Pass, shoot, score

This past weekend was Marley's first soccer game at the YMCA. She didn't make any goals but did good running and trying to steal the ball. After the game she came walking over and said "those kids are too freaking fast" Poor kid.

She has practice once a week for a half hour and a game every Saturday morning. There are apparently only two 3 & 4 year old teams, because her team always plays against the red team.

Practicing before the game

Chicken Ranch Lasagna / Shells

I already made this once, typed it all up, pinned it to pinterest and everything. Then for some reason it disappeared.  Not exactly sure why or how it happened, but it gave me a reason to make it again.

2 (12 oz) cans evaporated milk 

1 (1 oz) pkg. Hidden Valley dry Salad Dressing & Seasoning Mix 

3 C. cubed, cooked, chicken

1/8 tsp pepper

1 (16oz) lasagna noodles, cooked 

1 1/2 to 2 C cheddar cheese, grated

1 1/2 to 2 C mozzarella cheese, grated

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Heat milk, pepper and ranch powder stirring frequently until dry ingredients are dissolved. Reduce heat and simmer for 25 minutes, stirring frequently. 

Layer half of the noodles, chicken and cheese in dish. Pour half of sauce mix on top. Repeat layers. 

Bake at 350 for 35-40 minutes. 

Last time I made this I used lasagna noodles. This time I used shells. It was much better this time. Either way works, but the shells seemed to add more volume to it, where as the lasagna noodles seemed flat and not as filling. 

Italian Sausage Crock Pot Soup

We've been having a lot of chicken for dinner lately. Also since it's been cold I decided to add a nice warm soup to our dinner line-up. I had some italian sausage in the freezer that I got on sale for $1 a while ago so I decided to make this italian sausage soup for dinner. Of course, on the day I decided to make it, it was 50 degrees out, but it was still really good!

Sausage Meatball Ingredients

1 pound mild Italian sausage, casings removed

1/2 cup dried bread crumbs

1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

1/4 cup milk

1 egg

1/2 teaspoon dried basil

1/2 teaspoon black pepper

1/4 teaspoon garlic salt

Soup Ingredients 

4 cups hot chicken broth

1 tablespoon tomato paste

1 clove garlic, minced

1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes

1/2 cup pasta

Grated Parmesan cheese

salt to taste

Mix all the meatball ingredients together. Form into small balls. 

Combine broth, tomato paste, red pepper flakes, and garlic in crock pot. Add meatballs. Cook on low for 5-6 hours. 

Thirty minutes before serving add pasta.  Sprinkle parmesan cheese on top when serving. 

It was amazing! I think I used to much pasta (I didn't measure) so there wasn't much broth, but it was still delicious. 

Christmas

So it's almost a month after Christmas, but I've been so busy with going back to school this semester and we're trying to sell our house (more on that at a later date) but better late than never to fill you in on our Christmas activities. And it was Mason's 1st Christmas!

Mike was really sick on Christmas eve. Like, had to go to the emergency room and get a shot to stop throwing up sick. So he stayed in bed most of the day. He did manage to get up for about an hour so we let Marley open her presents from her Grandpa with hair (Mike's dad)

On Christmas morning we woke up early and opened our presents from Santa. We then headed over to grandma and grandpas to open more presents. Then we headed down to Auntie Pam Pam's house for dinner and more presents. It was a long day with lots of good food and lots of fun times. 

 

Since my mom decided to make this a "pajama christmas" a few days later I went back to her house to get some fancy pictures of the kids. And yes, Marley is wearing a dress!! 

I think this face sums up the holiday perfectly. HAHA! So good all year and now that it's over she turns evil!