Sentiments by Sophia

Good stuff!

Three times in the last week, the mention of this new cake has come up.  I decided that I needed to try it, so last night's Sunday treat was this cake.  Oh. My. Heck!  It's good!  It's so good that the babes are having it for breakfast.  As a matter of fact, that was the first words that came out of each of their mouths at different times waking up, "Can we have that new cake for breakfast?"  Of course, Grace, the ice cream queen added, "Can I get the ice cream out?"  Remember the old Bill Cosby jingle, "Dad is great, he gives us chocolate cake."

Last night, while enjoying the cake at our dinner table with Stott and Wendy, I noticed something bluegreen and huge falling from the sky.  I burst out with, "WHAT WAS THAT!?" and got teased for my sanguine responses to things.  No one else had noticed but I was sure that I'd seen something amazing.  The kids were outside playing and an hour later, when they came in, they all said, "We saw the coolest shooting star!"  It was no shooting star.  I asked on Facebook if anyone else had seen it.  A few friends had.  We looked it up this morning and the only thing that I could find was that there were 1329 potential asteroids yesterday.  I'm thinking we saw one.  Cool beans.

So, this morning, thinking about all of the events of last night, Zj asked, "What if that asteroid had hit our house before we got our cake this morning?"  Quayd piped up with "No way!  I'd have raced up and got the cake just before it hit us!"  Seriously.  Good cake.  Recipe below and on the cooking blog.

An update on our friend, Tammy, who fell down the stairs after her surgery ten days ago.  She's not well. Plain and simple.  We got the update in Relief Society yesterday, and blogging friends, my friend Tammy needs all the prayers that she can get.  Her full name is Tammy Roberts.  If you could keep her in your prayers, add her to your prayer rolls, it would be greatly appreciated.  She is a wonderful, wonderful, kind and loving lady and she's in a bad situation.  Thank you.

So far, our weekend has played out like this... Avengers with Carol and Tay. FUN stuff.  Painting, playing, gardening, eating, visiting, church and hanging out as a family. Good stuff.  The highlight of the weekend was spending several hours with Quayd studying the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution with Quayd for his Citizenship in the Nation Merit Badge.  I was intrigued, as it's been 30 years or more for me.  He captured lots.  Loved that!  He meets with the Merit Badge Counselor today.  Court of Honor Tomorrow night!  Woohooo!  He's so close to Eagle, and all he can do is say, "Can we work on it today?"  Yagottaluvit!

Here's the recipe and then we are off for the day to continue on the honey-do list.  It's called Grammy Cake and I did not name it. ;)

Grammy Cake

1 1/2 cups sugar
2 cups flour
1/2 tsp. salt
2 eggs
1 tsp. baking soda
1 20 oz. can crushed pineapple, including juice.  DO NOT DRAIN

1 cup brown sugar
1 cup chopped nuts

1 cup evaporated milk (I accidentally used the whole can and it was perfect.)
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup of butter
1 tsp. vanilla

Mix the sugar, clour, salt, soda, eggs and pineapple together and pour into a 9x13" pan.  Sprinkle the top with the brown sugar and chopped nuts.  Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.

While baking, cook the evaporated milk, sigar, butter and vanilla.  Immediately as the comes out of the oven,  pour the cooked milk mixture over the entire cake.  Keep refrigerated, if there is any left.  (We served it with ice cream.)  ENJOY!!

 Life IS good!

There are seven days in a week
and "someday" isn't one of them.

a few favorite summer recipes...from the past

This is seriously my favorite pasta salad EVER!  I'm craving it! Try it, you'll love it!!

Chicken and Fruit Salad

Combine in large bowl:

6 cups cooked, chopped chicken or 2 cans of canned chicken breast 
16 oz. cookbow-tie macaroni 
1/4 cup green onions

In separate bowl, mix:

2 cups mayonaise (not miracle whip) 
16 oz. coleslaw dressing
 Juice from pineapple listed below.

Mix and chill.   Add:
1 can pineapple tidbits
1 cup diced celery
2 cups green and red seedless grapes
2 small Fuji apples, chopped and diced
1 small bag slivered almonds

Best if the pasta and dressing mixes are combined the night before.  Add the rest before serving.

Brenda's very simple and even more tasty GREEN salad!

Large bowl of finely shredded lettuce and greens of choice
Shredded fresh Parmesan or Romano cheese (lots)
Sunflower seeds
Croutons
Caesar's Salad Dressing

Brenda had shredded the lettuce so fine that it was more like coleslaw.  There was a ton of cheese! She added a lot of sunflower seeds right before serving, then tossed it in the a light covering of the dressing.  The croutons were served on the side.  This was seriously one simple salad but it was divine!

Carol's Yummy Sunday Salad

2 cans drained mandarin oranges
1 can pineapple, drained but save the juice
1 blue box of Instant Americana Tapioca
1 large box Cook & Serve Vanilla pudding
3 large bananas

Drain pineapple juice into measuring cup.  Add enough water to make 2 cups.  Mix liquid with both puddings in a medium saucepan.  Cook until thick and bubbly, stirring constantly.  Pour over fruit while still warm.  Add bananas right before serving.  VERY good warm OR cold.  Aside from frog-eye salad, it's my favorite fruit salad ever!

The miracle of really loving someone is that the more we give, the more we possess.

 

memorial day

Here's two recipes we've tried and loved this holiday weekend.  Happy Memorial Day!

Strawberry-Yogurt Bundt Cake.  

Another recipe found on Pinterest. This was our Sunday night treat and seriously, you need to try this recipe!  It was divine!!!!  The only thing I'd change is make a little less glaze.  It doesn't need that much, but the lemon is a perfect touch to this cake!  It was so dang moist!  love it!

1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened

2 cups sugar

3 eggs

3 Tb. lemon juice, divided

zest of 1 lemon

2 ½ cups all-purpose flour, divided

½ tsp. baking soda

½ tsp. salt

8 oz. plain or vanilla, Greek yogurt

12 oz. fresh strawberries, diced

1 cup powdered sugar

Preheat oven to 325*. Grease and flour a 10 inch Bundt pan. Sift together the 2 ¼ cups of flour, baking soda and salt. Mix in the lemon zest and set aside. In a separate bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in 1 Tbsp. lemon juice. Alternate add the flour mixture and the yogurt, until just mixed. Toss the strawberries in the remaining ¼ cup of flour. Gently mix them into the batter.  Pour the batter into the Bundt pan. Bake 60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Allow to cool at least 20 minutes in the pan, then turn out onto a wire rack and cool completely. Once cooled whisk together the remaining 2 Tb. of lemon juice and the powdered sugar. Drizzle over the top of the cake.  Enjoy!

I also found this recipe this weekend and made some rice pudding for the kids. They'd never tried "the real thing" before and they loved it.  I've always liked it but not loved it. This recipe, I loved!  It's a perfect way to use your leftover rice.  I found the recipe, where else, but it on Pinterest through The Hungry Housewife. Although, here's my version because I made a few adjustments to suit our tastes.

 4 cups leftover rice

    6 cups milk

1 cup sugar

1/2 tsp salt

1 Tbsp vanilla

1 cup craisins

1/2 cup coconut

1 tsp. cinnamon

All add ingredients to the cooked rice in a large saucepan and bring to a boil, stirring frequently and at the end, constantly.  I stirred this for, literally 45 minutes.  It took that long to bring it to a boil because the milk and rice were ice cold.  I boiled it for about ten minutes stirring constantly. Once most of the milk is absorbed, remove from heat. Serve hot or cold!   We served it hot vanilla with ice cream.  (Corbridge Rule:  Breakfast is always better with ice cream.)  The kids were in heaven and then ate the leftovers for dessert later that night.

Have a wonderful holiday!

The greatest glory of a free-born people is
to transport that freedom to their children.

ZJ, a recipe and two things every mom should know

Well. We still don't have the answers to ZJ's issues.  However, Dr. Anderson assures us that her problem is not surgical.  He thinks it may be viral.  He spent one hour and one minute iwth us, reviewing every test that has been done, going over her first CT Scan, slice by slice, every blood test, the ultrasound, X-rays, everything.  "On paper, she looks perfectly healthy."  So.  He determined that, hopefully, what ZJ has is viral and that it will pass in a few weeks.  Not the answer we wanted, but I suppose that, if he's right, it's the best answer.  Much better than "Let's do surgery!"  He says that we can set up an appointment with a pediatric gastroenterologist in SLC, but that will take two months and, more than likely, she'll be well again before that.  Let's pray!  

BECAUSE  as of now, ZJ has found that her most comfortable position in on her tummy, stretched sideways across the arms of the lazy boy, with her tummy dangling in the middle.  Dr. Anderson suggested that we bag the BRAT diet, recommended by the ER doctor and allow her to eat whatever she wants, but to avoid spicy. Since everything she eats or drinks hurts, she may as well eat what she wants...which is very little.  Who wants to eat when they know that it's going to cause them major pain within minutes?!  She has lost 4.9 pounds since Saturday.  She'd been craving a McDonalds cheeseburger because she has seen them advertised all week long.  We got one on the way home.  She ate every bite, but within minutes, she was hanging over the edge of the chair again.  She won't be back in school today again.  FRUSTRATING, but we are hopeful that this is just a bad virus and that it will pass soon.  Enough said about that.

I've learned two new things over the past few days that I wanted to share.

1.    A good rule of thumb for taking Ibuprofen.  200's can be taken every two hours.  400's can be taken every four.  600's every six hours.  And 800's can be taken every eight hours.  I never knew that.  Whodathunkit.

and 2.  After Taylor was coming out of the anesthesia, the nurse taught us a little trick for people who are a bit nauseous. I thought that this was a great idea for parents with kids who get carsick.  I've never had kids who had weak stomachs, but I know lots of people who do.  SO... if your child is feeling nauseous, open a little alcohol wipe (the kind wrapped in foil that they give you before tinkling in a cup for a urine analysis), slide the little wipe halfway out of the foil and hold it near the sickie's nose.  The mild scent of alcohol supposedly calms the upset tummy.  I think that these would be a great thing to keep in the jockeybox of your car!  Love it when I learn something new!

Also,  I wanted to share a new quick and easy recipe.  WOW!  You will need Pork Chops, one package of Ranch Dressing Mix and a can of Cream of Chicken plus 1 can water as needed.  Mix well and cook in the crockpot until the meat is tender.   I may "let" Doug cook this recipe for Mother's Day!

That's it! My to do list for the day includes a run to Sam's Club for Doug's blender drink necessities... spinach and brocolli, reading and napping with ZJ.  I feel like it's been weeks since I've done any serious cleaning and housekeeping... I've had a few other things on my mind but today...Today, I am kicking it back into gear and getting back to real life.  And it's good.  Enough said.

Being happy doesn't mean that everything is perfect. It means that you've decided to look beyond the imperfections.

 

I must be hungry...

Well, yesterday, I managed to stay home all day long!  I baked bread, read some, played on Pinterest, enjoyed the sunshine on the deck.  It was a great day!  Then, last night, Doug and I went out for dinner at Cafe Sabor and did a little shopping for necessities.  

It's pouring the rain this morning.  It rained all night long.  Welcome Spring!  I love it!  (Although, the weatherman just announced that it's actually snowing in the mountains.)  I was walking away from Mom's front porch and noticed that her rhubarb is already growing!

If you are in the mood for something sweet and springy, I thought I'd repost this favorite spring recipe of mine... Rhubarb Cream Cake!  I'm not a rhubarb fan and yet this cake is probably one of my top three favorite cakes ever! Everyone rants over this tasty and ever-so-simple cake! Note...A nummy custard will form at the bottom of the pan as cake bakes. It's so simple, so nummy! You'd never know that rhubarb was the fruit in it! My sister-in-law said that she has made this using peaches instead.  I don't know why you couldn't use any fruit. Blueberries would be divine!

Rhubarb Cream Cake

 

1 (18 oz.) pkg. yellow cake mix

4 c. rhubarb, diced

1 c. sugar

2 c. whipping cream

Prepare cake mix as the package directs. Pour into greased and bottom floured 9 x 13 inch cake pan. Spread the rhubarb evenly on top of the cake batter. Sprinkle the sugar over the rhubarb. Pour 2 cups whipping cream evenly over entire mixture. Bake at 350 degrees for about 45 minutes.Serve warm. You may add whipping cream on top, but I don't think that it needs it! Store in refrigerator, if there's any left to store. Enjoy!

Today is National Grilled Cheese Day.  Here's a few favorite ways to make a killer grilled cheese sandwich!  Use a tortilla instead of bread. Use something besides white bread!  Be creative!  Sourdough, cinnamon raisin, rye bread.  Spread a little strawberry or apricot jam. Add a little surprise!   Step it up!  It's still much simpler than cooking a full-fledged meal...

photo from Womans Day.com

• Mix up a can of tuna, your favorite way.   Shred in a cup of your favorite cheese, then spread cream cheese on the bread.  Fill the sandwich with the tuna mixture.  On the outside of both slices of bread, butter it well,  grill on medium low until toasty and the filling is warm.  This is to die for on cinnamon raisin bread!
• Spread some butter on slices of bread. Add shredded mozzarella cheese and ripe, slices of avocado evenly.  Salt and pepper generously. Top with the other slice of bread, buttered side out.  Grill on both sides till toasty and warm. 
• Try this one on sourdough bread.  Fill with pepperjack cheese, sliced avocado, slices of fried bacon and thin slices of fresh apple.  Oh my!
• Smash an avocado with a fork, mix in a tsp of lemon juice and half a tsp of salt.    Slice 8-10 grape tomatoes.  Spread the avocado mix, place the grape tomatoes and then add shredded monterey jack cheese.  Butter the outsides of slices of bread and grill!
• Liza and Buddy tried this one and loved it!  2 jalapeno peppers, cut in half lengthwise and seeded, 2 slices sour dough bread,  butter, 2 tablespoons cream cheese, 1/2 cup jack and cheddar cheese, shredded, crushed Doritos.  Place the seeded peppers on a baking sheet with the cut side facing down.Broil until the skins are blackened, about 10 minutes.  Put the peppers in a zip-lock bag and seal.  Let them cool until you can handle them.  Pinch the skins off the peppers.  Spread the cream cheese on the inside of the bread and butter the outsides. Sprinkle half of the cheese on the cream cheese of one slice of bread, top with the jalapenos, crumbled tortilla chips, the remaining cheese and finally the other slice of bread.  Grill until golden brown and the cheese has melted, about 2-4 minutes per side.
• This one was nummy!!  thick slices of french bread,  butter, 1 Tbsp blue cheese dressing, 3 Tbsp cream cheese,  2 Tbsp. crumbled blue cheese or feta,  2 Tbsp shredded cheddar, 1/2 cup cooked shredded chicken breast,  1 - 2 Tbsp hot sauce.  Combine the cheeses until they are smooth.  Mix the shredded chicken and hot sauce. Spread cheese mixture on both slices of bread.  Fill with chicken mixture.  Butter outsides of both slices of bread and grill.  Cheese melts quickly, so use medium low heat!
• Grilled Tomato and Basil Slice fresh tomatoes and sprinkle with basalmic vinegar.  Layer a slice of mozzerella cheese, tomato, salt and pepper, fresh basil leaves, another layer of cheese on bread that's buttered on the outside.  Grill.
• Add a slice of ham, pepperonis, turkey, shreded bbq pork, scrambled eggs and salsa, you name it!  Grilled cheese has lots more potential than a bowl of tomato soup!  Enjoy!

It's the company, not the cooking, that makes a meal.

 

this, that and cookies!

• I found these cookies on Pinterest this morning and couldn't wait until the afternoon to do my baking.  The cookie jar was down to one cookie.  When the kids came in from school, all three said, "I knew you'd bake cookies today!"  ZJ said it before she was all the way in the door.  Cookies in the cookie jar is a necessity in our home!  ;)  I loved these cookies before I baked them because just because they have cream cheese in them.  But, after they were baked, OH MY!  I will seriously never bake another Tollhouse.  The fact that there is no shortening in them is one huge bonus, but the cream cheese made them just as moist as can be.  I also loved that there was much less baking soda in thre recipe, which made them have less of a "bite".  This will be our new regular chocolate chip cookie recipe!  This batch made about 60 small cookies.  Next time, I'll be doubling it! 

Chocolate Chip Cheesecake Cookies

2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/8 teaspoon baking soda
10 tablespoons butter (1 stick plus 2 tablespoons)
1 cup sugar
1 egg
3 ounces cream cheese
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups chocolate chips  (I use mini-chocolate chips and only used 1 cup because they go so much further) 

Preheat oven to 375.  (I baked them at 350 because the first batch at 375 browned the bottom far too quickly.)

Combine dry ingredients in a bowl and set aside. In mixer, blend butter, sugar, egg, cream cheese, and vanilla. Slowly add the dry ingredients, mixing with each addition, until all are incorporated. Stir in the chocolate chips.  Drop dough by the spoonful onto sheet, at least 1 inch apart.  Bake 10 minutes or until golden brown around edges. 

Note: Dough can be refrigerated until firm, then rolled into a log and frozen (in air-tight freezer bag) for up to 1 month. When ready to bake, let thaw 30 minutes to 1 hour (until soft enough to slice); slice in 3/4″ wide disks and bake.

My photo challenge for the day:  Button.   No explanation needed.

   

•  I have been just heartsick since the story of Susan Powell's children dying in that fire on Sunday afternoon.  It seems that each time the news is reported, the story worsens.  As I sat down to blog on Monday night, I'd just heard the update on the autopsies of the boys. It's rare that I can't even express my thoughts.  But. It's unspeakable.  I can not count the prayers that I've said for this family over the past two years, but in the past two days, I think it's been more.
• I'm so over winter.   I feel like we were deprived of the most beautiful season of the year.  It's still not arrived, but I've decided it's time for spring.  Deep sigh.
• Rick called me to ask for a ride in the afternoon.  Conversation:
  
  Rick:  Hey.  Are you home yet?
  Me:  No, I'm just dropping Denise off.
  Rick:  Good!  Can you call me when you're almost here and I'll wait outside for you.  Then, you can drop me off at McDonalds on your way home.
  Me:  Sure, but, you do realize that McDonalds is not "on my way home."  (Mom lives five houses from me.)
  Rick:  Yeh, but it will be if you pick me up and drop me off on your way."
  
  Okey dokey, then Rick.  I'm really enjoying the time and conversations with my brother.  We had a good chat in McD's parking lot.  Rick and I have never been very close and this has been an eye-opening experience.  He's seeing things that he's never realized about our mom, things that I never realized either, until living near her.  Let's just say, we're bonding. 
•  Our Young Women New Beginnings program was lovely.  The theme was Arise and Shine Forth and it was just adorable.  There were white lights strung from the ceiling, bright yellow pompom flowers hanging and all of the decor was bright yellow.  They really went all out. I am so so thankful for these leaders who spend so much effort in behalf of our young women, especially since I have a daughter who is a part of the group.  ZJ went along with us and she can't wait until she turns twelve.  She's got 13 months to go!  I'm excited for her too!
• Speaking of ZJ, I've begun plans for her new bedroom for her birthday.  My girls are pinterest-addicts too!  Help me!  I love that my girls get into decorating as much as I do!
• A very quick sentiment:  I love today's quote!  With so much negative happening around us, it really does help to turn off the news, avoid the negative and focus on the positive in your life.  I honestly could not stop crying after all of the negative happenings on Monday until I realized that I just needed to take a step away from it all and focus on the positive things in my world.  It made all the difference.  Just sayin'.

The happiness of your life depends on the quality of your thoughts.

I'm speechless.  It's rare, but true.

Photo of the day:  Dinner ~ BLT Pasta Salad, DELISH!

12 ounce corkscrew shaped pasta
1 cup milk
12 ounces lean bacon 
4 medium ripe tomatoes, cut into chunks 
2 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme (Fresh was fabulous!)
1 - 2 cloves garlic, minced 
lots of salt and freshly ground pepper
1 cup mayo
1/2 cup sour cream
4 green onions, chopped
Spring Mix Lettuces, lots! 

Directions

Cook the pasta, following the package directions.  Drain and toss with the milk in a large bowl; set aside.  Meanwhile, cook the bacon in a large skillet over medium-high heat until crisp. Drain, but reserve 3 tablespoons of drippings in the pan. Add the tomatoes, thyme and garlic to the pan and toss until warmed through; season with salt and pepper.  Crumble the bacon. Toss the bacon and the tomato mixture with the pasta.  Mix the mayonnaise, sour cream and green onions with the pasta until evenly combined. Season with salt and pepper. Just before serving, add the lettuce; toss again to coat. Serve at room temperature.  Enjoy!

The happiness of your life depends on the quality of your thoughts.

a day in the life

We had a phonecall from Dale letting us know that his beloved dog and partner, Chanterelle, had passed away.  She has been part of the family since Quayd was a baby.  She was so smart and had more personality than any dog I've ever known.  Dale raised her from birth and I honestly do not think that Chanti every realized that she was a dog.  We tended her for six months when the babes were very young.  They napped on her belly, rode her back like a pony and she took care of them like they were her own.  I'd trust Chanti before any other animal I've ever known.  Pit bulls get a lot of bad press, but I believe with all my heart that if they are treated with love and respect, they will return it like no other.  It breaks my heart to think of Willow and Dale not having her there by their sides any longer.  Doug called her "Wonder Dog".  I adore this sweet friend and she will always hold a piece of my heart.  We love Chanti.  Enough said.

On another tender note:  Quayd had a rough day.  We decided to use our Family Home Evening time as a teaching moment and it turned out to be one awesome and impactful experience. I love it when that happens!  We discussed how the body has different parts and all of them are equally important... if we were all the foot, where would the eyes be? Then, we talked about how Heavenly Father created us each to be so different...some of us are artistic, some musical, some compassionate, some with people skills, some book smarts....   Then we talked about how it would be if we were all the same. If we were all like me, we'd have treats all the time, never have any messes and we'd probably would be too scared afraid of germs and danger to be adventurous in the world. If we were all like Doug, we'd eat wheat and potatoes, never have treats,  and probably fall off some cliff that we were hiking the top of.   This got a little wild and brought many laughs.

Doug asked the kids to name some of their talents and then, what they thought they were on a scale of 1-10.  Doug, then, made the point that Heavenly Father only makes TENS.  He did make the point that I was the exception because I am a twelve.  I love this man.  But, mostly, I loved that Grace determined that she will be a twelve when she's a mom too.  Love Love LOVE it.  They captured the message though.  We each have our own strengths and weaknesses and we are all valuable just the way we were created.  As I was saying goodnight to Quayd, he said, "That was a pretty cool Family Home Evening, Mom.  I liked the lesson.  Thanks."  A mommy moment, indeed.

