Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Happy New Year

So it is a tradition for Ev and I to go to Logan for New Year's Eve. We left early in the moring this year so Evan can play video games for one last time before school starts. This is a funny conversation that we had in the car:

Evan- I'm hungry. Do you think we should stop and eat?
Heather- Sure. Where did you have in mind? (He always has something in mind if he is asking if we should stop).
Evan- Anywhere.
meanwhile...we continue to drive.

Now I am starting to get hungry. We see an IHOP...

Evan- Have you ever eaten at IHOP?
Heather- Yes I have.
Evan- Is it expensive, because I heard that it is a little expensive for breakfast.
Heather- How should I know, I never have paid!

With that comment, we continued to drive until we saw something else.

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Wow...

I realize it has been a while since I have posted, so here is a recap of the things that have been going on. After Thanksgiving, Evan and I went up Provo Canyon and cut down our Christmas tree. This year was so much better than last; one there was only a few inches of snow, two it was so much warmer, and three- Ev's favorite- we bought an awesome saw that only took a few minutes to cut. I will post pictures sometime.

Other new things, we are moving! Yes that is right, but don't fear, we are just going across the parking lot- literally! I think we are going to move next weekend, so if anyone is bored, you know give us a call! :) Sorry, a little shameless plug for help.

I started to digital scrapbook! So much better than cutting paper. Here are some of the pages that I have made so far. They are older pictures, but I need to start my current scrapbooks over because I want them all to be digital.







I don't think anything else has happend (that I want to share) so Merry Christmas everyone. I will post pictures of Idaho and Christmas stuff.

Monday, December 8, 2008

4 meals for $20

So I am trying to cut our budget due to Evan's knee surgery, and I thought that I would share some of my recipes. If you were to buy all of the ingredients, it would cost about $35 dollars, but I have most of them around the house so I think I spent about $17. Happy cooking!


Barbeque Beef Casserole (Serves 4) cost about $5

1 pound ground beef
1/2 large onion, diced
1/2 green bell pepper, seeded and diced
1/2 (10 ounce) can whole kernel corn, drained
1/4 cup barbeque sauce
1/2 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes, drained
1 (8.5 ounce) package corn bread mix

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).

2. Crumble the ground beef into a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook until evenly browned. Add the onion, bell pepper, corn and tomatoes. Cook and stir until vegetables are tender. Drain excess grease, and stir in the barbeque sauce. Spread the beef mixture in an even layer in a 9x13 inch baking dish.

3. Prepare the cornbread batter mixes according to package directions. Spread the batter over the top of the beef mixture.

4. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes in the preheated oven, until the top is golden brown, and a knife inserted into the center of the cornbread layer comes out clean.


Taco Pie (serves 4) Cost about $6

1 (9 inch) deep dish frozen pie crusts, thawed
1/2 pound ground beef
1/2 (16 ounce) can refried beans
1/2 onion, chopped
1/2 cup crushed tortilla chips
1/2 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
1 cup shredded lettuce
1/2 large tomato, diced
sour cream
black olives

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Bake pie crusts following package directions, but cutting the bake time in half.

2. In a large, heavy skillet over medium-high heat, cook the ground beef until evenly brown; drain excess fat.

3. Place the refried beans in the pie shell, smearing over the bottom and the sides of the partially baked shell. Spread a layer of ground meat over the beans, and top with the onion, crushed tortilla chips, and cheese.

4. Bake 15 to 20 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown, and the cheese is bubbly. Top with lettuce, tomato, sour cream, and black olives.


Cheesy Chicken and Potato Casserole (Serves 4) Cost about $5

1-1/2 skinless, boneless chicken breasts
1/2 (5.5 ounce) package scalloped potato mix
2 potatoes, thinly sliced
1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

2. Cook chicken breasts on the stove top until tender. Meanwhile, prepare potatoes according to package directions, adding 1 cup (instead of 2/3 cup) of milk and sliced potatoes. When chicken is tender, remove from heat, let cool and shred. Add shredded chicken to potato mixture.

3. Fold chicken/potato mixture into a 9x13 inch baking dish. Cover and bake in the preheated oven for 25 to 35 minutes. Add cheese and bake for another 10 minutes.


Chicken Enchiladas (Serves 6) Cost about $6

1 tablespoon butter
1/2 cup chopped green onions
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1 (4 ounce) can diced green chiles
1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed cream of mushroom soup
1/2 cup sour cream
1 1/2 cups cubed cooked chicken breast meat
1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese, divided
6 (12 inch) flour tortillas
1/4 cup milk

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a large baking dish.

