I {heart} My Phone.....

I admit it, I'm addicted.  I love my iPhone.  I love it's apps and all it's bells and whistles.  I was hesitant to make the switch over from my Crackberry.  Which don't get me wrong, I do miss it's shy red sleek skin, the little click click noise it makes when I text, the ease of customizing ring tones, and using any song on it as my alarm clock.  But, the iPhone is also equally cool.  It's easy to use, it's cute, and I had to giggle when I noticed how many people were using the scripture app in Sunday School.  With all my Young Womens' garb in my bag it was nice to lighten the load of my bag.  I love using a diet app I downloaded.  Oh, the apps!  So many to pick from.  It's camera rocks.  Love this thing.  Oh, and I was even able to attach the E15 Video) posted below) on it.  Just amazing tech here!

Brown Sugar Baked Bacon

Some of these entries aren't exactly recipes, but techniques on how I prepare food.  Cooking bacon has always been a simple but messy no-brainer, right?  Fry it in a pan, wear long sleeves so you don't burn your arms, cook it until it's crisp, remove from pan and drain on a paper towel.  But tonight, I tried something else for our BLT's and my family all agree they were the best BLT's they've ever had.  I can't guarantee your house won't smell like bacon for days or weeks to come, but this is SO worth it.  And the smell drives the dog wild, lol.

Line a cookie sheet(2) with foil.  I used non-stick, which makes clean up easier too.  Lay bacon out on pan and sprinkle with fresh ground black pepper.  Using a scoop or measuring cup sprinkle sparingly with brown sugar.  You may need to spread it out a little more evenly using your hand.  Don't use your bare-touched-raw-bacon-hand to get more brown sugar if you need more.  Place cookie sheets in COLD oven(I used the bottom and middle racks).  Turn oven on to 400' and set time for 17-20 minutes.  This will all depend on how thick your bacon is.  I used thick cut bacon and had to cook it for a total of 28 minutes.  Switch the sheets half way through(move the bottom sheet to top oven rack, top to bottom, you get the pic) to ensure even baking.  Just watch the bacon closely after 20 minutes to prevent burning.

We all agreed, this is the BEST tasting bacon ever.  Yummmmy!

Tonight we had BL's(no tomatoes, I was out) on Homemade Cheddar Rosemary Onion Ciabatta Bread.  I just added about a Tbl. of dried rosemary, 2 Tbl. Dried Minced Onion, and 1 cup of grated Medium Cheddar Cheese to the dough.  The BASIC recipe for the Ciabatta Bread can be found HERE. 

Oh, and how I ate mine:  I used a low-carb tortilla to make a wrap.  Spread about 2 Tbl. Edemame Pesto(see below, I told you this stuff is a must) on the tortilla, leaving about 2" all around.  Layer bacon, about 1/8th of an avocado sliced, about a 1/4 roma tomato sliced, a little lettuce, salt and pepper to taste, and wrap up like a burrito.  It's not your vintage/classic BLT, but it's GOOD!  (burp)  I figured out these to be about 160 calories!

I know it looks extremely greasy, but the brown sugar actually makes a beautiful glaze for the bacon.

Every 15 Minutes Video

LINK TO VIDEO BY CLICKING HERE

This is the Every 15 Minutes video put together by the students.  This was played at the assembly the next day.  I loved, "What did you do?!"  It is a choice.  It is a decision.  It is a matter of life and death.  And you have no control over the consequences.  Make the right choice.  Make your decision NOW, BEFORE your decision making process is tainted by alcohol or drugs. It's an easy choice if you've already decided under no circumstances would you ever drive intoxicated or get into a car with someone driving under the influence.  We have enough hard choices in this life, and this should be the easiest!

Prom Pics

Mermaid & Jamie

Every 15 Minutes

Trying to put this into words is difficult, yet I have SO much to say on the topic of driving under the influence.  As my husband tells his students, the worst day of his life was sitting across from me and telling me my sister was dead.  That has to also be the worst day in my life, hearing those words.  I was 4 months pregnant with my own daughter at the time, my first, my baby.   When she entered high school and heard about the Every 15 Minutes program, she knew she wanted to be a part of the solution with her passion of educating people about the effects of alcohol and driving.  Today, was special, in many ways.  Ariel took on spearheading Every 15 Minutes as her Senior Project.  Since this is only offered to the Seniors and Juniors to witness, every other year, we were blessed with her involvement.  Amid her busy schedule between church, school, being editor of the yearbook, track, and being a teenager, she took on coordinating meetings, attending city council meetings, designing the t-shirt logos for Every 15, passing out fliers, talking to parents of students that will be involved, and seeking support from local public officials, the schedule of events,....  It's obviously a HUGE undertaking and it has to be done right because you hope everyone is affected emotionally.

