Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Something in the making...
I know I haven't posted in awhile, but there is something in the making...and no it's not another baby :) I am working on another blog, so keep checking back and hopefully soon (fingers crossed) it will be ready.
Monday, November 8, 2010
Bootcamp
A month ago I started taking a bootcamp class...a very intense bootcamp class. I wanted to do something for me, and to make myself feel better and have more energy. I decided to take this class to help me jumpstart my body into wanting to workout again. That is exactly what it did. I am going on my second month and have signed up to keep going. I love it! The first week I was so sore I couldn't even walk up and down stairs without crying (well not really crying but I wanted to). Every morning taking a shower was hard because I couldn't even raise my arms to wash my hair. Some people may say that being that sore isn't good for you, but I thought it was wonderful. It showed me that I worked my butt off and that being this sore means my muscles are actually being worked and getting bigger. I never thought I would ever enjoy working out this much...but I actually get excited for class.
The gym where bootcamp is held is a few blocks from my house so I walk there Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings at 5:30am. (I thought waking up that early would stop me from going every day but it hasn't...I acutally like it because I can get home, take a shower and be ready for the day before Gretal wakes up). We do a mix of cardio and weight training circuits. It is intense. It is usually non-stop, the only time we stop between circuits is to take a drink or to get ready for the next circuit. I actually drip sweat (sorry you had to read that), the whole class...everyone does. When I first started a month ago, I was usually the last one done with each set, but after only a month I am usually done when everyone else is done, I am rarely last anymore. I've actually lost a an inch around my waist, an inch around my thighs, 3/4 of an inch around my arms and gained an inch around my butt (that's because it lifted:). I love this class!
If you are wondering what kind of stuff we do see their website: www.fitclubutah.com/boot-camp/ .
The gym where bootcamp is held is a few blocks from my house so I walk there Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings at 5:30am. (I thought waking up that early would stop me from going every day but it hasn't...I acutally like it because I can get home, take a shower and be ready for the day before Gretal wakes up). We do a mix of cardio and weight training circuits. It is intense. It is usually non-stop, the only time we stop between circuits is to take a drink or to get ready for the next circuit. I actually drip sweat (sorry you had to read that), the whole class...everyone does. When I first started a month ago, I was usually the last one done with each set, but after only a month I am usually done when everyone else is done, I am rarely last anymore. I've actually lost a an inch around my waist, an inch around my thighs, 3/4 of an inch around my arms and gained an inch around my butt (that's because it lifted:). I love this class!
If you are wondering what kind of stuff we do see their website: www.fitclubutah.com/boot-camp/ .
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Deutschland and Austria and Oktoberfest
I will let the pictures explain a lot of what we did here in Germany and Austria. We went to Megan's house for a few days to recover :) One day Megan and I went shopping in Trier while the guys took the babies and went to a few tourist areas (I had already been there last time I was in Germany). Of course we saw Oktoberfest, well Megan and I did the guys just saw the inside of the beer tents :) It's like a big fair, there are rides and food vendors, and souvenirs and a ton of people wearing lederhosen. The guys decided to go to the BMW museum before we drove down to Austria so Megan, the babies and I drove down to Austria...but half way there we smelt something funny coming from the back seat. Gretal had pooped and then played in it. There was poop on her, her clothes, the car seat, the car door, a balloon she was playing with, it was everywhere. We stopped at a gas station to clean it up but there was so much poop we had to pretty much hose everything off including Gretal.
In Austria it rained most of the time but we did get to see Hitler's Eagle's Nest and a few castles.
Overall we had a great time! I would never do it again with kids but we got to see a ton of stuff and we had some pretty cool experiences. I can't wait to go back and see more. I am thinking Italy next :)
We all went down to Amsterdam
Amsterdam was fun, we were only there for 2 1/2 days so we didn't get to do a whole lot, but if you're not there to party, then there isn't really a lot to do. I had the best pancake I have had in my life (they are known for their pancakes, btw). This pancake was amazing. It was filled with bacon, sausage, cheese, mushrooms and then grilled (there is a picture above), yummy!!
We saw the Red Light District which was actually quite funny and interesting, and I think we all saw a few things that we really didn't want to see or hear :) We went to the Anne Frank House. By far (well besides the pancake) this was my favorite place to see in Amsterdam, I can't believe the things the family had to go through and it wasn't that long ago. We saw the Heineken factory and went to a wax museum as well. We got our pictures taken with quite a few celebrities that were visiting too!
