Family Fun

This last weekend, we had the grand opportunity to attend two (2!) reunions.

I'll give you a moment to get your envy under control.

Are we good?  Good.

First up was the annual Hadlock family reunion.  If you'll remember, last year, someone invited the blood bank and then forgot to mention it to most everyone.

I refer it to Vampires at our BBQ.

This year, there was no such thing.  It was pretty normal, actually.  Some funny incidents:

(a) Each family group is in charge of their own food.  Every year, we do a deli sandwich spread and the kids fill in the details.  Wade and I usually bring chips.  Wade's sister brings fruit and Wade's younger brother brings dessert.  This year, Wade's younger brother wasn't going to be up there until after work and Wade's other brother and sister were coming. They haven't been there for a couple of years.  So, when I called Wade's dad on Thursday afternoon to see what kind of Cheetos he wanted, he mentioned I should also bring cookies.  Oh, and those little brownie bites.  I picked up 36 cookies and a thing of brownie bites from Costco.

As did Wade's sisters and his mom.  So we had 126 cookies.  For 7 adults.

Where did the communication barrier break down?  Apparently, Wade's dad told us ALL to bring cookies.

(b) Grandma is pushing 90 this year.  She's starting to go downhill and inevitably, the talk turned to what to do once she goes.  Wade's uncle was contemplating ending the reunion once Grandma is gone.

What?  Am I not allowed to associate with you people once she goes?  Is she our ONLY common bond?

On second thought...maybe she is?

(c) This particular incident is only somewhat funny because it wasn't me.  Wade's brother and his wife are expecting their third kid in less than a month.  They showed up late in the afternoon, stepped out of the vehicle and promptly locked and shut the doors--with the keys inside.  So Wade's brother had to get a ride down to Lehi and get their spare key and then head back--about an hour and a half round trip.  I thought my SIL took it pretty well.  If it would've been me, there definitely would've been some tears and a few swear words and I would've been the one to drive home for the key.  And taken an hour long bubble bath before heading back.  Hitting Cafe Rio on the way.  I guess that's why I have two kids 4 years apart, and they're on their third kid in 3 years.

As I was watching her chase her two younger ones, I was reminded at how glad I am to NOT BE pregnant right now.

See?  Not a whole lot going on this year.

The next day, we headed up to Downey, Idaho for the Woodland family reunion/Grandma's 90th birthday party.  I wasn't sure what to expect.  We showed up and it was a completely different reunion experience.  For example, Wade's family allows the reunion to happen around them, soaking in each moment from their camp chairs.  There are no scheduled activities.  Dinnertime is whenever.  A few games scattered during the day.  Visit with who you want.  Take a nap.  Read a book.  Whatever.

My family would be the complete opposite.  The party started at noon.  We were able to chat with cousins and aunts and uncles for awhile, but then the potluck lunch was served.  During lunch we played a rousing game of Jeopardy with questions/answers pertaining to Grandma's life.  After lunch we played a game of Jumble, grandma's favorite game from the newspaper.  My sister-in-law and I were able to get every word. Then it was off on a treasure hunt through the little town of Downey (population 610).  It was there that I saw these two postings:

At the tennis courts.  Make sure you keep your horses off dangit!

At the rodeo grounds.  Is there a huge market for a combined Rodeo/Bible camp?  Is the Lord riding with you on that horse?  How about if you take your horse on the tennis court?

We went around the town and saw the Senior Citizen Center where Grandma eats lunch twice a week and does her Fit and Fallproof class every morning at 8 am.  And then over to the war memorial they just put up.  Both my grandma and my grandpa served in WWII.  (Grandma was a nurse).

Then we went to the hospital that my grandma worked at for years.  Then back to the park where grandma was waiting for us.  We had to make up a birthday song for her and sing it and the pose for a group shot.

We sang a song from Primary.  Apparently, we all failed primary because we couldn't remember the words.

After everyone returned from the treasure hunt, we played another game about grandma's life.  We had to dress up in costumes.  I swear I took a picture of Wade in his fairy wings but somehow it disappeared off the camera.

Which is a shame because that picture would've come in handy.

He gave the wings to Josh for this lovely group shot:

Then it was time for cake and ice cream and cotton candy (thanks to the machine that Wade's dad bought for the Hadlock family reunion: reason #1 the Hadlock family reunion must continue on after Grandma is gone) and some more chatting and then everyone packed up and left.

