{summer in the cul-de-sac, tasty recipes & a new do}

What an incredibly fun summer we have had!! I know I have talked about the circle we live in before, but we seriously had SUCH a great time together this summer…..and it is still going on until it’s so cold that we just absolutely can’t stand hanging out outside together. LOL! Rarely a day goes by where we aren’t sitting out on our lawn with all of our neighbors, organizing dinners together, BBQing together, watching movies out on our lawn together, etc. etc. etc. all while our little ones run around us playing in the backyard and in the circle and getting filthier than you would believe. It has been a happy happy time for all of us here in the circle. (As you can see, these are more fun pics of Seneca and Sami at one of our many BBQs last week! SUCH cuties...look at them share their food! LOVE IT!)

 

 

It’s almost like we are no longer neighbors, but extended family. We are so sad to see summer getting away from us and have been known to roast marshmallows in the pouring rain and watch movies on the lawn on FREEZING nights completely snuggled in a million blankets with hot chocolate, simply because we just can’t quite say goodbye to summet yet. LOL! I love us!

As I mentioned in my post last week, I must admit that our BBQs are EXCEPTIONAL! I have tried out so many new recipes this summer and have only had one that wasn’t out of this world. Three of the recipes I tried for our BBQs the past few weeks are absolute MUST-HAVE recipes, thanks to the wonderful women of the New McKendree United Methodist Church in Jackson, Missouri. (My good friend and faithful blog reader, Amy, sent me a cookbook that she and the women of the New McKendree United Methodist Church put together and I have YET to try a recipe from this cookbook that hasn’t blown the SOCKS off of everyone that has tried it!!! THANK YOU SO MUCH AMY!!! SUCH a thoughtful and AWESOME gift!!) Although all three of these recipes are KNOCK OUTS, I am starting with what is very likely one of my most favorite dishes that I have made this summer…..an absolutely HEAVENLY Baked Zucchini Gratin. DELISH!!! (BTW..if you haven't tried the steak kabobs from Harmon's, we HIGHLY recommend them. SO DELISH and tender. YUMMM!)

BAKED ZUCCHINI GRATIN

1 med. Onion, sliced
2 lb. zucchini, sliced
½ c. margarine, melted & divided
2 c. shredded Mozzarella cheese
½ c. plain bread crumbs (I actually used ITALIAN seasoned bread crumbs and LOVED the kick it gave the casserole!)
¼ c. grated Parmesan cheese

In a lightly-greased 9x13 pan, layer onion and zucchini, sliced. Drizzle with ¼ cup melted margarine. Sprinkle with Mozzarella cheese. Combine remaining ¼ cup margarine, bread crumbs and Parmesan cheese. Sprinkle evenly over top. Bake at 350 degrees for 35 to 40 minutes, or until zucchini is fork tender.

This next one I wasn’t really sure about it. I thought for sure that the potatoes would be too bland and that they would need a gravy of some sort. SO WRONG. They need NOTHING! Nothing at all! They were absolutely HEAVENLY! So don’t be fooled by their plain appearance..they are DIVINE!

CREAM CHEESE MASHED POTATOES

5 lb. baking potatoes
6 oz. cream cheese
8 oz. sour cream
½ c. butter
½ c. milk
2 tsp. onion salt

Peel potatoes and cut into thin slices. Cook 15-20 minutes in boiling water or until fork tender. Drain. Put potatoes and remaining ingredients in a large mixing bowl and beat until fluffy.  Put in a lightly-greased 9x13 dish. Bake, uncovered, at 325 degrees for 50 minutes. (I garnished my pan of potatoes with thin slices of butter and parsley just to add a little “flair.”)
NOTE: Unbaked mashed potatoes may be chilled up to 2 days before baking. Let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes, then bake as directed.

And this last one is so fresh and yummy and a perfect light addition to any meal! YUMM!

ORANGE PINEAPPLE JELLO

1 lg. pkg. (or two small pkgs) orange Jell-O (can use sugar-free)
1 can crushed pineapple with juice
2 c. buttermilk
1 small carton Cool Whip (can use Light Cool Whip)

Boil Jell-O mix and pineapple (with juice) together.  Let cool. Mix in buttermilk. Fold in Cool Whip. Pour in a 9x13 pan and refrigerate until set.

