A Red-Haired Gal on a Cow

Home on the Range: Where's Waldo?

2012-02-13T17:30:00.000-07:00

Once again the public library is our source for family night entertainment. This time we went to the library and picked up an audio book and a Where's Waldo book. We came home and snacked away while listening to an audio book and hunting for Waldo's and his friends. Then we got distracted by just looking for funny things in the picture. The plus to sharing a Where's Waldo book.... you have to cuddle. : )

If you want to make this more church related there are bible search and find books. You can also relate it to the gospel by making a lesson about how Heavenly Father know all of his children....and there are even more of his children on earth than there are people in all of the Where's Waldo books!

Journal Jar: My Dad

2012-02-11T09:57:00.000-07:00

"Do you and your father share any interests? Tell about your relationship with him."

There are a few things that my dad and I both enjoy doing. We both like to play board games and card games. We both enjoy a good chocolate milkshake. We love sitting down together at the piano and making the house shake as we sing old country songs. We like performing, but we both can be quiet and reserved in crowds of people we don't really know. We both grew up as redheads. We both like dogs.

My dad is one of my favorite people. When I was a kid, not yet in school, I loved taking my afternoon nap curled up on the floor in the living room next to my dad. I'd help get him comfortable for nap time by covering him with an knitted, gold and pink, blanket. I'd also get him a pillow; grab the hair on his head, shove the pillow under his head, and then drop my hold on his hair sending his head crashing down. I was so helpful. :)

I went to my dad's cowboy poetry performances and was his prop in a poem called "Romeo Cowboy" by Sourdough Slim. He needed a girl with red hair and freckles :). As I got older I started to perform parts of the poem with him.... leaving the yodeling for him of course.

My dad and I had a tradition, when I was in high school, to play games every Sunday night. We'd put together a plate of cheese and crackers, make a blender full of chocolate milkshake, and played Scrabble. Every now and then we'd play a different game, but Scrabble was usually our game of choice.

Another thing that we both loved doing when I was in high school was to have music jam sessions. I would play the piano and my dad would play the harmonica or Jew's harp. We played a lot of old country songs and would sing at the top of our lungs; sometimes while singing my dad would start yodeling. These jam sessions usually happened a few times a month. One night my dad and I re-wrote the song " 'Cause I'm Busted" and called it " 'Cause I'm Mormon" (my mom helped out too) . We later ended up performing it at a couple of church functions. It was quite the contrast to the pretty violin and piano duets.... we sounded more like a drinking song : ).


Daddy Daughter dance at my wedding reception. The song we danced to was the song my dad sang to me as my childhood lullaby... an old country song.

My relationship with my dad was a bit different than my siblings' relationships with him. I came along six years after everyone else, and I had a different set of interests. My dad has always worked hard to take care of us and support us in our different activities. With my brothers and sister that meant operating chutes for a lot of rodeos and roping, bucking the bucking barrel, and building a mechanical bull. With me, it meant going to plays and concerts and paying for private piano and voice lessons. There are so many other memories I could write about my dad. The dark walks through the sagebrush at night that included stories about trolls. The night we went ice-skating on the reservoir behind our house. Riding in the tractor together. Fishing for suckers and carp. Dancing at the fairs. The day I got married. And so many more! I LOVE YOU DAD!!!

Home on the Range: Ice-Skating

2012-02-06T21:17:00.001-07:00

In the area where I live there is an ice-skating ring where you can skate for free if you have your own skates. So for a family night Hubby and I went ice-skating. I had gotten a pair of second-hand figure skates when I was still single for less than $5. Hubby also had his own skates already. Even so, to rent skates is only a $1.50. Inexpensive fun. Sounds like our kind of fun! Check out your neighborhood to see what you can do for an inexpensive family night. Let me know what you find. :)

Starting Family History

2012-01-28T10:58:00.001-07:00

I've been meaning to share some post on starting family history, but have been unsure of how to get started. I love learning about my family and ancestors, and I often spend a day or two every month working on family history. I couldn't remember how I really got started on my family history. My mom and my grandmother also work on family history, so it always just kind of been there. So I went to the website were I do most of my history research and I found some videos that might help those of you who are beginning family history.

Here is the link to the first video to help you get started on family history/ research:
http://bcove.me/94gaocdg

For more videos to help you get started go to
https://www.familysearch.org/learn and click on "Get started now".

Journal Jar: Bats in the Belfry

2012-01-26T19:19:00.001-07:00

Did you ever sleep out with your friends? Share a memory of staying overnight with a friend.

I think my most memorable sleepover happened when my friend "J" stayed over at my house. J was a year younger than me in school. Although, we lived only a couple of miles apart and went to the same church, we didn't really become close friends until high school. As kids we were friends, but as we weren't in the same grade we weren't as close of friends. Before my senior year of high school J had only been to my house twice, yet one of those times was so eventful that we still laugh about it.

J came to sleep over one night while we were still in elementary school. We decided that we were going to sleep out in the yard, so we hauled our sleeping bags to my backyard. We got ready for bed then climbed into our sleeping bags around dusk. It was still a little light outside as we lay on our stomachs, about a foot apart, talking and giggling. Then suddenly a bat swooped down and zoomed between us! We both screamed and yanked our sleeping bags over our heads. We waited for what seemed like an eternity (30-60 seconds probably) before we poked our heads our of sleeping bags. The coast was clear. We decided that we were still going to sleep under the stars, and hoped that we wouldn't get attacked by bats. We lay on our backs looking at the stars. It was really fun... for a while. As our eyes adjusted we saw dark swooping bats, then we heard strange noises in the dark of the night. We jumped out of our sleeping bags, grabbed them and our pillows, and high-tailed it for safety inside.

Home on the Range: Game for 3...WRONG!

2012-01-24T20:22:00.003-07:00

Despite what the box may say you do not need three players to play Settlers of Catan. Perhaps it is more exciting to play with 3-4, but it is still fun and totally possible to play with just two people. We just recently acquired the game and we really wanted to play it. The first time we played we had a third player... we both took turns playing for the third player. It was confusing trying to remember who we had just rolled for... our selves or our invisible friend. So last night for family night we just played again.. just us two and without an invisible friend. Have you ever played a game with less players than the box suggested?

Concentrating

This is my game face....hidden. I don't want to reveal what I'm thinking!

Are you sure you want to do that?

I didn't think so :)

Peanut Butter Brownie Cups

2012-01-21T06:30:00.000-07:00

These turned out really yummy! You'll want to have a glass of milk when you eat one though--you usually do with peanut butter.

1/2 c. peanut butter

1/4 c. packed brown sugar

2 TBS. plus 1-1/2 c. flour, divided

3 squares (1 oz. each) unsweetened chocolate

1/2 c. butter, cubed

3 eggs

1 -1/2 c. sugar

2 TBS. water

1 tsp. vanilla

1 tsp. baking powder

1. In a small bow, bear the peanut butter, brown sugar and 2 TBS. flour until blended; set aside.
2. In a microwave safe bowl, melt the chocolate and butter; stir until smooth. Cool slightly.
3. In a large bowl, beat the eggs, sugar and water; stir in chocolate mixture and vanilla. Combine baking powder and remaining flour; gradually add to chocolate mixture.
4. Fill paper-lined muffin cups 1/4 full. Top each with about 1 tsp. of peanut butter mixture. Spoon remaining batter over the top. Bake at 350 degrees for 13-15 minutes or until the centers are set (do not over bake). Cool for 5 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks.

Journal Jar: Most Embarrassing Teen Moment

2012-01-19T06:00:00.000-07:00

" What was you most really embarrassing moment as a teenager?"

I believe that teenagers have a lot of embarrassing moments; it comes with the territory. It's the age where you start to really care what others think about you. As a theatre geek, you wouldn't expect that I would get embarrassed easily. Despite what my brothers may think I did get embarrassed as a teen. Most of my embarrassing moments come from not processing my thoughta before I act.

During the final dress rehearsal for Footloose during my senior year, all of us female principle characters decided that we'd attempt the final scene without our microphones. We decided that there wasn't a good, discret place to put our mics on our final costumes. We finished up our last scene and then waited for notes from our directors. One of the notes included that the girls need to wear their mics in the last scene. Being the oldest of the girls, I felt it was my job to speak up.

"Mr. M? Where are we going to put our mics so the audience won't see them? Our formal dresses don't exactly have pockets."

Mr. M, bravely responded, "Well, then, drop it down the front," as he pantomimed dropping something down the front of a dress.

I am not a "well endowed" girl, and without thinking I shouted, "There's no where to drop it to!"

The auditorium went dead silent. Over a hundred teenagers and you could have heard a pin drop. Then the laughter started to roll forward. I sunk in my seat, and nearly crawled underneath it. Needless to say, a teen, who is self conscious about her body, should think before she announces her insecurities to a whole auditorium.

P.S. What I lacked in front I made up for with my long, red hair. We ended up clipping my mic to the back of my dress and letting my mane of curls hide what my dress bodice could not.

Book and Oreos

2012-01-17T17:45:00.003-07:00

Family night for two is a challenge, but it's still important to set aside time to spend together. This week we ate Oreo cookies with milk and started reading a book together. We have read books aloud to each other before and always enjoy it.... of course, doing voices for all of the characters makes it even more fun. We are currently reading The Lightening Thief by Rick Riordan. We started reading books together while we were dating. We spent four months apart with only cell phones to connect us. Eventually, you begin to struggle for conversation but you just want to stay on the phone and hear each others voice. So we read books together. We'd check out the same book and read it together over the phone. Some of the books we've enjoyed reading together, over the phone or while cuddling, are Cheaper by the Dozen by Frank B. Gilbreth, Jr and Ernestine Gilbreth Carey and the Fablehaven series by Brandon Mull.

P.S. If you stick a fork into the creme filling of an Oreo cookie it is easier to dunk into the milk. You don't get your fingers dipped into the milk and you can dunk the entire cookie at once. Oreo cookies are also good when they are frozen.

2012-01-07T12:17:00.001-07:00

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The Mason Jar: Make-Believe

2012-01-05T23:00:00.002-07:00

Today's question from The Mason Jar is:

"When you played make-believe, what did you pretend to be?"

This is a really funny question when you are a theatre teacher, especially since I joined some students in a few improvisation games today. I was pretending to be part of a funny noise making machine and a girl who was afraid of a mouse.

