Pumpkin Enchilada's

We got some pumpkins from a ward members garden and since its too early to keep them for Halloween we decided to puree them. So far I have only pureed one and it made a TON! I have been making pumpkin recipes all weekend and tonight's dinner was definitely blog worthy.


Pumpkin Enchilada's:

Ingredients:
1 large sweet onion thinly sliced
1 1/2 chicken, cooked and diced
2 tablespoons butter
1 cup pumpkin puree
1/2 cup heavy cream
1/2 chicken broth
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/4 cumin
dash of salt and pepper
8 flour tortillas
1 cup Queso Fresco, crumbled

Directions:
In a saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat, then add the onion slices. Saute until brown and caramelized, about 5 minutes. Add the chicken to the pan, stirring it to mix with the onions, then remove from the heat. In a large bowl, whisk together the pumpkin, cream, broth, cinnamon, nutmeg, cumin, salt and pepper. Spoon chicken mixture into the tortilla's, rolling them tightly and placing in a medium-sized baking dish. Once all enchiladas have been rolled, spread the pumpkin cream sauce over the top. Sprinkle generously with Queso Fresco, then bake in an oven preheated to 425 degrees for 20-25 minutes, or just until the tips of the cheese begins to brown.



Compliments of Cheeky Kitchen

Small desk for a small space

 I reorganized Tyler's room and decided we could fit a small desk in there for him. After looking on craigslist and searching a few garage sales this is what I found. Its the perfect size and in great shape. Best of all it was only 30 bucks! Not too shabby if you ask me. Oh how I love finding these little treasures. Perhaps this will even make homework time more enticing??? Maybe? 

Yes, I know - in my dreams.

Homemade goat cheese and what to do with it

First you'll need a goat. 

I am lucky enough to have a friend who owns goats and gave me some goat milk after goat-sitting while she was out of town. I decided to make the milk into delicious cheese. Yum Yum Yum. If you don't own a goat or have a friend with a goat you can buy goats milk here.

Aside from the goats milk these are my other ingredients: 

- Cheese cloth

- Lemon OR Lime juice

- Fresh garlic 

- Fresh parsley 

(or really just any other herbs that you desire, that's just what I have in my garden)

Step one: Boil milk on medium heat until it reaches 180 degrees farenheit

Step two: Remove from heat and stir in 1/4 cup of citrus juice (that was my measurement with 32 ounces of milk). It will begin to curdle. 

Step three: Layer your cheese cloth about 3 or 4 times and place in a strainer over a bowl.

Step four: Pour your milk into the cheese cloth

Step five: Tie up your cheese cloth and let it hang over the bowl

Step six: Drip, drip, drip... for about 1 hour. 

Step seven: Remove cheese from cloth and add in your desired ingredients. For me it was garlic and parsley

Step eight: Eat and enjoy. Eat and enjoy on everything :) 

I used the goat cheese to make some fantastic grilled goat cheese sandwiches. 

I used extra sour rye bread and placed spinach, ham, and horseradish mustard on one side - goat cheese on the other. I grilled them in a frying pan with light butter for about a minute on each side. It was a delightful combination. 

 I have decided that I need to buy a goat. 

Aside from mouthwatering grilled goat cheese sandwiches you can put goat cheese on a plethora of dishes. 

Ways To Enjoy Soft Goat Cheese:

• Spread on toast or bagels. 
  
• Substitute for cream cheese in dips. 
  
• Swirl or layer with pesto to spread on crackers.  
• Top green salads with crumbled cheese, or with slices briefly warmed in the oven.  
• Use goat cheese in lasagna.  
• For a simple pasta sauce, mix goat cheese with pesto.  
• Slice goat cheese, warm in the oven, arrange in a pool of chocolate sauce on a dessert plate, and sprinkle with chopped nuts. 
  
• Use in place of sour cream on baked potatoes. 
  
• Arrange whole or sliced plain goat cheese on a serving plate. Sprinkle with fresh or dried herbs of your choice and drizzle with extra-virgin olive oil or vinaigrette. Serve with crackers or bread. 
  
