Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Camping


We went camp last night in the Targhee National Forest and had so much fun! Note for future camping trips:

Don't forget toilet paper

Flame Broiled Bacon isn't too Bad

John is a Maniac

A cheap griddle doesn't work so great, it melts

Carol becomes a total Daddy's Girl

Don't forget to charge the lantern battery

Thomas and John revert back to their primal selfs

A knife, hot pad and hot chocolate mix would be nice to bring along

All in all, we had a riot! Even though we forgot a few key items, it turned out wonderful anyways! It's always so relaxing to listen to the wildlife, watch the flames and just chill! Watch out National Forests here we come!!!

Monday, June 21, 2010

Kinda Big Update

Lots has happened in the past months, and I guess I better get this darn blog updated!
Our biggest news, we've moved from Orem, Utah to Small Town Idaho! We absolutely love it up here! Thomas transferred his job to up here and we were able to move into a bigger place which is really really nice! There's a field right behind us, and plenty of room to play! Thomas is home from work most nights by 6pm instead of 8 or 9pm.
Another note of joy, I'm a stay at home mom for the summer! I do miss working sometimes, but I'm really enjoying this Mom gig! I find that I have a lot more time to focus on what I need to focus on and it's really working for us right now! The kids and I have been having a riot exploring! We've gone to a museum, to parks, visited family, and we are trying to learn the different birds that are coming into our bird feeders! We've been down to the farm in Bear Lake with Papa and Gramma Kunz and we are going to Yellowstone this weekend to fish with Papa and Gram Martin!
Yesterday being Father's Day, we went for a drive with Thomas up to Kelly's Canyon and found the perfect camping spot! I'm used to the mountains being so busy in Utah it was really nice to be in the mountains up here in Idaho and not see very many people! We saw this beautiful bird, with a red head, yellow body and black back and wings. It's was amazing! We are going to be hiking a bunch this summer in search of the elusive huckleberry patches. Oh, we are addicted to huckleberries right now! Yum!
I've enjoyed being closer to my sister and her husband and son! I've missed being around my sis, and even though we haven't had much time to get into trouble, I'm sure it's coming! We have huge plans for the holidays! It's also very nice to be close to some of my Aunts and cousins, they are all a riot! I do miss Mom and Dad, a lot.
In my spare time from unpacking and exploring and being Mom, I've found all my recipes again and I'm in the process of tweaking a few, including a mozzarella cheese stick recipe! Yum! OK, so I think I've typed enough for now! Enjoy!

Easy Easy Fruit Dip

Here's a really easy fruit dip recipe that I just love!

EASY FRUIT DIP

• 1 part Cool Whip
• 2 parts strawberry yogurt (or any other berry flavor)

Whip ingredients together and chill before serving.

Sunday, April 25, 2010

Poached Salmon Salad

4 salmon fillets
1 bay leaf
½ cup chopped celery
¼ cup chopped onion
¼ cup chopped carrot
sea salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste
½ cup white wine
2 teaspoons fresh dill weed, roughly chopped

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In baking dish place all ingredients including the salmon. Add water to cover half way up. Cover with parchment paper and poach for 15 minutes in oven or until temperature of salmon reaches 145 degrees. Cool salmon at least one hour.

CUCUMBER SAUCE
1 cup cucumber, peeled, cored and diced to ¼”
¾ cup sour cream
2-teaspoons fresh dill weed
1-tablespoon fresh lemon juice
4 mint leaves, chopped
1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
2 teaspoons capers
2 teaspoons lemon zest
sea salt to taste
8 cups assorted lettuce leaves, roughly chopped

Mix all ingredients in a bowl with a spatula. Arrange lettuce on four plates. Top with chilled salmon fillet and then top with dill sauce to taste. Serve immediately.

Sunday, March 21, 2010

Grilled Teriyaki Chicken

Here's a great easy recipe from work, if you want add some pineapple salsa for a finishing touch!

GRILLED TERIYAKI CHICKEN

· 4 Harmons Recipe Ready Whole Chicken Legs

· 1-cup teriyaki sauce

· ¼ cup fresh lemon juice

· 2 teaspoon minced garlic 1 tablespoon sesame oil

Place all ingredients in a gallon zip block bag. Seal well and shake to coat. Place in refrigerator for 24 hours, turning every so often. Preheat grill to medium. Lightly oil the grate. Remove legs from bag, discarding and remaining marinade. Place legs on grill and cover, reducing heat to low. Grill about 20 to 30 minutes, turning twice. Cook to an internal temperature of 165 degrees.

Also, for anyone interested, I'm making, my own cook book, starting at $25 each. They are full of recipes I've collected, tried out and tweeked, with room to add your own recipes and tweeks! Let me know if you're interested!

