BBQ Chicken Salad with Cilantro Ranch Dressing.

Sorry no picture. But I am telling you it is so worth it to make this salad. I loved it.

3 cups thinly sliced green leaf lettuce
1/4 cup corn( I used a little more)
1/4 cup black beans (I used more)
8 grape tomatoes, halved
1 cooked grilled chicken breast( marinate in BBQ sauce for 1-2 hours)
1/4 cup favorite BBQ sauce
1/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

1/2 cup prepared ranch dressing
1 heaping tablespoon fresh chopped cilantro leaves

1. place lettuce into a salad bowl. Layer with corn, black beans, and tomatoes. Dice cooked chicken breat and mix with BBQ sauce. Top over salad and sprinkle with mozzarella cheese.

2. Place ranch dressing and cilantro leaves into a small bowl and combine. Drizzle over salad and toss everything together. Serve immediately.

Our Anniversary dinner!

Taylor took us to a nice place for our anniversary. His brother watched the kids for us. We drove out to Palm Desert and had a really nice time. The food was absolutely fantastic. We sat at a really nice table and the restaurant decorated our table with rose pedals and gave us a card and free dessert. It was really yummy. Thanks Taylor for a wonderful evening and wonderful eight years.

Powdered Sugar Dusted French Toast

I made this recipe for dinner tonight. I got it from Picky Palate blog. Taylor had scouts where they were having dinner without us. Sorry there isn't a picture, it was so good we ate it up before I had a chance. I also didn't do the peanut butter with the maple syrup. But my sister said she made it and it was good. You have got to try this recipe. I will never go back to regular french toast.

2 tbs. butter

1/2 cup heavy cream
1 tsp. vanilla
2 eggs, beaten
3 tbs. light brown sugar
6 slices Brioche bread ( I used french bread), cut into rounds with donut cutter if desired

powdered sugar

1/2 cup pure maple syrup(or normal pancake syrup)
1 heaping tablespoon peanut butter

1. Place butter into a large skillet or griddle over medium heat to melt. Place cream, vanilla, eggs, and brown sugar into a mixing bowl. (I put a dash of cinnamon in with the mixture). Whisk until well combined. Dip bread rounds into egg mixture until both sides are well coated and place into hot skillet. Cook for 1-2 minutes per side or until golden brown. Transfer to plate and put butter and sprinkle with powdered sugar.

2. Warm maple syrup in microwave until warmed, about 30 seconds then stir in peanut butter until smooth. Pour over french toast.

Random photos of the house!

Here are some photos of the butlers pantry, a couple of the bathrooms, the laundry room/hallway, and the hallway upstairs.

Callie's room

Callie's room was also a really dark color. We actually painted the whole house the same color. I wanted to do the kitchen a little darker brown but Taylor didn't want to spend the extra money.

Preston's room

Preston's room before was this ugly bubble gum pink color. His room is still a little bare but better than it was before.

Master Bedroom and bathroom

We love our master bedroom. The bathroom has a lot of room.

The Family/tv rooom!

I have so much wall space in this room. I am happy with how it turned out. I needed an experts advice. My friend did actually suggest something and I used part of her idea.

The Kitchen!

I love our new kitchen. It has some great features. I especially love the double oven. I don't use it all that often but it is nice to have around Thanksgiving and Christmas time.

The Dining room

You can see why we repainted. It was very dark for us. Taylor and I are more conservative when choosing paint colors.

Before and After photos of our new house!!

Sorry these took so long to post but we finally have our home somewhat put together. We moved into our new home the 1st of June. We are very happy with it. I have a before picture of the front of the house but not an after. We are currently in the process of redueing it. The back yard has almost been completed as well. So we will do those later. This is the front living room. We repainted the house an oyster color, had the carpets cleaned, put in 7 sealing fans, and blinds for every window.

My Peach Pie wins!

Yesterday I made that peach pie for our Ward Pioneer Picnic. I entered it in the pie contest and won 1st prize. I couldn't believe it. I was so excited. Thanks mom for your help in making it. My prize was a cute wooden spoon and a cookbook. Here are some cute pictures of our kids riding in a handcart and singing pioneer songs.

