Summer Produce

I am not a fancy cook, but I love to try new recipes, and I especially love to cook seasonal dishes. So even though I don't have my own zucchini (for any of you throwing surplus over the fence, shame on you! find out where I live!) I have been trying new zucchini recipes. You should too--they're delish!

Tomato Zucchini Tart

I can't find the link for this so I'll type it out...

1/2 pie crust
1 medium zucchini, thinly sliced
2 tsp. olive oil
3 medium plum tomatoes
1/2 cup fresh basil chopped (or a few tsp. dried)
1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese (I didn't have fresh so I used canned and it worked great!)
1/3 cup light mayo
freshly ground pepper

Fit pie crust into pie or tart pan, prick bottom and sides using a fork. Bake at 450 for 9-11 minutes or until lightly browned.

Saute zucchini in hot oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat 2 minutes or until tender. Arrange in bottom of prepared pie crust. Arrange tomatoes on top of zucchini.

Stir together basil, cheese, and mayo. Drop by teaspoonfuls evenly on top of tomatoes and spread gently. Sprinkle with pepper. Bake at 425 for 10-15 minutes or until thoroughly heated and cheese is slightly melted.

Zucchini Lasagna

Click on title for link to Martha's printable recipe!

Maddie really liked it. So did Mike. It was a hit, even as left-overs. Because we liked it so much, I might try this one too: Acorn Squash Lasagna

This one was from last fall, but I remember how good it was. I'll have to make it again soon.

Ravioli with Zucchini

We may not have zucchini, but we do have a plethora of tomatoes growing in the backyard (they were already growing when we moved in). I am so excited to have my first tomato sandwich!

Just look at that jungle! There are two regular tomato plants, three romas, and the rest are cherry tomatoes that just keep growing, and growing, and growing...

Maddie loves to help me pick the red ones (they look like Elmo's fur). So far I can't convince her to like them, and Mike only thinks they're okay, so I will have most of the bounty to myself! I could pop them like candy all day. I just have to be careful because I know what it's like to eat so many garden tomatoes you throw up. Yep, I've done that.

Temples of God

Today was a beautiful day. We were able to attend a dedicatory session for the new Oquirrh Mountain temple in South Jordan. Even though we were watching it by satellite it was apparent that the spirit of the Lord was present in His holy house. The talks were uplifting and powerful. Some thoughts I remember...

"Listen and obey those who love you the most." (Baptized children were able to attend the dedication and many words were devoted to encouraging them to come to the temple when they are of age.)

The temple is God's house, and we are his children... meaning the temple is also our house.

The temple is a place of stillness. "Be still and know that I am God."

Elder Bednar and President Uchdorf spoke and both touched me deeply. President Monson gave a stirring dedicatory prayer as only a prophet of God could do. I felt so spiritually refreshed and revived, and my heart was filled to overflowing. I am so thankful to be a member of the Lord's church and to have sacred temples.

We wanted Maddie to have a temple experience today too, so we went to Temple Square and showed her the temple where Mommy and Daddy were married. I will have to post more pictures from our tour of the grounds and Visitor's Center. Maddie loved every second. In our dinner prayer tonight, Mike was saying "thank you for temples" and Maddie added "and that I can go inside when I get bigger." That's the right idea.

"...and thank you for chocolate." -Maddie

Dana & Landon took us campin' this weekend! After some frustration and many hours of driving, we found a beautiful spot at Blackhawk in Payson canyon.

Maddie was sooooooo excited for this trip. She talked all day about sleeping in a tent. In fact, soon after this campfire picture was taken she actually asked to go to bed so she could sleep in the tent! That may be a first. As I whispered a little prayer next to her makeshift bed she added, "and thank you for chocolate." She loved the s'mores! She slept amazingly well, even through the hour and a half of cumulative crying that Ella did during the night. Why do babies have a hard time camping? Ella is normally so chill and easy going, but she screeched like a banchee!


A girl can wear pink, even in the mountains, right?

Don't look too closely... we're all camping bedheads!

Dana and Landon brought their canoe so we took it to Payson Lakes for some fishing.

Maddie fed the ducks and took her first canoe ride.



We had a great time and ate tons of delicious camping food. It's a lot of work, but so worth it for the fun and memories. We are happy to be back in our own beds.

Behind every beautiful, blushing bride...

...is utter chaos. Hopefully controlled chaos, but craziness, nonetheless. Stretch out your scrolling finger, it's in for some exercise... here come the pictures!

Really, behind this beautiful bride is a handsome husband. Emily and Ren make a gorgeous couple. They were married in the Idaho Falls Temple on July 30, 2009.

There was lots of smooching going on... for three days straight! The wedding and dinner were the first day, the Idaho Falls reception the second day, and the Twin Falls reception finished off the wedding extravaganza.

I should have a picture tribute to my parents here first... My mom is the ultimate wedding planner (she should have it down, right, seeing as this was her 4th wedding!) She is incredibly talented in so many ways. For example, see those beautiful blue silk dresses? She sewed 5 of them, plus the three flower girl dresses and her own mother-of-the bride dress. She took care of every last detail, not to mention the emotional stability of the bride! :) Dad of course shelled out the big bucks.

Sisters... it was really special to share this day with my best friends. I love my sisters. Now we are all married off and in the same 'stage' of life!

We can't forget Cole and Shelbe. It was amazing to get Cole to wear a tux. These two were awesome babysitters. Couldn't have done it without them.

Did I mention there were NINE bridesmaids and eight groomsmen?


Okay, so here come the details... Emily, being the horticulture/floral major (read: flower snob) that she is, was very particular about her flowers. And I, being the horticulture major that I was, got to design them for her. It was actually really fun (and stressful) to do this together. She put together the bouquet, and I did the wedding party (bouts and corsages, with help from my sister assistants!), 10 centerpieces, throw bouquet, and cake flowers.

Bouquet (beautiful photography courtesy of Noelle)

My mom did the flowers for the sign in table.

Some centerpiece shots.




This was the cake at the TF reception...

...and the IF reception. Both gorgeous!!!

Ren's mom put together the biggest display of wedding candy I have ever seen. My mom borrowed about a 1/4 of it for the reception in TF.




Of course Mike led the way in the car-decorating efforts! He loves that kind of thing--still a kid at heart. Too bad Ren ripped it all off without even driving out of the parking lot. Hmmmm... reminds me of someone else I know. Zak?


And lastly, I just have to post pictures of who this blog is really about--my girlies! Here are some out-takes from the weekend, in no particular order. They were exhausted by the time it was all over, but they looked adorable and that's all that really matters, right?

Hugs for the brand-new Mr. and Mrs. Guthrie.



Oooooo... baby chub. I just want to bite it.





Sugar, sugar, sugar... combined with lack of sleep... interesting.


Let's get outta here!