Jack O Lantern Anyone?

So here's my girl, with the funniest grin ever! My question is - How is she going to eat her favorite summertime food, Utah Corn on the Cob?

Strawberry Jam

Now is the time to be picking up flats of strawberries for killer deals and making strawberry freezer jam. Strawberries are in season!!! Spring is on it's way! Sounds hard and time consuming? Not at all! You can find great freezer jam recipes in with the pectin packets! It's so worth it and easy to do! My kids love strawberry jam on anything from ice cream to pancakes, and of course sandwiches! Your local grocer should carry all that you need strawberries, pectin, lemon juice and cute little Tupperware freezer containers! Have fun and enjoy!

Gone to the Dogs

You know, I find our news reports and reporters getting stupider every day. Take for instance this morning on several web sites part of the news is that Martha Stewart's puppy dies in a propane blast. Ok, you all know me, I love animals and get upset when an animal that is close to me dies. But I don't go calling the AP and have the news pasted all over the world. Why is it that a celebrities pet qualifies as news? Did that animal do something good? Bad? Amazing? Something news worthy? All that pet ever was was a private companion and a source of enjoyment of the owner. Not that that isn't nice, it's just not considered news worthy. Why not report something good to uplift souls instead of a death of some one's pet? Give the world something positive to think about instead of wasting space by reporting the latest celebrity mishap or whoops. Who really cares about whose dog died and who flashed their crotch to the world. Take back our news and request to be informed on important facts not trivial matters! Ask for something positive and uplifting. I know there's not much out there positive, but once you start looking it might amaze everyone.

Roasted Asparagus

2 lbs fresh asparagus, washed with 1/3 of stem removed
1/4 cup olive oil
1 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper

Preheat Oven to 450 degrees. Toss the asparagus in the oil and seasonings. Arrange on a cookie sheet so all the steams are flat. Bake for about 12 minutes or until the asparagus is tender crisp. Transfer to serving dish and sprinkle with cheese. Serve immediately.

My Latest Sin

So I know avocados are load full of good fats, but it's still fats right. Right. But a little bit is just fine in my book. Right now Chilean Haas Avocados are in season and oh my, they are the best! On eof my coworkers, DeeDee, makes the best guacamole ever with them! Here's the recipe:

3-4 medium ripe avocados, peeled and pitted
16 oz Harmons fresh salsa - Spicy is my fave
1 large ziplock plastic bag

Place all the ingredients in the ziplock back and seal. Give to one of your children to smoosh and squeeze or do it yourself. Once everything is all mixed, snip a corner off the bag and squeeze the guacamole out into a bowl. Add an extra dash of sea salt and a splash of lime juice and Voila! Guacamole!

Busy Days

So I know I said that I'd try to blog more often with healthy recipes, but I just haven't found the time. I've been working on myself lately, and it's paid off! 10 lbs gone and down the toilet! WOOT WOOT!!! My trick - eating! I eat 6 times a day, not big things, usually about 150-200 calories. Lots of lettuce, tomatoes, and such and watch how many carbs, proteins and fats. It's working!!! I'm slightly excited. So my goal for June, is to be under 200lbs. That's right. Still a lot to go, but I'm going to do it! I'll find a recipe later, and keep you all posted on this!

Tortilla Soup

• 9 cups low sodium chicken broth
• 6 cloves roasted garlic
• 1 bunch cilantro, finely minced
• 2 red bell peppers, roasted and diced
  
• 1/2 cup freshly chopped tomatoes
• 1/2 medium sweet onion, chopped
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 1/2 sweet onion, sliced
• 2 cups cooked chicken, shredded
• 1 lime juiced
• 6 (6 inch) corn tortillas, cut into thin strips and toasted for garnish

In a heavy pot, bring the broth to a boil. Add garlic, tomatoes, chopped onion, oregano to the broth. Simmer uncovered for 30 minutes. Broil the sliced onions until soft and a little brown. Ass broiled onions, red bell pepper, chicken, lime juice to soup until chicken is heated. Place toasted tortilla strips in each bowl and pour soup over strips. Garnish with a sprinkle of cilantro. Thanks to Joelene Craver's tortilla soup recipe for the base recipe!

This is the End . . . .

