Thursday, May 22, 2008

Yard Work

We are finally getting our trees tomorrow. It is starting to look like a yard. Everyone told us we were crazy for moving right when we got our yard looking like we wanted it. We love it out here, and we are so happy. We definitely miss all our old neighbors and wish we could have brought them with us. The yard has definetly been a challenge. What were we thinking a half acre. Looking forward to a lot of fun times spent in the yard though. we are really excited about the fire pit and roasting marshmallows. I think that will be as close to camping we are going to get this year. (gas prices) Hope everyone has fun things planned for the memorial weekend. Hopefully I will get some pictures posted of the tree planting.

Thursday, May 15, 2008

The Best Cinnamon Rolls

Dough:
2 pkg. active dry yeast
1 C. warm water (105-115 degree)
2/3 C. plus 1 tsp. granulated sugar, divided
1 C. warmed milk
2/3 C. butter
2 tsp salt
2 eggs, slightly beaten
7-8 C. all-purpose flour, or more if needed

Filling:1 C. softened butter, divided (2 sticks)
1 3/4 C. granulated sugar, divided
3 Tbsp. ground cinnamon
1 1/2 C. chopped walnuts, optional1
1/2 C. raisins, optional

steps
In a small bowl mix together warm water, yeast and sugar and set aside. In a large bowl, mix milk, remaining 2/3 cup sugar, melted butter, salt and eggs; stir well and add yeast mixture. Add half the flour and beat until smooth. Stir in enough of the remaining flour until dough is slightly stiff (dough will be sticky).Turn out onto a well-floured board; knead 5 -10 minutes. Place in well-buttered glass or plastic bowl, cover and let rise in warm place, free from drafts, until doubled in bulk, about 1 to 1 1/2 hours.When doubled, punch down dough and let rest 5 minutes. Roll out on floured surface into a 15 x 20 inch rectangle.To prepare filling: Spread dough with 1/2 cup butter. Mix together 1 1/2 cups sugar and cinnamon; sprinkle over buttered dough. Sprinkle with walnuts and raisins, if desired.Roll up jellyroll-fashion and pinch edge together to seal. Cut into 12 to 15 slices. Coat bottom of a 13-by-9-inch baking pan and a 8-inch square pan with remaining 1/2 cup melted butter, then sprinkle with remaining 1/4 cup sugar. Place cinnamon roll slices close together in pans. Let rise in warm place until dough is doubled in bulk, about 45 minutes.Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Bake 25 to 30 minutes, or until rolls are nicely browned.

If you want more like caramel sticky buns substitute brown sugar for granulated in filling.

I cut my rolls with thread or dental floss










Frosting
Please note the key to this is whipping this up for at least 12 minutes. So be prepared to sign someone up for mixer duty, (not that it should be that hard!)
Ingredients

1 lb. Margarine 1 lb. cream cheese 2 lbs. powdered sugar 2 tsp. lemon juice 2 tsp. vanilla extract
Methods/steps
Allow margarine and cream cheese to reach room temperature. Beat cream cheese and margarine together in a bowl with a mixer. Slowly add in all powdered sugar. Once all of the sugar is in the bowl mix for at least an additional 12 minutes. When almost done, add in the extracts. Enjoy!

Monday, May 12, 2008

Mother's Day

My Mother's Day always starts on Saturday with a day out with my Mother-In -Law and all my sister in laws. We went to see the movie Emma, it was realy inspirational. I learned alot of new things out about Emma Smith. After we went to try a new Indian restaurant, The food was realy good, but don't get the desserts. After, I went to my mom's to wish her a happy mother's day. Mike was there with the kids, he had been working all day on my parents yard, the usual spring clean up. Mother's Day started off with Hunter bringing me a present he had been working on all week. Anytime I would walk in the room he would hurry and hide it. It was a little town he had made out of card stock. One of the houses had written on it candy factory, he filled it with whatever treats he could find. So very cute. He then went in the kitchen with Porter and Shelby, and got them each a bowl of cereal. He brought one to me also with a piece of toast. He is the cutest kid. Mike wasn't feeling up to doing to much, he has been working so hard on the yard. He bought KFC for dinner( I know it was Sunday) but it sure tasted good. I actually got a hot meal. I am so glad I have the opportunity to be a mother. I hope all you other mothers had a great day also.

Wednesday, May 7, 2008

I have been tagged

Thank You Dianna for tagging me. I have been real lazy lately about our blog. So here it goes.

What I was doing 10 years ago.
We just moved into our townhouse in West Valley. Very exciting. I was working at Beehive Credit Union. How weird it is to think of life before kids.

5 years ago-
I was enjoying they daily routine of 2 kids. Sad but my life realy hasn't changed that much since then.

5 things on my to do list:
Laundry
Organize
Get more Food Storage
Give my kids more one on one time
Clean

5 snacks I enjoy
those small powdered donuts
take five candy bar
yogurt
Wheaties cereal
pralines and cream ice cream

5 places I have lived

I have only lived 4
West Jordan
Ephraim, Ut
West Valley
Stansbury

5 things I would do if I became a billionaire

Pay off house
buy mountain property
wouldn't let kids know
vacation
play

5 things people might not know about me

I have never had any type of alcohol ( cough Syrup doesn't count)
I love to watch sappy movies
I saw a UFO while camping with Mike
I pooped my pants camping
I really am a happy person I just don't show it that often

Hope you enjoy this.

Friday, May 2, 2008

Yummy Breakfast

BLT Egg Bake

¼ cup mayonnaise
5 slices bread, toasted
4 slices process American cheese
12 bacon strips, cooked and crumbled
4 eggs
2 tomatoes sliced
2 TBS butter
2 TBS all-purpose flour
¼ tsp salt
1/8 tsp pepper
1 cup milk
½ cup shredded cheddar cheese

Spread mayonnaise on one side of each slice of toast and cut into small pieces. Arrange toast, mayonnaise side up, in greased 8 in square baking dish. Top with cheese slices and bacon. In a skillet fry eggs. Place over bacon. Top with tomato slices: set aside. In a saucepan melt butter add flour salt and pepper until smooth. Gradually add milk. Bring to a boil: cook and stir 2 minutes or until thickened. Pour over tomatoes. Sprinkle with cheddar cheese. Bake, uncovered, at 325 for 10 minutes.