Many Colors of Spring

Lil' Miss GiggleBox

Sweetness :)

Well, where to begin?? I might as well just come right out with it and tell you that Adam and Erika are no longer dating, Adam's choice. It's been tough, as I kinda' got attached to her :) Fortunately, with today's technology I've managed to keep in touch with her via text, FB, instant message and best of all, today Alyssa and I went to lunch with Erika! She's involved with the German exchange program at school and currently is hosting Franziska for three weeks. So in addition to getting to spend some time with Erika (and her mom, too), we got to meet Franziska! She is coming to the close of her three weeks here, but Erika gets to go to Germany in June for 3 weeks and stay with Franziska. How exciting!!

Silly Saturday

OK, who's seen this pasta before?!?!?!

This is my really useful box I got today at Staples!

See....told ya...that IS what they are called!!
(Aren't you glad I only paid a buck for it??!?!)

Wonder where this one got her license?!?!? Sears Roebuck and Co.?!?!?

Krazy Kitties

Ham and Scalloped Potato Casserole

I joined a group on Facebook called the Crockpot Recipe Exchange group. There are so many good looking recipes, this was just one that I tried tonight. It was very good despite the fact that I forgot to add the grated sharp cheddar cheese the last half hour...oopsies.

Thinly slice 8 potatoes (I used my Pampered Chef slicer):

Add one onion chopped and one pound cubed ham (I used two ham steaks):

Mix 1 oz country gravy mix (this pack was 2.5 oz...I just used half of it), 2 cans cream of mushroom soup and 2 cups water:

Pour over potato mix:

Cook in the crock pot on low 7-9 hours or high 3-4 hours. Add 2 cups grated sharp cheddar cheese the last half hour. I forgot to take a picture of the finished product, but let me assure you it tasted yummy!! I cooked it on high for about 4 hrs and 15 mins...I think 3 and a half hours on high would be perfect!

Snow Geese

One day:

Another day:



And one final day:

And Your Name Is?

Usually the issue is the number of L's in my name :)

Happy Birthday Kurt!

Alyssa made a chocolate cake with peanut butter icing for Kurt for his bday today. She brought it to church for dessert, but there were already so many desserts there, including another chocolate cake with PB icing, that we ended up bringing it home without even putting it out!! Note the Penn State theme :)

It's always a struggle figuring out what to get him for his bday or Christmas. I met Adam at Sears on Saturday in the tool department to browse so Adam could come up with some idea as to what to get him; I met him in the aisle where the garage door openers were and it suddenly became perfectly clear what to get him!! Apparently both our garage door openers are shot! I knew one was broken, didn't realize they both were shot! He is know the proud owner of a new one!

Happy 86th Birthday, Grandpa!!

Winter

It's THON weekend!

Happy 17th Birthday, Erika!!

Cheesy Chicken Chowder

I found this recipe in one of our local newspapers and it seemed easy enough to try. I am so glad I did! It was yummy!!

Peel and wash the vegetables:

Buy an already made chicken at your local grocery store:

Dice carrots, celery, onions and potatoes:

Clean meat off the chicken:

Melt butter, mix with flour and add milk. Stir til thick:

Simmer veggies in chicken broth til cooked, about 15 minutes:

Add grated sharp cheddar cheese to thickened milk:

Stir til cheese is melted:

Add chicken to veggies:

Add cheese/milk to veggies and chicken:

Serve with rolls:

Ask your son to make a face as though it's the best thing he's ever eaten:

Whaaattt?!?!!?

You didn't have to heat it to 3000 Kelvin, Mom (I have no idea how hot that actually is)

Well, I think it's yummy:

Adam's answer to cool off the soup was to add frozen corn to his bowl! Of course, he opened one of the bags that you can steam the veggies right in the bag in the microwave....I figured at that point, he might as well just add the rest of the corn in the bag to the pot. So our leftovers will have corn in it! I have enough soup left for another meal, plus I took some out for my lunch on Monday. Please note, however, that I did double the recipe. The recipe below is NOT doubled:

Cheesy Chicken Chowder

2 (14 oz) cans chicken broth
2 cups diced, peeled potatoes
1 cup diced carrots
1 cup diced celery
1/2 cup diced onion
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper

1/4 cup butter (just added 2/16/10....i missed this!!)
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
2 cups milk
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
2 cups diced or shredded cooked chicken (cook your own, or buy a rotisserie from the store)

1. Bring chicken broth to a boil in a large saucepan. Reduce heat. Add potatoes, carrots, celery, onion, salt and pepper. Cover and simmer until vegetables are tender, about 15 minutes.

2. Melt butter in a medium saucepan. Add flour and mix well. Gradually stir in milk and cook over low heat until slightly thickened. Stir in cheese and cook until melted. Add cheese mixture to broth and vegetables along with chicken. Cook and stir over low heat until thoroughly heated.

Serves 8.