus sleep and feed yourself. You are not a robot, nor are you capable of condensing and understanding the information you’re being water-boarded with unless it’s explained to you. Everyone in your class feels like the amount juggled is not sustainable – and everyone is right! So take a beat. Make some time for yourself and work on self-care, because it is completely possible to feel like you’re drowning and not actually drown. Pull up your big girl panties and straighten that crown. You’ve got this!tumblr_inline_n45dmohxog1r73ga0
  5. You are a sucky writer, crummy reader, and you have no clue what’s going on.
    Law school is a trial-by-fire situation. What you need to remember is – one day, when you’ve graduated and can look back on this experience – you are the sum of your parts. Everything you learn can be applied to cases you will soon argue. You will be counted on more times than you can possibly imagine. You will be the knight slaying the dragon. But you have to start somewhere. Unfortunately, you can’t drink Lawyerade and know all the things. However, you will get better. Aim for progress, not perfection.

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Law school professors aim to break you down, and then they build you back up. You need to know what it feels like to fail – because you will…often. As a former teacher, let me tell you – this is just one step on your way to greatness. Try not to be the Debbie Downer, because no one will want to be around you. In the same token, don’t be the class know-it-all either. In my short experience, it’s best to be honest and straightforward with everyone, especially when you’re not understanding a concept.

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Finally, share your struggle! Your legal education will be an uphill battle, but you’re certainly not alone. Dedicate time to study, focus on attainable daily goals, and carefully consider your dedicated study group peers, because you need to be surrounded by those who want you to succeed and can add value to your situation.

Kick Ass!

Categories
Daily Dose

What to Do After You Get Accepted to Law School

Yep, you read that right – I got in to Law School! ::happydance::

Thankfully, I had the choice of a few – which made my decision quite difficult.
For me, the decision came down to location.

Stay in Dallas? Move to San Antonio?

I chose to take a leap of faith, stay in Dallas, and begin school at The UNT Dallas College of Law.

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Here’s what you need to know –

  1. This school of law is NOT YET Accredited.
  2. They have applied for Accreditation and will hear back from the ABA this summer.
  3. After hours of research, and speaking to multiple Law School Advisors (even one of my own at Baylor) – there is a great deal of positivity surrounding the approval of this fledgling school.
  4. There are only LOANS and SCHOLARSHIPS available for graduate programs. Yes, you may qualify for a school grant, but there are no federal ones available. Be smart when you research your borrowing options. I’ll post another update on this soon.
  5. If you have a full-time job (like me) and are switching gears to attend law school full time, it is completely acceptable to be freaking out (if you say you’re not, you should be).
  6. I was admitted to the 3rd graduating class for UNT Law.
  7. Tuition at this public institution sits right around $15k, which is just about the nicest figure I could present to my wallet.

 

Here’s what you need to do:

  1. Pick your school. Research your options. Make a Pros & Cons list for each school you gained admission for – and be downright honest with everything they are offering, as well as what potential the city it resides in can give you.
  2. Double-Check your FAFSA Submission. Yes, you worked on one for your undergrad, so you should be used to this dog and pony show. Make sure your school has your FAFSA information, and that your enrollment hours are submitted as well. This is important, because your school may not start assessing your financial need until it has been submitted. Every school is different, so be sure to reach out to the Financial Aid office. 
  3. Sign your Letter of Intent & Pay your Seat Deposit. Technically, you cannot reserve multiple seats across law schools. First off – that’s just a jerk move. However, you can pay for a seat if you are unsure you’ll gain admission elsewhere. This year’s admissions cycle was wicked long, so the wait was nearly unbearable. Think proactively. If you get admitted to your second choice school, and the seat deadline is fast approaching – you may want to wait until the day it is due to pay it. This decision is, of course, completely yours. I just want you to know that holding a seat in the hopes that you have a backup is downright mean, especially when you know there’s a waitlist and people (some of my friends) are anxiously waiting in the wings.
  4. Log Into Your Student Account. Monitor your emails, and make sure you have an open correspondence with those on campus. There will likely be Student Mixers, IT Meetings, and Enrollment Dates for you to participate in. Get involved!

 

Get ready for the ride of your life, ladies and gents! This summer will be full of 0L posts, and then we’ll start our 1L year!
This will be challenging, but you’ve got this!

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Cerebellumchef is off to Law School! Getting healthy-fit, and maintaining a study schedule is going to be an intense adventure. Good luck to you!

