Egg Recall

Have you heard about the egg recall? 

Normally, when I hear about recall's I'm just sitting around looking things up online.  The only other time I had something that was being recalled was the infants tylenol this last spring.  This is how it went for me today:

Naomi crawling all over me this morning whining and even when I'm holding her she's not quite happy.  She tries to crawl on the floor, so I let her down, then she turns right back around and wants back up.  Repeat, repeat, repeat.  So I'm exhausted when I put her down for her first nap.

But I want to read!  I'm more than half way through the fourth Harry Potter book and it's been three years since I've read it so it's almost like reading it again for the first time.  Almost, except that I know the end result. So it's exciting again.

Anyway, so I put her down and read a chapter, then lay down myself because, remember, I'm exhausted.  I get maybe 40ish minutes and then Nae is awake.  So, I go in and grab her.  She wont drink much of her bottle, she is all whiny again so I take her outside - in just a diaper.  And I live in the middle of nowhere but that is when everyone decides to drive to my neighbors across the street and some of the farm boy's decide to drive into the yard - right past me in stretchy pants and a giant t shirt, holding this mostly naked baby. 

I bring her back in, she is still a bit whiny, wont take her bottle and so I give up and walk out of the room and start cutting the egg's that I boiled.  Well, had to RE boil because I originally boiled them last night, but upon opening one of them found that they were not all the way hard.  Annoying.  So, I'm peeling and cutting and peeling and cutting.  I had just read a few days ago that I can now give Naomi a whole egg.  So, I decide to take about 1/3 of one of the egg's, mash it up and put it in avocado and mash that all up.  Her first time with egg and avocado.  I probably should have just introduced one at a time, but I was feeling adventurous. 

She is eating it, pulling some faces, but eating it.  Jaren comes home and it's all over.  She wants him to hold her and she's whiny again.  So I handed him the bowl and he fed her and that satisfied her.  I grabbed the computer to look up my itinerary for next week because I thought I was flying out of Portland early in the morning and getting back into Idaho Falls late afternoon.  (I was wrong, by the way, flying out in the afternoon and not getting in until later in the evening).  I open my email and found an email from Jaren's sister with the link to the egg recall.  I told Jaren to stop feeding her and grabbed some bananas and strawberries and he fed her that instead.  I got out both our cartons of egg's and looked up the numbers.  Turns out - we are safe. 

But seriously!  The day I decide to make egg salad sandwiches, and feed Naomi egg for the first time AND I had an omelet yesterday! Next thing I know I'll find out all my baby food I bought for Naomi (probably enough to get her through the rest of her puree'd food stage - $70 worth or more) is all bad. 

So I added some lemon and seasoning salt and ate the guacamole with egg in it for lunch.  With half an egg salad sandwhich.  Sure hope those are the only infected numbers on that site, or we'll have a sick family.

Super Fantastic Amazing Cookie Dough

I love cookie dough.  And brownie batter.  My super duper calorific treats of choice.

I have been using the Toll House recipe and wasn't liking the way they cooked flat and the dough would crunch when I bit into it.  I really don't like crunching on the sugar.  I like smooth soft dough and fluffier cookies.

So I Googled; "How to make your cookies fluffier" - I love that you can type anything and it yields results and 98% of the time I find what I'm looking for.

I came to one of those Yahoo question and answer pages and someone had the same question.  Maybe a little more eloquently worded.  Someone answered with a big long answer on how to make cookies three different ways: fluffy/puffy, soft/chewy and flat/thin.  I went for a bit of a mixture between fluffy and chewy, because I don't want my cookies too cake-like.

Except this time, with this recipe the dough is so unbelievably good and exactly what I have been dreaming for I'm not even making the cookies.  I'm just going to eat the dough.  And half of it is already gone.

So, if you love dough more than the actual cookie - here is the recipe (I changed the amount of flour from the original.  I also used regular flour instead of bread flour):

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Yield: 2 1/2 dozen cookies

2 sticks unsalted butter
2 1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 cup sugar
1 1/4 cups brown sugar
1 egg
1 egg yolk
2 tablespoons milk
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
Hardware:
Ice cream scooper (#20 disher, to be exact)
Parchment paper
Baking sheets
Mixer

Heat oven to 375 degrees F.
Melt the butter in a heavy-bottom medium saucepan over low heat. Sift together the flour, salt, and baking soda and set aside.
Pour the melted butter in the mixer's work bowl. Add the sugar and brown sugar. Cream the butter and sugars on medium speed. Add the egg, yolk, 2 tablespoons milk and vanilla extract and mix until well combined. Slowly incorporate the flour mixture until thoroughly combined. Stir in the chocolate chips.
Chill the dough, then scoop onto parchment-lined baking sheets, 6 cookies per sheet. Bake for 14 minutes or until golden brown, checking the cookies after 5 minutes. Rotate the baking sheet for even browning. Cool completely and store in an airtight container.


Here is the question and answer page.

