A New Year

We had all the family home this year for Christmas.  It was great fun, and it may not happen again for years as our children settle who knows where.   However, three days after Christmas, I came down with my annual horrible-sounding cough.  I try to plan being ill NOT during vacation when everyone is around, but it didn't work out this year.   With Dane going to Army Basic Training and Officer Candidate School and Mark, Jasmine, and Lindsey headed back to BYU, I decided not to contaminate my kids by holing up in my bedroom for a couple of days until the drugs kicked in.   When New Years rolled around, John and I thought we'd be abandoned at home since we would  have to transport Julianne to her party and Mike would be working at Sonic.  John and I had actually planned to go to bed early, party poopers that we are.  At the last minute the Powers that Be decided to move the party from Sacramento to up here, which was a nice surprise.  

Dane and Lindsey helped with the food while I sat back and watched.  Nice to know they're learning a few things at college.  

Mike made it home from work just in time to celebrate the new year with us.

Per tradition, when the magic moment arrived, we banged our pans outside.  

This year,  Mike opted to sport his luchador mask topped off with my favorite metal mixing bowl while still wearing his working clothes - smelling strongly of all things deep fried.  (I think he has aspirations, maybe Nacho Libre???)  

A Belated Merry Christmas!

Got a new camera for Christmas.... It's taken me a while to figure out the basics.  Hope you had a wonderful Christmas.  The background picture is one of  Gramma Smith nee Roper and her siblings - she's on the far right.  

Conference Scones

Twice a year in October and April, we stay at home for the weekend and watch our church's semi-annual general conference, which is broadcast from Salt Lake City.  These are my favorite weekends of the year!  Some families dress up as if they are going to church, but we, slackers that we are, stay in our jammies and cozy under blankets in front of the TV.  Since the kids were small, we've had a tradition: on Saturday, I wake up earlier than anyone in the house and pick up some doughnuts from the bakery around the corner; on Sunday, we make scones together - an homage to my husband's home state, Utah.

  I'm not really sure if scones are a traditional Utah food, but when my parents converted to the church, we were shortly introduced to these awesome little pillows of happiness :-) from friends raised in Utah.   I've had them with powdered sugar or honey butter.  

I generally use a simple yeast roll or bread recipe that does not incorporate too much oil or butter, since they are deep fried.   I find that they tend to be lighter if the recipe has eggs in it, too.  For the yeast, I always use rapid-rise yeast since it is a lot more forgiving of temperature variations, and it seems to rise  - well rapidly.  I prepare the recipe, let rise in a warmed oven (with the heat turned off!) until doubled, and roll out to 1/4 " thickness.  I then cut squares, triangles, whatever, and fry @ about 360 degrees until slightly browned and turn over, cook until done, and drain on paper towels.  CAUTION: WITH THE HOT OIL AND ALL, THIS IS NOT AN ACTIVITY FOR THE VERY YOUNG!!!!!!!!