Blueberry Crumb Muffins

These are some of the best muffins ever! I hope you will try them out.

Flavorless vegetable oil spray
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
½ cup unsalted butter
1 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
½ cup milk
2 ½ cups fresh or frozen blueberries

Crumb topping:
6 tablespoons unsalted butter
¼ cup granulated sugar
¼ cup packed dark brown sugar
¾ teaspoon ground cinnamon
Pinch of salt
1 ½ cups all-purpose flour (next time I think I will cut the amount of flour down to 3/4 cup to make it more crisp and sugary)

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
Spray 12-cup muffin tin with flavorless oil spray or line with paper liners (I actually got about 15 muffins out of the recipe). In a mixing bowl, mix together the flour, baking powder, and salt and whisk well. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment and set on medium-high speed, beat the butter and granulated sugar for 4 to 5 minutes, or until light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, beating after each addition until the egg is incorporated before adding the next one, and then beat in the vanilla.

Add the milk, alternating it with the dry ingredients, in 2 or 3 additions. Do not overmix. Fold in the berries using a spatula. To make the crumb topping, combine the butter, sugars, cinnamon, salt and flour and mix with a fork or pastry blender until crumbly.

Spoon the batter into the prepared muffin tin. Top each with a generous tablespoon of the crumb topping. Bake for about 30 minutes or until golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center of one comes out clean. Let the muffins cool slightly in the muffin tin set on wire racks before removing.

Makes 12-15 muffins.

Christmas Snow Storm!

With the storm that passed through this Christmas, we were given a present of 7-15 inches of snow. Although it provided us with a very white Christmas, we also were unable to do much driving at all. It was a very cozy Christmas at home playing games with the family and eating tons of treats. :) So much for the diet. Oh well, that's what the new years for.

Merry Christmas!!!

One of my favorite songs from Josh. I hope it puts you in the holiday spirit! :)

Another yummy holiday recipe

Shortbread Mint Cookies!

For the shortbread:
2 cups all purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup confectioners sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
For the mint icing:
2 cups confectioners sugar
1 teaspoon mint extract
4 tablespoons milk
For the glaze:
4 ounces semi-sweet chocolate
2 ounces white chocolate

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1. In a bowl, whisk together the flour and salt. Set aside. In a mixer, cream the butter and confectioners sugar. Add vanilla. Slowly add the flour mixture until well combined.
2. Chill in the refrigerator for about 1 hour.
3. Roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface to about 1/4 inch thickness. Using your choice of cookie cutter, cut the cookies and place on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Chill for an additional 10 minutes. Bake at 400 degrees for about 10-12 minutes or until lightly golden. Cool completely on a cooling rack.
4. In a small bowl, mix the confectioners’ sugar, mint extract and milk until smooth. Add more milk or sugar, if needed, to make a frosting like consistency. Spread on cooled cookies and top with another cookie to make a sandwich. Chill in the refrigerator for about 15 minutes, or until icing is set.
5. Melt the chocolate in the microwave or over a double broiler and stir until smooth. Dip the tops of the cookie sandwiches into the chocolate and let stand on the cooling rack. Set in the refrigerator to let the chocolate harden.

Recipe of the week

Since its the holidays I thought I would post a holiday recipe. I hope you will enjoy!

Orange Rolls
12 rhodes dinner rolls thawed but still cold
1 orange rind grated
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup butter melted
Mix orange rind with sugar. Roll each roll into a rope then tie in a loose knot. Roll each knot in melted butter then into the sugar mixture. Place on a sprayed baking sheet then cover with plastic wrap. Let them rise double the size then remove plastic and bake at 350 for 15-20 minutes. Remove from the baking sheet and put on a cooling rack, brush with orange glaze.
Orange Glaze:
1 cup powdered sugar
1 T melted butter
3 T orange juice
1/2 tsp vanilla

Yuletide Tag

When do you start listening to Christmas music?
I LOVE Christmas music but I don't start listening to it until just after Thanksgiving.

When do you put up your Christmas tree?
I usually put the tree up the 2nd week of December cause its real and I dont want it to die before christmas is here.

Favorite Christmas movie:
I can't really name one. I have lots of favorites but I do like christmas story, charlie brown christmas and garfields christmas at the top of the list.

Favorite Christmas Song:
I have lots of favorites since christmas is one of my favorite times of the year. I do like I heard the bells on christmas day.

Favorite Christmas Tradition:
Sleeping in the same room with my siblings when we were growing up and playing games listening to mom and dad and the rustling of bags and wrapping paper. Another is taking plates of goodies to random people and watching the looks on their faces when they open the door.

Favorite Christmas Food:
Any kind of christmas candy! I love fudge:)

Favorite Christmas Book:
Christmas dress for Ellen and the christmas orange

Fun Christmas Memory:
Singing christmas songs at my grandma's house with her playing the ukelele. Making gingerbread houses at my other grandma's house. Helping go up the mountain to pick out the christmas tree for the season.

