*Insert Chuckle Here*

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Shelf Reliance Giveaway!

Shelf Reliance is going to start giving away the Harvest 72″ (below) twice a month. It's perfect for year-supply of food storage. Go to their blog to find out more information on how you can try and win one.

http://www.shelfreliance.com/blog/

My baby bro is a Graduate! (And Spinach Strawberry Salad... okay, mostly the salad)

First off, a tribute to the grad, just the way he'd like it, short and sweet.

Way to go, bro. You're the man. :)

And now on to the good stuff! lol (Just kidding, Enoch! You know I love you more than this salad! I think... )

Oh my goodness gracious sakes alive! My dad made this salad for my little brother Enoch's graduation party a couple weeks ago, and it is SO good. Sweet and fresh and delicious!! It's like Summer on a little plate. Honestly, I went back for seconds, which I never do with salad, even when it's got my favorite dressing on it. Here's the recipe, via FarmersAlmanac.com:


Strawberry Spinach Salad

1 package fresh spinach
1 pint strawberries

Dressing:
1⁄2 cup sugar
2 tsp. sesame seeds
1 tbsp. poppy seeds
11⁄2 tsp. onion, chopped
1⁄4 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
1⁄2 tsp. paprika
1⁄2 cup vegetable oil
1⁄4 cup cider vinegar

Wash spinach and chop into bite-sized pieces. Wash and hull strawberries. Place both in a bowl. Dressing: Mix together sugar, sesame seeds, poppy seeds, onion, Worcestershire sauce, paprika, vegetable oil and cider vinegar. Toss with spinach and strawberries, then serve. Raspberries can also be used.

The Anniversary Re-do

This year our anniversary was on Mother's Day. Yeah- way to plan ahead on that one, right? Anyhow- It was honestly the worst Mother's Day I've ever had. lol I had an abscessed tooth and was on Tylenol-3's (which always make me nauseous and dizzy), Duke was working open-to-close at his store, and the kids had colds. It was pretty sad.
This last weekend Duke had both Saturday AND Sunday off of work, so we figured we'd try again. My mom took the kids ALL weekend, and we had two whole days just to ourselves. :)
Except, as usual, we missed the kids after the first night. We're so pitiful. :)
Since the weather was so great, we decided to take the kids up to try that hike again. This time it wasn't covered by 6 feet of snow! It was so beautiful and green. The temp stayed right around 70 degrees and there was a breeze and cloud cover. We couldn't have picked a better day for a hike.
Stewart's Falls trail is 2 miles, one way, through a bunch of aspen and pine trees, over a ridge and down a rocky path. It's a pretty easy hike (when you're not lugging a full frame back pack, just to see if you can handle it) and most people make it to the falls in 40 minutes to an hour. I think it took us at least two hours. :) We are SAD. But it was so worth it. Here's a picture of the falls at the end of the trail:























It's just a stock photo, because the kids broke my camera (again!!), and we didn't have one with us- but that's exactly what it looked like last weekend. Very full with spring run-off!
The kids had a blast, and we'll definitely do it again- sans backpacks. :)

So, in honor of the attempted romantical weekend, I've made a (partial) list of reasons I love my hubs (warning: much smooshiness ahead):

*He loves me, too. :)
*He works hard to support his family.
*He comes home to me every single night.
*He gave me beautiful, smart, funny, empathetic children.
*He actually wants to spend time with me.
*He cleans out the fridge, including the dishes containing the-leftovers-that-time-forgot.
*He's forgiving.
*After 15 years of being friends, and 4 kids, he still finds me attractive. I honestly can't figure that one out.
*He has a beautiful, simple, strong testimony.
*He blesses his family
*He loves being active.
*He's passionate about things that matter to him.
*He gets up with the kids the morning after I've had to take a Benadryl for my allergies and wouldn't be able to wake up to a freight train running through my bedroom.
*He teaches me things about the gospel that I never knew.
*He encourages me.
*He took me to the temple.
*He loves to play with the kids.
*He doesn't think so, but he sets a good example to me.
*He doesn't actually LIKE to fish, but he's willing to go, just for me and the kids. :)
*We read some of the same books, and he loves to talk with me about them.
*He's gentle with me, and loves to cuddle (I hope that doesn't embarrass him...)
*He's still manly. :)
*He really wants to slay all my dragons and make all my dreams come true.
*He LISTENS.
*He loves to sit and talk with the kids.
*He never judges.
*He backs me up and always gives me the support I need.
*He's a good man.
*He's my FRIEND.
*He takes me "the way I am".
*He gets my blood pumpin'.
*He knows who he is and what he stands for. He's not changeable or flighty.
*He loves the temple and honors his preisthood.
*He loved me, even when I was at my lowest point in life.
*He sweeps the carpet before he vacuums. :) That's cute.
*He reads to the kids, a lot.
*He loves everything I cook/bake.
*He likes to tease me and joke around.

