The Unofficial Harry Potter Cookbook and Cooking through My Grief

Taking it one recipe at a time. 2013 will be mainly focused on "The Unofficial Harry Potter Cookbook," by Dinah Bucholz, and how doing what I love, cooking, being with my family and reading Harry Potter will help me process my grief associated with loosing my 3 week old daughter, Ruby, on November 18th, 2011.
Join me for a "culinary magical masterpiece" throughout 2013!

Sunday, May 30, 2010

Sabath Day Quote

"Come What May, and LOVE it!"

Joseph B. Wirthlin

Friday, May 28, 2010

Memorial Weekend Celebrations


Memorial and Labor Day Weekends were always exciting in my family growing up. Usually it meant getting out of school early on Friday, packing up the Camping trailer and heading up into the Mountains. We had a specific spot we would go every year in the Uintah Mountains in the Rocky Mountain Range. We would get there late Friday night, relax for two day's and then pack up and head home. We could always count on either a late snow storm or an intense rain/thunder storm, which always made for a long night for those of us sleeping in tents. My Mom would alway's bring the yummiest food, my brother's would bring there Beebe guns, and animal traps and I would bring a book or two. Sigh...I don't live any where near the Rocky Mountains now so these camping trips no longer happen. In fact my Husband and I haven't yet created any traditional Memorial/Labor day plans yet, but I hope we will soon and I hope it involves a tent and perhaps the Smokey Mountains?
Do you have any memorial traditions? We are open for some fun idea's!

Thursday, May 27, 2010

Little Miss Independent


My baby is now 15 months old, and getting more and more adorable by the day...well, maybe not all of her growth is adorable! She has decided recently that she is a big girl and has to feed herself. She refuses to eat off of the spoon that Mommy holds! So, to comprimise I have put her food on her tray and then give her a spoon and I have a spoon also. She usually can get a little food on her spoon, but by the time it makes it to her mouth the spoon is upside down and the food is on her bib, and that's when I dive in and rescue the food on the bib and deliver it to her mouth in one swift movement. And of course, she thinks that she is feeding herself very successfully, when really it ends up being a big old mess! And I have a huge mess to clean up! This is the only way to feed her though because if I am the one trying to do the feeding she throws her head back a refuses to open her mouth...stinkerbug! So, how do you deal with your children's independence needs? What mountains have you climbed and conquered with them? I am interested in any and all of them because I'm sure that tomorrow we will more than likely have a new "independence" issue pop up!

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Movie Review-Do you really want to Watch that Movie?


A friend told me about a great website she uses to help her know if a Movie will be to mushy, violent and/or vulgar for her taste. I got on there the other day and found that it is a very helpful website. They have 3 area's of content they give a rating from 1-10 too. They are: Sex and Nudity, Violence and Gore, and Profanity. My friend gave the advice of three bars or less is going to be a safe show for you and the kids. So is there a movie out you want to see but want a good review before seeing it, visit this website: kidsinmind.com
Do you use a different website to get your info? Please share it with me. I love finding new gems!

Monday, May 24, 2010

Not so Good at Good-Bye!

My Sister and her two adorable little guy's moved over the weekend. Which if it wasn't 30+ hours away from me it wouldn't be so devastatingly hard to say goodbye. We have always been with each other. We were forced to share bedrooms our whole life until I moved out for college, but that was still only 20 minutes away from home. I have been thinking about a line in one of the songs on "The Music Man" that the men's quartet sings. "Where is the good in good-bye." I have really been feeling that way. But unfortunately change is a part of life and something that I struggle with. So, I have to have my happy thought when I start crying to divert myself from my sad, depressing thoughts of no longer having my sister live 4 houses down from me. So, my happy thought today is...well I'm sure I will come up with one soon, I guess I just want to be sad for a little while. Its okay to miss someone when you love them so much!
Do you have a happy thought today? Its always good to think ahead of time what you will think of to prepare yourself for the times when happy thoughts are hard to find!

