After a busy weekend and even busier week ahead, my poor oldest son woke with a fever and sore throat yesterday. Today is worse, so we are off to the doctor this afternoon. Bless his heart he is so worried about trick-or-treating. Hopefully if it is strep, the meds will kick in quickly and maybe, just maybe, we'll let him go a bit tomorrow night. This is one of the biggest nights of the year, after all, for a five-year-old.
Today I thought I'd share with you one of my favorite casseroles from my childhood. We double the recipe (with a few exceptions) to feed our family and have some leftovers! Enjoy!
Chicken and Rice Casserole
1/2 bag California Medley frozen vegetables (let thaw a bit before making casserole)
2 chicken breasts, cooked and cut up (if doubling recipe, add another chicken breast)
1 can cream of chicken soup
1/2 c. mayo (NOT Miracle Whip)
1 T. lemon juice
4 oz. Colby jack cheese
1 cup cooked rice; I use Minute (if doubling recipe, do 1 1/2 cups)
Mix together soup, mayo, and cheese to make a sauce.
Spray rectangular cake pan. Place rice on the bottom, top with chicken and veggies. Top that with sauce and drip lemon juice over top. If cooking in the oven, cover with foil and bake for 35-40 minutes at 375 degrees. Remove foil and cook 15 minutes longer or until bubbly.
*This is originally a microwave dish. Use a glass baking pan and microwave on medium for 20 minutes.
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Sunday, October 28, 2012
"Souper" Sunday
Whew, I am exhausted. After a weekend prepping for our party, it went off without a hitch. We had a little over thirty guests (20 were kids) and have a lot of food leftover to keep my sweet tooth sufficiently taken care of for the week. I have a busy three days ahead and am looking forward to a relaxing day (I hope!) on Thursday.
Today I am sharing the soup recipe we made last night. I had intended to serve it for leftovers tonight, but we were full enough from our appetizers and treats that we opted to just snack instead. I have had this recipe for a long time and for some reason it intimidated me and I never made it. I thought I'd give it a try this weekend and it turned out great!
Creamy Chicken and Wild Rice Soup
4 cups chicken broth
2 cups water
2 cooked, boneless chicken breast halves, shredded (I used rotisserie chicken; just took the white meat off the top)
1 6 oz. package quick cooking long grain and wild rice with seasoning
1/2 t. salt
1/2 t. ground black pepper
3/4 c. all-purpose flour
1/2 c. butter
2 c. heavy cream
In a large pot over medium heat, combine broth, water, and chicken. Bring just to boiling, then stir in rice reserving seasoning packet. Cover and remove from heat. In a small bowl, combine salt, pepper, and flour. In a medium saucepan, melt butter. Stir in contents of seasoning packet until mixture is bubbly. Reduce heat to low, then stir in flour mixture by tablespoons, to form a roux. Whisk in cream, a little at a time, until fully incorporated and smooth. Cook until thickened, five minutes. Stir cream mixture into broth and rice. Cook over medium heat until heated through, about ten to fifteen minutes. Serve with sourdough bread. Enjoy!
Today I am sharing the soup recipe we made last night. I had intended to serve it for leftovers tonight, but we were full enough from our appetizers and treats that we opted to just snack instead. I have had this recipe for a long time and for some reason it intimidated me and I never made it. I thought I'd give it a try this weekend and it turned out great!
Creamy Chicken and Wild Rice Soup
4 cups chicken broth
2 cups water
2 cooked, boneless chicken breast halves, shredded (I used rotisserie chicken; just took the white meat off the top)
1 6 oz. package quick cooking long grain and wild rice with seasoning
1/2 t. salt
1/2 t. ground black pepper
3/4 c. all-purpose flour
1/2 c. butter
2 c. heavy cream
In a large pot over medium heat, combine broth, water, and chicken. Bring just to boiling, then stir in rice reserving seasoning packet. Cover and remove from heat. In a small bowl, combine salt, pepper, and flour. In a medium saucepan, melt butter. Stir in contents of seasoning packet until mixture is bubbly. Reduce heat to low, then stir in flour mixture by tablespoons, to form a roux. Whisk in cream, a little at a time, until fully incorporated and smooth. Cook until thickened, five minutes. Stir cream mixture into broth and rice. Cook over medium heat until heated through, about ten to fifteen minutes. Serve with sourdough bread. Enjoy!
