Old Glory

This year we had a pretty low key Fourth!

We tried to get home to Arizona, but alas, it was not in our cards.

So we did the next best thing and relaxed.

I very much missed making french toast and pancakes for all my family and seeing all the nieces and nephews decked out in their Red, White, & Blue best.

I cheered myself up by hanging out in the kitchen and making some scrumptious edibles.

Have you ever had chilaquiles?!  They are so delicious and I thought I would try to replicate the ones we had when we were in Dallas last.  We went to a great place called

and had some that I DREAM about.

Mine turned out really good, maybe not quite as good, but definitely still edible.

Ingredients:

2 cups oil for frying

1/4 cup chopped onion

30 (6 inch) corn tortillas, cut into eights
8 eggs, lightly beaten
2 teaspoons salt
1 (7.75 ounce) can Mexican style hot tomato sauce {like El Pato}
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
Directions:
1. In a large, heavy skillet, heat the oil to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Carefully stir in the tortilla strips. Fry until tortilla strips are crisp and golden brown. Remove from heat, and drain on paper towels. Drain the skillet, leaving only a thin residue of oil.
2. Over medium heat, sautee onion. Then add eggs and cook until eggs are firm. Add tortilla strips to the pan.  Season with salt.
3. Mix Mexican style hot tomato sauce and water into the skillet. Reduce heat, and simmer until thickened, about 10 minutes. Top with cheese. Continue cooking until cheese has melted.

Next I made PIE!  I went a little 'summer fruit' crazy at Sam's Club so we had more fruit than we could possibly eat and so I made fruit pies.

Creamy Blueberry Crumble Pie

Ingredients:

3 cups fresh blueberries

1 (9 inch) deep dish pie crust

3/4 cup white sugar

1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
2 eggs, beaten
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 cup butter
Directions:
1. Combine 1 cup sugar, 1/3 cup flour, salt, and cinnamon. Add eggs and sour cream, stirring until blended.
2. Place blueberries in pastry shell, and spoon sour cream mixture over berries.
3. In another bowl, combine 1/2 cup sugar, 1/2 cup flour, and 1 teaspoon cinnamon. Cut in butter or margarine with pastry blender until mixture resembles course meal. Sprinkle this mixture over sour cream mixture and berries in the pie shell.
4. Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 50 to 55 minutes, or until lightly browned. If desired, garnish with additional blueberries and mint leaves.

The Blueberry pie was wonderful! If you have some extra blueberries lying around, do yourself a favor and make this pie.

 Purple Plum Pie

Ingredients:

4 cups sliced fresh plums

1/2 cup sugar

1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 (9 inch) unbaked deep dish pastry shell
TOPPING:
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
3 tablespoons cold butter or margarine
 Directions:
1. In a bowl, combine the first six ingredients; pour into the pastry shell. For topping, combine sugar, flour, cinnamon and nutmeg in a small bowl; cut in butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Sprinkle over filling. Bake at 375 degrees F for 50-60 minutes or until bubbly and golden brown. Cover edges of crust during the last 20 minutes to prevent over-browning. Cool on a wire rack.

The Plum pie was pretty tart!  It should be eaten with lots of vanilla ice cream!

We drove to Fort Gibson to eat dinner {& pie} with my Aunt & Uncle.  Then we enjoyed a spectacular fireworks show.

As we drove home, I sat pondering.  I am thankful for the freedoms I enjoy each & every day.  I am thankful to the brave men & women that protect us each day.  On the flight that officially made my home Oklahoma, I had spent many hours in the airport.  It was a long day.  I spent extra hours in the Dallas airport because we had a very special passenger that would be joining us.  He would not be seated in the cabin though, his journey {which was much, much longer than mine} was in the cargo hold, his seat, a wooden box.  The flight attendant asked us all to stand as he was loaded into the belly of the plane.  Then when we landed here in Tulsa, we were in no rush to EXIT the plane.  We watched out our little windows as his fellow soldiers, one of whom accompanied him the entire journey to make sure he made it home, carried him to his parents, his wife, and his son.  It was a scene that I don't want to forget. 

There is great sacrifice tied to our freedom. 

 Before the fireworks show started, a prayer was said, the National Anthem was sung, and we all stood and recited the Pledge of Allegiance.  It's amazing how even though I probably haven't said it in years, I could say it perfectly.

Memory Lane

I recently watched

and what a great movie it is! 

I think Peter Pan really had the right idea.  I love the idea of never growing up...of course for me, it is sadly, too late. 

If I had to sum my childhood up into one memory it would be this...

Each morning I would wake and put on a swimsuit.  I ventured out into the backyard and gathered all the summer fruit.

These all would then be tossed into the pool, me following after them.  I would swim and swim and swim and when I got hungry, I would pluck an apricot or a peach floating next to me in the water, and eat it.  Rinse and repeat.

