Spring Training, Recipe #5:Sour Cream Pancakes and My Puzzle Fix

I went to a spring training Cubs vs.White Sox baseball game Thursday with Kelli and her friend Joleen.  Am I spelling and saying that right?  We had a lot of fun and it was perfect weather!  I felt like I hadn't been to a spring training game in forever.  Oh wait...I don't think I have ever been to one.  What a pathetic Arizonian I am.

Thank you Kelli for the Cubs baseball hat.  I would have felt very out of place without some kind of Cubs or White Sox paraphernalia on. 

Professional sporting events cater to a very specific crowd.  I thought this shirt explains what I am talking about. 

Unfortunately whoever designed the parking for this baseball field, needs to find new employment.  There were hundreds, if not a thousand cars, trying to get out of one exit so we sat in traffic for over an hour and a half.  On our way out, a few people were lounging next to their car drinking beer waiting for the line to die down and offered us one as we waited.  So very kind of them. 

Official Score:

Cubs: 8  White Sox: 2

I would have really cared less who won, I entirely went for the fun and company!

Now for recipe #5: Sour Cream Pancakes.  I don't have any pictures for proof since they are on my Mom's camera but oh well.  You can just believe me.

Ingredients:
1 cup sour cream
7 tablespoons flour
1 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 large eggs
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
butter
maple syrum

The Process:

Place an iron skillet over medium-low heat.  Place the sour cream in a medium bowl.  Dump in the flour, sugar, baking soda and salt.  Stir together gently.  Don't completely mix together.  You want it to have an interesting texture.  Whisk the eggs in a separate bowl.  Add the vanilla and stir.  Pour the egg mixture into the sour cream mixture and stir together gently.  Melt a tablespoon of butter in the skillet and pour the batter into the skillet 1/4 cup at a time.  Cook for 1 to 1 1/2 minutes, then flip.  Cook for another 45 seconds.  I added blueberries, raspberries and blackberries to spice it up a little.  I was even thinking of chocolate chips next time.  My brothers LOVED THEM.  But for future reference, I would have to double the recipe next time b/c it didn't make enough.  This recipe is so easy and sure beats a normal pancake mix.  I just made sausage and hashbrowns to go a long with it.

I know this is a very long post but I thought I would just get it all in.  I really enjoy doing puzzles.  It can be very therapeutic for me.  I found a puzzle at my parent's house that I wasn't able to finish when I moved so I took it home, found a perfect puzzle table and got to work Sunday.  I put the border together and started to organize the pieces into colors but I knew it was going to be so hard b/c this puzzle has a ton of white!!  So last night, my roommate had a bunch of people over to watch American Idol and I was just quietly working on my puzzle when suddenly I had a people surrounding my table helping!! 

And of course Sarah laughing at the TV.  I had quite a bit to finish since it is a 750 piece puzzle and only had like an 1/8 done.  But it was kind of nice to have so much help. 

This was suppose to be an action shot when I look like I am sleeping instead. 

Around puzzle tables, you talk about very interesting things and anything and everything so somehow we got on the topic of peanut butter and honey tortillas.  When I went to the baseball game Friday, Kelli opened up my eyes to these and I have had one everyday since.  So I got these boys interested and then made some for them.  Needless to say...they enjoyed them.

And these boys stayed until 12:30am to help me finish.  This puzzle was really hard.  When I was trying to organize it into colors, it was so hard because every piece had like 2-3 colors and I would just choose the color that was most dominant.  But we had a good time.  I had no idea Dave Johnson was so funny.  He had me legitimately laughing out loud at least 10 times.  It was great.  So anyways, now that we have finished...I can start a new one.  I have this panaramic one of the New York city.  If you want to come help, let me know.  Some people knit...I put puzzles together.

I love...

  ...warm clothes straight from the dryer. I was switching out my laundry last night and as I was taking out my warm, good smelling (TIDE) laundry, it made me so happy. And strange enough, folding laundry has ALWAYS been my favorite chore.

 ...box cereal. Now don’t get me wrong, I was raised on bagged cereal but a good box of Honey Nut Cheerios, Lucky Charms, Golden Grahams or Corn Chex can really do the trick. My brothers can eat a box of cereal in one sitting so bags were always cheaper and more practical but living on my own has opened up a new world to cereal.  At school, I would sometimes eat it for lunch and/or dinner.

...getting in my car and seeing a full tank of gas. I am not sure what it is, but I start to get a little anxious or nervous when that little line starts to creep below the half-way mark.

