Category: pammcmurtry.com

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Craving Green

As another winter slowly winds down, I find that I am craving green.  With the approach of St. Patrick’s Day, my thoughts are turned to the verdant hills of Ireland. 

For now, I am a full-time student, tethered at home. Primroses and ranunculus are a lovely consolation, sigh.

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Valentine’s Day Dinner: Beef Stroganoff

In honor of love and the Olympics in Russia this winter, 
here is a Beef Stroganoff dinner for your Valentines. 
This recipe is a variation of the classic dish popular in  
19th century Russia. It can be ready in less than an hour from start to finish; for a special treat make heart-shaped bread sticks and a strawberry and greens salad with candied pecans.

Beef Stroganoff 

     Dissolve

3 beef bouillon cubes 
     in 
2 ½ C. hot water
     Set aside. Cut into ¾” x 3″ slices
2 lbs. beef tenderloin or sirloin steak
      Melt                

3 TBSP. butter

     in a large skillet, sauté

1 lb. sliced mushrooms

     Remove and set aside. In same skillet, brown beef. Reserve

2/3 C. beef broth

     stir into skillet remaining broth and

1/3 C. dried onions

¼ C. catsup

1 ½ tsp. garlic salt

     Cover and simmer for 15 minutes. 
     Blend together reserved broth with

1/3 C. flour

     Add to meat. Heat to boiling stirring constantly. Boil and stir
      one minute.

     Reduce heat and add

2 C. low fat sour cream

     Heat through. 

Cook 12 – 16 oz. egg noodles noodles as directed on package. Serve with Stroganoff sauce. Makes  6 – 8 servings

Strawberry and Green Salad With Candied Pecans

 Toss together

1 5-7 oz. bag baby salad greens and spinach

2 C strawberries, sliced
1/3 C candied pecans
Dress with 1/3 – 1/2 C Strawberry Vinaigrette
Strawberry Vinaigrette
Mix  together
1/4 C vegetable oil
1/2 C strawberry vinegar
1/4 C honey
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
Candied Pecans
In a nonstick pan, cook and stir until melted and golden
1 C sugar
2 C pecans 
Add 1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg

Break into chunks and cool on parchment or non-stick surface

Happy Valentine’s Day!

 

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Valentine’s Day Radio Broadcast

Please join me on Friday, February 14th for Kim Power Stilson’s Talk Worthy show on BYU SiriusXM Radio 143 at 3 p.m. Eastern – that’s 1 p.m. Mountain and noon in CA. We’ll share tips and fun ideas for sharing the love.
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Thank you; The Positive Benefits of Gratitude

What if all you had tomorrow are the things you are thankful for today? 

If everyone in the world was more grateful and less hateful, could we put an end to wars, theft and the evils covetousness leads to, and take better care of the poor and afflicted? 

http://www.ksl.com/?sid=28248277&nid=1010&title=a-little-gratitude-every-day-goes-a-long-way&fm=home_page&s_cid=queue-2

This article had almost 7,000  views the first day and a half that it appeared online.

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-harvest-and-halloween-handbook-pam-mcmurtry/1116031757?ean=2940148379744 

I’m excited to announce that I will be doing a series of wedding planning broadcasts on Kim  Power Stilsons’ Talkworthy Show on BYU SiriusXM Radio 143 at 3 p.m. Eastern; the dates will be announced soon. 

Please join me on Valentine’s Day and St. Patrick’s Day for a discussion about the relevancy of the wisdom of ancient saints and how we can benefit from their teachings. That’s February 14th and March 17th at 3 p.m. Eastern.

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Eagle Scouts and Art

We were so excited and thrilled for Tim when he became an 
Eagle Scout after working so hard.

 I made this commemorative painting for him. 
This collage represents Tim’s love of his country, 
nature, gardening and swimming.
Oil and paper on board
24 x 20 inches

If you’d like to purchase any of these, call or send me an email at pammcmurtry@yahoo.com.  I’m also taking orders for commission work, if you see a style you like but want a different subject I’d be happy to make something special for you.
These are my latest paintings for a portfolio of religious art.  The other pieces are also available, the sizes and information are on the website above. I am also looking into having giclee copies made  which are beautiful and less-expensive than original art.

