Oh Papaya

One of my favorite fruits is papaya, but only with lime juice. Because of my severe lime leanings, I might like it better than others. I've had people try it though and most liked it. I halve, seed, peel and dice the [large] papaya and juice a lime over it. I'm pretty generous with my lime juice. Give it a try!

New job...of sorts

I work for Benshaw, and we were acquired this week after many months of work and negotiations. We have some new bosses, and the substance of my work will change, some for the better, some worse. Either way, there is a long transition period which has begun, and it's kind of like the calm before the storm...only not knowing what the storm is like or how long it will last! It's a good move for Benshaw. Curtiss-Wright was first founded in 1929, having roots in the work of Glenn Curtiss and the Wright Brothers. They have some really fascinating products and technology, particularly in the areas of the military and nuclear technology. The company's history is interesting.

Benshaw acquired by Curtiss-Wright

Curtiss-Wright Corp. said Wednesday it acquired Benshaw Advanced Controls & Drives for about $102 million in cash, to expand its product offerings in the commercial power, control electronics and systems markets. The business will become part of Curtiss-Wright's Flow Control segment, the company said in a statement. Benshaw is a Glenshaw-based electronic controls manufacturer.
Founded in 1983, Benshaw employs approximately 410 people. "The addition of Benshaw to the Curtiss-Wright family of companies provides a major opportunity to expand our product offerings in the commercial power, control electronics and systems markets," Curtiss-Wright Chairman and CEO Martin R. Benante said in a statement. Curtiss-Wright also has a Pittsburgh presence, with its Curtiss-Wright Electromechanical Corp. division based in Cheswick.

Friday Musings

- I started reading Heat, a so-far interesting book about the life of an amateur cook working as a kitchen slave, line cook, pasta maker and more. It's intriguing to me to learn about the inner workings of professional kitchens (oh man, the part where he had to dice 36 carrots into perfect one millimeter cubes just for making stock...the carrot first has to be trimmed into a long rectangle, then 1mm strips are made, then chopped crosswise to make 1mm perfect cubes. His "master" made him toss a whole pile and start again). Aside from some foul words contained in direct quotes, it's good so far.

- I continued to be saddened by our twisted world. It truly is anti-Christ, which is what God has said it is and will be. Muslim taxi drivers in Minneapolis are allowed to refuse people who have alcohol with them because of their "religious beliefs", but Washington pharmacists are not allowed to refuse to dispense the morning after abortion pill. There are many more things like that going on, some of them worse, and we don't hear about it much. I am comforted knowing that though the rulers of the earth set themselves against the Lord, "...the Lord will scorn them all. He will laugh who sits on high. Then His wrath will on them fall; sore displeased He will reply" (Ps. 2). Christ is King of all the nations and all that is contained in those nations, and there will be no end to the increase of His government and peace . Christ is build His church in the face of Islam and all else.

- I finished reading Infidel as previously recommended by Shannon and Catherine, and through it confirmed what I believed to be true - it's an illusion that Islam is about peace and tolerance. I think most of us know that, but my understanding of the different "kinds" of Muslims was further confirmed expanded - those who seem "moderate" aren't true Muslims. True, "good" Muslims are those who commit honor killings, excise their young daughters and beat their wives, according to the Quaran. They are NOT interested in talking things out in a diplomatic way.

- Ryan showed me the website of a photographer he knows who is a former customer from his Starbucks days. She does great work and has an enjoyable website of galleries.

- I'm wearing red shoes today

- Ryan and I are in the home stretch. In a little less than three weeks, our summer-long separation will end when, if God wills, I'll go to Kansas to meet his family and see him [:-) x 100]. Shortly after that, we anticipate traveling to Oregon to spend a few days with my family before the seminary year starts.

- I like taking pictures of babies

Snatcher

Ha! I think he knows he's guilty.
Video

Finito

I think I am done watching Lost for now. I have been having very vivid, frequent dreams related to Lost! They haven't all been bad dreams or good dreams...just dreams for the most part. I don't usually dream like that (or at least, I don't recall the dreams like that) and I think I OD'd on the show since I had it through Netflix. Just stepping back for now.

Pictures Speak: Being Found Out

(and: you have something on your mouth)

New Salad

Tomorrow, I'm making a new salad with my dinner when the mission team comes over. It's from the latest Cooking Light magazine and is called Asparagus-Apple Salad with Blue Cheese Vinaigrette. I will probably also do Asian BBQ Chicken and Island Rice, which I've posted about before. Recipes are in the link to the side (previously posted recipes). Asian BBQ Chicken is probably my favorite chicken marinade (easy, delicious).

I wish I cooked every night! I miss it! I have less motivation to cook when it's only me. I'm glad I have several things coming up for church when I'll cook stuff.

John Piper Books on Sale $5

I saw in a comment on Catherine's blog that the books in the store at Desiring God are on sale for $5! Check it out!

I have read and love: Desiring God, Faithful Women & Their Extraordinary God, and Let the Nations Be Glad!. I have The Pleasures of God but need to read it. Other books that friends have recommended include Brothers We are Not Professionals and Future Grace

Sale ends tomorrow. The functionality of the site is touch and go.
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The sale was extended to noon on Friday, and the site is working much better today.