 ...to sweat. I know that sounds so odd but it is such a release for me and I look forward to my workouts every day. It is an obsession that I don’t like to admit to having because it makes me sound like I need to fill my time with other things, but there is NOTHING like a good run or spinning workout.

 ...to organize my money. It isn’t that I am anal about my bills because I am not a tight wad, especially when it comes to shopping, but I love to separate my money into subcategories and I take a sense of satisfaction in hitting the submit button when paying a bill. Staying on top of my bills is crucial in my life. I sound so dumb as I type this.

 ...the feeling of starting and finishing a book. It is just so much fun to open up a book and read the first chapter and know I am about to meet new people and get involved in a whole new life and story. And then to finish it and feel like you have accomplished something. Closing the book after completing it is like walking out of a store where you just bought that new jacket you have been waiting 6 weeks to go on sale. Well…maybe not exactly, but pretty close.  I love bookstores and browsing the aisles.  I could spend hours in Barnes and Noble.

 ...when my nephews get so excited to see me and Jack says “ekka ekka”. I went and helped my Mom babysit them the other night and they are just so cute. I went to go pick them up from their friends house just down the street, and when they both saw me walking towards the house, they started to run and if anyone has seen them run it is so entertaining. Kaden does this funny thing where he ducks his head and uses his right arm as a little motor to keep him going and it is to die for. Jack takes very small steps and sticks out his little rear end and tummy and it just makes me so happy. I love it. Makes life seem so perfect.

  ...holding hands.  I just love the feel of slipping my hand through his and knowing this is exactly where I belong at this moment. Sounds like a ridiculous poem but it's true.

...the smell of summer: chlorine, sunscreen, pdf chapstick, even the 5 towels that my mom had to keep constantly clean which reeked pool smell . In order to keep us 5 kids busy during the summers, she put us on a Mesa Parks and Rec swim team when we could barely keep our heads above water, but we all survived. She would just drop us off at like 7:30am in the morning and since we were all in different age groups, she wouldn’t have to pick us up until 10:30am and then sometimes we would stay for the public swim. Basically the coaches and lifeguards all knew who those dang Parker kids were since it seemed like we never left the pool. Then we had our swim meets every week and this went on for years. I lifeguarded and taught lessons for 3 summers so the smell of chlorine is a strange comfort for me. I love when I run by Brimhall on my morning runs because I can smell the pool. I can spot it a mile away. Strange I know.

 ...looking through recipe books and trying to decide which would be the most fun to make or what sounds the most delicious. I can’t wait until I get married so I can plan meals and menus every week. Very excited about this.

 ...that my brother comes home in 4 months: July 23rd. We are all very excited. He always threatened to move to Alaska after he got home from his mission so we shall see if he follows through. Doubt it! I think he missed us too much to just leave again. (Maybe) It will just be good to have all of us together before Dallin leaves on his mission.

And I love man who is snoring so loudly at the table next to me that I can hardly concentrate on studying and reading about Articulatory-Phonological Development and Disorders in Children which makes me realize suddenly how much I love taking naps.

 

And I love those that take the time to read through this as I am trying to keep myself from packing up my stuff and going home...I have forgotten how boring studying can be.

Serious Baby...Love it!

I love this. It is so cute and so amazing that this baby knew what a serious facial expression should look like and then do it on command. So cute! I seriously laughed out loud!

Recipe #4: Chocolate Sheet Cake and...New Purchase!!

For Recipe #4, I made the Chocolate Sheet Cake.  It was so easy and so good.  I couldn't believe how moist and woderful it tasted. 

I will give you the list of ingredients and then lead you through the process:

Cake:

2 cups flour

2 cups sugar

1/4 tsp salt

1/2 cup buttermilk

2 large eggs

1 tsp vanilla

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 pound (2 sticks) butter

4 heaping tablespoons or 1/4 cup cocoa powder

Icing:

1 3/4 sticks butter

4 heaping tablespoons or 1/4 cup cocoa powder

6 tablespoons milk

1 tsp vanilla

1 pound powdered sugar

1/2 cup finely chopped pecans but I used a nut mixture

specifically for baking and it turned out great.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  In a large bowl combine the flour, sugar, and salt and then set aside.  In another bowl, mix the buttermilk, eggs, vanilla and baking soda with a fork and set aside. 

In a medium saucepan, melt the butter and add the cocoa.  Whisk together to combine.  Bring 1 cup of water to boil and when the butter is melted, pour the boiling water in the pan.  Allow this to bubble for a moment and then remove from heat.