When I was a little kid I played make-believe a lot. I had few playmate options as I was the youngest by six years and I didn't have any neighbor kids to play with. I lived in a world of books, dolls, Barbies, puppies, and kittens. I would put on puppet shows and plays. We have a family video where my dad is taking tickets and ushering my siblings to their seats to watch my newest puppet show...that I was making up on the spot. My mom managed to catch the whole thing on video...including one of my brothers booing to make me lose my little red headed temper. Big brothers. Always teasing. :)

I also loved to pretend to play "house". I'd take one of my dolls (either Cane Sugar, Tanja Rochelle, Pinky, Blue Boy, Vincent, Elizabeth, or Emily) to all of my siblings rodeos. Cane Sugar (named after Marilyn Monroe's character "Sugar Cane" in the old movie Some Like It Hot...I was a strange kid) or Tanja Rochelle were my favorites...even though mothers aren't supposed to have favorites. I had a basket I used as a car seat, an old diaper bag from my infancy, and the plastic ring from a Ring Pop that I used as a pacifier. It always embarrassed my brothers when I took my doll to the rodeo. It always annoyed me when the same little girl at every rodeo tried to take my doll. Those dolls were my best playmates and best friends in my games of make-believe. Sometimes the other kids at the rodeo would say that we should play "Power Rangers".... I didn't have T.V. so I didn't know what they were talking about, but I'd run around and pretend that I did. :) It was make-believe in every sense of the word. :)

So readers...when you played make believe, what did you pretend to be?

Recipe: Homemade Hummus

2012-01-02T19:48:00.003-07:00

Homemade Hummus
1 16oz can of chickpeas or garbanzos beans
1/4 c. liquid from can of chickpeas
3-5 TB lemon juice (depending on taste)
1/4 tsp. cumin
1 clove garlic, crushed
1/2 tsp salt
1 TBS olive oil

Drain chickpeas and set aside liquid from can. Combine remaining ingredients in blender or food processor. Add 1/4 c. liquid from chickpeas. Blend for 3-5 minutes. Add additional oil if dry.

I also added in some balsamic vinegar and ginger.... just add spices to taste.

New Additions to A Red-Haired Gal on a Cow

2012-01-01T16:13:00.002-07:00

This year I'm going to be, hopefully, blogging more frequently. I will be continuing to add new recipes, adventures, and general updates...and more frequently than last year. I will be adding a few more kinds of posts to my blog. I will be including tips, ideas, and stories on gathering information and stories about your ancestors in a segment called "Raised in a Barn?". I will also be doing a segment called "Home on the Range" about having Family Night when there are only two of you in the home . And finally, I will also be doing a segment called "Mason Jar", where I will be answering questions from a jar full of journal writing prompts.

I'm hoping to post 3-5 times a week. That's a big goal for me, but I actually made it a New Year's resolution. I've created a 30 minute time slot Tuesday-Friday to work on this blog. I really do enjoy blogging and hope that more readers will continue to join A Red Haired Gal on a Cow this year!

A Walk Down Cow-Chasing Memory Lane

2011-12-26T01:20:00.002-07:00

I was going through some of my old things and I found a letter I wrote to a friend serving a mission inn Scotland for The Church of Jesus-Christ of Latterday Saints. It made me laugh so I thought I'd share part of it:

"Sunday, October 9th, 2005

Dear Friend,

I just went on the ride of my life! It's Sunday around 7 o'clock p.m. and we had a cow get out. My mom and I were the only ones at home so we scrambled to find shoes and coats. My mom beat me out to our blue Ford pickup and started it. Every time the blue truck gets started a huge cloud of black exhaust comes boiling out of the tailpipe. I had the unfortunate experience of stepping out onto the sundeck just as my mom started the blue truck. The world became dark for a moment as the haze of black exhaust past by me. I ran on towards the truck gagging and gasping. I jerked open the door and sprang up into the seat. My mom backed up and told me, "Hold on!"And, then, with my mother making "vrrrruming" sounds like a kid playing with toy cars, off we shot! The truck jolted forward throwing me in the same direction. This truck is definitely not a smooth ride! Down the driveway we bounced at top speed. My mom slammed on the brakes just as we came to end of the drive way. The coast was clear, so we erupted out the driveway onto the main road. I think my mom pealed out and left some rubber on the road. Our poor dog, Cain, was in the back of the truck holding on for dear life as we jounced down the road. We then whipped into the field where the culprit cow was. Now, if you've ever drove through a field, which for some strange reason I think you may have, you'll know that they can be extremely bumpy. Up and down! Left and right! Hit the seat! Hit the ceiling! I wish this truck had seat belts! I wish I had on a helmet! We zipped up by the cow, trying to get around her. Stupid cow! Now you have to realize that this situation was not frustrating, as herding cows can easily become. I was getting jolted around, sometimes it felt as if I was upside down I was bouncing so much, but my mother and I were laughing our heads off. We finally got around the cow and got her over by the gate. My mom rushed in to open the gate, while I dashed over to cut the cow off at the pass. My mom got the gate open and I intercepted the cow. The cow kept running at me, so being the true farm girl that's hidden somewhere deep inside me, I jumped up and down, hooting and hollering. "Hip! hip! Yehaw! Stupid cow! Hiyah! Whoooo! Heyup! Heyup!" The cow, probably frightened out of her mind at the luntic in front of her, turned tail and bolted through the gate.

After getting the gate put back up, we piled back into the old, blue truck. I told my mom, "Let's go tearing through that field again! That was fun!" My mom, with an imp like grin on her face, replied, " What! I would never drive like that!" We jostled up to the main road, and then. BANG! We were off! my mom said, "If you're going to drive this truck, you have to drive with attitude!" I told her, "Yah! Especially with that sticker in the back window!" You see we had to have the back window replaced , so the mechanic found a used one to replace it with. It has several rock radio station stickers on it, but that's not what's funny. There is a Calvin sticker with Calvin peeing of Saddam's name, around it read, "Kiss your *** goodbye!" Can you picture my family in a truck with that sticker?

Hope all is going well,

Your friend,
A Red-Haired Gal

2011 Nuttiest moments in a Nutshell

2011-12-19T13:31:00.000-07:00

2011 in a Nutshell:

I had my first and hopefully last call center job.
Hubby worked as a photo lab assistant.
I got a violin and started learning to play it....somewhat.
We went to two teacher job fair in Utah.
I had job interviews with schools in Alaska and Utah.
I was hired at a new charter high school in Utah.
We went on a perfect bug-free overnight camp out in May.
Hiked "R" Mountain in the dark.
Went to a drive-in movie together for the first time... we took our car to see Cars 2.
We were temple workers in the Rexburg, Idaho LDS temple.
Hubby went paint balling for the first time.
Went to the last Harry Potter movie....with our Harry Potter Puppets pals that I made.

I look like I didn't dress up.... I didn't... I made puppets instead :)

Graduated from college....both of us.... Whoot!

We didn't plan our color coordinated outfits... it just happened!

Oh the faces you'll see!

Rode a tandem bike to our graduation :)

Riding a tandem bike in a skirt is challenging!

Took Hubby's mom and dad to Yellowstone....Hubby's dad's first time!

We moved to Utah.
Went on a road trip to the west coast and drove along the coast from San Francisco to Washington.

Golden Gate Bridge

Last beach we stopped at we finally took a picture of us together

Redwood Forest

Lady Bird path in Redwood Forest

Hey! We know a guy with that name :)

The Great Adventurers!

Drove on the craziest road ever.... 16% grade, extremely windy, one lane, lots of trees, and a 55mph speed limit.
My first time seeing a light house....both of our first time being in one.

Point Arena Lighthouse

Visited the Tillamook Factory....ate a whole carton of Udderly Chocolate Ice-cream...best flavor!
I started my first year teaching.

First day of school....or maybe it was the second. This one is for you Mom!

My first time swimming in the Great Salt Lake...."Look Ma! No hands"

My first baseball game....free game and food thanks to Hubby's deal hunting!

We both survived my first time directing a high school production!
Made it to Winter break!(This is a really big one milestone for a first year teacher...any teacher actually)
We've also read lots of books, ate lots of good food, and played lots of games (favorites this year included Wackee Six and Monopoly Deal).

Pied Piper

2011-12-19T12:34:00.001-07:00

Today we are in Idaho at my parent's house. It was a beautiful, frosty morning. Hubby decided to go out and take photos of all the lovely frostiness. As he walked through the horse pasture below the house the horses started to get curious. They started to follow Hubby about and eventually surrounded him. It's hard to take pictures when you're surrounded by a herd of horses. As Hubby attempted to switch lens on his camera the horses kept trying to press their noses in his camera bag. While all this was happening my mom and I were watching from house window... laughing our heads off. Hubby looked like the pied piper as the horses trailed along behind him.

Turkeys and Trees

2011-11-27T17:39:00.001-07:00

As a child I had two Thanksgiving dinners. One at my maternal grandparents' home and one at my paternal grandparents home. My paternal grandparents passed away almost 16 years ago, so mainly my family Thanksgiving has been with my maternal grandparents. Due to the play I've been gearing up for (it's this week AHHH!) I was unable to make it to my family's Thanksgiving dinner this year. I did however spend Thanksgiving day with my in-laws. It was a day filled with laughter, food, teasing, and screaming (don't worry... the screams were from the little kids playing laser tag and Wackee Six). This year's Thanksgiving was an adventure...especially for my mother-in-law "S" and sister-in-law "L". My father-in-law and brother-in-law took them on a surprise date. They flew out from SLC airport, the women not knowing where they were going other than to Dayton, Ohio. The gals were surprised to end up in Dayton, Ohio to see Les Miserables. They, the gals, had no idea until they arrived at the theatre and picked up their tickets. Of course, the men folk knew that they'd never get those gals out of the house, the day before Thanksgiving only to return on Thanksgiving day around noon, willingly. These were the two women in that were supposed to be in charge on Thanksgiving dinner. Great-grandma (GG) thought the men folk had lost their minds and truly began to question the sanity of said men. So while the women folk were being 'kidnapped' and 'forced' to enjoy a cultural event the little children and dinner were left in the hands of Ru (age 21), Hubby (age 26), Ra (19), and me (23). Ru was the primary ringleader and circus master as she watched 10 kids, made pies, yams, and stuffing and got the turkey started. Hubby and I arrived in time to help with the turkey. Okay, Hubby helped.... I just watched and laughed. Ru and Hubby kept screaming "AHHHH!!!" and then laughing. I was on hand with the only pair of raw turkey, free hands. I pulled cell phones from pockets to check for texts of instructions from the kidnapped women folk who were winging their way back to Utah. No instructions came..... I called my mother and Hubby called his Aunt "C". At one point I was on the phone with my mom and shrieks and laughter could be heard in the background as Hubby and Ru both had their hands full of stuffing and stuffed into a 20 pound turkey. I guess you kind of hand to be there to truly enjoy the humor in the moment, but let's just say the turkey survived (well it was already dead) and so did everyone who ate the turkey. Dinner turned out wonderful, in spite of GG's doubts. I think I know now why my mom and I made chicken enchiladas as our main dish one Thanksgiving..... it was a whole lot easier!

