* For the sauce: * 1 tablespoon Extra Virgin Olive Oil * 2 tablespoons butter, plus additional to coat dish * 12 button mushrooms, wiped clean and chopped * 2 tablespoons flour * 1 cup chicken stock * 1 cup whole milk or cream * 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg, freshly grated or ground * Salt and pepper * 1 pound broccoli florets * 1 pound extra wide egg noodles * 2 tablespoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil * 1 shallot, thinly sliced * 1 pound chicken tenders, diced * 1 tablespoon fresh thyme, about 4 sprigs, finely chopped * 1/3 cup dry white wine, eyeball it or chicken stock * 3/4 pound Gruyere or Swiss Emmentaler cheese, shredded * 3 tablespoons chives, 12 to 15 blades, chopped
Yields: 4 servings
Preparation:
Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Preheat a broiler.
Make the mushroom sauce: Heat a medium-size saucepot over medium heat. Add olive oil and the butter. When butter melts, add mushrooms and cook 5 minutes, until just tender. Sprinkle in the flour and cook for 1 minute. Whisk in the chicken stock, bring up to a bubble then stir in the milk or cream. Reduce heat to low and gently simmer. Season sauce with nutmeg, salt and pepper.
When the water is boiling, add some salt and the broccoli florets. Cook for 5 minutes, then sift out and reserve (don’t drain the water). Drop the egg noodles into the same boiling water and cook to al dente (not all the way done) according to package directions. Drain the noodles and return them to the hot pot. Add the creamy sauce to the pot and toss the noodles to coat.
To prepare the casserole, heat a nonstick skillet over medium-high heat with 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil. Add the shallots, cook for 1 minute then add the chicken. Cook until lightly browned all over and firm, 6-7 minutes. Season with the thyme, salt and pepper. Deglaze the pan with the wine or stock, reduce the heat to medium-low and let the liquid cook off.
To assemble, lightly coat a casserole dish with butter. Transfer the cream-of-mushroom noodles to the dish and top with the chicken, then the cooked broccoli and finally the shredded cheese. Place under the broiler until cheese is melted and bubbly, and golden brown at the edges. Garnish with chives and serve with a green salad alongside.
Today I found a nice recipe off Rachelray. It calls for a shallot. My first thought "What's a shallot?" I know, I don't get around much. But for those of you who are like me, daft, and wondering, here's your answer!
A member of the onion family, but formed more like garlic than onions. Shallots are favored for their mild onion flavor, and can be used in the same manner as onions. A shallot looks like a small, elongated onion with a copper, reddish, or gray skin. When peeled, shallots separate into into cloves like garlic. There are two main types of shallots: Jersey or "false" shallots (larger) and "true" shallots (more subtle flavor. Fresh green shallots are available in the spring and dry shallots (dry skin/moist flesh) are available year-round. Shallots come in three sizes – small, medium and jumbo (the least tasty). The younger (smaller) the shallot, the milder the taste. Do not confuse shallots with green onions or scallions.
plural: shallots
Season: April - August
How to select: Look for firm, dry bulbs, free from sprouts. They should be well covered with a papery skin and no sign or wrinkling or sprouting. Also available freeze-dried and dehydrated.
How to store: Store in a dry shallots in a cool, dry, well-ventilated place for a month or more. Fresh shallots should be refrigerated up to one week.
Substitutions: small white onions, though the flavor will not be quite the same.
People will do anything for an M&M! Why, I just think back on Lake Powell and all the fun we had in the water hoping Craig would throw us an M&M! You can chum people as well as fish with sugar!
Anna, has been reluctant to walk. She's no dummy! Why do something for yourself when you can get someone else to do it for you! I guess Craig decided to try the M&M principle with Anna. Just watch the video and it won't take you long to learn the worth of an M&M! Anna, you are so cute! Welcome to WALKING!
The other day I was headed to Deserey's piano lesson. We drive to Layton to the best piano teacher on the planet! She's taught all of my girls how to play the piano and having seen how she teaches, I can pick out one of her students just about any where I go. She has such a talent for teaching! Sorry, I can't talk about piano lessons without telling you about my really good friend "BethAnn Williams." She's the greatest person ever! So talented, I could listen to her play the piano all day, and she's been so much more to me than a piano teacher, she's been my life long friend and not just to me but to my girls as well!!! (I love you BethAnn!)
