Sunday, September 30, 2012

Manicotti with Cheese.

Manicotti with Cheese

1 package (8oz.) Manicotti
1 3/4 cups (15 oz.) part-skim ricotta cheese
2 cups (8 oz.) shredded mozzarella cheese
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
3 cups (28 oz.) spaghetti sauce*

Cook pasta according to package directions (about 7 minutes).  Lay flat on foil to cool. Heat oven to 350 degrees.  In a large bowl, stir together cheese, parsley, salt and pepper; spoon into rolled pasta tubes.  Spread thin  layer of sauce on bottom of a 9x13 baking dish, arrange filled pasta in a single layer over sauce.  Pour remaining sauce over pasta; cover with foil.  Bake 40 minutes.  Remove foil; bake for 15 minutes longer or until hot and bubbly.

Makes 6-8 servings.




Easy Manicotti with Cheese (no-boil method)
Prepare as directed above EXECPT:

- Do Not cook past a before filing tubes.
- For sauce, stir together spaghetti sauce and 1 cup hot water; heat to boiling.
- Use heated sauce in preparing dish.
- Bake at 400 degrees.



*I made my spaghetti sauce using a friends recipe found below.  Tomatoes were from my uncle Jerry's garden, onion was from my friend Jamey's garden and the zucchini was from my friend Tami's garden. Thanks friends!




Saturday, September 29, 2012

Fort.

Gregg has been gone two full weeks in the last five weeks for business.  The first week he was gone I got out these boxes that I had been saving to make a fort for the boys.  I bought "ball" duck tape and new crayons to build and decorate it.  Truman thought it was pretty amazing.  He colored on it for the past six weeks adding stickers and pictures.

Hours of joy and entertainment.   

I bought these Crayola "Slick Stix" and they did not disappoint   They are like a mix between a crayon and marker.  They are almost like drawing with a large eye liner.  I highly recommend them for boxes or other hard/rough surfaces.

Friday, September 28, 2012

Friday Flashbacks.

Lynn and Bob Simons with Tara and Gregg | Summer 1978
Do our kids look like Gregg?
He is about 6 months old in this picture.
{Krista looks like Lynn that is for sure!}

Thursday, September 27, 2012

Asian Chicken Noodle




Asian-Style Chicken Noodle Soup

4 ounces vermicelli rice noodles
10 cups chicken broth
4 cups shredded chicken
3 tablespoons fish sauce
4 teaspoons soy sauce
2 scallions, thinly sliced
1/4 cups fresh cilantro leaves
1/4 cup fresh basil leaves
5 ounces cherry tomatoes, halved
1 jalapeño, thinly sliced
fresh grated ginger

Soak noodles according to package instructions.  Meanwhile, in a large pot, combine broth, fish sauce, soy sauce and ginger and bring to a boil.  Reduce heat and simmer until ginger is fragrant, 5-8 minutes.  Stir in chicken and rice noodles and cook until warmed through, 2 minutes.

Divide soup among six bowls; top with scallions, cilantro, basil, tomatoes and jalapeño.  Serve with lime wedges.

Serves six
301 calories
7 grams fat
32 grams protein
25 grams carbohydrates
3 grams fiber

Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Pumpkin Butterscotch Cake.

 

Pumpkin Butterscotch Cake
Pinterest *

Cake Mix
1/4 pound unsalted butter
1 cup all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup 100% natural pumpkin
1/2 cup nonfat buttermilk
1/2 light brown sugar
1/2 sugar
2 large eggs
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Grease and flour a 9-inch round cake pan. Combine together in a medium bowl flour, baking soda, spices, and salt. Set aside.

Place pumpkin and buttermilk in a small bowl and combine thoroughly. Set aside.
In a mixer fitted with a paddle attachment cream together the butter and sugars. Beat on medium for 2 minutes. Scrape down the sides of the bowl . Increase speed to high and beat an additional 2 minutes. Scrape down the bowl. Add the eggs and beat on medium for 30 seconds. Add the vanilla and beat on high for 30 seconds. With mixer on low alternate adding the dry ingredients with the wet ingredients into the mixing bowl. Mix until just combined. Remove the bowl from the mixer and use a rubber spatula to finish mixing the batter, until smooth and thoroughly combined.

