What we've been doing since wrestling is over

We've been taking artistic pictures of ourselves and Blue (a mix between Steve Jobs and Kramer I think for Riley):

We've been playing dead with Blue.

We've been trying to match famous masterpieces.

Okay...maybe that was a long shot.  We've been catching lots of sunsets:

We've been going to dances with friends.

We've been getting visits from our college kids.

And while the college kids were here we've been moto'ing:

skiing

and snowmobiling:

A Moose, a moose I swear I saw a moose

 Yep, the Pete's dragon song with the word dragon replaced by moose.  Well my kids didn't see a dragon...but they did see a Moose...while skiing.  Here's the pictures they sent me.

Some recipes I like and um...a change in the workout scene for me.

Yes, I'm really into healthy oils.  So what am I doing lately as I read more and more labels at the store?  I'm making my own mayonaisse:

Or at least I want to....

And I'm making my own salad dressings.

I'm hoping it leads to a healthier me.  Also, I'm trying to get stronger and have picked up a new kettlebell training of swings and get-ups.  Here are my programs and goals.

And a few things that I know for sure aren't making me healthier but I'm sharing anyway.  A new chocolate chip recipe that I love, Love, LOVE!  

https://www.femalefoodie.com/recipes/caputos-sea-salt-chocolate-chip-cookies/

Caputo's Sea Salt Chocolate Chip Cookies

American

 

Servings: 18 large cookies

Ingredients

• 1 1/4 cups butter, softened 2 1/2 sticks of butter
• 1 1/3 cups brown sugar
• 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons white sugar
• 1 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1 1/2 tsp kosher salt
• 1 3/4 cups cake flour
• 1 3/4 cups bread flour
• 2 large eggs
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 16 ounces high quality craft chocolate
• fleur de sel

Instructions

• In a large bowl beat together butter, sugars, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Beat together for 5-10 minutes or until the batter turns a very pale light brown. Scrape the sides and bottom with a rubber spatula to make sure ingredients are fully combined.
• In a separate bowl mix eggs and vanilla together. Slowly pour and incorporate into the sugar mixture until barely mixed in. Scrape down sides of bowl.
• Mix in both flours, until barely mixed in. Do not over mix.
• Mix in chocolate until fully incorporated but do not over mix.
• Scoop into .25 lb. balls and place on a parchment lined tray.
• Refrigerate cookies for 6-7 days, which results in a better texture when you bake the cookie, and better flavor. If you cannot refrigerate for 6-7 days, refrigerate for an hour minimum. Preheat oven to 350 degrees before baking.
• Place 4-5 cookies on standard cookie sheet. Bake cookies in the oven for 9 minutes then rotate and bake for another 8 minutes, or when tops of cookies are golden brown.
• Remove cookies from oven and immediately top with fleur de sel sea salt.
• Let cool for 5-10 minutes before eating. Cookies may be enjoyed warm, or wrapped and served later.

And a recipe for candied almonds.

https://joyfoodsunshine.com/candied-almonds/

• 6 oz raw almonds (about 3 cups)
• ▢1 egg white
• ▢1 TBS vanilla extract
• ▢¾ cup granulated sugar
• ▢1 tsp sea salt
• ▢2 tsp ground cinnamon

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

INSTRUCTIONS

 

• Preheat oven to 250 degrees F. Grease a large baking sheet. (Do NOT use parchment paper or foil. Bake directly on the greased pan).
• In a small bowl, combine sugar, sea salt, and cinnamon, set aside.
• In a large mixing bowl, whip egg white and vanilla with a whisk until frothy (about 1 minute).
• Add almonds to wet mixture and stir until evenly coated.
• Once almonds are coated, sprinkle the dry ingredients over the almonds and stir until evenly distributed. Make sure to scrape any extra cinnamon sugar mixture off the sides and bottom of the bowl and incorporate it into the almonds.
• Spread the almonds evenly, in a single layer, on the prepared baking sheet.
• Bake at 250 degrees F for 1 hour. Stir every 15 minutes. Even if they look done after 45 minutes trust me and bake for the full hour.
• After one hour remove the almonds from the oven, give them a final stir and let them cool on the baking sheet or enjoy them warm!
• Store in an airtight container at room temperature or in the freezer!

You're welcome.

Recent group chat...molested or malested

Maybe this isn't kosher to share in today's world, but it's real and it's funny so I will share.

Wrestling Season and State for Riles

 We finished up wrestling season last month.  Jake got to wrestle varsity the last month due to an injury of the varsity wrestler at his same weight.  He lost a lot of matches but worked really hard.  We had wrestling regionals at our home town this year.  I was so excited.  It was the first time since I've been involved with our wrestling team (9 years) that we've had it here.  Usually we have to travel 6-7 hours to compete on the front range and then the following week make the same trip for state.

A few photos from our regionals.

Jake went two and out.  Riley was 3-2 to go as the fourth wrestler in our region.  Riley's bracket was stacked.  We had the #2 ranked wrestler in the state, #3 ranked wrestler in the state and the #7 ranked wrestler in the state at our regionals.  Riley was ranked #9.  So, he was expected to perform as he did and to go like he did.  

They left for state in the middle of one of the worst snow storms we've had.  Last year we traveled to the state tournament in a snow storm, this year was much worse.  One of the boys' coaches drove Riley and Ryan, the other wrestler that went to state, in the middle of the snow storm.  Glad it was him and not me driving.  Anyway, he brought the boys to a WWF gym and practiced with them before the tournament.  

Then, they wrestled.  A few pictures I stole from the coach who brought the two boys to the state tournament.

Kenzie and Ben met us in Denver.  We stayed in a VRBO together which had a pretty nice park that we visited.

We got to watch the matches together and in between the matches we went to the aquarium, shopped a little and ate.

Wish I had more pictures of the actual matches but I was busy taking video instead.  I tried to capture some of the video as pictures but they are too blurry to post.  Riley went 1-2 at the tournament and Ryan, his teammate took 5th.   It was fun to have somebody place from our team this year.

Just as a side note, I made the boy and girl state sweatshirts this year.  I did pretty well if I say so myself.  Didn't know I was so crafty.

Two weekends after state Freshman/Sophomore state took place.  Jake got to wrestle again and while he didn't place, he did wrestle pretty well.  He went 2-2.  He's coming along.

While the season is over, the boys are doing spring wrestling with club and competing in tournaments.  I'll keep you updated.