Time to catch up!

Geez, so much to do! And now that Porter is napping, I hope to be able to get caught up here...

Recipe #6: Potato Soup
I've decided that any recipe that doesn't average a 5/10 stars at least isn't going to get posted. I did take a picture, though, so I'll throw that on here. This recipe got a 3 from Luke and a 4 from me. It makes your house smell WONDERFUL, but is only really good to make if the only ingredients you have in your house are potatoes, bacon and water. Mm.



Recipe #7: BBQ Ribs
Now this recipe IS a good one! We had a couple of friends over to enjoy it with us, and I asked them to rate it, too. I got the recipe from my friend Mary, and have made it a few times with success!

2 lbs country style ribs
2 C tomato sauce (you can use ketchup)
1 tsp garlic salt
1 C brown sugar
1 C honey
1/2 C spicy brown mustard (I've never added this and it's still been good)
4 Tbs Worcestershire Sauce
1 tsp Liquid Smoke
2 C cooked rice

Cook ribs for 4+ hours on high. Drain and add all the remaining ingredients. Turn the ribs to coat in the sauce. Cook for another couple of hours on low. Serve over rice.

How we rated it:
Luke - 6
Adrienne - 7
Chad - 9
Sara - 8



Recipe #8: Shortcut Stroganoff (a Campbell's recipe)

If you're up for some good food and a little heartburn, this recipe is awesome!

1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 pound boneless beef sirloin strips for stir frying (you can also use ground beef to make this meal on the cheap!)
1 can (10 3/4 ounce) Cream of Mushroom Soup
1 can Condensed Beef Broth
1 cup water
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
3 cups uncooked corkscrew pasta
1/2 cup sour cream

Heat oil in skillet. Add beef and cook until browned and juices evaporate, stirring often. Add soup, broth, water and Worcestershire sauce. Heat to a boil. Stir in pasta. Cook over medium heat 15 minutes or until done. Stir in sour cream, heat through.

How we rated it:
Luke - 5
Adrienne - 7

Recipe #9: Chicken Haystacks

Super easy, pretty quick meal. Most normal people like this one (I think it goes without saying at this point that Luke doesn't). I made this the other night when it was just Porter and me at home. I LOVE this meal!

2 chicken breasts
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 can pineapple tidbits
Crunchy chow mein noodles
Tomatoes
Shredded cheese

Cook chicken, then cut up into bite size pieces. Mix cream of chicken soup with the chicken and heat through. Cook as much rice as your little heart desires, then spoon out the chicken mixture over the rice. Top with shredded cheese, pineapple, tomatoes and noodles. Some people also like to throw some diced green onions in there, too...but I'm a purist. :)

How I rated this: 8/10 stars!

Recipe #10: Pasta Al Forno
I made this last night and it was actually a hit all around!

1 (16 oz.) pkg. Rigatoni, cooked and drained (I used garden Rotini last night since I was out of Rigatoni, and actually prefer the Rotini for the color it adds!)
1 (26 oz.) jar spaghetti sauce
1 (8 oz.) pkg. fresh mushrooms
Mozzarella cheese
Cheddar cheese

White Sauce
1 T. flour
1 T. butter
1 c. milk
1/2 tsp. salt
dash of pepper

Melt butter in saucepan and sautee mushrooms; set aside.

Melt butter for white sauce in a small saucepan. Stir in flour, salt and pepper. Add milk all at once. Stir over medium heat for one minute AFTER thickened and bubbly. Add mushrooms.

Layer in a dish: rigatoni, white sauce, spaghetti sauce, cheeses and repeat. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes, or until bubbly, hot and DELICIOUS!

How we rated it:
Luke - 7 (!)
Adrienne - 8
Austin - 8

Recipe 5: Cheesy Crock Pot Chicken

This meal is AWESOME! And it doesn't get a whole heck of a lot easier, either. Let's dive right into its gooey goodness!