Immediately pour the cake into the prepared pan, spreading evenly. Bake on the center rack of a preheated 325F oven. Bake for about 45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Remove the cake from the oven and cool in the pan for 15 minutes at room temperature. Invert cake onto a plate or cake circle. Turn the cake upright and refrigerate until needed.

Butterscotch Walnut Filling

¾ cup heavy cream
¾ cup sugar
¼ tsp fresh lemon juice
¼ pound unsalted butter, cut into 4 1 ounce pieces
1 cup walnuts, chopped


Heat cream in a saucepan over medium-low heat, until hot (do not allow to boil or simmer). Combine sugar and lemon juice in a separate saucepan. Stir with a whisk to combine (the sugar will resemble moist sand).  Caramelize the sugar for 4 to 5 minutes over medium high heat, stirring constantly with a whisk to break up any lumps. 

Remove the saucepan from the heat.  Add the hot cream, one half at a time.  Add the butter, on piece at a time, stirring to incorporate before adding the next piece.  Cool in the refrigerator for 45 minutes before placing in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment.  Beat on high for 2 minutes, until light (but not fluffy).  Add the walnuts and stir to incorporate.  Set aside for a few minutes.



Brown Sugar Icing

2 cups tightly packed brown sugar
1 cup heavy cream
½ pound unsalted butter, cut into 8 1-ounce pieces
¼ tsp cream of tartar


Heat brown sugar, heavy cream, 2 1-ounce pieces of butter, and ¼ tsp cream of tartar in a 3 quart saucepan over medium-high heat, stirring frequently while bringing the mixture to a boil.

Allow the mixture to continue boiling while stirring constantly, for 2 minutes.  Transfer the bubble hot mixture to a 3-quart stainless steel bowl and allow to stand at room temperature for 1 hour before proceeding.  Place the cooled mixture int the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle.  Beat on low for 30 seconds.  Then beat on medium for 2 minutes, while adding the remaining 6 pieces of butter, one at a time, until incorporated.  Scrape down the sides of the sides of the bowl.  Increase the speed to high and beat for an additional 2 minutes.  Scrape down the sides of the bowl and beat on high for an additional 1 minute until light and fully.  Transfer 1 cup of icing to a pastry bag fitted with a large star tip, and place in the refrigerator until needed.



* Found this recipe on Pinterest so I wanted to give it a try.  It felt really labor intensive but maybe that's because there were a million other things going on in the background while I made this cake.

The reviews {from my family and grandparents} were double thumbs up. It is very rich.

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

McKay.

McKay is a senior!
Sixth Quinn child to graduate from Park City High School.
{my favorite and Laurens}.
{my mom's favorite}

{McKay's favorite}
Cute McKay laugh.
With the big sister, who took the pictures.

And now, for some out-takes because McKay is funny too!
{we was mad that Dallin made him hold these ski's because they were so "getto"}

Monday, September 24, 2012

Yodipity.

Family Night with McKay {because dad is out of town}

Sunday, September 23, 2012

Family.

This weekend my grandpa and grandma Quinn came to town to visit so we all met up at my parents house in Park City to hang out and enjoy fall.
My brother Dallin bought this VW bus to fix up and sell.  It was the highlight of the weekend.



Lots and lots of rides for everyone!

Truman was introduced to army men by Enoch this weekend - they played from sun up {after having a sleep over together} to sun down when they crashed!
Like father, like son. Working on the suburban together.
Like father, like son. Working on the VW together!
Ann and her mom.
Tiffany really wanted a picture of grandpa Quinn {Anna's great grandpa Quinn} holding her with her crazy hair - apparently there is a picture of Tiffany at the same age looking the same way.  Anna wanted nothing to do with sitting on grandpa's lap.
Buddies - playing in the couch fort they made.
Love you Jean.
Jean was always on grandpa's lap snuggling.
Caught!  Borrowing grandma's toothbrush because he forgot his.