Just call it an Oscar Meyer

We took Adam out to dinner a couple of weeks ago. We had a huge appetizer, and he just wasn't very hungry. He decided it was more fun to break his hot dog into pieces and slap them together.

Jared tells him to stop, to which Adam responds, "What, I'm just playing with my weenie."

Followed immediately by his justification that, "weenie is okay to say, it's weiner that is the bad word."

I almost spit the food in my mouth all over the table.

Any parenting moment I had was completely lost because I could not stop laughing.

It's sad I have the same sense of humor as 7 year old boy. Shameful, I know.

Adam-isms

After not being allowed to call everything "dumb."
A: Well then I'm just leaving!
me: (sweetly) Would you like me to get a bag for your clothes?
A: I'm not leaving this house, but I'm going to my room until after Christmas break!
me: Oh, great, can I have your presents then?
A: Well...I think I can do that part.

Adam's writing about Santa:
If I found Santa stuck I would get a real bulldozer and dig a hol that gos to the chimy and then get a rocket that touched his feet. Then I would light it and then he would pop right out.

Little Cowboy Fan

I got the rare opportunity to sub for Adam's class today. I relish any opportunity where I can get paid to be responsible for my own child.

Today, was Dallas Cowboy dress up day at his school.

Adam has this great team jersey, he's been excited to wear. Since the weather was cold I got him a white long sleeved shirt out to wear underneath it.

At school, while all the children were in the gym waiting for the assembly to start, I noticed Adam's clothing choice looked a little off.

I couldn't even see his jersey, because he had tucked it into his pants, and put the white shirt on top of it.

Clearly, he has his father's fashion sense.

I asked him to change, to which he refused because, "he had it on the right way!"

I left with a "I'm not going to argue with you about this -- go switch it around in the bathroom."

By the time I got back to his class from my supervisorly rotations, I noticed he was gone.

On my next lap, he had returned. I overheard him bragging about how awesome it was to a classmate, "Check out my jersey -- you can really see it now!"

...just so you know according to Adam, I'm still not right about the whole thing.

Serenity now!

Snowman Ornament

I'm prepping for Adam's class winter party. Here's on of our student projects. It's fairly easy & affordable project for a class full of first graders. (This is not my original idea -- I found the project here.)

Supplies: (Makes 24 -- all from Hobby Lobby)
24 plastic ornaments (glass works, but we used plastic for the kids)
Orange Adhesive backed felt
1 pack of 1" red pom poms, 24 pack
1 pack of 1" green pom poms, 24 pack

1 green felt, cut strips 3/4 x 12 inch
1 red felt, cut strips 3/4" x 12 inch
2 packs of Pipe Cleaners - Christmas color pack, cut into 4" strips
Hot glue gun
Anita's black craft paint
Pencil with unused eraser

1. Cut triangle shape from orange felt. Remove backing and stick on.
2. Take 4" of two color pipe cleaners and twist together. Dab a bit of hot glue and stick on the pipe cleaners.

3. Add pom poms with hot glue.

4. Remove holder and stuff white tissue paper into hole with an unsharpened pencil. (You can also use white crinkle cut shredded paper)

5. Replace holder. Cut 3/4 inch strip from felt. Carefully wrap and glue around the "neck" area of the snowman. It doesn't have to be stuck on perfect. Just add glue here and there and stick it on. Trim length if needed. Trim edges with scissors for fringe.
6. Dip an new pencil eraser into black paint and gently put on for eyes & mouth. You could also use black glitter glue, or a black paint pen. (Black sharpie wasn't dark enough on the plastic ornament)

Mexican Style Chicken & Rice

You will be singing my praises after you make this dinner. Right there, in your kitchen, you will do a little dance because this is so good, and so easy! Just 5 main ingredients! (Thanks Jessica for giving me another rockin' recipe!)

2 Chicken breasts (you can use left over baked chicken or rotisserie, shredded...or you could use canned)

8 oz. cream cheese

1 can Rotel tomatoes and green chilies, drained

1 can corn, drained

1 can black beans
Optional: Rice, tortilla chips, tortillas

- Cook chicken using your preferred method. Shred it into bite sized pieces.
- In a large pan or pot, cook everything together until cream cheese is melted.
- Serve over rice. You can eat it with chips or in a tortilla, burrito style.

The Check -up

Yesterday, I had my checkup.

I think my oncologist was playing the gynecological version of minute to win it. He was done before I even have time to formulate a joke about him upgrading to fleece sheets with our colder weather.

