Things I love...

Getting emails in all caps from family members who don't know any better, celebrating safe travels and answered prayers.

Kayaking Adventure

I say this a lot, but Minnesota is amazing during the summer. After a super long, super cold, super snowy winter, all I want to do is spend all my time outdoors. Luckily I have friends and family who make that a pretty easy goal to achieve. With Christine’s hubby out of the country being a smarty-pants, and a whole day off work, Christine and I drove up to Breezy Point last Sunday to hang out with my Aunt and Uncle for the 4^th of July.

I’ve also mentioned in the past how much I admire my Aunt and Uncle. These two have had so much adventure in their life together and continue to do things in their 60’s that I’m not sure I can do now in my 20’s. Always looking for new hobbies, they recently purchased a pair of kayaks. I’ve been dying to visit them ever since I heard about this. After arriving at their house and eating a quick lunch, we packed up and set out for an afternoon of kayaking. A friend of theirs from church came along and graciously lent her double kayak to me and Christine. She also lent me an awesome purple visor. Christine opted for my Aunt’s safari hat, the logo on which read: Boomerang Express: It all comes back to Jesus. We were both fashionable and well protected from the sun.

 Note how prepared for adventure we look in this picture.

We launched into a lake that had an outlet onto Pine River. We went up stream and it was very hard work. This however is not reflected in the many pictures that were taken as they all seem to look like Christine and I were just lounging about. I assure you, there was very little only some lounging. 

We went up the river, taking a break in some shallow water to look at a beaver lodge (It was explained to me that a beaver dam stops the water to create a mini-lake, while a beaver lodge does not), and heading into some rapids. Christine and I attempted to make it through said rapids, but the current proved too strong for us, so we turned around. 

At some point as we headed up the river we lost my Uncle who stopped to do some fishing. As we went back to find him we happened upon a family who wisely used their children, rather than their engine, to get up the river (so very green of them). 

 Future parenting tip noted.

Finally, we found my Uncle and proceeded to lounge/fend off mosquitoes while the grown-ups (Christine and I are not grown-ups) fished for a bit. 

As it got to be dinner time we headed back into the lake. At this point Christine and I were tired. We decided to push through as fast as we could, just to get back onto dry land. With two people rowing fairly vigorously we were making pretty good headway. We thought we would definitely beat all the others in their single person kayaks, who obviously would not be able to keep up with us. But, no, my Aunt is Super Woman. Seriously. Every time we’d turn around she would only be yards away no matter how fast we rowed. She amazes me.

 Speck on the right: me and Christine. Speck on the left: Super Woman.

Once we had all made it onto shore we loaded up and headed home. The next day Christine and I were completely useless. Several hours of kayaking amounted to a very lazy following day, even after getting a solid eight hours of sleep. That’s not to say the day was wasted, but more on that in another post. As Christine and I hobbled out to breakfast the next morning, my Aunt, who had obviously been up for some time preparing food for us all, asked us if we wanted to go kayaking again that day. Since we were exhausted, we declined. I have no idea where she gets her energy, like I said, my Aunt is Super Woman. 

Perfect Day

Today was the perfect day. An afternoon spent at the beach. I read an entire book from start to finish, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. It was the sort of book that's is so witty and well written, it makes you want to go home and write in the blog you've neglected for 8 mos. I jumped in the freezing cold waves and avoided patches of seaweed as it either floated by in the current or was thrown at me by my Dad. I buried my toes in soft sand (nothing like that weird rocky stuff at the lake). Even though I love MN, there was a moment today when I reconsidered my long term plans. I've spent that last two and a half months looking forward to this day and it met all my expectations. I am so incredibly blessed.

What a Tart.

Hi, I'm Molly. Remember me? Yeah, I didn't think so. Winter is over. I have survived and I am coming out of hibernation. Spring, it seems, does a lot to get my creative juices flowing. Never mind the fact that it hasn't done anything to help me write that darn cover letter I've been working on for the last week . . . it inspires me to do things like make a TART!

