Well aren't you a Georgia Peach

I guess I should say California peach, if we were to get technical. So excuse me for another post mentioning Bountiful Baskets, but I guess you could say that I am hooked. My mom and I have ordered 2 bountiful baskets so far, it is a CO-OP where you make your order on Monday at 8:00 pm, and them pick it up at designated site and time. It is operating in many western states and towns. Along with the basket(full of high quality fruits and veggies for $15) you can order "add-ons". The first week we added on a box of peaches ($10) and this last week we added on two pumpkins($3.50 each).

A box of peaches, what to do with it? I ate a few, but before they started to ripen too much I decided to peel, pit, slice, and freeze them. When I froze them, I put them in Freezer bags and labeled them for a recipe.




Here are my two favorite peach recipes:

Peach Bread
3 cups sliced fresh peaches
6 TBS sugar
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 TSP baking soda
1/4 TSP salt
1 TSP ground cinnamon
1 1/2 cups sugar
1/2 cups shortening
2 eggs
1 cup finely chopped pecans
1 TSP vanilla extract

Place peaches and 6 TBS sugar in container of electric blender; process until pureed. (Mixture should yield about 2 1/4 cups), Combine flour, baking powder, soda, salt and cinnamon; set aside. Combine 1 1/2 cups sugar and shortening; cream well. Add eggs and mix well. Add peach puree and dry ingredients, mixing until ingredients are moistened. Stir in nits and vanilla. Spoon batter into 2 well greased and floured 9x5x3 inch loaf pans. Bake at 325 degrees for 55-60 minutes or until done. Cool 10 minutes in pan; turn out on rack, and let cool completely.

Quick Peach Cobbler

Filling ingredients:
1 cup sugar
2 TBS cornstarch
1/4 TSP ground nutmeg
4 to 6 medium (4 cups) peaches, peeled and sliced

Cobbler ingredients:
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup sugar, and 2 TBS sugar
1 TSP baking powder
1/4 TSP salt
1/4 cup butter, softened
1 egg, slightly beaten
3 tablespoons milk

Pre-heat oven to 400. Combine sugar, cornstarch, and nutmeg in large bowl and add peaches, toss to coat. Place in an 8 inch square pan.
Stir together flour, 1/4 cup sugar, baking powder and salt in medium bowl. Cut in butter until resembles course crumbs. Stir in egg and milk until moistened. Drop 9 equal portions onto peaches. Sprinkle with remaining 2 TBS sugar. Bake 35-40 minutes until golden and bubbly.

Something new

I love trying new things, there are so many things that I haven't tried that I would definitely give a shot. Like riding in a hot air balloon, running a marathon, planting a garden, eating something made with truffles, sewing a piece of clothing that I would actually wear more than once, and many other things. In the food realm there are a great many experiences that I have not yet have the opportunity to experience. Take for example 2 weeks ago: I ordered my first Bountiful Basket and received a few food items that I had not tried up to that point.

First, honeydew melon. Don't ask me why, but whenever I saw a honeydew in the store, the paleness of the fruit turned me off to the notion of trying it. When I got home after work the saturday that my hubby picked up our basket order, I noticed the pale melon in our basket and thought, I guess I get to try it finally. Let me put it this way, my relationship with Cantelope is a love/hate relationship. Sometimes I love it, sometimes I hate it! My relationship with honeydew now... is ADORE/ADORE! The only questions I have about honeydew now is "When can I eat it again?"

Second, Acorn squash. Spaghetti squash, YUMMO! Butternut squash, delicioso! So I went in search of a good recipe to cook my Acorn squash in, and this is what I found :

Baked Acorn Squash with Brown Sugar and Butter

I'm glad that I tried these new foods, and this past week I received 3 artichokes in the Bountiful Basket... another new food for me. I'm going to make steamed artichoke with aioli to dip it in, here is hoping for another new favorite food.

The ultimate in mischief!

I speak of none other than Brandon, whom I adore... but who also is a very active, curious, and trouble-finding boy! Case in point: He loves to do what we tell him not to do... like jump off the couch.



Luckily we catch him:)
He loves acting bigger than he is, like trying to ride a bike...
And he tuckers himself out with all of his action, from the time he wakes up until he crashes, he is on the go!
We love you Brandon!

Writing recipes

My children see me all the time dealing with recipes, whether it is finding new recipes, planning for a shopping trip, making a meal from a recipe, or organizing recipes onto 3x5 cards. So it came to no surprise to me that Kimball wanted to copy me, it was so darn cute though, I just had to take pictures. He told me that he had a corn cake for me. I asked him where is recipe was, and he told me that he needed to write it down. So I grabbed him a pen and paper and he proceeded to write down his "Corn Cake" recipe......

