Marco, Demaree, and Elliot: Exposed

Christmasing the House

2011-12-18T09:13:00.000-08:00

So, it is now December 18 and we're just posting pictures about putting up Christmas decorations. We actually did this long ago (i.e., the day after Thanksgiving), but we're just now getting around to posting the pictures. Dem and I enjoy Christmas, but we aren't crafty, so there's a limited amount of decorating that goes on. It largely consists of the tree,

stockings, and a few Santa Claus ornaments here and there. One thing we have added recently is a manger scene, which Elliot dearly loves and puts together himself.

This year, Elliot decided he was going to remove the baby Jesus from the manger and cradle him as he (Elliot) slept. It was a precious scene from our precious little boy.

This year we will spend Christmas in Texas with Demaree's family. In fact, Dem and Elliot are already there. They went early (we were originally planning on leaving the December 22) because Demaree's grandmother Ola passed away after a long decline. We wish her the best in heaven and cannot wait to see her again, this time with a glorified body.

Elliot's Fourth Birthday

2011-12-11T14:14:00.000-08:00

Yep, that's right all: Elliot turned four. It's truly incredible how times flies. It seem like a few weeks ago we were at Elliot's birth and took him home to begin our family. What a beautiful addition he is, full of life and humor and charisma. We thank God for him every day.

And in celebration of his birthday, we went to Fatcats, ate some cake and pizza, and bowled for a couple hours. Kid loves bowling, man. Not sure where he got it, but he begs to go every time we pass a bowling alley. Oh, and as you will see by and by, he loves angry birds. In all, Elliot had many of his friends to the party. Thanks to all those who came and made Elliot's fourth a great experience.

Thanksgiving

2011-11-25T12:26:00.000-08:00

Ah, Thanksgiving. 7000 calories and a whole bunch of football. What could be better? Oh, having Erin, Lily, Meri, and Renee over, that's what. After intaking unheavenly amounts of foodstuffs and watching football, we moved on to playing Taboo (Dem and I won) and "Captain America." A great day with great friends it was; and what a blessing it is to have friends and family nearby.

And here are some pictures of the food.

And then there were some desserts (pumpkin chocolate bread pudding and pumpkin cranberry cheesecake and chocolate pie) not pictured. Mmm, so good.

Halloween

2011-11-05T09:10:00.000-07:00

Halloween isn't an important holiday for Dem and me. We don't really dig dressing up in costumes or eating candy, especially candy corn. But Halloween is a big deal to Elliot. He loves dressing up, going to houses and collecting candy. Oddly, however, he doesn't really like the candy he gathers.

So, this year Elliot chose a Spider Man costume.

He ended up trick or treating with Marie and Lilly. The kids were so stoked to be out they ran from house to house. Elliot even had Spider Man boots which would light up whenever he took a step. So, when he would run there was this little trail of light emanating from his feet. It was super cute. Best part of the night: Elliot only ate an apple someone gave him; he didn't want any of the candy. What a good boy.

Susannah

2011-10-29T06:17:00.000-07:00

Dem recently auditioned for the spring opera, Susannah, by Carlisle Floyd. She got the mezzo role of Mrs. McLean. She's also been signing quite a lot with the university quartet, which is her TA job. The quartet sings are university fundraisers and other promotional events. As always, Elliot and I are proud of Demaree.

Chicago: Post Wedding

2011-10-22T16:21:00.000-07:00

So, the day after, Cantone's wedding that is. I had until 5 p.m. to sightsee before having to make my way back to Midway to catch the 7 p.m. flight home. After finding a parking spot in downtown Chicago (for which I paid a pretty penny), I made my way up to Michigan Avenue (i.e., the Magnificent Mile).

While on Michigan Ave. and on my way to Al's Beef for a dipped Italian beef sandwich, a guy came up next to me and offered me some cocaine. First time in my life that's happened. When I said no (and, yes, I said no), he moved on to the guy ahead of me, then the lady ahead of him, etc.

After the Magnificent Mile, I made my way back down Lakeshore Drive to the Chicago Museum of Contemporary Art. I'm a sucker for this sort of things, and I couldn't resist buying a ticket. The artwork was, almost by definition, interesting. From live performances by Japanese artists, to surrealist exhibitions, complete with rooms that explore space strategically placing iron rods, toaster ovens, florescent bulbs, and other quotidian items around at indiscernible intervals. Honestly, the most interesting piece was an examination of broken concrete rods of all different circumferences and colors.

Leaving the museum, jaunted to Northwestern's law school and noticed an Edmund Burke quote I've never seen before.

The rest of my stay included working my way back downtown, checking out some parks, buildings, going to a very nice and well stocked public library, and eating Chicago mix popcorn (cheddar and caramel mix). Here are a few pics.

I caught the flight home with Andy and Olivia. They were coming back from their Fall Break visit to Chicago. It was nice to sit next to friends on a flight. Dem picked us up at the airport, and we all went home and slept. Great day.

Cantone's Wedding

2011-10-22T16:04:00.000-07:00

For the first time in my life, I flew to attend a friend's wedding. I've driven to many (including ones twelve hours away), but never before flown. Thankfully, my friend was getting married in Chicago, so it wasn't like I was flying to Odessa, Texas where there ain't nothin' to do.

Anyway, the day (Saturday) started with a three-hour flight into Midway, followed by renting a Kia Soul and navigating Chicago's arcane tollway system (they don't take credit cards; amazing). And then there was the wedding.

After the wedding was, you guessed it, the reception. Started at six and went until, well, I'm not sure. I left around midnight. In that time, I was able to spend some time catching up with old law school friends and meet a slew of new people. It was great to see Cantone and his new wife, who, by all accounts, is incredible nice. In all, it was a great day.

Timpanogos Cave Hike

2011-10-10T16:10:00.000-07:00

It's Columbus Day, so we went hiking this morning. We decided on Timpanogos Cave in American Fork Canyon. The 1.5 mile hike to the cave takes a while, but it's well worth it. Elliot did pretty well on the hike up the hill, until about 1/2 way up, then there was a lot of walking with him on our backs. On the way down, however, he was running all over creation. The caves themselves were among the most beautiful I've seen. Now, enjoy some photos.

First U of U Football Game

2011-10-02T10:11:00.000-07:00

It's official, we've turned to the dark side. And how have we accomplished this feet? Why, by going to a U of U football game (and wearing the corresponding apparel) of course. But, when a client gives you front row tickets, it's hard to say no. The U played the University of Washington, and they lost pretty badly in the end. The result was a bit of a relief, honestly, since Steve Sarkisian (a prior BYU star quarterback) is Washington's head coach. In any case, we had a good time, with the exception of the profuse profanity and smell of stale beer. Funniest moment of the night was when a guy held up a sign that read, "My Wife Thinks I'm at Conference." Also, Dem and I learned a very important lesson at the game: we look better in blue than red. And with that, let's move to pictures.

Soccer Anyone?

2011-10-02T09:22:00.001-07:00

Elliot began soccer about two weeks ago. He's taking part in a league of three-year-olds, which means the kids huddle around the ball and kick each other until the ball pops out and the group runs to the ball and repeats the above exercise. Elliot's doing pretty well. He's quick as a whip. He has even learned (1) how to flirt with the other kids' moms, and (2) how to slap a female referee on her rear and tell her "good game." He still needs to learn about kicking the ball in the right goal, but that'll come.