Categories
Daily Dose Reviews

Eating Up Dallas

Last night, I was treated to such a superb meal! There were $1 Bellinis, plenty of laughs, and the tastiest of morsels.
As I stand in solidarity with my fellow foodies, I just had to share! This is definitely a new fave of mine in the Big D!

We flocked to Patrizio’s and noshed on several delectable dishes. Obviously, we started with an appetizer. Technically,  we ordered FOUR:

Cauliflower Steak – A breaded and fried vegetable to confound the tastebuds. I actually plunged a forkful of the breaded yumminess into the Beau’s mouth before he could put up a fight. When told it was cauliflower he couldn’t believe it. Yes – this dish is that good!

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Tender & Juicy, with a hint of a crunch from the Spinach

Garlic Cheese Bread – This is quite a standard option for an Italian food establishment, but what makes this notable is their take on a marinara sauce. The Marzano tomatoes make a world of difference and bring a sweet tang to the cheesy bread, when paired.

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Tender & Juicy, with a hint of a crunch from the Spinach

Bruschetta – Navy. Beans. I’m a HUGE fan of beans. I was thrilled when the bruschetta plate came up with both an eggplant mixture and a bean mixture, as well as the traditional version. The navy bean aspect of the trio was partially mixed with parmigiano

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Bruschetta Trio

Calamari – Personally, I do not enjoy the full squidlets. I do however love the rings. The breading on this calamari could use an upgrade and reimagining. It is good, but not nearly as wonderful to the palate as the other dishes on the table. The marinara sauce and garlic aioli was perfect, and – quite frankly – I’d have been displeased had they ruined these two basic (and completely crucial) condiments.

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No amount of cheese could have made this better. Well, maybe a bit more cheese…

The need to try a plethora of options meant that each of us ordered a different dish. My Fettucine Pappagano choice was too salty for my taste, but I was able to doctor the leftovers with some heavy cream, broccoli florets, french green beans, and julienned carrots. The bacon in this dish was too much and overpowered the light sauce on the perfectly cooked pasta.

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This dish easily had a half pound of chicken atop it. Chunks, people. Huge, clunking pieces. Not sexy.

The Beau and Jules opted for the two lasagne choices. These pictures speak for themselves, but in case you don’t speak food and prefer to ogle, I should tell you that the chicken mushroom version is far superior to the three meat traditional. The chicken was succulent, supported by slightly wilted spinach, and a cream sauce that could damn near sing me a lullaby.

Our friend ordered the Chef’s Special for the night. It was apparently so delicious he refused to wait for anything further than a quick picture. There was not a speck of sauce left on the plate from this seafood scampi. The aroma was just the right tinge of garlic-meets-cream, with generous amounts of basil, lemon, tomatoes, and purple onions.

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Some people don’t like their food cooling while a picture is snapped.Sorry for the blur. 

Overall, Patrizio’s in Uptown was splendid! The food was right for the price, and (mostly) caressed my foodie passions in all the right ways. I strongly recommend you visit this quaint location, in the heart of Uptown, as soon as humanly possible. The atmosphere is lovely, there was no need to yell over our meals, and the waitstaff was swift and courteous. All great things.

Much love,
Cerebellum Chef

Categories
Daily Dose

Getting the D on V-Day

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I’m sure most of you were looking to see some sort of action last night.
Unfortunately for us, I’ve got the flu. There were no lacey sets, mood music, or candles. Why?
Because this kinda-sorta-fit-chick must be wooed with an impressive menu! To hell with gifts. Shower me with decadent sauces and cremes! Am I right?

The beau was amazing and ordered our Valentine’s Day dinner from The Cheesecake Factory.
And honey, let me tell you – everything was PERFECT!

We ordered the crab & artichoke dip, Steak Diane, Pork Chop with apple chutney, and a side of potato soup [because this is, quite possibly, the best damn thing on the Dallas Hwy 12 location’s menu). Linda’s fudge cake made its sexy way onto our menu as well, but we saved that delectable treat for later.

As I have the flu, I was able to smell how delicious everything was, but I couldn’t taste any of it. Jerk Flu!
He set the table, and pampered me while I wore pajamas and sneezed every five minutes. Sooo classy, right?

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We watched Dracula: Untold – because nothing pairs better with creamy crab-dip than ass-kicking. Then, we ended our night with massages and The Princess Bride. [We saved the chocolate cake for Sunday.] Low-key, sweet, and tons of stay-at-home fun. I didn’t have to wear heels, and I still got to kiss my man at the end of the night.

