Food Friday - Taco Stuffed Shells

Taco Stuffed Shells
adapted from Blogchef.net

This is the second time I've made these Taco Stuffed Shells and they were a hit both time.  Even my boys ate them and that says a lot.  I love to serve them with a side of sour cream, some sliced green onions, and lettuce. Then add sides of rice and beans and you have a great meal (Ok, I don't eat the beans but my husband and kids do!!) 


Ingredients:
1lb ground beef
1 package taco seasoning
1 4 once package cream cheese
12 large pasta shells
1 cup salsa
1 cup taco sauce
1 cup cheddar cheese (shredded)
1 cup Monterey jack cheese (shredded)
1 ½ cups tortilla chips (crushed)
3 green onions (chopped)
1 cup sour cream

Cooking Instructions: 
 
 Step 1: In a fry pan cook ground beef and add taco seasoning and prepare according to package directions. Add cream cheese cover and simmer until cheese is melted. Blend well. Set aside and allow to fully cool. While burger is cooking cook the pasta shells, drain and toss well with butter.
Step 2:  Pour salsa in the bottom of a 9 x 13 inch baking dish.
Step 3: Stuff each shell with the meat mixture. Place the stuffed shells in the baking dish and cover the tops of the shells with taco sauce.
Step 4: Cover and bake in the oven at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.
Step 5: After 30 minutes, uncover, and sprinkle crushed chips and shredded cheddar and Monterey jack cheeses on top.  Cook for about 15 more minutes. Serve with sour cream, additional salsa, black olives or whatever you think goes good with tacos!
 

Pinterest Projects

So I realized last time I posted my Pinterest post, I had actually written it a month or so before but didn't post it until after I finished the items - the post didn't make sense . . .. kinda.  So, I'm going to post my current projects that I want to do. I will then (hopefully . . if I remember) post an update in one month!

From my Thanksgiving Folder I want to make a version of this thanksgiving countdown calendar from Mom Colored Glasses

I'm in the process (the never ending process) of organizing my basement. I've tried so many ideas for organizing manuals and none seem to work so this simple binder idea from Designing Vitues seems like it might actually work.  I need to sort through all of ours anyway and then I can store the binder on a shelf in the classroom.

Lately I've noticed that our towels stink.  So when I saw this idea pinned from EcoKaren for cleaning a front loader washer, I figured it was something I should try.  I'll let you know how it works ;-)

This idea for a birthday calendar is awesome and I want to make one.  The idea comes fromEighteen25.  I already have the clipboard so I just need to print :-)

And finally is this - Christmas!   What is it??  My whole board from Pinterest.  I couldn't really narrow it down instead my goal is to print, plan, and create throughout November so I'm ready for December.  I'll update as I do different projects.  I have already started on our count down calender that I found through a "too cute" post last year.   (I guess doing the Thanksgiving countdown might be a better idea first HA!) 

I should also mention that I'm hosting Thanksgiving this year so I'm hoping to do a couple of other cute things too - last year I made place cards for the table that were adorable so I may just make up a few more :-) 

Halloween Photos

Every year, our photographer hosts an open house a few weeks before Halloween and takes photos of the kids in Costumes . ..for free!  She then sends at least one print of each child for a keepsake. I love it because she gets such awesome shots of the boys.  On Friday, Kellys Korner will host her weekly "Show us your Life" and the theme is Halloween Costumes!  I thought I would post this today but be sure to check out her blog on Friday to see other cute costumes :-)

 Josh chose to be a fireman this year.  He just stood there so perfectly for photos!  Don't you love his green "fire boots"?? Those are his rain boots and he loves them!!!

Nate chose to be a Race Car Driver this year.  Now, these pictures are almost a "miracle".  See, he stood for his photo, saw some blocks and went running to play.  The photographer (not our normal one) reacted to him and he just started sobbing.  We could not get him to smile for anything and he wouldn't leave my side.  Our regular photographer came to the rescue and set up some tires for him to "fix" outside so we were able to get these photos of him in costume.

We have lots of Halloween activities coming up - I think they get to wear their costumes 3 more times which also means lots of Candy and lots of fun!

Too Cute Not To Toot!

I'm sitting here on a Monday night after a busy day of prepping for a birthday party for my now 4 year old and realizing that I haven't written a post for Tuesday!  I've also realized that I have not decorated for fall.  I just have not had the desire to drag everything out even though my husband has asked me to do so . . .twice.  Not sure why, I just haven't but, Thanksgiving is now at my house so I guess I better get my fall on pretty soon! 

This first idea isn't just a single craft and it is whole house of halloween decorations.  A Pretty Life gives some great inspiration in her post!

Because it is so late tonight and, well, I'm tired, I'm going to let that by your inspiration for the week!

Homeschool Happenings Week 8

First of all I must say Happy Birthday to my very special 4 year old today!!!  We'll be doing this to celebrate his birthday throughout the week so I'll be sharing a birthday post this weekend :-)  

This past week our learning focused more on things that we were doing each day than book learning.  Here's a look at our week!

Monday - I've figured out that I don't need to do preschool 5 days a week, 2 hours a day.  That's just crazy.  So, we don't normally do preschool on Mondays - instead we go to the grocery store (which is all about learning anyway!).  The boys usually have specific items that they are supposed to remember to get (I Help them remember!).  This week on Monday though, the boys had some building time with Darryl.

My sister-in-law picked up this huge set of Marble Works at a garage sale a few years ago and gave them to us because she remembered her brothers (my husband being one of her brothers) playing with them growing up. Well, the boys are finally hold enough to enjoy playing and building so my THREE boys spent the time before dinner making this fun tower.

Tuesday - The boys love playing games and this See and Spell activity is a favorite.  Don't judge, some days are just pajama days. 

