Shrimp Macaroni and Cheese Recipe

Shrimp Macaroni and Cheese Recipe

What can you do to dress up your mac and cheese? Gourmet mac is all the rage. If you've got seafood lovers, this shrimp macaroni and cheese recipe is an easy weeknight dinner that will please even the most hard to please palates. 

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Shrimp Macaroni and Cheese Recipe.

How to Make Shrimp Mac and Cheese Recipe

Ingredients

1/3 cup Panko breadcrumbs (See note)
1/4 cup grated Parmesan

1 tsp dried parsley

2 tbsp olive oil, divided  

8 oz elbow macaroni 
1 lb peeled raw shrimp
3 garlic cloves
2 tbsp unsalted butter
2 tbsp flour
2 cups milk

3/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp ground mustard
1.5 cups cheese (cheddar, Cojack, or your favorite), freshly grated if possible (see tips below.)
3/4 cup mozzarella cheese, freshly grated if possible.

How to Make Recipe
Preheat broiler on high.

Mix together bread crumbs, Parmesan, parsley, and 1 tbsp olive oil.  Set topping aside.
Cook macaroni to al dente according to package directions.  
Heat 1 tbsp oil in a medium skillet over high heat.
Add shrimp, sprinkle with salt and pepper.   Cook for 1 minute. Add garlic and cook for another minute until the shrimp has changed color but not fully cooked.
Transfer to bowl. Turn heat down to medium.
Melt butter. Add flour and cook for 1 minute.
Pour milk in slowly, while stirring. Once the mixture is smooth, season with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and mustard.  Continue to stir until thickened.
Add cheeses and stir until melted.  Then add shrimp. Adjust seasoning to taste.

Transfer to an oven safe casserole dish.

Sprinkle with breadcrumb mixture, then place under the broiler until the top is golden. 

Finally, serve your delicious shrimp macaroni and cheese dinner!

Tips:  I never have Panko bread crumbs, but I have found a nice alternative. I save the heels from my loaves of bread in the freezer.  When I need bread crumbs, I thaw a couple of them in the microwave for a few seconds, break them into smaller pieces, and pulse them in the blender until I get the desired consistency.

Packaged shredded cheese is coated to keep the cheese from sticking together.  Your cheese sauce will be smoother if you're able to grate the cheese yourself.  However, the packed shredded cheese will work.  I have made it both ways and have had no complaints!

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Forget it, just buy mac and cheese on Amazon!

Adopting Healthy Lifestyles as a Family

Everyone in the Family should Live Healthy Lifestyles to Insure a Better Quality of Life

Living a healthy lifestyle is something that many people aspire to do. It's difficult to adopt a healthy lifestyle and keep up the routine. However, if the entire family lives a healthy lifestyle, it's easier to maintain and insure your health goals. Perhaps you have a job that takes up a lot of your time, or you're too busy with volunteer work, school, or anything else that life throws at you. No matter the reason, you need to make the time to become healthy and set a good example for your children.

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You're the only one that can change your everyday habits for the better, but it can be much easier to do if everyone in the family acknowledges the importance of healthy living. If our children learn from a young age what it means to eat healthy meals and exercise, they'll take that knowledge with them into adulthood as well.

Why should everyone in the family live healthy lifestyles? When you start living a healthy lifestyle at an early age, it becomes second nature. As you age, you'll be ready to adapt to lifestyle changes that will continue to improve your health and you won't get stuck in those addictive unhealthy habits that can lead to obesity and other chronic illnesses which can be a downer when you're searching for term life insurance quotes. Another added benefit of a healthy lifestyle is the opportunity to enjoy the time with your grandkids as an active participant rather than an inactive observer.

Tips on how to achieve a healthy lifestyle together as a family:

Kids Learn from Their Parents

Kids look at parents as their role models, which is why it's paramount that parents do their part and teach their children about what it means to live a healthy lifestyle. Whether it’s eating healthy and nutritious meals, or the importance of staying active, you can always make a difference in the type of habits that your children adopt.

Use it as an Opportunity to Spend Time Together

Living a healthy life as a family gives everyone an opportunity to spend quality time together. Be mindful and add these tips to insure better healthy lifestyle results for your efforts.

1. Exercise

Rather than exercising alone, go for a walk outside with your family members. This also gives you an opportunity to properly talk to one another. It's a great way to bring up those difficult conversations you've been meaning to get started but never seem to find the time to do. Get fit with these fitness gift ideas.

2. Weekend road trips

Don't forget about road trips with kids This is the perfect opportunity for everyone to destress and improve mental health while enjoying some family fun, making lasting memories together, and insuring that your bond is strong. Road trips are also a great way to get to know each better. Share happy stories of your childhood, but remember to stay away from difficult subjects or anything stressful.

A Future Health Routine

It’s important to find a routine that everyone in the family will benefit from. If you plan on being active, why not do it while everyone is together? Plus, the activities your children pursue from a young age will impact their future, as well.

When your kids are grown up and they're young adults, who is to say that they'll not end up becoming personal trainers, physiotherapists, yoga instructions or something else that is a result of the activities they participated in as a family when they were younger? Often kids who sign up for football and discover a passion for it end up wanting to pursue this in the future, whether as a hobby or a potential career.

The same can be said for other jobs that are considered health and wellness careers. Of course, this is all based on a person's individual personality and what they enjoy doing. Perhaps you found an interest in personal training as a result of working with a trainer to improve your health. That might lead to a career change.

Don’t forget that no matter what you choose to do in the future, you'll have to acquire the necessary qualifications that allow you to make a career out of your health and wellness lifestyle. This is the case for those interested in personal training, for example, they can complete an online fitness course Leicester in order to get certified, making it an easy way to get educated on healthy lifestyle fitness careers. Keep in mind that different career paths will require different steps. Some will require certifications, some will require degrees.

Adopting a healthy lifestyle as a family is a win-win situation. Of course, you want the best for your family. So why not prioritize adopting healthy habits as a family into your daily routine? This will improve your quality of life, both in the short and long-term, improve your chance of obtaining affordable health insurance, and likely get you the best possible term life insurance quotes. You'll find yourself saving money on bad habits, insurance, and feeling much happier as a result of it all! These simple lifestyle changes can bring your family closer together. As always, I know you can do it!

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Stay Hydrated with these Tips

Avocado Salmon Recipe Tasty

Tasty Avocado Salmon

What do you do when winter is dragging you down? Make a refreshing meal, that's what! This Avocado Salmon Recipe is tasty and healthy too. The best part is, it fits into your easy weeknight dinner plans. Enjoy!

This post contains Amazon affiliate links.

Tasty Avocado Salmon Recipe.

How to Make Tasty Avocado Salmon Recipe

You will need the following ingredients to make a tasty Avocado Salmon. 

Ingredients:

1.5 lb. salmon

1 T. olive oil

1/2 t. salt

1/2 t. cumin

1/2 t. paprika

1/2 t. onion powder

1/4 t. Chile powder

1/4 t. black pepper

1 avocado, cubed

1 T. red pepper, chopped

1 T. yellow pepper, chopped

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 T lime juice

1 t. cilantro

Directions:

1.  In a small bowl, combine salt, cumin, paprika, onion powder, Chile powder, and black pepper.

2.  Rub salmon with spice mixture and oil.  Refrigerate 30 min.

3.  Preheat oven to 450° F.

4.  In a medium bowl, combine the remaining ingredients.  Chill.

5.  Bake salmon in preheated oven for 10 min. or until fish flakes easily with a fork.

6.  Top with chilled avocado mixture.

Avocados from Mexico has some awesome avocado recipes on their website. We love the pairing of pineapple and avocado in this Chipotle Pineapple Guacamole recipe. What's your favorite way to eat an avocado?

Share a recipe in the comments to let us know! Looking for more easy weeknight recipes? Follow us on Pinterest.

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How to Make Steak and Potatoes in Skillet

Easy Steak and Potatoes de Provence Recipe

Love some steak and potatoes? Generally, we enjoy our steak and potatoes cooked by a chef in a restaurant or over a grill in the summertime, but here's how to make steak and potatoes in a skillet on your stovetop. This earthy meal of steak and potatoes in a skillet is a perfect accompaniment to a roaring fire on a cold winter evening. Enjoy!

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How to Make Steak and Potatoes in Skillet Recipe

Steak
4 steaks, 1/2 lb. each
1 T olive oil
2 T butter

Spice Blend 
1/2 T cardamom
1/2 T rosemary
1 t salt
1/4 t pepper
1/8 t ginger
1/8 t allspice
1/8 t nutmeg
1/4 t garlic powder

1/2 c red wine

Instructions:
1.  Prepare spice blend in a small bowl and set aside. 
2.  Rub steaks liberally with spice blend on both sides. Allow meat to sit for 10 minutes.
3.  Melt olive oil and butter in a skillet over medium-high heat.
4.  Sear steaks in oil for 1-2 minutes. Turn over the meat and sear 1-2 minutes more.
5.  Add red wine. Reduce heat and cover the skillet. Cook the meat until desired doneness.
6.  Remove steaks and cover with foil. Continue to heat skillet contents until the sauce has thickened to desired consistency.

