Day 21

Day 20: Today I am thankful for Food/Cooking.

              I love food! I love all kinds of food and trying new food. Which is a big growth from about 10 years ago. All I would eat was mac-n-cheese and PB&J. Now I love veggies, and fish! Although my Dad always tells the story of how he used to put me in my high chair ( which clipped to the side of the table) and feed me broccoli and holindays sauce until I was covered! Still my favorite way to eat broccoli. One of my first memories is having my favorite childhood dinner with Tommer, pork chops with mac-n-cheese and creamed corn. I used to only eat Kraft mac-n-cheese now I have switched to Annie's cheddar buns.
            Now not only do I love food I am completely fascinated by cooking. I could being the kitchen an cook all day just for fun. I have recently discovered  so many food recipes and food blogs! I never knew cooking could be so creative. I have tried some, but the possibilities are endless. One of the things that got me into cooking was baking. Baking makes my heart sing! Baked goods are one of the first things I remember "cooking" on my own. I love to bake all kinds of things  savory or sweet and share them with everyone! I have recently made empanadas, mini pot pies and chocolate chip cookies lately. I am a total experimental chef. for instance today I am trying to make my own teriyaki sauce. (recipe at bottom) I did a bit of research in to what the ingredients needed were and I using things in my cupboards that can be substituted so I don't have to spend to much money. So its really going to be an experiment. I am always open to new recipes and exchanging ideas so please share with me your favorite things to cook. 

Teriyaki sauce:
Soy sauce
ground ginger
Garlic
Dark Karo syrup
Apple Cyder vinegar
Lemon Juice
brown sugar
pure cane sugar

combine in small sauce pan to boil, reduce heat and let simmer until thick. Remove from pan and serve.

Day 20

Day 19: Today I am thankful for honesty and openness 

                  It is human nature to be insecure. It makes it very easy to hide yourself or try to make yourself in to something else. Being open to honestly share  your self with others is one of the hardest, but most fulfilling experiences of a persons life. It has helped me to build or rebuild relationships with family, friends and the most amazing man. Honesty fosters trust communication and is the foundation to life. In order to grow you must be honest with yourself. It all seems to come back to honesty.

day 19

Day 18: Today I am thankful for being a woman.

Yesterday my mother in law Mary got married. I was one of the bridesmaids. The three older boys walked her down the aisle and Daniel was the officiant. If there is one thing weddings do its bring out the little girl in every woman. On that day I felt more beautiful and more love than I ever had  before in my life. I hope that Mary had the same great experience.

We spent most of the day Friday in the hall decorating! We folded napkins, set up tables, hung lights, and turned the hall into a glittering winter wonderland. It was beautiful and and a lot of fun. Then Mary, Bev and I went to get our nails done and shop or under the dress... Ooo la la! Back to the hall for practice and dinner. When Mary saw the hall she was awe struck, it was better than she imagined. The next day we all woke up early and Mary's day started with getting her and Bev's hair done. She had half up cascading curls with little sparkles in it. Next we went out to her house to start the make up process, last minute hair touch ups and the big moment of putting the dress on. Which was amazing and fit her perfectly. Then show time!  There wasn't a dry eye there. She and Tom even could hardly make it threw their vows. Such a sweet ceremony, finishing with a great party!


Being a bride is one of the most feminine moments of a woman's life, but there is more to being a woman than primping and decorating. There is passion, strength, softness, courage, and fierce protectiveness. A loving heart and a creative mind. There is a complete beauty in a woman no words could describe. I mean we frickin grow and carry a human in our bodies or almost a year, come on. I know I am not alone here.

I would say I have grown way more accepting and loving of my feminine qualities and just the fact that I am a woman who is beautiful in all aspects. I must admit being with Adam and learning to believe and trust that he loves me and thinks I am the greats thing since sliced bread has really helped me to see it. And for me one of the things that makes me feel the most feminine is when my man cant keep his hands to himself or I catch him checkin me out. I love being a woman and I can't wait to establish exactly what that means to me.