Of 2008!

I can't believe how fast 2005 has gone by! WOW! It's been fast paced with lots of changes and surprises! So, here's to ending the old year and starting the new year with a bang! For the month of January, I want to focus more on my eating habits. Not a diet, or following a set plan, but changing my bad to good! I'm thinking I'm going to have the kids go along for the ride and see how long we can make it last! So for the month of January, I'm going to be posting healthy recipes that I find and tweak to fit my cooking needs which fall into the category quick and easy to make! So long 2008 and hello 2009!

I Have a Problem

Seriously. Bad. Huge. Mistake.

I've been making cinnamon rolls today.

Seriously. Bad. Huge. Mistake.

I might have to not ever bake them again.

Seriously. Bad. Huge. Mistake.

The smell so heavenly.

Seriously. Bad. Huge. Mistake.

The taste so good.

Seriously. Bad. Huge. Mistake.

Here's the recipe:

Dough:
1/2 cup warm water
1/2 cup butter, melted
4 TBSP yeast
2 cups warm evaporated milk
3 TBSP white sugar
1/2 tsp Salt
8 1/2 cups of flour
1 instant vanilla pudding mix (3.4 ounces)
2 eggs

Filling:

1/2 cup butter, softened
2 cups brown sugar
6 TBSP ground cinnamon
nuts and raisins optional

Frosting:
2 containers of your favorite cream cheese frosting

Combine all the dough ingredients in either your bread maker or bosch. Set the bread maker to the dough cycle and let it do it's thing. If your using a bosch, let the ingredients mix for about 15 minutes. Let rise for about 45 minutes in a warm place. Punch down and let rise again for about 30 minutes.

While the dough is on it's final rise, mix the brown sugar and cinnamon together in a bowl. Set aside for later.

Once the dough is ready, roll it out on a lightly floured flat surface. Roll it out into a big rectangle, about a 1/4 inch thick throughout. Spread the butter on the surface, until evenly coated. Sprinkle the brown sugar/cinnamon mix over the butter. Roll the dough, starting on the long side. Slice the roll into inch thick slices with a very sharp knife and arrange on a well greased pan. Let rise until doubled in height.

Bake in a preheated oven at 350 degrees for about 20 minutes or until the tops are a light golden brown. DO NOT OVERCOOK!!!

Remove from the oven and smear the cream cheese frosting over the tops. Enjoy hot or let cool for awhile!

Seriously. Bad. Huge. Mistake.

Divinity

Ok, I know this sounds complicated. But it's really simple, as long as you have a candy thermometer. A candy thermometer is way different than a regular thermometer, so make sure it's really a candy thermometer!

2 2/3 cups sugar
2/3 cup light corn syrup
1/2 cup water
2 egg whites
1 teaspoon vanilla
2/3 cups broken pecans - optional

Stir sugar, corn syrup and water over low heat until sugar dissolves. Cook without stirring, to 260 degrees on candy thermometer or until small amount of mixture dropped into very cold water forms a hard ball. In mixer bowl, beat egg whites until stiff peaks form. Continue beating while pouring hot syrup in a thin stream into egg whites. Add vanilla, beat until mixture holds its shape and becomes slightly dull. Mixture may become too stiff for mixer. Fold in nuts. Drop mixture from tip of buttered spoon onto wax paper.

Easiest Fudge Ever

OK, so it's that wonderful time of the year! Time to bring out my inner kitchen diva! YeeeeHaaaaawwww! Christmas Goodies Galore!!!! Yum Yum! Here's my favorite fudge recipe:

3 cups milk chocolate chips
1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
1/4 cup butter

Line an 8x8 pan with tin foil, leaving plenty of over lap. Place all the ingredients in a large microwave safe bowl. Zap for 3-5 minutes until the chips are melted, stirring ever minute. Give it a final stir before pouring into the pan. Refrigerate until set. Once set, lift the fudge out of the pan with the tin foil, much easier to cut and serve this way!

My Sister's Hot Cocoa

This is the very best Hot Cocoa recipe out there. Nuff said. Don't argue with me over this. Just trust me. (This makes a lot, but once you try it, it won't be enough!)

