Orange Cloud Jello Salad

I hope that the simple use of the words "Jello Salad" did not lose you. I know Jello salad can be a frightening term. Visions of cheese or carrots suspended helplessly in lime flavored Jello come immediately...and quite terrifying... to mind. I will honestly say I always am a little weary of Jello side dishes. However, there are three that I happily make...and happily eat.

This is one of them and it is one of my favorites.

I got it years ago from a friend. In fact the original recipe card she wrote out for me in her so cute handwriting is still in my collection. What makes this Jello so gosh darn special? Well I will tell you. This Jello is special because of the mixture of lemon cook and serve Jello and regular orange Jello. The combination of those two things make the consistency of this Jello thicker and creamier than regular Jello...just take my word for it that is a good thing.

This Jello salad is perfect for a summer barbecue. I made is just recently for Easter. It is altogether quite lovely. So take my word for it, cast your Jello Salad fears aside and make this recipe. You owe it to Jello.

Orange Cloud Jello Salad 

2 3oz pkgs of lemon cook and serve Jello
2 3oz pkgs of orange Jello
1 1/2 cups sugar
frozen whipped topping
1 can mandarin oranges, drained

Combine lemon Jello mix, sugar and 4 cups of water in a saucepan. Warm on med high heat.

At the same time begin to heat 3 cups of water in a separate saucepan.

Stir lemon mixture constantly, until it starts to thicken. It will look similar to meringue pie filling. Remove from heat.

When other water is boiling, remove from heat and add orange Jello powder until dissolved.

Add orange Jello to the lemon mixture, stirring together.

Pour into a 9x13 pan. Whisk together if necessary...making sure completely combined.

Refrigerate until set. Several hours.

Before serving, top with whipped topping and mandarin orange slices.

I promise you will thank me and will fall in love with Jello again.

Just wanted to say that things are still in crazy paint mode over here. Thanks to you all for your patience in the lack of posting. I can't wait to show you all of our progress AND to share with you all our surprise...although many of you have guessed it already...

Big Changes

 There are some big changes happening in our home. A lot of things in our house are starting too look different. Those used to be honey colored stair rails, linoleum floor and boring trim.

We are up to our armpits in paint. I mean that almost almost literally. I am growing weary of painting.

Hubby is growing weary of cutting, measuring, measuring some more, and nailing. Putting new trim in your entire house is time intensive. Especially when you do it one-man-show style like hubby.

Little Men are intrigued by all the cutting and nailing.

Yup, things are starting to look different here. Fresher. Cleaner.

Can you believe we have done all this in basically 2 weeks? I can't. Our household has been on speed, no not literally, lately trying to get all our projects done FAST. These projects have been the only thing I have been doing. All of my normal projecting has been put on hold just so I can devote all my time to fixing our house.

Why?

Well, that will have to be a surprise...

Week In a Nutshell: Family, Flying, and Crying, OH MY!

Most of you know that I was out of town for a week. I bravely took to the skies with my three Little Men all by my lonesome. That's right, I made a cross country trek with three kids simply armed with electronic entertainment and lots of food. 

Man was I nervous. 

Mostly because I didn't want to be "that mom". You know the one that all of those without kids, or have since long forgotten what their kids were like, judge and sniff at and roll their eyes. The Mom that they already assume you are because you come walking into the boarding area with 5 travel bags, a giant stroller, and three very excited wiggly kids.

I know...I care WAY too much what people think.

BUT my boys were angels...

at least in the beginning.

I got compliments and accolades in the first airport and on the first plane. I mean look at them...

Even Oldest Little Man who had to sit by himself, just sat there quietly. Well except for the rare occasion he forgot he was wearing headphones and would cheer out loud when he defeated a level.

Ah, but it couldn't stay that easy could it?  Nope, definitely not.

I will try to make a REALLY long story short, so here is the run down...

end of first 50 min flight in sight
airport closed
circle for 20 min
deterred to a different airport
another 50 mins on plane
land in unplanned airport
they won't give me my stroller
2 year old on the loose
new flight plan
flying to Vegas
3hrs
get to Vegas 5pm PST 8pm our time
no stroller
2 year old on the loose
3 hr lay over
no where to eat
$34 on one sandwich and 3 smoothies
Little Men punch drunk from lack of sleep
leave Vegas at 11:25pm our time
arrive in Portland 1:45 am our time
original arrival was supposed to be 8:30 our time

There was a lot of tears...mostly mine.

All things considering my boys did the very best they could.

Little Men eating their $34 dinner

The Momma overlooking the filth and letting them lay on the ground in the Vegas airport...

yes is rather disgusting.

All worth it to spend time with our family.

We met cousins/nieces and nephews for the first time. Saw family and friends. Played around and all together had a really good time.

My Little Men had a wonderful time. I wish I had more pictures. My battery died and I had left the charger...duh. We have not gotten to spend this much time with so much family for a really long time. I am so grateful that we did.

I can also happily report that the flight back was a complete dream with no unexpected hiccups.

Itty Bitty Skirts

I know last week I promised the bitty version of this skirt. 

Well I made them, I promise. Then I gave them to my oh-so-sweet itty bitty nieces. Then I forgot to take a picture, and now I am far, far away from them. 

So today I am showing you some other itty bitty skirts I made for my newest and tiniest niece.

I used Jill's tutorial for these itty bitty denim skirts. I do alter her instructions a little. Instead of sandwiching the skirt into the folded band, I place the band with raw edges at the top and right sides facing. Then I stitch and then I fold the waist band up.

I also made another version. This time I used material from dress slacks underneath and then layered lace. Just add lace and get this lovely confection.

Every once in awhile I do enjoy sewing something all girlie and wonderful. Nieces are a perfect excuse.

Lemon Sour Cream Pie: Perfect Mother's Day Dessert

Seriously SO yummy. It is light, refreshing, and delightfully lemony. 

We actually made this pie for Easter, but it really would be perfect for Mother's Day too...okay it would be perfect for any day.

I mean really, it has homemade whipped cream, what is not to love.

I got this recipe from Your Homebased Mom. If you like lemon, she has a whole array of lemon recipes. This one called out to me immediately.

Lemon Sour Cream Pie

First you need to make a graham cracker crust...or just buy one.

Graham Cracker Crust

1 1/4 C graham cracker crumbs

5 Tbsp butter, melted

2 Tbsp sugar

Toss the graham cracker crumbs, butter and sugar together thoroughly with a fork.  Pour the crumbs into a pie plate.  Press crumbs into bottom and sides of pie plate.  Bake at 325 until the crust begins to brown – about 15-20 minutes.  Allow to cool

After you have set aside the crust, it is time to make the filling for the pie.

Lemon Sour Cream Pie

1 C Sugar
3 Tbsp plus 1-1/2 tsp cornstarch
1 Tbsp grated lemon peel
1/2 C lemon juice
3 egg yolks, lightly beaten
1 Cup milk
1/4 Cup butter, cubed
1 Cup (8 ounces) sour cream
graham cracker crust
1 Cup heavy whipping cream, whipped
   

Combine sugar, cornstarch, lemon peel, juice, egg yolks and milk in heavy
saucepan; cook over medium heat until thickened. Stir in butter and cool mixture
to room temperature.

Stir sour cream into pie shell. Spread with whipped cream. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.

Serve. Eat. Die from yumminess.