Lolly's Pops

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Cranberry Pear German Pancake

I got a 40 lb box of pears this week. I planned on bottling them but the box is bigger than I had anticipated. I started looking online for recipes because I wanted more than just a ton of bottles of pears. I found two different recipes for pear pie. I had a friend who made a pear tart once and hated it, so I was skeptical. But one of the recipes I found was on Martha Stewart, so I thought I would give it a try. Based on my findings, I decided to make a German Pancake and follow the idea of the Pear Cranberry Pie by mixing the two. So, here is my German Pancake recipe and then the addition of the fruit. It was delicious! And I feel that it was good enough to try the pear pie.

German Pancake

1/2 c craisins
1 tsp orange extract
3 pears, peeled and sliced

Put craisins in a glass measuring cup. Add the orange extract. Pour water in up to the 1 cup line. Microwave on high for 3 min. While microwaving, peel and slice the pears. Put the pears in a bowl and pour the microwaved craisins on top to soak in the warm liquid.

5 eggs
1 c milk
1 c flour
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Mix in a blender for 3 min. While it is mixing put 4 TBSP of butter in a casserole dish and place in the oven while it is preheating so it will melt.

Pour the batter in the warm casserole dish. Sprinkle the craisins over the batter. Lay the pears on top and sprinkle on any remaining craisins. Cook for 15 min. About 1/2 way through I opened the oven and sprinkled a handful of brown sugar over the top. Remove from oven when the batter is cooked all the way through. Slice and serve.

This can be made with out any fruit. I have made it with apple slices and brown sugar and cinnamon. Delicious as well. If you make it plain, serve with syrup or jam.

Monday, September 26, 2011

What have I been up to.....

After moving to Logan, getting married, and life settling down, I found myself with lots of extra time on my hands. And I will admit, it has been a struggle. Everyone always says...man if I had some extra time I could get so much stuff done. I could do all those projects I have always wanted to. But let me tell you, in excess it is bad! I get less done than before. I went through a good amount of depression and trying to figure out my place in life but I am glad to say that I am on the up and up and have been doing much better for several weeks. I have been subbing where I can and know for sure I was made to teach very young kids. Middle school blows. So, for those of you that follow my face book and have heard about things I have been doing, I thought I would follow up with some pictures to fill in any gaps.

We made aprons in Young Womens with a very basic pattern.
So, I altered mine and made it a little sassy.

I have recently purchased a pressure canner and the world has opened up to me.
I have been doing a lot of reading and on line research to learn how to can.
This is my hoard of beans and the 5th row is pot roast! Yes please!

The top shelf holds turkey chili, chili verde and juiced green chilies and roasted green chilies. The bottom shelf that is bursting with goodness is from left to right, roasted tomato sauce (spaghetti), yukon gold potatoes, grape juice (saving that to bottle my pears with), cranaheim jelly, (behind the jelly is... peach/blueberry jam, cherry jam, cherry pineapple jam, and plum jam) fruit cocktail, donut peaches, spiced donut peaches, and Amanda's lemon honey. And tomorrow I am trying my hand at a small batch of apple butter from asian pear/apples.

I got caught up on all the Brandon Mull books that I had not read yet.
Now I am ready when the next Beyonders book hits the shelf.

Joshua and I purchased bikes! We have enjoyed riding them around and
discovering our side of the valley...that is, when I am not crashing.

I have a good friend who does Stampin Up. Amanda and I helped ourselves to a
fabulous craft party and made 3 different halloween crafts. In the bowl is a banner
that says spooky on one side and wicked on the other. We had so much fun!

This is my newly covered ottoman. It used to be leather and all scratched up.
Before I declawed my cat he had spent his youth sharpening his claws on my
ottoman. I had never reupholstered anything before but I really wanted
to fix my ottoman so it was not such an eye sore. Two youtube videos
later and one 50% off upholstery fabric at JoAnns and I was set.

I even love the way the inside turned out. I will be working on throw pillows
for the couch that have that same green and white on one of the fabrics and the
blue and white on the other. We shall see how this turns out.

And lastly...I have been waiting for this fuchsia shade of henna to fade out so I
can go get my new license with my fabulous new married name.
Hopefully that will be this week.

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

The Lost Sheep

We had a lesson at church on Sunday that has really been sticking with me this week. We talked about when a lamb leaves the flock and how the shepherd goes to get them. It has always given me comfort to know that if I lose my way, my Savior would come to get me. However, this lesson was different. This was not the same come back to the flock lesson I was ready for.

We talked about what really happens after the shepherd finds that lamb. I have always seen the pictures of the shepherd carrying the lamb on his back and just assumed that it was because it was faster to get back to the flock, and the lamb was tired, and he would not have to worry about the lamb following him all the way. IIINNNNNGGGGGKK! Wrong!
I learned that after the shepherd finds the lamb, he breaks its legs and carries it on his back. He does not break its' legs as a punishment but to help it learn. He carries the lamb and it learns that he must rely on the shepherd and in turn never leaves the flock again.

