Ky is 29!

Today is Kyle's Birthday....

...and if you know me you know I show love with food. Maybe not the healthiest thing but it is what I do. Unfortunately because my camera is broke (just putting it out there if anyone wants to get us a new one haha, or donate your old one), I only got one picture of today's food. 

Breakfast: Yesterday I knew that I wanted to cook french toast for breakfast but we didn't have any white bread and Ky doesn't really care for wheat bread french toast, so I whipped up a loaf, because I did not want to go out to the store in the rain. So we woke up extra early to have homemade french toast.

Lunch: I just packed him a sandwich, nothing too special. 

Dinner: Chicken Tiki Masala found here. Homemade naan, found here. Rice and butternut squash. It was really really yummy and that naan is so easy I just fired up our electric griddle and use a couple of pan lids to help it cook better. And the Tiki Masala was so easy and super flavorful. 

Desert: He requested a cheesecake, which I do every year, or key lime pie, so I went with the pie found here. I made the crust with 1 C. graham crackers, 1/4 C. toasted coconut, 5 T. melted butter, 3 T. Sugar, I wish I didn't use the sugar and maybe just a little honey or something. Well I forgot the sugar, pressed the crust then hand to take it out and  mix in the sugar and it turned out sort of grainy. Also I went with the review suggestions on 2 cans of sweetened condensed milk and 1 C. of fresh juice and lost of zest, 4 eggs and a quick 13 minutes in the oven. I wanted to write Happy Birthday on the pie so I made a lime curd (which made the pie sooo tangy, I probably should have just used the whipped cream). My brother-in-law took this picture on his camera, it's all we got.

For his birthday I gave him a new Wii game called Trauma Center. We have actually been playing it for almost a month because when I found it last month I wasn't sure if it was the right game he wanted so I showed it to him and we have been playing it for a while.

And the other great thing about today is that it signifies six years of us being together. I am so happy to be his wife, we have had some really cool adventures in the past six years. And it is true what everyone says, if you do it right, you love your spouse more and more each year. 

Happy Birthday Ky!

Kindness of Strangers

As I left my house this morning to head to the library, the park and the store, we were drivinging down the street and I was amazed how beautiful it was with the morning fog rising. Kacen was such a good boy at the library, we played lots of games, picked out books and colored pictures it was so fun. After the library we went to the park and chased squirells for the better half of an hour, by this time Kacen was getting pretty tired, but I still had to go to the grocery store. He was decent for the first five minutes then toys were flying and he was grabbing everything he could get his hands on. Giant has too small of isles. We made it to the check out and had to wait in a line three people deep and he began an escape attempt, in my endevor to get him seated I scraped off a scab from some funky bug bites he got that blistered up and burst so he began crying, I felt awful. We made it out of the store, he was still trying to get out of the cart, I got to the groceries loaded in the car when I realized that I forgot the eggs, I was trying to debate weather or not I could handle Kacen while we ran in to get the eggs (I decided no, I could not) and then a nice man heading into the store offered to take in my cart for me, he said, "I know what it is like trying to get things done with a little one." Oh I almost started crying, the kindness of strangers is so overwhelming sometimes.

PS we watched the  movie "Lifted" last night and it is such a good movie, two of my favorite things in one movie, kids rapping and a heart jerking plot. Turn on your Netflix, haha if any of you still have it which I don't blame you if you don't, and watch it today.

Broken

Today I was going to show a recipe for Roasted Pepper Turkey Sandwiches on fresh bread. So first I made the bread, I had four nice baguettes on my pizza peel ready hit the hot stone, and yeah that didn't happen.

The two on the edges fell off and I had to take them off and it made a huge mess. But I did get all the dough cooked and it was super yummy.

Well after the bread I roasted some peppers. 

And would like to know what I did next? Yeah I would like to show you but after this my son got a hold of the camera and when I went to get it from him in a fit of craziness he threw it on the ground. Yep my camera is broken now. So that is all you get. Sorry can you tell I am annoyed? And Kacen is getting molars so today he threw the biggest fits of his life like four 10  minute fits that he could not be consoled during at all. Not to mention I have crazy tummy troubles so I don't feel good at all today, yeah not the best couple days.

Two Seconds Too Late

This morning Kacen did something really funny. While he was eating breakfast his grandma and grandpa came into the kitchen and both were standing with there backs against the counter talking and drinking their breakfast drink. I washed Kacen off and set him down out of his chair and he walks straight over to the dishwasher, puts his back up to it and folds his arms  like his grandma. Oh sooo funny. I had my camera right on the table turned it on but he was done with mimicing for the day. But it was really cute.

And the other day Valarie and I were outside doing yard work and for some reason Kacen walked up between us and folded his arms and started praying, well you know, mumbling and doing what he does at the dinner table.

Sunday we were outside trying to get things in the car for church, Kacen opens the door and our dog Gus runs out, we always yell out "Gus" in our angry voice when he does this, so Kacen runs down the yard yelling "Us US USS" in an angry voice.

Last night he was throwing and tantrum and dumped over his toy box, I told him once in a normal yet athoritative voice that before we can go to bed he needs to pick up the toys. I then went back to reading my magazine (Better Homes and Gardens) while he runs off to bang his head into the ground. A couple of minutes later with no prompting he came sulking back and began picking up his toy with his head hung all defeated.

