Apple Dumplings

Yummy fall means BAKING!!! (that could be super bad!) My nephew Dave's cute little wife Ashlie made Apple Dumplings awhile back and posted the yumminess on her blog, and I decided to try it. I changed up a few things though....I have spoiled Rhett just long enough that HE knows when I don't use 'REAL' pie crust....so I don't get away with using store bought and I also made homemade caramel sauce...but those things are totally optional. I also used Craisens in my filling...which was way yummy as well! So, Thank you Ashlie for the yummy idea!!! It was a great hit amongst my family! So much that I may be making these for Thanksgiving!!! Happy Baking!





How yummy does that look! I don't have super cute dishes to display all that glory, but it works! :) And next time I will double the 'sauce' part. I think that I reduced mine down to much and didn't have enough to serve....but you couldn't tell from all that yummy caramel sauce!

Apple Dumplings

Ingredients :
1 pastry for 2-crust pie
Syrup Ingredients: (i will double this next time)
1 cup granulated white sugar
2 cups water
3 Tablespoons butter (softened)
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

Filling Ingredients:
6 apples (peeled and cored just enough to leave a bottom)
1/2 cup granulated white sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 1/2 teaspoons nutmeg
1/2 cup craisens (opt)
2 Tablespoons butter (softened)

Directions:
1. Roll pastry slightly less than 1/8" thick. Cut in to 7" squares.
2. Bring syrup ingredients to boil. Boil 3 minutes.
3. Put apple on center of each pastry square. Fill with mixture of sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg and craisens. Dot each with teaspoon of butter.
4. Bring points of pastry up over apple and overlap. (I added cute little cookie cutouts from the pie crust in shapes of fall leaves.... :)
5. Place a few inches apart in baking pan. Pour 1 cup hot syrup mixture around dumplings.
6. Bake at 425 degrees F for 45 minutes. (you may want to cover the dumplings with tinfoil for the first half hour to prevent the dark leaves :) Just before serving pour rest of warm syrup over dumplings and serve with ice cream. And ENJOY!

cookie cutouts






not cooked




cooked and not served all pretty :)












Caramel Sauce:
2 cups packed brown sugar
1/2 c. butter or marg (i actually use marg!)
1 c. karo syrup (light)
dash salt, Bring to a boil, add:
1 can Sweetened Condensed Milk
1 t. Vanilla
For sauce...bring to another boil. For CARAMELS....just to chew on....stir and boil until it reaches the hard ball stage (not the hard crack!! hard ball!) Store in a Jar, refrigerated for upto 3 weeks...just melt down in microwave. You may need to add a bit of milk each time you heat it up...if it lasts that long! (i have a tendency to just eat it with a spoon! lol :)

Pie Crust ( i love this crust!!!)

2 cups flour, sifted
1 cup shortening (not picky on brand)
1/4 c. sugar (unless I am making pot pie...then no sugar)
1 t. salt
Cut togther until it resembles a corn meal consistancy. Add:
1 egg beaten
4 T. milk
1 T. lemon juice or apple cider vinegar (serious!!! it is a must!)

Mix until encorporated (try hard not to use your hands, you may need to just a bit at the end)
Form into a ball and put in fridge for 15 minutes, splint in two even halves and roll out.

Happy Baking!!!

Fall Vacation.....North...

Lots of fun activities had over UEA weekend! First...the NOT so fun football game, the kids had a ball...all cozy in the Suburban...blankets, movies, food...what's not to like! lol!...I even had them get into their jammies..so they were cozy warm. However..I should start at the beginning...like me driving to north summit...seriously if you KNOW me at ALL ya gotta know I DON'T like to drive outside my small town-ness! I have NOT ever driven over Provo canyon myself...let a lone in a SNOW storm with 4 kids! And to make matters WORSE!!! The windshield wipers QUIT!!! UGH! Yes, by the time I made it to Heber, I was a mess! Then Heber Cnyn was not much better for some of it...ugh! Rhett got off the bus and drove with us unto Coalville, but by then the weather had lightened up and I could of driven the rest...lol...but glad Rhett did so I could decompress...that will NOT happen again! Even if it means we stay HOME!!!! Okay...on with the rest of the week...game was super cold and snowy..YES ick! snow on the LAST day of September..what is UP with that! sheesh!...First half went okay and the score was only 10-8 at half...but half kinda stunk and we didn't do so hot...SO North Summit found away to get their 1st win against US! ugh! Hate that! But...we didn't earn it so what do ya do! Then, we went into Ogden to stay with Uncle Max (Rhett's oldest brother...the one who played match maker and hooked us up!) Anyway...the kids LOVE going to uncle Max's (and Aunt Janet's) They really do! Uncle Max will be forever known as the "tikki monster" lol...not sure where that name came from...but....from thursday to saturday....we....met up with Grandma and Grandpa Jackson and went to Promontory, Utah to see the Golden Spike, Lagoon, Burger Bar, Cousins, Surprises, Conf. Talks, BBQ's, Apples & Pears, Cows & Tractors, hmmm...anything else.....lets see....