Peach Pie

This recipe is something my mom created a couple of summers ago. It is so yummy. Make sure you buy really good peaches. It makes all the difference. This is so easy to make.

Peach Pie
crust: 1 package graham cracker crumbs (plus 2 extra crackers)my pie pan was bigger and I needed more
1/4 cup melted butter
3 tbs. brown sugar
mix all together with fork or pastry blender. Then I use my hands to make sure it's all mixed well. Pour into pie pan and smash against bottom of pie pan and edges. Bake at 350 for 8 minutes. put in refrigerator before assembling pie.

Cream cheese mixture:
This part goes on top of the cooled graham cracker crust.
4 oz. softened cream cheese
1/2 cup-3/4 cup powdered sugar
mix well.

Add 1/2 container of cool whip and fold into cream cheese mixture. I used real whipped cream I had left over in my fridge. Whatever you have it will still taste good. Spread mixture onto cooled crust. Leave an 1 1/2 inches of crust showing.

Cut 4 or 5 peaches depending on the size into pretty moon shaped slices. Buy a peach glaze at the store (in the produce section)usually by the peaches. The one I bought was a 16 oz container. Fold glaze over peaches being careful not to tear or damage them. Pour over cream cheese mixture and garnish with more cool whip or I used blueberries for a splash of color.

Hope you enjoy this is so yummy.

1st Sonogram

This is from my 10 week appointment. This was my first appointment as well. My doctor wanted to check to make sure there was really a baby in there. The baby looks like an alien. No legs or arms yet. I thought the grandparents would like to see a picture of there new grandchild.

More San Franscisco!

Us at the Golden Gate Bridge, ver cool. Here we are at Lombard street. In the movie "What's up Doc" with Barbara Streisand and Ryan O'neal. It is a very twisty, curvy street. Also a picture of China town while driving. We didn't have time to stop and walk around. And a scenic picture of San Franscisco.

San Franscisco!

We went out to eat at this great place called Tadich Grill. It has been around since 1849. While we were heading back to our hotel we found this restaurant called the Harrington bar and grill and took a picture. The other picture is of Pier 39 and a thousand seals. They come up to digest there food. It smells terrible. And our family in front of the Del Sol store. The picture of me in front of all the houses is called the six ladies, I think. We thought this is one of the houses from Full house but not sure. These houses are across the street from the park where the opening credits take place. You'll have to look it up on youtube or something and watch it.

Our trip to San Francisco in June

Taylor and his brother Chase did some business in San Francisco so we had free gas and free hotel. The kids and I got to go along and it was so fun. San Francisco is an amazing city and definitely recommmend it if your ever in California. We rode the trolley wherever we went. It was so crowded. They pack as many people as they can. We also went up to San Francisco to visit some friends who live in San Mateo and some friends from Texas who opened a Del Sol store at Pier 39. While visiting pier 39 for the opening of Del Sol, we stopped and watched a show. Callie got picked out of the audience and they made her a balloon animal. Then asked for $2. Then they said she could keep it. We just ended up giving it back to the performers for tip. That is the only way they make money. She was really cute up there. She is not shy at all.

A new additon to our family!

It is official, I am pregnant. I am due on January 22, 2010. I am 13 weeks along. I have been so tired and lazy with this pregnancy. Very different from my last two pregnancies. I crave food all the time and starting to show. I am excited to have a baby in our family be born in California. Callie, Preston and Taylor were born in Texas and this baby and me born in California. I have a picture of the 1st sonogram but our internet is still not working. Our pictures are on my other computer. We have had two people come out from Verizon and called them on the phone. I don't know what the problem is. Hopefully this week we will have it up and running.

I am Alive!

Sorry I haven't posted in forever. We moved and our internet has had some trouble because Taylor's company was paying for it. Anyways maybe next week. I am borrowing my brother-in-laws laptop. We moved just down the street to a different house. We were renting before. We love our new house and we are finally getting settled. I will hopefully put up some pictures soon.

We Moved!

We moved this past Saturday, just down the street. We will post pictures when we have the internet up and running again. It will be a couple of weeks so sorry mom and dad.