The Past month and a half....

Well I know I was complaining about not having an income for a month in my last post. Well..... I ended up starting early with my job and worked 3 weekends in August. I was so relieved. I also got another job and will be orientation tomorrow. I can't wait!! This will help with saving to move to CA.

My sister also went thru the Mesa Temple in August as well. I couldn't go due to work. I'm so happy for her and this major step in her life.

Two of my girls celebrated their birthdays in the last two weeks. All my girls are quite the beautiful young ladies. They are loving school and being with their friends again.

The other love in my life, Jason, is AMAZING!!!! He and I have been lifting one and another, it seems more and more frequently. He was apologizing yesterday that we wouldn't be able to talk as long as we usually do at night since he  needed to go to bed early to help the youth do baptisms at the Temple. I told him to please never apologize for honoring his priesthood. I told him that I love that he honors it and uses it frequently. It, to me, shows what kind of man he is and strives to be. I'm so lucky to have him, very soon...as a husband!

Jason and I have talked more about Our Wedding. We have set a date, colors, and etc. I'm getting more and more excited as the date gets closer. By the end of the year I will be moving to CA and then shortly after wards he and I will be married!!

I'm happy for those in my life and the love they give me. I wouldn't change it for the world! I hope and pray that everyone is safe and happy!

Today has been....

.... I don't know.... what can I say.... I haven't talked to Jason at all today, he was going to an Air show there in Northern Cali. today. And boy do I miss him today!!! My day always seems brighter while talking to him... I wish I could have spoken to him for a little bit today.... oh well.

I talked to my girls last night, well at least three of them... They certainly do like the Harry Potter Movies.... Always watching one when I call. They are apparently doing good and having fun a summer camp and swimming.

Yesterday went and donated plasma. Had a student that ended up sticking me but I could tell she infiltrated my vein. Another phlebotomy tech took her place and couldn't get it, so finally the actual phlebotomist came and got a flow so I could donate. Then she went on lunch. Meanwhile I was able to go thru two cycles of donating and then I had a low flow and ended up with another tech to adjust it. Well by the 3rd time the blood was supposed to return there was absolutely no flow. I know I had a huge clot due to all the maneuvering of the needle to get the vein. Well he pulled out the needle and tried to look for a vein on my other arm to return the blood, but he couldn't find one. So by now 4 people have worked on my one arm for donating and I was about to have another come to try to find a vein on the other.... let me tell you by this time I was getting annoyed. When the last person stuck me and couldn't find a vein, which was very painful, I just wanted it over with. Well it finally was over with and I ended up sitting there for 15 minutes and now I ended up deferred for 56 days. That was the most upsetting part for me since it is the only way I'm able to pay for gas. Plus I don't start work (Independent Contractor for demo's in Fry's Stores) until the 27th of August and that is only on weekends.... a month of NO Income!!!

 What am I to do??

Today, I saw that AmeriCopy is hiring full time so I think I will turn in an application first thing Monday. I pray that I can get it.... it will be the 2nd or 3rd time I've turned in an application with them. Plus it will help me out so much to save to move to Cali. and marry Jason.

Keeping fingers crossed that I can get something and very soon!!!

Well I did help my grandparents out a bit today with making some little booklets of family history from my grandfather's siblings. HAHA!! Staples are so much trouble!!! I think we end up using one whole row of staples to bind the books and the books weren't thick at all... But nonetheless they are done and ready for the family reunion next weekend. The journals I made for the auction are done and I still need to finish the lap quilt for it as well. I might end up helping my grandma with her's if she gets to swamped with the other sewing and mending projects she has at the moment. I won't be going up to the reunion because we don't have a dog sitter for Daisy so I'll be watching her.

Caramel French Toast

I got this recipe from the Storyteller's Cafe in Disney's Grand Californian Hotel and Spa.


Vanilla Sauce:
4 egg yolks
4 Tbs sugar
1 Vanilla bean split & scraped
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

Whisk together the yolks and sugar in a small bowl. In a saucepan, bring the milk and vanilla bean & extract to a low boil, then remove from heat. Add a little heated milk to the egg mixture to temper it, then add the tempered egg mixture to the heated milk. Simmer over medium heat for a few minutes, stirring constantly, until lightly thickened, but do not boil. Transfer to a bowl and set aside in an ice bath.

