January 2014

Xerxes Getting His Lion stuffed with Grandpa

Keeping the Blog Going!

Hi Girls,

I thought it would be fun to treat this like a journal.  Shara I know you started this a few years ago, but lets try it again.  I am getting excited for our family reunion!  We can also keep in contact with what everyone is doing as a family.  Like a family letter, except with pictures.  I have to go to Grandmas right now, but I will finish this latter.  Love Mom

January 2014


Thiago and Kaleb
Banging Pans to Welcome

Went to Temple Square with Viviane, Gabi and Friend.
Lost picture of them.

In the New Year!

Kaleb & Thiago

Candy Bar Pie

4 0z. Philadelphia Cream Cheese, softened
1 Tbsp. milk
1 tub (12 oz.) Cool Whip Topping, thawed, divided
1 (2.07) Snickers Bar
1-1/2 Cold Milk
2 pkg. (4-serving size) Jello Chocolate Flavor Instant Pudding & Pie Filling
1 Oreo Pie Crust

Mix cream cheese and 1 Tbsp. milk in large bowl with wire whisk until well blended. Add 1-1/2 Cups of the whipped topping and chopped candy bar; stir gently.

Pour 1-1/2 Cups cold milk into another large bowl. Add pudding mixes. Beat with wire whisk 2 minutes or until well blended. (Mixture will be thick.) Gently stir in 2 cups of the remaining whipped topping. Spread hald of the pudding mixture onto bottom of crust; cover with cream cheese mixture. Top with remaining pudding mixture.

Refrigerate 4 hours or until set. Garnish with remaining whipped topping. Store leftover pie in refrigerator.

Meals

I am encouraging everyone to post their meal planning Mondays. I would like to know what you are all eating this week!

Post the recipes too, or link up to where you got the recipe. Thanks

Shara

Meal Planning Monday {2}

Here is my meals this week.
Week of November 7-13

Monday
B- Cereal
L-
D- Pesto Chicken Pizza

Tuesday
B- Green Smoothie
L- Turkey Sandwich
D- Tater tot casserole

Wednesday
B- Sausage & Cheese Cresent Squares
L- Left overs
D- Lasagna Soup W/ Bread sticks

Thursday
B- Oatmeal Smoothies
L- Grilled cheese
D- Ham & Cheese sliders

Friday
B- Pancakes
L- Tuna Sandwiches
D- Orange Chicken with rice

Saturday
UTAH

Sunday
B- Cereal
L- Left overs
D- Grandma & Grandpas


I am going to do next week here as well. I am going shopping for the next two weeks and I have it ready to go!
Week of November 14- November 20
Monday
B-
L- Leesa's Won Ton Chicken Salad
D- Buffalo chicken Mac & Cheese
Tuesday
B-
L-
D- Beef Tacos
Wednesday
B-
L-
D- Italian Stuffed Chicken
Thursday
B-
L-
D-Spaghetti & Italian bread
Friday
B-
L-
D- Monte Cristo Sandwiches
Saturday
B-
L-
D- Out to eat?

meal planning monday

I am posting my weekly meals.
Monday-

• B) Pancakes
  
• L) Sandwiches
• D) Brocli cheese soup w/ scones
  

Tuesday-

• B) Oatmeal w/sprinkles and whipped cream
• L) Left overs
• D) Tacos {Fish or Buffalo Tacos}
  

Wed

• B) Eggs & Toast
• L) Mac & Cheese with hot dogs
• D) Enchilada casserole
  

Thurs

• B) Cold cereal
• L) Left overs
• D) Crockpot Orange chicken
  

Fri

• B) Oatmeal
• L) Pesto, cheese, tomato Sandwich
• D) Home made pizza or pizza hut!

Saturday

• B) Crepes
  
• L) Ham & Cheese Sliders
  
• D) Left overs
  

Sun

• B) Cold cereal
• L) Left overs
  
• D) Grandma and Grandpa's House
  

ZEBRA

Here are some awesome Zebra Finds. This post is dedicated to Tasha who wants to do Jessica's room in this theme!


Zebra Cookies! Peanut Butter with Kisses!


Beautiful Pillow!

Cute Name display

zebra mirror

Zebra Jewelry box.

