I’m not a baker

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When I was young – living at home with my mom – my sister and I had a (unspoken?) agreement.  She would bake and I would clean! It worked great for us….except now she is up in the Foothills and I’m down here obsessively counting marshmallows!

So, what am I doing today?

I’m baking a birthday cake for Sissy (with purple icing and blackberries), a sugar-free peach crisp for Hubs and my FIL (they are both diabetics) and since the kitchen is already a mess – I think I’ll start a batch of those homemade pickles!

My sister better be proud of me cause I’m waaaaay out of my comfort zone! 😉

Recipe for Cucumbers

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Our CSA box has been overflowing a bit in the cucumber department!  Ruth and I were talking about how we are using them up and I mentioned that I had found a pickle recipe that seemed pretty simple.  So, if you have  a bumper crop of Cucs and enjoy pickles – maybe you’ll enjoy this recipe too!

Quickie Pickles

  • 8 cups cucumber
  • 1 cup onion
  • 1 cup green bell pepper
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 1 cup vinegar
  • 2 tbsp salt
  • 1 tbsp celery seed

Cut vegetables very thin.

Combine sugar, vinegar, salt and celery seeds. Mix well.

Pour mixture over vegetable. Cover and refrigerate for 5 days.  Stir mixture twice each day. Serve after 5 days.

White Enchiladas Recipe

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I missed the Blog Hop last week but I’m on it for this week! Here is a family favorite from my sister Beth – and since you can make it in the microwave, it’s good for the summer too! I’ve got to make this soon!

White Enchiladas

  • 1 cup sour cream
  • 2 cups chicken, cooked & diced
  • 1/4 tsp cumin
  • 2 green onions, diced
  • 1 cup cream of chicken soup
  • 1/3 cup green chilis, diced
  • 8 flour tortillas
  • 1 cup cheddar cheese, grated

In a small bowl, combine sour cream & chicken soup.  Divide in half and set aside half for topping.

Add chicken, green chilis and cumin to remaining portion.  Mix well.

Spoon mixture into each tortilla, roll up and place in greased baking dish.

Top with remaining sour cream, green onions and grated cheese.

Bake at 350 degrees for 25 min or microwave on medium for 5-8 minutes.

ETA: We double this recipe for our family – leftovers are our favorite!!

Cheryl asked about microwave VS oven: I didn’t notice any difference other than speed and less heat! But as my big pans don’t fit in the microwave, I tend to bake this recipe.


MckLinky Blog Hop

Totally random… again

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I should be writing part three of our adoption story … but real life intrudes!  Our two oldest boys are going to Camp Cherry Valley on Catalina Island for a week of boy scout camp.  Cheryl at TooManyHats and I had a few minutes of freaking out when we thought our boys were going to be there at the same time, but sadly her troop will be there the next week.  Have I ever told you about all the similarities we have found in one another?  It’s cool and weird all at once!

So, not only do we have to help them get their gear all together, we also are transporting 5 scouts in our van.  We offered in order to help save us some money in getting them to camp.  This camp is already SO expensive!  So, Eric and I are leaving Sunday morning – well, technically it’s still night – along with 5 scouts.  After dropping them off, we will spend a couple of days with my cousin and her daughter.  Then we’ll be home for a few days and head back down there again to bring them home.  Thank God for Grammy who will watch the two littles.

Completely out of left field, for those of you who make your own frozen waffles…how do you store them?  Obviously popping them in a freezer bag did not give me the results I wanted.  The waffles are still good after toasting them, but getting them apart was a mess!  So, is there a trick or something I missed?

My mind is all a jumble…here is what is running through it:

  • Need to call the groomers to get an appt for Tuvok & Janeway
  • Need to call another mom to see if boys can get a ride home with her from youth group tonight
  • Need to WORK!!
  • Need to do laundry and start packing
  • Do boys need jackets for Catalina Island??
  • What will I do with the chicken thighs that are in my frig and need to be cooked?
  • I need to get some cash for card making class tonight. I look forward to it…maybe I’ll finally decide if I want to keep (and use) all my stamping stuff or sell it.
  • I need to decide if I can go to the quilt store on Saturday with my friends or if I need to pass. :(  I hope I can go, but…well, things are crazy.

OK…this isn’t helping.  Guess I’ll go throw the chicken in the crockpot, make a few phone calls and then work.  Look for part three later today or tomorrow.

Summer Break

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So, what am I going to do with myself on my summer break?!

  • Work.  I still work for The Old Schoolhouse Magazine.  I’m blessed to work from home for them.  I’ve been working for them for a little more than 5 years now.
  • Knit.  I’m finishing a shrug for Sissy.  Then I have a lace stole for my mom I’m working on.  Finishing a winter sweater for me and then trying to decide on a lighter weight cardigan pattern to start next.
  • Cook. I’m trying to feed my family less processed foods.  I’m also challenged each week by the veggies in my CSA box.  It’s been lots of fun!
  • Quilt.  I’m still competing with Ashley & Trina with our Block of the Month.  I even made a page about it on my blog to help me track my progress.  I’m currently losing the bet!
  • Scrapbook.  Ok…really only guilt is making me add this one.  I NEED to scrapbook.
  • Geocache.  I hope we can make some time each week to Geocache.  Need to nag my Hubby I guess! 😉

I think I’m really going to enjoy my summer!