I'm Famous!

Remember this?

Well, now you can see her version of the story over at her blog.... and you might or might not even see her very own version of this picture!

Go check out Bakerella.

Her mom took her picture - How cool! :)

Can't believe I made it on Bakerella's blog. I know a bunch of other people did too, but it's still pretty fun!

Thanks for indulging me....

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A Spring Blog Party

I heard about this Thoughts of Spring blog party that Lynette over at Dancing on Weathered Ground is hosting, and thought it sounded like so much fun! Spring is so close here in California we can taste it.... except for those random few days of rain that still keep coming out. So, I thought this might be fun to join in in order to get everyone in the mood for spring.

If you'd like to participate, just head on over to Lynette's blog and link up (there are a lot of good prizes you get entered in for as well when you enter). Meanwhile, she gives you a list of things you can answer to be a part of, or you can create your own post. It's a great way to meet new people and find others out there who are wanting to meet new people too!

First, I thought I would start, by telling a little about me!

This is me! For my day job, I'm an occupational therapist at a non-profit. I work with kids with varying disabilities, and get to do visits in the families home - seeing them on a one-on-one basis. For my "other" job (and let's be real, we all have "others"), I love to cook, bake, host dinner parties, and entertain, hence the Cooking Vent. I also love to run and am currently training for my second half marathon in April.

This is me and my handsome hubby Archie. I love this picture. It looks like we're in some old world village in Europe or something, but it's really right here in California. My husband's a pastor - he's the worship pastor at our church South Bay Church. Or as he affectionately refers to himself, "The minister of Rock & Roll". He is in charge of all the creative elements of the service as well. He's amazing at what he does, and we feel so completely blessed to be part of such an amazing team.

This is my pup Capo. He's 7! He's a German Shepherd and Whippet mix, loves to run with us, chase balls, chase squirrels, chase kids, chase grass, you get the picture! He's a LOT of fun, loves to cuddle, and is pretty much spoiled rotten since he's our only kid right now.

1. If you could live anywhere at all (and take all your loved ones with you), where would you go?

I know this sounds so cliche, however, I would totally choose to live right where I am! Isn't this the most beautiful scene you've ever seen? It's 30 minutes from my house!!! You seriously can't ask for anything more gorgeous!! It almost looks fake. And the best part is, I can get this, mountains, flat land, just about anything I want, all within an hour drive - all while the weather is PERFECT! Don't get me wrong, I would love to visit other places, and am super excited to do so (Italy in October, hopefully China next summer), but I wouldn't want to live anywhere else.

I think the other factor in living here is that I know we are exactly where God wants us to be. We moved out here 2 1/2 years ago to start South Bay Church, and we know we are in the center of His will. Can't beat that feeling!

2. What is one of your favorite things to catch a whiff of?

It would have to be a serious toss up between this and this

Christi's Catering Cinnamon Rolls Browned Butter Molasses

Chocolate Chip Cookies

Especially when you get the help of these cutie pies! How stinkin' cute are my nephews and niece?!

3. When you leave a social gathering, do you wish: You would have talked more or You would have talked less?

I would have to say always "talk less"! Unfortunately, I'm not much good at social situations. I'm willing to admit that, and totally okay with that. However, it gets me in trouble sometimes, because I just find myself talking (okay more like rambling) because I get a little nervous in those situations. I do so much better one-on-one, and always find myself going over things a thousand times in my head about what I said to so-and-so at a certain outing/gathering.

Of course, it's probably one of those things that they don't even remember me saying it, but I have found myself going back and apologizing later just because I can't get it out of my head. I know it makes me a weirdo, but like I said, I'm willing to admit it! :)

4. What’s something you consider yourself to be good at? (Don’t worry, it’s not bragging, it’s acknowledging a God given gift)

Hospitality - it's one of the things that always comes up on the personality style tests to find out what you are gifted at. I truly enjoy having people in my home, cooking someone a good meal, throwing a party for someone, and making them feel so special and loved that someone would take out the time to spend specifically on them.

One of my favorite things to do is host dinner parties. Nothing completely fancy - just a gathering of a few people, a menu thoughtfully planned out, fellowship and good conversation that is specifically focused on each individual that has come. My tank is always completely full at the end of the evening, and I don't even mind the dishes! :)

5. What is your comfort food/drink?

{Source}

Drink = Coffee - I seriously have at least 2-3 cups a day! My husband and I are probably obsessed. And we're willing to admit it.

Food = Sweets... Preferably Chocolate.... Must be home made (if's a baked good). I'm pretty much good with any kind of cake, brownie, cookie, yeah. If it's bad for the waste line, it's a comfort food for me! :)

So that's all for me... how about you? Where would you choose to live? What's your comfort food, and what do you love to get a whiff of? Tell me about you, and remember, if you want to link up on your blog, check out the box at the top. Also, you don't have to have a blog in order to win the prizes on her site. See her page for rules.

