Ballard Business

Monday, March 28, 2011

Happy St. Patty's Day!

We love to celebrate any holiday we can. Of course my little Dallin had to wake me up and remind me that the green day had arrived! Seriously, I knew it was coming but went to bed the night before absolutely wiped out - and completely spaced it. Thank goodness Dallin is old enough to not be disappointed at me!

We scrambled to get the morning ready with decorations and fun green attire - thank you Dallin!!!

We are donut people so I just couldn't pass these up. Thank goodness the Lucky Charms were still in stock. Bugged I had to pay full price for sugar cereal because I forgot my coupons at home. Darn it...

We love our cute green babies!!! Happy St. Patty's Day cuties.

Happy St. Patty's Day!

We scrambled to get the morning ready with decorations and fun green attire - thank you Dallin!!!

We are donate people so I just couldn't pass these up. Thank goodness the Lucky Charms were still in stock. Bugged I had to pay full price for sugar cereal because I forgot my coupons at home. Darn it...

We love our cute green babies!!! Happy St. Patty's Day cuties.

Monday, March 21, 2011

Half Marathon

Ok, so my hubby has been trying to get me to do one of these for years but to no availe...I have no desire. Then my two dear friends started to bug me too about it and I refused. But after a little prodding I decided to jump the gun and do it - YIKES! I am not sure if I can but I am going to try! I successfully finished my first week of training: 3 mile run, 2 mile run, rest, then 4 mile run! I think this might be fun????.....

Thanks Cara and Keri - I love you!!!

Half Marathon

Ok, so my hubby has been trying to get me to do one of these for years but to no avail...I have no desire. But then my two dear friends started to bug me too about it and I refused. But after a little prodding I decided to jump to gun and do it - YIKES! I am not sure if I can but I am going to try! I successfully finished my first week of training: 3 mile run, 2 mile run, rest, then 4 mile run! I think this might be fun????.....

Thanks Cara and Keri - I love you!!!

Friday, February 25, 2011

Miss our KC...

How how we miss our KC...in December we had a very sad accident and she was taken from us. I had no idea how much I could fall in love with a dog - but my heart was just devastated. Our kids were so upset that they couldn't go to school for days and we just cried and cried. She truly was part of our family.

We miss her running up to us when we would walk in the door, or parking out the window as the boys would walk to their classrooms. We are so grateful we took that leap and let her into our home because she filled us with happiness! This experience really helped our children get a deeper appreciation for the Atonement - that not only heals sin but pain and hurt that swells with in you. One of the most tender moments was to watch Mikey after hearing the news of her death, fall to his knees and pray to his Heavenly Father. I am so grateful that he knows where to turn for his peace.

We made a special box for her and buried her right by our garden so we can think of her always. The kids cried through it but it was so good for them.

Now we are saving our pennies and can't wait to buy another Yorkie - we miss you so much KC!!!

Sunday, February 13, 2011

We love Snow...

Well I can't say that I do - but the rest of my crew does! Mike got a chance to take my boys snow boarding recently while Karly and I had a girls day.

Mikey was gone from him most of the day and got pretty cold! Poor thing even got some frostbite on his wrists - has pretty good little scares now too. He went again the next chance he got so apparently it didn't bother him too bad...

Dallin and Joey are still learning and did a great job keeping their heads up. Especially after Mike found old feet warmers inside Joey's boots and realized thats why he was crying that his feet hurt. Once those were out he rode for 4 more hours. Poor thing!

Love my boys and my hubby for hanging out with them so much. Yahoo for snow!

Sunday, January 23, 2011

Karlys Preschool Bag

So Karly needed a bag for preschool that was NOT a back pack - teachers rules. We could buy one from her for $10 but I was for sure I could create something for free. So I went home and dug under by bed to see what bags I had collected. I found one with a logo on it, so I grabbed some old material and created a square and tied the ends to make knots of fringe. Then I found a old iron on patch I had never used (got from the dollar store) and sewed it to the center!

Easy Squeezy! She felt like she was unique and her teacher loved her new bag! And the best part was I paid $0!!!!!!

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From My Kitchen

I got this from my Aunt Steph and served it at my little brother's wedding. Since then I can't even count how many times people have asked me for the recipe. I could probably eat it for a week straight and still LOVE it! Combine: 1/2 c. red wine vinegar 1/2 tsp. fresh basil 1/2 tsp. Italian seasoning 3 cloves of minced garlic 1/2 tsp. oregano 1/2 tsp. salt 1/4 tsp. pepper 1 T. sugar 1 T. parsley or chives Mix well then add 1/2 c. olive oil, 5 to 6 Roma tomatoes (diced) and 1/2 red onion sliced very thinly. Marinate for several hours or overnight. When ready to serve mix 3/4 c. mayonnaise & 3/4 c. Parmesan cheese in a bowl. Cut 1 loaf baguette bread into thin slices. Spread with mayo-cheese mix. Top with one tablespoon of tomato mixture then sprinkle with freshly grated Parmesan cheese. Broil about 5 minutes till crusted and serve promptly.

Frosted Cinnamon Rolls

Quick Cooking

Add into bread machine:
1 c. warm milk *
¼ c. water *
¼ c. butter *
1 egg *
1 tsp. salt *
4 c. flour *
¼ c. instant vanilla pudding mix *
1 T. sugar *
1 T. active dry yeast *

Cook on dough setting until finished. Turn dough onto lightly floured surface and roll out to 17 in. x 10 in. Spread with ¼ c. melted/softened butter. Sprinkle with 1-2 c. brown sugar and 2 tsp. cinnamon.

Roll up into jelly roll and pinch sides to seal. Cut into 21 slices and place in 9 x 13 pan and 9 x 9 pan greased pan. Let rise in warm place for 45 minutes or until doubled. Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes. Cool on racks for 5 minutes and frost with the following:

4 oz. softened cream cheese *
¼ c. softened butter *
1 ½ c. confectioners sugar *
1 ½ tsp. milk *
½ tsp. vanilla extract *

Beat together and frost warm rolls.

Homemade Orea Cookies

Our Favorite Sausage Gravy

1 lb. pork sausage

1 onion, finely chopped

1 green bell pepper, finely chopped

1 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes

2 T garlic, minced

4 T unsalted butter

salt and pepper to taste

4 tablespoons all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon minced fresh sage

1 teaspoon minced fresh thyme

2 cups milk, divided

2 cubes chicken bouillon

1/4 cup minced fresh parsley

In a skillet on medium heat cook pork, onion, green pepper, red pepper flakes, and garlic until pork is crumbly. Drain off excess fat, but leave a small amount.

Combine butter, salt and pepper with the meat mixture and stir until butter melts. Slowly sift flour over the top. Mix gently and allow mixture to cook for 5 minutes. It will burn, so do not let it sit unguarded. Don't forget to scrape the bottom of the pan. Add the sage and thyme (if you used Italian seasoned sausage, omit sage and thyme)

Slowly stir in milk, about a half a cup at a time, and incorporate it well. When the mixture thickens, add more milk. Do not let it boil vigorously, or it will burn. Add chicken bullion and let cook for five minutes. Again, if it thickens too much, add more milk. Adjust taste with more salt and pepper if needed.

Just before serving, add the parsley, and about a 1/4 cup more milk; the gravy will thicken quickly as it cools.

Chicken Rolls

Nola's Pizza Sauce

I have looked for a great homemade pizza sauce and this one has past the test so far....

Combine in sauce pan:

15 oz. can tomato sauce or blended diced tomatoes

¼ tsp. oregano

¼ tsp. dried thyme

¼ tsp. salt

½ tsp. lemon juice

1 ½ tsp. sugar

¼ tsp. dried basil

¼ tsp. garlic powder

1/8 tsp. pepper

dash of onion powder

Heat until bubbly, then turn down to low and simmer for 30-60 minutes. When cooled store in fridge in tightly sealed container. Double the recipe and freeze some too. Use for pizza or dipping sauce for bread sticks.

Croissant French Toast

Great Cooking Magazine

Vanilla Sauce:

1 T. Flour 4 egg yolks

1 T. Vanilla extract ½ c. sugar

2 c. whipping cream

2 scoops vanilla ice cream

Combine flour, yolks, vanilla- set aside. In saucepan over medium heat, bring cream and sugar to boil. Remove from heat and add small amount of cream to egg mixture. Return all to pan, stirring constantly. Bring to gentle boil and stir for 2 minutes. Remove from heat, stir in ice cream until melted. Set aside.

Berry Sauce:

2 c. raspberries 2 T. Sugar

Combine in saucepan and simmer for 3 minutes. Remove and set aside.

Beat 3 eggs and dip 8 slices of croissants in mixture. Brown both sides on griddle in butter. Serve with vanilla and berry sauces on the side.

Homemade Pretzels

Dissolve: 1 T. yeast

1 ½ c. warm water

Combine: 4 c. flour

1 ½ tsp. sugar

¾ tsp. salt

Add yeast water to flour mixture and mix well until blended. Knead until smooth and elastic. Shape (they grow twice the size, so make the pretzels thin- about ½ inch wide) and place on greased pan. Bake at 400 degrees for 15 minutes or on convection speed for 10-12 minutes.

After baking brush with butter, then sprinkle with kosher salt (this can be done before baking as well) OR cinnamon sugar. Great activity for groups of kids.

Apricot Chicken

My dear buddy Liza brought me lunch one day during a tough time in my life (Law School, 2 toddlers, & RS President among other things...) It was SO yummy and each time I eat it I remember her thoughtfullness that touched me that day.

1 pkg. Onion Seasoning Mix
1 jar Apricot Jam
1 bottle Russian Salad Dressing

Mix and pour over 4 chicken breasts in sauce pan. Simmer for 20 minutes until chicken cooked through (works great in crock pot too). Serve over rice and veggies or mashed potatoes. Such a great food storage recipe. Love you Liza!

ps-other weeks recipes are found below

Green Beans with warm Bacon Dressing

I love this with FRESH green beans from our local market!

3 slices bacon, chopped

1 large shallot, minced

½ c. chicken broth

1 Tbs. cider or red-wine vinegar

1 lb. green beans, trimmed

In skillet, cook chopped bacon till crisp. Remove and set aside. Add shallot and cook for 5 minutes. Stir in chicken broth and vinegar, and bring to boil over high heat; cook for 2 minutes. Reduce to low and keep warm. Boil 4 quarts of salted water. Add beans and cook for 5 minutes, or until they are crisp-tender. Drain well. Whisk warm dressing and spoon evenly over green beans, then sprinkle with bacon. Makes 6 servings.

Kelly's Favorite Bruchetta

Combine:

1/2 c. red wine vinegar

1/2 tsp. fresh basil

1/2 tsp. Italian seasoning

3 cloves of minced garlic

1/2 tsp. oregano

1/2 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. pepper

1 T. sugar

1 T. parsley or chives

Mix well then add 1/2 c. olive oil, 5 to 6 Roma tomatoes (diced) and 1/2 red onion sliced very thinly. Marinate for several hours or overnight.

When ready to serve mix 3/4 c. mayonnaise & 3/4 c. Parmesan cheese in a bowl.

Cut 1 loaf baguette bread into thin slices. Spread with mayo-cheese mix. Top with one tablespoon of tomato mixture then sprinkle with freshly grated Parmesan cheese. Broil about 5 minutes till crusted and serve promptly.