Reunited in Folsom (Video of a Reunion)

There's so much to write about
when it comes to our fun family reunion last week.
And there's just TONS of pictures to show you.
Impossible, I'd say,
to get all the good ones into one, two, even FIVE blogs!
So I've decided to fit it all into a lil' video.

It amazes me that every single person
that is related to Grandma and Grandpa
was at some time or another
with us during the weekend!

And without further delay...
Hillis Family Reunion 2010
(it's a really big file, so if it skips, give it a second to load,
and then continue watching)


For those of you that are not part of the Hillis Family
here's some stuff you may need to know,
in order to appreciate the video all the more

#1 Weekend Highlights
*surprise
*Folsom Lake with everyone
*family pictures in the park
*swim, rest, catch up, hang out
*Family Talent Show
*church together
*open house for extended family and friends
*cake with the ORIGINAL cake topper from G&G's wedding cake
*interview about the last 80 years!
*good bye brunch
#2 Sound Track
provided by the Hillis Family Talent Show

#3 Inspiration
Grandpa wrote a song about how surprised he was
and how grateful he was
to be with the whole family to make new memories.
This is the song that you hear at the beginning and end.
Grandma and Grandpa,
love you bunches!
Congratulations on 60 years of marriage!!

Easy Peasy Chicken Enchies

This afternoon as I drove home
I knew dinner was going to have to be somethin' quick
as it was already near 4:30,
I was already beginning to feel hunger,
and I had prepped nothing early,
so whatever we ate would begin
either frozen,
canned,
or dried.
Spaghetti? with frozen meatballs?
chicken tacos? from frozen chx breast?

Then I decided I would go with
Chicken Enchiladas
even though I didn't have any Enchilada sauce
so I would have to improvise my own.

I did,
and decided the frozen chx might take too long,
so I asked Greg if he were willing to
"go on an adventure"
with me, and try canned chicken.
(I keep it in the cupboard
to use for quick bbq chix sandwiches
with homemade bbq sauce-
so easy... you just have to have time
to pick up some good rolls or buns.)
Thing was,
the corn tortillas we had on hand
turned out to be a little too old,
so they wouldn't fold around,
and broke apart,
so we decided
(Greg was helping assemble)
that we would make it a casserole.

So here's the creation,
and it's not gourmet to say the least,
but certainly
CHEAP,
FAST,
and quite
YUMMY.


Easy Peasy Chicken Enchies

2 Lg Cans Chicken, drained
1 Can Stewed Diced Tomatoes (I like the ones with garlic)
1 Can Cream of Chx Soup
1 sm Can Green Chiles
2 tsp chile powder
1/4 chopped onion
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp oregano
3 shots tobasco sauce
18 corn tortillas, uncooked
several cups of shredded cheese (we used Mexican blend)
several sliced black olives

Put tomatoes, soup, chiles, and spices in sauce pan.
Stir, and simmer for five minutes.
Pull out 1/3 of the mixture,
to use for later.
Add canned chicken to sauce pot.
Simmer for five more minutes.
Spoon 1/4 c sauce (no chx) mixture onto bottom of 9x13 pan.
Lay 6 tortillas over sauce, overlapping a little bit.
(sort of like lasagna noodles)

Spoon half chicken mixture over tortillas.
Sprinkle cheese generously.
Sprinkle half of sliced olives.
Repeat tortillas, all remaining chicken mixture, cheese.
Repeat tortillas, sauce (no chx), lots of cheese, and remaining olives.

Cover in tinfoil.
Bake @ 400 degrees for 15 minutes.
Remove tinfoil.
Bake @ 400 degrees for 10 minutes.
Remove from oven,
and let rest for 3 minutes.
Slice and serve with sour cream.
(makes 8 generous servings)

Green and Ham

When my mother in law was here
I think she "re-wet" my appetite
for cookin' in the kitchen!

So this week I've had fun
makin' real-ish meals!

Tonight I took some of what was left in the fridge
and found a yummy combination
so I thought I'd share.

Just beware...

It's definitely NOT gourmet,
in fact it is more like a "quick fix"
but it was pretty yummy
and definitely fast!

'Green Ham' Sandwichesfrom the brain of Katrina Hickle* ham steak, diced into cubes
* American Cheese slices
* crescent tube (I used an off brand)
* finely FINELY finely chopped green onion
(to the point that they looked almost like chives)

Line cookie sheet with tinfoil.
Grease it, cuz the melted cheese will stick.
Fill one triangle at a time with
small piece of cheese, ham, onions, then small piece of cheese.
Roll like a regular crescent,
Bake in 375 degree oven for 10 minutes.

