Repent...

For lunch I used the leftover Tex-Mex Chicken and made a crescent wrap.

Tonight I made...

Savory Split Pea Soup

8 oz smoked sausage cut into 1/2 pieces

(I used ham just because that is what I had on hand)

3 medium carrots, sliced

1-16 oz bag of dried split peas, rinsed

2 stalks celery, sliced

1 medium onion, chopped

3/4 teaspoon dried marjoram

1 bay leaf

2 cans chicken broth

-brown sausage in skillet (I browned my ham) place everything in the crockpot

and cook on low for 4 to 5 hours. Discard bay leaf.

-my soup was really thick I had to add one more can of chicken broth and 1 cup of water.

This soup was really full of flavor and so good. I was starting to worry but it went over so well at the dinner table. Joe and I love split pea soup but could only imagine the whining that would come from the boys. They are not pickey eaters but I was affraid that the words SPLIT PEA was going to make them not want to try. That was not the case, Chandler was shovling it in.

Everyone really did enjoy!!!

I also made cinnamon rolls to go with our yummy soup!


After seeing the pictures of all the food I ate just today I think I should be the one repenting...

This morning we woke up a hour late...so as we were running around trying to get out the door Chandler did not want to go to school twice he came and told me his tummy hurt. I knew he was not 100% truthful with me and that he was just dragging his feet. When Joe came home from taking the boys to school this is what had been said...
Chandler "Dad does it say in the bible that you must tell your parents when you repent"?

Joe "No, it does say you must tell those that you have wronged that you are sorry and promise not to make the wrong again, why"?

Chandler "I repented three times"

Joe "what did you do to need to repent"?

Chandler "I was naughty at school last week and I thought my punishment from Mrs. Lindstedt was big enough and did not want you and mom to punish me again,

is that the same as lying"?

Joe explained that hiding the truth from us is that same as lying, but we are proud of him for telling us and that he went to Heavenly Father and repented.

I have to say I was rolling when Joe was telling me of the conversation, Chandler is a funny little boy, and when he is so serious it sometimes is even funnier!

The end of a great weekend...

Thursday night we went to Broken Bow to have dinner with Gran, we went to the movie Rango (two humbs DOWN) then a little hot tubing!! We had a wonderful family night out.

I got to spend Friday and Saturday sewing with my dear friends! I was able to finished my 30's block of the month for 2010, and worked on Joe's Hobo quilt.

For crockpot recipes this weekend we had

Slow Cook Lasagna

1 lb. Italian Sausage

1 med onion chopped

2 jars of favorite Italian sauce (I only used a jar and half)
2 tsp dried basil

1/2 tsp salt

2 cups mozzarrella shredded (save 1 cup for the top at the end)

1-15oz ricotta cheese (I use cottage cheese my boys won't eat ricotta)

1 cup grated parmesan cheese (save a little for the top)

10 to 15 uncooked lasagna noodles

-layer and cook on low for 4 hours (6 hours is way to long) About 10 minutes before you eat sprinkle mozzarella and parmesan on top and let melt.

We all thought this one was good!

Tonight I made!!!

Tex-Mex Chicken
1lb. boneless chicken cut into strips

2 Tbs taco seasoning

2 Tbs flour

1 small green peeper cut into strips

1 small red pepper cut into strips

1 cup frozen corn (I used canned corn from the freezer)

1 1/2 cups salsa

1 cup shredded chedder cheese

-Toss chicken with seasoning and flour, place in bottom of crockpot and add all ingredients but cheese. Cook on low for 6 hours or on high for 3 hours. 10 minutes before serving add the cup of cheese and let melt. You can eat this on a bed of rice or in a tortilla.

I made homemade tortillas tonight...I have been craving them all week.

Whatz better than a great Mexican dish with a Strawberry Daquiri? This may be the boys favorite part of supper...MAYBE

We finished with a piece of Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake!

Primary Parent Dinner...

Tonight was not a meal at home, so no crockpot cooking for me...BUT we did have a wonderful dinner. The primary kids had a parent dinner and we had great fun!

When planning for the year I told the kids about a parent dinner I served my parents when I was a child and how we gave them crazy utensils to eat with and trash bags to wear. The kids of course got a kick out of this idea and REALLY wanted to plan a parent dinner like it for their parents! Of course I was totally on board (how could I not be...I was the one giving them the idea and I was the leader so I didn't have on the trash bag ;)

They first served a garden salad, than spaghetti with meatballs, corn, garlic bread, and then a warm fruit struedel with ice cream. The kids really had a great time and I hope this activity is something they will remember doing with their parents like I. We did get some good laughs!!!

Riley "eating" with his Ice Cream Scoop and Daddy with his Melon Baller

Beef Stroganoff..

Tonight I made beef stroganoff, I have been looking forward to it for days. As we say in the Books' Family "it is so good it makes me want to lick my eyebrows TWICE". Last night was Runza night for school so I had to wait one more night.

Sorry for the picture I forgot to take one for my blog till I was putting food away tonight so it does not look all that inviting but just trust me it is YUMMY!!!!

Beef Stroganoff

stew meat

2 cans of cream of mushroom soup

-put in crockpot on low for 6-8 hours

-when about ready to eat stir in 8 oz. sour cream

-make egg noodles and serve with stroganoff

Today Maxx and I also made...
Make Ahead Meatballs
4 eggs
1/2 cup dry onions or chopped
2 tsp. worcestershire sauce
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. pepper
4 to 5 lbs. hamburger
-mix well and shape into balls, place onto cookie sheet and bake @ 400 for 15-20 minutes

I made these for two meals we have coming up this week and next...this little challenge of using the crockpot this month has really made me work at making and keeping a menu.

