Cannoli's

Every once in a while I watch a netflix show called "Cake Boss". On one of the shows, the bakery made cannolis for a customer appreciation day. They looked so yummy, and since then I have always wanted to make and try them.

I am the proud new owner of a pizzelle (Italian waffle cookie) iron. Last night my brother and I made some cannolis shells. We had a little left over whip cream in the fridge, so we modified it, and filled a few shells. I must say, all my dreams came true! I changed the recipe I had, so below are some pictures of a gingerbread type of cannoli.
The batter:
The Press:
The finished pizzlles and cannoli shells:
Today I am going make some filling. :) You don't have to have a pizzelle iron to make these cookies. You can use a nonstick skillet, they just don't have the pretty design. . . .

If anyone wants the recipe, eave a comment, and I will try and post it in a few days.

Hope everyone has a Merry Christmas!

Family Picture Fall 2011

My family traveled to northern Utah back in October, while there my sister took this picture of my family.
I am excited to have a great recent family photo. Thank you Jenny!

Peanut Butter Fingers Recipe

These are the Peanut Butter "Bars" I served at Eliza's first birthday party. They are one of my favorite "quick n easy" treats that will give me a chocolate and peanut butter fix all in one bite. :)
Bars:
1 C. softened butter
1 C. peanut butter
1 C. white sugar
1 C. brown sugar
2 eggs
2 1/2 C. flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1 1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt

Press into a cookie sheet evenly. Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 10 to 15 minutes. Let cool, then spread frosting.

Frosting:
melt 1 stick of butter
1/4 C. cocoa
4-6 T. milk
dash of salt
3 to 4 C. powdered sugar

Melt butter in a bowl, add cocoa and whisk until smooth. Then add milk, salt, and 3 C. of powdered sugar--mix well. Continue to add powdered sugar until desired consistency is reached. Sometimes I add less butter and more milk. . . .

Enjoy! Hope everyone is having a wonderful fall!

Labor Day Weekend

We went up to my husband's family cabin over Labor Day weekend. We had a lot of fun! We went canoeing on the reservoir. The boys LOVED it! Tucker and my nephew Saxon went together with grandma and uncle Mike.
Then Brycen and Miley went for a ride together. They were both a little disappointed when their ride was over.
The cat tales were really high around the reservoir. When the kids were all done grandma Nay watched Eliza for me and I went for a canoe ride, but we forgot to take a picture as evidence. You'll have to take my word for it. It was gorgeous.

After canoeing, we played with cat tails. Tucker discovered that if you hold the slender end and start swinging the cat tail around, eventually it will fall off and go flying somewhere. He was very exited and entertained for a long time. Cat tails are so pretty to look at and so fun to play with!

A year of JOY!

This post was supposed to happen a couple of weeks ago, but life has been crazy, so here it is:

Eliza had her first birthday! I can't believe she is already one. I have to keep reminding myself that she is a whole year old. I have been so grateful for everyday we have been blessed to share together on this earth! I don't know what I would have done this last year without her. I think the good Lord knew I needed an angel to help me through everything I have been through this year, and this little lady has just smiled and slobbered (baby kissed) me every time I needed it.
Her first birthday dinner was spent at the new local splash pad with all of her cousins. We made homemade pizza on our little propane grill, and it was so fun! Eliza loved crawling around the kids picnic sheet and snatching other people's pizza, and we let her because she was the birthday girl.
For her cake I decided to make peanut butter bars, because they were a very mobile treat for all the kids to run around with. Due to the amount of peanut butter bars the children consumed, I am sure they were a hit. (I'll have to remember that for future park parties.) Well, there are a couple snapshots to remember the day. . . .
I am so lucky to have this little angel in my home. :) I love my boys a whole bunch, but she is such a little sweetheart, and I love getting to do her hair everyday. Girls are so fun when they are little. I'll have to keep you posted as to how much "fun" my girl is as she grows up.

Fifty-two weeks ago today

Dear friends and family,
Tomorrow is the one year anniversary of my accident. It has been a rather emotional day for me. Through out the day I have been looking at my watch and thinking, "At this time last year, I was _____(fill in what I was going through)____".