 

 

Although I've been working out EVERY single morning, I obviously, I have done HORRIBLE on my healthy eating program over the summer. Terrible…but SO MUCH FUN! Our late night movies on the lawn started later in the summer and we’re all wishing we had thought of it sooner, since it’s already starting to get chilly. Now we take every opportunity to do it until it’s way too cold to stay outside. For a while, we were sitting out in the camping chairs with Chas’ flat screen TV. Last week, for the first time, Chas had a NOVEL idea. He proposed we all bring out our air mattresses. LOL! SO AWESOME! So above is a pic of our first air mattress movie night! Not only was it warmer, but it was HEAVEN for my back compared to the chairs! SO MUCH FUN!  (Anyone else notice what our neighbors Jed & Neil are wearing? LOL! They totally came out wearing the EXACT same outfit...unintentionally, of course! So funny!)

 

We had such a blast that we ended up dragging out the mattresses again last night for another flick after we had a BBQ at our house for the High Priest Group. Chas was called as the High Priest Group Leader a few months ago and it was great to get to know more members of our ward. We have such a great group of High Priests and it was nice to get together in a casual setting with their wives and kids. The food was fab as well!! YUMM! There were so many here that I wasn't able to grab everyone for the pic (there were little kids running around everywhere. LOL!) and I realized after looking at it that the picture above is a terrible one. LOL! Half of them aren't looking and half are covered up. Oh well...it's the thought that counts. We had a great time. SO many incredible people here in our ward!! One of our High Priests told me and my friend and neighbor Angela to stick our tongues out for a picture…and this is the result. LOL! I think it’s pretty safe to say that this is the first AND last picture of me sticking my tongue out. Gross. LOL! So funny. So after he had us take a silly picture, I made us take a nice one…and I love it!

 

After the BBQ we brought out the air mattresses and our friend Neil’s HUGE plasma screen so that everyone could see and hear the movie really well.  We ended up watching “Leatherheads.” It was funny and entertaining, but not one that I would say for you to hustle on out and watch. However, for our movie night, it was a fun flick. If you liked “O Brother, Where Art Thou,” you would probably love it. It was very similar.  Anyway…we had such a great time. Love this picture of us…including DUKE, who insisted on snuggling with me and Chas the entire movie! LOL!  SUCH good times!!!

So you have probably already noticed my new profile picture here on my blog that was taken this week after my friend Christy came and freshened up my do! YAY! I met Christy through a friend when I was desperate to find someone to do my hair and I truly believe it was meant to be that we met and became friends. From the very first minute that we started talking while she was doing my hair the very first time, we couldn’t believe how much we have in common. Not only do we have so many of  the same view on SO many things, Christy is seriously one of the funnest gals I have ever met. I kid you not, I have never ever ever laughed as hard in my LIFE as when Christy and I are together. And this week was no exception. We seriously laughed so hard that my abs and my cheek bones ached. We were CRYING and had to hold our cheeks to keep them from hurting so bad. LOL! She is so much fun. But the best part is, not only do we have so much fun together, but we also have such an awesome connection as far as spiritual things go. We very often end up talking about the Gospel and our feelings about life and trials and many of the experiences we have both been through and what we have learned as a result. It is such a wonderful and uplifting time when Christy is here. And not only that, by the time she leaves, I am looking FABULOUS! LOL! This time around, we took a MID-PROCESS pic with all of my foils in. LOL! We couldn’t stop laughing when we saw how HUGE my eyebrows looked when the dye was in them (my natural hair color is very close to the dark dark brown you can see, but oddly enough, my EYEBROWS are not dark and it bugs me…so I have her dye them the same color as my hair)! LOL!

 

 

We ended up taking off just over 2 inches and did the same color that I’ve had the past 4 times I’ve colored my hair, but it is seriously AWESOME right after it’s done. (I just had my hair done a few months ago, but already had 2 inches of regrowth…CRAZY! Christy couldn’t believe how much my hair had grown in such a short amount of time. I’ll clue you in to WHY in a later post!) The red in my hair fades faster than the rest, so I forget how bright and fabulous it is until I get it done again. It is so fresh and fun and sassy and I love it! And, you will be happy to know that I have been wearing my hair DOWN more. With the weather getting cooler and a little of the length taken off, I can stand to have it down without it completely driving me crazy! (I parted my hair right down the middle for this pic so you can see all of the individual colors. When I have it done, the colors are all mixed together!)

After I got my hair done, we did a little NEW DO photo shoot. I love love love love love the picture above of me and my Kaden even though he's not smiling big OR looking at the camera.LOL! Such a great pictures LOVE IT! And here is the picture of me and Seneca. Can you see Seneca? LOL! Yeah...she was so wiggly, that's all we got of her. LOL!