Here is what we ended up with.....
And (use your imagination) is the finished product.... Corn Cake!
I told him that he had to test his cake before he fed it to anyone else and so he obliged.....

What a cute kid... I love every second with him!

The Eastern Idaho State fair!!!!

We had a BLAST on Labor Day, in Blackfoot, chillin at the fair. We brought Mor-Mor along for the fun, and I think it is safe to say that between the delicious food, the animals, the rides, and the prizes, we all had a blast! The only negative about the experience were the crowds, it is always packed on Labor day... but that is the only day we were all available, go figure. So the pics...

Mor-mor playing darts

Brandon looking around, from the comfort of his stroller

We all fell in love with this black lab puppy, too cute!

See, I told you! This look on Mike's face is "Oh Tiff,
Can we please buy it and take him home?"

Kimball is giving 2 thumbs up on the free ride...
a train of mini cars pulled behind a 4-wheeler.

I can't wait til next year, love it!

Preschool

A friend of mine, Ashley Krieger, had a desire to get started with her daughters education. She played with the idea of putting her into preschool, but ultimately decided to take the matter into her own hands. She started organizing a preschool, for her daughter Katie, and also for the children of some of her friends. Through much discussion and tweeking, via facebook, the Preschool idea has been developed and implemented. Ashley has put so much hard work into her grand idea, she amazes me! The final class roster came down to 6 girls and my Kimball... yup, Kimball is now "a ladies man", in the words of his dad! He loves it though! From his backpack, filled with all the school supplies he needs, to the time away from home to be a big boy, to the friends, the field trips, the activities, the songs, and everything in between, he adores it all.

After a planning meeting of the moms last Sunday night, we started the first week. Monday Aug 30 was the first day, held at Danielle Larsen's house. The theme of the day was "Y for Yellow and colors." Kimball came home singing "The wheels on the bus" and talking about the playdough and his friends. Wednesday Sept 1st, Brandon and I joined all the other moms and kids at the Pocatello Zoo. Here are some pics from that Field trip:

Preschool kids (and Brandon) on the stairs of the
large tree house. Top L-R: Hailey, McKenna, Kimball, and Piper
Bottom L-R: Brandon, Tiaya, and Katie

Looking through the glass at the animals

Brandon strolling around

Climbing the fence for a better look
at the Buffalo

We rotate around through all the moms houses, and Ashley has planned several field trips. My main duties are to watch Konrad, Ashley's little boy, during preschool to free up her time and hands for the preschool kids. Amanda, the twins Piper and Tiaya's mom, and I are in charge of planning the activities to coincide with the different themes for preschool. Other than that, I am there to provide ideas, and my home occasionally, when it comes my turn to host preschool. That, in a nut shell, is Kimball's current schooling experience.

Extreme Fun... Extreme charity!

There was a lot of hype surrounding our community not too long ago. August 18th was a big day for the Marshall-Spreiers family, because they were surprised by Ty Pennington, and the Extreme Makeover Home Edition crew. They had lost their house due to a fire, and their dog had saved their lives by barking, to alert them of the fire. Go here to read more. We really wanted to help, but there was a HUGE response from the community, and they had to turn people away. We were able to purchase the wrist bands being sold to help raise funds for the family.

On saturday the 21st, we decided we wanted to go see the building of their new house in person. Here are the pictures that we took.

Construction worker dancing on roof

Walmart providing Food to workers

Unfinished house

What a blessing to this family, and the Pocatello and surrounding communities! We had fun following the charity in our community, what people were doing to help out. It will be fun to watch this episode in Sep/Oct, when it is aired.

Asparagus Tomato Salad

Did anyone try the Grecian Chicken salad that I posted back in March? I hope someone did, because it is so delicious. I made another one of my favorite recipes the other week, took a picture, and forgot to make a post about it (typical me). I first came across this recipe at the "Taste of Home Cooking School" in May. I decided that I had to try it, and I fell in love (so did my mom). She brought it to every family get together this summer. Without further ado...

Asparagus Tomato Salad

1 pound fresh asparagus, trimmed and cut into 1 inch pieces
1 small zucchini, halved and cut into 1/4 inch slices
1 cup grape or cherry tomatoes
1/4 cup sliced green onions
1/4 cup minced fresh flat leaf (italian) parsley
3 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
1 garlic clove, minced
1/4 teaspoon seasoned salt
1/4 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1/4 cup fresh shredded parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons sunflower kernels, toasted (optional)

Place the asparagus and zucchini in a steamer basket; place in a suacepan over 1 inch of water. Bring to a boil; cover and steam for 2 minutes (3-4 minutes if more tender vegetable desired). Rinse in cold water.