Mocha Marbled Coffee Cake

I made the following cake for my sister-in-law's baby shower. I made it once a couple of years ago but this time, implemented a couple methods from America's Test Kitchen, which they use in their chocolate bundt cake recipe. If interested, I could email you the recipe in Word.

Mocha Marbled Coffee Cake
Makes 16 servings

2 oz bittersweet or semisweet chocolate, chopped
1/3 cup cocoa powder
1/3 cup boiling water

1 Tbsp butter, melted
1 Tbsp cocoa powder

12 Tbsp butter (1 ½ sticks), softened
1 ½ cups granulated sugar
3 whole eggs
1 ½ tsp vanilla extract
3 Tbsp instant coffee powder or 2 Tbsp espresso powder, dissolved in 2 Tbsp hot water
2 ½ cups flour
1 ½ tsp baking powder
¾ tsp baking soda
¼ tsp salt
1 ¼ cups sour cream (regular or light)

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Prepare chocolate mixture by pouring boiling water over cocoa and chocolate, whisking gently to melt and combine. Whisk until smooth and shiny. Set aside.
3. Prepare bundt pan by combining melted butter and cocoa to form a smooth paste with a fork or small whisk. Using a pastry brush, coat bundt pan with mixture, making sure to get in all crevices and far enough up the sides. Set aside.
4. Using a mixer, combine butter and sugar and beat until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, mixing until combined. Add vanilla and dissolved coffee.
5. In a separate bowl, combine flour and next three ingredients (through salt).
6. Add dry ingredients to the egg mixture, alternating with the sour cream. Mix just until combined for each step. Scrape down sides and bottom.
7. Put half the batter in a separate bowl and add the chocolate mixture, stirring to combine.
8. Place 1/4 cup of the coffee batter in two opposite sides of the pan. Place ¼ cup chocolate batter in the other two parts; spread until they meet. Continue placing about ¼ cup of each batter on top of the other kind of batter, to create a checkerboard pattern. Spread to even out after the last of the batter is done.
9. Bake for 35-45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out with scant crumbs on it (but not doughy). Baking times may vary depending on your oven.
10. Let cool on a wire rack for 10-15 minutes; turn out of pan. After the cake is completely cooled, dust with powdered sugar, if desired, or garnish each serving with whipped cream.

...

Random photo from my file

I finally started and am sorta hooked on Lost. I've been renting the DVDs of season 1.

Second Annual Cooking Poll

Last year, I posted a poll for people to list their top 10 favorite ingredients. Knowing that tastes can change over time, I am going to list my 10 and compare to the list I made last year to see if there are any differences. They weren't in any particular order.

1. Garlic
2. Olive Oil
3. Salt: kosher and sea
4. Lime juice or zest
5. Balsamic vinegar
6. Piquin chiles (tiny, very hot dried chiles)
7. Parmesan cheese
8. Onions
9. Sugar
10.Chocolate

I just checked my old list, and three items didn't make it this time but ARE still favorites: coffee, cilantro and butter. How could I forget butter? I also checked my pantry...I have six varieties of salt! Oh man. And I have 10 kinds of vinegar.

Please, NO MORE

I have had enough. Of the house sparrow. That insists on chirping me awake. An hour before my alarm is supposed to go off. JUST because I have prevented him from nesting in my grill.

If he had a nest to build somewhere else, he wouldn't be on MY balcony, near MY window nearly all day chirping a high pitched chirp, starting at about 5:30 am. May I catch it and kill it please? Sounds extreme, I know, but after at least 10 different mornings in the last few weeks of waking up before my alarm during the work week....it gets tiring. Thus I googled "how to get rid of house sparrows" just now and plan to figure it out.

In the meantime, I took the foil out of my grill to allow the sparrow to be busy building a nest. I will keep removing it and keep letting him build it if it will keep him quiet!! I, by the way, have a fan in my window on high, I have the other one shut, and I have stuffed a towel on either side of the fan to shut out more sound. Doesn't work!

It is particularly frustrating today because I've had a full week, am tired, got to bed an hour later than I hoped and then couldn't fall asleep for two hours despite being tired! I know many of you go on little sleep all the time, but I guess in living by myself and being used to getting a good night's sleep, it's frustrating to have it disrupted by something like a bird. A baby? That is worthwhile. Not a bird.

"Under federal law, House Sparrow nests, eggs, young, and adults may be legally removed or destroyed", according to this site. Waking me isn't the only offense. I have a feeling that the two nests resting on wires attached to my building no longer have eggs or baby birds in them and are not sparrow nests. It is very likely the sparrow has already gotten to them based on what I've learned about how house sparrows attack and mutilate other birds and eggs.

