Butternut Squash Bisque

This is a very yummy, warm your toes bisque! Great for fall weather and wintertime!

2 TBSP butter or olive oil
1 small onion, chopped
2 stalks celery, chopped
3 medium carrots, chopped
2 potatoes, peeled and chopped
1 medium sized butternut squash, peeled, seeded and chopped
32 oz chicken of vegetable squash
1/2 tsp poultry seasoning or to taste
Salt and Pepper to taste
1 cup Half and Half or Heavy whipping cream

In a large pot, melt butt or heat oil. Sautee veggies in oil for 5 minutes. Add seasonings. Cover veggies with broth and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 40 minutes or until everything is very tender. 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.

The Littlest Pumpkin

Thanks to my sis for this new pic. I just could not resist!!!!!! Isn't he sooooo cute!!! The Gram has dubbed him the candy corn baby. I can't wait to go see him again!

Carol's Birthday Party

Tonight, we celebrated Carol's 6th Birthday out at my parents house. What a fun time! Oupa and Granny, Aunt Debbie, RJ, Stacy and Kambree and my parents were all there out at my parent's home. For birthday dinner we had hot dogs and steak cooked on the campfire, cheetos, funeral potatoes, rolls, and green salad. Roll out the Pepto!!! Thomas was able to make it for dessert, which was a good thing. Carol was sooooo excited about her birthday cake. It was a cake built out of cupcakes to look like a cupcake! After trying to blow out the tricktsy candles, we opened presents!!! Carol was so excited! She got some Diamond Castle Barbies, clothes, a necklace kit, a stuffed puppy and all sorts of great stuff!!! It was such a good day!!!!

The Great Pumpkin

Miss Breezy and her Daddy














John Picking Jack's Pumpkin














Carol and her Pumpkin














Kambree and the Candies














So every year we go out to my folk's place and get our pumpkins for Halloween. It was freezing cold this year!!!! We had snow flakes this morning, and the wind was blowing and it was just down righ cold!!! For some magical reason, Papa and Gram get the biggest and best pumpkins overnight. It must be Gram's special miracle grow or something. John picked out Jackbug's first pumpkin, Carol picked out Tiana's pumpkin, John picked Uncle Lew's pumpkin and Carol picked out Patty's pumpkin and so on. Miss Breezy was there too, and had a jolly time getting into Gram's treat bowl and entertaining all of us during dinner. It's was such a fun time, even though we missed Lew & Patty and Tiana, Dan and Jackbug.

My Sister's Taco Soup

1 lb browned ground beef
1/2 onion
10 oz can Rotel tomatoes
15 oz can corn (do not drain)
15 oz can stewed tomatoes (do not drain)
15 oz can diced tomatos (do not drain)
15 oz can kidney beans (do not drain)
15 oz can pinto beans (do not drain)
5 oz can diced chiles
1 pkg taco seasoning
1 pkg dry Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing mix


Combine in a crock pot for on low for 6 hours. Delicious when served with shredded cheese, sour cream, and scoop tortilla chips.

He's Here!!!!

Hi Everyone!

I'm so excited! My nephew, Jack Charles Miller has arrived! He was Born October 1st, 2008 at 2:04 A.M. He is 5 pounds 15 ounces and 18 1/4 inches long and just too cute! I have not met this little guy in person yet, hopefully Sunday. But from the pictures I scalped from Dan, I'm in love with this little guy! Oh he's just adorable! He's got the cutest little pout! And what kissable cheeks! Sorry, I'm having an Aunty moment! Kinda excited here! My sister, Tiana is doing just fine, from what I hear she was very calm during labor and delivery! She's going to be such an awesome Mommy! I am also very proud to call Dan my brother in law. He didn't pass out or wuss out like my husband did during labor and delivery. Congrats to the new little family! Oooooooohhhhhhh he's just sooooooooo cute!!!!! :)

The Best Stuff Ever!!!