Ok, so now back to the real topic.
I can't remember what had gone on that day but I must have had a sour puss face because that's when Des started in. See, Deserey is my own personal entertainer! She's a party in a car! This girl loves to sing and I can't be in the car with her five seconds what she doesn't start up with her cute way of being! And if I'm down in the dumps at all, she'll reach over, tickle me while I'm tryin' to steer the car and immediately her fingers reach for the the volume knob, and up it goes! That's when the party starts!
The other day it didn't take her five seconds before she had me smiling and laughing! That's when I pulled out my new 3GS Iphone and captured this video. I thought the world should see what they're missing out on! Des, I love driving with you!!!!! Lets do it, lets do it, lets do it again!
Des took this picture with her phone while waiting for the doctor the other day. I suppose she sent it to all her friends --- proof evident that she's indeed contaminated with the dreaded Swine Flu.
As you can see by her face, she's a little annoyed! Actually it's the mask that's annoying her and not the nasty little virus.
When we first arrived at the clinic, the first thing the receptionist told us to do was to put on some masks. Des and I both reached into the box and each grabbed a mask. Mine was a little tight, but I got it on. That's when Des looked at me and fell into a fit of laughter. I had grabbed a child's mask and I was now sporting a little Mickey Mouse on my big fat face!
The receptionist saw me and immediately informed me, "Those are for the kids!"
"Yes, I just figured that out thank you!" I replied!
Some information is just gathered too slowly! Did I stress how stupid I felt.
Des got a real good laugh out of it, until the laughing turned into a coughing spasm.
"Serves you right," I told her!
Then I took pity on her came home and made her a big pot of homemade chicken noodle soup!
A week ago Des caught the Swine Flu. Now I have it also. Soon you are probably going to get it! Well, at least your chances of getting it are growing everyday. Why? Because there are major outbreaks of it all over Weber County. Schools being hit the worst include Plain City Elementary, Wahlquist, Rocky Mountain, Fremont and Weber High. Also the CDC now reports nearly 100 percent of all flu cases in America are the H1N1 virus, (Swine Flu.)
People ask, "What is the difference between the Swine flu and just the normal flu?"
The biggest difference is the duration of the symptoms and the time frame in which you are contagious! In regards to the duration. If you can get over this flu in a week then you should count yourself lucky, because the cough that accompanies this flu hangs on you like the worst winter in Utah! This flu also is unlike any other flu in that you can be contagious until you no longer symptomatic. Therefore if you are coughing, you could still be spreading the virus! That is what makes this virus a hard one to deal with. Like any other flu virus you can pass this virus onto other people a couple of days before you know you have it also.
After waking up with all of Deserey's symptoms, I decided to do a little research to find out more about this flu and thought this video was post worthy. I'm glad I found this out early because I was able to get on the drug "Tamiflu", and that has made all the difference. I'm only sorry I didn't find this information out soon enough for Deserey to benefit from it. She is going on her second week of being sick. And yes she is still coughing horribly!
I should note here that once you start the drug Tamiflu, you must finish the five days worth of prescribed pills before you are not contagious anymore! Also the most important information you need to know is that you must get on the drug within the first 24 hours, or it has little effect!
The Swine Flu is a contagious infection of the nose, throat, and lungs caused by the H1N1 virus. It was first spread from pigs to humans, but now it has adapted itself to be nicely passed from person to person.
This particular swine flu is different because it has so little genetic relationship with the flus we have experienced in recent decades. Our immune systems have never been exposed to it or anything similar, so we lack resistance to it. The most interesting thing I read though was how it strikes those with the most robust health the hardest. It kills people in their prime instead of killing the weak. The reason it kills the strong, the article said it assumed, that it produces an excessive immune reaction, and people die from the immune reaction rather than from the virus itself. This is what happened in 1918, but from the avian flu.
