What will people remember?

I've been really moved during the last few weeks by Jenny's story. I didn't know Jenny or anyone in her family, but we have friends in common and the news about her sickness has infiltrated circles in blogland and Facebook.

Jenny died this week following a two-week battle with sepsis, which developed from a strep infection. Her family and friends are crushed, naturally, and she leaves behind a husband and young daughter. She was my age.

My age. How could someone my age pass away from such an illness? How does this happen a healthy, happy wife and mom?

In reading about Jenny on friends' blogs, it's evident that she was a wonderful daughter, sister and friend. She put others before herself and was the kind of friend a friend would like to have. I'm 100% sure she wasn't perfect, yet the joy in her heart is obvious in her photos and in her own words.

That's what people will remember about Jenny. They'll remember the happiness. The love. The JOY.

It got me to thinking: if the unimaginable suddenly happened, what would people remember about me? Would they remember times of laughter? Years of good and loyal friendship? Cheerfulness in times of trial?

Or would they remember hurtful words said in haste, or moments when I didn't have time to be a friend?

I want to live the kind of life that lets people remember me with joy, too.

Jenny, you'll be missed by many, but the story of your life has made a difference to at least one.

Recipe Sharing: Fool-Proof Popovers

I'm a big fan of Melissa d'Arabian on the Food Network. She won the last season of The Next Food Network Star and has a show on now called Ten Dollar Dinners. Her recipes are fantastic, and she definitely shares some good tips.

On a recent show, she made popovers. LOVE popovers! I think the best I've had were at Jordan Pond House on a trip to Maine with my parents.

Anywho, I made her recipe tonight with our dinner. They were simple and turned out great. Enjoy!


Fool-Proof Popovers
Yield: 8

Ingredients
3 tablespoons melted butter, divided
2 eggs
1 cup milk, warmed for 30 seconds in the microwave (should be lukewarm to warm)
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon kosher salt

Directions
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

Using a pastry brush, coat 8 muffin cups with 1 tablespoon of the melted butter and put the tin in the oven for 5 minutes. Meanwhile, mix the eggs in a blender until light yellow. Add the warmed milk and blend. Add the flour, salt and remaining melted butter, and blend until smooth. Pour the batter into the warmed muffin tin and return it to the oven to bake until golden, about 35 minutes. Remove from the oven and serve warm.

30-second snowfall

Since are getting yet ANOTHER snowstorm (and this time, we are actually under a blizzard warning!), I'm sharing this cool video. Enjoy!

Nnnnnnooooooooooooooooo!

Favorite Superbowl Commerials

As someone in the communications field, I actually love commercials. As convenient as it is to skip right past them on the DVR, I try to watch any new ones (but feel okay about skipping some of them!), and, of course, enjoy the Superbowl ads.

There weren't too many that I really liked this year -- how about you? There were too many about "men being men," and waaaaaay too many about men with no pants. Seriously??

That being said, here are a few of my favorites:

Recipe Sharing: Pizza Bubble Ring

Who doesn't love a pepperoni roll?? I am making this recipe for us to enjoy tonight during the Superbowl. Thanks to Tessa for passing it along!

Ingredients
6-8 tablespoons Land O' Lakes Butter, melted
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
2 cans (12 oz each) Pillsbury Grands! Jr. Golden Layers refrigerated flaky original biscuits (I used Giant brand cheepie biscuits)
40 small slices pepperoni (about 3 oz)
8 oz. mozzarella cheese, cut into 20 pieces (I used shredded)
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 1/4 cups pizza sauce, heated

Directions
Heat oven to 350°F. Spray 12-cup fluted tube pan with Crisco Original No-Stick Cooking Spray.

In small bowl, mix melted butter, Italian seasoning and garlic powder. Separate 1 can of dough into 10 biscuits; press or roll each into 3-inch round. Place 2 pepperoni slices in center of each biscuit round. Top each with piece of mozzarella cheese. Bring dough up around filling; press edge to seal and shape each into ball. Roll in butter mixture; place 10 balls in pan.

Sprinkle dough balls with Parmesan cheese. Repeat with remaining can of biscuits, placing balls over balls in pan. Pour remaining butter mixture over top.

Bake 33 to 38 minutes or until deep golden brown. Cool 5 minutes. Gently loosen bread from sides of pan. Place large heatproof plate upside down over pan; turn plate and pan over. Remove pan. Serve warm with warm pizza sauce for dipping.

Snowpocolypse 2010

I'm sorry I've been a bad blogger! When I finally get around to recording everything that we've been up to in the last few weeks, it'll all make sense. Maybe I'll get started on that today.

To tide you over, here are a few shots from what those in D.C. are calling the Snowpocolypse... or Snowmaggadon... or SNOWtorious B.I.G. :)