Saturday, November 1, 2008

More Apple Recipes

Happy November!

Here are some more fun apple recipes:


Caramel Apples


1 cup butter
2 cups packed brown sugar
1 cup light corn syrup
1 (14 oz) can sweetened condensed milk
2 tsp vanilla
8-10 wooden sticks
8-10 medium tart apples

Directions: Insert one wooden stick into each apple. In a heavy saucepan, combine the butter, brown sugar, corn syrup and milk; bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Cook and stir until a candy thermometer reads 248 degrees (firm ball stage) about 30-40 minutesa nd for a slightly softer caramel cook for a few less degrees. Remove from heat; stir in vanilla. Dip each apple into hot caramel mixture; turn to coat. Holding by the stick, sprinkle with nuts or whatever toppings you desire while caramel is still warm. Some suggested toppings are: chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, crushed Oreos, crushed graham crackers, nuts, cinnamon and sugar. Set on generously buttered wax paper to cool (make certain to generously butter the paper).

Note: If making a double recipe make two recipes in two separate pots. Also, this caramel is great for caramel popcorn.




Homemade Apple Pie


Pie Crust

2 cups all-purpose flour OR pastry flour
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup shortening
Ice water to make soft dough

Directions: Combine flour and salt. Cut in shortening to the size of peas. Gradually add ice water to forma soft dough. Divide into two disks, wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 10 minutes. Shape as desired. Bake single crust pie shells at 400 degrees. Bake double crust pie according to filling instructions. Yield: 2 single-crusts pie shells or 1 double-crust pie.


Apple Pie Filling

3 1/2 cups blanched, fresh apples in 1/4" slices
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/8 tsp nutmeg
3 Tbsp cornstarch or Thick Gel
1/2 cup cold water
1/2 cup apple
2 Tbsp bottled lemon juice
dough for one double crust pie

Directions: Peel, core, and slice apples into medium bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and microwave on high for 5 minutes. Shake bowl to stir apple slices and microwave until apples are tender. Combine dry ingredients in medium saucepan. Add water, apple juice, and lemon juice and cook on medium heat until thick and bubbly. Fold in drained apple slices. Turn into unbaked pie crust. Cover with top crust and seal edges well. Prick and decorate as desired. Brush lightly with milk, avoiding crimped edges, and sprinkle lightly with coarse sugar. Bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes, reduce heat to 350 degrees and bake 30-40 minutes until crust is golden brown. Yield: One double crust pie.


P.S. Tonight is daylight savings...(Spring forward, Fall back)...don't forget to turn your clocks back one hour :)

Friday, October 31, 2008

Halloween Festivities!

Wow, we had quite a busy week this week filled with Halloween Festivities!!!

One of our wonderful homemade decorations for our house...


We had a ward party on Thursday night and I was a bag of M&M's and Brad was a cowboy.


On Thursday night the girls wore matching clown outfits...there were cute hats to go with these outfits too, but they kept falling off so they got the boot.



Tonight, on Halloween night, Jane was a doggy and Maren was an octopus.



Here's a little blast from the past from Halloween last year. Jane was the octopus and Maren was a little lamb.

Thursday, October 30, 2008

Three Cheers for the Binky Fairy...

So, I hope that I'm not speaking too soon, but Jane officially gave up her binkies tonight. We had a visit from the Binky Fairy!

We explained to Jane that there were other babies in the world who were crying and who needed binkies. We also said that now she was two years old she was such a big girl and didn't need binkies anymore. So, the Binky Fairy was also so proud of Jane for being so brave and such a big girl that she was going to come bring a big present for Jane.




So, we put Jane's binkies into a box and tied a bow on it and Jane said, "bye bye binkies" and put them outside on our porch for the Binky Fairy to come and get for all of the babies.

When we came back inside I told her that the Binky Fairy had already come and left her the present on her bed...she was SO excited!



The Binky Fairy left her a Princess Aurora doll and she loves it! Jane thinks Sleeping Beauty is SO wonderful and beautiful!



Jane kept telling us how nice the Binky Fairy was and how much she loved her new dolly. What's so great about this doll is it is a doll, a pillow, and a blanket. When you unzip the bottom of the pillow you can pull the blanket out. Needless to say, Jane loves it!



When I was putting her to bed tonight we got her all tucked in with Princess Aurora and Jane turned to me and started to say, "I want my..." Then she stopped and you could tell she was thinking. Then she said, "...no binkies..." and she smiled and said "goodnight Mommy!" It was almost too good to be true.

