Tilapia and Mushrooms

Are you so surprised to see something healthy on here?  Well, in lieu of my healthy eating plan, I decided to show you one of my favorite healthy meals.  I LOVE seafood, and this fish (tilapia, I don't know if it comes from the sea or lakes or what, but I assume the sea) is so flavorful and easy!  Randy doesn't like mushrooms very well, but he loves them in this dish; they give a nice flavor.  I usually serve this with some sort of rice, but wild rice has been my top fish companion.I also thought about adding fresh cilantro or parsley to the top.  That might be good.  Anyways, enjoy!

2 C sliced fresh mushrooms

2 T butter

2 garlic cloves, minced

4 sole or tilapia fillets (I use tilapia, I think any white mild fish would work)

1/4 t lemon-pepper seasoning

1/4 t paprika

1/8 t cayenne pepper

1 medium tomato, chopped

2 green onions, thinly sliced

asparagus (optional)

In a large skillet, saute mushrooms in butter until tender.  Add garlic, saute 1 minute longer.  Place fillets over mushrooms.  Sprinkle with lemon-pepper, paprika, and cayenne ( I only put cayenne on Randy's fish, since he likes heat and I don't).  Cover and cook over medium heat for 5-10 minutes or until fish flakes easily with a fork.  If you are using asparagus, place around fish during the last 3-5 minutes of cooking.  Sprinkle with tomato and onions.

Resolve

 I taught an Enrichment Activity last night on Food Storage.  Not because I'm great at it, just because I got to do it.  It has totally motivated me to get my food storage more organized, and move on to the next level.  There was a quote in a talk I read about food storage, and I love this quote.  It has given me resolve  to do more, finish what I've started, and meet my goals.  If you get a chance, you should read the whole talk, it's not too long, and it is awesome and motivating.  Here's the quote, and I'll put the link to the whole talk here too, just click on the quote.  "Don't ever make a commitment to yourself you don't intend to keep-if you do, you weaken your character."  How true is that?!  

Lately I've put myself on a healthy eating/exercising plan.  I've done that a few times already this year, and I haven't followed through.  Finally, I've done it.  I'm following through.  It gives me more resolve to keep following through, and to do more.  I love the feeling of doing what I've actually set out to do, not just having what I do decided for me by something/someone else.  That reminds me of another saying I've heard recently.  "If you don't decide what you are going to do with your life, it will get decided for you".  Not necessarily by people, but also by environment, circumstances, the adversary, etc.  I'm not letting anyone or anything be in charge of what I do with my life.  I will do it for me.  

Norwegian Potato Doughnuts

Well, I always have an excuse for not posting on Friday. THIS Friday, I was preparing for our garage sale we had today. Now it's over, and I can catch up. Sorry about that.
This recipe is from my great, great, Grandmother, who was Norwegian. I didn't have a doughnut hole maker, so that's why they are hole-less. These are so good, and melt in your mouth! I made them and after they were cut out and risen, I froze about half of the doughnuts to use at a later time. When I pulled them out of the freezer, I let them thaw/rise for an hour before frying them.

2/3 C shortening
4 T sugar
2 t salt
1 C lukewarm, freshly mashed potatoes (save the water!)
2 eggs, well beaten
3 t yeast
1 1/2 C lukewarm potato water
6 C flour (about)
Put yeast in a small bowl and add warm potato water. Let stand five minutes. In large mixing bowl, cream together shortening, sugar, and salt. Add mashed potatoes. Beat until smooth. Add yeast water and eggs, beat it well- it will look curdled and weird, thats fine. Add flour 1 C at a time, mixing after each addition, until soft dough forms. By hand, stir in remaining flour, turning dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic, dusting occasionally with flour to keep from sticking (about 5 to 8 minutes). Place dough in a greased bowl, turning once to grease top. Cover. Let rise in a warm place until doubled, 45-50 minutes. Punch down. On a floured surface, roll dough 1/2 inch thick. Cut dough with a 3-inch doughnut cutter or similar item. Place on a baking sheet and cover. Let rise 30-40 minutes. Fry in deep hot oil about 1 minute on each side or until golden. Drain on paper towels. Dip warm doughnuts in glaze. Enjoy! Makes 2 dozen doughnuts.
Glaze
2 1/2 C powdered sugar
1/2 t cream of tartar
1 t Vanilla
1/4 C hot milk
Mix till smooth.

OR, you can use that dough for cinnamon rolls, which are VERY good. Just that soft, soft bread I love.
For cinnamon rolls (filling)
1/2 C melted butter
3/4 C packed brown sugar
3 T ground cinnamon

Cinnamon Roll Icing
2 C powdered sugar
1/2 C milk
2 T butter melted
1/2 t vanilla

Well, if any of you make these, let me know, and I'm coming over for dessert! =)

"I'm OLDER now!"

Well, I said I'd tell about Kenadi's birthday, and I may have procrastinated a little.  Kenadi was born on April 4th, 2006.  Her due date was April 1st, and I was hoping for an April fools day baby, but she decided to trick us and come later.  I can't believe 3 years has already gone by, and yet I can.  It seems like just a little bit ago I was holding her for the first time, but it also seems like she's been with us forever.  Kenadi is a funny little thing.  She's smart, and active, and independent.  She loves "kids music", her stuffed puppy, sweets, swinging and sliding, books and the library, Elmo and Sesame Street, pictures and taking them, the zoo, making us laugh, swimming, dancing, gum, makeup/chap stick, cooking, walks, school work, singing, and lots, lots more.  If you ask her how old she is, she usually says, "I'm older!".

On her birthday Randy was gone to DC helping some friends of ours move there.  I told him he should go and that we'd just not tell Kenadi it was her birthday until the following Tuesday when we could celebrate it with Randy.  So, I spent Saturday (her birthday) trying to make her feel extra special while not saying anything.  I eventually told her it was her birthday because I was so excited for it, but she didn't believe me.  I guess it was the lack of party that threw her off.

So, on Tuesday when Daddy was home, I made her this moon cake.  It was the easiest cake out of my friends cake book.  Kenadi picked it out, and I didn't object.

She opened her presents, and loved everything she got. 

On her actual birthday, we went over to one of her friends house and planted some flowers for them with some other ladies in the ward.  Well, Kenadi played, and LOVED driving and riding in this car.  It was like a little date.  It was so cute because they'd drive, and then change the radio station, and drive some more and change the station.  I always wanted one of these cars when I was a little kid.

Then after planting flowers, we watched General Conference and got to hear the Prophet and Apostles speak.  Our friends Karey and Lincoln came over to watch it with us.  It was so good, and Kenadi was actually paying attention to most of it. She would repeat some of the things they were saying and ask me about it.  Our Conference tradition is now potato doughnuts.  We had them and LOVED them.  In the evening we went over to some other friends house for their pie night-so Kenadi could play and I could visit and kill time before coming home to an empty house without a husband.

The night before all this, Kenadi and Emma and I went to a Medieval Festival in Norman, OK.  I thought this was the neatest thing.  The human powered swing.  See those guys int he middle?  They are turning that big wheel, and when they get it going, they grab each individual swing and twist them.  It was pretty neat.  We also watched the belly dancers for a while, and Kenadi couldn't take her eyes off of them.  That was neat.  And I people watched.  There are some strange people at those festivals.  Almost everyone was dressed up.  I got the feeling that most of them wore that stuff all the time.

Emma helped me "people watch".

Sweet little girls.  I enjoyed going with them.  We all had lots of fun.

To top things off, Kenadi got to jump in the jump house.  She loves it, and it was a little "I'm sorry tomorrows your birthday and we aren't going to tell you and your daddy's gone for it and  even though I said it was OK, I'm still a little sad"-gesture from me.  Happy Birthday Kenadi, we love you!

P.S.  You can count my moon cake as last weeks food for thought Friday.  I did think about how lucky I was because it was so easy.  This next fftF is going to be my doughnut recipe, which is mouthwateringly (I know that's not a word, but it is now) delicious.

Kenadi's birthday

Well, Kenadi's 3 now, and I can't believe it!  We had a little family party on Tuesday night because Randy was gone on her actual birthday.  ( he went to DC for a little weekend trip)  Thanks to all the family who remembered her on her birthday!  I'll post pictures and a little more details tomarrow.

Puff-oven Pancakes and Carmel Syrup

Well, I have done a lot of breakfasts lately, but I haven't taken pictures of any other meal I've made this week, so I'll just have to do this one today.  Not that it isn't good, cause it is.  I grew up on these, "puff-oven" pancakes, or German pancakes.  THESE ones are special, cause they have apples in them, and we cover them with carmel syrup.  Yum.  

Puff Oven Pancakes

6 eggs

1 1/2 C milk

1 C flour

2 T sugar

1 t cinnamon

1/4 C butter

2 apples

Turn oven on to 420 and stick butter in 13X9 inch pan and let it melt in the oven while it's preheating.  Peel and thinly slice the apples.  When the butter is all melted in the pan, layer the apples accross the bottom of the pan and stick them back in the oven for about 5 minutes, or until they are sizzling.  Meanwhile, blend first 5 ingredients in a blender.  Pour them over the already sizzling apples in the pan.  Return to oven and bake for 20 minutes.

Carmel Syrup

1 C cream or evaporated milk (I usually use the evaporated milk and it's just as good)

1 C brown sugar

1 C white sugar

Combine ingredients in a saucepan and heat on med-low until all sugar is dissolved, stiring constantly ( I always say that, but I don't do it.  I recommend it though, if you have time).  DO NOT let it boil.  It will curdle if it boils, but it will still taste good.