Cooking, Baking & Lovin: 2011

A Thanksgiving Prayer

I have said it before and I will say it again, I Love This Time Of Year! I especially love Thanksgiving. What is better than a day of THANKS, quality time with my loved ones, eating amazing food and honoring family traditions? Yesterday my daughter and I came across this poem in an old poem book and I had to share it with you! I printed this in 8X10 and then framed it. I think it will make a perfect dinner prayer.

Hope you all have a Very Happy Thanksgiving!

Red Cup Season

November 1st I received several text messages from friends telling me that the Starbucks Red Cup was out. They all know I love the Red Cups. I know its just a cup but its what the Cup means that I love so much. Its a sign that holidays are around the corner, that snow days are ahead of us, and my favorite of all, it means there will be more family time together. This is the time of year memories are made. I bake with my kids more, spend more time together at home, & catch up with family and friends that I don't get to see enough of. So the Red Cup has arrived, and I am thrilled!
Happy November to everyone. I have many things to be thankful for this year and my list starts with my Red Cup, Cheers!

Subway Art 4 Our Family

I had to make one! Everyone has made the cutiest subway art and I really, really wanted one for my kitchen that represented our family

SO here it is...

I used microsoft publisher. It was easy just takes time. Go into page setup and change the height & width of your project to fit the frame you’ll use. I used 11x14, it was what I had lying around. Then just start making text boxes with words!

Who dosen't LOVE a FREE day??

Last week I took the kids to the FREE day at the Zoo! We had a great time.

There are a few more FREE days at the Zoo, The Art Museum, and the Denver Museum this year I wanted to share the link so you and your family can mark your calendar.

Click Here for Dates and Places

See you there ;)

Pumpkin Bread

Ingredients

1 (15 ounce) can pumpkin puree

4 eggs

1/2 cup vegetable oil

1 1/4 cup applesauce

2 cups white sugar

1 cup light brown sugar

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour

2 teaspoons baking soda

1 1/2 teaspoons salt

3 tsp pumpkin spice

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees Grease and flour three loaf pans. (I used parchment paper)

In a large bowl, mix together pumpkin puree, eggs, oil, applesauce and sugars until well blended. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flours, baking soda, salt, and pumpkin spice. Stir the dry ingredients into the pumpkin mixture until just blended.

Pour into the prepared pans.

Bake for about 45 minutes in the preheated oven. Loaves are done when toothpick inserted in center comes out clean

Enjoy!

Go ahead draw on your wall!

Recently my daughter went to a birthday party. She would not stop talking about how cool she thought it was that her friend had a chalk board wall. So for her birthday guess what she asked grandma for?

It was simple to do and clean up has been as easy as a vaccum and damp towel. All three of my kids love it. So next up will be the boys room!

Addicted to Pinterest!

My new love is PINTEREST!!

My friend Breena told me about it and its my absolute new favorite thing. Don't you just love a new favorite thing from a friend? I have been telling anyone who will listen about it. So if you don't know about it, take a second to check it out! I have a link on the side -> and if you are already on it follow my boards :)

Fall has Arrived!

Hi all!

I haven't written in a long time. Been busy. Fall is my favorite time of year. I've been spending all my free time cleaning, baking and spending time with my family. This is the time of year that I love to make all those yummy treats with pumpkin, burn the fall smelling candles and get the house straightened back up! (Posts about that to come) The weather in Colorado has been crazy beautiful. We have had the most amazing fall. The grass is still green here and the trees are full of color. Recently we drove up North to a pumpkin patch our friends told us about it was a fantastic day

Wanted to share some of the pictures I snapped.

A Natural Frozen Pizza

When I am at home I get so sick of Peanut Butter and Jelly for lunch. I needed a quick, easy and affordable lunch idea. I also have to admit that I love a good frozen pizza. I am always looking for new ones to try that are without the hydrogenated oils and the long list of ingredients. Typically I buy the Newman Pizza, which I love, but these new Naan Pizzas I had to try!

I love the Cilantro and Pesto Pizza.

With cut up carrots, cucumbers and Ranch dressing they make the perfect lunch.

If you haven't tried this Ranch Dressing, Give it a try too !

A Family Ride

Life has been busy with over lapping kids activities, long work days, and too much homework! This weekend we took a break and were able to get in a family bike ride. We had a great time!

Ready to go!

Across The Bridge

Full of sights!

Jord spent much of the time Checking & Fixing...

A pit stop to PLAY!

When I was a kid my mom took my brothers and I on many bike rides. They are wonderful memories I have. It was great to see how much fun we all had. It reminded me of all the bike rides I have taken. Gotta love a fun and inexpensive way to spend some family time!

Another great idea for all our Summer To Do Lists!

Don't Miss This Goodbye...

I grew up with her on TV. In fact, I don't remember a time she wasn't, and today we say goodbye to her. Oprah you will be missed!

As a child my mom always had Oprah on TV and now in my home we watch and record all Oprah shows. My two older kids both learned her name before many family members names. I had the joy of seeing her here in Denver on her "Live your Best Life Tour" with all the women in our family and her presence is everything you could imagine it to be.

It was an experience of a lifetime.

So here's to you Oprah! A million thanks for sharing the worlds greatest stories of love, grace and triumph, and of course the most fabulous products out there!

