Chili Cook-Off

There's nothing like entering a chili cook-off and winning 2nd place when you are crippled. ha ha That's what happened on Saturday though; we had a multi-stake YSA chili cook-off activity, and I didn't really consider changing my plans to enter it based on the fact that I couldn't stand up straight. A friend tried to convince me to not do it, but another friend (who knows me very well) told her "good luck telling Shanna 'no'."

I was surprised when I walked (er, hobbled) into the cultural hall (from a bathroom break) to hear my name announced as the 2nd place winner - the winner of a $75 gift card to Maggiano's. Yum! If I hadn't have already been up, I would have sent someone else to claim my prize. However, I was up, so I continued the what seemed like forever walk up to the front. I can't actually take all the credit though - I have to thank Jenny for the recipe (a white chicken chili that is fabulous!) and both she and my roommate Lisa for going to the grocery store for me while I slept.

I must say, my chili should have won first place, because the chili that won wasn't very good (I tried it). Oh well, first place was a gift card to the Cheesecake Factory, and I already have a gift card there anyway. Now I just have to figure out who to take with me to Maggiano's - just as soon as my back issues are finished!

Now, here's what you'll all want to try for dinner tonight:

White Chicken Chili

Ingredients:
2 (15 oz.) cans Great Northern Beans, rinsed and drained
1 large onion, chopped
1 stick unsalted butter
¼ cup all purpose flour
1 3/4 cups chicken broth (1 14 oz can)
2 cups half and half (or 1 cup milk and 1 cup half and half)
1 teaspoon Tabasco – or to taste
1 ½ teaspoons chili powder
1 teaspoon cumin
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon pepper
dash cayenne pepper
two 4-ounce cans mild fire roasted chopped green chilies with their juice
1 whole rotisserie chicken shredded – white and dark meat
6 ounces grated Monterey Jack Cheese – about 1 ½ cups
½ cup sour cream
Garnish – fresh cilantro sprigs

Directions:
1. Drain beans in a colander and rinse.
2. Cook onion in 2 Tablespoons butter over medium heat until the onion is softened but not brown.
3. In a heavy pot melt 6 Tablespoons butter over medium low heat and whisk in flour.
4. Turn heat to LOW and whisk constantly for 3 minutes making sure it doesn’t turn brown.
5. Stir in onion and add broth and half and half, whisking constantly.
6. Bring mixture to a boil over medium heat. The mixture should be thickened. If it is too thick add a little broth or water to thin it.
7. Stir in Tabasco, chili powder, cumin, salt and pepper.
8. Add beans, chilies, chicken and cheese.
9. Cook over medium low heat for about 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
10. Adjust salt and pepper to taste.

(I adjusted the seasonings a little to make it a little spicier).

Serve with sour cream, cilantro, and tortilla chips (if you prefer) on the side. Enjoy!

Straight Up Now Tell Me...

Thanks to Paula for being the inspiration for my title of this blog (ha ha) I mentioned a couple weeks ago that I was having back problems. Well, they were getting better, my chiro was helping, and I was on my way to being 'normal' again without being in any pain.

Well, Wednesday morning I woke up in excruciating pain for some unknown reason (and I do not even move in my sleep, so I'm pretty sure it wasn't some weird flailing about I did in my dreams). I went to my primary care dr. that afternoon, who basically told me I had bad luck, gave me a 500mg prescription of Naproxin, and a few samples of Soma muscle relaxers. The result? Nothing. Nothing has helped. I can't walk straight, I can't stand up straight, it hurts to sit, stand, crawl, stretch, cough, sneeze, and even laugh. This is as straight as I stand - seriously.

I went to a new chiro yesterday and he said he sees this all the time and that I will get better. Um...when? I felt a little better when I left there yesterday but nothing huge. And as the night progressed, it got continually worse. I have a pretty high pain tolerance but this just doesn't seem to be anything that I can kick right now. So that's it from me, your crippled friend.

A Lillywhite Engagement!

Wow, its finally happened. The streak is over. A Lillywhite is engaged!! Don't worry, there's nothing that I've been hiding - its not me - its my brother Ryan. Congratulations to Ryan & Laura. They will be married in the SLC temple on May 16 and I couldn't be happier for them.