For our treat, I made another Pinterest find, Cinnamon Roll Rice Krispie Treats.  WITHOUT A DOUBT, THE best version of Rice Krispies I've ever tried.  They were even better than the Oreo ones!  Here's the recipe:

Cinnamon Roll Rice Krispie Treats

1/4 cup butter

1/8 tsp salt

2 tsp  molasses

2 tsp cinnamon

1 (10.5 oz) bag miniature marshmallows

1 tsp vanilla extract

6 cups Rice Krispies Cereal

1 recipe Cream Cheese Frosting (recipe follows)

Butter a 9x13 dish, set aside.  Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium low heat. Make sure that the heat is low and constantly stir.  Stir in salt, molasses, and cinnamon.  Add marshmallows and stir constantly until marshmallows have completely melted.  Remove from heat and stir in vanilla.  Pour the Rice Krispies into a large buttered bowl and pour the marshmallow mixture over it, stirring until evenly coated.  Spread evenly into the 9x13 dish with a buttered spatula.

At this point, I just let them cool and frosted them, then cut them into squares, rather than the next step because we had them eaten in less time than it would have taken to shape them.  Allow to cool several minutes, then cut while still slightly warm.  Using your hands, round edges of cut squares by cupping your hands around the edges and gently pressing.  

Allow to cool completely then pipe Cream Cheese Frosting over tops of Cinnamon Roll Rice Krispie Treats.  Optional, dust the tops lightly with cinnamon.  I used a light dusting of cinnamon sugar.)

.

Cream Cheese Frosting

Ingredients: 

1/4 cup butter, softened

4 oz cream cheese, softened

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

2 cups powdered sugar

Directions:

In a mixing bowl, using an electric mixer, whip together butter and cream cheese until fluffy.  Stir in vanilla.  Slowly add in powdered sugar and mix until smooth and fluffy.

Note: I used only half of this frosting and it was still a little too much... and that's coming from the queen of cream cheese!

One last thing...thanks for the encouraging emails (and the teases) about my not eating out for a whole week and not drinking pop.  I'm proud to say that I survived the day without going out to lunch and drank a lot of water.  Instead, I ran some errands with Natalie, baked bread, studied and had a long visit with another friend.  And I'm still alive!  Now, Tuesday... well, we'll see how it goes.  ;)  Enough said!

Truth and Honesty is the oldest and most powerful of all of the human values.

a taste of summer in January

The babes had the day off for Parent Teacher Conferences, so we had a very casual day at home after I went to the school.  Gracie and I spent some time playing on Pinterest together.  She's still not got her own account because Facebook doesnt' recognize her name when she tries to log in, even though Pinterest has sent her an invite.  We're waiting to hear from their "Help People".  She can't wait!

I found an "interesting" recipe on Pinterest and was anxious to try it.  WOW!!!  MUST SHARE!  Here's the coolest thing about this recipe... it's 130 calories for one cup!  This is truly a LOT of good in such a small amount of calories.  Doug took one taste and said, "We need to have this once a week."  And most simple to make...just how I like it!  And it's so healthy!

Crab and Roasted Corn Salad

 12 oz. lump crab meat (I bought imitation and chopped it very fine in my food processor)
1 pint grape tomatoes, cut in half (I cut them in fourths)
1 large avocado, diced
2 hot peppers such as serrano or jalapeños, diced fine (seeds removed for mild) (I used one large)
1 1/2 cups roasted corn kernels (I roasted them in a skillet on the stove top until they were brown)
1/3 cup chopped red onion
2 limes, juice of (or more to taste)
1 tsp olive oil
2 tbsp chopped cilantro (I used a little more)
salt and fresh pepper to taste (I used lots)

How's that for lots of alterations!  Here's how:  In a small bowl combine red onion, lime juice, olive oil, pinch of salt and pepper. Let them marinate at least 5 minutes to mellow the flavor of the onion.

In a large bowl combine chopped crab meat, avocado, tomatoes, hot pepper and corn. Combine all the ingredients together, add cilantro and gently toss. Adjust lime juice, salt and pepper to taste.  ENJOY!

I shared part of this with some friends, who stopped by after dinner and it was a hit.  We ate it on Townhouse crackers like crab salad, but it can be served as a main dish.  Seriously, healthy, low-fat, and so so tasty!

And now a quick ten list because it's 1:05AM and I'm more than ready for bed!

Ten things I did today:

1. Made a tasty dinner
2. Baked Peanut Blossom Cookies
3. Went to Parent Teacher Conferences
4. Had a Coke with Nat
5. Played a few games
6. Had some time with the kiddos
7. Hugged and kissed my sweetheart
8. Had a paradigm shift.
9. Went for a ride with a friend.
10. Cleaned the bathrooms.

Nine things I didn't do today:

1. Didn't connect with Dad.
2. Did not do laundry
3. Did not pay a bill that I really need to remember to get around to
4. Did not go to Chili's
5. Did not see Denise
6. Did not overeat
7. Did not exercise
8. Did not read
9. Did not get to bed early enough.

Eight things I will be doing on Wednesday:

1. Having lunch with Denise
2. Paying that bill
3. Ordering Melaleuca
4. Charging my camera battery
5. Going to Best Buy
6. Exercising
7. Making Tomato-Mac soup and cornbread
8. Returning tableclothes to Nila

Seven people I spoke with on Tuesday:

1. Wendy
2. Natalie
3. Carol
4. Denise
5. Nikki
6. Kaylene
7. Troy

Six things I ate today:

1. The nummy salad posted above
2. a Grilled Chicken wrap
3. some crackers
4. about 1 cup of Pepsi
5. a lot of water
6. a Peanut butter cookie

Five things I'm thankful for today:

1. Our wonderful furnace
2. My food processor
3. My husband's willingness to work hard for our family
4. My dad's latest cancer-free test results
5. My camera

Four little life lessons from today:

1. Sometimes you do all that you can do to fix something and then you have to just let it go when you know that you can't do anymore.
2. Friendships are treasures, not to be taken lightly.
3. Teachers are among the hardest working individuals in our country.
4. My husband is a gem!

Three things I'm looking forward to:

1. Going to the ranch soon!
2. Breaking Dawn in DVD in just a few weeks.
3. Friday day date with Doug!

Two things I need to give more attention to:

1. Walking every chance I get!
2. Reading more, Pinteresting less.

One laugh from today:

1. I was working on my iTunes Playlist revamp and a rather wild rock song from the 70s came on.  Quayd was next to me at the other computer with the headphones on.  He could hear my music, stopped what he was doing and asked, "Mom?  Is that appropriate?"  Too funny.   Love that boy!

 

 

 

 

 

 

a few things I'm loving these days...

Hugo.  Seriously, I love this movie.  I'd bought the book, Hugo Cabret for Quayd's birthday two years ago.  It's quite unique.  It's a thick book that looks intimidating until you open it and see that over half of the book is filled with amazing illustrations.  When I heard that it was going to be made into a movie, I had told the kids that we'd go and see the movie once everyone had read the book.   Grace finished it today.  The movie is like nothing I'd ever seen.  Apparently, Martin Scorsese's grandchild was reading the book and was so enthralled that he became interested and the result is this film.  It's wonderful.  Intriguing, exciting, outstanding.  I highly recommend it for anyone of any age.  It's got the technology of today, but the feel of an old-fashioned "Heidi".  We saw it for our family activity with the B's and loved it.  It comes out in Blue-Ray in April and we'll be buying it on the release date.  Loved it!  And if I'd have known Jude Law was in it (remember I don't watch previews), I'd have been there on opening day.  Love him too!  Again, it's an amazing story.

Chili's began serving from their new menu today.  If you're looking for a tasty lunch, the new guiltless chicken salad in a honey-lime vinaigrette is a must try!  LOVED it!  The new Philly Steak and Cheese sandwich is on the best bread I've ever had in a restaurant... however, I'm thinking that this one is probably going to be one of their highest calorie lunches.  Oh, but don't was all need an occasionally guilty pleasure?! And if you like fire and spice,  try the new grilled shrimp tacos.   (Note:  order a glass of milk with them!)  Also, their new Oreo Molten Lava Cake... divine.  We do love Chili's!  Especially the Logan Chili's!

Another new love... Melaleuca has a new shampoo and conditioner, Affina, that I'm totally loving.  I don't often push my husband's business on the blog, but seriously, it's awesome!

Great Customer Service... I called the company that I'd ordered the paper plates from to let them know that I was so disappointed in the quality of the product.  I commended them on their excellent service, their speedy delivery and the other products, but those plates.  A huge disappointment.  The customer service lady thanked me for calling, acknowledged my disappointment and then offered me a credit for my next purchase within a year.  I insisted that I'd not called for a "freebie" but to let them know.  She appreciated my feedback.  I think that most companies do... good and bad.

Jalapeno Jellies:  I think that I posted this photo during the holidays. I got it from friend, Marilyn, while we were having dinner in December.  When she gave me two jars of homemade jalapeno jelly and showed me this photo, I did a happy dance!  (Although, I think that you need double the jelly after taking this beautiful photo!)  Friend, Natalie, also discovered a tasty store bought jalapeno jelly at Costco that is to die for!  I sent Doug to the store to pick up a  jar during the holidays and he came home with a jar of dark green jalapeno jelly that looked more like pickle relish.  Even though it wasn't nearly as pretty, it was pretty tasty.  We've discovered jalapeno jelly on cream cheese and crackers, jalapeno jelly on salmon, jalapeno jelly on whole wheat pancakes (remember, I'm married to GranolaMan).  He's not suggested it yet, but I'm waiting for him to put it on ice cream.  (He already thinks that is why Sweet and Sour Sauce was invented.)  Regardless of Doug's concoctions, it's a must have in the refrigerator these days!

A new recipe:  I wanted to share this very tasty and super simple recipe that I'd made for a treat on Sunday evening.  They are rich and sweet, which I'm sure is why they suggested 1" bite-size pieces.

1 box Yellow Cake Mix
1/2 cup butter
1 egg

First layer:  Mix cake, melted butter and 1 egg.  Pat into the bottom of a 9x13" pan. 

8 oz. cream cheese, softened
2 cups powdered sugar
2 eggs

Second layer:  Mix cream cheese, powdered sugar and 3 eggs until smooth and creamy.  Pour and spread on top of first layer.  Bake  at 350' for 40 minutes or until browned.  Cool completely and cut into 1" squares.  Top with fresh strawberries in glaze or caramel sauce or chocolate.  Enjoy!

And last but not least, have I mentioned Pinterest in the past few days?  Okay, I admit.  I'm hooked.  Love that I can find any recipe under the sun, any crafty creation, any beautifully decorated room, any awesome quote in seconds.  I love it.

 And this quote, then...enough said.

a little of this and a little of that

Another unseasonly warm day in Cache Valley.  I actually went for a walk this morning without even a jacket.  This is just wrong!  We should be having subzero temps with a foot of snow frozen on the ground.  Instead, there were birds chirping in the trees outside my gallery window all afternoon.   And on the other hand, I understand that the winter is hitting hard back east.  The forecast promises nothing for another week.  Please pass winter! 

After getting the babes off to school, with very quickly made homemade breakfast burritos and wrapped them to go, (ya gotta love that crazy first morning back to school after a long winter break!) I went back to bed for a few hours to catch up on some sleep. I rarely do that, but apparently, I needed it because I slept a few hours until Denise texted to see if I was ready to go.  Talk about getting busy quick! Denise and I enjoyed a couple of hours at Chili's, catching up after a few weeks of seeing each other very little.  Her son came from med school in DC the day before Liza left, then her husband had shoulder surgery, plus the holidays.  It mean very little time actually together, so we had plenty to talk about today.  Love it!

Since Denise and I were still playing, Kelly dropped Zaylee off at my mom's for a bit until I got home.  Nana loved that!  Mom brought Zaylee at naptime and we watched "The Help together while Mom did my ironing.  My mother lovesto iron.  And I don't mind that she does at all!  I'd texted to Natalie that Mom was coming over to watch "The Help" and do my ironing.  Nat texted back, "How appropriate."  (hee-hee)

Zaylee awoke up from her nap near the end of the movie.  The scene has a woman on a porch yelling at another woman, mentioning a cold sore on the one woman's face.  Zaylee, still half asleep, came into the family room, watched intently for a few seconds and then, yelled at the TV, "GO HOME NOW AND WASH YOUR FACE!!!"    We all just burst into tears of laughter.  She doesn't miss much!

And one other "must record for posterity" story.  Quayd was asked to teach the Teachers Quorum last Sunday. He spent serious time preparing and when Quayd is prepared, he has no fear. 

Doug attended his lesson for moral support.  After church, they told me that the lesson went really well and he did a great job "until the last few minutes".  WHAT?  Apparently, Quayd was leaning against the wall, with his legs locked, as he was asking the boys a question when BAM!!! , he fainted and fell flat on the ground.  His eye is bruised and his glasses scratched his cheek when he hit.  Hard!  Doug said that he'd noticed that his legs were locked and that is a common cause of fainting.  Quayd's eyes were wide open, but he was completely unconscious for a few seconds.  He lifted Quayd's legs to get the blood circulating again.  Quayd "came to" and asked "What's happening?"  He was clueless.  However, he got up, Doug pulled up a chair for him to sit on, another to prop his legs on and then Quayd completed the last few minutes of the lesson without missing a beat.

That was Doug's version.  Quayd's included that he felt really "tired" and he said to himself, "I have to stay awake."  Then, he said that "it felt like the room was getting dark". He had no clue that he had fallen, that his eyes were wide open because it got so dark, so quickly.  When I asked him if he was nervous about giving the lesson, he said "No, I was fine because I was prepared."  When I asked if fainting scared him, he said, "YES!"   However, he did add, "But, I'm a Corbridge and Corbridge's finish what they start, so I got up and finished the lesson."   Love that boy!

The funny part of the story came when the Young Men's President called to check on how Quayd was doing on Monday.  Aaron commented that he was most surprised at how casual Doug was when it happened,  that he'd just helped Quayd up and Quayd picked up right where he left off.  He said, "I was surprised by Doug's casual reaction, but I figured if he was okay with Quayd continuing, I guess we should be too." (The Bishop, a counselor, the YM President and his counselor were also there.)  What they didn't know was that Doug watched me faint up to thirteen times a day for ten years, before I finally had a hysterectomy at age 28.  Fainting is no biggie in our family.  ;) 

So, those are a few ramblings from the Corbridge home.  I also wanted to share this recipe, a favorite today.   Nat called and asked for it and I thought it had been posted before, but it wasn't.  It's a must try!  One of my blogging goals this year is to be better at posting all recipes, both here and on the cooking blog, so that they are easier to locate later.  Here's the first!  

1 16 oz. bag penne pasta, cooked till almost done

2 15 oz. jars of Alfredo Sauce  (I use Cheesy Ragu flavor)

sliced fresh mushrooms (I use a large box from the produce section)

1 bunch green onions, chopped

1 - 2 cups diced ham  (diced finely)

1 - 2 cups cooked, chopped chicken

cooked, chopped bacon, if desired ( Not bacon bits.)  (And trust me, you desire!)

2-4 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

Saute mushrooms, green onions in butter, adding the ham, chicken and  bacon.  Pour one jar of Alfredo sauce and cover the bottom of a 9x13 pan.   Add and mix the pasta with the remaining ingredients into the pan.  Pour the second bottle of Alfredo over the mixture and cover in shredded mozzarella cheese. Cover with foil and bake at 350 for half an hour.  Enjoy!  

 

The happiest people do have the best of everything,
they make the best of everything they have.

an apology, a little rambling and a recipe

Carol and I had planned on spending the day together as families, but due to several unplanned circumstances, it ended up being Taylor, Carol and myself  playing games, eating all sorts of goodies (Carol is the QUEEN of Appetizers and snacks!), did a little catch-up on TV shows, did some shopping and then went to a vampire wedding.  (Yes, again.  hee-hee!)  A fun, fun day!  Doug stayed at home with the kids while they had friends over and he worked on his own to-do list.  I got the great end of that deal!  Girls' Day Out!  I couldn't thank him enough when I got home!

One of the games we played today was the game that Liza gave Gracie for Christmas.  Discombobulation.  SO fun!  It's about $15 and worth every penny... if you love games and have no inhibitions. I can't wait for girls night out!

Carol also made an old recipe that we'd had years ago together, often, but had forgotten about.  It'd be perfect for New Years Eve!  The ironic thing was that I'd found the recipe a few days ago myself, too.  Neither of us had made it for years!

Broccoli Dip

1 finely chopped onion
3-4 stalks chopped celery
2-4 cups fresh mushrooms, sliced
1 bag frozen broccoli

Sautee everything in about 1/4 cup butter.  Pour into crock pot and add 2 cans of cream of mushroom soup and half of a large brick of Velveeta.  Serve warm with Lime Flavor Doritos or Crackers or French Bread pieces.  Enjoy!!!  I'll photograph it when I make it later this week!  You'll love it!

I posted a word art quote on my blog recently from Pinterest.  I didn't realize that this was not appropriate, so a public apology is in order. I totally thought that things on Pinterest were to be shared.  My bad!   And I'll be more than happy to stand in the repent corner for my mistake!  So sorry!

A funny from Doug: (Just an hour before, we'd talked about how everything needed the convenience of a ringer so we could dial it, like when we misplace our cellphones.)  He'd brought everything in from the truck tonight when I got home.  Later, I asked, "Where'd my camera go?"  His response:  "Want me to dial it?"

Our big Thursday plan is to have dinner with one of our favorite people on this whole planet, Doug B., our friend who's visiting from Indiana!  Doug has to have one of the biggest hearts ever. He's a huge tease and he joked that I had "Tease me" on my forehead, so I was a recipient of many of his jokes.  Years ago, Doug B asked me how were were doing.  I decided to tease him in return.  It was a week or two before Thanksgiving.  I said that we were going to probably just pass on Thanksgiving because we couldn't afford it.  The truth was that we had 12 missionaries and another family coming for Thanksgiving dinner!  The next day, Doug showed up at our home with bags and bags of groceries for the makings of a huge Thanksgiving feast.  I felt terrible!  When I told him that I was teasing him, he said, "Well let's go find someone who needsit!"   Within 20 minutes, we were able to bless another family with his generosity!

Doug B is also the man who promised Liza, when she was eight years old, that he'd be there, whenever, wherever  when she married in the LDS Temple.  A week before Liza's wedding, almost 14 years later, Doug called to tell us that he was on his way.  He drovehis ragtop Jeep across the country during a blizzard to be here in Utah for Liza's wedding.  He spent the night before and left shortly after the ceremony.  We {heart} Doug B!  I'm not sure who's more excited to see him, my Doug or myself!?  Liza was verysad when I told her that he was coming to town and that she'd be missing him.  When Kelly picked Zaylee up, her first response was "I want to see him!!!"  The kids all love him too!

Speaking of Zaylee, we gaver her her own little Christmas.  It was so fun to hear about her new toys from Santa.  She opened a pair of "Hello Kitty" socks from us and said, " THANKS, Gwammie!!!  You got these socks for me??  They're soooooo beautiful!"  Then, a puzzle.   "My own puzzle?!??  Thank you!!"  Then, she opened her new polka-dot bedding and fuzzy pink pillow.  And tossed it on the ground.  Next?  We cracked up.(It was what she'd told me she wanted.)  Then, later, she came into the gallery, where I was working on a puzzle of my own.  "Gwammie?  Santa bwought you that puzzle?"  I love having her in our home!  She's a hoot!

Loving this Christmas break!  Loving life! It's just plain good!

Find a beautiful place and get lost!

 

 

YUM!!!

The kids are home for the weekend.  Doug will be home at 3 tomorrow!  The food's all bought, the meal's all planned.  The weekend looks to be filled with lots of fun, family and food! Here's three of our Thanksgiving Favorites!  (None of the photos, except this one, are mine!)

This is one of my favorite recipes of all time.  I bought one of those Pillsbury Cookbooks at the Check- out stand in the grocery store years and years ago.   I shared this recipe with the baker at Juniper Inn and it became a fast favorite on their dessert menu.  Seriously, the best apple pue I've ever tasted!  A perfect twist to a very traditional Thanksgiving dessert!

 

Sour Cream Apple Pie

Crust

1 Box Pillsbury® refrigerated pie crusts, softened as directed on box

Filling

1 1/4 cups sour cream

3/4 cup granulated sugar

1/4 cup all-purpose flour

1/4 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons vanilla

1 egg

6 cups 1/4-inch slices peeled baking apples

Topping

1/2 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 cup chopped walnuts

1/4 cup granulated sugar

1/4 cup packed light brown sugar

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Dash salt

3 tablespoons cold butter or margarine

Heat oven to 400°F. Unroll pie crust in 9-inch glass pie plate as directed on box for One-Crust Filled Pie. In large bowl, beat sour cream, granulated sugar, flour, salt, vanilla and egg with wire whisk until well blended; stir in apples. Pour into crust-lined pie plate. 2 Bake 15 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 350°F; bake 30 minutes longer. 3 Meanwhile, in medium bowl, mix all topping ingredients except butter. With pastry blender or fork, cut in butter until mixture looks like coarse crumbs; refrigerate until ready to use. 4 Sprinkle topping over pie. Bake 20 to 25 minutes longer or until topping is golden brown. Cool completely on cooling rack, about 2 hours. Cover and refrigerate any remaining pie.  

These came from friend Heather.  There's only one word for these sweet potatoes  ~ sinful!  They are a gazillion calories, tons of grams of fat and enough sugar to require a dental visit, but, worth every single bit of it!

 

Aunt Jan's Sweet Potatoes

3 C. cooked sweet potatoes mashed (approx. 2 large potatoes)
1/4 C. sugar
1 C. brown sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
2 eggs beaten
1 C. butter melted

1/2 C. milk
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1 C. chopped walnuts
1/3 C. flour 

Combine potatoes, sugar, 1/4 C. of the brown sugar, salt, eggs, 1/2 C. of the butter, milk and vanilla.  Place in buttered 2 quart casserole dish.  Combine remaining butter, brown sugar, walnuts and flour. Spoon over potatoes.  Bake covered at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. (Note: I usually  do this recipe and a half to fill a 9 x 13” baking dish.)

