100 Things

This past Sunday the speaker at church asked us to make a list of 100 things we are thankful for in our lives. So I am going to give it a shot.

1. Charlie
2. Chad
3. Morgan
4. all my family
5. the restored gospel of Jesus Christ on earth today
6. health
7. a home
8. my husbands job
9. safety
10. friends
11. a car
12. books to read
13. eyes that work (remember the whole in my retina?)
14. a down comforter
15. my children laughs
16. new buds on the trees in the spring
17. the color of fall leaves
18. my scriptures that are all worn and well loved
19. tivo
20. my cookbooks
21. toothpaste and mouthwash
22. mints on fast Sunday (they should give them out at the door!)
23. my kids teachers
24. Pepsi
25. fresh tomatoes
26. fresh salsa
27. guacamole
28. contact lens
29. email
30. friends that make my blog cute
31. my nephew who lives with us and visits often
32. my niece who lives close by and makes me laugh
33. washing machines
34. dryers
35. dish washer
36. refrigerator
37. Paces Popsicles
38. medical insurance
39. a good doctor
40. medicine that is readily available
41. comfy pillows
42. fireplace
43. my neighbors huge tree that shades our house in the summer
44. happy hollow
45. all my nieces and nephews!
46. flushable wipes
47. cleaning wipes
48. the pond
49. the pool
50. the beach
51. even though we don't live near it but a sea breeze!
52. sunsets
53. sunrises
54. good jokes
55. clinique lotion
56. carmex lip gloss
57. warm water every day
58. chocolate
59. bubble bath
60. pedicures
61. Advil
62. bike rides
63. rocket (the dog)
64. computer
65. cell phone
66. freshly made bread
67. ipod
68. hot chocolate
69. fresh snow (when I can stay home)
70. sense of humor
71. frozen grapes
72. newly blossomed spring garden
73. vacation at my sister Tara's house!!!!
74. baseball
75. peace I feel when I pray
76. a living prophet
77. my testimony
78. my calling
79. fresh sheets!
80. Costco
81. target
82. the D.I.
83. garage sale finds
84. my journal
85. eyebrow waxing
86. Christmas morning
87. Easter
88. Thanksgiving
89. the color red
90. Chad's jokes
91. the ability to laugh instead of cry
92. a father who taught me to laugh instead of cry
93. a mother who taught me to be craft, caring, and always smile!
94. a free country
95. leaders who pray
96. a God who loves me
97. knowing my God loves me
98. the Holy Ghost that testifies of all things good and true
99. an eternal marriage
100. my Savior Jesus Christ

Cookie of The Week

This week we made out traditional sugar cookie recipe. We make and decorate these cookies for several holidays during the year. Then we share them with neighbors! You will see in these pictures that Morgan is still happy to be in the pictures and all that good stuff. But Chad will not. He will help cut, roll and decorate! He will not allow himself to be in the pictures doing any of these things. Although making bunny ears behind his sister is still OK in his mind. This is one of those traditions that I kind of dread because of the time and mess. In the end I am thankful for the tradition. I am thankful for the time spent together, the jokes, the laughter, even the mess!

Sour Cream Sugar Cookies

1 Cup butter at room temperature

2 Cups sugar

3 eggs

1 tsp vanilla

1 Cup sour cream

4 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

6-8 Cups flour

Cream together the first 4 ingredients. Add the next 3 then add one cup of flour at a time until it makes a soft dough. Refrigerate for at least an hour. Roll out and cut into lovely shapes!! Bake at 250 for 7-9 minutes. I use store bought frosting because I am lazy, but you could make some too!! Enjoy!

A Little Piece of Heaven (or Cinnamon Rolls)

The Roll!

5 Cups warm water

3 tbl. yeast

2 tbls sugar

Add the yeast and sugar to the water, do not stir!

Let proof in the bowl for about 5 minutes.

14-16 Cups flour (unbleached all purpose)

2 tbl. salt

2/3 canola oil

2/3 cup white sugar

Add yeast/water mixture to the 1/2 the four and all other ingredients in a large bowl.

Mix with a spoon adding 1 cup of flour at a time until it is too sticky.

Scrape out onto a floured counter and begin kneading.

Adding enough flour to properly knead the dough.

This dough is fairly stiff and should be kneaded for 10 minutes.

You can mix this dough in a "Bosch" if you have one. It is too large and

stiff to mix in my Kitchen Aid.

Let rise in the washed bowl, covered with a dish towel. The dough has

risen enough when it begins to mound on the top of the bowl.

At this point you may make 4 loaves of bread or 2 large batches of cinnamon rolls.

To make cinnamon rolls you will need:

2 cubes butter (at room temperature)

4 Cups dark brown sugar

cinnamon

nuts or raisins (optional)

Punch down and divide dough into 2 even sections. Roll out each section into a

large, loosely rectangular shape. Melt one cube of butter and spread

over the dough sprinkle with 2 Cups brown sugar and cinnamon to taste.

Add nut and or raisins if you and yours enjoy them.

I sprinkle cinnamon over the top so that there is an even sprinkle but not completely

covering the dough.

Roll firmly and cut in about 2 inch pieces. Each 1/2 of the dough will make

12 rolls, you may have a couple extra. Place cut rolls on greased 1/2 sheet

cookie sheet. Let rise covered for about 1/2 hour. Then bake in a preheated

350 degree oven for 20 minutes. Repeat with other half.

The Frosting!

1 block cream cheese

2 cubes butter

whipping cream

big bag powdered sugar

1 orange

a pinch of salt

1 tsp vanilla

Cream butter and cream cheese together. Add the juice of one orange, salt and vanilla.

Slowly add powdered sugar and whipping cream a little at a time until

it is the consistency you like. Spread over pan or individual rolls. Be sure

to refrigerate leftover frosting.

ENJOY!! These rolls are really worth the work...they are so yummy!

Simple Sunday

Alma 7:23

And now I would that ye should be humble, and be submissive and gentle; easy to be entreated; being temperate in all things; being diligent in keeping the commandments of God at all times; asking for whatsoever things ye stand in need, both spiritual and temporal; always returning thanks unto God for whatsoever things ye do recieve.

Simple Sunday

Alma 34:38

That ye contend no more against the Holy Ghost, but that ye receive it, and take upon you the name of Christ; that ye humble yourselves even to the dust, and worship God, in whatsoever place ye may be in, in spirit and in truth; and that ye live in thanksgiving daily, for the many mercies and blessings which he doth bestow upon you.

Cookie Of The Week

Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies

2 C butter

2 C sugar

2 C brown sugar

4 eggs

2 tsp soda

2 tsp baking powder

1 1/2 tsp salt

2 tsp vanilla

5 C oatmeal (blended into a flour)

4 C flour

24 oz chocolate chips (I use 1/2 mild and 1/2 semi sweet)

3 C chopped nuts (your choice)

Cream butter, add sugars. Then eggs and next 4 ingredients. Add oatmeal one cup at a time, then do the same with the four. Add chocolate chips and nuts. This is a super thick dough! Drop by ball onto cookie sheet. Bake at 375 degrees for 10 minutes.

Simple Sunday

Isaiah 1: 18

Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord:

though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow;

though they be red like crimson; they shall be as wool.