OH MY REINDEER! best cookie recipe ever!

Doing a quick spin off of the holiday traditions post because I’m getting so many responses for more baking ideas! LOL. I cannot take credit, though. SUPERNANA is here! And actually, SuperNana is learning from pinterest- which I just started going to more. She got some fun holiday ideas from them and created these adorable reindeer cookies. Hayden flipped!! He loved them so much. And I am obsessed with how good the brownie cookie is. OMGosh.

Posting the recipe below, but SuperNana made them all by herself! And in case you missed my stories- scroll down for the Reindeer Pancakes with Turkey Bacon! (Tip: to make the turkey bacon extra crispy like I like it, my mom said to bake it on a cookie sheet on top of foil. It works!)

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Reindeer Pancakes with Turkey bacon

DAYDATE WITH THE KID

I never thought I’d cry writing a blog about Dr. Seuss. But I here I am! crying after writing this little poem:

Here I am! Adult and able, crying about a so called fable.

A poem or two that touched me so, pierced my heart, but helped me go


Go further than I thought I should, be stronger than I thought I could.

I’m hiking that mountain you said I would climb, my feet are aching but the view is sublime.


I’m watching my step with great care and great tact, I’ll make it to the top, it’s simply a fact.


That balancing act you mentioned to me, I’m seeing what truth you gave for free.

No, oh no, my eyes are not shut, Bright lights I see, it’s more than just luck.

Paving the way for little boy, I am. Living his best life, with an upside down frown.


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Okay… so, I’m a fan of the books and their DEEP meaning for such simple phrases. 

It was a joy to go to the premier and see the first two episodes of Green Eggs and Ham. Such an fun twist on the classic story. I’d say it’s for kids Hayden’s age or older… any younger might get a little scared.

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If you saw my instagram post today, I’m teaming up with Shamrock Farms on their collaboration with Subway and Netflix, but lemme tell you why I wanted to work with them. I sincerely appreciate experiences and events that incorporate Hayden. It’s mainly just us right now. Stories (as he call them) that we can both watch and actually enjoy together. (read: I ENJOY watching, too) are a plus. As a lifelong fan of Dr. Suess, I appreciate his humor and deeper meaning now more than I ever did as a child. Ah, the beauty of real classics.

Kudos to Subway and Shamrock Farms for joining in on the fun. For limited time, for just about $5, you can go get a Fresh Fit for Kids Meal: REAL GREEN EGGS and Ham sandwich, a side and a carton of protein…the milk, and chips or cookie or apple sauce. And if it’s a full out party night, Hayden splurges for the chocolate milk. It still has the same 9 essential nutrients, including Vitamin D and potassium, as well as the protein as the regular white milk. Shamrock Farms’ milk has no added sugars or growth hormones like rBST. Folks, not all milk is created equal, so, look for their signature green top. For more info:

//www.subway.com/en-us/subculture/greeneggsandham-watch-party

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Take advantage of these brands coming together to make your own “event” special and have one on one time with your child or family. Subway, Shamrock Farms milk and Netflix the night away! I was gonna say Netflix and chill, but someone told me that has a different connotation;) 

I wish Huck had been with us. He’d get such a kick out of the green eggs at Subway and the characters on the milk cartons. They are literally green eggs!!! A fun conversation piece for the kids. 

Does this make anyone else nostalgic?

xoxo

AAJ


SHARING MEALS: RECIPES FROM Y'ALL

photo: Mattheus Spinelli for our Thanksgiving dinner with Grub Market

photo: Mattheus Spinelli for our Thanksgiving dinner with Grub Market

With three growing boys in the house (yes, I'm counting Joel, too!)-- it seems I can never get enough ideas of easy ways to create a meal. I'm hoping to start a whole new section of this blog in 2018 with interactive ways to share ideas on cooking. After discussing the slow cooker in these posts HERE and HERE,  I loved getting emails, DMs and comments from some of you with your favorite recipes! I'm sharing a few of them below! If you have one you'd like to share, please send to me in the comments section below or email it (with a picture, if you have one!) in the comments section. THANKS EVERYONE!


FROM MARY B.

PORK CHOP WITH MUSHROOM SOUP

- 4 pieces of pork chop
- Large can of Cream of Mushroom soup

I use about 16 oz. of the cream of mushroom to cover the pork chops and cook on high for 4 hours and then serve it with rice (pilaf, etc.). So easy and my husband and kids love it!

Thanks for sharing your chicken taco recipe. My daughter wolfed down the tacos! For the tortilla soup, I added the below ingredients to the remaining salsa since we like more veggies in the soup (still easy):
- 1/2 ts pepper
- 1 ts ground cumin
- 1 can chicken broth
- 1 can whole kernel corn (drained)
- 1 can (10 oz.) enchilada sauce
- 1 small onion (chopped)
- 1/2 cup chopped cilantro

Cook on low for 4 hours and then add remaining shredded chicken and cook for another 30 mins. Serve with tortilla strips.


From AMY B.

One of my fams current faves: Healthy, super easy, super yummy: CHICKEN ROPA VIEJA

Ingredients
1.5-2 lbs chicken (I use breast)
4 cloves garlic
1/2 TBSP oregano
1 tsp cumin
1/8 tsp red pepper flakes
Freshly cracked black pepper
1 med yellow onion
1 med green bell pepper
1 med red bell pepper
One 15 oz can diced tomatoes
3 TBSP tomato paste
Salt to taste (I actually don't put any in)

Instructions
Trim fat off chicken, place in bottom of slow cooker. Mince garlic (though I cheat b/c time and use already minced), put on top of chicken. Sprinkle oregano, cumin, red pepper flakes, and pepper over chicken. Slice onion and peppers into strips, place on top of chicken. Add can of diced tomatoes w/juices, dollop tomato paste on top. Cook on high 4 hours. Shred chicken, stir all together. Serve in a bowel, over rice, or in a warm tortilla.


Name: Susan K.

Message: Hi Ashley -
Wanted to share a super simple Crock Pot recipe my kids love....

Slow Cooker BUFFALO CHICKEN SANDWICH

Ingredients:
4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
1 (@ 17 oz bottle of your favorite buffalo wing sauce- divided)
1/2 of a 1 oz package dry reanch salad dressing
2 tablespoon butter
6 of your favorite rolls (whole wheat, whole grain or plain hoagie)

Directions:
Place clean chicken breast into slow cooker and pour 3/4 wing sauce and the ranch dressing mix. Cover and cook on low for 6 hours. Once chicken has cooked, shred the chicken finely with two forks. Add the butter and mix well.
Pour over rolls and serve.

A great "game day" party meal - I add a salad and your done.