I'm posting recipes on the blog: grandma mitchell's recipes! Check it out!

Addition to Crouton Recipe!

Sorry, so very sorry. Forgot one of the most important steps for the croutons. Once you have them all shaken, put them on a cookie sheet and bake in an oven that's set at 300 degrees and let them cook for 15 min. They are so great!

Wow, that could have been disastrous!

Love

Mom

Random Thoughts from Home

I know it will come as no surprise to all of you that food prices are ridiculous! I went to Yoke's this morning to buy eggs and bananas that were on sale. I thought I'd pick up some bologna for Brady's sandwiches while I was there. Do you know how much their name brand bologna was? Let me tell you! It was $4.98 for 16 oz! Is that crazy or what? Well, I thought we could share some grocery budget tips with one another. If you have one, e-mail me and I'll get it out to everyone.

But let me start with this. Most of you have my homemade croutons recipe:

4 Tbls Parmesan cheese

4 Tbls salad oil

1/2 tsp. oergano, celery salt, and garlic salt

Put about 8 slices of diced day old or older bread in a bowl. Put the spices on top then the oil. Now put the lid on the bowl and shake away! Put them in a container and then enjoy. I use the heels from the bread because no one seems to like them here. These croutons are so easy and cheap, cheap, cheap!

Let me share an extra tip about these croutons. After the croutons are gone, at the bottom of my plastic container I had a bunch of bread crumbs. I was throwing them away and then I realized I was throwing away seasoned bread crumbs! AAAARRRRGGG!!! What a waste. Now I put those bread crumbs in a marked contaiiner and keep them in the freezer! You can use them for toppings over casseroles or vegetables. I recently used them over a great broccoli cheese bake that I found on Jamiecooksitup.blogspot. Try this blog. She has some great recipes that don't call for unusual ingredients. Just what you probably have on hand! I love it. Anyway, save those heels from the bread and try making the croutons. You'll love them.

Love and lots of savings!

Mom

random thoughts from home!

Just to bring everyone up to speed. Sr. Nygaard passed away last Saturday. Her funeral was yesterday but Dad and I worked at the temple so we dropped off our cake, paid our respects and went to the temple. Helen will be missed by all who knew her. She personified true, unconditional love!

So what's new? Jordan has started subbing in surrounding school districts! Yay for jobs, temporary though they may be. He is a great teacher!

Becky is flying to Virginia in April to spend some time with Maran and family!

Brady is now a ward missionary in the singles ward. Whoo-hoo!

Zach finally got his fafsa worked out so he can start classes at SFCC in Pullman this Spring!

Auburn is getting so big. Can't wait to see the far-away grandkids this summer!!!!!!!!!

Dad and I painted our bedroom and bathroom. About time, I tell you. Now Dad is working on finishing the window in Zach's room downstairs.

We love working in the temple. Such a great spirit and always busy. The 6 hours fly by!

I love school. I love that I remembered how to write whole sentences and put thoughts together on paper. I used to be good at that and it's coming back. You are never to old to start something new. Dad is busy doing taxes again.

Happy anniversary to Maran and Devin. Check your calendars for date. And Happy Birthday to Velma on the 7th.

In closing let me say that the greatest gift I ever gave you kids was when I married your Dad!

You're welcome!

Love

Mom

Random Thoughts from Home

This picture is from last summer on our way back from Grandma Jean's 90th birthday party. We came home by way of Stevens Pass and this creek was beckoning us to stop and enjoy!

As soon as I can I'll post pictures from our Leavenworth trip. It was a blast. Who knew you could shop for hours on end and in the best little shoppes ever? Come Christmas you'll discover the treasures we bought.!

It was a wonderful way to end the summer and fun for us to just 'get away'.

For this post's Christmas recipe I'm sharing my favorite Snickerdoodle recipe!

Snickerdoodles:

2 3/4 cup sifted flour 1/2 tsp salt

2 tsp cream of tartar 1 tsp vanilla

1 tsp baking soda 2 eggs

1 1/4 cup sugar 1 c vegetable shortening

2 Tbls sugar 1 Tbls cinnamon

1 tsp nutmeg

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Sift together flour, cream of tartar, baking soda and salt onto wax paper. Beat together shortening and the 1 1/4 cup sugar in a large bowl until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Stir in flour mixture. Combine remaining 2 Tbls sugar, cinnamon and the nutmeg. Roll dough between palms of hand, 1 level Tbls at a time into balls. Roll each in sugar mixture. Place 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheets. Bake in preheated oven for 10 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove to wire racks to cool.

I love these cookies and the smell is pure holiday delight.

Love you all

Mom

More Random Thoughts!

Sorry it's been so long but for some reason I couldn't post anything at all. Ginanne got it so I can post from Google Chrome and so that's what I'm doing! I'm back!!!

So Maran wanted me to post some holiday recipes for all of you so I'm starting with the famous Peanut Butter Bon Bons!

You will need:

1 cup peanut butter 1/2 cup butter/margarine

2 cups powdered sugar

1 cup nuts (optional)

12 oz chocolate chips

Mix together and roll into balls; place on waxed paper. Melt chocolate chips and add 1 teaspoon of wax. After chips have melted, dip balls and return to wax paper. I use chunky peanut butter and skip the extra nuts. Stick them in the fridge to cool and then eat and enjoy!!!

Random Thoughts from Home

Just a couple of thoughts to share with my amazing family! Congrats to Lindsay and Patrick and their soon to be new addition to the family! We welcome their little one as we do little Alexander Douglas who will be born this July! Our family is really growing.

We also want to let Maran and Devin and Courtney know how much we appreciated having them in our home and how much we miss them! Wouldn't have missed those months for anything. And the opportunity to watch Courtney grow was priceless! Thanks!

If you haven't checked out Maran's blog lately, you have to go there and see her latest video. Makes me laugh every time!

I also want to thank each of you for your participation in our family fast for Brady and Zach. It is so great to be able to call upon you and feel of your love and concern for our littlest boys. In case you didn't know I keep a list of what I call 'comfort scriptures' in the back of my scriptures. I turn to them for peace in times of trial. Let me share one of my favorites. It's found in Psalms 37:5 - 'Commit thy ways unto the Lord, trust also in him and he shall bring it to pass". I know that if I am faithful and trusting it will all work out. Maybe not as fast as I'd like but it will work out. Keep praying for the boys and know how much Dad and I love each of you!

Recipe of the Day

They served this at the Relief Society breakfast and we are hooked.

5 eggs 3/4 cup half-and-half (we used milk)

3/4 cup of milk 1 tsp vanilla

12 slices texas toast (we get this cheap at the discount bread store)

1/2 cup butter

1 cup light brown sugar

2 Tbls karo syrup

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Melt butter, brown sugar and karo syrup in saucepan over medium heat until smooth. Stirring occasionally. While mixture is melting, whisk eggs, milk, half-and-half and vanilla. Spray cookie sheet with Pam. Pour mixture from sauce pan onto cookie sheet. Drip slices of bread in batter and then rub on cookie sheet to spread caramel mixture. Bake in oven until golden brown, about 30-35 minutes. Top with powdered sugar. Dad tried syrup on them instead of powdered sugar but it was too sweet. The powdered sugar is just the right touch! Enjoy.

We love you!!!