A few weeks ago, she came home with the mock 911 tape they recorded with law enforcement officials.  I don't know the girl on the tape that called with a terrifying plea for help, but the voice could be any one of our children.  And I hope NONE of our kids ever have to really go through that real scenario.  I listened and cried.  And cried some more later.  I showed up at the school early and waited in the office while they set up the crash scene.  I looked out the windows of my husband's office and could see the tow trucks taking cars that were involved in real life collisions down to the staging area.  We were waiting for Mr. D to give the go ahead for his secretary to air the recording over the school's PA system in every classroom.  I headed down just before he gave the go ahead to show up and find kids already staged in the cars, photographers were there, many emergency personnel were already there, parents, friends, neighbors, the committee and administrators, and a few students.

The go ahead was given and I heard that scared voice again over the loud speakers.  The kids started trickling down, it wasn't a surprise, but they met the scene somber and quiet.  It wasn't fun.  It wasn't a game.  It was fake, but it was sad to think about how it could be real.  How it IS real.  How this happens every 15 minutes, at least.

I wanted to scream at this point.  I wanted to yell at all of the kids, "DO YOU SEE WHAT YOUR SELFISHNESS CAN DO!"  This drill was providing the necessary emotion, even better than anything I could say.  Just then my lips started to tremble, I felt the tears rolling down my face, my hands were shaking, and I even felt my heart go from cold to hot, to cold and hot again.  I felt flushed and I wanted to run but even my legs were trembling.  But I also couldn't take my eyes off of the kids.  They were being respectful and drawn in as well by the scene. 

The sirens were getting louder and the police were the first to show up on scene.  The accident was a head on collision with a truck and sedan.  In the truck was Alex(the driver), his female passenger next to him, and Brendan who had gone through the front windshield.  He was face down and his arms stretched out.  The emergency personnel didn't pay any attention yet, because they were focusing on the girl and another passenger in the other car that they might be able to save.   Their attention was on the sedan.  This car was also full of students.  The firemen pulled out their jaws of life to try to save them.  The grim reaper kept a quiet profile in the background.  There were crime scene investigators taking pictures of the dead boy and the scene.  The paramedics gave another Alex, the girl in the sedan that they pulled out CPR, and loaded her into the ambulance.  After the two students in the sedan were taken away with sirens, the coroner came for  Brendan.  His limp body was pulled back to reveal critical wounds and he was placed on the gurney.  Just before they pulled his body from the truck, I saw the coroner tearfully retrieve the gurney and blue velvet blanket they use to cover him.

Alex was submitting to a sobriety test on the side and arrested and taken away in the back of the squad car.  Alex possibly had the hardest role to play in this mock accident.  As the kids started to come down, I saw him start to really fall apart and wondered if he'd be able to carry out his role.  Imagine being a real murderer.  Insert some real honesty here:  IF you participate in or witness this program and still choose to drink and drive you SHOULD be charged with murder if you kill someone.   If Alex happens upon my blog, thank you for playing such an awful person.

The personnel dispersed and left the scene as Mr. D started to address the students.  He told them of his worst day, of my worst day.  He charged them with understanding their actions have consequences that they have no control over.  He talked about Alex and Brendan.  Brendan is a big guy, a football player, and he has a tattoo on his arm.  He asked the students that knew him, "What does it say?"  It seemed like half the students responded, "Family."  Family.

Everyone is then sent back to go about their business, which is difficult.  The school has counselors in the office to speak to students if they so need.  The rest of the day is usually much more somber and they're reminded as every 15 minutes the grim reaper will come and take a student out of class.  Tonight is a retreat for those students that have "died", and tomorrow will be a funeral to bring a close to the program.  The parents have been asked to write obituaries for their sons and daughters and read them.  This has been no easy task!