Recipe:
6 boneless/skinless chicken breasts (I used 4, and it was fine, you just have extra sauce)
salt & pepper to taste
garlic powder, to taste
2 cans cream of chicken soup
1 can cheddar cheese soup

Rinse the chicken and sprinkle with salt, pepper and garlic powder. The first time I made this, I rubbed the salt, pepper and garlic powder all OVER those bad boys like a crazy masseuse! This time, I forgot and mixed the seasoning with the soup and then plopped the chicken in. YOU CAN'T MESS THIS UP!! Anyway, mix undiluted soup and pour over the chicken in the crock pot. Cook on low 6 to 8 hours. Serve over rice or noodles. I prefer rice, but - honestly - I think you could serve it over dog food and it would be FABULOUS!

Sam and Lindsay joined us for dinner, and Porter enjoyed it, as well. :) We served it up with some fresh, steamed broccoli and it was oh-so-comfort-food-ilicious!

I forgot to take pictures of it, but here's one I nabbed off the interwebs:



How we rated it:
Luke - 5 (he's kind of hard to impress and fixed himself some hot wings right after eating this...I'm still not over the fact that he gave the French Toast Casserole 8 out of 10!!)
Adrienne - 7.5...but maybe more like an 8
Lindsay - 7.5...and for the record, she's pregnant, so this is a special rating
Sam - 9 (he's not terribly hard to impress, but he is always honest)

If I am going to consider myself a woman of integrity, I MUST recommend that you try this one!!

Last night we had spaghetti - and no fancy recipe, at that (hardly a recipe at all, really). So, I'm not going to bother posting details on that...but I thought you might still enjoy a few pictures of the Porterbear embarking on his first spaghetti experience. :)

Recipe 4: Slow-Cooker Chicken Noodle Soup

If you or a loved one are recovering from a stomach ailment, this would be a good recipe to use. Otherwise, it is too bland to write home about.

Recipe:
2 lb. boneless chicken parts (I had planned to use leg meat, but it smelled a little sketchy, so I emergency defrosted some breastisses instead)
4 c. chicken broth
4 carrots, peeled and sliced
3 ribs celery, sliced
1 onion, chopped
1/4 tsp. paprika
1 Tbsp. parsley flakes
3 c. uncooked egg noodles

Place the chicken and broth in the slow-cooker. Add the vegetables. (I did the broth and vegetables, THEN the chicken because I am a REBEL!) Sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste, paprika, and parsley flakes. Cover and cook on high 3-4 hours, or on low 7-8 hours. Remove the chicken and cut (or shred) into bite-size pieces. On the stove, cook the egg noodles according to package directions. Put the chicken and cooked noodles in the slow-cooker and heat through.





What could have made this better? Less celery and 43 pounds of salt.

How we rated it:
Luke - 2/10
Adrienne - 4/10

THANKFULLY, I have a tried and true version of chicken noodle soup from my mom, but we will have to debut that recipe on the blog at a later date and time. Until then, you have a recipe that will be great to use the next time you get the flu. Or, since it smells deceivingly delicious, you can use it to induce premature hunger pangs in house guests that have overstayed their welcome and know they're not invited to dinner. You pick.

**UPDATE**: My neighbors graciously took the leftovers off my hands (Luke doesn't really eat leftovers - particularly chicken - and I was out of room in the fridge). They LOVED it! Different strokes, I s'pose!

Recipe 3: French Toast Casserole

French Toast Casserole can be described in two syllables: de-lish. It makes your house smell yummy, too!

Recipe:
1/4 c. butter, sliced
6 eggs, beaten like a red-headed stepchild
1 c. milk
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 c. sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. vanilla
8 slices o' bread, cubed

Loosely crumple a few pieces of foil and put on bottom of slow-cooker. Line the sides of the slow-cooker with foil. Place another piece of foil over crumpled foil on bottom. While you're at it, fashion a hat out of the foil and wear it so the aliens can't read your mind. Slice the butter into patty-pats and place in the slow-cooker. Cover and cook on high until the butter is melted (10-15 minutes, or longer if you stash your butter in the fridge). Whisk together the eggs, milk, cinnamon, sugar, salt and vanilla. Fold in the bread cubes. Pour the bread mixture over the melted butter. Cover and cook on high 1-2 hours, or low for 3-4 hours until done in the center (you have to slice it to see, as it doesn't really brown). Slice and serve up a steamin' plate with syrup and powdered sugar.

What could have possibly made this better? Perhaps adding some nutmeg and/or small bits of apple or peaches. SOOOOO GOOOOOOD!







