Shannon

Update: We've spent most of the time this last month at the pool-either hanging out or going to swim meets. I don't always brag about my children, but I have to say they've kicked butt on swim team-especially Parker. He's freakin' fast! Hunter's pretty good too, and Cody "treads water"-meaning he holds his own and isn't last. I went to New York City last weekend, and Matt is heading out west to go fishing -for a week.

Recipe:My favorite thing to make for dinner is a call to Pizza Hut, but if I have to cook, I throw chicken in a crockpot and add Italian dressing. It's not that original, but it's what I've got.

April

This has been such a busy month for the Petersen family. On June 7, Caleb was baptized and the next day Joshua was blessed. It was such a wonderful weekend for our little family, and a special time for Caleb and Joshua. Kade finished up the school year June 18 and our children just finished their school year today (June 26). We attended Elise's kindergarten graduation this morning. It's so hard to believe our sweet little sunshine will be a first grader. Maryn has been enjoying her status as big sister, taking care of Joshua and using all his baby things for her dolls. Joshua is growing so fast; it's hard to believe he's already 7 weeks old (June 24). He's teasing me about sleeping through the night. I've had so many sleepless nights as a mother that all his nightly feedings don't even phase me these days. Kade will start counseling for summer school on Monday. As for me, I was just released from YW after 3 years with the beehives. I now get to work with Haleigh as the Activity Days leader. I'm so excited for such a fun calling. The girls (15 of them, plus Maryn and Elise) were over at my house yesterday and it was fun to see all their personalities.

For my recipe I chose Pasta Puttanesca. It's super quick, super easy, and super healthy. Other than the capers, most items are pantry staples so it becomes an inexpensive dish to prepare as well. It only takes maybe 5 minutes of prep time and maybe 15 minutes of cook time. Our whole family will eat this, and I craved it so much after my first trimester in my pregnancy. Hope you enjoy it.
Pasta Puttanesca
8 ounces whole-wheat thin spaghetti, vermicelli or angel hair
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/3 cup chopped flat-leaf parsley
1/4 cup pitted chopped Spanish or Greek olives
2 tablespoons capers
1 tablespoon fresh oregano leaves or 1 teaspoon dried
1/8 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1 (14-ounce) can diced tomatoes
3/4 cup chopped fresh arugula (I substitute spinach when I can't buy a bunch of arugula)
1/4 cup grated Parmesan
Bring a large pot of water to a boil, add pasta and cook according to the directions on the package.
While the pasta is cooking, heat the oil in a large skillet over a medium flame. Add the garlic and saute until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the parsley, olives, capers, oregano and crushed red pepper to the skillet, and saute for 2 minutes more. Add the tomatoes and simmer for about 5 minutes. Stir in the arugula and simmer for 1 minute more, until the greens wilt slightly.
When the pasta is done, drain it and add it to the skillet, tossing it with the sauce to combine. Top with grated cheese.
Nutrition Information
Nutritional analysis per serving
Calories: 283
Total fat: 6 grams
Saturated fat: 2 grams
Protein: 12 grams
Carbohydrates: 47 grams
Fiber: 8 grams

Denise

Lexus and Tyse are growing like weeds. Lexus is enjoying her summer and is getting ready for kindergarten. She is a little anxious about it so we are going to start getting ready for that. She will also start taking horse riding lessons again in July. But she is hoping that she won't have to trot because its "bumpy and hurts her bum." She will also starting riding our horse Barley too.Tyse just turned two and is giving everyone a run for their money. His vocabulary is growing everyday; sometimes too well but he is an active little boy that never stops. He loves climbing and running and loves all the animals, especially the cows and horses. But his favorite things are his trucks and pushing them all around.As for me; its just been a busy time with work and kids. I recently got a large account with a print company here in Butte doing their graphics and print setting work. Its a little extra money especially with the great gas prices and a really good experience. We have finally started the work our house so in the next couple months we should be moving in, with any luck!

Chick-A-Roni
2 c. cubed cooked chicken 4 oz. process American cheese, cubed
2 c. cooked macaroni 1 c. shredded cheddar cheese
1 can cream of chicken soup 1 pkg. (3 oz) cream cheese, cubed

In a large bowl, combine all ingredients. Transfer to a greased 3-qt. baking dish. Cover and bake at 350° for 20 minutes. Uncover; bake 20 minutes longer or until heated through. Yield: 6-8 servings

Jane

Okay, so I know this is late and all but since we went to CA a couple of weeks ago, we have been trying to catch up with evything.

