WECIPE WEDNEDAY

It's that time again. And I am still cooking so here goes.......

Pesto Chicken Sandwiches: I kind of copied the recipe from Red Robin. I couldn't find the ingredients on their online menu so here is what I came up with. Everyone in the family, twins included, loved it.

Ingredients:

chicken breasts (enough for about 3/4 breast per sandwich)
Ciabatta sandwich bread from Costco
Pesto sauce*
white cheese of choice (I used Havarti)
freshly grated Parmesan cheese
diced tomatoes


Marinate some chicken breasts in a creamy-type Italian dressing. I used Vidalia Onion (jug from Sam's) In my family we usually use Benensteins Cheese and Garlic dressing but it is getting so dang expensive and the bottles are shrinking so it isn't the best way to go for a marinade that you discard anyway. Marinate them for however long works for your schedule. I just pour some over the frozen chicken and leave it in the fridge all day.

Grill chicken breasts til done. Let sit. Meanwhile, cut ciabatta bread in half. Spread both halves with Pesto sauce. Top both halves with a little Parmesan cheese. Broil in oven til lightly browned. Slice chicken breasts into strips (or leave whole if desired). Pile chicken on 1/2 of each sandwich. Top with a slice of Havarti (or Munster or Provolone) cheese. Broil again just til cheese is melted. Top other half of bread with diced tomatoes that have been lightly salted with Kosher salt. Put both halves together to form sandwiches. I served it with a green salad and fruit.

*We got the stomach flu once after Pesto so we are working up to being able to eat it again. When we do, it is in very small portions and is a hidden ingredient. (No more Pesto pasta). So buying the jar at Costco does not work for us. It would be wasteful. What I have done for the past two years is make my own and freeze it in very small containers (or use an ice cube tray). I grow a big old gargantuan basil plant in the backyard each summer (alas, I forgot this year!). At the end of the summer, pick it all and make Pesto! Any recipe works fine. They are all the same online. Basic ingredients are basil, olive oil, pine nuts, garlic and Parmesan cheese. Here is a recipe from the internet: I like the ice cube method. They say not to put the cheese in if you are going to freeze it, but I put the cheese in anyway. I think it freezes fine!

Fresh Basil Pesto Recipe

Ingredients

• 2 cups fresh basil leaves, packed
• 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan-Reggiano or Romano cheese
• 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 1/3 cup pine nuts or walnuts
• 3 medium sized garlic cloves, minced
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

• Special equipment needed: A food processor
  

Method

1 Combine the basil in with the pine nuts, pulse a few times in a food processor. (If you are using walnuts instead of pine nuts and they are not already chopped, pulse them a few times first, before adding the basil.) Add the garlic, pulse a few times more.

2 Slowly add the olive oil in a constant stream while the food processor is on. Stop to scrape down the sides of the food processor with a rubber spatula. Add the grated cheese and pulse again until blended. Add a pinch of salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.

Makes 1 cup.

Serve with pasta, or over baked potatoes, or spread over toasted baguette slices.

Enjoy!

DOG DAYS OF SUMMER - PART I

So since I have a new "journal" format, bear with me as I recap the summer. As I was reading Mandy's awesome blog, I thought to myself............gee, we didn't do squat this summer! Well, I decided to look back through the photos and glance through the calendar. Although I personally didn't do quite as much as I would have liked (e.g. a cruise, Mexico, Europe, etc.) the kids had a very full and rewarding summer!

Since you and I will both not survive if I attempt to blog the whole summer in one post, I have elected to blog in monthly increments, i.e., June, July, August............since I am not capable of a tidy-yet-ever-so-entertaining-wrap of like Mandy's post (see "It's a Wrap"), I will attempt this monthly format. Here goes Part I:

MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND AT SAMPSON'S RANCH, 2009

We have the most awesome friends who let our entire family go and camp on their ranch near Capitol Reef. Since Capitol Reef is one of our favorite places anyway, this was am amazing experience. This is used as a youth camp for kids from all over the world (not troubled kids....kids whose parents can afford to send them). Unfortunately, due to the economy they were only able to open 4 weeks this summer. Our kids were able to do lots of hiking on the beautiful property, ride horses, ride motorcycles and ATVs, and mostly just play, play play. It was a blast! Thanks Sampsons!!!!!!!!