If you were one of Santa's reindeer, which one would you be?
Maybe one of the ones in the middle Blitzin or Comet

I tag anyone that would like to do this on their blog. Happy Holidays!

Oregon Road Trip

Saturday, I left for Oregon with my roommate and my sister. It was probably not the best time to go with the oncoming storm, but we faithfully prayed for our safety and reached our destination after hours of stressful driving. Although the weather was not wanting to cooperate with us, it did provide us with many beautiful kodak opportunities.

Road Trip

I am getting ready to go on a road trip tomorrow so i wont be blogging till next week. There is lots of changes to come in my life and I am both scared and excited to move on to new possibilities. Stay tuned to find out what i am up to this new year:)

Nature Shots

I am not the best photographer, but I love clouds. One day, I will get a better camera so I can take better pictures.

Holiday Treats

Since its the holidays i thought I would write some easy holiday treat ideas down for those of you that like something sweet. Or if you have to make something for a work party or neighbors :) I hope you will enjoy these...

Peanut Butter Cups

1 cup of peanut butter
1 square of butter soft
2 cups powder sugar
Mix together and roll into balls. Melt a bag of chocolate chips in the microwave. Take a small candy wrapper(basically a mini cupcake paper) and put a bit of chocolate in the bottom of the cup then put a ball on top and cover with more chocolate. Put them in the fridge to cool. I like to buy the festive wrappers to put them in.

Muddy Buddies

1 box of Crispix or Chex cereal
1 cube of butter
2 cups powder sugar
2 cups chocolate chips
1 cup peanut butter
1 paper bag
Melt the butter, peanut butter and chocolate chips and pour over the cereal. Mix well then put the powder sugar in the paper bag and add cereal mix. Shake until the cereal has been well coated store in ziplock bags.

Easy Reindeer Snacks

1/2 cup marshmellow creme
1/2 cup peanut butter
48 ritz crackers
nuts of your choice
1 cup coconut
1 1/2 cups chocolate chips
Spread peanut butter on 24 crackers and then on the other 24 spread the marshmellow creme. Sandwich the crackers together and set aside. Melt the chocolate and chop the nuts. Put the coconut and nuts in seperate bowls. Dip the cracker sandwiches in the chocolate and then in either nuts or coconut. You can use white chocolate if you want too. Set on wax paper till they set up then store in a air tight container.

Coconut Macaroons

2 2/3 cups coconut
3/4 cup sweetened condensed milk
1 egg
1/4 tsp almond extract
Combine ingredients and let stand for 5 minutes. Cut a brown paper bag to fit your baking sheet spray with pan spray. Drop by tsp and mash down a bit. Bake at 325 for 25 minutes.

Peanut clusters

1 bag of cocktail peanuts
small block of dipping chocolate
Melt the chocolate in a double boiler. If you dont know what that is its a pan with water that you boil then set another pan or bowl on top to melt it down. Be careful of the steam if you use a bowl. Add your nuts to the chocolate and then scoop out spoonfuls and place on wax paper.

Chocolate covered pretzels

1 bag of pretzels
small block of chocolate
Its basically the same idea you just dip your pretzels a few at a time. You can also do white chocolate and I like to sprinkle mine with red and green sprinkles then but them in a bag and put ribbon around them.

Carmel Marshmellows

1 pkg of big marshmellows
1 bag of kraft carmels
1 can sweetened condensed milk
rice krispies
Melt the carmels and add the milk to it making sure its well mixed. Then dip the marshmellows in the carmel and roll them in rice krispies and put them on wax paper.

Chex Mix

1 family size box of Chex
2 cups coconut
2 cups peanuts
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 1/2 cups karo syrup
1 cube of butter
Cook sugar, karo, and butter in microwave for 5 minutes on high. Stir and cook 2 more minutes then add 1/4 tsp soda and 1 tsp vanilla. Put chex , coconut and nuts in a bowl then pour syrup over the top and mix well.

Weigh in

Today was a great day for me I lost another 2.5 pounds! Its a great feeling to get on the scale and know you are going to do well. I did lots of walking this week thanks to the wonderful weather we are having. That makes a huge difference in wanting to be outside. Here's to any of you who are playing the weight loss game. Make it a good week and you can do it!

New House

My parents are building hopefully their last house. Here are some pictures of the progress. I should be done by January. Don't they have an amazing view?

