Sixteen and so full of potential

Random Thoughts

1. I'm glad the dr agrees Jasmine is ready for surgery. 2. I miss writer's conference. It's one time I fit in. 3. I hope Jasmine's name gets drawn for the charter school. Lottery shortly. 4. I'm proud of my two oldest ones who are in Explorers. Thursday night they were hostages on a school bus at a closed airport for real life swat training. Today they are security at a festival. 5. I hope someone gives Jessica and I a contract for Kidnapped in Haiti. 6. I am surviving without regular soda so stop preaching at me about how unhealthy diet is. I have to die from something. 7. I wish it were warmer for spring break. 8. Tangled was really good. I wasn't sure if I'd like it since Rapunzel isn't one of my favorites. I don't even really know the story. 9. I want my gall bladder back. 10. I hope a lot of people buy my quiz book when it comes out in July because the publisher doesn't really believe in this book as much as I'd like. 11. My shoulder is really sore. My horse spooked yesterday and dropped down. I chose to go off rather than possibly under. My instructor said it was a good looking fall. That's how my mind is working today. Share some of the random thoughts that are running through your mind.

I think we are all ready

for this neck thing to be over with!! Jasmine goes to Shands on the 18th to set the surgery date. We have church directory pictures the same day!! I was hoping this would be behind us by then. We have dance photos too. Ugh. Not sure about those.

Rick has been building with Lincoln Logs with the twins.

Jessica's all dressed up to go out with Anthony. They are both Explorers and last night they, along with Tyler, were "hostages" on a school bus at the old airport for training for the real swat team here in town.

I found a book review site and they reviewed three of my books HERE.

Writer's Conference

Last week Jessica and I were at writer's conference. I'm only going to post a few pictures since looking at people sitting around writing isn't that much fun. All the pictures are on face book.

Conference wouldn't be the same without Torry.
Or Jesse.
Mark led the fiction track.
We made taco soup for the faculty and staff.
Me leading an after hours session on writing devotions.

Hanging out

Me explaining some of the joys of blogging to my class.

Jessica finds conference very amusing.

This is our tough look.

Now we are back home with lots of work to do. I have a few articles to write and some point of view changes to make on our Kidnapped in Haiti book. But today I'm off to the dentist for a crown. Yay rah. (NOT)

Young Cooks

Jasmine made a different kind of lasagna in February. We were all a little skeptical about it, but it turned out great!








Sausage Tortilla Lasagna
1 ½ lb sausage ½ tsp garlic
2 c small curd cottage cheese 3 c spaghetti sauce
2 T all purpose flour 10 lg tortillas
1 tsp oregano 1 ½ c shredded mozzarella cheese
1 tsp basil

Brown sausage in a skillet. Drain grease. Mix cottage cheese and flour in a large bowl. Add the sausage, seasonings and 1 ½ c of the spaghetti sauce. Mix. Spoon ½ c of the mixture on to each tortilla. Roll like a jelly roll. Place seam side down in a large baking pan sprayed with cooking spray. Pour remaining sauce over the top. Bake covered at 375F for 30 to 35 minutes. Uncover, sprinkle with cheese. Put back in oven until the cheese melts. Serves 6.

Kayla cooked for the first time in February.

Upside Down Pizza
2-3 lbs ground beef 1 c shredded mozzarella cheese
lg jar of Ragu spaghetti sauce 1 can crescent rolls
1 c shredded cheddar cheese

Brown meat and drain. Add spaghetti sauce and heat 5-10 minutes. Spray 10x13 pan with cooking spray. Spread meat and sauce mixture in pan. Top with cheeses. Unroll crescent rolls across the top. Bake at 350F until brown, about 10-15 minutes.

Hanging with Jessica

Jessica and I spent a couple hours at the parks before our writer's conference.



Gone wild!



Anyone know what our tattoos say?

Not quite pro basketball material.

February Food

Mexican Shepherd's Pie
1 lb lean ground beef
½ cups slice green onions (our chef left these out)
1 c thick salsa
1 ½ tsp chili powder
¾ tsp cumin
11 oz can mexicorn drained
1 pouch Betty Crocker loaded mashed potatoes (these sell by the pouch, not in a box)
1 1/3c water
2 tbs butter
1 c milk
½ c shredded cheddar cheese
1 med tomatoes cut into wedges
tortillas chips

Cook ground beef and 1/4c of the onions in 10" skillet until beef is cooked through. Stir in salsa, chili powder and cumin. Spoon corn evenly over beef mixture in skillet. Cover and cook over slow heat until thoroughly heated.

Meanwhile, in 2-qt saucepan, heat water and butter to boiling. Remove from heat and stir in milk and pouch of potatoes with seasoning until just blended. Let stand 1 minute. Beat with fork.

Spoon potatoes over the mixture in the skillet. Spread evenly. Sprinkle with cheese and remaining onion. Cover and cook over low 5 minutes or until the cheese is melted. Arrange tomato wedges around potatoes. Garnish with tortillas chips.

Jessica made baked chicken and stuffing.

Tyler made upside down meat pie.

upside down meat pie
1 lb ground beef
1 tspn mustard

1/2 cup chopped celery
1 1/2 cups biscuit mix

1/2 cup chopped onion

1/3 cup cold water

1/4 cup chopped green pepper

3 slices cheese cut in half diagonally

1 can condensed tomato soup
In 10" oven-proof skillet brown beef and cook celery, onion and green pepper until tender. Stir to seperate meat. Drain well. Stir in soup and mustard. Combine biscuit mix and water,
roll or pat dough into a circle slightly smaller than skillet. Spread meat mixture evenly in
skillet, top with biscuit dough. Bake at 450 degrees for 15 minutes until browned. Turn upside
down on platter. Top with cheese. Cut in wedges and serve. Makes 6 servings.

Jeff didn't cook but made a cheesecake. Unfortunately it was gone before I got a picture, but here's the recipe:

Cheese Cake Pie
8 oz cream cheese 1/3 c sugar
2 tsp vanilla 8 oz Cool Whip thawed
Ready Crust fresh fruit or pie filling

Beat cream cheese, sugar and vanilla until smooth.
Fold in whipped topping. Spoon into crust. Chill three
hours. Top with fruit or pie filling.

I am at conference working on a laptop. Jasmine cooked some awesome lasgna roll ups that I'll post later.