Wednesday, December 15, 2010

**BAKING**

Who doesn't love LEMON??!!
I made the most delicious lemon cookies so
I thought I'd share them with you!

Lemon Ricotta Cookies with a Lemon Glaze
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So yummy, so moist, so lemony!!

here's the recipe:

Ingredients

Cookies:

  • 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 stick unsalted butter, softened
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 (15-ounce) container whole milk ricotta cheese
  • 3 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 1 lemon, zested

Glaze:

  • 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
  • 3 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 1 lemon, zested

Directions

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

Cookies:

In a medium bowl combine the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.

In the large bowl combine the butter and the sugar. Using an electric mixer beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add the eggs, 1 at a time, beating until incorporated. Add the ricotta cheese, lemon juice, and lemon zest. Beat to combine. Stir in the dry ingredients.

Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Spoon the dough (about 2 tablespoons for each cookie) onto the baking sheets. Bake for 15 minutes, until slightly golden at the edges. Remove from the oven and let the cookies rest on the baking sheet for 20 minutes.

Glaze:

Combine the powdered sugar, lemon juice, and lemon zest in a small bowl and stir until smooth. Spoon about 1/2-teaspoon onto each cookie and use the back of the spoon to gently spread. Let the glaze harden for about 2 hours. Pack the cookies into a decorative container.

37--is it really true???


What??
How??
WOW!!!
Yesterday was my BIRTHDAY!!!
I'm
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It really doesn't seem possible--
I feel like I'm 25!
I guess that's why people always say 29 and holding!
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My sweet neighbor came over and gave me the cutest cupcake!
My boys couldn't wait to sing Happy Birthday!
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Here they are--5 of my GREATEST blessing!
These boys mean the world to me!!
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Me blowing out my candle!!!
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and of course, each of the boys just had to take a turn too!
Here's to another great year!!
I know 37 is going to be AMAZING!!!

Letters To Santa

Thank goodness for the BIG RED MAILBOX at Macy's.
Santa can get the boys Christmas Lists.

This is a fun tradition, one that my boys look forward to each year!
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Here's Cody sending his letter--
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and Steven,
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and Luke,
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and Kyle and Jack.

After we send the letter we go and have the boys take a picture
with the one and only SANTA CLAUS!!!
All day Kyle kept saying,
"go see my Santa, my favorite".
You should have seen the look on his face--
SHEER JOY!
The child ran right up to him full speed ahead shouting
"My Santa, My, Favorite"!!!
It was so cute!!
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and here they are--
with Santa!!

Don't you just LOVE this time of year!
It truly is MAGICAL!

Friday, December 10, 2010

Girl's Christmas Party

I decided to have an ALL Girls White Elephant Party.
It was so much fun!!!
There were about 25 girls from our neighborhood that came.
Good Company, Good Laughs, and Good Food!
I think this is something I'll do every year!!!
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Sabrina, Kim, and Nancy
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Sabrina and me
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The GIRLS!
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More girls!!
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Jamie opening her bamboo panda coasters!
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Becky smelling her lotion
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Katie, loving HAWAII!!

I baked for 2 days!!!
I love to bake and here's what I made!!!
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Chocolate Mousse
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Cheesecake
(the best cheesecake ever!!!)
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Chocolate Lover's Dream Cake!
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Brown Butter Pumpkin Spice Layer Cake!!
(divine)
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Coconut Cornflake Crunch Cookies
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Peanut Butter Kiss Cookies
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Lemon Ricotta Cookies, with Lemon Glaze
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They were all delicious!!!
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It was such a fun evening!!
We are so blessed to live in the BEST neighborhood!!!
Love Ya Ladies!!

Thursday, December 2, 2010

It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas!!

Monday for FHE we trimmed the tree!
The Christmas music was playing,
Cookies were baking,
Candles were lit to have a scent of Christmas.
And the evening began!
I love this time of year!!!
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Here's Dad, putting the tree together!
I'm grateful for a fake, pre-lit Christmas tree!
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My FAVORITE decorations are my Nativity Scenes.
I collect them from places we've been!
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All of these figures are about an inch tall.
I found this in Mexico.
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This one is hand made from Ethiopia.
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I found this one in a market in Kenya!
This one is my favorite!
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Here's another that I just found locally.
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The boys could barely contain themselves
They were so excited to decorate the tree!
Steven and Jack
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Cody
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Luke
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and Kyle!
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The finished product!

This is such a wonderful time to reflect on the
TRUE meaning of Christmas!
I am so grateful for my Savior and for all he has done for me!

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

**BAKING**

Baking for Chocolate Lovers ONLY!!!
This is my favorite chocolate cake EVER!!!
The best part is that it is so easy--
put everything in a bowl and mix.
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Batter will be very thick!
Pour into a bundt pan that has been buttered and floured and bake!
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Frost and ENJOY!!
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Isn't it pretty!!!

Here's the recipe:

1 pkg. Betty Crocker Super Moist Devils Food cake mix
1/2 c. chocolate milk
1/3 c. butter, meted
3 eggs
1 - 16 oz container of sour cream
1 - 4 oz pkg chocolate pudding mix (dry)

Bake for 55-65 minutes at 350
Cool in pan for 10 minutes
Turn pan upside down on cake plate
Cool completely and drizzle frosting over cake

Frosting:
10 oz chocolate chips
3 TBL butter
3 TBL corn syrup
1 1/2 tsp water

Melt in microwave for about 45 seconds
stir until all the chocolate is melted and drizzle!!

Oh my mouth is watering!!!
ENJOY!!!

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Thanksgiving in Idaho 2010

Thanksgiving Feast in Idaho begins on Wednesday-
the evening before--it starts with
"PIE NIGHT"
You are able to eat all of the desserts you want without
having over indulged in a big Turkey dinner.

Kyle and Jack thought this was AWESOME!!!
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Pie night end with cousin time!
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Here is Lexi tickling Cody!
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Steven, Luke and Sam building a marble tower!
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And of course the desserts!!!! YUMMY!!!
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The Thanksgiving Feast begins with the carving of the Turkey
(we had dinner for about 35--so 2 turkeys were made
and I did one of them!!! It was DELICIOUS!!)
If you want my FOOL proof recipe let me know!
No more fearing the bird!!!
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Some of our dinner buffet!
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Grandma and Cody
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Cody and Nathan.
These 2 are 11 months apart and are BEST FRIENDS!!
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Then there's the after dinner craft!
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Lexi and Mariah!
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Kyle, Jack and Mom!
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Steven making his craft!
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And you can't be at a family function without playing cards!
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Grandma made the cutest Christmas Pillow cases and gave
one to each of them that night.
Here she is reading them the poem that goes along with their gift.
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here are the kids, their pillow cases and their Grandma!!
We love you Grandma!!!
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Apparently Jack thought it was a sleeping bag!!

It was a wonderful time to be together and
be reminded just how grateful we our for our family!!

Happy Thanksgiving!