Yummy Cookie for the Holiday!

Such a yummy cookie. It is easy to make and taste great. A great holiday cookie!

Yummy Soft GingerSnap Cookies!

3/4 cup shortening
1 cup packed light brown sugar
1/4 cup molasses
1 large egg
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground cloves1 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 cup sugar (for dipping)

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

2. Cream shortening, brown sugar, molasses and egg in large bowl. In a separate bowl sift flour, baking soda, salt and spices. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the creamed mixture, blending until mixed. Dough can be chilled for easy handling.

3. Shape the dough into balls the size of whole walnuts. Roll balls in sugar, place on baking sheet. Bake 8-9 minutes at 375 degrees. Cool on sheet one minute before transferring to rack

Back at Home

Well, this week was quite a nice week for many reasons. It was thanksgiving, in which John and I were able to take some time and ponder of all of our many blessings. On Tuesday we began Housesitting/Dogsitting for a couple in our ward. We were staying at their house all week. They have a nice house which is quite different from our home, we felt like we were kids playing house. John had a nice long weekend away from school so we were able to spend some time together which I enjoyed so much. I fortunately did not have to work Thanksgiving (yeah, the first and the last holiday I will not work), yes I have to work Christmas and New Year's Day! (Thanks for reminding me.) So John and I slept in, we watched some of the Macy's day Parade, we enjoyed the spirit of Thanksgiving while snowflakes were falling outside. We spent Thanksgiving dinner with some friends, The Hassell's, and the Casper's over at the Hassell's Aunt and Uncle's home. Dinner was delicious, there was so much yummy food, and the company was great. It was nice to be among great friends. We sat around and talked and played some games.
Post Thanksgiving feast. Playing a game!
John carrying around a few girls. They were all over, look one on each leg!
The whole group on Thanksgiving!
That night John and I relaxed on the couch and tried to help our ASU devils to a victory but the Devils lost. We went out and enjoyed some pumpkin pie and ice cream that night as a little nighttime snack. I am grateful for so many things in my life. I will not bore you with the list but just to name a few. . . . I am thankful for first and foremost the gospel of Jesus Christ in my life and all the blessings that it brings. I am thankful for my wonderful Husband, and my family far far away. I am thankful that John and I have this opportunity to be out here in Buffalo, for John to be in school and for me to be working, and for all of the growth and opportunity this experience has brought. I am thankful for the moments of peace and comfort in my life when I take the time to sit back and remember what is really important. I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving!!
I had to work Friday so I was not part in the billions of dollars spent on black Friday. That night after work I came out to a NOT working civic. John had taken the Maxima in that day for a few repairs, and now the civic! I swear our cars have not adjusted to the Move to Buffalo, I think they are telling us they want to go back to AZ! So John and Glen came and picked up from work. I will just tell you this much, I have never realized how frustrating it is to not have a working car! Anyway, that night John and I spent the night with our dear friends Christy and Glen Ashworth. We chatted, we were fed, we enjoyed some wonderful homemade rich hot chocolate, and we played the LOST boardgame, or attempted to at least! We had such a fun night, which explains us not getting home until 3am!!

On Saturday besides trying to catch up on some sleep, John and I had to postpone our planned temple trip due to our vechicle situation. We really hope to go within the next few weeks. John and I moved back to our little home. I started to kinda miss it, so it was nice to be back. We ran to the mall to look at video cameras, which is on our Christmas list.

We did not do anymore shopping because a Saturday night at the mall is crazy! That night John and I along with several other couples went over to our friends Megan and Bron's home for some games! We played Encore, Guesstures and one of John's favorites Mafia. We had so much fun, that we stayed late again. We did not get home until 1:30 am. It was a great long Thanksgiving weekend.
At church today John was a member of eight guys who sung a special musical number in sacrament. He did great,( his first performance in sacrament) they sang Brightly Beams our Father's Mercy. The rest of our Sabbath day has been so nice. Now that Thanksgiving is done, Christmas is almost here, and I am so not ready. It will come so fast, and I want to spend so much time enjoying the season and not running around like crazy. I better get going so I can try to go to bed early tonight unlike the past two!!

