Goal Number 37-New Recipe #12

Can I say HEAVEN!!!!!!  These cookies are the best new recipe find of the year.  This recipe was delivered right to my inbox this year thanks to Betty Crocker and their 25 days of cookies recipes this holiday season.

 So, without further ado I bring you,

Salted Caramel Shortbread Cookies

Cookies

1 1/2cups unsalted butter, softened

3/4cup sugar

1teaspoon vanilla

3 1/2cups Gold Medal® all-purpose flour

Topping

1bag (14 oz) caramels, unwrapped

2tablespoons milk

4oz semisweet chocolate, chopped

1tablespoon butter

1teaspoons coarse (kosher or sea) salt

Heat oven to 350°F. In large bowl, beat 1 1/2 cups butter with electric mixer on high speed until creamy. Beat in sugar and vanilla. On low speed, beat in flour until blended. Divide dough in half. Between 2 sheets of waxed paper, roll 1 portion of dough to 1/4-inch thickness. Cut with 2 1/2-inch round cookie cutter. On ungreased cookie sheet, place cutouts about 2 inches apart. Repeat with second portion of dough. Bake 12 to 14 minutes or until set and just barely light golden (do not overbake). Remove from cookie sheets to cooling racks; cool completely.

In medium microwavable bowl, microwave caramels and milk uncovered on High 2 minutes 30 seconds, stirring every 30 seconds, until melted and smooth. Frost each cookie with about 1 rounded teaspoon caramel mixture.

In small microwavable bowl, melt chocolate and 1 tablespoon butter uncovered on High 1 minute 30 seconds, stirring every 30 seconds, until melted and smooth. Drizzle chocolate over caramel on each cookie. Sprinkle generously with salt. Let stand until set

Makes 3 dozen cookies

Goal Number 37-New Recipe #11

 This recipe may sound a little strange but I promise you it is delicious!!!!!!!  My sister and I had a bake-a-thon before Christmas and I will be posting several of the recipes that we tried.  This was so delicious and super easy!!  This recipe is courtesy of a super fun blog I found called A Southern Grace.  Check it out!!

TERRIBLY TERRIFIC TOFFEE

1 cup unsalted butter (no margarine allowed)

1 cup brown sugar

2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

40 saltine crackers

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.  Line jelly roll pan or cookie sheet with foil and spray with non-stick spray.  Lay a flat layer of crackers out on the foil.  Melt the sugar and butter until a boil is reached.  Reduce the heat and simmer, uncovered, for 5-6 minutes or until mixture is thickened and sugar is completely dissolved.  Pour this mixture over the crackers and spread to coat evenly.  Bake for 5-8 minutes, or until the toffee becomes bubbly.  After removing the pan from the oven, let it sit for 3-5 minutes.  Sprinkle on the chocolate chips, let them soften and melt, and then spread them into a even layer.  At this point you can add nuts, crackers crumbs or anything else your heart may desire.  Let cool and if desired refrigerate until hardened.  Break into pieces the size of your choice.  ENJOY!!!!

Goal 38 FINISHED!!!!

Okay everyone, I am pleased to report that I have finished one of my goals and this one is a huge one.  I have been working on it since I first made my list of goals.  I MADE A QUILT!!  I made this quilt mostly by myself with a little help from my mother .  I got the inspiration from a this blog and while it took  my MUCH longer than it did her I FINISHED.  Somewhere along the way I discovered that I enjoy creating things and have completed several other sewing projects.  My family now accepts me as a crafty woman and thanks to my brother Jens' family I have a brand new sewing machine.  Check out the pictures of my quilt and feel free to tell me how awesome it is.

Quilt Top

Quilt Bottom

Baby Quilt

Not sure when I became the crafty, sewing girl but I recently was invited to a baby shower and my first thought was "I should make a quilt!" Well I made a quilt.  In just 3 short evenings I made the most adorable (in my opinion) rag quilt.  Go me!!

Breakfast Disaster!

It has been a little while since I last posted and things in my life have been semi-chaotic and of course my blog is the first thing to go. This morning I decided to make breakfast and felt really good about that decision.  A yummy hot breakfast burrito sounded really great on this cold fall morning.  Well, turns out I need to slow down and start enjoying my life because my attempt at breakfast was a DISASTER!!!  The only thing I could do was take a picture and throw it away.  SAD!!

I like a little pepper on my eggs but not quite that much!!  Maybe I will try again tomorrow. (I am thinking I will probably be sticking with my cold cereal!)

My take away lesson for the day is that I need to slow down and enjoy life.  I will probably need to keep reminding myself.

Goal Number 37-New Recipe #10

Something happened to me that NEVER happens.  I got a package in the mail!!  Super exciting!!  Okay, I am sensing that you might not be as excited as I am but give me a minute to explain.  The package was from my good friend Paul and among other things it contained some fantastic recipe books that belonged to his mother. 

Today's recipe come from the HERSEY'S CHOCOLATE MEMORIES THROUGH THE YEARS COOKBOOK circa 1982.  According to this book this chocolate chip cookie recipe was developed somewhere between 1910-1920.  I learned so much more about Milton and Catherine Hershey in this book but I wont bore you with details.  So, without further ado...

HERSHEY'S CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES

1 cup butter, softened

3/4 cup packed brown sugar

3/4 cup sugar

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 1/4 cups unsifted all purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 cups Hershey's Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips

1 cup chopped nuts

Cream butter, brown sugar, sugar, eggs and vanilla in large mixing bowl until light and fluffy.  Combine flour, baking soda and salt; add to creamed mixture.  Stir in chocolate chips and nuts.  Drop by teaspoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheet.  Bake at 375 degrees F for 8 to 10 minutes or until light brown.  Cool slightly; remove from cookie sheet onto wire rack.  Cool completely.

**Note, I did not add nuts to mine but only because I didn't have any.  This recipe is definitely going to be my go-to chocolate chip cookie recipe.  It is delicious!!! 

Now, just as I was starting these cookies my darling sister Annie called and invited me to dinner.  I volunteered to bring dessert so I fancied up the cookies a bit and made some yummy looking ice cream sandwiches by sandwiching some vanilla ice cream between two cookies.  I am a freaking genius!!! 

Thank you Paul for sharing a bit of your mom with me and thank you Carol for raising a fantastic man who is a tremendous friend.



The List

How many of us have written a list of all the qualities that we want in a man???  I know I have certainly written my fair share (several times as a Young Womens activity.)  It occurred to me several years ago that maybe that practise wasn't entirely healthy.  I mean, as we mature we gain a wider perspective of who and what will make us happy.  I, for one, do not want to narrow the field of potential mates so much that no one will fit the bill.  Now I am not being completely ridiculous here and saying that we shouldn't have standards but merely suggesting that maybe those standards should be more about what would compliment us and less about the man. Does that make sense????

Anways, as I was playing around on http://www.pintrest.com/ today (if you haven't checked it out yet you should but be warned it's majorly addictive!!) I found the following list that I can fully support.  This is the man I am looking for...If you can't handle it you had best just move on because this list pretty much embodies me and all my dorkiness! :)

Crazy Crafting Lady!!

So, I have met someone recently who thinks it's his sole job to teach me patience.  Thank you very much Andrew! :)  Because of these lessons I have sought a lot of distractions and I have turned into the Crazy Crafting Lady.  Right now I am in the middle of hand quilting a  cute quilt but tonight I finished a super rad light fixture for my living room.

This light fixture was inspired by one I saw at IKEA but I convinced myself that I could make it for cheaper.  The fixture itself turned out a little diffferently than the one at IKEA but I absoutely LOVE the end result.

So, 1 16" paper lantern, 600 coffee filters, 30 hot glue sticks, 10 hours and 1 blister later this is the end result.

The light hasn't found it's permanent home yet because I have to put some anchors in my ceiling but I am so happy with how it turned out.  Go me!!! 

Progress-Goal Number 5

Goal Number 5 is to visit 5 MLB Parks so when the opportunity to visit Toronto presented itself last week I jumped at the chance. Mindy, being the kind friend that she is, induldged me in attending a game. We saw the Jays play the Orioles. Not exactly the best teams in the AL East but we had so much fun! Side Note: Canadians are super nice!!

Even if there was nobody at the game the skyline was impressive!

Great seats!!  First row of the 2nd deck. Home run side of the foul pole. 1st Base side!

Goal Number 37-New Recipe #9

S'Mores Cake

All I can say is YUMMY!!!!  This cake was a little labor intensive but it was totally worth it!  A big shout out to Heather Christo who's blog gave me the delicious recipe.  Click here and check it out!

It may not be as pretty as Heather's but it was delish!!

Aunt Cindy is so much fun!!

I spent some time Monday afternoon with Russell and Sophia.  I am a big fan of projects so we decided to recreate come cute cupcakes we saw in the July issue of Woman's Day magazine.  We had a ton of fun!!

The cupcakes are suppose to look like a cob of corn!  I don't know about that but they were yummy!!

Goal Number 37-New Recipe #8

Coffee Cake Muffins
(recipe courtesy of Better Homes & Gardens Cook Book-12th Edition)

Cooking Time: 15-18 minutes

Servings: 12
Preparation Time: 20 minutes

3 Tbsp. all-purpose flour
3 Tbsp. brown sugar
1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
2 Tbsp. butter
3 Tbsp. walnuts or pecans, chopped
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 1/4 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp. ginger
1/4 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 cup butter
1 egg, beaten
1/2 cup buttermilk or sour milk

Preheat oven to 400 F.


Grease twelve 2 1/2-inch muffin cups or line with paper bake cups; set aside.

For topping, in a small bowl, stir together the 3 tablespoons flour, brown sugar, and the 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon. Cut in the 2 tablespoons butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs; stir in nuts; set topping aside.

In a medium bowl, stir together the 1 1/2 cups flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, the 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, ginger, baking soda, and salt; cut in the 1/4 cup butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.

In another bowl, combine egg and buttermilk; Add egg mixture all at once to flour mixture; stir just until moistened (batter should be lumpy).

Spoon half of the batter into the prepared muffin cups, filling each one-third full. Top with half of the topping, the remaining batter, and the remaining topping.

Bake for 15 to 18 minutes or until golden and a wooden toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

Cool in muffin cups on a wire rack for 5 minutes. Reimove from muffin cups; serve warm.


**This is a delicious recipe!  I highly recommend it.  I made them for dinner and served them with a yummy Potato Corn Chowder.  Yum-Chum!!

Cinco de Mayo Celebration-New Recipes

I love Mexican food and what better opportunity than Cinco de Mayo to try out some new recipes.  I made some chicken tacos and actual FRIED ice cream.  The both turned out super yummy.  I would definitely recommend both recipes.


Sheryl Crow's Chicken Taco's
(Recipe courtesy of People Magazine)

1 1/2 c. chicken stock

1 1/2 c. mild salsa
2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
Flour tortillas
Shredded Cheddar
2 c. shredded lettuce

In a sauce pan, combine the chicken stock and the salsa. Bring to a boil. Add the chicken, cover and simmer on low heat for 1 1/2 hrs. Remove chicken from pan, reserving some liquid, shred chicken with two forks. Pour reserved liquid over chicken to keep it moist (you don’t need much because it’s very moist already). Create your tacos!

**I should note that I like more "stuff" on my tacos so I also used some black beans, corn, rice, tomatoes and olives but the basic concept of cooking the chicken in the salsa and chicken stock really was delicious.  YUMMY!!


 
 
Fried Ice Cream
(Recipe courtesy of allrecipes.com)
 


1 quart vanilla ice cream

3 cups crushed cornflakes cereal
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
3 egg whites
2 quarts oil for frying

1.Scoop ice cream into 8 - 1/2 cup sized balls. Place on baking sheet and freeze until firm, about 1 hour.

2.In a shallow dish, combine cornflakes and cinnamon. In another dish, beat egg whites until foamy. Roll ice cream balls in egg whites, then in cornflakes, covering ice cream completely. Repeat if necessary. Freeze again until firm, 3 hours.

3.In deep fryer or large, heavy saucepan, heat oil to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).

4.Using a basket or slotted spoon, fry ice cream balls 1 or 2 at a time, for 10 to 15 seconds, until golden. Drain quickly on paper towels and serve immediately.

Quilt-Progress Finally Being Made

I have actually made some progress on my quilt in the last couple of days.  Go me!!  There are 9 total squares of the quilt each made up of 4 pieced blocks.  Ugh!  I am a glutton for punishment.  :)  I finally got 1 set of the 4 blocks pieced.  Woohoo!!  I am really happy with how it is turning out.  I am encouraged to keep going.

Goal Number 93 Finished!!

It's true, I read right through my 24 hour mark.  To be honest I took several breaks over the course of the last day or so but I am pretty happy with what I got read.  Below I have listed the things read in the second 12+ hours.

Magazines
People-114 pages
Better Homes & Gardens-228 pages
Marie Claire-254 pages

Book
Gone With a Handsomer Man by Michael Lee West-342 pages

I really enjoyed this silly book.  It was full of Southern charm and a super easy read.  It is an extremely predicated murder mystery with just enough romance and humor to keep the pages turning.  I am not sure if it's because I am extremely tired but I have no idea why there was a need for the last paragraph.  It makes absolutely no sense to me.  If any of you ever read this book maybe you can explain it to me.

***Disclaimer-I am soooo tired right now so if parts of this post to not make sense please forgive me!!!

Hour Number 12 Update

Okay, so we are actually at hour 12.5  and I must admit to taking about a 3 hour nap.  That being said I just finished my first book and have read approximately 1/2 of this week's People magazine.