KATIE - LAST DAY OF SCHOOL, JUNE 5, 2009

Katie and friends...........last day of Summit Academy (except Elita who has another year). No more uniforms!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Katie was actually really sad.

HAPPY 15TH BIRTHDAY KATIE! JUNE 8, 2009
Katie at the Ranch

WASHINGTON D.C. - JUNE 9-13, 2009:

A few days after school got out Katie had the opportunity to go to Washington D.C. with her school. It was an amazing experience for her; one she will remember always. She worked hard to earn 1/3 of the money by babysitting and used all of her own money for spending $. A special thanks to all of you who contributed to the cause by asking her to babysit!

KATIE AND JORDYN - JUST HANGIN' AROUND

Katie spent lots of her summer hanging out with BFF Jordyn. I think these must be glamour shots.

White Katie went to Washington D.C. Zach went to Youth Conference; June 11-13th. It does not appear that he took any pictures of this blessed event.

Next up is the annual Larsen Family Reunion. It is held in Wellsville and is usually a sun/fun/water event for the kids. However, this year we were bundled up!

LARSEN FAMILY REUNION - JUNE 14, 2009

ROGERS FAMILY LAGOON DAY, JUNE 18, 2009

We had lots of fun spending time with Jim's side of the family at Lagoon. It was a blast. Hannah got to spend time with Kenna who lives in Reno. We love to spend time with them and always have a great time when we get together - not nearly often enough.

CASTLE MAKING DAY: JUNE 15, 2009

I worked on Mondays and Tuesdays during the summer from 7:30 - 5:30. Zach was in charge of one day; Katie the other. One day Zach decided to make castles with the twins. It was a wonderful, all day project. I remember taking pictures of all 3 castles, but for some reason I can only find the picture of Seth's castle. Zach is such an awesome brother!

FATHER'S DAY: JUNE 21, 2009
We had a family gathering at the house for Father's Day. As the hostess I wasn't good at taking photos. Too bad there isn't one of my father! Sorry Dad!

E.F.Y. JUNE 22-27TH

The highlight of the teen's summer is E.F.Y. We just have them go with cousins to the Sandy Institute Campus. They go during the day, all day and evening, and it costs much less than the over-night one. They do all the same things, i.e., meals, dances, classes. etc. but they get some sleep in-between.....well not much sleep as they stay at cousin's houses during the week. They meet wonderful friends from all over that they stay in touch with year round. It is a wonderful, spiritual experience for them. I am grateful for the opportunity.

I GOT DIVORCED BEFORE I EVEN WOKE UP (8-19-09)

We went to Bear Lake over the weekend and ended up coming home a day early and got home late, late on Tuesday night. So I indulged myself on Wednesday morning and slept in. Jim had to get up early and take Conference Calls from home (thus the early Bear Lake departure) so the home phone lines were tied up. I could hear my cell phone ringing but was too groggy to acknowledge it, even though it was like 8:30 in the morning. I then got up and went about my business. Well, about 10:30 Jim finally gets off the phone and decides to retrieve messages. One of them was from a friend in the ward. He returned the call. The friend asked how we were doing........then got to the point. He had heard that morning that we were getting divorced. After Jim assured him that all was well we started making some phone calls and got to the bottom of it......Apparently Seth's scout leader had called that morning to invite Seth to join scouts since he will be 8 soon.

She asked for me............."Is Natalie there?" and a man said....."no actually she is not here. We just got divorced and she is staying with her mom........... here's the number."

She then said, a little flustered............."well, I was trying to reach Seth about Scouts." The man then said "You'll need to call her at her mother's. "

Poor gal was so upset and flustered she didn't know what to do so she called the primary president, who called a dear friend of mine who has a scout in my group....they were so careful not to spread the vicious story but little did they know that they can't offend me. I thought it was hilarious and spread the story myself......it soon became apparent that it had spread a bit further through he ward before I had even woken up that morning. Lucky for us the husband of the P.P. had the wherewithal to get to the point and ask us point-blank before it got to the Bishopric (that I know of)! Poor scout leader had mis-dialed and I assured her that she was not on my caller i.d.

