Hotel Utah Centennial

My claim to fame is Monroe Machinery had its Christmas party there, probably 1966. I worked in the office and was new to Utah and Salt Lake City. It was thrilling to be in that beautiful hotel being treated to dinner and having fun.

Ensign magazine established January 1971 celebrates 40 years.

January 1971 the Ensign, official magazine of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, was established. September 5, 1971, the first singles branch in San Francisco held its first meeting in Bay Ward chapel. I was in attendance that historic day. I'd been attending Sunset Ward and was invited to the singles branch. Early on I began reading the Ensign cover to cover so that even if an article didn't interest me I'd read it anyway and was glad I did. This habit continues to this day. I read 20 pages each Sabbath. Sunday I took my copy on my walk to the pond and enjoyed reading as I was blessed by the company of ducks and geese on a fine afternoon.

Brown butter caramel apple cake

Just looking at this cake sends me. This looks absolutely mouth-wateringly delicious.

Submitted by the San Francisco Chronicle.
Ingredients:
The cake:
2 cups cake flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
3/4 teaspoon cinnamon
10 ounces (2 1/2 sticks) brown butter, chilled until solid then brought to room temperature
1 cup sugar
1 cup lightly packed golden brown sugar
3 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/3 cup sour cream
1/4 cup apple cider or juice
2 cups peeled, cored and thinly sliced apples, cut into 1/2-inch lengths
1/2 cup apple butter (see Note)
The frosting:
1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar
3 tablespoons brown butter
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
-- Chopped pecans, for garnish (optional)
Instructions:
For the cake: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour two 9-inch cake pans.
Sift the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt and cinnamon together, and set aside.
In a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream the brown butter with the two sugars until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes.
Add eggs one at a time, then the vanilla, sour cream and cider or juice, mixing well after each addition. After you add the apple juice, the mixture may look curdled, and that's OK. With the mixer on low, gradually add the dry ingredients until just combined, being careful not to over mix. Gently fold in the apple slices.
Divide batter evenly between the two cake pans, and bake until the top springs back and a skewer inserted into the center comes out clean, about 30 minutes. Remove from oven and place on wire racks to cool. After cakes have cooled slightly, run a knife around the edges of the pans and invert cakes out of the pans and onto the racks to cool completely.
When cakes are cool, place one on a cake plate with the flat side up (you may have to cut off a portion of the top to make it level) and cover the top with the apple butter. Place the second cake on top of the first.
For the frosting: Combine the brown sugar, brown butter, vanilla, salt and condensed milk in a medium size, heavy saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly, and cook for another 2-3 minutes until golden brown, smooth and thickened.
Spread the frosting, working quickly, over the top and around the sides of the layer cake. Sprinkle with pecans, if using, and let the icing cool.
Store covered at room temperature for up to 4 days.

The Bible

BYU is opening an exhibit today celebrating 400 years of mankind having the Bible. I've read the entire Bible beginning when I was home sick once, in my 20s living alone in a studio on Sacramento Street, and started in Genesis. When I was a little girl and staying with my Aunty Joyce in Yelm, Washington, while Mother was in Alaska perhaps, I was promised a piece of candy if I memorized the books of the Bible. I got the candy. If the Bible were rated like movies it'd be rated R. Still, there are many wonderful events and passages and the Joseph Smith Translation clarifies errors. Basically, if a passage doesn't make sense it's probably incorrectly translated as written by the scribes. I grew up on Bible stories and we recited The Lord's Prayer before every trip. My favorite scripture is Doctrine and Covenants but I revere the Bible as the word of God.

Casual Carpool

I don't know the exact date I first tried Casual Carpool but I remember feeling odd about opening a stranger's door. She said, "You must be brand new. Hop in." It was some seven years ago. I commuted with Michael part-way depending on his destination when we moved to the East Bay and soon I found out about Casual Carpool and he began dropping me there regularly saving me BART fare into the city. Paul and I commuted together when he had a job in the city and Adam and I for a short period. When Michael stopped working after his 56th birthday I parked at BART and took the train to Lafayette, across from the hill of crosses. I've been commuting with Al and Sue when I see them in line and several others on a first-name basis and conversations can be lively and interesting. Drivers have been Ed the elevator guy, Jovino, loquacious Paul, Donald, Alaska Joe, etc., etc. Al's job transferred to Vacaville and today is the last day of them commuting together and because of an unexpected ride to Lafayette I was able to ride with them. It felt historic and we all agreed: it's been a great ride together.

I have no high school alma mater.

I went to Dr. James J. Hogan Junior High School then to Vallejo Senior High School for 10th grade, returning to Dr. James J. Hogan Senior High School for 11th and 12th grades. The school district needed another high school and made the junior high into one. Still, we had pride and beat Vallejo at football. After almost 50 years this school year it is once again a junior high. It's pretty sad to think of not having a high school around anymore. A year ago when my friend Kaarlyn visited from Toronto I took a copy of One Magical Summer to the principal to donate to the school. I signed it and made sure I put Class of 1964, Hogan Senior High School, for posterity. Go Spartans! Blue and white all the way!

Scrabble March 2011 Texas Style

Rick, not pictured, Eve and I played Scrabble in Copperas Cove. That and taking a walk together were among the fun things I wanted to do while visiting them. Yay for playing Scrabble with loved ones.