They turned out a lot like a HOT POCKET
but with extra Umph, cuz they had the onions.

Also- I had some green onion left over,
so I made two crescents with JUST green onion,
and OMG I would TOTALLY serve those with a turkey dinner!
(Although my hubby would probably kill me
cuz he doesn't like it when I complicate something
when it was already good as it was...)

Anyway, try them for a QUICK and pretty CHEAP lunch.
I can imagine SEVERAL different variations I could do.
Maybe meatball with marinara,
shredded leftover chicken with black pepper and cheddar,
or pulled bbq pork or chicken.
Mmm!
Why have I never done this before?

Here's a shot of the process:

And here's the final product!
Yum!!

Savory Chicken Squares and Warm Potato Toss

I've come to really enjoy what food has to offer:

both to my taste buds
and my presence with company!

I love encountering new recipes
especially easy/quick/cheap/tastey ones
and it's a joy to add new flavor profiles to my repertoire.

My ma-in-law is here,
and she brought with her many yummy recipes
for us to try this week.
She even hand wrote them on recipe cards for us!
Too sweet!
Or should I say "too savory"?
haha

This our rendition of two of her recipes.


SAVORY CHICKEN SQUARESlightly adapted from Montana Rural Electric Magazine
via Aunt Barb Prichard

2 cups cooked, cubed chicken (about two chicken breasts)
6 oz cream cheese, room temp.
3 Tbsp butter, melted
2 Tbsp milk
2 Tbsp chopped green onion (whites and greens)
1 stalk celery, chopped
1/2 red pepper, chopped
Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
2 "tubes" refrigerated crescent rolls

Mix all ingredients except rolls together. On wax paper, pinch 2 triangle "rolls" together to form a rectangle. Place large spoonful (about 1/8 of the mixture) of chicken mixture into center. Bring four corners together over center, and twist. Sides of roll will not completely come together. That's okay, chicken mixture is not going to run out.

Bake on greased cookie sheet @ 350 degrees for 20-22 minutes, or until golden brown.
Makes 8 Chicken Squares.

WARM POTATO TOSS
originally from Southern Living Magazinecalled "Spring Potato Toss"
but very adapted, so I changed the name

This recipe is originally made with pesto sauce, but being that I do not enjoy pine nuts all that much, and my hubby doesn't enjoy parmesan that much, and I don't have any pesto sauce on hand anyway, we decided to adapt the recipe to fit our tastes, and our available ingredients.

1 lb baby red potatoes, quartered
1 & 1/2 cups frozen peas
1/2 cup frozen petite onions (pearl onions)
freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Italian salad dressing
3 strips bacon, crumbled

Bake quartered potatoes on a baking sheet, in a 375 degree oven for 20 minutes, or until tender to a fork. Put cooked potatoes in a bowl, and generously cover with Italian dressing. Fold together, careful not to mash potatoes. Add remaining ingredients, and toss. Serve warm or chilled. (If you do pesto, it calls for lemon or lime juice to bring out the flavor, and no pearl onions.)

We had it warm, alongside the Chicken Squares. Fantastic!

Simple Slow Cooked Chops

At the grocery store last week
we saw that there were lots of things on sale
and one was some amazing pork chops
but as I looked closer
the other "cheap" pork chops
were SUPER on sale
and I figured I'd try those instead.

Slow Cooked Chops
2 lbs "cheap" pork chops
2 Tbsp "Light in Flavor" Olive Oil
1/2 package mushroom soup mix
1/2 c. white wine
1 can condensed cream of chicken soup
Fresh ground pepper
garlic pepper
1/2 bag frozen pearl onions

Preheat crockpot on HIGH.

Heat olive oil in frying pan.
Carefully lay pork into oil.
Sprinkle with garlic powder, pepper,
and mushroom soup mix over top of chops.
Cook for 1 minute, and flip.
Sprinkle other side with garlic and pepper.

When slightly browned,
transfer chops to heated crock pot.
Use white wine to deglaze the frying pan,
heat until bubbling,
stir in can of cream of chicken soup,
add liquid to crockpot.

Slightly stir,
to ensure all of chops
is covered in liquid.
Cover.
Cook for one hour.
Add frozen pearl onions.
Cook for three more hours.

Serve with rice or mashed potatoes.

Mmm, fantastic!
Breaks apart without a knife or anything!!

Introducing..

Yes, it may be three months after she's born
but I have FINALLY gotten around
to writing thank you cards for Baby Showers
and this is the little card we made up
to send as an "announcement"
with the thank you's!