The book I read is Commencement by J. Courtney Sullivan.  It is about 4 Smith alum's who are finding out that life is always what we planned.  I really enjoyed this book by first time novelist Sullivan.  Check out her website and see if this is a book you would be interested in.  I will admit tha I was a little scared that I might find the book a little too feminist but I appreciate that the author seems to understand that all of us see womanhood differently. 

**note-Commencement is 320 pages

Goal Number 93 Begins-The 24 hour Read-A-Thon

Beginning at 10:30pm I will begin my 24 hours of reading.  I will be taking a couple of breaks and maybe a catnap or two but for the most part the next 24 hours I will be getting my reading on.  I plan on updating you at hour 12 and then again when I am finished.  Good times!  I plan on giving you a quick review on the book(s) read.  This is going to be a great weekend!!

Goal Number 37-New Recipe #5

In honor of William and Kate I am making a special English breakfast this morning.  I woke up at 2am this morning just to watch the wedding.  I truly am a crazy romantic at heart!

Strawberries and Cream Mini Muffins

{Recipe taken from People Magazine via Nigella Lawson}


(makes 24 mini muffins)

1 cup strawberries diced into quarter-inch pieces
1 squeeze of lemon juice
1 cup flour
1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp. baking powder
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/3 cup sour cream
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 large egg
1 tsp. powdered sugar


1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line a 24 cup mini muffin tin with paper baking cups.

2. Put diced strawberries into a bowl, spritz lemon juice on them and stir gently to combine.

3. In a medium-size bowl, stir together flour, sugar, and baking powder.

4. In a small bowl, beat together oil, sour cream, vanilla and egg. Pour mixture over dry ingredients, stirring to combine with a wooden spoon. Fold in strawberries.

5. Divide batter evenly among the paper cups in the mini-muffin tin. Bake for 12-14 minutes or until a cake tester comes out clean.

6. Place tin on a wire rack and leave for 5 minutes. Take out the muffins and continue cooling them in the paper cups on the wire rack. When muffins are completely cool, place the powdered sugar in a small sieve. Shake sieve lightly to dust the muffins with sugar. Serve.


Note: If making regular sized muffins it makes 12 and will have to bake for about 17 minutes.



Just before going into the oven.  They smell yummy already!!



The final product!

Yummy!!  I would highly recommend this recipe.  Best wishes to the happy couple! 

Goal Number 37-New Recipes 3 &4

This year for Easter dinner I was assigned a potato side dish and a punch.  They both turned out super yummy.  Give them a try.  I dare you!! 

Ultimate Twice Baked Potatoes
recipe courtesty of allrecipes.com

Ingredients


4 large baking potatoes
8 slices bacon
1 cup sour cream
1/2 cup milk
4 tablespoons butter
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese, divided
8 green onions, sliced, divided

Directions

1.Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

2.Bake potatoes in preheated oven for 1 hour.

3.Meanwhile, place bacon in a large, deep skillet. Cook over medium high heat until evenly brown. Drain, crumble and set aside.

4.When potatoes are done allow them to cool for 10 minutes. Slice potatoes in half lengthwise and scoop the flesh into a large bowl; save skins. To the potato flesh add sour cream, milk, butter, salt, pepper, 1/2 cup cheese and 1/2 the green onions. Mix with a hand mixer until well blended and creamy. Spoon the mixture into the potato skins. Top each with remaining cheese, green onions and bacon.

5.Bake for another 15 minutes.

Aunt Cindy's (originally Aunt Judy's) Party Punch
recipe courtesy of drinksmixer.com
 
2 cans pineapple orange juice

1 literdiet 7-Up® soda
1 liter strawberry soda
1 quart raspberry Sorbet

In a punch bowl empty 1 can pineapple-orange juice, 1/2 liter diet 7-up, 1/2 liter strawberry soda. When ready to serve float scoops of raspberry sherbert on top. (Any flavor of sherbert can be used.) Yield: 2 batches


I enjoyed spending this Easter holiday with my family.  It is always a joy to have good food and spend time with the ones you love. 

I Know That My Redeemer Lives

I truly do know that my Redeemer lives and I am so grateful for the blessing that knowledge brings. Happy Easter to all!

Keep on trucking...

I am going to just say up front that I absolutely hate dating!!! I am no good at it. Now that I have said that let me tell you about my most recent experience. About 3 weeks ago I decided that I was tired of moping around and feeling sorry for myself so I told my friends that I was ready to start dating and they were charged with finding me the perfect man. Turns out I should have given them a bit of direction. I really didn’t think I was that picky of a girl but turns out even I have standards.


