Monday, November 24, 2008

19 Days till Christmas - Blogolicious

Celery and Leek Soup




Celery and Leek Soup

1/3 cup butter, melted
2 cups finely chopped celery
2 cups leeks, white and green , sliced and soaked (to remove dirt)

Saute for 10 minutes.
Add 1/3 cup flour - cook 3 minutes
Add 3 cans chicken stock - slowly (6 cups)

Simmer for 20 minutes.
Gently puree' - (not liquefy)
Return to pan and gently simmer for 10 minutes.
Add 1 cup cream (or milk).
Season to taste.

Yummy - I got this recipe from Grandma Fran because Steph loved it so much when she lived with her a year and a half ago. It really is delicious.

To freeze: either freeze the leeks and celery that have been sauted and have the rest of the ingredients on hand or be totally on the ball and make the soup as written - let it cool - freeze in wonderful freezer Ziplock baggies - and all you have to do it heat and eat. My kind of meal.

Baby Chase




Baby Chase was born November 21st. He weighed in at 10 lbs. 7 oz. 21" long.
Look at those cute chubby cheeks.
Because of his size his entrance into this world was very traumatic . He got a little squashed.
He was rushed to the NICU. Once there they inflated his lungs, put him on oxygen, and a nutrient tube. He liked to hold his breath when he cried. A big guy with a little temper.
They thought his clavicil and arm might be broken - but gratefully it is not - he is bruised and sore.

As of today - November 24th - he is still in the NICU- but doing much better. He is breathing on his own and not holding his breath. Now he just needs to learn to eat.
Christine is staying at the Ronald McDonald suite at the hospital on the NICU floor. There she is able to help nurse him and take care of him.

I have yet to hold him - for now I just look at his pictures.

Thursday, November 13, 2008

20 Days Til Christmas - Chicken Noodle Soup



Chicken Noodle Soup

Mix together and heat:
5 cans chicken broth (14 oz.)
2 cans cream of chicken soup
Add:
1 cup finely chopped onion
2 cups chopped celery
3 cups sliced carrots

Boil 10 minutes or until veggies are tender.

Add:
2 cups cooked and chopped chicken.
2-3 cups egg noodles (depending on how noddle-ey you like it.)

Boil until noodles are cooked al dente.

To make a freezer meal:
Combine broth, soup, onions, celery, carrots. Bag and label.
Bag yourself some cooked and chopped chicken. Label.
Measure out noodles (uncooked) and bag and label.
Put all bags in gallon size freezer bag. Include recipe. Label.
You will be thankful you can put homemade soup on the table in about 20 minutes.

21 Days Til Christmas

The most frightening thing - it is only 42 days till Christmas. I need to step up my posting and step up my freezer meals. But remember - any is better than none.



Grandma Tillie's Famous Tuna Casserole


2 cups elbow macaroni
1/4 cup finely chopped onion
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 can milk
1 cup grated or shredded cheese
1 can tuna

Buttered and toasted bread crumbs

Cook macaroni with onion according to directions on package. Drain. Set aside. Combine soup, milk and cheese. Place over low heat until cheese is melted. Add tuna. Mix macaroni and soup mixture. Put in casserole dish sprayed with Pam. Top with bread crumbs. Bake 350° until bubbly and hot . 20 - 30 minutes.

Buttered and toasted bread crumbs: Use the heels of the loaf of bread that might get thrown away. Put in blender and crumb away. Store in a freezer bag in the freezer. When a recipe calls for bread crumbs open the freezer and - badda boom badda bang - you have them.
To toast: put a small amount of butter in a skillet. (3 TBS) Melt. Add bread 1/2 cup bread crumbs. Stir constantly until toasted.

To make a freezer meal: Measure out 2 cups macaroni. Do NOT cook. Put in bag and label. Chop onions and bag the little suckers. Combine soup, milk, cheese and tuna. Bag and label. Toast crumbs - bag and label. Put all the bags in a gallon size freezer bag and label. Include recipe.
Wa-laa - Another wonderful freezer meal ready to prepare.

Happy Hallo - er , I mean Birthday! Kristopher




Friday, November 7, 2008

More Halloween FUn




Halloween Fun















We had our 3rd annual Halloween Party at Kiki's. The traditional Sloppy Joes were served - and everyone brought another dish to help.
I thought I would go as a blonde this year. So did Reagan,
and Kiki,
and Stephi,
and Mally.

22 Days Til Christmas

Taco's
Cook meat, rinse and drain. add seasoning. Cool and freeze.
If freezer room is plenty - shells (hard or soft) can be frozen.
If not just remember to have some on hand.

I've Been Tagged




I like this tagging - no telling of deep dark secrets -
The rule is to post the 4th picture of the 4th folder in your Pictures Album and tell a little about the picture.
By luck it is a picture I took . I have many many many folder with images other than pictures.
Okay - I'll admit this deep dark secret - I love to save images on my puter. Stampin' Up! stuff , hair styles, photo inspirations. You name it , I am an image junkie!
This picture was taken up Provo Canyon. I remember the exact turn in the road where I shot it.
During Autumn, Provo Canyon is a wonderland for photographers. The favorite time? - Conference weekend.
I tag my sister!