Mom’s Raw Apple Cake

3 eggs
2 cups sugar
1 ½ cups oil
3 cups flour
3 cups shredded apple
1 cup chopped pecans
1 tsp. Salt
1 tsp. Baking soda
1 tsp. Vanilla
1 tsp. Cinnamon

Cream oil and sugar together. Mix dry ingredients in. Add eggs, apples, vanilla and nuts. VERY thick. Pour into greased and floured bundt pan. Bake 1 hour and 15 minutes at 350̊. Sprinkle with powdered sugar when completely cool. Store loosely covered.

Looking back, we see with great clarity, and what once appeared
as difficulties now reveal themselves as blessings.

ramblings, a recipe and a lot of ways to save over the next 51 days

Kelly had the day off and wanted to "Do something fun".  So, we went to lunch at Chili's and then to check out a house that they are considering moving to.  It's really cute and has a great yard, a place for Kevin to drum outside of the house and a fence to keep Zaylee safe.  However, more money and a few miles further away from us than they already are.  SO. good and bad things to consider.  One thing that I've learned with Kelly over the years is that she'll do what she wants to do.  So, I gave her my input, told her what her dad's thoughts were and left it up to her.  We'll see.  But. We had a fun time together, teasing and joking.  Zaylee was Chili's lunch entertainment today. It was a fun afternoon. 

Best news of the day:  Gracie made the honor roll!  She's so excited!  AND Zions Bank starts paying a dollar per A into her savings account, so how cool is that!

The 80's called.  They want their hair back.  Today was 80s day at her school.  This morning, we gave her some serious 80s hair.  I laughed so hard at Liza's response to the photo I texted her. I sent only the photo with no text.   A few hours later, she responded with "Please tell me it's 80s day."  She guessed it!  Or she had very little faith in my sense of style!  LOL Gracie loved her hair. Her face look just shocked when Doug suggested that she wear it this way every day.  "I don't think so, Dad!" Too funny!

Another Gracieism:  Go-Go was digging around in his bed.   She looked at him and said, "Go-Go, stop digging that hole.  Do you think you're a muskrat?"   

I got a ton done on the wedding prep today!  Things are coming together!

FYI:   While on the phone with my cellphone provider today, I double checked to see if they'd made an adjustment to my bill because two months ago, I discovered that my cellphone plan had been changed without my knowledge and we were $100 over in minute usage.  In eleven years, other than the time that Kevin took Kelly's phone (Don't get me started), we have never gone over our minutes.  Come to find out, our "plan" had been changed inadvertantly by the salesguy when I bought my new i-Phone last spring.  Once discovered, I asked them to put it back to the correct plan immediately and insisted that they credit my account for the $100, since I'd never changed my plan.  (Obviously.  Why would I have dropped my plan to less minutes than I use every month?)  They agreed.  A month later, I got a call from them asking if I still wanted to change my plan? A month after I requested the change? 

SO.  Tonight, when I called the phone company to ask about phone service for my dad, I asked about that balance and it was $238!  LONG LONG story short... before all was said and done, they credited my account for the money that hadn't been done yet AND they changed my mother's plan back to the minimum $9.99 plan that it was supposed to be.  Somehow, Mom's phone, which is also on our account, had been changed to a $96 a month package...for her phone alone!  Mom used her phone for exactly twelve minutes last month.  With taxes, those twelve minutes cost $104!  Big mistake on their part. All is well now. 

My purpose in telling all of these details... with the holidays upon us, and with the economy as it is, we need to be watching for ways to save every penny possible!  There's only51 days left till Christmas.  That's seven weeks and for most people, a few paydays left  to finish up (or start, for some!).  Here's some ideas on how to save a little here and a little there for the holidays:

• Check your phone and cable bills.   Mistakes are easily made.  The woman who helped me today was efficient, apologetically and pleasantly.  I'm amazed at how often little mistakes like that can be made and if we don't pay attention, we can really lose out on lots of money.  That $100 credit will be most helpful this next few weeks!
• Check your receipts.  Watch the cash register monitor for prices to be what they were advertised for or the signage said.  If you are using coupons or store flyers, all the more reason to make sure the register gives the correct prices.  Mistakes can add up quickly!  Last year, during the holidays, Denise and I went shopping...  Out of five receipts, four of them had mistakes that added up to over $50. 
• Shop after the season... Hershey's Kisses in Halloween colors will taste the same in those peanut blossom cookies as the Christmas foil wrapped Kisses.  Check out "regular" products for prices that are more affordable than the fancy holiday package items...same product, different packaging = savings!
• Shop sales and buy bulk!  Food is better priced this next few weeks of the year than at any other time of the year.  Stock up on canned pumpkin, powdered sugar, pop, anything that's a "steal of a deal" !
• Use coupons!  Weekly ads offer many "Buy one, get one free" items!  Take advantage of those! 
• For the next two months, don't eat out!  A friend of mine does this every November and December and saves tons.
• Instead of going out, entertain at home.  Dine in with friends.  Have potluck.
• Set your goals today.  Make a holiday budget.  Plan what you will spend and stick to that plan!  Don't succumb to impulse purchase over the next two months.  If it's not written down and planned on and you don't need it, don't buy it!
• Shop alone.  Shopping with friends lends to buying something just because "they" bought one.  Again, if it's not on your list, don't buy it. 
• If you feel tempted to impulse shop, write down the item and price.  Wait 48 hours before making the purchase.  You'll be surprised at how many times you realize you really didn't need it after all.  This works just as well on a cute holiday decoration as it does for a new flatscreen tv that just happens to be on sale.
• Make an inventory list.  What have you purchased through the year that's hiding in the closet already?  Don't forget those items and buy duplicates or "instead ofs".  Again, stick with the plan!
• Shop online.  Even if you don't buy online, shop online. Check the prices before you spend the gas money driving from store to store to shop.  Know the prices before you leave home.
• Lots of stores price match these days.  You can save time and gas money by getting as much as possible in one store!  (Remember, as Doug says, "If you don't A-S-K, you don't G-E-T.")
• If you find a gift that would work for multiple people on your shopping list, buy several and then personalize the gift with a note.  This saves time, energy, gas and stress!
• Host an open house for the neighborhood.  Have everyone bring a few treats to share.  Rather than exchanging neighbor gifts, have a "Christmas Jar" for donations to be deposited instead, then give the jar full of donations to a charity or family in need.  (Our old Bunco group did this and my neighbors do this as a "block party" each year.  You'd be surprised at how much you can donate as a group, and yet, it saves individual family funds as well.)
• If you're entertaining, have everyone bring a favorite dish or dessert.  There'll be plenty to eat and you don't have to spend two days in the kitchen before the party or a week's worth of grocery money on the event.  (Have them bring recipes along!  This is how I discovered some of my favorite holiday foods!)
• Use a Christmas version of "the envelope method".  Leave your credit cards at home in a drawer.  Shop with cash only.  Designate an amount for each recipient and put the amount in cash in an envelope labeled with their name on it.  This gives new meaning to "robbing Peter to pay Paul". Don't do it!  By using cash in the envelopes, you'll be more likely to stick to your budget!
• Make a promise to yourself to not buy for yourself while shopping!  (This is one of my weaknesses.  Not that I buy myself gifts, but I could spend my entire Christmas budget buying new decor each season!)  Again, the envelope method would come in handy here.  And if you must, have a "holiday decorations" envelope.
• Again, plan, budget, plan some more, budget some more, use self-control!

And here's what we'll be having for Sunday dinner! 

French Pumpkin Soup

1 8-10 pound Cinderella pumpkin
1/2 cup butter
3 leeks, white part and 2 inches of green part, cut into 1 inch rounds
12-15 slices of baguette, torn or cut into bite-sized pieces, toasted for 5 min in 350 oven
1/2 tsp. sage
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
Salt & pepper
2 cups gruyere cheese, shredded
4-6 cups chicken broth
2 bay leaves

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Cut a round hole in the top of the pumpkin, and clean the seeds out of the inside, patting it dry. Rub one tablespoon of butter around the inside of the pumpkin, then salt and pepper well.  In a large pot, melt the butter and add the leeks. Cook until soft, then add the bread cubes, sage and nutmeg, and salt and pepper, and toss until well-coated. Taste, and add more salt & pepper as needed. Put half the leek and bread mixture in the pumpkin, followed by a layer of half the cheese. Add the rest of the bread cubes and finish with a top layer of cheese. Fill with broth, add bay leaves.  Replace the top of the pumpkin, and put it on a rimmed baking sheet. Bake for 1 1/2 - 2 hours, until broth is bubbling.  When you serve it, get a scoop of soup, then scrape some pumpkin from the inside into the bowl, too.

Life is good!  I'm excited just thinking about the upcoming weeks!  And last but not least, today is our son, Dale's 33 birthday!  Happy Birthday, Dale!  We love you!

Happiness cannot be traveled to, owned, earned, worn or consumed.
Happiness is the spiritual experience of living every minute with love, grace and gratitude.

Wednesday musings and a treat or two!

I had to stop and take a shot of the creek just up the street from us.  Beautiful!  Fall is just the perfect time of the year!

• A productive day with hours on the phone trying to make final arrangements for Tessa's wedding.  Tomorrow, I'm hoping to finish up shopping for all of the food.  It's coming together!
• It was so cold today!  Eighteen degrees when we woke up this morning!  EIGHTEEN!  Crazyness!
• Tending Zaylee is my happy thought every day.  She's so dang cute and so far, she's been an angel.  Tonight, as I was getting her to sleep, her tummy rumbled. Loudly.  I said, "Do you have a tiger in your tummy?!"  She said, "Noooo, Grammie.  That 's just me!"
• Speaking of tummies... I was awakened by the words, "I threw up."  And did she ever.  Gracie spent the day carrying a bucket in hand.  ZJ had headaches, no tummy ache.  Gracie had tummy, no headache.  I'm hoping the Quayd wakes up feeling healthy tomorrow!
• I made another 8 quarts of applesauce tonight!  It only takes about fifteen minutes to prepare the apples and then it takes longer to assemble the Vittorio Strainer than it does to churn the apples through.  Besides letting them simmer until they are cooked, it takes less than 45 minutes time.  And the house smells so nummy!  I think I'll make applesauce every day!  It's better than burning candles.
• Speaking of candles, I'm loving my cake batter, oatmeal cookie and pumpkin spice Scentinel waxes in my burner.  One of my favorite things about fall... candles and waxes!  MMMMM!
• There's pumpkin cake in the kitchen screaming my name as I type.  I hate it when that happens!  Especially late at night!
• I found this pumpkin recipe last month here while surfing.  I've not made them but can't imagine any way that they won't be fabulous! I think that this will be a Thanksgiving weekend tradition at our home!  We can't wait to make them!

Pumpkin Doughnuts
Yield: about 16 doughnuts and doughnut holes

For the doughnuts:
3½ cups all-purpose flour
4 tsp. baking powder
½ tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1 tsp. ground ginger
½ tsp. ground nutmeg
¼ tsp. ground cloves
1 cup sugar
3 tbsp. unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 large egg
2 large egg yolks
1 tsp. vanilla extract
½ cup buttermilk
1 cup pumpkin puree

Canola oil or peanut oil, for frying

For the cinnamon-sugar:
½ cup sugar
2 tsp. ground cinnamon

For the spiced glaze:
1 cup powdered sugar
¼ tsp. ground cinnamon
Dash of ground nutmeg
Dash of ground ginger
Dash of ground cloves
2 tbsp. milk

To make the dough, combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and spices in a medium bowl.  Whisk to blend, and set aside.  In the bowl of an electric mixer, combine the sugar and butter and beat until well blended.  Stir in the egg, then the egg yolks, and then the vanilla until incorporated.  Combine the buttermilk and pumpkin in a liquid measuring cup and whisk together.  With the mixer on low speed, add in the dry ingredients in three additions alternating with the pumpkin mixture, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients.  Once the dough is mixed, cover and chill for at least 3 hours or until firm.  (The dough still seemed quite soft so we did an additional 30 minute chill in the freezer.)  

On a well-floured work surface, roll or pat out the dough to a ½-inch thick round.  Sprinkle the surface of the dough with flour.  Using a 2½ to 3-inch round biscuit cutter, cut out rounds of dough.  Use a smaller cutter (or a wide pastry tip) to cut a hole out of the center.  Reroll and cut the dough scraps as necessary.

Add oil to a large saucepan or Dutch oven to a depth of about 2-3 inches.  Attach a thermometer to the side of the pan and heat the oil to 365-370˚ F.  Add the rings of dough to the hot oil so that they are in a single layer and not touching.  Fry, turning once, until both sides are golden brown and doughnuts are cooked through, about 3-4 minutes total.  Use a skimmer/strainer to remove from the oil and transfer to a paper towel-lined rack.  Bring the oil temperature back up to the target range before repeating with the next batch of doughnuts.  Use the same process for the doughnut holes, frying for a shorter time.

To make the cinnamon-sugar, combine the sugar and cinnamon in a shallow dish and whisk to blend.  When the doughnuts are just cool enough to handle, dip half of them in the cinnamon-sugar to coat completely, shaking off the excess.

To make the spiced glaze, combine the powdered sugar and spices in a small bowl.  Add the milk and whisk to combine, until a thick glaze is formed.  If necessary, add a bit more milk to thin the glaze out.  Dip the remaining half of the doughnuts in the glaze.  Allow the glaze to set before serving.

• I have loved Sarah Jessica Parker since Footloose, the original. I've never seen an episode of "that show" in the city.  But, Sarah, Sarah, Sarah?  Seriously? And no, it's not photoshopped.  I guess I'm just not a fashionista. 
• I am love, love, loving this season of Survivor!  This week's episode is one of my favorite episodes ever!
• Tonight, I was invited to a wedding... Bella and Edward's wedding.  Complete with a huge party, raffles, auctions, prizes and a privately rented theater for the first viewing of the film... at midnight...the night before Tessa's wedding reception!  I'll be taking a nap before, for sure!  Can. Not.  Wait!
• My brother is coming to town this weekend.  I'm grateful that our relationship has been improving.  With age, does come wisdom. 
• 72 day marriages?  $10million weddings? 20 Karat diamonds?  This makes me so sad... sad that media pays more attention to things like the men and women who are risking our lives while serving our country, than children who are all sorts of risk, than people who are homeless and jobless.  Shaking my head.  Enough said about that.
• A "worth trying" treat.... Add a teaspoon of creamy peanutbutter to a your next cup of hot chocolate.  Mmmm!  Just saying!

Today's gratitude is for the thoughtulness of friends.  I am so blessed and there is rarely a day that goes by without some random act of kindness offered by at least one of my friends!  I am blessed!

The hardest arithmetic to master is
that which enables us to count our blessings. 

Novemberizing

First, I took this photo on Sunday on our way to Katie and Dave's.  My favorite site in the valley, from just off the USU campus.  The Logan LDS Temple.  Beautimous, yes?!

I created a new word today when I "Novemberized" my house.  Got the tablescape changed, redecorated the corner cabinet, put away the Halloween stuff and started thinking about the holidays bigtime!   Denise and I didn't go out for lunch to Chili's because her sister Mickee had surgery and Denise is out of town being a good sister.  (Get well quick, Mickee!  For your sake and mine... I miss Denise!) ZJ stayed home from school.  She didn't wake up feeling any better than she went to bed, so I kept her with me.  We sang "Let it Snow!" and Jingle Bells, which technically are "winter" songs not Christmas songs.  The furnace is running full speed ahead.  It was a cold day and we have fresh snow in the mountains.  Lovely! LOVELY! 

I also made bread and 12 pints of applesauce.  This was my first attempt at applesauce and I think I'll make some more tomorrow!  And the next day.  And the next.  We have a lot of apples!  (When I tried to take pictures, the camera batteries were dead and the charger had been unloaded so no fresh ones were ready.  Thank you, Mr. Nobody.)

I took doug's mom some soup and rolls for tonight's dinner, this morning.  Mom lives across the street from the Logan Temple on one of the steepest hills in the valley.  I parked facing down the hill, hit the park/emergency brake, shifted into Park and turned my wheels toward the curb like I remember learning to do in drivers ed, back when dinosaurs roamed the earth.  When I came back out to the truck, it wouldn't start.  As in the key wouldn't turn, the steering wheel was locked up, nada.  I couldn't shift.  Nothing.  I knew that it had to have something to do with the steep hill, so I played with it for about ten minutes. 

ZJ was with me.  Finally, I called a locksmith, who told me that I was right and he could come out for $45 to start me, but if some pin were broken, it would be $140.  I told him I'd get back to him.  Then, knowing Doug wasn't near his phone, I called one of our oldest friends, DeMar, who is a mechanic.  He didn't answer.  ZJ said, "Mom, we could pray."  And so, she offered a prayer that we could find the problem and go home.  As she was finishing the prayer, literally, my phone rang and it was De calling me back.  He told me that I'd have to force that steering wheel to move before I could turn the key.  I did exactly what he said and sure enough, it started and all was well.

Two lessons learned from this experience...

1. Follow the example of your ten year old daughter! Pray!
2. Don't turn your wheels toward the curb on a steep hill unless you are driving an antique car.  Today's cars have emergency brakes and good brakes.  AND if you do and it locks up, just force the wheel to turn.  Don't just sit there.  Ya learn something every day!

I wanted to share a pumpkin recipe.  I've not made these yet because I was out of cornmeal.  But, this sounds divine.  I make a lot of cornbread and had never heard of this one. I'll report back this weekend, for sure on these.

Pumpkin Cornbread

1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1 Tbsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
1 cup cornmeal
2 large eggs
1 cup unsweetened pumpkin puree
2/3 cup light brown sugar, packed
1/4 cup oil
1 Tbsp. molasses

 

 Preheat oven to 400°.  Sift flours, baking powder, salt and spices into a large mixing bowl. Whisk in cornmeal. In separate bowl, beat eggs lightly. Whisk in pumpkin, brown sugar, oil and molasses.  Make a well in the dry mixture. Add pumpkin mixture and blend batter with a few quick strokes (just until blended- don't over-mix).  Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake for 30 minutes, or until cornbread is browned and the surface has a slightly springy feel.

 

 

We often take for granted the very things that most deserve our gratitude.

ten in ten or less

1. A very mellow UEA weekend at the Corbridges.
2. The potatos in mom's soup cooked nine hours.  Still raw???
3. Kids home all day. Empty cookie jar already.  Baking tomorrow.
4. Headaches make me cranky.  Literally.
5. I'm craving hot cocoa and whipping cream.
6. Photographing October tablescape this weekend.
7. Relief Society lesson coming along well.
8. Looking forward to the new movie, Anonymous.
9. Doug's home till Monday!  HAPPINESS!
10. Today's cookie recipe looks to die for!
    
    I found this recipe while surfing here. I've not made them but oh my gosh, I can't wait to!  Do they look fabulous or what? 



Caramel Stuffed Apple Cider Cookies

recipe very slightly adapted from The Cooking Photographer

Ingredients

1 cup softened butter

1 cup granulated sugar

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 box (7.4 oz) Alpine Spiced Apple Cider Instant Original Drink mix -not sugar free- all 10 packets (I found this in my grocery store near the hot chocolate mixes.)

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

3 cups all purpose flour

1 bag Kraft Caramels (14 oz)

Directions

• Preheat oven to 350° F. Line cookie sheets with parchment. (You really need the parchment!)
• In a small bowl whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder and cinnamon.
• With your mixer (or an energetic spoon) cream together butter, sugar, salt and all 10 packages of apple cider drink mix powder, until light and fluffy.
• Beat in eggs, one at a time. Add vanilla and mix well.
• Gradually add flour mixture to butter/egg mixture. Mix until just combined.
• Refrigerate for about an hour. (If you're really impatient you don't have to do this, but it makes it so much easier to work with.)
• When you are ready to bake, unwrap your caramels. 
• Scoop out cookie dough ball about the size of a walnut. (I used a rounded cookie scoop-full. My scoop holds about a Tablespoon.)
• Flatten the ball of dough slightly in the palm of your hand. Press the unwrapped caramel into the center of your dough and seal the dough around it, covering it completely. Place on parchment covered cookie sheets 2 inches apart.
• Bake 12-14 minutes, or until very lightly browned around the edges. Please don't over-bake! Once the cookies are done, slide the parchment off of the baking sheet right out onto the counter. Allow cookies to partially cool on the parchment. When cookies are cool enough to be firm but still slightly warm, carefully twist off of parchment and allow to finish cooling upside down (either on the parchment or on a rack.) If you forget about them and they cool too much and stick to your parchment, put them into the freezer for a few minutes and they'll pop right off.
• Yield: about 4 dozen, depending on how large you make your cookies (or how many caramels have been snitched out of your bag before you begin.) Store in an airtight container.

Friday, I'll be sewing a bit, crafting a bit, cooking a bit, canning a bit, studying a bit and enjoying the family a lot.  Life is good. 

a few ramblings and a recipe

Doug and I were watching a show, in which a main character was written off'/killed last season.  He'd not seen any of this show this fall season and asked where the one guy was.  I said, "Don't you remember the season finale?"  He thought for a sec and said, "So they're doing without him even though he's dead?"  The man is a regular comedian.

Which reminds me of our son.  Quayd was lying in the dentist's chair today while the assistant explained to him what they were going to do today.  (Sealants)  Quayd said, "So, I need my mouth open for you to do this?"  Like father like son.

It's UEA, which is another way of saying "Fall Break" in Utah.  The babes are out of school until Monday.  We've always gone to the ranch for UEA, but the loft is occupied until the end of the month.  So.  We stay home.  I'll try to pull off a few other little fun activities for the family. 

Tonight, the girls had a sleepover at Nana's.  Quayd just came in from the B's.  Doug's working tomorrow, but has the rest of the weekend off so we'll enjoy a few days together.  Love it!  I did hear that they'll be taking a 25 mile bike ride this weekend and then all that's left is the big 50 miler and Quayd will have one of the biggest merit badges toward his Eagle completed!  So, that will be Saturday's activity.  I teach Relief Society this weekend and will take advantage of any quiet moments in finishing up the last minute thoughts and hopefully,  inspiration that come my way!

Tonight's cookie recipe...a cookie recipe redo from my blog.  I'm thinking that these would be very "Halloweeny" if you used orange food coloring instead of green and left out the mint.  They'd almost look like little witches hats.  We're not much into food coloring, but they do sell black at gourmet cooking shops.   

