Oven Ham and Swiss Melts

Want something easy to throw together?  Make these the night before and throw them in the fridge.  When it's almost time to eat just put them in the oven so the cheese gets ooey gooey, and you got yourself and easy dinner everyone will love.  The hubs especially loved it. 

Oven Ham and Swiss Melts

16 ounces, Thin Sliced Deli Ham

12 slices Swiss Cheese
1 package King Hawaiian Rolls, 12 Count
½ cups Butter, Melted
2 teaspoons Onion Flakes
1 teaspoon Poppy Seeds
1 teaspoon Worcestershire Sauce
½ teaspoons Ground Mustard

Put ham and cheese in between sliced rolls. Mix all other ingredients and spoon over sandwiches. Let set overnight or several hours.

Bake on 350F for 15-20 minutes or until cheese gets good and melty.

ENJOY!

Monday Match-up...

It's that time again. It is soup and bread season. I love this time of year. In my part of the country it has been getting chilly and my hubby has been begging me to turn on the heater. I think it is supposed to be opposite but I like to keep the bills down for a couple of months. I grew up in a wood heated house. Only the upstairs rooms kept nice and cozy. I slept in the basement where you could see your breath some mornings. I fought the cold by lots of blankets, hoodies, and warm socks. So I just keep telling Aaron to put on some socks or put on a sweater. He does sit in one place for a long time studying so we got him a space heater. Poor baby. Anyway, (I get off track easily, sorry) cold weather brings soup so that is our Monday Match-up!

I have a few great recipes I go to every Fall but I really wanted to try something new. I like hearty soups that fill my belly and warm my soul. I found this tasty soup and gave it a try.

Tortellini Sausage Soup

1 lb. sausage
4 cloves minced garlic
1 onion, diced
½ c. water
2 cans chicken broth
½ c. apple cider
1 16-oz. can diced tomatoes
1 8 oz. can tomato sauce
1 c. sliced carrots
1 tsp. dried basil
1 tsp. dried oregano
2 medium zucchini, sliced and quartered
8-10 oz. package cheese tortellini
2 Tbsp. dried parsley

I found one pound of sausage to be a little much. You could probably get away with about 3/4 pound. Brown your sausage with the onions and garlic until sausage is cooked through and onions are translucent. Drain fat if necessary. Add water, broth, cider, tomatoes, tomato sauce, carrots, basil, and oregano. Bring to a boil then turn down heat and simmer, covered for about 30 minutes. Add zucchini and parsley and continue simmering for approx. 15 minutes. Add tortellini and cook using package as a guide. Mine took about ten minutes till they were tender and cooked through. Serve hot and sprinkle with grated parmesan cheese.

I served these with a wedge salad and breadsticks. Great meal to end a cold Fall day. Enjoy!

Source: Our Best Bites

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Yay!  Soup season!  Well...here in Idaho it hasn't hit soup season yet, but it should this week, I hope!!  So, I made this soup on Sunday night, and i'm hoping it will be cool enough today that we can have this for dinner.  It's so yummy the next day too.  My dad brought me two big butternut squash, so I thought I would make my Mom's Squash Soup.  It's so easy to throw together, and it reminds me of when I was little.  I don't remember a lot when my parents were married, but I do remember two dishes my Mom making and squash soup was one of them.  My little man even enjoyed it.  If he says "I yike it!"  Then it must be good.

Squash Soup

1 large butternut squash
5 russet potatoes
1 med. onion, cut big
1 clove garlic minced
5 celery stalks, cut big
1 soup bone
2 cubes of chicken buillon
1 can evaporated milk
1/4 c. butter
salt and pepper to taste

Peel and cube squash and potatoes.  Throw them into a large soup pot.  Cut up onion, garlic, and celery and add to pot.  Add soup bone and fill the pot so it just covers the veggies.  Bring to boil then add your salt, pepper, and buillion.  Cook until potatoes and squash are tender, but not TOO tender.  Remove your soup bone, celery, and onion (this is why you need to cut them up large, so they are easy to remove)  Strain potatoes and squash, saving your yummy broth.  Mash the two with butter and add evaporated milk. Mash them up til there are hardly any or no chunks left.  It should still be pretty thick, so start adding some broth to thin it out.  Thin it out as much as you want and salt and pepper to taste in the process.  This is ready to serve.  This is great with bread sticks or like we're gonna have, hot fresh rolls.

