Snowman Ornament

I'm prepping for Adam's class winter party. Here's on of our student projects. It's fairly easy & affordable project for a class full of first graders. (This is not my original idea -- I found the project here.)

Supplies: (Makes 24 -- all from Hobby Lobby)
24 plastic ornaments (glass works, but we used plastic for the kids)
Orange Adhesive backed felt
1 pack of 1" red pom poms, 24 pack
1 pack of 1" green pom poms, 24 pack

1 green felt, cut strips 3/4 x 12 inch
1 red felt, cut strips 3/4" x 12 inch
2 packs of Pipe Cleaners - Christmas color pack, cut into 4" strips
Hot glue gun
Anita's black craft paint
Pencil with unused eraser

1. Cut triangle shape from orange felt. Remove backing and stick on.
2. Take 4" of two color pipe cleaners and twist together. Dab a bit of hot glue and stick on the pipe cleaners.

3. Add pom poms with hot glue.

4. Remove holder and stuff white tissue paper into hole with an unsharpened pencil. (You can also use white crinkle cut shredded paper)

5. Replace holder. Cut 3/4 inch strip from felt. Carefully wrap and glue around the "neck" area of the snowman. It doesn't have to be stuck on perfect. Just add glue here and there and stick it on. Trim length if needed. Trim edges with scissors for fringe.
6. Dip an new pencil eraser into black paint and gently put on for eyes & mouth. You could also use black glitter glue, or a black paint pen. (Black sharpie wasn't dark enough on the plastic ornament)

Mexican Style Chicken & Rice

You will be singing my praises after you make this dinner. Right there, in your kitchen, you will do a little dance because this is so good, and so easy! Just 5 main ingredients! (Thanks Jessica for giving me another rockin' recipe!)

2 Chicken breasts (you can use left over baked chicken or rotisserie, shredded...or you could use canned)

8 oz. cream cheese

1 can Rotel tomatoes and green chilies, drained

1 can corn, drained

1 can black beans
Optional: Rice, tortilla chips, tortillas

- Cook chicken using your preferred method. Shred it into bite sized pieces.
- In a large pan or pot, cook everything together until cream cheese is melted.
- Serve over rice. You can eat it with chips or in a tortilla, burrito style.

The Check -up

Yesterday, I had my checkup.

I think my oncologist was playing the gynecological version of minute to win it. He was done before I even have time to formulate a joke about him upgrading to fleece sheets with our colder weather.

(Dr. M has the greatest set up for exams. No tissue quality paper privacy wrap there. He has great big comfy, cotton sheets. You can wrap that thing around you and know with a surety that no one is going to see your butt crack, or that you are going to accidentally rip the entire thing down the front in the process.)

Luckily, there are no signs of cancer. I'm back to 6 months appointments, which is a relief.

Phew!

The HOA Meeting

Tonight was our HOA, "who's in charge", meeting. I felt I should go, since I had forgotten the insanity of last year's near lynching of the HOA president.

I don't always agree with the HOA president, but she has good intentions that aren't always presented in the best manner. For example, we frequently get newsletters that demean homeowners for not making matters of the community their full time and support (i.e. not attending the yearly Easter egg hunt or decorating the entrance for the holidays.) I always feel like I am being chastened before I've had an opportunity to participate.

Then there are the surveys. We should have a survey to end surveys.

We had some guest speakers. My favorite was the animal control person who spoke on rabies vaccinations and told a compelling story about a wolf that intervened a pizza delivery and ended up having to be put down.

Like last year, this meeting became a forum for the brazen few. The rest of us were forced to listen to their ramblings. Here's some highlights from tonight's meeting.

"Who's in charge of the fences?"

"Who's in charge of the neighborhood sprinkler system?"

"Who's in charge of city park next to our neighborhood?"

"Who's in charge of fining vehicles that park illegally two miles from our neighborhood?"

"Who's in charge of owners that let their dogs poop on other people's lawn?"

