Great holiday gifts

What are you making your co-workers? Visiting teachers? Kids babysitters?

This time of year, there's plenty of people that you probably *should* give gifts to. But if we all did that, we'd all be broke.

Here's an easy, inexpensive gift that works for just about anyone - Peppermint Fudge Cake in a cute little jar!

Put butter and chocolate chips in a microwavable bowl and heat in the microwave at 30 second intervals until smooth. Set aside to let it cool for 10-15 minutes.

In a separate bowl, mix together flour, cocoa powder, baking powder and salt.

Using a wooden spoon (don't use an electric mixer) stir the sugar into the chocolate mixture until combined.

Stir in the eggs one and a time, beating with your spoon until combined after each addition, and then beat in the vanilla.

Gently fold in the flour mixture just until no traces of flour remain; do not overmix.

Place the mason jars on a cookie sheet. Divide the mixture evenly among the 8-10 jars (no need for greasing the jars). Only fill them halfway! Do not fill them more, or you won't have room for the other stuff - I didn't! Bake at 350 degrees for 22-25 minutes. Remove and let cool until room temperature.

For the ganache, heat the cream in a microwave-safe bowl until the edges start to bubble (about 60 seconds). As soon as it comes out of the microwave, pour it into another bowl containing the chocolate chips, and cover that bowl with plastic wrap immediately. After five minutes, stir in the peppermint extract. Allow it to cool while it thickens.

Use a paring knife to core out the center of the mason jars. Spoon the ganache into the hole and top off as much as you can. Leave room for frosting, if desired. Tilt the jars around to spread the ganache evenly.

If you want, you can then pipe frosting on each jar, being careful to leave room for the lid. I did not do this because a) I was out of room and b) the recipe looked complicated and I was tired. I did, however, top off with crushed candycanes and it looked pretty.

Original recipe from Our Best Bites.

Ingredients for fudge jars:
2/3 cup all-purpose flour
2 1/2 Tbs unsweetened cocoa powder
3/4 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
3 oz chocolate, chopped. (or abt 1/2 C chips) Use bittersweet, dark, or semi-sweet.
1/2 C + 3 Tbs real butter, cut into pieces
3/4 C plus 2 Tbs sugar
3 large eggs, at room temperature
1 tsp vanilla extract
8 8oz wide mouth mason jars (the short squatty kind)

Ingredients for peppermint ganache:
4 oz semi-sweet chocolate (chocolate chips are fine)
1/2 C heavy cream
1/4 tsp peppermint extract

Ingredients for frosting:
3 T Flour
1/2 C milk (whole milk is best)
1/2 C real butter
1/2 C sugar (that's granulated sugar, not powdered sugar)
1 t vanilla extract

Whisk together the flour and the milk. Heat in a small sauce pan on medium heat. Whisk continuously until it starts to thicken. Let it cook, while stirring, until you can start to see the bottom of the pan. Place the mixture in a mesh strainer and stir with a rubber spatula to push it through. Put this mixture in the fridge and let it cool completely. It an electric stand mixer, beat the butter and the sugar for a minute or two until well combined and fluffy. You'll want to use the whisk attachment on a stand mixer, not the flat paddle. Then while beating, add in the thickened milk mixture and the vanilla. Beat to combine and then scrape down the sides. Beat on med-high for 7-8 minutes.

New family favorite

A few weeks ago, my sorority little sister wrote about a recipe another sister brought to the house that our cook ended up making and everyone loved. I must have been gone by that point, because I have no memory of this. But apparently it's one of the best things ever, so I had to put it to the test.

It was very easy to make. I hate cooking chicken - it just takes so long! This might be a good recipe for one of those store bought rotisserie chickens, if you're short on time. The sauce is really creamy and flavorful. It has just the right amount of spice and cheese.

In fact, I got to choose to have these left overs or left over Chuys on Saturday night and I went for these. I think this may become a new family favorite.

