Santa Cruz

Last week Art, Amber and I went to Santa Cruz for the 28th Annual Clam Chowder Cook Off. It was something I will probably do once in my life. You buy 5 tickets and a tiny bowl for $8. You can then try 5 different clam chowders. I saw that I would only do it once because it was packed with people. We tried our 5 clam chowders and headed out to the beach. The first 2 we tried were really good. The last one Amber and I tried tasted like soap.

Mexican Lasagna

Mexican Lasagna adapted from Krystal
Ingredients:
2 cups unprepared rice
4 cups chicken broth
2-4 tomatoes, seeded and chopped
2 onions chopped
9 cloves garlic,
1 can black beans -undrained
Taco Seasoning or Chili Powder, Paprika & Cumin
1 1/4 lb ground sirloin
12 small flour tortillas *I used 4 large tortillas*
2 cups shredded Mexican cheese *I used taco preshredded cheese*
8 oz enchilada sauce
1 (16 oz) jar salsa verde *I omitted this*
Sour cream & cilantro, for garnish
Directions:
*I used my own recipe for spanish rice here.*

Cook 2 cups of rice with 4 cups of water or chicken broth.

Add 1 tablespoon of tumeric, it gives a great yellow color to the rice.

Also add 3 whole pressed garlic cloves.

Cook on low for about 20 minutes with the lid on.

In a large skillet, drizzle 1 tablespoon of EVOO over medium-high heat.

Add the tomatoes, onion, and garlic to the pan and saute until onion is tender.

Add in chili powder mix (approx. 1 1/2 tbl), paprika, and cumin (approx. 3/4 tbl of each) to taste.

Stir to combine.

Add the black beans and stir to combine.

Transfer to a large bowl and add cooked rice.
In the now empty skillet, brown the ground turkey.

Mix with chili powder (1 1/2 tbl), paprika and cumin (3/4 tbl of each) and salt to taste, as well as 2 oz of water to create the taco turkey.
To assemble the lasagna, pour half of the enchilada sauce in an even layer over the bottom of the casserole dish.

Layer evenly with flour tortillas to cover.

Spread the rice mixture evenly over the tortillas.

Sprinkle with a layer of shredded cheese.

Add another layer of flour tortillas.

Pour a thin layer of enchilada sauce over the tortillas.

Spread taco turkey evenly over the enchilada sauce.

Layer one can of corn over the beef.

Top with the bean mixture in an even layer.

Spread the remaining enchilada sauce over the rice, and sprinkle a layer of shredded cheese to finish.

Bake at 375 degrees for 25-35 minutes, or until the cheese has melted and begins to brown a bit. Allow to sit 10 minutes before serving.

Top individual servings with sour cream & fresh cilantro, for garnish.

3 Years Together

Today, February 16, Art and I went on our first date. It actually wasn't a date in my book it was just two friengs going to dinner. Well he called it a date and I let him think that...3 years later we are now married. Crazy how things work!!!!

We went away for the weekend to celebrate our dating anniversary. There has been some bad thunder storms. On Sunday it was so bad out when you walked the rain would pelt you in the face.

I was so bundled up....sweater, sweatshirt, scarf, boots....aaawww nice and toasty!!!!

Lance Armstrong

On Sunday night Art and I went to Pacifica. Tour the California with Lance Armstrong was going to be making the ride from San Francisco to Santa Cruz. The bikers drove right in fron to our hotel. A car came 2 minutes before the bikers came and announce 2 minutes and the racers will be here.
The news said Lance was in the first group or bikers. I am not sure which one is him, but this is the first group. It took another 5 minutes before the next group came and there were soooo many bikers it was crazy. I took 3 pictures and probably caught 1/4 of them.

Happy Valentines Day

Art and I enchanged Valentines gifts last night. Monday will be 3 years since our first date, so we celebrate both days together. Art made a treasure hunt for my gift along with clues. It was so cute and I had such a great time figuring out the clues. He had a card on the table with an orchid. Inside the card was 2 little red cards.

First card said "St. Valentines Day has always been a test for a man to show how much he loves his wojan so here is a test for you".

Second Card "Art's Favorite Candy". The next clue was on the bottom of the bowl of Jelly Bellies.
Third Card "Nope Try Again. When get mad you make steam come out of my ears". Next red card was in the steamer on the kitchen counter.

Fourth Card "Nope Try Again Not Here. I only come out when special people come over." Next red card was in the china cupboard.

Fifth Card "Nope Try Again. Some thing from Kosovo that stairs at you". Next red card was in Art's military display case.

Sixth Card "Nope Try Again. In the Wild Wild West". Next red card was behind a picture we took with my parents and sister dressed up in old fashion clothes.

Seventh Card "Nope Try Again. Like a little cheese with that." Next red card was in the drawer in the wine cabinet.

Eighth Card " Nope to Obvious but getting warmer." Next red card was in the oven on a cookie sheet.

Ninth Card "Nope I think Brett is hiding something." On our spare room door is the upper half of Brett Favre lifesize poster. I looked on the door handle and didn't see that Brett had anything. Then I looked behind the door and a little red and white heart bag is sitting on the floor.

Here is what was inside the bag. Open Heart Necklace from Kay Jewelery.