My Food Diary

I would like to put out a recommendation for My Food Diary. It's an online food journal and support center for weight loss. I have been working and stalling and working and stalling for years to achieve certain specific fitness goals, and MFD has contributed to the successes I've had. I'm now stepping up and focusing more seriously on reaching my goals this summer, and MFD is an essential tool for me. It has been a great resource to teach me how to eat well and track my progress. It's $9 a month, which I think is GREAT (compared to Weight Watchers $12 or so per week and you have fewer tools). The features include:

• a very large database of foods, including hundreds of restaurants
• the ability to add your own recipes by inputing ingredients, amounts, and number of servings. It'll then give you the nutrition data per serving and add that to your "Fridge", which is your personal database of foods you eat.
• a body log, where you record your weight and measurements. It tracks it on a graph and lists how many pounds or inches you have lost, and how many pounds you have left to lose.
• an active forum where you can post questions, get support and learn more tools and ideas. I am in a group of about 7 women whose motto is "deadly determined" to reach our goals, for our own health, fitness and long-term wellness.
• a daily summary of how many calories you have left in the day to lose __ pounds per week and maintain your weight. It'll tell you "if every day were like today, in one month you would weigh ___" and it gives what date you'd reach our target weight.
  

How do you use it? Daily, you go to your Fridge, enter what you are eating or will eat, and it adds it to your diary for the day. It gives you a "smiley" on the summary page for things such as reaching daily amounts for vitamins and minerals (A, C, Iron, Calcium), high fiber, low saturated fat, water consumption, no dessert, and exercise. You get frowns for high sodium, no exercise, not enough calories, too many calories, and more.

The fridge starts out empty when you sign up. Over time, you'll add the foods you eat, like milk, cheese, etc. You can put anything in your fridge - ANYTHING. If a brand or type of food isn't in the existing MFD database, chances are the company's website publishes the nutrition data. If you have the nutrition label from the package, you can quickly add it to your fridge.

With the recipe building feature, I am able to add in the decadent desserts I sometimes make in order to know how many calories a slice contains.

The system doesn't let you eat too few calories without warning you. You are supposed to eat the calories you earn by exercising. Why? If you are already on a 1400 calorie diet to lose weight, but you burn 500 that day with exercise and don't eat those calories back, you essentially net 900 calories, which is way too few to be healthy and to lose weight in a healthy way. Your metabolism will slow and your body will store what you eat once it enters survival mode at that calorie level.

It works when I use and stay in my calorie range and log my food intake. The times it doesn't work = user error/failure, not method error. I know that not everyone is like this, but I believe I will need to be mindful on a long-term basis about what I eat in order to be fit and healthy. It's a good wake-up call to see how calories quickly add up without really realizing it.

The only downside is that a trial period isn't available.

Oh That Sparrow!

I identified the type of sparrow that is lurking around my balcony - a house sparrow. What I also learned is that they attack other birds! Maybe you knew that. They seem vicious, and I hope they are not attacking other nests that are near my balcony! The stories are sad.

My Bounty

I finally cut the lettuce which was growing in my railing box, and there is a lot of lettuce! I intend to take it to our fellowship dinner tomorrow for a sandwich toppings. My balcony is a great place to grow vegetables since there is full sun and no bunnies to nibble.


Also, my nasturtiums have made great progress from their early days as a seed:

Lastly, I am quite familiar now with the sound of Angry Sparrow who is likely irate that there is a Piece of Foil in the grill where his Nest belongs. He woke me up a couple times this week before 6 am. I hear you. This is still MY home, not yours, bird. You also shouldn't hang out long enough in my grill so that some "waste" is deposited. However, the two morning doves lounging comfortably on my balcony are welcome. So are the precious cardinal couple who feed each other birdseed.

Th Ancho-Lime Marinated BBQ Chicken went swimmingly with the couscous and vegetables I made yesterday. I grilled the chicken tonight and had some of the couscous leftovers. I loved it! So flavorful, healthy and complimentary.

After removing the chicken from the marinade, I boiled the excess in the microwave instead of discarding it, and I basted it on the chicken as it cooked. I might add some brown sugar to the rest of the marinade that wasn't used today (I made a whole recipe but used a portion for one breast of chicken).

More Recipes

I prepared the marinade from a recipe, Ancho-Lime Marinated BBQ Chicken today and will use it tomorrow on boneless chicken breasts. I was drawn to it for the lime and ancho chile part and need to restock some spices soon from Penzey's. I've been improvising with my lack of vanilla extract by scraping some vanilla beans for a couple other recent recipes.

Tonight, I am having the third grilled vegetable dish from my post below and hope it turns out well! I also made the recommended side dish, Onion Raita.

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UPDATE
My dinner was delicious and so flavorful! I made Grilled Vegetables & Chickpeas w/ Couscous. The accompanying side dish tasted great with it. I made some changes to the vegetables. I don't care for zucchini, so I left out that and the yellow squash and used only onions and red and yellow peppers. Also, I added ground red pepper, an extra tablespoon of lemon juice, extra salt, some lemon zest, and a crushed clove of garlic. I would definitely make this again and look forward to the leftovers. It's so healthy too! I didn't make any changes to the Onion Raita, and it was handy to grill the onions together for both recipes.

What I've Been Doing

Since I haven't blogged much, I must be doing something, right?