Here are some photos for your viewing pleasure.

10th Anniversary

2011-09-18T09:02:00.000-07:00

Dem and I have been married for ten years. That's right, ten years together. It's been a wonderful time. Our life is certainly different than we expected it would be (we figured we'd have about four kids by now), but different is good and exciting.

To celebrate, we went to Midway and stayed at the Zermatt Resort. For those who don't know, which is pretty much everyone, Midway was settled by Swiss immigrants and has kept quite a lot of its Swiss roots. Even the buildings, including individual homes, are made in Swiss tradition with Swissy facades. Here are a couple pics of the resort.

I'm not exactly sure how the bear playing-a-musical-instrument statue figures into things, but it's certainly unique.

We had dinner at the Blue Boar Inn. Ultimately, we ate too much and spent too much, but we had a good time doing it. Ultimately, we had a wonderful celebration of our marriage. We're so thankful to be able to be together as a family for the rest of time and eternity.

Greek Festival

2011-09-10T18:00:00.001-07:00

While Demaree diligently studied on Saturday afternoon, Elliot and I went to the Greek Festival here in Salt Lake. A lot of our time was spent in line waiting to buy food, but after that, we watched some classic Greek dancing.

And, as you can see, we weren't the only ones there.

There was also a load of bouncy castles, slides, and such as well. Elliot had loads of fun for about half an hour until the rain and lightning began.

In all, fun couple hours.

Cecret Lake

2011-09-05T16:37:00.000-07:00

Being Labor Day, we had the day off work and school. We decided to spend part of our day hiking in Little Cottonwood Canyon. Specifically, we went to Cecret (pronounced "secret") Lake, which is a couple miles above Alta Ski Resort. Fun, short hike. This summer's been a bit nuts with Dem going to Italy and Elliot being gone, so this is actually our first family hike. Oh well, there will be time for many, many more.

Family Update

2011-09-04T09:17:00.001-07:00

It's been a while since we've given an actual update to our three friends who access this blog. Well, we will not keep you in suspense any longer.

As you know by now, Dem performed Cinderella in Rossini's "Cinderella" this summer. Her program was located in the Emilia Romagna region of Italy, which, coincidentally, is where I served my mission. She sand wonderfully, and I was lucky enough to visit her the last couple weeks she was there.

While Dem was away, Elliot spent some quality time with the grandparents. He loves his nonni and abuelos (their respective collective monickers), and had a great time with them.

We returned home at the end of July and I got immediately got back to work. Dem prepared for the upcoming school year, and Elliot enjoyed his summertime.

Dem started the second year of her doctorate program at the end of August. This first semester, she's taking performance classes and a theory class. For her graduate assistantship, she's signing in a University quartet presently named "The DMA Quartet." (They need a better name. I have suggested "The Hot Quattro," but that suggestion has met with mixed results.) The quartet is an outreach vehicle for the University that is designed to increase interest in the university's music program. A professor has also asked Dem to put together "Amahl and The Night Visitors," presumably so the university can put it on during Christmas time.

Elliot is back in what he calls school. It's actually day care, but he prefers to call it school so he can be like mom. As always, the boy's a stud. He's healthy and social as ever. We're frightened at the thought of him going to school in the not-too-distant future, but time rolls forward, no matter how much you will it not to.

As for me, I work. The firm is growing, thankfully, and I'm always looking for new revenue streams. Some days, I would prefer opening a pizzeria to being a lawyer, and that might actually happen when the student loans are all paid off. Other days, I really enjoy my work. We'll see what happens.

So, that's the quick update. Talk to you soon.

Elliot & Lily Sittin' in a Hires Big H

2011-09-04T08:23:00.000-07:00

Elliot has a good little friend Lily. Elliot and Lily have a bit of a love hate relationship. Elliot doesn't like to be bossed, but he's too young to always play well with others. Lily is just little enough to want to boss Elliot around, but old enough to know she shouldn't, so she only bosses sometimes.

We went out to eat at Hires Big H the other day, and Elliot and Lily decide they wanted to pose for the camera after eating some fries.

Elliot on Pig

2011-08-06T12:00:00.001-07:00

This morning we frequented the downtown farmers' market and happened upon some pig statues. Elliot was taken with them and decided to strike a few poses.

Rome Temple Update - Construction Underway

2011-07-19T02:14:00.001-07:00

I just received this email regarding Rome temple construction. Enjoy:

Dear Rome Italy Temple Mailing List subscribers:

On Sunday, July 10, a letter from the Rome Italy Stake Presidency was read in area sacrament meetings announcing that construction of the temple had officially begun. Since the formal groundbreaking in October, activity at the temple site has been limited to site activities including clearing, grading, transplanting, erection of a construction fence, and placement of construction trailers.

As construction progresses, the submission of regular photographs is highly appreciated by members worldwide who wish to witness the construction of this beautiful temple in historic Rome.

SUBMIT A CONSTRUCTION PHOTOGRAPH:
http://www.ldschurchtemples.com/rome/construction/submit/

Kindest wishes,

Rick Satterfield
LDSChurchTemples.com

Morning at the Market

2011-07-19T02:01:00.000-07:00

Yesterday Dem and I went to the market. Dem bought a tablecloth she'd been eyeing for some weeks. I bought the raw materials for lunch. Novafeltria is a beautiful little town, and the market is cute as a button.

Rome Temple Update

2011-07-16T16:00:00.000-07:00

Just received this email today and thought I would share:

Dear Rome Italy Temple Mailing List subscribers:

On Sunday, July 10, a letter from the Rome Italy Stake Presidency was read in area sacrament meetings announcing that construction of the temple had officially begun. Since the formal groundbreaking in October, activity at the temple site has been limited to site activities including clearing, grading, transplanting, erection of a construction fence, and placement of construction trailers.

As construction progresses, the submission of regular photographs is highly appreciated by members worldwide who wish to witness the construction of this beautiful temple in historic Rome.

Cenerentola

2011-07-15T03:28:00.000-07:00

A few days ago, Dem performed Cenerentola (Cinderella) in Novafeltria, Italy. She was beautiful and sang wonderfully, even though the teatro sociale was blazing hot. It was a real treat to see her. So, without further ado, here's some photos.

Surprise

2011-07-10T06:10:00.000-07:00

So, I arrived in Italy yesterday to wach Dem perform Cinderella in Rossini's "Cinderella." This came as a shock to Dem since I lied to her for a while and told her I couldn't come. Needless to say, she was rather surprised when I showed just as she finished a rehearsal. It's nice to be together again.

New Pictures of Dem

2011-07-01T07:45:00.000-07:00

Dem's on another continent singing and she's posted some photos to facebook. Here are a few.

Dang, my wife is fly.

Quick Update

2011-06-19T18:32:00.000-07:00

Goodness, it's been a while since we've posted. So, quick update. Dem is in Italy performing Cinderella in, you guessed it, Cinderella. Elliot is with the grandparents. I'm holding down the fort until they return. It will be a tough summer apart, but that'll make the reunion that much sweeter.

