Push Pops

I have been loving seeing all the fun things to do with push pop containers. Don't you?

Here are some of my favorites from around the web.

S'mores push pops from Hostess With The Mostess

Watermelon push pops from the Push-Up Pops book

Rainbow cookie push pops from The Decorated Cookie

Graduation push pops from Hostess With The Mostess

Rocket ship push pops from Confetti Sunshine

Pencil push pops from Bakerella

Cupcake peeps push pops from Love From The Oven

Go Utes!

The University of Utah football season kicks off today!

If you are a Utes fan too make sure to head over to I Heart Salt Lake and 

download the free U of U party printables. 

Somewhat Simple Blog

Did I tell you that I am a new contributor over at Somewhat Simple?

Today I am sharing my first post, a DIY dinosaur sweatshirt. 

I hope you will stop by Somewhat Simple and say hi.

Right Now

Right now I am at my cabin in Flaming Gorge Utah catching up on some much needed rest and relaxation. 

I am also reading everything I can get my hands on about twin babies.

What have you been up to?

Recipe Roundup- Triple Vanilla Dulce de Leche Peach Pie

Triple Vanilla Dulce de Leche Peach Pie by Lindsey from Hot Polka Dot

Triple Vanilla Dulce de Leche Peach Pie

Source: Adapted from my family recipe.

2 cup flour

1 tsp salt

1 cup unsalted butter, cold

1/2 cup milk

1 tbsp vinegar

1 vanilla bean

5 cup peaches, peeled and sliced

1 tbsp lemon juice

3 tbsp quick cooking tapioca

1 cup dulce de leche

1 egg

1 tsp water

250 ml heavy cream

1 tbsp granulated sugar

1 vanilla bean

Note: This Short Crust Pastry recipe is flaky and light if made properly.  Do not use a food processor as this will over-mix the dough and cause the finished dough to be tough or rubbery.  The chunks of butter create air pockets in the pastry as it bakes so over-mixing and over-handling destroys them.

Butter and flour a 9 inch glass pie pan then set it aside.

In a large bowl whisk together the flour and salt.  Cut in the butter using a pastry blender or two knives until it resembles course crumbs.  Using a sharp knife split the vanilla bean lengthwise and whisk it into the milk and vinegar then drizzle it over the flour mixture.  Using a spatula lightly stir and fold the liquid into the dry ingredients until it becomes a workable dough. 

Using your hands quickly form the dough into two equal balls.  Cover them with plastic wrap and refrigerate them for at least an hour.  Roll out half the dough using a floured rolling pin into a circle about 12 inches in diameter.  Roll the circle back onto the rolling pin and use it to transfer the pastry into the prepared pie pan.  Smooth it into the corners with your fingers then cut off the excess with a sharp knife.

In a large bowl toss your sliced peaches with lemon juice.  Mix in the tapioca then let it sit for 15 minutes.  Butter the bottom and sides of the bottom pie shell.  Fill it with the peaches, layering dulce de leche throughout and smooth out the top.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees an position a rack in the lower third of the oven.

In a small bowl beat together the egg and water.  Roll out the other ball of pastry dough the same way you did before except this time slice it into 12 – 15 strips using a sharp knife or a pizza cutter.  With a pastry brush lightly coat the edge of the bottom pie shell with the egg wash.  Weave the lattice pattern alternating the strips of dough over and under until the top is covered.  Leave about an inch of space between each strip of dough so you have enough to braid later.  Seal the edges of the lattice pattern with the egg wash then press the edge in place with your fingers. 

To make the braided edge carefully braid the remaining strips of dough together and press them lightly into the sealed pie edge.  Brush more egg wash over the entire top of the pie.

Place the pie pan on a baking sheet and bake it for about 50 minutes until the top is golden brown.  Transfer the pie to a cooling rack and let it sit for at least 1 or 2 hours to reach room temperature. 

To make a vanilla bean whipped cream, in a large bowl combine the heavy cream and granulated sugar.  Split the vanilla bean lengthwise and scrape out the seeds then add them to the cream.  Whip it all up until stiff peaks form.  Serve each slice of pie with a generous dollop.  Enjoy!

