Saturday, December 20, 2008

Few Of My Favorite Things

So, here are a few of my favorite things from this crazy week!

* Going to the Nutcracker with my daughter and friends! We went to lunch and then watched the Matinee. I barely finished her dress in time (it had lining and many other things that were a first for me!) and she loved it! (Huge sigh of relief). We had a great time.
*Family Gatherings. We were supposed to go to the Temple lights but it was raining so we visited, ate Mom's homemade cinnamon rolls with hot chocolate and of course played RockBand!

*The huge Candy Cane Bagels a neighbor dropped off, these were good!
*Button Ribbon from Anthropolgie. I almost skipped putting it on my friends gift but knew she would love it so...I buttoned it on!
* Paper Star Ornaments! For some reason I thought the kids had school until Tues. next week. Why? I don't know, so when Thursday night came and I realized that I needed teacher gifts for the next day... Paper Star ornaments saved me! The template etc. is on BHG web page.
*The adorable matching Mom and daughter matching aprons my friend sewed up that I don't have a photo of since I have been wearing it nonstop while I Holiday bake!

Monday, December 8, 2008

Christmas Lights and Ginger Cookies

It's almost Christmas and my kids are still going to school like this:


It's going to be in the 70's again this weekend. I don't want to freeze but i would love to wear a sweater because it's actually cold. Now I just wear a sweater because It feels wrong to go into the holidays with out them. I have yet to wear one all day. Such a bummer!

We hit the temple lights this weekend.Amber and her kids came along and then we had hot chocolate and cookies at my house. Did I mention I am going t miss Amber? We had a bunch of cookies left over so we had friends over again Sunday night for hot chocolate and cookies. My kids were in heaven...two night in a row of cocoa and marshmallows? It doesn't get much better than that to 6 year olds.


Here is the link to the Soft Ginger Cookies I made. They are Greg's new favorite and are even yummier dipped in your hot chocolate. Enjoy!

Monday, December 1, 2008

Sweet Potato Brownies

O.K. bought way to many sweet potatoes for Thanksgiving so in my recipe search I came across this one.. and it is a way yummy way to get your beta carotene! Don't have a photo they went to fast. Enjoy!

Sweet Potato (yam) Brownies
  • 1 cup butter
  • 1 cup packed brown sugar
  • 1 cup white sugar
  • 4 eggs
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 2 cups peeled and finely shredded yam (raw, no need to cook)
  • 1 cup confectioners' sugar
  • 2 tablespoons butter or margarine
  • 2 tablespoons milk

DIRECTIONS

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.
  2. In a large bowl, cream together the butter, brown sugar, and white sugar until smooth. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla. Combine the flour, baking powder, and salt; stir into the batter just until blended. Fold in the shredded yam. Spread the batter evenly in the greased baking dish.
  3. Bake for 30 minutes in the preheated oven, until a toothpick inserted into the center, comes out clean. Mix together the confectioners' sugar, butter and milk until smooth. Spread over the brownies while they are still warm. They will absorb some of the glaze. Serve hot or warm.

Saturday, November 29, 2008

Food, Family, Friends


Thanksgiving Weekend! I hosted Thanksgiving at my house this year and it went great. Small crowd with much of the family out of town. Good food, much to be thankful for. As we filled out our thankful for... leaves Isa put on our plates my husbands was "It's Over"! He loves it when I am the hostess. I really do have a great deal to be thankful for but will spare you my list as we each have our own.
Friday was get together with Amber and the kids day as both of our husbands were working. Have I mentioned that Amber is leaving me and going back to Washington? I am will miss her tons. So we have the girls making felt cupcake ornaments, and Amber picked the new thing for us to make.
Amber picks these really fun wallets made from laminated magazine photos. The tutorial is from Sew Liberated which is a great blog. So, basically you take these..
Cut them out..
Then ya sew 'em together.
Then you have a lovely wallet like the ones on the Sew Liberated blog. Well, if you ignore the wonky stitches, needle holes etc., it is pretty close.

Monday, November 17, 2008



My husband finds these very amusing so when we came across this one.. here's my not much of anything for the few who happen upon my blog today!

New and Easy recipe I tried last week:

EASY AND DELICIOUS CHICKEN: Not the prettiest but easy, very kid friendly and tasty.



Thrift Store Find:
I have recently been looking for old patterns at thrift stores. Not easy to come by since most are size specific but I found a few the other day and am really excited about this one! It's from 1967 and not even cut!.30 cents.
I'm thinking of making it in the background fabric if I have enough.

My sister-in-law and her good friend came over the other night and this movie came up in comversation. Watch it, you will not be disappointed.

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

SPICY BEEF BURROS

If you happened to have the classic pot roast for Sunday dinner and now you need to find a way to use it up these are it. My mom came up with these when she had a house full of kids & teens to feed.