Wednesday - Field Trip!  I've been trying to get us to the park for several weeks but due to rain, high winds, and cold temps (not to mention everyone with runny noses) it just didn't happen.  Well, today was IT!  It was 70 degrees, sunny and dry . . .well at least while we were there (It rained later in the day and rained the rest of the week!).  I'm hoping to get back to the park at least one other time . .. 

Thursday - I have to admit .. .I don't remember what we did today . . . .maybe nothing ;-)

Friday - We went to Friday school in the morning and normally I don't plan a lot on Friday afternoons other than picking up for the weekend.  But I thought I'd share these photos.

 Josh asked me to play blocks with him so how could I resist!  A week ago they went to visit their grandpa up north with Darryl and they had a little birthday party for both boys.  They each got some money so we took them to the store to pick out a gift.  Nate picked out the blocks and Josh picked out a whole bucket of play food.  Those have been the main toys this week! 

There is a story behind this little table :-)  At Friday school there is a huge table of . . ummm .. junk.  At least that is what I see normally.  It is stuff people bring to give away.  Well, this past week Josh spotted a big bag of dishes and play food.  His eyes got huge and he looked up at me and said "Look at that mom".  So I grabbed it and ignored the pretty pick dishes ;-) LOL  Let me tell you, we got home and the boys threw a tea party that lasted all afternoon and they even cleaned their floor before the day was done.  These dishes are such a huge hit.  Between the food he got for his birthday gift and this free bag of kitchen stuff, my kids are cooking up a storm! 

That's our week!

A Few of my Favorites

This week (and maybe in the future - who knows!) I've decided to share some of my favorite blog posts from this past week.  Posts that made me think, smile, or dream a little more.  To me, Sundays are the days to sit back and read something without feeling rushed so, take time and check out the following posts:

1) Rainbow Birthday Cake from Comfy in the Kitchen - Sure she shares an easy recipe but she also is not an over the top birthday party planner and that was great to see.  It often seems that blog land shows incredible parties that many of us can't recreate- this post does not do that :-)

2) Little Writer from Superchikk - I love this blog in general but this particular post shares her sons progress with learning to write and how it ties into the meaning of his name.  Such a great post!

3) Operation Christmas Child; Paper or Plastic from Mama Jenn- This is the first post I read this year about Operation Christmas Child and it reminded me that I wanted to do this with my boys.  My goal this year is one box.  I plan on taking the boys to the store the first week of November, allowing them to pick out toys for the box and then we can actually pay online and then will be able to track our box to see where it goes.  I really loved this post !

That's all for this week.  In the future, I am going to add these as I read them - I know there were some more great posts this past week but I can't remember them!

Enjoy your Sunday (Today I'll actually be busy prepping for a special party for a little boy turning 4!)

Weekly Menu

So, did I mention last week that I'm in love with my new plan?  Well, I am!  This weeks menu was a huge success and, because I was making things that I know well several nights of the week, it made it easy to cook.  I've also been diligent to save left overs so we can eat those on Sunday night (I hate cooking on Sunday evening!)  plus I also made a double batch of both the root beer pulled pork and shrimp so I have those two meals in the freezer.  I like to use those meals around the holidays when I'm busy cooking other things like pies, cookies and fun food to serve. 

We have a very busy week coming up - we have something going every single day Monday-Sunday.  It isn't often that we get weeks like this so we will just enjoy it!

Monday - Josh turns 4 today and we are having the grandparents over for a little party.  Since he is four and really enjoys certain foods I wanted the meal to be mostly about his likes.  We are having Chili Dogs and I'm going to make homemade Hot Dog Chili to use on the dogs, Plain Hot dogs for those that don't like Chili Dogs, Cole Slaw, Macaroni Salad and Pumpkin Pie Dip with Apples. Then we will have Chocolate Cupcakes with Chocolate frosting (per Josh's request) and Vanilla Ice Cream.  YUM!!

Tuesday - On this day we get Josh's 4 year photos taken!  Dinner tonight will be Brown Sugar and Balsamic Glazed Pork Loin, sauteed cabbage and bacon and Thanksgiving Stuffing (both side recipes are new!)

Wednesday - Tonight my husband has practice so it is just the boys and I for dinner. I'm planning Skinny Swedish Meatballs over Noodles. My boys both like meatballs and noodles so hopefully they will eat well :-)  I made this recipe once before but I don't think I ever shared it.  This will be my "test" - if it isn't good, I won't share it HA!

Thursday - Guess what?  I'm done cooking for the week!  YIPPEE!!  Tonight we are going to the Fall Festival in our little town.  They do trick-or-treating down main street with lots of activities and a Chili Dog Contest. We will either get Chili Dogs for Dinner or stop and get a pizza on the way home.  It is usually determined by how cold it is outside!! (Who wants to sit outside freezing eating a hot dog??)

Friday - Our church is having a harvest party tonight and yes, there will be food ;-)  I signed up for dessert so I plan to make a couple of kinds of cookies to take (in a disposable container) so I don't have to worry about bringing anything home!

Saturday - Ok, I lied.  I am cooking brunch today.  I'm going to make biscuits and sausage gravy (I can't believe I haven't shared this recipe either!!) and eggs.  We'll then be heading to the zoo for the Zoo Boo as part one of Josh's birthday weekend.  Dinner will be out - not 100% sure where. The kids just want chicken and Fries so as long as the restaurant serves that we are good ;-)  (We are leaning towards our favorite Mexican place but we'll see!)

Sunday - We will still be celebrating with Josh so lunch will be out, again, not sure where yet.  For Dinner- frozen pizza's will be waiting for us :-) 

WOW!  So busy but so much fun :-)  Looking forward to a great week!