If you are interested in being part of the next Recipe Roundup send me an email. 

Waffle Sandwiches

Today I am over at the Rhodes Blog sharing a recipe for Waffle Sandwiches. 

My family has been nuts over them lately. 

They are super easy to make and it's fun to try out different toppings. 

Recipe Roundup- Steak and Mushroom Pot Pie

Steak and Mushroom Pot Pie by Jamie from The Pinterest Project

There is something about fall and cooler weather coming that demands pot pie. I'm not sure what it is about an entire pot pie all to myself that makes it even better, but it does. Before you get too comfortable with the image of me huddled over a pot pie, furiously shoveling the entire thing into my mouth... I am talking about a cute  little individual pot pie in a cute little ramekin. There, image fixed (I hope).

When I was traveling in England during college, we ate at a little pub that had a steak pot pie - so good. It didn't hurt that it was a cold day and I was starving. When I saw this pin, I instantly thought about that pot pie and how good it was. 

Simply Delicious

This is one of those recipes you just have to make. I was a little skeptical that it wouldn't live up to my expectations, but it really is a keeper. There is something about breaking open the puff pastry crust and getting a bite of the tender meat and carrots that is just, YUM!! I even baked the leftover puff pastry so that we could have some extra  "dipping crust." I highly suggest it. 

Steak & Mushroom Pot Pie - adapted from Simply Delicious

Printable Version

adapted from Simply Delicious

Makes 4-6 pot pies

3 lb. stewing beef
1 large onion, diced
3 carrots, diced
12 ounces mushrooms, sliced
2 cloves garlic, crushed
2 cup strong beef stock
1 tbsp corn starch mixed with 3.5 tbsp milk
salt & pepper to taste
1 roll ready-made puff pastry, rolled out slightly
1 egg, beaten
1 cup frozen peas
2 tsp smoked paprika
1 tsp each thyme, rosemary and oregano (I used fresh because I had it, but you can use dried)
2 bay leaves

For the filling, brown the beef in a large pot. Remove and set aside. In the same pot, saute the onion and carrots until soft and fragrant (about 10 minutes).
Add the mushrooms and garlic and saute for 5 minutes before adding the paprika and herbs.
Pour in the stock and add the browned beef back into the pot. Stir to combine everything and reduce the heat. Cover the pot and allow the stew to simmer gently for 1 1/2 – 2 hours.

When the meat is really tender (when you press a piece with a spoon it should break apart), turn the heat up and pour in the corn starch mixture. Allow the sauce to simmer rapidly and thicken for about 10 minutes.
Pre-heat the oven to 375°
Divide the beef and mushroom filling between 4-6 oven-proof dishes (depending on size).
Cut the pastry into squares big enough to cover the dishes, it doesn’t have to be perfect. Brush the rim of the dishes with some of the beaten egg then place the pastry on top and pinch the pastry onto the rim.
Cut 2 slits into each pie to allow the steam to escape and brush with the rest of the beaten egg.
Place in the oven and bake for 25-30 minutes until the pastry is cooked through and golden brown.

Did I mention that it was seriously good? Go make some pot pie. You won't regret it. 

If you are interested in being in the next Recipe Roundup send me an email. 

Recipe Roundup- Semi-Homemade Stuffed Shells

Semi-Homemade Stuffed shells by Kelsey from Poofy Cheeks

My favorite sort of dinner is the one that is semi-homemade, but tastes like I whipped it up from scratch! I’m Kelsey from the blog Poofy Cheeks, and like many moms I have kids to feed, schedules to keep, and mouths to feed. This recipe is for one of my favorite go-to meals – Semi Homemade Stuffed Shells.

