Picture time

.....photos around Snow Canyon, St. George Temple, and Thriller

We both had so much fun! Weather was perfect while we were down there, can't wait to go back again to possibly see Little Mermaid.....I'm crossing my fingers

A whole lotta fun

Our weekends have been packed with a lot of fun things! Last, last weekend we went to Jake's work party. Let me tell ya, APX knows how to throw a work party. They transformed their front lawn area into a motor cross arena and had Nitro Circus come and show us a thing or tow. I wasn't too familiar with Nitro Circus but apparently they do motor cross stunts for MTV. While there we also ran into a couple of my cousins there which was fun and oh my goodness, just take a look at this adorable little boy. I seriously couldn't get enough of him! He is one of my cousins. Adorable.

This last weekend, my dad surprised Jake and I with a full day at CLAS ropes course. So much fun! We both did some crazy things such as Jake jumping off a 75 ft ledge blindfolded and trying to catch a ring that was suspended in the air, and us tied together, climbing up a really small ladder and walking across a wire together.....and we learned a whole lot! At the end they fed us all Costa Vida which I was super happy about. As for this weekend.....Jake and I are headed down to St. George to attend Thriller, do some hiking here, and stop by the temple. I can't wait!

Can we please have a normal schedule?

For the past couple of weeks, (more like months) Jake and I, (but mostly Jake) have felt like robots. Monday through Thursday Jake gets up, goes to work, goes to school and comes home late at night. Monday through Thursday I grudgingly get up, (I like my sleep. A lot) go to work, come home and miss Jake. However, today is the final for his block class which he has been studying for like crazy! Which means Tuesday and Thursday we will both be sitting down for a nice dinner together at a decent time. Thank goodness. His class is real estate. I was quizzing him last night and had no idea what I was reading in front of me. Hopefully his final goes well and we are throwing a party after he is done!

Lets dance

Came across this on a fellow bloggers page.

Love. Love. Love.

In sixty years

I love old people. This is why.

I overheard a conversation today at work. This adorable couple seemed to be in their 80's.

Hygienist: (asking husband) "What are some of your hobbies?"

Husband: "I don't really have time for hobbies."

Wife: (who is a spunky lady) "I'm his hobby!"

So cute! Put a smile on my face. That is how I imagine Jake and I sixty years from now.

Sie Liebt Dich

So.

Yesterday I had my itouch on shuffle when this song came up.

I totally have a Beatles album on my itouch that is all in German.

Don't ask me how I got it because I have no idea.

Cafe Rio recipe

Alright peeps. Here is the recipe for the sweet pork Cafe Rio salad, which you could also turn into a sweet pork burrito with uncooked tortillas, which I highly recommend. Jake and I were able to find uncooked tortillas at Walmart but they are a little bit smaller than the ones at Costco. There is also a recipe for the Cafe Rio chicken if you are not a sweet pork lover, which seriously....who wouldn't be.

Chili Beans
4-6 cans of black or pinto beans
1 can diced chilies
1 1/2 c. green enchilada sauce
Place all ingredients in a saucepan and cook until flavors are mixed.

(I also added some chopped garlic which I thought tasted good with it)

Cilantro-Lime Rice
1 c. rice
1 tbs. oil
1/3 bunch of cilantro
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 chopped onion
2 c. water (or chicken broth - leave out bouillon cubes)
2 bullion cubes
zest of 1 lime
Brown onion & rice in oil in skillet. In blender, place water/stock, bouillon, cilantro, lime zest and salt..blend thoroughly. Add mixture to rice and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes. When rice is cooked, fluff with fork and add the juice of 1 lime.

Cafe Rio Chicken (makes a ton)(I've never made this one but I've tasted it and it's good)
5 lbs chicken (breasts)
2 Tbs. Cumin
2 small bottles of zesty Italian dressing
6 cloves garlic, minced
1-2 Tbs. Chili powder
Combine all and cook on low all day in crock-pot. Then shred and serve.

Cafe Rio Pork
3 lbs Pork Roast
Cook on low in crock-pot with some water for 3-4 hours or until pork is done. Drain the water, shred pork and add:

1 can Coca Cola, Pepsi or Dr. Pepper (I use coke, and did a little bit more than 1 can)
1/4 c. BBQ Sauce
1 c. Brown Sugar

1 c. White sugar
1 can mild green chillies
1 c. salsa
1 tsp. Garlic Salt
Mix into shredded pork and cook on low for another hour.

Spicy Tomatillo Ranch Dressing
1 Hidden Valley Buttermilk Ranch Dressing Packet
2 Tomatillos (peel off loose skin)
1 clove garlic
1/2-1 small jalapeno pepper (to your taste, if you don't like it spicy then don't add them)
2 c. Mayo
1 1/2 - 2 c. Buttermilk
2 handfuls of Cilantro (mostly leaves)
2 Tsp. Lime Juice (or more)
Blend all ingredients together in a high blender until it is mixed well. Refrigerate.

I got this recipe here which is my new favorite food blog! Check it out. You will love it.

Found the recipes for both of Jake's and my favorite soup at Zupas as well as the turkey cranberry panini. I'm gonna try them out and if they turn out good I will post :)

Eating out homemade style

When Jake and I first got married, (I know we haven't been married that long...) we liked to eat out.

A lot.

Especially at Costa Vida, Panda, and Zupas.

Obviously we had to change that so now we are on our quest to learn how to make our favorite dishes. We just mastered the sweet pork burrito/salad with that oh so yummy dressing on Sunday. I'm not bragging but it was amazing! We have almost mastered Panda's orange chicken. Zupas is all that is left. It's all about the chicken enchilada chili and the turkey cranberry panini. I have found a couple of chicken enchilada chili recipes, (if any of you have some good ones let me know!) and I just came across this today! Oh boy what a find! My family has become a little obsess with making these lovely panini's and this blog is full of recipes! Can't wait to try them out.