Homemade Dog Treats...for the "GIRLS"

We get homemade treats cuz we're spoiled!!

Mostly pureed carrots...

Roll them out like sugar cookies

Cut into triangles (or any shape) and put on baking sheet.
Bake for 5 minutes

Good GIRL...trying to teach her how to sit!  She's a smart dog.

Become a HERO!!

The recipe was pretty simple, but a bit time consuming with boiling the carrots, pureeing them, rolling the dough, cutting the dough, and then baking!  We'll see how Mollys tummy does with these.  She usually can only eat cooked chicken for treats so she doesn't get colonitis.  These doggies add so much life and fun into our family, I think we're going to keep them!!

Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins

A couple of nights ago I took some not-so-pretty bananas and made these muffins. They were the BEST banana muffins ever!

Here the recipe:

Mash 3-4 bananas and add:

3 TB oil

1 tsp. vanilla

1 egg

1/3 cup sugar

Mix all ingredients together and add:

2 cups of Bisquick

1/2 cup chocolate chips

Pour into 12 cupcake papers. Bake for 15 minutes at 400 . Make them now...you will thank me!

Happy New Year 2011

Once again we spent New Year's Weekend in Lake Cuyamaca, one of my favorite places. Where? It's a very small mountain town near Julian in the mountains outside of San Diego. It is gorgeous, tranquil, and there is NO T.V...and cell phone reception is bad. Basically, it's away from everyone and great way to start the year.We were sad that Kyle wasn't with us this year. He went skiing with Chelsea's family in Mammoth. They had fun, but we missed him so much!!

Darrell spent some time on the computer...but not too much...

We cooked food and went to eat at the restaurants in Julian. This is Chicken Fajitas! They were delicious! Why does everything taste better when you cook in someone else's kitchen?

The scenery is beautiful. It is such a quiet town...They did have snow the week before. Little did we know that the snow had melted the day before and turned into ICE ON THE DRIVEWAY! Oops!

This is a picture of the driveway AFTER the towtruck pulled us back up. It didn't look like it was "slicker than snot" ice that was almost 2 inches thick. We started down and slid just a few feet...not a great start to our weekend!

A picture of the Lake. The air was so crisp and clean.

We always see a lot of wildlife there. They have tons of wild turkeys who are NOT afraid of people. We also saw many deer, but didn't get a photo...bummer!

Nathan got a cap gun at one of the tourist shops in Julian! I think he went through 200 rounds of caps. I hope they're gone now!

Many of you know that Nathan is fascinated with fire, he loved starting the wood stove and kept the fire going all night. The cabin was near 80 degrees at one point!! Sheesh...

We played Blokus, it was so fun. We got the game last Christmas, but had not played before. I think it'll become a favorite.

Sooooo serious...

So NOT serious...and guess who won? The NOT serious one!!

Always have to play a game of Jenga....we built a very tall tower...

and Darrell knocked it over! Here's praying for a great 2011 for all of us.

Happy Birthday MOM...60 Years Young!!

Even though I promised that I would not have a party for my Mom, I couldn't help myself! We had a small surprise luncheon for her closest friends and family. I think she had a great time...I hope so!

Some work friends from 20+ years ago, a new work friend, and Emily...my cousin who is such a dear!

We had pasta prepared by Sabatinos...it was delicious...and salad...and garlic bread...

The birthday girl, her great neighbor, her "Forever Friend" Linda Mac, and my 2 BFF's Kelly and Kristin. Kelly and Kristin helped me SO much the day of the party...they truly are a blessing to me!! Thanks girls...love ya!

Holly made Grammy a birthday banner. I hung it in the front entrance so she would see if first thing when she walked in the front door...and then SHE CAME IN THE BACK DOOR!!!

My first attempt at a homemade German Chocolate Cake with Coconut/Pecan icing!

Happy Birthday to the Greatest Mom EVER!!! We love you SO MUCH!!

Wordless Wednesday #38 ~ Grillin' in the Rain...

Just grillin' in the Rain...What a glorious feeling...I'm happy again!

Easter Bunny Bread!

This bread turned out SO CUTE, but the pictures are so bad. I took 2 loaves of frozen bread dough, thawed it out, shaped it into a bunny, let it rise, baked it, and cut out the tummy for dip and veggies. It was actually fairly simple.

