Monday, May 31, 2010

It's Summertime!


One of my favorite things about summertime is eating outside, grilling the food, ice cream sandwiches...and of course root beer floats! How fun would it be to whip up one of these fun root beer recipes for your Memorial Day dinner tonight? I'll just post one recipe, but you can find the rest here.

Root Beer Cookies
Ingredients:
•1 cup unsalted butter
•2 cups dark brown sugar
•2 eggs
•2 tsp. root beer extract
•3 1/2 cups flour
•1 tsp. baking soda
•1 tsp. salt
•1/4 cup water (optional-only use if dough is too dry)
•Root Beer frosting (recipe below)
Method:


Cream butter and dark brown sugar until very light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add the root beer extract. Whisk dry ingredients together. Add a little at a time to the creamed mixture. The dough should be slightly sticky. Chill for at least an hour.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease several baking sheets, or line them with silicone baking mats or parchment paper. Roll into small balls (about 1″ diameter).

Place them on the pan, leaving a bit of space between the cookies. Gently press the tops of the dough. (If you leave out the water, sometimes the cookies don't spread very much.) Bake for 6-8 minutes, rotating cookie sheet halfway through.

Let cookies cool for a few minutes on the cookie sheet before placing them on a wire rack to cool completely.

Root Beer Frosting
Ingredients:
•1 cup butter
•3 cups powdered sugar
•2 tsp. root beer extract
•a few tablespoons hot water
Method:


Beat butter on high with an electric mixer until it is fluffy. Add a little powdered sugar and the root beer extract. Beat until smooth. Add remaining powdered sugar alternately with a little hot water until a nice spreading consistency has been reached.
Frost the cooled cookies and let stand for a few minutes to let the frosting set up. (It should dry a bit on the top.) You can leave out the root beer extract and you'll have a tasty, soft brown sugar cookie.

Friday, May 28, 2010

Reason #2


I love the mountains in Utah--and especially living in Provo, so close to the mountains. I love them. They are so beautiful. I love seeing them topped with snow. I love seeing the leaves change colors from down in the valley, or especially driving up the canyon to see the leaves in the fall. I love going to picnics or hikes, or taking our raft to some little lake in the spring/summer. We don't do that as much as I would like, and I am going to miss it! I love seeing the sunset reflected off the mountains. I love how I know which direction I am looking because of the mountains too--they help me to not get lost. I'm told where we are moving is just like Moab...which is also beautiful, I love Moab. There will be red rock mesas and plateaus...but it's not the same as real mountains!

Thursday, May 27, 2010

Food Storage: How much?



One of my friends commented last week on how she isn't sure about the amounts of food storage needed. Well last year, one of the many responsibilities I had as a new counselor in the Relief Society was to prepare a monthly food storage goal and spotlight. We stopped doing that this year, but I was able to find some great resources for food storage! Especially this food storage calculator.
For a one month's supply of food for one adult it is recommended that you store 25 pounds of wheat, white rice, corn, and other grains. Also 5 pounds of dry beans and other legumes.

So...I would suggest start small. Maybe made it a goal to have enough food stored for a three month supply--and maybe it will take you three months or longer to work that into your budget, but that's okay. Just start somewhere, and probably try to store foods you will actually use and like.

Also--make sure you have variety--don't buy all 25 pounds of rice or wheat. Make sure you have some of everything and consider how much you like those foods now. If you don't like corn now, you're not going to like it in your food storage either!

I hope this is helpful! And thanks for the suggestion Ashley! I am going to try and keep doing food storage posts more frequently!

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Pewter





How cute are these shoes? I am really, really liking the color pewter! Not one I ever would have thought I would like before...but I wish I could find a reason to buy one of these pairs of shoes! Find them here, here, and here.

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Optimism



I really liked this video--I need to be more positive in everything in life--especially when it comes to being a wife and mother! You can read more here.

