Fun Shapes

I really want these.  You can make ice, Jello, butter, chocolate, cookies, muffins, etc... Food cooks and browns evenly. Trays won't retain odors or flavors, and are dishwasher safe. For storing, they fold or bend to fit anywhere."  

Mothers Day is coming up sweety! (hint hint)

You can get them here.

Sweet Things

I helped throw a baby shower with a princess theme tonight.  Here are the cookies and cake I made.  The fondant was a little bumpy, but practice makes perfect.

The "N" was for baby Nielson.

Me and My Coonhound

Rusty and I are always together except when I leave the house in my car.  He follows me upstairs and downstairs, barks at the door when I am in the restroom, and sleeps on the floor next to my side of the bed.  We walk or run together everyday except Sunday (Jeff walks him on Sunday).  I have really enjoyed having a dog.  I am one of "those" dog people (except I don't let him lick me on the mouth or face - YUCK!)

But enough is enough!  Tuesday I woke up and met my friends to walk our dogs.  There is a little patch of desert behind our houses where we can let them run free.  The dogs love this and get a nice run in.   So after our morning walk, I get the kids off to school and clean up the kitchen.  The weather is nice outside, so I decide to go for a run - ALONE!  After all, I already walked the dog.  I needed a little "me" time.

I waited until Rusty was sound asleep on his bed upstairs.  I slowly tiptoed downstairs, then paused to see if he had roused.  Still asleep.  I quietly grabbed my ipod off the counter.  I paused again as I heard something stir upstairs.  Dang it.  I held very still for a few minutes.  All is quiet, so I slowly go for my sunglasses.  Then I hear a thud.  He's probably just shifting or fluffing up his bed.  I continue to tiptoe around the corner and make my way for the door. 

YIKES!!!!   There is Rusty waiting on the middle stair.  He caught me red handed.  He knew I was trying to sneak out without him.  

AAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!   I am sneaking around in my own house!  Well, I have to tell you that I really wanted my alone time, so I locked him in his crate and took off running. I could hear him howling all the way down the block.

Sorry Rusty. 

PS.  He forgave me.

The Run Down

Are you ready?  Here's a condensed version of some of the things I was up to while on my blog hiatus. 

Out to lunch on St Patrick's day with the cousin's in Showlow.

I took Sammi skiing for the first time.  (She was terrified!)  It was a fun day - just the 2 of us!

Made a million Easter cookies!

I love the little bunnies!

Went with Nathan's kindergarten class to the bear factory.

Organized my food storage closet and rotated my food.  SHWEW!

I sliced and ate way to many of these.  (They were on sale at Sprout's)

Then I made a ton of freezer jam to hold us over until next spring.

Tomorrow I will be frosting more cookies for a shower, baking 2 cakes, organizing my closets, and working on cleaning out the office (it's really the junk room, but office makes it sound better).   

Now if I could just fit a pedicure in somewhere...

Easy, Healthy, and Good

I'm back!  

Here's a winner I made recently.  It's so fast and easy, but best of all, my kids really liked it.  Don't be afraid to add the pine nuts - the kids really liked those!  I served this with some homemade bread, salad, and fresh strawberries.  Yum!

Penne with Ricotta and Pine Nuts

• 1/3 cup pine nuts
• 1 pound whole wheat penne pasta (health food store)
• 1 1/2 pound baby spinach, washed
• 2 Tb olive oil
• Course salt and fresh ground pepper
• 1 cup ricotta cheese
• 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese

1. Preheat the oven to 350*.  Spread the pine nuts on a rimmed baking sheet; toast in the oven, tossing occasionally, until golden, 6 to 8 minutes; set aside.
2. Meanwhile, in a large pot of boiling salted water, cook the spinach penne until al dente according to package directions, adding the fresh spinach during the last 2 minutes of cooking.  Drain; return the pasta and spinach to the pot.
3. Add the olive oil; season generously with salt and pepper.  Toss well.
4. Serve immediately, topped with the ricotta, pine nuts, and parmesan.  

Serves 6

I just stirred in the pine nuts and cheeses.  It didn't look as pretty, but I have found that it's better with the kids if you don't give them options.  You better try this.  It doesn't get any easier than that!

Well, the kids are out of school and Spring Break has officially begun.  The kids and I will be heading to Show Low to stay with my brother and family.  Sammi and I are hitting the slopes for a little one on one time and hopefully we will catch the last snow of the season.  

I hate to do it, but I won't be blogging until April.  I am swamped with to many things to do, so I need to step away and be productive for the rest of the month.  Don't worry, I will be back with lot's to blog about.

Until then, have a great Spring Break and a happy Easter!  

My Day

Today I will be baking about 80 cookies. (2 baby showers this weekend)

I will be listening to lot's of podcasts and music on my ipod and dreaming about the furniture I want to buy on Craig's List.  And if I finish up before the kids get home from school,  I am going to hit Borders book store and spend my gift card my good friend Angie gave me.

What are you doing today?