Bigger and Better Things

"The things you do for yourself are gone when you are gone, but the things you do for others remain as your legacy."~Kalu Ndukwe Kalu

 

 

 

 

 

     I have been honored to attend three graduation ceremonies this Spring.  One son graduated at LDS Business College, another son graduated USU in Civil Engineering and finally another son graduated high school.  It has been a busy and wonderful year.  For the son who graduated from the university I made a necktie quilt.  I gathered ties from his friends, his brothers, his grandfathers, his dad, some uncles and from some close neighbors.  Needless to say this necktie quilt means a lot to him. 

     I finally received an email that included some of the recipes that we enjoyed at our quilt retreat.  I am passing on just a few here.

Green Chile Enchiladas

1 lb. chicken, cooked and cubed

1 8 oz. cream cheese

1 4 oz. can diced green chilies

12 fajita size flour tortillas

2 small cans old El Paso green chili sauce or 1 larger can of Hatch enchilada sauce

Combine chicken, cream cheese and chilies.  Heat through on stove top.  Roll into flour tortillas.  Top

with sauce.  Bake at 400 degrees for 15-20 minutes or until heated through.  Top with cheese.

These can also be made with corn tortillas.

 

 

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Spaghetti Salad

12 oz. thin spaghetti - cooked and cooled

Add:

chopped 1/2 red pepper

chopped green pepper

chopped red onion

chopped cucumbers

grated carrots

Mix the vegetables with 1/2 bottle of Zesty Italian Dressing and let marinate for at least 3 hours or overnight.

Just before serving add:

chopped tomatoes

small can of sliced olives

chopped avocado

Add remainder of the dressing and toss.  Serve.

     I am apologizing for the name of these brownies but as a quilter we do spend a lot of time sitting.  Just saying.

 

Chocolate-Mint Brownies

(otherwise known as “Big Butt Brownies”)

DeAnn Thomas

 

Brownies

4 cups sugar

1 cup cocoa

4 tsp. vanilla

8 eggs

2 cups melted butter

4 cups flour

Blend sugar and eggs.  Add cocoa that is blended with melted butter.  Add vanilla and flour.  Pour into greased large cookie sheet.  Bake 350 degrees for 35 minutes.

Mint Frosting

1 stick butter (softened)

4 cups powdered sugar

5-6 Tbsp. milk

1-1/4 tsp. peppermint oil

Green food coloring

Spread on cooled brownies.  Place in freezer while making the chocolate frosting to set.

Chocolate Frosting

1 stick butter

1/2 cup cocoa

3 cups powdered sugar

1 tsp. vanilla

4-5 Tbsp. milk

Melt butter, add cocoa.  Mix in powdered sugar, vanilla and milk.  Frosting will be thin but will set up as it cools.  Spread over mint frosting.

 

 

     I have included this book because it was one of my favorites to read to my boys. This one is in honor of students and their new ideas and their teachers who are always doing their best to help and inspire.  This is one of my favorites by Andrew Clements.