Day 18

Day 17: Today I am thankful for meeting new people (friends)

               On Wednesday I got to meet Hanna Beckley. After hearing how wonderful she was and watching a small child weep at the fact that she had gone away to college (UCSC) and no longer worked here I expected if Donnie Darko and and Storm from X-Men had a love child it would be Hanna...I was not disappointed. She is so sweet and genuine. The cutest 18 year old ever and HI-larious! She is back "on call" for holiday hours, and I am hoping to to get to work with her more. I have made more female friends at this job than I have ever had...in my entire life to be honest. Like with Melanee. We have become friends fast and I totally adore her. She and I laugh so much. Crafting and backing and being wives are not only the most important things to us but what we really love doing. She is so naturally beautiful and kind its refreshing me meet one more woman who uses her brain and cares about making a good life for her family. It doesn't hurt that Ro comes along with Mel and that I am really getting 2 friends! I do not think this is a coincidence and I am really enjoying it.

              Dave is another really just awesome human being. Adam and I really get along and relate with Dave. We have some great conversations and he even came over to our house for thanksgiving. He is extremely witty. He has more nicknames than anyone I know, and is wickedly sarcastic. I have never met anyone with as fierce a beard as my Grandpa until Dave ( then I met Brett a regular customer who is more like a part of the OTP family)

               Again not a coincidence so many great people have become a part of one place and intern become friends. In the past I feel like I have been less open and unable to understand or relate to people. I guess this is what finding your self is about I am very grateful to have learned how to accept and love myself more to be more comfortable forming lasting relationships.

Day 17

Day 16: Today I am thankful for Celebrations.

               As humans we celebrate a lot of life's events. Birthdays, anniversaries, accomplishments, deaths even have a celebration of the persons life occasionally. I love celebrations, any excuse to throw a party. I love to entertain and cook. I love the decorating, the prepping and the primping. Usually celebrating is a great excuse to get dressed up. Sometimes even a reason to make a whole day about someone you love. If your my Sister then its a reason to make a whole month about celebrating someone. Gotta love the birthday month! Either way it's all very exciting. One of the biggest and  unfortunately one of the most commercialized things we celebrate is the holidays. I love the holiday season for lots of reasons Halloween with its candy and costume parties, Thanksgiving for the amazing food and football, and Christmas for its trees and giving spirit. Most of all I love that holidays is also one of the biggest "excuses" for families of all shapes, sizes, colors, beliefs to come together with love in their hearts. For our families the holidays are about getting together, eating delicious food, and sharing some love over a nice glass of wine or your favorite beer. To me this is as good as it gets. We have our traditions and we are starting some new ones. But most of all we always remember it's not about the gifts or the decorations or how much money was spent on the food, in any celebration it's about coming together and enjoying other human beings! Warm wishes and hugs with kisses for everyone this season and many more to come!

Day 16

Day 16: Today I am thankful for smiling


               Smiling physically feels like it changes how I feel. Its one of my favorite things (looks wise) about myself; and is my best accessory. A smile can change a persons day, mood or just cheer them up a little. A smile is how we greet each other, and is the sign that we are friendly and open to new people. When I got my braces off I remember people telling me "you parents paid a lot for that beautiful smile, make sure you use it as often as you can."  Adam says he has loved my smile from the first moment he saw it. His is what I look forward to most at the end of any day, and the first thing I see every morning. My favorite things about smiles is they transcend gender, social status, and nations. Share a smile with a stranger!

Day 15

Day 14: Today I am thankful for my Job.


              Today I got to work a double. I am very tired but so happy to just have the hours. Many people are out of work right now, we know that all to well. I have worked a few jobs in my time and this is by far the most fun.  I have never worked at a place where I love so many of the people that I worked with. We started working at OTP to earn some extra cash and it has become a great job and what is getting Adam and I through right now. It is really kinda fun to work with Adam. I wasn't sure what would happen, I mean we are great together, but working is a whole other story! Honestly I love it. Its so easy and we get to spend time together. Pretty cool. OTP is a different kind of place to work, its like one big family. We are fitting in very well and it feels great. Tuesday is our Christmas party and I am so excited. I am bringing mini chicken pot pies ( kinda nervous) and I expect that other people will bring some deliciousness as well! (they better, hahaha) Melanne is making dessert...YAY!  We are very thankful for the money, but more than that we are thankful for the good times and love! Here's to many years together my friends, and experiencing la vita molto bene!

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1854680106556.73507.1827434081&type=3

Day 14

Day 14: Today I am thankful for  conversation.