Life is good. I feel so blessed everyday to still have every thing that was left of my hand that day. I know that the only reason why I had such a great outcome from a horrible experience was from all the prayers and faith in my behalf during that time. So, I just wanted to say,

THANK YOU!

Thank you for all your prayers. Thank you to everyone who brought my family food. Thank you to everyone who stopped by for a visit. Thank you to everyone who watched my busy little boys for me so I could rest. Thank you to everyone who sent me something in the mail. Thank you to everyone who took time out of your day to take me grocery shopping or to a medical appointment. Thank you to everyone who stopped by to help me wash dishes, clean floors, fold laundry or do other house hold chores that I was struggling with. Thank you to my oldest sister who did all of this and more. I don't know what i would have done without her. She basically had three more children and a baby added to her family while she was pregnant and she helped me immensely. Thank you to my mother-in-law who slept at my house or came over at all hours of the night to help with my baby for those first few weeks, until I figured out how to do things one handed. Thank you to my darling husband who stayed by me through the whole experience and helped me with anything and everything I needed. He also was always there to reassure me when I was worried and held me when I needed him to. I am so grateful he did not leave my side that first week. Thank you to my little brother who did come spend a night with me when I was in the hospital so my sweetheart could have a short rest. I know that was hard too.
Most of all, Thank you to everyone for helping me with a smile on your face. I am sure it was very inconvenient at times to come and help me, but no one ever made me feel like I was inconveniencing them in any way. Thank you for helping me see the light throughout a dark situation. I love you all and am so grateful to have all the friends and family that I have.
Hugs and Kisses,
Sara

Blender Giveaway

I have a Vita Mix Blender and I love it! I have been using it a lot whilst making and consuming raw foods. On Fab Frugal Foods, they are giving away a Blend Tech Blender, which is a competitor to the Vita Mix. Check it out here if you are interested.

Carrot Juice

It has been so long since I have blogged I keep waiting for something I can post with pictures, but I am not going to wait anymore. I have done a lot of fun things this summer, all without a camera. Sorry.

I have been trying out some raw foods and I've been juicing stuff. . . Today I juiced carrot juice and I was surprised at how sweet carrot juice is. It is as sweet as apple juice! I recommend trying it, if you haven't yet.

A two year old's discovery

I have been. . . kind of potty training my two year old. Yesterday he was sitting on the toilet to go to the bathroom. He started feeling his bottom, then he gasped and said;

"Mom! There is a hole in my bum!"

I took a few minutes to explain a little bit about digestion and human anatomy. . . with a smile. He is still pretty amazed that he has a hole in his bottom.

Instructions to a four year old/Lesson learned

I have several herbs planted throughout my yard.

Under my fig tree, I have some peppermint, spearmint, and some dill. (Three very hearty herbs that could take over an entire planter area.)

Okay, so today we were working under the fig tree and this is a small conversation Brycen and I had,

B: "Ooooooh! I found a worm! I'm gonna squish it!"

M: "Sweetheart, worms are really good for the soil. Maybe you you should put it on the dill plant instead."

B: "Oh. Okay mom, I will."

Two minutes pass, I look over to check on him, and he is still trying to balance the worm on a small limb of the dill plant. He was literally trying to put in ON the plant.

M: "Oh, Brycen, when I said to put it "On" the ploant, I meant to put in on the dirt under the plant. This way it can aerate the soil under the dill plant."

B: "Oh. Okay, I think that would be easier mom."

Lesson learned--I need to be more careful/specific with instructions I give to my little ones. Sometimes, they do EXACTLY what I tell them to.

Our first Graduate

I have been doing a Preschool Coop. with a few other moms throughout this year.

Our year successfully ended yesterday. Our kids have had fun learning the alphabet. They have done everything from make bumble bees and pinatas, planting seeds and watching them grow, making letters out of all kinds of things, to hike the Hurricane Canal and fly to the moon in a homemade spaceship. It has been a fun-filled and eventful year.

I am so proud of my little graduate, and he is really looking forward to attending "the big school" this fall.