Super Heroes Rock! Bulletin Board

This is embarassing....  I created a full night-time skyline that covered a 16' bulletin board: Navy sky with black building silhouettes and yellow-lit windows...SIXTEEN feet by
FOUR feet. It was then covered in super hero capes for each teacher.  The capes had the teacher's name and their "super powers." (Problem solver, Math magician, Strategy sharer, etc.)  I don't even have a picture of the whole board.  Not.One. 

I do however have this picture of the bottom right corner of the board where our Super Hero Band is ROCKING out for our Super Hero educational team.  I thought they came out pretty cute, and the stage even has pleated skirting.

Winter Snowmen & Reindeer Bulletin Boards

I'm going back through old pictures looking for bulletin boards that I've done over the years, because I realized that I haven't shared them!  These are some that I did last Christmas for our elementary school.  I have vowed to start taking more pictures, because I really simply don't have enough...and I missed out on so many of the fun details!  For example, in the Making Friends snowman board below, the basket next to the snowmen holds snowman arms and a scarf.  A black top hat sits next to the basket.  

The snowman placing the star at the top of the tree?  He has a PRECIOUS winter hat on, and the picture cuts off the big fluff ball at the top of it.

Each of the reindeer has a name plate at the top of their stall.
I often get asked about templates.  I don't have any templates for my boards, as I free-hand most of what I do.  Even if you aren't confident in your craftiness, you can always connect a projector to your computer, use some painter's tape to hang paper on the wall, and use my images as your template.  

Hopefully this gives you some inspiration for some wintery bulletin boards or party decorations of your own!

Wicked Easy Thai Chicken and Long Kow Vermicelli Noodle Soup

I needed a REALLY fast meal tonight.  I had zero time.  Truly.  I know my pantry may contain some items that not everyone keeps on hand, but if you DO...this is an incredibly easy meal that comes together in no time.  (I told you I had NO TIME!😉)  It's similar to a Thai Tom Ka soup.

Wicked Easy Thai Chicken and Long Kow Vermicelli Noodle Soup 

3 Long Kow Vermicelli noodle bundles (126 grams)
4 C chicken stock
2 cans coconut milk
1/4 C Thai Red Curry Paste
2 T Ginger paste from tube or 1 T of freshly grated ginger (adjust to taste)
1 t kaffir lime leaves (optional)
1/4 C low sodium soy sauce (GF if preferred)
3 T brown sugar
Meat from 1 rotisserie chicken, cubed
1 C carrot sticks (hand-cut or pre-cut)
1 can bamboo shoots, drained and sliced into sticks
Fresh basil
Fresh cilantro
Sriracha

Place Vermicelli noodles in a bowl and cover with cold water.
Place next 7 ingredients in a pot on the stove and heat over medium heat for 5 minutes.
Add chicken.
Drain noodles and add to pot.  Heat through for 3 more minutes.
Place in bowls and garnish with remaining ingredients.

Gingerbread-themed Bulletin Boards

Y'all, I just realized how popular my Polar Express-themed bulletin board post has become!  I also realized that I've done MANY bulletin boards since my twins were first graders, and so I'm going back through to find old pictures to share.  Hopefully they inspire you to make your hallways or parties more festive! 

In 2nd grade, the teachers at our Elementary School do a story and a gingerbread activity that leads to a fun "scavenger hunt" through the school as they look for clues and notes left by the runaway gingerbread man.  So, it seemed fitting to decorate the 2nd grade hallway with gingerbread houses.  Everything you see here is made with paper, glue, and an occasional marker.  I only wish I had more pictures!

Instant Pot Creamy Garlic Chicken with Spinach and Artichokes over Brown Rice

 Y'all, I try; I really do.  Let's be honest here though, I don't use recipes when I'm cooking, so even though I try to get a picture of all of the ingredients at the beginning,  I AM MAKING IT UP AS I GO!  I frequently have to add ingredients later.  Forgive me?

Here we go! Last night I came home after 3 days of camping with our Girl Scout troop,  and I was beat!  I didn't want to cook.  After rifling through my fridge and freezers, this is what I came up with, and I loved it! It was a bit more work than I had planned, but I'll definitely be making it again.

I started by putting short grain brown rice, salt, butter, and water in my rice cooker while I used my IP for the rest.

For our family of five, I used 8 chicken thighs that provided a few leftovers, but this recipe could easily be divided for fewer portions.  Remove the skin and fat from the thighs and season them with salt and pepper.  Set your pressure cooker to saute, and add 2 tablespoons of butter.  Sear the chicken in the butter, and dice 1/2 an onion (I love this Global knife for cutting onions) and press the garlic while the chicken is browning.  Remove the chicken to a plate.

Look at all those browned bits in the bottom of the pot!  I used 1 cup of white wine to deglaze the pot and scrape up the browned bits.  Add the diced onion, pressed garlic, and 1 to 1.5 cups of chicken stock to the pot.  Return the chicken to the pot and set it to high pressure for 10 minutes.

 While the chicken is cooking, heat 2 packages of frozen chopped spinach and then press to strain the liquid.  Slice 1 block of cream cheese (low-fat if you wish) into smaller blocks.  Grate 1/2 Cup of Parmesan.  Strain 1 - 2 cans of artichokes (depending on how much you like them) and rough chop them into bite-sized pieces.

When the chicken is finished cooking, turn the pot off and let it naturally release pressure for at least 15 minutes.  You can do a Quick Pressure Release if necessary at that point, but it is better to let it release naturally when time permits.  Natural release helps maintain the moisture in the chicken.

Remove the chicken to a plate or foil-covered pan while you finish the creamy sauce.

Turn the pot to keep warm if it's still fairly hot or saute if you allowed full natural pressure release.  Stir in the cream cheese until melted, add the spinach and stir to combine.  Add the Parmesan and artichokes.  If the sauce is too thick, you can add 1/4 cup of milk at a time to reach the right consistency for your preference. 

Add brown rice to the bowl and top with a chicken thigh, creamy spinach & artichoke sauce, and some crushed red pepper.  Yum!

Click here for a printable version of my Instant Pot Creamy Garlic Chicken with Spinach and Artichokes over Brown Rice.