A Few Tears

And So So Happy!

Red and White Baby Room

Today we exercised,  went to the bank,
went to Target, cleaned up the house.
and today Taylor's Aunt comes to visit.

So, since we cleaned, I videoed!
(it's kinda long, so it takes a sec to load... patience)

Incredible-Lee She's Here!

Taylor Lee Hickle
has decided that this week was her week!
She has deemed December 22 as her birthday!

She arrived at 3:23am after a relatively quick delivery
and weighed in at 7lbs 12oz
with a "height" of 19.5 in

Look how PRIM and PROPER she already is!
Such great manners
folding her hands
as she praises Jesus for His arms of protection!

First Moments with Daddy: Priceless


Merry Christmas to you!

Swedish Hamballs

Food is on my brain.
I got my Glucose Test Results today
at my regular OB doc appt,
and my sugar was just high enough
that the doc asked me to
come back for the extensive three hour test
where you have to follow a strict diet for three days prior
and then fast for 10 hours before the test,
and then drink TWICE the amount of glucose yuckiness.
Ugh!
I feel bummed,
and kinda stunned,
and really REALLY hope I don't
have gestational diabetes!
(Update: I do!)

In many ways I feel silly
feeling bummed about something
that's merely inconvenient
and isn't bringing potential harm to
our babe or to me.

Anyway....
Onto happier subjects...

I had a few requests
for the Swedish Ham Balls Recipe
since I so eloquently
described the yumminess
that is ham, pork, vinegar, and brown sugar
in my family blog the other day!

So here ya go...
(My recipe book my Mom made for me
says it's from her friend, Carol Snell,
and I wonder where she got it from)

SWEDISH HAMBALLS
from Aunt Carol Snell

In a metal or glass bowl:1 lb. Ground pork
1 lb. Ground ham
(I have to grind it myself in my food processor
b/c our deli doesn't have a grinder
they can use on cured meats)1 cup dry bread crumbs
1 egg, well beaten
1/2 cup milk

Roll this meat mixture into small balls.
I got 75 from the one recipe,
because I like to make them bite size.
You can freeze them if you like,
in a big ziploc laying flat in your freezer
or if cooking now,
place in unheated crock pot.

In mixing bowl:
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 tsp dry mustard
1/4 cup white vinegar
1/4 cup water

Pour sauce over hamballs
in the crockpot.
Cook on high.
After one hour, flip them over.
From time to time baste the hamballs
(or "shake" the crockpot
to make the liquid
cover the tops of the hamballs)

Cook for three hours or even more.

Sauce will thicken as it cools.
Serve along side scalloped potatoes.
(I like to serve it with cooked spinach
with a little vinegar and salt)

And there you have it.
Nine ingredients, and a very complex flavor!
Also yummy as an appetizer or party finger food.

Enjoy!!

Celebratin' Tam

I threw a bridal shower for a friend on Sat.
We had a small number of girls,
which seemed to be just perfect
for an "intimates" shower.
We had a good time,
mostly just chatting and
letting girls catch up with each other,
and then a few activities
that turned our attention
to celebrating the Bride.

I had help from another church friend,
as we put the party together,
and she hosted it at her home,
and we had a wonderful array of
food and beverages.
Her husband made sangria,
and we had
Italian Bruschetta,
Cream Cheese rolled in Prosciutto,
Tortilla Pinwheels with Kalamata Olives,
Artichoke Dip with Tortilla Chips,

And I made
Lemon Cream Stuffed Grapes
and
Chocolate Cream Stuffed Strawberries

Being pregnant
I wanted "least" prep
for "maximum" effect!

I got ready-made
JELLO choc. pudding.
I whisked it together
with about 1/2 c. Cool Whip.

I cut an X into each strawberry.
I piped the pudding into the strawberries,
garnished with grated Hershey's Milk Chocolate Bar
and that was it!

Around the outside you can see the lemon creamed grapes.
I'm not positive I remember what I did,
but it was something with
Cream Cheese,
Cool Whip,
Lemon Zest,
Minced Mint Leaves,
piped into an X on sweet red grapes.
Also yummy,
but the strawberries were to die for!

For Dessert I made my mom's Danish Pastry
in the shape of a wedding cake
using Tamra's Wedding Colors,
Yellow and Gray.

Hostess, Bride, and Me, the Pregnant MoH.
Fun that we actually matched!
We had a great time,
and I got several comments
from the attendees that it was just fun
that the shower was so laid back
and chill with good food.
Good feedback, if I do say so myself =).