Summer Recipes Series, Continued

2. Lemon Cake Bon Bons with White Chocolate and Candied Grapefruit Zest

Ingredients:
**NOTE: THIS RECIPE TAKES 24 HOURS**
one box white cake mix (or you can bake a cake from scratch)
16 ounces lemon icing (again you can make it yourself or buy it pre-made)
one large grapefruit
one cup white granulated sugar, divided
wax paper
2 packages of white chocolate candy coating

DAY ONE:
Prepare your cake as directed. Let it cool for about 2 hours. Break up the cake with your hands or a food processor until only soft crumbs remain. Mix lemon icing with cake crumbs until smooth. Refrigerate mixture of cake and icing from one hour. Scoop out cake mixture and roll into one inch balls. Place wax paper on a cookie sheet and place each formed ball on the wax paper. Freeze cake balls overnight.

Zest your grapefruit and collect zest in a small pot. Fill pot with cool water and let it set overnight at room temperature.

DAY TWO:

Boil water with lemon zest for 5-7 minutes. Pour off water, add new water and repeat boiling two more times. After the final boiling, add fresh cool water and 3 tbsp of sugar. Boil for 5-7 minutes until sugar dissolves. Drain water from zest and place zest on wax paper. Sprinkle 1-2 additional tbsp of sugar over the zest and let dry for an hour.

Remove the cake balls from the freezer. Melt the white chocolate coating as directed on the package. Using a toothpick or small dowel rod, dip each cake ball in the chocolate and place it back on the wax paper. Top each bon bon with the candied grapefruit before the chocolate cools. Place completed bon bons back in the freezer for one hour prior to serving.

Summer Recipe Series

Despite the intense San Antonio heat (it's 104 degrees today) I have taken to the kitchen and worked on some great recipes for summer. Some are new takes on old classics and some are personal creations. If you like cooking as much as I do, you're sure to enjoy these tasty treats from your own kitchen.

My goal is to post one new recipe per week. I actually made two new things this week so here we go...

1. Strawberry Spinach Salad with Balsamic Honey Chicken:

I've had this a few times but I finally perfected it to my taste!

You need:
2 large chicken breasts
2 tbsp garlic powder
fresh ground pepper and salt to taste
2 tbsp onion powder
1 cup balsamic vinegar
4 tbsps of honey
fresh spinach (I used spinach and arugula)
1/2 cup diced red onion
1 cup diced cucumber
1/2 cup (candied or plain) walnuts
1/4 cup olive oil (or less depending on your preference)
6 sliced strawberries
1/2 cup feta cheese

Season the chicken with the aforementioned spices. Soak for five minutes in balsamic vinegar. Place the chicken breasts in a skillet with 1 tbsp olive oil. Baste the non-cooking side with honey. Cook chicken and baste the opposite side when you turn it over. Let chicken cool and then dice into bite sized pieces.

Combine spinach/arugula, strawberries, onion, cucumber, feta cheese and walnuts. Top with chicken.

To make the dressing: combine 1/2 cup balsamic vinegar, 2 tbsp of honey and oilve oil. Whisk and pour on salad immediately.

*Image borrowed from: http://i2.yummly.com/Spring-Strawberry-Spinach-Salad-Allrecipes.l.png

Spring Updates

The Williams Family has been busy, as usual. April has been a crazy month and it looks like the next few months will be just as busy! Ricky and I both signed up to auxiliary pioneer this month, meaning that we would each devote 30 hours this month to the volunteer ministry. 30 hours doesn't sound like a lot but I can definitely feel them in my level of exhaustion at the end of the month! For the first weekend in April, Ricky and I splurged and went to see UK play UConn at the final four in Houston. Despite the Cats loss, it was a great time! Also during that trip, we met up with my cousin Malcolm (whom I hadn't seen in about 10 years!) and his wife and son. The next weekend April 7-11th, I went home to Evansville to visit the family. My aunts and cousins from Cincinnati even came down to visit. Erin and I got all of our favorite foods--Los Bravos, Donut Bank, Turoni's, Skyline Chili. Mmm...it was almost too much to handle.