Dem As You've Never Seen Her

2011-04-28T18:13:00.000-07:00

Dem is performing in "The Coronation of Poppea" tomorrow evening. (She'll be awesome by the way.) Here are a few photos from the dress rehearsal.

More photos will follow the actual performance.

For Easter: Elder McConkie - Last Conference Talk - Part 2 of 2

2011-04-24T08:27:00.000-07:00

For Easter: Elder McConkie - Last Conference Talk - Part 1 of 2

2011-04-24T08:26:00.000-07:00

New Way of Waking Up

2011-04-09T07:46:00.000-07:00

A few months ago we purchased a set of books by Mo Willems. The main character of the set is a somewhat ornery pigeon named, simply, "the pigeon." (I guess I'd be ornery too if I were a flying rat.) Honestly, they're fantastic little books, and Elliot adores them. We read at least one every night at bedtime. Elliot has them all memorized. Anyway, in the book entitled, Dont Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late, the pigeon yawns, and then to show he is, in fact, not tired, he yells, "I'm not tired!" He then promptly falls asleep.

So, now when Elliot wakes up in the morning, he will sit in bed and yell, "I not tired! Babbo, mamma, I not tired!" This goes on until we open the door, at which point he asks for a banana. He's a beautiful, funny little man.

General Conference

2011-04-03T18:15:00.001-07:00

Mom and dad came for General Conference this weekend. They attended yesterday and gave Dem and I the opportunity to go to today's afternoon session. It was a beautiful experience. Elder Scott gave a very poignant talk about his wife and children. Elder Holland, who is about as gifted a communicator as I've ever heard, lifted all our spirits with his address.

One thing I noticed this Conference that I haven't so much in Conferences past was the presence of numerous interracial couples. It's nice to see. We also saw some interracial adoptive families, which is especially meaningful to us.

And, without further ado, here are some photos.

The Joy of Having a Son

2011-03-29T18:57:00.000-07:00

This video demonstrates just one of the little joys of having a son.

Go BYU!

2011-03-29T18:46:00.000-07:00

Alright, I know this video is a bit late since BYU was knocked out of the NCAAs by Florida, but it's always nice to see the boy cheer the Cougs.

Rome Italy LDS (Mormon) Temple Construction Photographs

2011-02-26T16:11:00.000-08:00

Here's the latest on the Rome temple. They have started bringing in olive trees.

Rome Italy LDS (Mormon) Temple Construction Photographs

Sledding

2011-02-26T16:01:00.000-08:00

As good parents, we used the five inches of snow outside as an opportunity to go sledding. We went to Elliot's favorite park, and, thankfully, we ran into a family that had made a perfect sledding trail for small kids. Elliot had a good time, although he doesn't stay seated when he goes down the hill (instead, he lies supine on the sled). Oh well, he'll learn before long.

Ride em' cowboy!

2011-02-26T15:59:00.000-08:00

Elliot has found a new preferred activity.

Afghan fashion show

2011-02-06T08:28:00.000-08:00

A couple Christmases ago, Dem's brother Erick brought back a drum and outfit for Elliot from his deployment in Afghanistan. Elliot plays with the drum pretty often, but he usually doesn't pull out the outfit. That is until recently, when he and Demaree put on an improvisational fashion show.

Birthday Dinner

2011-02-06T08:10:00.000-08:00

It was my birthday recently, and Demaree took me out to Cucina Toscana (a local hoighty-toighty Italian restaurant we've both wanted to try for a while now). It was quite good, and we enjoyed ourselves immensely. Here are some photos.

And thanks to our friends who watched Elliot and made possible our great evening out. Y'all are the best.

Demaree is now a blogger

2011-01-23T17:50:00.001-08:00

Hello! This is Demaree. This is my VERY first blog post. EVER.

Week in Review

2011-01-23T16:56:00.001-08:00

I'm sitting here watching the Steelers v. Jets game and thought a week-in-review post is in order. We started out the week without much ado. Dem went to school, Elliot went to school (i.e., daycare), and I went to work. Elliot's doing well in school, better than last semester in fact. He really enjoys the kids he's with and loves going outside in the snow. On Wednesday, I went to pick him up early, and when I looked through his classroom's window, I saw him holding hands with his classmates singing "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star." It was a fantastic sight to behold.

Dem has already begun her "Coronazione di Poppea" rehearsals. And in a sweet turns of events, she was given the opportunity to write the rehearsal schedule. This means she is able to schedule herself on or off any given day. This has been a lifesaver. Also, Demaree used her Christmas present on Saturday. (Her present was two tickets to a movie and a gift certificate to a local French bistro. My only stipulation for using this present was she couldn't use it with me. She had to invite one of her girlfriends along.) She invited Melissa and Erin. From what I gathered, they had a great time, which was the point of the present.

As for me, it was a lot of working to drum up business. On Wednesday, I helped a local women's shelter with protective orders. On Friday, I went to Provo and had lunch with my BYU/attorney buddy Randy before meeting with a potential client. After that meeting, I met with a bailbondsman who just started his business about six months ago. Nice guy. Hopefully, clients will result from this personal networking. And as an aside, I picked up a domain name for my website: www.BrownCriminalDefense.com. It should be up (in a very preliminary state) this next week.

Oh, and Dem and I spoke in church today. We spoke on new year resolutions. We both widdled that subject down a bit. Dem focused on magnifying one's calling, and I on missionary work. We both enjoy speaking and the talks turned out well.

Well, that's the week in review. Hope you all had a great week.

Dinner w/ Friends

2011-01-16T17:16:00.000-08:00

A couple weeks ago, we had a great dinner with friends. While food was merely the backdrop to an evening together, the meal was delicious and consisted of: insalata caprese, insalata di arancie e cipolle, pasta alla carbonara, pollo al forno con aceto balsamico, formaggio di fossa con miele, parmigiano reggiano con aceto balsamico, gelato al cioccolato, and tiramisu'.

Amongst all this food was hours of conversation. Elliot enjoyed himself, although he fell asleep on the recliner after a while (he refused to fall asleep in his bed; social until the end he is).

Hopefully, this is the first of many such get togethers.

Sunday Morning Movies

2011-01-16T16:58:00.000-08:00

I know, I know, this isn't the best of Sunday morning activities, but Elliot and I shared some movie time this morning. He watched "Super Y" and "Strawberry Shortcake," while I watched "La Siciliana Ribelle."

(Demaree was kind enough to record the activity.) I promise, next Sunday, we'll read scriptures.

First Jazz Game

2011-01-16T16:38:00.000-08:00

So, I finally went to my first Jazz game on Friday. Figured it was about time, having lived in Utah for about six years now. Funny enough, the opportunity to attend came in an entirely surreptitious manner. I was working a shift at Chrysalis when Spencer's dad called and said he had two extra tickets. Two hours later, we were sitting in the Energy Solutions Arena, taking in the sights.

Lights on Temple Square

2011-01-01T14:56:00.000-08:00

Denis and Lisa were in town and had tickets to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir's Christmas concert featuring David Archuletta. Dem and I took Tracks (SLC's lightrail system) downtown, which was a crowded adventure. When we arrived, found Denis and Lisa, and made it to our line, we waited patiently. About half-an-hour later, we were informed our tickets had been given away because we hadn't entered the Conference Center by 7 p.m. Needless to say, it was disappointing. What wasn't disappointing was the time we spent taking in the lights on Temple Square, and the time eating with Denis and Lisa at the Bayleaf Cafe. In all, great night.