Besides working, I have been:
- visiting my family in Oregon
- missing Ryan who is in Colorado & Wyoming for the summer
- talking on the phone and writing letters to Ryan
- being more intentional about exercise and eating
- fellowshipping with many women over email
- editing and enjoying my photos from Oregon
- tending the flowers on my balcony
- adding more blogs of my friends and acquaintances to my Google Reader. I now have 16 and it sure makes it easier and faster to see new blog posts all in one place.
- enjoying the fellowship and instruction of bible study (John's Epistles)
- thankful for the wisdom and discernment God has been giving me and the great sermons I've been hearing
- watching ticket prices for trips to Oregon (Sept, Nov & Dec) and San Diego (Oct)
- realizing my prayer life still needs work
- wondering when my Verizon wireless overages will end

Besides working, this summer I will/hope to:
- reach my fitness goals for the first time EVER
- attend Beethoven's 9th Symphony with Danila
- see Ryan at Synod in three weeks
- see my pregnant sister-in-law in three weeks
- enjoy fellowship with the small, all-female mission team coming to North Hills in July (Hi Shannon!)
- fly to Kansas for a few days in August to meet Ryan's family
- fly to Oregon in late August with Ryan to spend time with my family

The birds are still attempting to build a complete nest in my grill. But I'm bigger and use the grill for cooking.

Books I'm reading or recently read: Passion & Purity; Tom Clancy's Splintercell Checkmate; The Robber Bride; Matthew; Luke

Veggies

I added a few recipes to "Recipes I Want to Try" which I hope to make in the next week. All involve grilling vegetables with various seasonings or rubs.

Grilled Vegetables with Balsamic Vinaigrette
Grilled Vegetables With Cilantro Butter
Grilled Vegetables and Chickpeas with Couscous
Grilled Vegetables with Feta

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UPDATE
For dinner tonight I made the last recipe above and was really pleased with it. It was filling and nutritious. Once the grilled vegetables were cut, I tossed them in some leftover vinaigrette for additional flavor. I'd make it again!

Oregon Pictures

My time in Oregon is at an end. It was fabulous! Here are three albums:
Oregon Family
Peony & Iris Farms
Wineries

Time Capsule

This is kind of fun.

Lightning

Here are some fascinating lightning photographs taken by a professional photographer, which I found using StumbleUpon, with my interests set to photography. And that, folks, is all I have for you!

Well, I also stumbled upon this "photo" which is pretty cool. Move your mouse from the left side to the right side and see it change.

NOW that is all.

Cakeness

I made a Double Chocolate Torte for Ryan's birthday yesterday. I made it ahead on Saturday night, and it turned out wonderful! The bottom half is a dense, dark, chocolaty cake (minimal flour), and the top half is a smooth mousse. It's a great do-ahead dessert that isn't necessarily "quick" but is worth the multiple steps involved.

It continues....

The mother bird must be ready to lay her eggs....they made a lot of progress today from last night! Any ideas to keep them from building? I can't let the nest remain there. Or, if I do, how long would the nest need to be there? Maybe I could put a box with some holes in it so they can get in and out and place it underneath the grill.

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UPDATE
My mom gave me the following idea which I think might work. The wind will blow the foil and scare them off. I put the nest above under the grill in a plastic crate. We'll see. I doubt they'll use it since I touched it. It's a foil seahorse! haha.

They won't give up

A month ago, I took a picture of a nest some birds had built in my grill:

I removed the nest (no eggs were in it, thankfully) and since then have removed parts of a new nest several times. Before using my grill tonight, there was yet more work done on a nest. I removed the materials, and within 30 min of turning the grill off, they were at it again:



I'm worried that one day, I'll open the grill and find a completed nest with eggs. What then? They can't live there all summer! They will also be competing with wasps for use of my grill as a home!

More, yes, more

Now, I don't plan to post a picture of the nasturtiums every day but liked this one.

No Joke!

Real growth this time, from this to this in two days:

It helps that nasturtiums are probably the easiest flower to grow from seed, and they grow quickly!

Mega Growth

Woah! Day 5?

Psych! Remember that word?

Signs of Life in steps

Photo diary of a nasturtium, #1

From this:

To this, in a few days:

(sorry, pics aren't working right now)

Oh Dear

"Diner scarred for life after sausage explodes in her face"

I read this headline and thought, Right, scarred for life? Rather, an exaggeration of emotional scarring as a result of embarassment that your sausage dinner exploded. Well, that's not the case. It's a lot worse.

Call that Number, Folks!

How would you like to meet your mate this way?

Food

Cranberry Pot Roast: turned out great, will type/post recipe if requested. I couldn't find fresh cranberries, but a can of whole cranberry sauce was an acceptable substitute. I combined the instructions in the recipe with instructions from America's Test Kitchen and was pleased with the results. In short, the roast was cooked for about 3 3/4 hours at 300 degrees. I was happy to see it got to the stage of being "melty" and easily falling apart when I cut it. It was cooked in beef broth, chicken broth and white wine, among other seasonings, with the liquid coming halfway up the sides (per ATK).
Swirled Cranberry Cheesecake: this didn't happen, unfortunately, since fresh cranberries weren't available. I made Texas Sheet Cake instead. I hope to make it in the future.
Green Beans with Pine Nuts, Garlic & Basil: didn't happen since I couldn't find fresh basil. Instead, I made Green Beans with Pine Nuts, Garlic and Diced Tomatoes (adapted/made up), and my guests liked it quite well.
Lasagna: didn't happen. I made Macaroni Salad from America's Test Kitchen for the fellowship dinner instead. Main ingredients, besides pasta and mayo, were red onions, dijon mustard, lemon juice, cayenne, celery, salt and pepper. I liked. Friends liked.

