Draper Debrief

I know, I know... when you hear "Draper," you think this - am I right?

When I think Draper, however, I think this:

Tonight is the last night I will for sure be sleeping in my darling lil' room on Hawthorne Hill Lane, and the reality that I will, in fact, be moving in less than 48 hours is setting in. It feels so surreal! Considering how thrilled I've been about the move, I didn't at all anticipate getting sentimental.

But it's me. Duh. Of COURSE I'm going to get all nostalgic and schmaltzy about it, because, hey, that's how I roll.

And so, without further adieu, here's a roundup of favorite Draper moments and things that I will most assuredly miss:

•  Panoramic views of the Salt Lake Valley, especially at night, when the valley - and its many temples - twinkled.
• Living so, so close to the Draper Temple - and enjoying how it came to feel like home. This is the temple in which I did so much work for my own family, and that alone will make it special in my heart forever.

• Being roommates with Christina, my best friend and No. 1 partner-in-crime for the better part of the last eight years. Late-night chats, planning our Christmas parties as only two communications professionals could (think objectives, strategies, branding, identity - yup. We're geeks.), discussing careers, politics, dating, and just about anything and everything under the sun. She's been a wonderful sounding board, especially because we're so different, she's able to open my eyes to points I wouldn't have seen otherwise. I'll miss her no-nonsense counsel and wise perspective, not to mention her just-plain-awesomeness. Oh, and her cookies. Have I mentioned her cookies? Yup. Total selling point.

• My ward, shockingly enough, and my stake. I didn't really connect with it too deeply, but that said, I really do like the people there. I may not have made a lot of lasting friendships from it, but I did get to meet some pretty awesome people, and I looked forward to seeing people each week with whom I may not cross paths again down the road. 
• Cooking in my kitchen! It is, hands down, the most spacious kitchen I've ever had, and it was in this kitchen that I went from being a good cook to becoming a true gourmand, stretching both my repertoire and technique. That space is so chock full of fun moments, from figuring out how to poach an egg or roll a stuffed pork tenderloin to doing A/B testing on everything from mini-French silk pies to oatmeal cookies, to making batch after batch of cookies for people I love. 
• Seeing the friends I did make on a weekly basis. A few people in that ward truly changed my life and touched my heart, reaching out to me in my hardest moments this year. To them, I will be forever grateful, and while I know we will stay in touch, I'll miss seeing their smiling faces so conveniently and frequently.

• Being a hop, skip, and jump away from downtown Salt Lake City, a place I dearly, dearly love.
• Meandering through the old neighborhoods to admire the gorgeous historic homes and appreciating the lovely architecture as well as the lives of the people who built them forever ago
• Gazing at the stars from Suncrest, pondering the beauty of the heavens.
• Calling my darling yellow townhouse home. It's been a good place, and I will forever cherish the memories associated with it - including the difficult ones, for they brought about so much growth and wisdom that I wouldn't trade for the world.

Thanks for the memories, Draper. Oh, well, it was swell while it lasted...

Pop! Goes the -Sicle

Have we ever discussed my ice cream obsession? Seriously. It is my Achilles' heel of treats. Cool, creamy, delicious -- and with such a dizzying array of varieties, it's not uncommon for me to have five different flavors in the freezer at a time. (Especially Tillamook ice cream. If you haven't tried it, RUN to your nearest WinCo and snatch up the chocolate-peanut butter or the marionberry pie flavors. Trust me. You'll thank me later.)

Well, my waistline is not thanking ME for this obsession!!! I've re-gained one-third of the weight I lost last year (and truthfully, it's probably more because I lost muscle mass in there as well -- thank you, holidays + first semester of grad school!). And seeing as I purged my closet of all my "fat" clothes, unless I want to go nekked (which is not so much socially acceptable, not to mention awk-ward...), I need to bounce back into shape and fast.

Enter no sugar/grains/soda time.

