POF- Prisoner of Finals

First Order of Business, I must apologize for not posting in almost three weeks!!  I have been going crazy studying and doing homework and getting ready for finals and traveling home and congratulating my roommate and basically going crazy.  So forgive me. 

Now that that's out of the way, G is engaged!!!!  At our Girl's Night In, we talked about how C was engaged to P and was G going to get engaged to D.  She concluded that we would probably know it was going to happen before she did.  False.  I would tell the story, but I feel that if you want to know, you already do and if you don't, then G has to tell you herself. :] Let's just say it involved Scrabble and D did a good job picking the ring.

So that was our kick-off to finals-week.  The next morning, I got up super early to go to work and stayed on campus super late to take all three of my unscheduled finals.  Definitely should have studied more, but I just really didn't care and I wanted them to be over with.  They were causing me lots of stress and I hate stress and I wanted it gone.  So there. 

Thursday morning, G and I both left around 6:30am to take a stupid scheduled final (with some extra luck from D).  After I came back, it was time to start packing and cleaning!!  My wonderful visiting teacher drove me to the airport (thanks, Sarah!) and I made it on the flight!  (If you've ever flown standby, you know how nerve racking it can be to try flying around Christmas.)  I touched down in Atlanta at 7:42pm and the temperature outside was 69 degrees :] (I looked a little out of place with my turtleneck sweater and big heavy coat and boots). 

So, I'm home!! And it's rather grand :]

Caramel Apples: The Secrets!

When I was younger (like, early teens younger), we made caramel apples every year to raise money for girl's camp.  When we first made them, they were $5.  And we're not just talking an apple dipped in caramel here.  We're talking, fat, red, juicy apples hand dipped in smooth caramel and re-dipped in rich white chocolate, and then dipped again in decadent milk chocolate and finally sprinkled with chopped nuts and pieces of toffee.  They first rolled out of the kitchen for $5 per apple.  The next year, $5.50.  The next year, $7.50.  And we never had a decrease in customers.  People kept buying more, and more, and more.  (Means they were heavenly and worth the $8 we sold them for most recently.)  So, here are some nifty tips and tricks for making delicious caramel apples that your friends, neighbors, family, and enemies will die for.

1. Braeburn of Fuji
You can't use just any old apple.  You're combining it with tons of other rich flavors like caramel and chocolate.  It needs to have that apple taste AND those sweet flavors.  Green apples are far too overpowering.  My favorite ones to use are Braeburns, but Fujis work as well.

2. Consistent Caramel
You have to use the same brand of caramels and you have to have the right consistency.  Different brands don't always work together well, and can be confusing.  The consistency of your caramel should be not too thick and not too thin.  If it's too thick, your apples will be huge because the caramel doesn't run off.  If it's too thin, your apples won't have any caramel on them by the end of the night because it will all run off.  A little bit of run off is good, but not a lot.  I compare to prefectly melted chocolate.  You don't want it that thin; just a bit thicker.  Don't follow the directions on the caramel package- just add a teaspoon of water at a time and watch it.

3. Ogres have layers- and so should caramel apples.
To make them look really pretty and professional, don't cover the whole apple all the way up to the top with every single topping.  Cover the whole thing with caramel; then the next time you dip it, only cover it 2/3 of the way up.  The next time, only 1/3.  If you have more layers, adjust how much you cover, but make sure each layer can be seen and it will look fabulous, I guarantee. :]

4. Serve 'em Fresh.
Apples still rot.  If you want to give caramel apples as gifts, make them the day of or the day before.  If you wait for too long, then the caramel will eventually all run off, and the apple will rot.  Which is a sad thing indeed.

5. Get some help!
There are a lot of components to any kind of candy making and having helpers is a good thing, particularly helpers who know what they're doing!  If you want to make caramel apples, I will gladly lend a helping hand- it's tricky, but once you do it with someone, you kind of get a feel for it.

Sorry there aren't any pictures to go with this one; I know you'll find it in your hearts to forgive me. ;]

Today's the Day the Teddy Bears have Their Picnic

Hello folks!  So today, I would like to bring to your attention a certain young man who is near and dear to my heart and very talented with a camera.  His name is Chris.  Chris is my cousin (and he's single, ladies!) and he works with bears in Sitka, Alaska!  He is super cool (I remember when my siblings and I were little, we would sneak into his room and he would let us watch Anaconda and old Star Trek episodes) and he takes really awesome pictures:

Like a boss

I loves you!

He also has a blog, which you can find over on the right side of my blog, called "Where the Bear Walks" or you can just click here.  Some of the posts are rather heart-breaking, but eye-opening to some of the issues surrounding bears.

