Country Fair

2 months ago I was called to be Relief Society Activities committee leader. We only do a couple big activities a year but the lady I replaced is so awesome I was really feeling like I had some big shoes to fill. The RS President is so super amazing (seriously, I want to be her when I grow up. A million times cooler than Martha Stewart) and her counselor that I work with and they were really patient with me while I tried to keep up with them. I'm an organized person but when it comes to planning I'm a "throw it together" kind of gal. So this threw me out of my element and it was a huge learning experience for me.

It was a mother/daughter activity and it turned out so great. We took a hayride up to the house and had chili and rolls. We did a blue ribbon contest for jams and Jellies, Pies, and an "other" category for cakes, cookies and any other desserts. (ps: my pumpkin bars won this category!) We did a sewing and pie crust class. Then the girls got to go to the country store and pick out carmel apples, hair band kit, pumpkin bracelet kit, caramel balls.... it was so fun for them!

My committee is amazing. They did all the decorating and set up. There were lights... I really wish I got to take more photos once the sun set. But it was a perfect evening! (I wish I got pictures of my girls too!)

So I tried a couple new recipes this week.
Swiss Steak (my mom's is better, sorry Paula)
Scalloped Chicken (it was kinda bland. I might do it again and add some more veggies, and a more flavorful scallop potato mix)
Slow Cooker Tamale Pie (super good! For sure doing this one again!)

halfway done

Sunday, while sitting together as a family on a blanket in the yard, we discussed what our names would be if we were a different gender.

Chris = Christina

Jocelyn = Joe

Cecily = Cecil

Asher = Ashley

Fiona = Finn

All very obvious counterparts. Oh, what's my boy name you ask? Karl. Yep, Karl with a K. That means I would be extra crazy, cause we all know someone named Karl and we all know he's one crazy guy! Is there any other boy name that could be Katie-ish?

Anyway, on my walk today Fiona was extra fussy. I asked Asher to give her her pacifair. Look at what a good big brother she has.

ps: Cecily's computer twin Scarlett is back so I'm going to be editing another Cecily video montage.

You want to know what this past week's menu was? Here we go...

Monday - Black Bean and Chicken Burritos I added corn and this was very tasty and made A LOT.
Ingredients:
1 taco/fajita seasoning packet
2 cans black beans, drained
2-3 chicken breasts
1 can green enchilada sauce

Place chicken breasts in bottom of the crockpot and then add remaining ingredients. Cook on low 6-8 hours. Shred chicken before serving and serve in tortillas. We add cheese, sour cream, etc. to the tortillas. We sometimes add rice (cooked rice to the mixture once we're ready to serve, not in the crockpot!). This is also really good if you use beef instead of the chicken!
Tuesday - Leftovers
Wednesday - Plain ol' french toast and eggs
Thursday -Meatloaf on a bed of Potatoes
2 T olive oil
3 large russets, cut into 1 to 1-1/2” chunks
2 lb ground sirloin (I use ground turkey all of the time when I make this)
2 large eggs, beaten
3/4 cup crushed saltine crackers
3/4 cup ketchup
2 T dehydrated onions (optional)
1 tsp salt
Freshly ground black pepper

Topping
3/4 cup ketchup
1/3 cup brown sugar
1 tsp Dijon mustard

Combine oil and potatoes in crock pot, toss to coat. Spread in an even layer on the bottom of the crock.

In a large bowl, combine beef, eggs, crumbs, ketchup, onion, salt and pepper. Mix gently, do not compact. Shape into oval or round, place on top of potatoes. Spread with topping.

Cover and cook on High for 1 hour. Reduce heat to Low and continue to cook for 6-7 hours, or until a meat thermometer reads 160º to 165ºF.
Sandy’s notes: I used plain ketchup for the topping since that is my family’s preference. To make the meatloaf easier to remove: Take two long pieces of foil and fold them into two strips. Place them across each other over the potatoes and set the meatloaf on top. Use as handles to remove when the meatloaf is done.
Friday - Wings
Saturday - Ward Picnic
Sunday - Chicken Cordon Bleu (sooooooo yummy! I keep forgetting to get the ingrediaents for the sauce so we just make country gravy- I know we're real classy - and it tastes awesome. We also use theighs instead of breast.)

AND for dessert Blueberry Snack Cake. It's like a giant blueberry muffin and I scarfed it up all by myself cause everyone wanted the chocolate cupcakes Chris made instead. 

mid-week presents

The past couple weeks were full of little presents in the mail for us. Bethany sent me this awesome carseat cover to protect Fiona from the Wal-mart germies. (She's a creative genious folks! Look at that Velcro idea!) Thanks Bethany for thinking of the welfare of my little one.