Mini German Pancakes

1 cup milk
6 eggs
1 cup flour
1/2 tsp salt
1 stp vanilla
1 tsp orange zest (optional)
1/4 cup butter, melted

1. preheat oven to 400. Blend first 6 ingredients together in a blender.
2. Blend in butter a little at a time
3. Grease muffin tins well. 24 tins
4. bake 15 minutes, until fluffy and golden
5. Serve with favorite toppings

Huckleberry Cheese Cake

Huckleberry Cheese Cake

This is similar to mom's cream cheese pie recipe. Yet its got a different crust and adds some different ingredients.

Crust:
2 Cups Flour
1/2 Cup brown sugar
2 cubes soft butter (1 Cup)

Stir until crumbly.
Pat into 9 X 13 pan and bake at 375 10-15 minutes or until lightly browned.
If too thick don't use all.

Filling:
1 8 oz package cream cheese
1 Can sweetened condensed milk
Beat until fluffy
Add:
1/3 cup lemon juice
1 tsp vanilla
1 12 oz cool whip
Pour on crust and chill

Topping:
1 Raspberry Danish Dessert as directed for pudding
Add:
1/3 cup sugar
1/8 tsp salt
2 cups huckleberries

Pour over cheesecake layer and chill.


I used only 2/3rds of this recipe and used a regular graham cracker pie crust to make it easier. I still got a lot of cheese cake left overs, so I also crushed up some graham cracker/sugar mix and a little butter and put them in 6 cupcake tins and made little desserts:) Turned out great!

Fluffy Butermilk Pancakes.

These are great. They bake up fluffy and restaurant style! Would be great with Tasha's homemade syrup recipe! (Tasha you should post that!)


Ingredients

• 2 Cups Flour
• 2 TBS sugar
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 2 Cups well shaken butter milk (add 2 TBS apple cider vinegar to make butter milk)
• 2 Large eggs
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil

1. Mix dry ingredients together
2. Add all wet ingredients to a separate bowl and stir until blended
3. Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients, just until combined. DO NOT OVER MIX.
4. Cook with Med-Low heat.

Sweet Crepes

I love breakfast for dinner, I'd have it every night if I could. The kids love it and it is so easy to make:) Bryan is not a huge fan, so luckily we have to have real meals too:)

I made our own IHOP (international Pancakes) for dinner last week. These crepes turned out great. I also made some German pancakes (per Bryan, I thought I could win him over to the breakfast side, if I made something German for him. He said that they were not traditionally ones, yet he enjoyed them.)



Okay on to the crepe recipe. I will also post the German one as well.

Sweet Crepes:
1 cup All-Purpose Flour
3 Large Eggs, beaten
1 1/2 cups whole milk
Pinch salt
1/2 tsp sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
3 Tablespoons melted unsalted butter

whisk together all ingredients to form a smooth, thin batter. Prepare the sweet crepes mixture and refrigerate for 1 hour while you prepare the fruit sauce and cream cheese filling

Heat a heavy 6-inc skillet or crepe pan over med-high heat. When hot, spray with non stick spray. Ladle about 2 ounces of crepe batter into the pan, tilting the skillet to evenly coat the pan with batter. Cook until golden brown on the bottom and the top begins to look dry, 1-2 minutes. Using a spatula, carefully turn the crepe and cook on the second side just until the bottom colors slightly, about 30 seconds. Transfer to a plate and cover loosely with waxed paper or tin foil to keep warm. Repeat with remaining batter.
Makes about 12 6inch crepes.

Filling:
1 TBS Vanilla Extract
2 TBS cornstarch
1/2 cup water
2 TBS Butter
1/2 Cup sugar
1/2 tsp. Almond Extract
1 lb cream cheese
1/2 c powdered sugar & 2 TBS honey
6 cup assorted summer fruits (strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, blueberries, etc.) Frozen mixed berries work too!

In a bowl, combine cornstarch and water and stir until well blended. In a 4 quart saucepan, add the butter, sugar, and cornstarch mixture and heat over med-high until hot, about 1 minute. Add 4 cups of the summer fruits and bring mixture to a simmer. Cook for another 3-5 minutes, or until thickened. Remove from heat, and 1 tsp of vanilla extract and the almond extract. Stir to combine and set aside on low heat.

In a mixing bowl, combine the cream cheese, powdered sugar, honey and remaining TBS of vanilla extract and stir until smooth.

Meanwhile , begin making crepes as directed.

