The Writers Club...

So I found this "writer's club""...not that I'm a writer or anything. In fact there are no talent prerequisites, that's why I can join.

I thought this was a fun, easy idea. Write your day out using only nouns. A little more difficult than I imagined; I do love my adjectives.

eyes
sunlight
snuggles
laugh
breakfast
school
school
school
school
sandwiches
mop
windows
fights
toys
playground
snuggles
laugh
balls
swings
sunlight
tag
home
bathrooms
floors
computer
dinner
snuggles
laugh
baths
laugh
teeth
pajamas
snuggle
bed
mosquitoes
mosquitoes

Makes you think my life is perfect over here, huh? {minus the mosquitoes}


O.K. so I can't stand it. How can you really tell a story without descriptive words?
Here's my new list.

sleepy eyes
crisp sunlight
slight snuggles
quiet laugh
steamy breakfast
starting school
tough school
interesting school
done school
yeah school
quick sandwiches
drenched mop
grimy windows
constant fights
distractive toys
rickety playground
abounding in snuggles
contagious laugh
bouncy balls
rusted swings
cheery sunlight
running tag
comfy home
needed bathrooms
shiny floors
friendly computer
delicious dinner
tons of snuggles
content laughs
bubbly baths
wet laughs
squeaky teeth
toasty pajamas
sleepy snuggle
chilly bed
buzzing mosquitoes
dead mosquitoes

Tah-dah! Day done!

Stranger Friends...

I've been thinking a lot about this lately. {Actually, since yesterday as I was headed to meet a so called "stranger friend"}

What is a stranger friend you might ask? {Humor me on this one}

A stranger friend is someone whose blog I visit, often. It's a friend, as in someone I know a lot about, but a stranger, as in we've never met.

A few years ago, this "term" would have seemed silly. I mean, how can you know so much about someone and they know nothing about you? Can they even be considered a friend if your relationship is one sided?

Hmmm...

Also, why do we {those of us who have open blogs} feel so comfortable to put so much of ourselves out there...for free?

Yesterday my husband and I were invited to "hang out" at the home of a woman who I have been "stranger friends" for just over a year. I found her blog when this crazy idea to move here first entered my little head.

Her name is Saratica.

Before we left to meet her, I got a little nervous. What if she doesn't match up to the friend/person I think she is? How weird is it going to be for me to meet her, knowing her beliefs in politics, religion and such...and me just a stranger to her? How will this work out?

"Oh Shawna...not to worry."

Everything was wonderful. She invited my husband and I in with such graciousness. Her 2 boys were handsome and so polite. Her husband was as funny and gracious {opps, that's not very manly} entertaining as she was. He whipped up a chocolate pizza for all to share and we talked and laughed around their kitchen table, just like old friends. {Yeah girls, I said a chocolate pizza, boy does he have a way with woman!}

Now I realize... anyone who has moved to this exotic land already has so much in common. We've gone through culture shock {which is REAL by the way}, struggled with a new language, learned a new currency and tried to understand customs that seemed so strange to us.

It only took us a few minutes to put a face with the commonalities...and we are no longer strangers.

This is the reason I have a blog. The more friends the better...if I can help someone with their stressful day with kids, finding a new recipe for the family, share a new perspective on a situation or just make someone laugh...I'm all for it!

Also, as I'm climbing my way out of a CRAZY day with 5 active {insane} kids, things seem less strenuous knowing that later in the week some "stranger friend" of mine might get a chuckle out of it.

Good day/night my stranger friends.

And don't be afraid to leave a comment now and then. :)

I'm glad you're here.

Strawberry Cream Pie...

I know I've raved about every recipe so far but watch out...this will knock your socks off. That is if you like fruit tarts. It's kind of my version of the tarts we had for my girlfriend's bridal shower {"Hi Nikkinunu!"} oh, maybe 15 years ago {March 18th}. Happy anniversary by the way. :)

Oh, so yummy!

I've put together a few recipes to make this.

First, use my {I mean Ruth's Grandma's} homemade pie recipe. Really easy I promise!!! Go on, you can do it!
***Cut the recipe in 1/2, you only need a bottom crust here.