He is definately a crazy boy, but he is so much fun, and sooo cute (most of the time)

Well must go treat a burn, which has begun throbbing again, I will tell you why in a day or two. But look forward to a recipe, well I guess after yesterdays entry not many of you will look forward to my recipes, haha.

Let's Talk Candidly

Ok let's get this all on the table. Yeah sure I like to cook. I REALLY like to cook and I REALLY like food. But by no means AM I A MAGNIFICENT CHEF. A lot of things, probably about half of the things, I make do not come out really that great. Yeah sure I bring a great dish here and there to a party but every day meals aren't always that great. So recent follies....

I was asked to help teach a short workshop on baking bread with my mother-in-law and luckily she did great. I made a basic white bread and when I cut into it at the workshop, welp it was doughy!

Yikes embarrassing!

My mother-in-law made great wheat bread that saved the day. And I guess a little to my credit I did make some nice pretzel bites, but slather anything in butter and it will taste decent.

Then I was going to try to to make some yummy brownies for Ky to take to party and ended up breaking my mousse for the top, putting too much cream in the ganach and over baking the brownies. So I threw out the mousse and covered the brownies with plastic wrap and the outsides softened a little, so thankfully they all got eaten.

Anyway these were just the things that happened in the last couple of days if I hadn't just been eating mostly pita pizzas and quessadillas I am sure I would have more to share.

So yeah sure I was on Master Chef (for 3 seconds) and I do talk about food and know some stuff about it. But I am no expert and I know that a lot of you, my friends and family, are better cooks than I am and I have learned a lot from you. I am not fishing for compliments just trying to be honest about my skills so that maybe people will stop assuming that everything I make is delicious, just ask those that live with me haha.

But thanks for all of your support and faith in my skills.  



Flaky Pie Crust

My father in-law made this delicious fruit pie a couple of days ago.

It was pretty much all of the frozen fruit they had cooked into a pie, rubarb, black berries, strawberries, raspberries and blueberries. It was delicious! He had some left over crust, so the next day I made some cinnamon sugar pie crust cookies. And when they were done I was amazed, check this out!

Are you seeing this? Check out the layers on this thing. So I decided I needed to share this amazing recipe with all of you. I asked him for the recipe and to make good even better the name of this crust

Never Fail Pie Crust

Okay to warn you here is the recipe as and next to it I will tell you the modifications Perry made when he cooked it. 

3 C. Flour

1 1/2 C. Unsalted Butter (at least 1/2 C. was whipped then refridgerated again)

1 1/2 tsp. Salt

1 Beaten Egg (substituted 2 egg whites beaten)

1 Tbsp. Vinegar

4 Tbsp. Water

Mix flour, butter and salt to size of peas in a large mixing bowl. In a smal bowl, mix the egg whites, vinegar and water. Blend well and add to dry ingredients. Mix until it leaves the sides of bowl. Divide in half wrap in plastic wrap and refridgerate a couple of hours. Makes 2 crusts, possibly enough for lattice top crusts. 

If you choose to skip the filling and just want to make this delicious flaky cinnamon topped shortbread like cookie: Roll out chilled dough I don't know dimensions but not too thin, sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar, cut into squares, place on parchment lined sheet and bake at 350 for about 8-10 minutes.

Toga Party

Toga Party!

 Last night Maddi and some of her friends had a toga party and they decided that Kacen needed to dress up too.

 He liked it. Look at those Chic Greeks.

The Variety Show (aka Freak Show)

Well when the fair came we went to the Variety Show.

There was a lady eating fire.

 A fat guy claiming to be the most experienced sword swallower in the world, he had 6 Guinness World Records. Here he is about to swallow a light saber.

 Yep another fat guy, hahah laying on a bed of nails, a lady then sat on him.

 Here is a picture of the nail imprints, haha but mostly I wanted to capture a shot of the hello kitty tattoo on this burly guy.

Kyle paid an extra buck for the side show, it was just the sword swallower pushing a needle through his neck. Outside they were claiming, "Step right up, come and see an amazing lady with the body of a snake," Oh man everything, well most of the things in there were so fake, but fun I guess.

 Kace and I as siamese twins.

 Kacen as a big lady, he really didn't want to be there anymore.

 And Ky the magician.

I don't think that I will be running away to join the traveling freak show anytime soon.

Love Your Little Ones

As I just sat in front of my computer sobbing my eyes reading this amazing blog about sweet baby Ruby Jane and her struggle with Liver Disease I was reminded once again how precious our little ones are. Mothers and Fathers stop reading this now and go love on your children, they are only little once and you are so blessed to have them.

I don't talk about this much on my blog but I feel impressed to share with my friends and family the beliefs I have about family and eternity. I belong to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, aka LDS aka Mormon. Our church has a wonderful and complete understanding of where we came from, why we are here, and where we are going when I read/hear/watch touching stories like the Taylor family I am reminded once more how grateful I am for my understanding of the eternal nature of family and that we can be with them forever.

While it is often a struggle juggling work, home and church time, I am so grateful to be a mother and I am grateful for all of the mother's in Kacen's life, including those who don't have children of your own who love and support us so frequently. What an amazing blessing it is that women have a divine nature to be nurturing and caring. Ahh I am just an emotional mess right now and my heart is so full of love for my family and friends, you are all so amazing, I know some of your personal struggles and my heart and prayers are with you, as I know yours have been with us, thank you.

Love, Heather