This flu often begins with a sore throat, sneezing, a fever, body aches, chills, and cold like symptoms. Both Des and I felt pressure in our heads and then the river of mucus began. I immediately started taking Claritin D. This helped immensely with the mucus build up. Somewhere between day 2 and day 4 of the illness, the "whole body" symptoms begin to subside, and the mucus takes up free room and board in your chest, and when that happens, good luck getting rid of it. Be prepared to deal with a dry hacking cough for a very long duration! Deserey is now on Steroids, an inhaler, and two different types of cough medicine. This flu can turn into Pneumonia so easily! It is a major respiratory infection!
This virus is not transmitted by food! You cannot get swine influenza from eating pork or pork products. Human-to-human transmission of this flu occurs in the same way as seasonal flu occurs in people, which is mainly person-to-person transmission through coughing or sneezing of people infected with the influenza virus. People also become infected by touching something with the flu virus on it and then touching their mouth, nose, or eyes.
Symptoms include: * Sneezing * Body aches * Chills * Dizziness * Flushed face * Headache * Lack of energy * Nausea * Vomiting
Other symptoms may include:
* Loss of appetite * Muscle aches and stiffness * Stuffy, congested nose * Sweating * Worsening of underlying illness, such as asthma or heart failure
TREATMENT:
GET TO THE DOCTOR WITHIN THE FIRST 24hrs!!! The drug Tamiflu is a great drug for treating this flu, but you must get on it within the first 24 hrs or it has little to no effect!
I was able to get on the drug within the first 12 hrs. therefore it never spread to my chest - I'm cough free! I'm still contagious until I finish all of the pills (five days worth) but I have very little symptoms left, other than being tired and a little nauseated from the meds. I'm still taking Claritin D, to control the mucus in my head, but the drug has helped me immensely!
Some helpful tips!
WASH YOUR HANDS OFTEN! CARRY HAND SANITIZER WITH YOU AND USE IT FREQUENTLY!
QUARANTINE THE INFECTED INDIVIDUAL TO A SINGLE ROOM! KEEP THEM AWAY FROM OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS!!!
WASH YOUR HANDS OFTEN! CARRY HAND SANITIZER WITH YOU AND USE IT FREQUENTLY!
MAKE SURE THE INDIVIDUAL WEARS A MASK! IF A MASK IS NOT AVAILABLE, COVER YOUR MOUTH WHEN YOU SNEEZE OR COUGH WITH A TISSUE THEN THROUGH THE TISSUE AWAY AND SANITIZE YOUR HANDS! This is so important!
WASH YOUR HANDS OFTEN! CARRY HAND SANITIZER WITH YOU AND USE IT FREQUENTLY! AVOID TOUCHING YOUR EYES, NOSE AND MOUTH. IF YOU DO HAVE TO BLOW YOUR NOSE OR WIPE YOUR NOSE THEN WASH YOUR HANDS FOLLOWING THIS.
STAY HOME WHEN YOU ARE SICK!!!! REMEMBER THIS FLU CAN SPREAD AS LONG AS YOU HAVE ANY SYMPTOMS!
WASH YOUR HANDS OFTEN! CARRY HAND SANITIZER WITH YOU AND USE IT FREQUENTLY!
(I guess you got the part about washing your hands frequently!) NUMBER 1 PREVENTION TIP!
PS, if you are wondering how long the virus can live on an object, The C.D.C. says some viruses and bacteria can live two hours or longer on cafeteria tables, doorknobs, desks and other surfaces.
There are few things that rival spending time with your grandchildren, especially when they arrive at an age where they can tell you everything about life from their point of view! Spencer is turning six today and I'm telling you our conversations now are profound, philosophical and down right inspiring!
When my grandkids turn around four years of age they get to go birthday shopping and to lunch with grams. As the kids get older, I want to stress, it just gets funner and funner. Yesterday was Spencer's turn. He couldn't wait and neither could I. I picked him up in the car and as we started to drive that's when the talking began.
Right off the bat, he said, "Nana, I just want you to know that mom and I already had the talk."
I immediately turned the radio down and my ears perked right up. Hum, I thought . . . I can't wait to hear what's coming next.
He went on to expound with his wisdom like mannerisms, as if he was a man with great knowledge! I was watching him in my rear view mirror and his body language was amazing.
Then I heard him say, "Well you see Nana, my mom told me that if you say no, I can't have something, then I am just going to say to you, that's ok Nana!"
He finished up his facts with, "So see Nana I already know, and now you don't gotta tell me!"