Sunday, January 31, 2010

Avocados!

Yum! Avocados are one of my favorite fruits ever! Most people think that they are bad for you, but they are not! Woot! Hass avocados are extremely healthy, full of fiber and other good stuff. It's recommenced to only eat about 1/2 cup as a serving at a time. one of my favorite recipes with avocados are as follows:

1 grilled chicken breast
2 pieces of multi grain bread, toasted
3 tomato slices
some green leaf lettuce
a small smear of mayo
3-4 slices avocado

Put together and enjoy a wonderful sandwich!!!

Saturday, January 16, 2010

Curried Carrot Bisque

  • 1 cup chopped sweet onion
  • 1/4 cup butter, cubed
  • 4 1/2 cups sliced carrots
  • 1 large potato, peeled and cubed
  • 2 (14.5 ounce) cans chicken broth - low sodium
  • 1 1/2 tsp curry powder
  • 1 cup half and half
  • 1 cup milk
  • 2 TBSP freshly chopped chives, or more if you like chives
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/8 teaspoon pepper
In a Dutch oven, saute onion in butter until tender. Add carrots, potato, broth and ginger. Cover and cook over medium heat for 30 minutes or until vegetables are tender. Cool for 15 minutes. Transfer to a blender or food processor in small batches; cover and process until smooth. Return all to the pan; stir in the milk and half and half, curry powder, salt and pepper. Cook over low heat until heated through. When serving, garnish each bowl with chives. You may omit the milk and half and half and just add a bit more broth to make the texture smoother if you want to cut out the extra calories.

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

Citrus is the Bomb!

I found this great recipe on www.allrecipes.com for a citrus salad! I added some grilled chicken, subtracted the black olives (yuck) and also added in some sections of clementines and moro blood oranges! What a nice refreshing salad, especially with citrus being in season! Yummy!

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Arugula-Fennel-and-Orange-Salad-2/Detail.aspx

Sunday, January 3, 2010

My Favorite Snack

Ok, so maybe it's not my very most favorite snack, that being chocolate, but I am trying to be good, so this one is my favorite being good snack:

Yogurt and Granola

1 serving strawberry yogurt
1 serving favorite granola
1 kiwi, peeled and sliced
1/2 c strawberries, cored and quartered

Place yogurt in bowl, then layer fruit on top of yogurt and sprinkle granola on top! Simple, easy and very satisfying! I also like to do this with vanilla yogurt, granola, and tangerines and oranges. Very easy to mix it up, just make sure you keep your serving sizes in the right range!

Monday, December 28, 2009

Healthy Philly CheeseSteak

Serves 2, Ready to Serve in 20 minutes, tops!
  • 1/2 green bell pepper, thinly sliced
  • 1/2 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
  • 1/2 small sweet onion, thinly sliced
  • 6 white mushrooms, thinly sliced
  • 6 oz lean roast beef, shaved
  • 2 whole wheat buns
  • 1/4 c. shredded cheddar cheese

Preheat the oven to 350 F. Lightly coat a baking pan with cooking spray. Spray a frying pan with cooking spray. Over medium heat, saute the peppers and onions until they soften, 3 to 5 minutes. Add the roast beef and saute for an additional 2 to 3 minutes. Place 1/2 of the roast beef mixture on each bun. Place in the prepared baking dish. Top each bun with 2 tablespoons of the cheese. Bake until the cheese has melted, 2 to 4 minutes. Preheat the oven to 350 F. Lightly coat a baking pan with cooking spray. Spray a frying pan with cooking spray. Over medium heat, saute the peppers and onions until they soften, 3 to 5 minutes. Add the roast beef and saute for an additional 2 to 3 minutes. Place 1/2 of the roast beef mixture on each bun. Place in the prepared baking dish. Top each bun with 2 tablespoons of the cheese. Bake until the cheese has melted, 2 to 4 minutes.

Saturday, December 26, 2009

All Righty Peeps

So the New Year is coming and I need to make some resolutions and keep them this year and make them into forever lifestyle changes! I know I'm a few days early with my resolutions, but oh well. So here goes:

1. Walk for at least 20 minutes at a steady pace daily.
2. Try a new healthy recipe once a week! (I'm excited about this one!)
3. Have a date night once a week with the husband
4. Start building my food storage up
5. Try pilates out
6. Read a random scripture every day
7. Stop swearing and put a dollar in a jar for every swear word - proceeds to go to a cruise
8. Keep to a budget and save lots of $$$$ by the end of the year
9. Have family home evening every week
10. Remember birthdays and get cards out on time
11. Have a family outing at least once a month
12. Go riding more with my Dad

I'll share the healthy recipes with you if they are any good. My family might not like me on new recipe night. So there it is, I hope I'll be able to do this!!!!

