Painting with Shaving Cream

I love to get messy and so do my kids.  I think finger painting with shaving cream is the best!  On a day when we are bored, we will cover the countertop with plastic trash bags and get out the shaving cream.  We use the cheapy, aerosol, white foam kind (you can pick up at the dollar store or at Wal-Mart or Target).  Each child gets a massive squirt either directly on the plastic or some butcher paper.  I then give them several drops primary colored tempera paint, but any washable paint will work.  Then the kids just get to mixing.  And this time I gave them a bunch of toy cars to drive through the foam.  It is a ton of fun.  Even my little one gets into painting the paper and herself.  I think it gives new meaning to "God's work of Art". 

Cream Cheese Chicken

I don't know about the average person but when I have to prepare dinner I look for what I have in the house and hope something inspires me.  I usually don't have a dinner plan set up for the week.  Tonight I had baked chicken breast left over from last nights dinner and a container of cream cheese.  I also had several tubes of crescent rolls.  From there, I searched www.cooks.com (which is one of my favorite sites) for chicken, cream cheese & crescent rolls.  Here is the recipe that I found and I thought my family would like it.  I did pretty well (especially since my  kids are super picky).  I had a 4 out of 5 vote for yummy!


3 oz. cream cheese (but you could put up to 8 oz. if you want - that is a whole pkg.)
4 tbsp. butter, melted
2 c. cubed chicken
1/4 tsp. pepper
dash of salt
dash of garlic powder
4 tbsp. milk
2 tbsp. onion (I used dried onion from my spice cabinet)
8 oz. crescent rolls
1/4 c. parmesan cheese or bread crumbs or stuffing mix (I did a combo of parmesan cheese & italian breadcrumbs)


Preheat oven 350 degrees.


In medium bowl, blend cream cheese & 3 tbsp. butter until smooth.  Add the rest of the ingredients except rolls & parmesan cheese.  Mix well.  Seperate crescent dough & use 2 triangles to make a rectangle.  Place 1/4-1/2 c. chicken mixture in center of rectangle.  Fold over and pinch seam shut.  Brush tops with extra butter & sprinkle parmesan cheese or bread crumbs on top.  Bake 20 min. or until golden brown.

Silly Putty

1/2 c Elmer's glue
1/2 c Starch -- liquid
Food coloring


Do NOT substitute any other glue for Elmer's glue! Slowly add starch
to glue and knead with fingers. The more you work with it the better
it jells. Add food coloring if you want.

Sidewalk Chalk

1 c Plaster of paris (do not pack)
About 1/3 to 1/2 cup cool water
Liquid tempera paints, any color


Pour plaster into a disposable container (i.e. margarine container or
large paper cup.) Stir in most of the water. Add 2-3 tablespoons of
liquid tempera, mixing well, especially at the bottom. Add a little
more water as the mixture thickens. Stir well and pour into
containers. Three-ounce paper cups work well. Peel paper off when the
chalk is dry.

Spaghetti Casserole

This recipe is from Gooseberry Patch (Laura Strausberger, Cary, IL was the contributor). It can be made ahead and refrigerated before baking.

Ingredients:

1 c. onion, chopped
1 c. green pepper, chopped
1 tbsp. butter
28 oz. can tomatoes, undrained
4 oz. can mushrooms, drained
3.8 oz. can sliced, black olives, drained
2 tsp. dried oregano
1 lb. ground beef, browned and drained
12 oz. spaghetti, cooked and drained
2 c. cheddar cheese, shredded
10 3/4 oz. can condensed cream of mushroom soup
1/4 c. water
1/4 c. grated parmesan cheese

Directions:

In a large skillet, saute onion and green pepper in butter until tender. Add tomatoes, mushrooms, olives and oregano. Add ground beef and simmer, uncovered, for 10 minutes. Place half of the spaghetti in a greased 13x9 baking dish. Top with half of the vegetable mixture. Sprinkle with one cup of cheese. Repeat layers. Combine soup and water; stir until smooth. Pour over casserole. Sprinkle with parmesan. Bake, uncovered, at 350 degrees for 30 to 45 minutes or until heated through. Makes 12 servings.