Christmas tree hunting in Idaho (2010)

With Thanksgiving behind us, we participated in another of Hubby's family traditions....Christmas tree hunting. We defy death as Hubby's father drives up a rough, mountain dirt road paved in ice and snow, closing our eyes to avoid seeing just how close we are sliding off the edge of a steep embankment and praying we don't get stuck, roll over an edge, or meet another vehicle coming down the narrow road. We ask ourselves as we continue to drive towards near death "why do we do this?". When we reach our destination we pile out of the vehicles and the tree hunters disappear into the woods. While hunting for the perfect Christmas tree we slip and slide in the snow, trudge up the mountain, and roll our ankles multiple times. We climb over logs and break through dead branches. We see the perfect tree. We risk broken bones and necks to reach it. We fall over in the snow as we tripped over yet another downed tree. We peel off layers of snow clothes and wonder why we ever thought we'd be cold. We reach the tree... only to find that it is completely bare in back or is a group of three small trees growing so close that alone none of them are desirable Christmas trees. But look! In the distance is the perfect tree! The process repeats about 20 or more times, until you finally find a tree that looks pretty good.... or you're just tired and bruised from the last 30 'perfectly' not good Christmas trees. You chop your tree down, assuming you haven't come to the realization that you forgot the hatchet. Then you have to drag that stupid tree all of the way back to camp. Why do we do this? TRADITION! TRADITION! Actually this is one of my favorite traditions, because even though it is a lot of work it is fun to look back at the memories. Our Christmas tree begins to mean something more than just a fake tree we pull out of a box or bag. As we smell the delicious tree scent all month we remember the hike through the woods. We remember the beauty of this world our Heavenly Father made for us. We remember the laughter and tears we faced as a family in order to get that tree. And every year we remember the adventures of previous Christmas tree hunts. Last year Hubby and I were in Idaho and went Christmas tree hunting with just us two. We ended up renting snowshoes before we went because the snow came up to my sternum. Each year it's different and each time we laugh and enjoy those old family memories as we make new family memories. Traditions are the patterns in the fabric of our lives.

Christmas Tree Hunting in Idaho (2010)

Christmas tree hunting in Utah (2011)

Why I am a teacher....

2011-11-10T18:18:00.001-07:00

There are many frustrations in the first year of teaching... especially when you are at a brand new school and you often don't have the equipment you need. I am often frustrated that I'm creating a theatre program without a theatre at my school. I am however grateful to have stage to use for our performances. But enough of the complaining, today I'm here to share some of those moment from today that reminded why I teach.

Moment #1: Today my theatre students started creating set designs for Pirates of Penzance, the show we are doing in May. I asked students for different ideas on how to create multiple set on one stage. Their answers ranged from drops using a fly unit to creating a set that changes scenes like a book. I then turned them loose to draw their sets. Not every student got really into the assignment, but oh, those students that did! They came up with some amazing ideas! Ideas that I hadn't even thought of before. AND THEN.... they kept coming to me through out the day with more ideas, sketches, and they got their friends outside of class involved with their ideas. Talk about a ripple effect! My students are amazing, creative, and energetic! Teenagers can conquer anything!

Moment #2: During theatre I taught the students a new game that I learned at a summer camp I worked at before I got married. It's called "The Captain is Coming!" The game had little to do theatre, but it related to pirates and since they had been working so hard on their designs for The Pirates of Penzance I decided that it was appropriate. Plus it does help students with their abilities to follow directions. ANYWAY, it was the first game where ALL of the students were got really involved. They loved it! I heard about it all day! There were a few students that I thought would only participate half-heartily... and I was wrong!They all participated fully! I LOVE IT WHEN I'M WRONG...at least about things like that!

Moment #3: At rehearsal after school for The Curious Savage we tackled Act III.... the act that has been killing our show. I was hoping to get through the entire act. We didn't make it through. We stopped to fix a few troubled scenes along the way. I don't know how to fully describe the changes we made, but let just say that the cast got so into their parts that everyone in the room could feel the emotion. The emotion in just two scenes went from being flat to being a wild roller coaster ride that left the cast reeling when the scenes ended. One actress produced so much of an emotional effect that the other performer couldn't help responding with emotions of their own. It was the perfect rehearsal. Perfect because we all became lost in the world of the play. They emotions felt by the characters was felt by the audience. It was a moment to frame in the my memory and to hang over the mantel of why I do my job. It was glorious... I CAN'T WAIT FOR TOMORROW'S REHEARSAL!!!

MOMENTS LIKE THESE ARE WHY I AM A TEACHER.

Ugly Loveseat No More

2011-11-08T18:08:00.002-07:00

So I had a student bring in this hideous loveseat that had been left out during her neighborhood clean up.

$3 dollars worth of bed sheets from D.I., a staple gun, stapes, and some straight pins, and here is the result:

Not perfect, but definitely better.

Don't you think so?

My cast thinks so!

I still need to set it up on cinder-blocks and add a ruffle, but still... I'm pleased!

A Delightful Weekend

2011-11-05T19:36:00.010-06:00

This weekend has been extremely delightful. I didn't have school on Friday.... an extra long weekend is always delightful. I've stayed up late, slept in late, cuddled with Hubby, spent two hours scouring Desert Industries (a second hand store) for costumes and props for my upcoming show, watched a couple of movies, finished a book, spent a wonderful afternoon in a LDS Temple, and to top it all off my adorable husband made my two favorite things for dinner... deer steak and homemade macaroni (or in this case penne) and cheese. I'm now nice and toasty warm in Hubby's Pac-Man pj's that I got him for Christmas last year (I think I wear them more than he does), I am a very content little lady tonight!

Today was a beautiful day. It snowed last night and everything appeared to be dusted with powdered sugar today. There are still lots of autumn leaves on the trees, so amidst the winter wonderland there were bursts of oranges, reds, and yellows. The slate blue mountains were also dusted in white. Houses looked like gingerbread houses. The sun was popping in and out behind clouds. Beautiful day! Mwa-ha!

Friday my theatre class turned in the fundraiser money.... we made more than I'd hoped to! I am so excited that I'm finally able to purchase things for the set, props, and costuming. One student brought in furniture from her neighborhood cleanup, and furnished almost the entire set. I bought a set of queen sized sheets at D.I. (Deseret Industries) for $3, dyed them blue, and on Monday I'm going to use the sheets to recover the spider home of a loveseat we are using on our set. It definitely needs a new cover. I'll try to take a before and after photo and post them on here.

Well, that's all from me tonight! I'm going to go do so more cuddling in bed while watching a movie. This is a Red Haired Girl signing off for the night.

Our Little Apartment

2011-10-23T18:20:00.002-06:00

Our new apartment can be described as.... cozy :). As there is hardly room for people to visit I thought I'd post some pictures so ya'll could see it!

Today's featured room is our front room... the living room/kitchen.

Here is the living room half of the room:

And here is the kitchen half of the room:

Where in the world have I been?

2011-10-16T22:45:00.003-06:00

So I haven't posted in very long time. It's not because I haven't thought about it, or even wanted to. I've had big plans for posts and new illustrations to go with them. So what happened? Remember the post about me moving? Yeah, well..... I've been super busy! So here is a quick update:

I've started my first year as full time teacher! That's right folks! I'm using that degree I worked so hard to get!

I'm teaching theatre, art, financial literacy/study skills, student government, team teaching debate, and accompanying the school's choir (just as soon as the piano gets tuned)

Did I mention that the high school I'm teaching at is brand new? This means that I'm also creating a theatre program from scratch. AHHHHHHH!!!!!

My new theatre program is already in swing. We just finished our first week of rehearsals! Whoot! The name of the show? The Curious Savage, by John Patrick. It's a great show... check it out sometime!

Did I also mention that I am the assistant debate coach? Friday was our first tournament. My job, though at times dull, was the best job. I got to stay in the area of the cafeteria that our team was staked out in between rounds. I was there to guard the kids things, cheer them up, and cheer them on.

So in short, I've been quite busy. Instead of blogging in my spare time I've been spending time with hubby (we celebrated our two year anniversary at the beginning of them month, and spending time unwinding and trying to relax before I go back to work! I'm busy, I'm happy, I'm a roller coaster of emotions.... I am a first year teacher!

Homemade Vanilla Custard

2011-07-25T12:09:00.005-06:00

I haven't tried this one yet, but my parents make it frequently and they say it's the best custard recipe they've found.

Homemade Vanilla Custard

1/2 c. sugar
3 TB cornstarch
1/2 teaspoon salt
4 egg yolks
3 cups milk
2 TB butter or margarine
2 tsp vanilla extract

Bring first 5 ingredients to a boil in a heavy sauce pan over medium heat (about 20 minutes), whisking constantly; boil, whisking constantly or until thickened. Remove from heat. Stir in butter and vanilla. Place heavy duty plastic directly on surface of custard to keep "skin" from forming. Chill 2 hours.

Peach Cobbler

2011-07-25T11:35:00.002-06:00

This recipe is quick and easy. More importantly it's also yummy!

Peach Cobbler

1/2 c. butter or margarine, melted
1 (16oz) can sliced peaches (my mom and I use home bottled peaches)
1 1/4 c. sugar, divided
1 c. all-purpose flour
1 cup milk
2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt

Pour butter into a shallow 2qt. baking dish; set aside. Drain peaches, reserving 1/4 cup juice. In a saucepan, bring the peaches and juice just to a boil. Meanwhile, in a mixing bowl, combine 1 cup sugar, flour, milk, baking powder and salt; mix will. Pour over butter in baking dish. Spoon hot peaches over batter. Sprinkle with remaining sugar. Bake at 400 degress F for 25 minutes or until cake tests done. Serve warm.

The End of a Chapter in Our Lives

2011-07-21T18:12:00.004-06:00

I've spent the last week and a half packing and cleaning, cleaning and packing. We are leaving Idaho. I've basically always lived in Idaho, with the exception of 3 months in Arizona and 10 weeks in Minnesota. Utah isn't that far away, but I've never lived there before. So that makes this move a first! Hubby is graduating and we are moving to Utah where I have a teaching position at a high school. This marks the close of our college life chapter and the beginning of a new chapter (I don't know what to call this next chapter.)

