Chicken Casserole

I haven't said a whole lot about it yet; but, I want to fill you in.  About two weeks ago the company my husband worked for went under. He worked for Hostess Brands here locally (Im positive you have seen this all over the news).  We were all a little unsure for a few days as to what the company and court would do. But, ultimately the court gave the company permission to liquidate the company's assets; and my husband is out of a job!  

The next few weeks, and months are going to be extremely difficult for our family; especially, with Christmas right here upon us.  I ask that you would please join us in praying for our family.  Asking God to provide above and beyond what we could ever imagine!  And, I know that He will! 

In the mean time, Im coming up with ways to be thrifty and ways to resue things!  No one in my house is huge fan of leftovers (I will eat them, and so will Harpy [BTW, this is Harper's new nickname for himself, he keeps calling himself "Harpy"] but Chris doesn't like them at all).  So, I am trying to repurpose our leftovers for different meals later in the week.  If you have ANY ideas of how to save money (please dont tell me to coupon!) feel free to comment! 

I have tried couponing and honestly, for the tings we buy, its cheaper for us to just buy the store brands.  In reality, the Wal-Mart and Target brands are just as good, if not better than the name brands!

Yesterday, I totally forgot to take something out for dinner.  So in the midst of the chaos I almost broke down and went to buy dinner.  But, instead, I took out chicken breasts (FYI: you can boil chicken straight out of the freezer and cook it in no time!) to make Chicken Casserole!  And, with my homemade Cream Soup mix it was the best it has ever been.

I found a recipe on pinterest for an S.O.S mix here is the link to the original recipe.  I made this recipe and used it a while back in chicken pot pie and I thought "darn, this is much better than canned cream of chicken soup!"  But I got to thinking, I wonder if I substitue a few things can I make something similar to cream of mushroom soup (something I use ALL THE TIME)!

I did tweak this recipe and to my surprise it was again, way better than canned cream of mushroom soup!  Its easy to mix together and so much cheaper than buying premade in the can!

You literally mix 1/3 cup mix with 1 1/4 cups cold water and whisk until mixed together.

 

Then you just cook it on the stove on medium-medium high heat until it thickens up.  Now, you will be stirring a lot and thinking goodness, is this ever going to thicken up...then, in an instant you have a thick creamy soup!

 

 

Now, to get the taste to the cream of mushroom taste...add two dollops sour cream and mix in well.  VOILA!  You have homemade cream of mushroom-like soup!

 

To make the Chicken Casserole I literally took my chicken straight from the freezer and threw it in a pot, covered it with water added a little S&P and garlic powder and boiled it until done.  After draining my chicken I shredded it up (actually I just cut it into small chunks!)! 

 

Once my soup mix and sauce was ready I just added my chicken, stirred well, poured it in a baking dish, topped with Town House Crackers and butter, and baked!! EASY!

 



 









Homemade Cream of Mushroom-like Soup Mix

-2 cups powdered non-fat dry milk

-3/4 cup Cornstarch

-1/4 beef bouillon

-2 tsp onion powder

-1 TBLSP Garlic powder

 

PREP

1.) Mix all ingredients in bowl

2.) Store in air tight container

WHEN READY TO MAKE SOUP

1.) Combine 1/3 cup dry mix with 1 1/4 cups cold water.

2.) Whisk until well mixed.

3.) Cook on stove on medium to medium-high heat until thickened.

4.) Add two dollops sour cream.

5.) Use in recipe or enjoy!

Chicken Casserole
-1 lb chicken breasts (or tenders)
-Garlic Powder
-S&P
-2 "Batches" Homemade Cream of Mushroom-Like Soup (2/3 Cup mix with 2 1/2 cups cold water) OR 2 cans Cream of Mushroom Soup
-Sour Cream
-Town House Crackers smashed
-1 Stick of Butter

PREP
1.) Place chicken in a pot and cover with water.
2.) Add a little S&P and Garlic Powder and boil until chicken is cooked thoroughly.
3.) Once chicken is cooked thoroughly drain and shred chicken.
4.) If you are using the Soup Mix prepare as previously stated. If using canned cream of mushroom soup thin soup with milk.
5.) Add 2 dollops of sour cream (if you use soup mix you will use a toal of 4 dollops).
6.) To your sauce mix add S&P and Garlic Powder to taste.
7.) Mix in shredded chicken and stir well.
8.) Pour mixture in a baking dish.
9.) Smash crackers in a zip lock bag.
10.) Place smashed crackers on top of casserole.
11.) Cut 1 stick of butter into small slices and place on top of crackers.
12.) Bake on 350 until crackers are slightly brown and casserole is bubbly.
13.) Let sit for a few mins and enjoy!!!
 