SPICY BEEF BURROS
Tortillas
Leftover Roast Beef
Refried Beans
Pepper Jack Cheese Grated
Any other fixings you like in your burros: guac, sour cream, rice,cheddar cheese

* Break up the leftover pot roast into a skillet and turn the heat on to medium. As the meat warms up stir some salsa into the meat. Make sure the meat is well coated and let it warm evenly.

*Heat up some refried beans.

Take your tortillas spread your beans and then add beef, grated pepper jack cheese, and any other fixings you want! Yum! My mom would make them with just the meat, beans and cheese, wrap them up and throw them in the fridge. Whenever we needed a quick bite we would grab one, heat it up and head out the door to the next activity.

Sunday, November 2, 2008

For Thor's Sake!

Is anyone else happy that Halloween is over? Putting kids in costumes four different times was a little much this year! Isa decided on Little Red Riding Hood and the boys love the Hiccup Haddock Viking adventures and so Vikings they were.
Amazing what a little tape, milk jug and paint can become!

* Swappy Goodness! I received my swap gift and figure my swap partner received hers and so I can post what I sent! I made the apron from a vintage pillowcase I had picked up from a thrift store. It's my first attempt at at an apron, so it's far from perfect but I was loving it! I also sent a frame I added paper and distressing to but I forgot to take a photo.
I received (it's so fun to receive packages in the mail!) ....
A piece of molding from a house built in the 1890's with some great knobs on it and some apple cider wrapped in a wall paper that I thought was pretty great as well. Thanks, Sarah!

O.K. So here's my mom moment of the week! I stop behind someone at a light and my daughter had been complaining about her stomach hurting and I was not to worried about it, we were on our way home, when she starts to throw up all over the back seat. So, naturally I turn around and start looking for a bag or something and with out realizing it had taken my foot slightly off the brake. Well, it was enough to hit the person if front of me. Nice! I get out of the car and start telling the guy how sorry I was and that my daughter was puking all over the back of the van ...they just looked at me , spoke basically no English, saw that my van did nothing to their truck, I was left with a permanent hitch mark on the front of mine and they figured it was all good! Yeah no police, just puke and a small dent! Good Times!

Thursday, October 23, 2008

PUMPKIN PANCAKES AND BREAD RECIPE

It's Fall! Well, when it no longer hits 100 we call it fall. So..time to pull out the pumpkin recipes. Here are a few of my favorites! Have the pancakes with caramel syrup aka dragon spit at my house. I've blogged that recipe on an earlier post!

PUMPKIN PANCAKES

2 c. flour
3 tbsp. brown sugar
2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 1/2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 c. milk
1 c. pumpkin puree
1 egg
2 tbsp. vegetable oil
2 tbsp. vinegar
In a separate bowl, mix together the pumpkin, milk, egg, oil, & vinegar. Combine the dry ingredients, stir into the pumpkin mixture just enough to combine.

Heat a oiled griddle over medium high heat. Brown on both sides. (if you prefer a thinner batter just add a little more milk)

PUMPKIN BREAD

1 1/2 c. flour plus 2 Tbsp.
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg
1/4 tsp. ground clove
1/8 tsp. ginger
3/4 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1 1/2 c. sugar
1 c. solid packed pumpkin puree
1/2 c. vegetable oil
1/4 c. chopped walnuts (optional)
1/3 c. water
2 eggs

1. Grease and flour a medium bread pan. preheat oven to 350.
2. Measure flour, sugar, baking soda, salt, and spices into a large bowl. Add water, pumpkin, vegetable oil, eggs, and nuts. Beat or stir until combined. Pour into bread pan.
3. Bake 1 hour.

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

What's New?

Not much...

* Kids were home for fall break all last week. I don't ever remember taking a fall break ...do you?
We stayed in town and kept busy with little things. We checked out The Riparian Preserve and went to the movies, busted out the new Batman Lego's and we had a good week.
* Ladies night hosted by my talented friend and neighbor. It was all about paper this time so we each picked what we wanted to work on. Here's the results..(Mom did the BOO hanging! Love it!)
We had a great time, lots of chatting and laughs and of course food. I brought one of my favorite dessert breads. Here is the link to the recipe, it makes two loaves...one for home and one to give away..yum! Poppy Seed Bread with Glaze!
* Seriously..but I did actually finish something! Happy Birthday (a little late) to my niece. There may be hope!

* Sewing..I seem to be doing quite a bit lately so here's a few things that have been keeping me busy: I needed to make something from something I had for a church display..so I made my daughter a skirt from a pillowcase. I thought it was cute,she of course, will not wear it. Baby Gifts:

Happy Birthday to three more nieces:These skirts are so easy. No pattern needed..just a little measuring and gathering (and sewing of course).
Now on to the next projects, the garden, yummy pumpkin bread and finishing my swap projects!

Friday, October 3, 2008

Pears...and then more pears....




