Ifs Ands & Nuts

Mystery Solved!
Every time I am in Salt Lake City, I eat at The Nauvoo Cafe in the Joseph Smith Memorial Building. One of my favorite treats is an  "Ifs Ands & Nuts" Cookie for dessert.
For about 4 years now, I have been trying to find (guess, duplicate, etc) the recipe. I have even called Temple Square Hospitality and The Lion House asking for the recipe...No answer...not because it was a secret, but because no one seemed to know who had it. Yes, I was a little obsessive about finding this recipe. It is the perfect Chocolate Chip-ish/Peanut-Buttery/Nutty/Chunky Cookie. One of those "only in Utah" treats (oh, there are too many of those!!!!)
A few weeks ago, while in Downtown SLC at Deseret Book, I opened the new Lion House Bakery Cookbook and there is was...The elusive recipe in PRINT! SOLD... to the woman from Florida! Honestly, I had given up looking for the recipe and was not even thinking about it. What a wonderful surprise to find this recipe. You can order a copy of this Cookbook for your very own by clicking HERE. Then....you will have your own copy of the Ifs Ands & Nuts Cookie Recipe!

Utah, Food Groups, and Cute Hair

Eating My Way Through Utah...

If you have been there...you get it.

Today, I was discussing my recent trip to Utah with

my Family Doctor.

I realized that if I shared the following with her,

she may not "get it" and prescribe something for me I

simply do not need.

(Although, this would have explained the weight gain

from this past month...no questions asked)

UTAH HAS IT'S OWN FOOD GROUPS!

Really and truly, they do..... and it's a good thing.

What, you ask are those food groups?

Fry Sauce

Ice Cream (in any form)

Candy (ALL types)

Cafe Rio

Desserts (Other than Candy and Ice Cream)

BREAD (not just grains, but the best homemade bread)

The Nauvoo Cafe

Parkers Drive In (At least for me)

In fact, while I was visiting Utah a few weeks ago, I even

received an e-mail from my sister telling me not to miss

the V Chocolates at a kiosk in the mall. Like me, she lives no

where near Utah, but appreciates the Food Groups in Utah.

See, I am not the only one who looks forward to eating my way

through Utah.

And while we are on Utah....what is with everyone having the SAME

haircut? OK, only every other person. Blond and CUTE hair. I think

I'll be sporting one of those cuts next week after my hair appointment.

(Not the Blond Part, just the cut)

If I lived there, I would most likely not get one of those cute cuts

because I would want to look different than everyone else...but here...

it will be different from everyone else in town...sort of.

It will be a Cute Utah cut with a Welly-world twist.

I took photos of complete strangers with cute hair just

to make sure I could explain what I want to my hair stylist.

I am sure they are still talking about me today.

(That crazy tourist from Florida wanted photos of my HAIR!)

Oh well, I will have cute hair....and after all, I'll never see them again.

I am sure they are happy to know I have left town and will not be

asking to take a photo of their cute hair again.

OK, back to the food thing.

Do you see why my Doctor would have thought me to be crazy?

Unless you have been there...you just won't get it.

What Utah Food Group did I miss?

There are so many extras!

What is your Favorite Food In Utah?

OK, that was not a fair question....

What are some of your Favorite Foods in Utah?

Did you ever think Unique Food Groups and

Cute Hair could have anything in common?

In Utah they do...and I am happy for that!

Happy Weekend Everyone!

I can feel it....this weekend is going to be wonderful.

Week One Report

In Andrew's Words...

After his first full week at LDS Business College in Salt Lake City, This is Andrew's report:
"This is a great school. I am surprised more people don't come here to get their first two years done. Cheap, Small, and GREAT Atmosphere."
Yes, Andrew, I agree. It is far cry from when I attended LDSBC 30 years ago. With the new campus and facilities, LDSBC will not be a well kept secret for much longer. In addition to the great academic experience, I am so happy you can attend Church right on Campus and have a meal plan. Back in the day, I had to go to the UofU for Church. Not too convenient when none of us had cars and the buses did not run often on Sundays. As for meals, I had to cook. Not a problem, but try going grocery shopping without a car and the Grocery Store was too far to walk to and from anyhow. Having Male Dorms is a new addition, also. I will say, the Girls' Dorms at the old campus were nice, but we were just a little too far from the center of things to be without a car. Your are set up for success all the way around. I am so excited for you. Love, Mom

Home Again and SO HAPPY

Ike Made Sure I Came Home Early...

Andrew is settled in Utah

I am home earlier than planned

There is

NO PLACE LIKE HOME....

Heat, Humidity, Hurricanes, and all...

I am SO HAPPY to be home

I am SO HAPPY that Andrew is SO HAPPY

(more on the trip later...photos and all!)

I am SO HAPPY that I am not home to put my

Hurricane Shutters in place!

I am SO HAPPY Hurricane Ike has his sights on other areas

(I do not feel slighted nor silly for

erring on the side of caution by cutting my trip short)

I am NOT SO HAPPY that Ike, or any Hurricane has to hit

ANYWHERE. My prayers are with those in Ike's path.

Thankfully...

Hanna did not go to Montana and is about fizzled.

Josephine seems to be staying away from land fall.

More later.... so much....so much...so much to be grateful for and

SO HAPPY about this Sunday evening!

By the way...It DOES NOT get any easier to have the little chicks

leave the nest, regardless of how BIG they are....

Faith In Every Footstep

Pioneer Day

Today, July 24, 2008, Commemorates the

161st Anniversary of the Mormon Pioneers arriving in

The Salt Lake Valley

This is a day near and dear to my heart.

How grateful I am for Pioneers of yesterday and today who love the Gospel of Jesus Christ with all their hearts.I am in awe and reverence those who sacrificed every comfort and even life itself to ensure I enjoy the blessings of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

How grateful I am to rub shoulders daily with Modern Day Pioneers. Those who are the first in their family to embrace The Gospel of Jesus Christ and be Baptized. Their strength, courage, and vibrancy build me up and help me want to be a better person. There are many, many first generation members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints I am blessed to call dear friends, one I even call my husband. Their dedication to living the Gospel daily has been a motivation for me to become a better person.

Have you ever been around people who just make you want to be the best you can be? That is how I feel when I am around Modern Day Pioneers, also referred to as Converts To The Church. They are just amazing people to me. I think that is how it would feel to be around the early Pioneers and to feel of their love and commitment to the Gospel.

As President Gordon B Hinkley taught at the 150th Pioneer Day Commemoration....Whether you were baptized yesterday or come from a a long line on Pioneer Ancestry, The Pioneer Heritage is yours. It is for all. We ALL have the Gospel because of their willingness to find the place they could settle and worship in peace.

In a previous post, I wrote that I never fly over the Rocky Mountains without crying. It is true. As I fly in and out of Salt Lake City a few times per year, I contemplate the miracle of weak, tired, and ill-equipped wagons and handcarts crossing over the mountains. They only could have made it with the help of Angels. I know Angels accompanied the Mormon Pioneers at each step of their journey. I stare at the jagged peaks and straight up and down inclines and marvel at every step taken to reach The Salt Lake Valley. Yes, I cry....tears of gratitude and reverence.

Amid the celebrations, parades, and fun food today.... Stop for a moment and think about the Legacy of The Mormon Pioneers. It is yours, it is mine.

They changed the world, literally, One Step At A Time.

How are you celebrating this day? Do you have any traditions surrounding Pioneer Day?

Utah

Check This Out...

If you live in Utah, have family and friends in Utah (as I do),

or travel to Utah (as I do),

You will enjoy

YOURHEARTOUT.COM

The site is full of great suggestions of where to eat, play, shop, seek entertainment, etc. all over Utah. If you live in Utah, this is a great site for summer activity ideas. If you are planning to travel to Utah, check it out for suggestions. I seem to do the same things and eat at the same places when I am there. I will definitely use YourHeartOut for planning future trips.

BYU Women's Conference

Plan To Attend This!!!!

I am home from Utah, where I attended

BYU Women's Conference.

I can honestly say, it was a life-changing experience.

Do whatever you can to attend this Conference.....

especially if you DON'T live in or near Utah.

It is held the first Thursday and Friday every May after BYU Graduation.

You will attend the Conference once and want to make sure it is part of your

annual self preservation strategy.

With 60 Classes and hundreds of speakers to choose from, there is something for every interest and season in life, and I mean every season and interest. Regardless of where you are at, you will find joy and peace as you attend.

There are service projects, Musical performances and Concerts, Displays on every subject imaginable, shopping at the BYU Bookstore, and the FOOD!!!!

I have said this before, I could eat my way through Utah, and I pretty much did.

Call a friend and invite her to attend with you next year, better yet, call a group of friends. Dont wait...make your plans now...you know how time gets away from you!!!

Reserve your hotel in Provo, UT early!

Watch for a great airfare deal and register for the Conference in January.

I promise this is the best investment you can make for yourself.

There is something incredible about spending 2 days with 20,000 like-minded women. No cursing, no "walking pornography" in the way they dressed, no smoking, and on and on. Just women who want to improve their lives by focusing on living the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Every class, every musical presentation, every prayer prepared us for the closing presentation given by the LDS Prophet, President Thomas S Monson. It just does not get any better than this. On the plane trip home last night, I spent almost the entire time on BOTH flights reviewing my notes from each class. While reviewing the notes, I made new notes as to how the things I learned and felt will change the way I live on a daily basis. I cannot remember ever being so moved by the notes I took from any meeting, class, etc.

The trip included a few days in Salt Lake with a trip to the Salt Lake Temple. I cry every time I leave that temple. I just love being in the temple where my marriage began.

The flowers in Salt Lake were exquisite, especially on Temple Square. Spring in Salt Lake is one of my favorite places. It reminded me of how beautiful Salt Lake was when Curt and Carmen were married 2 years ago this next week. I took a lot of pictures of flowers. When I load them, I will add a few to this blog.