something different..

SO this weekend we are down at the river and we whipped out the ol' turkey fryer and made the most unhealthy meal. We fried chicken. We fried onion rings. We fried cauliflower. We fried Zucchini. Noticing a pattern? It may have been non calorie friendly fare but it was sooooo good. Here is the thing though, our family tends to over do it when it comes to get togethers food wise. We had a ton left plus dessert (I'll tell ya'll about that in a minute). The veggies weren't so good the next day but the chicken was crusty happiness. Fried chicken is one of my very favoritest things on the planet. I have a deficiency making it though, I have to have supervision. Anyway, we brought home ALOT so I was thinking, what could I do with this? My first inclination is to make COLORFUL CHICKEN SALAD but I am the only one in my house that likes it. :( Then I remembered seeing a recipe for MEXICAN CHICKEN MANICOTTI. I made that and let me tell you, it was de-lish! Everyone liked it, the boys even asked for seconds, something totally unheard of.
The story about the desert. In this family we make this stuff called NEXT BEST THING TO ROBERT REDFORD, it is a pecan/shortbread crust, a sweetened cream cheese layer, a pudding layer and topped with whipped cream. It is a staple at get togethers. Mr absolutely adores this dessert. Aunt Deanne thought she was going to get out of making it, but he quickly corrected that notion. You know those huge roasting pans that is like double a cake pan size? She made one of those and after we all gluttoned ourselves on all the fried stuff, we had a piece. There was ALOT left of that though, too. So Sunday morning Mr wakes up first and goes outside the camper to play. He was merrily digging in the huge hole on our lot with the kids next door so Mike and I dozed and rested and enjoyed a quiet, lazy morning. Mr comes in after awhile and tells us how his day is going. He tells us that he threw some paper towels in the fire ring to restart the fire and he got Robert Redford for breakfast. He got a BIG piece and it was good he says. He was so proud of himself, Mike and I had a hard time not giggling at him. We brought everything home and Mr had another piece because he was starving and that would make his tummy feel better. After dinner, he had ANOTHER piece for dessert. There isn't that much left now.



MEXICAN CHICKEN MANICOTTI

1 8oz package manicotti shells
2 C. cubed cooked chicken
2 C. (8 oz) shredded monterey jack cheese, divided
1 1/2 C. (6oz) shredded cheddar
1 C (8oz) sour cream
1 small onion, diced, divided
1 can (7oz) chopped green chili, divided
1 can (10 3/4oz) cream of chicken soup, undiluted
1 C. salsa
2/3 C milk

Cook mancotti according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, combine the chicken, 1 1/2 cups Monterrey jack cheese, cheddar cheese, sour cream, half the onion and 6 Tablespoons of the chilies. In another bowl, combine soup, salsa, milk, and remaining onion and chilies. Spread 3/4 cup in greased 13in x 9in x 2in baking dish.
Drain manicotti; stuff each with about 1/4 cup chicken mixture. Arrange over sauce in baking dish. Pour remaining sauce over shells.
Cover and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Uncover, sprinkle remaining Monterrey jack cheese over top. Bake additional 10 minutes or until cheese is melted.


NOTES: Obviously, this recipe can be adjusted for heat preference: use pepper jack cheese, hot salsa etc. I am a sissy and used Monterrey jack and cheddar marble with a mild salsa. Actually, it was a homemade salsa that my sister in law Kathy gave me that she had made. The only thing I thing I will tweek next time I make it is to use jumbo shells instead of manicotti shells, I didn't' like stuffing them. I got the recipe out of a Taste of Home magazine from 2006.

What a difference a few days make.