Sunday, October 24, 2010
I see London
London! I love London!!! It was by far my favorite place we went on this vacation. The people are friendly and courteous, they speak Englishwith the coolest accent, they drive and walk on the left side of the road, the city is beautiful and clean, it is just an amazing place. Megan, the babies and I spent more time together without the guys here than other place, which was perfect :) The guys went to Stonehenge, and a soccer game while Megan and I went shopping at Piccadilli Circus and ate at the yummiest Italian restaurant I have ever eaten at. All together we saw the inside of Buckingham Palace (they only tour the inside for 2 months at the end of summer), the Changing of the Guard, the London Eye, Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, Houses of Parliament, Tower Bridge, Tower of London and we went on a Jack the Ripper tour. I will definitely visit London again. (I don't care what John says!)
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Paris
Paris, the city of Romance, or something like that :)
We spent 4 days in Paris and we saw the Eiffel Tower, The Louvre, Arc De Triomphe, Champs Elysees, Catacombs, we took a bus tour around the city and saw parts of Paris that most tourists don't get to see, and we took the train out of town to the Palace of Versailles. We got lost, almost forgot a baby, watched baby fights and celebrated Gretal's first birthday! The first 4 days in Europe wore us out and we had just started :)
Monday, August 16, 2010
Yum Yum in my Tum Tum
I have been on a cooking kick lately, and I am starting to really enjoy it, mostly because for one I am getting better at it and two I don't have a choice :)
A few weeks ago we had a family reunion in Great Falls Montana, and to raise money for the reunion we do an auction. Everyone is supposed to bring something to auction off. I brought two pies, one peach and one strawberry rhubarb (this is my fave, so I really didn't want to auction it off) :) I also made a few little pies for us to eat as well with the leftovers. So of course John, my dad and I dug into the small peach pie...it was gross! The peaches were still hard, and the crust was frozen (I put it in a mini fridge but it must have been too cold for pie). I was so sad, plus I had already put the big pie out for auction. Oops :) One of my great aunts bought it so hopefully she doesn't really remember who made it and hopefully she likes hard peach pie :)
My grandma bought the strawberry rhubarb. She shared it with some family that stayed after the reunion...they said it tasted great so I hope they weren't lying. My grandma is my biggest fan with the things I make, whether it be pie, bread or scrapboooking. She always tells me that I do a great job and she loves whatever it is I made (I think this may just be a part of being a grandma, but I don't care!). A few months ago my grandparents were in town visiting and my grandma taught me how to make her homemade bread (see all recipes below)...it is so yummy and if you do it right it tastes like heaven!
I have also made a very yummy banana bread,it's super moist yet crispy on the edges, just how I like it! I've made White Chili, I got this recipe from my cousin Emily. She made it for us once and we have been in love ever since. I also made pizza for us one night too. Personal Pan pizza's. They tasted just like Pizza Hut Pizza's.
Another really yummy recipe I made not too long ago is pulled pork sandwiches. I got the recipe out of a cookbook my mom gave me for Christmas (Refreshments Provided By 22nd Ward) and it's for Rio Pulled Pork. You know what the Rio is if you've visited me or have had Cafe Rio before. It's the best pork you have ever tasted! At the Rio they put it in tacos, burritos, salads, ect... but I put ours on a roll and it tasted amazing, especially with some provolone cheese, mmmmm!
Recipes:
Pie:
I got thisrecipe on the back of Bob's Red Mill Pastry Flour package for my crust, it's the best I've found.
2 cups of Bob's Red Mill Stoneground whole wheat pastry flour
1 tsp sea salt
3/4 cup chilled butter
5-8 tbl cold water
Mix flour, and salt into large mixing bowl. Cut butter into 12 pieces and rub into dry ingredients until the mixture resembles a course meal with pea size pieces. Sprinkle water over mixture, 1 tbl at a time just until dough forms. Form dough into a ball. Cut in half and press into a thin disc shape. Wrap each disc in wax paper and put in fridge for 30 minutes before rolling. Makes 2 9" pie crusts.
Filling: Just use your favorite filling recipe!
Grandma Vance's Super Yummy Homemade Bread (that's my title for it anyway)
3 cups flour
1 tsp salt
1/4 cup powdered milk or 1 cup regular milk minus water (I always use powdered milk)
2 1/2 tsp yeast
1 cup warm water (minus this if you used regular milk)
2 tbl honey or 2 tbl sugar (I've used both, honey is way better)
1 egg
4 tsp shortening
Mix all ingredients together in a bread maker. Put shortening in each corner of breadmaker (so 1 tsp in each corner). Let rise in maker. Take out doughand put in a greased loaf pan. Let rise again until 1/2 inch from top of pan (about 1/2 hour). Put in oven and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until golden brown.
For Scones: Let rise in maker, take out and make flat pieces about fist size, thicker around edges. Drop in a deep fat fryer or pan with 2 inches of oil.
