Birthday News

SM had his birthday this month. I planned that day what kind of dinner I would make him...his favorite (chicken enchiladas stuffed with veggies...it's really good) and so I thought everything was ready. And the day arrived and I was running around like crazy. I started freaking out by the end of the afternoon since I hadn't yet started dinner and it always takes me hours to make these enchiladas. But, under pressure and with a lot of adrenaline, I was able to make them in 45 minutes...Yipee!

And so we had a fabulous birthday dinner. And then both families called him and wished him a 'Happy Birthday' and asked him if he had celebrated with cake. Cake? Oh man, oh man, I had forgotten to make him a cake. In fact, I'm not sure I have ever made him cake. (I personally don't like cake and so I totally forgot that he really enjoys cake). How's that for making a perfect birthday?

So, to dig myself out of the dog house...I invited friends over to celebrate SM's birthday by playing games with us. Those of you that know SM, know that he absolutely loves his games and would play them all the time if we had the time and friends to play with...so, I think I made up for forgetting to make a birthday cake?! I hope!

Yummy Soup

Chinese Hot and Sour Soup by Ayako Moore

6 cups of chicken broth
A half of a carrot – julienned
1 can of sliced mushroom
1 piece of chicken breast or thigh – julienned (you can use left over turkey meat)
3 TBSP light soy sauce – you can use dark soy sauce if you don’t have light soy sauce
3 TBSP vinegar
1 TBSP sesame oil
A dash of hot chili oil (add it to your taste)
1 Morinu brand silken tofu (you can use other brands too, but it has to be silke/soft) – cut into small dice
1 egg beaten
3 TBSP cornstarch, dissolved in 5 TBSP of water
2 green onion, finely chopped
Some white pepper – add to your taste

Put chicken broth and carrot into a pot and heat to a boil, then add mushrooms, chicken soy sauce, vinegar, sesame oil, chili oil. Add tofu and cornstarch, stirring constantly until thickened. Pour egg into soup, stirring constantly until it forms ribbons. Add cilantro, green onions, and white pepper and serve at once.

6 servings

I had to add this recipe to my blog. Oh, so yummy! I made this for dinner this week. SM and I haven't eaten a lot of tofu and so we weren't sure we were going to like this dish but it really was good. And if you really don't like tofu you can make it without tofu. Enjoy!

My first two paintings

Here are my first two paintings I did in years. I did one in October and one in November. I was very delighted to find that I could still paint and that I still enjoyed doing it.

Another Finished Project

Here's another painting that I finally finished. Don't look too close...the picture doesn't make a lot of sense...okay, now that I said that I know all of you will be looking close to see what I am talking about. So, I'll just tell you. The tower has stairs leading up to it...but it doesn't have a door. Yep, it must be a magical tower. Enjoy!!

Before and After

This is a painting that I started years ago...probably six or seven years ago. Saturday morning I decided that I had a couple paintings that needed to be finished. This is the first one...the angel. I really like it turned out.

Another Hobby

Yippee!! I did another painting. This is the third painting I've done since I picked up my paintbrush after quitting work. I actually started drawing this bird back in October but just felt I didn't have the right paints to start. For Christmas I got some watercolor paint and this was my first opportunity to to try them. It didn't quite turn out exactly how I wanted it...but that's part of the fun of painting.

Yummy soup on a cold evening

I think one of the reasons I love the winter time is because I've always been safe and warm inside and never had to work out in the snow unless I wanted to. I was talking to one of the men that take care of the grounds of my apartment complex and he was complaining how cold it was and how much he hated the cold weather. He is from El Salvador and loves the heat...it is his element. I told him that I prefer the cold because I usually can stay warm.

And as I thought about the cold, I realized that I love soups because of how warm they make me feel. I want to share a soup recipe with you all today. It is one that I really like. I have a new soup recipe that I will be trying later in the week and if it turns out okay I'll share that one with you too.

Enjoy! And remember all recipes can be modified to fit your tastes and lifestyle. (I modify this one by using brown rice).

Greek Lemon Chicken Soup (a Pampered Chef recipe)
(Prep time: 20 minutes. Cook time: 17-22 minutes)

2 cups chopped cooked chicken (I boiled mine and cut it up)
2 medium carrots, coarsely chopped
½ cup chopped onions
1-2 lemons
2 tablespoons snipped fresh parsley
1 garlic clove, pressed
1 can (10 ¾ ounces) 98% fat-free reduced sodium condensed cream of chicken soup
3 cans (14 ½ ounces) 100% fat-free chicken broth
¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
2/3 cup uncooked long-grain white rice

1. Chop chicken, carrots and onion. Zest one lemon. Juice ¼ cup lemon juice. Cut parsley.
2. Heat pan over heat until hot. Lightly spray with nonstick cooking spray. Add carrots, onion, and pressed garlic. Cook and stir for 2 minutes. Stir in chicken, lemon zest, juice, soup, chicken broth and black pepper; bring to a boil. Stir in rice; reduce heat. Cover; simmer over low heat 15-20 minutes or until rice is tender. Remove from heat; stir parsley into soup just before serving.