Joseph B Wirthlin

I found out that Joseph B. Worthlin has passed away and I am so happy for him. What a great man he was and the spirit he had was so strong! He was a special part of our extended family quite a few years ago when my cousin had cancer. He was speaking at a conference and another 1 of my cousin's went up to him and asked him to give my cousin a blessing. His parents were really embarassed that he had asked but he kindly said he would. He went to there house and gave her a blessing that she would be healed and the cancer would leave her body. The next week when she went in for her chemo the doctor told her he couldnt believe it she had gone into remission! She has been healthy ever since and that has been such a testimony builder of prayer. As much as I will miss him I am so grateful for the man he was especially to our family.

Recipe for the week

Here is a new recipe for the week that is really good!

Salsa Chicken Quesadillas

1/2 cup salsa
2 T miracle whip
1/2 tsp chili powder
8 flour tortillas
3 chicken breasts cooked and sliced
1 cup cheese

Mix salsa, miracle whip and chili powder together. Then spread on tortillas and layer the chicken and cheese on half of the tortilla. Fold tortillas in half and place on a sprayed skillet cooking 3 minutes on each side. Or until they are brown then take them off and cut them in wedges. Can serve them with more salsa.

Recipe of the week

I forgot to post a recipe on monday so sorry this is late! I thought since we just had Thanksgiving, everyone would have lots of turkey and stuffing left so here's a recipe to use it up! Enjoy

Turkey and stuffing Casserole
3 cups cooked and diced turkey
2 cups water
2 chicken bullion cubes
1 8 oz cream cheese
6 T flour
1/2 cup water
2 boxes prepared stuffing

In a saucepan put water and bullion and bring to a boil. Mix the flour and and other water and add to the bullion mix. Reduce the heat to medium and add the cream cheese till it melts. In a 9x13 inch pan layer the turkey, stuffing and sauce. You should have enough to do 2 layers. Then put it in the oven on 350 for 30 minutes. You can use lowfat cream cheese and whole wheat stuffing and it makes it healthier for you. I hope you enjoy!

Happy Thanksgiving

Mom posing in her cute apron! Isn't she cute?!

Grandpa and Anya watching a movie after the feast.

I can't get enough of kissing this girl!

Anya playing. She's crawling now. :)

Maya helping grandma serve dessert.

Mark can't wait to eat!

Elijah helping grandpa eat dinner.

My turkey decorations!

Cowley kids

I went to visit my good friend reby sue and got a few pictures of her cute kids. She has 2 more that I didnt get pictures of maybe next time! Thanks for letting me play!

Down on the Farm

I had to get some pictures of the new calves they are so cute! There is 1 more mama that needs to have her calf then they will all be here. I loved how they all lined up when it was feeding time. My dad is a very hard worker and a great farmer!

weight loss

With my weight loss of another 1 1/2 I am down 15 pounds and feeling pretty good about life. Its been hard sometimes to be good and not eat everything in site. I am an emotional eater so this does happen sometimes but for the most part I have tried to stay within my points. I am doing weight watchers so you are only allowed a certain amount of points. For those of you trying to lose weight too I wish you good luck! You can do it!!

Memories

I attended a funeral of a member of my old single's ward bishopric yesterday. It was an emotional service but I think if we didnt have the knowledge of the gospel it would have been harder. He was in the prime of his life in his 50's with 6 kids and 8 grandkids. It was such a reminder that life is short and we should never take for granted what we have. I know he is in a better spot but I still feel for those left behind.

My grandma Jean

This is my grandma Braegger and she is my favorite! She is the most loving person. She accepts you for who you are and never judges you when you do something wrong. I love to go and visit her and try to once a week. She is slowly getting so she doesnt remember much and its hard to see her get that way. I have lots of memories with her and I just wanted to share a little bit about her. As you can tell she has quite a green thumb and can bring anything back to life! She has an acre and a half of flower gardens. I think of it as my own garden of eden!

Recipe of the week

Pear Salad

1 quart of pears
1 8oz cream cheese softened
1 small box of lime jello
1 8oz cool whip

Drain juice from pears and heat till boiling. If you dont have 1 cup of juice you can add water to make up the difference. Add the jello to the juice and stir till dissolved, put in the fridge till slightly set up. Take the pkg of cream cheese and the pears and put in the blender till blended then add the jello. Pour into a bowl and fold in the cool whip then refridgerate till set up.

This is one of my favorites that my mom makes. I hope you will all enjoy it as much as I do!

Weigh in

I had to weigh in today and I did a little bit better then last week. I lost a pound and a half! Its not much but it is a loss so I was so excited about that. Im hoping next week will be a good one too!

Happy Friday!

I just wanted to wish everyone a happy friday. I hope everyone has a chance to get out and enjoy the sunshine today. I love beautiful fall days that are just the right temperature and so colorful! I am so grateful for this time of year and being able to reflect on what I am thankful for. Have a great day!

My niece!

This is my cute niece, Maya. I wanted to put a few pictures of her on here since her siblings have their own spotlight. :) These are not as recent as I would like, but they're just so cute and still some of my favorites!