Easter Weekend

I know I am a little slow but I wanted to post about Easter. I really didn't feel like it could possibly be Easter because we still have snow on the ground. I cannot remember off the top of my head when they said the last time Easter was this early but they did say those of us who say Easter early this year will not be alive to see Easter this early ever again in their lifetime. All I have to say to that is Hallelujah! However, despite the crumby weather we still had a very nice weekend.

Saturday morning we attend the community Easter Egg Hunt. However, there was no egg hunt. They usually hold this event on the baseball diamonds behind the high school. However, there is still alot of snow on the ground so they held it in the parking lot of the high school. I thought it was very nice. We were in and out within five minutes. The only problem is it wasn't really an egg hunt. They had a line and then at the front of the line they had about five adults handing out candy. I have pictures of all my kids but Logan. Bryon already had him done and loaded back in the car! After going to the "egg hunt" we went to Idaho Falls. Sam needed a pair of pants to wear to church and a tie. So we went down to get a little shopping done. We usually have a nice Easter picnic because of the cold weather, we settled for lunch out at Johnny Carino's. When we got home, we dyed two dozen eggs.

Sunday morning we have church at 8:30 and so we didn't have time to do the whole Easter Egg Hunt and baskets before church. That's okay because the Easter Bunny left a note saying he would try to come back while we were at church. The kids looked so adorable in their Easter outfits. When we got home from Church we found the Easter Bunny had been here and hid the two dozen eggs and filled the kids' Easter baskets. They got candy, bubbles, some Play-Do, and they each got a Church game. Sunday afternoon we went down to Idaho Falls for Easter dinner. We had dinner at Bryon's brother Bruce's. Bryon's mom has been busy taking care of her dad who is sick with kidney and heart problems. So Bryn (Bruce's wife) and I volunteered to make the dinner. It was delicious. We had ham, funeral potatoes, deviled eggs, homemade orange rolls, asparagus, and a Jell-O. Bryn had made a cute Easter cake for dessert.

New Recipes

What a weekend for new recipes. On Friday we had a pork tenderloin. I had bought the pork tenderloin a while ago to go with another recipe. Since that time, I lost the recipe and had this tenderloin that I had thawed out that I needed to use. My friend, Linda, mentioned her sister-in-law had a really good recipe. She got me the recipe and I decided to give it a try. It was delicious. My family loved it. It also happened that my in-laws came up to pick up a prescription that we had picked up for Bryon's grandpa. Long story short, I made them a t.v. tray with this pork tenderloin on. They loved it. So here is the recipe:

Maple Spiced Pork Tenderloin
1 1/2 Pounds of Pork Tenderloin
1 1/2 Teaspoon Sugar
1 Teaspoon Coarse Ground Pepper
1/2 Teaspoon Ground Coriander
1/4 Teaspoon Ground Cloves
Oil
Maple Syrup

Preheat oven to 325 degrees or the grill. We used toe oven. Combine the spices together and coat tenderloin. Let marinade overnight if possible. I put it on that morning and let it marinade all day.

Brush the tenderloin with oil. Bake at 325 for 20 minutes. Brush with maple syrup and bake until meat registers 155 degrees with a meat thermometer. Let stand 10 minutes, slice thin to serve. Serves 4.

Then Saturday night we went to an adult dinner for our ward. They had different couples host the dinner at their house. We went to a house that decided on a Mexican theme for dinner. She made this delicious salsa. I have had bottled salsa and I also have a recipe for really good fresh salsa. This recipe is for "fresh" salsa but uses stewed tomatoes.

Yummy Salsa
Mix in the food procesor:
3-4 Halapeno Chilies, Diced
3-4 Yellow Chilies, Diced
3-4 Long Green Chilies
1/3 of a Bunch of Cilantro
1 Bunch of Green Onions
1 Small Cann Diced Green Chilies
1 Small White Onion
1/2 Teaspoon Onion Salt
1/2 Teaspoon Garlic Powder
1/2 Teaspoon Oregano
2 Heaps Teaspoon Chili Powder
1 1/2 Teaspoon Salt
1/2 Teaspoon Heaps Pepper

Then add: 1 #10 can crushed (not stewed) tomatoes. The amount of tomatoes you are supposed to add is 6 Pounds 9 oz. She had it cooking in a crock pot to let all the spices and peppers mix. This makes a huge batch. It makes about one gallon.

Then Sunday I made a delicious sauce to cook the Easter Ham in. I used a Bone-In Ham. I think they have better flavors.

Ham
In a Saucepan heat
2 Cups Brown Sugar
2 Cans Chunked Pineapple
2 Bottles Marachino Cherries
3 or 4 Cloves
1 Can of Orange Pop

I cooked it until the brown sugar melts. Then you pour it over the ham and cook your ham. It adds a delicious flavor to your ham. If you want you can then thicken the juice and serve it over your ham.

Anyway, I thought I would share. I love baking and cooking and trying new recipes (especially if they turn out fabulous)! I would love to try any of your favorite recipes.

