7.22.2007
Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas
On June 29, after loading our stuff and shipping it off to Texas, we moved on to Idaho. We arrived in Rexburg Monday night and then left for Island Park the next day. On the way my mom, siblings, and Dianna and I stopped to site see some beautiful waterfalls (Mesa Falls I believe). 
We found this old, abandoned mining tunnel thing that we hiked through. 
We then went to get dinner at a little place called Pond's Lodge. It turned out that we were like the seventh big party that walked in during the previous half hour and there were only three people working the whole restaurant. After about 20 minutes without water or even a hello we grabbed the waitress and offered to help. She actually said yes, so Dianna, Tini and I jumped up and started busing tables and washing dishes. With our help, we got our dinner in about 40 minutes which also meant that everyone else in the restaurant was fed as well. As a thank you the waitress split our bill in half. This was a once in a life time experience - so fun!
We spent three days in Island Park riding, biking, playing board games, and eating. We had a lot of fun with Dianna's Grandparents and cousins from Boise.
Katy and Julie also joined us briefly for some good fun. 
We went back to Rexburg for a day to celebrate my sister Katy's birthday and then we went back up to Island Park until Saturday night. Saturday we floated the river and got ridiculous sun burns. But it was still a lot of fun. We spent Sunday with the family in Rexburg and then early Monday we left for Dallas.
We stayed Monday night in Colorado Springs with Dianna's sister Melissa. We walked around downtown and visited for a little while. On Tuesday we drove the rest of the way and had a stop in Wichita Falls to visit an old friend. Between Wichita Falls and Dallas (only about 150 miles) we got slammed by a serious thunderstorm and we thought we were going to get washed right off the road. Luckily we made it ok to Dallas and stayed in a hotel Tuesday night.
Early Wednesday we started our move into our new apartment. A good four days later we had mostly settled in and it was time for me to fly to Chicago for training.
We found this old, abandoned mining tunnel thing that we hiked through. 
We then went to get dinner at a little place called Pond's Lodge. It turned out that we were like the seventh big party that walked in during the previous half hour and there were only three people working the whole restaurant. After about 20 minutes without water or even a hello we grabbed the waitress and offered to help. She actually said yes, so Dianna, Tini and I jumped up and started busing tables and washing dishes. With our help, we got our dinner in about 40 minutes which also meant that everyone else in the restaurant was fed as well. As a thank you the waitress split our bill in half. This was a once in a life time experience - so fun!We spent three days in Island Park riding, biking, playing board games, and eating. We had a lot of fun with Dianna's Grandparents and cousins from Boise.
Katy and Julie also joined us briefly for some good fun. 
We went back to Rexburg for a day to celebrate my sister Katy's birthday and then we went back up to Island Park until Saturday night. Saturday we floated the river and got ridiculous sun burns. But it was still a lot of fun. We spent Sunday with the family in Rexburg and then early Monday we left for Dallas.We stayed Monday night in Colorado Springs with Dianna's sister Melissa. We walked around downtown and visited for a little while. On Tuesday we drove the rest of the way and had a stop in Wichita Falls to visit an old friend. Between Wichita Falls and Dallas (only about 150 miles) we got slammed by a serious thunderstorm and we thought we were going to get washed right off the road. Luckily we made it ok to Dallas and stayed in a hotel Tuesday night.
Early Wednesday we started our move into our new apartment. A good four days later we had mostly settled in and it was time for me to fly to Chicago for training.
California
On June 22nd we left Provo for California. We first spent a few days at my parents house in Upland. We met up with our friends Katy and Clayton for a temple trip. We went to the Newport Temple which is breathtaking, and then we ate lunch on the pier at Ruby's Diner. We also went to Magic Mountain and learned that Dianna has an even stronger stomach for roller coasters than Dave. 
We also went with our parents to Palm Springs for the Aerial Tramway. It is a tramway that takes you up more than 8,000 feet to this green forest above Palm Springs. 
We also stayed in one of the days and watched the first season of Lost - awesome!
We left Upland and drove down to San Diego for a few days just by ourselves. We did meet up with Liz and Ethan though to go to the San Diego Zoo. Dianna got to feed the Giraffes!
While in San Diego we had great seafood and some really good dessert at Ghiradelli's (Dave's favorite). After San Diego we left for Las Vegas where we stayed with Garth and Jamie. We went to see Ratatouille with them and then had an all night Tetris-off.
We reached Provo just before Church on Sunday and managed to get there on time. Our dear friends the Sweetwoods then invited us over for a steak dinner! It was very good food and a nice break from vacation and road trip choices. The following day we packed up our trailer and shipped it off to Dallas (thanks to Dave and company for helping us move).
We had so much fun in California and we will miss it!
We also went with our parents to Palm Springs for the Aerial Tramway. It is a tramway that takes you up more than 8,000 feet to this green forest above Palm Springs. 
We also stayed in one of the days and watched the first season of Lost - awesome!We left Upland and drove down to San Diego for a few days just by ourselves. We did meet up with Liz and Ethan though to go to the San Diego Zoo. Dianna got to feed the Giraffes!
While in San Diego we had great seafood and some really good dessert at Ghiradelli's (Dave's favorite). After San Diego we left for Las Vegas where we stayed with Garth and Jamie. We went to see Ratatouille with them and then had an all night Tetris-off.We reached Provo just before Church on Sunday and managed to get there on time. Our dear friends the Sweetwoods then invited us over for a steak dinner! It was very good food and a nice break from vacation and road trip choices. The following day we packed up our trailer and shipped it off to Dallas (thanks to Dave and company for helping us move).
We had so much fun in California and we will miss it!
7.18.2007
Moving to Dallas
Dave and I are offically moved in. The drive wasn't too bad and the move it self wasn't bad either. It felt like a complete disaster for a while, but I finished the last box today. Now I need to organize and decorate. Pictures will be coming soon so keep watch!
6.28.2007
Cafe Rio Recipes
Upon request we have decided to post our Cafe Rio Recipes. For those of you who aren't familiar with Cafe Rio, its one of the best mexican style food places we've been to. We love making these recipes for family gatherings or parties. Enjoy!
Cafe Rio Dressing
1 cup light mayo (you can use half light sour cream too)
1 cup milk
1 pkg ranch dressing mix
2 Tomatillos (little, round, green peppers)
2 Serrano peppers (remove seeds!)
1/2 bunch cilantro
Place all ingredients in the blender and blend well. Keep refrigerated and shake well each time you use it.
Cafe Rio Cilantro Lime Rice
2 tbsp butter or olive oil
1/2 medium yellow onion diced
1 cup rice (long grain is best)
2 cups boiling water
2 chicken boullion cubes
1/4 cup cliantro
Juice from one lime
In large sauce pan sautee onions in oil or butter until soft. Add rice and cook for a few more minutes. Carefully add water and boullion cubes, stir until cubes dissolve. Cook for 14 mins or until rice is tender and water is mostly boiled off. Turn off heat, add cliantro, lime, and lime zest (if desired) to dish. Better if left to settle for 30-60 minutes. Take a fork and fluff/mix the rice and serve.
Cafe Rio Black Beans
1 can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 can tomatoe juice (comes in a soda can usually near V8)
2 cloves garlic, pressed or minced
1 tsp ground cumin
2 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp salt
In nonstick skillet, cook the garlic, cumin, and olive oil until the smell really comes out. Add beans, tomatoe juice, and salt. Bring to boil and then simmer for 10-15 minutes (at least). Optional: stir in a little cilantro just before serving.
Cafe Rio Pork
2 lbs pork roast
1 20 oz. bottle coca-cola classic
1 cup brown sugar
1 can chipotle chiles in ADOBO sauce (or small battle of taco sauce)
4 cloves garlic, chopped
1 tbsp ground cumin
1 tbsp ground mustard
Slow cook the pork in crock pot, 5-6 hours on low or 2-3 hours on high, make sure to cover half with water, salt and pepper to liking. Drain the meat and place on large plate, tear in large sections and let cool for a few minutes. Shred the pork as finely as possible and place back into crock pot. Take chipotle chiles out of can and place in strainer over a bowl. Dump the coke over the chiles to get all the sauce off (the chiles are extremely hot, we just need the sauce which isn't too hot, for a real kick add one chile to the sauce - it'll clear your sinuses). Place contents of bowl in blender with the brown sugar, cumin, mustard, and garlic into blender. Blend well and then pour into crock pot with shredded pork. Heat on high for another 30-45 minutes.
