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We have spent HOURS, that probably amount to DAYS looking for a car on KSL over the last few months, but over Thanksgiving break we finally test drove this Mazda Tribute and took the plunge. We finally have the licence plates, title, an extra key, and the remote working. #adultingishard #adultingisexpensive It was a little frustrating and annoying looking around and spending our Thanksgiving searching the web for cars, but I'm so glad we finally found a perfect match. The few times I've had to drive to/from work in the snow, 4 wheel drive has been a blessing! Remind me why I live in Utah again!? 

Flourless Peanut Butter Cookies {Gluten Free}

YES. These are them. The perfect gluten free/ flour-less Peanut Butter Cookies you've been looking for. They are a perfect combination of crisp and gooey and the honey gives them such a rich flavor. We are not exclusively "gluten free" in our house, but we know plenty of people that are, so its nice to have this recipe on hand to share treats with people who can't have gluten. Plus, they are so fast and easy.

Ingredients

1 cup natural peanut butter, smooth or crunchy
3/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup honey
1 large egg, lightly beaten
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1/2 tsp. baking soda


Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Using a stand mixer, mix the peanut butter, sugar, and honey until well combined.
Add the egg, baking soda, and vanilla on low speed until well combined.
Drop a tablespoon of dough for each cookie, spacing out about 12 on a pan.
(Optional) Flatten the dough balls the tines of a fork, making a cross pattern on the cookies.
Bake the cookies for about 10 minutes until they are slightly golden around the edges. 
Cookies will still be very soft when you take them out. Don't worry. They 'solidify' as they cool down. Let them cool down for a few minutes before putting them on a cooling rack.

the perfect pie crust

The name of this recipe definitely does it justice because it might be the best pie crust recipe I've ever made! This week we used this recipe from Pioneer Woman to make both a flat apple pie and a chicken pot pie and both were amazing! I think the secret ingredient is the vinegar because I've never used it in a pie crust recipe before.

Perfect Pie Crust:

3 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting

1 teaspoon salt

1 1/2 sticks cold butter

3/4 cup vegetable shortening

1 egg

5 tablespoons cold water

1 tablespoon distilled white vinegar

(Recipe for 2 pies)

Read more at: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ree-drummond/flat-apple-pie-with-perfect-pie-crust-recipe.html?oc=linkback


We found a recipe on Pinterest for chicken pot pie, but tweaked it to be even better! We did have some left over veggies from the filling that we are planning to use for a soup later in the week. The amount of sauce was perfect for one pie though.

Chicken Pot Pie Recipe

1⁄3 cup  butter

1⁄3 cup all-purpose flour

3/4  cup onion, chopped

1 3⁄4 cup chicken broth

2⁄3 cup milk

2 cup chicken, cooked and chopped

1/3 c. frozen corn

1/3 c. frozen peas

1/3 c. chopped carrots

1 (up to 2) potatoes, diced and cooked

1/3 c. chopped celery

1 1/2 c. fresh spinach

1 1/2 tsp. minced garlic

salt and pepper to taste

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.

2. Cook potatoes, onion, celery,  garlic, and carrots in some oil.

3. Add corn, peas, and spinach after the potato mixture is slightly softened. 

4. Melt butter in a large saucepan over low heat. 

5. Add flour, salt, and black pepper and cook, stirring constantly, until smooth and bubbly. 

6.. Remove from heat and stir in chicken broth and milk. 

7. Bring to a boil while stirring constantly, then cook while continuing to stir for about one minute or until the mixture thickens. 

8. Stir in chicken, vegetables, and potatoes.

9. Line a pie pan with the bottom crust and pour in the filling. Cover with the top crust, seal the edges, and cut away any excess dough. Cut small slits in the center to vent.

Cook for 25-30 minutes or until the crust is golden brown and the filling is bubbly. Cool for 10 minutes before serving.

It wasn't the prettiest pie because we used too much of the pie crust for our apple pie earlier in the week (which I will post about later this week). So, the edges were NOT pretty, but man was it delicious.

First Anniversary

Earlier this month we celebrated our one year anniversary by going on a little trip to St. George, Utah. We stayed Friday and Saturday night. Saturday we did some shopping, went to the Red Hills Desert Garden (where many of the below pictures were taken), went to the St. George Temple and Visitors Center, then ate out at Olive Garden before heading to Tuachan Amphitheater to see Tarzan! The show was amazing and it was Mike's first time seeing a Broadway quality production. The singing was amazing, the ape-like mannerisms of the actors was impressive, and the venue was beautiful! One of the most impressive parts was when they flooded the stage with water. Oh, and my when Tarzan and Jane zip lined onto the stage in jungle outfits at the end. (I was hoping that the ending included that.)