Wow! Talk about pricking on my heart strings. I felt like I just realized that I had 2 broken legs. I thought about all the changes in my life recently. I thought about the depression that I had recently and unexpectedly been dealing with. I thought about all the second guessing and mulling over in my mind that I found myself dwelling on every day as my life was not going in the direction that I thought it should be going. I thought about all the doubt that has crept into my life. And I saw that my legs were in fact broken.

I have been pondering over this since Sunday. I feel such a love for my Savior as I look back to how he has been carrying me and trying to show me that I do not need to do it alone or fight so hard to do it. All I need to do is show that I have faith and trust in him. I feel a great burden lifted and true happiness as I contemplate these thoughts. I feel like my legs will be able to heal soon. I do not need to worry so much about my life. I need to do all that I can do and know that my Savior has his hand in my life.

Sunday, September 11, 2011

A day to never forget

Well, a good friend said I should start up dating this again and I think they are right. I had a conversation with another friend last week about how people seem to be blogging less and less. We scrolled through our book marks of our friends' and families blogs and more than half of them have not been updated in months or years. We discussed how the blog epidemic seems to be wearing off. Yet, we wished they would up date because we like keeping connected to their lives in a more personal way. So, with 2 people suggesting that it is time to update...here we go.

9/11/01 - A day to never forget.

I was working at a call center in Durant, Oklahoma. I was the Reports Analyst and would go into work about 4 am to start doing the financial reports from the previous day of business. I usually worked until 9 or 10 am and then I would go to class. It worked great with my schedule because the boss got the reports as soon as they were into work and I got to stay in school and work on my degree. I had been at work for several hours and was feeling particularly sleepy when other employees started showing up around 8 am. I heard lots of whispering and teary eyes. I had no idea what was going on. A fellow employee came up to me and said, I just can't believe it. I replied, you can't believe what? She instantly directed me to CNN.com. I had never used my work computer for anything other than work so I was nervous that the boss would disapprove. I remember the live stream taking forever to load and then I saw thick smoke billowing out of the first tower. I was in shock.

I did not understand what I was seeing. I did not understand why someone would ever do this. I just kept thinking about all the people in that building. I worked for the next 2 hours with CNN.com on continuously. I saw the plane fly into the south tower. I saw the tower come down. I watched as the nation stood and stared in disbelief as our country changed that day. In a trance like state I finally turned off the computer and headed to class.

The entire way to class I just kept thinking about all the people that were hurt, scared, and dying. I cried the entire way to class. I felt like, why am I even going to class. But then I knew that I would rather be there than glued to the t.v.

As I walked from the parking lot to the building my class was in, several planes flew over head. I saw people around on campus who were from other countries. I knew that from that moment everything would be different. They would be treated differently and it saddened me. I thought again of the people still trapped in the buildings. I had heard that people were jumping from the windows and I could not contain my emotions. I started crying again. As I paused to regain myself before entering the building a silent prayer entered my thoughts. I still remember saying the words in my head...

Heavenly Father. I know that you are hurting right now. I know that this is as hard for you as it is for us. But I beg of you, please, forget my pains. Forget my suffering. Forget the fears and worries that I am feeling right now, because there are so many more people that need you more than I do right now. Please, go to the people in the towers. Be in the stairwells with those that are trapped and afraid. Be in the office buildings and hold their hands. Comfort those that are in their greatest hour of need right now. Bring them peace.

I know that he heard my prayer and the prayer of millions that day. The only peace that I was able to cling to that day was knowing that even though so many lives were being lost that day, so many lives were seeing their Savior that day. And oh, how sweet his love for them was. It still hurts to think about that day. Though I do not know any one individually that fell on Sept. 11. But I do know that every life that was lost is one of my brothers or sisters. I know that they are in the care of Heavenly Father and they suffer no more. I know that they will see their loved ones again. I know that because of our Savior, Jesus Christ, that they did not suffer alone and that he made it possible for them to return to our Father in Heaven and live forever with their families. So even though someone took their physical life that day, our fallen brethren still live.

I am a member of the Church Of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I know all these things to be true. I invite any who wish to know of Heavenly Father and his infinite plan for us to come to Christ and follow him. Enjoy the church dedication to 9/11 and feel free to ever ask me any questions or local missionaries in your area.

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Not just for babies any more!

So, I came home from work today. It had been a long day. I started teaching my new after school class. Yoga for kids! It was so much fun. I have about 20 kids and we all loved it. When I got home I was beat but had a lot of things to take care of before I could crash on the couch and start doing more school work.

~so goes the life of a teacher~
I set about to my long list of things beginning with emptying the dishwasher. Before I could even put the first glass away there was a persistent noise at my feet. I tried to subdue this nail on the chalk board nuisance but it could not be pacified. I knew that I did not have time to take out of my schedule to give proper attention to this other responsibility. It needed honest to goodness love and attention. And how does one do that with dishes that needed to be put away, dirty dishes to replace the clean ones, french onion soup to be portioned and stored in the freezer, spaghetti sauce to make and dinner to serve up (to a party of one, of course)?
Well, I did what any mother in this world has done in order to be able to still use both arms. Since I have not actually had any kids of my own, I had to improvise and use the scarf that I was wearing, but he was thoroughly satisfied and enjoyed his time with very much. Dishes done, Britches happy. A successful evening indeed!