(Dr. M has the greatest set up for exams. No tissue quality paper privacy wrap there. He has great big comfy, cotton sheets. You can wrap that thing around you and know with a surety that no one is going to see your butt crack, or that you are going to accidentally rip the entire thing down the front in the process.)

Luckily, there are no signs of cancer. I'm back to 6 months appointments, which is a relief.

Phew!

The HOA Meeting

Tonight was our HOA, "who's in charge", meeting. I felt I should go, since I had forgotten the insanity of last year's near lynching of the HOA president.

I don't always agree with the HOA president, but she has good intentions that aren't always presented in the best manner. For example, we frequently get newsletters that demean homeowners for not making matters of the community their full time and support (i.e. not attending the yearly Easter egg hunt or decorating the entrance for the holidays.) I always feel like I am being chastened before I've had an opportunity to participate.

Then there are the surveys. We should have a survey to end surveys.

We had some guest speakers. My favorite was the animal control person who spoke on rabies vaccinations and told a compelling story about a wolf that intervened a pizza delivery and ended up having to be put down.

Like last year, this meeting became a forum for the brazen few. The rest of us were forced to listen to their ramblings. Here's some highlights from tonight's meeting.

"Who's in charge of the fences?"

"Who's in charge of the neighborhood sprinkler system?"

"Who's in charge of city park next to our neighborhood?"

"Who's in charge of fining vehicles that park illegally two miles from our neighborhood?"

"Who's in charge of owners that let their dogs poop on other people's lawn?"

"Who can I call if the neighborhood sprinklers are running, and it's raining outside?"

"Who decides that all the trees get planted near the fences, it seems to be city wide?"

"What do I do if someone parks the wrong way on my street?"

"Did that wolf get to eat any of that pizza?" (I wish I was kidding!)

These were all followed by a lengthy discussion of the ethics of allowing an option for homeowner's to allow the board president to vote by proxy on an issue. "Because one person having that much power is unethical!" It was truly ridiculous.

I now see why it is so difficult for the board to get a mere 10 percent of the neighborhood to attend, or send in proxy votes, to actually hold the meetings.

Apparently, they are all smarter than me.

Spooky Houses

Tonight we made spooky Halloween houses!Adam's turned out great!

Can't wait to eat it!

Black frosting may have not been our best choice! Check out that smile!!

Chicken Spaghetti

Ingredients:
2-3 large chicken breasts - cooked & chopped
12 oz package of spaghetti - cooked
1/3 cup of cheez whiz sauce in a jar (or 3 oz of velveeta/mexican velveeta cheese block)
1 can of cream of chicken OR cream of mushroom soup
1/2 onion finely chopped
1/2 green pepper finely chopped
8 oz package (2 cup package) of shredded cheese (I like mexican blend)

Optional: add chopped broccoli, chopped mushrooms, or chopped red bell pepper

Instructions:

Cook chicken by boiling water. Keep leftover broth.

Cook spaghetti by boiling water. Don't overcook it because it will get mushy in the oven. Drop 1-2 min off the package directions and you should be fine.

In a large mixing bowl mix cheez whiz, cream of chicken soup, diced onion, diced green peppers, cooked diced chicken, & 1/2 pack of shredded cheese. Add 1/2 cup of reserved chicken broth (or water) and stir. Add any other optional ingredients. Add cooked spaghetti and stir. Pour everything into large baking dish (9x12) and top with remaining package of cheese.

Bake for 350 for 20-30 minutes until everything is heated and cheese is melted.

** ** The cheez whiz in a jar is kind of pricey, but it is cheaper than the velveeta block stuff. Get the smallest jar you can find. You don't need a ton of it. If you can't find it, get the larger 16 oz (4 cup) package of shredded cheese in it's place. Just use 2 cups of shredded cheese to mix, and 1 cup of shredded cheese on top. You should have about 1 cup leftover. You can add up to 1/2 cup more chicken broth if it seems to thick.

Golden Potato Chowder

This recipe is from the clean eating magazine. You can make this healthiest by using skim milk & light cream cheese. So good!

Ingredients:
1 tsp extra virgin olive oil
1 small onion chopped
2 large carrots, peeled and chopped into 1/2 inch slices
8 oz white mushrooms, cut into quarters
3 cups of chicken broth
1 lb. spaghetti squash, skin & seeds removed, cut into 1/2 inch chunks
3 redskin/new potatoes, unpeeled, cut into 1 inch cubes
6 oz ham cut into 1/4 inch cubes
1/4 cup milk
2 oz cream cheese

Instructions:
Heat oil in a large pot on medium for 1 minute. Add onion, carrots, and mushrooms. Cook for 5 minutes.