If I had to sum up my childhood summers with a face it would be this one...

Leah, my niece, was born 10 days after me. 

[Right to left:  Bethany, Shawna, Leah, Mom, Me, Christine, Hannah, Aunt Susan, Jeannie]

I loved when she would come stay with us. 

It meant playing 'Mermaids' in the pool or playing 'Add On' on the trampoline.  I was the Queen Bee on the trampoline. I could do every kind of trick. 

 Side Note:  Apparently trampoline skills do not carry with you when you grow up.  The last time I jumped on a trampoline, I had not learned this concept yet.  I learned it the morning after Jordan and I got engaged.  We were in Provo at my Aunt Susan and Uncle Derry's house and they had a trampoline. I thought I would show off my amazing abilities to my new fiancee.  I did one measly back flip that had a little too much umph in it and I bounced right off the trampoline and landed in a heap on the ground, my head cushioning my fall.  Jordan said from the looks of what happened, he thought about slipping that ring quickly off my finger and making a run for it.  He wasn't sure he was ready to commit to a relationship with a quadriplegic.  Lucky for him, it was just my pride that was hurt.  I haven't and probably will not ever enjoy performing my tricks on a trampoline ever again.  See what I mean about growing up...bad news.

There were other faces that bring a flood of memories back to me.

Tawny, Leah's little sister, was like a little sister to me as well.

[Halloween '89]

I remember going shopping and Leah's mom was buying her and Tawny this pink hat and these white sandals.  I had to have them too.  Even though this is probably the only time I ever wore a hat.  {I am not a hat person.  As you can see, I look awful in hats and still do.  Who looks bad in a hat?  I feel like it's just me.}

Another face I always looked forward to seeing was that of my cousin Lindsay.

[Thanksgiving '89]

I have always loved these pictures from when my family visited Lindsay's family in San Luis Obispo.

It must be our really bad hair cuts.  It is like they are so bad, we are cute.  You know, like when you see a dog that is so ugly, it's cute. Like that.

Another random Side Note:  When I think of that trip, I think of the song 'Nothing Compares to You' by Sinead O'Connor.  I think I must have been looking at a stack of Cd's in their home and I had never seen a woman with a shaved head before so this image

and the song are engraved in my memory.

These are all relatives, but there is one more face that I have always considered a relative.  She has always remained a great friend and always pops up in my life when I least expect it.

Our backyard neighbor growing up, Krissy.

Like I said, a part of the family...

I have too many favorite memories with Krissy.  Let's see...

♦ Her and my sister, Bethany, bribing me to eat dog food.

♦ Running 3 miles with her every night and chatting about boys. 

♦ "Working" at American & Import Floors.

[She is moving to Puerto Rico & I hope to make lots of great memories with her there too. ☺]

Since I can no longer be a child, it is fun to go through all my old pictures and reminisce. 

Or there is always J.M. Barrie's method,

"You know that place between sleeping and awake, that place where you can still remember dreaming? That's where I'll always think of you."

Laynee June

I was going through some old pictures and came across one of my favorites.  I kept it framed in my bedroom.  This is Laynee when she was just a little round thing.

She turned 8 last week! I missed going to her house for birthday celebrations and homemade ice cream as requeseted by the birthday girl {a girl after my own ♥ .  Ice cream addict for life!}.

This gal is super smart.  One Sunday evening I remember teaching her the word 'putrid.'  She never forgot it and whenever she would see her me, she would say something like, "Meme, don't you think Bobby {troublesome-filled little brother} is smelling putrid today?!"

Laynee's Great Grandma (on her mom's side, so not my Grandma) has always said Laynee and I look alike.  I can only hope I am that cute!

I am super proud of your decision to get baptized and will be with you in ♥ . 

Love you Layne-Bop!!

Fleming's Macaroni and Cheese

Jordan's job comes with some fabulous perks.

A few weeks ago we got to go to dinner with one of the guys he has been working with and he took us to Fleming's.

Everything I ate was fabulous, but the Macaroni and Cheese was the best I have ever had.

I found the recipe online and tried it out.

It was so tasty & I am so glad we have a whole pan full of the stuff so I can nibble on it for the rest of the week!

I have been searching for a 'go to' mac & cheese recipe & here I have found it.

