New Business Blog-- Open for Business!!

Just a note that my new business blog is finally up and running!!! It was suppose to be done in October, but such is life when you start such a huge project. Check here often for portrait specials and upcoming photography events!! www.cameronkellystudio.com

Happy New Year

We got snow shoes and a dog for Christmas. What a great combination. It makes the winters so much fun, when you have the right equipment to enjoy it. The weather finally warmed up and we had an awesome day on Thursday.

Christmas Puppy

So we made the daring decision to have Santa send a puppy this year for Christmas. We stayed at my mom's house this year because we picked up the puppy in Phoenix. We all expected a big show Christmas morning, but Naomi wasn't convinced at first that this was all for real when she saw the puppy. But she warmed up quick and by time we got home, she was feeling much more convinced that this puppy was really staying with us.

This is my nephew Brecken. They came down for the week from Idaho.

This is my favorite. Jeff loves the dog and is expecting a great hunting companion.

Oh, and his name is Rusty. He is a half German Short Haired Pointer and half-- we don't know.

My easy life is officially over as I now have a "newborn" -- midnight walks in the sub zero temperatures and getting up at 6:00 a.m. ( I know, I was spoiled, I didn't really have to get up before 8:00 a.m. if I didn't want to.)

We are hoping this will apease Naomi for awhile and stop asking for the baby brother.

Nutcracker

Naomi had her first year of ballet this year and was able to have a little part in the Nutcracker. She has been in heaven the past few days with late night rehearsals. The main performance is tonight. These photos are from the dress rehearsal last night.

Naomi back stage with friends.

Fall Colors

Naomi helping with a family photo shoot. The forest is so beautiful right now, but it's freezing out. We had a high of 47 degrees today!! Yikes....

I always want to take more nature photos, but it's so gorgous I can never really capture how great it is out there... Someday!

General Conference Doughnuts

Priesthood session of general conference 1999. Elder Nelson begins with this: ". . .this congregation is unique. I don’t see any mothers. Not one of us could be here without a mother, yet we are all here—without our mothers. Tonight I am attending with a son, sons-in-law, and grandsons. Where are their mothers? Gathered in the kitchen of our home! What are they doing? Making large batches of homemade doughnuts! And when we return home, we will feast on those doughnuts. While we enjoy them, these mothers, sisters, and daughters will listen intently as each of us speaks of things he learned here tonight. It’s a nice family tradition, symbolic of the fact that everything we learn and do as priesthood bearers should bless our families."
Our awesome friends- the Stanley's shared this recipe when we lived in Denver!! We tried to keep tradition ever since.

This is the best recipe EVER. A few tips: you can omit the vanilla bean, I've tried it with and without and the flavor difference was miniscule. If you don't use a vanilla bean, compensate by adding extra vanilla extract. The dough is super, super sticky. This makes it pretty hard to work with. You can add a little extra flour (no more than 1 c.), but keep in mind that the dough is supposed to by sticky. I slather my hands in butter before I work with the dough.

One of the most decadant parts of the recipe is the glaze. Don't substitute milk if you can help it.

Conference Twists & Holes
Makes 18 of each
3/4 c. milk
1 pkg. active dry yeast
3 C. plus 2 T. flour
6 large egg yolks
1/2 c. sugar
1/4 t. salt
1 cube butter
1 vanilla bean split lengthwise
1 T. vanilla
2 qts. canola oil

Heat milk until warm. Place yeast in large bowl. Pour milk over yeast. Sprinkle 2 3/4 c. flour over the milk and let stand until the flour begins to crack, about 20 min.Whisk together egg yolks and sugar. Add salt and 1/4 c. flour.Melt butter, add vanilla bean (scrape seeds into butter and add pod). Cook until butter browns about 3 minutes. Discard pod. Pour over egg mixture, whisk to combine. Stir in vanilla.Add butter mixture to yeast mixture. Mix on low speed 1 min. Add 2 T. flour, combine. Mix on medium high for 1 min. more. Dough will be very sticky.Let rise until doubled about 1 1/2 hours. Punch down and let rise 30 min.Heat oil to 375. Pat dough into 8x12" rectangle, 1/2" thick. Using a 2 3/4" circle cut out doughnuts. Cut holes in each. Stretch and twist each circle to form a figure 8. Set aside 10 minutes. Fry in oil. Glaze with White Glaze.

White Glaze
1 3/4 c. powdered sugar
1/2 c. heavy cream
1/2 t. vanilla
Mix together in saucepan over low heat until just warm.

Photo Booth

Tia and Sara stopped by for the art walk last night and we squished into the photo booth for this lovely photo. Thanks girls.