I could go on and on and on. I'm so blessed to have him in my life- I owe everything I am to him. Duke pulled me back from the brink of disaster when I had hit rock bottom. He loved me even then and held my hand the whole path back. He encouraged me and helped me to grow and flourish. I know it's only because of him and the Lord that I was ever able to be the person I am now and be sealed to an eternal family. He puts up with all my quirks, and he always makes sure I have everything I need. I am so happy and so blessed because of him.

Thank you, honey, for always being there for me. I love you!

Another Recipe!

I know, I know... this is becoming the Desserts-R-Us blog. I had both an extraction AND a root canal, on opposite sides of my mouth, last week, and I'm fantasizing about foods I totally can't eat right now. I wish I could just make my Recipe Box on AllRecipes.com public, but I haven't figured out how yet. SO- I get to share all the best ones on my blog. This one is for "Magic Peanut Butter Middles". Drool. I love anything and everything Reese's, and I think these babies do a pretty decent impersonation. Next thing you know they'll have booked a full time gig in Vegas! :) Here they are:















Magic Peanut Butter Middles via AllRecipes.com

INGREDIENTS

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1/4 cup peanut butter
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 egg
• 3/4 cup confectioners' sugar
• 3/4 cup peanut butter

DIRECTIONS

1. In small bowl blend flour, cocoa and baking soda. Mix until well blended.
2. In large bowl beat sugar, butter or margarine and 1/4 cup peanut butter, until light and fluffy. Add vanilla and egg, beat. Stir in flour mixture until blended. Set aside.
3. To make Filling: Combine confectioner's sugar and 3/4 cup peanut butter. Blend well.
4. Roll filling into 30 - 1 inch balls. For each cookie, with floured hands, shape about 1 Tablespoon of dough around 1 peanut butter ball, covering completely. Place 2 inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet. Flatten with glass dipped in sugar.
5. Bake at 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) for 7-9 minutes. When cookies are done, they should be set and slightly cracked.

**Sorry Haylee- these are not Owen Safe. :(

Best Brownie Recipe

Ah, brownies. Duke and I gained 20 lbs EACH when we were dating and engaged because we made brownies almost every night around 9 or 10 PM. We love brownies THAT MUCH. :) In all this time, I have been an avowed box-brownie-mix user, because it seemed like the ones I made from scratch never really worked out the same. Ghirardelli is my favorite brand- the double chocolate ones. Well, I recently found this recipe on AllRecipes.com, and it's JUST as good- if not better. I present it to all of you, so you can enjoy it, too. :)












Brooke's Best Bombshell Brownies via Allrecipes.com

INGREDIENTS

• 1 cup butter, melted
• 3 cups white sugar
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 4 eggs
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips*

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a 9x13 baking dish.
2. Combine the melted butter, sugar, and vanilla in a large bowl. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each, until thoroughly blended.
3. Sift together the flour, cocoa powder, and salt. Gradually stir the flour mixture into the chocolate mixture until blended. Stir in the chocolate morsels. Spread the batter evenly into the prepared baking dish.
4. Bake in preheated oven until an inserted toothpick comes out clean, 35 to 40 minutes. Remove, and cool pan on wire rack before cutting.

*Note: I add 1 cup of milk chocolate chips in addition to the semi-sweet. It's much better that way.

These are especially good fresh out of the oven with vanilla ice cream and a hot fudge sauce. You know, if you wanted to get REALLY decadent.

Six

Years, that is. :) Yesterday was not only Mother's Day, but the 6th anniversary of our wedding. What a double whammy, huh?

I can't believe that it's been a whole six years since I was in this awesome place:



Before you can say "Oh NO YOU DI'N'T!", let me assure you: we did. :) Yes, that is a drive-thru chapel, and yes, we did elope. In Las Vegas. How cliche', right? It's a long-ish story, but the short version is that I was in St. George, and he was in Vegas, and we were completely miserable apart and just decided to elope one night when I was in Vegas with my dad for a business conference. My poor dad had no idea what would ultimately come about when he sent us out to buy the card game 5 Crowns that evening. Somewhere between getting on the I-15 and checking out at the game store at the Meadows Mall, we looked at each other and said "Let's just get married, for heaven's sake" (Just like that, I'm sure). We just happened to have our marriage license AND the rings with us in the car (we'd actually been planning a real wedding for August). If I remember correctly, my dad's response, when we (I) called from the Fairfield Inn to tell him that I wasn't going to be coming home that night was "Bless your heart! I'm happy for you. Have fun; see you in the morning." I sure love that man.

Someday, when I find the "souvenir" Polaroid the chapel gave us after our nuptuals, I'll post it, so you can all have a good laugh. Until then, however, here's a picture of me and the hubs, my nuzzlekins. This one is from around the time we got sealed- THAT day was even BETTER. :)

Here's to you, kid. May the next six years contain just as much joy as the first six. And may we have many many more to come. :) I love you forever and always.