Nana Richards sent the kids a back to school package with socks and letters. They were so excited and immediately opened the socks and started dancing and sliding around in them. Thanks Nana! (ps: after taking this photo Jocelyn had a melt down that she missed both her nanas very much)

Then Chelsea sent Asher a cool car hat to wear. He wanted nothing to do with it when we first opened it but we eventually got him to wear it. And I must say I want to eat my son, he's so cute in it! Thanks Chelsea!!!!

Then Molly sent us a super awesome package of her homemade shirts for the kids. Aren't they awesome?! I can't wait for her etsy shop grand opening... The girls couldn't wait to wear them to school! THANKS MOLLY!

This is something I have been wanting to do but instead of starting ANOTHER blog I'm just going to add it to my Wednesday blog post. It's the menu I used from the previous week. I've been trying new recipes and following other blogs that give reviews and menu suggestions. I've been finding a lot of crock pot meals that I LOVE because they are so easy and I get them done in the morning before I realize it's 4pm and I have to start thinking about what to make for dinner.

Monday- Cream Cheese Chicken (slow cooker) We liked this recipe. We did it with rice but I don't know if I just didn't add enough cream of chicken soup or what but the ranch powder is really dominate. I think next time I try it I'm only using one packet.

Ingredients:
2-3 boneless skinless chicken breasts
Salt and pepper (to taste)
2 pkg. dry Ranch or Italian dressing mix (we usually only use one)
1 can cream of chicken soup
8 oz. cream cheese – cut into cubes (I use the 1/3 less fat kind)
½ c. chicken broth

Directions: Brush chicken with butter and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place in crock pot and sprinkle 1 pkg. dry mix over all. Cover and cook on low for 6-7 hours. About 45 minutes before serving, add soup, second packet of dry dressing mix, cream cheese, and chicken broth. Cook until smooth.
Serve over rice or pasta.

Dessert- I made THESE COOKIES for FHE but for some reason they turned out.. not so good. I'm thinking maybe I should have used real butter? Who knows, but they look awesome.

Tuesday- Chili dogs. I combine Hormel chili with diced tomatos and put the hot dogs on a piece of bread, top with the chili and cheese and bake til cheese melts.

Wednesday- Stuffed French Toast So easy to make and if you are a breakfast lover you will LOVE this! I don't even use strawberries I just use cream cheese. But lately I've been buying a bag of frozen mixed berries and thawing them out and eating it with this and it's to die for! (At least for Me, Joc and Ash)

1 loaf french bread, cut into 1 inch slices.
Whipped cream cheese

Spread cream cheese between two slices of bread, place sandwiched slices in a glass pan sprayed with cooking spray.

Mix together:
4 eggs
1 cup milk
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp cinnamon

Pour over bread and let sit for five minutes, turn bread over and cover pan with saran wrap. Refrigerate overnight. Drizzle melted butter over the top and bake at 400 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes.

Thursday- Homemade Pizza. I just buy the frozen bread and let it thaw out and we put whatever toppings we want. Chris did his BBQ chicken pizza with pineapple. I really liked it but for some reason he didn't. We made justa  cheese pizza without the sauce for the kids.

Friday- Homemade wings. Soooo good. Chris cut up the wings and rolled them in flour and deep fried them. Then mixed them with sauce from a bottle. So yummy! I made potato skins. You boil the potatos, scoop out the middle, fry them and then put cheese, bacon and green onions on them and then bake them.

Saturday- Nachos. Chris fried his own corn chips (good but oily) and we put meat, beans, nacho cheese, and some yummy pico.

Sunday- Beef Tips (slow cooker) I really liked this, it was really easy. I've burned Chris out of pot roast so he didn't totally dig it. It's pot roast meets stroganoff. It made a lot.

Ingredients:
1 beef top sirloin steak (1 pound), cut into 1-inch cubes
2 to 3 medium carrots, chopped
1 to 1-1/2 cups chopped celery
1 cup chopped onion
1 can (10-3/4 ounces) condensed golden mushroom soup, undiluted
1/2 to 1 cup white wine or beef broth
2 teaspoons cornstarch
1/4 cup cold water
Hot cooked egg noodles

Directions:
In a 3-qt. slow cooker, combine the beef, carrots, celery, onion, soup and wine or broth. Cover and cook on low for 6-7 hours or until meat is tender.

Combine cornstarch and water until smooth; gradually stir into cooking juices. Cover and cook on high for 15 minutes or until thickened. Serve with noodles. Yield: 4 servings.