Hobbies make me Happy

Apple Pie & Best Ever Pie Crust

2012-01-31T13:48:00.000-07:00

I never get to make apple pie because my husband does not enjoy warm apples, but this year I got to for Thanksgiving. I know, a little late, but here it is anyways. I absolutely LOVED this pie. The filling had just the right amount of sweetness and the crust I used was flaky and perfect. First attempt at making apple pie and it was 5★ all the way!

Apple Pie (based off this recipe from allrecipes.com)

Ingredients:

1/2 C. unsalted butter

3 Tbs. all-purpose flour

1/4 C. water

1/2 C. white sugar

1/2 C. brown sugar

dash of cinnamon

5 Granny Smith Apples- peeled, cored and sliced

1 recipe for a 9-inch double pie crust (see below)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Melt the butter in a saucepan. Stir in flour to form a paste. Add water, white sugar,brown sugar, and cinnamon and bring to a boil. Reduce temperature and let simmer.

2. Place the bottom crust in your pan. Reserve 1/4 C. liquid and set aside to brush on top of pie. Mix the remaining liquid with apples and pour into crust, mounded slightly. Cover with a lattice work crust. 3. Brush the reserved sugar and butter liquid over the crust.

4. Bake 15 minutes in the preheated oven. Reduce the temperature to 350° F (175 ° C). Continue baking for 35 to 45 minutes, until apples are soft.

Best Ever Pie Crust

Ingredients:

2 C. all- purpose flour

1 tsp salt

1 C. shortening

1/2 C. water

Directions:

1. In a large bowl, combine flour and salt. Cut in shortening until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in water until mixture forms a ball. Divide dough in half, and shape into balls. Wrap in plastic and refrigerate for 4 hours or overnight.

2. Roll out dough on a floured counter. Don't over work it. Use as directed in pie recipe.

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

2012-01-28T17:19:00.000-07:00

The description from Amazon.com:

"It’s just a small story really, about among other things: a girl, some words, an accordionist, some fanatical Germans, a Jewish fist-fighter, and quite a lot of thievery. . . .
Set during World War II in Germany, Markus Zusak’s groundbreaking new novel is the story of Liesel Meminger, a foster girl living outside of Munich. Liesel scratches out a meager existence for herself by stealing when she encounters something she can’t resist–books. With the help of her accordion-playing foster father, she learns to read and shares her stolen books with her neighbors during bombing raids as well as with the Jewish man hidden in her basement before he is marched to Dachau.
This is an unforgettable story about the ability of books to feed the soul."

MY REVIEW: Excellent book. Death is the narrator in this book, which I was a little reluctant to read. It was intriguing and very well written. You come to love the main character and feel for her. More adult themed because it does deal with death, but much more fascinating than other Holocaust era books I've read. It has tons of positive reviews on Amazon and I can see why.

The Help

2012-01-05T12:27:00.001-07:00

Here is the description from Barnes and Noble:
"Be prepared to meet three unforgettable women:

Twenty-two-year-old Skeeter has just returned home after graduating from Ole Miss. She may have a degree, but it is 1962, Mississippi, and her mother will not be happy till Skeeter has a ring on her finger. Skeeter would normally find solace with her beloved maid Constantine, the woman who raised her, but Constantine has disappeared and no one will tell Skeeter where she has gone.

Aibileen is a black maid, a wise, regal woman raising her seventeenth white child. Something has shifted inside her after the loss of her own son, who died while his bosses looked the other way. She is devoted to the little girl she looks after, though she knows both their hearts may be broken.

Minny, Aibileen's best friend, is short, fat, and perhaps the sassiest woman in Mississippi. She can cook like nobody's business, but she can't mind her tongue, so she's lost yet another job. Minny finally finds a position working for someone too new to town to know her reputation. But her new boss has secrets of her own.

Seemingly as different from one another as can be, these women will nonetheless come together for a clandestine project that will put them all at risk. And why? Because they are suffocating within the lines that define their town and their times. And sometimes lines are made to be crossed.

In pitch-perfect voices, Kathryn Stockett creates three extraordinary women whose determination to start a movement of their own forever changes a town, and the way women-mothers, daughters, caregivers, friends-view one another. A deeply moving novel filled with poignancy, humor, and hope, The Help is a timeless and universal story about the lines we abide by, and the ones we don't."

MY REVIEW: Possibly my new favorite book. Yes, it's that good. No, I have not seen the movie but I'm planning on it! Growing up in sheltered Utah, I haven't been exposed to much racism. It totally baffles me that such hatred has and still does exist.That said, I truly appreciate the insights of the author and her ability to write such a beautiful story.

I loved everything about this book. The story was intriguing, the characters were loveable, it tugged at your heartstrings, made you angry, and made you want to never put it down! Excellent read!

Ultimate Breakfast Casserole

2012-01-04T08:46:00.001-07:00

Sometimes, your just in the mood for breakfast for dinner. If your like me,splattering bacon, flipping pancakes,and scrambling eggs are too much work! This recipe for the Ultimate Breakfast Casserole was easy to put together and so filling! I would have this every week for breakfast or dinner. We had ample leftovers with our family of 3. Everybody loved it and couldn't wait for the leftovers. I was a little shocked something that a simple as a breakfast casserole could evoke suck emotions, but it did! Even my little toddler shoveled this as fast as he could.

Ultimate Breakfast Casserole (adapted from allrecipes.com)

Ingredients:

3 eggs, beaten
1 pinch ground black pepper
1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed cream of mushroom soup
16 ounces sour cream
1 (2 pound) package frozen hash brown potatoes, thawed
2 cups cooked ham, cubed
1/2 onion, chopped
3/4 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
1/4 cup butter, melted

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.
Season beaten eggs with pepper; pour into baking dish. In a large bowl, combine soup, sour cream, hash browns, ham, onion and cheese. Stir egg and soup mixture together and pour into baking dish.
Bake uncovered for 30 minutes. Remove and drizzle butter over top of casserole. Return to oven and bake for an additional 15 minutes, until golden.

My little bug was happy with HAPPY with this recipe!

Candy Cane Christmas Tree Skirt

2011-12-19T15:57:00.000-07:00

I looked for a Christmas tree skirt for years that would go with my gingerbread/candy themed Christmas tree. I was overjoyed when my sister pulled out her (almost) finished tree skirt and declared she did not want it anymore. It was perfect for me! I just sewed on the red trimming and it was finished.(Don't ask me how to do the rest because I don't know) We've enjoyed having such a cute skirt this year!

JINGLE ALL THE WAY Shadow box

2011-12-13T22:41:00.001-07:00

Another Pinterest project complete! My sister spotted this shadow box at the D.I. and knew it would be perfect for this project.

So here's what I did:

Spray painted shadow box black

Picked out Christmas paper and glued it to the back wall of the shadow box

Found jingle bells that fit the shadow box (at the D.I. also) and put them into the shadow box

Cut vinyl saying out with the Cricut machine

Tied ribbon around the frame and added a bow on top.

It make me happy!

M&M Hershey Pretzel Snacks

2011-12-06T11:40:00.001-07:00

I absolutely love Christmas time and all the food that goes with it. These super easy snacks caught my attention and scream "Christmas" to me. I saw the idea on pinterest and had to make them. They were aesthetically pleasing as well and tasty. Big thumbs up for me!

M&M Hershey Pretzel Snacks
Preheat oven to 275°F.Line pretzels on baking sheet and place a single Hershey Kiss on top of each pretzel. Bake in oven for 3 minutes. Remove and immediately press in a single M&M into the center of each Kiss. Let cool and harden before serving.

Give Thanks!

2011-12-06T10:45:00.001-07:00

Even though I am late posting this, I was able to enjoy my Give Thanks blocks through the Thanksgiving holiday. The process was identical to my BEWARE blocks, just different paper and I painted the blocks brown instead. I am very happy with the end result!

Crab Quiche

2011-10-26T15:42:00.000-06:00

At my house, you have two choices for breakfast. Cereal or............. Cereal. There are several reasons for this, but the two most important are 1. That's what I grew up on and 2. I am NOT a morning person.

I am trying to change. I have realized that cereal does not keep my belly full until lunch. I need more substance. This recipe has been in my recipe box on allrecipes.com for some time and boy was my husband glad it came into our food rotation. We *almost* ate the whole thing by ourselves. We showed some restraint and saved some for lunch the next day. I still like my brunch quiche a little better because it has mushrooms but this is fabulous too.

I think most people are intimated by quiches but this was so simple- mix and bake. I baked mine for the full 45 minutes until it was browned and a knife came out clean. You should try it!

Crab Quiche I

INGREDIENTS:

1/2 cup mayonnaise
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 eggs, beaten (I used 3 medium)
1/2 cup milk
1 cup crab meat (I used imitation crab)
1 cup diced Swiss cheese
1/2 cup chopped green onions
1 (9 inch) unbaked pie crust

DIRECTIONS:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. In a medium bowl, beat together eggs, mayonnaise, flour, and milk until thoroughly blended. Stir in crab, cheese, and onion. Spread into pie shell.
3. Bake for 40 to 45 minutes, or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean.

BEWARE SIGN!!!

2011-10-21T13:51:00.000-06:00

Seriously, my new addiction is Pinterest. It's a non-creative person's (like me) DREAM COME TRUE! There are so many inspirational ideas. I originally got this inspiration from this pin.

To start off with, I cut 2X4s and 2X6s to different lengths and played around with them until I liked the look of them. After sanding them, paint the blocks black. (After painting-I also sanded them a little around the edges to make them look worn.) I picked out Halloween paper and cut it to the block sizes. I mod podged the paper onto the blocks, added a coat on the top, smoothed out the paper, and let it dry. After it was dry, I just cut out vinyl on a Cricut machine and slapped them on the blocks.

Since we had most of the stuff on hand, it only cost me like $4 for the paint and paper. We also made our own mod podge by mixing 50/50 elmer's glue and water and it worked well.

I LOVE the way the turned out. Happy Halloween!

Loaded Baked Potato Soup

2011-10-09T17:18:00.006-06:00

With the weather taking a turn for the worst *sigh* I thought it was time to bust out this soup recipe I found from Real Mom Kitchen.

Mmmmm..... thick and creamy with cheesy goodness. Not to meantion the crisp bacon and perfect touch of green onion! Such a beautiful combination of potato soup and a loaded baked potato. This comfort soup does its job nicely. Now I want to bunker down for the winter while eating a delicious bowl of this soup!

Loaded Baked Potato Soup

4 lg. baking potatoes (I had 8 small to medium leftover baked potatoes that I used)

2/3 C butter

2/3 C flour

1 tsp salt

1/4 tsp pepper

6 C milk (I used whole)

1 C sour cream

4 thinly sliced green onions

10 bacon strips, cooked and crumbled

1 C shredded cheddar cheese

Scrub potatoes, pat dry & cover with foil. Bake for 75 minutes at 350 or until tender; cool completely.(Or use leftover potatoes from another meal)
Peel and cube potatoes.
In a large pot melt the butter, stir in flour, salt and pepper until smooth. Use a whisk to make sure any lumps from the flour are smoothed out.
Gradually add milk a 2 cups at a time. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for a couple minutes or until thickened.
Reduce heat to medium-low. Add cubed potatoes. Heat until warm. Mix in sour cream.
Garnish with bacon, cheese, and green onions. Yield 8 servings.

Bake Garlic Mashed Potatoes

2011-08-22T16:34:00.000-06:00

Mashed potatoes are my absolute favorite food! Hot, cold, with gravy, or without- I could eat them everyday! Most days I'm lazy and don't want to make a gravy to go with them so I'm always on the lookout for a delicious way to prepare them without having to go through the work of making gravy. I came upon a wonderful recipe for Bake Garlic Mashed Potatoes at Mel's Kitchen Cafe.

WOW! Just WOW! Creamy, smooth, and amazing. Not light in calories but that's OK with me. You have definately got to try this recipe.

Bake Garlic Mashed Potatoes
*Serves 6
Ingredients:
5 pounds russet, red or yukon gold potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes
8 ounces light or regular cream cheese
3-4 green onions, chopped
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
4 tablespoons butter
1 cup whipping cream

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Lightly grease a 9X9-inch baking dish and set aside.
Place the cut potatoes in a large pot and cover with water by one inch. Add 1 teaspoon salt and boil the potatoes for about 10 minutes or until they are tender.
Drain the potatoes and return them to the pot. Mash them a few times and add the rest of the ingredients. Mash and mix well to desired consistency. Scoop the potatoes into the prepared baking pan. Dot with 1-2 tablespoons butter. Bake for 20-25 minutes until the potatoes are lightly browned on top and heated through.

