"Friends" and Facebook

K to begin let me just say I love all of you...
Now let me explain myself. I am the kind of person who keeps in touch with people. I really do. And I do support facebook but I'm pretty sure it isn't really keeping me in touch with anyone. I used to make cards for people and call them too. Now I can see how they are doing just by checking their status. They don't even know I am checking in on them. So I really don't "know" how they are doing or even what they look like or how neato their kids are eventhough I can see their pictures and read their silly facebook thoughts. Another thing, throughout the day I think in facebook-like how I would post what I'm thinking about and what pix I would post-if I had a camera which we finally do again! That may not be so bad as it may be teaching me to organize my thoughts into sentences but still it gets annoying. I don't post that often. And I like to read most of my "friends" posts-all the "villes" I'd be happy not wasting time on-even split seconds. And for some reason I don't receive all of my "friends" posts-like a friend who had a baby in May I just came across her posts-thanks 4 months later-really helpful. I am sure I am asking too much of good ole FB but pretty soon I will be saying goodbye for reals-you are so dumb, you are really dumb for real...so dumb so dumb. Of course I'm saying that to FB not my "friends". Not even sure what friend means anymore! Just had our annual Thorn Women's Retreat-awesome! Plans were made through FB and we left at least one out-so sad. Yes, she probably couldn't have come but still we should've invited her. It feels like I need to be all in or all out. Though I know I'd be lonely all out of touch with everyone and hearing things only through the grapevine-which is really what they should have named FB. But there is something to regular mail and face to face communication. Yeah I know there isn't time for all that-but to snatch a phrase-isn't it about time? we are too busy running here and there, making stuff, spending $, making $, eating, driving to soccer, playing soccer etc Those are fun things and things we gotta do but it can get overwhelming. Especially when we see our "friends" posts of how many great things they are doing and how great they look and that they visited our area but didn't see us cause they were so busy and frankly why would they need to see us when they just looked at our albums on FB. It makes me angry all over again! Haven't sent a Christmas letter in years because I am tired of being the only one who wants to stay in touch. A N Y H O W! I am mostly a happy person! really! I'm super duperly blessed and love my husband like crazy. My kiddos are fantastical and beautiful and getting too big too fast. My extended family is silly and great company! My family of origin is supportive and loving and aaamaaazing! Life is still complicated though and I think FB is making it more so... I'm just saying.

Chicken Tikka Masala
from Bess
(sorry Megan hope you weren't waiting too long for this)

Powder Marinade
1/2 tsp ground cumin
1/2 tsp ground coriander
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
1 tsp salt
Combine above ingredients in a small bowl
2 lbs cut up chicken- marinate in above ingredients place in a tightly covered dish and put in refrigerator for 30-60 min.

Yogurt Sauce
1 c whole milk plain yogurt
2 Tbsp oil
2 medium crushed garlic cloves
1 tsp freshly grated ginger
Whisk these ingredients together in a bowl and set aside

Garam Masala Sauce
3 Tbsp oil
1 medium finely diced onion
2 medium crushed garlic cloves
2 tsp freshly grated ginger
1 serrano pepper-minced
1 Tbsp tomato paste
1 Tbsp Garam Masala seasoning
1-28 ounce can crushed tomatoes
2 tsp sugar
1/2 tsp salt
2/3 c cream
1/4 c fresh cilantro leaves

Prepare the sauce:
Heat oil over medium heat
Add onion and cook 8-10 min
Add garlic, ginger, garam masala, Serrano pepper, tomato paste and cook 3 minutes
Add crushed tomatoes, sugar, salt, salt and bring to a boil
Reduce heat and simmer 15 minutes
Stir in cream and return to simmer
Remove pan from heat and keep covered and warm

While sauce is simmering, place oven rack on middle level and heat broiler
Using tongs dip chicken pieces into yogurt mixture until it is coated thickly
Place on broiler pan and broil 10-18 min- turn chicken over halfway through cooking time
The best tasting chicken is well done and almost burnt on the outside
Let chicken rest 5 min after it is done cooking
Stir chicken into warm sauce-do not simmer chicken
Add cilantro
Delicious!

I don't use fresh ginger because I am lazy
I don't add sugar
I usually don't add the Serrano pepper because I forget to buy it-but I LOVE it with the extra heat it adds so I do recommend adding it!
I don't add cilantro see above-both lazy and forget to buy- nice color touch and flavor so I do recommend adding it as well
I use olive oil
I have used vanilla yogurt and it hasn't been too sweet
The part Bess dislikes most about my adaptation of this recipe is that I use canned cream-found in Hispanic foods section (Nestle) It works great and doesn't go bad so I stock up when it's on sale or when I'm feeling rich-hee hee
Oh and most importantly we recently started grilling the chicken outside which is way easier and quicker and much less messy for cleanup! Have fun!

