update to the post below...
the link is not working for some people. perhaps there is a campaign to shun aaron's video or the response has been overwhelming. either way, not being able to vote is not cool. apparently you can 'like' the video from aaron's facebook page and it helps. i know nothing about this since i act like facebook does not exist. however, if you remember to check back in and try to vote later today or tomorrow, we'd love it! thanks!
aaron has entered a contest to win a $5,000 scholarship. i surely don't need to tell you how far that would go toward school. if we won, i'd probably pee my pants while screaming. too much info, but i wanted to emphasize how much this would mean.
he made a video and made it to the finals.
the problem? so did 50 other people that we need to beat.
how do we solve the problem? that's where you come in! the person with the most online votes is the winner. simple.
even better? you don't have to actually watch the video. in fact, i ask, beg, plead with you not to. i am in that video and it almost gave me a nervous breakdown. it tested our marriage. if i had any idea that all my friends and family would be watching me in it, i never would have agreed, but it's a bit too late now.
here's the link. all you do is click, rate it 5 stars, submit your rating, and you're done.
super quick and easy!
please vote today. voting closes on the 27th, so go now!!
also, if you do watch the video, please know a few things. i had flown that day. it was late at night. i was extremely tired. i'd been up since very early and got almost no sleep the night before. i was ambushed. i hate the camera. i was on the verge of crying. i had flown that day. also, i hate the camera. like, more than any human possibly could. i just thought it was my duty to prepare you for the horror that awaits you when i flash on the screen.
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Monday, November 14, 2011
new soup recipe
it rained all day on saturday and i knew i would want a hearty soup.
this recipe made the cut because i had all the ingredients on hand.
i have high culinary standards.
it turned out to be a fabulous recipe that i will put in heavy winter rotation.
here's what i like about it:
1. it is a great base recipe that you can alter as you'd like.
2. the creaminess and thickening is achieved from a roux, rather than using heavy cream. i used non-fat milk.
3. it is super simple and quick to throw together.
4. it tastes delicious! aaron approved and he is weary of my soups because i usually fly by the seat of my pants, add so much yummy stuff that it turns into all chunks, no liquid.
try it today!
*the adjustments i made were- take out the meat (big surprise), add roasted broccoli and other veggies, used broth rather than bullion cubes and water, left the skin on my potatoes, added a bit of cheddar. have fun with it!!
this recipe made the cut because i had all the ingredients on hand.
i have high culinary standards.
it turned out to be a fabulous recipe that i will put in heavy winter rotation.
here's what i like about it:
1. it is a great base recipe that you can alter as you'd like.
2. the creaminess and thickening is achieved from a roux, rather than using heavy cream. i used non-fat milk.
3. it is super simple and quick to throw together.
4. it tastes delicious! aaron approved and he is weary of my soups because i usually fly by the seat of my pants, add so much yummy stuff that it turns into all chunks, no liquid.
try it today!
*the adjustments i made were- take out the meat (big surprise), add roasted broccoli and other veggies, used broth rather than bullion cubes and water, left the skin on my potatoes, added a bit of cheddar. have fun with it!!
Thursday, November 3, 2011
emoticon madness
let me clearly state, i am not a fan of emoticons.
:) or :( or ;) - i do not enjoy. the one with the tongue sticking out? that really gets my goat. in fact, before i was married, i wouldn't go out with a new guy based solely on the fact that he would text or email me an emoticon. they were serious business.
do lots of people i love and adore use them? absolutely.
but, do i cringe every time i see one? you betcha.
i've never confessed this on a mass scale because i don't want to make emoticon lovers feel bad. so, all you emoticon people who send them to me, don't stop now. i'll know why and things will get awkward.
this is all fascinating back story to my present situation.
aaron knows my emoticon disdain, so he regularly emails them to me. but not the ones you can create on the keyboard, rather the ones you can insert in gmail. they are intense. various colors, movements, graphics to choose from give the sender a smorgasbord of feelings to convey.
the problem is (which is my original issue with emoticons) they don't always convey what you're trying to say and a lot can get lost in translation.