Ruth's Grandma's Pie Crust

Ingredients:
4 cups all-purpose flour
1 3/4 cups shortening
3 tablespoons white sugar

2 teaspoons salt
1 egg
1/2 cup water

Directions:
1. In a large mixing bowl, combine all-purpose flour, shortening, sugar, and salt. Blend together with a pastry cutter until crumbly.
2. In a small bowl, mix egg with water. Blend into flour mixture. Chill in refrigerator until ready to use.
Now you need to bake the crust:
Roll out the crust to fit in your pie pan. Cut the edges off. Put aluminum foil on top and fill with dry beans or rice. {this will keep the crust from bubbling up} Bake @ 325 degrees for 10-15 minutes or until toasted and baked.

Now for the insides...oh this is yummy! I'm not a fan of vanilla ANYTHING! I can't believe anyone can stand at an ice cream store and order vanilla ice cream.

Really, someone does that?

But I needed a filling for my "tart pie" and found this delicious concoction.

*** this recipe you need to double.
Old-Fashioned Vanilla Pudding

Ingredients:
2 tablespoons sugar
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 cup evaporated milk

1 egg yolk, lightly beaten
1 1/2 teaspoons butter
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:
1. In a small saucepan, combine the sugar, cornstarch and salt. Gradually stir in milk. Cook and stir over medium heat until thickened and bubbly. Reduce heat; cook and stir 2 minutes longer. Remove from the heat.
2. Stir a small amount of hot filling into egg yolk; return all to the pan, stirring constantly. Bring to a gentle boil; cook and stir 1 minute longer. Remove from the heat. Gently stir in butter and vanilla.
3. Cool for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Transfer to dessert dishes. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour.
After this has cooled {I don't wait an hour} pour into your baked pie crust. {Of course you have removed the foil and beans/rice} I use beans because they can be used for meals still. The rice can not be used again. Sorry.

Now you can cover the top with your favorite sliced fresh fruit. But this is what I do...

I take half my strawberries and make a pie filling with them. (Those of you in the states can just buy the can if you'd like) Then I spread that on top of most of the pudding filling. I then take the other half of the fresh sliced strawberries and toss them on top of that. {My mouth is watering} Then for color I add about 5-10 slices of kiwi.

Not only does this pie/tart {whatever you want to call it} look gorgeous, it's like creamy summer for your tongue.

Who doesn't like that?

Last week my son accidentally dropped the last piece of pie out of the refrigerator onto the floor. The entire house went silent! My husband was mortified!!!

Let's just say that I hadn't mopped in a few days, but every last drop was cleaned up and went into waiting tummies.

Yeah, this is eat off the floor, don't let anything go to waste, GOOD!

"Life is Like a Box of Chocolates...

you never know what you are gonna get. "
-Forest Gump.

Or you can be like me and take the tiniest bite out of every one, then put them back...that way you always know. Oh, that used to drive my brother Robbie CRAZY! So then I started carving out a circle out of the bottom. It produced the same result and he never knew.

A few weeks ago I presented a youtube clip entitled "CREATE". It just moved me. I decided then and there it was time. I was going to dust off my fancy camera and use it every Sunday. Scratch that creative itch so to speak. I mean, geeesh...I'm living in beautiful Costa Rica!

Oh I was so thrilled.

Then as I was planning my adventure, my battery charger died on me. So funny. This is when I look up to heaven and {in my minds eye} picture everyone watching how I handle this one. {I got this perspective from the "Life is a Football Game" talk I mentioned earlier. It works wonders when your kids really mess up. You know, painting your girlfriend's brand new carpet with multiple colors of popsicle syrup.

Wow, was that pretty. My daughter did that.

And get this; the friend is still my friend. "Hi Teresa!"

So, although this wasn't as drastic, I was disappointed. I can't easily order a new charger or drive somewhere to pick one up.

Then I came up with another idea to scratch that itch. {And make a little cash too} All I'm going to tell you is it involves my Photoshop talents, my computer and the Internet. After 2 weeks of {blood, sweat and tears} getting the {web} shop ready...my Internet goes down. It's been down for over a week.

I look up to heaven again, "Really...is this happening?" and let out a frustrated giggle.

So as of 3 hours ago...my Internet is back.