For Rolls: Let rise in maker. Make rolls. Use thumb to make good rolls (put the dough on your thumb and pull down around your thumb). Put in greased 9x13 pan at 350 degrees for 25 minutes or until golden brown.
Moist Banana Bread
I got this recipe from allrecipes.com: http://allrecipes.com/bread/banana-bread-V/detail.aspx
White Chili from Emily
(This recipe takes about 2 1/2- 3 hours to make)
2 lbs or white beans (2 cans of white beans)
6 cups chicken broth
1 tsp chicken boullion
2 white onions (I don't like onions so I don't use this ingredient)
6-8 cloves of minced garlic
7 oz diced green chilis
4 tsp cumin
2 tsp oregano
2 tsp cayenne pepper
4 cups cooked and diced chicken (I used canned)
1 cup sour cream
3 cups shredded monterey cheese (I usually use 4 or so cups)
Combine beans, broth, and boullion in a large pan. Cover and simmer for 2 hours.
Saute onion and garlic.
Add everything else except sour cream and cheese. Simmer for 30 minutes.
Add sour cream and cheese. Cook until cheese melts.
Rio Pulled Pork
3 lbs Pork roast (butt or shoulder)
1 cup Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp powdered ginger
1 tsp salt
1 tsp chili powder
1 tsp garlic powder
2 tbl dried minced onion (I don't usually have this so I didn't use it)
1 cup dark brown sugar (I use regular brown sugar)
1 can enchilada sauce
Cook all ingredients, except brown sugar and enchilada sauce, in a crock pot on day on low. Once hour before serving, remove pork roast and shred it. Dump out cooking juices. Put shredded pork back into crock pot and add brown sugar and enchilada sauce.
Personal Pan Pizza Dough
1 1/3 cup warm water
1/4 dry milk
2-3 tsp garlic salt
3-4 cup flour
1 tbl sugar
1 pkg. dry yeast
3 tbl olive oil (or vegetable oil)
1-2 tsp Italian seasoning (I didn't use this)
Olive oil
Pam
Stir yeast, sugar, salt and dry milk in a large bowl. Add water and stir to mix well. Allow to sit for two minutes. Add oil and stir again. Add flour and stil until dough forms and flour is absorbed. Turn out on a flat surface and knead for about 10 minutes. Divide dough into 3 balls. In three 9"cake pans put oil in each to make sure it is spread evenly. Using a rolling pin, roll out each dough ball to about a 9" circle. Place in cake pans. Spray the outer edge of dough with Pam. Cover with a plate. Place in warm area and allow to rise for 1-1 1/2 hours. For each 9" pizza: Preheat oven to 475. Spoon pizza sauce on dough and spread to within 1" of edge. Put cheese and other toppings on top. Cook until cheese is bubbling and outer crust is brown.
Note: If you have a pizza stone, place the 9" pans on top of that while cooking, it will help the crust brown on the bottom. Also dough can be made ahead of time just put saran wrap around it and put in fridge.
Alright I hope you all enjoy some new recipes!!!
A few weeks ago we had a family reunion in Great Falls Montana, and to raise money for the reunion we do an auction. Everyone is supposed to bring something to auction off. I brought two pies, one peach and one strawberry rhubarb (this is my fave, so I really didn't want to auction it off) :) I also made a few little pies for us to eat as well with the leftovers. So of course John, my dad and I dug into the small peach pie...it was gross! The peaches were still hard, and the crust was frozen (I put it in a mini fridge but it must have been too cold for pie). I was so sad, plus I had already put the big pie out for auction. Oops :) One of my great aunts bought it so hopefully she doesn't really remember who made it and hopefully she likes hard peach pie :)
My grandma bought the strawberry rhubarb. She shared it with some family that stayed after the reunion...they said it tasted great so I hope they weren't lying. My grandma is my biggest fan with the things I make, whether it be pie, bread or scrapboooking. She always tells me that I do a great job and she loves whatever it is I made (I think this may just be a part of being a grandma, but I don't care!). A few months ago my grandparents were in town visiting and my grandma taught me how to make her homemade bread (see all recipes below)...it is so yummy and if you do it right it tastes like heaven!
I have also made a very yummy banana bread,it's super moist yet crispy on the edges, just how I like it! I've made White Chili, I got this recipe from my cousin Emily. She made it for us once and we have been in love ever since. I also made pizza for us one night too. Personal Pan pizza's. They tasted just like Pizza Hut Pizza's.
Another really yummy recipe I made not too long ago is pulled pork sandwiches. I got the recipe out of a cookbook my mom gave me for Christmas (Refreshments Provided By 22nd Ward) and it's for Rio Pulled Pork. You know what the Rio is if you've visited me or have had Cafe Rio before. It's the best pork you have ever tasted! At the Rio they put it in tacos, burritos, salads, ect... but I put ours on a roll and it tasted amazing, especially with some provolone cheese, mmmmm!