Last Christmas Present

2011-01-01T14:00:00.000-08:00

And finally, here is the last Christmas present of the 2010 season. We were a bit late putting it together.

After Elliot finished playing with the horse, he was walking away when he turned around and said, "Bye horsey."

Great Attorney Moment

2010-12-29T19:47:00.000-08:00

This morning, I had two guardianship hearings. In preparation, I met with a very sweet Down Syndrome girl named Allie. We were having a good conversation about guardianship and Allie's favorite iPad game when, out of no where, she declared, "You're cute." I thanked her for her kind (very kind) words and we continued our conversation. That little comment -- one which would be normally considered socially inappropriate -- was a ray of sweet sunshine. It was, without much doubt, the best moment of my career as an attorney.

Christmas with the Family

2010-12-27T22:10:00.000-08:00

We left SLC on Christmas eve to spend time with the family in New Mexico. This year, my brother Bernie and his wife Jo made it down. This is only the second time they've seen Elliot, and the first was when he was sick as a dog. This time, however, Elliot was in prime shape and had a great time with his uncle and aunt. Bernie gave Elliot his first baseball glove, which he promptly used.

Actually, Elliot made out like a bandit this year. He got Candyland (remember that old game?).

But that was just the beginning. He also got a sled.

And a Tonka truck set.

And probably his favorite present of all: playing with momma's ears.

He even got presents from Winston and Carmen. Like I said, he made out like a bandit.

Other than the Christmas morning present ritual, we spent a lot of time together talking and eating. Dem and I did take an evening and saw True Grit, which we really enjoyed. On perk about this trip was Elliot was able to spend his last Sunday in nursery where he actually started nursery about two years ago. In all, it was a great time.

Here are a few more photos, just for memory's sake.

Goblin Valley

2010-12-27T20:00:00.000-08:00

Aron Ralstin's book Between a Rock and a Hard Place inspired us to take a hike in southern Utah before returning home from our Christmas vacation. After some searching, we decided on Goblin Valley for a couple reasons: (1) it was on our route home, and (2) Galaxy Quest made it look really cool. Well, it was really cool. the Goblins (more like mushrooms if you ask me) are these interesting formations made by rocks sitting on much less dense soil that is eroded away, leaving the much larger rock on what looks like a stem. And the valley itself seems to come out of nowhere, and ends as quickly as it begins. Elliot, as usual, loved exploring the formations, jumping over the dry stream beds, and generally running wild. We had a great time, and we'll definitely be back this next fall.

Elliot's Three!

2010-12-13T17:39:00.000-08:00

Our little stud turned three recently. Unfortunately, his birthday falls invariably close to Thanksgiving, so no one's around for it. Being smart people, we deal with this problem by postponing Elliot's birthday party until December. Unfortunately (again), we are so busy in December, poor little guy didn't get a big birthday party. He did, however, enjoy time with his best little friend Spencer Jeffs and ate sugary, fatty foods. Good times were had by all.

Christmased

2010-11-27T09:59:00.001-08:00

So, I go to work on Friday (the day after Thanksgiving, mind you), and when I arrived home, I see this.

In the matter of a single afternoon, the house has been Christmased and Thanksgiving erased. Oh well, 'tis the season.

Thanksgiving

2010-11-26T08:46:00.000-08:00

This was the first time in a long time we hosted Thanksgiving festivities. Mom and Dad were up from New Mexico, so we had a good family dinner. Here's the menu:

1. Brined turkey with a maple-butter glaze.
2. Maple glazed butternut squash with thyme.
3. Sweet potato biscuits.
4. Mashed potatoes with roasted garlic.
5. Mom's stuffing.
6. Roasted parsnips and carrots with champagne vinegar.
7. Mushroom gravy.
8. Homemade cranberry sauce.
9. Pumpkin cheesecake with a blueberry and cranberry sauce.

Needless to say, we ate far too much, but isn't that what Thanksgiving is all about? Well, that and family and giving thanks and whatnot. And speaking of family.

Ah, Thanksgiving: the greatest holiday of all.

President Monson Breaks Ground for Rome Italy Mormon Temple

2010-10-24T11:33:00.000-07:00

Rome Italy Temple

2010-10-23T16:04:00.000-07:00

Rome temple update

2010-10-23T15:59:00.001-07:00

So, I must admit something: I cried today when I found out President Monson went to Rome to celebrate the groundbreaking ceremony for the Rome, Italy temple. To have been part (an exceedingly miniscule part, mind you) of the work that has lead to this great blessing is truly humbling. Kudos to all the missionaries and members that have given their all for the gospel in Italy. This temple is yours. Here's an email from LDSChurchTemples.com about the groundbreaking. It has a link to an artist's rendering of the temple site, and an estimated completion date: 2013.

Dear Rome Italy Temple Mailing List subscribers:

In conjunction with the groundbreaking ceremony held today for the Rome Italy Temple, the Church has launched an official website revealing details of the plans for the temple complex, which will feature a stake center, patron housing facility, family history center, and visitors center, all surrounded by meticulous landscaping. An inspiring video presentation has been created, which displays the future complex from a variety of angles.

OFFICIAL WEBSITE:
http://tempiodiroma.chiesadigesucristo.it/en/

VIDEO PRESENTATION:
http://www.ldschurchtemples.com/rome/video/

ARCHITECTURAL RENDERING:
http://www.ldschurchtemples.com/rome/

SITE PLAN:
http://www.ldschurchtemples.com/rome/construction/

Kindest regards,

Rick Satterfield
LDSChurchTemples.com

Fry time

2010-10-17T15:46:00.001-07:00

Inspired by Erick and Gretchen's recent trip to the Alabama State Fair, we decided to deep fry some sweet treats. Here was the line up:

(1) Sandwich cookies

(2) Twinkies

(3) Ho-hos

(4) Banana

(5) Peanut butter cups

We modified a pancake batter and used it as the coating. The best of the bunch was the sandwich cookies. They were warm and chewy. Mmm. The same cannot be said for fried twinkies. I was hoping the frying process would make the twinkie (usually a disgusting little snack more fit for animal feed than human consumption. (Parenthetical to my explanatory parenthetical: Demaree likes twinkies and gets mad at me when I insult them as I just did.)) taste better. It didn't. It just tasted like deep fried bad. After a disastrous first attempt with the ho-ho, the second turned out. Maybe it's just because deep frying anything chocolate is bound to be tasty, but the ho-ho was pretty darn good. Likewise, the banana was yummy. Honestly, warm banana in the middle of a sweet batter, how could that be bad? And then there was the peanut butter cup. The batter didn't stick, so the cup came out and melted all over creation. It was at this point, after ingesting far too much of sweets and fried batter for one night, that we ended our experiment.