I whisper a "thank you" to whomever fixed it and write this post to explain to my dad why I've had so many posts about recipes lately. {I don't need a camera for those posts.}

I do have a picture to show you how last week went.

So enjoy your week! And I should be up and running at normal speeds again.

Does anyone here in CR have the Canon battery charger CB-5L and would be willing to charge my battery? Anyone?

My sweetheart just taught our oldest how to shave {I can't believe this is happening so soon!} and I couldn't photograph the event.

Augh!!!

Meatball Sandwiches...

O.K. here it is, Tuesday night and I´m finally getting around to posting my (awesome recipe that is going to change your life). I can dream can´t I

Well, I have an excuse, our internet has been out for 3 days. Do you see how devoted I am...I´m sitting here at a internet cafe, it´s almost 10 pm, just so I can follow through on my promise. (I´m listening to Bryan Adams in Spanish...how funny)

So here goes.


Hearty Meatball Sandwich


Ready In: 1 Hour 40 Minutes
Servings: 6
"A cross between meatloaf and meatballs, this sandwich promises to hold together without being messy."
Ingredients:
1 1/2 pounds lean ground beef
1/3 cup Italian seasoned bread crumbs
1/2 small onion, chopped
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese, divided

1 tablespoon cracked black pepper
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 cup marinara sauce (I use 2 cups of sauce)
3 hoagie rolls, split lengthwise
Directions:
1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. In a medium bowl, mix together the ground beef, bread crumbs, onion, salt and pepper, garlic powder, and half of the mozzarella cheese. Form the mixture into a log, and place it into an 8x8 inch baking dish.
3. Bake for 50 minutes in the preheated oven, or until the center is no longer pink. Let stand for 5 minutes, then slice into 1/2 inch slices. Place a few slices onto each hoagie roll, cover with marinara sauce, and sprinkle remaining mozzarella cheese over.
4. Wrap each sandwich with aluminum foil, and return to the oven for 15 minutes, until bread is lightly toasted and cheese is melted. Let stand 15 minutes before eating. Each sandwich serves 2.

So make sure you use the Marinara sauce recipe I posted last week.

Now, I always have to do something different...this time it wasn´t much...I just rolled the meat mixture into balls and cooked them in a sauce pan until no longer pink. They hold together so well.

Oh, and I toast my rolls first, not a fan of soggy bread.

These are so good...I think this will show up at our dinner table tomorrow.

Enjoy!

It's Been a Spiritual Week for me...

and I needed it. My 4 year old has been asking me, "Mom, tell me about Jesus." all week long. I've even walked in on him re-telling the adventures to his younger brother. Does it get any better than that?

Church life has been tough here. The first 9 months took a lot of effort just to get to our building and back. I'm very thankful for Gene who faithfully picked us up in his "bus" every Sunday. He never let us pay gas or help in any way. All we had to do was be ready by 7:45 am. I'm sad to say that we weren't always ready on time.

Even when we were, it still took about 8 minutes for all of us to get car seats buckled, food and supplies aboard and all the kids in. I'm sure we were there to help Gene with patience. He never complained to us and I will never forget the sacrifice, a then stranger, made for our family.
{above picture is our previous home with over 2 feet of river water hanging out}
We have moved from that {LIFE} part of the country and are in an easier environment. Now we are just an 8 minute taxi drive away from church. Sundays are so much easier. It doesn't take the entire second half of my Saturday to get ready for Sunday. There are 3 women, Ticas, that can speak some English so I can get the gist of activities that my little ones need to be at. It's been nice.

I'm going to be honest here...{if you don't want to know, come back tomorrow}
This past year I haven't been at the TOP of my spiritual game. I've come to know for myself that when you are struggling with "survival" it's difficult to take your eye off that goal and concentrate on other things that used to take up time. Like in my case, personal scripture study. I've been good with family prayers and family scripture study but my personal study time has "fallen by the wayside" let's say.

I started out by the shore in my little row boat, keeping my eye on the shore {my testimony} as I paddled and drained the water from my vessle making sure I kept it afloat...little did I know how far I had floated away.

