You can't teach an old dog…

I can't cook. Or at least I can't blog about learning to cook.

I've ditched the apron for something I actually know about. Visit me on my new (and regularly maintained) blog about designer-y things!

Stuff Designers Like

Mongolian Beef Noodle Bowls

A couple weeks ago I went to The Dinner A'Fare with some friends. It's a totally fun experience, especially if you're a wanna-be-cook like me.

You get to choose your recipes and then each station is set-up with all the tools, ingredients and directions you need to prep your dish. When you're finished, your meals are all prepared to cook and freezer ready. Then you take a recipe card to finish your meals at home.

For the Mogolian Beef Noodle Bowls, I seasoned the flank steak at Dinner A'Fare and then added the vegetables and soba noodles to it at home. This was my first "Dinner A'Fare" dinner I prepared at home. It was so easy (and flavorful)!

We got married!

On Tuesday, December 29, 2009 at 4pm with 22 members of our families, Brayden and I said "I do!" We said our vows at the Little Church of the West in Las Vegas, Nevada.

It was the wedding of my dreams that I never knew I always wanted! We haven't even begun to look through the photos yet, but here are a few that I snagged from someone's iPhone. And if you really want to, you can watch the wedding on the church's webcam here.

Pumpkin Squares

This Christmas, I traveled with Brayden to Pleasant View, Utah to celebrate the holiday with his family. The entire visit consisted of eating, more eating, and then eating some more. I basically participated in this 3-day food fest as an eater only. But on Christmas Day, as time for dinner quickly approached, Brayden's mother grabbed me into the kitchen and said "can you make this? here's the recipe!" As Brayden and his sister, Brittney, giggled on the sidelines, I cheered myself on mentally "Here is the recipe, a simple recipe!" And then not so mentally, "I can do this!," (not really meaning to say it out loud). My optimistic exclamation only fueled Brayden and Britt's laughter that much more :)

I'm happy to report, I successfully followed the recipe without too many hiccups. I mean, once I assured Brayden's mother the recipe called for 2 teaspoons of pumpkin spice (not tablespoons) and we realized the oven had been inadvertently turned off... we were cooking! (Pun intended.)





Ingredients
1 15 oz. Can of pumpkin
1 12 oz. can of condensed milk
3 eggs
2 tsp pumpkin spice
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup sugar
1 package yellow cake mix
1 stick butter

Directions
Using a hand mixer, combine pumpkin, condensed milk, eggs, pumpkin spice, salt, and sugar in mixing bowl. Pour mixture into 11x13 pan. Sprinkle yellow cake mix on top (should cover completely). Slice butter and distribute in an even layer on cake mix. Bake at 350° for 30-40 minutes.

We served it warm from the oven with vanilla ice cream. For a girl who won't touch pumpkin pie, even I have to say it was quite yummy!