The kids slipped right back into their school routine, even with changing up who is getting them up in the AM with little trouble. I started a new job, had to train a couple of days and tonight I start the overnights. It is going to be a good schedule fit, it's weird to be going back to work after around 15 taking care of kids. I wonder if I will still get the comments about how I need to get a real job.... EEWW a little bitterness there. Anyway, I think it is going to be a good thing.
Today is school picture day. One week exactly after school starts. Homecoming is October 2nd, it seems like stuff just gets earlier each year. But, like my daughter tells me, "you've been out of school for like forever, you just don't know what it's like". I remember saying something similar to my mother. I remember her laughing. I understand that laughter now. It is true, things have changed alot but some things don't. There is still that kid that is miserable and loves making everyone else miserable. There is still the one that everyone loves but is secretly so jealous of. Still have those few souls that just don't fit anywhere. Somethings stay the same.
Mike is doing well, they are staying so busy at his job. It is really something to be thankful for when so many people are losing their jobs and have to start all over again.
I was talking to my mom yesterday, my uncle has prostate cancer. We aren't sure how advanced it is or where he's at as far as treatment. I bring this up because it's one of those things you hear about but think in the back of your mind, oh that is someone else problem, not mine. So, as my service announcement for the day, get your yearly physicals and tests done people. It is amazing to me how many people say ' I need to get this or that checked' and then don't. It isn't like a car, you can't just go buy a new body. Maybe someday we can. OOOO there is a happy thought, I'll order the size 8 with curly hair and perfect vision with great teeth. Hmmmmmm.........

RJ's Quilt

It's as off beat and fabulous as her. Almost.

First day

Of First grade




















Of 4th grade





















Of 6th grade





















And of 10th grade

Let me tell ya...

Yesterday was my 35th birthday. Every year it is really kinda a bummer because I am an adult and you just never get that huge deal made out of your day like you did when you are a kid. I know this but I still get really excited that maybe someone will do something super special just for me on my day. I know, we do the sister breakfasts and I get REALLY spoiled when it is my turn. BUT I am at least part toddler because I still hope that my day is MY day. Ya know? I woke up and Mikey had made a special trip to town to get me a fountain pop and a cinnamon roll stick thing. Two of my faves, not healthy in the least, YEAH! In the afternoon, I took my two niece's up to the city so they could spend their hard earned babysitting money on a gift certificate for their parent's anniversary. Which just happens to be the same day and did I mention that one of these niece's birthday is also the 13th? I thought it was so cool of them, how could I not help out? To thank me for my chauffeur skills, they bought me a bag of LINDT White Chocolate Lindor Truffles. OMG!! Love these, Godiva now has to share my heart with Lindt. SO, while I am out driving my teenage family around, my friend RJ made a surprise visit to drop off a gift for me from her and Shawna. I was so sad I missed her/happy I got a gift/surprised that they thought to do something. It was a Post Secret book! As you all know, I have this little fascination with Post Secret and that is what made this gift so much more to me. I cried ya'll. Just a little bit cuz I was overwhelmed with emotion but still.
Speaking of emotion, I do not understand people who can't understand how their actions directly affect other people's emotions. Or, actually, how one can deliberately hurt another human emotionally because they think it is a game. I am actually kinda ok with not understanding the whys and hows of that type of behavior because I think one would have to be broke somewhere to 'get' it.
The kids are almost back to school. I have 5 days left of them being home all day. I love my children but am soo ready for them to be learning again. I still need to get back packs, a binder, a scientific calculator, and a whole bunch of lunch supplies. It will be worth it though for daytime quiet. Which I will start to need very soon. I got an overnight job, Mike is not the least bit happy with it. I figure, I have no work history for the last 15 years, no work references, no marketable skills, I have to take what I can till I can acquire a couple of these. The hours will work out well, I will be available during the day if there is doctor appointments, early outs, sick kids, etc and I won't leave till everyone is in bed for the night anyway. SO I am on my way to being a productive member of society.
I had my foster license renewal visit today. The lady seemed surprised that I hadn't had a placement since August. I told her well, I won't take teenage boys so no, no placement. I don't' think a teenage boy would be a good idea with a 15 year old daughter. She agreed with me.

So so

I have taken a little break from working on the fabulous quilt. It is doing things all on it's own that I am trying to figure out how to work with. Chick came home from her annual adventures, complete with double ear infection. That makes for a happy teen.
I registered the kids for school today, two weeks till it starts. Bubba is going into 6th grade, 411 is a fourth grader, Mr is in first and Chick is my sophomore. From one to ten, I spread them out pretty good I must say.
I am procrastinating, I am supposed to be cleaning my camper out for our grand adventure this weekend. Mikey brought it home and washed the outside, I didn't realize how nasty it was. Sitting for a year and a half under mulberry trees will do that I spose. Good excuse to strip it out and put new bedding in, make sure all the pans and utensils are in place, and load up the new tv and dvd player since we keep forgetting to do that.
The next sister breakfast is in a couple of weeks, I am so looking forward to it. I am TIRED of the whining and arguing and sassyness. I am really thankful for these get aways.