Fleming's Macaroni and Cheese:

1 lb pasta (cavatappi or curly) ---I found it called "Twists"

2 teaspoons salt
1 tablespoon vegetable oil

3/4 cup onion, 1/2-inch dice
1/2 cup butter 
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 cups heavy cream
3 cups half-and-half
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon white pepper
3/4 lb smoked cheddar cheese, grated
1/4 lb cheddar cheese, grated
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 teaspoon dried chipotle powder (chipotle chili powder)
3/4 cup panko

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a large pot, bring 1 gallon of water to boil. Add 2 teaspoons salt and pasta and cook for 8 - 9 minutes

2. Drain pasta and cool under cold running water. Pasta should be slightly firm. Toss drained pasta in oil and reserve.

3. Melt butter in a large sauce pot over medium heat. Add onions and saute for
4-5 minute.

4. Add flour and cook 1 - 2 minute but do not brown.

5. Add cream, half and half, salt and white pepper.

6. Bring pot to a simmer. Cook until sauce is thick, about 5 - 6 minute Blend cheese into sauce and add cooked pasta.

7. Pour pasta and sauce into a 9 x 13" baking dish. Reserve.

8. In a saute pan over medium-high heat, add oil and chipotle chili powder. Heat for 30 seconds, until pan starts to smoke. Remove from stove and stir in bread crumbs.

9. Sprinkle bread crumbs over the pasta and bake for 15 - 20 minute until golden. Cool slightly before serving.

Another great recipe I've recently tried out is something totally out of the ordinary for me.  Our friends left us with a fridge full of free food {at least them moving left us with one advantage}.

One of the items was 8 packets of ahi tuna steaks.  I found this Teriyaki Tuna recipe and it was scrumptious!

Teriyaki Tuna:

1/2 cup teriyaki sauce

1 1/2 pounds sashimi grade tuna steaks

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

1 lemon

1 tablespoon sesame seeds

2 teaspoons sea salt

ground black pepper to taste

1 carrot, grated

1. Pour the teriyaki sauce into a shallow dish or bowl, and place tuna steaks in the sauce to marinate. Cover, and allow to marinate for about 45 minutes at room temperature. The steaks will cook more evenly if they are not cold.

2. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Place tuna steaks in the hot oil.  Use teriyaki sauce, don't throw it out (see step 3). Squeeze juice from the lemon over the steaks, and sprinkle with sesame seeds. When the bottom is light brown (approx. 3 minutes), flip the steaks, and cook until browned on the other side (approx. 3 minutes). The center will still be slightly red. Season with sea salt and pepper.

3. While steaks are cooking, pour teriyaki sauce into small saucepan and bring to slow simmer.  Once you've removed the steaks from large skillet pour the teriyaki sauce into the skillet to pick up leftover drippings.

4.Place the tuna steaks onto serving plates, and garnish with grated carrots. Serve the teriyaki sauce as a dipping sauce.

Hope you'll try these out so your stomachs can be as happy as ours have been.  :)

P.S.  Somebody likes to sleep on their back...

Cadbury Cream

A lot has been going on around here!

A couple weeks ago we went to Dallas with our friends.

Unfortunately, we all went because they are sadly moving there. 

It was fun going back to Texas.  I love Texas!

I told Jordan, "I like Tulsa, but I love Texas!"

All the fun memories from last summer came flooding back to us...through our stomachs.

Rudy's BBQ,

Chuy's Tex-Mex,

& pinkberry

 were all located in the same shopping center in Arlington.

Heaven!

We had a really fun time together.  We all stayed at the Adolphus Hotel (the Queen of England herself has stayed there).

Jordan & I went to the Sixth Floor Museum.  It is the location that Lee Harvey Oswald set up his rifle & shot President Kennedy.  It was really neat to learn all about it & see the spot where it all took place.

We are really going to miss the Mason's! 

I will especially miss smuggling their dog Ralphie

into Target when Natalie & I are on a Cool Ranch Dorito's & Chocolate Gelato run.

As soon as we got home from Dallas we were welcomed home by an ENORMOUS storm. Tornadoes ripped through Oklahoma City, then headed through Tulsa, & beyond.  Luckily, we ended up being in a portion of the storm that wasn't as violent as it was everywhere else.  We could hear some nearby tornado sirens going off, but ours never did.  Nevertheless, I hung out bravely in a closet until it passed.

Then the week after that Jordan's sisters & mom passed through on their way to move Lindsay (Beauty on the right) to Tennessee.  They were only here overnight, but it was good to see their beautiful faces. 

I know Jordan enjoyed showing them around town!

The MOST exciting part of the past few weeks was this last weekend.

We finally got a dog!!!

Meet Cadbury Rogers ♥ ♥ ♥

He is 5 months old & as precious as can be. 

{Look at that Buddha belly!} 

He really is a sweetheart.

{He poops out wherever he feels the need.  He'll be walking next to you one minute & the next he plopped down to take a break.}

We found him at the Tulsa Animal Shelter.  He wasn't available yet, but he must have really worked his magic on Jordan because Jordan went back a few days later to put our names on the waiting list.  We were #2.  Then the day he became available, Jordan & I made sure to get to the shelter as soon as it opened so we could get first dibs.  Lucky for us #1 never showed so Cadbury (the Carin Terrier mix)was all ours!

I am so glad he has joined our little family.  He will be able to keep Jordan company when I go home to Arizona this coming week so I can meet my newest nephew, Drake.

See you soon little guy!