For pictures click here:
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/fbx/?set=a.573345409545.2074881.50401332&l=e4fd492a72

I returned home from Indiana to find our house semi flooded from our washer. Ricky diligently took it apart only to find out a hose was clogged within the machine from muddy pants he washed after gardening. Speaking of gardening, I have been working on our front flower bed for almost a month. The previous owners planted only perennial "monkey grass", some un-identified bushes and a Texas Mountain Laurel tree (the only good part of the flower bed). All the monkey grass is gone and I've planted: a gardenia bush, canna lillies, calla lilies, begonias, marigolds, knockout roses, mini-roses, and colocasia (red). I also got a talavera pottery bird bath. The flower bed looks MUCH better and I'll post pictures as soon as I get it fully mulched. Now if only we could get some rain so that I could stop watering. This weekend I'm starting a veggie garden in the back yard so hopefully it goes well!

Ricky and I also experienced a San Antonio tradition last weekend--tubing or "toobing" on the Comal River thanks to our friend Jason. We picked up inflatable tubes from a local sporting goods store and heading up to New Braunfels for a day of (free) tubing. We loved it! If you can't find us this summer, we'll be floating down the river.

We are preparing the circuit assembly next weekend, my Texas Dental Association meetings next week and of course, Nathan and Emily's visit in June. We'll keep you posted.

San Antonio Colloquialisms

Every part of the US has their own little sayings that make them unique. For the most part, Texans and midwesterners don't sound too different. I have noticed, however, a few key phrases that I never heard used before I moved to Texas.

1. "Crashed Out": To fall asleep immediately. I think it's common for someone to describe going to sleep as "crashing" but the addition of "out" was something new to me. I remember coming into work one day and my assistant asking why I was so tired; "Dr. Williams, did you crash out late?" Hahaha.

2. "I was all..." This is used as a replacement for the midwestern phrase "I was like...". For example: "I didn't understand why he was here so I was all 'Hey, what are you doing in Texas?'"
You have to listen carefully for this one but just about everyone I know in San Antonio uses it without even realizing it!

3. "Barely" Obviously I've used this word before but Texans (specifically people in Floresville) take it to a completely different level. "Barely" has to be one of the most (over) used words in local vocabulary. It's common in the following situations:

"I'm on my way but I'm just barely leaving."
"I just started working but I am barely starting the insurance."
"She said she was coming and then she barely showed up."

In some instances, I'm not even sure what it means. Does it mean the event happened or didn't happen? Did they show up or not show up? It's very confusing.

4. "Coming out" vs. "Coming in"-This is probably my favorite phrase related to dentistry. For my entire life I have referred to a newly erupting tooth as "coming in." Not here in Texas. Everything is "coming out."

"I'm 18 and I think my wisdom teeth are coming out."
"My baby is two and not all her teeth are coming out."

The first few times I heard it I thought they meant the teeth were literally falling out, not erupting normally. It doesn't even make sense; the teeth are coming IN to the mouth. Part of them always remains in the gum tissue so to say they are "coming out" is just illogical. Every time I hear a patient say it I respond with "COMING IN!" hoping they can pick up on the change.

Hahaha, love Texas!

Shellac: My New Obsession

As a dentist I probably wash my hands 50 times a day. I am constantly fighting dry hands and dehydrated nails. I absolutely love getting manicures and pedicures but was constantly frustrated that my manicures never lasted more than a couple of days. Last month we visited Houston to visit the Atkinson Family and babysit their kiddos so they could attend West Side Story. The next day, Mary Jacqueline and I treated ourselves to manicures at a local salon. We were given the option to try Shellac, a new hybrid manicure instead of the traditional polish. Shellac is a new techniques that uses nail polish infused with chemicals that are activated by UV light. The shellac is applied like nail polish only in several stages. After each stage, you place your hand in a UV light box and the polish is set. It takes about an hour and your nails are fully dry when you leave since the light solidifies the polish. It's guaranteed to last for two weeks. I LOVE it! I've already had it applied twice and I have an appointment tomorrow for another Shellac manicure. The best thing about it is that unlike (horrible) acrylic, Shellac doesn't damage your nails. There are no drills used to file down your natural nails or damage your cuticles. Plus, it removes easily. I usually just peel mine off after two weeks or you can have "Shellac removal" which consists of a cotton ball and mild acetone. My nails have never looked better! You can get Shellac pedicures as well, which I plan on doing this summer.
At Isabelle's European Day Spa in San Antonio, Shellac Manicures are 35.00 for solid colors and 40.00 for french manicure.


