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July 24, 2013

GETTING PRETTY

Here are some shots of me getting all spiffy for the wedding day! 
I am so glad Whitney took these pictures-- they are by far one of my favorite gifts.

 









Thank you to the amazing Whitney Kofford - One of my dearest friends who is the perfect example of a truly kind person. Everyone loves Whitney!  I am beyond happy to have these images.

  
Thanks, Whit!

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Plus, she's a total fox.


July 23, 2013

WHAT I MADE FOR DINNER: CLASSIC PIZZA

 Since my freshman year of college, I have been making this whole wheat pizza dough-- such a staple. I've perfected it over the past few years and you should make it.


 Margarita-- *Sauce, fresh mozzarella, tomatoes, drizzled olive oil. 
After you take your pie out of the oven, sprinkle torn basil leaves. Enjoy!

Classic Pizza Dough--

1 package active dry yeast
1/2 cup warm water
1 & 1/2 cup whole wheat flour  (1 & 2/3 cup all-purpose white flour)
1 teaspoon salt
1 Tablespoon olive oil

Pour water over yeast in a small bowl, wait about 5 minutes to activate yeast. Stir to dissolve. In a large bowl, combine flour and salt. Fold in yeast mixture and olive oil. If dough seems too sticky, sprinkle in some flour. If the dough seems too dry, sprinkle in some water. The dough should be smooth.

On a clean, lightly floured surface, knead dough for about 10 minutes until all the lumps are gone. Rub a little olive oil on dough and return to bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise for 1 hour; your dough should have doubled in size.

Back on your floured surface, roll out dough using a rolling pin. You may need some extra flour on your rolling pin to keep dough from sticking. Put on oiled pizza pan or baking sheet and top with your favorite toppings!

After Bake at 425 for about 8-10 minutes, or until cheese bubbles in the center.

If you don't roll all the dough for date night, you can get about 3-4 personal sized pizzas from the recipe. Roll into balls, freeze in Ziploch bags. Toss in the fridge when you head to class/ run errands, etc. and it is ready to go by lunch time. Top with your favorite sauce (*see below!), veggies, cheese and any other toppings that suit your fancy.


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Secret Spinach Sauce--

I am a junk food junkie & eating enough veggies can be tricky for me. I just don't love them. So, I tweaked a yummy pizza sauce recipe to be packed with spinach! I don't even notice the spinach & neither does the husband!

 3 Tablespoons olive oil
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 can 14 oz crushed tomatoes
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano flakes
Salt to taste
Handfuls of raw spinach leaves

Heat 2 Tbs of olive oil in a medium skillet of moderate heat. Stir in garlic and cook until soft, about 2-3 minutes. Careful not to burn the garlic! Transfer to blender. Blend tomatoes, oregano and salt to taste. Blend in spinach, spinach, and more spinach! My handful is about 1 cup or so.

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What is your favorite pizza toppings? 
Tell me if you have an amazing pizza dough recipe... I love tweaking my own.

July 22, 2013

A LITTLE PREFACE

I find myself perusing through blogs of these young, thin, and beautiful women who seem to rub it in my face that they wear $1000 pumps and carry a handbag that would cost me two month's rent. I envy their newly remodeled homes and wish that I had the time and money to travel the world and update my million-dollar closet. I browse through some fitness blogs packed full of countless marathons and hikes and eating challenges these women are taking on, and I let myself become covetous. I can spend hours looking at photography blogs or cooking blogs and wish I could be someone I'm not. I tear myself down and compare everything they have to everything I lack. There are so many talented people out there and I've got to stop thinking I'll never measure up.

I have a feeling I'm not alone in my thoughts.

via
I want this blog to be a place for people to read about my newlywed-student life and somehow connect to the experiences I'm going through. There's actually quite a bit of joy in this nearly-broke, far-from-designer home of mine, and I want to blog about it. I'd love to blog about ridiculously fabulous and expensive outfits that I can no way afford, but that's just not in the cards for me.

I want to blog about all the amazing things I've been cooking and share some lessons I've been learning about being a married woman because believe me...I've been learning a lot. I chose the word "amateur" because that's what I am.

Definition of AMATEUR
1
2
: one who engages in a pursuit, study, science, or sport as a pastime rather than as a profession
3
: one lacking in experience and competence in an art or science

I chose the word "kitchen" because I always grew up with wonderful memories in my mother's kitchen. Making candy, helping prepare dinner, playing with play-dough, scrap-booking, giving makeovers, etc. A kitchen is the heart of the home and currently the heart of my little cinder-block, student-apartment of a home.

Come back and laugh with me (or at me) as I blog about my attempts at cooking, shopping, decorating and enjoying everyday moments.

July 15, 2013

LOS CABOS


Greg surprised me with a our honeymoon to Los Cabos and I loved every second of our relaxing getaway. Besides losing my beloved iPhone to the resort's pool, the trip at our all-inclusive resort was perfect. All inclusive means all inclusive. We ate waaaay too much. Enjoy!

















We left the resort ONCE & found the best treat I've ever had: 


ding-dong from a Mexican bakery. 




Favorite moment of our trip? Watching the sun rise on our last day.


Someday, we'll go back. 



We thought about a cruise for a minute, but I have this irrational fear of being in the ocean on a boat...have you been on a cruise and did you love it? 

May 06, 2013

SPRING BREAK '13


A while back, I got to visit Ms. Kofford over in Santa Monica. I asked Whitney for an escape from our treacherous Utah winter and we had an incredible time gorging ourselves on to-die-for food and staying in the sun. Here are a few snapshots from the beach, BLD, etc.—thanks for keeping me sane and giving me an amazing Spring Break, Whit! 



  





My FAVORITE dessert on the planet:
 Banana cream pie with rum caramel throughout and a brownie crust. 






 



 This is the gorgeous little gem Whitney nannies-- it was such a pleasure getting to know her. 


Take me back to the beach...
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