This is one of my absolute favorite things to make when fresh tomatoes are ready to pick in the garden. It is easy tastes REALLY good. Hope you enjoy!!
6 cups Chopped tomatoes (if I don't have fresh tomatoes you I use petite canned tomatoes, just drain them)
1/2 cup chopped Fresh Basil (chop it first then measure it)
3 Tablespoons EVOO
3 Cloves Garlic, minced or chopped (I just use the kind in a jar, lazy, I know)
1 Tablespoon Sugar
Sprinkle of Salt
Sprinkle of Pepper
3/4 Cups Chicken Broth
3/4 Cups White Grape Juice (or apple juice, or cooking wine)
Pasta
Fresh Mozzarella Cheese, or Grated Parm Cheese
Grilled Chicken, optional
Combine chopped tomatoes, basil, EVOO, Garlic, Sugar, Salt, and Pepper in a non metal bowl and let it sit for at least an hour. Combine Chicken Broth and juice and bring to a boil. Let it reduce by half (I think it usually takes about 8 to 10 minutes - I don't measure it, just estimate). Cook pasta. Add tomatoes to chicken broth mixture until they are heated through. Toss sauce and veggies, add cheese, and enjoy!!!
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Thursday, July 14, 2011
He REALLY is listening...sometimes
So, many of you who are my friends and family know that we have a VERY active son, my almost 5 year old David. If you are looking for a new comedy show to produce I strongly recommend filming my family at church. Whenever we sit in the row and new people are around us I always say to them, "Welcome to the circus, it is free of charge." They laugh, but then 10 minutes into the service they know I am serious.
I have a calling with our children's classes (which we call primary). I sit with my son David, more like chase him and his friends around the room to try to get them to sit down and listen. This past Sunday was a challenge. First he pretended to kick the music leader in the shin while singing, "Socks and Sandals" from the Disney channel show "So Random" (I think I laugh at that show more than my kids do.) Then he kept trying to stick up his middle finger because he has been told NOT to stick up his middle finger. Lastly he made a farting sound on his arm and then yells, "Mom, stop farting!! Sister Gillon (his teacher) stop farting!!" Are you laughing - I hope so, because I am. But, it was not too funny at the time, unless you were watching.
Amid all of this chaos and craziness, he leans his head over on his teacher who had been gone for a few weeks visiting her mother who is having heart problems. He says to her sweetly, "Sister Gillon, how is your mom feeling?" She said, "Her heart is hurting." David matter of factly says, "I know that if she could touch Jesus's robe her heart would get better." Her heart melted, and so did mine when she told me. I read scripture stories with him often before bed and wonder if he ever really listens. Obviously, he did for the story of the woman who had an "issue of blood" and touched the Savior's robe and was healed.
"Drop by drop" we are helping to fill their lamps.
I have a calling with our children's classes (which we call primary). I sit with my son David, more like chase him and his friends around the room to try to get them to sit down and listen. This past Sunday was a challenge. First he pretended to kick the music leader in the shin while singing, "Socks and Sandals" from the Disney channel show "So Random" (I think I laugh at that show more than my kids do.) Then he kept trying to stick up his middle finger because he has been told NOT to stick up his middle finger. Lastly he made a farting sound on his arm and then yells, "Mom, stop farting!! Sister Gillon (his teacher) stop farting!!" Are you laughing - I hope so, because I am. But, it was not too funny at the time, unless you were watching.
Amid all of this chaos and craziness, he leans his head over on his teacher who had been gone for a few weeks visiting her mother who is having heart problems. He says to her sweetly, "Sister Gillon, how is your mom feeling?" She said, "Her heart is hurting." David matter of factly says, "I know that if she could touch Jesus's robe her heart would get better." Her heart melted, and so did mine when she told me. I read scripture stories with him often before bed and wonder if he ever really listens. Obviously, he did for the story of the woman who had an "issue of blood" and touched the Savior's robe and was healed.
"Drop by drop" we are helping to fill their lamps.
Blueberry Pie - SOOOOOOOOO EASY
I just bought my second box of blueberries this season. When I say I box, I don't mean a quart, I mean a 20 pound box. No, I didn't accidentally push the 0. It really is 20 pounds. Can you tell we love those "Jersey Blues". Some of the best things in life do really come from Jersey. Blueberries and...my mom. Anyway, this is my latest blueberry creation, and it was really, really good. There are 2 versions of it, both were gobbled up fast!!!
1 pie crust - I use this pie crust (I have also used all oats, no flour, just blended them so they are super fine.)
1/2 Cup flour
1/2 Cup butter
1/3 Cup brown sugar
1 1/2 Cup oatmeal
blend oatmeal and flour in blender, add sugar, then mix in butter. Press into pie pan. Bake at 350 for 15 min.
