First day of School

Ethan last year


Ethan This year.

Kaden and Porter last year.

Kaden this year


Porter this year.

Ava last year.

Ava this year.

Sometimes I wish we could stop time. I really do enjoy my kids and I don't want them to grow up.

Garden Vegetable Dinners

Our vegetables are coming off quickly.

~Photo Courtesy of Kaden~
I am finding as many ways as possible to use them.

Skewers -
I took thin steaks and cubed them.
then Marinated them in olive oil and Worcester sauce, peppered with Montreal steak seasoning
Cut the vegetables. (Squash, Zucchini, tomatoes, potatoes)
I boiled the potatoes for a few minutes just to make sure they would get done, before putting them on the skewer.
Last I splashed olive oil, Worcester sauce and steak seasoning over all of it.
~ My boys came and helped put the skews together, then their friends came in and wanted to help, it was a neighborhood affair~ It was fun.

Karl then cooked them on the grill, long enough to make sure the meat was done, OOOhhhh sooo yummy. We will have to do this again.
Zucchini Patties

1-15.5 oz can of chickpeas (aka garbonzo beans) drained and rinsed
1- cup plain breadcrumbs
1-zucchini grated
1- small red onion grated
1- egg slightly beaten
1-tsp salt
1/4 cup olive oil


Mash chickpeas in a bowl until smooth. Stir in breadcrumbs, zucchini, onion, egg, and salt. Form into patties about a half inch thick.

Fry patties in oil until golden brown and crisp. Is good with ranch dressing, greek yogurt or sour cream.
I had my doubts as so did my family, but they actually turned out good.
We have zucchini coming out our ears, I have made bread and muffins until the family is sick of it.

Mini loaves, Karl and Ethan delivered to the widow ladies in the neighborhood.

Zucchini banana Bread: ( from allrecipes.com)
Ingredients

3 eggs
3/4 cup vegetable oil
2/3 cup packed brown sugar
1 cup white sugar
1 cup grated zucchini
2 bananas, mashed
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
Directions

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Grease and flour two 8x4 inch bread loaf pans.
In a large bowl, beat eggs until light yellow and frothy. Add oil, brown sugar, white sugar, grated zucchini, bananas, and vanilla; blend together until well combined. Stir in the flour, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Mix in the cranberries and nuts. Divide the batter evenly between the two prepared loaf pans.
Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 50 minutes. Allow to cool in the loaf pans on a wire rack before removing and serving.

What do you do with your zucchini?? :)

Kids in the Kitchen

The kids have loved making a mess in my kitchen this summer. And No I don't have a dishwasher (besides the boys). I am ready for school to start simply for the fact that I will have a ton less dishes to do.

Ethan and his friend needed a snack so they made a red velvet cake almost all by themselves.

They used a recipe from Paula Deen
Ingredients Add to grocery list
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup buttermilk
1 teaspoon salt
2 1/2 cup cake flour
1/2 lb (2 sticks) butter
2 ounces red food coloring
2 tablespoons cocoa
2 cups sugar
2 eggs
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 tablespoon vinegar
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Beat eggs; add sugar. Mix cocoa and food coloring. Add butter and egg mixture; mix well. Sift together flour and salt. Add to creamed mixture alternately with buttermilk. Blend in vanilla. In a small bowl, combine soda and vinegar and add to mixture. Pour into three 8-inch round greased and floured pans. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until tests done.

For the frosting we just used a basic buttercream frosting.

It was Yummy.... definitely needed a cup of milk with it.

A few of my Favorites

Here are a few Random Pictures... but some of my Favorite.

Kaden and Porter doing dishes. Kaden's soap beard.

Ava in her Pixie doll dress and shoes.

Ethan helping me bake cupcakes.


Porter had to get out his fancy plate and goblet to eat his lunch.

We went with our neighbors to the ski resort Snowbasin. It is beautiful this time of year. We had a picnic and then rode bikes up the bike trails. Here is Porter riding on the practice trail. It was a lot of fun.


And of course my handsome husband, just getting off the bike trail up the mountain.

But my favorite is when the boys are gone and Ava is asleep! So cute.

Yard Work/ Gardening

I like our yard, but it is high maintenance. A lot like me I suppose! hehe :)
Here is a back section of our yard at the beginning of the summer.


Our house is over 100 years old. And the old barn has got to be close behind. Half of this stuff has been back in the back yard probably that long as well.

The boys have been so good at working everyday in the yard to clean it up and make a beautiful garden this summer.

Porter and his little friend asked me one day if they could grow their own garden, not thinking much about it I said sure. It's growing good. Porter has weeded and watered it consistently. Then he took pictures of it for me.

Here is his watermelon plant.

Ethan Weeding.

It's been good for the boys to learn how to work in the yard.


Ava loves being outside. It is honestly her favorite, next to bath-time.

We are still a long ways from this yard being my ideal victorian garden, but a small step closer.

Grandma Johnson's Brown Sugar Muffins

These brown sugar muffins are a hit at our house. Grandma Johnson introduced them to us about three years ago. She would make them all the time for her kids when they were growing up.

They go good with any meal and they are easy!
1/2 cup shortening
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 egg
1 cup milk
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
mix together put in muffin tin with or without paper liners whatever you prefer. Put in oven at 400 degrees for 5-7 min. until the middles of the muffins bounce back when you lightly press on them.

Try it with dinner tonight.

Grandma's Chocolate Chip Cookies

My Favorite Memory: Coming home from school to smell freshly baked Chocolate Chip Cookies. Thanks Mom :)


My Kids are always asking me to make Grandma's chocolate chip cookies.

Easy And Yummy.....

Cream together
2 cups shortening
2 cups white sugar
1 cup brown sugar
Then add
4 eggs
dash of vanilla
1 tsp salt
1tsp baking soda
4-5 cups of flour ( I am not sure I never measure, just when the dough looks right)
About 1/2 a pkg of chocolate chips I like Semi-sweet.

Put in oven at 350 degrees for about 5-7 min. Pull out when just barely starting to brown. Leave on cookie sheet, let them finish cooking for a few minutes, this is the secret.

Perfect After School Snacks!