case in point; i began sending them back to aaron when i really was annoyed. then temptation got the better of me and yesterday i wrote him a riddle, mostly comprised of the gmail emoticons. i was so excited for him to unlock the riddle and respond, but i never heard back. later that night, while he was in class, i text him and asked if he received my riddle. here is his reply:
"do you mean the one with a pile of poop in it?"
i dropped my phone. i was horrified and i paused. i would never send a pile of poop. he's totally mistaken. i sent a beehive with cute bees buzzing around it. i text him so and his reply:
"nope, that was a pile of poop with flies swarming it"
could it be? i started laughing so hard i couldn't function. no wonder he didn't reply. i thought it was magical that gmail would have a beehive. how sweet.
and that, folks, takes me back to my original point of why i hate emoticons. once again, i'm firmly planted in the 'i don't use those' camp. it feels good to be back.
you can judge for yourself. i've posted the beehive/poop below. in an email, the bees/flies are moving around. what do you think?
:) or :( or ;) - i do not enjoy. the one with the tongue sticking out? that really gets my goat. in fact, before i was married, i wouldn't go out with a new guy based solely on the fact that he would text or email me an emoticon. they were serious business.
do lots of people i love and adore use them? absolutely.
but, do i cringe every time i see one? you betcha.
i've never confessed this on a mass scale because i don't want to make emoticon lovers feel bad. so, all you emoticon people who send them to me, don't stop now. i'll know why and things will get awkward.
this is all fascinating back story to my present situation.
aaron knows my emoticon disdain, so he regularly emails them to me. but not the ones you can create on the keyboard, rather the ones you can insert in gmail. they are intense. various colors, movements, graphics to choose from give the sender a smorgasbord of feelings to convey.
the problem is (which is my original issue with emoticons) they don't always convey what you're trying to say and a lot can get lost in translation.
case in point; i began sending them back to aaron when i really was annoyed. then temptation got the better of me and yesterday i wrote him a riddle, mostly comprised of the gmail emoticons. i was so excited for him to unlock the riddle and respond, but i never heard back. later that night, while he was in class, i text him and asked if he received my riddle. here is his reply:
"do you mean the one with a pile of poop in it?"
i dropped my phone. i was horrified and i paused. i would never send a pile of poop. he's totally mistaken. i sent a beehive with cute bees buzzing around it. i text him so and his reply:
"nope, that was a pile of poop with flies swarming it"
could it be? i started laughing so hard i couldn't function. no wonder he didn't reply. i thought it was magical that gmail would have a beehive. how sweet.
and that, folks, takes me back to my original point of why i hate emoticons. once again, i'm firmly planted in the 'i don't use those' camp. it feels good to be back.
you can judge for yourself. i've posted the beehive/poop below. in an email, the bees/flies are moving around. what do you think?
Friday, October 21, 2011
Monday, October 17, 2011
new icing!
i made these cookies this weekend.
pumpkin cookies with brown butter icing.
they taste just like pumpkin cookies should. moist, tender, light with the perfect amount of pumpkin.
too often pumpkin baked goods (cookies, muffins, bread, even pie!) are thick, chewy, dense and stick to the roof of your mouth.
and i love that you have to pipe the dough on the cookie sheets since it is like a mousse.
however, without this particular icing, these cookies would be just another cookie. they work together beautifully, but the icing steals the show. mercy.
the browning of the butter brings a caramely flavor to the forefront and the evaporated milk kicks the richness up a notch. i love that it isn't a cream cheese base since i am not a fan! i believe i will be using this icing for my cinnamon rolls from now on. a true winner!
make it soon!
brown butter icing
4 C powdered sugar
10 T unsalted butter
1/4 C, plus 1 T evaporated milk
2 t vanilla extract
Put confectioners' sugar in a large bowl; set aside. Melt butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Cook, swirling pan occasionally, until golden brown, about 3 minutes. Immediately add butter to confectioners' sugar, scraping any browned bits from sides and bottom of pan. Add evaporated milk and vanilla; stir until smooth.
pure magic. i kid you not. this will woo all your friends!
pumpkin cookies with brown butter icing.they taste just like pumpkin cookies should. moist, tender, light with the perfect amount of pumpkin.
too often pumpkin baked goods (cookies, muffins, bread, even pie!) are thick, chewy, dense and stick to the roof of your mouth.