Friday, December 25, 2009

Merry Christmas!

Silent night, holy night!
Shepherds quake at the sight
Glories stream from heaven afar
Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia!
Christ, the Saviour is born
Christ, the Saviour is born

I love the verse from Silent Night! It fits what I want to say and what I feel about Christmas! Merry Christmas to all of you and may you find peace and happiness with our Lord today! God Bless You!

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Sufganiot - Hanukkah Doughnuts

Happy Hanukkah! Thanks sis for the great email about Hanukkah, it reminded me of this great recipe I had for a traditional Hanukkah food item!
Sufganiot are deep-fried jelly doughnuts that are traditionally eaten during the Jewish festival of Hanukkah. Sufganiot are especially popular in Israel. The oil used to fry the doughnuts are reminiscent of the oil that miraculously burned, according to the Hanukkah story, in the ancient Temple in Jerusalem.

Ingredients:

  • 1 ounce yeast
  • 1 TBSP sugar
  • 1 TBSP water
  • 1 TBSP flour
  • 3 cups flour
  • 1/4 cup margarine, melted
  • dash of salt
  • 3 TBSP sugar
  • 2 egg yolks
  • 1 1/4 cups water at room temperature
  • jelly
  • oil for frying
  • powdered sugar
To make the dough: Combine the first four ingredients in a bowl. Mix well, cover, and wait until it rises. In another bowl, mix 3 cups of flour with the melted margarine, salt, sugar and egg yolks. Combine the yeast mixture with the flour mixture. Slowly add water while stirring. When batter is smooth, cover the bowl with a towel and let it sit and rise.
To make the doughnuts: After the batter has risen, pour it onto a floured surface and roll it out. Use a glass with a small opening to cut out circles of the dough. Place a drop of jelly in the middle of each circle, and then cover with another circle of dough. Make sure that 2 circles attach well to form a closed ball with jelly in the middle. Cover the doughnuts with a towel and let rise.
To fry the doughnuts: Heat oil in a deep pot until very hot. Drop the doughnuts into the oil and fry on both sides until brown. Remove with a slotted spoon and sprinkle with powdered sugar.
These sufganiot are only good fresh. After you make the dough, only fry a few at a time. Store the rest of the dough in the refrigerator.

Sunday, December 13, 2009

Christmas Rice Pudding

This is a fun recipe to make with your little ones after watching the Grinch!

2/3 cup long-grain rice (not converted)
3 cups milk
3/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 Tablespoons butter
1/2 teaspoon salt
4 egg yolks
1/8 cup of red and green M&M's

With the help of an adult combine rice and milk in top of double boiler. Cover and cook over simmering water for 30 minutes or until rice is tender. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Beat egg yolks with a wire whisk until frothy. Stir sugar, vanilla, butter, salt, and egg yolks into warm rice mixture. Mix well. Grease shallow baking dish. Pour in pudding. Bake 35-40 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Refrigerate overnight or for at least 8 hours. Top with red and green M&M's before serving.

Saturday, December 5, 2009

Monday, November 30, 2009

Snowman Poop

Ingredients

9 cups of Rice Chex
1/2 package Hershey's Milk Chocolate Chips
2 cups powdered sugar

Directions

Put Hershey's chips into a microwave-safe bowl and microwave for 1 to 2 minutes, or until smooth. While the chips are melting, gently put the Rice Chex into a separate bowl. Gently pour the melted chocolate over the Rice Chex. Gently stir the chocolate and Rice Chex together until all the Rice Chex are covered. Put 1/4 of the mixture into a zip lock bag with 1/2 cup powdered sugar and shake gently until Rice Chex are covered with sugar. Pour into a storing dish. Cover the remainder of the Rice Chex with powdered sugar in the same manner.

Saturday, November 28, 2009

Gingerbread Guys

I'm making some of these to put on my tree this year! They are smelling so yummy!

Ingredients

1 cup sugar
1 cup butter
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground cloves
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 cup molasses
1 teaspoon vinegar
2 eggs, beaten
5 cups flour, sifted
1 teaspoon soda

Directions

Mix sugar, butter, spices and molasses. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Cool to lukewarm. Add vinegar and eggs. Mix well. Add sifted flour and soda blending to a smooth dough. Chill. Roll out on floured board and cut with a 4 or 6 inch cookie cutter. Bake on an ungreased cookie sheet at 350 degrees for 10 minutes. Decorate and eat or hang on your tree!

Friday, November 27, 2009

Tis the Season!

Hi Everyone! I'm so excited for the Christmas season this year! To start the season off, here's a wonderful recipe to enjoy with your friends and families! Perfect for snacking on while you trim that tree and blast Christmas music! By the way, one of the reasons I love this time of year is the creating of so many special goodies!!!

