Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Moving Trip

So, we took about 4 days to drive out to NY. We stopped by Nauvoo and Kirtland on the way, and went to Palmyra shortly after arriving here. It was a great experience. We had SO much wonderful help as we moved!!! Everyone was great! All of Britton's family came to help at different times as well as my family that was in the area. I have to say, although everyone played an important role in us getting out the door, I have to specifically mention a few who we could not have gotten out of our house without....

Hannah - She painted cabinets for the kitchen with Britton and I MANY times and then came back to help us pack up!

Aunt Ginny - She sanded cabinets, painted cabinets, brought over food, played with Lexi, helped us pack and clean the house!!!!

Jeremy - We used and abused his muscles to get all our heavy stuff out of the house and into the moving van... and he also tackled packing up our office which would not have gotten done without him!

Kjiera and Britty - came over and played with Alexis and helped me pack and paint and clean!

Mom and Bryan - Came and stayed with us during those final days when you just need someone else to tell you what to do next every once in a while... played with Lexi, helped to pack and clean and then drove out to Ithaca with us where they cleaned our new apartment and moved us in!!!!

Monday, August 10, 2009

Recipes

Some people have asked me for various recipes, so I thought I'd post them on here so anyone can get to them! Happy Cooking! :)

Monkey Bread

Dough:
2 3/4 cups flour
1/4 cup sugar
1 1/2 tsp baking powqder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/4 cups buttermilk
5 Tbs butter, melted

Caramel:
2/3 cup brown sugar
1 stick butter

Cinnamon & Sugar:
1/2 cup sugar
2 Tbs cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350. Grease monkey bread pan (bunt or fluted work as well) with butter. Mix dry ingredients together in large bowl. mix buttermilk and butter together in small bowl, then add to dry ingredients. Mix till combined thoroughly. Separate dough in two equal parts and then into small balls about the size of a walnut. Cover balls in cinnamon and sugar. Cook caramel till softball stage. Pour 1/3 caramel into pan - place 1/2 monkey bread balls - pour 1/3 caramel over balls - place second 1/2 monkey bread balls - pour remaining caramel over balls. Bake for 35 mins - cool 10 mins & turn out on plate.



Classic Potato Gratin (from finecooking.com)

2lbs potatoes, peeled
3 cups heavy whipping cream
1 tsp kosher salt
1/8 tsp ground black pepper
1 generous pinch nutmeg
2 cloves garlic, peeled and smashed
3/4 cup finely shredded Gruyere, Emmental or Comte cheese

Preheat oven to 400. Cut potatoes into 1/8 inch thick slices. Put potatoes in a large saucepan with all ingredients but the cheese. Cook over med-high heat until the cream is boiling. Remove garlic as you pour contents into a baking dish - shake to settle, then sprinkle with cheese. Bake at 400 for approximately 40 or until the cheese is brown and the potatoes are tender. Cool at least 15 mins then serve.


Moist Spiced Pumpkin Cakes

2 cups flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp kosher salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp allspice
1/4 tsp nutmeg

6 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 1/4 cups sugar
2 eggs

1 cup sour cream
1 cup canned pumpkin

Peheat oven to 350. Combine dry ingredients in a bowl and set to the side. In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar. Then add eggs one at a time. Add 1/3 dry ingredients to the buter/sugar/eggs. Then add sour cream, then 1/2 remaining dry ingredients, then cannned pumpkin, then remaining dry ingredients - blending after each addition. Divide batter evenly between 6 greased mini bundts, or cook in greased 9x13 pan for 25-35 mins. Watch closely and remove when toothpick comes out clean. Frost with a cream cheese frosting.



Pumpkin Cookies (Meg & Mandi Bucy)

Cream together:
1/2 cup butter
1 cup sugar

Then add:
1 egg
1 cup canned pumpkin
1 tsp vanilla
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp allspice
1 tsp nutmeg

Mix well, then add:
2 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder

Mix thoroughly, then add 1 bag mini chocolate chips.

Place large dollops on cookie sheet and bake at 350 for 12-15 mins. Makes approximately 24 large cookies.


Flakey Pie Pastry (from finecooking.com)

2 1/3 cups flour
1 tablespoon granulated sugar
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 cup chilled unsalted butter cut into cubes
1/2 cup chilled shortening cut into cubes
3-6 tablespoons ice water

Combine dry ingredients in a bowl. Add butter and shortening a few cubes at a time and cut into dry ingredients with pastry blender. Mix till ingredients ball up. Drizzle ice water 1 tablespoon at a time and mix into the center of the bowl with a fork. Keep adding water until dough holds together well when pinched together. Pres dough toward side of bowl to make a ball, the roll out with rolling pin.



Classic Apple Pie (from finecooking.com)

8 cortland apples or 6 golden delicious apples and 2 granny smith apples
2 teaspoons lemon juice
2/3 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup granulated sugar & 1 tablespoon sugar
3 tablespoons cornstarch
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1 large egg white
1 tablespoon unsalted butter

Preheat oven to 400. Peel apples and slice thinly - toss with lemon juice. In a small bowl, combine brown sugar, sugar (1/4c), cornstarch, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Add ingredients to the apples an mix. In a small dish, whisk together the egg white and 1 teaspoon water - brush over pie crust. Put apple mixture into the pie crust. Cut 1 tablespoon of butter into pieces and place on top of the apples, then cover with 2nd pie crust. Brush top with egg whites and sprinkle with sugar. Wrap foil around outer 1 inch edge of crust and bake for 60-70 mins, removing foil for the last 10 mins. Let cool 1-2 hours then serve.

Saturday, August 01, 2009

Bloody Nose


We just thought this was a silly picture. Lexi got a bloody nose, and it was hot in our house so it wasnt stopping very easily... so I put a cool wash cloth on her forehead and a tissue up her nose and told her to sit in the chair while I packed. She leaned her head back, which wasn't comfortable, so I got her a neck pillow and she was sitting like that when Britton got home from work. he started laughing and took some pictures. :)