Give it a try!  It's a great Fall soup.  :o)  Have a great week.

And we still haven't heard from the winner of our last giveaway, so if you haven't checked our Friday post to see if you won, you better do so...now.

Friday Favorites

I think about this woman every day, but recently it's been a lot more than usual.  I don't know why, but I know I miss her so much and I needed to bake something that reminded me of her.  So I thought of my favorite things she used to bake for me and it was her Oatmeal Coconut cookies.  I pulled out the cookbook she made for me a couple years ago for my birthday and flipped through the pages til I found the recipe.  I'm so glad I have it and that I can get in the kitchen to be reminded of this wonderful woman, also known as my Grandma.  She was the one I took all my treats to, and I always got the best compliments from her.  Monica and I were talking the other day about this, and we know she'd be proud of "her girls" for sharing their talent.  Anyhoo...enough of my story...try these cookies out.  You'll be glad you did.

 See that beautiful woman?  That's my Grandma when she was 20.

Grandma's Oatmeal Coconut Cookies
1 c. butter
1 c. sugar
1 c. brown sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
2 c. flour
2 c. Oatmeal
2 c. shredded coconut

Cream together butter and sugars.  Add eggs and mix til combined.  Sift together soda, powder, salt and flour and add to butter mix.  Mix til combined.  Stir in oatmeal, and coconut.  Spoon onto ungreased cookie sheet.  Bake at 375 for 10-12 minutes.  These should be flat and chewy, just like Grandma's.  Mine didn't come out flat I think because I used half shortening and half butter.  Use all butter to make them flat.  They still tasted as good though.  :o)


And the winner of the 3 bows, made by Monica is......SHARLA!  :o) 

Sharla said...
Cute flowers, all of them!! I've made the one with fire before, totally cool and fun to make! I'll have to try the others soon!!
And thanks for the comment on my blog! :D

We need your address, so email us at enjvanbeb at yahoo dot com  Can't wait to hear from you!!!

Another giveaway coming soon!  Have an awesome weekend!!  Love ya!!

Here's a lil' Mish Mash...

First off, I just want to thank my sister for her awesome post yesterday. It made my day. It's hard being far away from home and it was nice to feel loved. You are the best sis. I love you lots. And thanks to all my family that wrote a message. It mean a lot. I love you guys. :)

I have a few things for you today. Nothing spectacular, but ideas nevertheless. My son had a birthday recently and since I'm the queen at procrastination. I was planning his party just a few days before the actual event. I live in a smaller town and I had a hard time finding things I needed for my last minute planning. If only this town had a Hobby Lobby or JoAnn's my life would be so so much easier. Anyway, thank goodness for my third child (my laptop) and his friend the internet I was able to throw a successful party on a budget with limited resources. Phew.

So my son has been into Avatar the Last Airbender and I wanted the kids to be able to choose what nation they are from at the beginning of the party. I thought shrinky dinks would be perfect for this. Guess what, no shrinky dink plastic in a 75 mile radius. I'll google it. Me googling..."how do I make my own shrinky dinks?". It worked, I found a tutorial! So off to the grocery store I went to get #6 plastic from the bakery. It actually worked, although the plastic didn't exactly keep the original circle shape. They kind of turned into ovals. This worked for my project but wouldn't work for more intricate shapes. Pretty cool eh? Find the tutorial here.

We have a strict budget being medical students but I really wanted to make a craft. Again, searching the internet for a catapult. I came upon the Family Fun Website. It has a ton of craft ideas to do with your kids. I've been on this website a few times and have enjoyed their ideas. I built the catapults before the party because of the hot glue, but the kids had a blast painting and decorating their catapults. We then had a competition with paper balls. They loved it. Who needs fancy party favors!?

