Made the Vineyard chicken last night- it was a hit, as well as my all time favorite pasta recipe Tomato Brie Pasta-I will have to post the recipe..it is so good...

but as I type this I am at work on a Saturday...I hate working Saturdays! I stayed up too late-midnight, way past my bedtime!!! I need sleep......

Angel's Delights Cookbook

This is Mark's favorite dinner...he absolutely loves this and cooks it himself (which doesn't bother me at all ;) ). As you can see by the stains, it gets alot of use!! We are having company this weekend so I brought the whole recipe book with me to work so I can get the ingredients needed when I grocery shop at lunch (fun lunch, huh?)

Anyway, as I was looking at the recipe book, it always reminds me of the woman who put all of her recipes together in here. Her name was Susan and she was my best friends Caroline and Cami's mom...she passed away from cancer in 1996...it doesn't seem that long ago. Every time I use any recipe out of here I think of her, and when we celebrate Tanner's birthday I know that it is bittersweet for Car & Cami because he was born on her birthday...why all this today? Well their birthday is on Sunday and when I got this out this morning it made me a little weepy....I thought I would post this so you could try it too- I don't know if you can read the below or not, but this is what Susan wrote on the back of the recipe book. She was a wonderful person and I really miss her....

A new layout I did...I have been in a scrapping mood lately...I don't normally like to do layouts of just myself, but I liked the picture of me & jessie. It was from this summer in Wyoming and I am rarely in any pictures... :) so I thought I would scrap it. One of the kids took the picture and I think they did a really good job of it...

This is one reason why the kids love going to Temecula...they get to ride their bikes on Grandma & Grandpa's property. The wheely photo is Tanner...he kept making the loop and trying to see how much air he could get...I think he scared himself a little on this one. The other photo is Jake watching his brother and trying really hard to do the same thing himself. Jake is the one that scares me because he has NO FEAR!!!

I made the pasta- it was YUMMY....I am going to have leftovers as soon as I get home from work!!

Pasta....

Doesn't that recipe sound good? I must be in a pasta mood, because I basically made this last night, except it had Havarti cheese mixed in and then you bake it...I made the sauce portion last night and will do the baking part tomorrow night. I was making the pasta dish as I was making Taco salad for dinner last night and trying to read my new book- The Friday Night Knitting Club. Being in the kitchen was the only place I could read, because the kids sure don't bug me in there, they are afraid I might give them a chore to do, so they just stay out... :)


Marinara Sauce with Olives, Basil, and Feta

1 tablespoon olive oil
4 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
1 28-ounce can whole or diced tomatoes, undrained
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon sugar
16 ounces penne
1/2 cup kalamata olives, pitted and halved
1/2 cup torn fresh basil leaves
3/4 cup (3 ounces) crumbled Feta

Heat the oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook until golden but not browned, about 1 minute. Add the tomatoes and their juices, red pepper, oregano, salt, and sugar. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer (crushing the tomatoes with the back of a wooden spoon if using whole tomatoes) until the sauce thickens slightly, about 20 minutes. Remove from heat. Add the olives, basil, and Feta and toss.Cook the penne according to the package directions. Drain and divide among individual plates. Spoon the sauce over the top.Yield: Makes 4 servings

I have been without my little digital camera because I left it at my mom's in Temecula- it is amazing how many times I wanted to use it and realized that I didn't have it. I didn't think that I used it that often....

I have been keeping up with my goal of getting myself organized. I have condensed, thrown things away, and put things away in my scrapping area and it feels great when I finally get to sit down and scrap and have it all organized.

I finished another 3 pages this weekend- that's big for me!!!

I found these two pictures while I was cleaning up...and I love them both...The picture of Mark & Riley is from our Wyoming 2006 trip. Jake & Lizzie from New Years 2008...aren't those two cute? They look like they are drinking beer, but it is Sasparilla (sp?)

Princess

I wanted to post a video of this cute story about an elephant & dog that I watched on Pam's blog-it was such a good story...but I cannot figure out how to do that!!! Can we say computer illiterate! ...so instead, here is a picture of our very chubby, very spoiled kitty. I love that cat! :)

I am so bogged down with work that I never get a free moment...I have a new boss, and boy is she ever HIGH ENERGY....she doesn't stop, which in turn means I never stop....

Anyway, trying to make reservations for our Las Vegas trip for Riley's cheer competition in February- anyone have any suggestions on where to stay-not so expensive???

2009

Have you all made new years resolutions? what are they? I have the usual.....eat better, exercise, etc....

This year I really want it to be less stressful than the year I just experienced- I am going to do my best to make it that way....

Hope all had a great New Years Eve!