Thoughts on Elder Packer

2010-10-11T20:43:00.000-07:00

For whatever reason, I don't normally comment on Mormon matters on this blog. I am, however, making an exception to quickly comment on the reaction to Elder Packer's talk "Cleansing the Inner Vessel" from the Sunday morning session of conference. His talk has generated protests from some individuals because they argue Elder Packer was unduly harsh on gays (i.e., he said homosexual relations are a sin), because he said homosexual unions are not ordained of God, and because he intimated gays can change through the power of Christ's atonement. News organizations have covered this story. Protests have been launched. General mayhem has ensued.

Heres my initial reaction:

Of course Elder Packer, and Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ said homosexuality is a sin. Jesus, as Jehovah, said the same thing through his Old Testament prophets. He said the same thing through His New Testament prophets. He's said the same thing through his modern-day prophets. In fact, every prophetic utterance on this subject in Mormon scripture (which includes utterances from the beginning of time to the present) states homosexuality is a sin. This isn't new stuff. It's old stuff. Old as the hills.

It's equally normal that Elder Packer would say people with same gender attraction would be able to change. Since Mormon scripture states innumerable times the atonement of Christ can change you, your heart, and your actions, then it is without doubt you can change. Thus, Elder Packer's assertion is absolutely consonant with 1 Nephi 3:7:

And it came to pass that I, Nephi, said unto my father: I will go and do the things the Lord has commanded, for I know the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them.

If we could not change and comply with God's standard for sexual morality, then the atonement is limited and 1 Nephi 3:7 is wrong. However, we know the atonement is not limited, and we know scripture is not wrong. Change by means of the atonement of Christ is possible for all sins, all temptations, all people. Gayness is not a special sin outside the reach of the atonement. It is but one sin among diverse sins, all of which are covered by Christ and His overarching love.

But, to be honest, these most disturbing reactions to Elder Packer's talk have come from active members of the Church. Many, in discussions with those critical of Elder Packer, have criticized him for his tone. They argue Elder Packer's tone was inappropriately harsh. He should have been more conciliatory; his opinions more muted, they argue. Really? His tone? This is an argument about style, not substance. These members are openly criticizing an Apostle for his tone when everything he said is absolutely consistent with every word of revealed scripture. We should spend less time whining about Elder Packer's tone and more time ruminating on the eternal truths Christ chose to reveal through him. Tone. You must be kidding me.

Ultimately, we would be well to remember how Joseph Smith acted when a woman came to him and told him the latest gossip about him. He said he listened to the woman and the terrible things others were saying about him, and instead of dismissing them as lies, he examined the gossip for any kernel of truth, and then took those kernels and used them to correct his actions and improve himself. Joseph cared not about tone; he cared about what was right. He cared about changing himself to become more like Christ. May we all do the same.

New logo

2010-10-06T16:09:00.000-07:00

With the help of Lisa Clayson, I think I've come up with Brown Law, LLC's logo. Let me know what you think.

Time with Nonna

2010-10-04T17:16:00.000-07:00

Grandma was up about a week ago, so we went on a family hike up the canyon. Everything's always better when grandparents are involved.

Bar exam resuls

2010-09-18T15:58:00.000-07:00

I passed the Utah bar exam. Wow, what a relief. Well, I'm going to celebrate now.

The zoo

2010-09-17T09:20:00.000-07:00

A couple months back we bought a season pass to the Hogle Zoo. It's been a great purchase as Elliot loves the place. We probably go twice a month and he never gets tired of the animals. As intrepid as Elliot is, he doesn't much like the larger primates. I have a feeling they scare him a bit. Thankfully, he's an adaptive kid; he'll get used to them quickly enough. In any case, it was a great morning.

Two lakes, one day

2010-09-16T20:11:00.000-07:00

Elliot and I went up Big Cottonwood Canyon today. Way up the canyon. We took in two lakes: Silver and Solitude. Good hike, pretty level. Elliot walked most of the way. In fact, he's started climbing and jumping off rocks. Oh, and the colors have started to change in the valley. It makes things incredibly beautiful.

An afternoon at the park

2010-09-12T20:07:00.000-07:00

We went to our park this afternoon. I say our park because it's the one we go to all the time. Elliot loves the jungle gym, and there are a couple baseball fields and tennis courts as well. What made this afternoon special was the weather. It was absolutely perfect. Dem was studying for her recital, so Elliot and I laid down and looked at the clouds for a while. We found one that looked like a flounder, and one that looked like a snake. After the clouds, we played on the baseball fields with a yellow ball Elliot found while we were chasing birds. Then home it was. What a great way to round out a beautiful Sunday.

Faces. So many faces.

2010-09-09T18:50:00.001-07:00

We decided to photograph a favorite family activity: making Elliot make faces. Here are a few examples.

And our personal favorite.

Dog Lake

2010-09-07T14:04:00.000-07:00

Dog Lake: what can I say. It was okay. Pretty easy hike with not even one switchback. The lake itself is a simple basin reservoir. Pretty place though. Calm water. Nice breeze. Beautiful vistas.

Doughnut Falls

2010-09-06T10:58:00.000-07:00

Being Labor Day, Dem didn't have school. We took advantage by going on a family hike to Doughnut Falls. Nice thing about this hike is it's fairly easy and popular, so the trail is level and wide. The actual falls are only mildly impressive, but it is neat to see the water cascade through a hole in the rock. And now it's off to Ikea to populate our study with furniture.

Sunday dinner: chicken enchilada pasta

2010-09-05T17:13:00.000-07:00

So, usually (read always) when we eat pasta, we use Italian recipes. This is a stark departure from that norm. We rather enjoy chicken enchilada casserole, but that takes a good long time, so we thought we'd try transform the casserole into a pasta dish. Surprisingly, it worked pretty well. Give it a whirl sometime. Just to wet the appetite, the pictures come before the recipe.

Ingredients

1 large onion, chopped
3 chicken thighs, cut into one inch cubes
3 medium plum tomatoes, chopped
6 ounces cheddar cheese, shredded
1 four-ounce can chopped green chiles
Pickled jalapenos (optional)
5 tablespoons canola oil
5 tablespoons butter
6 tablespoons AP flour
1 ½ cups chicken stock
1 ½ cups whole milk
1 teaspoon poultry seasoning
½ teaspoon cumin
Mexican hot sauce (to taste)
Salt (to taste)
Pepper (to taste)
1 pound pasta (medium shells)

Directions

Start by putting 1 gallon of salted water on the stovetop over medium high heat.

Sautee the chopped onions with 1 tablespoon butter and 1 tablespoon canola oil over medium high heat until onions are translucent (5–7 minutes). At the same time, but in a different pan, brown chicken pieces with 1 tablespoon canola oil over medium high heat (4–5 minutes). When the onions and chicken are done, put them in a bowl.

In the bowl the onions were sautéed in, place 3 tablespoons canola oil and 3 tablespoons butter over medium heat. When the butter melts, add the flour and incorporate. Cook the mixture, stirring constantly, for 2 minutes. Stir in chicken stock and milk. Stir in onions, chicken, cheese, green chiles, poultry seasoning, and cumin. Add salt and pepper to taste. When mixture comes to a slight boil, turn down temperature to medium low.

Boil the pasta according until al dente (about 8 minutes). Drain pasta and incorporate it into chicken mixture. Plate the pasta and serve with tomatoes, hot sauce, and jalapenos (if you so desire) added just before eating.

