Oh boy, I've got Joy!

Things I am grateful for today...

That yesterday was as perfect as any May day gets. It started well, went well, and ended well.

Running into old roommates and friends.

Growing up.

Feeling young.

Letters from sister missionaries. I miss you Amy!

Reading THE BOARD.

The lilac smell in every room.

Relaxing pillow spray.

Allergy medicine.

My stealthy bike that sneaks up on people. It's so quiet that one might say it has a magnetohydrodynamic drive.

That I ride my bike to work every day minus Wednesday because I work late.

That I wear my helmet and glasses. I confess, 80 percent is for safety reasons, the other 20 percent is because I don't want people to recognize me.

Ride to work day.

Being home with the family this summer!

My little bro who is now passing ALL HIS CLASSES!!!!

The creative genius in Chad that has shown itself lately in his new long board business. He has made six so far and has orders for more.

Chad's sauce and style. Maybe just his saucy style.

Sierra's awesomeness and sisterly insight. I can't believe I missed out on having my little sister as my friend until I was 17 years old.

My creative and beautiful mother who put up with us on Mother's Day last Sunday.

That mom stocked the fridge, had frozen meals pre-cooked in the freezer, and left cash for groceries while she was gone.

Dad taking Sierra and I fishing and four wheeling last weekend.

Dad's hard work and him reading the scriptures each morning while eating breakfast. I have my own "breakfast Book of Mormon" full of crumbs and milk stains because of his example.

Red, yellow, and orange birds.

The three baby robins in our tree out back and their diligent mother who perches on the fence.

The effectiveness of hand sanitizer.

An delightful poem such as this one.

My laptop. I might still get a year or so out of it after all!

White skirts and dresses paired with flirty spring shoes.

Finding a blossom in my hair this morning after our flower fight last night.

Blogger. I need to stop stalking and gawking however.

Reading the newspaper each morning (including my horoscope: "A problem with competition will need immediate attention").

My six dollar Asics running shoes that are still going strong.

The fact that I really don't care how good I look while doing my morning run anymore.

Some conveniences of Facebook and the fact that I have NEVER and will never take a quiz of any kind.

The regular river trail runners that say hello each morning.

Cookie cutter houses despite it all.

My smiley bishop who I saw on campus today!

Linking words while blogging.

Funny design concepts like this.

Windy days.

Hot keys.
The primary colors, which I happen to be wearing right now.

10 cent raises and free water bottles.

Waiting lists.

Seeing Life in Technicolor.

The power of a hot shower or a long bath.

Tomatillo salsa. So easy: 10 boiled tomatillos, 1 jalapeno, 2 cloves of garlic, one bunch of cilantro, salt and pepper to taste. Blend it all up baby!

Returning missionaries.

Les Misérables and Jamie Pugh.

Temple night, Thursday night. Call me if you want to come.

Nuvia, my mentee. I also love that we are both major fans of chocolate chip cookies. Oh, by the way, if anyone is interested in mentoring check out the Web site here. One of the best decisions of my life so far.

Adobe Illustrator. Do you like my new blog header?

Laughing until my cheek muscles hurt after finding and perusing this blog.

The Harold B. Lee Library.

The Daily Universe.

To have two part-time jobs this summer.

Great supervisors and co-workers.

My fear of vending machines.

Garbage day every Monday. Somehow it is very reassuring and comforting to me to know that every monday the garbage will be taken away.

The crisp and wonderful letterpressing of wedding invitations.

Toothpast, mouthwash, and yes, even the dreaded floss.

Harper's random Saturday activity club. What is planned for this week?

Organization and that now my sister is feeling the vibe.

A new baby niece this fall!

The talent of this. I kind of really want to see this in real life, does anyone know how I can?

Inspiration in unexpected places which make creativy ooze and gush.

Words of the Prophet Gordon B. Hinckley.

Becoming "anxiously engaged" in the full life around me.

Pizza with Fresh Tomatoes and Basil

I recently put this recipe to the test and absolutely fell in love with this pizza.