How we rated it:
Luke - 8/10 (!!!!!!!!!)
Adrienne - 8/10
Austin - 10/10
Porter - nom nom nom nom nom nom

As an aside, this does not make a HUGE casserole. If Austin hadn't eaten cereal 10 minutes before we were going to eat the casserole, the four of us likely would have finished off the full thing. Double the recipe if you have teenage boys or llamas like Tina that you like to give leftovers to.

Also, this is a great recipe if you have stale bread. I had several hamburger buns that were no longer fit for hamburgerizing, so I cubed the bottom halves of the buns and used those (the sesame seed tops will be going to my neighbor's chickens).

Bon appetit!

Recipe 2: Beef Enchiladas

I ate beef enchiladas on occasion growing up. They aren't necessarily something you'd want to cook up to impress your celebrity crush, but they're an easy go-to meal in a pinch.

Recipe:
1 lb. ground beef
1 packet enchilada seasoning
1 can tomato sauce
cheddar cheese
flour tortillas

Preheat the oven to 350. Brown the ground beef, drain. In a separate bowl, mix the enchilada seasoning with the tomato sauce. Mix about 2/3 to 3/4 sauce with the ground beef. Sprinkle in as much (or as little) cheese as you would like in the ground beef mixture. Spoon the mixture into tortillas, and roll those suckers up! Place seam side down in a greased 9x11 pan. After all stuffed tortillas are resting happily in the pan, pour the remaining sauce over the tops of the tortillas and sprinkle with cheese. Bake for 25-30 minutes.










My favorite part of this meal - aside from its simplicity - is that the ends of the tortillas get crispy in the oven. Yum!

How we rated it:
Lucas - 4/10 stars
Adrienne 5/10 stars

Recipe 1: Chicken and Dumplings

We actually had this recipe on New Year's Eve, but I had never made it before and it was too yummy to be embarrassed by...so I thought I would share. :)

Now, just so you know, where I come from they are chicken 'n' dumplins. Just slur everything and say a bunch of n's and you've got the recipe for saying the name RIGHT!

I will try to be more diligent about documenting the steps of the meal prep, or at least taking pictures of it before it's been maimed...but I only managed two pictures of this particular delicacy. I also need to work on presentation if anyone is really going to be encouraged to make and consume it themselves.

Recipe:
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 tsp. chicken bouillon
2 c. diced carrots
2 potatoes, peeled and chopped
2 stalks celery, diced
1 med. onion, chopped
2 cans cream o' chicken soup
1 can water
2 tsp. parsley flakes
1 tsp. poultry seasoning
Salt and pepper
Dumpling topping (recipe to follow)

Place chicken in slow cooker. Add the remaining ingredients, except the dumpling topping. Cook on high for 4-5 hours or on low for 7-8. Cut the chicken into bite-size pieces. Prepare the dumpling topping and spoon over the chicken mixture. Tilt the slow cooker lid to vent the steam and cook on high for 30-60 minutes, or until the dumplings are cooked in the center.

Dumpling topping:
1 1/2 c. all-purpose flour
1 Tbsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
4 tsp. sugar

Mix all ingredients, then cut in 1/3 c. of butter or shortening until crumbly. Add 1/2 c. milk and stir until just moist.

FYI, the dumpling topping never gets dark, so I had to cut a chunk out of the middle to make sure it was done.

Bottom line, this was a tasty, savory meal. It was even Luke Approved! Whenever I make a new recipe, I ask Luke the following: "Do you like it?" and "Is it something you'd want to have again?" Now, my newest question is, "Out of 10 stars, how many would you give it?"

Here's how we rated it:
Luke - 6
Adrienne - 7.5

So, what could we do to improve it? Aside from having someone else make it, I'm not quite sure. I'm still in my culinary idiocy stage.

A new year, a new post.

I've never been much of one to make New Year's resolutions, much less keep them. However, here are some resolutions I've made over the years that I've managed to be very diligent about:

Date: January 1, 2008
Resolution: Write in my journal every single day.
Progress: Haven't missed a day in THREE YEARS!