Lake Blanche

2010-09-02T14:22:00.000-07:00

Today's hike was to Blanche Lake up Big Cottonwood Canyon. 2.9 miles in and back. Elliot walked about 2/3 of the way up on his own, which is pretty good considering the trail grade. It took us about 5.5 hours total, and was worth every minute. Oh, and the lake was beautiful.

Bonneville Trail

2010-09-01T20:25:00.000-07:00

Elliot and I tried out the Bonneville Trail at the mouth of Parley's Canyon. We didn't hike that far because the trail was more difficult than I anticipated so we didn't bring the kid carrier. But even though the terrain was difficult, Elliot was a trooper and loved every minute of it. He's an intrepid kid.

Thursday hike

2010-08-26T12:01:00.000-07:00

Elliot and I took a little hike this morning in the hills. Elliot usually stays in the kids carrier until the summit, but this time he actually hiked quite a bit. He hammed it up the entire way too, huffing and puffing as he walked up hill. Ah, it's so nice to be in a place with mountains. This is what we've missed for so long.

Peach cake tatin

2010-08-22T15:19:00.000-07:00

We've found a new favorite dessert. Nice thing about this cake is you can use almost any fruit: plums, peaches, bananas, apples. This is the peach variation, which is probably the best simply because peaches work so well in cakes.

Here's the recipe (this is only a slight variation of Ina Garten's plum cake tatin recipe):

Ingredients

6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature, plus extra for greasing the dish
4 large peaches, cut in half and pitted
1 3/4 cups granulated sugar, divided
2 extra-large eggs, at room temperature
1/3 cup sour cream
1/2 teaspoon grated lemon zest
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
Confectioners' sugar

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Generously butter a 9-inch glass pie dish and arrange the peaches in the dish, cut side down.

Combine 1 cup of the granulated sugar and 1/3 cup water in a small saucepan and cook over high heat until it turns a warm amber color, about 360 degrees F on a candy thermometer. Swirl the pan but don't stir. Pour evenly over the peaches.

Meanwhile, cream the 6 tablespoons of butter and the remaining 3/4 cup of granulated sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, until light and fluffy. Lower the speed and beat in the eggs one at a time. Add the sour cream, zest, and vanilla and mix until combined. Sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt and, with the mixer on low speed, add it to the butter mixture. Mix only until combined.

Pour the cake batter evenly over the peaches and bake for 30 to 40 minutes, until a cake tester comes out clean. Cool for 15 minutes, then invert the cake onto a flat plate. If a peach sticks, ease it out and replace it in the design on top of the cake. Serve warm or at room temperature, dusted with confectioners' sugar.

The joys of summer

2010-08-20T09:15:00.000-07:00

Watermelon: one of summer's little joys.

It's official: Dem's a Ute

2010-08-19T18:08:00.000-07:00

Today was Demaree's first day of teacher assistant training at the U. Her day was filled with meetings about the basics of teaching. Needless to say, she was bored. Apparently, all meetings having to do with teaching, whether at a university or public school districts, are less than useful. She'll find out what her teaching assistant assignment is tomorrow. We think she'll probably teach voice lessons (at least we hope she does).

Today was also our orientation meeting for Elliot's daycare. As is his wont, Elliot loves the place. He loves the kids, the toys, the whole deal. It's nice having a son who is so flexible and accommodating.

Welcome to the beginning of a new chapter in our lives. This one, like all the others, should be great.

Why did the chicken go down the slide?

2010-08-19T12:06:00.000-07:00

Our friends Natalie and Randy have decided to raise chickens on their land. When we were over for dinner one night, the kids went to play in the back yard with the chickens. This is what ensued.

Yep, that's right, Elliot was all about putting the chicken down the slide. The chicken was okay, by the way. No need to PETA.

Millcreek Canyon

2010-08-17T21:26:00.000-07:00

Last week we spent some quality time up in the canyon, which is conveniently quite close to our place. While hiking, we happened upon a wedding party in the valley below, complete with karaoke singers. Elliot got bored in the kid carrier and decided to play a little game called "let's make babbo run every time momma comes close to me." Each time the running began, he would laugh and laugh. When Dem would approached, he yelled, "Run! Run!" and the game started all over again.

And here are some photos.

Jared's Sealing

2010-08-15T16:11:00.000-07:00

We recently went to Jared's sealing in Vegas. This has been a long time coming, but all that time spent as a single was apparently worth it because he married a wonderful girl: Lindsey. It was great to see Jared's family as well. It had been a while. Well, here are some highlights.

Congrats, buddy.

Time with Lisa

2010-08-15T13:29:00.000-07:00

Lisa (Denis's wife) decided to surprise her family by flying from Florida to Utah without notice. During her visit, she helped her family with their yearly ritual: making and selling frybread at the Salt Lake County Fair. We went by the stand and visited her. We got a free dinner out of the deal, and Lisa was able to see Elliot. In the end, we all won.

And then there was the pig racing.

Elliot's pig one both races so they gave him a blue ribbon. He wore it all night.

The King

2010-05-23T21:45:00.000-07:00

We recently watched "Where the Wild Things Are." I thought it was quite good; Dem not so much. In any case, we may have a little Max on our hands.

Let's hope he doesn't terrorize the dog.

Dem's Birthday Cake

2010-05-23T21:33:00.000-07:00

Dem had a rather interesting request for her birthday cake this year: shortcake. (Note: Dem's birthday was a while ago, but we're trying to catch up on our blogging, so here we are. A day late and a dollar short.) Here's what Elliot and I came up with:

Not a traditional choice, but darn tasty.

Tea Party Festivities

2010-05-23T18:42:00.000-07:00

A couple months ago, we went to the local tea party. We've been to three thusfar, and all have been pretty standard political rallies. Elliot's always a big hit at these things. By the way, he still has the flag.

Sun Beep!

2010-05-23T18:20:00.000-07:00

Elliot has been learning a number of children's hymns in nursery. The cutest, by far, is, "Jesus Wants Me for a Sunbeam," which Elliot pronounces "sunbeep." Check out this wonderful little rendition.

Roy Poster

2010-05-23T18:05:00.000-07:00

Keeping with the "Dem is about to quit teaching, so let's have some blog posts on her experiences" theme, here's a poster her kids at Roy gave her. The girl who made this, Erin Western, now makes wedding cakes -- good ones too.

End of an Era

2010-05-23T17:44:00.001-07:00

This is Demaree's last week teaching public school. She's taught middle and high school choir for five years. She's enjoyed it (partly because she's darn good at it), although it takes a toll after a while. Since Dem's going back to school to get her doctorate in vocal performance, this week is, indeed, the end of an era. Here are some pictures from Dem's last teaching days.

Housing options

2010-05-22T06:35:00.000-07:00

Elliot and I just spent a few days looking at possible housing. After discussing things, Dem and I have narrowed the field to three options. For anyone reading, let us know your thoughts.

Option #1: This is a small floor duplex five minutes from Dem's building at the university. Two bedrooms with a den/small room. Gorgeous neighborhood. Small, old kitchen.

Option #2: This is a top-floor condo 15 minutes from the university. 3 bedroom 2 bath. 1500 square feet. Near shopping, but close to a relatively busy street. Nice views of the mountains.