As most of you know, I work for Harmons here in Utah, back in the produce department as a Sous Chef. The other day we received in the most amazing product for the fall. I love a fresh apple dipped with some carmel this time of year. My favorite carmel brand, T. Marzetti, has added a new amazing twist on their carmel this year. (Or maybe I've just discovered it) They've added cinnamon in with their carmel and it's the most amazing stuff yet! So grab a new crop apple, like a Johnathan or a Gala and some T. Marzetti Cinnamon Carmel dip and enjoy!!!! Oh wow, this stuff is good!

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

This is the ultimate fall time cookie, and so easy to make! Top with cream cheese frosting for an extra yummy treat!

1 package Spice Cake mix
1 can (14oz) 100% pure pumpkin
2 eggs
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
2 cups milk chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix all the ingredients together, except chocolate chips, until smooth. Stir in the chocolate chips. Drop by the tablespoonful onto a greased cookie sheet. Bake for 10-12 minutes. Let stand on cookie sheet for 5 minutes before removing and placing on cooling racks.

Chocolate Chip Chocolate Cookies

1 package chocolate cake mix
3 eggs
1/2 cup vegetable oil
3 TBSP water
1 cup milk chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease cookie sheet. In a medium bowl mix together cake mix, eggs and oil until well blended. Fold in chocolate chips. Use a spoon to drop spoonfuls on the cookie sheet, 2 inches apart. Bake in the oven for 10-12 minutes. Allow to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before removing.

Aunt Laura Tagged me . . .

7 things I plan to do before I die...
1. Watch my Kids grow and learn
2. Learn to love life for what it is
3. Travel the World
4. Obtain a Degree
5. Learn Hebrew and Russian
6. Race again
7. Conquer my Fears

7 things I can do...
1. Cook
2. Knit, Crochet, X-stitch, and kinda sew
3. Educate people about other foods besides meat and potatoes
4. I can pull a trailer too!!!! and drive a stick!!!
5. Ride Horse - roping racing and just for fun!
6. Drive tractors
7. Be A Mom

7 things I cannot do...
1. Smash spiders or deal with spiders
2. eat nuts or things smoked with hickory
3. Scrapbook
4. be the perfect domestic dive
5. Do it All!
6. skinny
7. weird looking bugs - can't stand them

7 Things that attract me to the opposite sex... ( Or in other words Thomas)
1. Eyes
2. Warped Sense of Humor
3. Smile
4. Ease to be around
5. Hands
6. Voice
7. Laugh

7 Things I say most often
1. Hi! Have you tried . . . .
2. What are you doing?
3. What is that SMELL!
4. You stink
5. What?
6. Ya Know
7. Have a nice day!

7 Celebrity Admirations
1. My Mom & Dad
2. My Gram
3. Charmayne James
4. JK Rowling
5. Gerard Butler
6. Rachel Ray
7. Paula Dean

7 Favorite foods...
1. My Mom's Turkey Dinner
2. My Mom's Seafood Dinner
3. NY Sub
4. Pearl Street Bagel
5. Ben & Jerry - 'nuff said
6. Pork Burritos with homemade Chille Verde
7. Patty's Alfredo

Seven People I think should do this: Tiana, Patty, Dan, Samantha, um I don't know anyone else on here who hasn't already done this!

Tomato, Corn & Avacado Salad

Prep Time: 10 Minutes

Serves 4

1 ear of corn (husk and silk removed)

1 pint cherry, grape or pear tomatoes, halved or quartered if large

1 avacado, halved, pitted, peeled and diced

2 scallions, thinly sliced

2 tbsp fresh lime juice

1 tbsp olive oil

sea salt and fresh ground pepper to taster

Stand ear in large bowl, and with a sharp knife, carefully slice downward to release kernels. Discard cob. Add the rest of the ingredients to the bowl and toss gently to combine.

Creamed Corn

• 20 ounces corn kernels, blanched, and removed from the cob
  
• 1 cup whipping cream
• 1 cup milk
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• white or cayenne pepper
• 2 tablespoons flour
• 2 tablespoons butter, melted

Place corn kernels, whipping cream, milk, salt, sugar, and white or cayenne pepper in a large stockpot. Bring to a slow, low boil beginning on medium heat, stirring frequently. Simmer for 5 minutes on low heat. Melt butter in the microwave, or in a small saucepan on low heat. Whisk in flour until smooth. Stir into the corn until well blended. Enjoy!

