I am one pathetic loser!

Okay, maybe I really don't think I am a pathetic loser (yes, I stole the line from Dumb and Dumber), but I really am a pathetic blogger! I don't even have an excuse. I spend time online, I am not overly busy, my cute-as-a-button kid provides lots to blog about, etc., but I just don't do it! Well, that ends today!

So, what has happened in the past three months? Ricky and I both got a year older, officially. We also celebrated our fourth anniversary. Kyle has grown and learned so much, and we have done a lot of hanging out. Our lives aren't terribly exciting, but I think I prefer it that way.

Kyle is such a smartie. I know I've bragged about him before on the blog, but I'm his mom; it's my right. He is learning his lower case letters now that he has mastered all the upper case letters. He also knows all the numbers 1-10 and can count to 5 on his own. He loves to help me around the house, and gets mad at me if he hears me shut the fridge door without allowing him to do it. Oh, and he likes to look in the fridge and count the condiments in the door. He is obsessed with Lightning McQueen. We watch Cars several times a week, and Kyle's favorite toys are his little Cars figurines. He is constantly talking about "Ning ning nuh queen." The other night right before Ricky and I fell asleep, we heard Kyle stirring in his bed, and then he said, "Ning ning nuh queen!" in his sleep. We laughed hard over that. He is such a sweet boy, and to prove my point, here is proof:

He loves books, and usually has at least one in his bed with him. Sometimes he falls asleep with them on his face.

He looks like a little model in this picture! But alas, it didn't last long at church. He gagged on a fruit snack during sacrament meeting, and barfed all over himself and me. We had to go home and change. Yuck!


Playing his favorite game, the "Night Night" game. He likes to lay down and get covered with a blanket, then pretends to snore. He can't really make the snoring sound, so it's more like a little growl in the back of his throat, but soooo cute!

I could go on and on with him, but I have to cut it off sometime. So here are some recipes that I've made in the last several months that were uber yummy. Enjoy!

Feather-Light Overnight Rolls (from Essential Mormon Celebrations by Julie Badger Jensen)

1 c. water

1c. butter

3/4 c. sugar

2 tsp. salt

1 c. cold water

2 packages yeast (or 4 1/2 tsp.)

1/2 c. warm water

4 beaten eggs

7 1/2 c. flour

Butter for spreading on dough

In a 6-quart pan bring the 1 c. water to a boil. Add the 1 c. butter, sugar, and salt; remove from heat. Add the 1 c. cold water. Dissolve yeast in 1/2 c. warm water. When first mixture is lukewarm, add yeast mixture and beaten eggs. Stir briefly. Add flour and stir together. Cover pan with lid and refrigerate overnight. When ready to roll out, divide dough in thirds. Lightly flour the surface of a bread board. Roll out each third in a large circle about 1/2-inch thick. Spread dough lightly with butter. Cut dough into 12 wedges and roll each up, beginning at the wide end, to form a crescent shape. Place on 3 greased baking sheets. Let rise for 4 hours. Bake at 400 degrees for about 12 minutes or until lightly browned.

Toll House Cookie Bars (from me Mum!)

1 c. shortening

3/4 c. sugar

3/4 c. brown sugar

1 Tbsp. vanilla

2 eggs

2 1/4 c. flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt

2 c. chocolate chips

Cream shortening, sugars, and vanilla. Add eggs. Add dry ingredients. Stir in chocolate chips. Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes in a 15x10 greased baking sheet. Gobble the whole thing, or cut into squares if you want to share.

It's been a while!

I know, I'm a slacker. But I have some cute pics to post, and another recipe discovery!! First for the cuteness:

I took this picture right before church yesterday. Kyle is OBSESSED with Elmo, so he insists on wearing his slippers any chance he gets. Nothing says Sunday best like big red monsters on your feet!




This picture was taken probably over a month ago. Kyle had just gotten a haircut (which he hates, but he likes the bath afterward), and he was doing his evil face again. I can't figure out why he does that!

And now for some yummy. Last night I wanted something sweet and crunchy, and I thought that I might pass out without kettle corn, but the microwave stuff is totally sub-par. So, to those of you who have Stir-Crazy popcorn poppers (and I know several of you do), here is a recipe for homemade kettle corn that you can do in your popper.

Put the following ingredients in your popper, and pop like normal, but be careful! The melted sugar makes the popcorn way hotter than normal when you flip it over. Enjoy!!

1/2 c. popcorn seeds

1/4 c. oil (I hear butter flavored oil is the best for kettle corn)

1/4 c. sugar

Remember to salt it afterward!

Hope everyone is having a great holiday season. Love to all!

Halloween and recipes!

Holy cow, I haven't posted since we moved! We love love love living in Idaho Falls. Kyle loves being closer to cousins and playing with them.


With Halloween just around the corner, I thought I would share pics of Kyle's costume. Last night we went to a little carnival, and he was the cutest kid there! My favorite part is the red underwear! Haha!


