Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Lately...

I'm not very good at balancing my time between writing in my journal and reading books, magazines, and scriptures...oh, and blogging. I've read 11 of the 12 books I set a goal to read this year. I'm a few months behind on my magazines (but I refuse to move on before going through each of them). I started listening to my scriptures on my phone (via the Mormon Channel app) so I'm staying a little more on top of that. I tried to write in my journal weekly (sometimes during my lunch break) but got a few weeks behind, which translates to hours of time because I include so.much.detail! It's worth it, though...right?!?

My last life update was mid-September so I'll pick up from there.

September
  • ran the Great Urban Race in LA with Naco, Nikki, and Annalee
  • spent the day with Tami's family (dinner, games, singing, laughing - love them!)
  • attended Nancy & Ryan's wedding reception in beautiful Newport Coast
  • watched friends' softball games (live), Oklahoma State football (on tv - Go Pokes!)
  • saw the San Francisco ballet with Wendy and Naco - LOVED!
  • new roomie, Lindsay, moved in ON HER BDAY!
October
  • went to St. George with Wendy to support Karen, Ali, Travis, and Annalee in the marathon
  • attended Morgan's bridal shower & Melissa's baby shower (and got to catch up with my dear friend, Betsy!)
  • suffered through a sugar fast with Wendy (why do we torture ourselves?)
  • went to Disneyland - TWICE (once with Naco, Ash, Wend, Jenn, & Jess; then with Wend & Steph)
  • hiked Bridge to Nowhere with Naco, Ash, Mary, & Zach
  • watched my friend, Sharon, perform in "Singing in the Rain" with Landon
  • April visited from DC (dinner, beach, glow in the dark bocce, celebrated her bday!)
  • went to Jess' annual fall party complete with a visit to the pumpkin patch
  • hosted our first (Steph's 6th) annual Chowder Chowdown!
  • went to the Haunted Hay Ride in LA (creepy)
November
  • started a painting project with Naco
  • celebrated Randilyn's bday at a dueling piano bar
  • Joe visited from DC! (lots of sightseeing - island, beach cruisers, peninsula, saw "To Kill A Mockingbird," beach bonfire, Malibu, Santa Monica, etc)
  • spent a weekend in Santa Barbara with Ali & Wendy (ran the half marathon, celebrated Ali's bday)
Time is flying by! I can't believe Thanksgiving is next week!

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

2011 New Recipe #19 - Caramel Apple Crisp

This stuff was delicious! Joe was in town for the weekend and his favorite desserts contain fruit so when I came across this recipe, I decided we'd make it. I used Honey Crisp apples (the BEST!), which are really big. The recipe calls for 5 medium apples and I used 4 of these. I opted not to peel them (combination of laziness and indecisiveness) and I was happy with the result but think most people would peel the apples. We ate it with ice cream. Scrumptious and easy!




Caramel Apple Crisp
http://www.hilsblog.com/2011/11/caramel-apple-crisp.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+hilsblog1+%28Hil%27s+Blog%29
Ingredients:

5 medium size apples
1/2 c. flour
1 c. brown sugar
1/2 c. butter
1 c. oats
1 tsp. cinnamon
3 to 4 heaping tablespoons caramel topping
whipping cream or Ice Cream (optional)

Instructions:

Place apple slices in greased baking dish. Spoon caramel topping over the apples. In a bowl, combine flour and brown sugar; cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add oats and cinnamon. Sprinkle over apple slices and caramel.

Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 30-35 minutes or until tender. Serve with whipped cream or ice cream if desired.