Hearts - Reuse, Restore, Recycle

My friend Mandy had a great idea. She went to Deseret Industries and found some outdated wood hearts. She put cute scrapbook paper over them and used Modge Podge. They looked new and very cute on a shelf. I remembered I had some old Christmas hearts that were connected with twine. They needed to be refreshed, so I made them into Valentine decor. I got rid of the twine and used a pretty ribbon with a bead at the top.

BEFORE

 

AFTER

Soup Recipe

I got this recipe from a really good cook. She used to be my visiting teacher, now I am hers. I don't have a picture this time, so picture a slightly yellow-orange creamy soup with chicken pieces and vegetables. I like to use the frozen mixed vegetables that have carrots, peas, green beans and corn. The broccoli, cauliflower, carrot mixture would be good too, as long as you don't cook the broccoli and cauliflower too long.
This is one my kids really like, especially if I serve it with warm rolls or homemade bread.

Creamy Vegetable Chicken Soup
20 oz. Frozen mixed vegetables (Add this after the potatoes are almost tender)
1-1/2 cups diced potatoes
1-1/2 cups diced celery
1 onion chopped
Bring to a boil in water and cook until tender.

Bring to a boil in a separate pan
1-1/2 qt. water (6 cups)
2 cubes butter
12 chicken bouillon cubes or 12 tsp. chicken granules

 In 2 cups water stir 1-1/2 cups flour.  Stir into bouillon mixture to thicken.  Then add 1 lb. Velveeta.   Drain some of the water off the vegetables so it isn't too watery.  Pour bouillon/velveeta mixture into vegetables.  Add 2-3 cups cooked chicken.  Simmer, but don't boil, for 20 minutes.

 It is good without the chicken too.  The soup makes a large batch and freezes well.  (I think it serves 15)

Wounded

This is not very appetizing or pleasant, but Josh had another wound this week.  He was excited to go play basketball and was joyfully bounding down the stairs.  A baby doll stroller was at the foot of the stairs so he decided to jump up.  To his suprise, the landing above the stairs made contact with his head and cut it open.  He had a 2 inch gash that bled like crazy.  He did not get stitches.  He will have a scar, but it won't be visible unless he goes bald.  He did not play ball that night either.  He spent his time holding a towel on his head to stop the bleeding then getting bandaged up and taking it easy.  He did play ball the next afternoon, even though I really discouraged it.  I could just picture the ball coming down on his head or someone's elbow, chin, knee, etc.  He made it through the game without incident.

Ebleskivers

I love these little round Danish pancakes. I found out about these when I married Phil. I loved it when his mom would make these for breakfast. Now that we live so close to her we don't eat breakfast together very often. I found an Ebleskiver pan at Kitchen Kneads. I am sure they are at other stores too.
I love freezer jam on these (peach, raspberry, strawberry, or blackberry). We sprinkle powdered sugar over them. My kids love them!
STANDARD EBLESKIVER RECIPE
4 eggs, separated
4 Tbsp. vegetable oil
3 tsp. sugar
2 cups flour
1 tsp baking powder
2 cups milk
½ tsp. salt
Beat the egg whites. In a separate medium bowl, beat egg yolks until light in color then stir in sugar. Stir together remaining dry ingredients. Add to egg mixture, alternately with milk. Mix in oil. Fold beaten egg whites into batter.
Melt ¼ to ½ teaspoon of butter in each cup over medium heat. Put about ¼ cup batter in each cup. Cook until edges appear golden brown and center is bubbly. While bubbly, turn each ebleskiver with a fork. Continue baking. It may be necessary to turn ebleskiver over a few times during the baking to prevent over-browning.
Serve warm with favorite toppings. Cinnamon sugar and butter would be good too or any syrup.