I think I knew from the very beginning - I mean how could you not when you felt comfortable enough to cut your nylons with a pocketknife in the middle of your little brother's mission farewell at church - while she is sitting next to you the very first time you met her?!? ha ha I'm excited to finally have a sister-in-law. I always told my brothers they needed to marry cool girls, I and I most definitely approve of Laura! Let the fun begin...

Here's a pic of the happy couple in San Diego, just prior to the proposal:

Happy Valentine's Day

A good fortune from a cookies I ate today ...

"The current year will bring you much happiness."

And my personal favorite (I actually got this one a couple weeks ago):

"There's a good chance of a romantic encounter soon."

Hooray for Valentine's Day. And thanks for the flowers (you know who are)!

Finally, its over!

I'm not a huge tv addict, but I have definitely felt the pain of the writer's strike over the last 100 days. Hooray that its finally over! Now the question is, when are the shows going to be back on again? Here's what I've found so far...

LOST (which is thankfully still on right now since they had 8 episodes filmed before the strike began)

Damon Lindelof is eager for some answers. An executive producer of ABC's mystery serial "Lost," he should learn this week what his show's future holds as it closes out its fourth season.

"Lost" has been back on the air just two weeks. But the strike meant a planned 16-episode shooting schedule was halted after just eight episodes were shot. Fans braced themselves for no more this season.

"But we very much want to come back and do as many episodes as possible," said Lindelof, who then listed a few issues that first need to be settled.

"How many episodes can best serve our story? And what are the production realities?" He noted that the shooting facility in Hawaii, 2,500 miles from his Los Angeles office, had been shuttered since Thanksgiving. The crew has dispersed, the huge cast has scattered.

The first new post-strike episode of "Lost" could possibly be ready for broadcast the week after episode eight appears, he said. There likely would be three or four more after that.

Could there be even more?

"I'd be surprised if the network wanted to air episodes deep into the summer," he said. But if all the pieces fell into place, "Lost" fans would be blessed: "I don't see why we couldn't deliver all eight remaining episodes."

That kind of zeal should warm viewers' hearts. Lindelof and the rest of TV's creative community seem delighted to be back.

Almost as delighted as we are.
(http://www.cnn.com/2008/SHOWBIZ/TV/02/12/hollywoodlabor.viewer.ap/index.html)


The Office

Comedies will be able to return to air the quickest with new episodes, in as soon as four to six weeks. NBC's "The Office," for one, had one script ready before the cast walked out at the start of the strike. The show hopes to have five to 10 episodes starting in April or May.
(http://www.courant.com/entertainment/tv/hc-showstatus.artfeb13,0,6214897.story)


Grey's / Private Practice

Four to five new episodes of the ABC hit "Grey's Anatomy" and its spinoff "Private Practice" are being prepared for April and May; both shows have been picked up for the fall season.

Etc.

The latest thinking on Jack Bauer's strike-interrupted season on Fox's "24" is that it will just wait until January 2009 to try again. Producers didn't want to present a fraction of the shows it had done without being able to present 24 in a row as usual.
(http://www.courant.com/entertainment/tv/hc-showstatus.artfeb13,0,6214897.story)

Many hit series (such as ABC's "Desperate Housewives" and "Grey's Anatomy," as well as CBS' "CSI" trio) will be back this spring for what's left of the current season, with anywhere from four to seven new episodes.
(http://www.cnn.com/2008/SHOWBIZ/TV/02/12/hollywoodlabor.viewer.ap/index.html)

Hooray - I can finally start filling up my DVR again :)

I Want to 'Stand a Little Taller'

As many of you, I was very inspired by President Hinckley's funeral services on Saturday. Everything about it was incredible (including the tears that streamed down my face almost through the whole thing - so much for me not being a crier...) I especially loved President Eyring's talk. I want to be like President Hinckley has counseled us to stand a little taller every day of our lives by doing our best.

I also want to very literally stand a little taller ... I jacked up my back again on Saturday at the gym and am walking like a pregnant 80-year old! I went to a new chiropractor (mine was out of town) on Monday and he didn't do much. I have a hard time sitting still for very long and when I get up out of my chair it takes quite awhile; then I have to 'straighten out' before I look semi-normal. Hopefully my regular chiro can help me. I wish I were in UT to go to my dad's acupressurist so he could put the little magic beads behind my ear and make it all go away.

So here's to 'standing a little taller' in every sense of the phrase!!