Simply Sheryl's

Roses....the many colors of love.....

2012-02-15T14:48:00.000-08:00

YELLOW

Joy, Gladness, Friendship, Delight, Promise of a new beginning, Welcome Back, Remember Me, Jealousy,

"I care"

PINK

Appreciation, "Thank you", Grace, Perfect Happiness, Admiration, Gentleness, "Please Believe Me"

YELLOW WITH RED TIP

Friendship, Falling in Love

ORANGE

Desire, Enthusiasm

PEACH

Appreciation, Closing the deal, Let's get together, Sincerity, Gratitude

RED

Love, Beauty, Courage and Respect, Romantic Love, Congratulations, "I Love You", "Job Well Done", Sincere Love, Respect, Courage & Passion

Late night confessions....

2012-02-12T20:19:00.000-08:00

I finally got my daughter's birthday present done...after her special day....sigh....
I so wanted to have this to her in time, but I found out that I didn't have the right tools. I tried drilling a hole with a regular bit but it didn't make much of a dent. Rats! Oh sure, I sent her a card, but I was really hoping to get this out to her sooner. Living in Wendover you don't have much in the way of options. It's either order online, or go to the city. After searching the internet, and looking high and low in Salt Lake City, I found a drill bit I needed to put holes in the pendant I made from a broken plate.

My girls used to tell me they wanted my dishes when I didn't any more, so here is the first installment....lol. I've been saving my broken dishes with plans to do different things with them and was so excited that I finally found a way to drill holes in the pieces after I smoothed the edges with a grinder.

I can't wait to get back to Wendover as I've got several pendants and charms started with my plate pieces, and am itching to make some jewelry among other things.
For now, it's back to rousing Upwords tournaments with my MIL, and tending to her and my FIL. I'm praying Dad will be able to sleep tonight so I can. This dying stuff is not for wimps, and old sailors die hard. I've probably said that before, but I'm sleep deprived so you'll forgive me for repeating myself won't you? Poor fella is praying to go quickly as he is miserable, and we don't blame him. We pray for him as well. He had a blessing today in which he was told he was a good man and lived a good life and Heavenly Father is aware of his trials. He will go when it's time. For now, I get the blessings of serving, and once in a while I can create something that hopefully brings a spot of joy to someone else. It's time for bed...I wish you sweet dreams and hopefully a good Monday.

Easy Valentine Chocolate Boxes and Dessert Cups

2012-02-05T13:08:00.000-08:00

Above is a little preview of what's to come. These may look rather difficult, but they are so fun that you might find yourself coming up with all sorts of ways to use chocolate.

First you need to find your mold. They must be somewhat flexible as these pans are, without being squishy. Oil them very lightly and wipe to make sure there's no excess otherwise the chocolate slides back down the sides.

Melt in a double boiler over low heat 1 bag of semi-sweet and 1 of milk chocolate chips with 2 tablespoons of shortening.

Once melted take a spoon or somewhat stiff rubber spatula and spread the chocolate around your molds, covering all the inside surface. Don't worry if it doesn't seem thick enough at this point.

See? Chill this in refrigerator.

Now take a piece of paper and trace the bottom of your mold. If you trace the top, the lid to the box may be too big.

With a pen or marker make curliques all over the design, trying to have an even look on both sides, which forgive me but this one is a hurried example as time was of the essence.

Spoon into a squeeze bottle some of your melted chocolate and add more chips if necessary. This means you should probably buy 3 bags...lol. Keep your bottle in a cup of very hot water to keep the chocolate squeezeable.

Lay a piece of wax paper down on the design sheet and tape to table or counter.

Now cover your design with chocolate piping, going double over the outside lines and inside if necessary. Let harden.

Add more of the chocolate in the double boiler to the sides and bottom of your box as needed for strength. At this point you can put this in the freezer to make this easy to pop out. Take the pan out of the freezer and gently flex it to loosen the chocolate from the sides. Turn over and it should pop out easily. Be careful as the chocolate will melt in your hands so handle lightly. Peel the top of the box off the wax paper gentley and ......

TaaDaa! Now you can fill it with any treat your sweetheart desires. So 3 bags of chocolate chips, some shortening and filler treats to put in your box are all you need. Oh, the photo at the top of this post? I thought I had a post on that! Well, now I need to find a chocolate mousse recipe to share for that which will be forth coming. Happy Valentines Day!

A New Nautical Bracelet for Spring

2012-02-04T10:16:00.000-08:00

Doesn't a day at the beach, squishing damp sand between your toes as the sun warms you sound wonderful? It sure does to me! With winter slightly there, as in no snow in the valleys and temperatures in the 40's I'm already itching to be outdoors, playing somewhere, whether it be at the beach, which is hundreds of miles away, or in the garden, one if which is 100 miles away right now and the other several hundreds. Sounds as if I need to move right? Wish we could, but in the meantime I'm dreaming of waves crashing on the shore and spreading their treasures of seashells, sand dollars and driftwood on the sand.
Find the bracelet here: SimplySheryls on ETSY

Vintage Upcycling with Class....soap or jewelry dishes

2012-01-31T13:03:00.000-08:00

Okay, before I say anything else, the top soap dish is mine. Just saying. I have a dream for my bathroom in our little fix up cottage in Joseph, a turquoise and white, with gold and bronze themed bath. So I'm testing the waters in our apartment in Wendover, and I'm loving the results so far.

For a romantic bed or bath, these lovely dishes are perfect! Think wedding or Valentines for that special someone, or treat yourself!

These are upcycled vintage tea cup saucers without their mates, that I've added bases to to give them new life and a new purpose. You can find these inexpensive giftables at SIMPLY SHERYL'S

My Hearts Desire...

2012-01-17T12:38:00.000-08:00

My heart's desire would be for thee
to know my love is true...

ETSY

Cowgirl Chic, with a Retro Feel

2012-01-09T13:09:00.000-08:00

I love treasure hunting, yard sales, flea markets, thrift stores, you name it, I love to peruse the possibilities that await. When I saw the belt this cuff was made out of I immediately knew....

...that there would be several bracelets in the works made from it. What fun I had digging through my stash of beads and charms, until I found the brass stars I used for this cuff.

What else but red, white and blue to go along with the stars?! This bracelet looks so great on, but my vanity wouldn't let me share a photo with my lined wrists...lol. Hmmmm blogger is misbehaving again, so here is where I will post the link to Simply Sheryl's on etsy.

Bleeding Hearts.......

2012-01-07T15:06:00.000-08:00

Lovely blossoms, Bleeding Hearts, all dangle in a row....
Like maids in waiting, hoping, praying, for their handsome Beau.

Elusive blossoms, Bleeding Hearts, they come and go so soon...
Catch your chance at true romance and give these by the light of the moon.
Necklace Earrings

On Pearls and other pretties

2012-01-05T14:18:00.000-08:00

Cultured or freshwater pearls are considered to offer the power of love, money, protection, and luck. Pearls are thought to give wisdom through experience, to quicken the laws of karma and to cement engagements and love relationships. They are thought to keep children safe.
Early Chinese myths told of pearls falling from the sky when dragons fought. Ancient legend says that pearls were thought to be the tears of the gods and the Greeks believed that wearing pearls would promote marital bliss and prevent newlywed women from crying.
Whether real or not, pearls and other lovelies in glass will sparkle and shine on your sweetheart or loved ones wrist. Consider a gift of hand made love this Valentines Day from Simply Sheryl's

Tasty Tuesday - Coconut Layer Cake with Raspberry Filling

2012-01-03T20:07:00.000-08:00

Somehow the coconut supply keeps replenishing itself in my mother-in-laws refrigerator. Don't know how, and neither does she as I've not ever seen it used for anything since I've been taking care of them. Be that as it may, I decided to try a luscious coconut cake recipe she kept telling me about.

The recipe for the layers is pretty basic. We cut the sugar by 1/2 a cup and I can see why now that I've tasted the finished product. It would be way too sweet...
Start with 1/2 cup of butter, cream that and then add 1 cup of sugar, and cream until the sugar is almost dissolved. Add 2 eggs and beat well, until the mixture is light and fluffy. Combine 2 1/4 cups flour, 1 tablespoon baking powder, 1 teaspoon of salt and add to creamed mixture gradually, alternating with 1 cup of milk and 1 teaspoon of vanilla. Beat until well blended and pour into 2 greased and floured 9 inch cake pans. Bake at 375 degrees for 25 minutes or until toothpick tested in center of cake comes out clean. Remove from oven and let cool for 10 minutes then turn layers out of pans onto rack to cool. Grandma's kitchen is rather primitive so we don't have a cooling rack here so I had to use waxed paper. It works.

For the seven minute frosting I had to be creative and use a bowl as the top of a "double boiler". Next time I will use a larger bowl. You start with 2 egg whites. The yolks will be used in French Toast for breakfast. Add 1 1/2 cups sugar to the egg whites in the bowl or top of double boiler, and a pinch of salt, 1 tablespoon of corn syrup, 1 teaspoon of vanilla, and 1/4 cup of water. blend with hand mixer and then put on top of pan of boiling water and beat for 7 minutes or until stiff peaks form.

Place one layer of cake top side down on cake plate and spread the up side with raspberry jam, just about 1/2 inch to the edge of the cake all the way around. Darn I wish I had photos. Then top with other layer, flat side down, and start spreading the frosting up the sides and over the top of the cake, being somewhat generous. Now sprinkle fresh coconut over the top and press into the sides of the cake, covering the frosting most of the way. If you like, top with fresh raspberries.

Taadaa! This cake is actually lighter and deliciously wonderfuller than I thought it would be. Okay I know that wonderfuller is not a word per se, but hey, it's my blog...;-)
Coconut Layer Cake with Raspberry Filling
1/2 cup butter, creamed
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon each salt and vanilla
1 cup milk
1 tablespoon baking powder

Raspberry jam for filling
Seven minute Frosting
2 egg whites
1/4 cup water
1 1/2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 tablespoon corn syrup
pinch of salt

Fresh coconut

Pretty in Pink & Chocolate Hues in a Valentines Necklace

2012-01-02T12:31:00.000-08:00

Lovely shades of smokey pink, with a drop of chocolate to mix things up are combined to create this lovely necklace. A tiny copper heart charm adds a spark of romance to this one of a kind creation. Say "I love you" with a hand crafted one of a kind necklace from Simply Sheryl's at esty

A 2011 Handmade Christmas....

2011-12-23T09:47:00.000-08:00

Girls love to communicate, whether it's chatting your ear off in person, texting, on the phone, or writing, they love to keep the conversation going. My granddaughters are no different, so I thought I would capitalize on that fact and give them a Christmas present that I can replenish on occasion using my own art, and give them a way to keep in touch that exercises their writing and penmanship skills. I took some photos I already had on my computer and used them to make cover sheets for their letters, and then added plain lined sheets using the colors I already used for their cover sheets. So they have one sheet with a nice graphic, and two plain lined sheets for each letter they might like to send. I also found pretty half size envelopes in colors to match each theme at the UPS store.

I found packs of colored pens for each, and marked each set with their first name initial on each pen so there wouldn't be confusion. Luckily these have a soft grip where you can permanently mark the pens. I then took pretty stickers and labeled each box, which are shoe box size Sterilite tubs with locking handles. They are a perfect size for the stationery sheets, which are half size of regular copy paper. I threw in a role of giant Smarties and whaalaa! An inexpensive gift with a touch of home made and grandma's art to boot. All total each gift cost about $7 to put together, including paper, envelopes and candy. Not bad for a gift that keeps on giving, and one I can build on in the future by replenishing their supplies.

Gingerbread House 2011 done! Now the waiting begins....

2011-12-04T08:58:00.000-08:00

Can you see the stash of candy in the background? I had to really be creative this year as the candies I used 12 years ago, the last time I created a house, are not available anymore. Luckily, Red Vines are still easy to be found, which I used for the bricks, as well as sugar wafer cookies, although these were doubledecker, which I didn't notice until I got them home. Eeek! They kept trying to separate in layers and were a bit bulky. I tell you this in case you want to create a gingerbread house using some of the elements I have.

Lifesavers were used to make the stained glass windows, although I would really try to find some yellow candies to crush with the lifesavers as I couldn't find the rolls and in the bagged ones don't have the yellow lifesavers anymore. I put a tealight through the back door to illuminate the windows so you could see them better. Note to self, if wanting to use tealights, make the door big enough for them to go through all the way. :-)

Spearmint gum drop leaves were harder to find this year, it took me trying at 3 stores before I found them, but I also found some very cool Kukaburra licorice that is similar to millifiore flowers, and were easy to slice. Yay! I wanted to get some pastel mint parielles, but the only store that carried them wanted $8 for them, no way was I going to pay that! Note to friends, they would make a nice Christmas present....I'm just saying.....the Smooth and Melty mints are the best!

This was the first year I used Necco wafers for the roof, and I like the way they worked out. I used chocolate non-parielles and silver draggies as embellishments which my mother-in-law says looks like diamonds.

All parts of the house and grounds are edible, which to me is the best part of a true gingerbread house. Now the waiting begins, we shall see who the winner is. I did have one woman pass me as she and her son were leaving the store and she gasped as she saw the house and said, " Oh, your house is so beautiful! It's the prettiest one here that I've seen!" So, if nothing else, I know that at least two people were delighted at what they saw, and that's the reason to created these. To delight the adults and evoke memories of childhood past, and to delight children and conjure dreams of sugar plums....

Gingerbread House 2011

2011-12-01T07:18:00.000-08:00

It's been sooooo long since I created a gingerbread house, something I love to do if given an opportunity. A local business is offering a $500 dollar 1st prize so that was incentive enough to try my hand at creating one again. It will be an interesting process and project as my FIL is at home from the hospital after a second bout of pneumonia. Although hospice is tending to his needs as far as prepping for the day or getting him ready for bed, I'm the primary caretaker now. He's so sweet, and so appreciative of all that's done for him that he makes it easy to care for him.

While he naps, I will try adding a bit here and there to my little house, in hopes of having it done by Saturday night. Things look a bit rough so far, but as with all creations, you start out with a rough up and then add detail until you have a finished product, with all flaws or oops! parts fixed or covered up. Lucky for me that frosting is a magic eraser or the perfect cover up, as this has been a challenge so far, working in a tiny kitchen without all my tools of the trade at hand. Wish me luck, this will be fun, but we shall see if it gets done. :-)

Coconut Cream Pie - To Die For!

2011-10-04T19:02:00.000-07:00

I've never made one before, but coconut cream pie just sounded so good! I have a great pie recipe book, THE PERFECT PIE by Susan G. Purdy. So here is her version of

COCONUT CREAM PIE
PASTRY
1 1/2 c. unsifted all-purpose flour
1 to 1 1/2 T. granulated sugar
1/2 t. salt
6 T. cold or frozen butter, cut up
3 T. cold shortnening, or canola oil ( I used oil)
1 large egg yolk
2 t. lemon juice, or white vinegar
3 to 4 T. ice water, or as needed (because of the oil, I only used 2)

FILLING
2/3 granulated sugar
1/4 c. cornstarch
1/4 t. salt
2 1/2 c. milk
1/4 c. heavy cream
2 large egg yolks, at room temperature
2 t. vanilla extract
2 T. butter, at room temperature
1 1/2 c. shredded coconut

WHIPPED CREAM TOPPING
1 c. heavy cream, chilled
2 T. powdered sugar
1/2 c. toasted coconut

Okay, let's get started by putting together the crust. Combine the dry ingredients (flour, salt, sugar) in a large bowl and whisk to blend. Add the cut-up chilled fats/oils. Working quickly and lightly, pinch and slide lumps of dough between your fingertips until the mixture resembles dry rice. This process layers the shortening and flour together, creating "leaves" that will form flakes when baked. If you use the oil like I did you may find it will be a bit lumpy but that's okay, don't overwork things, just get rid of big butter lumps. Add the yolk, lemon juice or vinegar, and the minimum amount of iced water. I only needed 2 tablespoons. Toss lightly, just until it clumps together. The dough should not be sticky, but clumps easily. The oil helped with that. Now form a flat 6 inch disk, wrap with plastic wrap or waxed paper and chill for at least 30 minutes. When ready to roll out and bake, preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Roll out dough on lightly floured surface, I used the wrap to roll it out on. Be sure to flour the wrap though as the dough will stick to the plastic or paper if you use the oil. Fold in half and place in pan, opening and tucking into pie pan without stretching it. Crimp edges. Chill again then blind bake by lining the crust with foil and filling it 2/3 with dry rice or beans. Bake at 425 for 15 minutes then remove liner and rice or beans and turn oven down to 350 and bake for another 10 to 15 minutes. Cool before filling.
To make the filling combine the sugar, cornstarch, and salt in a heavy-bottomed saucepan. In a bowl, whisk the milk and cream into the egg yolks. Whisk the egg-milk mixture into the cornstarch-sugar in the pan. Whisk well to be sure all the cornstarch is picked up off the bottom of the pan and dissolved.
Set pan over medium heat and cook the mixture for about 12 minutes, until thickened and brought to a boil. Stir on and off with a wooden spoon for the first 5 minutes, then stir constantly for abot 7 minutes longer, until the mixture really thickens and reaches a boil and you see fat heavy bubbles work up to the surface and burst. Use the whisk instead of the spoon occasionally to remove lumps. Boil for 1 full minutes while stirring constantly. Remove from the heat and add the butter and vanilla. Stir in the coconut and spoon into the cooled pastry shell. Cover with plastic wrap to keep from forming a skin and refrigerate until just before ready to serve. In a cool bowl whip the one cup of cream, the powdered sugar and vanilla until stiff peaks form. Spoon over chilled pie and sprinkle toasted coconut over the top. This is the BEST coconut cream pie I've ever tried, bar none. I hope you enjoy this as much as we did!