We went to Ca a couple of weeks ago for vacation. We went to Legoland for a few days and then spent some time on the beach. It was so fun and relaxing. I wish we could have stayed longer. But now we are back and back to the business of life.
Th e kids did swimming lessons for a couple of weeks. We have spent a lot of time in our yard, doing projects that we have put off for a while.
Emily just turned 3. Spencer will be 9 on Monday, but at the rate he is going he might not get a birthday. And Abbi is just being social all the time. Austin still works at the the same place he has been. Thanks heavens. I have been enjoying having my kiddos home for the summer and just hanging out, thanks to the 4.05 at the pump. We will be at Jill's graduation next week and are looking forward to seeing everyone that comes. Then, when April has Joshua blessed, if she hasn't already, I will fly out for that. I guess that's it for now. I don't have a recipe to share since I am having issues with food lately. Hope everyone is well. Jane

Mary

update: We have been enjoying summer now that it is finally here. With snow up til the end of May, we weren't sure we would get one. Ethan is playing coach pitch baseball and loving every minute of it. Emma and Ethan will start up with swimming lessons again soon. Ainsley is still working on the nursery thing, but will at least stay now. She began crying over her breakfast this morning about not going to church (imagine a 2year old already asking to stay home), but she eventually wound up in nursery anyhow. I am just trying to keep on top of things like doing some fun things with the kids. Our summer trips are small and split up the summer. In May we went to grandma Kathy's for Jordan's graduation and to spend a week up there. In June we spent three days in Logan while Don was doing a basketball camp. Over the 4th of July we have the Ostler family reunion at the ranch. In August, Don and I get to help with a youth conference trek to Martin's Cove. It will definitely make the summer go by too fast

recipe: I just made this the other day and the kids loved it.

Egg Drop Soup

4 c chicken broth

3tbs water

1tbs cornstarch

1 egg lightly beaten

10 to 12 fresh snow peas ( I used frozen regular)

1 green onion

1/4 c chopped ham (optional)

Bring broth to simmer over medium high heat. In separate bowl combine water and cornstarch, then add to broth. Bring to a boil and remove from heat. Slowly add egg and stir with fork in one direction only - slowly for long egg strands,faster for thinner strands.Add snow peas onion and ham. Let stand only for a few minutes.

Ann

1. UPDATE: Not much to report here. We have now entered the unbearably hot season with temperatures over 110 degrees everyday. I think last week it was 113 degrees every day. Needless to say at 7 1/2 months pregnant I am melting. Cole and I are confined to the house all day every day (not much fun). We try to reconstitute ourselves with popsicles and ice cream. I only have 6 weeks left of being pregnant. In some ways I can't wait, in others I think extra month or two would be good. We were able to attend a major league baseball game last week (a first for all of us). Dan's team, the Oakland A's were in town playing the local team. So for Dan and Cole's sake, we splurged and went to the ballpark (for a three hour game, not my ideal way to spend an afternoon, but since my boys were in heaven, I was happy to oblige and spend the experience with them). Let's see...other than that not much has happened. I got stung by a wasp (or something ferocious) for the first time in 15 years and ended up with 2 mosquito bites.

RECIPE: So currently nothing sounds good, so I'm having trouble thinking of a favorite recipe. But pizza can usually hit the spot and since we just had it last night it is fresh in my mind. So here is one of my favorite pizza crust recipes.
From the Taste of Home's Prize Winning Recipes CRUST:
1 package (1/4 ounce) active dry yeast
1 1/2 cups warm water (110 to 115 degrees)
2 Tablespoons vegetable oil
1 1/4 cups whole wheat flour
2 Tablespoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 3/4 to 2 cups all-purpose flour
In a bowl, dissolve yeast in water; add oil. Combine whole wheat flour, sugar and salt; add to yeast mixture and stir until smooth. Stir in enough all-purpose flour to form a soft dough. Turn onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, about 6-8 minutes. Place in a greased bowl; turn once to grease top. Cover and let rise in a warm place for 15-20 minutes. Punch dough down. Pat onto the bottom and 1 in. up the side of a greased 14 in. pizza pan. Then just add your sauce and toppings and bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes or until crust is golden and cheese is melted. NOTE: Sometimes I make this dough completely with all-purpose flour and without any wheat flour. Either way puts out a thick, yummy crust.

