~My Reason For Our Blog~
"You will have significant experiences. I hope that you will write them down and keep record of them, that you will read them from time to time and refresh your memory of those meaningful and significant things. Some may be funny. Some may be significant only to you. Some of them may be sacred and quietly beautiful. Some may build one upon another until they represent a lifetime of special experiences." — Gordon B. Hinckley

Saturday, August 21, 2010

Great Grandma's House

One of my young women, Breanne, got married this weekend in the Draper, Utah Temple.  I was so touch to recieve a wedding announcment.  We were able to attend the wedding and my Grandma Pearl Crook volunteered to to watch the girls while we went.  It was great for all of us.  To be in the Temple with Ward, and watch Breanne and her husband make eternal covenants together. It was a beautiful day.  While we were enjoying being in the temple together, going to dinner alone, the girls enjoyed time with Great Grandma.  They were able to make their own memories.  They went on a walk to feed the ducks, had dinner together, and watched movies. 
A weekend full of memories.









 

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Recipes

Meaty Noodle Casserole
1 pkg. {12 oz.} wide egg noodles
1 lb. ground beef
1/2 lb. bulk pork sausage
3 T. chopped onion {I did 1/2 cup}
1/4 t. garlic powder
1 can {14 3/4 oz} cream style corn {I used regular corn}
1 can {14 3/4 oz} stewed tomatoes, cut up {I used Italian style}
1 can {10 3/4 oz} condensed cream of chicken soup, undiluted
1 C. chopped pimiento stuffed olives or black olives {I left them out}
2 T. minced fresh parsley {I used dried}
1 1/2 C. shredded cheddar cheese {I had ours in a bowl to do your own}

~Cook pasta according to package directions. Meanwhile, cook the beef, pork sausage, onion and garlic over medium heat until meat is no larger pink; drain. Add the corn, tomatoes, soup, olives and parsley; heat through.
~Drain pasta; stir into meat mixture. Transfer to a greased 13 in x 9 in. baking dish. Sprinkle with cheese. Cover and bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes. Uncovered; bake 5-10 minutes longer or until cheese is melted.
Yield: 8 servings
After I cooked all the meat mixture and cooked the noodles and drained them I added everything to the noodles in my big noodle pan and mixed it all up, heated it through. I didn't put it in the oven.



Chocolate Chip, Oats 'n Caramel Cookie Squares

1 roll {16.5 oz} Pillsbury refrigerated chocolate chip cookies {I use what is on sale}
1 C. quick-cooking oats
2/3 C. caramel topping
5 T. flour
1 t. vanilla
3/4 C chopped walnuts {I leave out}
1 bag {6 oz.} semisweet chocolate chips {1 cup}

~Heat oven to 350 degrees. In large bowl, break up cookie dough. Stir or knead in oats. Reserve 1/2 cup of dough mixture for topping. In ungreased 9-inch square pan, press remaining dough mixture evenly in bottom to form crust. {I greased my pan}
~Bake 10- to 12 minutes or until dough puffs and appears dry.
~In small bowl, mix caramel topping, flour and vanilla until well blended. Sprinkle walnuts and chocolate chips evenly over crust. Drizzle evenly with caramel mixture. Crumble reserved 1/2 cup dough mixture over caramel.
~Bake 20-25 minutes longer or until golden brown. Cool 10 minutes. Run knife around sides of pan to loosen bars. Cool completely, about 1 hour 30 minutes. For bars, cut into 4 rows by 4 rows. Store in tightly covered.

Chocolate Chip Blondies

1 1/2 C. packed brown sugar
1/2 C. butter, melted
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1 t. vanilla
1 1/2 C. flour
1/2 t. baking powder
1/2 t. salt.
1 C. semisweet chocolate chips

~In a large bowl, combine the brown sugar, butter, eggs and vanilla just until blended. Combine the flour, baking powder and salt; add to brown sugar mixture. Stir in chocolate chips.
~Spread into a greased 13 in x 9 in. baking pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 18-20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack. Cut into bars.
Sometimes it can be hard to spread, I put a little flour on my spoon to help spread the mixture.

Friday, August 13, 2010

Bananas

 What a fun day!!  We helped Nicole celebrate her 12th birthday with lots of fun!!  The girls had so much fun hanging out together, getting wet, playing games, and driving goat carts and don't forget laser tag.  It was also perfect weather to be outside and playing bumper boats.  The girls would gang up on each other or just on some poor stranger who had no clue it was coming.  It was fun watching them drive the goat carts around the track.  They loved passing each other, going fast and just being behind the wheel. They had some of the goofiest faces as they would come around the track. 































Saturday, August 7, 2010

Demolition Derby

 This year for the County Fair week we went to the Demolition Derby.  It was so loud and exciting.  The girls loved it.  There was so much to see.  The cars were all painted differently and banged up.  Some of the drivers were dressed to match the theme of their cars.  A few of the cars would end up smoking, or even a few of them caught on fire.  When they would be taking the cars out of the arena that no longer ran they had 4-wheelers rider through mud holes. The people sitting in the front rows got covered in mud.  I was glad we were up higher in the stands.  The night was so much fun, with lots to see, hear, and eat!  It was a memory not to be forgotten.