No, I'm not boycotting the grocery store...

But it's been a really busy week!! Here is one more SuperStar lunch that my buddy took to school today!! He has turkey and string cheese kabobs, potato salad, carrots with ranch, cutie orange with blueberries and a little treat of chocolate covered pretzels. As usual, he did not leave a single crumb!

So what if I'm the bad mom...

that completely ran out of bread, chose to play candy crush and not go to the grocery store. Danny had a fabulous lunch anyway with a lettuce wrap that had turkey and cheese. He LOVED it and thought it was a lot of fun! Who says we need bread? Here's his SuperStar lunch today!!

Squash & Potato Gratin

This came up on the Bountiful Baskets Blog the other day and I am extremely eager to try it! It might just be what's for dinner tonight!! (I'll put my own picture up once I've made it!)

Theirs.

Mine. Not so pretty. I may have used too many veggies and

Mozzarella instead of Monterrey Jack. It was still yummy though!!

 Ingredients

• 2 medium yellow summer squash
• 1 pound red or russet potatoes
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 8 oz of Monterrey Jack
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1/3 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 tsp. dried basil

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Grease a 1 1/2 to 2 quart casserole dish.
2. Slice the squash and potatoes very, very thin. (Mandolin slicer would be perfect)
3. Place 1/3 of the squash and potato slices into the bottom of the pan. Layering them by alternating squash and potato but you could just spread them evenly.
4. Season with some salt and pepper and half of the cheese.
5. Repeat the layering with a 1/3 of the veggies, seasoning with S&P and sprinkling with cheese.
6. Finish the gratin by layering the final veggies on top and seasoning with S&P
7. Pour the milk over the dish then top with parmesan cheese.
8. Bake for 30 minutes covered then uncover and finish baking for 15 minutes.

Buttercream Frosting

Made some excellent Buttercream Frosting for some cupcakes I made for our end of summer pool party here in our neck of the woods. Loved it and I will certainly make it again when I need some rather than buy a tub. I did accidentally put too much food coloring in so it was kinda weird in that respect but other than that it's a winner for me!!

Ingredients: (yields enough for 12 cupcakes)

1 cup butter, softened

3 1/2 cups powdered sugar

1 tsp milk

1 tsp vanilla

1/8 tsp salt

Directions:

1. In a bowl combine butter, sugar and salt. Beat till blended.
2. Add the milk and vanilla and beat for an additional 3-5 minutes or until smooth and creamy.

Our Awesome Lunchbox - PlanetBox

SuperStar Lunch with Strawberry Jelly & Banana Sandwich

Many folks have asked about my son's lunch box. Well, I finally thought I should blog on it and will start posting some of his famous "SuperStar Lunches" as he calls them! So, first of all. What is it?? It is a full stainless steel lunch kit made by Planet Box. It has several compartments for all his food and even has some small stainless steel dishes for wet foods. We ended up purchasing his at Pottery Barn Kids since they had them with prints on the outer case when we went to just "look" since I wasn't going to invest in one until I saw it. WARNING: it is an investment. We were lucky and got his on clearance since it was a previous years print and dished out around $50 for it. I happily paid it knowing I wasn't going to be purchasing lots of little plastic baggies or have him tear up several cheap lunch bags that you get free with your backpack purchase at the beginning of each year. I only use one plastic baggie a day for his snack and that may even go to a more reusable option soon as well. It isn't microwave safe but for a cold lunch it has been PERFECT. So, Pottery Barn Kids carries this normally for $69.95. (OUCH!! I know, right!!) PlanetBox does have a website where you can purchase them as well but they have solid colored carrying cases and you can pick your own fun magnets and other accessories. The one we use is the Rover. It's the perfect size for all the variety of things this bottomless pit I have loves to eat. PlanetBox sells the Rover with the satellite containers, magnets and case for $59.95. They also sell other sizes and you can customize what you really want. They have a great Facebook page too that gives LOTS of ideas for lunches. My little guy isn't too adventurous with his lunches but he LOVES having things in shapes right now. So, I get to have a little fun in the kitchen. May take me a few extra minutes but he knows this Momma has made his lunch with love and care!

PlanetBox with Pottery Barn Kids Robot Cover

SuperStar Lunch with Cheese Quesadilla

Crock-pot Chicken and Noodles

Ingredients

4 boneless skinless chicken breasts (I used frozen)
2 cans cream of chicken soup
1 stick of butter
2 15 oz cans chicken broth
24 oz. frozen egg noodles

Directions

Cook chicken, soup, butter, and broth in crock-pot on low for 6-7 hours.

Take chicken out and shred.

Put chicken back in; add noodles and cook on low for 2 hours. Stir a few times while cooking.

I served this over mashed potatoes, with a side of green beans.

Crock-pot Apple Oatmeal

Place 3 sliced apples, 1/2 cup brown sugar, 2 tsp cinnamon, pinch salt in the bottom of the crock pot.
Pour in 2 cups of oatmeal, 2 cups of milk and 2 cups water.
Do NOT stir.
Cook overnight for 7 - 9 (varies with different crockpots) hours on low.
Do not use quick oats
You have to use steel cut oats