and i love that you have to pipe the dough on the cookie sheets since it is like a mousse.
however, without this particular icing, these cookies would be just another cookie. they work together beautifully, but the icing steals the show. mercy.
the browning of the butter brings a caramely flavor to the forefront and the evaporated milk kicks the richness up a notch. i love that it isn't a cream cheese base since i am not a fan! i believe i will be using this icing for my cinnamon rolls from now on. a true winner!
make it soon!
brown butter icing
4 C powdered sugar
10 T unsalted butter
1/4 C, plus 1 T evaporated milk
2 t vanilla extract
Put confectioners' sugar in a large bowl; set aside. Melt butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Cook, swirling pan occasionally, until golden brown, about 3 minutes. Immediately add butter to confectioners' sugar, scraping any browned bits from sides and bottom of pan. Add evaporated milk and vanilla; stir until smooth.
pure magic. i kid you not. this will woo all your friends!
Thursday, October 13, 2011
machines for everything
today i tried a new restaurant for lunch.
sushi freak.
the concept is genius.
it's a build your own sushi bar.
you can order one of their pre-made rolls: california, philadelphia, spicy tuna, etc... or you can pick and choose your own. you pick a wrap, seaweed or soy, pick your meat fillings (everything from krab to salmon to tofu to tempura, it's all there), pick 2 veggies and add any toppings or sauce you'd like.
it's like subway for sushi. you watch them make it in front of you and you're out the door in less than 5 minutes. very tasty, too.
it might be helpful to share with you that i love sushi. love, love it. i don't go for the wild kinds, but stick with fish i recognize, like tuna. most of the time i don't even have real fish and get a california roll. but, man, that california roll hits the spot.
a few years ago i developed the crazy notion that i wanted to learn how to make sushi, so i got a copy of sushi for dummies (highly recommend it) and made my own! i would love to make it regularly, but if you're not in the habit, it sure is a lot of work.
not for the kids at sushi freak!! they have these awesome machines. i couldn't believe my eyes. my favorite was a machine that put rice on the paper! that was the hardest part for me. you lay the mat down, cover it in plastic wrap, slap some rice evenly on seaweed paper then quickly flip it rice side down on the plastic wrapped mat, fill, roll up the mat, take off the mat, the gently remove the plastic wrap and hope your rice stays put. whew. check out this beauty.
sushi freak.
the concept is genius.
it's a build your own sushi bar.
you can order one of their pre-made rolls: california, philadelphia, spicy tuna, etc... or you can pick and choose your own. you pick a wrap, seaweed or soy, pick your meat fillings (everything from krab to salmon to tofu to tempura, it's all there), pick 2 veggies and add any toppings or sauce you'd like.
it's like subway for sushi. you watch them make it in front of you and you're out the door in less than 5 minutes. very tasty, too.
it might be helpful to share with you that i love sushi. love, love it. i don't go for the wild kinds, but stick with fish i recognize, like tuna. most of the time i don't even have real fish and get a california roll. but, man, that california roll hits the spot.
a few years ago i developed the crazy notion that i wanted to learn how to make sushi, so i got a copy of sushi for dummies (highly recommend it) and made my own! i would love to make it regularly, but if you're not in the habit, it sure is a lot of work.
not for the kids at sushi freak!! they have these awesome machines. i couldn't believe my eyes. my favorite was a machine that put rice on the paper! that was the hardest part for me. you lay the mat down, cover it in plastic wrap, slap some rice evenly on seaweed paper then quickly flip it rice side down on the plastic wrapped mat, fill, roll up the mat, take off the mat, the gently remove the plastic wrap and hope your rice stays put. whew. check out this beauty.
the sushi man put the paper on the belt, pushed a button, the paper went in and quickly came back out perfectly covered in beautiful rice. my eyes were like saucers.
i must mention the rest of my roll was completely made my hand, lest you think i was at a short circuit sushi bar. but, how exciting! i want one. the website says it has a hopper capacity of 7.5 kgs of cooked rice. i have no idea how much that is, but i want a hopper!
i think i would start the tradition of sushi sunday at my house.
