Such a good book!

Since I have finished the Twilight series I have been looking for another good book to read. I've been asking some of my student's for any suggestions and this was one that kept coming up. The Secret Journal of Brett Colton by Kay Lynn Mangum. This past weekend while Greg and I were down in Vegas at his parent's house I asked his little sisters if they had ever heard of that book. They freaked out and said they totally had and that they totally had it. I borrowed it and read it the whole ride home Saturday and finished it off Sunday. I would highly suggest it to anyone looking for a book. Happy reading!

A Very Brady Thanksgiving

Last night we had an early Thanksgiving dinner with my dad's side of the family, the Brady's. We had dinner in the gym at a church in South Jordan. I brought two brownie pies and they were a hit. We ate so much food. It was like a rehearsal dinner for the real thing. This was a monumental event for my family because it was the first time that my entire immediate family was together. We had my mom and dad, Ben, Jessa and Jared and their girls, me and Greg, Mac home from his mission, Tucker home from military training and Eli. As a result, we took family pics in the hallway. Good times. We had such a great time and it was a great reminder of what we are thankful for this time of year.


Brother's-in-law


Uncle Eli, Lola and her bink










Getting real creative while waiting for mom


The whole family

Random

These are just a few random pics of Greg and me over the past couple weeks. The first one is us in Salt Lake right after we saw Thriller with my mom. It was just on the way back to our car but it was such a great fall landscape we just couldn't resist. The others are from a few weekends ago when we went up to Rexburg to visit Nat and dine at a fine restaurant known as Morinitas. It is authentic Mexican food and very tasty and very filling.






The Super Burrito


La Morinitas

Also, we took a picture with our Super Burritos that was almost identical to a picture we took with giant pancakes when we first met. I think it was our love of food and taking pictures with food that brought us together.




Courtesy O the Ranch Hand in Montpelier Idaho

Ok so.....

As you all know Greg and I have no kids but we do have nieces who we absolutely love to pieces. I know these pics are a little late but I figured better late than never. Jessa brought the girls by to visit me at PHS on Halloween and they looked so cute. My Dance 2 girls thought they were amazing and Lola kept asking me if I was a witch, and I wasn't, because Jessa told her that that is what I was going to dress up as. Thanks Jess, real awesome.


Cali the Princess and Lola the Chicken


Cali the Cowgirl and Lola the Witch


Greg the Nerd and the Girls--I don't think Lola recognized Greg


Cali the 5 yr. old


Jessa and Lo cheesin it up


Me and Lo


The Happy Couple

Yes they are as good as they look

So I bought a cookbook from a student in one of my Dance 1 classes. She was selling them as a fundraiser. Anyway, I was flipping through becuase I needed a dessert recipe to make to take to some friends house for dinner. I came upon this brownie recpie and I decided to try them. Now I don't know about you, but when I cook, I like my end result to look like the picutre in the cookbook. I was beyond thrilled when I made these brownies and they totally looked just like the picutre. They also taste as good a they look and they were real easy to make. Here is the recipe. Just serve with a glass of cold milk and you are good to go. Enjoy!!


Brownie Caramel Pecan Bars
Ingredients:
1/2 cup sugar
2 tablespoons butter or margarine
2 tablespoons water
2 cups (12-oz. pkg.) HERSHEY'S SPECIAL DARK Chocolate Chips or HERSHEY'S Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips, divided
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2/3 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
CARAMEL TOPPING(recipe follows)
1 cup pecan pieces
Directions:
1. Heat oven to 350°F. Line 9-inch square baking pan with foil, extending foil over edges of pan; grease and flour foil.

2. Combine sugar, butter and water in medium saucepan; cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until mixture boils. Remove from heat; immediately add 1 cup chocolate chips, stirring until melted. Beat in eggs and vanilla until well blended. Stir together flour, baking soda and salt; stir into chocolate mixture. Spread batter in prepared pan.

3. Bake 15 to 20 minutes or until brownies begin to pull away from sides of pan. Meanwhile, prepare CARAMEL TOPPING. Remove brownies from oven; immediately and carefully spread with caramel topping. Sprinkle remaining 1 cup chips and pecans over topping; lightly press into topping. Cool completely in pan on wire rack, being careful not to disturb chips while soft. Lift out of pan; cut into bars. About 16 bars.


CARAMEL TOPPING:

Remove wrappers from 25 caramel candies. Combine 2 tablespoons butter or margarine, caramels and 1 tablespoon milk in medium microwave-safe bowl. Microwave at HIGH (100%) 1 minute; stir. Microwave an additional 1 to 2 minutes, stirring every 30 seconds, or until caramels are melted and mixture is smooth when stirred. Use immediately.