If You Like to Talk to Tomatoes . . .

The week of 11/11/11 11:11:11

I baked.

 And then we decorated.

And we ate chocolate like objects.

And I worked 10 hours in one day . . . (cookies on line 1!!)

 Feature Film of the Week:

Broccoli, celery, gotta be . . . Veggie Tales!

 And Devin got all dressed up!

Tanner: "Nice bling!"

Gail: "It's a leash!"

Surprises, Stuffs, and Star Wars

Well, lovely friends, I decided I've waited long enough to update my blog, so here's a little snippet of what's been goin' down.

First, The Surprise

We had a surprise birthday party for Gail :] And she had no idea :]

Yes, that's a Korean flag in cupcake form just for Gail :]

We got people from the ward to write her notes and made long paper chain out of them which we hung up across the room. :] And then Devin wrapped her up in it. Just for fun :]

Second, Stuffs

This is my new toy which I got last night at Wal-Mart.

Isn't it pretty?!  I used it for the first time today to make dinner (which I forgot to take pictures of) and it was most excellent. :]

And last, but not least, Star Wars

Just a little something for your trouble :]

Getting Crazy with the Spices

So, it's Friday . . . and I'm not dressin' up and I got no where to go, so how about a little adventure says I?

Amidst doing laundry, I noticed that I was somewhat hungered... so when I came back, I did a little cooking and creating of my own. :]  And I came up with something delicious! (which seems to happen every once in a while)

What I used:

• Unclaimed/unmarked ground beef sitting in the back of our freezer
• Cream Cheese
• Random half package of guacamole seasoning which has been sitting on our spice shelf forever
• Water
• Rice
• Ranch Dressing
• Chopped Onions
• Mozzarella Cheese

I put the cheeses, the guacamole seasoning, the onions, a little bit of water and the ground beef in a pan and just . . . cooked it.  Then I *attempted* to make rice with a little bit of ranch dressing in it to give a little zingy do.  (Okay, side note: Rice is my arch-nemesis.  Apparently, I didn't live with my Asians for long enough because I still to this day can not cook it right!  I always, always, always cook it too long or not long enough.  Plus, it's so bland, I never have any idea what to do with it.  I bought a small bag of it this last shopping trip because I wanted to have another go at making it awesome-tastic and so far the score is Rice: 4 Leigha: 0.)  So, the rice, of course, didn't come out quite how I wanted it to (it's more like one big mushy mess), but it all still tastes delicious!!

Isn't beef glorious?? :] Sorry, Chik-fil-a cows; just know that I still love you (different kind of love).

So, this was after I ate some . . .  I forgot to take a picture first :)

Overall Score: A

Also, pics from the most recent pizza night!! (I know you were all waiting with baited breath for these)

This is Baked Potato Pizza- SOO good!  We even stuffed the crust :]

Everyone's favorite pizza by far- Chicken Spinach Alfredo Pizza (My own personal creation :] )

All while listening to Disney music :]

I'm Gonna Go Home and Eat Some Cheerios

For the first time in a good month or two, I have Friday night off from both jobs!!  Yay!!!!!  I got out of class about an hour ago and declared I was going home to eat cheerios and there was nothing anyone could do to stop me. :]

On a different note . . .
School is going well.  Despite the lack of effort from my TA, I managed to pull off a B on my biology test.  I am thoroughly enjoying no class on Tuesdays, although I normally end up working all day (which I'm actually okay with, surprisingly).  I'm doing pretty well in all of my class, especially considering how busy I am! (No, really- it's crazy 'round here)

Work is also going well.  I am working on finishing certifications for all the stores in the food court and it's kind of crazy and insane, but part of me is feeling really chill right now and okay with all that I have to get done by Christmas. (Personally, I think it's because of the cheerios . . . ) My other job is also well.  It's the easiest job on the face of the Earth, so I don't know how it could not be going well, anyway.  Waffle Wednesday is coming up, which is the hardest part of my job, but I'm pretty sure we can deal. ;]

Church is going marvelous (As it always should be).  I was called as the Ward Music Director, so I've been working on lining up special musical numbers for the rest of the semester.  My pianist and chorister are absolutely amazing, and we just got our choir director, so I'm totally stoked to get the ball rolling!

My roommates are great!  Gail got a boy (whom I approve of), I rarely see Jessica, but that's because she's always with Taylor or getting ready to get hitched, and Christina is so nice and so much fun!  I am excited for the rest of this semester!

Side Note:  Tonight! Is! Pizza! Night! (Homemade! From Scratch!)

Fairfarren all!

-LN