This recipe is on my cooking blog for the past year, but is worth repeating.. I used Denise's sugar cookie recipe, which has to be one of the best ever and the concept of Peanut Blossoms,  made a few changes and voila... these delicious treats!

1 1/2 cups butter
1 1/2 cups cups sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
4 cups flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
1/2 cup milk
1/2 tsp. mint extract
8 or so drops of green food coloring

bowl of sugar
2 bags Hersheys Mint Kisses, unwrapped

Cream butter and sugar together. Add eggs and vanilla. Mix well. Add flour, soda and salt, alternately with milk. Add food coloring until green enough and mint extract. Mix well. Roll into balls (about a teaspoon) and then roll in the bowl of sugar until coated. Bake for 7-9 minutes at 375 degrees. They will look undercooked. Do not overcook. While cookies are baking, unwrap all of the kisses and set aside in a bowl. Remove the cookies from the cookie sheet and wait about three minutes. Place a Candy Kiss in the center of each cookie. Let cool completely before storing. Makes about 75 regular size cookies. Enjoy!

 

The girls and I made the recipe without the mint and green to begin with. We just rolled the cookies in the sugar and placed the kisses after baking. Very tasty. BUT, do not place the kisses in the cookies until they've cooled for a few minutes or they will flatten. (That actually works out too, because they are easier to store without the kiss bumping off the top.) I'm also thinking that these would be really cute rolled in green or red sugar crystals for Christmas!  This dough is also perfect for fruit pizza!

 

The leaves have finally started here in the valley and are even falling.  It's the latest fall I ever remember.  A full four days with the babes at home, three with Doug at home, beautiful weather.  I'm loving it!  Life is good!

 

If you follow your bliss, doors will open where you

 would not have thought that there would be doors.

 

a movie, a recipe and a few other ramblings...

Denise and I didn't go to Chili's today!  It's not Tuesday if we don't go to Chili's but, we were at the wrong end of town for errands and then we went to the matinee of "Footloose".  Different is fun!

Here's my quick movie review of the new version.  It's veryclose to the original story.  The music is great, but has more of a country flair to it, which I loved.  Love the new version of Holding on to a Hero. Love Blake Shelton's version of Footloose.  Loved Julianne Hoff's performance, although she's much more "sleazy" than the original actress.  Dennis Quaid is a much more likable dad.  The dancing is not nearly as good as the original.  It's "dirty dancing"... lots of grinding and bumping.  Ren is no Kevin Bacon, but he's good and believable.  I love Willard in both movies! LOVED that they stuck so close to the original and my favorite scene in both movies is "Let's Hear it for the Boy!"  So cute.  

I don't know that I'd want my girls to see this newer version.  It's definitely a "modern" version, where things are more accepted than they would have been back then.  Given the choice, I'd take the original.

The best laugh of the show was after it ended when Denise and I realized that we were the youngest people in the theater. When I asked this one 70ish woman what she thought, she said she loved it.  Then a man, probably 75ish in another row commented to her, "Let's see you dance like that."  (They were not together.)  She responded quickly, "They'd have to call 911."   Too funny!

Before I left this morning, I made White Chicken Chili. I've been craving it for days.  I'd checked my cooking blog on my iPhone while at the store to make sure I had what I needed to make it a few days ago.   Then, when I made it this morning, rather than check the cooking blog, I opened my cookbook.  Oops. Later, I realize that I'm using  two recipes ~ one from memory and one from the cookbook, which I have no idea where that recipe came from.  Once I realized this, I had to merge and figure out what to do because they were definitely different...one had cheese, one didn't.  One used a bottle of Italian dressing, one didn't...  Here's what I created using what I had and what I'd put into the crockpot before realizing the problem. It was the best White Chili I've yet to taste.  Loved it!

White Chili with Chicken

2 chicken, skinless, boneless chicken breast
4 cans great northern white beans
5 cups chicken broth
16 ounces half and half (instead of cream)
16 ounces sour cream (I used low-fat kind)
1 bag frozen corn
4 jalapeno peppers (seeded and chopped in food processor)
1 packet of italian dressing mix (I used no-name brand)(just the powder, don't make the dressing)
3 cups shredded cheese (I used cheddar)
1 tsp. cumin
1 tsp. garlic powder
1 large purple onion chopped
2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. black pepper

Put everything, except the cream, sour cream and cheese, into the crockpot.  Cook on high for about six hours.  Remove the chicken breast and shred with two forks.  Add the chicken back to the crock pot and then add the dairy ingredients.  Cook for another half an hour or so and serve.  Salt and pepper to taste.  SO SO GOOD!  Great with cornbread!  Note: I totally forgot to take pictures of the chili!  While looking online for one and saw limes, avocados and corn chips all garnishing this soup.  I can't wait to try them all, especially the lime!  !  I remembered I had my own photo but am glad to have found these garnish ideas that will add even more flavor!

I also made a batch of very tasty cookies tonight,but I'm saving the recipe and pix for another day.  Sorry.  Gracie reminded me the minute she walked in from school that the cookie jar was almost empty.  When she came in from Young Women's tonight, she said, "You remembered!" and ate a few before bedtime.  Just before she went to bed, she said, "Mom, thank you for everything you do for us.  You do so much."  I heart my kids!

A few rambling thoughts:

• I cranked up the furnace tonight. I'm craving hot cocoa.  Liza mentioned hot cocoa this morning.  It was a high of 98 degrees in Phoenix today.  She's in heaven.  I'm also craving some time with my girl.  I miss her.  Immensely.  She has five days off in early December. It's so not in our budget, but I'm thinking about asking Santa for a ticket for Liza to come home for that few days... a great gift for me! 
• When Liza answered her phone this morning, I asked, "Wanna go to lunch?  We could meet in St. George.  (That's about the halfway point for both of us... a six hour trip.)  She said, "Are you buying my gas?"  I said, "No, but I'll buy lunch and if we take a long time, I'll even buy snacks for your trip back to AZ."   Wishful thinking!  And seriously, I'd rather sleep in a tunnel filled with mice and flies than make that six hour drive.  But, I'd do it tomorrow to see Liza.  After joking about lunch, that's when she mentioned the days off.  That'll teach me to tease.
• ZJ asked me if I'd put her Crazy Hair/Clown Day photo on the blog yet.  Here ya go, Zeej.
• My heart aches for all of those involved in the racing world.  The more I hear about Dan Wheldon, the more I like him and realize that we've lost a good good man.
• Is it me or is all of the presidential election talk already too much?  Too much too early?  BTW, I am a Mormon and I AM a Christian. And I am registered Republican but that doesn't mean I'll vote that way.  Just saying.  ;)
• Totally random observation: Jennifer Aniston and Juliann Huff  look like sisters. 
• I am determined to sleep more than four hours tonight!  Enough said!

 

 

Quayd's birthday interview and some nummy cookies!

Wow. Here's Quayd's birthday interview.  He was so serious today.  I am always amazed by his sensitive spirit.  Sometimes, he's your ordinary silly 14 year old boy.  He's never been one for rude manners, but he can be pretty silly and loud.  Today, not so much.

If you could have one super-power, what would it be? Doing good to the world.

What was the last chore you did? Cleaning up my room. 

What's the last service you did?  I took Sister Watts her medicine from Lee's Pharmacy and she gave me a dollar for it!

What is your favorite song?  Linkin Park, "What I've Done." from Transformers (Imagine that?)

What do you like to eat for lunch at school?  Pizza.   (some things never change)

What's the nicest thing you've done for someone in your family lately? Being respectful and responsible.

What makes you mad?   My sisters when they get on my nerves.  When people talk behind other people's back. 

Where would you like to go on vacation?   The ranch, since we've not gone in tooooooo long!

Who's the smartest person in your family?  Probably Mom and Dad because Mom has this power that she knows everything that's going on all the time and Dad because he's smart with math, chemistry and has the power of making people feel better all the time.

How are you like Mom? I'm almost as tall as her.  I getting older like her.  Um. And I am respectful to her and yeh, that's pretty much it.  You're a fun-loving Mom. 

What's one word to describe Mom?  "Lois"  (I cackled loud enough for the neighbors to hear!  We watched this on YouTube about four years ago once and he still does the whole little schtick almost daily to me.) (and for the record, we've never watched a single minute of Family Guy!)

How are you like Dad?   Pretty much the same things. We watch movies together like Transformers, we can understand each other on the girl situations (I think he meant his sisters)  or situations with my peers and he takes us swimming and we go on bike rides with the scouts together.  He's just a fun loving dad. 

What's one word to describe Dad?  " Stud!  No, Babe, in your version. My word for Dad ~ EPIC!!, COOL! AWESOME!"

What's one thing that Mom always says to you?  "Make good choices.  I love you.  Be at the right place at the right time doing the right thing.  Um.  Goodnight.   Mmm-hmm-hhhmmm-hmmm.  (when I tell them an answer that I don't want them to know, I mmm-hmmmm the syllables instead of saying the words.)

What's one thing that you and Dad do together that you'll always remember?  We're spiritual men and endure to the end together.

If you had a million dollars, what's the first thing you'd buy?  I'd save it for my mission, pay tithing and then get a house.  A really nice looking house like Hogwarts.  Oh!  And definitely an iTouch, like the 4G and maybe a few Nintendo games like Lego Harry Potter 5-7.

How do you know that Mom and Dad love you? Cause I can see it in their eyes.   They feed me, they care for me, play with me (except when they are working) and they love me because I'm a good boy and make the right choices and alright - I do what I'm told to do and we were sealed as a family, so we'll always love each other, even if it's hard, we can still forgive and always love each other.  We're always there for each other. 

What's your favorite cereal?  Probably Cinnamon Toasters, those square kind with the cinnamon and sugar.

What's your favorite TV show?  LOST, even though it's not on TV anymore.  Castle, even though I've never got to see it.

What's your favorite vegetable?  Probably peas and Broccoli

What toy would you never give away?  My Nintendo DS.  My iPod if I ever got one.  My Transformers cuz they are collectibles, my wands. My Harry Potter glasses.  My gun.

What's your favorite game?  You mean,  on the Nintendo?  Probably Lego Harry Potter, Indiana Jones Lego and StarWars Lego.  My other favortite real game is Night Games.  (games in the dark in the neighborhood with a gazillion kids.)

What's your favorite movie?  Probably all three Transformers, Indiana Jones, Harry Potter, all of them, every single one.

What food would you eat every day if you could?   Shrimp and pizza

If you could choose a different name, what would it be?   Quayd Zero

What's the first thing you want to show your friends when they come to your house?  Mom's cookie jar!   

What's the scariest thing you've ever done?  My life before I came to live with you guys.  Sometimes I have nightmares that haunt me about that.   (He seriously has very few memories since he has been with us since the week he turned 4, but the few he has aren't very positive.  Sad, but true.  We don't bring this subject up often and I was surprised that he did today.  It's telling.)

Is your room messy or clean?   Right now?  When I woke up, I didn't have that much time today, but I usually have it really clean.  (He does!) 

If you could eat at any restaurant for the rest of your life, where would it be?  Golden Corral because they have shrimp! They've got almost everything except Mom's brownies and German pancakes.  They don't have that there.  Yep, probably Golden Corral and at home are my favorite places to eat.  

What's your favorite candy bar?  Take Five and 100 Grands. Snickers are good too.

What's the last thing of yours that Mom put on the fridge door?  I have no idea.  It's been a while.

What's your nickname? LoveBug, that's what you call me.

What's the best age to be?  Probably 14 because that's when other options come to you. It's when you start making more important choices and set up goals..like becoming a Teacher, going to the next step.

What do you and your sisters fight about?   Random stuff, I have no idea why, but we just do sometimes.

What's under your bed?  Okay, let's see. My art work, I know for a fact.  Some weird cord that I have no idea about and that's probably it.

What's your favorite holiday?  Probably my birthday because that's when we celebrate!

What do you know at age 14  Life is hard.  For me, in my opinion, please don't get me wrong, watching out for my sister is really hard because, that's when, in my experience, I have to be the one to protect her if anyone bullies her.  And being a good boy is important cause there are other people who are going to offer drugs and I know the answer is no, no, no, no, no.   I know that making good choices is important, learning from your mistakes is important.  I know that my parents love me.  I know that the Holy Ghost is with me and if there are dark times, it will help me get out of that situation.  I know that your friends can look up to you if you are a good example.  I know that the gospel is true.  I know that Thomas S. Monson is a prophet.  I know that Jesus Christ suffered for our sins and that we can thank him now by taking the sacrament and living worthily.   I know that my family is important.  I know that I have really good friends that help me.  I know that Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father are always there.  I guess that's all. That's pretty much it. 

 And that's my boy!  I heart him!

Now for a cookie.... a friend made these recently and OH MY!  She took no credit for the recipe, only to send me this, right off Pinterest.  I think they'd be fabulous ORANGE cookies in October or November!

A few other ramblings...

• No cavities for Gracie!  Three more dentist appointments this week.
• I'm impressed with Denise's auto insurance company.  They called to see how I'm doing after the accident and give me the correct numbers I need to see that my medical bills are properly billed and handled.  And I'm shocked that four days later, it still hurts. A. lot.
• Bill Clinton ~ 65 years old?  Whodathunkit?
• Still recovering from Transformers, BTW.   Footloose, anyone?  I can't wait!
• Life is good!

And in the end, it's not the years in the life; It's the life in the years.

Three recipes from the past...



Pumpkin Apple Cake

1/2 cup butter, melted
2 eggs
1 1/2 cup sugar
1 3/4 cup flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
1/4 tsp. ginger
1/4 tsp. ground cloves
(OR 1 1/2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice instead of spices)
1 cup canned pumpkin
1/2 cup apple juice
1/2 cup crushed pecans

Cream butter, sugar and eggs until sugar is dissolved.  Mix and stir in dry ingredients.  Add pumpkin and apple juice. Bake at 350° in a bundt pan for 45 minutes.  Cool before removing from pan.  Glaze with 1 cup powdered sugar and 1-2 tbsp. of apple juice.  Also very good with raisins baked in. 

Ten ingredients for a GREAT weekend breakfast dish!  Make it the night before and it only takes about two minutes of effort before tossing in the oven in the morning.  Great for company too!

BAKED FRENCH TOAST

1 loaf French Bread (cut into 1" cubes)
8 eggs
3 cups milk
2 tbsp. sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
dash of salt

Place bread in a well-buttered 9x13 inch pan.  Mix eggs, milk, sugar, vanilla and salt in blender.  Pour over the bread, cover and refrigerate  over night.  Take out of fridge half an hour before baking. 

1/4 cup of cold butter
1 tbsp. cinnamon
1/4 cup sugar
Mix cinnamon and sugar.  Dot the bread mixture with pieces of cold butter.  Sprinkle the cinnamon sugar over the top.  Cover with foil.  Bake at 350° for 45 minutes.  Let stand for about five minutes before cutting or it will appear uncooked. Add Syrup, powdered sugar or Jam!  ENJOY!

Sweet Cornbread

2 cups yellow corn meal
2 cups flour
1 1/4 cup sugar
2 Tbsp. baking powder
2 tsp. salt
2 cups milk
2/3 cup corn oil
3 eggs 
Preheat oven to 400°.  Mix dry ingredients.  Add remaining ingredients.  Mix until all ingredients are wet but do not over mix.  Bake 20 minutes (until golden on top and a toothpick comes out clean) in a buttered jelly roll pan or a 9x13 pan for thicker cornbread.  Serve warm.  (You can also use a bit less sugar and add shredded cheese and a can of diced chilies to it for a zesty flavor!  MMMM!  You can also make them into muffins.

 

Getting there isn't half the fun.  It's all the fun!

stuff, stuff and more stuff

A few ramblings:

• Dad is in the hospital again.   He's got some more issues to be resolved.  That stroke wiped him out and he's really struggling to get back in the game.  I would appreciate any prayers in Dad's behalf.  Thank you.
• Six more quarts of Chow-Chow on the shelves tonight!  Happiness!  We're totally hooked!  Have I mentioned that  I love my southern roots!?
• We kept Zaylee all day today.  Kelly brought her at 5AM on her way to SLC for her "re-enhancement" surgery.  Tonight, Doug took Zaylee home, along with a plate of cookies, some dinner and some chow-chow.  Kelly is resting and feeling better, but she said that this was the worst of all the procedures to date, because the doctor had to remove all of the scar tissue.  But, she's happy.  That's what matters most. (If I knew how, I'd make a little emoticon with a face rolling it's eyes or a big question mark over it.)  Kelly, Kelly, Kelly.  Yagottaluvher.
• I met Denise and her daughter, Ashlee and her three little ones at McDonald's Playland this morning and while the kids had a ball, we played cards.  I love that!  I don't love Playland (can you say Germfest?)but I do love cards.  And Zaylee gets a bath as soon as we get home!
• I'm worried about my dad.
• Quayd had his interview with our Bishop tonight to become a Teacher in the Priesthood.  This is another rite of passage for a young man in the LDS Church.  I'm still choked up everytime I think about him being fourteen this week!  That means in five years, he'll be old enough to serve a mission.  Right now, that's his biggest goal.  I'm praying that he continues with that same attitude.  I love this boy.
• Another photo from my Halloween decor:  The door that leads nowhere.  The swirly iron was over my headboard but I decided to hang it lengthwise on the door and I love it.  I think it looks alittle bewitching. 
  
• And today's cookie, fit for the season...and yes, I baked them this afternoon....

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

2 cups canned pumpkin
2 cups  sugar
1 cup oil
2 eggs
4 cups all-purpose flour
4 teaspoons baking powder
4 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoon milk
1 tbsp. vanilla 
1 bag chocolate chips (I use milk chocolate chips)

Combine pumpkin, sugar, oil and egg. In a separate bowl, stir together flour, baking powder, ground cinnamon, and salt.  Dissolve the baking soda with the milk and stir in. Add flour mixture to pumpkin mixture and mix well. Add vanilla and chocolate chips.  Drop by spoonful on well-greased cookie sheet and bake at 350 degrees for about 10 minutes or until lightly brown and firm.  (I baked them about nine minutes and they were very gooey, the way we like them, except the last batch, which we always overbake for Doug.)

It's 8:58 and I'm going to bed!  For the first time in weeks, I'm getting eight hours of sleep tonight!  Happiness!

Everyone must take time to sit and watch the leaves turn. 

A soapbox, a recipe, some household tips and a silly photo

It has been a wonderful Monday.  One more fun, quiet birthday celebration, some crafting, some cleaning, some Castle and DWTS, a great FHE, a good day.

I have a little soapbox that I'd like to step up on for a few minutes.  Why do some people lie? I don't get it.  Some people will lie when telling the truth would have been easier.  Here's my thoughts on lying.  First of all, you have to remember what you said, which I'm here to tell ya, as you get older, remembering what you did five minutes ago isn't easy.  So, don't lie.  Second, once you're caught in a lie, you usually have to lie more to cover up and get out of it.  Again, don't lie in the first place and you won't have to tell more lies.  Third, as Doug says often, and he is the most honest person I've ever known, "The truth is so absolutely good, it never hurts the teller."  I think I'll have that on his headstone.  That and "I'm 38% deader than I was."  Enough about lying.  Just tell the truth. 

I received this forward from my sister-in-law and it had some ideas that I'd never heard before, so I'm passing on a few homemaking tips today.

• Take your bananas apart when you get home from the store.  If you leave them  connected at the stem, they ripen faster.  I tried that tonight.  We'll see how it works.
• Store your opened  chunks of cheese in aluminum foil.  It will stay  fresh much longer and not mold!
• Peppers with 3 bumps on  the bottom are sweeter and better for eating. Peppers with 4 bumps on the bottom are  firmer and better for cooking.
• Add  a teaspoon of water when frying ground beef. It  will help pull the grease away from the meat while cooking.
• To really make scrambled eggs or omelets rich add a couple of spoonfuls of sour cream, cream cheese, or heavy cream in and then beat them up.  
• For a cool brownie  treat, make brownies as directed.  Melt Andes mints in double broiler and pour over warm brownies.  Let set for a wonderful minty frosting.
• Add garlic immediately to a recipe if you want a light taste of garlic,  and at the end of the recipe if your want a stronger taste of  garlic. (I'd think that this one would have been the opposite. But, here's my two cents to this tip... always add more garlic!  MMM!) 
• Leftover snickers bars  from Halloween make a delicious dessert.  Simply chop them up with the food chopper. Peel, core  and slice a few apples. Place them in a baking dish  and sprinkle the chopped candy bars over the apples.  Bake at  350for 15 minutes!!!  Serve alone or with vanilla ice cream.  Yummm!  (This one made me laugh because WHO has leftover snickers bars EVER?)
• Heat up leftover pizza in a nonstick skillet  on top of the stove, set heat to med-low and heat till warm. This keeps the crust crispy—no soggy microwaved pizza. 
•  For easy deviled eggs, put cooked egg yolks  in a zip lock bag. Seal, mash till they are all broken up.  Add remainder of ingredients, reseal, keep mashing it up  mixing thoroughly, cut the tip of the baggy, squeeze mixture  into egg. Just throw bag away when done easy clean  up.  (Hmmmm?  I'll have to see this one to believe it.)
• When you buy a container of cake  frosting from the store, whip it with your  mixerfor a few minutes. You can double it in size.  You get to frost more cake/cupcakes with the same  amount. You also eat less sugar and calories per  serving.
• To warm biscuits,  pancakes, or muffins that were refrigerated, place them  in
  A microwave with a cup of water. The  increased moisture will keep the food
  Moist and  help it reheat faster. 
•  Start putting in your plants, work the nutrients in your soil.  Wet newspapers.
  Put  layers around the plants overlapping as you go.  Cover with mulch, and for-
  get about weeds.  Weeds will get through some gardening plastic; they will not
  get through wet newspapers. 
• Broken glass? Use a wet cotton ball or Q-tip to pick up the small shards of glass you can't  see easily.
• Place a dryer sheet in your  pocket.It will keep the mosquitoes  away.
• To get something out of a heat  register or under the fridge add an empty paper  towel roll or empty gift wrap roll to your  vacuum. It can be bent or flattened to get in narrow  openings.  
• Reducing Static  Cling Pin a small safety pin to the seam of  your slip and you will not have a clingy skirt or  dress.  Same thing works with slacks that cling when wearing  panty hose.  Place pin in seam of  slacks and ... TA DA! ... Static is gone.
• Before you pour sticky substances  into a measuring cup, fill with hot water.
  Dump out the hot water, but don't dry cup.  Next, add your ingredient, such
  As peanut butter, and watch how easily it comes right out.
• Hate foggy windshields?  Buy a chalkboard eraser and keep it in the glove box of your car when the windows fog, rub with the eraser!  Works better than a cloth! 
• If you seal an envelope and then realize you forgot to include something inside, just place your sealed envelope in the freezer for an hour or two. Viola! It unseals easily. 
• Use your hair  conditioner to shave your legs. It's cheaper than shaving  cream and  leaves your legs really  smooth.  It's also a great way to use up the conditioner  you bought but didn't like when you tried it in your hair.  
• To get rid of pesky fruit flies, take  a small glass, fill it ½” with Apple Cider  Vinegar and 2 drops of dish washing liquid; mix well.  You will find those flies drawn to the cup an d gone forever!
• Dryer sheets (like Bounce) cause a film over mesh on your dryer vent mesh.  The film is what burns out the heating unit.  This film builds up on your clothes and on your lint screen.  This is also what  causes dryer units to potentially burn your house down with it!  Remove the filter and wash it with hot soapy water and an old toothbrush, at least every six months. (I took my vent screen to the sink and the water ran right through it.  Maybe it's our Melaleuca dryer sheets.  Maybe not, but it wasn't a problem in our home.)
  

