The Big Day!!!

If there is ever a time to feel patriotic, today is the day! I am happy to live in this country and grateful for those who have and still do risk their lives in order to bless our lives with peace and freedom. Voting is a privledge that I have taken for granted in the past but feel stronger about each time an election rolls around. This year I have felt a more serious obligation to vote for lots of reasons. One of those is purely due to the fact that I have 4 kids who deserve the rights and freedoms that I enjoy. I am only one voter... but realize that doing my duty to express my opinion is a drop in a bucket that can make a change for the better.

I'm proud to be an American!

(*and a borderline total cheeseball!!!!! ... )

Ever Tried an Aritchoke?

Artichokes were on sale at the grocery store the other day and I couldn't resist. Have you ever tried them fresh? And how were they named artichoke? And did you realize they had purple in the middle... not to mention the hairy "choke" in the center... Well, we have tried them several times... they are a pain in the hiney to prepare, but yummy to eat. And the name....???? the kids and I came up with several different stories... Mason: "A guy names Arti found one in the desert and figured out how to eat it... he choked!" And I am still digging in my pinkie finger to find the spine of one of the leaves that stabbed me. OUCH! It was worth it... layer after layer of yummy... right to the heart of ol' "Arti"

Steamed Artichokes
4 artichokes

water just to cover

2 Tbsp. olive oil

3 garlic cloves

1 tsp. whole pepper corns

1 lemon sliced

steam prepared artichokes with all remaining ingredients for 25 to 30 minutes.

How to prepare an artichoke....

cut of top third of artichoke, squeeze lemon juice of cut section. slice stem end leaving only a small amount below base of artichoke. peel away outside layer of tough green leaves. using scissors snip tops of a few base leaves. using a melon baller scoop out center of heart (purple leaves and the choke... as much as possible) squeeze with lemon and let rest in ice water until the remaining artichokes are prepared. swear, break melon baller, turn fingers purple from yanking away at the center and get stabbed with small prickly spines.... :) oh what fun~

dip them in lemon juice, melted butter and mayonnaise

Oh what a beautiful morning!

I couldn't help but blog about this mornings beautiful sunrise. Thanks to our early morning start with Nick sick as a dog...we got to witness this. What a day to be sick... HALLOWEEN.... but I am so happy to have noticed the sky. Happy Haunting tonight!!!

My Curse

Why is it that I cannot do anything easy!? Sadie had a party for Dancing yesterday that she needed treats for, & we got SPOOKED by a neighbor... so we had to pass on the spooking to 2 others.... all these good holiday times! However, I have this curse that will not allow me to just go to the store and buy a bag of suckers or cookies.... oh no! I have to make them. So, feverishly at 4:30 (dancing starts at 5:30)... I am destroying my kitchen, stirring a brew of orange flavored, black suckers. They turned out fun and cute! and oh well... its all in love for the kids, to make memories of such fun times! Hopefully its good memories and not a curse.

Pumpkin "pudge"

OKAY! If you've never tried it...Pumpkin Fudge is probably the best treat of the season. (keeping in mind, my length of season generally lasts.... oh .... a week or so.) And so I thought I would share the recipe. It's a good weekend experiment for you. Don't eat too much like I have though or you will have yourself a pumpkin "pudge." It is a great visiting teaching treat... that way you don't eat it all.

Pumpkin Fudge
3/4 c. butter
3 c. sugar
2/3 c. evaporated milk
3/4 c. pumpkin
1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
1 1/2 c. white chocolate chips
1 7 oz. jar marshmallow cream
1 tsp. vanilla
1 c. chopped nuts

in heavy saucepan heat butter, sugar, milk, pumpkin and spice to a boil over MEDIUM heat stirring constantly. Continue to boil until mixture reaches 234 degrees on candy thermometer. remove from heat stir in chips and marshmallow cream until smooth. stir in vanilla and nuts. pour into buttered 9x13 pan. Makes about 3 lbs.

*tip: it sets up fast so work quickly.

Witch Doctor

Poor Nick....

At his yearly checkup a few weeks ago the Dr. suggested that I go to "Shangrila" and buy an ear wax extraction device due to the fact that Nick had large amounts of hard black wax lodged down in there. OUCH! No wonder the boy gives us all the duh stare when you talk to him sometimes. He can't hear. Not to mention it is totally painful if you even touch it or he bumps it. So, we found the "ear candle". Is it the most bizarre thing you've ever seen? The smoke supposedly goes down through the tube and into his ear, forcing the wax back up and out into the tube. And it WORKS!!! Oh man.... seriously, we put Shrek to shame. Oh, and Nick is a new man. Only the kids woke him up at 6:30 am... he was sleeping right through the morning noise before.

If you have an ear wax problem... Jenny the Witch Doctor highly recommends the ear candle.