Downtown Cooking in Vegas

We can always count on the food being amazing at Ben and Sara’s house anytime we are lucky enough to join them. In fact one of the reasons we were bummed that they moved to LA from Vegas the same month we moved here, was knowing that we would be missing out on some great dinners. I mean they are great, but their food is better. ;)

So after auditing culinary school for 2 years and hosting many plush gatherings, parties, state fair food demos, etc., it came as no surprise that our sister-law started her own culinary demonstration business in LA, Dowtown Cooking.

This week she came on tour to do a class in Las Vegas. So it wasn’t really a tour, but it just sounds cooler. . . Anyway, she was here this week and I was able to go to her fabulous class on summer salads, and I LOVE salads so it was right up my alley.

I really enjoy cooking but I had never been to a formal cooking instruction before so I wasn’t really sure what to expect with one kitchen and 13 other domestic amateurs. To my surprise, everything flowed real well and it was a great time.

Her whole business mantra is “elegant food made simple,” which I really feel fits well. because everything we made looked so pretty and delicious, but it wasn’t insanely difficult or didn’t require a bunch of unfamiliar ingredients.

The Head Chef

Sara demonstarting cilantro lime shrimp on the barbie.
(Seeing how using the grill is the only time Niels cooks dinner, I will pass on these tips with him.)

The fruits of our labor:

Spring Panzanella Salad: Croutons, Leeks, Asparagus, White Beans, Secret Sauce

Asian Salad with Cilantro Lime Shrimp and Liguine

Caprese

Minted Fruit Salad:

Not pictured: Raspberry Peach Cobbler, Fresh-Squeezed Lemonade

Thanks, Sara. Good luck with the new business!

Only in Utah . . .

If you've read my blog for a while, you have seen my random pictures of things I saw when we lived in Utah, that would only be found in Utah.

If not, here are exhibits: A, B, C, D, & E

A new one from our trip last month:



Funny how I didn't see the Torah or the Kuran.

Butchered

His name is frequently killed. Some of my recent favorites:

“Brother Nielsen” – Said over the pulpit at church

“The Niels’s are here” – Said by 6 year-old girl who thought it was our last name.

Guy at the auto shop: "Niels? (awkward pause) Why the s on the end?"
Niels: “Um, (awkward pause) because it’s my name.”

“Milt and Suz” – Guest parking pass at grandma’s neighborhood.

"Nils L" - Nizzle for shizzle . . . another guest parking pass

“Niels? . . . Ah yes, like Niels Diamond!” – Tour Guide in Jamaica

Null Hypothesis

Surely you know someone that has spontaneously developed a new hobby – sports, crafts, music – whatever it may be . . . and then has compulsively bought almost everything that is associated with their new pastime.

I have known such someones, and I have been one too.

Last year I was a dedicated trainer for the SLC half marathon. Sure I liked to jog, but by no means was I a long distance runner when I registered on a whim for the race. Last time I had done a race was when, well . . .



So anyway, I bought new fancy running shoes, read a ton of online articles, religiously followed my schedule, choked down nasty electrolite goos and goops, took glucosimine supplements . . . you get the point.

T'was the week before the race when my cousin-in-law Lori decided that she would run it last minute with me. She didn’t train at all, but because she was a gym go-er, and an overall healthy person she was confident that she could do it, no prob. You could imagine that this made me feel pretty lame for being so hard-core with training when she decided to run on a whim. What felt like a big feat to me, was was Easy Street for her. So we both ran and finished and we did pretty well. My body felt just fine the day after the race which came as a HUGE relief after hearing/reading all these post-run crippling stories while I was training.

Well when the registration and training schedule came around this year, I reflected on my experience from last year and decided that I was going to train “Cousin Lori” style this time around. My plan was to stay active and to go to the gym and cross train regularly, and then just run at least once a week. I figured this way that I would maintain the endurance needed to run 13 miles. Easy, right?

Well . . . my strategy was completely void .

Sure, I ran and I finished this year. But I added 30 minutes to my time, and pretty much beat the life out of my knees. I had the endurance down just fine, despite the whole altitude change and all, but my knees were not used to all the impact from the concrete since I hadn’t been running regularly.

Ironically enough, Lori trained this year and she totally rocked it. Niels' sister, Sarah ran it too.

The course was so beautiful and so many people and other crazies came out to support with signs, random musical talents, and water. Because of these things, I actually had a great time and felt just fantastic until about mile 9, and then my knees literally began buckling on me! Needless to say it was not a fun sensation. I pushed strong until mile 11, gained some humility and walked mile 12, and then pridefully decided that I could/would NOT walk across that finish line. If you only could have heard the subconscious pep talks that were going on in my head. 2 Hours 37 minutes later, I pounded out the last mile and crossed the line.

Nothing too horrible in the recovery department. I was out of commission for a few days and my knees are still mad at me when I run longer than ten minutes.

I guess this is where I add my profound thought . . . Like with any goal you wish to accomplish, you can likely always achieve it, but it will always come easier if you prepare in advance and gradually work towards it.

Kind of like how Blaine and Dane from "The Biggest Loser" did.

And we're back

So I thought I was going to do away with the blogging thing.

I have just been in this writer's rut for a while, and some days I feel like life has become very busy, yet somewhat comfortable and monotonous for us. School, work, calling, school, work, calling, yaddah, yaddah.

After receiving some emails, some "WTH?!" texts, and a few calls, I have decided to heed to the fellowshipping. I am returning to the fold.

Prove it

I had this friend in high school who had a minor obsession with heart throb Josh Harnett after Pearl Harbor came out. Then again, who didn't?  

Randomly one day she told our group of friends that she scored the chance to meet Joshy in LA, and talked it up big time for a few weeks.  Ironically enough, she  "dropped her camera in the pool"  while she was there and the film was totally ruined.  Consequently, she had nothing to show us, but lots to tell, about her wonderful afternoon with Josh.  

Because it all sounded too good to be true, I chose not to believe her because the evidence was gone to prove it.  So high school/Mean Girls of me, I know. 

Well this story surfaced in my mind as I sit here in Costa Rica without my camera.  Nope, I didn't drop mine in the water . . .  I left it at the gate at LAX before I even got on the plane to come.

So I have no evidence, and not even a tan to sport,  to prove that I was here. 

So when I post stories or tell you about my trip when I get back, it's ok if you don't believe me. 

Brainfreeze

I love this picture of my girls from a recent cousin sleepover we had at our house.

To me, it is so symbolic of the care-free innocence and enjoyment of childhood . . . Then again, I'm 25 and I still feel like this when I drink Slurpees.

Being Lazy in AZ

We still have some years to see where the good winds will take us to eventually settle. But if I controlled the winds, one of the places I’d have them blow us for good is Arizona.

We spent last week in Arizona for Niels’ spring break. I particularly enjoy Arizona because it seems to be a hybrid of all the good things I like about Las Vegas, Southern California and Utah.

We arrived just in time to smell the goodness of the annual orange blossoms blooming. Did I mention that I am still blown away by the fact that citrus thrives in such severe heat in the summer? Anyway, I wish I could have bottled the scent that was in the air and brought it home to release in my house. Amazing.

The oranges taste even better than they smell, so we made sure to pick about 50 of them straight from the tree to bring home.

There are about only two places I will eat hot dogs: 1) Costco 2)Baseball games. Baseball isn’t necessarily our big thing, but our friends are intense Angels fanatics so we thought we'd join them for a spring training game in Glendale.

We also hiked/rock climbed Camel back Mountain with Niels’ mom and step father, Dave. I hope I can still scale mountains in my 50s. They rock.

I still had to work while we there, but luckily Penny kept Niels company.

Ch, Ch, Chihuly

If you have been to the Bellagio in Las Vegas, you have seen the unmistakable work of Dale Chihuly.

He created the amazing glass flower ceiling that hangs in their main lobby:

Even though he looks kind of interesting/pirate-y . . .

The man makes amazing creations and is incredibly talented.
(Sidenote: did you know that many glassblowers eventually go blind because of the extreme heat their eyes are exposed to?)

Last week we visited his new traveling exhibit at the desert botanical gardens in Phoenix with Niels' mom and step-father. It was quite unique and impressive.

We were in awe and couldn’t stop commenting about what a challenge it would be to make all of these pieces, to transport them, to install them and to take them down and get them ready for the next city. I mean, look at this!

"The Sun"

"The Moon"

Our Favorite. Niels titled it, "The Marbles I Used to Play With"

Although impressive, I wouldn't necessarily hang this chandelier in our home in fear for our lives, or the lives of any of our future children.

"The Spanish Hat"

"Cattails" (being artsy with my camera)

If you're in Phoenix soon, include this on your things to see

You're the Weiner

Now you too can be a winner like me. Lucky you!

My crafty/creative sister-in-law posted this, so I thought I'd give it a whirl.

The first five people to respond to this post will receive something made by me for you. It will be my choice what I make, but it will be tailored just for you.

This offer does have some restrictions and limitations:

1- I make no guarantees that you will like what I make!
2- What I create will be just for you.
3- It'll be done this year. (might be December 31st, but you WILL get something)
4- You have no clue what it's going to be. It may be a story. It may be poetry or an article on properly cleaning your face before a masque. I may draw or paint something. I may bake you something and mail it to you. Who knows? Not you, that's for sure!
5- I reserve the right to do something extremely strange :)

The catch? Oh, the catch is that you must repost this on your blog and offer the same to the first 5 people who do the same on your blog.

The first 5 people to do so and leave a comment will receive a personal surprise made by me.

Happy commenting :)