Dayton, Greg and Brooke decided that they would spend Memorial Day weekend on a California adventure. All I know is that Yosemite was closed when they got there; that their car got towed away in San Francisco and that they were VERY hungry when they stopped by St. George for our left over supper! Yep, it sounded like a fun vacation for sure!
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Dayton, Greg and Brooke's California Adventure
Dayton, Greg and Brooke decided that they would spend Memorial Day weekend on a California adventure. All I know is that Yosemite was closed when they got there; that their car got towed away in San Francisco and that they were VERY hungry when they stopped by St. George for our left over supper! Yep, it sounded like a fun vacation for sure!
Oh JOY!!!
We used to take these types of self-portraits at Ricks College.
Guess who else lives in St. George? JOY! I finally got to see her after all of these years. We had a great visit and talked all about the ups and downs of DATING! Yep, from Joy's perspective, dating sounds just like it did in college and our conversation could have taken place 25 years ago and sounded exactly the same. See, life really does stay the same....and so do WE! ;)
We Saw SUN!
The Woolstenhulmes invited us to come to St. George with them this weekend. There was no hesitation in our minds at all about this one! We happily said "YES" and had a wonderful weekend. The girls did their nails. We all went to Pirates of the Carribean and saw it in 3 D. It was actually pretty good. Then we filled the rest of the time with lots of running, biking, swimming, tennis and hiking! It was terrific and we didn't want to come home!
Cado's Cabintry Project
Whew! We finally have a gun cabinet at our house! Every family that sends kids through the cabinetry program has to have a gun cabinet. Cado won a lovely blue ribbon for it. There is documentation that he got a ribbon with a nice blue bow on top. However, someone swiped it out for a cheapo ribbon! I did not know that that type of "Ribbon Stealing" went on at these cabinetry fairs. No problem though. Cado came home and got one of Dayton's "Best of Show" ribbons and put it on his project!
Mariah's Mini Marathon
This year Dave and I got to be a part of Mariah's mini marathon. We ran the 3.8 miles with her. Mariah and I got it done in 35 minutes and Dave was a close contender with 48 minutes! Mariah and I thought we had done pretty good being how we had gotten to bed at 2 a.m. the previous morning after our trip to Les Mis!
The only time we had to ask Dave to leave Mariah's classroom was when he started to "stretch out" for the run. Roo was mortified and will certainly remember that for a very long time!!!!
The only time we had to ask Dave to leave Mariah's classroom was when he started to "stretch out" for the run. Roo was mortified and will certainly remember that for a very long time!!!!
2011 Freshman MVP!
Cado had a fabulous soccer season this year. He loves this sport, he loves playing Poker on the bus and he loves Luca...the German exchange student :)
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
The Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookie
Secrets to the Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookie
The New York Times ran a fascinating story on the “quest for the perfect chocolate chip cookie,” which included the shocking fact that the famous Tollhouse Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe Nestlé prints on back of the bag left out a very important step.
What?!!!
According to the article, Ruth Graves Wakefield, who invented the chocolate chip cookie for her Tollhouse Inn in the 1930s, wrote that the dough should be chilled overnight.
This revelation inspired NYT writer David Leite to interview New York bakery owners and pastry chefs about their chocolate chip cookie secrets, and this is what he found out:
Secret #1 First you mix the butter and the sugar called for in the recipe for a good 3-5 minutes. This helps the sugars dissolve and whips the butter. **AND a little tip from me ALWAYS use butter–no margerine. I use regular salted, because that is what I stock in my kitchen. I just cut the salt down a little in the recipe.
Secret #2 OK this one is hard–it really tests your patience:) You need to let the dough rest overnight, but a 36-hour rest is prime. That gives the dry ingredients time to fully soak up the eggs, creating a dough that’s exceptionally dry–which makes for the perfect texture when baked.
Secret #3 Make BIG cookies. You’ll be measuring the dough in a 1/3 measuring cup to create cookies that are about 5″ so you can enjoy all the different textures. The outside edge will be golden brown and crisp, the center will be light and soft and chewy, and between the two you’ll find a ring where those textures intertwine.
Secret #4 Right before you slide your dough balls into the oven, add a sprinkle of sea salt (or kosher salt). That small touch will seriously bring out the flavor and add a complexity to the taste. If you forget the salt on a tray of these cookies, you will miss it. Trust me.
From all of the chefs’ suggestions and his own research, Leite adapted Jacques Torres’ classic chocolate chip cookie recipe and created what’s known as the “New York Times Chocolate Chip Cookie.” The recipe is very simple and takes little actual work time, but the results are predictably perfect!! You will feel like a professional! I made some of these for our Family Home Evening treats and the next day packed some in my sons lunches. My 11 year old came home telling me how everybody thinks his Mom’s cookies are the BEST and could he bring more tomorrow? Everybody is begging for one! I am telling you they are that good!
Also if anyone is doing the ‘Living Strong and Healthy Challenge’ with me on my other blog Melandboys–Sorry that I posted this tempting recipe. I will just say–moderation in all things, right? We can still be healthy and strong and have a cooke once in awhile, just not a plate full:)
PS For Challenge #2 go here
The Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookies
Adapted from The New York Times, David Leite and Jacques Torres
submitted by Melanie
Yield: 1 1/2 dozen 5-inch cookies.