Potatoes
1 1/2 lb petite medley potatoes
2 T olive oil
1 T Herbs de Provence 
salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:
1.  Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. 
2.  Add oil and potatoes to a baking dish. Cover with Herbs de Provence, salt, and pepper.
3.  Bake in preheated oven for 30 minutes, or until tender.
4.  Adjust seasoning to taste.


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Do you have a favorite way on how to prepare steak and potatoes? Please share your recipes in the comments! We're always looking for delicious new recipes for easy weeknight dinners!


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Inspiring Business Stories for Kids

Inspiring Kid Entrepreneurs

Deciding what you are going to do with your life is a daunting task for anyone, formally educated or not. Some homeschoolers are apprehensive about their future. Will they attend college, technical school, apprentice, or jump right into the world of business? Of course, any and all of those are great options. But, imagine if you started a business before you graduated. Imagine if you could use the profits from your business to fund your future endeavors. As entrepreneurs, we're always looking for inspiring business stories for kids. The most important tip is to follow your passion.

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If you ever watch Shark Tank, you've probably seen the flops and the successes. The most inspiring business stories are always the ones that start with a kid with an idea and a family who rallies behind them with support. After all, a successful entrepreneurship relies upon a team that believes in the project. Mark Cuban offers tips on how to help children with an idea for a business start up.

Inspiring Business Stories for Kids

Most kid entrepreneurs start with a lemonade stand and then move onto something else. Jack Bonneau did that, but expanded on the idea. He operates lemonade stands at farmers' markets and malls. You can get in on the action by starting your own Jack's Stand.

Origami Owl is a direct selling business founded by 14 year old, Bella Weems, with the support of her mother, Chrissy Weems. This is truly an inspiring business story, because as a dba jewelry company, you can earn extra money by becoming a designer (sales associate) or earn products by hosting your own show.

Leanna Archer wanted to share her grandma's recipe for all natural products. She started making the products and giving them away to friends and family. Now, Leanna's Essentials are sold worldwide.

Have these kid business stories inspired you? If you need more inspiration, check out these 50 inspiring business ideas for kids.

Now, that you've been inspired by these business stories, create a plan of action. Whether, you want to use it as a homeschool lesson or as the beginning for your inspired business plan, brainstorming and writing out a plan is a great way to get started. If you aren't' quite ready to write out a business plan, start with a list of things you know how to do best or things you absolutely love (your passion.)

The best small businesses start with something that is unique to you. You may not even see it as something special because it is part of your everyday activities, but to someone else with a different life experience and skill set, your hand knitted daisies, handmade fleece afghans, or grandma's applesauce, could be just the thing they need to enrich their lives.

Here at Kids Creative Chaos, we love birds, birds of all kinds and all sizes. Our entrepreneur list includes lots of ideas for things to do with birds. We started out raising chickens and giving away the eggs. Think about the possibilities! We can sell eggs, raise hatchlings to sell, sell egg based products... the possibilities are endless.


What will you do?


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Easy Beer Cheese Dip for Pretzels Recipe

Beer Cheese and Pretzels Recipe

This homemade Easy Beer Cheese Dip for Pretzels Recipe is delicious! You'll feel like you're eating restaurant or bar food at home. Who can resist the warm baked goodness of homemade soft pretzels? Beer Cheese and pretzels are the perfect fall snack. Enjoy!

This post contains affiliate links.

How to Make Beer Cheese Recipe

Ingredients:
2T butter
2T flour
1/4 t salt
1 c beer
1/2 c milk
1/2 t ground mustard
1/2 t garlic powder
1/2 t paprika
1/4 t pepper
2 - 2 1/2 c sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
Hot sauce to taste (optional)

Directions:
Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add flour. Whisk, while heating, until mixture is golden brown, 1-2 min. While continuing to whisk, gradually add the beer. Cook, with stirring, until mixture partially thickens. Add milk; continue to whisk until mixture reaches desired consistency. Remove from heat. Stir in mustard, garlic powder, pepper and cheese. Stir until cheese has melted. Adjust seasonings as desired.

Homemade Soft Pretzels.

Homemade Soft Pretzels for Beer Cheese Recipe

Ingredients:
1 1/2 c. lukewarm water
1 package active dry yeast
1 t salt
1 T brown sugar
1/4 c butter, melted
4 c flour
8 c boiling water
1/2 c baking soda
1 egg, beaten and diluted with 1 t water
coarse salt

Directions:
Dissolve yeast, salt, and sugar in warm water. Allow the mixture to sit until the yeast begins to foam or bubble. Add the melted butter, followed by the flour, 1 c at a time. The dough should be workable and not sticky. Knead the dough on a floured surface for several minutes. Place the dough in a greased bowl,  cover with plastic wrap, and allow to rise in a warm place for about an hour or until doubled in size.