Ingredients

5 quarts air popped corn (1 1/2 cups unpopped)
1 cup white sugar
1 stick oleo
1/4 cup white corn syrup
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup red hot candies
1/4 teaspoon soda

Directions

Mix all ingredients except corn and soda in microwave safe bowl. Cook on high in microwave 1 1/2 minutes. Stir with wooden spoon. Cook in microwave again until red hots melt. Add soda and pour onto popcorn that has been place in brown paper bag. Stir until mixed well. Place bag in microwave and cook on high 1 1/2 minutes. Stir. Repeat twice more. Pour out on counter and spread out to cool. When cool place in air tight container.

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Butternut Squash Bisque

So I know I've blogged about my bisque before, sometime last year I believe. Well the other day I was called by a person from the Daily Herald an asked for a great harvest recipe and an interview. Today it came out in the paper!!! I'm so excited about it! It's such a wonderfully savory recipe and I'm just thrilled to share it! Here's the link and article also:

http://www.heraldextra.com/lifestyles/food-and-cooking/recipes/article_c92ae68e-70ca-5c04-a24a-1b455d46d10a.html?mode=story

Butternut bisque busters

Visit the Harmons grocery store in Orem and you'll likely find Sina Kunz slicing, dicing and chopping fresh fruits and vegetables. As lead produce sous chef, Sina, 29, loves the freshness offered daily at Harmons.

"Not only is fresh produce packed with essential vitamins and minerals, fresh produce adds such amazing flavors, textures and colors to every meal!" she says. Phytochemicals, naturally occurring chemical compounds in plants, work together with vitamins and nutrients and may provide disease protection, Sina adds.

Sina and her husband, Thomas, live in Orem and have two children. Her full name is Sinalei, which in Samoan means Lei of Flowers. "My dad served an LDS mission to Western Samoa and named his daughters with Samoan names," she says. Her sister's name is Tiana, meaning Little Grain of Sand.

Sina loves riding horses and team roping with her dad. "I grew up in Jackson, Wyo., around horses and cattle," she says. "My family is a rodeo family." While growing up, Sina focused on barrel racing. Now she's learning team roping with her dad.

"The header catches the horns of a steer with a rope and a heeler catches the hind feet of a steer with a rope," she says. Sina takes the heeling end, while her dad works on heading. Of course, they try for the fastest time -- all the while on the backs of their horses. "I'm still learning ... but loving it," she says.

Sina's love of food began with her mom and grandma, who both taught her how to cook. She collects cookbooks and enjoys tweaking recipes "for just the right appeal."

Her favorite harvest produce is winter squash. She shares a bisque made from it. "You can serve the bisque in a bread bowl with a sprinkle of Asiago cheese, or as one of your courses during Thanksgiving dinner," Sina says.

Butternut Squash Bisque

• 2 tablespoons butter

• 1 small onion, chopped

• 2 stalks celery, chopped

• 3 medium carrots, chopped

• 2 potatoes, peeled and chopped

• 1 medium butternut squash, peeled, seeded and cubed

• 1 tablespoon poultry seasoning or to taste

• salt and pepper to taste

• 32 ounces chicken or vegetable broth

• 1 cup half and half, whipping cream or broth

In a large pot, melt butter. Saute vegetables in the butter 5 minutes. Add seasonings. Cover vegetables with broth and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer 40 minutes or until everything is very tender, stirring occasionally.

Transfer all ingredients to a blender and blend until smooth. Return to pot, bring to a simmer and add half and half to obtain desired consistency.

Cook's notes: This recipe freezes very well for up to 6 months. Don't add cream. Package in freezer-safe containers. When you are ready to use, thaw, heat up and then add cream.

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Pumpkin!

I love fall as you all know. The colors, the smells, the crispness in the air, everything! In celebration of Autumn, I'm going to share with you a very easy, very yummy recipe! Yum Yum!

What you need:
1 package spice cake mix
1 (15 oz) can Easy Pumpkin Pie Mix
1 egg
2 cups milk chocolate chips
Cream Cheese frosting

What to Do:
Combine all the ingredients together, except chocolate chips. Once the batter is mixed thoroughly, add in the chocolate chips. Now here's the fun part. You can either spoon the batter into muffin tins, put dollops on a cookie sheet or fill up bread loaf pans with the batter. The sky is the limit! Bake in a preheated oven for 8-10 minutes for cookies, about 20-25 minutes for muffins and about 30-35 minutes for a loaf pan. A sure way to check that the pumpkin mix is done, insert a tooth pick into the center and if it comes out clean it done! Let what ever you've made cool for a few minutes and remove from the cookie sheet, muffin pan or loaf pan. Top with cream cheese frosting and ENJOY!