School

So Yesterday, my two kids went to their first day of school. I knew Carol would be going without a doubt, but we didn't find out about John going to the school sponsored preschool until Friday afternoon. So, Monday morning I take them both to school. They both have their lunches packed away in their backpacks, new clothes and spiffy new shoes. As they lined up to go to their classes, my emotions overcame me. John says to me "Ok Mom, go home now." Carol just completely ignores me as she socializes and makes new friends in the 5 minutes before school starts. I stood there a little while longer, snapping a few pics and I thought,"Wow, Today is the day. I can't believe my kids are big enough to be lining up for their class and going to school." The both looked so beautiful to me (Don't tell John, he's handsome, Don't ya know!) and so ready to begin the next steps in their lives, without Mom there all the time. I knew they would be ready for this day, but my poor heart wasn't. I didn't shed any tears, my eyes just got a little misty and all. After they walked into their classrooms, I went home to 3 very quiet hours of house work and chocolate. I'm okay with this school thing now, but just for a minute, it was almost too hard to let them go.

Root Beer Float Cake

Prep Time: 25 minutes

Ready In: 2-1/2 hours

Serves: 12

1 golden vanilla cake mix

Root Beer (not extract or concentrate)

1-1/2 teaspoon vanilla

1 teaspoon lemon zest

1 recipe Celebration Icing

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Prepare cake according to package directions except use root beer in place of liquid called for and add vanilla and lemon zest. Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake according to package directions. Cool completely.

Celebration Icing:

In a medium mixing bowl, beat 1/3 cup unsalted softened butter until smooth. Add 1 cup powdered sugar, beating well. Slowly beat in 3 tablespoons root beer and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Gradually beat in 2 more cups of powdered sugar. If necessary, beat in a little more root beer to make spreading consistency,

Carol's first Horse show was just awesome! She took 5th in the Leadline showmanship and 2nd in Leadline equitation! Way to go my girlo!

Horse Show

Tomorrow, Carol-Anne is going to be in her first horse show! We are so excited! So today we tried on her show clothes and then had to take some silly pictures of her all dolled up with her T's crown and one of her Papa's trophy buckles! I think we have a future rodeo queen on our hands!

Thomas' Sauteed Mushrooms

1 package slice mushrooms
2 TBSP Poultry Seasoning
1 cube butter

Melt butter in a pan. Add in mushrooms and poultry seasoning. Sautte mushrooms until tender. Serve hot.

Black Bean and Corn Salad

4 ears of Utah corn, kernels removed
1 cucumber, diced
2 ripe Utah tomatoes, diced
1 can low sodium black beans, rinsed and drained
1/3 c. red onion, diced
Zest and juice from 1/2 lime
1 small finely minced jalapeno pepper
1 clove garlic, finely minced
1/3 c fresh cilantro leaves, chopped
1 TBSP olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste

Bring a saucepan of salted water to a boil. Blanch the corn kernels for about 2 minutes. Drain and rinse under cold water. Remove to a large bowl and add all the other ingredients and toss together gently. Make 4 cups.

Which Disney Princess Am I?

You Are Pocahantas!

Free-spirited and wise. You have a strong passionate spirit that touches and changes all who know you. The wisdom and common sense that you have is really what guides you through life. Even so, you also have a very playful side that loves adventure and excitement.

Which Disney Princess Are You?

Carol is disappointed in my Disney princess. She thinks I should be something more princess like instead.

Breaking Dawn Part 2

VICTORY! I have the book at last! At first my friend Carly and I went to the Barnes and Noble store to wait in line in Orem. What a joke! The line was clear down by the burlington coat factory store! So we had a bright idea and Carly and her boyfriend James walked over to the FYE store to see how long the line was. They discovered the line was really short there, so I left my place at B&N and went to FYE. 15 minutes later, I had the book in my hands. Joy! We had to walk past B&N to get to our cars and holy crap the line was still extremely huge out side! I swear we would have waited in line until 3 am just to buy this book! I'm so glad we went over to the other store! Well I'm going to go read now. I might not surface for a day or two!