The Strange Familia(r)--The Great Pumpkin

A long time ago in a land far, far away...actually it was just when my family used to live in Tooele.  For some reason we never were able to throw our pumpkins from Halloween away.  In fact, we stuck them in our apple tree in the backyard and let them rot and fertilize the tree.  We would time how long it took.  One of our particularly large pumpkins took about 2 years before it disappeared forever.

Despite our change in location, some things never change.  Here is the story of the pumpkin from this year:

Once upon a time there was a pumpkin that was purchased at Halloween.  

Why did the padre purchase this particular pumpkin?  

Well, because it was super cheap.  

Why was it so cheap?

BECAUSE IT WAS ROTTING!

So what did we do?

Place it on a rock outside with it's rotting side hidden from the world.

...and then...

it was promptly forgotten until a massive snow storm hit and the snow from it buried the pumpkin alive and half rotten.

And then the poor members of the House of Nuts could not remember if we ever threw the rotting pumpkin away or if it was still on that rock in front of the house...it was discussed, questioned but then forgotten.

Until a little bit ago when suddenly the snow melted and there was a frozen, rotting pumpkin, on a rock in front of our house.

So what did Stephie do?

Kick it.

After which it promptly collapsed.

Rotting pumpkin, if we ever remove you from that rock in front of the house,

may you rest in peace.

For more stories of my nutty family look here. 

Sandwich Day Monday--scones?

So it seems like I am baking a lot lately.  True story.  The problem is that the familia apparently really enjoys the sweet sugary things I am making.  I can tell because when came into the kitchen last night Auntie held up a few oranges that she had bought at the store and gave me that mischievous smile of hers.  I asked if that was a hint...apparently it was.  Just like the hint from the day before when the cita came in from the store with a bag of cranberries and another mischievous smile...they are totally sisters.  
Last week I did make an amazing chicken salad sandwich thing with no sugar in it, but it didn't last long enough for me to take a picture.  Kind of like the scones last night--which is why I was suddenly making scones again this morning.  Oh well. :) 
I grew up thinking that scones were a type of bread that was fried and tasted fantastic with honey butter.  Apparently that is called...fry-bread.  So recently I learned how to make "real" scones.  In that wonderful cookbook I found a few days ago, is a recipe for Cranberry Orange Scones.  This recipe is delicious, but it is even better combined with a recipe from one of my favorite recipe websites,   allrecipes.com.  On this website is the most delicious and versatile scone recipe called, Grandma Johnson's Scones.  I love them, they are delicious.  So I combined the 2 recipes and voila!, Cranberry Orange Creamy Deliciousness courtesy of Aliswan...and yes I wore one of those flirty aprons and sang while I was baking...and yes, somehow it made the experience that much funner. :)

I changed a few things from the recipe that is in the above link.  Here is how I made my version of these delicious scones: :)
1. The first thing I did was cut the cup of butter into small squares and put it in the freezer for about 20 minutes.  
2.  During that time I zest 1 1/2 oranges and juice them.  (I use the zest for the scones and freshly squeezed juice for the glaze.)
3. Next I put all of the dry ingredients into the mixer with the now chilled butter.  I added a little less sugar then the recipe calls for.  It asks for 1 cup and I put in about 3/4 of a cup.  (I did this because I put a glaze on top and didn't want it to be to sugary.  It was perfect.)  Then I mix until the butter is the size small pea-size chunks.  It apparently is uber important not to mix it past this point if you want your scones to be crazy good.
4. When the butter is pea-sized I then added the "wet" ingredients to the mixture (the sour cream and egg).  I also add a little bit of vanilla.  (I use Mexican Vanilla which is super strong, so I only use about 3/4 of a tsp.)
5.  When it is all mixed I add the orange zest, mix it some more, add about 1 cup of cranberries, and mix it for the last time until everything is pretty evenly dispersed.
6.  I split the dough in half (I like slightly smaller scones), roll it in a circle to about 1/4 inch thick on a floured surface, and slice it like a pizza.  I do this for both halfs.
7.  Finally I stick them on an ungreased pan in a 350 degree oven for about 15-20 minutes.  I take them out when the BOTTOMS, not necessarily the tops, begin to brown.
8. While it is baking I make the glaze using 2 2/3 cups of powdered sugar, 1/4 cup of the freshly squeezed orange juice, and 1 1/4 tsp. of vanilla (use about half of that if you are using Mexican Vanilla).  
9.  They come out of the oven, I pour the glaze on top of them, and then we eat them as fast as possible.  So there you go.  
Another thing I do sometimes is split the dough before I put in the orange zest and cranberries.  I roll out the plain dough (just like above), cut it, bake it, and then brush the tops with milk and sprinkle them with sugar.  It is amazing!  

The Quote Box--The $10 gift card.

Yesterday I went up to campus to be a model for my friend for her theater makeup class.  Talk about the coolest class ever.  It is in the basement of the Harris Fine Arts Center, which can honestly be pretty creepy.  Basements with black walls/doors, dimly lit passages, and strange twists and turns, tend to be like that.  Yesterday they were working on airbrush makeup.  This was my first time being "airbrushed", and I've got to admit, I'm a HUGE fan.  You close your eyes, hold your breath, and it feels like someone is using one of those squirt fans that cool you off and fan you at the same time.  The you open your eyes and you have the most glorious, WEIGHTLESS, blemish-free, skin-tone.  Apparently you can sweat through it, it doesn't come off on your clothes, and it is virtually invisible (unless you put a ridiculous amount on).  All in all, good experience.  I liked it so much that I begged to come back on Tuesday when she is doing her graded airbrushing.
After the class I took my $10 gift card to the BYU Bookstore.  I got 2 books for fun from the clearance section (best invention ever).  I got a lot of archaeology books for Christmas so I thought I would just get some fun books.  I got The Book of Positive Quotations by John Cook.  Talk about 450 pages of quotation awesomeness!  The other book is a little thing called Teach Yourself Hieroglyphics.  Definitely not a replacement for a textbook or class, but interesting and kind of fun just the same.  So I'm having fun with those two.  Last night the cita and I played a game where You flip through through the book and randomly select quotes.  It was very thought provoking but mainly just fun.  Here is one of my favorites from yesterday:

"The future is something which everyone reaches at the rate of sixty-minutes an hour, whatever he does, whoever he is"  -C.S. Lewis

Sandwich Day Monday--The book is back!

MAJOR MIRACLE!!!  Once upon a time, a long, long, long time ago (2 years kids), I worked at a little mini cafe on campus called the Pendulum Court.  It is run by the BYU Dietetics Program and it makes the most amazing food.  That semester they made a cookbook and I bought it, it was unreal and one day, as I was unpacking from a trip, it disappeared.  Jump back to 2 years later, I am looking for a frame that has a picture of a good friend to show Otis.  In a random box full of old trophies I find my cookbook that I thought had been accidentally thrown away.

It was miraculous and my family has reaped the benefits.  Last night I made the Southern Chicken Salad Croissant and everyone has been eating it nonstop.  I think tomorrow I'm going to make Cranberry Orange Scones.  We'll see. :)  So there is the miracle for the week.  Yay for good food!

Once Upon A Time--The Stats Class

Once upon a time there was a girl named Aliswan who desperately wished to get going on all of those life-changing events.  The biggest hurdle to jump in order to reach this goal was to graduate from university in April of 2010.  While that would seem like an easy thing for our heroine there was one villainous beast who stood in her way.  It's name was Statistics 221...........................................yep, that's as far as it goes.
I started my final class of my undergraduate career this morning, officially anyway.  I've been trying to really get going on it but apparently setting this class up and getting everything in order takes a long time.  Starting this class included buying, registering, paying for registration, reading a million things, registering again, waiting for them to email me back, paying more fees, registering some more...yada, yada, yada.  I'm starting to care less and less that I saved so much money doing Independent Study.
The good in all of this?  This morning I set up my computer next to my window and when I opened the blinds...it was raining.  For anyone who knows me, the beautiful, cloudy skies are not a curse but a major, feel-good blessing.  So I stared out the window for awhile and just reveled in the beauty of rain...until literally this second when it started to snow.  That was really cool actually.  Don't worry, it's pretty and isn't sticking yet. :)

Sandwich Day Monday--The non-cinabon

So I've been baking a bit...a lot really.  Lack of anything to do and access to a Kitchenaid does these kinds of things to a person.  So here is a pic of the first cinnamon rolls I have ever made.  Sweet, sugary, goodness.  Although after this sweet kick in the mouth I think I'm going to have to make soups for a bit. :)

Sandwich Day Monday--getting all domestic

Sometimes I like to get all domestic...because I am in no way a domestic person nor lead a domestic life.  When I do randomly decide to get all domestic, it really confuses people, and that is what I'm all about...mass confusion.  So yesterday, since the padre is across the country, I got the 'Honey-do list', and I 'honey do' so well that I was done by noon, and got to make cream puffs for the first time.  The top of the list was erasing all remnants of Christmas...if you've been to the casa you would understand what a huge job this is.  The longest part of the job?  (other than carrying 5 million boxes down to the basement) GETTING THE LIGHTS OFF THE TREE!!!!

Yes, the padre likes to put 1000+ lights up every year, twirling, twisting and tangling around each branch.  Gorgeous finished product, but the devil to get off.  I don't know how it happened but somehow it got twirled, twisted, and tangled around my neck....not the best feeling.