Not exactly an easy feat, right? I survived yesterday, so it can be done... but it'll take some serious discipline. The toughest part will be giving up desserts, but where there's a will, there's a way. Enter these bad boys:

Ah, yes. Homemade popsicles. I'm still messing around with ingredients, but it's a fun process! So far I've tried:

• Dark chocolate almond milk
• Coconut milk - crushed pineapple ("If you like pina coladas...")
• Coconut milk - fresh strawberries (which look GORGEOUS in the molds - I need to snap a picture!)
• Coconut milk - pomegranate juice (interested to see how this tastes - might need to add pomegranate seeds to the next batch)

The results so far have been delicious but too icy. I'm thinking mixing Greek yogurt in would be a healthy fix, but it'll take a little more planning (so far I'm putting the add-ins right into the molds and then pouring in the almond/coconut milk - not sure how much each mold holds!). Another trick I've seen online is to get full-fat coconut milk and let the can sit open in the fridge - it separates, so the creamy stuff rises to the top. The kind I have now isn't the right type, but I can probably just mix some of the coconut cream into what I did buy until it's gone. I might add raw shredded coconut next time, too, to boost the flavor (thank you, WinCo bulk section, for such random, awesome finds!).

I discovered a handy way to get a lot of varieties going, too -- when one batch is done, you can pull each popsicle from the handle, wrap it in plastic, and then pop it back in the freezer. Perfect for portion control! I'm wondering if there's a way to insert a stick to make it work, but I don't mind just eating it from a bowl like ice cream, really.

Other flavors I'm pondering are:

• Chocolate - banana
• Chocolate - dried cherry
• Chocolate - strawberry
• Coconut - lime
• Pomegranate - berry (blended like a smoothie, maybe sneak in some greens?)
• Lavender lemonade (sweetened with Stevia) (and it might sounds weird, but trust me on this. I had lavender-honey ice cream in Seattle a couple years ago, and it was A-MAZ-ING!)

With such delicious possibilities, I should be able to have my cake -- er, popsicle -- and eat it too!

Any other flavor suggestions? How do you curb your cravings with healthier solutions?

30 by 30: The 1/3 Update

Hard to believe it, but yesterday was the four-month mark since my birthday - which means there are only eight months left to make my 30 by 30 list a reality. How's the progress coming along? Well, I thought it was time for an update, so here's where we stand:

• #2: Visit five new states - I went to Georgia in October, so one down, four to go. Boston's up in the air, but I'm feeling strongly like Route 66 will be a go this year, so I'll start making actual plans for it soon. 
• #3: Go on 30 dates - Well, I've made it to 22, so just eight more to go. I think it's doable. Counting them seems silly, so I'll be glad to check this one off, honestly. It feels wrong to make each date a hash-mark on my way to making a goal, especially when some of these guys are just plain wonderful.
• #5: Attend the temple 30 times - Shoot! This one's tough, because I don't always jot down in my planner if I go, and I didn't think to start a hash-mark tally until now. So, from what I could count from my dayplanner, I've been eight times. I think it's more - I was going pretty much weekly from September through November, with some interruption from all the traveling I did in that time - but it's not like it'd be bad to go more than 30, so I'll start counting the next 22. Starting in January, I'm planning to do a session at each of the temples in Utah in 2012, of which there are 12 in operation - I'll try to get through as many of those as I can by my birthday. And for the record, I have come to love the Draper temple deeply, so check on that one!
• #6: Learn to ski - Four lessons booked at Alta, starting Jan. 21. I'm excited!

• #7: Drive Route 66 - See #2. When else will I have friends scattered literally all the way along the route? Chicago, St. Louis, Tulsa, Amarillo, Albuquerque, Sedona, and L.A., not to mention friends in Denver and Omaha for the drive from Utah to Chicago (I think I'd rather drive Lola than get a rental) - I'll only have to pay for a place to stay a handful of nights if I do it this year! So now the debate is timing. I'd wanted to go in the fall, so it'd be cooler, but I don't want to miss out on stuff that closes Labor Day, so... we'll see. Again, whether Boston happens and when will impact this trip's timing.

• #15: Read 30 books / #16: Read the Book of Mormon twice / #28: Make the most of my commute - At least five read so far, according to my Goodreads. Thank heavens audiobooks count! They're making my commute so enjoyable. I finished the Book of Mormon that way and got so much more out of it listening than I usually do reading. I'm a couple chapters into The Late Bloomer's Revolution and am LOVING it. I've got another five audiobooks from Audible to dive into after that one, too, including E.L. Doctorow's Ragtime, which I've wanted to read forever, David McCullough's 1776, and Malcolm Gladwell's Outliers.
• #21: Sing, sing, sing - I'm starting voice lessons in just a few days with my cousin Rob's friend Amanda, through Hale Center Theatre Orem. Pretty excited!
• #25: Give up the Diet Pepsi - This'll be a tough one, but I'm biting the bullet and giving it up with the advent of the new year tomorrow. I've got a detox drink a friend recommended (which is delish!) in lieu of the soda, and I've got PLENTY of ibuprofen on hand for the impending headaches. And, how perfect is this, but I've got one refill left on my soda punch card. Time to redeem that and be done.
• #27: Learn to poach an egg - DONE!!! Today I was feeling particularly culinary, so I not only poached an egg - I made Eggs Benedict, complete with from-scratch Hollandaise sauce and steamed asparagus. It was amazing! The egg wasn't nearly as hard as I'd expected, especially thanks to a handy-dandy video tutorial made just for me by my dear friend Emily.

