Recipes from the Party

In December we had a wonderful party with some of our friends in Arizona. As promised here are some of the recopies that were shared (see below). Thanks to all those who came and enjoyed the season with us!

Main Course
Turkey recipe can be found at: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/perfect-roast-turkey-recipe4/index.html

Stuffing - I “made” some stuffing but unfortunately I “stuffed” the fridge too full and when Ryan opened it…well it fell out…but it looked good, and after a nice “pregnant” cry I decided that I would live if I didn’t have it out for everyone to try, but it you want to make it here you go: http://www.food.com/recipe/pumpkin-stuffed-with-everything-good-441302


Sweet Potato Pie (that was the thing that had the nuts on top): http://southernfood.about.com/od/sidedishcasseroles/r/bl90911u.htm

Ham – I bought a spiral cut ham, re-heated, then glazed with a Dijon and fig preserve glaze. If you are interested in the recipe it is from Paula Deen’s Sons and was featured in the 2009 Food Network Magazine December Issue - http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/fig-and-orange-glazed-ham-recipe/index.html

Green Salad/Mixed Greens – thank you to Lori and Tyler Hamelwright

Appetizers
Spinach-Artichoke Dip – Compliments of Kristal and Chance Tyler and the 2010 December issue of the Food Network Magazine: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/almost-famous-spinach-artichoke-dip-recipe/index.html

Bread – Compliments of the Riley Family (Joy and Randy) and the Wildflower Bread Company, I think it was the Rosemary Sea Salt loaf, but someone can correct me if I am wrong. http://www.wildflowerbread.com/bread/

Cream Cheese–Pesto Dip – Compliments of Emily and Mike Cox; to prepare take a bar of cream cheese, slice in half, place in a corning-wear or similar baking-serving dish, heat to 320-400 degrees to melt, pull out of oven, cover with pesto sauce (green was used but I think you could sub sun-dried tomato too), sprinkle parmesan cheese on top (preferably grated), place back in oven to warm, then serve with sliced pieces of baguette bread. **I have also seen Emily make this with Brie cheese and serve with small grape tomatoes, also very tasty.

All of the produce, rolls, shrimp, etc was purchased at Fry’s including the Tiger Shrimp.


Dessert

Chocolate and White Chocolate Chip cookies – were brought by Amber and Tyler DeWitt, I do not have the recipe.

Sugar Cookies – compliments of Kristal and Chance Tyler as well as the Worldwide Ward Christmas Cookbook – I somehow misplaced the recipe for this one (silly me).

Brownies with Peppermint topping – from Mike and Emily Cox, http://www.ourbestbites.com/2008/12/peppermint-candy-cane-brownies.html

Chocolate Silk Pie – compliments of Bobby and Claudia Schumacher

Thanks ----
To everyone who came, brought food, enjoyed food, etc thank you so much! If I have inadvertently left something off the list or failed to include something, I truly apologize, please send me an email and I will post it up – my memory does fail me.

Happy New Years to all and we hope to see you all again very soon!

Fun Pictures from Sept and Oct 2010

Here are just some fun pictures from the past few weeks of our little family.

Halloween 2010

For Halloween Karsten was a giraffe – a crazy giraffe! He loved his costume. The first time we let him try it on he played and danced around the house for an hour. On 10/30 we went to our ward’s trunk or treat and chili activity. My mom, brother, nephews, grandpa, and Margaret came along with us to celebrate! My nephew Che was Ironman and Rylan was a bee…a sleepy bee. We handed out candy and had a good time together. On Halloween we put Karsten back in his costume and let him run around the house for my birthday party, he enjoyed it again!

First time playing...





Trunk or Treat







Karsten and his pumpkin

Mother Nature's Farm

In mid-October we took another trip to a farm, Mother Nature’s Farm in Gilbert, AZ. We went with our friends, the Cox Family. Karsten loved the petting zoo at the farm where he got to see and pet baby pigs, a mama pig, a cow, some sheep, a goat, some chickens, and other farm animals. We also rode on a tracker hay ride, and Karsten picked out his Halloween pumpkin, ran through a hay-maze, and had lots of fun running around with his friend Eli. Afterwards we went out to lunch and enjoyed some Mexican food…yum!

Trip to the Dairy

In late September we went with some friends to Shamrock farms, where Karsten saw his first cow in person. Karsten really enjoyed seeing the cows, playing at the playground at the farm, and of course getting to see his friends. I thought it was pretty interesting how they make their milk, process it, ship it, etc. We also got to see the organic farm (yum) which I was pretty excited to see…well I got to see the cows making my yummy milk and dairy products.
According to the farm in order to be a cow at Shamrock farms the cow must give birth once per year and they control mating…you know to prevent brotherly sisterly love. So basically they have 10,000 female cows at varying levels of pregnancy and post pregnancy hanging out together…if I thought about this as humans…wow that’s a lot of women together all pregnant or having babies..a bit scary.
The day we were there, and at the time of the tour we took they had 15 baby calfs born since midnight (we went on the 10am tour). Apparently, they have babies pretty constantly there – which is pretty neat. They also said they don’t buy their cows, they just keep the babies and raise them up to stay on the farm.
I expected the farm to smell like…well cows you know…but they keep it pretty clean so the smell was very minimal. I highly recommend taking their tour, it was a lot of fun.