•2 cups minus 2 tablespoons (8 1/2 ounces) cake flour * leave the TBs in for high altitude*
•1 2/3 cups (8 1/2 ounces) bread flour
•1 1/4 teaspoons baking soda
•1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
•1 1/2 teaspoons coarse salt
•2 1/2 sticks (1 1/4 cups) unsalted butter
•1 1/4 cups (10 ounces) light brown sugar
•1 cup plus 2 tablespoons (8 ounces) granulated sugar
•2 large eggs
•2 teaspoons natural vanilla extract
•1 1/4 pounds bittersweet chocolate disks or fèves, at least 60 percent cacao content (see note)
•Sea salt
1. Sift flours, baking soda, baking powder and salt into a bowl. Set aside.
2. Using a mixer fitted with paddle attachment, cream butter and sugars together until very light, about 5 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla. Reduce speed to low, add dry ingredients and mix until just combined, 5 to 10 seconds. Drop chocolate pieces in and incorporate them without breaking them. Press plastic wrap against dough and refrigerate for 24 to 36 hours. Dough may be used in batches, and can be refrigerated for up to 72 hours.
3. When ready to bake, preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a nonstick baking mat. Set aside.
4. Scoop 6 3 1/2-ounce mounds of dough (about 1/3 cup) onto baking sheet, making sure to turn horizontally any chocolate pieces that are poking up; it will make for a more attractive cookie. Sprinkle lightly with sea salt and bake until golden brown but still soft, 18 to 20 minutes. Transfer sheet to a wire rack for 10 minutes, then slip cookies onto another rack to cool a bit more. Repeat with remaining dough, or reserve dough, refrigerated, for baking remaining batches the next day.
**When I make these I use my favorite semi sweet or milk chocolate chips–I like guitard, but sometimes I use the big bag of Nestle semi sweet from Costco.
from thesisterscafe.blogspot.com
Sunday, May 15, 2011
The Cutest Gift Ever...
These are my cute preschoolers!
Thursday was preschool graduation. I have absolutely had a wonderful year with these kids. I had a little boy bring me a present that I will love forever. He was so excited for me to open it and smell the lotion he had chosen and the sachet that he had chosen, but he was most excited for me to see the necklace that he had chosen. Here it is. How can this NOT warm your heart! :) I will wear it with pride!
Love My Handyman and His Helper
Yep, he's totally asleep and his headphones are on so he can't hear the noise around him!
He stayed asleep for 2 1/2 hours, or basically, until Dayton was done!
Dayton is home for the summer and spends his days working at USU as a grounds keeper. On Fridays though, he is off at noon and looking for more work. I had him redo our deck steps this last Friday and I can see the advantage of having a great handyman around. This place will be looking good by the end of the summer. Dayton has a great helper too...Cado! Dayton made sure that I came out and took a picture of his helper so that we could document just how hard he was working!!
He stayed asleep for 2 1/2 hours, or basically, until Dayton was done!
Dayton is home for the summer and spends his days working at USU as a grounds keeper. On Fridays though, he is off at noon and looking for more work. I had him redo our deck steps this last Friday and I can see the advantage of having a great handyman around. This place will be looking good by the end of the summer. Dayton has a great helper too...Cado! Dayton made sure that I came out and took a picture of his helper so that we could document just how hard he was working!!
Look Familiar???
It's time for the cabinetry fair once again. Fortunately, Cayden knew when the date was and was able to bring his project home for that final finishing rush. He is all set for next weeks fair and we are at peace! Thank goodness Dayton was here. It took lots of pressure off of Dave and me, which was good, because the boys said Dave couldn't really help because he had sunflower seeds in one hand and drinks in the other! This will most likely be our last cabinetry project at the Law home. The state legislature cut the funding for our schools to let the kids go over the the Technology College for these classes. That means that the high school is now in charge of these things. Oh, that thrills me! This was the only bright spot in our boys' high school education that we had to brag about. Now even that is being taken away. Sometimes I wish I ran the world!
Easter!
We can't even remember when we have spent Easter at home. We are always at Grandma Call's house. However, this year it was looking like Cado and me were going to be the only ones home for Easter. Fortunately, Dayton surprised us and came home (I think he didn't want to miss out on his basket), and Mariah and Dave came home early from Orangeville. The Easter Bunny made it and everyone was very happy!
Sunday, May 8, 2011
The Best Mother's Day Poem Ever!
Mariah brought me breakfast in bed this morning and we shared it. She worked for hours last night on a paper flower bouquet to go along with it and a poem that she wrote. This simple poem is my favorite ever!
I know you'll always love me
And I will love you too.
I'll be with you forever,
And that's a dream come true!
I know you'll always love me
And I will love you too.
I'll be with you forever,
And that's a dream come true!
Clogging at Lagoon
Mariah had her last clogging competition at Lagoon on Saturday. This was her Nationals Competition. Her team won overall in both dances! That means they were the best in their category. That is awesome!!!!
Monday, May 2, 2011
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