The rest of them need some work, but I'll get there... eventually. At least I've made a good start, right?

30 By 30: Making the End of My 20s Count

So... this post is about two months overdue, but better late than never, right?

Thirty. 

Holy crepe. How on earth am I staring that milestone in the face?! Feels like just yesterday that I was too young to sit in the bar area of restaurants. My 20s have flow by in such a blur, and I can hardly believe they're nearly over!

Then again, when people in my ward barely graduated from high school... and when my friends are all pretty much done birthing their babies... well... the reality of my age catches up to me. And it isn't a bad thing, either. Besides those occasional moments when I want to run screaming down the hall, I'm pretty much okay with owning my almost-30 status.

Still, ending my 20s is no small feat, and I want to do it well. And so, in no particular order, here are 30 things I hope to accomplish in the next 308 days (some of which are already in progress):

1. Become a "True Aggie." Preferably at the hands... er, lips... of someone who isn't some random stranger.
   
   
2. Visit five new states. And since this goes retroactively to my birthday, Georgia counts - so I've got four to go. If Route 66 happens, then I'll knock out Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Texas. I'm also considering a Spring Break trip to Boston, and I could tack on a road trip around New Hampshire, Vermont, and Maine. So stinkin' excited.
   
   
3. Go on 30 dates. Again, if we date this back to my birthday, I've gone on six so far. But I'm really going back to the beginning of 2011, which puts me at 16 so far. I think I can swing 14 dates in 10 months. I hope.
   
   
4. Become my authentic self. Years ago, my friend Kaylynn wrote a blogpost about becoming her authentic self. That post has haunted me ever since! I wondered what that even meant - and what it would feel like to peel off the layers of self-protecting barriers and be completely comfortable in my skin. I'm getting danged close, and it is the most empowering thing ever! I'm not sure that this process ever really ends, but I'd like to make it a high priority. Dr. Brene Brown has some great stuff on this topic, if you're interested.
   
   
5. Attend the temple at least 30 times.
   
   
   And as a part of that, I'm trying to make the Draper temple my temple of choice (Provo's where I usually go - part sentimentality, part habit). I'd love to feel as connected to the Draper temple as I still do to Newport Beach.
   
   
6. Learn to ski. This will be my ninth winter in Utah, and I've never tried skiing. Ridiculous. Time to start!
   
   
7. Drive Route 66. Finally. This is the time!!!
   
   
   
   
8. Go on a cruise with my best friends. Perhaps we can make it a joint "We're all turning 30!" celebration!
   
   
9. Be debt-free. I'm sooooo clooooooose...
   
   
10. Sew what? I have a sewing machine, but that doesn't mean I know how to sew. Unless there's a proficient seamstress nearby to help me with the bobbin and all that nonsense, I'm hopeless. At the very least, I would love to turn the quilt blocks we made for a friendship quilt in my San Clemente singles ward into a bonafide quilt. And finish those baby quilts I started for Primary Children's Hospital in the spring. (Sorry, Caron!!! I know I'm a slacker!!!)
    
    
11. Get at least one really, really good kiss. Like, of the foot-popping variety.
    
    
12. Hike Mt. Washburn.
    
    
    My poor father pushed us to do this when I was 10, and I whined the entire way up... until I realized how awesome it was that I climbed a freakin' mountain, and I skipped the rest of the way down. For years I've been wanting to go back and do this hike in Yellowstone again, sans the whining. And speaking of hiking...
    
    
13. Hike the Y. Since I'm ashamed that I never got around to this as a BYU student.
    
    
14. Hike Timp. I work at the base of this stunningly gorgeous mountain yet have never attempted to climb it. Again, ridiculousness. This must happen.
    