Birthday Girl

Jenicca turned 14 this past week.  She had an exteded celebration since Phil was in Atlanta on business for her birthday.
Her grandparents took her out while we were in San Diego.  I took her shopping on her birthday, and we had brownies and her favorite home cooked meal of Rooskensnoosk (Macaroni with stewed tomatoes, seasonings, a little tomatoe sauce, and cooked ground beef all mixed together then sprinkled cheddar cheese on top).  Phil came home yesterday so we took her out last night to her choice of Cafe Rio and then Cold Stone for ice cream.  She went to her first Stake dance.  Good thing Phil wasn't there.  I don't think he could take it, and probably would have glared at any boy who attempted to dance with his daughter.  She is a wonderful daughter.  I am not sure why I have one that is so nice.

Cute

Juliana stayed at aunt Nicci's while we were away.  Here are some darling pictures Nicci's friend took at her studio.  That was so nice!!!

We had a fun anniversary trip to San Diego.  We went to Old Town the first day there.  It was so nice to feel warm again.  A good reminder of what spring is supposed to feel like.  We went to the San Diego Temple.  It is so incredible inside.  I think it is my favorite temple now.  The architect must have had fun with that one.  We went to a telescope shop in Ocean Side.  It is right across the street from Ocean Side High School.  School was letting out for the day as we were leaving the shop.  Oh my, am I glad my kids do not go there.  I must be a country bumpkin, but it was scary to me.  The gang writting on the sidewalk should have been a clue to me.  We saw some nice telescopes though. 

Sea World was fun.  It was not very crowded, as you can see by the picture of the walkway.  We spent one Morning at Torrey Pines State Park hiking the trails.  We came back later in the day to walk along the beach.  I was hoping I could just stay there until April, but no such luck.  It is nice to be home, but it would be nicer if I could have brought home the weather of San Diego.

Orange Chicken Or Beef

I made up this recipe several years ago when I was craving orange beef. I looked online for recipes but none of them seemed quite right, so I used the recipes as a reference then added my own ideas.  It was a success.

1 cup cornstarch   

1-1/2 lb. beef top sirloin, thinly sliced or chicken tenders or sliced chicken breasts.

1/3 cup sugar

½ cup rice wine vinegar

3 Tablespoons frozen orange juice concentrate

1 tsp salt

½ tsp. ground ginger

Crushed red pepper to taste (1/2 tsp)

2 Tablespoons Soy Sauce
2 cups long grain rice
3-1/2 cups water
1 Tablespoon orange zest
2 minced garlic cloves
Broccoli florets, steamed
Snow Peas steamed (optional)
1/2 cup vegetable oil for frying

1. In a small bowl mix together sugar, rice vinegar, orange juice, salt, ginger, crushed red pepper and soy sauce. Set aside.
2. Combine rice and water in saucepan. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to med-low and simmer 20 minutes.
   Heat oil over med-high heat in wok or skillet.
3. For beef: Toss in cornstartch to coat. Gry beef in hot oil until crispy and golden. Set aside. Drain oil except 1 Tbls. Add orange zest, add garlic to oil. Cook briefly. Add soy ssauce micture, bring to a boil, thicken until it looks syrupy thand add beef back to pan. (If you want the sauce thicker you can add a little cornstarch to the sauce. I mix the cornstarch with a little water to avoid lumps of cornstarch in the sauce.) Add steamed vegetables right before serving.
   For chicken: Toss chicken pieces in cornstarch, then dip in beaten eggs. Fry in oil, then follow the above directions for beef.
4. Serve over rice.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

It has been a week since New Year's Eve, but here are a few pictures. We had party with 2 other families. Yummy food, Trivia Pursuit, Wii, glowing necklaces and bracelets, Little Rascals, and Josh took the invitation to prove he is the "Chubby Bunny" champ by trying to prove that he could fit 18 large marshmallows in his mouth. After he started stuffing the marshmallows in his mouth he was reminded that he now has braces, and that might make a difference. He did not fit all 18 in, but came close with 15. He gets his braces off in February, so he can try again then. (Sick)

We went sledding with friends the next day, but the batteries to our camera where dead, so no pictures. It was so fun. I haven't been sledding for a few years, so it was a treat. It was nice to have temperatures in the 30s and lots of good snow falling.