I headed back to my car to pick up Mr. D's black suit for the funeral at the cleaners.  On my way there and back, I was processing.  Processing a lot.  The sadness, the anger, and a few thoughts I have for a fellow alumni of mine that was recently arrested for DUI, and for classmates of my late sister that seem to still have much growing up to do.  I thought how easy it is for some people to get behind the wheel, yet, they would never "unfriend" someone on Facebook for fear of hurting their feelings.  Yet, they're gambling "unfriending" people permanently each time they get behind the wheel while intoxicated.  Never downplay ANY drinking and driving.  It IS a big deal.  It IS playing Russian Roulette.  I had wiped my face and cleaned up enough to head into the post office.  I was shipping off the last of Ariel's graduation announcements, and thinking just how proud I am of her hard work.  Grateful for the community that supports this program.  Grateful for the parents that teach their children not to drink and drive, and even better yet, not to drink at all.  Grateful for the leaders that fund raise for schools and kids programs and have the class to NOT involve wine and alcohol in their events.  Grateful to the drivers that phone in possible drunk drivers.  Grateful for the emergency personnel that respond to these scenes, VERY grateful.  Grateful for the 17 years, 362 days I had my sister here on earth.  And grateful for my husband and children and all of their love.

Just Breathe...

That's what I keep telling myself.  Busy doesn't begin to describe right now.  Getting the Mermaid ready for graduation, her senior project, prom, senior trips(Great America & Disneyland), ready to move off to school,  Mr. D's calling and job, overnights for work, 2 temple trips this month(youth and a ward), banquets(tonight is his only night home until next Sunday), getting the house ready for guests and a party, the dog, and oh yeah, another foot problem while trying to contain the chaos.  The tube in the air cast came out Friday, so I was immobile all weekend(left heel, good foot this time) so I whined to the Dr. today and he fixed it so I can walk, I think I kind of bug him.  He said the problem with patients like me is we don't know we're broken and need to take it easy.  I told him I KNOW I'm broken, but I don't have a choice, so make me mobile.  I'm sure Drs. just adore stubborn patients with no patience like me.  I would like to think some of my stubbornness though helps pay for him to go on vacation, so I'm kind of a "bonus" patient. That's what I tell myself.  Just get me through the month.  Of course July, is pretty exciting too, moving the brat, Girls Camp, Scout Camp, Adventure Trip, Leadership Camp, etc....  Summer will zoom by I'm sure.

Edamame Pesto Spread or Dip

Ingredients:

3 cups Edamame, shelled & blanched

1/4 cup olive oil

Basil(1/2 bunch, or 1/4 cup Gourmet Garden Basil Blend)

1/4 cup raw almonds

1/2 cup Parmesan Cheese, grated

salt & pepper to taste

Sriracha sauce, a few drops

3 cloves Garlic, minced

juice of one lemon

Blend all of the above ingredients together in food processor, add water if needed, continue to scrape down sides until you get a pretty smooth consistency or leave chunky if you prefer.  

Slice Ciabatta bread into toast size pieces.  Spray with butter flavor non-stick spray and broil just until crisp.  Spread toasts with dip.

Also a tasty alternative to Mayonnaise on sandwiches.

My kids LOVE this.

White Chocolate Lemon Filled Cream Puffs

Puffs:

1 cup water

1 cup butter(2 sticks)

1 cup flour

4 eggs

Electric mixer

Preheat oven to 400’.  In a medium size saucepan bring water and butter to a boil.  Add flour and stir vigorously with a wooden spoon until it forms a large ball, about 1 minute.  If you have a Kitchenaid, transfer mixture to bowl and using whisk attachment beat on high.  If using a hand mixer, you can use the pan, turn off heat and whip fast.  Add one egg at a time until mixture is well mixed and all eggs are incorporated.  Use a small cookie scoop and drop level scoopfuls 1 1/2” apart on cookie sheet lined with parchment or silpat.  Bake for 30-40 minutes, until golden brown.  Remove to cookie sheets right away.  (They’re full of air and almost cool to the touch as soon as you pull them out, but be careful still).  This recipe yields about 48 good size cream puffs.  If you use an even smaller cookie scoop(I played around with extra batter using a tsp. size, and they puffed up to the perfect bite size.

Filling:

1 8oz. block light cream cheese

1 tub whipped topping(not fat free)

1 box vanilla instant pudding mix

1 ½ cups milk

½ cup water

¼ cup sugar

Juice & zest of one lemon, separated

1 egg

2 Tbl. Cold Butter

1 pkg. white chocolate chips.

In a large mixer bowl, allow cream cheese to come to room temperature.  When soft, beat on high using a whisk attachment.  Add pudding mix and milk and whip on high until smooth and creamy.  Set aside. 

In a small bowl, beat egg with lemon zest and set aside.  In a small saucepan, bring water and sugar to a low boil, until sugar is dissolved.  Slowly add hot water to egg mixture, whisking, and then add the mixture back into the pan and return to heat.  Keep stirring with whisk until thickened to custard like consistency.  Remove from heat and add cold butter and lemon juice.  Mix well.  Add in bag of white chocolate chips and whisk.  Let set for a minute and come back and stir again.  The heat from the mixture will melt the chips and it will be just about room temperature by the time they’re done melting and mixed.  Pour lemon mixture into cream cheese & pudding mixture and blend well.  Fold in Whipped Topping, you can just use the whisk attachment on low spead. 