Okay, so it's not a cookie, but here's a great fall recipe repeat, as requested last week by my Canadian blogging friend, Nora.  Better late, than never. 

PUMPKIN CRUNCH CAKE

Here's a tried and true favorite in our neighborhood! It's simple to make but read through the directions before you start, so you don't jump the gun, like I did the first time I made it. It's simple and sure to become a favorite at your house too!

1 pkg. yellow cake mix (2 layer size)
1 large can of pumpkin
1 can of evaporated milk
3 eggs
3/4 cup butter, melted
1 cup sugar
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 cup chopped nuts
Combine pumpkin, evaporated milk, eggs, sugar and cinnamon in a large bowl. Pour into a well-greased 9x13 inch pan. Sprinkle about a cup of the cake mix over the top and very gently, fold the cake mix into the pumpkin mixture. Sprinkle the rest of the cake mix on top of that and pat down with a fork or big spoon. Drizzle the melted butter over top and bake for about 1 hour at 350. Let cool and serve with plenty of whipped cream. Enjoy!

And last, but not least,... a photo of Doug and I being silly with our friend, Todd, who works at Hastings.  He was showing us some of their new products, including these hats, which we couldn't resist wearing for a second.  And yes, I know what that leaf is... what a motley couple we are.  My favorite thing about this was that I texted the photo to Liza and her response was "I love that you and Dad still play together.  You two are silly."  He definitely makes me laugh, that's for sure!  Enough said. 
When life gives you a hundred reasons to cry,
show life that you have a thousand reasons to smile.

Happy OCTOBER! My favorite month of the year!

I love October!  I love it for so many reasons!  General Conference!  My birthday!  Quayd's birthday!  Halloween!  Witches Brew!  One of my favorite tablescapes of the year! Fall Leaves!  Three months till Christmas!    And, it's also National Cookie Month!  So, I've decided, for fun, to share a cookie recipe every weekday this month!  I'll share some tried and true and a few never tried but planning on it recipes over the next few weeks for fun!

 Logan Canyon ~ September 28, 2011

The General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints was amazing!  We loved every second of it.  The music was lovely.  The talks were inspiring.  As always, we come away feeling uplifted and motivated to be better, serve better, try harder to be our best and to follow the teachings of Christ!  LOVED it!  I'm posting some of my own thoughts about conference on the Sisters Dear Blog tomorrow.  LOVED IT!

I also loved having the entire family home all weekend.  Especially since I woke up with achey body, sore throat, tummy ache flu on Thursday morning.  I spent the entire weekend down.  I did manage to muster up some traditional cinnamon rolls and a tasty Sunday dinner of pulled sweet pork and homemade tortillas.  Very tasty!  I'm feeling much better tonight!

Here's the first cookie recipe, which I made earlier tonight.  The recipe called for them to be drop cookies.  I decided when I saw how "wet" the dough was that I would make them as bar cookies.  I was glad that I did because they are more like cake.  To make them as drop cookies, I think I'd use 2 cups of flour instead.  Anyway, Doug loved them!  Connie thought they were pretty tasty.  I did snitch a bite and they were pretty good, if I do say so myself, however, they taste more like a cake than a cookie. 

 
Salty Caramel Apple Cookies

In medium size bowl, stir together:

1 3/4 cup flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1 cup chopped pecans
 
Set aside.

In separate bowl, mix:
 
1/2 cup butter, room temperature
1 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
1/2 cup quick cooking oatmeal

Stir in:
1 cup raisins 
1 1/2 cups shredded or chopped apple

Cream butter & brown sugar together in mixer.. Add beaten egg, oatmeal and fruit.
Add the dry ingredients and mix well.  Pour cookie dough into a 9x13" pan and spread evenly.  Bake at 375 degrees for about 20 minutes.  Drizzle caramel icecream topping or caramel dip over the warm bar cookies, then sprinkle with sea salt crystals, if desired.  Enjoy!

And for other news...

I lit the candles, got the camera on the tripod, was all set to photograph the October tablescape and when I turned the camera on, it said, "Check Batteries".  Took those out, put them in the charger.  Put new ones in.  Attached the camera to the tripod.  Got all set to take the pix.  Turned it on.  "check batteries".  I'd forgotten to put those in the charger after my NC trip!  No pix tonight!

I finished reading the Doctrine and Covenants today!  Just over six weeks cover to cover!  I'm ready to start reading the Book of Mormon again, along with finishing the New Testament between now and New Years Eve! 

Quayd's remark about General Conference:  "Epic!"
Gracie's thoughts on General Conference: "It was wonderful, Mom!"
ZJ's thoughts on Conference:  "I'm only ten, Mom.  It was good but it was long."

Goodnight! And Happy October!!!

Decisions determine destiny.

 

look up!

 
 General Conference will air here at 10AM and 2PM on Sunday.

cookies and a cold

Denise and I went to breakfast this morning, then a quick run through at Hobby Lobby and I came home feeling worse by the minute.  Denise has been sick for two weeks. I teased her today, "We share everything."  Ugh.  But, I'm still alive.  Just a bit achey and with a very sore throat. 

Kelly and Zaylee came over for the day and spent the afternoon and evening.  Doug took her to pick up their new car.  Kelly is so excited about this new vehicle and sees her little accident as a blessing.   Doug and I liked her driving in a big old tank because she was safer.  But, I get that she wants a newer vehicle.  She's thrilled.

Tonight, we skyped with Liza and Buddy while they had dinner.  I hadn't eaten much since breakfast but Buddy's spaghetti looked so good!  It was good to laugh and chat with them for a while.  Other than that, I've got nothing done today at all, other than play with my girls and watch a little of the news tonight.  And that's perfectly fine with me.  I'm ready for sleep!

Here's another recipe.  Buddy baked these cookies while Liza and I were in North Carolina.  They were soooooooooooo good!  I brought a Ziplo  of them home and snitched one.  Have I mentioned that I love my daughter's husband!?

Buddy's Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies

1 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
1 cup butter

Mix until creamy.

2 Cups flour
2 cups oatmeal (blend it in the blender until it becomes floury.  Buddy suggested blending 1 1/2 cups and adding the other 1/2 cup as oats)
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt (if desired.)

Mix the dry ingredients then blend into the sugar mixture.

4 ounces of chopped chocolate candy bar
1 1/2 cups milk chocolate chips
nuts, if desired

Bake at 325 degrees for 20 minutes.  The lower temperature made them soft and nummy!  It made about five dozen cookies.  Enjoy!

If I felt any better, I'd bake some of these right now.  But, I think I'll just settle for the apple that I called dinner.  Good night.

Love unlocks doors and opens windows that weren't even there before.

catching up and two recipes

 Since I've been home almost a week and I've spent the whole week recording the details of  our trip, tons of other things are going on. 

• Kelly and Zaylee: Zaylee has been very sick.  The doctor told Kelly today that Zaylee will need to have her tonsils and adenoids removed as soon as possible, as soon as she is well enough to have the surgery.  On Saturday, Kelly's little Pomeranian pup was hit by a car and died after he ran out the door as company dropped by there place.  Kelly was devastated.  This afternoon, Kelly was hit in an intersection.  She drives an old Lincoln Continental, which Doug insists is the best car ever for her because it's a tank.  Or as Doug puts it, "She's the bat, not the ball" in an accident.  Thankfully, she was not injured at all.  But the guy who ran through the intersection needs a new car.  Kelly's had it rough lately.
• Dad's doing well.  I think that he's rested up some since we left and is feeling much better.
• I received several emails asking how my mother has handled this reconnection with my dad and his family. Mom and Dad had a "friendly" divorce.  She is not overjoyed by it all, obviously, because she's never had to deal with my constant talk about my family. But, these changes are here to stay, so she'll adjust.
• We had dinner at Carol's yesterday and Carol made a new twist on our Mexican Haystack meal.  Rather than ground beef, she put some chicken in the crockpot, added two cans of stewed tomatoes with chopped chilies in them and half a cup of brown sugar.  Cook the chicken until it's done and then shred it with a fork.  Serve over a bed of lettuce, rice, fritos, cheese and your traditional taco type toppings. MOST tasty!  AND SO SIMPLE!
• I brought corn bread and dessert.  Since we were watching Castle, I made a new popcorn recipe. Here it is and it's a must try!  LOVED IT!!  This recipe filled the giant red tupperware bowl!  SO GOOD!

PEANUT BUTTER POPCORN   

 about 4 quarts of cooked popcorn        
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup corn syrup
5 Tbsp. butter
1 tsp. salt (not needed if using microwave popcorn)
1 tsp. vanilla
1 cup peanut butter
1-2 cups milk chocolate chips

Mix the syrup, sugars and butter in a sauce pan.   Stir while the butter melts and bring to a boil.  Boil exactly one minute.  Remove from heat.  Add peanut butter, salt and vanilla.   Pour over popcorn and toss gently until mixed well.  Once it's mixed will, toss in the chocolate chips and stir again.  MMMM!  ENJOY!

• We picked all of the ripe tomatoes in the garden tonight for the first part of our family home evening.  Tomorrow, I'll prepare some salsa and make Ronda's Chow Chow!  I can't wait for the family to try it!
• The kids all had major projects to do while I was away and Doug handled it quite well.  Gracie created her own world, Dreamatopia, a land of love and happiness.  Quayd celebrated Harry Potter Day at school and ZJ had to do a biography presentation, including taking Go-Go to school.

 

• I taught Relief Society on Sunday and loved the lesson, President Uchtdorf's talk on The Road to Damascus.  I love that man!  Wendy and I attended the Relief Society Broadcast on Saturday evening.  Again, President Uchtdorf's talk was amazing!  If you didn't catch it, whether you are LDS or not, this talk is remarkable.  Take 25 minutes and listen to it!  You won't regret it at all, I promise!
• I spent the afternoon putting out some of my October decorations.  I'm not quite ready for witches and goblins but I am ready for pumpkins! 
• I miss Liza.  I miss Dad.  I miss my family.  BUT....
• Life is good!

Autumn is the mellower season, and what we lose in flowers, we more than gain in fruits.

prayers, heros, recipe and reading

First and most important, I'm asking for prayers for my dad.  He called at around 6PM, from the hospital, following a minor stroke.  He sounded good, but they'll be keeping him at least one more day for tests.  I asked him if he wanted Liza and I to postpone our trip.  He was quickly adamant that we still come.  He said, "I may not be able to go to all of the graveyards with you two, but, I want you here whether I'm still in the hospital or not."  And so, we're counting down the hours!  36 to go!  Prayers for Dad would be greatly appreciated!  (His name is Jim Bell.)

This isn't something that I normally do, but this story is amazing!  Rather than posting the youtube video, I'm sharing the link to our local newspaper, which has the entire 14 minutes ordeal.  This took place just a few blocks from Denise's home in Logan.  Really, it's a must see.  (Scroll down and click play on the left side of the screen.)

Thanks so much for the crock pot recipes.  I'll share them on Tuesdays throughout the winter!  Soup day is coming and since I'm most excited for that, the recipe that I'll be trying first on Soup Day is the winner of this little challenge.  This recipe comes from Annie Hopper from Michigan!  Thanks so much to Annie!  I'm anxious to try this one!  I'm thinking with a pan of corn bread to go along side of it!

Sweet Corn Soup

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped
1 garlic clove, crushed
4 cups chicken broth
 1 15 oz can creamed corn
1 cup frozen corn
1 medium potato, shredded
1/2 cup cream
pepper
2 tablespoons fresh chives, chopped

Sautee the onion and garlic in  olive oil over medium heat.  Put them in the crock pot and add the chicken broth, creamed corn and shredded potato. Add salt and pepper to taste.  Cook on high for 4-6 hours until corn is tender.  Serve soup topped with crumbled corn chips and chopped chives.

A Quayd story... Last night, the girls were doing their reading and I noticed that Quayd was playing with his Nintendo DSL.  I reminded him that he needed to read.  He went downstairs and returned with his Nintendo Manual.  "Here, Mom.  I'll read this", he teased.  After a little back and forth of more teasing, I sent him downstairs to get a "chapter book".  Quayd insisted that there was nothing to read.  (Mind you, each of them have book shelves full of books.)  So, I got specific and sent him downstairs to find Hatchet, a Newbury winning Classic.  We have two copies.  He came back up emptied handed three times.  I teased that he could have electronics and friend privileges when he'd finished reading Hatchet, cover to cover.  By now, it was dinnertime and I totally spaced the entire situation.

Fast forward to this afternoon.  Quayd came in from school and said, "Mom, I can tell you all about Hatchet."  He then proceeded to tell me, in detail, about the book.  I teased, "Alright, who told you all that?"  He pulled the book out of his backpack.  He'd checked it out at the school library this morning and read over half of it during school.  (This book was one that I knew he'd relate to and love.)  I asked him if he loved it.  He responded, as cool as any soon to be fourteen year old would, grinning, "Ish."  I asked, "Isn't it one of those, I can't put it down kind of books?"  He smiled his huge smile and said, "Actually, yes!"  Happiness!  Quayd has never been a big chapter book reader (other than Harry Potter).  He prefers "How to" books and reference type books. 

After he'd told me the entire story to the point that he'd read, I asked him what prompted him to check it out.  He said, "Are you kidding?!  You said no friends or electronics till I'd read it, so I'm reading it!"  He then told me that he'd gone to the library and read the back cover, thinking he could just tell me that much, but he realized that I'd ask lots of questions about it "like I always do", so he knew that he should just read it.  Then, once he read the first chapter, he was hooked.  We love good readers and honest kids in our home!

My to do list for tomorrow:

• 7:30 ~ get my nails done
• bake zucchini bread
• finish last load of laundry
• finish packing
• gather family history files for cemetery hopping
• charge all electronics
• double check travel and car rental arrangements
• go to the bank
• help ZJ with a report that's due while I'm away
• leave the house company clean
• pick up a few little travel items
• watch Survivor!!!
• pray lots for my dad!
• and lots more!

Life is good... even with all the little and bigger bumps in the road!

One of the secrets of life is to make stepping stones out of stumbling blocks.

a few giggles and a recipe

First, Amy asked for my zucchini bread recipe.  I tried one a few weeks ago and it was okay, but , no sooner than she requested the recipe, my sister-in-law, Anne sent this recipe today.  This was a very tasty bread that she'd made for our family reunion a few weeks ago.  Everyone loved it and asked for the recipe, so, Amy, here ya go!

Carrot/zucchini/banana Bread

 Sift together:

 2 c flour
2 c sugar
2 t cinnamon
2 t soda
1 t salt

Cream:

1 c oil  (these days I'm subbing applesauce)
4 eggs
1 c grated carrots
1 c mashed bananas
1 c chopped zucchini

Mix together and fill 3 bread pans ¾ full. Bake 45 min @ 350.

Now, I wanted to share a proud mommy moment.  Last Sunday, Quayd was asked to teach the lesson for his quorum the next week.  I was proud that he'd said yes and figured that we would spend all week working on it.  However, life got in the way.  We discussed it a bit on Sunday afternoon, then again Tuesday night after Scouts.  But, it never came up again.  On Tuesday night, I'd suggested that he share lessons from "the brother of Jared".  Quayd, immediately, went downstairs and got ready for bed.  But, before heading to bed, he pulled out some dramatized scripture tapes that we've had for 35 years.  He listened to the story of the Brother of Jared every night this week.  I had no idea. 

On Sunday morning, very early, he came upstairs, dressed in his suit and said, "Mom, do you think I could borrow those gold spray painted rocks you had from your lesson a while ago?  Do you want to hear my lesson?"  I panicked!  I'd spaced it!  Lo and behold, my son, who I just adore I might add, had studied and prepared the lesson himself.  I was stunned!  He then proceeded to share the story and tell me what he'd gathered from the story... how we should be like Jared and have that kind of faith, how we should do things on our own and then ask Heavenly Father for His help... he went on.  I was so amazed!

Doug went with him to the class and heard him teach the lesson.  Doug said that he had the boys attention and did a great job.  It was definitely a proud moment for us both... more that he'd prepared himself than how or what he taught.  He's a growing boy. 

I had to wonder tonight though, how a boy who could have been that together on Sunday morning could be so 13 at the dinner table!  ;)

Another giggle... Today, Kelly called. We chatted for a minute and then I mentioned, "I did tell you that we'd painted the house, didn't I?"  "You did?  What color?"  And then she said, "Great. Now how will I know where you live?"  I cackled out loud!  She was teasing.  (I think?)  Funniest thing was that Liza called me after work and asked, "Mom, Kelly was teasing, wasn't she?"  Kelly, Kelly, Kelly.  Ya gotta luv that girl!

I'm mostly packed.  I did check out Amazon tonight for a new book and got my blood pressure up.  Why is it that I bought a Kindle to get better pricing on new books and now Kindle books cost more than new hardbacks!?  GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!  NOT amused!

I have a few errands tomorrow and then laundry, some baking and I'm ready to go!  I. AM. SOOOOO. EXCITED!   Liza and I made plans of who'd bringing what tonight.  HAPPINESS!  I get to see my girl in less than 62 hours!

Tomorrow, the winning crock pot recipe!  Can't wait to share!

Life is good!  Really, really good.  Enough said.

Laughter is by definition healthy.

a birthday, a nightmare and a recipe

A few good things...

Today is my dad's birthday!  He's 72 todayand, to me, this is his best and most important birthday ever!  Why?  Because today, he's cancer-free after a very rough year of throat cancer and he has united with his me, his daughter and with my family.  My parents divorced when I was twelve and were were never very close after that.  This past year,  he's been through so much and we've united and become very close.  This morning, I was thinking about my trip to visit him last March.  I went to see him so that we could say "goodbye". And today, we talk on the phone most every day.  I'm going to visit him next week with Liza and we can hardly wait! 

I adore my dad.  Although he was absent most of my life, I've always loved him and never let his choices get in the way of that.  I'm just thankful that today, he is a very important part of my life and we're getting to know each other all over again!!   My favorite quote... life doesn't have to be perfect to be perfectly wonderful... it applies to our relationship.  We have a wonderful relationship and it reminds me daily that we can love unconditionally, we can learn and grow regardless of our age, that forgiveness is one of our most important things that we will ever do in life and that it's never too old to heal any relationship!  Happy Birthday, Dad!  I love you!  See you next week!!

(By the way, I've posted this photo before but that's Dad and me on my first birthday, so he'd have been twenty years old.  Handsome devil, isn't he!?)

This morning, OH MY HECK!  What a nightmare!  Literally!  I couldn't sleep last night for anything! Doug had mentioned, as he was getting ready for bed,  that his alarm clock is getting finicky.  (It's 26 years old and when I bought him a iPod dock/alarm clock for his birthday a few years ago, he gave it to me and told me that he really loves his old one.)  Anyway, this morning, his alarm woke us both up 45 minutes late, leaving him nine minutesto be at work.  Not cool!  He literally leaped out of the bed, into his pants and out the door,  grabbing his lunch and a kiss from me in passing.  As he pulled away, I noticed that the sprinkler was misbehaving, so I went outside in my jammies to fix the problem.  Ten minutes later, I was FREEZING COLD and SOAKING WET, but the issue was resolved!  Wide awake, and with new dry jammies on, getting back to sleep took forever.  Almost two hours later, the strangest nightmare woke me in panic, leaving Gracie and Quayd eight minutes to make the bus.  We said a prayer and I literally tossed them a little "to-go" breakfast on their way out the door... oatmeal cookies, string cheese and a homemade roll.  (They thought that was pretty cool!)  I was still exhausted and had an hour before ZJ had to be up, so I went back to sleep for "a few minutes".  I never do that! Yep, you guessed it.  I woke up twelve minutes before ZJ was supposed to leave, so she got a repeat of her siblings' crazy breakfast on her way out the door.  It was just one of those mornings!  Surprisingly, I've not been tired at all today!  Doug's new schedule is killing me!  But...everyone made it to their destinations on time and all was good.  Later in the morning, I was able to laugh at the whole mess!

Another nummy sounding crockpot idea, today, from Kaye... One of my favorite things at Olive Garden!  Thanks, Kaye!

Zuppa Toscana

1 lb. Italian sausage
4 cups chicken broth
1 cup water
1 chopped onion
3 -4 large russet potatoes, cubed
1 garlic clove, minced
1 cup whipping cream
fresh kale

In a medium skillet, crumble and brown sausage. Drain well and add it to the crockpot. Add the broth, water, onion, potatoes, and garlic, stirring to combine. Cook on high for 3-4 hours. Just before serving, stir in whipping cream and some chopped kale. Serve with crusty French bread or croutons on top.  Enjoy!  (Doesn't this one make you just want to turn on the furnace and make it today?)

Today's quote came from my friend, June.  I'd never heard this before but wow!  It's been on my mind all day and really is a humbling thought.  I had to share!  Life is good!

rambling and a recipe...

A few ramblings today....