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
outliers
i love this book.
absolutely love it.
everything i've read by malcolm gladwell i've loved.
outliers takes a much harder and wider look at success; how people who we think are lucky or wildly successful had many factors go into their achievement. factors that could have happened to you or i.
to me, it is a wildly motivating book that teaches you to look at the whole picture.
his research is fascinating and thorough. i couldn't tear myself away from the book.
here is malcom's take on the book.
read it today!
absolutely love it.
everything i've read by malcolm gladwell i've loved.
outliers takes a much harder and wider look at success; how people who we think are lucky or wildly successful had many factors go into their achievement. factors that could have happened to you or i. to me, it is a wildly motivating book that teaches you to look at the whole picture.
his research is fascinating and thorough. i couldn't tear myself away from the book.
here is malcom's take on the book.
read it today!
Monday, October 10, 2011
a new fave
there has been a restaurant in sd i've always wanted to try.
charming does not begin to describe the atmosphere.
it is located in old town, on the same plot of land as the historic, haunted whaley house.
quaint old street lamps, brick laid pathways, creaky wooden floorboards - i eat it up.
charming does not begin to describe the atmosphere.
it is located in old town, on the same plot of land as the historic, haunted whaley house.
quaint old street lamps, brick laid pathways, creaky wooden floorboards - i eat it up.
plus, i haven't found a good cajun restaurant since santa barbara and i was itching for some creole dinning.
we're currently seizing the day and crossing items off our bucket list, so we gave it a try.
oh mama. it was so delicious! one of those meals where you wonder how it could be this good. you eat slowly because you know each bite brings you closer to an empty plate and you don't want to think about the horror.
the two owners run the place. literally. one cooks and the other serves. -side note: the cook had a straw fedora on and a tommy bahama shirt. i kid you not. - it is a very small restaurant and the service is slow (hey, there's only one guy), but why would you want to leave? historic pictures and plaques adorn the walls and the smell is delicious! the price is a bit of a deterrent, so we won't be going weekly, but it was amazing food and i'm so glad we had the experience!
media fast
the week before conference, our ward was challenged to participate in a media fast.
give up all non-essential media.
tv.
internet.
email.
music.
you get the picture.
after the media fast was over i still kind of forgot about most media.
but, i'm back.
give up all non-essential media.
tv.
internet.
email.
music.
you get the picture.
after the media fast was over i still kind of forgot about most media.
but, i'm back.
Friday, September 23, 2011
lost in translation
last week we found ourselves unexpectedly in canada.
the occasion was sad, but good to see family and friends. aaron always loves going home so much.
i know there is much ribbing that goes on in america of all things canadian. being married to a canadian, we have a rib sensitive household and sometimes even i want to scream, enough with the canadian jokes!
it's like being left handed. believe me, i've heard them all. your joke will not be unique or funny, thanks. it grows tiresome.
aaron has a large family, so we customarily see many faces when we visit, but this time we saw a lot of very extended family. many he had never even met. i share this tidbit to demonstrate that my circle of canadians was widely expanded last week.
and i was surprised at how much they bagged on the american accent! for the most part, they love america, but they sure think they know the best way to say things. most of the people didn't know i was american and i only overheard conversations, so in no way were they being disrespectful. i found myself giggling at most of it.
here is a few gems:
pasta vs. paasta (long a)
mazda vs. maazda (long a)
a comment about how we say milk. couldn't figure that one out.
in-sur-ence vs. IN-surence ( i was corrected on this one).
various other ditties were noted.
all the encounters were made up of, 'can you believe they say it that way? sheesh.' i was so amused.
speaking of oddities, they call their bar donuts, long johns. i believe i've discussed that on this blog before. aaron tried to convince me everyone called them that, but i stopped him in his tracks. a snapshot from a 7-11 proved my point. you would not see this in america. no way.
the occasion was sad, but good to see family and friends. aaron always loves going home so much.
i know there is much ribbing that goes on in america of all things canadian. being married to a canadian, we have a rib sensitive household and sometimes even i want to scream, enough with the canadian jokes!
it's like being left handed. believe me, i've heard them all. your joke will not be unique or funny, thanks. it grows tiresome.
