Old 'n Bloggin': And Winter Came . . .

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

And Winter Came . . .

View off the back deck looking southwest.

On Sunday, Dec. 7th it was about sixty degrees and the sun was shining brightly. It looked more like October than December. Great day for a brisk walk up the mountain (which Scott and Rachel did). Monday, we woke up to cold drizzling rain which quickly turned to snow. This morning we woke up to a dazzling winter landscape . . . bright sunshine and very cold temperatures. All of you who know me know that I love a little drama in the weather and I definitely got it yesterday! I have to admit, however, that I'm very sad to see the gorgeous fall landscape disappear. Change in the weather is, of course, inevitable just as change in our lives is. I guess the trick is to be open to the beauty in each season

Brent and Annie and I are looking forward to a Christmas trip to Minnesota this year (where they have some REAL winter). It will be fun to spend Christmas with little ones who are still wide eyed about Santa and Rudolph, etc.

Brent attempting a G.Q. pose against the wreathed "rameumptom". When we built our house and I saw our mailbox for the first time I was absolutely horrified by how big and towering it was. The first word that came to my mind was presumptuous and the second was rameumptom! And thus it was that it became known, to all the people of the house of Hale, as the Rameumptom. And I lie not.

6 comments:

Steve and Kalli said...: Hey mom, I have been loving all of your posts lately! Someday... like next week I will have time (i think) to make a new post! Anyways Steve and I are jealous are the season changes you get to see in utah! Today was finally the first day that was able to wear and sweater and walk outside and feel chilly! We miss you and can't wait to see you soon!; December 9, 2008 at 3:18 PM
Chrissy said...: Hey Sandra, I found you! It's fun to see how well all of your family is doing. Also, anyone I've mentioned it to thinks that Old n' Bloggin' would be an awesome title for a blog. If you don't snatch it up, someone else probably will. Thanks for helping take care of Mom and Dad, it is all very appreciated.; December 10, 2008 at 1:10 AM
Haley Hale said...: Thank you for posting some Utah snow pictures. Winter just isn't winter without snow anymore. I am finding it hard to get totally in the Christmas spirit without cold and snow. One day we will be back. Mark my words!; December 10, 2008 at 9:14 AM
Hale-O There said...: I'm with chrissy old n' bloggn fits;)
ps i do know how to get into your blog account maybe I'll change it!; December 10, 2008 at 10:16 PM
The Walkers said...: Love the GQ pose.; December 11, 2008 at 8:51 PM
Emily Hartvigsen said...: Oh Sandra! This is Emily Ancell, in case you didn't know my married name. I'm so glad I found your blog (through a round about way I came across it)! How have you been? You're looking great. If you want to visit our blog it's at: www.hartvigsens.blogspot.com
I'd love to hear from you. :); December 12, 2008 at 5:46 PM

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Chocolate Bundt Cake Recipe (tastiest I've ever eaten)

1 chocolate cake mix (devil's food is great)
1 large package instant chocolate pudding
4 eggs
1 1/2 cups water
1/2 cup oil
Beat above ingredients together and sitr in 1 cup chocolate chips. Spread batter into greased bundt pan and bake at 350 degrees for 50 minutes.
Mix together 3/4 cup butter, 3/4 cup sugar and 1/2 cup water in small saucepan. Boil together for 1 minute and pour over warm cake (still in pan). Cool for 20 minutes and invert on plate. This cake is chocolately, carmelly, gooey and altogether decadent. Possibly it should be illegal!

Bacon Wrapped Water Chestnut Appetizer

Molten Lava Chocolate Cakes

4 squares Baker's semi-sweet baking chocolate
1/2 cup butter
1 cup powdered sugar
2 eggs
2 egg yolks
6 Tbsp. flour

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Butter 4 (3/4 cup) custard cups or ramekin dishes (or use Pam). Place on baking sheet.
Microwave chocolate and butter in large microwaveable bowl on HIGH 1 minute or until butter is melted. Stir until chocolate is completely melted. Stir in sugar until well blended. Whisk in eggs and egg yolks. Stir in flour. Divide batter between prepared cups.
Bake 13-15 minutes or until sides are firm but centers are soft. Let stand 1 minute. Carefully run a small knife around cakes to loosen. Invert cakes onto dessert dishes. Serve immediately with ice cream, whipped cream, berries or whatever you like. Thanks for the recipe, LaVerna.

