World's Easiest, Healthiest Quiche

Okay, so I don't know if it is technically a quiche, but everything else is true. Did I mention besides being healthy and easy it also is cheap to make and can be made ahead and kept in the fridge for about 5 days-making school mornings a breeze! It's all true!!!

Buy the reduced-fat crescent roll from Pillsbury or the generic brand (found in fridge section). Roll it out as one sheet and put in a casserole dish (spray dish with PAM first). Pinch all the edges together so it looks like one solid sheet of dough. If it goes up on the edges of the dish a bit that is okay. Then put in whatever toppings you want on top of the dough. I made one with broccoli and another with diced ham. Then you pour the whisked eggs on top. When I make it in a casserole dish I used 6 eggs. This last patch I put the dough on two glass pie dishes so I only used 4 eggs each. You can use Eggbeaters to cut down on calories (or a half eggs and half Eggbeaters). It will look runny and cover your topping and dough. Don't worry it will turn out great. Next comes some shredded cheddar sprinkled on top of the runny eggs. Pop into a preheated oven of about 350 degrees. Wait until the eggs are completely set (about 15-20 minutes). The broccoli will need to cook a smidge longer than the ham because of the added moisture. Take out and let cool. You can cut pie shapes out and it will totally hold its shape. Most mornings I grab a piece from the fridge, nuke about 30 seconds, grab a napkin and go. You don't even need a fork. Of course, you can eat it on a plate with a fork to be fancy ;o).

I love to make these 4 ingredient dishes Sunday night, so all week I can grab a piece for the kiddos with a half banana and Go-Gurt. They have a totally healthy breakfast that literally took me about one minute to make. What a time saver! You can also have it for Brunch or dinner with a nice side salad.

A piece of each-don't mind if I do! I wanted you to see what they look like on a cross-section.

Ham and Cheddar Quiche

Cheddar and Broccoli Quiche

If any of you think of different combo's please let me know. I would love to try it!

Bog Baby

We ran across The Bog Baby by Jeanne Willis by happen chance at our public library. It is a magical tale of a young girl that finds a tiny creature at a pond that appears after a good rain. She secretly takes the creature home and makes it a pet, but when it becomes sad she is forced to tell her mom. Rather than her mom being upset she admits that she once had one as well. Following her mother's advice she returns the bog baby to were it belongs-the bog! The illustration and story is actually quite sweet, but even my boy enjoyed it.

I haven't even told you the best part! At the very back is a writing prompt for kids. They explain it is rare to see Bog Babies, but if they happen to find one they should draw a small picture of it and answer the questions (what is his favorite foods, how many toes does he have, what color is he, etc). Then you can mail your writing into S.O.B.B (Save Our Bog Babies) at Random House Publishing. The book is from 2009 so I hope they still accept submissions because "A" got busy drawing and writing. He didn't want to simply answer questions but wrote a whole story which he wanted me to type. We mailed it out this week.

"A's" Bog Baby

"A's" story. He had a lot to say for a Kindergartner

Writing Prompt at the end of the book and our Bog Baby proof heading out to New York.

100 Books in Kindergarten

I recently ran across a list of 100 Books in Kindergarten should read. It is compiled by the Children's Librarians of Libraries of Middlesex. It is organized into ten different categories ranging from books that rhyme, animal stories, Folk/Fairy Tales and Flights of Fancy. There are a lot of list out there like this.  I particularly like this list because the poster has boxes to check off as you read them and then a spot for your child to list their three favorites. Being from a library background I have to say this list is a pretty good start. It was written in 2008, so some of the newer great stories aren't on it. However, one of my resolutions this year is to make sure my son has heard each story on this list. I am ashamed to admit that he has only been read 26 out of the 100. Time to get busy!~

If you would like to print out this poster yourself click here. Happy Reading!

11 Reflections on 2011

Scouring blog world I came across this fun Linky Party over at Teeny Tiny Teacher to reflect on 11 things in 2011. It seemed like fun so I thought I would have a go at it...

11.) Favorite movie watched:

It is between The Help and Harry Potter: Deathly Hallows #2. The Help is such a great and well written story and the acting in the movie didn't disappoint. Harry Potter is simply because it is the end of an era.

 

10.) Favorite TV series:

So I must admit I am a total TV junky, it's pathetic. So my ultimate fave is most likely Psych & Bones. Some of my other must-watch shows are Castle, NCIS, Glee, New Girl, Terra Nova, Archer, .... Oh My, see I am pathetic!

