Feeding us more bologna

He’s doing it again. The almighty Sun King Obama spoke with physicians who are a part of the American Medical Association (AMA), trying to drum up support for the looming government healthcare takeover. Our savior-like Obama mentions that critics of his healthcare plans are “naysayers,” “fear-mongers,” and proponents of a false “Trojan horse” theory. In almost the same breath, however, he claims that our current system is a “ticking time-bomb.”

I’ll be one of the first to admit that our current system can definitely be improved, but blatant hypocritical remarks like that remind me of the many doomsday-like speeches that were given to hurriedly pass the “stimulus” package (a.k.a. the bill that my unborn children will have to pay). Even Mr. Biden last Sunday admitted that “everyone guessed wrong” on the impact that the stimulus package would have, citing how disappointing it has been so far. On the other hand, only about 5% of the money has been spent, and it looks like things aren’t as bad as “predicted.” Do we really have to spend the other 95% now?

I didn’t guess wrong. And I know many people who didn’t either.

"If we do not fix our health care system," Obama said, "America may go the way of GM -- paying more, getting less, and going broke." And because I don’t support His all-inclusive, overly expensive, tried-and-tried-again-and-failed healthcare experiment, I’m the fear-monger?!

He admits that “excessive defensive medicine,” practiced out of fear that doctors have of being sued needs to be kept under control. Ok, I’m listening now, and you’ve got my attention. At least I’m trying to make lemonade. But while speaking to the AMA, definitely don’t take into consideration the caps on malpractice awards, one of their most important concerns – in fact, let’s encourage the zealously litigious nature of people in society and their feelings of entitlement.

“Ok guys, here’s a problem that we all agree on, and in fact, this is your number one problem. But I don’t like your solution. I don’t have another answer (at least not one that I’m admitting to publicly). But vote for me and I’ll fix it.”

Hmm, that sounds familiar. It sounds like what he said to get elected. It sounds like Guantanamo Bay, and it sounds like the $800 million spending spree legislation.

It sounds like more bologna.

- Scott

Chicken Rolls Recipe

My friend Katherine Thomas introduced me to making these chicken rolls. She made them Freshman year and I loved them. I have made them many times but haven't ever followed a real recipe just knew from making them with Katherine. I finally made up a recipe how I make them by the request of my mom:) It is posted below. Know that everything is just estimated to how much I use so feel free to alter the recipe any way you want. I really like to have mashed potatoes with this recipe, but you could put anything else with it:)

Chicken Rolls

2 Chicken breasts
8 oz. Cream Cheese
1 T. Sage
2 Tubes Refrigerator Crescent Rolls
Melted Butter
Corn Bread Stuffing, crushed

Boil the chicken breasts until cooked. Dice Chicken. In a bowl combine cream cheese and sage. Add the chicken to the cream cheese mixture. Unroll the crescent rolls fill with chicken mixture. Stretch the crescent all around into a ball. Roll in melted butter and stuffing. Place on a greased cookie sheet. Bake at 350 for about 15-20 minutes. Just until golden brown. Top with chicken roll sauce (recipe below)

Chicken Roll Sauce

1 can Cream of Chicken Soup
½ cup Sour Cream
Milk to make desired consistency

Combine all ingredients, heat in microwave until hot.

Sorry these are all estimates---I hope it all makes sense.

I got offered a teaching job...

Too bad it was in Ohio! That would have been perfect if we were still planning on living in Ohio. Hopefully I can get a job offer in New York... I feel good though that someone was actually interested in hiring me! I'm still on square one of job hunting in New York City.

Total Eclipse of the Heart: Literal Version

Scott was watching this video on youtube and we both thought it was very funny! Watch it and let us know what you think!

I know it's summer when....

Shavin' Haven is open!

Shavin' Haven is open! (hopefully I spelled that right) It's the best shaved ice place around--much better than Snowie or Rainbow Snow. This is my free advertisement for them because it is that good.

We have been waiting a long time for it to open up. When I saw it was open, I started screaming and Scott thought I was crazy. I called up my mom and told her--which they were all very happy to hear the news.

You may be thinking---what is all the fuss about a snow cone place. I will tell you:

1. A small snow cone costs $2.00 and they are giant! I could never eat bigger than a small
2. If you save the flower cup they give you each time you bring your own you get 50 cents off of your snow cone. So a small is really $1.50
3. Their flavors are really good: my fav's are pina colada and pineapple
4. It's very close--just by 7-eleven in Kaysville

If you haven't tried it, go for it! Let me know your thoughts!