Option #3: This is a house in about 15 to 17 minutes from the university. About 1400-1500 square feet. Two car garage. Small kitchen. No dining room. Nice, quiet neighborhood. Cheapest of the three options, by about $200.

Like Father Like Son

2010-05-15T13:09:00.000-07:00

I, Marco, have a confession to make: I drink milk from the jug. Always have. Always will. I often blame this habit on my mother (she does the same), but in reality I do it because it's convenient. Well, turns out Elliot has the same penchant for jug drinkin'. Guess the apple never falls far from the tree, even when the apple and the tree share no common genetic material.

Elliot's New Suits

2010-05-11T19:20:00.000-07:00

We finally broke down a while ago and bought Elliot a couple suits for church. They even have little clip-on ties, which are rockin'. Needless to say, he looks great in them.

The Brushing of the Teeth

2010-05-11T18:53:00.000-07:00

Brushing is one of those skills Elliot has yet to master. Usually, he just sucks the toothpaste from the brush and asked for more. In light of this, we end up helping him out. He does pretty well for about thirty seconds, and after that he gets bored and tries to close his mouth. Here are some pics.

Mother's Day

2010-05-09T16:26:00.000-07:00

Today is the day we all celebrate those who gave life to us, and then, amazingly, stuck with us through childhood, adolescence, and into adulthood, all without taking our lives in the process. Praise be to mothers of all stripes.

We began Mother's Day as is our wont: with breakfast in bed. This year's permutation consisted of quiche Lorraine, cinnamon rolls with cream cheese and orange butter frosting, and a fruit salad tossed with lemon juice and honey. Here are pictures of the cinnamon rolls, which turned out quite well.

After breakfast, there was a mad dash to church, followed by a lazy afternoon filled with a walk and numerous episodes of "Prison Break." It was just the kind of lazy day Dem both needed and deserved.

Singin' in the hail

2010-05-08T08:07:00.000-07:00

Here's a fun little video of Elliot in his first hail storm.

Elliot's first front page

2010-04-14T14:14:00.000-07:00

Elliot was on the front page of the "Farmington Daily Times" last week. Check it our here. While this was his first front page, it won't be his last.

Hiking in TX

2010-04-10T08:13:00.000-07:00

This is from our spring break travels in TX.

Second Legal Publication

2010-03-29T18:34:00.000-07:00

It's been a while since I last published something, but here's my latest. It's a review of a very new and influential First Amendment decision. Enjoy:

Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission: The Decision and Its Effect on Federal and State Campaign Finance Laws

Green & Gold Ball

2010-03-14T11:18:00.000-07:00

Here are some funny videos from the green and gold ball at church last night.

New favorite Elliot pic

2010-02-20T07:47:00.001-08:00

Without further ado:

Been a while -- some new videos

2010-02-19T19:03:00.000-08:00

Recipe - sweet potato pancakes with cinnamon and bacon

2009-11-01T09:08:00.000-08:00

Just made this this morning. Good stuff. Enjoy.

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups peeled and cubed sweet potatoes
2 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
6 egg whites, at room temperature
1 1/3 cups milk
1/4 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
1/4 cup butter, melted
1 tablespoon grated orange rind (optional)
4 strips of bacon
Vegetable spray, for waffle iron
Special equipment: waffle iron

Directions

Put cubed sweet potatoes on one half of a baking sheet and the bacon strips on the other half. Place the sheet in a 400 degree pre-heated oven for 20 minutes. Remove baking sheet, place the bacon on a paper-towel-lined plate, and place the sweet potato in a food processor. Process the sweet potatoes until chopped well (20 to 30 seconds). When bacon is cooled, cut into somewhat thick pieces (1/4 inch maybe). Set potatoes and bacon aside.

In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt and set aside.
In another bowl combine the sweet potatoes, milk, brown sugar, butter, bacon pieces, and grated orange rind. Stir the sweet potato mixture into the flour mixture and thoroughly combine. Beat egg whites until stiff peaks form. Gradually fold egg whites into batter 1/3 at a time. The batter will be thick. Using a No. 20 disher (scoop), place 2 scoops of batter onto a preheated, oiled waffle iron, and cook until lightly browned, about 5 to 6 minutes.

Spaccanapoli Video

2009-10-25T10:24:00.000-07:00

Wow, we've been terrible about posting the last while. We haven't even posted our Italy vacation pics. Well, those will follow, but we'll start things out with a video. It's us traversing Scappanapoli (a street) in Naples, Italy. Enjoy.

BYU v. Oklahoma

2009-09-05T21:21:00.000-07:00

BYU, locked in an epic struggle with OU,
who lives in their Big 12 bubble,
and squashes them into, as it were, a mud puddle

Bad poetry, great game. Go Cougars!

Maple Ice Cream Topped with Bacon

2009-08-28T13:10:00.000-07:00

I know, I know. It sounds strange to put bacon on ice cream. It's not, really. Think about a big breakfast in which you have pancakes and bacon on the same plate. You always end up getting some maple syrup on your bacon, and it tastes good. This is the same dang tasty concept.

Ingredients

1 cup Grade A or B maple syrup
2 cups heavy cream
1 cup whole milk
Pinch salt
4 large egg yolks
3/4 teaspoon maple extract (optional)
4 to 6 strips bacon

Directions

In a small saucepan, bring the maple syrup to a simmer and cook until reduced to 3/4 cup, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat.

In a medium saucepan, combine the cream, milk, reduced maple syrup, and a pinch of salt. Bring to a gentle boil over medium heat. Remove from the heat.

Beat the egg yolks in a medium bowl. Whisk 1 cup of the hot cream into the egg yolks. Gradually add the egg mixture in a slow, steady stream, to the hot cream. Return to medium-low heat and cook, whisking, until the mixture is thick enough to coat the back of a spoon, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and strain through a fine mesh strainer into a clean container. Whisk in the maple extract. Cover with plastic wrap, pressing down against the surface to keep a skin from forming. Refrigerate until well chilled, at least 2 hours.

Remove from the refrigerator and pour into the bowl of an ice cream machine. Freeze according to the manufacturer's instructions. Transfer to an airtight container and freeze until ready to serve.

About 15 minutes before serving, fry 4 to 6 strips of bacon (or however many you desire really). When crispy, remove bacon from pan and let rest on a paper towel for 3 to 4 minutes. Cut or crumble bacon into small pieces.

Place ice cream in bowl and top with as much bacon as you wish. Enjoy.

(Attribution: The ice cream recipe is from Emeril Lagassi. The idea to combine bacon with it is all mine.)

Easy Homemade Nutella

2009-08-24T21:38:00.001-07:00

Nutella is one of Italy's crown culinary jewels. Well, it's not really a jewel. In fact, it's more like crack than anything. Once you have nutella, you want more, more, more. Unfortunately, the American industrial version is akin to crack-lite: passable, but nothing you would sell your mother for. Because of this, I set out to make a good, easy homemade nutella. The following is what I came up with. It's not perfect, but it certainly satisfies me and the fam for now. Enjoy, and comments are welcome.