Monday, May 24, 2010

Favorite Cookie

For the longest time, my husband's favorite cookies were Choc"oat"chip cookies. Then one day I wanted to try this recipe...and he told me that this was his new favorite! I think they are my favorite cookie too...so try them out and tell me what you think! This recipe is just from the back of a Hershey's butterscotch chip package. :)

Oatmeal Butterscotch Cookies


3/4 c. butter or margarine, softened
3/4 c. white sugar
3/4 c. brown sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
1 1/4 c. flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. salt
3 c. oats
1 package of butterscotch chips (either 11 or 12 oz works)

Heat oven to 375. Beat butter and sugars in large bowl until well blended. Add eggs and vanilla, beat well. Combine flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt; gradually add to butter mixture, beating until well blended. Stir in oats and butterscotch chips.
Drop by heaping teaspoons onto ungreased cookie sheet Bake 8-10 minutes or until golden brown. About 4 dozen cookies.

Friday, May 21, 2010

Reason #1


(This is me and a great friend at one of our weekly Temple trips...when I used to be young and skinny)
...Why I will miss Provo.
Please go here and look at the pictures starting with #149. I love this place so much. The most recent time I went to the Provo Temple I felt so emotional thinking of all the wonderful things that have happened there, and how it is the temple I have attended the most often, and I love everything about it! The mountains towering behind, the large and beautiful grounds. Both inside and out of the Temple is beautiful. I know all Temples do the same thing...but this one is special to me and I will miss it.

Thursday, May 20, 2010

Am I Crazy?


After I had my baby, I started jogging...and I really want to transition to becoming a true runner. I really want to do this half marathon in September...but found out this week we are going to be moving out of state before then...
Can I still do it? Am if crazy to drive four-ish hours to do a half marathon? Maybe I can find one closer to where we will live...either way, posting about it on here will make me feel more accountable for my goal. :)

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Excited for what?


Yes it's true, I am so excited about food storage! Lately I have just felt like we really need to make it a priority...but we could barely afford the essentials each month. Until now! My husband graduated and got a full time job that started today...and I got this awesome book (and another book) for $1.52 thanks to Swagbucks!
And now...I can't wait to start gathering food storage and actually using it for our meals! I've already started using powdered milk in cooking--amazing. Saves so much money too! I highly recommend this book, and I'm so happy we now have enough money to have a food storage budget!

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

First Comes Love



I believe in and support Traditional Marriage and families, but I am not very good at voicing my opinion. I really liked this article of one person's opinion. To read more about why traditional marriages and families are so important, go here.

Monday, May 17, 2010

Go Bananas!!



I think these monkey cupcakes (and there's a cake idea too) would be so fun for the next birthday party I plan for my little honey! So easy, but so cute! Thanks to Our Best Bites for the great ideas and picture!

Friday, May 14, 2010

Absolutely Darling



Um...I'm pretty sure it's a really good thing I don't have a daughter. We would pretty much be broke because images like this make me want to go and make this dress right now! I'll just have to keep it for future reference. Find the tutorial from Make it and Love It here.

Thursday, May 13, 2010

Taking a Risk



Normally I love plain old brownies. I don't like all the "fancy" versions--mint, fudge, nuts, whatever. I love plain old brownies. No frosting, nothing. But I saw this recipe and am very intrigued. I think I should take a risk. I think we will have to try this for some special occasion...or maybe we'll make a normal day special by making them!

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Daily Uplift



You've probably already seen this video by now. But I wanted to post it anyway. I think I need to hear stories like this frequently to help me remember how blessed I am, how wonderful it is to be a mother, how special life is. I love being a mother. It is so easy to be distracted by all the new, trendy things, or feeling like I need more "me" time or whatever. But really those things don't matter.
All that is not eternal is too short, and all that is not infinite is too small.

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Gak



Did you ever play with Gak as a child? I never did, my mom thought it was too messy. She barely let us play with silly putty. But this looks like so much fun! My little honey and I would have so much fun with this! Find the "recipe" at Make It and Love it here.

Monday, May 10, 2010

Which is your fav?


I like to crochet...and I think that these little hats are so darling! My favorite is the frog. This reminds me of these cute hats...maybe I could make one of those? You can purchase the pattern to these hats by going here.

Friday, May 7, 2010

Beginning Photography Class!!!


