11/25/12

Thanksgiving 2012

Christmas came early this year! Blake and I decided to get our camera before Christmas so we could document all the festivities.

Thanksgiving was really magical this year.  Eryn got home from her mission on Tuesday!  I am beyond grateful to have such wonderful in-laws.  Our families live less than a mile away, so we get to bounce back and forth between them.

In-laws: Jordan & Eryn
Seesters


Blake offered to cook the turkey this year!  He spent the past week researching how to deep fry a turkey and he totally pulled it off (it really freaked me out when the hot oil bubbled over...but nothing exploded!)  I never dreamed deep fried turkey would be so delicious.


I love his tiny bum!





I have felt a lot of love and appreciation for family this week.  I have also felt a deeper desire to simplify my life and focus on relationships, spreading some love, and enjoying the moment.  Life is really, really beautiful right now.  I am so grateful for the blessings and opportunities Blake and I have right now.

Also, this picture kills me... check the crotch on that leotard!



11/18/12

Kindness

Kindness 
begins
with 
me.


I have taught primary for the past year and a half- which means I never get to go to Relief Society.  I have a teaching partner now, so every other Sunday I get to go to R.S.  WOW  I didn't realize how much I missed it until today.  The lesson was so simple and perfect- Kindness.  



I have been allowing frustrations with recent district budget cuts, rowdy students, and a lack of efficient classroom management to turn me into a grump.  I have been especially crabby to Blake and my students.  Today I remembered that I get to choose how I act.  I can put the person before the situation.  I can be genuine.  I can be thoughtful.  I can try to be patient.  As Maya Angelou said, I can be "a rainbow in someone else's cloud".  I can take a chill pill before I overreact to the student who "falls" out of her chair in the middle of my lesson EVERYDAY and takes 5 min. to get back into it.

Blake and I had a really great talk with our Bishop today about tithing, forgiveness, and blessings.  He is a great example of kindness, and I'm really grateful for our ward.


11/17/12

Families R Forever

I love (and wanted) simple, honest photos but I'm so awkward when I'm in front of a camera and not wearing spandex.  Sometimes it's hard to be natural in front of a camera.  It's easy to be obnoxious and creepy in front of the camera, but being real is tricky.



 That's why friends who have nice cameras and a good eye for composition are amazing!  The Packards met us this morning and took some family photos (little kitty tit-mouse included).  It was quick, and fun to hang out with the Packards.   I really appreciate when friends are willing to share their talents/kindness. It's always inspires me and really makes me feel blessed.  Our engagement photos were taken by friends too- and we really like them much more than our professional bridal and wedding photos.




I love my cat.  I love Blake.  I love nice people.
I love the garage sale-ing  that happened after photos today.  Thank heavens for snow birds and retirement communities.

11/4/12

Thai Steak Noodle Salad- and the cream of the crop...Yeahhhhhh


Blake and I went to Huston's for our anniversary in May, on the recommendation of a friend.  Blake got the best steak of his life, and I got the Thai Steak Noodle Salad.  It was the greatest.  I've been dreaming of it ever since.  I finally decided to look up a recipe and make it!  

oodles of noodles
via Savory-Bites

I found one at Savory-Bites , who adapted their recipe from another website and so on... Anyway, this ended up tasting a lot like the original.  This recipe is really easy, and I think it tastes just as good without the meat if your into that sort of thing. Or marinate some chicken in the salad dressing, and grill it- that would be good!  



I played around with the dressing a little.  My version serves 4, with some leftovers...so maybe it serves 6.
INGREDIENTS
·         Dressing
·         3 tablespoon lime juice
·         1.5 tablespoons fish sauce
·         2 tablespoon water
·         2 large clove garlic, minced
·         2 teaspoons Sriracha or similar chile paste (how spicy do you want it??? Add more!)
·         1.5 tablespoon light brown sugar
1   1/4 tablespoon creamy peanutbutter
·         2 tablespoon neutral flavored oil (like canola or grapeseed)
·         ***I wonder what this would taste like with coconut oil??  Probably pretty great.

·         Salad
·         1/2 pound skirt steak or flank steak, or a similar thin cut
·         2 ounces udon-like noodles, soaked until soft in boiling water, cut into pieces if very long, and chilled
·         3 large handfuls of spinach
·         1/2 a large head of cabbage- shredded
·         3 thinly-sliced radishes
·         The shavings of one small carrot (lol sounds like a potion)
·         1 cup diced mango
·         1/3 cup seeded, diced tomato
·         2 thinly-sliced scallions
·         3 tablespoons toasted, crushed peanuts
·         3/4 cup chopped cilantro
·         1/3 cup basil
  
     Directions  as written by Savory Bites
     Mix all of the dressing ingredients together. Set aside while you are preparing the salad.  **I do this on low, low heat on the stove, to melt the peanut butter a little.
     Season the beef with salt and pepper and sear in a hot skillet (preferably cast iron) for 2-3 minutes per side, or until medium rare. What I like to do is sear the whole entire thing on both sides and then transfer it onto a cutting board. Let it sit for a bit before slicing it into strips. At this point, the meat will still be too rare for consumption so return it back to the skillet for some more searing.
     Let the meat rest for a few minutes, then slice it and toss with 2-3 tablespoons of the dressing.  Then cook to your heart's content.
     Meanwhile, prepare the noodles. The key is to not overcook them or else the texture will just get really mushy. After, rinse the noodles in cold water. Mix the remaining salad ingredients (except the peanuts) in a large bowl, add dressing, and toss in the steak. Mix until everything is well coated. Serve on a plate and sprinkle with the chopped peanuts.

    This stuff is soooooooo good the next day,  I ate it for breakfast.