Canning Salsa

I have a killer homemade, fresh salsa recipe, that i love to make and love to eat...so I've gotten spoiled and so has my family. We like very few store salsas (unless they are over $5). But, my fresh stuff doesn't stay good for long, and I don't like making it daily, so I remembered I loved Lyric's mom's canned salsa recipe, so the other night I canned 10 huge jars of salsa! We love salsa a bit sweet and not too spicy, so we've been plowing through our supply. The best thing about it is that you don't need a canner...the jars seal themselves! Here's the recipe if you want to give it a try.

P.S. You have to have a HUGE pot, buy the tomatoes at Costco, and find a good deal on green peppers (farmer's market) to make it very cost effective.

8 quarts whole tomatoes, blended for a few minutes (I use my hand blender)

9 chopped green peppers (the smaller chopped the better)

3/4 c. dried onions

4 large chopped jalepenos (some seeds removed, can use more if you like it spicy)

1 bunch cilantro, chopped

5 c. vinegar (white distilled)

4 T. salt

2 tsp. pepper

1/4 chopped fresh garlic (sold in jars)

1/2 c. sugar (you can omit this if you don't like it very sweet)

Add all ingredients to a large stock pot. Cook slowly for at least 3 hours (not a big boil, more a light simmer). You will need to stir it often but not constantly. Then pour into jars. They will seal themselves. If they don't seal in 24 hours, refrigerate and eat.

(If you have questions about how to can this, let me know!)

Another Yummy! (Honey-Lime Enchiladas)

Honey Lime Chicken Enchiladas (Adapted from a recipe by Jenna Lee)

Marinade:
6T honey
5T lime juice
1 T chili powder
1/2 tsp. garlic
1 rotisserie chicken, shredded (or 4 breasts cooked and shredded)

1 lb. Monterey jack cheese, shredded
16 oz. green enchilada sauce
1 c. buttermilk (or cream)
1T honey
10 flour tortillas

Mix marinade ingredients together and toss with shredded chicken. Let sit in fridge all day or at least a few hours. Pour 1/2 enchilada sauce on the bottom of 9 x 13 pan. Fill tortillas with cheese and chicken. Mix remaining enchilada sauce with muttermilk, leftover marinade and 1 more T of honey. Pour sauce on top and sprinkle with more cheese. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes.

HAIR

While eating lunch, Jace looks at Parker and with all seriousness says:

Jace: Parker, I just hate your hair.

Mom: Jace, that's not nice to say at all.

Jace: But, mom, I really hate it. It's so long and flopsy and never looks nice. I wish he'd just cut it.

Parker: Mom, can I cut my hair?

Mom: No, I love it.

Good thing he's usually much nicer to Parkie. We love our little mopsy head!

Happy Father's Day!

My boys are so lucky...they have the greatest dad, amazing grandpas, and still know 3 of their great-grandfathers. Here are my favorite things about each:

1. Mike: greatest example to my boys of how to be amazing men. He treats women with love and respect, is totally devoted to me, serves others, works hard, plays hard and has a great attitude even when times are tough.

2. Dad: Patient beyond belief and never lets time go by without expressing his love and support for me and my little family.

3. Papa: Full of fun and energy. He's so young at heart and always up for an adventure and lots of kisses and hugs.

4. Great-grandpas: All still so vibrant and have a real desire to be involved in our lives. They constantly show they care for us.

Today we spoiled Mike with his first "sleep-in" in ages, a gigantic breakfast of all his favorites (monkey bread, eggs, bacon, fruit, OJ), no church meetings, a candy bar poster, and lots of love from all of us. We're so glad he's ours!

A few things we've been doing this summer....

We've had almost a month of summer and I never thought I'd say this, but I've been LOVING it. My kids are at such great ages. We've been able to spend tons of time together and been able to do so many fun things. We have a bit of a schedule, but enough wiggle room to make life really fun. Here are a few highlights:

1. We've been obsessed with Taylor Swift. We heard the John Schmidt version of "Love Story" on You Tube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0v3d6SFcDys and were crazy about. Since then, Jace has figured out about 15 notes of the chorus on the piano. He keeps asking me what comes next, and I have no idea!!! Glad he got the Romney music gene!


2. We have a "Book for Breakfast" every morning. We've been loving the library and we get books each week. Every morning we read one over breakfast. The boys have really been into non-fiction animal books. I know more about Crows and Big-horned Rams than I ever thought I would. Such a great thing to see the world through a child's eyes.

