Wagon Train rides again

Yesterday I received a very fun letter from one of my crazy friends from the wagon train of 1997, John Lodefink. John is very good about keeping me updated on current or future reenactments. There's actually going to be a reenactment this year from Nauvoo to Winter Quarters May 31-June 28. I really, really wish I could go but it is just not feasible this year. The flier says that the wagon train will be completed in three stages ending in Salt Lake in 2010. So, all you trail lovers out there, get ready for 2010 because we're going baby! Check out the website www.vanfleetwagontrain.com.

Salsa Chicken and Rice Recipe

I decided to post one of my favorite recipes. It is soooooo easy yet very flavorful and a little spicy. I love it! This is easily converted to a vegan/vegetarian-friendly recipe- simply omit the chicken. I actually don't even end up eating the chicken, I only add it for Adam.
Ingredients:
1 can (10oz) Old El Paso enchilada sauce
1 cup uncooked converted white rice
1 cup Old El Paso Thick n' Chunky salsa
2 cans (10oz) condensed cream of celery soup
1 can (15oz) black beans, drained, rinsed
5 chicken breast halves

1. Heat oven to 350. Spray 13x9 glass baking dish with cooking spray. Reserve 2 tablespoons enchilada sauce for brushing on chicken. In large bowl, mix remaining enchilada sauce, the uncooked rice, salsa, soup and beans; pour into baking dish.
2.Arrange chicken over rice mixture. Cover tightly with foil. (I use frozen solid breasts and it works great)
3. Bake 1 hour. Uncover; brush chicken with reserved 2T enchilada sauce. Bake uncovered 1 hour longer or until chicken is fork-tender, its juices run clear.
I sometimes add a little grated cheese on top as well (gotta love cheese).

Be sure to use converted rice in this recipe and not regular white rice. The acidity in the salsa and enchilada sauce prevents the non-converted rice from becoming tender.

I like food that's a little on the spicy side, so I use medium temp salsa and enchilada sauce to give a kick. I love this recipe. I hope some of you try it. If you do, let me know what you honestly think, even if you hate it. Prep time is only 15 minutes. I would love to have some of your favorite recipes that are quick and easy. I'm all about convenience and simplicity.

Young women's swap meet

I am the Young Women's president in my ward. I am responsible for about eighteen girls every Wednesday night between 7:00 and 8:30. Last night for our activity, everyone brought stuff that they don't use or wear anymore or just simply don't want anymore. We had an interesting hodgepodge of things. Possibly the most random item was something that I had brought hoping to get rid of but not really expecting that anyone would actually want it. It was a six foot tall inflatable easter bunny. I was surprised when one of the girls clung on to it and wouldn't let it go. She said it was 'so awesome' and had plans to put it in her yard. I told her she should put in front of her sister's door in the middle of the night so that when she opened the door in the morning she would find Mr. Cottontail waiting to greet her. I hope she does it; that would be 'so awesome.'

My favorite picture of all time!

pictures

computer illiterate or something

This one is for teri and jessica who both recently left comments on one of my blogs. I would love to get in touch with both of you. I am an idiot and have no idea how to find your email addresses or blogs if either of you have one. So, please email me at angieredford@hotmail.com. Hopefully, I will have some pictures (as requested) on here pretty soon.

nauvoo

Last weekend my little family and I attended our ward chili and pie cook off. When we arrived, I was surprised to see a good friend of mine who had recently moved to Nauvoo to build her dream house and retire with her husband there. She was back in Boise visiting family and babysitting her grandkids for the week. It was so fun to talk to her and to hear about her romantic dream life on the Mississippi. She had a picture of her newly constructed house which, by the way, is situated kitty-corner to the temple. It is a beautiful home and was built according to the traditional Nauvoo-style two-story brick house. Her and her husband wake up to a beautiful view of the temple every morning. They're serving as temple workers and they are loving every minute of their time spent in Nauvoo. She said people are moving in every week and Nauvoo now has TWO wards! Amazing! The church has also within the last few months completely torn down the monastery and school with no plans to build anything in its place. They want to preserve the view of the Mississippi from the temple.
As I sat there talking to her, our bishop's wife asked me how I had become so familiar with Nauvoo and its residents. I explained that I had an incredible opportunity to study in Nauvoo for a semester while living in a pioneer home and that I attended classes in the visitor's center. It got me thinking about my decision to go to Nauvoo and the effect it's had on my life.
When I was a senior in high school, I felt very confused and frustrated about college and what I was going to do with the rest of my life. It seemed like all of my friends knew exactly where they were going to go to school and what they wanted to study. I didn't quite feel ready for college and I had pretty much coasted through high school. In my junior year (I think), I had really gotten into the Work and the Glory series. Say what you will about Gerald Lund (ie: incredibly cheesy writing and unrealistic story line), those books sparked a love of church history in me and caused me to seek out real church history books. Anyway, one day I came home from school and was flipping through the Church News and at the bottom of one of the pages in a little box, was an announcement about the newly-started BYU Nauvoo program. I can honestly say that it was one of the few times in my life when the spirit seemed like a very clear voice telling me that Nauvoo was where I was supposed to go. There is no doubt in my mind that the Lord wanted me there. Several conferences ago, Elder Ballard (I think) gave a talk about missions and how everything good that has come into his life was a result of him serving a mission. That's how I feel about my Nauvoo experience. Looking back twelve years later, I can see how Nauvoo has strengthened me and taught me and led me to so many good things in my life including Adam. It's amazing how our memories can continue to teach us even years after the events have occurred. I'm so grateful for Nauvoo. It completely solidified my testimony of Joseph Smith and of the Restoration of the gospel. I also made some amazing friends and I know we'll always have that connection and love of church history. Thank you Nauvoo for the memories, for your magical spirit, for the peaceful lapping of the river, for the sunsets and for the people that made you great.