Now this is CRAZY!

Tonight I told my friend Holly that I had made dandelion honey and she mentioned that her dad used to make dandelion wine. She thought I should try it. Never having made wine before I decided to look it up. Hmm, still thinking about it however in my research I found a recipe for Fried Dandelions. No kidding.


I found it while I happened to be talking to my Dad. I looked to my side and saw a small bowl full of dandelions that I didn't use in this afternoons honey pot. I told Dad I was going for it and while we were laughing I was starting the oil.

After tasting a few myself and deciding they tasted like a fried green veggie I put them to the Holmes girls taste test. I cut two small ones in half and walked out to the living room. I put one on the end of the fork and told Cassi to try it. I told her it was new vegetable that tasted sort of like spinach. I wasn't thinking clearly when I said it because Cassi hates spinach. Still she tried it. (I have them trained well. :) She didn't like it but I am sure it was because of the spinach remark.

Cori loved them. She said they needed more garlic. I went back out to the kitchen and while still talking to my Dad I asked her if I should make more. And if so, could she please go pick more.
She came running out to the kitchen and said "pick what?" I told her they were dandelions at which she balked "EWWW" while she was reaching for another one! After eating that, she said "Kind of EWWW but they are SO good!"

Not joking here. She stood next to me and ate at least a handful more.

I am pretty certain my Dad thought for a while that we were pulling his leg but I assure you, they are good. Be brave, try it. And if you are doubtful of the whether or not they are good for you, search just a little on the 'net'. You will find lots of good reasons to give it a go!

The Kenai River Fish Festival

Every year the Watershed Forum hosts the Kenai River Fish Festival. It's a (practically) free event with all sorts of activities for the kids. There is live music and food. It is and has always been a pretty wonderful event. Especially if the weather is nice, like today. It was brilliantly sunny but there was a cool breeze that kept everyone from being hot. In fact a light jacket was even acceptable if one was wearing a light t-shirt, like me. :)

Of course we live in a rather small town so it seems like a big event.

This was our view walking in. A lot of the venues are crafts and activities for the kids to do that bring attention to maintaining the beauty of the river and protecting the wildlife, including the Salmon.


These beautiful guys were near the entrance and were gorgeous. There have been a lot of eagles around our area lately. Seeing these guys up close made me wish I had better photo opportunities of those eagles.

Right after we got there we found a salmon coloring spot which included a brief lesson in handling fish and protecting the oils in their skin. The girls and I colored our salmon and then they were dipped in some oil coated water. It gave them a shiny appearance. I hope to make something with these; I'll keep you in the loop.

After we colored we decided a little lunch was in order. Every year they sell a grilled salmon plate with couscous salad, potato salad a apple muffin and a piece of garlic bread. I remember craving it one year when I was pregnant. Scott and the kids always eat the salmon and garlic bread and I eat the salads. It was the same this year.


The entertainment while we were eating was a wonderful ukulele' playing guy we call Mr. Dan. He works for the Watershed forum with which our school has a fabulous relationship with. He has taught in the classrooms of both of my older girls. He is a marvelous teacher and an equally fun entertainer. The girls and I had many giggles over his hilarious educational made up songs.


We stopped by the booth our school was sponsoring- the kids attend an art and science school- and experimented with color changing which Cali loved.





They also had an aluminum boat making challenge. The idea was to see how many metal washers one could float in their aluminum boat. I didn't do so well. I made mine to small, thinking thicker would be sturdier.

Obviously, spreading your aluminum over more surface area worked best; the kids already knew that! :)

We also tried painting a wooden fish.

It was a little overwhelming and Cali didn't like the fact that the some of the colors were mixed up. So we brought our wooden fish home to paint later this afternoon instead. We'll see if that happens or not. Cali came home and plopped herself on the couch. She has a slight fever. It may happen tomorrow instead.

I should have recognized Cali going downhill, she actually sat down with a friendly gal from the library booth to listen to a story. She is usually too busy for that but today sat the whole time fairly engaged in the story.

