Ballard Business: March 2009

Monday, March 30, 2009

the cute things they say...

Joey - "Mom! What happens when you put an octopus in the toilet?!!!!"
Mom - "What?!"
Joey - "It floods!!"

He thought he was the funniest kid ever created...thanks for brightening my day joey!!

Joey with his cousin Sosi -

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

My little Mikey has been an early bird since the day he was born, just like his father. As a matter of fact, all my little boys are early birds. The only one who has EVER slept in past 8 am is my little princess, who takes after her mommy. Today I woke up to piano practicing...at 5:48 am! For a moment my mind let me think "wow, seriously!!?", but then immediately I was swept over with love for this little 9 year old boy who does so well at all the responsibilities that he has. After he was done I asked him to do his 2 "family duties" (this is what we call chores in our house) and his response was - "sure mom! that's a piece of cake!" Then I thought "wow. seriously." He is such a good little guy, his example spreads through out the house - even Dallin gets up now and jumps right to work. I love these sweet boys...

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Jesse...

This week marks the one year anniversary that my cousin Jesse went missing while hiking the mountains in Hawaii. My Uncle Mark has done extensive searches with all types of rescue teams to discover his whereabouts, but only to be left with unanswered questions. Jesse is such a darn cute kid and always made us laugh. His smile was my favorite, loved the creases in his cheek as he did it. I love his whole family and pray often for their peace. My whole Pinegar side has gone through more trials this year that I could have ever predicted. Yet all the while, our faith in Heavenly Father is stronger and our love for each other is forever sealed. My hope is that my Aunt Mary is hugging Jesse tight right now up in heaven...We miss you our dear friend -

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Happy St. Patricks Day!

The kids woke up this morning to see that a Leprechaun named Louie came to visit them in the night! He ran through the whole house making messes and leaving trails of green litter and gold coins...quite the mess for mom to clean up but the kids happy faces was worth every bit of it! Joey even ventured to ask "is it my birthday?!"
They topped off their morning with yummy Lucky Charms in green bowls and sack lunches filled with everything green. Hope you kids have a WONDERFUL St. Patricks Day! Your mommy is SO LUCKY to have you!

Monday, March 9, 2009

Hang In There Dad -

So we had such an emotional week with loosing my Aunt Mary, but through it all my Dad held his head up high and full of confidence. The reason this is so amazing to me is because the day she passed away we were actually in the hospital with him as he was getting some lymph nodes removed from his neck. We were worried they would be a problem but tried not to think about it. But the next day we got the bad news...that he too had cancer. We were in shock after losing Mary to this disease, and didn't know how to digest this information now for my Dad. For 4 days we just sat and tried to think positively as we waited for his first visit with the Oncologist. Friday came and we were prepared for the worst. His Doctor was fantastic and explained everything in great detail. Then the best news came!

He does have cancer and its called Indulent Lymphoma. It is a type that they can not cure and he will have it the rest of life - BUT - it is non aggressive and people have been known to live with it for years and never have Chemo. It starts in his neck and so far has not spread to other parts of his body - this is called Stage 1. He goes in for another CAT Scan, bone marrow testing and then will have some Radio Immune Therapy that targets the lymph nodes and he has a 50% chance of this treatment working to shrink them down. The best part is that this treatment does not have side affects! If all looks well after that, the doctor will test him every 3 months for probably years to watch the cancer carefully. It can turn aggressive at any moment and this is why they watch it closely, but if it continues to be NON - aggressive, they will continue to postpone any type of chemo or radiation. The doctor said he needs to make sure constantly that his immune system is strong so when the time comes that he does need chemo his body will be ready to handle it.

We were prepared for the hardest news, and this was better than we expected. My dear Aunt was not this lucky, and for her courage we are grateful. Mike and I felt so strongly that I needed to head to California for a week, and now I know it was not only to be with my Aunts children while they prepared for her final days, but to be there for my Dad as he prepared for some tough news. So grateful I made that trip...you are one of my hero's Dad - HANG IN THERE!

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

Good Bye for now...

Yesterday afternoon my beautiful Aunt Mary Ann was released from her frail body and allowed to be free of all the earthly pain she harbored as she courageously battled breast cancer. Oh how we will miss her wonderful smile and generous laugh as we look forward to the day that we get to hear it again. We love you...

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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.