Monday Message of Hope

2011-10-03T07:06:00.000-07:00

We thank thee O God for a prophet
to guide us in these latter days.
We thank thee for sending the gospel
to lighten our minds with it's rays!
We thank thee for every blessing
bestowed by thy bounteous hand.
We feel it a pleasure to serve thee,
and love to obey thy command.

I woke up this morning with this hymn running through my head, a wonderful way to start off the week. We celebrated our Autumn General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and were blessed to be spiritually fed by men and women of courage and fortitude, faith and love. So I share in part, the message of hope, that He lives and is real and loves us. May we all have a song in our hearts today!

Upcycled Treat or Cake Plate

2011-09-27T17:16:00.000-07:00

Treasure hunting is pure pleasure, especially when you can find something beautiful to upcycle. I found this plate at a second hand store here in Oregon, and immediately fell in love with it. The handles and colors reminded me of Autumn, and more especially Halloween.

So I found a candle stick and adhered it to the bottom of the plate with epoxy, and whaalaa! A treat, or cake or cupcake plate! I know it looks crooked in the photo, but that's the doily and not the plate. :-) I took this before I dashed out of our apartment this morning. I drove up from Utah to Oregon to ready the house for winter so I was in a hurry. Anyhew......

Think of the possibilities! A little taller brass candlestick, paired with a vintage china plate, or a short milk glass vase, paired with a royal ruby or forest green plate, there's so much that you can do with this idea!

The Colors of Autumn....Jewelry

2011-09-22T09:06:00.000-07:00

It's that time of year, when I put away summer clothes and bring out my Autumn wardrobe. For me, some items of clothing are like old and dear friends, colorful and vibrant, always there for you. This particular shirt I've had for around 20 years now, a sturdy but nice enough to wear anywhere top that has seen me through thick and thin, literally. Now that I've lost some weight and am getting down to my old sizes I can wear this again with joy!

I find that each season brings with it a palette of colors that often fit the mood I'm in. I find clothing, home decor, make-up and even jewelry that seems to be just perfect for that particular year. I went shopping yesterday and found some beads that caught my eye, not really for any reason but that they're pretty and I wanted them. When I sat down to play around with my new treasures, I realized that some of the beads would match my old and favorite shirt! This necklace and the matching earrings are simple, but perfect for a semi-casual top that is suitable for a walk in the woods, or going out for fish and chips with hubby. What I would love to do, and perhaps you may be interested, is to help create jewelry that goes with a new or old favorite outfit you have. We can go fancy, or simply, whatever you desire. I will be posting pieces at my etsy shop for fall, so if you see something you would like in colors that would match a particular ensemble, or you find a photo of a design you like, let's work together to create a one of a kind piece or set for you. Just drop me a line and we can talk.!

Foodie Friday - No Knead, Dutch Oven Bread

2011-09-16T19:10:00.000-07:00

"Without bread, everyone's an orphan" is an Italian phrase any foodie should live by! Okay, that's if you aren't allergic to wheat...:-). I pooh pooh anyone who tries to say you should never eat bread though. What good is a bowl of hot steaming soup on a cold Autumn day without a nice hunk of crusty bread to sop up the juices with?! I wish I could take credit for this recipe, but I got it out of the Mother Earth News - Guide to Fresh Food All Year. An article by Roger Doiron shares his love of bread and a search for bread like he found in Europe. This loaf is easy to make although it does take time. It's well worth it though as it has that chewy crust and soft fine texture on the inside that you love in a good bread for soups and such. It makes a wonderful french toast as well, and the nice thing is that there's no fat or sugar and it uses very little yeast, as well as no requirement to knead the dough. I have to say that my bread came out just like the photo in the article and Kent loved this, so we will be having this again.
NO KNEAD, DUTCH OVEN BREAD
1/4 t. yeast
1 1/2 c. warm water
3 c. all purpose flour, wheat flour or a combination of. I used 2 cups white to one whole wheat
1 1/2 t. salt

In a large bowl dissolve yeast in the warm water. Add the salt and flour and blend well. The dough will be shaggy and sticky. Cover the bowl with a towel or plastic wrap if you have it and let the dough rest in a warm place for at least 8 but up to 12 to 18 hours. I started mine in the evening so I could finish it up the next day.
The dough is ready when the surface is dotted with bubbles. Lightly flour a work surface and place the dough on it. Sprinkle it with a little flour and fold the dough over on itself once or twice. Cover loosely with plastic wrap or towel and let it rest for about 15 minutes.
Using just enough flour to keep the dough from sticking to your work surface or to your fingers, gently shape it into a ball. Generously coat a clean dish towel with flour, wheat bran or cornmeal. I used both flour and cornmeal. Put the seam side of the dough down on the towel and dust with more flour. Cover with another towel and let rise for about 1 to 2 hours. When it's ready, the dough will have doubled in size and will not readily spring back when poked with a finger.
At least 20 minutes before the dough is ready, heat you oven to 475 degrees. Put a 6-8 quart heavy covered pot (cast iron, enamel, Pyrex or ceramic) in the over as it heats. When the dough is ready, carefully remove the pot from the oven and lift off the lid. Slide your had under the towle and turn the dough over into the pot, seam side up. The dough will lose its shape a bit in the process, but that's okay. Give the pan a firm shake or two to help distribute the dough evenly, but don't worry if it's not perfect; it will straighten out as it bakes. Cover ena bake for 30 minutes, then remove the lid and bake another 15 to 20 minutes until the loaf is beautifully browned. Remove the bread from the Dutch oven and let it cool on a rack for at least 1 hour before slicing. Enjoy!

Spicy Zucchini Relish

2011-09-15T15:07:00.000-07:00

Surprise, surprise, zucchini is cropping up everywhere! The two of us can't eat it all before it spoils and with a small apartment freezer we can't shred to freeze much either, so I did a google search and found several recipes that I tweaked to come up with a very delicious and spicy relish that will make your hotdog lover shout for more!

Here's my version of
Spicy Zucchini Relish
6 c. each finely chopped zucchini and cucumbers
4 c. each finely chopped onion and bell peppers, including half red peppers and a couple of hot jalepenos
Place all veggies in an enamelware or stainless steel pan or glass bowl. Sprinkle with 5 tablespoons of canning/pickling salt. Mix well. Cover and let sit over night, for about 8 hours and rinse.
Sterilize 6 pint or 12 half pint jars and sets of lids for all.
In a large pot combine:
4 cups white sugar
2 cups brown sugar
2 1/2 cups cider vinegar
1 T. curry powder
1/2 t. nutmeg
1 1/2 T. celery seed
1 T. dry mustard powder
Add rinsed vegetables and bring to a boil. Turn down to a slow boil and cook for about 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Ladle into hot jars, straining a little of the syrup off if needed so relish is not soupy. Put lids on firmly and hot water bath for about 10 minutes. As an aside, many of the recipes called for 1-2 tablespoons of cornstarch, but if the veggies are drained well before cooking, the sugar and vinegar mixture should be the perfect consistency when cool.

Tasty Tuesday - Apple Galette for Two

2011-09-13T11:57:00.000-07:00

There's almost nothing better than a rustic French apple tart or Galette to help usher in the Fall season. I cut the recipe in half because there are only two of us at home now, but if you double it this will serve 10 to 12 people. I started with 1 cup of flour into which I whisked in 2 tablespoons of sugar and 1/2 teaspoon of salt. I then added 5 tablespoons of cold butter cut up, and pinched it into the flour until all large lumps were gone. No photos I know, I had an OOPs! moment there. :-) Then I took 2 tablespoons of plain yogurt and one of sour cream and stirred those in. I made a ball of dough and flattened it on a sheet of waxed paper and wrapped and put it in the fridge to chill for 30 minutes while I made the filling. First though, I took two layers of tin foil and marked off a 10 inch circle using my springform pan. For a full size Galette you will need at least a 12 to 13 inch circle. Make sure the shiny side is facing down on the foil. Then I brushed on an eight inch circle of butter. The edges of the dough will be folded up over the fruit filling so you don't want it to stick to the foil.

The filling consists of 2 generous cups of thin apple slices, 1/4 cup chopped walnuts, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, 3-4 tablespoons of brown sugar, 1/4 teaspoon apple pie spice and 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg, 1 heaping tablespoon flour. Gather for later, apple jelly or apricot preserves, ( I used this) and 3 tablespoons graham cracker or plain bread crumbs.

Combine fruit, sugar, seasonings, nuts and flour and stir well. Now take out your disk of dough and roll it out into a 10 inch circle on your buttered foil with a floured rolling pin.

Now you are ready to put this together. Whisk a tablespoon of water into an egg, and brush over dough. Now take 1/3 cup jelly or preserves and spread over that. Then sprinkle your crumbs over that and pour filling on top of that, mounding it to stay within an 8 inch area.

Gently lift the crust edges to fold over the outside of the apple filling. Pinch cracks together and brush crust with egg wash. Sprinkle with a dusting of sugar over the whole thing. Slide the Galette, foil and all, onto a cookie sheet and bake on a lower rack in a preheated oven at 425 degrees for 15 minutes, then lower the temperature to 350 degrees and bake for another 25 to 30 minutes, until the apples are done and the crust is golden brown.

Brush a bit of fruit jelly or preserves over fruit to give it a nice shine.

Whalaa! Apple Galette for Two! Serve with warm vanilla ice cream or whipped cream. Soooo yummy Kent wants this for breakfast tomorrow. Enjoy!

Apple Galette for Two
CRUST
1 cup flour
5 T. cold butter
2 T. sugar
1/2 t. salt
FILLING
2 c. thinly sliced apples
1/4 c. chopped walnuts
3 T. brown sugar
1/4 t. each apple pie spice and nutmeg
1 T. lemon juice

1 egg whisked with 1 T. water
1/2 cup apple jelly or apricot preserves
3 T. graham cracker or plain bread crumbs

Tasty Tuesday - Chicken Salad Sandwich Filling...

2011-08-23T16:21:00.000-07:00

Yesterday we went berry picking so I threw together some chicken salad sandwich filling that got rave reviews. Let's see what you think. I started with 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, simmered in a small pot with just enough water to cover. I added 2 tsp. Old Bay Seasoning, and 1 tsp Lawry's seasoning salt. I simmered until just tender. The house smelled heavenly!

I chopped the chicken up after letting it cool. Save the broth the chicken left behind, it will make delicious soup. I then took 1/4 cup freeze dried celery and reconstituted it. My source is a company by the name of Shelf Reliance. They have awesome products so check them out. Anyhew...I then crumbled three slices of crisply cooked bacon, and added 1/2 cup Craisins. Don't you love Craisins?
I also added 1/2 cup minced sweet onion, 1/2 minced apple, 1/2 cup each plain yogurt and mayonnaise, 2 tsp. creamy horseradish, 1/2 tsp Lawry's, 1 1/2 tsp lemon pepper.

Stir well, but gently. Serve on any good bread. You might consider adding walnuts or pecans, chopped to the mix, but I didn't due to not knowing if anyone had allergies or not. This makes enough for 8 nicely filled sandwiches. Enjoy!
Chicken Salad Sandwich Spread
2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts simmered in a small pot with 2 tsp Old Bay Seasoning, and 1 tsp Lawry's Seasoning salt, chopped
1/2 cup each, Craisins, minced sweet onion, minced apple, mayonnaise, and plain yogurt
1/4 cup Thrive celery reconstituted, or 1/2 cup minced celery
3 slices bacon, cooked til crisp, crumbled
2 tsp lemon pepper, creamy horseradish
1/2 tsp Lawry's

Richer by far....

2011-08-03T07:18:00.000-07:00

As I jogged up to the lake this morning I just happened to find a penny and a dime, in two different spots on the road. So I'm 11 cents richer monetarily, just by going for a run.
The sky is clear over the mountains, but as the sun came up over the horizon it shown through a cluster of clouds in glorious splendor, as if to say, "He is coming!" It was one of those, "I wish I had my camera!" moments, although the photo never quite seems to match what you see with the naked eye. A doe bounded away from my neighbor's yard as I started out, probably startled by the crazy lady in the pink visor trying to run up the hill.
I get to the top of the hill just in time to see a chipmunk circling something in the road, then he takes off with his treasure, his little tail straight up in the air as he dashes off. As I padded past the lake parking lot a covey of quail darted here and there on the road, trying to decide where to be, then all took to the air, thankfully, as a car was coming around the bend and I feared they would get hit. I turned to head back and spied a creature that looks sort of like a fox on steroids as he has very long legs, not what most foxes look like. He sat down to watch me pass, chewing on something he found under a tree.
Farther down the road I passed a man I see on occasion out walking his rottweiler. We tossed greetings at each other about the beautiful morning and then he said, "It's getting rather boring, having all this sunshine." Funny old Eeyore that he sounded like, he surely enjoys getting out each morning as he will walk at least a couple of miles.
On I trudge, only to meet up with a handsome young buck prancing across a parking lot. He and I parted ways quickly, him I'm sure, off to raid the flower beds of some unlucky home, and me to end up back at the homestead, ready to start the day.
So three miles and a run full of the good things God has placed here, I think I'm richer by far.....

Wednesday's fishing report....

2011-07-27T10:31:00.000-07:00

It was threatening to rain and rather dark and breezy as I cast my line into the water. I turned to wipe the power bait off my fingers and looked up to see that my bobber was gone! "Where'd my bobber go?" I asked hubby, who replied that he didn't know. All of a sudden we could see it running around in the water, "Fish On!" I shrieked and pulled in a nice little fish to my utter amazement. I hadn't even had time to find my stance! So we tried again and again and nothing. Hmmmm, where did they all go? All of a sudden my bobber disappears again, this time with a nice sized trout finding it's way into our net! 14 inches long, and over a pound in weight, he sure did make a tasty meal last night! So, we caught 4 more smaller ones last night, but there's some really big trout out there waiting to be caught. We are geared up with fresh bait, and a new pair of pliers, which got lost the other night, so stay tuned for more fishing excitement!

Speaking of flowers and Fiats......

2011-07-24T19:58:00.000-07:00

It's funny how my mind meanders during Sacrament meeting as I listen to speakers share their thoughts on a subject. Today the topic was our pioneer heritage, and the sacrifices those folks made. One speaker compared their daily duties, to what he does each day, bringing up in particular the 10 minute drive he made to church in a truck sitting out in the driveway waiting to go, instead of having to groom and hitch up a team of horses to a wagon or buggy for a 45 minute ride to cover the same distance.

Recently my husband bought a new car, a Fiat 500 to be exact. Cute little cupcake isn't it?! The payments aren't too bad although it does take premium gas the mileage at 46 mpg on average more than compensates for that. We have been struggling with being a one car family due to circumstances beyond our control. With my needing to be in Tooele to help with my in-laws and Kent needing to travel back and forth for the same, having one car has been a difficult situation. So we bought this little car to help. Sure, we could have purchased a used car, but with the distance and travel we do Kent wanted to be safe. Kent was worried about how we would handle the payment with Annie going on her mission in about a month, but two days after he bought the car he found out he was getting a raise, almost enough to cover the payment amount. Why we are being continually blessed in this way is beyond me, but it shows that Heavenly Father loves us much more than we understand at times.

Now to the flowers. There are always two vases of fresh flowers on the podium in the chapel so of course what I see I think...lol... which took me to my flower beds at home that are in desperate need of tending to. I got to thinking about that, and how I seldom take the time to sit and enjoy them. Perhaps that's why we need to constantly weed and tend to our gardens, to put us where we can enjoy them once in awhile. Heavenly Father knows us better than we realize doesn't He?

Thrifty Thursday - Best Day of the Week to Shop

2011-07-21T15:42:00.000-07:00

From gas....

to groceries.....

and clothing,

or travel, there are better days of the week to make those important purchases. Here's a great article that came out recently I'm sharing in hopes you will find a good deal by following these guidelines.
Yahoo! Finance - Best Day of the week to shop
I am planning a trip with my youngest daughter so I'm going to put this to the test. Let me know if you have some success yourself.

Tasty Tuesday - Yogurt Cheese and Artisan Bread Dippers

2011-07-19T16:36:00.000-07:00

I have been fascinated by the idea of making my own cheese, so I picked up a magazine on the subject the other day and tried my hand at an easy and very tasty soft cheese. I had some artisan bread on hand as well so I made tasty dippers to go along with this luscious and creamy cheese. A perfect way to start a party, or to snack on during a hot summer day, just add fruit or a salad as a side, along with fresh lemonade, and you will be praised for your culinary prowess. Here's how to go about making the cheese:
Yogurt Cheese
2 cups plain low fat yogurt
2 tablespoons heavy cream, (optional but improves the texture and spreadability of the cheese)
cheesecloth (can be found at your local hardware store
colander
Line the colander with the cheesecloth and clip to edges with clothespins or clips. Mix the yogurt and cream together and pour into the cheesecloth lined colander. Place the colander in/on a large bowl to catch the whey as it drains. Place in the refrigerator and allow the mixture to drain. After about 4 hours check to see how much of the whey has drained into the bowl and pour off. You can save and freeze the whey to be used in soups, gravy or bread. When whey stops draining, the yogurt cheese is ready. This will take about 48 hours. Don't worry about covering the colander. I noticed that I didn't have much whey drain off. Perhaps it was because I used non-fat yogurt, but anyhew, this still worked.
I seasoned my yogurt cheese with chopped chives, a few dashes of celery salt and some garlic powder. Wow, is that yummy! You can also make a sweet yogurt cheese for bagels and such by using vanilla flavored or fruit flavored yogurt. If you'd like to add fruit, use dried, snipped fruit and fresh will make the cheese runny.
Artisan Bread Dippers
Any good bread such as french, rye, or sourdough will do
melted butter
Old Bay Seasoning
Slice bread about a half inch thick and brush both sides with butter. Sprinkle with Old Bay Seasoning on both sides as well. Place on cookie sheet and toast under broiler until golden brown. Slice bread into strips and let cool. Serve with yogurt cheese and fresh fruit. Yummy!

