Proving that all good things come to an end, this is the last Back-to-School Meal Maker Challenge sponsored by H-E-B and ConAgra…I am kinda sad!

Today, I am making a family favorite with a little twist…Super Easy Potato Soup.

I make this recipe all winter…it is super easy (hence the name) and so yummy.

It uses a lot of milk which can cause problems for several family members so I am modifying it…

…with Lactaid which is currently on special  at H-E-B:

Coincidence?

Save $1.00 when you purchase any Lactaid Milk product.

Print coupon available here.

Easy Steps to Make Super Easy Potato Soup:
1.  Gather the ingredients:

Potatoes
Onions
Salt
Pepper
Milk (Lactaid with your coupon, regular milk, or if you are really splurging – cream)
Baked potato toppings

I figure for every two people I am serving I use one very large potato. I use an onion for every 3 large potatoes.

2. Peel the potatoes and cut into pieces.
3. Prepare the onions and chop. The pieces do not have to be small since you will be blending later.
4. Put the potatoes and onions into large pot and cover with water.
5. Cook on stove until all are tender–you can’t really “over cook” at this point.  It is very forgiving!

6. Blend the onion-potato mixture in a food processor or blender. Add milk or cream as needed to get the desired consistency.

7. Return the blended soup to the pot on low heat and season with salt and pepper to taste. Obviously you can add other spices at this point if you desire.

8. Add additional milk or cream as needed for creaminess and consistency. I find if your potatoes are really, really soft it reduces the necessity for cream and ends up quite creamy.

9. Serve! I like to add a topping bar with bacon, shredded cheese, chives, sour cream and anything else that tastes yummy on baked potatoes.

10. Eat.

11. Left-overs are yummy too…

This is Week 6 of the H-E-B/ConAgra sponsored Back-to-School Meal Maker Challenge. For my participation I have received products and compensation.

Winners from the giveaways provided by H-E-B & ConAgra have been notified – thanks so much H-E-B & ConAgra…I have really had fun with this challenge.

This is one of my favorite posts from last year about this time.    The orange backpack continues to return home each morning pulled now by a four year old who still isn’t in school.

Once upon a time there were three backpacks.

A brand new yellow one.

A brand new green one.

A hand-me-down orange one.

The brand new yellow backpack was packed with enthusiasm and was to accompany a first grader to his first day of school.  This backpack was carefully chosen by the first grader for it’s bright and sunny color.

The brand new green backpack was packed in tolerance and was to accompany a third grader to his first day of school.  This backpack was chosen by the third grader because his best friend had the same one.

The hand-me-down orange backpack was stuffed in frustration because it’s 3 year old recipient was too little to go to school.  This backpack was handed-down because the 3 year old was upset and a bit tantrum-ish he couldn’t choose a new one.

The first day of school arrived and the boys’ mother pulled out the camera to take pictures of the event.  The first and third grader posed with the brand new yellow and green backpacks as successfully as a first and third grader can pose on the first day of school.

The first day of school arrived and the 3 year old pulled out HIS hand-me-down orange backpack.  He demanded to be included in the pictures.

The brand new yellow and green backpacks and the hand-me-down orange backpack were all placed in the back of the minivan and hauled off to the first day of school.

The boys’ mother again coerced photography on the group at the school’s entrance.

The brand new yellow, the brand new green and the hand-me-down orange backpacks were all pulled into the school.

The brand new yellow backpack went to first grade.

The brand new green backpack went to third grade.

The hand-me-down orange backpack went back home.

Back at home the 3 year old required a bit of extra hugging – backpack and all.

Yesterday we went to a 6 year old’s birthday party at the local fire station.

During the festivities a group picture was taken in front of the fire engine with the three firefighters and 12 kids.  I took 6 photos during this photo shoot and have cropped out everyone EXCEPT my 7 year old, Reid…

Yep, MY kid is THAT kid.

But it wasn’t just Reid that made an impression on the party goers, I had my moment too.

During the fire station tour, one of the fire fighters pointed to a very large map on the wall that showed all the territory covered by the station.  He asked for someone to tell them their address so he could point it out on the map for the kids.

I volunteered our address followed by “you guys have been there”.

He looked up and studied me for a moment and said, “Oh, yes.  I remember.  Didn’t one of your boys split his head open?”

I nodded.  I was impressed that he remembered the incident a year and 1/2 later.

Someone from the group asked if that was the ONLY time that the fire department had been called to my house.

*gulp*

Uh, no.  They have been there three times.

That statement was followed by an audible gasp from the attending parents.

DON’T JUDGE ME PEOPLE!

