9.01.2011

Healthified Strawberry-Peach Trifle

"Healthified" Strawberry-Peach Trifle

89% less fat • No sat fat • 40% fewer calories than the original recipe—see the comparison. This trifle boasts big taste while the fat is reduced in both the creamy pudding and the topping. From eatbetteramerica.

Prep Time: 30 min

Total Time: 30

Servings: 16 servings (about 3/4 cup each)

Ingredients

  • 1 box (4-serving size) vanilla instant pudding and pie filling mix
  • 2 cups fat-free (skim) milk
  • 2 cups frozen fat-free whipped topping, thawed
  • 1/2 cup peach preserves
  • 1/2 cup amaretto or orange juice
  • 8 cups cubed (1-inch) angel food cake (10 to 12 oz)
  • 3 cups sliced fresh strawberries
  • 3 medium peaches or nectarines, peeled, sliced, or 2 cups frozen sliced peaches, thawed
  • 1/4 cup sliced almonds, toasted*

Directions

  1. In large bowl, make pudding mix as directed on box for pudding using 2 cups milk. Refrigerate 15 minutes. Gently stir in whipped topping until blended.

  1. Meanwhile, in small bowl, mix preserves and amaretto until blended.

  1. In 3- to 4-quart trifle bowl or clear glass bowl, arrange half of the cake cubes. Top with half of the strawberries and peaches. Drizzle with half of the preserves mixture. Spoon and spread half of pudding mixture over fruit. Repeat layers, ending with pudding. Sprinkle almonds over top. Serve immediately or cover and refrigerate no longer than 8 hours.

Mango Quinoa Salad

Mango Quinoa Salad
TheSistersCafé.com

2 cups prepared quinoa (This is 1/2 cup dry. I like it better cooked in chicken broth)
1 14 oz can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 medium mango, peeled and diced
1 red bell pepper, diced
6 green onions, thinly sliced
1 handful chopped cilantro (about 1/2 cup)
4 Tablespoons red wine vinegar
3 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1-2 Tablespoons fresh lime juice (I use 2T, but I really like lime!)
salt
freshly cracked black pepper

Place cooked quinoa in a large bowl. Add mango, red pepper, green onion, black beans, and cilantro. In a small bowl combine vinegar, olive oil, and lime juice. Whisk until smooth and pour on top of salad. Toss to combine and add salt and pepper to taste. Chill for at least one hour before serving.



Quilt

After making my totally awesome special quilts for Mama Sue and Mama T... I decided that I NEEDED one that looked JUST like theirs! (matchy, matchy!) We'll after months of neglect, I finally finished the binding and now it's ready for snuggling!

front & back w/corner action...


this picture is worth 1,000 words...
4th quilt down...
LaLaLa......... time for quilt #5!

Hurricane

Last Saturday morning we woke to gray skies and light misty rain...
by 10 am the wind and the rain picked up and we braced ourselves for the worst! The kids prepared themselves for the power to go out... (we feel very blessed that it never did!!)
Caitlin brought down all her stuffed animals from her room! She wanted them to be safe during the hurricane...
(This moment totally took me down memory lane to when I was her age... The mountains caught on fire one summer in Southern California, they were fighting the flames for what seamed days and days-hearing sirens constantly. I carried around my Sliver Hawks lunch box where ever i went- fearing that the fire would come to our house and destroy my most prized possession!)

I found this picture on line, just looking at it takes be back...

more hurricane fun... crazy straws for the kids...
inside-sidewalk chalk
S0, the kids were invited to a birthday pool party for their friends, Briggs and Berkey! Because of the weather, it was moved to the church gym. The whole family went and had SUCH A BLAST! It was great for the kids to get out of the house and burn off all that stuck inside all day energy. They played dodge ball, 4 corners, hit a pinyata, ate cake, and just went crazy! Parents got to visit, it was fun. We hardly knew there was a crazy hurricane going on outside! kids got to take home balloons from the party...

Sunday, church was canceled because the ward building had now power. So we spent time cleaning up sticks and debree from the storm. Justin, as usual, was going the extra mile... (that's not a squirrel in the tree... it's Justin.) i only wish i had it on video...
Damage report: we didn't have any problems. BUT our neighbor's tree fell on their house!!! Sunday afternoon we all took a break and sat and watched the show, as the tree man came and took care of business. It was fascinating to watch.
Enjoying the show, also weather was so beautiful!



Survived our first Hurricane!! (check that one off da list!)

Asian Sesame Noodle Salad



Asian Sesame Noodle Salad

Ingredients:

12 oz angel hair pasta

3 Tbs sesame seeds

2 Tbs vegetable oil

1 Tbs sesame oil

1/4 cup soy sauce (preferably low sodium)

1/4 cup rice vinegar

1 Tbs sugar

1/2 tsp ground cayenne pepper (optional)

1 medium red bell pepper rinsed, stemmed, seeded, and cut into thin, short slivers

3/4 cup shredded carrots

3/4 cup thinly sliced green onions

½ cup cilantro

1 cup snow peas cut diagonally in half

Salt

(If you like it spicy, add 1 tsp red chili pepper flakes.)

Directions:

1. Bring 2 1/2 to 3 quarts of water to a boil in a 5- to 6-quart pot.

2. Break noodles in half and add to the boiling water. Stir to separate, and cook until just tender. (2-3 min. Do not overcook.)

3. Drain and rinse well with cold water.

4. Rinse and dry the pot.

5. Using the same pot, stir sesame seeds in oils until golden, 2 to 3 minutes.

6. Remove from heat.

7. Add soy sauce, vinegar, sugar, and cayenne, and stir until blended.

8. Add noodles and mix until well coated

9. Add bell pepper, carrots, and green onions and mix gently. Add salt to taste.

Make this salad up to 1 day ahead, cover and chill. For best flavor, bring to roomtemperature before serving.

Makes 8 to 10 small-plate servings


8.25.2011

Flying Squirrels


No, Not this...
THIS...

Thursday August 18th, Sun Trust had a special on tickets to the Flying Squirrels game! We had a FUN time!
Brinley's Chewbocca Desese kicked in pretty fast... but calmed down after a while!
yay, sun trust. (last year we got baseball pens that hung around our neck... this year a paper fan... hard times we are living in folks... whatev's-- kids were happy with them.
Will- "I love Spaceball, Mom!"

Brinley fell asleep for a few innings...

but woke up in time for some $4.00 COTTON CANDY!!

Fun night!