It was another fun and busy day. We are going to work on our Dandy honey later. Cassi said she will help me pick more dandelions. I am hoping to make a stockpile. I really liked it. Cassi seems to like it on biscuits, like me. I will share the recipe and pictures soon. Keep your eyes peeled.

A Friendly Blog Award

This is fun. I was given this blog award by Michie at Seeking Imperfection. It's been a bit since she told me about it but I was unsure who to pass it on to and of course writing 10 honest things about ones self is a little revealing, well not as revealing as more than 10 but still, trying to determine what I should say, well I'm still not sure.

So, first, thank you Michie, it was sweet of you to think of me.

The rules are these-
"When you receive the prize, you must write a post showing it, together with the name of who has given it to you, and link them back. Choose a minimum of 7 blogs that you find brilliant in their content or design. Show their names and links and leave them a comment informing that they were prized with 'Honest Weblog'. List [if you can and/or dare] at least ten honest things about yourself. Then, pass it on!"

So, I will pass it on to:
Reinvented - whom I've only just begun reading. I love her straight forwardness and the amazing creativity that she has and inspires.

One Crafty Momma- hers is one of the very first blogs I started reading. Simply lovely!

Wee Folk Garden- I actually read Kim's other blog Wee Folk Art but I love the whimsical things she is doing in the garden. It's a fun place to visit.

Hippies Unite (formerly know as snapshots) Possibly my favorite blogger ever. She is funny and seems kind. I wish I could meet her one day. I think we'd be friends.

Frugal Family Fun I only recently started reading this blog. Frugality probably isn't my best feature but I am learning and this gal has great ideas.

And Ramblings of a Crazy Woman I go there for endless ideas to keep my girls busy. Such a fun place to visit.

And, this is one award I would have also passed on to Michie so I count Seeking imperfection as my 7th. :) I think we are an awful lot alike. :)

Thanks for having such great blogs to visit.

And if you are interested, ten 'HONEST' things you may not know about me.

1. I really don't want to grow up. Peter Pan is my idol.
2. My kids (especially my older one) are starting to think I am embarrassing and it makes me sad.
3. I don't feel as though I have many 'good' friends although I love everyone and wish I did more with friends.
4. I do my best work at the last minute and I am a bit of a procrastinator. OK, maybe more than a bit.
5. I have a long, long list of things I'd like to learn.
6. I REALLY want to write a book. (What should I write about?)
7. I wish I could adopt a child. Or better yet, I wish I had the money to offer a home to many children in need.
8. I would love it if more of my (and Scott's) family would move to Alaska.
9. My favorite movie ever is DROP DEAD FRED. It's older but is so darn funny. Rent it- you will have fun!
10. I lack self-confidence but I don't think most people know it.

So now you know so much more about me, aren't you so glad you do. :)

A GREAT Kitchen Day

I had a great kitchen day on Wednesday. :) Better than I've had in quite a while.
I already told you about the uber-moist vanilla cake,-seriously, you ought to try it- so I figure I should give you the recipe to what has become one of my very favorite dinners.


It is fattening, but it has fresh spinach so we'll call it healthy.

Vermicelli with sausage and spinach
1 pound cooked smoked sausage (I cut mine into little slices)
3/4 C. chopped onion
2 large cloves garlic, chopped
2 t. olive oil
2 14 ounce cans reduced-sodium chicken broth
1/4 C. water
8 ounces dried vermicelli or angel hair pasta broken in half
1 9 ounce package fresh pre-washed baby spinach
1/4 t. freshly ground pepper
1/3 cup whipping cream


In a 4 quart dutch oven, cook sausage, onion and garlic in hot oil over medium-high heat until onion is tender and sausage lightly browned.
Add broth and water; bring to boiling. Add pasta; cook for 3 minutes, stirring frequently. Add spinach and pepper; cook about 1 minute more or until spinach is wilted. Stir in cream. Serve immediately.

Let me know if you try this. I promise you will love it. IT IS SO GOOD!

After I get pictures this afternoon from our next batch of Dandy honey, I will tell you about that too!