Best V-Day, to date.

How was yours?

Much love,
CerebellumChef

Categories
Daily Dose

MENSES: A Tale of Shameful Proportions

TOM may or may not be visiting.
I also, may, or may not, have eaten half a container of cream cheese frosting.

Ok – so I did.
Baby…it was AMAZING!

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Did I need the 1000 calories?     No. 

Do I regret the sweet decadence of such richness on a spoon?  Absolutely not.

Might I recommend this activity to others?  You bet your ass I do! Grab a spoon, grab some frosting, and dig the hell in.

Why? Well, why the hell NOT?

Every now and then, it’s perfectly fine to splurge. For me, I find those times to run right into the mopey, refuse-to-wear-a-bra days when the curse sets in. I crave chocolate, watch sappy movies, and curl up into the teensiest ball I can manage. As today has been spectacularly crummy, I figured frosting could only improve it.

Don’t you agree?

IMG_2646Everybody needs a little SHUGAH!
I sincerely hope your day is chugging along in the most magnificent of ways.

Much love,
CerebellumChef

Categories
Daily Dose Reviews

FUEGO – The Yummy Kind!


IMG_2131Fuego!
Tortilla Grill

IH 35 North, San Marcos, TX 78666
(512) 754-8226

{The Best “Pit-Stop” I’ve experienced heading south!}

Let’s start with the appetizers, shall we?
I’m always terrified of trying guac and queso at restaurants. It’s one of those combos that are either incredibly awful, or amazingly scrumptious. Thankfully, FUEGO provides the latter – yummy, chunky guacamole with piping hot tortilla chips. They’re not too salty, and just the perfect amount of crunch for the guacamole.

IMG_2126Sadly, the chips are a bit thin [which I LURVE] but the beau prefers his chips thick [like my baby biceps]! This comes down to preference, but the flavor is delicioso! I will add here that the chips are just the perfect thickness for the queso! It’s creamy, gooey, and has a swift kick of spice that brings your entire meal up a notch.

 

 

 

 

The beau and I got to enjoy this amazing, eat everything with your hands meal with my aunt, uncle, and cousins.

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These two are my favorite munchkins. [They’re not so little anymore though.] These kids are pretty huge, and the tacos they’re eating still look ginormous!
They each ordered two tacos, loaded full and to the tortilla brim with the filling. Potatoes, eggs, bacon, cheese, brisket…oh, lawd – the glorious choices!

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Check out a chunk of their menu!

  • Southern Comfort –fried chicken, chipotle cream corn, potato, grilled onions, country gravy: flour tortilla

  • Loco Pollo – rotisserie chicken, bacon, frijoles, roasted poblano queso: flour tortilla

  • I-Chee-Wuawa  – fried chicken, green chilies, poblano queso, bacon, guacamole: flour tortilla

  • Juan Pablo – rotisserie chicken, bacon, grilled onions, jack cheese, pico de gallo, chipotle mayo: flour tortilla

  • El Presidente – fried avocado, rotisserie chicken, thick smoked bacon, pico de gallo, jack cheese, chipotle mayo: flour tortilla

  • Fuego Steak – steak al carbon, chipotle cream corn, potato, pico de gallo, jack cheese: flour tortilla

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Every single choice is brilliant! I ordered EL PRESIDENTE, with a side of street corn.

I may have fainted briefly, between bites. Everything was so savory. The avocado mixed with the chicken, bacon, and jack cheese. [You may have to unbutton your jeans before devouring your first taco.]

IMG_2125Oh, you should know – one taco, truly, is enough. Eating two would mean you are hungry enough to chase down a chicken and prepare your own giant tortilla filled lovely meal.

PLEASE, for the love of all things, sweet, crunchy, and rustic – ORDER THE CORN!

Holy mother of all things food! This street corn is not your typical Mexican fare and it’s on a whole new plane. [I may or may not have licked the bowl.]

Fuego is damn delicious. In fact, I demand they open a Dallas site. Do it!! Please?

This road trip pit-stop was practically sinful. Everything tasty, crunchy, spicy, flavorful, and AHHHH-Mazing!

Stop in and let me know how your taste buds express their gratitude.

Much love,
CerebellumChef

Categories
Reviews

PhDs – A Bishop Arts Brunch

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Let me start by saying this place has $2 MIMOSAS!!!!!