Monday, October 20, 2008

23 Days 'till Christmas - Chicken Chilada's

I've previously posted this recipe. To make a freezer meal: Cook cut up chicken - cool and put in freezer ziplock. Mix soup, milk, sour cream and green chilies, ( if using only half a can of green chilies, freeze the remainder in an additional bag for use in another recipe - or................. make TWO chilada recipes.) Put in freezer bag and label. Tear flour tortillas and bag. Measure and bag the shredded cheese. Assemble all in an XL freezer bag and label. Put a happy smile on your face when December comes and meal time is easy!!!

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

24 Days Till Christmas - Chicken Fajita's

By the time I get dinner fixed and another meal in the freezer I am too tired to take a picture. Trust me - it's yummy!


Fajitas like Chili's®

Serves: 4
For the freezer: Prepare the raw chicken in the marinade and seal in ziplock.
Cut onions and peppers. Seal in another ziplock.
Prepare additional flavoring and ziplock.
Count # of tortilla's and put in another ziplock.
Put all the bags in a X large ziplock and label. Freeze.

Marinade:
1/4 cup lime juice
2 Tbls. olive oil OR vegetable oil
4 cloves garlic - crushed
2 tsp. soy sauce - divided
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. liquid smoke
1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper
1/4 tsp. black pepper

1 lb. boned, skinned chicken breasts OR skirt steak

2 Tbls. water
1/2 tsp. lime juice
1 dash salt
1 dash black pepper

1 lrg. Spanish onion - sliced thin
1/2 med. green bell pepper - seeded, sliced thin
1/2 med. red bell pepper - seeded, sliced thin
1/2 med. yellow bell pepper - seeded, sliced thin

-Combine 1/4 cup lime juice, 2 Tbls. oil, garlic, 2 tsp. soy sauce, 1 tsp. salt, liquid smoke, cayenne pepper, and 1/4 tsp. black pepper in a sealable plastic ziplock bag, add chicken/steak to container, cover, and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or overnight (preferred).

-Combine water, 1 tsp. soy sauce, 1/2 tsp. lime juice, and a dash of salt and pepper; set aside.

-Grill meat over a medium-high flame for 4-5 minutes per side, or until cooked through.

-Cut meat into thin strips; set aside and keep warm.
( I actually cut my meat into strips and cook in a skillet sprayed with Pam.)

-In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook onion and peppers in 1 Tbls. oil until brown; remove from heat; pour reserved liquid mixture over onions and peppers.
-Toss together meat, onions, and peppers.

Notes: Serve with warm tortillas, pico de gallo, cheese, sour cream, and guacamole.

Friday, October 10, 2008

25 Days 'Til Christmas

I've decided to try and be better prepared for Christmas. I've come up with a cooking plan called the "25 Days 'Til Christmas" plan. (Hence the name of my post.)

I am going to make freezer meals and hopefully by the beginning of December I will have 25 meals waiting for me. The cool part of the plan (no pun intended), is that I will just double meals that I make in the next couple of months. Brilliant you say? I hope so.

Freezer meals will last 3-6 months in the freezer.

Meal # 25

Chicken Stroganoff

12 chicken tenderloins - boiled in salted water and cut into thirds
(Frozen tenderloins will boil in approx. 15-20 minutes. Do not overcook or they will be tough.)

Saute in small amount EVOO and butter:
1/4 large onion - finely chopped
4 mushrooms - finely chopped
Lightly season with salt and pepper

2 cans cream of mushroom soup
1 can milk
1/4 teaspoon Kitchen Bouquet
½ pkg onion soup mix
1 teaspoon paprika

Mix altogether. Put in baking dish.
Bake 350̊ for 30 minutes or until bubbly.

Add ½ cup sour cream.
Serve over pasta or rice.

Serves 6.

If freezing - double freezer bag and label. Remove from freezer the night before or the morning that it is to eaten and defrost in fridge.

Monday, October 6, 2008

10 Reasons I Love October Conference

10. We get to go to Grandma's.




9. A good night sleep on a comfy bed.





8. Sharing a meal three times a day.




7. My hands can stay busy while I listen, cutting out a quilt.





6. A MooMoo can be worn to church.






5. We get to go to grandma's.





4. Hearing the announcement of five new temples in --Rome, Italy; Calgary, Canada;
Cordoba, Argentina; Philadelphia and in the greater Kansas City, Mo. area.





3. Our wonderful prophet and his counselor.






2. Stepping outside the back door and feeding swans.







1. We get to go to Grandma's.

Sunday, October 5, 2008

My Princess - August 27, 2008

Reagan had a Princess Party for her 4th birthday. The little princesses came dressed in their fancy gowns and then Korianne gave them updo's (or at least a 'do') and a little makeover. They learned how to walk and curtsy like a princess. There was a castle bounce house and the girls had a blast! Then like any good princess party they ate chocolate. Korianne sure knows how to throw a party!

