My husband is an Amazing Chef!

Sunday night my husband made delicious salmon, I made yummi rosemary potatoes, Derin made delicious garlic spinach, and Jon put all of these on top of his own apple reduction sauce. It was delicious. I am seriously spoiled. All this hearty food is making it difficult to get my tight & fit "summer bod". lol.

Tonight I made a Ginger Carrot Soup. Sounds weird, but honestly was a good subtle soup. Jon especially liked it. Its supposed to simmer for 3 hours, we didn't have that kind of time, so I'm sure it just gets better.

This is what Jon made! Shish-ka-bobs! Steak, peppers, cheese, and mushrooms. Beneath the ka-bobs are GRILLED PINEAPPLE! Jon smothered the pineapple in vanilla and brown sugar, which gave them a perfect caramelization on the sweet fruit. Mike especially loved that.

Tonight Dave is spending the night, and we are going to "Par-Tay!" I gotta get back, we're watching a Street Fighter cartoon. Woo-hoo. I'll post how the partying went tomorrow. See ya!

Face Painting Fun

Saturday was my adorable nieces 7th birthday, and she asked if I would paint her & her friends faces! I had such a blast! It was a fairy themed birthday and each of them had a different butterfly painted across their cheeks and noses. Isn't my niece just beautiful? I know! The blue eyes are piercing! Not only that but she is tall, skinny, and gorgeous. I just know Isabel is going to be a heart breaker!

I used to paint faces at birthday party's and ward events when I was in high school. I had forgotten how much fun I had. If anybody is interested, I don't mind doing these more often. I can paint pretty much anything from dragons to kittys to dogs. Seriously though, kids are the best. They were so appreciative of the paint and it made me happy to see them feeling so pretty.

Haircut!

I was brave yesterday. I cut off a good 8 inches off of my hair resulting in... BANGS! My hubby just loves it, which is good because I was very nervous.

Food Glorious Food

Jon & I have been eating quite well lately.

On the menu:

Mexican Soup with Sour Cream & Cheese

Aubrey came over and taught us how to make a delicious hearty soup. Complete with tomatoes, onions, garlic, beans etc.



Clam Chowder in a Sourdough Bread Bowl

Disney's own recipe. This was the first time Jon had ever seen what a clam actually looked like, and the first time I had ever had home made clam chowder. We bought $4 bread bowls that were so big nobody could finish them.


It was fun how many people associate places with clam chowder. Mike, Jon's dad, couldn't help but sitting in a cafe in San Francisco eating a bowl, while I grew up eating it on the corner of New Orlean's in Disneyland, and my mom always had it in a little eatery at Pismo (a little beach town in California).

Chowder, like so many types of food, bring people together I think.

Goat Cheese Chicken with a Beef Tomato Sauce

Last night Jon realized that we had frozen chicken breast in the fridge and made us this amazing dinner. We didn't eat till about 9 and I was so hungry I just chowed down without really tasting the food at first. Jon pointed that out and said, "so what did you think?" how rude of me to just eat and not be grateful for the hard work my husband had put into it. And just for the record, it tasted sublime!


*Note: I always write this blog and Jon tells me I haven't named it right. So, in most cases its just my best try :) So please excuse the food titles!

Easter & Zombies & Dinner?

Happy Easter
I woke up on easter morning & found... SNOW?
Dave got a chocolate bunny & was so excited to eat it. Then he did something that surprised us all: he microwaved it! ha ha!

These two hardly pay any attention to Conference when they are together.


So I have started reading a hilarious book: Pride & Prejudice & Zombies. O my goodness, who could have thought such classic literature could be adapted like this? I will let you know what I think, but thus far I kind of enjoy a head strong, sword yielding, zombie beheading version of Elizabeth Bennet.

Tonight, Jon & I made an amazing dinner! Well, Jon made an amazing dinner. It was Honey Maple Pork Chops with a Nectarine Glaze. We also had a Mushroom Cream Orzo with Spinach, and Quartered Red Potatoes... Fried! It was so good. I really loved frying the potatoes. Pretty much frying anything. Like when I fried our chicken for the sesame chicken a couple weeks ago. There is something so nice about that sizzle of oil. I'm sure my thighs are appreciating my fascination with food cooked in oil.
This is my husband... I know you ladies are jealous.

The Alchemist

The best book I ever read was "The Alchemist" by Paulo Coelho. It inspired me, calmed me, and made me remember why books are a blessing. Just a few of the quotes that moved me....



The secret is here in the present. If you pay attention to the present, you can improve upon it. And, if you improve on the present, what comes later will also be better. Forget about the future, and live each day according to the teachings, confident that God loves his children. Each day, in itself, brings with it an eternity.


The future belongs to God, and it is only he who reveals it, under extraordinary circumstances.


Everything has been written by the same hand.


When a person really desires something, all the universe conspires to help that person to realize his dream.


Remember that wherever your heart is, there you will find your treasure. You've got to find the treasure, so that everything you have learned along the way can make sense.


One is loved because one is loved. No reason is needed for loving.


The wise men understood that this natural world is only an image and a copy of paradise. The existence of this world is simply a guarantee that there exists a world that is perfect. God created the world so that, through its visible objects, men could understand his spiritual teachings and the marvels of this wisdom.


All people who are happy have God within them.




I think the reason I was moved the most was his simplicity in explaining that our existence was for our learning, enjoyment, and to ultimately get us closer to God. How beautiful to find a piece of literature which invites us to search for the Lord & believe in ourselves, so we can endure the hard things, because we know that eternity is waiting.
Please share some of the books & quotes that move you