So I must be feeling somewhat better because I've been getting that itch to start cooking again and don't gag every time I do it...great! I made a couple new recipes tonight that turned out scrumptious. And it so happens to be vegetarian friendly so even your animal-loving friends can enjoy! :)
Minestrone Soup
Easiness Rating: 7
Russ' Rating: 8 (His main complaint was that it had no meat...apparently this is a more of a girly dish?)
Jen's Rating: 9 (The only thing I would've changed is add a little more salt.)
1 1/2 Tbsp olive oil
3 cloves garlic, chopped or crushed
1 small onion, chopped small
2 stalks celery, sliced
2 carrots, sliced thin
2 15-oz cans of chicken broth
1 cup water
2 8-oz cans tomato sauce
1 can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
1 8 oz can green beans
1 cup fresh baby spinach
2 small zucchini, halved and sliced
1 tsp dry oregano
2 tsp dry basil
salt and pepper to taste
1/2 cup dry seashell pasta
Parmesan cheese for topping
In a large pot, over medium heat, saute garlic in olive oil for 2-3 mins. Add onion and saute for 4-5 mins. Add celery and carrots, saute for 1-2 mins. Add chicken broth, water and tomato sauce. Bring to boil, then reduce heat to low to simmer. Add green beans, spinach, zucchini and spices. Cover and simmer for 15 minutes. Add kidney beans and dry pasta and simmer for 15-20 minutes. Serve with parmesan cheese on top. I thought it was just as good as the Olive Garden's!
Soft Garlic Breadsticks
Easiness Rating: 8
Russ's Rating: 10
Jen's Rating: 9.5
1 tsp active dry yeast
1/2 cup warm water
1 Tbsp sugar
Combine and let stand for 10 minutes.
In a separate bowl, combine:
1 Tbsp olive oil
1 1/2 Tbsp grated parmesan
1 1/2 tsp garlic powder
3/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp dry basil
Combine both bowls. Then add 1 1/2 cups flour. Roll and knead on floured surface until correct consistency. Separate into 10 different balls. Roll out into breadstick shape and place on greased baking sheet. Cover and let stand for 40 minutes to let it rise. Then bake at 350 degrees for 18-22 minutes. Lightly butter when done. Great for dipping in Minestrone Soup!
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Spain!!!
We got home last night from spending 10 days in Spain! Russ served his mission there so he was more than excited about going back. I really didn't know what to expect so I was along for the ride and whatever he wanted to do but I loved it! With baby on the way and a bunch of frequent flier miles saved up we decided that it was now or never and we both are very happy that we decided to go.
We have a few hundred pictures from our trip so this is going to have to be a brief overview.
On our plane and super excited to get to Spain!
This is part of a family that Russ knew from his mission. It was a long dinner for me since all the conversation was in Spanish, but it was fun to see how much these people love Russ and to hear him talking in Spanish.
Outside the palace where Spain's king and queen live in Madrid. We took a tour inside and it is absolutely beautiful...as if there was a chance it wouldn't be.
At the Plaza Mayor in Madrid. This is not a pic of Russ but of the fat Spiderman in the background! I couldn't get over how unsuperhero-ish he was, especially when he pulled out a cigarette and started smoking! It was hilarious!
My favorite place in Barcelona was the Parc Guell. This guy Gaudi designed the park and it is pretty much just awesome...cool houses and interesting walkways, lots of decor made from colorful tiles and all sorts of fun stuff to walk around and see. We went there twice because we liked it so much!
Gaudi also designed this awesome house. It was like walking around in a Dr. Seuss book or something...we loved it! Pretty much all the cool stuff to see in Barcelona was designed by Gaudi.
We took a day trip to Montserrat...a monastery located way up high on a mountain. The sights from up there were amazing and the Basilica (the big church building) was gorgeous inside.
Our last stop was in San Sebastian and Bilbao. We were a little bummed about it being so rainy and cold and windy but it was beautiful, nonetheless.
