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!