Today at four I will cheers you with a martini and some tears as we all say goodbye and goodluck!

Flip Flops, Baseball and Sunshine...

We had a weekend of fun!

$1 Flip Flops from Old Navy and Baseball!

Macks team had their first scrimmage.

I am SO glad that we are FINALLY keeping tracks of strikes.

They are so cute when they are little but I have to say,

the games are so long and boring. Yep I just said that!

This year should be fun and challenging for the boys.

We are looking forward to it!

Happy baseball season to all you baseball fans

Let's Play Ball!

Don't Miss This $1 Sale

This Saturday, May 21st Old Navy opens at 7am for their $1 Flip Flop Sale!

I recommend calling your local store to make they are participating.
Limit 5 pairs per customer

A Favorite Product for my baby!

Nothing like a great new product

I LOVE Twitter Parties!

I was at a MomsandBrands party

hosted by @kemiingram

and I won a sample package from @sheamoisture4u

I had to share the products with you they are amazing.

The shampoo has done amazing things for Brock's hair.

People keep asking me if I got it cut. This shampoo has complete tamed

his crazy fly away hair. The lotions are so moisturising and smell awesome.

Would totally recommend them for your baby or as a baby gift!

Silhouettes of my kids

Crafting Memories ...

I LOVE Silhouettes. When we were in Disneyland we had them made of the kids. At the time we only had two kids and I have been dying to get updated ones made with all three kids. So when I came across this blog

71 Toes I not only LOVED her blog (check it out) but was inspired to make my own Silhouettes.

SO I DID!

What you need:

Scissors regular and small scissors

black paint or spray paint

glue stick

camera, printer, computer

frame of your choice

background paper for in frame

and

white card stock paper

I placed my kids in front of our sliding glass doors

and took a picture of each ones heads

(facing the same way)

I then uploaded them to the computer

printed them out on card stock paper

Cut them out.

Painted them back and framed them.

Its that easy, I swear!

I printed the numbers out from a word document

Bookman Old Style Font

Size 150

but scrapbooks stores would have them too!

This was less than $15.00

and I couldn't have bought anything better!

Growing and Growing

Spring Again...

Time is flying by. I win worst mom award on Easter because I took two pictures of my kids, and NOT one of Brock, my youngest. In my defense it was my 30th too so I was hitting the champagne hard. Thanks to my cousin Rene who brought me my own pack! But here are the kids outfits from Easter.

My Three

Mack with cousin Lukas

Audra with cousin Caley

Happy Spring everyone hope it's full of JOY!

Pass the Strawberries

It's Berry Time...

My mom makes Chocolate Dipped Strawberries for special occasions.

Now places are charging and arm and a leg for these delicious treats.

For my moms birthday I made them. They are fun to make and SO easy

Melt your Chocolate chips in the microwave SLOWLY

30 second intervals then stir GOOD and repeat until chocolate is melted.

For these I dipped the strawberries in Milk Chocolate

Let them cool and harden in the fridge.

Then drizzled with Dark and White Chocolate.

Let them cool and harden again.

Serve within 2-3 hours of making.

They were AMAZING.

( I use nestle or giradelli chocolate chips)

What to do with all the Bananas

Tired of plain old Banana Bread?

Me TOO so I came up with these....

Banana Cookies

6 Tbsp Butter

6 Tbsp Sour Cream

1/2 cup Brown Sugar

1 egg

1 tsp vanilla

2 large ripe Bananas

1/4 tsp salt

1 tsp baking soda

2 cups flour

3/4 cup White Chocolate Chips

1/2 cup walnuts

Cream together butter and sugar. Add egg, vanilla, bananas and sour cream, beat well. Add dry ingredients; mix well.

Drop by heaping spoonfuls onto greased cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for about 10 minutes, until bottoms are just lightly browned.

A "Real Simple" Lunch

I saw this recipe in the Real Simple magazine. It's a Delish Twist on a Baked Potato

http://www.realsimple.com/food-recipes/browse-all-recipes/baked-potatoes-with-ricotta-and-roasted-tomatoes-00000000051115/index.html

I made some small changes see below

4 medium russet potatoes

1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon olive oil

2 pints grape tomatoes

kosher salt and black pepper

1 tsp crushed garlic

4 sprigs fresh thyme

1 cup ricotta

1/2 cup Parmesan Cheese

Heat oven to 400° F. Wash and dry potatoes Rub the potatoes with 1 teaspoon of the olive oil, pierce with fork a few times, wrap in foil. Bake, turning occasionally, until tender and easily pierced with a paring knife, 65 to 75 minutes.

Fifteen minutes before the potatoes are done in a large saute pan toss the tomatoes cut in half with the remaining 1 tablespoon of oil, 1 teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon pepper and1 tsp crushed garlic and saute until tomatoes are tender 12 to 15 minutes.

Mix ricotta with Parmesan cheese, season ricotta with salt and pepper to taste

Split the baked potatoes and, dividing evenly, top with the ricotta and tomato mixture, and thyme!

I love Real Simple magazine

to subscribe click below!

https://subscription.realsimple.com/storefront/subscribe-to-real-simple/site/sm-ho0111.html?tcmid=footerbanner_ho&link=1001765

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