Stir in broth, squash, potatoes. Bring soup to a boil on high heat, then reduce heat to low, cover and simmer for 10 minutes. Stir in ham and heat through.

Meanwhile, in a small pot on low heat, add milk and cream cheese. Cook, whisking constantly for 1 minute or until mixture is smooth.

Ladle 1 cup soup mixture into milk mixture and mix. Pour milk mixture back into pot and stir to combine. Serve immediately. Use a fork to break up any spaghetti squash that is still in chunks. It should resemble shredded cheese when you are finished.

** I have the deli counter cut a slab of honey ham at thickness "11" One slab is usually enough, unless it is near the ends of the ham. I add 2 tsp of Italian seasonings while it is cooking.

The Teacher's Apron

Adam's teachers wear these aprons around school. How great are these? Now they have a place to stick a nurse's pass, band aids, pens, or whatever kids may give them throughout the day. Make one for your kid's teacher, they'll love it!
Materials:
1/2 yard of fabric
1 leg of a pair of adult jeans (avoid skinny leg & excessively flared jeans. Straight leg & men's work best)
denim sewing needle
denim colored thread
thread to coordinate with your fabric

Keep your fabric folded in half
Cut:
-selvage while fabric is folded in half. You'll end up losing a smidge extra of good fabric on one side, but it makes your life easier if you can keep the fold crease.
-two 5" strips to the edge of your fabric
-two pockets 6 3/4" (h) x 6" (w)
One one 5" strip cut at the crease to separate into two pieces. Keep on strip together. You should end up with 2 pockets, 2 strips about 5" x 21" (approx) and one strip 5" x 42" (approx) (Don't worry if you strips are a few inches shorter or longer -- it won't make a difference)
Jeans -
-Cut one leg of jeans below the knee, or below any hole in the knee. Mine is 14"
- Seam rip the interior seam open carefully, and you'll be able to use the factory serged seams on the sides.
- This is where I learned flare jeans are not the best, it's workable, just not as tidy at the end. There is extra fabric on one side, I just folded it under at the crease on the right side, and have a little extra fabric on the back of one side. Whatever you choose, fold under raw edges 1/4" ish, and sew in place. You can cut & square up the sides so they are even all the way down. Then fold under the raw edges and sew. It's really forgiving, so just do what works for you.
- Note -- Be extra careful anywhere you have multiple layers of jeans folded. It's a nightmare for your needle. I stopped sewing just before I got to the bottom of the jeans because I didn't want to sew through the factory hem.

The waistband strip. Take your 42" piece in the middle. Sew one 21" strip to the right side, and one 21" strip to the left side. You should end up with a very long strip, approximately 84" minus seam allowances. (You could absolutely skip the step above of cutting the one section in half, and just sew two 42" pieces together. You will see a seam in the middle, front of your apron if you do it that way. In this method seams are more hidden tied behind you.)

On this next part - -I'm sure there is an easier way to get the strap to the denim, but I was copying a friend's apron and this is the way it was done. Use what method works best for you.
Open up your long strip of fabric. Use the factory crease to help you find the midpoint. Then make a mark on the wrong side of fabric (I used pencil) where the edges of the denim end. I stuck pins to show you, but you can barely see them. (You don't really want pins in it.)


With wrong sides together, start at one end and sew 1/4 inch until 1" of your pencil mark. Flip it around and do the other side. You should have an open section in the middle. Now pull the the right sides out of each "tube" until all of your fabric is right side out.

Iron your tube flat. When you get to the open part, sew edges under 1/4". While you've got the iron work on your pockets. Fold under 1/4 inch under all side and iron. Set those aside for later.

Stick your denim into the open hole of your strap. Pin in place and sew closed. Check to make sure you caught both sides of the strap.

Pockets:
-Sew across the tops only to hold down the fold.
- Pin in place (where ever you like them) & sew them down.

Trim your threads, you are done!

Arrrrgg, The dreaded black beard

Yesterday, I was organizing our arts & crafts supplies.

Hadley was being so good, and not bothering us one bit.

Then I hear Jared exclaim, "Oh, Hadley"

I looked up and saw this face.

She found the rubber stamps and stamped herself a beard.

