I love new recipes

So yesterday since Bruce had to take it easy, I spent the day trying out new recipes and this one was pretty easy and really delicious so I thought I would share. I am always looking for good slow cooker meals. I like to use my slow cooker at least once a month if not more. I found this recipe on Food Networks website. The hardest thing about this recipe is peeling and cutting up the veggies.

Maple-Orange Chicken with Acorn Squash and Sweet Potatoes
1 small to medium acorn squash, peeled, seeded, and cut into 2-inch pieces
2 sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 2-inch pieces
2 leeks, rinsed and chopped (I could only find one and I am not in love with leeks so one was enough)
5 (5-ounce) skinless chicken breast halves (with or without bone)
Salt and ground black pepper
1 cup orange marmalade
1/2 cup reduced-sodium chicken broth
1/2 cup orange juice
1 tablespoon hoisin sauce (I found this by the Chinese food in my grocery store)
1 tablespoon maple syrup
For the garnish: (I totally forgot the garnish - well we used a little bit of butter for the veggies but that is it)
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley leaves
1 to 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh rosemary leaves
Place squash and sweet potatoes and leeks in the slow cooker. Season chicken all over with salt and black pepper and place on top of vegetables in slow cooker. In a medium bowl, combine orange marmalade and remaining ingredients. Pour mixture over chicken and vegetables. Cover and cook on LOW for 6 to 8 hours or on HIGH for 3 to 4 hours.
Serve 4 of the chicken breast halves with squash and potatoes on the side and extra sauce spooned over top (reserve remaining chicken for pizza). Top with parsley and rosemary just before serving.

Here is the Pizza recipe that is mentioned in the recipe. I haven't tried it yet but since we have chicken left over I just may.

I will also have to look up more recipes for hoisin sauce as I have never used it before...if you have any will you share?

Enjoy!

The Angiogram result

Well, the great great news is that nothing was found through the angiogram. After waiting four hours for the doctor to show up and do the procedure, it took all of 1/2 hour for the doctor to declare that my husband has a very healthy heart. No blockages, nothing to be worried about. It was such a huge relief.

Of course, he has to recover from the procedure which takes 24-48 hours. No driving, heavy lifting etc. So yes he is milking it and I am letting him for now. I will get his water and food for the rest of today but then he is on his own.

Needless to say, even though we are taking it easy this weekend we will be celebrating just for the gift of health. Thank you all for your prayers and thoughts!

Angiogram

Bruce is going in for an angiogram on Friday. With his blood clots and his family heart history, the doctor's thought it best to do a stress test on his heart. So yesterday he went in for the stress test and they found some inconsistencies. Today when he went back to review the results with the Doctor, the doctor said that doing an angiogram would allow him to see the blockage and know more of what is going on inside his heart. There is a possibility of stents and angioplasty. Bruce says the worst thing is that they have to put a catheter in his groin for the test! OUCH!!!!!

I love my husband but I guess when we got married and I said I would love him through sickness and health, I assumed we would always be healthy. I know in the end we will be ok but nothing like a little test to know where your priorities are. At month end -my busiest time as an accountant- I want to be with my husband. He is the most important thing to me- yes even more important then chocolate.

I love you honey!

I am truly blessed

Yes Bruce and I survived tropical storm Fay. Although she made for a very interesting week! By last Sunday we knew she was on her way but where she would hit exactly was not certain so everyone including Tampa and Clearwater was put on alert. Part of my preparation on Monday was filling my gas tank and getting cash out of the atm. (No electricity = No gas pumps and no computers to run credit card transactions!) I already keep at least a case of bottled water and plenty of food on hand. At work on Monday we were reminded of our emergency procedures and all exchanged phone nunbers just in case. All schools were closed for Tuesday and in clearwater they had evacuated all the mobile home parks in preparation. Bruce and I kept tracking Fay and by late Monday night felt that she was going to miss us so he packed up and headed out to Vegas. He had a trade show for the prepaid industry and was a key presenter. So Tuesday, I kissed him good bye at the airport and went to work. The news was that Fay and made landfall way south of us and we didn't have to worry about flooding.

