The Loss Of A Good Friend

A couple of weeks ago I told Adam that I wasn't going to buy any more new binkies after he lost his last one. I swear, this kid loses binkies like it's going out of style. And then a couple of days after I told him that I wasn't buying anymore, he finally lost his last one. I stuck to my guns and didn't buy anymore new ones. Adam was pretty sad at first, those first couple of naps and going to bed at night were pretty hard for him. In fact, the first night he cried for almost an hour. But, he eventually got over it and is now completely binkie free for 1 1/2 weeks now! He's a big boy now! Now we just need to work on potty training! ;)

He looks so much more grown up without the binkie, don't you think? He's a cutie!

A Rodeo In Town

The boys had lots of fun at The Little Buckaroo Rodeo this year! Both Brandon and Adam competed in the Stick Pony Race and they had a blast! Brandon really wanted to do the sheep riding, but he's a year too young so he's hoping to do that event next year. Even though he looks bigger than most of the kids that were competing in it this year! Adam had so much fun, this was his first year doing it and he loved it! He even met a little girlfriend, as you can see in one of the pictures above. He is just too cute! They are both my cute little cowboys!

Freak of Nature

I went out to the garden yesterday to pick some vegetables and this is what I found.

A conjoined yellow squash. They some how fused together while growing.

Weird.

Join me, won't you?

I have been in the works of getting together all of my favorite recipes to eventually write a cookbook. In the meantime, I've created a new blog about some of my recipes. The blog is brand new and needs your help to stay going! I've only got a couple of recipes listed so far, but I plan on posting almost everyday with a new recipe. So, if your looking for some good recipes to feed to your family, follow me over to my new blog "But Mama, I'm Hungry!". I look forward to sharing my family's favorites with your family. If you have any tried and true recipes that you'd like to share with me, I'd love to see them! See you soon over at But Mama, I'm Hungry!

SO MAD!!!

Ugh!! I just thought to look to see if the Pillsbury bake off contest is going on this year. It is, and I missed the deadline to enter by a day! AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!! I am so mad at myself right now. I found one of my entries from two years ago just a few days ago and didn't think to look at the website until today.

I've Done It!!

I have created a sweet and sour chicken recipe that is just as good as any good Chinese restaurant! And I mean a good one in California, because we all know that the Chinese places out here in Idaho kind of suck. Here it is.


Sweet and Sour Chicken
Just as good as take-out!

1 ½ lbs. boneless skinless chicken breasts or thighs, cut into small bite size pieces
1 cup flour
1 cup cornstarch
1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
1 ½ teaspoons baking soda
1 ½ teaspoons sugar
1 1/3 cups cold water
oil for frying

Sauce:
½ cup ketchup
½ teaspoon soy sauce
1/3 cup white vinegar
¾ cup water
1 ¼ cups sugar
½ cup brown sugar, packed
3 ½ tablespoons cornstarch
¼ cup cold water
½ large onion, chunked
1 green bell pepper, chunked
½ cup pineapple tidbits

In a medium saucepan, combine all of the sauce ingredients, except for the onion, bell pepper and pineapple. Bring sauce to a boil and turn heat down to medium. Add the onion, bell pepper and pineapple and heat until vegetables are soft. Stir occasionally. Meanwhile, combine the flour, cornstarch, baking powder, baking soda, sugar and water in a large bowl. Whisk together well to make a thick batter. Dip chicken pieces in batter and drop in hot oil. Fry until golden brown and chicken is cooked through, about 5 minutes. Let cool on paper towel lined plate. Serve over hot cooked rice, pouring sauce over chicken and enjoy!

I would have taken a picture of it, but for the past, um... six months my digital camera has been lost. Just yesterday I found it!! After dinner was already all eaten though. :) The dang thing was behind the dvd player, which stopped working on Wednesday, so we got a new one and while I was putting the new one in, I found my camera! Yay!! And here we were blaming poor Adam on the missing camera! :)

Alphabet Meme

My sister in law Aleyta tagged me, so here goes.

A - Available or Taken: taken
B - Best Friend: my mom
C -Cake or Pie: cake all the way.
D - Drink of Choice: water or coke zero
E - Essential item you use everyday: flour
F - Favorite Color: pink
G - Gummy Bears or Worms: chocolate please
H - Hometown: Hayward, Ca
I - Indulgence: really good lotion
J - January or February: no thanks, not a fan of winter, but Todd's birthday is in February.
K - Kids & ages: Brandon 3 1/2 & Adam 18 months
L - Life is incomplete without: family
M - Marriage Date or Most Memorable Date (and why): marriage 11/08/03
N - Number of Siblings: 3 two brothers and 1 sisty
O - Oranges or Apples: clementines
P- Phobias or Fears: freaky laughing people. (don't ask)
Q - Fave Quote: "Whats right isn't always popular and whats popular isn't always right." My senior quote that they some how messed up really badly.
R - Reason to Smile: my crazy kids.
S - Season: Spring
T - Tag 3 or 4 People: If you'd like to do this, go right ahead!
U - Unknown fact about me: I didn't believe in killing animals when I was younger. So I didn't eat meat.
V - Vegetable you don't like: I don't like squash, other than zucchini.
W - Worst Habit: I guess you'd have to ask Todd. lol, I can't think of anything.
X - X-rays: yep, I've had a few.
Y - Your Fave Food: La Pinata Mexican food, which I only have like once a year since it's out in CA. But, I really love homemade bread....mmm!
Z - Zodiac Sign: Pisces