Now some good recipes I've tried recently. I know, I am obsessed with food. It's a weakness. First, I found a good one for carne asada marinade. Winco sells pre-sliced carne asada, which makes it totally easy:

3 lbs. flank steak (or carne asada meat)
1/3 cup white vinegar
1/2 cup soy sauce
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 limes, juiced
1/2 cup olive oil
1 teaspoon of each of the following: salt, ground black pepper, ground white pepper, garlic powder, chili powder, dried oregano, ground cumin, and paprika.

Mix all together and marinate for 1-8 hours, then cook the meat however you like. I pan-fried it because it was easy, but it would be really good on the grill, too!


And now for Rosemary Chicken with White Beans. I love this one!
2 T. oil
4-6 chicken breast halves
1 cup carrots, sliced
1/2 cup celery, sliced
1 can Great Northern or other white beans, drained and rinsed
1/2 t. salt
1/2 t. pepper
1 t. rosemary
1/3 cup fat-free Italian dressing

In a large skillet, heat the oil and brown the chicken breast. Remove and drain (I always skip this part, because I'm lazy). Place the carrots, celery and beans in the bottom of a slow cooker and add the chicken. In a bowl, combine the salt, pepper, rosemary, and dressing and pour over the food in the cooker. Stir. Cook on low for 8 hours or high for 4 hours.

Enjoy!

'Nother recipe

For dinner tonight I made a nummy recipe that I got, of all places, off a calendar I got from WIC. It's called Tuscan Tuna and White Bean Salad. Ricky wasn't thrilled, I don't think, because it is totally a chick meal, but I thought it was good. Here it is:

3 tbsp. olive oil
2 tbsp. lemon juice
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 (15 oz.) can white beans, rinsed
2 plum tomatoes, chopped
1/3 cup fresh parsley, chopped (I used a bit of dried)
1 (12 oz.) can water-packed tuna, drained and flaked

In a bowl, whisk together oil, lemon juice, and garlic. Add beans, tomatoes, and parsley; toss together. Gently stir in tuna. Serve on lettuce with crackers.

Coconut Dip

A few days ago we had a girl's day out with my sisters, mom, g-ma, aunt, and cousins and all the kiddos. FUN FUN FUN! and I had brought some coconut dip, so here is the recipe:

1 package of cream cheese
1 can of coconut milk (I see it in the Asian section of the store)
1 container of cool whip
1 container of marshallow creme
1 bag of flaked coconut

Beat the cream cheese and milk together. Add in the cool whip and marshmallow creme (use the marshmallow creme to sweeten, but I like things really sweet so I just used the whole thing), and add in as much coconut as you want. Serve with fresh fruit. YUM!

When I eat beans, I sit in my own little cloud...

So, we had some good Mexi food on Cinco de Mayo. I'm not sure why I celebrate it; just an excuse to eat more Mexican food, I guess. But I found these wicked good recipes for refried beans (Kyle's fave) and chicken tostadas with avocado salsa. SOOOOO good! I thought I'd share.

Refried beans:
2 lbs. dried pinto beans
3 garlic cloves, chopped
3 beef boullion cubes (I used chicken flavor and it still tasted good)
1 T. salt
2 c. grated cheese
1/2 c. mild Taco Bell sauce (grab some from the restaurant, or they sell it in a jar at the store)

Soak beans overnight. Rinse and put in large crockpot. Cover with water and add garlic, boullion, and salt. Cook on high 6 hrs or until soft enough to mash. Drain off water about 2 inches below beans. Mix 1/2 beans with electric mixer and other half in blender until very smooth. Combine both with large spoon and add cheese and sauce.

Chicken Tostadas:
2 T. vegetable oil
2 lb. chicken tenders
1 clove minced garlic
1 (4 oz) can diced green chiles, drained
1/2 c. sour cream

In a large saucepan, heat oil over medium heat. Add chicken tenders and cook for about 10 min or until cooked through. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30-60 seconds. Add green chiles and sour cream; stir well. Cook over low heat until hot.
Fry up some small tortillas and top with shredded lettuce, chicken cheese, tomatoes, and avocado salsa.

Avocado salsa:
3 T. oil (this was a bit much for me, you might want to tone it down)
2 T. lime or lemon juice
1/2 t. sugar
1/2 t. salt
1 avocado, peeled, pitted, and chopped
1 tomato, chopped

Combine all ingredients and stir. Cover and refrigerate for at least and hour.

Recipe for Lars

As per Laura's tag, I am putting one of our favorite recipes up for all to enjoy! Kyle loves this one, too, but mostly because it has beans in it, and he LOVES beans.

QUICK MEXICAN DINNER

1 lb. ground beef or turkey
1 envelope of Spanish rice mix
1 can of Ranch Beans (appetite pleasin'!)

While browning the meat, cook the rice according to directions. When the meat is browned and drained, add the cooked rice to it and add the beans (undrained). Heat through.
Use this like taco filling in taco shells or tortillas, and top with cheese, lettuce, sour cream, and whatever else you like. It makes a ton, and is really good left over for taco salads!