Thanksgiving Dinner 2

I didn't want to overwhelm you in one post about Thanksgiving!  So, I broke it up into two posts!! Not only did I cook my first ever Turkey and Dressing.  But, I was also in charge of Mac ~N~ Cheese (something that I must say I am pretty good at!)!!!

I originally started making Paula Dean's recipe for Mac ~N~Cheese.  I followed her exact recipe for the longest time.  But eventually, I started tweaking.  And, after tweaking for months....here is what I finally came up with....and it is SOOOO YUMMO!!!

A.B.'s Mac ~N~ Cheese

-1 lb box macaroni

-2- 1lb blocks of Mild Cheddar Cheese

-2 Dollops Sour Cream

-Between 1/4 to 1/2 cup milk

-1 stick butter

-S&P

 

PREP

1.) Boil macaroni in a little salt and olive oil.

2.) Once macaroni is done, drain well.

3.) Return to pot and turn burner to LO

4.) Add cheese (Reserve some for top), sour cream, milk and butter.

5.) Once cheese has melted and all ingredients have mixed well, taste.

6.) Add S&P if needed to taste.

7.) Pour in baking pan and top with the rest of cheese.

8.) Bake 350 until cheese is melted and bubble.

9.) Let stand 10 mins, serve, and enjoy!

Thanksgiving Turkey ~N~ Dressing

HAPPY BELATED THANKSGIVING! 

Our family hopes and Prays that your family had a fantastic Thanksgiving Day with your family and friends! 

We had a great little day with our family!  This year I was volunteered by my mama to cook Thanksgiving Dinner!  I have literally never cooked turkey or dressing before in my life!  AHHH!!!

Mama came up on Tuesday to help me cook!  And, I must say it was a success.  I was a little worried at first, but I pulled through and rocked out an amazing Turkey!

 

TURKEY

 

-1 Turkey

-2-3 Red Apples

-3-4 Yellow Onions

-Veg. Oil

-Salt ~n~ Pepper

 

PREP

1.) Place turkey in baking pan and dry off with paper towels.

2.) Quarter red apples and yellow onions.

3.) Once your turkey is dry, rub down with veg. oil.

4.) Sprinkle with a generous amount of S&P.

5.) Stuff quartered apples and onions in turkey.

6.) If you have leftover apples and onions, place around turkey in pan.
7.) Pour water around turkey until you have about an inch and a half to two inches of water in pan.

8.) Cover and bake on 400 for about 4 hours (time will vary based on size of your turkey).

9.) Every hour baste turkey with water in bottom of pan.

10.) Uncover turkey and continue baking another 45 mins or so, until brown.

11.) Every 10 mins baste turkey.

12.) Let rest, carve, and enjoy!

 

 

For the dressing I made a double batch of homemade cornbread.  The cornbread recipe came from an older lady, Mrs. Ruby, who gave this recipe to my mama when she got married!  So, cherish this recipe with your life!  :)

 

Mrs. Rubys Corn Bread

 

-1 3/8 Cup Corn Meal

-1/4 Cup Sugar (TOTALLY OPTIONAL, I did NOT use sugar)

-3/8 Cup Oil

-1 1/2 Cup + 2 Tbsp Flour

-1 1/2 Cup Butter milk

-2 Eggs

-1 Stick Butter

 

PREP

1.) Melt butter in large baking pan in oven until ALMOST brown and bubbley(this will not take very long).

2.) Mix all ingredients together in bowl.

3.) Once butter is melted, coat bottom and sides of pan and pour remaining butter in mix in bowl. Stir.

4.) Pour mix in buttered pan.

5.) Bake on 450 for 25-30 mins until golden brown.

 

 

 

So, to make cornbread dressing...

 

Cornbread Dressing

 

-Double batch Mrs. Rubys Corn Bread

-1 package Corn Bread Stuffing mix

-Poultry seasoning and sage to taste

-1 Bunch celery diced

-2 Yellow onions diced

-1 stick of butter

-1 large box Chicken broth

-S&P to taste

-Drippings/liquid from turkey

 

PREP

-1.) Melt butter in skillet.

2.) Once butter is melted, cook onions and celery with a little S&P until just done.