• I was checking Facebook today and saw a first day of school photo of one of my cyber friends' children.  It was the strangest thing.  My thought was "Holy cow!  I knew her before this child was even born!"  Then, I thought, "Wait!  I don't really know her.  We've never met." I thought about the many years that we've been "Friends" and how the internet is such a major part of my life.  HOLY COW!  Life has changed.  Cyber dating, cyber bullying, cyber shopping, cyber friends.  Life has changed.  It's a normal part of our lives today and we do know eachother sometimes.  I've got cyber-friends that I've been through marraige, divorce, death, illnesses, grandchildren, children, graduations, job losses, adoptions, you name it that I've never even "met" in real life.  BUT, I've also got "skin friends"  (people that I do see face to face) that I've gone through less with.   Thank you to all of my cyber-friends for being my friends!  You're just as real as the ones who live up the street!
• Keep the crock pot recipes coming.  I'll choose a winner and post on Monday.  Thanks for sharing!  My mouth is watering!
• My house is making me so happy!  Doug came right home from work and got right to painting again.  I'm loving the new paint and can't wait for spring to finish the rest of the redo!
• Only a week to go!  I don't count tomorrow and I don't count next Thursday or Wednesday because that day never counts since you can just say "tomorrow" instead of so many more days.  I can't wait!
• I am setting a tablescape for company tomorrow! 
• For the record, peaches and 2% milk isn't quite as tasty as peaches and cream.  But, it's still tasty!
• Last five quarts of green beans in the pressure canner as I type.  Thanks, Connie!
• Quayd is working on getting a "six-pack" by weightlifting.  He started today.  When he came home, he didn't want to wear his shirt so that I could see his muscles.  ;)

And the recipe... a crock pot recipe sent in by Pamela.  Thanks, Pam!  I can't wait to make this one!

                   Pork Roast and Apples

1 pork roast, seasoned with salt and pepper and browned in oil
4 cups granny smith apples, cut in wedges or sliced
1 small onion, chopped
1 c. brown sugar
1 T. garlic powder
1 T. cinnamon

Spray large crockpot with non-stick cooking spray.  Place apples in bottom of crockpot, then the pork roast.  Put the onions on top.  Mix the dry ingredients and sprinkle on top of roast and apples.  I like to scrape any drippings from the pan that I browned the roast in on top of all, but not necessary.  Cover. Cook on low 8-10 hours.  Serve with potatoes and salad.
Enjoy!

The question in life is not "how much time do we have?"  The questions is "what shall we do with it?"

What's cookin'?

For us, a four day Labor Day weekend... we painted.  And painted some more.  Three days later (we don't paint on the Sabbath) and the front of the house is done except a second coat on the rain gutters. A new RED door and no more GREY! Hopefully, Doug will get the side soffets done tomorrow and get the back done before the weekend.  We thought it would be a two day job!  SHEESH!  Hardly!  But, it's looking great.  Now, when spring comes... a new roof, iron windowboxes for some red begonias, and removal of perrenials replaced by some soft shrubs... new curb appeal!  Doug did a super job!  And then, he took the kids to see Harry Potter as a reward for their help and co-operation while I stayed home and enjoyed the silence.  (I'm so NOT a HP fan!)  Labor Day weekend...  No burgers.  No dogs.  Not even a chip.  But, it was a very productive weekend!

 

The weather is cooling and I've been thinking about "Soup Day" a lot lately.  I'm not quite ready to turn on the furnace, but it's not far away.  I can feel it.  We've not slept with the ceiling fan for a few nights.  I actually closed the window all but a few inches last night.  And the mornings are cool.  Very cool.  Lovely.  I'll be sad if Doug has to turn on the furnace while I'm in North Carolina.  I'd be very sad to miss our first day of fall.  That, in our house, is Soup Day. 

I've been thinking about crock pot recipes.  I've discovered a few new recipes to try as soon as "the day" arrives.  So, today, I thought I'd ask for your input.  Please, if you would, share with me your favorite crock pot recipe.  I'm excited to try a few breakfast dishes and a few desserts, as well.  Tell me your favorite nummy crock pot recipe and I'll enter your name in a drawing for a little giftee!  Just share your recipe in the comments section or email it to me privately.  I'll post them over the next little while.  I can't wait to see what's cooking!

Here's a few recipes that I'm anxious to try:

Crockpot Breakfast Casserole

1 bag (32 oz) frozen hash brown chunks
1 lb cooked ham, diced (leftover ham works great)
1/2 lb shredded cheese
12 eggs
1 c milk
1 tsp salt
½ tsp pepper

Spray large crockpot with cooking spray. Place a layer of frozen hash browns on the bottom. Follow with a layer of ham and cheese. Repeat as many times as needed ending with cheese. Beat eggs, milk, salt and pepper together. Pour over the top. Cook on low 8-10 hours.

**********

Crockpot Brie Apricot Dip ~ I need to have a party just to make this!

1 large round or wedge of brie (13.2 oz)
1/2 cup chopped dried apricots
2 T brown sugar
2 T water
1 tsp balsamic vinegar
1/4 tsp dried rosemary
1/2 cup chopped pecans

Use a mini crockpot or put the brie in an oven-safe dish inside a normal size crockpot.  Cut the outside rind of the brie. Put the brie into the crockpot.  In a separate bowl, mix the chopped apricots, balsamic vinegar, brown sugar, water and rosemary together. Spoon on top of the brie.  Sprinkle on the chopped pecans.

Cover and cook on high for 1-2 hours, or on low for about 3. Serve with your favorite crackers or apple slices.

**********

I can't wait to try this one for dinner... If it's anything like the Olive Garden Marsala, I'll be in heaven!

Crock Pot Chicken Marsala

Spray 4- to 5-quart slow cooker with cooking spray. In cooker, place garlic and oil. Sprinkle chicken with salt and pepper; place in cooker over garlic. Place mushrooms over chicken; pour wine over all.  Cover; cook on Low heat setting 5 to 6 hours.

 

Remove chicken from cooker; place on plate and cover to keep warm. In small bowl, mix water and cornstarch until smooth; stir into liquid in cooker. Increase heat setting to High; cover and cook about 10 minutes or until sauce is slightly thickened.  Return chicken to cooker. Cover; cook on High heat setting 5 minutes longer or until chicken is hot.  To serve, spoon mushroom mixture over chicken breasts; sprinkle with parsley.

Thanks, friends! 

Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving.

labor day... labor being the operative word!

It was a busy and active weekend.  On Friday, Doug and I went out for lunch and then hit Lowes for some housepaint and supplies to get busy painting the trim on the outside of our home.  It's not done yet, but sixteen man hours into it, it's looking good.  Tomorrow, the gutters, two more doors and trim on the back of the house.  Sheesh!  We thought that we could do this in a day, two at the most.  Day three is tomorrow and it will be a miracle to get half way through it but it's supposed to rain on Tuesday, so we'll be hustling to get as far as we can. 

Plus, since we've worked all weekend and took the Sabbath day off, the babes have been promised a reward, so Doug will be taking them to a matinee of Harry Potter.  I'll stay home to paint some more since I'm not a HP fan.  My mom teased Doug that it is  called "Labor Day".   For Doug, it is.  He teased me tonight that he was hoping to get called into work so he could have a day off from his "to Do" list at home.  It's not a big list... just paint the house.  ;)

My big news, that wasn't mine to share yet is that my niece, Tessa, is officially engaged and she's asked me to be her wedding planner.  So, my next few months will be busy preparing for her wedding!  Saturday, we spent a couple hours going to a florist, choosing her colors, making some initial plans.  I'm very excited and absolutely love her fiance, Kellan.  Tessa is the sister of Tyson, my nephew who was married a few weeks ago.   That's a lot of happiness in one family in such a short time!  My brain is going crazy with ideas for the wedding, the shower I'll be hosting and the festivities around it all!  Can't wait!

This week will be busy and crazy... here's a few things off the to do list/calendar:

• host a little gathering at home
• finish up all arrangements for my NC trip next week
• finish painting the house
• walk 30 miles
• make a decision on a possible "business venture" with a friend
• help Quayd prepare to give the lesson to his age group of boys next Sunday

And lastly, this tasty recipe that taste like real Belgian waffles....  It's great for preparing the night before and making a great breakfast quickly before the kids get off to school!

Make them tonight, enjoy them in the morning waffles

1 tsp. yeast
4 cups flour
2 Tbsp. sugar
1 tsp. salt
4 cups warm milk
1 cup butter, melted and cooled (I add mine to cool the milk that I've just heated)
1  tsp. vanilla
4  large eggs

Tonight:  Combine the dry ingredients. Stir butter and vanilla into the slightly warm milk. Stir the dry ingredients to the milk mixture in a large bowl.  (It will thin.) Cover with plastic wrap and the cover that with dish towel.  Leave the bowl on a baking sheet in the oven overnight with the oven light on.  In the morning, the batter will have risen and then fallen.


In the morning:  Preheat your waffle iron and butter or oil it, if needed.  Separate the eggs and gently beat the yolks, then stir them into the batter. Beat the egg whites until soft peaks form; gently stir and fold them into the batter.

Spoon the batter into a hot waffle iron.  Cook and enjoy!  This recipe makes about a dozen waffles.

 So far, it's been a great weekend, other than my possible broken toe.  (Doug thinks it is, I just think it hurts a lot.  Note to self:  Don't drop chairs on unprotected toes.  Doug also said today, "I wish I could take you pain and have my toe hurt instead.  And he meant it.  I adore my sweetheart.  He meant it.)  I'm excited to finish the house and take some pictures.  It looks so much better, be it ever so humble. I love long weekends!  Life is good!

The difficulties of life are meant to make us better, not bitter...

sweet!

 
The peaches are ripening beautifully and they are HUUUUGE this year!  It's a first for this tree.  BUT.  I can no longer eat my favorite dessert in the whole entire world, so I got busy and found this recipe for a Homemade Peach LOW-FAT Ice Cream.  There's no cream at all in it and it was so delish!  You'd never know it.  I think we'll probably have to try this again with other fresh fruits in the future.  Everyone loved it!  It made about two quarts.  AND it was gone before I got a picture of it, so you just get a shot of the peaches instead!

 3 Cups ripe chopped peaches (freezing peaches before making the ice cream
expedites the process of making the ice cream)
1 Package Knox Gelatin
1 Can evaporated milk
1/2 Cup sugar
1/2 Teaspoon vanilla 

 Blend together milk, sugar and vanilla.  Put the package gelatin in one-half cup of water.  Heat them together in the microwave and stir it till the gelatin is fully dissolved. Add the gelatin to the ingredients in the blender.  Blend. Add the peaches a little at  a time to the blender.  Then, put into your icecream maker and freeze!  It only takes about twenty minutes for a soft icecream.  You'll never know there's no real cream in it!  Enjoy!!

Seriously, this was pretty tasty stuff!

As for the rest of our weekend, we worked in the yard, put the summer stuff away, Doug and Quayd went on an overnight campout with the scouts, the girls had an overnighter at Nana's.  I had the house to myself and studied my lesson, plus had Carol over for two episodes of Castle.  We're almost done with Season 2.  It was just a casual weekend. 

We kept Zaylee overnight last night and took her to church with us.  She loves going to the nursery.  She fell asleep during dinner after church.  It's a long day for a two year old.  She's such a pill and I love having her here.  It was fun to watch her and Miki sit together for a bit in church.  You'd never guess that the two of them are related at all! ;)   I tried to take a picture of Zaylee this morning before church and she wouldn't hold still for two seconds!  I love being a grammie!

 
That's it for this Sunday night!  I'm exhausted and calling it a weekend!  Life is good!

  Often in life we forget the things we should remember
 and remember the things we should forget.

stuff and a recipe

My day didn't go exactly as I'd expected it to.  When I went to leave to run my errands and meet Denise at Chili's, my Expedition wouldn't even turn over.  I'm guessing that Mr. Nobody left something on inside the truck.  Doug's been trickle charging it since he got home.  Denise came to pick me up, we went to lunch and that's it for my productive day.

Carol and her daughter, Taylor, came over for dinner and we watched Castle, Season 2.  We'd been trying to get together to watch this all summer.  Finally, at the end of the summer, we have one more disc and we're ready for Season 3 to come out in  DVD next month.  Cool beans!

For dinner tonight, I had some leftovers that needed to be put to use.  I'd made Crockpot Italian Chicken and had half the chicken left, so I made my roll dough, rolled it out like a cinnamon roll and then shredded the chicken.  I spread the chicken on the dough, added a ton of shredded cheese and rolled it up like a cinnamon roll.  Then, I remembered the recipe that I first tasted in 1979, which I thought would be a great addition to this...make a gravy using a can of cream of chicken soup, a can of milk and 8 ounces of cream cheese.  Simmer it but don't boil.  I baked the roll-ups for fifteen minutes at 350 and then served it with the sauce/gravy poured over it.  Oh my!  It was tasty.  My tummy didn't like it, which I expected, but my tastebuds sure did!  A quick and easy dinner that everyone loved!  Try it, you'll like it!

Here's the recipe for the Chicken.  I'm sure that I've shared it but if you've never tried this recipe, it's a simple, delish way to prepare chicken.

Crockpot Italian Chicken

Chicken Breasts or Tenders
1 package Italian Seasoning Mix (I use generic brand)
1 can of cream of chicken soup
1/2 cup of butter

Put chicken in crockpot and add the rest of the ingredients.  Toss.  Cook on high for about 4 hours or low for about six.  Thirty minutes before serving, add 8 ounces of cream cheese.  Serve over rice or pasta.  Rice is our favorite!  Walk an extra mile in the morning!

A few other ramblings:

• If you like Big Macs, McDonalds is offering "Buy One, Get the Second for a penny" all day Thursday.  I'll pass! 
• I received the new Close to My Heart Catalog yesterday in the mail.  CTMH has hooked up with Cricut and I may have a new "need".  $100 for the product but it's enough to make me want to start scrapbooking again!  WOW!
• Continued prayers for Liza and Buddy are appreciated!  They had some good luck in the job hunting and things are looking positive!  Thanks so much!
• We've got Zaylee overnight.  Kelly sees her doctor tomorrow for the first time since she had the infection and emergency room visit a few weeks ago. 
• One week from tomorrow, the babes are back in school!  They've gone from "I'm not ready for summer to end!" to "I can't wait!!!" in the past few days.  

Life is good!

Never lose a chance of saying a kind word.

 

 

 

A bridal shower for my favorite niece to be, CarolAnn...

We had a great time at the shower, if I do say so myself!  It was so great to get to know CarolAnn and her mother, Martie.  (I think that Martie and I were sisters separated at birth.  She's awesome !)  She is absolutely darling and has personality plus! Here's a few details of the day then some shower ideas that I used tonight.

First of all, I'd played so hard yesterday that I didn't do much on the list, which meant that I had to double up on today's list.  So, I started a day behind, which I hate!  I woke up with Doug at 4 and couldn't go back to sleep because I kept thinking, "Oh!  I need to do this!" and "Oh!  I can't forget that!"  Then, Liza and I texted for a while at 8ish.  That's when things started to go south for my emotions.   I started in the kitchen and by the mid-morning, it had sunk in that Liza was not here with me to help.  Liza is here to help me anytime I host or do something fun.  So, reality just really sunk in that she was gone.  The phone calling back and forth was great but I think that it was truly the first time that I've realized that this is our life now.  I'll adjust.  I know.  But, still.  Ouch.

I need to add that I won't go on about Liza leaving forever.   But, today, I had to.   Just as this was all sinking in, Denise called and I just started to bawl.  She dropped everything and was here in a few minutes.  We raced off to the grocery store together to get the last minute things, grabbed some burgers for the kids for lunch and then were back home making chicken salad and putting the last minute things together.  She spent the afternoon helping and I cheered up immensely.  We tease and joke and tell stories together, which was just what I needed.  The kids were also very very helpful, setting things up  in the back yard for me, helping get things together and moral support.  

At one point this morning, ZJ came in with tears in her eyes and asked, "Mom, can I call Liza?"  She called and they talked a few minutes.  She was great after that.  I think that today, it hit us all.  But.  It was all good by afternoon.  We move forward!  I didn't get a chance to chat with Liza tonight but we will share notes in the morning. I miss her.  Enough said.  Really. More than enough.

I also want to add that Kelly called at about 5 and asked if I needed anything.  She came to the shower and seemed to have a good time with her cousins.  She's not spent much time with extended family in the past ten years, so this warmed my heart too!

Now... about the shower....

Here's a few shower ideas from tonight's shower....

The menu:  Traditional & Simple

Chicken Salad on Croissants
Fruit Kabobs
Pizelles with Lemon Cheeseball
Lemon Pound Cake
Pink Lemonade & Sprite

The favors:  Cute Pink-wrapped Hershey Bars tied with Pink bows

The games:  There were two of the most fun games at any shower I remember giving. Since this shower was to welcome CarolAnn into the family, I didn't use traditional bride type games.  We played getting to know you games instead.  Here are both.

Three Things.  (A variation of a game friend Carol had shared a few months ago.)
For this game, we went around the circle and each person shared three "current" things about themselves. There were 19 of us there, so that added up to a lot  of things!  It also generated lots of questions and answers.  (My original plan was to have each guest write three things down and then me read the whole list aloud.  It would have been much quicker.  BUT.  This way, it allowed each person to take a few minutes, basically introducing their self to CarolAnn and her mom.  It took 45 minutes, but it brought great conversation, which was what we wanted.)  Then, once everyone had shared their three things, I passed out paper and pens to everyone and had them write down everything that they could remember.  The person who remembered the most won.  It was so much fun and surprising how hard it was for some to recall the things that had been said!  A great icebreaker!

Wedding Advise:
I filled an old old suitcase with about thirty random items... a clock, a whisk, nailpolish, a baby doll, measuring tape, Tangled DVD, ribbon, matches...  Then, I walked around the group and asked everyone to take one item from the luggage.  Once everyone had their item, I asked them to share a piece of wedding advice based on the item that they had selected.  Ex:  The clock  ~ Always make time for each other.  My favorite answer came from my sweet 16 year old niece, Samantha, who selected the Tangled DVD and offered two bits of advise.  1.  Don't get tangled up in little petty things and let them upset you.  and 2.  Make good choices for your entertainment together.  I thought that was pretty impressive for a young woman!  It was lots of fun, bringing laughs and some wisdom.  Loved it!

The food...

 
The lemon cheeseball was pretty tasty.  I served it with the pizelles, as a dip or spread.  Basically, the recipe is my creamcheese frosting with a twist.

2 ~ 8 oz. cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 Tbsp.  lemon flavoring
2 cups powdered sugar
2 Tbsp.  brown sugar
1/3 cup of crushed lemon drops  (a 3 oz. bag will be oodles with leftover) 

 Mix all the ingredients and whip them till creamy and smooth.  (I used my food processor to chop the lemondrops and added the powdery part into the mix.  I saved the chunkier pieces to either roll the cheeseball in or sprinkle on top.  I sprinkled.  Chill for a few hours at least before serving.  Serve with graham crackers or butter cookies.  (This was a huge amount and I'll just add powdered sugar to the rest and use it on a cake on Sunday.)

The frills...

My favorite thing was the cute little rag strips of fabric tied around pint size canning jars and the fun pink striped hard plastic straws.  Plan on seeing those again!  We filled the jars with Sonic Ice and pink lemonade.  It was a large size drink, which meant no refills to worry about.  I thought it was the prettiest part of the table, next to Barbie's beautiful homemade lemon pound cake!

It was a lovely evening.  I've got leftovers for lunch tomorrow, which the babes are all thrilled about.  Everyone stayed until well after dark.  Then, we all gabbed inside for a bit longer.  I'm excited for Tyson and CarolAnn to be married next week!  She's a keeper!  Family is great!

Remember this...that very little is needed to make a happy life.

breakfast anyone?

 
Over the past few months, I've run across this recipe several times.  I put it aside and said, "These are a must try!"  A few days ago, I tried.  They are work.  No question.  Three different parts of the recipe.  A piping tool required.  The glaze.  And cooking them is a pain because they are such a sticky mess.  BUT.  OH MY HECK.  TRY THEM!  They are worth every bother!  I figured that it took half an hour to prep everything before I even started pouring the batter on the griddle.  Get everything ready first and then begin the process.  Oh!  And DOUBLE the recipe, for sure!  They are divine!  I think I actually prefer them to cinnamon rolls!  Here's the recipe:

 

 

PANCAKES:

2 cups flour

4 tsp. baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

2 cup milk

2 Tablespoon oil

2 large eggs

 

CINNAMON FILLING:
1cup butter, melted
1 1/2 cup brown sugar
2 Tbsp. cinnamon

CREAM CHEESE GLAZE:

4 Tablespoons butter
2 ounces cream cheese
3/4 cup powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla

 

For the pancake batter: Whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt. Add the milk, oil and egg, Whisk until the batter is moistened, but it will still be a bit lumpy.

  In a separate bowl, melt the butter and add the brown sugar and cinnamon. Scoop the filling into a small zip baggie and set aside. (A perfect time to use the Pampered Chef little decorating tube.)   This will be a thick pasty consistency.  Do not make it runny or it will be a mess!

Soften the butter and cream cheese until almost melted in the microwave. Mix until smooth and stir in the powdered sugar and vanilla.  Set aside.

 

Here's how to make them.  Heat the skillet or griddle to a medium temp. Spray with Pam or butter the griddle. Scoop about 1/2 cup of batter onto the griddle. Snip off the corner of your Ziploc of filling and squeeze a spiral of the filling on the top of the pancake. After about five bubble on the pancake appear, flip the pancake with a thin spatula.  Cook until golden brown.   The brownsugar mix will make little "grooves" in the pancake.  You can keep the pancakes in a warm oven until ready to serve.

Drizzle the warm glaze onto the top of each pancake just before serving.  Enjoy!

Try them this weekend!  You won't regret it!  Well... except for the fact that you'll be asked to make them again and again!

A few other things:

• After hours of technical support and the purchase of a new modem, then sleeping on it... I woke up to internet.  I also found out that a neighbor didn't have internet last night, so it sounds like it was a problem in the area, not my modem.  I'm just happy to have the internet!
• Kelly's having more issues with her "enhancements".  I'm to the point of not praying that they get better but that she gets rid of them.  This is one prayer that I have little faith to be answered.  She still thinks it will all be worth it when she's done.
• Liza's last day at the bank is today.  Enough said about that.  Five more days.
• A fun Corbridge Reunion ahead this weekend.  We're so excited for every second of it!  Details next week!
• My dad can't stop planning!  I'm so excited for Liza and I to head to NC!  We're going to the ocean!  I've not been to Myrtle Beach since I was a little girl!  Woohooo!
• It's thundering and lightning fiercely outside right now.  I love the rainy nights!  Bring it on!
• It's the weekend!  Happiness!  Try those pancakes!

Our goal should be to achieve joy!

got dip?

