BACON POTATO SOUP

This is from my friend, Julie Grover, in Spokane. And this recipe has become my go-to meal for winter wonderfulness.

3 - 14 1/2 oz chicken broth
1 can Cream of Chicken soup
1 brick Cream Cheese cut up
Crumbled bacon (I use the kind that comes in a big bag from either Hormel or Kirkland (for you lucky ducks with a Costco) and it is already cooked and crumbled. I just add what looks good.
1/3 cup chopped onion (I use onion powdered because we don't like the way onions feel when you bite them but we like the taste.)
8 cps. potatoes, peeled and cubed (I fill my crockpot up - it nearly fits a 10 lb bag and I double everything else.)

Put it in the crockpot all day, on high. Stir it occasionally. It will look really bad - chunky yuck - that means it's not done, when it's all creamy, it is done.

We like it with my friend Elizabeth's Fast Rolls:

I just took the sticky note she wrote the directions on and stuck it on the cupboard next to my mixer. You don't want to know how many times a week we make these!

And I love that I see my dear friend's handwriting!

It reminds me of when we were missionaries and she put little quotes and inspirational thoughts up all over.

So cook some up - the way I make the dinner makes it SUPER THICK. If you like soupier soups, for sure only put in about 8 cups of potatoes.

Enjoy!

PUMPKIN CHOCOLATE CHIP MUFFINS

and I could use some comfort food.

Here's the recipe. (It comes from my dear friend Sue Wilson (private blog) who is kicking it up in Salem, Utah. If you are in Salt Lake City you can see her amazing 12 year old daughter Maddie sing with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Natalie Cole at Christmas time.)

Oh yeah, recipe.

4 1/2 cups flour
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1 1/2 tsp salt
4 1/2 tsp cinnamon
3 cups sugar
1 1/2 cups oil or thin applesauce
6 eggs
1 large can pumpkin
1 pkg chocolate chips

Mix the dry. Add everything else. Bake at 350* for 18 minutes if you are making mini-muffins, 1 hour for a loaf pan, and 30 minutes for cupcake size muffins.

I totally recommend the mini-muffins.

They make the world a better place. Try them. You'll see!

PUMPKIN PANCAKES AND HOT APPLE CIDER SYRUP

I'm no Pioneer Woman, so excuse the lame pictures.

We have friends from Spokane named Joe and Amy Lee. This is her recipe. Her blog is private, otherwise, I'd send you there.

Nothing says (or smells) like Fall like these!

Pumpkin Puff Pancakes (which I make into waffles because we like waffles better than pancakes)

2 (8) eggs
1 (4) cup buttermilk
1/2 (2)cup cooked pumpkin (I use the Libby's can)
1 1/2 (6) cups Bisquick
1/4 (1) cup oil
pinch of salt
2 (8) TBSP sugar
1 (4) tsp soda
1/2 (2) tsp cinnamon
1/2 (2) tsp nutmeg
1/2 (2) tsp ginger

(I quadruple the recipe and leave the left overs in the frig to eat at will - like when the kids are in school and I can take my time enjoying the delight.) Beat the eggs until they are pale yellow and foamy. Stir in the remaining ingredients. (I leave it all in my kitchenaid and just add the ingredients.) Pour onto ungreased griddle. Flip. OR pour into waffle iron. Flip. Open. See:

MMMMMMMM... that steam smells delicious!

Serve with this syrup:

Apple Cider Syrup

2 TBSP cornstarch
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg
2 cups apple CIDER (not juice - VERY IMPORTANT!)
2 TBSP lemon juice
1/4 cup butter, melted
sugar to sweeten

In saucepan, mix sugar, cornstarch, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Stir in lemon juice and mix the cornstarch good. Add apple CIDER. Cook, stirring constantly, until mixture thickens and boils. Boil for 1 minute. Remove from heat and stir in butter. Make about 2 1/2 cups syrup.

Now, here's my notes. Check your cider. Usually the cider in Spokane was sweet. Here it is not (or hasn't been) so I've had to add as much as a cup of sugar. I double this recipe.

You are welcome!

UTAH'S CHICKEN SALAD

As in Utah's. As in Kristina, my dear friend. Her blog is private, or I would refer you to it.