I also made Tuscan White Bean & Garlic Soup for myself, from Giada De Laurentiis: easy (especially if you have an immersion blender), high in protein, nice taste. Two out of two friends approved.

Last week, I made some sandwiches called Venetian Panino for Lord's Day lunch, also by Giada. I liked them a lot and would make them again. I'm not a fan of a strong dijon mustard flavor, and the spread for this sandwich was just right.

A bunch of recipes.

Everyone won the photo quiz! Good job.

I made my favorite green bean salad this week two times (once for myself and once for friends).

Finally, today is my Friday! Benshaw is closed tomorrow for Good Friday. I'm having some more friends over for dinner on Saturday and am making Cranberry Pot Roast (Northwest B&B cookbook), Confetti Mashed Potatoes (Three Rivers Pgh cookbook), Green Beans with Pine Nuts, Garlic & Basil, and Swirled Cranberry Cheesecake. The beans and dessert are new recipes. It's too bad it has turned cold again for several days because I really wanted to make some summery food, like hamburgers and this potato salad.

I'll be cooking a lot tomorrow and Saturday because we also have a fellowship dinner for church after our morning Lord's Supper service, so I have a salad and a main dish to prepare. I'm considering a new recipe, Four Cheese Lasagna from the issue of Cook's Illustrated that came in the mail yesterday. It contains fontina, gorgonzola, gruyere and parmesan cheese, plus a fifth cheese, ricotta. Yes, it's still called Four Cheese Lasagna! The recipes featured in Cook's Illustrated also contain a write-up of methods tested for the final, best recipe. If I don't make this dish, I might make the a meat lasagna recipe they've published.

My aunt emailed me this salad recipe which sounds delicious. Browned butter has a wonderful flavor. All of these recipes have a touch of flare that is different than your basic recipe...which I love!

Good Tidings!

Yay! I just purchased tickets to travel to Oregon in May! My family is quite excited of course, as am I. The bonus is being able to visit the beauty of Oregon in addition to seeing my family. And the dogs. It's exciting to think about going to Oregon so soon after being there a year ago (this is compared to 9 years passing since the trip before that, so this is a good rate!). Lord willing, I will be able to go a couple more times before the end of the year.

Quiz #11

I bet you never thought you'd see one of these again! A photo quiz, that is.

News bits

I saw an article today about a measure in Germany to curb infanticide by providing drop bins for unwanted newborns. How sad! How horrendous that this happens. While it's good that they want to reduce deaths by giving the mother a drop-point for her unwatned baby instead of murdering the child, it's just so sad that it happens. Even more, the article indicates some women have murdered more than one baby. What is also sad is these mothers are arrested for killing their children outside their womb, but no action is taken against mothers who kill their unborn children. The article may be found here.
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"Woman, dog both sick after eating recalled pet food"
I feel bad she's sick, but really, eating your dog's food to get the dog to think it's people food? She could have completely avoided this. I feel worse for the dog that is poorly trained and sick!
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I'm making a couple new things this week and next, so I'll post my results. Recipes include:
Garlic-Herb Marinated Chicken Kebabs (Cook's Illustrated)
Balsamic Roasted Sweet Potatoes (Bon Appetit)
Double Chocolate Tort (Bon Appetit)

Cooking Style

Here is a quiz my aunt sent me, called "What is Your Culinary Style?" Have a go at it! I came out "Healthy: You are a health-conscious chef who knows that you don't have to sacrifice flavor to lose the fat. You believe in a well-balanced diet and like to cook with fresh, straightforward ingredients. For you, the trick to making good food lies in the seasoning; which is why you are never without herbs and spices."

I think that is pretty true for me. That doesn't mean I EAT healthy, but I do like fresh, straightforward ingredients and good spices/flavors for cooking. I also took the grilling personality quiz and came out Expert.

Rebecca's feet are cute.

I am a bad blogger, I know. I KNOW. No photo quizzes, no recipes. I've been doing stuff and spending time with friends. The reason for no photo quizzes: no ideas! Needtocomeupwithsomeideas. Reason for no recipes? I've been making the same thing over and over - Island Rice! I know I ought to stop while I am ahead and while I still love it. Wait! I do have a new recipe. I made some soup last night and it was a new recipe, and I was pretty happy with how it turned out. Recipe here. I used regular brown rice though and not the boil-in-a-bag rice. That is about all I have for you. Rebecca had a funny idea and posted a picture of her feet as a way to fill her blog! hehe. I love you, Rebecca!

My family's belongings arrived this past weekend; thanks to God for that.

I took a typing test here and had the following result the first time: "During the test, you typed at a speed of 64 words/minute and made 16 errors. According to these results, you are an expert typist and should consider taking the corresponding course when you register." They tell you not to backspace but I forgot that, and I think they count that as an error in additon to the things we normal people would consider errors. The second time, I had 75 wpm and 8 errors! haha. Try it if you like.

Drawwwwwwwwwwwl

Drudge said it best in its headline "Kentucky Fried Hillary: NY Senator Adopts Southern Drawl In Church Service".

