Who Needs an Ocean?

I JUST LOVE THESE CRAZY BOYS!

My Little Worker Boys

Life has been so crazy.  Moving.  Lots of visitors.  Home repairs.  Remodels.  Life with twins...etc! As a result, I have fallen behind on my blogging and desperately trying to get caught up...

Prior to moving into our new home, we spent almost 2 months cleaning and doing some home repairs/remodeling.  I was very proud of Bryce & Drew.  They always had a good attitude about going to the "new house" and helping out.  They both love to work...especially Bryce.

Today, I captured my quirky, little Drew helping Jimmy with some yard work!

I hope we can instill a good work ethic in our boys.  I think the key is TO MAKE IT FUN!

The Best Homemade Salsa

This salsa recipe rocks and goes really well with the Spicy Shredded Beef.  I could eat it right out the bowl...no chip necessary!

Source:  The Pioneer Woman Cooks

Restaurant Style Salsa

Ingredients

• 1 can (28 Ounce) Whole Tomatoes With Juice
• 2 cans (10 Ounce) Rotel (diced Tomatoes And Green Chilies)
• 1/4 cup Chopped Onion
• 1 clove Garlic, Minced
• 1 whole Jalapeno, Quartered And Sliced Thin (I omitted for my boys' sake!)
• 1/4 teaspoon Sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon Salt
• 1/4 teaspoon Ground Cumin
• 1/2 cup Cilantro (more To Taste!)
• 1/2 whole Lime Juice

Preparation Instructions

Note: this is a very large batch. Recommend using a 12-cup food processor, or you can process the ingredients in batches and then mix everything together in a large mixing bowl.
Combine whole tomatoes, Rotel, onion, jalapeno, garlic, sugar, salt, cumin, lime juice, and cilantro in a blender or food processor. Pulse until you get the salsa to the consistency you'd like---I do about 10 to 15 pulses. Test seasonings with a tortilla chip and adjust as needed.
Refrigerate salsa for at least an hour.

Spicy Shredded Beef

Another AWESOME new recipe I just tried.  Just enough heat but not too much for little ones.  Perfect for a large crowd. 

Source:  Short Stop

Spicy Shredded Beef
3-4 pound chuck roast, trimmed
1/3 cup vinegar
1/4 cup lime juice
1 can Hot Rotel (you can use Original or Mild if you like less heat)
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons cumin
2 teaspoons oregano
1 1/2 teaspoons freshly ground pepper
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 cup chicken broth
3 bay leaves

Place roast in crockpot.
Combine all ingredients except the chicken broth and bay leaves into a blender or food processor. Blend until smooth.
Pour sauce over roast. Add chicken broth and bay leaves.
Cook on high for 6 hours or on low 8-10 hours. Once meat is tender, shred with two forks right into the sauce in the crockpot.

 Perfect for tacos, burritos, salad or nachos! 

Don't forget all the good stuff...cheese, sour cream, homemade salsa, lettuce, olives, etc!

 

Healthy Three Cheese Chicken Pasta Bake

IF YOU LOVE PASTA YOU MUST MAKE THIS RECIPE!  It is delicious and gets 20 thumbs up from my boys!
Thanks to The Girl Who Ate Everything blog!

Three Cheese Chicken Penne Pasta Bake

1-1/2 cups multi-grain penne pasta, uncooked
1 pkg. (9 oz.) fresh spinach leaves
1 lb. boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-size pieces
1 tsp. dried basil leaves (I used 1/2tsp dried basil and ½ tsp dried oregano)
1 jar (14-1/2 oz.) spaghetti sauce
1-2 cloves garlic, minced
1 can (14-1/2 oz.) diced tomatoes, drained
2 oz. (1/4 of 8-oz. pkg.) Neufchatel cheese, cubed
1 cup shredded 2% milk mozzarella cheese, divided
2 Tbsp. grated Parmesan cheese

Directions:
Heat oven to 375ºF.

Cook pasta as directed on package, omitting salt and adding spinach to the boiling water the last minute.

Cook and stir chicken and basil in large nonstick skillet sprayed with cooking spray on medium-high heat 3 min. Stir in spaghetti sauce, garlic, and tomatoes; bring to boil. Simmer on low heat 3 min. or until chicken is done. Stir in Neufchatel.

Drain pasta mixture; return to pan. Stir in chicken mixture and 1/2 cup mozzarella. Spoon into 2-qt. casserole or 8-inch square baking dish.

Bake 20 min.; top with remaining cheeses. Bake 3 min. or until mozzarella is melted

SILLY!

It's hard to believe that my silly, little boys will be starting Kindergarten in exactly ONE MONTH!  They are excited and so am I!!!

NOT AGAIN!

OUR POOR LITTLE DREW NOW IS WEARING 2 CASTS!

We were playing at the park today when he fell off the monkey bars and landed on his elbow.  He was crying & unable to hold his arm or make a fist.  Jimmy took him to the doctor where the x-ray revealed a hairline fracture in his arm.  UNBELIEVABLE!  We were starting to count down the days until his leg cast can be removed and now he will be in the arm cast for a minimum of 4 weeks - up to 6 weeks!  And, will be wearing 2 casts for 5 more days!