Busy/Quiet Book

Well, it's official. I am the best aunt ever. Check out this rather spectacular activity book I made for my nephew. Click here.

Cake Batter Rice Crispies

Beautiful, are they not? They're easy and yummy and you should make them right now. 

Cake Batter Crispy Treats
original recipe on the back of the cereal box!
3 tablespoons butter
1 10-ounce bag of mini marshmallows
1/4 cup yellow cake mix
6 cups rice krispies cereal
1 1.75-ounce container of sprinkles
Melt butter in a large saucepan over low heat and add marshmallows. Stir until they begin to melt, adding in cake mix one spoonful at a time so its combined. Stir in cereal so it is completely coated with marshmallow mixture. Sprinkle in half of the sprinkles and mix. Press into a baking dish (any size will do) and top with remaining sprinkles. Let sit for about 30 minutes before cutting. I find spraying a knife with nonstick spray helps to cut them.

That blue stuff on top is chocolate. Apparently they sell colored chocolate that can be melted in the microwave at JoAnne's. It's delicious. I just poured it into a zip-lock baggie and cut the end off and made that oh so lovely design...

They taste good. That's all that matters. 

The Best Sweet and Sour Chicken EVER!

Ok so i found this recipe on Pinterest and decided to give it a try. Well let's just say it was a huge success! Greg and I love it! It is from a blog that has become one of my favorite. Her recipe actually says to make fried rice, which I will probably make someday, but we just use steamed white rice. Hopefully you will all enjoy this as much as we do. The best part is that it is baked, so it is a lot more healthy for you than if you were to deep fry the chicken. ENJOY!

Baked Sweet and Sour Chicken

The chicken coating:

3-4 boneless chicken breasts

salt + pepper

1 cup cornstarch (We use flour because we do not have cornstarch and it worked great!)

2 eggs, beaten

1/4 cup canola oil

The sweet and sour sauce:

3/4 cup sugar

4 tbs ketchup

1/2 cup distilled white vinegar

1 tbs soy sauce

1 tsp garlic salt

       Start by preheating your oven to 325 degrees. Rinse your chicken breasts in water and then cut into cubes. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Dip chicken into the cornstarch to coat then dip into the eggs.  Heat your 1/4 cup oil in a large skillet and cook your chicken until browned but not cooked through. Place the chicken in a 9x13 greased baking dish. Mix all of your sweet and sour sauce ingredients in a bowl with a whisk and then pour evenly over the chicken. Bake for one hour and during the baking process you will need to turn the chicken every 15 minutes. 

Here is the fried rice recipe if you would like to try it. 

Fried Rice                                                                                             

3 cups cooked white rice (day old or leftover rice works best!)

3 tbs sesame oil

1 cup frozen peas and carrots (thawed)

1 small onion, chopped

2 tsp minced garlic

2 eggs, slightly beaten

1/4 cup soy sauce

      On medium high heat, heat the oil in a large skillet or wok.  Add the peas/carrots mix, onion and garlic. Stir fry until tender. Lower the heat to medium low and push the mixture off to one side, then pour your eggs on the other side of skillet and stir fry until scrambled. Now add the rice and soy sauce and blend all together well. Stir fry until thoroughly heated!   **You could really play around with this rice too! Try adding some diced ham, or green onion :) Yum!  

Friday Night Shennanigans, 3 C's Style

Kevin and Chelsie carving pumpkins

Sam making pumpkin cinnamon rolls. She didn't know this was going on the interweb. Heh.

I made pasta. Please excuse the crazed look, I'd just woken up from a nap, as per usual.


Why do we never use this blog anymore? Look how cute we are!

Brussel sprouts aren't actually gross.

Who knew, eh?

So as you know, when you get a lovely bountiful basket filled with delicious fruits and veggies you occasionally end up with weird melons you've never heard of or vegetables you haven't actually ever eaten in your life and could possibly be allergic to... Nevertheless, as a recipient of some fine looking Brussels sprouts I considered them a challenge! So I found this recipe, followed it, and discovered that Brussels sprouts aren't as gross as you've always heard (unless overcooked, then they are yucky).

Take it away Martha Stewart...

Sauteed Brussels Sprouts

This delicious seasonal vegetable becomes sweet and nutty when browned. For the best flavor and texture, make the dish just before serving.