Guardian
Oil on canvas
18 x 24 inches
First Miracle
Oil on canvas

18 x 24 inches

 
The Prisoners Shall Go Free
Oil on board
30 x 24 inches

  Lifeguard
Oil on canvas
18 x 24 inches

 

 

 
 

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The Year Christmas Came Early

 

Christmas at our house is more like Easter, a fluid date that manifests itself when needed. We’ve had soldiers and missionaries going out and coming in and learned that the Spirit of Christmas is not felt on one day only. 
This year was one such Christmas. When our son Tim received his missionary assignment from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the fall, he was notified that he would be reporting for his two year volunteer assignment for service on December 18th. While I was excited for him, I was also disappointed that he would not spend a final Christmas at home. December 18th was the day I had entered the Los Angeles Temple many years ago to make my covenants with God and it was a special day to me. 
It seemed somehow fitting that the child I had been loaned to rear and enjoy for nineteen years should be returned to Him on that day for His purpose, sort of like Hannah and Samuel. We prepared to have an early Christmas to enable Tim’s brothers and sisters, all of whom live out-of-state, to wish him a fond farewell. Tim and I went out and found the biggest, most beautiful farewell Christmas tree we could fit in our house. 

One Sunday night we decorated it and the one last gingerbread cottage that Tim had found hidden in the garage. Apparently gluing 100 pounds of candy on a giant ornament was just a prelude to the important project.


I am a returning college student, still trying to earn that elusive degree that any mother of several children knows may take second or even a further place back in her life. Enrolled in four upper-division classes, fall was especially busy. What I didn’t realize was that semester ended on December 20th. Twenty… twenty people coming into town for Tim’s farewell. Final critique on the 20th. Right.

The family started arriving on Wednesday night the 11th. Heather and her four-year old Ellyza were first. Amid final projects and classes, I was still in school so Tim took Ellyza duty when her mom had a dental appointment. Sledding, games, coloring and lunch kept them happily occupied. Changed travel plans and last-minute scrambles kept us hopping. 


On Friday Grandma arrived, Bill flew in, Laurel and Richard and their three children descended. Andrew and Annie showed up with the cousins Face. Oh, and Dylan, Brianne and Max drove up from Arizona, I hadn’t heard they would be able to make it. It felt like the Griswolds Christmas Vacation without the stogie and thousands of Italian twinkle lights. Some very kind ladies from church brought in homemade soup and we supped.


One wanted to go here, another there, we cancelled our Friday night outing, the babysitter and stayed in. The next morning we enjoyed our requisite breakfast burritos and cinnamon rolls (store-bought, sorry), we had the grandchildren open presents and found that Santa had left his bag filled with unmarked wrapped gifts for everyone. 

The Trevonator

 Grandma got a yo-yo and bubblegum, Trevor, 11, got Christmas pasta and a bottle of Light Caesar dressing. After an interlude of trading and refusing, everyone seemed to end up somehow satisfied. Probably just glad to have some time together. Our soldier Andrew said it had been three years since he had been with all of his brothers and sisters. 


The lure of a white Christmas called. We worked to meet the challenge of outfitting over a dozen guests with gloves and sliding devices and sent them off to Happy Hollow, the local wild winter sledding hill. A few bumps and bruises later (no lost teeth) they dripped in for cocoa and pulled pork sandwiches. Sister Cindy and husband Dave arrived, looking dapper. 


We waited for the evening newscast, Tim and I were interviewed on the local television station, KSL, about the Macy’s candy window we had created for the downtown Salt Lake store. That was fun. 


Everyone bundled up and piled in the cars to drive to SLC to see said window. We parked and inundated TRAX, the cable cars, which delivered us uptown right in front of our destination. After more cheering and spontaneous caroling, we crossed the street to see the lights at Temple Square. Grandma’s back didn’t keep up, so we found a wheelchair and enjoyed a very chilly tour around the brilliantly lit landmark. 