Listen here. It reminds me when Al Gore changed his tone noticeably when speaking to a black audience. What are they doing "preaching" in churches anyway?

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I have made Island Rice a couple of times recently and would consider this my favorite rice dish. I first made it a few months ago, and I substitute 1/2 cup lite coconut milk for 1/2 cup of the water called for. This goes fabulously with spicy chicken or pork, such as Asian BBQ Chicken or Jerk-Style Chicken. I have also had it with sauteed onions and red peppers with all the fixings for fajitas and eaten it in a tortilla or piled on a plate without a tortilla.

Rebs!

Rebecca and I had a fantastic time catching up!

Nothings and Somethings Bullet Style

• My family arrived safely in Oregon last Friday and received the keys to the their new house on Wednesday. Their belongings should arrive in the next week or so, and in the meantime, they'll paint and make some minor changes to the house.
• I went to McConnell's Mill last week and enjoyed a beautiful hike with a good friend. Pics here. It was my first time hiking there in the winter after a dozen times in other seasons, and it was a delight to see all the snow.
• I haven't cooked anything new for a while! Nothing to share there.
• My old college roommate, Rebecca, is visiting tomorrow! You may have noticed some funny dialog in the comments from her on here about how incredibly excited we are so see each other (and you can find ones from me on her blog). We last saw each other in July 2005 at Danila's wedding, and even then, it was a busy time. So we are going to talkandtalkandgiggleandtalkandeatandlaughandtalk for hours and we'll love it!
• My cup runs over.

FridayYayFridayYay

This is bound to be a less-than-exciting post. Work has been busy, but I've had a low-key week otherwise which is nice. I've thought often over the last couple of weeks how good the Lord is in His consistent provision of fellowship with other believers, both new and old friends. It's a taste of heaven!

My family crossed the border to Oregon yesterday (cheers) and anticipate arriving in my grandma's house later today. I praise God for the clear, yes CLEAR weather they had their entire trip. They close on their new house next Thursday, and their belongings will arrive a week or so after that.

In other important news, my breakfast today and yesterday was a PB&J sandwich. I have no shame in doing that! I needed a switch from oatmeal and forgot to buy more Grape Nuts. But I really have no shame! I feel no need to explain myself!

And They're Off.....

....it'll be a few months before I see them again.

8 days of close quarters....

Ice

The trees are beautiful like this, and it's a fascinating sound to hear the wind blow and cause the frozen branches to clang against each other. It would be spectacular if the sun came out!

Dingdingdingdingding

Cilantro is the item pictured in Quiz #10. Josh, Karen, Maureen, Jen and Mom were right! And for Rebecca, coriander is the seed, so she kind of got it :-). I'm impressed with how many guessed correctly as I expected parsley to be the most common answer.

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The movers come today and tomorrow to my parents' house. I plan to go over tomorrow to see the house totally empty...the house where I grew up (since age 1). Tonight, they are coming for dinner with Danila and Josh and then will be staying with me Wednesday through Friday morning. This is THE week for a big change in my life.

This is nice...really nice. But, better to have it today then Friday when my family embarks to Oregon (as long as the movers can still pack the truck).

7:42 am on Saturday

I heard my neighbor snoring this moring. How's that for something new and exciting?

Hi!

Calvin & Hobbes for today was good. I love his expressions.

Quiz #10

Only one this week...

Dolls

Did anyone used to have this doll? I used to have one and laid her on my bed every day after making it (or, on the days I actually made my bed). Her name is StarBright, right?

Away Away

The Christmas decorations have been put away. Whewwwwwwwww.

Question

Should Christmas decorations be taken down by February 1? Any social blunders that I, I mean, someone might commit in not doing so? This is a totally hypothetical question that has no connection to what is or is not still showing in my apartment. No siree. There is nothing I saw in my apartment upon coming home from work today that made me think of this post.

A Quiz About Me

I invite you to take this quiz about me. More random stuff. The best score so far is Meg with 4/7 right. Five people have taken it including my aunt, brother and three friends. Beat Meg!! :-) No one has gotten #5 right yet.

update: Dad scored 100%! Yay Dad!
update again: 17 people have taken the quiz...I'm so honored! I know there are more out there! haha.

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Norah Jones' new album came out today. You can listen to two of her songs, one here and one at amazon with a video. I love her jazzy but mellow voice and occasionally let myself think I can sing like her (when we all know the truth).

Random Facts

1. I used to want to own a Bed & Breakfast in Oregon. I have since become conflicted though with how that would fit with honoring the Lord and resting on the Sabbath.
2. I took a personality test for a job interview a couple years ago, and the result fit the profile of one who could be a CEO. The interviewer was intrigued and subsequently surprised when I said I had little desire to progress that far. He didn't quite believe me when I said I desired to raise children instead.
3. I have my driver's license and debit card number memorized.
4. I have never baked a ham (I'm not a huge fan of ham).
5. U2 is one of my favorite bands
6. I try without success to have conversations with my [parents'] dogs. They just had a glazed look in their eyes last night when I said that Mom, Dad and Adam were going to be finally coming home from Oregon. Oh, the excitment and anticipation they could have experienced!

What are some random facts about you?