How to roll pretzel dough.

The perfect homemade pretzel.

While the dough is rising, boil water and add the baking soda. Stir until dissolved. The baking soda bath with be used to give the pretzel a puffy dough with a golden and shiny crust.  You should also assemble a few handy tools:  a tape measure, a large flat spatula, your baking sheet, and parchment paper. The parchment paper is not essential, but it will make the pretzel much easier to remove from the baking sheet.

How to Make Pretzel Shape Pretzels at Home
Divide the risen dough into 10 equal pieces. Roll each into a 20 inch rope. To form the pretzel shape, bend the rope into a "smile" shape. Cross the ends slightly. Grab the cross and fold it towards you, bringing it down to meet the front loop of the pretzel.

How to Make Pretzel Shape Pretzels at Home.

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Using your large spatula, place each pretzel individually in the baking soda bath. Allow it to sit in the bath 30 seconds to 1 minute, making sure the top gets wet as well. Carefully remove the pretzel with your spatula and place on the baking sheet. Once the sheet is full, bake for 10-12 minutes. Repeat as needed until all pretzels are baked.

Hand twisted, homemade baked pretzels.

Recommended Reading:

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Don't have time to make them? Just buy Bavarian Soft Pretzels and Beer Cheese Dip on Amazon.

Oldies but Goodies to do with the kids
Make Heart Shaped Pretzels with Kids
Pound out a Pretzel Cornucopia

5 Household Items Party Games for Birthdays

5 Birthday Party Games for Kids Using Household Items

Kids want to be entertained, especially on their birthdays. Give your kids a fun, memorable birthday celebration with games for birthdays that use household items. These kid party games are easy to do with little prep, and you probably already have the items in your house. No need to plan ahead when you do these household items party games for Birthdays!

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Playing interactive games that get your kids moving at birthday parties is a great way to introduce them to kid activities that are active and engaging. Perhaps the next time they have a playtime choice, they’ll choose one of these games rather than a video game. After scouring the internet for games to play at birthday parties, we found several games for kids that are simple to set up with common household items. As always, we've updated old games with fun new twists! If you don't want to plan the party activities and implement them yourself, Yabadoo Kids Parties are another fun way to make birthday parties fun and memorable.

Keep your kids in the loop. Give them choices and let them help plan their own birthday party by scrolling through this list of kids party games and letting them choose their favorite activity to play with friends and family.

Common Household Items Party Games

• Life Size Board Game

This great game for kids is suitable for kids of all ages. Life Size Board Game is a  fun party game activity that has players jumping forward two spaces, singing a song, turning in circles, telling jokes, reciting  nursery rhymes, jumping up and down periodically, and moving back three spaces.

During game play, the players begin by rolling oversized  dice to see where to move. The first person to reach the finish line is declared winner.  You can simply use white paper or the inside of recycled cereal boxes to create the game board. To make a permanent yard decoration, use stepping stones.

• Clothespin Snatch Game

Every player is given a clothespin. Wrapped candy and trinkets (you can even use coins) are sprinkled on the floor. During this game, players will try to pick up as much candy or trinkets as they can using only their clothespins. Set a timer for one minute and let the fun begin!

• Marshmallow Catch

Marshmallow Catch is super easy to set up. Grab a bag of mini marshmallows a timer, and some plastic party cups. Standing on opposite ends of the room, players try to catch marshmallows that are thrown by other party-goers. After one minute, the team with the most marshmallows in their cup wins.

• Spoon Relay Race Game

The Spoon Relay is an old party favorite, you can make this party game more complicated by adding fun elements like playing while turning in circles, skipping, walking backward, or any fun way that will make the birthday party game more challenging or difficult for the players.

Any small household object will do, but mini marshmallows and cotton balls are the most common items used with plastic or wooden spoons. In the course of this game, players race against each other to be the first team finish. Divide party guests into two or more teams. Each team is given a marshmallows and a spoon.

Lining up single file, the first person on each  team takes a marshmallow and begins passing it down the line using only their spoon.  The first team to get their marshmallow to the end of the line wins.

• Balloon Bust Game

Before the party, fill balloons with candy or small prizes. Rub the balloons on your head to give them static cling and then place them on a wall or table. Play begins with birthday party guests choosing a balloon. Tell the kids to hold the balloons with two hands, careful not to pop it. Then, tell them to sit down in a circle using their balloons as chairs. On the count of three, have everyone tries to pop their balloon chair to discover the prizes. First one to pop a balloon, gets a special grand prize in addition to the trinkets inside.

