Fat Free, Gluten Free, Sugar Free, Carb Free Vegan Recipe You'll DIE if you don't try.

So simple, and just soooooo to die for.

Ready?

Take a deep, deep breathe and hold it... You're about to be amazed.

See?  I told you it was simple!!

Air. 

bbwwwhhhhahahaahhhhaaaaahhhhahahahaaa!

I crack myself up.

I've been browsing Punch Fork and Food Gawker and it's been cracking me up all the TO DIE for recipes that are FREE of this and that. 

Okay, so maybe I'm the only one to find myself funny.

I'll go back to finding yummy recipes to try...

Why do we spend money on things like Pogo sticks...

When our children are just as happy playing with free sticks they pick up in the woods?

 

Or maybe it's just my crazy kids who THINK normal sticks bounce?

PS... I just looked through the pictures from our trip to the cabin (where this video was taken) and other than the pictures where he's eating, Ryan has a stick in his hand in every one.  I need to pick some up next time to gift wrap for Christmas...

Nature Calls

We love getting out into nature... alas, we sold our camper when Ryan came along... it was too small, and we have yet to replace it.

That means we don't go camping as much as we used to, but we still try and get out of town when we can.

So we rented a cabin a few weekends ago just outside of Antimony.

It was a US Forest Service cabin.

(Did you know you can rent a lot of them? AWESOME deal!)

The cabin was AMAZING.  It's actually one of their corals, so it was completed fenced in... keeping the rift raft (mostly, I mean cows) out, which means the grounds were in great condition.  There were tables, a great fire pit, a horse shoe pit, Adirondack chairs on the porch.  

Just soooooo well kept, and so relaxing.

I still haven't taken the pictures off my camera.  

I'm a slacker. 

Well, I have a few on my phone.

Thought I'd share one I snapped of Ryan enjoying the outdoor life... 

What?  You were expecting something more classy??

If you were, you obviously don't know me very well.

Summer Job Pays Off

This summer, Evan has worked his tail off... and today, he got a lesson in what it means to really save.

He has been working for me at home, helping Mark at the office and helping Grandma and Grandpa while was in Montana.  All with one goal... to earn enough for a new bike by the end of summer! 

Last weekend he was so very close.  He was just about $10 short... it was heart breaking.  Mark and I sat down with him and figured up how much he had total, how much needed to go into savings, how much for giving and what that left for spending.  Just $10 to go!! 

My mantra, while I watched him tear up in disappointment, was "This is an important lesson, stay strong... we can't just give him everything..............."  and then I would start to loose my resolve, and have to lecture myself all over again. 

Waiting one week, as hard as it was, really did make it all the more wonderful this morning when Mark asked him if he was ready to go pick one out. 

Even with the 90 degree heat, he's been riding for as long as he can, then he will come in the house, red faced and sweating and lay on the air vent to cool off, lol! 

I'm so very proud of him!  

Fresh and Simple

A gal I work with gave me a bag full of cherry tomatoes from her garden.

She knows my weak spot I guess!

We ate them many ways... sliced with pepper, in salad, on thick slices of wheat bread with melted cheese... 

But by far, last night was the best (well, other than popping them straight into your mouth like candy)... 

I'm a firm believer in the fact that pasta is best when you don't drown it in a complicated, heavy sauce.  I finally converted my family to this.

So, tonight, I took about 10 tomatoes, placed them under the broiler until the skin charred just a little and they popped.  Then I pulsed them (including the juices they released) just ever so quickly in the food processor (just enough to break up the big ones).  Wilted a few cups (4ish?) of fresh spinach in a pan with a little garlic, pepper and bacon bits (pancetta would have been better, but I didn't plan this meal and hadn't bought any... and the bacon is totally optional anyway).  Then tossed everything with the noodles (and a touch of the pasta cooking liquid).  Topped it with Parmesan cheese, and served it with a nice crusty bread and salad. 

My boys (including Mark) practically licked the bowl clean.  

Evan wanted thirds, lol.  

I love recipes like this... so simple and quick to throw together, yet so very wonderfully tasty and fresh!  Plus, it cost be just a few dollars to feed my entire family something so much better than anything prepared (both nutritionally and taste wise!)

Things Ryan Says

It's been awhile since I shared some Ryan-isms.

First of all, Ryan is very into informing you when you are in his good graces, and when you are not by saying, "Mama, you're my BEST FRIEND" (he says this is a voice that is DRIPPING with cuteness) or "Mama, you're so not my best friend".

He LOVES music, and has labeled MANY songs "His".  For example, when anything by Fun comes on, he says, "Mama, it's my SONG!"  And, FYI, only HE is allowed to sing HIS songs!  And don't even THINK of bobbing your head along with the music!

On the same note, he is very much into saying "Thank You".  When one of HIS songs comes on the radio, he says, "MAMA! It's my SONG! Thank you so much! You are my BEST FRIEND!"  (I wish I had a picture of the expression on his face when he says this, it's the cutest thing EVER.)

One of his "Songs" is Rumor Has It (Adele)... or as he refers to it "OoMer Has It Ooo".  As I was tucking him in a few nights ago, he asked me to sing him a song.  He specifically requested Oomer Has It Ooo.  When I informed him I didn't know the words, he said to me, "Whatever. Fine. Just to to bed Mom."  I had completely let him down by not knowing his song!  Even though he didn't tell me, I'm pretty sure I wasn't his best friend.

He is so very expressive... there is never any doubt about how he feels about something.  

Tour of Utah... Part 1.

I didn't think we were going to get to see a stage this year, but I guess the race officials really wanted us to see it since they scheduled the stage 4 to ride so close to our house!! 

More posts will come soon... But I had to share these ones of Evan with his bottle.  He was SO excited that they threw one at us! 

Guess who's home, kicking butt and taking names!

Evan just got back from his summer trip to Montana... and his first day back, was pack meeting.

He received FOUR belt loops, FOUR yellow beads, his WOLF and his Cub Country Patch (camp)!!!!

AND that's without counting all the work he did in Montana with Grandpa and Grandma for his Bear Badge!!

So proud of the hard work!

AND, to add to the awesomeness... While I was at work today, he cleaned the kitchen AND living room without me even ASKING.

I came home to a spotless house!!

I think there should be a Patch for that!! 



Fish Lake

Soooo... more about our weekend drive/fishing trip/drive...

After checking on the site, we weren't very far from a great recreation area called Fish Lake in central Utah, and Mark had thrown the fishing poles in the back of the truck so we could stop for a few minutes and relax.

After grabbing a bite to eat, we rode up to the lake and found a nice quiet place... The weather wasn't the best over the weekend, so the lake was nice and quiet!!

As we settled in, and Mark prepped the poles... and Ryan and I clowned around. He LOVES having his picture taken right now! 

The lake was sooooo pretty... the hillsides were very green, with the dark grey clouds and sun poking through. 

This was the picture I snapped RIGHT before the "Flashlight" that sent us scrambling up the bank and back the truck.   Ryan was so bummed that we only got a few minutes to fish.  Every other time we've gone, he's at least been able to reel in a carp or two!  Guess we will just have to make another trip!