Painting, Pizza For Prayer Group, Petting Zoo, & A Picnic Too!

The familiar childhood smell of finger paint filled our dining room Saturday as AJ tried out one of his big boy birthday presents.

He takes his painting very seriously...

We also made Pizza Mac & Cheese & a yummy Triple Chocolate Fruit Pizza for our Prayer Group this weekend!  Check out the recipes below...

Pizza Mac & Cheese (Sure to be a hit with the school age and under crowd!)

Ingredients:

7-1/4 oz pkg mac & cheese

2 eggs, beaten

16 oz. jar pizza sauce

4 oz. pkg. sliced pepperoni

1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

We also add 1/2 cup sliced green peppers and tomatoes (totally optional)

Directions:

Prepare Mac & Cheese according to package directions; remove from heat.  Add eggs; mix well.  Pour into greased 13 y 9 inch baking pan; bake at 370 degrees for 10 minutes.  Spread with pizza sauce; layer pepperoni an mozzarella cheese, green peppers, and tomatoes on top.  Return to oven until cheese melts, about 10 minutes.  Makes 8 Servings

Triple Chocolate Fruit Pizza

Ingredients:

1 pkg (18 oz) refrigerated chocolate chip cookie dough

2 squares (1 oz each) white chocolate for baking

2 tablespoons milk

1 pkg (8 oz) cream cheese, softened

1/4 cup powdered sugar

1 cup thawed whipped topping

12-16 strawberries, cut in half

1 can (11 oz) mandarin orange segments, well drained

1/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate morsels

1 teaspoon vegetable oil

Directions:

1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Shape cookie dough into a ball and roll out into a 12 inch circle, about 1/4 inch thick.  Bake 12-15 minutes or until edges are set.  (Cookie will be soft.)  Remove from oven; cool 10 minutes.  

2.  Place white chocolate and milk in microwave safe bowl and microwave 1 minute; stir until chocolate is melted and mixture is smooth.  Cool slightly.  Combine cream cheese and powdered sugar; mix well.  Gradually stir in white chocolate mixture ; mix until smooth.  Fold in whipped topping.  Spread cream cheese mixture evenly over cookie.  

3.  Arrange strawberries and mandarin oranges over cream cheese mixture.  Place chocolate morsels and vegetable oil in microwave safe bowl and microwave on high for 30 seconds or until melted and smooth.  Drizzle over fruit.  Refrigerate at least 30 minutes.  Cut into wedges.  Makes 16 servings

Today we ventured to a local park to enjoy a train ride, the petting zoo, playing in the stream and a picnic.  It was a family day of fun for only $6!

Here is the train...

Here is AJ last summer freaking out & screaming the entire train ride...

Here we are enjoying a nice peaceful train ride this summer...

Peace Out friends!  Have a great week!  Let me know if you try either recipe!