Coconut Chicken Curry

I'm on a blog/facebook/email/internet burnout these days, so when I actually get an itch to blog, I have to take it and run with it. Every once and a while I run into a new recipe that I not only label a "keeper," but I continue to think about days later. This is one of them:

Coconut Chicken Curry


Curry has not been a favorite of mine, so it's a big deal that I still drool at the thought of this dish. It's a crockpot recipe, which gives it extra points in my book. The recipe is so easy I can tell you the basics off the top of my head:
- browned boneless, skinless chicken breasts (I cut them into 2-3 in. chunks)
- 1 cup light coconut milk
- 2 Tbsp. curry powder
- 2 medium potatoes, diced

Dump it all in the crockpot and cook on low at least 5 hrs. That's the general idea. Serve over rice, and waa-laa!

This came from my all-time favorite food magazine/website, Taste of Home's Healthy Cooking. They always have fun stuff to try: tonight I tested out their Spinach Feta Frittata and tomorrow it'll be their Apricot-Glazed Salmon. Fun times. I'm no chef: my goal is to not burn or ruin any expensive food. Sounds easy, right? Ha.

Temples

A link to this video was put on LDS.org in response to the controversial Big Love episode. Great little video.

Creative Juices...

... are flowing. I needed something light-hearted and fun in my life, so here goes.

I have come up with our future bedroom. The idea first came to me when I saw this:

(Barefoot Contessa's bedroom in her barn)

and then I was reminded of this beautiful artwork:

(found on Cluck Cluck Sew)

My friend Heidi warned us not to look at her cousin's quilt blog to avoid addiction, but I paid no heed since I'm not a quilter. Well, now I am an aspiring one. Her work is so dang cute and fun, it makes me want to go to a fabric store tomorrow!

But, those pictures are just the inspiration. Picture the quilted cover (not tied) made out of a variety of white-on-white patterned fabric. You may say boring or disasterous (and for any other room in the house, I'd agree) but I say beautiful! When joined with the Contessa's inspiration room, it sounds lovely.

It looks simplistic and bland, but a nice, clean escape is just what we need in a bedroom. The kids don't really go into our room, so the whiteness shouldn't be TOO big a deal. I'm also picturing fake plants instead of real ones (no green thumb here!), our collection of temple pictures put in white frames, a dab of dark wood just like the picture, and a big white dresser that we really do need. Oh, and a jet bathtub in the adjoining master bathroom, but let's not get carried away here. :)

Call me materialistic- I call it hopeful, fun, creative planning. I'm excited to slowly start this transformation once we move. No rush here, I'll probably gather fabric pieces for at least six months. And then spend the next six months learning how to quilt...

The Silver Quill, Silver Words

Today I ran into this Letter to the Editor in the Idaho Press-Tribune.  It looks like the paper awards one letter per week the "Silver Quill Award," and this letter received it.  I also give it two thumbs up.   

In the past several months I have sat idly by as people I love and admire have fallen victim to negative remarks regarding their political and social views.  I am ashamed of my passive stance, and hope this post can show my support of family and friends.  This article voices my own recent sentiments. Since it's not too long, and the link is probably not permanent, here is the actual letter:

Saying that ‘church’ must help means we all must help
Friday, February 20th, 2009

During conversations with several family members who happen to be very politically opinionated in one direction over the other, I heard the statement that the "churches" need to pick up the slack socially and financially where the public (government) can not as they did during the Great Depression.

I find this statement hypocritical, as they always seem to exclude themselves from "the church." More than once I've asked them, "Who is the church, and aren't you part of that?" I'd also like to ask them, "What part of someone's medical bill are you willing to pick up or who's mortgage payment can you pay, in addition to your own, until that family finds work again and can get back on their feet?"

The only response I've gotten is that they don't want government involved in regulating business in any way and, again, that the churches need to get more involved. I'd also like to remind them there were not many churches during the Great Depression that were able to save people's farms, homes or businesses or pay outstanding medical bills.

What many churches were able to do was to open their fellowship halls to provide meals and a place to sleep and wash up until those suffering got back on their feet.

I try to convince my family members that for the most part social programs are not a bad thing, that they help people recover and become productive again, but I get labeled a liberalist, socialist or, heaven forbid, a Democrat, which somehow calls my relationship with Christ in question.

The sad thing is that this view is sometimes spoken from the pulpit. Regardless, I'll continue praying for my family and my country and ask that God bless them and America.

Written by Michelle Turner of Greenleaf, Idaho

You Are Not Alone (Michael Jackson)

I got a kick out of doing this Facebook survey. I'd love to read anyone else's answers who do it. Some of the answers are great!

