Sam the Man or Iron man Sam You are missed

  A match made in Heaven. They would wear matching shirts a lot. 

 This family is Forever!

 Sean is the oldest and Samuel in the younger brother. 

 Carolyn was is an angle care giver

True Love

My amazing brother Sam passed away last Saturday April 23, 2016. He is 17 months older then me. His wife Carolyn is in our prayers. She has been his angel care giver for the last 14 years. In high school he had a cancerous tumor pressing on his optic nerve. We were told he could die during a proposed operation for the removal of the tumor. He survived with the loss of his eye sight in his in his right eye. In high school he was a state champ wrestler at 98-pounds. A news paper article written about him in high school says " Sam? Small? Maybe physically but inside he's got a giant amount of courage and spunk. He's really a heavyweight in a small package Sam may lose a battle now and then but he's already won the war."This could not be more true about him and it's the same for Carolyn. May she feel the embrace of our Savior and know he would say to her. "Well done my faithful daughter." I adore you Carolyn.

Sam and I were close; he is just a 17 months older then I am. He was an amazing older brother. He was always looking out for me. He loved to tease me. He was the best at it. I remember a lot of adventures with him in our younger years. We always lived were there was a lot of land to explore. We would play a lot together outside. As we got older I remember he had a lot of handsome friends. When we lived in Provo together he would set me up on dates and I would do the same for him. We would look out for each other. When I got engaged to my husband Scott, we had only dated for two weeks before getting engaged. So the first time Sam met Scott we were engaged. Sam was hurt and upset. So he let me have it right in front of Scott. Scott is a convert and didn’t serve a mission. And Sam didn’t know him. So it was understandable that he was concerned and expressed his concerns openly. Sam was just looking out for me as he had always done throughout my life. He was a great older brother who strived to do what was right. A great example. 

Scott's 58th Birthday

 Happy birthday! You are my everything! Life is good with you. You have face challenges that make you the man you are today. You see life "just right" you believe in and trust your God. You're strong, you're kind, and you're good. Our children are so blessed to have you as their father. I hope your birthday includes a beautiful bike ride and all your birthday wishes come true!

I choose YOU. And I'll choose YOU over and over and over. Without pause, without a doubt, in a heartbeat. I'll keep choosing YOU. Happy birthday Scott! Today was a fun day celebrating YOU! 

Thank you everyone for your thoughtful birthday wishes. I had a great day today. Started out with a meditating bike ride up Provo Canyon and then spent the day with Barb.

 Vegetarian Lettuce Warps

 Ma Po Tofu

 Scott and I spent the day together running errands and went to dinner at PF Chang's  

🎉

Cards are a bid deal in our family. A tradition that Scott has carried on from his family. I love a good card. Scott got some really sweet cards from his children. 

For you, Dad on your birthday- If everyone had a father like you, what a wonderful world this would be...
Because then, everyone would grow up knowing they were safe, protected. and loved...
Everyone would know what it means to have someone to believe in-someone who believes in you, too...
Everyone would have the chance to make the most of themselves and be the best they could be...
Everyone would be given the opportunity, and the joy, that our family's fen given...
...by having a father as supportive, as caring, as simply wonderful as you. Happy Birthday with love.

Scott is a great father, good man and a wonderful Husband we are all so best because of the love he so freely gives. 

Someone posted this on Scott FB wall. I love it!

Happy Birthday Scott! You are my greatest example of perfect faith in our Savior Jesus Christ. 

Kind words from Karen Tebbs who loves Scott and use to work for him. 

From Dave McCoy -Scott, My main man and good friend. Happy birthday. I hope you have an incredible day. Love you brother.

From Stacy Elder-Happy birthday! Thanks for being such a great granddaddy, father-in-law, and dad to all of us! I love that you and Geoff have a good relationship, means so much to him. Love you so much! Have a great day.

From Carlie- It's been a hectic day at work so I'm a little late to the game, but  happy birthday daddy! you're the best example to have in someone's life and you've always been my number one. Thanks for being my dad and everything else you do for me. Love You! Happy Birthday

From Geoff- I called to wish you a Happy birthday! I hope you've had a good day today! Mom sent a video of you going on a bike ride. I love that you do what you love. Thanks for being such a great example of how to be a father and a husband friend. We sent you a gift to your house let me know if you got it. 

Geoff, Stacy and Mekk in town. And taco Sunday

The grill in the middle of the table is a Raclette Grill. Check this link for more info. I love mine!

 http://studio5.ksl.com/?nid=126&sid=33682807#7FmKUs6awYhuOmwZ.32

 Grilled Zucchini Tacos

Serves 4 to 5

Ingredients:
2 zucchinis, tops and bottoms removed and sliced into strips
2 yellow squash, tops and bottoms removed and sliced into strips
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
salt and pepper to taste
roasted tomatillo salsa:
8 tomatillos, cut in half
2 garlic cloves, gently smashed
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 jalapeno, seeded and roughly chopped
½ avocado
½ bunch cilantro, roughly chopped
1 limes, juiced
sweet corn succotash:
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
¼ cup red onion, diced
¼ cup red bell pepper, diced
½ jalapeno, seeded and diced
1 garlic clove, minced
1 corn on the cob, kernels and milk removed from cob
18  4-5 inch corn tortillas
½ cup queso fresco, crumbled
2 limes, cut into wedges

Directions:
1. Preheat grill or grill pan to medium-high heat.
2. Preheat oven to 350°F.
3. Brush the zucchini and squash with olive oil,  season with salt and pepper and place on a hot grill/grill pan.
4. Grill on each side for 4 to 5 minutes or until slightly softened. Remove from grill and set aside.
5. Place the tomatillos and garlic in a bowl and toss together with olive oil, salt and pepper.
6. Pour the mixture onto a baking sheet and roast for 20 minutes or until the tomatillos have softened and slightly caramelized.
7. Remove from the oven and place tomatillos and garlic into a food processor with the remaining salsa ingredients.
8. Puree the mixture until smooth, Season with salt and pepper. Set aside.
9. Melt the butter in a skillet over medium-high heat.
10. Add the red onion, bell pepper, jalapeno, and garlic and sauté for 3 to 4 minutes.
11. Add the corn and continue to sauté for 5to 7 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
12. Remove from heat and set aside.
13. Warm the tortillas over a griddle for about 3 minutes on each side.

 Slow Cooker Refried Beans (without the Refry!)

Author: Six Sisters Stuff

Recipe type: Side Dish

Prep time:  10 mins

Cook time:  8 hours

Total time:  8 hours 10 mins

Serves: 12 servings

Took 15 minutes to throw it together and THEY WERE AMAZING! My husband said that they were as good as the beans you get at a restaurant . . . and the recipe is so easy that you can’t go wrong!

Ingredients

• 1 onion, peeled and halved
• 3 cups dry pinto beans, rinsed
• ¼-1/2 fresh jalapeno pepper, seeded and chopped (I used about ¼ because I wanted my kids to eat it and not think it was too hot)
• 2 tablespoons minced garlic
• 3 teaspoons salt
• 1¾ teaspoons fresh ground black pepper
• ⅛ teaspoon ground cumin (optional)
• 5 cups water
• 4 cups chicken broth
• -If you want to turn this into a big batch of bean dip, add the following:
• 2 cups salsa
• 2 cups shredded Colby Jack cheese
• 2 cups shredded pepperjack cheese
• 8 oz. cream cheese
• 16 oz. sour cream
• 2 Tbls chili powder
• ½ tsp. ground cumin
• Mix in with the beans and let cook a couple hours longer so flavors can blend. Makes a huge batch so just freeze leftovers!

Instructions

1. -Place the onion, rinsed beans, jalapeno, garlic, salt, pepper, and cumin into a slow cooker. Pour in the water and chicken broth and stir to combine. Cook on High for 8 hours, adding more water as needed. Note: if more than 1 cup of water has evaporated during cooking, then the temperature is too high.
2. -Once the beans have cooked, strain them, and reserve the liquid. Mash the beans with a potato masher, adding the reserved water as needed to attain desired consistency.

Geoff and Stacy came in to town to clean out their Town Home to get it ready to sell. The are in Colorado for awhile. They love it there and just moved into a home with a back yard! Mekk and Stacy love it. It was a short visit and we decided a while ago to have a Taco Sunday. It's a family favorite. It's fun to watch your kids have kids and see the cousins play. I am truly blessed lady. I love my family.

Grandparent day with Norah at School

Norah with her favorite guy Granddaddy

March 29th was Grandparent day with Norah. It was a day she really looked forward to and so did we. It was a fun program then we did some activities. Norah loves to sing and she sings loud enough for all to hear. She is to much fun and Scott and I loved grandparent day.

Birthday Luncheon at Tammy's

 Brie and Pear Appetizer. Amazing!

http://www.purplechocolathome.com/2016/05/baked-brie-with-bruleed-pears-and.html

Baked Brie with Bruleed Pears and Candied Pecans

6 Inches Wheel of Brie

1-2 T. brown sugar

2 ripe Bartlett Pears

¼ cup White sugar

½ cup water

1 Baguette, cut, and toasted

Heat of 350

With a sharp knife, remove the top of the Brie. Poke the Brie with a fork, and spread the brown sugar on the top of the cheese.  Place the cheese in an ovenproof dish. Bake for 15 mins. The cheese should be soft and melted

While cheese is baking, place the ½ cup white sugar in a frying pan with ¼ cup water. Bing it to boil and add pecans stir constantly. The syrup will get thick and all of the sudden the moisture will all boil out and it will turn sugary. Pull it off the heat, and pour onto a piece of tinfoil. Break the clumps apart while they are hot.

When the cheese is melted, remove from the oven and top with sliced pears that have been dipped into the ¼ cup white sugar. Use a kitchen torch to brulee the sugar on the pears. Top with the pecans, and serve warm with toasted baguette.

You can also serve with additional sugared pears

Mix 1 Tablespoon powdered egg white with 2 tablespoon cool water. Whisk until smooth. Paint the egg white on a clean, ripe pear. Sprinkle white sugar over the surface. Set aside until the egg white dries. 

 Rachel's Yummy Bread

Bloomin' Cheddar Bacon Ranch Bread

• 1 round unsliced loaf of sourdough bread
• 8-12 ounces cheddar cheese, thinly sliced
• 8 slices of bacon, cooked and crumbled (about 1 cup)
• 6 Tablespoons butter, melted
• 1 rounded Tablespoon Ranch dressing mix (unprepared)
• 2 Tablespoons sliced green onions
• (optional) prepared Ranch dressing for dipping

Method:

1) Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
2) Using a serrated knife cut the bread lengthwise and widthwise without cutting through the bottom crust. This can be a little tricky going the second way but the bread is very forgiving.
3) Place on a foil-lined baking sheet. Insert cheese slices between cuts. Sprinkle crumbled bacon in between the slits and on top.
4) Combine the melted butter and dry Ranch dressing mix. Drizzle over bread. Sprinkle with green onions.
5) Wrap in foil completely and place on a baking sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes.
6) Unwrap the bread and bake for an additional 5-10 minutes or until cheese is melted.
7) Tear pieces off and eat. Dip in prepared Ranch if desired. 

 Chicken Cordon Bleu Lasagna
Tammy made the Lasagna

A simple and fast chicken Cordon Bleu in lasagna form. Creamy, delicious, and satisfying."

Ingredients

• 1 (8 ounce) package lasagna noodles
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1 1/2 cups shredded Swiss cheese

• 1 3/4 cups warm milk
• 2 1/2 cups cooked chicken, chopped
• 8 ounces deli ham, chopped
• 1/2 cup shredded Swiss cheese
• 1/2 cup bread crumbs
• 1 pinch Italian seasoning, or to taste

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
2. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook lasagna in the boiling water, stirring occasionally until cooked through but firm to the bite, about 8 minutes. Drain.
3. Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat; stir cream cheese into hot butter until it begins to melt, about 5 minutes. Season with salt, onion powder, and black pepper. Whisk warm milk gradually into cream cheese until smooth; stir in 1 1/2 cup Swiss cheese. Bring sauce to a simmer, stirring constantly, until cheese has melted and sauce has thickened, 5 to 10 minutes. Remove from heat.
4. Spread 3/4 cup of cheese sauce into bottom of a 9x9-inch baking dish. Arrange 1/3 of the lasagna noodles over the sauce and spread half the cooked chicken and half the ham over the noodles. Pour 1 cup sauce over chicken and ham. Repeat layers starting with half the remaining lasagna noodles, remaining chicken, remaining ham, and 1 more cup of cheese sauce. Finish by layering remaining lasagna noodles, remaining sauce, 1/2 cup Swiss cheese, and bread crumbs; sprinkle top with Italian seasoning. Cover dish with aluminum foil.
5. Bake in the preheated oven until casserole is bubbling, about 25 minutes. Remove foil and continue to bake until crumbs are browned, about 10 more minutes. Let casserole stand 5 to 10 minutes before serving.

Chocolate Oreo Cake

Yield: 3 layered, 9 inch cake

Ingredients:

Chocolate Cake

2 cups flour
2 cups sugar
3/4 cup Hershey’s Special Dark Cocoa powder
2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
2 large eggs
1 cup buttermilk
1 cup vegetable oil
1 1/2 tsp vanilla
1 cup boiling water

Oreo Icing

1 1/2 cups butter
1 1/2 cups shortening
8-9 cups powdered sugar
3 cups Oreo crumbs (about 30 Oreos)
1 tsp vanilla extract
6-7 tbsp water
5 Oreos, chopped, optional

NOTE: You’ll need at least one full package of Oreos. If you plan to decorate the outside of the cake with more Oreos and crumbs, as shown, you might need a second package.

Directions:

1. Prepare three 9 inch cake pans with parchment paper circles in the bottom, and grease the sides.
2. Add all dry ingredients to a large bowl and whisk together.
3. Add eggs, buttermilk and vegetable oil to the dry ingredients and mix well.
4. Add vanilla to boiling water and add to mixture. Mix well.
5. Pour into three 9 inch cakes pans and bake at 300 degrees for about 25-28 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out with a few crumbs.
6. Remove cakes from oven and allow to cool for about 10 minutes, then remove to cooling racks to cool completely.
7. Make icing while cakes cool. Beat together butter and shortening until smooth.
8. Slowly add 4 cups of powdered sugar and mix until smooth.
9. Add vanilla and Oreo crumbs and mix until smooth.
10. Add another 4-5 cups of powdered sugar and mix until smooth. Add water or milk until you get a smooth consistency.
11. Set aside about 3 1/2 cups of icing for the filling inside the cake and add chopped Oreos, if using.
12. Once cakes are cool, remove cake domes from top with a large serrated knife.
13. Place first layer of cake on cake plate. Spread 1/2 of the icing with the chopped Oreos on top in an even layer.
14. Add second layer of cake and add the rest of the icing with chopped Oreos on top in an even layer.
15. Add final layer of cake on top and ice the outside of the cake with remaining icing.
16. Finish cake off with chopped Oreos and crumbs, if desired.

Cake made by Annette Harkness. So sad she was unable to make it to our luncheon.

I feel so blessed and really enjoy my friendship with my girl friends we call the Lunch Bunch. 

We have traveled together, we take Institute together, we do summer swim parties all summer long together, we cry together. We cheer each other on.

Crepes for lunch with the ladies. March 7 2016

 A little Easter Table Setting

 I made Macaroons for everyone. Thanks to Jackie for the wonderful class she taught. 

 My sweet friend Lynette made this for me last year for my birthday and I love it. The little black doll is a reminder of the black doll we got while serving our missions together. 

Rachel making her Crepe

While in Cabo we went to Senor Sweets a few time for Crepes and Gelato so we decided to have a ladies luncheon and make them our self.  Here is Jackie's recipe for the Crepes.

4 Large Eggs

1 1/2 cup Milk

2 T Oil or melted Butter 

1 Cup Flour

1/2 tsp Salt

In a blender, mix the above ingredients until smooth. 

Cover and let sit at least half and hour, or put in refrigerator and keep overnight.

This keeps them from being bubbly and full of holes when cooked.

Heat a 8 or 10" non-stick frying pan and spray with Pam. 

Pour about 1/3 C. batter into pan and swirl around.

Cook until dry on the top.

The first one often sticks a little, just throw it away. 

Butter each one a little if your are stacking them.

Serve as desired. 

Provo Temple my favorite temple

President Gordon B Hinckley: “Imagine how our families, let alone the world, would change if we vowed to keep faith with one another, strengthen one another, look for and accentuate the virtues in one another, and speak graciously concerning one another. Imagine the cumulative effect if we treated each other with respect and acceptance, if we willingly provided support. Such interactions practiced on a small scale would surely have a rippling effect throughout our homes and communities and eventually, society.”

February 13, 2016 

Baby Sitting

Jessie and Jason went to Las Vegas before Owen was born. Just to get away. I watched the kids for three days. It was a beautiful week and we went to the park a few times. They loved it and so did I