Neighborhood Walkabout: September, 2009

Our last neighborhood walkabout is this Sunday, September 6th from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Here are the details:

Walk, mingle & enjoy treats provided by your neighbors. Please try and visit every pit stop (even if you’ve had more than your fair share of goodies)! You never know…you might make a new friend!

Pit stops for September 6th

Miller
2240 East 10300 South

Hatch
10298 South 2165 East

Coop
2193 East 10260 South

Walter
10293 Ashley Park Drive

Croll
2063 East Glacier View Drive

Harris
2041 East Sweetbriar Lane

We’d love to have new pit stops next year so if you’re interested please call Emily at 801.942.1225 or email her at emihill {at} gmail {dot} com. See you next summer!

Neighborhood Walkabout: July, 2009 Part 2

This has been a summer of survival for our family so it's taken me longer than usual to post pictures of our July Walkabout. You'll find it was totally worth the wait after viewing the slideshow below. Laurie was good enough--and smart enough in case she ever wants to blackmail anyone featured in the photos--to take a few snapshots of the bubble-blowing contest held at their pit stop. Enjoy!

And here are more great shots of our other July pit stops. Thanks again to everyone who participated. I'm sorry we don't have any August photos. The resident Walkabout photographer was in California!

Neighborhood Walkabout: July, 2009

Our second neighborhood walkabout is this Sunday, July 12th from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Here are the details:

Walk, mingle & enjoy treats provided by your neighbors. Please try and visit every pit stop (even if you’ve had more than your fair share of goodies)! You never know…you might make a new friend!

Pit stops for July 12th

Butler
10363 Ashley Meadows Circle

Romney
2049 E Sweet Briar Lane

Simonsen
2007 East Glacier View Drive

Holbrook
2101 East Glacier View Drive

Foster
2234 East 10260 South

Newville
10331 Granite Mesa Circle

Hill
2219 Sego Lily Drive

Earl
10347 Ashley Park Drive

We’d love to have new pit stops this year so if you’re interested please call Emily at 801.942.1225 or email her at emihill {at} gmail {dot} com. Available dates: August 2nd and September 6th.

Neighborhood Walkabout: June, 2009 Part 2

Because we were one of June's pit stops I wasn't able to go around and snap photos of all the meeting and greeting. Instead I sent Madison with a camera in hand and she became Walkabout photographer. Unfortunately most of her pictures were of our family so I don't have as many to share. We'll do better next time! Enjoy!

This is what a pit stop looks like when it starts to rain! Though some may call it tacky, we call it cozy!

We’d love to have new pit stops this year so if you’re interested please call Emily at 801.942.1225 or email her at emihill {at} gmail {dot} com. Available dates: July 12th, August 2nd and September 6th.

Neighborhood Walkabout: June, 2009

Our first neighborhood walkabout is this Sunday, June 7th from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Here are the details:

Walk, mingle & enjoy treats provided by your neighbors. Please try and visit every pit stop (even if you’ve had more than your fair share of goodies)! You never know…you might make a new friend!

Pit stops for June 7th

Metten
10348 Ashley Meadows Circle

Frandsen
12093 Ashley Mesa Lane

Cox
2018 East Glacier View Drive

Farrington
12048 Ashley Park Drive

Hill
2209 Sego Lily Drive

Mangrum
10328 South 2260 East

Rudd
2203 East 10300 South

Lundquist
2217 East 10260 South

We’d love to have new pit stops this year so if you’re interested please call Emily at 801.942.1225 or email her at emihill {at} gmail {dot} com. Available dates: July 12th, August 2nd and September 6th.

Elder's Quorum party fave: Broccoli Crunch Salad

Though ultimate frisbee was a hit at the recent Elders Quorum party held at Granite Park, Desiree's broccoli salad was the ultimate favorite. I treated myself to seconds and would have had thirds but felt it better to save a little for others at the party. With such rave reviews we had to post the recipe for all to enjoy. (Thanks, Desiree!)

By the way, if you ever put together an ultimate frisbee team make sure you choose Desiree as a teammate. She can hold her own on the field!

Broccoli Crunch Salad
Serves 5-6

1 bunch fresh broccoli chopped fine
1/4 cup raisins or craisins (I used craisins)
1/2 cup finely chopped red onion
1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
2 T sunflower seeds

Combine the above ingredients in a large bowl and toss.

Dressing
1 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup sugar
2 T white vinegar

Whisk salad dressing and toss with salad right before serving.

Note per Desiree: "The dressing makes a lot. I did not use all the dressing on the salad. It was too much!"

Image by itspaulkelly, shared via Flickr.

Cinco de Mayo in April

Our most recent ward activity was our adult (pre) Cinco de Mayo party on April 25th complete with sombreros, maracas, piñata and even the ever-popular boxes of Chiclet gum. We served a delicious taco soup (recipe below), garden salad with spicy vinaigrette , and chips and salsa (of course!). The dessert? Warm churros topped with vanilla ice cream and drizzled with caramel syrup--yum!

Though most of the evening was spent socializing and answering questions found on the scattered Penny Stones, the pièce de résistance was our little piñata. Due to technical difficulties (i.e. Nathan forgot to get the piñata moving) Chip had it down in one blow. But we didn't let that stop us! We tied it back up and watch as Lynn, Dave, Eric and finally Stephanie took a swing our two at the unlucky burro.

Speaking of burros, a big thank-you to Sarah for making the eerily Shrek-like donkey for our photo opp. The donkey along with the fabulous backdrop designed by Marianne and Adam made it feel like we were actually south of the border!

Enjoy the slideshow of our ward chicos and chicas followed immediately by the anxiously awaited video of the aforementioned ward members' attempts to take out our piñata. ¡Vámanos!

Cinco de Mayo Taco Soup
1 lb ground beef or turkey, browned
1 packet taco seasoning
1 green pepper chopped
1 small onion chopped
1 (15 oz) can kidney beans (light or dark)
2 (16 oz) cans of corn (white or yellow)
3/4 cup picante salsa
2 (14 oz) cans stewed or diced tomatoes

Toppings
Sour cream
Shredded cheese
Green onions
Tortilla chips or strips
Hot sauce
Sliced olives

Place all ingredients in a large slow cooker and cook on low until hot and bubbly. Serve topped with your choice of sides.

Steph's Spicy Vinaigrette
1/2 cup white vinegar
6 T honey
1 T ground cumin
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper

Add ingredients to a blender of food processor and blend well. Chill until ready to serve.

Note: Double the recipe when making a taco salad using a full head of lettuce and all the toppings (meat, beans, onion, tortilla strips, etc.).