Pour the chocolate mixture into the flour mixture and stir together for a moment to cool the chocolate.  Then pour in the egg mixture.  Stir this all together until smooth.

Pour into an ungreased rimmed baking sheet and bake for 20 minutes.

While the cake is baking, make the icing.  Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium-low heat.  Add the cocoa powder and stir until smooth.  Then add the milk and vanilla.  Add powdered sugar and stir together. 

Add the nut mixture or chopped pecans and stir until combined.

Immediately after removing the cake from the oven, pour the warm icing over the cake.  Try to pour evenly because you do not want to do very much spreading.  The icing just kind of falls into place on it's own but go slowly.  Enjoy because it is amazing!! 

Now for the exciting news....I bought a car!!  I know it was kind of fast but I found an awesome deal and my dad bought my corolla from me so that will cover the first 6 payments until I am full time in August.  So here it is:

It is a 2009 Dodge Journey.  I found it on Craigslist and called the guy and it ended up being a car dealership: Superstition Nissan and Chrysler.  It was $17,999 the day before they listed it and I bought it for $14,229.  I was so happy because I have been looking around for a long time and I was just going to wait until Spencer got home but oh well.  The other cars I was looking at were $4-6,000 more.  There was one 2006 Mazda I was looking at for only $300 less with 62,000 miles on it when this one has 35,000 miles on it.  It belonged to a rental car company before. But there is lots of space and a car I can see myself having for a long time.

And there is plenty of room in the back for all my stuff!!

  I felt very grown up driving it off the lot.  Don't you love it??  I do!

Future Purchase

As most of you know, I am currenlty working part-time as a speech assistant. I love what I do. I have 22 kids but it only comes to about 15 hours a week but luckily I get paid well so it all evens out. I informed my boss about 2 months ago that I needed full time work and she understood if I interviewed with school districts or other private contracters for a full-time position in the Fall. So about 2 weeks ago I interviewed with 2 Speech Pathologists and they offered me an SLPA position for full time at $20 an hour with insurance compensation and so I told them I would think about it and let them know. They offered to have me come and shadow them a few times at their schools to get a better idea if it was something I wanted to do. So I talked to my mom and Steven and decided I would take this job.

The next day at work, Amanda, my boss, asked me if I had interviewed with anyone and I informed her of this job offer. She then told me that she would give me all her campuses (4), $22 an hour, meet their insurance compensation and give me full-time if I would stay. That is about 50-60 kids!! How could I refuse! So I thought about it for a day, and then told her I would stay with her. I love working with her and she is amazing at what she does. I couldn't ask for a better mentor and she graduated from BYU, got married a lot older, and we just have a lot in common. Well I am not married yet, but I am getting older:) Anyhow, she also told me that once I get my Speech Tech license she will DOUBLE my payrate. I have to pass the AEPA exam on March 27th and take an online class through NAU which will qualify me for 50 university observational hours. Basically the state requires this but BYU only gave me 25 and the state purposely makes it difficult for you to find another 25 but hopefully I will get accepted to NAU as a non-degree seeking student so I can take this one class. So it will be quite the headache to get there, but hopefully by August, I will be a licensed speech technician making $44 an hour. Cross your fingers and say a prayer. I am very excited because a tech licnese qualifies me to do evaluations and testing and IEP write-ups. And it is perfect experience before I eventually make the plunge into grad school. In the meantime, I am satisfied with pursuing a tech license.

So the point of all this is I am getting a new car soon. Hopefully sooner then later but my brother Spencer gets home in August and he will need a car so I am handing down to him my Corolla also known as: LOLA. She has been incredible to me and never once has she ever broken down. Not once!! And I lived in freakin Provo for 3 years with snow and ice and slush and fog and all that junk and she was perfect. It will be difficult to part with her but I think I will get over it:

Because this is what I hope to purchase one day.  This is a 2010 Nissan Murano but I have also been looking at the Mazda Cx7, Kia Sorento, Nissan Rogue and so on.  I have so much work stuff with books, games, folder, all my files, toys and it will get worse in the Fall so I need a car with a hutchback and I love the SUV compact cars.  Plus, when I eventually get married, it is easier to pack kids around in. I want to be smart about this purchase but I am very excited.  I like either the black, cream, pearl or the deep, deep red colors.  I will keep you posted on the AEPA exam, the NAU class and a new car purchase.  My hard work in school is finally paying off...but I still have a headache thinking about how crazy these next 6 months will be.  But...that's life!

