Yummy Recipes

Here are a couple recipes that are definetely worth trying! I typed these up for a family reunion cookbook, and so I figured that I might as well share.

Broiled Tilapia Parmesan (surprisingly yummy and easy easy easy!)

½ cup parmesan cheese
¼ cup butter
3 tblsp mayo
2 tblsp lemon juice
¼ teaspoon dried basil
¼ teaspoon pepper
1/8 teaspoon oinion powder
1/8 teaspoon celery salt
2 pounds tilapia fillets

Preheat oven’s broiler

In small bowl, mix everything together (except fish).
Arrange fish on broiler pan (or a cookie sheet cover with foil). Broil a few inches from the heat for 2 to 3 minutes on each side. Cover the fillets with the parmesan mixture and then broil for 2 to 3 more minutes. Topping will slightly brown, and fish will flake easily with a fork. Don’t overcook the fish.

“Better for you” Trail Mix Bars

2 cups of “flake” cereal (Kashi, or Special K, Raisin Bran, etc) slightly crushed.
2 cups of puffed rice cereal
1 cup of dried cranberries
1 cup of dry roasted peanuts (or you can use sliced almonds)
½ cup reduced fat peanut butter
½ brown sugar
½ cup honey
1 tbslp butter
*** Optional**** a handful of chocolate chips, or m&ms, obviously it’s “better for you” if you don’t, but I can’t resist.:)

Line a 9 by 13 pan with foil. Mix dry ingredients in a large bowl.

Heat butter, peanut butter, honey and sugar on stovetop until boil, stirring constantly, simmer 1 minute.

Pour gooey mixture over dry, and stir,(add chocolate chips here, if you are going to) then press into pan like a rice krispy treat. Chill for 1 hour before serving.


Beef Fried Rice ( A very frugal recipe)

1 pd ground beef
3 eggs
Dash pepper
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 cups cooked long grain rice
1 small onion chopped
3 tablespoons soy sauce
1 teaspoon sugar

Cook beef over medium heat, drain. Beat eggs with pepper, cook in a skillet like an omlet, remove from heat, cut eggs into strips. Add beef and eggs back to pan, stir in the remaining ingredients. Cook and stir over medium heat in remaining oil for 5 minutes or until heat through.

Note: I add some frozen peas and shredded carrots, to make this a bit healthier.

Teriyaki Sauce(Goes great with vegetables and chicken over rice)
1 cup water
¼ c of cold water
¼ c of soy sauce
2 tblspn cornstarch
3 tblspn brown suger
1 minced garlice clove
¾ tsp of ginger

Stir 1 c of water, brown sugar, soy sauce, ginger and garlic and bring to a boil.

Take cornstarch and dissolve it in ¼ cup of water and add to the sauce. Stir constantly, allow sauce to thicken.


Herb Roasted Squash

1 med zucchini
1 yellow summer squash
1 medium tomato
½ cup chopped oinion
1 tsp dried parsley
½ tsp dried rosemary
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon pepper
1 tablespoon olive oil

Slice squach, and zucchini. Chop tomatoes. Combine the first eight ingredients. Drizzle with oil and toss to coat.

Place vegetables in a single layer on a greased cookie sheet. Bake uncovered at 450 for 10-14 minutes or until lightly brown and tender, stirring once. 4 servings

Parmesan Pork Chops

¼ cup butter
½ cup grated Parmesan Cheese
2 tablespoons all purpose flour
2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
2 teaspoons dried parsley flakes
¼ teaspoons pepper
4 boneless pork loin chops (3/4 inch thick, and 6 ounces each)
2 tblspn olive oil

Melt buter. In a plast ic bag, combine the cheese, flour Italian seasoning, parsley and pepper. Dip each pork chop in butter. Place in bag one at a time, and shake to coat. In a large skiller, cook pork in oil over medium heat for 7-8 min on each side or until juices run clear. 4 servings

Chicken Vegetable Casserole

½ cup butter, softened
1 cup sour cream
1 egg
1 cup all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon rubbed sage
1 package (16 oz) frozen mixed veggies, thawed
2 cups cooked chicken, cubed
1 can, cream of mushroom soup
½ cup chopped onion
½ shredded cheese

In a small mixing bowl, cream butter and sour cream. Add egg, beat well. Combine the flour, baking powder, salt and sage, add to creamed mixture. Spread into a greased 3 qt baking dish. (7 by 11)
In a large bowl, combine the vegetables, chicken soup and onion. Pour over crust, sprinkle with cheese. Bake uncovered at 400 for 35-40 minutes or until heated through. Serves 6.

