Bread Bowls and Ogre Stew

As previously mentioned, Jeremy's parents came for a visit. It was lovely to have them here. We got to see them when we went to the baby blessing in Idaho the week before. They got some good time with their grandkids there then came to spend good time with their grandkids here (and their son and daughter-in-law).

One meal we had while they were here was Ogre Stew (you know we love it- most of us) in bread bowls. Yum. 

The recipe for the bread bowls I use is Italian Bread Bowls from Mel's Kitchen Cafe. I wanted to make sure I made enough bread bowls so I doubled the recipe but I neglected to separate it into two different bowls for the first rising time. Ha Ha Ha.

I went about my business with a timer set and when I finally looked over, it was so high then a little bit later it was dripping down the side of the bowl. Ha Ha Ha. Everybody got a kick out of that since everybody was there hanging out on Hanging Out Day, April 19.

The bread bowls turned out and the stew in the bowls was sooooo good, of course. I love the recipes in The Fablehaven Cookbook. 

By the way, April 19 was also Garlic Day and Ogre Stew has garlic powder in it. 

It's Spring!

Since it was a mild Winter, Spring just sort of showed up. So many blossoms with it. So many sneezes.

I've gotten out for a few walks, including walking home from choir practice after church. Lovely lovely Achoo. 

I've also taken walks at the lake again. It's been a while. 

I want to go for more walks. 

On the first day of Spring, March 20, I spent some time debating what to make from the Fablehaven Cookbook (it's tradition). We ended up having sandwiches- some fluffernutter types- and ate some more of the caramel biscuit bars. 

 

A Couple More March Holidays

March 18 was Forgive Mom and Dad Day. The first thing Lucky did that morning was give us both hugs and tell us he forgave us. 

We had to get forgiveness for some other things that day.

But we did not have to be forgiven for dinner. We had sloppy joes for Sloppy Joe Day and everybody in the family likes sloppy joes. The recipe we use is from The Food Nanny Rescues Dinner.

The next day, March 19, was Let's Laugh Day. There was lots of laughing. That's not surprising in our family.

It was also Chocolate Caramel Day so I made Olloch the Glutton's Caramel Biscuit Bars from The Fablehaven Cookbook. Nobody complained about that, either. 

Foods Without Jeremy

While Jeremy was gone to South Carolina, I let the kids request foods they wanted to eat since normally I care more about fixing food Jeremy likes (I do take into consideration my kids, don't get me wrong, but if I think Jeremy will like it, I'm more likely to fix it when he's around).

Nichole loves chicken drumsticks so I made sure to make some for her. 

We had Copycat Crunchwrap Supreme (I had been wanting to make it for weeks but hadn't gotten around to it) from A Season of Family Meal Plans, volume 3, by Jordan Page.

Lucky loves Chicken Caesar Salad Wraps so we had some, of course, along with woo-woo for FHE treat.

Jr. Jr. helped me with menu planning for October (including using A Season of Family Meal Plans) and one of the things we planned and made was French Dip Sandwiches. Mmmm. I made this last year and liked it and I liked it again this year. 

 

Late night baking. I had some bananas that needed to be used so I made Calico Bread from The Fablehaven Cookbook. The neighbors upstairs texted that it smelled good. The next morning I brought some up to them.  

Also from A Season of Family Meal Plans, volume 4, I made apple cider muffins. It did not take long for them to get gobbled up.

Catching Up June 2025 part something or other

Who needs pictures of people when you can have pictures of food? 

June 17 Eat Your Vegetables Day

We're still using A Season of Family Meal Plans by Jordan Page. Love those cookbooks. We had Sausage Potato Hobo Packs and made cornbread (a recipe I have in a recipe box) for a side dish. Yumm. 

June 18 National Splurge Day

We decided to have a barbecue and spent money on some things for it. We had Polish Sausages and Jeremy brought home some marinated veggies (mushrooms, zucchini, onions) from Marcus' barbecue which we put on skewers and grilled. For dessert we bought waffle cones to make waffle cone s'mores. One of the activities for library Summer Reading was "make something tasty together for a BBQ." A friend stopped by and joined us for a while. It's nice to share.  

June 19 World Tapas Day

We tried some new Spanish appetizers. We had a different version of Pan Con Tomate. We had Orange and Avocado Salad. We had Spanish Garlic Cauliflower. 

June 20 Vanilla Milkshake Day

We had vanilla milkshakes but with chocolate powder and peanut butter in them, so our usual woo-woo drink. I also told people they could make fluffernutter sandwiches with whatever bread they could find since it was the Summer Solstice. We had baguettes left over from our tapas.

June 21 National Selfie Day 

I didn't take any selfies that day. I was planning to celebrate, it just didn't happen. 

June 22 Meryl Streep's Birthday

I wore my bow earrings. I did not wear my pirate ship necklace because I couldn't think of any pirate movies she was in.

June 22 was also National Kissing Day. Jeremy and I celebrated. 

