Friday: What's Cooking In The Kitchen...

This week has been so busy! Kevin has been traveling for work this week down to the Castle Rock area so it has made for busy and very long days for him! Our Honda Civic, that he drives, doesn't have air conditioning and it has been in the upper 80's this week. Last night we went to Dairy Queen, it was a much deserved cool treat for him!

Also this past week in Indiana my parents were hit by a big storm. From talking to my dad this morning he said there were 100 mile and hour winds and several tornados in one night that hit my hometown of Goshen, IN. Everyone is safe but a lot of people are out of power and there is tons of cleanup to be done. Check out the article and pictures from my hometown newspaper.

THE ELKHART TRUTH

This week we leave for vacation. Can't wait to get away for a while and enjoy being together, seeing family, and celebrating a dear friend as she gets married! We will post more about our trip including pictures when we return!

I am making some fruit in our dehydrator to make a dried fruit mix on the plane; it will include:

* apples

* strawberries

* kiwi

* peaches

I also have onion onion croutons going in the oven and getting ready to make some hamburger tator-tot casserole for lunch with Kevin.

Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!

For Moose...

I got this through email today from the Only Natural Pet Store in Boulder, one of our favorite places. They have helped us so much in moving towards an all natural holistic diet for Moose. Check out this article!

click here (Healthy Products You Can Share with Your Furry Friends)

Friday: What's Cooking In The Kitchen...

This weekend we are out camping again. Between camping and our season tickets to the Rapids AND 16 weddings all out of state; this summer is going to be a busy one.

I love it!

This week in the kitchen I ran my dehydrator ALL week! I think it is one of the most used and most loved appliances in my kitchen. Here is what it was filled with:

1. Blueberries (took about 15 hours)

2. Garlic (took over 48, only because I didn't slice them thin enough)

3. Apples (15 hours)

4. Mango (8 hours)

5. Onion (12 hours)

I used the Garlic and Onion to help refill some spices in my cabinet. I plan on doing red pepper at sometime too and making a steak seasoning/rub for grilling!

The fruit is always great by itself but we also love to mix it into trail mix for camping and traveling.

For camping this weekend we are eating the usual. Hobo Dinners, Hotdogs, Smores, etc. I am excited about some homemade baked beans I have been testing out. I made some earlier in the week and decided to do another batch for our weekend in the woods.

BAKED BEANS:

* 2 cups dried beans (rinse well)

* 4 tsp chicken or beef broth (optional)

* 1 large onion: diced finely

* 3 cloves garlic: diced finely

* 6 cups water

Place the above ingredients in crockpot on high for 6 hours or low for 10-12. When beans are soft enough to eat add the following:

* 1/4 cup brown sugar

* 1/4 cup ketchup

* 1/3 cup mustard

* salt and pepper to taste

I make them ahead of time and then just reheat them over the open fire while we are grilling hotdogs!

Hope everyone has a great weekend! Enjoy the beautiful weather!

Friday: What's Cooking In The Kitchen...

Ah, the answer to that question is NOTHING. I have to work Friday so my kitchen will be quiet and clean all day. However, Friday evening is cooking club so in the next week or so check out our cooking club blog for LOTS of yummy recipes and dinner ideas. This month's theme is Garlic and I am making Bruschetta Bread! YUM!!!

In honor of the World Cup!

NOTE: pause our blog music on your left to hear this!

Official World Cup 2010 Anthem: Wavin Flag by K'naan

Ooooooh Wooooooh

Give me freedom, give me fire, give me reason, take me higher
See the champions, take the field now, unify us, make us feel proud
In the streets our head are liftin’, as we lose our inhibition,
Celebration it surrounds us, every nations, all around us

Singin forever young, singin songs underneath that sun
Lets rejoice in the beautifull game.
And together at the end of the day.

WE ALL SAY

When I get older I will be stronger

They’ll call me freedom Just like a wavin’ flag

And then it goes back
And then it goes back
And then it goes back
And then it goes back

When I get older I will be stronger
They’ll call me freedom
Just like a wavin’ flag

And then it goes back
And then it goes back
And then it goes back
And then it goes

Oooooooooooooh woooooooooohh hohoho

Give you freedom, give you fire, give you reason, take you higher
See the champions, take the field now, unify us, make us feel proud
In the streets our head are liftin’, as we lose our inhibition,
Celebration, it surrounds us, every nations, all around us

Singin forever young, singin songs underneath that sun
Lets rejoice in the beautifull game.
And toghetter at the end of the day.

Friday: What's Cooking In The Kitchen...

Well, it is unofficially, officially summer... at work. I know summer doesn't really start until around the 21st of June but at work older siblings are out for the summer and our kids are traveling for vacations and all sorts of fun summer plans. For staff that means our class lists are full but our attendance is lower and we work less hours. I don't really enjoy working less hours but I do really enjoy the free time to do things around the house! Last weekend I was off my usual Friday and then off Monday for a paid holiday. What a nice four day weekend and what I thought was a nice 3 day week ahead of me. However, after full days on tuesday and wednesday we came to thursday and it was slow so I went home. I also have monday off for schedule accommodations for other staff members and will be working next friday. So for now I am enjoying another 4 1/2 day weekend! AHHH SUMMER!

Now on to what is going on in the kitchen:

1. Dried Sweet Potatoes - for Moose's treats I have two sliced sweet potatoes going for about 24 hours in the dehydrator. This has been a great way for us to save money on treats and he loves them!

2. Dried Basil - also in the dehydrator, I only let them run for about 2 hours, they dry VERY quickly! I love having this on hand in my kitchen for our homemade pasta and pizza sauces. I keep it in a jar on my counter!

3. This isn't cooking in my kitchen today but I will be making this for dinner one night this week. Chicken Piccata with Capers. Check out the recipe, it is going to be amazing!!!

Now off to do Pilates - Swim in the Pool - and enjoy this nice long weekend!