Now that the struggle to live here in Costa Rica is all but gone, I have realized the route I need to take to get back to shore. It has been a wonderful journey for me. I LOVE the scriptures again. I'm thankful for the heroes that have figured out how to "survive" and stay just as close to the Lord even in trial. What examples. The last thing we need to do is put Christ and our testimony on the shore as we jump in a boat and try to handle our "storm" alone.

I don't want anyone to think that my testimony has been lost this last year {with my dramatic story}, I just haven't spent the time I should've in strengthening it. I'm coming to realize that the last year could have been more full of peace and comfort if I had been better to bring my scriptures along.

We know how healthy it is for our kids to see us enjoying reading. It will make them more apt to LOVE reading themselves. I've done well with this. My kids love to read. How much better it will be for my children to see me LOVE reading the words of the prophets and our Lord Jesus Christ.

So with the above said I want to share with you some of my favorite new found blogs, favorite DVD's and talks.

Scriptoriumblogorium{www.scriptoriumblogorium.blogspot.com} is what we are using for FHE scripture study. She has great posts about scripture references and if you click on the button on the right she's got a book posted there about Isaiah for teenagers. It's FREE {as far as I can tell} and right there on the blog. We are using the Isaiah book for seminary type study in our home school program {starting in the AM}.


Also, I heart John Byetheway's way of presenting gospel subjects. He has a talk about Sunday worship, The Best 3 Hours of the Week. This is great. You can find by searching onBYU TV.
But my favorite Byetheway talk is "Heroes; Lessons from the Book of Mormon. This is AWESOME! It's almost 100 minutes long. We are implementing it into our family home evening, 30 minutes at a time. He gives such great insight to the Heroes we sometimes glide over in our study. This is a GREAT way to get your family excited about scripture study.

Troy Dunn has a tape out there {hopefully it's in CD form now} called "Life is a Football Game". This is bust your gut funny! I heard it when I was about 16 and it changed my attitude about life. I've just found it and I'm ordering it for my oldest. How much better for him to hear it 4 years earlier than I did. {Actually how much better for me that he hears it earlier!!!} Maybe this is why I named my son Troy....hummm.
{Deseret Books has it and 4 other talks of Troy's for $19.99}

Did you know that the LDS church has a You Tube channel? Also another way set the mood for Family Night.

For us since, we don't get our church magazines in English, we go to
LDS.org > then "Gospel Library" > then "magazines. You can search through The Friend, New Era and The Ensign, plus there are "extra" buttons to check out. In the "Friend" you can "listen" to gospel stories, play games and print coloring pages. SWEET!!!

So please enjoy! Let me know what resources you love for gospel study.

My Grocery LOVES...

I thought I'd post a few pics of some things I've come to love here.
Of course I love this little guy, but the head of lettuce is what I'm referring to here. So fresh and yummy. I loved the ferria {farmers market} in Jaco. I've found a grocery store here however that has produce just as fresh and with a "lower" price tag. Be still my heart!
Most of the canned goods here come in this cool invention, a pull top. This is my evaporated milk. How easy is that. Because of this my can opener has retired early. Anyone need a can opener?
I'm sure you think this is ground coffee. But alas, it's the closest thing I can find to brown sugar. It's Caramel Sugar. It compacts like our C&H from the states but tastes quite a bit different. I've been told it's healthier than our traditional sugar but that means as much to me as "diet ice cream"....NOTHING!

My S-I-L's amiga just brought {smuggled} me in two HUGE bags of brown sugar. Yes I was as giddy as a little school girl and I'm not afraid to admit it!
I bought this to make a squash recipe that is native to Costa Rica. I was so excited to have learned how to make this, bummer is my family wasn't as excited as I was! Oh well, I'll just use it as a food coloring or make-up if the economy gets as bad as it is in the states. :)
I found this definition on Wikipedia:
Achiote is growing in popularity as a natural alternative to synthetic food coloring compounds. While it has a distinct flavor of its own, it can be used to color and flavor rice instead of the much more expensive saffron. The tree that it comes from is called the "lipstick" tree.

I thought this was interesting. I took this picture in my "not so friendly" neighborhood grocery store. {If you visit here, take it from me, Costa Ricans really don't like it when you take pictures in their stores}
I believe these are quail eggs but I'm not sure. Aren't they gorgeous? I loved all the detail in the shells.
It's funny, the eggs underneath them {what we are used to using} seemed so weird to me our first few months here. I wouldn't eat them {although I feed them to my family}.

