I TRIED Tuesday

I skipped my usual 'I Made It Monday' because my recent new endeavors were not exactly successful...Hence the 'I TRIED'. Maybe the world of dessert is not for me yet. Or maybe its just the recipes I chose.

Anyway, the most recent fiasco was Sunday dessert. I had a bunch of carrots I had bought for another recipe that I never got to do because it required a pumpkin (not canned) and after Halloween ALL pumpkins disappeared! I don't get it, its still autumn. Pumpkins are not just a Halloween thing people! Anyway, I needed to use them soon and I wanted to try something new. So, I did a search on allrecipes for recipes that use carrots. I found this Carrot Souffle that had GREAT reviews and tips. I gave it a try. I was so excited! The house smelled wonderful! But when I pulled it out of the over (early even), I was quite disappointed. It had burned a little. Then I scooped some up, sprinkled some powdered sugar and Dan and I sat down to enjoy it. I took one bite and was not a fan! It tasted eggy to me. Dan thought it was OK and thought it smelled and tasted like french toast, but he still didn't want to eat it. I was so disappointed.
Attempt number two wasn't an entire failure, but it wasn't used for what it was intended for. I saw a recipe a while back in one of my books that I've always wanted to try. It is a cold blueberry soup. There was an awesome deal on blueberries at the grocery store so I thought this was my chance! It seemed like all was going well until I was supposed to mix cornstarch with water and mix until a thick paste forms. So I did it and never got a thick paste. I tried again, and again with varying amounts of the ingredients and only got a thick paste after a LOT of cornstarch was added. SO, I gave one more shot being VERY careful to to the exact amounts from the recipe and just added it to the recipe with out the thick paste. I added it, however, and the entire soup thickened up...weird. Anyway, it looked like it was going to work out, and it LOOKED and smelled so good. I dished it up for Dan and I and after just a few bites we both agreed it was too sweet and thick to eat alone...so...we used it as an ice cream topper. It was a great topper, though a little more work than I care to put toward my ice cream!

Temple Day Trip

Let me just start by saying how much I love the temple. It is such a special place, probably my favorite place on this earth! I love the peace there. I love that I can feel God's love for me and all his children there. I love the understanding and perspective I leave with. It is a place I hold dear and sacred.

So, Dan and I made Saturday our Temple trip day. We were spoiled in Seattle to have the temple only 30-45 minutes away. Now we are a good 5 hours away from the nearest temple (And that is definitely pushing a bit above the speed limit the majority of the way). We left the house at 6:30 Saturday morning and made it to Birmingham, Alabama by 11:30. It is a small temple and they only do a handful of sessions throughout the week, so we were sweating it hoping to make it for the noon session (the last one of the day). Luckily we made it there safe and sound and with some time to spare.
Southern Alabama is actually quite lovely in many areas. I never realized it, but if you stray very far north of the coastline where we are at, there is not much! It is mostly fields, farms, small towns...basically the country. We got to see some large plantation looking properties, a cotton field, and even trees changing into their autumn colors (something I didn't think would happen this year).

The Birmingham temple is beautiful. We had a wonderful session and I really had some eye-opening learning experiences. It really made the 10 hours of driving in one day worth it!Our trip home was much more relaxed and we had a better idea of where we were going. We wanted to stop somewhere to eat that was kind of authentic to Southern Alabama area. We found a little cafe stop kind of in the middle of nowhere called, 'It Don't Matter". We were a little hesitant, but when we had passed it in the morning there were a ton of cars there and then on our return there were still a ton of cars. So we thought we'd give it a try. We did the Southern Buffet and it was full of interesting southern foods. Like Fried trout, Fried Catfish and squid, hush puppies, baked beans, a Cajun Gumbo (with actual crawdads and shrimp in it), and so many other things I don't have names for. Some of it tasted great, some of it was OK, and some of it I can say I tried. Unfortunately, after only about a minute of being there I started coughing like crazy and I couldn't figure out why. My allergies really started acting up, which made for a slightly uncomfortable meal. After a little bit, a woman at the next table lit up her cigarette and we realized that smoking in restaurants is not illegal here - hence the crazy coughing fit! Ultimately I wasn't totally pleased with the place, smoke, and food for the price...but it was the experience that counted.

TAGGED: 6 Quirks

I don't know that I WANT people to know 6 of my quirks. BUT, Brandi tagged me, and if any of you know me, you probably know more quirks about me than I DO!

Here are the rules:
1. Link the person who tagged you.
2. Mention the rules on your blog.
3. Tell about six quirks you have.
4. Tag six fellow bloggers to do the same.
5. Leave a comment to let them know.

