Friend’s Home

+RX11-0217.(IMG_0868)80North Salt Lake, Utah

We had a delicious Italian meal at our friend’s home, it was yummy, and then it was time to RELAX and ENJOY!  Notice my poor left big toe, the toe nail.  That is what happens when someone steps on your toe, you can lose your toe nail.  I might have to touch it up in photoshop!   :^)

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Betta Fish

+FIB1b-0217.(IMG_0805)80Alpine, Utah

We had a delicious dinner at my sisters and I had fun taking photos of their fish, a Betta Fish or Japanese Fighting Fish.  This is Sharkbait-ooh-ha-ha, yes that is his name!

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Granddaughter’s Tea Party

FODR2b-0217.(IMG_0718).80Ogden, Utah

We had so much fun at our granddaughter’s birthday Tea Party!  Then when she went to drink her ‘tea’ her cup was nearly as big as she was!  ENJOYING LIFE!!

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Tea Party

IMG_0722abefgOgden, Utah

We went to our granddaughter’s birthday party and it was so fun, there were all these little 9 year old girls there for a TEA PARTY.  They were so cute, as they held up their saucer, the cup and their pinky fingers in the air as they drank their tea (herbal tea or hot chocolate)!  ENJOYING LIFE!

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Straight On

+TESL69c-0217.(IMG_7707).80Salt Lake City, Utah

The Salt Lake Temple was built by Mormon Pioneers and it took them 40 years to build.  It was announced on July 28, 1847 and dedicated on April 6, 1893.  The pioneers gave so much to build this Temple to their God.  On the outside of the Salt Lake Temple is a gold plaque that says; ‘Holiness to the LORD The House of the LORD’.

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Angel Moroni

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Salt Lake City, Utah

The Angel Moroni sits on the highest spire of the Salt Lake Temple and is atop most Temples throughout the world.  He is remembered for instructing and guiding the Prophet Joseph Smith to the Gold Plates, which Joseph was then able to translate into what we know today as The Book of Mormon.  As a mortal man, Moroni was the last author in The Book of Mormon and his father was Mormon.

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The Salt Lake Temple

+TESL67b-0217.(IMG_0894).60Salt Lake City, Utah

Today we went to a friend’s sealing in the Salt Lake Temple.  She and her husband are here from Switzerland and Giulia asked me to take photos of her and Pio at the Temple and at the dinner that evening. I usually don’t do wedding photos, but being they are here for only a week, I decided to do it for them.  It was an absolutely gorgeous day, so before I went into the Temple I walked around it and took some photos of the Temple and the billowing clouds above it.

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Countryside

+ITPN2b-0516.(IMG_8440)80Poggio Nativo, Italy

I love the countryside of Italy.  We had a wonderful drive thru them 2016!

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Stir-Fried Green Beans

FOV3a-0217.(IMG_0629).80Last year while on a trip, we went to a restaurant and they served these green beans.  They were so yummy, so when we returned home I tried them.  They are quick, easy and healthy! ENJOY!

STIR-FRIED GREEN BEANS

1 bag pre-washed green beans

Extra Virgin Olive Oil

6 Cloves Garlic thinly sliced

Sea Salt

Lightly cover the bottom of a large frying pan with Olive Oil. Add green beans, garlic and sea salt to taste. Stir-fry on medium heat, mixing occasionally, until beans are tender.

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Roasted Eggplant

FOV2b-0217.(IMG_0502)80This is a very delicious dish.  I recently served it to company and they thought the eggplant were potatoes.  It is also a very easy dish.  I served it with roasted asparagus, you can see the asparagus cooking at the same time, below the roasted eggplant.  A very easy, delicious and healthy meal!  ENJOY!!

ROASTED EGGPLANT

2 Eggplants

Sea salt

1/2 Red Onion

5 Cloves of Garlic

4 Tomatoes

4 tablespoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil

4 tablespoons Balsamic Vinegar

2 tablespoons Italian Seasoning

3 tablespoons Fresh Parsley

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

Peel the eggplants and cut them lengthwise into four pieces each. Lay them on a cookie tray and sprinkle both sides of the eggplant with sea salt. Set them aside while the salt draws out the moisture.

Meanwhile, roughly chop the onion and garlic. Halve the tomatoes.  When the eggplant is weeping- about 10 to 15 minutes- blot with a paper towel to remove the excess moisture. Cut up the slices a bit and place in a large bowl.  Add the onion pieces, garlic and tomatoes. Add the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, Italian Seasoning and the parsley.  Stir with a wooden spoon to coat.  Place back on the cookie sheet with the tomatoes cut side up.  Roast in the oven for an hour. The eggplant should be very tender. Remove the pan from the oven and let it cool a bit.

You can serve as is or over Quinoa.

Coconut Curried Tofu

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This is a very yummy dish!  I used tofu, but you can use chicken if you prefer.  I added a tomato corn salad and broccoli.