Giants, Wizards, and Dwarfs

My mom sent me a package full of my old journals from grade school all the way through high school. Some school journals, some personal journals. In High School, I had a habit of writing down quotes, thoughts, song lyrics, etc. that meant a lot to me, anyone who reads this blog knows that I am not the best when it comes to original thought. :) Anyways, as I was sifting through all those words, I read this story in one of my journals, and wanted to share it.


Giants, Wizards and Dwards by Robert Fulghum
Giants, wizards and dwarfs was the game to play.
Being left in charge of about eighty children seven to ten years old, while their parents were off doing parenty things, I mustered my troops in the church social hall and explained the game. It's a large-scale version of Rock, Paper, and Scissors, and involves some intellectual decision making. But the real purpose of the game is to make a lot of noise and run around chasing people until nobody knows which side you are on or who won.
Organizing a roomful of wired-up gradeschoolers into two teams, explaining the rudiments of the game, achieving consensus on group identity--all this is no mean accomplishment, but we did it with a right good will and were ready to go.
The excitement of the chase had reached a critical mass. I yelled out: "You have to decide now which you are--a GIANT, a WIZARD, or a DWARF!"
While the groups huddled in frenzied, whispered consultation, a tug came at my pants leg. A small child stands there looking up, and asks in a small, concerned voice, "Where do the Mermaids stand?"
Where do the Mermaids stand?
A long pause. A very long pause. "Where do the Mermaids stand?" says I.
"Yes. You see, I am a Mermaid."
"There are no such thing as Mermaids."
"Oh, yes, I am one!"
She did not relate to being a Giant, a Wizard, or a Dwarf. She knew her category. Mermaid. And was not about to leave the game and go over and stand against the wall where a loser would stand. She intended to participate, wherever Mermaids fit into the scheme of things. Without giving up dignity or identity. She took it for granted that there was a place for Mermaids and that I would know just where.
Well, where DO the Mermaids stand? All the "Mermaids"--all those who are different, who do not fit the norm and who do not accept the available boxes and pigeonholes?
Answer that question and you can build a school, a nation, or a world on it.
What was my answer at the moment? Every once in a while I say the right thing. "The Mermaid stands right here by the King of the Sea!" says I. (Yes, right here by the King's Fool, I thought to myself.)
So we stood there hand in hand, reviewing the troops of Wizards and Giants and Dwarfs as they roiled by in wild disarray.
It is not true, by the way, that Mermaids do not exist. I know at least one personally. I have held her hand.


This story meant so much to me when I was in high school because at that time more than any other in my life I felt "pigeon-holed" and that I didn't fit into any category that everyone else seemed to fit into. As I read it today it was almost like I was reliving those feelings. But I realized, I do know where to stand now, even if it means standing out or standing by myself. But to everyone who feels, or whoever has felt like they have nowhere to stand, or that they don't fit in, this story is very validating, and uplifting.

Happy 3rd of July!

We are proud to be Americans! The 4th of July is Jeff's favorite holiday. About a month ago, we bought a flag, and it now proudly hangs on our house.


To celebrate the great freedoms, and blessings that come from living in America, we attended our ward's pancake breakfast where we saluted the flag, and then played Red Rover and football (can you guess who played what game?). Then we watched the Leon Valley Parade, and then we went to Canyon Lake with some great friends from our neighborhood/ward.


The weather was really awesome. Thanks to Hurricane Alex (actually Tropical Storm Alex) we have been treated with cooler weather, rain, and balmy breezes. It is still quite warm, but it was perfect for a day at a lake.
This is the megastation, which we were so grateful to borrow from our neighbors. It truly is awesome. It made the lake so much more fun! In the middle was a mesh lining that lets you be in the water without being in the lake. It is perfect for kids ( and adults).

We were going to go see some fireworks, but we ended up falling asleep instead! :)

Happy 4th of July to you!

rollercoaster

If you stay on the rollercoaster for the downs, you will eventually come back up. :)

A quick job update:

I am now back to full-time. A huge answer to prayers. I also am secured a full time position at the school for the fall.

Jeff (on top of full time school and a part time assistantship) is now working part time at a place called Telecare. He will get some really great clinical hours working with home bound people with severe mental disorders such as bi-polar, and schizophrenia. It will be a great experience for him.