Mrs. Rogers Neighborhood

Have I mentioned how much I love the family I married into?  They are fantastic.   This week we are celebrating BOTH of my parents-in-law's 50th birthdays, and boy do they know how to party :)   They threw a family bash at their house last weekend and this weekend we are heading to Vegas to celebrate a little more, because really, can you celebrate too much? The party was wonderful.  Fantastic food, wonderful people and lots of gifts for the fabulous birthday couple!  I will work on a group Vegas picture to share, but we were all just so busy having fun we didn't get one :)  These two REALLY know how to cook, so I figured they deserve their own "Food I Ate Friday" Post!  The simplicity of the meal should not be confused with the quality!  The carnitas were cooked perfectly and the details of the rest of the food were perfectly considered.  It was so fun to have everyone together in their home to celebrate and to be able to help them with anything they nee

I have heard of this Vietnamese sandwich before called and Banh Mi, but I honestly never thought twice about it.  There were too many other things stealing my attention in Vietnamese Restaurants - Pho, Vermicelli and the like.  However, on our way home from church last week, Bill and I decided to try something new, and what we discovered was nothing short of delicious!   Perfectly balanced flavors, incredibly fresh, and all of my favorite ingredients made this a new favorite.  Fresh chilies (I asked for extra of course), cilantro, pickled carrots, pork, scrambled eggs, onions, and a special sauce makes such a great final product.  I just can't stop thinking about it!   I try to learn something new everyday, and this day what I found out was when people recommend something to you over and over again, you should probably give it a try and not put it off!  I kept saying, "Why didn't we try this sooner?"   So as you go into your weekend, don't go

While I will admit that I love indulgence in food and in the past have not made the healthiest decisions, I have found a new friend in Cooking Light Magazine.  It has a lot of my favorite recipes, but done in a healthy way. that is completely attainable and reasonable.  I am learning that healthy living is not entirely about sacrifice of everything, rather it is about living smarter.  You really do not lose flavor a lot of the time at the cost of calories.  I am excited to try more recipes I find in this magazine and share them as I go.  My journey is beginning with light exercise and healthy transitions, and I am extremely excited to learn more and more about all the measures I can take to treat my body better.   I do not need to be in the most incredible shape and I do not need to be the thinnest person you know, but I absolutely need to treat myself with care and respect.   Here's to lots of veggies and long walks this summer :)  

You know those recipes that sound like they will be good, but when you make them you are simply blown away by how fantastic they turn out?  Well, Real Simple has done it again for me!  These Chili Lime Snap peas were so incredible, and I hope Bill is ready for them to become a staple in our house :) They seriously take about 5 minutes to put together.   Please let me know if you love them as much as I do!   Ingredients : Kosher Salt 1 Pound Snap Peas Trimmed One Red Chili Pepper (Such as Chili Pepper or Fresno), Thinly Sliced 1/4 Cup of Roasted Peanuts Chopped 1/4 cup Fresh Cilantro Leaves 2 Teaspoons of Canola Oil 1/2 Teaspoon of Finely Grated Lime Zest, Plus One Tablespoon Lime Juice Directions : 1. Bring a medium pot of salted water to a boil.  Set a bowl of ice water next to the sink.  Add the snap peas to the pot and cook until just tender, 1 to 2 minutes.  Drain and transfer to the ice water.  Drain and pat dry. 2. Toss together the

I am working through a book called spiritual disciplines, and the first section is on meditation.  This selection spoke to my heart and brought me back to reality.  We are called to love God above all else.  I pray it speaks to you as you read it as well. Give me Thy grace, good Lord, to set the world at naught; to set my mind fast upon Thee; and not to hang upon the blast of men's mouths.        To be content to be solitary; not to long for worldly company; little and little utterly to cast off the world, and rid my mind of all the business thereof; not to long to hear of any worldly things, but that the hearing of worldly phantasies may be to me displeasant.        Gladly to be thinking of God; piteously to call for His help; to lean unto the comfort of God; busily to labour to love Him.        To know mine own vility and wretchedness; to humble and meeken myself under the mighty hand of God. To bewail my sins past; for the purging of them patiently to suffer adversity; glad

Sometimes lately, for no reason at all, I just want to scream.  I want to run around like a child and stomp my feet and scream because life is hard and overwhelming and a lot more work than we can possibly imagine and I do not even have kids or financial struggles or any real problems.  I assume I am not alone, but I also feel like everyone is afraid to admit it.  Like, if they ignore it, their desire to lose control and punch a wall will go away.  We all experience frustration, and sometimes I think it is healthy to just scream.   Sure, running has been a tension releasing outlet, but sometimes you just need to let it out in a silly, ridiculous, 5 year old having a temper tantrum way.  I don't have control, and I am learning to accept that.  I wish I could tell you I scream on a regular basis, but I fit in with the millions putting on a show and not wanting to break down in front of those that matter most to them. However, after this post is published, feel free to un

I have been missing some food that I just cannot get here in California to the same caliber as the places it belongs.  Every area has their specialties, and lately I have been missing the 4 listed below somethin' fierce!   1. Maryland Crab Feasts If you have never had a Maryland crab feast, I am so sorry.  Imagine the most incredible smell of Old Bay wafting through the air covering the crabs that have been practically soaking in it while they cook to perfection.  The art of cracking open a crab and knowing how to proceed is something anyone in Maryland can teach you.  We have names for every part of the crab and it is such a treasured tradition.   Is it fun?  Is it delicious?  You have NO idea until you have tried it how fun and how delicious it is.  When you are elbow deep in juicy, crabby goodness,  to the point that you are licking your hands and they are burning but you keep going for more - then you will be able to answer for your self, its amazing.  I am