Semi-Homemade Stuffed Shells
Ingredients-
1- 28oz jar of spaghetti sauce
1- 12oz package of jumbo shells
2 eggs 32oz. ricotta cheese
1 lb. shredded mozzarella cheese
8 oz. grated parmesan
1 tbl. parsley
2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. pepper
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
Directions-
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Cook the pasta according to the directions on the box. In a separate bowl mix eggs, ricotta, 1/2 of the mozzarella, 1/2 of the parmesan, parsley, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Once the noodles are finished drain them and use a spoon to stuff them with the cheese filling. Place the shells in a 9x13 pan. In another bowl mix the sauce and the other half of the mozzarella and parmesan. Pour the sauce mixture over the shells and bake for 45-60 minutes.
I like to serve mine with a side salad and garlic bread! Enjoy!

If you are interested in being in the next Recipe Roundup send me an email.

Twins!

During the last 24 hours the word twins has been running through my head constantly. You see yesterday I found out that I am indeed pregnant with twins!

Yesterday I went to my doctor for my first prenatal appointment. My doctor did a quick ultrasound so we could see the baby's heart beat but were surprised to see two heart beats.

Now that the shock has worn off (at least most of it) we are really excited! Of course I have already gone into "planning mode" and already have a few lists of things I need to buy, do, etc.

I want to answer a few questions we have been asked already

- We did NOT have any fertility treatments

- Twins do run in my family (my dad is a twin)

-  We don't know if they are identical or fraternal twins yet although they are most likely fraternal

I Have a Big Announcement!

You read that right, I am pregnant!

Travis and I used these scratch off cards to announce to our families that I am pregnant.

If you need any custom scratch off cards check out Enchanting  By Design.

Lemon Frosting

I am loving Betty Crocker Lemon Frosting! 

It is really good and doesn't taste like regular store bought frosting. 

We like dipping our alphabet crackers in it. 

Have you tried Betty Crocker Lemon Frosting?

 

It's Just Another Stylin' Sunday

I forgot to post last week's picture so here are pictures from this week and last week. 

Reading List

Here is my latest reading list

It was okay but I probably wouldn't recommend it.

1st things first, yes this is a Stephen King book but no, it is not scary.

This book has over 800 pages but is actually a fast read. 

I am really liking it and can't put it down.

What have you been reading? 

I would love some recommendations?

No Tie Shoes

When shopping for shoes for Brody I like to look for easy on shoes, shoes that don't require my help putting them on. Here are some of my favorite easy on shoes for boys.

1) Vans Classic Slip-on
2) Converse Chuck Taylor All Star Simple Slip
3) Superga Kids 2750 JVEL Classic
4) Saucony Baby Jazz
5) Kangaroos Combat Basic
6) Vans Old Skool V Core
7) Puma Kids Whirlwind shoes
8) Sperry Top-Sider
9) Kangaroos Combat Retro


I am a big fan of Van slip on shoes and Saucony Jazz with Velcro. Brody loves them too.

 Which ones do you like best?

20 Minute Preschool- Alphabet Crackers

Brody and I just discovered Kroger Letters and Numbers Crackers. They have become one of our favorite ways to work on Brody's letters. I usually will tell him to find a specific letter and once he finds it he has to tell me what sound it makes. He also likes to tell me someone's name that starts with that letter.
Brody also loves spelling his name!

Have you tried the Letters and Numbers Crackers? We are big fans of them! 

For more 20 Minute Preschool click here.

In Case You Missed It

In case you missed it, here is a little list of some of the things I have been up to around here. 

Making Olympic doughnuts

More uses for white vinegar

More weekly to do list printables

blue/orange, red/blue, pink/orange

We made smiley face pizzas

How to make a giveaway entry form with Google Docs

What have you been up to?

20 Minute Preschool

A few weeks ago I talked about wanting to work with Brody and helping him learn more. I decided I am going to spend 20 minutes each day teaching Brody. 20 minutes a day might not seem like much but it's a start. I decided to help me stick to a 20 Minute Preschool I need to plan ahead and make a schedule.

 

I downloaded the free monthly calendars from Tomkat Studios. I made it really simple and just wrote down what we would work on that day. 

I will be sharing some of the activities from Brody's 20 Minute Preschool here in the future. 

What do you do to help teach your children? 

Any tips for me?