Tomorrow: Hubby graduates from the university.
Tomorrow: we cram the remainder of our belongings into his parents' monster van and our car. Tomorrow: we leave the apartment we've lived in the longest.
Tomorrow: We say goodbye to friends. Tomorrow: we end a chapter in our lives.

Next week: we start a new chapter in our lives.
Next week: we go on a road trip along the western coast.
Next week: new adventures await!

Next month: I start my first teaching job!
Next month: We look for a new apartment
Next month: Hubby finds a job (hopefully!)

Next year: I have no idea.

Dear world: I'm not calling.... I'm coming!!!!!

2011-06-27T11:19:00.004-06:00

So I've FINALLY finished my job doing telephone surveys! That's right people! I will no longer be bothering all of you across the country with my continous calling and interruptions during mealtime, during kids' bathtimes and bedtimes, when you get home after a long, tiring day at work, and when you have company. I will no longer have to have my eardrums blasted by screaming answering machines, screaming children, and angry screaming women in their forties (or 30's, or 50's, or 80's). I will no longer be able to turn down those unfortunate individuals who will be taking my place when they call to see if I "could answers some questions at this time." Being a phone surveyor has made me realize that we should always be polite, even if that person called you during your dinner time (Just take your phone off the hook during dinner time if you don't want calls..... phone surveyors are not the only people who call during dinner time). Just because you had a bad day doesn't mean you should yell at the person calling. It's not their fault they called. If you can't take the survey still be nice, but straight forward. If you are vague ("now's not a good time" or "not this time") they will probably call you back. The comeback "how about you give me your number and I call you back during your dinner time" is not original people. Being on The National Do Not Call List doesn't prevent phone surveyors from calling you because that list only applies to sales calls. Above all..... DON'T be angry and rude to the surveyor, it's not their fault you were randomly dialed to take a survey. Also.... DON'T just start pushing buttons on your phone.... it really hurts the ears of the person on the other line.

Now that I'm done with phone surveys I'm preparing for the upcoming school year. I will be teaching theatre and art classes at a charter high school. This is my first teaching job and...... I'M SO EXCITED!!!!!! I will be spending the month of July creating lesson plans, packing and cleaning the apartment, spending time with family and friends, and the moving after my hubby graduates. So excited about July! THEN in August we are going on a raod trip to the coast before I start my teaching job. Life is exciting!!!!

Blowing Off Steam

2011-06-01T10:55:00.003-06:00

So when I first started blogging it was out of curiosity. Then I started following other people's amazing blogs and I wanted to become one of those much loved and much followed blogs. I revamped my blog, trying to make it more interesting, trying to make it more focused. I set goals. I carried out those goals for about three months. I lost my enthusiasm.

One blog, of more known acquaintance, that I was following really took off. I followed it because it was a girl that one of my crazy ex boyfriends finally left me to pursue. Since he was crazy and she was fresh out of high school I felt that I should befriend her to save her from the crazy man. She appreciated my efforts and a strange connection was formed between the two of us. When I finally met her in real life I felt like I was given the brush off. She was dating her future husband and our interests were perhaps to different. Although I really didn't mind that we didn't end of being friends, even after our experiences of fending of a crazy man, so I only kept light tabs on her through Facebook and her blog.However, I started to become jealous of her success.

Perhaps some of that jealousy stemmed from my crazy ex leaving me to pursue her. I didn't care that he left me as I had tried ending things several times before, but let's be honest, even though I was glad to be rid of the bugger it always stinks when it's because another girl came along that he thought was prettier and more intriguing. Anyways, I tried not to let that bug me, but it planted feelings of being second rate next to that girl, even when I tried to be her friend. She is very beautiful and talented. When she got married before me, again I felt second rate. When her blog took off, again, I felt second rate. Why do I have this mad desire to compete with this woman?!? She and I are very different. Fashion is important to her. Me, I love dressing up and looking cute, but I don't feel the need to take photos of my outfits and post them on my blog. It appears that she feels clothes make the person, and I don't think clothes make the person. The more I read her blog the more frustrated I became. I hated how inferior her blog made me feel. She posts about clothes and her life with her husband. I am completely happy in my own marriage now so I don't feel jealous of her relationship with her husband. I guess I'm jealous of her success and popularity. Those feelings of jealousy only make me feel petty and silly for being bothered by it. I quit following her blog because I didn't like how I felt after reading it (It wasn't anything she wrote, it was just my own personal bitterness.) I haven't read her blog for a couple of months.

Today I was looking over a friend's blog and I saw a link to that blog that I don't follow anymore. I decided to take a peek. I wish I hadn't. Today I learned that after a year of trying to get pregnant, she is finally going to have a baby. I should be happy for her, right? However it only made me feel inferior once again. Why? Because it's been a longer span of trying, without any results, for me. Why am I upset? Because I have finally had several months where I had accepted that it will be on the Lord's time and not mine. I'd found things to do that have distracted me from the heartache. I picked up an extra teaching endorsement, I started learning the violin, and I've found my dream job teaching theatre at a brand new charter high school. I have been cheered on by family members and friends for pursuing my dreams. My husband and I take crazy road trips and day trips. We do things a person could up and go do with a baby. I had made leaps and bounds of emotional progress, but seeing that blog crushed me once again. I don't want to be envious of this girl. I don't want to harbor bitter feelings. I want to tell her how I feel, but I don't want to hurt her feelings. She really is a good person.

Thanks for a place to vent my blogging friends. I am still really excited about my future and my new teaching job. I'm excited to be moving in a couple of months and starting a new adventure. Although my adventures are not the same as that girl's may be, I need to remind myself that my adventures are my own. They are as grand and as lovely as I make them. I need not compare them with others. I am my own person with my own "style" for life.

Pita Bread

2011-02-12T14:42:00.002-07:00

Whole Wheat Pita Bread

3 to 4 c. whole wheat flour (or 2 c. whole wheat flour and 1-2 c. white flour)
1 TBS. dry yeast
1 1/4 c. warm water (120-130*)
1/2 teaspoon salt (opt.)

Mix 2 cups flour and dry yeast. Add water and salt, and mix well. Gradually add remaining flour until dough cleans the sides of the bowl. Dough should be moderately stiff. Knead 4-5 minutes, until dough is smooth and elastic. Do not over-knead. Form dough into 10 balls. On a flouted counter top, roll each ball from the center out into a round 1/4 inch thick and 5-6 inches in diameter. Be certain both sides are lightly covered with flour. Place on a lightweight, nonstick baking sheet. Let rise 30 minutes or until slightly raised. Preheat oven to 500*.

Gently furn the rounds upside down just before placing in the oven. Bake on the bottom rack (as low as it will go) of the oven. The instant hot hear makes the bread puff.

Bake: 500*
Yield: 10 pita breads

Pita pockets will be hard when removed from the oven and soften as they cool. While still warm, store in plastic bags or an airtight container. Rehear in a 350* oven or in the microwave. Before filling, tear crosswise into halves.

Pita bread may be filled with virtually anything- I filled mine with chopped lettuce, red and green bell peppers, tomatoes, cheese cubes, mushrooms, and cucumbers and topped it with a tomatillo ranch dressing. It was yummy! This makes a great lunch with the girls.

Seize the Day!

2011-01-17T11:16:00.003-07:00

I am continually amazed by other people in the world. At least two of the blogs I follow are written by women who are facing challenges in their lives. One is recovering from the loss of her husband; the other woman is expecting her first child, a child who has been diagnosed with hydrocephalus. They both ave very different ways of dealing with the trials they have been given. One I have never met, the other was a college roommate. I so admire my roommate and her strength and faith. She is such an example to me. I am so very grateful to have had the blessing of sharing an apartment with her and two other amazing girls. I have been very blessed.

Recently, I was lamenting that I was going crazy from boredom. I am looking for a job and haven't been able to find one yet. I just graduated with a Bachelor's degree in secondary education last month. I can teach theatre, speech, art, and once I know if I passed my Praxis exam, English. I loved taking university courses, in spite of the homework, and have missed being able to attend classes. I was jealous when my husband started a new semester at the beginning of the month. For about a week, I didn't know what to do with myself. Now I'm finding things to do. After all, as a kid if you said you were bored my mom would give you a job to do. I'm now giving piano lesson to two women from church. I am taking a community watercolor class at the university. I've taught myself to knit. I'm compiling and scanning letters my grandmother wrote my grandfather during WWII. I'm job hunting. I'm going to start learning to play the violin. I decided that instead of bemoaning my boredom that I'd do the things I've always wanted to, but didn't have time to do while in school; including blogging. I am seizing the
day!

What's Your Favorite Kind of Pie?

2011-01-12T16:00:00.001-07:00

Where ever we go my husband is always asking people, "What's your favorite kind of pie?" People respond with Banana Cream, Razzleberry, Chocolate, Pumpkin, Chicken Pot Pie, Strawberry Rhubarb, and many over kinds. I think that perhaps the most common answer, all across the United States of America, is apple pie. It was definitely the favorite of almost all the people he asked on the D.C. metro one summer night.

So I'd never made an apple pie before this week. On Monday, my hubby called home and said, "Let's make an apple pie tonight." It was bit out of the blue, but I agreed to it. We had a whole refrigerator drawer full of apples from my in-laws apple trees that we needed to get using up.

I made the dough for the pie crust as my husband was coming home from campus. When he arrived home I peeled apples and then he sliced them up.

I had read somewhere that when making an apple pie heap up the apples really high, as they will cook down a lot. I heaped up my apples until they were sliding off the pile of apples, out of the pie dish, and onto the table. I was certain that I had enough apples for my pie. Hubby stopped me from putting the top crust on so he could take some photos for his black and white photography class. That took a while..... he had to frame the picture JUST right. Finally, he had his pictures and I could put the top crust on. This was harder than I thought it would be. After grumbling and wrestling dough for about ten minutes I had the top crust on.

We got the pie in the oven, and after about 40 minutes we started to salivate. The smell!!! It was so divine! The scents of baked apples, cinnamon, and nutmeg blended with the lingering scent of fresh, baked bread from earlier that day. When the pie was finally up, we could hardly wait for it to cool.

When we finally were able to slice the pie we discovered something. There was still a hollow space under the top crust, because the apples had indeed cooked down! I'm not sure how I could have put anymore apples in that pie. They were overflowing on to the table as I put the pie together. In spite of the hollow space the pie was still divine. Next time I will heap the apple high, build a barrier around the pile, and heap the apples even higher.