3.)Crumble homemade cornbread in large pan (I just crumbled it right in the pan I baked mine in because it was a large pan).

4.) Mix in cooked onions, celery, poultry seasoning, and sage.

5.) Pour in box of chicken broth and mix well.

6.) Taste. 

7.) Add S&P and more Poultry seasoning and Sage if needed.

8.) Once turkey is done, pour in the liquid/drippings.

9.) You will want dressing mix to be almost soupy!

10.) Bake in oven at 400, stirring every 15 mins.

11.) Once dressing is heated through, let brown on top.





Comfort Food (Hamburger Steak & French Fries)

What's better for dinner after a hard week than your favorite comfort food! Christopher's all time favorite meal is something his mom cooked for him growing up that they call "Hamburger Steak and French Fries"! Let me explain! Hamburger steak is nothing more than ONE BIG hamburger made in the frying pan, adorned with cheese and cut into slices! YUMMO!

I will preface this with I do not have pictures, sorry, I forgot!

A few tips: I always use ground sirloin (it’s not near as fatty, and holds together better), I make my own bread crumbs and store them in the freezer *take leftover stale bread, throw in blender until it becomes bread crumbs*, I ONLY use French’s Worcestershire Sauce (you've seen me say this before, its THICK and just all around better!), I always generally use real sliced cheese EXCEPT for this which I use Kraft Singles (it melts so much better and is oh so gooey and yummo!)!

 

HAMBURGER STEAK

-1 lb Ground Beef

-Bread crumbs, just enough to hold together

-Dash of Worcestershire Sauce

-Salt and Pepper

-Sliced Cheese

 

PREP

-Mix all ingredients together in bowl.

-Flatten meat mixture into a big hamburger patty in frying pan.

-Cook on medium heat until edges are starting to brown and flip.

-Continue cooking on medium heat until hamburger is done.

-Reduce heat to Low or Warm, and top with sliced cheese.

-Once cheese has melted cut, and enjoy!!!

 

HOMEMADE FRENCH FRIES

-1/2 of 5lb bag red

-Cold water

-Flour

-Oil

-Brown paper bag

-Salt

 

PREP

-Peel and cut potatoes into french fries.

-Place cut potatoes in bowl with COLD water and place in fridge for 2-3 hours.

-When ready to cook, heat oil in large pot on stove.

-Drain cut potatoes.

-Thorougly coat potatoes with flour.

-Once oil is hot submerge fries in batches.

-Let fry until golden brown. (FYI: the last few batches you fry will be a darker brown, this is ok just the flower "burning" in your oil, they will not taste any different and will still be YUMMO!)

-After each batch is done frying place fries in brown paper bag.

-Sprinkle with salt and shake bag.

-Pour into bowl and enjoy!

 

 

Loaded Potato Soup

UGH! Another day in the bed!  The flu, is kicking this mommy's behind!  Im getting tired of being in bed!  And my neighbors are tired of seeing me walk Molly in my full on PJs and robe! 

The one upside of being in bed all day: Lots of Food Network!!!  Downside to lots of food network: makes me wanna get up and fry some chicken!! But then, I step out of bed and I realize the kitchen is NOT where I need to be, so back to bed I go! 

I mentioned in my earlier post that I would post my recipe for Loaded Potato Soup.  So, here you go!  Its so stinkin' yummo!  I used to serve it with homemade wings, but it is just dandy on its own also! 

A few of my tips: I use red potatoes in my potato soup; however, I use red potatoes in EVERYTHING I cook that calls for potatoes!  You will only use 2 pieces of bacon in the actual soup and the rest of the package to make homemade bacon bits, so if you don't desire to make your own bacon bits (I highly recommend you do!) you won't need the entire pound of bacon. Again, I only keep unsalted butter on hand (because its better when baking). I also buy the boxes of chicken broth (as opposed to cans).  Also, little trick for drying fried anything, use brown paper bags from the grocery store, this saves money by not using paper towels.

 

LOADED POTATO SOUP

 

-7.5 lbs Red Potatoes (Cut, Peeled, and Diced)
-1 lb package of bacon
-2 Sticks of butter
-2 boxes chicken broth

-Garlic powder
-Salt/Pepper

-Whole Milk
-Cheese
-Chives

 

PREP1.) Boil peeled and diced potatoes with a little salt just until slightly tender.
2.)  Brown 2 pieces of bacon in soup pot until slightly cooked (not fully done).
3.) Add butter and let melt.
4.) Once butter is melted fully add potatoes.
5.) Pour Chicken Broth in pot, until potatoes are well covered.
6.) Add Garlic Powder, Salt and Pepper to taste.

