Microwave Lemon Curd

A few years ago I discovered "Microwave Lemon Curd". Lemon curd in the grocery store is kind of pricey, and regular lemon curd made on a double boiler is pretty time consuming. This technique makes absolutely delicious lemon curd in just a few minutes. I used it to make "Country Cake with Lemon Curd, Cream and Berries" from the Sisters' Cafe Blog. ( http://sisterscafe.blogspot.com/2008/04/country-berry-cake-with-berries-and.html ) Although, I added an extra layer of lemon curd under the whipped cream. It was heavenly, and I have lemon curd left over for biscuits, to stir into Greek Yogurt, to fill cupcakes... the possibilities are endless!

Microwave Lemon Curd

1 cup sugar
3 eggs
1 cup fresh lemon juice
1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted

Whisk all ingredients together in a microwave safe bowl. Microwave for 1 minute on high. Whisk well, microwave for a total of 3-4 minutes, whisking well every 30 seconds, until the curd becomes thick. Let cool, and refrigerate.

Apricot Jam

Well, after picking 29 pounds of apricots off the tree in my yard I had no choice but to make jam! And, man... is it good! I'm not writing a food column for the newspaper anymore, but I had such an urge to take a picture and share the recipe! A friend of mine had said she'd like me to put recipes on my blog since she misses my column, so maybe I'll do this occasionally.

This recipe calls for Apricot "Almonds", the little almond like seed inside the pit when you crack them open. They DO have a little natural occuring cyanide in them, just like apple seeds, but you'd need to eat pounds of them to do you harm. These "almonds" are what is used to make almond extract actually. Not only do they impart an almond flavor, but supposedly they help set the jam, and they also have a high concentration of vitamin B-17, B-15, and laetrile which some claim can treat cancer (some say that's a quack treatment, what do I know?) Anyway, a couple in your jam jar won't hurt you.

Also, you'll want to scrape the foam off the top of the jam while it cooks. If you put it in a jar or glass and let it settle overnight, there will be apricot syrup that settles in the bottom. Scrape the remaining foam off the syrup, and it is absolutely heavenly on top of pancakes! It's like the reward for the person who did all the work on the jam!

Apricot Jam

Ingredients:
4 and 1/2 pounds apricots

1/2 cup water

7 cups sugar

Method:
Wash, stone and chop the apricots, retaining 1/3 of the stones. Place fruit into a large pan.Crack the stones and add the kernels to the pan along with the water.Boil until soft.Add sugar and return to the boil, stirring constantly. Boil until thickened about 25-30 minutes, stirring frequently. Carefully pour into hot, sterilized jars. Wipe the rim of the jar with a damp paper towel to remove any jam. Top with a lid that has been softening in warm water, and screw on the jar ring. Turn jars upside down and cool. When turned upright the lid should be indented or stay indented when you push it down.

Notes: Don't omit the kernels from this recipe. They help the jam to set.

Breakfast after Graduation

Lately people ask a lot if Paige and Madison are twins.

Madison's 8th grade graduation

Okay, I've gotta brag... Valedictorian (4.0 all 4 semesters including Spanish 2 years, Algebra, Geometry, Advanced English, etc.), a special science award, Presidential Education Award, CJSF award, and going into high school pre-IB, with IB Spanish, Algebra 2, among the courses. She's such a smarty! And gorgeous too!

Prom 2009

Take your child to work day

Travis took Madison, Conner, and Preston to work with him for "take your child to work day". (Paige had a test at school that day, so she couldn't miss). This was up on a mountaintop. I still don't really know what he does exactly, but maybe the kids have a better idea now.

Baby Belly Cake

I made this cake for a friend's baby shower. I've never decorated a cake with fondant before. I made a homemade marshallow fondant, because I heard that it tastes much better than storebought. The cake is white chocolate lemon, and the filling is raspberry and the frosting is a lemon buttercream. It took 3 1/2 cake mixes for the recipe. It's HUGE!

