New Shoes, Outside Play and a New Recipe

'Tis the season to get the kiddos new shoes for spring/summer.  The boys requested Spiderman flip-flops (yes, I'm pretty sure I have passed on my, um, "love" for these type of shoes).  As previously mentioned, Samara picked out a pair of light pink flip-flops on Saturday.  Last week I ordered her first ever pair of "Jelly" shoes.  It definitely felt like a flasback to the '80's, but it's all good.  The shoes came in today and Samara exclaimed, "Aren't they the prettiest Princess shoes ever?!?"  I'm guessing she likes them; she wore them until bedtime.  Aren't they adorable?

After we picked Malachi up from school, we played outside for nearly 2 hours.  The boys took turns riding a bike and a Big Wheel while pretending to be pizza delivery boys.  They were charging $50 for their pizzas.  A little steep on the price, huh?  Samara found a stroller in the garage and initially I thought she would want to push a dolly in it.  Instead, she wanted me to push her.  So for about 45 minutes I pushed her up and down our sidewalk. (it's a good thing we live on the corner so it took a little bit before we turned around to go the other way!).  She must not quite understand that the purpose of playing outside is to RUN off their energy not just sit!

It's always interesting to see what new things they discover.  This afternoon was about how a rock from our patio can make "chalk" on the cement.  They were all fascinated by this and tried multiple rocks to see what color "chalk" it made.  Right before it was time to go inside I was sitting on the back steps.  Malachi came up to me and out of the blue asked, "Do you know what I'm thankful for?"  Intrigued, I replied that I didn't know, but would love to find out.  He said (and in this order), "I'm thankful my DS, family, George, Bob, and our house."  I couldn't help but smile and give him a hug...even if he is getting to the age that he thinks he's too cool for a "mommy hug".

All 3 kiddos climbed up on the ledge and I couldn't help but take a picture.  Then they just HAD to have a silly-face pic!

On Sunday afternoon, I tried a new crock pot recipe.  It's delish and will certainly grace our table in the future.  I found it on the website:  www.crockingirls.com  I served it over rice.

Italian Cream Cheese Chicken

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

2 tablespoons water

2 tablespoons butter

1 package dry Italian salad dressing mix

1 can cream of chicken soup

8 ounces cream cheese, softened

Directions:

1. Melt butter in microwave.
2. Add water and packet of Italian dressing to butter and mix well.
3. Place chicken in slow cooker.
4. Pour butter mixture over chicken.
5. Turn pieces over to coat both sides well.
6. Cook on High for 3 hours.
7. In separate bowl, mix cream of chicken soup and cream cheese together.
8. Remove the chicken from the slow cooker and cut into bite size pieces.
9. Return chicken to slow cooker and add the cream cheese mixture.
10. Whisk together to blend well.
11. Cover and cook an additional 1/2 hour.

Serve over pasta or hot cooked rice.

Yummy Dinner

My body must feel that it is Summer time.  I have had major cravings for some BBQ.  When I say craving, I mean, "keep-you-up-at-night-with-your-mouth-watering" craving.  I have never attempted to make BBQ because I've been blessed with my dad and brother-in-law, Matt, having the ability to make out-of- this-world BBQ. Since I didn't know when I would be able to partake of their cooking, I decided that I would attempt to make something BBQ-y to curb my craving.

Armed with my crock pot, I set out on my first adventure.  I found a recipe online that received a 5/5 stars rating so I thought that might be a good start.  Because it was a new recipe, I couldn't bring myself to spend so much money on a piece of brisket.  Instead, I made it with boneless, skinless, chicken breasts which costs less than 1/2 of the price of the beef.  (James and I have discovered that it has been probably close to a year since we have bought beef...we've been substituting beef with turkey or chicken.  Now I'm a beef kind of girl but I can honestly say that I really haven't missed it.)  There was a spice that I was out of and didn't feel like going back to the store so I just substituted.

The kiddos can be a little picky when it comes to new recipes, but they devoured the chicken and I have to say, I scarfed down my 2 sandwiches as well.  I splurged a little and bought onion buns.  I LOVE me some onion buns (I think I'm the only one in the house that does...yay, more for me!)  Ahh, this craving has now been taken care.  Maybe my next craving should be chocolate cheesecake ;-)

Slow Cooker BBQ Brisket (or chicken)
5 1/2 lb meat
1 3/4 C BBQ sauce (any kind)
2 T brown sugar
2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
2 tsp black pepper
1 tsp garlic salt
1/2 tsp onion powder (didn't have...used creole seasoning)
1/2 tsp dry mustard

Combine ingredients and coat meat with it.  Marinate overnight.  Place in crockpot and cook on low for 9-10 hours.
Enjoy! 

