Fourth Grade Camp 2012

It's 10:20 and I've just finished making the team flags for fourth grade camp. Less than three days away until we  go on our great "camping" adventure! I hope the kids are as excited as I am. I am looking forward to three days experiencing something that most St. Louis adults got to do when they were kids. Camp is a big thing around here, not something I had heard of when I was growing up. I really enjoyed my group of kids last year, and I know that I'll probably be learning as much as they will! I'm not worried about dissecting owl pellets, the mess hall food, the rain, bugs, or attempts at teaching survival skills and archery. That all I can handle, however, I'm a little worried about taking a two minute shower and hoping that this rule does not apply to the camp staff! Wish me luck!

Grad Classes

In January I started my graduate program through Missouri Baptist University and my days spent studying look a lot like Cory and Shawn's days in Boy Meets World. I'm such a procrastinator! Although not near as bad as I was in my undergrad, I can definitely put off a project. Every thirty minutes or so I need to browse through Facebook, my school email, gmail, hotmail, and all the new Pinterest posts since the previous thrity minutes. If only I could get it done quickly, then I would have so much more time! Once I get started, I can pretty much fly through, but please tell me you have the same problem that I do!?!?

The Hunger Games Trilogy

There are very few books that are good enough to read again. This series, by Suzanne Collins, not only is one I will read again, but again, and again, and again. The first book, The Hunger Games, was adapted into film and opened last Thursday in theaters. Absolutely the best movie, but absolutely not a fraction as good as the book. Katniss Everdeen, her hometown friend Gale, and her Hunger Games partner Peeta, are quickly brought into your heart and force you to cheer for them. The following books in the series, Catching Fire and Mockingjay, only take you farther and farther into their world and get better and better with each page. I certainly felt a loss when I closed the last page and did not want it to end.

This series begins with the first book that follows the main character, Katniss Everdeen, as she leaves her life in District 12 and enters the Hunger Games. District 12 is one of twelve districts that services the capitol, a city that keeps control over the outlying districts by hosting the Hunger Games. We read of Katniss as she leaves her family, Gale, and home (not a nice one at that), to represent her district with Peeta in the Hunger Games. One girl and one boy are chosen from each district to train and then enter an arena (always in different locations) to fight to the death, with only one victor. Set in the future, this story is not one to pass up! Have you read it and did you love it as much as I did?

Spring Break

Spring break for students is a chance for parents to scramble for babysitters or leave for a bonding vacation in the sun. Spring break for teachers is to have a BREAK! And I'm loving it! A week away from my students means I'm a better teacher and come back after ten days reenergized and refreshed for the MAP test and the end of the school year. I packed my car to the max, stuffed in Tinkerbell and Tarzan, and left ASAP to drive the three hours to my parent's house. And I will leave ALAP (As late as possible) to go home ten days later. My poor husband, how he must miss me! ;)


My list of accomplished tasks:
-I started my fifth book this morning.
-A great dinner with a friend.
-A three hour lunch with another friend.
-Antiquing and shopping with my mom.
-Two mile walks with my animals.
-Staying up till two and sleeping until ten.

Although, I'm hoping these last few days snail crawl along, I do look forward to going back. My favorite part of the break is the smile I will get on Monday morning from each of my kiddos. They love me and I love them.....especially after a ten day break.

Philadelphia Cooking Creme Chicken Pasta

Four ingredient fancy food! Love cooking, but love weeknight meals that only take 15 minutes from start to finish even more! I received a coupon for a free Philadelphia Cooking Creme for belonging to Kraft First Taste. I have received probably around 10 or so free food items and love that program! I was a little nervous to try this product...why? Who knows...so I waited until the day it expired, and I LOVED it! So did my non-dairy-loving husband!

This is how it went down...

First, I took my day's frustration out on some poor chicken breasts. Just kidding, I had a great day. :)

Add some Zesty Italian dressing to marinate, and grill.

Cook some noodles. I, very smartly (enter sarcasm), bought pasta in bulk at Sams...like a YEAR ago. We're still trying to carb our way through it.

