Simply Fall

There are so many things I love about fall. I have actually learned to love it a little more since I've moved to the desert, but now I can appreciate my past memories that much more. Even though Halloween is over, I decided to cut up my pumpkin and roast some seeds since I finally have some free time. I was a little nervous that things wouldn't turn out so well, but to my surprise, they are delicious!

I usually am not a fan of the actually cutting the pumpkin up part, but today seemed okay. I didn't carve it all cute or anything because, well I'm just lame.

So for those of you who haven't roasted seeds before, I'll give you a quick little "how-to" as to how to make perfect seeds. Enjoy!

First and for most, you need to clean out your pumpkin and get out all of the seeds.

Its a little messy so hopefully you aren't squimish ;-)

After you have cleaned out all of the seeds, make sure to rinse them to get all of the gunk off of them. After you've rinsed them, dry them the best you can with either paper towels or kitchen towels. When the seeds are dry, put them in a bowl and mix them with some seasoning such as garlic powder, garlic salt, onion powder, salt, and cayenne pepper, depending on the flavor you like. After they are thoroughly coated, lay them out on a foil lined baking sheet like this... 

After you have laid them out, you may want to top them off one last time with some salt, and garlic salt for a little extra flavor and a nice roasted color. 

Once they have been laid out and topped off, your going to want to put them in an oven that has been preheated to 350 and let them cook about 10 minutes, before taking them out and flipping them around. 

(Make sure to set a timer so you don't burn them!!)

After you have flipped them around, let them cook another 10 minutes, or until desired crispy-ness! Take note on how delicious your house will smell in the process of making these yummy, and healthy treats!

When they are finished cooking, let them sit for a few minutes to cool, then enjoy this wonderful fall treat! 

I hope anyone who tries these out enjoys them! Please feel free to leave any comments about this recipe or anything you like to try with your seeds!!

Much love, 

Shelb

A memory and recipe!

As I have mentioned before, family is VERY important to me. With that being said, I'm going to share a recipe with you that is not only delicious, but very special to me.

My grandmother, Josephine, was very dear to every heart she touched. She was a one of a kind woman who was stronger than most everyone I know, or have ever met. She never let anything bring her down, no matter what was thrown her way. When she suddenly got sick, everyone was in disbelief that something like this could be happening. Unfortunately, my grandmother could not overcome the illness. It has been almost 5 years since her passing, but not a day goes by that we don't think of her. I will always look up to her, and what a strong, independent woman she was.

I was so blessed to have had such a wonderful woman in my life, and I will forever cherish the memories and lessons she taught me. 

So! With that being said, I will now share one of my favorite recipes that I was lucky enough to have gained from my grandmother!

I remember her making this dessert for every major family gathering, so when I decide to make it, my heart is filled with memories. It is the perfect combination of a sweet and salty dessert. I'm sure there are variations of this delicious snack, but I'm just going to share with you the one I know. 

So, lets get started! Some of the ingredients you are going to need include:

• 2 cups of crushed pretzels
• 3 tablespoons sugar
• 3/4 cup melted butter
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 large package cream cheese
• 1 container whipped topping
• 1 large box strawberry jell-o
• 2 cups boiling water
• 20 oz frozen strawberries

It may seem like a lot but I promise, its really simple! 

For your first step, you need to combine the pretzels, 3 tablespoons sugar, and melted butter. After you have combined the 3 ingredients, you will then press it into the bottom of a 9x13 baking dish. Bake the pretzel mixture at 400 degrees for 10 minutes. Remove from the oven and put aside to let cool completely!

Next, you will combine 1 cup sugar, and the package of cream cheese. Cream until blended together. Add the whipped topping to the cream cheese mixture and mix lightly. Spread the cream cheese mixture onto the cooled pretzel layer. 

In a new bowl, dissolve the package of jell-o into the boiling water and add in the frozen strawberries. when this is mixed together, pour it on top of the cream cheese mixture (which should be on top of the pretzels!)

After everything is layered, put the baking dish in the fridge for everything to settle and and the jell-o to set! After everything is set, it will be ready to eat! (I told you it was easy!!) 

IF you did everything correct, which I'm sure you did, it will come out looking something like this...

