Stir Fry

     This is my final meal that I made while living by myself for a week - stir fry!

     Stir Fry is one of my go-to things to make. I especially like to make it with leftovers since it is quick, fun, easy, and gets old food out of the fridge. This time I did not have any leftover meat to work with. However, it just so happens that there was some already trimmed, cubed, and marinated chicken in the freezer that I could use.

     The first thing I did was to cook my rice (I just used the rice setting on the microwave. It works!) and chop my vegetables. You can use whatever kind of vegetables you want. I used carrots, onions, and celery, as well as some leftover broccoli.

     Next I cooked my raw vegetables. After they were cooked I removed them from the pan and cooked my chicken. When that was all done I added in my vegetables, including the precooked broccoli and warmed everything up. Served with the rice my stir fry was ready to go!

A Variation on Green Bean Casserole

     One of my favorite side dishes is green bean casserole. For this variation I was inspired from another green bean casserole recipe from one of our recipe books. I took out some of the things I didn't like (like green peppers) and added somethings I did.

Ingredients:

1 can of cream of mushroom soup

Milk

Soy Sauce

1-2 cans of green beans (drained)

Ground hamburger (browned)

Frozen tater tots 

This recipe is really easy, if a little vague. Some of the things you just have to eyeball. 

Preheat oven to 350. In a large bowl mix the cream of mushroom soup with a little milk and soy sauce. Add in the green beans and hamburger. Mix. (Note: I would advise draining the green beans. I forgot to do this and my end result was still palatable, if on the soupy side). Top with tater tots and bake for an hour at 350.

This recipe works great for leftovers as well. I only used one can of green beans, and all together it was enough for two full meals for me!

Taco Soup

     For a week this month I was all by myself. I had to act responsibly, cooking and cleaning up for myself. One of the main challenges was cooking meals. I think I overcame the challenge and considering I survived the week alone, I was pretty successful. So, I would like to share some of my successes here.

     One of the things I made was Taco Soup! This is a great dish because it is easy to make and tastes good the second time around. Yay leftovers!

Taco Soup

(makes 11 cups)

1 lb ground beef (browned)

1 onion, chopped

1 can chili beans, pour it all in

1 can kidney beans, mostly drain off

1 can whole kernel corn, drained

1 8 oz can tomato sauce

2 cans peeled/diced tomato

1 c. water

1 4 oz can green chiles

1 package taco seasoning

     Basically, you have some stuff and a bunch of cans, dump everything into a pot, warm it up, and create something delicious like this:

     This recipe is really good when topped with corn chips! Enjoy!

Graphic Texture

Semester #5

     I am now a junior in college! How crazy is that? I'm going to continue laying out my class schedule, if just for my own personal record of what I did when. So, enjoy!

1. Intermediate Spanish Grammar and Composition (Honors)
     This is the next step up in my journey up the Spanish language ladder. After completing the equivalent of Spanish 3 last semester, I am now on to bigger and better things. Essentially we will be going over what we learned in the past and focusing in on grammar and exposition. Our first writing assignment was a comparison essay of a Hispanic actor/actress/artist/famous person and one from our country of origin, specifically America. I chose Rita Moreno and Betty White. I was going to use Julie Andrews, but she is British and therefore off limits. This being an honors course, my compositions have to be a bit longer than my other fellow classmates.

2. Earth Science and Environment (Geology)
     I think it interesting that last semester I was taking astrology and learning about space, but this semester I am focusing closer to home. The class is technically called Earth Science, but I always refer to it as Geology (or Geometry if I get my words mixed up - it's okay, I know what I mean). Currently, we just finished up learning about  rocks and minerals and erosion and what not. This is an online class, so something have been a bit of a learning curve, but hopefully it will all come together in the end. Also, I've learned that Geology has a lot of potential for puns!

3. Graphic Design Concepts
     This is one of the Graphic Design courses I need to take before I can apply to the program. In it we discuss where ideas and concepts for designs come from. We also have an opportunity to practice coming up with some designs of our own. Right now we are learning about different design collectives, or groups of people with the same design ideology.