Vanilla Cake with Chocolate Chips

I am a cookbook-oholic. I love to read cookbooks. Even those little ones at the end of the grocery counter that come out every week. Love them. Love recipes of any sort really. I try to find recipes I know my family will love but I also like the ones that have things in them I don't think they like at all but that I can make without them noticing.

Recently I bought a HUGE bottle of pure Vanilla. There was a recipe on the box. After reading it I thought I'd give it a go. Wow, 12 hours later, only 1 slice left. :)

In case you never buy the HUGE box and haven't seen the recipe, here it is:
1 yellow cake mix
1 package (3 1/2 oz) instant vanilla pudding mix
1 cup sour cream ( I used light)
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup water
4 eggs
1 tbsp. Vanilla Extract
1 cup mini chocolate chips (I used the swirled white/ chocolate kind because it's what I had on hand)

Throw everything into your mixer except the chocolate chips and mix until well blended.
Stir in the chocolate chips
Pour into a greased and floured bundt pan
Bake at 350 degrees for 50 minutes

Glaze:
3 tbsp. melted butter
2 1/4 cups powdered sugar
3 tbsp. water
1 1/2 tsp vanilla

Mix until very smooth and let stand to thicken. (Mine was a little thick so I threw in a few drops of water until I liked the consistency.)

Wait for cake to cool then glaze.
Put it on your cake plate and watch it go!

Getting Out of Town

The travel destination- Exit Glacier.

The girls and I have been many times in the past. I can remember taking them when Cori was just a tiny tot and Amber and AJ we pretty young too.

The glacier has changed so much over the years. I wish I had time to dig out some of the photos I undoubtedly took way back then to show you the differences.


Either way, the hike is still lovely and they have made some wonderfully nice paths to follow to get right up to the glacier, looking down on it.


If the conditions are right, sometimes you can even get right up to the toe of the glacier and touch it, at the bottom. Yesterday there was enough water flowing, making little rivers that were a bit too big to cross. We did not get to touch it but all of the kids did make it to the top of the path, even the little ones.



There was quite a slew of us that made the trip.

I think there were 13 kids and 7 adults. We had a great time, with a few highlights.

*Jessica and Corvin heard a bear grumbling in the bushes; we had heard he was around. When the came off of the trail into the open quarry Jessica heard some woofing and and coughing noises. Further down the path, back to the cars we saw a ranger and asked him about it. He was pretty sure it was the bear.

*The were many opportunities to rock-climb which all of the kids partook in, even the tiny tots. So very fun to watch them spreading their wings and being a bit more courageous.


*All of the kids became honorary Wildlife Rangers. And they had to work for it. :)


*The big girls convinced us to check out resurrection river trail to view the Extra-Large trees, not so common around our parts. It turned out to be a beautiful trail which we have all agreed will take a day all it's own to explore. We read there are cabins back in there somewhere and we are intent to find them!


*The trees in Resurrection River Trail would be great places to make some fairy houses which I have been dying to try with my girls. Misty's girls seemed really interested too. Can't wait for that!



After hiking we headed into Seward to stop by the new playground. It is so big and there are so many fun things to do there. They are working hard to get one installed here locally and I really hope they do. It's wonderful.
We had a quick lunch at a roadside burger bus. It was really yummy although we were all starving! We headed home after getting our food and the girls seemed quite content.
We are discussing where to go next. I think it was so much fun we are anxious to head out again. We will keep you posted as always and hopefully it is real soon.

SMAPPY HAS ARRIVED

I (or Cali rather) entered the giveaway over at Whosies that was led by Sew, Momma, Sew as part of the May Giveaway Day and she won! I never win things and I was so excited to surprise Cali with her little Smappy today.

Cori and I decided that a great summer project for Cali will be to document all the lovely places Cali can visit with Smappy. Since we spend a lot of time traveling for soccer throughout the state of Alaska, Cali will have the opportunity to take Smappy to some really cool places. I am hoping this will add a special element to our travels that is all her own.

To begin Cali and Smappy's story, Cali decided to show her around and tell her a few getting-to-know-you things about herself. I think its the beginning of a wonderful friendship.

Thanks so much Becky. We are really going to enjoy her.