Crazy snow day

This was just a crazy snow day in April.  I was afraid it would kill my tulips, they were hardy little beauties though and survived.  We had a crazy winter.  We felt like we were in southern California with our weather.  We did not get the usual cold weather and the much needed snow for our desert.  This was definitely a weather anomaly!

Recipe: Cookie recipies!

This is a great new recipe that I found when I was looking for fun St. Patrick's day recipes. Derek's friend, Nick, LOVES these! They are:

PISTACHIO CAKE MIX COOKIES
(I wish I could come up with a catchier name)

1 white cake mix
1 small box instant pistachio pudding mix
2 eggs
1/2 C vegetable oil
3/4 t almond extract
a few drops of green food coloring
1 1/2 c white chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350.  Combine cake mix and pudding mix.  Add the eggs, oil, almond extract and green food coloring.  Mix the best you can using a hand mixer.  If the batter is too stiff, finish mixing with a wooden spoon.  Stir in 1 C of the white chocolate chips.  Roll dough into 1 " - 1 1/2 " balls and place on a lightly greased baking sheet.  Press 2 or 3 white chocolate chips into the top of each cookie.  Bake for 10 -12 minutes.  Tops will be cracked and outside will be very slightly browned.  Yield: about 2 1/2 dozen cookies.

The dough is pretty greasy, but it tastes perfect once baked.  I added four drops of green food coloring.  I refrigerated by dough overnight and my cookies were done at 12-13 minutes.



I got this recipe from a great murder mystery book series.  I have shared other of her great recipes that I have made for my family.  The book series is the Hannah Swenson series by Joanne Fluk

 I think this recipe is great for the fall because of the "secret" ingredient.  Don't let the secret ingredient make you not want to try them.  I didn't tell anyone what it was before they tried them.  Everyone loved them.  I even took some to my 5 and 6 year old Primary class.

MYSTERY COOKIES (from the book "Lemon Meringue Pie Murder" by Joanne Fluke

Preheat oven to 350

1/2 C melted butter (1 stick) (24 pts weight watchers)
3 1/2 C white sugar (73 pt)
2 beaten eggs  (just whip with a fork) (4 pts)
1 can condensed tomato soup (the regular plain kind, not "cream of" or "tomato w/ basil" or anything else fancy - I use Campbell's) (5 pts)
2 t cinnamon
2 t nutmeg
2 t baking soda
2 t salt
4 1/2 C flour (45 pts)
= 151.5 pts

Microwave the butter in mixing bowl to melt it.  Add the sugar, let it cool a bit, and mix in the beaten eggs,  Open a can of condensed tomato soup, add that to your mixing bowl, then mix it all up.  Stir in the cinnamon, nutmeg, and baking soda, and salt.  Measure the flour and add it in 1 C measurements, mixing after each addition.  (if you don't the mix could go all over the place)

Let the dough sit for 10 minutes or so.  Drop dough by teaspoons onto a greased cookie sheet, 12 to a standard sheet.

Bake at 350 for 10 -12 minutes or until golden brown on top.  Let them sit on the cookie sheet for a minute or 2 longer (no longer or they'll stick) and transfer to a wire rack for complete cooling.

Makes about 10 dozen!

this recipe seems to be great for the summer.


ICED LEMON CAKED MIX COOKIE RECIPE  From Six Sister's Stuff

1 lemon cake mix (I used Duncan Hines)
1/2 C vegetable oil
2 eggs
1 C white chocolate chips

Icing:
1 C powdered sugar
2 - 3 tablespoons lemon juice (more or less, depending on how thick/thin you like it)

Instructions:
1.  Preheat oven to 350
2.  In a large bowl, mix together cake mix (dry cake mix - don't include ingredients called for on cake mix box), vegetable oil, and eggs.  Fold in white chocolate chips.
3.  Drop by tablespoonfuls onto cookie sheet and bake for 6-9 minutes, making sure to not over bake them.
4.  Remove cookie from oven and place on wire racks to cool.  Mix icing together in a small bowl and drizzle over warm cookies (or you can wait until they have cooled down a little bit - whatever you prefer)
I took all these to my dad.  He LOVED them.  They freeze well and traveled great.  I need to make more for my dad and my family here as well.