"Who can I call if the neighborhood sprinklers are running, and it's raining outside?"

"Who decides that all the trees get planted near the fences, it seems to be city wide?"

"What do I do if someone parks the wrong way on my street?"

"Did that wolf get to eat any of that pizza?" (I wish I was kidding!)

These were all followed by a lengthy discussion of the ethics of allowing an option for homeowner's to allow the board president to vote by proxy on an issue. "Because one person having that much power is unethical!" It was truly ridiculous.

I now see why it is so difficult for the board to get a mere 10 percent of the neighborhood to attend, or send in proxy votes, to actually hold the meetings.

Apparently, they are all smarter than me.

Spooky Houses

Tonight we made spooky Halloween houses!Adam's turned out great!

Can't wait to eat it!

Black frosting may have not been our best choice! Check out that smile!!

Chicken Spaghetti

Ingredients:
2-3 large chicken breasts - cooked & chopped
12 oz package of spaghetti - cooked
1/3 cup of cheez whiz sauce in a jar (or 3 oz of velveeta/mexican velveeta cheese block)
1 can of cream of chicken OR cream of mushroom soup
1/2 onion finely chopped
1/2 green pepper finely chopped
8 oz package (2 cup package) of shredded cheese (I like mexican blend)

Optional: add chopped broccoli, chopped mushrooms, or chopped red bell pepper

Instructions:

Cook chicken by boiling water. Keep leftover broth.

Cook spaghetti by boiling water. Don't overcook it because it will get mushy in the oven. Drop 1-2 min off the package directions and you should be fine.

In a large mixing bowl mix cheez whiz, cream of chicken soup, diced onion, diced green peppers, cooked diced chicken, & 1/2 pack of shredded cheese. Add 1/2 cup of reserved chicken broth (or water) and stir. Add any other optional ingredients. Add cooked spaghetti and stir. Pour everything into large baking dish (9x12) and top with remaining package of cheese.

Bake for 350 for 20-30 minutes until everything is heated and cheese is melted.

** ** The cheez whiz in a jar is kind of pricey, but it is cheaper than the velveeta block stuff. Get the smallest jar you can find. You don't need a ton of it. If you can't find it, get the larger 16 oz (4 cup) package of shredded cheese in it's place. Just use 2 cups of shredded cheese to mix, and 1 cup of shredded cheese on top. You should have about 1 cup leftover. You can add up to 1/2 cup more chicken broth if it seems to thick.

Golden Potato Chowder

This recipe is from the clean eating magazine. You can make this healthiest by using skim milk & light cream cheese. So good!

Ingredients:
1 tsp extra virgin olive oil
1 small onion chopped
2 large carrots, peeled and chopped into 1/2 inch slices
8 oz white mushrooms, cut into quarters
3 cups of chicken broth
1 lb. spaghetti squash, skin & seeds removed, cut into 1/2 inch chunks
3 redskin/new potatoes, unpeeled, cut into 1 inch cubes
6 oz ham cut into 1/4 inch cubes
1/4 cup milk
2 oz cream cheese

Instructions:
Heat oil in a large pot on medium for 1 minute. Add onion, carrots, and mushrooms. Cook for 5 minutes.

Stir in broth, squash, potatoes. Bring soup to a boil on high heat, then reduce heat to low, cover and simmer for 10 minutes. Stir in ham and heat through.

Meanwhile, in a small pot on low heat, add milk and cream cheese. Cook, whisking constantly for 1 minute or until mixture is smooth.

Ladle 1 cup soup mixture into milk mixture and mix. Pour milk mixture back into pot and stir to combine. Serve immediately. Use a fork to break up any spaghetti squash that is still in chunks. It should resemble shredded cheese when you are finished.

** I have the deli counter cut a slab of honey ham at thickness "11" One slab is usually enough, unless it is near the ends of the ham. I add 2 tsp of Italian seasonings while it is cooking.