FHE Treat

Have you been wondering what the Davidson's are having for FHE treat tonight? Banana Bars. Thanks to Sherry for sharing her recipe. Yummy! Banana Bars 1/2 c. butter, soft 1 1/2 c. sugar 2 eggs 1 c. sour cream 1 t. vanilla 2 c. flour 2 t. baking soda 2 bananas, mashed (about 1 cup) Frosting: 1 8-oz. package cream cheese, soft 1/2 c. butter, soft 2 t. vanilla 4 c. powdered sugar Cream butter and sugar. Add eggs, vanilla, sour cream, bananas. Add flour and baking powder. Mix until just combined. Spread in an 11 x 17 greased cookie pan. Bake 350F for 20-25 min. Frost when cool.

Minestrone Recipe

Kurt, I used a Minestrone Recipe from allrecipes.com. Here is a link... Here are some changes I made:

Omit - spinach, pasta (I wasn't sure how well those would process and didn't want to end up with mush).

Substituted - half/half mix of white and pinto cannery beans (that I had cooked in the crock pot overnight) instead of the canned beans.

Directions - Instead of following the recipe directions, I did the following: Saute onion, garlic until tender. Add turkey sausage and brown. Made a broth with the chicken stock, tomato paste and oregano. To fill the jars I layered beans, onion/garlic/sausage mixture, then the vegetables. I covered everything with the hot broth and processed.

Good luck!

Something New #2

I'm on a roll. Today I used up carrots, tomato, zucchini and onion from my garden pressure canning Minestrone soup!

Before processing

Finished soup!

Something New

I decided to try something new today. I recently purchased a large, new, shinny pressure cooker/canner. It has been sitting on my shelf intimidating me all summer. I don't know why, but the idea that it has the potential to explode makes me a bit nervous. Because of this, I have put off trying it out... until today. I don't do a lot of canning. A little applesauce now and then, but nothing like my Mom and Sister. Come to think of it, my brothers probably do more canning than I do. I really have to psyche myself up to do much more than jam. It intimidates me and zaps my energy. My canning buddy, Cassi, and I usually get together and talk each other into doing something. Just recently we went big and did pears AND pear sauce. Not much for some, but a big deal for me. To initiate myself with the pressure canner, I followed my sister-in-law Jenny's recipe for Beef and Barley Soup. In the end, it wasn't too bad. Nothing exploded and I think the soup actually looks tasty. I can't wait to pull it out and heat it up one cold evening this winter. Here's what I did: Step one (day before): Crock pot two beef roasts for 10 hrs. Step two: Make broth from crock pot drippings Step three: Cut vegetables, layer in jars and cover with broth

Step four: Pressure can

Viola - 75 minutes later (plus some cool down time) I have homemade Beef & Barley Soup. What next? Maybe Chicken Vegetable or Minestrone? I still have lots of garden vegetables that need a good place to call home.

What were we thinking?

Perhaps it was Hannah's well written letter pleading for a pet. Perhaps it is because our children ogle over every dog, cat, horse, goat, (or moose, for that matter) that walks by our house. What ever enticed us into it, we are now the proud owners of two kittens. We were tempted to bring home three, but resisted (Gigi is still tugging at my heartstrings from the shelter). Introducing Sophie and Max (name not firm). If they survive the excessively loving attention of four girls, they are sure to grow into hearty and happy cats.

I DID IT!

I have been running a lot these past 6 months. In fact, I had a goal to run a half marathon by the end of the summer. I didn't run in an actually race, but I did run 15 miles. The longest I have ever gone. Cassi and I ran through Sandpoint, then across the long bridge (what a view!) and into Sagle. The only time I usually go to Sagle is when I'm headed to Coeur d'Alene or Spokane. Who would (or could) run all the way to Sagle, I would have said. No more! I have been there on foot - and back!

Dream Vacation

Do you have a favorite vacation? One of ours is an annual (well, it's annual whenever we don't have new babies we can't leave behind) rafting trip on the Lower Salmon River. I was lucky enough to marry into a family of river guides. Between Kirk, his brother and sister we can outfit ourselves for a river adventure some people only dream of. It is a unique and amazing experience to spend 4 days away from everything, floating and camping down a beautiful stretch of river. We love to sleep under the stars, run the rapids, fish, eat, and play. There are plenty of fun rapids, but they are mellow enough that we can take the kids. Maren was finally old enough to go this year and made her maiden voyage. Kelli's new Husband, Brandon, also made his first trip.

The girls love to row. We can't wait for the day when the girls and their cousins are old enough to row the 'kids' boat down, with the adults following in the gear boat and kayaks.

Hannah caught the first fish of the trip... on her princess fishing pole. This seemed to aggravate our 14 yr. old friend, Ben. He spent the rest of the trip trying to out fish her. He did pretty well, but she ended up with two fish on her first attempts - a natural. Way to go Hannah!

Our rain gear stayed safely stowed away except for one quick sprinkle as we pulled out of camp on the second morning. Otherwise we had beautiful weather - if you don't count the sandstorm on the second night that forced everyone to sleep in tents and still wake up coated with grit.

River time is great time with cousins, Grandma, Aunts and Uncles.

The river has a special beauty. This is our camp on the last night along the Snake river.

On our drive home, we couldn't help but talk about all of the other rafting adventures we want to plan. Maybe we can go down to Southern Utah sometime and do the Green river through desolation canyon. Maybe the Rogue river in Southern Oregon. Or perhaps the main stretch of the Salmon. Too many fun rafting adventures, too little time.