June 23 Detroit Style Pizza Day

Detroit Style Pizza is kind of like upside down pizza. The sauce goes on top after the cheese and toppings. 

June 24 International Fairy Day

We kept it simple with Easy Fairy Folk Tortilla Pizzas from The Fablehaven Cookbook. 

Catching Up April 2025 part 4

April 27 was Tell a Story Day. I told the kids a story. I don't remember what story I told them but I did. It was probably another family history story. 

Wait. I remember. We started looking through pictures to find a baby picture of Jr. for seminary graduation. We found some pictures of Jeremy and me from when we were dating and told the kids some stories about hiking up Rock Canyon in the snow with my brother to get pictures.

Oh, good memories. And silly memories. You see where our kids get it?

I love that I've had Jeremy in my life longer than I haven't. I look forward to the time that I've been married to him longer than I haven't. It won't be long.

Jeremy also told the kids the story behind this photo he got of a black gibbon (at the Hogle Zoo while we were dating).

It was yawning.

 

April 28 was Terry Pratchett's Birthday. I continued to read Wyrd Sisters. The kids watched Going Postal.

It was also Blueberry Pie Day so I made Thronis's Blueberry Pie from The Fablehaven Cookbook. Yumm.

It was also Great Poetry Reading Day. I read a little bit of poetry.

Another Busy Day

Saturday, April 26, was a busy day. Nichole and I got some bonding time in when we went to a Page Company Warehouse Sale together. We got some planners and I got my hug from Jordan Page. As usual she had to bend down to my level and I stood on my toes for a picture. 

You know I love her cookbooks. I've gotten some good advice from her as well. We're all just trying to make it through. I told my husband when I got home that Jordan is going through some struggles that I'm not going through and I'm going through some struggles that she's not going through but we're sisters. As sisters we support each other how we can. We can cheer each other on, give each other hugs, pray for each other.

It was nice to be able to chat with her for a bit at the warehouse sale. It was also nice to get a free gift because we got there before it opened. Tee hee.

After we got home, and after some stuff we had to deal with, Jeremy took Nichole and Lucky with him to see the play, Newsies. Jr. was in the pit orchestra for it. I'm glad he's having these experiences.

I started making Muriel's Pretzel Knots from The Fablehaven Cookbook for National Pretzel Day. When Jeremy and posse got home, Nichole made taquitos. I was not able to finish the pretzel knots before Jr. Jr. and I headed out to have our bonding time watching the play so my sweet family finished them for me. 

I enjoyed the play, loved the music, and am proud of Jr. again.

When we got home I got my taquitos and pretzel knots. Yumm.

April 26 was also National Audubon Day. Nichole and I saw a robin while waiting to go into the warehouse sale but it was too busy of a day to go birding.

Catching Up March 2025 part 3

March 16 was Artichoke Hearts Day. We used it as an excuse to make a yummy alfredo pizza.

March 17 was St. Patrick's Day. I made two recipes from Sarah M. Eden from The Fiction Kitchen Trio Cookbook. Dublin Coddle and Katie's Irish Soda Bread. 

For dessert we had Oreo Mint Truffles.

 

March 18 was Sloppy Joe Day. We had open faced sloppy joes. It was also Forgive Mom and Dad Day. I kept asking the kids to forgive me for silly reasons. 

Lucky, Jeremy, and I went to see one of Jr.'s orchestra concerts that day. I love that he enjoys orchestra so much because music is very important to me.

See Lucky hiding behind that book? The elementary school read-a-thon was going on during that time so Lucky wanted to get as many minutes in as possible. He ended up being one of the top readers in the school and got a prize for it. The read-a-thon was Roald Dahl themed this year. One morning, Jeremy, Jet, and I were able to go to Parents and Pastries with Lucky.

March 19 was Poultry Day. We ate chicken that day. 

It was also Chocolate Caramel Day. I may have celebrated that observed the next day by making Olloch the Glutton's Caramel Biscuit Bars to go with our Vernal Equinox (March 20) food, Easy Fairy Folk Tortilla Pizzas, both from The Fablehaven Cookbook.

 

March 21 was Fragrance Day and French Bread Day. We took some of those artichoke hearts and made Cheesy Artichoke Bread from the Six Sisters' Stuff cookbook, A Year With Six Sisters' Stuff.

March 22 was World Water Day. It rained. 

I got a little break from the rain when I went out to the water of the lake. I was just going to take a quick jaunt out to look at the pelicans on the lake then I kept going and going and going. There were plenty of birds to see. What else was I supposed to do? I ended up making a complete loop around the Geneva Ponds between Vineyard Beach and Lindon Boat Harbor.

I finally got some sun... but it was in my eyes. Did I mention that March 22 was also National Goof Off Day?

After my morning off, my ministering sister invited me to her house for lunch with my other ministering sister to celebrate Nauryz, a celebration of the new year and Spring and a renewal of nature. We enjoyed some traditional foods from Kazakhstan. 

What a wonderful day for that.

Later I went for a nice little drive up the canyon. Beautiful on that rainy day.