1. Put your music player (i.e. iTunes) on shuffle.
2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer.
3. YOU MUST WRITE THAT SONG NAME DOWN NO MATTER HOW SILLY IT SOUNDS!
4. Tag friends who might enjoy doing the game as well as the person you got the note from.

IF SOMEONE SAYS "IS THIS OKAY" YOU SAY?
Girl (Beck)

WHAT WOULD BEST DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONALITY?
High Speed (Coldplay)

WHAT DO YOU LIKE IN A GUY/GIRL
Original of the Species (U2)

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE'S PURPOSE?
Allstar (Smashmouth)

WHAT IS YOUR MOTTO?
Silent Night (Enya. Yes! Silent nights are my goal!)

WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS THINK OF YOU?
Holy, Holy, Holy (Mormon Tabernacle Choir. Haha! I doubt it.)

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT VERY OFTEN?
Strength, Courage & Wisdom (India Arie. Very true.)

WHAT IS 2+2?
Families Can Be Together Forever (LDS Chorus. This totally fits with our little family!)

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR BEST FRIEND?
The Sorcerer's Apprentice (Philadelphia Orchestra. What does this say about my choice of friends?)

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
Canned Heat (Jamiroquai. Yes, the heat is all canned up.)

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE STORY?
Before I Take The Sacrament (Primary Chorus)

WHAT WILL YOU BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?
Too Darn Hot (Ella Fitzgerald)

WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU SEE THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
Boot Scootin' Boogie (Brooks and Dunn)

WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOU?
Bless the Broken Road (Rascal Flatts)

WHAT WILL YOU DANCE TO AT YOUR WEDDING?
Brown-Eyed Girl (Van Morrison. Sorry, this one isn't true.)

WHAT WILL THEY PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL?
Love You Madly (Cake)

WHAT IS YOUR HOBBY/INTEREST?
Castle on a Cloud (Les Miserables)

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR FRIENDS?
I Love You Anyways (Travis)

WHAT'S THE WORST THING THAT COULD HAPPEN?
Reverence Is Love (Primary Chorus)

HOW WILL YOU DIE?
Human Hands (Sondre Lerche. Oh no! By human hands?!)

WHAT IS THE ONE THING YOU REGRET?
The Last Emperor- Theme (John Williams, London Symphony)

WHAT MAKES YOU LAUGH?
Yesterday (James Taylor version. So true, so true.)

WHAT MAKES YOU CRY?
Cross My Heart (George Strait. Yup, a broken heart.)

WILL YOU EVER GET MARRIED?
Freedom For My People (U2. Being already married, this title makes me laugh.)

WHAT SCARES YOU THE MOST?
Nine Million Bicycles (Katie Melua. Oh yes, this song reminds me of China.)

DOES ANYONE LIKE YOU?
Across The Universe (Rufus Wainwright. Maybe someone across the universe, somewhere.)

IF YOU COULD GO BACK IN TIME, WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE?
If I Had A Million Dollars (BNL. Haha!)

WHAT HURTS RIGHT NOW?
Shake My Sillies Out (Raffi)

WHAT WILL YOU POST THIS AS?
You Are Not Alone (Michael Jackson. Hopefully I am not alone in getting a kick out of doing this note!)

I Love You More Than Blank

My submission has been put up on I Love You More Than Blank! Right now it's in the eatables category, third row down, all the way on the right. If you know me, you know that it really shouldn't be in the eatables category.

If you submit your own, or at least know what you would submit, leave it in a comment. Fun fun!

McDonald's Trip Planner

No, I am not a McDonald's addict. We are driving from IL to ID and I've been looking for places along the way for the girls to stretch their legs and be entertained. When we literally strap them to a chair so they can barely move (Wouldn't you hate that? Having no control over when you were freed and when you weren't?) for 24 hours straight, the least we can do is entertain them a little.

I just discovered this nifty McDonald'strip planner where you input you're trip route, and it shows you all of the McDonald's along the way. You can specify if you want McD's just .5 miles off your route, or 2 miles if you're willing to get off the beaten path. Among the created list of restaurants, you can see which ones have playplaces.

Unless it has a playplace, I might as well be down the road at the cheaper Wendy's, or the better-food Burger King, or Subway, or KFC, or Pizza Hut, or Olive Garden (Yeah, that last one is wishful thinking. We just tried Olive Garden and learned that Mari is not at a good eating-out age.) Most likely I'll be pigging out on their salads. I'm not afraid of hopping from one McDonald's to another... it reminds me of a childhood cross-country trip where Dad wanted to win the McDonald's Monopoly game. Yum.

Burger King and Carl's Jr. (aka Hardees) have playplaces, too, but they don't specify online which locations have playplaces. So for anyone interested, there ya go!