One last hurrah for S-N-O-W!

Take a look at this one--we'll be skiing in the icy slush tomorrow!

...and after this one, go to this link--it is even better (courtesy of Madi!)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50_qtOUnydQ

2 1/2 more days until March...

...and then it is the month of the Irish! Get ready for fun recipes, stories, etc! They will be coming your way!

Yummmmmm...

For some new recipes you might check out Bethany's new blog.
http://yummycollegefood.blogspot.com/

I thought she was really, really busy this semester; but maybe she has more time on her hands than I realize.

At least I know she is eating well!

(I'm sure she'll appreciate me posting this picture--maybe she could let us all know what it is she is devouring...)

I've been wanting to post a couple of recipes as well.

I love the Spicy Shrimp and Chicken Pasta at Carino's. I also really like the Spicy Wings at Goodwood. And the Bread Pudding at Chuck O' Rama. And the Blue Corn Tacos at Cafe Ole'. But I only have a similar recipe for the first one (darn it!) Here is a recipe I found on the internet. The first one is the original (I found it on Recipezaar--recipe #288012), the 2nd one is my lower calorie, adjusted recipe.

Spicy Shrimp and Chicken Pasta

Serves 6 to 8

-2 (8oz) boneless skinless chicken breasts, grilled

-3 Tblsp butter

-20 med raw shrimp, peeled, tail removed, and cleaned

-1 cup fresh button mushrooms, cleaned and sliced

-1 cup sundried tomatoes, sliced

-salt and pepper to taste

-3 cups heavy cream

-1/2 cup Romano cheese, grated

-1 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper

-16 oz dry penne pasta

1. Season and grill the chicken breasts unil done. cool and slice into bite sized pieces.

2. Add butter to a large saute' pan on medium heat.

3. Once butter is melted, add the shrimp, sliced chicken, mushrooms, sun-dried tomatoes, salt and pepper

4. Saute mixture until shrimp and mushrooms are cooked.

5. Add cream, Romano cheese and cayenne pepper. Let cream reduce by half while stirring frequently.

6. Meanwhile, cook pasta al dente according to package directions; drain excess water.

7. Toss cooked pasta with contents of saute' pan. Serve.

Mitzi's Lower Calorie Spicy Shrimp and/or Chicken Pasta

-1 chicken breast, grilled or fried in a pan with a spray of Pam

-3 Tblsp butter

-as many shrimp as I may have (sometimes I only put in chicken, sometimes only shrimp, sometimes both)

-lots of mushrooms! probably 1 lb. sliced

-1/2 cup sun dried tomatoes (I just by the julienne sliced in olive oil and throw in some)

-salt and pepper to taste

-2 cans of fat-free evaporated milk

-some cornstarch for thickening (whisk with some of the milk before adding--I start with 2 tsp and add more if needed)

-1/2 to 1 cup romano cheese (to your taste)

-sprinkle of cayenne pepper (to your taste--be careful!)

-1 lb penne pasta (try whole grain if you would like!)

Prepare basically the same as original recipe, except thicken your sauce with cornstarch. I haven't calculated the calorie/fat savings, but I think that replacing the 3 cups of cream with the fat free evaporated milk definitely makes a difference. I honestly have not tried to prepare the original recipe, because I don't buy cream, but I really like this version. After you get started, you'll know how to adjust it to your family's tastes!

Here's one more--this one is definitely not low fat!

Maple Bars (doughnuts--makes approx. 36)

-2 Tblsp yeast

-1/2 cup warm water

-6 Tblsp butter or margarine

-1 cup milk (scalded)

-1 cup cold water

-1 tsp salt

-1/2 cup sugar

-3 eggs

-6-7 cups flour

-oil (for frying)

Maple frosting

-4 1/2 cups powdered sugar

-1/2 cup butter or margarine

-4 Tblsp milk

-2 Tblsp maple flavoring (I don't use quite this much)

1. In a bowl place yeast and 1/2 c. water to activate

2. Place butter, salt, and sugar in hot scalded milk, then add cold water

3. Mix well and add eggs to this

4. When it is cool enough, mix with yeast

5 . Add flour 1 c. at a time till soft but workable dough

6. Roll out on lightly floured surface into a rectangle about 1/4-1/2 inch thick

7. cut into rectangular bars about 2-3 inches by 5-6 inches

8. Lit rise till double

9. heat oil to 350 and fry till browned on both sides.

