Greek Chickpea Salad

This recipe gets this gal's stamp of approval. It's definitely an easy one to make, and with all those summer cookouts on the way, it's a great one to add to your collection. 

I made it this year for a Memorial Day party, but give it a try at your next get together or over Fourth of July weekend. You'll be glad you did!

Greek Chickpea Salad

2 cans chickpeas, drained and rinsed

1/2 cup olive oil

3 Tbsp lemon juice

1 tsp dried oregano

1 tsp ground cumin

1 large cucumber, quartered and sliced

1/2 large red onion, diced

1/2 large red bell pepper, diced

16 oz grape tomatoes, each halved

salt and pepper, to taste

8 oz feta cheese

1. Combine all ingredients except feta cheese in a mixing bowl. 
2. Cover and refrigerate for at least two hours.
3. Before serving, mix in feta cheese.

Notes:

Canned chickpeas are often masquerading in grocery stores as garbanzo beans. They are the same thing. :-)

This recipe is delicious as a side dish but would also make a wonderful sandwich filling. Just stuff some into a pita pocket and enjoy!

If you're looking for other quick and easy side dishes to bring to all of those summer cookouts, make sure to check out these other Harris Sisters' Favorites:

Southwest Pasta Salad - our most popular post to date!

Greek Orzo Salad - this is a Greek-style salad with pasta

Rainbow Pasta Salad - recipes do not get easier than this

Marinated Cucumbers, Onions and Tomatoes - use those fresh garden veggies!

Unbelievably Good Fruit Dip - perfect to pair with all those fresh summer berries

Stovetop Baked Beans - pairs well with burgers and hot dogs

FREE Summer Bowling for Kids: 2014 List

While bowling might not be the FIRST activity that springs to mind when it comes to your kids, it is something that I bet they'll actually enjoy if they give it a try. After all, you don't really expect them to go pro, you just want them to try something new and get them out of the house for a few hours. So might as well do it for FREE, right?

Here's a list of BIG chain bowling alleys that offer free bowling for kids during the summer months:

• KidsBowlFree.com is a program that includes bowling alleys in the US and Canada. Visit the website to see if they have a participating bowling alley near you. Once you've found a participating bowling alley, register each child, and you'll be sent coupons each day for two free games (per child). You'll only need to pay for shoe rental.
• AMF Bowling Centers offers an AMF Summer Games program. Visit the website to see if they have a participating bowling alley near you. Once you've found a participating bowling alley and register each child, you'll be able to visit your account and print vouchers for up to three free games per child every weekday Memorial Day through Labor Day. You'll only need to pay for shoe rental.

And if you're still looking for ideas to keep the kids entertained, make sure to check out these Summer Fun Lists:

100 Things to Do This Summer

Read the Book/Watch the Movie

40 Books Your Kids Should Read

50 Classic Kids Movies

Zoo Photo Scavenger Hunt
CHEAP Summer Movies for Kids: 2014 List

Cherry Dr. Pepper Cake

Ryan Barrett Walkush recently celebrated a birthday, and he chose Dr. Pepper cake for his birthday cake. This recipe is a little different from ones you might have seen floating around on Pinterest. It is a layer cake. And, I used RBW's favorite soda, CHERRY Dr. Pepper.

It turned out really well and I think this recipe would work equally well with other dark sodas: Coke, Cheerwine, Rootbeer, etc., so feel free to use your favorite.

Give it a try and let us know what you think.

Cherry Dr. Pepper Layer Cake

2 cups Cherry Dr. Pepper

1 cup cocoa powder

1 stick butter, cubed

1 1/4 cup granulated sugar

1/2 cup brown sugar

2 cups flour

1 1/4 tsp baking soda

1 tsp salt

2 eggs

Cherry Dr. Pepper Frosting (recipe follows)

9 stemmed maraschino cherries for garnish

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour 2, 9" cake pans.
2. In a small saucepan, heat Cherry Dr. Pepper, cocoa powder, and butter over medium heat until butter is melted. Add sugars and whisk until dissolved. Remove from heat and cool.
3. In a large bowl, mix flour, baking soda, and salt together.
4. In a small bowl, beat eggs, then whisk them into the cooled cocoa mixture until combined. 
5. Gently fold the cocoa mixture into the cocoa mixture until all large lumps are removed. (The batter will still be slightly lumpy. Do not over mix as this will cause the cake to be tough.)
6. Pour the batter into the prepared pans and bake for 25 minutes. Check for doneness with a toothpick inserted in the center of the cakes.
7. Cool cakes in the pans for 10 minutes. Then, loosen the sides of the cakes from the pans and turn out onto cooling racks for another 10 minutes.
8. Frost with Cherry Dr. Pepper Frosting (recipe follows).
9. Evenly space 8 stemmed maraschino cherries around the edge of the cake for garnish. Place the final maraschino cherry in the center of the cake. 
10. Refrigerate cake.

Cherry Dr. Pepper Frosting

1 stick butter, softened

1/2 cup cocoa powder

1/2 cup chocolate syrup

16 oz. confectioners' sugar

1/8 to 1/4 cup Cherry Dr. Pepper

1 tsp vanilla

Dash of salt

1. Place the butter, cocoa powder, and chocolate syrup in a large mixing bowl. Blend on low speed until just combined.
2. Add the confectioners' sugar, 2 Tbsp Cherry Dr. Pepper, vanilla, and salt. Blend on low until the sugar is combined. Then, increase the mixer speed to medium speed and blend 1 minute longer.
3. Add more Cherry Dr. Pepper, 2 Tbsp at a time, until the mixture is smooth and spreadable.
4. Use frosting to frost Cherry Dr. Pepper Cake.

I Wear Your Granddad's Clothes . . . .

. . . I look incredible.

But, I didn't exactly get them from the Thrift Shop down the road. (Sorry, Macklemore.)

You see, now that Summer is upon us and THIS family is turning their thoughts to family trips, I'm reminded of a fun tradition that I started years ago.

It started when Daddy gave me his Marine Corps T-shirt - the original that he wore in service circa the 1970's. And ever since I've owned it, I've made it a point to take it on family vacations with me so that it, too, has the opportunity to "travel."

I don't always get a photo of me in the shirt (although I should start doing that), but here are some photos over the years of me in different locations wearing the now famous "traveling" shirt:

This is me and Ryan in 2004 in Honolulu, Hawaii. Just kidding, Ryan is MUCH taller than that. ;-)

Here I am in 2009 in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina with Jaxon for his first ride on a merry-go-round:

And here I am again in 2011 at a recycled tire playground in Cunningham Falls State Park in Maryland (we were on our way to Washington, DC and stopped off here for a break from driving):

And here's me, Deanna, and Daddy in 2013 in Nashville, Tennessee (notice Daddy-o is also wearing a Marine Corps T-shirt):

So, Aidyn and Jaxon, Imma take your Grandpa style, Imma take your Grandpa style, no for real, ask your Grandpa can I have his hand-me-downs?

Check and check. Semper Fi.

2014 PEZ Superhero Dispensers

It's time for your periodic PEZ update. ;-) And with the onslaught of superhero movies being released this Summer, PEZ hasn't missed a beat!

Before we get into the news, here's a vintage PEZ ad just to show how long superheroes have been on their radar. This ad is dated 1980, but some quick research shows that the first superhero PEZ (color variations on Batman) were released in 1966.

In 2014, PEZ is adding another version of Captain America to the Marvel assortment in conjunction with Captain America: The Winter Soldier movie. This version has a red stem and a dark blue hood:

And, even though we'll also be seeing The Amazing Spider-man 2 and X-Men: Days of Future Past in theaters this Summer, PEZ has instead chosen to release a new The Flash dispenser to the DC assortment in June 2014.

Little is known about the upcoming The Flash movie, but it is slated for 2016 release.

Of course, this dispenser also helps to fill out the PEZ Justice League of America . . . . the script for THAT movie is still in development and is rumored to follow both The Flash and "Batman vs. Superman" in theaters. "Batman vs. Superman" is in production now and is also slated to hit theaters summer of 2016. 

PEZ still has a few superheroes to go to fill out their JLA offering. THIS gal would certainly like to see an updated Wonder Woman dispenser . . .

This post contains affiliate links.

Read the Book, Watch the Movie

With Summer fast upon us, I'm sure you're already lining up some fun things for the kids to do.

If you haven't already poked around the blog, please make sure to check out our 100 Things to Do This Summer List, as well as our 50 Classic Kids Movies, 40 Books Your Kids Should Read, and Zoo Photo Scavenger Hunt lists. They will get you off to a great start with fun summertime activity ideas!

BUT, just in case you need any more ideas, I thought I'd put together a brand-spankin' new list just in time for this summer. This is a list of children's books that have then later been made into movies.

The idea is that you can have your child read the book first and then treat him or her with watching the movie. (Or certainly, if any of the books are above your child's reading level - YOU can read the book to your child during story time before watching the movie together.)

1.  Alice's Adventures in Wonderland - 1865 - Lewis Carroll

     Alice in Wonderland - 1951 - Rated G - animated

     Alice in Wonderland - 2010 - Rated PG

2.  The Apple Dumpling Gang - 1971 - Jack Bickham

     The Apple Dumpling Gang - 1976 - Rated G

     The Apple Dumpling Gang Rides Again - 1979 - Rated G

3.  Babe, the Gallant Pig - 1983 - Dick King Smith

     Babe - 1995 - Rated G

4.  Because of Winn-Dixie - 2000 - Kate DiCamillo

     Because of Winn-Dixie - 2005 - Rated PG

5.  Bed-Knob and Broomstick* - 1957 - Mary Norton

     Bedknobs and Broomsticks - 1971 - Rated G

6.  The Cat in the Hat - 1957 - Dr. Seuss

     Dr. Seuss' The Cat in the Hat - 2003 - Rated PG

7.  Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - 1964 - Roald Dahl

     Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory - 1971 - Rated G

     Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - 2005 - Rated PG

8.  Charlotte's Web - 1952 - E. B. White

     Charlotte's Web - 1973 - Rated G - animated

     Charlotte's Web - 2006 - Rated PG

9.  Chitty, Chitty, Bang, Bang: The Magical Car - 1964 - Ian Fleming

     Chitty, Chitty, Bang, Bang - 1968 - Rated G

10. The Chronicles of Narnia (series) - 1951-1956 - C. S. Lewis

     The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe - 2005 - Rated PG

     The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian - 2008 - Rated PG

     The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader - 2010 - Rated PG

   

11. Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs - 1978 - Judi Barrett

     Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs - 2009 - Rated PG - animated

     Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2 - 2013 - Rated PG - animated

12. Coraline* - 2002 - Neil Gaimann

     Coraline - 2009 - Rated PG - animated

13. Diary of a Wimpy Kid (series) - 2007-2011 - Jeff Kinney

     Diary of a Wimpy Kid - 2010 - Rated PG

     Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules - 2011 - Rated PG

     Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days - 2012 - Rated PG

14. Ender's Game - 1985 - Orson Scott Card

     Ender's Game - 2013 - Rated PG-13

15. Escape to Witch Mountain - 1968 - Alexander Key

     Escape to Witch Mountain - 1975 - Rated G

     Return from Witch Mountain - 1978 - Rated G

     Race to Witch Mountain - 2009 - Rated PG

16. Fantastic Mr. Fox - 1970 - Roald Dahl

     Fantastic Mr. Fox - 2009 - Rated PG - animated

17. Gulliver's Travels - 1726 - Jonathan Swift

     Gulliver's Travels - 2010 - Rated PG

18. Harry Potter (series) - 1997-2007 - J. K. Rowling

     Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone - 2001 - Rated PG

     Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets - 2002 - Rated PG

     Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban - 2004 - Rated PG

     Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire - 2005 - Rated PG-13

     Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - 2007 - Rated PG-13

     Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince - 2009 - Rated PG

     Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1 - 2010 - Rated PG-13

     Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2 - 2011 - Rated PG-13

19. The Hobbit - 1937 - J. R. R. Tolkien

     The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey - 2012 - Rated PG-13

     The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug - 2013 - Rated PG-13

     The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies - 2014 - Rated PG-13

20. How the Grinch Stole Christmas* - 1957 - Dr. Seuss

     How the Grinch Stole Christmas (TV Special) - 1966 - Not Rated - animated

     Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas - 2000 - Rated PG

21. How to Eat Fried Worms - 1973 - Thomas Rockwell

     How to Eat Fried Worms - 2006 - Rated PG

22. How to Train Your Dragon (series) - 2003-2013 - Cressida Cowell

     How to Train Your Dragon - 2010 - Rated PG - animated

     How to Train Your Dragon 2 - 2014 - Rated PG

23. The Hundred and One Dalmatians - 1956 - Dodie Smith

     One Hundred and One (101) Dalmatians - 1961 - Rated G - animated

     101 Dalmatians - 1996 - Rated G

     102 Dalmatians - 2000 - Rated G

24. The Hunger Games (series) - 2008-2010 - Suzanne Collins

     The Hunger Games - 2012 - Rated PG-13

     The Hunger Games: Catching Fire - 2013 - Rated PG-13

     The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 - 2014 - PG-13
     The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2 - 2015 - PG-13

25. James and the Giant Peach - 1961 - Roald Dahl

     James and the Giant Peach - 1996 - Rated PG - animated

26. Judy Moody (series) - 2000-2012 - Megan McDonald

     Judy Moody and the NOT Bummer Summer - 2011 - Rated PG

27. Jumanji - 1981 - Chris Van Allsburg

     Jumanji - 1995 - Rated PG

28. The Jungle Book - 1894- Rudyard Kipling

     The Jungle Book - 1967 - Rated G - animated

29. The Lorax - 1971 - Dr. Seuss

     Dr. Seuss' The Lorax - 2012 - Rated PG - animated

30. The Lord of the Rings (series) - 1954-1955 - J. R. R. Tolkien

     The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring - 2001 - Rated PG-13

     The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers - 2002 - Rated PG-13

     The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King - 2003 - Rated PG-13

31. Mary Poppins - 1934 - P. L. Travers

     Mary Poppins - 1964 - Rated G

32. Matilda - 1988 - Roald Dahl

     Matilda - 1996 - Rated PG

33. Mr. Popper's Penguins - 1938 - Richard and Florence Atwater

     Mr. Popper's Penguins - 2011 - Rated PG

34. The Neverending Story - 1979 - Michael Ende

     The Neverending Story - 1984 - Rated PG

35. On Stranger Tides - 1987 - Tim Powers

     Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides - 2011 - Rated PG-13

36. Percy Jackson and the Olympians (series) - 2005-2009 - Rick Riordan

     Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief - 2010 - Rated PG

     Percy Jackson and the Olympians: Sea of Monsters - 2013 - Rated PG

37. Peter and Wendy - 1911 - J. M. Barrie

     Peter Pan - 1953 - Rated G - animated

     Hook - 1991 - Rated PG

38. Pippi Longstocking (series) - 1945-2001 - Astrid Lindgren

     The New Adventures of Pippi Longstocking - 1988 - Rated G

39. The Polar Express* - 1985 - Chris Van Allsburg

     The Polar Express - 2004 - Rated G

40. The Princess Diaries (series) - 2000-2009 - Meg Cabot

     The Princess Diaries - 2001 - Rated G

     The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement - 2004 - Rated G

41. Ramona (series) - 1950-1999 - Beverly Cleary

     Ramona and Beezus - 2010 - Rated G

42. A Series of Unfortunate Events (series) - 1999-2006 - Lemony Snicket

     Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events - 2004 - Rated PG

43. The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants - 2001 - Ann Bradshares

     The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants - 2005 - Rated PG-13

44. The Spiderwick Chronicles (series) - 2003-2009 - Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black

     The Spiderwick Chronicles - 2008 - Rated PG

45. The Story of Doctor Dolittle - 1920 - Hugh Lofting

     Doctor Dolittle - 1967 - Rated G

     Dr. Dolittle - 1998 - Rated PG-13

     Dr. Dolittle 2 - 2001 - Rated PG

46. Stuart Little - 1954 - E. B. White

     Stuart Little - 1999 - Rated PG - animated

     Stuart Little 2 - 2002 - Rated PG - animated

47. The Tale of Despereaux - 2003 - Kate DiCamillo

     The Tale of Despereaux - 2008 - Rated G - animated

48. Treasure Island - 1883 - Robert Louis Stevenson

     Treasure Island - 1950 - Rated G

     Muppet Treasure Island - 1996 - Rated G

49. Where the Wild Things Are - 1963 - Maurice Sendak

     Where the Wild Things Are - 2009 - Rated PG

50. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz - 1900 - L. Frank Baum

     The Wizard of Oz - 1939 - Rated G

     Oz the Great and Powerful - 2013 - Rated PG

I've listed the year and author for each book and the year and rating for each movie. Please make sure to rifle through boxes in your attic or make a trip to your public library to see which of these classic books and movies you can turn up for your kids for FREE.

