Salt Lake City: Quick visit for friends and free entertainment

Twilight Series Concert: I am sure some of the 40,000 some odd people that showed up to Pioneer Park were disappointed due to the fact that the city was not holding a free showing of Twilight films to the people but were instead paying a corky old school-feeling rock band to entertain people. She and Him. I think it is really more of her than him. The Salt Lake crowd was overwhelmed by Zooey's adorable performance and hip ensemble. When she jumped, the crowd jumped. When she sang, the crowd sang. She had everyone eating out of her palm. While I am not the biggest Zooey fan, I was well entertained by the sweet and well-dressed

triple threat( she sings, acts, and can bang the tambourine.) It was a good night to share with friends. It is feeling good to be back up north and about to start a whole new school year. I find comfort in the fact that I do have friends to share my free time with up here but I miss my pal Sarai terribly. But we all shall reunite over the musical talents of Sufjan Stevens in November. That will really be a night.

Fancy Foods

I spent most of my summer eating out of someone else's kitchen. I always found recipes online that i wanted to cook but never had the means of making any of my dream foods. I was able to bake a bit with the girls that I worked with at Dar al-Wefaq but the resources at the shelter were limited and I wasn't permitted to use the kitchen all the time.

I had the baking itch all summer long. The first thing I made when I got home was a chocolate zucchini cake. The hankering for chocolate did not stop there. I found this great recipe on FoodNetwork.com for chocolate souffle! I couldn't believe how easy and simple the recipe was. As with most things I make they aren't always perfect but they do end up tasting pretty yummy. I didn't get the classic puff but I ran out of batter and couldn't fill the ramekins to the very tip top. I left out the cinnamon of the recipe and just went with pure chocolate. My mom was pretty proud of my culinary prowess.

Chocolate Souffle Recipe

• 3 tablespoons granulated sugar, divided
• 2 1/2 ounces semisweet or bittersweetchocolate, chopped
• 1 large egg, separated
• 2 large egg whites
• 1 tablespoon heavy cream
• 1 teaspoon all-purpose flour
• 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• Confectioners’ sugar for dusting (optional)

Directions

Position rack in center of oven; preheat to 375°F. Lightly coat two 10-ounce ramekins with cooking spray; coat the insides of each with 1 1/2 teaspoons sugar.

Place chocolate in a small microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on Medium, stirring every 20 seconds, until melted, 1 to 2 minutes. (Alternatively, see "No Microwave?" below.)owl until combined. Whisk in the chocolate until smooth, then whisk in flour and cinnamon until incorporated.

Beat egg whites and salt in a medium bowl with an electric mixer on high speed until soft peaks form. Beat in the remaining 2 tablespoons sugar in four additions, until stiff, glossy peaks form.

Using a rubber spatula, gently fold half the beaten whites into the chocolate mixture until fairly smooth; then gently fold this combined mixture back into the remaining egg whites until no white streaks remain. Divide between the prepared ramekins and place on a baking sheet. Bake until puffed and firm to the touch, 18 to 22 minutes. Dust with confectioners’ sugar, if desired. Serve immediately.

Queasiness in my belly

It isn't the thought of a new school year that makes me feel a little queasy.

and

It isn't the sight of indecent public displays of affection that make me go green in the face.

and

It isn't the smell of my puppy's teeth-rotting bad breath that makes my throat close up.

and

It isn't the taste of old freezer burned Popsicles that make me want to toss my cookies.

BUT

It is having to have to watch and overhear seedy segments of the awful television show "The Bachelor Pad" that bring about my feelings of nausea.

Don't get me wrong.........I enjoy my fair share of junky t.v. shows( i.e. Gossip Girl(omg! it is such a good show!))but never have I witnessed such bad entertainment as when I see bachelors and bachelorettes scheming and thinking they are being clever.

NO MORE!

Please.

Peely Body

As a result of the below mentioned California trip, my skin has decided to peel away........ 3 weeks later.

I don't know what it is about beach sun but it is mystically stronger and causes more severe burning power than regular pool-side sun. Beach sun is also deceiving as it teams up with cool beach weather fooling beach visitors into a false sense of safety from beach/sun rays.

What a pesky pair leading to peeling appendages.

Hate it!

Nostalgic California

My family surprised me with news of a California trip just hours of getting home from my summer away. I had not seen the sunny state, that I once called home, in over a year. Driving down the I10 and feeling the heat from the outside always sharpens my fuzzy memories of desert living. Palm Springs in the summer time is hot. You wake up and it is hot. You go to bed and it is hot. I found myself wishing I was back in Jordan because the weather there is actually cooler than Palm Springs. Nostalgia hits me harder than the heat when I visit the desert. I saw my old high school and we ate at our favorite old sandwich place. It is fun to go back to where I grew up and see how things have changed.

My mom got to experience some old home town nostalgia as well. We took a day trip to Huntington Beach to get some sun on our Utahan skin and to get escape the heat. My momma took us to the beach where she would walk to as a kid and then she showed us her elementary school and old house. It was bitter sweet as we pulled up to the house and saw that the new tenants had completely remodeled the place leaving it almost unrecognizable. Things just never seem to stay the same.

Welcome Home

I had a nice welcome back last night. My pa, ma, and sissy met me at the airport but my luggage did not. They decided they wanted to stay in Chicago......they will come home soon though.

I woke up this morning in my own home and in my own bed. I took a shower in my own shower and got dressed in clothes that were not crunchy.

A real friend called me and I ate a real American breakfast. Red, white, and blue waffles were the perfect welcome back to my American home.