Maple Syrup

Hot? Cold? This is the great debate between my parents.  In my dad's childhood they ate it cold.  He says the pancakes warm it up to the perfect temperature.  My mom grew up serving it hot.  Tomato Tomato (hmmm how do you type that so you say it right?  Eh anyway...)

The Recipe

• 1/2 c. brown sugar
• 4 c. white sugar
• 2 c. water
• 1 t. vanilla
• 1 t. maple flavoring

1. Bring sugar and water to a boil.
2. Boil for 1 minute.
3. Add flavorings.
4. Serve hot?  Or cool in the fridge.  Whatever floats your boat. 

Makes 1 qt.

Fruity Pebbles Dino Eggs

Recently I made a small investment.  A SMALL investment.  I bought a DVD/VCR combo for $5 at DI.  I think it's the BEST purchase ever.  I can play the DVDs I have, plus I can buy all the oldies on VHS at DI for 50 cents.  

For some reason nobody else thinks this is as awesome as I do..........I don't get it.

A few weeks ago, Collette and I had a date night.  We went to DI and picked out some movies, then had a sleepover in my room.  We chose the Flintstones (remember it?).  Well, we only got about halfway through it before we fell asleep so the next day we decided to invite the rest of the sisters and have a Flintstones party.  

While I was at work, Collette made some Fruity Pebbles Dino Eggs for the party.  She has the recipe memorized because it's the same as Rice Krispy Treats.  Here it is...

THE RECIPE:

1. Melt 3 Tablespoons of butter with 40 large marshmallows (or 4 cups regular size)
2. Add 6 cups Fruity Pebbles cereal.
3. Using your hands, mold into egg-sized shapes.
4. Place on waxed paper.

Peanut Butter Blossoms

Another one of Dad's favorites! We made these for Father's Day this year.  And for his birthday. And Father's Day last year........and anytime Dad needs a pick-me-up.  These will work.

The Recipe (from Hershey's):

• 48 HERSHEY'S KISSES 
• 1/2 cup shortening
• 3/4 cup Creamy Peanut Butter
• 1/3 cup granulated sugar
• 1/3 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1 egg
• 2 tablespoons milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• Granulated sugar

• Directions

  1.Heat oven to 375.  Remove wrappers from chocolates.
  2. Beat shortening and peanut butter in large bowl until well-blended.
  3. Add 1/3 c. sugar and brown sugar; beat until fluffy.
  4. Add egg, milk and vanilla; beat well.  Stir together flour, baking soda, and salt. Gradually beat into peanut butter mixture.
  5. Shape dough into 1-inch balls and roll in sugar and place on ungreased cookie sheet.
  6. Bake 8-10 minutes or until lightly browned.
  7. Immediately press a kiss into the center of each cookie.
  
  Makes about 4 dozen

Broccoli Pasta Salad

This one is for those times when your assignment is to bring "a salad...."  and you don't want to bring the plain old italian dressing over some pasta.  Change it up a little bit! My mom makes this a lot for parties.  I just pulled out the recipe and it looks like she got it from Aunt Laura.  So there it is, a family recipe!  Don't get freaked out by the long list of ingredients in the dressing.  You have most of it already!

The Recipe

• 1 box mostrecioli pasta
• red onion
• broccoli
• cauliflower
• green pepper
• red pepper
• 2 cans black olives, chopped (I like them whole)

• 1 c. sugar
• 1 c. salad oil
• 1 c. vinegar
• 1/2 tsp celery seed
• 1 tsp onion salt
• 2 tsp dry mustard
• 1 tsp salt
• 3/4 tsp pepper
• 1 tsp seasoned salt
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 Tbsp parsley

1. Cook pasta al dente as directed on package. Rinse and drain.
2. Cut vegetables into bite sized pieces.  Add to pasta.
3. Mix all remaining ingredients in a separate bowl for dressing.
4. Pour over pasta and broccoli.
5. Let marinate- overnight is best.

Avocado Dip

This is another one from Grandma Manning's cookbook.  She says this is "absolutely the best served with potato chips."  I'm on a veggie chip kick.....like these....

