Chinese Food

I made Chinese food this week. In our ward (tangent: I still love our ward! and am getting to know many in it and finally getting their names down. This is such a great ward-- YAY!) for Relief Society, we had a service auction. My service that was auctioned was a Chinese meal which was the hit of the night. It was the highest bidding auction and the Relief Society President won it, because she had the most points out of anyone. I thought no one was going to want it and it turned out that many sisters did. Several sisters spoke up and asked "can we auction the Chinese food now??"

So, I finally got around and made it. I started at 11 am and finished 3 minutes before 6:30pm. (Dinner was at 6:30-- I still ended up being 15 minutes late) Normally I'm 3 hours late for dinner when I cook Chinese, so I considered this to be a great feat!

I made everything from scratch and had Andrew as a sous chef helping me cut up meat and cleaning dishes and pans so that I could keep a continuous cooking schedule. We work great together, especially in this new kitchen where we can be doing two things at once and not bump into each other or get in the way.

SO it was 7 1/2 hours of straight cooking to get this meal done with a helper. My feet definitely hurt after this! (Tangent: I remember making Chinese food for Chinese New Year when I was pregnant. My feet swelled so badly while cooking that I ended up not being able to walk on my feet for several days afterward)

I made rice, gong bao ji ding (kong pao chicken), lemon chicken, jing jiang rou si (shredded beef with leek), broccoli cauliflower and carrot dish, fried green beans, and Chinese banana bread with home made strawberry sauce and cool whip as dessert.

Then I put them in my beautiful blue and white Chinese china dishes and it looked gorgeous. I should have taken a picture. The family said that we cooked enough for an army! (which I think is funny, because Andrew actually does cook for the army... anyway). They thought it was a lot, but at the end of dinner most of it was gone. It's amazing how much you cook and how fast it can go-- even with a small crowd!

It sure was good!!! The best part was that the only ingredients I didn't have on hand was 3 lemons, 2 leeks, fresh beans, broccoli and cauliflower. So the grocery list for such a huge meal was minimal.

Man, do I miss China!!! It's nice to get that food on hand with in the half hour vs my 7 1/2.

Sourdough Bread

Andrew and I love sourdough bread, especially as toast in the morning. The problem is it's expensive and the closest store that sells it is 45 min away. So... I'm adventuring into making a sourdough start. I started the start (that sounds funny) last night and it's already smelling sour. yummm.... I'm hoping I won't screw it up.

I've talked to many who said they tried to make sourdough and it has never worked out for them. I'm not a very good baker (I make up for it in my cooking skills) but I know that many in my family ARE bakers. Have any of you tried it? Or have any good suggestions?

I'll let you know in 3-5 days how it goes.

Highlight of my month

Abby was watching "ni hao kai lan" today while I was making Chinese food. ...

And while Andrew and I were in the kitchen we heard her count very clearly to 3 in Chinese!!!! Andrew and I heard her say it, looked at each other in shock and said, wow!!! she can count to three in Chinese but not in English.

we stood there for a minute in happiness, amusement, and pure shock!!!

i think it made my month!

yi er san!

what i have done lately

What I've been up to the last two weeks:

-talk in church
-in charge of the enrichment activity games
-genealogy (which in this ward is the biggest calling in the ward so we've been busy),
-getting ready for temple morning this saturday,
-made chinese food (started @ 11am & finished @ 6:27pm just in time for 6:30 dinner. it was 6 dishes and they all turned out some what well)
-making meals for ward member/neighbor who had a baby,
-science museum-- awesome!
-lawton's family (friends and neighbor's from Safford) stayed over,
-unpacking boxes--- still.
-making cute hair clips with friends in the ward
-exercising in the morning
-head cold

btw- grandma told me when glenn beck was-- now i must shower her with love... love love love love love love love love love love love love love love.

interesting...

if any one knows what time glenn beck is on and on what channel here in phoenix, i will shower you with love. Ever since he switched from cnn to fox, i can't find him. :(

i think i forgot to thank...

oh i forgot...

thanks janet, the lawrence family and any one else-- who put the little cowles reunion together. It was nice to see each other again.

Had a good time in UT

I was told while I was in UT that my posts were too long and that I should put them into smaller sections-- which i agree with but i think it takes too much time. So instead I'm going to make my post short.

I went to utah for 2 weeks. I enjoyed seeing old friends, family I haven't seen in ages and cool weather (although some times it was too cold for me).

I went to a 4 day Family History/ Genealogy conference. Once I got over the Mentholatum/mint smell, old lady perfume and shameless gas passing (I was one of the youngest there; most were over the age of 65) I learned a lot and have a lot of goals to accomplish now.

I was able to put it to practice for two days at the Family History Library in SLC-- thanks to Lee Ann for showing me the ropes and Terry for spending two days with Abby. Thanks!-- I REALLY appreciated it. I found 6 people to put into the church system and do ordinances for. yay.

And a very big thanks to David, Stratford's, Katie & Jeremy and Karen & Stephan for letting us into their homes and watching abby. And thanks to Emily and Jeff who offered to help.

But it's nice to be back home with my honey. :)