A thankful heart

Tonight Clyde and I went to a concert by all the BYU choirs and the Philharmonic orchestra. It was filmed for later public television dates. The theme was, "A Pilgrim's Journey Home" to signify we are all pilgrims on the same journey through life and to our heavenly home. It was wonderful and moving. I loved it when the choirs filled up the sides of the DeJong concert hall and sang to us in surround sound - there was not room on the stage for everyone with the philharmonic too. One exciting moment came when we realized that Mack Wilberg of Tabernacle Choir fame was sitting two rows in front of us, just a few seats too far away to talk to him. I have wanted to tell him many times how much his music has touched me and enriched my life. He has a gift for arranging and on many many Sundays and other days I feel so uplifted and full of the spirit when I listen to the Tab choir. Even tonight I kind of wished I could go thank him, but we went out different doors on each side of the hall and I am sure he went to congratulate the BYU conductors. So a while later, after we had waited for Linda D. to figure out if Mikey needed a ride, we left the HFAC. Just as we approached the sidewalk by the ASB, there was Mack Wilberg! I didn't hesitate a second before I greeted him like an old friend and shook his hand and told him how MUCH I love his music and how it has enriched my life. We talked about how we were sad when he left BYU, but that now we get to hear much more of his music now that he is with the Choir. He was very gracious and humble and thankful for my thoughts. We waved goodbye as if we might see each other again as we went to our cars. It was a sweet moment in a very wonderful night.

70's Cousin's Dinner

I recently made a dish that we all used to make when we were in college. It was a big hit with the students at my office, so I decided to make the whole meal for cousin's dinner using recipes that were popular when I was in college. (the 70's)
Menu:
Tater Tot Casserole
Jello salad with a twist
green salad with croutons and Ranch dressing (Ranch was very new and 'in')
frozen peas and carrots
Rhodes rolls (also new and so convenient in the 70's)
chocolate cake and caramel swirled ice cream (Casey's request for his b/day cake)

The recipe:
Tater Tot Casserole
1 lb ground beef
1/2 onion, diced
1 can cream of chicken soup
1/2 can evaporated milk
1/2 bag tater tots, frozen
cook beef and onion (you can even add celery). Stir in soup and milk. Mix in tater tots and pour into 8x8 or 9x9 pan. Bake at 350 for 40 -55 minutes till bubbly

I made this a lot in college - it still tastes good!

Jello Salad with a twist
1 carton cottage cheese
1 carton cool whip
1 -2 can mandarin oranges, drained
1 small can pineapple tidbits, drained
1 small box orange jello
mix all together, place in fridge for 30 minutes.
Tasty and so easy. We all made this a lot also in the 70's cause it was fancy and fast.

Ready for spring

More snow today. I am not sure this all will melt by March 21, the first day of spring. It snowed all day AGAIN, today. We can barely see or reach our mailbox. Can you see it?
I am SO SO looking forward to warmer days and flowers.

UPDATE: There may be hope that the snow can melt after all! Casey, Cisco, and Ryan Nielson made a human size 'snow cave/tunnel' from the mail box to the sidewalk last night on Valentines Eve. When it does warm up there's already a bunch of snow that is gone!

The mighty tunnel diggers. And proud of it.

Mugs multiplied

I just wanted to document what I pulled out of my cupboard when I was cleaning up Christmas stuff. After 33 years of marriage, and the last 19 in Utah in one house, it seems that mugs multiply! Beware. I took at least half of these to DI, put the Christmas ones away for next year and only have 16 on my shelf - that is plenty!! There are more shelves that need a clutter diet.

Pizza party

We had a great time visiting with Emily and all the cousins last Wed. We made three kinds of pizza and now we must post the recipes. Sorry, no photos - we were too hungry and it disappeared before we even thought about the camera! I think I am going to make pizza again on Sunday!

CPK honey wheat pizza dough

1 t yeast

1 cup + 1 T warm water

1 cup bread flour

1 ½ cups whole wheat flour

1 T + 2 t honey

1 t kosher salt

1 T + 1 t EVolive oil

Dissolve yeast in water, add honey

In mixer, place 1 cup flour, salt, & 1T oil, add yeast

Mix 2 -3 minutes

Add remaining flour, mix till smooth

Oil a bowl, and place dough. Let rise 2 hours, then punch down and place in fridge over night or for 7 hours

2 hours before dinner, take out and cut in the size for pizza: 1 makes a 13” pizza, or 2 balls make 2 6” pizzas

Cover let rise till double, then roll out and dress the pizza. Can place dough on pizza stone that is hot, then toppings. Bake 400 for 10 – 20 minutes depending on toppings and if you precooked the crust.

CPK pizza sauce

1 15 oz tomato sauce

1 6 oz of paste

1 T oregano

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 t paprika

2 t basil

½ t sugar

½ t onion powder

Mix and heat over very low heat for 30 minutes

Goat Cheese and caramelized onion pizza

(Janice’s version of something she had at CPK)

1 CPK wheat crust/ dough

Red sauce

Caramelized onions

Red pepper, sautéed

Goat cheese

Chicken, cooked

Small amount mozzarella cheese

Caramelized onions

Cut two onions in thin slices.

Heat up 2 T olive oil or 3 T butter

Cook onions over low for 20 – 30 minutes, with a lid at first, then leave the lid off and watch and stir them often so they turn a bit brown, but do not burn. Low heat and patience are key here.

Layer in the order above, and bake at 400 for 15 – 20 minutes.

BBQ chicken pizza

This was basically Alicia's recipe off her food blog, except I used the CPK wheat crust.

precook chicken and chop, spread some Sweet Baby Ray's bbq sauce on the chicken.

spread more sauce on the crust, add diced chicken, caramelized onions, cooked red pepper, red onion slices, and mozzarella cheese. top with a sprinkle of fresh chopped cilantro.

Bake 400 for 15 minutes, depending on if you pre cooked the crust.

The third pizza was regular pizza with a deep pan crust . red sauce, pepperoni, green peppers, olives, mushrooms, and lots of mozzarella cheese. BE sure to pre-bake the crust for this one as it is thick.

Cousins Dinner recipes

Here's the recipe for January Cousins dinner! no photos, sorry. It was fun to see all of you, even Chuck who came later!

Meatloaf
2 eggs, beaten
11 oz V-8 juice
1/2 large onion, chopped fine
1 celery stalk, diced fine
1 1/4 cup seasoned bread crumbs or Pepperidge farms stuffing
1 envelop Lipton onion soup mix
1/4 t pepper
2 lbs ground beef, 12 % fat

meatloaf topping
1/4 c ketchup
1 1/2 T brown sugar
1 slight T mustard

combine eggs juice, onion, celery, bread crumbs soup mix and pepper. Crumble beef over mixture and mix well. Shape into a loaf and place on a cookie sheet or a 9 x 13 pan. bake uncovered for 45 - 50 minutes, then spread topping over and bake 15 minutes more. serves 8 large slices.

Baked potato topping
2 cups sour cream
3/4 cup margarine or butter, softened
1/3 - 1/2 cup green onions chopped
2 oz bacon bits
1 lb shredded cheese
mix together and serve with baked potatoes.
stores well for a week and is the slick way to serve baked potatoes.

Snow!

We have snow. A lot.

Some days it is just beautiful. Enunciates all the individual branches. But look at what is on our deck!
View from laundry room door - that's about 20 inches or more!

And Nicole, Chuck, and Erin are just now going sledding!!
Snow makes us crazy sometimes.

**update** snowed ALL DAY today. Saw a front loader clearing our street. Bring on the troops!