For pie:
Version 1:
1 Can Sweetened Condensed Milk (Nectar of the Gods)
1 8 oz. block cream cheese softened
3 Tablespoons Lemon Juice
Version 2:
1 Can Sweetened Condensed Milk (Nectar of the Gods)
16 oz. Ricotta Cheese
3 Tablespoons Lemon Juice
For both, cream the ricotta cheese or cream cheese. Mix in Condensed milk (trying to exercise all self control to not drink half the can) and lemon juice until well blended. Send kids outside and pour mixture into pie crust. Then take your time licking the bowl, try not to get it all over your face so that when kids come in for a potty break they don't see the evidence. The ricotta cheese version needed to sit in the fridge for several hours for the mixture to get cheesecake like. The cream cheese version firmed up faster. When creamy filling is firm, pile high with blueberries, as much as you want. This would also work well with strawberries, and many other fruit.
1 pie crust - I use this pie crust (I have also used all oats, no flour, just blended them so they are super fine.)
1/2 Cup flour
1/2 Cup butter
1/3 Cup brown sugar
1 1/2 Cup oatmeal
blend oatmeal and flour in blender, add sugar, then mix in butter. Press into pie pan. Bake at 350 for 15 min.
For pie:
Version 1:
1 Can Sweetened Condensed Milk (Nectar of the Gods)
1 8 oz. block cream cheese softened
3 Tablespoons Lemon Juice
Version 2:
1 Can Sweetened Condensed Milk (Nectar of the Gods)
16 oz. Ricotta Cheese
3 Tablespoons Lemon Juice
For both, cream the ricotta cheese or cream cheese. Mix in Condensed milk (trying to exercise all self control to not drink half the can) and lemon juice until well blended. Send kids outside and pour mixture into pie crust. Then take your time licking the bowl, try not to get it all over your face so that when kids come in for a potty break they don't see the evidence. The ricotta cheese version needed to sit in the fridge for several hours for the mixture to get cheesecake like. The cream cheese version firmed up faster. When creamy filling is firm, pile high with blueberries, as much as you want. This would also work well with strawberries, and many other fruit.
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Monster Cookies
I got this recipe from my sister in law, Jayna, years ago. It is REALLY good. These are great for people who can't have wheat because they don't have any in them. My friend, Nicole, asked for this one, and I FINALLY found it... in a box... while cleaning out my basement... which is a whole different entry. Warning - this makes a lot of big cookies. You may want to cut the recipe in half (especially if you don't have a BIG mixing bowl). Hope you enjoy!!! I think I might have to make some this weekend. My mouth is seriously watering at the thought of them.
1 1/2 cups shortening with 3 T butter mixed in (I have used all butter before too and they are still really good. The shortening does make them a bit softer.)
2 1/2 cups brown sugar
2 cups sugar
6 eggs
3 cups crunchy peanut butter
2 Tablespoons light corn syrup
1 Tablespoon AND 1 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons Vanilla (I use 1 Tablespoon because I like it a lot.)
10 Cups of Oats (I use regular oats, but you could use quick oats if you want)
1 12 oz. package chocolate chips
1/2 to 1 medium sized bag of M & M's. (Optional, but makes them look really cute.)
Other good things to add - Reese's Pieces, PB chips, white choc chips, etc.
Preheat oven to 350. Cream butter and sugars. Add eggs, PB corn syrup, vanilla. Mix oats and baking soda together (I usually just add the baking soda to the first cup of oats that I measure out). Add oats a few cups at a time until mixed in. Spray a 1/4 cup measuring cup with non stick spray. Use it to scoop dough onto cookie sheet. I usually smush the dough down a little bit. I can usually only fit 6 to 8 per cookie sheet. So, if you don't want it to take that long, make the cookies smaller. The recipe says bake them 11 to 13 min, until they begin to brown. I have had to bake them longer. Set the timer for 13 min, see how they are. They are done when they begin to brown. These are sooooo good, my mouth is watering right now.
1 1/2 cups shortening with 3 T butter mixed in (I have used all butter before too and they are still really good. The shortening does make them a bit softer.)
2 1/2 cups brown sugar
2 cups sugar
6 eggs
3 cups crunchy peanut butter
2 Tablespoons light corn syrup
1 Tablespoon AND 1 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons Vanilla (I use 1 Tablespoon because I like it a lot.)
10 Cups of Oats (I use regular oats, but you could use quick oats if you want)
1 12 oz. package chocolate chips
1/2 to 1 medium sized bag of M & M's. (Optional, but makes them look really cute.)
Other good things to add - Reese's Pieces, PB chips, white choc chips, etc.
Preheat oven to 350. Cream butter and sugars. Add eggs, PB corn syrup, vanilla. Mix oats and baking soda together (I usually just add the baking soda to the first cup of oats that I measure out). Add oats a few cups at a time until mixed in. Spray a 1/4 cup measuring cup with non stick spray. Use it to scoop dough onto cookie sheet. I usually smush the dough down a little bit. I can usually only fit 6 to 8 per cookie sheet. So, if you don't want it to take that long, make the cookies smaller. The recipe says bake them 11 to 13 min, until they begin to brown. I have had to bake them longer. Set the timer for 13 min, see how they are. They are done when they begin to brown. These are sooooo good, my mouth is watering right now.