We think she thought she was putting on lipstick.

If so, her technique is thorough and impressive.

(I wonder how effective our parenting was, when we were telling her "no-no" through our giggles.)

The buzz at church

I have an absolute fear of wasps & bees.

When I was 7 I got stung on my arm while eating a bowl of cheerios in the living room. I threw the bowl out of shock. It hit the ceiling, and rained cheerios down on us. I was certain there were other wasps after me, I ran to my closet to hide. My family has a different account that the timing was only a couple of minutes, but I felt for certain it was at least half an hour before anyone came to check on me.

I think it took that long for them to stop laughing.

Bees & wasps seem to follow me. I don't seek them out, I avoid them. I must put out some kind of fear pheromone that attracts them to me.

I avoided stings through high school, but in college, there was a nest under the stairs of my apartments. They were always getting into my apartment. I had wasp spray tucked away in every room.

As I was moving out, I got stung three times by angry wasps, and ended up losing an entire box of breakables as they plummeted down the stairs.

My family could tell stories of how I am always on guard for the bees & wasps, and will jump up and run off if there are any nearby.

A bee got into my parked car at church today.

I did the most logical thing. I shut all the doors to trap it, and went and got Jared to get it out.

My husband opened all the car doors and assured me that the bee was gone. We did see one fly by near one of the open car doors. I was not so sure. He eluded that "even if it was still in there, it wouldn't make it through the remaining 2 hours of church closed up with over 100 degree temperatures. " It sounded logical enough.

I was still nervous that the bee would come out of nowhere while we were driving home.

Jared did his best to lovingly tell me I was crazy. We made it home without incident, and I completely forgot it.

Just so you know, bees can make it in a closed car, with exceeding temperatures for over 6 hours.

I found this out as I was dropping things off at friend's house. Thankfully, I was at a stop light when the bee decided to greet me by flying into my face.

I did not handle it well.

Jared is starting to believe that they are after me.

Mario/Luigi Hats

Can you tell what Adam wants to be for Halloween?

"It's Luigi time!"

I know it's early for Halloween, with back to school and all, but I wasn't sure I could make these hats. Luckily, my friend Natassia sent me this awesome tutorial on the Groovy Kids blog. (Thanks Tassia!)

Go check it out now, I'll wait. These were quick & easy. I was able to make two during nap time.

I'm not going to retype up everything she did. However, I made a few changes that made it work better for us.

For the hat: For the kid hat, I went smaller and used a 10 inch dinner plate for the circle of the hat. I used a 12 inch bowl for the grown-up hat. Stick with the 4 1/2 interior circle -- seriously, the fleece stretches like crazy.

I wanted the brim a little larger than the tutorial. I traced the brim of a hat onto a cereal box and cut it out for the foundation inside the brim. I also used this as my template on the fleece fabric. I cut the cardboard about a quarter inch smaller than the fleece all the way around.

Then I gently curved by bending it through my fingers.

For the circle: (I just just used the inexpensive white felt rectangle, instead of buying white fleece. It was a bit see-through, so I used wonder under to double the layer.) I cut a rectangle of white felt. I traced a cup that was about 3 1/2 inches diameter. Then iron on a square of double sided fusible webbing/wonder under to the back side behind the circle I traced.

Have you noticed wonder under can be a beast to remove?! Open your scissors and score an X into the paper backing. It should come off easier for you. Don't go too hard or you'll go through your fabric. Fold over your white felt, and iron so the wonder under seals in place. You should have a double thickness now. Cut out the circle.

Use some of your scraps to make the letter. Iron a piece of wonder under on the back side. Draw your letter. Remember since this is the back, you'll want to draw the letter backwards for Luigi's "L." Luckily, Mario's "M" is the same both ways. Go ahead and cut out the letter. Remove the paper backing, and center it on the white circle. Iron it in place. This should hold it long enough for you to sew.

Sew around the M as close to the edge as you can get.

Okay, moving on to the rest of the hat. I'm going to assume you read the tutorial from above, and you have cut out and sewed everything else like she said. Go ahead and stick your curved cardboard into the brim of the hat. Trim the cardboard if it sticks out anywhere.

Sew the back of your brim closed.

Now for the M: Line up the bottom of your circle with the bottom of the line of the hole of the hat. Pin in place. Make sure not to catch both layers of hat. You should be able to put your hand in between the two layers of hat.

Switch to white top thread. Move the rest of the top of your hat aside, so you aren't sewing your hat together. Sew around the edge of your circle.