So those were the highlights of our sightseeing. Other fun parts of our trip include me throwing up all over a train, Russ' suitcase having the loudest wheels ever and him being embarrased everywhere we went, eating churros and hot chocolate for breakfast, Sunday dinner at a family's home (Russ had baptized the mom way back when), watching Russ bear his testimony at Sacrament meeting in his old ward, and finally landing back in Phoenix after 20 hours of traveling back home. We will miss Spain!
We have a few hundred pictures from our trip so this is going to have to be a brief overview.
On our plane and super excited to get to Spain!
This is part of a family that Russ knew from his mission. It was a long dinner for me since all the conversation was in Spanish, but it was fun to see how much these people love Russ and to hear him talking in Spanish.
Outside the palace where Spain's king and queen live in Madrid. We took a tour inside and it is absolutely beautiful...as if there was a chance it wouldn't be.
At the Plaza Mayor in Madrid. This is not a pic of Russ but of the fat Spiderman in the background! I couldn't get over how unsuperhero-ish he was, especially when he pulled out a cigarette and started smoking! It was hilarious!
My favorite place in Barcelona was the Parc Guell. This guy Gaudi designed the park and it is pretty much just awesome...cool houses and interesting walkways, lots of decor made from colorful tiles and all sorts of fun stuff to walk around and see. We went there twice because we liked it so much!
Gaudi also designed this awesome house. It was like walking around in a Dr. Seuss book or something...we loved it! Pretty much all the cool stuff to see in Barcelona was designed by Gaudi.
We took a day trip to Montserrat...a monastery located way up high on a mountain. The sights from up there were amazing and the Basilica (the big church building) was gorgeous inside.
Our last stop was in San Sebastian and Bilbao. We were a little bummed about it being so rainy and cold and windy but it was beautiful, nonetheless.
So those were the highlights of our sightseeing. Other fun parts of our trip include me throwing up all over a train, Russ' suitcase having the loudest wheels ever and him being embarrased everywhere we went, eating churros and hot chocolate for breakfast, Sunday dinner at a family's home (Russ had baptized the mom way back when), watching Russ bear his testimony at Sacrament meeting in his old ward, and finally landing back in Phoenix after 20 hours of traveling back home. We will miss Spain!
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Tag: Me and Him
I just can't resist these for some reason!
What are your middle names? Eagar (my maiden name) and T. Not a T with a period after...just T with nothing after. I still don't get it.
How long have you been together? Married almost a year!
How long did you know each other before you started dating? We hung out in the same group for several months but somehow never really talked to each other. I initiated the first conversation, in case anyone is wondering. :)
Who asked who out? He did...several times. It wouldn't have taken so long to get on that first date if he would've asked more than a day ahead every time!
Whose siblings do you see the most? Probably mine since my family gets together for Sunday dinner most weeks. But we try to be pretty equal about it.
Do you have any children together? We have one that's currently the size of a peach! (Or so my pregnancy book tells me.)
What about pets? No way. We both agree that there's no pets allowed until the kids are old enough to ask for them and play with them and help feed them. Even then it might take some persuasion.
Did you go to the same school? No. Russ went to BYU and I'm a Ricks and ASU kinda girl.
Who is the most sensitive? I'm gonna say it's a tie. Neither of us get all emotional very often, but I guess you could say that I would definitely get emotional before Russ.
Where is the furthest you have ever traveled as a couple? Hawaii. But give us a couple weeks and the answer will be Spain!
Who has the worst temper? Russ. You should've seen how cute he was when he was getting all mad at the light he was trying to put up in the garage today.
Who does the cooking? Before the pregnancy it was me 90% of the time. Now cooking consists of Russ going to get take out or me putting out the stuff for bean burritos. It's so sad.
Who is more social? Russ is way better at initiating and continuing conversations with people. People love him. It's a talent that I envy. I'm so bad at it that Russ says we can't have the missionaries over for dinner anymore because I don't talk at all and it's too awkward!
Who is the neat freak? Holy cow, that's Russ. I consider myself to be a clean person but he takes it to a whole new level!