Holy crepes, right?

PhDs is a quaint little pub in the Bishop Arts District of Dallas.
1300 West Davis Street, Dallas, TX 75208

There are some amazing eateries around here, and I think I found a new fave! The service was pretty great, except when they brought our check. We waited on it for about 20 minutes. No big deal, since we were hanging out with friends.
This little dive brings out menus on clip boards, has friendly servers and, some dorky arcade games. What more could you ask for?

Angel ordered the chilaquiles, which he LURVED. He actually didn’t even share, come to think of it. Rude.
I ordered the BLTAE. Just feast your lovely ojos on the sandwich pictured above. Paired with the super-garlicky (and extra yummy) skillet potatoes – this meal was spot-on!

PhDs was super tasty. Go check it out!

Much love,
CerebellumChef

Categories
Recipes

Pinterest in the Kitchen

Last week I decided to delve into the sumptuous world of white wine creme sauces and angel hair pasta.
I’d seen a pin several weeks earlier and jumped at the idea of making diver scallops. Yum, right?

It was finals week on campus, meaning my teacher-self was off at 4pm, instead of 7:30pm. Oh, what glorious times they were! I used my short burst of freedom to mosey into Central Market, a.k.a. – Crowned Prince of All Things Food. All I had was this picture:

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Of course, my mouth was saying –

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I wanted to start this blog year by sharing this amazing recipe, which I pieced together on my own, from a Pinterest dream.
Here’s what you’ll need, to make 4 [awesome] servings. Less, if you’re feeling totally ravenous.

1/2 cup of White wine – pick a bottle of something you already love. Choose a slightly drier wine, for a stronger taste. I used a Pinot Grigio, standard – because I’m not a wine officionado of any kind, and the foodie at CM said this particular one would do the trick for my dish. Please do NOT use cooking sherry, unless, for some unholy kitchen reason, you love it.
Wondra flour – 2-3 teaspoons, depending on how thick you like your pasta sauce
Dill – to sprinkle on your scallops
Diver scallops – 12 in total, at room temperature and patted dry with a paper towel! You can use more than 12, if you’d like of course.
Old Bay Seasoning – Again, fairy dust for your main hoorah!
1 cup of Heavy Whipping Cream, because we need the calories in this dish to sink straight to our gooey places
3/4 pound of Angel Hair Pasta, cooked to your liking. I strive for two minutes past al dente.
1/2 cup of diced shallots
1 cup of sliced cremini muchrooms
2 cups of broccoli florets
2 tablespoons of chopped garlic
olive oil, 2 tablespoons.
Butter, 3 tablespoons
Salt & Pepper to taste.

Cooking Instructions:

1. Take out a trusty pan, one that doesn’t cause you to scream out “Why did you murder my omelette?!” and grease that puppy up! By this I mean, add the Olive Oil and Butter. Heat the pan to medium heat. You can also begin to boil the water for your pasta at this time. Don’t forget to start your pasta!
2. Slice or dice your shallots. 1/2 cup is enough, but you most certainly can add a bit more if you like the onion-y taste. :]
3. Toss the shallots and chopped garlic into the melted olive oil + butter medley. Sprinkle in a dash of salt and pepper. Let the flavors collide until the garlic begins to brown. Be careful not to BURN it. [That will taste gross. No, no, no. Love your work. Watch it carefully!]
4. Get your scallops, Dust them with a shake (2 teaspoons split) of Dill, Old Bay, Salt and Pepper – On EACH side. I forgot to do the second side, so I quickly fixed them.
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5. Place the scallops gently into the heated pan, and sear them for 5 minutes. Turn down the heat to medium low. Turn all the scallops over. Add in the white wine. Cover the pan for 5 minutes.
6. Remove the scallops and place them on a plate with a paper towel.
7. Slowly stir in the heavy whipping cream.
8. Add the Wondra. If you want a thicker cream, add more until you reach your desired consistency.
9. Add in the mushrooms and broccoli. Add salt and pepper, if need be.
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10. Drain your pasta, as it should have been cooking during this time.
11. Add the scallops to your white wine butter sauce.
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12. Place a bed of pasta on your plate, add three scallops and the broccoli+mushroom dream sauce.

Voila!

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Enjoy the NOMS! I hope you’re ringing in the New Year with something delicious.

Much Love, 
sarahheartsig3