My mouth tastes like the pits of hell because I had a tooth pulled this week. No roughage to get caught with beautiful green smoothies yo.

Last year's reckoning was depressing. This year I'm not deep cleaning under my stove as a consolation prize. That is good.

My salad a day for 2010 was a positive arc. I'm feeling good! I got my cheekbones back in June and then promptly got pregnant.

My goal: try to keep my cheekbones until this kid arrives. With holiday goodies and a resurge of sugar cravings distracting me, it could be a task indeed.

So to carry through to better health for the sake of my new crop growing in my womb, I decided to keep going on a salad a day until my green Martian appears on earth (he has to be green after all that roughage right?).

Better documentation is key to staying on track...so here I am scrambling for my greens via spinach smoothie at 11:14 pm.

Nighty night,
Mrs. Olsen

Being involved in a local non-profit had its perks this week. With one of the missions to "improve quality of life on a local level" along with some extra funds needing to be allocated this year, we decided to do some shopping for some families in need from the a local community center.

I'll be honest, after reading this story of a family wanting to help do a sub-for-Santa, I was leery of helping out for those with the lottery mentality. But when we saw the community center list detailing simple necessities like:

*shirt size
*pant size
*shoe size
*dream toy (most listed "anything". Others listed things like a barbie, or a radio).

we felt we could really make a difference this holiday. We spent around $550 to provide items for 2 families, both single mothers with four kids. For the youngest recipient, an 18 month old boy, the listed dream toy was diapers.




In reality, all I want for Christmas is to get rid of half the stuff in my closets, toy room, bookshelves, garage, & shop. The rest I wouldn't mind getting gorgeously organized somehow.

But I remember the lean years, when I used Christmas money for new tires, or even groceries (since my grocery budget went for Christmas instead). But now I am full of kids, blessings, and even stuff more than I can handle. I know it's going to sound cheesy, but I couldn't help having a "Schindler's List" moment after shopping for these local families. I thought, man do I really need all that stuff I put on my lists (and yes I gave a real "list" to people who asked, and yes it included more fun stuff!)? Do my kids need all the stuff they're getting? Are they staying up thinking that all some kids want for Christmas is a new outfit and a barbie?

With all the browsing in toy aisles and department stores, I sometimes feel I am cultivating a personal lottery mentality among my own kids.

"I want that mom I want that!"

"Just put that in your cart for Christmas and I promise I won't peek!"

"Who's getting that toy? I want that!"

But for a small moment yesterday, when we unloaded a simple outfit, new shoes, and one toy for each person, I couldn't help hoping that my kids (and my heart) was paying attention to those who really stood in need this holiday season.

It was so exciting for The Mister of the House and me, we took pictures to document what The Sparrow Alliance (our local non-profit) did for 2 small families this Christmas.



I wanted to buy some quality department cast-offs from TJ Maxx, but in the end Wal-Mart found me stretching my dollar with new jeans and long sleeve shirts with boys, along with some clearanced ankle boots to complete the look. Some twin boys are sharing a big "Cars" rug with some accompanying cars. My four-year-old was drooling over it all night, and his Christmas list was once again re-arranged.

Nothing like a huffy "touch that toy again and you're going to bed!" from your mother to harbor the Christmas spirit eh?



Each of the mothers each received a $30 gift card to Wal-Mart or Sam's Club. I wish I could see the 10-year-old girl (because I have one?) with her green cowl-neck sweater, funky jeans, and red sparkly shoes totally strutting her stuff right? We can only hope!

I hope you have a Merry Christmas!

I am shocked! shocked I tell you...that Christmas is 9 days away. I'm still in the middle of my learning curve of being the mom with the magic at Christmas-time, and every year it creeps up on me earlier and earlier. But fortunately for my sake, I married into the family whose mother made Christmas a science. She teaches classes for crying out loud! And so we're still sponging off of her traditions for now, plus adding a few of our own. Here's how we're getting lathered up for the holidays around here.

There's something so comforting and (practically) fail-safe about chili. Throw in some meat, some beans, some spices and your set. But then you taste that bowl of chili that reaches perfection. The one that wins the chili cook-off. The one that makes you realize great chili's aren't just a dump-fest of ingredients, but are instead a controlled science experiment guaranteeing the chemistry of ingredients will make your mouth happy. And give you a blue ribbon.

That is Creamy White Chicken Chili. This recipe comes from my friend Sara (as all of my great recipes do). Background: this recipe won the cook off when she lived in Illinois. She brought it back to me (and Utah). Our Utah ward (mormon for congregation) had a chili cook-off and I signed her up before she did. I knew she'd claim the prize.

And she did!

