Recipes from Mom-A Guest Blog from our loyal follower, Jessica

I honestly never thought of my friend, Jessica, as much of a cook.  She's always running through McDonalds, Wendys, or Taco Bell drive thrus or to Little Caesars to get a $5 fast and ready pizza.  All of the sudden, she's sending me pictures of these amazing dinners she's been making.  An even bigger treat was the day she dropped off a bowl of Mostaccioli, still warm.  Yum!

Now, she's started sending me recipes.  Did she not get the memo?  I'm TRYING to eat healthy which is especially hard with all these temptations.  I'm sure these recipes could be "healthified" with a few substitutions but for those of you that want to go full force, Jessica's sharing the recipes with you!

My taste buds thank you, Jess!



Being a full time teacher and mother of two very wild boys I find it hard to plan out meals and look for them in cookbooks so I turned to my favorite cook for her advice. My favorite cook being my mom. Since I don't live close to my mom (780 miles away) I only get her cooking about 4 times a year. She used to cook the mostaccoli and bring it to all the family gatherings weddings, graduations, and birthdays. My family loves it so much I figured I better get the recipe and start cooking it for them as well. I also have heard her talk about her homemade Chicken Pot Pie so while I was home at Christmas she made it for my family. We loved it so much I came home and within 1 week called her for the recipe. My husband never eats leftovers and he will eat both of these. The last recipe is something that I found at Wal-mart. While picking up my chili seasoning I found these McCormick spices that were pre-packaged and had all the measurements for a given recipe and so I tried it and we love it. Trust me all these recipes are simple to make and very tasty. My kids are picky eaters and they will eat everyone of these meals.
I hope you enjoy these!
Jessica

Mostaccioli

Doesn't this look delicious?  Believe me, it was!



1-jar of spaghetti sauce (I use the large Prego with mushrooms you won't need it all)
1- box of the mostaccioli noodles or you can use penne noodles
1-2 cup bag of mozzarela cheese
Parmesan cheese

1 pack of Johnsonville mild/sweet Italian sausage

Cook noodles as package says. Pre-boil the sausage so that it cooks out the grease. After noodles are cooked put them in a large bowl. Take the sausage out after precooked. Then slice them in pieces. Pour sausage in bowl with noodles and add as much sauce as you desire. Pour in as much parmesan cheese as you wish and mix. You also can add in some mozzarela cheese too. Stir all together in a bowl. Then pour in a baking dish and cover the top with mozzarela cheese. Bake at 350 for about 35 minutes covered with foil and then take off aluminum foil and cook until the cheese is a golden brown.

Chicken Pot Pie

2-Pillsbury Soft Pie Crusts (refrigerated kind they don't say soft on them)
2 cups diced chicken
1-can Veg-All (mixed vegtables corn, green beans, peas, and carrots)
2-Cans Cream of potatoes (you can use 1 can cream of chicken and 1 can cream of potatoe she uses the potato for both for more potatoes in the pie)
salt and pepper for taste
little milk to make it creamier

Mix all the ingredients in a bowl. Put one crust in the pie pan and poke a few wholes in the crust so that air comes through to cook the bottom. Then pour in all the ingredients. Put the other crust on top and wrap the edge with aluminum foil. Cook for 45 minutes on 350 and then take off foil and cook for 15 more minutes. Enjoy!

Everything poured in the bottom crust.

The top crust on and ready to bake.

Ready to Eat!



Rosemary Roasted Chicken with Potatoes2 tsp Paprika
1 1/2 tsp crushed rosemary leaves
1 tsp minced garlic
1/2 tsp course black pepper
2 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp salt
3-4 chicken breasts or 6 bone in chicken thighs (whichever you want)
1 1/2 lbs small red potatoes cut into 1 inch cubes

1. Mix oil and all spices in large bowl. Add chicken and potatoes toss and coat well. Arrange chicken and potatoes in single layer foil lined 15 x 10 x 1 inch backing pan sprayed with no stick cooking spray.