3. We have a word of the day and a job chart. One of my favorite things we do is have a word of the day. We find a word we don't now in our book each morning and it becomes the word of the day. We use it as often as possible and they know the definition and how to use it by the end of the day. Except James...he's still stuck on pale. So, everytime I ask what a word means, he yells out, "When you get really white!" With a huge self-satisfied grin.

Just an FYI, we also love the BrainQuest workbooks. They've been awesome.

The job chart is new, and I have to give thanks to Tanya! They get pennies for jobs and all must be done before TV or playtime. It's worked great so far, so I'm encouraged that my lazy, unhelpful children might turn into something more like Kanenwisher boys.

4. We're enjoying unseasonably beautiful June weather. Last week it didn't even hit 100. It's unheard of for it to be so great so late in the year, but the days are great for swimming and we are still playing outside in the morning and evening. I couldn't ask for a better summer!

5. We are taking field trips...and forgetting our camera most of the time. For my job I often get to review great kid spots and my boys get to come. Our favorite has been the open gym at Rollie Pollies on Tuesday nights. If you are in AZ, it's a must. I've just enjoyed being able to take my boys lots of fun places and enjoy experiences with them. I'm really liking this summer thing.

Three for Three

Done. Potty. Training. Yeah!!!

James was so easy. We decided on Monday and by Wednesday there was rarely an accident and he didn't need any prompting. No more poopy diapers and saving $40 a month on diapers and wipes. Heaven!

We just love our James-y and his stalky little body. Parker and Jace wore 2T underwear and it sagged off their tiny bums. James already needs 4T...it cracks me up. Just one look at him makes me smile! He's such a goofball.

A little something yummy!

I love to cook...not bake (too much measuring and no way to fix a mess) and rarely does my stuff look pretty, but it always tastes good...especially salsads. I got this recipe from Aimee Hada and twisted it up a bit and it was a huge hit at the last shower I went to, so I thought I'd share. The dressing is so fun and different, you might want to drink it.

Chopped Salad:
1 head of Romaine, thinly shredded
1 bunch of cilantro, chopped
1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
3 ears of cooked corn, sliced off ear (or 2 cups frozen corn, thawed and drained)
2 avocado
2 tomatoes
1 large mango
4 oz. feta cheese
1/2 bag of tortilla chips, crumbled

Lime-Cumin Vinegarette:
9 limes, juiced
almost 1 cup of vegetable oil
1/2 c. brown sugar
2 tsp. salt
2 tsp. ground chili powder
2 1/2 tsp. ground cumin
1 tsp. garlic powder

Mix lettuce and cilantro, then top with the rest of the ingredients. Shake the dressing together then toss with the salad. You won't need all the dressing, so save some for later!

It's easier than it looks and so good. Enjoy!

What's That?

So, the other night I was wearing jeans and James kept poking my knee. He then looked up at me and said, "Mom, what is that? You have a baby in your knee?"
I guess I should have a complex now, but I just laughed and laughed. That kid really keeps us smiling.

Memorial Day Weekend

We headed to San Diego again for Memorial Day Weekend. We are so lucky that it's only 5 1/2 hours from us and our kids have become pretty good in the car. It's such a great place to get away from all the hassles and regular life stuff. We're also SOOO glad our cousins are always willing to come see us for the weekend too. Our kids have become such great friends.

On Saturday the boys (big and little) spent ALL DAY in the sun while Cassy and I had a little shopping time. Everytime I saw my sweet stubborn I reminded him that his cute white body could use a few more layers of sunscreen, which he refused everytime. The next 1 1/2days he spent bright red, unable to move, covered in cold towels and aloe vera. Not exactly the vacation we were hoping for, and I hate to say "I told you so," but I told you so.

On Monday we went to the beach. It was FREEZING. Which was so weird because it was great at their house but the temperature was low and the wind was whipping, but the beach was packed. The adults stayed wrapped up in sweatshirts and towels while the kids pretended like it was 100 degrees. Mimi was the only real sport and got down and dirty in the sand with them. Thank heaven for grandparents!

I was so proud of Parker. He is usually so scared of the water, so it was great to see him be brave. He even ended up on his tummy in the waves and liked it. Amazing!

Not sure where Jace learned this. Probably just the beginning of annoying boy pictures.

Our cute little Shaina!

We couldn't get a fire pit, so we had uncooked S'mores. The kids didn't seem to mind!