Saturday, October 27, 2012
Family Halloween Party
Tomorrow we are hosting a family Halloween party at our home. We have invited some of our neighbors, new school friends, and old friends alike. I always enjoy hosting this event, as our kids love Halloween and given that this is a tricky holiday to maneuver around with a peanut and tree nut allergy, we can have a lot of fun and be safe!!
Our party is late afternoon (after our naps!) and we will be serving some appetizers, desserts, and playing some fun games. The kids will get to wear their costumes one more time and we will all have a lot of Halloween fun. I thought I'd run through our party in case you are in need of any ideas for food or games for an upcoming party at school or home.
Our menu is intended to please kids and adults alike, while being easy for me to prepare ahead of time and have little prep work the day of the party. This is our appetizer list: crockpot BBQ little smokies, Rotel dip and chips, chips and salsa, veggies and ranch dip, apples and caramel dip, cheese and crackers, and "witch's brew." Our "witch's brew" will consist of: Teddy Grahams (bears), marshmallows (ghost poo), Cheese Balls (pumpkin poo), pretzel sticks (skeleton bones) and candy corn (I found some at the Dollar Tree that says "made in a peanut free facility!").
For our sweet treats, we are serving pumpkin bars (my favorite!), cupcakes with buttercream frosting, and homemade caramel corn. I'm also going to simmer some apple cider with cinnamon sticks all day. Yummy!
We plan to play some games as well. We've cleaned out our garage so we can have a corn relay. Very simple supplies: a few mason jars, a bucket of shelled corn, and spoons. Whoever fills up the jar first wins! We are also playing pin the hat on the witch, Halloween bingo, having a scavenger hunt, pumpkin Bozo buckets (with eyeball ping-pong balls!) and ghost tag (my oldest son's idea). Should be a fun time! Another idea we are using for my daughter's Halloween party is the mummy wrap: take strips of cloth or toilet paper and wrap up an adult. Fun for the kids! If time allows, we'll make a pumpkin craft as well using a paper plate and cut up tissue paper.
I have a lot of baking to do yet tonight, but I am looking forward to a fun day with friends and making memories with the kiddos. They always talk about our Halloween parties and look forward to them each year. Happy times!
Our party is late afternoon (after our naps!) and we will be serving some appetizers, desserts, and playing some fun games. The kids will get to wear their costumes one more time and we will all have a lot of Halloween fun. I thought I'd run through our party in case you are in need of any ideas for food or games for an upcoming party at school or home.
Our menu is intended to please kids and adults alike, while being easy for me to prepare ahead of time and have little prep work the day of the party. This is our appetizer list: crockpot BBQ little smokies, Rotel dip and chips, chips and salsa, veggies and ranch dip, apples and caramel dip, cheese and crackers, and "witch's brew." Our "witch's brew" will consist of: Teddy Grahams (bears), marshmallows (ghost poo), Cheese Balls (pumpkin poo), pretzel sticks (skeleton bones) and candy corn (I found some at the Dollar Tree that says "made in a peanut free facility!").
For our sweet treats, we are serving pumpkin bars (my favorite!), cupcakes with buttercream frosting, and homemade caramel corn. I'm also going to simmer some apple cider with cinnamon sticks all day. Yummy!
We plan to play some games as well. We've cleaned out our garage so we can have a corn relay. Very simple supplies: a few mason jars, a bucket of shelled corn, and spoons. Whoever fills up the jar first wins! We are also playing pin the hat on the witch, Halloween bingo, having a scavenger hunt, pumpkin Bozo buckets (with eyeball ping-pong balls!) and ghost tag (my oldest son's idea). Should be a fun time! Another idea we are using for my daughter's Halloween party is the mummy wrap: take strips of cloth or toilet paper and wrap up an adult. Fun for the kids! If time allows, we'll make a pumpkin craft as well using a paper plate and cut up tissue paper.
I have a lot of baking to do yet tonight, but I am looking forward to a fun day with friends and making memories with the kiddos. They always talk about our Halloween parties and look forward to them each year. Happy times!