But that's pretty much it. For the past 5 1/2 years, I've read my scriptures every single day - except 3 (one day was my wedding day, one day was when we were moving across the country, and another day was when I was so obsessed with finding housing BEFORE moving across the country that I just completely forgot). Oh, and I started doing that in June 2005, so that doesn't really count anyway.

However, PEOPLE CAN CHANGE! Sometimes. And sort of. I've decided I am really good at making notebooks full of plans, ridiculous spreadsheets and organizing the fun out of vacations...but the execution is where I seem to be lacking. But, against my natural nature, I have made SEVERAL resolutions for 2011. Hopefully an unofficial one of them will be updating the blog with my progress. Meh. We'll see.

So, yes! Here is what I would like to accomplish this brand new year:

1. Learn to play the cello. No, seriously. This is something I've wanted to do for a long time, and there are several people in my ward that play, and even an AVAILABLE cello that I can borrow FOR FREE!!!!1!!1!!! This is too good of an opportunity to pass up. Duh.

2. Get one year's supply of water and toiletries stored.

3. Get 3 months of food stored.

4. Create family scrapbook pages documenting 2005-2010 (about 3 or 4 months/page).

5. Actively plan, and stick to, a monthly meal plan so my family doesn't starve to death. I would also like to blog about this in particular, including family reviews and recipes.

6. Write my personal history from birth through age 11.

7. Learn to sew at least two of the following: blankets, burp cloths (for the infinite number of babies that are springing forth from the loins of very prolific friends and family members), carseat canopies, nursing covers, aprons.

I also want to be diligent about our family garden this year and do some more canning, but I didn't feel the need to make those resolutions.

This should be an adventure! 2010 was a good (albeit scary at times) year for us. I have high hopes for 2011, as well. :)

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of burrs.

Our dogs are very sweet. Really. A little neuroticism is mixed in with their wily, oft-shed hair, but deep down, they're just stuffed fluffs with minds of their own. When they see the neighbor's dog on the other side of the fence, however, the friendly facade is tossed and they suddenly turn into 18 pound Dobermans.

Luke and I have talked several times recently about putting up some chicken wire to block their access to the shared fence where Aggro, the neighbor's dog, likes to saunter. Nothing much has come of these discussions, as we often forget there's an issue until Story and Ripley are yelled back into the house and find themselves afflicted with foxtails or peppercorn-sized burrs.

Today, there was a burr infestation. I had let the dogs out to potty, then forgot about them as I took le bebe back to his room to feed him. Whilst thus occupied, I heard Story's telltale "OHMYGOSH! OHMYGOSH! AGGRO'S-AT-THE-FENCE-AND-I-MUST-GET-HIM!" bark. Since I didn't care to go to the back door with my upper half bared to the world, I figured the puppy dog roundup would have to wait until Porter was finished at the snack bar.

Once I placed the boy in his crib, I went outside and word-lassoed the dogs back into the house. I knew I had my work cut out for me when I saw all sorts of plant debris stuck in their britches and leg hair, and a stick nearly half the length of Story's body all tangled in her wild mane.

So I broke out the soft, doggy-themed lunchbox in which I keep the dogs' grooming accoutrements (why couldn't my guys be as neat, tidy and well-behaved as the little Scotties on the lunchbox??). I got Ripley first, as I knew he'd make a beeline to smush himself under our bed if he saw what I was getting ready to do. One by one, I pulled the burrs out of his ears, then off the backs of his legs, then out from between all the pads of all of his feet, then off his belly...Next, Story flopped in front of me and I went through the same routine with her, only she has significantly more leg hair (which is perfectly acceptable with dogs...if my legs were to be significantly hairier than Luke's, we'd have a problem). After about 30 to 45 minutes of de-burring my canine kids, I looked at the giant pile that lay atop the paper towel next to me on the floor. The number of burrs I had dislodged was utterly ridiculous.

And to think some chicken wire could've stopped it all.


*************************************************************************************

Austin played with his Lincoln Logs this afternoon after I declined his request for more computer time and told him to "do something useful". Apparently pulling weeds or cleaning the bathroom were not things he found to be worth his time. Instead, he pulled out his Yu-Gi-Oh! trading card magazine and started perusing it. When I told him to put that away and do something USEFUL ("But it's useful to me! I'm reading it!"), he scowled at me and stomped off to his room ("Do NOT stomp to your room or you'll wake the baby!!"). A minute later, he came back with his box o' Logs perched atop his head, and I rolled my eyes as I left the room.