    
15. Read 30 books. Since we're doing the 30 theme. And textbooks totally count, because 30 is a lot! That's three a month from here on out.
    
    
16. Finish the Book of Mormon twice. And one of those times will be by Christmas, thanks to my stake challenge (that I'm woefully and pathetically hundreds of pages behind on... yikes!).
    
    
17. Get starstruck.
    
    
    And no, I'm not talking about celebrities. I've always been fascinated by stars, but I've never taken the time or made the effort to really learn astronomy or even name many constellations. Definitely a goal worth pursuing.
    
    
18. Lose 30 pounds. Again, with the 30 thing. I'd actually like to go beyond that, but I'd be happy with this. Honestly, it's more pragmatic than cosmetic. Everyone says that your metabolism hits a wall at 30. It's going to be a heck of a lot easier to reach my goal and fight to maintain it than to fight to get there after 30.
    
    
19. Make time to WRITE.
    
    
    And I'm not talking blogging or creating content for pay. I'm talking writing from my heart, putting the proverbial pen to paper and telling stories that keep knocking around in my brain. I'm in a writer's group, so that accountability should help. (Thanks, Rachel!)
    
    
20. Just dance. Dancing feeds my soul, and I can tell the difference in my overall life when I'm dancing and not. Same thing for exercise in general, but dance is definitely my workout of choice. There's a killer ballet-fitness class in Lehi I went to a few times and LOVE - again, just gotta make it a priority. I need to be dancing at least once a week, whether it's a class or just a rock-out session in my bedroom.
    
    
21. Sing, sing, sing. Along the same lines, singing and music bring more joy to my heart than just about anything else. So I'm planning to start voice lessons in January - already have an amazing teacher lined up, soooo excited!!! - and I'd like to get my voice beyond the awesome shape it was in while in OCMCO (which was the peak of my personal vocal performance as far as technique and timbre go).
    
    
22. Put my clothes away in the closet, not on the floor. Harder than it sounds, people. Harder than it sounds.
    
    
23. Reinstate "Christa Dates." I know it sounds so New Age-y, but there's sooooo much value in getting time alone to ponder and just breathe sans pressure or company. In college, I was good about setting aside Friday nights for me time, but these days it's rare. In fact, I blame my snoozing addiction on this. That quiet time before I'm out of bed seems to be the only time I get to myself all day, but indulging in snoozing just makes me start the day rushed. Quality alone time should supplant the snooze. In fact...
    
    
24. Stop snoozing. See above. Addictive! And speaking of addictions...
    
    
25. Give up the Diet Pepsi once and for all. And that goes for all soda, caffeinated or not. Why must flavored, carbonated chemicals be so tasty (but so unhealthy)?! WHY?! Curse you, soda!
    
    
26. Write in my journal weekly. Or at least a few times a month. I tend to blog more than journal, but I also filter what goes on the blog (shocking, right?). So there's a lot of real stuff that doesn't get recorded that should. Although my journals do make for an entertaining read of my dating history, since I somehow manage to get that written down every time. *sigh* Ridiculous girl.
    
    
27. Learn to poach an egg.
    
    
    Eggs Benedict is sooooo my favorite breakfast EVER, largely because of the buttery goodness of the poached egg. However, that's one cooking technique that intimidates me like no other. I've conquered my abject fear of pie crusts (thanks, Mishy!!!) - it's time to take on the poached egg.
    
    
28. Make the most of my commute. I loooooove music, so I'd much rather tune out to some tunes on the drive home than listen to spoken word. However, I'm spending at least 5-10 hours in my car each week. Just think of all the spiritual nourishment I could digest if I spent at least a few of those drives listening to BYU devotionals, General Conference talks, etc.?!
    
    
29. Run a 5K. And I mean actually run it this time. None of that sissy walking because I woke up on race day with legs made of cement. I still hate running, but I can appreciate its health benefits. And maybe if I persist at it, I'll actually grow to love it.
    
    
30. Channel my inner Annie Oakley.
    
    
    I'd love to be the kind of woman who is as proficient on the shooting range as she is in the kitchen. Gotta know how to protect myself, after all. The zombies might really come!!!
    

Whew! Do I ever have my work cut out for me or what?! Should be a fun year, though. And if anyone wants to join me on some of these goals (i.e. traveling, hiking, shooting, running, dancing, etc.), let me know!

