Happy New Year!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Holiday! Christmas was so low key at our house.. it was great. We had lots of family get together.. yet they were all stress free and that's the wayI like it! LOL..

I am still having fun with my Bosch!  We did gingerbread houses the Sunday before Christmas and used it for that, Banana Bread, Mashed Potatoes.. you name it.. that thing is so great! I wonder where it's been all my life!

So Christmas was wonderful. We did alot of "family" gifts this year.. meaning our kids didn't get alot for themselves.. but we did alot of gifts that the entire family could enjoy. It actually was alot better and the kids didn't even seem to notice!  Santa brought some of their favorite "wish" list toys.. and so that was nice of him.. We always appreciate that.. so we don't have to ;).  This is actually the first year I feel like we didn't just buy them a bunch of junk toys that are already "broken or lost".  So I feel good about Christmas too this year..

Besides the presents I bought for myself (my Bosch and new Cooking pots and pans from COSTCO (best pans I have EVER used in my life. THANKs lizzie for telling me about them!).. my daughter also got me a IPOD! I am always borrowing Bens when I travel and our music is SO different.. I am REALLY low key. and like just laid back music.. he is still living in the 80's and into his "hard rock" stuff! LOL..

so it's nice to have my own, and now I can put my scriptures on them, books I love to read (or listen too) pictures, videos.. etc.  It will be great! I also got a new scarf (really into scarves lately.. thanks to my dear friend Mel).. and a cute little zebra purse pocket to hold my ipod (also from allie.. actually all three of those from allie).. what a sweet girl.. and then Ben bought me new Scriptures!.. They were LONG overdue.. I  already hada triple combination.. but they were given to me back when I turned 18, by a "steady" boyfriend I had in high school. He wrote a sweet "love' note in the front of them.. and I have had them ever since.. when I got married to Ben, it felt kinda weird using them.. but that was all I had! LOL.. so finally after being married 14 years.. Ben bought me some new ones.. with my married name on them.. and I love them.  He even wrote his own sweet "love" note in the front of them.. what a sweet guy! He also made me a "dough" board.. and of course.. engraved "B+C" on it. Our kitchen counters are made of granite and when I try and roll dough on it.. with flour.. the flour doesn't have anything to stick too, so it just slides around.. so he made me a large wood dough board.. and wrote this super sweet note about it.. and how when I make bread I show my love for others.. so he made this board to show his love for me.. he is seriously the sweetest guy..

Anyhow.. so Christmas was GOOD!  We had a fun New year's Eve too.. hanging out with family and friends.. but now its time to hunker down and get our work done for January.. our kits start shipping next week AND I am leaving next week for a "sisters"  trip.   A few years ago.. when we were all first married.. my sisters (Tia, Leah, Leora and I).. would do a "sisters" trip every year.. usually just a weekend get together.. or we would fly out and stay at each other's houses for the weekend.. and just hang. We hadn't done it in a few years.. and so this year.. we all felt like we  really needed on.. we don't get to see our sister in St. Louis hardly EVER.. and the rest of us live here in Idaho.. so we decided to plan it! since then, our brothers have married and so we also invited their two wives. I can't wait! but it's frantic trying to get everything ready so I can leave..

I just have to share this recipe with you! So I told you about Sherelles blog.. and how she has some GREAT Crockpot recipes on there.. well a few weeks ago, I decided to try her Chicken Bowtie Pasta. it's a Crock Pot recipe for a "cream sauce" over noodles.. and I have to tell you.. I AM SO picky about cream sauce. One of my favorite dishes are fettuccine dishes.. but I have ONLY ever had them at a restaurant because I have NEVER found a recipe that even tastes close to what you get in a restaurant. Infact one of my favorite dishes is a bowtie one from Johnny Corino's.. that has bacon, mushrooms, chicken and sun-dried tomatoes in it. It is also a bit spicy.. but I like it both with the spice and without. I decided to try her recipe. mainly because it was a noodle dish and my kids LOVE noodles.. and I love crock pot easy stuff. I actually KNEW i wouldn't eat it.. because I am really picky.. like I said.. with my "cream" sauces.. but I about DIED when  I went to serve it and it tasted JUST like my favorite dish from Johnny's!!!  Hers didn't included sun tried tomatoes and wasn't spicy.. but it tasted just like it!  So I pulled a little out for me and added some red pepper and the tomatoes and I seriously.. couldn't believe how good it was! My kids loved the "mild" version.. which is the regular version that she has listed.. but i had to call two of my good friends.. that always get that same dish at Johnny's too.. and have them come over and try it.. they couldn't believe it either when they tasted it! they both instantly asked for the recipe! LOL.. So Sherelle.. I think you broke the "secret code" for the best cream sauce EVER.. the bacon just makes it so good to.. seriously my KIDS LOVED it.. Ben said it was HANDS DOWN the best thing I had ever cooked for dinner.. and It was literally SO easy!  so make sure you try that recipe!!

Well I better get back to "work". Ben and Braden got snowboards for Christmas and they are out today snowboarding.. I am however at home.. getting ready for ourkits to go "live" on our website for tomorrow morning.. and have a HUGE mess of a house to clean (although I just saw that Allie, Preston and Ethan cleaned the entire Living room and sitting room.. INCLUDING vacuuming it! And Ethan already unloaded the dishwasher.. so we are half way there! (what great kids!)

I hope you have a HAPPY NEW YEAR! Best wishes to all of you!

Christy

Comments

[lori jolley]

Sounds like your holidays were super great! I still think its funny that you are cooking - so un Christy-ish! So fun to hear about you new talent!

[Paige]

I make that same pasta dish all of the time. It is one of our favorites. I have passed that recipe onto a million people!

[Sherelle]

So glad you liked the Bow Tie Pasta...I kinda came onto that one by accident...just fooling around, and when I finally tasted it, I immediately had to remember what I threw in there and write it down! It is one of my families favorite dishes...hands down! Glad to hear you had a great Christmas and New Year!

[Donna Murdock]

Dear Christy,

You are clearly an organized person! Now, will you get down here to my house and get me this organized?

BTW, your Costco pans are the Very Same Pans as the All Clad brand sold for over $1000 a set, except for the different name according to a friend who has friends in the know. I totally love mine. I do wish they would do the prep work and the clean up all by themselves. It would be even better if they would do the grocery shopping. LOL. Am I lazy or what?

So, how do we get Sherelle's recipe? Hugs, Donna

[Kim Rose]

Christy,

You are too much like me! I HATE to cook and hear the same from my husband. I don't like to follow recipes and do cook on the higher temp. I can't fry a egg to save my life!

Happy to hear you had a wonderful holiday. Oh.. and LOVE the new blog banner. I have not checked your blog for while so I just noticed it.

hugs!

[Alicia King]

"ditto" to Kim's comment...thank goodness for our husbands that cook wonderful meals for us, although you are starting to ruin it Christy!!! jk, but look at you go! I did attempt sugar cookies last week and for ONCE in my life they turned out pretty decent and edible, Levi was completely shocked!!

[Tanielle]

Hey girl! I miss ya! Your family is so beautiful! Wow how time flies, congrats on all your success and adventures