Food

I haven't posted any recipes in forever. Menu planning and such has not been one of my favorite things lately. I think mostly because I relate it to two things I am not of fan of right now 1) cleaning my kitchen and 2) spending too much money. Lately, I just dread the chore. I tried to do a once a month menu plan,  but I buy too much fresh produce and perishable items for that. We don't like to eat the type of food once a month menu planners like to eat. Now we are testing out a two week menu plan. I'll keep ya posted on that one. Maybe.

Moving on. Last night and the night before I tried out two easy recipes that used items in my fridge/pantry. I splurged on ingredients for Monster Munch this past weekend and failed to actually buy any real food. You know, that fresh and perishable stuff that we prefer to eat. Yeah, totally skipped that. And although we have thoroughly enjoyed the treat and it made enough for us to eat it for a couple of meals, it just isn't quite satisfying enough. (No, I didn't really serve it for a meal, as tempting as it was to do so.)

So, back to scrounging through the pantry. I found a recipe for Italian rice and beans* on the back of our Great Northern Beans can and thought, "I can do that AND I have all the ingredients." Score! It was a hit once we convinced the kids to actually give it a try. It is cheap, easy, healthy, and delicious.

Then last night I knew we had chicken hot dogs in the fridge but no hot dog buns. Rachael Ray had demoed a recipe recently for corn dog poppers. It wasn't quite what I wanted, but I found something similar and much more suitable for my family at Six Sisters Stuff. Corn Dog Muffins.** Everybody enjoyed them. Marie picked out the hot dogs and left the muffin. William ate the muffin and left the hot dogs. The two worked together and were both satisfied. Using whole wheat flour and the applesauce suggested in the recipe, it was even somewhat healthy.

As we were finishing dinner last night I was celebrating two successful dinners in a row and almost remembered why I actually like to menu plan, shop, and prepare meals for my family.

"Two meals that I can add to the meal rotation! Woohoo!" I said.
"Yes, two meals that we can forget about when you ask for menu suggestions." He replies, playfully sarcastic.

It's so true.

So, this is my effort to not forget about two fantastic meals. Cheap, easy, healthy (ish), and delicious!

Now maybe I won't resort to Monster Munch for dinner. Maybe.

*I did not use the suggested Minute Rice. I toasted 2/3c. long grain rice in a couple of tablespoons of butter, and added the beans, tomatoes, spices, and 1 1/3 cup water. After the mixture came to a boil I turned it down to low and let it simmer for about 20 minutes. Basically, I cooked it like you would Rice-A-Roni.

**The only change I made to this recipe was that I used a regular sized muffin pan because that is all I have. It lengthened the cooking time, but I'm not sure for how long. Maybe about 15-20 minutes? I'm not very good about setting a timer or watching the clock. My nose tells me when something is done.

Marie-esque

Because playing Princess Monopoly at Grandma's house is just better with goggles. Obviously.

California!

After the family reunion the kids and I traveled back to California with my parents. As a child I remember packing up the family station wagon a couple of times a year and traveling to Idaho to visit my grandparents. My dad has always said that mom had a radar for the farm. Once she got within a couple of hours there was no stopping her. She was getting to her parent's house. Since becoming a mom and with each additional bundle of craziness that has joined our family I have come to understand more and more what those visits to the farm meant to my mom. They weren't just nice. They were necessary. Getting to California this summer  wasn't in the plans, but became a necessity. Thankfully, my parents were able and willing to make this trip happen for me. I needed it so badly. 

The beach is always at the top of the list of things to do. One of the days when Aunt Becca and Mom were working, Dad and I packed up the kids and went to Ventura Harbor.

 We had a picnic lunch ala Subway that included more seagull chasing then eating. I was OK with that. It was quite amusing when one of the seagulls decided he wanted to eat our Subway.

 Proof that Samuel and I were indeed there.

 We embraced the sunshine, savored the wonderful weather and had a darn good time.

 The kids played pirates and tried out a zipline.

Then I decided we should head down to the water. That is when the pictures stop because it is when the real adventure began. Let's just leave it to these few words. If you bring your water loving children to the ocean they are going to get wet. Not bringing their swimming suits because you don't want them to get wet is a bad idea. Very bad idea.

Adventure or not, it was a lovely day at the beach. I'm so glad I have an incredible father who is willing to wrestle these rascals with me and make some great memories.

Apple Doesn't Fall Far...

