Try it Tuesday #3

Death by Chocolate 7 Layer Bars 

Crust: 

2 1/4 c. chocolate cookie crumbs

(I used a box of chocolate Teddy Grahams, sent through food processor)

8 Table butter, melted

1/4 tea vanilla

Layers:

 1 cup chocolate chips

1/2 cup toffee bits

1/2 cup white chocolate chips

1/2 cup coconut

1/2 cup Nutella

14 oz can sweetened condensed milk

Grease 9 x 13 pan.

Toss cookie crumbs, butter and vanilla.

Press in pan.  Use measuring cup to press.

Sprinkle choc. chips, toffee bits, white choc. chips and coconut.

Heat Nutella in microwave and drizzle / spoon over.

Drizzle condensed milk evenly over.

Bake 25 min. at 350.

Let cool completely in pan.

Cut into servings.

We loved these and will make them again.  I left coconut off one end for the non-coconut lovers or likers for that matter!!

Saturday Day Trip

How many years have we lived in Utah? Yea, about that many. We have never been to the Great Salt Lake. We hopped in the car and drove up to Antelope Island.

This looks like we are in another state.  Such a beautiful image. 

Note the reflection in the water.  It had the same smells and sounds as Seaside Oregon.  A town that I love.

A sign said watch out for bison.  We saw this huge animal alive.  So amazing.  

They are huge and can run 30 miles an hour. 

The next stop was Bountiful  Kim's grandpa is buried here.  He thought he remembered where the grave was.  We came to his funeral in 1994.  Every Memorial Day we have said we wished we could come and place flowers on his grave. 

We doubled checked on this chart and sure enough he walked right to it.

Try It Tuesday #2

Baked Ziti (Six Sisters Stuff)

Now doesn't that look yummy!  It was.  

You need to try this.  The recipe suggests to make it and divide it between 2 8X8 pans.  I put it all in a 9x13 and we ate on it for 3 days. 

 So, maybe you should follow their suggestion and make 2 pans.  

Freeze one for later it suggests.  Or take one out for compassionate service.  

Another side note, the recipe called for ziti there wasn't any ziti noodles at my store so I used penne. 

 It worked great. 

Baked Ziti

1 pound ziti noodles , uncooked (or any pasta noodle)

1 onion, chopped

1 pound lean ground beef

salt

pepper

1/4 tea garlic powder

2 - 28 oz jar spaghetti sauce

7 slices provolone cheese (recipe called for 8 it was too much, I used sandwich presliced)

1 1/2 cups sour cream (I used light)

6 oz shredded mozzarella cheese

2 Table grated Parmesan cheese

Preheat oven to 350.  Spray two 8x8 pans or a 9x13.

Bring a large pot of water to boil and cook pasta 7 to 8 minutes.

In a large skillet, brown onion and ground beef over med heat.  Season with salt and pepper and garlic.  Add spaghetti sauce and simmer 15 minutes.  

Layer as follows in pan:  1/2 the pasta,1/2 of the sauce, provolone, all the sour cream, then the rest of the pasta, half  the mozzarella cheese and the rest of the sauce. 

Top with grated Parmesan cheese and the remaining mozzarella cheese.  Bake, covered for 35 minutes. 

Suddenly Shopping is Fun Again!!

OK Let's not go that far. There is still the crying children, people chatting with friends in front of the isles and kids playing hide and seek with their mothers, darting to and fro.

 I have a website that tells me what is on sale at the stores in Utah County and I price match those prices at Walmart using Post It notes. 

What I love is when I get home and put away my purchases and then get the item back out to use it  and it has a Post It on it. 

BINGO I saved on this I say!

Try It Tuesday #1

This is the Swig. We also have the same kind of thing on the other side of town named  the Slurp. They sell sodas with mix in's and smoothies and cookies. I have tried their sugar cookie and loved it. Facebook had the recipe circulating. We made it for our first Try It Tuesday. I have made sugar cookies exactly once in my marriage. One day - 3 batches. All in the trash, never to be repeated again. Theses little babies were amazing. So easy and obviously fool proof.

Roll into golf sized balls, place on parchment.  I made them smaller because I don't like huge cookies. 

Flattened with a glass dipped in sugar.  I sprayed the bottom of the glass just a squirt with Pam. 

The finished result. 

Here is the recipe:

Swig Sugar Cookies

Cookie:

1 cup butter

3/4 cup oil

1 1/4 cup sugar

3/4 cup powdered sugar

2 T. water

2 eggs

1/2 t. soda

1/2 t. salt

5 1/2 cup flour

extra sugar for coating

Frosting:

1/2 cup butter

3/4 cup sour cream

2 lbs powdered sugar I used 9 1/2 cups

1/4 t. salt

1/4 t. milk

red food coloring

Cookies:

Cream butter, oil, sugar until fluffy. 

Add water and eggs - mix.

Combine dry ingredients in large bowl, then add slowly to butter mixture.  

Mix until everything is combined.

Your dough will be fairly crumbly and should not be sticky.

Roll balls of dough about golf-sized. Not mine - smaller sized

Place on lined baking sheet.

Place about 1/3 cup sugar in shallow dish.  

Add a pinch of salt.

Stick the bottom of a glass into the sugar, then press in the center of balls of dough.

Bake 350 for 8 minutes. I baked shorter because they were smaller.

Leave on baking sheet - cool on racks.

Icing:

Cream butter and sour cream together with salt.  

Add milk until well combined.

Slowly add powdered sugar 1 cup at a time.  They suggested 7 cups I used 9.  Maybe the altitude?

You want your icing to hold a soft peak.

Add one drop of red food coloring.

Whip 1 minute. 

"Powerful Beyond Measure" WHS Class of 2014

The week of festivities started with Senior Dinner and Dance at the Provo Library.
 This is Kelsi with Alida (Colby's girlfriend).
 Kelsi went with her friend Courtney but did not want to be in the picture alone.
 Also this week was Lagoon day. Kelsi had so much fun there riding the rides and being with her friends.

Our graduation started at 9 at UVU in Orem on Friday May 30, 2014.

This cute picture was taken early as she was leaving.

  The candy leis were from her YW leaders and her Bishop. 

Standing under the graduation flag, a tradition. 

My friend who was helping with the line up process took this picture before the ceremony started. 

This picture makes me smile every time I see it.

The room was so full!  The graduates filed in following the school flags.  Boys on one side, girls on the other. 

With over 500 graduates this was a large class.  The program was amazing.  The choir sang and the orchestra played.  There was a video recap.  There was the class project presentations with a video that went along with it.  There was a parent and a staff/teacher tribute.  The best part of the day were the student addresses.  They were chosen by a committee of teachers but the essays were written in 12 grade English classes with a theme, Powerful Beyond Measure.  Honestly I wish I could have copies of their talks.
 Yes, they were that good.  I would reread them over and over.
 Then the fight song and as the graduates left the drum line played at the back of the room. 

Kelsi and her good friend, Courtney.

The whole family at graduation.

Graduation started at 9 and was over at lunchtime. 

 We arranged to meet Faith and Kyle at 5 Guys hamburger and fry place (Kelsi's favorite).  

We ate outside in the hot sun.  I loved this time together.

Her graduation dessert.  

Probably the best dessert I have ever made. 

 It is so good restaurants could serve it. 

AND I MADE IT!!