Amazingly Delicious Pasta-free Lasagna

Pasta-free lasagna? Sounds like an oxymoron, right? Well, my friends, I am thrilled to report that I made it last night, and it is delicious. Like, the best lasagna I've ever made - and that means it's even better than The Pioneer Woman's take on the dish (which, while delish, is also ridiculously heavy - my version's light!).

I'd wanted to get Italian-seasoned turkey sausage, but alas, my store only had plain ol' ground turkey, so I improvised by adding garlic, Italian seasoning and crushed red pepper flakes. So, feel free to play around with that part - the point is just to give the meat good flavor. Also, as for the sauce, I've been a lifelong Prego girl but decided to try Newman's Own, since it's all natural. Holy crepe, their roasted tomato and garlic is AMAAAAAZING!!! Not sure if it was the sauce or the seasoning of the meat, but the combination of the two was phenomenal. This was the most flavorful lasagna I've had.

Also, the sky's the limit with the veggies. I went with the squash and zucchini because I'd already sliced up a ton the night before, and I added chopped red bell pepper because I had it on hand as well, but you could totally sneak in some grated carrots, cooked broccoli and cauliflower, etc., and it'd be wonderful.

And so, without further adieu, by popular request, here's the recipe, which I made up based on this one with some added awesomeness.

Pasta-Free Turkey Veggie Lasagna

Prep time: 80 minutes (except you can multitask and make it go faster)
Cook time: 35 minutes
Makes 10 servings

Ingredients:

• 1 lb. zucchini
• 1 lb. squash
• 1/2 red bell pepper, chopped (optional)
  
• Italian seasoning (recipe calls for 1/4 tsp., but you need more to season turkey to taste)
• Red pepper flakes, to taste
• Black pepper, to taste
• 2 lbs. ground turkey
• 2 cloves fresh garlic, pressed
  
• 2 c. tomato pasta sauce (Cups, schmups - I just used the whole jar, and it needs it)
  
• 16 oz. ricotta cheese (you could use cottage cheese... but why?)
  
• 2 egg yolks
• 1/3 c. grated Parmesan cheese
• 2/3 c. seasoned bread crumbs (optional - I only used a few Tbsp., and you could skip altogether for gluten/carb issues)
  
• 2 c. mozzarella, part-skim
• 3 c. spinach
• 1 c. fresh basil (I just used the entire little container from the store)
  
• nonstick cooking spray

Directions:
Heat oven to 425° F (218° C). Coat one large or two small baking pans with nonstick cooking spray.

Cut all squash and zucchini - the recipe recommended lengthwise in half and then cutting each half lengthwise into slices about 1/4 inch thick. However, I had already sliced thin circles the night before, and that worked well, too. Also chop red bell pepper, if you're adding that.

Spread squash and zucchini (and optional red bell pepper) on pans in single layer and season with Italian seasoning.

Bake for 25 minutes, turning over once halfway through baking. (Don't worry about keeping them in the single layer after flipping - I just mixed them around, and it worked fine.)

Remove from oven and set aside. Reduce oven temperature to 375° F (190° C).

While the veggies cook, brown the turkey in a large skillet over medium heat, seasoning with the fresh garlic, crushed red pepper flakes to taste, Italian seasoning to taste, and black pepper. Once the meat has browned, add the trimmed spinach and pasta sauce. I recommend turning the heat down and letting it simmer until you're ready to assemble the lasagna.

In a food processor, combine ricotta cheese, basil, egg yolks, and 2 tablespoons of Parmesan cheese. Blend until all ingredients are combined and smooth.

Now comes the fun part: assembling the lasagna! Don't worry about making it pretty or getting all the layers perfect, because I'm convinced that's not possible with this recipe, and in the end, it didn't matter. Trust me here.

Sprinkle 2 tablespoons of bread crumbs over the bottom of a greased 13x9x2 inch baking pan (again, honestly, I consider this optional). Cover the bottom of the dish with half of the zucchini and squash slices. Next, spread half the ricotta mixture over the squash and zucchini slices. Sprinkle with 3 tablespoons of bread crumbs (or, if gluten-free, maybe use a little cheese to create a barrier between the layers?) and repeat the layering of zucchini slices, ricotta mixture, and pasta sauce. Sprinkle mozzarella cheese evenly over the top. Sprinkle with the remaining 2 tablespoons of Parmesan cheese.

