And the Winner Is...

Here are the results of the randominteger.com raffle I used to determine the winner:
Kirsten, who wanted the Be Mine pennant banner, is our lucky winner! Congratulations, Kirsten!
Some of you may have noticed that in her comments she divulged that her email address is sexybeast at hotmail.com, which I think should have made her the winner regardless of integer generator sites. I'd like to make another red glitter banner with just that email address on it, because, it's genius!
So, Be Mine is taken. Kirsten, I sent you an email asking for your mailing address, although I guess I could just call Becca on the phone to get it.
I also decided that since I'm in the spirit of giving ('tis the season, isn't it? I mean, this last Christmas somebody on Kosy 106.5 was singing 'bout how Christmas should last all through the year, so...) I'd like to give away the I Love You banner as well.
randominteger.com (org?) loved Marilyn. So, since I'll see you next week for your berfday, Marilyn, I'll not mail it, but bring it up to the Daybreak myself. That's service!
Now, these prizes are 100% guaranteed, so if you're not satisfied, simply return the merchandise within 30 days for a full refund, minus shipping. And also, be sure to leave me good feedback for my awesome customer service!
Well, so that's it. Fun, huh? Well, except for all you losers.
Look forward to another giveaway...someday

A Pay it Forward Giveaway

You know what I'm sick of? Entering giveaways on blogs and never winning. Well, almost never winning. I hate getting my hopes up and then realizing I was one of 10,000 people who entered. Hence, I'm starting my own giveaway that may be a little more palatable to my good readers (who can anticipate they'll be one of about 10 entrants).

Heather's gift inspired to create. And I did.

As I thought about her kindness, I felt I not only wanted to pay her back, but to pay her kindness forward. Putting a little something together for her in return for her friendship and generosity was good for me. It provided me with an opportunity to think of something besides laundry and it provided a bright spot of creativity in this seemingly endless winter.

So, I'm sending a little something off to her today as well as hosting my first GIVEAWAY! Lame, you think? Joel thought so, too. And I'm a little sheepish in offering it because I know my collective readership comes in under 15 people. But they're all people I like, so I thought it would be a good idea to give either of these to one of you.

The prize: one of two Valentine-themed wall hangings, made from top quality (Close to My Heart!!!) scrapbook paper, and glitter-covered chipboard letters (40% coupon down to the Michael's), fastened with cute little scrapbooky brads. Put it up in your home, and if this doesn't get your lover feeling romantic, I don't know what will.

Here's the deal:

If you want one of these fine pennant wall-hangings (each pennant is 5"X8"), leave a comment with the following information:

1. which pennant you prefer - be mine or i love you

2. an email address (if I don't already have it)

3. how you'll pay it forward to someone else. I'm thinking you could include what craft or service you'll giveaway on your blog if you win.

I'll choose the winner at random on Thursday night, and then mail it out on Friday or Saturday.

I hope this works! Don't be shy! Tell your friends! Enter! Comment! Win!

How to Win Friends and Influence People

I know some people. Talented people. Funny people. Deep people. Healthy people. (I could go on and on.)I’m blessed, I know.
For example, look at what came in the mail yesterday? My friend, Heather, posted about a couple of cool dolls she had made. So casually, non-moochingly, I suggested she make one for me. And, she did! And then she paid for the postage to send it out here (from Vegas)! Can you believe it?
Her generosity leaves me speechless, and looking for an equally stunning gift to gift in return. My sewing talents pale in comparison, but I want to wow her the way she did me.Please, in your comments, help me to come up with some ideas.

Gooooooodness!

You know that part on Princess Bride where Buttercup, pining for her dead lover, says, “I’ll never love again.” I feel like saying that about boiling vegetables. Picture me with gorgeous blonde locks in a beautiful medieval peasant dress, saying, “I’ll never boil again.” Why, you ask? Well, because I’ve discovered ROASTING! Specifically, roasting broccoli. You wouldn’t think it would taste that good, huh? But it’s GOOD! Really good, and fancy!
Here’s the premise: you roast the broccoli at a really high temperature and the little florets get a bit crispy on the tips. It’s yummy. Here’s the recipe: (and here’s where I got it from)

Roasted Broccoli
2-3 bunches of broccoli (make sure it’s dry. If it’s wet, it’ll just get steamed instead of roasted)
2-5 tbsp. good quality oil
1 clove garlic, smashed (optional – I leave it out on account I already have halitosis issues and my husband’s got a sensitive smeller)
About 1 tbsp. kosher salt, or to taste (I feel quite foodie-snobbish now that I own kosher salt for myself. It’s kind of like being in a special gourmette*-ingredient club.)
pepper, to taste
zest of 1 lemon
juice from ½ of a lemon
¼ c. parmesan cheese

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Cut broccoli into bite-size florets and spread onto cookie sheet. Drizzle with oil, salt and pepper, lemon zest and add garlic clove. Toss to coat and roast in oven for 15-20 min. or until broccoli is tender and getting browned at edges. Remove from oven and sprinkle with parmesan and fresh lemon juice. Eat while it’s hot and it will be SO GOURMETTE* in your mouth!

The first time I tried the recipe, I used bottled lemon juice from the fridge and no lemon zest. It was gross in comparison. If you don’t have a fresh lemon, omit the lemon all together. It’ll still be a good side dish when made with salt, pepper and parmesan.

I served my broccoli with sweet potatoes cooked according to similar directions: tossing with oil, salt and pepper and ROASTING! THEY WERE SO AMAZINGLY YUMMY!
Roast, people! ROAST!

*Marilyn and I both (or is it just me?) say gourmet by pronouncing the t at the end, because Marilyn’s dad, a brilliant physicist, says it. And if a brilliant physicist says it, I’m going to, too. And if he also says ‘Wal-Mark’ instead of Walmart, he must be on the same wavelength as my dad, and maybe he’s also related to the guy at Joel’s last job that thought façade was pronounced fake-ade.
Do you have anymore funny word mispronunciations to add? If so, please, please do.

I Know What Ya'll Been Waitin' Fer This

Here are the family pictures my neighbor Julie took of our family last September. We drove clear in the heck (what a great Utah phrase, huh?) to the back side of Squaw Peak - probably almost 2 hours of drive time, in total. But didn't she make us look pretty? She's very good at photography and a wizard down to the Photoshop and I really just want to BE her. THANK YOU, JULIE!

If you'd like Julie to take your family photo, come down to the ward YM/YW fundraiser service auction and bid on her family photo session. But be prepared with some serious cash, 'cause word's getting 'round that does does a body good. She took almost 500 pictures but I've shown restraint and only posted a few here. Come to my house to see more!

Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes

Do you want to eat this?

Too late. I already did.

Here's the recipe, which I can't really take credit for because I just altered the pumpkin cookie recipe that everybody uses these days.

1 box spice cake mix (I think Western Family has the best spice mix. It's much spicier than the name brands I've used.)

2 c. pumpkin puree (I actually made my own this year and it's really easy and good!) or one 15 oz. can pumpkin

1 egg, plus 2 egg whites

Mix ingredients together, spoon into cupcake tins and bake for 15 min. at 350 degrees. For frosting, I used this recipe, minus the nuts. Frost amply because there's plenty of frosting to go 'round.

Norma's Bean Soup

This recipe was obtained from my ward cooking group last March. Norma, a new member in our ward, is a great cook and this soup has quickly become one of our favorites!

Bean Soup

8 oz turkey smoked sausage or kielbasa cut into ½ inch slices (I use 16 oz., which is a full package of sausage)
1 c. chopped onion
1 c. chopped celery
2 tsp. minced garlic
1 tbsp. vegetable oil
1 ½ quarts reduced-fat chicken broth
2 c. peeled sweet potato, cubed
2 c. peeled potato, cubed
3- 15 oz. beans (navy beans, black and pinto or 3 combinations of beans that you like - I often use kidney for one of them), drained - I just use a combination of 6 c. of beans that I've made at home and stored in sandwich bags in my freezer
3/4 tsp. dried thyme leaves
1 bay leaf
1 ½ - 2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper

In Dutch oven (or soup pot) sauté smoked sausage, onion, celery, and garlic in oil until sausage is brown. Add remaining ingredients and heat to boiling. Reduce heat and simmer covered, until potatoes are tender. (About 10 to 15 minutes.) If soup is too thick add more chicken stock. Makes about 8 1/2 servings.