Food Blogs

Today I am home nursing to health a sick daughter. While in the act of comforting her fevered brow, I happened upon a new food blog named Smitten Kitchen, found at the url of the same name. I found this new food blog through one of my favorites - The Pioneer Woman. What is it about food and pictures of food and experiences with food that draws me in like a moth to a light? I dunno.

I love looking at the creation photos (this seems to be the latest and greatest - documenting in photos the process of cooking) and most importantly - I like getting new ideas for meals to grace my own kitchen table. Meals such as tortilla de patatas and huevos rancheros. Or perhaps I will surprise my family with a little something from the Pioneer Woman, such as her much acclaimed "The Best Chocolate Sheet Cake....Ever!" But whatever I may fancy, I know it will be good because, I mean if they say it is "The best chocolate sheet cake...ever!" then it is!

Look for more of my favorite food blogs on the right and I will see you at the gym!

What Skyler learned in Church

Yesterday, Easter Sunday, Toby asked Skyler what he learned in his primary class. Skyler replied, "I learned about erection from the lady with the purple boots." Man, I love little kids!

Talents

I love to cook. I love to collect recipes. I have to visit the gym 3-4 times per week, but I will make the sacrifice to continue these hobbies.

During my time on Facebook, I was able to visit old friends, see their pictures and admire the contributions they were making to society. However, along with this admiration came envy. I became so envious of my "friends" talents that I forgot that I had any that would be noteworthy. I mean what is so fantastic about cooking and collecting delicious, decadent, and dreamy recipes.

Well, let me tell you - I can whip out tasty and nutritious meals with minimal ingredients and no recipe in sight. I can bake my own bread that is actually eaten and enjoyed - even when room temperature without butter, honey or jam.

I just love knowing what to do with food. Knowing how to cook it, season it, preserve it. Sometimes I feel like a magician - most of the time magic occurs - sometimes I flop. But nonetheless, I love the look on people's faces when they are enjoying the fruits of my labors and talents. So thank you talent fairy for bestowing this gift upon me. I love it and will continue to make good use of this fantastic noteworthy gift.

Things I love about Spring

Yesterday as I was driving home from the cannery, I drove past a few of the remaining orchards in Orem. The orchards made me smile. Why? Because they had been recently prunned and that means there will be fruit coming from those trees. I was just so happy to see these trees ready for their swollen buds to burst forth into billowy, blushing blossoms.

Have you ever driven past orchards in bloom? When we lived in Sonora, CA, we would make the trip to Modesto for our greater shopping needs and would have the pleasure to drive through the almond and walnut orchards. I am sure there were peach and other stone fruit trees along the way. I would roll the window down and deeply inhale. Ahh, complete sensory delight.

So, thank you orchard owners for keeping your trees alive and for taking care of their needs. I will be paying your fruit stands a visit in a couple of months for your sweet cherries, juicy peaches and nectarines, plums and finally apples and pears.