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Amy's Tomatoe & Basil Pizza

· 1 tablespoon yellow cornmeal

· 2 (8-ounce) pieces of homemade or purchased pizza dough, recipe follows

· 6 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil

· 1 1/3 cups, grated pasteurized mozzarella

· 2 Roma tomatoes, cut crosswise into 1/4-inch-thick slices

· 1/4 cup grated Parmesan

· 1 large garlic clove, minced, optional

· 6 fresh basil leaves, plus extra for garnish

· 1/2 teaspoon salt

Mix the warm water and yeast in a small bowl to blend. Let stand until the yeast dissolves, about 5 minutes. Mix the flour and salt in a food processor to blend. Blend in the oil. With the machine running, add the yeast mixture and blend just until the dough forms. Turn the dough out onto lightly floured surface and knead until smooth, about 1 minute. Transfer the dough to a large oiled bowl and turn the dough to coat with the oil. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and set aside in a warm draft-free area until the dough doubles in volume, about 1 hour. Punch the down dough and divide into 2 equal balls. (The dough can be used immediately or stored airtight in the refrigerator for 1 day.)

Position 1 oven rack in the center and the second rack on the bottom of the oven and preheat to 450 degrees F. Sprinkle the cornmeal over 2 rimless baking sheets. Roll out each piece of pizza dough into a 10 to 11-inch-diameter round. Transfer 1 dough to each prepared baking sheet.

Drizzle 2 teaspoons of oil over each pizza dough. Sprinkle the mozzarella over the pizza dough, dividing equaling and leaving a 1-inch border around each pizza. Arrange the tomato slices in a single layer over the cheese. Sprinkle with the Parmesan. Arrange basil leaves on top, drizzle with a little more olive oil and sprinkle garlic all over. Bake the pizzas until the crusts are crisp and brown on the bottom and the cheese is melted on top, about 15 minutes. Drizzle 1 teaspoon of oil over each pizza. Sprinkle with basil for garnish and salt. Cut the pizza into wedges and serve immediately.

Pizza Dough:

· 1/2 cup warm water (105 to 110 degrees F)

· 2 teaspoons dry yeast

· 2 cups all-purpose flour or whole wheat flour

· 1 teaspoon salt

· 3 tablespoons olive oil

Delicious Strawberry Cake From Scratch

HAPPY 26th BIRTHDAY TO THE BEST BIG BROTHER

Derald and me with his delicious cake I made! (see recipe below)

Happy Birthday D!! I love you!!

mmmmmmmm......

Homemade

Strawberry Cake

Ingredients:

Nonstick vegetable spray

3 cups flour

2 cups granulated sugar

3/4 cup vegetable oil

1 1/2 cup smashed strawberries

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1 teaspoon lemon zest

4 large eggs, beaten

red food coloring**

Directions for cake:

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Spray and flour three round cake pans, tapping out excess flour; set aside.

Prepare the cake batter; in a large bowl, stir to combine flour, sugar, oil, pureed strawberries, vanilla, lemon zest, and eggs.

Divide between the three pans, Bake, rotating the pans halfway through. Bake 26-28 min.

Transfer pans to a wire rack to cool 10 minutes. Invert cakes, then re-invert cakes and let them cool completely, top sides up.

Make cream cheese frosting (recipe below)

Cream Cheese Frosting

(This frosting is the best part I think!)

1 8oz package of cream cheese, softened

1 stick of butter, softenened

1 tsp. vanilla

~ 3 cups powdered sugar

1 TBL milk (if needed)

Directions for Frosting:

Beat cream cheese and butter together until smooth. Slowly add the sugar in 1 cup batches until desired sweetness is achieved. You may need less than 3 cups if you like your frosting less sweet. Stir in vanilla. Add milk if you feel like you need it...I don't like it runny so I don't use it Add red food coloring to make it a pretty pink color! Once the cakes are cool, frost in between each layer, and stack them. Then frost the outside all over.

The TASTY finished product! I was actually surprised how much everyone liked it! It was sweet enough, but not too sweet to enjoy a nice big piece. I love it because I hate making things not from scratch, and this was completely from scratch! It is definitely a recipe I will find any occasion to make again!

The Los Hermanos dinner party crew

A b-day tribute in pics, to my big brother...

DERALD MARTIN'

http://failblog.org/

Please check this out.

A few of my favorites...

PARAMEDIC

LIZARD

GlASS DOOR

HORSE?

I'm sorry, but does this honestly resemble a MOSQUITO to you???!!

Yes, this did happen. True story--

So some may be aware that I recently had a mole removed from my forehead; thus, I have four little stitches, allowing the severed flesh to once again grow in unity :)

No big deal.

Having said that....I was at a little get together on Saturday, sitting at a table on a deck. Socializing. (btw--No names will be included in this post.) Here we are, having a casual conversation, when suddenly this starts taking place:

Random girl LEANS over a table of people and a dirty finger goes towards my left eye. 