1 tablespoon yellow cornmeal
2 (8-ounce) pieces of homemade or purchased pizza dough, recipe follows
6 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 1/3 cups, grated pasteurized mozzarella
2 Roma tomatoes, cut crosswise into 1/4-inch-thick slices
1/4 cup grated Parmesan
1 large garlic clove, minced, optional
6 fresh basil leaves, plus extra for garnish
1/2 teaspoon salt

Mix the warm water and yeast in a small bowl to blend. Let stand until the yeast dissolves, about 5 minutes. Mix the flour and salt in a food processor to blend. Blend in the oil. With the machine running, add the yeast mixture and blend just until the dough forms. Turn the dough out onto lightly floured surface and knead until smooth, about 1 minute. Transfer the dough to a large oiled bowl and turn the dough to coat with the oil. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and set aside in a warm draft-free area until the dough doubles in volume, about 1 hour. Punch the down dough and divide into 2 equal balls. (The dough can be used immediately or stored airtight in the refrigerator for 1 day.)

Position 1 oven rack in the center and the second rack on the bottom of the oven and preheat to 450 degrees F. Sprinkle the cornmeal over 2 rimless baking sheets. Roll out each piece of pizza dough into a 10 to 11-inch-diameter round. Transfer 1 dough to each prepared baking sheet.
Drizzle 2 teaspoons of oil over each pizza dough. Sprinkle the mozzarella over the pizza dough, dividing equaling and leaving a 1-inch border around each pizza. Arrange the tomato slices in a single layer over the cheese. Sprinkle with the Parmesan. Arrange basil leaves on top, drizzle with a little more olive oil and sprinkle garlic all over. Bake the pizzas until the crusts are crisp and brown on the bottom and the cheese is melted on top, about 15 minutes. Drizzle 1 teaspoon of oil over each pizza. Sprinkle with basil for garnish and salt. Cut the pizza into wedges and serve immediately.

Pizza Dough:
1/2 cup warm water (105 to 110 degrees F) 2 teaspoons dry yeast 2 cups all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon salt 3 tablespoons olive oil

Breakfast

Bagel (with or without cream cheese)

My favorite bagels are raisin cinnamon or blueberry smeared with plain cream cheese. Bagels are so much more substantial than donuts, and often cheaper.


Banana Bread

This recipe is perfect for using up those nicely browned bananas.


Biscuit

The heartier version of this breakfast is biscuits and country gravy with sausage. A sweet reminder of home!

Cinnamon Roll or Twist

I feel a certain sense of accomplishment when I make these. Watch out if you're trying to slim down.

English Muffin

Make an Egg McMuffin if you would like.

Muffin

Oh the possibilities of the muffin! Easy to make, freeze, and grab on the go.

Toast

The classic breakfast for cereal haters. Try using different/exotic types of bread, jams, jellies, and preservatives. Say no to Pop Tarts!

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Cereal

My dad always has a bowl of cereal each morning, even if mom makes pancakes or waffles. Get a sugar high with some Reeses Puffs, Fruity/Coco Pebbles, Fruit loops, Honey Smacks, Cornpops or go healthy with some Kashi Mighty Bites Cereal.

Granola

Eating granola for breakfast fills you up until lunch time. It's fun to make your own homemade granola too!

Oatmeal

I confess I like the kind of oatmeal that comes in single serving packages and that is artificially flavored. However, I also love plain with milk and raisins, perfect for watching an early snowfall.

Parfait

A parfait combines the best morning fare: yogurt, fruit, and granola. This is great for those days when you need a visual to stimulate your appetite.

Yogurt

This is available in many shapes and forms like this snazzy product. Yogurt is an excellent way to get some calcium if you don't like milk.

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Crepes

If you've never made crepes before, now is the time. They are super easy, quick, cheap, versatile, and muy delicious! I usually make them on the weekend or to share with roommates. Here is the recipe for the basic crepes. Stuff them with anything your heart desires!

French Toast

Have you ever had a toad-in-the-hole?