Since Monday we have had high winds up to 30 mph and some rain as we watched Fay boomerang around us. I really feel like God drew a circle around Tampa/Clearwater and said ok this area is safe. If you don't believe me here is a picture of Fay's path. I know weather is crazy but I know I was protected and I am very happy that I didn't have to face my first tropical storm by myself. (I can't count Sparky because he gets just as scared as I do, poor kitty!) My appreciation and gratitude is boundless.

The last days - Tuesday and Wednesday

On Tuesday, we stayed around Big Sky and visited some friends. After we had just left a friend's house, he called to tell us to turn around because there was a brown bear and her two cubs in his neighbor's yard. It was a site to see the bears - the mother actually climbed into the truck looking for food.

We also had the chance to visit the home where Shirley used to live. This house has gone through a major flip since she owned it. The first time I saw it was Labor day weekend 2003. Bruce and I had borrowed Dad's truck and driven the six hours from Salt Lake to Big Sky. It was the first time I got to meet his family. Shirley had just sold the house and was in the process of moving to Clearwater. The house at the time was better described as a cottage or cabin. Over the past four years, it has grown a basement, two car garage and so many changes there is very little of the original left. Shirley's home will always be warm and welcoming but this house, which hasn't been lived in, needs a warm touch and some good memories. Hopefully it will find some love soon.
Wednesday, I said good bye to Big Sky. Shirley and Pat drove me into Bozeman to catch my plane. We stopped at Benjie's before the airport for some great jewelry shopping. I found so many cool things it was so much fun! I miss the great silver jewelry that is unique and a great deal. I bought a few items before heading to the airport.

Montana was really beautiful. I think the thing that I miss the most about the mountains is quaking aspens. I love sitting on the porch and hearing the wind blow their leaves. I remember the great colors in the fall that they turn. They also remind me of good times - family camps etc. I will have to make a fall trip in the next two years to see the leaves changing colors.

To Shirley- Thank you so much for letting me be part of your family and enjoying this trip. It is a big deal to me that you have opened your heart to me. I look forward to making other great memories with you.

Yellowstone Monday

Monday we started our day off early at the Corral for homemade blueberry pancakes and the thickest bacon I can remember eating. It was a great way to start off our day trip to Yellowstone. Within an hour of entering Yellostone, we saw elk right on the side of the road. I would name this picture bathing beauties for they were just enjoying the water and sun and most importantly not letting the crowd of tourists bother them.



One of my favorite things about yellowstone are the turquoise sulpher springs. The colors are amazing. I decided I wanted to get my picture with them so I leaned over backwards on the fence and snapped this self portrait. I look a little stiff but I got the picture!

At the continental divide, there was a lilly pad pond. I love this picture of my mother in law, Shirley, sister in law, Pat and cousin, KymberLee.
Our trip to Yellowstone was a success- elk, bison, coyote. Seeing all the untouched nature is priceless. We ended our Yellowstone trip with a great icecream cone in West Yellowstone. I love icecream - especially when I can compare it to Granny's - and this was just as creamy and thick. I had raspberry and banana which is one of my favorites!

Montana -Friday, Saturday, Sunday

I am back! I am going to split blogging about my trip into different days so that I can give each day its proper attention. First of all this was a girls trip with my mother in law, Shirley, two sisters in law, Pat and Lisa, and niece in law, Britney, as well as my cousin KymberLee. After waking up at 5 am to get to the airport and catch our plane, we finally made it to Bozeman around noon. Shirley had flown out the week before and met us at the airport with her friend Roberta. We got on the road as we had an hour drive from Bozeman to get to Big Sky-where we were staying. We stopped and had lunch at Bugaboo. (Love the name- they named it after their dog!) I highly recommend the BLT and homemade potato chips. After lunch, we got all settled in the house we were staying at and just spent time relaxing and stretching out after the long plane ride.