2. In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter and saute the green onion until tender (about 3 to 4 minutes). Add the garlic powder, then stir in the green chiles, cream of mushroom soup and sour cream. Mix well. Reserve 3/4 of this sauce and set aside. To the remaining 1/4 of the sauce in the saucepan, add the chicken and 1/2 cup of shredded Cheddar cheese. Stir together.

3. Fill each flour tortilla with the chicken mixture and roll up. Place seam side down in the prepared baking dish.

4. In a small bowl combine the reserved 3/4 of the sauce with the milk. Spoon this mixture over the rolled tortillas and top with the remaining 1/2 cup of shredded Cheddar cheese. Bake in the preheated oven for 30 to 35 minutes, or until cheese is bubbly.

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Thanksgiving Break

We have been home for 2 days and I already miss California and the warm sun. Here are some of the things that I miss...

First my favorite sign to see (mostly because I know that our 10 hour car ride only has 3 left)



My next favorite sign is an all time favorite road on the way to my parents.



I miss the beach and my home town!





A must have while we are in California is In-N-Out Burgers. Don't hate. And ps if anyone wants to take a road trip to St. George, they just opened one there!

Thursday, November 27, 2008

Thanksgiving at my parents

My little nephew learned a few turkey songs in kindergarten! It is one of the funniest things I have heard all weekend.



This is the great big turkey song.



We don't know the name of this one, but we call it the gobble, gobble, wobble, wobble.

Monday, November 24, 2008

Ev's Home!

Yeah Evan is finally home. He was in Orlando, Florida for 4 days at a national tax competition. As cool and exciting as that sounds, he had a lot of fun. He gimped around Disney World on Friday and then again on Sunday when he went for a 5 mile walk with his accounting group. I am so proud of him! He is the smartest guy I know. And even better news, now that this competion is over, x-tax is over and the LSAT is done with, I now have my hubby back full time (besides his church duties). The only downfall, now I have to start making dinner before 9 at night!

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

I love the new gas prices

Who else is enjoying the cheap gas? I filled up today for less that $20! Yup that's right, from below the red line to full, $19.87. Way to go economy, milk is now more per gallon than gas. I am not dreading the 1200 mile drive to my parent's house for Thanksgiving anymore because now I know that we will not go bankrupt for our gas bill.

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

I've Been Tagged

So, my blog has been up for 1 day, and I was tagged already (thanks Cam). Here it goes...

4 Random things I love about my husband
1- His awesomeness
2- His drive to do well in school
3- His love for his family
4- His integrity

4 Jobs I've had
1- Accountant
Sorry, trick question- I have only been an accountant!

4 Movies I've watched more than once
1- 13 Going on 30
2- How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days
3- Raising Hellen
4- Judge Judy's greatest hits (really I have it if you want to borrow it)

4 TV shows I watch
1- The Office- love this, and watching it with Evan is even funnier
2- What not to Wear
3- He!!'s Kitchen- Past his bad language, Chef Ramsey is amazing. Check out Chef's Table in Provo if you don't believe me
4- Law & Order- I have seen every episode from all 30 something seasons combined!

4 places I have been
1- Times Square in New York
2- Tiajuana
3- Ft. Lauderdale, FL- thank you work
4- Atlana, GA- again thank you work

4 places I have lived
1- Wildomar, CA- google it, it exists!
2- Rexburg, ID- BIGGER town than Wildomar
3- Salt Lake City, UT
4- Provo, UT

4 of my favorite foods
1- Anything Mexican
2- Pumpkin cookies
3- Chicken curry burrito from NY Burrito
4- Did I mention Mexican food :)

4 places I would like to visit
1- Milan/Rome
2- Paris
3- Philippines- Evan loves it so I want to see what the fuss is all about
4- Great Wall of China

4 people I tag:
1- Monica R
2- Shannon W
3- Corey S
4- Beth P

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

Here we go again!

So I didn't have time before to blog (and to be honest I still don't) but I am going to try this again! I didn't update my last blog as often as I wanted, so this time around I started 2 blogs. I know, I know but this time is different, I hope. I need to stay in contact with people, and as good friends start to move away for jobs and school, this is the only way to stay in contact with everyone and not run up the phone bill. So Cammie this is for you! :)