Everyday Food, November 2009

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 2 pints brussels sprouts (2 pounds total), trimmed and halved lengthwise
• Coarse salt and ground pepper
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

Directions

1. In a large skillet, heat oil over medium-high. Add brussels sprouts, season with salt and pepper, and cook, stirring frequently, until caramelized, 8 to 10 minutes. Add 1/3 cup water and cook until evaporated, about 2 minutes. Add lemon juice and toss to coat. Serve immediately.

DEEP. DARK. Chocolate cookies.

Well, I guess you could say me and Todd are pretty domestic. These are gluten and dairy-free, which means I can eat them. For those of you who don't  know yet, I've been "diagnosed" with a dairy and a gluten allergy. For those of you who also don't know yet, Todd is an eligible bachelor and very domestic. Anyways, we haven't actually eaten the baked ones yet cause they're not done, but the batter is really really X1209578709856382 delicious.

And we got the recipe from pinterest who got it from  http://www.divine-baking.com/2011/04/deep-dark-chocolate-cookies.html#more .

Deep Dark Chocolate Cookies

Adapted From Epicurious

Nonstick vegetable oil spray
1 1/2 cups bittersweet chocolate chips (about 9 ounces), divided 
3 large egg whites, room temperature 
2 1/2 cups powdered sugar, divided (I used 2 cups)
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder 
1 tablespoon cornstarch 
1/4 teaspoon salt

Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray 2 large baking sheets with nonstick spray. Melt 1 cup chocolate chips in glass bowl in microwave, stirring twice, about 2 minutes. Cool slightly.

Using electric mixer, beat whites in large bowl to soft peaks. Gradually beat in 1 (I halved the sugar here) cup sugar. Continue beating until mixture resembles soft marshmallow creme.

Whisk 1 cup sugar, cocoa, cornstarch, and salt in medium bowl to blend. On low speed, beat dry ingredients into meringue. 

Stir in lukewarm chocolate and 1/2 cup chocolate chips (dough will become very stiff).

Place 1/2 cup sugar in bowl. Roll 1 rounded tablespoon dough into ball; roll in sugar, coating thickly. Place on prepared sheet. Repeat with remaining dough, spacing 2 inches apart.

Bake until puffed and tops crack, about 10 minutes. Cool on sheets on rack 10 minutes. Transfer to rack; cool.

Yield: Makes about 18

** Update: We just ate them. And I think this allergy is going to be alright. Need I say more?

T-Shirt Headband

A few weeks ago Alena and I went to another Thrice concert (on their farewell tour...how sad...), and the shirt I was wearing got a hole in it, as well as a giant stain on it from standing in the front row next to the gates that kept me from storming the stage (which also gave me a really cool bruise on my rib cage). Anyway, I couldn't just part with this shirt--it had so much meaning. Obviously.

So I made it into a head band. I know, I'm getting craftier and craftier by the hour.

Here it is on my head

I guess you can't see it very well, but it's doing its job at holding back my hair, and that's what matters.

1.  I cut the shirt up into strips. All the internet things told me to make the strips the same width and blah blah blah, I don't own a ruler. I just cut. They were really jagged and different widths and uneven, but whatevs. It worked. I also cut them so they weren't in a circle anymore. 
2. I pulled on the strips until they curled into themselves.
3. Then I took five of the strips and decided I was going to braid them. I didn't actually know how to do that, so I turned to the trusty interwebz and they told me how to here.
4. I tied one end of the strips together and because I didn't have any tape, I shut the tied end knot into a drawer and it worked just fine. 
5. Then I braided.
6. And I braided.
7. And I braided until I looked at it and thought "that's about the size of my head methinks."
8. So I took it out of the drawer and wrapped it around my head in a headband like fashion, and tied it.
9. Then I cut off the lose ended (but still leave enough to tie and untie it later--it's going to stretch and it'd be a shame to have all that braiding go to waste. Oh, and don't cut your hair on accident). 
10. And then I picked Shane up from work and he was S-O impressed with my crafty, crafty skills. 

I like the way the braid looks a lot. That's also a big tupperware filled with the kitchen stuff I never got to unpack because my current roommates have so much, and most of it I'm told doesn't even belong to anyone. So Sam and Chels, when you come back to me, we're cleaning. And we're cleaning good. 

And that, my ladies, is how it is done. 

Necklace & Earring Holders

I was in desperate need of somewhere to hang all of my jewelry in my new apartment. I didnt want them to look too cluttered. I tried and tried to think of something cute to do, when I finally got a genius idea. I bought two old frames from the D.I., picked out the color of spray paint I wanted for the frame and the background, picked out some knobs, and what do you know....It actually worked!!!

Here is my finished product! 