Over spring break I went to visit my aunt and uncle in northern Minnesota. The ice was just starting to thaw and my aunt and uncle had discovered patches of wild cranberries left over from the fall, but safely preserved through the winter by snow, in marshes near their house. I borrowed my uncles giant rubber boots and my aunt and I went cranberry hunting. Though the cranberry picking adventure was fun, I was dumbfounded when it came to deciding what to do with the jar of cranberry preserves I was sent home with. And so, the cranberry preserves have sat in my kitchen untouched for the last several weeks. I guiltily dodged questions from my aunt on Easter asking me if I was enjoying the preserves.

This tart recipe was an answer to my prayers! I won't bore you with the details of my baking travails, but I will warn you that almond extract does NOT taste as good as it smells right out of the bottle. It does, however, taste delicious in a crunchy crust alongside cornmeal and gobs of butter. This tart may also be the prettiest thing I've ever baked. It certainly enhanced a lovely Saturday morning coupled with sunshine, a cup of coffee, homemade whipped cream, and a good book.

Easy Jam Tart
Adapted from Ready for Dessert and Smitten Kitchen

Like SK, I used a food processor rather than a stand mixer (I would recommend it). I also replaced store bought jam with homemade preserves. I had to put off making this recipe for a whole week because I didn't have cornmeal. I toyed briefly with the prospect of using the food processor to grind corn chips (which was actually suggested by one website), but held out for the real thing. Other websites I looked at suggested throwing polenta in a food processor before using it because apparently it is not a finely ground as cornmeal.

1 1/2 cups (210 grams) all-purpose flour
1/2 cup (70 grams) stone-ground cornmeal or polenta
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
9 tablespoons (4 1/2 ounces or 130 grams) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1/2 cup (100 grams) granulated sugar
1 large egg, whole
1 large egg, separated
1/8 teaspoon almond extract
1 1/3 to 1 3/4 cups (450 grams) jam (see Note above; I used the smaller amount) or marmalade
2 tablespoons (30 grams) coarse-crystal or granulated sugar

In a small bowl, whisk together the flour, cornmeal, baking powder and salt. In a stand mixer with the paddle attachment or in a food processor, mix the butter and 1/2 cup (100 grams) sugar together until smooth. Add the egg, egg yolk (keep the egg white from the second egg on hand for later) and almond extract and beat until combined. Gradually add the flour mixture and mix until the dough just comes together.

Transfer about one-third of the dough to a lightly floured counter and shape it into a log about 2 inches (5 cm) in diameter. Wrap it in plastic wrap and refrigerate it until needed. (As always, I was in a rush and put this in the freezer.)

Transfer the remaining dough to a buttered 9-inch (23-cm) tart pan with a removable bottom of a 9-inch (23-cm) springform pan. Using your hands, press the dough evenly into the bottom. If using a tart pan, press the dough up the sides to the rim of the pan and set the tart pan on a baking sheet. If using a springform pan, press the dough about 3/4-inch (2-cm) up the sides of the pan. Refrigerate the dough-lined pan until firm, at least one hour. (Again, I used the freezer and it was firm in 30 minutes. I am impatient.)

Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Spread the jam or marmalade evenly over the dough in the pan. Cut the chilled dough into very thin discs with a sharp paring knife. Arrange them slightly overlapped in concentric circles over the jam to form a top crust. Whisk the remaining egg white with a teaspoon of water until frothy; brush evenly over the tart lid and then sprinkle with 2 tablespoons (30 grams) coarse sugar. Bake until the top crust is golden brown, about 25 minutes. Let cool completely.

Snow Day

I think I've fooled myself into believing that I've acclimated to this whole winter thing (PUN!), today I was smacked back to California with a serious dose of reality. On my way to class as I pulled out of my drive way, I was distracted by the semi-broken garage door. I hadn't turned as sharply as I needed to, but figured I'd still be able to make it out onto the street. I continued to reverse and got stuck, pulled forward and got stuck, and tried to reverse only to realize I was stuck, REALLY STUCK! I had backed over a mound of ice (see, when the temperature stays below freezing for months at a time what looks like pretty mounds of snow is really rock solid ice dusted with snow) and I wasn't going anywhere. I think the standard protocol in this sort of situation is to give the car a push, but neither of my roommates was home so I started digging/hacking away. I spent over an hour trying to get my car unstuck before my neighbor graciously pitched in with some more digging, clever use of a card board box, and a few big pushes.

