Salsa Chicken

For lack of anything else to post (pictures) I will post another recipe. I got this recipe from my sister Tricia. It is VERY good and low WW points.

SALSA CHICKEN

4 Chicken breasts
1 jar salsa
3 tablespoons brown sugar
1 tablespoon mustard

Mix salsa, brown sugar and mustard. Place on chicken breasts and cook at 400° for 30-35 minutes

Danny has been gone for the last two nights. In fact, only Jeanie and Molly have been home. The twins and Brett went up for St. Johns. Lisa was here Wednesday and took Danny to Robert's baseball game. He called from there to see if he could spend the night. This is the first time he has EVER spent the night somewhere and he was charged! (They had to swing by to pick up "Ben". He wasn't sure if he could sleep without his ragged old dog.) I called yesterday to let Lisa know I was on my way to pick up Danny but she said Danny had been trying to get a hold of me as he wanted to go to Paul's baseball game. Well......at about 5:30 he called and asked if he could spend another night. I told him No but Lisa got on the phone and said she didn't mind that she has hardly seen the boys as they were playing so well. I'm afraid we are creating a "monster". Now that he has got a taste of staying somewhere he'll never want to stay home!!

Strawberry Dessert

This is one of my favorite strawberry recipes. It's actually in the family cookbook but I thought I'd post it anyway. This came from Country Woman magazine many years ago. It was in the Editor in the Country feature where Ann Kaiser visits someone's country business. This article was a strawberry farm. I have never found this recipe in any of the Taste of Home's cookbooks. It wasn't in their recipe section but printed in the article. It was called Strawberry Pizza and made in a pizza pan but I make it in a 9 x 13 pan.

STRAWBERRY DESSERT

Crust:
1 1/2 cup flour
1 cup butter/margarine
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup pecans, chopped

Combine all ingredients to form dough. Spread in 9 x 13 Baker. Bake at 400 degrees for 15 minutes. Set aside. Cool completely.

Filling:
1 (8 oz.) cream cheese
3/4 cup powdered sugar
1 (8 oz.) Cool Whip

Mix cheese and sugar until smooth. Fold in Cool Whip. Spread over cooled crust.

Topping:
1 (3 oz.) pkg. strawberry Jello
1/2 cup sugar
Dash salt
1 cup water or strawberry juice, divided
4 tablespoons cornstarch
4 cups strawberries, sliced

In saucepan, combine Jello, sugar and 1/2 cup water. Dissolve cornstarch in remaining water. Stir in Jello mixture. Cook over medium heat until thickened. Fold in strawberries. Cool and spread over filling.

Dad Took Out the Chainsaw

We came home from the last night of Monday Night Baseball to find Dad trimming trees. He had pruned the pear trees and then decided to pull out the chainsaw and attack the Maple tree on the west side of the house. This tree came from Mary and Pete's Farmington house as a seedling. Surprisingly, Danny asked Dad if he should help. He actually hauled quite a few branches before he disappeared. I found him in the house "taking a break" which never ended as he was done for the night!

Father's Day

It was a beautiful day yesterday for Father's Day. We just hung out outside and enjoyed strawberry shortcakes. We then had grilled chicken sandwiches for supper. The kids spent the afternoon in the pool. We have a few cooler days coming this week. We actually turned off the air yesterday. Some summers it's on from the first hot day until fall but maybe this year we'll save a little electricity.

CONGRATULATIONS TRICIA!!

Tricia has reached her Weight Watchers goal! (My brother Brian took this picture.) What a HUGE achievement for her! She has lost over 100 pounds (I think about 127) in a year and a half! I can't even begin to imagine what a life change it is for you. I also, can't even begin to tell you how PROUD of you I am! Congratulations Tricia!!

Strawberries are Ready

I love when Jeanie writes me notes for the morning. The kids know I always check the wipe-off board when I get up. Sometimes it's "put my clothes in the dryer" (as they threw a load going before they went to bed) but usually it's with a "wake up" time. I plan on going strawberry picking at 8:00. Jeanie is the only one interested in joining me. She is in fact very excited about it. I don't plan on picking more than two boxes so she will do in the help department! I'll make a desert or two. Probably Strawberry Pizza and then freeze some for jam. Lately I've found it easier to just buy frozen berries for jam and think it's about as good. Now once I make it with fresh berries maybe I'll find I've been fooling myself.