Can't take the heat?

So, last night we got a call...


caller: "Sister Roser? This is Elder _____."
me: "Oh no! Dinner tomorrow!"

We have been trying for MONTHS to get the missionaries over for dinner. I never see the sign-ups since I am in Young Womens and even if I did, they fill up SO FAST! So several weeks ago, I finally got my name down for today. Well, then a couple of weeks ago, Ryan agreed to cover someone's shift - it included today. UGH!

me: "I am so sorry! Yes, I will still feed you - but it turns out my husband can't be here, can I bring you your dinner instead?"

Of course they said yes and when I asked, they said that they had no requests - or allergies - so I could make whatever I wanted.

I made my favorite... Spaghetti Diablo. Haven't you heard about it? I'm nearly famous for it. Seriously! People in other countries (okay, just one person in one other country) RAVE about it and when they find out I've made it, they are insanely jealous. (To Landon: *Sticks tongue out* I made the missionaries Spaghetti Diablo today, neener, neener! lol)

As I was serving a *healthy* portion into some containers to take to them, a piece of chicken fell on the floor. Now, my dog does not eat people food. However, if it falls on the floor I usually let him (more like WANT him to) "clean" it up. He quickly obliged. After about a minute he made a bee-line for his water dish and drank that puppy dry! LOL What's wrong Simon? Can't take the heat? (Did I mention that I kind of accidentally put in TWICE the cayenne pepper? lol But that's okay - I actually like it that way! And it wasn't exactly "twice" - it was only 50 - 75% more, lol.)

Because this is my VERY FAVORITE food to make, I will now share my recipe with you. (This is my version. Well, one of them. I tend to be "flexible" with some of the details from time to time, lol. It is altered from it's original version to suit my personal preferences. The original comes from a cookbook that Ryan's parents own.)

Spaghetti Diablo

3 cups cooked, cubed chicken breasts
1 lb. vermicilli (or spaghetti - I often use whole wheat spaghetti)
1 onion, chopped
2 mushrooms, chopped
3-4 garlic cloves, minced
Olive Oil
28 oz can crushed tomatoes
8 oz can tomato sauce
2 t. Italian seasonings
1 T. sugar
1/2 t. salt
Sprinkle of black pepper
1 t. cayenne pepper (I almost always add more, cause I like it hot, hot, HOT!)
Grated Parmesan Cheese

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cook pasta, drain, set aside. Saute onions, mushrooms, and garlic in olive oil. Add crushed tomatoes and tomato sauce. Add all spices and seasonings. When heated through and well blended, combine with cooked chicken and pasta. Transfer to casserole or baking dish, sprinkle with parmesan cheese. Bake for about 20-25 minutes.

You can easily alter the cayenne pepper to suit you and your families taste. But you should at least try it this way once - it's so good! And besides, the above amount isn't really THAT spicy at all.

Oh, and it's a great recipe to freeze. I like to make a BIG batch and then freeze some for another night when I don't have time or am not in the mood to cook. Just defrost completely and bake for maybe an extra 5 minutes or so.

Resurrection Cookies

If you're looking for a great Easter tradition to do with your family, especially one that will help remind you of why were REALLY celebrate Easter... try this one:

Resurrection Cookies

The cookies are really delicious, and making them as a
family is a great way to experience the Easter
message. Read the whole recipe before beginning…try
to do together Saturday night before Easter Sunday.

Preheat oven 300 degrees.

Ingredients: You need:
1 cup whole pecans Mixing bowl
3 egg whites Wooden spoon
1 cup sugar Bible
1 tsp. Vinegar Zipper baggie
1 pinch of salt Waxed paper
Cookie sheet
Tape

Place the pecans in zipper baggie and let the children
beat them with the wooden spoon to break into small
pieces. Explain that after Jesus was arrested, He was
beaten by the Roman soldiers. Read John 19:1-3

Let children smell the vinegar. Put 1 tsp. into
mixing bowl. Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on
the cross, He was given vinegar to drink. Read John
19:28-30

Add egg whites to the vinegar. Eggs represent life.
Explain that Jesus gave His life to give us life.
Read John 10:10-11

Sprinkle a little salt into each child’s hand. Let
them taste it and brush the rest into the bowl.
Explain that this represents the salty tears shed by
Jesus’ followers, and the bitterness of our own sin.
Read Luke 23:27

So far, the ingredients are not very appetizing. Add
1 cup sugar. Explain that the sweetest part of the
story is that Jesus died because He loves us. He
wants us to know and belong to Him. Read Psalm 34:8
and John 3:16

Beat with a mixer on high speed for 11-15 minutes
until stiff peaks are formed. Explain that the color
white represents the purity in God’s eyes of those
whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus. Read Isaiah
1:18 and John 3:1-3

Fold in broken nuts. Drop by tsp. onto waxed
paper-covered cookie sheet. Explain that each mound
represents the rocky tomb where Jesus’ body was laid.
Read Matt 27:59-60

Put cookie sheet in the oven. Close the door and turn
the oven OFF. Give each child a piece of tape and
seal the oven door. Explain that Jesus’ tomb was
sealed. Read Matt 27:65-66

GO TO BED!