In the midst of the digging I kept wavering between breaking down in tears and laughing. It was one of those moments where I was both wishing my dad was there (he fixes things like this) and being oddly proud that I was a grown up who was going to get herself out of this mess. It might have been a coming of age moment. I chose to laugh, waited to call my dad until after the ordeal was over, and decided this wasn't going to ruin my day.

By the time I was out I had practically missed all of class so I pulled my car back into the garage and proclaimed a Snow Day! I had coffee with a friend, wore sweats most of the day, lazed around the house, and went to a movie with some friends followed by sushi and beer. I really needed a day off, so despite the hassle, I think this morning was a blessing.

Home for Christmas

I realize it's been ages since I've posted anything. It's not even for lack of worthy content. It's mostly because I lack the motivation and/or time. That said, this may not be the best topic for my comeback post, but I just finished my Wills and Trusts outline and I'm in desperate need of a finals break. What better way to take a mental break from finals than to think about the post-finals awesomeness that awaits me? Sure I have some amazing plans for when I get to CA in less than a week (but I'm not going to talk about them), but hopefully most of those plans will be couched in eating everything I've been missing for the last YEAR. Hear that people, I haven't been in CA for an entire year! That is far too long to deprive oneself from both the friends I miss and the following culinary delights:

1. Baker's - Other than the fact that it is the place where I grew up, Baker's maybe the best reason to visit the I.E..
2. Earl Grey Tea Latte from Coffee Bean Tea Leaf
3. Avogobble (avocado and turkey sando) - and anything else with avocado I can get my hands on.
4. In-N-Out
5. Islands - Though it hasn't been discussed, I assume this restaurant will make it's appearance on my New Year's trip up to NorCal.
6. Del Taco - Chicken Soft Taco, fries, and a Cherry Coke please!
7. Rosies - Greatest burritos eva!
8. Mom's ribs - It's kind of ironic, my mom's cooking is definitely of the Midwestern variety (meat + potato + vegetable + crock pot = meal), but I can only get it in CA.
9. Mom's potroast
10. Sunday Steak - Being able to barbecue year around is not a luxury I'm afforded in MN (or ever considering I don't know how to do it). I love going home where almost every Sunday my Dad and/or Bro grills.
11. Cheeseboard - Dare I dream. Sadly, I'm not sure I'll make it to Berkeley this year and Cheeseboard tends to be closed around the holidays, but this would certainly be a New Year's week miracle! ...If I were going to Berkeley this year, this list would easily double.
12. Homemade Mexican food - preferably with sangria, made by people I love, and eaten over the course of several hours.
13. HOF's Hut - This is the post-Castle breakfast tradition that I look forward to almost as much as the night that precedes it.

Vacay!

Tonight I'm driving "up North" to "the lake" to spend the week with my Aunt, Uncle, their kids, and their grandkids. I'm driving up kind of late and my Aunt told me to watch out for deer. So now I'm freaking out. How does one watch out for deer? It seems like one of those things where if a deer is going to run out into the middle of the road you're going to hit it. The end. I don't really see how watching out is going to help much. Maybe watching out means stress and be paranoid, in that case I'm totally watching out.

I was bit by a shark...jk

19. I have a really awesome scar on my left leg.

During the summer between 8th and 9th grade I was surfing with my dad in Carlsbad and my leg got cut open by the fin on my board. The only time I ever saw the wound was when couldn't stand up and looked down. My dad was by my side in about 30 seconds and covered it up with a towel (I suppose to stop the bleeding) and he never let me look at it again. I sat around in an emergency room for a few hours wearing my swimsuit and a sweat shirt, it was kind of awkward (I don't think anyone noticed though, especially considering they had their own injuries to worry about...like one guy who had a huge knife sticking out of his foot and was screaming like a big baby and begging for vicodin.) I had 18 stitches on the outside and more inside my leg. I took the stitches out myself while on vacation in MN because I wanted to swim. I still have some weird nerve damage in my leg. When you press on one end of the scar I get this stabbing pain by my knee, kind of like when your foot falls asleep, but it stings. I'm not a big fan of blood and gore stories, but it is kind of awesome (in a 13 year old boy sort of way).

word to your mother

18. I am a mama's girl.

I mentioned at some point (10) that my Grandmom is the woman I most want to be like, and in that post I mentioned my mom. Basically, she's awesome. I figured she deserved her own number though.

Today in the mail I received a random tax paper that included an unnecessarily long note letting me know that I am loved and being prayed for daily. My mom shows me on a daily basis what it means to love God and love people, and I'm so grateful for who she's been in my life. She'll listen to me talk about nothing for way longer than she should. She does not get impatient with me even though I often do with her. She is the mediator and the de-escalator of situations in my family. She lets me know all the time that I am missed, but has also given me the freedom to move away and grow up without making me feel guilty. I love her.

PS I am lame and way behind on this, but my life is a bit more than busy right now...dealing.

PPS I definitely referenced Vanilla Ice in my title. I listened to Ice Ice, Baby for the first time in several months today, which reignited my love of the song and it's awesomeness.

12. I'm slightly afraid of getting killed while walking from school to my car after dark, so I always call someone while I walk.

I blame this fear on the mass emails sent to all the students about once a week informing us of an assault that has happened on or near campus. I have to be strategic about who I call. It's usually someone in CA because it's too late to call anyone in MN. My mom is usually the lucky winner because she's most likely to actually answer the phone. If I do call someone and they don't answer, I'll leave a really long message (Mel, hope you appreciated that tonight :) ), so that it at least looks like I'm talking to someone while I walk to my car.

I don't really know what good talking to someone in CA is going to do if I get attacked. But I figure the bad guy doesn't know I'm not talking to someone in MN, or across the street, or even the police, so it's got to be some sort of a deterrent. Also, I find at least a little bit of comfort in the fact that if I'm attacked at least one person will know and it won't be days (or even weeks) until someone realizes I've gone missing and informs my family.

Who I Want to Be

Note...these are likely to get shorter, because the novelty is wearing off.

10. I hope that I can be the kind of woman my Grandmom was.

While many amazing Christian women have influence my life, I look up to my Grandmom the most. She loved people and Christ in a way that I just can't comprehend. She never put herself before other people even toward the end of her life when she was really sick. That's not to say she let herself be walked upon, she often insisted she get her way. I remember once when I was a kid my older cousin and his friend helped move a couch into my Grandmom's apartment. She wanted to give them money as a thank you so they could go out to eat or something afterward. They both insisted that it was unnecessary, but Grandmom insisted more and they finally took money. Only my cousin slipped the money back into her purse when she wasn't looking. Except, Grandmom was much too clever for that trick; she saw the money and as she hugged my cousin good bye she managed to put the money in his back pocket without him ever realizing it. She was also a very competitive game player, I don't ever remember her letting me win as a kid.

I always felt loved by my Grandmom and I know that she had that same impact on others. I've gone back to the church my mom grew up in a couple times since moving to MN and people still tell me amazing stories about her. I see this same capacity to care for other people in my mom. I hope that, like my mom and Grandmom, I become the type of woman that shows people who Christ is by the way that I live and treat others.

Choo! Choo!

5. I love playing Train with my family!

Everyone in my family is really different, so finding things that we can do as a family can be kind of difficult. Still, every time I go home, I know that one night after dinner we're going to play train ...even Billy. It's great family bonding time and the way each of us plays says a lot about our personalities. My dad refuses to set up a train before he starts playing and tries to rush everyone else into taking their turn. My mom takes FOREVER (like days...and the game is already really long so it's kind of maddening) to set up her train and take every turn. Jackie is sneaky, she likes messing people up and laying down doubles without covering them or right before she goes out. And she will always catch it if you don't say "choo!choo!" when you're down to one domino. Billy simply tolerates the game. I don't know how I play, you'd have to ask my family. Maybe my thing is just that I analyze how everyone else is playing and adjust my playing as necessary (I also try to set my tiles up so they can't tell when I have a double coming up or how long my train is...but shhh don't tell them my strategy :) ).

Car Gradient

3. I've always had brown cars.

When I turned 16 my parents gave me my Grandmom's old car, a 1987 Chevy Caprice, the Boat. It was dark dark brown; I liked to say it was maroon. The interior was awesomely maroon, and when a family friend broke my radio, my sister and I made a concerted effort to memorize music we both liked so we could sing it in the car. I always gave the quiet neighbor girl a ride to school, and Jackie and I would sing songs from Moulin Rouge and Chicago to her (or at her). When the Boat died my parent's came upon (from where I don't know) a poopy brown Zepher. It was the worst car ever and I hated it, the end. Then one day my Daddy bought the Ford. A dark tan Explorer, with fancy leather seats and a fully functioning CD player/radio. It was a major step up but still brown. While I was in college my dad sold it. In high school my friends and I joked that I would eventually get a white car because, though always brown, my cars got progressively lighter. When I moved to MN and knew I was going to buy a car, I looked forward to getting a not brown car. Instead of getting a not brown car, I got a gold car, which is just a fancy way of saying brown.

Vegas Family Vaycay

For Christmas this year my family road tripped it out to Vegas so my parents could use their time-share before the year ran out. My parents do not drink, gamble, or like to spend lots of money, so I can't tell you why my mom chose Vegas, but to Vegas we went. Ultimately I think the trip was more about my mom trapping the whole family together for several days without interruption from friends or work than going to Vegas.



Here is me, my sister (Jackie), and my brother (Billy...er Bill, whateve) all cozy in the back seat during our 4 hour drive through the desert! Surprisingly the desert is pretty and I got my 60 degree Christmas wish!




We established quite the routine while in Vegas: wake up, daytime outing, dinner on the strip, look at things on mom's list of free things to see in Vegas, go to bed, repeat the next day.

For our Christmas dinner we went to Margaritaville at the recommendation of Jackie, who is the only Miller who has been to Vegas for "recreational" purposes before. She promised a diverse menu at reasonable prices. While she did a great job remembering that the place has killer nachos she forgot about the bikini clad dancer who slides down a volcano water slide into a margarita glass and then dances around a giant fishing hook suspended above the bar. Merry (uncomfortable) Christmas!



This is a pic of my parents at Christmas dinner before we told my dad his hair looked ridiculous.



We went to the Hoover Dam for one of our day time outings. This pic was taken by a pair of random high school guys who I'm pretty sure were hitting on Jackie. They did an excellent job at getting all of the construction, but none of the dam in the picture.



The fountains at the Bellagio were probably the best of my mom's free attractions. All of the shows were to Christmas music and my sister and I took this really attractive picture. The downside of a hotel piping Christmas music out doors is that it inspired my father to dance and embarrass us all. We have a video, but I'm not going to subject myself to unneeded embarrassment twice. I'm pretty sure the family standing next to us thought he drank too much.


The worst attraction on my mom's list, as you can tell by my brother's face, was the singing statues in Caesar's Palace. The mall stores were more entertaining; what the heck kind of stores stay open in a mall past 11pm? Also entertaining was antagonizing my brother's bad mood. I took pictures and Jackie sang the song Cheer up Charlie, replacing all the Charlies with Billys (Jackie loves the movie Willy Wonka. I hate the movie as a result of being forced to watch it so many times during my childhood). Billy is wearing what Jackie and I lovingly refer to as the lumberjack-et.

I'll end this post with a funny pic of Jackie taken somewhere between our hotel and the New York, New York roller coaster. I was not there because, while I love my family, I needed some alone time and stayed back at the hotel. While not the conventional Christmas, we had a great time and I am reminded that I have an awesome (-ly odd) family!