Books I've read this year-supposed to be mowing the lawn on this freezing summer day but can't get it started so this is something I've been thinking about when I haven't been able to get to sleep lately...
The Hunger Games-Suzanne Collins ok but why the muttations-Twilight influenced I'm sure
When You Reach Me- Rebecca Stead for my book club and I loved it and didn't put it down until I finished it at 2:30 AM
A Wrinkle in Time-(again) by Madeline L'Engle
A Swiftly Tilting Planet-Madeline L'Engle- cool flying Unicorn contiuation of Wrinkle
The Glass Castle-Jeannette Walls -loved it and it reminded me of me too much-yes, the parents but not quite sure why, also reminded me of the documentary SurfWise
A Girl Named Zippy-Haven Kimmel -also for book club but I read it months after they met so I just enjoyed it all by myself-seriously a "rare memoir of a happy childhood"
Wuthering Heights-Emily Bronte -for book club-my first time reading it and boy it was not my favorite, who would even like Heathcliffe let alone LOVE him and finally I'm really glad I am alive now and not back then
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Pie Peel Society-Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows-also for book club and again I loved it, the characters mention Wuthering Heights and that's why we decided to read that for our next book club, also I still don't like the title even after reading it and fully understanding why it's named such, it's just not my style
Enchantment- Orson Scott Card- loved the Russian stories and fairytale/science fiction and character development but like many books I've read latley this ending was not my favorite and still the story was very inviting, even enchanting-liked Card's Pastwatch: the Redemption of Christopher Columbus better but that was last year's read
Ella Enchated-Gail Carson Levine-started reading it to my kids but that was too slow so read it on my own-someday I will read novels to my kids someday, someday- it was a good read
The Midwive's Apprentice- not sure who the author was but it was also a children's book and a good read
I'm not going to list all the kids books I've read this year because there are too many and I cannot remember all the titles-MaryJo read a zillion books in February for her schools book-a-thon so I read most of them too just because- she read more pages than anybody in her school and won an MP3 player and other cool prizes- that fundraiser was awesome!
Books, books, books
Reading Catching Fire now-2nd book of The Hunger Games-please don't keep extending this series into oblivion
Need to finish: My Grandfather's Blessings, The Contrary Farmer, start A Wind in the Door, keep reading scriptures under the Topical Guide for Faith,, keep reading Plain and Precious:An LDS Daybook of Renewal and Joy by Beppie Harrison-daily- it's just what it claims to be renewing and joyful, The Slippery Slope-10th book in A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket
Going to get Eating for Your Blood Type, a book about training your eyes to see without glasses and some more Newberry Award books next time we go to the library!

I have a few good habits...

And some "that I cannot bre- ak"-that's for Jeff and Corinne and the Neon Trees. And sadly it's true. I only have a few good habits. I used to be disciplined until I got married but that's not Nate's fault either because it wasn't hard to be disciplined when I was barely working-9 hours a week-taking a break from school and living at home with my parents. I did have a garden back then, read scriptures and the Ensign everyday, exercised almost everyday-sometimes I'd go running at noon in the heat because I knew I should exercise and the later it got the less likely I was to go running, made cards for friends, wrote in my journal, cleaned a little, put curlers in my hair on saturday night, walked to church (and still I was on time)planned FHE for our single's ward... I'm sure there were more important things I did as well but that summed up my life in 1997-before November when we got hitched. That was so long ago and so blissfully easy and simple. Surely the pain of waiting and having a broken heart has numbed over the years but truly that was the only "problem" I had back then. And yes that kind of broken heart is super achy. Yet here I sit. Only 2 1/2 days left in this school year and so many plans for the summer. Where to start and which are the most important? Too much to do, too many people relying on me.
Oh yeah my good habits: I drink water-truly 64 oz almost everyday
I read books-and just started reading scriptures everyday AGAIN
I eat fruits and vegetables
I make bread for my family every week-thanks to Sam's easy, yummy recipe
I cook and love it (most of the time)
I will plant my garden soon-have had a garden the past 3 summers
Not usually behind on laundry 'cause I enjoy it
Text our soccer team and make sure we'll have a team for the games -yes I think this is a good habit
Try to carpool
Make salsa and marinara -last year bottled fruit and applesauce too
Okay, this makes no sense but I'm posting it anyhow. I'm going to lift some weights then put Blue down for a nap. North is sleeping now. I'm eating raisins and drinking water. 2 of my few good habits and if I finish my short leg lifting routine maybe I'll add another habit to the "good" list but only if I catch the exercise bug and it sticks. Wish me Luck! I do have good intentions and honestly I don't think the road to hell is paved in those but I could be wrong.