Favorite Things Thursday

My Favorite Thing this week is going to be a little self-indulgent. I have recently rediscovered my love of reading. However, finding a good book that is hard to put down also helps. I went to the library a couple of weeks ago and found a book that I just couldn't put down. I had previously read two books from this same author and really enjoyed them so I decided to read another one. This one was wonderful. Karen, the author, is a Christian author and so her books are very clean. This book was called, "Like Dandelion Dust." It's the emotional story of an adoptive couple that tragically learns that the birth mother who gave up her son four years earlier has changed her mind. A forged signature on the paperwork makes it seem possible that they will lose their son, Joey, maybe forever. Like Dandelion Dust is the story of a mother's passion, and the lengths a couple is willing to go to, all for the love of a child. As an adoptive mother myself, I wasn't quite sure what I would think of the book, but I LOVED IT!! I highly recommend if you are looking for a good read to pick this one up. This morning when I was on the author's website looking for a picture of the book, I noticed that they are making a movie of this book. I am now anxiously awaiting this movie to come to theaters.

While I was reading, "Like Dandelion Dust," I noticed the author had written a book about true life adoption stories. I went to the library that day and checked out that book. Monday night I finished "Like Dandelion Dust" shortly after dinner. Then after putting the kids to bed, I did something I don't think I have ever done, I read a whole book in one night. I started it about 8:30 and finished just before 11:00. I loved this book. Every chapter is a new adoption story. They are all true stories. Every chapter shows how God's hand is in every adoption. The author is an adoptive mother herself and her story is the last chapter of the book. It was an awesome book. I think sometimes adoption gets a bad rap in the media but this was book was so positive and uplifting. It was also a very quick read. I highly recommend it!

It's A Good Thing

Okay so last night at 5:00, it was one of those nights where I am beginning to question what is for dinner. That is a rare thing around here as I make a month worth of menus and then buy groceries to go with those menus. But it is getting close to payday, I have been out of town for the weekend, and I failed to get any meat out of the freezer. Bryon really wanted me to make Taco Soup. Sorry Bryon! Had it just two weeks ago and since then I have had tacos twice. Not that I didn't love the tacos we had but I just wasn't in the mood for any more Mexican dishes. So I am racking my brain as to what to have that would be fast and wouldn't require meat. My family loves pasta! I decided to make a family favorite: Fettuccine Alfredo. I have had a recipe that I have made for a couple of years. I have even passed it on to my sister Lori. I know it has been a hit because her husband is a picky eater and mentioned it would be one of the meals he woud request if he were dying. However, you cook the sauce and lately I can't get the sauce to thicken just right. However, I have found a new recipe that is fast and so easy and my family likes it as well as the other. I actually didn't think they knew the difference but last night Sam asked where the "green things" were. The other Fettuccine calls for parsley and other seasonings and that is what Sam was referring to. So here is my latest fast delicious Fettuccine Alfredo Recipe:

1/4 Pound Fettuccine, Cooked
3/4 Cup Whipping Cream at Room Temperature
3/4 Cup Freshly Grated Parmesan Cheese (Do not use the kind in the green can)
1/3 Cup Softened Butter (Do not use Margarine)
1/2 Teaspoon Salt
1/8 Teaspoon White Pepper

Immediately after draining fettuccine noodles, combine with butter. Toss until the butter is melted. Add one half of the cream and toss well. Add one half of the Parmesan cheese and toss well. Add the remaining cream and toss well. Add the remaining cheese, salt and pepper and toss. Serve immediately.

I served it up with a green salad and Garlic Bread and we were eating dinner within 30 minutes! It's a Good Thing!

Favorite Things

I know I missed posting last week about my Favorite Things Thursday. So although today is not Thursday, I just wanted to post a favorite thing.

I took Sam and Conner to the movies two weeks ago. We went to see the movie "Enchanted". I had heard it was good but was actually looking more forward to eating the popcorn at the movie than actually watching the movie itself. I was surprised to find that I liked the movie as much as I did. I actually loved it. My boys really liked it too. I highly recommend watching this movie if you get a chance. At our house we give it a six thumbs up!

Pass The Torch Tuesday

So I never did get a Pass the Torch Tuesday done last week. Oh, the joys of having a sick child! I mentioned that I was going to try to post a little late for last week. At this point, I am not going to worry about backtracking. So with that this Tuesday I want to honor my little girl Natalie. I took the kids home to my parents house for the weekend. My sister that lives in Jerome, couldn't come over until Saturday afternoon but asked if I would watch her little girl Alice. I agreed. My kids were so excited to spend time with their cousin. Alice was so excited to play with Sam and Conner but spent most of her time playing with Logan and Natalie. On Saturday, my mom pulled out a bin of clothes that she has bought on sale and was going through it to see what she had. She had a little book about a mermaid. The pictures were actually little puzzles. Alice was so excited to play with this book. The only problem with this book was there was only one of them and there were two little girls who really wanted to play with it. Alice had had it for quite a while before Natalie decided she wanted it. My dad who happened to walk through the room at just the right time, noticed a little squabble between Alice and Natalie. He decides to try to reason with Alice. He asks Alice if it would be alright to let Natalie look at the book because she is just a baby and then in a little bit she could have the book back. Natalie now had the book and had gone into the living room and was sitting on a chair looking at the book. Alice pitches the biggest temper tantrum, throwing herself on the floor and crying. Natalie immediately goes over to her and gives her the book and tries to cheer up Alice.

Way to go Natalie. I am so proud of you!

Wordless Wednesday -- A Few Days Late

With my week, I think I missed Wednesday all together. Whenever I talk to my sisters or parents they tell me they don't have any snow. Even last Sunday when we were down in Idaho Falls, they seemed to have significant less than we do. These pictures are proof that I am not exagerating about how much snow we still have. I took these pictures today. The sad thing is, it has still snowed the past few days. I know we need the moisture but couldn't we get it in the form of rain now?!?