Table talk, TV talk

Table Talk

I have been in the mood for these little leafy greens lately. I made them tonight sauteing in garlic, butter and balsamic vinegar but it wasn't to my liking. Anyone have a good tried and true recipe for these cute little cabbages?

TV Talk

Who is excited for the season premiere?!! I am looking forward to some deep conversations through out the season with all you other fans....sound good?


Table Talk
Missionaries.... tomorrow evening. What to feed? Suggestions? I'm thinking taco bar or Hawaiian haystacks....if you were a missionary, what would you want?

TV Talk
John and Kate plus 8. Watch it if you haven't! I about love those little kids more than my own. And the parents are hilarious. Mondays at 9/8 central.

Table Talk
Conversation between Leah and me the other day as we were eating breakfast. It really doesn't have much to do with breakfast, its just when it took place.
Leah "Mom, you aren't the beast are you?" (feeling the hair that needs to be trimmed on the back of my neck)
Me: "No, why?"
Leah: "Okay, you can be the beast today."
Me: "What, why?"
Leah: " Because you are growing fur."

We go together like Ham and Beans

Sometimes there is nothing like a good old pot of ham and bean soup. Easy and hearty and I always have beans in my cupboards ready for the job.

2 cups white beans
2 cups ham
2 quarts water
1 onion chopped
2 tsp salt

Cook above on low in slow cooker for at least 4 hours then add

3 celery stalks chopped
3 carrots chopped
3 potatoes chopped
1 tsp sugar
1 tsp paprika
1/2 tsp garlic powder
cook another hour 2 on low till veggies are tender.

Eat with garlic bread and finish off with these;

Black Forest Cookies

2 c flour
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp soda
1/2 c. cocoa
1 jar maraschino cherries chopped
1/2 c. shortening
1 c sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup juice reserved from cherry jar or milk

Mix wet ingredients. Add dry ingredients and blend well. spoon onto cookie sheet and bake on 375 for 7 min. Remove and put half a large marsh mellow on each cookie and return to oven for 1 more minute.
I usually double the recipe since they are so delish!

Ashers got moves too...

This boy can move. He is seriously hilarious when he is in the mood to dance. Leah kind of steals his glory but he doesnt seem to mind. Gotta love the time between dinner and bedtime and the hours to kill.....

I have also decided I need to use my video camera more....it hasnt seen the light of day since Leah was about 3 months old. And video mode on both of our cameras stinks. We shall see if that happens...maybe Paul can video baby M's birth....HA!

And one more thing....Jerseys! ugh and gross! I ban Paul from wearing them in public so he is all about them at home. Im just helping them stay nicer longer since they cost so darn much! But Paul doesnt see that. Silly men.

Boys vs. Girls

Thank you Martin Luther King for giving my husband the day off. We decided to use it bowling. One very good thing about military bases is there is usually good bowling alleys for cheap. Too bad the boys won. Leah and I couldn't even break 100. And now I know how to start the labor process for this babe....bowl a strike! We finished off the day with a trip to the grocery store when we were all hungry, making Janel's creamy pesto for dinner and Klondike sundae cones for dessert. A very good day!

I lost my poor meatball....

Dinner. What we will be having tonight. Thanks for the meal sharings Crystal.

Sweet N Sour Meatballs.

1 pound hamburger
1 packet dry onion soup
1 beaten egg
2 TBS milk
1 or 2 slices of bread broken into little bits
salt and pepper and whatever other spices you'd like.

Mix together well and shape into little balls. Brown either in the oven or a skillet till juices run clear. Drain fat off.
In large saucepan combine a jar of chili sauce and a jar of grape jelly. Stir till melted and add the meatballs. Simmer simmer simmer till hot and bubbly.
Serve over rice. I like to serve with green beans sauteed in garlic and soy sauce.

Speaking of rice....it took me a good long while to master the skills of cooking it. One day as I had just fixed a pot of goopy sticky rice my husband (having served a south American mission) taught me how to do it. Works like a charm. Better than my rice cooker I think.
In case you were wondering...
Double the water to rice ratio adding an extra tablespoon of water.
Clove of garlic cracked or slice of onion
Salt salt salt
And a good swish of olive oil
Bring to a boil uncovered, then cover and turn heat to low and don't touch a thing until water is evaporated. (my problem was checking it all the time)
of course if you are making sweet rice don't add the garlic.

Bailar Salsa!!

Salsa dancing is a regular fancy in this home. I went to Walmart for an hour today and left Paul with the kids dancing. Upon returning they had learned some sweet new moves! Watch for the flips and booty shakes at the end....hilarious!

p.s. That horrid dress Leah has to wear just about everyday! She has 11 princess dresses (that I paid good money for) to choose from, but goes for the D.I. special. Interesting.

hmmm...

Since it is Sunday evening and Paul is at work, I have nothing to do except ignore my kids while I show you all how lovely I look.
I have 8 darn more weeks to go!!! Baby #3 has really done me in. I am huge and feel it. Today was our first Sunday back in our ward and I pretty much shocked people with this great belly. It was so fun to hear people ask if I was due soon, like at the end of this month....ha!
We are back in our routine here. The kids are sleeping naps and nightime in their beds...for the most part, my cupboards are stocked with food that we shouldnt eat but do, and Leah and her boyfriend Johnny have once again rekindled their old flame. Cute.
I am scheduled to see a good doctor to finish out this pregnancy so that is a bit of a relief and thats about it.
*same shirt as last preg pic and must say...its a bit stretched.*

The last 6 months for Paul

Really it went by super fast. Now its back to the same old grind. Paul is still stationed to the Enterprise for another year but they don't go to sea again. Good stuff. He didn't take many pictures from this cruise since A, he is a boy and B, they didn't see many ports. The pictures above are from France and Dubai. He would stay out in town when they pulled into ports. Don't look to close at the beach pictures...you might see more skin than you like. And the fam pic is the night before he left. I'm cracking up at it cause we all look goofy. Anyone care for some snails?

What I am into...

• Apple juice. I'm not much of a juice fan but lately good old apple juice has tasted sooo good.
• Peachy Rings. These are my kids' fav. I ate the whole huge bag the other day by myself and have been craving more!!!
• Body Butter. Particularly The Body Shops. This stuff makes my skin soft all day and the smell lasts! I'm the one that smells of Satsuma oranges.
• Stardust. I blogged about this movie a few months ago when it was in the theaters and since I now have it on DVD I have watched it countless times. I LOVE THIS MOVIE!
• My big white mini-van. We have been reunited and guess what?! I love it so. Yes, its ugly but its mine and there is tons of room and I don't have to ask permission to take it anywhere cause its MY car.
• Raisin Bran Crunch. Ate 3 bowls this morning for breakfast. Couldn't stop.
• Nice people. There is a MAJOR difference of people in Utah and Virginia. I miss Utahns.

75 pounds is alot of moolah....

I understand now why people who work for UPS have a good job and make alot of money.
After 3 boxes weighing in around 75 pounds all together, I was only out oh, about 125.00!
It makes it even better because all the stuff I sent back was toys, dress ups, baby clothes and the junk of Christmas....
I should have just bought an extra ticket to fly home for all of our "stuff" since tickets were cheaper than that!
Oh well...lessoned learned. I expect a smiling face to greet me at my door next Wednesday along with my 3 boxes Mr. UPS man.