7.) Let simmer for 10 mins or so.
8.) Add just enough whole milk to change soup to milk white color.
9.) Let simmer until potatoes are done.

10.) Now, here is where you can either let it simmer until it thickens a little (if you so wish) or add your instant potatoes to thicken it up.

11.) Garnish each bowl with homemade bacon bits, cheese, and chives!

 

 

 

 

HOMEMADE BACON BITS

 

-1lb Bacon
-1 Tablespoon Oil

PREP

1.) Heat Oil in pan.

2.) Dice Bacon strips into bite size pieces
3.) Add bacon pieces to oil in pan.

4.) Cook until all pieces are crispy done.

5.) Dry bacon pieces on paper towels.

 



Beef ~N~ Noodles

I know, I know, I know....I KNOW, there has been yet another blog hiatus!  UGH! I suck!  Sorry! Hopefully no more breaks for a while! 

Also, Im thinking that I will only post a few family updates, memories, stories AND.....drum roll please....RECIPES!!!  Y'all know I love being in my kitchen!  :)

If you haven't heard my poor baby had bilateral tubes put in his ears, his adenoids taken out, and a turbinate reduction (a little post nasal procedure) about a week and a half ago.  They told us he would have a little drainage and a low grade fever 7-10 days after surgery.  Well, what does my kiddo come down with?  Nothing less than MAJOR nose congestion and a HIGH fever!  AND, he eventually came down with pneumonia!  :(  But, no worries, no panicking, he was quickly at the pediatrician's office (who totally rocks by the way!), got antibiotics, and is back to acting his normal crazy self (so I am told he is on a mini vaca at Gram and Pops)!

Harp is gone because Chris and I got sick over the weekend.  GUESS WHAT?  We have the stinkin flu!  I know, I couldn't believe it either!  We have been in bed since Sunday.  Actually Christopher told me on Sunday that he felt like one foot was in the grave.  And, yesterday he told me the other foot was creepin' in too!  HA!  MEN!  They can't handle anything! :)

Everyone knows that you are suppose to eat homemade soup when your sick...especially when you have the FLU!  There are two problems with that....
         1.) Homemade soup while not complicated, was NOT something I was tackling while so sick!
         2.) Most importantly, Christopher doesn't like soup!
So, I decided to make my "Beef ~N~ Noodles" its the next best thing to homemade soup and oh-so-easy!  I will add, I did have homemade Loaded Potato Soup in the fridge (ill post the recipe soon), but that did NOT sound appealing!



BEEF ~N~ NOODLES

 

1lb stew beef meat
1.5 sticks of butter (I ALWAYS use unsalted)
3 cups of water
3.5 Tablespoons Onion Soup Mix (I make my own, and will post recipe at bottom of post, but roughly 1.5 packages if you want to buy)
1 8oz package Egg Noodles

 

PREPRATION
1.) Cut stew beef meat into small pieces and place in Crockpot.

2.) Melt 1 stick of butter in pot on stove.

3.) Add 2 cups water and mix in 2 Tablespoons Onion Soup Mix until well blended.
4.) Pour liquid over meat in crockpot.  Cook on low all day.
5.) 1 hour before serving add 1 cup water, 1.5 Tablespoons Onion Soup Mix, and .5 stick of butter.
6.) Turn heat on crockpot up to high.

7.) Add Egg Noodles.

8.) Let finish cooking for 45 mins or so and enjoy!

Homemade Onion Soup Mix

4 teaspoons Beef Bouilon Granules
8 teaspoons Dried Onion Flakes
1 Teaspoon Onion Powder
1/4 teaspoon pepper

PREPRATION
Mix all ingredients in bowl, and store in air tight container!
 

 





Chicken Carbonara

I love Chicken Carbonara but it can be difficult to make (you know me, I don't often cook difficult things)!  So, here is my "easy" version of Homemade Chicken Carbonara....

Homemade Chicken Carbonara

-6 to 8 Chicken Tenders
-Butter
-Garlic
-1 Package "Philadelphia Italian Herb Cooking Cream" (the lid of this flavor is green)
-1/2 Cup to 3/4 Cup Sour Cream
-2-3 TBL Spoons Milk
-Parsley
-Salt/Pepper (to taste)
-Penne Pasta
-Parmesean Cheese
-Bacon Pieces

1.) Dice chicken into bite size pieces.