Here are my results:

Matched by Ally Condie

2011-07-14T17:19:00.000-06:00

The description as found from Amazon.com:

In a story that is at once evocative of Lois Lowry's The Giver (Houghton, 1993), George Orwell's 1984, and Aldous Huxley's Brave New World, Condie introduces readers to the “perfect” Society. Cassia Reyes is a model student, daughter, and citizen. How could she not be when the Society has everything planned and functioning perfectly? All of her needs are met: food, shelter, education, career training, and even her future husband are selected by officials who know what is best for each individual by studying statistical data and probable odds. She even knows when she will die, on her 80th birthday, just as the Society dictates. At her Match Banquet she is paired with Xander, her best friend and certainly her soul mate. But when a computer error shows her the face of Ky, an Aberration, instead of Xander, cracks begin to appear in the Society's facade of perfection. A series of events also shakes her dedication to Xander and puts her future in jeopardy. Cassia exhibits some characteristics of Winston Smith and Lenina Crowne in her silent rebellion against societal control and in her illicit friendship with Ky but ultimately, and more satisfyingly, she is more like Lowry's Jonas. Her awakening and development are realistically portrayed, and supporting characters like Cassia's parents and her grandfather add depth to the story. The biggest flaw is that the story is not finished. Fans of the Giver will devour this book and impatiently demand the next installment.

MY REVIEW: Loved it. Of course, The Giver is one of my favorite books so it's no wonder I loved this one. There are a lot of similarities but I just love books that make you think. I usually don't read books in a series until the whole series comes out, but I went ahead with this one and now am playing the waiting game until the next one comes out. Can't wait!

White Bean Tuna Salad

2011-06-10T16:47:00.000-06:00

Sorry I haven't posted in so long. My husband got laid off from his job three weeks ago and I kind of was in a tail-spin. Blogging has been the last thing on my mind. I am so grateful for family members and my church to give us reassurance and knowing they are there if we need anything. We have been doing good, but have a very limited budget for food so........... I've been trying out some food storage meals lately and it's been going great!

I know I post a lot of recipes from Mel's Kichen Cafe, but she's so awesome! I love her and when I found this simple recipe for a light tuna salad, AND I had all the ingredients on hand, I had to try it. Boy, am I glad I did! Such a delicate, light salad that mixes so well with crunch, crisp lettuce. I gobbled it all up.

White Bean Tuna Salad
by Mel's Kitchen Cafe

Ingredients:
½ cup chopped red onions
The zest and juice of 1 lemon
2 (5 or 6-ounce each) cans of tuna (I prefer albacore tuna packed in water)
2 (15-ounce each) cans of Great Northern beans, rinsed and drained
1/2 cup chopped fresh flat leaf parsley
A few splashes of Tabasco sauce or other hot sauce
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Salt and olive oil to taste

Directions:
In a small bowl, sprinkle some of the lemon juice over the chopped onions while you prepare the other ingredients. This will take some of the oniony edge off the onions.
Drain the tuna and put it into a large bowl. Add the beans to the tuna and gently stir to combine. Add the onions, parsley, black pepper, lemon zest and lemon juice and mix to combine. Add Tabasco or hot sauce to taste. If the salad needs more acid, add a little more lemon juice. If the salad seems a little dry, add a little bit of olive oil. Add salt to taste.
Serve chilled or at room temperature. The salad develops great flavor if tightly covered and refrigerated for a couple hours, or up to a day, before serving. Serve with crackers, lightly toasted bread, lettuce cups/leaves, fresh vegetables, etc.

Here are my results:

Uglies by Scott Westerfeld

2011-05-09T16:30:00.000-06:00

Here is the description from Amazon.com:
"Tally Youngblood lives in a futuristic society that acculturates its citizens to believe that they are ugly until age 16 when they'll undergo an operation that will change them into pleasure-seeking "pretties." Anticipating this happy transformation, Tally meets Shay, another female ugly, who shares her enjoyment of hoverboarding and risky pranks. But Shay also disdains the false values and programmed conformity of the society and urges Tally to defect with her to the Smoke, a distant settlement of simple-living conscientious objectors. Tally declines, yet when Shay is found missing by the authorities, Tally is coerced by the cruel Dr. Cable to find her and her compatriots–or remain forever "ugly." Tally's adventuresome spirit helps her locate Shay and the Smoke. It also attracts the eye of David, the aptly named youthful rebel leader to whose attentions Tally warms. However, she knows she is living a lie, for she is a spy who wears an eye-activated locator pendant that threatens to blow the rebels' cover. Ethical concerns will provide a good source of discussion as honesty, justice, and free will are all oppressed in this well-conceived dystopia. Characterization, which flirts so openly with the importance of teen self-concept, is strong, and although lengthy, the novel is highly readable with a convincing plot that incorporates futuristic technologies and a disturbing commentary on our current public policies. Fortunately, the cliff-hanger ending promises a sequel."

MY REVIEW: I have read a lot of people compare this book to "The Giver" and I can see that. The government controls everything, even making them take pills and telling them what they should be. The Giver is my favorite book so it's no wonder I loved this one. I think everybody wishes they could change something about themselves in order to look prettier. This is only book one of a four part series and I can't wait to get my hands on the next one!

Swiss Chicken Casserole

2011-05-03T10:48:00.002-06:00

This cheesy chicken entree screams comfort food! Moist chicken topped with tangy Swiss cheese, creamy soup mixture and divine savory herb stuffing. This main dish satisfies everybody.

My in-laws are hysterical. I serve up anything gourmet and they thank me politely. I serve up something baked in good ole' cream-of-chicken and they sing my praises and ask for the recipe. This recipe wowed them. Hubby and I are the ones who ultimately decide what the rating is though and even we were impressed at this comfort food recipe. We give this 4★.

Swiss Chicken Casserole (adapted from allrecipes.com)

Ingredients:

6 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves

6 slices Swiss cheese

1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed cream of chicken soup

1/4 cup milk

1 package Stove Top Stuffing (savory herb flavor strongly suggested)

(You will need some extra butter and water for the stuffing preparation according to package directions)

2 Tbs melted butter

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.

2. Prepare Stove Top Stuffing according to package directions using the microwave.

2.While stuffing is being microwaved, arrange chicken breasts in the baking dish. Place one slice of Swiss cheese on top of each chicken breast. Combine cream of chicken soup and milk in a medium bowl, and pour over chicken breasts. Sprinkle with prepared stuffing. Pour melted butter over top, and cover with foil.

3. Bake 35 minutes covered, uncover and bake an additional 15 minutes, or until chicken is no longer pink and juices run clear.

Mother's Day Giveaway links!

2011-05-03T10:25:00.001-06:00

This will be my first Mother's Day as a Mom! Yay!! There are some FABULOUS giveaways going on right now in celebration (not because I am a mom but because of Mother's Day in general). I LOVE local giveaways even better because these bloggers are so personable and kind and you have a better chance to win. (Honestly, what are the chances of winning the Pioneer Woman's giveaways? Slim to none!) Check out these fabulous givaways going on right now:

Cranberryfries is giving away a signed copy of Chocolate Never Faileth Cookbook. I love Debbie and her contests.

Make it Work Mom is giving away a 60 minute complete pedicure with opi nail polish at Sanctuary Day Spa in Salt Lake City. What mother doesn't need some relaxation time?

I'll update the list if I find any more!

Toasted Orzo with Peas and Parmesan

2011-04-27T16:13:00.003-06:00

First recipes that makes the list on Perfect Dinner Project is Toasted Orzo with Peas and Parmesan. This recipe comes from Mel's Kitchen Cafe. She has a ton of great recipes on her site and this one will not be the last one I promise. I made this as a vegetarian main course and it was so creamy and yummy!

Toasted Orzo with Peas and Parmesan
Serves 4-6 (as a side dish)

*Be careful when adding the broth to the pan, because it will create a lot of steam.
2 tablespoons butter
1 small onion, minced
3/4 teaspoon salt
2 medium garlic cloves, minced
1 ¼ cups orzo
2 1/2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
1 cup frozen peas, thawed
1 ounce Parmesan cheese, grated (about 1 cup)
2 tablespoons fresh minced parsley leaves
Ground black pepper
1 lemon, cut into wedges, for serving (optional)
Melt the butter in a 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and ¾ teaspoon salt and cook, stirring often, until softened, 5 to 7 minutes. Stir in the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Stir in the orzo and cook, stirring often, until most of the grains are golden, about 5 minutes. Carefully stir in the broth and bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer, stirring occasionally until all of the liquid has been absorbed and the orzo is tender, 10 to 12 minutes. (Be careful not to cook at too high of heat at this point because the liquid will evaporate instead of cook the orzo and you’ll be left with undercooked pasta.)
Off the heat, stir in the peas, Parmesan, and parsley and let sit until the peas are warmed through, about 2 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste and serve with the lemon wedges.
Recipe Source: adapted from Cook’s Illustrated Best Skillet Recipes

Here are my results:

MY NEW BLOG!

2011-04-27T15:51:00.001-06:00

I just started a new blog. I'm crazy. It's called Perfect Dinner Project and you can find it here: perfectdinnerproject.blogspot.com. It's only for my recipes. I'll still post them on this blog too, but only my best recipes that make the list will go on Perfect Dinner Project. Just an FYI!

My Rating System

2011-04-27T04:39:00.012-06:00

I've had this system in place for a while but am trying to incorporate them into my blog. I haven't got all of them labeled but hopefully I will soon. This way you know what I think of them more clearly.

5★ = Absolute Perfection! If this recipe was on a restaurant menu, I would order it EVERY SINGLE TIME, it's that good! Other people rave about it every time I make it and always ask for the recipe.

4½ ★= Almost perfection. There is probably nothing I could do to make it a 5★ recipe but it comes pretty close. On a restaurant menu I would order it often, but not every time because I like variety. People still rave about it and will probably ask for the recipe.

4★= Really good. Everybody likes it and it tastes great!

3½ ★= Good but just not good enough to go on the PDP list.

3★= Just OK. Some people will like it and some people won't. Bland. Would make if in a dire pinch and had the ingredients on hand. Before I became a foodie, I would say most of my recipes fell into this category. Nothing to be ashamed about just OK food happens.

2★= Edible but we didn't like it. Won't make it again

1★= I'm sorry I even made this recipe. I will NEVER make it again and it will probably go into the trash.

Easy Grape Salad

2011-04-25T12:55:00.001-06:00

I brought this to my family's Easter Party yesterday. I kind of feel bad even putting this on my blog because it was just an OK recipe. Nobody asked for the recipe, but it was all gone when we went home. I didn't get a picture, but if you click on the link, you'll see the pics other people have taken at allrecipes.com. It was REALLY EASY like the title said. Whipped it together in about 7 minutes.

Easy Grape Salad

Ingredients:

1 pound seedless green grapes

1 pound seedless red grapes

1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese,softened

1 (7 ounce) jar marshmallow creme

1 (6 ounce) package slivered almonds

Directions:

1.Wash grapes in a colander under running water, and remove all stems. Place in a large bowl.

2. In a separate bowl, stir together the cream cheese and marshmallow creme until smooth and creamy. Pour the mixture over the grapes. Using a rubber spatula or large serving spoon, fold the mixture into the grapes until well coated. Fold in the almonds.

3.This salad may be served immediately, or covered and refrigerated for 1 hour to set slightly, and to allow flavors to blend.

Princess Academy

2011-04-19T14:43:00.000-06:00

Princess Academy by Shannon Hale description from Amazon.com: "The thought of being a princess never occurred to the girls living on Mount Eskel. Most plan to work in the quarry like the generations before them. When it is announced that the prince will choose a bride from their village, 14-year-old Miri, who thinks she is being kept from working in the quarry because of her small stature, believes that this is her opportunity to prove her worth to her father. All eligible females are sent off to attend a special academy where they face many challenges and hardships as they are forced to adapt to the cultured life of a lowlander. First, strict Tutor Olana denies a visit home. Then, they are cut off from their village by heavy winter snowstorms. As their isolation increases, competition builds among them. The story is much like the mountains, with plenty of suspenseful moments that peak and fall, building into the next intense event. Miri discovers much about herself, including a special talent called quarry speak, a silent way to communicate. She uses this ability in many ways, most importantly to save herself and the other girls from harm. Each girl's story is brought to a satisfying conclusion, but this is not a fluffy, predictable fairy tale, even though it has wonderful moments of humor. Instead, Hale weaves an intricate, multilayered story about families, relationships, education, and the place we call home."

