I'm back minus an appendix!

I'm back and I still plan on posting my recipes that I promised in my last post.  I had a good reason for the two week hiatus - APPENDICITIS.

I'll give you a little run through of how the weekend to the surgery went -

Saturday 16th June:
Ben had been working a crazy 50 hour week so today was the day to chill and have fun. 

We first of all went to Farrs Fresh - http://www.farrsfresh.com/
We discovered this place one hot day, although it's always hot in Utah right now.  The first time we went (and we have only been twice including this time) I squelled with delight because they had Pineapple Dole Whip which is one of my favourite treats to have at DisneyWorld and even Fito Menk loves it too so I got excited.  This time we went they had Raspberry Dole Whip too which may even be better than the Pineapple in my opinion. So we got a little cup to share since it's kind of pricey and sat outside in the sun and enjoyed a little piece of heaven.

Ben and I had a fun lunch at one of my favourite places to eat, DICKEYS.
 http://www.dickeys.com/default.aspx

As soon as you walk in the door you get the best welcome (although I'm sure it's policy) and the I've never had bad food.  Today they had a father's day special and Ben ordered it and I goofily said to the guy "I'll have the father's day special too since I'm clearly a father!".  He thought it was funny even if Ben thought I was being a big goof!  I love the food here, plus you get free pickles and whippy ice cream that you get to make yourself with your food - BONUS!

Then we headed over to "Danber's" (my fabulous in-laws) for a fun afternoon and evening.  It involved BBQ, twirling and falling down, ice cream and lots of fun people and conversation. We got back a little late so I headed to bed feeling perfectly fine and happy and HEALTHY! We had had such a good Saturday and I was looking forward to the next day when I was planning a yummy father's day, or good men's day as I'm going to rename it, lunch, church and a day hanging out together. Then 1.45am happened.....

Sunday 17th June:

1.45am - I woke up with crazy stomach pains right in the middle of my tummy button and spreading out.  I immediately thought I had an upset stomach because I really had over induldged and was worried it might be something to do with that.  I got up and went into the living room and tried to get comfy and watch tv but the pain was crazy and I felt so so sick.  I wasn't so worried about the sickness because even thought I can feel sick I haven't actually thrown up for about 9 years.  Then panic struck when I threw up...nice!  Well the pain didn't go away all night and I got to watch all the rubbish that night time TV produces.  I just wanted the pain to go away and I was soooo tired.  No luck there.  I guess for the next 36 hours the pain moved to my side, I still felt sick and I wasn't feeling any better and didn't get any more sleep. 

I was worried and did what everyone would do and google my symptoms.  The only thing that I had every symptom to was APPENDICITIS.  Really??  I dismissed this the whole of Sunday and was worried about going to the ER just in case.  I didn't want surgery!  Ben said if it wasn't better by Monday I had to go and I even called my Dad on Monday for confirmation too.  Sometimes you need a parent's opinion.

So me being me and rather than ask for help told Ben to go to work and I would just figure it out.  After speaking with my Dad and calling my insurance company I decided I would head to the ER just to be checked out but first I would run the errands I needed to do first which involved walking downtown to the IRS to pick up something for Ben, then getting on the BUS to go to the ER and then walking about 1/2 mile from the bus stop to the ER while being in pain.  Now I think about it I was crazy and could have picked up the phone and called someone to help!  Sometimes I'm too independent. ;-) Here is where my experience of healthcare changed:

I walked into the ER at Utah Valley Hospital and it was EMPTY! I've never been in an empty ER in the UK...EVER!!! I was checked in and normally I would wait about an hour to be triaged but here I went straight from the reception desk to the triage room where a great nurse took all my details and assessed me.  Once he was done I thought I would have to maybe wait to get a little cubicle and see a Doctor. Nope.... I was taken straight through to a private room (what in an ER?!?!) and a Doctor was practically waiting for me.  Within about 3 minutes he felt it was appendicitis and ordered up a CT Scan, Bloods and pain relief.  Wow - I was seen and started treatment within 10 minutes of arriving.  I had two nurses and a tech looking after me in the ER and I couldn't fault their treatment and I was relitively pain free thanks to the pain medication - the good stuff!  After a CT Scan which happened within an hour of me being there and after experiencing fake "peeing yourself" because of the contrast they give you it was confirmed I had appendicitis and I would be having surgery.  Because of the pain relief I burst out laughing and Ben looked worried.  I guess you would be worried in your wife of 7 weeks was about to have surgery!  I was glad he was there. I even made him take a picture for posterity sakes!!  I look terrible for no sleep for 2 nights but happy because of the pain medication! haha