Frosting:

Place all ingredients in a medium bowl and mix with a hand blender till smooth. Wait to frost until cool (or be ready to eat them fast while the frosting is melting--this is the best way--frost them one by one and feast!)

I am really hungry...I think I need to go eat lunch...

The Chronicles of Skiing 3...

We'll call this one Success! Or at least Some Success at Normality. Or 3rd Time's a Charm.

You can pick your own title.

This last Friday night I succeeded in riding the chairlift 6 times without any mishap, and one time I even made it all the way down the hill without falling down once! Of course I had to end the night with a huge crash and my legendary "slide down the bottom 50 ft of the mountain on my back--skis dragging behind" maneuver. This time I made it a little more memorable by losing one of my poles along the way (thank you, jr. high snowboarder, for flicking my pole towards me on your way down!)

So I have achieved a certain level of normality in my skiing endeavor. I am now just a normal beginner, instead of an embarrassment.

Seth came home for the weekend (he had President's Day off) and he spent his time working on a project for a class. He was required to create a work of art. He decided to make a working work of art--an instrument. He is creating a harp guitar.

Or a guitar harp.

Whatever you call it, it is pretty cool.

It has nylon strings for the guitar part, and steel strings for the harp.

And it is acoustic and electric!

(He did all of it himself--part of it is tongue depressors with wire wrapped between them.)

He attached it to his amp and it works!

It isn't completely finished, but he was actually playing songs on the guitar part of it on Monday night. He promised me he would do a You Tube video of himself playing it after it is finished.

Then I can post it here for you.

Until that time rolls around, here is his first You Tube video. He filmed it with the web cam on his lap top. (They require lap tops at BYU-I; okay, they don't require them, but they STRONGLY URGE students to have one) The sound doesn't always match the picture; but it is kind of fun to watch anyhow! He is playing his guitar and singing a song he wrote himself.

The Chronicles of Skiing 2...

I decided to use this name because you will continue to hear about this subject for the next couple of weeks. This is the 2nd Chronicle of Skiing:

Chair Lift Challenged

I actually took a couple of pictures this time. I don't know if I'll do this any more, because I almost lost my camera in the snow when I was coming down Skier's Lane (I crashed and it popped out of my pocket--by chance I looked down, saw something black, and picked it up to discover it was my camera). I can't trust myself to keep my pockets zipped, plus I do crash alot and I might break it.

This is Madi with her snow board getting ready to start her lesson. She went up the face of the mountain this time (and back down--and she is still in one piece, although I think her tail bone is a little sore!)

And here is Taylor getting in line for the rope tow.

This is a video of her coming down the bunny hill "making her pizza."

On to the chair lift...Actually, I wish I could get on and stay on the way everyone else gets on and stays on and then gets off at the end.

I started out my evening with several runs down the bunny hill (which really isn't as flat as it looks in the video--at least from my perspective), and then I decided to brave Skiier's Lane a second time. John and I got in line for the lift. As I got closer, and closer I got more and more nervous. Then it was my turn. I got ready, grabbed the pole, I sat on the chair...and my ski got stuck in the snow underneath popping off! The lift operator stopped the lift, ran and grabbed my ski, handed it to me and said that she would radio ahead for them to stop the lift to let me off. So much for being graceful whatsoever. Anyway, I made it down Skiier's Lane (this time I only fell down about 6 times instead of 30+ like last time) and decided to try it one more time.

I got in line, got in place, grabbed the pole, and obviously I did not line up my skis or lift my tips because this time both skis were pulled under me as the chair continued forward and up, and I was hanging onto the pole for dear life as I was being pulled off of the chair as I was lifting into the air. The chair lift lady was yelling, "Is she okay?!! Do you have her?!!" and John was grabbing at my coat yelling back that everything was fine.

He says he wants to bring a video camera next time. He pictures me dangling from the bottom of the lift, hanging there as it travels slowly up the mountainside.

By the way, that time I finished my run by sliding down the final 60 ft. shoot upside down on my back with my skis dragging behind me.

I just can't wait 'til next Friday.

On Saturday, we started to tile our downstairs bathroom shower. These are a couple of pictures of the progress. I think John does a pretty good job. The red stuff is the waterproofing (red guard) that goes underneath the thin set, that goes underneath the tile. We are hoping to be finished by next weekend.