MY REVIEW: I love Shannon Hale. Her books are always a joy to read. This book is labeled for grades 5-9 but my friend Debbie from cranberryfries.blogspot.com had read it and I decided to give it a go. It's obviously written for a younger crowd, but it was still a fun read anyways. It's always exciting to read about princess stories that take you back to your youth. This would be a great book to read at bedtime with little ones as the chapters are relatively short and entertaining.

Spring Rolls

2011-04-16T16:30:00.009-06:00

This recipe came from Studio 5. I saw these and thought they looked amazingly cool. I had never worked with rice wrappers before and they were awesome. Hubby thought they were weird because of the texture and they were see-through. I would recommend the video to see how they were put together. The rice wrappers are hard at first, slightly soften after dipped in water and then really pliable once the the roll is ready to be wrapped up.

*I made this recipe with spinach and basil and we didn't like it. I think the basil is too strong and would recommend cilantro and probably a leafy romaine lettuce. The canned shrimp was a little weird too, diced chicken would be better. ( I know a lot of changes but I think it could be great with those changes)

Spring Rolls

Ingredients:
1 (8 ounce) package rice vermicelli
8 ounces cooked, peeled shrimp, cut in half lengthwise (Or chicken)
8 rice wrappers (6.5 inch diameter)
(They are round disks that have a basket weave texture on them. You can find them just about anywhere.)
1 carrot, julienned
1 cup shredded lettuce chopped Napa Cabbage or purple cabbage
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil or mint or cilantro

Directions: Bring a medium saucepan of water to boil. Remove from heat. Place rice vermicelli in boiling water, remove from heat, and let soak 3 to 5 minutes, until soft. Drain, and rinse with cold water. Fill a large bowl with hot water. Dip one rice wrapper in the hot water for 5-10 seconds to soften. You don't want them too soft. They'll be totally soft by the time it is ready to roll up. Lay wrapper flat, and place desired amounts of noodles, shrimp, carrot, lettuce and basil in the center. Roll the edges of the wrapper slightly inward. Beginning at the bottom edge of wrapper, tightly wrap the ingredients. Repeat with remaining ingredients. Serve the spring rolls with dipping sauce.

Here are the results:

At least they turned out pretty!

Linking up here:

Beefy Cheesy Pasta

2011-04-15T10:43:00.001-06:00

When I don't have much on hand, this is my go-to recipe. Simple and surprisingly delicious!

Beefy Cheesy Pasta

Ingredients:

1/2 pound lean ground beef

1 onion, diced

1/4 cup soy sauce

1 clove garlic, minced

5 cups rotelle (spiral) pasta

1/4 cup milk

1 tablespoon butter

5 slices processed American cheese (This works but I usually used grated cheddar)

Directions:

1. In a large skillet over medium heat, cook beef, onion, soy sauce and garlic until beef is brown and juices run clear.

2.While beef is cooking, bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain.

3. Return cooked pasta to its pot over low heat; stir in milk and butter. Stir in beef mixture until well combined. Stir in cheese slices, one at a time, until melted. Serve at once.

Here are my results:

Paranormalcy

2011-04-15T09:55:00.000-06:00

The description from Amazon.com:
"This clever, must-have debut focuses on sassy Evie, 16, who calls the International Paranormal Containment Agency home. Armed with her unique ability to see through all paranormal “glamours” and her trusty pink taser, Evie bags, tags, and helps IPCA track and contain a variety of familiar creatures. Despite her unconventional life (no origin story, mermaid best friend, werewolf colleagues, etc.), she considers herself to be pretty normal–until shape-shifting elemental and extremely cute Lend breaks into IPCA looking for answers and ironically becomes one of the agency's latest puzzles. The more pressing concern: Who's been murdering paranormals? Lend's arrival; fae ex-boyfriend's (literally) hot, increasingly threatening advances; unsettling dreams; and a well-planned attack on the agency force Evie to face surprising revelations about IPCA and herself. White's storytelling successfully balances the fun and the sinister. There's an interesting mix of magic and technology. The pace is brisk with plenty of action. White's faeries (not vamps) are the beautiful and manipulative paranormals to watch out for, a refreshing change for some readers. Characterization is consistent, though Evie is the most fleshed out. A perfect blend of normal/supernatural, she simultaneously doubts her genetic makeup while yearning for and worrying about typical teenage concerns."

MY REVIEW: Loved it. I know there are a lot of books about vampires and werewolves out there and this was a nice shift from the normal (does contain them but in very minor parts). The plot was intriguing and always left me wanting to go on to the next chapter. Very entertaining.

Spring Crafts

2011-04-12T12:31:00.001-06:00

Spring is here! I always get Spring fever and I've been trying out some new crafts.

First up... Birdie Wall Art from simplykellyb.blogspot.com

This was a simple craft I made from supplies I had on hand. It just takes an hour or two from start to finish. Cutting everything out is the most time consuming part.

It's 3-D so I took another picture to show that aspect:

The originals are much more modern and I'm somewhat a traditionalist so mine turned out way different but I enjoyed making them! All the patterns are on the site and they are FREE!

Next up, Spring Chick Block!

I LOVE LITTLE CHICK! I went to a crafting social with my sister and they were doing these chicks. They are wood blocks painted and sanded with the feathers glued on. They got the kits from this Etsy shop and they were so fun to put together. I love this type of craft because other people are so creative, I just let them do the creative part and then I assemble it and I'm a happy camper! Cost for this craft is $4 plus shipping.

Marshmallow Fondant

2011-04-07T11:14:00.003-06:00

My little boy has his first birthday coming up in June and I just can't believe it! My little baby is turning 1!!! My very talented friend Debbie is holding a cake contest over at her blog cranberryfries.blogspot.com and it gave me the perfect opportunity to try out my (nonexistent) cake decorating skills out. Click on the above link to check out all the entries and vote!

It was SUPER easy to make this fondant. I have heard regular fondant is very difficult and fickle to make. NOT the case with this fondant. One person described it as adult play-dough and I have to agree. If cake decorating is not your thing, I think you'll be pleasantly surprised by this fondant.

BIG NOTE: I GREASED MY BOSCH BOWL AND BREAD DOUGH HOOK AND DID ALL THE MIXING IN MY MIXER AND IT WAS SUPER EASY!

Marshmallow Fondant

Ingredients:
1/4 cup Crisco
1 (16 ounce) package miniature
marshmallows
4 tablespoons water
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 pounds confectioners' sugar, divided

Directions:
1. Place the Crisco in a shallow bowl, and set aside.

2.Place the marshmallows in a large microwave-safe bowl, and microwave on High for 30 seconds to 1 minute to start melting the marshmallows. Carefully stir the water and vanilla extract into the hot marshmallows, and stir until the mixture is smooth. Slowly beat in the confectioners' sugar, a cup at a time, until you have a sticky dough. Reserve 1 cup of powdered sugar for kneading. The dough will be very stiff.

3.Rub your hands thoroughly with Crisco, and begin kneading the sticky dough. As you knead, the dough will become workable and pliable. Turn the dough out onto a working surface dusted with confectioners' sugar and continue kneading until the fondant is smooth and no longer sticky to the touch, 5 to 10 minutes.

4.Form the fondant into a ball, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap, and refrigerate overnight. To use, allow the fondant to come to room temperature, and roll it out onto a flat surface that has Crisco smeared on it.(I SKIPPED THE REFRIDGERATION STEP AND MINE WAS JUST FINE)

I decided to pattern mine after the classic book Green Eggs and Ham.
Here are the results:

Linking up here:

Rice Pilaf

2011-03-30T15:44:00.001-06:00

Rice-a-Roni is my good friend. Whenever I need a rice side dish, most of the time it's Rice-a-Roni that gets served. Obviously I love to try new things so making pilaf from scratch was on that list. Here's I recipe I adapted from my Food Nanny Cookbook:

Rice Pilaf
Ingredients

2 TBS unsalted butter
1/2 small yellow onion, finely chopped
3 to 4 medium garlic cloves, minced
1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1 1/4 C long-grain white rice
2 1/2 C chicken broth

Directions

Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion, garlic, salt, and pepper. Stir until the onion is soft but not brown. Stir in the rice until it is well-coated. Add the broth and bring to a boil.
Cover, decrease the heat, and simmer until the rice is tender and teh liquid is absorbed, 15 to 20 minutes.

It was good but I don't know if it's worth the effort for a side dish. I usually like to spend most of the time on the main course and then just do quick things for the sides. Anyways, here are my results:

Mockingjay

2011-03-22T13:36:00.000-06:00

Here's the description from Amazon.com:
"Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has survived the Hunger Games twice. But now that she's made it out of the bloody arena alive, she's still not safe. The Capitol is angry. The Capitol wants revenge. Who do they think should pay for the unrest? Katniss. And what's worse, President Snow has made it clear that no one else is safe either. Not Katniss's family, not her friends, not the people of District 12. Powerful and haunting, this thrilling final installment of Suzanne Collins's groundbreaking The Hunger Games trilogy promises to be one of the most talked about books of the year."

MY REVIEW: This book was different from it's predecessors. It was still captivating, but much faster paced. It was so shocking, but did not give you time to get over the shock and just moved right along to another surprise. I liked it mostly. With the subjects in which the book deals with, you are never going to be completely happy with any ending. Overall, a great series that is totally captivating, gruesome, but captivating.

Free ADORABLE St.Patrick's Day Printable

2011-03-15T10:48:00.001-06:00

It's almost St.Patrick's Day and once again, I don't have any decorations. I found this absolutely adorable free printable over here at Funky Polka-dot Giraffe.

I just printed out the 8x10 size on photo paper and went to the dollar store and picked out a frame. I love it because it really does look like buttons (even fooled my husband. "Uh, where did you get all those colored buttons?").

Happy St.Patrick's Day!

Rainbow Cupcakes

2011-03-09T21:04:00.005-07:00

This would be a great idea for St.Patrick's Day if you did the whole rainbow. I made these cupcakes for Mardi Gras yesterday and they turned out super cute. The easiest recipe I found was from the Family Fun website.

RAINBOW CUPCAKES

Ingredients

White cake mix
Food coloring (red, blue, green, and yellow)

Baking cups
Whipped cream (optional)

Instructions

Prepare your favorite white cake mix according to instructions on box, then divide the batter evenly among six small bowls. Following the chart below, dye each bowl of batter a rainbow color.

RAINBOW COLOR DROPS OF FOOD COLORING
Purple 9 red and 6 blue drops
Blue 12 drops
Green 12 drops
Yellow 12 drops
Orange 12 yellow and 4 red drops
Red 18 drops
Line 16 muffin pan wells with baking cups. Evenly distribute the purple batter among the cups, then the blue, and so on, following the order shown. As you go, gently spread each layer of batter with the back of a spoon to cover the color underneath.
Bake the cupcakes according to your recipe directions. Before serving, remove wrapper.

DRINKS ALL AROUND!

2011-03-02T17:46:00.000-07:00

We don't drink alcohol at our house, but that doesn't mean you can't whip up a cool non-alcohol drink for fun once in a while. The past few days I've been experimenting with new drinks for this yucky time of year. Here are a few we tried:

First up:
Hailey's Smoothie - not my favorite but I think with the changes I mention, it would be worth trying.

Ingredients:
3 kiwis, peeled and chopped
2 frozen bananas, peeled and chopped
1 cup blueberries
1 cup plain yogurt (I would use vanilla)
1 1/2 cups crushed ice
3 tablespoons honey
1/4 teaspoon almond extract (I would omit or use vanilla instead)

Directions:

In a blender, combine the kiwis, frozen bananas, blueberries, yogurt, crushed ice, honey and almond extract. Blend until smooth.

picture:

Next up:
Shirley Temple II - We liked this one OK. It was pretty cool looking and tasted good.

Ingredients :
1/2 cup orange juice
1/2 cup lemon-lime flavored carbonated beverage
1 tablespoon grenadine syrup
1 maraschino cherry

Directions
In a tall glass, combine orange juice and lemon-lime soda. Pour grenadine in and let it sink to the bottom. Garnish with a maraschino cherry and a straw for stirring.

pic:

Next up:
Cherry Banana Smoothie (adapted from this recipe)~ Overall we like this one, not a Jamba Juice by any means but good.

