A Visit from Grammie!

After a chaotic month with both my Dad and Grandma making a trip to the hospital, my Mom was still able to take her long awaited trip out to Idaho to visit with us for the week. We're glad she was able to make it out to us because it'll be awhile before we'll be able to drive all of the kids out to California again. It turned out that the kids had last Thursday and Friday off from school so Friday we took them to the Boise Zoo.

It seemed short but oh so sweet. We miss you Mom!

Next time maybe we can steal Dad out here with you as well!

Alex, Grade 1

I have been waiting and waiting since before school started for a nice overcast day to take Alex's school pictures and I was worried I wouldn't be able to do it before it got too cold out. Well Saturday happened to be perfect and we were able to squeeze in a shoot just before it started sprinkling on the playground. I posted some of my favorites from the shoot on my photo blog. Check them out!

Daddy Daughter Date

Brad was sweet enough to send me this picture text of Alex on their Daddy Daughter date. The message said "Alex is having fun". He took her to a BSU volleyball game. She was so excited to go out with him by herself and even got to have an early dinner with just him before they took off for the game. I'm so glad she's having fun!

Donut Recipe

So I've had a couple of requests for this donut recipe. The original recipe that I was taught makes 12 dozen donuts. TWELVE DOZEN! So I tried to quarter it and I was putting off posting it to see if "Our Best Bites" came out with a better smaller recipe. Anyway, here's the original and my atempt to quarter it. They still turned out really good but not quite the same as the ones made in the class when the original recipe was used.

Original:
*Makes 12 Dozen
2 Cups water
5 Tbl regular Yeast
6 Cups milk (2 (14oz) cans evaporated milk + enough water to make 6 cups)
2 Cups sugar
8 tsp. salt (2 Tbl + 2 tsp.)
20-22 Cups flour
2 Cups shortening
8 eggs

Glaze
Mix powdered sugar and hot water to consistency of crepe mix. Add a little yellow food coloring and lemon extract.
Glaze while warm.

Instructions
Mix all together. Let rise twice. Roll out onto floured surface to 1/2 - 3/4 inch thickness. Cut with round cutter. Press center down with thumb. Cut center out with small round cutter. Stretch donut a little, place bottom side down onto floured wax paper or surface. Let rise till light and airy.
Deep fry in canola oil heated to 375
Turn when barely brown with wooden spoon handle.
Let oil drip over pan. Place on brown paper bag till warm enough to touch, then dip in glaze and set on cooling rack with drip pan underneath.

Quartered:
*Makes 3 Dozen
1/2 Cup water
3 3/4 tsp regular Yeast
1 1/2 Cups milk (1, 5 oz can evaporated milk + enough water to make 1 1/2 cups)
1/2 Cup sugar
2 tsp. salt
5-6 Cups flour
1/2 Cup shortening
2 eggs

Give it a try!

Sugar High

That's right! Homemade donuts.......mmmmmmmmm