Homemade Turkey/Chicken Pot Pie

One of my all-time favorite meals!

 

Ingredients:
3 Tbs Butter
3 Tbs Flour
3/4 c chicken broth
3/4 c half and half cream
2 1/4 c turkey/chicken
1/2 c chopped carrots
1/2 c frozen peas
1/4 tsp thyme
1/4 tsp pepper
pie shell (top and bottom)

Directions:
Melt butter in pan. Stir in flour. Add broth and milk and cook on med-low until thickened, stirring frequently. In a separate bowl, combine turkey/chicken, carrots, peas, thyme, and pepper. Mix in cream sauce. Pour into pie shell and place top shell. Bake at 350* for approximately 30 minutes or until crust is golden brown. Enjoy!

What to do with all those Christmas Cards?

I love Christmas cards, but we get SO many every year that I don't know what to do with them all! When we first got married, I would set them out on the counter. But as our family grew, and especially after we got into the ministry, I began to have very limited counter space during the holidays! That's when I began to get creative (which is hard for this gal!).

Last year, I taped a giant piece of wrapping paper up on the wall and then taped all of the Christmas cards to the sheet. It was adorable!

This year, we decided to try something different - a paper chain with all of the cards hung on it!
I found this to be not only a fun, easy craft project for the kids, but also a counting activity for my 4 year old (we held each chain loop for 30 seconds). By the end, I was even attempting to make things interesting by counting in foreign languages - did great in spanish and german, failed at french by making it only to 14, and then royally failed with a whole 6 in japanese, but made for chain-making entertainment!  Here is our product:

 

Enjoy those Christmas cards, and Merry Christmas!!!

How to Have a Successful Grinch Party

My mom says that I will find any reason to have a party. She's right! Made-Up Reason Parties are my way of creating fun memories with my kids. One of the ways we decided to kick-off December this year was a Grinch Party. It is easy-peasy.

Grinch Party Essentials

How the Grinch Stole Christmas! book by Dr. Seuss. Having a reading of this wonderful classic is a must! You can find it at any local library!

Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas movie. Yes, there is the new Jim Carey one as well, but there is none like the original. Besides, my kids are still a little young for the more modern, adult version.

Grinch attire. Yes, I have Grinch pajamas. But really all you have to wear is green! (Unless you want to be Cindy Lou Who, like my princess was!)

Camera! Make sure you capture the best grinchy faces and save those memories!

 A Feast! Three words: green food coloring. A few drops can turn any regular food into grinchy fanfare. If you really want to go all out, have a Who Feast, with Who-Pudding and Roast Beast!
Here were our choices:

Grinch-wheels







Ingredients:
1 pkg cream cheese
1 pkg full size flour tortillas
1/2 cup salsa
1 can green chiles
1 cup shredded cheese
green food color (amount desired)

Directions:
Blend all ingredients (except tortillas!) in large mixing bowl. Spread mixture evenly over tortilla (about 1/4 cup on each). Roll tortillas and wrap in saran wrap. Chill for 1 hour. Slice the tortilla roll along the length to create beautiful green pinwheels.

Grinch Punch

 

Ingredients:
1 liter 7-Up
1 can pineapple juice
1 quart lime sherbet
White Syrup
Green Sprinkles

Directions:
In a punch bowl pour in 7-Up and juice. Scoop sherbet on top. As the sherbet melts the punch will turn green. To decorate your cups, put a tiny bit of white syrup on the rim and then dip in green sprinkles. Enjoy!

Grincho Nachos

You guessed it, nacho cheese and green food color!

Be Creative!
There are so many things you can do to make a party like this a success. Just use your creativity and let your kids join in! It will be a great memory!

I think we have discovered a new family tradition!