Miracle Grow and yummy Peanut Thai Sauce

Look what my garden grew! I wish I could say it was the result of hard work and loving care but I pretty much forgot about them. One of my kids informed me we had broccoli. This is pretty exciting since it grew on it's own in sand. (The kids were more excited about the inch worms.) Garden fresh veggies are so yummy...just wish everything grew this way!
I also wanted to include this recipe for a Peanut Sauce. This is one of my favorite sauces. I use it as a dip for veggies, or pot stickers. I also will use it as a sauce with noodles and chicken. Yum!Enjoy.

Thai-Style Peanut Sauce

4 cloves of garlic
Juice of 1/2 lime
1/2 cup of creamy peanut butter
1/4 cup ketchup
1/4 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
2 TBSP vegetable oil
4 tsp. finely chopped fresh ginger
1 TBSP. red wine vinegar or cider vinegar
1 TBSP onion powder
1 TBSP Asian (dark) sesame oil
1/2 tsp. red pepper flakes (optional depends on how hot your kids like things)

1. Peel the garlic. With blender or food processor on , drop the garlic cloves in one at a time, through the opening in the lid. Chop fine.
2. Pour the lime juice into the blender container. Stop the blender add all the remaining ingredients, along with 1/2 cup water. Pulse on high speed until the ingredients are combined, about 5 seconds. Scrape down the sides of the container and pulse 3 or 4 more times. The sauce is ready to use. It can be refrigerated or frozen.
Cheap.Fast.Good. Cookbook

The Month of the Baby Showers!

Kids are in school so I have had a few minutes to sew. I am surrounded by friends having babies. I had 4 baby showers this month. So this month was all about the baby! In honor of little J being born to our friends and RockBand mates he needed this:
I've been seeing these nursing covers at boutiques,they are called bosom buddies or commonly known as Hooter Hiders(so glad I did not have to google that!). Came across this blog and she gives a tutorial on how to make them..Made by the Mama Monster. So, of course I had to make one. If you don't sew she sells them for around 20.00 (good price). If you want me to sew one up for you or someone just email me. I would charge around the same depending on the fabric. They are not difficult to sew.

Here is a link on how to sew receiving blankets:Craft Apple. This blanket is to wrap up little Lucy when she comes! So excited for all these babies. I get to hold them and love on them and then send them home with mom!

Few Of My Favorite Things

My favorite things since the last post:

* My Husband! We celebrated our 12 year anniversary this past week. Love Him!

Cool and clueless!

Less Cool, less clueless and loving every moment of it!

*Family: Rachel spent a week visiting so we were all together again. We had a great time, the kids had so much fun. Looking forward to her next visit or ours.

The cousins.
Family.

* Possibilities: Not sure if it's going to be one of my favorite things but I signed up for an online college class. One of my goals was to use my time wisely. I am the only sibling without a degree and it's time to start working on it. Don't ask what in yet....but I am excited about all the possibilities!

* The hat Greg surprised me with. Don't you love it. It needs to be colder so I can wear it more often.

* Rupa and the April Fishes! This is my new dance around the house favorite.

Party at the P's

Cousins are in town and we had them over the other night. They decided they needed to dance:


Love my nephew:)!

The New Year

So, now we say good bye to 2008. A year of many changes for myself and for family. Some were good, some heartbreaking, and some triumphant as we see the power of family and friends and how prayer and service make all the difference. I am not a big new years resolution person but this year I am setting some goals. With my kiddo's in school I have alot of time on my hands and I feel this time is a blessing depending on how I use it. One thing is for sure, no more excuses with the getting healthy goals! After 3 weeks of pure indulgence the need for a sugar buzz is worse than ever. It doesn't help that as life continues on and obviously none of us are getting any younger fun little things from those lovely genetics start showing up around you reminding you of the need to take better care of yourself. So, I am hoping alot of this:
Some of this:
Will help me stop the craving for this: Love it!
And yummy desserts like these: (Don't worry recipe to follow!)
So here's to 2009, a chance for change, for growth and no more Dr. Pepper:(!


The Best Layer Dessert Ever!
(Don't let the pistachio throw you. My mom used it one time and we have loved it ever since! You can substitute with pudding of your choice, we have made it with chocolate but still love the pistachio.)

Mix together and press in a 9 x 13 pan:
1 stick of butter
1 c. flour
1 c. finely chopped nuts
Bake 20 minutes at 350. Cool.

2 8 oz. packages of cream cheese ( i have used low-fat but prefer regular)
2 c. powdered sugar
2 c. Cool Whip
Mix. Spread on crust. (Put in fridge while making next layer.)

2 3.5 oz. boxes of Pistachio instant pudding.
2 1/2 c. milk.
Mix. Beat until set. Spread over first layer.(Put in fridge while making next layer)

2 3.5 oz boxs of Vanilla instant pudding.
2 1/2 c. milk
Mix. Beat until set. Spread over pistachio layer.

Cover with remaining Cool Whip. You can sprinkle nuts on the top if you want.
Refridgerate. Enjoy!

This dessert is as tasty for breakfast as cheese cake!

Holidays

I am hoping all had a wonderful holiday season. Ours was filled with family, friends, and of course food. Toys were put together. Many games played (I am currently the Pokeman Master) and lots of time together.

I think one of our favorite days was New Years. We spent New Year's Eve with friends and the kids stayed up until midnight! It has been years since Greg and I have stayed up to celebrate and we had a great time. New Years day we took the kids up to the snow. It was their first time in snow and they had so much fun.