Dinner Time Fun at the Dinkelberries

So tonight I tried a new recipe.  It's always an iffy situation because Isaiah already has it in his mind that he doesn't like anything new.  The dinner had green peppers and black olives so I was prepared for a little battle.  I was pleasantly surprised, though!

We started the meal off by both Isaiah and Samara praying.  Malachi ate a green pepper by itself and said he didn't like it.  I told him to try eating it with some cheese and meat because he wouldn't be able to really taste it.  He tried it and it was a success!  Isaiah was brave and ate both a green pepper and black olive alone.  He said that he loved them.  Yay!

While I was getting seconds for one of the boys, James drank from my glass (which is not unusual).  Samara started lecturing him to "not eat Mommy's drink, undastand (understand)!"  A little while later, I was back in the kitchen getting some animal crackers for Samara when I hear again, "don't eat Mommy's drink".  James was cracking up because right before she said that, she told him to drink my drink.  But when he did, she immediately told on him.  I thought we girls had each other's back!

While we were still laughing about James getting in trouble for drinking out of my glass, Samara started coughing and each time she coughed, a toot came out.  We were rolling!!!

The meal ended by Isaiah saying that when he wears his suit jacket (his ringbearer suit) he is going to marry me so I can be "Isaiah's princess".  Sounds like a perfect plan to me =)

Beef Nacho Casserole 
Ingredients

• 2  tablespoons  olive oil
• 1/2  pound  pre-sliced sweet peppers (about 1/2-inch-wide strips)  (I used green peppers)
• 1  pound  lean ground beef  (I used turkey instead)
• 1/2  teaspoon  garlic salt
• 2  tubes (10 ounces each)  refrigerated pizza dough
• 1  jar (16 ounces)  medium-hot salsa
• 3  cups  shredded taco-cheese blend
• 1  can (2.2 ounces)  sliced black olives, drained (about 1/4 cup)
• 3  large  scallions, trimmed and sliced

Directions

1. Heat oven to 375°. Coat 13 x 9 x 2-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.

2. In large skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add peppers, ground beef and garlic salt; cook, stirring to break up clumps of beef, until the peppers are soft and beef is no longer pink, about 5 minutes. Drain off any excess fat from skillet.

3. Remove pizza dough from tubes. Cut the dough crosswise into 1/2-inch-wide slices, then cut each slice into quarters.

4. In large bowl, toss together dough pieces and salsa. Add cooked meat mixture, 2 cups of the taco-cheese blend and olives. Scrape mixture into baking dish. Sprinkle the remaining 1 cup taco-cheese blend over the top.

5. Bake at 375° for 30 minutes. Sprinkle scallions evenly over the top. Bake an additional 5 minutes.

FOOD

Today I thought I would share a few of the kiddos' new favorite recipes.  This morning the boys helped me make some yummy cookies.  They absolutely love them!

 Double Peanut Butter and Milk Chocolate Chip Cookies
1/2 c. butter or margarine (softened)                   1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract             
3/4 c. sugar                                                          1 1/4 c. all purpose flour
1/3 c. creamy peanut butter                                 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 egg                                                                   1/4 teaspoon salt
1 c. Hershey's Milk Chocolate Chips                    1 c. Reese's Peanut Butter Chips

1. Heat oven to 350.  2. Beat butter, sugar and peanut butter in medium bowl until creamy.  Add egg and vanilla; beat well.  Stir together flour, baking soda and salt; add to butter mixture, blending well.  Stir in milk chocolate chips and peanut butter chips.  Drop by rounded teaspoons onto ungreased cookie sheets.  3.  Bake 12-14 minutes or until light golden brown around the edge.  Makes about 3 dozen. 

Tonight, we are having Cheesy Crock Pot Chicken:
2 lb boneless, skinless chicken breast
2 cans cream of chicken soup
1 can cheddar cheese soup
1/4 tsp garlic powder (I love garlic so I add a little more)

Put the chicken at the bottom of the crock pot.  Stir the soups and garlic powder together and pour over the chicken.  Cook on low 6-8 hours or until the chicken is tender.  I serve it over egg noodles or it could be over rice. 

What are some of your favorite, easy recipes?  I'm always looking for some!