And to keep things simple, the list is in alphabetical order (lest we launch into lengthy conversations about rankings). Please use your best judgment as to what reading material and movies are appropriate for your family.

And, finally, you'll note four titles are marked with an asterisk (*). These are holiday-themed titles whose movie counterparts can also be found on our 25 Kid-Friendly Halloween Movies and 40 Kid-Friendly Christmas Movies lists.

Happy reading and watching!

This post contains affiliate links.

Dear Peanut: A Mommy Daughter Love Letter

Dear Peanut:

On this, our first Mother's Day together, you are but 11 days old and yet you are so firmly cemented as a part of our little family that your Daddy and I can scarcely recall the time before you joined us in this big old party we call life.

It's almost unimaginable that just two weeks ago you were still dancing around in my tummy.  And now, here you are and our lives are forever changed- in the BEST way possible.  You see, we have this special bond, you and I.  Little girl, you will always be the only person in this great big world who knows what my heartbeat sounds like from the inside.  And that makes your Mommy so happy.  

Every day, you teach me something new.  Like how you love having that pretty red hair washed but not right before bedtime because it wakes you up to the point you don't want to got to bed.  You have taught me to stop and smell the roses in a way I'm not sure I ever have before.  For now, there is nothing, and I mean nothing, more important that holding your little hand or tickling your pretty little toes or simply watching your sweet face as you fall asleep.  Laundry can wait, dishes will still be there tomorrow.  You are my little one and I don't want to miss a moment of this time with you.  

In fact, I just want to freeze time.  There is so much I don't want to forget about these first few days with my precious little girl.  Like how you cross your legs at the ankles.  I first saw you do that at your 20 week ultrasound, and you still do it now.   Every day, your hair reddens a little more.  You have the most precious button nose I've ever seen and the sweetest little rosebud mouth.  You root and grunt like a little piglet when you are hungry, and you are hungry often.  You have the chubbiest little cheeks. You are a champ at bath time and diaper changes, and so far, in the car and out to restaurants too.  Oh, and you usually sleep about 5-6 hours at night before you start rooting around for your early morning snack in the wee hours of the morning.  You don't like to go back to bed after that feeding, but that's ok.  We are figuring this thing out together, little by little.  You are a good baby.  You don't mind your sister Izzie (the wonder pup) at all.  You accept her sniffing you and investigating you, and her bark doesn't even faze you.  Me thinks you heard it a time or two in utero.  :)

And I know it's Mother's Day, but sweet girl, we can't forget the wonderful man you will always call Daddy.  He loves us girls like nobody's business, and we are darn lucky to have him.  He was front and center by your Mommy's side as you made your entrance into this world, and he has already jumped into parenthood head first to make things as easy on your Mommy as possible.  And your Mommy and Daddy love each other so much- a forever kind of love.  That's important.  And together we have an infinite supply of love for you, my dear.

The Savage Garden song "I Knew I Loved You" keeps running through my mind.  "I knew I loved you before I met you.  I think I dreamed you into life..."   That about sums up how I feel about you, my dear girl.  So on this very special Mother's Day, I want to thank you for completing our little family.  And please always know how much your Mommy loves you more than words could ever say.  I will always be your Mommy and you will always be my baby.  

Love Always and Forever, 

Mommy

I Knew I Loved You 

♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸♥ ¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪

Maybe it's intuition 
But some things you just don't question
Like in your eyes
I see my future in an instant
and there it goes
I think I've found my best friend
I know that it might sound more than
a little crazy but I believe 

[chorus:] 

I knew I loved you before I met you
I think I dreamed you into life
I knew I loved you before I met you
I have been waiting all my life 

There's just no rhyme or reason
only this sense of completion
and in your eyes
I see the missing pieces
I'm searching for
I think I found my way home
I know that it might sound more than
a little crazy but I believe

[repeat chorus] 

A thousand angels dance around you
I am complete now that I found you 

[repeat chorus]

♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸♥ ¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪

Photo-Scavenger Hunt at the Zoo

We went to the zoo yesterday with our local home school group.  If you live in NC, the zoo offers a free trip to the students in your home school family (this excludes preschool age children) and one adult once a year.  Our home school group came up with a little list of pics to take, and I thought, "What a neat idea!"  It's kind of like a scavenger hunt, but what you are looking for is opportunities to snap some funny photos.  We got some good ones too!