Ingredients:
1 cup frozen, pitted cherries
1 banana, cut in chunks
1/2 lemon, juiced
1/2 cup vanilla yogurt
1/4 tsp vanilla extract
water to thin to desired consistency

Directions:
Place the cherries, banana, lemon juice, yogurt, and vanilla extract into a blender. Cover, and puree, adding little bits of water until smooth. Pour into glasses to serve.

pic:

Last but not least:

Ogre Drink ~(we renamed this one- get original name here) This one tasted most like (what I would imagine) a cocktail to drink. Sweet and sour. Kids LOVED this one and I thought it was pretty good too.

Ingredients:
1 (6 ounce) can frozen limeade concentrate
1 cup diet cola flavored carbonated beverage (we used caffeine-free Coke)
1 cup orange juice
1 cup water
10 cubes ice

Directions
Combine the limeade concentrate, carbonated beverage, orange juice, water and ice in the container of a blender. Cover, and blend until slushy. If you want to add liquor, add it last, and just blend for a few seconds more.

Sorry no pic. The reason we renamed it (besides it's original name was inappropriate for children) was because it looked brown and not very appetizing. BUT it was yummy!

Coconut Tres Leches Cake

2011-02-26T13:36:00.000-07:00

One of my very favorite new blogs I discovered for cooking is Mel's Kitchen Cafe. Her recipes amaze me and she finds the best of the best. I found this little gem while browsing her wonderful collection. I just had to try it. Overall, I'd say that I really liked it, not loved it, but it was still yummy.

Coconut Tres Leches Cake
*Serves 12-16

Cake:
Yellow Cake mix (made according to box's directions)

Milk Syrup:
1 can (15 ounces) cream of coconut (Find this in the drink mixers section)
1 can (12 ounces) evaporated milk
1 cup heavy whipping cream
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Garnishes:
2 medium-size ripe bananas
Sweetened cream (see instructions below)
1 cup sweetened flaked coconut, toasted (spread on a rimmed baking sheet and bake it at 350 degrees until golden brown, 7 minutes, or toast it in a skillet over medium-low heat on the stovetop)

Directions:

     Place a rack in the center of the oven and preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Lightly spray a 9X13-inch baking dish with cooking spray. Set the baking dish aside. Place the make-ahead cake mix, 1 1/4 cups warm water and 2 large room-temperature eggs in a large bowl and beat with an electric mixer until the mixture is smooth, about 2 minutes (if using another cake mix or recipe, bake according to box or recipe instructions). Scrape the batter into the prepared pan. Bake the cake until it is lightly golden and is slightly pulling away from the edges, 30-34 minutes. Remove the cake from the oven and place it on a wire rack to cool completely, 1 hour.
     Meanwhile, make the milk syrup: in a blender, combine the cream of coconut, evaporated milk, cream, and vanilla and process until smooth.
     Pierce the cooled cake all over the top with the tines of a fork or a thin wooden skewer. We are talking all over! The more pokes, the more the syrup will soak into the cake. Using a large spoon or ladle, spoon some of the milk syrup over the cake. Let the syrup soak into the cake, then continue spooning the syrup on top until all of it has been used up. When you have finished, not all of the syrup will be completely absorbed and might be pooling on the top but that’s ok because it will absorb as it refrigerates. Cover the cake loosely with plastic wrap and refrigerate until all of the syrup is absorbed, 2 hours. Cut the bananas, if using crosswise into ¼-inch slices. Slice the cake and serve it with sliced bananas, sweetened cream and toasted coconut, if desired.

Sweetened Cream:
Pour 1 cup heavy whipping cream into a large (preferably chilled) glass bowl and beat it on high speed until thickened 1 ½ minutes. Stop the machine and add ¼ cup confectioners’ sugar and ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract. Beat on high speed until stiff peaks form, 1 to 2 minutes longer. Makes 2 cups.

I am a child of God baby gift

2011-02-22T17:17:00.001-07:00

It seems like there's been an unusually large number of my friends that are having babies lately. I always want to get them the cutest baby gifts, but that usually means paying an arm and a leg (which I do not have any to spare). Fortunately, I came across this super cute, personalized baby gift that I thought was adorable and made one for my friend. It's pretty self explanatory. Here's my version of it:

As for the details: I found the cutest frame I could at the dollar store (I thought this one was dang cute and modern) and then made and printed a customized saying on it. Mine was made in Word and I used Kristen ITC font for the black parts and Bradley Hand ITC for the colored parts and just did colors I thought were cute. In case you can't tell, after "I am a child of God" you put the baby's name.

You don't totally get the full effect because I blurred out the names but if you want to see another one, just click here to see the original I got the inspiration from.

Hope you enjoyed this crafty idea for the non-crafty people out there- like me!

Cake Balls

2011-02-14T15:28:00.000-07:00

Happy Valentine's Day Everybody! I made something extra special but super easy for my husband to take to his work today. This recipe is all over the internet in different forms but the easiest instructions I found were at Mel's Kitchen Cafe. You really can mix and match flavors of cake and frosting so have fun!

Cake Balls

1 box cake mix (cook as directed on box for 13 X 9 cake) I used Devil's Food Cake
1 can frosting (16 oz.) I used chocolate
1 package chocolate bark (regular or white chocolate) I used white and regular dipping chocolate
wax paper

Directions:
1. After cake is cooked and cooled completely, crumble into large bowl.
2. Mix thoroughly with 1 can frosting. (It may be easier to use fingers to mix together, but be warned it will get messy.)
3. Roll mixture into quarter size balls and lay on cookie sheet.
4. Chill for several hours – make sure they are really firm. (You can speed this up by putting in the freezer.)
5. Melt chocolate in microwave per directions on package.
6. Roll balls in chocolate and lay on wax paper until firm. (Use a spoon to dip and roll in chocolate and then tap off extra – two forks also works great if your chocolate is warm enough.)
7. Drizzle with extra chocolate bark or dipping chocolate or top with sprinkles.

Kristy's Sour Cream Sugar Cookies

2011-02-07T19:50:00.000-07:00

Growing up, the sweetest lady in our church made the BEST sugar cookies. You felt lucky if she ever brought you a plate. Her recipe has become legendary in my home neighborhood. Luckily, she's one of those people that think recipes are made for sharing. Hallelujah! Here's her recipe:

Kristy's Sour Cream Sugar Cookies

Ingredients:
1 C. butter
3 eggs
1 ½ C. sugar
2 tsp. vanilla
1 C. sour cream
touch of salt
5 C. flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda

Directions:
Cream butter and sugar together. Add eggs and vanilla. Blend in sour cream. Slowly fold in the rest of the ingredients. Blend well to make firm dough. Roll ½ inch thick on a floured surface and cut in desired shapes. Bake @ 350 for 8-12 minutes. (10 minutes was perfect for us last time. Once they are brown, they are over-done)

Frosting:
Ingredients:
1 cube (8 Tbs) butter
1 ½ lbs powdered sugar
small can of evaporated milk (won't use it all)
1 tsp. vanilla
drop of almond extract (optional)

Directions:
Beat butter until fluffy. Stir in the powdered sugar and pour in evaporated milk until creamy and you achieve your desired consistency. Add vanilla and almond extract.

She always decorated them with a pretty rose, but our family just adds Valentine's Day candy.

Valentine's Candy Cane Suckers

2011-02-03T19:51:00.000-07:00

I saw this cute idea for Valentine's Day suckers (click here for step by step instructions) using left over MINI candy canes and thought they were adorable.

Picture from http://www.pleasant-home.com/2010/01/quick-and-easy-valentines-treats.html

They really are adorable...... sigh....... however, there are a few CRUCIAL things I learned while making them.

#1 USE MINI CANDY CANES- have you ever tried and succeded to peel the wrapper off a normal sized candy cane without breaking it? Didn't think so.

OK, so maybe ONE crucial thing but it is crucial and it could have turned my hour project into a 15 minute project and they would have looked so much cuter. I broke all of the candy canes trying to unwrap them and then it was very difficult to break them off at the correct point.

Not everything I do turns out cute or good, but the idea itself is cute.

Here are my results:

(Note: The one on the left looks a little weird because I baked it for 2 minutes so they would hold better to the stick but it wasn't very helpful and I found out it was useless anyways because the white chocolate holds it all together)

Key Lime Pie by Josi S. Kilpack

2011-01-29T10:30:00.000-07:00

Here's the description from Amazon.com:
"When Sadie Hoffmiller s new friend, Eric Burton, receives word that his missing daughter s body may have been found in Florida, he immediately packs his bags. Sadie is determined to stay home and prove to everyone that she is not a busybody. But when she senses Eric is hiding something, Sadie is compelled to take action. Before she knows it, she s in the heart of Miami, trying to piece together a trail that might just give Eric the answers he s so desperately searching for. In the process, Sadie finds herself in the company of some colorful characters and some good ol southern cooking. But despite the drama and intrigue, all Sadie really wants is to go home . . . as soon as she does just one more thing. Includes eight new mouthwatering recipes, tested and approved by the official bakers of Sadie s Test Kitchen Josi s culinary mysteries have become favorites with members of Goodreads and other book networking sites Reader s guide available online."

MY REVIEW: I love Kilpack's writing style. She gets to the end of the chapter and then makes me not want to stop there. That and the fact she has recipes in her books. Haven't tried any yet but they all look delicious. That being said, this one wasn't my favorite in the series. Maybe because you don't start off with a dead body like in her other books. Not that I'm a gory person but if I have a dead body I feel like I can maybe work out some of the details, pick up on clues, and possibly solve it myself. I couldn't do that in this one so I didn't enjoy it as much, but the series on whole has been great.

Thick and Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars

2011-01-28T14:10:00.002-07:00

I recently came across the site Mel's Kitchen Cafe and was amazed! She has so many wonderful recipes on there. But the moment I knew she was a REAL cook was when I read she used a BOSCH mixer. I grew up a on Bosch and they are the best.

Anyways, that was besides the point. She has her recipe on her site for Thick and Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars that are divine. Like, so divine that it's the only chocolate chip cookie bar I will ever make from now on! Pretty simple too, my husband timed me and I got them in the oven within 12 minutes.

BIG SIDE NOTE: DO NOT make these for people who like their cookies right out of the oven and won't have them any other way. Took these to some family members who couldn't stand to wait and let them rest (like they are REQUIRED to do in order for them to be perfect) and kept baking them until they were completely done in the oven. They need to rest and they will be absolutely perfect I assure you!

Thick and Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars
Printable version From Mel's Kitchen Cafe

*Makes a 9X13-inch pan of bars
2 1/8 cups (10 1/2 ounces) all purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
12 tablespoons butter (1 1/2 sticks), melted and cooled slightly
1 cup (7 ounces) light brown sugar
1/2 (3 1/2 ounces) cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
1 large egg yolk
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups chocolate chips (use your preference of semisweet, bittersweet, milk, white, peanut butter…the options are endless!)
Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Adjust the oven rack to lower-middle position. Line a 9X13-inch baking pan with foil, letting the excess hang over the edges of the pan by about 1 inch so you can grab those edges and pull the brownies from the pan after they have baked. Spray the foil-lined pan with nonstick cooking spray.
Mix the flour, salt, and baking soda together in medium bowl; set aside. Whisk the melted butter and sugars in a large bowl until combined. Add the egg, egg yolk, and vanilla and mix well. Using a rubber spatula, fold the dry ingredients into the egg mixture until just combined; do not overmix. Fold in the chocolate chips and turn the batter into the prepared pan, smoothing the top with the spatula.
Bake until the top of the bars is light golden brown, slightly firm to the touch, and edges start pulling away from sides of pan, 24-28 minutes. Cool on a wire rack to room temperature. Remove the bars from the pan by lifting the foil overhang and transfer them to a cutting board. Cut into 2-inch squares and serve.
Recipe Source: adapted slightly from Cook’s Illustrated

I cut mine out into Valentine's Day shapes when they were cooled off.
Here are my results:

Gathered Heart Pillow

2011-01-27T15:45:00.000-07:00

So.... I'm not crafty. Phew, there, I said it. However,there have been a few thing recently that have piqued my interest. I've been browsing www.u-createcrafts.com and there is a whole treasure-trove of fun/creative/crafty things. The gathered heart pillow was so adorable, I had to do it. Here is a link to the tutorial.

My sister and I just went through her extra craft things so we just used what we had on hand. We paid around $2.40 for the stuffing and had everything else. I think it turned out cute; just in time for Valentine's Day!

What do you think?

