Baked Southwest Sandwiches

We tried these for the first time the other night.  They were so good. The recipe comes from Taste of Home.  Red Shoes helped me with the assembly.

Here's the directions:

1. In a bowl, combine olives, chili powder, cumin and salt;

set aside 2 tablespoons.

2. Add mayonnaise, sour cream and onion to the remaining olive mixture.

3. Place bread on an ungreased baking sheet

4. Spread one tablespoon of mayo on each slice

5. Top with turkey

6. And tomatoes

7. Spread with another tablespoon of mayo mixture

8. Top with sliced avocados

9. And cheese

10. Place in a 350 degree oven for 15 mintutes or until heated through.

Makes 8 pretty servings. 

These were even great the next day reheated..no sog at all. Hope you enjoy! You can visit HERE for a printer friendly version.

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Family Traditions...Our Christmas Album

I wanted to share one of our family traditions with you.  Since the beginning we have kept a special Christmas album.  It's just a basic album.  It has started to turn brown around the edges, which is in a way, kind of special...it represents our time together.  In the beginning my husband Brian and I would each type our versions of our year and our time together.  Here's our very first Christmas together...

Since we started our family we've kind of gotten away of writing our own versions of the year, and have instead included the letters we send to our families and friends.  I would like to get back to the old style.  It's more interesting.  You can put the stuff in that's fun and interesting to your family...but probably not everyone else. 

Every year I drag this out at Christmas and it's always fun to go back and reminisce.  It's special to talk about the good and bad times we've shared together.  The "history" that makes our family just that, our family.

To remember the way we began...working hard together to earn the money we needed for new furniture that we wanted.  It's fun to talk about some of the vacations that we've taken, and it's important to recognize the loses of three of our babies.  To remember the time we spent in the NICU for the first two months of Red Shoes' life. And conversely, the joy and relief of taking two babies home within days after their birth.  All of it...together. All of it has a way of grounding us, and making us very thankful for our blessings and each other.

I'm so glad that this album can remind us of that. Pin It

I've Been Thinking About...

All things sock monkey!

I know...probably not what you were thinking right? Red Shoes has a birthday coming  up and he's really been into monkeys this year (loves Curious George, wore a monkey costume for Halloween).  So, it seemed like a good theme for a birthday party.  I've been looking for ideas for his party.  Here's where my inspiration is coming from...I found these all under Google Images.

The Invite

Loving the candy bar (especially the root beer barrels) and cupcakes

Adorable...Check out the tops of the jars...

awesome material!

I want to learn how to make cupcake toppers like these...

More cupcake toppers and awesome sugar cookies! 

Too bad I HATE making sugar cookies!

I'm thinking about making the birthday boy one of these...

 We'll see how ambitious I feel after Christmas. 

This one might be better...what do you think? 

A little more masculine...

Can a sock monkey really be considered masculine?  Probably not.

I think I will wear this...

Would that be hilarious or what?!! I can't believe this even exists!  

Don't worry, I'm really not going to order this $1500 dress. Wow. 

Red Shoes is safe!

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Menu Plan for December 20-December 25

Here's my menu plan for the week...

Monday-
Spaghetti
Garlic Bread
Salad

Tuesday-
 Baked Pork Chops
Mashed Potatoes
Veggies

Wednesday-
Baked Southwest Sandwiches

Thursday-
Baked Chicken
Mrs. Starks Broccoli
Roasted Potatoes

Friday-  Soup & Appetizers for Dinner
            Santa Fe Soup
            Feta Dip
            Fruit Dip

Saturday- Christmas Morning Breakfast 

*Picture from First Watch Website*

Fresh Fruit Crepes , Sausage and Muffin
*Follow the crepes recipe link and then add your favorite yogurt, bananas, strawberries, kiwi and granola. Sprinke with a little cinnamon.  We always order this when we go to First Watch, (an awesome breakfast/lunch place around here).

Merry Christmas!

Visit I'm an Organizing Junkie for more menu plans.



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Random Friday Stuff

We made these cookies over the weekend. If you are looking for a really easy, simple cookie recipe to introduce your kids to, this would be it.  I mixed everything together and then refrigerated the dough.  I sliced the cookies then the kids got to dip them in sprinkles.  They loved it!

I really like this song by Tenth Avenue North...it reminds me of some of the girls who  walked into my office for help when I worked as a high school counselor.  This is what I wish each of them would come to know. 

Need some last minute gift ideas?  If you have a little time (you probably don't) you could make a t-shirt tutu for the little girl on your list.  I've made two of them for Happy Feet.  Believe me when I say I'm TERRIBLE when it comes to sewing...just plain awful, so if I can do this anyone can. Really.  Go HERE to get the tutorial. I promise you the little lady will love it!

Here's some other great gift ideas I've come across on the web...

• Homemade Microwave Popcorn go HERE
• Birthday Calendar go HERE
• Jars with Chalkboard Paint Labels go HERE
• A cute gift idea for a teacher or employee go HERE

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What Will You Do?

On Tuesday Red Shoes' preschool class had a field trip.  They started out at our local library for story time and then went to a nursing home to spread some Christmas cheer.  The preschool class spent time beforehand making ornaments for the residents.  When we arrived at the nursing home everyone was in the dining room eating their lunch.  The kids went in and sang some songs. Then it was time to hand out the ornaments that they had made.  I watched as Red Shoes looked for someone to give an ornament to.  He was a little shy, but he walked around and handed them out. He really seemed to enjoy what he was doing.

It blessed my heart so much to watch my son bring joy to the lives of others.
I didn't even think to take my camera with me.  I had my cell phone though so I was able to get a few shots (not very good).  As soon as the kids started singing I just knew what they were doing was very special.  This is what Christmas is all about.  Caring for others.

I never expected my heart to be so full from a field trip..but it is.   This Christmas it doesn't matter how young or how old you are, how rich or how poor you may be, or even how sad or how happy you feel.  You can do something for someone.  My question to you is this.. what will you do?
1 John 4:10-11

This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.







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Menu Plan *December 13-17*

Here's the plan for this week.  For hundreds of other menu plan ideas visit I'm an Oranizing Junkie at http://orgjunkie.com/.

Monday-

Rice

Green Beans
Click HERE for PB Chicken Recipe

Tuesday-

Click HERE for enchilada recipe

Wednesday- Cheeseburger Mac, my kids love this one and it's super easy. I always add a lot more ketchup than the recipe calls for. 

Thursday- Loaded Baked Potatoes

Friday-

Go HERE for printable recipe

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Surprise Cupcakes

This is a great cupcake recipe that I got from a friend during my college years.  The "surprise" part is a cream cheese/chocolate chip filling in the middle of the cupcake. Here's what you need:

Filling Recipe:

8 oz. package cream cheese, softened

1 egg

1/3 cup sugar

1/2 t. salt

6 oz. of chocolate chips (I use semi-sweet)

Mix cream cheese, egg, sugar and salt together. 

Stir in chocolate chips.

Batter Recipe: 

3 cups flour

2 cups sugar

1/2 cup cocoa

1 t. salt

2 t. soda

2 cups water

2/3 cup vegetable oil

2 t. vanilla

2 t. vinegar

Fill cups with batter about 2/3 full. 

Add 1 teaspoon of cheese filling in center until all has been used.

Makes about 30 cupcakes.  Bake in a 350 degree oven for 25 minutes.

After cupcakes have cooled frost them...I always just use the store bought kind.

These may be frozen.

For a printable version of this recipe, click HERE.

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