During Intermission there was a lot of talk about the BYU/ Utah game that was going on. There were clearly supporters of both sides in the audience. One man stood up and got a bunch of people to sing the BYU Fight Song. It was pretty hilarious.

We got back to our hotel room pretty late, but had to have a slice of year-old preserved wedding cake (which was still amazing) and sparkling cider.

Sunday morning we went back to the Temple to take pictures then went to church. We headed back and went to Bountiful for dinner with Family. What a dreamy weekend. I didn't even work on ANYTHING for school. HA.

I made a short video recapping our first anniversary that you can watch here.

 Red Hills Desert Garden with a great view of St. George.

Tuachan; Such an amazing Venue!

Labor Day

 Labor Day Weekend was a much needed break from the first two crazy weeks of school! I am loving Diamond Fork Junior High School, but it was nice to have some time off.

On Friday night, Mike and I went to the last Provo Rooftop Concert of the season featuring the Salt Lake City Mass Choir and the band The Lower Lights. We listen to the Lower Lights Hymn Revival Album almost every Sunday so it was really fun to sing along!

Saturday we went to Ikea to get a new dining table and chairs, then headed up to Bountiful to spend some time with my Family and aunt Michelle who was in town. Mike had a little test Drive in Michelle's Honda CR-V and he is sold on buying one. (We are hoping to buy a car later this year).

Monday we definitely made the most of our extra day of weekend! In the morning we hiked Rock Canyon, took a drive in Provo Canyon, and then went to Seven Peaks because it was the last day of the season! Summer is coming to a close and Fall is upon us! 

(Just look at all those Fall colors!!!)

We decided to take advantage of the weekday lunch prices at Tucanos while we could and it was Mike's first time going! This is his "oh my gosh this is so good" face:) That grilled pineapple though.

Only three more school days to go, then Mike and I will be celebrating our one year anniversary in St. George next weekend! It always helps me get through the week having something to look forward to on the weekends.

Orlando

Wow, its been months since we went to Florida, but it was too epic to not document. We had such a fun time and got to try a lot of cool restaurants, chill on lots of different beaches, and sweat our socks off. Our Orlando video can be watched here.

We flew in on Monday late afternoon and drove our 12 passenger rental van straight to Cafe Tu Tu Tango. The atmosphere there was really cool. It was very artsy/eclectic. The walls were covered with the art of local artists that was for sale. We all shared a bunch of smaller entrees including Fried Alligator Bites! We stayed in a pink stucco house with a private enclosed pool that was about a half hour from Disney World. Tuesday morning we started our Disney World experience at Hollywood Studios. I loved the atmosphere at Hollywood Studios. It was very Art Deco/ 50s. It was also all out Star Wars with Storm Troopers everywhere, the new Star Wars ride: Star Tours, and the Star Wars firework show. Emma, mom and I went to the Beauty and the Beast show, and later we all went to the Frozen Show at the Hyperion which my mom cried at. It was a sing along and it was really cute to hear all the little girls sing along.

At Hollywood Studios we ate dinner at the 50's Prime Time Cafe. Our waiter was really sarcastic and told Emma he wouldn't take her plate until she ate all her food, and then proceeded to feed Britton. Emma loved it.

 Wednesday we drove to Cape Canaveral and explored the Kennedy Space Center. This was one of my favorite parts of the trip. It made me proud to be an American. We went on a bus tour to see the various launch pads and the Vehicle Assembly Building. We got to see a rocket mounted on the inside of a building that was HUGE! It was amazing. 

The building with the Atlantis space shuttle was pretty amazing as well. While Kenley, Dallin, Cameron and Mike went on a take off simulator and my dad and I were able to walk through the Memorial Exhibit honoring the astronauts lost in the Challenger and Columbia expeditions. It was one of the most emotional museum experiences I've had. There were objects belonging to individuals lost and there were remains of the two shuttles displayed as well. 

 Going to the beach was so relaxing and the Pacific and the Gulf were both SO warm. We got a lot of footage of cool shells and crabs. The little boy in Mike came out as he spent the whole time building (and protecting) his sandcastles.