The thing you have to keep in mind with this recipe is it’s going to taste different than Nutella from Italy. For example, the first ingredient in Italian Nutellas is zucchero (sugar), and the second is olio vegetale (vegetable oil). Hazelnuts don’t come in until number 3, and cacao is number 4, right above lowfat powdered milk. By contrast, this recipe has equal parts hazelnuts and powdered sugar, and milk is used as a thinning agent more so than vegetable oil. The result: a much more hazelnutty tasty. Keep in mind, however, you’ll never quite get that smooth absolutely consistency you get with industrial machines. But that’s okay, a little mouth feel is good.

Ingredients

1 cup of raw hazelnuts
5 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
1 cup powdered sugar
2 tablespoons canola oil (or some other neutral oil)
5 tablespoons whole milk, more as needed
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

Directions

Toast the hazelnuts on a baking sheet for about 10 minutes in a 375 degree oven. Let the hazelnuts cool down for about five minutes, and then place the hazelnuts between two kitchen towels and rub until the skins come off (you may have to do this with your hands if they don’t cooperate). (Note: if you don't want to roast and peel the hazelnuts, just buy a bag of chopped hazelnuts at the store and blend those. They have some skin on them, but that's okay.)

Place nuts in a food processor and blend in 45 second intervals, stopping to wipe down the bowl after every interval. You should get a pretty smooth mixture after about 5 cycles, but keep in mind it won’t be as smooth as peanut butter or the Nutella you buy in the supermarket. Add the cocoa, sugar, oil, and milk, and salt and mix for another 45 seconds. If the mixture is too firm (you want it to spread easily), add another tablespoon or two of either vegetable oil or milk — your choice.

Now, enjoy. I would try to use your nutella within a week, which shouldn’t be difficult ;)

How I met Demaree

2009-08-24T21:02:00.001-07:00

How did you meet your significant other (note the nomenclature significant other and not spouse. Dang Bohemians)? Answer all the questions HONESTLY and re post as "How I met Demaree"

1.) Where did you meet? At a friend’s party

2.) Who introduced you? No one. I just started talking to her (making the rounds through the women there).

3.) What was the first thought that went through your head when you met? Cute. Smart. RM.

4.) Do you remember what he/she was wearing? Not the first foggiest clue, although she remembers exactly what I was wearing.

5.) Where was the first place you kissed this person? On the couch in her apartment. (I know, finally someone who didn’t get their first action in the Clayson house.)

6.) How long did you know this person before you became a couple? About ten days.

7.) How did he/she ask you out? She asked me out first. She came with a friend to our ward prayer (i.e., the meat market) and we started talking. Eventually, I walked her home. When at her apartment, she asked whether I like opera. I responded yes. She invited me to see “The Magic Flute.” It was a good production.

8.) Do you have kids with this person? One: the greatest little stud on the planet, a.k.a. Elliot.

9.) Have you ever broken the law with this person? There are so many laws, who knows anymore.

10.) When was the first time you realized that you really liked this person? When we talked until 2.30 a.m. the night of our first date and I realized I loved every minute of it.

11.) Do you get along with his/her family? Great.

12.) Do you trust this person? With my life and the life of my children.

13.) Do you see her/him as your partner in the future? Nope, sure can’t. That’s why I married her.

14.) What is the best gift she/he gave you? An eternal family.

15.) How long have you been with this person? Since October 2000.

16.) How well do you know your man or woman? Pretty well, although not as well as I should I’m sure.

17.) What features attracted you to them first? Cute, skinny, blond, smart, funny.

18.) Hair color? Blonde-ish

19.) Does he/she let you wear the pants? We’re pretty egalitarian. I try to make her as happy as possible, and we both sacrifice so the other can develop their talents.

20.) Do you have a shirt of hers/his that you sleep in? Goodness no. If I did, it would look like I lived on Castro Street.

21.) Does she/he make you happy? Sure does.

22.) Does she/he have any piercings? Ear lobes.

23.) Does she/he have any scars that you know of? Some from falling as a kid.

24.) Is she/he Outgoing or Shy? Depends on the situation. Has no problem performing in front of hundreds of people. Doesn’t like to call strangers on the phone.

25.) Does she/he sing? Like a freakin’ dream.

26.) Do you like her/his friends? Haven’t met one I don’t like.

27.) Does she/he have any tattoos? Thankfully, no.

28.) Does she/he look like their mom? Um, sort of, I guess.

29.) Do you like her/his sisters/brothers? Yes.

30.) What is the most romantic date you have ever gone on? You’ll have to ask her. They’re all romantic to me.

31.) Do you have any nicknames for each other? Dem. Sweety. Sweet cheeks.

32.) Do you live with this person?Isn’t it sad they ask this question.

33.) Do you have any pets together? No, never have. Elliot loves dogs though, so we’ll get one eventually.

34.) Where is this person? Taking a shower.

35.) When will you guys do something next? After we get ready. Dem has to clean up her room at school, so Elliot and I will accompany and help.

McDonald's, Italy, and Language Barriers

2009-08-06T03:39:00.000-07:00

We just got back from our vacation to Italy, and since we haven't upload pictures onto the computer, I thought I would share an experience I had at McDonald's. (Yes, we ate a McDonald's once -- okay twice. I know, I know. Really though, it was the only good option at the time.)

In America one often experiences trouble communicating with some McDonald's employees because (1) they're foreigners who don't speak English well, or (2) they're American citizens who don't speak English well (or are entirely without the capacity for abstract thought). Turns out this is not an exclusive McDonald's-in-America phenomena. No, in fact, it turns out McDonald's employees have trouble speaking the dominant language of whichever nation they happen to work in. For example, I had the following conversation with an Asian girl in Bologna.

Me: How large is a medium drink?
She: Two euros.
Me: No, how large is the cup in which the medium drink is served?
She: Medium drink costs one euro seventy.
Me: Yeah, how large is the cup? Can you show me the cup, please?
She: (She shows me a cup).
Me: Is that the medium cup?
She: No, large.
Me: Okay. Can you show me the medium?
She: The medium's here (pointing to the mediums instead of actually taking one out and showing it to me).
Me: Fine, I'll take the large.
She: Two euros.
Me: I got that, thanks.

Elliot & Dem Update

2009-07-05T15:48:00.000-07:00

Dem and Elliot are well. Demaree's first performance is this Wednesday in San Marino (a very small independent nation, much like Luxemburg, near the east coast of Italy). She's excited to finally get out and sing. Elliot has discovered the goodness of real mozzarella cheese. Demaree was making him some lunch when she pulled out a ball of mozzarella (for those who don't know, in Italy mozzarella comes in ball form and is stored in water). Elliot decided to forego the rest of lunch and just eat the mozz ball like an apple. That's my boy.

Happy 4th

2009-07-04T06:32:00.000-07:00

The 4th is upon us. Today is the day we celebrate America's independence, an independence bought with the best blood the 18th century. It was the blood of young men, slaves and free blacks, women, and children: patriots all. They fought an oppressive regime that they might secure liberty and economic prosperity. July 4th was the beginning of the grandest political experiment in the history of the world -- an experiment that has proven successful and made this world a better place. And while America is far from perfect, it is the shining beacon on the hill. It is exceptional.

May we take this time to reflect on our individual freedoms, realize those freedoms are what makes America (and, by extension, us) great, and work to expand those freedoms among our citizenry and the citizenry of the whole earth. God bless America.