New Pics from recipes I've made from the Saving Dinner cookbook Part 2

2011-01-26T10:53:00.000-07:00

OK, some more pics:

Double Potato Soup
Saving Dinner Winter Week 7

Tortilla Pizzas
From Saving Dinner the Vegetarian Way Summer Week 3

Hummus
From Saving Dinner the Vegetarian Way Cookbook Page 259

Cheeseburger Casserole
Saving Dinner Fall Week 6

Rosemary Chicken Breast Halves
Saving Dinner Winter Week 8

Basic Black Bean Soup
Saving Dinner Winter Week 3

Orange Honey Mustard Fish
Saving Dinner Winter Week 8

Crock-Pot Taco Chicken
Saving Dinner Winter Week 8

Country Fried Steaks
Saving Dinner Winter Week 8

Mediterranean Fish

Saving Dinner Spring Week 1

OK, that was a lot and they were all delicious!

Cross-Stitched Baby Bib

2011-01-25T07:06:00.000-07:00

I've always liked to cross-stitch. I find it relaxing and fun. Most people probably wouldn't agree but hey, it's something I'm good at. I've been working on this bib forever and finally got some time to finish it. Here's the finished product:

Here's my baby testing out the product:

(I think he likes it!)

New Pics from recipes I've made from the Saving Dinner cookbook Part 1

2011-01-24T11:27:00.001-07:00

I haven't updated my recipes I've tried for a while from Saving Dinner so here they are:

Apple Banana Spinach Smoothie http://savingdinner.com/recipe/green-smoothies/

Apple Chicken
From the Saving Dinner Cookbook Fall Week 1

Roast Beef Picante

From the Saving Dinner Cookbook Fall Week 1

Beany Burritos

From the Saving Dinner Cookbook Fall Week 1

Crock Pea Soup From Saving Dinner Cookbook Fall Week 1

Italian Turkey Meatloaf
From the Saving Dinner Cookbook Fall Week 1

Pasta with Garlicky Greens and Beans from the Saving Dinner cookbook Winter Week 7

Crock Beef Stew
from the Saving Dinner cookbook Winter Week 7

Thai Roll Ups
from the Saving Dinner cookbook Winter Week 7

Green Chile Chicken Casserole
from the Saving Dinner cookbook Winter Week 7

Hummus and Spinach Chicken
Heart Healthy Menu-Mailer Volume 5 Week 37 Day

Stir Fry Mexican Beef
Heart Healthy Menu-Mailer Volume 5 Week 37 Day 2

Roasted Eggplant Salad
Heart Healthy Menu-Mailer Volume 5 Week 37 Day 3

Creamy Baked Fish
Heart Healthy Menu-Mailer Volume 5 Week 37 Day 4

Paprika Pork Chops with Corn Relish
Heart Healthy Menu-Mailer Volume 5 Week 37 Day 5

Asian Burritos with Ginger Salsa

From the Saving Dinner Cookbook Spring Week 1

Catching Fire (The Second Book of the Hunger Games) by Suzanne Collins

2011-01-23T12:42:00.000-07:00

Here's the description from Amazon.com:

"Every year in Panem, the dystopic nation that exists where the U.S. used to be, the Capitol holds a televised tournament in which two teen "tributes" from each of the surrounding districts fight a gruesome battle to the death. In The Hunger Games, Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark, the tributes from impoverished District Twelve, thwarted the Gamemakers, forcing them to let both teens survive. In this rabidly anticipated sequel, Katniss, again the narrator, returns home to find herself more the center of attention than ever. The sinister President Snow surprises her with a visit, and Katniss’s fear when Snow meets with her alone is both palpable and justified. Catching Fire is divided into three parts: Katniss and Peeta’s mandatory Victory Tour through the districts, preparations for the 75th Annual Hunger Games, and a truncated version of the Games themselves. Slower paced than its predecessor, this sequel explores the nation of Panem: its power structure, rumors of a secret district, and a spreading rebellion, ignited by Katniss and Peeta’s subversive victory. Katniss also deepens as a character. Though initially bewildered by the attention paid to her, she comes almost to embrace her status as the rebels’ symbolic leader. Though more of the story takes place outside the arena than within, this sequel has enough action to please Hunger Games fans and leaves enough questions tantalizingly unanswered for readers to be desperate for the next installment."

MY REVIEW: Just as exciting as the first one. Total cliff hanger and very intriguing. Don't want to spoil anything but a great read.

Baked Salmon II

2011-01-18T20:43:00.002-07:00

I love this recipe for salmon. So easy and SO DELICIOUS! Hubby said I could make this for him as often as I like, which means it's totally awesome.

Baked Salmon II

Ingredients:

2 cloves garlic, minced

6 tablespoons light olive oil

1 teaspoon dried basil

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon ground black pepper

1 tablespoon lemon juice

1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped

2 (6 ounce) fillets salmon

Directions:

	In a medium glass bowl, prepare marinade by mixing garlic, light olive oil, basil, salt, pepper, lemon juice and parsley. Place salmon fillets in a medium glass baking dish, and cover with the marinade. Marinate in the refrigerator about 1 hour, turning occasionally.
	Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
	Place fillets in aluminum foil, cover with marinade, and seal. Place sealed salmon in the glass dish, and bake 35 to 45 minutes, until easily flaked with a fork.

Here are my results:

Altared Plans

2011-01-18T20:28:00.000-07:00

I recently read Altared Plans by Rebecca Cornish Talley. Here the the description from Amazon.com:

"The perfect day. The perfect marriage. The perfect groom. What could go wrong? Caitlyn has been preparing for her perfect wedding all her life. But when her fiance abandons her at the altar, Caitlyn vows she ll never love again. Going to BYU doesn't make that easy, however, and avoiding all social contact can only last so long. When her bishop calls her to be the mom of her family home evening group, Caitlyn is suddenly thrust into surprising circumstances that leave her flustered the attention of two unwanted suitors. Travis, the FHE dad, has plans to woo Caitlyn by using his cowboy charms while Chase has his own ideas for dating her. Will Travis or Chase change her mind about love? Or will it be deja vu? Follow Caitlyn through all the flirtatious looks, dates, ex-girlfriends, and unexpected surprises. A Window Opens is a light-hearted romance that is sure to please"

MY REVIEW: Maybe I'm just over the whole romance phase of my life but I finding it harder and harder to find a romantic LDS novel that I actually like. This one was just OK and I really do like the main male character Travis but Caitlyn has her own issues. There are a few things she does that had me screaming at the book and just hoping young girls don't think it's OK to lead some poor boy on like she does. Not my favorite but not bad.

The Pioneer Woman's Cinnamon Rolls

2011-01-11T18:20:00.000-07:00

My Hubby has a tradition on Christmas Eve that his family makes cinnamon rolls and then eats them for their Christmas Morning breakfast. I decided to try and make them this year. They WOULD HAVE been a total success except for the fact they weren't done all the way through. I either attribute this to the fact I put them in a 9x13 pan when she put hers in pie tins OR I took her own advice and cooked them at 375°F instead of the normal 400°F. BUT Hubby did say they were scrumptious.

Pioneer Woman’s Cinnamon Rolls

Ingredients

1 quart Whole Milk
1 cup Vegetable Oil
1 cup Sugar
2 packages Active Dry Yeast
8 cups (Plus 1 Cup Extra, Separated) All-purpose Flour
1 teaspoon (heaping) Baking Powder
1 teaspoon (scant) Baking Soda
1 Tablespoon (heaping) Salt
Plenty Of Melted Butter
2 cups Sugar
Generous Sprinkling Of Cinnamon
_____
MAPLE FROSTING:
1 bag Powdered Sugar
2 teaspoons Maple Flavoring
½ cups Milk
¼ cups Melted Butter
¼ cups Brewed Coffee (I OMITTED)
⅛ teaspoons Salt

Preparation Instructions

Mix the milk, vegetable oil and sugar in a pan. Scald the mixture (heat until just before the boiling point). Turn off heat and leave to cool 45 minutes to 1 hour. When the mixture is lukewarm to warm, but NOT hot, sprinkle in both packages of Active Dry Yeast. Let this sit for a minute. Then add 8 cups of all-purpose flour. Stir mixture together. Cover and let rise for at least an hour.
After rising for at least an hour, add 1 more cup of flour, the baking powder, baking soda and salt. Stir mixture together. (At this point, you could cover the dough and put it in the fridge until you need it – overnight or even a day or two, if necessary. Just keep your eye on it and if it starts to overflow out of the pan, just punch it down).
When ready to prepare rolls: Sprinkle rolling surface generously with flour. Take half the dough and form a rough rectangle. Then roll the dough thin, maintaining a general rectangular shape. Drizzle 1/2 to 1 cup melted butter over the dough. Now sprinkle 1 cup of sugar over the butter followed by a generous sprinkling of cinnamon.
Now, starting at the opposite end, begin rolling the dough in a neat line toward you. Keep the roll relatively tight as you go. Next, pinch the seam of the roll to seal it.
Spread 1 tablespoon of melted butter in a seven inch round foil cake or pie pan. Then begin cutting the rolls approximately ¾ to 1 inch thick and laying them in the buttered pans.
Repeat this process with the other half of the dough. Let the rolls rise for 20 to 30 minutes, then bake at 400 degrees (see note below) until light golden brown, about 15 to 18 minutes.
For the frosting, mix together all ingredients listed and stir well until smooth. It should be thick but pourable. Taste and adjust as needed. Generously drizzle over the warm rolls. Go crazy and don’t skimp on the frosting.
Note: My rolls don’t work for me at 400 degrees anymore. I now bake them at 375 degrees

Here are my results:

The Hunger Games

2011-01-10T14:26:00.000-07:00

Since EVERYONE and their dog has heard about The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, I thought it was about time to read them. My ex-coworker begged me to read them last year so she could talk to somebody about them, but when she described them to me..... I wasn't interested. Here's the description of the first book in the series found on Amazon.com:

"In a not-too-distant future, the United States of America has collapsed, weakened by drought, fire, famine, and war, to be replaced by Panem, a country divided into the Capitol and 12 districts. Each year, two young representatives from each district are selected by lottery to participate in The Hunger Games. Part entertainment, part brutal intimidation of the subjugated districts, the televised games are broadcasted throughout Panem as the 24 participants are forced to eliminate their competitors, literally, with all citizens required to watch. When 16-year-old Katniss's young sister, Prim, is selected as the mining district's female representative, Katniss volunteers to take her place. She and her male counterpart, Peeta, the son of the town baker who seems to have all the fighting skills of a lump of bread dough, will be pitted against bigger, stronger representatives who have trained for this their whole lives. Collins's characters are completely realistic and sympathetic as they form alliances and friendships in the face of overwhelming odds; the plot is tense, dramatic, and engrossing."

MY REVIEW: There is a reason everybody is talking about these books and it's because they are SO hard to put down. Yes the premise is a little gruesome, BUT they are wonderfully written and I LOVED the first book. Honestly, one of my favorite books I've read in a long time.

Cheesy Potato Salad

2010-12-28T19:10:00.000-07:00

I'm not a fan of the traditional potato salads. I do, however, like potato salads that taste like a loaded baked potato and that's exactly what this recipe is. I've taken this to a few gatherings and most of the time it gets great reviews. If you were at my last family holiday party, my apologies. I must have used too much green onion and I totally forgot the bacon bits and salt and pepper. It turned out not so well. Just remember all the ingredients and it will be a hit!

Cheesy Potato Salad
Ingredients:

2 1/2 pounds red potatoes, cubed
1 cup sour cream
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup white sugar
1/2 bunch green onions, chopped
1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
1 tablespoon real bacon bits
Salt and Pepper to taste

Directions:
1. Place the potatoes into a pot, and fill with enough water to cover. Bring to a boil, and cook for about 10 minutes, or until easily pierced with a fork. Drain, and set aside to cool.
2. In a large bowl, mix together the sour cream, mayonnaise, sugar, half of the onions, and half of the cheese. Gently stir in the cooled potatoes. Top with remaining cheese and onions,salt,pepper, and sprinkle bacon bits over the top.

Here are the results:

Cherry Christmas Jello

2010-12-06T18:06:00.000-07:00

This is probably the easiest Jello salad you will ever make. I've kept this recipe for over ten years and absolutely adore it. This recipe is creamy and bursting with cherries. It's perfect for potlucks at Christmas time!