              Anyone who knows me knows that I am a chatter box. Always have been. I am not sure why but I guess I just have a lot to say. Makes since why I am married to a listener. ( heee heee married! For 6 months already!!) I very much enjoy banter. Adam and I banter very well. As quite as he can be, he can razz with the best of em. Some times he pops off, drops my jaw and gives me the sweetest little "whaaaat" grin that all I can do is laughingly say back "youuuuu" We just communicate very well, with and with out words. We needn't say much when working together. We love to sit and talk and pretty much analyze every aspect of life together, at length. When out with out friends we are able to be at opposite sides of the room, and it seems that at the exact same moment we look up and smile at each other.
       One of my favorite things is to just sit and " chew the fat" with another human being. to connect and be able to share your self, even about the smallest things. Or things that I think I am crazy for thinking or feeling, then finding out that they feel the same way. My favorite is a group of people that can sit and chop it up. You can learn a lot about someone just by talking to them. Most of the time even the people that you think you may not like, you find things you have in common. Just by spending a little time with them and being open. Something that I am finding more and more easy, sometimes...

Day 13

Day 13: Today I am thankful for mornings.

              Mornings haven't always been my favorite time of day. I was always a "night owl" as a kid. I don't often get to wake up before the sun right now. Working nights has put the kibosh on that for most mornings. The feeling of the morning air is so crisp and refreshing. There is something so mind clearing about popping out of bed, grabbing a cup of coffee and spending the first hour of your summer morning watering, tending and enjoying the garden. Watching the sun as it begins to illuminate the yard is amazing.

    Most of the time I am a happy, peppy person in the morning. This has not always been the case, in fact only recently has this transformation come about. I can think of a few things in my life over the last few years that have changed my morning routine in the most wonderful way! My adorable and cuddly morning boys. I love waking up and seeing my love next to me, most of the time already awake. Then I look to the floor on my side of the bed, and my little baby dog is there, sometimes already awake sometimes I have to coax him out of his hole. Then we all lay in bed for a few minutes and cuddle. Its by far my most favorite time of day! Maybe I am growing up or just realizing the majesty of the world waking up.

Day 12

Day 12: Today I am thankful for kisses.

       I wish that kisses could be saved in a jar and the magical warm feeling they give my heart could be released and enjoyed all over again. There are all kinds of kisses, there are loving kisses, friendly kisses, hello and good by kisses. There are passionate kisses and baby kisses, eskimo and butterfly kisses, even comforting parenty kisses. My personal favorite is right on the top of my head from my man when he just cant seem to contain how much he loves me. A kiss can even seal a letter or be the first gift a man and wife give each other. Kisses are beautiful and one of the many things in life that is still fairly intimate and a meaningful exchange between two humans. Kisses are usually not given out to just anyone. Our families are pretty affectionate when we get together we always hug and kiss and tell each other how much we love the other. Guess when you loose as many members as we all have you try to keep the ones you have close.

     Life gets complicated and stressful. For me, life gets very overwhelming at times. I don't manage stress the best but all I need is for Adam to wrap me up in a hug, kiss my forehead and tell me its all going to be OK.  He loves to make me laugh with play kisses on my neck because he knows I am sooooo ticklish, we love to fish kiss and be silly with our kisses and someday I can not wait to have a mini Adam who gives me the sweetest fish kisses!

Day 11

Day 11: Today I am thankful for my precious little pooch

              Bucky can be well, a challenge to say the least. He can be down right mean actually. He will love you one minute and turn to bite you the next. He hasn't always had the easiest of lives but I am glad we are the house that gets to love him. He loves to lick the floors and is a constant at your feet in the kitchen. He loves to play and chase me around the house and playing is one of the first things he thinks about when he wakes up, besides outside and Bryan. He loves Bryan, some times I swear he thinks he is Bryan's dog. He is a great cuddler when he wants to be, but only likes to cuddle when he is sleeping or just waking up. He is a fickle and jealous bugger and I worry about how he will act when we have babies but we will cross that bridge when we get there. Until then I am just going to smother him with love. 

Day 10

Day 10: Today I am thankful for creativity.

              Creativity keeps me sane, well as sane as I can be. Most of the time my creativity is best expressed in writing. Usually I have so many thoughts going through my mind, but when I put a pen to paper I have a way of working through them all. I have kept many many journals since I was a pretty  young child including the 4 I have kept over the last 3 years I have been with Adam. My freshmen year I took creative writing and loved it. I wrote many poems and short stories at that time. I would love to take more, and hope to write at least one book. Cooking if nothing else! Writing helps me understand my thoughts better and is my spiritual creative outlet.