Thursday Travelogue - Portland, Oregon

2011-06-30T17:06:00.000-07:00

Beautiful Portland, Oregon is a wonderful city full of arts, events such as the blues festival coming up tomorrow, and eating establishments galore. International taste treats from so many countries I can't list them all here at this time, but if there's something you like in the way of food, clothing or art, you will find it here.

We are staying at the Marriott Waterfront Portland, which, if we had been given and choice and known would not have been our favorite. Don't get me wrong, Marriott usually has some of the best hotels around, but we are not so impressed with our room here. The pros are the view, the bed, and furniture are nice, the concierge service, which is perfect, and the pillows, which are like sleeping on a cloud. The room is small though for the price, only one towel rack in the bathroom, and it's in the shower, no fridge or microwave, which is a must for those of us who like good food but can't eat the whole meal all at once. Having said that, our preference would have been the Marriott Residence Inn, which is incredible! The rooms are so spacious and well equipped, with a way to store and cook food if needed, a nice living room area, and I do remember the bathroom being much bigger. I do have a question though, why is it there are no exhaust fans in the bathrooms of the fancier hotels? Anyhew, we are enjoying our stay, and love being here.

A Wing and a Prayer.......

2011-06-12T15:00:00.000-07:00

Thus seems to be how my life has been lately, running on a wing and a prayer. I can tell I'm running so behind, and really not very in tune by the simplest of things. Today we talked about tithing in Relief Society. There was some great discussion, but I discovered as I was reading the June "Ensign" magazine our church puts out every month, while eating my lunch, that there was an even more in depth article on tithing, which happened to be the first one in the publication. The points of discussion in the article would have added to our discussion and better understanding, if, we had read THAT particular article when the magazine first arrived in the mail. So, a missed opportunity to share, because I'm so scattered and not as focused as I should be on taking advantage of the words of wisdom that are in the Ensign. Lesson learned I hope.
In the same magazine came an answer to a struggle I was having with helping a friend in need. My struggle is that I've a 3 day window to get some needed cleaning, organizing, and art work done. My friend has an appointment 2 hours away from here to see a neurosurgeon and was driving herself in to town. She has numbness in her hands which is starting to travel up her arms, she has severe arthritis and has trouble walking without help and the drive one way is enough to wear her out. So I volunteered to drive her in. I was feeling stressed about it though, and was praying in my heart to have some peace about the "to do" until I read in.... Luke 24:28-29 where the Savior was traveling through a village on his way to somewhere, and when spotted he was asked to stay and spend time with people there. Although he was headed elsewhere, he stayed, although unplanned. The article states that sometimes the greatest opportunities to bless and serve come when it isn't convenient. Such also was the case of the good Samaritan, who interrupted his journey to minister to a stricken man's needs. There is no way I would have peace knowing she was driving in to town without an adult with her to help. I will drive, we will see her doctors, then go have a good lunch somewhere. On the way we can visit, which I get so little time to do with friends anyway. I have a feeling that I will be the one blessed.......
Now I'm ready to start making phone calls to family members to get a tally on who is coming to our reunion in two weeks. I couldn't find the list, or so I thought, as it's been a bit since I sent out letters and a myriad of events, tasks and so on had clouded my memory as to where I put the list of phone numbers. So I got down and said a prayer after unloading the pocket of my computer bag where I thought I had last seen the list, and lo and behold, after the prayer I looked down and there was the list! Yes, it was in the pile, but not readily seen. So, life these days is running on a wing and a prayer, but who can doubt that prayers are answered?

Wednesday's Words of Wisdom - Staying Alive on the Road

2011-05-11T08:31:00.000-07:00

The robins were dancing around slithering worms in the road as I went for a run this morning. It seemed as if I'd been transported back to Oregon as the drizzle touched my cheeks. The air, washed clean by the night's rain was sweet and clear, refreshing my lungs and energizing my spirit. My heart was full to bursting as I marveled at the beauty of our rugged desert terrain and the gift it is from God. Aahhhhh! What a way to start a day!
My words of wisdom for today have to do with safe driving. I don't know about you, but driving a small car on the freeway can be a daunting experience, especially when large semi-trucks blow by and seem to want to take you with them in their air stream. My tip is this, watch your rear view and keep an eye on those trucks as they come up behind you. Most truck drivers are very responsible and will make sure they pass you safely, but on occasion there are those who should have never been let behind the wheel of anything, much less a large truck. Because of the weather the last few months, I've had several instances where a truck would blow by me, but a gust of wind would swing their trailer end in my direction, yipes! Once or twice there have been drivers who couldn't seem to wait until they got by me before they moved back into the right hand lane. On our way back from Flagstaff a few weeks ago, a trucker had just gotten her cab past our tiny car when she pulled back into our lane. IF I hadn't been watching her, we would have been wiped off the road and I wouldn't be here to share this. I had to swing over to the shoulder, slam on the brakes, and no I didn't swear, but I did lay on the horn. Luckily no one was following her too closely so we were safe from that direction. We got back on the road and caught up with her, she was going 70 in a 65 MPH zone, took down the truck number and the company phone number and slowed down to 60 while Kent called the incident in. Later on down the road she was pulled off, staring at her cellphone and not looking too happy. We suspect this wasn't the first time for her as we got a phone call a few days later saying she'd been terminated and they were apologizing for the incident.
We are grateful for my having been conditioned to watch for the trucks, as we are still here, but I wonder how many other folks haven't been so lucky. So stay safe, watch your hinder ender as Thelma used to say, and be well.

Tasty Tuesday - Southwest Chipotle Chicken

2011-05-03T11:56:00.000-07:00

We all have those days when a craving hits, and you have to find a way to satisfy it. Yesterday afternoon was one of those where I was craving something with a barbecue flavor but with lots of veggies added. We'd picked up fresh bell peppers and baby Portobello mushrooms at Costco and they were calling my name. So I grabbed some of our Costco chicken and all the veggies and sauce fixings I could find and came up with a sort of east meets west type of chicken that my Nature Guy raved about!

This dish has a nice smoky barbecue flavor due to the Chipotle chilies but isn't too sweet. If you don't have the sweet chili sauce try apricot or peach jam, but I think it really adds to the flavor. You can find it in most Asian food sections of your grocery store. So because I love you, I will share!

SOUTHWEST CHIPOTLE CHICKEN AND RICE
1 1/2 lbs, boneless skinless chicken thighs or breast, cubed
2 bell peppers, any color, chopped
1 onion, chopped
1 stalk of celery, sliced
2 cups sliced fresh mushrooms
6 cloves garlic, crushed
2- 4 chipotle chilies in adobo, diced
1/2 a fresh orange, peeled and diced
8 oz. tomato sauce
1/4 cup sweet chili dipping sauce, I used Mae Ploy
1 t. ginger
1/2 t. horseradish
1 t. salt or less depending on your taste

Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a dutch oven or cast iron skillet over medium heat. Add chicken, ginger and garlic and cook for 5 minutes. Add veggies and saute until veggies start to soften, sprinkling with salt to help the process. Add the rest of the ingredients and cook just until veggies are crisp tender, about 10 minutes. Serve over cooked rice. Yield, 4 - 6 servings. Bon appetite!

Sabbath Share - Desires dictate all other decisions....

2011-05-01T14:52:00.000-07:00

Recently at the General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Elder Dallin H. Oakes said this, " Desires dictate our priorities, priorities shape our choices, and choices determine our actions." It has become clear to me that my children do see the reason for choices I've made over the years, and why I've tried to correct mistakes when possible and not redo the things that I know lead to misery instead of happiness. I can also see that they have a testimony, whether they realize it or not. I was lamenting to my youngest the fact that going to Alaska always seems to be a priority to my children and that I wished for once that some of my children gave me more priority. I try to not to put them on a guilt trip or get into the tug of war game that divorced parents can get into with their adult children but I felt it was time to speak up and see what the results were. So she tells me that she and her siblings know I will always be around for them, but with their Dad, he may go soon. He recently had a stroke and is still doing things that go against his doctors advice regarding his health issues. I asked her how she knew I would always be around and she said that she was talking with her brother or sister about the situation and they brought up my patriarchal blessing and how it says that if I'm trying to do as I should I will live a long time as she put it. Those aren't the exact words in the blessing, but you get the gist. It took me by surprise to say the least!
My desire has always been to have an eternal family. It took me awhile to fully understand the importance of following certain doctrines and commandments set by God to achieve that goal. I've made my share of poor decisions over the years, partly due to feelings of unworthiness regarding Heavenly Father and the Saviors love, but through trial and error, a lot of error, I'm heading in a better direction because I love my children and grandchildren enough.
I'm grateful to know that families can be together forever. I know I've said that over and over again, but with our recent visit to Arizona, and the heart rending goodbyes we have to make after a visit with our grandson and mommy, it's so comforting to know that no matter what happens we will see each other again some day, and if we obey the commandments, there will come a time when we don't ever have to say goodbye again. Won't that be wonderful??? I know that some folks don't even try because they think they can never make it, but I'm here to tell you that if I can make it anyone can! If we are honestly doing our best, the Savior has made up the gap for us. That's also very comforting as I know I will never be perfect in this life. I'm very lousy at setting goals, so I think I will type up and print off the quote from Elder Oakes to remind me every day to keep my eyes and heart set on the right desires.
What are your desires?

Tasty Tuesday - Hot Cross Buns for any time of year...

2011-04-26T14:45:00.000-07:00

We tried a new Easter sweet bread this year, these cinnamon flavored, currant filled buns. Traditionally served on Good Friday, they are so good, I wouldn't wait until then to bake and serve these soft little gems.
HOT CROSS BUNS
4 - 4 1/2 c. Best for Bread flour
1/3 c. sugar
1/2 t. salt
1/2 t. cinnamon
2 T. active dry yeast
3/4 c. milk
1/4 c. each butter and canola oil
3 eggs
1/2 c. currants
1 egg white, beaten
FROSTING
1 1/2 c. powdered sugar
2 T. soft butter
1-2 T milk
1/2 t. vanilla
Grease a 15x10 jelly roll pan. Lightly spoon flour into measuring cup; level off. In large bowl combine 1 1/2 flour, sugar, salt, cinnamon and yeast; blend well. In small saucepan heat 3/4 cup milk and fats until very warm.
Add warm liquid and eggs to flour mixture. Blend at low speed until moistened; beat 3 minutes at medium speed. Stir in currants and an additional 2 1/4 to 2 1/2 cups flour until dough pulls away cleanly from sides of bowl.
On floured surface, knead in 1/4 to 1/2 cup flour until dough is smooth and elastic, about 10 minutes. Place dough in greased bowl and cover. Let rise in warm place until light and doubled in size, about 45 to 60 minutes.
Punch down dough several times to remove all air bubbles. Allow to rest on counter covered with inverted bowl for 15 minutes. Divide dough into 24 parts; shape into balls. Place in prepared pan; brush with egg white. Cover; let rise in warm place until light and doubled in size, about 35 to 45 minutes.
Heat oven to 375 degrees and bake buns 15 to 20 minutes or until golden brown. Cool slightly. In small bowl combine all frosting ingredients; beat well. Using a pastry tube or bag, pipe crosses on each bun. If frosting is too thick for pastry tube, stir in additional milk a drop at a time until desired consistency. Enjoy!

Tasty Tuesday - Mexican Pesto Turkey Wrap

2011-04-05T12:35:00.000-07:00

I really hadn't forgotten to add some recipes using the Mexican Pesto, but it was one of those weekends where it was either run away with the computer to a quiet place..... or tend to the tasks at hand. Since today is a day I can have more flexibility, here I am! I started with a flour tortilla that I warmed over a hot burner, flipping and pulling the tortilla across the hot spiral until it was soft and toasted.

I then took some of my Yhonnaise, which is half plain yogurt and half real mayo, not the low fat variety (blech!!) and mixed a bit of the Mexican Pesto in it to make a nice creamy sauce.

This I spread over the tortilla, you can go as thin or thick as you want. I would do more next time...

I added some shredded turkey......

and piled on top of that some chopped tomato, green onion and shredded lettuce. I topped that with a slice of pepper jack cheese, but I think I would try extra sharp cheddar next time. And, I might try to add some chopped fruit such as apple or grapes to the mix.

Then I rolled, tucking the tortilla edge over the turkey and veggies, until I had a nice little wrap. This was delicious with a bunch of grapes on the side. Easy, pretty healthy, and filling!

Mexican Pesto Turkey Wrap
flour tortillas
shredded turkey
Mexican Pesto Sauce - 1/3 each plain yogurt, real mayo and Mexican Pesto
chopped tomato
chopped green onion, one per wrap
shredded lettuce
pepper jack or shredded extra sharp cheese

Wednesday's Weigh In - Love Is Blind

2011-03-30T12:29:00.000-07:00

I'm so glad my husband loves me! I'm still working on weight loss, slowly but surely it's coming off. Today I'm at 165 I think as the scale is home and I'm at the in-laws. I saw 164 earlier this week so it's only a matter of time before I am down to 160. My goal is to be there by the end of April.

Anyhew, Kent keeps telling me that I'm just a little bird, and that I have a cute little bum, so I know his glasses need renewed, but I'm grateful he loves me!

So far I've lost 30 lbs. yay, and have a bit more, but am feeling so good about not gaining any weight over the holidays! I'm still watching portion sizes, exercising, and not eating after 6 pm. It really makes a huge difference, but sleep is also a huge factor in keeping my weight loss goals moving forward.

This morning I went running, 3 miles as a matter of fact, uphill to a horse corral and back down again. As I was running, the clouds lay in a heavy blanket over the mountain peaks and you could almost feel Mother Nature shiver with delight at the promise of RAIN. Robins and sparrows were chattering in the bushes and trees, fussing over nests, sharing the best worm stories, and in general making a joyful noise. I heard honking behind me and turned to see a pair of beautiful Canadian geese on their way north. Well it's after noon now and RAIN is late! I guess I should go wash the car to get him motivated. Are you trying to lose weight or get more healthy? What is working for you?

Tasty Tuesday - Mexican Pesto

2011-03-29T19:03:00.000-07:00

I had a grundle of cilantro as in two bunches so I needed to do something that would use large quantities at one time. So I poked around the internet and found some recipes, but I didn't have all the ingredients listed so I improvised. Listed below will be the full recipe with possible changes. For now, lets start with 4 cups of cilantro leaves....

and 1/2 a cup EVOO as Rachel Ray says, or (extra virgin olive oil) for those in Imbler.....

Put this in a blender with 4 cloves of garlic, or the equivalent of garlic powder...

add 1/4 cup Asiago or Cojita cheese (which would be more authentic but go with what you have)

two Chipotle peppers in adobo sauce....

1/2 teaspoon salt....

1 tablespoon of dry oregano, or 1/4 cup fresh if you have it...

Pulse in the blender.....

add 2 cups of cilantro and pulse some more.....

add the rest of the cilantro plus 1/4 cup toasted almonds, or pine nuts and pulse some more...

until it looks like this! I haven't decided what to do with it yet as I had to make it and then make my weekly trip in to stay and help out the in-laws, but I'm thinking that maybe this could be spread on tortillas or mixed with cream cheese or sour cream, used on top of grilled fish or chicken. I will test run this when I get home and let you know my favorites. Let me know if you try this and see what you like to do with it.

MEXICAN PESTO

4 cups cilantro leaves

1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil

1/4 cup Asiago or cojita cheese

4 cloves garlic

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon dry oregano or 1/4 cup fresh

2 chipotle peppers in Adobo sauce

1/4 cup roasted pine nuts or toasted almonds

In a blender pulse together the oil, cheese, garlic, salt, oregano, and Chipotles. Add 2 cups of cilantro and pulse some more, then add the rest of the leaves and the nuts and pulse until a nice consistency. Makes about 1 cup total. Enjoy!
As a side note, we tried this on fish tacos the other night and hubby loved it! Just spread on tortillas before adding other toppings. Soooooo good. :-)

Monday Madness - Dear Mother Nature.....

2011-03-28T08:14:00.000-07:00

I thought we had an agreement! I collected the toilet paper rolls, empty milk cartons, saved the salad tubs, bought grow lights, all to get started on Spring planting. I even sacrificed my breakfast bar to start to this venture.....

See the little salad seedlings peeking out of the soil? They have come out of their long slumber on a promise that they will be the star of the dinner table someday soon.

The Cress is already growing tall, and soon will be ready to harvest... I had even told them they would get to go outside this morning to enjoy some warm sunshine.....

.......and then you send us this!!!!! I thought your affair with the WIND was over! You were the one who said he was just a big blowhard, so pushy, and messing things up all the time. Then you had to throw in his buddy SNOW!

It's just shameless how these poor little daffodils are shivering! If you really want to have a romantic fling, would you consider RAIN? He's manly, but can be so gentle and soothing to spend time with. He's great for going on walks with, and really helps the garden turn green and lush. Wouldn't that be much nicer than frost bitten, wind blown blossoms and fruit trees stripped bare by WIND'S violent nature? Treated right, RAIN will also let SUN have a bit of time to brighten things up and wrap you in his warmth. I don't know about you, but I'm so ready for you to dump WIND and SNOW and move on to some REAL weather men.