Quiz #9 Answers

Hi Readers! The answers to the recent quiz are:

1. Umbrella with raindrops (yay for Lynne!)
2. The inside of a parasol (but not the mini drink kind). I'll give credit to the four who guessed the small ones that go in drinks (Catherine, Maureen, Lynne & Frankie) since you couldn't tell how big it was from the picture.

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My parents found a home in Oregon! It is being inspected today, and they will close on it a few days after they arrive in late February. They leave Pittsburgh around February 16 or 17. Praise God for His provision of a great home for them. I've been staying with the dogs this week while they have been out there finding a house.

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I added a link under Useful Links for sermons by Andrew Quigley, the pastor of Airdrie Reformed Presbyterian Church in Scotland.

Photo Quiz #9

I'm running out of ideas! My photo quizzes have become less frequent...but here is a new quiz!

German Chocolate Cake!

My family and I loved this cake! I have never been a fan of German Chocolate Cake, but I am now with this recipe! It's from America's Test Kitchen, and they exist to test recipes, methods, equipment and products to get the best of the best (as a result, they're detailed). Here is the recipe, and below is their write-up about how and why they came up with it. There is a free video of the kitchen making the cake on the show.

The Problem: Most German chocolate cake recipes are similar, if not identical, to the one on the German's Sweet Chocolate box. Our tasters found several shortcomings in this recipe. It produced a cake that was too sweet, with chocolate flavor that was too mild, and with a texture so listless that the filling and cake together formed a soggy, sweet mush. What's more, even the bakers in the test kitchen thought the recipe, which required separately whipped egg whites and using three baking pans (the cake has three layers), was too arduous.

The Goal: We wanted a cake that was less sweet and more chocolaty than the original, but we didn't want to sacrifice the overall blend of flavors and textures that makes German chocolate cake so appealing in the first place. We also wanted a cake that was easier to make, with a more streamlined technique than the original recipe allowed.

The Solution: The first order of business was to scale back the recipe by one-quarter, which allowed us to fit the batter into two cake pans, thereby producing a cake with four thinner layers rather than three thicker layers. After testing, we discovered that the texture of the cake actually improved when we used whole eggs instead of laboriously separating the eggs, beating the whites, and folding them into the batter. We increased chocolate flavor with a combination of cocoa powder and good-quality semisweet or bittersweet chocolate. By adjusting the level and proportions of the sugar (both brown and white) and butter in the cake and filling, as well as toasting the pecans, we finished the necessary adjustments to create a definitely easier-to-make cake, with better texture and flavor than the original.

Happy Birthday, Dad!!

I came home at lunch today to frost my dad's German Chocolate birthday cake. Of course I got out my camera...as evidenced here. I'll post the recipe if we like it when we have it for dessert tonight. For dinner, I am making Crunchy Shrimp with Toasted Couscous and Ginger-Orange Sauce, an amazing dish that is incredibly flavorful but not heavy.

Here is some nutty footage (about 3 min) of cars sliding and colliding in Portland, Oregon earlier today. My aunt's work was closed in Salem because of the weather.

Samoa About Me

My afternoon snack of fresh papaya with a sprinkle of lime juice sparked this post. Why? You'll see. This got long, by the way.

Are there places you have traveled to that you don't particularly wish to return to but are glad you went anyway? Is that sentence even grammatically correct? There is really only one thing on that list of mine - American Samoa (map), in the South Pacific. I would love to return to all the other places (Italy, Scotland, San Antonio, CO, Oregon, etc). Well, maybe I am thinking more of big places. I'm not burning to visit Philly again. I also don't really want to return to trafficy Detriot. So forget the question, let's talk about Samoa. It's pronounced SAH-mo-ah. I am so glad I went yet would return only for a day or so to drive around the island and have another time to be really, really far away.

I never heard of Samoa before I was sent there for work at my old job in 2003. I was a rookie auditor with a small local CPA firm and got a decent break from the bitter cold of winter in Pittsburgh to travel a total of 24 hours and thousands of miles (I'll insert the miles later because Google maps says "We could not calculate driving directions between allison park, pennsylvania and american samoa." DUH. It's over water. I thought it would at least tell me how many miles it was). American Samoa is a US territory that was acquired in 1900 for Naval use because of the deep harbor that nearly cuts the main island in two. We audited the whole government of Samoa, but I wasn't regularly on the job and only took two trips. Others with whom I worked went several times a year. I was there for three weeks for my first trip in January 2003 and stayed in an awesome B&B owned by a Samoan woman and her husband who was from New Zealand. He was into sailing and taught me that at sea level, the farthest point visible on the horizon of the ocean is 12 miles away. The Fijian housekeeper showed me how to eat papaya (there's the link to papaya!), avocado, and I ate my breakfast on the balcony with an amazing view from high up and with lizards of some sort that skittered on the walls and ceilings. It was a picture-perfect retreat with ocean breezes and the knowledge that you were verrrrrrrrry far out in the Pacific Ocean. The B&B was the second of three best parts. But during the day, I worked in a stuffy government building with AC that didn't work. Sometimes the Starkist cannery smells wafted in just the right direction (90% of Starkist tuna is canned in the historical and incredibly deep harbor of Pago Pago, American Samoa). One week into my second trip, I was very ready to go home and never return. I had seen the beauty of the island and didn't care for the work.

