Homemade Belgian Waffles

Classic Belgian Waffles.
Yum!
They take a little time
since you have to whip the egg whites,
but it's worth it!
These turned out so good...
crispy on the outside,
soft on the inside.
Here's the recipe.

I've always said, you learn something new everyday

Sarah the Seafarer

Seafarer blue, that is.
We made over Sarah's room!

Crushed silk curtains.
I actually found these at Walmart for all of $9.
Add some ribbon that exactly matches the paint,
and Voila!!

Sarah's just humoring me here.
Can you tell?

Wall appliques are awesome!
So easy, and Sarah can move them around if she wants.

Nicole did all the painting.
She is the BEST!

More new camera funshots

Takes pretty good sunset shots.

Looking out towards the Oquirrh Mountains.

I love that you can see the water droplets on this daisy.

Antelope Island in the far background.

New Camera Fun

Let's just call him "Mr. Blue Eyes."
He can sing, too.
But no one would know that, since he tries not to.
But seriously, he's got perfect pitch.

That would make this one
"Miss Green Eyes."
There should be a saying about little ladies with green eyes.

My Gerber Daisies are about the only thing
still growing in this weird weather we're having!
Everything else, especially the vegetable plants,
is just sitting there...not growing, not dying...just waiting
for the heat to show up!

Jeff and I had been eyeing a Fuji XP10 camera
at Costco for about a month.
It's waterproof, dust proof, freeze proof
and shock proof.
In other words, perfect for our river trip coming up. :)
Lo and behold,
Friday night when we went to Costco together,
there was a $40 instant manufacturer's rebate on that very camera!!!
We were SO excited!!
Since Jeff had gotten a bonus that day,
we bought the camera.
Sometimes waiting pays!!

Sunday=Yummy Dessert!!

This is Chocolate Brownie Pudding.
I've seen similar recipes with names like
Hot Fudge Cake.
This one is different, and by far the best I've tried.
This recipe comes from the Lion House Bakery.
(I know! You can't go wrong with a Lion House Anything!)
~~~~~~~
Chocolate Brownie Pudding

2 c. all-purpose flour
2 t. baking powder
1 1/2 c. sugar ( I use Organic Cane Sugar)
1/4 c. cocoa
1 t. salt (I use sea salt)
1 c. milk
2 t. vanilla (I like the Kirkland Signature pure vanilla)
1/4 c. butter
1/4 c. chopped walnuts (I had pecans so I used those)
1 1/2 c. brown sugar
1/2 c. cocoa
3 1/2 c. hot water (I cut it to 3 cups and I'm glad)

Preheat oven to 350.
Grease a 9x13 pan.
Mix flour, baking powder, sugar, 1/4 c. cocoa and salt.
To this, add the milk, vanilla
and melted butter. Mix until incorporated.
Stir in chopped nuts.
Pour into pan and set aside. (I added about 1/2 c. of additional milk,
and it was still more like "spread in pan" rather than "pour into pan.")
In a large bowl, mix brown sugar and 1/2 c. cocoa.
Pour in hot (I used almost boiling) water
and stir until well blended.
Carefully pour this on top of the brownie batter in the pan.
Bake for 35-40 minutes.
This is really yummy served warm with vanilla ice cream!!

Perfect Potato Soup

I've tried to make a good
Crock-Pot potato soup
many, many times.
Finally today
I think I came up with a winner!

Perfect Potato Soup
~~~~~~~
1-2 lb. bag frozen cubed hashbrowns (the kind with onions and peppers)
1/2 of a 10 oz. bag of frozen sweet corn
1 tsp. garlic powder
2 T. parsley flakes
6 chicken bouillon cubes
6 cups hot water

Throw this all in the crockpot
for 3-4 hours on high
or 5-6 hours on low.

30 mins. before serving time
stir in the following:
1-2 cups shredded Sharp Cheddar cheese (depending on how cheesy you like it)
1 tsp. sea salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
1 c. fat free half & half, warmed
~~~~~~~
Serve with some crusty bread & butter.
Yummy!

Let's play catch-up

I made these pork carnitas one night.
Definitely a recipe keeper!
Wanna try them? Go here.

Jacob graduated from Jr. High.
And not a minute too soon! (for him)

Then he went paintballing.
Something he's been waiting for!

We cut flowers from the yard
(and Jeff arranged them)
for Jeff's mom's grave
and my grandma's grave.
Remembering is always nice.

My honey cut some lilacs for me
and arranged them himself.
I told him he could've been a florist.

Mmmm.....

Homemade Cafe Rio chicken salads,
complete with Creamy Tomatillo Dressing.
Yumm!!

Go here for all the recipes.

Finally...it FEELS like May!

The newly planted vegetable garden below,
and Jake helping check the sprinklers.
Seems every year, they get shut down
in perfect working order...
but come spring, you never know how many
repairs are going to be needed!

Sarah looking over things.

Snapdragons--
the challenge is to stop Jared
from picking the heads off
and making them "talk."

My favorite Gerber Daisies!
plus some more Snapdragons

My front flower bed with my new solar lights.
Thanks, Ma and Pa!