AMAZING pork in slow cooker

Recipe Monday!!
I made this for Sunday dinner and it is so so yummy. The pork just shreds and falls apart so easily. It melts in your mouth! All from doing nothing all day, beware you will smell it in your slow cooker, tempting you!! Enjoy!
1 (2 pound) pork tenderloin
1 (1 ounce) envelope dry onion soup mix
1 cup water
3/4 cup apple juice
3 tablespoons minced garlic
3 tablespoons soy sauce
freshly ground black pepper to taste
Place pork tenderloin in a slow cooker with the contents of the soup packet. Pour water, juice, and soy sauce over the top, turning the pork to coat. Carefully spread garlic over the pork, leaving as much on top of the roast during cooking as possible. Sprinkle with pepper, cover, and cook on low setting for 8 hours. Serve with cooking liquid on the side as au jus.

Happy FHE everyone!!

Friday Fling

Friday night was our Enrichment Friday night fling! A night full of dinner, girls, and crafts! What a night! I just signed up for a few crafts but I came away with a lot of ideas for future projects! I made headbands, and an ornament tree!
John modeling the head-band!
It was tons of fun! John went to bed early that night, me on the other hand did not even get home until midnight!
My cute lil' christmas tree!
Saturday morning I slept in, when I woke up John had already woke up did laundry, and cleaned the kitchen! Saturday was a nice relaxing day, we went to the gym together, and over to his cousins for a birthday party for their little girl!! It was fun getting together, as always! While we were hanging out we noticed outside white flakes falling, yes it was snowing!
Then off to the mall! It was very crazy with a bunch of people shopping for christmas and enjoying being indoors(out here people hang out at the mall because it is so cold outside!). We spent way too much time in the Apple store, then of course we had to go to Williams-Sonoma for me. I love everything in that store! We tried a sample of some yummy mashed potatoes, and hot apple cider!
It was a great day to be with my husband! I can't believe it is Thanksgiving this week, Christmas will come so fast! Oh, yes and normally I wait until after Thanksgiving for Christmas decorations and music but not this year, its starting today!!

Just thought I would add a classic picture of us! You know, the ones where you just hold the camera out right in front of you. . . or are we the only ones!

The best day of my life!

Thanks Megan for the wedding tag!! I love to reminisce about my wedding day. I loved planning the wedding and the day was more than I expected! I am so thankful for all my pictures and my video that I have to remember my special day! Here are a few pictures to highlight my special day!
We had a dinner the night before, instead of the luncheon on the wedding day! We were sealed in the Mesa Arizona temple on December 20th, and held our reception at the Val vista Lakes clubhouse that evening. It was beautiful and John and I had a blast!!
A classic picture of the bride and groom. Our colors were baby blue, white, silver, kinda like a winter-y wonderland theme!
My beautiful husband!
And the bride. . . .
Since we got married around Christmas time, in some of our pictures you will notice Christmas lights around the temple!
This picture snaps John and I as we are exiting the temple after getting married. What an amazing experience to be in such a sacred place with our family and friends!

John with all of his BOYS walking, talking, and laughing!
The entrance into our reception! It was so beautiful, the decorations, the food, and of course the company were all amazing!
Posing at our reception! By the end of the night my face was so tired of smiling the whole time, I felt like I had a perma-grin!
Not one but two huge chocolate fountains was one of the few items that John had an opinion about, we just had to have Two!!
The chocolate fountains added such a nice touch to our warm winter-y food. Soup in bread bowls, salads, steaming hot cinnamon rolls, hot chocolate bar and the chocolate fountains!
God Bless the Broken Road that lead me straight to you. . . Our first dance together!
Yes, you are seeing correctly! This is John and I (in my wedding dress) riding off from our reception on this little scooter! Definitely John's idea, and yes I agreed. I did not allow us to wear the small helmets he wanted, or ride far, just around the corner, then switched to our car. Needless to say, everyone loved it!!
What a great day!!
I tag my sister Jessika, Regan, and Jenny ( I don't know anything about your wedding, since we were in NY already)!!

Joining in on Recipe Monday!

I too, love sharing and receiving new recipes! Thanks to my friend Megan, I will join in and TRY to post a recipe every Monday! ( or Tuesday, see I am already behind. . .)
This on is for Salsa Chicken, a great stuffing for burritos!