Five Guys and Why I'm Famous

Here is the conversation

Me: Sometime when we are down here (Utah) we should stop and eat at this one place, I got a burger from there when I was here last - it was really good.

Jaren: okay, where?

Me: Five guys or something

Jaren: Five guys! Yeah! We sell potatoes to them.

Me: YOU DO?!!?!

Jaren: Yeah, have for years

Me: I didn't get any! We HAVE to go! This is so cool...

Jaren: Yeah, pay to grow them then pay to eat them......

Me: But I'm going to tell them the fries are YOURS!

Jaren: You will not.

Me: YES, I will.

It's true. Yours truly(meaning Jaren - I just stand and cheer on the sidelines) grows the amazing fries from Five Guys.

They claim "We use only Idaho Potatoes" and it's true!

They should say:

"We use Mr and Mrs Potatohead Idaho Potatoes - they are especially yummy because they are grown with love"

This is the most exciting day of my life. I feel famous. I am famous! You are all so welcome to know me.

Happy Birthday to Jaren!

It was on the 19th - almost a week ago, I'm a horrible busy wife.

I haven't told enough of "Our Story" yet for you to understand exactly why I will love Jaren for the rest of my existence.

He is the most patient person I know. He loves me, ALL of me. It doesn't seem to matter what I do, he finds it endearing and I just wait for him to notice someday that I'm by no means perfect or always cute. Sometimes I even think he is just saying "your so cute" to convince himself that what I am doing really is cute. But he says that isn't so - and I love him dearly for it.

Jaren is the type of person that will sit and listen to you whine and cry all day long and help you out. He will drop whatever it is he's doing if it means making your load a little lighter.

For example. When we were dating but not boyfriend/girlfriend (my doing), I took a trip to Utah. I forgot my scriptures at my Aunt and Uncles house. They were my only set and I read them every day (something I need to pick up again).

On a Friday or Thursday... I'm not sure which, he came to me and asked if I wanted to run to Salt Lake that Saturday. I couldn't believe he wanted to run down and back in a day! (SL is 3 hours from Rexburg)

And he did. He drove me all the way down there, we had dinner at the Macaroni Grill and I doodled on the tablecloth and we got my scriptures. We also received frozen cookies from my aunt - sooo good. Then he drove me back and we got in around midnight - I had to work at 6:00 a.m. the next morning.

It took no time for me to realize what a genuinely good guy he was when we met. Unfortunately, it took me a lot longer to realize that he was supposed to be my genuinely good guy.

Here are a few of the things I love about him.

• he never complains about the house being a mess
• he doesn't complain about all my time blogging
• When I say, "I'm thirsty" he get's up and brings me a glass of water (that took NO training, he learned that one all by himself :)
• he tucks me in every single night - even when I'm going to bed before him
• he can't go to bed without me
• he misses me when I'm gone
• he switches laundry over for me (when I ask)
• he laughs at my jokes (which are pretty lame)
• he pretty much gives me whatever I want (pretty much)
• he is so understanding
• he took me to the Chiropractor and doesn't ever complain about the bill (someday I'll tell that story)
• he doesn't tell me I look nice every day, he does however, tell me I am cute and beautiful and pretty most every day, but those days when he tells me I look nice - it means I really do
• If my tank is empty he will leave early in the morning and fill it up for me (we have tanks on the farm(my front yard))
• he changes my oil and washes my car without me asking
• he mows the lawn (even though I was supposed to "learn" and do it this year (didn't happen) and now I am supposed to "learn" and start doing it next year-ya, we'll see)
• he wants to build me my dream home
• he lets me talk about babies
  
• he listens when I ramble and ramble and cry and whine
  
• he understands my need for friends and social contact even though he doesn't feel the same way

I know this list was a little longer than I intended. I could go on and on. But I wont. You will get to know him through our stories.

I will tell you this conversation I had with him the day before his birthday. Oh, and one I had with him the morning of.

November 18th:
me: Jaren, your turning TWENTY SEVEN tomorrow!
jaren: I know... I'm old
me: I know! I married a 25 year old and now your turning twenty seven. It's so weird. I'm married to a 27 year old
jaren: I even feel old
me: does it make you want kids? Your going to be 27 with no kids!
jaren: not really.... just makes me want to get everything done.

hahaha, maybe you have to know him and how adamant he is about wanting to wait a little longer for kids.... wait a little longer.... that he still says no even though. And what does "get everything done" mean anyway? My guess is finish the home we are living in (it is still under renovation) so we can put babies in it. At least.. that's what I choose to think.

Morning of November 19th:
me: okay, today you are boss. take advantage because after today, for the next 364 days I'm boss
jaren: okay.... i'm tired
me: what are you going to do next year when we have a baby (because hopefully by this time next year we will have a newborn) and he is crying and i can't pay attention to you?
jaren: (patting the pillow next to him) i will just lay him here and we can both sleep in together

probably one of my favorite things to come out of his mouth about our future children (because it's a rarity)

anyway.... enough. Here are some pictures!

