I made dinner!

I've actually done a good job at keeping up with my cooking goal.

Long days at home + not having to pay for the food + mom's cooking magazines = Angela cooking

So far I've made Cheesy Potato Skins, Taco Bowls, Homemade Funfetti cookies, Oatmeal Cookies and a few others. Not to mention all the girls camp stuff. They were so tasty and my camera was too far away to take pictures of them.

Today I made Easy Taco Pie (and got a picture).

It really was easy and I made it Fleming style (making it up as you go). GO ME!

Spring and Goals

It is here!!! The trees are budding, The neighbor is mowing his lawn. The birds are singing. The daffodils and tulips are coming up. It is warm. It smells like Spring. I am so glad it is here!

I have noticed a few things that Spring as brought along with it. I have had more contact from old friends the past week than I have all semester. People I didn't think I would ever hear from again. It has been great! Took me by surprise at first. It has been really nice to catch up with old friends and to hear about their lives. To hear that their lives are going well. They are moving forward with their lives and are going places. I am so happy for them!!!

I love that spring brings people out.

I also wanted to report on my goals. They went really well. There were a few hiccups that made a few of them more difficult but I only really failed at one (keeping my room clean). I got a 6 out of 7. YAY!! I even started adding goals to the list that weren't there from the start.

Today Was A Cooking Day

Today was beautiful! Warm, fresh and just lovely. Spring is here (at least for today). I had a moment today when I was about to go against several of my goals that I set a few days ago. The feelings of ill will and anger began to grow as I let something bother me that really shouldn't have. I needed to get out. I needed to walk it off. I needed fresh air. I would NOT fail those goals so easily.

The result was me walking home from school. It was beautiful but the walk was not long enough for me to settle down. I still felt hurt and misunderstood. I felt that what was going wrong was my fault (which it isn't, I know this). Unsure of what to do, I took a short nap on the couch. Woke up feeling refreshed but not back to 100%.

I decided to cook.

That solved my problems. I made Parmesan Italian Chicken, baked potatoes, cream corn (from the can) AND a strawberry-banana pie. The feelings of happiness and joy came forth again. It wasn't my fault. I was over the thing that had disrupted my afternoon. I had been productive and made something that others and myself can enjoy.

It was a wonderful discovery :)

PS this is post 100!!!

Best Salsa EVER!

For those of you who attended the apt 204 dance party on February 20 this is what I made:

1 can corn, drained
1 can black beans (or you could use black-eyed peas or another type of bean that you choose)
3-4 medium/large tomatoes, cut to be about the same size as the corn and beans

1 green pepper (cut to same size as corn and beans)

1 Avocado (cut to same size as corn and beans and everything else in this recipe)
1/2-1 cup Italian salad dressing (the Zesty/spicy kind works the best, but all of them are delicious)

You can also throw in:

1/4 of an onion (I prefer the red ones but you could leave the onions out completely if you don't want to have onion breath forever)
1/2 a bunch of cilantro--basically do this to taste. I like a lot of cilantro!

or anything else you can think of!

Stir and Enjoy! You will want to eat it the minute you are done and it is delicious that way too but it gets more delicious as you let it sit in the refrigerator.

4 for 4

4th day in a row I've made something new to eat.

Tonight I made sirloin steak bbq stir-fry. Super yummy!!! I am also amazed and how I can have such a great meal for such a cheap price. Love it. I was going to take a picture of it but in the moment I was so eager to taste my savory meal that I completely forgot until it was almost gone. I have a bunch of left overs but they never look as good as the first meal.

Going Strong

Today was is Wednesday. Third day of school. Third day back in Provo. Third day in a row that I have made something edible from a new recipe. I am shocked at how much pleasure it brings. Tonight I'm making bread (with a bread machine, but still). I hope it turns out ok. I'm trying to figure out what to make tomorrow. :D

Homemade what?!

A goal I have this year, like I do every year, is to make real meals more often (like at least once or twice a week). It is hard to do when it is just for me. Left-overs last forever. Yummy but still.

Yesterday I was having a bad afternoon. I think I was stressed. Like really stressed. I was not pleased with the world. I went shopping for food and was still in a sour mood. When I got home I cleaned up the kitchen and tried various things to cheer me up. I finally decided I was hungry and therefore made a real meal with the things I purchased from the store. I was so surprised how cooking a real meal and eating such totally changed my mood. The rest of my night was so much better.

I wonder if it was just the confidence that came from completing a task or if it was just eating something I made. I'm not sure but I am more excited about cooking :)

I also made homemade hot chocolate tonight. Lets just say that homemade and store purchased hot chocolate taste completely different. It was a good experience but I learned I like the store stuff much much better. What can I say, I love the sweet stuff.

Where I am

I am so excited about this semester. I have great classes, a fantastic job, wonderful friends, the best family and a knowledge of Jesus Christ. With that which is great we often experience our greatest challenges.

These past few days have been very stressful for me. I have been very busy with church, work and school (not to mention attempting to have a social life). Sunday, it just hit my like a ton of bricks. I had a fantastic day. The spirit was strong and the messages hit home and were exactly what I needed to hear. They were uplifting and encouraging. Nevertheless, I found that when 10pm rolled around I was so stressed with life and the things I need to do to become better. I was overwhelmed. I decided to take the only refuge I could and went for a drive. I ended up at the Timpanogos Temple in American Fork. I just sat there in the parking lot and had that internal battle that happens so often. I finally remembered that I have a great life and that I am so incredibly blessed. It has been amazing since that moment to see how God is helping me and wanting to show his love to me.

At FHE Monday night, my FHE leader, Brad gave his spiritual thought from Elder Neil L. Andersen's talk "You Know Enough". The thoughts that were shared by all were exactly what I needed to hear.

My life is a busy one. I am so grateful for everything I have - including the fact that I am very busy. I have also come to the conclusion of my status: I am "right between ouch and poing" (echoing the 'ing' in poing). Probably not the best spot - but once the semester gets rolling all will be well.

My Dad's Truck

I LOVE Trucks! This love began when my Dad got his little black truck about six years ago. It was beautiful and and useful. I loved driving it around when I got the chance. I loved the way the engine spoke to me. I loved how high up I was. I loved the way I looked in his little black truck.

He has since upgraded to a BIG black truck: Toyota Tundra. I love my little Honda Civic but when I got home and get the chance to drive his truck - I feel like I am on top of the world. I was able to drive it over Thanksgiving break. Once experience in particular really stood out to me. I was driving south towards Swan Falls Dam in Idaho to attend a huge bonfire. There are no words to describe the joy it was to get in his truck, blast the country music and drive down little farm roads to get to Kuna Caves where the bonfire was held. I loved driving that truck off the paved road and on to a little dirt road. As I drove up and jumped out of that truck my confidence jumped to the stars. It is amazing what a truck can do to a person.

I was also able to drive it over Christmas break and I wish I could put the feelings into words. It was so nice to just go for a drive in that truck that I love in the state that I love.

Life goal: Own a truck!