Lifted from Mar's blog, but originally Heidi's family recipe:

Ingredients
3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1/2 cup water
3 Tbsp. butter
1 white onion, finely chopped
2-3 cans diced green chiles
1 Tbsp. chile powder
1/2 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp oregano
1 cup cream (I used half and half)
1 cup chicken broth
1/4 cup flour
1/2 lb Jack cheese, shredded
10-12 flour tortillas

Preheat oven to 350. In a medium saucepan (covered) , boil chicken in water for 15-20 minutes. Carefully remove and save broth for later. Shred with two fork. In a large skillet, melt butter and saute onions over medium heat until tender. Add chiles and spices, and cook 1 minute. Add flour and cook 1 minute. Add reserve broth, chicken broth and cream. Cook over medium heat until thickened (about 10 minutes). Remove from heat and add 1 cup cheese, stirring until melted. In a large bowl, mix chicken and half of the sauce. Roll "chickened" sauce into tortillas and place in baking pan seam down. Cover with remaining sauce and sprinkle with remaining cheese. Bake until cheese is melted and bubbly- about 20 minutes.

White elephant party

Last year, my cousin Steph and her husband Lance threw an AWESOME white elephant party. We really enjoyed it, but definitely noticed that we were the only young married couple there - we didn't know pretty much anyone but Lance and Steph.

So this year, we decide to launch the "slightly younger" version of their kick-butt party and invited a bunch of marrieds-with-no-kids from our ward and some of our old favs from the Capital Ward. It was a great turn out - somewhere around 35, I think. There was a ridiculous amount of amazing food - I think Kelsey should get a special mention for her basil, tomato, mozzarella skewers and Erin for her pumpkin cream cheese roll that was gone like *that*. Sadly, I did not take photos of all the incredible food. Bad, I know. Especially because I tried two new recipes that were sooooo good. Don't worry, I'm making them again soon and I'll be sure to take photos then. But I found great recipes for pastry wrapped frankfurters and spinach and artichoke dip. Mmmm, mmm.

While I was slightly worried some people might forget to bring gifts, this didn't prove to be the case. What can I say, we have awesome friends! And the gifts ranged all over the place. We had some really nice ones like Target gift cards, bath and body works gift baskets, silicon baking cups (which Hans and I fought hard to win!) and some really hilarious ones like an ugly Christmas ornament, monkey slippers, a belly dancing kit, and a pineapple. The other gift Hans and I obtained should probably not be mentioned here.... sadly, no one wanted to steal this from me.

Thanks to everyone for coming and for making it such a great night!

Marshmallow shooter?!

Target gift card that she ended up losing. Don't worry, she got back the Banana Grams... that she brought...

Oh, it's a pineapple, all right. And a knife!

Andrew didn't get to keep his marshmallow shooter. The McFarlands took that home to use on their kids.

Mandy originally opened the awesome monkey slippers, but they were stolen several times before she finally stole them back for good.

Strangely enough, several people managed to grow impressive mustaches AT the party! Something in the water, I guess. Tim's particularly creepy, I find.

Callings update

I know you've all been holding your breath, waiting to hear about our new callings. Well, wait no longer. Hans is the new secretary for the Young Men's organization and I'm the new second counselor in the Young Women presidency.

Wednesday night mutual, here we come! Woo hoo!

The world's a darker place today

Sometimes, it's hard to find the right words for what you're feeling. This is my feeble attempt.

In the early hours of this morning, Krista Ralston Oakes passed away. She has suffered for the past five years with a brain tumor. Her initial prognosis was not good and it's a miracle (and a testament to her fighting nature) that she lived as long as she did. She was taken to the hospital this morning because she was having trouble breathing and doctors found blood clots in both her lungs. She leaves behind her husband of 22 years, Jared, and their beautiful adopted children Jacob, 9, and Emma, 5.

I didn't know Krista extremely well and we weren't very close, or anything like that. But she and her husband have always been very dear to my heart. My family has known them for 20 years. She and her husband were my primary teachers when I was 7 or 8 and left a lasting impact. The only primary teachers I remember from my youth are the Oakeses and the Powells. Krista and my mother were very, very close and my mom used to give me frequent updates on Krista's condition. And while Krista and I didn't speak often, our trips home to visit loved ones in The Woodlands always seemed to coincide and I loved catching up and seeing how her family has grown.

I don't know that I feel very sad for Krista. In a way, it's more a sense of relief - after so much trial and suffering, Krista is released from her the pains of her body and goes to join our Father in Heaven. But my heart breaks for her loved ones - for Jared and the loss of the love of his life and for her two precious children who have just lost one of the best mothers the world has ever known. And I can't help but feel that all of us - the rest of the world - have suffered a great loss because the shining light of this incredible woman is gone.