He said no presents. I got him some anyway. I don't think I've ever mentioned how much I love birthdays.

I tell him to smile and this is what I get. This is how taking pictures usually goes, Me: Jaren.. Jaren smile! WITH TEETH! Jaren: (face you see above). I'm sure in his head he's thinking: probably should have never got her that camera

I frosted cupcakes and decided to write on them. These were the cupcakes set aside for us to eat right away.

The hearts are what came out when I was first trying to squeeze the tube. Then I tried to write "Happy Birthday" on two cupcakes.

Nothing says "Happy Birthday, Love!" like, YOUR OLD! If you can't read the last cupcake (I mean, you should be able to read it if you have 20/5 vision) it says, "YOU NEED TO HAVE BABIES" subtle?

There is green frosting on his mouth. I made him stop eating so I could take a picture... I'm so mean. He wasn't too happy about it. Can you see the camera despair again in his eyes?

Will You Be There?

Aren't in this picture?

Weren't there last time?

You missed out, my friend.

Never fear, I'm coming again and hoping some of my new friends will want to dine with me for either a second or first time.

You may have noticed the poll on my sidebar that's been there for a few weeks asking if you would like to have dinner again.

Since there are 41 votes and I voted twice(I think) that makes 39 voters.

I'm pretty surprised only 4 people thought I was weird. I wonder what these people's version of "normal" is? It's really a good thing I don't blog about every mood swing I have.. that number would go right on up.

14 people say, Yes! I would LOVE to have dinner with you! But only 7 of those say they can make it the weekend of the 21st, which is the weekend I will be down. Since I'm two of those votes, that makes 5 people. The more the merrier!

6 people said they weren't there last time, but they want to be this time. Did those same 6 people vote for the weekend? Man. I should have only made it possible to click one bubble.

Please leave a comment letting me know if your coming or not. Or if you think you can come. I had so much fun last time. I think when I come down I'll set aside a night/day/morning for food and those who can make it can come.

For those who live in Antarctica, you stink! You should live closer to the nexus of the universe.

For those of you who need a ride; I'll only go as far as San Diego to pick you up, so sorry Antarctica... you lose again!

For those of you who can't afford the gas, you MUST have voted when the poll first opened and now gas has gone way down. Want to change your vote?

For those of you not willing to make the trip for me (1 person), you must either
a. live in Antarctica
b. only visited my blog once, and that was to sabotage my voting thinger
c. not read my post about self esteem issues and paranoia at night when I'm by myself
d. were one of the 4 (or all 4??) who said I was weird
e. all of the above

We have 3 people who want Dennys (their booths are huge) and 5 who say a nice (meaning more than 8 bucks a plate) restaurant. I'm thinking it might be better if I just pick a place... maybe no poll. But I will take thoughts and discussions and I'm up for suggestions. I'm thinking Sampans in the South Town Mall; they take reservations and Kristina says they are pretty good. Dinner would probably be a little later 7 or 8. I do have to drive 3 1/2 hours. So, let me know what you think!

And for that one anonymous (Mary) person who had yucky chicken at Carinos. I'm sorry, better luck next time. Maybe this time you wont order a nasty mushroom brown saucy monster. :)

One other thing. Wendyburd is having a sweet giveaway for her 100th post. Check it out, it's pretty fantabulous.

Black Bean Brownies!

Does this look yummy to you?

I have a 45 minute nutrition presentation tomorrow in one of my classes.

I decided it might be fun to try this new "healthy" brownie recipe I found.

That silly South Beach Diet.

Thinking up new ways to desecrate perfectly good food.

Obviously I made it anyway.

No, I didn't try the batter... I am too nervous.

Instead I decided to make it. Feed it to my class and watch their reactions.

I had to poke it with a fork to make sure it was done.

It rose so much it looks like a CAKE!

It does smell good, though.

I'll let everyone know how it tastes tomorrow after I make sure it doesn't make anyone throw up.

p.s. I woke up this morning at 6 and realized that because I didn't sleep well and I was still feeling yucky I wasn't going to make it to my 7:45 class. I e mailed my teacher and turned in the assignment due. I went back to sleep and slept till 8. I woke up fully intending to go to my 10:15 class and even got ready. I felt quite a bit better than yesterday but still not 100%. When it finally came time to go - I decided I'd rather not. So I didn't. And let me say, I just HAPPENED to land on the day the teach didn't take attendance or make us take a quiz. YES! It was meant to be. I am feeling a lot better than yesterday, but am now really tired and completely stuffed up. I went to bed at 8:30 last night and it's almost 10 now and right after this I'm going to bed! But I actually have to wake up at 6 tomorrow and can't go back to sleep. Bummer. I really enjoyed (not) my 12 hours of tossing and turning last night. Hopefully I will actually SLEEP tonight. I'll take my 8 hours with a smile. Goodnight! p.s.s. Thanks for everyone's concern :) Made me feel all special.