The Feast

The highlight of last week may have been a dinner we had with our neighbors on Monday night. Don't mistake me and think it was the highlight because we did nothing better. Quite the opposite is true. It was the highlight because it was absolutely delicious, and boy do I sure have a special place in my heart for delicious food. Our neighbors (Zach and Heather) decided to purchase a smoker last weekend and quickly decided they could waste no time in trying it out. We decided to collaborate for dinner on Monday night and test the thing. Zach's job only requires him to work Tuesday-Thursday, so he had the time to devote all day Monday to our meal. He started out Sunday evening by spending 3 hours preping the new smoker, breaking it in the way you would "season" a new iron skillet. He also got the meat marinading and had everything ready to go in the smoker Monday morning. He spent the day patiently tending the meat, the coals, and the water pan so that when we got home around 6:30pm it was almost ready to go. I quickly threw together a greenbean casserole and put it in their oven to bake, (we're just those kind of neighbors), mixed up a cornbread and put it in my oven to bake, and then (per Zach's request) made a pitcher of authentic southern sweet tea. In about 30 minutes we had the whole spread on our table and the four of us were quickly becoming fat and happy. We ate the slow cooked/smoked brisket, smoked catfish, some delicious corn that he also smoked (with yummy red onions in it), greenbean casserole, and piping hot cornbread out of my iron skillet slathered with butter. Oh, and all downed with ice cold sweet tea. This is why I love having amazing neighbors. We had an excellent meal, and I only had to prepare half of it! Actually, we love having them as neighbors for more reasons than that too. A fun fact about Zach and Heather for you...they are getting married in October, in Ohio, and Dustin and I are both going to be in the wedding. Yay! And Dustin will actually be officiating the wedding also! Double Yay!! We have loved becoming friends with Heather and Zach over the past 6 months, and we're so excited for them. Here are a few pictures of them, and of our dinner.

               The leftover, half eaten cornbread. In case you were unsure of what cornbread looks like.

                                        
                                          Heather and Zach, stretching out after chowing down.

 

Zach showing his new smoker some love.

 

To wrap up the rest of the week quickly, and for your viewing pleasure...a few more photos.

                            This is what I see every day driving to and from work...brake lights. :)

                  Passing the Crystal Cathedral. I don't know much about it, I'm just told that's what it is.

                Passing Disney Land. Although this is just the sign for it. You can't see it from the highway.

And yes, I took all these while driving. But don't be alarmed, I never went over 5 mph so there wasn't much danger involved. :)

                        Dustin and I driving home from a friend's birthday celebration Saturday night.

                                                    Our church building today in the sunshine.

A (slightly pixelated) view of the mountains in the distance from our church parking lot. It amazing to see snow off in the distance when it is so warm here.

That's all for now folks. Time to hit the sack and start a new week. Tomorrow is March 1st already! Which means...spring is on the way, and that Dustin and I have been married for 7 months already. Crazy how time has gone by so quickly. It's probably because I love being married so much, and you know what they say (whoever "they" are) about time when you're having fun. :) Have a happy week!