Recipe #3 and Weekend

It was a good Valentine's Day Weekend along with celebrating Dallin's 18th birthday.  We started out Saturday by making valentines and cookies with Kaden and Jack.  They were so enthralled with the stickers and huge hearts.  And of course eating the cookies instead of frosting.

Such a handsome boy!

We then went to the park and of course I locked my keys in my car but my Dad was somehow able to open my door with a long pole.  It was very impressive since my window wasn't cracked very much.

And then celebrating Dallin's 18th birthday.  Here is my sister Rachel...enough said.

I tried my hand at the Red Velvet Cake from "The Pioneer Woman Cooks" and it tasted really good and moist but my layering and frosting didn't turn out anything like the pictures in the book. In fact it didn't look very good at all but next time, I think I will make cupcakes.  My mom said you need a confectioners oven for these kinds of cakes but that is way over my head so I will take what I can get.  The recipe is at the bottom.

Here is Dallin so excited about his cake.

And sweet baby Nixon.  He is only 3 months old but getting so big so fast. 

And the flowers Steven surprised me with.  Love you!!

So here is how you make the Red Velvet Cake:

Ingredients for cake:

1 cup shortening

1 1/4 cups sugar

2 1/2 cups flour

1 1/4 tsp salt

2 large eggs

1 cup buttermilk

1 tsp vanilla

1 tsp baking soda

1 1/2 tsp vinegar

2 ounces red food coloring

1 1/2 tsp cocoa powder

Cream Cheese Frosting:

1 1/2 8-ounce packages of cream cheese at room temp.

3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) UNSALTED butter

1 1/2 pound powdered sugar

1/4 tsp salt

2 tsp vanilla

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and spray 2 round 10-inch non stick pans.  Blend together the sugar and shortening using an electric mixer.  Set aside.  Combine the flour and salt.  Set aside.  Mix the eggs, buttermilk, vanilla and baking soda and vinegar in a separate bowl.  Alternate the flour mixture and buttermilk mixture in the mixing bowl, after each addition.  In a small bowl, mix the red food coloring and the cocoa powder.  Pour into the mixing bowl.  Mix until just combined but do not overbeat.  Pour the batter evenly into the cake pans and bake for 25 minutes.  Allow to cool for 20 minutes or so before removing from pans.  Be sure to cool completely before icing. 

Now for the icing...place cream cheese and butter in mixing bowl and whip until smooth.  Sift powdered sugar and add to the bowl.  Add salt and mix.  Add the vanilla until smooth.  Then place one layer down on a cake plate or pedestal.  Ice bottom layer with 1/3 of icing.  Place the other cake layer on top face down.  Ice the top.  Then ice the sides with the remaining icing.  Be careful so you don't loosen crumbs.  I had a hard time making it look smooth but I will have to try it again.  Be sure to refrigerate the cake for 20 minutes before serving.  I served it with vanilla ice cream.  Delicious.  Enjoy!!

Recipe #2: Artichoke Dip

For Super Bowl Sunday I made the Artichoke Dip from "The Pioneer Woman Cooks".  I thought it was a little stiff when I put it in the oven but the cream cheese mixed with the mayo made it the perfect consistency after I baked it. 

I have never made anything with artichokes before. 

The mixing process...I don't have a food processor (future wish-list item) so I just used a mixer and it worked just fine.

Chopping the second can of artichokes.  I was afraid after I added the second can that it was going to be too much artichokes (because it sure seemed like a ton of artichokes) but it isn't called an Artichoke dip for nothing.  My sister even said that it is more creamy then "artichokey" so 2 cans is good.

The finished product...

So here is how you make the dip...it is very simple!

Ingredients:
Two 14-ounce cans artichoke hearts, drained
One 8-ounce block cream cheese
1 cup real mayonnaise (I used low fat and it worked fine)
Cayenne pepper
2 green onions, chopped
1 cup grated parmesan cheese
dash of salt
Freshly ground pepper

The process:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  Add one can of the artichokes, cream cheese and the mayo to the bowl of the food processor (or to a mixing bowl).  Sprinkle in the cayenne pepper but don't get too carried away.  Then add the chopped green onions.  Beat for about 15-20 seconds or pulse 6 to 7 times.  You dont want to turn it into a liquid.  Then mix in the parmesan and salt and pepper to taste and set aside.  Now chop the artichokes from the other can and chop down to bite size.  Add the artichoke pieces to the dip and stir together.  Pour the mixture into an oven safe dish and bake for 15-20 minutes.  I served this with wheat thins but you can serve with any kind of cracker and tortilla chips.

Enjoy!!