A Compelling Endorsement

One of Whitney's homework pages last week was this cursive-writing exercise describing a food she doesn't like.

{click to enlarge}

It cracked me up that she picked this recipe because she has only tried it once, and even Landon liked it (he's a much tougher crowd than she is).

I got the recipe from Amy S.' (is that allowed?) recipe blog and it has become one of my favorites even though I don't really like chicken. (I tend to make an exception for shredded chicken because it dulls the chickenness of it.) I swiped the recipe and photos from Amy's blog so as to share the goodness, enjoy.

crock pot tacos

"I got this recipe from my friend Vella. And I'm pretty sure I've since shared it with every breathing human I've encountered. Because it takes 5 minutes of prep. On a busy day it is a heaven-send to come home to something that required so little effort and is still so delicious!"

4 frozen chicken breasts (you don't even have to thaw!)
1 15-oz. can corn
1 15-oz. can black beans (I always double this)
1 16-oz. jar salsa

Place all ingredients in crock pot on low for 4-6 hours. Shred chicken and stir. Place in soft flour tortillas with favorite toppings (cheese, lettuce, sour cream, guacamole). Today I didn't have salsa, so I substituted Rotel diced tomatoes with green chilies...and on days when I don't have tortillas we like this dished up in a bowl. Sometimes I also add taco seasoning, chili powder, or cumin.

Note from Jill: I only ever use 3 frozen chicken breasts and cook it on high for 3 hours. It is my last-minute go-to recipe when I want to have a substantial dinner but don't want a lot of prep work. Also we like to eat it over tortilla ships. So don't take Whitney's word for it, this is a great recipe!

**Have you tried this recipe?
What's your go-to recipe for a good, fast dinner?
What food makes you gag?**

Comment Window Tidbit: I guess I know what I'm making for dinner.

Wordless Wednesday

Comment Window Tidbit: I'm having motivation problems today.

Swoon

Need I say more?

Comment Window Tidbit: Oh Jane, you get me every time!

Oh the Pain

Last Saturday was the final game in the 7th/8th grade boys' soccer tournament. Landon's team played another team they had faced twice already this season. They had tied them 2-2 the first time, then beat them (barely) 1-0 the next time (thanks to a goal by Landon) so we thought we were in for another frustrating game of equally matched teams doing a whole lot of nothing.

Landini at kick off.

Instead, the other team had 3 more guys than us which meant they could rotate in rested guys, whereas all our guys had to play for the entire hour.

That made for a whole lot of running!

Landon had several good shots and close calls, but none of them went in.


This isn't a picture of Landon, but isn't the angle of this kid running amazing?

I love this picture of my mom!

Adam and Amy's girls had spent the night so they were there with us, which meant Megan did a whole lot of talking.

Poor Bella! I guess Tess was comfortable though.

Whitney wore my mom's sun glasses for awhile.

Our team was down 3-0 at the half and they were feeling seriously defeated. The coach did his best to motivate them with a pep talk, but it didn't take.

Randy trying to help Landon regroup and focus and half time.

The final score was 5-0 despite our best efforts. It was a sad state of affairs and made for the saddest post-game cheer and "good game" exchange ever.


This is the first time they've ever gotten trophies, but they weren't happy about getting 2nd place.


Post game congratulations and adoration, though he wasn't ready to receive them.

Ah, a smile!

I think it would have been a less painful loss had they not tied and beat that team already. We have no idea how the other team had improved so much in just a couple weeks' time, but they were definitely improved. I suggested steroids as a possibility, but it's unlikely.

**How do you feel about 2nd place?
Did you have trophies as a kid?**

Comment Window Tidbit: So far today, I mowed the lawn, did 2 loads of laundry and watched the RS Broadcast, woohoo!

Sunday Thoughts

I got a call yesterday from the Primary President asking me to go to Ward Council for her today since she's currently in great pain with a kidney stone (ouch!). Upon showing up at the meeting this morning, I was given 5 minutes' notice to give a 5 minute presentation on how we run our primary. That was no problem at all...I can talk about primary for hours, so it was just a matter of jotting down a few notes to help keep me on track.


