Yummy stuff & getting fit

The other day I was over an hour into posting about Guy’s sisters who visited us in May.  Guy plugged his IPad into the computer and I hit the wrong key deleting everything. Edit Undo would not work so I tried to back out of the page before the every couple minute Auto Save feature saved nothing.  Well, with the IPad connecting and opening ITunes I couldn’t get the web page to navigate fast enough deleting everything!  When that has happened in the past the post never gets redone.  So, Michele, Corri and Frank…  If you never see a post about your visit you are still loved.  A lot!

My dad asked me to give him my salsa recipe.  Many people over the years have wanted my salsa recipe.  What an amazing feeling to have people really enjoy and want to replicate something I do.  Back in the day, while on my church mission to Nebraska, my fellow missionaries would give me some of their monthly allotment to cover the cost of ingredients and make them some salsa on our preparation day {day off}.  Over the years I’ve changed it a bit to accommodate my tastes at the time, but it’s still basically the same.  Today is your lucky day if you like salsa And want to take the time to make your own.  Here is my recipe.  I’d be happy to email you a Pages or Word copy of it if you’d like.

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Salsa Recipe

This is my salsa recipe.  It’s important to note that the fresh ingredients vary in both size and strength of flavor {especially spicy peppers} which means each time you make salsa it will be a little different.  If you are the type of cook that can ‘cook on the fly’ or in other words not have to follow a recipe precisely this is the recipe for you.  For me the texture of the salsa is just as important as the ingredients.  I recommend a salsa maker {manual food processor} or hand chopping main ingredients over a food processor or blender.  A glass bowl is preferred as plastic will forever smell of salsa and metal changes the salsa due to the acids making it gross.  I use the Pampered Chef classic batter bowl, because it is convenient to mix and store as it has a lid.

Let me know if you have any questions.

Shannon    shannon@lifelongimpressions.com

Yeild:  2 Quarts

 

Ingredients:

10 Roma tomatoes – really ripe ones are best

1/2 bunch Green onions – I like to use the thin ones more then the thick ones

1 can Green chilis – get diced & roasted, if fresh roasted use one pepper diced

1-2 Jalapeno peppers

1-3 Serrano peppers

1/3 cup Fresh cilantro

2 cans Petit diced tomatoes

1 Fresh lemon

1 Fresh lime

1 tsp Garlic salt

 

 

Heat Tips:

Serrano’s are not available all the time so use 1 1/2 jalapenos for 1 serrano.  Both small and large jalapeno peppers tend to give the exact same heat so size doesn’t matter.  In the winter is when peppers are generally the most mild.

Mild – 1 jalapeno

Medium – 1 jalapeno & 1 serrano

Yummy spicy! – 2 jalapenos & 2 serranos

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Instructions:

Add the green chilis, cans of tomatoes and squeeze both the lemon and lime juice into the bowl.  Rinse the remaining fresh ingredients well.  Next chop the green onions finely using mostly the green stems with only a little of the white bulb used.  {Note: Do not try putting the green onions into the processor.}  Add the garlic salt and give everything a stir so the flavors start to combine.  In the salsa maker I chop the remaining ingredients in two batches.  Quarter half the tomatoes lengthwise, slice 1/2 the peppers in approximately 1/4 inch increments and 1/2 the cilantro.  Place into the salsa maker and process until the pieces are small but not pureed.  Combine the processed ingredients in your bowl and stir.  Repeat with the remaining half of fresh ingredients.

 

Enjoy right away or refrigerate.  The salsa is best the first two days.  To freshen your salsa on days 3-4 add one finely chopped pepper of your choice.  It will probably still be edible on days 5-6, but it isn’t my personal preference.

 

Variations:

Cumin powder – A little goes a long way so a tiny pinch to add a more robust earthy flavor

White or red onion – 1/2 is all I’d use and can be done in the processor

Fresh garlic  & salt – Can be used in place of the garlic salt and gives a stronger garlic flavor

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The other day we were talking with the kids about some things we like to do.  The topic of the beach came up so Guy mentioned we would be going to the beach on our upcoming cruise.   Madison said, “Yeah, and we will go to a beach with dolphins who I will kiss.”  lol  Nope, we have Never talked about going to see dolphins in person.  Not sure where that came from.  I’m also pretty sure that is a very expensive activity to do, and unless I get a LOT of really great clients between now and Halloween it will not happen for her.  Blake also thought it would be a great thing to do.  He wants to pet them and let them kiss him.

I really want to lose 20 pounds.  If anyone would like to join me on this quest I will be forming a group on MyFitnessPall.com.  It’s a great program to track your food and exercise.  It works together to let you know how many calories you need to keep within to lose your goal weight.  I was trying to lose 1 pound a week, but now I’m going for 2 until the end of August.  Go join and either request to be my friend or let me know your screen name to find you.  http://www.myfitnesspal.com/  My screen name is: PicsGirl


Just like I think Madison’s bikini undies are adorable so are Blake’s boxer briefs.  A week or so ago I had the thought of photographing him in just his undies.  Well, one day I was taking some images of my summer intern, Emily, and had put her in Guy’s tie.  The tie didn’t give me exactly what I was envisioning, but then I saw it the next day and thought of those adorable undies again.  The next few images are the result.  At first Blake wasn’t on board, but we got to giggling after a couple minutes.  I love them all, even the sad ones!  I’ll be touching up the background if I do anything else with them.

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Madison popped my hat on for a couple images.   She’s just so pretty.  I love how her sweet personality shines through in images.

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The other day Maddie was rummaging around my props to deck herself out.  When she put these baby legs on her arms she said they made her into a dancer.  The hat was on for a few minutes, but the arm warmers were on for a few hours.  She loved them.  We might have to get some more so she’ll have her own fashion items this winter.

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Will the Real Happy Baby Please Step Forward.. Please Step Forward.. Please Step Forward..

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I can get images like this All day long.

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He is such a happy easy baby.

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He brings us all joy.

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And maybe a little ‘Poo Poo Platter’!  This oriental baby image cracks us all up and totally is my new favorite image of him.  How can you not smile when you see this face?!?!

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Still funny!

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Blake asked for a few images with Landon.

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And then wouldn’t look at the camera…  lol  Isn’t it supposed to be the 2 month old that isn’t looking at the camera?

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Well, it isn’t possible to get everything, but I really don’t care.  They are super cute when they look at the camera and when they don’t.

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More of happy baby!

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We just decided to shave Blake’s head.  I’m off….  Stay tuned to see how it comes out.

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