Banana Bread

Keeping in line with trying new recipes, I made banana bread with some leftover bananas.  Seriously, it was incredible.  So moist and not too banana-y.

Banana Bread:
3 ripe bananas (I used only 2 and it was perfect)
1/3 c melted butter
3/4 c sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp baking soda
pinch of salt
1 1/2 c flour

In large mixing bowl, mix butter into smashed bananas.  Mix in sugar, egg and vanilla.  Add baking soda, salt and flour and mix well.
Pour into greased 4x8 loaf pan.  Bake for 1 hr  at 350 degrees and cool on rack. 

Help!

We are living in Texas, but we are moving back to Provo mid-August.  We have to find a place while we are here.  Not so easy.  Sooooo...we need your help.  If you know of anyone who is moving, or perhaps someone in your ward has a basement apartment or is renting out something, let us know.  

And preferrably we would like a place that allows us to take this little scruff-a-muffin with us. 

(it's actually kinda mandatory)  

(I mean look at that face!)

So please ask your neighbors, your ward members, your best friend and let us know if you hear of any places opening up!  We don't care where we live either.  From like Lehi to Springville, we are game for any city. 

Churros

As promised, here is the recipe for the churros.  They were delicious.  I didn't have all the right tools, but I made it work with what I did have.  Hope you like these bad boys!

Churros:
1/2 c butter
2 Tbsp sugar
1/4 tsp salt
1 c water
1 c flour
3 eggs
vegetable oil, for frying
cinnamon sugar, for dusting

In medium saucepan, combine water, butter, sugar and salt.  Bring to boil then reduce heat to low.  Add flour and stir.  
Transfer mixture to a bowl and beat in eggs.
Spoon mixture into a pastry bag with large open-star tip.  
Heat oil (4-5 inches deep) in large pan.  Squeeze out batter, snipping off 4 inches with kitchen shears.  Fry, flipping over until golden brown.  
Using slotted spoon, transfer to paper towels.  Roll churros in cinnamon sugar mixture.

I didn't have a pastry bag, so I used a ziploc bag with a corner cut off.  Didn't turn out too bad.  Try it and let me know what you think!  

Cinco de Mayo

I was on Marthastewart.com and I saw a recipe for guacamole so I decided to do a little party for two for dinner.  I made guacamole, my favorite chicken recipe, homemade chips, churros, and topped it off with Sidral Mundet to drink.  I'll include either the link, or the recipe for these dishes.  It was incredible.  I recommend making all of these things!

Guacamole found here.  I also added tomatoes and extra cilantro.  For the chips, Randal and I make them from corn tortilla shells that we broil in the oven.  They are thicker and crispier.

My chicken recipe I got from a friend in a dinner group.  It is one of my go to recipes and is so fresh and tasty.  I have altered it slightly from the original, so here you go!

Garlic Lime Chicken:
1tsp salt
3/4 tsp pepper
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
1/4 tsp paprika
2 cloves fresh pressed garlic (you could use garlic powder)
5 Tbsp olive oil
1 med Onion diced
mozzarella cheese
avocado
tomatoes
limes
cilantro

Rub seasonings onto 6 chicken breasts and brown in oil.
Remove chicken and saute onion in remaining oil.
Place chicken in casserole dish and top with onions.  Sprinkle 1-2 handfuls of cheese on top of chicken and bake at 350 degrees until chicken is cooked.  (Roughly 15 mins)
Top with sliced avocado, diced tomatoes, cilantro and freshly squeezed lime juice.  Salt to taste.

You should definitely try it and I will post the recipe for churros later.  Good luck!

Texas

Well, we made it safely here after a 20 hour drive.  Randal in his car, and me in mine.  We listed to Audiobooks, called each other often, and I ate way too many pretzels.  We stopped in Albuquerque for the night and I realized that I will never live in New Mexico.  That place freaks me out.  As we drove into Texas the next day I got some serious anxiety.  It was so flat and how open it was made me feel claustrophobic, as weird as that sounds.

 

Our apartment is really nice and much better than anything we could ever afford in Provo.  Granite counter tops, crown molding, two tone paint job, washer and dryer, two massive walk in closets, huge jetted tub, and a patio.  We seriously love it.

Randal started work the day after we moved in, and I have been job hunting ever since.  No luck yet, but hopefully soon.  Since I am unemployed, I job hunt, cook, clean, do the laundry, lay out at the pool, and run errands.  It is pretty weird not having much to do, but I don't hate it necessarily.  It is definitely getting old though.  I have been doing a lot of cooking and baking, so I will make sure to include recipes and pictures of what I have been making!

California

I never blogged about it, but Randal and I flew down to California to see my friend Rachelle before she left on her mission.  This was Randal's first time in southern CA so we hit up some of my favorite spots.

BJ's Brewhouse for some pizza

 

 

The beach in Newport

I love these stairs for the beach houses that have the doors in the middle.

Tromping off to explore

Jerk Chicken Shack in Santa Monica.  So delicious.

I can make my hand disappear.  Here's proof.

Zoltar!  Have you ever seen BIG?

We made the trek all the way up to the sign, well as far as we could get.  The houses on these roads were incredible.  Seriously built on top of each other. 

Randal and I aren't huge fans of California.  I like it more than he does, but there are just way too many people.  We are safely in Texas and we do love it here.  I'll post more about that later. 

Happy Mother's Day

For our mothers:

You do so much for us, so we thought we would thank via a homemade video.  We love you and appreciate all that you do!

 

ps. On our honeymoon we bought some candy to give to our mom's and during our 3 days being stuck in the airport on our way back from Hawaii, I joked about eating that candy to which Randal replied "You can't! They are for our mother's!" He said it completely seriously, and like a little british boy.  ha

So...this video is "for our mother's!"