Another interesting thing about today was that it was our Youth Leadership day, which means we had a youth Bishopric (who had been called by our real Bishopric), who had called all the other youth to positions (i.e., a Relief Society Presidency, Primary Presidency, primary teachers, Elder's Quorum Presidency, High Priest Group Leader and so on). Our ward has done this several times before, but this was the first time I was behind the scenes at Ward Council and at the follow-up meeting after church.


I was so impressed with the Youth Primary Presidency. They conducted the meeting, gave a great, well-prepared sharing time, and tried to maintain reverence (not easy to do with so many kids). We also had a youth pianist and 2 choristers who led the kids in various songs. It was seriously impressive.


Landon was called to be a primary teacher and ended up teaching the 6 year olds. He was totally prepared with visual aids, activities, and the lesson materials of course.

The best part of the day was the follow-up meeting we with the leaders of all the auxiliaries after church. We went around giving feedback on how the youth did with their various callings (they had also taught Relief Society, Elder's Quorum and High Priest Group too). Then they had the youth (just the leaders of each auxiliary) give examples of things they learned through this experience. All of them came away with a greater appreciation for the preparation involved in teaching lessons, and how difficult it is to actually fill the allotted time.


The most powerful part of the meeting (which had already been rather touching) was at the end when the youth Bishop (who is 17) stood up to share his feelings. He said, "I have two words for you...Choice Opportunity." He then went on to explain how amazing the experience of praying to know who to call as his counselors was, and then how touching the 3 weeks he spent praying for the youth were. He then bore powerful testimony of the truthfulness of the gospel. I was a wreck, absolutely a snotty, tear-streaming mess. It was amazing! I was so impressed with all of the youth, and know I wasn't as mature, prepared and spiritual as they are.

**Thoughts??**

Comment Window Tidbit: This day has felt longer than usual, I am ready to completely sack out.

Creative Friday--Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy

I had Ashley with me for this week's Creative Friday because Robyn was in Montana for a Fitness Conference (it's hard to believe we're sisters right?).

Our self-portrait.

After a rather frosty, nonwelcome from Eva the girls remembered they love to play together and did so with great enthusiasm.


During lunch time, Eva got up and enthusiastically did her "Happy, happy, joy, joy" song and dance. I enjoy the part where she sings, "So happy, hilariously happy, so happy".

Even though the girls had 2 hours to play before Eva had to leave for school, they were doing so well that Michelle decided to let Eva miss. We never thought we'd be happy about her missing school, but it meant Michelle didn't have to leave to take her and it was a reward for happy, cooperating girls.


Michelle made us open faced, broiled ham and cheese sandwiches on freshly baked French bread...oh my!


She spoiled me with more of the fabulous peaches she bought at a roadside stand.


Michelle worked on putting together more sets of her Paris colors cards.

I wrote 6 cards and cut out some labels. It was a great day.

**Do you have a happy, happy, joy, joy dance and song?
Have you had many peaches this season?
Did you write any cards this week?
Why not?**

Comment Window Tidbit: I dozed off while reading this afternoon, which was delicious, but now I feel irritable. Aargh!

Five for Friday--What a Week Edition

1. My most despised household chore is ironing, so I very rarely do it. But since I had my job interview on Wednesday, I sucked it up and ironed 5 of my shirts while watching "Larkrise to Candleford" which is a BBC miniseries I'm loving. It took the edge off the ironing, but I still hated it. I always feel like I iron more wrinkles in and like I do battle with the cord. Maybe if my iron were cordless I wouldn't feel like such a spazz.


2. Last weekend I watched "Miss Austen Regrets" on the computer while cutting out good mail labels. I loved the movie and am so smitten with that time period. I love the look of everything, especially quills and ink on the page.


I actually wrote down several quotes while watching this movie because they resonated with me so much.

Niece to Jane Austen: "Please don't expect a Mr. Darcy."
Jane: "Oh my darling girl, the only way to get a Mr. Darcy is to make him up."

Jane: "Girls of 20 are so desperate to be in love."

Jane: "As every woman knows there's a scarcity of men in general and an even greater scarcity of any that are good for much."