Read Across America Week...

Wednesday was "Go To Sleep With A Good Book"
(wear pajamas to school)

Today was "Plan Your Future With a Good Book"

(dress up for your career goal)

This is Read Across America Week to celebrate Dr. Suess' Birthday at school. Tuesday they got to wear their favorite hats and Friday it is "Go Big Read Day" and get to wear their favorite team apparel. We have always enjoyed this fun week each year but today was really hard for Riley, he just could not decied what he wanted to be for career day and everything I would suggest he would say "but that is not what I will be when I grow up" I tried to help him understand this was more for fun and it didn't matter if he would not become it down the road but he just was not having it...until it was time to walk out the door. Then he wanted to wear something. So daddy went out to his car and got his rail road stuff, Ry was okay with it but he did say on the way to school "I think being a rail roader is more my third choice for a career" the poor boy just had a hard time with this one :) Chandler knew he wanted to be a builder today but he told me... "I am going to be a paleontoligist for real"

Burrito Lasagna

2 lbs. browned ground beef

1 pkg. taco seasoning

8 oz. cheddar cheese

16 oz. refried beans (I made my own refried beans)

16 oz. sour cream

8 oz. salsa

5 flour tortillas

-layer beef, tortilla, refried beans, sour cream, chedder cheese in a deep dish or pan. Repeat. Pour salsa on top. Cover with tin foil and Bake @ 350 for 30 minutes, take foil off and bake for 10 more minutes. Serve hot with lettuce and tomatos on top. (I do not pour the salsa on before baking we wait till it comes out of the oven because the boys don't care for salsa)

Now for my Crockpot recipe for tonights meal...

Queso Dip

1 can of Rotel undrained

1-16 oz box of Velveeta Cheese cut into 1 inch cubes

-put in crock pot and put on low for 2 hours stirring frequently

Crockpot Chicken Parmesan...

Chicken Parmesan

4-5 boneless, skinless chicken breast

1/2 cup bread crumbs

1/4 cup shredded parmesan cheese

1/2 tsp. Italian Seasoning

1/4 tsp. black pepper

1/4 tsp. salt

1 Tbs. olive oil

1 egg

1 cup Mozzarella Cheese

1 jar of your favoite Marinara Sauce

Directions:

-spread 1Tbs. olive oil into the bottom of the crockpot

(I just coated crockpot with ov oil spray)

-whip egg with fork on a plate

-mix bread crumbs w/ seasonings and parmesan cheese on another plate

-dip chicken into egg then coat w/ bread crumbs mixture

-place chicken in crockpot

-layer mozzarella cheese on top

-cover w/entire jar of marinara sauce

-I topped with the leftover breadcrumbs and parmesan cheese mixture

-cover & let cook on low 6 hours if chicken if frozen 4 hours if not

-serve w/ your favorite pasta

This was so easy and very tasty! We had a garden salad,

steamed snapped peas, and jello salad with it.

I might try this one in the oven next time,

the chicken was so tender that it fell apart

when I went to serve it...not that it was any less yummy!!

Only for presentation.

I also made my own Bread Crumbs...I did not realize

how pricey they are at the store.

After making them myself I will not ever buy them again.

Bread Crumbs

-1 bag of hamburger buns

or any bread you have at home you can use

white and wheat, even homemade

-toast in oven at 350 for 8 minutes turn over and toast another 8 minutes

-take toasted bread and put in the food processer tell they are crumbs

Yes that is it!!! Most recipes will call for the seasonings that needs to be added

so you don't have to worry about seasoning until you go to use them.

A New Love...

So I have only had one tried and true crockpot recipe (the best pot roast ever) I really have never had anything made in the crockpot that I could not make in the oven and always thought I liked it out of the oven better. Well, 2 weeks ago after reading a blog I follow that had a Lemon Chicken crockpot recipe that sounded good and really easy...I went straight into the kitchen and made it and got it in the crockpot. By supper time it was smelling so wonderful and then all I had to do was make rice and a salad. We had a YUMMY hot meal that took me 10 minutes. The boys LOVED it, Ry ate two huge helpings. So that made me want to find another crockpot recipe to try, I then went back to the internet and found a great blog that is 365 days of crockpot recipes. http://crockpot364.blogspot.com/ Last week I made 4 more new recipes and we loved the next just as much or more then the first.
I have decided I am going to challenge myself and use the crockpot each evening meal we eat at home this month...can I do it??? So this month I am going to blog about each.

Tonight...Whole Chicken

-Thawed whole chicken (if you are buying chicken from the store a whole chicken is the best for your buck, you pay big for someone to cut it up for you)

-Spray your crockpot with Olive oil or Pam

-Place whole chicken in crockpot

-pour in 2 cups of water

-1 Tbs. of McCormick 1 Step Chicken Seasoning or your favorite Chicken Seasoning

-Season with salt and pepper

-Cook on High for 4 hours then turn to Low for 4 hours

We had chicken on small egg noodles with Pesto Sauce, Corn and Garden Salad

Then with the leftover chicken I picked off the bone and made Chicken Salad for Sandwhiches &

Chicken and Stuffing

3 cups of cooked pulled chicken

8 oz. sour cream

1 can of Cream of Chicken Soup

-Mix all together and put in the bottom of a 8x8 baking dish

-Make a box of Stove Top Stuffing and spread over top of chicken mixture.

-Bake in oven at 350 for 30 minutes just till it is hot and bubbly

3 great meals with very little work on my part!!!!!