Today, since I've not eaten much all week, food is on my mind.  Right now, I'm concerned about everything I eat because everything makes me sicker.  Good problem, I guess, if you want to drop weight quickly.  Not good if you want to live.  ;)

Anyway, instead of whining about how I feel, I thought I'd share one of my favorite things in the world to eat.  Fruit dip.  I've shared other fruit dip recipes before but today, thought I would compile a few into one post.  Since we've got strawberries galore, it sounds divine right about now. By the way, if you think you're having gall bladder problems, strawberries are on the do not eat list.  Wait, I'm not whining anymore.  Here's a few must try recipes for your favorite summer fruits!

 The first one is the most simple and basic.   Just mix 8 ounces of cream cheese with 1 cup of powdered sugar and a little vanilla.   Soooooo nummy.

Here are some variations:

Use brown sugar instead of powdered sugar. 
Add sour cream instead of cream cheese, but you'll need more sugar.  
Mix 8 ounces of cream cheese and 1 cup of sour cream, add the powdered sugar and vanilla. 
Add strawberry jam, sour cream and cream cheese. 

You can't go wrong with these recipes. 

This next one is to die for!  This one is for apples, more of a fall treat, but worth going to the store and paying the high price of apples right now if you love caramel apples.

CARAMEL APPLE DIP

2 – 8oz packages softened cream cheese
2 cups powdered sugar

1 tbsp. vanilla

12 oz. Caramel Apple Dip (usually found by the apples in the produce dept.)

Mini chocolate chips or chocolate ice cream syrup

Blend together cream cheese, sugar and vanilla until smooth and creamy. Layer in a rectangular dish. Top with caramel and then sprinkle with mini chips or drizzle with the syrup.  You can keep your apples from turning brown by soaking them in pineapple juice.  Drain them well and serve with the dip.   SOOOOOO good!

I've also had the above recipe with Toffee Bits (found nead the chocolate chips in your grocer)mixed into the cheese.  OH MY!

 Here's an oldie... I remember enjoying this one 35 years ago.  It used marshmallow creme.   How can a recipe with cream cheese and sweetened condensed milk  be anything but divine?

8oz. cream cheese, softened
1 cup sour cream
1 7 or 8 oz. jar of marshmallow cream
1 14 oz can of sweetened condensed milk

Combine the ingredients in the blender or whip well.  Refrigerate for an hour or so before serving.  How could this not be divine with cream cheese

Another super simple one...it's great if you're in a pinch...

1 jar marshmallow cream
1 - 8 oz. cream cheese

Blend well.  Enjoy!

Any of the above are heavenly.  OR as Doug, my granola man husband suggests, "You could just eat the fruit alone."  My response..."But, why?"

Have a great holiday weekend!  Ours will be simple and quiet at home, more than likely.  I can't wait to share my July 4th tablescape!  Loving it!  Life is good. 

The most delightful pleasures cloy without variety.

Great ways to use French Bread

French Bread is one of the most versatile breads ever. I use it frequently and quite often, it becomes the main dish. Here's a few of our favorite ways to serve it:

• Slice it in half lengthwise. Cover both halves with a tuna fish spread. (2 cans tuna, mayo to taste, about 1/4 cup sweet pickle relish, salt and pepper) Then, top with sliced fresh tomatoes, more salt and pepper. Smother in shredded colby-jack cheese. Broil on low with the oven door open until the cheese is melted or bake for about fifteen minutes.
• Slice it in half lengthwise. Spread your favorite or leftover spaghetti sauce. Cover with your favorite pizza toppings. Smother in mozzarella cheese. Bake or broil.
• Slice it in half lengthwise. Cover with a fresh breshetta. Load it up with salt and pepper and fresh Romano cheese. Broil or bake.
• Slice it in half lengthwise. Cover with ground hamburger (cooked with peppers, onions and garlic) OR shredded chicken or pork. Cover with BBQ sauce. Cover with shredded cheddar cheese. Bake or broil till cheese is melted.
• Slice it in half lengthwise. Chop a mixture of your favorite veggies finely or in a food processor. (We use broccoli, carrots, green onions, tomatoes...) In another bowl, mix 1 cup ranch dressing and 8 ounces of cream cheese. (Or add ranch until spreadable consistency.) Spread the ranch and cream cheese mixture. Cover entire bread with veggies. Eat fresh!
• Use leftover french bread for french toast. Slice into 1" slices. VERY good!
• Mix up some fantastic spinach artichoke dip or sausage and cheese dip, let everyone just tear the bread and dip! Num! Serve with a good salad and you've got a great quick meal!

a mother/daughter day, a mother's day treat and any day but mother's day

Doug and his mom had a meeting in SLC at noon, so we rode down together and dropped them off as soon as we got into town.  They sat together in the back seat and were engaged in their own conversations while I drove and gabbed with Kelly up front.  (Doug hates driving in the city.) Kelly and I had a ball. She did great at the doctor yesterday!  It was no less painful, but the procedure took only half an hour instead of two hours, like last week. It was a much better experience.  Her doctor is very compassionate.  I like him.  If I ever decide to have "enhancement surgery", I'll keep him in mind.  (That was a joke. )  Even with what Kelly had to experience, our trip was just plain fun.  We talked and laughed and quoted old favorite movie lines randomly.  She and I went to Rumbi Grill for lunch and hit Sonic for happy hour just before picking Doug and his mom up.  Kelly and I talked about the gospel, parenting and life in general over lunch and had some serious moments too.  But.  We laughed hard. A lot. I loved it.  I do love spending time with Kelly.  It's been three years, but it's so good to have her close to home again.  Enough said about that.

This morning, she's called and is feeling the effects of yesterday.  She's hurting. I was almost expecting that.  I'll be going over to pick her up in a few. I'm sure that lunch and a few rounds of cards will perk her up.  So, another play day with Kelly... fun stuff!

My biggest fauxpas of the day was forgetting to drop off my Pampered Chef press to Denise when we were half way to SLC.  I'd suggested that she make my creamcheese filled strawberries instead of dipping them in chocolate for a baby shower that she was hosting last night.  I had the press with me but totally spaced it once we got on the road. I was just sick when Kelly read my text, "Did you forget me?" from Denise.  Too late to turn back, I offered to make them for her when we got home.  We stopped at the store, bought some strawberries and made a bunch for us at home too... no party, just as treats!  Kelly will never be a Martha... her suggestion to just bite the top off of every strawberry, then fill the little hole inside with the frosting instead of slicing them had us laughing the whole time we were in the kitchen.  And no.  We didn't do that... well, Kelly did but only to the ones she ate herself ;)  If you've not tried this little taste of heaven, this is the time of year to do so. Treat yourself to a mother's day delight!  MMMMM!

Mother's Day.  I've said before that I'm not a big fan.  I struggle with "the perfect mother" myth which seems to manifest it's ugly head royally on Mother's Day.  For my own personal reasons, it's not my favorite day, which is ironic because I'm such a party animal and here's a great day to celebrate.  It's also ironic because I love being a mother more than just about anything on earth. Doug and the babes always tries to make the day special and it's usually is.  I need to get over it. Denise and I were talking about it a few days ago. She said, "There are two days of the year that I don't want to lift a finger and just celebrate me...my birthday and Mother's day.  Let's just say that I'd much rather celebrate my birthday.  Enough said.

The weather is lovely today. Have a wonderful weekend!  Life is goooooood! 

The manner of giving is worth more than the gift.

 

book group fun

Oh my gosh!  What horrific news to wake up to.  This earthquake/tsunami is unbelievable.  So tragic to watch all of the newsclips.  When I saw the warnings on the Pacific Coast, they specifically mentioned the area that our son Dale lives in Northern California, so I called to wake him up and give him a heads up.  We've not talked since Christmas and it was short and sweet.  So, this morning, this mama is worrying about her daughter and son-in-law on a cruise and a son and granddaughter who live close enough to hear the ocean from his windows.  I can't imagine what the unfortunate in Japan are experiencing.  Lots of prayers being said today, for sure.

Book Group last night was so much fun.  There were 17 of us, including me.  We have a new couple attending... a man and his wife have joined our group. Yes, a man.  He's a teacher with April, one of the book group regulars.  I thought, "A man?"  But, he actually added quite a bit to the book discussion.  Very interesting.
The discussion was interesting and fun.  And lots of laughs!  This morning, the kids all three commented, "Mom!  You sure laughed a lot last night!"

Being that the book takes place in England, I served a little English Tea Party as treats.  Blueberry-Lemon Scones, Lemon Poppyseed mini-muffins and Orange Rolls.  Personally, I'm not a fan of scones.   To me, the southern girl, biscuits need sausage and gravy or Shrimp Scampi at Red Lobster!  However, these were pretty tasty. 

Here's the recipe for the scones.  They were pretty tasty for scones, but how could they not be with all that butter and cream?  Right?

 

Blueberry and Lemon Cream Scones

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 tablespoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

4 tablespoons sugar, divided in half

1/2 cup butter (1 stick)

1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla

1/2 cup whipping cream

2 eggs, beaten

3/4 cup fresh blueberries

zest of 1 lemon

juice of 1/2 of 1 lemon

In large bowl, combine flour, baking powder, 2 tablespoons sugar, and salt.  Mix well.  Cut in the butter.  (I shreded a cold stick of butter with a cheese grater.) Add cream, vanilla and eggs.  Stir just until mixed. Add berries, lemon zest and lemon juice, mix again just enough fold everything in. Pat into two 6 inch circles and cut into sixths, or hand shape individual half-dollar size lumps into triangles on baking sheet.  Brush each scone  with water and sprinkle with remaining sugar.  (Or if making the night before, roll dough into a cylindrical log inside of parchment paper and wrap in plastic.  Then slice about half inch circles.)  Bake scones on parchment lined half sheet pan for 14 minutes at 375 degrees. (I covered each scone generously with sugar on top of each scone!  I also baked them a few minutes longer until they started to turn a bit more golden.

Makes about 12 scones

  

And just because, here's a photo of the orange rolls, in which I posted the recipe a few weeks ago.  OH MY.  NUMMY!

 

 As for other news...

• It's the weekend!  HAPPINESS!  My weekend plans include seeing "Little Red Riding Hood" with Carol, game night with Stott and Wendy, getting the shutters up on the gallery window, welcoming home my sweet Liza and her sweetie, Buddy from their week long cruise!
• I'll also be adding the Whole Wheat pancake recipe to the cooking blog, thanks to April's reminder, later today.
• I'm seriously stressing over the fact that everyone we know who's filed their taxes, as late as two weeks after we did, has already received their return and ours still hasn't arrived.  So, no amused.  Oh, Patience, why aren't you mine?

It is our choices...that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.

 

 

quick ten and a recipe

It is one of those busy days that starts too early in the morning!  So, a fast ten and a recipe, then, I'm outta here!

1. Early morning errands to run.
2. I'm looking for a new family doctor.
3. February is flying by.
4. American Idol and Survivor tonight!  TV night is Wednesday night!
5. It snowed off and on all day yesterday.  Beautiful!
6. More snow on it's way!  My kind of winter!
7. I teach Relief Society Sunday!  So excited!
8. Liza's reading the Help!  I love talking books with her!
9. Now, we can see the movie together in August!
10. I feek like baking! 

 
I'm in the mood to bake Orange Rolls.  A friend made them for us back in 1994 and I've never tasted any that were as good since.  Here's her recipe.  It's simple but has to be thought of in advance:

1/2 cup warm water
3 Tbsp. yeast
1/2 cup sugar
3/4 cup warm water
1/2 cup shortening
2 tsp. salt
3 eggs
4 1/2 cups flour

Soften yeast in 1/2 cup warm water and set to the side.  Mix sugar, water, shortening, salt and eggs together.  Add yeast mixture. Beat in the flour.  Dough will be soft and sticky.   Refrigerate overnight in a covered container. Make sure that the bowl is large enough for the bread to rise in.  About 3 hours before serving time, roll dough on well floured board into a large rectangle.  Cover with a generous amount of melted butter.  Sprinkle with sugar and grate orange peel over the dough.  Starting on the long edge, roll the dough into a long roll.  Slice the roll to fit into muffin tins.  Let rise until quite high.  Bake at 375 degrees until golden brown.  (12-15 minutes).  Makes about 2 dozen rolls. Grease pans generously.  ALWAYS DOUBLE THIS RECIPE!

  Life is ten percent what happens to you
 and ninety percent how you respond to it.

 

 

rambling, recipe and a meme

I've not got much to say and the only real thing I can think about is the sinus infection/headache that kept me up all night long.  OH, to get past this bug that seems to make it's way through our home weekly since December.  UGH.  So, a few bullets this morning...

• We've had the most lovely 50plus degree weather for the past week. It's breathtakingly beautiful outside this morning, but the wind is blowing and by five PM, we're supposed to be in a blizzard.  As much as I love winter, I love it to stick around or go away.  Having two springs in the middle of it makes it harder to go back.  I'm just saying.
• ZJ is trying decide if she wants to play soccer.  We've never had an athlete in our family.  Just artists, cowboys and granolas.  Could be interesting.
• Do people really drive all the way to the landfill with their expired medications?  An article on TV said that's what we're supposed to do these days.  Seriously?  And whatever you do, don't dump them in the toilet, they said.  Okey dokey then. 
• Survivor starts tonight.  YAY!
• I love the lesson that I'm preparing for Relief Society this month.  I love my calling in our ward.  Do you think they'll let me keep it for eternity?
• ZJ's hair is long enough, all layers, to put in a ponytail again. Barely. Finally. You would have thought that it was Christmas this morning, she was so excited.  She wanted a layered haircut.  She's over it.
• Make this cake.  Tonight.  Seriously. Or at least make the topping and eat it with a spoon. 

 

Oatmeal Crunch Cake

1 1/2 cups boiling water
1 cup regular oatmeal
1/2 cup butter
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 cup sugar
2 egg
2 cups flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. nutmeg

Pour boiling water over the oats in a small bowl and let sit for 20 minutes.  Cream butter and sugars together, then beat in the eggs.  Add the soaked oatmeal.  Sift in the dry ingredients and stir until mixed.  Pour into a 9x13" pan.  Bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes.  Let cool. 

Topping:

1/2 cup melted butter
3/4 cup brown sugar
1 cup chopped pecans
1 cup coconut
1/3 cup evaporated milk
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla

Pour all of the topping ingredients into a pan and cook, stirring until it begins to bubble.  Stir in vanilla and spread of top of cooled cake. Broil the cake in the oven until the topping bubbles and starts to brown.  (Don't put it too close to the flame.)  Enjoy!

A quick little meme:
4 random things I like about my husband:  He works hard for us.  He give great footrubs.  He makes me laugh.  He loves to play with the kids.
4 movies I've watched more than once:  You Again, The Proposal, Pride and Prejudice, Gone with the Wind.
4 TV shows I watch:  Survivor, American Idol, Castle, What would You Do?
4 places I have been:  Zijuatanejo, Mexico (where the movie Ten was filmed), Canada (both the east and the west), Disney World (over 30 times) and Washington DC.
4 people who email me regularly: Connie, Liza, Anita, Trisha
4 favorite foods:  Cream Cheese anything, Chili's Corn Chowder, Olive Garden Chicken Marsala, anything Connie cooks
4 places I would like to visit:  NYC, Alaska, Boston, North Carolina to see my dad. (I'm not much of a world traveler these days.)
4 things I am looking forward to:  all of us getting over our bug, teaching Relief Society in two weeks, seeing Max continue to progress, a productive garden this summer vacation  

Instead of thinking about where you are, think about where you want to be. It takes years of hard work to become an overnight success.

eight totally rambling thoughts

1. The big story on the news yesterday was that Diet Soda drinkers are now more likely to have strokes and heart attacks than non-drinkers.  I haven't had a Diet Coke since Pearl Harbor Day.   Sixty Five days.  I wonder, if, quitting again has already improved my health.  They say that smokers lungs improve almost immediately after they quit.  I wonder if hearts do the same.  The fact that I've drank two 2-liters a day for 12 of the last 21 years may be a factor.  But, hey, I quit before the announcement that it really isn't good for you.  (Not to mention the several other attempts in the past.)  Doug did not say "I told you so."
2. I've found a new TV show.  We've not picked up a new show, other than dancing reality shows for a few years. But, I'm in love with Castle.  So is Doug.  Monday nights.  9:00, you'll find us with the TV on, the lotion in hand and a footrub in the works.  It's cute, it's not so violent or graphic as the other detective shows and it's funny.  I'm thinking that Cupid will be delivering Season 1 & 2 for Valentine's Day.
3. I'm still feeling under the weather but better today than yesterday.  This bug seems to linger for everyone for weeks, one day on and the next day off.  I really would love to just get sick-sick and get it over with.  Is that a bad thing to wish upon yourself?
4. I hear a Kindle calling my name.   It's on the want list now.  The "covet-covet-want-want" list.   I'm just saying.
5. Gracie's giving her first "youth talk" in Sacrament Meeting this weekend.  She's so excited.  I love that my kids are so excited about the gospel!
6. Today, we see the CPA to get our taxes done.  I've written about this experience before.  For years, I had major anxiety about getting our taxes done.  We were audited once and had to go sit in that office in the big tall building in Ogden, I was nauseous.  But, because of Doug's conservative and honest claims, we were received more money back.  (I love my honest man!)    As a result of that audit, still, every year, I get sick at the thought of having our taxes done.  Why?  I don't know.  It shouldn't be that way because it's usually good news for us. 
   
   I've also had issues with paying so much money to someone who just punches in the numbers that I tell him too after I've done all of the filing and paperwork and worrying over it.  However, a few years ago, my feelings began to change.  I wrote, jokingly, on my blog, that our CPA never writes, he never calls.  He just cashes my check each February, says "Thanks alot, Babe." and we don't hear from him again until next year.  He read my blog.  And guess what, he called after he read it!  ha!  He teased me about it.  I teased back.  Now, getting my taxes done is really not that painful.  I actually look forward to it.  It's a good day.  Plus, we always celebrate by going out to dinner on tax prep day.  I'm in the mood for Costa Vida.
7. I'm two weeks behind on responding to email and blog comments.  Thank you for your patience.
8. I posted this recipe last fall but made them for Super Bowl Sunday and wanted to share it again.  Seriously.  TRY IT!

Chocolate Chip Pretzel Bar Cookies
2 cups all purpose flour
1-teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
1 ½ sticks of butter, softened
1-cup brown sugar
½ cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 – 12 ounce bag milk chocolate chips
1 ½ cups mini pretzels, crushed

Preheat the oven to 350. Mix flour, baking soda and salt. In a large bowl, using a mixer, beat the butter with both sugars at medium speed for about 1 minute. Beat in the eggs and vanilla. Add the dry ingredients and mix well. Stir in the chips and pretzels.Spread the batter in the pan. Bake for 30 minutes, or until golden brown. The center will still be a little gooey. Cool completely. Cut into squares and serve. Enjoy!

Celebrate what you want to see more of.

cotton candy, chocolate cake and a cute girl

Well, yesterday, I didn't do a thing, aside from go through the papers that we'll be taking to the CPA tomorrow and make cotton candy.  Fifteen bags of it, to be exact.  Gracie's Young Womens Activity was to bring a pink treat and a book about love to share.  Cute idea.  So, I made these little three cup bags of cotton candy, tied them with pink yarn and called it good.  I spent the rest of the day lying down on the recliner, covered in a blanket, trying to decide why I didn't have any energy.  By midnight, I realized that I was coming down with the gamboo that everyone else has had.  Ugh. 

Thanks for all of the sweet emails about the gallery.  I am anxious to get the north wall ~ shutters and seat cushions done.  BUT. I'll be taking a day or two off and just taking it easy.  Grrrr. 

My favorite "taking the day off" meme:

For Today:

Outside my window:

It is another breathtakingly beautiful COLD day in Cache Valley.  It was fifteen degrees this morning, but that means that the sun is shining and it's go-or-geous.

I am thinking:

I can't wait to get to pick up "You Again" in DVD and watch it with the kids and Doug.

I am thankful for:

the fact that I live in such a beautiful, safe place, such as Cache Valley.  It is heaven on earth to me.

 

From the kitchen:

 

Not cooking today but I really need Doug to change the curtain rod so that I can hang a new valance over the sink.

 

I am wearing:

fleece jammy bottoms and a warm knit shirt.  How did I ever live without them?  And my pink fuzzy lotion socks that Liza surprised me with one day "just because".  I heart Liza.

 

I am creating:

a lot of things lately!  Next project after the gallery is completely finished is going to be a denim quilt, so that I don't have to store levi blocks any more.

 

I am going:

to make this cake for the weekend:

Chocolate Praline Cake

1 box devils food cake mix plus ingredients to make the cake

1/2 cup butter

1 1/4 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup whipping cream

1 cup pecans, chopped

Make the cake using the directions on the box. Set aside.  Melt butter in a sauce pan. Add brown sugar and whipping cream and stir until sugar is dissolved. Add chopped pecans to the mixture. Pour mixture in the bottom of a bundt pan (must use this type of pan). Then carefully spoon the cake batter over the sugar mixture. Bake @ 350 degrees for 40-50 minutes. Invert cake onto platter. Serve with vanilla ice cream or whip cream.

I am reading:

The Forgotten Garden because it's my book group choice for next month.  I've started it three times now.  It's time to really read it.

 

I am hoping:

that by tomorrow I will feel like a million bucks!

I am hearing...
three clocks ticking in harmony, the refrigerator hum and the furnace whirl.  Other than that, a very quiet home this morning.

Around the house...
it is calm and peaceful.  I must be home alone.

One of my favorite things...
Is when Mom calls and says "I'm making lasagna."  Thanks, Mom.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week...
I have a feeling I'll be taking it easy instead of painting shutters and sewing.

Here is picture thought I am sharing...

 seaso 
When I asked ZJ what I should blog about today, she said, "That I am awesome!"  She is. Very much so.  And humble too.  And cute with her hair curled, too. 

Life is good... even when your throat hurts and you are shivering and shaking and feel like your head is going to explode.  Enough said.

If you pray for rain, be prepared to deal with some mud.

oh, the weather outside if frightful...

