Glass Block Jello

So this jello recipe is SO much easier than the traditional rainbow jello that you layer each color. Plus you get an entire OOH and AWW from people when you bring your "kid friendly" jello salad. I did red here for valentines and the kiddos lalaLOVED it. (as my sister would say).

4 3-oz. packages assorted Jello (i used all red here for valentines, but the rainbow looks cool too.)
2 packets unflavored gelatin (knox brand is the one I found, it's in a orange and white box)
1 14-oz. can sweetened condensed milk

Spray 4 small food storage containers (like Tupperware) with non-stick cooking spray. Set aside.

Bring 5+ cups of water to a boil. Combine 1 c. boiling water with 1 package of Jello, stirring until dissolved. Place the dissolved Jello in one of the prepared containers. Repeat with the remaining packages of Jello. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours, preferable overnight.

When the Jello has set, bring another 1 1/2 c. of water to a boil. While the water is heating, sprinkle 2 packets of unflavored gelatin over 1/2 c. of cold water. Allow to stand for about 4 minutes. When the water is boiling, pour 1 1/2 c. boiling water over the dissolved gelatin and stir to combine. Add the sweetened condensed milk and mix well. Allow to come to room temperature.

Lightly spray a 9x13" pan with non-stick cooking spray. Carefully cut the colored Jello into cubes and gently toss to combine in the 9x13" pan. Pour the cooled (it needs to be cooled, otherwise it will dissolve the cubed jello) milk mixture over the colored Jello and, if necessary, rearrange some of the colored Jello to make sure it is evenly distributed and not sticking out of the white mixture too far.

Place the 9x13" pan in the refrigerator and chill overnight. Cut into squares, rectangles, or various shapes with cookie cutters and serve.

Baked Ziti

1 lb. ground beef
1 small onion, diced
1 clove garlic, minced
4 oz cream cheese (that's 1/2 of the cream cheese block)
1 can of diced tomatoes
1 jar of spaghetti sauce
1 cup shredded Italian cheese blend or mozzarella cheese
1 box of ziti noodled, cooked

Brown ground beef in sauce pan, add onion and garlic. Drain any access fat of course, then add spaghetti sauce, tomatoes and cream cheese. Mix until cream cheese is blended. Mix cooked noodles in with the sauce. Pour into a sprayed 9" round cooking-ware. Top with cheese and sprinkle with basil and oregano (or Italian seasoning). Bake at 350 for 20 minutes or until cheese is melted and warmed through. So EASY & so YUMMY!

Quick Tip** I like to use the italian meatballs from costco. Just cook them up and ground them up in the food processor. The meat is already seasoned and adds a nice flavor to it.

**I have also made this with chicken and mushrooms. YUMMY! I just used chicken strips and sauteed mushrooms with them and then added the sauce to that.

Breadsticks

I had never made breadsticks because my bread is always to heavy so I was afraid I would ruin them, but I found this recipe off of OUR BEST BITES and they were so delicious and they turned out GREAT!!! So easy too!! In the picture above I've added 1 cup of whole wheat flour and they still turned out great!!

1 1/2 cup warm (105-115 degrees) water
1 Tbs. sugar
1 Tbs. yeast
1/2 tsp. salt
3-4 1/2 cups of flour ( I used about 3 cups total)

In your mixer combine water, sugar and yeast. Let stand for 10 minutes or until yeast is bubbly.

Add salt and stir. Add 1 1/2 cups flour and mix well. Gradually add more flour (usually between 3- 4 cups depending on your elevation and your humidity- I live in Arizona so it's pretty dry here and added about 2 cups- so 3 1/2 cups total) until dough starts to pull away from the sides of the bowl and it barely sticks to your fingers.

Spray glass or metal bowl with cooking spray and place dough in the bowl. Cover and allow to rise for 45 minutes or until doubled in bulk.

