Sunday walk in the Forest!

Since church was canceled on Sunday, we decided to go on a walk in the forest and take some family pictures. I was hoping to get one for Christmas cards, but I'm not sure if any will work. It was a beautiful day and we had a lot of fun! I am so grateful for this beautiful world!!

The drive to the forest.

Tia giving me the attitude look!

I am so grateful to be a mother!

I am so grateful for my wonderful family!

The Road Home

When we were looking for a home, we were considering 3 homes, all on the same street. There was something about the street that made it feel like home. I love this street throughout the year, but my favorite time is fall and the first snow! I thought I'd share a few pictures of it's fall beauty. I am so thankful that so many people left their front yards to be forest.

A few pictures of the yard. Do you think I need to rake?

The farm at the end of the road!

I love Fall!!!!

Movie & Drive

While the girls were out of school we went to see, "Where the Wild Things are." I give it an okay rating. We left early to the theater so I could take some pictures of the beauty around us! The girls get excited about the beautiful colors and we had a fun day!

For my friends that I keep trying to get to move out here - - This beautiful old home that has been updated and it is for sale!! You would be in my school and my ward! It sits on 2.8 acres, has the above barn and private pond, garage with studio above it and is so pretty!!!

Come on out and go for a drive with us!!

Rosemary Focaccia Bread & Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo

Larisa asked me what we were having for dinner. I told her Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo and Rosemary Focaccia Bread. She hugged me and them jumped up and down!! I think she likes it!
This bread Recipe is when I became truly in love with Our Best Bites blog! I think it is one of my favorite post!! We love the bread and it is simple to make!

Rosemary Focaccia Bread
from our Best Bites

1 c. warm (105-115 degrees Fahrenheit) water

1 Tbsp. yeast

1 Tbsp. white sugar

1 tsp. Kosher salt, plus more for sprinkling

2 Tbsp. butter, divided

2 Tbsp. crushed dry rosemary

2 1/4-2 1/2 c. all-purpose flour

In a large mixing bowl, combine warm water, yeast, and sugar. Allow to stand for 10 minutes or until bubbly. While the yeast is getting bubbly, combine 2 C of the flour, salt, 1 Tbsp. rosemary.

Add flour mixture to yeast mixture along with 1 Tbsp. melted butter. Mix well. (I put it in my stand mixer with the dough hook on). Slowly add remaining flour to make a very soft dough--try and resist the urge to add too much flour. You probably won't use the entire extra 1/2 c. of flour. I usually only use about 1/4 cup. You want a soft, wet dough.

Cover and allow to rise 1 hour.

Lightly flour work surface and transfer dough onto this surface. Divide in half. Shape each half into a round loaf and place on a greased cookie sheet or pizza stone. Cover and allow to rise another 45 minutes.

Heat oven to 375 degrees. Melt remaining tablespoon of butter and mix with remaining tablespoon of rosemary. Brush on loaves and sprinkle lightly with Kosher salt.

Bake for 15-20 minutes or until very lightly golden-brown. Serve immediately (if you can) with olive oil and balsamic vinegar (if you want) and feel your butt get bigger (you will. It just happens. And it's worth it.)

Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo

8 ox Cream Cheese (cut in bits)
3/4 cup Parmesan Cheese
1/2 cup Butter
1/2 cup milk
(I triple the milk to 1 1/2 cup, it's too thick for me otherwise)
8 ounces Fettuccine: cook and drain
2 chicken breast grilled and sliced

In large sauce pan combine cream cheese, Parmesan, butter and milk, stirring constantly until smooth. Toss pasta lightly with sauce, coating well. Top with sliced grilled chicken!

*Warning - this is NOT fat Free!!!
** If you live by me I buy my chicken breast grilled, cut up and frozen at E & S. It is inexpensive and really yummy!

Maple Glazed Salmon & Curly Noodles

I love Salmon! I could eat it several times a week. Larisa does not share the same affection. I always hear a moan when I make it! She would always eat it an this is the way she likes it best. She would eat it and say, "I usually don't like Salmon, but this time I do." The next time I would make it should we groan again. The other day I made it and she was so disappointed. I told her that I would make her favorite. "Curly noodles", to go with it! She was happy! So I guess this recipe is more for Tiana!!

Maple Glazed Salmon
1/4 cup maple syrup
2 T Soy Sauce
1 clove garlic, minced
1/4 t garlic salt
1/8 tsp ground pepper
1 lb salmon
(*I can't afford the nice fresh Salmon, I used the bagged individual portions- they are pretty yummy!)

Put all ingredients in Tupperware and then add the Salmon. Cover the Salmon and let sit in the fridge for 10 minutes! Then either bake in oven at 400 for 20 minutes(Or until flakes apart) or I grill it in my Foreman grill.

Curly Noodles
This is for you Larisa!!

Vegetable Curly Noodles ( I put in a handful per person)
2 TBS Butter
Grated Parmesan Cheese

Bring a pot of water to a boil and add noodles. Cook until tender. Drain. In empty pot melt butter. Take off heat and add warm noodles. Sprinkle Parmesan cheese. I know it's easy, but the girls love it!

New Chandelier

We never liked the small little light above our kitchen table. I wanted a chandelier that I could drape garland in! So for my birthday we found this on sale. It looks a lot better and we swagged it over so that we could move the table over and make our kitchen a little bigger. Of course, my favorite part is the garland I can change all year!!

Halloween Decorations!

Growing up my mom enjoyed the fun part of Halloween, but has strong feeling about the scary part of Halloween. She likes to dress up and enjoys her children and grandchildren on the day, but she likes to keep the scary things away!! I adapted the same philosophy, (Although I love going to a good haunted house!) Most of my decorations are fall instead of Halloween, and the Halloween things are cute, like this cute little witch! Well...

Chris has always thought it would be fun to do a little spooky alley or other similar ideas. Well the other day I could hear the girls in the other room say, "Ohhhh, Dad you are going to be in BIG trouble!!" I notices these lovely pictures by the stairs!

They look like old photos, but when you walk by their faces change to scary faces!! I actually think they are pretty fun, heck - on Sunday I can take them down!!