               My emotional outlet is definately singing! For the most part I am only brave enough to sing in my car or the kitchen with Adam. I used to be a lot more open about it, maybe its karaoke time. We love to sing and dance together. I have never sang so openly infront of anyone else, even infront of crowds. Singing for me has a total release that I am addicted to. Music as a whole is beautiful and mind blowing. I have to have music on no matter what I am doing or where I am. Even now I am listening to the Wicked soundtrack, and singing. My soul gets a strange weightlessness and I feel every breath as I inhale and all that I am holding on to gets let go and blown out with my exhale. I feel a change in viewpoint and uplifted after singing a song that I love as best and as passionately as I can. Singing can help me feel better about life and happier in general.

" And no body in all of oz, no wizard that there is or was is ever gonna bring me down"

Day 9

  Day 9: Today I am thankful for inspiring people.

            I am a truly blessed to have so many inspiring people in my life. My sweet, loving grandmothers. My kind, strong minded aunties. My endearing, funny uncles. My protective, close nit cousins, regardless of how long its been. My understanding friends who can talk me through anything. My thoughtful brothers and sister. My compassionate, patient, wise Mommies. My quick witted, insightful Dad.

             

Another person who has really inspired me in my life is Isabel Toro. She is a holistic counselor. I am so thankful for her, openness, hospitality, warmth, sharing of knowledge, guidance, kindness, love, and general care for me. She has taught me a lot about being calm and enjoying and being thankful for life. Has taught me to be objective and understand myself and life better. She is a truly in touch with the greater energy and has helped me to grow closer to it. She has opened her home to Adam and I and brought us through some hard times, and helped us find the tools to continue to get through them. I look forward to continuing my journey and growth with her. I think the biggest influence she has had on me is helping me realize my ultimate goal in life is to be a healer, to help people feel better in their lives.

Most of all my husband. He is such a hard working, selfless, dedicated, honest. I know that I will never have to worry about where he is or how he is with. I will never feel unloved or unappreciated, I never hear angry cruel words and he will never reinforce the message of my wounds. He is what makes me want to create and inspire another human life to have and live a life of all of these qualities. He makes it so easy to want to be the most amazing wife I can be and the best human I can be. He has inspired me to really look at what I and we want for our future, to grow up and figure out how to make what ever life throws at us work. His soul continues to impress and amaze me.

Day 8

Day 8: Today I am thankful for Nature.




             I am really at a loss for words when it comes to nature. Surprising I know! I am so awe struck by its graceful beauty that most of the time I can only stare with a smile on my face. Nature is my second favorite thing to photograph besides sunsets, and my third love in life after Adam and food. Adam and I love nature, one of our favorite places is Folsom lake. It is very close to our house and has great 4 wheeling spots and spots to just sit and enjoy the peace and quite of the view. In the spring time when all the lupine are blooming its like a sea of purple and I make Adam take me all the time to pick flowers. Flowers are my favorite part of nature. All kinds make me happy but a meadow of wild flowers is the best! Making bouquets is so fun and calming to me. I love to bring them to people for no reason and see how they light up. When I am in nature its so easy to let every thing else go and only connect with mother earth. I am trying to do this more so everyday. 

                                       http://vimeo.com/32001208

A.R.D. parking lot Auburn, Ca

Bucky at Folsom lake Granite Bay, Ca

Rattlesnake Bar Folsom lake Newcastle, Ca

Shandley Hill Auburn, Ca

Day 7

Day 7: Today I am thankful for tradition
      

        The holidays with my family are all about traditions. Certain people prepare certain dishes, certain days are hosted at certain peoples houses, and poker is played by 9 o'clock sharp! I just love them, and that my family takes the time to pass them on and instill in the next generation where we come from and how to stay connected. I plan to pass these traditions on to my children. Best of all is homemade pies. My Grandma Trish makes great apple pie and for my bridal shower gift she gave me the recipe and all the the tools/ingredients needed besides apples. So I thought what a great time to continue her tradition and get to use my fabulous gift! I am not going to share this recipe with you guys (sorry, some things gotta stay in the family) but I will include pictures.

Mary (my mother-in-law) makes a killer pumpkin pie so I am also continuing her tradition, at the request of my boys, and making pumpkin pie. 

