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Summer Fettuccine Alfredo
Fettuccine Alfredo is definitely a family favorite. It is also a very easy recipe to change up. Adding in season vegetables can completely change the flavor and cause your children to think you are a genius in the kitchen. In the summer, I like to add in fresh vegetables such as bell peppers and corn. Fresh baby spinach is equally tasty. Fettuccine Alfredo is also a recipe that is hearty enough to hold up against adding a protein; while at the same time flavorful enough to not need a protein. In the summer, if I add a protein, it is usually chicken. I’ve added grilled steak slices over top as…
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Reese’s Pieces PB Cookies
Peanut butter is easily in my top 5 favorite flavors, could even possibly make the top 3. Our family goes through a large jar of peanut butter in just a few weeks. Several weeks ago…during quarantine…my tribe and I decided we needed to acquire some Crumbl cookies, sit in lawn chairs (6ft apart), and catch up with life. At the time Crumbl had their giant Reese’s Pieces Peanut Butter Cookies. One bite and I knew I would have to recreate the cookie so I could have the amazing yumminess all of the time. I make these as a giant batch and use an ice cream scoop to make sure the…
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Homeschool 101: The Water Cycle Experiment
It’s been hot here in Vegas; not triple-digits hot, thankfully. Still hot, hot enough to feel like I’m doing laundry constantly from swim attire and towels. If the amigos aren’t out in the backyard swimming, they are complaining about the heat and attempting to veg in front of an electronic. Deciding to create our own rain was definitely a time consumer for an hour. A lot of times kiddos learn about the basics of the water cycle beginning in kindergarten, and continue to learn the details as they grow. This particular experiment is super easy and only requires 3 things. The water is the air, the shaving cream is the…
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Stone Ground Honey Mustard Chicken
My love of honey mustard began when I lived in Mississippi, fifteen years ago. I have always enjoyed the sharp flavors of mustard but never knew the heaven my mouth could experience with combining mustard and honey. Ever since I’ve been somewhat obsessed with this flavor combination and have attempted several variations with both chicken and pork. This recipe stemmed from two particular condiments; stone ground mustard and Mike’s Hot Honey. I know I’ve talked about Mike’s Hot Honey before, but I’m telling you, if you haven’t listened to me yet, you HAVE to try it! Stone ground mustard is different from regular yellow mustard, as well as Dijon mustard.…
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Homeschool 101: Lemon Volcano Experiment
Since becoming a homeschool parent last fall, I decided I needed to make sure my boys still participated in STEM activities. Upping my science experiment game (which was non-existent before), was something I wanted to push myself with. It helps that I have a sister who has gone to school for Nuclear Medical Physics and always has suggestions for experiments. This last week, I wanted to talk to the amigos about acids and bases. They have done the Mentos in Coke before and they have built multiple volcanoes with my mom; but we’ve never talked in-depth about the chemical reactions between acids and bases, the pH scale, and why not…
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Homeschool 101: Kindergarten Checklist
When I became a mom with children in school, my biggest concern was making sure they never fell too far behind for their age and development. Honestly, with my oldest (my twins), that was something I worried about pretty much from 12 months on when they both qualified for speech therapy. In the early years, both my twins went through years of various types of therapy…speech to rid the twin talk. Occupational for twin A because he was diagnosed with a minor sensory processing disorder and for twin B because he had GERD as a baby with then resulted in a VERY picky palate and throwing up when trying anything…
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Scooby Snack Bowl
Last Christmas, my mother-in-law gifted me a waffle bowl maker. Let me tell you, I didn’t think I would get as much use out of it as I have. I’ve used it for traditional waffle bowls, cornbread waffle bowls for chili, savory waffle bowls for soup…the possibilities seem endless. When Matthew came to me and said he wanted to have a family movie night and watch Scoob!, I knew we could do something fun for dessert. I’ve seen these Scooby Graham Cracker Snacks around the stores before and he suggested we do some sort of sundae with them. Matthew found some at Target and when I realized they have a…
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Asian Pulled Pork
I am a huge fan of Asian food. Attempting to recreate it at home use to heavily intimidate me; but when you live in an area that doesn’t provide decent take-out you suck it up. Almost another lifetime ago, we lived in Mississippi. Backwoods, podunk, BBQ, and fried filled lifestyle. No Asian restaurants to be seen for 60+ miles. A girl can’t live without some of her favorite foods. This particular recipe was born after I tasted the yummy goodness that is Pei Wei’s Lettuce Wraps. I could eat those every day, all day! While this recipe is definitely not a dupe for Pei Wei’s, it gives a gentle nod…
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Strawberry Lemon Bundt Cake
Lemon is one of my favorite flavors in desserts. Cakes, cookies, pies…I do not discriminate when it comes to lemon. When added with other fresh flavors such as strawberry or mint, it’s a flavor explosion. I knew I wanted to have these flavors for our Easter dinner dessert. When it comes to baking anything lemon, creating the lemon flavoring can be achieved in several ways. First fresh lemon juice and lemon zest is a quick and easy way. If lemons are in short supply or expensive, lemon extract or lemon oil can also be used for the full lemon flavor. To really pack the lemon flavor punch, combine lemon juice…
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How To: Ultimate Lego Organization
I am a momma to four boys. I am also an older sister of three brothers. Legos have been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. Even before I had any brothers, my sister and I had Duplos and would build with them regularly. I distinctly remember when we lived in Spokane, WA just about every morning my sister and I would wake up to some amazing creation my dad made the night before with the Duplos while we were in bed. We would take it apart and try our best to recreate what my dad had made. My little 4-year-old heart just thought my…
