Why Hyrum Loves Me...

Today is Sunday and the first day of my weekend! We had breakfast before we went to the grocery store at an insane time this morning (very obviously not my idea!)and by 10 am Hy was practically starved. So it was time to make dark chocolate and orange scones.

Man they were tasty. If I didn't share these with you, I would be a straight down sinner!

I found the original recipe on JoytheBaker.com and then I altered the recipe till perfect!


Most of the ingredients were standard things that I already had in my kitchen.




I started by scaling all of the dry ingredients into a metal bowl. Then I zested the orange into the bowl.



I cubed all of the butter and rubbed it into the dry until it looked like this:



(a coarse dry meal)

Mix all of the wet together and plop it into the center of the dry.




Using a wood spoon, I mix it until it is just starting to get combined.



At that point I add in some chocolate chips (I chose to do a combination of semi sweet and dark chocolate).



I mix it until it is almost together and then I turn it out onto my floured counter.





Work it by hand about 15 times, just enough to get it together with out over working the flour. Then I flatten it into a round.



I cut mine into six even pieces, but you could make yours however big you wanted.




I sprinkled crystallized sugar on top of mine to give it a little bit of crunch, but you could also use Cacao Nibs! They are pricey but so worth it if you are going for something different!



Anyway! Before baking and after!








Orange and Dark Chocolate Scones:

Dry:

1 1/2 Cup AP Flour
2 Tbsp Sugar
1/4 Tsp Baking Soda
1/2 Tsp Salt
2 Tsp Baking Powder
2 Tsp Orange Zest (I just zested an entire regular sized orange.)

Wet:

1/4 Cup + 2 Tbsp Buttermilk
1 Egg Yolk

1/4 Cup to 1/2 Cup Chocolate Chips (Whatever looks right!)



Seriously...Try this out. Its so simple and so good. In fact, I am off to bake another batch, because Hy wants to take some to work.

Have a good night!

Valentine's Day and a New Sort of Normal

H and I spent a fantastic Valentine's day weekend together, well for the most part. I'll start with the positive!




We spent a ton of time together and it was all fantastic! Sushi dates, shopping till we dropped, gift exchanging! The whole thing. My favorite part was the romantic gourmet dinner he made from scratch!

Just a few pictures!






Spending time with him is the best!




Date nights!




Even when he makes me pig face, haha.





* Our anniversary is coming up in the next month or so and I can't believe that it will already be 4 years! Doesn't that just make your brain explode?!

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Now onto the sad stuff. On the 13th, Hy's grandmother Lucille passed away. She had been in the hospital for a week or so, after an emergency surgery to fix her perforated bowel. Unfortunately she developed sepsis and lost all kidney function. After a few days of what looked like a recovery, she passed away peacefully in the night.



Do you find Hy's face in hers? I definitely do!

The funeral was so beautiful. 4,000 people came! No, seriously. 4,000 people! His family was so excited to see him, and it was really special that we could be there. H is doing pretty good and the support from my family and his has been amazing. We are pretty lucky.

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The trip down was enough to pull your hair out. What is usually a 16 hour drive, one way mind you, turned into a 20 hour poop shoot. A van on its side at 3 am, us calling 911, H helping the guy out of his side window; all awesome memories.




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random photos of our trip


Munching on sour gummy worms on the way to grandma's house! That face is a hoot!








H hanging on to Jess's dog/rat Princess Buttercup.




And finally, a long lost photo of me and my best girl Sarah! A photo that makes my grandmother stare at me like she has never seen my face before, because in it I look just like her mother!




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Little nephew Jrayden's grave photo was finally put in and it looks so great. It came out so beautiful! Im such a proud aunt.




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I have to post this picture! The first time that I showed it to Mr. Johnson, he laughed and said it was so cruel! It's cruel because I do it to him with my hands sometimes!

City, State, and chocolate fest!

Last Sunday, Hy and I met up with my good friend and former chef instructor Erica and her boyfriend Billy for brunch! It was soo amazing! We met up at City, State Diner.






The food was fantastic! It was so good, and we hit the place at the perfect time! It was just a little bit busy, which for a Portland Sunday brunch is almost unheard of.




My super cute husband waiting outside for our friends on the almost nice day!