Coconut Curried Tofu (Chicken)

1 lb. extra firm tofu diced or 2 lbs. chicken breasts diced

2 – 14 oz. can coconut milk

2 cups broccoli

1 – 5 oz. can water chestnuts

1 white onion

2 Tbsp. curry powder

4 cloves garlic, minced

1 tsp. ginger, minced

1 tsp. cinnamon

1/4 tsp. sea salt

Heat a large skillet over medium heat and brown the tofu or chicken.  Add coconut milk, broccoli and onion.

Cook for 15 minutes

Add water chestnuts, curry powder, garlic, ginger, cinnamon and sea salt.

Reduce heat to medium-low and cook for 15 minutes more.

Option

Serve over brown rice or quinoa.

Serves 6

CHIA BLUEBERRY CEREAL

IMG_0462a60

I’ve mentioned this yummy breakfast before. Today I didn’t add the banana, but instead I added blueberries, it was so good!

CHIA BLUEBERRY (BANANA) CEREAL

4 Tablespoons Chia Seeds

2 cups dairy-free milk

1 cup blueberries

2 Tablespoons raw, unsweetened, coconut

4 Tablespoons dried Goji Berries

2 teaspoon Hemp Seed Hearts

1 teaspoons cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

1/2 teaspoon ginger

OPTIONAL

Top with fresh fruit

1 heaping teaspoon raw cacao

Stevia (to taste)

The night before you want your Chia Cereal, place all ingredients in a Mason Quart Jar, put lid on and mix by shaking. Place in refrigerator, then the next morning eat cold and ENJOY!

WARM OPTION: If you would like to enjoy the cereal warm, warm up some milk in the morning (warm, not boiling) and add it to the bowl of Chia Blueberry Cereal and ENJOY! (The original recipe is from Motiv8 America, I have adjusted it to my liking, now you do the same.)

Serves 4

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Southwest Spaghetti Squash

FOV1b-0117.(IMG_0445)80

This is a GREAT dish, easy and delicious! I added steamed broccoli and some stir fried mushrooms and it was a complete meal. For those who eat meat you can add some roasted chicken or just have a vegetarian night.

 SOUTHWEST SPAGHETTI SQUASH

 1 spaghetti squash

2 tbs extra-virgin olive oil

1/2 red onion, chopped

3 garlic cloves, minced

1 red bell pepper, chopped

1 tbs ground cumin

1 tbs oregano

1 tbs chili powder

1 can black beans (drained and rinsed)

1 cup frozen corn, thawed

coarse salt and freshly ground pepper

1/2 cup freshly torn cilantro

1 lime

 Preheat oven to 375 degrees

Roast squash on a cookie sheet for 50 minutes. Let cool another 30 minutes. Scrape out the seeds and discard then scrape out the spaghetti.

 Heat oil in medium skillet. Add the onion, garlic, red bell pepper.

Saute 2 minutes.

Add cumin, oregano, chili powder and good pinch of salt and pepper.

Saute another minute.

Add the beans, corn and cilantro. Stir to combine.

Squeeze in the lime juice and give one last stir.

Add spaghetti to the bean mixture and stir to combine.

Taste and season accordingly.

Switch oven to broil.

Stuff each squash half with the mixture and place under broiler for 5 minutes, to heat.

Garnish with cilantro.

ENJOY!!

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Following

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Enterprise, Utah

Enterprise is a quaint town in Southern Utah.  We drove thru it and there we saw some cows following each other.

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Peaks with Snow

+UUZN10b-0117.(IMG_6831)80Zion National Park, Utah

As we drove thru Zion National Park, everywhere we looked it was gorgeous!  Peaks popped up with snow on them, then others would take their place, it was a wonderful day!

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Court of the Patriarchs

+UUZN8b-0117.(IMG_6852)80Zion National Park, Utah

Our drive thru Zion National Park was beautiful, the gorgeous blue sky, the snow touched red rock and the majestic mountains were awe inspiring!  Here at the Court of the Patriarchs we were surrounded by these unique rocky mountains.

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He Saw Me

+ANDE8b-0117.(IMG_7006)80Zion National Park, Utah

As we drove thru Zion National Park we saw a few deer, so I took this photo of this beautiful deer looking for food in the snow, then he looked up and saw me!

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Pine Trees

UUZN5b-0117.(IMG_6960).80Zion National Park, Utah

There had been a snow storm the week before we went to Zion National Park, now the snow was sitting below or on the pine trees, such a pretty contrast!

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Wild Turkey

BRT1c-0117.(IMG_7189)80Zion National Park, Utah

As we drove thru Zion National Park we came across some Wild Turkeys.  I think Turkeys are very interesting birds, not as pretty as Peacocks, but they are similar and have their own beauty.

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Sun, Tree, Reflection

+UUZN3b-0117.(IMG_7162).60

Zion National Park, Utah

We took a wonderful drive thru part of Zion National Park.  I LOVED this tree, there by itself with the red rocks behind.  Zion National Park is a beautiful park to drive thru, each turn is a new vista.

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