So, there is the story about how I got divorced before I even woke up. In analyizing the story further with a friend this afternoon, we came to the conclusion that we know why the man was getting divorced. He obviously doesn't listen since there is no way that his wife's name was Natalie and his son's name was Seth. What a way to come back into town! Crazy!

8-21-09 NO MORE SHOTS!!!!!!!!!!!

Since my new format requires dates, please excuse me as everything will be in the wrong order as I get caught up on the new journal approach (see prior post if you are lost here).

So, this post is current. Just got back from the Dr. with Zach. For the past 5 years, every 28 days he has had Lupron injections which delay the completion of puberty so that he could get more growth before his growth plates closed. It is a horrible thick injection in his leg with a long needle (to the tune of $1,700 each injection! Thank goodness for insurance!) Since he can't have any growth hormones, this was an experimental "back door approach" to get more height.

We are happy to report that the experiment has been a success and through the past 5 years of injections he has gained almost 4 inches that he would not have otherwise gained. He has been a great sport about this. Special thanks to our special nurse, Tiffany, who has continued to do the injections for him, even though it is no longer in her job description (According to Zach, only she can do it with little pain). And a special thanks to our wonderful endocrcinologist, Dr. Swinyard. We will miss our regular visits with him.

As of today, we hereby release Zachary into full puberty, with the solemn promise by him that he will not be a mouthy, bratty teenager and will continue to be the easy-going, happy teen that he is.

Congratulations Zach! Happy growing!

WARNING!!!!!!! FORMAT CHANGE

Okay my loyal readers (all 3 of you). I had an epiphany. (hold onto your hats.....nothing major. I just felt like using that word.)

Okay so blogging is therapeutic. I love it. But should there be a higher purpose than merely for my shallow amusement? Well, probably. Some of my friends have guilt-free blogging formats, a.k.a., the family journal. One of my good friends actually had the past year of posts printed into a booklet for each of her children for Christmas. Great Idea! I thought of doing that then realized that a lot of my posts tell what I look at as merely funny stories about my kids. I love to record them and will continue to do so but they are all at ages now where everything is a major embarrassment..........not just a funny story..............hence I will not be printing booklets until they can also be amused as well. Poor kids.

Another friend is so awesome at posting very regularly............. family events and journal-type blogging complete with up-to-date photos. I was talking to her the other night and confessed that photos are rare since I always forget how to get them from the camera to the blog. Maybe if I post photos more often then it can be retained in my minuscule little mind.

Back to my Epiphany. Katie and I were at a Young Women's retreat Wednesday night (more details later in the "family journal") and they were talking about the importance of journals. I used to be better but as of the last 16 years have been utterly and completely a failure. I hate writing in a journal. I am wordy (as I am sure you have noticed by now) and it makes my hand hurt. I have tried computer journals but have about a paragraph on each kid by now. So.......since I enjoy blogging and am filled with guilt over the absence of said journal I will combine the two to increase my chances at eternal salvation. Which means more time devoted to this guilty pleasure but more reading required for my loyal readers. So, if you choose to discontinue your subscription now, I totally understand. Then again, I might just be blabbing about solving the guilt issue without actually following through. I am famous for that after all. You never know......it could go either way. Remember there are times when I posted on this blog once a year.

I was going to put my first journal entry post here but after explaining everything I am too tired of it and I am going to venture out into the pigsty and work on damage control.........my first post under the new format will be..............my day of self-indulgence. Thus, the extreme pigsty.

WECIPE WEDNESDAY!

Okay so I have been cooking this past week! I was on a stupidly strict diet for awhile but I am on summer hiatus from said diet so I decided to take care of my family........

This is a recipe that I got years ago. It is a favorite summertime recipe. It does not have exact amounts so just use your imagination here. I will type the gist of it with my variations I have tried over the years.

