Thanksgiving Table

We took Thanksgiving to Mom this year.  We were so lucky to have Barry, Sandi, Chelsea, Grant and Sandi’s dad with us for dinner.  What a fun day.  Jordan helped me with the table settings and I think they turned out so great.  I will add a post tomorrow that show how we took the place settings for Thanksgiving and recycled them into Christmas wrappings.  All from a two minute stop along the side of the road gathering a bag of leaves.  Free and so pretty.

 

It’s Been Too Long and Some Great News!!!!

It has been over a month since I last posted anything.  There has been so much going on and at the end of the day when I pull out my computer to blog, I have been so exhausted that the creative juices have dried up completely.  For something that has been such an outlet for me for some time now,it just seemed so overwhelming. 

But I realized how much I have enjoyed posting my thoughts and recipes and if for no othe reason than the feeling of accomplishment for myself, I need to start again.  I have a major personality flaw ( not just one) and that is if I can’t do it all the way, I don’t do it at all.  This will be a great learning lesson of me to do this as I can.

Well enough about my flaws and a little more about the things that have kept me from my blog

I HAVE A WEDDING COMING!!!!!!

Jace is engaged and is getting married January 4th, so we have been a little busy getting ready.  He is marrying Krystal Brown.  They dated last year for awhile and then broke up in June.  They talked on and off over the summer and then Jace called me while I was in DC for work in October and said that he had been to see her and he would be crazy to let her go.  He said she was everything he wanted in a wife.  They were engaged a month later.  It has been somewhat of a whirlwind since.

This is Quin.  Jace has always wanted to propose with a puopy and this is her dream dog.  He is a mini aussie.  I am not sure this was well thought out, as they do not have a place to live yet and will be married in a month with 4 horses and a puppy.  They will not be able to have your basic apartment with that crew.  He is so cute and of course is living with us until the wedding.  We get the honors of potty training!!!! 

Once Jace decided this was right, like everything else, it had to happen now.  He purchased a puppy, bought a ring (with the help of his sisters) and proposed in a week’s time.  I was getting my Relief Society lesson November 4th and he came downstairs and said I can’t wait, I want to do it today.  Can you help me figure out how to do it?  Not something to tell me right before my lesson.

So Jordan and I helped him come up with something real quick and between that and wearing control top tights for the first time, I almost passed out giving my lesson.

We made a big sign saying Mini Aussie’s for Sale and put it out in front of my mom’s house in Morgan.  Then Jace asked Krystal to ocme up with him and meet grandma.

Rod was there staying at mom’s for the weekend and we hurried up and gave him a quick lesson on aussies as he was to pose as the breeder.

On thier way up to Morgan, Jordan called Jace and told him that she had seen a sign for puppies and  theywere the dogs that Krystal liked.  So they stopped at mom’s, Krystal just thinking they were stopping to look at puppies.

Dave, Kallie, Jordan and I were hiding in the upstairs loft with a video camera.  They came to the door and asked to see the puppies and Rod TRIED to act like a knowledgeable breeder.  It was so funny.  He did fairly well until Krystal asked how big the parents were and since that was not something we had discussed he was stumped.  He mumbled a few things and then said “crud”  It was about then, that Krytal noticed the diamond around Quin’s neck. 

It was pretty cute.   It was fun having Rod, Reagan and grandma there to be apart of it.

I will post the video as soon as I can figure it out.  I will also post some of the engagement pictures they just had done.  So cute.

We have alot to do in short time, especially with Christmas, in fact I should be typing address labels as we speak but wanted to post this first. I will post a recipe a little later today and try to get back in the swing of things.

 

My Other Dream!! including crepes and shower decorations

You know my dream of a food truck and owning a barn for barn weddings?  Well there are several more–some include dancing, playing the piano well, tennis, running a marathon and being an event planner.  Not just weddings in a barn, but showers, birthday parties, you get the picture.  Jordan and I love planning parties and usually are the first to say “we’ll do it” and then much time and money later are asking ourselves “why” 

Well of course we offered to give Jamie (my nephew Brighton’s fiancee) a wedding shower.   Her wedding is very vintage so we tried to go that way with the shower, which is great because that is what we love also. 

Of course I went a little out of control and Jordan had to rein me in on several occassions., she is really good at telling me when I have gone over the edge.  When Dave was hauling all the stuff up for us the night before, he started questioning some of things I wanted him to take, mainly the fairly heavy old door from Jordan’s room.  He stopped himself, I am sure realizing he would get no where, and just said, Well of course we will move the door from Jordan’s room, where it does nothing nor opens anything and move it over to Heidi’s where it will also do nothing nor open anything there as well.”  I answered “Now you’re getting it!!”

  It was great fun planning and decoratingl  Here are a few of the highlights including invitations, deoorations and menu.

