I Made it Monday: Twice-baked potatoes

I recently started subscribing to a free cooking magazine from kraftfoods.com (which is now available online). I haven't been very motivated to try many until I saw this recipe for twice-baked potatoes - which I LOVE!
The thing I did differently is that I baked the potatoes and made the mixture and stuffed the potatoes, then I topped with cheese, and stuck them in a freezer bag. Then the next week I pulled some out the night before we wanted to eat them and in the morning I drained some of the water from thawing, then when I got home from work I baked them. They might not have been as great as totally fresh potatoes, but they were pretty darn good and took little effort the day off...

Twice-Baked Potatoes
4 baking potatoes (1 1/4 lb)

1/4 cup Kraft Ranch Dressing with Bacon (which is good on salad too, so you don't have to buy it just for this recipe)

1/4 cup Sour Cream

2 Tbsp chopped fresh chives (I couldn't find any at the store so I just used chopped green onions)

1/4 lb (4 oz) Velveeta cut into 1/2-inch cubes) - I just used regular cheddar cheese and some Pepper-Jack cheese on top of the potatoes.

- Heat oven to 400 degrees. Prick potatoes in several places with fork. Bake 1 hour.
- Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees.
- Cut off thin slice from top of each potato (I had pretty big potatoes so I just cut them in half) discard tops; scoop out centers, leaving 1/8 inch thick shells.
- Mash potatoes. Add dressing, sour cream and chives; mash until fluffy.
- Spoon into shells; top with cheese.
- Place in shallow baking dish. Bake 20 min or until heated through.

MARCHing on...

Well, I am back after a bit of a blogging hiatus. Where did March go? We've been keeping pretty busy with work. Both Dan and I have been putting in long hours. Dan cannot bring materials home to study, so he spent many late nights at work over the last few weeks. My job is rather unpredictable. You work until the job is done. If that means you are done early, you get to go home while the sun is still shining. If that means 4 plus hours overtime - you do it. This last week has been especially crazy with 10 hour and 13 plus hour work days. Nevertheless, I love my job. Of course there are days that get crazy and it IS work, but it is nice to finally have a job where I don't watch the clock and I love what I am doing!

It was difficult to blog this month, either because I was exhausted - or - I would sit down, get to the blog site and just not feel it! Finally, I'm feeling it, so I thought I would play a little catch up. Be sure to scroll down and catch some of the highlights of this last MARCH...

An all too quick trip to Seattle...

A delicious lemon/lime curd stacked cake! I'm not usually a big cake fan, but this was pretty darn good cake!St. Patricks day Dinner - my family celebrated a day early for me, since I was traveling home on the real day! Corned beef and cabbage, potates, salad, grapes, and the best irish soda bread EVER!!! (And of course the cake!)

My mom, Tori, and I at Cutter's Bay House in Seattle - The food was great, so was the view!

Unfortunately, these are the only pictures I took of my entire trip. And sadly, all of them center around food in some way. You would think all I did was eat. But really, I spent so much time with people I love that I only remembered to pull the camera out when food was around.

I had a wonderful trip. It went by too fast, so sorry if I missed some of you, but it was only a few days - but SO worth it. Things I got to do included:
- Time with Tori: Since everyone was at work I got to spend some extra time with Tori - who happened to not have school one day. We had a blast shopping, talking, and seeing a movie together. It is great to have a sister I can do those things with now.
- I got to spend time with my other parents (Dan's parents). I so enjoyed our conversations, catching up, and seeing the incredible quilts and plans for quilts that Mookie has been working so hard on.
- I got some good talk time in with my Mom.
- I got to go to "Time Out For Women" with my mom and Tori. It was wonderful to do that with them, AND to be uplifted, laugh, and hear beautiful music.
- I got to go to lunch with my Dad one day, and enjoyed our conversations driving to and from the airport. I was so happy to have some moments together.
- Also, a late night talking with Eric. Love that kid!
- I got to spend an hour catching up with my good friend Melissa and see her adorable kids.
- I even got to celebrate St. Patricks day with family and some family friends.

The only things I would have changed would be Geoff being there, Dan coming with me, and to have a few more days - I wouldn't even mind if my luggage went missing again, if that could happen!

I was sad to go, but so excited to get back to Dan. The trip back was pretty memorable when I rode in the smallest plane I've ever been on from Dallas back to San Angelo. At first it was fun, but quickly I realized that those little planes feel EVERYTHING! We had a LOT of turbulance and it felt like a rollar coaster that never stopped! My stomach flipped from my toes to my brain again and again. You know the little bags in the seat pockets? I always thought it was funny that anyone would ever need one - but I actually had that little thing out and ready - I didn't think I would make it. Finally we landed - a little green and worse for the wear - but seeing Dan made me feel so much better!

