Kids in the kitchen

We made brownies a few weeks ago. (Yes, before the colds hit) JJ always wants to sit on the counter and “help”. So after we were done I let him go to town on the rubber scrapper. Oh boy, he was in heaven. I had to pry that out of his hands. I think he now thinks that he gets to “help” all the time. He's so sweet I could just eat him up.

Sniffles

We have been able to avoid “the cold” (that has been going around here) until this weekend. We have been lucky because it is mainly just a bother, no flu or anything. Well, Abby hates to blow her nose. She just wipes once and then tosses it in the trash. Here are what both of our bathroom garbage cans looked like last night after just a few days of a runny and stuffy nose.

A Stupor

I have been meaning to blog for some time. I have even been to the point where I have typed the whole entry out and then not posted. I have just been in a slump lately. I really think that it has ended. Ok… so I really hope. It is not that we have not been doing anything… I just am not feeling like boring you with the details. For those of you who care…here is what we have been up to.

JJ…he has not been up to much, just into much! He and Abby spent last weekend in Visalia, CA with Grandparent. They got so spoiled! They were able to go to the Disney Princesses on Ice show there. They had so much fun. Thanks Grandma and Grandpa!

Abby – Spring has sprung in her school. She talks about who she loves and who loves her and who is jealous. It is like she turned into a teen. It makes us all laugh. She loves to have friends over and is constantly planning her next party.

Joel—he has finished his training and started flying for Allegiant Air. Right now he is based out of Florida and has a horrible schedule. We just found out that he is scheduled to be in Florida the weekend I am due. Ack!

Bryn—at 34 weeks pregnant she is just trying to stay sane. Her waist does not bend anymore and she is feeling done. Oh wait… there is still 6 weeks to go. Oh well, it will fly by and I will soon be saying oh it was so easy when I only had to buckle 2 kids into the car.

A Quiet moment.

My kids have gone to California to spend the weekend with Grandma and Grandpa. Joel flew them out there and is coming back tonight. It is so quiet here. It makes me a little sad. Hopefully we can get a few things done and re-group so that I can remember how much I miss them right now. My temper has been on a short fuse lately and I have been feeling guilty about it. Abby and JJ are so excited to do all of the fun things that are planned for them in California.

This week for dinner in my house.

When 4:00 rolls around I am completely brain dead as to what we are going to have for dinner. So I have been trying a lot harder to put together a menu so that I know ahead of time what we are going to have. This helps out with the grocery run too. I hate going nowadays and Joel laughs at me for the way I put of the grocery run until we are completely out of milk. So here is what I have come up with for this week.

Chicken Curry
3 Chicken breasts -boiled and cut up
1/2 cup mayo
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 tsp. curry powder
frozen broccoli
2-3 potatoes - cut up and boiled for about 10-15 minutes (just until tender)
salt and pepper to taste
Shredded cheese

In bowl stir soup, mayo, and curry powder. Add chicken, broccoli, and potatoes. Place in greased casserole dish and bake at 350 for 45 minutes.


Chicken and rice
2 1/2 c. raw rice
1 c. grated cheese
frozen chicken tenders
5 c. chicken broth
dry onion soup mix
1 can cream of chicken soup
more grated cheese

Spray 9 x 13 glass casserole dish with no stick cooking spray. Spread raw rice evenly over bottom of pan and sprinkle 1 c. of grated cheese over rice. Cover the rice with as many frozen chicken tenders as you can without overlapping. Sprinkle dry onion soup mix over chicken (about 1 packet Lipton brand or 1 scoop Bear Creek brand), then cover with cream of chicken soup. Pour broth over the top. Bake for 1 hour at 325 uncovered. Take from oven and sprinkle with enough grated cheese to cover the top. Cover the dish with foil and bake for another half hour. Add more chicken broth if casserole becomes dry.
(I have not tried this before.. it is from http://www.lovinfromtheoven.blogspot.com/)

Cottage cheese Lasagna
1 lb. hamburger
3/4 c. chopped onion
1 can tomato paste (6 oz.)
1 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
1 Tbl. sugar
2 tsp. oregano
1/4 tsp. garlic salt
2 cans diced tomatoes
1/2 c. water
12 oz. lasagna noodles (9 noodles for a 9 x 13 pan)
1 raw egg mixed into 2 c. cottage cheese
2 c. grated cheddar cheese
2 c. grated mozzarella cheese

Brown hamburger and onion. Drain. Add diced tomatoes, tomato paste, water, garlic salt, salt, pepper, sugar, and oregano. Simmer until meat sauce is thick. Cook lasagna noodles until tender in salted water (10 min). Rinse in cold water. Grease 9 x 13 pan. Put a layer of noodles in bottom, a layer of meat, cottage cheese, mozzarella cheese, and cheddar cheese. Repeat 2 more time (3 layers) ending with cheese on op. Bake at 375 for 30 min. and let sit for 30 min.

Note: When I have my own bottled tomatoes, I use 1 jar of tomatoes and delete the water.
(I have not tried this before.. it is from http://www.lovinfromtheoven.blogspot.com/)

Chicken Tortilla Soup

I only come up with about 4 recipes for the week. We always have leftovers to eat and it leaves us room for a pizza night or anything else that pops into our week.

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