" Ah, Ummmm, I think you like have a mosquito on like, your forehead!!! Let me get it for you!!!!"

Then, proceeds to put her potato chip-finger, on top the freshly stitched skin, and rubbadubdubbs. All in all it was painful but hilarious event. Hilarious to me, and others at the table who witnessed it. I hope that I responded kindly... I don't remember. I think so though. 

A Super-Sized Banana Slide...

So yesterday I went with Leigh, Jenesee and Ally to a literally "GIANT" Slip N' Slide....Not at all really knowing what to expect of such an event, I semi-willingly went along. We went over to Rock Canyon Park, and this is what we saw...

My immediate thoughts after seeing this sight: "Who thinks of something like this? Who ACTUALLY makes this after they get that idea? Dangerous? Definitely. How Provo style is this awesome activity??'' haha Soooo intense right?? It was so scary at first! It took Leigh and I probably ten minutes just to get the courage to go down!! We finally got the guts to do it, and it was soooo fun! We were going so fast that I seriously was inhaling mud and grass! hahaha It was crazy!

There we are up there. Leigh, Jenesee and me, getting ready to go down....

Hahaha I love this picture! It captures the THRILL it was when you finally got to the bottom pool of mud! After the slide itself (which were just several giant posters put together), there were about 20 feet of sliding on just grass, and then eventually you ended up in THIS (see above)--A giant puddle of mud, which got progressively bigger throughout the day. hahaha it was so fun! This was seriously one of the most fun things I've done in a while! Provo entertainment.

4th floor crew: Jenesee, Ally, me and Leigh

Love these girls!

Snoop Doggy Dog's still got it..

Of course, I went to the Snoop Dogg Concert, and it was definitely a good time! Haha accompanying him was Slightly Stoopid, and Stephen Marley. It was a definite Reggae fest for the first few hours. When Snoop finally came on, the place went nuts! It was at USANA in SLC, and it got to be pretty packed.

The evening's best of Snoop Dogg included:

Drop it like it's hott

Nuthin' but a G thang

Gin & Juice

etc...

Ultra-Healthy Oatmeal Cookies (that actually taste good!)

Personally, Oatmeal Cookies have always been a favorite of mine. I'm a healthy person, and always looking for a healthy alternative to desserts... I am the queen of inventing recipes that somehow always end up with a disgusting result, but these....are another story! I cannot, in any way, shape or form keep up with my sister who is the queen of healthy living/coking, but I can try. So these cookies don't have any refined sugar, no butter, and no oil. Applesauce instead of oil, and honey in place of the sugar. They are definitely not as sweet as your typical chocolate chip cookie, but they are a nice treat to satisfy my frequent urge for a "cookie." I guess they are more like a muffin.... But try them out!

INGREDIENTS:

Dry ingredients

• 1 cup whole wheat flour
• 1 1/2 cups of Oats
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 Tbsp Cinnamon (I actually use about 3 Tbsp--got to love the cinnamon)
• 1/2 tsp Nutmeg
• *I added 1 cup of blueberries and 1/2 cup Craisins and it adds a bit of sweetness to them!! Yummy!!

Wet ingredients

• 1/2 cup honey
• 1/2 cup applesauce
• 1 Tablespoon Molasses (I used 100% pure maple syrup instead)
• 1 egg beat with 1 Tbsp Water)
• 1 tsp Vanilla

Prep:

1. In a large bowl, mix all the dry ingredients together.

2. In a medium bowl, mix all the wet ingredients together. PS ( when measuring out the honey, spray the measuring cup with oil or baking spray--makes it so the honey won't stick)

3. Mix the wet stuff with the dry stuff. * Add the CRAISINS and BLUEBERRIES if you want* If the mixture seems too wet, add a bit of flour. If it isn't sticking together very well add an egg white.

4. COOL the mix for 20 minutes in the fridge.

5. Preheat the oven to 335 degrees (lower temperature due to the honey...they will burn easier)

6. Drop by spoonful onto your baking sheet

7. Bake for about 15 - 20 minutes or until golden.

Cute Home-made Headbands!

So I was at Nordstrom the other day looking at all the clothes I wished I could buy for my mission (ya right) and saw an adorable headband...24$!? Whaaat? Ya right. So I got thinking, and took off to Michaels'. I bought a few supplies, with a grand total of 8$ I think, and made some of my own headbands! They turned out really cute! They're just super girly and fun!

Ok so up there, I did say "ya right" to the 24$ headband at^ ^Nordstrom^^, but I couldn't publish this post with a lie in it. I bought it ok? haha I bought it. I bought a 24$ headband and then made like 4 of them for 8$. Live and learn.

PS- I did get a new DO. I went back towards my natural hair color....This is a little bit darker than my natural, but it is almost to it...

Happy 4th of July!

* HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY *

What is the 4th of July without a little Watermelon??

This year I went up to my parents for the 4th since I'm running out of time to spend with my family...It was really great! I seriously have the best family ever! This time around, I was just with my parents, and my two sisters and all their families. They have their husbands and little kids, so I sit around and don't have a whole lot to relate with on the adult level. I still feel like a little kid around them... For example, we were all hanging out at my sister Charlotte's place and they had a huge blow up slide/pool. I heard this, an so naturally I threw on my swimsuit and went over there (thinking that everyone would be in their swimsuits, adults included). To my surprise, I show up sporting my suit and cover-up, to find the only ones in swim suits were under the age of 11. I ate a piece of watermelon, waded around, and sneakily snuck back to my house, to change, before too many people at the BBQ tried to introduce themselves to me/congratulate me on my mission call.... How sad. When did I get too old to play on slip N' slides??!! It was a depressing realization that until I'm married, I will probably have more in common with my siblings kids, than them. Haha not really. I miss being a kid! I guess I will just still be one. 

The 4th was a pretty relaxed day. We feasted on snap peas, and beets from my parent's garden all day, and then had an incredible fresh salad with strawberries etc all from their garden. That has always been a hobby of my parents'. They love to grow a vegetable garden!

I have so many memories as a little girl, helping my dad plant potatoes, pick carrots and weed. This is definitely something I want to continue in my life someday. Summers spent eating fresh veggies are a favorite "Miller tradition" of mine! There is just nothing like eating fresh vegetables out of the garden!

My family is not huge into "toys" --but my Dad did invest in buying an ATV since moving to Logan. Up there they actually have land to use them on, and so we cruised around on those for part of the day.

Apparently my family has been doing a "cake float" for the past few 4th celebrations, but last year I was in San Diego on the 4th so I missed it....Anyways, so my sister made a few cakes, and decorated them with flowers and then "floated" them in their little pond in the back-yard. We waited until it was dark, lit the candles, and sang patriotic tunes... After "My Country Tis' of Thee" we realized there really aren't that many patriotic songs that everyone knows, so we concluded with singing "Happy Birthday" to America! haha

I truly believe I have the cutest nieces and nephews in the world! I will miss them probably the most when I'm gone! They are all going to be so different when I come back!

^ Pippers and I ^

^ Noelle does not smile a lot in pictures... ^

^ Little Marky cheesin' for the pic! ^

I had a reunion with my friend Stephen who just got back from his mission in Czech Republic. We played put-put and I dominated. I've missed this kid, it's good to have you home buddy! :) 

A body of "meat and eggs"...a run-around at the MTC

So today I got an e-mail saying the MTC was desperate for volunteers that speak Spanish...I checked my busy schedule, which included: reading the Harry Potter series fro several hours, hitting up 7 Peaks, and other uplifting wholesome activities, and decided that would be a great thing to fill a couple hours with! ...I absolutely loved it!!! I got to the MTC at about 2:30 pm, and was put straight to work with some Elders who had been there about 5 weeks. Ones' Spanish was "alright" and the others' was.... we'll just say a "work in process"... haha it was a realization of how hard it is to learn a LANGUAGE, in the time allotted at the MTC. This poor little guy was on the verge of tears as he struggled to order food off my mock-menu at my cafe, and then teach a lesson on The Restoration. For the first hour, I was to play a cafe owner, and the missionaries had to look at my menu and order, and get to know me. Then they taught a 35 minute lesson where I was to every once in a while interrupt them and ask a few simple questions in Spanish. Overall, for only having studied the language for 5 weeks, they really did pretty good, I was impressed! The most hilarious thing was when one of the Elders was trying to tell me that Christ has a body of flesh and bones, but instead he told me that Christ has a body of "meat, and eggs!"I diiiiied. I was trying so hard not to laugh, but it was too classic. I too have made similar, if not the same exact mistake. The common BONES and EGGS mix-up. ohhhh man. Huevos= eggs y HUESOS= bones, they indeed are very similar. I was totally understanding, however; I'm not sure if a for real legitimate investigator of the church would quiiite understanad what he was trying to say! haha bless his little heart though for trying so hard! I did feel really bad for this poor kid though. I felt for him. He was pretty frustrated. The second hour was with some adorable little hermanas (sisters) who had only been there 3 weeks. One of the sisters' Spanish was really good considering she had only been there for like 3 weeks, and the others' was exactly what I would expect for 3 weeks of intense cramming. We did a trip to the "bus station" aka a maroon carpeted classroom with other volunteer investigators there. They (one hermana, the other was completely clueless as to what was goign on...) taught me a lesson and did a good job. I worked them, but I figured it would be best to make it as real as possible.

Overall, I loved the time I was there serving amongst all the missionaries. Overall it was just an incredible feeling to be surrounded by thousands of people dedicating their lives to serving the Lord and his children.