Have you played these games with different variations? Let us know in the comments, we’d love to hear about more fun birthday party games and ideas for kids that use household items.

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3 Fun Rainbow Cake Recipes for Girl Scouts

How to make a Rainbow Cake for Girl Scouts

Have a Girl Scout? Are you planning a celebration for your Scout Troop? These Rainbow Girl Scout Cakes are made with a box cake mix and American buttercream icing. They are fun to make as a group. They're even more fun to eat! Scroll down to see the easy recipes and learn how to make a Rainbow Cake for a Girl Scout Troop!

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Girl Scout Logo Cake

This 11x15 Girl Scout cake with American buttercream icing is made with ready made green Wilton fondant and a box of white cake mix. The flowers are made with a number 18 star tip with a white dot of icing in the middle of each. Trace the pattern on a piece of paper and trace it out with edible markers, then cut out with kitchen shears. Easy peasy!

The icing is a homemade whipped buttercream. The Girl Scout cake is an 11x15 Betty Crocker cake mix, but add 3 eggs, 1 stick melted butter, and 1 cup milk instead of following the box directions.

How to Make a Rainbow Cake with Colored Batter

If you want to make your cake batter rainbow colored too, check out this recipe for Rainbow Cake. The Girl Scout Troop will love mixing this one.

• First, mix up cake batter, you can make a white cake from scratch or use your favorite white cake from a box.
• Divide the batter evenly between 6 bowls.
• Add food coloring, stir to combine.
• Pour batter evenly into two 8 inch pans in reverse order. (Darkest colors first.)
• Bake as directed.
• Level the cakes.
• Put icing in between the layers, stack, spread icing on the outside.

A birthday is the perfect excuse to make a rainbow cake, but who needs an excuse? After reading several different tutorials on how to make a rainbow cake and cupcakes, we got started.  First, mix up a box of white cake mix following the package directions, or you can use your favorite homemade cake recipe. Then, involve the Girl Scout Troop. Let them count out the bowls, (you need 1 bowl for each color of the rainbow)  mix in the food coloring. 

Why stop at Rainbow batter and icing, when you can make your cake the shape of a Unicorn? It is easy to make a Rainbow Unicorn Cake too!

How to Make a Rainbow Unicorn Cake Recipe

Use the same cake mix and directions to tweak it as in the Girl Scout Cake above.
This time, use  8" round cake pans.
Fill the pans just over 3/4 way full. (You'll need two cake mixes.)
Wrap the pans with a wet towel strip. (This helps them to rise.)
Ice with the same whipped buttercream as above.
Unicorn horn is an ice cream cone sprayed with Wilton brand gold edible glitter spray.
Ears are pink card stock with a toothpick to hold them in place.
Flowers are made with different size star tips as mentioned above in the logo cake.
For color, use Wilton gel food coloring. Black is Wilton brand gel icing.


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Black and White Dessert Recipe Indy 500 Race

Easy Dessert Recipe for Indy 500 Race Day Parties

When May arrives in Indiana, we start thinking about the Indy 500 Race. Similar to the Kentucky Derby, people have race theme parties. The checkered flag is center stage. This Black and White Delight Cheesecake Dessert Recipe is perfect for those black and white race day theme parties. It's the Next Best Thing to any Andretti. Enjoy!!

This post contains affiliate links.

Easy Black and White Dessert Recipe Indy 500 Race

Easy Black and White Dessert Recipe Indy 500 Race

To Make the Crust:

12 oz. Refrigerated Sugar Cookie Dough, 3 T Cocoa, 1 T Butter

Mix together above ingredients. Then, grease an 8 in. square baking pan. Pat the dough into the pan. Bake for approx. 15 minutes in a preheated 350 degree oven. Let the crust cool completely.

To Make the Cheesecake Layer:

8 oz. Cream Cheese, 1/2 C. Milk

Let 8 oz. cream cheese come to room temperature. Beat in 1/2 C. powdered sugar. Layer the cheesecake mixture on top of the cooled crust.

To Make the Chocolate Pudding Layer:

1 Package Dark Chocolate Pudding, 1/2 C. Milk

Whisk above ingredients together until thickened. Spread on top of the cheesecake layer.

To Make the White Pudding Layer:

1 Package White Chocolate or Vanilla Pudding, 1/2 C. Milk

Whisk together above ingredients until thickened. Spread on top of chocolate pudding layer.

Top with whipped cream and a strawberry. 

Tip: Chill for 1 hr.

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