Tag, you're it!

1. As a comment on my blog, leave one memory that you and I had together. It doesn't matter if you knew me a little or a lot, anything you remember!

2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It's actually pretty funny to see the responses...

Recipes

This is a breakfast casserole recipe I promised to post and forgot about. We had this for Aspen's blessing and it was delicious! The best part is that it can (and must) be made the night before and then just cooked the day of. So easy! Thanks for the recipe grandma.

Egg Casserole

4 slices sour dough bread, buttered
2 c. cheddar cheese, shredded
2 c. Jack cheese, shredded
1 can (4 oz.) diced green chiles
6 eggs
2 c. milk
1/8 t. pepper
1/2 t. salt
1/8 t. garlic powder
1/2 t. paprika
1/4 t. oregano
1/8 t. dry mustard

Place bread buttered side down in 7 1/2" x 11 1/2" dish or pan. Cover bread with cheese and chiles. Beat the eggs & milk & add the seasonings (pepper, salt, garlic powder, paprika, oregano, dry mustard)--beat until blended. Pour egg mixture over bread, cheese, and chiles. Cover and refrigerate overnight. Bake in preheated oven at 325 for 50 minutes or until liquid is set.

ENJOY!

July 25, 2008

So today was our traditional Friday "educational field trip" day (it felt so weird after spending two days camping to have a Friday and a weekend ahead of us). Anyway, I had to meet with Gene, the director of the Provo City Library, in the morning, so we headed to the library and the kids checked out books while we met (when I say checked out books, I mean checked out books--I think Aspen had 25). Anyway, then we headed down to the Springville Art Museum--it was so much fun (even better, it was free!). I thought there would be admission, so I left a generous donation, then we headed to Artic Circle for our weekly ice cream cone. Of course, the pictures from the museum are on my other camera, so I'll post them next week. We enjoyed the quilt show and the other art and statues (especially art by Walter Thiebaud--pronounced "tee-bow).

After Dennis got home from work, we had a scrumptious chicken/pepper stir fry and then it was time for a water fight (where I didn't get wet because I was holding the expensive camera). Here is a picture of Dennis, Aspen, and Connor in the kiddy pool:

Devin wielding his trusty squirt gun:


And Dennis with (what else?) the hose!
Talk about unfair battles!
Aspen loves squirt gun battles:

Happy Pioneer Day!

To celebrate Pioneer Day (and the fact that neither Dennis nor I had to work), we decided to head camping at Buraston Ponds (a fond memory from my youth). Even better, it's in Mona by where Dennis' sister Jeanette lives, so they came by in the evening to hang out and play games (and bring us flashlights--oops!--I had a lantern, just not flashlights). Unfortunately, we thought Connor was a lousy camper--turns out he's teething and has been running a fever of 101 since we got back. Poor kid! So lucky mom got to hang out at the tent with him and read (one of my favorite activities anyway). Shaylee has been recently obssessed with the Twilight series, so I read Twilight and am halfway through New Moon. They're interesting, I'll admit, but I'm not obssessed (and you will not find me at Barnes & Noble at midnight to get the 4th book next week). Anyway, I digress (I was not obssessed with Harry Potter, either, but Dennis was). So here is a picture of me reading and Connor chewing on a weed (and really enjoying it).

We really had a great time (can you see the family bonding going on here?).

Aspen, always the happy camper . . .

Is it possible to look like a super model even while camping? Apparently so!

Connor enjoying his drink.

Devin enjoying his tin foil dinner (I prepared them at home and then we cooked them as soon as we got there while setting up camp).


Our fire (Devin is a true pyro):

The ponds on Thursday (this would be the part where I hung out at the tent with a sick boy):

Recipes

So I promised some friends I'd add a few more recipes to my list. Today I'm putting on the angel food cake recipe and a southwest chicken salad I've enjoyed recently.

