Funeral Fiesta

I love the fact that I belong to the LDS church. With the fact that we believe in eternal families, a funeral is not good bye but more of a see ya latter. I have only gone to a few funerals in my lifetime and every time it was for a person of our faith that has passed away. They are so much fun. We try to remain solemn on these occasions but they turn into a celebration of their lives. I had my grandfather pass away and we had a lot of fun. We were all together as a very large family and we haven't seen each other in a while. We got to catch up and eat all the food that we enjoy. We are from Idaho in a rural community so we have a lot of food that is indicative of rural area. Mashed potatoes, turkey, homemade raspberry jam, rolls, and of course homemade sweet pickles pass to plates so quickly you would think they disapperated. funeral potatoes are also there but i cant remember what they are. I let my mom worry about them. Otherwise, we have fun. THere are games, reminiscing of the deceased, and overall fun. I haven't had a bad one.

Pizza Pizza

The simple joy of a simple pizza pie wrapped so carefully in the cardboard box we can all recognize is enough to have every person's mouth start to salivate with the hope of an upcoming slice. It seems like pizza has become an american institution. Every child seems to like it with few exceptions and many live off this blessed substance. I asked my roommate who served in Italy if there is even a semblance of the pizza found there. There is but it came from America to there. It is also far different. It is a lot plainer and with fewer toppings. I personally prefer the perfect pizza; canadian bacon and pineapple. It is so basic and despite the fact that people really don't ever call it their favorite, it seems to be the first one gone from the table. I do have a more refined taste though. I have grown to savor the stranger flavors like chicken alfredo from pier 49, the BBQ pizza from Cici's pizza, or even some things that my roommate brings from work. I wish I knew what they were called but alas, I am lost. I will say though that if I go for pizza, pier 49 is my choice around here. the crust is amazing which for me makes the pizza. I think this change came because of maturity. we just change.

random questions

TEN YEARS AGO - I was 13 and finishing some level of school. I was a little fat kid that had some good friends. I believe that I was a good kid but about that time I was getting in trouble for the first time. Nothing big, being from Idaho, but I still got busted doing things like jumping out of pine trees 50 feet high, throwing water balloons at parked cars, or even cracking my head open. Good times!
5 THINGS ON MY TO-DO LIST -
1. Go to all the church history sights including temples.
2. Go base jumping.
3. Go sky diving.
4. Get lunch.
5. Visit Europe to see where a lot of history happened like the castles.
THINGS I WOULD DO IF I WERE A MILLIONAIRE - It would depend on how I got the money. If it was immediate, I would invest some, give some to charity, pay tithing, and probably save a lot for my future kids to put through school. If the money came over a period of time by working, I would probably at that time celebrate my success by buying some sort of toy like a motorcycle or a four wheeler.
3 BAD HABITS - I chew my nails. I have done it forever and I still cant stop. I also leave the toilet seat up for the same reason as above but I still don't understand the problem. So what! Look before you sit! I do! and the third would be eating food that is bad for me. I love snacking and it gets me into trouble health-wise.
SOMETHING PEOPLE DON'T KNOW ABOUT ME - I was born and raised on only one house. I never moved once and I believe it was awesome to have that upbringing. I go home and there are so many memories. Not just from teenage years but most everything I remember. It is now a city of memories for me.

Think Green

I have had a change of taste recently in my diet. Growing up like most kids, I hated all vegetables but Broccoli was the worst. Those little trees that had an odd flavor that disabled my capability to enjoy even trees. Oh how I hated those little green disgusting representations of pure evil. oh the loathing I had for each morsel of that tainted substance that I had to partake of. I was like this for a while. I tried on other occasions to partake but the evil couldn't be overcome.
With all things though, change is inevitable. I got to a point where I could tolerate them and even grow to like them. I guess the farmers grew with less evil in their soil. I now love them now!!! I think they taste great and I love how healthy they are for you. I use them all the time with stir fry and even as a steamed side dish. Not only was it those but I also grew to like green beans, corn, lettuce, tomatoes, and even asparagus. I think it is funny how our tastes can change. Why is that?

Chicken casserole

My family makes a chicken casserole that I believe to be so easy for any person to make. The reason that it is such a hit with my family is because my mother cant cook much anymore because of health reasons so when my mom does cook; it has to be cheap, fast, and easy. (I tell her that she needs to make a sign for her kitchen that says, "If you are what you eat, then I am cheap, fast,and easy!") I love it because I can make it even as a college student with basically no time. First, you get cut up chicken breast and put it in the bottom of a pan. I prefer glass because it seems to work the best. Then put a layer of swiss cheese. Top that with a combination mixture of cream of chicken, cream of celery, one can of water, and some minced onions. This is the best because it adds the main part of the dish. I have also tried some vegetables in this mixture and they work out well. I love green beans but you can decide what you think you should do. My mom's recipe calls for none but I like the health aspect. After that, you top it off with stove top mixed with one cube melted butter. That is the whole casserole. So easy and believe it or not, really cheap! Now just bake for about 45 minuets on 350 degrees and you have a dish that will feed me for 2 days or feed a family of 8.

A little snackage...