Chicken(3-4 breasts)
1 (4 oz) can tomato sauce
1/2 cup salsa
1 oz taco seasoning
1 teaspoon cumin
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 teaspoon chili powder
Place Chicken, tomato sauce, in a large skillet. Boil, add salsa, seasonings, and garlic. Simmer 15 minutes.
With fork, shred chicken, cook covered for 10-15 minutes. Add water if needed.
Fill in a tortilla with you favorite fillings!
Can add rice, beans, tomatoes, cilantro to chicken mixture.
Top with choice toppings(cheese, lettece, etc.)
Enjoy!!

STRIKE!

Well I must say there was a lack of STRIKES last weekend when we went bowling. We are not professional bowlers at all, we are the goofy, have fun, low scoring bowlers. John and I were a team, and were playing with a number of other couples! We had a great night!
John posing before he bowls for us! Go baby go!!
Our friends Bron and Megan. Its a small world, Megan and I attended Academy for Girls(before you are old enough for EFY) when we were in 8th grade and became great friends. Who would have thought we would met again several years later in Buffalo NY!
Stake conference was on Sunday which was very enjoyable. They addressed the 5 goals of the stake for the 2008 year! ( my interpretations)
1- temple attendance- attend the temple once a month
2- missionary work- Invite at least 2 people into your home to hear the missionary discussions
3- FHE- hold family home evening once a week.
4- charity and faith- Become more charitable, through selfless acts of faith.
5- I FORGOT THE LAST GOAL. CAN SOMEONE HELP ME OUT THAT ATTENDED??

John's Life vs. Sarah's Life

Well, I think the picture explains it well enough. This semester has been so tough. There is always a test or a lab project to be done. These poor boys are definately overworked! Poor John. Check out that Long hair! (if you look close, I accidently scratched John on the cheek! Sorry! Ouch!)
Well, I have been working like crazy, the hospital sure has picked up now that the weather has turned cold. I am still enjoying it, the people that I work with are fun although the health care system needs some major improvements. I am able to get past that because I know I am not going to be working their forever. On Wednesday at work we had a lovely surprise visit from a fellow Buffalo Bill. He was going around signing autographs. I thought it was so funny, you should have seen the line of female doctors following him around!

On these last few days off, I have enjoyed a few classes at the church. I went to an early morning pilates class which I am feeling the pain of sore muscles right now, and a Turkey basics and pie making class. My pie crust turned out really good, but I forgot to snap a shot! I am anxious to use my skills learned since I have never personally made a turkey before! I have been baking too, the smell of homemade pumpkin bread gets me so into the Thanksgiving and holiday mood! Last night we had our monthly book club meeting. We read the GIVER. I know it is read in Junior high but it was a nice read and made you think. We must have really enjoyed the book because book club lasted until almost ONE AM. We probably talked about the book for a 1/2 hour and then just enjoyed the company and chatted about life! I always love getting together as girls. I am so glad for such great friends!

It's November already!

WOW, Can I say that time is flying by?! John even thinks so too, which is great because the sooner the time goes by, the sooner the suffering stops! When I say suffering I am referring to the endless nights studying and studying and yep, more studying. I know I will soon join him, which kind of makes me nervous because I enjoy looking at John and knowing that I can sit here on my computer and NOT study and spend my time doing productive things like. . . . blogging.
Anyway, I can not believe it is November already. November in Buffalo means cold weather, and cold weather means summer clothes out and winter clothes in. That is just what I did.

It is depressing because taking all of my cute short sleeve shirts out was not fun and knowing that I would not see them until next April (the earliest. . . maybe more like June). Pulling out the long sleeves and the sweaters makes me miss Arizona knowing that at home I can still wear my summer clothes almost all year round.
On a more brighter note, I made a cake! Yes, baking and cooking is therapeutic for me. Believe it or not I have never REALLY made a cake before. Okay, I have but just a basic sheet cake or something kind of simple. I love decorating cakes, and making cheesecakes, but never I multi-layer large round cake, the whole she-bang type cake. But I did! I made a Pecan Caramel cake with Cream cheese frosting- Plus I added a little white chocolate to the cake too. It was fun! John was jealous because I made it for a church cake auction, and so he was not allowed to have any. The house smelt so good, it was hard not to sneak a piece. I think it turned out pretty well, I could not taste it, so I don't really know, but it looked good, and sold well too! I am looking forward to trying more REAL cake baking.