The tree made it in the house and was decorated. We are expecting family a few day after Christmas. We wish we could spend Christmas with everyone. We hope you will all know that you are in our thoughts and our wish is that you will receive all the blessings you need for the coming year.
After Thanksgiving we decided we wanted a live Christmas tree. I thought that it was to late to get a permit. Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, Ben went ice fishing to Huntington Lake, up Fairview Canyon and decided to check with the US Forest office. He was in luck it was the last day for permits. So Saturday we took off up the canyon and found a tree. The tree was probably 15 feet or more, but we cut it down and carried it home. Only the top 7 feet would fit in the house. We had a fun time walking though the woods finding the perfect tree. We went at the right time too, because it snows 3 feet in the mountains that night and 2 feet in Fountain Green. When we got the tree home we noticed a nice big bird nest inside the tree. We just left it there, it is a nice reminder that the tree was once a live tree and offered protection to the wildlife. We saw many aniamal tracks all around. If anyone wants to do this with us next next year, let us know. It was great fun.
Well we did it again. We won the Utah State Dutch oven Championship. It was held on September 27th, 2008 at Calbela's in Lehi, UT. We started the day at 5:00 am. We had prepared and packet most everything in the truck the night before, but had to pack a few other things. Then we had to make the drive. Of course it is a 1 hour plus drive. We did stop for our traditional MCD breakfast. Ben is superstitious. But it gets our energy up.
We setup in front of the store and met with the other cooks at by 8:30 am. There were 6 teams. We haven't cooked this year and there were a few cooks that we hadn't met. There were a few we did know. The first thing I noticed was that the wind wasn't blowing. As soon as I said something the wind started up. Normally it blow hard but that day just a light breeze.
Cooking started at 8:45 am. What did we cook? Desert is judged first. Desert we cooked Italian Cream Cake. This a four layer cake that is filled with pecans and coconut iced with Cream cheese icing. We had to have it done by 12:00 noon. It turned out perfect.
Bread was judged second. It was due at 1:00 pm. I cooked a white bread with 5 toppings on it. I called it Five topping braided bread. There was poppy seeds, sesame seeds, caraway seeds, dried onion flakes, and Kosher salt on top. It has a great flavor. It was nicely browned. You couldn't tell where the braid started or ended.
Main dish was judged third. This was due at 2:00 pm. Ben cooked a dish called Spicy Pork Tenderloin. It has pineapple juice, lime juice, jalopenos, and cayenne pepper. It was very tender and had a kick to it.
Calbela's employees judged the individual dishes for everyone.
Sonya can by to watch during the Desert. Ryan, Halsie, and Sydney came by during the bread. I got a cute picture with Sydney.
The camera battery stopped just at the first of the awards ceremony. So you will just have to believe me on the awards.
The award ceremony was at 4:00 pm. They announced the individual dishes first. We Got First in our Desert and Main dish. $25 gift Calbela's certificate each. Then we got 1st on the overall prize $250 prize Calbela's gift certificate. I think we won the bread 1st too but they wanted to share the wealth a little.
We also won the chrome plated dutch oven trophy. The Trophy is a traveling trophy and since this is the third time we have won it we get to keep the Trophy. We won this cook off in 2004, 2006, and now 2008. But we can not cook next year in this cook off.
The good news is we have qualified for the World Championship which happens in March 2009. We took off last year. We are going to try again. Keep your figures crossed.
Ben was driving his four wheeler when he saw them. He didn't even have time to climb off. His gun was strapped on the back, so it took him a fewer moments. But the deer were curious and stop to look. This gave Ben the advantage. The buck was about 50 yards away. The bullet went right through the buck. The deer didn't run to far. It was after dark by the time he came back to the house to get the truck and a few friends. He hung it up and skinned it. We were up until 11:30 taking care of the buck. Oh yeh, it was a 2 point on one side and 3 point on the other. Probably a 2 year buck. For Kentucky it would be a 5 point. I will post a picture tomorrow. Now he is looking forward to Elk season in a month. Up date you later.
Well Ben finally got his wish. To Hunt in UTAH. For some reason he thought Mormons didn't hunt and he sold all of his guns before coming to UT. Well we have been able to get him equipped again. It is muzzle deer season. Ben can hunt about a mile from our house. There are beautiful mountains. Easy access roads especially on his four wheeler. He went out yesterday and didn't see anything. He called me telling me someone had got the big one that morning. He then went out in the afternoon and walked a lot. Just about dust he got his chance. He was head back to hunt a different area and saw two bucks and a doe running up the hill.
