Easter Bunny Doesn't Lay Eggs

Who started the idea in this country that an Easter Bunny can actually lay eggs? It is baffling to me. I was always taught, and I think it is just common sense, that it is an Easter Chick that lays the eggs. To continue this tradition at our house, it's the chicks who take care of the egg business. The obvious question might be is that how an earth does this little pink chick lay a huge chocolate egg like that? C-section? And especially when you crack the egg open, there is a $20 bill in there. Impossible task!

The chocolate egg before...

And after...$20 bill was quickly removed from the egg and not seen here.

FINALLY...a NEW CAR!!

Infiniti FX 35

I'm glad I can rest at work

This past weekend was a super busy one.

Friday:
-Bought a new purse to replace the black one. Can't go through another summer with a black purse.
-Bought a new perfume to celebrate spring...Michael Kors Island "Bermuda". Go ahead, go smell it, it is DELISH!
-My boss' son's wedding reception in Provo. Quick in and out. We were the first ones in line.
-Quinn's 44th birthday dinner at their house. Adults only. Laughed until I cried.
-Liz drove down from Logan to spend a weekend with us.
-Alex slammed his shoulder and upper arm to a concrete wall after dunking off a trampoline at Rachel's house. We thought he broke his arm but it was just a deep bruise and some scrapes.

Saturday:
-Cleaned my linen closet. Two garbage bags are going to D.I for donations. Took out 8 duvet covers and started making quilts out of them. Yes, I'm recycling. Liz and Rod were tying the quilts. Got two done.
-Watched and listened General Conference. It is good to know that we are following the advice of the apostles. No debt.
-Sushi dinner with Liz at Happy Sumo. Ahhh...sushi's like candy. Then shopping for her. I didn't buy anything
-Rod, Alex and Jorge went to the priesthood session while we girls shopped. They went to have sushi after their meeting.
-Started preparing food for Sunday's brunch at The Williams.
-Liz wrecked our entertainment center in the basement and herself. Huge shiner on her stomach. Ouch. Liz and Brad are not allowed in our basement anymore.

Sunday:
-Woke up super early. Had lots of energy again. Sunny day.
-Started baking and cooking for the brunch. Liz was a great help.
-Continued quilting in between cooking.
-Listened Conference.
-Went to Williams for brunch. Everything was yummy. Thanks Katie for hosting.
-Watched Conference in the afternoon.
-Came home and continued cleaning the house until midnight.
-Liz left to go home.
-Went to bed and into deep delightful slumber.

"On May 29th I will shave my head"

But in the meantime, it is just a regular haircut.





Handsome boy!

Farewell Dinner at Sundance

We had an exceptionally great dinner at Sundance on Tuesday night before Tom and his family left on Wednesday to go back to Florida.


Tom and Cindy.


Rod and Jorkki (Tom's best friend).


Alex and Franz (Tom's son).


Christian and Collin (Cindy's two sons)



Cindy and Me (yes, I burned my nose at Deer Valley on Monday)

The injury report for the week of skiing is as follows:

Tom=separated shoulder (happened a month ago at rough seas in Florida), had a special brace during skiing.
Cindy=hurt elbow
Jorkki=bumbed his head while skiing at Deer Valley. Nice shiner on the forehead.
Christian=sprained wrist while jumping off a 6 foot jump in Brighton. He learned to ski on Saturday. Brace needs to stay on the wrist for 6 weeks.
Collin=hurt left arm, thought to be broken, but not. Made a front flip on Monday at Deer Valley and was brought down the mountain in a toboccan.
Franz=NOTHING...a true miracle.

Let's hope they come back next year...hopefully with suitcases full of bandaids, braces, and ace bandages.

Deer Valley 22 years after

I worked as a lifty at Deer Valley in 1987. Back then it was a small resort with an impeccable service. 22 year later, Tom and his family, Alex and I took a day and went skiing. Still one of the smaller resorts in Utah, yet service seemed to be even better. I almost expected somebody to wipe my butt when I used the bathroom.

It was a beastly cold day with the wind chill in the low single digits.


At the parking lot waiting to get on the shuttle.


