Summer fun

I saw this fun activity on Let's Explore.

I put the toys in a bowl one layer at a time, let that freeze and did another layer. This way the toys didn't all float to the top.

My son loves it! He looks like a little archeologist trying to dig for artifacts.

And the best part is... it works great for a toddler's attention span. They can play for a few minutes... get bored... put it in the freezer... pull it out later!

We've played with it outside on the lawn... and inside on the table when it got too hot outside.

Hours of enjoyment! Try it.

Colors

Several times each week, my 2 (almost 3) year old and I have been reviewing our Colors.
I usually have a few things of that color for him to tape on a piece of paper and hang on the fridge. We then add a scoop of that color to our ice cream cone. Then he gets to find objects of that color and take pictures of them.

This is our Orange day...

We'll do shapes, numbers and the alphabet eventually.

You can find free preschool activities and print outs here and here.
Enjoy!

Anniversary Chicken

This is a popular dish that we serve at the church office building, very yummy!

2 tablespoons vegetable oil
6 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
1/2 cup teriyaki basting sauce
1/2 cup Ranch-style salad dressing
1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
3 green onions, chopped (scallions)
1/2 (3 ounce) can bacon bits, or fresh crisp bacon
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley, for garnish

DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 350 º In a large skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add chicken breasts, and saute 4 to 5 minutes each side, until lightly browned.
Place browned chicken breasts in a 9x13 inch baking dish. Brush with teriyaki sauce, then spoon on salad dressing. Sprinkle with cheese, green onions and bacon bits.
Bake for 25 to 35 minutes, or until chicken is no longer pink and juices run clear. Garnish with parsley and serve.
(I let the chicken cook for about 15 minutes before I add the cheese on)

More Father's Day ideas

So here's what I did for Father's Day this year.... shhhh don't tell Jason!

You can make an easy Father's Day picture- well wasn't so easy with a 2 year old but it will do. I found the idea on Tip Junkie But can't find the exact link right now. So I made up one for her Grandpa also.
A few weeks ago while in a store my husband spotted a jar filled with lemon drops and was so tempted to buy it, just for the lemon drops. But it was $20.00, had a cute big bow around it but for $20.00!! So I decided to make up my own for him. Got a jar from DI for $1.00 took some ribbon and tied a "tie" around it and added in some lemon drops... for about $5.00 I got to be creative and he'll get to enjoy his lemon drops!

Pulled pork and Broiled Broccoli

Easy dinner idea:
I take the boneless pork ribs and put them in the crock pot for about 1-2 hours on high with some olive oil and salt and pepper. Then drain the fat and add in Lawry's Garlic and Herb marinade and let sit on low for about 4 hours. Then take 2 forks and pull apart- serve over rice.
Broiled Broccoli
Clean and cut broccoli into spears, put on a cookie sheet pan and toss in olive oil and salt and pepper. Put under broiler for 7-10 minutes or until broccoli starts to get toasty. (this last time I made it and added lemon pepper, it was so tasty)

Father's Day Tie

I found this fabulous idea on Make and Takes...

This is what my 2 year old will be giving to his Daddy for Father's Day!
I let the 2 year old stuff the 'snake'... and he had so much fun doing it.... he told his Daddy as soon as he saw him! (there goes that surprise.)

Spring Cupcakes

Megan was asked to learn how to make these adorable cupcakes and teach them to our YWs last night. They are just too cute to eat!

Ingredients:

Cake Mix & ingredients on the box

Frosting

Large Marshmellows

Mint Leaf candies (find at Longs Drug)

Spring colored Sugars (regular consistency not large)

Gumdrops (find at Longs Drug)

Nonpareils (small little balls sold in cake decorating areas)

White sugar

Easter grass & small candies for decorations

1. Bake, cool and frost your cupcakes.

2. Take a large marshmellow and cut into 5 slices with sissors squishing it slightly as you cut so it looks like a petal.

3. Dip the cut sticky side of the marshmellow into the sugar leaving a white rim around each petal.

4. Take a mint leaf and slice it with a knife into 4 leafs. Dip the leafs that have been cut and do not have any sugars on it into regular white sugar.

5. Take a gum drop and slice off the very top to make it flat. Dip the sticky top just cut into the nonpareils.

6. Assembly your flower starting with the marshmellow leafs arranging 5 petals overlapping into a flower. Add two mint leaves carefully under the petals as you go or after. Add the gumdrop to the center and you are done!

Note: The marshmellows do harden so you might want to keep wrapped with cellophane and plan to deliver to a friend soon thereafter if they are a gift. Doiley's are a nice touch to hide the plate you are using.

