Best Commute Home

This is fun to watch.

The Tale of Two Brains

This made me laugh out loud.

Don't feel sorry for yourself.

Just when you think your life and the life of people you love is hard, you get an email like this.
This guy is inspiring and brings us HOPE. We can overcome hard things.....and I will add.... with hard
work and the Lord's help. Let's pray good things for 2009.

Girl's Weekend

So last weekend we had girl's weekend in Richmond. It was Lindsay, Chelsea and me. Melissa couldn't come and Marissa was at Disney World. It had been a long time since we have done it. We had a great time. The red scarves and hats and mittens were a present from mom. And the rolling cart. What did we do? The girls got here Friday night..we had pizza, watched family movies, and then a "supposed" romantic comedy with Greg. We all fell asleep. We got up at the crack of dawn to go to a 'YOGA" class that almost killed me. It was too hard on my knees. I am still suffering a little from some of the moves. The girls did ok but are sore too. Then to Ukrop's for breakfast. Home to shower and get ready. Back in the car and headed for shopping. Hit lots of our favorite stores....then on to the movies for " Bride Wars. It was cute the and girls loved it. Then on to a little more shopping and then to " El Paseo" to meet Greg for dinner. More shopping again then home. We were going to do "pedicures' but CDW feel asleep. So Lindsay and I did a few more things...then on to bed. But we were up early for church. I taught RS and Chelsea did the music lesson at the last minute to help out. My friends sang at the end of my lesson for me and did great. We came home for dinner, Marissa and kids joined us .Denton was at ward conferences. So sadly it was over too soon. The girls had to get back home to their real lives. But we all agreed we needed to do it again soon. We had a good time. These aren't the best pictures, especially of me.....but it was early and I was still too puffy :).Likely story.

Felix's 6th Birthday

A few weeks back we took Leo ( another granddaughter) down to Raleigh, NC to Felix's 6th birthday. Chelseaand Dana had it at
" Lifetime Fittness", where Chelsea works. The kids invited got to do a climbing wall and go swimming. Greg and I went to the temple and then to part of the party. We all met afterwards at Chipotle for dinner and to open the family presents. We had to drive home that night. Leo spent the night with us and then went to church. We all had a good time. Here are a few pictures.

Suzie's New Recipe Collection : Food Glorious Food

These are 2 recipes from my dear friend Colette Johnson in Arizona. She is a great cook.

Collette’s Chili

Since I make this by scratch, I’ll do my best with ingredient amounts. So adjust this recipe with more or less of any of these ingred. to your liking. This chili is good no matter what you do to it. Anything goes!

2 pds. extra lean ground beef or ground turkey
1 large yellow onion - chopped
1 med. green bell pepper - chopped
2 27 oz. cans of dark red kidney beans
2 15 oz. cans of light red kidney beans or pinto or what ever bean you like, it’s the color variation that’s fun!
2 28 oz cans of petit diced tomatoes
1 15 oz can of tomato sauce
1 1/2 - 2 T. chili powder
1 tsp. paprika
salt & pepper to taste
Bay leaves - 4 or 5

In a big soup pot, brown the meat and season with “Lawry’s Garlic salt, and some pepper. Just as the meat is almost browned, add chopped onion and bell pepper. Cook for a few minutes and then add the beans with the liquid. Oh....Yum! you’ll want to stop here and just eat a bowl of this! Cook a few more minutes then add the tomatoes and tomato sauce. You may also add a small can of whole tomatoes (drained) coarsely cut for chunky chili to, only if you want, anything goes!
Then add the bay leaves, chili powder and about 1 tsp. paprika for a beautiful bright red color.

Turn up the heat till hot then simmer for an hour. This is quick and easy and yummy!

You can also add corn, sliced black olives or what ever else sounds good to you! We always make taco salads with leftovers.

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Carrot Cookies “Recipes to Remember-Mill Hollow Favorites”


Cream together:

1 1/2 c. sugar
1 1/2 c. shortening (butter flavor) or “I can’t believe it’s not butter” margarine

Add:

2 eggs
2 tsp. pure vanilla

Add dry ingredients alternating with cooked carrots:

4 c. flour
2 tsp. baking powder
2 pinches salt

2 cups mashed, kind of chunky, cooked carrots (I peel and cut carrots, put them in my “Pampered Chef” vegetable steamer and microwave 6-8 minutes then mash with potato masher).

Stir in:

2 c. walnuts coarsely chopped

Bake at 375 degrees for 11-12 minutes on a lightly greased cookie sheet. Frost with favorite frosting (butter, vanilla, lemon, almond, or cream cheese are all good).

Collette’s frosting:

3 oz. package cream cheese
1-2 T. butter
3 cups pd. sugar
1/3 to 1/2 c. canned milk

In small mixing bowl, put cream cheese and pd. sugar together. In a drinking mug, put butter and milk together and microwave till bubbly hot. Gradually pour hot liquid over pd. sugar and cheese while mixing with hand mixer. Frost while cookies are still warm, so leave the frosting soft enough to melt down the sides. The frosting should not be sticky when it cools-it should be shiny and firm. The cookies store well in a tupperware container with waxed paper between layers.

Yummy! Enjoy, this is a Johnson favorite!

Suzie's New Recipe Collection : Food Glorious Food

Lindsay, my daughter, sent this recipe. Too too good.


Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Brownies

You love the ice cream, now sink your teeth into gooey cookie dough brownies! Mixes for brownies and cookies make it extra easy.
Prep Time: 15 min Total Time: 1 hour 55 min Makes: 48 brownies


1 box Betty Crocker® Original Supreme brownie mix (with chocolate syrup pouch)
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1/4 cup water
2 eggs
1 pouch (1 lb 1.5 oz) Betty Crocker® chocolate chip cookie mix
1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
1 egg
1 container Betty Crocker® Rich & Creamy chocolate frosting or the Ganache at the bottom.

1. Heat oven to 350ºF. Grease bottom only of 13x9-inch pan. Make brownie mix as directed on box, using oil, water and 2 eggs. Spread in pan.
2. Make cookie mix as directed on pouch, using butter and 1 egg. Drop dough by rounded tablespoonfuls evenly onto brownie batter; press down lightly.
3. Bake 35 to 40 minutes or until toothpick inserted 2 inches from side of pan comes out almost clean. Cool completely, about 1 hour. Frost with frosting. For brownies, cut into 8 rows by 6 rows.

Chocolate Ganache
12 oz. semi-sweet chocolate morsels
3/4 cup heavy whipping cream
6 Tbsp butter
In a small saucepan, heat cream and butter until just before the boiling stage.
Pour over the chocolate morsels.
Let stand about 20 seconds and stir until smooth.
Pour over brownies and let set before cutting.

This is one of those little secrets we know you’ll love! Cutting brownies or any bar with a chewy and dense texture is much easier when you use a plastic knife.

Nutrition Information:
1 Brownie: Calories 170 (Calories from Fat 70); Total Fat 8g (Saturated Fat 3g, Trans Fat 1g); Cholesterol 20mg; Sodium 120mg; Total Carbohydrate 24g (Dietary Fiber 0g, Sugars 18g); Protein 1g Percent Daily Value*: Vitamin A 0%; Vitamin C 0%; Calcium 0%; Iron 6% Exchanges: 1/2 Starch; 1 Other Carbohydrate; 0 Vegetable; 1 1/2 Fat Carbohydrate Choices: 1 1/2
*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

Suzie's New Recipe Collection : Food Glorious Food

This is from my friend Kalisi. It is what she made for recipe club.

Strawberry Delight Extravaganza!!!*********

-white cake mix
-8 oz. cream cheese (softened)
-8 oz cool whip
- 1 cup powdered sugar
-2 cans strawberry pie filling (can also use real strawberries and sugar to make a glaze... the pie filling is just the quick way)

Prepare cake mix as directed. You can make this in a jelly roll pan or a 9x13 pan... obviously the 9x13 version is just thicker. Beat cream cheese, cool whip and sugar until smooth. Spread over cooled cake. Top with pie filling. TAH-DAH!

Suzie's New Recipe Collection : Food glorious Food

This is from my good friend Margie.

"This is my favorite quiche recipe! It takes about 10-15 min. prep time and 25 min. baking time."


Italian Zucchini Crescent Pie
(Zucchini Quiche)

4 cups cleaned, sliced zucchini (4-5 small zucchinis)
1 stick butter or margarine
1 onion chopped
2 T Parsley flakes
½ t. garlic powder
½ t. salt
¼ t. pepper
½ t. Basil
½ t. Oregano
2 eggs
2 C. shredded mozzarella cheese
1 can Pillsbury crescent roll dough

· Preheat oven at 350 F.
· Melt butter or margarine in a large skillet. Add sliced zucchini and chopped onion. Cook slowly for 5 min. Add the seasonings. Cook another 5 min. until zucchini is starting to soften. Set aside.
· Spread the crescent roll dough in a quiche dish to form your pie shell.
· In large bowl, beat eggs well and add the shredded mozzarella cheese and stir. Add the zucchini mixture to eggs and cheese; stir. Pour into quiche dish.
· Cook approx. 25 min. at 350. Insert knife in center, when it comes out clean take out of oven. Let sit for 5 min. before serving.
· Serves 6 to 8, depending on the size of your cuts.

Suzie's New Recipe Collection

This is a great recipe contributed by a good friend of Clayton''s.

Bluberry Muffins by Alexia Green

1 cup milk

2 large eggs, lightly beaten

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

3 cups all-purpose flour

1 cup granulated white sugar

1 tablespoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup unsalted butter, chilled and cut into small pieces

2 cups fresh or frozen blueberries

4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

1/2 cup brown sugar


Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place rack in middle of oven. Line
muffin pans with paper liners or spray with a vegetable spray.

In a small measuring cup mix together the milk, eggs, and vanilla
extract. Set aside.

In a large mixing bow; combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, and
salt. Cut the butter into small pieces and blend into the flour
mixture with a pastry blender or two knives. The mixture should look
like coarse crumbs. Remove 1 cup of the mixture and place in a small
bowl to make a streusel topping later. Gently fold in the
blueberries. Add the milk and egg mixture to the flour mixture.
Stir until just combined. Do not over mix this mixture or the muffins
will be tough when baked.

Fill each muffin cup almost full with the batter, using two spoons or
an ice cream scoop. Fill any unused muffins cups with water to
prevent the pan from warping.

For streusel topping: Melt the remaining 4 tablespoons butter and
drizzle over the reserved 1 cup of streusel topping. Add brown sugar.
Mix together with a fork until it is crumbly and looks like coarse
meal. Sprinkle a couple of teaspoons of the streusel over the top of
each muffin. Place in the oven and bake until very lightly browned
and firm to the touch and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out
clean, about 18 - 20 minutes. Place on a wire rack to cool.