Aging....what a way to go?

2011-03-23T06:26:00.000-07:00

"Hi Mom, I love you!" "I'm sorry sir, you have the wrong number!""Mom, don't hang up, this is Kent!" "Oh, okay, I'll let you talk to your dad."
Aging is a flip of the coin in life. Some folks get older with seemingly little physical or mental trials, and others are assaulted by all sorts of "issues" that make the golden years more challenging than we're told they should be. So we struggle to get our elders to eat right and stay safe. It's not that they don't care, but sometimes the challenges of aging can be overwhelming for those living it.
I'm grateful for my Aunt Patti. She took care of grandpa when he reached a point where he shouldn't be driving, and needed a bit more TLC than was normal for him. When I talked to her about our efforts to take care of my husband's parents, she advised that we just let them eat what they want, which is usually fairly healthy, and not try to force things on them, such as more food or liquids than they want. So our goal is to try and make them as comfortable as possible, without making them feel like we are treating them like babies. Tough to do sometimes. It sure gives us cause to be more considerate of our diet, exercise, and spiritual nourishing so that we can be in better shape. Not that it would matter if we have genetic traits such as blindness, arthritis, or loss of hearing. Thankfully, as far as I know, my family is pretty healthy over all, so for me, we shouldn't have to worry, but Kent may inherit, and seems to have already shown signs of hearing loss and such. What advice would you have for taking care of aging parents, and looking into the future for ourselves?

Springtime Asian Style Bean and Ham Soup

2011-03-12T09:04:00.000-08:00

Nature guy and I are heading to the temple with Annie this morning, but we wanted to make sure Mom and Dad had good food to eat today so I threw together a healthy and tasty soup this morning. I was the recipient of a bag of Asian veggies and they need to be used so I created an East meets West sort of soup perfect for a rainy day. This is a good time of year to get those spring time veggies started such as bok choy, spinach, carrots and so on.

I started off with 2 tablespoons of olive oil, heated up over medium heat in my soup pot. I then added 2 cups of diced ham, 1 very large onion, chopped, and 2 cups chopped cabbage., and 3 peeled and coined carrots. I cooked them until the vegetables were tender. I then added 1 inch of peeled, grated ginger and 4 crushed garlic cloves.

I also added to large bok choy leaves and stalks, chopped and 1 and 1/2 quarts, or 6 cups of water. To that I added 2 chicken bullion cubes and 1/3 cup barley.

I let that simmer until the barley was almost done and then added 3 cups chopped spinach and 1 1/2 teaspoons of lemon pepper. To that I added two 16 oz. cans of great northern beans, draining only one can. Here's the finished result! Just an FYI, don't leave out the lemon pepper, it really rounds out the flavor of this soup. I've listed the ingredients below. Let me know if you try this.

Springtime Asian Style Bean and Ham Soup

2 T. Olive oil

2 cups diced ham

2 cups chopped cabbage

3 carrots, peeled and coined

I very large onion, chopped

1 inch fresh ginger, peeled and grated

3 garlic cloves, crushed

6 cups water

2 chicken bullion cubes

2 bok choy leaves with stalks, chopped

3 cups chopped spinach

2 - 16 oz cans great northern beans, drain one only

1 1/2 teaspoons lemon pepper

Foodie Friday - Chili Stacked Casserole

2011-03-11T19:03:00.000-08:00

I made some chili recently that seemed to take forever to cook as the beans just didn't want to get soft.

I put the chili in containers and froze it thinking perhaps that might help, and it did! We have an abundance of flour tortillas as well so I decided to use up some leftovers and create an easy dish that would be tasty as well. Served with a nice green salad and salsa, this was a hit! Herewith my Chili Stacked Casserole.

CHILI STACKED CASSEROLE

2 - 16 oz. cans chili

2 cups cooked rice

1- 15 oz. can corn, drained

1- 8oz. can tomato sauce

1 small can sliced olives

1/2 cup chopped onion

4 cups grated sharp cheddar cheese

flour tortillas

In a large bowl mix all ingredients except 1/2 cup of tomato sauce, tortillas and cheese. On the bottom of a 9"by 9" casserole dish, or a round one if you have it, spread 1/2 cup tomato sauce. Lay tortillas to cover, cutting edges off to fit. Spread half the chili mixture over the tortillas. Sprinkle half the cheese over that. Then add another layer of tortillas, and spread the rest of the chili. Top with torn tortilla pieces and cheese. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.

Serves 6

Bountiful Baskets - a Food Co-op

2011-02-24T13:58:00.000-08:00

A bountiful spread of fruits and vegetables was my gathering last Saturday at our Bountiful Baskets pick up. Look at all the goodies in this "basket"! From sweet juicy strawberries to fresh green spinach and a new one for me, sunchokes, we've been enjoying a bountiful feast each day since then. The bonus has been that I've lost a pound this week, and had tasty fruits and vegetables each day. The cost for all of this? Since it was our first time participating it came to 19.50 with tax, but when you figure we got over 30 lbs of produce then hey, what a bargain! I've shared some with my in-laws as they can't get out to shop, and they sure enjoyed the fresh berries and mangoes in our fruit salads. Tonight we will be having a Cornish game hen with roasted yellow squash, sweet potatoes, cabbage, carrots, and a spinach salad on the side. If you happen to live in Arizona, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Washington or Wyoming you are in luck. Drop offs are every 2 weeks, and if you are a volunteer there's a little extra for you. Stop by the Bountiful Baskets website and get in on the good life!

Whole Wheat Bread Recipe

2011-02-10T09:20:00.000-08:00

Warm fragrant bread, fresh from the oven, it's comfort food for the gods. I have a dear friend that shared her way of making whole wheat bread just a bit lighter on the fat without losing flavor and consistency. She uses all applesauce for her bread, which is great the first day or two, but if you don't eat it quickly it can dry out. So I use half applesauce and half oil. We now have the best of both worlds, bread that stays soft and yummy a bit longer, and if you use olive oil or canola oil, you get the benefits associated with them. We also save the potato water from boiling potatoes as it helps with the soft nature of the bread.
I'm participating in a weight loss challenge, to jump start my previous attempts. Right now I'm hanging out at 167, which is much better than I was, but I still have a ways to go. I thought I would share this recipe as it is a family and friends favorite.

WHOLE WHEAT BREAD
2 1/2 c. very warm potato or regular water
1 cup rolled oats
2-4 T. flaxseed powder
2 scant T. yeast
1/3 c. honey
2 T. molasses
1 1/2 t. salt
3 T. applesauce
3 T. olive or canola oil
3-4 c. whole wheat flour, 3 c. white flour
Pour warm water into a mixing bowl and add yeast, oats, honey and molasses. Let sit for 5 minutes for yeast to start to work. Add applesauce, salt and oil, plus all the whole wheat flour. Mix for 10 minutes to help get the gluten working in the flour. Start adding the white flour a half a cup at a time until you get a nice smooth dough. If you have a heavy duty mixer such as a Kitchenaide let it do the kneading for you, which takes about 5 minutes by mixer. If not, then as soon as the dough starts to pull away from the bowl, through a handful of flour on a counter top or table and start kneading your dough. Keep adding white flour until it no longer sticks to the counter and you have a nice smooth ball, about 10 minutes. Place the dough ball back in the bowl, and no, you don't have to oil it. Cover and let rise for about 30-45 minutes. It rises pretty fast. punch down and knead all the bubbles out. Divide in half, form loaves and place in oiled pans. Brush with a little oil and let rise until double or more in bulk. You don't need to cover the dough this time. Set your oven rack to one from the bottom and turn on to 375 degrees. When ready bake your bread for 35 minutes. Take out and immediately turn out onto cooling rack. This makes two nice large loaves.

Foodie Friday - Spicy Ginger Pork with veggies

2011-02-04T20:57:00.000-08:00

Blogger won't let me start with a clever paragraph above so let's get going on this recipe. Marinade ingredients - 1 tablespoon each peach or blueberry jam, honey, soy sauce, Tiparos fish sauce, and seasoned rice vinegar. 2 teaspoons crushed red pepper, 4 cloves of garlic, crushed. 1" of fresh ginger, peeled and grated. Combine and place in a bowl. After you're done admiring the colorful vegetables.....

of which you will need 4 stalks of bok choy, 2 peeled and thinly sliced carrots, 1 medium onion, chopped, 4 green onions sliced, 8 oz cup of sliced mushrooms, 1 red bell pepper chopped......

Take two beautiful thick pork chops and thinly slice them. Add to marinade and coat.

Heat a wok or cast iron skillet over medium high heat. Add 2 tablespoons peanut oil or sesame, or canola oil, depending on your preference. I used peanut oil as I didn't have sesame oil. After oil starts to smoke scoop out and slightly drain pork and add to hot pan. Stir occasionally and cook meat until done and starting to carmelize. Scoop out and add 2 more tablespoons oil and then toss in the vegetables.

Cook until crisp tender and add back the meat. While the veggies are cooking take the leftover marinade and add 1/4 cup of water, 1 tablespoon each honey, soy sauce, fish sauce, and corn starch and 2 tablespoons of the jam. Combine well and stir into pan with veggies and meat. Cook until sauce is thickened, about 1-2 minutes. Whaalaa! Serve over rice or noodles. Yield 4-6 servings
Spicy Ginger Pork
Marinade
1 tablespoon each blueberry, or peach jam, honey, soy sauce, fish sauce, seasoned rice vinegar
4 cloves garlic, crushed
2 teaspoons crushed red pepper flakes
1 inch fresh peeled ginger, grated
the rest of the ingredients
1 lb. lean pork or two thick boneless pork chops, thinly sliced
4 bok choy stalks, thinly sliced
1 red bell pepper, chopped,
1 medium onion, chopped
1 - 8 oz. cup sliced mushrooms
2 peeled carrots, thinly sliced
4 green onions, thinly sliced
sauce
1 tablespoon each honey, soy sauce, fish sauce, and corn starch, left over marinade, 1/4 cup water and 2 tablespoons jam
This recipe would also be great using chicken. Give it a try and let me know what you think. Kent says this is one of the better Asian style dinners I've fixed, he loved it! Here's to a great weekend! Enjoy!

Thursday's Thoughts - Cellphone Etiquette

2011-02-03T09:07:00.000-08:00

When I was growing up and then went on to raise my own children we had rules for phone use. The one I remember most prominently and taught my children was that you don't call people before 9 AM or after 9PM. We also had certain rules for answering the phone such as saying something like, "Belcourt residence, Sheryl speaking". With the advent of the cell phone there's a needed change to the way we use phones or when. We've all been annoyed by someone say in a mall or restaurant who thinks that everyone wants to hear their cell phone conversation. Especially when it goes on and on over nothing so you feel like turning around with a plate of food and dumping it over their head. Or better yet, answer their questions for them....lol.
What about when we are visiting friends or family though? Is it polite to answer the phone, or call someone back when we are visiting other people? For instance, last night as I was sitting and chatting with my in-laws someone came to visit. Mom and Dad were happy, even though it was almost their bed time, but 3 minutes into the visit this person got a phone call. They called the number back and sat there for 10 minutes chatting with some one not in the room with us. Mom and Dad sat there with their heads hung down, looking a bit dejected and rightly so. Mom finally got up and went to take her medicine and start getting ready for bed. When the visitor got off the phone they said, "This gal just likes to call and let me know how her day is going." Really? I was a bit flabbergasted at the idea that they knew that it wasn't a critical call, but felt the need to call them back right away, knowing the conversation was going to be long. So we got a total of 7 minutes with this person and the caller got more time. Sure there are going to be times when you just have to answer the phone regardless of where you are. Some people don't seem to know where the line is though. My husband told me that he was interviewing someone once, and they kept glancing at their phone to see the text messages coming in. I guess you know that they didn't get the job.
We think that there's a time and a place to answer a call, and also to have the phone on or off. Church meetings are not a place where everyone should have their phones set the ringtone, neither is any meeting. Visiting friends and family is another one, unless you are staying over. Even then, limiting all but the most critical calls is just being polite and courteous. What are your rules for the cell phone? When do you feel phones should be set to vibrate or shut off?

Funeral Potatoes Supreme or Nancy's Spamillicious Casserole

2011-01-24T13:05:00.000-08:00

Mom was the queen of using what was on hand so I learned to be creative with cooking early. Having gone to Costco last weekend and giving in to my hankering for fresh veggies and fruit, we had a boat load of bell peppers and baby Portabella mushrooms that needed to be used. I got to thinking that moms spam casserole, which resembles the ever popular among Mormons "Funeral Potatoes" might be mighty tasty with an modern twist. So here's a dish that's comfort food, and cheesy wonderfulness that will surely be a hit with the family.

You take 2 cups of chopped bell peppers, I used red, orange and yellow combined, 1 cup chopped baby Portabella mushrooms, 1 cup chopped onion and saute them in 1/4 cup of butter. The recipe I found calls for 1/2 cup, but this really didn't need that much and you might even be able to cut the butter in half again to 2 tablespoons.

I boiled 8 smaller potatoes in their scrubbed jackets, and cubed them to get 8 cups of cooked diced potatoes. To that I added the sauteed veggies and 1/2 a can of Spam, grated. You will need a rather large casserole dish or small roasting pan for this. I really wouldn't use the whole can as the dish would be too hammy and salty. You can take the rest, grate it up and add mayo, chopped onion, celery and pickle relish to make a delicious sandwich spread. I'm just sayin....

Stir together 2 cups grated real sharp cheddar cheese, 1/2 cup each sour cream and plain yogurt. ( my attempt to lessen the fat) and one can of cream of mushroom soup. Stir into the meat, veggie and potato mixture. Add and stir in 1/2 teaspoon each seasoning salt and pepper. Spread out in the pan and top with a bit more grated cheese sprinkled all over. I then took some Chicken in a Biskit crackers, (look! no trans fat!) and crushed them while in the bag with a rolling pin. Many folks will use corn flakes or bread crumbs and butter but I don't keep corn flakes around so I used the crackers left over from the holidays sans the butter.

Well in my haste to get dinner to the masses, I didn't get a photo of the finished dish, but here it is prior to baking. I cooked it 350 degrees for 45 minutes.

Everyone loved and we have enough for tonight as well, which is good because I just found out I have an ear infection. :-(

FUNERAL POTATOES SUPREME
1 c. diced onion
1 c. chopped baby portabella mushrooms
2 c. diced bell peppers, any color
8 c. cooked, diced potatoes, or frozen shredded potatoes
1/4 c. butter
1/2 c. each plain yogurt and sour cream
2 c. sharp cheddar cheese
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1/2 teaspoon each seasoning salt and pepper

I hope you give this a try and let me know what you think!

Merry Christmas!

2010-12-24T11:29:00.000-08:00

Wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas! May peace, joy, and love fill your home this holiday season.

Pearl's Spudnuts

2010-12-16T09:19:00.000-08:00

These little jewels are pillowy soft on the inside with a light crisp outside. The first time I ever tried these was when we were stationed out on Adak, 1400 miles waaaay out on the Aleutian chain of Alaska. A sweet round grandma named Pearl, who was an amazing baker, shared this with us in Relief Society. When I was Young Women President in our branch we went Christmas caroling and I brought the girls over to my home for hot cider and cocoa with doughnuts. A couple of weeks ago one of the young ladies came up to me and told me she would really love it if I would make doughnuts and hot cider for the girls so I did, between getting ready to decorate for a church dinner tonight and taking care of Family History stuff. These life "events" never come one at a time do they? This recipe is so yummy you will want to make it often. I hope you enjoy this as much as we do.

Pearl's Spudnuts
1 1/2 c. warm water
1/2 c. oil
1 cup mashed potatoes
2 T. yeast
1 c. sugar
1 t. salt
1/2 t. vanilla
2 eggs
2 t. nutmeg
5 1/2 to 6 c. flour
Powdered sugar for glaze or cinnamon sugar

Combine warm water, yeast, and a little bit of the sugar in a mixing bowl. Let yeast start to bubble. Add the rest of the ingredients except for 3 cups of the flour and mix well. Start adding the rest of the flour while keeping the mixer set at stir. The dough will be very soft. Let sit and rise, then stir down, rise again and stir down. Flour a surface and take half the dough out. Flour your hands and pat down the dough to about 1/2 an inch. Cut with favorite doughnut cutter or glass. In a heavy cast iron skillet or deep fryer heat the oil to 350-375 degrees. Drop cut dough shapes into oil and let puff up until golden brown. Turn and do the same with the other side. Drain on paper towels and dredge in cinnamon sugar or glaze. For my glaze I put about 1 cup powdered sugar in a bowl and then added a touch of orange juice, just enough to have a thin but not watery glaze. This will make about 4-6 dozen depending on the size of your cutter. Bon Appetite!

Sheryl's Butterscotch Bars

2010-12-14T11:50:00.000-08:00

Butterscotch deliciousness in a thick yummy bar. Created for my family as an alternative to chocolate, these bars are a variation on Almond Fudge Bars, a recipe that has been revamped from an old Bisquick recipe. Full of oats, brown sugar, and flavor, these are sure to be a family favorite at your home as well.

SHERYL'S BUTTERSCOTCH BARS

COOKIE DOUGH

1 c. butter

2 c. brown sugar

1 t. each vanilla and almond flavoring

2 eggs

1 t. baking soda

1 t. salt

2 1/2 c. flour

3 c. rolled oats

1/2 c. walnuts or pecans, chopped

FILLING

1- 10 oz. bag Nestle's butterscotch chips. Fair warning, if you go cheap they won't come out the same..I'm just sayin'....