Friday, October 26, 2012
Organizing Your "Stuff"
Awhile ago I posted about a great organizational inservice I attended a few years back. In that post I shared creating a folder for "A Day in the Life Of" your family. I desperately need to update mine, but I hope that you have found that to be a helpful little resource to have on hand for emergencies or a, gasp, no children, vacation! Today I'd like to share another component of that inservice with you.
I have a little "hub" where I keep our bills, mail, and other important pieces of information handy. Here's a quick breakdown of the materials you will need:
For each member of your family, two colored folders (assign each member a color) plus two extra, one each in an unused color
A binder that closes (place for folders, zip pocket; I found mine at Office Max)
An organizer for mail, folders, pencils, etc. (Wal-Mart or Office Max is where I got mine)
The first step is to create two folders for each member of your family in "their" color. You will put one folder in your organizer and one in your binder. The items you place in the folders in your organizer are those that you will use right away or soon. Think school papers, medical information you need to take to the office, etc. The items you put in the binder folders are items you will need to access, but not necessarily soon or on a regular basis. For example, class lists, vaccination information, etc.
Create a folder for your binder for menus/coupons (think Bed, Bath and Beyond) and insert behind your family's colored folders. This is also where I keep our "Day in the Life Of" folder as well as a folder for medical receipts. In the front zipper pocket, I keep stamps, my address book, and any gift cards we receive. This velcros shut and sits behind my organizer.
In the organizer, I place everyone's colored folders. In the front we have a spot for writing utensils, bills or mail that needs to be sent out, our checkbook, and any cards that I will need that month. You can also slip papers that need to be filed into your colored folders in the organizer, so they don't get lost and can easily be accessed if necessary.
I'm not going to lie, after awhile it can get a little messy and things need to be put in their correct files, but overall it's been a great system and one that I would recommend!
*I have pictures, but Blogger is not uploading correctly again. I will add soon!
I have a little "hub" where I keep our bills, mail, and other important pieces of information handy. Here's a quick breakdown of the materials you will need:
For each member of your family, two colored folders (assign each member a color) plus two extra, one each in an unused color
A binder that closes (place for folders, zip pocket; I found mine at Office Max)
An organizer for mail, folders, pencils, etc. (Wal-Mart or Office Max is where I got mine)
The first step is to create two folders for each member of your family in "their" color. You will put one folder in your organizer and one in your binder. The items you place in the folders in your organizer are those that you will use right away or soon. Think school papers, medical information you need to take to the office, etc. The items you put in the binder folders are items you will need to access, but not necessarily soon or on a regular basis. For example, class lists, vaccination information, etc.
Create a folder for your binder for menus/coupons (think Bed, Bath and Beyond) and insert behind your family's colored folders. This is also where I keep our "Day in the Life Of" folder as well as a folder for medical receipts. In the front zipper pocket, I keep stamps, my address book, and any gift cards we receive. This velcros shut and sits behind my organizer.
In the organizer, I place everyone's colored folders. In the front we have a spot for writing utensils, bills or mail that needs to be sent out, our checkbook, and any cards that I will need that month. You can also slip papers that need to be filed into your colored folders in the organizer, so they don't get lost and can easily be accessed if necessary.
I'm not going to lie, after awhile it can get a little messy and things need to be put in their correct files, but overall it's been a great system and one that I would recommend!
*I have pictures, but Blogger is not uploading correctly again. I will add soon!
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Who Am I?
This is the question many moms ask themselves. Sometimes it is hard for me to come up with an answer other than "Mom" and "Wife." This question has been put back into my mind, as I've been reading several books by the author Kristin Hannah (which I love!) and the last few have been about mothers, who once their children left the nest, had lost themselves along the way. While these books are fiction, there are definitely real-life issues that are addressed: this being one of them.
I know I've talked about this before, but it's definitely a question worth examining again. Before we welcome another child into the world, I think it may be important for me to figure out who I am outside of the role of wife and mother. It is so easy to get so wrapped up in those roles, not to mention the time commitment, that there often seems like there's just not enough time to do something for myself.
