Quick and Easy "Semi" Homemade Salsa

Every time I visit my grandparents in Texas I eat and EAT and EAT!!! My grandma always has a huge array of appetizers out. My favorite is her delicious salsa and guacamole. A few months ago I called and asked for her recipe.... I WAS SHOCKED!! So.... Here it is....

1 CAN Rotel diced tomatoes and green chilies (I COULD NOT BELIEVE SHE USES CANNED TOMATOES!!!)
chopped sweet onions (1/3 - 1/2 c. whatever looks and tastes right)
Chopped cilantro (again... add to your taste.... I like a LOT.)
1 clove minced garlic
You can add a diced jalapeno but I usually don't....

The original Rotel tomatoes have quite kick all by themselves. I actually just get the mild and its enough spice for me and my family. If you like heat use the original.... and if you like a LOT of heat use the original or the hot and add the jalapeno.

I am telling you.... I had NO idea this salsa was made with canned tomatoes!! I usually stay away from recipes that call for canned soups, vegetables, etc. But we love this one!!

More Sophie "Mis"adventures

Last week John and I went to Adam's opening baseball game. We took Eric along to watch his big brother/hero. The girls stayed at home to finish homework and play. A few minutes before the game ended my cell phone rang. It was Katie and she was hysterical! It took me awhile to get her calmed down enough to even tell me what was wrong. Apparently Sophie and Liv were running around the family room dragging a jump rope. The handle of the jump road slid under our grandfather clock as they ran by, got lodged under a leg and then.... Flipped over....Crashing to the floor, shattering the glass over the front of the pendulums and the glass on the face..... but no one was hurt!! The girls were just scared mom was going to FREAK! (I didn't..... I was just extremely relieved no one was hurt!!)

Sunday evening I was at the computer finishing up Katie's birthday party invitations. John was at a fireside and the kids were playing upstairs.... or so I thought! Katie ran downstairs to get a pair of scissors and yells, "MOM!! Sophie!!" I run downstairs to find Sophie sitting in the middle of the kitchen table next to my brand new case of Utah peaches.... (that John had left the lid off of.) She had taken at least 2 bites out of 9 PEACHES!!This morning I was gathering laundry when John and I started a discussion. I heard a noise downstairs where Sophie was watching Clifford. "Oh Shes fine..." John says. "Sophie is NEVER fine" I reply. When I sneak downstairs I catch her with a bottle of honey... alternating squeezing it into her mouth and onto the counter... all over!! Then as I am washing the honey off of her face, neck, arms and hands, I see our butter dish ... the butter is smashed into oblivion.... with dog food mashed into it!!

Adventures in Weight Loss

For the last 3 1/2 weeks I have been working really hard to get in shape and lose the rest of my baby weight. (Sophie is now 2 .... so maybe saying "toddler weight" would be more accurate???) Anyway, thanks to the encouragement of a dedicated group of really great girls in my ward who run 4 miles, 3 times a week, I am slowly but surely getting into shape!

Slowly I am running farther and farther. On Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, when the other girls aren't running, I ride my bike. I am up to 8 - 10 miles at a pretty fast pace. On the running days I can keep up with the other girls for the first mile and a half and then take a short break and fast walk. Today I caught them on their way back too and kept up for quite awhile until a quarter sized blister on my foot couldn't be ignored any longer! (I REALLY need better running shoes....!) I am hoping with better shoes and a few more weeks I will be able to keep up the entire time!

I can actually walk up the stairs carrying a load of laundry now without running out of breath!!

You have to understand that NEVER in my 36 years have I been a successful runner. Even as a teenager I was a fast sprinter but any distance and I was out! Endurance has never been a strength! Last year I was seeing a cardiologist for some heart issues and one of the tests required me to run on a treadmill. After a couple of minutes the nurse asked me if I work out. When I told her no... not really... she replied, "Ya.... I can tell...."

All of the excercise has really helped me eat better too. I just make better choices when it comes to what I eat. I don't want to waste all that hard work!! I don't totally deny myself my vices like soda and ice cream I just don't have them very often or I have found good substitutes. Instead of regular ice cream, if I need a sweet treat I am eating Fresh and Easy's lemon sorbet or mango sorbet Popsicles. The Popsicles are only 80 calories and are fat free ... with no artificial sweeteners! Maybe someday I will try to cut sugar out completely.... but that day is not today!!

I am just so happy that I am seeing such great results. I have WAY more energy. I think because I am feeling better about myself that I am happier overall too. Because of both of those I am more productive. Even our morning routine has gotten a lot better organized and runs smoother out of necessity.... because mom is out running or biking every morning until just after 7am! And of course the weight and inches I have lost have been very encouraging too!

(There have been some funny moments.... last week I left too late to go with the others so I ran alone and was chased and almost bitten by a BIG goose. This morning I went to cross Guadalupe and I tripped over a cactus ....it left a nice, big red streak up my shin! OH WELL! )

THANK YOU BEKAH, STACEY, KARA, LENA, MELISSA AND LINDY!!! YOU ARE SUCH AN INSPIRATION FOR ME! YOU ARE AWESOME!!

