Thursday 30 August 2012

Eat Happy - The Folks Next Door

Well, this entire post is dedicated to Mrs. Jessalyn Romney, my next door neighbor and dear friend from Provo, who just happens to be an awesome new mom who makes just as awesome zucchini bread. And as a shameless plug, you should go over to her blog and check out the angel baby she produced - Miss Hayden Romney. Seriously, I got to stop by and hold this little thing in my arms when I was visiting Utah, and she has no flaws. As cute as can be!

Enough baby talk. Food. That's what we are here to discuss.

Michael and I enjoyed our two favorite things together tonight: sports and me making food while Michael watches sports! (sigh) We're perfect together.

After a tasty dinner of (you guessed it!) quinoa, I whipped up this vegetable dessert. Don't you love how you can take something that is almost negative calories and turn it into lots and lots of calories? It's like turning a frown upside down! Accentuating the positive! Making lemonade out of lemons!

Well, since you don't have a wonderful neighbor like Jess to drop this by after a long day at work, here's the recipe for you to make it yourself. Or you can give it to a neighbor and have them make it for you. Ha! By the way, I'm sorry to be plastering you're awesome recipe all over cyberspace, Jess. I have to share it. BUT anyone who wants this recipe has to go and check out your blog first. Those are the rules! They need to see cute Hayden.


Cinnamon Crusted Zucchini Bread

Directions:

1. Grease and flour two 8x4 inch pans and preheat oven to 325
2. Sift flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda and cinnamon together in a medium sized bowl.
3. Beat eggs, oil, sugar, and vanilla together in a larger bowl. Once they are mixed, stir in the flour mixture. Finally, stir in the zucchini. Pour into two pans and sprinkle on the topping.
4. Bake 40-50 minutes. Cool on a rack for at least 20 minutes (or eat immediately because you're like me, and the smell is too seductive!)

Ingredients
3 cups of flour
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
3 tsp cinnamon
3 eggs
1 c. vegetable oil
2 1/4 c. sugar
3 tsp. vanilla extract
2 c. grated zucchini

Topping aka best part!
2 T white sugar
2 T brown sugar
1/2 tsp. cinnamon





See? I told you we got to do our two favorite things tonight. Go Cougs and Mitt! Double win tonight.



Saturday 25 August 2012

August Rush Part Two

just a few more 
to keep you in the wedding spirit





to the right this is mandi's older sister
basically they are twins
we loved getting to know the burtons!
what a family



after the wedding at the Idaho Falls temple
we had pictures and cafe rio for lunch 
at a nearby park


just pretend michael is in the picture
poor guy was studying away 
and couldn't make the wedding because of law school





like i said, the burton family 
is spectacular
and they have pretty awesome grandkids too




happy endings

The August Rush

Holy Moly. It has been one heck of a month! Between moving back home, to traveling back to Utah for two weddings and a funeral (nope, not kidding. we were nearly living a movie title), to Michael starting law school without me!, to business trips to San Francisco, and now arriving back in San Clemente - phewf. We're alive.


And amidst all that craziness, this wedding was totally worth it. I am more than thrilled for Mandi and Kai. They are absolutely perfect for each other, and pulled of a spanking good wedding in less than a month. Now they are off to live in Philly were Mandi's studying away to be a physicians assistant. See you love birds at Christmas!

The Reception