I HAVE THREE BOYS!

Right before we left, the fire fighters were called out on an emergency.  They headed out of the station with the lights flashing and the sirens blaring and turned left.

I doubt I was the only one with the fleeting thought that they might be headed to my house for the fourth time…

One of my favorite things to do is to hear my boys laugh.

It is one of the reasons that if everyone gets a bath, fully pajama-ed and teeth brushed they get to watch either America’s Funniest Home Videos or Wipe Out before bed.

Either of these shows is good for a three boy giggle fest.  There is something about bodily harm being caught on tape that puts them in stitches.

Lately they have been favoring Wipe Out which is a bunch of adults running through a very ridiculous obstacle course.

All I can do is cringe.

And believe that I could do it faster, better and with a little more style.

Mom, would you go on Wipe Out?

Of course.

Really?

Oh ya.

We had that conversation while watching the show.  The boys then commented on each obstacle and how I probably wouldn’t be able to do it.  Ryan(9) kept pointing out what I SHOULD do in certain circumstances when I am a contestant.

Likely.

They went to bed dreaming of a humongous foam covered bat hitting me off of a shaving cream covered base into the water of questionable cleanliness.

The next morning on the way to school the conversation continued.

Reid(7):  Mom, are you SURE you could win Wipe Out?

Me:  Of course.  I am scrappy.

Reid:  Oh.

Just then I looked up in the rear view mirror and caught Ryan slowly closing his eyes and shaking his head back and forth…

Ryan:  Mom, you aren’t scrappy.

We eat breakfast for dinner around here frequently.

I am just a breakfast girl.

I think it might be genetic because the boys seem to favor the first meal of the day as well.  The cool thing is that if you make extra for dinner, you can have the left-overs for breakfast the next day…see how this works out?

When I found this recipe for Fruity Yogurt Pancakes on the Bisquick website, I knew I had to try it.

After we tried it, I figured we better share it as part of the Back-to-School Meal Maker Challenge sponsored by H-E-B and ConAgra Foods because it is super yummy.

These items are currently have special deals at H-E-B:

Save 50 cents on Bisquick when you buy a size larger than 40 oz (print online coupon here).

There are 6 different types of Yoplait Yogurt with special coupon offers available (print coupon(s) here).

I am making a few changes and doubling the original recipe because we like pancake left-overs.

Kinda Lemony Pancakes:

4 cups Original Bisquick

1 cup milk

2 T sugar

4 eggs

2 containers of Yoplait Yogurt – I used one Vanilla and one Lemon…hence the kinda lemony flavor.

1. Heat griddle.  Grease as necessary.
2. In bowl combine ingredients and stir (batter will be lumpy).
3. Pour 1/4 cupfuls onto hot griddle.  Spread if needed.  Add a little milk to the batter if too thick.
4. Cook until golden brown.
5. Clear your kitchen counter of all drying watercolor art masterpieces…

Serve with your favorite pancake toppings.

Enjoy.

During the dinner discussion tonight, the boys decided that the perfect day would be dad making pancakes for breakfast, eating at IHOP for lunch and mom making waffles for dinner.

I would have to agree.

This is Week 5 of the H-E-B/ConAgra sponsored Back-to-School Meal Maker Challenge. For my participation I have received products and compensation.

Have you entered the FABULOUS H-E-B/ConAgra giveaway?  Hurry!  It ends on Saturday…

One of the things that is great about having fun friends is the unusual entertainment opportunities that arise.

A few weeks ago I received an email from a friend that invited us to go with him and his wife to the roller derby:

We could pack some drink/food/appetizers and drink/eat before and during the event. It would be just like a picnic but without trees, sunshine & fresh air.

Of course we were in.

Who can pass up a good picnic without trees, sunshine & fresh air?

Turns out that we weren’t the only friends that couldn’t pass it up…there were 10 of us headed to the Assassination City Roller Derby last Saturday night.

I knew this wasn’t a normal sporting event when we stopped by the ladies’ room on the way in:

And they did.

There was also a lot of athletic primping before and after each match.

My favorite part was the skater’s names and numbers:

Daisy Shoots 0.357

Stone Cold Jane Austen 3:16

Eve L. Genius IQ 200

Maulder and Skully Area 51

Claire Voyant 1-900

I might have to join the roller derby just to get a cool name.

We saw two battles – Deadly Kennedys vs. Viva La Revolucion! (see, even their team name has excessive punctuation…awesome) & Bombshell Brigade vs. Lone Star Assassins.

