Let's start with...being a mom.
Charlotte loved the balloon races this year and she also loved the dirt, rocks and creepy crawly things that were around also.
My mom and I took Charlotte miniature golfing the other day and while it was very fun it certainly wasn't the kind of serous Mini golf competition I am use to.
Going out!!! Jaysen, Charlotte and I have been going out having LOTS of fun. Personally my favorite thing to do is to go get frozen yogurt. My top three frozen yogurt places are YoShow, Yogurt Beach and U-Swirl. I LOVE YoShow but it's pretty far away from us. That place is awesome for charlotte, they have a large side patio that is set up very comfortably with tables and chairs, chalk for the littles and a giant outside checkerboard painted on the cement with big plastic pieces. It is a very fun dessert place. Yogurt Beach has more of a selection than YoShow but less entertainment, and U-Swirl is OK. U-Swirl is closest to us so we go there sometimes if we don't want a longer drive but their yogurt machines aren't that great, but other than that charlotte loves that place too.
Lets talk about Five guys. Ugh where do I start, I do not like that place, they are over priced and their restaurant area doesn't feel all that welcoming or comfortable. Their burgers were average. I will say this however they are slightly awesome because they have all the free peanuts you want and they have these super cool soda machines with like 200 flavors its nuts. So this is what I do, I go to in and out and get a burger, then drive to Five guys and get the peanuts and the drink and then go across the street to YoShow and get dessert. I feel very sorry for Jaysen having to put up with my craziness all the time but at least his life isn't dull with me around.
Now onto the cooking aspect of my life. I have been cooking a lot but mostly just repeats or easy random stuff thrown together, I did however make chicken pot pie, peanut butter cookies, chocolate chip cookies, oatmeal cookies and a "baked pasta primevera" (basically Mac n cheese with Parmesan cheese, broccoli and ham). Here are all my "famous" recipes.
Chicken Pot Pie
1 pack of two pie shells
3 cups of cooked chicken shredded or diced (when I'm feeling truly lazy I buy the frozen already cooked chicken)
1 14-16 oz. pkg. peas and carrots
2 cans of cream of chicken soup (undiluted)
Mix chicken, peas and carrots and cream of chicken soups and pour into one of the pie shells. With the other pie shell roll it out into a circle or cut into strips and make a crisscross pattern to cover pie mixture. Brush one beaten egg yolk on top of the crust. Bake at 375 degrees for 35 minutes or until done.
Flickette Chocolate Chip Cookies
1 cup butter softened
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla
2 1/4 cups flour
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking soda
1 pkg. 12 oz. chocolate chips
1 cup chopped nuts
Cream together butter, sugar, brown sugar, eggs, and vanilla.
Combine flour, salt, and baking soda and add to the sugar mixture.
Stir in chocolate chips and nuts.
Drop by teaspoon on ungreased baking sheets.
Bake at 375F for 8-10 minutes.
Makes 8 dozen 2in cookies.
Famous Oatmeal Cookies
3/4 cup vegetable shortening
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup sugar
1 egg
1/4 cup water
1 tsp. vanilla
3 cups oats (uncooked)
1 cup flour
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. baking soda
(I like to add chopped nuts)
Preheat oven to 350F.
Beat together shortening, both sugars, egg, water, and vanilla until creamy.
Add combined remaining ingredients; mix well.
Drop by rounded teaspoonful onto ungreased cookie sheets.
Bake at 350F for 12-15 minutes.
Baked Pasta Primavera
2 cups uncooked elbow macaroni
2 Tablespoons olive oil
8 cups broccoli florets
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
3 cups milk
4 1/2 cups grated parmesan or Romano cheese, divided
4 tsp. Dijon mustard
1 tsp. black pepper
2 cups diced baked ham or prosciutto
1/2 cup Italian bread crumbs
Grease a large baking dish. Cook pasta according to package directions; drain and rinse. Toss with oil. Spoon into a large bowl.
Preheat oven to 400F. Place Broccoli in a large saucepan; add enough water to cover. Cook broccoli over medium heat until tender, about 5 minutes; drain and rinse with cool running water. Add broccoli to pasta in bowl.
In another pan, melt butter over medium heat; stir in flour. Cook, stirring, about 2 minutes. Whisk in milk, 4 cups parmesan, mustard and pepper; fold in ham. Add sauce to pasta mixture in prepared dish. Sprinkle with bread crumbs and remaining 1/2 cup parmesan. Bake until bubbly, about 25 minutes.
Going out!!! Jaysen, Charlotte and I have been going out having LOTS of fun. Personally my favorite thing to do is to go get frozen yogurt. My top three frozen yogurt places are YoShow, Yogurt Beach and U-Swirl. I LOVE YoShow but it's pretty far away from us. That place is awesome for charlotte, they have a large side patio that is set up very comfortably with tables and chairs, chalk for the littles and a giant outside checkerboard painted on the cement with big plastic pieces. It is a very fun dessert place. Yogurt Beach has more of a selection than YoShow but less entertainment, and U-Swirl is OK. U-Swirl is closest to us so we go there sometimes if we don't want a longer drive but their yogurt machines aren't that great, but other than that charlotte loves that place too.
Lets talk about Five guys. Ugh where do I start, I do not like that place, they are over priced and their restaurant area doesn't feel all that welcoming or comfortable. Their burgers were average. I will say this however they are slightly awesome because they have all the free peanuts you want and they have these super cool soda machines with like 200 flavors its nuts. So this is what I do, I go to in and out and get a burger, then drive to Five guys and get the peanuts and the drink and then go across the street to YoShow and get dessert. I feel very sorry for Jaysen having to put up with my craziness all the time but at least his life isn't dull with me around.
Crafting. Charlotte had this ugly green blanket she liked to drag all over the house and I really disliked that dumb thing so I decided to make her a cute purple and pink blanket and use her ugly blanket as the innards for the new blanket. I thought I was quite genius and I think it turned out rather cute. My quilting skills could use a little improvement but it was my first quilt after all.
After my creation of the blanket I became craft Crazy. I decided to make my own laundry soap, a bow holder for all of charlottes bows and matching Halloween costumes for Jaysen, Charlotte and myself.
The laundry soap is awesome, its a powder, I only use about 4 Tablespoons per load and it smells really good. Its kind of expensive to make but it lasts way longer so in the long run its cheaper. I know I got it from someone's blog but it was a while ago so here's the recipe I don't know who first created it but it wasn't me.
1 (4 lb 12 oz) Box of Borax- Found in the detergent aisle
1 (3 lb 7oz) Box of Arm and Hammer Super Washing Soda- found in the detergent aisle
1 (3 lb) Container of Oxy Clean- found in the detergent aisle
2 (14.1 oz) Bars of Zote Soap- found in the detergent aisle (we chose to do pink for the scent but the white would be just fine. You can also use Fels Naptha)
1 (4 lb) Box of Arm and Hammer Baking Soda- Found in the cooking aisle
1-2 (55 oz) Bottle of Purex Crystals Fabric Softener- Found in the detergent aisle (completely optional but it makes your fabric smell good and feel soft.)
1. Grate zote soap with cheese grater or food processor.
2. Mix all ingredients together in a large bucket.
3 Use 2-4 Tablespoons per laundry load.
Charlottes Bow holder was GENIOUS I just wish it had been my idea (I saw it on pinterest and then copied the idea).
The laundry soap is awesome, its a powder, I only use about 4 Tablespoons per load and it smells really good. Its kind of expensive to make but it lasts way longer so in the long run its cheaper. I know I got it from someone's blog but it was a while ago so here's the recipe I don't know who first created it but it wasn't me.
1 (4 lb 12 oz) Box of Borax- Found in the detergent aisle
1 (3 lb 7oz) Box of Arm and Hammer Super Washing Soda- found in the detergent aisle
1 (3 lb) Container of Oxy Clean- found in the detergent aisle
2 (14.1 oz) Bars of Zote Soap- found in the detergent aisle (we chose to do pink for the scent but the white would be just fine. You can also use Fels Naptha)
1 (4 lb) Box of Arm and Hammer Baking Soda- Found in the cooking aisle
1-2 (55 oz) Bottle of Purex Crystals Fabric Softener- Found in the detergent aisle (completely optional but it makes your fabric smell good and feel soft.)
1. Grate zote soap with cheese grater or food processor.
2. Mix all ingredients together in a large bucket.
3 Use 2-4 Tablespoons per laundry load.
Charlottes Bow holder was GENIOUS I just wish it had been my idea (I saw it on pinterest and then copied the idea).
As soon as our costumes are all ready and photographed I will post and write about those, but until then have a great day every body, and be sure to read my next post about this new series I just started reading! Be kind to one another.