QUIRKS (what a funny word)
1. I sniffle. I have had allergies as long as I can remember and so I have developed the bad habit of sniffling...even when I am not having a current need to.
2. Anytime I prepare chicken in my kitchen it MUST be followed by a good bleach clean. Maybe not a quirk, but just plain paranoid.
3. I hate when guys try and hit on you while you are driving. What do they think? I'm just going to pull over, give them my number, make kissy faces at them? WHAT? Does that count as a quirk?
4. I hate to go to bed with dirty feet (or even think they might be dirty). Especially in the summertime or when I wear sandals, I wash my feet before bed.
5. I am not going to go into the insane detail of my "OCDness" but I will just share that I have a slight, but STILL controllable obsession with certain patterns - all around...in art, pictures, woodwork, and road lines and signs... I have discovered that a good outlet for this is crocheting and cross-stitch. They somehow satisfy that obsession part in my brain.
6. I have a dry off routine after a shower. It is always the same.

Wow! That was actually kind of hard to think stuff up. I was kind of stretching for #6.

I TAG...anyone who feels QUIRKY...I know I'm supposed to tag 6 people, but I always feel bad.

Darn That Honesty Itch!

Well, I’ve had a good cry session and I feel a little better about being without a job that I never even started. We found out over this last week that Dan’s work is transferring him to Texas for training at the start of January. It is much sooner than originally anticipated. This would have left me a total of 6 weeks at the hospital. One week of that would be spent getting paid to sit in classes and orientation and I would still be only halfway though orientation when I left. I would probably have been working 2 weeks before I would have to give them my notice. That’s not cool no matter where you work or what you do. Part of me thought I just won't say anything until I HAVE to (that way I can get this nursing thing started and get PAID)! The other part of me knew how much time, energy, and $$ hospitals put into training their new nurses, and it wouldn’t be fair to them.

Well, the honesty itch got the better of me. I decided I should let them know my situation, but that I would be back in 7 months, that I would love to start now and be prepared for returning in 7 months. Unfortunately, they said I should check back in 7 months. She sincerely thanked me for my honesty and told me it would take me a long way. And as much as I know that is true…here I sit…jobless for the next month and a half. Sometimes it is hard to know if I made the right decision or not, but I know the time will fly and I will eventually get the experience I need. For now, I'm going to try the volunteer route which should be great this time of year!

I was so excited about this job, and it felt good so of course I am sad to not be starting, but I’m trying to keep a positive outlook on the whole situation. One good thing is that I don’t have to carry the burden of giving my notice after only 2-3 weeks of working. Another good thing is that the hospital in Texas that I am looking at is part of the same organization as this one making the return from Texas an easy transition! Another good thing to remember is that my would-have-been boss has guaranteed me a job when I return.

Luckily I had a lot of great distractions this weekend! Just a few hours after my little crying pity party a friend from church and I went out to lunch. She'll probably never really know how much I needed that. Plus, the restaurant was RIGHT on the absolutely breathtaking beaches of Destin! These beaches could make you forget just about everything!

Next, Friday night, we had a couple Dan has met through work over for Dinner. They are our age and don't have kids and we have just clicked with them since we moved here. They brought over guitar hero and we had a blast! Who knew playing with what looks like a 5-year olds musical toy could be so FUN!

These same friends invited us to join them the next morning for an Air Show in Pensacola. I didn't know it, but the Navy base in Pensacola is the home base for the Blue Angels. The show was absolutely amazing and frightening all at once. I've never seen an air show. My favorites were the F-15's (which was their last air show ever, I guess), the "WALL-OF-FIRE" (which I didn't know was coming when it started and I just about hit the deck when it happened), and of course the Blue Angels. We got home that night half deaf, but happy!

I won't taint this post with another Nursery Nightmare, but the wonderful part about yesterday was that at our stake center at church, they broadcast the re-dedication of the Mexico City, Mexico temple. It was beautiful! The speakers and the spirit were so special. Everything was in Spanish so Dan got to translate for me. I love the temple and I miss being so close to it. The closest temple to us is now over 5 hours away, opposed to 40 minutes. I've been going through withdrawals, but last night made me feel like I was there again, and I was thankful for that!

Well, this post was much longer than I had planned it all just came out. Needless to say I feel much better and I am looking forward to what the next few months bring!

I Made it Monday: Chili With a Kick!

Not too long ago our branch at church had a chili cook off activity. It was so fun and there were some amazing chili dishes. This was a new adventure for me since I’ve never made chili before (just warmed up canned chili).