I was wheeled to surgery about 2 hours later but I was told it would have been quicker but the surgeon was at another hospital doing a surgery.  I was still taken back with how quick everything was happening and just very grateful for everything and for getting to the ER in one piece.  I remember having a chat with the hilariously funny anaesthesiologist who kept telling me I was about to be given the "good stuff" and she would make sure my cocktail would be always topped up. Then she talked about her sister who served a mission in Bristol before the missions were merged.  There is something interesting about being surrounded by LDS doctors and nurses talking about cocktails and drugs and missions!  Then I don't remember much else apart from being told by one of the nurses that the drug I was about to get would make me feel drunk .  I'm glad I don't drink - that was not a nice feeling!!

I was brought to my room sore and very disorientated about 6 hours from the time I walked into the ER. I was hooked upto monitors, IV and had a fun "up and down bed" which I didn't appreciate since I was too scared to move anyway.  I was told I was on a liquid only diet and a person from "ROOM SERVICE" arrived with a liquid only diet menu.  I thought I was really confused at this point.  Now I've spent lots of time in hospital in my teens and a liquid only diet would be water and clear (dishwater) soup.  Here it is any soda, jelly, 3 different types of soup and italian ice.  I didn't want to eat anything but Ben ordered Jelly, Italian Ice and a Sprite.  We even had to call room service to order it - it's crazy!  I remember Ben feeding me Jelly and nearly choking because of the breathing tube that had been down my throat during surgery.  So needless to say I stuck to a few sips of sprite and Ben ate the rest... with my blessing of course!!  The rest of the night kind of blurred between the Bacholorette being on and me trying to stay awake to watch it, nurses and techs coming in and checking my obs and praying hard that I would stop hurting.

The next day the surgeon came to see me and I was discharged by 11am - within 24 hours of my arriving.  Not before another room service guy came with a new menu that read like a restaurant.  I had to take a picture because I'm not sure my UK family and friends would believe that's what you get in hospital. 

The surgeon also gave me pictures of the surgery but I think I'll spare you the graphic details!

The next 10 days were a mixture of pain, being uncomfortable and probably rushing things by cleaning the apartment and cooking because I couldn't stand it any longer!

I'm now much more comfortable with not so much pain any longer.  I really have been blessed with the circumstances that led up to the surgery and some other details which I am continually grateful for.  I'm grateful for new family that have reached out to me to help and I really appreciated that.  I missed my family and friends in the UK but felt their love and support.  I'm grateful for the US health system for their efficiency and resources and staff BUT I know that it comes with a price tag which the UK health system doesn't always have. Both have their benefits and I'm grateful when I  have needed it the UK and the US health systems have been there. 

So now I'm back to nearly normal again and will continue with my normal blogging and recipes with hopefully no more surgeries or hospital visits.

Sorry for it being so long but I guess this is kind of doubling like an online journal too!

Recipes to follow soon....

PS:  Remember my sausage roll craving well I finally found puff pastry and make them yesterday....yummmmmm

Scottish Festival at Thanksgiving Point

Ben and I found out about this festival or Highland Games when we were driving to the Aquarium on Memorial Day Weekend and I got super excited.  Although I've only been in Utah for 3 months I miss home and I miss sausage rolls, scotch pies and sometimes irn-bru, so the thought of maybe getting some of that was exciting.  Notice I was more excited about the food than the pipe bags - that's because you can get pipe bags all over the world but you can't get sausage rolls and irn -bru!

                   

When I look into the festival a little more I found out that there was going to be lots of pipes, highland games including tossing the caber which is always fun to watch, a mini tattoo and a concert.  It was a Friday night and all day Saturday even and I was excited.  As soon as Ben finished work we heading up to Thanksgiving Point.  Look at what the temperature was at 5.45pm at night!!  I don't think Scotland has ever had this temperature and it's not even officially the first day of Summer yet.