It was jam-packed and a completely different experience than the Hadlock reunion.  But it was A LOT of fun too.  I was able to get caught up with some cousins who are into running and triathlons.

Both reunions were fun, but I'm glad their annual events and not weekly events.

What's For Dinner Wednesday--Cafe Rio Salad (homemade)

Note:  I made my second batch of yogurt yesterday and have some more tips: I bought 100 coffee filters for $3 and those worked a lot better than cheesecloth.  Plus, they were A LOT cheaper.  Just use one filter in a strainer when draining the yogurt.  Also, I let it drain for 2 1/2 hours.  That thickened it up big time. 

Okay, for my friend, Em, who's in Germany, I made the Cafe Rio Salad.  I hope that (a) she likes Cafe Rio salads.  I don't think I asked her.  And (b) she can find the ingredients.

Salad
Romaine lettuce.  This was the best lettuce to use, plus leftover leaves make a great lettuce wrap for lunch the next day.  I just put veggies, bacon bits, cheese, a dallop of salad dressing and sunflower seeds, fold it up and yum.

This pork and rice.  I squirted some lime juice in the rice to give it a kick. 

Black beans. (or pinto beans.  Whatever you fancy).

Cheese, if you please.

Salad Dressing
homemade ranch dressing packet (get the packet from the store and mix it with milk or mayonnaise.  I used mayonnaise because it's thicker then I put it in the refrigerator to let it set up for a little bit.)

1 jalapeno (don't scrape the seeds out with your thumb and then rub your ear/nose/mouth/eyes or it will burn for DAYS, or so I've been told).

2 tomatillos (they look like little baby green tomatoes wrapped in paper.)

a sprig of cilantro (I don't really like cilantro, so I used very little)

Juice from one lime

Mix everything in the blender, then Viola!  There you have it.

*Clarification: Mix everything for the salad dressing NOT the salad in the blender.  If you put the stuff for the salad in the blender then you'll get something less than Viola!

I cooked up a tortilla and melted cheese on it.  Then I put it in an oven proof glass bowl and baked it for a little bit do it'd hold it's shape.  Then I layered the salad with the rice on the bottom, the sweet pork, the greens, beans and cheese.  Then drizzled the salad dressing on top.

Oh and I made those cool crispy things, but they didn't turn out as good as Cafe Rios.  I need to work on those.

So, overall, very tasty.  Maybe not EXACTLY like Cafe Rio's, but really, really close and will get you by if, say, you're in a foreign country whose menus rely heavily on bratwursts and sauerkraut.

The End

Due to some turn of events and patience on our part, today, we were thisclose to putting an offer on our dream house.

Yes, the very one that we've been pining over for 18 months.

We had the prequalification papers in hand. We had our realtor ready to call the house's realtor. And then we decided we better be sure.  So we popped up there for one more look.

And found that all the appliances were taken out and someone had cut the air conditioner unit pipes, stripped the copper, and taken the condenser from outside.  Amounting to about $5000 we would have to ante up to just move in.  Plus, the bathroom's tub faucet was leaking, causing some serious damage to the tub.

Also, we were taking a HUGE risk, because we were going to do all this BEFORE putting our current house on the market since a "contingency" offer was not available. Which meant that we would be carrying two mortgages until we could sell this house.  Which could be a while.  While doable, this would certainly stretch us and completely put us under if there was an emergency.

And, I don't know if I've mentioned this or not, but we are poised to have this house paid for, in the clear, in like five years.  Which would then open us up to some serious homes.

So what have we learned?  Well, (a) We definitely want to stay out here.  We aren't planning on moving back to Salt Lake (sorry family) and (b) it pays to be patient.  But sometimes not how you intend.  

When we left this evening, I knew I was looking at it for the last time.  It just didn't feel like "home" once it was actually attainable.  The view is incredible.  And the house is still really nice.  Just not for us.  Am I disappointed?  Sure.  But I'll get over it.  Especially when I'm not making all my own bread and eating beans for dinner because we overstretched ourselves.  

So I guess it really is the end.  Funny how things work out.

What's For Dinner Wednesday--Stovetop Macaroni and Cheese

Today, with my lovingly, amazingly, wonderful mother, I canned for the FIRST time.  And I have to say, I'm pretty proud of myself.  We made 17 jars of salsa and I cut up 4 jalepenos without gloves and managed to burn every orifice on my face.  Multiple times.