Chili With a Kick!
1 Tbs olive oil
2 lbs Italian sausage or chorizo (remove the casings) (Normally, I would wait for a sale)
2 large onions, finely chopped
4 garlic cloves, finely chopped or crushed
1 Tbs finely chopped shallots (This is not something I normally stock so it was fun to try something new)
2 celery stalks, finely diced
3 15- to 16-oz cans of kidney or black beans, drained, liquid reserved (or soak your own - it takes some time and planning ahead, but is cheaper and has less sodium)
1 28-oz can crushed tomatoes
1 pkg chili seasoning mix (or make your own mix of chili seasoning)

-Heat Olive oil in a frying pan over medium heat. Add sausage and cook, stirring to crumble into pieces, for 6 minutes, or until lightly browned. Remove sausage and set aside. Drain off any fat.
-Add onions, garlic, shallots, and celery to the pan. Sauté until onions and celery are soft. You can add a little water to prevent sticking.
-Transfer the mixture to a large pot and add beans, tomatoes and sausage.
-Add the chili seasoning according to package directions and mix well.
-Bring to a boil, stirring frequently, then lower heat and simmer for 1 hr, stirring occasionally. Small amounts of the reserved canned bean liquid can be added at any point to thin the chili.

As it cooked I thought it needed a little more spice so I added some crushed red pepper flakes. Looking back now, and learning what I have about chili, I think I would have cut some of the acidity by adding a little sugar. I thought it needed a little sweet but Dan said it was fine the way it was.

Enjoy on a cool autumn day! :O)

5th Folder 5th Photo

The tag is to post the 5th Photo of the 5th Folder in your MY PICTURES.


Having Fun! Goofing Off! New Years 2005/2006. Yes that is Ceaser Lubba Puppy wrapped in the blanket...what a sport!

I TAG YOU!

More than a century!

This is my Great-Grandma Bulson. She turned 103 in August. Last time I saw her was 3 years ago when all the family gathered in Michigan for her 100th birthday. I remember sitting at her kitchen table with Dan and just listening to her talk about her perspective on different historical events she had lived through (well, historical to me). It was really amazing to listen to her stories. I don't think before than I had ever appreciated just what it meant to be able to listen to her and glean some life lessons. I have fond memories of visiting her and her home growing up. I remember her dogs, her garden, her basement, and property. I remember her showing me photographs. She had this one cat - He may still be alive, but as long as I can remember he has always hid behind the tub and hissed whenever anyone got near - even when I went back 3 years ago! Anyway, I just wanted to pay a tribute to a woman that has made my life possible and contributed to who I and my family are.

Curious

I'm just curious if anyone even TRIED making the breakfast cookies?

I Made it Monday: Slow-Cooker Cranberry Ribs

My mouth is just watering typing the name of this recipe. This is a recipe you have to think ahead for because the prep time is a little long and so is the cook time...but the reward is SOOOOOOO delicioso!!! I think this is now officially my second favorite dish EVER! The recipe prep time says about 50 minutes (If you are me tack on about 10+ more) and start to finish about 3 hrs 30 min. Dan and I did the prep together last Sunday and it went SO much faster! This is a delicious recipe that I got from Mookie’s Kitchen (Thanks! We love it!) I never would have thought of cranberries and ribs.The nice thing about this recipe is that you can pretty much make it from food in stock or that you can keep on your shelf a while. I didn’t have the cranberry, beef gravy, or cider vinegar before, but they are not a shopping list burden. I wait until there is a great sale on ribs to do this recipe. Using a rib rub was a first for me and I got a little messy, but it was fun. By the way, if you come visit, I promise to make it for you! :O)

Slow Cooker Cranberry Ribs
2 tsp ground cumin
2 tsp chili powder
2 tsp packed brown sugar
3 to 3 ½ lb pork loin back ribs (about 2 racks) (The first time I made this I used boneless spare ribs)
1 can (16 oz) whole berry cranberry sauce
1 jar or can (12 oz) beef gravy (I used turkey gravy once as well)
2 Tbs cider vinegar
2 Tbs packed brown sugar
1 tsp salt
½ tsp crushed red pepper flakes (we always add just a little more)
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped

- Set oven control to broil; heat 15 minutes. Line broiler pan with foil.
- In small bowl, mix cumin, chili powder and 2 tsps brown sugar. Rub evenly over racks of ribs, Place ribs on rack in broiler pan. Broil with tops 4-6 inches from heat 10-15 minutes, turning once, until browned. Cool slightly. Cut into individual ribs (if not already done)
- Place ribs in 3 ½- to 4- quart slow cooker. Reserve half of the cranberry sauce. In medium bowl, mix remaining cranberry sauce and remaining ingredients; pour over ribs.
- Cover; cook on High heat setting 2 hours 30 minutes to 3 hours or until ribs are tender.
- Stir in reserved cranberry sauce; stir from bottom of cooker to coat ribs with sauce. Set cooker to Low heat setting to serve. Ribs will hold on Low heat setting up to 2 hours.