4. How to Use Photoshop and InDesign
     Like the class I took last semester for Illustrator, this online course is instructing me in the ways of using Adobe software. Photoshop is a program that works with pictures and pixels. InDesign works to create layouts and formats. I have used both programs in the past. For example, I have used InDesign to create the family newspaper-style for our Christmas cards.

Evidence of my photo-manipulation skills

5. Typography I

     This is another Graphic Design course that is required to apply for the major. In it we learn about different fonts and typefaces, as well as miscellaneous design aspects involving type.

     Five classes is a lot! I am really glad that not all of my classes extend to the end of the semester. My schedule is packed and I am already ready for a break. However, in a few weeks, my load will be lessened to just four classes!

Trust: The Word of the Year

     I mentioned in an earlier post that already 4 months into the year God was working on my faith and trust. More than halfway through 2018 I can say that He is still working.

     This summer I experienced some health complications. I would like to say that they were what prevented me from posting anything, but that wouldn't be quite true. They weren't terribly serious, but it was still scary as they continued on and I still wasn't feeling at my best. "Come on, I'm young!" I thought. "I'm not supposed to struggle with my health!"

     In some ways my 'disabilities' held me back. But in other ways they pushed me forward. I tried not to let how I was feeling (unless I felt really really bad) dictate what I did. I made an effort to say, unless ____ occurs, we are going to do what we can and not let it hold us back. It taught me more to focus on God and continue to trust Him daily. Because I needed Him to give me strength to get through the days. I couldn't do it by myself. I am thankful that he continued to come through. This summer I helped out with the youth group program at my church. Aside from being gone on vacation one week, there was not a week that I missed because God provided and sustained me.

     At this point I have been to the doctor's a couple times and am taking measures to fix whatever is going on. I am trusting God to heal me - through medication, the natural processes of my body, or whatever method he deems necessary. But I had to come to a difficult truth that I may have learned in my head, but am still learning in my heart; He is better.

     My home church is going through the book of Amos as a sermon series. It's got some pretty heavy stuff! The Israelites have turned away from God and He is making good on his promise to punish them for breaking the covenant. One of the things they turned to was wealth. Some had more than one house, and these houses were extravagantly decorated! In the midst of this luxury and splendor the poor were neglected and ignored. The people valued their wordly possessions as more than God.

     The truth I had to learn was that just as God is worth more than worldly goods, He is worth more than my health here on Earth. Even if He does not heal me and this is something that I continue to struggle with I know that He is Good. And he will use my struggles in amazing ways. So, it might not be fun, but it will be worth it.

Family Vacation 2018 Part 2: South Fork

     The next morning after our somewhat laborious hike we left Colorado Springs and drove to South Fork, where we had rented a cabin. On the way to our destination we stopped at the Great Sand Dunes National Park. In the informational video at the visitor's center every time the park was mentioned the whole name had to be spelled out. So to give it full justice I will say it again: Great Sand Dunes National Park.

     Theatrics aside, the park was very cool and beautiful! We had good weather, although it was a little hot. The river that usually flows through the park had dried up due to drought, so after walking around the dunes for a bit we took respite in the air conditioned visitor's center.

     Another tourist attraction we enjoyed while in South Fork was the Chimney Rock National Monument, a newly established national site for ruins of ancient peoples. These ruins were situated on Chimney Rock because of the astrological importance of the location. Or so we were told. It seemed a plausible explanation as any, but we must take every thing with a grain of salt. Speaking of salt, our tour guide was very well educated in the geology of the area and did his best to pass on the information to us. I should have paid better attention, maybe some of what he said could help me in my Earth Science class this semester.

     On the way back from Chimney Rock we stopped in Pagosa Springs so Mom could reap the enjoyment to seeing some of the Springs in action. We also did a small hike to a waterfall near Wolf Creek Pass.

     That pretty much sums up our summer family vacation (albeit -1 family member). We did have a bit of an unplanned adventure on the way back, but that is a story for another time.