Branching Out

I've decided to start branching out from our typically repetative dinner menu and try something new each week. For dinner tonight... Oriental Chicken Salad! And this was an excellent choice! We love hearty salads and this had the perfect amount of everything! I added mandarin oranges to the mix for a little sweetness and it turned out great! It makes a large size salad which is nice since we both work there will be left overs for lunch tomorrow. Who knows what the next venture will be....? If you have any good recipes, anything at all, please share!

ORIENTAL CHICKEN SALAD

4 C shredded cabbage

4 C shredded iceberg lettuce

1/2 C green onion, chopped

3-4 chicken breasts, cooked and cubed (depending on how chicken-y you like your salads)

3.5 oz pkg sliced almonds

2 pkgs Chicken flavored Ramen noodles

DRESSING

2 pkgs chicken flavoring from Ramen Noodles

1/2 C vegetable oil

3 Tbsp vinegar

1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp pepper

4 tsp sugar

Toast almonds and Ramen noodles on stovetop. In a large bowl combine cabbage, lettuce, onion, and chicken. In spearate bowl, whisk all dressing ingredients together. Add to salad and toss. Add toasted almonds and noodles to salad. Toss again. Chill and serve. Enjoy!

Happy Valentine's Day!

To celebrate Valentine's this year I would like to share all the things I LOVE!

1) Daniel - He is my lover and my best friend, it doesn't get any better than that!

2) Diesel - Our sweet little boy who is always so eager to share his love with us!

3) Family: Mom, Dad, Sisters, Brothers, grandparents, nieces, nephews... all of them!

4) The Gospel: my scriptures, temples, eternal families and all that good stuff!

5) Friends

6) Reading

7) Yoga

8) Pedicures

9) Rumbi Island Grill - the Carribbean Chicken Salad, YUM!

10) Fishing - There's just something about catching a fish. It's probably genetic, thanks Dad!

11) Traveling - Someday we'll go to Italy.... someday!

12) Running - Well working out in general, but running is a staple!

13) Seasons - I'm so glad we can enjoy all 4 seasons now, instead of just summer!

14) Aerosmith - I know mom and dad never understood why, and frankly, netither do I.

15) Scrapbooking

16) Old movies and music - From Audrey Hepburn to Bing Crosby. Man I wish I could live back then!

17) Dancing - Dan thinks I'm crazy, but I actually miss church youth dances. Now I make a fool out of myself in the kitchen, grocery stores, and anywhere else I can bust a move!

18) Bargains - I am a bargain shopper, just ask Dan, if it's $5 it's mine!

19) Kate Hudson - my favorite actress. I love her fun, carefree nature, and she's just so cute!

20) The Beach - whether it's the Pacific or Atlantic Coast, I love the beach!

21) Ice Cream - Dreyers Cookies 'n Cream & Breyer's Black Rasberry Chocolate are my favorites!

22) Noah - Okay, I know I already said my family, but Noah is an exception. I love it when he calls me, almost every day, and is sure to say something that will make me laugh!

23) Pictures - I love to take pictures, maybe someday I'll take a photography class.

24) Singing to the Radio - especially when I know the words!

25) Anatomy - I think that everyone would take better care of their bodies if they understood how they worked.

26) Babies/kids - I can't wait until we're blessed with one of our own so I can stop clinging to everyone elses!!

... there is a lot more, which would take me all night, so I think I'll end here. I hope everyone has a wonderful Valentine's Day and we love you!

Dan and I both had yesterday off so we enjoyed what little snow we have and went sledding with Diesel! Note to self... open your eyes while zooming down the hill. I hit a trench at the bottom and gave myself whiplash... ouch! But luckily a trip to Rumbi Island Grill for lunch made everything better!

Chinese Ballet

For those of you who don't know, I love watching ballet. My mom sent this to me and I thought it was so neat I had to post it. It goes to show you that good things can come out of trials. Click this link to watch it http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LnLVRQCjh8c. Here's their story... In a Chinese modern dance competition on TV one very unique couple won one of the top prizes. The lady, in her 30's, was a dancer who had trained since she was a little girl. Later in life, she lost her entire left arm in an accident and fell into a state of depression for a few years. Someone then asked her to coach a Children's dancing group. From that point on, she realized that she could not forget dancing. She still loved to dance and wanted to dance again. So, she started to do some of her old routines, but, having lost her arm, she had also lost her balance. It took a while before she could even make simple turns and spins without falling. Then she heard of a man in his 20s who had lost a leg in an accident. He had also fallen into the usual denial, depression and anger type of emotional roller coaster. But, she determined to find him and persuade him to dance with her. He had never danced, and to "dance with one leg...are you joking with me? No way!" But, she didn't give up, and he reluctantly agreed thinking, "I have nothing else to do anyway." She started to teach him dancing 101. The two broke up a few times because he had no concept of using muscle, how to control his body, and knew none of the basic things about dancing. When she became frustrated and lost patience with him, he would walk out. Eventually, they came back together and started training seriously. They hired a choreographer to design routines for them. She would fly high (held by him) with both arms (a sleeve for an arm) flying in the air. He could bend horizontally supported by one leg with her leaning on him, etc. In the competition, as you will see, they dance beautifully and they legitimately won the competition.