This is what he ended up building:



Behold, the Omega Leotard Cannon.

I have no idea what that name even means.

I am BACK....maybe.

Let's get right down to brass tacks. A LOT has happened this past year - er, year and 2 months - since I posted last. Unfortunately, I can't say that I was on sabbatical on Easter Island, or that I was working under contract for a secret government agency. Oh, no. In fact, much more REALISTIC things have been happening. Brace yourselves!

June 2009
Luke got laid off. I found out the next day I was pregnant. Yes, two and a half years of trying and two miscarriages later, THIS was the time my body decided to give the green light.

July 2009
I ate lots of Cheerios to ebb morning sickness, and I was very busy training new teams at Ancestry.com. To this day, I am still unable to conceive of eating another Cheerio for the rest of my life. Barf.

August 2009
I took a new position at Ancestry as a Content Reviewer on the DPS team. Luke and I also celebrated our 4th anniversary (hooray!) and went camping. Just the two of us. We hiked Lower Calf Falls, and I nearly perished for want of oxygen and muscle tone. My exercise regimen the previous month involved playing "Lynica" on Facebook every evening after work as I turned my nose up at all food except for the occasional glass of juice or bowl of ice cream. So, needless to say, I wasn't in tip-top shape to be hiking 90% grade cliff faces at an altitude of 40,000 feet.



September 2009
Luke, still looking for a job. Me, still working at Ancestry. I believe it was about this time that I discovered that I could easily become addicted to Cherry Coke if I left myself unchecked. Oh, the wonders it did for my pregnant gastro-tribluations!

October 2009
Mom & Dad sent us money so we could take Austin on the Heber Creeper train ride for his 9th birthday. I LOVE HALLOWEEEEEEEEEN! Then my dad lost his job. Toward the end of this month, however, Luke was re-hired by the same company that laid him off (they realized they couldn't do it without him, I suppose). My belly also decided it would expand to 2,000 times its normal size. We also found out we were having a boy! HOORAY!




November 2009
Spent Thanksgiving with Warren & Jeanette (Luke's mom and her husband). Still working at Ancestry, and Luke and I were having to share the truck since he had not received his work vehicle (back) yet. Not an easy feat when he works in Draper early in the morning and I worked in Provo in the not-as-early morning. The money spent in gas enabled us to live just as high on the hog as we did while Luke was on unemployment. Awesome.

December 2009
Yea! My whole family - Mom, Dad, Cameron and Bethany (Lindsay was living with us at the time) - came to my house for Christmas! It was the first time in two or three years we'd all been together. Mom made her famous macaroni & cheese dinner, as well as the beloved CINNAMON ROLLS OF CHRISTMAS MORNING. I wish I had relaxed a little more, though. Amidst work, my family, Luke's family, and REALLY starting to feel the more size-induced pains of pregnancy, I probably stressed more than I ought to have done. My dad also found another job working on Quantico Marine Base.



January 2010
Happy New Year! As of January 1st, I had written in my journal EVERY DAY for two years straight. Still keeping that trend alive as of today. I was also waddling at this point. I had a baby shower at the end of the month and I could hardly believe it was happening.



February 2010
I made it as far as I could stand - my last day of work was February 17th. I worked up until a week and a half before my due date. I felt like a human hot air balloon maneuvering around the hallways, couldn't sleep, took 5 painful minutes just to roll over in bed, could barely pull myself into the truck, and no longer lounged on the couch for fear I'd have to call the Fire Department to unwedge and lift me out of it. Due date was February 27th - I was almost there!



March 2010
My due date came and went, and my sense of humor about it had up and left, too. I was finally scheduled to be induced on March 4th, the same day my cousins Brian and Erika were having their little girl, Adelyn. Well, since I live in Provo and 75% of the female population is giving birth at any given time, I didn't get called into the hospital until the evening of the fourth. Then, after 16 hours, little Mr. Porter Holden Knighton made his adorable appearance, tipping the scales at 8 lbs 11 oz. He was so awesome from the start. March was a huge month, because my sister Lindsay also got married to Sam! They got sealed for time and all eternity in the Oquirrh Mountain Temple, and then had a rockin', carnivorous reception at Tucano's.