Now, put center the brim of your hat with the circle. Pin in place. Sew around the edge of the brim to secure it to the hat.

Supplies:
1/2 yard of green or red fleece
1 white rectangle of felt
1/4 yard of wonder under/double sided fusible webbing - medium weight
thin cardboard (cereal box)

1/2 yard & 1 white felt will make two hats. I think I could have folded the fleece differently to use 1/4 yard...but I couldn't do the math in my head with two busy kids at the store.

Making Fake-Up

Hadley loves my make-up. She is ruining it, as I find her sneaking if it is anywhere in her reach.

I found this great tutorial for pretend make up on the Playing House blog.

I got some cheap make up at the dollar store,
cleaned out the cases, and put glitter foam in the holes.

Since I'm inpatient, I used hot glue because
I knew I wouldn't have to wait for it to dry.

Hobby Lobby has a 5 pack of glitter foam that I loved!

You can make a lot of make up with this pack!
In fact, I have a ton left...anyone need some?!?

The Physician's Assistant

This past week, I had my year check up with my oncologist.

Dr. M, my oncologist, is a gray haired man that reminds me of someone's grandfather. He goes straight to the point, and doesn't mess around. His vocabulary is far more advanced than mine. He speaks to me by using words such as "nodules" and "nebulous."

I dread these appointments. Aside from the whole cancer thing, It's difficult to discuss such personal issues, with an older man, when one us isn't wearing our pants. I know no woman enjoys those types of exams. I suppose I'm fortunate enough to be able to have "mine" checked out quarterly. I don't even change the oil in my car that often.

As added bonus this week, Dr. M had a female P.A. he was training. She sat in our conversation, as well as the exam. If the exam is not awkward enough, Dr. M took extra time so he could show off my area, and describe in great detail (with excellent vocabulary), to his trainee. She was nice enough, but it's not the time one wants an audience.

Finally, Dr. M tapped me on the knee and said that I could sit up. In that moment of sweet relief, I see the P.A. has slipped on a pair of gloves and asked if she could also examine me. I know from my education background, that students learn best with hands on experience. What was I going to do? She already had her gloves on. I laid back down and hummed the Star Spangled Banner. Awkward.

All I know is I'd better not get charged twice.

Sausage & Herb Stuffing

image courtesy of foodnetwork.com

I have revamped this recipe to make it easier. Plus, I just wasn't getting the results I wanted with thick chunks of bread. Our stuffing would fall apart, and while everything was tasty, I wasn't a big fan of eating individual bites of celery, sausage, and bread.

The original recipe comes from the Barefoot Contessa. The recipe can be found here. There is a quick video. Watch it, as it clarifies a couple of steps in the directions.

2 boxes of stove top stuffing - favorite flavor
1 bag of dried cranberries, 6 oz
1 pkg. Johnsonville Sweet Italian Sausage links
2 stalks of celery, diced
1 large onion, finely diced
parsley to taste
1 large granny smith apple, diced (unpeeled)
1 stick of butter

1. Cook sausage. Remove casings, and brown sausage in large skillet. Drain & set aside.
2. Dice celery, onion, & apple. Saute in large skillet with olive oil until vegetables are soft about 10 minutes. Add parsley, salt & pepper to taste.
3. In large pot, boil 3 cups of water. Add 1 stick of butter. Once butter is melted & water is boiling, add 2 packages of stove top. Stir, remove from heat, and cover with a lid for 5 minutes. (This is the package directions)
4. Combine everything, including cranberries, in the large pot & stir. Add cranberries to your liking. (I used about 3/4 the package.)

Put everything in a large, sprayed 9 x 12 pan. Spread out in pan. Bake at 400 for 15-20 minutes.

I cooked this in my largest rectangle pan, and it filled it to the top.

Paula Deen's Raspberry Streusel Muffins

Click here for recipe

I had a bunch of berries bought fresh and had frozen. Which may have been my problem in this recipe. Paula calls for fresh, and what I had was frozen, previously fresh. I did let the berries defrost (well most of the way) before I put them in. Since I had some raspberries and lots of blueberries that is the combo I used. We loved the blueberry part, and not so much on the raspberry. The raspberries did not retain their shape, and kind of made a mushy mess, albeit tasty, in the bottom of the muffin.

We loved the streusel! I would make these again, and just use blueberries.

Greatness

The reason I don't take pictures professionally.

Imagine if someone had paid me for this.

Baby Shower Gifts

Here's a ballerina piggy bank I made for a friend's baby shower. It was super simple! I lucked out and found everything at Hobby Lobby.

I should have planned ahead and took tutorial pictures, but I didn't, so imagine.

You need:
- 1 painted piggy bank
- 1/4 yard of tulle
- ribbon 7/8th inch thickness
- 1 bow (I'm good at making hairbows...but Hobby Lobby had these already pre-made, and with a 40 off coupon, it was too tempting to go the simple route. I just broke off the clip & hot glued that sucker on.)

For the tutu:

1. Fold the tulle in half (so you have a long skinnier piece.)
2. Use a needle and thread on the open ends and sew a running stitch from one end to the other (start with a knot.)
3. Gently pull the thread to create a gather. Measure against your pig's belly to make sure it's the right distance. Adjust gather as needed & then tie off with a knot.
4. Use your glue gun to glue the tulle, sewed side closest to the slot. (I went right at the end of it, so that it doesn't block any of the hole -- I'm feeling a lot of "that's what she said jokes" in this post.) Then glue gun a ribbon to cover up thread. Glue a hairbow on one ear & you are done! So easy!

I finished it all of with a paper mache gift box!

You need:
mod podge
5 sheets of 12x12 scrapbook paper
tulle - optional
paper mache box

Directions:
1. Measure one side of the box without the lid.
2. Cut paper 1/4-1/2 inch shorter than measurements.
3. Mod podge the paper on the box. Use a light coat. When dry, add a 2nd light coat.
4. Repeat steps for lid.
5. Let box & lid dry separately overnight.

Adam's Kindergarten Graduation

Last month Adam graduated Kindergarten.
Adam, this year you've learned to read, add & subtract, made new friends, and gained independence & responsibility. You are still very much our wild man, and we struggle to keep up with your daily abundance of energy. You've come along way though, and we are so proud of you!

When Adam's class lined up, he insisted that he was the only one facing the correct way, even though all the other students knew to face the audience.

I don't have any pictures of Adam getting his diploma because he excitedly ran down to get his when another student, with the same first name, was called. I wasn't expecting him to do that, so my camera wasn't ready. Stinker!

Here's Adam with his amazing teacher Mrs. Brown. We love her!
We are so lucky, because she's moving to first grade and Adam gets to have her a 2nd year!

12 weeks....and collapse.

I've had a long week. Well, a long 12 weeks. I finished out the year teaching art for a teacher friend. I thought it would be easier, after all, I did teach elementary art for 5 years. I'm glad for the opportunity, but it turned out to be a shorter version of the first time around when I taught. It reaffirmed that for our family, me working full time was not a balancing act I can do well.

Today was the last day to walk across the crosswalk. I was joyful.

I thought I would have a fun night with the kids. I had decided to let them pick out their own dinners at the store where we could do an indoor picnic dinner at home. (Hey, did you know it hit 100 degrees today?) It was just really a way to try to make the trip to the store with two young children and an exhausted mom bearable.

In the beginning of our trip, Adam was leaning dangerously close to the stacks of blueberry cartons. I asked him to move it, and he screamed at me and threatened to kick my basket. I immediately talked with him. As he walked away he gave it a little nudge with his foot. Stinker.

Albertson's moved cereal to the aisle with the toys. New battle, enough said.

The kids decided, well Adam decided, that out of the entire store he wanted a pizza lunchable. Hadley was happy to take one too, since Adam was so into his.

And then it happened. The kid less customer comment. I was busy trying to keep Hadley from opening her lunchable in the store, when I hear it, an accusingly judgmental, "Aren't you watching him?!"

I'm thinking good grief, he is right by me, of course I'm watching him. (I guess she didn't see how I single handedly diverted the blueberry catastrophe in the produce section.)

When I look up, Adam is busy licking the entire rim of the grocery cart. Not just a little bit, he doesn't do that kind of stuff halfway. I tell him to stop, and the lady returns to her phone call, no doubt waiting until I'm out of earshot so she can tell her friend some version of how her future children will never do such things. I only know this because in my younger childless days I had the same thoughts, although less vocal to strangers.

And then God gave me Adam.

I'm less horrified of Adam's behaviors, because little does the lady know, it's probably not the most disgusting thing he has had in his mouth today. I mean, don't get me wrong, I'd prefer he not chew his t-shirt, suck on legos, and lick grocery carts. But there are so many times I can physically say "stop it" to him in one day. And today, I reached my limit.