We arrived and made our way straight to the food area because I was looking for either a scotch pie or a sausage roll and Ben was so excited to try and find irn-bru since he lived on the stuff when he was over in Scotland at Christmas.  Then came complete DISAPPOINTMENT and MOANING from me.... no irn-bru and $6 for a sausage roll and $7.50 for a scotch pie.  Now I've not lived in the USA long enough to forget my Scottish heritage and tight with money roots! haha.  There was no way I was paying that.  I kept saying to Ben, "I can get a scotch pie from Tesco for 52p so I'm not paying $6".  Then I got on my soap box while walking about the food area because everything else was not Scottish or even British - from grilled corn to tacos to kettle corn and chocolate frozen bananas..... I was disappointed!  I still am and I really want a scotch pie or a sausage roll from the butcher shop...mmmmmmmmm. ***I thought I would just miss chocolate when I came over here and I find myself missing pies, oxo and bisto more - weird!!***

Once I got off of my soap box and decided to enjoy the rest we went on a walk around stopping at one of the many shop stalls (a lot of them not Scottish to me - did you know that Wales was in Scotland?!?! - haha).  It was kind of fun to walk around in that heat looking at semi-scottish things and thinking if this was a highland games in Scotland it would be raining, windy and freeeeezzzzing cold. I was grateful for where I was and for the weather.  We made our way to the tattoo field where they were having a tattoo that night .  I had visions of the military tattoo they have at Edinburgh Castle every year but it was nothing like that.  About 150 or so pipers piped in along the field which was very cool and loud and then they sang the American National Anthem.  I was hoping they would sing the Scottish National Anthem because after all it's a Scottish Festival and as soon as I had the thought they started singing it and so did I.  I loved it and felt very proud and patriotic.  After all the formalities a celtic style band started playing  - this was not the kind of tattoo I remember but they were pretty good.  After listening a while we decided to head home because we had another day of fun planned.

Saturday was a whole different weather day - colder by Utah standards and crazy gusty winds.  I was hoping it would change because we had planned a picnic but it didn't let up the whole day.  We still had a good time though.  Rather than write a play by play I'll give you the highlights and then put some pictures of the day down.

Highlights:
1. Watching the highland games - tossing the caber, throwing and lifting the stones, hay bale toss.  Ben had never seen this before and I think was pretty impressed.
2. Watching the pipe competitions - some of them can play pretty well.
3. Listening to the Wicked Tinkers - they are really good and full of energy too.
4. Visiting some of the "clan tents" and finding the Forsyth tent and realising I'm probably more Forsyth than they are!
5. Seeing a member of the Strathclyde Police Pipe Band looking sooooo much better in his pipe majors uniform that the US counterparts. ;-)

Now I need to find a recipe to make pastry for sausage rolls! Mmmmmmm

I'll post my non alcoholic Mojito and Blueberry Cobler recipe tomorrow.  Another two easy, simple and yummy recipes!!

Strawberry and Cream Shortbread Towers

Ben came home from work a couple of days ago and told me that he saw a recipe for Strawberry Shortcake which was stacked and it looked amazing.  Not to be outdone and to make sure my husband was looked after ;-) I decided to do the Scottish twist on what he had told me because we both love shortbread.  I was a little worried because I've never made shortbread in the USA and I know with the elevation some recipes just don't work, but this one did and it was AMAZING!!

I promise that this will be one of the most easiest and quickest desserts you can make.  I also promise that it is delicious and pretty...mmmmm.  I'm thinking about making it again for Sunday dessert. The recipe below is a basic shortbread recipe and the rest is my imagination and my amazing sister's sweet cream recipe (I swear it tastes like Mr Whippy Ice Cream!)

Here it is:

STRAWBERRY AND CREAM SHORTBREAD TOWERS
BY ME

Makes:                     4-5 towers
Prep Time:               Around 10 minutes total!!
Baking Time:           10-14 minutes dependant on oven
Oven Temperature: 350f

Shortbread:
8oz (2 sticks) butter
4oz (1/2 cup) caster sugar
12 oz (1 1/2 cups) plain/all purpose flour

Cream Filling:
Carton of Whipping Cream (1/2 pint)
1tsp Vanilla Extract
2 tbs Icing/Powdered Sugar

Strawberries:
1/2 punnet of Strawberries (sliced thinly) plus 4-5 whole strawberries for the top.

Method:

1. Cut cold butter into small pieces and add to bowl.
2. Add sugar to bowl
3. Blend sugar and butter together until smooth
4. Add flour together and mix until blended together well
**Note: If the mixture feels a little too wet add a little more flour until a firmish cookie dough consistency**
**Note: If you live in a hot place (not Scotland!!) it might do good to wrap the dough in cling wrap and put in the fridge for it to firm up for 10-15 minutes so it is easier to roll out - I had to do this!**
5. Flour your surface and then roll out dough to about 2cm thick and cut out circles using a cookie cutter.  You should get around 12-15 circles.
6. Grease your baking tray and place the shortbread dough about 3cm apart.
7. Place in oven and bake for about 10-14 minutes dependant on oven, OR until shortbread is golden brown on top.
8. Once ready remove from oven and place the shortbread on a wire rack (this is important or you may end up with soggy shortbread - I learned this lesson a few months ago!!)

While the shortbread is cooling making the cream:

9. Add whipping cream, icing sugar and vanilla extract in a bowl and whisk together until stiff.
10. Wash and slice the strawberries.

When the shortbread is COMPLETELY COLD it's time to assemble.

11. Start with one round of shortbread and add a nice big dollop of the sweet cream to cover the base, layer the slices of strawberries, followed with a small drop of cream to help the second shortbread round to stick.
12. Add the second round of shortbread and repeat with the cream and strawberry layer.
13. Add the third (top) shortbread round and place your whole strawberry on top.
**Tip: You may want to cut a little off of the side of the strawberry to give it a flat side so it sits on the shortbread**
14. Dust shortbread tower with a little icing sugar for prettiness!

AND THEN ENJOY!!

Final tip - I wouldn't make these too far ahead of time because the shortbread can have a tendency to go a little soft if sitting with cream on top of it for a while.  I made these 30 minutes before we ate them and they were absolutely perfect if you wanted an example.  I would imagine 45 mins to an hour might be fine too.


**** Coming up soon - Yummy Non Alcoholic Mojitos ****

Ben - the new person of Wal*Mart??

Some people may know that I am really not a big fan of Wal*Mart.  They are my US version of my dislike of Tesco!  Although the difference with Wal*Mart is the people who shop in Wal*Mart - no shame!!  I'm sure you have heard or have seen the youtube.com videos about the people of Wal*Mart and if not check it out, although be warned some of them are a little crazy.

Anyway, onto Ben joining that realm of the people of Wal*Mart.  We were at the Scottish Festival at Thanksgiving Point (more on that later) last weekend and on the way home I suggested that we should stop by "the wally" (as I'm now going to call it) to get Ben some sunglasses because it was forecast to be another sunny day.  We pulled into the car park and Ben spots a mobility scooter sitting empty with no owner, so rather than just walk past it he decided to get in it and drive straight into the store while putting on some crazy facial expressions.  That's when he officially joined the crazy people of the wally club. The look on the other shopper's faces was brilliant.  I nearly disowned him as my husband until I realised I had my camera and had to take a picture. That's my job right?  Here is the proof....

I'm soooo lucky!! I love that he makes me laugh and cringe all at the same time, although I don't know if I'll go back to "the wally" with him anytime soon. ;-)


As a bonus and on the same Wal*Mart mobility scooter topic, this is something that really bothers me - people in mobility scooters wearing Sketchers Shape Ups! Reeaaallllyyyy!  They don't help you if you are not walking and exercising in them... hmmmm. 



http://www.peopleofwalmart.com/14627/shape-up-or-ship-out-2/

Welcome To Our Blog

Hi!

This is my first post of our new blog.  We wanted somewhere to share our adventures and stories with our friends and family and a blog was a good place to start.

Who knows what form this will take and if anyone will even read it, but we, well I, plan on updating it often with our adventures, pictures and even a recipe or three. 

Watch this space for a yummy easy dessert recipe Ben told me about and I made, the past weekend's adventures and a special appearance from a new member of the "people of Wal*Mart"

But for now here is what I see every day  - Utah really is beautiful, although Scotland still wins for beauty! ;-)

And this is what is right outside the bedroom window... cherry pie anyone??