Frittata

I'm going to have to try out a frittata recipe or two this semester because my mouth is just watering looking at photos of them.

Pancakes

This is another breakfast classic that is fun to experiment with. My little brother is a pro at making German pancakes. (And he's pretty good at eating the entire pan by himself too.)

Waffles

Waffles always remind me of the holiday season, probably because we always have a big waffle smorgasbord on Christmas morning. My favorite waffle is Belgium style with whipped cream and sliced strawberries. I am not a fan of Eggo style.

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Eggs

One way to make breakfast ten times better is adding an egg dish. I need a good egg cookbook. How about this one, or this, or this?

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Fruit

From bananas to kumquats, fruit is the perfect thing to add to your toast, cereal, or muffin.

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Milk

Juice

Smoothie

There are so many good recipes out there for smoothies, but a little bit of experimenting never hurt anyone. You can make them as healthy or as sugary as you want them. Smoothies are great for a commute to class or work also. Here is a recipe that sounds nutritious and delicious. Banana Orange Smoothie: You need: 1 banana, 1 cup orange juice, ½ cup of plain yogurt. Directions: Mix orange juice, banana, and yogurt in a blender on medium speed. Serve cold.

Hot Apple Cider

Hot Chocolate

Pero

Have a little
Pero to warm you up before heading out in the morning.

Postum

Although very pricey, Postum is the breakfast choice of drink for some. I remember my dad keeping a jar of Postum in the pantry for many, many years, because "It never goes bad." I tried it once, never again.

Herbal Tea

Check out your local health food stores to find some non-caffeinated herbal tea. I really like the refreshing and cleansing mint varieties. Alvita is a good source.

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International Recipes

Rice and Beans

Crumpets

Bauernfruhstuck

Bigilla

Eitsmiter

La Bouillie

Champurado with Tuyo

Gallo Pinto

Gaymer Wa Dibis

Mince Paratha

*Thank you to Getty Images for pictures.

Tips for College Cooking

1. Grocery Shopping 101

Have a budget. Start with the basics. Buy ingredients that will stretch out for two or three meals. Be careful when buying in bulk because things go bad very quickly when cooking for one. Stick to your list as much as you can. Compare prices and buy the generic brand when you can. Try to be courteous to your roommates when taking up food space in the pantry, fridge, and especially the freezer.

2. Eat Healthy Snacks

Instead of a Twix or a frosted pink cookie grab some fruit or oats, like a horse. Get some carrots and grass while your at it. No seriously, it is so easy to eat healthy snacks. Eating a whole bag of popcorn, even if it's fat-free, is still not healthy. Apple slices, a granola bar, or something else in between breakfast and lunch, and lunch and dinner will help curb your appetite and keep you going throughout the day. Avoid late night snacking however. That is the quickest way to add poundage.

3. Keep a Water Bottle Handy

Feeling tired, depressed, sick? Water will save the day! Drink like a camel, then save some some for the whales. Keep a water bottle in the fridge and have one to tote around during the day. Don't forget to wash them every so often. The smell will remind you.

4. Say No to Fast Food

Every once in a while fast food is okay, especially if it is the "healthier" fast food such as salads. Before paying that 99 cents for a taco, ask yourself these two simple questions, "When was the last time I had fast food?" and "Is it worth it?" You will save money, time, and that waist line if you forgo the fast food. Oftentimes the vending machines around campus offer healthy alternatives to fast food such as yogurt, fruit, crackers, bagels, etc.

5. Maximize Leftovers

Leftovers will become your best friend at your home away from home. Be sure to have enough containers to store leftovers in. Many times things like chicken, ground beef, rice, lettuce, noodles, fruits, and vegetables can be re-gifted, so to speak. Don't forget about your leftovers though, because before you know it something could be growing in the back of your fridge.

Remember...

Your meals don't have to extravagant and time consuming to be delicious, quick, and healthy. I usually think simple when cooking. Because of busy schedules, cooking can become an unwanted chore and it's easy to give in to frozen, boxed, or fast food meals. Don't give in. All it takes is a little bit of thinking.