Poppy Seed Chicken

Image courtesy of allrecipes.com

2-3 large chicken breasts (about 5 cups)
small container of sour cream
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 sleeve ritz crackers
4 tbsp - 1/2 cup melted butter (depending on how much you like, I used 4 tbsp)
1 tspn poppy seeds

1. Cook & chop chicken into bite sized pieces.
2. Stir in cream of chicken soup & sour cream together. Add 1 tspn poppy seeds and stir.
3. Add in cooked, chopped chicken and stir to mix together.
4. Put crackers in a ziploc bag and smash away.
5. Pour melted butter into bag and shake to coat all the cracker pieces.
6. Pour cracker/butter mixture on top of chicken mixture. If desired top with more poppy seeds.

Bake at 350 for 20-30 minutes until hot and bubbly.

Thanks Shannon for the great recipe!

Hadley turns 2

Hadley turned two on Saturday. We had a simple party at home & she had the best time.

Hadley is talking more and more, and will repeat almost anything she hears. She has started putting simple sentences together and understands so much. We love that she says, "help YOU please!" when she needs help with something. I guess she hears us say do you want us to help you, and hasn't figured out how to say, "help me."

She loves doing anything her big brother does. She follows him anywhere, and looks to him to know what to do. She loves books and coloring. She loves to draw so much that she found a pen and colored our ottoman for us. Thoughtful, I know.

She is scared of the vacuum...not just when it is on, all the time. Sometimes we pull it out just to keep her out of places we don't want her to go. I know, we are horrible, but it's a cheap guard to keep her out of the kitchen when we are doing hair cuts.

She is sweet and a cuddle bug, and even though she has started showing her 2 year old side from time to time, she is a calm personality in our house. We can't imagine our life without you Hadley Kate!

Mexican Pozole with corn & feta

This was delicious! It is the perfect recipe for later in the week after preparing the Golden Potato Chowder with ham as it uses up the rest of your ingredients, but still provides a different tasting meal.

2-4 cups frozen corn (or 1-2 can corn)
1 tsp ground cumin, divided
1 tsp extra virgin olive oil
1 small yellow onion, chopped
4 cloves garlic, chopped
2 poblano peppers, ribs & seeds removed, chopped (or chopped green bell pepper)
3 cups chicken broth
2 oz sun-dried tomatoes (not packed in oil) chopped (or reg. tomato chopped)
1 lb. spaghetti squash, skin & seeds removed, cut into bite sized cubes
2 tsp chile powder
3 oz feta cheese (atheno's sun dried tomato)
1 green onion, minced
cilantro, minced

Directions:
One: Heat 1 tsp oil in a large pot on medium for 1 minute. Add onion & green pepper and cook for 3 minutes. Stir in garlic, and cook for 2 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Two: Add broth, 1 cup water (if using canned corn, just pour the whole can, undrained and skip the cup of water), corn, tomatoes, squash, chile powder. Add 1 tsp cumin, and increase heat to high. When soup comes to a boil, reduce heat to low, cover and simmer for 20 minutes.

Three: Spoon soup into bowl. Use a fork to break up the squash into fine strands. Top with feta, green onion, & cilantro.

This recipe was really easy, once I tackled the spaghetti squash. You can chop everything up earlier in the week and just combine all the ingredients for an easy dinner.

Clean Eating Magazine

My mom gave me a subscription to the Clean Eating Magazine.

This month had five healthy dinner recipes for under $10 a piece. I'll be trying them out this week and posting the recipes.

Golden Potato Chowder

This is so good, I wish I would have taken a picture! This is a white creamy soup, with bite sized chunks of vegetables.

Ingredients

1 tsp extra virgin olive oil
1 small yellow onion, chopped
2 large carrots, peeled and cut into bite sized slices
8 oz white mushrooms, cut into quarters
3 cups chicken broth
1 lb. spaghetti squash, skin and seeds removed. Cut flesh into small bite sized pieces.
1 1b. redskin potatoes, cut into cubes
2 tsp dried sage (or parsley & basil)
6-8 oz. ham, cut into cubes.**
1/4 skim milk
2 oz. light cream cheese

(The recipe calls for the healthiest options, but I used what I had on hand, which was not low fat milk & cream cheese. Use what you have.)

** Ham - I had a slab, cut at a 11, of Prima Della Honey Ham.

Instructions:
1. Heat oil in a large stockpot on medium heat for 1 minute. Add onion, carrots, and mushrooms. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.

