Mix n' Mingle 4

When I was in high school, if someone made-out with someone else, they said, "Oh, you scored." I am sure this was not new terminology and it probably was defined in many different ways and degrees. However, there was always a lingering question that people asked when you started dating someone, "So, did you SCORE??!!!" Needless to say, this is the introduction to one of my high school embarrassing moments and the start of my nickname by a few of my close male friends. Looking back, this story is not that embarrassing but at the time it was to me.

Most Sundays while I was in high school, there was a missionary farewell I could attend. Sometimes I knew the eager missionary well and sometimes I went for moral support for my girlfriends. After the farewell, we would all head back to the missionary's home for cookies, sandwiches, punch, and a social hour. Well, after one particular farewell, I found myself standing across a table full of food looking at one of my male friends who was two years older and who I thought was quite cute. All of a sudden I thought I heard him say, "So, Chris..would you like to score?" I was a bit taken back and I think I went red while I stammered around for the right response to show my shock and disapproval. Apparently, my indignant response of, "Of course not" and the appearance of my red face confused my male friend. He asked, "Chris, what's wrong, what did you think I just asked you?" This is the point where a non-embarrassed person would have just said nothing and moved on. I on the other hand after much pleading from my friend explained what I had heard. He just started roaring with laughter and said, "No, I actually asked if you wanted SOME MORE." I really tried to recover and I tried to come up with a better explanation but it was too late. He had started telling the story and my nickname stuck...S'more (get it? SOME MORE?!). I can't count the times after that that we would be in a huge group and he would yell out, "Hey S'more! Do you want to score?" This embarrassing trend continued even while this friend was on his mission, I would receive letters addressed to S'more. Now you may asked why I would even share this story at all but most people who know me know that I love s'mores and apparently the connection to my embarrassing moment has not deterred me away from a perfectly roasted marshmallow with melted chocolate. Luckily for me, I now found the equivalent of s'mores on speed...S'more Brownies. I found this recipe on the Cast Sugar blog and they are fantastic. Oh, and for the record I was a very good girl in high school and this friend only got a hug or two:)

S'mores Brownies

(adapted from Tate's Bake Shop Cookbook, 2005)

Ingredients:

2 c. graham cracker crumbs

7 Tbsp. salted butter, melted

1 c. salted butter

1 1/2 c. sugar

3 1/2 c. bittersweet chocolate, chopped

1 Tbsp. vanilla

5 large eggs

1 1/2 c. all-purpose flour

1/4 tsp. salt

4 oz. milk chocolate, chopped

25-40 mini marshmallows (about half a bag)

Preheat the oven to 350 F.

In a small bowl, combine the graham cracker crumbs and melted butter. Spoon the mixture into a glass 9X13 pan, and pat down evenly to cover the bottom only. Set aside.

In a medium saucepan, heat the butter and sugar, stirring constantly until the sugar and butter are melted. In a large bowl, add the chopped bittersweet chocolate. Pour the hot sugar mixture over the chocolate and stir until it is melted. Add the vanilla and mix. Beat in the eggs, one at a time.

In a medium bowl, mix the flour and salt together. Add the flour mixture to the chocolate mixture and stir until they are just combined. Stir in the chopped milk chocolate chunks.

Pour the mixture into the prepared pan and spread evenly. Place the marshmallows evenly over the top.

Bake the brownies for 40-50 minutes, until crackled on top and a knife inserted in the center comes out mostly clean. Let the brownies cool on a wire rack, and then cut.

I made the brownies for the October Mix n' Mingle and they were a huge success.
Now that's a SCORE!

#15

As you start reading this post, start humming John William's Olympic Fanfare (it will make for a more interesting read). The torch has arrived in Beijing and the count down is now under 24 hours to one of my favorite events- THE OLYMPICS!

I was looking at the schedule for different events and I could not help but think what the Olympics have given me in the past. For years after the 1984 Olympics, I had a Wheaties poster of Mary Lou Retton above my bed. I can still remember how nervous I was when she competed and how overwhelmed I was when she receive perfect scores. I use to pretend to do different gymnastic moves and then throw my arms up to receive my score. So fun!

The 1984 and 1988 Olympics planted the seed in my heart for the game of volleyball. I started playing when I was 12 years old for my ward team and then I tried out and made my junior high volleyball team. I would not say I was naturally athletic and I am quite short but I loved playing and I loved the game. I owe much of my passion for the game to player #15, KarchKiraly. He was amazing to watch and I just wanted to be a better player every time I watched him. I even picked number 15 for my jersey number so I could be more like him. Below are so pictures from the 1988 Olympics.

So, I can't wait to see what new heroes or new seeds might be planted in my heart during these Olympics. You never know, maybe I will take my mad ping pong skills to the next level!