Thursday, May 20, 2010

The Daunting Things in Life


I have been meditating a bit lately on the projects/goals that I have not yet accomplished and was thinking about what the hold up is. For some of them it has literally been years! You know what I'm talking about, tasks such as making and living by a budget that you know in the long run will be a huge blessing. Or a goal you set for yourself years earlier and to date have only been half accomplished. Well, it is now time to address the daunting issues and things in your life that you have been avoiding. The first step is taking the time to figure out what they are. For me obviously it is living by a budget, mailing some writing I've done to a publisher, and stopping my annoying habit and cracking my knuckles. To you they may not seem so big but to me each one of these has its own mountain to climb. Perhaps you are one of those rare people who always accomplishes every task that is in front of you and every goal you have ever set, but if not then "Today is a new day, with no mistakes in it, at least not yet!"(Anne of Green Gables) Figure our what your daunting mountain is and conquer it! Soon my vacation in the valley of Daunting things will be over and I will be the conqueror of my self-inflicted goals. (And will hopefully be a happier, better person because of my efforts!)

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Southern BBQ Pitt


I went to lunch today at one of those hole-in-the-wall gem restaurants. My sister saw a coupon for this BBQ Pitt and we had to go try it out. I have decided to name it-THE BEST BBQ YOU WILL EVER EAT IN KENTUCKY!!!!!! The name of it is "Texican's BBQ Pitt." If you like BBQ flavor you have got to try this place out! They are a smaller, cozy restaurant with the smoker cooking your food right out side the window. It is on Highway 146 in Crestwood, Kentucky. If you need a better address here is a phone number-502-241-9227. All they need to do is add fried pickles on their menu and I will be 100 % addicted to eating there every week! (Even without the fried pickles the food is pretty amazing!) So, when you are planing your next night out be sure to count Texican's BBQ Pitt into your plans! Have you ever come across a hole-in-the-wall type restaurant that you feel more people should know about? Please let me know! I may have to take some road trips to get there, but good food is always worth the drive!

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Double Stuffed Oreo Addiction


I went to the store yesterday and walked past the Oreo's. Then, I stopped turned around and went back. I did not have the will power to pass them by this grocery trip. So, yes I purchased the delectably delicious package of Double Stuffed Oreo's. The good news is that I didn't rip the bag open immediately. I did wait until dinner, and then I went to town. Have you ever dipped an Oreo in Milk? Its delicious! Then, my husband got home from work and so of course I had to have my second helping of Oreo's.(This was definitely not done guilt free! I will be working out all week to work off this Oreo eating spree!)
I decided I enjoyed the Oreo's so much that I dug through my recipe's and found my recipe for Homemade Oreo cookies that my Grandmother gave me as a wedding gift. So, I thought I would share that recipe with you today. Do you have any sweet tooth addictions? Please share with me, and if you have a recipe for it that would be even better!!

Grandma's Double Stuffed Oreo's
1 Chocolate food cake mix
2 Eggs
2/3 cup Shortening
Mix all together well. Roll into small balls. Place on ungreased cookie sheet. Opt-you can sprinkle a little powdered sugar over top of cookies if you would like. Bake @ 375 degree's for 8 min. Cool. Fill with Cream cheese filling.
Cream Cheese Filling:
2 Cups Powdered Sugar
1 (4 oz) pkg Cram Cheese
1/2 t vanilla
1/8 cup butter
Mix well and fill cookies. Enjoy!


Monday, May 17, 2010

House Hunting


My Parents are moving to Kentucky from Utah and have been in town the last few day's trying to find a home to move into. I went with them a couple of the days and have found that house hunting is exhausting, and frustrating!! The thing is that you have the ideal home in your head, and finding it is like trying to find a needle in a haystack! Which after walking through at least 30 homes they finally found it. The home that you walk into and it takes your breath away and your heart starts beating faster because you LOVE it! (I also loved it obviously!) You can picture your future in that home, and can't wait to get it started! It is a dream home/property for my parents and I think they also would be very comfortable there. The frustrating part is that they have to sell their current home before being able to purchase this one. So, my question for you all today is, do you know anyone who wants a beautiful ranch home, newly remodeled and updated, with a horse pasture, horse barn and extra garage ? It is nestled in beautiful Logan, Utah. My Dad has accepted a new job in Kentucky and is the only reason why they would leave their current dream home in Utah. Here is some info on the home if you are intrigued or know anyone who is currently on the Home hunt in Logan, Utah
http://www.realestateincachecounty.com/listing/mlsid/299/propertyid/962321/

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

The List

The other day I realized that I was wandering around my house aimlessly, thinking "What should I do?" The baby was down, the dishes were done, the rooms were straightened and I couldn't think of anything to do. Which is actually very frustrating when I know that just that morning I had a huge list of things to accomplish during nap time, and now Mommy brain had taken over and I couldn't remember a single thing. I decided it was time to do something about it. I wrote a list, and then numbered them from most important to least. It has been wonderful! I get so much more accomplished now. Have you ever tried a list or do you have a different technique that works well with helping you remember all the things you need to accomplish?

