We all crammed into out (minuscule) apartment for Thanksgiving dinner. With a borrowed card table from the neighbors, we laid out a feast fit for a King. Nearly all of which was purchased finished from Whole Foods, including the turkey. That is the way to go!
We topped of the feast with a bike ride to the beach & watched the sunset.
Good times were had by all!
For all of you who attended our festive pre-Thankgiving feast on Sunday, I wanted to share the email Kate got from Eman, one of the daughters in the Hassan family. The Hassans are from Iraq, and came to our home Sunday night for a Thanksgiving dinner (yes, we are celebrating twice this year - we leave for sunny southern Califonia today!)
They are a very sweet family, and this was their first Thanksgiving dinner - they just came to the U.S. this spring as refugees. They also spent the Fourth of July with us - such a treat!
hi kate and neil
we went to your home in Nov/23/08 your family celebrate thanks giving it was really fun we have a lot of fun it was our first thanks giving it's really good and your mam she made delicious food we really like it and we met your young brother and your cousing but we really miss youo and neil we can't wait to see you soon LOVE YOU eman
A lawyer friend of mine just emailed me a story from a civil case in Florida. He swears that this is for real. After reading insane opinions written by judges, especially some from the South, I think it is possible. You be the judge!
An atheist sued the govenment for a Sec. 1983 violation of the civil rights act. His complaint was that Christians and Jews have recognized holidays, but that atheists have none. A violation of his civil rights as an alien, he claimed, since atheists have no recognized holy days.
The court, in ruling on a Motion to Dismiss for Failure to State a Claim, dismissed the case.
The lawyer for the atheist objected to the dismissal, asserting that Christians and Jews have recognized legal holidays but atheists have none.
"Your client is woefully ignorant," the judge responded. "The calendar says April 1st is April Fool's Day. Psalm 14:1 states "The fool in his heart says "there is no God." Therefore, it is the opinion of this court that if your client says there is no God, April 1st is his holiday. Court is adjourned."
I talked to Carol today and she told me all the Morgan kiddos are doing well, and talked of all the child star notariety that Archer has been getting.
He even gets called and asked to audition for things now. ARCHER - YOU ROCK!
His upcoming appearances include singing a solo with the Portland Boys Choir and is Anna's son in The King and I during the next few months.
See www.theaterinthegrove.com
I wanted to post some of my new fav gratitude quotes -
Please enter the Happy Valley Kellys' Gratitude quote contest - post your fav quote as a comment here and you will win a prize: Donna's upcoming cookbook - '101 Things to do with a Turkey Carcass."
:)
"Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos into order, confusion into clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace to today and creates a vision for tomorrow. " -- Melody Beattie
"As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them." -- John Fitzgerald Kennedy
"Anyone who imagines that bliss is normal is going to waste a lot of time running around shouting that he has been robbed. The fact is that most putts do not drop, most beef is tough, most children grow up to be just people, most successful marriages require a high degree of mutual toleration, most jobs are more often dull than otherwise.
Life is like an old time rail journey - delays, sidetracks, smoke, dust, cinders and jolts, intersperced only occasionally with beautiful vistas and thrilling bursts of speed.
The trick is to thank the Lord for letting you have the journey." -- Gordon Bittner Hinckley
Hey all!
For a great version of Grandma Hicks' holiday rolls, check out the November-December issue of Utah Valley Magazine - Sweet Potato Crescent Rolls with Lemon Herb Compound Butter. The "Meet the Chef" blurb and photo are fun, too!!!
www.uvmag.com/novdec08/36_37.htm
We found out today that Chris got into Penn State Med school! Click here (my blog) to read more! We're excited!
It has come to the attention of the the administrators of this blog that another important election was held in California recently. And, the result was one upon which we can ALL agree: Audrey Hicks was elected president of her class!
Congrats, Audrey!
When you are older and run for President of the US, I;ll be older, too, but I promise to campaign for you and go door to door in my nursing home!
You know all those fancy breads that are called "artisan breads" and you pay 5 bucks or more for a loaf about the size of a frisbee in the grocery stores? Yes, their wonderful rustic texture is a delight to dip into oil and vinegar. They are so crusty and yummy. But waaaaaaaaaaay too expensive.
So, tonite we were at a friend's house for FHE. ( She and her hubby are the leaders of an LDS 12 step program in Provo - more on that in my next post) and she taught me how to make "Artisan Bread." For about 30 cents you can make a loaf that is, seriously, no hyperbole involved: THE EASIEST BREAD YOU WILL EVER MAKE! No kneading required at all. No finicky fussing over the texture at all. She says it turns out perfect every single time. I beleive her because it was delish!
AND So, so sooooooooo easy you could make it every single day. (Although, if I made it every day, I would weigh 200 pounds!) It only has four ingredients, five if you count the oil spray.
I came home and read the policitcal war of words that was raging on this blog over the last few posts, got a big knot in my stomach and then decided to delete them all and write a post that was something totally different, not hurtful and I hope positive and helpful.
So, here it is. Enjoy! Love to you all!!!!
Artisan Bread
(also known as Ceasefire Bread)
3 cups all purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon active dry yeast
2 teaspoons salt (or 2 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt)
1 and 2/3 cups very warm water
Mix in a bowl with a large spoon until dough comes together and only small lumps remain. Do not mix in a mixer. Do not knead. Do not overmix.
Generously spray a sheet of plastic wrap with olive oil spray. Loosely cover bowl with plastic, oil side down. Let sit on countertop (not in the fridge) for 12 to 18 hours.
Turn batter out on to a floured surface. Fold dough over itself in half 5 or 6 times. Do not knead.
Let rise another 2 to 3 hours.
Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
Generously spray a 2 1/2 quart covered casserole with olive oil (spray bottom and bottom side of lid, too). Cover and bake 30 minutes. Remove cover and bake another 10 to 15 minutes, until well browned.
This bread is best served the first day, even better served warm right out of the oven!
Thanks again to all of those well-wishers during my birthday season. As a belated gift I got this awesome bike. Slime green. I wouldn't have it any other way. It's no matching 2002 Olympic vest, but it rides real good.
