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Top 10 After School Snacks (#4 is my favorite)

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When I have kids in “school” I pick them up and bring them home–no bus service–so I like to have snack on the table when they come home.  If it is a year that I am homeschooling than we usually end our day with a snack and tea or juice from our juicer!

These are my top ten after school snacks:

  1. Leftovers from their lunch box!
  2. Veggies and Dip
  3. Apples and yogurt or another dip they like
  4. Pretzels with either mustard or chocolate dipped
  5. Cheese and crackers–I use cookie cutters to make flowers with the cheese–too cute–sometimes I even put a raisin in the middle of the flower!
  6. Celery and cream cheese
  7. Build your own nachos
  8. Mini cheese tortillas
  9. Muffins (just out of the oven before I go and pick them up)
  10. Cookies and milk!

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I find that the kids like to do a little “food network” and build their own things as much as when I have it ready, so I like to mix it up a little bit.

If I have a later dinner because of practice or other commitments I start the crock pot at 3 for dinners to be ready at 7. 

TIP:  I also set the table before I leave.  When I come home I just need to plop the crock pot on the table, and by the time everyone is finished washing their hands dinner is ready!

Crockpot Macaroni and Cheese

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I’ve been trying to find more and more crockpot recipes this year. My intention was to try a new recipe each week but . . . that isn’t exactly happening. So my plan is to continue to research and try new crock pot recipes and to post when I do.   This recipe can easily be meatless and organic.
 
 Crockpot Macaroni and Cheese (serves 6)
 
 
2 cups of dry elbow macaroni
4 cups of liquid (I used evaporated milk, chicken broth, Campbells recipe starter and Campbells cream of celery–I use a combination of what I have available at the moment)
2 cups of cheese (I used colby and monteray blend)
Combine ingredients in a bowl and stir
 
 
Spray crockpot
Pour ingredients into crockpot
Cook on low for 4 hours.
 
 
My crockpot has 4, 6, 8, 10 hour options. I cooked the mac and cheese on the 8 hour setting for 4 hours and then unplugged the crockpot.   I used the round crockpot but if I doubled the recipe I would use the bigger oval crockpot.
 
 
I sprinkled some bacon bits on top and it was tasty.
 
 
Next time I might add some celery, carrots, carmelized onions, ham, bacon, red pepper or some combination.  The liquid can be any combination of evaporated milk, broth, 1 egg, cream soup, or sour cream.
 
 
Enjoy.
 
Be Blessed.  I’m linking up with Ultimate Recipe Swapcountdown2012 and Thrive@home.