Thursday, May 30, 2013

Crepe Night!

We love crepes! 
We even had them at our wedding...
Since we have been married, 
we have planned two "crepe nights" at our home.
We invite all our friends,
They bring their favorite topping...and we make all the crepes!
here is our favorite recipe!
*taken from my friend Emi, the well traveled wife

homemade crepes
1 cup flour
1/3 cup water
2 large eggs
1 cup milk
2 tablespoons sugar
pinch of salt
2 tablespoons melted butter

--set the butter aside and mix all ingredients together using a blender. 
--once everything is well blended, add in butter and mix. 
--heat crepe pan until hot and spray it
--pour a thin layer of batter until it spreads over the pan, 
--cook for 30-50 seconds and flip over. 
--serve warm with nutella, pb, cinnamon sugar, powdered sugar, jam, bananas, whipped cream, strawberries, etc.
Yum!

Wednesday, May 29, 2013

Slow-Cooker Meals

These are my go-to recipes for those nights when
I am too exhausted or just don't have the time to make dinner
when I get home from work.
They are ALL made in the crock pot and they are all DELICIOUS.
win-win!

Williams-Sonoma Pulled Pork 

INGREDIENTS:
*serves 6-8
3 Tbs. canola or corn oil
4 lb. boneless pork shoulder, cut into 3 equal pieces (we have also used pork tenderloin)
1 yellow onion, finely chopped
3/4 cup cider vinegar
3/4 cup tomato ketchup
1/3 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/4 cup light molasses
2 tsp. red pepper flakes
1 Tbs. Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp. dry mustard
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. freshly ground pepper
Soft sandwich rolls, split and toasted, for serving

INSTRUCTIONS:

>>Brown the pork and transfer to a slow cooker. 
>>Make the sauce:
Return the pan to medium-high heat. 
Add the onion and sauté 
Add the vinegar 
*stir to scrape up the browned bits from the pork 
>>Stir in:
 ketchup, 
brown sugar,
 molasses,
 red pepper flakes,
 Worcestershire sauce,
 mustard, 
salt and pepper.
 Cook until the mixture begins to bubble. 
>>Pour over the pork. 
Cover and cook according to the manufacturer’s instructions until the pork is very tender, 
4 to 5 hours on high OR 8 to 10 hours on low.


Best Shredded Beef Tacos
(My husband's favorite)

INGREDIENTS
Arm/Chuck roast
garlic salt
cumin
oregano
chili powder
onion powder

Place a liner in slow cooker and put the roast in.
Pour water over roast until it is half covered.
Shake garlic salt, cumin, oregano, chili powder, and onion powder all over roast.
cook on high for 8 hours.
Shred with two forks {remove any visible fat}
Serve with white corn tortillas, cheese, cilantro, avocado, sour cream & salsa.


Sweet and Tangy Meatballs

INGREDIENTS
1 12 oz jar chili sauce
1 jar grape jelly
1 package frozen meatballs

>>Combine jelly and chili sauce in a crock pot and stir until smooth.  
>>Heat the mixture if needed to combine.  
>>Add meatballs or cocktail sausages and set temperature to low.  
>>Cook for 2-5 hours on low.  
Serve over rice or with toothpicks.


Slow Cooker Pork Chops with Vegetable Medley
Slow Cooker Pork Chops with Vegetable Medley
INGREDIENTS
1 1/2 teaspoons seasoned salt
1 teaspoon garlic-pepper blend
2 tablespoons olive oil
4 boneless pork loin chops, 1/2 inch thick (about 1 lb)
1 cup carrots
4 small red potatoes, cut in half
1 onion, cut into thin wedges
1 small yellow summer squash or zucchini, thinly sliced
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil

Mix spices in bowl.
Sprinkle half of seasoning mixture over pork.
Cook pork chops in oil about 4 minutes, just until browned.
 Place pork chops in slow cooker; top with carrots, potatoes and onion.
Cover, cook on Low heat setting 3 to 4 hours.
Mix squash, basil, remaining 1 tablespoon oil and remaining half of seasoning mixture;
spoon on top of vegetable mixture in slow cooker.
Increase heat setting to High.
Cover; cook 10 to 15 minutes longer or until squash is crisp-tender.


Slow Cooker Shredded Chicken

INGREDIENTS
4 organic, boneless skinless chicken breasts
1/2 cup chicken stock
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon seasoned salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 dried oregano teaspoon

INSTRUCTIONS
>>Place chicken in slow cooker. 
>>Sprinkle chicken breasts with all the spices. 
>>Add chicken stock. 
Cover and cook on low for 4-6 hours. 
Shred chicken with two forks.

Perfect for making ahead and freezing until ready to use. 
Great for soups, stews, quesadillas and quick sandwiches.

The Best Chocolate Chip Cookies

This is my Great Grandmother Wilkinson's recipe,
who passed it down to her daughter (my amazing grandma), 
who passed it to my mom,
who passed it to me!

These are a staple in our home.
Once you try these no other chocolate chip cookie will compare!


The Best Chocolate Chip Cookies
*Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Mix:
1 cup shortening
1/2 cup white sugar
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 teaspoon water

>>Beat until creamy<<
>>Beat in two eggs<<

Add:
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
3 cups of flour (sometimes this is too much)

>>Mix well<< 
>>Add chocolate chips<< 
(we always use semisweet)

Bake for 10 minutes

Do not overcook!! Cook until barely done
They will set up nicely 


Wednesday, May 22, 2013

American Country Music Awards

Las Vegas 
ACM's
April 5-6, 2013

Colton and I love country music.
So..when he found tickets for a weekend festival
of all the best country artists for only $50 each,
there was no question we were going.
Colton's sweet aunt let us stay at her home down there
It was the perfect weekend!