Super Easy Homemade Pizza

If you want your kids and their friends to think you are Super-Cool...make them homemade pizza! It's SO EASY...and cheap!

These are the ingredients I used...all purchased at Trader Joe's. I love T.J.'s. The dough was just over $1, the cheese was $3, and the sauce was about $2. SO...2 yummy pizzas for $6 and much better than Domino's.

Just roll out the dough and put it on your stones. I cook it about halfway and remove it from the oven, add the sauce and cheese and cook it until the dough is totally cooked. The kids love it...whoo hoo. I might impress them again later and make homemade Jello!!

Mexican Tinga

One of the Mommy's in my class brought me my favorite Mexican dish to share with Darrell and Kyle. It's called "Tinga." It is so delicious, with a roasted pepper/tomato/onion kind of taste. Here's how you eat it...spread a tostada shell with a thin layer of sour cream. Spread a layer of the meat mixture, not too much because it is really hot. Then, top with lettuce, tomato, cheese...whatever you want. I also made beans to go with it.

Thanks Miriam for sharing your Tinga with my family and I. Darrell enjoyed it and Kyle thought it was too hot and spicy. GRINGO!!

Dwight and Diane

Our dear friends, Dwight and Diane came over for dinner a couple of weeks ago. We had homemade tamales that one of my Mommy's made. They were DELICIOUS. We always laugh so hard when they come over. Darrell almost peed his pants!

Aren't they cute?

Oh, look who showed up to eat a tamale!

Diane made homemade salsa and beans. They were so good, she is a great cook. I made homemade Spanish rice, it was mushy.

People think they're brothers. What do you think? Thanks for coming over guys, we always enjoy spending time with you. Oops, we were having such a great time, I forgot to take a picture of the kids.

Brian's Waffle Iron

Darrell's childhood friend, Brian (aka BJ) gave us this waffle iron when Kyle was a baby. It is 16 years old and I have used it on a regular basis for all of those 16 years. One time, we spent a New Year's Eve at his house and he made waffles the next morning. Brian loves waffles and had many waffle irons in his closet, so he gave us this one and it's been making waffles for my kids...and husband...ever since. Each time I get it out, I think of BJ. Maybe he can come over for waffles sometime soon!!

Hard-Boiled Eggs

Did you know that if you add a little vinegar (any kind...I used white wine) to the water when boiling eggs, they will peel easier?? I just learned that trick from Martha Stewart and it works!! Linda Trenz...remember trying to peel those eggs at Christmas a couple of years ago. I think it took you and I an hour to peel 12 eggs!!

Today for lunch I made a tuna salad sandwich with hard-boiled egg!! Yummy...

Homemade Pepper Jelly

My Mom and my Sister made homemade pepper jelly. It took them all day. They chopped and diced and stirred. And they shared. With me. Thanks. I love pepper jelly.

Vacation Wrap-Up

We wrapped up the last 2 days of our vacation with family, dear friends, and Mexican food!!! Could it get any better than that?? The above picture is of Darrell with the boys and Dave and Betty...his parents. We don't get to see them very often, but they love our boys and enjoy spending time with them.

Kyle's favorite food is Grandma Groff's tacos!! They are a Groff family tradition...passed down. I guess that means I should learn how to make them!! Kyle ate 8 tacos...not kidding!

We also spent a lot of time with the Golyer family. Paul was in my Pre-School class many years ago, and we have become dear friends. Joshua is Darrell and my Godchild. We adore this family and loved spending so much time with them. Denise's sister, her children, and her Mom and Dad were there also. Actually, we kind of invaded their family vacation. We pretend like we're part of their family!! Ahhhh...

"The Mommys"...you don't want to mess with us!

On Saturday, my Mom and Larry came out to spend the day with us. Nathan and Grammy hung out on the balcony and ate ice cream after Grampy, Darrell, Nathan, and Kyle golfed. I didn't get any golf pictures because it was 110 degrees and I didn't want to go out and take pictures. Call me crazy!

Denise's Mother made us authenic Mexican food. OMG...it was so delicious. This is a photo of her homemade salsa set up on the table.

All the boys winding down our family vacation together. Wonder where we'll go next year??? I can't wait!!