GOLDEN SPIKE - Thursday
Promontory, Utah. Home of the Golden Spike...actually it is just a replica of the the Golden Spike...4 were made and inserted into pre-drilled holes (because Gold is to soft to drill) on May 10th 1869 which finished a LONG and drawn out building of the Transcontinental Railroad where the Union Pacific and Central Pacific Railways met and thus connected the world from ocean to ocean..the plaque states:

"The last rail is laid, the spike is driven. The Pacific Railroad is completed." Here at Promontory, Utah at 12:47 pm on May 10, 1869. The driving of the Golden Spike completed the first Transcontinental railroad climax of a dramatic railroad building race between the Union Pacific building from the East and the Central Pacific building from the West. This event symbolized attainment of a long sought goal-A direct transportation route to the Pacific Ocean and the China Trade. And it achieved the Great Political objective of binding together by iron bonds the Extremities of Continental United States, a rail link from Ocean to Ocean."

Could you seriously imagine how cool that would of been to see that HUGE moment in our US history! The trains were pretty awesome looking and getting to see them "in action" was cool. The Union Pacific uses wood and the Central Pacific uses coal...interesting...the trains shown now are replica's ...think about it...these trains would be really really old! lol...the were both retired and then sold for parts for $1000.00 each! after serving their time. The kids loved it...even though it was super cold! Peyton didn't so much like how loud the trains were...but it was all good. We had a picnic lunch with Grandma and Grandpa...then we went back to Ogden where a fun surprise was had...Our niece Leah and her little family has moved to Topeka Kansas for her hubby Brian to go to Law school, well she drove home to Utah with a fellow law wife widow and their kids for a few days! What perfect timing for us to be in Ogden so we could see Leah and Brilee! Nice! Thanks Aunt Janet for the yummy homemade Pizza and Apple crisp! yum! Only bummer was Jen...the now college student/dance teacher/dancer...was so busy...we barely, hardly got to see her! :( busy girl! And our Nephew Ken and his wife Nikki live in St.George now..so we didn't get to see them either...total bummer!


Pictures of Uncle Max's family....the cute daddy and little baby boy is our Nephew Dave and his new little boy Max (he is 6 mo)..who was also born on Peyton's birthday!
Peyton loved to hold baby Max! And Max was so good about it! What a good baby he is...I even got the pleasure of snuggling this cutie to sleep!

Cute picture of all the girls but Jen...off to school :(

and another cute picture of Ann reading to the kiddo's what a good cousin/auntie she is! I so wish she lived closer she would make an awesome babysitter!

LAGOON.....

Friday was Lagoon day....for me the best part was going to the Burger Bar in Roy! YUMMO! We found out about Burger Bar from the Food Network...Dives, Dinners and Drive Inn's a few years ago....YUM! it has now become tradition! And we spent LESS there than we did at McDonalds...It is a family owned business so prices are GREAT!!!! and so is the food! Seriously...we fed 6 people...3 of which ordered adult meals and spent less then $30.00! And we were stuffed to the gills! So if you ever get to Roy...try the Burger Bar! So after stuffing the bellies ... thenoff to Lagoon we go. (Eat before then no one is wanting FOOD at Lagoon were it is HORRIBLY pricey!....SCORE!) The weather was SO great and mild, but not cold. The lines were short and the crowd was small (compared to past years!!) Super fab!








Our little family!...lol..I laughed at this picture...because it is sooo MY Life! haha! And you know I am there because I am the one taking the picture! :)







Many fun moments in our 3 hour tour! Our crew is so small that we can make it thru Lagoon in 3 1/2 hours! YAY!!! Daddy took Dallin for all the big boy rides and I took the younger 3...which is why there are more pictures of them. Lol! Jen did go on a few big rides but had enough after 2! lol!...Valerie and her first ride on the Wild Mouse with daddy bless his heart...his least favorite Lagoon ride! haha! I went on Puff with Peyton..that is about my speed! And I did go on the Jumping Dragon...which was the only way Peyton and Valerie could go on it...sheesh...had to keep my eyes closed just so I wouldn't get so dizzy (lol..such a wimp!) and Peyton LAUGHED AND LAUGHED AND LAUGHED...what an adrenalin junkie! Look at those fun filled faces! Then back to Ogden for a BBQ and yummy spicy D/O potatoes! Visiting with cute niece Kat until way too late! (love kat!) Aunt Janet also rented the move "Bolt" for the kids....thank AJ! your the best!