Since we were all tired from the plane, we went and got take and bake pizza. I went to bed before 8 pm as it had been a long long day and week for me. Of course since I was in bed so early, I then ended up getting up before 6am. The good thing about that is I got up and took a walk. The clouds were low and hung over the mountains. I really enjoyed being around mountains and seeing all the beauty. I love the beach but if I didn't have the beach I would want mountains.





Saturday we the county fair at Big Sky. Shirley had me drooling over homemade bread and pies for weeks. We were a block away from the county fair and as soon as Shirley told me that the bake sale was open we were off to gather our goodies. We ended up with a loaf of homemade bread, Apple Amish bread, cookies and the great looking strawberry rhubarb pie.





We also got to go to a parade although there weren't real floats it was fun - lots of candy, water balloons. One float was handing out beer and another toilet paper-so yes it was quite the mix! The parade was over in 15 minutes but it was a thrill to watch.

At the county fair, an alpaca was born and although I missed the birth I did make it to see the baby and mother. It was very sweet. For lunch we left the fair because there was no place to sit and eat. We headed to the Corral for Buffalo burgers. It was such a huge meal! We were all full the rest of the day so we just relaxed and enjoyed each others company the rest of Saturday.

For Sunday, Pat, Lisa, Brit and Kym went for a hike. I decided I better stay and study for the GMAT. So I relaxed most of the day with out a camera or much to tell you about. For dinner that night we met Roberta and Bill, her husband, at Cinnamon Lodge. We enjoyed their margerita's, chips and yummy salsa, and I consumed 2/3 of the grizzly burrito. The food was excellent and the company even better. Oh and our waiter, Logan, was from Orlando Florida so we had fun with him. And of course, when I heard his name was Logan I said I was born in Logan - and he said Utah? Yep! Utah! It really is amazing how small this big world can be.

So on Monday we went to Yellowstone - but I am saving that for it's own post as I have some of the most amazing pictures. Come back this weekend to get the rest of the story.

It's off to Montana

To all of those looking for a great story you will need to return next week for this week I am off to enjoy 5 days in Montana. I am sure I will return with stories and pictures to share.

I shall miss you but fear not for I will return!

Sunday with the Corry's

Nothing makes me more happier then having family visit. I get excited and feel like it is Christmas. On Sunday, I was lucky to have the Corry's take a day out of their vacation in Orlando to come to Clearwater and visit. Knowing that they were bringing their son's Tom and Jake - I knew I had to take them to the hippest beach with the cutest girls. So we took them to Clearwater Beach. It was packed on Sunday beacause the weather was great. After a little bit of driving around, we finally found a parking spot and it was only two blocks from the beach. Oh and I should mention that I forgot my camera, so Bruce had to take these pictures with his phone.

This is a picture of Keith and I hanging out at the beach. We rented two chairs and an umbrella to make it more relaxing. It was so much fun to sit and gab with Carolyn. Girl talk is so much fun but even funner when you are soaking in the sun with your toes in the sand.

After sunning for hours, we were starving so we went to Frenchy's. Nothing fancy but the best grouper sandwiches I have ever tasted. Tom inhauled his so I knew he enjoyed it. I even made them try Conch Fritters which were just ok but the spicy fry sauce aka Frenchy's sauce that came with them was a big hit.

After eating, we walked out to the pier and walked around some booths that were selling everything from shells to jewelry to paintings. Oh and you could get your hair braided or a henna tattoo. It was fun just to watch the people. We then walked across the street to the marina and decided we needed to pick out our boats for when we are rich and famous. Of course, my favorite was a yacht that had waverunners. I always dream big! Guess I better hurry and finish my masters and start making mega money.

To the Corry's - Thank you so much for spending time with us. Bruce and I really enjoyed our day at the beach with you. You are more then welcome to visit anytime. We love you and can't wait to hear how Disney world and the rest of your vacation turned out.