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I changed the menu so many times.  We even had a tasting party the Sunday prior to taste all the ideas I had and then everyone voted.  Then when it came down to it, I realized I was trying to make too much food and much of it had to be cooked the morning of the shower. So to keep my life somewhat stress free, I decided to go with crepes.  They are always a hit and do not take alot of work ahead of time.  We did crepes with ice cream, strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, bananas, Nutella, whipped cream and powdered sugar.

We made OJ cooler of the drink–equal parts orange juice and sprite with some fresh lime juice.  We used cut up oranges and limes in the drink holder and the glasses.  Old mason jars were used for the glasses with the fun striped straws.

For a take home gift we made “Better than Sex Cake” in half pint jars.  Jordan made these the night before and they are even better the next day.

To make these we baked chocolate cake in a jelly roll pan.  Using a glass, we cut the cake in circles.  Put one cake round in the bottom of the jar.  Drizzle caramel ice cream topping on the cake.  Sprinkle with toffee bits.  Then add a layer of cool whip.  Repeat.  We tied them with twine and added a spoon.  Next time I would not do the colored spoons, but something more neutral.  They were a little too much when stacked together in the basket.

My mother in law sisters came and were so thrilled with the cakes.  When Aunt Carolyn went to leave, she came running back and said, “I forgot my sexy cake”  She then took another one and said “Now Wayne and I can have our Sex tonight”  It was so funny coming from Carolyn

Then when Jamie was opening some lingerie from Tiana, Carolyn said ” I went into Jack and Jills once because I thought it was a children’s clothing store.  I looked around and said, What is all of this????”  Aunt Ruth said “well what was it” and Carolyn answered “naughty stuff, very naughty stuff.” I thought everyone was going to die laughing.  It was a fun day.

Here is my crepe recipe

1 cup flour

1 1/3 cups milk

2 eggs room temperature

2 TBS butter melted

2 TBS sugar

Wisk flour and milk together,  Add eggs, butter and sugar..  I use my electic crepe maker.  If  you are going to make alot of crepes, this is the way to go.  I have made them in crepe pans before, and this is so much easier.  cool slighty and then roll them up on a platter.  For a party, make some ahead of time so you do not have people waiting for them.  These are so good.  Put a scoop of ice cream on them. fruit of your choice and then drizzle with Nutella.  Roll them up, add a squirt of whipping cream and sprinkle with powdered sugar. Then enjoy!!!!

 The crepe maker that I use is Tibos.  I purchased it at Williams and Sonoma years ago.  It is a little pricey but works so good.

 

Buttermilk Syrup

 

 

I love this syrup so much. I have used it for years.  Last night I was whipping up a little breakfast dinner to give Jace and Dave while they watched Utah State beat Utah.  What a game. I could not find my recipe book so I googled the recipe.  This is just a little different than my original recipe and I think I like it better.  It is a little darker and richer.  I will post both of them and you can be the judge. I will never go back to store bought syrup again.  This makes everything you put it on taste so much better–even a spoon.  It is fast and amazing.  Prepare to fall in love.

New Favorite Buttermilk Syrup

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups white sugar
• 3/4 cup buttermilk
• 1/2 cup butter
• 2 tablespoons corn syrup
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

 

Directions

1. In a saucepan, stir together the sugar, buttermilk, butter, corn syrup, and baking soda. Bring to a boil, and cook for 7 minutes. Remove from the heat, and stir in the vanilla.

 

ORIGINAL RECIPE

 

1 1/2 cups butter

2 1/4 cups sugar

1 1/2 cups buttermilk

3 tsp vanilla

3 tsp baking soda

Melt butter and then add the sugar and buttermilk.  When it starts to boil, turn down and simmer for 3-4 minutes.  Remove from heat and add the baking soda and vanilla.  Serve warm.  May keep in the refrigerator for up to 2 week.

This seems like almost the exact same recipe, but for some reason it turns out much lighter in color and taste.  Try them both and prepare to see Elvis!!!

I made this syrup last year for Christmas and put it in these very cute jars;  I used the swing top bottles from Specialty Bottles.  Then I had labels printed with

HOMEMADE BUTTERMILK SYRUP

Merry Christmas

The Hill Family

They turned out so cute. I have ordered several different bottles from this company and have been very pleased with all of them.  Last year I made dipping sauce and used a bottle with a screw on lid and ordered thier plastic lid covers.  You just slip them over the lid and then use a blowdryer to shrink the plastic.  Makes for a very professional looking bottle.  The only problem is that they look so nice, no one believes you made them.

 

The Jungle Room

 

As I was writing my last post about the beer bread and how I had tasted it for the first time on our honeymoon, I was reminded about a very embarrassing moment in our early marriage.  For some reason this came rushing back when I was writing this post.

It was our anniversary and money was a little tight and we had 3 small children.  We wanted to spend the night at the Anniversary Inn in Salt Lake but I just could not spend that kind of money for one night and we also did not want to leave the kids.