In any case, tomorrow, I will be attempting a coconut cream pie and a virgin pina colada, thanks to two coconuts I have sitting on my counter.  And a Cafe Rio Salad for my friend, Emily, who is in Germany and undergoing serious Cafe Rio withdrawals.  I'm going to perfect it--and it's salad dressing--for next week's new recipe.  


I know.  It's like some domestic alien has completely taken over my body and I have no control.  Every morning, I wake up and wonder what new thing I can do in the kitchen.  Like Frozen Key Lime Pie.  Key Lime Pie is my FAVORITE food ever.


But, today, you just get plain old boring Mac and Cheese from the Weight Watcher cookbook:


2 1/4 C elbow macaroni
1 C fat free milk (I used mine up in the yogurt-making process, so I had to go with 1%.  I think there's only a 20 calorie difference, but obviously, more fat.)
3/4 C shredded sharp cheddar cheese
3/4 C shredded Monterey Jack cheese
1/3 C shredded American cheese (something tells me this isn't the Kraft singles that I had bought for the recipe)
1/3 C shredded Mozzarella cheese
1/2 tsp ground white pepper

1.  Cook the macaroni according to package directions.  Drain and return to the pot.

2.  Add the milk, cheddar, Monterey Jack, American cheese, Mozzarella and pepper.  Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until the cheeses melt, about 5 minutes.
_________________________________

This was a really quick meal that was pretty decent.  I didn't have any sharp cheddar cheese and I think it would've spruced it up a bit, but overall it was a good meal.  I served it with fresh green beans (my favorite) and sourdough bread.  Much better than the yellow death kind from a box.

Nutritional Information:
Serving Size: generous 1 cup
Calories: 299
Fat: 9 g
Sat. Fat: 5 g
Cholesterol: 30 mg
Sodium: 353 mg
Carbohydrates: 35 g
Fiber: 1 g
Protein: 18 g
Calcium: 402 mg
WW Points: 7

A Name Change is in Order

Last week I was looking over the things that needed to be put in order to begin training for the marathon.

(These things require more than just running, folks!)

So, I started thinking that nearly every morning after I run, I make a smoothie using a 6 oz carton of Greek Yogurt, 2 cups of frozen Costco fruit, 1/4 C of orange juice (to sweeten it) and 1 tsp of chia seeds.  It's about 240 calories and has close to 17 grams of protein, a much needed boost for recovery after hard workouts.

Blah, blah, blah.

The point being, that at $1 a pop for the yogurt, these suckers were getting expensive.  So I started looking around on the internet...

(Sidenote: how did we ever survive without the internet?)

And lo and behold, you can MAKE yogurt YOURSELF.

I know.  Who knew?

After looking at a few sites, I decided "really, how hard could this be?" So taking the website with the most details (I need step by step directions.  I'm not completely reformed.  Just semi) I bought the ingredients.  Which amounted to one half gallon jug of skim milk ($1.54), one carton of greek yogurt as a starter ($1) and dry milk (Free since it was in my food storage.  But this is the most expensive upfront at $7.62.  But one box will make about 30 batches worth of yogurt. So for mine yesterday, dry milk would have been about 25 cents.)  I also bought a digital thermometer because they're cool and I've needed one for some other recipes.

To recap, my investment in ingredients is $2.79.  After this batch, I can use some of it as a starter for the next batch, so really, $1.50 because I already have a bunch of dry milk in the basement.

I'm sure some of you are like "Yeah, $1.50, but how HARD is it to make yogurt?"  And I'm serious.  If I did it, you can do it too.

1.  Pour the milk in a glass microwaveable dish.  Microwave on high for 15-20 minutes  (Mine was 20 minutes.  The website I was looking at was 17 minutes) or until the milk reaches a temperature between 175 and 180 degrees.  Stir every five minutes so a skin doesn't form over top.

2.  Stir well and let cool until it's between 110-120 degrees.  (about 30-45 minutes)

3. Add in 1/4-1/2 C nonfat dry milk and 1-2 tsp already prepared yogurt as a starter.

4.  Heat oven for 1 minute.  Turn off. Cover glass dish and wrap a towel around the container.  Place in oven.  Turn on oven light.