Remove from bowl and place on a lightly-floured surface. Spray a baking sheet with cooking spray. Roll into a rectangle and cut into 12 strips with a pizza cutter. (make sure it's a short rectangle, I rolled my out to wide and it made 24" breadsticks, which isn't necessarily a bad thing ;)
Roll out each piece of dough into a snake and then drape over your forfinger and twist the dough. Place on baking sheet and repeat with remaining 11 pieces of dough. Try to space them evenly.

Cover pan and allow dough to rise for another 30 minutes. When there's about 15 minutes to go, preheat oven to 425. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown. Baste some butter on top and sprinkle garlic salt or parmesan cheese . You can also sprinkle with cinnamon sugar. YUM

Vegetable Pizza

I used this as a substitute for a veggie tray at a party I threw and everyone wanted the recipe. I thought it was a fun and different thing to serve. Something new is always fun.

1 pkg. of cresent rolls
1 8oz. pkg. of cream cheese
1 cup mayonnaise
1 pkg. of hidden valley ranch dressing mix or use these spices instead:

• 1/4 tsp vinegar- plain vinegar

• 1 tsp. parsley

• 1/8 tsp dill

• 1/4 tsp garlic powder

• 1/4 tsp onion powder

• 1 1/2 tsp dried chives

• 1/8 tsp black pepper

• 1/4 tsp seasoning salt

• 1/8 tsp dry mustard

1 cup chopped broccoli
1 cup chopped green pepper
1/2 cup shredded carrots
1 cup grape tomato halves
1-2 cups of Monterey Jack Cheese

Spray 9x13 pan and lay down cresent rolls for a crust. Push the seams together so they form one piece. Cook as directed on package. Combine cream cheese, mayo and dressing mix (or other spices noted). Spread over sauce over cooled cresent rolls. Add veggies and top with cheese. Chill for 1 hour and serve in small squares.

St. Patrick's Scavenger Hunt

I came up with a scavenger hunt for the park. It may be a bit cheesy but I threw it all together within 30 minutes, so I figured it was good enough, plus the kids really loved it and now are pretending to do their own scavenger hunts in the house. Plus it helped that the "pot of gold" was rolo's and reeses peanut butter cups. Keep in mind I made it for 2-4yr olds. Anywho, here it goes.

I put them on green shamrocks to find and numbered them. The first one I read aloud.

1. I'm a little leprechaun dressed in green.
The tiniest man that you've ever seen.
If you ever catch me, so it's told.
I'll give you a pot of gold.
So listen to the clues and work as a team.
And go find my shamrocks that are green....
Come slide down my back to find the 1st clue
then read it out loud to see what to do. (it was on a slide)

2. You've found the 1st clue.
Good job for you.
Now turn around, jump up and yell Woo Hoo!!
Go climb up the wall
You'll have a ball
Then bring the clue back
and we'll give the next clue a crack. (it was at the top of a climbing wall)

3. You sit on my seat
to let yourself rest
I'm by the swings
You'll see where I nest. (on a bench by the swings)

4. I give lots of shade
come sit by my roots
Go find the last clue
and then stomp your boots!! (by a tree)

5. You've found all my shamrocks
Look and see.
Oh what color they can be.
If you said that they are the color green.
Then stand up and yell YIPEE!!
(then of course, this is where they found the "pot of gold" and I had them in ziplock bags for all the kids.)

Knorr Spinach Dip

I made this for a party and everyone raved about it. It's so easy and it looks great in a bread bowl.

1 pkg. 10 oz. baby spinach, chopped or 1 pkg. frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry (very important to squeeze the spinach dry or it will be nasty. I put mine in a strainer to thaw and then squeeze it dry and dab it with paper towels just to make sure all the liquid is out)
1 16 oz. container of sour cream
1 cup of Mayonnaise
1 pkg. Knorr Vegetable recipe mix

Combine all ingredients and chill about 2 hours. Serve with your favorite dippers; cucumbers, bread, grape tomatoes, celery, carrots, etc.

Tip: Hollow out cucumber slices and cherry tomatoes. Fill vegetables with dip as a garnish.