Hmmm...

Which do I like better, carrots or pasta?

My "Angel" Boy

Last night, D had a new food added to his repertoire. Daddy was at work, so these pictures don't even begin to do it justice. However, you still may enjoy them...

Allissa inspired

Yesterday I was on my way to the store, but out of ideas of what to make for our church potluck today. So I called my sisters - one of which wasn't home (but always has wonderful ideas), and the other of which was home and thankfully, gave me several great ideas. She makes a dip that has chicken, ranch dressing, cheese, bacon, and onions. Yum. I varied that a little to make it into a casserole (what's a potluck without a casserole, right?) And despite the fact that I could never compare to some of the amazing cooks at our Mennonite church, not a single grain of rice was left when I went to collect my dish! Um, this is not AT ALL a healthy dish, by the way!

So here's the Allissa-inspired-dish-recipe:

2 cups cooked, cubed chicken (or 3 cans - either way!)
2 cups cooked rice
1 package of cream cheese
1/4 of a chopped onion
1/2 bottle ranch dressing
1 can of mushrooms, drained
1 package of Oscar-Meyer bacon bits (real, ready to serve bacon that you can find in the "salad accessories" aisle. I know it's cheating, but I hate the smell of bacon cooking!)
1 bag shredded colby jack (or your choice of cheese)

Mix ingredients together, saving some cheese for the top of the casserole. Bake for an hour at 350. Watch it disappear! Um, Megs, if you still eat cheese, you could even make it (not vegan) but vegetarian - and a bit healthier - by replacing the chicken & bacon with red peppers & yellow squash. Mmm - maybe I'll try it that way next!

Because we had a big lunch, I'm now feeding D fresh blueberries & rice cereal for dinner. Weird, but oh, well. He's a happy camper.

I also did children's time at church today, and we were talking about "chores" so I found it the perfect excuse to read them the poem of Sarah Cynthia Sylvia Stout who would not take the garbage out. Does anyone remember that?


Just for fun, here it is :)


SARAH CYNTHIA SYLVIA STOUT
WOULD NOT TAKE THE GARBAGE OUT
Sarah Cynthia Sylvia Stout
Would not take the garbage out!
She'd scour the pots and scrape the pans,
Candy the yams and spice the hams,
And though her daddy would scream and shout,
She simply would not take the garbage out.
And so it piled up to the ceilings:
Coffee grounds, potato peelings,
Brown bananas, rotten peas,
Chunks of sour cottage cheese.
It filled the can, it covered the floor,
It cracked the window and blocked the door
With bacon rinds and chicken bones,
Drippy ends of ice cream cones,
Prune pits, peach pits, orange peel,
Gloppy glumps of cold oatmeal,
Pizza crusts and withered greens,
Soggy beans and tangerines,
Crusts of black burned buttered toast,
Gristly bits of beefy roasts. . .
The garbage rolled on down the hall,
It raised the roof, it broke the wall. . .
Greasy napkins, cookie crumbs,
Globs of gooey bubble gum,
Cellophane from green baloney,
Rubbery blubbery macaroni,
Peanut butter, caked and dry,
Curdled milk and crusts of pie,
Moldy melons, dried-up mustard,
Eggshells mixed with lemon custard,
Cold french fried and rancid meat,
Yellow lumps of Cream of Wheat.
At last the garbage reached so high
That it finally touched the sky.
And all the neighbors moved away,
And none of her friends would come to play.
And finally Sarah Cynthia Stout said,
"OK, I'll take the garbage out!"
But then, of course, it was too late. . .
The garbage reached across the state,
From New York to the Golden Gate.
And there, in the garbage she did hate,
Poor Sarah met an awful fate,
That I cannot now relate
Because the hour is much too late.
But children, remember Sarah Stout
And always take the garbage out!

Shel Silverstein, 1974


Have a great week, everyone!

Happy Birthday, Grandma!

Dear Grandma,
Mommy says it's your birthday. I hope you have a great day and I wish I could be with you. So instead, you'll just have to look at this picture that Daddy took of us.
Have a good day!
Love,
Dominic