The Simple Life

"If God can do what He did with a single loaf, imagine what He can do with a single life."~ Emily Freeman


  I spent this past week with my sisters.  We flew to Denver, Colorado and took the Amtrak train back home again. It was so fun being with my sisters.  I even got to go to a few quilt shops and a quilt museum.  Here are some pics from Holly's Quilt Cabin.  It was my favorite of the shops we visited.

     The Amtrak train from Denver to Salt Lake City follows the Colorado River for a good portion of the way.  There were some amazing views.





  I love mushroom soup.  It's one of many comfort foods.  I made up this recipe combining ingredients from several recipes that I found on line.

Hearty Mushroom Soup

4 cups chicken or vegetable broth

2-3 medium potatoes, peeled and diced

1 medium carrot, sliced

2 Tbsp. butter

1 medium onion, finely diced

8 oz. white mushrooms, sliced

8 oz. cremini mushrooms, sliced

½ tsp. thyme

2 bay leaves

3 Tbsp. flour

2 cups half and half

½ Tbsp. Mrs. Dash or Seasoning salt

Salt and pepper to taste

Parsley flakes

Boil potatoes and carrots in broth until tender in a large pot.  Meanwhile saute onion and mushrooms and continue to cook until vegetables are soft. Add to the large soup pot. Add thyme and bay leaves.

Whisk flour into half and half until blended.  Gradually add to the soup pot stirring until thickened.  Add salt and pepper to taste.  Makes 4-6 servings.

I finished reading this book a few weeks ago.  I love old fashioned books that have no cussing and no inappropriate scenes.  I guess I'm just a little old fashioned myself.  Nothing wrong with that.

Quilter's Joy

"The cavity which suffering carves into our souls will one day also be the receptacle of joy." ~ Neal A. Maxwell


     I went to Quilt,Etc. a few days ago to see the Show and Tell for our Block of the Month quilts.  Some of these ladies were really creative in the way they put their blocks together to form their quilts.  I am sad that I haven't finished my quilt yet; I hope to finish it soon.  Here are pictures of some that were finished.

     This is probably the easiest recipe ever .  It has only three ingredients and I have to say that these little mini muffins are pretty tasty.

 

Triple Chocolate Pumpkin Mini Muffins

1 Box Triple Chocolate cake mix

1 (15 oz.) can pumpkin

Mini chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.  Spray mini muffin pan with non-stick cooking spray.  Pour cake mix in large mixing bowl and add pumpkin a little at a time and mix with a spoon. Then use an electric mixer and mix on low speed for 2 minutes. Scoop mixture into mini muffin pan ¾ full.  Sprinkle with a few mini chocolate chips.  Bake for 15 minutes or until done.  Makes about 30-32 mini muffins.

 

 

I read this book a few months ago and enjoyed this story of yet another strong, hard working woman and the struggles she faced and the rewards of her efforts.

Our State Fair is a Great State Fair!

"The ultimate victory in competition is derived from the inner satisfaction of knowing that you have done your best and that you have gotten the most out of what you had to give."~ Howard Cosell



     Last Monday, my husband and I decided to go to the State Fair.  We like to go on the first Monday because that's ice cream day and for $3 you can eat all the ice cream you want.  Unfortunately, after 3 scoops you're pretty much full.  Every year they also make a sculpture out of butter and display it.  I also like to go and look at the quilts.  Here are a few that I like.

 


     Here's a great pasta recipe that this family loves.  It's a great way to use up leftover salmon.

Creamy Salmon Pasta

1 lb. fettuccini

1 Tbsp. olive oil

1 Tbsp. butter

½ onion, finely diced

3 tsp. garlic, minced

Salt and pepper to taste

½ tsp. parsley flakes

1 cup chicken broth

Rind from one lemon

Juice from one lemon

1 cup heavy cream

1 lb. cooked salmon

1 cup parmesan cheese

Cook pasta according to package directions.  Meanwhile, melt butter in large frying pan and add olive oil.  Saute' onion and garlic until transparent.  Add salt and pepper, parsley flakes and chicken broth.  Cook until broth is mostly reduced.  Add grated lemon rind, lemon juice and heavy cream.  Stir and cook until sauce is thickened.  Add cooked salmon that has been cut into chunks with a fork.  Add half of the cheese.  Stir until heated through.  Add cooked pasta with a little of the pasta water.  Stir until mixed.  Serve topped with remaining parmesan cheese.  Makes 6-8 servings.

     Here's another book by the famous author, Lucy Maud Montgomery.  While it's not my favorite by this author, it was still one I enjoyed.