French Bread French Toast

We had pasta one night and Ridley's (a local store) had a two pack for $2.29.  My husband graciously bought the two pack and here I was thinking what the heck and I am going to use the second loaf for...

So I woke up one Saturday morning and I thought "What am I going to make my kids?" I have a tradition where I make them a nice breakfast Saturday mornings.  We usually don't have to rush anywhere super fast and I tend to wake up early since I get up at 5am on weekdays.  So I get up and start breakfast and they wake up to breakfast when they wake up. Anyways...we were talking about bread right? So there is this loaf and it had to be eaten...

So I sliced it up...

...in to about 2 inch slices...

...then I dunked it into some egg (I got about two slices of bread per egg)...

...I also poured some syrup in to a saucepan to start warming up... (yes I warm the syrup for my kids...my husband says they are spoiled...and I think they are too, but I love it!)

...Like normal french toast, you let it brown on one side, then flip to the other. I cooked these over medium heat.

...and there we have it!

I think the kids enjoyed it...if you can't tell...needless to say there were no leftovers.  I sprinkled some powdered sugar on top of the boys' french toast. Topped it off with a nice glass of milk and it was a breakfast well deserved!

Dave was being camera shy today...

 As always, happy cooking!

The Eleventh Year to Eternity...

As of last Saturday, Shon and I have been married for 11 years. For those that have been close to our journey know that it has been a rough journey. But when I think about that sentence, I think of what journey isn't rough? And what marriage is perfect? We are not perfect and marriage it not perfect. Marriage is a way of life, something that is precious, something that needs to be protected and nourished and worked on. Yes marriage is work, but in the end it winds up having the greatest blessings.

I remember when Shon asked my grandpa to marry me. He knew how much I loved and adored my grandfather (and I still do). He knew even though I never said I have always loved the tradition of the man asking the girl's parents (or grandpa in this case) that it meant a lot to me. I remember walking in to the room and seeing the grin on my grandfather's face. He had a grin that would like up a dark room.  Then the phone went to my dad and I knew what Shon was asking.

In 11 years of marriage, I became a step-mom immediately, I became a mother (which I feel is different than just being a step-mom), I became more patient, I have become more understanding.

I have also learned what is most important for me and my family. And what others say and think doesn't matter because they don't form who my husband and children are or what they can be.

I have learned how protective I am of my relationships. I am very protective of my children. I learned what heart break really is for mentally and emotionally.

I never thought growing up that I would have gotten married so young (although it is the norm here in Utah).  But I am glad I did.

Marriage gave me a best friend and marriage gave me something I couldn't make myself...my children.

It has been one hell of a ride. But all the down hills and back peddling make up for what I have...

Happy Anniversary baby...here's to many more to eternity!

Our new Sushi place that we tried. That thing above is a steamed scallop with avocado on a rice bed. Lemon on top...I think I had died and gone to heaven! It was SO SO SO good!!! Below is their version of a Vegas roll. Yum!

The gorgeous flowers Shon brought me!

Adoption...

That is all...

January LOVE Calendar

So I found this site the very end of December called thedatingdivas.com. I don't remember how I came across it but I am glad I did. I wanted to share what Shon and I did during the month of January. You might have seen some of it on our Dating Divas: Bookstore Date. (stupid blogger won't let me add the link right now)

We used this love calendar. Each day you do something different for your spouse. And if it is a date that is on their website they give you the link to their website! It very user friendly and FUN! I think you have to remember to have FUN in your marriage.

So check it out! We had a of fun! And it was nice when there were days where it was HIS turn to rub my feet or HIS turn to do a chore.

I also tried to copy the calendar in here but since it is a PDF it didn't like it and I am too lazy to convert the file for y'all to see. So just follow the links. I promise those work! ;-)

Pinterest Cooking: Italian Cream Cheese Sauce with Penne and Garlic Shrimp

Here is yet another recipe I (and my family) was eager to try.  And I know what some of you non shell-fish eaters are thinking. "This recipe isn't for me, we hate shrimp". Hear me out...you could have made this with chicken or pork and it would have tasted just as good...to you.  We LOVE seafood in my house.  So we had shrimp!

Here's the bad news.  The link the recipe no longer works. So I had to improvise.  