New Callings

Dan and I both got callings at church recently. Dan is now second counselor in the young mens' program (the boys ages 12-18). Our ward has a whopping two young men that come to church, so there are more leaders than youth, but he will be so great with those boys. I am teaching Relief Society (the womens' organization at church) every 2nd sunday. I am pretty excited about it, especially since I have never spent more than a couple months there (I'm usually in primary with the kids, nursery with the toddlers, or with the young women). We are looking forward to serving and getting to know more people at church.

Four Wonderful Years!

...March 18th marks four years of a wonderful marriage to my best friend and companion! I can still remember the first time I saw Dan. I was 16 and so shy when it came to boys. It was at a stake dance at church and I noticed there was a new boy in the mix. Who was he? Was he from a different stake? He was pretty cute and any girl that danced with him was smiling and laughing the entire time. I watched him through the night - of course not daring to make eye contact- but I would always try and place myself in his line of vision, hoping he would ask me to dance. At last, the final dance of the night was announced and I thought I had lost my chance - darn being shy! Then I noticed him walking my way. The disco ball was twirling above catching all the colorful lights of the gym and throwing them around the room. The the old familiar song of "Lady in Red" began to play - a stake dance classic. He asked me to dance and I can't tell you how special I felt that he had saved the last dance for me. Our conversation may have been awkward (because of me no doubt) but all I remember was that by the time the song had ended I knew Dan was a special guy, he made me feel special, and that there was something different about Him...

...71/2 Years Later...

First Anniversary - Cannon Beach, Oregon - Camping - and Salty's

Second Anniversary - Local tourists in the Seattle Area - Downtown and
Northwest Trek

Third Anniversary - A nice dinner out and a relaxing evening at home - School was taking it's toll - we kept it simple! Then we got massages!
Fourth Anniversary - Keeping it simple again. A great dinner out and again massages! I sure don't mind that tradition.

"The Gauntlet"

Dan has just made it through a portion of his training that his instructors have so compassionately entitled, "The Gauntlet". It is one of the most challenging part of his schooling (that is until the last several weeks). If people fail out, it is most often during this time period. The last several weeks Dan has spent countless hours studying, stressing, late nights at the base, and working so hard! FINALLY, he and ALL of his immediate classmates made it through. I am so proud of him. He has worked so hard! AND been happy and helpful through it all. At the end of the last test of "The Gauntlet" the instructor brought in some random gifts to honor people who had stood out or been exceptional in some form or other. Gifts were given like little balls, hats, and trinkets. Finally, the instructor pulled out the last gift, a silver pin, and explained it was for a person that has shown exceptional skill and knowledge as well as maintained a positive and helpful personality. He told Dan that he didn't have the authority, but he unofficially gave Dan the title of "Lieutenant Dan". It may sound silly, but it was an honor that he recognized Dan among some of the cream of the crop. I think he is the creamiest of that creamed crop! :O)

"You say da peoples have accents, when they do not have accents" You are too awesome if you know what movie this line comes from

At work I always get asked where I am from. I am told I have a funny accent. I am told that I pronounce my words very clear and precise. I am told I sound like a Yankee...

Local Tourists

Dan and I try to do something almost every weekend to explore the area we live in. We are not here for long, so we try to take advantage of it while we are. We have had some fun, but perhaps one of the funniest experiences was riding a tour trolley around downtown historical San Angelo. The tour was free, but unfortunately the person giving the tour was not there, but the driver offered to take Dan and I around anyway. We thought that was pretty nice of him. We got on the trolley, ready and excited to learn about the city we live in. Instead, we had the most pessimistic and critical tour guide. These were some of the comments we heard:

"This is the courthouse - it's so old. Hope you never have to go there. They might as well pour dirt over the dump"
"This is supposedly one of the first hotels Hilton started - I don't believe it though. Why would anyone want a Hilton built here? Plus it's a dump, they might as well pour dirt over the place."
"This is some old cafe that used to be a trading post or something lik that - but the food is awful"
"You are really going to hate the summers here - they are so hot, you'll never want to go out."
"I can't wait to get out of this dump. I retire in a year and it can't get me out of here any sooner"
"There's a lot of drunks and meth users I pick up on this trolley, because no one else is riding it and I can actually get them places they need to go."
"There's just a bunch of old stuff here they call historical, but it's all just a bunch of old run down buildings. They might as well pour dirt over the place."