aaron has a large family, so we customarily see many faces when we visit, but this time we saw a lot of very extended family. many he had never even met. i share this tidbit to demonstrate that my circle of canadians was widely expanded last week.
and i was surprised at how much they bagged on the american accent! for the most part, they love america, but they sure think they know the best way to say things. most of the people didn't know i was american and i only overheard conversations, so in no way were they being disrespectful. i found myself giggling at most of it.
here is a few gems:
pasta vs. paasta (long a)
mazda vs. maazda (long a)
a comment about how we say milk. couldn't figure that one out.
in-sur-ence vs. IN-surence ( i was corrected on this one).
various other ditties were noted.
all the encounters were made up of, 'can you believe they say it that way? sheesh.' i was so amused.
speaking of oddities, they call their bar donuts, long johns. i believe i've discussed that on this blog before. aaron tried to convince me everyone called them that, but i stopped him in his tracks. a snapshot from a 7-11 proved my point. you would not see this in america. no way.
i also saw ketchup flavored chips and pickle doritos.
oh boy.
we're not in kansas anymore, toto.
it's good to be back!
cookie funny
as a self proclaimed cookie monster, i couldn't help but laugh when i saw this.
look at the panic in his googly eyes.
i've felt that before.
hope you have a good friday.
look at the panic in his googly eyes.
i've felt that before.
hope you have a good friday.
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
just shocking
i'm sharing another recipe with you.
it's shockingly delicious.
a pancake recipe.
pancakes are my favorite.
i like them in the morning.
at night.
when it's raining.
when i don't have many groceries.
when i don't have much time to cook.
when i have a day off.
when i don't have a meeting before church.
when i don't want dinner food for dinner.
when i'm awake.
when i'm asleep.
i want pancakes most of the time.
i'm always on the hunt for a new recipe.
i also have a bone to pick with pancake recipe creators. stop with the crazy ingredients and even nuttier mixing methods. i bought malt powder for one recipe and it was disappointing. now i have malt powder in the cupboard and i don't like malt. does anyone need malt powder? also, some of the instructions in recipes are ridiculous. how careful you have to be with the egg whites and how to whisk them just so. i'm not making a souffle here, people!
which brings me to my latest find. ingredients you have on hand and the instructions say 'wisk until smooth'. i love it!
i made them on monday morning and they are amazing! soft and a bit spongy. i can't wait to make them again!
1.5 C flour
3.5 t baking powder
1 t salt
1 T white sugar
1 1/4 C milk
1 egg
3 T butter, melted
mix dry ingredients in a bowl. mix wet ingredients in a bowl. mix dry and wet, whisk until smooth. pour on a medium hot, buttered griddle. gobble up.
couldn't get any easier!!
if you're feeling guilty about feeding this to your family, slap a little peanut butter on it before the syrup and you've got protein. serve with a side of eggs and it's double trouble!
enjoy!
it's shockingly delicious.
a pancake recipe.
pancakes are my favorite.
i like them in the morning.
at night.
when it's raining.
when i don't have many groceries.
when i don't have much time to cook.
when i have a day off.
when i don't have a meeting before church.
when i don't want dinner food for dinner.
when i'm awake.
when i'm asleep.
i want pancakes most of the time.
i'm always on the hunt for a new recipe.
i also have a bone to pick with pancake recipe creators. stop with the crazy ingredients and even nuttier mixing methods. i bought malt powder for one recipe and it was disappointing. now i have malt powder in the cupboard and i don't like malt. does anyone need malt powder? also, some of the instructions in recipes are ridiculous. how careful you have to be with the egg whites and how to whisk them just so. i'm not making a souffle here, people!
which brings me to my latest find. ingredients you have on hand and the instructions say 'wisk until smooth'. i love it!
i made them on monday morning and they are amazing! soft and a bit spongy. i can't wait to make them again!