Candle make over

I have had this big red candle in our living room for 8 years- it was a wedding present. I love the candle but we have recently changed the color scheme in our living room and the red just didn't work any more. So I found some scrapbook paper that matched our room wrapped it around the candle and tied a coordinating bow, now the candle doesn't look so awkward on my shelf any more.

De-Solv-it

This little bottle is a life saver!! My sister let me borrow some after I told her about my new shirt that I had worn once then washed and dried it mysteriously came out and had 3 small grease spots on it that I hadn't seen before it went into the wash. I thought it was ruined for ever. WRONG- not when you spray some of this on it and let it soak then wash it again, it's like magic! Oh and I thought I'd finally try and get the crayon off the walls from Claire's artwork a few months ago, I sprayed it walked away for 3 minutes came back and just wiped it away, no scrubbing involved! I don't know what stores carry this, but I am going to go and find me a bottle for my own home. Thanks Deb!

Beef Stew

This really isn't an exact recipe but a while ago I made a roast for dinner and knew we weren't going to eat the leftovers before we left on vacation, so I froze the meat and gravy. When we got home I threw it into the crockpot with some potatoes, carrots, celery, corn and peas and it turned out delicious!! The meat was even better the 2nd time around. Now I know not to waste any leftovers.

Chicken Bacon Ranch Pizza

This recipe is in my infamous ward cookbook and it's actually from a good friend of mine, who I know is a great cook. So, tonight I gave it a try and it's my new FAV!
I'm all about a pizza without red sauce, so this was a perfect for me.

CRUST
3 c. flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1 1/2 c. water
3 tsp. yeast
3 tsp. sugar

Dissolve yeast in 1/2 c. warm water. (Sprinkle the 3 tsp. sugar on top of yeast to help activate.) Mix dry ingredients together. When the yeast has activated, stir in remaining 1 c. cold water, add yeast & dry ingredients together. Knead dough for 10-15 minutes until elastic. Roll out to fit a greased cookie sheet or pizza pan.

TOPPINGS
3 cloves garlic
1/4 c. olive oil
1/3 c. ranch dressing
2 c. mozzarella cheese, shredded
2 c. cheddar cheese, shredded
1 c. cooked chicken, diced
4 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled

additional options:
1 med. onion, sliced
mushrooms, sliced
1 tomato, diced

Mix garlic and olive oil together, brush over the entire pizza dough (even the crust). Spread ranch dressing over the dough (but not the edges). Sprinkle on 3/4 of the cheeses. Layer your toppings, then sprinkle the remaining cheese. Bake @ 425 degrees for 10-20 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown and the cheese is melted.

** I used the bag of 'Italian Blend' cheese, and it was delicious. I also used the crumbled fresh bacon from Costco, and reduced fat ranch dressing.

We all LOVED it... hope you do too!

Corned Beef

Hi Ladies....

In case any of you are into having a "St. Patrick's Day meal" I thought I'd pass on this recipe for corned beef. I sampled it at the grocery store today and I thought it was quite tasty. They sold me on it!

Glazed Corned Beef:
1 corned beef brisket (3-4 lbs.), trimmed
1 med. onion, sliced
1/4 C. butter, cubed
2/3 C. ketchup
2 T. prepared mustard
1 celery rib, sliced
1 C. packed brown sugar
1/3 C. white vinegar
2 tsp. prepared horseradish

Place corned beef & seasoning packet (do all corned beefs come with a seasoning packet???? The one I bought did) in large oven roaster; cover with water. Add onion and celery; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 1 1/2 hours or until meat is tender. Drain and discard liquid and vegetables. Place beef on a greased rack in a shallow roasting pan; set aside. Melt butter over medium heat, stir in remaining ingredients. Cook and stir until sugar is dissolved. Brush over beef. Bake, uncovered at 350 for 25 minutes. Let stand for 10 minutes before slicing.


Anyway....thought I'd share in case you're interested.

Fondue night

We love fondue nights at our house, my favorite thing tonight was the asparagus! I don't have an exact recipe as mine changes everytime I make it with what I have on hand. Tonights consisted of swiss cheese, cheddar cheese, onion, garlic, chicken broth, salt and pepper.

Designer lotion bottle

I made this for a quick birthday present I needed, who doesn't love Bath and Body Works products? All I did was found some coordinating scrapbook papers and ribbon, used a little mod podge to create a new label over the front and back of the bottle then added a cute matching tag and tied the ribbon around the top and tada a cute and easy birthday gift!
A great idea to decorate according to the style of your bathroom/kitchen.

