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!