This is her salad. It is divine. Nothing says spring or summer to me like this salad, although it is delicious any time. It makes a HUGE bowl (like a Tupperware thatsabowl) and my family can eat in a day. In a meal. It's that good. I actually double the recipe to get a full day's use out of it.

I am posting it now for Amy, my oldest friend (not the same Amy as the one who makes the pumpkin pancakes). Ahhh, we had such good times back in the day....

UTAH'S CHICKEN PASTA SALAD
4 cups chicken, cooked and cubed
2 cups chopped celery
2 cups pineapple tidbits
1 - 2 cups salted cashew halves
1 bunch green onions, chopped
1 bag Rotini noodles, cooked and cooled (we like the tricolored ones)
1 bag Bowtie noodles, cooked and cooled
3 cups green apples, cubed, skins on
1 bunch of red grapes, halved (I use a ton of grapes - so pretty and so tasty!
2 cans water chestnuts, drained

Mix it all together, except the cashews.

For the dressing: Mix 2 cups mayonnaise and 2 cups LIGHTHOUSE brand Coleslaw dressing (it won't be as good if it's not Lighthouse brand). Stir it into the schtuff in the bowl. Chill for several hours. Right before serving add the cashews.

A PURSE and a mouse

I finally found a bag that I can live with, love even, that doesn't match my shirt (yellow and gray bag) so I don't have to change my bag if I am wearing the shirt.

I adore the colors:

I made up my own pattern, more or less, and I think it turned out okay. I should start writing notes to myself so I can do it again and not make the same mistakes, twice.

I love seeing polkadots when I open my bag and I love my pen slots.

Now that I know how to make a zippered pocket, I am completely addicted.

IN OTHER NEWS -

Sari had friends over to make cupcakes for some cupcake choir contest. The girls did EVERYTHING themselves. I didn't help with even one thing. They did a good job. The cupcakes are decorated like mice. Alyssa, Sari, and Iris.

Here's the presentation cupcake - the rest are to share with the class.

GALLETS - waffle cookie recipe

I got this recipe from a nice couple in our ward, the DuPapes. She said that it came from Belgium with her husband's family in the late 1890's. I didn't think they had waffle irons back then, but maybe they had panini makers or plain old grills. I don't know. In any case, here's the recipe:

12 eggs
3 cups of sugar
1 POUND of butter, softened
2 oz. vanilla
1/3 tsp. cream of tartar
7 - 9 cups of flour

Cream everything except the flour, then add the flour one cup at a time until you get a sticky, thick dough.

Drop by spoonfuls (I use my small Pampered Chef icecream scooper-thingy) on the hot waffle iron, in the middle of the squares. Set the done to medium but check to see how your waffle iron does.

Eat 'em warm, eat 'em cold, but eat 'em you will! Also, be sure to store them air-tight, they dry out really fast.

I asked Rachel and Ben to please take a picture of the gallets in the waffle iron and when I went to download the picture this was the only one on the camera:

Sorry you missed it folks! Ben asked me to remove the picture. Suffice it to say, it was NOT a picture of waffles.

And people wonder why I have a tic in my left eye.

"JIJRBRED DAY" a photo essay by Joseph

That's what Joseph wrote on the family calendar.

What it means is "Gingerbread Day". With the snow days the last two days of school, I was in high stress mode with unfinished projects abounding (sorry Michael and Jon and your respective families - I hope to get your stuff out early next week!) I wasn't in the mood to spend a small fortune on candy and I certainly didn't have time to make the houses. I refuse to buy a kit (or 10).

Monday morning, I realized that nothing would change and it was time to do gingerbread houses. We like to have gingerbread parties, but the snow and late date made it so only Rachel had two friends over. It was still fun!

Now, we've had some really good years with gingerbread houses. One of my favorites was with the Stauffenbergs - GusGus made a trailer and another year a dog house with a bleeding postman (this year he made a dumpster, complete with a drunk peeing on the side). It was hilarious! But for the last three years or so, I find that by the time I've made enough house for friends and kids, I am not in the mood to make my own. That's okay. This year was very last minute, so it wasn't one of our more creative ones. I just did basic A frames houses, which the kids seem to prefer since it gives the most area for candy, and stacking on the candy seems to be the main goal.

