Aunt Timna's Sesame Seed Salad

This salad green salad has been coming to almost every spring/summer/early fall family gathering for a long time. I anticipate it at every gathering. It is SO very yummy and not your normal green salad. Can't wait to have this recipe for my collection.

AUNT TIMNA'S SESAME SEED SALAD

INGREDIENTS:
Part 1-
1 lg head romaine lettuce, chopped
1 bunch spring onion, chopped (optional)

Part 2-
1 stick butter (I use less)
2 pkgs ramen noodles, crunched
1/2 c. Sesame seeds (use less)
sm. pkg slivered almonds (about 3 oz)

Part 3-
1 c. Oil (use less)
1/2 c. Sugar (use less)
1/4 c. Vinegar
2 T. Soy sauce
(You can make this all the written way first and then tweak to how you would like it. Never put all this dressing on the salad. It gets really soggy and too greasy.)

DIRECTIONS:
Put part 1 in bowl. 
Sauté part 2 all together. 
Whisk part 3 together. 
Keep parts separate until ready to serve. Toss. 

Our helping hands

{4.11.15} It's that time of year again when our Ward does some service for the community. This time we were to clean up this stretch of the railroad that runs downtown. Here's a shot of part of it BEFORE.

Little Levi in is "Mormon Helping Hands" vest. He did a great job helping us pick up a lot of trash, then he played with this railroad tie on a cement block  with some of the other little kids. They made piles with the little rocks and houses and kept themselves occupied and out of trouble so we could keep working. I really appreciate him being so good while we worked. He was the littlest one there!

Alivia and her good friend A. Work is more fun with a friend. :) They were so cute; they said, "This experience is helping us to be better friends." Well said!

The Elders found a little Garter Snake and the kids all wanted a peak. This is close enough for me. Thanks.

And here's an AFTER shot! Doesn't it look great?! Levi and his friend are in the yellow vests and we made a few piles of BIG garbage the city will come by and pick up.

We picked up JUST A LITTLE trash! Sheesh! We got done about an hour earlier than we expected because we RAN OUT OF BAGS! :P Next time we'll ask the city to give us more. :)

{family recipe} french toast

French Toast is something that probably doesn't need a recipe because everyone kind of does their own thing, but in case any of my children want to make "just like Mom did" after I'm gone, well here it is.

French Toast
1 loaf of sliced Italian Bread
1 dozen eggs
1/4 c milk
1 t. cinnamon
2 T. granulated sugar

Directions:
1. Preheat griddle or skillet to medium heat.
2. Mix eggs, milk, cinnamon and sugar. Dip one slice of bread in egg mixture and transfer to pan. Wait 2-4 minutes then flip. Continue with the rest of the pieces of bread.
3. Serve with (pure) maple syrup.

Freezer instructions:
Lay out pieces of french toast in a single layer on a cookie sheet. Place in freezer. When frozen, transfer to a freezer gallon-sized bag or other container.

To reheat from frozen: Place 1 piece of french toast in the microwave for 30 seconds. Then move it to the toaster to finish warming up and it gets a little crispy. Perfect make ahead breakfast, ready to enjoy!