The pastry pie crust recipe and apple pie recipe I used can be found under the tab New Recipes Tried as "Pastry for Double-Crust Pie" and "Apple Pie".

Apple Pie

2011-01-12T15:57:00.002-07:00

Apple Pie

Prep: 30 minutes Bake: 1 hour

Oven: 375* Makes: 8 servings

1 recipe Pastry for Double-Crust Pie

6 c. thinly sliced, peeled cooking apples (about 2 ½ pounds)

1 TBS lemon juice (optional)

¾ c. sugar

2 TBS. all –purpose flour

½ tsp. ground cinnamon

1/8 tsp. ground nutmeg

1/3 c. dried cranberries (optional)

Milk (optional)

Sugar (optional)

1. Pre pare and roll out Pastry for Double-crust Pie. Line a 9-inch pie plate with half of the pastry.

2. If desired, sprinkle apples with lemon juice (I did). In a large bowl stir together the ¾ cup sugar, the flour, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Add apple slices and, if desired, cranberries (I left the cranberries out). Gently toss until coated.

3. Transfer apple mixture to the pastry-lined pie plate. Trim bottom pastry to edge of pie plate. Cut slits in remain pastry; place on filling and seal. Crimp edge as desired.

4. If desired, brush top pastry with milk and sprinkle with additional sugar (I did this). To prevent over browning, cover edge of pie with foil. Bake in a 375* oven for 40 minutes (To save yourself time cleaning if it bubbles over, set it on a cookie sheet in the oven). Remove foil. Bake 20 minutes more or until fruit is tender and filling is bubbly. Cool on a wire rake.

Pastry for Double-Crust Pie

2011-01-12T15:54:00.001-07:00

Pastry for Double-Crust Pie

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

3/4 tsp. salt

2/3 c. shortening

8 to 10 TBS. cold water

1. In a medium bowl stir together flour and salt. Using a pastry blender (or in my case, a fork), cut in shortening until pieces are pea-sized.

2. Sprinkle 1 TBS of the cold water over part of the flour mixture; gently toss with a fork. Push moistened dough to side of bowl. Repeat, using 1 TBS water at a time, until all the flour mixture is moistened. Divide in half; form each half into a ball.

3. On a lightly floured surface, use your hands to slightly flatten 1 dough ball. Roll dough from center to edges into a circle 12 inches in diameter. (I rolled my dough out between pieces of wax paper for an easier clean up)

4. To transfer pastry, wrap it around the rolling pin; unroll into a 9-inch pie plate (Because I used wax paper, I just peeled the paper off one side of the dough and then slid my hand under the paper with dough still on it, and lifted it up, and flipped in dough side down in the pie plate. I then gently pressed the dough into the edges and bottom of the pan, before removing the wax paper). Ease pastry into pie plate without stretching it. Trim pastry even with rim of pie plate. Transfer filling to pastry-lined pie plate.

5. Roll remaining dough ball into a circle about 12 inches in diameter. Cut slits to allow steam to escape (I cut a pretty design in the center). Place pastry on filling; trim to 1/2 inch beyond edge of plate. Fold top pastry under bottom pastry. Crimp edge as desired. Bake as directed in individual recipe.

Pastry Pointers

(From Better Homes and Gardens)

· Measure your ingredients accurately. Too much flour makes pastry tough, too much shortening makes it crumble, and too much water makes it tough.

· Stir together the flour and salt, then cut in shortening until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. If you overwork the mixture, your pastry will not be flaky.

· Add water gradually to the flour mixture, and then gently toss it together just until it’s evenly moist.

· To roll out dough with little sticking, use a rolling pin with a cotton knit cover and a pastry cloth. Light flour both the rolling pin cover and pastry cloth.

· Roll pastry to an even thickness. Try not to stretch it as you’re transferring it to the pie plate.

· Use a glass pie plate or dull metal pie pan so the pastry browns evenly.

· Check that your oven temperature is accurate. If it’s too low, the boom crust will be soggy.

Angel Biscuits

2011-01-05T16:41:00.002-07:00

This was a recipe my mom gave me, that I really enjoyed, and some guests ask me for the recipe. The dough can be refrigerated and used for about a week! So here is it!

Angel Biscuits

2 1/4 tsp. dry yeast (or one cake yeast)
3 tsp. baking powder
2 TBS. luke warm water
4 TBS. sugar
5 c. plain flour
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking soda
1 C. shortening
2 C. buttermilk (if you don't have butter milk add a little vinegar or lemon to 2 c. milk)

Dissolve yeast in water.

In a bowl, shift flour with other dry ingredients; cut in shortening, add buttermilk, then add yeast mixture. Stir until all flour is dampened.

Knead on floured board a minter, roll to desired thickness, and cut with a biscuit cutter.

Bake a 400* for about 12 minutes.

DOUGH MAY BE KEPT REFRIGERATED AND USED FOR ABOUT A WEEK!!!!

TANGLED, FERRETS, AND LETTERS... HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

2010-12-31T19:58:00.004-07:00

Today was a great day. Hubby and I spent the morning at the LDS Temple. Being able to there is like stepping into heaven for a few hours. You can't help but feel the Heavenly Father loves you while you are there. Concerns seems less burdensome and joy is easier felt. It is definitely my favorite place on earth.

We also went and watched Tangled with our friends A and J. It was such a fun movie!!!! I highly recommend it! It is definitely on my birthday wish list. It was very funny, had some fun songs, and well put together. If you like animated films then go see Tangled.

After the movie, we went to the home of A and J. They run an exotic animal rescue shelter in their home. They have all kinds of lizards, several snakes (one is a six foot boa constrictor!), parakeets, parrots, sugar gliders, gerbils, ferrets, a chicken, and a chinchilla. The chinchilla was so soft!!!! And it was way to fun to watch it take a dust bath. The ferrets, although naturally smelly, were my favorite to play with. There are four all together, but one is scared of the others so we had to get him out separately. The remaining three J let out to play all at once. It was so fun to interact with animals that I wouldn't normally come across. I want to go back again to play with the critters... and of course spend more time with A and J.

Guess what I finally got done!!!! I finally scanned all of my grandma's letters to my grandpa while he was serving in the Navy during WWII. I still have some other letters, cards, and papers to scan that my grandpa saved, but I got the grandma's letters done! The next step is to put them all together in a digital file so each image of the each letter doesn't have to be opened in order to read through all of the letters. I also need to adjust some of the images so that the letters are darker and easier to read.

So I really should be doing some serious job hunting, but I've been struggling with wanting to. I do need a job, and something to do that isn't in the my home all day, but it's been nice to have the extra time. I also need to be studying for my English Praxis that I will be taking mid January. I have to pass it in order to be certified to teach English classes. I've already taken and passed the Praxis exams for Art and for Theatre/Speech. One more, I can do this.

Any, it's 8pm on New Years Eve, and both Hubby and I are tired from our adventure filled day (it started at 5:20 a.m.) so we'll see if we actually make it to midnight. If we do we have Martinelli's Sparkling Apple Cider to celebrate. HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!!!!

Homemade Wheat Bread

2010-12-29T13:47:00.002-07:00

The first year of marriage I couldn't turn out a decent loaf of bread. I had been told to use my mom -in-law's recipe, but even that failed. My loaves never raised and would turn out with a rock hard crust.... they worked wonderfully for doorstops and paper weights! We tried new yeast, but that didn't work. I tried several recipes, all of which only produced more doorstops.

My hubby and I were visiting his aunt one day while she was making bread. We mentioned the problem we were having with the bread. His aunt told us that we were giving our yeast a good enough start. She then gave us a demonstration. We hadn't been putting the yeast in warm enough water, and we hadn't been mixing it before letting it sit for a long enough time. When you start your yeast it should look foamy before you put it with the other ingredients. My mom-in-law's recipe is definitely the best, now that I know how to start the yeast! Here it is!

Wheat Bread
makes 4 loaves (I usually cut it in half)

5 1/2 c. warm water
2 TB. yeast
1 tsp. sugar
1/2 c. oil
1/2 c. honey
2 TB. salt
7 c. wheat (grinds to 9 cups wheat flour)
5 c. white flour

Start yeast: stir yeast and sugar into warm water and let sit at least 5 minutes or until foathy.

In a large mixing bowl combine oil, honey, and salt. Add wheat and white flours. Mix in water/yeast mixture. Mix until all the dough comes away from the edges of the bowl. Dough should be a little bit sticky, but not gooey, if it isn't add more flour until desired texture is reached. Allow dough to mix (or knead) for 5 minutes. Let raise until double. Knead down and form into four loaves; place in greased bread pans. Let rise until loaves reach the top or the pans (or one inch above top of pans). Bake at 350* for 30 minutes. When loaves are done, immediately remove them from pans and set on rake to cool.

Homemade Laundry Soap

2010-12-29T13:38:00.002-07:00

Did you know that it's about 1/10 of the regular price to make your own laundry soap? I haven't tried my soap out yet, but I got this recipe from a gal who makes her own laundry soap regularly. She says it works just as well as store boughten detergent.

Homemade Laundry Soap

1 C. Washing Soda (Arm & Hammer, NOT baking Soda)
1/2 C. Borax (20 Mule Team)
1 bar Fels Napatha Soap
About 3 gallons of warm water
4-5 gallon bucket

Pour 3 gallons of warm water in 4-5 gallon bucket. Pour washing soda and Borax into the bucket with water and stir. Grate soap bar (the same way you would grate cheese). Boil 4 cups water on stove. After water comes to a boil, turn down and simmer while adding grated bar of soap. Add soap slowly to make sure it dissolves. Stir for a long time until dissolved and add to the bucket of water, washing soda, and borax. Stir together. Set out over night without lid on. It will set to a Jell-O like substance. Stir as needed. Use about 1 cup to your load of laundry.

Operation: Messy Closets COMPLETE

2010-12-29T11:53:00.003-07:00

Yesterday was a magical day. I completed more of my To Do list than I had hoped I would! I not only tackled my sewing closet and put it back in order, but I also organized my storage space into a decent little food storage area! PLUS, I cleaned my bathroom, kitchen, and bedroom. PLUS, I did dishes, AND folded and put away two loads of laundry. I did all of that before my 6pm deadline! Getting lots of things done is one way to brighten a glum winter mood. So what's on my list today?

Bake bread
Make laundry detergent (That's right folks! Homemade laundry detergent! I'll post my recipe for it later!)
Walk to the public library (I haven't left my home for 2 days! I need to get out!)
Start scanning my Grandma's letters to my Grandpa during WWII

I should post my bread recipe as well as the laundry detergent recipe. I'm not sure what I'll find at the library, but getting out will be good for me.

