The Cracrofts: January 2011

1.28.2011

Black Bean Soup

Saute 1 chopped onion, 1 Tbsp. cumin and 4 minced garlic cloves in 2 Tbs. olive oil. Add 3 1/2 cups low-sodium chicken broth, 3 chopped tomatoes (or 1 can diced tomatoes), One 15-ounce can black beans and one 1.4-ounce can diced green chili peppers. Bring to a boil, cover and simmer 5 minutes. Add one Tbsp. Snipped fresh cilantro. Garnish soup with crushed tortilla chips.

Makes 4 servings!

245 CALORIES, 10 G protein, 34 G carbohydrate, 11 G fat (1 G saturated), 8 G fiber

1.27.2011

ABC...easy as 123...

You might remember last summers activity I did with the kiddos:

Each week during the summer, we took two or three letters, painted them and talked about words that started with that letter, took turns pointing the letter out in books and magazines ... It was a lot of fun...the kids LOVED painting too!

So, what did we do with all the letters??? Well, up until 3 days ago, they were tucked away in the back of my junk cupboard, yes every house has one, usually it's a drawer... i'm blessed to have a whole cupboard! and I decided that it was time to make room for 'other junk'. I found some of these cool wall picture hanging strips at Staples...

I cut them in half... and stuck them onto the backs of our letters...

and the other half on the wall! They easily peal off the wall too, you can move them around if you don't like where you put them... This saves you from making 26 little holes in the wall...totally, my kind of tool!

Here's Caitlin and Sydney admiring my work...

Caitlin, Claire, Sydney and Will (i mean, Mario! Actually, he looks more like Hitler in this picture...? What is he doing? LOL!)

(covert, no flash...) funny, you can see the lamp shadow... ha

"...And that's how easy love (for letters) can be!"

1.25.2011

BENNETT WILKINSON

Bennett Scott Wilkinson 2009 ~ 2011 On Saturday, January 22, 2011, a Loving Father in Heaven tenderly took home one of His own. Bennett Scott Wilkinson, born May 31, 2009, brought more joy, light and love to the world in a mere 20 months than many experience in a lifetime. It was a privilege to call him our son. He spread love and laughter wherever he went whether it was smothering his mommy with kisses, falling asleep on his daddy's chest for a nap, calling out to his sisters, Emma and Gracelyn, for morning bath time or playing "cahs" with his best friend and brother, Ashton. He was eager to smile, anxious to love, quick to laugh and ready to forgive. We will smile whenever we remember his obsession with all-things handles and the way his little body shuffled around the kitchen trying to sweep the floor for mommy. He was a gift. Simply a gift. We will forever cherish the scribbles left on our walls, the handprints placed on our windows and the etching he engraved on our hearts. He was here but a moment but will be ours forever. And with Bennett, forever won't be long enough. Anxious to see him again are his adoring parents David and Amanda Wilkinson (Centerville), his loving siblings Emma, Gracelyn and Ashton, his precious grandparents Scott and Stana Kjar (Centerville), David and Kris Wilkinson (Portland, OR) and Burton and Linda Grover (Pasco, WA) and his tender great- grandparents Stan and MaryEllen Smoot (Bountiful) and Noma Kjar (Centerville) followed by a host of doting aunts and uncles that loved and adored him. He was preceded in death by an uncle Rendell Wilkinson and a multitude of caring family members that we trust will watch over our little boy until we are with him again. Funeral services will be held Thursday, January 27th at noon at the Centerville North Stake Center (1450 N. Main). There will also be a viewing Wednesday evening from 6-8:00 p.m. and before the funeral from 10-11:30 a.m. Interment Centerville City Cemetery. Online guestbook at www.russonmortuary. com. We'll love you forever, We'll like you for always Forever and Always Our baby you'll be. No goodbyes, just see-you-laters . . .xoxoxoxo

1.18.2011

Christmas gifts from GRAMMY & PAPA!!

Musical Giraffe for Brinley...

Woody Vest MADE by Grammy!

Leopard Tutu MADE by Grammy:

Pink Tutu MADE by Grammy:

Other wonderful things...
Organized Spice drawer... (sigh) Just makes me happy!!

New Shoes... Makes me even MORE happy...

Thanks Grammy and Papa!! Love you!

Grilled Chicken and Asparagus Pasta

I'm having a hard time remembering where I got this recipe. (Maybe Adriane Murdock? Mm, thank you, I love it! and this is not my picture, but you could easily add carrots and peas to this meal!!)

Ingredients:
2 chicken breasts, cooked and cut into bite-sized pieces
1 1/2 pounds asparagus, ends trimmed
1 pound bow tie pasta
1/4 cup butter
1 clove garlic, minced
1 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup chicken stock
Zest of one lemon
Juice of one lemon
Salt
Pepper
1 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
1 T. flat leaf Italian parsley, minced.

Method:
1. In a large pot, bring six quarts of water to a boil. Add asparagus and cook to tender-crisp, about 2 minutes.

2. Take asparagus out of water and rinse with cold water to stop the cooking, set aside.

3. Return pot to stove and water to boil. Cook pasta according to package directions.

4. In a large skillet, set over low heat, combine butter, garlic, cream and stock. Stir in salt, lemon zest, and juice. Bring to a boil and simmer for 3 minutes. Reduce heat to low and add chicken, cheese and drained pasta.

5. Cut cooked asparagus into 1 to 2 inch pieces on a diagonal. Add asparagus and parsley to the pasta and toss all ingredients together. Turn off heat and let pasta sit to allow the sauce to thicken and all ingredients to heat through. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

1.17.2011

GUEST CHEF at Tasty Sensations...

Tasty Sensations has a NEW Guest Chef this week... Wonder who it is??? :)

http://tastysensations.blogspot.com/

1.13.2011

Minestrone Soup (and Seven Years of Plenty!!)

1 pound sausage
1 quart water

Cook sausage and drain. add to soup kettle with the water.

Then Add:
1 onion, chopped
2 carrots, sliced
2 celery, chopped
2 gloves garlic, minced
1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes
2 (8-ounce) can tomato sauce
1 Tablespoon parsley flakes
1/2 teaspoon basil
1 teaspoon oregano
salt and pepper
2 cups beef broth

Mix together and simmer for 2-3 hours. Then add:

1 (16-ounce) can garbanzo beans, drained
1 (16-ounce) can cut green beans, drained
1 cup macaroni

Bring to a boil and reduce heat. cook until macaroni is tender, serve with fresh grated Parmesan cheese on top (optional.)

and While I'm at it... let me tell you what I served with my Minestrone... I wanted a simple 'bread stick' to go with our soup...

Delicious Armenian Lavash!!!

Now, you are probably wondering HOW i got such a recipe...?

My AWESOME Cousin, Linda wrote this super-ninja- cool Food Storage Cook Book... called Seven Years of Plenty, (The Best of the World's Basics.) Inspired by the limitless variety found in international cooking. Seven Years of Plenty brings together some of the best recipes made with commonly stored ingredients!! EAT WHAT YOU STORE. ENJOY WHAT YOU EAT!!!

Other recipes I'm excited to try include: Facaccia Bread from Italy, Flour Tortillas from Mexico, Island Rice from Caribbean, Maple Baked beans from Canada, Zucchini Sauce Spaghetti from America, Custard Puff from France, Apple Cake from Norway, Rice Pudding from Morocco, Horchata from Mexico!!! ....AND MANY MANY MORE!!! Congratulations Linda!! This is such a great book!

Click on the title below and it will take you to her blog, where you can buy her book! ENJOY!!

Seven Years of Plenty