Tagged - 4 things

LCM tagged Yonf or me, but since Yonf is off being very brave this week (I'll let her tell you about it), I'm it!

Oh, also: Julie, I haven't forgotten your prize. It's in the works!

And we still have more profiles to post, although I'm sure you've given up on us by now. Or maybe you're just reveling in the suspense?


FOUR THINGS:

Four Jobs I have had in my life:
1) Fast Friendly Foto Finishing at Frodsham's (and later, Rocket Photo)
2) BYU Grounds Crew (came with a sweet tan)
3) Lithia Park Grounds Crew (came with poison oak)
4) WalMart Portrait Studio Photographer (thankfully only a seasonal job)

Four Movies I can Watch Over and Over
1) Pride & Prejudice - the slow-moving version
2) August Rush (Jac, we need to do dueling calendars!)
3) Fiddler on the Roof
4) The Princess Bride

Four TV Shows I watch (because they're already on. I don't watch much independently. Also, we only get 2 channels currently.)
1) NCIS
2) The Mentalist
3) PBS Masterpiece Classic
4) Monk (online)

Four Places I have been on Vacation
1) Disneyland
2) Oregon Coast
3) Cross-country in the Family Suburban
4) Camping

Four Place I have Lived
1) Medford, OR
2) Ashland, OR
3) Several locations in Northern Utah
4) Wichita Falls, TX

Four Places I would rather be right now
1) Somewhere Tropical
2) Somewhere Mediterannian
3) In sweat pants
4) At a Spa

Four of my favorite Foods
1) Carrot Cake (no nuts)
2) Steak
3) Fruit
4) Aunt Beaner's Rolls

Four websites I visit daily
1) Gmail
2) Google Reader
3) My sister's funny, funny blog (sorry, it's private)
4) MailTribune.com

For Jill H.

About three years ago, I called K, who was throwing a bridal shower, and asked how I could help. She asked me to be in charge of drinks. When I asked if that meant juice with Sprite, she asked me to do something a little fancier, like Italian Sodas.

"No problem," I said, and hung up.

And then I immediately and consecutively dialed 3 of the fanciest people I know (Marla, Lesley C, and Susan H, if you're wondering) and said, "WHAT THE HECK IS AN ITALIAN SODA AND HOW AM I GOING TO SERVE IT TO FANCY PEOPLE???"

Thankfully they talked me down off the ceiling and cherry limeade and yes, Italian Sodas were served, but I was a nervous wreck.

Over drinks. I know.

Phone conversation from yesterday:

Me: Need any help with the bridal shower tonight?
K: Yes - can you bring a dessert?
Me: Sure. I can make carrot cake* or strawberry pie.
K: Um, those are harder to serve at a shower. Can you make something like a strawberry torte?
Me: Uh . . . . describe a torte?
(I mean, I've heard of them, but my baking repertoire is very limited.)
K: Ok, just make sugar cookies and put some glazed strawberries on them.
Me: I can handle that.

So I tweaked K's idea, and came up with these, which are based loosely on my mom's famous Strawberry Pie, and which turned out pretty well! See? No panicked phone calls, and Jill H. even wanted my recipe! Progress, I tell you.

K thinks we should name them after us both, since it was her inspiration and my exhaustive labor, but do you think anyone will eat Benniumble Tarts? Or Brumennion Tarts? Suggestions are welcome!


Crust

Mix together:
1 cup softened butter
2 cups flour
1/2 cup powdered sugar
Dash of salt

Flatten approx. 1-inch balls of dough and press into 24 mini-muffin cups, spreading dough up the sides of the cups. Bake 11 minutes at 350. Remove as soon as sides begin to brown. Crust will be puffy - flatten it out gently (I used an upside-down lemon juice bottle - the cap was just the right size). Place on cooling rack.


Strawberry Filling

Chop, mash or puree:
1/2 pound of strawberries

Combine in saucepan:
1/3 c sugar
2 T strawberry gelatin
2 T cornstarch
1/2 c water
1 T lemon juice

Boil for one minute. Remove from heat. Cool.

Stir cooled mixture into strawberries, adding as much as you think tastes good.


Cream Topping:

Combine and beat until thick (up to 10 minutes):
1 can sweetened condensed milk, chilled
1/3 c lemon juice
1/4 t almond extract
1 t vanilla

Spoon strawberry mixture into mini-crusts, and top with cream topping.

What I'm Grateful For....

I'm grateful that I can call Papa Murphy's, that they can have a pizza made and ready to be picked up in five minutes. That I can still feed my family after I caught their dinner on fire.

What are you grateful for on this fine, fabulous Wednesday?

Finding "Our" Song

Over Mother's Day weekend we went to the coast. We shipped out the dog, brought my parents along and managed to pack everything but the kitchen sink. We had a fantastic time! It was so nice to be away! One night, because my parents were to there to hold down the fort, hubby and I went to a newer coffee place in the tiny town of Gold Beach. It had amazing art on the walls but because they were newer they didn't have hot chocolate or Italian sodas. How hard is it to buy club soda and chocolate packets? Anyway, they were having a band there that night. It was three men who were pretty decent actually. It was a great and fun atmosphere and we loved being a part of it. Towards the end of the evening the band asked for requests. My husband loves the song, "Georgia." He wanted me to suggest it but the problem I have speaking up in that sort of situation is if I say something and I'm not heard and then having to repeat it. I never said my fears were justified. So my non-blogging, never read my blog husband decided to YONF me and sure enough before the evening was finished I had requested the song, the band played the song, and my husband loved hearing. I was talking to him saying how cool it would be to be able to request "our song." The problem though is we don't have one. We tried coming up with some, "At Last," was mentioned but I don't think that fits us well. We both love Marley and we listen to it often but I didn't think "I Shot the Sheriff," was a good choice for being our song. So any suggestions? Do you have a special song with your spouse? Help me find one!