2.) Saute Chicken in about 2 TBL Spoons butter with a little garlic and salt/pepper (I just use Garlic Powder).
3.) Mean while, cook penne pasta according to package.
4.) Once chicken pieces are cooked and brown in color, add cooking cream and sour cream, stir to combine.
5.) Add milk one TBL Spoon at a time till sauce is thinned out to your linking.
6.) Add about 1 TBL Spoon Parsley (I use dried Parsley), a TAD more Garlic and Salt/Pepper to taste.
7.) Once sauce has thinned somewhat add a handful of Parmesean Cheese and stir to combine.

8.) Drain pasta and add to sauce.
9.) Sprinkle bacon pieces on top and enjoy!

I actually toss my bacon pieces directly in my sauce and top my pasta off with a little parsley and cheese!

HAPPY 'MOMMYING' :)



Sand Play

As you know, I have been diligently attempting to give Harper new learning experiences in his sensory bucket/tote!  So far, we have done rice play several times (HUGE HIT), ice bricks (first time he wasn't so excited), and water beads (again, HUGE HIT). Despite the fact that we have a sandbox in the back yard, I was thinking how I could incorporate some sand play in our sensory bucket (you know, in a new and exciting way).

Well, here is what I came up with...a little sand with flat marbles and shapes (like you put in floral arrangements etc.)...

This was too easy and obvious, so, I also covered the marbles with sand so that they were "hidden", and added a few shovels, sifters, and a bucket...

This way, he had to dig and really play to find the marbles...at first he was a little unsure what all the hype was about, but after a little help from mom finding a few marbles, it was a huge hit!

It was so HOT Wednesday, we did eventually move into the garage!

Eventually, he started dumping the sang into the mini waggon/wheel barrow!!



Little did I know, he had plans to dump the sand and marbles into the kiddie pool!



Then, he just gave up and started dumping buckets of sand and marbles into the kiddie pool!!!



Overall, the sand and marbles were a big hit.  Actually, so much so, that we have played in sand every day since Wednesday!!!

HAPPY 'MOMMYING' :)

Coloring Activity

Im always looking for fun things to do with Harper inside when the weather doesn't allow for outside play (or when mama and daddy don't WANT to go outside to play)!!!  We try to do books and puzzles every day regardless (you know, for learning activities)!  Coloring always seems like a great choice; however, there are only so many pictures you can draw/color, and only so many coloring pages you can color before coloring becomes old and stale. 

So, what to do?  Well, in search of a birthday present for Mimi, my grandmother, (I wanted something Harper could "make" for her to put up in her room at the Nursing Home), I found nifty wooden hangers (I also picked up a light house, but, Harper was coloring it while I took some pics)...

 I literally found these at the "Dollar Tree" for $1/each!  While I was in the Dollar Tree, I found not only these (and they had TONS of different choices...dogs, dinos, cars, etc.), I also found little wooden figures in multi packs (what a GREAT fair weather activity)! 

FYI: if you havent been to the Dollar Tree, YOU NEED TO GO!  They have lots of nifty stuff like this, and much, MUCH more!!!

Back on track; I picked up Crayola Paint Brush Pens months ago for "painting" during a rainy weekend!  They are always a MASSIVE HIT!!! 

Don't worry, they are more like markers with a paint brush tip. And, they are WASHABLE!!! So, when your child colors himself in addition to the project, it washed right off!!!

I let him color the wooden plackards...

He had a blast (of course, who doesn't like coloring with markers?!)!!  Here is our final product!

Our Mimi loved them!!!  We also want to wish Mimi a HAPPY 80th Birthday (even though its a few days late now!)!!!

HAPPY 'MOMMYING' :)

Bacon Anyone?

I know your wondering what this post is going to be about with a title "Bacon Anyone"!  HA!  Well, let me explain, we love bacon in my house (about as much as we love pizza).  We love to eat BLT'S, breakfast (with BACON), and all sorts of things that contain BACON!!!  The problem you ask?  Well, I HATE COOKING BACON!  It makes a massive mess AND it absolutely makes your home STINK TO HIGH HEAVENS! 

So whats the answer?  Well, after some Google research, here is what I have come up with.  Line a shallow baking pan with tin foil (one that only has about 1/2 inch sides) place bacon on foil (your bacon can touch, just not overlap). 