Our pretty girls

Home again for an early Christmas late-hour turkey dinner, per Tim’s request. It was only a few hours until we arrived at church for Tim’s farewell speech. 


More family arrived. We had worked hard to get Sgt. Andrew to wear his dress uniform, emblazoned with ribbons and medals, he complied and looked every inch the wonderful soldier he is. Tim, dressed in his missionary suit, spoke about Jesus and His example of charity and he challenged everyone there to pick a special project and do something kind during the Christmas season. 

Matt Shaw, a tenor, sang the most beautiful rendition of O Holy Night, my favorite carol (thank you) and another speaker talked about the Savior. Home for a few parting photos, then Laurel, Rich and their three took off for warm climes. 




Another meal, naps, stories, games and last-minute mission advice (and a brief toffee and cookie-making experience, I had promised Ellyza that we would make cookies while she visited). And the day was done. Except for a couple of sick kids, a punctured air mattress and a zillion dishes it was a good day overall. So Christmas came early. Within a few days I’d finish my classes, all the company would go home and we’d kiss Tim and wish him good-bye for two years.

Then whatever bug is going around would bite us hard but eventually life would return to normal.  
And I would be a full-time mother no longer. 

P.S. What is normal?



Merry Christmas to all and thank you for remembering the soldiers and missionaries in your prayers. This is one family that is grateful and truly blessed by your faith and we hoped you have been blessed by our service. 

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Macy’s Candy Windows

A work in progress

Behind the scenes at Macy’s City Creek 

Press Release from Macy’s

“SALT LAKE CITY, UT – November 4, 2013 – For the second year, Macy’s is proud to announce the return of the holiday candy window tradition at Macy’s City Creek. The windows, which will be unveiled on Thursday, Nov. 21, at 6 p.m. to kick off the holiday season, will be made entirely out of candy and will reflect Salt Lake City and the luster of the holiday season. Six local artists have been chosen to design the windows, including returning artist Babs de Lay and the Salt Lake Community College visual merchandising class. In addition, there are four new artists this year, including Chelsea Walton, Jacob DeGering, Pam McMurty and Abigail Hayes.

As part of the window unveiling celebration, Buddy the Elf and performers from Pioneer Theatre Company’s holiday musical “Elf,” based on the New Line Cinema film written by David Berenbaum, will bring the holiday spirit to life by performing a song from the show at the unveiling. “Elf – The Musical” will perform at the Salt Lake City’s Pioneer Theater Company from Dec. 6 through Dec. 24.

The winning artists are working like Santa’s elves, using hot glue guns to attach more than 800 pounds of candy to frames of wood and Styrofoam. Decorative treats include white shimmer gumballs, licorice, candy pebbles, and an assortment of jelly beans for designs that are both whimsical and bold.

“This is a Salt Lake City tradition and in terms of visual merchandising, it’s like the Super Bowl of window display,” said SLCC Fashion Institute Visual Merchandising teacher Matt Monson, who is leading the student team that created one of the winning entries. “This is a pretty incredible opportunity for the SLCC visual merchandising students and I couldn’t be more proud of their work.”

Artist and returning winner Babs De Lay is excited for this year’s reveal. She recalls last year’s unveiling; “standing in the crowd, listening to kids look at the candy windows—priceless. The giggles and ‘oooh’s and ahhh’s’ made everyone feel even more in the holiday spirit!”

From now until Dec. 31, Macy’s will match tax-deductible donations to the Utah Arts Festival up to $5,000. Make a secure donation online at uaf.org/friends or contact Aimée at (801) 322-2428 to make a donation by phone.”

  Done. 

Merry Christmas Salt Lake City!

This weekend I’ll tell you the rest of the story.

It’s not too late to get great autumn recipes and decorating ideas in

 http://www.amazon.com/Harvest-Halloween-Handbook-Artisan-ebook/dp/B009PA8ON6/?keywords=pam+mcmurtry&qid=1374845872&ref=sr_1_1&ie=UTF8&sr=8-1 

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-harvest-and-halloween-handbook-pam-mcmurtry/1116031757?ean=2940148379744