I have fond memories of making gingerbread houses at my mom's house. My brother, Snookie, seemed to have a real knack for the darker side, with dead cinnamon bears as a main theme. It makes me proud.

So, I started with the dough, which is the BEST gingerbread house dough I have ever tasted. I love the dough. I eat the dough. I ate so much, I got a tummy ache.

Joseph was totally IN MY FACE and MY HAIR and MY EARS and MY HANDS and I knew I wouldn't make it. He might not either. So I gave him the camera. He took 91 pictures of me rolling out the gingerbread. Except for a few instructions ("Back up Mom, I don't want you in this picture") he was completely occupied.

He was very detailed. Here are A FEW of his shots. (Not every pictures makes the edit, right? You are welcome.)

The dough recipe is from a baker in our ward.

So I pound in the flour.

And then I roll it out with my broken rolling pin. I love my rolling pin. I wish it wasn't broken, but I love it and use it.

I cut out every piece with a knife by tracing my complex pattern.

Such as this one:

But I didn't make any outhouses this year. I just ran out of patience time.

Here they are cooling on the stove top.

At this point, I began to beg, "PLEASE GO OUTSIDE AND PLAY!" When Joseph realized that the gingerbread had to cool and there was no action, he consented.

THANK GOODNESS!! I was at the end of my rope! It's important for kids to get fresh air every day.

Matthew joined him.

Later that night, I assembled the gingerbread by melting sugar in a pan and dipping the sides in the liquid sugar and sticking it to the covered cardboard and to each other. Be careful, it's hot! It's also the most superior way for assembling gingerbread houses. It's fast and strong.

At last!

Joseph begins his assembly.

Rachel, Clay, and Daniel ponder the possibilities ...

Daniel is a story teller. I don't remember what he was saying, but Clayton looks amused.

Ben was the lucky recipient of the one of the "special" gingerbread houses with an open air ventilation system and sky lights. He was determined to fill it in with frosting. After the frosting filled the house (nearly) he finally broke down and covered the structural flaw with candy bars.

Daniel working on balancing his candy canes. We had a discussion about physics. It is impossible to stick two candy canes upright with a dab of frosting on the end. I wonder now, if the melted sugar would have worked ... note to self ...

Larry HATES sticky. So I was very proud of him for sucking it up and helping Matthew assemble his house.

Joseph worked a couple of windows in his A-frame. Being cursed blessed with a perfect memory, he pined a little for past gingerbread creations. Time to move on.

Hmmm... this design should be no surprise to anyone who knows Rachel - perfectly symmetrical.

This year was great because most of the kids were able to keep the frosting IN the squeeze bag. Trust me, not scraping up the frosting out the top and putting it back in makes a lot of difference in my frustration level.

Larry put the frosting on the end of the candy and Matthew stuck it on the house. Success!

Just as Rachel's house was symmetrical, Sari's is kicked up a notch. Their houses define their personalities. By the way, Sari went on to make a dog for her house and then she scattered mini chocolate chips all around it and Larry put a cling-on on the dog and Sari said she was inspired by GusGus.

Clayton impressed us all with his ability to spell his name on the side of his house

Matthew with his finished house.

Ben with his finished house (and Joseph still hard at work in the background.)

Later that evening, Rachel's sweet friend, Courtney came over and made her house. She missed the general party, but we were glad to have her when we did.

PANCAKES

You all who know me, know that I am not a good cook. I don't really enjoy it. I even took a cooking class at BYU once in an effort to have 12 credits to qualify for my Pell Grant learn some skills so I would enjoy that aspect of homemaking more.

That really didn't work AND I got a B. Which really ticked me off.

For one year, a few years back, we had a law school family in our ward named Amy and Joe. They were a cute, busy young couple. So cute! But then they moved. Thanks to blogging, we have stayed in touch. About a year ago Amy wrote a post with this recipe. As I recall the story, she was home sick one day, when she was still in high school. Joe, her crush, who would someday become her dear husband, made her these pancakes.