Last night I finished canning 36 quarts of pears. I picked up two boxes on Tues. and they seemed to ripen overnight. Naturally it's when I have 2 kids just getting over the stomach flu and when we are getting the Boston Terrier we are fostering. Yeah! Mom came and saved the day! It was hard work but I loved it. I loved canning with my mom just like I did when I was a kid. Then turning around and that night peeling pears with my son, talking about life, "friendship things", school. I don't remember the conversations I had with my mom but since I never stopped talking I'm sure it was similar. It's amazing how the simple things in life have the most impact.

Monday, September 29, 2008

Sweet Pork Mex Salad (Cafe Rio Style)



So I received a few requests to blog this recipe so here it is. Is it just like Cafe Rio's yummy salads..no, but pretty darn close. The other great thing about it is if you get pork butt roast(which is not literally butt ..had to research that as I wasn't sure I could go there) on sale you can feed a group for the cost of a salad a drink at the restaurant. Here Goes:

Sweet Pork Fresh Mex Salad

LAYER
Tortilla
Black Beans
Cilantro Lime Rice
Chopped Romaine Lettuce or Spinach
Sweet Pork
Guacamole
Pico De Gallo
Tortilla Strips
Lime Wedge
Tomatillo Ranch Dressing

SWEET SHREDDED PORK
5 lbs Butt Pork Roast (bone in)
1/4 c. ketchup
1/4c. soy sauce
1 1/3 c. brown sugar
2 fresh garlic bulbs minced
1/2 c. chicken broth

Cover bottom of crock pot with water. Place pork in crock pot. Cook on low for 8 hours. Or place pork in a 9x13 pan and cover w/ aluminum foil. Bake @ 325 for 5-6hrs. Take pork out and shred. In a sauce pan combine the rest of the ingredients and cook until the sugar is dissolved. Pour over pork and serve.

CILANTRO LIME RICE
1 clove of garlic, minced
1 tsp. grated lime peel
1/8-1/4 tsp. ground black pepper
2 c. chicken broth
2 Tbsp. chopped fresh cilantro

Combine rice, garlic, lime peel, pepper and broth in a medium saucepan, bring to a boil, stir, reduce heat, cover and simmer for 15 minutes or until rice is tender. Stir in cilantro.

TOMATILLO RANCH DRESSING
2 c. mayo
1 garlic clove, minced
1/2 bunch cilantro leaves
2 Tbsp. white vinegar
1 jalapeno seeded
1/4 tsp. pepper
1/2 tsp salt
2 toamatillos (take off outside paper)

Blend all ingredients together in blender or food processor. Refrigerate for an hour or two.

GUACAMOLE
As you like it. I mash avocado's, add salt to taste, a little lime juice and some fine chopped cilantro. yum!


PICO DE GALLO

I do not like the canned tomatoe recipe this came with so here is mine:

1/2 red onion chopped
1/2 yellow onion chopped
1-2 jalapeno peppers, use serrano peppers if you like hot
4 sprigs of cilantro, chopped fine
2 green onions, chopped fine
1-2 cloves garlic minced
salt and pepper to taste
squeeze of fresh lime juice

Combine all the ingredients and refrigerate for a least 30 minutes. (This recipe makes alot..scale down if you are only feeding a few).
Enjoy!

And what's for dinner tonight? I am trying this recipe. I have a few spaghetti squash to use up and so we are giving this one a try. Serving it with steamed carrots and Fresh Limeade . Hope it's as good as it sounds!

P.S. Came across this dressing recipe that claims it tastes just like the Cafe Rio one..give it a try if you want and let me know!

House Dressing
1 dry buttermilk ranch packet (like Hidden Valley)
1 cup buttermilk (we substitute this with sour cream)
1 cup mayonnaise
2 tomatillos (husk removed & diced) .
½ bunch of cilantro
1 clove garlic
Juice of 1 lime
1 Jalapeno
Blend all ingredients in blender and refrigerate for 1-2 hours

Monday, September 22, 2008

What's New?

So here's what's new...

* A shorter haircut.. soo forgot to hit the Macro Focus!

* My Pumpkins. They are not really new. Amber and I got together with our Goodwill pumpkins, mod podged some ripped up books. I had a few Spiderwick Chronicle ones from some cereal boxes, hit the the dollar store for a crow and leaves and done! No guilt crafting . Love it!* Yeah! My swap partner. Wild Whimsy! Hmm..have an idea!

*Joined the Gym..sigh! Must be done! It is so not in the budget so my soda habit is going to have to pay for it! Those QT visits add up. So, this one I'm sucking down right now is the last. I should probably be avoided for the next few days, could get ugly!

* My fabulous finds..went to TJ MAxx to get something for one of my boys and came home with a few lovelies. I rarely post about my shopping ventures, most likely due to the lack of them but this time...I had to since they were all 3.00 and under.