These were SO good!!
I wish I could make them now but I've got to go to work soon.  I'm off to Eugene Oregon tonight.

Aunt Janna Lion House Easter Stew

We got this recipe from Aunt Janna in April.  Derek LOVES this.  It is such a hearty stew.  We had it when we all got together for Easter.  I just got the recipe and already I have made it several times.

It was great for us to be able to see wonderful, funny Aunts and Uncles and watch General Conference together.

I am grateful for a family that loves me and my kids so much!

This recipe is originally from the Christmas Recipes from the Lion House

Here is the wonderful recipe:

2 lbs beef chuck, cut in cubes
2 T shortening
4 C water
1 onion sliced
1 clove garlic
1 T salt
1 T lemon juice
1 t sugar
1 t Worcestershire sauce
1/2 t paprika
1/2 t black pepper
2 bay leaves
dash of allspice (I don't put this in)
6 carrots, cut in quarters (3 cups baby carrots)
1/2 lb small white onions
3 potatoes, peeled and cubed
1/4 C flour

Brown beef cubes in shortening.  Turn often to brown meat on all sides.  This should take about 15 minutes.  Then add water, onion, garlic, salt, lemon juice, sugar, Worcestershire sauce, pepper, paprika, bay leaves, and all spice.  (I use a cock pot, this is the way I do it, the recipe from Lion House did  not, I just love crock pots, also the longer you leave the beef in the crock pot the more tender it is and easier to chew.  I let it cook on low for about 8 - 9 hours and just put the carrots and potatoes in for the last about 3 - 4 hours depending on the thickness of the cut of the vegetables)

Cover with a lid and simmer on low heat (do not boil) for 2 hours. (So, I don't do this part the same as I don't use the stove method, as I stated above, I use a crock pot.)  Stir occasionally to prevent sticking.  When meat is almost done, add carrots, onions, and potatoes, and simmer for 30 minutes or more. 

Discard bay leaf and garlic (unless you mince the garlic tiny like I do).  Pour 1/2 C hot water in shaker (or use milk or cream) and add 1/4 C four; shake to blend.  Stir into stew. 

Cook and stir until gravy thickens and boils.  Makes about 8 servings.

Easter family visit

This is a picture of some of the food that I brought out to my mom and dad.  I had been thinking that I didn't want my mom to be spending all her time in the kitchen and taking care of my dad.  I make a lot of food and lots of it can be frozen and it heats up great.  My parents have done so much for me and they mean so incredibly much to me.  I hope that this will help to make life easier and more pleasant for both my mom and dad.  I love them so so much.

From left to right around the circle.  Tate, Stephanie, (on the floor just the top of her head) Finley, Chase (facing the piano), Micah, Asher, Derek, Eli, and Brant

Grandma and Derek at BEAUTIFUL STUNNING Tumwater Falls.  Derek having a "peaceful protest" to my many pictures of him through out his life.  You will see a few more peaceful protests to me trying to take pictures of him in the next pictures to come.

I wish I could take better pictures to show the beauty of this place

Here is a sort of good picture.  It is hard (at least for me) to capture the majesty and intense beauty of this place.  I hope that it stays around for a long time.

Beautiful, I think that this place is very therapeutic.

A rare photo now a days.  I was able to get a shot of Derek.  (smile)
Grandma looks so cute!

There we go!!! Derek saw me and commanded me to GO!  (love you son!)

I love this amazing woman!!!! I still remember not long ago, she was taller than me.  I am so incredibly blessed to have her as my mom and friend.

Just another photo together, we wanted to get the beauty we were seeing in the photo with us.  A bit blurry of a picture, darn.

Much better quality, just wish we could have moved the sun off my Mom.  Sorry mom.

OK, last picture Derek.  (smile)  He is patient with me and so sweet and kind but is VERY over my picture taking.  I think I have only taken about 987,456,789,745,641,327 pictures of him. (smile)