A few days ago I saw the BRIGHT white, perfect eggs that I was used to in the states. I was surprised by them and had forgotten how flawless they are. Many times with our brown eggs I have to pull feathers off that have decided to attach themselves. In one batch you will get so many variables in sizes and color. How weird it must be to use a perfectly bright clean egg. I wonder how long it will take me to get used to that...

I might just feed them to my kids until I'm ready.

I HEART this seasoning packet. What's so different about it you ask.

It has dried onion, laurel, cilantro {my favorite} and garlic. What's NOT to love! I use this to make a version of Ranch dressing that blows the competiton away. Sorry Hidden Valley!

If I can't find this in the states I need to pack a suitcase full when we head back. Anyone seen this around? Anyone...Now this is cool! It's an anti-biotic that comes with a top you snap in and the applicator fits right in. You turn it upside down and no spills with the perfect measurement.
Funny thing is when I went to pick this up I didn't have to wait. They just handed it to me. Sweet.
I went home and opened it and it was just powder. I tried my best to read the directions and figured out that I needed to add water up to the line inside. So I did. Only to have my husband come home and tell me it needed to be boiling water. Oh, well. So now we all know why we have to wait 1 hour to get our medicine...it takes that long to add the water.
I love this! Jelly that squeezes out of a bag. This costs about 550 colones {just under a dollar}. Are you jealous now? No more finding fragments of jelly in my peanut butter.

Since I bake so much now, this is how I store my flour, in a covered plastic bin. We go through so much that this just works for me.
I have to end with these guys, courtesy of Troy. I don't know if you can see the faces he drew. As a mom I so enjoy finding surprises like this around the house. I hate to say that they perished today to serve my little fam our breakfast.

They will go down as heroes in our {stomach} hearts.

Marinara Sauce

Make sure you print this off and stick it in your recipe book. If you don't have a recipe book, buy one just to keep this recipe!

Awesome Marinara Sauce

PREP TIME 15 Min
COOK TIME 30 Min
READY IN 45 Min
Original recipe yield 4 cups

* 2 (14.5 ounce) cans stewed tomatoes
* 1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
* 4 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
* 1 clove garlic, minced
* 1 teaspoon dried oregano
* 1 teaspoon salt
* 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
* 6 tablespoons olive oil
* 1/3 cup finely diced onion
* 1/2 cup white wine (or substitute chicken broth)

DIRECTIONS

1. In a food processor (or blender) place Italian tomatoes, tomato paste, chopped parsley, minced garlic, oregano, salt, and pepper. Blend until smooth.
2. In a large skillet over medium heat sauté the finely chopped onion in olive oil for 2 minutes. Add the blended tomato sauce and white wine (or chicken broth).
3. Simmer for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.

This is so easy and much better than the jars {or even worse} the cans you open up from the store. This will freeze easily too. You can add a tablespoon or two of sugar if you like your sauce more sweet. I use this as my pizza sauce, the base to Minestrone soup and as the sauce in my {to DIE for} meatball sandwiches. I'm posting that next week. Stay tuned!

For those that are interested, this is how I make it CHEAPER.
Instead of buying canned Italian tomatoes, I chop my own and add 2 teaspoons of Italian seasoning.
Instead of canned chicken broth I use water and chicken bouillon.

Looks like I made my Tuesday deadline by one hour. I promise next Tuesday to have the recipe posted in the a.m.

Enjoy!

Pictures from the week.

We see rainbows here all the time. We haven't had a "real" rain like the deluge we would get in Jaco. I'm sure our San Jose skies do know how produce those and we will

Our little one loudly protesting time out.
This is what I got as soon as he realized he was being photographed.

Aiden, another budding photographer of ours, took this shot of Landon and I. Not too shabby. One of my FAVORITE things about our new home is this. Around the corner we have a yummy bread store. I get to practice my Spanish all the time. Today Dallin and I headed there all by ourselves. Quite nice, huh Dallin?
Their hot chocolate and "croissant with ham and cheese" inside are our favorites. I have to stay away from the croissant "figure" itivly speaking. (Anyone get that? Stay away- to keep my figure, hee, hee...he. Ahem.)

When you walk in you grab a tray and tongs then pick your selections. On the whole the bread {pan in Spanish} is pretty good. It tends to be a bit more dry than we are used to. We don't buy cookies in Costa Rica anymore because they are always "crispy" and we like chewy. The one and only cookie we bought here we thought they burnt it, but no, that is how they all are. :)These are filled with cream cheese and jam. We have yet to try these but they posed for me so well I had to take a picture. {the price is about 80 cents)
This is our favorite selection case. Soft, squishy bread found here.


I had to throw this one in. Paige made a paper version of the Mayflower for school and decided it made a great hat. Love that stance.
We don't have any decorations in this home of ours. Last week I decided it was about time we got some. I bought 11x14 sized poster board and we went at it on Family Night, creating our own art. I really liked what Dallin did here, I wish I would have stopped him. He ended up painting the entire board black. He saved it by making it his version of Starry Night.
Troy designed some sort of eyeball. I'm sure a psychologist would have a field day with him.

We attached tape to the back and hung our precious artwork. I'm hoping that in a few weeks they won't care if I start over on the other side. What do you think?
Our youngest two did their own works of art and of course I had to hang them. {watercolors of course}

CREATE...

This is just beautiful.

For the friends of mine who don't belong to the same church as I do, this is a talk by one of our apostles. It was directed specifically to women and our desire to "create".

I have many creative friends. This is for you! And to the friends that don't think they are "creative". This is especially for you.

Enjoy.




I told you it was a gorgeous piece. I can’t leave without talking about what that talk inspires in me.

I remember a time in my life, B.K. {before kids} when a photographer buddy of mine (Tamera Graybill) and I used to take off every Sunday late afternoon, cameras in hand, and drive. We would find the most gorgeous scenery to capture on “film”. I wasn’t the scenery type back then, I enjoyed photographing little rug rats more. I didn’t see the “challenge” in a subject that did exactly what you wanted it to.
However, it was majestic.

In the calmness of the moments before we pushed our shutter buttons a testimony of gratitude for God’s creations were born and reborn every time.

I do believe we are all born like Him, in the sense we feel joy when we create. We desire to “create” things that didn’t exist before. That can be a smile we’ve created on someone else’s face, a photograph of one of the most beautiful sunrises (like my friend Teri just captured) or a child that just arrived into a waiting family.

There is fulfillment in creating.

Tamera, I wish you were here to head out with me. I’ve decided to start our tradition again.

Bourbon Chicken...without the Bourbon!

Bourbon Chicken
adapted from Blog Chef

Ingredients:
2lb boneless skinless chicken breasts
4 tablespoons oil (for pan-frying)
cornstarch (for dusting)

Sauce:
1 garlic clove (minced)
¼ teaspoon ginger (I used ground ginger)
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes ( I use Cheyenne pepper and 1/2 what it calls for )
¼ cup apple juice
1/3 cup light brown sugar
2 tablespoon of your favorite jam ( I use raspberry)
1 tablespoon cider vinegar
½ cup water
1/3 cup soy sauce

Cut chicken breasts into bite-sized pieces, and if you choose lightly dust with cornstarch. Heat oil in your wok (or saucepan) and fry chicken bits in batches until lightly browned. Drain on paper towels and set aside.

In a bowl combine all sauce ingredients. Pour into wok and bring to a boil. Add chicken bits back to the pan, reduce the heat and simmer for 10 minutes. Serve with rice.

That's it!! So yummy and very, very easy! This is one of my top 10, delish. Always turns out.

Enjoy!

Would You Like Syrup with That?

Thanks Shelly! I guess I should have posted our favorite syrup recipe with the pancakes.

That is, if I didn't have 2 little guys pulling on my arms to pry me away from my computer while trying to write my last post, I might have thought of that. :)

Here is our Syrup Recipe:

Simple Maple Syrup

1 cup of boiling water
1 cup of white sugar
1 cup of brown sugar
½ teaspoon of maple flavored extract
½ teaspoon of butter flavoring

Boil water in a saucepan, add sugars and stir until dissolved. Remove from heat and stir in maple flavoring and butter. Serve warm.