This is a big ole pot of chili, so invite your friends or enjoy leftovers for a couple of days. Trust me, it won't last long. Here we go! Here's our ingredients:




I just have to say, that cumin is the most underrated spice on the planet. It's so not a part of American cooking, but it makes such a difference. You can see here that cumin is just one of the many ingredients going on here.

Use 2 pounds of boneless skinless chicken, cut into 1/2 inch cubes. Also chop up 2 medium onions. Get out your soup pot and heat 3 TBL of olive oil. Add 1 1/2 tsp garlic powder and saute your chicken and onions.



Now here's the chicken all cooked up behind some harmless kitchen smoke. We're ready to add more ingredients!





A. Drain and rinse 6 cans (15.5 oz each) of Great Northern Beans

B. Add beans, corn (1 pkg frozen or 2 cans), broth, green chiles, & seasonings. Bring this to a boil. Then reduce heat and simmer (uncovered) for 30 minutes.

C. Remove from heat and stir in sour cream (2 cups)



Serve immediately. Serve over crushed tortilla chips. Top with grated cheddar and fresh cilantro.

Here's the full recipe

CREAMY WHITE CHICKEN CHILI

2 lbs. boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1/2 inch cubes
2 med onions, chopped
1 1/2 tsp garlic powder
3 TBL olive oil
6 cans (15.5 oz each) Great Northern Beans, drained and rinsed
5 cups chicken broth
4 cans (4 oz each) green chiles, chopped
2 tsp salt
3 TBL lemon juice
2 tsp ground cumin
2 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp pepper
1 pkg frozen corn (or 2 cans)
2 cups sour cream
GARNISH: tortilla chips, fresh cilantro, grated cheddar

Saute chicken, onion and garlic powder in oil until chicken is no longer pink. Add beans, corn, broth, chiles and seasonings.

Bring to a boil. Reduce heat. Simmer (uncovered) for 30 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in sour cream.

Serve immediately. Spoon over crushed tortilla chips. Top with grated cheese and fresh cilantro.


Thanks Sara. Enjoy!

Hello December! With parties, shopping, decorating, serving, caroling, and sledding going on this month, I decided to post some favorite Olsen Family soup recipes. There's nothing easier than a big pot of soup to munch on all-day. And there's nothing better than coming in from the cold and warming up with a bowl of comfort. Here's our first soup recipe this month, Creamy Curry Carrot Soup:




You will need 3 cups of cooked rice. This is perfect when you have leftover rice who's sauce ran out last night. Can you please do me a favor before you start? Just go ahead and run to Costco or Sam's Club and buy yourself a big bag of Jasmine Rice (or Basmati works great too). Let's just pass on that other crap okay?



The blending step is optional depending on how well you chop your onions and carrots. I chopped mine in the food processor, so I didn't feel the need to break it down anymore after it cooked down in the pan.



This soup is easy and delicious. Here's the full recipe:

Creamy Curry Carrot Soup

2 TBL butter
3 tsp curry powder
1 tsp salt
1 med onion, finely chopped
4 med carrots, grated
3 (14oz) cans of chicken broth, divided
3 cups cooked rice
1 cup whipping cream

Melt butter over med-high heat. Add curry and salt. Stir constantly for 30 seconds.

Add onion & carrots then saute 7-9 minutes, stirring frequently. *optional* Carefully spoon into blender or food processor. Add 1 can broth. Blend but don't puree.

Return to stockpot. Add remaining 2 cans (28 oz) broth and rice. Heat over med-high heat until hot, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in 1 cup cream.

The evening of Thanksgiving, just after dinner, turkey nap, and a movie night with the whole family...my husband left on a 12 day trip to Asia. This with school and schedules just around the corner, and bitter below-zero temperatures, winter storm warnings and a little farm...and me. Alone. In charge.


Gone is my morning person, who wakes up and gets Rainbow Girl to practice the piano before school, who takes fresh water to the chickens and goats, and fills the chicken feeder, refreshes the hay, shovels the walk, and is off to work by 7:30 am.


I told myself to not get to the end of the rope before the end of the day, because no back-up was coming! My thoughts went to my sister-in-law Kristen, who sent her husband to Iraq just as they were starting their little family.

I think I would not make the best army wife.

Lugging the 4-gallon jug of water every morning and in my head I feel picked on. Boo hoo! I love the farm thing we've got going on, but this thing would not be happening if I was flying solo.

I think of my friend who just filed papers for a divorce after waiting for a year for him to stop dating another woman (he didn't. jerk.). I think of my neighbor who just lost her husband while her youngest is still in high school. Like me, we have all been left to shovel the 2 stupid-freaking-feet of snow that fell on our sidewalks and driveways last week by ourselves.

I think of them and wonder how I could manage this as a permanent fix.

I can't.