The final domestic act of the day was making, for the first time, cream puffs.  They were puffy, creamy and absolutely scrumptious.  Probably will do that again sometime.  Although I really wish they wouldn't put the caloric intake next to the recipe.  It is a bit of a downer...and yet, had no influence on how many everyone ate.  Oh well. :)

T-dog loved them too...obviously.  Although I'm not sure if it was the sugary creamy goodness or the bread part.  This little boy loves his bread...hence the incredible amount of continuous energy bursting from him constantly. :)

Heard in the Halls--yay for the cita.

Today I woke up, and then prayed I would fall back asleep...forever.  Just one of those days folks.  So in order to attempt to cheer myself up I thought of a conversation (a really short one) the cita and I had yesterday.
(the Cita looks longingly at the hot, salty french fry I just took a bite out of)
Aliswan: Would you like a half-chewed french fry?
the Cita: yes, please 
(the Cita devours half-chewed french fry)
Aliswan: I love our relationship
the Cita: me too
(strange look at one another followed promptly by ridiculous laughing)

The Quote Box--ffffound.com

Weak Sauce--Running in the living room.

So I have been sick...for weeks.  I got sick with a horrible cough right before finals--which means I simply got worse because of finals.  You push yourself pretty hard for those two weeks.  Then, after a little less then a week reprieve, I got sick again with a head cold.  Living in a house with 9 other people does strange things to your immune system.  So after sick and often bedridden for the last...month, I have finally been well enough to try to get back into the swing of things.  Being sick has done horrible things to my endurance and that is more than a little frustrating, but I'm trying to keep on, keeping on.
Before the illnesses of death and destruction my good friend Otis and I would go swimming and running.  I would teach her how to swim, she was teaching me how to run.  I was up to 3-4 miles the last week we exercised together.  Now I'm trying to jog about 30 min. every night.  I still can't handle the cold air, it gets me coughing like you wouldn't believe, but working out in the living room has it's advantages...like running BAREFOOT!!! (one of my favorites)  I also started doing those workout dvd's by Jillian Michaels.  I did an hour long one on Tuesday, and on Wednesday...I felt as though I was paralyzed.  Lots of soreness.  The auntie and I did a 20 min. one yesterday, and today there is a little soreness but I feel great otherwise!  Yay!  Hopefully within the next little bit I'll be able to build up all that strength I lost the past month.  We'll see.

The Strange Familia(r)--Carolyn's birthday

Yesterday was Carolyn's birthday and despite the majority of us being down with various illnesses, we had a great time.  Here are some sweet pics.

The birthday girl!

Various guests and their various cuteness and craziness.

Grandma having to write Carolyn her first note for school in...??? years. :)

A fantastic video of Carolyn's adorables providing spontaneous entertainment.

Dancing with the Stars @ Yahoo! Video

Widgie has to be the happiest baby...ever.  Love taking pictures of her.  Totally content to hang with daddy.

T-dog wanted me to take pictures of him, so I took quite a few, but this has to be my favorite.  Mainly because grandpa tried to sneak in. :)

Finally a video of T-dog and his willingness to spread the love.

Mmmmmmwhaa! @ Yahoo! Video

Happy Birthday Carolyn!  We love your face!

Under Construction

Obviously, the blog is a bit under construction.  I'm trying a bunch of new things with the new year that is upon us.  I'm starting to label my posts.  I don't know why I never did that before.  Seems silly now.  I'm also trying to post more as a motivation for some of my new year resolutions.  It will keep me going I think.  We'll see!

So one of my labels is 'Tender Mercies'.  One of the many new year resolutions is to study the scriptures and the words of the prophets and apostles daily.  This morning I read an article by Dieter F. Uchtdorf called "Hold on a Little Longer".  It really touched my spirit and gave me hope.  Click HERE to read the message.  It's a keeper! :) Happy New Year!

Also, I made bread for the first time in my life.  It turned out really good...the second time around. :)

Strange commentary on life.

So, after reunion type conversations with friends I grew up with, I've decided that sometimes life is strange. You grow up all doing the same type of things at the same time. You lose you 12 year old molars at about the same time, you move forward in school at the same time, you all start dating around the same time, you move out of the house at about the same time....the list continues forever...well not quite. Suddenly you graduate from high school, move out, move on, and those friends you grew and did everything with, now move in completely different directions. This has been definitely thrown into my face lately after connecting with some of these old friends. My little brother's friends are getting married, while my friends are starting a family, or their family is growing exponentially. All the while I am in this limbo stage trying to see where my life is about to turn. Hmmmm....what I wouldn't do for some absolute direction right about now.