So fun…I love getting my hair done. It makes me feel like a new woman! Thanks Christy for the fabulous new do…and for FABULOUS YOU!!! WHAT A BLAST…I love ya! Can’t wait to play again soon!

Oh goodness...I have got to get to bed. Phew...I am exhausted. I still have so much to share, so stay tuned. If all goes well, I wil blog again tomorrow evening or on Sunday. Until then, make today a GREAT one!!!!

Comments

[Lynn Crapo]

LOVE it! I hate having eyebrows that "disappear" into my face. I always use a brow liner, but I never thought about dying them. WHat a GREAT idea!

Your neighborhood is creating some VERY lasting and FANTASTIC memories. That is something all of you will never forget. I couldn't stop smiling seeing you all in your comfy "snuggly" clothes on the air mattresses and blankets. So fun! IT takes me back to the days and nights my parents hung out with their friends after we went to bed and they thought we were asleep......I have such good memories of listening to my parents chatter with their friends and them laughing and laughing and having such great times.

[Katrine]

You sure know how to live! It looks as if you always have a great time. I really want to try the zucchini recipe. Now for the important part: how does your hair grow so fast?! Your public needs to know!

[ba andthe boys]

the mashed potatoes with the big hunks of butter on it looks so yummy! i will be trying that soon!

[Bobbi-Jo Grunewald]

You look incredible - It doesn't seem to matter what food you've been eating this summer, you look amazing! Ever photo I see of you, you just look hotter and hotter! ;)

Thanks for the recipes - I can't wait to try the zucchini one. YUM!

[Amy]

Yay! I'm so glad that you're getting lots of use out of the cookbook. I must say we know how to do some serious cookin' at the New McKendree UMC. :) It should be time for a new cookbook soon. I'll get you a copy of the newest one when it gets published. Enjoy!

[Steph S.]

Your neighborhood looks like a lot of fun! I love the blow up beds you have in the yard! :D So fun!! I can't wait to try some of those recipes as well. Your hair is awesome!! I love the colors! That is funny about your eyebrows!! :D And I have to agree with you, Christy is AMAZING!!! Love this post!

[Cherie]

I saw your new picture up in the corner last week and I think it is so cute! Love it! The new hair cut looks great!

[Vickie]

I love the neighborhood movie night. We've done that a couple of times this summer also. but we've hooked up a projector to our portable DVD player and shown them on the side of our house. It's great fun and its fun to see the cars stop at the stop sign by our house and just sit, watching the movie! Fun times!!! Yummy recipes too--thanks

[Amy]

I know why your hair is growing so fast. PRENATAL PILLS!! LOL!! You are so pregnant huh!? You don't have to publish this I just had to say it.

[Nicole Peck]

LOVE the new do! I need one myself desperately!! It's been since, um, February since I've had my hair cut and colored. It has also been since February since my girls have had their hair cut too!! Financially (for my hair cut), it just slides down the list of priorities. Anyway, the movies look fun! I love our ward and my friends here, but we are spread out a bit, so that's the ONLY thing I would change about where I live - we would all live in one big circle, like yours!! :) I didn't know Chas was a high priest! My DAD just BARELY got ordained a high priest within the last few years and Ted's an Elder still. LOL Hmmm...not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing to tell everyone. LOL
P.S. LOVE the eyebrows ;) And can Christy come to MY house??? You come with her too!!!!!

[Jennifer Thomas]

Thanks for sharing those great recipes. I am always on the look out for new ones. I think you look gorgeous!

[Shauna]

Love your hair! Am I the only one who thinks you might be expecting #3? My hair always grows faster when I'm pregnant! Just a thought - if so, CONGRATS! Looking forward to the next post. :)

[Raimi]

Your new do looks great! Thanks for sharing more yummy recipes-YOU ROCK!

[Laura VanHoorn]

Come on! Spill it! Are you pregnant??? That always made my hair grow faster!

You are looking great, the pictures look like lots of fun, and I am so enjoying your blog right now!

[Paige]

I told you already, but I love the new 'do! I am getting one this week & it really does always make you feel like a new woman, huh?

[Tierney]

I'm guessing you're prego too! You better tell me. I'll be sad if I'm the last to know. If so, that happened fast! I think it is funny you liked Jackson's middle name so much because I actually wanted to name him that and John wouldn't let me...but I love the name Jackson too...so it worked out ok!