2 T. butter

1 c. sweetened condensed milk (do not use the whole can unless you want to catch your oven on fire, okay, if you're single and the firemen are cute go ahead but I warned you....)

1 pinch of salt

Cream together butter, brown sugar and eggs in mixing bowl. Add flavorings. Toss in baking soda, and salt and then while mixing add the flour slowly. Add the oats, one cup at a time until mixed well and add nuts. Take out 1/3 of the dough and set aside. Spread the rest in a 11 x 17 cookie sheet. You can use your fingers if you butter them first to help spread the dough. It will be rather thin.

In the top of a double boiler combine your filling ingredients and melt over slowly simmering water in the bottom pot. Once smooth spread over the top of the cookie dough. Now take the rest of the dough that was set aside and drop by small pieces onto the filling. If you like you can sprinkle more chopped nuts over this. My family doesn't like nuts but it makes these extra tasty in my opinion. Bake in a 350 degree oven on a rack set at one level above the center of the oven for 20-25 minutes or until golden on top. Let cool about 15 to 20 minutes before cutting. Yield 48

So you want to know about the fireman reference? One Christmas season when we lived in Sitka, AK as I was getting some baking done and of course hadn't showered yet, I put a batch of these in the oven. Yes, I used the whole can of sweetened condensed milk as I didn't want to see the rest go to waste. So about 15 minutes into the baking time I hear the smoke detector go off and run to the kitchen to see smoke billowing out of the oven. I opened the oven door and there were flames shooting up from the bottom of the oven and no amount of salt or baking soda would put them out. I had opened the doors and windows to let the smoke out and someone seeing this called the fire department. A whole crew of guys show up and they got the fire out, but here I was, no make-up, hair a mess, and shabby sweats on. Needless to say, every time I passed one of them in the grocery store, or where ever, I was asked if I'd been baking lately....

As for the rest of the condensed milk here's a couple of ideas that might work for you, with your own variations added.

Make a delicious sweet mustard spread by combining 3/4 cup of mayonnaise with 1/2 cup of Dijon mustard. Mix in 1/4 cup of sweetened condensed milk, 1 tbsp. lemon juice and 1 tbsp. of water. Combine ingredients completely and refrigerate. This is a tasty spread to use on sandwiches, in salads as a dressing, or as a sauce for ham and pork.

At wikipedia you can find these ideas : In parts of Asia and Europe, sweetened condensed milk is the preferred milk to be added to coffee or sweetened tea. Many countries in South East Asia use condensed milk to flavor their coffee. A popular treat in Asia and Brazil is to put condensed milk on toast and eat it in a similar way as jam and toast. In West Yorkshire, in the years after World War Two, condensed milk was an alternative to jam. Nestlé has even produced a squeeze bottle similar to Smucker's jam squeeze bottles for this very purpose. For those who drink coffee or tea and like to add milk, I would even consider adding flavorings to your leftover SCM and use it like a flavored creamer.

I hope you like all of these ideas. Enjoy!

Christmas Cookies - Maple Melt-away Crisps

2010-12-12T19:56:00.000-08:00

Tender, crisp and oh so buttery maple, these cookies are an adaptation of a recipe I found years ago. It was too crumbly and dry so I revamped it to come up with these. They are a family favorite. I hope you enjoy!

MAPLE MELT-AWAY CRISPS

1 c. butter

1/2 c. brown sugar

1 1/2 t. maple flavoring

1/2 t. salt

2 c. flour

1/2 c. ground walnuts or pecans

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cream butter and sugar until fluffy. Add flavoring and the dry ingredients, mixing well. Chill for about 1 hour. Form into 1" balls and roll in white sugar. Flatten on un-greased cookie sheet with the back of a glass. Bake for 8-10 minutes or until golden brown. Yield about 5 dozen.

Cran-Apple Dream Pie

2010-12-09T09:30:00.000-08:00

The other night we were having friends over for dinner. Hubby was fixing his delicious Chicken Curry with a lot of spice so I decided to create a creamy yet refreshing pie with a holiday flare. although there are several steps, this really is an easy peasy and so yummy pie, well worth the little bit of time put into making it. The cranberries can be rough chopped in the blender or food processor. Save yourself the headache of trying to chop each little cranberry or chasing them around the counter or floor. It's amazing the places you will find them later. ;-)
I used crumbs created from stale doughnuts that I cubed and lightly toasted before turning to crumbs as part of my crust ingredients but there are more possibilities such as crumbed short bread cookies, or the regular graham cracker crust. So I'm stating graham cracker crumbs in the recipe, but be creative! I never let anything go to waste, so if cookies are getting a bit dry or the same with cake, I just cube or crumble them up and dry them in the oven so I can use them for sweet crumb crusts later.
This pie has two main layers, one a creamy dreamy whipped cream cheese and whipped cream layer with a touch of grated orange peel. The other a fresh chopped cranberries and apples in jello. I used cherry jello as I didn't have raspberry, but try either and see which you like better. Cherry was very good, but I really want to try raspberry next time. Okay enough of this nonsense, on to the recipe!

CRAN-APPLE DREAM PIE

Serves 8

CRUST

1 1/2 c. sweet crumbs from graham crackers or shortbread cookies

1/4 c. sugar

1/4 c. butter, melted

In a 9" pie plate combine ingredients and press onto bottom and up the sides of the dish. In a pre-heated 350 degree oven bake for 5 minutes. Let cool on wire rack.

CREAM CHEESE LAYER

1- 8 oz. package cream cheese, softened

1/2 c. heavy whipping cream, whipped, buy a pint container of whipping cream so you have some for topping as well.

1/2 t. vanilla extract

1-2 t. greated orange rind

1/2 - 3/4 c. powdered sugar, to taste

In a mixing bowl beat cream cheese until soft and fluffy, add powdered sugar, vanilla, and orange rind, mix well. Gently fold in whipped cream until fully incorporated. Don't beat heavily as whipped cream will lose it's stiffness and the creamy filling will be too soft. Spread into the cooled crust and let set in the refrigerator while preparing jello layer.

JELLO LAYER

1- 3 oz. box Cherry or Raspberry Jello

1 c. boiling water

3/4 c. cold water

1 c. each chopped apple and cranberries

1/2 c. sugar

In a medium size bowl combine jello, sugar and boiling water, stirring to dissolve. Add cold water and let soft set in refrigerator. Add fruit and stir gently. Carefully spoon over cream cheese layer in pie plate. Let set until firm, about 1-2 hours.

WHIPPED TOPPING
1 1/2 c. whipping cream
3-4 T. powdered sugar
1 t. vanilla extract
In a mixing bowl combine ingredients and whip until soft stiff peaks form. Add a dollup to each piece of pie when served.

Harvest Pumpkin Pie

2010-11-21T20:12:00.000-08:00

Comfort food is always a winner when the weather turns cold and a blanket of snow is covering everything. Last night we had the missionaries over for dinner. I always like to ask if there's anything they can't or won't eat as well as something they would like to have. The request was for meatloaf, shrimp and pumpkin pie. Who would have thought that a missionary from Mexico City would ask for pumpkin pie, but he had tasted some last year and really wanted to try it again. Far be it from me to deny this industrious young man his wish.
I decided to try a "flaky" crust recipe and a twist on the old favorite. For the crust I started with 2 1/2 c. unsifted all purpose flour and whisked in 2 T. sugar and 3/4 t. salt. With my pastry blender I cut in 10 T. cold butter and 3 T. lard, but you can use shortening if you prefer. I just happened to have the lard around for tortillas and never have shortening, so there you go. No, this isn't your health conscious recipe. What?! Hey, you don't have to eat the whole pie in one sitting just because it's totally delicious and creamy and wonderfully yummy.... ;-)

After the flour and fats were blended to a crumbly mixture I added 1 large egg, and then sprinkled on 1 T. white vinegar, and about 4 T. ice cold water. I took my trusty fork, and gently folded the wet into the dry. Be careful not to work it too much or your crust will be tough. When the dough sticks together nicely create to balls of dough and then flatten them into disks to wrap and chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes. Roll out your dough on a lightly floured board and use your pie pan, a 9" one will do for this pie. The other dough disk can be frozen or used for another pie. Invert your pie pan onto the dough and cut about 1 to 1 1/2" away from the edge, all the way around. Gently pick up the dough by one edge and fold it over to the other, lift this into your pie pan and lay open. DO NOT stretch the dough to get it to fit into the pan otherwise it will shrink away from the sides of the pie plate and you will have a much smaller crust than expected. Fold over and crimp the edges. See how pretty?

Next you lightly prick the bottom of the crust but try not to pierce through to the dish. Heat your oven to 425 degrees as you will be partially baking this crust empty. This helps insure that your crust is nicely cooked from top to bottom. Now you need a square piece of foil, place that onto the crust, then add some dry rice or beans to fill the foil about 3/4 of an inch. This keeps your crust from puffing up during the baking process. Bake for 12 minutes, then remove the foil and rice and bake for 3-5 more minutes until the crust is no longer translucent and is just beginning to look golden. Take out the crust and put a flat baking pan in the center oven rack.

Make a glaze with one egg white (save the yolk to use later) and 1 T. water whisked together. Brush this over the bottom and sides of the crust to help seal it. Cool on a wire rack.

In a mixer bowl combine 2 cups of pureed pumpkin, with 2 eggs plus the saved yolk. Beat well.

I thought this was a cool shot so I added it for fun...

Add 1/2 c. sugar

1 cup cream or canned milk

Now, the yummy part! Add 1/2 cup real maple syrup, or if you must, maple flavored syrup. I used the real deal. To that add 2 t. pumpkin pie spice or a blend of cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and ginger, as well as 1/2 t. salt. For those of you who like to skip the salt, DON'T!!! Oh sorry, a flash back to my Mommy days.... Now then if you leave out the salt, your pie will not have the fullness of flavor a good pie should have. Just saying...... Okay cooperate blogger! Sheesh, I'm almost done and you have to get fussy! Alrighty then, I guess I will finish up here, above the photo, so into the oven your pie is carefully placed, onto the baking pan. Bake at 425 degrees for 15 minutes and then turn the oven down to 350 degrees and continue to bake the pie for another 45 minutes. To keep the edge of the crust from browning you will want to make a foil cover for the edges, or you can buy a nice metal crust protector at any fine cookware store. Take your pie out and let it cool on a rack before covering and chilling for at least 4 hours before serving. Serve with your favorite topping. Oh yeah, those cute little leaf cutouts I made and took a picture of that you see at the top of these photos never made it on top of the pie. It would have looked wonderful but, well I reached into the cupboard without looking and managed to dust them with seasoning salt instead of cinnamon sugar. They make great crackers, but somehow I don't think the blend of garlic and onions in the seasoning salt goes with pumpkin pie. Maybe I'm wrong....yeah, you're right, I'm not. :-) I hope you give this recipe a try. In the immortal words of the late and great Miss Julia....Bon Appetite!

To Catch a Mouse

2010-11-17T07:45:00.000-08:00

Last night as I was sitting at my computer I heard a scratching sound. At first I thought it was the wind blowing something outside the apartment, but then I caught movement out of the corner of my eye. EEEEkkkk! A little furry nose stuck out from between my canned goods stacked against the wall. So I call my hubby who says there should be traps in the tool box. Nope, they weren't there but I did remember seeing them in the move. So I hunted around but couldn't find them. Rats! no pun intended...;-)

I went back to my work, thinking I would run up to the store after work today. So then I hear something ripping! "Alright, that's it!" I said to myself as I peeked into the closet where the rest of our food storage is. I saw the new bag of chips we'd just picked up at Costco last weekend, sitting on some jars on the floor of the closet, I picked it up and yes, the little bugger had started to chew a hole at the base of the bag.

Here I'd been thinking how nice it was to be in a clean and easy to keep clean apartment, with no bugs or critters to worry about. No more roly poly bugs racing across my bathroom floor, or Satan spiders running at us while we were sitting there taking care of business. I thought I had done all I could to keep what ever vermin might be lurking, and yes apartment living is a joy? NOT!!!! Well I put in containers and buckets the rest of the food that a critter might be able to get to, and got ready for bed as it was late. I then remembered that the traps were with some of Kent's things up in our closet. So I got one out, set it and put a little cheese on the paddle. I guess you have to mash the cheese onto the paddle as it was gone this morning, but there was no mouse to be seen. So I re-set the trap, with cheese mashed in. We shall see what happened when I get home later. This may be an interesting venture, mouse against woman. Who will be the winner? I will of course as mice carry disease. There are those who believe we should just catch them and set them free in an animal friendly environment, but I don't know the virtue in that. For those who do believe this way, or just want to keep them from invading your space, here's a video link I found that might be what you want. For me, it's going to be traps since we can't have pets here.
How to Get Rid of Mice???

Families can be forever.....

2010-11-15T18:56:00.000-08:00

As I watched my son and grandson playing on our recent visit to Arizona, I kept thinking about how quickly time goes by and how fast this time was going to pass. My heart ached for the shortness of our visit and the way we were cheated out of half of our time with Emmett, but we did have some time with him and I will always cherish the moments. To be able to watch them running, exploring, reading and laughing together was the best gift I could ever hope for. For me, I've already had my Christmas wish granted in part. This was a birthday present for my son, and I'm so glad for the time we all had together. I love my grandson so much that I was willing to work to help pay for us to go see him. Emmett needs his daddy. He needs to know his daddy loves him and unfortunately they have been kept apart. Not having ever known my real father, I want to make sure Emmett knows his daddy and how much his daddy loves him.

It occurred to me while watching them that we won't have to worry about time the same way in the hereafter. We won't have to hurry to get through a task in order to have the time with those we care about, we won't have to worry about distances separating us, or money to get to where they are. For me, flying won't be an issue anymore. ;-) How nice will that be?! How wonderful to be able to talk to, walk with, play with, work with and be with those whom are near and dear to us when ever we want. What a precious gift!
Do you believe there's life after death? I hope so. I hope you know how much you are loved, and that there is hope in Christ. I hope you know that he has something so wonderful, so precious, so great that he was willing to die for us to have it. Families ARE forever you know......

An Attitude of Prayer

2010-10-17T12:23:00.000-07:00

It came to my attention again this past week that some people view us Mormons as strange in the way we approach prayer. A family member who is not Mormon works in corrections. He was taught that the body language of arms being folded is an act of aggression where as we in preparing to pray most often fold our arms and bow our heads, which is really an attitude of submission. Perhaps the difference is in the bowing of the head and closing the eyes, but this got me to thinking.

I remember when we lived in North Pole we had a neighbor's son over for lunch. As we got ready to pray this little boy was surprised to see my children fold their arms instead of clasping their hands or putting them together. I shared with him that it was our way of getting ready to pray, but he could do what he wanted. He went home and told his mom what we did and that started an interesting and rather sad situation of her not letting her son over to eat with us because we were a "cult" and did weird things.

Today I decided to ask our District President what he knew about why we usually fold our arms instead of the hand clasping or so on and he said pretty much what I already knew. It has more to do with helping to keep children reverent during prayer than anything else. Having taught the little ones at church for years I can attest to the fact that it really does help. You are less likely to have Johnny reaching up to poke the back of Suzie's head when all other eyes are closed, or pretending he's an airplane, or Janey won't be shoving her hands into her neighbor's face. President Boatman shared with me a painting he saw this last week of a family around the table praying. They all had their hands clasped, but the little girl had a finger pointing out as if she was shooting her brother sitting across from her, and he was making faces at her while their parents had one eye open watching the whole scene. Sounds like something Norman Rockwell would have painted doesn't it?

My question is this, does it really matter how we fold our arms or hold our hands when we pray, as long as we are showing a reverence and an attitude of respect and willingness to listen?

The saying that a family that prays together, stays together is so true! When we are all working in harmony, following the Saviors example, he who taught us to pray by precept and example, doesn't it help us draw closer as a family? I say yes!

So as we look at those around us who do things a bit differently, remember that it's by their fruits that ye shall know who the true followers of Christ are. Those who are kind, generous, thoughtful, honest, chaste, virtuous, hard working, willing to sacrifice for those who are in need, they are the people who are trying to be like the Savior, no matter what church they belong to.

So yes, we as members more often than not fold our arms, bow our heads and close our eyes to pray. It's not a prerequisite to being a member though as all of the above family photos are of LDS families praying.

Applesauce Time!

2010-10-04T14:18:00.000-07:00

There's a light rain drizzling down as the pot of applesauce simmers on the stove. The sweet smell of cinnamon and apples drifts through the house, evoking feelings of home and hearth and comfort. What is it about home made applesauce that wraps you in a feeling of security, like a downy blanket? As the twins and I sample some of the slightly spicy mixture of apples, sugar, lemon juice and spices, they cheer me on when I load up another spoonful for one of them. I remember when I was young that Mom would make a delicious pork roast with gravy, potato pancakes, and we would have applesauce and green beans as our sides. Yum!

Applesauce is probably one of the simplest foods to make. Peeled and cored apples, a little liquid if needed to keep the apple slices from sticking until they release their juices and turn soft, and a bit of sugar if you desire. I added a bit of Cinnamon Plus from Pampered Chef as I wanted something almost dessert like for a cool Autumn evening.

Wondering what variety of apple to use for making applesauce? Golden Delicious and McIntosh are recommended although I had Galas and they made a delicious applesauce. For an extra special treat, if you have pears, try a half and half version of pears and apples, so yummy! There are a myriad of places to look up recipes for applesauce, especially if you want to can it. Here's a link for some more information. CANNING APPLESAUCE I hope you give it a try!