Rachel has just recently discovered true romance and she LOVES that story. She also loves a post Amy did once about how Joseph always gives her a kiss goodnight. Rachel has a whole set of expectations based on Joseph Lee. He once told me I was of "advanced years" but since I live with my foot in my mouth, I understand that he doesn't realize that I am 25 on the inside.

Here's a picture of the darling family. My friend, Sue, will recognize Joseph as the son of her friend from Salem, and the brother of one of her young women, Michal Lee. It's a small world.

Back to not liking to cook - pancakes are right up my alley and I love the weekly occasional breakfast for dinner idea. I also love pumpkin. When the kids asked what we were having they were skeptical. They were scared. They were suddenly not hungry. I made them all try one. My Joseph ate NINE. In short, we all LOVE this recipe! We titled them the AmyJoe Lee Pancakes (which is a play on Amy's middle name, Jo, and her husband's name Joseph. Get it?) or True Love Pancakes which a is a play on the fact that we LOVE them and Joe made them for Amy and that is true love too (let's remember he was in high school!)

AMYJOE LEE Pumpkin Puff Pancakes
2 eggs
1 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup cooked pumpkin
1 3/4 cup Bisquick
1/4 cup vegetable oil
pinch of salt
1/2 tsp. soda
2 Tbsp. brown sugar
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
1/2 tsp. ginger

In small mixing bowl, beat eggs on high speed for 5 minutes or ubtil thick and lemon colored. Stir in remaining ingredients. Pour batter from 1/4 cup onto medium hot ungreased griddle. Bake until puffed and bubbles begin to break.

AMYJOE LEE Apple Cider Syrup
1 cup sugar (I actually put very little sugar in, maybe 1/4 cup or less, we think the cider makes it sweet enough, do what you like
2 T. cornstartch
1/4 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
2 cups apple cider
2 T. Lemon juice
1/4 cup melted butter

In saucepan, mix sugar, cornstarch, cinnamon and nutmeg; stir in apple cider and lemon juice. Cook stirring constantly, until mixture thickens and boils. Boil and stir for 1 minute. remove from heat, stir in melted butter. Makes 2 1/2 cups syrup.

Because Sari and Joseph have hollow legs and can eat more in a meal than some small countries do in a day For my size family I times the pancakes by 5 and put the leftovers in a tupperware pitcher to make individual pancakes as liked. I also 2 1/2 times the cider syrup recipe and that seems to be almost the right ratio. We LOVE the cider syrup! I recommend tasting your cider first to determine how much sugar you need to add. Ours was made with less sweet apples than we usually get, so I added the full one cup of sugar. They really do get super puffy and are light as air. If you prefer waffles, like Larry does, just add another egg white or two and a smidge more vegetable oil.

Do NOT wait a year like I did to make these pancakes. Make them NOW. Tonight. Tomorrow morning. But do it soon. You'll be thanking me!

PILLOWS, iPOD, more

I finished up some projects this weekend - and boy doesn't that feel great! I made a turquoise colored pillow to liven up my yellow, brown and orange family room. I LOVE it. It is just the color the room needed. Now I have more to do!

I finished the binding on the first ever quilt I made (and finished two years ago, except the last 1 1/2 sides of the binding). Someone, who quilts all the time, told me that the colors were all wrong and it was ugly, but I made it and I like it. I didn't really know what I was doing, color and hue wise. Next time, I will do better, I hope!

My next quilt will be out of the fabrics above. Not that quilt pattern, but those fabrics. Yay me!

Speaking of fabric. I am in love with these by Tina Givens. I haven't bought any yet, but I visit almost every day.

I made Joseph a Panda bear from gloves. Too cute!

Like all five year olds, Matthew desperately wants an iPod. This morning he took matters into his own hands. He made himself an ipod. Right down to the earbuds. Good thing he is creative. I am not about to buy an iPod for a 5 year old! He keeps bringing me over the iPod to listen to my favorite songs on. He spins the center controller and everything. Little smarty.

When life hands you a broken furnace make pumpkin chocolate muffins! (the oven heats up the house - bonus!)

TOMATO SOUP AND GRILLED CHEESE

so this was the perfect dinner:

Except ours looked like this.

But it was still delicious!