Twist On Taco Braid

I took Evan's recipe from last month and changed a few things . . . my family LOVED this!

Ingredients:

1 pkg crescent rolls

1 can re fried beans

1 can olives

chicken

taco seasoning

cheese

jalapenos (optional)

tortilla chips

tomato

lettuce

avocado

sour cream

Directions:

Cook chicken and then cube or shred and cook on the stove with 1/4 c water and taco seasoning for 3-4 minutes.  Lay out crescent rolls on pan.  Layer beans and chicken followed by olives and jalapenos.  Add cheese and top with crushed tortilla chips.

Wrap crescent rolls around everything. 

Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.

Top with your choice of toppings and enjoy!  Thank you Evan!

Sausage Braid

Yesterday was Wednesday and that means breakfast night at the Westra house.  My parents watched the kiddos last night while the hubs and I were out for the evening.  Along with pancakes topped with mixed berries I made them one of our family favorites.  I'm not quite sure where this recipe comes from-perhaps pampered chef?  Either way it is YUMMY! So here is what you need:

12 oz pork sausage

1/2 cup chopped onion

1/4 cup chopped green pepper

1 garlic cloves minced(I use my garlic press instead)

1 package 4 oz cream cheese cubed

2 TBSP. minced parsley

1 tube refrigerator crescent rolls

1 egg lightly beaten

NOTE:  Because I have a large family I always double this recipe.

 In skillet over medium heat cook sausage, onion, green pepper, and garlic until meat is cooked through.  Drain.  Add cream cheese and parsley.  Stir over low heat until cheese is melted.

 Lay out crescent rolls onto greased baking sheet.  Place the sausage mixture on top and start folding over your braid.  Brush dough with beaten egg.

 Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes

Enjoy!

Great Job Chart!

This is a great job chart for both kids and parents and is super easy to make!

I love it because it is so visual.

Materials:

1-12" x 6" piece of cardboard (i.e. cereal box or other cardboard)

2 pieces of scrapbook paper

yarn or string

1-4 straws (depending on how many chores and how many times a week they need to be completed)

scissors

double sided tape or glue

marker

Directions:

First, you will cut 1 piece of scrapbook paper to cover the cardboard completely (13" x 12") and tape or glue it down (we all know by now that I used tape because I am too impatient for glue :) )

Next, cut 1/4" notches into the ends of the cardboard to support the yarn or string.  Be sure that the notches line up so the string will be straight when strung across.  You will cut as many notches as you need for the number of chores your child needs to complete.

You will then cut your straws into 1/2" - 3/4" lengths (the size of these straws will depend on the number of times a week your child will compete the chore.)

Next, tie a knot onto one end of your string to help keep it in place while your string it back and forth across the chart.  Slide the string with the knot into the first notch and pull it taut.  Slide the correct number of straw pieces onto the string for the first chore and pull the string to the opposite side and slide it into the adjacent notch.  Wrap around the backside to the next notch on the opposite side and repeat above directions until you have completed a string for each chore.

You will now cut your second piece of scrapbook paper to fit ( 15.5" x 6".)  Beginning on the left, glue or tape the paper down covering the notches on the end.  Leave 2 1/4" on the front to write the chores on, and wrap the paper around the back, gluing or taping as you go.  When you get the the other side, fold the remaining 1" around to the front to cover the notches on the opposite side.

 Last,  all you have to do is write your chores on the chart as well as label which side indicates done and which side indicates that the chore still needs to be completed.

Homemade Kids' Game Gift

Tippy Tepee Game

This is a fun game to make for a child.  I saw the game in a magazine that I was reading a while back and made this gift for my Westra Children for Christmas!  Because it is a game that has pieces, I decided to make a little box to everything in.  This game reminds me of Break the Ice or Don't Break the Camels' Back.

Materials:

1 1/2 pieces of Scrapbook Paper

tape (or even better double sided tape)

wooden dowels or wooden skewers

strong scissors

Directions:

First, cut dowel or skewers to length.  I made mine varying lengths between 6 and 8 inches.  Next cut a strip of paper 3 inches by 3/4 inches (the length will depend on how many sticks you have.)  Tape the ends of the paper together to make a ring.  You will need to try it out to see if you need to make the ring wider or narrower.  If your tepee is too tippy, widen the ring.