7 oz of penne 8 oz cream cheese 1 can chicken broth 1 cup cheddar cheese 1/2 packet Italian seasoning 350 degrees While pasta is cooking heat cream cheese, Italian seasoning and chicken broth on stove until cream cheese melts.Place cooked pasta in an 8x8 baking dish and pour cream cheese mixture over top. 20-25 minutes

Oops forgot to show the Italian Dressing Mix

Boil your pasta. Penne, Rotini, whatever you have. The recipe says 7oz which is about 1 lb. which is what comes in most pasta packages.

Once your water is boiling make sure to add lots of salt. Remember this is the only way to really flavor your pasta. And Kosher salt works the best. 

Then you can work on your sauce mix. Stir well.

I added a little bit of garlic. That little gadget is a micro plane. I love it!

It worked well to mix with a whisk.

Then I added a little more Monterey Jack cheese...it's SO good!

Ok, while the sauce was working and the noodles were boiling, I worked on the shrimp.  I used some cooked, frozen, tail on (it's much cheaper-of course get the fresh stuff if you can)

I just microwaved it in a bowl with some butter and cloves of garlic ( I did about 3).

Once the shrimp was thawed and tasting good. I removed the tails...Yes, Shalynn that it the popcorn bowl you gave me with Christmas. It comes in handy. :-)

Here it is out of the oven! Make sure when you dumb the sauce all over you do get it ALL over the noodles. Doesn't that look delicious?!

Once it came out, I added just a little more Monterey Jack Cheese.

Here's the final plate. I just served it with some frozen spinach.

It must've been delicious because this is what our plates looked like after about 5 minutes...we were hungry and it was delicious!

The boys had thirds and even fourths! And we have leftover pasta. (Shon was at work when it was done).

The verdict, as if it wasn't obvious.  4/4 stars! And I wouldn't change a thing! It was so creamy and filling and delicious.  So much that here are my reclined feet when I was done.  

Hope you all enjoy it and as always, happy cooking!

Pinterest Cooking: Corn Dog Casserole

Everyone needs some of those "go to cheap meals". Something that isn't take out and is easy to do. So when I came across the Corn Dog Casserole on Pinterest, as always I got excited. I LOVE corn dogs. In particular I love me a good carnival corn dog from one of the many carnivals that come to town in the summer. Plus the blog is written by a gal in my old ward. Check her out at The Taste and Tell Blog. She is a food blogger and knows what she's talking about! 

So here it goes.

Corn Dog Casserole

Prep Time: 15 minutes 

Cook Time: 25 minutes 

Total Time: 40 minutes

Yield: 6-8 servings

An easier version of the kid friendly corn dog - made into a casserole topped with cheese.

INGREDIENTS

• 2 cups celery, sliced
• 1 cup onions, chopped
• 1 1/2 pounds hot dogs
• 2 eggs
• 1 1/2 cups milk
• 1 teaspoon sage
• 1/3 teaspoon black pepper
• 18 oz. cornbread mix
• 8 oz. shredded cheddar cheese

INSTRUCTIONS

1. In a skillet, cook celery and onions until tender. Place in a mixing bowl; set aside.
2. Cut hot dogs into quarters, then into thirds. Place in a skillet, cook until lightly brown. Fold into celery mixture; set aside, reserving one cup of the mixture.
3. In another bowl, combine eggs, milk, sage, and black pepper. Fold in hot dog mixture. Stir in cornbread mix. Add one and a half cups cheese. Spread mixture into a greased 3 quart dish. Top with the reserved hot dog mixture and cheese.
4. Bake uncovered at 350F until golden brown, 20-30 minutes

Ok...so I didn't have celery and I didn't have any sage. Guilty. And the cornbread mix I had was 2 oz. less than what the recipe called for (husband's guilty).

Anyways, I otherwise following the recipe. Oh wait I added a little extra cheese. 

Saute your onions

Then add you hot dogs (I should have cut mine up more)

Cornbread mixture with the cheese

The casserole going in to the oven. Yes my oven is that dirty :-( 

It's on the Spring Cleaning List.

Here's the finished product!

The boys had 3 helpings plus they had it the next night for leftovers! We added some mustard and ketchup on the side, just like you were eating a corn dog.

Ok, the review. I would have used less onion and I think next time I will grate the onion instead of finely chopping.  I liked it other than too much onion. 

Family review: 3/4 stars. Shon and I gave it half stars.  I think the onion thing would change our minds to liking it more. 

I hope you enjoy it and as always happy cooking!