Monday 6 June 2011

So, Why Are We in Scotland Anyway?

 
I get a lot of questions asking why we are in Scotland. So, let me tell you the story.

Luis' parents are from Portugal. They moved to Venezuela when they got married at the age of 19.  They lived there for 50 years and had two sons. 7 years ago they went back to Portugal to visit family, and called their sons in Venezuela and told them they weren't coming back. Luis was 32 and his brother was 43. They took the next year and packed up their belongings, and tried to sell their homes, get their paperwork, and moved to Portugal.

The reason they left Venezuela was because of all the political uncertainty there. Venezuela is a socialist country.  I don't know what it is like to live in a Dictatorship. But he does.  It is a scary place to be right now.  They wanted a better life. So they moved back to their homeland of Portugal.

Luis spent about 6 months looking for a job in Portugal with NO luck.  He is the only member of his family to have a college degree and had supported the whole family financially prior to moving.  He wasn't having any luck.  So he broadened his horizons and found work in Scotland.  He packed himself up in just ONE bag, and moved to Scotland.

Luis and I began to chat online about this time. He hadn't been  living in Scotland very long. His English was a hoot! We did the online dating thing, traveling back and forth as much as we could afford, for about a year when Luis asked me to marry him.

He had a good job here in Scotland and I had a good job in Utah. Where would we live? We looked at VISA options.  Getting a VISA to come to the USA was a lot of work.  We'd be lucky if we were married in the next year or two, and the cost was HUGE.  Something we just didn't have at the time.  So, it was a lot cheaper and easier to get a Residence Visa for me here in Scotland.  I was excited for the new adventure.  I moved to Scotland 3 days after we were married. I brought only two bags with me.

When we first moved here I honestly thought that we'd only be here for a year or two max. Then we'd go to America. Live a life there. I never in a million years thought we'd make this home. But we have. Luis has a different job now and we live in a different city too. We have a baby now! We have a life here. Are there times when I think about living in the USA? Sure. Though with every passing year I think of it less. Scotland is home for now.

Saturday 4 June 2011

Recipe:: Potato Salad

 This Potato Salad might just be LD's most favorite thing that I make.  It is my mom's recipe, that she got from her grandmother.  It has been passed down to all of us girl, and I'm going to pass it on to you.  It is amazing!!  To say the least.

I make this with steak or bbq Chicken on the grill, and some fresh corn on the cob. YUM!!  LD makes me make a HUGE pot of it so he can eat on it all weekend, or at least for a few days! It is the perfect item to bring to a picnic with family or friends! ENJOY!!

Photo courtesy of my sister Katie and her self made cookbook: Everyday Gourmet

 Serves: 6-8
Prep Time: 30 Min
Total Time: 1 hour

INGREDIENTS:

6 Potatoes
6 Eggs
3 Slices of Bacon
1/2 Large Onion, Diced

3 TBSP Mayonnaise
1 TBSP Dijon Mustard
1 1/2 TSP Dill Mix
Paprika (for garnish)

DIRECTIONS:
1. Peel and cube potatoes. Boil until tender, drain, and put in large bowl with sliced boiled eggs.
2. Fry Bacon and set aside on paper towel.
3. Saute onion in bacon grease.
4. Mix mayonnaise, mustard and dill together. Stir into potatoes and eggs. May need more mayonnaise while warm.
5. Sprinkle with bacon bits and paprika.

Recipe:: Sausage Balls

Sausage Balls are a family favorite around here. We make them every holiday season. But more than that, they are THE easiest little appetizer out there! You can also bake these ahead of time, and just warm them up on the day.  Helps make party prep  a bit easier the more you can do the day before.  I love me some sausage, and Scotland makes some FANTASTIC sausage! Enjoy!

Photo courtesy of my sister Katie Drake

Serves: 6-8
Prep time: 10 min
Bake: 20 min
Oven: 350 F

INGREDIENTS:

1 LB Sausage
1/2 Cup Shredded Cheddar Cheese
2 Cups Bisquick

DIRECTIONS:

1. Mix all ingredients together in large bowl with hands. Add water if more moisture is needed.
2. Form into 2-inch balls and place on cookie sheet (I use wax paper)
3. Bake at 350F for 20 minutes.


What's YOUR favorite Appetizer?