Fry Bread

Living in New Mexico, we love eating Fry Bread. It is a Navajo tradition and is readily available just about at any public event, flea market or community activity. Sometimes we just crave it at home and love that my Mother-in-law Tina has lots of traditional New Mexico recipes up her sleeve that she has learned and mastered since moving here as a teenager in the early 70's! She lives right next door and loves cooking for people especially when they have a craving or special request. This recipe of hers is simple and fun to make for the kids. Sometime I will post more of her New Mexico recipes including green chili enchiladas, red chili enchiladas, tortillas, Mexican rice, chili rellenos, green chili stew, smothered Christmas burritos, tacos, etc. etc. etc!
It's kind of funny because growing up, my Mom use to make the most delicious flapjacks for us! They were so similar to fry bread. I think she got the tradition from her mom, my Grandma Sevey. When my Mom would bake bread, she would also save some of the dough, roll it out and fry it up and call them flapjacks. We would eat them with honey or beans and cheese, and Missy's personal favorite honey and cheese! One of my favorite childhood memories was bread baking day with my Mom and sisters!
My kids love hearing the origins of our traditions and I love that I can pass this tradition on to my kids from both sides of the family!

Fry Bread
6 cups flour
2 tsp. salt
3 tsp. baking powder
1 cup powder milk
2 ¾ cups warm water

Mix all dry ingredients
Slowly knead in warm water
Let rest a few minutes
Roll ping pong size ball dough out thin fry in very hot oil
Makes about 11/2 to 2 dozen
Serve with honey and powered sugar

Marvelously Moist Muffins

Mmmmm! Muffins!!! I found this recipe from a Bed and Breakfast website in Cape Cod. I'm always a little skeptical trying a new recipe, but I was really happy with these muffins! They were moist and dense and very delicious! We took them on our annual "Sunrise Breakfast" the other day! I made one batch of Blueberry Muffins and one batch of half Blueberry and half Raspberry. Here is the recipe copied from the website:

Marvelously Moist Muffins presented by Isaiah Clark House

Start with this basic recipe and add different ingredients for a large variety of muffins. Preparation time is about 10 minutes plus preparation time for your fruit ingredients.

Ingredients:

2 cups all-purpose flour

3/4 cup of white sugar

1/2 teaspoon salt

3 teaspoons baking powder

1 egg

3/4 cup milk

1/2 cup vegetable oil

1 T Vanilla

Cinnamon/sugar mixture

Paper liners for muffin cups

~Preheat oven to 400 degrees F

~Sift together flour, sugar, salt, and baking powder into a mixing bowl.

~Create a "well" in the center.

~In a small bowl, beat the egg with a fork and add the milk, vanilla and oil.

~Pour at once into the flour "well" and mix quickly and lightly until mixture is moist throughout. ~Batter will be thick and lumpy.

~(Additional ingredients such as fruit(1 cup per recipe) and/or nuts (1/2 cup) would be added now, quickly and without too much stirring).

~Spoon batter into paper lined muffin cups.

~Pile high above the top of each cup for a large "muffin top".

~Sprinkle top evenly with cinnamon/sugar mixture for a sweet crispy top.

Bake for

35-40 minutes for large muffins

20-25 min for regular size muffins

8-12 minutes for mini muffins

until muffins are golden brown and top springs back to touch. Toothpick will come out clean.

NOTES FOR VARIATIONS:Fresh fruit is best if available, but when adding frozen fruit such as blueberries and raspberries, rinse ice crystals off with cold water, drain and pat dry with paper towel, then add sugar to coat fruit and allow to stand before mixing in.

Try apples and raisins, peaches or bananas or combine for variety.We prefer walnuts chopped very small but almonds or chopped pecans can be used. SPECIAL NOTES:For cranberry muffins, cut cranberries in half for full flavor. Use orange juice instead of milk (apple juice for apple muffins) and add 2 T orange zest.

MAKES 6 LARGE MUFFINS or 12-15 regular size muffins or about 36 mini muffins

Watermelon Award

Thanks Beth for my very first Blog Award!

So in order for me to accept this award I'm suppose to list some things that make me happy!

Hmmmmm!

There are so many things to choose from!

I am usually a happy person, but I don't really think about the specifics very often.

What makes me HAPPY???

Well, Here it goes,

I feel most happy when:

1. John gives me a hug and tells me how much he loves and appreciates me as a wife and mom!

2. My kids are being silly dancing to fun music or when they randomly say "I love you mom, you're the best mom!"

3. I have cooked or baked something for my family that they love!

4. I am at Disneyland with John and our kids!

5. I have just given birth and I'm holding my newborn for the first time (2 more weeks until I get to experience this for the 6th time!!)

6. I have recognized an answer to a personal prayer! Or go to the Temple or attend and participate in a great testimony meeting!

7. I do something thoughtful for someone else!

8. I am smiling!!!!!

light sabers

OK, this creative idea has nothing to do with me at all!!!

But, it is so cool, that I just had to share it!

I am so lucky to have a husband who is so super creative!

He made these light sabers with the boys yesterday.

He took the boys to Home Depot and bought some wooden dowels for $3.56 a piece.

Then he had the boys sand the dowels and round off one end.

Next he pulled out his acrylic paints, and the boys designed and painted the light sabers however they wanted to.

Finally, they accessorized with duct tape, old flashlight parts, and anything else they could find.

Pretzel Sparklers for the 4th of July

We have a family tradition every 4th of July to make these fun pretzel sparklers. The kids love making and tasting them! This year my sisters- in-law and my nieces and nephews came over to make them with us!

All you need is:

Pretzel Rods or mini pretzels
White Almond Bark (White Chocolate Candy Melts)
Sprinkles

1.Dip the pretzels in melted white chocolate
2.Sprinkle
3.Place on parchment paper lined cookie sheet
4.Put in freezer for a couple of minutes until set

Flower Pot Utensil Holder

I found this cute flower pot under my kitchen sink, not being used for flowers, so I thought I would put it to better use and store all of my cooking utensils in it.