I also made an earring holder, because I figured while I was at it I might as well. I found this frame and it already had the mesh with it. But it would be super easy to get something similar and attach it. 

It fits perfectly on my closet door!!! LOVE THEM!!

Mashed Potatoes with Bacon & Cheddar

Ok so these are some of my favorite potatoes ever!!! I found the recipe on Pinterest about a month ago, made them, and Greg and I loved them!!! 

Description

Reminiscent of twice baked potatoes, this take on mashed potatoes includes bacon and cheddar.

Prep time: 1 hour

Yield:1 (Servings)

Ingredients:

• 5 lb russet potatoes
• 10 sli bacon
• 8 oz cream cheese, room temperature
• 0.5 c unsalted butter, melted
• 1 c sour cream
• 0.25 c chives, minced
• 2.5 c cheddar cheese, grated
• 2 t kosher salt
• 0.5 t pepper

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Peel potatoes, and cut into 1-inch chunks. Place in a large saucepan, and add enough cold water to cover by about 2 inches. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, and reduce to a simmer. Cook until tender and easily pierced with a paring knife, about 20 minutes. Transfer to a colander to drain; return to pan, cover, and set aside.

2. Meanwhile, heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add bacon, and cook until crisp and browned, turning once. Transfer to paper towels to drain; let cool, and crumble into pieces.

3. Using a fork, mash the potatoes in pan until light and fluffy. Add the cream cheese, butter, and sour cream, and stir until combined and smooth. Add the chives, 2 cups cheddar cheese, half the bacon, salt, and pepper. Stir until well combined.

4. Transfer to a buttered 3-quart baking dish. Top with remaining 1/2 cup cheddar cheese. Bake until top is slightly golden and potatoes are heated through, about 30 minutes. Remove from oven; garnish with remaining bacon. Serve immediately.

Rosemary Red Potatoes

I got this recipe out of my Harry Potter Cookbook. I improvised a little bit because my Idahoan heritage told me to.
Ingredients:
6 red potatoes, washed and cut into bite sized cubes
1/4 cup of olive oil
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon dried rosemary leaves
2 cloves of garlic, minced
Freshly ground black pepper

I didn't use nearly that much salt because, well, ew. And I used garlic powder instead of garlic cloves. And I added cheese because cheese is good.

Set the oven to 400. Combine all the ingredients and coat the potatoes really well. Spread into a shallow baking pan. Pro tip: line it with tin foil because it will make cleaning up so much easier. Roast for about 20 minutes. Take them out of the oven and turn them and shake them around. Cook for another 20 minutes. Add some cheese. Cook for about 5 more minutes or until the potatoes are slightly crisp on the edges, but soft enough to push a fork through without resistance.

They are delicious! I think they'd taste good with some bacon bits in them.

Banana Bread Muffins

Ingredients

3 mashed, ripened bananas

1 stick butter

3/4 cup sugar

2 eggs

A splash of vanilla

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

2 cups flour (golden stars given if you use wheat flour)

1 teaspoon cinnamon

Pinch of salt

Cream the butter, sugar, eggs and vanilla. Blend in the mashed bananas. Add the rest of the ingredients. Spray the cup cake pan liners really well. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes or until the tops are golden brown! I added some chocolate chips to these because everything is better with chocolate. 

They taste especially good right out of the oven, smothered in nutella. I may have eaten four or five or six in ten minutes. Meh. 

Spinach Salad

INGREDIENTS
Spinach leaves
Green leaf lettuce
Mushrooms, fresh and sliced
Bacon, crisp and broken into bite size pieces
Red onion, sliced
Mozzarella cheese, shredded
DRESSING
1/3 cup sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
1/4 cup cider vinegar
1 egg
1 cup oil

Blend well. Slowly drizzle in 1 c. oil while blending. ENJOY!

Chicken Alfredo

INGREDIENTS
3-4 chicken breasts
1-2 cubes chicken bouillon
1 cube butter
1 package Good Seasons Dry Italian Dressing Mix
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 8-ounce package cream cheese
1 cup water
3/4-1 16-ounce box fettuccine pasta, cooked

DIRECTIONS
1. Cut chicken into bite pieces and cook in a frying pan with 1 c water and 1-2 chicken bouillon cubes
2. Put all the other ingredients together in a ot, bring to a boil and mix well
3. Add chicken plus the juice it was cooked in
4. serve over noodles OR add noodles to mixture and serve