Cafe Rio Chicken
4-5 large chicken breasts
1 8 oz. bottle of zesty italian dressing
1 tbsp chili powder
1 tbsp cumin
3 cloves garlic, minced or pressed
Place all ingredients in crock pot and cook 5-6 hours on low or 2-3 hours on high. Remove chicken and shred, then place back into crock pot with sauce.
Dave's Guacamole (pretty close to Cafe Rio)
2 avocados
1/4 cup minced red onion
1/2 cup diced tomatoes
1/4 cup chopped cilantro
2 serrano or jalapeno peppers, seeds removed and finely chopped
Juice from 1 lime
Salt and pepper to taste
Place all ingredients in bowl and mash with a fork. Refrigerate leftovers and use within 2 days.
Notes:
Cafe Rio Dressing
1 cup light mayo (you can use half light sour cream too)
1 cup milk
1 pkg ranch dressing mix
2 Tomatillos (little, round, green peppers)
2 Serrano peppers (remove seeds!)
1/2 bunch cilantro
Place all ingredients in the blender and blend well. Keep refrigerated and shake well each time you use it.
Cafe Rio Cilantro Lime Rice
2 tbsp butter or olive oil
1/2 medium yellow onion diced
1 cup rice (long grain is best)
2 cups boiling water
2 chicken boullion cubes
1/4 cup cliantro
Juice from one lime
In large sauce pan sautee onions in oil or butter until soft. Add rice and cook for a few more minutes. Carefully add water and boullion cubes, stir until cubes dissolve. Cook for 14 mins or until rice is tender and water is mostly boiled off. Turn off heat, add cliantro, lime, and lime zest (if desired) to dish. Better if left to settle for 30-60 minutes. Take a fork and fluff/mix the rice and serve.
Cafe Rio Black Beans
1 can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 can tomatoe juice (comes in a soda can usually near V8)
2 cloves garlic, pressed or minced
1 tsp ground cumin
2 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp salt
In nonstick skillet, cook the garlic, cumin, and olive oil until the smell really comes out. Add beans, tomatoe juice, and salt. Bring to boil and then simmer for 10-15 minutes (at least). Optional: stir in a little cilantro just before serving.
Cafe Rio Pork
2 lbs pork roast
1 20 oz. bottle coca-cola classic
1 cup brown sugar
1 can chipotle chiles in ADOBO sauce (or small battle of taco sauce)
4 cloves garlic, chopped
1 tbsp ground cumin
1 tbsp ground mustard
Slow cook the pork in crock pot, 5-6 hours on low or 2-3 hours on high, make sure to cover half with water, salt and pepper to liking. Drain the meat and place on large plate, tear in large sections and let cool for a few minutes. Shred the pork as finely as possible and place back into crock pot. Take chipotle chiles out of can and place in strainer over a bowl. Dump the coke over the chiles to get all the sauce off (the chiles are extremely hot, we just need the sauce which isn't too hot, for a real kick add one chile to the sauce - it'll clear your sinuses). Place contents of bowl in blender with the brown sugar, cumin, mustard, and garlic into blender. Blend well and then pour into crock pot with shredded pork. Heat on high for another 30-45 minutes.
Cafe Rio Chicken
4-5 large chicken breasts
1 8 oz. bottle of zesty italian dressing
1 tbsp chili powder
1 tbsp cumin
3 cloves garlic, minced or pressed
Place all ingredients in crock pot and cook 5-6 hours on low or 2-3 hours on high. Remove chicken and shred, then place back into crock pot with sauce.
Dave's Guacamole (pretty close to Cafe Rio)
2 avocados
1/4 cup minced red onion
1/2 cup diced tomatoes
1/4 cup chopped cilantro
2 serrano or jalapeno peppers, seeds removed and finely chopped
Juice from 1 lime
Salt and pepper to taste
Place all ingredients in bowl and mash with a fork. Refrigerate leftovers and use within 2 days.
Notes:
- You can find similar tortillas at Costco, they come uncooked and can be found in the fridgerator section.
- You can make tortilla strips by slicing plain corn tortillas into long strips and frying in vegetable oil.
- The proper Cafe Rio salad is tortilla with melted cheese, beans, rice, meat, romaine lettuce, cilantro, guacamole, grated romano cheese, dressing, fresh salsa, tortilla strips and lime.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)