Pie Crust & Strawberry Rubarb Pie

I was preparing pie crust to make a Strawberry Rhubarb Pie for my family tonight. There are lots of recipes out their for pie crust but the one from Cooks Illustrated is my favorite. It uses a combination of butter and shortening. The butter makes it flaky and delicious, the shortening makes it workable and holds together well. I use my food processor for all of it by simply pulsing the mixture. I love their cookbook The Best Recipe http://www.amazon.com/Recipe-Editors-Cooks-Illustrated-Magazine/dp/0936184388/ref=sr_1_10?e=UTF8&s=books&qid=1217180837&sr=8-10

They spent countless hours researching each recipe to come up with the very best, tried and true collection. It is like a cooking bible at my house. Their flour less chocolate cakes are another one of my favorites (mmm...maybe tomorrow for family night we'll make that...when's lunch? All this food talk has me hungry.)

My Strawberry Rhubarb Pie recipe comes from Erik's grandma with some modifications by me over the years.

1 1/4 c. sugar

4 tbsp. flour

2-3 tbsp. instant tapioca

1/8 tsp. kosher salt

2 c. rhubarb stalks, cubed

2 1/2 c. strawberries, quartered

2 tbsp. butter

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Combine in a small bowl, sugar, flour, tapioca, and salt. (You can substitute corn starch for tapioca.) In a larger bowl combine rhubarb and strawberries. Add sugar mixture and combine until fruit mixture is covered. Dump into prepared pie crust. Dot with butter. Cover with remaining pie crust for the top, crimp edges.

Bake for 10 minutes, then reduce the heat to 350 degrees, bake for 30-40 minutes more until crust is browned. Allow to cool at least an hour before serving. (The cooling process is what thickens the mixture, if you can't wait long before serving it will still taste good, it will just be runny.)

There is nothing like a yummy pie baking in the oven on a summer afternoon! It just makes the whole family happy! Enjoy!

Reunion

Since I was just too busy to even get out my camera (I'm full of tidy excuses) I am having to borrow pics from my adorable sister-in-laws site. Thanks!

We had so much fun at our family "reunion". Boondocks was so much fun and Elizabeth and I were soaked on the bumper boats (and we got the people standing around good too)! Loon cabin was so fun and I'll have to link you to Kristy's site to see the pics of Erik when he dumped the canoe in the lake (with 10 yr old Matthew). When Matthew swam back to the dock he climbed up and said "I just wanted to go by myself." I'm sure you did Matthew, I'm sure you did! It was so fun and my kids were "going" the whole time. Every time they walked by I'd think, I haven't seen you all day -- "Hey stranger!" Anyway, it was loads of fun -- thanks Mom and Dad for an awesome week!! Here are some pictures...

http://www.abunchofstoners.com/

The Stoner Family

Just thought I'd show off my sWinGin' family! Isn't this photo of all of us so great? (Grady's just a little itty bitty thing so it's not much of a representation of him though.) I have the most amazing family in the WORLD. I am so glad that families can be forever because it just wouldn't be heaven if we were not all together through the eternities.

(btw...I know I got tagged a while ago --- I'll get to it soon!)

I am just amazed at the good people...out doing good things. Here's a link to read about my friend and HERO. Amy you are the greatest. I hope one day I can be as selfless and brave as you!
http://www.mostcutefamily.blogspot.com/

How forgetful we become

So I have been guilty once or twice of wondering why my younger kids are not as well behaved as my older one was. A big part of it is that with your oldest there is just one.....but doesn't your mind also play little tricks by forgetting just what each day was like. I have been going through scanning photos of McCall from my pre-digital era......and as I look back and remember each moment associated with each picture..... I must say..... she had her share of mischief.

(Oh and don't comment on what time this is posted -- I know I should be in bed!!!)

