Tasty Tuesdays

Cooking is quickly becoming one of my most favorite things to do. This summer my cute husband surprised me with a bunch of cooking classes that I have been loving!

Here are some of the fun recipes I've learned-

Caprese Salad

Now I know this is a very common thing but the way it was served in one of my classes was the prettiest and best tasting way I've had it done.

One small package red cherry/grape tomatoes halfed

One small package yellow cherry tomatoes halfed

Fresh basil

8 oz fresh mozzarella PEARLS

Chopped garlic

1-2 shallots very thinly sliced

Salt and pepper

Olive oil

Balsamic vinegar

You can serve this on a loaf of yummy toasted chibata bread or just as a salad which is my favorite with bread on the side.

I've had caprese a lot of different ways but this is my new favorite. The different colors and the small size tomatoes and mozzarella are so pretty. I also think they taste better than big tomatoes and regular fresh mozzarella chopped up. The pearls just melt in your mouth. The shallot was also an awesome addition that I hadn't had before.

My first class was taught by a girl that just got back from Greece and Italy. She gave us some really awesome food but probably my favorite thing was also the most basic thing we had.

There's not even a name for it

Plain Greek yogurt

Honey- the real stuff is best but I found that pretty much anything tastes fine

Your favorite nut- almonds, pecans, walnuts, etc. Pecans are my ultimate favorite

This is SO tasty and makes a really great breakfast or quick snack. I also like to think that it is really healthy if you don't go crazy on the honey and get fat free yogurt which of course probably doesn't taste quite as good.

Avocado Dip

This dip is quite possibly mine and Brady's new favorite dip. The picture doesn't do it justice. I didn't learn it from a cooking class either but from my friend Jessica Omer.

You should all be very grateful that I'm sharing this with you because it is so delicious AND so easy. In fact, I hope Jessica won't be mad that I am exposing this secret because we take great satisfaction from it being deceivingly simple.

One can black eyed peas

One can white "shoepeg" corn- mini or regular

Chopped red onion

Avocados about 3 (more than I did in the picture)

Italian salad dressing- to desired wetness

Salt and pepper- maybe some garlic salt

...that's it. Serve it on a pretty dish with some lovely garnish and people will think its more gourmet than it really is because it tastes so good. When Jessica made this for me I sat there guessing all the things that might be in it- lemon juice, vinegar, olive oil, garlic, oregano?? Nope, Walmart Italian dressing.

My Summer Reads

Now that I am officially graduated I finally have had some time to read a few books this summer! Here are the books I read and what I thought about them-

These is My Words

I absolutely loved this book. It was recommended to me by my sister who says it is her new FAVORITE book. I don't know if I would call it my favorite book but I did really enjoy reading it and finished it in about two days.

It is one of those "everything books" that combines history, adventure, hardship, happiness, and an awesome romance.

After I finished it I went back and reread my favorite parts several times. I definitely recommend it!

Sarah's Quilt

Sarah's Quilt is the sequel to These is my Words. Some people think it is even better than the first one. I loved These is my Words a little more but still really liked this book. As far as sequels go I'm not usually a huge fan but this one was really well done. It is almost like one big book split into two the way the story picks right up in a good spot and reads the same way.

I also love stories from different time periods so if you're like me, you will really like these two books. It made me realize how blessed we are to have all that we do now and really admire the strength of those pioneers and settlers. I also loved the meaning behind the title. If you read These is My Words you have to read Sarah's quilt after!

The Rescue

WARNING: Beware Nicholas Sparks lovers.

I did NOT like this book. I have never read any of his books before but I liked the movies I've seen that were done of his books (The Notebook, Dear John, Walk to Remember) so I was excited to read it. I got about half way and had to skim the rest which was still a waste of time.

I have decided that either this book was a major flop compared to his other books or the movies made from his books are better then the actual novels. Yes, I know that it says right there on the cover "#1 Bestseller" which to me must confirm that this hurried, unfulfilling love is what people now days actually like.

I'm sure that reading this book right after These is My Words also added to my dislike since it was especially cheap in comparison to that extremely wholesome AND juicy couple from a forgotten time.

What I'm reading now:

Can you believe I have not ever read the book or watched the movie Gone with the Wind? As a lover of Romantic Period movies and the Civil War, I simply don't know how this one slipped through the cracks or how I never had to read it for a class. There's no excuse really.

These is My Words was said to be like a mix of Little House on the Prairie and Gone with The Wind which is what made me think it was about time I read this book.

I am only several chapters into it but really like it so far. Scarlett was really buggin' at first but I think she might grow on me, especially if some studly guy can put her in her place a little.

This one will probably take me longer to finish now that summer is over but I would love some recommendations of other good books to read after so please share!

Craft Corner

Last week while Brady just had to make a stop at a fly fishing store, I went next door to a new little antique shop in Logan. I found a great blanket chest that I thought had some real potential. I've been wanting something like this since I saw one in a furniture store for $400 and had to restrain. I got the antique store chest for $70 but it did need some work.

First, I took off the lid and sanded off the top layer and the ugly flowers on each side. Then, put on a coat of wood stain and sanded it again for a distressed look. I added hinges to the outside edges and wanted to put a big doorknob or something at the top put couldn’t find any that I liked. Last step- found a piece of fabric to cover the ugly pink top. I went with a more boring fabric so that I could match the chest with different pillows and use it for different rooms in the future.

What I learned: The wood came out a lot darker than I expected. You can always add more coats of stain or add a darker layer after. Error on the lighter side.

Here is the before and after! The lighting made the after pictures look weird and not as cute as in real life but you get the idea.

2 Years Later

Alright. I gave up on this blogging thing two years ago because it was just too complicated and time consuming for me. I've decided to give it one more try. BUT.. only on a few conditions.

1. Short posts. There will be no obsessing about errors, content, length, etc.

2. Simple. This blog will be void of all twirling flowers, music that plays at the click of a link, changing colors/themes, and other things I don't know how to do.

3. Sweet. This will serve as a scrapbook/journal for us so its okay if no one views or comments.

These are my conditions. So if the last three words of a post randomly appear in a far off place for some unknown reason or some paragraphs pop up in different fonts or colors for who knows why, just

deal

with it!

Aggie Basketball

This week was an exciting one for USU basketball. We played BYU at home on Wednesday and won by 11. Always fun to play an in state rival. Saturday we played Saint Maries and lost by 5. Brady tied it up with a couple foul shots with less than a minute left and I thought for sure we would come out on top. But they drained a three and we got a foul at the end of the game ending our at home winning streak. USU had the second highest home winning streak in the nation.

Frightmares

I know this is a season late- but Im playing catch-up.

On Halloween we decided to bag the crazy campus parties and go to Lagoon with our friends. I thought it would be packed since it was the last day before they close down for the winter. But it turned out to be 'dead' and we had virtually no lines to wait in. We had a blast and I was actually pretty impressed by the scariest haunted house.

Wedding credit and Black Friday

Me and Brady have been so blessed with wedding money and store gift cards- I did not realize how valuable the grocery gift cards were until I had to start feeding a big basketball player. I thoroughly enjoyed using our Bed Bath and Beyond credit to furnish our new apartment with some cute things but we were at a loss as to what to do with our Target credit since Logan doesnt have a Target. (But for some reason they had to build a second WallMart...)

So we decided to wait until we were in Twin Falls for Thanksgiving and make our credit go further by doing the black Friday thing. We realized that waking up at 4:30 in the morning and standing in the freezing cold is to Brady as waking up at 4:30 and being in the cold to go fishing is to me. All the madness turned out to be well worh it and that night Brady had his neat little TV.

Cute little handy man.