My food rating system

I found this old picture on our computer. Must have been 7 or 8 years ago since Conner looks to be about 3 or 4. I remember them rating my food, but I can't remember what it was on this particular occasion.

Exotic Feline Breeding Compound - Rosamond, CA

Ty had a preschool field trip to the exotic feline compound today. The cats were amazing. I really wish I'd remembered my camera! As it is, I had to use my cell phone...

Ty was obviously not pleased with his encounter with a bird...

There were also a lot of peacocks all over the compound. You can see one in the bushes behind Ty. He wanted to "pet" one so badly, but he restrained himself wonderfully!

Ty's embarrassing antics...

Well, my mother's always telling me that I need to write down the funny things that my kids do so that I don't forget them, and I am sadly terrible at keeping a journal. So, even though this will be out there for all the world to see, I'm going to go ahead and blog ab0ut it, so at least there's a record somewhere.
First, the other day I was at the scout shop and the man working behind the counter was a nice, but rather stern older fellow. He asked to see my photo i.d. and I told him it was on the back of the card. He said that since I hadn't signed it, he needed to see my driver's license. I explained that I did that on purpose so cashiers would ask, but no one ever did. He explained that he was a retired (general/ seargant/something I don't remember) and that he follows the book. I told him I appreciated that, and then Ty, who had been studying him quite intently loudly said to him "You're weird!" Both the gentleman and myself tried to ignore it, and then he gave Ty the little rubber bracelet I'd bought, and I said "Say thank you, Ty". He just kept staring at the man, and the man looked at him and said very sternly "Your mother said to say thank you!" Well, I thought, no way is Ty going to say a word now. But, very sheepishly Ty said "Thank you." I was relieved for that, but boy was I embarrassed about the "weird" comment!
Then yesterday I was buying spices from the bulk bin at Winco and inhaled some of the stirred up pickling spices in the air, and suddenly felt the need to sneeze really bad. Not wanting to sneeze around the spice bins I started waving my hand in front of my face and said "Whew! I inhaled something! I need to sneeze!" Ty looked at this lady standing next to me, pointed at her, and said (oh I hate to even type this...) "Maybe she farted!" Holy.....cow..... Luckily, the lady had a very good sense of humor and said "Oh no I didn't! Maybe you did!" I apologized and said that he's 3 and still has no clue about what to say when, and she laughed and said boys who are a lot older than him would still say something like that. That'll teach me for not reprimanding my children more at home for saying the "f-word".

Conner's 11th Birthday

This was on Conner's birthday which was on Friday. The next day was supposed to be his party with his friends and he got sick less than 2 hours before the party and we had to cancel. That has got to be the worst birthday ever. We'll be having the party this weekend instead... hopefully.

Knott's Berry Farm

Our friends, the Owens, gave us Knott's Berry Farm tickets on New Year's Eve. We had a great time! Took me a while to blog it!

Conner, Preston and Ty panned for gold. But since I was helping Ty, I forgot to get pictures of him!

My Doppelgangers.

The Feerris wheel terrified Ty, but we got him to smile long enough for a picture while it was stopped. He still talks about the scary Ferris Wheel!

We had a really nice day because it wasn't crowded at all! This is on the train at the end of the day.

Also on the train. Travis was in a goofy mood.

Further proof of his goofiness... his Zoolander face.

Preston tries the Zoolander face.

Create

I loved this talk by President Dieter F. Uchtdorf. And I really loved when I found this video clip with the music and graphics added. What a wonderful message to the women of the world to use the talents that the Lord has given us to bless others.

More from Preston's baptism

These were the pictures we took after most people had left, and we finally realized we hadn't taken any pictures! Top is with Julie, next is with me, next with his great grandma Beverly (Mams) and Gram, and then with Grandma and Grandpa Harvey, and last with all his brothers and sisters.