Say CHEESE!

Last month, my friend group started a tradition - Iron Chef battles. A little cheesey, you say? Why, yes, yes it was.

Our first battle was Iron Chef Santa Barbara Battle Cheese! And it was cheesey and wonderful.

I was so impressed by everyone's dishes. My friends are awesome.

Helping me bring my A-game was this recipe: Carmelized Pear and Gorgonzola Quiche.

I recently fell in love with gorgonzola cheese and this quiche did not disappoint my gorgonzola taste-buds.

Caramelized Pear and Gorgonzola Quiche

Filling:

1/4 cup pancetta (diced)

1 large shallot (diced)

1 tablespoon butter

1 tablespoon brown sugar

2 pears (cored and sliced into bite sized pieces)

4 eggs (lightly beaten)

1 cup half and half

1/2 teaspoon thyme

1/2 cup gorgonzola (crumbled)

1 pre-baked crust (I use my single crust pie crust - flour/tiny bit of sugar/salt/milk/oil)

Cook the pancetta and shallot in a pan. Add the butter and let it melt. Add the sugar and cook until bubbly, about 3 minutes. Add the pear and saute until tender, about 3-5 minutes. Mix the pears, eggs, half and half, thyme and gorgonzola and pour it into the pre-baked pie crust. Bake in a preheated 375F oven until golden brown on top and set in the center, about 25-45 minutes.

Next battle? Battle Pizza Dough. It will be brought.

a personal favorite.

gifts, XI

140. buying things on sale
139. picnicing at the park
138. receiving mail
137. new books
136. eating tangerines
135. walking at night in silence
134. beautiful sunsets that take your breath away
133. curling up in a chair in the last gleam of the day's sun
132. reminiscing
131. drinking water (excessible, free water)
130. listening to a new song
129. taking a back road and not the freeway

"laughing all the way..."

This weekend, I was "home for the holidays," which is a big joke with my family because I only live about 15 miles from my parents' house.

Nonetheless, I was home, sleeping in my old room, eating from my parents' stocked fridge (yes!), taking walks with my mom and dad, reading on the couch with my cat, and...
laughing.
I am pretty sure an hour did not pass where there was not laughter in the house.

We were outta control. I am my father's daughter and we find way too much humor in everyday life - I absolutely love it.

My heart is full and I am so, so thankful for my family.

gifts, X

128. living in the same town as my family
127. new friendship
126. wise words from those who have lived life longer than myself
125. the varying thoughts and perspectives of my homegroup
124. singing in the shower (best acoustics!)
123. using my two feet to dance
122. walking through Farmer's Market
121. seeing rows of brightly colored, beautiful zinnias
120. time spent with my grandpa, whose days may be few
119. praying with a long-distance friend over the phone
118. handwritten notes of encouragement

...

...the end all in life is to glorify God.

Everything we do should be done for the glory of God...
and this is how I will live.
As I teach,
As I mentor,
As I live with others,
As I talk,
As I laugh,
As I interact with my little Tan Tag kids,
As I worship,
As I read,
As I work.
Everything I do should be done for the glory of God.

gifts, IX

117. speaking the Lord's prayer
116. the sound of a group of children laughing
115. the scent of a candle burning
114. feeling the Holy Spirit present in a room
113. being so happy that I squeal the unattractive squeal :)
112. sunrise on a clear morning
111. an apple tree brimming with apples
110. the simple joy of a child while petting a donkey
109. bright orange pumpkins covering the ground
108. the fog rolling in over the mountains
107. words of wisdom from my grandpa
106. examples of long-lasting and healthy marriages
105. family time, any time
104. the smell (and blessing) of a new car
103. late night walks with my roommate
102. older men crying with passion for people who have never heard the name Jesus
101. early morning prayer