Recipes

We made dinner for my family today. I wanted to share the recipes because they were really good, and I love when people share their recipes with me. I'll write what the real recipe says and then I'll write in the changes I made. I saw Rachel Ray make this recipe on her show so I went to her website to get the recipe.

Chicken Parm Pasta Toss

Salt
1 pound whole wheat penne (I used just regular pasta instead of whole wheat)
3 tablespoons EVOO – Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breast or thighs, chopped into bite-size pieces (I doubled the chicken)
2 teaspoons poultry seasoning
Ground black pepper
2 to 3 garlic cloves, finely chopped or grated
1 large red onion, chopped
2 pints grape tomatoes
2 cups basil, chopped
3 cups arugula or baby arugula, roughly chopped (I used an arugala/spinich mix)
1 cup shredded Parmigiano Reggiano Cheese (I used a mix of parmesan, romano, and asiago that came in a container together because I couldn't find Parmigiano Reggiano Cheese)

Fill a large pasta pot with water and place it over high heat. Once the water comes up to a boil, salt it and drop in the pasta. Cook the pasta to al dente according to package directions. Before draining the pasta, reserve a mugful of starchy cooking water, then drain and reserve.

While the water is coming up to a boil, place a large skillet over high heat with 3 turns of the pan of EVOO, about 3 tablespoons. Season the chicken pieces with the poultry seasoning, salt and pepper then add it to the preheated skillet. Cook the chicken until golden brown and cooked through, 3-4 minutes per side.

Once the chicken is brown, add the garlic and onions to the pan, and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the tomatoes and cover the pan with a lid. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the tomatoes burst open and begin to release their juices, about 5 minutes (if they haven’t started to burst open by that time, mash them lightly with a potato masher or wooden spoon). Season the mixture with salt and pepper.

Add the drained pasta and reserved starchy cooking water (about 1 cup) to the skillet with the chicken and tomatoes, and toss over the heat until combined, about 1 minute. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the basil, arugula, and cheese. Serve.

Yield: 4 (according to the recipe, it makes a ton though at least 6 servings, or more)

I also made some rolls that are my favorite to make. I found the recipe on the food network. Here's the recipe:

Clover Leaf Dinner Rolls

1 (1/4-ounce) package dry active yeast (2 1/4 tsp.)
1 cup warm water, about 110 degrees F
1/2 cup sugar
1 egg, beaten
2 teaspoons salt
1 cup milk, scalded but cooled to warm
4 ounces melted butter, plus 2 ounces
5 cups flour, plus more, as needed
Muffin Tin

In a standing mixing bowl with dough hook, dissolve yeast in warm water. Let sit until lightly foamy, then stir in sugar and add egg, salt, warm milk, and 4 ounces of butter. Slowly add 5 cups flour, adding more as needed to make an elastic dough. Mix well, then roll out to floured surface and knead dough for about 5 minutes.

Place dough in buttered bowl, cover with towel, and set in a warm place to rise until double in bulk, about 1 hour.

Lightly oil the muffin pan. Punch down dough and form dough into 1-inch balls. Place 3 balls in each muffin tin. Fill muffin pan, cover with towel, and allow to rise an additional 1/2 hour.

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.

Brush with remaining melted butter. Bake in preheated oven for 10 to 15 minutes, until golden brown

Yield: 24 Rolls

We got our diplomas and....my teaching license!

Our college careers have officially come to a close now that we have received our diplomas. I opened up my diploma and thought, "wow, this little piece of paper is worth a lot of money." It was less impressive than I thought it would be. Maybe when we frame them they will look more important. I also received my level 1 teaching license! I was very excited when I got it---it means that I really can be a teacher! Hopefully I can find a teaching job. I've been filling out applications in New York but requirements are different so I don't know how that will all work out.

-Ashley

American Idol Tonight!

I am very excited for American Idol tonight! I can't wait to see what Kris and Adam will sing. I know that this will be entertaining. I'll post my review after I see it. I am still pulling for Adam which if he is the best in my mind I will vote for him tonight. I always like the end of American Idol seeing the best perfomers but then it means that it won't be on again until January...then what will I watch? ha ha It will free up some time to do other things. Being an American Idol fan takes up a lot of time :) The finale in a couple of hours...