Italian Herb Bread

INGREDIENTS
4 1/2 cups hot tap water
1/4 cup sugar
4 teaspoons yeast
1/2 cup butter-melted
2 tablespoons wheat gluten
11 cups flour
1/4 cup dry milk powder
2 tablespoons salt
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
3 tablespoons Italian seasoning

DIRECTIONS
1. Pour warm water and yeast into mixing bowl
2. Add sugar and butter.
3. Add 6 c. flour, powdered milk, salt and gluten. Mix well
4. Add Parmesan cheese and Italian seasoning
5. Add the rest of the flour. Mix for five minutes
6. Oil or grease hands and counter
7. Dvide dough into equal portions and shape into loaves
8. Put into well greased pans
9. Let rise until double in size
10. Bake at 350 for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown on top
11. Remove from pans and cool on wire rack
12. Brush top of loaves with butter

Red Wine Vinaigrette

I hope there's not actual alcohol in red wine vinegar. If there is, too late.


This is from Giada De Laurentiis. That's how you know it's legit. It's actually really yummy too.



1/2 cup red wine vinegar
3 tablespoons lemon juice
2 teaspoons honey
2 teaspoons salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1 cup olive oil

Mix the vinegar, lemon juice, honey, salt, and pepper in a blender. With the machine running, gradually blend in the oil.

Sugar Cookies

This counts as cooking AND crafting. I'm good at what I do.

I just used a generic sugar cookie recipe that I googled. And then I cut out the letters. And I carved that cat. And then I baked them. And then I cleaned up.

So I crafted, cooked, and cleaned. I'm so ready to be married.

Crafting con Shane

Shane is good at crafting. Observe:

 Those are strawberries. On bamboo skewers. To make a bouquet. Strawberries are better than flowers because you can eat them. And they smell just as good.

Cinnamon Rolls 2.0

(Recipe courtesy of Sister Shef)

ROLLS: (btw, I halved this part)

2 T. yeast

1/2 cup warm water

1 T. sugar

2 c. warm milk

1 c. melted butter

4 eggs

1/2 cup sugar

2 tsp. salt

8 c. flour

FILLING:

3/4 c. sugar

2 T. cinnamon

Mix together yeast and water. Sprinkle sugar on top. Let sit until it bubbles up. Mix together milk, butter, eggs, 1/2 c. sugar and salt in your roommate's KitchenAid (with bread hook attachment). If you don't have one put it on your wedding gift registry. Add yeast mixture. Add flour, 4 c. at a time. Beat on low until ingredients are mixed together. Then turn on med-high and let run for 5 minutes to knead dough thoroughly. Split dough in two pieces. Roll out on floured surface. Cover with melted butter (about 1/2 c. each piece of dough). Sprinkile with filling, and roll up from long side. Cut into slices (using dental floss, of course).  Place on greased cake pans and let rise for one hour. Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes. Frost as soon as removed from oven. But before you frost they should look like this...

FROSTING:

1 tsp. vanilla

3 oz. cream cheese

1/2 c. melted butter

pinch of salt

3 c. powdered sugar

milk

Mix all ingredients together. Add milk until the consistency of cake mix. Spread over hot tolls just after removing from oven. Then the rolls should look like this...

White Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies

These are my favorite cookies ever!

CREAM
2 sticks butter
1 1/2 cups brown sugar
1/2 cup sugar
2 eggs
2 tablespoons milk
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

ADD AND MIX WELL
2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon

ADD AND MIX WELL
2 1/2 cups oats
ADD
1 bag white chocolate chips

BAKE AT 375 FOR 7-8 MINUTES.
ENJOY- I LOVE THEM!

Lemon Bread

Remember that bread we had in RS in California? I've got the recipe!!

• 6 tablespoons shortening
• 1 cup white sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon lemon zest
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1 lemon, juiced

Directions

1. Whisk together flour, salt, and baking powder.
2. In a large bowl, cream shortening, 1 cup sugar, and eggs together until light and fluffy. Add milk alternately with flour mixture in two parts; mix well. Stir in grated lemon rind and nuts. Pour batter into greased and floured 9 x 5 inch loaf pan.
3. Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 60 minutes. Allow bread to cool in the pan for 5 minutes.
4. Mix together 1/2 cup sugar and the juice of one lemon to make a glaze. Remove bread from pan. Pour glaze over warm bread.

Guacamole

Primero, consigue aguacates del hombre que los vende de su coche. Entonces, cortalos en mitades y saca la boca. Saca la fruta verde del piel y ...