SATURDAY~
NOW...for the reason the kiddo's LOVE to hang at Uncle Max's House....the TRACTOR's and the COW's! Seriously...they have more fun having rides on the tractor and feeding the cows than they do at Lagoon! They got up with U.Max to help feed and everything! lol....such a novelty. I am sure if it was something they did every day because they HAD to...they wouldn't love it so much...but once a year for a few days makes it a dream...haha...weird little dream! Dallin and Jentrie both learned how to DRIVE...yes DRIVE the tractor...they were so PROUD! (so was mom really!) and I heard "I'll take ya for a ride on my big BLUE tractor"....so much i wanted to poke my eyeballs out! haha! I did get some super fun pictures of my kiddo though!


for serious...how cute is this! Oh how he loves those cows!

Check him out! (click the pictures to view them closer!)
























"Take ya for a ride on my big blue tractor!" lol
Check out the SMILE on Valerie's face!
the CONCENTRATION on Jentrie's and the pure PLEASURE on Dallin's!

Thanks Uncle Max and Aunt Janet & girls for a great week! Love ya lots!!!


We then went onto Orem so daddy could go to the Priesthood session of Conference with Grandpa, Uncle Kirk, Uncle B and boys....

What a fun filled great week! Now I need a nap...and a few uninterrupted day so I can totally scrap these pictures!!! LOL!

Rules To Live By....loved this! so I am sharing!

Written By Regina Brett, 90 years old, of The

Plain Dealer, Cleveland , Ohio

"To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me.. It is the most-requested column I've ever written. My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more."

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.

3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch.

5. Pay off your credit cards every month.

6. You don't have to win every argument. agree to disagree.

7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.

8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.

9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.

10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.

11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.

12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.

13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.

15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.

16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.

17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.

18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.

19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.

20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.

21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.

22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.

23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.

24. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.

25. Frame every so-called disaster with these words, ''In five years, will this matter?"

26. Always choose life.

27. Forgive everyone everything.

28. What other people think of you is none of your business.

29. Time heals almost everything. Give time, time.

30. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

31. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

32. Believe in miracles.

33. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.

34. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now..

35. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.

36. Your children get only one childhood.

37. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

38. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.

39. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.

40. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

41. The best is yet to come.

42. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

43. Yield.

44. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.

Feel free to copy and pass on....

F*R*U*S*T*R*A*T*E*D!!!!!

I have this garden clear full of TOMATO plants (26 of them!!) and they are all still green! I am really starting to freak out...at this time last year I WAS almost done with my tomatoes and this year I haven't EVEN started! AND because most of it was WAY gone by summer, I need to do DOUBLE so I am CLEARLY frustrated with my tomatoes... good news is, I have 4 more VERY large zucchini to do stuffed zucchini in (yum) I will post some recipes for the is soon! 8 LARGE banana squash (yum!!!), 5 perfect pumpkins so the pumpkin patch will be at home this year (and the kiddo's are NOT at all happy about that so I might just have to take them down to take pictures at the pumpkin patch!:) WE have a zillion and 1 peppers! BUT NO TOMATOES!!! UGH!!! and peaches have been so expensive this year we haven't done those either! I am soooo hoping to find a great deal UEA weekend up north on peaches or we are in BIG trouble! UGH!! I feel the need to can and have nothing to can (well...I am going to do some pear honey tomorrow!) but arg!

FINALLY a WIN!!!!

I just have to say...there isn't anything quite like the feeling of beating another team at their HOMECOMING!!!! (which I know, be careful we haven't had ours yet...but this was a KEEPER!) It was against a rival school (which if hilarious because they are ALL rivals!) haha...it was against CRIMSON and BLUE!!! (NS) Not to mention our 1st region win...which was SOOO needed...
these boys worked dang hard! Congrats!!!


The flag....



pump, pump, pump it up, pump that bulldog spirit up! LET's do this!!!....

you can't tell, but Rhett is jumping up and down! :)



tackle by Drew and a slew of DOGS!!!








trying to take Cutty down!




great block by Brogan












4th DOWN!!! by a football tip!










WINNING circle!....wish i would of been able to capture their faces! that was priceless! LOVE IT!!!







THIS smile is the BEST!!! LOVE ya babe! :)



GO DOGS!!! on to the next game...No.Summit! Next Wednesday!

yee haw!

New Family Pictures.....

i have a cute family! :)

90 years....

My grandpa DeMille turns 90 this month. My mom, her sister and brother threw a little family birthday party for good ole grandpa! I took tons of fabulous pictures that have yet to be down loaded...so as soon as I do I will post them! it was great fun getting to see cousin I haven't seen in many years (only on facebook! haha). We always say we need to do it all more often, but is seems that never happens...sad! Anyway...happy birthday grandpa! love lots...wish you would be able to remember this day. We will remember it for you! ;)