If you want to try this out, here is our list and some examples (tee hee):

1.  Picture trying to lick the inside of your nose with a giraffe in the background.

2.  Giraffe licking the inside of his nose.

3.  Three animals together

4.  Someone with a crying kid

5.  Kid doing something crazy at the playground or on a statue.

6.  White Bengal Tiger

7.  A REALLY Ugly Animal

8.  Close up of a snake

9.  Looking like an animal is chasing you

10.  Looking like one of the animals (real or statue) ate one of your body parts

11.  Imitating a chimpanzee

12.  Picture with volunteer

13.  Bird sitting on you or near you

14.  Picture with animal hats or puppets in the gift shop

15.  On the train

16.  Picture with polar bear swimming behind you

17.  You in the photo in front of a monkey

18.  Making fishy faces by the fish tank

Considering that my kids couldn't scavenge their collective way out of a paper bag, I would have to say this scavenger hunt was pretty awesome!

Meet Our Peanut

We are so over the moon to announce the birth of our baby girl, Katherine Alexis (Lexi), born on April 30, 2014 at 6:21 pm here in Nashville, TN.  She weighed in at 8 pounds, 11 ounces (little chunk- even the doctor was surprised!), and measured 19.5 inches long. 

We are all doing great!  It's been one week, and we are back at home settling into a nice little routine.  

She is such a joy, and we are completely in love with her.  Big sister Izzie (the wonder pup) is already playing the role of guardian.  Every day brings a new little wonder.  She is learning to move her eyes, and now her mouth too.  She coos, and smiles, and bats those big baby blues.  Oh, and she's a happy baby, too.  What on earth did we ever do to get so lucky?!?

Life is forever changed, and we couldn't be happier.  

Toad Abode

Today, we found a brave soul taunting our cats on the porch. A tiny toad! (This was minutes of fun for the kiddos!)

When we found this little guy, I thought what a great DIY project this could be!  We can make a toad house for him in our garden.  I dug out a small flowerpot that I had actually purchased to make into a windchime and then partially buried it in the ground.  Then we found a little dish that we could leave water on for him.  

This project is right up Emma's alley! I told her to go find some pretty rocks to leave on the dish, and she went right to work since that is one of the two things she loves to do outside. Inspect rocks and...

water things!

This garden project was a real winner for the kiddos.  Emma has been talking about making a garden for weeks, but the weather has been downright strange. And now that we are getting ready to set off on vacation, I didn't want to plant anything in the garden and not be able to water it right away.  This was the perfect solution. Now she has something to water and a new toad friend to look for every time she goes outside.

This post contains affiliate links.

Pesto Ricotta Pasta

This recipe is super simple AND delicious. You'll definitely want to give it a try.

Pesto Ricotta Pasta

16 oz. penne pasta

8 oz. jar pesto

6 cloves garlic, minced

32 oz. Ricotta cheese

2 cups fresh spinach, chopped

salt and pepper to taste

1. Prepare pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain.
2. While pasta cooks, pour the olive oil out of the pesto and into a large saute pan. Add garlic and cook over medium heat for two to three minutes. Add remaining pesto to pan.
3. Add spinach, cover and cook for another few minutes until spinach is wilted.
4. Stir ricotta cheese into the mixture and continue to cook until mixture is smooth and heated through, about five minutes.
5. Add drained pasta, salt, and pepper to mixture and serve.

Notes:

This makes a large batch of pasta that can feed at least 6 to 8 people. If you have leftovers, reheat them in a pan on the stove over low heat, adding a little milk and stirring while heating. This method is preferred to reheating in the microwave.

If you prefer, you may substitute other vegetables for the spinach. Cook accordingly until desired tenderness before adding to the recipe.