I told Art he was going to have to wait for his gift till Valentines. He got up to go take a shower and I ran to the car to get his gift. A fishing lure and Ugly Stick fishing poll. I put it in the living room and went back to the spare room to finish looking for a hotel.

We decided we are going away on Sunday night. He came into the spare room to see the place I picked up. I am known for picking the worst hotels EVER! We agree on a place and he went off to the living room while I finished booking the hotel. All of a sudden I hear WHAT IS THIS! WOW!!!! He found his present. He was very excited about the lure I told him was out of stock and Bass Pro wasn't carrying any longer.

Today after we were done at the dentist I told him we had some place to go. As we were driving home I told him I had booked up massages. We each had an hour massage. I came home and cooked us dinner and now we will just relax this evening. It was a great Valentines Day!!!!

The Best Lotion!

This is the GREATEST lotion EVER!!!! My hands get so dry in the winter. I started using this lotion this week and it's improved greatly! It costs $5.99 at Target. I think it's worth it!

Pa's Birthday

February 13 is Art's dad birthday. He turned 66.

In Dog Years I'd Be Dead

Paranoid?

This is the top of my filing cabinet in my office. Every day I ask the girls if they have drank any vitamin C. They give me a hard time daily over this. I don't know why but it started last week that I have become paranoid of getting a cold. I just don't want to deal with it. One of the girls is pregnant so we can't spray the lysol unless we are leaving for the day. Otherwise that lysol would probably already be gone.

Valentines Card

Today in the mail Art and I received a valentines card from my parents. When I opened the card I saw my dad cut out magazine articles written by Rodney Nelson. I was sooo excited. My dad use to read these articles to us as kids when we lived in North Dakota. His articles are called Up Sims Creek in a North Dakota farming magazine.

Reading the two articles my dad sent me where on the top of my priority list. I ran to the couch and just enjoyed 10 minutes of Sims. I think the guy is hysterical and can relate to his stories from living on the farm in ND for 16 yrs. Reading the articles just brings back the comfort of home. Reminds me of winter nights huddled around the heater with dad growing up.

Huddling around the heater was something my dad has always done. He starts wearing long johns in September and doesn't take them off till June. He would get a blanket wrap himself up like a burrito and lay by the heater almost every night. Huddling around the heater was time when he read farming magazines, make list of yearly farm projects, reading his Bible, writing sermons for church, helping us kids with school work, or eating a bag of potato chips while dipping them in a mayo/mustard concoction.

Heater huddling were the good ol' days. Reading the articles by Rodney Nelson just brings back all those memories and make me miss my dad.

Carpet Spot Remover

I decided to clean our carpets today. I realized once I was all set up to clean that I didn't have any carpet cleaner to pre-treat the spots. I went online looking for a "natural" spot remover. Hoping that I had something in the house I could use. Sure enough. A website (can't remember which one now) said to put baking soda down on the spots and rub the baking soda in real well. Then vacuum up the baking soda. It worked great. The spots are gone after I did this and cleaned the carpets!

My DH Want List for V-day

When I want something I usually make a list along with pictures and email it to Art. Art on the other hand has different ways of telling me what he wants. This is what I found today when I opened the fridge.

The newest Bass Pro Shop catalog with a pair of shoes circle and his size. At first I was like what in the world is this magazine doing in the fridge. Was Art sleep walking again? I grabbed it to throw it away...then I realized he wrote in it. I just cracked up laughing. My DH is a character!!!!!

Some Wedding Pictures

Here are some wedding pictures I found on my work computer. Some of these are too funny. I would love to go back to our wedding day and relive it all over again. I have no desire to do all the planning and organizing, but the day was such a blast! It was so nice to have family and friends all together.

Art always does the thumbs up in pictures.

Here is a picture of Art & his Army Buddies.

These lovely ladies would be my co-workers. I put cameras on all the tables. This is one of the great pictures we had waiting. I laughed so hard looking through all the great pictures. This is a classic!

My mom and me! What a great day. I would love to live it all over again!

My Parents

I thought I would share a couple funny pictures of my parents. They always seem to make me smile.

My dad at his birthday in 2007.

Here is a picture of my mom with her safety outfit on at work. Isn't she so cute.

70 Second Cake

One of the Nestie's shared the most dangerous chocolate cake recipe EVER! I have been craving chocolate cake and now I found something to fix the craving in about 90 seconds or less.

Ingredients/Procedure
1 Box Chocolate Cake Mix
1 Box (4 servings) Instant Chocolate Pudding Mix
Combine boxed mixes in a plastic container.
Place ½ cup of mixed chocolate in a large mug.
Set aside plastic container for another night.
1 Egg
2 Tablespoons Vegetable Oil
Add egg and oil to mug. Mix thoroughly.
Microwave for 70 seconds.

I have made this twice and it's DELISH!!!! Put some vanilla ice cream on the top and enjoy.

Super Bowl Sunday

Here is Art and I in our 3D glasses for the Super Bowl Commercials. Aren't we cute? I mad some delish chicken wings. I marinated them in Frank's Red Hot for about 2-3 hours. Then I deep fried them for 10 minutes. Yummy!!!!