April 2010
I turned 26. DEATH. I also spent lots of time snorgling the new little man in my life.

May 2010
I officially quit my job at Ancestry.com and, with fond feelings, kept my insurance until the end of the month. God bless America and great insurance plans! I also flew out to Virginia at the end of the month, and Porterbear met his Great Grandmama Cromwell, Great Grandma Paxton, and Uncle Cameron for the very first time.




June 2010
Luke turned 34 and spent lots of time building cabinets as a side job, now that I am no longer earning the Benjamins. Austin also played in the League of Eternal Baseball. I'm pretty sure Luke's schedule this entire month consisted of Work - Take Austin to Baseball - More Work - Get Austin From Baseball - Work - Baseball - Work - Baseball...At least, that's what I have to assume since I never saw him and Austin was constantly talking about baseball. Austin also came to live with us for the summer, visiting his mom on Fridays and Saturdays.



July 2010
Lindsay celebrated her 23rd birthday and my baby sister, Bethany, turned 20. If that didn't make me feel old, then the lines appearing at the corners of my eyes did. Luke got called to be Elders Quorum President and I got called to be 2nd Counselor in the Young Women Presidency in our ward. Apparently someone told the Bishop that we simply had nothing to do. Either that, or they let him know that baseball FINALLY ended and, seriously, we had nothing to do with all of our newly discovered time. Aside from working, building cabinets, cleaning the house, doing laundry, cooking, raising two boys...



August 2010
So here we are. Second day of August, and we've come full circle. Luke and I will be celebrating our FIFTH wedding anniversary in a couple of weeks, and I couldn't love that guy more. He is just too cool for school. Porter will be FIVE. MONTHS. OLD. on Thursday and it makes me want to cry because time keeps on slipping, slipping, slipping into the future way too fast for my liking. But, my GOSH is that little boy the light of my life!

Who wants a clean hoooooouse?

KNIGHTON FAMILY CLEAN HOUSE MANIFESTO

I like hugs and I like kisses,
But what I really love is help with the dishes!

• Shoes are happiest when put away neatly in our rooms.

• Blankets love to be folded and stowed, not crumpled on the couch.

• Dishes feel best when they are napping in the cabinets or nestled in the dishwasher.

• Clothes enjoy being in dressers and closets, not on floors.

• Speaking of floors – feet, furniture and dogs only, please!

• Trash is a necessary but unwelcome guest – it sleeps solely in the garbage can.

• Kitchen counters appreciate being smooth and squeaky clean – like a baby’s bottom, only with more cracks.

• Dust bunnies are not pets!

• The police are tired of all the “Missing Tools” reports. Let’s prevent by putting away!

• Hats are nervous and prefer the safety of closet shelves.

• Clutter is the ENEMY! If we don’t know how long it’s been there or why, it can share a cot with the trash.

“He who wants to change the world should already by cleaning the dishes.”

Or, in other words…

CLEAN-UP-AFTER-YOURSELF MANIFESTO

• No shoes left anywhere except on your feet or in a closet.

• No blankets/comforters/pillows left on the couch for days. When you’re done with it, put it away!

• No dirty dishes left in the sink. If the dishwasher is clean, unload it. If it’s full, start it. Clean up after yourself completely when you’re done!

• No clothes belong on the floor - if they’re dirty, find a hamper; if they’re clean, for heaven’s sake put them AWAY!

• No junk left on the floors. If it goes unattended, it goes in the trash.

• No trash anywhere except the garbage can. Not on an end table, not on a dresser, not on a counter, not on a shelf, not in a box, not with a fox…

• No messy counters. Putting away dishes doesn’t mean a clean kitchen. If your food made a mess, clean it up.

• No one is incapable of using the vacuum cleaner.

• No tools left unattended. Put them where they belong so we know where they are the next time we need them.

• No hat accumulation outside the shelves of a closet.

• No stockpiling crap. If you aren’t going to do something with it right away, put it neatly where it belongs or toss it in the trash.

Remember: If Mama ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy.