Blueberry Muffin Options

I make these blueberry muffins all the time and posted this recipe back in 2008. Since I've been trying to bake a little healthier I made two optional changes to the recipe that worked very well. I switched out the sour cream for some light sour cream. Then I replaced 1/2 cup of flour for whole wheat flour. Also, I used the 1/2 cup sugar instead of the 3/4 cup like I usually do. The only difference in the taste is that you can tell there is whole wheat flour. The other difference is that it doesn't rise as high, but I thought that the consistency of it was the same. It didn't feel or taste heavy. Mike liked them and couldn't tell the differenct. Let me know what you think if you give it a try and enjoy!

The Beginning of T-R-O-U-B-L-E

I know this is just the beginning of trouble. Benjamin wants to feed himself, so he tries to stuff the whole banana in his mouth. He wants to take big bites like his daddy. He's gagged a few times. Small bites are a hard concept right now.

He's found the secret compartment of the ottoman and figured out how to open it. He thinks it's a toy box with his toys.

He also gets into the drawers. Luckily, the towel drawer is his favorite and we haven't had to lock any of them up yet. These are all cute, but I know we're going to be in for some T-R-O-U-B-L-E!

Manti Pageant

Last weekend we had a fun trip out to Manti, UT with the Gee's to see the Morman Miracle Pageant. We had a great time visiting with our friends. The boys were happy to play and entertain each other.

The Not So Serious Concert Pianist

Benjamin took a liking to the piano today and he gave me a little concert. After watching the video with him, he clapped for himself. Cute!

Love this Face

I love this face when Benjamin tries to look right into the camera. Makes you want to pinch the cheeks.

 

Last week we went to see the dinosaurs at Thanksgiving Point. It didn't phase him at all that there were skeletons all over the place. 

 This week we got blocks for Benjamin. I get to build towers and he knocks them down!

Chicken Burrito with Fresh Pico de Gallo

Here's a yummy chicken burrito. It doesn't appear as anything out of the ordinary, but I did a couple things to make it extra tasty. I made my own salsa (or in this case it's really pico de gallo since it wasn't cooked in any way) and I marinated the chicken in it before grilling.

Chicken Burrito

Tortillas, white or wheat
Refried beans
Green or red leaf lettuce
Grilled chicken, marinated in Pico de Gallo
Pico de Gallo (see recipe below)
Cheese, shredded
Sour cream (optional)
Guacamole (optional)

I marinated the chicken with one cup of salsa for a few hours before grilling it. Depending on the amount of people you are serving, you can increase or decrease the amount of salsa. Layer as desired and enjoy. I would have added sour cream and guacamole, but i didn't have any on hand.

Pico de Gallo

1 jalapeno, seeded and chopped
5 Roma tomatoes, diced
1/2 onion, chopped
Cilantro, approximately 3 T after chopped
Salt and pepper to taste

Coarsely chop all the ingredients above and blend on a pulse setting till you get your desired consistency.

The Pico de Gallo works great for the marinade, but I will add a bit of lime to the next batch I make. The fresh ingredients are always the best way to make a dish taste and look great.

Scottish Festival and Cedar Hill Days

 Last weekend was busy for us. We had Cedar Hills Days and the Scottish Festival at Thanksgiving Point to attend. Mike took many of the pictures of Benjamin at the Cedar Hills Carnival. Above Benjamin got to go on the big Fun Slide with his dad. I took him on the merry-go-round. He did pretty good and didn't freak out.

 At the Scottish Festival we bought some homemade root beer...very good! Benjamin got a tiny taste as well. I think he likes the way the bubbles tickle his tongue because he stuck his tongue out and smiled. Adorable!

We also enjoyed the music of Men of Worth and the Wicked Tinkers. Above are the Wicked Tinkers...a lively bunch! Benjamin enjoyed himself and even clapped along to the music and danced a bit. Here's a cute little video.

At the closing ceremonies, all the groups that competed in the piping competition played and marched. It was really cool!

A Healthier Pizza

Who doesn't love pizza?! Well, once upon a time I remember I didn't, but I've amended my ways. I'm a classic pepperoni lover and rarely care to try different toppings. However, I have made an effort to eat a bit healthier.

Pizza Baguette

French baguette, cut in half lengthwise
Pizza or marinara sauce
Italian pork sausage, crumbled
Turkey pepperoni
Onion, diced
Green bell pepper, diced
Mushrooms, sliced thin
Mozzarella cheese, shredded (can be reduced or low fat cheese)

Assemble pizza baguette layering with sauce, cheese and toppings. Bake at 400° for 6-8 minutes. This may vary depending on your oven.

I used my own marinara sauce that already had Italian pork sausage. It saves time when you have it on hand. I was really surprised how well the turkey pepperoni tasted. Don't be afraid and give it a try. Enjoy!

Batik Quilt

I quickly made this  batik quilt sampler for a fund raiser at work for Voice of the Children. It's a colorful quilt with beautiful batiks. A little crazier than what I normally make, but I think it turned out neat. Below are the details.

Oregon - Cannon Beach

The last week of May we took a family trip to Cannon Beach, OR. Benjamin did really well in the car and kept entertained with toys and such.

 We took a drive to Astoria and walked along the river. It was a bit chilly and rained off and on. 

 Since we were so close to Washington, we took a little detour to one of the state parks across the river. I got to try out the backpack for our first hike. Benjamin loved it! He was looking at everything and blabbing and laughing. So much fun!

 

 Benjamin got to go into the pool for the first time. He was splashing around and had the funnest time.

 

 On our way to Tillamook, we stopped at a scenic lookout.

 The cheese factory was one of our favorite stops. We had never seen so much cheese before.

 We sampled all kinds of cheddar cheeses and enjoyed hamburgers and cheese sandwiches for lunch.

 We found a light house on our way back to Cannon Beach. They are pretty cool.

 

 Seaside has an aquarium. We had never seen an octopus so close before. It was fascinating to see how it moved.

 Our last day in Cannon Beach we went to Ecola State Park. We hiked to Indian Beach. It was really pretty and peaceful.

 On the drive home we stopped off at the Multnomah Falls. I'm a sucker for falls.

Our drive home was a little more rough for Benjamin. He was tired of being strapped in the car. But we did manage to have fun playing peek-a-boo!

To see more pictures that Mike took on our trip go to his website here.