Bread and Rice

This is really for Bess but I don't want to type it a million times so here you go-these recipes are from my amazing friend who is an AMAZING chef and teacher, Sam.

(and I'll add my notes as well)

Whole Wheat Bread

6 C warm water- not hot because that will kill the yeast
2 T yeast
2/3 C Sugar
2/3 C oil- I usually use canola oil but I have used olive oil and that works great as well
2 T salt
2 T gluten flour - Vital Wheat Gluten(for each cup of wheat flour or if you are using only white flour use 1T for each cup) -this helps the dough raise and REALLY does make a difference! so this means I should add 20T + 2 T but I don't usually add that much I just add 1 tablespoon at time until it stops sticking to the sides and then add more if I want too-sorry
3 T dough enhancer (Makes your bread last 2-3 days longer) The recipe calls for 3 T and I usually use 2 T for 12 cups of flour
4 eggs, optional- I never use eggs because we eat lots already and I never know when my vegan family will come over and I want them to be able to have bread if they do come! Nate uses eggs when he makes this dough for rolls
12-14 C flour- I usually use 10 wheat and 2 white- I have made white bread and it is great but I just can't justify it- at Bess' birthday dinner I used 6 C of each


Place water and yeast along with 1 T sugar into the mixing bowl, let bubble and ferment for about 5 minutes-until you can't see the water through the mixture-and I definitely let it sit longer than 5 min because I forget and do laundry which I love to do, which sometimes reminds me I need to clean the bathroom so I start that or give Blue or North a bath because I realize it's been too long! Anyhow... then I wash my hands and get back to the bread. Add sugar-all 2/3 C I don't subtract the 1 T for yeast mixture-,oil, and eggs if using. Mix lightly and add flour 1 C at a time- add wheat flour first. Add gluten flour-vital wheat gluten- before completely mixed. Knead for a few minutes, in mixer, and then add dough enhancer. Finish kneading, in mixer, for about 3-4 minutes. Place in an oiled bowl and let rise until doubled. Punch down. Shape into loaves and place in bread pans (you may need to grease and flour the pans) and let rise until doubled again. Bake at 350 F for 25-30 minutes or until bread is cooked through (about 190 with an instant read thermometer). Usually makes 5 loaves


OK- maybe you thought I was done adding notes but no, just wanted you to be able to print it out without any more side notes. It's been good for me to look at the recipe again and type it so I can see what I have been doing wrong. Not that the bread hasn't tasted great lately but Corinne wanted to buy some and the loaves were looking pretty sad but since she's my sister I thought it wasn't a big deal until Nate said that I couldn't sell those to her because they were so ugly-thanks. Anyhow I have been making this bread 2 times a week since August-adjusting for vacations I have made it now about 50 times-including today, it's rising now. So needless to say I have the recipe memorized and it has tasted great everytime despite looking not so great since Nate made me paranoid. Rising is difficult and I recommend reading -THE BREAD BIBLE-to learn about rising. Sam loaned it to me and I loved it but of course I didn't read it all. So the way I let dough rise is this- in the summer I put it outside in a covered, oiled bowl for the first rise and depending on my hurry level bring it back out for the 2nd rise or just let it sit inside. Summer seems a long time ago and a long ways off and for now in the winter- I cover it in an oiled bowl and sit it on the oven with the oven heated to 550 for both rises. But be sure to turn the oven down before you cook the bread because that heat may make it fall. From start to finish, it takes me longer than most I'm sure, but it's about 3 hours. Since I'm lucky and get to be home with my kiddies all day it's not so bad to wait. Not that I've ever hovered over it because staying at home means there's ALWAYS something to do. Sorry this is out of order-the trickiest part for me is the shaping. I just asked Sam this Sunday, again, about shaping and she rolls out the loaves-AH! I remembered reading that in THE BREAD BIBLE but I don't want to add that "extra" step. I don't like rolling pins- especially the process of laying out the cloth and all the flour so for now and for the past 200 loaves I will keep shaping it in my oiled hands. But for Corinne's loaves I may try extra hard to make it pretty without any air pockets. MAY-but MAYbe not because it has worked for me till now. Happy baking!



