There are no words....

that can describe what happened at RES.  OH wait - there are...BUTT KICKIN!  I am not sure what team showed up to play against the horned frogs, but it wasn't the team I normally watch.  We couldn't complete a pass, hand off, or hang on to the ball to save our lives.  There was so much hype over the game and then to have it end the way it did was heart breaking and almost comical at the end as we continued to play like we have never seen or played the game before.  Oh well...we learn from it and move on to South Bend IN to play Notre Dame.  Go UTES!

So I rented a couple of movies to watch last night - Iron Man 2 and Letters to Juliet.  Ralph didn't finish his presidency meeting until much later than he anticipated. We only got through Iron Man 2 - thoroughly enjoyed it. Iron Man rocks and so does Pepper Potts!  But don't forget Scarlett Johansens character.  She double rocked!  I think it will be one we eventually add to our collection.

**SPOILERS**I watched Letters to Juliet when I got home from the football game as it had to be returned tonight before 9:00.  It was good - Vanessa Redgrave is just beautiful  A class act.  My soft romantic brain got sucked in and I loved the scene when the character Claire comes to check on Sophie after a rough day of searching for Lorenzo.  She offers to brush Sophie's hair and says “One of the great joys in life is having one's hair brushed"- tears were sitting on the edge of my eyelids by the end of the scene.  I even made Ralph sit down watch as I replayed the scene.   The ending was a bit cheesy - but loved the happy ending.  I think the real love affair took place between Claire and Sophie.  What a sweet relationship that was.  I needed that after todays fiasco.

For breakfast this morning I really wanted some French Toast - Ralph suggested that pumpin french toast would be a good idea.  So I tried it.  It turned out exactly as I had imagined it would taste.  It will be one we add to our recipe pile of keepers.  I don't have a picture of the finished product, but it looks a lot like regular french toast.  Here is the recipe:
3 eggs
1/4 C milk
1/4 C cream
1/4 C pureed pumpkin
2 T brown sugar
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp ginger
1/4 tsp cloves
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp cardamon
8 to 10 sliced of bread.

Mix the custard ingredients together.  Soak bread in custard mixture and cook.  These would be good stuffed with cream cheese.  This could also be adjusted to make a good bread pudding.    Use your imagination and enjoy it.

Ta Ta for now

Being in Charge

Is definitely not what it is cracked up to be.  All my nursery leaders called in sick today, I have a part member family baptism to plan, a chorister and nursery leader yet to "find", a quarterly activity to plan, leadership meeting to attend, scounting to deal with...  Why can't I ever just show up to church and attend my three meetings and go home on time.  I am trying to find the "fun" in this job. I do like the ladies I work with and starting to develop friendships with many of them.  I know it just takes time.

Ralph and I have had a relatively quiet evening - despite my church work load.  We spent the evening watching movies -  Karate Kid (the new one).  I loved it.  We also watched How to Train Your Dragon again and loved it even more the second time.  We had leftover soup and cornbread, from yesterday, for dinner accompanied by a nice green salad and fresh garden tomatoes.  Gotta enoy the tomatoes while we can. I love quiet Sunday evenings spent with Ralph and Riley.  Riley has been an absolute slug/cuddle bug the last two days.  I like it.  Sunday afternoons/evenings like this make Monday's a little bit more palateable.

I found a new foodblog.  Mel's Kitchen Cafe Shame on you if you already knew about it and didn't share!  She has a section called best recipes - which is totally up my alley.  You go searching for that best recipe looking through hundreds trying to find the one that will be perfect.  I knew after seeing the recipe I use for white chicken chili on her "best" list that this was going to be a spot I frequented.  I mean really - she has already done the "seach" work.  I tried the cornbread recipe and it was a total keeper.  Here it is - not to sweet, doesn't fall apart, good corn taste and moist.  FYI - I accidentally left out the butter when I made mine.  Ralph has asked that I leave it out always - he liked it just the way it turned out.  You can choose.  I am sure it will be good both ways.

Cornbread

½ cup cornmeal
1½ cup flour
2/3 cup sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
1/3 cup oil
3 tablespoons butter, melted
2 eggs, beaten
1¼ cup milk

Mix dry ingredients - set aside, Mix remaining ingredients (the wet) make a well in the dry ingredients and pour into the center.  Stir until just mixed (batter will be runny - don't be alarmed!).  Bake in an 8” square pan at 350 degrees for 35 minutes. This doubles perfectly for a 9X13-inch pan.
Give the recipe a try I know you will love it.

Ta Ta for now