Now isn't that refreshing? I can't tell you how I wish some adults would clue into this kind of open honest verbalization! There was no beating around the bush. He just told me like it was and I had great clarity!
Our next course of conversation centered around how he wasn't going to take a long time to pick out what he wanted once we got to the toy store because he had made up his mind ahead of time to seriously take a look at the Ben Ten watches because his friend Jacob had one of those.
I've never had so much fun talking to a kid in my whole life. Kids are not like adults. Their faces light up with enthusiasm when they speak and they bubble all over the place with energy and a passion for loving life.
When we got in the store we headed straight for the Ben Ten isle and in about five minutes Spencer found his watch and spotted a star wars costume and that was it, the selection had been made. I was a little worried the costume wasn't going to fit until Em looked on the internet for me and found that the site said it was built more for fat kids! Exact terminology by the way. Well, Spencer isn't fat and he was ecstatic when he got home and the costume fit perfectly.
What a fun day! Spencer is totally unique just like every single one of my grandchildren. I love him so much. He is probably one of the most thoughtful kids I've ever met. I know I say this all the time but I've seen Spencer save treats and things for an entire weekend, because he wanted to share with his sisters or his niece. He is a great example of charity and he's only six.
Our final conversation today took place about his party he's having. He told me how we were all going to fat cats and that he could only take one friend.
"Only one huh", I said. Then I asked, "Well, are you going to take Jacob or Jet?"
"Nope," he said, "I'm going to take my best friend."
Well, I was under the impression those were his best friends, so being ultimately curious, I asked, "Well who is your best friend?"
"Seppy!" he quickly retorted as if I had straw for brains! And I need to explain, his face bore the biggest grin ever. His face clearly verbalized his idea that maybe I was an idiot for not knowing that.
Well, that just about did me in. My old eyes filled up with water and I was a little choked up to say the least. The remainder of the conversation was Spencer telling me why he loves Seth and why he's his very best friend.
I guess that's what I love about Spencer. It's these sweet little unassuming things that rest quietly inside this small boy and then when I least expect it they just sort of spill out all over the place warming my heart and making me smile! I just have to say, for only being six he sure has a lot of things figured out.
I hope you have a great birthday 'Roo'! You are one terrific kid and oh how we all love you! Happy Birthday bud!
Corbin couldn't wait to come over to our house on Saturday and see Deserey in her "Princess Dress!"
I can't believe I never thought to take his picture with her. You should have seen his face when he saw Des come down the stairs all pretty and pink. The look on his face was so sweet.
One day you'll grow up Corbin and ask a pretty girl to a big fancy dance. Brady Craft was Desi's date. He's an officer with Des at Fremont and a really good friend to her.
Homecoming is no small affair. The date started early in the morning with games and fun things to do throughout the day and then the guys brought the girls home in time to get ready for the big night.
With all the money that is spent on one dance, Des was so happy when she found golden slippers that matched her dress in Payless for six bucks! Her shoes were cheaper than her necklace!
Brady asked Deserey by putting candles all over the front yard with a note Des had to decode that read, "It would be the 'HIGHLIGHT' of my life if you'd go to Homecoming with me!" Desi answered back with more candles and a note that said "I'd be 'DELIGHTED' to go to homecoming with you!"
Kaedell decided after seeing Des in her beautiful dress us older more dignified woman are being cheated. We never get to play dress up anymore.
Caroline saw Desi's dress and immediately asked if she could try it on. That was fun!
Well Des, all I can say is you looked beautiful, just like a princess should!
A very special person, though she may not know it, sent this to me the other day. It really touched me and I was so thankful she took the time to be in tune! It reminded me of another day not long ago that I opened up my email and found a really great quote from yet another very good friend of mine. Thank goodness for such generous loving friends!!! Because of them I've actually seen the following quote displayed in my life so many times I cannot count. In fact I think I could say that daily, hour by hour I see these following words etched in my life! "God does indeed notice us, and He carefully watches over us. But it is usually through another person that He meets our needs."