Monday, May 10, 2010

Male/Female MarketingTactics


My husband and I were window shopping the other day at the local mall. We were walking through Gap when my Husband made the comment about the names on the Woman's jeans. "Perfect Boot," "Sexy Boot," "Long and Lean," "Curvy," and "Always Skinny." WHAT!!! If I had to describe myself in my jeans I don't think it would be any of these. Does the name of the jean effect how you feel in it? If you buy a pair of "Sexy Boot" jeans do you feel all the more sexy?
Next we walked past the Mens section and found that the names were much more realistic-"Authentic," "Standard," "Easy," "Loose." Do you see the difference between the female/male marketing? No wonder I have issue's! I can't walk around a store without everything screaming at me that I need to loose weight so that I can wear some "Long and Lean" jeans. My goal is to someday fit into some "Always Skinny" jeans too by the way. But, in case you see me before I can squeeze my lower half into those jeans feel free to whistle if you see me walking around in my "Husky cut" jean or "Burley Boot cut" jean. Although it may not be in style, I will be comfortable!

Saturday, May 8, 2010

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY!!!!!!


I know it is one day early for me to be celebrating Mother's Day, but honestly, as a Mother I think I deserve at least a full weekend of celebration! We kicked it off last night with a Gladys Knight concert, and LOVED it! Man, does that woman have an amazing voice! I believe tonight I will torture my husband by having him watch "Anne of Avonlea" with me-the second movie in the Anne of Green Gables series. Tomorrow we will be celebrating by eating way too much delicious food and ruin all the healthy eating and working out I have been doing all week. Can't wait!!
But, really, honestly, this blog is about Mothers and tomorrow is our day. So, share with me what are your honest feelings about being a Mother? For me, it has been and is one of the most rewarding, exhausting, wonderful things I have ever done! Since becoming a Mother I have learned to put my needs on a back burner and take care of a starving, poopy, fussy baby, while my stomach is growling and I need a bathroom myself. What pay have I received in return? Hugs and kisses from my Child who has only been away from her Heavenly Father for 14 short months. So, basically I'm being loved back from a perfect little piece of Heaven that the Lord has entrusted me with being able to be called Mother by her. So, even though being a mother can be tiring and exhausting at times, if I am able to hold a little piece of heaven in my arms, then I want to stay on this path for the rest of my life!! I LOVE BEING A MOTHER!!!!

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

Cinco de Mayo Dinner


So, I have just made a fantastic, delicious dinner for our Cinco de Mayo party. (Which really isn't too much of a party. My sister and her boys are coming over and we are eating Mexican food.) I found this recipe on www.allrecipes.com. If you are an Enchilada fan then I would highly suggest "Angela's Awesome Enchiladas." If you make the changes that I made to it then you might as well just call it "Amber's Awesome Enchiladas!" The only thing I did different was added more lime juice, added some cilantro(love cilantro!) and added some red peppers for color, and a little Fajita seasoning. Other then that, everything else is the same. Here is the exact website for the recipe- http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Angelas-Awesome-Enchiladas/Detail.aspx?src=etaf

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds skinless, boneless chicken breast meat - cut into chunks
  • 1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed cream of chicken soup
  • 1 1/4 cups sour cream
  • 1/4 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 1 small onion, chopped
  • 1 (4 ounce) can chopped green chilies, drained
  • 1 (1.25 ounce) package mild taco seasoning mix
  • 1 bunch green onions, chopped, divided
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 teaspoon lime juice
  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 5 (12 inch) flour tortillas
  • 3 cups Cheddar cheese, shredded, divided
  • 1 (10 ounce) can enchilada sauce
  • 1 (6 ounce) can sliced black olives

Directions

  1. Place the chicken in a large pot and add water to cover. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce the heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until the chicken pieces are no longer pink, about 10 minutes. Shred chicken by placing two forks back to back and pulling meat apart. Set the shredded chicken aside. Meanwhile, combine the cream of chicken soup, sour cream, and chili powder in a saucepan. Bring to a simmer over low heat, stirring occasionally, then turn off the heat and cover to keep warm.
  2. Heat the butter in a skillet over medium heat. Stir in the onion; cook and stir until the onion has softened and turned translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the shredded chicken, chopped green chilies, taco seasoning, half of the bunch of chopped green onion, and water. Allow to simmer for 10 minutes. Stir in the lime juice, onion powder, and garlic powder; simmer for an additional 10 minutes.
  3. Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Stir 1 cup of the soup mixture into the skillet with the chicken mixture. Spread the remaining soup mixture on the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking dish.
  4. Fill each tortilla with chicken mixture. Sprinkle Cheddar cheese over the chicken filling before folding the tortillas, reserving half of the shredded cheese for topping the enchiladas. Fold tortillas over the filling and place seam-side down in the prepared pan.
  5. Pour enchilada sauce evenly over the enchiladas. Cover with the remaining 1 1/2 cups of Cheddar cheese. Sprinkle the reserved chopped green onions and the sliced olives on top of the cheese. Bake in the preheated oven until filling is heated through and the cheese is melted and bubbling, about 25 minutes.

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

High School


It was ten years ago, this month that I had my greatest day of my High School life...Graduation day. It was finally all behind me! At that time it was probably one of the greatest accomplishments of my life because I HATED school!!!! My Mother practically had to drag me out the door. So the fact that I actually graduated is huge. Fortunately my parents had a clear view of my future and forced me to get a further education. I was admitted into Brigham Young University the fall right after I graduated from high school. I could literally have a brand new start in college, surrounded by people who were all there for the same reason-to learn. It was the best place I could have been and the very best situation I could be in at that time of life. 4 1/2 years after starting college I graduated, which was a much, much bigger fiet then all of my early education ever was.
Now it is time for my 10 year reunion, which no surprise to me, nothing has been planned and so more than likely my class of 2000 will not be reuniting this year. But honestly would I even go? Probably not! All of the friends that I want to keep in contact with are still around, everyone that I hoped to never see again have fallen in-between the cracks and I have forgotten them. Everyone in the middle of that...well they can just be my friends on face book.
The people that I would really, really like to have a reunion with are the people that I worked with in Valdez, Alaska, when I worked in a fish cannery for a summer in-between semesters. I would love to have a reunion with my College freshmen friends who made the second semester of college much more bearable than the first. I also wouldn't mind a reunion with all the amazing people I worked with at BYU Mail services, who really made an impact on my life. High School just seems so small and insignificant to me now, after ten years of having absolutely wonderful experiences and accomplishments that I never even dreamed of while in High School.
Of course I understand that not everyone hated high school. My Husband for example was the football jock, and home coming king, loved High School!! It was his glory day's, and he had a blast at his reunion, but I don't know if he is the norm, or if I am. So, today my question is: Did you or will you be going to your 10 year High School Reunion?

Monday, May 3, 2010

Whinnie the Pooh-which character are you?


I have had a little black rain cloud over my head for the last week and am having the hardest time getting it to leave. I thought of Eeyore last night and how I just feel a little grey and like a big black rain cloud is stuck over my head...luckily I don't have to have a tail pinned onto my backside. I did finally figure it out last night though after much thought and reading through the Ensign. I need to be more grateful...Gratitude, I need more of it! I am very blest and have no reason to continue down the path of gloom and doom. Of course you can't alway's be walking on top of the moon, but it would sure be nice to just get the rain cloud of doom to disapear. So, I am going to start a BLESSINGS list, and also a Gratitude journal. Then, the next time I feel as if I am slipping into a depression I will be able to be reminded of all the blessing I have poured out on my head. So, today I would just like to tell my readers "Thanks for noticin' me."
What Pooh charcter are you relating with today? Here is a website with a good description of the characters if you need a bit of help. http://www.just-pooh.com/100acre.html