So, where do I start this journey? I think my first step is to think about what brings me happiness outside of my family. Most of the hobbies I enjoy are typically done at home, so that doesn't really get me out of the house! Perhaps I could take my love of reading a bit further and join a book club. I know it starts off about reading a book, but usually ends up as a night of chit-chat instead! That may be a step in the right direction.
I also like to volunteer, organize, and be part of groups. Before we moved, and my older kids were younger, I co-founded two mom's groups: one online that brought mothers with young children together and one at my church. These type of activities are fulfilling to me, because I enjoy bringing people together and having social opportunities. I feel like these type of activities serve a purpose and I am a person who likes to see results and help others. I think I should look for some organizations here that are looking for help or if there is a need in the community within my comfort-zone, then maybe starting a group should be explored.
My husband says that when it comes down to it, I'm a teacher. While this may be true, teaching full-time just isn't something I can or desire to do right now. I feel like I need to be at home and am lucky enough to do so, but I needed to find a way to channel the teacher inside of me and incorporate that into my life somehow. Teaching early childhood classes a few days a week may just be what I needed. I am enjoying planning the classes and putting my education to work, but I am still able to take the kiddos along. I feel like it is beneficial for the community as well, as it brings people together and provides some fun, educational activities for the little ones.
After writing this, I feel like I have some direction and am on the right path. Finding time to do everything may be difficult, but it never hurts to try new things. The beauty of it all, is that if it gets to be too much, I can "downsize." My next challenge is to find opportunities for my husband and I to escape every so often by ourselves. Date nights are few and far between these days, but we really need to work on making it more of a priority. That is for another day!
As a mother, do you feel like this is a question you need to find the answer to? I'd love to hear your success stories if you find an answer!
I know I've talked about this before, but it's definitely a question worth examining again. Before we welcome another child into the world, I think it may be important for me to figure out who I am outside of the role of wife and mother. It is so easy to get so wrapped up in those roles, not to mention the time commitment, that there often seems like there's just not enough time to do something for myself.
So, where do I start this journey? I think my first step is to think about what brings me happiness outside of my family. Most of the hobbies I enjoy are typically done at home, so that doesn't really get me out of the house! Perhaps I could take my love of reading a bit further and join a book club. I know it starts off about reading a book, but usually ends up as a night of chit-chat instead! That may be a step in the right direction.
I also like to volunteer, organize, and be part of groups. Before we moved, and my older kids were younger, I co-founded two mom's groups: one online that brought mothers with young children together and one at my church. These type of activities are fulfilling to me, because I enjoy bringing people together and having social opportunities. I feel like these type of activities serve a purpose and I am a person who likes to see results and help others. I think I should look for some organizations here that are looking for help or if there is a need in the community within my comfort-zone, then maybe starting a group should be explored.
My husband says that when it comes down to it, I'm a teacher. While this may be true, teaching full-time just isn't something I can or desire to do right now. I feel like I need to be at home and am lucky enough to do so, but I needed to find a way to channel the teacher inside of me and incorporate that into my life somehow. Teaching early childhood classes a few days a week may just be what I needed. I am enjoying planning the classes and putting my education to work, but I am still able to take the kiddos along. I feel like it is beneficial for the community as well, as it brings people together and provides some fun, educational activities for the little ones.
After writing this, I feel like I have some direction and am on the right path. Finding time to do everything may be difficult, but it never hurts to try new things. The beauty of it all, is that if it gets to be too much, I can "downsize." My next challenge is to find opportunities for my husband and I to escape every so often by ourselves. Date nights are few and far between these days, but we really need to work on making it more of a priority. That is for another day!
As a mother, do you feel like this is a question you need to find the answer to? I'd love to hear your success stories if you find an answer!
Monday, October 22, 2012
Comfort Food for a Dreary Monday
While it may be warmer outside, the day is so dreary it doesn't matter. Today is a very busy Monday for me. I am prepping for my classes this week (and am just about done!), planning for a big Halloween party we are hosting this weekend, and coordinating my daughter's Halloween party at school. I love to be busy, but this week will go quickly due to all of my commitments.
I'm running out of crockpot recipes, so I am going to switch it up to some of our regular meals. Today for dinner we are having one of my favorite comfort food recipes from my childhood: Turkey Tetrazzini. It is not a difficult recipe to put together and it tastes delicious, so it's a win-win in my book. We will add some veggies, fruit, and my family's go-to, bread, butter and jelly. Looking forward to tonight's meal!