This cold and foggy morning makes me think of the song, "Let it Snow!" because it's is frightful looking outside, but inside, quite delightful.  I'm as ready as I'm going to be for the weekend.  I have one very sick little ZJ and will probably be taking her into the doctor this afternoon.  She's been sick for five days now.  Not fun for her.  I'm also having brunch with a few girlfriends this morning and then will come home and deliver the neighbor gifts and play games with my kiddos.  We had a blast yesterday playing Scattergories the card game, Lumps and a few other favorites.  Tonight, we'll be having a big bowl of soup and homemade bread, then opening gifts from the babes' paternal birth grandparents.  Then, I'll be cooking breakfast for tomorrow morning's little Christmas with Liza and Buddy.  We've also decided that rather than my mom bringing her fifty-gazillion gifts down here, we'll be celebrating another "little Christmas" at her house in the afternoon.  Then, we can stick to our own quiet and simple tradition of really focusing on the Birth of Christ tomorrow night.  With the acception of a quick run into the grocery store on my way home this morning and to Mom's tomorrow afternoon, I'm not planning on leaving the house until church on Sunday when I teach Relief Society. We'll stay inside where it's toasty and warm and hopefully, all will remain calm and bright!

 

• If the house isn't totally clean, you'll still be alive. Vaccum, dust and pick-up the "company" parts of the house...entry way, the guest bathroom, the room you'll be celebrating Christmas morning in and your kitchen.  Close the other doors.  Those rooms will still be waiting for you next Monday. 
• Don't stress over things that didn't get done.  If on Christmas morning, you realize that you forgot to purchase a gift, just relax and say, "I forgot, but we'll pick one up next week."  You'll probably save yourself some money anyway.
• Make a last minute run to the grocery store, if you haven't already, and pick up crackers, dips, a cheeseball if you don't make them or haven't gotten around to it.  Have a few simple things on hand so that you don't have to spend the weekend in the kitchen slaving away while everyone else is having fun.  Do. Not. Be. A. Martyr!  ENJOY!
• If you're overwhelmed by giftwrapping that's still to be completed, run to the dollar store and buy some gift bags.  OR  Enlist the help of an older child who can keep a secret.  OR hire a teen to come over and wrap for you.  They would love the extra cash.  If you don't have cash, offer them a barter. 
• Do review your menu and recipes before you go to the grocery store just to be safe that you've remembered what you need.  Also, it doesn't hurt to check the cupboards and make sure that what you already purchased hasn't been snitched by a hungry husband or teen!
• Cook as much as you can on Christmas Eve Day so that you don't have to cook on Christmas Day!
• GET A GOOD NIGHT'S SLEEP TONIGHT!!  And take a nap on Christmas Day!
• One of my favorite tips ever is to pick up a few odds&ends kind of gifts.  Wrap them and put them under the tree.  If a surprise gift-bearing someone stops by with a gift in hand, save that awkwardness... you've got one for them right there.   These gifts don't have to be expensive purchases.  A family game, a DVD, a puzzle, a book..or even a box of chocolates or a fruit basket.  (Your family can always eat them later.)  It's the thought that counts, remember.
• Literally, as I type this at 8:03AM, in 48 hours, the gifts will be half-opened, the breakfast casserole will be in the oven baking, Mannheim Steamroller will be playing in the background, giftwrap will be stuffed into a big black bag by Mr. C.  It's time to enjoy. 

Love:   Last night was the annual Corbridge Christmas Party.  Doug's brother, Danny and his wife were in charge this year and they did an awesome job.  The meal was perfect, the family talent show (their idea) was great!  The games and activities were perfect.  It was a delightful evening.   We had committed to watch Miki last night and then the date of our party was changed, so we just took her with and she had a great time too.  Kelly brought Zaylee, so two of my grands were there, which was sweet.  Quayd commented, "Miki gets to be a little bit Corbridge tonight."  (And since people always ask, yes, Kelly held her for a bit and it's not awkward for her to be around her.)

The talent show was a hoot... from Adam's talent, "Freezing in front of an audience" to "dancing" to a Wii game (they said that this is one of their family's best talents and everyone rolled!) to a delightful little tapdance from an 8 year old niece.  Our girls sang and Quayd shared his carving skills.  One nephew makes model miniature snowmobiles, trailers and trucks from scrap pieces of metal.  Unbelievable.  The finale of the evening, though I was dying at the mention of it, a pinenut spitting contest.  They spit those seeds thirty feet!  Everyone got a lot of laughs from that.  I said, "This has to be one of our family's proudest moments", which got a laugh.  To me, an evening spent with family, this is love and this is Christmas!  The only regret for the night... I took 114 pictures and less than ten of them were in focus.  (They were all of the family who will not allow their photos on the blog.) I'm mortified about Christmas morning pictures because my camera is having issues with any photos with motion. Hopefully, new batteries will do the trick!  I'll make sure today!

Joy: Blogging friend sent this in a comment last week and I think it's one of my favorite ideas of the season, so I've saved it for last!  Nancy wrote:  I love the idea of the 'Gratitude Journals' which your family will read aloud Christmas morning. I don't have any little ones left at home but I wish I'd seen this idea when I had. Wonderful memories to keep & reflect upon for life. My husband, daughter (the one that still lives in this country and comes home from school for the holidays) do have a 'Gratitude & A Wish' Tin. Each year we fill we each get a card with room to write down one 'Wish' we have for the coming year and one thing we were grateful for this current year. We don't share these but put them back into the tin and then we each read our previous years 'Gratitude & Wish'. The tin is closed and gets put away with our Christmas decor until the next year. We kept it for several years now and I love being able to look back on past years. Some make me cry - some make me laugh or smile.

There are no strangers on Christmas Eve.

Peace:  A few last minute tips to make the weekend/week with everyone home go smoother...

You better not pout, I'm telling you why...

If you're counting my way... it's only  one day until Christmas!  We don't count today because today is here and we don't count Christmas Day because why would you?    And we don't count Christmas Eve because that's part of Christmas.  So, one more day!  And... I'm ready!  Mom does want me to take a run up to Pepperidge Farms store this morning, but that's just for fun, not because I have to.  Thankfully.  Tonight, we're having the family party.  Tomorrow, brunch with some friends, dinner and presents with the babes paternal birth grandparents.  Friday morning, we're celebrating Christmas with Liza and Buddy so that they can be at the hospital with Max.  All of Buddy's family will be there.  Friday evening is the big candlelight dinner and the traditions begin!  Wooohooooo!  Gee , with all that happening, Christmas could almost be today.

A little Peace... Today is December 22.  Tomorrow is Christmas.  ;)  Even if you don't count like me, it's really here.  The kids are out of school.  Neighbor gifts and treats are stacking on the kitchen counter, parties are just about over.  Hopefully, there are only a few things left on the To Do list.  If not, hopefully, you have made a list and are almost there.  If not, and your not even close to ready, well... This little tidbit is for us all. It's time to enjoy!  Slow down.  It's time to lower your own expectation level.  Don't beat yourself up for things not done yet or that may not get done this season.  Write two  lists: a list of things that you can "always do next year" and let that suffice and a list of the things that you really do have to do.  Say no to yourself and don't burden yourself with added stress for the "shoulda-woulda-coulda" items that didn't get done.  And let it go.  STOP.  Enjoy! 

One afternoon last week, Gracie asked me to play cards with her and I felt guilty for saying, "When I get done with this, I'd love to."  I didn't get done with whatever it was until dinner time and then it was bedtime and we never played cards.  "Whatever" could have waited!  That's what I'm reminding myself for the next two weeks while I have family at home...take time to enjoy and that everything doesn't have to be perfect.  Breathe, relax, enjoy!  Top three things to do for the rest of the holidays!

Last little advise for peace... don't worry, be happy! A favorite old quote, "Worry is like a fast getaway on a wooden horse."  It gets you no where. Put aside the worries of things that are out of your control~ money, illnesses, pain. Do what you can and then try to focus on the good and count your blessings. The bills will still be there in January. The aches and pains too. So, try to take the next few days to count your blessings, not your worries and enjoy!  Be like Scarlett O'Hara in Gone with the Wind. "I won't think about that today, I'll think about that [after the holidays!]

A little Love... Food always means love at our house.

Last night, I watched the Nate Berkus Christmas show.  They repeated it from earlier in the day instead of the SNL Christmas Show.  (I was quite happy since I'd missed it.)  Doug and I both were salivating as we watched these recipes being prepared.  I can not wait to make these.  They looked so simple!  I think I'll whip up some of the sausage balls for Christmas Day.  You can make them in advance and freeze them.  They look so tasty! Directly from the website:

Chinese Chicken Lettuce Wraps

1 packet stir-fry seasoning powder
1/4 c. water
2 T soy sauce
2 T fresh lime juice
1 t. sugar
1 T canola oil
1 lb. ground chicken breast
1 red bell pepper, diced
1/4 c. water chestnuts, diced
2 T scallions, thinly sliced
Pinch red chili-pepper flakes
1 head of romaine lettuce
Garnishes: bean sprouts, chopped mint, cilantro, peanuts

In a small bowl, combine seasoning, water, soy sauce, lime juice, and sugar. Set aside. Heat canola oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add chicken, using a wooden spoon to break up the meat. Cook until browned, about 10 minutes. Add red bell pepper, water chestnuts, scallions, and red chili-pepper flakes, and cook 5 minutes. Stir in reserved seasoning mix. Cook until liquid evaporates, about 2 to 3 minutes. Garnish with herbs, sprouts, and peanuts.

Sausage Balls

1 pound hot Italian sausage, casings removed
2 1/2 cups baking mix (ie Bisquick)
3 cups freshly shredded sharp cheddar cheese
1/4 cup heavy cream

Preheat the oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
In a large bowl, combine the sausage meat, baking mix, and cheese. Use your hands to completely mix until well blended. The dough will be crumbly. Use your hands to roll into 1-inch balls and place on the prepared baking sheet. Brush each sausage ball with heavy cream. Bake until golden brown, about 15 minutes.

A little Joy...

A few weeks ago, I quoted a list from my awesome Relief Society President's lesson.  Today, I'll share a bit more as my quote for the day:

This Christmas,

Give to your enemy forgiveness,
To your opponent, tolerance
To your friend, your heart,
To all men, charity, for the hands that help
Are holier than the hands that pray.
To every child, a good example
And to yourself, Respect.

And folks dressed up like Eskimos

This post was previously posted in December 2007:

Sentiment:  I had a friend call and ask if she could bring her mother over to see my Nativity Christmas Tree yesterday afternoon.  They arrived just as the babes were looking for gloves and hats to go outside and build a snowman.  I gave the little Christmasy tour and before they left, ZJ called inside, "Mommy!!  Come see what we're doing!!"  When I looked outside, our family was halfway immortalized in snow! I, quickly through my snowboots on and joined them in the fun.  You can't tell because of the trees behind the family, but they are all holding hands in a row.  ZJ's hair was my favorite addition.  She has the shortest nose because she'd take a bite every time she walked by hers!  Too much fun! 

True confession time.  Yesterday morning, I woke up with a not-so bright idea.  We're doing Christmas morning in the family room this year.  Our family room is tiny!  Tiny with very big furniture!  It didn't look nearly as big in the furniture store last year! So, during our morning pillow talk, I said to Doug, "Babe, you're going to hate me."  He responded, "Then don't say it."  I think he already had an inkling of what I was about to ask.  "Could we move the furniture in the family room this morning?  Pullleeeeeeez?" After a considerable amount of teasing, we got up and started the project.  Remove the trunk.  Move the fully decorated tree.  Vacuum.  Move the couch.  Move the love seat.  Move the end table.  Round one did not work.  At all.  Round Two.  Repeat of Round One.  Nope.  Too tight.  Round three.  Done. Doug went up to start the pancakes, thinking that I was satisfied because I was putting gifts back under the tree.  I sat there for a few minutes and the room was so out of balance that I couldn't stand it. Round four.  Tada!!  Done!  Exactly where it was before we began.  When Doug came back down to see, he smiled and said, "Wow!!  Great change, Babe!  It looks perfect!"  Smart alec.  I love this man's patience with me!

Saturday snowmen building, friends dropping by, lots of holiday music, wrapping mountains of gifts, time together, moving furniture and Christmas trees... wait, that's not supposed to be part of the package. Oh well.  Now, I know that I like it where it's at best.  After a busy, busy week, enjoying the downtime with the family...one of the best things about the holidays!

Tradition: For years, I rarely labeled our gifts with gift tags.  All gifts are wrapped and numbered on the center piece of tape on the back side of the gift.  The numbers and contents, recipient and where it was purchased for what price are listed in my Holiday planner.  That way, if I need to locate a gift for some reason before the holidays, I can look it up quickly and find it. Most years, it keeps the bigs and the babes from shaking the gifts to smithereens trying to guess what's in them.  If they don't think it's theirs, they are more likely to leave it be.  This year, I'm trying something new.  I've wrapped each of the babes gifts in their own paper.  ZJ has red with cream dots.  Gracie has snowmen.  Quayd has green with gold stars.  Everyone else, who only get a few things are wrapped in solid green.  It looks great, all with black raffia bows on each.  The best part is that on Christmas morning, I'll won't have to worry about who's is who.  The secret is the wrap.  We'll see how it works, but I'm sure liking it for my own simplicity! 

Recipe: Breakfast Strata

18 eggs
1/2 stick butter (4 Tbsp.) melted
1/4 cup milk
Scramble and cook the eggs in the butter and milk. 

Cook and brown 1 lb. sausage and then add to the eggs.  Put cooked scrambled eggs and sausage in 9x13 pan. Mix can cream mushroom soup and 1 soup can of milk.  Pour over the eggs and sausage.  Top with 1/2# grated cheese.  Bake at 350° for 30 minutes.  (I'm going to add mushrooms and green onions to serve this for Lindsey's shower brunch!)

Christmas Blog Challenge Question #9: Do you have a nativity displayed through the holidays? I have a Nativity Room.  Several years ago, on Temple Square in Salt Lake City, I saw a display of Christmas trees that were filled with nativities on stands in the center of the trees, which inspired me.  I spent the next few years, gathering and collecting Nativity sets with this lofty ambition.  Two years ago, with the newly decorated living room, I decided that it was time to say goodbye to my Country Christmas and decorated my front room completely with Nativities.  No sign of Santa or a snowman in sight.  Completely filled with Nativity sets, ornaments and quotes on plaques about the real meaning of Christmas.  I have to admit that it has a very different feel than the other rooms in the house. I love it!  It's exactly what I wanted!  The rest of the house is merry and bright, but the Nativity room is a room of heavenly peace.

Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love!

trick or treat plus five

Five:

1. My son, Dale, shared this yesterday.  Willow, who's three, knocked on the door. Dale said, "Who's there?"  Willow called out, "Trick or Treat!"  Dale said, "Smell my feet."  Willow responded, "I can't.  I'm outside!"  Oh, how I wish I could see this little sweetheart!
2. Denise and I went to Olive Garden for lunch yesterday.  We decided to split their newest menu item, Shrimp Sasschetti.  Oh.  My.  Heck!  It was so dang good.  Splitting it was great but we were still stuffed!  It's so tasty.  A definite must try.  I came home and looked up the nutritional info on it.  Well.  Let's not go there. 
3. It's C-O-L-D.  I'm just saying.
4. Last night, we were looking at the calendar.  The rest of the year will just whizzzzzzzz by!  We put our tree up in less than a month.  We'll be celebrating Christmas in less than two.  The new year is almost upon us.  Winter is setting in.  Time flies by tooooooooo fast.  I'm dying to set the November tablescape, to start holiday cooking, to do all of the fun traditional things.  But, I'm really really  working on enjoying the moment and not being so anxious for the next "fire".  Breathe, Sophia.  Breathe.  Slow down.  Enjoy.  Oh, the wisdom I do have in my old age.  Yeh, right!  ;)
5. 5. I just found a scary way to shop... on Facebook.  My friend, the greatest Pampered Chef lady ever, Jennifer posted a photo of this cute pumpkin bowl for $5.  I said, I want one.  She said Done.  She's delivering it at ten.  The computer makes it WAY to easy to spend money!

TREAT:  Today's treat was suggested by Liza.  I have no pictures yet!  This photo was from the Taste of Home recipe site, where they have a recipe posted, but I checked out other sites and found some amazing additional ideas for the recipe.  We'll be making this on Sunday afternoon for sure! 

Apple Nachos.  Slice apples and dip them in lemon juice.  Spread them out on a platter and then drizzle them with caramel, chocolate syrup or hot fudge and top with your choice of the following:  nuts, peanutbutter, marshmallow cream, coconut, brown sugar, yogurt, cinnamon sugar, cream cheese!!!  Doesn't this sound divine?  We'll be doing them at our next gathering, for sure!

And for today's trick:  This was beautiful and I thought I'd share.  Isn't this a beautiful pumpkin.  It's a free download here.  Or, here's the instructions and download link.  I love that it can be used on things other than pumpkins.  It's so elegant! 

Download the 'Victorian Scroll Happy Halloween Pattern'

What you will need:

• Tracing paper; pencil
• Scissors
• Pumpkin, scooped out with lid cut
• Pumpkin-carving tools

Directions:

1. Download the 'Victorian Scroll Happy Halloween Pattern'. Right-click and choose Save-as to save the pattern on your computer. Then, print out the pattern.

2. Tape the pattern on your pumpkin and trace it.

3. Trace the pattern on the pumpkin and cut out using pumpkin carving tools.

4. Place a candle (fixed onto a plate) inside the pumpkin and light it.

That's all I have to say today.  It's grey, gloomy and lovely stay at home weather.  I may actually do that today.  Life is good!

Patience is the companion of wisdom. 

 

sad news, party games and a recipe

Before I make the Halloween post, there's a little blogkeeping that I need to do:

• First, we heard the shocking news yesterday of the passing of one of Doug's and my favorite people in the valley.  My sister-in-law's father passed away, suddenly on Sunday afternoon.  Both of his parents live to be 100, so this was shocking news, as he was healthy and we all expected that he'd be around for the next 25 years like them.  He was the epitomy of health, active, one of the most social men I've ever known and a great teacher for years and years at the school that my bigs went to.  I served as PTA President there and was in awe of his relationships with students and faculty.  Upon hearing the news, my very first thought was of his infectious laugh that could be heard wherever he was.  I can honestly say that I've never known anyone, ever, who did not agree that he was one of the most friendly, cheerful men ever!  Sadness.
• In answer to requests, here's a close-up picture of the stake dinner tables.  It was so simple, but a testament to the fact that color can make all the difference in the world!
• Also, I wanted to mention that we were "Ghosted" last night while we were pumpkin carving with the Bs for Family Home Evening. WOW!  Someone was most generous in their trick or treats!  The kids were SO excited!  Thanks to whoever you are, if you are reading this today!
• Dare I say it?  I need to get some Christmas shopping done today!  L3ss than two months left.

It's strange to share party details and mourn the loss of such a good man at the same time.  But. As promised, here's a few Halloween Tricks and Treats from my Witches Brew last weekend...

The games:
Witches in Vogue

(Give one point for each item the witches are wearing.  The witch with the most points wins a prize!)  

1. Striped Socks
2. Hat is pointy
3. Earrings Dangle
4. Skin is Green
5. Wearing Any Sheer Fabric
6. Have a zipper
7. Nails are Halloweeny (black or decorated)
8. Have blood red or black lips
9. Have a wart (real or fake)
10. Wearing a witchy necklace
11. Wearing more than three rings or a toe ring (1 point for each)
12. Brought a broom
13. Wearing a Cape
14. Have a Witch Up-do or Hair color
15. Have heels on your shoes
16. Wearing Glitter on clothes or body
17. Have on fishnet stockings
18. Are a sexy witch
19. Have been a witch before
20. Are wearing a wig
21. Have Elvira sleeves (big, long or pointy)
22. Are wearing a scarf
23. You cackled since you put on your costume
24. You created any part of your costume instead of purchasing
25. If you are a good witch (not wearing black)
    Tiebreakers:
    Are you a lefty?
    Guess the witchy number of the night between 1-100

 SPOOKLISH
This was our own version of the family box game called Funglish.  It can be purchased at any department store.  We used the white board to write the adjectives down, but followed all of the rules from the box.  It was good for lots of laughs.  Here are our word lists.  There were four words to each card.  A team of Two people wrote descriptive words on the white board as clues for the words that they want the others to guess.  The group guesses the words individually as they think of possibilities.  Whoever guessed what the word was got a point, along with the team of two who were giving the clues.  Three minutes was allowed for each turn and the clue-givers try to get the group to guess as many words as possible in their allotted time.  (I had printed and cut the word lists and had them in a stack by the board.) 

Nail Polish, Crystal Ball, Viking, Potion

 Lochness Monster, Statue,   Eclipse,  Ax

 Witch, Black Eye, Marilyn Monroe, Mirror

 Doctor, Twilight, Mote, Merlin the Magician

Werewolf, Castle, Magic Carpet, Swamp

Cowboy, Robin Hood, Cave, Dead Sea

 Sugar, Frog, Sumo Wrestler, Jack-o-lantern

Ghost, Garlic, Mermaid, Knight

Dracula, Tombstone, Devil, Wand

Frankenstein, Electric Chair, Fang, Witch’s Hat

Jack the Ripper, Skeleton, Spell, Genie

Cleopatra, Vampire, Guillotine, Licorice

Chain, Window, Wedding Dress, James Bond

Clown, Spandex, Mummy, Swiss army knife Candle, Lightning,  Toga, Sweat

Moon, Wart, Robot, Stonehenge

Leather, Fairy Godmother, Rat, Lipstick

Snake, Fire, Angel, Blood

Tarantula, Bat, Spell, Chainsaw

Dragon, Apple, Cemetery, Black Light

Thunder, Electric Chair, Candy, Midnight

Hot cocoa, Doorbell, Crow, Spook Alley

Cornmaze, Coffin,  Ghostbusters, Leaves

Caldron, Costume, Fangs, Leaves

A TREAT:  My new friend, Nikki, made this outstanding bread dip that was to die for!  I can't wait to make it myself!  Later, Doug, who'd dished up a plate of treats to enjoy alone during the party, asked, "WHAT was that?!?!"  It was a hit!

Nikki's Bread Dip

  8 oz. cream cheese
1 1/2 cup sour cream
2 cups grated cheese
1 tsp. Worchestershire sauce
1 cup chopped ham
1 can green chilis
1/2 cup green onion

Mix well, put in a greased pie plate and bake for 1 hour. 

This morning, as I awoke, my first thought was, "I can't believe that Fred is gone."  I say it often, I will say it today.  Let your loved ones know that you love them.  Don't waste a day by not saying so.  Say I'm sorry.  Say I love you.  More important, show it.  You never know what tomorrow brings.  Life is fragile.  Enough said.

We should give meaning to life, not wait for life to give us meaning.