Kitchen blunders makes for kitchen wonders

It's not very often that I make kitchen blunders.  I suppose it's because I am religious about following recipes. Even things that I have made dozens of times.  Yesterday I wanted to take some homemade chicken soup to a friend that was sick.  I know that this friend loves bread so I thought that it would be nice to make something to go with the soup.  I didn't have time for rolls that take time to rise but I thought I could whip up a batch of biscuits. I decided on a new recipe from a source that I trust and went to work. 

I knew it looked wrong, very wrong. But since I trusted this recipe source I went ahead and poured it onto the baking sheet.  Ten minutes later when I looked in the oven, this is what I saw.

I laughed out loud when I saw this.

They were cheddar cheese pancakes!

So I went with the theme and switched to a pan on top of the stove with a little bit of butter in it.

When the butter was melted and just about to turn color I gently poured my batter in and cooked them up.

After they were golden brown with crispy edges I brushed some melted garlic butter on the tops.

I never took a picture of the final product but it looked much better than what you see above. 

And they were tasty too.

I put a few on a plate for my friend and took them to her with some Chicken noodle soup.

And I decided that it was kind of nice to make a mistake and discover something new.

oh...

p.s.

The reason they turned out like that is because I filled my milk to the wrong line in this.

I don't like this...

You know what I don't like?

When you are really trying to do a good job at something and all that others see is the occasional blunders and mistakes that you make in life.  Why can't people be more positive and point out the good in others rather than always pointing out the mistakes?  If we would all give more praise in this world then maybe it would inspire all of us to be better people. It makes me want to drop-kick some people.

Amen.

Easter Spirit

You know how it feels in those final weeks before Christmas when you don't feel like you have the Christmas "Spirit"?  That is how I have felt the past week leading up to Easter.  My focus hasn't been what it should be, it hasn't been on the Savior.  So of course in those final days leading up to Easter I wasn't feeling it.  I was feeling like it was just going to be another Sunday. 

But then things changed.

Because I attended a funeral.

This funeral was for a girl who had been on Makenzie's ballroom dance team.  She was 18 when she passed away from liver cancer.  I went to the funeral out of support for Makenzie.  I didn't really know Risa all that well.  I had only spoken with her a couple of times.  But the impact her funeral had on me will remain with me for the rest of my life.  I am still in awe at  how an 18 year-old girl could teach me about what having a testimony of the Savior is.  Her funeral was not a telling of her life.  Rather it was the telling of her testimony of the Savior, Jesus Christ, His atonement, his resurrection and the life he led.  Her brother read from her journal and in-between passages the choir that she had been a part of would sing songs about what she had wrote about. All songs about Jesus Christ.  I was moved to tears during most of it. 

So when I woke up on Sunday morning I was very grateful for having attended Risa's funeral. I was grateful to her, and the example she set for me. I paid closer attention during church and listened more intently to the words that were reverently spoken about my Savior.  And my Easter was wonderful.

Thank you, Risa.

Making important decisions

Today I read this from food blog, "17 And Baking". 

I cried.

I was so genuinely happy for her and also a tad bit envious at the same time.  If there was a time in my life I wish I could do over it would be from age 22-24.  After getting home from my mission I think I was anxious to define myself.  I had been a missionary for 18 months, a role I loved, one I didn't want to leave behind.  And when I got home I was left thinking, what now?  I mean, I had a boyfriend I was waiting for while he completed his mission but other than that I did not have a clue of what I was doing.  I jumped into school because that's what you do.  And that was all fine until I ended up at BYU.  From there I made choices in my education that to this day I wonder if I should have done differently.  I've often thought it's a little unfair to expect young 20 year-olds to know what they want to do for the rest of their lives. 

So this blog post by Elissa made me so happy for her. So happy that she is young and figuring out what path she should take. 

She is already very talented.  Those of us that have been reading her blog for a while know this. And it's good to have direction, congratulations, Elissa.



