Love IT!

Some things I found and want to try over the next couple of weeks, and some things that will help with keeping the kiddo's busy this summer. I will also be making up some bibs and burp cloths and hope to get some pics and put up a tutorial of it over the next couple of weeks so watch out for that!

• Rubber Duck Washcloth


• Men's Shirt= Toddler Dress


• Superhero Capes- maybe not this exact one, but something along these lines


• Chore Chart/ Reward System (sooo will be doing this for the summer!) or here is another one from Andrea
• Cute Apron Pattern (thinking this may make a fabulous gift!)
• Schoolwork pages (It is free to sign up for)

Pasta Salad (Chicken or Tuna can be added)

This salad can be made with Tuna or Chicken, but I like it without so I have never made it with either one.

Box of bowtie pasta (cook the pasta as directed)
1 can chicken, drianed and flaked (or tuna Optional!)
2 cups thinly sliced cucumbers
Grape or Chrry tomatoes, cut in half
1/2 cup sliced celery
1/4 cup chopped green pepper
1/4 cup sliced green onions
Add cooked, cooled pasta to the veggies and chicken.

In a small bowl, blend:
1 cup Italian dressing
1/2 cup mayo
1 tbsp mustard
1 tsp dill weed
1/2 tsp salt
some black pepper
Add to salad mixture, toss to coat, cover and chill.

Thanks to my sister in law Melanie for this yummy salad!

Chicken and Broccoli

I have heard of this called Chicken Divan also, but this is my own variation of it to what my family likes.

Chicken-cooked and shredded
Broccoli- 4 cups cooked
2 Tbs Butter/Margarine
Basil Seasoning
1 can Cream of Chicken Soup
1 Can of water
1/2 cup Mayo
Shredded Cheese (I use colby jack or whatever I have on hand)
Cooked Rice

Cook Broccoli and put in a greased 9x13 pan, then put cooked and shredded chicken on top of that. Take your 2 tbs of margarine (or butter) melt it and add some Basil seasoning (I usually add about a Tbs or so) mix and drizzle over the chicken and broccoli. In a separate bowl mix up Cream of Chicken Soup, 1 can of Water (if I boiled chicken I will use the water that I used for that for some extra flavor) and the mayo, mix together and pour over Chicken. (Now we all hate the little pieces of Chicken from the soup mix so I run it through a strainer to eliminate that). Top with some shredded cheese if you have it and want it. Bake at 350 for about 20 minutes or until sauce is bubbling. Cook up some rice and put the chicken mixture over the top of it and enjoy!

Baked Spaghetti

Yummy twist on an old favorite!

Noodles- Cooked

1 egg
1/2 cup shredded Mozzarella cheese
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese

Sauce- Favorite kind, for us I just brown up 1/2 lb of ground hamburger and add the Prego meat spaghetti sauce.

In a bowl combine egg and both kinds of cheese and mix, when noodles done cooking and drained put in bowl (while still hot) and mix and let cheese melt. In a greased 9X13 pan put noodle mixture then top with sauce and some more shredded mozzarella cheese. Bake at 350 for about 20-30 minutes, until cheese is melted.

I came up with this when Jeff and Corbin complained about not liking plain spaghetti, Corbin wouldn't eat it because it was saucy and he didn't like that, so I decided to try this out and see how they liked it. The noodles absorb some of the sauce, and it gets thick just like with Lasagna, but easier to make!