I'm so glad that God's hands, His powerful loving heart, His infinite wisdom, His watchful eye, are so serenely visible to me every single day of my life because of those who take the time to heed that still small voice and act upon it's promptings. The reality of the above quote is true! It really is usually through another person that I see, I feel, I hear, and I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that my eternal Father is watching over me and that He loves me supremely! I am so thankful today that so many people respond to His call and come to rescue me at times in my life that seem a little tough!!! The funny part is most of the time they don't know they are providing a rescue! I am forever grateful for how God works in those around me!
Our own humanity is intimately bound up with our capacity to sense something of others' needs and feelings. It is in those moments when our inner most conscience calls to us, giving us the feeling to act upon a thought or an idea! I guess you could call it an inner feeling to help.
Our Father in Heaven always calls to our conscience with feelings and inner thoughts of how we ought to act, give understanding, and reach out to others in service. We might feel called upon to smile when someone passes, choose words carefully so someone might better understand what we're trying to say, help a child whose having trouble, send a note to someone we might sense needs our words, visit a person who's had a recent setback or who's simply lonely, or it might be as simple as to allow another driver to move into the flow of traffic. Whatever it might be we are ultimately called upon everyday by our Father in Heavens admonishments. He speaks to us in His quiet way, giving us a prompting, a call to help, to give love, and to rescue.
I have been the recipient many times of those who listened! I am so grateful today for people in my life who take the time to listen and act! Life has a way of knocking us down on the inside, beating on us unmercifully. Most days I open up the front door to life and see Satan's army standing there just waiting to attack. In fact I had one of those days just the other day when Satan was winning the war so to speak. That's when I opened up my FaceBook inbox and found this inspiring video.
Now to the person who sent this to me. I love you for it! I love you for listening! And what's more important I love you for following through! You are a great example to me! And to all of you out there who do the same, I'm so grateful! There's been so many times in my life where so many of you were an answer to a prayer and you didn't even know it!!! It truly inspires me, and I hope to live my life with your example in mind, so that I might do the same.
Enjoy this touching video. It's message is timely and profound, and so needed!
Ever wonder about Birthday's. For instance what month has the most births? According to ABC News in most recent years, August and September are the top months for births in the United States, according to federal statistics, August had the most total births every year from 1990 to 2002 except for four — 1992, 1993, 1997 and 1998 — when it was edged out by July, but September, a day shorter than July and August, averaged the most births per day over the period from 1990 to 2002." Maybe Christmas and New Year's celebrations have something to do with it!
Historically, did you know that in ancient times only kings and queens, emperors and other royal persons had birthdays? Nobody kept track of the citizens. Why? Because there were no calendars until 5000 years ago. So the Court Astrologer documented royal births by the stars.
On any given day in America, approximately 710,000 people celebrate their birthdays. Today Desi is one of those 710,000 people! I know I already posted her happy birthday wishes, but here it is the close of her special day and I just learned something. Today is Desi's "Golden Birthday!" Did you know about your "Golden Birthday" or are you like me, clueless? Your "Golden Birthday is when your age and the day of the month coincide. Today Desi turned 17 on her 17th birthday!
You only get one "Golden Birthday" in your life time. Here it is that special once in a lifetime day and I didn't even realize it until now. Oh, I'm so frustrated, why doesn't someone tell me these things earlier? According to info by Kaedell, you are suppose to get one present for every age you are turning on your "Golden Birthday", so Des should get 17 gifts. Hallmark even makes a card to celebrate it. Good grief!
I was feeling all bad about missing my own "Golden Birthday" but then I realized I would have turned 4 on the 4th and gotten 4 presents. I'm not feeling bad anymore! So now I'm curious has anyone celebrated their "Golden Birthday?"
Then there is your "Beddian Birthday." Your "Beddian Birthday" occurs when the age you are turning is the same as the last two digits of your birth year. This celebration is named for NYC firefighter, Bobby Beddia, who noted this coincidence days before he was killed in a seven-alarm blaze near Ground Zero.
My Beddian Birthday will occur when I turn 56! I'm really going to celebrate since I obviously missed my "Golden Birthday."Ya bring it on --- 56 GIFTS!!!!! Glade had his "Beddian Birthday" this year and he didn't even know it. Way to go - no gifts for you! And my children won't have their Beddian Birthday's until they are older than 77. Hope they live that long. Deserey is going to have to make it to the ripe old age of 92! Good luck with that, I'll be dead! For her 92 gifts, her kids can get her 1 new cane and 91 depends to celebrate! Well, I've had a good laugh tonight.