9.) Favorite Restaurant

Since I am moving back to Anchorage shortly my favorite restaurant there is Ramono's Italian Restaurant. Here in Portland my favorite restaurant is probably El Indio Mexican Restaurant or Nicholas Mediterranean Restaurant. A family stand-by is The Old Spaghetti Factory and Five Guy Burgers. 

8.) Favorite new thing I tried

I went on a cruise with just my mom and it was an amazing trip of trying once-in-a-lifetime type things. We went cave-tubbing in Belize, played with Spider Monkeys in Isle Roatan-Hondurus, we danced and kissed dolphins, took an airboat ride in the Everglades, and my favorite thing was swimming with stingrays.

7.) Favorite gift you received

For me my two favorite gifts are my Nook Color from my hubby on Valentine's Day and a Christmas Ornament my sister in Japan sent of all of our memories inside. Another favorite gift is my mother-in-law made matching dog sweaters for my two dogs and two matching sweaters for my sons-they make me happy just thinking about them.

On the strips of curled paper are memories

6.) Favorite thing I pinned

Holy cow! I just discovered Pinterest this summer. I am obsessed. I have pinned so many things I couldn't narrow it down. Looking at my boards may give you an idea. 

5.) Favorite Blog Post

This summer I participated in the Smart Summer Challenge and it was just a great summer to kick off blogging and doing some super great educational activities with my boy. One of my favorite blogs (which I have many) is my Urban Nature Scavenger Hunt. We looked for nature in Downtown Portland and kept our eyes out for curious gardens. Then we went home and made our own urban landscape with an architecture stamp set. It was truly an amazing day!

4.) Favorite Accomplishment

Running in a 5K! I am an overweight girl (to say the least) and last January I trained doing the Couch to 5K and ran in the Shamrock Run on St. Patty's Day. I did it in 45 minutes...not super great time. But I set a goal, worked for it, and achieved it! I was really proud of myself!

3.) Favorite Picture

Any picture of my two boys being sweet and cuddly with each other is my favorite. I love to see them grow up to be pals and the love they share for one another. Times like this make motherhood worth it!

2.) Favorite Memory

I would have to say probably the recent vacation to Cabo San Lucas and Los Angeles with my husband and two boys. It was our first family vacation since the baby has been born. It was really great for us to bond just the four of us and experience things through my son's eyes.

1.) Goal for 2012

Graduate with my B.A. in Elementary Education. I start Student Teaching Jan. 3rd. I am scheduled to graduate then end of March. It is truly my passion and joy to teach, in particular upper elementary grades. I will be starting a classroom/teaching blog called, Nurturing the Learner Within. Not only to graduate but getting a job would be super. That is one of the reasons we are moving to Alaska, so that could even be a remote possibility. Lastly, I would like to exercise more! 

 

Christmas Highlights 2011

I am ashamed how little I have written this month. I had the best intentions of crafting, teaching, cooking, and all other fun festive Christmas things, just didn't happen. My boys were sick most of the month and I wasn't really in the Christmas mood with the hubs away in Alaska. That isn't to say we did have some fun, family memories being made. Here is a highlight of some of our Christmas memories.

"B" found the corner behind tree was his favorite hiding place

Ornaments constantly thrown through out the house to be sucked on and played with

Family tradition of walking the Fantasy Trail

Polar Express Train Ride

Golden Ticket

Daddy is home!

 Santa threw up in our house!

My mother-in-law made match dog sweaters=LOVE!

The boys got matching sweaters as well!

Opening Night for the Blazers (Aiden's 1st NBA Game) 

Keepsake Ornament my sister in Japan made me

She included a list of all of our memories that are in the ornament. So thoughtful!~

 

Handprint Art

Every year I do one piece of Handprint Art. This is just such a visual way to see how your child has grown. I love looking at little ones hands and how tiny they are. The side by side comparisons of years can be striking. I am sad for the day when "A" will be too old/big to do our art tradition. His hand is already getting dangerously close to the edges of the paper. This year we did something different with the handprint ornaments, but here are some different handprint/footprint art from years past.

Paper Plate Wreaths

I had wanted to share a really simple craft for your preschooler. As I get older I am really starting to be fond of wreaths. I have my fancy one that hangs outside over the holidays, but why not make some that hang inside as well. Simply take a paper plate and cut out the middle. Decorate the rim, then punch a hole and add string. Viola! The ideas for decorating are endless. Here are two "A" has has made over the years...

What  are some other things you could decorate it with. Hmmm...we may have to make a button one since I love how much our turkey turned out at Thanksgiving.