Recipe of the Week

Greek Pasta Salad

12 oz. penne
2 c. cherry tomatoes, halved
1 medium cucumber, halved lengthwise and sliced
4 green onions, sliced
1/3 c. olives, halved

Dressing:

1/2 c. olive oil
1/2 c. lemon juice
2 tsp. dried basil, crushed
2 tsp. dried oregano, crushed
4-6 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper

1 c. crumbled feta cheese (4 oz.)

Cook pasta, drain well. Cool.

Toss in tomatoes, cucumber, green onion and olives.

Mix dressing well. Pour over pasta salad, mix well. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours or up to 24 hours.

Just before serving add feta cheese. Gently fold in.

Enjoy!

Karen

End of a Favorite Thing

I have realized recently that I have come to the time in my family's life when we no longer need to have our picture books upstairs. It is kind of sad because it marks the end of one of my favorite things--reading to my children.

As I sat on my hall floor taking out these old, worn out books, I would think, "This is the book Allison really enjoyed." or "This book I could read to Erik with my eyes closed (because I knew it THAT well!)." Sometimes I would pull out a book and think, "I hated reading this book (because it just wasn't that well written) and Andrew ALWAYS asked me to have it read to him!" Then there were the books that I would think, "Nathan liked it when I read this book with the variety of voices I would create to fit the character of the book." And, of course, I came across the books that everyone loved.

When I came across Arthur's Chicken Pox, I thought about the time Erik, Nathan and Allison got the chicken pox and how the book inspired the way they were treated (because the kids thought they should get to eat lunch on the sofa while watching t.v. and eat ice cream sundaes too!).


King Bidgood's in the Bathtub (one of my personal all time favorite picture books) was a book I hid from Erik for a few weeks because I got SO TIRED of reading it to him all. day. long.

So, down in the basement they went waiting for the day that they might me used in the classroom or even read to my grandchildren.

Those moments reading to my children are priceless. Generally they weren't planned. The kids would just bring me a stack of books and ask me to read.

A true impulse of the moment. Looking back I never regret any one of them.

Bear Lake Project

Remember when I went to Bear Lake a few weeks ago? This is what DeAnn and I made...


It was a fun, quick project that will be fun to look at all summer long. It is similar to our last Bear Lake project (which I'll show you when I get it back out in October because, yup, it's a Halloween project!).

Karen

A Favorite Thing

I LOVE my food storage.

But I'm not talking about the wheat and beans.

Don't think I don't have those items because I do. I've got buckets and buckets of it...

The problem with that stuff is that it is, well, so stuffy. Wheat and beans are so mature, so grown-up. They kind of have that "I can last for 30 years if stored properly therefore I am clearly superior" vibe going on in their sterile white buckets that just does not excite me.

My favorite thing is this kind of food storage...

Notice all of the colors, the differences in height and shape, and the, let's face it, the appealing flavors and variety! Isn't it pretty?!

When the Church came out with the new food storage policy (storing a three month supply of food you normally eat in addition to the wheat and beans) I was jazzed. I always stored some of the food we normally eat but not a three month supply.

This was a concept I could really wrap my mind around. I totally understood it.

I sat down and figured out the meals (where the majority of the ingredients are made up of non-perishable items) that we could eat in one month's time. Then I multiplied those ingredients/food items by three to find out how much I needed to store for a three month supply.

I also included items such as toiletries, cleaning products, etc.

I LOVE my little three month food storage in progress. I love to log what is in storage, I love to organize it, and I love to dust it (Just kidding! I don't really dust it!).

Most of all, I love the peace of mind it brings knowing that not only do we have some food to fall back on in times of need but also the fact that I'm being obedient to a commandment.

Now THAT is, indeed, a favorite thing!

Karen

A Giant Leap

Today I turned in my application for the Elementary Education Program. Contained in the application packet are my:

• ACT scores
• USU Transcript
  
• My hearing and speech test (that I passed so well the man who tested me PRACTICALLY called me Bionic Woman!)
  
• Proof that I requested a background check
• Proof that I passed the writing exam
  
• Proof that I passed my CIL exams (computer literacy skills required for all USU students)

The CIL exams were the last task I had to complete to apply. A couple of weeks ago I had three more to take. I did the first three exams last fall but then school got so busy I put them off not knowing I had to have passed the exams before I applied to the program. Then the pressure was on to get them completed!! I passed that last of the six exams last night.

In July I go in for a group interview with the other women who applied in Tooele. So, I guess that is the last hurdle I need to clear but I'm not too worried...I am, after all, almost Bionic Woman!

Karen

Allison

I've been feeling kind of guilty because I never recognized Allison's birthday in April because it was during my blogging break (due to my crazy time with school). So I thought I would make up for that today!

Here are a few pictures of my cute daughter, Allison.


One thing a love about her are the pictures she takes of herself. Some of them are really crazy.

Others more subdued.


Either way Allison is a lot of fun to be around.

I'm so happy she is my daughter!

Karen

Recipe of the Week

Fish Tacos

This is a recipe I tried for the first time last week. It is a winner! I really liked it because it was quick and easy. Happily, everyone else in the family really liked it too. Yeah!

Here is the recipe as written (my changes, comments below):

Halibut or other white fish (for 4 people)
2 avocados, chopped
1/4 head cabbage, shredded thin
1/2 c. Ranch dressing
1/2 c. plain yogurt
1/2 c. fresh cilantro, chopped
1 small can green chiles
8 flour tortillas
1-2 limes

Poach, steam or bake fish until it flakes. While fish is cooking, cut up avocado and cabbage; set aside in small dishes. Mix dressing, yogurt, cilantro and drained chiles. Heat tortillas until hot, but still soft. Fill with fish, avocado and cabbage. Top with dressing mixture and a squeeze of fresh lime.

My thoughts:

Wal-mart has fairly inexpensive frozen, individually wrapped talapia (about 4-5 pieces per bag for under $4). I was skeptical to buy frozen fish--especially frozen fish from Wal-mart but I was really pleased with it. It was quite tasty. One bag almost allowed all six of us to have two tacos each (just to give you an idea on how far the fish goes for this meal).

When I made the dressing I left out the green chiles. I don't know why but I did. I liked it but I think I will do what the recipe tells me to do next time!

Last, I used the yummy Costco tortillas that need to be cooked before eating. That was a great choice and really made these tacos extra special. I highly recommend them!

Sorry there is no photo! I was much too hungry to stop and take a picture!

Enjoy!

Karen