2019 Blue Jeans Week 14

I am continuing the trend of being behind in posting....oh well, it's all good. Had a good week last week.  Did a college visit, had some track meets, ate some yummy ice cream, and had an awesome piano recital!  Spring is here, and we are loving the weather!  Take a look at our week...

Popcorn party on mom and dad's bed tonight.  Ben was reading to the kids, but I think right here they were watching a basketball game on his phone :) and when that was done, then he read to them.

College visit #1 for this junior girl of mine.  Visited the University of Kansas this week.  Home of the Jayhawks.

KU is big into basketball and has the original rules of basketball posted in their basketball arena.  This girl loves her basketball, so she was excited to see this!

After our college visit, we hit up a yummy homemade ice cream place.  You can never go wrong with good ice cream!  We had a super fun day! 

State FBLA contest was this week, and Miss E and her group did awesome.  She found out she made it to Nationals this summer!  Woohoo!! 

Track meet for the week for Mr J.  He is doing great in his races of the mile, half mile, and 4x400 relay.  He keeps improving and adding to his medals count.

Miss E and I were excited to hit DQ Saturday night while Ben and Jesse had a church meeting.  It has been a good ice cream week!

Piano recital!  Miss E did awesome on her piece.

Mr J also did awesome on his solo piece.

And then to end it, Mr J and his friend did a great job on their duet!

Thanks for visiting!  Hope you have a great week!

2019 Blue Jeans Week 13

Man, I got really behind this week.  My normal Monday post is coming on a Thursday....such is life.  It is all good.  Last week was a good week.  Spring has finally arrived!  Along with track meets!  Let it begin!  Take a look at our week... 

For my birthday, my Amazing mom made me this beautiful quilt!  I was so excited!  Love it!!!

Our family brackets are continually being updated....

Track meet one of two for the week....Miss E rocking the triple jump.  She ended up getting first in pole vault, 2nd in triple jump and 3rd in 300M hurdles.  It was a great start to the track season for her!!!

Then Miss E rocked it at the state power lifting meet!  First in bench press and 2nd overall state champ in her weight class!  Woohoo!  Go Miss E!

And spring has finally arrived, and I have some color in my yard!  Love it when the daffodils come up!

Some more purple color in my yard!  Spring is finally here!!!!

And a picture from Miss A for the week, she and some friends went ice skating and had a great time!

Thanks for visiting!  Hope you had a great week!

Our New Favorite Waffles

Today is not really a recipe, but a new favorite food of ours.  We don't live very close to a Costco, but I still have a membership, and when I get up to the city about once a month I try to stock up.  I had seen this pancake mix over the last year, and when it went on coupon, I decided to try it.  Man, am I glad I did!  They are really good!  We have made pancakes several times and waffles more than I can count.  Waffles are our favorite!  I triple the waffle recipe on the back and freeze the extras for quick breakfasts.  

It gives you three different options to make the pancakes and waffles, and I go for the one with the most protein which involves making the recipe with milk and eggs versus just water or just milk.  I also found these at my local Wal-mart, so if Costco and buying in bulk are not your thing, they do have them in smaller packages in regular grocery stores.  We really like the taste and with all the protein, it helps keep you full until lunch.  We also enjoy breakfast for dinner, and we have had these several times for dinner with bacon and eggs.  Extra yum!  So enjoy!!

2019 Blue Jeans Week 12

Spring Break week!  Woohoo!  We didn't do anything big or go anywhere far.  Ben had staff changes at work, so he needed to be close, but he did take off Friday and we went to the city and enjoyed some beautiful weather, art, and food.  Take a look at our week...

Happy St. Patrick's Day!  Our traditional Green dinner!  Yum!

Miss O and her cute roommates all ready for church.

One thing my kids like to do when they have time is bake and cook.  They made 4 different kinds of granola bars, some bread and this yummy pizza this week.  Good stuff!

Family NCAA basketball bracket challenge begins this week.  Everyone was getting their brackets ready and then keeping track of the games.

Beautiful spring day for a picnic in the city!  

Monet's Waterlilies is one of my favorite pieces of art!  

Went to eat at a Mongolian BBQ where you pick your own raw stuff and they cook it for you.  Sooooo good and the kids loved it!

