Playing catch-up

I am SO behind on everything, it's ridiculous. Least of all, my blogging.

To make a long story short, Grandpa Crombie's passing was followed by Missions Conference, which has kept us going non-stop for the last month.

I'm going to try to tell a story with my pictures here, so be patient! :)

This is the bread pudding I made on Wednesday, April 7th. It was the day Grandpa Crombie went home to be with Jesus. We had a huge dinner at Jack & Leah's, and I offered to make dessert. :) (I'll put all the recipes that are new on the bottom of this blog).

Grandma Crombie got the first helping of it, and then Uncle George was next. He keeps telling Robert I need to open my own restaurant or bakery. What a sweetheart!

So, after Wednesday, I baked for basically 2 straight weeks in preparation for family events and Missions Conference.

I figure, hey! When life gives you 32 lemons, you make LEMON BARS, of course! I have had SO many people ask me if they can have my incredible recipe. The thing is, it's really not that incredible; it just tastes really yummy! It's the Food Networks' recipe.

 I also made orange bars (same recipe; just substituted orange and a lime for zest and tang).

Apparently, these are a HUGE hit, especially with my sister-in-law!

Here are my orange and lemon bars smashed between brownies. This picture was from the Missions Conference, at the Ladies Tea last Saturday morning (12 batches later, from the first time I made them).

The day after Grandpa passed away, Robert and I went back to work. There was no point to us staying home that day, as funeral arrangements hadn't even been made yet. So after work, we decided to make a new recipe for dinner. This is Tyler Florence's take on Grilled cheese. :) (Again, recipe will appear below). 

On another note, we went to our first Mariner's Game of the 2010 Season 2 weeks ago! Here's a picture of me, holding the ball that Eric Byrnes threw RIGHT TO ME!

There is a story behind it.

We got there extremely early, and were able to watch batting practice! How cool! The MARINERS' batting practice! Well, I took my pink Jennie Finch glove to the front of our section (right field), and Eric Byrnes came running up, pointed to my glove, and tossed me the ball! I had it in my glove, and this man next to me reached in, took it out and started heading up the stairs. I was SO upset, I couldn't even speak. This lady walked down and chewed him out. He walked PAST her! That's when he ran into my husband. All Robert had to say was, "I think you'd better give that ball back to my wife." At first, he didn't. But Robert wasn't about to let him take off with MY ball. I surely got it back!

Here's us at the game, and check out that HUGE yawner behind us! :) 

Since we purchased the CORRECT Wontons for our fried brie salad, we've tried it again twice. It turns out SO much better now!

That's all I've got for now. :) Stay tuned!

Here are the recipe links:

Orange-Chocolate Bread Pudding

Lemon bars

Tyler's Grilled Cheese w/ bacon & apples

Grandpa is singing with the Heavenly Choir

I wanted to write a quick note to our friends and family who faithfully follow our blog regarding the events of the past week.

We said goodbye to a great, Godly, loving and cherished man on Wednesday, April 7th, 2010. Our dear Grandpa Jack Crombie went home to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

I want to thank you all for your loving words, kindness, offers of help and prayer and especially for all the support you have extended to our family. It means so much to us.

Robert and I are having a difficult time with this. We both have had our moments of sobbing, laughing, sorrow and joy. Throughout it all, we are comforted knowing that Grandpa has a new body now, free from the bondage of pain he was in. However, it doesn't change the fact that we love and miss him incredibly. We know that he is singing with the Heavenly Choir now, and watching over us every day.

We apologize that we haven't been able to return every phone call and email, but want you to know we've received them all, and we're doing our best to take this one day at a time.

I ask for your prayers, as the memorial is tomorrow afternoon. Robert is going to give a speech, and I am going to be there to support him. This will not be an easy day.

Thank you all from the bottom of our hearts for all you've been praying for and doing for us. We appreciate it more than you can know.

Leftover Wednesday - not for the faint at heart

I have not stopped moving since 5:45a.m. this morning. After I got ready for work, I listed 2 items on eBay, packed my lunch and stopped by Starbucks to make the coffee run for Katie and me. (If you worked with us, trust me, you'd understand why we need it on Wednesdays especially).

Even though I work at a "desk" job, I hardly saw it today. It seems that everyone who came in required me to get up and walk around the office to figure out how to help them for one reason or another. After 8 hours, I headed home.

I promised Leah I'd help do the PR for our AWANA Grand Prix and car Shine n Show. This required me stopping by the church to visit Pasto (yes, the "r" is gone intentionally) Jim, and pick up a bunch of posters. I then went home to get the mail, eat a snack and unload the car from the day. I headed out to the library, put a poster up there, checked out some books and continued East on Grove St. I went to the Marysville Cleaners, put up another poster, stopped at Safeway to put up yet another poster and pick up some white wine vinegar for a recipe we'll be making this weekend, and then went to the Public Safety Center to try to get a poster up, but they were closed. After all that, I stopped at Schucks to put up another poster, but was told to come back tomorrow morning. I tried Napa, who took one with no promises, and Les Schwab, who enthusiastically agreed to put one up.

Finally, I came home to start dinner and dessert. Tonight's menu was simply leftovers with a casserole.

I guess I was a bit sloppy with the sides of the casserole dish, but the Hashbrown Casserole is a PERFECT golden-brown. :) I did have to start it on 300 degrees, with the lemon bars, because of timing. I so desperately wanted Robert to come home to a hot meal on the table, and everything had to be timed perfectly.

Initially, I was going to do chicken tonight, but I was so tired, and didn't have the skin-on chicken breasts that I needed. So, leftover soup it was, as well as zucchini parmigiana. Everything came out perfectly, though!

I know it's not the most appetizing dish, but it sure is great comfort food. Not only that, but Robert LOVED it! I think I totally got wifey points for this.

Not to mention that we still have leftover maple blondies from Monday night, so he's pretty happy.

I think tomorrow will be a nice break from cooking, because we're eating with Robert's parents.

After all this, I am going to bed!