Easter Smores

Today we made Easter Smores with Peeps. I LOVE Peeps!!! Wow, these were the best smores I've ever had! I think because of how light the peeps are it made the marshmallows perfect. Some day we'll have to actually try roasting them over the fire, that would probably be the ultimate smore with a golden layer on the peeps. Mmmm!

 Since I don't like chocolate I always have to have white chocolate of some sort. Today I had cookies and cream bars and regular hersheys chocolate bars.

 The kids thought this was the best idea ever! Put chocolate on the graham crackers, then peeps. Then bake in the oven at 400º for about 5-8 min. I actually didn't keep track but it was somewhere around there, just watch them close. When they're nice and big and barely getting golden at the top they're ready.

 Yum! Look how big and perfect they look.

 When you bite into it, it really is the perfect bite of smore.

I'm glad we have more to make because I'm making these tomorrow too! Poor Skylar's been sick and didn't eat any, maybe tomorrow she'll be better.

Romaine & Salad Savoy Fruit Smoothie

I tried another new smoothie concoction today and thought it was very tasty. Fisher and Skylar had a bunch too and really liked it. Also today I bought some Vanilla Almond milk. Mmmm that is really good! I can't wait to try a smoothie with it. I wish my bountiful basket bananas would ripen so I could use them.

Here's the recipe for the smoothie today, which by the way romaine lettuce has a very strong flavor in the smoothie, but I still liked it.

1 large romaine lettuce leaf

2 salad savoy leaves

1 cup frozen blueberries

1 cup frozen strawberries

1 medium sized carrot

1 cup pears
1 tsp chia seeds (optional)

1/2 cup water

Easter Fun Painting

Today the kids painted these fun Easter sun-catchers (I think that's what they're called)

I found this at the dollar store for $1.

 I really should let them do things like this more often, they love it!

 Even Kadin still enjoys it.

 Their masterpieces!

 Afterward we hung them up on the window, we'll have to see how they look in the morning.

US Face Transplant

This story is amazing, after being shot in the face 15 years ago he finally has a normal looking face back, including a new tongue!  US Face Transplant gives man a new jaw, teeth and tongue.

Augratin Broccoli & Cauliflower

I made Au gratin Broccoli and Cauliflower and it wasn't very good. I feel like it was a waste of a lot of broccoli and cauliflower and cheese. I'm not even providing the recipe I found. Very disappointed.

Bird Nest Treats

These are all over Pinterest and other websites and everyone does them different. I'll include the recipe I used below. The kids had tons of fun making these, especially Skylar. They thought they were so cool. I thought they'd totally eat them up quick but I'm pretty sure adults ate most of them.

 

 Skylar held out till the end.

Recipe:

Bird Nest Treats

12 oz bag Chow Mein Noodles

10 to 12 oz bag Butterscotch, peanut butter or chocolate chips (or a mixture)

Egg shaped candies

In a microwave safe dish melt chips for 30 seconds, stir then melt for thirty more seconds, stir until melted (melt a little longer if needed).  Stir in the Chow Mein noodles, because I had 10 oz bags I only used about 3/4 of the bag. I wish I had used only 1/2. Scoop out with a 1/4th cup measuring cup onto wax paper, parchment paper or silicone mat to form the nest. Place 3 eggs in the center of the nest. I wanted to try different kinds so I got Cadbury Eggs, Robin Eggs and Jelly Beans. They all look cute. I didn't see this done on any sites until I went to post this but some people just scoop the nests into cupcake tins, I think this would make them stay together better because mine were falling apart a little. That's one reason I wish I had used less noodles, taste is the other reason.

Stitches

Well today's daily dose is another thing I wish wasn't my new thing for the day. Today Levi had to get stitches. He split his eyebrow open really bad. The Dr. said it looked like there was one layer of tissue left before his skull would show. It was really deep. He got 8 stitches.

 Not happy about the news that I'm taking him in for stitches. Like the blood on his shirt? You should have seen the pool of blood on my bathroom floor, not to mention the trail from downstairs to upstairs and into the bathroom.

 

 Here's the story. Levi and Kadin were goofing around this morning and both ended up pulling on the same shirt. The shirt slipped out of Kadin's hand and Levi fell and hit his head on this chair.

 The Dr. gave him the option of having a shot to numb it or a gel that they would have to put on several times and would take at least 30 min. to numb. Well of course he chose the gel. :( Unfortunately he still felt a lot of it after waiting 35 minutes. He's decided if there is a next time that he'll just get the shot. Let's hope there is no next time. So this picture is of him with the gel in it.

 This is a little vacuum suction thingy. He filled the syringe up twice with a cleaning solution and put the suction thing over the wound and pushed down pretty hard then pushed the solution out. It makes it so the cleaner can get in everywhere and clean it really good.  Levi said it really hurt. He handed it to me and said to keep it and use it anytime there are other wounds needing cleaning.  The ladies at work want me to see what else I can do with this little tool here, like a new thing for 30 days. Haha! We'll see....

All ready to stitch up.

 Yikes!

I've only been stitched up before, never seen it happen. The "needle" is curved like a fishing hook. Poor kid, every stitch Levi would cringe and clench his fists. He had 8 total.

 He did so good and was so brave even though it was hurting. He didn't even cry at all during it. Well, he did at home when it happened but not during the stitching.

EDIT

This is Levi 4 days later.

The Hunger Games

Just got done seeing Hunger Games with a lot of my family. So good! Now I want to see the next movie!! Why do we have to wait a whole year for the next movie?!? Ok I know they have to make it but surely they can be faster than that! Obviously there are parts I'm not happy about, like all the changes they made (come on, if you're going to put it in the movie at least put it in the way it happened in the book) but it was really good still. I went in watching it with low expectations so that I'd enjoy it better and not be disappointed if it didn't turn out good but it was excellent! If you haven't read the books I recommend you do so you can see how things really happened. I was worried it would be more bloody and gory than it was and that there would be some bad parts but it wasn't that bad (I still don't plan on my kids seeing it, at least not till they're much older).

Canary Melon

Tonight we tried the canary melon that came with our bountiful basket on Saturday. It was really good, a lot like honey dew. Very tasty, even Levi liked it and he doesn't like many melons, especially cantaloup. It sure didn't last long though, not near long enough with 3 boys chowing it down, actually Skylar probably ate the most. I hope to see more of them in the future. They have lots of vitamin c and fiber. 

Wedding Time

It's wedding time! Today I got to watch my good friend Amanda tie the knot. The ceremony was beautiful as was the bride. I don't think I've seen a more beautiful bride before. So elegant (you really should be a model Amanda) and graceful, loved the dress! She was married to Justin and I'm sure it's the happiest day of their new lives together. Thanks for letting me take part in your happy day. Love ya!

Walking down the isle.

 It's complete!

Friends from work.

Zuppa Toscana Soup, Olive Garden

 

So I've been wondering what else to do with the kale that came from my first bountiful basket besides just making smoothies with it. I decided to make Olive Garden's Zuppa Toscana Soup that's all over the internet. It turned out really good (after some changes). So, I looked at several recipes and tips and decided to make it with a mixture of some recipes, this is what I came up with. We all loved it! At least once I cooled down the spiciness. I really should have tasted the sausage first because I didn't know it was as spicy as it was. I wouldn't have added the red pepper flakes if I had known the sausage was so hot. But, since I did it was extremely hot! I ended up adding a lot more half and half and even then it was too hot so we added sour cream to our bowls and that helped a lot. It was actually really, really good after that. It was really good before just way to spicy.  So, I'm going to give you the recipe I put together without the red pepper flakes, if you want it to be extremely spicy then add them (1 1/2 tsp) in. Oh FYI, I've never had this soup at Olive Garden so I have no idea how it compares but this soup was GOOD. Even Kerby liked it and he is NOT a soup person.

Here's the recipe:

Zuppa Toscana Soup

1 lb Italian sausage (I don't suggest hot, it's already hot)
3 potatoes
1 sm. onion
1/2 c. crumbled bacon
4 tsp minced garlic
2 1/2 c. kale
2-14.5 oz cans chicken broth
3 c. water
1 1/2 c. half & half

Brown sausage, bacon (if needed, I bought precooked and crumbled) onions and garlic, move to stock pot. While sausage is cooking peel, or don't peel (your choice) potatoes and cut in half length wise, then in half length wise again, then in half width wise. Add to the pot with the meat and onions. Add the chicken broth and water then boil till soft. Then add the kale and half & half, let simmer 15 min. Enjoy! If too spicy add more half & half and/or sour cream. If you want it spicier add 1 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes or less.  DELICIOUS!

Cranberry Green Smoothie

I really need to buy some clear glasses so I can take some nicer pics of smoothies and drinks.

Today I made up another new smoothie and this one was actually really good. Kerby and the kids all liked it too, it was completely gone and some were asking for more. This time I used less kale so it wasn't grainy in texture. It was yum!

Ingredients: by Kristi Black

1 c. frozen spinach

1 c. kale

1 c. carrots

2 c. frozen strawberries

1 c. grapes

1/2 c. frozen pineapple

1/3 c. strawberry yogurt

1 Tbsp. honey

1/2 tsp. chia seeds (optional)

1 c. cranberry juice

Bountiful Basket With Add On's

On Saturday I picked up my 2nd Bountiful Basket. I still have a lot of stuff from the 1st basket so I think this week I'll hold off on ordering. We haven't wasted anything and I don't plan to. We've been trying lots of new things, most of which I haven't even been posting because of time. It's been really fun having all of it available. This week I got some extra stuff. I got the Veggie Lover's Mexican theme bag, 5 loaves of 9 grain bread and granola.

Here's the main basket. 3 things I've never used/tried before; Salad Savoy, Canary Melon and Cabbage. Ok, I've tried cabbage before but I've never bought it or made anything with it. This should be interesting. I made a salad with salad savoy, romaine lettuce and a bunch of other things I still had from last weeks basket. The salad savoy tasted good in it but for me it was a little chewy. It tasted like broccoli to me though and I like broccoli so that was good. This week I'll have to learn how to use it better and try out some new things.

 This is the veggie, Mexican theme pack I got for $8.50. I noticed they have it again this week so this is probably what you'll get, just in case you're wondering what's in it. I think it was worth it.

 This is the yummy granola I got for $10. Not sure it's worth that price, I'd have to compare in the stores but it was really, really tasty! I loved the mixture of all the things, perfect flavor. It's probably worth it, but we ate it up pretty fast, at least it's a pretty healthy snack.

 This is the 5 loaves of 9 grain bread I got for $12.  It's really good bread, it's a little sweet, and it's moist. Very, very tasty good-ness. I'll definitely order it again. Oh and it's sliced, I didn't think it would be.