The action was pretty fast and furious.  It didn’t take too long to catch on to the scoring and I was amazed at how long each game lasts – 1 hour.  That is a lot of skating in a skimpy costume.

Who knew that fishnet stockings could withstand that type of abuse?

The last bout came down to the last seconds.  The Lone Star Assassins and the Bombshell Brigade were tied at 112 with less than 10 seconds to go.

There was a lot of cheering, shouting and knocking down of beer pyramids.

Not every sport has that either.

All in all it was a really fun night.  The people watching was at a premium.  Even the mascot was unusual – he was on stilts and leaned over for this picture:

He was even more frightening close up…

Today I am stepping out of the kitchen…

*whew*

…and giving stuff away!

Not just any stuff, but 5 H-E-B/ConAgra prize packages worth $50 a piece.

Oh ya.

Each prize pack includes:

• Reusable ConAgra shopping tote
• $25 H-E-B  gift card (can be used at Central Market as well)
• Peter Pan Peanut Butter
• 4-pack Snack Pack Pudding
• Healthy Choice Fresh Mixer
• LaChoy Creation
• La Choy Sauce
• Chef Boyardee
• Hunt’s Ketchup
• Marie Callender’s Homestyle Creation

To enter:

Leave a comment telling me about your family’s favorite dinner.

That couldn’t be more simple…it is like I am just giving stuff away!

Oh, I am.

One entry per person.  5 winners will be chosen randomly through the wizardry of random number generation and notified by email.  Contact information will be gathered and forwarded on to the super sweet people at the H-E-B/ConAgra Meal Maker Challenge who will send the prize packages directly to the 5 winners.  This contest is open to people with a US address even though not all entrants may be close to an H-E-B which is primarily in Texas.

Contest ends at midnight on Saturday, August 28.

Good luck!

This is Week 5 of the H-E-B/ConAgra sponsored Back-to-School Meal Maker Challenge. For my participation I have received products and compensation.

All the prize packages for this contest have been provided by H-E-B & ConAgra (who are awesome) (and I don’t have to say that).

I just dropped off a 2nd grader and a 4th grader for the first day of school.

It was time.

This was the first time that I considered NOT walking them in on the first day.

They know more about what goes on at school than I do.

I ended up walking in with them because they asked.  We walked in together and I got dumped in the lobby.  I walked down to each room to make sure they made it.

They did.

Coming back to a quiet house is a big sigh of relief.  Over the last few weeks there has been a pestering escalation that has risen to intolerable level.

The poking.

The hitting.

The screaming.

I could tolerate the poking and the hitting if it weren’t accompanied by the screaming.

My theory is that they have just spent too much time together this summer.

It is time for a change.

Oh sweet, sweet school to the rescue.  Surely 8 hours of separation can only help the situation.

Maybe they will even miss each other…

A mom can always dream.

*Stop the presses for the medal ceremony*

Before you completely mock me and my inability to put food on the table on a regular basis to sustain my family, let me just say that this was a bit out of the box for me and it worked out.

Whoo hoo.

It all started a few months ago when I became addicted to The Next Food Network Star.

Blog-Stedman and I picked our favorite  and rooted for her the entire series…Aarti  Sequeira.

Why Aarti?

1. She is a blogger.  She writes at Aarti Paarti.
2. She makes Indian food which is a favorite at our house.
3. She is super cute.

Last Sunday night she won the competition.  Today her new show, Aarti Party premiered at 11 am CST.

I was in the grocery store by 1 and had dinner on the table at 5.

Oh ya.

I made the menu from her first episode – Massaged Kale Salad, Sloppy Bombay Joes and Creamy Pistachio Pops.

Here is how it went for me…

Sloppy Bombay Joes – Obvious from the title, Sloppy Bombay Joes are sloppy joes with an Indian twist.  Aarti makes these with turkey, but because Blog-Stedman will ONLY eat beef (don’t even get me started) so I made this recipe with beef.

It was pretty straight forward until I got to the pistachio and raisin addition.  I couldn’t add pistachios because my boys had eaten all the ones we bought at the grocery store while I was cooking other things.  I couldn’t add raisins because Blog-Stedman also has recipe raisin-aversion.  So I skipped that step altogether.  The final product turned out great even with the missing ingredients.

At dinner, EVERY SINGLE ONE of my kids ate this.  Ryan(9) had seconds.  Reid(7) reported it smelled funny, but finished his portion.  Rhett(4) ate his sans-bun because that is how he is rolling these days.  Both blog-Stedman and I liked it a lot.

