YUM-O!!

okay, so i just need to blog something, anything! it's been way too long, i know. (well, i know cuz shannon told me) i just have no life, people. i work, come home, take out gigi, make some dinner.... i barely even get to hang out with logan very much because he has homework and work and whatever else. usually he locks himself in the bedroom and i always try to run in during the commercials of some reality show i'm watching and do crazy and awesome dances to get his attention. his response? "this is why i go to the library to study." sad. (i know he secretly loves my scary dancing) this is life though. for the next year probably.

ANYway, i think rachael ray is as nerdy and annoying as the next person. but i gotta say, she is my GIRL when it comes to vegetarian recipes. i have her 30 minute veggie meals cookbook and i have to say every last recipe i have made from it has been to die for. so here's the most recent one i made and loved:

penne primavera

vegetables:
2 c. broccoli florets, separated into bite-size pieces
1/2 c. shredded carrot
1 small zucchini or yellow squash, cut into thin matchsticks
1/2 red bell pepper, seeded and sliced into thin matchsticks
1 cup water

sauce:
1 T. butter
1 T. EVOO (extra virgin olive oil for the layperson)
2 medium shallots, minced
2 T. all-purpose flour
1 c. low-sodium veg. or chicken broth
1/2 c. half and half or light cream
a handful parmigiano reggiano or romano cheese
salt and pepper to taste
2 T. fresh thyme (naaaah)
1/2 pound penne

place vegetables in a deep skillet with 1 c. water. bring to a simmer, cover, reduce heat to low, and steam the veggies for 3 minutes. drain and return to pan; cover and set aside.

in a small skillet or sauce pan melt butter into oil over medium heat. add shallots and saute, 2 minutes. sprinkle with flour and cook 1 minute more. whisk in broth and bring to a simmer to thicken. whisk in half and half or cream and bring sauce back to a bubble. reduce heat to low and let sauce simmer uncovered, 4 or 5 minutes. stir in cheese, salt and pepper, and thyme. place veggies back on stock top and add pasta and sauce to pan. serve immediately.

thanks, rachael! it was just delish!

a shout out

i'd like to give a quick shout out to my girl Gigi! for those of you who would like a dog, but your spouse repeatedly tells you "no", this is how you go about it. secretly go and adopt a cute one that is already housebroken, bring her home, and tell your spouse "no refunds. sorry."

well, that's what i did, and logan was mad. i don't know that i would actually recommend deliberately going behind your spouse's back and purchasing a dog. but now that we've had Gigi for a while, i can safely say that he loves having her around and holds no grudges (that i am aware of).

Gigi is a mini australian shepherd and the nicest little dog ever! she is pretty shy though, especially when a camera is involved for some reason. we usually have to hold her in place for her to take a picture for us without running away. sorry...these are the best i could do.

logan's favorite new hobby--going outside in the icy cold dead of night to let Gigi trot around all of Provo until she locates the perfect patch of snow. no really, he just loves it! notice Gigi shielding her fragile eyes from the camera's evil light (as she sees it...).

"i'd like to just chew on my bone and lay on my dirty blanket in peace, thank you. get that camera out of my face."


ooooh, gigi....

my cool family

here are some pics (yes. PICS!) from this past weekend. it was a sad time since the gathering was for my grandpa hansen's funeral. the whole weekend was lovely though. we always have the best time when we all get together, if you couldn't tell.

any time the rest of us are trying so hard to look cool, carrie whips out the best pose of all (in this case, an awesome ho-down dance move in full force) and steals all the glory. nice.


the paparazzi were swarming. i was like, "fine, just get your picture and be on your way." this guy wouldn't let up, though. annoying.


bringin sexy back. duh.
if you know the hansen's, you would know we just can't end a photo session without a few "crazy pics". this one is crazy indeed.

i'm a little slow...

okay, so fine. i made this grand entrance into bloggingdom and i've had one post in about a month. the problem is this. i'm slow with computer stuff. i can't figure out how to post pictures or how to add my friends' blogs as links. how!? how do you do it? carrie says if she can do it, then i can. i don't think so, carrie. help me out here, guys.

(insert picture of me here with an unhappy/quite distraught facial expression....if i only knew how.)

the bandwagon.

yes. i've decided to jump on. everyone has got a blog now and i was feeling a little left out. not that i have anything very exciting or blogworthy to share really, but i figure i might as well update those who care on my life just as it is. but stay tuned, guys. interesting things could happen at any time. you're on the edge of your couch, biting your nails. little beads of perspiration are beginning to form on your forehead. your fingers shake as you read this sentence. "what, oh what, is going to happen to emily next?!?!", you say to yourself. well, we'll just have to wait and see. i, myself, am just as anxious to find out. i just hope i'll be able to figure out how to post pictures on this thing so it will actually be worth it.