I have to use 2 pans when cooking a whole package of Bacon (which is ALWAYS).  You simply "bake" the bacon on 350 for about 15 mins (this will depend on how done you like your bacon.).  We like our bacon "medium" so, I watch it very carefully.

Now, this was only my second time using this method for cooking my bacon.  Next time I believe I will place a few metal racks under the bacon and let the fat drip into the bottom of the pan in hopes that the bacon doesnt get quite as crispy (did I mention we DONT like crispy bacon)!!! 

However, I can tell you this method ROCKS.  Clean up is easy, simply throw the tin foil away with all the fat well contained (which makes washing the pan super easy).  It also insures that your house will NOT smell like bacon for days!

Try it, let me know your thoughts!!!

HAPPY 'MOMMYING' :)

Mini Vaca

AGAIN WE HAVE BEEN GONE FOR A WEEK OR SO!  Sorry, for the blogging hiatus....AGAIN!  I promise, we will be around with some great blogs the next few weeks!  WOOT WOOT! I KNOW you are eagerly awaiting new posts!!!

Last week Harper and I went to visit my parents in Live Oak, Florida on their vacation!  Im just going to share a few pics for now...but defintiely check back later today and tomorrow for some great new posts...I have several fun and new tips to share with you guys!!!

This is the Suwanee River (took this picture at the Suwanee River State Park).

We took a few pics and then walked a little "trail" to the water...

We also found a playground and let Harper play...

One final picture...

HAPPY 'MOMMYING' :)

Water Bead Play

This may be the last blog for a few days.  Harper and I are going out of town with Gigi and Papa (my parents) tomorrow for a few days...poor daddy has to stay home and work!  BOO!  However, I cannot express to you how extremely excited I am that we get to go!  I hope to have lots of first experiences with Harper this week...with lots of pics! 

For now, I want to ask if you seen posts about water beads??  I have seen them EVERYWHERE!  Facebook posts, blogs, Pinterest, everywhere; and they looked like THE COOLEST things I have seen since legos were invented!  HA!  If you have absolutely no clue what im talking about, let me fill you in so you can join in on my amusement.  These are little gems that look like marbles but are soft and squishy.  They are generally put in flower arangements as they soak up water and then when needed, supposedly, they then release the water!  They come in all sorts of colors!

I have also seen on the same posts, blogs, and pins people asking where to get them!  I was just like these people....WHERE DO I BUY THEM?!  However, none of these posts, blogs, or pins answered the ever daunting question. 

So, I Googled (duh!)!  And found NUMEROUS websites to order them...except, you had to order them BY THE POUND!  Really?! I didn't want THAT many...just enough to play with and see what kind of hit they were with my monkey!

I decided to go into Michaels' this week in search of the ever aluring "water beads". And I am proud to say that after some quick guidance from a Floral Dept. employee...I found them!!  (High Fives!)

I will also give you a little better pic of the actual water beads...

You can buy them dehydrated...these come in a smaller pack (although im not sure after hydrating them how many you would have) for about $2.99/a pack.  The dehydrated ones look like little seeds and you simply follow the package instructions and soak them in water to get them looking like these.  I decided that Harper wasn't going to be concerned with them going from dehydrated looking seeds to plump looking marbles (but I think older kids might enjoy this!), so I went ahead and got these for $4.99 for the jar.  Simply open and play!!  They really feel like jelly eyeballs!  Just so you know what the inside is like...you know your dying to konw!  I broke one open for you...which really isn't hard, but, at the same time Harper never did it (well until they got thrown everywhere and he stepped on them!)!

I dumped the entire jar into Harper's clear tote (which I filled about half way full with water)...next time I will only use 1/2 of the jar because, after play was completed I retrieved the rest of them out of the tote/water and had close to 1/2 jar I can use again.  I just think only using 1/2 jar would eliminate this step of clean up.

Now, we obviously do all these type things outside.  I also added a few "beach/sand" toys... (Sorry for my shadow!)

It took a little coaxing, look how neat these things are...

After a few mins of trial and error, he was full blown into them!

Eventually, the water beads were being THROWN everywhere and accompanied with a "WEE" and a "YAY"!  But it's ok, that is exactly why we do these things OUTSIDE...easy clean up!!

I think he was trying to decorate the grass actually!

I would say over all a MAJOR hit...and we will definitely be investing in more of these!!!

HAPPY 'MOMMYING' :)