Columbia

Our future has been in limbo for quite a bit of time these past months, not knowing for sure where we would be living for the next few months. I got a call this week (from a number that only had 5 digits on my caller ID . . . ), so I picked it up thinking, "How dare these telemarketers call my cell phone at 7:30 in the morning?!" Had I been thinking straight, I probably wouldn't have anwered it, but my immediate reflex to end Jimmy Buffet's rendition of "Barefoot Children in the Rain" coming from my phone was too quick. Good thing I answered (although I'm sure they would have left a message), as it was Dean Frantz from Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. He was pretty quick to the point: "Is this your number one choice, and do you want to come here?" Yep. "Ok, you're in." Ok. "Bye." Bye. Wait, what?? I still didn't believe him until I got the package in the mail. My dreams have come true, we're going to Columbia!

So it looks like Ashley and I will be moving to New York City this August! It will be very different that living in Provo, but we're excited and know that it will all be extremely rewarding.

- Scott

American Idol

I'm not going to go through each of the performances this week. The only thing I have to say is that my opinions of who should be in the finals next week have changed. I used to say that Adam and Danny should be the final two. After tonight I have decided that Adam and Kris should be the final two. It was the 2nd song that Kris sang that pushed me over the edge. I just didn't like Danny as much this week. Let's see what happens tomorrow!

P.S. I actually voted for the first time this season. I voted for Adam---just to make sure he is safe.

I was wrong...

My prediction for American Idol was wrong...Allison went home instead of Kris. I think he will go home next week. I knew Allison wouldn't make it to the finals so she's just going home a week earlier than I thought.

I enjoyed the Daughtry Performance and No Doubt was all right. Paula Abdul performing was very strange---I don't think people her age should dance like that!

Until next week!

A few minutes before American Idol is on...

I decided I wanted to give my thoughts on American Idol right before it started. I was very excited for Rock week but I was slightly disappointed. There were only two performances I really liked and you'll see below which ones those were...

I really liked that Slash was the mentor. I thought it was cool that he played with his band for the contestants to sing.

My thoughts of the performances:

Adam Lambert--"Whole Lotta Love": I really liked this performance. I thought that Adam did very well singing Led Zeppelin. I like how he takes risks and entertains people. His performances are never boring! I think that he is a very good rocker! This was the only individual performance that I really liked! The only thing I didn't like was his outfit.

Allison Iraheta--"Crybaby": I think that Allison is definitely a rocker, but didn't pick the best song. I'm pretty sure she'll stay so I hope she picks a better song for next week. I liked her hair this week.

Danny and Kris Duet--"Renegade": Kind of awkward to watch, didn't really like. Simon was right---Danny sang better than Kris in that one.

Kris Allen--"Come Together": I didn't like his performance all that much. It was okay, but nothing compared to Adam's. I think Kris is going home tonight... hopefully I'm right

Danny Gokey--"Dream On": I love Aerosmith and Danny did a very bad version. It kind of made me cringe a bit especially while he sang the high notes.

Adam and Allison Duet--"Slow Ride": I loved this! They are the best rockers!

Verdict: I think Kris is going home...we'll see if I predicted right.

Result show on now! I'm watching!

Graduation Announcement---A little late

Here's our graduation picture and announcement:

American Idol

I just love American Idol and I haven't written much about it. My sister Amber writes about it each week and I have been a slacker. This week the performances were a little boring being "Big Band Night." I still have the same top three though that I have had the entire time. My top three list is as follows:

1. Adam Lambert
2. Danny Gokey
3. Allison Iraheta

This week I was glad to see Matt Giraud go. He kind of drove me crazy because he thought he was "hot stuff" but he really wasn't. The song he chose wasn't very good and I just don't like him at all.

The performances during the results show were interesting. Seeing Taylor Hicks I still don't understand how he really won. I just had to endure that performance. Jamie Fox was great as a mentor but I did not like his perfomance. It seems a little weird to me that he is trying to act like Kanye West or some other R&B artist. Not the best week for entertainment.

I think Adam is going to win it all. Watching him he doesn't even really seem to have to try too hard to be amazing. He is really good. I'm excited to see him next week when the genre is "Rock 'n Roll." I think this will be my favorite week so far.

I think Kris Allen is going home this week. I don't think that he has a loud enough voice to sing rock songs. Plus the faces he pulls while singing bother me. I'm hoping that he is the next to go.

I'll give another update next week!

It's the Wedding Season!!

Two of my freshman roommates got married to their new husbands this week. I just want to congratulate Linsey and Nicholas Walker who got married yesterday! Also, I want to congratulate Steffanie and Cameron Reece who got married today! I'm so excited for all of you!