During this time of the year of mental breakdowns and overall loss of health, I chose that which will send me into a deeper spiral of self loathing and hate till I tumble out of finals. Thats right, I eat candy and Soda. I survive, I believe, because I still get meals because of my girlfriend. She makes me eat stuff like spaghetti and fruit cups but when left to my own devices, I eat red vines, Kiwi-Strawberry sodas, chips, and of course ice cream. Some day I will get diabetes but till that time I am left to hate my body for the fat I create. I wish I would just but some fruit and vegetables but i find them expensive and it is so much easier to just snack on sweets for the quick high. Maybe I should change.

For the birds

What character did I chose that I am? That is the question of the day. I really believe that I am most like a little know character known as Scuttle from The Little Mermaid. I chose him because of his lack of propriety. I love the scene when Sebastian and other characters sing so that Prince Eric will kiss Ariel. When Scuttle sang really bad and had to be shut up, I would do that. I have tried to sing but I always get the comment, "Who sings that? Let them sing that." I hate that. Why must everybody destroy my joy. I think Scuttle felt the same way.
I also like to make stuff up on the spot to sound intelligent. Scuttle provides the information for the human world to Ariel and just makes up terms even though he really doesn't know it. I love that. The words he comes up with awesome and are words that I like dinglehopper and snarfblack. I would totally do that.

garden variety chef

When I was growing up, My parents had a garden and encouraged us to participate with them in growing their own food. My father grew up on a farm and he still hasn't quite gotten out of the habit despite the face that he left the farm more than 40 years ago. Still, I found it quite a blessing to have the privilege to work in that garden so long ago. I remember harvesting green beans, cherry tomatoes, potatoes (I am from Idaho), corn, and even some squash. I loved the food that we grew. It just seemed so much better knowing that I helped weed the garden and even help in the watering of the food. The food just seemed so much better. I hope to also have grow my own garden some day.

The impession that I get

My mother always had one dish that was always impressive because it was the favorite dish of so many people. Her lasagna was amazing and one to be reckoned with. She has even given it to apostles and they were very complimentary. I guess I am a little biased because I was grew up on it. I believe it is because she makes everything from scratch. The sauce is just thick enough to be eaten on a fork with no liquid drained off and she will cook it for nigh on 7 hours. The cheese is a little unique with cottage, mozzarella, and Parmagan cheeses that melt oh so nicely. I remember one of my mother's old friends coming over to meet and greet our family and it was a nice evening but the highlight was the food. I could tell that she wanted to make a good impression and I have never heard a person more complimentary. Although the battle wasn't over and I believe it must have been Itallian food battle because we were invited over there for a chicken parmageana. It was simply splendid but I don't think it was in the league of my mothers food. There are just a few foods on the planet that can feed a large appetite and be able to sooth the most food crazed critic but I believe my mothers satisfy them all. GO MOMS!

Ski food

For some reason, I have forgotten one of the best parts of the ski season. I haven't been skiing for about 5 years and this last weekend, I decided to alleviate that problem. I went two times this last weekend and for those who haven't been this season or any, I would highly recommend visiting the slopes for the ride of a lifetime. The food that we eat seams to be a little unique in that it seems to be a little more tasty. When I ski, I wont eat for close to 6-7 hours and when we finally leave the slope, we are all starved. When I left Brighton on Monday, all i had was a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, carrots, and some Triscuits. For some reason, that sandwich seemed to be the manna from heaven with a flavor to rival most French restaurants in Paris. The carrots were so sweet that I thought I must have been in heaven dining with the angels who are privileged to dine on it forever. But the Triscuits were just Triscuits with no optimal flavor. The only explanation i have for this phenomenon is that I was starting to get full and the need wasn't there. I prefer to think that the exhilaration of the day makes everything so much better. To say the least, skiing makes food better!

3 for 99 are you out of your mind!!!

As a college student, I am always on the look out for the cheapest food that will give me the largest quantity food for the least amount of money possible. Oh how my heart began to palpitate when I got wind of 3 tacos for a buck! I wanted to see if this was true, so I visited Del Taco which has this deal only on Tuesdays. I ordered 6 tacos, 2 hard and 4 soft, to go. When I finally got the food, I was a little disappointed to find that the food was minute at best. The majority of the taco was made of lettuce. The rest was a little bit of cheese and even less meat. Of course, what would you expect for a dollar. For the value, it wasn't too bad. For two dollars, I was satisfied. I do recommend it for the deprived student who has no money but still wants some fast food. Perfect for us.

Jan. 10 2008 Mourning routine

This mourning, I woke up to the sweet smell of pancakes and bacon cooking. This is not the normal mourning routine so I woke up a little quicker. Mike, my roommate, every-so-often will wake up and cook for the apartment so I was a little anxious. Not wanting to appear over-anxious for the food, I first took a shower. I don't take a long time in the shower and today was a little quicker than usual with the hope of an upcoming meal better than the usual milk and cereal that I still haven't mastered the art of making after 23 years of making the food. After the shower, still in my towel, I discover that the food wasn't for me but for our new roommate Jake. What a sad mourning!! I instead had an overly dry bowl of corn Chex, which after a few weeks of eating them still taste wonderful. I left for school a little less satisfied than usual but all the same full which is usually the reason that I eat at all anymore. Still, I recommend cereal for everybody that will eat breakfast. I believe it is the perfect food for any morning. Whether you are planning on spending all day curled up on your couch watching anything from The Office to Spongebob Squarepants, or preparing for a marathon, cereal is the way to go!