ABC Book

I'm a big fan of Photoshop. This is my latest creation...
an ABC Book for my son. He loves it!
Here are a few pages from the book:

I had them printed as 4x6 photos (around $.09 each), laminated them, punched holes and used binder rings to hold them together. It holds up well, even by 2 year old boy standards!

BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwiches

This little packet has helped me create my kids "new" favorite meal.

I purchase a picnic pork roast from Macey's. Put the pork roast in the crock pot. Put the seasoning packet, ketchup, brown sugar, and apple cider vinegar in a separate bowl and mix together (specific measurements are on the packet). Pour over the roast and cook on low for 8 hours or high for 4 hours.

When its done cooking, shred the meat and remix with sauce. Serve on a fresh roll or bun. It's very easy and super yummy!

Toffee Squares

This recipe came from a friend's blog. However, I can't find the original post. (I know it was there at some point in time!)

This recipe is so easy. It is a cross between toffee and cookies.... yummy!!

Toffee Squares

1 cup Butter
1 cup Brown Sugar
1 Egg yolk
1 teaspoon Vanilla
2 cups Flour
1/4 teaspoon Salt
6 Hershey Milk Chocolate Bars

Beat butter, brown sugar, egg yolk and vanilla together until creamy. Slowly add flour and salt until well blended.

Bake at 325 for 13 minutes or until lightly browned. It will be soft, do not over bake.

Remove from oven and immediately place unwrapped chocolate bars on top of hot cookie base.
Let it stand a few minutes until chocolate is melted. Spread melted chocolate evenly to cover entire cookie base. Cut into squares after chocolate has cooled and set.

ENJOY!

Yummy Apple Crisp

This recipe is from the good ole' Betty Crocker cookbook. It was very easy and super YUMMY!

Apple Crisp

4 medium tart cooking apples, SLICED (I used Granny Smith)
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup quick-cooking or old-fashioned oats
1/3 cup butter, softened
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
3/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg (I would probably do 1/4 tsp next time)

Heat oven to 375. Grease bottom and sides of 8x8 pan.

Spread apples in pan. Mix remaining ingredients; sprinkle over apples.

Bake about 30 minutes or until topping is golden brown and apples are tender when pierced with fork. Serve warm with ice cream.

Christmas Toffee

I found this yummy (and SUPER easy) recipe for Christmas Toffee. The original recipe can be found here.

Pamela's Christmas Toffee

1 cup butter
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup of your favorite nuts (optional)
1/2 package of chocolate chips

On the bottom of a 9x13 glass pan, spread a light coat of butter (or non-stick spray) and 1/4 cup of your favorite nuts. Optional - have a small bowl of ice water ready to test your toffee.

This recipe needs constant attention and stirring for about 10 minutes. In a heavy sauce pan, add butter and sugars - melt on high heat. Once the butter and sugars have melted and started to boil, the toffee will go through 4 stages.

Stage 1 - butter and sugars are melted, but not mixed. Keep stirring.
Stage 2 - butter and sugars are mixed and start to cook. Keep stirring.
Stage 3 - butter and sugars are bubbling. Keep stirring.
Stage 4 - butter and sugars change color, slightly (from light tan to dark tan). Toffee almost looks like taffy, it becomes smooth and not bubbly. Keep stirring and start to test for hard crack.

Hard Crack: take a small piece of toffee and when it hits ice cold water, it sizzles. This is whe the toffee is done.


****I just stirred until the mixture was no longer bubbling. If you wait too long, you will burn the toffee.****

Pour toffee into buttered 9x13 pan, do not spread or stir, just pour directly from saucepan. Sprinkle with your favorite chocolate chips on top, the hot toffee will melt the chips in a few minutes. With a spatula, spread the melted chips over the toffee and sprinkle with your favorite nuts.

Allow toffee to cool completely, break apart with a knife and ENJOY!!

Christmas Potpourri

This makes a great neighbor gift! Just add 2 slices of each a lemon, a lime, an orange, add 4-5 cinnamon sticks and a palm full of whole cloves. Once you put it on your stove, add water and it will fill your house with wonderful Christmas scents!

Attach a card that has these instructions on it:

Christmas Potpourri

1. Place ingredients in pot.
2. Fill Pot with water, covering potpourri mix.
3. Bring to a boil and turn down to low.
4. Let simmer & continue to add water as needed.

* potpourri will last approx. one week.

(Original picture and instructions can be found here.)