I had the Crispy Prosciutto Benedict with Dill Hollandaise, for about $8. This place is definitely worth visiting! But don't you dare go. Because you might make it busy for the next time I want to go.

After the fantastic food, we drove a quick detour around Portland.








and headed to the convention center for







CHOCOLATE FEST!


The Dessert Tray was the very first booth as you walk in the door! Working it were my two lady bosses Angel and Robin selling tons of goodies. (Which I may have helped make!)

We went on the slowest day, which was the only day that I could even make it! But towards the end it was totally jammed full of people starving for chocolate.

They had loads of chocolate samples...anything you could think of! Lady Bug has the best chocolate coated chili powder caramels!! (They also have some fantastic bacon ones)There were lots of chocolate and wine pairing classes, but my most favorite attraction was the chocolate painting! The model is wearing a bikini and the rest is chocolate and salt crystals! You can't tell in any of my photos, but she is wearing chocolate flip flops too!

I had a great day with my sweet husband and our awesome friends!

Other than that we have just been living our life as usual. Lots of date nights to our favorite local sushi place! $1 conveyor sushi, and the quality can't be beat!







Work has been lots of fun, you know, except for the mishaps that have been going on in the bakery! I think we have a gremlin. What makes me think that? Maybe having one of the oven's going out, the hot water pipe having a leak (the hot water pipe that is located underground...under concrete), the entire dish room flooding, and having to boil hot water to keep things sanitary.




(The Whee Sign has gotten a lot of use lately!)


But almost all of the problems have been fixed and life goes on!

Whee.

Rue is as cute as ever



And Lily still tolerates him!

I hope that everyone has a great week!

Wild Abandon...

Saturday night, all of the girls from work got together for a big dinner to spend all of the tip money that we earned! It was fantastic to see all of the ladies outside of the kitchen and get cleaned up and pretty together.

This place is so tiny and dimly lit! (and I'm almost entirely sure decorated by a man!) I'll just let the photos do the talking!(Which are mostly dark and blurry, I don't flash strangers!)












Hyrum has been out of town all week, and should be home tonight. I miss him like crazy!

Rue is growing non stop. I am starting to think that he is a great Dane!






Now whats on the agenda?? Tomorrow is a work day. Sunday is CHOCOLATE FEST and the nuttiness that is all of it. We are going on a double date to it with a few friends. One of whom used to be one of the head chocolatiers at Moon Struck and taught me everything I know. Pictures to come!



Have a great weekend!

Sensational Times...

Yesterday was Mr. Hyrum Terrill Johnson's 26th birthday!



We both took the day off and got to spend the whole day together. It was so much fun! We started the day off by going to breakfast at Biscuits Cafe.



The pancakes are absolutely dreamy!

After breakfast we went shopping for a few hours, followed by a movie. We went and saw True Grit. It was LEGEN....wait for it... DARY!!




There is a scene where one of the bad guys gets four of his fingers cut off and it happens so fast that it will scare the crap out of you. Did NOT see that one coming.

After that we went to a really great dinner at Binnigan's Road House. Soo tasty. I had the Halibut and Macaroni and Cheese. Drool. Seriously.

The last few days I had been working on a cake for the neighbor's daughter. It was her 18th birthday and they wanted me to do something special for her. For a few nights I worked on some fondant roses, which are always fun, if a little time consuming.



It turned out pretty good, and I had a blast doing it. I was also glad to get it out of my fridge though!

So may I present Caitlin's 18th birthday cake!







I HAVE to show this picture of Rue! He is growing like a weed on crack!



Last time we weighed him, he was around 25 lbs, and he is was only 11 weeks at that time. He is 13 weeks right now and still getting bigger!

This is Rue and Hemi, snuggling each other. (Crappy phone picture!)



When Hy is out of town Rue likes to think that this is spot. And let me just tell you, that it is NOT! But it sure cute. You know, until he steps on your hair.



Let me interrupt the puppy overload with some cupcakes.



* I just want to spill out some love for Hy. I couldn't imagine a better husband or partner to spend the rest of my life with. He is just the most considerate and wonderfully funny human being I have ever met. I am lucky to have such an amazing husband to spoil on his birthday! I wouldn't want to spend my years with a single other person!





I want to close by letting you know that I am going to be an aunt again! We are so proud of Josh and Jess, and we are praying for them to have a healthy and happy pregnancy!