Spanish Rice- also from Sam- who made the above bread, this rice, spice rubbed chicken and grilled bananas, black bean and corn salsa, spinach salad and the dressing, and grilled pineapple all in 1 1/2 hours at our cooking class for Relief Society-She is amazing! The class meets every 2nd Thursday.

2 T oil
1 C uncooked rice
1 onion,chopped
1/2 green bell pepper, chopped
2 C water
1 (10 oz) can diced tomatoes with green chilies
2 tsp chili powder or to taste
1 tsp salt

Heat oil in deep skillet over medium heat, saute' rice, onion and bell pepper until rice is browned and onions are tender. Stir in water and canned tomatoes. Season with chili powder and salt, bring to boil, cover and simmer for 20 minutes.

I haven't made this but it was yummy. Last night we had spanish rice my style-we already had cooked rice 1/2 white/1/2 brown combo from rice on Sunday, cooked in the rice cooker. So I sauteed 1/4 an onion and 1 garlic clove in olive oil plus salt, pepper, chili powder, crushed red pepper, ground cumin, then added 1 small can tomato sauce and added "some" precooked rice to that mixture- until the rice looked like spanish rice and let it simmer until our chicken and red peppers had grilled. It was tasty- 4 out of 6 liked it- the other 2, MJ and Jonas, ate it anyway.

Merry Christmas-2009

It's that time of year when the world falls in love...with their family and friends all over again. We love getting your letters&pictures& seeing you in "real" life! Of course it would be even better in person-you could stop by our house, eat some treats-butter cookies, toffee, hot chocolate-make a snowflake & try to have a conversation while the kiddies run wild.

Leave it to MARYJO (9!)to entertain the little kids since she is constantly holding school with her cousin Gabriella. They are the teachers & anyone is welcome to come to class. If you are good & do your homework & bring it back, next time you'll get a treat. Besides her busy teaching schedule, you"ll find her playing soccer-all year long-,sewing, reading a book, making crafts, using as much tape as possible, decorating and organizing her room- I didn't say cleaning it tho-, making us breakfast in bed-eggs, hashbrowns, the works-,if you're lucky she may have followed a recipe while in the kitchen or she may have made up her own, playing board games, digging 7 peaks in our backyard, riding her bike at the park, going to Activity Days, drawing, texting while I'm driving, watching the boys while I run an errand-oops don't tell-, taking care of Norfie, or doing anything that's creative, thoughtful or athletic...& occasionally she's a normal child who acts her age & reminds us of her hard life as the oldest & only daughter in our family.

JONAS (7 1/2)goes to MJ's school occasionally-especially when there's a party but can most likely be found building Star Wars Lego ships that are quickly destroyed by Mr. Bub, playing soccer all year long& inside our house as well, riding his bike with Tristan, climbing trees in the park, digging trenches in our yard, fighting with light sabers & other weapons, making Star Wars costumes for he & Blue to wear, coveting Dad's legos in the basement, drawing, reading a book-if he has to, acing his math homework, falling asleep when he stops moving long enough, eating his dinner so he can have dessert, peeling carrots, emptying the dishwasher "I just did it yesterday, Mom!", eating cinnamon toast, taking a bath eventhough he just took one on Sunday, wishing he could see his cousins more, mastering the role of oldest brother & just being all around awesome!

BLUE (3 1/2) or Mr. Bub, has the loudest scream in the galaxy-sometimes it's his only defense! He loves just about everything but not as much as he loves everything Jonas has or does & he especially loves the things Jonas builds. Legos are everywhere in our house. That is NOT an understatement! Guys with their weapons are a part of the family. Blue also loves to draw & is often creating his own worlds of battles on paper complete with sound effects. Of course his medium of choice is markers, just like the others at his age-crayons-don't think so. He loves going to MJ's class, running around w/Jonas-anywhere & everywhere, swinging, correcting us when we forget it's his world & we say things that don't fit in-like no more treats, spending as much time as possible with Mom, helping w/anything he can,wearing jammies ALL day, &wrestling with anyone but he really likes to see how much North can take. He just started really kicking the soccer ball around & to Dad's ginormous smile can't wait to go skiing!

