Thursday, November 11, 2010

Embrace the Camera: November 11th 2010


I'm changing it up a bit.  I'm letting "Crazy Gram" get in on the action.  That's right, I said "Crazy Gram".
I know what you're thinking...
"Does her mother-in-law know they call her that?"  
Yes, yes she does.  
Not only does she know we call her that but I believe she secretly embraces it. ha.
For real though, Diana is crazy about her Grand kids and I gather that the feeling is mutual.
My MIL and Aaron.
My MIL with Ty, my niece Hayden, and Aaron.

We all have a little crazy in us right?  Why not embrace it?  
Click here to link up with fellow embracers.

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Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Add a little Hip Hop to Your Day!

Ummm...I'm not quite sure where these kids got their dance genes. It is certainly not from me and it is most definitely not from Jeremy. {Sorry Honey} Yet here they are spontaneously getting down with their little selves.   I LOVE IT!!!

Freakin' Fantastic!!!

Corn Chowder

One of my main staples in the cold months.  I love this dish!  I tweak it often depending on my mood.  You can even make it in the morning and put it in the crock pot so it's all ready for dinner.
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Ingredients:
5 slices chopped bacon
1 medium diced onion
1 Poblano or red pepper, diced
2-3 medium celery stalks, chopped
about 2 cups sliced carrots
2 cloves chopped garlic {optional}
1-16 oz. bag frozen sweet white corn
3 cups milk
2 cups chicken broth
4 largish potatoes, cut into bit sized pieces
1-2 tsp salt {to taste}
1/2- 1 tsp pepper {to taste}
1 tbsp butter
A generous handful of cheddar cheese {you can really use whatever you have on hand.}

Directions:
I like to do this all in one pot to save on dishes.  Chop and prepare all you veggies.  Heat a large soup pot on medium high heat.  add chopped bacon and cook until crispy.  Remove bacon and set aside on a paper towel.  Add butter, onions, peppers, and celery.  Cook until tender.  Add carrots and garlic, cook until fragrant.  Add potatoes, milk and broth; bring to a boil.  Cook until carrots and potatoes are tender.  Add salt, pepper, and corn.  To thicken, remove about 2 cups of the veggies with a slotted spoon and puree with the handful of cheese until smooth.  Return puree to the pot stir in the bacon.  Salt and pepper to taste.  Ladle into bowls and garnish with cheese.  mmm mmm good.

*add in options*
2 cooked shredded chicken breasts
1-4 oz. can diced green chillies
a couple of diced stewed tomatoes
a few jalapenos
a splash of lime with some fresh cilantro
Come up with your own twist and let me know!  I'm always up for something new.  =)

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Back scratch fevah

buh bu buhm...
These boys LOVE getting their back scratched.  They really get into it.



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Thursday, November 4, 2010

Embrace the Camera: November 4th, 2010

I simply had to say, "What's up with Ty's face?" Cool guy police man? Crazy 4 year old?  Not really sure.  I thought it was funny anyway, so I included a couple more. 



Here we are on Halloween night.  At least I got a different smile out of Ty for this one. 

Link up with fellow embracers here.

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Baked Beans

My baked beans are famous round these parts.  At any family BBQ it's a given that I will be asked to bring the beans.  I am the "bean girl".  Yes, they are scrumptious. Yes, everyone loves them.  Oh, and yes, they are quite simple to make. 

 *this recipe will feed about 15 people you can add more or less depending on your crowd.  Also, I don't really ever measure anything and they always turn out fine.  approximate and add your own twists...it's all good!*

Ingredients: 
2-28 oz.cans Bush's Baked beans {any variety will do, just make sure it's Bush's!}
1 large onion chopped
1 red bell pepper chopped
2 cloves chopped garlic
1-4 oz. can diced green chilies {a little Jalapeno too if you like the heat}
6-8 strips crispy bacon
1/2 cup Brown sugar
1/4 cup ketchup
2 Tbsp maple syrup
a small squirt of mustard
a few squirts of BBQ sauce
a dash of Cayenne pepper {more or less to taste}
a little salt and pepper

Directions:
I like to do this all in one pan, {saves on clean up} so if you have a good heavy cast iron pan, use it!  Heat up your big and heavy sauce pan. 
Cook your bacon until it is good and crispy.  Remove bacon and set aside on a paper towel.
Add the onions chilies and peppers. Cook until softened.  Then add garlic and cook until fragrant.
Go back to your bacon and make sure it's cool, then crumble it back into the pan.
Add the rest of your stuff.  Stir until combined.
Simmer on low for a few hours with the lid on, or bake it covered at around 300 for a couple hours.  You wanna be sure to keep the heat low so your beans don't "pop". 
Last but not least, bring 'em to your partay and watch 'em disappear!

*warning! You too may be type cast into being the "bean girl" and having to bring these to every summer BBQ for the rest of your life.  If this happens, pass out the recipe!*

Monday, November 1, 2010

A Happy Halloween Story

Well, Halloween was a great success this weekend.  The weather cooperated, no one got sick and we all had a great time.  Ty dressed up as a SWAT policeman and Aaron dressed up as a knight in shining armor.

Saturday we went to Fairytale Town and a fun little event called "Boo at the Zoo" which was great.  There was only about a billion people there, but the excitement was worth it. 

Aaron got into a sword fight with a kid dressed as the "red knight".  
Down down down...red knight going down!  {Sorry, it's from Cable Guy sometimes I can't help myself.}
Ty ran into some fellow officers and quickly proclaimed that his "bonker" {AKA night stick} was bigger than theirs.
The boys defending King Arther's Castle...they are mighty serious!


Good ol' Family pic
Aaron being cheesy.

Ty as a coachman

Here's Ty comparing "bonkers" and chatting with the po po.

The creepy carousel

The spooky train ride

This next photo was by far the highlight of the weekend.  The boys were so delighted passing out candy, we were powerless to stop them until the last of the trick-or-treaters came around {luckily that was around 8:45}.  They were yelling out into the street for people to come to their house because they still had lots of candy to "sale".  They obviously did not ask for any money, {my kinda sale!}  and they were mighty generous!  They also would yell out that if you came to their house, they would scare you...and they did.  =)
The best candy passer outers ever!

We are all in a bit of a candy coma today, but had a happy Halloween! Hope everyone else had a happy one too!