Snowy Day...or just stuck inside crafts

Between the cold, some snow and having a little one we haven't had the outside time I would rather have. So we have had to become creative in what we do inside instead of watching tv. I came across these articles and have made some of the ideas with the kids and we had fun, so I thought maybe you'd be interested in reading also if I keep it here I have a reference to find it.  Are you spending a lot of time outside if so where do you live?

http://www.homemadesimple.com/en-us/crafts/pages/snow-day-crafts.aspx

(Picture from above link)

Watermelon juice

Made some Watermelon juice...so yummy...here's where I got the recipe
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mp2NBdOrHoM

My Italian Wedding Soup

Posting this for you Ed :0)

Italian Wedding Soup
A whole chicken (hint I usually use the one that I roasted the
night before…more flavor or in a pinch for time use a store bought roterserrie)
Salt to taste
Pepper to taste
Onion powder
Garlic powder
Enough water to cover chicken
Pasta of choice 1-1 and a half cup of little pasta
1 cup of fresh spinach
2 eggs
1 carrot diced up in cubes
1 half cup of fresh grated Parmesan cheese

Meatball ingredients
1 tsp Onion powder
1 tsp Garlic powder
Half a cup Bread crumbs
2 tsp Salt
1 tsp Pepper
Half cup of fresh grated Parmesan cheese
8 ounces of lean ground beef and 8 ounces of ground lean pork

Instructions

Place chicken in pot, cover with water and add spices. Boil
chicken in water until meat falls of bone. Take chicken out and take meat of the
bone and put back in soup (discard bones or save for broth for another
soup) Now that chicken is in homemade stock,add carrots, cut up spinach and
add also add meatballs (meatballs add all the ingredients together and mix
together, then make mini meatballs)
add pasta. Now after meat is cooked taste and see what spice you need to
add to the soup, if more salt, pepper or etc. When you are pleased with soups
taste, in a separate cup crack 2 eggs and mix with your parmesan cheese. After
mixed together add into soup and use a fork to move it around to make strands,
let them cook for about a minute or so….Voila you’ve got yourself some Italian
Wedding Soup ala Melody

Working on my side entry way and a stuffed pizza recipe

I have been working on my front door since I read and was convicted Ezekiel 44:5 which tells us to "mark well the entrance of the house." I was reminded to make the entrance to my home attractive and so planted some happy pansies, phlox, and geraniums to meet us and others at the door. Love my basket with our names on it

So then I started looking over at my side door and decided I need to do that one too. So I've started but not done I'll show you a little easy craft I did.

Start with a sign and ribbon of your choice...I picked green.

String through and make bow..tada..simple and cute, well I think cute, and of course hang.

I bought the sign and ribbon at Joann's fabric in the clearance.

Now the stuffed pizza recipe.

Stuffed Sausage and Cheese Pizza

http://familyfun.go.com/recipes/stuffed-pizza-687341/

or sometimes I replace the ricotta with provolone cheese....yummy

After doing yard work...Strawberry Ice Tea is in order.

I was craving some iced tea and I'll be honest I love sweet tea, but with this pregnancy just not wanting that sweetness. I made this instead and way yummier.

Ingredients

2 cups of fresh strawberries

1/4 cup of fresh lemon juice

5 cups unsweetened brewed ice tea, chilled

1/3 of a cup of raw honey

Additional strawberries for garnish (sliced)

Place strawberries and lemon juice in blender and puree. Pour puree into a 2 quart pitcher (I used a old milk bottle) and add the tea and honey ( add more honey if not swwet enouth to your liking); stir until honey dissolved. Chill. Float slices of strawberries in pitcher.

Sit back on a rocking chair on your back deck, sip and relax.

Apple Pie Oatmeal

I was in the mood for comfort this morning, and no one else in the house felt the same. So for me I made myself Apple Pie Oatmeal. Just what this momma needed warm, sweet, filling, and healthy. I hope you enjoy as much as I do.


Ingredients:

1/3 cup regular oats
1 tablespoon flax seed
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground ginger + pinch of sea salt
1  1/4 cups Almond Milk
1 Macintosh apple, cut into 1 inch pieces (to peel or not to peel is up to you) or whatever kind you want
1 tablespoon pure maple syrup + more for drizzling
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
2 tbsp chopped walnuts, for sprinkling on top

Directions:
1. In a medium sized pot over medium heat, whisk together the oats, chopped apple, 1 flax seeds, applesauce, Almond milk, 1 tbsp pure maple syrup, 1 tsp cinnamon, 1/4 tsp ginger, pinch of sea salt. Whisk well.
2. Heat over medium heat for about 8 minutes, stirring often. When the mixture thickens and the liquid is absorbed, it is ready. Stir in the pure vanilla extract.
3. Pour into a dish and sprinkle with chopped walnuts, a pinch of cinnamon, and a drizzle of pure maple syrup.

Yummy!

Sometimes a girls just needs comfort food...Grilled Almond Butter and (my quick) Blueberry Jam Sandwich

This morning I had a yummy Baked Avocado and Egg...here's the link http://joyfulmelody.blogspot.com/2012/04/baked-avocado-and-egggood-ole-pinterest.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+SimplyAJoyfulMelody+%28Simply+a+Joyful+Melody%29
So this afternoon I got hit with a "I want comfort food" craving...I wanted a nut butter type of lunch, so let the creative juices flow and drooling begin. I made a Grilled Almond Butter, with my Mock Blueberry Jam for lunch. It was fantastic with a glass of milk this mommy was satisfied and stuck to a clean lunch.

Ingredients:

2 slices of Ezekiel Bread..(I used the cinnamon raisin)
1 tbsp of Almond butter...organic all natural
and my mock Blueberry Jam...(I take 6 fresh blueberries and a tiny squirt of Agave nectar and mash it up together....tada clean blueberry jam and you know whats in it)

Brought out my GF grill and grilled my sandwich until gooey. Pour a glass of milk and enjoy like you are 4 years old again. Who said comfort food can't be healthy and good for you?