The first day we embarked on our road trip to Vegas early in the morning.
We got to the Orleans early and ran around the country expo.
We took rides in the a new tricked out Dodge Ram,
drank all the free Dr. Pepper they gave us,
watched some bull riding,
laid on tempur pedic beds,
and even met Easton Corbin!






Friday, April 5
ACM EXPO 10 AM – 10 PM
FESTIVAL 3 PM – 9 PM (gates open at 2 PM)
3:00PM - Greg Bates
3:50PM - Cassadee Pope
4:40PM - Florida Georgia Line
5:55PM - Justin Moore
7:10PM - Brantley Gilbert
8:25PM - The Band Perry


That night after the concerts we decided to explore the Strip.
We had dinner at Fat Burger,
took a ride on the roller coaster at New York, New York...

ran around every casino/hotel...
...Colton pretending to lose all of our money

street performers...so perfect

good thing I wore my cowboy boots!


We finished off the night with a midnight snack at McDonalds
We love their ice cream cones!

tiniest water cup & burger


Saturday we got up and went to Mandalay Bay and walked around the beautiful grounds.

We decided to go to the aquarium and it was amazing.

We touched sting rays, saw sharks and sea turtles, and one huge octopus!

Isn't my husband handsome? 


Saturday, April 6
ACM EXPO 10 AM – 10 PM
FESTIVAL 12 PM – 9 PM (gates open at 11 AM)

12:00PM - Dustin Lynch

1:05PM - Love and Theft

2:10PM - Kix Brooks
3:15PM - Lee Brice
4:00PM - Intermission
4:45PM - Hunter Hayes
6:15PM - Eli Young Band
7:45PM - Dierks Bentley

We grabbed burgers at Fudruckers between Eli Young Band and Dierks Bentley.
We ate so fast and ran back! And good thing we did because...


Dierks was AMAZING!!!
By far one of the best concerts I have ever been to.

Afterwards, since we had already been up and down the entire strip,
we got drinks at 7-11, a red box movie, and just relaxed.

I already miss Nevada!
XOXO

Weekend and week day adventures!

Even though I am working 10 hours days and Colton just started 
working full time for the summer, we are having a blast!
Here are some pictures from our dates this week.




Friday night 
^Applebees dinner and a visit to the Jordan River Temple^


Saturday night 

^Barnes & Nobel, Utah Blaze arena football game and frozen yogurt at Juicy Berry^

Monday Night
^walk to Sugarhouse park to feed the ducks & geese and movie night^

Tuesday Night
^hike up Millcreek Canyon to look over the valley and McDonald's ice cream cones for a treat!^

We are SO in love!

Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Happy Mother's Day

I have the most incredible mother.
I wish I could be there with her on Mother's Day.
I love her so much and want her to know that I am thinking of her.
Thank you for being my role model, my running partner, 
my cheerleader, and my best friend.
I miss shopping the Dillards sale with you.
I miss cruising in the convertible bug and soaking up the sun.
I miss frozen yogurt runs and cooking Sunday dinner with you.
I miss laying out at the pool with you.
I miss your early morning seminary lessons.
I miss your hugs.
Thank you for talking to me on the phone all the time.
You give the best advice!
Thank you for always being there for me and teaching me everything I know.
Thank you for being everything a mom should be and more.
I love you mom.
I hope to be as amazing a mother as you are one day.

In honor of my mother and all the mothers out there...


Isn't she beautiful?!

I am such a lucky girl because I also
 have the BEST mother-in-law in the entire world!
I love and admire her so much.
Thank you for raising you son to be the most incredible husband.

This weekend I had the opportunity to go jeeping in Moab with Laura and Alan.
They are awesome. period.
I love spending time with them.
Jeeping was pretty cool too. :)


I also would like to mention my incredible grandmas and great grandmas...
Shirley Nelson, Great Grandma B, Great Grandma Nelson (not pictured),
Mimi Matheson, and Lynne McDonough
I look up to them all so much and love spending time with each of them.
I have been lucky enough to know 7 of my 8 great-grandparents.
I treasure my relationship with each of them.
My grandmas are the best.
They are such classy ladies!
I hope to be as incredible a woman, mother, and grandmother as each of them are.

So proud of my Grandma McDonough serving a mission at the
Hawaii Temple Visitor's Center!

Monday, May 13, 2013

Graduation

University of Utah
David Eccles School of Business
Accounting BS - Honors Certificate
Summa Cum Laude


So I actually graduated back in December...
But now it is official!
I actually will be returning to the U of U this fall for my Master of Accounting.
So this is only step 1 of the journey.


Rouzbeh, Trevor, Matt, and Andrew
I could not have made it with out these guys!
From spending hundreds of hours together on case studies and projects to
trading books each semester,
we helped each other get here.
I can't wait to have more classes with all my friends this fall!

Roses from my parents since they are in Texas!
I was so surprised when these showed up at my work.
I work for a bio medical defense contractor
so they had to be delivered in the "sanitary" elevator.
It made my day.

My handsome husband


Colton's dad loves to jump in the back of pictures :)

...even my bridals!
my father-in-law is the best.


Cutest poster from my cute little sis!
She was in Moab during my graduation so she dropped this off on her way out of town 


What I came home to that night!
My husband decorated our room.
He is the sweetest...