Krista Oakes was a woman to look up to, an example of what faithful, righteous women should strive to be. She experienced many hardships and trials in her life, but endured them with cheerfulness and unparalleled Faith. She trusted in our Heavenly Father through everything, never wavering. When I think of a woman who truly emulated Christ's love, I think of her. You could see in her eyes and hear in her voice how much love she had for all those around her.

A few weeks ago, Krista wrote a blog post reflecting on her diagnosis five years ago. She wrote of how the first thing she did after she got the call was drop to her knees in prayer and she described the immeasurable feeling of peace that came over her. She wrote:

"I was taught long ago that there are counterfeits for everything except the peace that is the hallmark sign of the Holy Ghost. Within the presence of that peace it is impossible for fear and doubt to abide. There are many good feelings and emotions, and I've experienced those, too. Feelings of love and relief and joy and hope and wonder, and so on. But when there is spirit-to-spirit communication with the Lord through the Holy Ghost, it is unmistakably and undeniably set apart from these other feelings, and it becomes the only reliable source of confirmed truth. My greatest desire is to live long enough to help my children learn to access and recognize this for themselves."

Krista will be deeply, deeply missed. The world was a better place because she was in it and a little darker today as her light leaves us.

*Note: Krista was also an accomplished and magnificent writer, sharing her trials and experiences and lessons learned for the benefit of others. You can read more of her words at these places:
Her blog
An article she wrote last week (about the meaning of Christmas - so amazing).
Her book, Fertile in our Faith, about her struggle with infertility

Something to think about

My friend Etienne passed along this article from CNN today and it's timing couldn't be more perfect. A few of us at work were just discussing yesterday and today about office environments and how they affect your productivity. I really like the point the author makes about how the creative process is just like sleeping - you need to get into the mode and have uninterrupted time to get moving.

If you don't have the time to read the article (and you really should!), just think about this: Where and when do you get the most work done?

The many people the author spoke to said pretty much the same thing: Late at night, early in the morning, or on the weekend; On the commute (plane, train, car); or a coffee shop, library, home, or home office.

Does that ring true to you? It sure did to me. Sometimes I'm the most productive after ten - it was after midnight during college. Because that's when I've really gotten the momentum going and things are really flowing. And the idea of a home office is so compelling because I don't have to waste time commuting or even getting ready for work. I mean, think about it. I work 8 hours a day. One hour for a lunch break. I spend an hour to two hours commuting every day. I spend an hour showering, ironing clothes, drying my hair, putting on makeup so I can look presentable for all those meetings and the standards of my office. That's 12 hours of my day, right there. I'd get 3-4 hours of that back if I didn't have to go into an office. And why DO I need to go to an office? With email, chatting, skype, teleconferences, collaborative technologies, etc, etc... why can't ALL office monkeys work from home? And maybe meet once a week (or more if needed) for a staff meeting, to make sure everyone's on the same page?

Just some things to think about. I know I will.

Greek Pasta With Sausage

Hmm... I'm not sure what to say on this one.

It tasted fine, pretty good even, but I didn't love it and can't really say why. Just not my taste, I guess? It was very easy to make - boil pasta, brown sausage, pour in cream, oregano, and cheese and mix. I'd maybe cut down the oregano a little because I thought it was kind of strong.

It smells amazing, but I don't think I'll make it again. Just wasn't one of my favorites. Still, I think many of you may really like it for a quick and tasty spaghetti alternative.

From Serious Eats

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
6 ounces semi-cured Greek pork sausages, or sweet Italian sausages, cut into 1-inch pieces
Kosher salt, to taste
8 ounces pasta, preferably garganelli or penne
1/2 cup white wine
1/2 ounce blue cheese, crumbled
1/4 cup heavy cream
1/4 cup loosely packed fresh oregano leaves
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese, for garnish
Freshly ground black pepper, to taste


In a large (12-inch) skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat, then add the sausage and cook until golden, stirring only occasionally, 7-10 minutes.

In the meantime, bring a large pot of salty water to boil and cook the pasta until al dente. Before draining the pasta, reserve 1/2 cup of the cooking water.

Once the sausages are browned, add the wine and turn the heat to high. Reduce the liquid for 2 minutes, then lower the heat and add the blue cheese, cream, and oregano. Once the cheese is melted, add the pasta along with some of the pasta cooking water as needed to create a creamy, loose sauce. Season to taste with salt and pepper, divide among plates, and garnish with Parmesan.