When ready to serve, spread the cream cheese mixture evenly among the crepes and roll the crepes into tight cylinders. Place 2 crepes in the center of a plate, spoon 2 to 3 TBS of the warm fruit sauce over crepes, and top with remaining fresh fruit. Serve immediately.



I had a lot of left over fruit and filling left over, I added the left overs to my German Pancakes!

Cakes

Here are some of the fun Birthday cakes I have made in the past. You all are encouraged to post some of your fun favorites.

4th of July Party

What is everyone cooking for their fourth?
I found some fun Ideas. Here are some fun things I have found that I want to make for our Fourth parties.


These Strawberries look so cute! From Grin & Bake it.

*CLICK ON PHOTOS TO FOLLOW THE LINK TO SITE

RED WHITE & BLUE jello Salad from Real Mom Kitchen

A different Idean than the normal Cake topped with berries. This was from Good Houskeeping.


Have a great Fourth!

Magnet Paper Dolls

I made magnet paper dolls for Xoey. Using Xoey as the actual doll!

Here is how I did it.

What you will need.

• Magnet Sheets ( Office Max, these were kinda pricey, $13.00 for 5 sheets) {8 1/2 X11}
• Sharp scissors
• Digital camera
• computer with simple word document
• scanner/printer
• cute little girl/or a boy, I might make Xander do it so Xoey would have a friend:)
• Fun outfits. Dresses were easy to cut out.
  

1) begin by gathering up everything you want to have them wear. You wont want to try doing it latter once you start capturing these photos. The camera has to stay in the same position the whole time.
2) Pick a nice natural lighted spot. I took our photos out side in the shade with no shadows. Yet if you decide to go outside, make sure your little one is standing on something solid, We stood on grass and her cute little toes have green grass coming up between them:)
3) Have your little one dress in a plane outfit. We did underwear and tank top. Yet a leotard or a swim suit short shorts some thing tight would work as well.
4) Position your camera and keep it set. You don't want it to move. Use a steady table or a tripod. Keep your zoom set exactly at the same spot for every photo!
5) start by taking your basic doll photo. Take a good one and make sure you know how they had their arms and legs. I used tap on the grass, so she knew how far apart her legs were, we kinda guessed on the arms, yet you could put some tape on something to make it easier.
6) have them dress up in all sorts of fun clothes. Your shirts do not have to match the bottoms, you can cute them to be individual once you print them out. We used some fun hair bows, sunglasses would be fun, hats, boots, shoes, all thing I thought of after:) We did PJ's Too:)
7) Once your done with the photo shoot, get your computer ready. I used a simple word document program. Set my margins, and add one photo at a time. I printed out the Doll one first and made sure it was a good SIZE. If not move your print margins. and try again. Once set DO NOT move the margins. I just deleted the first photo and added the next to the document. printed it out and cut all around the photo.
8) once everything has been printed and cut. I tapped all my items to a 8 1/2 X 11 piece of regular printer paper, and scanned (color copied) to a regular paper. Made sure it all looked good and showed up good. Once I was satisfied with my copy. I placed my magnet sheet in the printer and copied my tapped paper onto the magnet paper. Doing it all this way saves the expensive magnet paper.



Here is the (Doll) Photo One used for the dress


Her hands were the same, yet her face was not, Did not matter, cut it out and worked great. I would have used to boa separate for next time. That way I could have used to skirt by itself. yet this way the boa was laying on the skirt. All thing I learned while doing it.

Diaper Clutch & Wipe Case

Xavery's is the pink one. Sanitizer also fits in the clutch.


I gave this green one to Janell

This blue one I gave to Amy. I used a cute elastic ribbon across the wipe case on this one.


Great Baby gift. I made on of these diaper Clutches for Xavery. I am always just needing the diapers and wipes, NOT the whole diaper bag for quick trips. This turned out great. Also when you have your diaper bag, it fits in great and the diapers and wipes are all organized and easy to find.

I found this tutorial over at Make it and love it. I found the diaper clutch tutorial (HERE)and did this for the measurements, yet the tutorial for the electronic cozy (HERE) to sew the insides together was a little easier instructions. I added a strap to use for a hand or to hook it to something like a stroller handle, etc. It holds 2-3 diapers and the wipe case.