So get some avocados from the guy who sells them from his truck. Or from the store. Cut them in half, take out the pit, scoop out the green stuff and mash it. Add lemon juice so the green stuff doesn't oxidize and get yucky. Add black pepper, salt, onion powder, and garlic powder to taste. Dip in chips and experience happiness.

Homemade Pizza

I don't actually know how we made the dough, I guess just use whatever pizza dough you feel like. Then we put on lots of stuff: marinara, pesto, chicken, sausage, peppers, mushrooms, onions, etc. Put it on the pizza stone and bake!

Valentine's Craftiness

Jessica made these. So ready for marriage.

Sprite Chicken

Marinate the chicken in this stuff for like half an hour

1/2 - 1 c. Oscar's Greek Salad Dressing (or any Italian or Greek dressing you have around)

1/4 - 1/2 c. Kikkoman reduced sodium soy sauce
3/4 can Sprite or 7-up (drink the rest)
1-2 tbsp. cream-style horseradish

Then I broil it in the marinade--which will become yummy sauce for the rice--even though my sister says that I should pan sear it or whatever. You could also grill it. Then boil the marinade to make sauce.

Success Story #1

Hooked on blogging worked for me! I am engaged single suckers! From now on I will be posting my "wise advice", since I am obviously ready for marriage!!

I am engaged to the most amazing man who makes me the most happy person in the world! He proposed to me while we were visiting his family in Denver. It was a 101 Dalmatians moment! We took the dog for a walk and when we got to the park the dog stopped, walked around us so the leash was around our legs, and he got down on one knee! At first I did not believe that it was happening so before "yes" came out the words "are you serious?" escaped my lips. After I said yes, we looked over at the playground and a couple fireworks went off!

So there you go! You know know the wonderful story of how Greg proposed to me!

I am very excited to start the next chapter in my life. There are definitely going to be challenges, but I cant wait to face them with the love of my life!

Valentines Breakfast

I made Greg breakfast for Valentines day. I made stuffed french toast and it was very delicious! You should all try this recipe.

STUFFED FRENCH TOAST

Ingredients

1 loaf french bread

Eggs

Milk

1 pkg cream cheese

cinnamon

Jam or fresh fruit (or both!)

Directions

Cut loaf of bread into two inch slices then cut a slit across the top of each slice making sure you dont cut all the way through.

Next, mix the package of cream cheese and a couple spoonfuls of jam. Mix them until they are completely combined and look a little like yogurt.

Next, put the mixture in the slits of each slice of bread. (about 1-2 TBS per slice) Make sure you press the opening closed so that the filling doesn't seep out when it is frying.

Mix the eggs a little milk and cinnamon together.

Dip slices of bread and fry.

Top with a little whipping cream and then EAT!!!

It is very delicious!

Chocolate Sheet Cake

So easy and SO Good!

Ingredients
2 cups sugar
2 cups flour
1 teaspoon salt
2 cubes butter
4 tablespoons baking cocoa
1 cup water
2 eggs
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup buttermilk

FROSTING
1 cube butter
6 tablespoons milk
4 tablespoons baking cocoa
1 box powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions
1. Mix sugar, flour and salt.
2. Bring to boil the butter, cocoa, and water.
3. Add to flour mixture
4. Add eggs, soda, vanilla and buttermilk.
5. Mix well.
6. Bake at 375 for 25 minutes.

Frosting Directions
1. Bring to boil butter, milk and cocoa.
2. Add to bowl of powdered sugar and vanilla.
3. Spread on cake.

And Wallah!

This counts as crafting, right?

To: Sam

Love: Kaylee

To: Jessica

Love: Kaylee

To: Chelsie

Love: Kaylee

To: CaryLynn

Love: Kaylee

To: Alyssa

Love: Kaylee

To: Alena

Love: Kaylee

Happy Valentine's Day! xoxo

Meat Loaf

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 pounds ground beef
• 1 egg
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 cup milk
• 1 cup dried bread crumbs
• salt and pepper to taste
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons prepared mustard
• 1/3 cup ketchup

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. In a large bowl, combine the beef, egg, onion, milk and bread OR cracker crumbs. Season with salt and pepper to taste and place in a lightly greased 5x9 inch loaf pan, OR form into a loaf and place in a lightly greased 9x13 inch baking dish.
3. In a separate small bowl, combine the brown sugar, mustard and ketchup. Mix well and pour over the meatloaf.
4. Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 50 minutes
5. Take the loaf out of the oven and spoon all the liquid out you can.
6. Spread the ketchup mixture over the top and bake for 10 more minutes!
7. ENJOY!!!