Easter Weekend is approaching

The family will all get together for the weekend. Lots of activities are planned, and the place is a bunch of sugared up little ones running around screaming and having a ton of fun. I am going to help stuff plastic Easter eggs. I hope to remember the camera so I can post photos. I'll cook the turkey for Sunday dinner. I saw Michelle at Wal-Mart and told her not to buy a turkey, because I had one in my freezer she could use. Well, turns out I didn't but I got one anyway, and a breast, totaling about 22# of turkey meat altogether. I'll cook them, slice them, make gravy and take it to her house on Sunday. I love these get togethers.


I also make Jello Jiggler eggs, in all the colors of Jello I can find. I think the adults eat more of them than the kids. I make them out of sugar free jello........don't tell. They taste just as good. It takes a LOT of jello to make them, I make about 6 batches, for a total of 36 eggs. Sounds like a lot of eggs, doesn't it? You have to remember, there are 5 of us sisters, and at least one brother always makes it to this. We have our children and spouses, then my brother-in-laws family will attend, also, so we'll have quite a few kids there.

I love to do it, and have done it for a number of years, since my son was little. OOPS, he is going to be 20 this year, has it been that long? I have the jello egg molds that were given away years ago with a jello purchase, I used to see them all the time, but don't anymore. You can order them here.

I am making my spinach salad, the family requests it almost every time we have a family get together. Here's the recipe:

Tortellini Salad

9 oz. refrigerated cheese tortellini
2 c. shredded red cabbage (I buy coleslaw mix, I am LAZY)
6 c. torn spinach leaves
1 c. cherry tomatoes, halved
1/ 2 c. sliced green onions
8 oz. bottle ranch dressing
8 slices bacon, cooked, crumbled (I buy real bacon bits in salad aisle, Yep, LAZY)

Cook tortellini, drain and rinse with cold water. In 9x13 pan layer cabbage, spinach, tortellini, tomatoes, onions. Pour dressing over top, sprinkle with bacon. Chill overnight. Servings: 8 1 c. servings

I love to do this, I think I am going to get some stuff to make a little more, Michelle told me Jason's family is coming, and I think we will need more food.

UGH! I can't sleep!

I have been up for a few hours now playing Luxor on the computer. I can't sleep. This has been happening to me for some time now. I get all worked up over the projects I have going on at work. I love my job, I have a great boss, but I get all pent up with anxiety that I will mess something up and not do a good job. Then I get home, feel like I can't stay awake,and when it is time to go to bed, the eyeballs pop open and I can't sleep! I hate that!

Went to see the in-laws tonight. Joyce, my MIL is getting along great with her walker, I can't believe she is doing so good for 77 and a new hip just a week ago! She is amazing. Part of her motivation might be a trip to Ireland. She has wanted to go all her life. They will inherit a little money here pretty soon, and she really wants to take the trip. I hope they get to go, she wants to really bad. She is doing the family tree, the trip will help her to track down ancestors on my husband's side of the family.

I have two pot lucks coming up at work. I love to do them, it is fun to see the reactions of the people that I work with when you do something out of the ordinary. This recipe is one that I had at a bridal shower once. I brought it home and made it, since then it is a family favorite. I think I might make it for the pot luck, either that or a chicken pot pie, homemade. I did that last week and impressed myself. If I do, I will take a photo and post it. Supermom took a picture of a pie I made and posted it on her blog, so that might be fun.

Chicken Salad

2 c. cubed cooked chicken
¼ c. diced celery
¼ c. golden raisins
¼ c. sliced almonds
¼ c. dried cranberries
¾ c. mayonnaise
2 T. chopped red onion
¼ t. salt
¼ t. pepper
4 split croissants

Directions
In a bowl, combine first 9 ingr. Split croissants, spoon about ½ c. chicken salad onto each croissant. Very good.

Well, I am going to try to get some sleep, I teach a computer class all day tomorrow, then I go for a hair cut in another town that is 25 miles north of the metro area where I work. I think I am going to switch hair dressers. I realized just a week or so ago that one of our daughter's friend's sisters is a hair dresser. She is located in the area where I work, it will be easier to go there than drive so far all the time. Now I just have to find out how to get hold of her. Ta ta for now.