Island Salsa

2 large tomatoes or 4 Roma tomatoes
1 mango (use bottled mango if you can't find fresh)
2 kiwis
1/2 cup each of three different colors of bell peppers
1/2 cup red onion or sweet onion
2-3 tomatillos
1 jalapeno (seed it if you don't like the heat)

Dice above ingredients (small pieces) then add:

2 T. lime juice
1/4 cup chopped cilantro
1/2 tsp. cumin
salt to taste (maybe 1/2 tsp.)
pepper to taste

Mix all together. Let the flavors blend for awhile before serving with tortillas chips of your choice. I really like the blue corn tortilla chips with this. Thanks for the recipe Jenette.

Greek Pasta Salad

12 oz. of rotini or small shell pasta, cooked, drained, cooled
3 or 4 cucumbers cut in chunks
1 cup or more cherry tomatoes
1/2 chopped sweet onion
2 or 3 bell peppers, chopped (red, yellow, orange whatever)
1 cup or so of small black olives (if you want authentic Greek, use Kalamata olives. I dislike ALL olives but how can you make a Greek salad without olives!?)
1 cup or more crumbled Feta cheese (I love the stuff they sell at Costco)
chopped Italian flat leaf parsley (to taste)
chopped fresh sweet basil (to taste)

Dressing:
1/3 cup fresh lemon juice
1/3 cup red wine vinegar
1 Tablespoon sugar (to offset the tartness of the lemon juice)
1 1/4 cup light olive oil
1 clove minced garlic
chopped fresh chives (or dried)
1 tsp. dried oregano (use fresh if you like. I think it's kind of strong tasting)
1 tsp. ground coriander seed (cilantro seed . . . gives a great flavor)
1/2 tsp. coarse ground pepper

Whisk dressing ingredients together. ( I don't add salt to this dressing because of the saltiness of the feta cheese. Add salt if you're going to use the dressing on a tossed green salad. )
Toss the dressing with the rest of the salad ingredients. You can serve it right away or let the flavors blend for a few hours. Great either way. Let me know if you like it. Opa!
P.S. So I discovered that if you make this salad and you want to eat it over several days, you need to use Canola oil or some other vegetable oil. The olive oil congeals when it's been in the fridge for awhile which really changes the flavor of the salad. I had previously only made this salad for large gatherings where we pretty much ate the whole salad with no leftovers.

A Few of My Favorite Books

Left to Tell by Immaculee Ilibagiza with Steve Erwin - Immaculee lost most of her family during the 1994 genocide in Rwanda. An astonishing story of faith, hope, forgiveness and redemption.
Stuffed by Patricia Volk - about a New York Jewish family that was in the restaurant business for 100 years. Very engaging and very funny.
Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin - In 1993 a mountaineer named Greg Mortenson drifted into an impoverished Pakistan village in the Karakoram mountains after a failed attempt to climb K2. Moved by the inhabitants' kindness, he promised to return and build a school. Three Cups of Tea is the story of that promise and its extraordinary outcome.
Roots by Alex Haley - difficult to read as are all books about slavery but absolutely worth the read
The Thorn Birds by Colleen McCullough for all of you who love stories that take place in Australia
The Book of Negroes by Canadian author Laurence Hill. My brother sent me this one and I absolutely loved it. Apparently, if you're looking for the book in the USA you'll find it under the title "Someone Knows My Name"
Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe
The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield
The Geography of Bliss:One grump's search for the happiest places on earth by Eric Weiner. A funny, albeit cynical, piece of non-fiction that lets you do some armchair travel to some very interesting places.
Peace Like a River by Leif Enger
A Boy's LIfe by Robert McCammon
Same Kind of Different As Me by Ron Hall and Denver Moore
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows

Old 'n Bloggin'

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

And Winter Came . . .

6 comments:

T.G.I.S.

Autumn . . . My Favorite Season

Steve's wedding July 2007

Day at the zoo March 2008

Fam & Friends

Chocolate Bundt Cake Recipe (tastiest I've ever eaten)

Bacon Wrapped Water Chestnut Appetizer

Molten Lava Chocolate Cakes

Island Salsa

Greek Pasta Salad

Mike Hale's famous Hot Artichoke Green Chili Dip

A Few of My Favorite Books

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