Cherry Christmas Jello
Ingredients:
1 large (6 oz) box cherry Jello
2 C boiling water
2 cans cherry pie filling

Directions:
Dissolve Jello in water. Add 2 cans cherry pie filling. Chill

Here are the results:

Baked Maryland Lump Crab Cakes

2010-11-29T17:50:00.000-07:00

I've never lived by the ocean, so I can't take part in the whole "fresh seafood vs canned vs imitation" debate. All I know is I work with what I have, and I have imitation crab meat. I personally love it and use it in most of my recipes that call for crab meat. I whipped up a batch of these the other night and gobbled them down (with the help of my hubby of course!)

Baked Maryland Lump Crab Cakes

Ingredients:

1/4 cup bread crumbs

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon dried parsley

1 teaspoon mustard powder

1/8 teaspoon black pepper

2 teaspoons seafood seasoning, such as Old Bay™

1 tablespoon mayonnaise

2 tablespoons butter, melted

1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

3/4 cup cholesterol-free egg product (I used 2 eggs)

1 pound lump crab meat (I used imitation crab meat)

Directions:

1.	Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease a baking sheet.
2.	Combine bread crumbs, baking powder, parsley, mustard powder, pepper, and seafood seasoning; set aside. Stir together mayonnaise, butter, Worcestershire, and egg product until smooth. Fold in crab meat, then fold in bread crumb mixture until well blended.
3.	Shape mixture into 12 crab cakes, about 3/4 inch thick, and place onto prepared baking sheet.
4.	Bake in preheated oven for 15 minutes, then turn the crab cakes over, and bake an additional 10 to 15 minutes, until nicely browned.

Here are the results:

Brattan's Boston Clam Chowder

2010-11-23T20:18:00.003-07:00

I dont' know about the rest of the country, but Utah is being hit with a BLIZZARD tonight and it's cold! What better way to warm up than with soup. I got this recipe from a church cookbook (which are always my favorite). For some reason I was always afraid to make clam chowder, but it was really simple and hubby thought it tasted fabulous! I had a cold so I couldn't taste very well but I liked it a lot!

Brattan's Boston Clam Chowder

Ingredients:

2 cans minced clams (6½ oz), undrained

1 c onions, chopped fine (I usually reduce onion amounts but DON'T for this dish)

1 c finely diced celery

1 c finely diced carrots

2 c finely diced potatoes

¾ c butter

¾ c flour

1 qt half and half

1½ tsp salt

Few grains pepper

½ tsp. sugar

Directions:

Drain juice from clams and pour over vegetables in medium saucepan; add enough water to barely cover and simmer, covered, until tender over medium heat until potatoes are tender, about 20 minutes.

Meantime, In large saucepan, melt butter, add flour and blend and cook 1 or 2 minutes. Add cream. Cook and stir until smooth and thick, using wire whisk to blend. Add undrained vegetables and clams. Heat through. Season with salt, pepper and sugar to taste.

Here are the results:

Percy Jackson and the Olympians

2010-11-23T19:48:00.000-07:00

After seeing the movie Percy Jackson and the Lightning Theif, I totally wanted to check out the books. I have only read the first two so far but have very much enjoyed them. Here's their description from amazon.com:

"The Lightning Thief Percy Jackson is a good kid, but he can't seem to focus on his schoolwork or control his temper. When his mom tells him the truth about where he came from, she takes him to the one place he'll be safe--Camp Half-Blood, a summer camp for demigods (on Long Island). There, Percy learns that the father he never knew is actually Poseidon, God of the Sea. Soon Percy finds himself caught up in a mystery that could lead to disastrous consequences. Together with his friends--a satyr and other the demigod daughter of Athena--Percy sets out on a quest to reach the gates of the Underworld (located in a recording studio in Hollywood) and prevent a catastrophic war between the gods."

"The Sea of Monsters After a summer spent trying to prevent a catastrophic war among the Greek gods, Percy Jackson finds his seventh-grade school year unnervingly calm. But things don't stay quiet for long. Percy soon discovers there is trouble at Camp Half-Blood: the magical borders which protect Half-Blood Hill have been poisoned by a mysterious enemy, and the only safe haven for demigods is on the verge of being overrun by mythological monsters. To save the camp, Percy needs the help of his best friend, Grover, who has been taken prisoner by the Cyclops Polyphemus on an island somewhere in the Sea of Monsters--the dangerous waters Greek heroes have sailed for millennia--only today, the Sea of Monsters goes by a new name: the Bermuda Triangle. Now Percy and his friends must retrieve the Golden Fleece from the Island of the Cyclopes by the end of the summer or Camp Half-Blood will be destroyed. But first, Percy will learn a stunning new secret about his family--one that makes him question whether being claimed as Poseidon's son is an honor or simply a cruel joke... "

MY REVIEW: Love them so far.... I still have to finish the series. I'm surprised I'm reading so many fantasy books lately, and even though I enjoy the complexity of books like Harry Potter, sometimes I think some writers go too deep into their make believe world. I can't quite describe it but in this series the author describes the battle scenes, which are supposed to be cool, but I just glaze over them unintentionally because I don't find them exciting. That's probably my only complaint. I do love how the story mixes with mythology and it makes me want to read up on Greek Gods now.

Fantasy Fudge

2010-11-20T12:18:00.000-07:00

This fudge was a staple in our home around the holidays. I am somewhat anti-desserts because most of them are too time consuming (and we are trying to be a little healthier). That said, this fudge recipe is super easy and super delicious! It comes from the back of the Kraft Marshmallow Creme jar and I omit the nuts because they are nasty!

Fantasy Fudge
Ingredients:
3 cups sugar
3/4 cup margarine
2/3 cup evaporated milk
1 12-oz. (340 g) package semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 7-oz. (198 g) jar Kraft Marshmallow creme
1 cup chopped nuts
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:
Combine sugar, margarine and milk in heavy 2-1/2 quart saucepan; bring to full rolling bail, stirring constantly. Continue boiling 4 minutes over medium heat, stirring. Remove from heat, stir in chocolate till melted. Add marshmallow creme, nuts & vanilla beat till blended. Pour into greased 13 x 9-inch baking pan. Let cool and cut into 1-inch squares.
Here are the results:

Happy Holidays!

Here Lies the Librarian

2010-11-20T12:06:00.000-07:00

Here's the description from amazon.com:
"Parentless Peewee, 14, and Jake, the big brother she idolizes, live in rural Indiana in 1914. They run a small garage, but face nasty sabotaging from the rival Kirbys. The novel opens with a hilariously macabre twister that tears up Buelahland Cemetery, turning up coffins, and strews Mrs. B. D. Klinefelder's laundry, including her massive step-ins, around the county. The tornado doesn't dare to touch the stern former librarian's grave. The board of trustees closed the library after her death, but that situation is about to change. Irene Ridpath, a library science student from Butler University, arrives with her three equally pretty and wealthy sorority sisters, all of whom drive fabulous cars, sparking Jake's interest (not just in their cars). After many pranks and hijinks, Peewee ends up being the only finisher in a rough-and-ready auto race, an event recounted in the closing chapter when she is an elderly, although still spunky, old lady. A master of capturing voice, Peck aptly conveys the nuances of rural life in the early years of the last century while weaving in early feminism, the history of the automobile, and the message to be oneself. Kids will love the fast-paced action and librarians will guffaw over all the library puns."

MY REVIEW:
I didn't realize that this book was for middle school, just a random pick from the audio book section. That said..... Meh! Pretty boring and the narrator didn't help much either with her drone voice. Don't bother with this one when there's so much more out there!

Green Bean Casserole I

2010-11-18T18:00:00.001-07:00

With Thanksgiving just around the corner, it's time to break out some of my traditional Thanksgiving recipes. I think this one is a classic, and if you haven't had it before, shame on your family!

Green Bean Casserole I
Ingredients:
2 (15 ounce) cans cut green beans, drained
3/4 cup milk (I reduced to 1/2)
1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed cream of mushroom soup
1 (2.8 ounce) can French fried onions
salt and pepper to taste

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
In a medium casserole dish mix together green beans, milk, cream of mushroom soup, and 1/2 of the can of onions.
Bake for 25 minutes in the preheated oven, until heated through and bubbly. Sprinkle remaining onions over the top, and return to the oven for 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Here are the results:

The Looking Glass Wars

2010-11-11T17:54:00.000-07:00

Here's the description from the author's website:

"The Looking Glass Wars unabashedly challenges the world’s Carrollian Wonderland assumptions of tea parties, dormice and a curious little blonde girl to reveal an epic, cross dimensional saga of love, murder, betrayal, revenge and the endless war for Imagination. Meet the heroic, passionate, monstrous, vengeful denizens of this parallel world as they battle each other with AD-52’s and orb generators, navigate the Crystal Continuum, bet on jabberwock fights and slip each other the poisonous pink mushroom. Finally, someone got it right. This ain’t no fairytale.

Alyss Heart, heir to the Wonderland throne, was forced to flee through the Pool of Tears after a bloody palace coup staged by the murderous Redd shattered her world. Lost and alone in Victorian London, Alyss is befriended by an aspiring author to whom she tells the surreal, violent, heartbreaking story of her young life only to see it published as the nonsensical children’s sojourn Alice in Wonderland. Alyss had trusted Lewis Carroll to tell the truth so that someone, somewhere would find her and bring her home.

But Carroll had got it all wrong. He even misspelled her name! If not for the intrepid Hatter Madigan, a member of the Millinery (Wonderland’s security force) who after a 13 year search eventually tracked Alyss to London, she may have become just another society woman sipping tea in a too-tight bodice instead of returning to Wonderland to battle Redd for her rightful place as the Queen of Hearts."

MY REVIEW: A fun twist on Alice in Wonderland. Beware: it's part of a trilogy so if you read one, you'll want to read the rest. I think I enjoy fantasy more than I realize, but sometimes the details go over my head. The author is detailed in his battle scenes and sometimes my eyes just glazed over his descriptions. The plot was excellent though and I'm already starting on the second book Seeing Redd.

Cheesy Enchiladas

2010-11-10T20:54:00.004-07:00

My husband hardly ever eats the same dinner twice. No joke, I cook that much variety. However, there are a few go-to meals that I make when I'm in a hurry, I'm in a pinch, or the recipe is just that good, I want to make it again. This one fits into all of the categories. I hope your family loves this recipe as much as I do.

Cheesy Enchiladas

Ingredients:
1 (8 ounce) package cream Cheese, softened
1 (8 ounce) package shredded cheddar cheese,divided
1/4 cup sliced green onions (can sub dried chives if necessary)
6 (6 inch) flour tortilla (6 inch)
1 (16 ounce) jar salsa
I sometimes add a large can of canned chicken when my hubby wants meat

1. Beat cream cheese with electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. Add 1 cup of the cheddar cheese and onions; mix until blended.
2. Spread 1/4 cup cheese mixture down center of each tortilla; roll up. Place, seam-side down, in 11x7-inch baking dish. Pour salsa over tortillas. Sprinkle with remaining cheddar cheese; cover. Bake at 350 degrees F for 20 to 25 minutes or until thoroughly heated.

I hate the winter, the sun goes down too early so my pictures aren't nearly as good so pardon my picture. Here are my results:

Jana's clean-out-the-cupboard Pasta Salad

2010-11-06T13:48:00.003-06:00

I used to never make up my own recipes. I really only do so now if there is a need. The other day I NEEDED to use up some produce and so this recipe came about. Pretty tasty if I do say so myself.

Jana's clean-out-the-cupboard Pasta Salad

Ingredients:
6 oz cooked pasta shells
2 tomatoes, diced
1 green pepper, diced
1 can olives, sliced
1/2 cucumber diced
Italian dressing to coat

Directions:
Combine all ingredients.

Here are the results:

Peanut Butter Noodles

2010-11-01T16:56:00.007-06:00

Asian food is a favorite of mine, but it always takes too long to make, until now. These peanut butter noodles are so easy. I couldn't find UDON noodles anywhere so I just got low mein noodles in the Asian section of the grocery store. It was fairly good. Here's the recipe:

Peanut Butter Noodles
Ingredients:
1/2 C. Chicken Broth
1 1/2 TBS. minced fresh ginger root
3 TBS. Soy sauce
3 TBS Peanut Butter
1 1/2 TBS honey
2tsp hot chile paste (optional
3 cloves garlic, minced
8 oz Udon Noodles
1/4 C chopped green onions
1/4 C chopped peanuts

Directions:

1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add noodles and cook until tender according to package directions. Drain.
2. Meanwhile, combine chicken broth, ginger, soy sauce, peanut butter, honey, chili paste, and garlic in a small saucepan. Cook over medium heat until peanut butter melts and is heated through. Add noodles, and toss to coat. Garnish with green onions and peanuts.