• Place two whole or split a 5-ounce goat cheese round in a pint jar. Add garlic, cloves, parsley, a few peppercorns, a spring of thyme, and 1/2 of a bay leaf. Cover all with extra-virgin olive oil and let sit for a few days. Serve with crackers or bread. 

My little 3rd grader!!!

Tyler's first day of the 3rd grade!!! He was so excited that morning that he was up and ready to go an hour early AND wouldn't eat breakfast - he was too nervous! I really wish that excitement would last all year long. 

I let him pick out his first day outfit as long as he let me gel his hair. I think he looked pretty snazzy. 

He wanted to show off his new backpack. 

New desk! 

The Pioneer Trek 2011

Deke and I had the grand opportunity to spend our 2 year anniversary weekend on our stakes pioneer trek. That might not sound ideal to some but to us we were more than thrilled to share that experience with the youth. You see, back when we were youth neither of us were able to attend the pioneer trek. I was either too young or too old and Deke's stake didn't do it at all. So when we heard our stake was doing it this year we jumped on the opportunity and signed up to attend and medical staff.  

The whole trek was about 17 miles and the "families" were responsible for pulling their hand cart along the entire thing. Each family was given a baby that weighed about 8-10 pounds. The one rule with their infant was that they couldn't put it down, they had to carry it the entire trek! Along the trail there were little montages for the youth to see and better understand what the real pioneers experienced along their journey across the plains. 

The youth involved were between ages 14-18 and they were all so amazing! They learned hard work, team work, self worth, humility, and most of all sacrifice. It amazed me to see young people grow so much as individuals and actually witness their testimonies grow.

Here are all their supplies before loading the carts

All the carts lined up and ready to go! 

The sexy cowboy ;) 

This is the closest to "roughing-it" as we can get in 2011. We had traveling bathrooms :) 

Deke, Donovan, and myself roaring to go!

And they're off! Day 1 was about 8 miles.

Here is "Brigham Young" following on his horse.

We trailed along in company D... the kids were a little jealous that we brought our ipods. hehe

There were signs like this one along the entire trek. Little words of encouragement! 

First stop for lunch on day 1.

 This is company D enjoying the gorgeous views! 

End of day 1 with swollen and very dirty feet. Hard to believe I was wearing socks and shoes, huh?

The "Pony Express" making its rounds with letters for the kids from their parents.

I heard there was about 300 people on this trek. Here is a shot of the first fireside at sunset. 

Day 2 starts like day 1, walking and more walking! 

 Gorgeous wildflowers at every turn! 

My cowboy taking a nap and I ended up laying down with him. I absolutely hate being dirty but on the trek you just can't care. No way around being filthy! 

This is probably the only time you'll see me sitting on dirt and not caring! 

Day 2 we had members from the U.S. military come take away the men to join the Mormon Battalion to fight in the Mexican war.   

Our willing and able men saying their goodbyes 

Now the women are on their own pulling the hand carts just like the real women from the pioneers had to endure. 

They even had to trek across snow. 

We came to this meadow a few miles later. It. Was. Breathtaking!!! 

Towards the end of day 2 the kids had to endure their toughest test. Steeps hills! 

It was so great to see how groups of men would push their carts up the hills then run back down to help the remaining carts. Some pushed 4 or 5 carts up until everyone was safe at camp. 

We called this the "Harry Potter tree"

Deke even found his look-a-like on the trek! They were just about the same height, wore the same clothes, and had a black beard. I wasn't the only one doing double takes all weekend! 

Company D medical staff... a.k.a "the lovebirds". 

We had to tell several people that it was our anniversary weekend which explained our lovey-dovey behavior. ♥

Here is Deke with one of his many patients! 

 The journey ended on day 3 but not without one last trial. The families babies all had a disease breakout and the infants died. Before continuing on they had to bury their babies. We learned many stories where mothers had to bury their children, some more than one. It was a sad reality for the pioneer and we could not begin to relate to their tragedy in this montage. 

The pioneer trek was an amazing adventure and we are so grateful we were there to experience it. I've learned about the pioneers my entire life but having a little taste of what they had to endure gave my a new appreciation for them and their sacrifice. We can't wait to do this again someday and highly recommend you taking the chance to do it if opportunity comes.