I do like to send the kids off with goodie bags. That's the first thing my nephew asks when he walks into the party. "Do we get goodie bags?" We missed him this year. Again with our budget I wanted something nice but not huge. I found a template by IKari Designs on JessicaSprague.com for a cute lil' bag. These are great! They take a little more time and effort but they are adorable and hand made.

I made these for a couple of ladies I visit.

I've been working on some flower accessories. Today is the last day to enter for our giveaway. You can enter here. Thanks to everyone who has entered. I'm excited to be making these for you! Have a happy Thursday!

Happy Birthday, Monica!!!

Today is my sisters birthday!  Happy Birthday, Monica!!  This post is dedicated to you, and I hope it makes your day brighter. 

I am sorry we can't be with you, and celebrate.  Even though you think it's just another day...it really isn't!  I am so happy you were born!  I don't know what I would do without my big sis.  You have been there for me through everything.  You were there for the birth of both of my children.  How amazing is that?!  Kinda gross, but whatev.  ;o)  I am so happy we turned into best friends.  I didn't think we had much hope as children as much as we fought, but look at us now.  I don't think there's a day that goes by that I don't talk to you and if I don't, I don't like it...AT ALL.  You are such an amazing human being.  An amazing daughter, sister, grand-daughter, Mom, wife, auntie, and friend.  You have so many talents and you excel in all of them.  I strive to be like you, and hope some day I can be as awesome at crafts, sewing, decorating cakes and cupcakes, photography, scrapbooking, etc...I could go on and on and on.  I hope you are celebrated today and are spoiled rotten.  You truly deserve it.  I miss you so much and can't wait to see you again.  Even if we just sit in my living room eating and watch Food Network all day.  Love you so much, Erica*

Now...in celebration I made what I thought was one of your favorite desserts.  It was SUPER hard, but I think it turned out wonderfully.  It sure tastes yummy!  Wish you could have a bite.  Maybe I should overnight it to you?

Creme Brulee
Here's the recipe
1 quart heavy cream
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
10 egg yolks
3/4 c sugar plus more for sprinkling the tops

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.  In a large saucepan bring cream and vanilla to ALMOST a boil.  Set aside.  Place egg yolks in large bowl and add sugar.  Whisk these til light yellow in color.  (It takes a lot of elbow grease!!!)  Add cream 1 cup at a time whisking constantly and vigorously to prevent your eggs from cooking.  Continue adding the rest to the bowl very slowly whisking constantly.  Add a little more rapidly as the mix warms.  Place ramekins in a rimmed baking sheet.  Fill them 3/4 full.  Place pan inside oven and fill rimmed pan with water until reaches half way up ramekins.  Bake for 35-40 minutes until custard is set but not brown!  Remove ramekins and allow to cool.  Refridgerate covered for 2 hours or over night.  When ready to serve sprinkle about 1 TBSP sugar on top of custard.  Using a kitchen torch, or in my case, Jason's BIG outside torch  burn sugar to a crisp working quickly to avoid cooking the custard.  Serve immediately!  DELISH!!!

Coy blew out the candle for you!  :o)

And for an extra special treat, here's a few notes from people who care about you.  Thanks everyone who sent me your notes.  I truly appreciate it!

My Moni... what a wonderful opportunity of having to do this for you... your little Sis is very clever and she did it because she misses you and loves you. Just as I do love you and miss you too. *Very much!*  Moni... you have been a joy in our family, a very quite and peaceful child and always were the peace maker of all.


I will never forget the night you were born... we had to drive all the way from Malad to Logan- Utah and it took 45 min. to drive there... when I went for my check up Dr. said you must stay this child will be born tonight.  So I did go into the Hospital by 7 p.m. and Dr. did what he had to do and you were born in less than 3 hours. You came fast.. you did try to be born way before your time but we were so grateful you decided to wait till it was time.  You were born on 9/29/78 at 9:29 p.m.  You had the most beautiful black hair and when they brought you to me after you were cleaned they said this beauty is a *10* that was the highest score for a pretty baby.. and boy did I feel super excited.. even if they told me that you were just a 1 or 2 or whatever #... you were the most beautiful baby girl I had.  I love you so very much!.. and I am so grateful you decided to stay and be part of our family.