Here are the results:

Austenland

2010-10-30T15:15:00.005-06:00

I have never seen Pride and Prejudice. There I said it! All my family has, as well as my in-laws and probably most of my friends. I just never got around to it. HOWEVER, there was a funny TV series on PBS last year that was a spin off of it and I really enjoyed it. Most of the parts I didn't get were easily explained to me by my HUSBAND.

Unfortunately, says my husband, he was subjected to watch Pride and Prejudice a little too much while he was living at home. I just think it's hilarious that he knows way more about it than me. He's a good sport about it.

I was a little hesitant to try this book Austenland by Shannon Hale because of the fact I have read the book it's based off. Here's the description from Shannon Hale's website:

"Jane Hayes is a seemingly normal young New Yorker, but she has a secret. Her obsession with Mr. Darcy, as played by Colin Firth in the BBC adaptation of Pride and Prejudice, is ruining her love life: no real man can compare. But when a wealthy relative bequeaths her a trip to an English resort catering to Austen-crazed women, Jane’s fantasies of meeting the perfect Regency-era gentleman suddenly become realer than she ever could have imagined.

Decked out in empire-waist gowns, Jane struggles to master Regency etiquette and flirts with gardeners and gentlemen—or maybe even, she suspects, with the actors who are playing them. It’s all a game, Jane knows. And yet the longer she stays, the more her insecurities seem to fall away, and the more she wonders: Is she about to kick the Austen obsession for good, or could all her dreams actually culminate in a Mr. Darcy of her own?"

MY REVIEW:Funny, very funny! Always a fan of Shannon Hale, but this one is a different twist to her normal books. She usually writes LDS fiction, but this one isn't. It's funny like her other ones though, which is what I love about her. It's a comedy about this girl who's obsessed with Mr.Darcy, like most girls are. I totally recommend this book, such a good read.

Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff I

2010-10-27T15:06:00.003-06:00

I've been hearing from tons of people they got snow here in Utah. Thankfully, it must have skipped over our house because I'm not ready. With cold weather upon us, it's the perfect time to break out the old crock pot. This recipe is very highly rated on allrecipes.com but I've never had an opportunity to try it..... until now. I was a little weary because I've tried beef stroganoff in a slow cooker before and it turned out terrible. This, however, was EXCELLENT and I'm keeping it for sure.

Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff I

Ingredients:
1 pound cubed beef stew meat
1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed golden mushroom soup
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1/4 cup water
4 ounces cream cheese

Directions:
1. In a slow cooker, combine the meat, soup, onion, Worcestershire sauce and water.
2. Cook on Low setting for 8 hours, or on High setting for about 5 hours. Stir in cream cheese just before serving.

Here are my results:

Heist Society

2010-10-27T14:58:00.002-06:00

Here's the descriptions as found on amazon.com:
"Tired of her lifelong involvement in her family's illicit dealings, teenager Katarina Bishop enrolls herself in a prestigious boarding school. Then after a mere three months there, 16-year-old billionaire Hale arranges for her to get kicked out. He informs her that five paintings have been stolen from the menacing Arturo Taccone and that her father is the prime suspect. Determined to save him by locating the real thief and stealing the paintings back, Kat gathers a crack team of larcenous teens for the heist to be pulled off before the two-week deadline. However, her resolve falters when she learns that the paintings are Nazi war spoils. She negotiates complicated relationships in an action-packed plot, and the unknown identity of the thief suggests a sequel. This irresistible light-fingered fairy tale is elevated by glamour and mystery. Carter's style is conversational, smooth, and clever, exposing Kat's wry humor and her steely determination. Amid themes of family loyalty and identity, the protagonist comes to understand herself, her beliefs, and her place in her family. Daring, delicious, but filled with a sense of purpose, Heist Society mixes classic elements of the adolescent bildungsroman into a high-stakes escapade."

MY REVIEW: I enjoyed it and found myself not wanting to put it down. I heard somebody compare it to Ocean's Eleven but I wouldn't go that far. You want to know what happens but it's not high suspense. I quick read but I liked it!

Breaded Ranch Chicken

2010-10-22T12:15:00.004-06:00

As I planned this week's meals out, I needed something simple most days as I would be caring for a bed-ridden hubby this week. I have had this recipe stashed in my recipe box for some time now and decided it was time to give it a try. I'm glad I did. This is a simple,quick, and good tasting chicken recipe. Although not a 5 star recipe by any means, it was hearty and well liked in my house.

Breaded Ranch Chicken

Ingredients:
3/4 cup crushed cornflakes
3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1(1 ounce) package ranch salad dressing mix
8(4 ounce) skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
1/2 cup butter or margarine, melted

Directions:
1. In a shallow bowl, combine the cornflakes, Parmesan cheese and salad dressing mix. Dip chicken in butter, then roll in cornflake mixture to coat. Place in a greased 13-in. x 9-in. x 2-in. baking dish. Bake, uncovered, at 350 degrees F for 45 minutes or until chicken juices run clear

Here are the results:

Devil's Food Cake

2010-10-22T12:02:00.004-06:00

Here's the description from amazon.com:
"It s been years since author Thom Mortenson has been back to Garrison, Colorado. As part of the committee who invited the bestselling writer to speak at the library fundraising benefit, Sadie Hoffmiller wants everything to be perfect right down to the homemade devils food cake she baked herself. Certainly, murder was not on the menu. When Thoms manager ends up dead on stage, Sadie jumps in to offer her guidance and expertise to investigators. But when the police refuse to take her seriously, Sadie has no choice but to pursue justice on her own. After all, is Sadie to blame if she keeps stumbling over information? Can Sadie turn her back when people intricately woven into the deception keep crossing her path? With her son, Shawn, at her side, her reputation on the line, and a full cast of suspicious characters, Sadie Hoffmiller is once again cooking her way through a case that offers far more questions than answers."

MY REVIEW:This book is 3rd as part of Josi Kilpack's murder mystery series, but each book can be read individually without a problem. I enjoy her combination of food loving, problem solving, heroin Sadie Hoffmiller as she tries to figure out the latest murder that she witnesses. With plenty of suspects, it kept me guessing until the very end.

The Candy Shop Wars

2010-10-18T10:05:00.003-06:00

I enjoyed the tremendously popular series Fablehaven by Brandon Mull and decided to try one of his other books out and listen to it while I was enlessly cleaning my house. Here's a description of The Candy Shop Wars from amazon.com:
"Welcome to the Sweet Tooth Ice Cream & Candy Shoppe, where the confections are a bit on the . . . unusual side. Rock candy that makes you weightless. Jawbreakers that make you unbreakable. Chocolate balls that make you a master of disguise. Four young friends--Nate, Summer, Trevor, and Pigeon--meet the grandmotherly Mrs. White, owner of the Sweet Tooth, and soon learn about the magical side effects of her candies.

In addition, the ice cream truck driver, Mr. Stott, has arrived with a few enchanted sweets of his own. But what about the mysterious man in the dark overcoat and fedora hat? Why are all these "magicians" trying to recruit Nate and his friends? Who should they trust?

The mystery deepens and the danger unfolds as the four youngsters discover that the magical strangers have all come to town in search of a legendary, hidden treasure--one that could be used for great evil if it fell into the wrong hands. The kids, now in over their heads, must try to retrieve the treasure first. And so, the war begins . . . "

MY REVIEW: It was a cute book and a little slower moving and less adventurous than the Fablehaven series, but fun nonetheless. It would be really fun to listen to with young children as it's easy to follow and fun. Overall, it was cute and fun.

Halloween Pretzels

2010-10-14T13:27:00.006-06:00

My sister got this cute little Halloween pretzel kit from the store last year and we loved making these cute little edible chocolate pretzels. Here are the cute pictures:

Witch's Finger

Mummies

Pumpkins

Spiders

They came in a little kit found here or you can go to Hancock Fabric and pick one up. They come with the little molds and, paint brushes, and colored chocolates. You do have to buy your own pretzel rods though. You don't have to color them different colors on the same rod,we just thought they looked cooler that way.

Happy Halloween!

The Actor and the Housewife

2010-10-14T13:20:00.003-06:00

I recently just finished reading The Actor and the Housewife by Shannon Hale. I couldn't put it down it was so good. Here's the description from her website:

"Mormon housewife Becky Jack is seven months pregnant with her fourth child when she meets celebrity heartthrob Felix Callahan. A few hours, one elevator ride, and one alcohol-free dinner later, something has happened, though nothing has happened...it isn't sexual. It isn't even quite love. But soon Felix shows up in Salt Lake City to visit and before they know what's hit them, Felix and Becky are best friends--talk-on-the-phone, drop-everything-in-an-emergency, laugh-out-loud-at-stupid-jokes best friends.

Becky's loving and devoted husband, Mike, is mostly unconcerned. Her children roll their eyes. Her large extended family and neighbors gossip endlessly. But Felix and Becky have something special... something unusual, something that seems from the outside--and sometimes from the inside too--completely impossible to sustain.

On the surface, Becky's story of a steadfast housewife and the handsome star is the ultimate romantic fantasy. But the depth of emotion that Shannon Hale shows us in Becky is the strength that underpins only the strongest relationships. It is what makes this story resonate beyond the glitter of Felix's movie-stardom to the deeper understanding of the kinds of true love we all dream of having.

Shannon Hale has created a magical and often hilarious story that explores what might happen when your not-so-secret celebrity crush walks right into real life, and changes everything."

MY REVIEW: LOVED IT! It's such an interesting basis for a story and so bizarre, you just want to know what happens. Shannon Hale is an incredible author and seriously made me laugh and cry in the book. Amazingly well written!

Chilling Jack-o’-Lantern Smoothies

2010-10-11T09:58:00.003-06:00

I got so many cute Halloween ideas from a recipe group I attended. One of my favorites was this Chilling Jack-o'-Lantern Smoothie. The original recipe was from Bettycrocker.com but we tweaked it a little to make it more simple. Here's the original recipe:

Chilling Jack-o'-Lantern Smoothies
1 tablespoon semisweet chocolate chips
4 plastic cups (8 to 9 oz each)
3 containers (6 oz each) Yoplait® Original 99% Fat Free orange crème or harvest peach yogurt
1/4 cup frozen (thawed) orange juice concentrate
1 can (11 oz) mandarin orange segments, chilled, drained
1 banana, sliced

Directions:
1. In small microwavable bowl, melt chocolate chips on High for 1 minute or until melted. With tip of knife, spread chocolate on inside of each plastic cup to resemble eyes, nose and mouth of jack-o’-lantern. Repeat with 3 more cups. Refrigerate 5 minutes or until chocolate is set.
2. Meanwhile, in blender container, place all remaining ingredients; cover and blend until smooth. Pour into chocolate painted cups.

HERE'S WHAT I DID:
1 Tbs Nutella
1/2 bag frozen peaches
1 C. sugar
milk to desired consistency

Directions:
1.With tip of knife, spread Nutella on inside of each plastic cup to resemble eyes, nose and mouth of jack-o’-lantern.

2.Meanwhile, in blender container, place all remaining ingredients; cover and blend until smooth. Pour into chocolate painted cups.

Here are the results:

ADORABLE AND TASTY!

Eat Pray Love

2010-10-11T09:46:00.001-06:00

I've wanted to read this book even before the movie came out and I finally got the chance. Here's the description from BOOKLIST:

"Gilbert, author of The Last American Man (2002) and a well-traveled I'll-try-anything-once journalist, chronicles her intrepid quest for spiritual healing. Driven to despair by a punishing divorce and an anguished love affair, Gilbert flees New York for sojourns in the three Is. She goes to Italy to learn the language and revel in the cuisine, India to meditate in an ashram, and Indonesia to reconnect with a healer in Bali. This itinerary may sound self-indulgent or fey, but there is never a whiny or pious or dull moment because Gilbert is irreverent, hilarious, zestful, courageous, intelligent, and in masterful command of her sparkling prose. A captivating storyteller with a gift for enlivening metaphors, Gilbert is Anne Lamott's hip, yoga-practicing, footloose younger sister, and readers will laugh and cry as she recounts her nervy and outlandish experiences and profiles the extraordinary people she meets. As Gilbert switches from gelato to kundalini Shakti to herbal cures Balinese-style, she ponders the many paths to divinity, the true nature of happiness, and the boon of good-hearted, sexy love. Gilbert's sensuous and audacious spiritual odyssey is as deeply pleasurable as it is enlightening." by Donna Seaman

MY REVIEW: I loved this book when she was in Italy discovering her love of food; in India learning to mediate; but it lost my interest in Indonesia when she's trying to find love. It turns out what she's trying to find is LUST, not love. Totally inappropriate. Like I said though, her journey through Italy is so fun and yummy, and I loved her description of grueling yoga and mediation sessions.So my suggestion is if your going to read this book is to read the first and second part and end it there. You will not miss the ending.