1.5 C flour
3.5 t baking powder
1 t salt
1 T white sugar
1 1/4 C milk
1 egg
3 T butter, melted
mix dry ingredients in a bowl. mix wet ingredients in a bowl. mix dry and wet, whisk until smooth. pour on a medium hot, buttered griddle. gobble up.
couldn't get any easier!!
if you're feeling guilty about feeding this to your family, slap a little peanut butter on it before the syrup and you've got protein. serve with a side of eggs and it's double trouble!
enjoy!
sunday adventure
we were enjoying dinner at a friend's house on sunday evening when we saw a cute little dog standing on their back porch, peering in through the window. when we approached him he jumped over the wall and ran down the hill, deeper into their backyard. with their fenced backyard, there was no way for the dog to get out, but to head back up. unsure if he could do that, a few of us went outside to try and help.
he was not to be helped.
we left him alone, figuring he could run back up the hill. the sun set and we saw him on the porch again, but apparently he was so disoriented that he couldn't figure out how to get to the front yard and ran down the hill yet again.
enter night time, about 1opm, and we hear constant barking.
the little guy wanted out.
various attempts to catch him included flashlights, cat food, scare tactics and turkey. finally he came over to me and i grabbed him and took him to the house.
once inside, i fed him the rest of the turkey and we were friends for life.
he was unbelievably dirty and covered in thorns from the trees, so a bath was desperately needed.
emails to neighbors went out and a posting on craigslist went up.
isn't he just a doll?
he was not to be helped.
we left him alone, figuring he could run back up the hill. the sun set and we saw him on the porch again, but apparently he was so disoriented that he couldn't figure out how to get to the front yard and ran down the hill yet again.
enter night time, about 1opm, and we hear constant barking.
the little guy wanted out.
various attempts to catch him included flashlights, cat food, scare tactics and turkey. finally he came over to me and i grabbed him and took him to the house.
once inside, i fed him the rest of the turkey and we were friends for life.
he was unbelievably dirty and covered in thorns from the trees, so a bath was desperately needed.
emails to neighbors went out and a posting on craigslist went up.
isn't he just a doll?
bath time in the kitchen sink.
you never really know how an animal will react to a bath and we weren't sure if he was going to bite or scratch. he couldn't have been nicer. once we started scrubbing him he leaned over and kept licking my arm. what a sweetie!
we took him in the bathroom to shake his water off then towel dried him and tried to pick out more thorns. he let me hold him in all these funky positions. what a good dog!
aaron was in love and wanted to take him home, but i had a feeling he'd be returned to his owners the next day. sure enough, while on a walk, he got loose and bounded into a nearby yard and was home!
the neighbors said his name is sammy. adorable! i'm hoping to go visit him next time we're in the area.
Monday, September 5, 2011
L or R, either one
recently we went to the chinese buffet by our house.
a delicious hidden gem.
however, we got quite a laugh from a small misspelling...
flogleg, anyone?
although we didn't try any, we're pretty sure it should read, 'frog leg'.
good times.
a delicious hidden gem.
however, we got quite a laugh from a small misspelling...
flogleg, anyone?although we didn't try any, we're pretty sure it should read, 'frog leg'.
good times.
Thursday, September 1, 2011
day 2
i made it through one whole day of only fruits and veggies.
heavens, this is hard.
this experiment is giving me new insight into the mind v. body struggle. i am craving my normal foods. last night i couldn't get a bowl of golden grahams off the brain. i think i have a tiny glimpse into how a food addict feels. i wasn't hungry, my body did not need it, yet i couldn't stop thinking about it. i wanted to feel that satisfaction.
this morning i was hungry when i woke up and i can't say i'm the most cheerful person right now. however, they say the first 3 days are the hardest. i can do this.
tonight i'm making a sweet potato and bok choy soup, so maybe that will fill me up. it would be divine with a hunk of bread!!
anyway, i'm still here and breathing.
heavens, this is hard.
this experiment is giving me new insight into the mind v. body struggle. i am craving my normal foods. last night i couldn't get a bowl of golden grahams off the brain. i think i have a tiny glimpse into how a food addict feels. i wasn't hungry, my body did not need it, yet i couldn't stop thinking about it. i wanted to feel that satisfaction.
this morning i was hungry when i woke up and i can't say i'm the most cheerful person right now. however, they say the first 3 days are the hardest. i can do this.
tonight i'm making a sweet potato and bok choy soup, so maybe that will fill me up. it would be divine with a hunk of bread!!
anyway, i'm still here and breathing.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