Toni

- Toni -
Update: I practically took the entire month of May off from work, spending 2 1/2 months with April & her family in CA and then a few days up in Montana for Jordan's graduation. I think I should take 3 weeks of vacation EVERY month. Work 1, off 3. I like it!
Anyway, work was pretty slow for a while, but then I did some crazy things (not really, they just kind of happened) and now I'm involved in some, shall we say interesting?, projects at work that involve driving 2 hours out to the middle of nowhere at least once a week. Sometimes I have to spend the night and then come back after work the next day. Let's just say that my life has become rather interesting lately.
Mom has made me overly paranoid about food storage (so much that I couldn't sleep one night--I was trying to figure out how to get my year's supply in one week and where on earth you buy a wheat grinder). Anyway, I want you all to know that I ordered a TON of stuff from the distribution center (I think I have about a 4-month supply already) as well as an emergency evacuation kit (this kit comes with pretty much everything you can imagine in it). So, I think I can maybe start sleeping again. Well, maybe not--I still need a wheat grinder : )
Last but not least, I think the most exciting thing that has happened in the past couple of weeks is that my roommate Christene and I drove to Manti for the Mormon Miracle Pageant. Neither of us had ever been to Manti and we had no idea how to get there. Despite the fact that our Mapquest directions had a wrong turn in them, we still managed to find the remote metropolis of Manti and were able to watch the pageant. It was great! I didn't like getting home at 1:30 am Friday morning, however, because I had to get up and go to work after that.

recipe: well, I don't really want to type out a recipe, so I'll give you a quick version of something I really enjoy. I think they're called Chinese sundaes or Hawaiian haystacks or something like that. Anyway, you make some rice. Then you make some cream of chicken soup (I usually don't dilute it as much as the soup calls for--you don't want it incredibly runny). Then you pour some of the cream of chicken stuff on the rice. I melt cheddar cheese on it and then I dump some green onions on top. Sometimes I load it with chow mein noodles as well. I believe some people put pineapple & coconut on it but that disgusts me so I don't do it. And there you have it!

Jill

- Jill -
Update: The last two weeks have been eventful comparatively since I have had nothing to do this summer. Amber came to visit which we enjoyed oh so much, and my internship work finally picked up so I have things to do now. I will have my ultrasound to find out what the baby is on July 24. I’ve been practicing my sewing skills, and I made a skirt and some curtains. I’m also embarking on a family history project that you all will be hearing more about soon. Justin is plugging away at school and hating chemistry. He’ll be glad when the semester is over, and he can just go to work everyday. I’m getting ready for graduation which is on July 18th. I’m really excited about this accomplishment in my life. It feels so great to think that I will have completed college. I think that’s all the interesting things going on in my life.
Recipe:

Chicken Enchiladas:

• chicken


• 2 small cans of green chilies


• half an onion


• 1 can cream of chicken soup


• ½ c milk


• salt and pepper


• cheddar cheese


• flour tortillas.

Cook and shred chicken. Mix together in a sauce pan over medium heat the milk, soup, chopped onion, green chillies, and salt and pepper until heated through. In a casserole dish spoon a thin layer of sauce to cover the bottom. Then add a spoonful of mixture onto each tortilla. Add some shredded chicken and a little grated cheese. Roll up tortilla and place in casserole dish in a row. The more you squish in the

AMBER

: Well, in the past two weeks or so, I've completed freshman year of high school, visited Jill, and started fixing the fence which is in horrible shape. I'm mainly just finishing my Personal Progress stuff so I can get my Young Womanhood Recognition Award before I turn 16 in September. Only about 30 some hours to go and I'm done! Um, I'm trying to drag Shane out of bed before noon so he'll come play with me before I have to get back to work. Mom goes to work Mon-Fri and occasionally Sat, and Jordan is leaving with John for the summer. Other than that, my life is pretty boring. Chubs is cute. :

Recipe: You boil some kind of noodles (doesn't really matter what kind), then microwave however much cheese/sauce/whatever you want on it. Stir it when it's done and eat!