I've been wanting to make copies of my grandma's letter for a long time, so that I can share them with family. However I haven't had the technology or time to do so until now. My parents got a new scanner/printer and gave us the old one. The new laptop, isn't compatible with the scanner, but my old laptop is.... hopefully all will work for me. If not, well, I still have access to the computers and scanners on campus. I really want to get going on this project.... there are a lot of letters!!!!

Well, I'd better get hoppin'! My list is getting longer as I write this post! I'll report back soon, and post those recipes!

Dear Messy Closets & Storage Spaces..... YOU"RE GOING DOWN!

2010-12-28T12:30:00.003-07:00

Company is coming and the house is a wreck! What do you do? If you're like me you probably shove the mess into another room, or in my case a very large closet.

My sewing/craft closet was an absolute disaster zone this morning. So I decided to use my very open schedule for the day and tackle a few jobs. Guess what? I can walk around in my closet now! WHOOT! WHOOT!!! Unfortunately, my living room is now a wreck from me cleaning out my closet. It seems the mess moves from space to space. My husband called me from work to see if I had remembered to eat anything today (when he got home last night I hadn't eaten anything all day because I got into my projects and forgot to eat). I hadn't eaten so he told me to stop whatever I was doing and eat. I've now eaten leftover mash potatoes with gravy and stuffing from Christmas dinner. As soon as I finish this post it's back to work! I have a storage area that needs my attentions.... it's getting turned into an organized food storage area. I was in the middle of gutting it out when my hubby called. Currently its contents are stacked in my living room.

Well, it's back to work! I have to finish everything by 6pm because we have friends coming over for dinner, a movie, and some games! Wish me luck!

Okay, I've been slacking

2010-12-26T12:43:00.003-07:00

The funny thing about having a blog is that I'm terrible for updating it on a regular basis. So I'm going to try and do better. I've decided that I'm going to post recipes and new adventures still, but I'm also going to post fictional stories that I've written or am working on, and whatever else I feel like posting.

So how was your Christmas, or for my Jewish friends, Hanukkah? My Christmas was fabulous! I was spoiled by my husband, parents, and family. I'm really not sure what was my favorite gift, because I recieved quite the variety! This year my hubby and I decided to visit family before Christmas, and then have our own little Christmas at home. Last year, we were moving during our first Christmas together. We were going to have one of my former roomates over for Christmas day, but she found somewhere else to go. She's from Russia, so going home for the holidays isn't exactly possible every year. We are way excited that she's going to come to our place for New Year's Eve though!

This next week I don't have school..... I finally graduated!!!! WHOOT! Now, I just have to take one test before I send in my info for my teacher certification. My test is mid January, so I will be studying for it until then. I'm also excited to have some time to do some major dejunking and organizing around my home. This week I'm planning on setting up and organizing one of our storage spaces as a food storage room. I'm also tackling a very large, very messy, walking in closet that is more like a spare room; the place where I dump everything when company is coming. I'm also in the market for a desk (checking thrift stores tomorrow!) to set up an office area in a corner of our bedroom (we just got a new laptop, and my parents gave us their old printer and scanner). This week it's all about cleaning and organizing, updating resumes, job hunting, studying, and preping for the New Year! I finally have time to tackle some of big jobs that need done around here!!!!!! So excited!!!!!

Applesauce Muffins

2010-10-16T10:48:00.004-06:00

I've told several people about this fabolous recipe from the book Deceptively Delicious by Jessica Seinfeld. Her book is full of great recipes that disguise fruit and veggies in food that kids like. I highly recommend her book! I won't be sharing anymore of her recipes on here, just wanted to give you a sampling so that you could see what her book has to offer.

Applesauce Muffins (with butternut squash or carrot)
Prep: 20 minutes
Total: 40 minutes
Yields: 12 muffins

Topping
2/3 c. old-fashioned oats
1/4 c. firmly packed light or dark brown sugar
1 tsp. cinnamon
2 TBS soft tub margarin spread, melted

Batter
1 1/2 c. all purpose flour
1 c. old fashioned oats
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 c. unsweetened applesauce
1/2 c milk
1/2 c. butternut squash or carrot puree
1/2 c. firmly packed light or dark brown sugar
1/4 c. vegetable or canola oil
1 large egg

1. Preheat the oven to 400*F. Coat a 12-cup muffin tin with cooking spray or line with paper baking cups.

2. To make the topping, stir together the oats, sugar, and cinnamon in a bowl. Stir in the margarine.

3. To make the batter, combine the flour, oats, baking powder, baking soda, and cinnamon in a large mixing bowl, or a zipperlock bag and stir of shake to mix. IN a second bowl. mis the applesauce with the milk, vegatable puree, sugar, oil, and egg with a wooden spoon. Add the flour mixture slowly, stirring until ust moistened. Do not overmix-- the batter is supposed to be lumpy.

4. Divide the batter evenly among the muffin cups and sporinkle with the streusel topping. Bake util the toppin is lightly browned and a toothpick comes out clean when inseted into the center of the muffins, 18-20 minutes, Turn the muffins out onto a rack and serve warm or cool.

Braised Brussel Sprouts

2010-09-16T21:11:00.002-06:00

Yet another dreaded childhood green! However, I found a recipe that make brussel sprouts tasty! YEAH!!!!! the first couple of times I and my friend cooked brussel sprouts they came out tough and hard. Reading through a cookbook, I found the secret to cooking them. You trim the brussel sprout and cut an "X" in the core of each. It is a little more time consuming, but it is SO worth it. Here is the fantastic recipe I found in my Better Homes and Gardens cookbook. (It was listed as a Best Loved recipe.... and for good reason!)

Braised Brussel Sprouts
Yields: 8 servings

2 lbs. fresh brussel sprouts
2 bacon strips, diced
1 med. onion, chopped
1 c. chicken broth
1 tsp. caraway seed (I substituted in cumin)
1/4 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. pepper

Trim brussel sprouts and cut an "X" in the core of each. In a large saucepan, bring 1/2 in. of water and brussel sprouts to a boil. Cook for 8-10 minutes of until crisp-tender.

Meanwhile, in a large skillet, cook bacon over medium heat until crisp. Using a slotted spoon, remove to paper drain, reserving drippings. In the same skillet, saute onion in the drippings until tender. Stir in the broth, caraway seeds (or cumin), salt, and pepper. Bring to a boil. Reduce hear; simmer, uncovered, until liquid is almost evaporated.

Drain sprouts. Add sprouts and bacon to onion mixture; to to coat.

French Toast Casserole

2010-09-15T12:27:00.002-06:00

This is now one of my favorite breakfast foods! It's really yummy!

French Toast Casserole

1lb. Loaf of Italian Bread
8 oz. cream cheese
1/2 c. sugar, divide
1/2 tsp. vanilla
4 eggs
2 c. milk
1 tsp. cinnamon
2 TBS. Butter, melted

Cut bread into cubes, place half in greased 9" x 13" pan. Microwave the cream cheese to melt, stirring midway. Once melted, add half the sugar. Pour this mix over the bread cubes (will not completely cover). Top with remaining bread cubes. In a bowl, beat the remaining sugar, eggs, milk, cinnamon, and melted butter together. Pour over bread cubes. Freeze at this point or let sit overnight in refrigerator. Bake at 350* for 35 minutes. Serve with warm syrup or fruit topping.

(I dribble some of my mom-in-law's delicious raspberry jam on mine.... Jealous? You should be! Her jam is the absolute best!)

Road Trip Overview!

2010-08-28T15:30:00.005-06:00

One way to judge how well a road trip went is to see how much everybody likes each other after it is over. I had never gone on a long road trip before this month. I had gone on one or two days trips, but this was an 18 day trip from Washington to Washington, D.C. Technically it is not quite over for Hubby and me as we have yet to return to our own little home. We are currently spending a couple of days at his parents' home and then we are head to my parents' home for a bit. This part of the trip is definitely more relaxing, at least for me. Well, enough babbling about the present! I will be writing about each day more in depth, but I need to outline it just to remember what all we did! We did so much that it was starting to blur together! Here is the outline:

Day 1: Drive to my aunt's house in northern Idaho.

Day 2: Play in my aunt's studio, then head to Washington to pick up Ru and go on a double date.

Day 3: Spend day playing with Hubby's nieces and nephews, watch funny Youtube videos with Hubby's sisters and brother-in-law.

Day4: Leave early in the morning and drive to Utah to pick up B.

Day 5: Pack up the car and start heading east

Day 6: Arrive in Kirtland, Ohio. Get back in car and drive to Niagara Falls. Spend the night in New York at a stranger's house.

Day 7:Go to church and meet B's future brother-in-law. Get back in car. Drive to Palmyra, New York to visit church history sites. Get back in car. Drive to my former roommate's house outside of Boston. Sleep.

Day 8: Go to Boston. Walk the Freedom Trail and wear out feet. Get back in car. Drive to Lexington. See the Lexington Green and visitor center. Get back in car. Drive to Concord. Fall in love with the beautiful country full of historical and literary importance. Get in car. Drive through NYC. Panic! Get lost! Find way after driving through town told to avoid by Jersey friend. Arrive safely at friend's house in Jersey. Eat. Sleep.

Day 9: Wake up. Eat Breakfast. Borrow GPS and follow friend's dad into NYC. Arrive a parking garage. Go with friend to Central Park, Columbus Square, Times Square, and about town. Part ways with friend. Get on subway, make acquaintance with a nice French woman and her two young boys, go to Battery Park, eat hotdogs, go to Wall Street, World Trade Center Site, get map at the Hilton, go to seaport, see Brooklyn Bridge, then go to chinatown. Worn out and tired return to car, start driving back to friend's house in New Jersey, run out of gas, get ice cream while waiting to be rescued, get rescued, eat dinner, go to bed.

Day 10: Wake up, eat breakfast, and get back in car. Drive to Philedelphia. Visit Edgar Allen Poe's house; take creepy ghost pictures in creepy cellar. Go to Liberty Bell, eat a philly cheese steak sandwich, walk past Independence Hall, go to old Quaker meeting house, walk past Benjamin Franklin's grave, go to U.S. Mint, Betty Ross's house, Irish immigrant memorial, see submarine at sea harbor, forget where parked, find car, drive to Hubby's cousin's house. Sleep.