                                           I am totally hungry now, and craving this! Aw man, stupid work!!

Well, I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I do! Like I said before, I'm sure there are variations to this recipe, but I just showed you what I know. Enjoy and please leave any comments as to what you think of this yummy dessert!! 

~Enjoy! 

Shelb 

My Lovely Love Story (From My Perspective!)

Sometimes, you meet people that change your life in ways unimaginable. I was lucky enough to meet this person, and completely fall in love with him. I never thought the choices I made, and the places I went would lead me to the love of my life, but they did. Completely. When you meet someone that you can play with like a best friend, and kiss like a lover, you know you have met the one. 

It wasn't always this cute, however. I'm sure he would kill me for telling this story but oh well! Oh yeah, I should probably give "him" a name. It's Sean, and he is my boyfriend. Anyway, so, the first night I met him he was drunk. You know, that's how all good love stories start..haha! So, yes, he was drunk and dancing like...I'm not sure what to compare it to, but he was dancing! I was a little on the shy side about just meeting these new people and dancing with them, so I kind of stayed quiet and reserved. It was weird I was acting like this, because for anyone who knows me, they know I am not quiet or reserved whatsoever! After a long night, and a maximum of maybe 20 exchanged words total (because it was so loud), I left. I wasn't sure if I would ever see this mysterious guy again, but I was determined to find out more. Later that night, after logging on to Facebook, I saw I had been tagged in a post...along with the people that were dancing! I wanted to maybe add him, or message him, but I thought he might be a little weirded out by that. Well, he obviously wasn't thinking that, because about 20 minutes later I had a Facebook message. After a few messages, and a bold statement saying "I'm your kryptonite" (because he got me to dance for about 3 minutes!) he gave me his phone number with the whole "Well, I'm heading to sleep, text me tomorrow if you want" Of course, the next day I texted him. (What can I say, he was cute!) After days and days of talking, I finally got to see him again! I was being such a typical teenage girl, getting nervous and the butterflies. I managed to not look like a total idiot, however, thank god. As we continued to talk and hangout, I started getting more and more comfortable with him, and started to really like him. I wasn't the only one with these feelings though, because about 6 months into our relationship, while we were sitting on my couch talking he said, "I love you. Wait, no, I don't love you, I meant I love everything about you! I didn't mean that!" I laughed it off because I knew he did mean it, and that's why it came out the way it did. I just smiled and laughed and said, "Well, I love everything about you as well." As the days, weeks, and months passed, we truly did fall in love with each other. Finding someone who would watch hockey with me, or drive around and sing country music with me was such a heart warming feeling. Everything felt so natural, and so perfect. I would look back and think "If I never would have went that night, I never would have been in this beautiful place". 

We have now been together for almost a year, and we are in the process of moving into our new apartment. I couldn't be more excited and ready for this big step, not only for myself, but for Sean and I as we embark on this new stage in our lives. Of course we are not perfect, no one, or any relationship is. But we make the best of every situation, good and bad, that we encounter. I couldn't imagine my life without him, and I am not sure where I would be without him. The love I have for Sean is incomparable, and I will never be able to show that in any way, shape, or form no matter how hard I try. I truly love him with all of my heart and I am so excited to see what the future holds for us. 

Terrible photo quality :( But, this was a few weeks ago at the LA Kings hockey game here in Las Vegas! 

I should have known when I let him come hiking with me that he was someone special. I LOVE my alone time, especially while out in nature, so for me to be okay with him there shows a lot! 

I'm not sure if I love, or hate the fact that he always makes sure my homework is done and I'm doing everything I can to be the best. I am thankful that he is so helpful with anything I need.

In honor of fall and October, this was about a week ago at an orchard here in town. They finally have pumpkins ready for picking! :-)

Well, there you go. There is my, not so romantic, but perfect, love story. Enjoy! 

Welll...

It seems to me I have a blog. Lol. I'm still trying to figure this out so give me a break! I can already tell this will soon become one of my favorite things. With everything going on in life, sometimes you need your own personal escape to do something you enjoy..well, that may have just become blogging. Hopefully I can get everything figured out and I will have some more posts soon!