I looked up the rooms that were available to stay in and thought I would really surprise Dave and fix our room up to look just like the jungle safari room at the Inn.  I had all kinds of fake vines and branches tied to the bed posts, strung with little lights.  I had taken the kids stuffed animals and they were perched in the trees. I even had bunches of bananas tied to the trees.

As a special surprise, I had bought some leopard lingerie that was hanging from the branches.  It turned out so cute. 

My mother in law was in town with some of her “older ” friends fromHalfway Oregon and they stopped by to visit.  She of course wanted to take them on a tour of our house, which was her old house, and show them how I had fixed it up. I took her aside and told her she was welcome to show them the house, but please don’t go in the bedroom.

Well after a few minutes, back came 3 giggling  women, one was bright red with embarrassement ( not as red as I was though).   Texie said ” I just thought it was because your bed wasn’t made!!!!!!.  It wouldn’t have been so bad if she had not seen the leopard teddy hanging from the vines.

Bad part was, we didn’t even get to use it.  The kids were so thrilled with the jungle room, that they slept in it and Dave and I slept in the twin beds in their room.  Some things you just don’t want your mother in law to see.  Not sure why I remembered this tonight. This is how Dave responded to sleeping in the kid’s room!!!

I look back and remember all of the creative ways I surprised Dave for anniveraries, birthdays, etc and have such wonderful memories. I don’t know why I stopped doing those things, but they are so important,  Inee d to focus more on him and making him feel as if he is the most important person in my life–he is, but does he know it

I am always in such a hurry  and so wore out from work and taking care of mom, etc., that I forget to put the time into our relationship that I should.  He is always there and always so loving to me, and I don’t always recipricate.  I am going to make this the priority that it should be.  Not many are as lucky as I am to have such a great husband.

 

Katie’s Baby Shower – Lemon Oregano Chicken- Italian Soda Bar

Saturday we gave a shower for my niece Katie. It was a wonderful day and so good to see all of the cousins together.  What a great family I have.  Sharon and I did the food and I would like to post a few of the recipes we used.  We did orange rolls, do it yourself salad bar and an italian soda bar.  It was all amazing.  Sharon did the salad bar and I did the orange rolls and the italian soda bar.  Sharon used the most amazing marinated chicken for the salad bar.  I had Jamie ( Brett’s Jamie) email me the recipe that day and made my first batch as soon as I got home.  So this recipe comes from her.  It is so amazingly juicy and flavorful. I love it.

Lemon Oregano Chicken

3 lbs. boneless chicken breasts

3/4 cup oil

1/2 cup lemon juice

1 TB. oregano

1 TB salt

3 tsp. garlic powder

3 tsp. pepper

Place all ingredients in a ziplock bag and marinate overnight.

Grill chicken breasts until not pink inside.  Do not overcook.

 I made a double batch and the sliced them, freezing them in smaller batches.  These are great alone or on salads, pastas, just about anything you can think of.  Thanks Jamie

Sharon had all kinds of ingredients in small bowls for everyone to build their own salad.  She had the most amazing salad dressing.  It was a fuji apple dressing, that she got at Target. So good and would be great with a chicken and apple salad.  My mouth is watering. thinking about it.

Jordan and I put together an Italian Soda bar and this was a big hit, as everyone could make their own with the flavoring of their choice.

Here’s how you do it.  We purchased the syrup flavorings at Orsen and Gygis ( in Salt Lake City off the 33 south exit).  I also purchased the cute striped straws there.  They have them in about every color imaginable to go with any theme or occassion.  I then made a sign to look like a chalkboard to show how to make the sodas. I did this with one of the thick black project boards and chalk markers (both purchased at Utah Idaho Supply)

You will need:

Syrups in several flavors (I think I had about 7-8 flavors

Ice

Mineral Water

Half and Half

Whipped Cream  ( I just used the canned–much easier)

Great glasses and colored straws

Fill glass with ice. Pour in 2-4 TBs of flavoring. You can mix flavors for a unique combination.  Then fill the glass almost full with the sparkling mineral water.  Add 4 TBs of half and half, stir and then top with plenty of whipped cream.  These were a big hit and really good. I was not sure how they would taste or if they would go over well for a shower, but they were really alot of fun.  This would be great for a kid’s birthday party no matter what the age.

We Andertons know how to party

We also played the cutest game and I hate shower games with a passion. We broke up into groups of about 4. We were given about 5 candy bars that we picked out of a bag, a small poster board, and markers.  We had to come up with advice for Katie for her new role as mother.  There were some really funny ones.  I think my favorite was when your “whatca macallit” heals and your baby sleeps through the night, that will be your “payday” and your chance to “score”!!!!  Who thought my family had it in them.  Another cute one came from my group.  If after breastfeeding, your “Milkduds” elicit “snickers” from Kyle, you can take a “fast break” to the plastic surgeon  for some new “orbits” or have your “bit o honey” buy you a Victoria Secret’s Wonder Bra!!!

This was a real fun game and something so different than the usual.