Massaged Kale Salad – This recipe was a lot of fun.  I have NEVER used kale for anything.  I wasn’t even sure where it would be in the produce section.  Aarti suggested using Black Kale, but my market didn’t carry that so I used Red Kale which quite honestly looks purple.  Ryan had watched the show with me earlier in the day so when we got to the part of massaging the kale…literally, he was participating with both hands.

The stripping of the kale went just like Aarti had shown on the show and the dressing was really easy to make.  I love the thought that this salad is so sturdy it can stay in the fridge fully dressed for days.

The only hitch I came across was the mango that I purchased at the store wasn’t ripe enough and didn’t taste good.  Luckily I had some frozen mango in the freezer which I used instead and will probably do in the future because it is easier.  I think that fresh orange slices or mandarin oranges would work well too.

At dinner, EVERY SINGLE ONE of my kids tried this and ate at least a 1/2 of their portion.  This is something that is out of the norm for them so I was impressed that they were willing to play along.  The sweetness of the mangos really helps it be kid-friendly and the pumpkin seeds were a hit as well.  I really liked it and will enjoy the left-overs for the next few days.  Blog-Stedman who isn’t a big fruit-in-salad kinda guy actually thought this was good.

Creamy Pistachio Pops – These are like Indian ice cream pops.  It is based on a recipe for kulfi.  It has really unusual ingredients like Earl Grey tea and cardamom.  Cooking it results in a heavenly smell.  It was wonderful…I could have bathed in it.

After cooking the mixture, you strain it to remove the tea  and spice pieces.

At this point I finished the recipe and placed it in the fridge to make pops after dinner with the boys using my Zoku which freezes popsicles in less than 10 minutes.

The only problem is that the consistency of this recipe is more like ice cream than popsicles and it never froze hard enough to extract the pops from the Zoku.

Don’t be alarmed!  I have a plan B.

We scooped out the frozen pistachio ice cream into bowls…

…and all was right with the world.

Oh, and I have enough mixture left over that I did put them into a traditional ice pop mold so I will have MORE tomorrow.

See, I told you all was right with the world.

Overall it was a great success.

• I cooked.
• My kids ate.
• We had an adventure today.

I don’t know if The Food Network expected 40 year old Texas suburban housewives to be part of Aarti Party’s demographic, but I am in.

Can’t wait to see what I will be making next Sunday.

The world is a better place because of yogurt and crescent rolls.

It is a fact.

So when I noticed that BOTH were on special at H-E-B this week, I decided that BOTH must be incorporated into my Back-to-School Meal Maker Challenge dinner.

I mean, I don’t want to mess with world karma…

Today I am making Fancy Barbecue Sandwiches and serving them with Yummy Fruit Smoothies.

These ingredients have special deals currently at H-E-B:

When you buy 6 Yoplait yogurts, you save 40 cents (print out the coupon that is available here).

Save 50 cents when you buy 2 Pillsbury Crescent dinner rolls (print out the coupon that is available here).

Oh, and did I mention that this is so easy that even I can make it?

Fancy Barbecue Sandwiches:

1 can Hunt’s Manwich Barbecue Sloppy Joe Sauce

1 lb. ground beef

1-2* packages Pillsbury Crescent rolls

Prepare the Manwich Barbecue Sloppy Joe sauce with the ground beef according to the very difficult *cough* *but not into the food* directions on the can.

Flatten 1 can of Crescent roll dough out on a cooking stone or other baking pan and cut the outer 1/3rd on each side into 1 inch strips.

Place the Barbecue filling down the middle 1/3rd.

Alternate folding the 1 inch dough strips in to form a braid.

Bake at 350 until the crescent roll is done – 15 to 20 minutes.

*I usually make this recipe with one crescent roll package because that feeds my family and I have a little filling left over.  If you wanted to use all the filling then two would work out and they would just be a little less filled.

Cut into pieces and eat!

Fruit smoothies are a necessity around my house.  The boys love them and it is a really, really easy way to get some fruit in them…and they think it is a big treat.  We make a variation of these at least three times a week.

Yummy Fruit Smoothies:

2 bananas

1 cup strawberries

1/2 cup blueberries

1/2 cup orange juice

1 container Yoplait yogurt – vanilla

2 scoops of ice

I blend all the fruit and juice together first so I can really blend it.  The boys are not big fans of “pieces”.

I then add the yogurt and ice and just mix until the ice is the right consistency.

Mmmm…mine is melting.

This is Week 4 of the H-E-B/ConAgra sponsored Back-to-School Meal Maker Challenge. For my participation I have received products and compensation.

Watch in future weeks for giveaways from H-E-B & ConAgra!