Incredibly Cheesy Turkey Meatloaf

My Mr. Mom has been doing it up right lately! Here's another keeper recipe he found on allrecipes.com. Yum-my! And a little P.S.- Brett said this made the most incredible meatloaf sandwich the next day (on sourdough)!

Incredibly Cheesey Turkey Meatloaf
1 lb. ground turkey
1/2 C. milk
1/2 C. Italian seasoned bread crumbs
1 egg
1/2 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. pepper
6 oz. Colby cheese cut in to 1/2-inch cubes
1/4 C. ketchup (optional)
(and Brett added 1/2 chopped onion)

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). In a bowl, mix the turkey, milk, bread crumbs, ketchup, onion and eggs by hand. Season with salt and pepper. Fold the cheese cubes into the mixture. Transfer to a loaf pan and bake 1 hour in the preheated oven, to an internal temperature of 180 degrees F (85 degrees C). Eat and enjoy!

Tuscan Turkey Soup

This is a great winter recipe from a local restaurant here in town. Don't let the pumpkin throw you off-- it's delicious! Nice and hearty and easy to make. It's become one of our favorites so I thought I'd share.

Tuscan Turkey Soup
1 c. chopped onion
1 c. chopped celery
1 tsp. minced garlic
2 tbsp. olive oil
2- 14 1/2 oz. cans chicken broth
2 c. cubed cooked turkey (deli sliced about 1/2 inch thick)
1- 15 oz. can solid pack pumpkin
1- 15 oz. can white kidney or cannelloni beans, well rinsed and drained
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. ground black pepper
1/2 tsp. dried basil
Grated Parmesan cheese for garnish (optional)

Heat olive oil in a large soup pot. Saute onion, celery and garlic until tender. Stir in the broth and add turkey cubes, pumpkin, beans and seasonings. Bring to a boil and simmer uncovered for 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Let soup reach temperature of 160-170 degrees for best results. Serve with a sprinkling of grated Parmesan.

The Big 3-0

So I'm 4 days in to my 30th year and I'm still alive and kickin! Whew! (wiping sweat from brow) Since Jan 25th landed on a Sunday this year, I decided to celebrate the day before. My parents arrived Saturday morning and my mom and I indulged ourselves in 1 hour massages at a local day spa. I highly recommend the Hot Stone Massage to anyone! That evening we had a celebratory dinner at a new local restaurant. I had the macadamia nut salmon-- delicious! Grandma and Grandpa took Austin home shortly after dinner and I had a super fun night out on the town with some great friends. Thanks to everyone for making my day (or rather the day before) so special! I really do feel blessed to be where I am today at age 30. Older, wiser, more beautiful ;0)...it isn't so bad!

Here I am with my good friends and hubby at one of my favorite little spots, Vino Rosso. From L to R: Tim, Jona, Carrie, Me, Brett, Saige, Corey

Christmas 2008

Wow, the holidays went by so fast! We hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! We sure did! Here are a few photos of Christmas in Boise.

Austin and Maverick, his trusty monkey!

Erik and Jakob.

Ava with her new purse.

Austin with Grandma.

Grandpa with the kiddos and their kiddos.

Gingerbread Houses (Minus the Gingerbread)

I can't remember the last time I made a gingerbread house...or if I ever have. So my trusty assistant at work, Joelle, came over and showed me the ropes. She and her husband whipped up their "Noah's Ark" house in no time. My OCD definitely came out and I got so into it that it took me two nights to finish. I can't take all the credit though, Brett was a great helper. We used graham crackers and meringue frosting.

Here's our creation...

Here's Joelle and Nate's Ark...

Merry Yeehaw!

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Winter Wonderland

Winter has finally arrived in Idaho Falls and we are covered in a blanket of white! I love the snow this time of year. It just makes is seem so much more like Christmas. Wahoo!

Our house...

My manly-man with the snow blower...

Our street...