The Boy is 5 and a Fall craft!

Yes it's true, the boy is 5! I can not believe time has flown by so fast! It seems like yesterday we brought him home!

He was very different from Sissy...from day 1. He cried more, he fussed more, and needed a lot more attention than she did.

He has always been rambunctious,and hard headed...and I think it's the red head in him! Look at those red curls...beautiful!!

But the time came to get the curls cut...and Mommy cried! My baby was a little boy.

We had his party on Sunday so family could come. Big Daddy made him the Lego cake and he wanted pizza. He had a great party and we enjoyed spending time with family! 

 He woke up on his 5th birthday with a dusting of snow on the ground. His first birthday that it has snowed.

Who says you can't have chocolate cake for breakfast on your birthday?? (HaHa...No Ma, he didn't eat all of that!)

 And yet another "Maginex" toy!

 We spent well over an hour finding, setting up, and playing with the "Maginex" toys.

We decided to take a break in our school/birthday day and do some crafts.

       


Lunch as requested "cheese sandwich" and  Big Daddy surprised him with ANOTHER Imaginext toy.

I am so glad this little boy is mine! He likes to tell me he loves me about 50 times a day. And he tells me "Mom you are my favorite girl ever" I get hugs and snuggles all through out the day(every day). 

He is my Wild Child, bouncing off the walls and being loud...but I wouldn't change him...he is my Brother Bear! 

Here is where I got the craft...

Unstuffed Zucchini

I do not like making zucchini boats because I know my kids will not eat the zucchini, just the "insides"(same with stuffed peppers) so this is a perfect alternative for us to get in all our veggies :-) 

You will need:

1lb ground turkey( could use spicy sausage, or whatever is your preference) 

1 large zucchini 

1 medium onion 

Small green pepper 

2 cloves garlic, minced 

1 Tbsp Olive Oil 

Red Potatoes(Your preference, about 1 1/2-2 cups)

3 Roma tomatoes,chopped 

Oregano,Thyme,Sage (1/2tsp each optional)

Salt and Pepper 

1/2 cup shredded Monterrey Jack Cheese 


1. Add turkey to pan and top with seasoning of your choice( I used Rachel Rays 24/7 seasoning grinder)let cook until no longer pink and drain(leave in colander) 

2. Heat Olive Oil in the pan,add potatoes and allow to start browning on all sides

3. Add zucchini,onion,pepper, garlic, and salt and pepper. Allow to cook until onions are translucent.

4. Add turkey back to pan and add tomatoes.Add spices and stir to combine. Cover and simmer 25 minutes, stirring often. 

5. Turn off stove, add cheese to the top and add cover back to melt cheese just for a few seconds.

Chocolate Chip Zucchini Muffins(Vegan)

I love Zucchini Bread/Muffins! Great way to use up zucchini from the garden, and a great way to get some veggies in my kids with out a fight! :-) 
This recipe is very simple and so moist and yummy! 

You will need:

• 1.5 cups unbleached, all-purpose flour
• 1/4 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 cup of grated zucchini
• 1/2 cup vegan chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup canola oil
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 2 medium bananas, mashed
• 1 tsp vanilla

1. Preheat oven to 350. 

2. In a large bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt. Mix together well, then stir in the zucchini and chocolate chips. 

3. In another bowl using a hand mixer or blender,mix together the canola oil,sugar,bananas,and vanilla. Add this mixture to the first and stir until it's an even batter.

4. Pour into a greased/lined muffin tin and bake for about 25 minutes.(Or pour into a greased loaf pan and bake for 50 minutes.

Found this recipe at One Happy Table she has some great ideas over there! 

*For a sugar-free version

Here’s what you’ll need:

• 1.5 cups whole wheat flour
• 1/4 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 2 cups grated zucchini (about 3 medium zucchini)
• 2 large bananas, mashed
• 1/2 cup coconut oil, plus a little for greasing the muffin tin
• 1 tsp vanilla

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. 

2. Lightly grease a muffin tin with coconut oil.

3. In a large bowl, combine the whole wheat flour, baking powder, baking soda and cinnamon. 

4. In another bowl, mix together the grated zucchini, mashed banana, coconut oil and vanilla. 

5. Pour the wet mixture into the dry and mix until just combined into an even batter. 

6. Spoon into the muffin tin and bake for 25 minutes.

Cheesy Summer Veggie Pasta

Trying to use up all those veggies from the garden can be hard, I love recipes like this though,it brings everything together, and who doesn't love cheese?

Ingredients: 

1 Zucchini
1 Yellow Squash
1 white onion
Olive Oil
3 cups pasta(I used rotelle because that's what I had on hand)
1 egg
1/4 cup Ricotta Cheese
1 medium tomato
2 tsp minced garlic
1 cup Mozzarella cheese(divided)
1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese(divided)
Basil
Oregano
 3/4 Salt(divided)
1/4 tsp Crushed Red Pepper
Cooking Spray

1.Cook Pasta according to directions.

2. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

3. Beat 1 egg in a small bowl and add Ricotta and 1/4tsp salt, set aside.

4. Heat a large skillet with olive oil over medium heat. Add zucchini,Squash, and Onion. Saute for 5 minutes. Add tomatoes and garlic. Saute for 3 minutes.

5. Remove from Heat.  Add Pasta, Ricotta and Egg mixture, 1/2 Mozzarella Cheese, 1/2 Parmesan Cheese, and remaining spices. Mix well.

6. Pour mixture into a baking dish sprayed with cooking spray.

7. Add remaining cheese. Bake for 15 minutes until browned and bubbly!

Yum Yum Y'all! This will be added to my "Summer Meals" list!

P.S. My 3 year old gobbled this up with no complaints! :-)

Summer Salad and BBQ in Crock-pot

SUMMER SALAD - CORN, AVOCADO, TOMATO, FETA, CUCUMBER & RED ONION WITH A CILANTRO VINAIGRETTE

- 4 ears corn, cooked ( put mine in oven on 350 for 25 minutes. Then let cool, shuck,and cut kernels off into the bowl)
- 2 avocados, diced
- 2 cups cherry tomatoes, quartered 
- 1/2 an English cucumber,diced, skin on
- 1/3  C. crumbled feta
- 1/2 red onion, finely diced

Cilantro Vinaigrette
- 1 tbsp. rice vinegar
- 1 tbsp. white wine vinegar
- 1/2 tsp. salt 
- 1 tsp. garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 2 tbsp. cilantro, chopped
- 6 tbsp. EVOO

-Chop the avocados, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, and red onion, then add to the bowl. Add the feta.

-For the vinaigrette, combine the first 5 ingredients (so the seasonings react with the vinegar), then add the cilantro and the EVOO. Shake it up.

-Gently mix all the salad ingredients together. When ready to serve, add the dressing and stir to combine.

This is so good and a great cook-out side dish! 

**BBQ in Crock-pot**
 I wanted to make BBQ sandwiches to go with the salad. I got on Pinterest to find a recipe for BBQ Pork in the crock-pot and all I could find were ones that involved Root Beer,Dr Pepper, or Coke. I definitely wasn't doing that...

*I just put the pork roast in the crock pot, I had about 1/4 cup of BBQ sauce in the bottom of a bottle so I added a little water and shook it up and added that in with the pork. I let it cook all day (about 8 hours). 
Delicious!! Next time I think I will make it with Papas homemade BBQ sauce though! :-) 

Making Slime

We loved this project and it was very simple!

Here is what you will need

Liquid Starch
2 Clear Glue
Food Coloring(only need 1 drop, per bowl...trust me)

Add the 2 bottles of glue to the bowl then fill a glue bottle up 2 times with the liquid starch and add those to the bowl.
Begin to stir together, then divide the mixture between 4 bowls, add the food coloring, and use your hands to squish(and squish and squish, this takes awhile) to the right consistency.

I then put it out on a aluminum foil covered sheet for them...

Stretchy

Brother wasn't a big fan because he isn't crazy with getting his hands wet or dirty... haha

Squishy!

"Look Ma! Lips!"

It gets smoother and firmer the longer it sits.

**Note- this is VERY messy if you have young kids you may want to mix it all together and then let them play with it after its mixed and had time to sit a few minutes. :-)

Sweet Potato-Taco Foil Dinner

By:PerrysPlate.com

Ingredients:

1 Large Sweet Potato
1/2 lb ground turkey breast
1 can black beans
1/2 cup tomato sauce
Sea Salt
2 Tbsp Taco Seasoning
Spinach
Shredded Cheese
Garnish-Sour Cream,Avocado,Salsa,Tomato
Aluminum Foil

*Start by frying the ground turkey in a medium skillet(I used just 1 turn around the pan of olive oil)
  When the meat is cooked through add the black beans,tomato sauce, and taco seasoning.

* Get 4 pieces of 12 inch foil laid out, spray with cooking spray

* Add the cubed sweet Potatoes, top with 1 pat of butter(we use real butter)

*Add a pinch of sea salt to each and then sprinkle spinach over everything

*Add 1/3-1/2 cup of the taco mixture and top with cheese

*Fold the sides in and then the top and bottom to seal the packet

*Place the packets on a rimmed cookie sheet and put in 425 degree oven for 25-30 minutes
   Packets are done when sweet potatoes are tender.
    ( Be careful with the steam from the packets when opening)

*Add garnished of your choice

**Can freeze the feeling in portion sizes and serve over a baked sweet potato too :-)