Several days after putting myself on the “market” I answered the phone call which would set my ego back several years. They had found me a 42 year old divorcee who was employed and LDS. What a coup! I agreed to let them give him my email address and Facebook information and that very day I received a friend request from a 47 year old, unemployed, 2 week divorced man (the LDS part was accurate, kinda…) Would that the story ended there and for about a week I thought it would. After “friending” me he took an entire week to contact me because he couldn’t think of a single thing to say to me. So, after his initial reluctance things took off at a rapid rate that had me alternating between panic and nausea. After several days of exchanging emails and phone calls it was decided that we would get together on a Saturday night (also his birthday) for dinner and a movie. Here is the part that is embarrassing, I offered to cook him dinner which means I gave him my address. Ugh! A mere 18 hours after giving out my address he was at my doorstep with only a 5 minute heads up. Really? It was 9pm and I was in my pj’s and glasses and certainly not looking my finest. Nevertheless, not being one to stand up for myself, I let him in and so began the nightmare. That very night I found out that he was in fact unemployed, had only been divorced for 2 weeks AND still lived with his ex-wife (I later found out she was a lesbian. Why wouldn’t you lead with that information?) I am not going to give you a blow by blow account of this experience but I do want to highlight some choice moments. As I think about them I realize that while they showcase a man who clearly is not ready to be dating they also showcase a very timid woman who needs to stand up for herself more. The following are not in chronological order I am just writing them as they come to mind…

1. The man wears women’s socks. He says that men’s socks are too big and little boy’s socks are too little. Really?

2. Did I mention he still lives with his ex-wife with no plans for either of them to move out?

3. Right before the divorce he declared bankruptcy. **Just a note to single men everywhere…most women do not need you to be rich but we do need you to live within your means and take care of your responsibilities.

4. He is old and it has nothing to do with the numbers. He thinks acts and dresses like an old man.

5. When asked what he was looking for in a woman the answers were all physical in nature and none of them described me in the least. He actually looked at my boobs, asked what size I was and when I answered that I was a C cup he called me a liar and said I looked more like a D. Now for most men that wouldn’t be a problem but he actually told me they were too big. (Why the hell was he wasting time with me?)

6. He is into couponing. Now I am all about saving a buck (see number 3) but he is one of those couponer who has binders and subscribes to 5 Sunday papers. I know I shouldn’t stereotype but it seriously sounds like a bored housewife hobby.

7. The man doesn't like baseball. In fact, “doesn't like”, doesn’t even come close. He knows absolutely nothing about the sport. I actually didn’t think it was possible to be an American and have never heard the name Derek Jeter but the man told me the only baseball player he knew was Babe Ruth. How old did you say you were old man?!?

8. He wore pleated pants and white (women’s) sweat socks with dress shoes.



Okay, I could keep going but this list is starting to depress me. It all ended in a fiery crash when he mentioned that his mother check out my profile on Facebook (his mother is in her 80’s what the hell is she doing on FB??) and that she found me to be neither pretty enough nor thin enough for him. The best part? He defended her by saying she is shallow. Awesome! That was followed up with him asking me where I saw our relationship going long term. Bye bye crazy man. You will not be missed.

Back on Track!

Okay, I have gotten a bit side tracked over the last couple of weeks but this short post is a recommitment is my blog and my goals!  Look for updates in the coming days!

Goal Number Number 38-Make a Quilt

Okay team, let's just say that I am not a girl who spends much time sewing so this goal is a bit of a challenge.  Thanks to my sister I was introduced to the idea of a "quilt along" and I found a lovely blog online that is helping me accomplish this task.    Below I have laid out my blocks.  Each square represents the column.  I am almost finished with the cutting and will be moving onto the piecing of the blocks later this week.  Go me!!!

Unrequited Love

I have been thinking a lot about love and how desperate most of us are to have it in our lives.  As a teenager I prayed that, even if I never married, I would at least experience love.  Seems even then that I wasn't much of an optimist .  As an adult I have to acknowledge that the Lord has answered my prayers.  I have know love in its deepest form but I now realize that I left something out of my prayer...I want someone to love me in return.  There is nothing more painful than knowing that your very deep and real feelings are not returned unless it is knowing that the person for whom you have these feelings pities you.  And so my new prayer begins, I want to fall in love and have that person love me in return.  It doesn't seem like too much to ask.  Millions of people accomplish it every day.

**In happier news I have been putting working on some of my goals and am hoping to spend some time this weekend updating my blog.  Check back for details.  You will be amazed at what I have accomplished!