California's Proposition 8

I copied this from Sarah's blog!!!....

Many of you have heard of Proposition 8 in California. I have had friends and family knocking on doors trying to educate the public about the consequences of this legislation. Here are some of the possible ramifications if it DOES NOT pass. Thanks to my sister in law Kelly for letting me borrow your typing! These are serious issues. If you know anyone in California urge them to vote for this proposition. States across the nation are waiting the outcome of this before drafting similar legislation.

1. Children in public schools will have to be taught that same-sex marriage is just as good as traditional marriage

2. Anti-discrimination regulations will become more important than religious beliefs.

3. Churches will be sued over their tax-exempt status if they refuse to allow same-sex marriage ceremonies in their religious buildings open to the public.

4. Religious adoption agencies will be challenged by government to give up their long-held right to place children only in homes with both a mother and a father.

5. Religions that sponsor private schools with married-student housing will be required to provide housing for same-sex couples, even if counter to church doctrine, or risk lawsuits over tax exemptions and related benefits.

6. Ministers who preach against same-sex marriages will be sued for hate speech and could be fined by the government.

Lemon Grilled Salmon

This is a recipe I got from Sarah Plewe... YUMMY!! For the "non-fish eater"!

Lemon Grilled Salmon

1 1/2 lbs. salmon
Dill weed
Lemon pepper
Garlic Salt
1/3 c. brown sugar
3 Tbs. chicken broth
3 Tbs. oil
3 Tbs. soy sauce
3 green onions; thinly sliced

Sprinkle dill, lemon pepper and garlic salt on salmon, front and back. In a zip lock bag, combine the remaining ingredients. Mix well. Add salmon. Let marinade at least 4 hours. Grill or broil.

From the Mouths of Babes

Yesterday we took the family to the Superstition Springs mall. We were just walking around when Katie leans over and whispers to me...

"I don't know WHY they call it Victoria's SECRET.....

They show EVERYTHING .....

That doesn't look like a SECRET to me!"

Remembering September 11, 2001

9 11 01

I remember that morning. I was 6 months pregnant. Our family had just flown back the week before from a family reunion at the Rockin R Ranch in Antimony, Utah. That particular morning I was excited to go to a birthday brunch at a friend's home with lots of other friends and their kids. We lived in Franklin, MA... a suburb of Boston.

I was busy getting 3 little kids and myself ready to go. I was bringing a dish to share. If the TV was on that morning it was playing a Disney Video or was on PBS. I remember John calling from work... "A plane flew into the World Trade Center!" We thought it was pilot error. I remember picturing a small plane......

When the 2nd plane hit we knew this was no accident.

On the drive to my friend's house I had the news playing on the radio. The reporter was interviewing a woman on the ground near the Twin Towers. Suddenly there was a loud noise and yelling and crying... and screaming.... The interviewer started yelling "They're coming down!! They're coming down!!" I remember almost pulling over... I was completely overcome with emotion and fear. How could this be happening!! All of those people...

I pulled up to my friend's house moments later.... it was 10am. When my friend answered the door she was visibly shaken. I just looked at her and said "The towers came down... they came down!!" I was struggling to keep my tears in. She didn't know. My friends were all circled around the TV but it must not have been live. At first they didn't believe me but I knew what I heard. The South Tower had fallen.

The rest of the day is a blur. We all gathered around the TV trying to decipher what it all meant. We watched as the North tower crumbled.

We each frantically called our husbands... all of whom worked in Boston. Maybe our city was next. Both of the planes that crashed into the towers had originated from Boston... from OUR airport. The airport MY husband flew in and out of multiple times a month. It could have been his plane.

I was lucky....I did not lose a loved one that day. But I do remember how vividly it changed my life. I no longer felt SAFE. My country, my home was a TARGET.

I, for one, never want to forget September 11th 2001. I never want to forget the lives lost, the sacrifices made. A time when the country stood united against a common enemy.

WE were all AMERICANS... nothing more, nothing less.

Summer Camping Trip

Since I didn't have a camera ..... I had to wait for our friends to send us all the pictures from our camping trip this summer to Knoll Lake. Knoll Lake is about 45 minutes past Payson up in the mountains. It was a beautiful area!!

The CAMPGROUND

KNOLL LAKE

Camping as a toddler.... dirt from head to toe!!

The kids had a BLAST!!

Our GREAT friends, the Rays...... our camping family!!

One of the kid's most memorable experiences.... catching a snake!!

Even Mom had fun with it... (they named him "Butter")

THE HAMMOCK WAS A HIT!!!

The TOYS !!!!





And of course.... The BB GUNS!!



What would camping be without "Camping Cobbler"??!! (Especially with a dad cooking it!!)


The FORT!!
We had so much fun!! The kids LOVE to go camping and mom is pretty agreeable as long as we have the trailer!!!

BEST EVER Chicken Pot Pie Recipe... EASY!!