In a large bowl, combine the asparagus, zucchini,tomatoes, onions and parsley.

In a small bowl, whisk the oil, vinegar, garlic, seasoned salt and mustard. Pour over asparagus mixture and toss to coat. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and sunflower kernels if desired. Chill.
Enjoy!

Lately...

What have we been up to lately? A lot of wonderful things, we are trying to send our summer off in style! I should go to bed though, I won't have the energy tomorrow to laugh and play with my beautiful boys if I don't:) So, in brief...

We hosted a family Reunion in Pocatello for the Matusek side. We had Mike's parents and sister here for a few days.

Kimball showing off for Grammy and Grampy on the slip'n'slide

Grammy, Lyss, and Grampy watching the boys swim

Mike working on sack lunches, for our lunch in the park

We took orders through the kitchen window and wrote it on our special board:)

Grampy and Kimball enjoying the pool

Grammy watching the boys, so they don't jump into the creek

Grammy and Grampy walking to the Campfire...
we grilled dogs and had smores!

Kaydien and Brianna were in Pocatello quite a bit this summer. This is a picture taken this last Sunday. We were driving to Rexburg to spend time with Corey and his family. Corey and Mike, Kelvin, Kimball, and Kaydien went camping that night.

I snapped this pic in the car trip to Rexburg,
the boys were obviously tuckered out!

Kimball at the all-boy campout

Kelvin and Kaydien playing

Corey and Kaydien chilling by the campfire

On wednesday of this week, I had Kelvin, Brianna and Kaydien over for a swim party in our backyard. We set up the slip'n'slide on the little hill in the back yard. They zoom down that thing, so fun for them!

We said cookies, and they came running:)

We had a turtle in our pool.

Anyways, it has been a wonderful summer, full of fun and adventure. Now it is time for school to start, with all its busy craziness, I know there will be many sweet moments. Life is short, and I want to enjoy every moment that I have with my children.

This week has been eye opening for me, heart-wrenching. I was reading the paper on Wednesday morning. I never read the obituaries, but I felt like I should this particular morning. The first name that I looked at was "Jaqueline" and immediately I knew who was being referenced. My heart broke and I couldn't hold back the flood of emotions for her. Mike and I, when we were in our last ward, were team teachers in Primary. We had a little girl, Jaqueline, in our class. She was a spit fire, full of energy, so smart, and she participated so well. I never imagined that tragedy would strike, and her life would be ended. She was accidentally choked while playing with her four year old sister. Her mother tried to revive her, but was unable to. My heart breaks for her, just thinking about her trying to bring her little girl back, hoping that her little heart would beat again. I would never be the same, if I had to go through that. Only with my Heavenly Father's and Saviors help, through the Atonement, would I be able to overcome that kind of anguish, that surely Jaqueline's mother is experiencing. I can't imagine losing my husband to cancer, as she did, and then losing my daughter to a tragic accident a few short years later. I pray for comfort for their family, in this their time of suffering and grief.

Last, before I end, I saw this video and I was deeply touched about the message shared. My perspective about my own divine role as a mother was deepened by her perspective on life and motherhood, through all of the trials she has experienced. Go here to watch it.

Book update

I just wanted to do a quick post and let everyone know that I loved "The Scarlet Pimpernel". After the first 2 chapters, I was hooked and couldn't put it down. I finished it 36 hours later. When my sister in-law was here a few weeks ago, I had just finished the book and couldn't stop talking about. it. I still had it checked out from the library, so she borrowed it while she was here and finished it in 2 days time (in between all the planned family reunion activities). It is so different from the movie, and I wish they had followed the book more closely. The ending of the book was completely different from the movie, I thought the books ending was so much better than the movie.

I went to my dad's library to pick out my next few reads. I am reading a book called "Shannon", which is about a shell-shocked WWI veteran who travels the length of the Shannon river in Ireland. He is seeking healing, post war, by returning to his ancestral roots in Ireland. It is good so far. My favorite part is all of my dad's commentary. He writes in all of his books, the thoughts and random facts that come to his mind as he is reading. What he writes makes me think, laugh, and cry... all within the space of a few pages!

I had to put this book down though today, to start "The Help" because I have been waiting on hold for months at the library... gotta read it while I can, right?