For the box, I used a whole sheet of paper to make my box.  Fold the paper into even fourths with a 1/4 inch fifth side to use as a flap to secure the box together.  Tape or glue along the side (I used tape because I don't like waiting for glue to dry :)  Honesty is the best policy, right!)

Next, cut about 2 - 2 1/2 inches down each corner on ONLY ONE end of the box and fold sides to close the end.

  

Again, secure with tape or glue . . . we all know what I used!

For the top, I cut down each corner again so that the sticks would fit inside once it was closed.  Then I trimmed along the top of each side so that I could fold the sides into each other to close.  See the picture below.

Last, I placed the game inside along with a piece of scrapbook paper with the directions written on it.

Game Directions:

Tippy Tepee

To set up game, place sticks inside ring and fan out to stand up like a tepee.

To play, take turns carefully removing one stick at a time.  Whoever knocks the tepee over loses.

Mini Dipped Oreos

Mini Dipped Oreos

This is an easy recipe that is great for treat plates!  You could dip them in any color for any occasion!

Ingredients:

Mini Oreos (as many as you want)

Melting Chocolate or Chocolate Chips

Oil (any oil - I use Olive)

Candy Melt (any color)

Directions:

Place chocolate and oil into a microwaveable bowl.  The rule I use is for every cup of chocolate add 1 tsp of oil.  The oil helps with the finished look of the chocolate preventing it from looking chalky and also helps with the consistency.

Microwave for 45 seconds, stir, microwave at 20 second intervals stirring in between until completely melted.  

Next, dip cookies in chocolate and place onto wax paper or parchment paper to cool.  

Once cooled, place candy melt into a microwaveable bowl and follow the same instructions for melting chocolate from above.  I used tongs to dip half of the cookie into the candy melt.  Again, place onto wax paper or parchment paper to cool.  Enjoy!

Peanut Butter Balls

Yummy Peanut Butter Balls

I LOVE this recipe because the peanut butter balls don't have a lot of extra sugar refined sugar!  Plus, the recipe is easy enough that my 5 year old was able to help with the majority of the process!

Ingredients:

1 cup Creamy Peanut Butter

2/3 cup Honey

2 cups Powdered Milk

2 cups Melting Chocolate or Chocolate Chips

2 tsp Oil (I used Olive)

Directions:

First, combine peanut butter, honey, and powdered milk together to make the dough.  Roll dough into 1" balls (or whatever size you want!)  

Put chocolate and oil into a microwavable bowl and microwave for 45 seconds, stir, microwave another 30 seconds, stir, and then microwave at 20 second intervals until melted completely.  Be careful not to overcook because your chocolate will get thick and lumpy.

Next, dip balls into chocolate and place onto wax paper or parchment paper.  I put decorating pearls on mine, but you can obviously make them without.  Last, put them in the refrigerator until chocolate hardens. Enjoy!

Christmas - Winter Pancakes!

This morning I decided that it would be best if I made our breakfast more involved!!  So instead of regular pancakes, we made Christmas Pancakes!  It really wasn't more difficult than regular pancakes.  

While preparing the pancake batter (any pancake batter will do), I had the griddle heating.  I set cookie cutters on the griddle, so they would heat up too.

Next, spray the griddle and the cookie cutters with cooking spray.

Next, fill each cookie cutter with batter. Be careful not to overfill.  I found that it worked best to put batter in and then use a scraper to spread it into the shape.

When the pancakes are ready to be flipped (when you can see bubbles on the uncooked side) flip the entire cookie cutter.  You need to flip quickly, so the uncooked batter stays in the cookie cutter.  Once flipped, gently push the pancake down towards the griddle, so the pancake cooks evenly on the other side.

When cooked completely, remove the entire cookie cutter and pancake from the griddle.  The cookie cutter will be hot!  I used a paper towel to hold the cookie cutter and gently push the pancake out.  They came out really easily.  

Finally, we decorated ours with "snow" (powdered sugar.)  Enjoy!