The day didn't start well. Collin fell on a steep hill and hurt his left upper arm. This is where the ski patrol is bringing him down the hill in a toboccan. Collin was fine, and skied like a pro all day long.


Alex on the ski lift.

Tom, Cindy, Collin and Christian on the ski lift.

Alex and I on the ski lift. Franz next to Alex.

Collin, Franz, Christian, Tom and Cindy, Alex and I almost at the end of the day. Ready to go home.

Thanks Tom for a great day of skiing. I didn't miss my working days there at all.

Hairy Man and Cindy

This is how I found Tom and his girlfriend Cindy at 7am this morning. So cozy.

Hairy Man and a Donut

My cousin Tom and his peeps arrived yesterday from Florida for a 5-day ski vacation. One of Tom's requests was for me to make home made donuts for him. So I did. Lots and lots of them. Last night Tom probably ate close to 10 of them...or even more. Not sure. Couldn't keep track because he was inhaling them so fast.

This morning I found him freshly showered sitting on the couch...eating more donuts. Happy day. Happy man. It is great to have them at our house.

Alex's Fabulous Dinner

Last night I was cleaning the house like a mad woman because my cousin Tom and his entourage will arrive today from Florida for a 5-day ski vacation. I wasn't in the mood for making dinner as well but knew that the chicken in the fridge was waiting to be cooked and the boys were hungry. A few days ago we watched the Food Network chef Tyler Florence cook a fabulous chicken meal, and Alex told me to get the recipe so we could try it. But I wanted to just serve cereal!! Please, something easy!! No. Didn't happen. Alex made the complete dinner with home made Caesar dressing (Alex didn't like the anchovies) while I washed the dishes.

This is Chicken Paillard with Creamy Parmesan Salad by Tyler Florence.

This is Chicken Paillard with Creamy Parmesan Salad by Alex (minus the tomatoes because Alex doesn't like tomatoes)

The meal was SO GOOD!! Alex gave it a 9.

Here is the recipe if you want to make it for your family.

Chicken:
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 cup all-purpose flour
4 eggs, whipped slightly with splash milk
2 cups panko bread crumbs
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

Dressing:
2 anchovy fillets
2 egg yolks
2 clove garlic, smashed
2 lemons, juiced
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan
Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Salad:
1 cup organic grape tomatoes, halved
1 bag fresh baby arugula (couldn't find, we used Romaine and spinach, instead)
1/2 pound fresh mozzarella cheese, boccancini, halved
Shaved Parmesan, for garnish
Lemon wedges, for garnish
Extra-virgin olive oil, for drizzling

Directions
Begin by pounding out the chicken breast gently between 2 pieces of plastic wrap.

Prepare a breading station with flour, whisked eggs and milk, and panko crumbs. Season all with salt and pepper. Coat the breasts in flour, egg then panko. Lay the coated breasts out on a flat tray and refrigerate to let the crust dry out (about 10 minutes) this will ensure there is less moisture and less chance your coating will break when frying.

Shallow fry the paillard in hot oil for approximately 2 to 3 minutes per side depending on how thick the breasts are. Drain well, season with salt and set aside when done.

For the dressing:
Put the anchovies, egg yolks, garlic, lemon juice, and water into a blender and process for 30 seconds until the mixture is smooth. With the blender running, pour the olive oil in slowly for the dressing to emulsify. Stir in the Parmesan, season with salt and a couple of grinds of black pepper; set aside. (Refrigerate the dressing if you will not be using it right away.)

Prepare the salad by splitting the grape tomatoes in half through the middle lengthwise, mixing all ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Add the dressing and toss the salad well.
To serve lay the warm, crispy chicken paillard on the base of the plate and top with the salad.

Garnish with shaved parmesan cheese, a wedge of lemon and a drizzle of olive oil.

(You can also use a ready made Caesar Salad and dressing and add the mozzarella and tomatoes. This would shorten the cooking time even more. You can also forget the salad and serve this with potatoes and a vegetable)

My Boss Calls Me Dead-Eye

And rightly so. 9mm Glock. 15 shots.

Just another busy day at the office...