Autumn Morning Breakfast - Apple Craisin Maple Rolls Plus

2010-09-30T09:01:00.000-07:00

With the cooler mornings my thoughts tend to turn to warm comfort foods for breakfast. I have a couple of bags of apples in the fridge waiting to be sauced so I decided to create a breakfast roll that would satisfy my craving for apples and maple, with a touch of cranberries.

The beauty of this recipe is that I got 8 large rolls, and one loaf of bread out of the batch. I was also able to use some sour milk I had on hand. With just the two of us a gallon of milk doesn't always get used like it should so instead of water I used that.

These are sweet without being overly sugary and have just the right amount of fruit without being too much. Not your typical sweet roll recipe, I used my standard bread recipe with some modifications so here it is. I hope you give it a try!

Apple Craisin Maple Rolls Plus
bread dough
2 1/2 cups warmed sour or regular milk
2 T. yeast
1/3 c. honey
2 T. molasses
1 1/2 c. old fashioned oats
3 heaping tablespoons flax seed powder
3 T. apple sauce
3 T. oil
2 t. salt
6 or more cups white flour, or you can add a bit of whole wheat if you like
filling
4 small apples cored, sliced and chopped
1 c. chopped Craisins
1/4 cup each brown and white sugar
1 T. lemon juice
1/4 t. each ground cloves, allspice and cardamom
1/2 t. nutmeg
1 t. cinnamon
1/2 c. chopped pecans or walnuts
1/4 c. flour
softened butter

Combine warmed milk, yeast, honey, molasses, oats, applesauce and flax seed powder in mixing bowl. Let sit until foamy, about 5 minutes. Add oil and salt along with 3 cups of flour. Turn mixer on low and combine. Add more flour, 1-2 cups and mix on stir. Dough should be forming a ball by this time, knead either by hand on a floured board, or using the mixer, adding 1/4 cup of flour at a time if still sticky. Knead by hand for 10 minutes, until nice smooth ball forms, or by mixer 5 minutes dusting with flour until dough no longer sticks to sides of bowl. Place dough in bowl and let rise for about 30 minutes. Turn oven on to 375 degrees.
While dough is rising combine filling ingredients in a medium bowl and oil a 9 x 13 pan as well as 1 large loaf pan. After dough has risen for 30 minutes divide in half. Form one half into a loaf and place in loaf pan. The other half roll out on floured board to make a 10 x 14 inch rectangle. With a pastry brush lightly brush dough with butter. Spread apple mixture over the dough out to the edges. Roll up the long side and slice into 8 rolls. Place in oiled cake pan and let both bread and rolls rise for 30 minutes or until the bread loaf is 1 1/2 inches above the pan. Bake one level above the bottom rack level, rolls for 25 minutes and bread for 35. Immediately take bread out of pan and place on rack to cool. Combine 2 cups powdered sugar with 2 t. maple flavoring. Add just enough water to make a smooth and thick but pourable glaze. Drizzle glaze over rolls and serve. Enjoy!

Fighting the Weight Battle and Winning....

2010-09-13T12:19:00.000-07:00

I've found that the best tool to help me lose weight is the bathroom scale. No fancy diets, no "plans" or medications, expensive products, or exercise equipment can take the place of knowing where you are on the scale.
Of course you need to watch what you eat, exercise, and get plenty of rest in the process of fighting the weight battle, but it doesn't matter if you don't have a way to monitor how you are doing. That's why the weekly meetings some plans have, have weigh ins.
I check my weight daily. Obsessive perhaps, but it tells me if I'm eating too much, and tells me if I'm still losing or staying the same. My goal is to lose a pound a week to every two weeks. As long as I don't gain during that time I'm fine. If I start to gain then I can assess what I need to do, whether it's exercise more, or just eat less of those things that aren't good for me.
No, I'm not starving, I have plenty of fruit and veggies on hand as well as nuts, whole grain chips and crackers. We eat normal meals such as tonight, when we will have Chicken A La King over rice, with some sort of veggie as a side. I'm making peach pie for dessert because it's FHE night, but I will have a smaller slice and only half a scoop of ice cream on the side. I don't believe that losing weight means giving up everything good tasting, or enjoyable, though we really love fresh foods and dishes made from scratch so we never feel deprived.
So, if I can say anything to anyone trying to lose weight, start with getting a good scale. Have a plan for exercise. I walk with friends 3 days a week, and Kent and I will take a nightly stroll when we can. I also ride my stationary recumbent bike2-3 times a week, which takes up little space in our back room. Sunday is a day of rest and recuperation, which is vital to a good weight loss plan. Our bike cost $150 and the scale about $30 dollars. Such a deal when you consider the health benefits and money saved in going to the doctor, or buying into all the other expensive plans, equipment or "helps". How much weight have I lost this summer? 16 lbs so far, with 25 to go. It works for me!

Chili Green Beans

2010-09-12T19:52:00.000-07:00

You read right, Chili Green Beans is a wonderful concoction Mom came up with when we had an over abundance of green beans one year. I don't often have fresh green beans so I haven't made this much over the years, but we had a few in our Oregon garden and bought some from our favorite produce stand on the way back to Utah last week. Kent was a bit leery of the whole idea, we were too when Mom first served them to us, but he ate 4 bowls of it and wanted more. I loved it when Mom made it, but have had to come up with my own version as we don't have her recipes. So here's my version. Hope you enjoy it as much as we do!

Chili Green Beans

1 lb. burger
2 c. chopped onion
1 c. chopped celery
1 bell pepper, chopped
4 c. fresh green beans, cut into bite size pieces
2 t. each seasoning salt and cumin powder
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 t. each italian seasoning and dried basil
3 T. mild chili powder
1/4 t. cayenne pepper
1 bay leaf
1 pint canned tomatoes
1 pint tomato sauce
1 6 oz. can tomato paste
1 c. water
1 chopped jalepeno, if desired

Brown burger and then add chopped onion, celery, bell pepper and garlic, saute until soft. Add the rest of the ingredients, cover and bring to bubbling over medium heat, stirring occasionally. Turn down to a simmer and let cook until green beans are done. Serve with corn bread.

Do You Believe.....

2010-08-27T12:01:00.000-07:00

Sometimes, unbeknown to us, God is preparing us for blessings we aren't sure we want. For awhile now we've been talking about "what if" the school district decided to put Kent in as principal of the high school once the then principal retired. Kent knew it would be a lot of work as there have been things that needed to happen over at our high school for a long time. He wasn't sure at first that he would want that challenge, but his thoughts have gradually changed over the months to be more along the line of, "Well if I were the principal there, this is what I would do."
So we passed through the summer dealing with health issues for several family members and trying to figure out what to do with Kent's parents to help them as they are no longer able to live alone. We got that problem solved thanks to a sweet sister-in-law and her husband, so we thought things would quiet down. Then Kent gets a call from the school district letting him know that the HS principal had quit. So he throws his hat into the ring for candidate, even though they had already asked him several times before if he would be interested. He was appointed the new principal of the high school 3 weeks ago, and it has been such a wonderful blessing already! He is actively engaged in planning ways to make a difference, he is working harder, but sleeping better. He's getting better benefits I won't go into here, but needless to say, some of his other worries are being taken care of in ways we never expected.

I believe, that sometimes God will prepare us way in advance, for major changes in our lives. As a side note to all of this, I have had a sense for months that we were going to move and that I needed to de-junk. Well, knowing is not always doing, so while we are having to move, I will be de-junking whether I like it or not. Yes, I do believe that God will prepare us for many things.....if we are paying attention. Do you believe?

Tuesday's Tasty Tip for Breakfast

2010-08-17T07:57:00.000-07:00

Can we say yummmm!!!!! My peaches are finally starting to ripen, but with bittersweet thoughts I pick and relish them one last time. We are moving, and so the tree with be in the hands of those who may not give it the care and attention I have. Perhaps I can sneak over and take care of the tree each year until we move to Oregon.... For now, I will enjoy the fruits of my labor, and God's blessing.
My tasty breakfast tip is something I gleaned from Dio, a friend whom I first met while living in North Pole, Alaska. She is so energetic, though much like me, a bit short and in need of always finding ways to stay healthy and keep her weight in check. Although McDonalds offers a similar food for breakfast, I like that I can control what I put in my version and the use of cantaloupe was a new one for me that turned out to be delightfully refreshing on a warm summer day.

Fresh Fruit and Yogurt Parfait

1 c. fresh chopped peaches, cantaloupe or berries (yes cantaloupe is wonderful this way!)
1/2 c. vanilla yogurt, or plain yogurt sweetened with maple syrup or honey to taste
1/2 c. your favorite granola or cereal

Layer in a parfait glass, or in a bowl, enjoy!

Abandoning home phones creates 'Single Cell Syndrome' | Mormon Times

2010-07-29T07:31:00.000-07:00

An interesting article that addresses a new phenomenon in the family phone situation. I can relate in trying to get a hold of people to fill in as a sub to lead music in church, or help in the family history center. As usual the LDS church is ever trying to keep up with the times. How does your family/church/civic group or work place deal with this?

Abandoning home phones creates 'Single Cell Syndrome' | Mormon Times

You Can't Have It Both Ways

2010-07-26T21:18:00.000-07:00

We've all had those "woulda, coulda, shoulda" moments where if we were thinking we "woulda" said something that "coulda" made someone think, and we "shoulda" just done it. Take for instance the other afternoon, when a couple of friends and I had stopped to grab some killer barbeque before heading to the rodeo. As we were enjoying some hefty tri tip sandwiches with fresh cole slaw and dutch oven ranch beans, a group of young men sat down at the table behind us. Their conversation centered around a new woman one of the men was dating. We overheard comments about her not liking to eat burgers and "heavy" foods, and the young man commented on her eating rabbit food all the time. They also asked him about things such as camping and outdoor activities to which he answered that she was sending mixed messages.
If I had been really thinking I "woulda" turned around and asked him whether he cared about a woman's weight or not in regards to deciding whether to ask her out. Many of us women have been through the ringer with men who have very specific preferences on the women they date. I had a friend once who loved blue eyed blondes, especially with long legs. Another one loved red heads, and then there was the blind date who told me all about his tiny room mate who was built more like a 12 year old than a woman. I got the last laugh on him though as I ordered the lobster dinner and he had to pay...:-) So back to the overheard conversation. The thought that occurred to me later as I reflected on their chat was that men often like their women thin, but they also want them to eat like a guy. You know what I mean, steaks, hot dogs, burgers, fish and chips, potatoes, and barbeque are all things most fellas love, and they want to see their women eating them as well. Perhaps I "coulda" learned something, or even better, had this young man thinking about the old saying, "You can't have it both ways."
I "shoulda" said something, as we would have either had a very interesting conversation, or been told to MYOB. So tell me all you men out there, would you rather have a thin woman, or one who will eat with gusto and enjoy their meal along with you?

It's Chief Joseph Days again...the wild horse stampede

2010-07-20T14:53:00.000-07:00

Such a gorgeous day! Sandy and I went to lunch at La Laguna's, which in my opinion is the best Mexican food restaurant in the valley. The salsa is fresh, and has just enough bite to it to make it worth asking for more. After lunch we came up to the corner of First and Main here in Joseph so we could have a good view of the horses as they stampeded down the main drag. Love the scenery, don't you???

More of the gorgeous mountains we get to see every day. The girl in the blue dress, holding her hat is actually a bronze sculpture. There are bronzes on just about every corner of the 3 main blocks here in Joseph. We have 3 foundries here where beautiful pieces are created for buyers around the world.

Here's a view of the main street that the horses will come down. way up at the other end, is what we used to call Brennan's Hill because the actor Walter Brennan had a home at the top of it. It was our favorite hill to sled down at night as it was well lit and just steep enough to get to the bottom of the hill without ending up on the main street.

Here they come! All the way down from Mount Joseph ranch, the horses for the rodeo are herded down to the rodeo grounds.

Ummmm, we couldn't decide if the horses were thinking the pavement was too hot, or they were looking for something, but all of a sudden they just stopped. The stampede ended up being more like a stroll down Main Street...:-)

They decided it was okay to proceed, so off they go, at a saunter, heading down through town.

This is it! The end of the stampede, which we waited almost an hour for because someone had posted the time wrong...Oh well, the stores were teeming with customers afterward so for local shop owners, this is a great way to kick off Chief Joseph Days. Always the last full weekend in July, Chief Joseph Days is worth the wait!

For Those Who Think God Doesn't Have a Hand on Things.....

2010-07-19T07:45:00.000-07:00

Every time I wend my way into Wallowa Valley I'm struck by the beauty and majesty of the mountains here. They are so impressive, with a presence that shows the Master's touch.
How anyone can believe that this world and all in it happened randomly is beyond me. This valley has everything a farmer or rancher needs to grow a myriad of things to provide food and shelter for mankind. From the crystal clear mountain streams, to the fertile soil, all are ready made for us to provide for our families if we are willing to work for it.
We had company last night and discussed this very topic. For the non-believers answer these questions.
If there is no God who created this world, then why did we evolve into upright creatures who can think critically and communicate in such a complex way and not other life forms? How is it that we are the only creatures on earth that evolved to this point? How is it that the world on it's own just happened to set up a way for us to provide for our needs with food, shelter and fuel? We have sunshine, water, good soil, a way to improve what is already here by our own efforts, and fuel, we have more than enough to spare if we use it wisely. We can use the resources available to create all we need to live comfortably. This was random? This was just evolution? It would be like putting all the components of a computer on a table and then waiting to see if it will come together by itself.
As was mentioned in our conversation, to look at a human body and see the amazing complexity of how we function and not see God's hand is ludicrous. To see a honey bee at work, a robin foraging for food in the yard, a fish as it jumps from a lake to catch it's dinner, all are so amazing in beauty and diversity, and they are there for us to admire, or use as a food source, or to help us. I for one don't think that this happened just by chance, and am grateful for the blessing of being able to see the hand of God in all things.

Book notes: 'Encompassing Charity' | Mormon Times

2010-07-18T15:11:00.000-07:00

Book notes: 'Encompassing Charity' | Mormon Times

Winning the fight?

2010-06-17T20:14:00.000-07:00

I live for summer days in Oregon when I can buy blueberries by the bucket fulls and snack on them! So sweet and tart at the same time, they burst with flavor as you bite into them. I'm trying to fight the sugar cravings I get when I'm tired, and I'm tired because I had to take a Benadryl. I had to take a Benadryl because something is making me sneeze and I have an itchy mouth, even though it's been wet and rainy here. So I am fighting back by trying to eat things that will satisfy my sweet tooth without adding to my waistline. I find it easier when it's warm out, I seem to naturally gravitate towards fresh fruit and veggies, but it's downright cold here right now! Staring at a computer screen for too long doesn't help so I need to go for a walk and get my head cleared. I think though, that in order to win the weight loss war I do need to start a food diary so here goes.
June 18
Breakfast - 1 cup Left over beef stir fry noodles with extra peppers and onions. A bowl of fresh blueberries.
Lunch - 1/2 serving of low fat turkey slices on one slice of dill rye bread with lettuce, onion, yhonnaise and a sprinkling of Craisins. 9 tortilla chips with cheesy salsa.
Dinner - leftover lentil pilaf with a few chicken chunks, and more peppers and onions. 1/2 cup rocky road ice cream, more blueberries
I know, a lot of leftovers here, but we have been going out a lot and I can usually only eat a half a plate of food at a time. Tomorrow I will try and stay away from the ice cream and the cheesy salsa. The lentil pilaf is a wonderful recipe I will have to get my friend to share. It's full of nutritious ingredients, tasty and low fat as well. The stir fry wasn't too bad except I couldn't tell what the veggies were it was cooked for so long. That's another story though and we won't be eating at that restaurant again. For breakfast I think oatmeal with walnuts and Craisins will do the trick. I am not one to cut out carbs just for the sake of cutting them. If I eat carbs I try to go for whole grains, not processed junk. Honestly, we eat way too much meat and need to look to other sources for protein that aren't a heart attack waiting to happen. Marvelous Marvel has a wheat berry recipe she has been promising to share so I will snag that and share with you if it passes the Parsons taste test kitchen. :-) Regardless of how my menu looks right now, I am losing a bit of weight, probably due to walking up the hill to the lake, and lots of yard work. Oh, and chasing the deer away from my flowers and lilacs, the little buggers! I also zigzag my way up through town on my bike alternate days. Why not go straight up the road? I've got too much to haul around right now...;-) I'm off to walk to the store for throat lozenges so taataa for now! I hope that if you are waging the weight loss war, you are winning!

Home Decorating

2010-06-17T18:31:00.000-07:00

Wouldn't it be nice of stores such as Walmart would carry a certain line of curtains or other such items for more than one year or so? All is not lost though, I took some sheers I had in the bedroom and created a window treatment that is not only unique but versatile. The sheers were 84" long but I wanted them to just come to the bottom window sill so I folded them over the rod and made measurements so that I could create a rod pocket in each with a top ruffle. After sewing the pocket and ruffle I hung them up on the rods, and brought each fold over corner up to the center of the rod and attached them with a what is called a "yo yo" that has a button in each center. I made tie with the yo yos on them as well. I can slip the ties off when we just want the sheers to hang for more privacy, or put them on to let the sun shine in.

The walls are bare right now and we need to get the floors done, but there are two projects before the floors. We are so pleased with the color and the way the windows look! We get so many compliments on this little place and the colors we've chosen so far, and believe me, if my friends didn't like it, they would let me know....lol. The next project is a deck outside to cover the hole in front of the house created for drainage as well as to meet codes. This fall we hope to get started on the bathroom. Yay! It's so fun to have a little place to fix up!