The first best part was the raw beauty of the 77 sq. mile island, nearly 7,500 miles from home (just remembered the mileage) and about 2,200 miles from Hawaii. We worked until 6 and the sun went down a half hour later...so there was no time exept the weekend to explore the island. But explore, I did! I was the only woman, so I had a car to myself whilst the men shared a car (we stayed in different locations). I drove on nearly every rode I could have on one Saturday, and the south, east and west parts of the island are the only parts accessible by car. The north side would be similar to the island in Jurassic Park (minus dinosaurs) - seeming uninhabited and completely exotic and tropical with many things hidden beneath all those trees. You see, there was one place I reached that was high enough to see the ocean on the other side of the island, and all I could see was ocean and green mountains covered in jungle. It was quite a moment to consider what land that was directly south of the island...Antarctica...many, many miles). I wonder if Megan feels that way when looking south from the coast of Australia. A different part of the heavens were visible too, with stars I couldn't see from home.

There are memories I have that are only from this place and while I was really lonely being there (not only was I far away...I knew I was far away...I felt it) it was a treasure to see this part of creation and God's handiwork. There was a beach of black, round rocks. The waves would crash over them and as the waves receded, the rocks would crackle as they settled. The sound surrounded me, and it was phenominal.

The habited side had its first KFC built while I was there, across from the McDonald's. The culture is slow and Polynesian. There are stray dogs and chickens e.v.e.r.y.w.h.e.r.e. People burry their deceased family members in tombs above ground, and if someone new moves in, they may have a tomb belonging to someone else in their yard! The islands themselves seem to be old volcanos that simply JUT out of the ocean from far below the surface. The road around the island weaves back and forth on this tiny ledge of land, and the cliffs above are steep and dense with trees.

The third best part was my 18-hour layover in Hawaii, particularly on my second trip. I traveled back alone and arrived in Honolulu just before sunrise. I had all day until sunset and I drove around the island in my rental, saw pineapple fields and a more populated exotic, beautiful island. The weather was so incredibly refreshing after the humidity of Samoa. Wow, was it it nice. I can still remember how the Hawaiian breezes felt.

Eating papaya takes me back there. It's pretty cool. And the above are only some of the memories of a total of 5 weeks of my life.

Take This Quiz....

...even if you are not from Pittsburgh...just for fun! Post your answer! (Please and thank you)

My friend Meg sent it to me, and she was 100% Pittsburgh! (Hi Meg!!)

You are 89% Pittsburgh.

Great job! There's nooooo doubt about it. You're from Da Burgh. You deserve a reward, so go have an Ahrn City or two. And GO STILLERS!

How Pittsburgh Are You?

Snow On The Car

My aunt sent me this video...it's great!!

Goof on the phone (me)

Do you ever say something automatically in response to something you thought was said but really wasn't? Like 'you're welcome' when the other person didn't say thank you? I don't mean in the sense of saying it to fish for a thank you...it just wasn't the setting or conversation where they said or needed to say thanks.

It sorta went like this:

Me: That would work fine to shift 8 hours into the next pay period
Shop manager: Ok, I'll put the hours for January 31 into Feburary, sounds good
Me: You're welcome

I did that recently and have also in the past said "Good" when greeting someone on the phone in return where I assumed they said 'How are you' but didn't really listen and have register that they didn't ask the question. What fun is life if you don't have opportunities to feel like a goof? Do you have any tales to tell?

Let's Mix It Up

Happy and sad times. The good news is that my parents sold their house after 5 months of having it on the market. Well, it's more than good news, it's great news and a wonderful answer to prayer! It's great because they have been obedient to God though they have desired to move to Oregon for 30+ years. God has opened the door for that to happen. The sad news is I will miss them and Adam and the dogs! A lot! I have lived near my family all my life and we've been through a lot together, especially last year. They are also selling the house in which I grew up. I currently live about 4 miles away. After they move, it'll be about 2,600 miles.

God leads His people at the perfect time, always, and I rest in that though I know it's ok to be sad at the same time. Yet I'm also so happy that they are seeing a desire realized. It gets me excited for holidays spent out there and being able to go to Oregon more in general and with that, seeing my aunt and grandma more. It's a beautiful state as well. This change marks the beginning of a new time in our lives and we will make new memories in their new house. I hope the dogs remember me (I think they will).

Events coming up that will be extra fun (but also sad) include the premier of "24" and my dad's birthday, all in consecutive days next week. I'm going to make his birthday dinner and birthday cake, and we'll celebrate at my place. I haven't decided what I'm making yet since I still need input from him (hi Dad!).

Coffee Cake

I added a recipe to the side dishes link on the left for Breakfast Coffee Cake which is baking right now for the youth retreat this weekend (hence no picture). I made it for a camping trip last summer, and it went over pretty well. This time, I doubled it again (into a 9x13) and am leaving off the icing since there is enough sugar. A reviewer said it was good even without it. The icing isn't super "stable" to remain on the cake and not run into puddles if the cake isn't nice and level (which mine wasn't last time, it dipped in one area) of if you can't serve it while still warm.

Meteors

This display of God's handiwork would have been incredible to see in person! The video is pretty cool but couldn't compare to watching it in the sky above that night.