Creamy Cucumber-Avocado Salad Dressing

This comes from the May 2010 RealSimple Magazine. Rae Rae and I had it yesterday. I like it on burritos, too, and it's SO GOOD for you! Very refreshing.

Ingredients:
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 English cucumber
1 avocado, pitted and peeled
1 c baby spinach
1/2 c fresh mint leaves
2 spring onions or regular green onions
Fresh juice of 1 lemon
2 T olive oil
1/2 t freshly ground white pepper (a white pepper grinder? I used pre-ground)
1 t sea salt

Directions:
Puree all ingredients with 3/4 c water in a food processor until smooth.

Tangy Red Cabbage Slaw

Sorry to put cabbage on top of our brides, but I just had a request for this recipe, so thought I'd post it.

This comes from RealSimple Magazine's June 2010 edition. We really liked it as an accompaniment for veggie burgers, but it would go well with all kinds of Mexican food. Or you could make an Asian version with ginger and green onions, probably--idea from Cynthia Wand. It's so easy with a food processor.

Ingredients:
1/2 c fresh orange juice
1/4 c fresh lime juice (we used lemon)
2 T olive oil
2 T brown sugar (we used 1 T agave)
Kosher salt & black pepper
1/2 med. red cabbage (abt. 1 1/2 lbs.), grated
2 lg. carrots (abt. 1/2 lb), grated
3/4 c chopped fresh cilantro


Directions:
In a large bowl, whisk together the orange and lime juices, oil, sugar (agave) , 1 t salt, and 1/2 t pepper.

Add the cabbage and carrots and toss to combine. Let sit, tossing occasionally, for at least 45 minutes. Fold in the cilantro before serving.

We thought maybe some sliced or chopped red onion would be a good addition, and maybe some minced jalapeno.

Liz & Dave

Liz & Dave
Originally uploaded by inneri

It was just great to spend some time taking photos of Liz & Dave. They are a handsome couple, and their personalities are so funny and great together. I'm excited for us all to get to know him. There's a whole new side of our Liz that I'm seeing coming out as well. There are great things coming for them!

Happy Amy

Here's a photo of Amy and her fiance, Ryan Turner. Grandma assures me he is just as nice as Amy. Is he as funny? How did we get so blessed to have such wonderful people in our family? I haven't heard a wedding date yet.

Moving Day

Moving Day
Originally uploaded by inneri

Miss you, Marshalls.

In the Leafy Treetops

Dad and I started a new tradition for Mid-summer's Eve!. It seems a shame not to squeeze every bit of daylight out of the glorious sky, so we decided to sleep out on the roof. We woke early to rising light, a vast chorus of birds, scraggly oak branches and a green canopy.

It was also a good day because I reduced the hurricane in the kitchen to tropical storm status after buying more containers and putting some things away. Abraham sang "Happy Birthday, Dear Nonna." I miss him! His mama asked me cooking advice just like in the old days, and Andrew started his first day of work. Rachel began taking le-meditation (an essential oils blend), and Hannah came over after taking Liz and Dave's engagement photos. We (Hannah and I) talked about boys at length with Micah, who mowed the lawn and took care of Morgie today.

Dad and I had a good talk about the Mormon hippie direction our family is heading. Actually, we discussed an interesting part of Catherine Thomas' handout from Friday.

We are all missing Laurel terribly. Morgan is so lonely she has to be coaxed to eat with a piece of tomato. That's just not normal for a dog!

Rae Rae is in finals.

Our Sweetie in Sweden

Hi Everyone,

I just got of the phone from talking with a very vibrant Laurel in Sweden. She says:

They're staying in a cabin on a lake
It doesn't get very dark at night, so it's hard to want to sleep
They swim and boat; the water is cold, but she likes it
Today they traveled in canoes to another lake through a canal and explored an abandoned cabin on a little island
Yesterday Bengt and Lloyd saw a wild boar. The kids heard it
She is eating (and liking) lots of fish and meatballs and especially liking ice cream from Gränna, nearby
She loves elderberry juice (which they have at Ikea) and pear juice.
They have given our little gifts to Bengt's mom (who is not with them)
They have seen shore birds, including sandhill cranes
She is learning a little Swedish
And trying to help out with everyone
And writing in her journal
The big city nearby is Jönköping, where there is a mall.
Saturday they will go on an overnight ferry to the island of Gotland

At age 15 and a half, she is living in a northern dream she will always look back on with fondness.

Above are photos of Gränna, famous for its striped candy called "polkagris."

A Journey Of A Thousand Miles Must Begin With A Single Step

A Journey Of A Thousand Miles Must Begin With A Single Step
Originally uploaded by inneri

"A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step." -- Lao Tzu



Marshalls, we already miss you!

Flickr

This is a test post from , a fancy photo sharing thing.

What is Your Mission?

Dear Daughters,

This BYU Women's Conference talk of Sister Beck's came as an answer to prayer for me--a comfort and a guide. I recommend it to everyone!

A couple of quotes:

"Education is wonderful, but being able to feel the Lord’s power and Spirit upon us is the highest education we can achieve. With that, we have power and influence. Without it, we will not be able to navigate in this life. The adversary will pick us off one by one. . . ."

"When our priorities are out of order, we lose power."

As a bonus, I will give a $5 reward to each one of you who, by listening to the whole talk, can tell me what the swing shift is before the end of June.

xoxo

Mom

http://www.byutv.org/watch/175-1401