3. My companion and I finished our visiting teaching this week (we had to go out 3 different times over the past 2 weeks) and left on such a high. One woman we visit is super busy because she's taking a full load of college classes plus has many children to run all over the place and care for. She was almost too busy to let us come visit, but luckily she did. We ended up offering to do errands for her so she could work on a paper she had to write. She was reluctant to let us do these "silly" things (drop a band uniform off at the dry cleaner, buy manila folders and stamps) but we were adamant, so she relented with tears in her eyes. It was so easy for us to do these things for her, we had the time and we were going out. She didn't have the time and desperately needed someone to do something for her. I love being a useful visiting teacher!


4. At our bread-making class at Michelle's house I was telling them a riveting tale of the death of our toaster oven and the void its absence was leaving on our kitchen counter, when Amie offered to give us their practically new toaster oven! She said they never use it and that it's just on a shelf in her pantry. Good heavens! We use ours all the time and have been feeling the lack of it greatly. (Landon's bagel consumption has gone way down.) I met up with Amie at Costco so she could give me the toaster oven, but then ended up running an errand with her and then going to lunch at Chili's. I had a coupon for Chips & Queso, and we split an entree, so it was a $6 outing.

Behold the toaster oven with celebratory bagels inside! You would think it was a Christmas miracle or something, but the kids are so excited about this. I actually heard Whitney say, "I just love our new toaster oven!"

5. Landon's flag football team has won their first two games of the season already. It's nice that his coach is letting them coach themselves for the most part, and is having them take turns being quarterback. I'm still in mourning for the end of soccer season, but Landon's soccer team won their first tournament game last night and they have their final tournament game Saturday.

**Do you like ironing?
Do you like movies set in the Jane Austen time period?
Do you enjoy being a useful visiting teacher?
Do you use a toaster oven?**

Comment Window Tidbit: It's Friday again, tra la, tra la, tra la.

A Bread Making Lesson

Crystal has been commenting on Michelle's blog for some time now about wanting to learn how to make Michelle's fabulous Artisan bread, so after our fun lunch at Chili's last week we scheduled a bread-making lesson with Michelle.


She emailed us the recipe, so we all made our dough the night before and then brought it with us. (It has to rise for 12-18 hours.)


Eva serenaded us with her Mr. Ickle Bickle (that's not the right name, but close) song, the main gist of which is "He's so scary, so scary."


Crystal arrived with her darling toddler in tow (which she wasn't happy about) so he added a lot of spice to her day. I had forgotten how on-the-go a 2.5 year old is...where can I get some of that energy?


After the long rising time, the bread needs to be pushed down (not so much punched) on a floured surface, then given 10 more minutes to rise.


Amie worked the whole time she was there. She had her mini computer, her phone in hand, a pen in the other hand and so on. She is a wonder!


Crystal's boy wonder was quite enamored with the children's cutlery at Michelle's house (much to Eva's dismay) and ended up with 4 different utensils in his lunch.


We had a tasty lunch of chicken salad, croissants and fresh peaches (apparently I took this photo before putting the peaches on my plate).

Crystal brought cannoli for dessert.

After the 10 minute rising, we put corn meal (Michelle's finely ground) onto a towel then put our dough down, then put more corn meal on top of it before covering it with the towel so it could rise for another hour and a half.


Mine rose the highest! I was surprised mine worked at all, especially since my yeast had expired.


The bread bakes in a preheated over AND preheated dutch oven for 30 minutes on 450 degrees.

Crystal's very subtle, body-hiding pose.

My loaf!

It turned out beautifully.

Poor baby Jack wasn't happy about being locked in the house, especially when he was desperate to go home for a nap. He was a champ to have lasted as long as he did.

Our self-portrait.

It was a few hours of good conversation, good food and learning a new skill.

**Have you ever made Artisan bread?
Do you wish you had the energy of a 2.5 year old?
Do you like chicken salad?**

Comment Window Tidbit: I met with the head of Human Resources at the school district today and talked to him for a few minutes while he looked at my resume. It couldn't have gone better! He said he'd be calling me for an interview when he gets back from a business trip in over a week. Woohoo!