I just used 2 quarter flats, One for the outside and one for the inside,For the two I am giving away. I did buy mine by the yard,only needed 1/4 of two different fabrics. I am going to try to make a matching changing pad and use the laminated cover for fabric. I am excited to try to use it!!

banana cookies

I got this recipe in a text from my sister in law. I only got the ingredients and the measurements, Yet I made them tonight and they turned out great:)


Banana Cookies
3/4 cup brown Sugar
3/4 cup shortening
1 egg
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp banana extract
1/2 tsp salt
2 cups flour
2 ripe bananas (peeled)

Mix sugar, egg, shortening, and extract together in electric mixer, until well blended. Add bananas, then add all the dry ingredients. Mix on med speed until well blended. The dough is more of an consistency of a cake mixture. Drop about 2 tablespoons of dough on to an un-greased cookie sheet and bake for 10 minutes @ 350.

For the frosting

6 TBS Brown Sugar
4 TBS Canned Milk (evaporated milk.)
4 TBS butter (soft)
about 1 cup powdered sugar, mix about 1/4 cup at a time and check the thickness. I used exactly one cup.

mix all ingredients together, except powdered sugar, once mixed well, then add powdered sugar 1/4 cup at a time.

Frost on cooled cookies.

Makes about 2 1/2 dozen (for me, Mine were a little big!) If you double the recipe the frosting would be perfect for the doubled recipe. I had a lot of frosting left over.

Viviane is here!

Hi
She is herer

Photos on the Pages {2}

This is School (September 2010) Also I did not add a photo on the right page, yet it would be a 4X6 where the corner tabs are. the class photo works out great in this one, along with the bigger wallet size of the individual school photo.

This is the Camping (August 2009) I am going to type on the blank black square.

Posting

Here is the blog layout. Check out how things are set up. We are posting recipes in individual posts. This way we can print out just what we want, label them (meaning at the end of the post you will see a category in which they should be in.) get familiar with what is under each post. When you are making a post, check under the writing area, and you will see "post options" in blue. Here it Say's Labels for this post: e.g scooters, vacation, fall. This is where you will put if its NEWS, Desserts, Chicken, Recipes, and so forth! I hope this all makes sense? Also I have added a "printer Friendly" button, here you can print out a recipe or post with out all the other stuff on the web page. Just click on the green little link, and it will tell you to click on the the things you DO NOT want printed!

I know you are all NEW at this blog thing:) Good luck with everything:)

PS at the bottom of this post you will see NEWS, Shara... That is a label:)

Mom's Strawberry Dream Pie

Mom’s Strawberry dream pie

Ingredients
1 8 oz. pkg. cream cheese
1 cup powdered sugar
1 small container cool whip
1 tsp. vanilla
1 can strawberry pie filling, ( or strawberry Danish desert)
Fresh sliced strawberries
1 graham cracker pie crust



Directions- Mix cream cheese and powdered sugar, blend together with mixer. Add cool whip after, mix. Add vanilla. Place mixture into pie crust. Put fresh strawberries into pie filling or Danish dessert and pour over. Cool in fridge. Serve.

Crock Pot Lasagna

Crock Pot Lasagna

ingredients
1 lb. Fried hamburger
1 Jar spaghetti sauce
2 cans hunts diced tomatoes(garlic and herb)
1 large pkg. cottage cheese (or 2 reg. size cartons)
2-3 cups grated cheese
6-7 handfuls of egg noodles (the kind that works best is county charm from Sams club or wal-mart other egg noodles go mushy)


Directions- Fry hamburger, drain, put 1/3 can spaghetti sauce on bottom of crockpot. Layer all other ingred. Cook 2-3 hours on high or until noodles are soft.

Chicken Wanton Salad

Chicken Wanton Salad Leesa

Ingredients
1 head lettuce
1 batch green onions
2 cups cooked diced chicken
1 can water chestnuts
½ cup sesame seeds
1 pkg. wanton wraps

Dressing
½ cup sugar
2 tsp acent (spice)
8 tsp Rice vinegar (or whatever kind of vinegar you have handy)
½ tsp salt


Directions- Fry the wantons in oil, cool crumble up. Add rest of salad ingred. To wantons. Put ingred. For dressing into a jar, or blender, mix. Pour dressing over salad, only when ready to eat, or pour on small portions of salad at a time.