 





   


                             Berry pie is my personal favorite
and I make a pretty mean one so I am also making one of those, you know just to keep our options open, HA! Or because I am selfish and want my favorite. While I love our combined family traditions I am excited for Adam and I to make some of our own with our family some day! 

Day 6

Day 6: Today I am thankful for sunsets

Sunset is my favorite time of day. I have always been a night owl so I don't get to see to many sunrises. I relish in the moment when the sun is just about to dip below the horizon and seems to set the whole sky a fire!

Some of the most beautiful sun sets happen in the winter months.
        








The clouds make for such and amazing canvas and the colors that cast off of them are breath taking.





 



Sunsets are one of my favorite things to photograph and what inspires me to want to learn to paint.  

 




I think watching the sun set is one of the most romantic dates.






 




Out here in Ophir I am lucky enough to have great views of sunsets. Adam and I have spent many evenings standing on the deck watching the last moments of light slip away. 

 






On our honeymoon we watched the sun set every night, its our thing! 

Admiring and soaking in these beautiful moments in life is when I feel the most relaxed and closest to the higher energy levels.

Day 4 & 5

Day 4: Today (yesterday) I am thankful for sleep.

                    Oh man did I needed it last night. 5th day this week( whoop whoop) and its big party season so its a little exhausting but worth it! Sleep is awesome! Sleep heals the body and calms the mind. When we get hurt or sick the first thing the doctor prescribes is rest. When we are sad our bodies have a hard time even getting out of bed. When we are stressed or unsure about something we say " I need to sleep on it" Most of us do not get as much as we need. When I go to long without enough sleep eventually my body just stops and I SLEEP, and awaken with a new attitude and feeling physically stronger. This honestly is my favorite kind of sleep, its when I sleep the deepest for the longest.
                     Last night I was trying to force myself to stay awake to blog and just couldn't get my brain to even function to think about how to express why I was thankful for sleep. Perhaps what I really needed was last nights sleep to fully comprehend my thankfulness for sleep. When I woke up this morning I realized that I was being silly. Holding myself to this idea of if you don't do this perfectly everyday your not really thankful, so deny your body and mind it's needs for a blog! Now I love my blog and you guys and I am committed to this 30 day project, but I needed some rest. I went to bed feeling a little guilty, but forgave myself this morning once refreshed and better equipped to express myself. An idea that I am really uncomfortable with, forgiving myself, and sometimes others...

                   

Day 5: Today I am thankful for forgiveness.


                    Forgiveness is a tricky game. Its complicated, complex and for me the hardest emotion to truly embrace. The Irish Italian in me holds a pretty hard grudge, and I've been know to be stubborn. I am learning that not only is it not good for my spirit, but also horrible physically. The energy that is held by not forgiving can be toxic. Toxic to life as well. It can continue a swirl negative energy and repeat negative patterns in our lives.
                      Forgiveness opens us up to so many opportunities with others and within ourselves that may have other wise been missed. A real feeling of relief comes from forgiveness. That always makes me think, if forgiveness is for me the hardest, and most rewarding how can I be more forgiving, in life in general? In turn be more understanding and make the impact I want.  


                  

Day 3

Day 3: Today I am thankful for growth. 

         Growth can be fun or exciting; social or economical; physical or emotional. Some of the time growth can even be hard. I feel the best kind of growth comes from overcoming adversity. I feel in times that are difficult, especially emotionally or spiritually, you lean the most about yourself. I feel these times in our lives help us to truly figure out where we stand on things, and who we are as an individual. They also help us lean to see people and situations from a different point of view. Growth is both good for you and necessary; and when you think you have grown enough life keeps on giving. I am trying to learn to wholeheartedly learn and grow as much as possible in my life.

French Meadows, Ca

Day 2

Day 2: Today I am thankful for: Friendship


               Friends enrich our lives, perhaps more than anything in our lives besides true love. Most people I know consider their friends closer than their family. Friends can understand and relate sometimes better than we can ourselves. They can up lift, support, motivate, and love us so deeply.
                Hanging and bonding with another human is one of my greatest pleasures in life, I have been blessed to do this a lot lately and with a lot of people I may have never chosen to on my own. I love in the midst of a indepth conversation with a great friend who you think you know so well and you get to learn something new about them and connect even more.
                Or someone you are getting to know is just on the same level and you gain some respect and appriciation for them that much more.
                 Lets not forget about mans best friend my little Buck. He is such a good boy. He puts a big smile on my face when he runs up to me when I get home or we are playing and we chase each other around the house. He gets this look in his eye that is just pure wild playful beast.
                  And my personal best friend my hubby Adam. He is the most amazing man, I have ever know besides my father. He is what makes me live and breath, He is why I want to be a better person. He is so kind and my favorite place in the entire world is in my "nook", when he holds me against his chest nesstled under is arms. So safe and comforting.
                     To all my past, present, and future friends I love you and thank you for enhancing my experience of this crazy thing called life.