Fresh Tomato Basil Pasta: (basic recipe)

1 lb. pasta (I use linguine for this recipe)
About 6 ripe tomatoes
1 bunch fresh basil
3-4 cloves garlic, pressed or sliced thinly
Olive oil*
fresh-grated (or not) Parmesan cheese

*Here is the story on the olive oil. The friend that gave us this recipe at a R.S. meeting years ago was about the diameter of a pencil. When someone in the audience asked her "how much olive oil?" She said "oh, about a cup". What???????? So anyway, use your judgment here. I think about 1/3 cup works nicely.

Boil pasta til al dente in salted water.........drain. In large skillet lightly brown fresh garlic in olive oil. Add tomatoes and fresh basil and cook for just 1-2 minutes. Serve over pasta. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.

Old variations I have tried............Add other Summer vegetables, i.e., zucchini, peppers, onion, etc.

New Variation.....
I saw a recipe on food network the other day for spaghetti that gave me this idea.......................Squeeze small amounts of Italian sausage directly from casing into olive oil, forming small, irregular (or "rustic") meatballs. (this was fun!) Add diced Vidalia onion with garlic and sausage. When sausage is done quickly add tomatoes and basil. cook about 1 minute til heated through. Remove from oil with slotted spoon. Add cooked noodles back to olive oil pan to soak up all that good flavor! Then top with tomato mixture and toss. Add Parmesan cheese and serve.

The kids all love it! This is the first time I have ever made it with meat and they all liked it. But they like it equally well without the meat too........

Enjoy. And post your own variations as well!

FLASHBACK FRIDAY

Oh, those were the days! The kids has a great time growing up with their friends. Katie was outnumbered always but had a great time anyway!

WECIPE WEDNESDAY!

Okay, so I suppose you all have zucchini comin' out your ears by now......Now I, personally, didn't get it together to grow a garden this year so I am at the mercy of zucchini growers around me.....I don't think the growth has hit epic proportions as of yet in the neighborhood like the famous story about the town that they only have to lock their car doors and house doors during zucchini season....In fact, when I needed a zucchini for Jim's work event here last week I had to send Zach over to rob the Miners. It was fun telling him to just sneak into their backyard garden and grab some; "that they would never know". Being the obedient child that he is......he headed over. Of course I had asked Sharlene earlier that week she had said that they would be out of town but to just go on back and pick some. While he was there he saw lights go on and off so I guess I probably missed the dates that they were gone and poor Zach was a little freaked as he called from the cell phone. I assured him that it was okay and he quickly came home in tow with a couple of zucchinis.

Now I personally only like zucchini bread; not the vegetable itself. I have tried but.....oh well. When my friends are generous with their zucchini I like to grate it and put it in 2 cup packages. I then make "zucchini bread mix" in a freezer bag with the instructions on it. I put the dry mix bag taped with the grated zucchini bag and presto! Add wet ingredients and you are set all year round with zucchini bread. No excuses that it will take too long! Now if you like this idea, keep in mind that a sharpie is best. I one wrote the instructions on a piece of paper and taped it to the bag. The tape came off and just became lost in the freezer. So I just looked at the recipe and made it. Unfortunately, I had only made the mixes with the flour, spices and leavening....leaving out the sugar. Not very good I might add. So either make sure the instructions are clear or add the dang sugar to your mix........

So here is my favorite recipe for zucchini bread. It is from my dear friend, Lana. She makes a mean zucchini bread. I am sure she won't mind if I share!

Lana's Zucchini Bread

Mix together:

3 eggs
3 sups sugar
2 c grated zucchini
1 c vegetable oil
1 TB vanilla

Sift together: (Now Lana sifts. I do not. Her's is better - you make the choice)

1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp ground cloves
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
1 T cinnamon
3 cups flour

Optional: Add 1 c chopped nuts

After it cools slightly, make a glaze with melted butter, powdered sugar, vanilla (or lemon zest/juice) and milk....brush or pour on loaves. Let dry.

Disclaimer: This is definitely a "fattening" recipe and there are ways I have tried to make it lower fat.....use your skills here. However, it is obviously best in it's original form as Lana makes it. Look at Lana. Look at me. No fair.

Enjoy!