Cinnamon Roll Popcorn

Ingredients:

* 12 C popped popcorn (about 1/2 C kernels)
* 1 C roughly chopped pecans
* 1 C brown sugar
* 3/4 t cinnamon
* 1/2 tsp. baking soda
* 1 tsp. vanilla
* 1/4 C karo syrup (or honey makes a good substitution)
* 1 stick real butter (1/2 C)
* 3 oz almond bark (about 2 1/2 squares)

Method:

Preheat oven to 250 degrees

Place popcorn and chopped pecans in a large bowl and set aside.

Combine brown sugar, cinnamon in a 4 C capacity microwave safe bowl. Mix well. Chop butter into chunks and place on top of sugar mixture. Pour corn syrup over the top of everything. Microwave on high for 30 seconds and then stir to combine. Return to microwave and heat for 2 minutes. Remove and stir and then microwave for 2 minutes more.

Remove from microwave and add in vanilla and baking soda. Stir to combine. Mixture will foam and rise. Pour caramel mixture over popcorn and pecans and stir very well so everything is well coated.

Spread popcorn mixture onto a foil-lined jelly roll pan. Place in oven and bake for 30 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes.

Remove from oven and spread out on a large piece of parchment, waxed paper, or foil.

Melt almond bark according to package instructions. Drizzle over popcorn mixture. When almond bark is hardened and popcorn is cool, break into chunks and enjoy!

Sara Wells -www.ourbestbites.com (Studio 5 website)

This recipe is a winner! Your house will smell like you made cinnamon rolls without all the work. I didn't put pecans in because I hate nuts in desserts. I also microwaved the caramel mixture for less time because the caramel sets up fast. Yummy fall treat!

Finding the Perfect Pumpkin....

Too many choices!































How about this one?












































Pretty pumpkins.












Too big.



























Just right!

Blue-Eyed Boy

When I was pregnant with Gavin, all the books I read said that eye color was usually established by 6 months. I wondered if his eyes would be brown like his grandmas'. I hoped they'd be the same shade of hazel as his dad's. Blue eyes like mine never entered my mind for some reason. It's funny to think back on that time and remember all the worries and hopes I had for this sweet little person who I hadn't met but already knew and loved. Happy 7 months Gavin!

{Happy 4th of July}

Shut up!

You may have been raised by a family like mine where "shut-up" was basically a swear word. Instead, we used words like "be quiet" or if we couldn't say anything nice, we didn't say anything at all. Well, I want to tell all the random people at church, the grocery store, the doctor's office to shut up, stuff it, zip your lip.... I am so sick of people coming up to me with a worried or shocked expression and telling me how fat Gavin is! These people are the same people that tell you when you're pregnant things like, "Are you sure you're not having twins?" "Wow, you look like you're about ready to explode!" I know they mean well and are just trying to make conversation but I always felt like saying "Shut Up" then as I do now. I've actually had someone tell me that he looks like Jabba the Hut? from Star Wars. Our bishop lovingly calls him "fat boy" and a 2-year old at church today said, "Mom, look...baby...big!" We love Gavin no matter what. That part of the deal was sealed way before he was born and I'm not really offended about this anymore, I've just heard it all before. This Friday he weighed in at healthy a 22 lbs, which puts him at the 97% for his age. At least he's on the charts. :) For all the rude people out there, we don't really care what you think, so shut up!

Ready, set, roll...

Flushed Away....

This is a warning for all of you who take off your wedding rings and leave them at various places around your house. I am guilty of this and Cody is always getting mad at me because I do it constantly. Well, I have learned my lesson! I flushed my ring down the toliet! I went to flush a kleenex that was lying on the counter in my bathroom and hadn't noticed that my rings were underneath it. Somehow my ring got caught and whoosh--it was gone! Luckily, my uncle is a plumber and he suggested we use this video camera thing to look down the pipes to see if it was still in the house, which it was. Now, we get to jackhammer the concrete in my basement, pay a million dollars, and hope that the ring hasn't moved. So, beware all you who leave your rings next to the sink, in your pocket, on the counter...this could happen to you!