The Big 3-0!

Today is my 30th birthday.......Looking back on past birthdays, I couldn't wait to turn another year older. When I was 15, I couldn't wait to turn 16 so that I could get my driver's license. When I was 17, the day couldn't come soon enough that I was a legal adult. At 20, I planned a huge birthday party for the big 2-1!!! Now that I am officially out of my 20's, I wish more then anything I could stop time and go back a year or two....or three. Tomorrow, I am off to a secret get away that the hubby has planned for me. Stay tuned for an update in a few days about where he has taken me as well as a ton of pictures from our recent trip to Maui. I promise to stop neglecting this blog and start posting more often! Life goes by way too fast and I need to document as much as I can!

ATTENTION COFFEE LOVERS!

You must try these new CoffeeHouse Inspirations from International Delight. (I bought it at Stater Bros.) I highly recommend the Vanilla Latte! It is soooo delish and makes my coffee very happy...which in turn makes me very happy.

Chef Anne Burrell

Have you ever seen this lady on the food network? At first I thought I was watching a female version of Guy Fieri (must have been the hair). Anyways, she sucked me in with her enthusiasm and love for food. She is eccentric, loud, animated and completely entertaining. Her vision is making high-end restaurant quality food......in any average persons kitchen and budget. Hence her catch phrase "You don't have to be a restaurant chef to cook like one". Love it!! She actually made me excited to get in my kitchen and make some grub!!!! I tried out this recipe.........and holy cow!!! It was delicious! Packed full of flavor and super easy!

Pork Chops with Apples and Onions
Recipe courtesy Anne Burrell
Prep Time: 10 min Inactive Prep Time: 10 min Cook Time: 45 min
Level: Easy Serves: 2 servings
Ingredients
4 bone-in pork loin chops, 1- inch thick
Kosher salt
Extra-virgin olive oil
2 onions, thinly sliced
1 pinch crushed red pepper
2 Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored, and sliced
Pinch cinnamon
2 sprigs fresh rosemary, leaves finely chopped
2 cups apple cider

Directions
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
Season the pork chops generously with salt. Coat a large saute pan with olive oil and bring it to a high heat. Sear the pork on both sides and on the fat edge, working in batches if the chops don't all fit in the pan at the same time. Be sure not to crowd the pan. Remove the pork from the pan and place on a cookie sheet. Finish the pork in the oven for about 10 to 12 minutes. Remove from the oven and let rest for 10 minutes before serving.

Ditch the excess fat from the saute pan. Give a drizzle of fresh olive oil and add the onions and crushed red pepper and season with salt. Cook until the onions become soft and aromatic. Add the apples, cinnamon and rosemary and toss to coat with the oil. Add the cider and cook until the cider has reduced by two-thirds and the onion-apple mixture is very soft and saucy. Serve over the pork chops.
Porky deliciousness!

Seriously..."Porky Deliciousness"? Who thinks of that? Hilarious!!!
Jeremy said it was one of his favorite things I have ever made. The only changes to her recipe is that I used boneless pork chops and I used "sparkling" apple cider because I already had that at home.

Oh stormy weather......

how I love thee.

In the five years we have lived in the desert, this has definitely been the most cold and rainy. When we lived in Orange County I would dread the wet winters. Having to battle so cal traffic on top of drenched roadways, was not my cup of tea. But now, having to live in 6 months a year of scorching heat, I truly appreciate mother nature's gift of winter! The dark, thunderous clouds, blustery winds, and downpour of water are part of a season I gladly welcome!

It won't be long before it is so hot, that ice cream melts on the way home from the grocery store. You cannot relax outside, unless you are floating in a pool. That refreshing pool then turns into bath water by the middle of August. To make the summer even more awesom, our normal $60 electric bill becomes $275. (Can you hear the sarcasm in my voice?) I cringe just thinking of this season approaching. (The day Jeremy and I moved into our house, it was 126 degrees. Yes, it was miserable. Just another little fun fact.)

So until then, I will enjoy every minute of snuggling in layers, turning on the fireplace, and wearing my ugg boots! Please summer....don't come too soon!

The next Michael Phelps

Boomer cannot get enough of being in the water. The other day we took him to our friend's pool and he swam for about 2 hours. He was diving off of the waterfall from the jacuzzi into the pool. It was hilarious. And he slept for almost 24 hours straight after all the fun!

Celebrity Doppelganger

On facebook a couple of weeks ago, everyone was posting their "Doppelganger" otherwise known as a celebrity that you have been told you look like. Here are ours:
Brad Penny

Trisha Yearwood

Are these yours?

I found these shoes under our guest bed. We always have friends and family staying with us...so I had a list of about 20 different people they could belong too. My very good friend Kari Hoyt, claimed the super cute black wedge (if only she had left the other one, then I could have worn them a time or two before returning them to her! I'm a sucker for some sexy heels.) But the New Balance tennis shoes still have not been claimed! We have no clue who they belong too. And who knows how long they have been under there. (By the way, they are a size 12, Jeremy's perfect fit.) I guess its a sign that I need to check under that bed after our guests leave....we could score ourselves some really cool stuff!! Anyways, if these belong to you....let me know......otherwise Finders Keepers!!!