Dinner Ideas and Learning/Play Time

We started out today with great Mommy/Daughter time! I had finally gotten around to finishing diapers for Amanda's baby dolls...something that has been on my "To Do" List for months! They turned out great and Amanda LOVED them! She was so excited when I first gave them to her, that she lined all her babies up on her bed and made sure each of them got a diaper!





We played all morning in her room and decided to do some "math". I got out the cubes and addition flashcards. Amanda really enjoys math and she is very good at it so I'm always trying to come up with new ways of teaching her! I had seen something similar to this on Pinterest and thought it was a great visual way for her to understand addition! She caught on very quick.

Dinner Tonight was Taco Salad! Amanda always loves to help me prepare dinner and especially loves getting to put her own dinner together. To make tortilla bowls, we place flour tortillas in a greased glass bowl and place on a baking sheet in the oven at 375 degrees for about 10-12 minutes. Make sure to remove tortilla bowl and place on cooling rack until cooled completely. Then you can fill with whatever you'd like. Our toppings tonight included: black beans, avocado, lettuce, shredded chicken, tomato, cheese, salsa and sour cream, and Olives for Adam!! Delicious and so easy!

Last week we tried a new recipe that I had acquired recently through Pampered Chef. It is called Chicken Parmesan Soup...and I highly recommend it. 
What you need: (Serves 6)
- 1/4 loaf French Bread
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 3 tbsp Garlic and Herb rub, divided
-1 1/2 c chicken stock
- 2 c marinara sauce
- 1 can diced tomatoes with garlic and onion, undrained
- 2 1/2 c diced cooked chicken breast 
- 3 garlic cloves
- 1 oz fresh Parmesan cheese
- 3/4 c shredded mozzarella cheese, divided

Cut bread into 3/4 inch cubes. You should have about 2 cups. Toss bread cubes, oil and 1 tbsp rub in Baker. Microwave bread cubes, uncovered on HIGH for 3-4 minutes or until they begin to brown, stirring every minute. Spread croutons over a piece of Parchment paper to cool. 

Stir stock, remaining 2 tbsp rub, marinara sauce, tomatoes, chicken, and garlic, pressed, into the baker. Microwave, covered on HIGH for 11-13 minutes or until soup is hot. Grate Parmesan and add to the baker. Top with half of the mozzarella and sprinkle with half of the croutons. Top with remaining mozarella. Let stand, covered for 2-3 minutes or until cheese is melted. Serve soup with remaining croutons. 

Off to go work on more Bridger Babies items, stocking up for the Babes in Bozeman Expo that I will be a vendor at on April 13th from 10-4pm!