Flag Day - A Time To Remember

2010-06-14T07:10:00.000-07:00

Flag Day was started back in 1916 by President Woodrow Wilson as a way to commemorate the adoption of the Stars and Stripes as a flag representing the United States of America by the Second Continental Congress back in 1777. Though not a federal holiday, it is a day to remember as we are so blessed to live in the United States of America. For more details stop by here: Flag Day .
Rules for displaying the flag can be found here. Displaying the US Flag.
Please take the time to post your flag, and also reflect the history and goodness of this great country. Are we perfect? No, of course not, and mistakes have been made, but it doesn't take away from the gift and blessing this United States of America is to us, and the rest of the world.

Genealogy and Fishing For Chickens

2010-06-13T17:34:00.000-07:00

As the Family History Center Director for our district in Wendover, I am in charge of helping our consultants maintain a center for the public as well as church members. I am also responsible for helping our consultants encourage and support those who are interested in doing their genealogy. It was a calling given as an answer to prayer. Funny thing, the day I actually got down on my knees and asked Heavenly Father for help with my confusing and complex family history I was given the calling to be the Family History Center Director. So, here I am finding all sorts of interesting stories, photos and information on my own family as well as my "steps" of which I have several. Don't ask. :-)
I had to share this story as it brings to life "Grandpa George", who I met as a little girl. He's the gentleman on the left and here's a story that was shared by a brother of his, not the one seen in this photo though.

"Uncle Charlie said that when he was a young man, he and his brother George used to work whenever and where ever they could. They often traveled together while George was driving a Grey Line. They hauled packaged goods to Canada and helped people move and the like.

He said they would get hungry and "accidentally" crush a box of cookies, so that they could eat them. One day George got some line and put a worm on the end of it. He tossed it several times over a fence and into a farmer's yard where there were chickens. Charlie asked him, "What are you doing?" and George replied, "Well, I am fishing for chicken!" Charlie said that they did manage to coax one out that day."

2010-06-11T20:19:00.000-07:00

My dear friend from Sitka sent me this nice banner and sentiment from her blog Silver Strands. Stop by and see the sweet sacrifice she made for her mother. Make sure you have tissue handy. Love you Denalee! Traditionally we are supposed to pass this on, but I know that more and more folks don't like to get these. I will have to visit your blogs to see if you have an award free zone. I will be watching. :-)

Breakfast Feast

2010-06-10T10:05:00.000-07:00

I didn't take a photo because the toast was a bit darker than I'd hoped for but here's a simple and oh so delicious recipe for a scrambled egg sandwich.

Dilly Egg Breakfast Sandwich

2 slices Orowheat's Dill Rye bread
1 slice cooked bacon, crumbled
1-2 eggs beaten and slightly seasoned with salt and pepper
Mayonnaise or Yohnnaise

In a small skillet heat one tablespoon of olive oil over medium low heat. Combine bacon and egg mix and pour into heated pan. Let cook until slightly golden underneath, then flip and finish cooking.
Toast slices of bread and spread with mayonnaise. Place egg on one slice of toast and cover with other, whalaa! You have one dillyicious sandwich! You can add a dash of Tabasco for a bit of spark if you like.

Food for Thought

2010-05-23T07:52:00.000-07:00

So our conversation yesterday morning started out with death by hotdogs and fish & chips. My hubby is gleefully awaiting my trip to Oregon so he can go on a food frenzy, but I reminded him that he woke up with chest pain this morning, sheesh! So he comments on the Spam I served him for breakfast to which I pointed out that he asked for it and then he wanted to know if he said he wanted a hole in the head would I comply to which I said yes. So I told him he was going to commit self inflicted death by fish & chips and he accused me of assisted murder by Spam. I know it's not a joking matter, but what do you do with a man who is addicted to junk food???
Which takes me to an article I read in a 2003 Ensign. The author was raised in Russia and had no religious background. He went to medical school where a friend shared with him that the same dietary practices that can prevent and treat heart disease that they were being taught, had been the centuries-old health code of the Russian Orthodox Church. He became interested in the Bible He read the story of Daniel and his friends refusal to eat the daily provision of the kings food and wine, and asked to be able to eat their "pulse" and water. Daniel and his friends were blessed with better health and greater ability to think and act. As this man continued to learn he discovered that the Russian translation of "pulse" was vegetables, but knew that man could not survive on them alone. He later discovered that the word also meant grains and seeds. To make a long story short, it has been known for centuries that eating less meat, and eating more wholesome grains, fruits and vegetables is a healthy and wise diet. The promise is found in the Word of Wisdom that if we do so, we shall receive health in the navel and marrow in the bones and shall find wisdom and great treasures of knowledge, even hidden treasures. (D&C 89:18-21) Just some food for thought.

Happy Birthday Emmett!!!! We love you!!

2010-05-18T10:21:00.000-07:00

I can't believe you are already 3! Wow, time flies. We sure miss you little man, with your super smarts. We miss seeing you read all the letters on signs, and saying the numbers you see in grocery ads. We miss your laugh, your ability to make everything fun. We miss your wink, your imagination, your hugs, and the way you can blow us kisses. Take care of Mommy and we hope to see you soon.
Happy Birthday!!!!!
Love, Grandma and Grandpa

Monday's Muse - Regarding Virtue

2010-05-17T09:26:00.000-07:00

As I ponder the topic of virtue I think of young women who do all they can to stay morally pure and ready for a sacred marriage covenant. One of my favorite authors is Sheri L. Dew. Here's some quotes from a talk she gave at the World Congress of Families V in Amsterdam, Netherlands, on Aug. 10, 2009.

"No society can be stronger than the moral fiber of its people. There is power in virtue. Said Clare Boothe Luce: "There can be no public virtue without private morality….And there cannot be a good society unless the majority of individuals in it are at least trying to be good people….A nation that is traveling the low road is a nation that is self-destructing. It is doomed, sooner or later, to collapse from within."
She goes on to state this, "Virtue, especially moral virtue, builds strength of character. A lack of virtue damages one's moral compass until ultimately that person can't be trusted. Consider the adulterer. If someone can't be trusted to honor the most sacred promise they'll ever make, who and what will they honor? Benjamin Franklin said it well: "There was never yet a truly great man who was not at the same time truly virtuous."
What got me thinking about all of this is a blog post and video regarding 7-8 year old girls at a dance competition. I won't post the video link as I don't want to add to the damage done in these little girls lives by thoughtless parents and dance instructors. I will say this though, that the outfits they wore were skimpy, tummy baring tops with spaghetti straps and low slung short shorts that showed their little fandangos. They had fishnet stockings on as well as heels and looked the part they were playing. These little girls were gyrating and bumping to a popular tune and making moves you might see a pole dancer use.
Sister Dew goes on to share this information,
"University of Chicago studies compiled in 2006 illuminate the problem. Premarital sex among men and women has increased. Adultery? Increased. Cohabitation without marriage? Increased. Number of sexual partners? Increased. Out-of-wedlock births? Increased. Sex among teenagers? Increased. Only one statistic decreased: the age at which youth are having sexual relations.⁷
C. S. Lewis was no doubt right when he called chastity "the most unpopular of the Christian virtues." Global violation of this virtue has become its own kind of pandemic such that anyone who dares advocate chastity risks being accused of intolerance and even fanaticism.
Yet history tells a different story. One civilization after another has caved in under the weight of its moral debauchery. A stable society is not likely to be destroyed unless it has weakened itself from within. Will and Ariel Durant, who spent four decades writing an eleven-volume history of civilization, concluded that "sex is like a river of fire that must be banked and cooled by a hundred restraints if it is not to consume in chaos both the individual and the group." Such controls are best provided by fidelity in marriage. Anything short of that undermines marriage, and there is something fundamentally sick about a society where marriage is treated as a throwaway item. "
There is so much in her talk that we would all do well to heed. Here's the link so you can read it in it's entirety. The Power of Virtue
May we all look to our inward hearts and consider the virtue of our little children and the blessing of raising them to know true happiness.

Foodie Friday - Spicy Thai Shrimp Salad

2010-05-14T10:30:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite magazines for tasty recipes without a lot of fat and sugar is Eating Well. We tried this recipe out last night and loved it! Fresh, with just a bit of bite, this is a great Summer time recipe that would compliment any meal. We enjoyed this along with Spam fried rice and my husband was in heaven.

SPICY THAI SHRIMP SALAD
Whisk 2 T. lime juice, 4 t. fish sauce, 1 T. canola oil, 2 t. brown sugar and 1/2 t. crushed red pepper. Toss with 1 lb. cooked shrimp, 1 c. thinly sliced bell pepper, 1 c. thinly sliced seeded cucumber and 1/4 c. chopped fresh basil, cilantro and or mint. Calories 172/ Great source of vitamins C, A, and Iron.

We did have just a bit leftover, even though I cut the recipe in half for the two of us, so I cooked up a few rice noodles, and made a bit of sauce with 3 T. peanut butter, 3 T. soy sauce, and a drizzle of honey that I whisked together. I tossed the sauce and noodles with the leftover shrimp salad and plan on enjoying that for dinner while hubby finishes off the rice. Bon Apetite!

A Mother's Hope & Prayers

2010-05-09T12:06:00.000-07:00

Today as I sat in church watching the Primary children sing to their mothers I thought about all of you and wanted to share my feelings with you. I remember when you used to sing the same songs and it really tugged at my heart and brought back sweet memories.

My Dearest Bryan,
From the moment I first held you in my arms I could feel the gift of God in you. A shining light had been sent to us and we hardly knew what to do with you. Born a little man, so strong, so quick to develop both physically and mentally we surely fell short of the blessing you are to us. Even though I had siblings I never knew a baby who could make his way across the floor when only a month old, or who could pull up when told to at 2 months old. I surely wasn't ready for a baby who found me, where ever I was in the apartment, and just wanted to hang out at my feet. No, you didn't want me to hold you, you just wanted to explore. You saved the holding for nursing times, and when your dad came home from work. You two would fall asleep in the rocker and I would wonder why you couldn't do that with me during the day. When you started pulling yourself up on the furniture at 6 months and then crawling 4 days later I was starting to think I'd given birth to a little superman. You could down a whole peanut butter and jelly sandwich as well as a banana at one sitting! At 8 months you started sounding out words and by 9 months you could tell me that you wanted chee, juice, appew, and nana. Thank goodness you walked at 10 1/2 months as I was fairly far along with Stephanie and you weighed 25 lbs by that time. The only reason it took you so long to walk on your own was that you were so fast with crawling and running around the edges of furniture you didn't slow down long enough to learn to walk, so we made you! :-) At 2 you were "reading" stories back to me in amazing accuracy, and could counter my saying 1 with 2, and when I would say 3 you could say 4, and so on up to 10. I know we certainly fell short of giving you all the learning experiences you needed as you were a born sponge when it came to learning. You could read from the scriptures, KJV, by the time you were 5. You have been blessed with talents beyond measure! You have been a blessing beyond measure in my life.

Dear Sweet Stephanie,
You were such a breath of fresh air in a tiny little angel after 16 months of trying to keep up with Bryan! So sweet and good natured, you rarely cried. I would sometime wake up in the middle of the night and touch your tiny body laying in the bassinet beside me as you were so quiet! When you did wake up, even as a tiny newborn, you would coo and chatter with such abandon and always seemed so happy. For months we worried over your continual ear infections, but you rarely if ever fussed or cried even when sick. So quick to smile and giggle, you were so wonderfully a baby in every sense. Soft, sweet, cuddly and loving. You were very forgiving of your brother when he would try and take toys away from you. I could always count on finding you in a box or a drawer somewhere, sitting there playing by yourself, happy as a lark. You would give me that funny lopsided smile and keep on playing, not wanting to be bothered. The queen of mud pies, you could make a mess better and bigger than your brother ever thought of doing. As you got a bit older you struggled a bit with shyness, for no reason I should add. You turned your shyness into a strength when you broke free of it through singing. You have a voice I always wanted, with a full range where I'm weak. You have a way of drawing people to you with your sociality and friendliness. For whatever reason, people just like to give you things, as you must surely give them something they need. You have a way of looking at things that make us all think a little differently and open up our minds a bit more to other possibilities. Your joyful giggle and crooked smile will always melt my heart!

My Amanda,
So different in some ways from your older brother and sister, with a unique spirit as similar and yet individual as they. My Indian baby I've always called you as I knew you were meant to be, just like they were. I saw you in a dream one day with very dark hair so when you were born, I knew we were done having children as you were to be the last. Champion to small animals and lost souls, you have always had a heart so soft it would break at least once a week if not more. I still remember the little pet cemetery you created at the side of our driveway, and how you would make little caskets for your deceased pets out of soda cans you cut open. You would make a soft bed of tissue and gently lay your little furry friends in them, and then pull the cover over and bury them, marking the graves with sticks and wildflowers from the yard. Christmas was always a wonder with your excitement. Taking you to see Santa was a highlight as you would yell through the mall, look there's Santa! and run up to him fearless. The first time we took you trick or treating you were so amazed at the generosity of people you would run back to the van, "Look Mom and Dad, they gave me candy, they gave me candy!!!" We could always tell when Spring had finally hit North Pole as you would run inside the house yelling, "A bug, a bug, it's a bug!!!", as you fled the mosquitoes that inevitably showed up. We could always count on you for drama, as if something was really, really, great, then other things were really, really, awful! You still make us laugh, cry and feel with you as you agonize over friends and loved ones.

To all of you here are my hopes and prayers. I hope and pray that you will remember the goodness of God, and the gifts he has given us. I hope and pray that you will realize the talents you have so fully been blessed with, and will continue to nurture those tender feelings you have for those around you through your talents. I hope and pray that you will remember the touch of your child's hand on your face, or the tiny arms around your neck and know that they are gifts of angels. I hope and pray that you will pray, and ask for divine guidance, as I know without a doubt that your prayers will be answered and you will find peace and joy as you turn to God. I hope and pray that someday we can all be a celestial family as I know that families are meant to be forever, and that God has so much for us, if we will choose his gift. I hope and pray, that you will know how much I love and cherish you. I hope and pray that you know how you have all made my life so much richer, because you are a part of it. I hope and pray that you will know how much I wish I could see you and talk you to and spend time with you. I love you more than you really know.
Love,
Mom

Green Is Good!

2010-05-03T10:43:00.000-07:00

So getting outside is considered a "green" way to elevate your mood now. Depending on the time of year, this can be true. I love being outdoors gardening, hiking, taking walks, bike riding, or jogging, actually that should be plodding along. I guess I've been PC forever when it comes to finding a "green" way to be mentally fit :-) Here's the link to the article discussing this. 5 Minutes In The Green to Elevate Your Mood.
Having said that though, what do you think the reason getting outside helps with your mood? Is it the sun, fresh air, the actual activity or all of the above? Maybe like me, you don't really care about the why, you just know that you enjoy being outdoors. Here's to getting outside more!

How Men Think.... and oh just get over yourself!

2010-04-30T08:07:00.000-07:00

This morning as my sweet hubby was getting ready for work he walks up to me and says, "Thank you for not being stupid". Thank you? Lol.... actually we were just talking about a situation at work where someone "Miss Petty" decided to get offended because one of their co-workers has a picture of the Savior and a temple photo up in their room. REALLY? What if there was a picture of the Notre Dame cathedral hanging up in the room? It's a religious edifice. Ahhhh the silliness of women sometimes. The worst part of this is that the person being bagged on is in the hospital right now so a couple of women have taken it upon themselves to take over her room and change things. So when "Miss Petty" comes to complain to my husband about the pictures his question will be, "What about the tie I'm wearing today, or the cross so and so wears everyday, and oh I think that "Judy" may be thinking about Jesus right now, what do you want to do about that?" I'm sorry for people who even think that way. We don't use the cross as a symbol in our church, but who cares what others do in that regard. It makes them feel good and it means something to them so let them be. So while it wasn't the most romantic thing to say in terms of flowery words, it means so much in terms of how my husband views me.

To those who get offended so easily I say, "Oh, get over yourself and get a life!" And I mean that in the nicest way...;-)

How Do I Tell Them....

2010-04-29T12:50:00.000-07:00

There is a weight on my mind that presses down on me in the middle of the night as I lay in bed trying to get back to sleep after getting up for a drink of water. Something I want to say to someone I love very much, but don't know how to tell them without making matters worse. A little child is suffering right now as they wait for their missing parent to take them home. This little one keeps asking when they can go home as they aren't happy with being where they are now, especially since the light of their life has gone elsewhere. A little heart is breaking because someone thought it more important to chase an empty dream that will never be realized. The distance between all of us is tearing me apart as I can't be there to help this little one understand. I hear the stories of what is happening in the new place where this little one has moved and it frightens me to think of what could happen and what is already happening. How do I tell this to the one that I love that sin and selfishness never brings lasting happiness and the most important thing a child needs is two parents close by to love them. Little ones care little about success or following dreams, they want their parents. They need security, hugs, boundaries, a sense of belonging and that is destroyed when a parent goes away for whatever the reason. Satan is loving this as he has destroyed another family by urging both parents to be selfish and unyielding in their desires for worldly pleasures.
Heavenly Father is watching over this little one I know but it still doesn't help to see and hear the pain this little child is going through. Faith is all I have right now to hold on to as time seems to be putting more and more distance between all of us. We are praying for a miracle for this little one, would you say some prayers as well? Thank you.....

Yea...what she said.......