Bake for about 35 minutes. Cheese should be browned and bubbling. Let stand for 10 to 25 minutes before serving.

Mis Enchiladas Suizas Famosas

Once upon a time, when I was a BYU coed, I taught myself to cook. Mind you, I was raised in a foodie family and received my first cookbook at age 8 - but that was just messing around.

In college, I began to cook. Like, for sustenance. Or to impress that cute guy I had my eye on (way to a man's heart, right?). Well, my ploy to snag a hubby through culinary prowess obviously hasn't paid off, but in the meantime, I've amassed a pretty decent repertoire of recipes, ranging from easy-peasy casseroles to gourmet awesomeness (ummm, pear-and-shallot-stuffed pork loin in a Port wine-fig reduction sauce, anyone? Holla!).

This recipe is one of my mid-range favorites. It was my go-to "impress That Guy" recipe in college, but I've moved onto more daring recipes, and this one's become a favored comfort food. The assembly process takes some skill, since you have to let the tortillas soak in the salsa long enough to get soft (so as to not crack when you fold) but not for too long (in which case they fall apart). And be prepared for messiness in this stage, too. Truth be told, if either of those extremes happens, whatever. You're going to slather them in sauce and cheese, so no one will be the wiser, right?

So, without further adieu, I give you my enchiladas suizas recipe (for which I can't take credit - my stepmom found it from the LA Times. I've just given it exposure!).

Enchiladas Suizas Deliciosas
* 1 large can green sauce (preferred brand: Juanita's or Juanas) - by the way, this never leaves me with enough for on top, so I always grab an additional small can for that. Your choice.
* 3 c. loosely packed shredded, cooked chicken
* 3 1/2 c. grated Swiss cheese, divided [or a lil' more if you like lots of cheese]
* 1 1/4 c. sour cream
* 1/2 c. chopped cilantro
* 8 corn tortillas [whatever, I usually stretch the filling for 10]

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Combine chicken, 2 1/4 c. cheese, 3/4+ c. sour cream, and all but 2 Tbsp. cilantro. Add 1 1/2 c. sauce. Pour remaining sauce into frying pan; barely simmer.

Soften tortillas in sauce, one by one (about 45 seconds). Stack finished tortillas on plate. [Honestly, I find it easier to just assemble the enchiladas as you go than to stack the tortillas - they get too mushy and messy that way!] Fill each tortilla with about 1/2 c. of chicken mixture and roll up.

Place side by side in a 9x13 pan. Pour remaining sauce over enchiladas and sprinkle with remaining cheese [I always do this liberally!]. Bake uncovered at 400 degrees until sauce is bubbling and cheese has melted and browned slightly, about 25 minutes.

Serve with remaining sour cream and cilantro - and be ready for some mouth-watering awesomeness!!!

If you want a tasty side dish, I recommend my friend Mishy's Spicy Black Beans from her cooking blog, The Enchanted Spoon. They're easy to whip up and sooooo delicious. Just be careful if you want to double the recipe - it took more than double the cooking time for the liquid to reduce. Single batch is easy as written, though.

Enjoy!!!

The world's BEST chocolate cake

I love cooking. Love, love, love it.

To me, there is something so inherently and distinctly feminine about cooking. When I'm in the kitchen, I feel like I'm connecting with generations of women who preceded me. It's so fulfilling to spend the time creating something delicious for the ones you love. Food has such an emotional connection - there's such instant gratification in eating something that hits the spot. Cooking is such a simple and satisfying way to nurture - especially when you think about how the food you serve literally becomes a part of those who eat. It's pretty cool.

Along the lines of generation connecting, my favorite things to cook are family recipes. Everyone in my family cooks. Seriously, everyone - both sets of parents (okay, so, my stepdad doesn't - but mom, dad and stepmom all do), both grandmothers, all my aunts and uncles (well, not sure about the step-uncles), my brother. Heck, even my 11-year-old cousin Katie is a pro in the kitchen! We have regular debates about who makes the best chocolate chip cookies - I've long said we should have a Woodall family bake-off, but taste is so subjective.

Although I love the concoctions by The Pioneer Woman, Alton Brown and the geniuses on allrecipes.com, those recipes fail to evoke the same connection as the dishes I've been eating since childhood - my mom's tuna-noodle casserole (which, if we're being technical, is actually Jessi Mozo's mom's recipe out of the Fremont Elementary School cookbook - but it's the one Mom always made), my dad's brownies, my grandma's parmesan chicken.