Friday, December 24, 2010

Adventure or Library

This week has been full of busy schedules and fun craft projects. We have been going from one thing to the next and having a good time of it. So, yesterday afternoon came and we needed a little quiet time. So started, "feet on beds." A time where all patrons retire to their beds to think and rest. You may read a book, work on a small project, or stare at the ceiling. But the whole point is that you stay with your feet in your bed and just slow down for an hour. Alisa used this time to her advantage and pulled out the sewing machine to finish up some Christmas presents. I myself laid on the couch. After I had dozed off for 5 mins, rolled around a million times, snuggled the cat, and began reflecting on my life for too much time I decided that we must get out.
I had heard the kids in their rooms for the last 15 minutes asking if it was time to come out yet. The answer was definitely a no. I jumped to my feet and with in five minutes had myself and the kids out of the house. Sometimes there is nothing better than just getting out.
I thought it would be great for the restless kids and for a mother who was trying to finish up some presents. I set the GPS and were off to the library. Zoe mentioned that she would have rather walked there, however I was a bit concerned because the GPS said we would be there in 11 minutes. Seems like much to far of a distance to walk. As the car took the freeway entrance both kids let out a, "this is not the right way" from the back of the car. "Hmmmm" I replied. "Maybe this is a different way to go." Three minutes later we were surrounded my nothing but open road. The kids announced, "I think we are lost." I confidently stated, "Well, we could turn around and find the real library or we could go on this adventure and see where the GPS is taking us. Everyone agreed that an unknown adventure in the car was much better than feet on beds.
So onward ho! We finally arrived at our destination and much to all our amazement found the

coolest old house ever. In which, we made up our own story of a haunted library that had been closed due to all the ghost and every now and then a GPS still sends weary travelers there in hopes to appease the houses desires. The kids were thoroughly freaked and had a stellar time. We hopped back in the car and researched the address to the real library. Raced back to town, saw a million deer and let one cross the road in front of the car, and got to the library with still enough time to read 6 books sans shoes before heading home. All in all an hour and a half later Christmas projects were ready and kids were happy. Success!

Thursday, November 18, 2010

Hmmmm, will anyone recognize me?

So, for those of you who I regularly-ish stay in touch with know that I have been undergoing some health quirks. I have been blacking out and my eye has been freaking out. It seems like I have developed a very healthy case of hypoglycemia. The eye has been a puzzle and a burden to me. My right eye has been blurry off and on, (on for the last month). They say low blood sugar can make your vision blurry. But does it only affect one eye? It also, on a whim, will bust out with horrible red lines all over it, be ultra sensitive to light and water all day. I had no clue what the deal was. I went for allergy testing and that turned up bust. I had been going to a family doctor here in town who was running every test in the world but was also empty handed when it came to solutions. I am in the process of switching doctors to see if someone else can diagnose my lack of a normal functioning body.
I also had an eye appointment for a place here in town next week. However, yesterday my eye cracked out all on its own again. It was a cloudy day here in Evanston. Much like unto a day you would see in Forks. (That's right! I am referencing Twilight in my blog. HA!) Despite the great cloud coverage, my eye burned like a dirty little secret when I was outside. It was watering all day and it the pressure was so bad that it felt like I had a black eye. I was in utter pain.
Thus, I decided to throw myself at the mercy of the eye doctor. I stormed the castle, pulled my eye lid open real wide, and begged for help regardless of my scheduled appointment the following week. The eye doctor who apparently was not working that day and had just happened to drop in immediately took me back and began poking around in my face. With a few drops of dilation juice, some 20/20 tests and lots of sighing he announced a big fancy term that I will never remember.
Basically, my eye has had an adverse reaction to my contact or the solution. In an effort to heal itself it rushed white blood cells to my cornea. Due to the lack of infection the white blood cells were attacking my eye! How nice of them to try and clear up that problem by killing my eye. So considerate! Since this problem has been going on for so long my eye was covered in white blood cells and they had begun to clump up. I was given medicated eye drops with a steroid in them. Once it clears up he will be able to tell if it left scar tissue and permanent damage. How lovely!
At same time of this gentle revelation to how important my vision was he informed me that I could not put these contacts back in my face. Hmmmm. I drove her being able to see now I must leave with out being able to see. Curiouser and curiouser. The doctor however, was much more intelligible than I on this situation. He said he would cut me a temporary pair of lenses in his office and make some glasses. Then I would return in 2 days to do a full exam and order better lenses. So, in I go with contacts, out I come with glasses.

This concept is still blowing my mind as it always was always a week or two wait when ordering glasses.
So, here is a picture of me with the new shades. Picked them out in under a minute, after I had spent 30 minutes deliberating on three different pairs. I saw them as I was putting back the two runners up. I grabbed them from the shelf and made a rash decision to bag the other 3 pairs totally. So far I have not been regretful. But, just so everyone knows, I feel like I am walking around in a carnival fun house. My depth perception is all screwy and things seem close and far away at the same time. Don't know if that is my wonky eye or just because I am wearing glasses for the first time in over ten years. For now, I just stay far back from all the other cars.