Explain that they may feel sad to leave the cookies in
the oven overnight. Jesus’ followers were in despair
when the tomb was sealed. Read John 16:20 and 22

On Resurrection Morning open the oven and give
everyone a cookie! Notice the cracked surface and
take a bite. The cookies are hollow! On the first
Resurrection Day, Jesus’ followers were amazed to find
the tomb open and empty. Read Matt 28:1-9

HE HAS RISEN! HALLELUJAH!

Red and Yellow and Pink and Green...

Have you ever heard that song?  "I can sing a rainbow...."  I think I used to know it in sign language too - WAY BACK WHEN, lol.

Last night, Acadia and I colored Easter Eggs!  Way fun!  I love hard cooked eggs and it's fun to color them pretty colors.  I love to mix colors, like I'll dye an egg green, then dip it in blue a few times to make the color richer.  Last night I put an egg in three different colors but only partially, at different angles, so it looks really cool.

Well, I took a few pics... Here they are...

Scared to death!

Acadia's bus came by on time and I waited for her to come through the door. And I waited... looked outside and didn't see her. I called our neighbor since she often walks their kids home first then comes here. They said that she wasn't there but that they thought she had gotten off the bus. So I looked again... and went to the other neighbor's to see if she was there.

My first thoughts were, "If she is fooling around - she's grounded!" But when she wasn't anywhere to be found - but the kids said she was definitely on the bus - I just started praying she was okay and that I would find her!

I called the school and they got the transportation department on the line. They were able to contact her bus. Turns out she had been talking to a friend and completely missed the stop! The driver brought her back around when she was done with the other stops.

Man, oh man! I was so scared! When she got off the bus I was crying and I hugged her... she thought she was going to get grounded or be in trouble. No, I'm just glad she's okay!

But I did ask her to try to pay closer attention to the bus stops next time!

It's all in the voice.

"In my defense, the kid wasn't all that bright before the dodgeball hit him." - Kronk, The Emperor's New School

Acadia was watching the cartoon (if you haven't seen it, you aren't missing much... It's nothing like the movie - which was so funny... Now, if you haven't seen THAT - then you SHOULD!)... Yeah, so Cadi was watching the show and I heard that line, oh man it just sounded funny and made me laugh!

I love Kronk! He's the best in the original, The Emperor's New Groove (he's does his own theme music... lol). I wasn't impressed with Kronk's New Groove, which totally bummed me out because Kronk is the best part about Emperor's New Groove - so I had been hoping for it to be better. :( But yeah, Kronk... his voice - it's so funny! There are two actors whose voices just "make" their characters, no matter who they are playing... Obviously Patrick Warburton (Kronk) and Owen Wilson!

Now, Owen annoyed me the first time I saw him. But by the time the movie was over, I loved him!!! And now I like watching almost anything he's in - just to hear his voice! He is so funny!
Oh man... just thinking about either of them make me chuckle... lol.

Round

Okay, before you start saying, "Dang Girl!  You're HUGE already!!!  How on earth will you make it to 9 months?!?"...

This was a picture taken a little over 7 years ago, when I was 8 1/2 months pregnant with Acadia.  It was June 7, 1999 and  I was trying to "induce" labor myself, so we went bowling.  Then a day or two later we went golfing, then bowling again, and again... While I never induced labor myself, I did "prep" my body and when I was induced on June 17th, I was already dilated to 4 cm and I was 75% effaced!  So, I guess it DID work, in a way.

Now, the truly depressing part of this picture is not that I actually still have those maternity clothes, 7 years later (and wear them, lol) but that I am frightfully closer to that size than I should be, given that I am only in my fifth month!  I hope I don't get too big!!!

I can't remember doing this with Cadi...

hehehe... I just ate some chocolate candy and now all of a sudden, my belly is a movin' and a shakin'! lol

I've heard ladies talk about doing it on purpose. Eating a candy bar and then waiting a few minutes for the sugar high to hit the baby. But I don't really remember ever doing it when I was pregant with Acadia.
... it's kind of fun, lol.