HOT COCOA

10 2/3 cups instant nonfat dry milk
6 ounce jar powdered non dairy creamer
2 cups powdered sugar
16 ounce can instant chocolate drink mix

Combine all ingredients and mix well. Put in airtight container. Store in cool dry place for up to 6 months.

Hahahahaha

So, I really haven't finished posting my thanksgivings for the month of November. Lets just say I was beat after the Thanksgiving rush. So to finish things out, here goes:
My family. Mom, Dad, siblings niece, nephew, all of my family. I had such a blast with Breezey and Jack Bug. They are just so cute! And I had a blast with my Mom and sisters just chillin. I'm so thankful for the chance to hang out together and just be a family. I'm also thankful for naps! Without them I don't know how I would have survived! I'm also thankful Thanksgiving is over and the Christmas season is finally here! I'm so excited and my kids are so very very excited! We have our Christmas tree up and decorated and new christmas clingons on the window and our stockings hung with care. I love this season and watching the excitement build in my children! It's the best! We opened our 1st day on our chocolate advent calendars today! Chocolate trains wooohooo! I know that only my sister will understand much of this, but oh well! Christmas music I am now allowed to offically blast for the next 24 days! Hot chocolate! I love this time if year! I'm so thankful for my many blessings and thank you for being patient enough to read my ramblings! So here's to a great thanksgiving season and looking forward to an awesome Christmas season!

Gram's Stuffing

This is all for you Ellyn! Please note, I have not measured out this recipe, it's one of those just add a little bit of this until it tastes good. My Gram taught this to me, and it's my favorite dressing in the whole world!

1 bag dried bread
1 package jimmy dean sage sausage
butter
2% milk
salt and pepper
sage
poultry seasoning
some celery and diced onions
some thyme

Crumble and cook the sausage until no longer pink. Drain off fat and rinse in warm water to get more fat off of it. While the sausage is cooking, simmer your diced onions and chopped celery in water until tender. In a Large bowl, Pour in your bread and seasonings and dry toss. Add in the cooked sausage and veggies. Mix well. Place in a large casserole dish and evenly distribute. Cover the bread in milk and add several generous butter pats all over the top of the bread mixture. Taste the mixture. Add more seasonings if desired. Bake in the over at 350 degrees until edges are brown. About halfway through add some more milk and more sage and poultry seasoning. I'm sorry if this is a really confusing recipe, but that's how Gram did it!

Roasting Chestnuts

Even though I can't have chestnuts, my boss has asked my to come up with a recipe for Roasting Chestnuts! You can do this on an open fire with Jack Frost nippin at you nose, but the oven works just as well!

First, rinse off the chestnuts that you buy from the store. Most grocery stores at this time of year have an open bin of them in produce. Try to buy those instead of the ones that come prepackaged in a plastic bag. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees.

Next place one chestnut on a padded surface, like a clean kitchen towel, just so the nut is stationary and won't move. Then cut a cross into it's surface.

Place all the chestnuts you and your guests want to eat cross side up on a cookie sheet and sprinkle them with water.

Pu them in the oven uncovered for about 25-30 minutes or until the skins start peeling back from the nut. While they are roasting, line a bowl with a clean towel.

Once the nuts are roasted, place them in the towel lined bowl and wrap them within the towel for about 5 minutes.

Serve while still warm, the skins peel easier that way. Peel and sprinkle with some salt or a cinnamon sugar mixture. Or just enjoy them plain! If the nuts get cold while you're still eating them, place them back in the oven to heat them back up!

Thanksgivings Day 23 & 24

Here I am slacking off again. Oh well. One of these days I'll get better at blogging.

Day 23 - I'm thankful for super glue. As most of you know right now, it's my super busy time at work and that I work with my hands. With the air being dry here and my hands always in and out of water, my skin cracks on my hands. And of course I get the occasional nick on my hands also. No matter how much lotion I use, they are always getting really sore and splitting. I know duct tape works the best on my cracked fingers, but I can't do that while I'm handling food. So I've resorted to super glue! Yup, that's right, super glue to keep my war wounds all sealed up while I go on my merry way! Also the super glue lasts a lot longer than a band-aide and helps keep the cracks from cracking more! So yes I'm very thankful for super glue!

