Mr & Mrs Peters

A Sunday Six to finish out the month of July.

1. Skyla’s mass is almost completely gone! Now, if it will just stay away…

2. There are times when my honey and I go days without “seeing” each other (one of us is always asleep when the other is awake). I can usually go about 3 days before it starts to really grate on me. This week was one of those tough ones- luckily, my husband is creative. In order to spend time together we went on a date from 12-2am, Saturday morning. I complained about the late hour and was lectured about acting too old. No matter, I was able to enjoy a lovely couple of hours with my hubby.

3. Our friends Jim and Stacey are visiting from Washington with their adorable son Elliot. Their parents hosted a really nice Open House for all their CA friends to meet the new baby, who is six months old. We also look forward to having dinner with them again this week. Jim and Justin have been friends for 16 years!

4. This is one I take for granted so often- I have a roof over my head and a safe place to lay my head at night. I tend to get so caught up in the long list of things to be fixed around the house that I get grumpy and forget how blessed we are to live where we do.

5. I have so many wonderful family and friends whom I love so dearly. I am so thankful that I have an abundance of great people in my life.

6. My handsome nephew Stone turned nine months old on Monday. How can it be?? I am so thankful that he is happy, healthy, and growing to be such a big and strong boy. In honor of this milestone, I will share some of my favorite photos from the last nine months.

Have you ever been best buds with someone for, I don’t know… SIX years and then one day, completely out of the blue, found out something about them that totally changes their standing in your eyes?

Today, such an event occured in my life.

Carleen**, is a total sweetie. Really, besides her penchant for gambling, she is rather saint-like. Today we met up for lunch. It was one of those places where you order at the counter, go get your drink, and they bring you the food at the table. We enjoyed a lovely lunch and as we headed out the door Carleen mentioned she was going to “get a refill.” It is important to note that we had both requested water cups (which were clear and about half of the size of a normal cup). I stood by the beverage area as she put more ice in the water cup. What happened next was a shock to my senses. Carleen filled up her water cup with soda! Clear soda!

How could it be that my Carleen is a thief?? Do you want to know the worst part? When I grilled her about stealing soda from the restaurant she said, “It’s the Greek in me.” Oh Carleen… Say it isn’t so!

** Names have been changed to protect the innocent. Or, as in this case, the oh-so very-guilty.

Last night was not pretty. I won’t go into the gory details, but let’s just say that if you had been in my house at 1am you would have found me crying on the bathroom floor, begging to die. (I get a bit dramatic when I am sick…) I was the victim of some sort of horrible stomach bug that kept me up ALL night. As a result, I called out sick from work today.

There are a few positives that accompany being sick. (I am trying to look on the bright side here, folks!)

I can eat whatever sounds good at the moment. For me, that looks like a diet of white grape juice, Samoas, chocolate pudding, and chicken noodle soup. Yummers.

I can do nothing but lie around and watch movies, if I so desire. Movies that I could normally not justify watching. Like Father of the Bride 2, Princess Diaries 2, 13 Going on 30, and Cinderella. All in one sitting. Troubling, I know.

For me, that’s what being sick looks like.

My week zoomed by in a particularly quick fashion, most likely because I had Monday off from work. I was blessed in many ways this week and here are six specific items I am thankful for.

1. Sunday and Monday were set aside for just my husband and me. I cannot say enough how much I enjoy being in my husband’s presence and just spending time with him. I sure am thankful that he is my partner for life.

2. I invited several friends to join me for an hour of walking on the track at Biola. Only Erin was able to join me- and we had a great time! We walked 2-3 miles and hardly even noticed because we were chatting so intently.

3. This summer I have been attending a Women’s Bible Study at church. We are studying some of the “purpose” statements of Jesus. This week was particularly enlightening and I am thankful for good teaching.

4. This week Alicia and I had a great conversation about “deep” things. Isn’t it great to have friends that aren’t just fun to laugh with, but also like to discuss matters of the heart?

5. Two words for you: Harry Potter! Friday night I went to the movies with Francina, Michael, Megan, and Greg. The movie wasn’t as great as I had hoped, but the company was wonderful.

6. Last night I had a delicious Italian dinner with “the girls,” sans Francina. We sat and talked/ate for 3 hours… Our server informed us when we (finally) left that we had sat long enough that one of his tables had gone through two full rounds of dining for two seperate parties. I don’t know if this was wise of him to say right as we were figuring out the tip, but whatever.

Today’s recipe, Blueberry Cheesecake, is a byproduct of that oh-so-lovely phenomenon we know as “Blog Hopping.” Some of my favorite blogs are ones that I have come across purely by accident. This recipe comes from Pages, Pucks, and Pantry. Who knows how I originally got to her blog… but I did! I actually only ever visited once so I don’t even know the author’s name, but I sure am grateful for this recipe.