Turkey Tetrazzini
1/4 lb. spaghetti noodles, broken into 2 inch pieces
1 jar Heinz turkey gravy
1 can mushrooms, drained
1 1/2 c. cubed cooked turkey (I usually get a 1/2 pound chunk at the deli)
1/2 c. evaporated milk
1/3 c. grated parmesan cheese
1/8 t. pepper
1/4 c. parmesan cheese
Cook spaghetti according to package directions and drain. Combine gravy and the next five ingredients. Add spaghetti and mix well. Pour into 1 1/2 qt. baking dish. Sprinkle top with remaining parmesan cheese. Bake at 375 degrees for 35 minutes or until bubbly. Let stand five minutes before serving.
I'm running out of crockpot recipes, so I am going to switch it up to some of our regular meals. Today for dinner we are having one of my favorite comfort food recipes from my childhood: Turkey Tetrazzini. It is not a difficult recipe to put together and it tastes delicious, so it's a win-win in my book. We will add some veggies, fruit, and my family's go-to, bread, butter and jelly. Looking forward to tonight's meal!
Turkey Tetrazzini
1/4 lb. spaghetti noodles, broken into 2 inch pieces
1 jar Heinz turkey gravy
1 can mushrooms, drained
1 1/2 c. cubed cooked turkey (I usually get a 1/2 pound chunk at the deli)
1/2 c. evaporated milk
1/3 c. grated parmesan cheese
1/8 t. pepper
1/4 c. parmesan cheese
Cook spaghetti according to package directions and drain. Combine gravy and the next five ingredients. Add spaghetti and mix well. Pour into 1 1/2 qt. baking dish. Sprinkle top with remaining parmesan cheese. Bake at 375 degrees for 35 minutes or until bubbly. Let stand five minutes before serving.
Friday, October 19, 2012
Friday Fun
My oldest son did not have school today, so we are spending the day at my parent's house. I rushed around this morning to get a load of the kids' laundry done, some cupcakes baked for an event tomorrow, and everything packed up for our day trip. One of the wonderful benefits of living near Grandma and Grandpa! The kids were thrilled to take a trip to the farm.
We are making today all about Halloween. Grandma needed some help decorating her house, so the kids will be getting her house ready for the big day. We are also baking and decorating cut-out cookies, which the kids will love. We found a great assortment of sprinkles at Target that are made in a nut-free facility, so I'm sure the cookies will be covered in them! To top it off, we brought along a Nickelodeon Halloween DVD and Halloween Mac and Cheese. What a fun day for the kiddos!
It's been terribly rainy this week, so we had to have some indoor fun. One of my kids' favorite activities is to bat around balloons. Turn on some music and let them have some fun! We try to see how long we can keep the balloon off of the ground. They love the challenge and giggle away while they're playing.
We are making today all about Halloween. Grandma needed some help decorating her house, so the kids will be getting her house ready for the big day. We are also baking and decorating cut-out cookies, which the kids will love. We found a great assortment of sprinkles at Target that are made in a nut-free facility, so I'm sure the cookies will be covered in them! To top it off, we brought along a Nickelodeon Halloween DVD and Halloween Mac and Cheese. What a fun day for the kiddos!
It's been terribly rainy this week, so we had to have some indoor fun. One of my kids' favorite activities is to bat around balloons. Turn on some music and let them have some fun! We try to see how long we can keep the balloon off of the ground. They love the challenge and giggle away while they're playing.
Keeping those balloons up in the air!
We also did some painting this week. We have a bucket of different "messy" items we pull out every once in awhile. The little guy did this while the Princess was at school, so I could contain the mess (even though it still got everywhere!). Crayola made some paints that could be used by holding on with your hand a few years ago. I'm not sure if they still make them, but they are a little easier and less messy than hauling out the paints and brushes. Needless to say, he had a wonderfully messy time! Thank goodness for the smock.
The little artist
Now that the weather is starting to get chillier, I'll be working hard coming up with some fun, out-of-the box activities to do indoors. Time to start using the creative side of my brain!
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