Aunti Jenn's Potatoe Deluxe Casserole !

I got this cassarole recipe from my sis-in-law Jenn. It's easy and it's good for a breakfast or brunch. ( or any meal)

You will need:

1 bag ( 2lbs) frozen hash browns

1/2 cup diced/chopped up onions

2 cups sour cream

2 soup cans of cream of mushroom soup

1/2 cup melted butter

1 cup shredded cheese

salt and pepper to taste

crushed potatoe chips

Mix all ingredients together, except the chips

- place in a greased 9x9 pan

-cover with potatoe chips

Bake 375' for 1 1/2-2hours

Enjoy ! Karen !

Fun with the Wiersma Boy Cousins Club !

Us Wiersma's had some backyard fun on Friday ! Grandma and I had all the boys for the day , while the men went for a golf game !

Uncle Rob, and his boys Orion ( 7yr )and Percy (3yr)just arrived from Germany to live in Canada. They are excited and happy little boys , taking in the warm weather and enjoyed seeing most of their cousins-including meeting Kijin for the first time!

They all had a fun filled day, ending it by eating great pizza, chili and ice cream cones !

Making Chili !

I have decided to try my first chili in my crock pot !
We have company coming over tomorrow so what can I make? Chili ! Why not??
I hope it turns out to be yummy!
Here is the recipe ! It's called "Easy Chili" ! ( makes about 10-12 servings)

1 lb.ground beef
1 onion, chopped
1 green pepper, chopped
your fav. taco seasoning or any ground beef seasoning
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 Tbsp. chili powder ( or any other hot spices ! )
2 tsp Worchestershire sauce
29-oz can tomato sauce ( your fav. )
3- 16oz cans kidney beans, drained
14 1/2 oz can crushed or stewed tomatoes ( pick your fav already seasoned )
6 oz can tomato paste
2 cups grated chedder cheese

1.) ( can do this night before ) Brown meat in skillet. Add onion and green pepper halfway through browning process. Add taco seasoning...Drain . Pour into cooker.

2.) Stir in remaining ingredients except cheese.
3.) Cover. Cook on high for 3 hours , or low 7-8 hours.
4.) Serve in bowls topped with chedder cheese.

Its cook with various breads for dipping-
This chili also can served over cooked rice !

Wish me luck ! Enjoy!

Karen

KEKK Summer Update

Hey all !

August is already here ! WOW ! The summer is going fast !
What have the K.E.K.K's Wiersmas up too??

For the past few weeks, we have been just back to school shopping, hanging out at home, enjoying walks and backyard play. When its too hot outside and Kijin is napping, Kyler and I are playing board games or just having quiet time :)

On the long weekend, I took the boys for a drive up to Sutton where we use to have a cottage years ago on Lake Simcoe. I showed them the old cottage-which grandma Gilchrist sold in 1997. Lots of changes in the area, and to the old cottage, but brings back some good childhood memories :) We had a quick lunch by the park then headed back home. On the way back , we found a Go-Kart track for Kyler to take in a few laps ! He now can drive a Kart by himself !

Kijin was teething the rest of the weekend :( --fevers and very cranky !! So Kyler and dad went to Wasaga to have a quick visit with Grandma and Grandpa Wiersma. While mom and Kijin hung out and waited out the fevers :(

Kyler's softball team is not doing so well, so the playoffs should be over very soon!

Kyler is starting Forrestbrook Camp Church this week- ( where he can unload his bordom complaints ! )

Uncle Rob-Orion -Percy come back to Canada this Wednesday from Germany. They will be staying in Wasaga for the rest of the summer. Kyler will head up there next week for a visit and get to know his cousins again !

Kijin still sees a doc once every so often to catch up on his needles and to get blood work done to make sure he is clear of anything he may have gotten in Korean or from his birth mother. HE is a happy little boy, who really enjoys going outside and his stroller walks. HE is starting to say a few words which we think are, " Bird" "Cat" "Elmo" and of course momma-dada--Yler--for ( Kyler ) ! We had our 3rd interview with our social worker and only 1 more to go before his adoption is final. Once it is all final, we can apply for his Canadianship !

Enjoy the rest of your summer everyone ! It's going fast !

KEKK Wiersma

Kyler and Karen's Chocolate Kookies !

Kyler and Karen's Chocolate Kookies !
This batch makes at least 4 dozen of cookies. Kyler and I like to share them with our neighbours or his class on special occasions ! ( or even cookie exhanges ) Enjoy the recipe !

2 1/4 cups all purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda, 1 teaspoon of salt

1 ( 3.3 ounce) package of VANILLA or CHOCOLATE pudding mix ( we use choc.)

1 cup butter--softened

1 cup white sugar

3/4 cup brown sugar

2 eggs

2 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 cups semisweet choc. chips

Oven 375'

1. Stir flour, baking soda, salt, pudding powder, all together and set aside in a large bowl.

2. Cream butter, white sugar, brown sugar, until smooth. Blend in eggs and vanilla extract. Then gradually mix the dry ingredients until well blended. ( i use a wooden spoon or my hands ) . Stirl in choc. chips by hand or wooden spoon. Scoop into descent portions onto your baking pans 2" apart.

3. Bake 8-10 minutes 375'- until light golden.

Enjoy ! Let us know how they turn out !!!

Karen and Kyler Wiersma

We head to Ontario Place!

Grandma came for a visit this week and wanted to check out "Ontario Place". It's free Admission this year, but you still have to pay at least $30.oo for the day pass to enjoy the rides and water park. The "new" water slide was still under construction, but Kyler and I enjoyed the 3 best slides there ! Kijin and Grandma stayed at the splash park area and enjoyed their time there. Kijin was unsure of all the water coming at him in all directions and later soooo many people were there ! All in all , it was a great day.

I have not been there in years....i remember the mazes, jumping in the mass pit of balls, the water park, the huge slides we went down on old sacks !! LOL - and I was probably around 7 years old !

Plan to go early, and perhaps leave after a supper or when the traffic dies down. There is lots to do, lots to see, and lots of walking to one end of the island to the other ! ( we parked at Eds work--CNE -and walked over to Ont. Place)

Thanks for a great water day ! ( my muscles are killing me ! ) LOL !

Our Kitchener Visit

Kyler, Kijin and I ( Karen ) us three "K"s headed to Kitchener last week to visit Nana and Grandad Marshall. It was hot and muggy there too ! The grass there was sooooo dry ! We could not believe how much drier it was there than it was was here in Pickering !

Grandad and Kyler headed to the indoor pool not far from their house. They had a great swim, but a few rowdy kids stole and took off with Grandads underwear, his favourite shorts and Kylers t-shirt ! So they came home with only their bathing suits ! Those kids better watch out , because Grandad is on the hunt for the lost clothes !!! ( Grandad never puts his wallet and keys in the locker at the pool ! So thank goodness those kids did not get their hands on that !!! )

Kijin and I headed to the little splash pad across the street and Kijin loved it !

Sunday was a Marshall BBQ for cousin Jesse's 7th and Sydney's 5th Birthday !!!

Jesse 7 Sydney 5

We all had a great day and time in Kitchener !