Merry Christmas!

One day we're going to actually finish our kitchen and I'll get to post real pictures of it.  Unfortunately we're in that stage where it's livable enough that we can take a break (we spent every spare moment of October and November working on it and I am SICK of it!).  Until then, I suppose I'll have to settle for posting pictures taken in the kitchen.  It's kind of like showing off all the work we put in, right?!

So here is our update- I finally got to make some good quality Croquembouche (a cream puff tower- it's been on my 'I really want to try making this' list for years now, but there are only so many places you can bring a 2' high tower of cream puffs encrusted with spun sugar...)  AND, you might just notice that the croquembouche is NOT sitting on a pink counter top.  

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas over here :)

Christmas Update

It's Christmas card time again-  If you don't think we have your current address- let me know! Thanks!

Trivia Question:

Q: What color are our kitchen counter tops?

A: NOT PINK!!!

(We've been waiting a long time to be able to give that answer!)

George Reunion!

We had such a great time at our George reunion this year!  The week was full of fun- games, a Halloween Party, a trip up the mountain in a Rzr (could that possibly be spelled right?  Words without vowels seem tricky to me, but whatever the case- that is definitely my favorite way to hike up a mountain!), fishing, and lots and lots of Lego Mindstorm building.  

We're sad to be back to real life!

Pumpkin bowling in the dark

View from the top

Farewell to Summer

Can you find Doug fishing?!

Well, we've watched as the leaves in the canyon have changed colors and slowly fallen from the trees; I suppose it's time to admit that Summer is officially gone.  It's just so sad to me this year!  

Our life hasn't changed much in the past 5 years, despite thousands, possibly millions, of prayers that it would. This summer was the first time in a long time that God let us see something change for the better.  It wasn't big, and in the opposite direction than I'd hoped for (I never expected to start college all over again in my late 20s...while still battling the illness that came in my early 20s) but it was a change!  And after so many years of feeling stuck in a place I didn't want to be, any change at all feels pretty magical.  

It was a good summer.  Maybe even my favorite one yet.

My little painting nook next to Doug's fishing spot

Doug's 'Farm' (ok, it was a small plot in the community garden by his office... but to us it was big enough to call The Farm)

Our garden at home

Blue Ribbon Winner

And the First Prize winner of the Digi International Annual Salsa Competition is.....

Asian Style Salsa created by our very own Douglas George!

And do you know what the coolest part is?  To Doug, a cooking competition isn't even real if you don't make up your own recipe.  And not just a variation of a recipe, a completely new one.  (because, after all, if you used Martha Stewart's recipe it's not even like you had to do anything- or so Doug would say)

I love Salsa Contest Season because we get to eat variations of fresh salsa for weeks while Doug perfects his recipe.  And if I ever had a favorite past time, it might just be biting into amazing food and trying to figure out what might make it even more delicious.  

Lately Doug's been enjoying taking a dish and giving it a different cultural swing.  Last year's Italian Salsa was divine.  But this year's dish is one I keep asking him to make even after trying batch after batch.  And let's be honest, you know it's got to be good to convince a panel of judges to give it first prize in a Salsa Competition when it's not anything like any salsa they've ever tried before.

For those of you who have requested the recipe, here it is (though I do make the disclaimer that we have been trying out the health benefits of random diets for years... as a result the staples of our cupboards are not always things other people would have on hand... sorry!)

Doug's Asian Style Salsa

2 T Sauté Oil (Vegetable Oil would work too)

4 T Sesame Oil

2 T Soy Sauce

1 Tablespoon + 1 teaspoon Rice Vinegar

1 T Sriracha Chili Sauce

¼ t Ground Mustard

5 T Sugar

¼ t Ginger

About 14 oz Shelled Edamame

2 Red Peppers

1 Small Bunch Green Onion

2 T Black Sesame Seeds

2 T Toasted Sesame Seeds

Combine Vegetable oil, sesame oil, rice vinegar, Sriracha, ground mustard, sugar and ginger in a sauce pan.  Bring to a boil for about 4 minutes, stirring constantly.  Remove from heat and allow to cool slightly.

While sauce cools, dice edamame and peppers into small pieces and add to your salsa bowl.  Dice only the whites of the green onions and add to bowl.  Stir in sesame seeds, reserving 1 T of black seeds for garnish.  Mix in cooled sauce and top with remaining sesame seeds.

Enjoy with tortilla chips.  

(It's also fantastic on a grilled chicken salad!  Or make up just the sauce and mix with cabbage for a coleslaw) 

Doug's New Calling

When we were first married Doug got called into our ward's Elder's Quorum Presidency where he happily served for the year we lived in our apartment.  When we moved into our house we where excited for change.  New people, new ward, new callings-  Right?!

Well,  I got a new calling.  Doug was called into the Elder's Quorum again.  At that point I laughed- it was apparently where he needed to be!  But it wasn't just then- in the 5 years since we moved to our first ward, our Elder's Quorums have had 4 different presidencies, and Doug has been in them all.

So I'm sure you can understand our excitement when, a couple weeks ago, Doug was told the presidency was going to be released!  His 'Forever Calling' would actually come to an end! We were excited and a little nervous to find out where he'd go as we made a mental list of all the open callings in the ward.  When the stake presidency called and asked him to come in we, of course, got even more nervous.  Forget the ward, now we were thinking all of the vacancies in the stake.  I  just hate waiting for those interviews to finally come!

But come it did and I still break out in giggles when I think of the councilor in our Stake Presidency leaning forward and saying, "Doug, we'd like to release from your calling as First Councilor in the Elder's Quorum Presidency and call you... as the First Councilor in the new Elder's Quorum Presidency."

Ha! Well, I guess you can change the official number to 5; five presidencies in a row that Doug as served in. I'm seriously beginning to think his calling will never change.