Linguine with Tomatoes, Basil and Brie

I was asked earlier this week what I cook for dinner. Well here is a recipe I discovered this week and decided I really like it. It's way easy and if you have generous in-laws with a large garden, it is a way cheap meal right now! This is actually a variation of something I do quite frequently. I love pastas! The changes I made to this were I probably used 2 teaspoons of minced garlic (no vampires around our house!), no pepper, and being repulsed by online descriptions of Brie cheese i opted for grated Parmesan (may try feta next time). Not hot at all - if you're going for spicy I'd add another jalapeno or keep in some of the seeds.

Linguine with Tomatoes, Basil and Brie

The beauty of this dish is that the hot pasta warms all the other uncooked ingredients.

8 oz. linguine
2 cups chopped seeded tomatoes
1/2 cup sliced fresh basil
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 large garlic clove, minced
1 jalapeno chile, veins and seeds removed, chopped
6 oz. Brie cheese, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
1/4 cup (1 oz.) shaved Asiago cheese

1. Cook linguine according to package directions.

2. Meanwhile, in large bowl, combine tomatoes, basil, oil, garlic and chile; stir gently to mix.

3. When linguine is cooked, drain; immediately add to tomato mixture. Add Brie cheese, salt and pepper; toss to combine. Sprinkle with Asiago cheese.

4 servings

Keely Update

Keelian will be 7 months on Tuesday so I thought it was time for another update on her.

She is finally sitting up, but doesn't really like it much. She would rather be lying on her back, able to roll around. She is able to get all over the room that way.

She loves taking a bath and always gives me a huge grin when I wrap her up in her towel after. (I took an even cuter nakee bum picture, but I'm not sure that should be posted on the internet!)

Her foot is healing nicely. I've been putting vitamin e on it and I think that helps. Yes, the darker pink is the actual size of the burn. Poor baby! :(

She has become increasingly energetic, but remains quite patient with me, as if she realizes that I have many other demands for my time. But she definitely makes herself heard when she wants to be heard! And she's quite a little chatty girl.

Her brothers adore her and dote on her. Stratton knows he's her protector and frequently "saves" her from Creighton's not so gentle loving. Unfortunately he also thinks he's big enough to lift her and move her around, despite my orders otherwise.

Daddy also adores her and is relieved that she is finally showing a desire to stand. I think he was worried that she was developmentally behind because she didn't stand on his hand by 8 weeks old like the boys did. But she finally did it last Sunday, so he's feeling much better!

I constantly reassure him that I've just finally been given a normal, laid back, easy baby!

We love our baby girl!!

A Man and His Dog... A Boy and His Toad!

The larger toad Ric brought back from high adventure two years ago (yes, it has survived for two years!) and the smaller one was a "gift" from our upstairs neighbor who found it one night when she took her dogs out and caught it for the boys.

This was the first time this year we've gotten them out and just let them hop around in the back area for a bit. The boys were ecstatic! And Creighton learned how to catch them and hold them on his own - quite humorous to witness, but admittedly not very humane!

I tried to talk Stratton into letting them go this summer - told him their moms probably miss them. He started crying, telling me he'd miss them too much! So much for my strategy for getting rid of them. Looks like we'll be buying crickets for a little bit longer yet. (I hate paying money to have bugs in my house - especially when they get loose!)

Ah well, I suppose a little boy needs something to love!

Gramma's Creek

We went to my Grandma's house earlier this week for a luncheon with my cousin, second cousin, and their 3 kids. I have long been promising my boys a chance to get in the creek in Grandma's back yard so after the others left, I took them down and we got in the frigid creek.

I remember doing this when I was a kid and it was fun but oh so painfully cold, but it felt pretty good on a hot summer afternoon.

Cratey is not sure he wants to get back in! (Pics are out of order, sorry.)

After your feet go numb, it really is fun. Stratton didn't want to get out!

Cratey perched on the side again.

The happy picture.

The not-so-happy picture!

This was when the boys first stepped in. Mill Creek is just runoff from the snow up in the mountains. Now it's September so the water is pretty low, but still cold and being little boys, it came up to their thighs - mid-calf for me.

We took this picture and then the boys wanted out. Then after being out for a minute, Stratton wanted back in. Since Stratton got back in, Creighton wanted back in too. So they got back in and Stratton played around, exploring up and down, while Creighton tried to hug to the sides and stick to the high rocks to keep him out of the water as much as possible.

Maybe it'll be a little warmer and more fun next summer!

Labor Day Fun

Monday morning we got up and went up Big Cottonwood Canyon on a family hike. I use the term "hike" loosely, as it was really more of a walk, stop and throw rocks, walk 10 more yards, stop and throw more rocks...

Proof that I was there - gotta take my own pic!

I love the mountains!

My little mountain goat.

This kid had a rock in his hand the entire rock - as soon as one was chucked in the water, another rock took it's place in his hand. He was obsessed!

Can't get enough beautiful scenery pics.

My Sweetheart. And this was Keely's first experience in the baby backpacker and she did great. (Love that carrier - it has been awesome and been on many adventures with our family.)

We also went to the Natural History Museum, went for ice cream at Arctic Circle, watched a family movie, walked to the park, and dropped by a family party for one of the young men in our ward. Busy day, but we loved spending it together!