Goal Number 37-New Recipe #2

Ruth's Diner - Gramma Claire's Macaroni and Cheese



Prep Time:40 min Cook Time:45 minLevel:

Serves:  4 to 6 servings
Recipe courtesy Erik Nelson, chef and owner at Ruth's Diner in Salt Lake City, UT


3 cups uncooked macaroni noodles
1 cup diced onion
1/4 cup melted butter
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
3 cups milk
2 bay leaves
1 tablespoon paprika
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 1/2 cups grated Cheddar
2 1/2 cups grated Monterey jack
1 cup cottage cheese


For the topping:

1/4 cup melted butter
1/4 cup bread crumbs

Directions

Cook macaroni, drain do not rinse. In a large saute pan, saute the onions in butter. Add the flour to make a roux and cook for 1 minute. Add the milk, bay leaves, paprika, salt and pepper. Bring to a simmer,
stirring often. Mix the 2 cheeses together in a small bowl. Once the mixture is at a simmer, add 3 cups of cheese mixture and the cottage cheese. Stir well, remove from heat, and remove bay leaves from mixture. Add macaroni noodles to milk mixture, mix well. Pour 1/2 of macaroni mixture into a 2-quart baking dish, cover with 1/2 of the remaining grated cheese, add remaining macaroni mixture and cover with the remaining grated cheese mixture.  In small bowl mix together the topping ingredients and top the macaroni. Place into a 350 degree oven and bake until golden brown, about 45 minutes.

**Copyright 2010 Television Food Network G.P., All Rights Reserved**
 
Mindy and I made this after our trip to Ruth's last month and it was soooo delicious.  Today is Sophia's 5th birthday and her favorite food is mac-n-cheese so we are whipping it out again.  So excited!!!

Goal Number 37-New Recipe #1

Southwestern Egg Rolls

Recipe courtesy of allrecipes.com

INGREDIENTS:

2 Tbsp. vegetable oil                                                                 
2 skinless, boneless chicken breast half                                       
2 Tbsp. minced green onion                                                       
2 Tbsp. minced red bell pepper                                                 
1/3 cup frozen corn kernels                                                       
1/4 cup black beans, rinsed and drained                                     
2 Tbsp. frozen, chopped spinach,                                              
thawed and drained

2 Tbsp diced jalapeno peppers

1/2 Tbsp minced fresh parsley

1/2 tsp ground cumin

1/2 tsp chili powder

1/2 tsp salt

1 pinch ground cayenne pepper

3/4 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese

5 (6 inch torillas)

1. Rub 1 tablespoon vegetable oil over chicken breast and cook on grill ( I used my stove top grill pan) approximately 5 minutes on each side or until meat is no longer pink.

2.  Heat remaining vegetable oil and saute onion and bell pepper in medium saute pan over medium heat for about 5 minutes, until tender.

3.  Dice chicken and add to pan.  Add corn, black beans, spinach, jalapeno peppers, parsley, cumin, chili powder, salt and cayenne pepper.  Cook and stir for 5 minutes until well blended and tender.  Remove from heat and stir in the cheese so that it melts.

4.  Wrap tortillas in clean, slightly moist towel and micowave approximately 1 minute until pliable.

5.  Spoon even amounts of mixture into each tortilla. Fold ends of tortilla and roll like a burrito.  Secure with a toothpick.  Arrange in a medium dish, cover with plastic and place in the freezer.  Freeze for a minimum of 4 hours.

5.  Arrange on cookie sheet and bake at 450 degrees for 10-15 minutes until tortillas are cripsy and filling is hot.  **The original recipe said to deep fry them in oil at 375 degrees until golden brown but I couldn't see ruining such a healthy recipe by frying them.

Sophia and I had these for dinner and they were delicious!!

Sophia and Liam

Took some pictures of my beautiful niece and her equally handsome brother yesterday.  I love how much that girl loves her little brother.  She just got up the nerve to carry him on her own and now she loves that she can be such a big helper.  So much fun!!

Goal Number 60-Done!!

LEARN HOW TO FRENCH BRAID-DONE!!

I had my lesson on french braiding today and I have to say I did a pretty good job.  I still need to practise some more but I did it!  Go me!!  Lucky Sophia was my beautiful model and though she didn't really want to be my quinea pig she was a trooper!!



Super happy to be Aunt Cindy's model.



Yes, I realize it isn't perfect but hey, I did it!



Struggle

This making and keeping goals thing is HARD!!  Thanks to a friend and his superior math skills I have come up with an end date to my 1001 day challenge.  November 4, 2013 is the day my 101 goals must be reached.  AAAGH!  That is not that far away especially considering the fact that I have yet to mark a single thing off my list but I have started several of my goals and actually feel like I am making progress.

