Total Foodie Weekend

Last April when I visited Nicki in New York, I ate some of the best food I have ever eaten in my life. Hands down, New York is a melting pot of food for every palate, from every country in the world. I came home determined to try cooking some of the yummy things I'd eaten in New York. So last Friday I took an Indian Cooking class. I learned to make Naan bread (so yummy and easy), Chicken Makhani, Bangalore Chicken Curry and Indian Veggie Patties. All very good, all very easy. Best of all, I learned that with very little know-how, you can cook from a variety of countries around the world.

My next project is gnocchi. I've had it before (not in New York), but I want to learn to make it from scratch. It isn't as easy as it looks. I've watched cooks on the Food Network make it, and of course, it looks so simple and easy. Big lie! I tried Giada's recipe (nothing to it, she promises) and ended up with tiny little pillows of brick in my tummy, not tiny little pillows of pasta. I ran into someone at Friday's cooking class that swears she has a fool-proof recipe, but it involves dehydrated potato buds - not the kind of fresh I was looking for, and probably not what any Italian cook who is worth her weight in pasta sauce would use, but I'll try it. Why don't I just buy it you ask? Well, because I have yet to find it in a grocery store here in quaint little Cache Valley, and I've been looking for about 7 years (no kidding!) only the dried stuff - yuck. If any of you out there have a great recipe (Bonnie) and are willing to share, I'm up for making it multiple times until I get it down. How hard can it be, right???

Add in a big batch of homemade bread, an apple pie ( as per Trevor's request) and a coconut cream pie (as per Kent's request) and I had a cooking/baking filled weekend.

HCG diet, anyone???

My New Favorite American Idol

You had to know, it's James Durbin. I love his rocker style and his sweetness. I love that he looks a tad bit like Kurk Russell (look at those peepers) and sings a bit like Adam Lambert. Most of all, I love that he has overcome challenges in his life to pursue his dream. He has crazy, insane pipes, as they say.

Happy Birthday Nicki

Happy Birthday to you, Nicki!

Today is Nicki's 22nd birthday. I can't believe that 22 years ago I was in a hospital in Connecticutt having our first baby. Kent was in and out of the labor/delivery room watching March Madness, that is until the madness in the delivery room kicked in. Nicki was born with just a skiff of dark hair and we thought she was such a beautiful baby. She was so tiny that when we bundled her up to bring her home, Kent kept checking in the quilt to make sure he had ahold of her. Those first few days were quite the shock to us. I thought I knew all about babies, but I quickly found out my mom knew all about babies and I knew nothing.

Through the years Nicki has been such a blessing to us. She is full of surprises, fun and joy. Maybe add in a bit of stubbornness and a determination that is unmatched by anyone I know! From a very young age, it was apparent to me that Nicki would think for herself and not be swayed by whatever or whomever. I always knew she would choose her own path and make her own decisions. I was always grateful for that strengh in her, even when she was at odds with me. It wasn't always easy, but I knew if we could keep her pointed in the right direction, she wouldn't disappoint.

Nicki is a natural "oldest child". She is a natural leader and has an abundance of confidence. She has been a perfect example to her younger siblings and she has made our job as parents much easier by setting this great example. She is intelligent, smart, a little sassy (which is fun now that she is out of her teenage years) and always up for some fun. She is a spark, that's for sure.

We love you, Nicki and we hope you have the best birthday ever. Here are a few photos that bring a smile to my face and I think they will bring a smile to yours too.

Love you,
Mom

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Catching Up!

As per Nicki's request, this blog is specifically for her and will be mostly boring to anyone else who reads it. However, if you elect to read it, you are going to get a glimpse of our most ordinary lives.

We got dumped on this past week. It snowed off and on from Wendesday through Saturday, but by far we got the most snow on Friday night. I know it doesn't look like much in these pictures, but Kent and I moved a ton of snow off the driveway Saturday morning. And it was wet, heavy snow. Yes, we do have a snowblower, and it even works, but Kent claims he loves the workout. It was beautiful, as snow always is before it gets nasty looking.
This is what the front of the house looked like.

Looking over towards Farnsworth's home.
The front yard.
View from the back deck.
Hansen's red barn.
Dad and Dean, after singing a very inspiring "Happy Birthday" to Claudia.
So, while Kent and I were out shoveling snow, he decided to take a break and go across the street and talk to Dean. While he was over there, Claudia (Dean's wife), came out to shovel the snow off her front door step. Next thing I knew they were singing "Happy Birthday" to Claudia in a very enthusiastic and off-key kind of way. It was cute and funny to see/hear these two old guys singing with much gusto to Claudia.

Kenna and Ringo enjoying the snow (boots) and sun (shorts???).



Backing up a bit to Valentine's Day. What is it they say about the best laid plans . . .
Nicki gave us a gift certificate to one of the few nice restaurants here in Cache Valley and we decided to save it for Valentine's Day. So a couple of days before, I reminded Kent to make the reservation. I also happen to love making something special for the kids for Valentine's Day. Traditionally I have made them chocolate heart-shaped biscuits for breakfast with whipped cream and strawberries. This year I wanted to change it up a bit and "surprise" the kids. I decided I would make a red velvet heart-shaped cake for after school/work. After I got off work, on Valentine's Day, I went to a couple of grocery stores looking for the red food coloring - none to be found. I was tired and it was getting late, so no red velvet heart-shaped cake for the kids. That would have to wait for later in the week. Then, to my dismay, Kent forgot to make the reservations until Monday morning, so no dinner out. I think we ended up eating mac and cheese, homemade, but still, very lame. We pulled the cake off a couple of days later and had a good ol' time decorating it. It was kind of a family effort, and tons of fun.


Below is a yummy fruit pizza Trevor and I made a week before Valentine's Day. It was just something we have never made before (I know, I must live under a rock). Trevor did the fruit arrangement. For some reason, my kids get way into food arrangements. He loves baking with me. For the longest time (almost up until he turned 6 or 7, he wanted to be a baker, then a librarian when he started school and discovered the library there, and the sweet lady who was the librarian).

An Amazing Artist

My neice drew this picture of Nicki and McKay from their engagement announcement. I think she captures them perfectly - not an easy thing to do in person, let alone from a picture. She really got the eyes and facial expressions just right. To see more of her work, click here. When I have grandkids (Nicki and McKay, are you paying attention?) I will commission her to do them with Christ. She does amazing work. She just did her neice with Christ and I love how it captures her neice.

Yippee For Me!

I started a new job today. I am now working at a chiropractor's office, by appointment only, doing face and foot zone balance treatments. I have my own little office with my own little spa music. I am so bona-fide now!

This is what I do

and this too

and this is how you feel when I'm done.

I love my job.

I'm offering free introductory face and foot zones for February.

Wish you could all come and visit!

Baby, It's COLD Outside!

For the past week all I've seen out my window is this. We have had snow off and on for days now. I love the first snowfall of the season, but I'm afraid I'm going to be sick of it by the time spring comes again. We have lived here for 7 years and this is the first time we have had snow for Thanksgiving.

When I woke up this morning it was 29 degrees warmer than yesterday morning. Yesterday it was -8. You do the math.

Undoubtedly, snow can be beautiful.