I wish you my Moni all the best.. and yes you are very far away but my thoughts and prayers are with you every single day.  You are a great example to me... and to many and I couldn't ask for a better daughter, wife and mother.  May our Father in Heaven bless you always and may His precious Love, Peace and Spirit always dwell with you and your precious family and home.

I love you my Moni..and I miss you so very much!.
Much love and kisses ..
Your Mama

Dear Moni,

Happy Happy Birthday!! Love you so much and miss you a lot. You are a wonderful daughter with many talents. I'm always so impressed at each new undertaking and how you master everything perfectly! Your scrapbooking is amazing. You are an excellent cook and a very talented baker -I miss sampling your yummy cupcakes! You are a wonderful seamstress. You are a skilled special education teacher with much dedication to those you teach. You serve our country faithfully. Most important, you are a supportive wife to Aaron and a loving mother to Ben and Maggie! We are so very lucky to have you in our family. Wish I could give you a big hug today. Just know I send my love and wishes for a wonderful day. I'll be thinking of you all day in that far away Missouri!
Love, Mom L
 
Monica impresses me in many ways—she is resourceful and makes do with what she has. She is well educated and has used her education to help provide for her family. (I still hear compliments from people at Bingham who knew her or worked with her there, and the both love and miss her.) She has wonderful talents in decorating cakes and and cupcakes, and she has excelled in the world of scrapbooking. She is a great conversationalist—easy to talk to, pleasant, and polite to others. She thinks she is not smart, but I think she is very smart and knowledgeable, especially about things that matter. She is a trooper and a pioneer—following and supporting her husband as he seeks to develop his talents. She is fun at family gatherings—her cheerful presences is felt as she lightens a gathering with happiness. But perhaps the thing that I most admire and appreciate about Monica is the way she raises her children—my grandchildren. She takes such good care of them. She is sensitive to their needs, and she teaches them to be polite and respectful. She helps them to feel that they are important without making them feel conceded. She starts on their level and builds them. She uses these same talents in interacting with other children. Thanks, Monica, for being a part of our family and for doing so much good for all of us.  Love, Bob

Dear Monica,
I want to wish you a very happy birthday. I wish we could spend this special day with you, but we will just have to rely on the computer. Now on your special day, I want to see a picture of you eating cake! You just show us how pretty those cupcakes are, but I want to see you stuff one of those babies in your mouth and really show us how yummy they are. Well I am sending you lots of love and special wishes from our house to your's. We miss you and your family tons. But I know the years go fast and you and your family will soon be closer to home.
Have a wonderfull day, I love you lot's!
Aunt Linda and Uncle JR

My dear Monica, just wanted to send you a little note to let you know that I am thinking about you and wishing you a very wonderful *Birthday* I also want you to know that I miss you very much and also Aaron and your little ones Benny and Maggie.
Sure love you my Monica!
Much love and kisses...
Grandmama

OH Monica. I wish you the best year. I'm so proud of your accomplishments, love you as a parent, and laugh at your goofiness when were together. You deserve a happy birthday so enjoy! Miss your face sis. Love Brian

Monica, I will always remember our trip to Moab as one of the best experiences I have ever had. I treasure that time together and so enjoyed just being us and having fun. We got to see so much and you had the idea to do it. You are spontaneous and cool. You are one of the coolest people I have ever known. I love you immensely and know that when we see each other whether it has been a few months or longer that it will seem as if no time has passed at all. I love your family and am so proud of how talented and kind you are. You are beautiful inside and out. Have a wonderful birthday and I can't wait to take a trip and see your new home.  Connie

OH Monica. I just wanted to tell you for your birthday that you are truly inside and out one of the MOST BEAUTIFUL people I have ever met. I love that we can talk and have different views about life and such but we also see each other's side and appreciate it. I love how willing you are to listen and how big your heart is. Cause it is always open to help and to love. I love your craftiness. You have so much talent in your two hands. I really love you and miss you and I hope you have the best birthday yet! Love Jen!