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Monet to Picasso or Where did the summer go?

Claude Monet (French, 1840–1926). The Red Kerchief: Portrait of Mrs. Monet (La capeline rouge, portrait de Madame Monet), 1868–78. Oil on fabric; 99 x 79.8 cm. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Bequest of Leonard C. Hanna Jr. 1958.39. © The Cleveland Museum of Art

The U of U sponsored an art collection exhibition. Stacie, Malorie, Steph and I went. It was very fascinating . I did not realize that Monet was alive when my mother was born (1924).
The paintings stirred my soul just knowing they were originals.

Some of the interpretations of art critics made me giggle. How do they know?




"Breathless"

This piece called "Breathless" was in the permanent collection where photo's were allowed.
(also no one but us went to see - gee it was FREE )

Let's see - since I am now a trained art critic - I say the artist portrayed the man always in a hurry, henceforth, he became breathless, henceforth he turned blue!

Don't we all feel this way sometimes?

1-2-3-exhale...............................




"Sticks and Sticks" - interpret that anyway you want!

Saturday, June 14, 2008

Blog-o-licious FRESH CORN SALSA


Fresh Corn Salsa
1-1/2 lb. tomatoes, chopped
1 cup fresh corn kernels
1/4 cup finely chopped red onions
1/4 cup chopped cilantro or fresh parsley
1/2 medium jalapeƱo pepper, chopped
1 avocado, coarsely chopped
1/4 cup KRAFT Zesty Italian Dressing

COMBINE all ingredients except dressing in large bowl.

ADD dressing; mix lightly.

Optional - Add one can of black beans - rinsed and drained

Kraft Foods Summer 2008 - with a few changes :)


Monday, June 2, 2008

Running With Angels - First Installment



Korianne and Pam Hansen - the author


A sister in our ward wrote the book 'Running With Angels' , she also started a 5k Walk and Run four years ago. Korianne and Stephen ran the first race. These are pictures from this year.
Yes, they really are having fun....... They have a new hobby to do together - run5k's. Stephen is Korianne's support system in more ways than one. It's all good.

This year the 5K was held at Thanksgiving Point. What a beautiful place! The girls and I volunteered with packets (see Second installment for more details) the night before and then the day of the race Mally and I helped. My hard, hard job was to be in the beautiful gardens along the 5k trail, cheering the people on and making sure they were on the right path. A cute little lady who goes there daily to walk stood by me the whole time and helped me encourage the participants. She kept telling how much fun she had.
The great thing about this race is that many people who would not participate in another race will participate in this one.


Add Image

Saturday, May 31, 2008

Bad Blogger, Running With Angels - installment 2 and Janice Kapp Perry

I have been a bad blogger. Time flies and I actually have exciting things to post beside my recipes.
May 17 was the 4th annual 'Running With Angels' 5k . (Link attached) Kiki and Stephen were running the race. Even though they did the hard stuff this is about me. (Pictures in previous post.)

On Friday night Malorie, Stacie and I volunteered and handed out packets to the participants.
An older woman came through the line, she asked if we had wheelchairs along the race route, I told her no, but my tall, dark and handsome husband was on the clean up committee. Meaning, if there were any people left on the trail he was to get them. She said in that case she was going to be slow.
Anyway- to make a long story even longer - after she got her packet and left, the organizer of the race came and told me it was Janice Kapp Perry. I did feel a little silly but that did not stop me from any further embarrassment.

So now we go to Saturday morning - 7:00 am. I am not really a morning person at all. (I used to be but then I got wise.) Malorie and I helped out at Thanksgiving Point where the race was. I was lucky enough to be put on the trail in the gardens. My job was to cheer the 1000+ participants on and make sure they were on the right track. A cute little lady (not part of the race) stood by me the entire time and helped me cheer. She said it was so much fun. And it was.

Sure enough Kiki and Stephen came through (they are running 5k's together as a hobby or something.......) I cheered really loud for them. And a long time later JKP jogged along. She waved to me and I cheered loud for her as well.
Okay - that part of the story doesn't really add anything - but it is fun to tell.

After all the participants came through I left the gardens and went to the parking lot where they were giving away food (yum) and prizes. Neal had come to cheer Kiki on and take pictures.

So I showed my family Janice Kapp Perry. And then............. I had this brilliant idea.

Rewind several years...................... We are in the book store....... we see this CD................ Steph just has to have it.................so I finally bought it for her. ( years later) Check out this picture of the CD cover ....Parallel Universe.





Now back to the 5K. I approached Janice Kapp Perry and told her my daughter loved the CD. She looked at me horrified - she said that was soooooooo embarrassing. Of course you know that didn't stop me from asking her if she would pose with me playing air guitar. What a gal...........
She was so cute and gracious........... she said - this is a private picture (as we had a crowd gawking at us.) I said , yes and it will go on my private blog.







Life is good.