Miss E is our adventurous one and loved eating this. The rest of us, not so much.  We just watched her eat it and enjoyed our chicken, pork, and beef :)

Happy birthday to me!  Smoky picture after I blew out the candles of my birthday cheesecake with lemon curd.  Oh yum!  

Thanks for visiting!  Hope you had a great week!  Officially welcome spring!!!!

Easiest apple pie ever

Easiest Apple Pie Ever

We love to celebrate Pi Day--March 14 (3.14).  Every year we try a different pie.  This year I was short on time, and just made this super easy apple pie.  I have made it before, and love it.  It is so easy because the crust and the crumble topping are the same thing!  I love it!  Pie crusts are not my favorite thing to make.  They are so touchy, but this pie crust is so easy!  If you have an apple peeler/corer/slicer, then this pie only takes minutes to prepare.  So easy! I realize this is not apple season, but this pie is good any time of the year.  Serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.  Divine!

Easiest Apple Pie Ever

2 cups flour

1 cup sugar

1 egg yoke

1 tsp baking powder

1 cup butter, melted

7-8 apples, sliced, cored and peeled (whatever kind you like or have on hand)

1 1/2 Tbl cinnamon

2 Tbl sugar

Mix together the flour, sugar, egg yoke and baking powder.  Add in the melted butter.  Mix well then press half of the mixture into the bottom of a 9" pie plate--this makes your bottom crust.

Slice, core and peel your apples and place them in a large bowl.  Toss them with the cinnamon and sugar.  Place the apples on top of your crust.

Crumble remaining dough on top of the apples by breaking into pieces.

Bake 350 for 45 minutes to an hour depending on when your apples are done, you may need to put a strip of foil over the edge of the crust so it doesn't burn near the end.  You want your apples tender but not mushy, so you can test them with a fork.

 **I originally got this recipe from here, but altered it a little after making it a few times.  Mixing the apples with the cinnamon and sugar in a bowl makes it turn out better I think.   Enjoy!

2019 Blue Jeans Week 11

We had a good week last week.  The weather has finally become more moderate, and we have seen the sun and are so excited for spring!!!  It was Spring Break "Day" for my college girls.  They don't get a week, they just get a day, but they enjoyed it!  We enjoyed a professional hockey game and loved our Pi day!  Take a look at our week...

Puzzles are a few a our favorite things, and we got a new one this week that Miss E started.

Life lesson--how to shine your shoes.  Ben teaches Mr J how to shine his church shoes.  

Happy Pi Day!  We had apple pie this year to celebrate Pi day.  Super easy recipe that I will share this week.  So yummy and quick!

For Miss A's spring day she went down to Zion National Park with her cute friends, and they hiked Angel's landing.  So much fun!

For Miss O's spring day she and her cute roommies went to a nearby hot springs and exploring in some caves.  

Some friends had hockey tickets they couldn't use, so they donated them to us.  First hockey game ever for us.  As Miss E said, "Flying hockey pucks and fighting, what more could you want from a sport?"  Lots of fun!

Thanks for visiting!  Hope you had a great week!

Chocolate Bundt Cake

Chocolate Bundt Cake

This chocolate bundt cake is divine.  It is so moist and yummy.  It doesn't need a frosting.  You just dust it with powdered sugar, serve it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, and you have the perfect dessert.  I have made this for the past 14 years.  

I have two good friends that I make it every year for their birthdays.  They both love chocolate, and they always know it is coming from me for their birthdays. 

  It is super simple as it uses a cake mix, but so very, very good.  Enjoy!

Chocolate Bundt Cake

1 box devil's food chocolate cake mix (you can also use German chocolate or chocolate fudge or just regular chocolate, but our favorite is the devil's food)

1 package regular chocolate pudding mix

4 large eggs

1 cup sour cream

1/2 cup warm water

1/2 cup vegetable oil

1 1/2 cups chocolate chips

Heat oven to 350 degrees, grease the inside of a bundt pan well. 

In the bowl of a stand mixer combine all ingredients except chocolate chips.  Mix well for 3 minutes--it will be a thick batter.  Stir in the chocolate chips.  Pour the mix into the prepared pan.  Bake for 50-60 minutes, checking with a toothpick in center to make sure it is done.  Remove from oven and cool 20 minutes in the pan, then remove from pan and cool completely.  Once cooled, sprinkle with powdered sugar.