Pumpkin Crunch Muffins

I found this recipe quite awhile ago at KSL.
In the original recipe, the crunch is made by topping
the unbaked muffins with about one tablespoon of brown sugar each.
I have never had success with using brown sugar like that.
When I try it, the brown sugar usually melts and looks kinda gross!
The main body of these muffins is delicious,
so I adjusted the crunch topping by adding butter, oats and flour
to the brown sugar.
The results were delicious!

Use the recipe found at KSL,
and add this topping to the top of the unbaked muffins:

1/4 c. butter, melted
1/4 c. brown sugar
1/2 c. oats
1/4 c. flour
Mix with a fork until crumbly, and sprinkle on muffins.
Bake muffins for about 20 minutes.

The Blizzard That Wasn't and Gratitude

It looked threatening enough.

Looking even more threatening....

The flakes begin to fall.

When it started, it snowed and blew pretty hard...

but it didn't last for long.
Oh well, the tree looks pretty cool anyway.

Gratitude

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving, and there's so much I'm grateful for!
My husband (the best!), my kids (awesome!),
our families, the gospel of Jesus Christ, wonderful friends,
a good roof over my head, Christmas music, scented candles,
my sisters, cars that run, food to eat, warmth,
electricity, exercise making me stronger, health and strength,
Cream of Wheat, dark chocolate. (Not necessarily in that order).
This is just a few because the list would be way too long!


Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Lasagna Soup

I found this recipe today over at Real Mom Kitchen.
I changed it up a little by using no green pepper,
adding a little olive oil, an extra tablespoon of brown sugar,
extra pasta and an extra garlic clove.
It really does taste like lasagna.
Give it a try and you won't be sorry!
Here's my version:

Lasagna Soup

1 lb. ground beef
a small handful of dry minced onion
4 cloves of garlic, minced
1 T. olive oil
1 tsp. thyme
2 T. brown sugar
4 c. water
4 chicken bouillon cubes
2 cans diced tomatoes, undrained
1 14 oz. can tomato sauce
1 t. basil
1 t. oregano
3/4 t. sea salt
2 1/2 c. uncooked rotini pasta
3/4 c. grated parmesan
shredded mozzarella
garlic croutons

In a large pot, brown ground beef, onion, and garlic in olive oil.
Cook until ground beef is brown.
Stir in thyme, brown sugar, water, bouillon, tomatoes, sauce, seasonings and salt.
Bring to a boil and simmer 20 minutes.
Meanwhile, cook pasta until just underdone.
Stir pasta and cheese into soup.
Continue simmering for another 3-4 minutes.
Serve topped with shredded mozzarella and croutons.

(The Day Before) Halloween 2010

Dinner in a pumpkin.
Not something I'd wanna have all the time,
but fun for Halloween.

This video shows you Jared's latest creation.
He decided he wanted to be a transformer,
so he designed this costume and made it himself with
a little measuring and cutting help from Dad.
Awesome job, Jared!!

Pumpkin Swirl Cookies

The real name for these cookies is
Cream Cheese-Filled Pumpkin Cookies.
But I think "Pumpkin Swirl Cookies"
is MUCH easier to say.
Especially when you have your mouth full of them. :)
You can find the recipe here.

Nicole came home today and she did the honors
of making these cookies.
They look cute and they taste great!!

Jack 0'lanterns 2010

Happy Halloween!!

Pumpkin Bundt

(Forgive the bad lighting!)

Here's another of my own creations.
It's very moist with good flavor.

Pumpkin Bundt

1 Duncan Hines spice cake mix
2 c. canned pumpkin
1/2 c. buttermilk
3 eggs
1 t. cinnamon

Mix all ingredients in electric mixer
for 2 minutes on medium speed.
Pour into well greased bundt pan.
Bake at 350 for about 45 minutes
or until a pick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Frost with cinnamon buttercream:
3 T. melted butter
1/2 t. vanilla
1 t. cinnamon
2 T. milk
add powdered sugar to desired consistency.

Maple Pecan Oatmeal Cookies

Got this recipe in one of my newspaper inserts.
You can find it here. So yummy!
I made a few adjustments, such as
swapping some of the oats for steel cut oats,
using whole wheat flour,
and changing the corn syrup to agave nectar.

The big 1-6

My birthday boy likes white cake.
So I baked up this creation.
Our Best Bites' Easy White Cake. Go here for the recipe.
There's a link in the recipe for White Vanilla Frosting,
and it starts with milk and flour.
Yep, you got that right!
It's very light, fluffy, and not too sweet.
Seriously good!

