3 Grocery Stores Later. . .

I was incredibly excited to make Hot and Sour Chicken Cabbage Soup. I thoroughly enjoy most oriental foods. I particularly love recipes with a little pizazz. The ingredients in this recipe sounded like they'd do the trick, so I was stoked to say the least! I had most of the ingredients. I made a trip to the grocery store for lemon grass, cabbage, and bean sprouts. At grocery store number one, I found cabbage and bean sprouts. At store number two, no lemon grass. And store number three, no lemon grass! What?! I realize not everyone cooks with lemon grass but are you serious; three major grocery stores and no lemon grass?!?! In complete frustration of not being able to find lemon grass (and not being willing to hit up a fourth) I made the soup without lemon grass. And guess what?! It was divine!!! Yay for Hot and Sour Chicken Cabbage Soup!!! It was a success even without the lemon grass!

Food!

I LOVE to cook! Cooking is relaxing to me; it's soothing. Lately I have been in a soup and bread making mood, probably due to the cold weather. However, most soups don't look that great in picture form so I haven't included any pictures.
I've made a few stews and wide variety of asian soups. The next recipe on the agenda is Hot and Sour Chicken Cabbage Soup. I'm really excited for this new adventure! I choose recipes by the ingredients. Some of the ingredients in my next soup include: hot pepper flakes, vinegar, soy sauce, lemon grass, fish sauce, black pepper, garlic powder, bean sprouts, and onion. Doesn't that sound like an incredible combination?!
The pictures I included here are homemade rolls, Dal with Spiced Tomatoes and Potatoes, and Naan. Yummy! I really enjoy Indian food! In the near future I plan to host an Indian evening. I'm going to make Chicken Masala, Fresh Mint Chutney, and of course some Naan!

GJ

It's been two years since I've been to the town I grew up in. A little less than two years ago my parents moved. They didn't tell us that they were thinking about moving until they had purchased a home in another state. A few of us expressed a desire to make a last trip before my parents moved from our childhood home but it was strongly discouraged. Right now I really miss my hometown. It has its own quirks but I love it! It's beautiful!

To Create

"Creation brings deep satisfaction and fulfillment. We develop ourselves and others when we take unorganized matter into our hands and mold it into something of beauty." -Pres. Dieter F. Uchtdorf

I love to create! There is something so uplifting about creating. My main two forms of creation are food and clothing. I thoroughly enjoying creating both! Due to the holiday season I have been baking up a storm. I have also created a wide variety of soups and today I'm going to begin creating an incredible apron! I can't wait!

One-liners

I like quotes. I like one-liners, wherever they come from. I recently watched a movie which had many great one-liners. One of which was, "If you want to get to the castle, you have to swim the moat." Fantastic! Isn't that SO true! If you want something grand, you gotta work for it!

It's not what you have that matters, it's what you make of it

Last night I went to a work Christmas party. At the beginning of the evening we were each given a Christmas movie/tv trivia quiz. Not only had I not seen many of the shows we were questioned about but I also have a horrible memory and tend to not remember small details. So, I didn't do so hot on the quiz. For each question we answered correctly, we were given a bean. Later in the evening there was an auction in which we used the beans to bid. I probably had the least amount of beans. The auction began and the bids continued to increase significantly higher than my number of beans. I realized that those who had the most beans were the ones who were eager about biding. I decided that my best tactic considering the situation would be to wait until the amount of beans in the group had dwindled. I waited. We got to one item in which no one would bid. I bid one bean and the bid stopped there. I won with the least amount of beans!
In life it's so easy to become focused on material possessions. It's easy to become wrapped up in things that don't matter. What matters is that we make the most of what we have. It's amazing what Heavenly Father can help us accomplish with very little on our part!

Goals

When I was in high school, my scrawny brother decided that he no longer wanted to be picked on physically and emotionally for being small and chose to change his physique. He began to body build. One may ask "Why go to the opposite extreme?!" But it's what he wanted and he gave everything to attain his goal. During this period of his life he had pinned on his bedroom wall a quote attributed to Elder Richard G. Scott which read, "To reach a goal you have never attained, you must do things you have never before done." It's a beautiful concept! So often we desire to become better, to attain specific goals but would prefer that the success fall into our lap. Anything worth acquiring takes effort, lots of it!
For years I have wanted to lose weight. From time to time I put forth a little more effort and then I give up. Why?! I know that I won't attain my goal without valiant effort but it's so easy to give into complacency. Not any more! About two months ago I decided that my goal requires my complete effort. I have changed my tactic. I realized that any good goal is worthy of asking for heavenly assistance. So, I've done just that. For over two months I have fasted weekly for the heavenly assistance I need in reaching my goal. And I have made a stronger personal effort to do everything I know to live a healthier life. Not that it's been easy but it has been beautiful! I have seen the Lord's hand in my life. I have also recognized how the Adversary attempts to thwart my goals. And I have learned that through the Lord all things are possible. So, over half way to my goal I thank my Heavenly Father for His love, guidance, and direction!