Monday, April 13, 2009

What to do with a big bag of lemons?

Make lemonade!! My dad has a lemon tree so when we were at his house last weekend he gave us a grocery bag full.

Saturday after working in the yard all day I was craving something sweet, so I dug up this recipe that my father-in-law sent me last year. 30 minutes later I had lemonade! YUM!!

1 cup sugar
1/2 cup boiling water
Combine

1 1/2 cup lemon juice (we used Meyer lemons)
4 1/2 cup cold water

Combine and chill = lemonade!

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Note to self - buy the juicer attachment for my Kitchenaid Mixer, since our real juicer you have to peel the skins!

Hummingbird Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

Ingredients:
3 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups sugar
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt
3 large eggs
3/4 cup oil
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 can (8 oz) crushed pineapple in juice
2 cups mashed bananas (3-4 large)
1 cup pecan pieces, finely chopped

Cream Cheese Frosting
2 bricks (8 oz) cream cheese
1 stick (1/2 cup) unsalted butter
2 tsp vanilla extract
3 cups confectioners' sugar
2 cups sweetened flaked coconut

Directions:
1. Heat oven to 350. You'll need to use (3) 8x2 inch cake pans coated with cooking spray.
2. Whisk flour, sugar, baking soda, cinnamon and salt together in a large bowl.
3. In another large bowl, whisk eggs, oil, vanilla, crushed pineapple with juice, mashed banana and pecans until blended. Add flour mixture; stir until combined. Divide batter
4. Bake 30 minutes until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans on wire rack 10 minutes before removing from pans.
5. Making Frosting: In a large bowl with mixer on medium speed, beat cream cheese, butter and vanilla until light and creamy. On low speed, gradually beat in confectioners' sugar. Beat until fluffy.
6. Assemble: Place a cake layer on serving platter. Spread with 3/4 cup frosting, top with cake layer and repeat. Frost sides and then top with remaining frosting. Sprinkle coconut on top to cover, letting some fall onto sides. Refrigerate covered. Let stand at room temperature for 45 minutes before serving.

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Notes: I only made 2 layers instead of the 3 so mine were a little thicker than they should be, but I only have 1 cake pan and didn't feel like waiting an hour and a half for them all to bake!
Serves 16

Sunday, April 12, 2009

BUSY Weekend

I spent 4 hours on Saturday and 2 hours on Sunday, weeding our yard! I got most of it but I still have some to do on the side yard.

It was really bad so I thought I would take before and after pictures. What do you think?

Vegetable Garden Area BEFORE:
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Vegetable Garden Area AFTER:
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Backyard by the fence BEFORE:
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Backyard by the fence AFTER:
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Overall I fill up our garbage bin and 5 big black garbage bags! I am still exhausted!
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Friday, April 10, 2009

Foto Friday!

With the playoffs coming up I thought it would be nice to get into the spirit! GO SHARKS!!!

Monday, April 6, 2009

Dinner Menu - Busy week!

I didn't have to plan too much for this week since we have so much going on.

Sunday - Dinner at Mom's for Steph's Bday (Cheese Fondue, Cobb Salads, Chocolate Fondue)

Monday - Filet Mignon with a healthy version of creamed spinach.

Tuesday - SHARKS GAME! Going out to dinner with the family for Steph and Dad's birthdays.

Wednesday - Salsturkey Steaks

Thursday - SHARKS GAME! Last home game of the regular season! Going out to dinner again.

Friday - Russ's soccer game is at 5:20 so I'm sure we will be going out with friends afterwards.

Saturday - Stuffed Chicken

Sunday - Easter dinner at Mom's house.

Friday, April 3, 2009

Foto Friday!

I took this out of the car window coming back from Yosemite a few weeks ago. It was along Highway 120 and I still cant believe how green the hills were, and how blue the sky was! Enjoy!

Friday, March 27, 2009

Turkey Taco Meatloaf

Wednesday night I made Turkey Taco Meatloaf from the Hungry Girl cookbook! OMG it was soooo good! Enjoy!

CRAZY GOOD TURKEY TACO MEATLOAF

1lb. raw extra lean ground turkey
2 slices fat free cheddar cheese
1/2 cup shredded fat free cheddar cheese
1/2 cup canned sweet corn kernels
1/4 cup chopped green bell peppers
1/4 cup chopped onions
1/2 cup salsa
1/2 packet of taco seasoning mix, dry


Preheat oven to 375. cook peppers and onions for 3 min. over med. heat in a pan sprayed with nonstick spray. in a large bowl, combine onions, peppers, turkey, corn and seasoning. spread 1/2 of mixture on bottom of loaf pan sprayed with nonstick spray. layer 2 slices of chesse on top. top with remaining meat mixture. pour salsa over top. cook for 30 min. top loaf with shredded cheese. return to oven and cook another 15 minutes.

1/6 of loaf has 127 calories,1g. fat, 7carbs