Happy, Weary Traveling

WOW! We've been busy.

For Nick's birthday (or so we say), we jumped in on his parents' trip to Minnesota and Canada. His grandparents used to live up there every summer, and his family would go visit every year. But last year they sold their cabin. Nick's been dying to go up there, and when he heard that his parents were planning a trip, we forced ourselves in on their plans!

On our way up, we stopped at the Cabela's in Owatonna. They have a massive display of stuffed animals that we just knew Ryder would love.

Then we headed to stay at my in-laws dear friends' home/farm.

I love the barn.

Riding on the dirt bike.

On we drove up to the cabin.

Ryder playing with Grammy.

Ryder and Daddy having fun!

We had beautiful sunsets.

Ryder loved this trike!

Our favorite place.

One day we went into Grand Rapids for a change of pace. We found this awesome little candy shop that sold ice cream. MMM.

This town has the Mississippi River running right through it.

There's a big paper mill in town (upper left) and Grand Rapids is the birth place of Judy Garland (upper right).

There was a replica of an old logging camp just outside of town. This was a food storage house.

These are the cooking stoves they had in the dining cabin. Whoa!

After a few days, we headed up to Canada to visit one of Nick's aunts.

I really didn't get very  many pictures while we were up there. We were only there for a day.

These are their grape vines! WOW! So pretty!

I had to add this because it was the only picture of me taken on the whole trip.

We stopped at a local cheese farm. Ryder liked the goat!

Next we headed back down to Minneapolis to visit one of Nick's other aunts.

They had a beautiful backyard.

The next day we drove all the way back home.

 

This is in the Ouachita Forest in Oklahoma.

This was the LOOOONGEST driving trip we've ever taken. The time in the car alone was enough to drive a person mad. Ryder did incredibly well but he's glad to be out of the car, as are we all. Look forward to another trip up there someday!

Oven Baked Fries

You know when you have that craving for something that's absolutely not good for you? Namely fast food?

That happens to me. A lot. I'm only able to avoid running to the nearest Arby's because it's 40 minutes away. Country living keeps me skinny. Sort of.

Anyway, because of my proximity to those kinds of foods, I'm usually forced to make them myself. Which can be a great success, or a horrible failure.

My mom came up with this amazing recipe for oven baked fries. Ahh, fries. That forbidden fruit. These fries are just as good as restaurant fries, but way better for you. Thanks Mom!

Oven Baked Fries

3-4 medium sized potatoes, sliced to fry size

2 Tbsp butter

Seasoning of your choice

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

Line a jellyroll pan with foil. Add the butter and put in the oven to melt.

Once the butter melts, take out the pan.

Add the potatoes and coat in the butter.

Season with your choice of seasonings. I used garlic salt and cajun seasoning. Put in the oven for 10 minutes.

 Remove pan from oven. Stir and flip potatoes. Return to the oven for 15 minutes.

If you need a little time before the rest of dinner's ready, you can turn the oven off and leave the fries inside to keep them warm.

Print this recipe

Roasted Chicken for Sandwiches

Ever wonder what's IN those pressed, so perfectly even deli meats?

I have.

I've also seen the packages that say, "NO CEREALS! NO FILLERS!"

What's THAT supposed to mean?!

Eww.

This might be strange coming from someone who used to work with deli meat daily, but at least that meat was pretty much the best you could get for "processed" meats.

Why not try something else? Why not go old fashioned and cook your own meat for sandwiches like Lucy Ricardo used to do?

Well, I've come up with a simple yet tasty recipe for roasted chicken, that will put any deli meat to shame.

Roasted Chicken

with Rosemary

2-4 chicken breasts

salt and pepper

1-2 cloves garlic, minced

1 Tbsp chopped fresh rosemary

2-3 Tbsp butter, melted

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place chicken in foil lined baking dish.

Salt and pepper both sides of the chicken.

Sprinkle with garlic and rosemary.

Make sure you get both sides!

Drizzle with butter.

Put in the oven and bake for 1 hour.

Ta-da!

Just shred it up and you're ready to go!

Store in ziplocs up to 3 days in the fridge.

Tip: Divide up chicken into small snack size ziplocs and freeze. Then you only have to get out one portion at a time.

Print this recipe

Meet Jude

We have a new addition to our family.

Jude Desmond Silverhammer

If you're a Beatles fan, you'll get it.

Ryder is enamored.

Nick is cool with it.

 Our three boys:

Ryder

Jimi

Jude

Jimi is less than thrilled.

 

My lookout kitty.