One of the simplest, and yet one of my favorite, recipes!

This is really easy! You can do it on the grill, george forman, or pan. Finishes in a glaze.
I make extra sauce because it tastes so yummy with mashed potatoes.

The BEST bbq chicken!
2 servings

INGREDIENTS
1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil
1/4 cup diced onion
2 cloves garlic, minced
5 tablespoons ketchup
3 tablespoons honey
3 tablespoons brown sugar
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
salt and pepper to taste
2 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves

DIRECTIONS
Preheat grill for medium-high heat.
Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Saute onion and garlic until tender. Stir in ketchup, honey, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper. Cook for a few minutes to thicken sauce. Remove from heat, and allow to cool.
Lightly oil the grill grate. Dip chicken in sauce, and turn to coat. Cook on grill for 10 to 15 minutes, turning once. Move chicken to the skillet with sauce. Simmer over medium heat for about 5 minutes on each side.

"I'm so happy you were married in the temple! I worried that you wouldn't!!!"

So I have heard this statement more than once in my lifetime and it makes me sad everytime. I ran into a women who was one of my young womens leaders and she was so shocked to see me in a church setting. So when she told me that she was suprised I had gone through the temple, it really got me thinking. I know I was a bad kid, but I never thought I was THAT bad. I hung out with a bad crowd, made bad decisions, I was an awful daughter, but I went to church every sunday (more because that is what my parents told me I had to do, but I did.)

It took a major fall out the the "crowd" to getting make me understand that if I didn't get out of here, I wasn't going to end up in a place that anyone would be jelous of. So at the begining of the second week in december I called BYU-I and ask was the chances were that I could come for the winter semester even though I had been accepted in the fall and not gone. Luckily, the agreed that I could come. In the same week, my grandpa died. I was the only grandchild so I had been a bit spoiled in my relationship. We headed to St Louis for the funeral. We got back the week after, which was the last week in december. My sister got married that week and I left for school the next day. It was the most emotionally taxing time I had at that point. I was definantly being watched over so that I could get to where I was suppose to be. I got to my new apartment a day before my roomates showed up. They were already living there so things were already set up. My dad helped my move in and we noticed some vugar things written in the bottom of the drawers and on some of the wall hangings. I decided that I was going to wait until I met my roomates before I made judgement. We the girls came (Hi Jeanne and Rachel!!) and were weirded out by the stuff too. Aparently, before the Christmas break the complex had fired a matience worker and he was not happy about it. He had used his key and gone into girls apartments and defiled them. We were really creeped out but got the mild end of it. Some girls had ketchup, syrup, and even human feces smeared all over there clothes!!!!

The point of this story is that I think all of these challeneges were being put in my way because I was doing the right thing. I never had any doubt that I would end up married in the temple but by the choices I made, make the straight and narrow overgrown with weeds. Everyday I risk not being able to find my way back and obviously other people saw that too.

So I will forever be greatful to all of the people lovingly guided me (without me knowing) through this time in my life. I just home that I can help even one other YW through a questionable time.

Things I am thankful for lately....

Things have been "interesting" lately prompting me to be thankful for the following things...

1. Paid vacation time
2. my Dyson vaccum
3. my new phone/text messaging
4. An ever progressing relationship
5. under-eye concealer
6. chest freezers
7. the public library
8. caller id
9. CRAIGSLIST!
10. petsmart

Recipe one day early!

This is the perfect thing to bring to BBQs. Everyone loves it! I don't use the tomatoes but only because I don't like them.

Taco Dip

INGREDIENTS
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1 (16 ounce) container nonfat sour cream
1 (1.25 ounce) package taco seasoning mix
1/4 head iceberg lettuce - rinsed, dried, and shredded
1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
3 chopped tomatoes
1 green bell pepper, chopped
1 (2.25 ounce) can black olives, drained

In a medium-sized mixing bowl, combine cream cheese, sour cream and taco seasoning. Spread this mixture in a 9-inch round serving dish or bowl. Top the mixture with lettuce, Cheddar cheese, tomatoes, bell pepper and black olives.

BONUS!!!
This on is actually for Jolyn. I brought this to a get together when her and Daniel were in town and she asked me for the recipe months ago and I keep for getting. So here it is Jolyn! This is seriously one of the best deserts and you can't taste the low fat at all!


CREAM PUFF DESSERT

1 stick butter
1 c. water
1 c. flour4 eggs
Boil together 1 stick butter and 1 cup water. Add 1 cup flour; mix well.
Cool slightly. Stir in 4 eggs, one at a time.
Mix well and spread into 9 x 13 inch greased pan. Bake at 400 degrees for 30 minutes. Cool completely. Makes a pretty crust.

Take 1 large box vanilla instant pudding add 3 cups milk and 1 (8 ounce) package softened fat free cream cheese. Mix together with wire whip so lumps disappear. Pour into cream puff crust. Spread 8 ounce light Cool Whip on top of pudding and drizzle Hershey's syrup on top. Refrigerate. Keeps very well for days.

Mormon Brain Tumor!

When Ty and I first got married I was very adimit that I would never stay at home with kids and would always have my career. Ty had a bit of a problem with that because he wanted to marry someone who was going to stay home with kids. But, he married me anyways. He says that he knew that I would change me mind. (not sure how but he claims he knew.)

Well, I offically have contracted the Mormon brain tumor. All I want to do is stay home and clean my house. I have to cook everyday because it relaxes me and I enjoy it. I want to spend my saturdays making cakes and doing laundry. What happened to me?????? AHHHHH!

I'm so mad, I shaking!!!

So I was fliping through the channels and there was a Americas Next Top Model re-run was on from this last season. They announced the winner and made it very clear that she was the first "full figured plus size" model. This is where my outrage comes in. SHE IS A SIZE 8!!!!! Sense when is size 8 "plus sized"??? How dare they portray a healthy body as something any less then perfect. Hell, I strive to be a size 10-12 and that sounds great to me let alone a size 8! AGGGGGHHHHH!

Try #2 was a just a little more successful!

So I decided to try my hand at another fondant cake. I must say that I am actually proud of this one! What do you think? Do you want to hire me now?:) Just Kidding!

Oh, and here is just a funny picture of Scout. I just happen to snap this photo at the right moment and I couldn't stop laughing!