My Uncle Jerry, my mom's brother. Any hint of craziness I have ... I come by honestly. 

Dear Anne,

Oh my. Where do I even begin to describe what you are to me? You are my bliss and my despair. My satisfaction and my stress. My happiness and my grief. Your intensity for life is contagious and exhausting.

Your eyes and your smile and your love win over anybody that meets you. You love hugs, smiles, and laughs. I have always loved to get you out of your room in the morning or after a nap because you welcome me with such enthusiasm. A squeal, a smile, a cheer, it is a bright moment in every day. You need to dance like you need to breathe. When I turn on music in the house your body can't help but start moving. I am amazed at your sensitivity of the mood of the piece as you sway to a slow song or stomp to a march. 

And then there is your curiosity. Oh, your curiosity. Opening and exploring any drawer within your reach. Emptying tubes of Desitin ..... all over yourself and the carpet. Unrolling toilet paper and then trying to roll it up again. Coloring on walls, chairs, paper, yourself. Digging through boxes. Jumping off the back of the couch while I am nursing Samuel. Climbing into your his crib when he is supposed to be sleeping and stealing his pacifier. Starting an empty dishwasher, over and over again. The list is endless, just like your energy. There is no doubt that you keep us on our toes.

The only time you stop is when you sleep. Even then, the only way to get you to slow down is with your "binkie and blankie". You pop that binkie in your mouth, lay down on your bed, and soothe yourself to sleep by playing with the ties on your quilt from Grandma. It's amazing how quickly you can fall asleep when you start your bedtime routine. 

It has been a whirlwind couple of years with you, my dear. I can't imagine our family without your exuberance and energy. You are loved, our Anne girl. You are loved to the moon and back.

I am thrilled to have a front seat view to your life because I know without a doubt you are going to do incredible things. I love you, dear, sweet, wonderful two year old. Happy birthday!

William-ese

After a Family Home Evening lesson on the first line of The Family: A Proclamation to the world ----

Brandon: What did you learn tonight, Bud?

William: About marriage.

Brandon: Marriage is ordained of God?

William: Uh huh.

Brandon: Temple marriage is really good.

William: Yep. Don't get married in a house.

Brandon: Getting married is good, but we should get married in the temple.

William ponders this.

Wiiliam: Here's the order from baddest to good. Bad -- to not get married at all. Good-- to get married in a house or somewhere random like that. Temple? The best. High score.

Fotos de Julio

 For the 4th of July we decided to try out the local festivities in our new city. The pancake breakfast was par for the course. Krusteaz pancakes, sausage, under seasoned eggs, sticky store bought syrup, and Tampico juice. We loved it! Haha. No really, I was there and trying to figure out why I love pancake breakfasts like I do .... because the food really isn't that great. It's a nostalgic thing, I guess. I lived in Cheyenne, WY and every July for Frontier Days we would hit up the pancake breakfast. Oh how I looked forward to those pancake breakfasts! And the parades!

 After the parade we walked down the street and found a spot to wait for the parade. It was hot. It was a normal parade. The kids had fun and the candy was fairly limited, which I was grateful for. Past parades we've attended throw sO MuCH CanDy. Bleh. Candy is overrated.

 The afternoon and evening were filled with water fun, a BBQ, and fireworks with some of our favorite people ever. Oh boy do I love all these kids. They won't hold still for a picture, but I wouldn't have it any other way.

 Um, please explain this picture to me. It is amazingly creepy. 

 A week and a half later was our Anne girl's 2nd birthday. Two! Woohoo! Curious George kept both of us sane through the past few months so it was perfectly fitting that the kids decided that would be the theme for our celebrations.

More pictures of the birthday girl to come, but I had to share this darlingness above. These kids are my pride and joy, through and through. I just love them to pieces. Samuel included, even if he was left out of the picture.

 The end of the month brought a much anticipated family reunion for the W clan. My mom and Aunt Marilyn (married to mom's brother) spent hours planning this shindig and they certainly pulled off a good one! We stayed at a lodge 10 miles out of Bear Lake called Beaver Creek Lodge. Family came from Kansas, Texas, California, Utah, Colorado, and Idaho.

Grandma sat and enjoyed watching all the chaos. She was the cause of all of it, after all.  Grandpa and Grandma would have been married for 62 years this year. Well, they have been married for 62 years. Grandpa passed on 11 years ago this month. We sure do miss him. 

My mom, her mother, and her siblings. I love this crazy bunch.