The ceiling is pretty tricky; John says it is really cold when thin set falls down your shirt.

(note: I really don't mind skiing, although I am a constant embarrassment to myself and all those who are related to me. I am getting better :-)-- at least at the skiing part. This next week I will concentrate a little more on chair lift skills.)

Happy Birthday to both of my moms!

Today is both my mom's birthday and John's mom's birthday. I think this is a somewhat unique situation. The advantage is that I only have to remember one day--February 6. The disadvantage is that usually I am not creative enough to come up with 2 separate ideas for gifts (sorry Mom and Jean), and I hope they don't mind. By the way, watch for something coming in the mail! It probably won't make it there by today.
I wanted to post of few pictures of and say a few words about the most important women in my life. And of course I need to start with my own mother.

My mom, Sharon, is a wonderful, kind caregiver. She has always been there for me. Even in high school I wasn't afraid to share my life with her. I could always count on her. I was fortunate to have her be home for me when I was growing up. Even now, when I call home, I expect she'll be there. And when she isn't, it kind of throws me off.

.MY MOM--DON'T YOU JUST LOVE HER SMILE!

She has always been a person who wanted to take care of those who needed her. When she was growing up, her mom always had to check her pockets before washing her clothes because she would keep her pet worms in there.

. My mom was the 2nd child of 7. These are a few of her siblings. It has been a blessing in my life to know and be part of this family.
. She has always been a great example of hard work and service. She is wonderfully creative. Because of her I have my love of sewing and doing. Her patience is endless. She raised 6 children to be decent and compassionate adults. She loves her children and her grandchildren with all of her heart. Some grandchildren can hardly bare to be separated from her. I love her and wouldn't trade her for any other mother.
Happy Birthday, Mom!

John's mom, Jean, has been a go-getter from the day she was born.

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She was the baby of the family, and the only girl. Her mom said that she had to send her to school early because Jean drove her crazy. She wouldn't go and play like most kids, she always "wanted to do something really." By the time she was 4 years old she could completely clean the kitchen: dishes, counters, floors, everything!

.I have never seen anyone work harder or faster than my mother-in-law, Jean. It is amazing! She can do more in a day than I can do in a week! She loves to travel and "do things really." It is fun to be with her.

. She has taught me so much in the last 23 years, and she has loved, accepted and included me as one of her children since before I shared her last name. I love her and am proud to be part of her family.

Happy Birthday, Jean!

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I'm in over my head!!!!

I have been attending an advanced footwork class being taught by Gary Larsen. He is an amazing and talented dancer, and it is an amazingly difficult class. This is the dance that we have been working on.

We started with clogging, and now we have moved on to tap. I am not getting it very well--I haven't had any tap dancing since I was 12 years old. I guess I can't expect to do anything like Gene Kelly without significant training! (obviously) I am thinking about sitting out for awhile and working on championship solos (clogging). I also need to concentrate on my own studio--we have our first show coming up Feb. 28. I love taking lessons from Gary, but I think I am in way over my head right now! After tap, the class will move on to Irish; I may try my hand (or feet) at that!

It is a ski trip day--wish me luck!

To be continued...my first ski trip!

Well, yes, I did survive my first attempt at skiing. And I am wimpy--I admit it. I have pretty much mastered the bunny hill, including the rope tow (I didn't fall down once!), and upon seeing this my sweet hubby, who wanted to increase my fun level, talked me into going on the chairlift and up the mountain. I was pretty nervous, but peer pressure got the best of me (Everybody's doing it...) and I got on...and fell off at the end, causing concern among those around me that there would soon be a pile up. They (strangers included) succeeded in turning me upright, and then John tried carefully lead me back and forth across the hillside. But to go back and forth you have to be able to turn, which I skill I lacked.

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After many crashes, I did start to be able to make about 50% of my turns without ending up on my back. But my biggest problem is my fear of SPEED. Which I knew was going to be a problem from the first place, 'cause I don't even like to go sledding very fast. And it is hard to ski down an incline without going at a somewhat quick pace. So...

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I have determined that I need to practice going as fast as I can down the bunny hill so I can get used to the feel. And I need to practice being able to get back up on my own. It is embarrassing being stuck all of the time.

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Total change of subject---I have ordered sweatshirts for my little clogging group and this is the logo.
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I am kind of excited...okay alot excited! We'll look like an actual team when we go somewhere to perform.