Lately, I feel like I have been bogged down mentally and emotionally with things that are out of my control and I am trying to break out of that cycle.  Right now I am taking the first step.  One of the goals on my list that is probably one of the most important to me is Goal Number 3-To be in a steady romantic relationship and knowing me this is going to take some time and serious work on me as a person and it is time to get started if I am going to accomplish this one.  First things first, I am ready to start dating.  I am putting this out there for the universe (and my friends with single acquaintances) to hear.  Fix me up!    Help me find a man!!  I am open to any and all suggestions!!  Also, I am hoping that those who know me and love me will be able to give me some constructive insight into why I have failed at relationships in the past. 

Please don't use this as an opportunity to tell me all the things you find annoying about me (trust me, I could make a longer list that you could.)  I am truly looking for help and direction.  I also don't really want to hear how fantastically happy you are in your relationship.  Everyone around me seems to be in love, I get it.  You are happy.  Congrats!  Also, I really don't want to hear "stop thinking about it and it will happen."  Really?  Have you ever been a single 34 year old woman?  I am pretty sure at this point not a day goes by that I don't wish I had a partner and I am pretty sure that is normal.  Don't misunderstand me, I have a pretty good life.  I enjoy certain aspects of being single.  I appreciate picking up and leaving on an exciting adventure at a moments notice with no impact on anyone else.  I appreciate being able to spend my money and way that I like.  That being said, I am ready for the next phase of my life.  It is time for my own personal adventure to begin.

Go GramesGirl!!

Teach Me How To Jimmer (OFFICIAL VIDEO)

I love this!! Best part is the Ute fan in a Jimmer shirt. Love it!! Let's go Cougs!! Raise the White and Blue!

Salt Lake City Weekend

I am so grateful to have such amazing friends in my life.  A big thanks to Mindy for placing host and for spending several hours at the hospital while I worried about my grandfather.  She really is a great friend. 

First stop of my visit was to Ikea where once again I wanted to spend all my money but managed to contain my excitement for the most part.  I did find my next craft project though.  I am totally going to make this light fixture.  What do you think?  It's basically just paper snowflakes.  Good times!!

Friday night we spent some time in Provo having dinner with our great friend Erin and visiting the BYU Art Museum.  My how campus has changed!!!  Just being back made me feel really old.  I saw a girl in the bathroom that I would have sworn was 14 at the most.  She totally was a student who worked at the museum.  My life has changed SOOOO much since my time in Provo.  Friday Mindy and I also indulged in fourth meal.  At 1am we hit the In-N-Out drive thru for burgers and shakes.  Yummy!!!

Saturday morning we headed up Emigration Canyon and hit Ruth's Diner for brunch.  I had some delicious pecan cinammon roll french toast with lemon cream cheese spread and Mindy had the famous baked mac-n-cheese.  YUMMY!!  It was super cold but the wait for indoor seating was long so we ate on the patio.  Needless to say we ate in a hurry!!

It totally snowed the day before...we might be crazy!!

Soooo good!!!

The vegetables really were unnecessary!!

Creepy Ruth watching us eat our food.  Ruth is dead so I am hoping this is just a cut-out...

After our yummy meal we headed to Tooele to visit our great friend Laura, her husband Jason and their darling son Ryan.  We had such a great time visiting with them.  I have fantastic friends and I am so thankful that they put up with me!!  :)

Jason and Laura

I brought a blue dinosaur for Ryan.  He loved it, me....not so much.

Puzzle time is serious business.

 

or...not so much

It has been a few years since we were in college

Sunday I had the opportunity to visit Mindy's ward and her Young Women's.  Good times!!  Those girls were adorable.  After church we recreated the delicious mac-n-cheese of the day before and started the BBC version of Pride & Prejudice before receiving the phone call that my grandfather was in the hospital.  Mindy kindly drove me up to SLC where I got to spend a few hours visiting with Grandpa and the doctors. 

Monday morning it was up and at 'em super early.  I had a 9am flight and got back to Boise just in time to see the snow.  Ugh!!  All in all it was a great weekend and just what the doctor ordered.  It always amazes me how much the body and soul is replenished by time away.


Happy Birthday Greggie!!

Happy Birthday Greg!!  I hope you have a fantastic day!! 

Little Big Town - "Little White Church"

Little Big Town - "Little White Church":


There is absolutely no secret/hidden meaning behind me posting this song.  I am just really digging it today.  Makes me want to dance.

Progress Report

Okay team, I have actually started to make some progress on my goals.  I can't yet mark any completely off but I am getting there.  Today I started working on goals 32 & 33, making an address book and calendar for my entire extended family.  This is going to be rough.  I will admit right now I had to call my mother today for NAMES of several of my cousins.  Aaagh!!  I need to be a better daughter, granddaughter, sister, cousin and niece.  So, if you are related to me feel free to send me your family information including names, birthdates, address, phone numbers, email addresses basically the works.