No worries... this one is EASY and very kid friendly!! Nothing weird I PROMISE!! My kids love this.... and so does John!!
1/2 c butter (1 stick)
1/3 c. flour
1 Tbsp chicken soup base (this is the KEY to this recipe! Use it instead of bouillon cubes... it is so much better .... richer flavor. You can find it in the same place you buy bouillon cubes. I like the "Better Than Bouillon" by Superior Touch. I have not touched bouillon cubes since I discovered this!!
1 Tbsp. minced onion
1/4 tsp pepper
1 3/4 c. milk
2/3 c. water
2 c. cubed, cooked chicken (I use leftover rotisserie chicken.... its the best!)
10 oz. frozen peas and carrots (or whatever you prefer)
2 Pillsbury refrigerated pie crust rolls. (2 come in the red box usually in the cookie dough section)



1. Set pie crust rolls out for 20 minutes.
2. Melt butter in medium saucepan. Whisk in flour. Add onion, soup base and pepper. Stir well. Slowly stir in milk and water. Cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, until mixture thickens.
3. Add chicken and vegetables.
4. Pour into 9x13 pan.
5. Unroll pie crusts and place over chicken mixture. It will take 1 1/2 crusts to cover the whole pan. I use cookie cutters to make cute shapes out of the remaining 1/2 crust to put on top. Cut small slits in crust.
6. Cook at 425 for 20 - 25 minutes
ENJOY!!

Republican National Convention

Mitt Romney was BRILLIANT!!


I even enjoyed Huckabee and I don't even like him!


Rudy Giuliani .... DRILL BABY DRILL!!!


and Sarah Palin was .....MAGNIFICENT!!!!


http://littlegreenfootballs.com/weblog/ (Beware... occasional language...) had some great post speech comments ... like 700 of them!! Some of my favorites: "She had me at Hello...", "Sarahcuda", "I am glad to now have a reason to vote FOR McCain instead of casting a ballot AGAINST Obama"
"I can't believe how excited I am to vote for McCain now. I never, EVER thought I'd say that.
She was amazing.
My favorite moment was Piper licking her palm and smoothing baby Trig's hair. Too cute.
But the line about Obama using the term 'victory' only to refer to his own campaign and never to the war was very powerful.
I choked up a few times. She's truly amazing. And they can talk about speechwriters all they want, but that message was hers alone.
Can't wait for the VP debates. Clock meet cleaner. LOL! "

Mom Lunch Recipe?

During the day I frequenly struggle with finding good, healthy things to eat at lunch time.... ....especially since I am trying to lose weight. Today I tried a recipe out of my favorite Italian cookbook that is low in calories (90) and only 4g of fat. It is only 2 Weight Watchers points. I made a 1/2 recipe so that I could have it today for lunch and then will have 3 servings leftover in the fridge for other days. I ate it with a 1/2 slice of sprouted, multi-grain toast. It was great!! (and I really don't like cooked spinach... but I liked this!)

Spinach-Polenta Soup

8 servings

2 Tbsp. olive oil

2 cloves garlic, finely chopped

1/2 c. finely chopped onion

1 bag (16 oz) frozen chopped spinach

3 cans (14.5 oz each) vegatable broth

1 Tbsp. freshly grated Parmesan cheese

1 Tbsp. chopped fresh parsley (or 1 tsp. dried)

1/4 tsp pepper

1/2 cup yellow cornmeal

1. Cook garlic and onion in hot oil about 5 minutes, stirring occassionally, until onion is tender.

2. Stir in frozen spinach and broth. Heat to boiling; reduce heat. Stir in remaining ingredients except cornmeal. GRADUALLY stir in cornmeal. (stir the soup constantly so the cornmeal won't clump)

3. Cover and simmer for 10-15 minutes, stirring frequently, until soup is thickened.

Second Class Citizen??

Over the last few days, in the wake of John McCain's announcement of Governor Sarah Palin as his choice of a running mate, there has been an onslaught of media attention on her as a mother and on mothers in general. I have read and read about how Palin is NO Hillary (hallelujah) and stands for everything that women of America (aka feminists) don't need or want. One journalist went as far as to say that Palin promotes stay-home moms who are 2ND class citizens.

WHAT????!!!!

I am NO second class citizen. No woman who works outside of the home whether by choice or not is a BETTER or WORTHIER CITIZEN than I am. I CHOOSE to stay home with my children. It was a CHOICE. My husband and I TOGETHER decided it was better for our family. It was hard at first to give up that 2nd income ... but we did it.... and I have NEVER... even for one second.... felt otherwise!

I don't judge those that work outside the home.... especially those that don't have a choice. As a matter of fact, most women I have spoken with have commented on how lucky I am to be able to stay home and raise my own children.... and what they would give to be able to have that opportunity.

I went to college. I want my girls to go and graduate from a University. However, the one thing I always wanted to do more than anything else in the world was to be a mom. Aren't we taught that you always do your best in any job or career you have?? Well... I felt that the best way for me to do my very BEST in my role as a mother was to be home with them. Any sacrifice, monetary or otherwise, has been worth it.

I CHOOSE my children. I CHOOSE to help better prepare the next generation.

What JOB or CAREER is more important than that???

And just in case you couldn't tell..... I 100% support Sarah Palin!!!

(I like her more than McCain!!) http://palinforvp.blogspot.com/