These + Dip = :)

The Recipe:

• 3 Tbsp lemon juice
• 1 tsp chopped onion
• 1 tsp salt
• dash Worcestershire sauce
• 1 c. mashed avocado pulp
• 8 oz. cream cheese

1. Mix lemon juice, onion, salt, and worcestershire
2. Add avocado 
3. Gradually add mixture to softened cream cheese.  mix until well blended.
4. Refrigerate until served

Whoopie Pies

Thanks to Aunt Mel for posting this yummy recipe.  I'll let her take it from here....

This is a traditional New England treat that was passed down to me from my mom-in-law.  I married a New Englander from New Hampshire.  The first time I had heard of a whoopie pie was when I moved to New Hampshire for a few months in my early twenties.  They are everywhere - even boxed up in grocery stores.  Josh and I made some of these together on one of our first few dates.  If you are into tasting/licking the batter, this is one of the best I've ever had.  Try it!  This is a fun recipe to make with the kids so they can put the filling in the middle.  Another New England thing is called Fluff.  It is similar to marshmallow cream, but "fluffier."  Fluff doesn't seem to be available in the western states, but you can order it online.  The consistency is just a little different if you use marshmallow cream, but still a VERY tasty treat!

The Recipe:

• 6 T shortening
• 1 c. sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 2 c. flour
• 5 T. cocoa
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 1 c. milk

Mix shortening and sugar together.  Add egg and vanilla and beat.  After mixing flour, cocoa, salt, and soda add this mixture alternately with the milk.  Drop by tablespoons on ungreased cookie sheets.  Bake at 425 degree oven for 7-9 minutes. 

FILLING:

3/4 Cup shortening
3/4 Cup powdered sugar
6 TBSP marshmallow fluff  
Dash salt
Little vanilla

Beat all ingredients together.  Put in middle of Whoopie Pies and enjoy!

This doesn't make very many, so I usually double it for my family and give a few away.

BYU Mint Brownies

We have a rich BYU heritage in our family.  Ask.  Anybody. Until recently Dad has pretty much led that brigade, but our little Easton has latched right on and has become obsessed with his "BYU toogers". 

I figured this recipe would be a good one to throw in because, A: they're to-die-for delicious, and B: the BYU Creamery has this special recipe so I can tell my BYU stories.  So do you want the recipe first or the stories?

The Recipe (courtesy of TheGirlWhoAteEverything)

• 1 cup butter
• 1/2 cup cocoa
• 2 Tbsp. honey
• 4 eggs
• 2 cup white sugar
• 1 3/4 cup flour
• 1/2 Tbsp. baking powder
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
• 12 oz. chocolate icing (Use your own icing recipe or purchase some chocolate frosting.)

MINT ICING

• 5 Tbsp. butter
• dash of salt
• 3 Tbsp. milk
• 1 Tbsp. light corn syrup
• 2 1/3 cup powdered sugar
• 1/2 tsp. peppermint extract
• 1-2 drops green food coloring

1. Melt butter and mix in cocoa. Allow to cool. Add honey, eggs, sugar, flour, baking powder, and salt. Mix well. Add nuts. Pour batter into a greased 9-by-13 baking pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes. Cool.

2. Prepare mint icing: Soften butter. Add salt, corn syrup, and powdered sugar. Beat until smooth and fluffy. Add mint extract and food coloring. Mix. Add milk gradually until the consistency is a little thinner than cake frosting.

3. Spread mint icing over brownies. Place brownies in the freezer for a short time to stiffen the icing (super important- it'll keep your layers from combining!). Remove from the freezer and carefully add a layer of chocolate icing. 

THE STORIES...In order of most famousness....

Our cousin Ty Detmer played for the Cougars and won the Heisman Trophy while there.  In elementary school it was all I could do to convince the boys in my class that he really was my cousin.  Instant coolness.

Next, like I already mentioned, is Easton.  He's known the fight song since he was one, he plays cougars (you know, where you growl at each other and wrestle) with Dad and Bafa, and he sits through and enjoys those football games better than me.  He even cheers and claps at the right time.  And if you want to see something really cute, follow this link.  He picked up on this at one of the games.

And my story....This guy is the reason I got the scar on my cheek.  When I was two, the Bartletts were babysitting me and I went downstairs to get a box of Mac N' Cheese for lunch.  In the basement I found this mask of LaVell Edwards and figured the dog, Tyrone would like to play with me.  So I put that mask on and got right in its face....and next thing you know, I'm at Primary Children's getting plastic surgery.  And that is how I got the scar. (I'll work on getting a picture later)

Go Toogers!