2010-04-27T11:48:00.000-07:00

                I bought a bird feeder. I hung it on my back    porch & lovingly filled it with delicious seeds.

                What a beauty of
                a bird feeder it was.

                Within a week we had hundreds of birds
                taking advantage of the
                continuous flow of free and
                easily accessible food.

                But then the birds started
                building nests in the boards
                of the patio above the table
                and next to the barbecue.

                Then came the poop. It was
                everywhere: on the patio tile,
                the chairs, the table ..
                Everywhere!

                Then some of the birds
                turned mean. They would
                dive bomb me and try to
                peck me even though I had
                fed them out of my own good
                intentions and limited budget.

                Other birds became unruly,
                boisterous and loud. They
                sat on the feeder and
                squawked and screamed at
                all hours of the day and night
                and demanded that I fill it
                when it got low on food.

                After a while, I couldn't even
                sit on my own back porch
                anymore.

                So I took down the bird feeder
                and in three days the birds were
                gone. I cleaned up their mess
                and took down the many nests they
                had built all over the patio.

                Soon, the back yard was like
                it used to be .... Quiet, serene....
                and no one demanding their
                rights to a free meal.

                Now let's see.
                Our government gives out
                free food, subsidized housing,
                free medical care, free education
                and allows anyone born here to
                to be an automatic citizen.

                Then the illegals came by the
                millions. Suddenly our taxes
                went up to pay for all those
                FREE services. Now we have to
                wait 6 hours to be seen by an
                emergency room doctor.
                Our child's second grade class has
                fallen behind other schools because
                over half the class doesn't speak
                English.

                Corn Flakes now come in a
                bilingual box. I have to press
                ‘one’ to hear my bank talk to me
                in English, and people waving flags
                other than 'Old Glory' are
                squawking and screaming
                in the streets, demanding more
                rights and more freebies.

                Just my opinion, but maybe
                it's time for the government
                to take down the bird feeder.

                If you agree, pass it on; if not,
                Just continue cleaning up the poop.

Girlie Girl Headbands

2010-04-26T10:09:00.000-07:00

My youngest granddaughter had a birthday recently so I found her this adorable outfit. I love the colors! They are so fresh and Summery! Well feeling guilty for not having more to send, I decided to use a new technique for making flowers out of ribbon scraps of fabric. Luckily I had matching ribbon already in my stash so here are the results of my efforts.

I'm hoping she likes these!

Monday's Muse - America the Beautiful

2010-04-26T06:46:00.000-07:00

I believe in the United States of America without reservation.
It is my home, my country, it is my hope, my concern.....
Here I work and rest. Here I build and dream.
Here is security for my loved ones.
Here my toil is rewarded with an unmatched abundance for my well-being.
Here, freedom to live, to think, to worship is mine, guaranteed by law and our Constitution.
Here I am part of the government, able to vote, to serve and to carry my share of the common load.
God grant me wisdom and strength to safeguard my country's welfare with devotion great enough to measure up to her greatness. - Anon

Saying Goodbye - a fresh look.....

2010-04-23T14:41:00.000-07:00

       I've never really thought much about the word goodbye, except that it can be painful to say sometimes. I was reading the last page of the Church News today and found some information that made goodbye a more meaningful word and one I will think on with a different perspective.
       Did you know that the word goodbye comes from an expression used in the 16th century, a contraction of the phrase "God be with ye." Other languages have done a similar change in their parting words. For instance the French, adieu, means "to God", which is a shortened form of a dieu (vous) commant, meaning "I commend you to God". In Spanish it's adios, in Portuguese adeus, in Italian it's addio. A more formal form in Spanish is vaya con Dios, meaning "go with God", English is Godspeed.
     Gives a whole new meaning to saying goodbye doesn't it? You are sending someone out with God's blessing which is a sweeter, more loving and reassuring way to say goodbye don't you think?

Tasty Sides - Nancy's Green Bean Cucumber Salad

2010-04-22T11:01:00.000-07:00

My mom was one of the best cooks I know. Oh yes, you can't beat her cooking, I know you can't! She had a variety of dishes that I've never seen anyone else serve, so I wonder if she created these herself, or found them somewhere that will never be revealed in this life. One of my all time favorites, and my oldest daughters as well is Mom's Green Bean Cucumber Salad. This was just one of the ways she used green beans. Another one of my favorites is Chili Green Beans but I will save that one for later in the summer when I have fresh green beans. I use Romaine lettuce in this recipe because it stands up better than other lettuces and has a nice crisp crunch. Mom did use iceberg, probably because is was the least expensive and most readily available when I was growing up. I don't really remember any other kind until I was in my teens.

Nancy's Green Bean Cucumber Salad
1 15 oz. can cut green beans, drained well
1/2 head romaine lettuce rinsed, dried and torn
1 cup thinly sliced and quartered red onion
1/2 cucumber, peeled and thinly sliced
Dressing:
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup plain yogurt
1 T. cider vinegar
1 t. sugar
1/2 t. course ground pepper
1/2 t. salt
Combine all salad ingredients together. Toss lightly. Whisk together the dressing ingredients and gently stir into salad. Serve immediately. Yield 6-8 servings

Recipe of the day - Apple Peel/Core Jelly & Syrup

2010-04-20T12:18:00.000-07:00

Anyone who knows me very well knows that I hate to see things go to waste. I realize that apple peels and cores would be great in the compost pile but here's a way to put them to use to make something very wonderful. Did you know, that you could save your apple cores and make a delicious jam or syrup out of them? A few years ago I saw a recipe for apple peel jelly. I can't find my source now, but when I looked it up online and compared the recipes I found with the apple jelly recipe in the pectin box recipes, they are pretty much the same. The only difference is that in one you peel and core the apples, slice them and cover with water. Well all those apple peels and cores that were being wasted actually make a delicious jelly or pancake syrup. Here's what I do. I save all my apple peels that are discarded because of fussy children, and the cores as well by freezing them in containers or ziplock bags. I have a pot that will hold about 2 gallons of liquid so when I get enough to almost fill it up I will place them in the pot, no thawing necessary. I add enough water to cover, and then bring to a boil, turn down to simmer with a cover on the pot and let it cook for about 1 hour. I let it cool and then strain the whole thing in a wire mesh colander. You can use a jelly bag or cheesecloth in your colander if you like your jelly nice and clear. Don't squeeze, just let it drain for a couple of hours. For the standard jelly recipe here are the measurements:

Apple Jelly (Apple Peel) Yield 7- 8oz. jars
5 cups apple liquid or bottled juice
7 cups sugar
1 box pectin

In a large pot dissolve pectin in cold liquid. Stir to get out all the lumps. Bring to a boil over high heat, stirring to keep from scorching. When it comes to a rolling boil that can't be stirred down add the sugar all at once. Bring to a rolling boil that can't be stirred down again and continue to stir and let boil for 1 minute. Take off of heat and pour into sterilized jars. Secure lids and waterbath for 5 minutes.

Spiced Apple Peel Syrup Yield 4 1/2 pints or 9 8 oz. jars
6 cups strained liquid
4 - 5 cups sugar (depending on the tartness of the liquid)
1 box pectin
1 tsp. Apple Pie Spice
2 T. freshly grated orange rind

Combine liquid, Apple Pie Spice and orange rind in large pot. sprinkle on pectin and stir until dissolved. Bring to a rolling boil over high heat, stirring all the while and add sugar all at once. Keep stirring and cook until it has boiled for 1 minute. Take off of the heat and pour into sterilized bottles/jars. Secure lids and hot water bath for 5 minutes.

Tuesday Tattle - Fish n Chips. the search goes on

2010-04-20T05:54:00.000-07:00

What is it about men that they think if two is good 5 is better? We went to an Italian restaurant Saturday for an early dinner before my SIL's wedding reception. Great food, but as usual we ordered way too much. I had already eaten two large raviolis, a small portion of spaghetti, some salad and garlic bread when my hubby slips another ravioli on my plate. Sigh.....it was so good it was too hard to resist. He loves me and thinks I don't eat enough, which is not true. I don't have a super charged metabolism like he does so I can't eat like he does. He also measures food by man portions and forgets that women really can't eat as much.
So the challenge comes this weekend when we visit another fish and chips restaurant. The name is Hoppers. There are supposed to be other foods on the menu that aren't laden with heart stopping grease and enough calories to last you for a week. I don't see any but click on the name and see the menu and judge for yourself. From the looks of things I'm doomed! So I guess I will have to add an extra mile or two OR twenty to my work out routine......
I will be so glad when the men get off the fish and chips fad and start searching for the greatest grilled halibut or the best Salmon Caesar salad or something. Okay, probably not, huh?

Super Saturday!

2010-04-17T06:07:00.000-07:00

Today is a special day for us as we go in to Salt Lake City to see my husbands sister get married to her fiance. This has been a long day, but is a fairy tale story of love and patience. We are so happy for her and her soon to be new husband!

Make a Powerful Difference

2010-04-14T09:48:00.000-07:00

The Pine-Sol corporation is holding an essay contest called Powerful Difference in which the winner will get $10,000 for the charity or service organization of their choice. I found out about this through a contact in Martha Stewart's Dreamers Into Doers which helps promote small businesses. Terry Grahl founded Enchanted Make-overs, in which shelters for women and children are getting make overs including painting, new bedding and furniture, window treatments and more. If you've ever had to spend time in one, or visited one, the shelters, not by their own fault, can often be drab and dreary with sparse furnishings and stark walls, due to budget limitations. Through donors and volunteers, Enchanted Make-overs helps make these shelters havens of hope. For me this has special meaning as so many women will avoid these shelters because of the conditions. Let's help Terry make a powerful difference by casting a vote for her. Here's the link:

http://clorox.promo.eprize.com/powerfuldifferencecontest/

Look for Terry Grahl and cast your vote for her daily until the contest closes. Thank you for your help!

Emergency Preparedness Step 1- 72 hour kits

2010-04-12T09:21:00.000-07:00

In light of all the earthquakes that have happened already this year it got me thinking. It's really time to get our acts together. Coincidently I happened to pick up our county EP calendar and low and behold there was a great layout of plans and advice on being prepared in case of disaster. The first bit of advice they offer is to create a family distaster plan. Under that heading #1 on the list is to create a distaster supply kit with enough food, water and clothing to last at least 3 days. Include in that a first aide kit and medicines you regularly take. It is recommended that this kit be portable so the best way to approach this is to create a backpack, 5 gallon bucket kit, or some other portable set up so each member of the family can help carry if you need to leave your home for any reason. Here are a couple of links that can help you get started.
http://lds.about.com/od/preparednessfoodstorage/a/72hour_kit.htm
http://hubpages.com/hub/How-to-Make-a-72-Hour-Kit

I hope we can all get prepared as you never know what's coming and we will make it easier for the emergency responders to help those who aren't able to, such as the elderly and infirm.

A very articulate young man.......

2010-04-11T19:42:00.000-07:00

This young man is amazing in his outlook.

Be Still......and listen

2010-04-11T11:01:00.000-07:00

Something I really struggle with. I get up each morning on the run it seems, with scripture study, exercise, breakfast and lunch to get ready, laundry, ironing and so the list goes. It seems that the only time I can really "listen" is when I'm running or riding the exercise bike and then I'm not being still. So for today, I want to start taking the time"be still and listen" as that is when we can get the most inspiration from God.

Foodie Friday - Rosemary Citrus Chicken & Couscous Italian

2010-04-09T10:36:00.000-07:00

For me it's time to lighten up our dinners and try something different. So I pulled out some ingredients I had on hand and pulled together a dinner my husband says is a keeper. This is a great dinner for two for any occasion, but it would make a wonderful candlelight dinner.

ROSEMARY CITRUS CHICKEN WITH COUSCOUS ITALIAN
2 chicken breasts with rib meat attached, skinned
1 T. each butter and EV olive oil
3 cloves garlic, crushed
1 T. freshly grated orange rind
freshly grated rind of one lime
1/4 c. fresh rosemary, minced
1 t. Old Bay seasoning
1/2 t. coarse ground pepper,
1/2 orange cut in half. Section half, membrane removed
1 T. honey
3 green onions chopped
In a large frying pan place butter and oil. Heat to medium low and add garlic, citrus zest, rosemary and old bay seasoning. Cook for 30 seconds and add skinned chicken breasts and orange sections, turning heat up to medium. Over top drizzle honey and cover pan. After 10 minutes turn chicken over. Do this again every 10 minutes until chicken is done, about 30 minutes or until no longer pink in the center. If you like take the pan juices and pour in blender and puree. Use as sauce for the chicken and sprinkle green onions over all.

COUSCOUS ITALIAN
1 c. couscous
Juice from the other half of the orange and the zested lime plus enough water to equal 1 cup liquid
1 small zucchini, cubed
3/4 c. chopped onion
2 chicken bullion cubes
1 T each butter and EV olive oil
1 t. dried basil
1/2 t. course ground pepper
In a medium pot saute onion and Zucchini in butter and oil. Add liquid and bullion cubes and bring to a boil, making sure the bullion has dissolved. Take off of the burner and add the couscous and basil stirring to mix thoroughly. Cover and let sit for 5 minutes. Fluff with fork and serve with chicken and side salad. So yummy! If you like you can cut back on the oil and butter, but not much. Enjoy!

Square Foot Gardening

2010-04-09T09:42:00.000-07:00

Last year I tried out square foot gardening for the first time and I am sold! I built boxes, which you can see examples of in my July 2009 blog posts. I will get organized here and link all garden, cooking and so on posts so they are easy to find. Anyway, I laid down ground cover, which I will be putting a layer of mulch or gravel on around the boxes this year. My friend Helene used pvc pipe to make hoops to put netting over to keep pests such as deer out of the beds, so I did the same thing and it worked great. If you look closely you can sort of see them to the right of the house.

Here is how some of the plants were doing in July last year. I direct seeded a lot of my stuff. You can see basil, baby pac choi, carrots and so on. I was so thrilled with how everything grew!

Peas, lettuce and beans are some of the crops I planted. The beans didn't do as well as I like but hey there's always this year! I may try something different.

My broccoli and cauliflower went great guns! I really need to rethink which box I plant them in this year. I did them about 12 apart and that was a bit crowded, but hey they did well so maybe crowding was okay.
I would encourage anyone planning on gardening this year for the first time to look into Mel Bartholemew's square foot gardening. The link is to the right.

Straw Bale Gardening

2010-04-08T13:28:00.000-07:00

I have discovered a different way to garden that I thought I would share with you. It's straw bale gardening. Some of the benefits are space, no need for a lot of soil, weed free, and easy on your back. There are several links on the internet talking about this process, but from what I can gather you want to stay away from hay bales which are full of weed seeds and go for straw. If you don't have much room to garden and your soil is poor this might be just the ticket for you. I would love to try this but here in our area I might be hard pressed to find straw. I will be on the hunt though. Here's the link to Nichol's Nursery that I found most informative. Let me know if you give it a try and what your results are. Happy gardening!

Home remodeling tips on painting a room

2010-04-07T09:44:00.000-07:00

Home remodeling can be so satisfying but there are things to know if you are getting ready to paint. These are some tips I found while getting ready to paint some rooms in our Oregon home.
1.    Begin by washing down your walls with a soft cellulose sponge using warm water and a mild dish washing soap.
    2.    Use blue painter's tape to mask off any trim work in the room.
    3.    Apply primer to the walls in an even coat, and allow to dry completely.
    4.    Roll on the paint in a "W" shape (a new one for me), in a 3x3 foot section, never lifting the roller. Repeat over and over until that whole section is filled in with color. Allow the first coat to dry completely, then apply a second coat the same way.
    5.    Remove the painters tape and stand back to admire your work--streak free!!

free!!
Here's a tip for assuring you always get the right paint color if you have to repaint or touch up your room: slide the paint swatch with the name and formula behind your light switch to keep it safe.

Happy Birthday Blessed Loved Ones

2010-04-06T08:18:00.000-07:00

I know that in most religions Christmas is the official birthday of the Savior, but for the members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints it is today, April 6. Thank you dear Savior for being willing to come to earth and live as a mortal being in order to lead us back home. May we always remember the blessings we enjoy and show our gratitude by our actions.

Another birthday wish goes out to my mom, and my children's other grandma Evelyn. Though both have gone home to live in God's presence they are loved and remembered for their sweet, kind and gentle natures. We love you Moms!

Monday Muse..... Easter

2010-04-05T12:19:00.000-07:00

Easter has always been a challenge for me as we feel it should be even more important than Christmas. Christmas seems to have so many traditions wrapped around it, decorating, cards being sent, food and so on. Some people do the same with Easter to a certain extent, but I think the Easter bunny gets in the way sometimes of making Easter Sunday a sacred experience. We got around that when the kids were smaller by holding our Easter egg hunts on Saturday, but still you see as you go to church Easter Sunday, children too excited about their Easter baskets to really get into the real meaning of Easter.
So what is the real importance Easter has for us as Christians? The atonement, the opportunity to live with Heavenly Father again because the Savior was willing to sacrifice his life for us. So how do we celebrate this? At Christmas there are many caroles and songs that help keep the spirit of Christmas alive. Wouldn't it be nice if we had more Easter music? There are some lovely hymns, and even Handel's Messiah lends itself to Easter at least in part. Cards are something I rarely send at Easter, but what a great opportunity to share our testimony that we know that our Redeemer lives! So I have an Easter resolution to try and make Easter more meaningful. How do you celebrate Easter, and what do you do to make it more meaningful?
For those who don't celebrate Easter, but may celebrate Passover, I would love to hear about your family traditions! Please feel free to share your reasons for celebrating, and how you go about it.