DLS

Day Light Savings is a curse in Alaska.  This made me smile. . . 

1 more

Again, in Mexico, almost a year later my SIL pulled out this recipe.  And while unfortunately events prevented us from actually tasting them then, our mouth buds were already watering.  And again, I found myself begging someone for a recipe.  

After I made these Eric exclaimed, "I could eat these every week."  For a man who loves variety, that is the highest of compliments.

Summer Corn Cakes with Chopped Tomato and Avocado Salsa

Adapted from "Sara Foster's Southern Kitchen"

Makes about 12 large cakes; serves 6 to 8

• 3 EARS CORN, SHUCKED
• 1 CUP ALL-PURPOSE FLOUR
• 1/2 CUP CORNMEAL (IF YOU CAN ONLY FIND CORNMEAL MIX, SKIP THE BAKING POWDER.)
• 1/4 CUP DICED RED ONION
• 1/4 CUP THINLY SLICED FRESH BASIL
• 1 TEASPOON BAKING POWDER
• 1/2 TEASPOON BAKING SODA
• SEA SALT AND FRESHLY GROUND BLACK PEPPER
• 2 LARGE EGGS, LIGHTLY BEATEN
• 2 TABLESPOONS WELL-SHAKEN BUTTERMILK
• 2 TABLESPOONS UNSALTED BUTTER, MELTED
• CANOLA OIL, FOR FRYING
• CHOPPED TOMATO AND AVOCADO SALSA (RECIPE FOLLOWS)

1. Preheat oven to 200 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with a brown paper bag.
2. Cut the corn from the cobs into a large bowl, and scrape the stripped cobs with the back of the knife (or a spoon) to release the juices into the bowl.
3. Place 2 cups of the corn kernels into a food processor, and pulse several times, until the corn is slightly pureed but still chunky. Scrape into the bowl with the remaining corn kernels.
4. Add flour, cornmeal, onion, basil, baking powder, baking soda, salt and pepper to the corn. Stir to mix.
5. Add the eggs, buttermilk and butter, and stir just to combine. (Do not overmix.)
6. Place a large skillet over medium heat. Add just enough canola oil to barely cover the bottom, and heat until sizzling hot.
7. One heaping tablespoon at a time, scoop the batter into the skillet. Cooking in batches of 4 to 5 to avoid overcrowding, fry the cakes 1 to 2 minutes per side, until golden brown.
8. Drain on the lined baking sheet, and place in the oven to keep warm while cooking the remaining corn cakes. Serve warm topped with a heap of Chopped Tomato and Avocado Salsa.

Chopped Tomato and Avocado Salsa

Makes about 2 cups

• 1 LARGE TOMATO, CORED AND CHOPPED
• 1 SCALLION, TRIMMED AND MINCED
• 1/2 JALAPENO PEPPER, CORED, SEEDED AND DICED
• 1 TABLESPOON CHOPPED FRESH BASIL
• 1 TABLESPOON CHOPPED FRESH CILANTRO
• 1 GARLIC CLOVE, MINCED
• JUICE OF 1/2 LIME
• 1 1/2 TEASPOONS EXTRA-VIRGIN OLIVE OIL
• 1 1/2 TEASPOONS WHITE WINE VINEGAR
• SEA SALT AND FRESHLY GROUND PEPPER
• 1 AVOCADO, PEELED, PITTED AND DICED

1. Place all of the ingredients (except the avocado) in a bowl, and stir to mix. Refrigerate in an airtight container until ready to serve, for up to 2 days.
2. Just before serving, add the avocado, and mix gently.

favorite recipe

Here are a few of our favorite family recipes.  I first ate this in Mexico and begged my friend Tiff for the recipe.  We eat it a couple of times a month.  

Black-Bean Tostadas with Corn Relish

Ingredients

• 2 limes
• 2 scallions
• 1 package (10 ounces) frozen corn kernels
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• Coarse salt and ground pepper
• 1 jalapeno chile
• 1 pint grape tomatoes
• 8 ounces Monterey Jack cheese, not sliced
• 12 tostada shells
• 1 can (15 ounces) black beans
• 1 can (15 ounces) black REFRIED beans (NOT pinto refried beans)
• 1 avocado
• Reduced-fat sour cream, for serving (optional)

Directions

1. Squeeze limes into a medium bowl. Thinly slice scallions, and add to bowl along with corn. Add 1 tablespoon oil, and season with salt and pepper; toss to combine. Cover and refrigerate.

2. Halve jalapeno (remove ribs and seeds for less heat, if desired), and mince. Halve tomatoes. Combine in an airtight container; cover and refrigerate.

3. Coarsely grate cheese on a box grater; place into a resealable plastic bag, and refrigerate.

4. In a pan, mix black beans and black refried beans together.  Stir ocassionally until heated through.  Pit and peel avocado; dice. Toss with corn mixture to combine.

5. To serve, top tostadas with black bean mixture, corn relish, tomatoes and, if desired, sour cream.

   
   

My Man in Black

Sam still loves drumming. This weekend he got to play at a festival
with some friends from his drumming group. They did this fun routine
where they played their own drums and then would bang on each other
drums and throw their sticks into the air.