Day 11: Wake up, eat breakfast. Get back in car, drive to Fort McHenry in Baltimore, Maryland. Explore the fort. Get in car, stop for lunch and grocery stor deli, drive to Hubby's sister's sister-in-law's house in Virginia. Visit, sleep.

Day 12: Wake up. Eat breakfast burritos, borrow GPS, get in car, drive to metro. Ride metro into D.C., arrive one hour early for tour of the capital, wait, tour Capital Building, go to Holocaust Museum, eat lunch/dinner, go to WWII memorial, soak feet. Get back on metro, get lost in the parking garage, finally find the correct exit out of the garage, head back to R family house, do laundry, visit, sleep.

Day 13: Wake up, eat bagels, borrow GPS, go to metro station, ride metro into D.C., make acquaintances with a history buff, his father, and his little boy, have an interesting conversation about the Free Masons, get off metro, Go to the Natural History Smithsonian, meet up with Hubby's cousin at the Air and Space Smithsonian. Get on metro to go get some lunch, make friends with a Philippine woman who helped us get to the right station. Eat lunch. Get on metro, run into our new Philippine friend. Go back to Museum of Natural History, get kicked out when museum closes, go to Lincoln Memorial and Vietnam War Memorial. Get on metro, ask what is everyone's favorite kind of pie, make some new acquaintances, ride next to a drunk, get off metro, go bake to R's house, visit, go to bed.

Day 14: Wake up, go to church, head to Gettysburg, get sunburned, return back to R's house, visit, go to sleep.

Day 15: Wake up, eat bagels, head to D.C. for the last day, split up to park car and get tickets for the Washington Monument, meet up at the Smithsonian of American History, go to lunch, return to American History Smithsonian, get kicked out when in closed, get ice cream and hotdogs in the park, go up to the top on the Washington Monument, ask the park rangers and elevator operators what their favorite kinds of pie are,run into recent acquaintances from the metro, ask for biking tour guide for directions to nearest metro station and receive bad directions, ask directions again, get to metro station, get on metro, find out the favorite kinds of pies of the different people on the metro, find out we are on the wrong metro, get off, wait for what seems forever for the correct metro, go back to R's house, sleep.

Day 16: Wake up, pack up, eat bagels, get in car, drive

Day 17: Still driving, stop for nap, wake up, get McDonald's for breakfast, drive to Carthage, Illinois. Visit church sites there, get in car, drive to Nauvoo, Illinois. Go on a wagon ride, go to the Red Brick Store, go the the land and records office, get information on ancestors, go the brick makers, go to the blacksmith, go to the bakery, head to campground, set up tent and eat PB sandwiches from the hood of the car, go up to temple to see the sunset, return to camp, see a large toad, cram 4 people in a 3 person tent, go to sleep.

Day 18: Wake up, eat cold cereal, go to Nauvoo LDS temple and do some temple work. Go back to camp, pack up tent, get in car, drive

Day 19: still driving, arrive at Hubby's parent's house, eat breakfast, run some errands, fight technology, visit, and go to sleep.

Day 20: B and Ru and R pack up and move to their college apartments, Hubby goes to help his dad fix a swather, I order textbooks, do some homework for my online class, and write this.

Day 21: Go to church, get in car, visit my parents' home

Day 22: Spend the day with my mom and dad

Day 23: Arrive back at our own apartment! YAY!!!! Unpack, Sleep

Day 24: Recover, blog, and try new recipe

ROADTRIP!!!!

2010-08-06T14:05:00.003-06:00

So one day Hubby asked me if I'd like to go to D.C. "Heck ya!" I thought. After thinking about it we decided that we would take a road trip across the country. We also decided to invite Hubby's little brother,B, and little sister, Ru. They were thrilled with the idea. We have been plotting and planning for over a month. We are planning on driving from Washington to Washington! Are we crazy? Yes! Are we excited? You bet!

The adventure will begin Monday, August 9th, for Hubby and me. We will be heading to Washington State to pick up Ru. Then we will be heading to Utah to pick up B. Then it's eastward bound we go!!!! Places we plan on seeing include: Kirtland, Ohio; Niagra Falls; Rochester, NY; Boston, MA; NYC; D.C.; and Nauvoo, IL. There will be other stops along the way as well! I will be keeping a journal of our adventures and my illustrations of different events. I won't be back until the end of August so my adventures won't show up on here until September. So stay tuned!

Row, Row, Row Your Boat!

2010-08-06T12:54:00.003-06:00

I once went canoeing when I was teen at a church girls' camp for a week. I was put into the back of the canoe, with no advice on how to steer. I hated it! I didn't stay at it for more than 3 minutes before I jumped back into the lake we were on.

My hubby loves to canoe. He had had plans of taking me the day we got engaged, but we ended up calling a LOT of people that day. Last summer I worked at a girls camp. I avoided the lake at all costs. Apparently I am a big sissy. Well, about a month ago I was feeling daring. I decided to try something new, so I set a few goals to make sure I continued to try something new. That same day I bought tickets for a canoe and dinner event to surprise my hubby. He was suprised! I was wanting to go canoing?!? WHAT?!?! I think that made him more excited than going canoing himself.

So the big day rolled around. It also happened to be the first real day of summer in the frigid region we live in. Another couple we are friends with were also going on the adventure with us. Everyone in the group loaded up the canoes and we headed off to the lake.

At the lake, Hubby and I climbed into the canoe. I quickly claimed the front in hopes that it would be less frustrating than my prior canoe experience. It was better! We spent time racing other couples and trying to flip canoes that had tipped over. After a while Hubby told me that it was my turn to steer as we were going to race with the girls steering. Well, I wasn't the only girl that struggled with steering. There were about three of us girls who had our canoes going in circles. Finally, my hubby steered us to the finish line.... going backwards! After that our friends, W and S, switched thing around with us. The boys (hubby and W) went in one canoe, while the girls (me and S) went in another canoe. The boys wanted to play rougher than us girls did, so they headed off to try and capsize and terrorize other canoes. I ended up steering our canoe. S was much more patient with me trying to figure out how to steer.... probably because we weren't racing anyone, but we were just floating about. I finally figured it out! I was so excited! The boys, Hubby and W, decided to link up all of the canoes and paddle everyone about. Eventually we all headed back to shore. We learned dinner wouldn't be ready for 30 more minutes. Everyone people stayed on shore but Hubby and I decided to hop into seperate canoes and go out again. Let's just say..... I LOVE CANOING!!! Who would have thought?!?! I can't wait to go again!!!!!

Peanut Butter Brownie Cups

2010-07-01T17:26:00.000-06:00

These turned out really yummy! You'll want to have a glass of milk when you eat one though--you usually do with peanut butter.

Peanut Butter Brownie Cups

1/2 c. peanut butter

1/4 c. packed brown sugar

2 TBS. plus 1-1/2 c. flour, divided

3 squares (1oz each) unsweetened chocolate

1/2 c. butter, cubed

3 eggs

1-1/2 c. sugar

2 TBS. water

1 tsp. vanilla

1 tsp. baking powder

1. IN a small bwl, beat the peanut butter, brown sugar and 2 TBS flour until blended; set aside

2. In a microwave-safe bowl, melt the chocolate and butter; stir until smooth. Cool slightly. In a large bowl, beat the eggs, sugar and water; stir in chocolate mixture and vamilla. Combine baking powder and remaining flour; gradually add to chocolate mixture.

3. Fill paper-lined muffin cups 1/4 full. Top each with about 1 tsp. of peanut butter mixture. Spoon remaining batter over the top. Bake at 350* for 13-15 minutes or until centers are set (do not overbake). Cool for 5 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks.

What was Popeye thinking?

2010-06-02T22:57:00.007-06:00

Spinach: the dreaded, leafy green of most children's lives. For some
reason, many children set their minds against this veggie. The cooked
form is especially dreaded and refused to eat it. I remember thinking,
"Spinach! YUCK!!!!" The funny thing was I liked it raw; raw is my preferred
form of most vegetables. I remember eating cooked spinach a couple of
times. The first time I was blocked by a preset dislike. The second time it
was freezer burned... which didn't help its cause.

My husband and I recently received spinach in our co-op produce
basket. I had always enjoyed spinach in salads, but my hubby wanted to
cook some of it. I'll admit, I thought it was a waste of perfectly good
spinach to cook it, but I consented to the experiment.
My husband commenced with cooking the spinach. I washed the
poor veggie that was to be executed by boiling in hot water. I turned it
over to my husband, the executer of vegetables. He filled a large silver
pot with hot water and set it on the range. Without so much as a parting
word he dropped the spinach into the pot, sending it to its cooked death.
The spinach turned a beautiful, rich, green color in the
shimmering, silver pot. I still wasn't convinced; just because something
is pretty doesn't mean it’s tasty! You can’t judge a book by it cover, or a
vegetable’s taste by its color. My hubby kept calling me over to witness
the death of the leafy vegetable, and to admire its beautiful color. It was
more beautiful in death than it was in life. At least it would die a lovely
color.

My hubby pulled the spinach out of the pot, and deposited some
on my plate. Then my hubby told me the secret to eating spinach, butter
and salt. I spread some butter on to the slimy, yet beautiful greens. I
sprinkled it with the crystal colored salt. I watched my husband devour
his portion of the emerald veggie. I scooped some onto my fork, open my
mouth, and deposited the greens.

I closed my eyes; I opened my eyes in
surprise!

Cooked spinach is amazing! Especially when it is fresh!
The following Monday, I planted two sections of my little box
garden with my new favorite veggie, especially in COOKED form,
SPINACH!!!! YUM!!! Once again I've learned that sometimes it pays to give
something another chance (my hubby is grateful I gave him a chance of
asking me on another first date after I canceled the first, first date). So
the moral of the story is this: Never give up trying new things, and always
give things multiple chances before deciding that they are undesirable.

Learning to Tread

2010-05-19T23:13:00.006-06:00

When I was a kid, I actually didn't mind swimming. In fact, I kind of enjoyed it. Somewhere along the path to adulthood I misplaced my former joy in swimming. I think I remember where I started laying it to the side of the pool.

It was 5th or 6th grade and our entire elementary school was taking swimming lessons. We would load up the school bus and head for the local swimming pool. My friends were all placed in the top swimming groups. I was placed in one of the lowest swimming groups. I was humiliated. I was with kids that were younger than me, and could swim better than me. When learning to tread water I failed miserably. I never accomplised treading water.Everyday I came away feeling embarrassed. I think it was then that I started to say that swimming wasn't for me. Plus, I really didn't enjoy opening my eyes underwater. This dislike that was later aided by needing glasses or contacts to see.... which I couldn't wear underwater. I started also to make excuses about how putting sunscreen all over my redhead's ,fair skinned body was a huge hassel. By the time I reached highschool I rarely went swimming. Once I reached college I had pretty much stopped. The excuses continued as I went to work at a summer camp by a Minnesota lake. I just refused to go in or near the water. This dislike of the water has kept me from participating in many activities. It is beginning to hinder living my life to the fullest.