Dump in your, expired :), Philadelphia Cooking Creme.

I had the flavor Italian Cheese and Herb, but there are others that look just as yummy.

Stir to coat.

Top with your sliced, grilled chicken!

Kraft also puts out a lot of cooking creme coupons to make this even more budget friendly! (LIKE!)

Ice Box Pudding

I'm back!!! I have been MIA in blogland lately, but for good reason! I'm on summer break and I've been busy! :) I was able to spend a good 3 1/2 weeks home in Kansas City, was in a good friend's wedding, ran around with my mom, melted in the heat, spend a couple days on the lake, melted in the heat (did I already say that), celebrated the hub's birthday, attended a family reunion (shout out to the nice ladies I met and who read my blog! :), and started way too many crafty projects that will keep me busy for a long time. It was nice to forget about my "real" world responsibilities for a bit. That's one of the best things about being a teacher!

This recipe is a family favorite. My grandma taught me to pour milk over it and eat it kinda like cereal. I completely gross out the hubby when I do that, but it is the best way to eat this stuff! Basically this Ice Box Pudding is glorified homemade chocolate pudding, so delicious and has graced my birthday meals for many a year.

Ice Box Pudding Ingredients:

1/4 cup cornstarch

1 cup sugar

1/4 tsp. salt

2 cups milk

3 slightly beaten egg yolks

2 Tbsp. butter

1/2 tsp. vanilla

4 Tbsp. cocoa

Vanilla wafers

Scald the milk in a small saucepan. (Simply means that you heat the milk to boiling point.)

Mix cornstarch, sugar, salt, and cocoa together. Gradually add milk.

Cook over medium heat until thick (about 10 minutes), stirring constantly.

Slowly add a small amount of the hot mixture to egg yolks. This is to temper the eggs. You want to gently heat the egg yolk up before adding to the hot sauce so you don't end up with scrambled eggs in your pudding.

Once you've tempered the eggs, stir them into the remaining hot mixture. Continue to cook over medium heat for 5 minutes. Add butter and vanilla while still warm.

Butter a 9 inch square baking dish. Line bottom with vanilla wafers. Pour half of the mixture over wafers and spread evenly.

Add another layer of wafers.

Top with remaining pudding mixture.

May serve warm or cold, with whipped cream or in a bowl with milk.

Refrigerate leftovers.

Mexican Stuffed Peppers

For years, which thinking about it now seems ridiculous, I have been wanting to try to make stuffed peppers. I honestly hadn't ever even tried them before. I'm not a fan of raw green peppers and the yellow and red peppers are usually pretty pricey at the store. (The cooked ones are much more tolerable! :)) A few weeks ago Aldi had a bag of 3 peppers priced at 99 cents. I snatched up two bags and kind of hoarded them hoping they would last forever. :) Of course, the next time I looked at them, they were in desperate need to be used and in came this recipe. It was a great change from my usual Mexican meals and very filling. Now I'm left hoping Aldi runs another great deal soon...maybe I'll get three bags next time! ;)

Ingredients:

1 lb. ground beef

2 cups white rice, cooked

4-6 bell peppers, any color

1 package taco seasoning

1 can diced tomatoes

1 cup shredded cheese

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and bring 4 quarts of salted water to a boil.

2. Prepare the bell peppers. Cut of top and use a spoon to remove the core and as much of the white inside as possible.

3. When water is boiling, carefully drop in the bell peppers and let cook for 3 minutes. Remove with tongs and let drain on a paper towel.

(Don't worry, the floaties seen in the pic are part of the cores I scooped out!)

4. Brown and drain ground beef.

5. Add in diced tomatoes, taco seasoning, and cooked rice. Stir to combine.

6. Place partially cooked bell peppers in a baking dish. You may need to slice a bit of the bottom off so they can stand up. Or just smoosh them in a snug dish.

7. Fill with the beef and rice mixture. If you use only 4 peppers, there will probably be leftover mixture but it tastes great in soft tacos or nachos for lunch the next day!

8. Top peppers with cheese and place in 350 degree oven for 30 minutes.

Ole! ;)