(they played in this great little church which echoed and amplified
everything, thus the earplugs)

Grandma Day

My mom has always been so good about having Grandma Days with her
grandchildren. A trip up the tram at Sundance, or a fun day bowling,
or little sewing projects. We were THRILLED when she brought, or
mailed rather, Grandma Day to us. She sent Sam and Hyrum the
supplies for these darling Valentine's pennants.

Sam did such a great job sewing. At one point I had to come upstairs
and help the littles. A few minutes later Sam joined me. I asked him
if he was done. And then I noticed he was a little pale. He looked
horrified. He went on to tell me that the sewing machine was trying
to kill him and he was just sure his finger was going to get caught
and the machine would drag his whole body in for "death by sew
machine." It was hilarious, and more than a smidge sincere.

I joined him for the last few triangles and the biased tape. By the
end of our "sewing machine therapy" he was back on good terms with the
machine and was confident that he could control the foot pedal.

Sam, Hy, and Warner really love to sew. The other day we made
sleeping bags for their stuffed animals. The pennant however is a
project that the whole family will enjoy.

Fwd:

I love this little boy and his love for all things holiday. we had so much fun creating these valentines together today.  there was just a spirit of happiness oozing out of our kitchen.  he was cutting, i was stapling. . . it was just one of those moments that you always imagine having with your children.  

hyrum is all about imagination.  he loves to think and create and wonder.  he loves holidays, stuffed animals, make believe, and drawing.  he's into super heroes, leprachans, and aspires to be a hedgehog owner.  of course, all this imagination has a downside.  because of a recent incident where he became irrationally scared silly, we are back to robber therapy.  he was convinced someone was in the house.  the next morning he told me, "mom, i know what a robber would steal. . . . our projector."  and while that $150 projector may be one of the most expensive things in our house it definitely isn't robber quality.  

hy remembers.  hy understands.  hy thinks things through.  he's smart and loud and silly and then suddenly shy.  he'll romp around our house screeching like a valociraptor and then clam up on neon day stubbornly leaving his cool green wig in his backpack.  and did i mention his ailments?  hy is fine until we ask him to do something.  then his "leg hurts" or his "finger hurts" or his "ears hurt" and by hurt he means unable to do the afore mentioned chore. . . ever.   hy's also a picky eater who would happily eat a diet of worthless carbohydrates for every meal for the rest of his life [couldn't we all though. . . he may something with that agenda].

that said, despite his whining, ailments and quirks he'll forever be MY hy-guy.  my little glasses wearing, big smiling, table setting, great reading little guy.  And believe me, if that little one ever asked ME to be his valentine, with or without the mustache, I would definitely say yes.  

we [HEART] grandma

love you grandma. and love all the trinkets in our package. we wore
the heart masks to music class today and everyone LOVED them. and
here we are with our collages.

Anchorage Institute

These are the smiling faces at the Anchorage Institute these days.  Eric works with a wonderful Senior Missionary Couple and Secretary.  Brother and Sister Hawkins are here for 18 months from Rexburg, ID.  They've really made the institute a home for the students with waffle nights, warm homemade bread, and other delicious comfort foods and juggle that along with their teaching and YSA ward assignments.  Eric says that Sis. Soule it the epitome of efficiency.  I've often heard him comment that she is good, and fast, and thorough.  I wonder if he ever gets the two of us (me and Sis. Soule) confused for one another??  :)  

I'm grateful that Eric spends his time away from home surrounded by such honest, good, kind people.

Tres Amigos

These three are the best of friends.  When Harry decided to go to a different Middle School that enrolled 6th graders, I truly thought that it was the beginning of the end.  However Harry and his parents have bent over backwards to fuel this friendship.  

While many things haven't changed like their love for pizza and Harry's tied dyed shirts, many things like their basketball skills, their love for musical instruments, and their appetites have.  

We've had a blast these past five years and are keeping our fingers crossed for five more.

Neon Bowling

My Boys at their Best Friends Birthday Party.  

BFF

Warns and Mudgie.

Feast your eyes. . .

Feast your eyes. . . 

fierce and friendly

Wrestling Season has started.

Christian drew this for Art Class.

Grandma Love

Having some fun with some Grandma Love.

PVS

I think I am suffering from PVS, Post Vacation Syndrome.

Last week I spent eight glorious days in San Jose del Cabo, Mexico
with my parents, sister Michelle, and brother Greg and his wife
Jessica. Oh, it was wonderful. The sunshine. The heat. The
company. The kayaking and snorkeling. The meadering downtown. The
restaurants. The games. The salsa and guacamole. The taxi rides.
The walks on the beach and even better the longs walks on the beach on
warm nights with the stars shining. Homemade pinadas at every meal
and some just because.

It was awesome. I mean really awesome. So much so that I'm having a
hard time being here. I think I'm having a vacation hangover. My
first day home I kept thinking, "Wow, I'm exhausted." "Wow, this is
hard." "Wow, I can't believe this is my life Every. Single. Day."
Today is no better.

I'm so grateful for a wonderful week. I suppose I now need to take a
vacation from the vacation and get back on the horse. It is time to
trade in the snorkling gear for the spatelas, the flip flops for the
frying pan, the magazines for the homework scene, and the pinadas for
carrot sticks and oatmeal.

How many days until our next trip??? :)