Friday, May 20, 2011
The Dinner Time Work out
You moms, and maybe some dads know what I am talking about.
You prep the meal, get it to the table, and as soon as you sit down, you know you inevitably forgot the salt and pepper, cups, milk, napkins, ketchup - any other array of items that are ESSENTIAL for dinner for everyone else.
As soon as you sit down, someone spills, or thinks of something else that is high on a shelf, or in a cabinet you don't want kiddos to mess with.
Seriously, if I took away my chair and just did a wall sit while I ate, then I could break and run back and forth and do another circuit of squats, while I feed the baby spoonfuls of something in between my bites of dinner, all while drinking several cups of ice water. Maybe while I do dishes I can do squats for each dish, cup, and fork I put in the dishwasher. Wow, my legs will be pumped. Time to lace up the shoes for the dinner time work out.
Can someone please put together an estimation dinner workout for burning calories, please?
You prep the meal, get it to the table, and as soon as you sit down, you know you inevitably forgot the salt and pepper, cups, milk, napkins, ketchup - any other array of items that are ESSENTIAL for dinner for everyone else.
As soon as you sit down, someone spills, or thinks of something else that is high on a shelf, or in a cabinet you don't want kiddos to mess with.
Seriously, if I took away my chair and just did a wall sit while I ate, then I could break and run back and forth and do another circuit of squats, while I feed the baby spoonfuls of something in between my bites of dinner, all while drinking several cups of ice water. Maybe while I do dishes I can do squats for each dish, cup, and fork I put in the dishwasher. Wow, my legs will be pumped. Time to lace up the shoes for the dinner time work out.
Can someone please put together an estimation dinner workout for burning calories, please?
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
I Did It!!
I set a goal at the beginning of the year to run a half marathon. I did it this weekend, it was great. I was worried because I had not slept well the entire week (I think 1 hour of sleep the night before.) We had a beautiful day and it was awesome to run with my step sister. We ran the whole time, except to get a drink and a potty break after mile 7. We completed the course in 2:15:55. I was shocked, because I really didn't think I would be able to do it in under 2:30. This is what I learned from this experience:
I can do hard things. I got up several mornings at 4:30, after nursing a baby a few times too, and ran a long run. It was tough, but I felt so good after those runs, like I could do anything.
If I can discipline myself to get up THAT early and run for THAT long, then surely I can have some self control over my eating.
It is really 90% mental.
I didn't use any music or any MP3 player the entire time I trained. Those early morning runs were a time of self-reflection and meditation. I really got a lot of answers to prayers during those times.
Running with someone makes the journey so much easier. Molly was an awesome running partner. We talked about our lives, growing up, etc. It was almost like therapy. When we had the steepest hill, she encouraged me to keep digging in. This hill was seriously a killer.
It was a great experience and I will probably do another one in another year or two. If I can do it, anyone can do it.
I can do hard things. I got up several mornings at 4:30, after nursing a baby a few times too, and ran a long run. It was tough, but I felt so good after those runs, like I could do anything.
If I can discipline myself to get up THAT early and run for THAT long, then surely I can have some self control over my eating.
It is really 90% mental.
I didn't use any music or any MP3 player the entire time I trained. Those early morning runs were a time of self-reflection and meditation. I really got a lot of answers to prayers during those times.
Running with someone makes the journey so much easier. Molly was an awesome running partner. We talked about our lives, growing up, etc. It was almost like therapy. When we had the steepest hill, she encouraged me to keep digging in. This hill was seriously a killer.
It was a great experience and I will probably do another one in another year or two. If I can do it, anyone can do it.
Lighter Yellow Cake (with pumpkin snuck in)
I am wanting cake today. So, trying to stay under my calorie count for the day, I am making a lighter cake, and sneaking veggies into my kiddos (I really have a problem with that). So - here it is. I found this new recipe for icing that I LOVE, and it has less sugar than regular frosting. Click here for the frosting. I seriously could eat it all day. It says to whip the butter and sugar together until sugar isn't grainy anymore - it takes a little while - but SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO worth it. Actually, the granules never really melted into the butter until I added to mixture that you cook. (I got my stand up mixer out for this one, whipped the butter and sugar for over 5 min. It looked like whipped cream.) Enjoy!!!
Yellow cake mix
Water (whatever the box calls for)
1/2 cup canned pumpkin (You could probably use more, I only had 1/2 cup in my fridge from sneaking it into cheesecake. You also could use pureed squash or sweet potato.)
6 egg whites
1 Tablespoon canola oil
Mix together, bake according to box instructions. Makes 12 servings at 197 calories a piece (without the frosting).
Yellow cake mix
Water (whatever the box calls for)
1/2 cup canned pumpkin (You could probably use more, I only had 1/2 cup in my fridge from sneaking it into cheesecake. You also could use pureed squash or sweet potato.)
6 egg whites
1 Tablespoon canola oil
Mix together, bake according to box instructions. Makes 12 servings at 197 calories a piece (without the frosting).
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