Monday, August 31, 2009

"All I Want For Christmas"...







Is my 2 front teeth!!

A L A S K A










Just wanted to share a few more of my favorite pics from the "guy trip" to Alaska.

PHOTO OF THE MONTH:



I couldn't decide on just one photo! Jacob had such a fun time playing in the sprinklers one hot August day. I think the look on his face says it all...

RECIPE OF THE MONTH


Peaches, I love fresh peaches! Sliced with milk and sugar, used in peach pie, peach cobbler, homemade peach ice cream, but my favorite is Peach Crisp. This recipe is from the Gabby Gourmet (remember him?) and it's delicious!
Thanks for the peaches, Barb...


PEACH CRISP:
1/2 cup oats, 1/2 cup brown sugar, 1/4 cup flour, 1/2 tsp. cinnamon, dash salt, 1/4 cup butter, 10 medium peaches, vanilla ice cream.
Combine oats, brown sugar, flour, cinnamon and salt. Cut in butter until crumbly. Peel peaches, slice and measure 5 cups. Put fruit in a 10x6x2 pan. Sprinkle flour mixture over fruit. Bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes. Makes 6 small servings. Serve warm with ice cream or whipped cream.

Sunday, August 23, 2009

Alaska Fishing Trip

August 14-18 the guys in the Muir family went on a fishing trip to Ketchikan, Alaska. The group included Dad Muir, Dale, Chris, Brett, Darren, Kerry, Jeremy, Andy, Jon, Paul, Josh, Nick, Eric, Rich, Adam, Steve, Kaden, Scott & 3 pilots.
The only family members missing were Zak (just started a new job in Texas), and Nathan (serving in the California Arcadia Mission).
The guys arrived there on a Friday afternoon. Some of the group flew in Jeremy's jet, some in the Cheyenne, and some on a commercial flight. Saturday half of the group fished on Ward Creek catching Dolly Varden's (a brightly spotted char fish), rainbows, and pink salmon. The other group went saltwater fishing and caught halibut and silver salmon. Sunday was spent going to church, sight-seeing (they saw bears), and just chillin'. Monday was rainy and windy. The guys on the saltwater fishing trip spent a wet, miserable day on the boat but still caught some fish! The guys fishing on the river "slayed 'em".
Tuesday they posed for a group photo and then headed home. It was a fantastic trip enjoyed by all. Thanks, Jer!!


The Johnson, Muir, & Ruben "fishermen"

Brett's "silver"


Chris' Coho...it's a keeper!


Dad & Scott by their mode of transportation-The Citation X


Beware of Bears!!
Chris, Brett, Darren & the guide - Ward Creek


Joe the pilot, Scott, Steve & Kaden with their catch.

Friday, July 31, 2009

Recipes of the Month:

Chocolate Cherry Bundt Cake:
1 package chocolate cake mix, 2 T. flour, 1 21 oz. can cherry pie filling, 1 tsp. almond extract, 3 eggs, 1/2 cup chocolate chips, 1 T. butter, 2 T. milk, 1/2 cup powdered sugar.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Using solid shortening, grease and flour 12-cup bundt pan. In a large bowl, blend first 5 ingredients. Beat 2 minutes on high speed. Pour into prepared pan. Bake 45 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool upright in pan for 45 minutes. Turn onto serving plate. Cool completely. In small pan, over low heat combine chocolate chips, butter and milk until chocolate chips melt, stirring constantly. Remove from heat, stir in powdered sugar with a wisk until smooth. Add additional milk if necessary for glazing consistency. Spoon over cake.

Another fun, easy dessert for summer is called Ice cream Sandwich Dessert:
10 ice cream sandwiches (Fat Boys), 1 12 oz. container Cool Whip, chocolate syrup, 2 Skor candy bars.
Place Fat Boys in bottom of 9x13 pan (may need to cut them). Cover with Cool Whip. Drizzle with chocolate syrup. Sprinkle 2 crushed Skor bars on top. Freeze until ready to serve.

Happy Birthday Dale & Linda






Dale & I spent the entire weekend of the 24th celebrating our birthdays! Thursday we had family come watch the Handcart Days fireworks with us (Bountiful City must spend half their budget on the fireworks every year-they were fantastic as usual). We had homemade chocolate ice cream and our favorite birthday cake-Cherry Chocolate Bundt Cake. Friday, we went to Park City and stayed at the Marriott Mountainside. We went to dinner at the Snake Creek Grill in Heber. Their black bottom banana cream pie is one of the best desserts ever! Saturday we rode the Alpine Coaster (what an adventure-I didn't brake once!) On the way home we stopped at the Outlet Stores...I can't pass by without at least stopping to see what good deals I can find! That night we headed to Spring Mobile Ballpark (formerly Franklin Covey Field, formerly Derks Field) to watch the Bees (formerly the Buzz, formerly the Stingers, formerly the Bees) game. They lost to the Portland Beavers, but it was a beautiful night at the ballpark and the peanuts were delicious!
I'm grateful to have such a great guy to share my birthday with...

PHOTO OF THE MONTH:


"Bountiful Sunset" taken by Dale July 7, 2009.

American Idol Tour Concert





July 14th I drug Dale to the American Idol Tour concert at the E-Center. He thought we would be the oldest people there, but we weren't!! A lady sitting in front of us was at least 80! I'm sure if she wasn't already hard of hearing, she was after the concert...It was SO loud. Darren & Karlie came with us and had a camera. The photos didn't turn out very well, but here are a few. My favorite song was Kris Allen's Ain't No Sunshine When She's Gone. Adam Lambert did an amazing job singing Mad World, and I also really liked the performances of Matt Giraud & Danny Gokey. All the contestants sounded fantastic-maybe they've been taking singing lessons...
Thanks for being a good sport, Dale!!

Finger Paintin' & Tubbin'








Oh what do we do in the Summertime?? Hot tub and fingerpaint of course!!