For more information on Shellac, see this website:

http://www.cnd.com/Products/Color/shellac-hello.aspx
Pictures compliments of aforementioned website.

Welcome to 2011!

Wow. Another year down. I feel like as I get older time keeps going faster and faster. Today I realized that on my birthday this year, I'll be the same age my mom was when she gave birth to me. *Gasp*

2010 was a busy year for us as I'm sure it was for most people. We are finally starting to feel settled in our new house and improvement projects fill almost every weekend. Along with every other person on the planet, I set new goals for myself that will hopefully make 2011 the best year yet! I know Ricky has his own personal list of planned accomplishments but he's not sharing them with me:)

Lauren's Goals 2011

1. READ MORE. I love reading but I only read two or three novels last year. I am truly going to work hard to revive reading this year with more personal study and more secular reading. I recently completed "The Help" which was an amazing book. I'm currently working on "Eat, Pray Love" and will definitely be posting my review of that book when I complete it. It's....interesting.

2. Be more spiritually aware which involves daily Bible reading and prayer. Last year I felt like I only prayed before I ate and that's just not enough!

3. Be less stressed. I know, easier said than done. I'm just a person who needs to know what's going on at all times and that can leave you feeling a little flustered. I'm trying to be less concerned about housework not getting done, less bothered by patients who ignore my dental advice and more concerned about ME and my contentment.

4. Wardrobe update. Probably the most exciting goal. As a creep toward 30, it's time to toss some clothes that I've been hanging on to since I was in high school and add more sophisticated pieces that reflect my current style. I'm also thinking "outside of the box" and trying to buy things I wouldn't normally pick out. Everyone tells me, "Oh, you're soooo skinny! You can wear anything!" But you know what? I DON'T! I wear the same things all the time. That's about to change. (Note these cute booties I just bought!)




5. New fitness hobbies. I love working out but I need some variation in my workout routine. I have tried running and I just hate it. I love my cycling classes at the gym so I am planning on taking up cycling! I've been shopping for a bike so hopefully I'll be a full on cyclist by spring.

6. Travelling. We are getting this year filled with new trips. My goal is to visit at least three places I've never been before. We're already planning on going to Boston and Las Vegas. I am also working on a trip to a resort in Costa Rica. I'm taking suggestions for any other vacation ideas!

Kinzers Come to Texas

Ricky and I LOVE visitors so we were very excited with our pals, Richard and Alicia decided to visit us in San Antonio. Neither Richard nor Alicia had ever been to Texas so I was looking forward to showing them what San Antonio has to offer. We visited the usual hot spots: The Alamo and the Riverwalk. We also took at trip to Winery on the Gruene in Gruene, Texas. (WineryOnTheGruene) A German settlement, Gruene is known for its wine and German cuisine. They also have great tubing on the Guadalupe River in the summer. The winery features a great variety of white and red wines. I never drink sweet wine but I LOVED their Orange Chocolate Port Wine. It's the perfect taste of sweetness after a good meal; although I could never drink an entire glass. We hoped to have lunch at the Gruene Door restaurant but it closed early on Sunday:( Instead, we went to the Gristmill which sits on a picturesque hillside on the Guadalupe River. Our food was excellent and we were not disappointed. If you ever visit, I recommend their onion rings--big and tasty! Alicia and I took in an afternoon at the JW Marriott Resort Lantana Spa. The beautiful grounds and serene environment made for a lovely afternoon. We were able to take in a Spurs game on Wednesday night (Spurs vs. the Milwalkee Bucks where the Spurs won!) and a trip to the Flying Saucer. We ended their trip with an amazing breakfast at Magnolia Pancake Haus! We loved hosting the Kinzers and can't wait for them to return.

For more pictures, click here:

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=31730254&l=f742990a0a&id=50401332