Yum Yum! Enjoy!
PS. I should add that I wait until ribs are on an awesome deal. The Winn-Dixies and Publix supermarkets here once in a while do buy-one-get-one free deals.

Two New!

So two new things have happened here in the last week.

ONE: I got a job!!! Finally. Despite the nursing shortage across the country nobody here wants to spend the time and money on training a new nurse...so my job is about a 50 minute drive (give or take a little depending on lights). It seems that I am forever doomed to long commutes. Anyway, despite the distance I am very excited about this job. It is on a small pediatric unit - only 8 beds! It is a cute and cozy unit that sees alot, but if anything really critical comes our way we stabilize them and send them on to Pensacola. I don't think I mind that. Since it is a small unit there are times when the pediatric nurses will float to other units, such as post-partum to help take care of babies, sometimes the ER to help admit a child, and other times on the adult med-surg floor (so I'll be trained to care for adults too!) It's great because it is a little bit of everything...and I LOVE that! The hospital is very small, but everyone seems so kind and very professional and knowledgeable. I am excited to keep learning.

TWO: We bought a brand new car! It is a 2008 Chevy Cobalt. And let me tell you we got a steal!!! Partly due to my generous Grandpa's family discount (He worked for GM for years!) and partly because it was the last day of the month AND the last hour and they were DESPERATE to get in ONE more sale to try and keep the top dealership ranking in the area. They actually lost a little bit of money in the process, but the bonus they will get from being the top dealership will make up for it I'm sure. Our sales guy was the best car salesman I've ever seen. He was very knowledgeable, but not pushy. He let us talk it out and never made us feel in anyway that we were rushing or making a mistake. The financing guy on the other hand...well, lets just say he tried to hoodwink us as first time buyers and for a first time loan. But we would have none of that. He actually lied to Dan about the interest rate and didn't explain some very pertinent info. Luckily we looked closely at the forms we were signing and had the feeling something wasn't quite right. So, we financed through a credit union and got a 100% better deal and our car salesman took over so we wouldn't have to deal with the financing guy anymore. The car is a great little car. AWESOME gas mileage, and everything we wanted. The color is not my first choice (I probably would have chosen something like 'Victory Red' or 'Jet Black') but Gold Sand isn't all that bad...especially for the price we got it! Plus, supposedly this color reflects heat more so it actually keeps the car a little cooler - which will be nice here. Anyway, we're excited and now we don't have to juggle only one car.

Countdown

http://www.twilightthemovie.com/

Lame? Perhaps. Exciting? Very. Will I be there? You bet!

I Made it Monday: Breakfast Cookies!

I know...cookies for breakfast? But these I have to say work pretty well for a breakfast on the go. I actually prefer them over cereal or some other weak breakfast foods. My body is FINALLY learning that breakfast IS important and I can't just eat a piece of bread and go anymore. I don't know that nutrition wise they are the very best, but they do provide some protein and dairy. They give me lots to run on. The strange thing about these cookies is that 2 ingredients include cheese and crumbled bacon...bacon & cheese in a cookies...IT WORKS! I also tried them this morning with craisens added and I loved it. Dan says these cookies have grown on him, but I have liked them from the start. Once again, most of the ingredients I usually have in stock. Sometimes they turn out great and very moist and other times still good, but not as moist. I don't know what makes the difference. Any help?

Breakfast Cookies
1/3 Cup butter or margarine (stick with butter – its better for you)
1/2 Cup granulated sugar
1 egg, beaten
½ tsp vanilla
½ Cup flour
¼ tsp baking soda
¼ tsp salt
1 ½ Cup quick-cooking oatmeal
½ Cup cheese, grated
5 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
Optional: Craisens

Cream the butter, sugar, egg, and vanilla. Sift together flour, baking soda, salt; stir into creamed mixture. Beat in oatmeal, cheese, and crumbled bacon. Bake on greased cookie sheet at 350° F for 7-10 min or until lightly browned.
makes about 12 cookies – depending on how big or small you want them)