Out of things to say

Due to a lack of exciting events, I'll just post an older picture of me or two... why not? By way of explanation, this first one is of me in a dress. That's why I'm crying... because I'm in a dress.













...And another picture of me not looking too happy:













And last, who here had some of these little guys? Yes, even my 16 year old sister (at the time) and my twin brother Mikey were the proud owners of cabbage patch kids. (I'd say I was the most justified, don't you think?).

Thai curry recipe

I've had several people recently ask me for my recipe for red pineapple curry.  I just figured I'd post the description of how I make it on here for all to see at once.  It looks wordy, but it's one of the easiest things you can make once you have the ingredients. Also, all amounts can vary to taste... I just give amounts to give you a starting point option.

 

1 large or 1 1/2 to 2 small cans coconut milk (I like Arroy-D or Chakaoh... you can buy in asian stores for around .89 per can, or grocery stores for $2+)
2 T. red curry paste (I like Arroy-D or Mae Ploy... again - at an asian store for under $2 that supplies you with probably more than 10 recipes worth of curry paste.  The Arroy-D version is a little milder than the other)
1 T. olive or canola oil
2 chicken breasts
1/2 onion, chopped to desired size
1/2 red bell pepper, chopped to desired size
brown sugar (or white works too) -- 2-3 T. depending on how sweet you like it
2 T. fish sauce (optional)
fresh basil... maybe a small handful (very inexpensive at an asian market)
1/2 or more can pineapple tidbits
cashews

 

Heat oil in sauce pan. add curry paste and stir fry for about a minute to release the flavor, then add the coconut milk.  Mix in to blend the curry paste and coconut milk into a curry sauce.  When it's boiling, cut the chicken into the sauce (I use scissors to cut in thin strips right into the sauce, but you can cut in pieces or however you like it).  Add onions and bell pepper.  Add sugar.  Keep on soft boil until chicken is cooked.  Add basil and cashews and cook 1 or 2 more minutes and remove from heat. Add pineapple (I hear you can add some of the juice too but I haven't done this).  Serve over rice.  (Throughout the process you can add more of the paste or milk or anything else until it gets to the flavor you like).

Blessings and Curses

So, with my roommate Connie and I both working for the same company and thus being laid off soon, and our roommate Jen leaving church today to find someone had broken her window to steal her bag including money, phone, ID, etc., we are reminding our fourth and final roommate to be very careful.  But along with the financial curses that have come our way I realize these experiences are also bringing with it many blessings.  I'm already beginning to see how much my friends and family are looking out for me... and I already feel increased compassion for all who suffer in this and any other way.  And somehow I'm finding myself looking at this position that I'm in (as scary as it can be at times) as a good thing.  Maybe I've lost it.  And I'm sure to have sketchy moments from time to time where I'll label this a great curse, but I know there are lessons to be learned in all that we go through in life, and that Heavenly Father blesses us and takes care of our needs as long as we are doing our best in life.  I'm grateful for that faith.

Shocker

So, yeah... I go to work on Tuesday... It's a busy day. I'm worried about how I'm going to get everything done before I have to leave at 3:30. I open an e-mail at 9:30 from our president in our New York office and proceed to read about how everyone in our SLC office (that's me) is losing their jobs sometime within the next 2 months because they're closing the office and moving our work to the Dallas, TX office. Shocker. It blind-sided all 40 of us in our office. No forewarning or anything. Just an e-mail to give us the keys to the street. It felt pretty surreal the first couple days, but reality is now setting in... for better or worse. :) All in all, I feel pretty confident that things will work out for the best in the end. I'm grateful for my faith that the people in our office will be taken care of... I have a feeling that most if not all will be glad it happened (in time anyway). I worry for those with families or other rough economic situations. For me, I just have a mortgage... It may take sacrifices in some regards, but all will be well in time. I'm hoping by January 1st of 2010 I'll look back and say... "Hmmm. I'm actually glad that happened". Till then though... strange times. If anyone knows of any great jobs out there, I'm in the market.