In other news, I spent some time this last weekend with friends and family and will be posting about that short trip in the coming days.

Bowling

Sophia and I spent the day at the bowling alley.  We both used the bumpers and I stilled only scored a 73.  Sad!!  We had a great time though!

Ready to Roll

Score!!

She is pretty much the coolest bowler!

Bowling is hard work

Sitting in the car is hard work



Goals!

Man, it is going to be hard accomplish all these goals!  I need to get busy!!!  :)  I got a book about budgeting from the library yesterday and am in the process of writing that up.  Good times!  Tomorrow's plan is to start working on my family calendar and address book.  Go me!!

101 Goals to be Accomplished in 1001 Days

101 Goals to Accomplish in 1001 Days

Starting Date: March 1, 2011

Ending Date: I haven’t done the math yet

1. Return to Scotland

2. Fall in Love

3. Be in a steady, romantic relationship

4. Write a book

5. Visit 5 MLB parks

6. Lose 75lbs

7. Read 500 books

8. Go to Hawaii

9. Take surfing lessons

10. Take a cake decorating class

11. Develop a close group of true friends

12. Be 100% debt free

13. Have $3000 in savings

14. Find a way to reduce stress

15. Find somewhere to volunteer

16. Be more open with my feelings

17. Read the Book of Mormon

18. Read the Doctrine and Covenants

19. Read the New Testament

20. Landscape the front and back yards

21. Host a party where my family isn’t my only guests

22. Form and sustain a book club

23. Give Wuthering Heights another chance

24. Read War and Peace

25. Write at least 1 letter a month to Grandpa and Marge

26. Write in my journal at least once a week

27. Write my personal history

28. Write Dad’s personal history

29. Write Mom’s personal history

30. Compile grandparent’s and parent’s histories for my siblings

31. Learn to change a car tire

32. Create a family calendar with all cousins birthday’s

33. Create a family address book

34. Learn to crochet dishcloths

35. Complete P90X

36. Practice Yoga and Meditation

37. Try 101 new recipes

38. Make a quilt

39. Go a full month with no Facebook

40. Pay cash for a new car

41. Join a club

42. Attend a grown up, dress up New Year’s Eve Party

43. Reduce Clutter

44. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle-be more earth friendly

45. Work out at least 30 minutes, 3 times a week

46. Live in the moment-enjoy life more

47. Have a Valentine

48. No sugar for a month

49. Become CPR certified

50. Learn a language besides English

51. Give at least 1 sincere compliment every day

52. Learn to stand up for myself

53. Learn to be a better listener

54. Be able to locate all 50 states and know each capitol

55. Paint my bedroom

56. Learn how to flirt

57. Learn how to tie a neck tie

58. Refinish my “coffee table”

59. Learn calligraphy

60. Learn how to French braid-completed 3/14/11

61. Learn how to make a paper airplane

62. Brush up on my basketball skills

63. Attend the taping of a TV show

64. Send a message in a bottle

65. Learn to Say NO!

66. Spend the night in a haunted house

67. Take a cross country road trip

68. Learn to play the guitar

69. Learn to snorkel

70. Watch Jimmer play in the NBA-in person of course

71. Ride on a major zip line

72. Create my family tree

73. Go firewalking

74. Take some sort of dance class

75. Go to Glacier National Park

76. Take a cruise

77. Visit Gettysburg

78. Visit New England

79. Go to Hearst Castle

80. Visit the states that I haven’t

81. Learn to play poker

82. Watch the American Film Institute’s Top 100 Greatest Movies of All Time

83. Develop greater self esteem

84. Live on a budget

85. Attended a film at the Sundance Film Festival

86. Attend a midnight screening of a major blockbuster on opening day

87. Watch the sun rise and set

88. Tell some I love them

89. Surprise someone

90. Sleep in a hammock

91. Go for a midnight walk on the beach

92. Spend an entire day in bed

93. Read for 24 straight hours

94. Kiss in the rain

95. Learn to not overanalyze everything a man says

96. Climb an active volcano

97. Spend the night in a historic hotel

98. Go snow sledding

99. Refrain from using the word AWESOME

100. Watch TV for 24 uninterrupted hours

101. Think positively!





Okay, here is the deal, these goals are going to keep me super busy and let’s face it I need to be busy. I am hoping that by achieving these goals I will build the life I want to be living. I will definitely keep you undated on my progress. As I accomplish the goal they will be highlighted on the list and the date accomplished will be added. I will also keep you updated in my current blog posts. Any and all encouragement and suggestions for completing my goals will be most appreciated!

My Weekend in Photo

I spent the entire weekend organizing my house and rearranging the furniture in my bedroom.  Good times!!  Below is a doorway view of the "new" bedroom.