Day 24- I'm thankful for my quiet time in the morning before I wake the kids up. It's become my time of the day where I read my scriptures, have a nice glass of OJ and just prepare myself for the day. Even though I only read for about a half an hour, it still starts my day off on the right foot with uplifting thoughts and peace in my soul. Lately I've been using the topical guide and looking up scriptures that pertain to certain words. Today I looked up the word thankful and was directed to Psalms 100. It's a good read, look it up! Let's just say I'm pretty uplifted today! So not only am I thankful for my quiet time, I'm thankful very much for my scriptures too!

Thanksgivings Days 21 & 22

Here we go again, I'm slacking in my thankfulness. Argh.

Day 21 - I'm thankful I can identify different species of animals accurately. It amazes me how many people get deer, elk and moose all confused. Someone I know was showing me a picture of a huge moose that she saw on her vacation. I couldn't help but laugh. I said,"Hun, that's not a moose, but a mule deer, a tiny one at that!" I guess I take for granted sometimes for the beautiful place I was raised with all sorts of wildlife running around. But I must say, please, before you go braggin about the HUGE Moose you saw in your camp site; make sure it was really a moose!!!

Day 22 - I'm thankful for Harmons. I know I've blogged about the people I work with, but I'm thankful for the company as a whole. It is an awesome place to work for. They actually care about the little people. They've provided me a great place to earn a paycheck with cool perks. To name a few, tickets to Lagoon, Christmas turkey or ham, Chirstmas Day completeley off, vacation time, sick pay, wellness programs, employee rewards and so on. Today was interesting at work, to say the least. It just seemed like nothing was getting done, not for lack of trying might I add! We were crazy busy and I was starting to feel panicy about the up coming holiday and so on. So the gals and are busy doing our thing when they page all department managers up to the front end. No big deal, whatever. Then Glenn (my boss) calls our phone and asks Ellyn to tell me to go up front to help Glenn set up a display over by the deli and just meet him at the booth. Something was up. We weren't going to have a display over by the deli. So I go walking over to the booth from back in prodce and I see ALL the stores department managers and our store director waiting up from with Glenn grinning like a Cheshire cat and waving me over. My face starts burning up and I almost cried. I was nominated Employee of the Month for all my hard work, great customer service and so on. Part of my reward for this is a cake (Yum), ballons (the kids love them), a pin to go on my uniform, and a $50 gift card of my choice. I'm pretty stoked about this even though I was mortally embarrassed to be put in the spotlight like that while the front end was pack with customers and produce associates and other department managers! The whole store was full of hollering and clapping! All in all, it was a good day. So yeah, I'm thankful for my job and that I won't have a chance to be Employee of the Month for a long time again!!!!

Thanksgivings Days 18, 19 & 20

I'm getting so busy at work that by the time I get home, I'm just exhausted! So that's why I haven't been as diligent in my blogging the past little while. Sorry!

Day 18 - I'm thankful for friends and friendships! I'm so glad I have friends and great friendships with them! Some people say they don't need friends, but I think that's why they are really lonely! I so enjoy having someone to talk to, to be with and to have fun with! So thank you to all of my friends!

Day 19 - I'm thankful for my day off today. This will be my last day off until after Thanksgiving. Nine days straight of working. It'll be rough, but well worth it! So I'm going to relax and de-stress and not worry about veggie trays!

Day 20 - I'm so very thankful for my husband! Not only is he my husband, he's my best friend! I just got home from work a little bit ago and I walked into a super clean house, dinner cooking and happy kids! He seems to know what I need most when I need it! Without him I'd be so lost! And Thomas, even though your are a butt sometimes, I do love you and appreciate every thing you do for the kids and I! Thank you!

Thanksgivings Day 17

Yesterday I was thankful for chocolate. I know that sounds incredibly selfish, but there you go. There's just something about chocolate that gives you a nice, sweet little pick up saying everything is good at this moment. Chocolate is kinda like a band-aid for the soul. Yum!

Thanksgivings Day 16

Today I'm thankful for time spent together as a family. We had a wonderful day today just being together as a family. We went to breakfast and a Christmas show and had a ball! We saw Santa, talked about all sorts things and just enjoyed each others company! I am so thankful for my little family, they make my day brighter and life such a good place!