Fill a decorators bag with a large star tip attached with mixture.  This will have to be done in batches, so don’t overfill or it will make a BIG mess.  Poke tip into side of puff and fill, you’ll feel the weight of the puff change.  Overfilling is not an issue, but may be slightly yugly(my word for yummy/ugly, it’s all good though).  Spread a little of the cream filling on the bottom of the plate you’ll be serving them on, this acts like a glue so the cute little guys don’t roll off!  Layer, and sprinkle with powdered sugar, layer again, more powdered sugar.  I use a tiny fine sieve strainer or shaker.  Randomly place fresh raspberries around the platter.

Raspberry Dipping Sauce

Okay, this is the EASIEST and BEST dipping sauce ever, use it over brownies, ice cream, cheesecake, etc….  A friend told me about this.  Literally, 1 minute!

In a large mixing bowl, pour in one bag of FROZEN raspberries and 1 jar of strawberry preserves and mix.  Set in fridge, covered, and allow the mixture to thaw and set up just right.  Give it a good stir before serving.  Something about the juices from the berries with the pectin from the jam.  Yum.  I made mine last time using strawberry freezer jam, and my oh my!

Love This! Frazil Ice at Yosemite...

I just want to hold out a cone and pour some flavorings on.  I know, sick, it's loaded with all kinds of fun gastric love, but it LOOKS cool.

Chili (I served this at Girls Camp Fundraiser)

INGREDIENTS:

2 cans black beans(do not drain)

2 cans diced tomatoes

1 can tomato paste

1 can tomato soup

 2 Heaping Tbl. each Chili Powder & Cumin
2 Tbl. Reduced Sodium Soy Sauce

 1 Medium Onion, Diced

1 Jalapeno Pepper, finely diced, most of the seeds removed

1 Anaheim Pepper, finely diced, most of the seeds removed

3 Cloves Garlic, Minced

1 Tbl. Beef "Better Than Bouillion"

1 3 lb. lean Beef Roast, cooked and shredded

1 lb. chorizo, cooked and drained

Sriracha Sauce to Taste

DIRECTIONS:
In a large slowcooker, combine all ingredients EXCEPT meat.   Add enough water to the cans of beans to rinse all of the grainy fibery goodness out, about half to two thirds up the can.  Swirl around to loosen up all the residue and add "bean juice" to the crockpot.  Stir all the ingredients.  Cook on High 1 hour and turn down to Low for 5-6 hours, until onions are translucent and soft.  In a large non-stick pan, cook chorizo.  Pour into a fine sieve strainer and drain.  Go back and scrape the "bits" left in the pan, you can add a little water to help.  Pour the "bits" and drained chorizo into the chili mixture.  Add shredded beef and stir well.  Cook for one more hour.  The beef will soak up a lot of the liquid and it will thicken up.  Add Sriracha Sauce to taste if you'd like to add more heat.

**I slow-cooked the roast the day before in the crock-pot.  I use London Broil in the crock-pot A LOT, and this would also work well, any cheap cut will do, even pork.

Serve with Honey Corn Bread or Muffins.

Updated, my favorite version(10/10/15)

INGREDIENTS:

3  cans red kidney beans(do not drain)

2 cans fire roasted diced tomatoes

1 can tomato paste

 1 Heaping Tbl. each Pasilla Chili Powder, California Chili Powder, & Cumin
1 Tbl. Worchestire Sauce

 1 Medium Onion, Diced

1 Tbl. Minced Dried Onion

1 Jalapeno Pepper, finely diced, most of the seeds removed

3 Cloves Garlic, Minced

1 Tbl. Beef "Better Than Bouillion" 

1 tsp. ManSmith's Dry Fire Seasoning 

Salt and fresh ground pepper to taste.

Combine above ingredients in crockpot and cook on high one hour, then turn down to low and cook another 5-6 hours.

Add the ingredients below and more water if needed and cook on low for another hour.

2 cups cooked and shredded Beef Roast

2 cups cooked ground beef(drain the oil)

1 cup finely diced cooked bacon

1 Tbl. Cocoa Powder(good quality)

S'mores Cupcakes

Here is the recipe I used:  http://annies-eats.com/2009/11/16/smores-cupcakes/

I did do a little tweaking, as usual.