NORTH HAWK TAYLOR was born November 4th, 2008 & is better known as Norfie. Oh, the joys of having another baby around! He is the best, despite his silly temper! We cannot get enough of him! He loves the chaos & secretly thanks his Father in Heaven every night that he's the baby! He crawls like lightning & can get into the boys room before they realize they forgot to shut the door. His favorites are sucking on Lego Storm Trooper helmets & putting the helmets back on the lego heads, food, swings, being upside down, books, the bean bag, Mom, going outside, emptying everything, putting things back where they don't belong, throwing or pushing a ball while he crawls, taking a bath, Blue, whatever anyone else has, crawling like a rhino- head down, straight into things when he's really mad, nut crackers, being held if you can do it right & don't try to control him, playing guitar with Dad & being the center of attention as often as he can, boy, what a cheesy grin!
Really who cares about N8& I?! After reading about our "precious little angels" everything else is just well, not as entertaining. 12 years together plus some! Soccer for us all year as well, Lyd is especially lucky because she gets to play with her sister, cousins & BFF's, painted the outside of our house green & blue & tan-egads! at least it's not beige & it's called "Walnut Wash" but it's just the trim & it does look good, N8 teaches MJ in primary, Lyd does R.S. stuff, great families, great friends- old and new! Some of you listened to our plea 3 years ago & to the rest of you,come visit! We have something for everyone! School, soccer, legos, treats, food, games, movies, books, crafts, skiing... well enough of my begging but it'd sure be great to see you& what your snowflake would look like on our wonderland ceiling wreath! Oh yeah! Merry Christmas to all & to all a Happy New Year! We are richly blessed (not rich or "famous" or "popular") & cannot imagine why our Father in Heaven sent us our kiddos except that He must love us!
Love Ya Much, N8, Lyd, MaryJo, Jonas, Blue and North

"Knotty" Little Brothers

I'm stealing this quote from a friend who was explaining that he's just learning how to handle his 4 daughters. He said, "Boys are easy. Give them food, air, water and a little brother to beat up on and they're fine." As my almost 8 year old, Jonas, exploded into laughter. I'm pretty sure he agrees, especially on the beating up part.
Legos are the ultimate toy and the cause of much grief in our house. Jonas has TONS of Star Wars Lego ships, in pieces, all over the rug in "his" room. It's really he and Blue's room but even Blue calls it Jonas' room and is confused when I say things like, "Please put those Legos back in your room." Legos aren't meant for 3 yr olds in case you didn't know, it's even printed on the boxes. Try telling that to Blue. He is pretty good at building stuff but that usually means taking pieces from his brother's creations first. We have not found a Lego solution to problems like this one or to the pieces everywhere. I feel like we are pretty nice just to let the boys ALWAYS have their legos spread out on their rug. Today, Jonas explored a new solution to Bub's destruction of some newly built ships- I'm sure his own replica of Hoth Echo Base. While Jonas was at school, Blue was building ships and simultaneously destroying Jonas' ships. When Jonas got home he was mad as usual- nothing new here. Not too much protesting from either side so we thought they were working it out. Then I heard MaryJo say,"Jonas tied Blue up!" Again, nothing new here He's always got the upper hand on Blue. I didn't rush in too quickly because Blue wasn't screaming and that kid has a pair of lungs and uses them in self defense hourly. This is what I saw-Jonas had tied his Addidas jacket to his bunk bed and tied a ninja backpack to the jacket and tied up Bub's little wrists in the straps. At first I was super mad and called Nate in to help mediate. But then, even before I had untied Blue's hands, I had to hide my face because I was smiling. I thought it was funny. My little one was tied to a bed and couldn't get free and I was laughing. But to be fair to myself, he wasn't hurt and not even that sad about it AND had to have held still while Jonas tied him up. Not that he knew what was going on though.
He was punished. I had to stay out of eyesight of both boys because I couldn't stop smilaughing. Meanwhile, Nate was explaining that things tied tightly around wrists cut off blood circulation and that that was also why we don't let them tie things around their necks. Blue heard blood mentioned and came back to listen more closely. He likes blood and frequently asks Nate if his ice cream has blood on it. Then he told me Jonas did something to his blood. Jonas, like all of us, hates to be in the wrong and wouldn't look at us. We assured him we loved him. Told him he'd have to do the usual plus extra- 50 push ups, sit ups and 30 seconds of wall sits. And of course told him not to tie anybody up A-N-Y-M-O-R-E! Didn't mention that mom thought the whole thing was hillarious!
A side note to "tie" blood back into this enrty again. Just after this, North had disappeared for a minute so I went to look for him. Found him shut in the bathroom dumping out a box of tampons and putting them back in the box one by one. Watch out Jonas and Blue, North is coming! Watch out mom and dad you are headed for a lifetime of laughs!