I'm sure if you read this blog, or my personal family blog, you could guess that I really, really, really want to become a photographer. And as you can see from the above picture, I need some help. But I have been hesitant to take any classes because I don't have a fancy camera...just a point and shoot. Well, I came across a blog...and the author is teaching a beginning photography class--like really beginning! Even for people like me, with only a point and shoot camera! I really want to go. You should come with me! Find out the deets here. And if you decide to take it, I would appreciate it if you would tell her I referred you! Then go spread the word to your friends, so you can refer them and get a discount off the price too!

Upcoming



My birthday is this month, and I love birthdays! I really get so excited! How fun would this wreath be to make and put up only on birthdays? I know I would feel special to have a special wreath up for my birthday. So easy to make, and so cute! Find it here!.

Thursday, May 6, 2010

5 Minutes Away




I came across this recipe on facebook...it sounds really yummy... Really, only 5 minutes? I'm going to have to remember this recipe.

5 MINUTE CHOCOLATE MUG CAKE

4 tablespoons flour
4 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons cocoa
1 egg
3 tablespoons milk
3 tablespoons oil
3 tablespoons chocolate chips (optional)
A small splash of vanilla extract
1 large mug

Add dry ingredients to mug, and mix well. Add the egg and mix thoroughly.

Pour in the milk and oil and mix well.

Add the chocolate chips (if using) and vanilla extract, and mix again.

Put your mug in the microwave and cook for 3 minutes at 1000 watts (high). The cake will rise over the top of the mug, but don't be alarmed! Allow to cool a little, and tip out onto a plate if desired.

EAT! (this can serve 2 if you want to feel slightly more virtuous). And why is this the most dangerous cake recipe in the world? Because now we are all only 5 minutes away from chocolate cake at any time of the day or night!

*I finally tried this. It was good, but not great. It was fun that it only took a few minutes and fun to eat cake out of a mug. We put chocolate syrup on ours because it wasn't that great and needed something else. If you try this, you should definitely put chocolate chips in it or something!

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

Art Prompt



I liked this little video about encouraging art in children! I want to do this when my honey is a little older! Find out more info here.

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

Happy Thought



I love sewing. I often feel like it is something people just don't do anymore--unless it is something really simple. But it really brings me so much joy to create something beautiful, with dimension and shape, out of a flat piece of fabric, needle and thread. I really enjoyed this article from the local news. Now I want to go sew something!

Monday, May 3, 2010

Laundry Soap




Lately I have been discovering all these things you can make from home that I never knew you could make from home before! It is definitely a lot easier on your pocketbook to do so. This is one of those things I never would have thought about making myself. Laundry soap. Here are two recipes, I can't wait to try! You can also watch a video about it here.
Image found here.
GEL LAUNDRY SOAP

• 1/3 bar Fels Naptha or other type of soap.
• ½ cup washing soda
• ½ cup borax powder
• You will also need a small bucket (about 2-gallon size)

Grate the soap and put it in a saucepan. Add 6 cups water and heat it until the soap melts. Add the washing soda and the borax and stir until it is dissolved. Remove from heat. Pour 4 cups hot water into the bucket. Now add your soap mixture and stir. Now add 1 gallon plus 6 cups of water and stir. Let the soap sit for about 24 hours and it will gel. You use ½ cup per load.

Tips:

• The finished soap will not be a solid gel. It will be more of a watery gel that has been accurately described as an "egg noodle soup" look.

• The soap is a low-suds soap. So, if you don't see suds, that is okay. Suds do not do the cleaning, it is the ingredients in the soap.

Optional: If you want your soap to have some sort of scent, you can scent this with ½ to 1 oz. of essential oil or fragrance oil of your choice. My favorite scent is orange essential oil.

(Source: ww.thefamilyhomestead.com)

POWDERED LAUNDRY DETERGENT

• 2 cups Fels Naptha Soap (finely grated - you could also try the other bar soap—Zote, etc.)
1 cup Washing Soda
1 cup Borax

• Mix well and store in an airtight plastic container.

• Use 2 tablespoons per full load.

(Source: ww.tipnut.com)

Commonly Asked Questions:

Can these two be used on colored clothes as well as whites?

Yes, if you are careful…I have found that my bright colored cotton fabrics do seem to fade color faster with these detergents, to make them more mild for bright colors, back off the soap amount used in the original recipe.