Feta Mac & Cheese

Feta Mac & Cheese

I found myself with a bunch of extra feta on hand and wanted a way to use up a bunch in one dish.  I wanted to try this mac and cheese plain first, but next time I think I'll experiment with adding in spinach, mushrooms, sundried tomatoes, herbs, and/or fresh tomatoes.  This was just ok in my opinion, it still need some tweaking for a bit more flavor, but it's a good starting point.

-1 box whole wheat elbows or shells, cooked al dente
-1 Tbsp olive oil
-2 c crumbled feta cheese
-5 eggs
-2 c skim milk
-1/2 tsp salt
-1/2 tsp pepper
-2 slices whole wheat sandwich bread, toasted well and broken into crumbs

Toss hot pasta with olive oil.  Then toss coated pasta with feta cheese.  Spread into a greased 13x9  pan.  In a medium bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, salt, and pepper.  Pour egg mixture over pasta.  Top with bread crumbs.  Bake at 400 for 40 minutes, or until set and top is browned.

Slow Cooker Pumpkin Oatmeal

Slow Cooker Pumpkin Oatmeal

I enjoyed the slow cooker apple oatmeal so much that I wanted to try a pumpkin version also.  Serve with milk, brown sugar, craisins, and nuts for topping.

-3 c rolled/ old fashioned oats
-6 c water
-3/4 c milk
-1 can pumpkin
-1 c brown sugar
-2 Tbsp butter, cut up
-2 tsp vanilla
-2 tsp cinnamon
-1/2 tsp ginger
-1/4 tsp nutmeg
-1/4 tsp cloves

Combine all ingredients in a greased slow cooker.  Cook on low for 2-4 hours.

3 years old

Happy Birthday to my fun, sweet, energetic boy!  I can't believe that you are 3 years old!  The time has flown by!

It is such a joy to be your mother.  You brighten my world.  You help me to play and have fun.  To enjoy the journey and not just the destination.  You teach me so much about life, myself, and God.  About patience, grace, and forgiveness.  

You are such a fun, energetic, funny, enthusiastic little kid.  You are brave and fearless.  You are sensitive and thoughtful.  

You are such a good friend.  You share really well and even find joy in bringing snacks and toys for the playdates we have with your friends.  You pray for your friends every night before bed and want to see them every day.

You are a great big brother.  You never get angry or impatient with your brother, even when he cries a whole 20 minute car ride.  If anything you love him too much and are constantly trying to play with him and invading his personal space bubble (which he actually seems to enjoy).

You are so smart!  You know the alphabet, shapes, colors, how to count to between 20 and 30, and can recognize many letters by sight now.

You love trucks and know every type by sight.  Even more than you love trucks, you love dirt.  Pretty much every time we go to a playground you choose to play in the dirt rather than on the actual playground equipment.  

You are potty trained.  You sleep by yourself in your big boy bed with Lightning McQueen and Mater sheets.  Soon your little brother will also be sharing your room with you.

You nap some days and not others.  You enjoy life way too much to interrupt and miss it by sleeping during the day.

You are a fairly picky eater.  You eat most fruits, raw carrots and cucumbers, cheese, any carby snacks, pb&j and grilled cheeses.

We let you watch a few shows before bed each night, and first thing each morning.  Your current favorite is the Mighty Machine Series, especially the Harvest, Car Wrecker, and Machines go to School episodes.

You no longer answer to Noah, and have informed us (and anyone who asks your name) that your name is Hard Hat Harry.  You got this from the character on All About Helicopters.  You also have an alter ego known as Tom Tom Bane.  We have no idea where this name came from, but when you start calling yourself this you get pretty wild and rowdy.  You have also started calling your brother Eck-o-loo.  It caught on and kinda stuck and now our whole family calls Elisha Eckoloo.

Although you are such a rough and energetic little boy, there is a softer side to you.  You are sensitive, empathetic, and discerning.  You are going to be a leader.  You will be able to feel the hurts of others, and your heart will go out to them.  You will care about and love people.  You will love Jesus.  If you marry, and have kids, you will be an amazing husband and daddy.  You will make disciples of the nations.

Your daddy and I are so proud of you, and love you lots!  You have changed our lives for the better, taught us how to play and explore.  You give us a reason to be a man and woman of God, to lead by example, to do the things we want to see you do, to provide a stable, loving, Christ centered home.

Construction Party

For Noah's 3rd birthday we had a Construction themed party.  I thought it was the perfect theme for him because he loves trucks and diggers and is obsessed with playing in dirt.  In fact, anytime we go to a playground he chooses to play in the dirt rather than playing on any playground equipment.  So for the party we basically turned our whole backyard into a construction zone.  We had sections of pine straw, rocks, and dirt, and plenty of trucks and shovels for the kids to dig with.  It was a really fun party, I think the kids had a blast playing and since the kids were happy and occupied the adults got to relax and chat.

Huge thanks to my hubby and his parents for getting our backyard converted to a construction zone, y'all are amazing!!!!!

 since the focus was the dirt and digging, the decorations were fairly simple and easy.  some caution tape and a few constuction-y looking signs

 for the cake, I made a plain chocolate sheet cake, with chocolate frosting, and then used graham cracker crumbs to top it and make it look like dirt

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Muffins

I made these Peanut Butter Muffins.  The only change that I made was to add 1 c semisweet chocolate chips to the batter.  I thought they turned out well, Noah however, did not like them, and Jeremy thought they were just okay.  Guess I'll stick with our faves of banana chocolate chip muffins and pumpkin oat muffins.

Slow Cooker Apple Oatmeal

Slow Cooker Apple Oatmeal

This dish just screams fall... warm, hearty, soul soothing, apples, cinnamon, and spices.  Serve with additional milk, raisins, craisins, nuts, maple syrup, and/ or brown sugar for topping.  

-2 c whole oats
-4 c water
-1/2 c milk
-1 tsp cinnamon
-1/8 tsp cloves
-1/8 tsp nutmeg
-1/2 tsp vanilla
-1 Tbsp butter, cut up
-1/4 c brown sugar
-1/8-1/4 c maple syrup
-2 apples, peeled and diced

Combine all ingredients in a greased slow cooker.  Cook on low 4 hours.  Serve with desired toppings.

Vietnamese Hot and Sour Soup

Vietnamese Hot and Sour Soup

We are huge fans of Vietnamese food.  It is probably my favorite cuisine.  This soup is Jeremy's current "go to" order at our favorite spot, although he usually gets it with chicken rather than shrimp.  Serve rice on the side for scooping into your bowl.  I thought this turned out well, but no where near as good as what we get out.  I'd say it's not my best work, or even my best Asian soup, but it's good, healthy, easy and worthwhile.

-8 c chicken or seafood broth
-5 Tbsp fish sauce
-4 Tbsp sugar
-3 Tbsp lime juice
-1 Tbsp sriracha
-2 tomatoes, cut into large chunks
-1/2 pineapple, cut into bite sized chunks
-1 lb frozen okra
-1 lb medium shrimp, peeled
-1/2 bag bean sprouts
-rice and fresh cilantro, scallions, lime wedges, and sriracha for serving

Bring broth, fish sauce, sugar, lime juice and sriracha to a boil in a large pot.  Add tomatoes, okra, and pineapple.  Reduce heat and simmer until okra starts to soften (5-10 minutes).  Add shrimp, simmer until cooked, about 5 more minutes.  Remove from heat, stir in bean sprouts and serve.