Angel Food Cake

12 eggs
1 1/4 c. confectioner's sugar
1 c. flour
1 1/2 t. cream of tartar
1 1/2 t. vanilla extract
1/2 t. almond extract (I haven't ever used this and it still tastes fine)
1/4 t. salt
1 c. sugar

Put egg whites in a bowl and let stand for 30 minutes. Meanwhile, sift the confectioner's sugar & flour 3 times. Then add cream of tartar, vanilla & almond extracts, & salt to the egg whites and beat on high. Gradually add sugar and beat until dissolved and stiff peaks form. Fold in flour 1/4 c. at a time. Spoon into an ungreased pan. Cut with a knife to remove air. Bake at 350 for 40-45 minutes.

Southwest Chicken Salad

1/4 c. lime juice (I've also used lemon juice)
1/4 c. olive oil
1/4 t. salt
1 clove garlic, minced
3 T chopped cilantro (I've used parsley, which also works well)
1/2 t. chili powder
1/2 t. ground cumin

4 c. shredded romaine lettuce
4 cooked skinless, boneless chicken breast halves, cut into strips
1 (15 oz.) can black beans, drained and rinsed
1/2 small red onion, sliced into rings (or strips, or diced)
1 large tomato, chopped
1/2 c. grated Parmesan cheese

6 oz. tortilla chips

In a covered jar, mix the lime juice, olive oil, salt, garlic, cilantro, chili powder, and cumin. Cover and shake until well blended.

Place the lettuce in a large bowl. Toss with the chicken, black beans, onion, and tomato. Just before serving, toss with the dressing mixture and Parmesan cheese. Serve with tortilla chips, either crushed over the top of the salad, or on the side.

ENJOY!

July 21, 2008

Tonight we headed up to my Uncle Rex & Aunt Julie's place for a BBQ. They had a foreign exchange student, Sophie, from Norway about 15 years ago. She came back for a visit with her two children, Kevin (11) and Moa (6). We also got ooh and ahh over the gorgeous deck they just built out back.

Here is Aspen enjoying the grub:

Aspen on the swings:


Connor swinging with Papa:

Trying it on his own:

Happy Birthday Dennis!

Dennis celebrated his birthday a couple weekends ago. Unfortunately, Shaylee and Devin were gone (Shaylee was at Retreat for Girls and Devin was on his first overnight scout camp), so I hired a babysitter (a first for us) and took Dennis to dinner at Chile's and then to the Hale Center Theater in Orem to see Little Women. (Thank heaven for gift certificates and season tickets, otherwise we wouldn't have been able to afford anything!). Anyway, we had a lovely time, but then we wanted to celebrate with the kids, so on Sunday we made fondue (yum!) and homemade rootbeer (I think the kids like making it the best--dry ice is awesome!):



We all enjoyed the fondue, but after two courses (cheese and main dish--meat & vegetables in broth), we were worn out (because we only have one fondue pot and have to wash it between courses), and stuffed to the brim, so we didn't get to our dessert fondue. I did, however, make an angel food cake we were planning to dip in the chocolate/butterscotch fondue, which we decided to eat with strawberries and cream instead.

Since we still had the stuff for the chocolate fondue, we invited our neighbors the McGarry's over last night for dessert and games, and we really enjoyed chocolate/butterscotch fondue with brownies, blonde brownies, and angel food cake.

Of course, Aspen and Connor needed a bath after that--is Connor making the greatest face or what?

Alicia's Bridal Shower

We held a bridal shower last weekend for Alicia--Dennis' sister--who is getting married next month. It's always lots of fun to get together with the women for an afternoon of food, friends, and fun (and of course lots of talking).

The beautiful bride to be:

Some of the gifts and ideas for centerpieces for the wedding:

The food (Cafe Rio salads, yum!):

The friends and family:

We held it at Cynthia's house (Aspen adores her) while poor Jeremy was in agony in the basement (he had his tonsils removed and other painful surgical procedures a couple days before the shower):

Jeanette and Caden (Belinda in back):

Jennifer & Patty display the beautiful quilt they pieced for Alicia: