Cheap Books!

I LOVE Free Stuff! These books aren't free, but pretty close. I am buying some now to save as Christmas presents for the girls:
Go HERE to BARGAIN BOOKS for the juvenile fiction sale.
Use this code to hopefully get your free shipping: BKLVFREE

Artisan Bread

Why Go To Panera?

Ok...so I love to make bread, but usually just do my same recipe, which takes about three hours of "love" to make. My uncle has been telling me that I should try his bread recipe. I finally tried it, because if he could do it, I knew it must be a piece of cake....or bread for that matter. Here's what you do:

In a bowl, add:

3 cups flour

1/4 tsp yeast

1 1/4 tsp salt

1 1/2 cup water

Mix and put in covered bowl for 8-10 hrs

Pre heat pan and lid to 475 (pot roast)

Roll dough in flour on counter

Cook 30 min covered

Cook 5-10 uncovered until brown then cool on rack

Here's what I did differently: I added cornmeal to the bottom of the bread and because I wasn't sure what kind of pot to use, I made a water bath to put in the bottom of my oven (fill a 13x9 pan with a few cups of water to heat up with the oven. It will create steam, just like the lid on the pot will do). I just used a non-stick cookie sheet to put the bread on. Also, I didn't cook it long enough, so it didn't get super crunchy on the outside and was a tad bit doughy on the inside, but everyone said they liked it this way. We served it with fresh tomatoes and basil on it. Yum and it it beats the cost of buying a loaf at Panera.

ENJOY!

(Picture Courtesy of Julie Stainbrook...it's great when a photographer stays at your house...you get awesome pics. every day)

Peanut Butter Fun

Tyler has been really sick the last few days and today he was really fussy. We decided to spend the day at home. I was trying to think of something fun to do...something new. I got online and found a recipe for peanut butter playdough. It was so much fun. The kids were eating, shaping, eating some more, and cutting it with cookie cutters! It didn't make a mess and wasn't sticky. Tyler loved it to. It got us through the morning instead of watching T.V. and got them through to lunch!

Recipe:

3.5 Cups Peanut Butter

4 Cups Powdered Sugar

A few drizzles of honey until it's smooth. Stir and enjoy!

Keep wrapped when not using.

Boys will be Boys!

So yesterday we had no power all day. It was a good lesson for the girls to learn. No power means no T.V., no radio, no homemade bread we were planning on making (and no blow dryer for mommy)... We had dinner at my parents and when we came home at 8:00 pm, it was finally back on. The trucks from the electric company were still there working on the power lines. (we were one of the few lucky houses whose power came back early...the other 250 people were still out of luck). I got home (David was still at the community college helping with sport's physicals for the fall) and unloaded the kids and all my stuff from the day. Once I was finally inside, I realized that Tyler was not in with the girls. I panicked because I REALLY couldn't find him anywhere. I ran outside and sure enough he was still standing by my truck (at least 5 minutes later). He was fascinated by the big work trucks and the bright lights set up across the street. I picked him up and he kept pointing at the big trucks and grunting. He didn't want to leave. We stood there for a few minutes more, and I realized that it really doesn't take much to make him happy. Boys are so less complicated than girls. It's such a refreshing change from the girls fighting over dress up clothes and crying because they can't have MORE lip gloss on before bed. Don't get me wrong... I LOVE my girls, but I also love the change of pace that little boys bring. Yeah, Tyler's crazy and has learned how to pull the girls hair, hit people with his plastic hammer, and throw strawberries overhand across the room, but he also likes to stand and look at electric trucks. It was nice to share that simple moment with a 14 month old. I need to have (and ENJOY) more moments like this....

Fun In The Sun

The last few weeks have been a blast but have flown by so quickly. I love summer, because all of our family who we don't see much during the year, comes out and we get to PLAY! David's sister, Elizabeth (and her three boys) was here for the last two weeks from Colorado. WE swam, played at the beach, shopped, hung out, and just enjoyed the time with her. Here are some highlights of her time here:

Liz and I at the Moonlight Amphitheater in Vista watching 42nd Street.

David's Sister, Colleen, his mother, Liz and Me.

Victoria and Jocelyn with their cousin Nathan at the Vista Pioneer Day Celebration.

Tyler running around at the beach. He has finally left my lap and started playing. He loves SAND

Tyler....What else can I say....He is the sweetest boy I know. I just love him

Victoria finally lost her tooth. It was a long 7 days of crying and whining before it came out

Victoria loved playing with her cousins at the beach. She misses them already

Jocelyn loving the beach!

Tyler and his cousin Blake at a family party! These are the two youngest Hunt grandkids!

David and his sister, Liz and all our kids. What a fun few weeks we had with them here!

Crazy Summer Life, but feeling GREAT!

So, here I am again. I can't believe it has been so long since I have posted anything. I really don't even have any pictures to share. David was out of town last week for a conference and will be leaving again on Thursday for another work weekend. The kids and I have been swimming, going to the beach, trying to keep the house from looking utterly chaotic, and just trying to enjoy summer.

I have enjoyed not having to get Victoria ready for school every day and just having lazy mornings.

Last week, I actually did a 6 day cleanse. I followed a schedule with organic fruits and unsweetened juices, carrot soup, liquid cholophyl (its basically plant juice), aloe vera juice, and a few other things. It really was a great experience, hard, but really good. I learned a lot about myself and how my life has seemed to revolve around food. During the week, I actually lost all cravings for anything and feel really alert. I don't remember a time never EVER having a craving for chocolate or sugar...this must be a first!

Yesterday was my first day actually chewing something again. It is nice to have so much energy and feel so good.

And now I am really trying to eat natural foods (whole wheat flour, agave necatar instead of syrup and sugar and whole grains) and make snacks for my kids that are not junk and processed. I found this really great website with really good snack ideas. http://www.hungry-girl.com/. What a great idea! I love her slogan: Tips and Tricks for Hungry Chicks! Enjoy.

Also, if any of you are like me and LOVE peanut butter, but wish it wasn't filled with junk and didn't have so many calories, this one is for you. I think I will go to Trader Joes and try it tomorrow. They even sell a chocolate one!: www.betternpeanutbutter.com

Hope you are having a wonderful day!

Day Thirty

Taste of Tuesday:

Tonight I had all the young women over from church to my house and we had a going away party for my friend, Julie who is moving to Utah. She is a teacher for a group of the girls. It was a surprise, and she really was surprised. I had all the girls bring a treat to share that started with the letter "J". We had 18 different things: J cupcakes, jam cookies, juicy lemon bars, junior mints, juice, jam and bread, jicima and jicima dip. I made this Jello Pudding Chocolate Cake! It was amazing and you didn't even need to eat it with ice cream! It was fun to have a party with a letter themed food table. I was proud of the girls for being so creative!
You can find the recipe HERE: