Persimmon Bars

I participated in Bountiful baskets last week. It's a produce co-op. You never know what you will get. I got a bunch of pasilla chili's and made chili rellenos. A lot of work, but tasty.

I also got six persimmons. I have never eaten or dealt with persimmons before. I decided I needed to do something today, before they rotted on the counter.

I looked them up on line. I found a recipe for persimmon bars that looked pretty good.

I took the peel off, cut out the core and then put the flesh in the food processor. The recipe called for persimmon "pulp", so that's how I made it. It didn't have a very strong taste and wasn't super sweet or sour.  I understand the oval type persimmons, when unripe, are very sour. I had the squatty kind like above.

Next step, dry ingredients, wet ingredients and pulp. The recipe called for you to put 1 tsp of baking soda in with the persimmon pulp. I did that, and it kind of jelled. Surprised me.

They are baked in a jelly roll pan, which for me, is a half sheet cake pan. After they come out, you glaze them with a mixture of powdered sugar and lemon juice.

They were tasty, but I didn't notice a flavor I would identify as "persimmon". The recipe called for raisins, walnuts, nutmeg, cinnamon, so they ended up tasting kind of like pumpkin bread or fruit nut bread. But I used the persimmons and they didn't go to waste!

Ward Trunk or Treat party 2014

Tonight was the Fall Safety Festival, better known as the Ward Trunk or Treat Party. I enjoyed passing out candy with my friend Penny and seeing all the cute kids and costumes. We had a huge turnout, thanks to having more than one ward in the building.

This cutie is my friend Grace. Her mom made a Cleopatra costume out of a pillow case and gold duct tape!

The Bishop had a black eye and a big P on his shirt. He was a black eyed Pea.

Baby baseball player.

You were supposed to decorate your car if you were handing out candy to the trunk or treaters. I didn't get that far. But the Behunins did an amazing job.

Rock and roll family.

Bumble bee dog.

Aren't they adorable?

He is an identity thief.

He had you put candy in the neck of his shirt. Penny thought we could use him as a piñata.

Bishop's wife was a lunch lady!

She was missing her baby. Her baby was dressed as a spider and she was a web.

My costume and Amy's went together.

My friend Jeff showed up. He waited in line for us to get us food. Good job Jeff!.

He rode his bike there and so had a thing on his pants to keep his pants out of the chain. He said he stopped at QT on the way. The clerk at the store thought it was one of those house arrest bracelets and asked Jeff how long he had to wear it!  Ha Ha!

Cecelia's Special Birthday

My friend, Cecelia, was having a special birthday and Penny and I wanted to do something to help her celebrate. We decided to take her out for an extra nice dinner.

We went to Orange Sky, the really nice restaurant on top of the Talking Stick resort. One of Cecelia's daughters, Lisa, came to help celebrate.

We had a gorgeous view of a beautiful sunset. There were fabulous windows all around.

 This beautiful negative edge decorative pool is on the patio.

The food and service were both great.

Cecelia enjoyed herself.

Beautiful view from the patio and pool after dark.

Cecelia and Lisa.

This is the wrist corsage we got Cecelia. It was a great evening!

Dinner in the Park 2014

The past few years, I have put on an End of the heat potluck. This year, I changed it up a bit. I thought it would be fun to have one of those fancy looking dinners, like you see in magazines, where you have all the nice dishes, etc in a nice setting. The nicest nearby setting I could come up with was Indian School Steele Park. It's a really nice park, close to home.

I spent a month or so before gathering things to make it happen. Lots of trips to Goodwill for plates, napkins and some glasses. I borrowed some other glasses from Penny and Jeff. Cindy, Sue and the Hatches loaned me tables. Cindy also brought the mason jar candle holders she made for her daughters wedding. Jeff also let me use his former curtain fabric as table cloths. I bought a chafing dish. (Melanie thought that was hilarious. A dish that chafes you?) I also bought a couple of drink dispensers and some extra knifes.

I provided a main dish and everyone brought a chair and a side dish or dessert. It was a beautiful evening. I had to keep careful tabs on numbers doing it this way, and make an adult only event.

I had lots of help getting things set up. Thank goodness for good friends.

Penny and Cecelia

Lynnora, Sue and Helle

Cindy and Melanie

The sunset was amazing. It started pretty and just got better and better.

 Bob and Lynne ran home and got lanterns for us. It was too dark to eat by the little tea lights. And Helle had one in her car too. Next time I know to plan for that. But what a nice evening, good food and good company.

 Jeff made it.

 James and Elizabeth.

 Rick and Myrenda.

 Lynne

 Lynnora and Tiffany.

 Penny and Cathy.

 Cathy, Bob, Lynne and Helle.

Somehow I didn't get a photo of James and Lisa. Seth and Keegan won't let me post their photo.

A great night!