For the Crust:
9 whole graham crackers
1/2 cup old-fashioned oats
3 tablespoons (packed) brown sugar
1/8 teaspoon salt
5 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the Filling:
1/4 cup water
1 tablespoon unflavored gelatin (measured from 2 envelopes)
12 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
1 cup heavy whipping cream
1 cup sugar
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
3 cups fresh blueberries

For the topping:
1 cup chilled heavy whipping cream
1 tablespoon sugar
approx 2-3 cups blueberries (some might want more of a “heaping” topping than others)
2/3 cup blueberry jam

Crust: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Blend first 4 ingredients in processor until graham crackers are finely ground. Add butter and vanilla; process until moist crumbs form. Press crumb mixture onto bottom and 1 inch up sides of 9-inch-diameter springform pan. Bake crust until deep golden brown, about 12 minutes. Cool.

Filling: Pour 1/4 cup water into small saucepan; sprinkle gelatin over. Let stand 10 minutes. Stir over very low heat just until gelatin dissolves. Set aside. Blend cream cheese, cream, sugar, and lemon juice in processor until smooth. Add berries; puree until smooth (some blueberry bits will remain). With machine running, add warm gelatin mixture through feed tube and blend well. Pour filling into crust. Cover; chill overnight. (Can be made 2 days ahead. Keep chilled.) Run knife around pan sides to loosen cake. Release pan sides. Transfer to platter.

Topping: Beat cream and sugar in medium bowl until firm peaks form. Spread cream mixture thickly over top of cheesecake. Place berries in bowl. Heat jam in small saucepan over low heat until just melted. Pour jam over berries; toss to coat. Mound coated berries in center of cream, leaving 1-inch plain border. Chill cake at least 1 hour and up to 1 day.

Here is how mine turned out:

Enjoy!!

It was a long and crazy weekend. For about 72 hours, we thought Skyla had cancer. No joke. On Thursday night we found a huge lump under her jaw and were told by the vet the next morning that she thought it was one of three things- two of which were cancer.

Thankfully, we found out that it’s just an infection (which of course was not one of the original three options presented to us). I won’t say how much we spent to find out Skyla is cancer free, but let’s just say I could have had me a brand new pretty Coach purse (and a BIG one).

Don’t worry, Sky… I would much rather have you around anyway! (cute purses are SO overrated)

I have a confession to make…

I am not the most “mechanical’ of minds. Putting new things together/reading instructional manuals totally intimidates me. So… that’s my excuse for not using the great food processor I got for Christmas until the 4th of July. Lame, right?

When I first opened the box earlier in the year and saw all the sharp blades and caution notices for installing those blades… well, I just got overwhelmed. Thankfully, the recipe I made for the 4th required the use of a processor so I was forced to face my fears. That cheesecake was supposed to be our recipe for today but I have misplaced my camera and really want to wait to post it until I can show the accompanying pictures.

So, instead… we are going to learn how to make bread from Marjie.

You see, my bread maker falls under the same category of “mechanical” doo-dads… It took me 3 months to finally face my fears with that one. Thankfully, I had Marjie to pester with questions. I don’t know what I would have done without her guidance. So, go to her site, click on the bread tutorial and get started!!

As I write this, it is 86 degrees inside my house and I am too stingy to turn on my air conditioning. But, even with the heat… I am in a great mood!

When I came home from work today I had a lovely surprise awaiting me… My package from Karen!

She is too wonderful for words, and trust me when I say that I am very happy I was the winner of her blog contest!! She sent me a package with the theme of “My Favorite Things.” Here is a photo of my loot.

Thanks again Karen, you are the best!!

Things that annoy me:
a list by Melanie

1. People who scratch their dry arms and legs. The noise KILLS me.

2. People who intentionally use the “right lane must exit” lane on the freeway and then make you slow down as they are trying to get back on the freeway at the last minute. Seriously, I would become a CHP dudette just to ticket those people.

3. When people use my bathroom and don’t put the toilet cover down when they flush. I am sort of a germ freak. Did you know that particles from a flushing toilet can travel up to 6 feet?

4. When Justin lets the laptop die and then doesn’t plug it in.

5. My inability to exercise after work. Why am I so lazy when I come home??

6. My neighbors who think it is fun to set off fireworks all year long.

7. Finding something yummy looking to eat in the fridge and then realizing it has expired. Boo.

8. Men who call me “dear,” “darling,” or “hun” at work. There is also a female who calls me sweetie which is almost as annoying.

9. Having to wait in line. Anywhere. (You can tell I am in a great mood tonight, right??)

10. Spilling food/drink on myself.

Let me first warn you… this recipe is ridiculous. I mean it, it is over the top and a foe to your diet. Seriously, I am warning you now. But it is oh-so-delicious.

Peanut Butter Brownie Pizza
adapted from the Pampered Chef

1 package brownie mix (don’t buy anything other than good ‘ol fashioned “fudge” mix)
Ingredients needed to make brownies
1 8oz package cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup creamy peanut butter
peanut butter candy, chopped (you choose the amount)
1/4 cup peanuts, chopped
2 sliced bananas

Preheat your oven to 375 degrees and cut a sheet of parchment paper to fit your pizza pan.
Prepare the brownie mix as listed on the box and spread on the pan. Batter should make a 13″ circle.
Bake for 15 minutes, or until set. (let cool completely)
Mix cream cheese, brown sugar, and peanut butter. Spread on brownie leaving a 1″ edge unfrosted.
Sprinkle peanuts, candy, and bananas over pizza.

This pizza originally had a chocolate sauce layer on the top, but to me it was over-kill. Enjoy!