School District Cooking Contest

About a month ago Abbie came home from school VERY excited. She had in her hands an announcement from school saying the school district was having a healthy snack recipe contest for all the elementary schools in the District to enter. All she had to do was come up with a healthy snack recipe, turn it in, and then they would pick 10 finalists to compete in the cooking challenge at the district office. Well, Abbie (who's favorite thing to do is watch the cooking challenges on the Food Network) was beyond excited to enter.

About a week ago we got a phone call saying she was one of the 10 finalists out of over 100 recipes that were entered! Well, today was the final cook off. I got her out of school about an hour early and we headed off to the district office. They had everything ready that she would need to make her recipe and gave each participant one hour to complete their dish and have it ready for the judges. Abbie was SO excited when, in the end, they called her name as the WINNER! Way to go Abbie....

getting started...

The lunch cook from each of the finalist's school came to be the assistants. Betty Sue (Ranch Creeks lunch cook) was so cute with Abbie. The school cooks were not allowed to help make the recipe but helped with things like the oven.

her work station with all of her ingredients

News channel 11 was there to take in all the action

Only 5 minutes left...trying to get her dish on the plate

All finished and waiting for the judging

Kent, Claire, and Anderson. Diana (Abbie's primary pres.) was so sweet to come with her boys to cheer Abbie on.

There were five judges, the school district Superintendent and 4 other members of the school board. They were judged on three things: 1. Taste and how healthy 2. Presentation 3. How easy it was to prepare

... and the winner was Abbie Carlson and her Healthy Chicken Bites

Abbie with her principal (Mrs. Paulson on the left) and the school cook Betty Sue

All ten finalists got a framed certificate, medal, and an awesome goodie bag. They awarded the top three with extra prizes.

The goodie bags

Abbie won quite the loot including a $50 gift card to Target, 4 tickets to the zoo, a new back pack, and lots of other fun stuff.

Abbie's Healthy Chicken Bites

12 oz. Can. Chunk chicken
8 oz. cream cheese
Green onions
Roll of refrigerator biscuits (8-10 count) cut biscuits in half to make snack size
Italian seasoned bread crumbs
Mix softened cream cheese, chicken, and green onions together. Cut each biscuit in half and roll out thin. Fill with cream cheese mixture and pinch dough closed. Roll in bread crumbs, put on sprayed cookie sheet with seam side down. Bake according to biscuit package directions.

She's in the double didgets!

How lucky am I to be Abbie's mom! I can hardly believe she is already 10! She is growing up to be such a confident, loving and happy girl! She has always had such a grown up spirit inside her little body. From the time she was little she has always been very thoughtful, well behaved, and nurturing. She is the best big sister any kid could hope for too!

It has been so fun to watch her grow up and figure out what her talents are and the things she loves to do. This year especially she has figured out that she loves to bake, and is actually quite good at it. She also ran a 4 mile race and did a kids triathlon this year. She did such a great job and can't wait until her next one. She has also played basketball and loves it too (to her mom's delight!)

We are so grateful for our sweet Abbie. Happy Birthday Abba Dabba!

Love is in the air!

We LOVE Valentine's Day! So, this week has been filled with fun activities in anticipation of one of our favorite days. We have been decorating, baking, crafting, and spreading the love! Here are some highlights:

Claire helped me make this fun sign

I have the best recipe for Sour Cream Cookies! It is the same one my mom made for us every year growing up and now I make with my kids every year. Yum!

We always have to leave some plain for Kent...that's the way he likes them!

Jake's Birthday Celebration

For Jake's birthday we had fun celebrating with our family, the McOmbers and Coyles, and our good friends the Twiggs.

Birthday boy is all the way in the back (hidden behind the faucet!)

Jake got so many fun things to play with including these dinosaurs from his friend Dane. (yes, thoe are his snow boots on...he just wouldn't let us take them off. Some fights aren't worth having!)

Cory and Jake gobbling up their cake and ice cream

Jakey is 2!!!

I can hardly believe my baby boy turned 2 yesterday. He is the light of our lives!! What an addition he has made to our little family. His sisters adore him, his father lights up around him, and his mother couldn't love him more! Happy Birthday Jakey Boy!!!