Egg Rolls {Leesa}

Egg rolls Leesa

Ingredients
1 pkg. egg roll wraps
2-3 carrots, chopped very fine
3 cups chopped broccoli
1 egg
¼ cup sugar
2 T soy sauce
2 cups cooked , diced chicken, or canned


Directions- In microwave bowl place cut up broccoli and carrots into water (just over the veg) Steam in microwave for 5-6 min. on high. When soft, drain. Add all other ingredients. Except egg role wraps. Heat deep fryer, or on stove top put 2 cups oil into pan. When oil hot, place 1 tsp mix. Into center of egg wrap. Roll up like envelope. Seal with dab of water. Fry till brown.
Serve over rice, with soy sauce, sweet and sour sauces, or other favorite.!!

Brunch Casserole {Leesa}

Brunch Casserole

Ingredients
1 lb pork sausage (mild)
1 pkg. croissant rolls (fridge section)
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
4 eggs, beaten
¾ cup milk
½ tsp salt
1/8 tsp pepper

Directions- Crumble and brown sausage in skillet and drain. Line bottom of 9 x 13 pan with croissant rolls; seal perforations. Sprinkle sausage and cheese over. Combine remaining ingredients. Beat well and pour over sausage. Bake at 425% for 15 min. Let stand 5 min. cut into slices, serves 6-8.

Leesa's Chicken Rollups

Chicken Rollups

Ingredients
2 Pkg. cream cheese
½ cube butter
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 cans cream of chicken soup
1 can cream of celery soup
½ can olives chopped (optional)
2 cups cooked diced chicken
3-4 pkg. Pillsbury croissant rolls (from fridge section at store)
Dash salt and pepper


Directions
Fry chicken, or use canned chicken, dice. Heat cream cheese, butter in microwave just till softens. Add rest of ingred. Except croissant rolls. Stir together. Spoon small amount onto each roll, rollup, and bake.
Bake at 365% for 12-15 min. till golden brown
Serve over rice, and for a sauce, you can take an extra can cream of chicken soup mix with ½ cup milk, heat and serve over rolls and rice.

Microwave fudge

Microwave fudge

Ingredients 2 tsp vanilla
1 ½ packages milk choc. Chips
2 cups marsh mellows
1 can sweetened condensed milk
Dash salt
½ cup nuts (optional)



Directions- add all ingred. Except vanilla and nuts into microwave bowl. Mircowave on high 3 min, stiring 1 time in middle. Add nuts and vanilla. Put into 9 x 13 buttered pan.

Leesa's Loaded Baked Potato Soup

Leesa’s loaded baked potato soup

ingredients
10 potatoes
1 cup grated cheese
2 quarts half and half
1 cup milk
¼ cup butter
½ cup sour cream
Bacon bits (half pkg)
green onion, little
salt to taste
garlic salt to taste
flour to thicken (usually about ½ cup, can add more if needed)

Directions Wrap the potatoes in tin foil and bake on 375% for 1 ½ hours. Unwrap, and let cool. Add other ingred. Except flour, Into large soup pan .Scoop potatoes from their peeling and cut into bite size pieces. Cook on low till very hot, but not boiling. Stir as you cook. Put flour into cold water and add. The soup will thicken more as it cools. Can add extra cheese and serve with breadsticks or rolls to dip!!

Greeff Chocolate Chip Cookies

Greeff Chocolate Chip cookies Leesa

ingredients
1 cup butter flavored Crisco
¾ cup sugar
¾ cup brown sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
2 ¼ cups flour
½ bag milk chocolate chips


Directions Mix criso, sugars, eggs and vanilla with blender. Then add soda into flour and all rest of ingredients.
Spoon onto cookie sheet.
Bake at 365% for 10 min.

Update from Shauna

Shara,
We are using this blog tonight. Leesa put some of her recipes from the Dalton Family Cookbook, she had submitted. This will be a fun blog. Love Mom

Easy Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies {Leesa}

Easy pumkin chocolate chip cookies

Ingredients
2 spice cake mixes
1 large can libbys pumpkin pie filling
½ bag milk choc. Chips



Directions- You’ll love these directions!! Open the cakes, pour into large bowl, pour pumpkin filling into, and add choc. Chips, stir well.
Bake at 330% for 12-15 min. or until not sticky.
A great item for food storage to store, uses no eggs, oil and makes great treat, for anytime!!