Yield: 8 servings (about 10 ½ cups)

It Was Real Snow

This is the tree outside my dining room window! It is my favorite tree, and each season it gives me the greatest views. Last spring I watched a dove family build a nest, lay an egg, hatch the egg, feed the baby...and then the baby fell out and died. Not really the happy ending I was hoping for, but it is an awesome tree.

It started snowing very large snowflakes midmorning. And it kept snowing until midafternoon. And then a few hours later, it started raining. And the roads were filled with snow and water.

Now, we are hoping that it stays warm enough that the roads don't freeze.

I was supposed to go visit a new sister in the ward this afternoon but I rescheduled for tomorrow afternoon, at least the roads should be less slushy tomorrow. We were also supposed to have Enrichment night tonight but it was cancelled.
I really love the snow!
I really love the snow!
I don't like driving in the snow,
But, I really love the snow! or at least how beautiful and peaceful it makes my world.

Snow? maybe

I am sitting here at the computer and noticed that something was happening outside my window. Snow? Yep, I think it is the real stuff. But I don't know how long it will last. All morning the weather men have been predicting a terrible snow storm that will turn to sleet and finally to rain. Does that seem backwards to anyone but me? Oh well, I can enjoy what I see right now. It will definitely make this afternoons' walk a bit exciting.

Oh, about the picture...this is a snowman that my dad and brother made in Utah. It had been a while since I had seen such a great snowman so I had to get a picture with such a handsome snowman.

Visiting Teaching

This is the time of the month when I start getting anxious because I haven't contacted my visiting teachees. I really love going on visits and visiting with my women assigned to me. I DON'T like setting up the appointments. I prefer to do it by email but I got a new assignment in December and so I don't have all the email addresses yet...I don't even have a phone number for my visiting teaching partner. This is one of those things that isn't very hard to do. And once I start, I get it done, it's just getting it started that is difficult. So, after posting this blog, I will be picking up the phone and getting my visits on the calendar.

Hobbies

Here are four doll blankets that I crocheted around the edges. I really like to crochet and so when a friend of mine asked me to do this around the edges for some doll blankets I said yes. The edges are all pretty cool and the one with the white edge on the light blue blanket is a brand new stitch for me.

Hopefully soon I will start on some paintings so that I can show you all other things that I like to do. I wake up in the mornings thinking that I'm going to do one thing...and then never get to it. For some reason, things like laundry and cleaning seem to jump in the way. I think some of it is that I don't have to think when I'm doing laundry or washing dishes. I just do it. When I'm starting a new painting or project, I like to plan out my project.

No Pants Day (tomorrow) WHAT?

Tomorrow is "No Pants Day." Does that sound strange to anyone else or just me? The news on the radio and the TV has been telling everyone about this because tomorrow they don't want anyone to be in shock if they see people riding the metro without pants. The police aren't going to worry about it unless there is some lewd behavior. I hope that tomorrow is really cold. That sure would make riding the metro less comfortable. What kind of example does this set for children or people from other countries or aliens on other planets (I just had to throw that last one in because going tomorrow without pants is just as crazy)? Well, I just want you all to know that I will not be participating in "No Pants Day" tomorrow! If you do, please let me know why you did it.

Nightmares

I have always had nightmares. Sometimes they are pretty lame and sometimes they are really scary. Sometimes I wake up with an anxious feeling knowing that I had a nightmare but that I can't remember it and othertimes I wake up remembering every single detail.

This morning I woke up for the first time around 5:30 am, and everything was good. SM got up a little bit after 6 am and went to the front room to start his exercising. I went back to sleep AND had a horrible dream. And when I did get up (around 7 am) I was so mad at SM. Because in my dream I needed help lifting a huge box of the cremation remains of a guy (who he was before he died was not part of the dream). I was in an airport and another guy was trying to steal my wallet, and I jumped the guy and pulled him to the ground but he was getting away and no one would help me keep him pinned to the ground so I could get my wallet back. And so I started yelling and yelling louder than I've ever yelled in real life and no one would pay attention to me, especially SM. I was torn trying to keep this guy down and trying to figure out how to pick up the huge heavy box and was so frustrated.

Well, the consequence of this nightmare was that I was really angry at SM when I got up this morning. It wasn't his fault, and he couldn't do anything to make it better and with time, I am no longer mad at him. And I hope he never has a nightmare and wakes up mad at me. Do you have nightmares? Frequently? Have you ever had your dreams read or interpretted? (I have and it is pretty cool). Please share.