30 Days of Thankfulness

        Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays ( oh who am I kidding I LOVE every holiday) and the older I get the more I feel like people in general are loosing the true meaning of this holiday. My friend Melanee O'Hagan has begun 30 days of thankfulness on her blog. http://thebestlifeivelived.blogspot.com/2011_11_01_archive.html.
       I love the idea, but I felt like perhaps I had missed the boat as it is already almost half way through the month. I was creepily reading through the comments, of complete strangers of course, and found that I wasn't the only one that felt this way. Melanee had the perfect response.
        " No one said the 30 days had to start on the 1st!"
    She has inspired me to to remember the meaning of this holiday, regardless of  individual beliefs, is being thankfull. Not just on Thanksgiving but all our lives long.

Day 1: Today I am thankful for: Laughter
       They say laughter is the best medicine. and I have to agree. Think about when you are in a not so great mood and some one cracks a joke and your hard bad mood, and  you both laugh out loud, sharing joy. One of my favorite things is hearing a baby or a child laugh out of pure excitement and contentment. I love laughter. I love after having a long day coming home with my man and laying in bed laughing about our day and how much we love working together. Try and share some genuine and pure self indulgent laughter!

Every human being emanates an energy field that corresponds to his or her inner state, and most people can sense it...~Eckhart Tolle

 

 

All the leaves are brown, and the sky is grey...

I know I know it’s been awhile, things have been busy and stressful around these here woods. Adam and I both started working at our favorite pizza place, Old Town Pizza (OTP) and are really enjoying it. It is a very fun and family oriented place and we fit in quite nicely! Adam had also started a new job with 2 of his brothers at a construction company out of San Francisco, but they were let go because they were too expensive. The guy couldn’t keep paying them what they were worth plus gas and company vehicles. So now we are all making it work and learning a little more how to work together and I think the true nature of our hippy commune!

That said I am so thankful to live in a place that sees all four seasons, and a beautiful property that I can sit and breathe it all in any time I want. Not everywhere, even in America sees all 4 seasons. Growing up Summer was always my favorite, as I think is true with most kids. Now I am torn. I love the Spring time. The sun comes back out, you get a warmer rainy day than in the frigid Winter months, and of course ALL the flowers start to bloom. There is a beautiful wash of warm bright colors every where you look. I am a Flower Child through and through, thank you Grandma Barbara! To be totally honest though, the older I get the more in love I fall with Fall! The urge to cuddle up with my love, pumpkins, cider, and the way the leaves that so skillfully and timidly poked themselves out in Spring now gracefully and boldly turn to the most breath taking shades of yellow, orange and red. Man, when the sun hits a liquid amber at just the right angle, at just the right time of day in mid November, it lights up like it’s on fire, and my heart begins to sing. One of my favorite things about Fall…the change in weather! So cold and snuggly. And it’s soup, stew and chili season! I love any food that requires a bowl and some dipping bread. I am Italian and Irish for goodness sake. We live of that kind of food! Last week was no exception. I made Chicken Chili. I also had sweet Melanee O’Hagan (whose family owns and operates OTP) and her precious little Rosanna to share in the gloriousness! They loved it. “Mo beans peese!” was all the little one could think about. We also had a fun time coloring with Bryan after dinner, and she even tried to steel my markers by stuffing them ALL in the front pocket of her sweatshirt…some without the lids! HA! I guess she figured that she didn’t need those. Good thing they are washable! We had some leftovers and normally I would have just packed ‘em up and put ‘em in the fridge, but Adam was working that night…he was closing. So I was a good wifey and brought him enough to share…it was devoured! I hope that you try my recipe and if you have a great chili recipe please share with me! 