Caramel Sauce:
8 Tbs butter
1 cup brown sugar
1 1/2 cup heavy cream

Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add brown sugar and mix well. Add cream and bring to a simmer. Keep warm until needed

French Toast:
1/2 cup milk
2 eggs
1/2 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp cinnamon
8 slices of texas style bread

Mix first four ingredients. Dip bread in egg mixture and cook on griddle. This step can be replaced with your favorite french toast recipe.

This is how you assemble this delicious breakfast. Place one slice of french toast on your plate top with vanilla sauce, top with second piece of french toast. And for the creme de la creme, smother with the caramel sauce. Continue with remaining pieces of french toast.

This is wonderful to serve with strawberries to dip in the sauce left on your plate.

Carmel Chocolate chip cookies

 

Ingredients:

4 Large eggs

2 tsp salt

2tsp baking soda

1 pound light brown sugar

2 cups sugar

1 cup shortening

4 cups flour

2 tsp vanilla extract

1 bag of chocolate chips

1 bag of carmel bits

Preheat oven at 350 degrees.

Combine everything but the flour, chocolate, and carmel in a large mixing bowl. Mix until shortening is completely cut it. Add flour and fold in with spatula. Then add in the chocolate chips and carmel bits.

Spoon cookie dough on cookie sheets and bake for 10 to 13 mins or until golden brown edges. Let them cool to the touch and serve with vanilla ice cream or glass of milk.

This dough makes a lot of cookies... atleast three dozen. I can usually get about 60 cookies out of it.

Cheese Buger Pizza

Hamburger
Shredded Cheddar Cheese
Pizza crust dough
mustard
ketchup
lettuce, chopped
tomato, diced
onion, diced


Pre heat oven according to directions on dough package. Brown the ground beef, drain. Top the crust with the hamburger and cheese, cook until dough is cooked and cheese is melted. Then top with lettuce, tomato, onion. Drizzle ketchup and mustard on top. Slice and enjoy!!

You can also add cooked crumbled bacon on top.

Saucy Apricot-Glazed Chicken

This is a slow-cooker rendition of the ever-popular chicken glazed with a mixture of apricot preserves, Russian dressing and dry onion soup mix that's usually baked in the oven. Serve over wild rice or white rice; or try basmati or jasmine rice, cooked on top of the stove.

RECIPE INGREDIENTS:
1 cup good-quality chunky apricot preserves
3/4 cup bottled Russian dressing
1 1.15-oz. envelope dry onion soup mix
12 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves, trimmed of fat (about 3 1/2 to 4 lbs.)

1. In a medium bowl, mix together apricot preserves, dressing and dry onion soup mix until well blended. Arrange three of the chicken breast halves in the bottom of a 3 1/2-quart electric slow cooker. Spoon a fourth of the apricot mixture on top. Add three or more layers of chicken with the apricot mixture in between and on top. 2. Cover and cook on the High heat setting for 1 hour. Reduce the heat setting to Low and continue cooking, covered, 2 1/2 to 3 hours, or until the chicken is tender and white throughout; do not overcook or the chicken will toughen. Serve the sauce over the chicken. Makes 8 to 10 servings.

Apricot Lemon Chicken

With a hint of both sweet and sour, this zesty, slow-cooker dish is a favorite with kids, especially when served with fluffy white rice and peas.

RECIPE INGREDIENTS:
2 pounds of boneless breast of chicken
1 lemon, quartered
1 teaspoon Kosher salt (or a 1/2 teaspoon of regular salt)
1 teaspoon brown sugar
1/4 cup coarsely chopped dried apricots
1/4 cup orange juice
1 teaspoon thyme (or 3-4 four sprigs fresh thyme, if available)

1. Pull chicken breasts apart and place them in the bottom of a 4 1/2 quart (or similar) slow cooker. Squeeze the quartered lemons over the chicken meat, and drop the squeezed lemon quarters in the pot. Pour orange juice over the chicken.
2. Add the remaining ingredients and stir until well mixed. Cook on high for 4 hours.
3. Serves 6.