Heidi's 11 year-old Birthday Interview

What is your favorite TV show?  Good Luck Charlie

What is your favorite movie?  Despicable Me

What is your favorite color?  Light green or dark blue

What is your favorite food? Chili

What is your favorite thing to do with mom?  Shopping


What is your favorite thing to do with dad?  I like to go to his work

What is your favorite thing to do with your sisters?  Playing

What do you want to be when you grow up?  Cheerleader


Do you have a favorite friend?  Sidney & Eliza

What is your favorite thing to do when you are not at home?  I like to go swimming in the summer and I like to do cheerleading.

What is your favorite toy or thing?  iPod
  
What is your favorite book?  Fairest

What is your favorite animal?  Lion

Do you want to go on a mission?  Yes

Do you want kids?  Yes

What's hard to do? Math

What have you learned from your Primary teachers this year?   Respect others

What do you love to do?  Hang out with friends

I am blessed to know you. I have learned a lot from you in this past year.  I have never seen a girl your age be able to withstand peer pressure like you can.  You are never one to "follow the crowd" if it something that is wrong.  I love that you stand up for those that are being picked on.  People want to be your friend and for good reason, you treat them with respect and love.  I know it was hard to have one of your closest friends move away this year.  You are a great cheerleader and dancer and take it very seriously.  Work hard at developing your talents.  I can't believe you will be in middle school next year.  I know you are going to do great things in the years to come!

Love,

Mom

P.S. I love your magenta streaks in your hair! 

First Date

This past weekend was the Pioneer Heritage Academy formal dance.  Makenzie went last year and had a great time.  This year, since she was 16, and old enough to date she wanted to go with a date.  She asked Ashton Hamm to go to the dance with her and then he suggested they go to dinner as well.  Woah, a full-fledged date was on the horizon.  Her and her friend, Mica, planned the evening.  It started three weeks in advance with shopping for dresses.  Then the night before the dance they had a "dress rehearsal" where they put their dresses and make-up on and made sure they all looked okay.  Then the day of the dance they got together and did each other's hair and make-up and made the boy's boutinneires.  When the boys arrived they went to Red Robin for dinner and then on to the dance.  Here are some pictures of the evening.

Makenzie had a great time. This next weekend is the Priest/Laurel prom for our church. I know she wishes that someone would ask her to go. And i have to say that I'm a little disappointed that no one has.  I mean, hello, she is gorgeous.  Why would they NOT want to ask her?  But I am a little biased I guess!  I think she is going to go without a date which I think is a great idea. And the great thing?  There will be very few people at this upcoming dance that were at the last one so she is planning on wearing the same dress!

Stuck Like Glue

Since the first time I heard the song, Stuck Like Glue from Sugarland I loved it. I remember exactly where I was the first time I heard it.  Driving in the car at the intersection of Murray and Farmington Road with the 7-11 on my right.  When the Reggae part started to the song I sat there, driving, mesmerized, thinking, what the heck?  But a huge smile spread across my face. Leave it to Sugarland to do something totally unexpected but that works.

Fast forward 4 months later and I'm cooking in my kitchen with GAC on the TV in the other room.  It's been on a lot for the past 5 days.  Ever since I talked the Mr. into getting cable in order to watch General Conference this past weekend.  We only get it for 30 days and then we are shutting it back off.  So that means I have to watch a lot of country music videos in order to get caught up!  Anyway, I'm stirring at the stove and I hear Stuck Like Glue come on.  I have never seen this video so I peek around the corner to watch.  Once again Mes-mer-ized!  Love this video!

And of course I can't help but think of my best friend Merilee and our many concert going trips to see this hunk of a guy.  I think we went to 3 of his concerts in a 12 month period once.   A little obsessed?  Maybe.  We once snuck through a gate and fence in order to hang outside his tour bus and wait for him to come out. He did and although our encounter with him was a little disappointing (i guess we thought he'd invite us to stay for awhile and hang out) we were thrilled with our bravery and actually getting a picture with him.  I wish I could find the picture. I've been looking.

Here is a picture of Merilee and I.  Two more days until I get to see her!