Time to move on to the backyard....

Well, the work has begun in the back yard. We got a chance to pick up some pavers for a REALLY good price so we jumped on it. Here are some before and after pictures so far:

My Autumn Favorites....

Melissa over at The Inspired Room has her list of "20 Little Things to Treasure in Autumn" and I decided to join in. Here is my list in no particular order:

1. Drives up the canyon


2. Holiday baking


3. Pumpkin patches


4. Trees changing colors


5. Making and bottling applesauce


6. Pumpkin scented candles


7. Sound of dried leaves crunching beneath my feet


8. Fires in the fireplace


9. Fall decorations


10. Soups and stews


11. Making Halloween costumes


12. Cool crisp mornings


13. Bath and Body Works Sweet Cinnamon Pumpkin lotion


14. Long sleeve tops


15. Pumpkin Pie


16. Sweet Potatoe Pie


17. The Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta


18. The color Orange - (any other time I'm not a big fan)


19. Thanksgiving with family


20. Digging out the sweaters & jackets
    
    
    
    

Fast and Easy

Skillet Tostadas


8 oz ground beef
1/3 cup bottled salsa
½ cup chopped onions
1 15oz can light kidney beans
1 11oz can nacho cheese soup
shredded cheese
chopped tomatoes
shredded lettuce
tostada shells

In a 10-inch skillet, cook ground beef and onion until meat is brown and onion is tender. Drain fat; discard. Stir beans, soup and salsa in beef mixture. Heat through.
Divided beef-bean mixture among tostada shells. Top with cheese, lettuce and tomatoes. If desired, serve with sour cream or guacamole.

This has become a favorite at our house. We tend to have this often on Tuesdays since it is such a busy night for us - two kids going in two different directions

Fall is on it's way

I found these fun pumpkins at http://ourcozynest.blogspot.com/2008/08/pumking-making-tutorial.html and thought they were so cute that I just had to try them. They were lots of fun to make and oh so easy. I can't believe it's that time of year already. Where did summer go???

New Recipes

We've decided to try something new. We like to try new recipes, whether they come from a cookbook, found on the internet or even from someone at church. So we've made a goal to try something new every week (or at least try). So about once a week you will get to see what we are making in our kitchen. Of course, we will always give credit where credit is due.

This weeks recipe:

Almond Poppy Seed Cake (always start with dessert, right?)

1 pkg yellow cake mix
1 (3 3/4 oz) pkg instant French vanilla pudding mix
1 cup sour cream
4 eggs
1/2 cup water
1 tsp. almond extract
1/2 cup butter - melted
1/4 cup poppy seeds

Combine above ingredients and beat on medium for 5 minutes with electric mixer. Pour into well buttered and sugared bundt pan. Bake at 350 for 45 minutes. Cool 15 minutes then turn out onto plate and sift with powdered sugar.

If you desire a glaze instead:

Mix enough powdered sugar with milk and 2-3 drop of almond extract to make a glaze and drizzle over cake. (no definite measurements on this - trial and error - don't need a lot though)


I found this recipe on the KSL website by Kellie Harding - yes, even though I haven't lived in Utah for 7 years, I still keep up on the local news there. Sorry there is no picture, we ate it before I got a chance to snap a picture.

Good Luck and enjoy. Hope you enjoy it as much as we did.

My Favorite Things..

1. My family
2. Vacation on the beach
3. Mexican Food
4. Reading a good book.
5. A beautiful sunset.
6. Spending time in my sewing/craft room with no interruptions


What are some of your favorite things????