Pumpkin Dip

2010-10-01T15:53:00.002-06:00

Happy October! I would like to start the month with a fantastic recipe for pumpkin dip. I served this at a recipe exchange and everybody loved it!I served this with apples, graham crackers, and nilla wafers!

Pumpkin Dip

Ingredients:
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese,
softened
2 cups confectioners' sugar (I only used 1 and 1/2 Cups and thought it was perfect)
1 (15 ounce) can solid pack pumpkin
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice
1 teaspoon frozen orange juice concentrate

Directions:
1. In a medium bowl, blend cream cheese and confectioners' sugar until smooth. Gradually mix in the pumpkin. Stir in the cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice, and orange juice until smooth and well blended. Chill until serving.

Here are my results:

Plain Potato Soup

2010-09-28T15:26:00.003-06:00

I LOVE POTATOES! Just thought everybody should know. It's my favorite food and the one I would choose to eat for the rest of my life if somebody made me choose. Unlikely, but still. Here's a fabulous recipe for potato soup now that fall will be upon us soon. It's way simple and way yummy!

Plain Potato Soup

Ingredients:
4 potatoes, peeled and cubed
water to cover
2 (12 fluid ounce) cans evaporated milk
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
salt and pepper to taste

Directions:
1. Place the potatoes in a large pot over high heat. Add water to cover, about 1 inch over the potatoes. Boil for about 10 to 15 minutes, or until potatoes are tender.Do not drain.
2. Reduce heat to low and pour in the evaporated milk and the butter. Mash the potatoes in the pot with a potato masher. Season with salt and white pepper to taste.

Here are the results:

Cream Cheese Penguins

2010-09-24T11:57:00.002-06:00

Already planning your Christmas Party? Me neither. BUT I do have a cute idea when that time comes around.... Cream Cheese Penguins! They are adorable. Kids love them and adults think they're cute too.

Cream Cheese Penguins

Ingredients:
18 jumbo black olives, pitted
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese,softened (I used flavored cream cheese)
18 small black olives
1 carrot

Directions:
1. Cut a slit from top to bottom, lengthwise, into the side of each jumbo olive. Carefully insert about 1 teaspoon of cream cheese into each olive.(If you use a plastic sandwhich bag with one corner cut off, this is much easier) Slice the carrot into eighteen 1/4 inch thick rounds; cut a small notch out of each carrot slice to form feet. Save the cut out piece and press into center of small olive to form the beak. If necessary cut a small slit into each olive before inserting the beak.
2. Set a big olive, large hole side down, onto a carrot slice. Then, set a small olive onto the large olive, adjusting so that the beak, cream cheese chest and notch in the carrot slice line up. Secure with a toothpick.

Here are my results:

The Food Nanny Rescues Dinner

2010-09-24T11:30:00.005-06:00

On BYU TV, sometimes I see The Food Nanny. She helps people sit down and plan their dinners ahead of time. She's so bubbly and fun to watch. I met her at Swiss Days and she was just as energetic in person. She has a book: The Food Nanny Rescues Dinner.I've already tried her Crunchy Parmesan Baked Chicken and it was 5 stars amazing! I've cooked a few things out of her book and here are the results:

Mac & Cheese Kids Crave

First time I made homemade mac & cheese and we both loved it.

Northern-Style Corn Bread with Liz's Honey Butter

Husband said this was the best corn bread he's ever tasted. We also loved the honey butter.

French Baguettes

These were way easy by the way! And they were pretty good. I didn't have a baguette pan but they turned out chewy anyways.

The Dark Divine

2010-09-22T22:36:00.003-06:00

The description of The Dark Divine as found on amazon.com
"Grace Divine, a pastor's daughter, doesn't think she lives up to the name that her father tells her means "heavenly help." Her brother, Jude, a church volunteer whose faith seems unshakable, has always seemed to be the more "graceful" Divine. When his friend Daniel returns to town after a long and mysterious absence, Jude recognizes Grace's attraction to him but urges her to stay away with unusual vehemence. Against his advice, Grace begins a relationship with Daniel, whose reluctance to discuss his disappearance piques her curiosity. As she attempts to uncover the mystery of Daniel's past, Jude discourages her investigations with oblique references to an ancient evil and a transforming curse. The novel builds to a dramatic climax involving the surprise revelation of a Divine family secret and a violent confrontation that suggests a possible sequel. Despain's first novel mixes romance and the supernatural and offers true love as the ultimate defense against lycanthropes. This long novel is a slow starter, but as Grace discovers unexpected local connections to the mystery of Daniel's absence, the pace picks up and the suspense builds. Although not a novel of Christian fiction, the book's thematic investment in faith and sacrifice distinguishes it from traditional supernatural romances."

MY REVIEW: I really did enjoy this book. I thought it was another Twilight Ripoff, but it totally wasn't. This one actually had a plot and was very well written. It had me thinking and guessing up until the last chapter. I really liked this book and was glad I read it.

Vegetarian Lime Orzo

2010-09-20T22:03:00.004-06:00

Once again, I came upon this recipe by necessity. I had orzo I needed to use and have never cooked it before. This dish turned out spectacular. If I had a LARGE non-stick skillet, I surely would have used it in this recipe, since the orzo tended to stick. It just so happens to be vegetarian, but you can use chicken broth like I did if you aren't so strict in the vegetarian area.

Vegetarian Lime Orzo

Ingredients:
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 cups orzo pasta
1 zucchini, peeled and shredded
1 carrot, peeled and shredded
1 (16 ounce) can stewed tomatoes,undrained
1 (14 ounce) can vegetable broth
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1 teaspoon dried basil leaves
salt and black pepper to taste
1/4 cup chopped green onions
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
2 teaspoons grated lime zest
2 tablespoons lime juice
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese for topping

Directions:
1. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Stir in the garlic and orzo pasta; cook and stir until pasta turns a light, golden color, about 5 minutes. Stir in zucchini and carrots; cook until vegetables soften, about 2 minutes. Stir in the tomatoes, vegetable broth, Italian seasoning, and basil. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Reduce heat to medium. Cover, and simmer until almost all liquid is absorbed, about 10 minutes. Stir in the green onions, parsley, lime zest, and lime juice. Remove from heat, cool slightly, and serve sprinkled with Parmesan cheese.

Here are the results:

Asian Chicken Salad

2010-09-16T12:26:00.003-06:00

I saw this on the side panel of a Keebler box one day and thought it looked yummy, so I tried it and it was! A nice change from a tuna sandwich. You can serve it on crackers or make a sandwich out of it. Here's the recipe:

Asian Chicken Salad

Ingredients:

* 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
* 2 teaspoons reduced-sodium soy sauce
* 1/2 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
* 2 cups finely chopped, cooked chicken breast (I use canned chicken)
* 1/2 cup finely chopped red bell pepper
* 1/2 cup sliced green onions
* Keebler® Club® Crackers
* Coarse ground black pepper

Directions:
1. In small bowl stir together mayonnaise, soy sauce and sesame oil.

2. In medium bowl toss together chicken, bell pepper and onions. Add mayonnaise mixture. Toss to coat. Serve on crackers. Sprinkle with pepper.

Here are the results:

Some of Saving Dinner's Food

2010-09-12T12:36:00.007-06:00

I am a big fan of the Saving Dinner book and website. Here are a few pics of recipes from the book.
Fish in a Bag:

Skillet Chicken with Spinach:

Parmesan Drumsticks:

Warm Spinach Salad

Caramelized Garlic Chicken

Caramel Filled Chocolate Cookies

2010-09-09T17:31:00.004-06:00

If anybody ever asks me what my favorite cookies are, I tell them Caramel Filled Chocolate Cookies HANDS DOWN. I make mine with Rolos but I've made them with a king-sized Caramello bar before. They are so yummy! MY CHANGES ARE IN BOLD

Caramel Filled Chocolate Cookies

Ingredients:
1 cup butter, softened
1 cup white sugar
1 cup packed brown sugar
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 cup chopped walnuts (I hate nuts so I leave these out!)
1 tablespoon white sugar
48 chocolate-covered caramel candies

Directions:
1. Beat butter until creamy. Gradually beat in white sugar and brown sugar. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Combine flour, baking soda, and cocoa. Gradually add to butter mixture, beating well. Stir in 1/2 cup walnuts. Cover and chill at least 2 hours. I don't chill them, I don't have patience
2. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
3. Combine remaining 1/2 cup nuts with the 1 tablespoon sugar. Divide the dough into 4 parts. Work with one part at a time, leaving the remainder in the refrigerator until needed. Divide each part into 12 pieces. Quickly press each piece of dough around a chocolate covered caramel. Roll into a ball. Dip the tops into the sugar mixture. Place sugar side up, 2 inches apart on greased baking sheets.
4. Bake for 8 minutes in the preheated oven. Let cool for 3 to 4 minutes on the baking sheets before removing to wire racks to cool completely.

Here are the results:

YUMMY!

Brussels Sprouts with Mushrooms

2010-09-08T17:06:00.002-06:00

I don't get why people don't like Brussels Sprouts. They are delicious to me and I needed a change of pace in my vegetable department. I'm sick of canned green beans. I loved this recipe.

Brussels Sprouts with Mushrooms

Ingredients:
4 cups Brussels sprouts, trimmed and halved
1/2 pound whole mushrooms
5 tablespoons butter
1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley
salt and pepper to taste
fresh lemon juice

Directions:
1. Cook Brussels sprouts in a pot of lightly salted boiling water for 15 minutes, or until fork-tender; strain through a colander, removing as much water as possible. Set aside.
2. Melt butter in a large skillet over medium high heat. Cook and stir mushrooms until lightly browned. Toss Brussels sprouts with mushrooms, and sprinkle with parsley and lemon juice. Serve immediately.

Here are the results:

Shiver

2010-09-07T15:50:00.004-06:00

I ran across Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater on a friend's blog and since she seemed to like it so much, I decided to give it a whirl. Here's the description from the author's website:
"For years, Grace has watched the wolves in the woods behind her house. One yellow-eyed wolf—her wolf—is a chilling presence she can't seem to live without. Meanwhile, Sam has lived two lives: In winter, the frozen woods, the protection of the pack, and the silent company of a fearless girl. In summer, a few precious months of being human... until the cold makes him shift back again.

Now, Grace meets a yellow-eyed boy whose familiarity takes her breath away. It's her wolf. It has to be. But as winter nears, Sam must fight to stay human—or risk losing himself, and Grace, forever. "

My review: SPOILER ALERT:I enjoyed The Twilight Series and my first thought when I read this book is "Total ripoff of Twilight". There are too many similarities for me to think this is another werewolf book. I'm pretty sure they even have pack members with the same name. The one thing I didn't like about Twilight was the stalker scenario between Edward and Bella, and that Bella actually LIKES it, and the same with this book. Sam is a stalker and Grace likes it. At least in Twilight they actually waited until they were married to "seal the deal" but in this book, NOPE, just do whatever you little heart desires.

So as you can see, I wasn't impressed. I wanted to be but wasn't. Sorry.

The BEST Zucchini Bread

2010-09-02T15:38:00.002-06:00

Still have more zucchini? The only way my hubby REALLY likes zucchini is in zucchini bread form. I have to admit, I have never tried another zucchini bread recipe other than this because it always gets rave reviews and I figure "Why go searching when I've got what I want." It's also great because it doesn't have any eggs or complicated directions, just mix everything together! This recipe originally appeared in my church cookbook.

Zucchini Bread
Ingredients:
1 C. sugar
1 C. brown sugar
1 C. Oil
3 C. zucchini,grated
3 tsp. vanilla
3 C. flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. baking powder
3 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 C. nuts/raisins, optional (I don't put in because of my preference)

Directions:
Mix together, Bake for 1 hour at 325°F. Make 1 (9X13 inch pan) or 2 loaf pans.

Here are the results:

Right out of the oven

Yummy Goodness!

RAINBOW COLOR	DROPS OF FOOD COLORING
Purple	9 red and 6 blue drops
Blue	12 drops
Green	12 drops
Yellow	12 drops
Orange	12 yellow and 4 red drops
Red	18 drops