2. Stir in broth, squash, potatoes, and sage. Bring soup to a boil on high heat, then reduce heat to low, cover and simmer for 10 minutes. Stir in ham and heat through.

3. (During last few minutes of cooking soup) In a small pot on low heat, add milk and cream cheese. Cook, whisking constantly, for 1 minute or until mixture is smooth. Ladle 1 cup soup mixture into milk mixture and whisk. Pour milk mixture back into stockpot and stir to combine. Serve immediately.

Note: Spaghetti Squash - When spaghetti squash is cooked, its fibers naturally separate and look like short strands of golden spaghetti, or shredded cheese.

The Verdict: This was really good! Adam ate a whole bowl. Of course he thought the squash was shredded cheese, so that helped! Good flavor & filling.

Sausage Lasagna

Image & Recipe courtesy of Johnsonville.com

12 lasagna noodles, cooked

1 pkg. (16 oz.) Italian Ground Sausage

1 medium onion, chopped

1 Tbsp. garlic, chopped

1 container of chunky pasta sauce

1 container (15. oz.) Ricotta cheese

1 egg

2 cups shredded Italian cheeses

3 cups fresh spinach, chopped and packed

Prepare noodles according to package directions; drain and set aside.

Sauté Italian sausage, onion and garlic in a skillet until sausage is browned; drain.

Add pasta sauce to the sausage mixture and set aside.

In a medium bowl, blend ricotta cheese, egg and 1/2 cup of Italian cheese and set aside.

Coat a 9 x 13 baking dish with non-stick spray and spread 1 cup of the sauce mixture on the bottom.

Top with 3 lasagna noodles.

Spread ¼ cup of the ricotta cheese mixture on the noodles and layer on 1 cup of the sauce mixture.

Sprinkle 1 cup of the spinach and ½ cup mozzarella cheese.

Repeat this whole process 3 more times starting with the noodles; top with remaining shredded cheese to finish.

Bake uncovered in a 350°F oven for 45 minutes until hot and bubbly. Let stand 10 minutes before cutting.

My substitutions:
I use a 9 x 9 inch pan because I don't think there is enough sausage for the larger size. I would get two packages of meat in you need more servings. I use about 8 noodles and half a container of pasta sauce for the smaller size. A 9 x 9 pan yields 6 generous sized portions.

Find the original recipe here.

Kitchen Time Savers

Peanut Butter & Jelly Sandwiches -
Did you know you can freeze peanut butter & jelly sandwiches? I make a big stack on the weekend & freeze them. You can pop them into a lunch box, and they are ready to eat by lunchtime! You can set them out on the counter an hour before lunch and they will be ready. You can do the same thing with meat & cheese sandwiches, but I don't add any vegetables or condiments until after it is defrosted. It makes making school lunches so fast!

Onions -

I hate chopping onion. I dread anything that makes me cry. Instead of chopping them every week, I buy them in bulk, and finely chop them with my food processor. That way I tear up less often, and it makes cooking faster on busy nights. I've tried several different techniques for freezing, and this works the best.

These two containers hold 4 medium sized finely chopped onions.

1 cube = 1 oz.

2 cubes = 1/4 cup

4 cubes = 1/2 cup

7-8 cubes = 1 onion

(these measurements are the same for broth recipes below)

Once frozen, keep them in a ziploc bag in the freezer.

Anytime you need to onion in your cooked recipe, just toss them in! Easy!

Chicken/Vegetable broth:

This is not so much a time saver as a money saver.

Chicken Broth: Reserve your broth from cooking chicken by placing a colander over a glass bowl. Line the colander with a folded napkin. Slowly pour the broth into the colander. (Go slow, or it will pour out the sides of the colander, instead of just the center.) The napkin will strain the broth for you. After it collects & cools in the bowl you can pour it into ice trays and freeze.

Vegetable Broth: Use any of your vegetable peelings and boil with water on the stove top. I made a small 4 cup portion (equivalent to two cans of store bought broth.) I used a lot of I use celery, carrots, onion, garlic, salt, pepper, & parsley flakes vegetable peelings, and just covered them with water. You can use the scraps & peels because they have a lot of nutrients, and they won't be in the final broth. I boiled it for 15 - 20 minutes and then strained in a colander lined with a napkin. You can keep your peelings in a bag in the freezer until you have enough to make a broth.

Click here for some other suggestions.