2. Roast, uncovered in preheated 425 F oven 30 minutes or until chicken is cooked through and potatoes are tender, turning potatoes occasionally.



This looks pretty healthy and amazing!

Thank you, Jessica!  We are always looking for great meals our kiddos will eat!

Valentine's Day Printables!

We have so many Valentine's Day Printables to share with you!  Blogland is full of printables these days.  Here are some of our favorites!  Click on the words under the printable to go and print it out.  Also, give our fellow bloggers some love by thanking them for the printable in a comment!

This one comes in three different color choices.

This has two options can can be printed as large as 16 x 20!

9 color combinations!  I think you can find our to match your decor!

From one of our favorite subway art creators!

4 different heart shaped colors

10 colors to choose from

This printable has multiple uses!

Pink, red or purple

From Blah To TaDa... with just a little vinyl!

I love all things personalized!

Well, almost all.  I just think it makes otherwise boring things, special.  Here are a few things I personalized, with vinyl.

These were the crates I loaded with gifts for GraciAnn's teachers' Christmas presents.

These are pushcarts, we got from IKEA for the girls.

A little side bling.

...and the front view. We've learned it works best to by two identical items and put their names on them. Mariella, not quite two, recognizes her name and knows it's best to stay away from her sister's!

This is GraciAnn's trashcan for her room.  I purchased it at IKEA too. It has a flap lid and was about $8. 

Before:

This was last night's project.  The bin on the left is a trashcan I picked up at Publix for $2.  The one on the right we use as a hamper. I got it at IKEA for about $3 or $4. These go in the girls' bathroom. 

The hamper front  "After".  The teacher in me wants to provide a print rich environment for my kids, so I wanted to clearly label the hamper with what we put in it: laundry.  I decided to do a plain font.

Side view of laundry hamper.

...and other side.

The finished trashcan.

Side view of finished trashcan.

Other side of trashcan.

Vinyl colors, up close.

I chose 3 different colors of vinyl.  All coordinate well with the bathroom. I used my Silhouette to cut the vinyl out.  I was pretty random about how I stuck the flowers and leaves on. Voila... an hour later, I was finished. So, for less than $10, we have a laundry hamper and a trashcan that match perfectly!  This morning, when GraciAnn saw them, she said, "I love the trashcan and laundry basket you made, Mommy. They are beautiful!"  Well, maybe not beautiful but darn cute in my book!

Sourdough Cinnamon Rolls

For all of you who have enjoyed the Sourdough Starter & Recipe, I have another use of the starter for you.  How about some delicious Sourdough Cinnamon Rolls?

Here is the recipe and instructions:

Sourdough Cinnamon Rolls

Using your 1 cup of sourdough starter, make the dough per the directions for making sourdough bread.  Allow it to rise and then continue with this recipe.  Here is a picture of the dough that has risen:

Prepare the Cinnamon Filling.  Mix well.

1 cup sugar

4 tablespoons Cinnamon

8 tablespoons melted butter 

Turn dough onto floured surface and roll into a rectangle. Spread cinnamon filling over dough till covered. 

Roll up the dough.

 Cut into pieces about 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 inches and place into 1-2 greased 9x13 pans. (depends on how thick you cut them.) Place in pans side by side but not touching.

As you can see, I should have rolled my dough tighter.  There are some big cinnamon filling areas.

Place in a warm spot to rise with a towel over it or plastic wrap. Let rise overnight or for at least 2-3 hours.  The rolls should double in size. Bake for 20-25 minutes in a 375-degree oven. As soon as rolls come out of oven brush tops with butter. 

Prepare icing:

2 cups powdered sugar

1 tsp. vanilla

Milk to desired thickness

Mix sugar, vanilla and liquid to form a thick syrup. Can thin by placing in the microwave.  (The next time I make this I will probably attempt a cream cheese frosting and compare how I like it.  Who doesn't love cream cheese frosting!) Drizzle over rolls. 