Recipes:
Pie:
I got thisrecipe on the back of Bob's Red Mill Pastry Flour package for my crust, it's the best I've found.
2 cups of Bob's Red Mill Stoneground whole wheat pastry flour
1 tsp sea salt
3/4 cup chilled butter
5-8 tbl cold water
Mix flour, and salt into large mixing bowl. Cut butter into 12 pieces and rub into dry ingredients until the mixture resembles a course meal with pea size pieces. Sprinkle water over mixture, 1 tbl at a time just until dough forms. Form dough into a ball. Cut in half and press into a thin disc shape. Wrap each disc in wax paper and put in fridge for 30 minutes before rolling. Makes 2 9" pie crusts.
Filling: Just use your favorite filling recipe!
Grandma Vance's Super Yummy Homemade Bread (that's my title for it anyway)
3 cups flour
1 tsp salt
1/4 cup powdered milk or 1 cup regular milk minus water (I always use powdered milk)
2 1/2 tsp yeast
1 cup warm water (minus this if you used regular milk)
2 tbl honey or 2 tbl sugar (I've used both, honey is way better)
1 egg
4 tsp shortening
Mix all ingredients together in a bread maker. Put shortening in each corner of breadmaker (so 1 tsp in each corner). Let rise in maker. Take out doughand put in a greased loaf pan. Let rise again until 1/2 inch from top of pan (about 1/2 hour). Put in oven and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until golden brown.
For Scones: Let rise in maker, take out and make flat pieces about fist size, thicker around edges. Drop in a deep fat fryer or pan with 2 inches of oil.
For Rolls: Let rise in maker. Make rolls. Use thumb to make good rolls (put the dough on your thumb and pull down around your thumb). Put in greased 9x13 pan at 350 degrees for 25 minutes or until golden brown.
Moist Banana Bread
I got this recipe from allrecipes.com: http://allrecipes.com/bread/banana-bread-V/detail.aspx
White Chili from Emily
(This recipe takes about 2 1/2- 3 hours to make)
2 lbs or white beans (2 cans of white beans)
6 cups chicken broth
1 tsp chicken boullion
2 white onions (I don't like onions so I don't use this ingredient)
6-8 cloves of minced garlic
7 oz diced green chilis
4 tsp cumin
2 tsp oregano
2 tsp cayenne pepper
4 cups cooked and diced chicken (I used canned)
1 cup sour cream
3 cups shredded monterey cheese (I usually use 4 or so cups)
Combine beans, broth, and boullion in a large pan. Cover and simmer for 2 hours.
Saute onion and garlic.
Add everything else except sour cream and cheese. Simmer for 30 minutes.
Add sour cream and cheese. Cook until cheese melts.
Rio Pulled Pork
3 lbs Pork roast (butt or shoulder)
1 cup Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp powdered ginger
1 tsp salt
1 tsp chili powder
1 tsp garlic powder
2 tbl dried minced onion (I don't usually have this so I didn't use it)
1 cup dark brown sugar (I use regular brown sugar)
1 can enchilada sauce
Cook all ingredients, except brown sugar and enchilada sauce, in a crock pot on day on low. Once hour before serving, remove pork roast and shred it. Dump out cooking juices. Put shredded pork back into crock pot and add brown sugar and enchilada sauce.
Personal Pan Pizza Dough
1 1/3 cup warm water
1/4 dry milk
2-3 tsp garlic salt
3-4 cup flour
1 tbl sugar
1 pkg. dry yeast
3 tbl olive oil (or vegetable oil)
1-2 tsp Italian seasoning (I didn't use this)
Olive oil
Pam
Stir yeast, sugar, salt and dry milk in a large bowl. Add water and stir to mix well. Allow to sit for two minutes. Add oil and stir again. Add flour and stil until dough forms and flour is absorbed. Turn out on a flat surface and knead for about 10 minutes. Divide dough into 3 balls. In three 9"cake pans put oil in each to make sure it is spread evenly. Using a rolling pin, roll out each dough ball to about a 9" circle. Place in cake pans. Spray the outer edge of dough with Pam. Cover with a plate. Place in warm area and allow to rise for 1-1 1/2 hours. For each 9" pizza: Preheat oven to 475. Spoon pizza sauce on dough and spread to within 1" of edge. Put cheese and other toppings on top. Cook until cheese is bubbling and outer crust is brown.
Note: If you have a pizza stone, place the 9" pans on top of that while cooking, it will help the crust brown on the bottom. Also dough can be made ahead of time just put saran wrap around it and put in fridge.
Alright I hope you all enjoy some new recipes!!!
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