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I Can't Wait To....

I'm linking up with Carissa today over at Lowercase Letters.

1. Make these gorgeous treats....

{Macarons by: Bakerella}

These have been on my "must bake list" for quite some time... however, I haven't had a kitchen scale. Remember a few weeks ago, when I talked about CSN stores letting me do a review on an item in their store?

Well, I finally decided, that it was high time I got myself a kitchen scale. So I picked out this beauty, and just got confirmation that it was shipped today!! :) You will all have some pictures of some lovely macarons coming your way!!!!

(Side Note: Macarons are a french dessert, and are usually measured in metric units, so you have to have a kitchen scale for the most accurate measurements, making yummy treats!)

2. Speaking of Bakerella...

Do any of you follow me on twitter? If you do, you noticed on Friday that I found out Bakerella was coming to San Francisco on Saturday for a book signing of her new book, Cake Pops!!

So, I dragged Archie up there with me in the pouring down rain! I totally geeked out on her, and I only hope she can forgive me for totally gushing, being super odd and strange, and telling her, "I have a food blog too!" What an idiot I am! :) In fact, I'm hoping she just forgets me all together, and then we'll all be good. I did get a picture though! :) And she signed my book - so at least I'll remember meeting her. By the way, her book is GORGEOUS!! And it's filled with the most amazing pictures of all of the most creative cake pops you've ever seen. You should go buy one... and find where she's signing books near you... and make a fool of yourself so she forgets meeting me! :)

My sister and her family came....

And we all had the best time ever. We did so much in just a week's time, but it was awesome! I love those kids!!! Here are a few quick pictures I was able to capture.

Just the Girls

Archie and Gavin looking at the Sea Lions in San Francisco - I LOVE this picture!

The whole gang at the Golden Gate

At Muir Woods (the Giant Redwoods)

They quickly became best friends. Gavin walked Capo around my house (inside) on a leash, and Capo willingly let him do it. All... day.... long...

The boys getting ready to surf at Carmel

Isn't this the most amazing view!

Tough guys!!

Hope you all have a great week!

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Random Things on A Monday:

1. Wow - is January really almost over! I can't believe there is only one week left in this month. It flew by, and I don't even know where it went. Being sick the first two weeks of the month really made my life feel so unorganized! My husband and I are trying to get all organized for the year, do a "winter cleaning" instead of spring, and feel more on top of the house this year. Besides, we'll have visitors in 2 weeks!! My sister and family (all 6!) are coming on their way to China for a week. Yes, I said CHINA! They're moving there for 2 years. So, we needed to do a organizational overhaul in order to prep! :)

2. Our church has been part of a 21 day fast called "Awakening" which we do every year. It's really a great time to get refreshed, refocused, and to grow closer in your relationship with God. This year we chose to do without cheese, bread, and sugar. YIKES! I have a COOKING blog for goodness sakes! :) This is very hard, but so worth it, and it feels oh, so good after all the indulgences of the holidays!

3. I have been offered a chance to do a review for CSN, which will work out perfectly for all the Valentine's baking I want to try and haven't been able to with the fast. I have several new recipes I cannot wait to try out bookmarked and ready. I think most everyone who's been reading my blog for a while has heard of CSN by now since I have hosted several giveaways by them, but they have an excellent selection of everything from baking tools, home decor, amazing shoes, or you can choose the perfect laptop messenger bag for your new mac or ipad you got for Christmas. It seems like everyone got an ipad for Christmas... I did not! :) So, stay tuned for the review!

4. Archie and I stayed up in San Francisco last weekend, and we discovered a whole new side of town that we'd never seen before. The neighborhood is called "Marina/Cow Hollow", but we found a whole new shopping center, tons of restaurants, and even this cute little cupcake shop.

{Source}

Of course, I didn't get to try it because I'm not allowed any sugar for the month of January, but I took a picture of the front of the shop so I wouldn't forget it! :)

We also found a great gourmet burger shop - Barney's Gourmet Burgers. So yummy. We had the burger's "protein style" - the In & Out slang for "with no bread", so it came with lettuce instead of a bun. Really yummy. I had mine with barbecue sauce, sauteed onions, and avocado!

5. The Super Bowl is coming up! (Not that we care about it at all other than yummy snacks!) That means you'll need game day recipes! I have a great one for you. This is my friend Mary's cheese ball. She made it for me for the first time when I was in high school and we hosted a sleep over for a bunch of junior high gals. I ended up sitting in front of the cheese ball, and when it was gone at the end of the night, everyone blamed ME for eating it all. I know I wasn't the only one eating it.... or maybe I was. It's just so good, you may want to make it and hide it!

