RECIPE OF THE WEEK

CHEESY MEXICAN DIP

ingredients

1 16-ounce can chili
1 package (block) of Philadelphia cream cheese
1 package (8 ounces) of pre-shredded cheddar or Monterey Jack/Cheddar blend

preparation

Preheat oven to 350°F. Spread cream cheese evenly on the bottom of casserole dish.Layer chili on top of the cream cheese. Distribute grated cheese evenly over the top.

Bake in oven until cheese melts, approximately 12 to 15 minutes. Serve warm with tortilla chip

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

ROBERT GREEN INGERSOLL:

It is a thousand times better to have common sense without education than to have education without common sense.

FUN IN THE SUN

What a fun day we had today with family and friends. Sarah and Kurtis flew in this morning and then we had a little get together at our house. We rented a waterslide by recommendation of one of Sarah's friends and it was every bit or more fun than she said. Thanks Cecille!!

TODAY WAS THE DAY!!

My plantation shutters were installed today and I love them!! Even more than I thought I would. The house looks totally different. Here are a couple of pictures.

Having a Blast

I have just discovered KSL classified ads. Last week I decided to see if my furniture would sell because I would love new stuff. I went around the house taking pictures of everything that I wanted to get rid of. I have already sold my dining table and buffet and hutch and my entertaintment center. I still have my piano, dinette set, and a sofa and 2 wing back chairs. Now I have to start looking for new things. Fun!!

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

Faith can move mountains, but don't be surprised if God hands you a shovel. ~Author Unknown

REDOING THE DINING ROOM

Sarah and Janine have been a total inspiration for me. I decided to tear down my wallpaper and paint the room. The wallpaper was a complete nightmare to remove even with DIF. There are alot of windows in the room so I think the sun baked it on the walls!! I have decided no matter how in it is, how cute it is, I will never wallpaper again. I want you all to remind me of that if I should ever even think about it. Here are some before and after pictures. I think it will look alot better after I get my plantation shutters put in on the 28th. I am so excited to get them!!

HORSEBACK RIDING ADVENTURE

Today I took my niece, Dani, to Rick and Lori's house to ride in their arena for awhile. The adventure showed what a real cowgirl Dani was when her horse started bucking but she held on for dear life and managed to stay on!! Way to do go Dani! Jenica, their daughter, rides in horse shows doing the barrels and pole bending and is going to state in September. Thanks Lori for a great time as usual!!

CONCERT AT RED BUTTE GARDENS

Last night we went to see Garrison Keillor with 4 other couples and had a great time. For those of you who don't know who he is, he is the host and writer for " A Paririe Home Companion and has been on the air for the past 34 years. He is a Minnesotan so I relate to everything he says. Red Butte Gardens has concerts all summer long and I feel we have been missing out by not going more. You can bring a picnic with a bottle of wine or your favorite drink. The weather was absolutely beautiful and had a very enjoyable evening. Finally, to quote Garrison Keillor " Be well, do good work, and keep in touch."

FAREWELL PARTY FOR KATIE

On Saturday I went to a going away party for Katie who is off to college on Wednesday. She will be going to Merrimack outside of Boston. Oh to be young again!

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

A friend is one of the nicest things you can have, and one of the best things you can be. ~Douglas Pagels

Flaming Gorge Expedition

As all of you know I become a fishing widow in August and remain so until October. Mark had a great weekend and here are a couple of the reasons he continues to love to go.

RECIPE OF THE WEEK

I love to make this in the fall and serve it warm with vanilla ice cream.

Apple Crisp

1 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 cup oatmeal-old fashioned kind
1 cup pcaked brown sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 cup butter softened
4 cups chopped peeled apples
1 cup sugar
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1 cup water
1 tsp vanilla extract

In a mixing bowl, combine first four ingredients. Cut in butter until crumbly. Press half into a greased 2 1/2 qt. baking dish or a 9-in square pan. Cover with apples. In a saucepan, combine sugar, cornstarch, water, and vanilla; cook and stir until thick and clear. Pour over the apples. Sprinkle with remaining crumb mixture. Bake at 350 degrees for aboyt 1 hour or until the apples are tender. Delicious!!!

RECIPE OF THE WEEK

This is probably the best syrup I have EVER tasted.  It is so good on blueberry pancakes.  I plan on making it when Sarah and Kurtis come in September.

Buttermilk Syrup

1 1/2 cups white sugar

3/4 cup buttermilk

1/2 cup butter

2 tablespoons corn syrup

1 teaspoon baking soda

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

In a saucepan, stir together the sugar, buttermilk, butter, corn syrup, and baking soda. Bring to a boil, and cook for 7 minutes.  Remove from the heat, and stir in the vanilla.

CHRIS ISAAK CONCERT

• On Monday night Mark and I went to the Chris Isaak concert at the Depot. It is a venue that only holds about a thousand but there was probably only 500 people there.  We had great seats and he was very good.  Not only can he sing he was pretty cute with a good sense of humor.
  

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

Be willing to apologize. Proper apologies have three parts: 1 ) What I did was wrong. 2 ) I’m sorry that I hurt you. 3 ) How do I make it better? It’s the third part that people tend to forget…. Apologize when you screw up and focus on other people, not on yourself.
- Randy Pausch ( 1960-2008 )

Park City Arts Festival

On Saturday Donna, Debbie, Kathy, Jean and myself set out early and had breakfast on mainstreet in Park City so we were all set for the festival at 9:00 a.m. when it opened. The streets didn't get crowded until the afternoon when it also got HOT! I bought myself a pair of cute earrings but the big spender was Kathy. She bought a mirror for her living room and a fountain for her backyard. We ended our day with a martini or two! We all had a wonderful day and chalked it up as another girlfriend bonding experience!! You can never have too many of them.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

You'll always rise in life to the level of responsibility that you're willing to accept.

RECIPE OF THE WEEK

Chili

1 pound 96% fat free beef
1 onion chopped
1 bell pepper chopped
garlic

Brown meat and add onion, pepper, and garlic

Add:
2 cups salsa
1 large can petite diced tomatoes undrained plus 1 small can
2-3 cans kidney beans
1-2 tbsp. chili powder-depends on how hot your salsa is

Heat and cook all day in the crockpot on low

Weight Watchers = 1 point for 1 cup