Thursday we went to Magic Kingdom and it was well, Magic! We were prepared with Fast Passes for all the busy rides thanks to my mom who was on it! We started out easy going on the Peter Pan ride and It's a Small World. Then we went on Splash Mountain and I hated it. Thunder Mountain Railroad was a blast, and I screamed my lungs off. The rest of the day consisted of train rides, "Incredible" dance parties, the Laugh Floor with Monsters Inc, and Jungle Cruises, Pineapple Dole Whips, and the Electrical Lights Parade, a fireworks show, and more.  

Thursday we went to the Beach near St. Petersburg and ate at a crab shack then some overpriced frozen yogurt on the way home:)

Epcot was like going on a condensed World Tour. The highlights for all of us probably included "Soarin Over the World" which is, was, and always will be the coolest ride ever, and eating at the British Pub, The Rose and Crown. 

Overall, it was a really great trip and it was great to spend so much time with my family. We made some great memories that we will never forget.

Sunday Strolls

Michael and I have always taken a walk on Sunday evenings ever since we started dating. It's a tradition we always hope to continue. Instead of walking around the neighborhood as usual, we drove down to Bicentennial Park in Provo. There was a really cool swampy area with a board walk. I love finding hidden secrets in the neighborhood. It is always so cool to find a place that has been so close to you, yet you've never known of its existence.  I could SMELL Russian Olive Trees throughout the whole park. That scent always brings back memories of taking bike rides along the Columbia River in Washington.

 Then on the way home we saw some signs for Slate Canyon just a few miles south of where we live. We drove up to a parking lot that was the start of several hiking trails I can't wait to try out this summer! There was even a really nice covered picnic area that will be perfect for summer lunches.

* Cue Imagine Dragons "I'm on Top of the World". I stayed below in case 911 needed to be called when he fell down the mountain.

Side Note: I'm counting down the days until Michael and I go with my family to Orlando, Florida. (A month from tomorrow.) I got this new floppy hat for beach days. And I'm working on a secret sewing project for all the girls to wear on our trip (Except that Emma is the only one who doesn't know at this point. I'm horrible at keeping secrets when I'm excited about something.) 

Graduation & Mike's Birthday

Its so bittersweet to be done with my experience at BYU. (Its only been three years since I began anyways). It feels great to have so much free time for now, but I am excited to teach foods classes at Diamond Fork Junior High in the Fall! I have been substitute teaching here and there over the last two weeks and it has been a blast! Its so flexible and I get to do something I love; teach.

I've spent the last few semesters taking classes with all of these girls. They are great!

Mike's birthday was on April 30th. I ordered name donuts for him from Provo Bakery. It is such a cute little shop and the donuts were delicious! For lunch we had hot dogs with tons of toppings and I made some copycat J-Dawgs Sauce that can be found HERE. We, of course had to watch Mike's favorite movie, Inception. Then we went to the Seven Peaks Fun Center in Lehi for Blacklight Mini Golf. We each have a Pass of all Passes that gets us in to most of the activities for FREE. It is a MUST have for Utah Valley residents. 

Mike chose to go to Buffalo Wild Wings for his birthday dinner and he got a Birthday Shout Out from the whole restaurant. (I had to embarrass him a little.) 

Unfortunately, they never brought out his birthday crown;)

We had Kenley and some of our friends come over for cake and games. Our game of Yahtzee was about as intense as it gets. I'm sure the neighbors were wondering things with all of the yelling and pounding... It was a great day filled with lots of fun and great food!

 Happy Birthday Michael!

Twenty- One

*Thirteenth Birthday*

* Twenty- First Birthday*

Everyone loves a good flashback, am I right? My mom posted a picture of 3rd grade me on my Facebook wall and everyone came to the conclusion that I look the same. Haha its true.

The evening before my birthday, Kenley, her roommate, Emma, my Mom, Mike and I went to PF Changs for my birthday dinner after Kenley's choir concert. Those lettuce wraps though. So addicting! On my birthday, I had to go to school and finish up student teaching in Payson. Mike had a "reading day" to prepare for BYU finals, but he spent the whole day preparing for birthday surprises.

He made this impressive  blueberry cheesecake from scratch. It's pretty much a work of art. And he bought me these ankle boots that he picked out himself. So, major husband points there.

I've been wanting to go mini golfing for a while, but Mike surprised me with Miniature Croquet at Provo Beach Resort ! Didn't even know that was a thing but it was just as fun. We ended off the night watching Tangled just like last year. I guess that will have to be a birthday tradition. It was a perfect day full of fun and no lesson planning (for once).