It's been awhile since I made Pen a snack box. I think it's because when we moved Chris made me I sold my Easy Lunchboxes that I just loved for making snack boxes. I am going to get me a new set but in the meantime I found a replacement.



Penelope was very excited when I told her that there was a snack box for her in the fridge if she got hungry. She said "I remember that, you haven't made one of those in a long time. Thank you mommy!"

Cheddar and Pepper Jack cheese cubes, salami, club crackers, sliced cucumber, Plumazins and a couple of whole prunes, grapes, olives.

Yesterday when I went grocery shopping I intended to purchase items to make a zucchini lasagna. When I got home I realized I had forgotten to buy the cheeses, Mozzarella and Ricotta. Duh! Then I got an idea...why not save Italian for another night and go Mexican instead. So Penelope and I made a Zucchini Enchilada Casserole. Basically an enchilada casserole but you substitute the tortillas for zucchini. Great vegetarian dish or for those low carb eaters.

Zucchini Enchilada Casserole

1 lb. Ground beef
1 Can of corn
4 Zucchini's on the smaller size cut into thin strips
1 10oz. can of your favorite enchilada sauce
Colby Jack cheese
Seasonings for meat, I used cumin, garlic salt, onion powder, salt & pepper

Brown beef and season until cooked through. Drain the meat. Add the canned corn and mix well. In a baking or casserole dish cover the bottom with a little of the enchilada sauce. Then make layers starting with the zucchini, meat, cheese and continue making layers of zucchini, sauce, meat, cheese.


Bake at 375 for 20 to 25 minutes. We had ours with a dollop of sour cream and guacamole on top.

Penelope got a cotton candy machine for her birthday from her grandma Dolly and Grandpa Rocky.


She was so excited and said "just what I always wanted!" We just attempted to make cotton candy for the first time...let me tell you it is harder then it looks.


She tried twirling the stick around to collect the sugar but the thing about took her arm off. "I'm scared, mommy!" I had to take over but didn't have much luck either. It was shooting sugar at me faster then I could collect it. This was all we could gather up before Penelope asked "what's that smell?" Ummm, that would be burnt sugar.


Well I always tell Penelope to "keep trying at something" and "don't give up" and "you will get better the more you do it". So as soon as I clean the machine and get the nerve we are going to try for round two. Let's hope it just takes a little practice...

Which reminds me, I bought a balloon animal making kit awhile back and after several attempts, explosions, and finally making a sword. I decided to take a break from it. Suddenly I feel like giving it another go. Cotton candy machine, balloon animals, Chris' magic, and Penelope wanting to be a tightrope walker...well I could very well see us starting our own family circus. I wonder if I could get Timber to jump through burning hoops...

Look what I found at Target the other day!


They had a couple different styles and only $4.00! Looking for some new bento boxes head on over to your local Target and see if they are still available. Speaking of Target, for those of you who entered my Surprise Follower Appreciation Giveaway we have a winner. Congratulations Melanie! She also guessed right when she said the prize would be a Target giftcard. I am surprised I didn't have more entries. Stay tuned for the next one!

This week for share day Penelope had to bring in something that was cross shaped, pink, the number 16, the letter V, or had a new life theme. She chose to take a cross in to share with her classmates. Which inspired me to create this bento for her today.


Top tier: Veggie chips, olives

Bottom tier: Broccoli coleslaw salad, turkey cross sandwich, white cheddar "John" and cheddar "3:16"

And on another topic...we discovered a food Timber won't scarf down. Olives! Instead he rolled it around the house like his very own tiny ball.

A couple of months ago my super sweet friend sent me an amazing care package filled with some Alaska goodies. Included in the care package was a can of straight outta the Alaskan sea smoked salmon.

 It was actually from another super sweet friends catch and let me tell you there is nothing like home caught and home smoked Alaskan salmon. THE BEST!


Smoked Salmon Spread

1 can of smoked salmon. I think the can was about 8oz. it made quite a bit but because it is so tasty certainly not enough!
8oz. Cream cheese
2 to 3 splashes of Worcestershire sauce
Cajun Seasoning

Mix everything together and eat with crackers, sliced cucumbers, bread, or just lick the bowl. Sooo good!

Here is Penelope's dinner tonight. You may laugh but she proclaimed it was the absolute best dinner ever!!!


Rosemary crackers, club crackers, cucumbers, pretzel bread sticks with Pesto hummus from Fresh & Easy and my smoked salmon for dipping. She also had some sliced white cheddar cheese and salami and some juicy grapes.

Spring has arrived early here in Bakersfield. It is sunny and in the 70's today. We took the dog out for a walk and it was sooo nice. The forecast calls for it to be in the 80's tomorrow. Although it's nice right now it just reminds me that the terrible heat of living in dessert land is just around the corner. Ugh

Here is Penelope's lunch for today.


Top tier: Turkey and cheddar butterfly sandwich and edamame all on top of a bed of shredded lettuce. She loves to eat plain lettuce!

Bottom tier: Smoked almonds, gummy fruit, cinnamon sugar Crunchmaster crackers, a candy...I mean prune. :) Gotta love the individual wrapping, she thinks it's candy!

Made this the other day and Chris absolutely loved it, I think he had thirds!

Cheesy Penne Pasta w/ Pancetta & Peas

1 16 oz. box of Penne pasta
About 1/2 cup or more of cubed Pancetta that has been fried
About 1/2 cup or more of frozen peas
1/3 cup of grated Parmesan
1 3/4 cups of milk
3 tbsp. flour
2 tbsp. butter
Shredded Mozzarella cheese
Salt & Pepper

While your pasta is cooking melt butter in a saucepan and add flour. Cook for about a minute while stirring. Gradually add milk and bring to a boil stirring until thick and smooth. Remove from heat and stir in the Parmesan cheese. Season with salt and pepper and then add the Pancetta and peas. Once the pasta has finished cooking pour the cheese sauce over it and mix well. Pour pasta into a baking dish and top with some shredded Mozzarella cheese. Use your discretion as to how cheesy you want it. Bake at 400 degrees just until cheese is melted and starts to get bubbly.