For the last week or so, I've been craving my Grandma Doris's AMAZING chocolate bundt cake recipe. It's been my favorite for as long as I can remember - so believe you me, it was a shocker when I went to make this for the first time and discovered it's actually a doctored-up cake mix! Grandma's smart like that.

So, yesterday, on my day off, I spent the day in the kitchen, once again whipping up PW's pot roast and crash hot potatoes as well as - my crowning achievement of the day - my grandma's chocolate cake. Because I love you people, I'm going to share this tasty recipe. It's a winner. Enjoy!

GRANDMA DORIS'S DOUBLE CHOCOLATE POUND CAKE

• 1 box chocolate cake mix (the kind with pudding in, a la Betty Crocker - she recommends chocolate fudge, but any chocolate kind works)
• 2/3 cup water
• 1/3 cup orange juice
• 1 cup sour cream
• 3 eggs
• 6 oz. mini-chocolate chips (3/4 cup)

Mix together everything but chocolate chips (easy, no?) - I followed the box's recommendation of 30 seconds on low and then 2 minutes on medium. Then mix in the chocolate chips.

Pour into a well-greased (with shortening - NOT oil), well-floured bundt pan. The greasing and flouring are essential for the cake to not stick, so be thorough. Bake at 350* F. for 40-45 minutes.

When the cake has cooled down, drizzle with chocolate glaze,

which is made by combining:

• 3 Tbsp. butter (you can melt it; I just used softened butter and then zapped the whole glaze for 25 seconds to make it pourable)
• 1 cup powdered sugar, sifted
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 2 Tbsp. hot water
• 6 Tbsp. cocoa

I recommend serving along with some vanilla ice cream.

Oh, good heavens - come to mama!!!

And, of course, the final step: enjoy!!!

Don't Emily and Dawn look like happy campers? I think they just love me for my mad cooking skills. :)

Le Creuset Lovin'

This morning I was jerked awake at 10 a.m. by Heather's text-sent query: "Did you read PW today?"

(And why was I sleeping 'til 10 on a Wednesday, you ask? I'm sick. Bleck.)

So when I finally got up and at 'em, first thing I did was to check PW, since we all know I'm obsessed with this woman's blog. But, alas, her homepage didn't show anything new, and I was off to Google Reader to see if I'd just missed the new post somehow.

Then I saw it: "My Le Creuset Dutch Oven: Love Everlasting," on The Pioneer Woman Cooks blog.

And I laughed out loud.

So, I have to say, my parents are amazing. Knowing that I loooooove to cook, my Christmas presents have included really nice cookware the last few years. REALLY nice stuff. Like, so nice I keep it under my bed and only pull it out when a recipe merits such fine cookery. And I just marvel at the bright, shiny pans. They're so pretty.

Last year's gift was a cherry red, 5 1/2-quart Le Creuset of my very own! For those of you not up to speed on the Le Creuset goodness, Le Creuset is a French brand of the top-of-the-line dutch ovens. They're cast iron that's then coated in enamel, creating a pan that heats evenly and well with nonreactive enamel that requires no seasoning.

So, basically, it's the most forgiving pot with which you will ever cook.

I've been so in awe of my Le Creuset that I didn't cook with it until Sunday night, when I hosted a dinner party for 8-10 friends in honor of my cousin's best friend's visit (she's moving to Orange County - I hadn't seen Sara since we were in elementary school!). On the menu: a cranberry-blue cheese-pecan salad and PW's versions of pot roast, crash hot potatoes, and, for dessert, the easiest apple dumplings you'll ever make in your life (really).

And the verdict? See for yourself!

Christina's face says it all.


Heather practically licked her plate clean; Jason opted to slowly savor the beefy goodness.


Cort's a fan, apparently.


Brian and Tony look less enthusiastic. I attribute this to the fact that they were having a private conversation in Spanish, only to later find out that yo hablo espanol.
But I was cooking too busily to eavesdrop.
This was Tony's first time eating pot roast, by the way. Awwww.

And Sara, the guest of honor.

Not to brag, but my friends did say that my pot roast beats their mom's. That's sayin' something!

I take no credit for the perfection, though. It's all about having a good recipe and the right cookware.

Mmmmm, pot roast. I think what little leftovers I had are calling my name...