Chicken Chili

Garlic Salt

Chili Powder

Cracked Black Pepper

Coriander

Cumin

Cayenne Pepper

Beer

Black Beans

Red Kidney Beans

Pinto Beans

Whole Corn Cornels

Diced Tomatoes

Cheese/Sour Cream/ Chives

Mix in crock pot: black beans, kidney beans, pinto beans, corn, and diced tomatoes. While they get to know each other, on the stove cook 3 chicken breasts. In frying pan: oil bottom, add chicken, water and beer until chicken is covered. Beer does not need to be fancy. Add a bit of garlic salt, pepper, cumin and chili powder. Boil until fully cooked. Shred or cube, and add to crock pot. Add more garlic salt, pepper, coriander, cumin, and chili powder to taste. Simmer on high 2 hours. Top with your choice of grated cheese, sour cream and chives. 

 

Una Tradizione di Famiglia

“When the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie, that’s amour!” OH, sing it to me Dean!

                To me there are certain things that just define Italians. The Rat Pack, an amazing bottle of homemade red wine, and pizza! This is also my definition of THE perfect date night!  Pizza as we think of it today is a little different then what it started as. The medieval Mediterranean people made flat bread and put oil over the top called it pizza. Much later the red sauce and cheese were added. Now we put pretty much anything we want on it. It was originally a dish of the poor, meaning CHEAP, sold on streets and in markets. This is sometimes true today, depending on your method of obtaining the pie! We have found the best pizza place in the entire world. The only other place that even compares is our kitchen! I love that I am part Italian and that my Grandmother Bernice is proud of it!

                 I feel very fortunate that I came from families that enjoy food. With many of my aunts, uncles, and grandparents I can remember making great food. My Grandma B (my mother’s mother) and I spent a lot of time together when I was young. I remember her house always smelling of food. I hated when it was smelled of fish, looking back I love that memory.  Walking in and saying, “Gramie your house is stinky!”

                She would laugh and say “It’s fish, Princess. Fish is yummy, and good for you. Gramie will make you some?”

                “NO!” I would squeal and she would just laugh.

                When I was in 5^th grade I lived with my Uncle Sam and his family for a while. His wife Zoë used to have family pizza night sometimes. Instead of going out and eating pizza, we made it. My Gramie had put a cook book together of my family’s favorite recipes. One of them was her spaghetti/pizza sauce and another was Zoë’s pizza dough. We made it all from scratch, then topped, baked, and enjoyed. These are some of my fondest and strongest memories from childhood.

                Adam also has a really close family that grew up with 3 kids the same age, who are all still friends. The Von Asche’s grandmother used to have homemade pizza night at their house a few times a month and the boys had a standing invite. They still remember and talk fondly of those times. Adam and I are determined to give our kids those same fun family pizza nights. We figure practice makes perfect so why not start now. Unfortunately and fortunately our oven has not been working, diagnosis TBD. On the upside we are getting really good at pizza a la BBQ!

                 I know right! That is just crazy, or is it? We have found that we almost prefer the BBQ pizza. Then Adam and I got an amazing cook book for our wedding called My Bread Book, by Jim Lahey, of course from Sam, Zoë and family. We have found the pizza dough recipe from this book and the BBQ are perfection and most definitely prefer! Now we just need some fine tuning on pizza timing. The never ending experiment can be an Italian family tradition in your house as well!  

Chi trova un amico trovare un Tesoro. Salute è buon appetitio!

Basic Pizza Dough

7 ½ cups Bread Flour

2 packages (1 ²/₃ tablespoons) of instant or other active dry yeast  

1 ½ teaspoons table salt

1 ½ teaspoon sugar plus a pinch

2 ¾ cups room temperature (about 72 degrees F) water

E.V.O.O. for the pans

                Stir together flour, yeast, salt, and sugar. Add water and using a wooden spoon mix until blended. It should hold together mostly on its own. It should be a little stiff not really wet or sticky. Cover the bowl and let sit at room temperature until the dough has more than doubled in size, about 2 hours.

                Using rubber spatula remove the dough from the onto a floured work surface. Separate into three parts and form into a rough ball. Let them rest for another 30minutes under a moistened kitchen towel spacing them 4 inches apart on your working surface.  

               Once your dough is ready oil your pans and cover in corn meal. Slap, pull, push and stretch the dough until it completely covers the pan. No need to make any rust it will make its own. Pinch together any wholes and make sure you have an even layer of dough. You are now ready to top how you like!

                 

 

Some of our favorite toppings include:

Sausage

Pepperoni

Salami

Yellow Onion

Mushrooms

Black Olives

Real Bacon

Pineapple

Cheese