Who is the most stubborn? We would both point fingers at each other for this question.
Who hogs the bed? I think we're both pretty good about stickin' to our own sides.
Where was your first date? To AZ 88 (which has a special nickname...but you'll have to ask Russ what it is) for dinner and then to watch some authentic Spanish dancing at a nearby hotel. It was a great first date...Russ chose well.
Who has the bigger family? 7 kids in my family, 4 in his.
Do you get flowers often? Nope.
Who eats more? Russ. I don't know where that boy packs it away.
Who sings better? I suppose I do. Neither of us are very good, though.
Who does the laundry? He's more of the washer, I'm the folder and put-awayer.
Who is better with the computer? Russ all the way.
Who drives when you are together? Russ. I'm pretty sure it's just because he likes his car better, though, and not because of any poor driving on my part.
Who picks where you go to dinner? It's pretty equal. Well maybe not right now because I have sensitive taste buds, but usually we both get our fair share of picks.
Who is the first one to admit when they are wrong? I'm definitely the first to admit when Russ is wrong. :)
Who wears the pants in the relationship? We both have one leg in and that's how we like it! We make a pretty good team.
Who eats more sweets? Oh man, that's me. I could live off brownies and milk! But Russ has no will power at all when there's ice cream around.
Where do you eat out most as a couple? Our favorites are Rumbi, Cafe Rio and Cypress Pita Grill. Yum!
Who wakes up earlier? I'm totally more of a morning person but can't seem to peel myself out of bed with this pregnancy business. So it's Russ, temporarily.
What's your best day together? Our wedding day for sure! It was pretty much perfect.
Where did you honeymoon? Kauai, HI, and Russ hasn't stopped talking about how we need to buy a house there someday. It's paradise!
Favorite date night? Anything that involves good food and being with Russ is my favorite date night. I would throw a chick flick in there, too, but Russ has been putting his foot down about limiting those lately. :)
Favorite TV show to watch together? The Office and when it's time...American Idol.
What are your middle names? Eagar (my maiden name) and T. Not a T with a period after...just T with nothing after. I still don't get it.
How long have you been together? Married almost a year!
How long did you know each other before you started dating? We hung out in the same group for several months but somehow never really talked to each other. I initiated the first conversation, in case anyone is wondering. :)
Who asked who out? He did...several times. It wouldn't have taken so long to get on that first date if he would've asked more than a day ahead every time!
Whose siblings do you see the most? Probably mine since my family gets together for Sunday dinner most weeks. But we try to be pretty equal about it.
Do you have any children together? We have one that's currently the size of a peach! (Or so my pregnancy book tells me.)
What about pets? No way. We both agree that there's no pets allowed until the kids are old enough to ask for them and play with them and help feed them. Even then it might take some persuasion.
Did you go to the same school? No. Russ went to BYU and I'm a Ricks and ASU kinda girl.
Who is the most sensitive? I'm gonna say it's a tie. Neither of us get all emotional very often, but I guess you could say that I would definitely get emotional before Russ.
Where is the furthest you have ever traveled as a couple? Hawaii. But give us a couple weeks and the answer will be Spain!
Who has the worst temper? Russ. You should've seen how cute he was when he was getting all mad at the light he was trying to put up in the garage today.
Who does the cooking? Before the pregnancy it was me 90% of the time. Now cooking consists of Russ going to get take out or me putting out the stuff for bean burritos. It's so sad.
Who is more social? Russ is way better at initiating and continuing conversations with people. People love him. It's a talent that I envy. I'm so bad at it that Russ says we can't have the missionaries over for dinner anymore because I don't talk at all and it's too awkward!
Who is the neat freak? Holy cow, that's Russ. I consider myself to be a clean person but he takes it to a whole new level!
Who is the most stubborn? We would both point fingers at each other for this question.
Who hogs the bed? I think we're both pretty good about stickin' to our own sides.