 Put one (to start with at least) on your plate and enjoy!

I made these these the morning of our big snow here in Atlanta.  It made being snowed in that much more enjoyable!

I would love to hear from those of you who have attempted the starter and bread!  I think it is very simple and easy if you have the patience.  After you feed your starter again, try this recipe out!  My next use of my starter will be pizza dough.  I'll let you know what my family thinks!

Enjoy!

Transform an old frame into a Chalkboard Frame!

I've been wanting a chalkboard of some kind in our house for ages.  I didn't want to buy one.  After all, using chalkboard paint is very popular these days.

I took an old large picture frame that I had actually put in the yard sale last year.  Thankfully, it didn't sell because now I needed it.  Sorry, I don't have a before picture.  I was spray painting and too lazy to go upstairs for the camera.

I started by painting the glass (big fail).  I had read some where to paint the glass, but then once I wrote on it, the paint rubbed off.  The words on the board should be "Craft, Craft, Crap!"

The paint rubbed off on multiple places.  Oh well.  Now, time for attempt #2.

I took the backing of the frame and painted on three coats of chalkboard paint.  I did two coats in one direction and one in the other direction.  This helped to hide any lines.  I got my paint from Walmart in their paint section.  Don't buy it from the craft section!  It is about a fourth of the size and more expensive.  The one I bought was around $6. Here is a picture of the paint I used:

Once you've allowed the the board to dry, you need to rub chalk all over it. Then wipe it off.



Then put your board in the framing and voila!  You now have a great chalkboard to use for anything in your house!  I considered putting some vinyl on it, such as, "To Do."  I am not sold on it though.  I would like to keep the frame for writing anything on.  I can't wait to start writing special things on my board, even if it is just my to do list.

Happy Crafting!

Homemade Bath Finger-paints!

Necessity is the MOTHER of invention!

I have no doubt why the word "Mother" is used in this proverb.  Mothers can invent whatever they want if they need it!  That is exactly what I did tonight.

My invention!

The boys got an adorable bath set for Christmas.  It had sponges, water musical toys, crayons and finger-paints.  The boys loved the finger-paints and used it up in a matter of days.  Well, this Momma was not going to spend the money on more bath finger-paint.  It was WAY too expensive.  Plus, the geniuses who made the finger-paints put soap in it that burns kids' eyes.  I know this from experience as the cheer delight changed quickly to "I have soap it my eyes, it BURNS!"

I was on a mission.  I looked up homemade bath finger-paints but all the recipes used dish-washing soap.  Am I the only one with kids who whine about soap in their eyes?  That is when I came up with my own recipe.  I think my boys were just a wee bit excited about the prospect of more bath paints.

Homemade Bath Finger-Paint

Here is what you need:

• Tear-free Baby Wash & Shampoo (buy the cheap stuff)
• Cornstarch
• Spoons and/or spatula
• Small funnel
• Containers (I used the same ones that my originals came in)
• Mixing bowl
• Smaller bowls for mixing in color
• Measuring cups and spoons
• Food Coloring (I did not like the Walmart brand, I still have it all over my hands)

In mixing bowl, combine 1/3 cup baby wash and 1 tablespoon cornstarch.  Mix well.  Add more cornstarch if you prefer a thicker consistency.

My boys helping me make their paints!

Your mixture will be white.

Separate portions of the mixture into smaller containers.  Add food coloring to each small bowl until you reach your desired color.

The purple needs to be darker!

I used a funnel to put the paints into each container.  Then I got impatient (big surprise) and just used the spoon or spatula to pour it in.

Here are my finished bath paints.  The kids loved them and don't worry it didn't stain their bodies or the bathtub!  Let your kids paint away and then with a little spray of water, it is gone!

Make some for your kids tonight!  They will think you are amazing!  Don't worry, I already think you are!  This would also be an awesome birthday gift!