Happy Happy Birthday Monica! You are a wonderful sister-in-law, and I so miss having you around. I will always remember (unless I have alzheimers someday!) the first time I met you. You were a brave woman to meet the family on a weekend getaway to Ruby's Inn. You seemed quiet and a little unsure of us, but you were also very nice and I knew we would be friends. I was also instantly and extremely jealous of your beautiful, long, dark, thick head of hair!

You are such a talented lady! I so miss your cupcakes. My mouth is watering for one right now! Plus, your scrap booking and sewing skills are envied by many - especially me. I absolutely love my beach bag and thought of you every time we went to the splash park this summer.
Have a wonderful day and know that you are loved and missed by many. I can't wait to see you in just two short weeks!
Love you!
-Jamie

Happy birthday, I hope you have a fantastic birthday. You are one of my favorite sisters in law. I look forward to the day when I can punch you in the arm again. Have a great time in Missouri and know that you are loved and missed. Just you though, not Aaron, well you and the kids...Brian S.

Monica, you are an amazing woman and an inspiration to me in many ways. You are incredibly talented and an exceptional mom. I love you lots and miss you tons! Can't wait to see you in a couple of weeks. Happy birthday!! I hope it's a good one!  Mindy

Happy birthday. I hope you have a great day. I miss your sweet, kind, fun self. I love you

Martin :)

I remember when I first met Monica and I have known her every since. I'm glad that after all these years she is still my favorite sister-in-law (pause for laughs). Anywho, I wouldn't be the same person today if it weren't for Monica...I mean I do think that I am a better person because of her (and I don't mean because she has humbled me by pinning me down when we would wrestle or from the dead arms from her punches). Here's to another 24 happy years of life! (Yes I know she's older than 24).  Jake

Monica--

I hope you have a really Really REALLY HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! I really miss you guys. It's just not the same without you here!! I wish that I could be there to celebrate your birthday with you. I love you lots!! Hope your Birthday is FANTABULOUS!!!   Emily

Monica,

Happy Birthday!  I miss you guys.  And the next time I see you I will have to kick your ass again at Mario Party.  Love you, Jason

Hey Monica happy Birthday Here's hoping you have a very fine day AND FOLLOWING YEAR.  Miss your mug being around...Uncle Joe

Have a wonderful birthday Monica.  You really are a sweetheart and we wish you and you darling family the best in your adventures.  You are a great example to everyone around you and you have such a sweet and strong spirit that can be felt whenever anyone is in your presence.  Love, The Wyoming Coltons

Happy Birthday Monica! Miss you tonz and wish you were here. Love ya, Jammie

Monica-

Happy Birthday Cousin! I hope your family spoils you to pieces, you deserve it! I love you and miss you!!!

Amber Patty


I can remember the first day I met you when coming to the Lifferth family dinner. Right away you told me "listen Carla this is how it's done in the Lifferth family." Now that I'm a part of the family I know all of the things you've told me is real LOL. Monica, without you even knowing it you shown me how to be a great wife & mother (once that time comes). Seeing your love and care as a daughter in law has made me a better daughter in law. I love being a part of your life & I'm so happy that you're a part of mine.
Love you,  Carla Lifferth

Happy HAPPY Birthday, Sis!  Love you so much!!  Have an awesome day!  *hugs*

And you only have til Thursday to enter our giveaway.  My talented sister will be making 3 bows to giveaway.  Enter in our Friday Favorites!!!  Have a great "Hump Day"!  :o)

Digi Day

I do have some big news today. JessicaSprague.com has grown in a big way the last few months. They have added 4-5 new designers and are pumping out many new products weekly. They announced that they are having another Creative Team call. Here is the flyer and a link with all the information you need to apply.

Information Here.

Being part of the Jessica Sprague Creative Team has been amazing for me. I have loved being "in" on some of the happenings on the website and I love getting to know others who love what I do. It has given me the opportunity to document my life and my childrens lives. I love that I am telling my children through pictures, words, and art how much they mean to me. I know if anything ever happened to me they would know without a doubt how much I love them. That's important to me. So, if you have even the slightest temptation to enter this call, please do. You have nothing to lose. It's fun.