Hope you had a great "Golden Birthday" Des! I'm rushing out to get your 17 gifts now for your celebration on Sunday! I'm going to buy you 17 Hershey's Chocolate Kisses! Maybe I'll even get 17 Hershey's chocolate hugs to go with! HAPPY GOLDEN BIRTHDAY!!!
Last night I wandered into Deserey's room just before she fell asleep. I looked at the clock and told her she only had one final hour to be sweet sixteen. I was trying not to cry at the thought of how fast she is growing up and to avoid the tears I decided to seek verification as to whether or not she'd been kissed yet. I'll leave out all those sorted little details and move right back to emphasizing how much I hate the thought of Desi growing up.
I've always known the simple fact that I'm not anywhere close to the realm of "Normal." Normal people adjust relatively fast to their kids growing up, gaining independence and moving away from home. Not me! I love my children living with me. I love them right here at home under my roof where I can enjoy their company, their energy, and their zest for life.
Today my mind has been reminiscing on the past and thinking about just how fast the future becomes the past.
Desi, I still remember the spiritual promptings that came to me after Corbin's death. There I stood in my bedroom, holding that little white blessing dress I bought for him thinking he was going to be a girl. I can still remember that day so vividly! First there had been a baby, and then a funeral, and with tears in my eyes I pulled the beautiful ruffled dress from the closet knowing I had to return it. I will never forget the overwhelming emptiness that hung so heavy in my heart that day standing there all alone, arms empty, with no baby to bless. That's when I heard it, the voice in the middle of my grief. I will never forget that exact moment it spoke to my mind, so quiet, yet so powerful, "Don't take that back, it whispered. "You have a daughter yet to come that will wear that dress."
Now here I am, you are 17 years old and I'm standing in your bedroom looking at your homecoming dress hanging here all pink and pearl beaded for a little girl destined to be a Crowther! The only problem is you are not little anymore are you? Oh how God sends us tender mercies. You are living proof of His great love and watchful care over me. What a princess you'll be when you put on all those pearls and pink ruffles. Just like the day dad stood in church and held you in his arms. There you were, the cutest baby girl all wrapped up wearing her brother's beautiful white blessing dress. Your dad gave you your name, a name that was spiritually made known to us. It's meaning, Deserey: desired, longed for, a daughter fulfilled.
Now . . . I have no doubt that Saturday night Corbin will be standing right there with me in spirit when you come down the stairs looking oh so pretty, with those cream pearled butterflies stitched on your dress, your brown curls bouncing, and some cute boy nervously waiting at the bottom. Don't worry, I'll hold your brothers back! I've hid the shot gun shells! Hahahaha
Sometimes our greatest blessings follow our greatest trials. So it is with you Desi! You were born into a mighty circle of love, and you my dear are the final link that connects us all! I love you oh so much! We all love you, oh so much! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!
I'm a little behind in my blogging! Summer was crazy and I'm still trying to get caught up on a million things. But I had the nicest surprise one Sunday towards the first of August. I got a phone call and following that two really great people from Arizona stopped at my door.
Sometimes life just blesses you with new found friends. Thanks to Kelson and his mission I was able to meet Nora Taylor through the Guadalajara Missionary Mothers internet group. The funny part was that not long after meeting Nora in the MM group, I got a letter from Kelson stating that they had picked up some new Elders at the airport in Guadalajara and after reading Kelson's description of this nearly seven foot tall young elder, I came to discover it was Nora's son. Well, we've kept in touch ever since. Kelson has long come home but Jake, Nora's son is still serving, and doing an excellent job I might add.
I'm so glad I got to have that day with Nora and Wayne. They are the greatest people ever and Glade and I really enjoyed having dinner with them that day and just getting to know them better and being able to spend some personal time with them face to face.
As Nora and I have written back and forth there have been many times she's been an answer to my prayers and she tells me all the time that I have been the same to her. Isn't it amazing how God knows just what we need right when we need it, and even though we both live miles apart, He brought us together I know for some mutual support; a thing every missionary mom needs.
Thanks Nora for being such a great person and for being my friend! Hope you come to Utah again soon!