Two days ago I decide to ask my husband if he wanted to go swimming at the pool on campus. He had to ask, "What?", as this is not something I usually suggest doing, but rather it is something I usually avoid doing. He agreed to go, and we decided that the next day would be the day.

Once we arrived at the pool and headed for the dressing rooms, I had to put aside my glasses. DANG! I forgot how bad my eyesight is! I headed out for the pool, and because I couldn't see my husband, or anything else for that matter, I went ahead and climbed in. BRRR!!! That pool was definitely cooler than the hot springs that I grew up siwmming in! Eventually my husband came out and dived in. Notice I climbed in and he dived in? There a big difference in our level of comfort in water. I decided that I was going to learn to tread water. After a few tips, my husband left me to my practicing and started playing water basketball with some other people. After a while I started getting the hang of treading water. So there it is folks, something I've never done before. I treaded water!!!!! After ten years of feeling like I couldn't do it, I did it!!!!

We also made friends with another couple at the pool.... an additional benefit to trying new things! Now, if I can just get myself to keep going. As Dory says in FINDING NEMO...."Just keep swimming! Just keeping swimming!"

Buttermilk Ranch Dressing

2010-05-18T13:26:00.001-06:00

Week Six= Buttermilk Ranch Dressing

1 cup buttermilk (or 1 cup milk with 4 tsp. vinegar)
1 1/2 tsp. parsely flakes
1/4 tsp. onion powder
sprinkle dill week
1 cup mayonnaise
1 tsp. seasoned salt
1/8 tsp. garlic powder

Mix all ingredients together with a wire whisk.

Hot Fudge Sauce

2010-05-17T13:28:00.002-06:00

Week Five= Hot Fudge Sauce

Start to Finish: 15 minutes
Makes: 1 1/2 cups sauce

3/4 cup semisweet chocolate pieces
1/4 cup butter
2/3 cup sugar
1 5-ounce can (2/3 cup) evaporated milk

1. In a small heavy saucepan melt the butter and the chocolate (if you start the buter first you are less likely to burn the chocolate). Add the sugar; gradually stir in the evaporated milk. Bring mixture to boiling; reduce heat. Boil gently over low hear for 8 minutes, stirring frequently. Remove pan from hear. Cool slightly . Serve warm over ice cream. Cover and chill any leftovers for up to 3 days. To reheat this rich suace in your microwave oven, allow 15-30 seconds on high power.

Brownie Pudding

2010-05-16T13:30:00.000-06:00

Week Four= Brownie Pudding

Prep: 15 minutes
Bake: 40 minutes
Cool: 45- 60 minutes
Makes: 6-8 servings

1 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 granulated sugar
2 Tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup milk
2 Tablespoons cooking oil
1 Teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup chopped walnuts (I left this out since we don't like nuts in our food)
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 1/2 cups boiling water
Vanilla ice cream (Optional, but I think it's sooo much better with it!!!)

1. Grease an 8x8x2-inch baking pan; set aside. In a medium bowl stir together the flour, granulated sugar, the 2 tablespoons cocoa powder, the baking powder, and salt. Stir in the milk, oil and vanilla. Stir in the walnuts (ARE YOU NUTS!!!! It is so much better without nuts!!!You cannibal!)

2. Pour batter into prepared baking pan. In a small bowl stir together the brown sugar and the 1/4 cup cocoa powder; stir in the boiling water. Slowly pour water mixture over batter.

3. Bakin in a 350* oven for 40 minutes. Cool on a wire rack for 45-60 minutes. Serve warm. Spoon cake into dessert bowls; spoon sauce over cake. If desired (and oh believe me it is desirable!), serve with vanilla ice cream.

Meatloaf

2010-05-15T13:30:00.000-06:00

Week Three= Meatloaf

Prep: 20 minutes
Bake: 1 hr 10 minutes
Makes: 8 servings

2 beaten eegs
3/4 cup milk
2/3 cup fine dry bread crumbs or 2 cups soft bread crumbs
1/4 cup finely chopped onion
2 tablespoons snipped fresh parsley (I use about a tsp. of dried)
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon of dried leaf sage (I used powdered), basil, and oregano
1 1/2 punds of ground beef, lamb,or pork ( I used deer)
*1/4 cup catsup
*2 Tablespoons brown sugar
*1 teaspoon dry mustard

*I used barbecue sauce instead

1. In a bowl combine eggs and milk; stir in bread crumbs, onion, parsley, salt, sage, oregano, and basil, and 1/8 teaspoon black pepper. Add meat; mix well. LIgthly pat mixture into an 8x4x2- inch loaf pan.

2. Bake in a 350* oven for 1 to 1 1/4 hours or until internal temperature registers 160* F. Spoon off fat (which is hardley any if you use deer!). In a bowl combine catsup, sugar, and mustard (or just use bbq sauce!), spread sauce over meat. Bake for 10 minutes more. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.

More Recipes!

2010-05-15T09:00:00.000-06:00

So I've been trying new recipes, I promise! I just haven't been doing as well at posting them. The four latest new recipes are the following: Meatloaf, Brownie Pudding, Hot Fudge Sauce, and homemade buttermilk ranch dressing. You can find the links to these recipes under the recipe tab.

Meatloaf- So I had eaten meatloaf once that I could remember, but it is something that I know my husband likes. I decided to try it. I looked through all of my cookbooks and found several recipes. I decided to try the Better Homes and Gardens recipe, as it was a "best loved" recipe. The result.... FANTASTIC!!! It was so good! I've already made it twice!

Brownie Pudding- This is another Better Homes and Gardens "Best Loved" recipe, and for very good reason. Picture a chocote cake, oozing with a hot chocolate sauce, serve with vanilla ice cream.... Hungry yet? "This classic cake comes from the pages of the January 1944 issue of Better Homes and Gardens magazine" Try it out!!! You will be in love!!!!

Hot Fudge Sauce- Yet another Better Homes and Gardens "Best Loved" recipe. I'm telling you these recipes don't lie when they say "Best Loved"! There is a reason for all the love! This fudge sauce is SOOO much better than Hershey's chocolate syrup! Another recipe I've fallen in love with!

Buttermilk Ranch- So this is a recipe that I got from a gal at church. It is so good! I tried it out today, and I accidently put in too much vinegar when making my buttermilk, but it was still great on salad. PLUS.... it is cheaper and tastier than store bought ranch! MMMMMMM!!!!!

When Life Hands You Mangoes....Make Mango Mousee!

2010-05-14T20:35:00.000-06:00

What do you do when you recieve 8 mangoes in your produce co-op basket? You make smoothies, add mangoes to your salads, and look for recipes to use the other mangoes. I found two different recipes for mango mousse in my cookbooks. In comparing the recipes I discovered that they were pretty close, so I took what I thought was the best from both recipes. So not only did I try a new recipe this week I altered it. The result..... A DEFINITE SUCCESS!!! Here are some pictures of my mango mousse....Thanks hubby for making my new dessert look even more amazing with your amazing photography skills!

Mango Mousse

3 ripe mangoes, seeded, peeled, and cut up (3 cups)
1/3 cup sugar
1 teaspoon unflavored gelatin
2 teaspoons lemon juice
1 cup whipping cream
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
sliced strawberries
blackberries

1. Chill a medium mixing bowl and the beater of an electric mixer.

2. In a food processor bowl or blender container place 2 cups of the mangoes. Cover and prcess or blend until smooth. You shoule have 1 cup of puree; set aside.

3. In a sauce pan combine sugar and gelatin. Stire in 1/4 cup COLD water. Cook and stir over a low heat just until glatin dissolves. Remove from hear. Stir in mango puree; add lemon juice; cool mixture to room temperature.

4. In the chilled bowl bear whipping cream and vanilla extract with and electric mixer on low speed until soft peaks form (tips curl). Using a rubber spatula, fold mango mixture into whipped cream [I didn't think the mixture looked smooth enough so I beat it fluffy again with the electric mixer.] Chill until mixture mounds when spooned.

5. Divide the mango mixture into dishes [I used glasses], and add layers of mangoes and strawberries, and blackberries. Cover and chill for 4 hours or until set.

Lemon-Dill Marinated Chicken

2010-05-13T13:37:00.000-06:00

Week One
Lemon-Dill Marinated Chicken

1/4 cup sliced green onions
1/4 cup water
1/8 cup red wine vinegar
1/4 cup soy sauce
3 tablespoons lemon juice
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 table fresh dill weed or 1 teaspoon dried dill weed
1 tablespoon Worcesterhire sauce
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 teaspoon celery seed
1/2 teaspoon pepper
4 to 6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

In a medium bowl, combine onions, water, vinegar, soy sauce, lemon juice, olive oil, dill, Worcestershire sauce, garlic, celery seed, and pepper. Pur marinade over meat in a glass baking dish or a resealable plastic bag. Marinate 6 to 24 hours in refrigerator. Remove meat from marinade. Grill over medium high heat on an oiled or sprayed grill until desired doneness, about 10 minutes per side.

I really enjoyed this recipe. I think it is a keeper!

Was That Your Dad?!?

2010-02-23T13:39:00.003-07:00

So my husband was dropping me off at the junior high where I student teach drama. It was in the morning and the bell hadn't yet rang. Students were hanging around in front of the school. Some were lounging in the sun on a short wall near a wheel chair ramp.

My husband gave me a goodbye kiss after I reminded him that I would need picked up at 1:15 that day. I go out of the car, walked around it, and turned to wave goodbye as I walked to class. My husband wave and then held up fingers for 1:50. I went back to the car to remind him that it was at 1:15 that I needed picked up. He knew that..... he just wanted another goodbye kiss, which I gladly bestowed upon him.

As he was driving away and as I was walking toward my classroom a student was observing us. He was a little seventh grader, about 5 feet tall, with a big baggy t-shirt, baggy jeans, and wearing a ball cap with a flat bill cocked to the side. This is one of those kids who loves to ridicule his peers to make himself look cool, and he had seen our goodbye kisses. So as my husband is driving away he hears that kid yell at me, "Was that your dad?!?!"

"No!" I yelled back. "That was my husband! I'm a teacher!"