I just thought I would include that I was going to do this similar concept to get Jane to get ride of her binkies at Christmas time, but I was going to have her give them to Santa Clause instead of the Binky Fairy...but I just decided that we couldn't wait until Christmas and it needed to happen now. I know Jane is ready and I think the whole idea has clicked for her... I hope :)

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Hee Haw Farms!

Yesterday we went with some of our friends, the Lewis's, and took the kids to Hee Haw Farms in Pleasant Grove.



"Bunnyville"



Jane, Addie, and Maren with Leroy...the 1200 pound pig!



Maren hanging out with a goat.



Mommy, Maren, and Jane on the tractor pulled train.



Working our way through the corn maze.



The girls had fun sitting all together in the wagon.




We all had a blast, especially the kids! Thanks to the Sister Carlson for the tickets :)

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Chicken Salad (with Cauliflower)


2 large eggs
1 pound of chicken
(boneless, skinless, cutlets or breast, rinsed and dried)
1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp chili powder
1/4 tsp paprika
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp olive oil
3/4 cup mayonnaise or Miracle Whip
2 stalks celery, finely chopped (about 3/4 cup)
1/2 cup cauliflower puree
1/2 cup plain yogurt or sour cream
1/2 cup green grapes, coarsely chopped

Directions: Place the eggs in a small saucepan and add cold water to cover. Cover, set the saucepan over high heat, and bring to a boil, then remove from the heat and let stand, still covered, for exactly 15 minutes. Run the eggs under cold water to cool, then peel them. Separate the yolks from the whites. Chop the whites and discard the yolks (or refrigerate for another use).

Sprinkle the chicken with salt, chili powder, paprika, and garlic powder. Coat a large nonstick skillet with cooking spray and set it over medium-high heat. When the skillet is hot, add the oil and then the chicken. For cutlets, cook 4 to 5 minutes per side until lightly browned on no longer pink in the center. For chicken breast, cook 5 minutes per side, reduce the heat to low, cover, and cook for 9 to 10 minutes longer. Let the chicken cool slightly before cutting it into bite-sized pieces.

In a large bowl, stir together the chicken, mayonnaise, celery, cauliflower puree, yogurt, grapes and chopped egg whites. Serve warm or chilled.

Notes: Children love grapes, so this makes a great lunch for the whole family. Using leftover roast chicken saves time; so does using a food processor to chop the celery. Also, I got this recipe from Deceptively Delicious.

Monday, October 20, 2008

PIZOOKIE (like Pizza and Cookie) or "Never on Sundays"

Thanks to the Lewis's for introducing us to this delicious treat!

PIZOOKIE (pronounced pa - zoo - key)



What you need:

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough
Vanilla Ice Cream
Whip Cream
Caramel and Chocolate Toppings



Directions: Grease a pie pan and cook a layer of cookie dough for about 11 minutes or just until the edges and top get barely golden brown (you want the cookie dough inside to still be a little bit gooey). Immediately top with lots of scoops of vanilla ice cream, whip cream, caramel, and chocolate syrup. Eat right away with everyone eating straight from the pie pan (this is a very important step :) ).


I got this yummy chocolate chip cookie recipe from the Lewis's as well and it goes perfectly with Pizookie.

Vanilla Pudding Chocolate Chip Cookies


1 cup butter (softened)
1/4 cup sugar
1 small pkg. vanilla pudding
2 eggs
3/4 cup brown sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
2 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 pkg. chocolate chips

Directions: Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Blend butter, sugars, vanilla pudding powder, eggs, and vanilla; then add flour and baking soda. Finally, add the chocolate chips. For cookies, cook for 8-10 minutes or until golden brown. For Pazooki cook for 11-15 minutes or just until the edges and top get barely golden brown (you want the cookie dough inside to still be a little bit gooey).

Thursday, October 16, 2008

Halloween Time at Gardner Village

Today a group of us took our kids to Gardner Village. It was completely decked out for Halloween and we had a lot of fun!


Our precious cargo!



Jane making new friends at the petting zoo in Gardner Village.



Caleb chasing a billy goat over the bridge...




Getting a good look at the bunny rabbit...



All of the kids having fun in a wagon while we were trying to get a picture of them with everyone looking forward...without much success.



Me and my girls!



A final attempt at getting a group picture of the kid-a-lids...notice there are only 4 of the six kids that were there.



The MOMMIES!