Stuffed Shells

This recipe is so easy, a 5 year old could do it!  Short of boiling the noodles, Beatrix prepared this entire dish.  It is a perfect dinner to get the kids not only involved, but taking ownership of the meal.  And they were pretty tasty, too!

1 package jumbo shells
1 jar spaghetti sauce - I used some previously frozen Slow Cooker Marinara
36 frozen meatballs, thawed
2 cups mozzarella cheese

Cook noodles according to package.  Drain and let cool.
Pour about 1/2 cup of sauce on the bottom of a 9x13.
Put a meatball inside each shell, and then put in the casserole.
Cover with sauce, and then sprinkle with cheese.
Bake in a 350 oven, covered for 35 minutes, and then uncovered for about 5 more, until bubbly.

Pizza Balls

3 cans Pillsbury Buttermilk Biscuits (10 per can), 56 pepperoni slices, block of Colby cheese, 1 beaten egg, Parmesan, Italian seasoning, Garlic powder, 1 jar pizza sauce…

Cut the block of cheese into 28 squares. Flatten a biscuit out and stack pepperoni and cheese on top. Gather up the edges of the biscuit. Line up the rolls in a greased 9×13 in. pan.

Brush with beaten egg. Sprinkle with parmesan, Italian seasoning& garlic powder. Bake at 425°F for 18-20 minutes. Use pizza sauce or marinara for dipping.

Hawaiian Pizza Subs

You will need:
1 package hoagie rolls
Deli ham, about 10 slices, chopped
1 can diced pineapple, drained
-1/2 jar spaghetti sauce
-1 lb mozz cheese

In a saucepan, combine sauce, ham, and pineapple. Simmer for 5 min until hot through. Spread on open hoagie rolls and top with mozz cheese slices. Broil in the oven until cheese is melted and bread edges are toasted. Good one for kids to help with!

Mud Pie

Friday my kids made this mud pie, with minimal assistance from me.  (It is meant to be made with gummy worms, but we couldn't find them at the store so went with Swedish Fish.  Logical? No.  Amusing?  Yes.)  Here are a few pictures over on my family blog of the dessert being assembled and then consumed.

1 package Oreos
3/4 cup butter, melted
1 8oz cream cheese, softened
1 cup powdered sugar
1 container cool whip, thawed
1 package gummy worms (or whatever)
1 lg package instant chocolate pudding
Milk for the pudding

1. Prepare pudding as directed and place in the fridge.
2. Crush about 3/4 of the Oreos.  Stir with melted butter.  Press into a 9x13.
3. Whip the cream cheese and powdered sugar together.  Fold in cool whip.  Spread into the pan.
4. Spread the pudding into the pan.
5. Break the remaining Oreos and sprinkle into the pan.
6. Squish worms or fish or whatever into the dessert.
7. Refrigerate at least an hour before serving.

Monkey Milk

Seth loves to make smoothies, and this is always a favorite. Adjust portions as needed.

1 banana (frozen works best if you have any ripes ones you've thrown in the freezer)
Milk (maybe 3/4 cup per banana)
Spoonful of Quik chocolate powder

Blend and enjoy by your monkeys!

Pumpkin Pie in a Bag

Zachary made this at preschool and loved it, so we gave it a whirl at home, too. It was very fun for the kids, and yummy, too. It would be easy to whip up the pumpkin layer not in a bag, too, if you aren't after the bag experience.

First place graham crackers into a gallon sized ziploc. Since there were 6 of us I used 6 crackers. Zachary told us to crush it with a "roller coaster" and although I think a rolling pin would have worked, we went with the hammer method. In Zachary's class they put them in the bottom of dixie cups. We put them in the bottom of 6 bowls.


In another gallon bag pour 1 1/3 cup cold milk and 2 4oz boxes of instant vanilla pudding. Remove the air, close the bag and squish, squish, squish.

Add 1 15oz can of pumpkin, 1 tsp cinnamon and 1/2 tsp ginger. Remove air, seal bag, and squish, squish, squish.
Cut a hole in the corner of the bag and squeeze onto the top of the graham crackers. We had enough for 6 healthy servings in the bowls, plus another full bowl left over.

We put them into the fridge to eat after dinner, but they would be ready to eat right away as well. Top with a dollop of whipped cream, if desired.

Cheerios Bears

Melt 3 tbl butter and 3 cups of mini marshmallows in the microwave. (Mine was done after 1 minute.) Stir until smooth.

Stir in 5 cups of cheerios. We used honey nut.

Form 4 balls for the hands and feet, and one for the head. Make the rest into the body. If you spray your hands with Pam it will work easier. Compact pretty hard to get it to retain shape. Put the balls onto wax paper until you are ready to assemble.

Decorate with jelly beans, fruit rolls, etc.

Funny Face Sandwiches

Zachary helped me put these together yesterday. I did make the rolls the day before. They are the Dairyland Rolls recipe. Zachary had two, which means he ate 4 more raisins than usual.