Bean and Cheese Burritos with Cilantro Lime Rice and Avocado Cream

I don't think I'll ever get sick of a two year old's way of finding even the most mundane thing super exciting.  They are experiencing so many things for the first time and what is old-hat for us is like an amusement park for them.  Like driving under an overpass.  Super exciting for at least my little two year old.  And every bus, ambulance, fire truck, tractor, dump truck, etc. must be exclaimed over

I love having a two year old.  While I don't love the crying, tantrums, and growing need for discipline, I love two year olds. 

Maybe it's the fact that their excitement makes me see the world through younger, less jaded eyes.  I find myself getting excited when I hear the hiss of the bus's air brakes as it stops just outside my house every afternoon.  Both me and the kid run to the window yelling "bus, bus, bus!"

Rumbi Rice Bowls

The husband, the kid and I are visiting family in Utah for a little over a week.  One of the most difficult parts of visiting our home state is trying to squeeze in all the things we want to do into a short amount of time.  There are too many people to visit with, places to see, and (at least for me) food to be eaten.  Food is a very nostalgic thing for most people.  Tastes are strongly connected to memory.  

 The husband insists on visiting the Dairy Keen in Heber City every time we are in the area and scarfing down a train burger.  Me, I have a lot.  My first Utah food priority is chocolate covered cinnamon bears.  A-MAZ-ING!  Unfortunately the store we went to today was a big tease.  It had not one, but TWO empty bins where chocolate covered cinnamon bears should go.  I'm on a mission now.  My number two priority is soft serve frozen yogurt from the Maverick gas station chain.  Still waiting on that one too.  There are a number of restaurants found here that are not in the south.  Unfortunately we do not have the time (or the funds for that matter) to visit them all.  

Healthier Tuna Rice Casserole

I think everyone has a meal that weaves it way through childhood memories.  That iconic dish that symbolizes comfort and family.  Mine is tuna rice casserole.  Rice.  Tuna.  Cream of mushroom soup.  Stir together and microwave until warm.  

I can't think of tuna rice casserole without thinking of my moms 3 piece glass casserole dish.  I imagine it smugly sitting in our over-sized black microwave, back-lit and beautiful.  

I can understand why my mom gravitated to such a simple meal.  3 ingredients, stirred together, and popped in the microwave.  What could be simpler?  And with 6 kids, simple was a necessity.  

Sushi Roll Salad

Let me start off by saying that I'm not a sushi snob.  You know the type of person I'm talking about.  The type who moves to a new area and the first thing he wants to know is where the location of a good sushi restaurant is.  They type of person who randomly injects his knowledge of sushi into every day conversations.  The type of person who sees sushi as a status symbol of sorts.  That's not me.  Actually I tend to roll my eyes at those type of people (yes, I'm that type of person).

Let me now say that I really do like sushi.  It doesn't even need to be good sushi. I just love the pairing of the sweet and tangy rice, with the fishy taste of nori (and whatever fish it happens to have) and the spiciness of wasabi and ginger.  It's just...amazing.  

We have some good friends who periodically invite us over for sushi parties.  It's always a lot of fun and good conversations as we roll our own sushi rolls.  But the best part is chowing down on sushi. We always leave with very happy and full tummies.