So for now, with technology and a thriving heart, I haul the water in the mornings, shovel the snow, help with homework, get babysitters for errands...and instead of sending a prayer or a curse: "did you notice all the extra work you left for me when you decided to take off?"...I send an email. Or a skype.

Mrs. O: How's the 80 degrees punk! The stupid snowblower isn't working!

Mister: Did you put gas from the yellow gas can?

Mrs. O: *Huff*

Mister: I miss you.

----or-----

Mrs. O: Can't talk. I just got pooped on my head in the chicken coop! Disgusting!

Mister: Sorry! Love and miss you.

-----or-----

Mister: Hey Rainbow Girl, I tried some Pringles that were shrimp flavor and they were pink!

Rainbow Girl: Ewwww...sick!

-----and------

Mrs. O: We're about to kneel down for family prayer, want to kneel down with us?

Mister: Okay

Mrs. O: (later): In the prayer Rainbow Girl said "Thank you that we could have some sort of contact with dad"

Mister: Some sort, that is cute.

Mrs. O: I know, right?



So for now Thailand and Hong Kong, you left me wanting but secured me some much needed sympathy, some well-wishes, and even i-miss-you's and i-love-you's. You smell like heaven, I think. Please send back The Mister of the House with exotic cheap goods and a newfound appreciation for my awesomeness (or just some sympathy would be nice).

Ten-Four.

Signed,

Cold and Lonely

p.s. The real heaven appears to notice my predicament because some neighbors have come and cleared my driveway...twice! That's always good to tame a wife's wrath. Thank you real heaven.

It's that time again! Over the past few weeks, our turkeys have been wandering all over the place. Flying over the fence and visiting on the deck was a recent treat. This is a heritage breed called "Blue Slate", and we had a batch of four. They are a beautiful grayish-blue color, and unlike Butterball, they take a good 7-8 months to get full-grown. Because our first spring batch died (turkeys really are kindof stupid BTW) we decided to take out 2 turkeys for the family dinner this year.

Like this turkey, we have been enjoying the beautiful colors, warm days, and brisk evenings. Why look at the weather report when tradition tells you that you usually need a jacket at Thanksgiving, but hats and gloves are for Christmas?

The Friday before Thanksgiving was unusually warm. We decided Tuesday would be a good day to do the deed.

Enter Saturday: Winter storm warnings, high winds, and drifting snow. Whaaaa?

Small break from the storm Monday, with a resurgence Tuesday afternoon! The Mister comes home from work early and we head out into the snow, hoping to beat the storm.


Here we are trying to heat up water so the turkeys are easier to pluck. The Mister is pacing and looking at his watch, and I'm hauling the hottest tap water I can manage from the house.

Anyone who remembers the absolute trauma I experienced last year will understand why, without even asking for help, or hinting to the moment, the Mister took the turkeys and stretched them over the sawhorse and whacked off their necks when my back was turned.



We dunked them in the hot water (not boiling) then placed them on our plastic wrapped table. We started to pull out the feathers as fast as we could. After about 30 minutes, the wind was picking up and blowing snow in our faces. YowZah!



Here comes the storm!


It was about this time my hands were losing their open/close functions, so I decided to finish the plucking indoors. Here I am on the deck looking like a homeless person in my sexy work pants.





After plucking all the remaining pieces, The Mister of the House lightly torches the skin with a portable propane thingie-bobber to burn the hair off. Weird right?

So we did it! We had 2 turkeys ready for the big dance. We made a salty brine solution and let them soak for a couple of days. We decided to cook one with a spicy rub in a dutch oven, and the other in a turkey fryer.



Here's our buddies Janis and Greg. Janis is a volleyball queen and Greg is a sucker for home projects. He also is a dutch oven guru. Here's his spicy turkey rub recipe that you can use for a small/medium turkey or a big roast chicken. The meat will fall off the bone...it's delicious!



So mix all of those spices together, and then prepare to massage that turkey like a Thai Princess.



Pull the skin away from the meat and rub between the layers. Rub inside the cavity. Rub the skin. Love and rub and love that turkey!



Why in the world didn't I take a picture when it was done? Because the places were set, the food was on, and there was a turkey to carve. Definitely NOT a traditional turkey, but delicious nonetheless.

We decided to cook the "big turkey" in the turkey fryer. The Mister of the House actually stepped on the scale and weighed our turkey so we would know for sure.

Drumroll?

7 pounds!

Ugh. I couldn't believe it! I still want to react against factory farming, genetically overhauled turkeys that can't move and live in cages...so it was still worth it to me. But goodness...7 pounds?



Fried turkey? Totally pass! Go traditional or go for the rub all the way.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Signed,
Waiting for Easter Dinner to enjoy a full-grown blue slate turkey