Okay, and here are my layouts for the week. I actually got a few done. Yay!

This one I made to showcase the Braided Digital Kit by Kitschy Digitals. I love the cute braids and rosettes. So fun. I love this photo of Maggs too. It's a little blurry but I had to use it. She is actually looking at me and I put the camera down at her level and snapped the shot. Priceless. Credits Here.

These are Halloween photos from a couple years ago. I love when I get to catch up on past events. This layout is showcasing the Happy Halloween Kit by Echo Park. It was a fun kit to play with. Credits Here.

This is third layout from Jessica Sprague's Now We're Rockin' Digital Scrapbooking Class. I love these classes. They make me happy. And I'm still learning. See how the end of the ribbons are cut as if I used scissors on real ribbon? On another past layout I took several minutes trying to figure out how to do this and ended up doing a shoddy job. Jessica taught me a quick 30 second tool to get it done. Hello! Polygonal Lasso tool! Only photoshop people would understand my frustrations. Super cute layout though.

Hope everyone is having a great week. Remember to enter our drawing here for some FREE cute flower accessories. :) Happy Tuesday!

Monday Match-Up

Peaches is what I chose to do this week.  I couldn't resist!  They looked so delicious and juicy in the store and I was right...they were!  Thanks to my awesome friend, Susie, she gave me the perfect recipe to use them in.  I was so happy that I did, and my family was too.  Who would've thunk?!  A Peach Chimichanga?!  Oh yes...and to hear my baby boy say chimichanga makes it all worth it too.  :o)  It's so easy to put together and the toppings are endless!  I chose to top mine with whipped cream and more fresh peaches.  Jason, on the other hand, wanted vanilla ice cream on top of his.  They were both delicious.  Yes, I tried both!  I have a good excuse...remember? ;o) If you want to use canned peaches for this recipe then go right ahead.  I think it'd taste just as good.

Here's the recipe for a family of 4-

4-6" flour tortillas, warmed
4 TBSP Cream cheese, softened

3 ripe peaches, skinned, and diced up

1/4 tsp cinnamon

Oil for frying
And toppings of your choice such as whipped cream, vanilla ice cream, powdered sugar, caramel ice cream, caramel ice cream topping...I could go on and on.

Spread tortillas with cream cheese.  Combine peaches and cinnamon; spoon down the center of the tortilla.  Fold sides and ends over filling and roll up.

In a skillet or deep fat fryer, heat 1 inch of oil to 375 degrees.  Fry them for 1 minute on each side or until golden brown.  Drain on paper towels.  Serve warm.

I hope you all enjoyed these as much as I did.  I think this will be a new family favorite for us. 

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Remember that time when I went all crazy about Rice pudding? If not then, here's a reminder. Anyhoo, when Erica told me peaches for Monday my mind went straight to Peach Bread Pudding. I did a quick Google Search and came upon a recipe by Emeril. I just can't get away from The Food Network. This was a fun lil' recipe. It was not too difficult to whip up and it made my heart and taste buds sing. Seriously, so yum.

I hadn't had a lot of luck with peaches this year, so I was crossing my fingers for some good ones. I was in luck! Look at these beauties.

 While I soaked day old bread in milk and cream, I peeled and cut about 2 lbs. of peaches. I love hand peeling fruit. It reminds me of my Grandma. I watched her hand peel a lot of fruit and she taught me how to do it myself.

After they were all peeled I cooked them in a skillet with sugar until they were soft around the edges and delicious looking. They look awesome, right? They were then folded into the bread, milk, egg, mixture and baked in the oven until golden brown and set.

I made Cinnamon Sauce to drizzle on top. I based it off Emeril's recipe but instead of adding amaretto, I put in 1/2 t. of cinnamon. It was tasty and complimented the pudding perfectly. Is there anyone out there that loves puddings as much as I do?

You can find the recipe here.

Reminder, we are doing our second Giveaway. If you want to enter leave a comment on THIS post and link us from your blog or facebook. Is it Monday already? Here we go!