Here's the big birthday boy.
He's legal now, for driving, dating, all that good stuff.
He does want to drive, but I don't think he's too
concerned about the dating part.
I might have to change that, but then again, I might not.
At least, not yet.

Birthday Party!

I had my birthday on 9/11,
and Jake's is 9/16.
We celebrated together on 9/12.
Happy Birthday to us!!

My recent, current and future reads

If you know me, you know that I MUST
have a book to read
at all times.
I LOVE BOOKS!!

Pioneer Taffy

Blueberry Peach Ice Cream

Tonight's dessert/Family Home Evening treat!
It's my own creation
and turned out pretty good.
~~~~~~~~~
Blueberry Peach Ice Cream
~~~~~~~~~
2 cups fresh blueberries
2 medium peaches
3 T. sugar
3 T. lemon juice

Peel the peaches and crush the berries.
Combine with the sugar & lemon juice
and let it sit for 30 minutes to macerate.
After 30 minutes,
puree the fruit.
Put in a large bowl and add:
1 cup fat free half & half
1 1/2 cups whipping cream
1 c. milk
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 t. sea salt
1/2 t. lemon extract
2 T. vanilla

Stir together well
and then pour into your ice cream maker.
Freeze according to manufacturers' directions.
Enjoy!!

Thoughts on Day 19

(At this point, this is pretty much how I feel)

So Day 19 passed yesterday,
and I am still doing it.
On vacation, my knee (which has arthritis)
started to bother me.
I didn't know if it was the 30 Day Shred
or the all the hours riding in the car
(which that knee has never liked).
We've been home a week and for the last few workouts,
I actually did them barefoot.
My knee was not bothered at all,
which I'm really happy about!
I did not want arthritis
to derail my plans for my bod!
Anyway, I'm down 5 lbs according to the scale,
which is good.
Clothes fit differently
and I'm sure I've lost inches
in a lot of places.
Problem is, I didn't think to measure myself
when I started!
The best part is, I now feel a drive to exercise--
my body needs it.

Another healthy breakfast treat

This is Yoplait Greek Yogurt (plain flavor),
drizzled with a teaspoon of agave nectar
and then topped with 1/3 cup of Bear Naked Fit Vanilla Almond granola
and 1/4 cup of fresh blueberries.
So good!

Vacation Pics, part one

Our vacay took us to Moab, then to Durango Colorado,
and then back to Moab for more fun in the sun.
These pics show the beautiful red rocks of Moab,
and some shots of us on our Hummer Slickrock tour.
It was the most awesome fun!!

We're Back!

We went on vacation for a week, and it was a blast. Pics will be coming soon!

In the meantime, here's another recipe for you, courtesy of The Pioneer Woman.
16-Minute Beef and Bean Burritos, which I made for dinner tonight.
I did a couple things different from the recipe.
Instead of warming them in the microwave,
I laid them all out on a cookie sheet as I rolled them,
and then put them in the oven at 325 for about 10 minutes.
It was a hit because everyone in the house liked them.
That's a feat in itself!!

Thoughts on Day 9

(Editor's Note:
I don't have this book, but I want it).

My thoughts on Day 9 of Jillian Michaels:

1. That woman is tough, but she has a heart. I now watch "Losing it with Jillian" every Tuesday.
2. I want abs! I want arms! I want long hair, too. Maybe Jillian's hair is why I've been obsessing about long hair lately....
3. Abs, arms, hair...That's why I keep doing this.
4. I do like exercise more now. I used to HATE it!
5. I feel stronger. And tougher. That's also why I keep doing this.
6. The scale hasn't moved that much, but I keep reminding myself that I'm building muscle.
7. A couple of days ago, I could SWEAR my arm had more definition.
8. Today I tried level 2 and I went back to feeling like I was going to die. Except I didn't feel that way as long.
That's good, right?
9. I'm using only dark chocolate to satisfy my sweet tooth. Ghirardelli 72% to be exact.
10. I'm taking Jillian (and Ghirardelli) along on my vacation. I'm afraid NOT to!

An open letter to Jared

Dear Joj,
You're off to Camp Bartlett this week!
Have fun, buddy!
And take good care of yourself!
Love,
Mom

Gimme a 5 and a 3!!

5 is for Day 5 of Jillian's 30 Day Shred.

And 3 is for the pounds I am down since I started!!

Whoo-hoo!!! It's working!