It's so super easy, that it's a cinch to throw together. And there's a secret ingredient. If this wasn't a cooking blog, I wouldn't tell you because you might gross out, but I'm telling you, this ingredient totally makes the cheese ball amazing!

I promise it's different than Spam! You'll love it and everyone will rave.

Mary's Cheese Ball:

Ingredients:

1 8 oz. bar cream cheese, softened
1 8 oz. bar extra sharp cheddar cheese, grated
1 larger can of devil ham
1 splash hot sauce
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon garlic salt
1 splash of worcheshire (sp) sauce

Topping:

Extra shredded cheese or chopped toasted pecans

Serve With:

Fresh veggies

Ritz crackers

Wheat thins

Directions:

1. Grate cheese

2. Place softened cream cheese and cheddar cheese in a bowl.

3. Add deviled ham, garlic powder, and onion powder. Then add a splash of hot sauce and worcestershire sauce.

4. Mix all ingredients together and mold into a ball.

5. Dip molded ball into shredded cheese or chopped pecans. Serve with fresh veggies, ritz crackers, or wheat thins.

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Warm Your Soul

It's a long weekend!!! Hurray!

I really needed a long weekend - did you? I know, I know, it was just Christmas, then New Year's, and we all got to have a lot of days off, but sometimes in the midst of the holidays, it doesn't feel very restful (especially when you're really sick). So with work being ABSOLUTELY crazy, and weekends being used trying to get better, I'm ready for some fun!

My husband and I are heading up to San Francisco tonight to stay the night. We'll hopefully find lots of fun things to do there, and try somewhere yummy to eat to tell you all about.

Then tomorrow, we're going to Epic Church - they are a church plant in San Francisco that our church has been helping with. Mostly volunteering people for their preview services so things run smoothly. So, Archie is playing in their band tomorrow.

What do you have planned for the long weekend? Hopefully you don't have to work on Monday!

Now on to soup! :) This soup is perfect for the winter. It warms your insides, has such amazing flavor, and is so super easy.

California has the most amazing weather. It only rains in the winter, and even then, not that much. But it has been very cold this winter (according to California standards), and even reaching freezing overnight a few nights. We've been kicking on the heater, snuggling under blankets, and using our little floor space heater. I know you people who live in the snow are totally making fun of us, but California makes you a wuss when it comes to weather. So, because I'm a wuss, this soup makes for a perfect winter meal!

P.S. Read below for an awesome new kitchen tool - you'll love it.

THAI CHICKEN AND RICE SOUP (From: Sunset Magazine)

Ingredients:

1 qt. reduced-sodium chicken broth

2 cups shredded rotisserie chicken

1 cup cooked rice

1/2 tsp. salt

2 Tbsp. minced fresh ginger

1/3 cup vegetable oil

2 large garlic cloves, thinly sliced

1 large shallot, thinly sliced

1 Tbsp. flour

1/2 cup each cilantro and Thai basil (regular basil will also work, but Thai basil definitely adds a different flavor)

1/2 jalapeno, sliced

Directions:

1. In a dutch oven or large pot bring broth to a simmer.

While broth is coming to a simmer, slice rotisserie chicken. I pulled some off the bone and placed in food processor - it ended up being more chopped then sliced, but I liked it that way.

Mince ginger until very fine - I used a grater for mine in order to get the most flavor out of the ginger - I could really taste it in the soup!

2. Add chicken, rice, salt and ginger to dutch oven or pot and allow to simmer ~ 15 - 20 minutes to let flavors develop. The rice will soak up a lot of the broth.

3. Next you want to peel and slice your garlic. In order to do that, everyone's mom's should buy them this amazing tool like my mom did for my birthday! It's a garlic peeler from William's Sonoma, and it's genius!!

You just put your whole, unpeeled garlic inside that little contraption...

Push it down and roll it around for a bit and VOILA! Your garlic peels itself with no yucky hand smell, no accidental slicing your fingers from banging a knife on it, and no fighting to get that peel off! I told you it was amazing.

Okay, where was I - now you're going to go ahead and slice that garlic as well as the shallot.

4. Then in a small saucepan, heat up that 1/3 cup of vegetable oil until it reaches 350 degrees. Fry the garlic in the oil, turning constantly with a slotted spoon, until it reaches a golden brown, about 2 minutes. Transfer to a paper towel to drain.

5. Put shallots in a small bowl and add the 1 tbsp. flour. Stir to cover the shallots while breaking them into rings. Fry the shallots in the same oil until golden brown, and transfer them to a paper towel to drain.

6. Coarsely chop cilantro and basil and jalapeno.

7. Ladle soup into bowls. Top each with herbs, a sprinkle of fried garlic, a few pieces of fried shallot, and a few slices of jalapeno. Cuddle up, and enjoy this yummy winter meal!

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