5. Let sit for 6-10 hours until set.  You'll know it's set because it really does look like yogurt.  I checked mine at 7 hours and it was set.  But I'll probably let it set longer next time.  I would suggest just leaving it in overnight (start making the yogurt about an hour or hour and a half before bedtime).

6.  To make it greek style, strain it through a colander with several layers of cheesecloth lining it.  This will make it thicker than regular yogurt.   I don't know how long to let it drain.  Just until it's a consistency you like.  I didn't let mine drain long enough because I was tired and wanted to go to bed.  But it still tastes good.

The hardest part about this is just how much time you're waiting around.  But I made about 36 oz, so enough for an entire week of post hard workout recovery drinks.

The nutritional breakdown:

Serving Size: 6 oz
Calories: 90
Fat: 0
Cholesterol: 0
Sodium: 65 mg
Carbohydrates: 7 g
Fiber: 0
Sugar: 7 g
Protein: 15 g

So, referencing the title of today's post, if I've just made my own yogurt, I don't think I can be referred to as undomestically geeky any longer.  So now, I'm semi-undomestically geeky.  One day, I'll be domesticated and will then just be referred to as geeky.  But I have a ways to go before that.

Tomorrow--homemade canned salsa.  Watch out! I'm on a roll people!

Amending Thoughts and Tidbits

• I put my writing up on my sidebar. And I told you all about it here.  But then I left out the part where I say that when I finish, I'm going to take it down (delete the website), revise it (because you're only seeing the rough draft) and then probably stuff it in the closet (what?????).  Isn't that what all great authors do? :)  So, for those who are questioning why I would put it out there for all to see, know that it's not the finished product.
• I'm sorry.  I'm just not a big fan of the rain.  I've tried to be.  But I'm not.  I don't particularly like to be wet unless that's what I'm aiming for.  And I HATE being cold.
• This second kid thing has totally cramped my style.  Where I use to be able to get through one or two books A WEEK, I'm barely getting through one a month.  Geez...
• Of course, we did finish our basement and put in that awesome theater around the same time, so maybe it's not the kid's fault, maybe it's Wade's.
• I haven't talked about Toastmaster's for a long time.  I had an interesting experience a few weeks back and I meant to vent here, but I never did.  Anyways, Toastmaster's is going good.  Wade was all excited that since it was the end of the Toastmaster year and I wouldn't be an officer anymore, that I was done with Toastmasters.  Sad.  But really, I see myself staying with Toastmasters for as long as I *need* the adult interaction.  I genuinely like it.  I don't expect him to understand.  But I understand.
• J. started asking questions like "how does a baby come out" and other personal questions this morning.  It freaked me out!  I'm not ready for this!  Go back to "why is the sky blue" please!
• I start training for the St. George Marathon tomorrow.  I have it all written down on paper, but knowing now what I know about marathons, I'm still a little scared to do it all again.  I'm just hoping that my training is a little smarter this go round.
• Chocolate covered gummy bears are not nearly as good as chocolate covered cinnamon bears
• Church is still true, even if you let us go five minutes early.  There is no need to stretch it out until exactly 2:00.  I'm just sayin'. 

Eek!

If you look to the sidebar, underneath the heading "about me" there is a new one called "tales from the driveway".  This is the book I'm writing.

Eek.

It's up there for all to see.

Eek.

(I'm a little scared.  Can you tell?)

Some things:

* Don't steal my book or I will hunt you down and bite your toes off.

No serious.  I will.

* This book is about no one particular yet about everyone I know simultaneously.  What does this mean?  It means that you may recognize certain elements.  But that DOES NOT mean that the character is how I view you.  It just means that I took a little of you and a little of my sister in law and a little of my mom and a little of me (probably a lot of me) and a little of my neighbors and some friends from high school and college and put them all nicely into different characters.  So PLEASE do not get offended if you feel like I'm portraying "you" as some white trash ho from down the street.  Because I'm not.  No single person in this book is even represented 100%--or even 50%--from real life.  And I don't associate with ho's anyway, so there are no ho's in my book.  And there are no vampires either.

(Sidenote: I'm pretty sure I've never written the word ho down, let alone used it in normal conversation.  Who have I become?)

* Let me reiterate.  This book has no one that I know in it.

*Yes, Wade.  That means you.

*Go easy.  It's the first draft of the first chapter.  It's rough.  I know it is.  Be gentle.  Smooth it out and see if perhaps there's some shine in there.

Eek.