Where was your first date? To AZ 88 (which has a special nickname...but you'll have to ask Russ what it is) for dinner and then to watch some authentic Spanish dancing at a nearby hotel. It was a great first date...Russ chose well.
Who has the bigger family? 7 kids in my family, 4 in his.
Do you get flowers often? Nope.
Who eats more? Russ. I don't know where that boy packs it away.
Who sings better? I suppose I do. Neither of us are very good, though.
Who does the laundry? He's more of the washer, I'm the folder and put-awayer.
Who is better with the computer? Russ all the way.
Who drives when you are together? Russ. I'm pretty sure it's just because he likes his car better, though, and not because of any poor driving on my part.
Who picks where you go to dinner? It's pretty equal. Well maybe not right now because I have sensitive taste buds, but usually we both get our fair share of picks.
Who is the first one to admit when they are wrong? I'm definitely the first to admit when Russ is wrong. :)
Who wears the pants in the relationship? We both have one leg in and that's how we like it! We make a pretty good team.
Who eats more sweets? Oh man, that's me. I could live off brownies and milk! But Russ has no will power at all when there's ice cream around.
Where do you eat out most as a couple? Our favorites are Rumbi, Cafe Rio and Cypress Pita Grill. Yum!
Who wakes up earlier? I'm totally more of a morning person but can't seem to peel myself out of bed with this pregnancy business. So it's Russ, temporarily.
What's your best day together? Our wedding day for sure! It was pretty much perfect.
Where did you honeymoon? Kauai, HI, and Russ hasn't stopped talking about how we need to buy a house there someday. It's paradise!
Favorite date night? Anything that involves good food and being with Russ is my favorite date night. I would throw a chick flick in there, too, but Russ has been putting his foot down about limiting those lately. :)
Favorite TV show to watch together? The Office and when it's time...American Idol.
Monday, October 12, 2009
Baby Update
So we had another doctor appointment and ultrasound today. One of the most exciting parts of our visit was that I got a prescription for an anti-nausea drug! I ran straight to Walgreens afterward to fill that bad boy up and I haven't felt like throwing up all day! I usually try not to take pills unless it's really important and this was a major emergency!!!
But without a doubt, the ultrasound was the best part. Our little peanut appears to be growing normally and still has a beating heart, which I hear is important. We were able to see 2 arms, 2 legs, it's spine, fingers, a scapula and it's alien-looking face. The doctor was trying to measure it's body and head and stuff on the screen and it kept wiggling and squirming around...SO CUTE!!! I totally fell in love with it all over again.
I love that Russ likes to come to the ultrasounds and he gets excited with me. He's been very sweet about my whole morning sickness...whenever he hears me throwing up he has a glass of ice water waiting for me when I'm done, he brought home stuff to make me a chocolate milk shake the other day when I had texted him earlier and said I really wanted one and last night he brought me apple slices in bed because I was about to fall asleep and mentioned that I was hungry. He's pretty much the greatest husband ever.
Here's our pics:
They're a little hard to see but the top one is a side profile with baby's head facing down. The bottom one you can see the alien face and huge belly...totally a Perkins!
But without a doubt, the ultrasound was the best part. Our little peanut appears to be growing normally and still has a beating heart, which I hear is important. We were able to see 2 arms, 2 legs, it's spine, fingers, a scapula and it's alien-looking face. The doctor was trying to measure it's body and head and stuff on the screen and it kept wiggling and squirming around...SO CUTE!!! I totally fell in love with it all over again.
I love that Russ likes to come to the ultrasounds and he gets excited with me. He's been very sweet about my whole morning sickness...whenever he hears me throwing up he has a glass of ice water waiting for me when I'm done, he brought home stuff to make me a chocolate milk shake the other day when I had texted him earlier and said I really wanted one and last night he brought me apple slices in bed because I was about to fall asleep and mentioned that I was hungry. He's pretty much the greatest husband ever.
Here's our pics:
They're a little hard to see but the top one is a side profile with baby's head facing down. The bottom one you can see the alien face and huge belly...totally a Perkins!
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