Boeuf Bourguignon

After enjoying Julie and Julia, Phillip and Meagan bought Julia Child's Mastering the Art of French Cooking. They got me excited to try making Boeuf Bourguignon for our group dinner last month. I made the trek to the Utah State Liquor Store to stock up on wine and cognac and I purchased all the other ingredients at the grocery store. If this were any place but Utah, it would have been one-stop shopping.

It was labor intensive because I made two batches simultaneously, which required lots of cutting and chopping, but the finished product was spectacular. I actually used Ina Garten's recipe from the internet because it seemed more friendly than Julia's.

There was enough left over to share with Phillip, Meagan and family, who were most excited to see how it turned out.

All the ingredients ready to go

Ready to add and flame the cognac

The cooking was finished in the oven for much longer
than the recipe required

The mushrooms and pearl onion are finished
on the stove top

The finished product with noodles and buttered
bread crumbs: delicious!

I guess it really is all about food isn't it?

That's all for now.

OXO

D.

Dinner at the Taylor's

Yesterday we gathered at Phillip and Meagan's for Sunday dinner. They made rosemary chicken, roasted new potatoes, and cauliflower with cheese. It was delicious. We missed Maren, Gavin, Finn, Harry, and Katy Kathryn.

Lucy and Tucker dig in

Phillip serves the rice

Hi to Katy and the Youngs from the cousins

Phillip takes a seat

Tucker's birthday and baptism will kick off a month of March-Taylor-birthday madness this week, but that's all for now.

OXO

D.

Smashing!

Tom and Katy have been singing the praises of this burger place that recently opened in Orem. Apparently it is a favorite of Colton as well. Although he does like Cheetos, I feel like he can be trusted on matters of hamburger taste, because the one he makes at Communal is the best hamburger I have ever eaten.

This evening Kris and I gave it a try and were very pleased. I would rate it much higher than In-N-Out Burger, which (don't get me wrong) we like. The burger was great, but slippery; next time I'll ask for sauce on the side. I requested grilled onions and they were happy to oblige. The fries were good and they offer an herbed version as well as really good onion rings.

The place is cool, interior-design wise, and they seemed to be kid friendly. The hot dog looked really yummy, too. My rating is always based on whether I would go back, and I would.

They are Colorado-born but seem to be located everywhere (but Hawaii) y'all are including 2 in the Phoenix area with two more opening in March, several in SLC including the WVC, 7 in Houston including Atascocita.

Fun, mid-century modern style

Good food: far better than this guy's photo makes it look

Just in case you wanted to know.

That's all for now.

OXO

D.

So What's Provo, Chopped Liver?

Today in the SL Tribune there was an announcement that the Church is going to remodel the Ogden Temple because, frankly speaking, it isn't very attractive. Well Provo's temple is its twin. So will Provo get a remodel too, or was it just a problem of the Ogden Temple being outclassed by the the Tabernacle next door? I pointed that out after visiting the Ogden Temple last July. If they remodel Ogden and leave Provo as is, there will be some unhappy campers.

Current version

Tabernacle that looks like a temple

The redesign of the temple block

New and improved version

View with emasculated tabernacle sans tower and spire

What think ye? What's good for Ogden is good for Provo?

That's all for now.

OXO

D.

Saint Valentine's Day

I hope you all had a nice Valentine's day. We spent the day at church and with the family who came for Sunday dinner. Grammy made a pile of Valentine's cookies for the binkers and by the time the evening was over, they were all gone: clearly a hit! We missed Katy's chocolate-covered butter this year. Maybe she made it for the Gibbs in Texas.

Heather is a double treat: Valentine's flowers
and a remembrance of Britain

Chelsea and Mia joined us for dinner
and desserts galore

Pippy and Meags

That's all for now.

OXO

D.

Like a Reunion

Today was my nephew George's son Brian B. Taylor's Utah memorial service prior to being buried in the Provo Cemetery. There was a gathering at Berg Mortuary in Orem last night as well.

Brian died 22 January 2010 after an extremely difficult battle with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. He was not quite 20 years old. You can read more about him here. His funeral was held in Palo Alto, California last Saturday and today, Utah family and friends gathered to remember his short but remarkable life. It was, as funerals often are, a great experience. His four grandparents spoke and shared memories and convictions of the reality of Christ's gospel. Our Provo 5th Ward rallied around; Bishop Matt (Christensen) conducted and the Relief Society provided a nice meal. These are such great people.

Emily, Colette, Will, and Kris at the mortuary last night

John, AnnMarie, Ann, and Stephen

Katy, Nicole, and Amy

Stephen, David, and Hank

AnneMarie and Emily

Tom, Hank, and Will

The pallbearers waiting for the grandparents to arrive

Tommy and Bishop Christensen

George, Marian, family, et al.

Hansen and Bradley enjoying the spread

George, Ben, and Kris

Tommy, Hank, Colette, Stephen, Ann, Katy, and Zoe

Anna with Scout, Millie, Tim, Shelby,
Tyra, Colton, and Holdie

I'm sorry I didn't know Brian better but it was wonderful to be together for a couple of days with many family members that we don't see often enough.

That's all for now.

OXO

D.

There's Still Snow, Harry

Harry called from Arizona today to see if we still had snow. The answer is yes. Fortunately, most of it is in the mountains. The first photo is of Timpanogos today. The second was taken last week when the mountain was hidden with clouds and the snow in the park was turning to messy puddles.

Today: caked thick as frosting

Last week: covered in plumes of white

I have to admit that this is how I like winter: lots of snow in the mountains and very little in the valleys.

That's all for now.

OXO

D.