Chopped

Shea and her friends decided to have a Chopped challenge (great show on the Food Network)

We did two rounds.  Each team is given "mystery items" and then they have to make a main dish and then a dessert.

Here are a few of the mystery items:

Bacon

Jello

Taco shells

Bananas

Meatballs

Robert, Braden and I were judges.  Dishes were judged on presentation, creativity and taste.

Ashton, Brooklyn, Kelsey, Brianna, Erin & Shea

Two teams and
a little trash-talking

30 minutes for each round.
Time flies when you are crazy.

Team B created Meatballs with banana/jello sauce over toast.
not so very yummy.

Team A made Jello Ramen Tacos with bacon and mustard sauce.

I wish I had pictures of the dessert round - the plates looked great!

Cooking up a frenzy...

If my calender next week is any indication of how busy things are going to be then I need to be organized... so I talked Kayla into helping me cook up a bunch of meals for the freezer.  I've done this in the past and it is loads of work... but today I discovered that it is much, much easier (and funner!) with two people.

We made 2 lasagna, 2 spaghetti pie, rolls, breakfast burritos, twice-baked potatoes, taco meat, meatballs and shredded chicken.  Yes... I'm tired!!

Happy Easter!

I love SPRING!!!

Friday, Robert colored Easter eggs with Shea and Braden. (Carving pumpkins and coloring eggs are two things I just don't do. I'm the photographer.) Saturday morning we had our Easter egg hunt... not sure why I didn't take pictures. It was fun, especially when Andrew lifted Shea up to get the eggs that were too tall for her to reach.

Sunday morning we watched conference with Song and Sophia. Our TV room is SMALL, so Shea and Braden made their own seats on the floor.

Hmmmm... can you color with your toes?

Watching conference....

The girls....

Butterhorn rolls. Delicious!

Deviled eggs. Wouldn't be Easter without them!

My beautiful punch bowl broke at Christmas.... love that tupperware!

Sushi!

Sophia came over yesterday and showed me how to make sushi.... not sure I'll make it without help in the near (or far) future. But it was fun!

The ingredients

Shea holding the thingy that rolls up the sushi.
not sure what it's called.

Shea and Sophia creating the masterpieces!

Beautiful!!

Enjoying the fruits of our labors with

the missionaries, the Stoker's and Song and Sophia.

Cinnabons... with love.

On Sunday evening, Robert, Braden and Song went to a Priesthood meeting at church, so Sophia, Shea and I had a girls night and made Cinnamon rolls. Of course they were Cinnabon Cinnamon Rolls. I was a bit nervous as my history of cinnamon roll making hasn't always been a success.

But they were DELICIOUS! Shea even said they were (almost) as good as Grandma Sawyer's. Now that's a compliment.

While they were cooking, Shea designed this on the computer:

Shea and Sophia posing. Shea is wearing an apron she made a while back.

Before cooking...

Before frosting....

Before we ravenously ate them all...

Lentil Burgers.....

I finally made good on my promise of Lentil Burgers. They were tasty! (Well... not so much to Shea, but she's about as picky as they come. Drives me crazy!) Andrew even ate 3! So, for only $1.50 I fed my family of 5. I'm pretty sure that's the record in our house.

And the best part is that they are healthy. I'm figure I'm never going to give up sugar so it makes me feel better when I eat healthy. Snickers tastes even better after a lentil-burger!

3 hours later: Shea saw this picture and said it looked like we had poop-on-a-bun for dinner. Just thought I would share :)

I want to be a farmer. Really.

I want to live HERE.

Where I can be a farmer.

Look, I made apple pie filling and apple jelly today!

Is it ok if the jelly is runny like syrup? It's so pretty, I don't mind if it's runny like syrup.

Caramel apples!!!

Family home evenings.... not just about lessons!

Sawyer Family first annual
Creative Caramel Apple Night.

sour gummy bears on caramel apples. what's wrong with that?

Hillbilly Housewife

After almost two weeks of not feeling good... I woke up feeling great and with lots of energy! It's chilly and cloudy today.

The perfect setting to be domestic.

Did you know there is a canned pumpkin shortage this year?
So I made my own!

Then I made a batch of granola.
Charles' favorite.

I planned on grinding oat groats and wheat,
but my grinder jammed after the oat groats. Bummer!
This is Robert and Shea NOT helping.

The pumpkin being smooshed up...

Baked pumpkin seeds....

The fruits of my labors...

rolls (with ground oat groats - of course!)

pumpkin chocolate chip cookies.


pumpkin cream cheese bread - very yummy!

yes - I'm tired. and full.

Making Korean Food

When I grow up

I want to be a great cook....

like Sophia!

Kolene came over and the three of us made

Bi Bim Bop

Chicken and Shrimp Heaven

(I don't know the real name - that's what I call it)

and

a big mess.

It was absolutely delicious~

Egyptian Lentils for St. Patricks Day

Isn't this what everyone has on St. Patricks Day?

lentils, brown rice and pasta

"Kusherie"

I like to have at least one meal a week with beans or lentils.

My family LOVES me.

But not to worry....

I forgot to take a picture of breakfast.

green eggs. green pancakes. green milk.