Intermountain Suzuki String Institute

McCall was lucky enough to participate in the Intermountain Suzuki String Institute held at Juan Diego Catholic School in Draper. It was a week filled with amazing violin instruction from musician from around the country and world. We were excited to see Jenny Oaks Baker -- McCall's favorite -- and Michael McLean, Jesus Morales and the Fry Street Quartet members, among many other amazing instructors, over the week. It was a great week, I learned a ton and so did McCall. Saturday we wrapped up with the final concert. It was so great to see McCall stand up their with the other students and perform. She is amazing and we look forward to seeing her continue to develop her talent. She promised one teacher she would never, never, never, never, never, never, never stop playing violin. The only problem is Elizabeth keeps asking for a violin... Dad better get that second job!!!! :-}

The Big First Birthday

Claire turned ONE this past Sunday. I knew when I delivered her that her birthday would always fall around Father's Day and I was worried that she'd always have to battle it out with a husband who thought it was his day to be catered to -and- low and behold on her very 1st birthday we had to contend with Father's Day...but our families were supportive and came to wish her the best on this most important first year. And Erik was fairly good about jumping in to help set up and get ready for the party too. So there is hope.

Claire was super cute (of coarse) and we all enjoyed seeing her expression with the first bite of cake. She didn't seem to want to get too dirty with cake but still seemed to enjoy it pretty much. Claire seemed pretty confused about the whole gift think. We are always telling her not to rip paper (usually the paper is attached to a book), so I think ripping the paper off confused her but she is enjoying the gifts (and the monetary gifts from grandparents to put in savings).

We are so blessed to have her as a daughter and can already tell she is bound for amazing things.

More Birthday Pictures

We tried to get some photos with her sisters but Claire just wasn't in the mood -- but we still adore them!!!

Easter Dresses

Grandma Kay purchased some beautiful dresses for the girls for Easter and I told her I would get pictures of them...it didn't happen on Easter Sunday but I did get some taken and am finally posting them so she and all can see....

(Click on picture to see enlarged version)

More Easter Dressess

More More Easter Dresses

Thanksgiving Point

Thanksgiving Point is one of my favorite things so I thought I'd blog about it today. This year we purchased a family pass and it has been so great. We get to visit the Gardens, the Children's Discovery Garden, the Animal Farm and the Dinosaur Museum. When we want to invite a family member or a friend, they get half price on thier ticket. The Cafe has great food and really yummy ice cream too. And all of this is just a hop, skip, and a jump away. The girls and I just love to run over there and walk through the gardens or ride the ponies. It is such a great place and I feel so fortunate to have it so close by that we can utilize it as we get to. I can't wait for us to be through with this week when we wrap up dance and swimming lessons and can be free to go to the gardens in the morning to walk. So....we love it and think you should too!!!

http://www.thanksgivingpoint.com/

Little Women

I love the story of Little Women. McCall and I read it together (a condensed version for youth). And we love the movie. So we were so excited when Grandma Kay told us a few months back that she bought tickets for McCall and I to go see it at Hale Center Theater. We went to see it this past Thursday. It was a musical play and was SOOOOO good. We had such a good time and appreciate Grandma taking us and also taking us all out to dinner before. It was so fun and nice to have a girls night out -- I really needed it. Grandma also bought us the book and I am anxious to finish my current book so I can read it again!

Swimming Continues

I can't believe it's been a month since I posted. I have been so busy with the end of school and time just flies by. I have been driving to Orem everyday for swimming lessons for the past month and I am blowing through our gas budget. (Not that I have a specific fuel budget, we just have a certain amount to spend and when we get close to our limit we tighten our spending in other areas). Anyway, I am so done with running around each day and can't wait to get back to our regular routine where we have fun time (down time) together with the girls. I feel like I've been in turbo mode the past week. It's been annoying. Only one more week of swimming and we'll be done for the summer! HURRAY!! Look at this cute picture of Elizabeth underwater. She is just the cutest thing and is so brave.

AMEN

So all of our children are simply amazing and everyday they do something that simply leaves us speechless at their intelligence and abilities.

Recently...McCall with her conceptions of math and particularly algebraic concepts. Elizabeth's courage as she gets into the water each day and overcomes her terror of it. Her teacher is so impressed with her bravery and her trust in others even though she had a horrible experience, she still listens to the teacher, trusts her and does what is asked even though her heart is racing with fear the whole time.

And then Claire. She has made the typical sounds and words of mama, dada, ba (ball) etc. but in the past couple of weeks she has added "AMEN". It is the cutest thing and I don't know if it's appropriate to video a prayer but I am going to have to because she is just a doll the way she says it. Claire is so happy and I just can't seem to get enough of cuddling her.