Doubled the Graham Cracker Crust Recipe

Use half a square of Hershey's Milk Chocolate Bar with Caramel Filling Instead of Chocolate on Graham Cracker Crust

Used Lowfat Buttermilk instead of Whole Milk

Did Not Torch Frosting

For the graham cracker crust: (Doubled this)
1½ cups graham cracker crumbs
¼ cup sugar
5 1/3 tbsp. unsalted butter, melted
8 oz. bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped(See Substitution Above)

For the cake:
2 cups plus 2 tbsp. sugar
1¾ cups all-purpose flour
¾ cup plus 1 tbsp. cocoa powder
1½ tsp. baking powder
1½ tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
2 large eggs
1 cup whole milk ( I used lowfat buttermilk instead)
½ cup vegetable oil
2 tsp. vanilla extract
1 cup boiling water

For the frosting:
8 large egg whites, at room temperature
2 cups sugar
½ tsp. cream of tartar
2 tsp. vanilla extract

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350° F.  Line two cupcake pans with paper liners.  In a small mixing bowl, combine the graham cracker crumbs, sugar and melted butter; mix well with a fork.  Drop about 1 tablespoon of the graham cracker mixture in the bottom of each cupcake liner and press down to line the bottom. (Note: I found the bottom of my squeeze bottle to be the perfect size to do this job neatly and quickly.) Sprinkle a small amount of the chopped chocolate on top of the graham cracker crusts.  Bake for 5 minutes.  Remove from the oven, and maintain the oven temperature.

To make the cake batter, sift together the sugar, flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda and salt in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment; mix on low speed just to combine.  In a mixing bowl, combine the eggs, milk, vegetable oil and vanilla extract; whisk together.  Add to the dry ingredients and mix on low speed for 30 seconds.  Scrape down the sides of the bowl, then beat on medium speed for 2 minutes.  Add the boiling water and stir just to combine (batter will be thin).
Divide the batter evenly between the prepared cupcake liners, filling each about ¾ of the way full.  Return the pans to the oven and bake about 18-20 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, rotating the pans halfway through baking.  Allow to cool in the pans 5-10 minutes, then remove and transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

To make the frosting, combine the egg whites, sugar and cream of tartar in the top of a double boiler. (Note: I just set my clean, dry mixer bowl over simmering water, to avoid dirtying two bowls.) Heat the mixture, whisking frequently, until it reaches 160° F with an instant-read thermometer.  Transfer the mixture to the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment.  Whisk starting at low speed and gradually increasing to medium-high speed until stiff, glossy peaks form.  Mix in the vanilla until combined.  Frost cooled cupcakes as desired.  Brown with a kitchen torch and garnish with chocolate and graham cracker segments (optional).

Source: adapted from Lovin’ From the Oven, originally attributed to Trophy Cupcakes, cake clearly from Hershey’s

Crockpot Turkey Breast Dinner & Mashed Potatoes

This was SO easy. I purchased a seasoned turkey breast, ribs removed but leg attached. Looked like half a turkey.

Spray crockpot with non-stick spray(don't use a liner, because you'll mash the potatoes in the crockpot). Layer one large finely chopped onion, and 2 lbs. cleaned baby red potatoes, and 3 cloves crushed garlic. Season with black and white pepper(to taste) and stir in one can of fat free cream of chicken soup. Top with 4 sprigs of rosemary. Top with turkey breast. Cook on Low 7-9 hours. You can also do this with boneless skinless chicken breasts, turkey loins, etc....

My turkey came with a pop up "done" insert, so after it popped, I let it still continue to cook for a while longer, it just comes out fork tender. Remove the turkey breast and allow to "set" for 15-20 minutes before slicing. Pour out most of the juices and remove sprigs of rosemary. Use a non-stick masher to make smashed potatoes, adding in liquid as needed. Serve with steamed veggies or salad. EASIEST turkey dinner ever! You can also use the reserved liquid to make a gravy, but I didn't even feel the need, it was SO flavorful and moist. But great stock for another meal. :)

Central Coast Part 3

This is Montana de Oro's Buchon Trail. We hiked in 1.5 miles in to Disney Point and back. Gorgeous day!

Central Coast Part 2

Grossed out? It's pretty disgusting, I admit it. This is Bubble Gum Alley. If you click on the link you'll see there is controversy in how it actually got started. Even my mom says their San Luis Obispo High School class was the one to start it.

Took the kids, they contributed and then I passed out the hand sanitizer after we walked QUICKLY through the alley. The alley starts off a parking lot on the corner of Broad Street and Marsh Street and goes through to Higuera.