Dan and I could hardly keep from laughing and tried not to look at each other as we got, perhaps the most unique tour of San Angelo ever. He did get surprisingly and suddenly positive when he told us his son was stationed in Salt Lake City, Utah.

"I tell you, those mormons have a great secret tucked away there - that place is beautiful! The mountains and everything are just great. Now that's a city worth going to. I'd go there any day. Plus the people are just so nice - I didn't think they were all crazy relegious people. I thought they were pretty great people - nice as could be. Didn't have any problems with em'. "

"Oh, This is the Concho River and it smells like crap"

Why I LOVE my job!

I have discovered a talent. For so long I assumed everyone had this talent, so it wasn't a talent. But as I have grown and learned more about people I have come to realize that some have this talent while others do not. It is the talent of caring. I know that may sound cheesy and even boastful, but we're supposed to discover and cultivate our talents, right? Besides I could write about a hundred of things I am not good at or could/have royally screwed up or the discouragements I've had (this month alone), BUT it gives me a boost to know I have a talent. I have discovered that caring is something that makes me feel good and I am actually very good at it. That is why I love my job!

It is a very vulnerable experience when a person comes into the hospital for surgery. They must take all their clothes off and wear what is a poor excuse of a "gown", lay in a stretcher with side rails like a crib or a cage (you pick), be poked with needles, be asked several repetitive and sometimes personal questions, to know they will be CUT into while they are not awake, and be subject to the doctors, nurses, and others who will care for them while they are given medication/anesthesia that will make them unaware or unable to normally respond to what is going on, what has gone on, or what will happen next...all for the sake of aiding a pain or ailment that they have no control over in the first place.

When these people come to the hospital they are at the mercy of those caring for them - and all they want is for someone to really CARE about and for them. I love the moments I get with my patients to give them a boost or help them feel comfortable in a totally uncomfortable situation. Where I can do some of the little things that help one person feel like you are their only patient and priority. I love connecting with people - surprisingly a lot of people open up when they are in these vulnerable positions. I love that I have the knowledge to give them to help them and their families to care for themselves when they get home. I love that I can look people in the eye and they know I understand and that I am there. Then there are moments, not as often, when I get to hold someones hand who is frightened or undergoing a painful procedure while awake. Or when I get to cry with someone who is scared, who has a long road ahead, or experiencing a loss - physical or not, or when there is no one else who cares.

THAT is why I LOVE my job.

I Made it Monday: Pot Roast

I attempted my first pot roast last Sunday. I'd never made one before because I guess I always thought is was difficult, AND I didn't know much about meat cuts, OR what kind to use, OR what prices were good, etc. Also, I remember eating roast growing up that seemed like a hit and miss - sometimes they were juicy and sometimes they were really dry.

Recently, Dan was reminiscing about pot roast at his house growing up so I thought I'd give it a try. I watched the grocery ads for a while and compared different meat prices. WalMart had a sale last week - 7 lb pork butt/shoulder (which I don't understand) for $7.00 so I bought it. I divided the meat into smaller parts and I pulled out a cook book I haven't used yet called One-Dish recipes and Secrets of Slow Cooking and found and adapted a good recipe...

IT WAS DELICIOUS!!!
The meat practically melted in our mouths! I will definitely do this recipe again!

Sorry no pictures, we had a guest and I felt kind of funny taking a picture of our food while he was there, and it just didn't look the same after we dug in!

Slow-Cooked Pot Roast
1 tbs oil
1 beef brisket (3-4 lbs)
1 tbs garlic powder, divided
1 tbs salt, divided
1 tbs pepper, divided
1 tbs paprika, divided (I didn't have this so I combined just a tiny bit of chili powder and some cumin)
5-6 potatoes, quartered
4-5 medium onions, sliced
1 lb carrots
1 can (14 1/2 oz) beef broth

- Heat 1 tbs oil on high in slow cooker or large pan. Brown brisket on all sides. Remove brisket to plate. ( I guess this step is to try and lock in some of the moisture?)
- Season with 1 1/2 tsp garlic powder, 1 1/2 tsp salt, 1 1/2 tsp pepper and 1/2 tsp paprika; set aside
- Season potatoes with remaining garlic powder, salt, pepper, and paprika. Add potatoes and onions to slow cooker or large pan. Cook on high, stirring occasionally until browned.
- Add potatoes and onions to crockpot. Return brisket to slow cooker. Add carrots and broth. Cover; cook on HIGH 4-5 hours or on LOW 8-10 hours or until meat is tender.

- Gravy: combine juices after cooking with flour in small saucepan. Cook and stir over medium heat until thickened.