Football Valentine's Box

When my son was in Kindergarten, he was to bring a box to school to collect Valentine's Day cards from his classmates.  So with my lack of  crafty and creative talent, we created a Valentine's Day box.  I was quite proud of it as we marched into my son's class with it.  Then I saw the other boxes.  Wow!  There are some very creative and talented mom's!  Mine looked like it was created by a kindergartner  which of course I said it was.  I would never admit that I did most of the work. 

When my son was in first grade, to my horror, he brought home a note asking parents to help their child create a Valentine's Day box for school.  What was I going to do?  My son wanted a football box.  I looked online and found an idea and tried to recreate it.  It actually turned out . . .at least I thought I did.  I wasn't going to get too proud knowing that we still needed to get it to the school and face the boxes created by the more talented Mom's.  

I am happy to report the box was an absolute success!  The first thing my son said when he got home was that he could hardly breath because his classmates crowded in so close around him to look at his box. The kids had a blast slipping their cards into it. YEAH!!!  Now I just have to get through another year.  My fingers are crossed that decorating the box will be a class project.  Pretty sure I used up all my crafty luck!

Here is what it looked like and how I did it:

Warning:  These instructions might not be totally accurate and even make sense.  So use your better judgement when recreating your own football box.

• We got a larger shoe box and cut a rectangle hole, large enough for cards, in the lid towards the top.  
• We wrapped the lid and the box separately in green making making sure the lid still had the hole. 
• I bought some football stickers from Walmart and let my son place them wherever he wanted.   
• I had planned to draw yard lines but he placed all the stickers on top.  
• For the goal post, I used bamboo skewers and cut and glued them together to resemble a goal post.  Make sure that any pointy parts are cut off except for the base.  Use a pointed piece for that with the point facing down.  Gluing them is tricky.  I can't remember what kinds of glue I used but it took a lot of it along with manipulating the sticks to hold just right.  When the glue is dry, poke the goal post in the box.  You may need to glue it from underneath too. 
• For the net, again I used bamboo skewers cut to the size I wanted leaving the pointy parts at the bottom   The net was cut from an orange bag and glued to the skewers.  When the glue is dry poke the pointy parts into the box behind the goal post.

Source:  http://lottamadness.com/home/2011/02/12/valentines-boxes-2/

Cheesy Kale Chips

These are addictive.  When I first read about this recipe there was a story about kale chips disappearing   The author said she finally caught her little 2 or 3 year old sneaking the chips out of the dehydrator!  I had a 17 month old at the time and if she could have reached my dehydrator she would have done the same thing.  She loved them.  These chips are a little time consuming and disappear fast.  You can use collard greens too.   They are a little easier to use but I like the taste of the kale much better.  I usually triple the recipe.  Let me know how you like them!

Cheesy Kale Chips

1/3 cup cashews, soaked 1-2 hours (optional)
2 Tbsp. lime juice
3 Tbsp. water
1/4 cup olive oil
1 tsp. Original Himalayan Crystal Salt
¼ cup nutritional yeast
¼ medium shallot or ½ small yellow onion (optional)
½ tsp. chili powder
Pinch cayenne
Pinch turmeric
3 cloves garlic
Freshly ground black pepper to taste
1-2 bunches of washed kale or collard greens, removed from stem and torn into pieces

Blend all ingredients in a blender. Dip kale or collard leaves in mixture and dry them for 4-6 hours in dehydrator (until crispy)

NOTE:  Save the stems in the freezer and add to green smoothies.

Source:  Email from Green Smoothie Girl

Cranberry Chili Meatballs and Sausages

These are YUMMY!  I actually used my leftover homemade cranberry sauce at they turned out great.  The original recipe didn't have enough kick for me so I added more cayenne.  You may want to add or decrease.

Ingredients
1 can (14 ounces) jellied cranberry sauce
1 bottle (12 ounces) chili sauce
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper (start out with 1/4 teaspoon and add more to taste)
16 ounces frozen fully cooked meatballs, thawed
16 ounces cocktail sausages

In a large saucepan over medium heat, combine the first six ingredients; stir until sugar is dissolved. Add meatballs; cook for 20-25 minutes or until heated through, stirring occasionally. Yield: about 6 dozen.  

NOTE:  You may have plenty of sauce to add more meatballs and sausages

Adapted from:  http://www.tasteofhome.com/Recipes/Cranberry-Chili-Meatballs