“Back To School” fever has hit our house.  The kids have it because they didn’t want it to start, and I have it because I couldn’t wait for it to start!


“If there were no schools to take the children away from home part of the time, the insane asylums would be filled with mothers.”  
~Edgar W. Howe

The traditional first day of school shot

I love my kids, I really do, but seriously a clean house, fewer loads of laundry, and a schedule absolutely excites me!  I am most blessed to be a stay-at-home-mom, but I like order and schedule and summer brings nothing but chaos as bedtimes go out the window, I can barely keep up with who is coming or going, and I might wake up to one or four extra kids sleeping in my living room!

 

A little of my reality. =)

As I am anxiously planning for school to start, my grocery shopping changes.  I am a peculiar mom and would much rather the kids carry their lunches to school than to buy them.

Have you eaten school food in the last five years?  It is as gross now as when I was a kid in the 80’s!!  You would think after 20 years things might improve!

My mom always tried to make carrying our lunch special, whether it be little cars made from celery stuffed cream cheese and carrots or her famous homemade sugar cookies cut out to fit the season.  While my kids had outgrown the cars of celery, they still get a kick out of sandwiches cut into shapes and the special little touches of filling their lunch boxes with their most favorite treats.

First day of school means only one thing for lunch:  Chicken Salad!  I have never seen children eat it the way mine do;  I can fix one recipe or two and it is G.O.N.E. within 24 hours!  They eat it on sandwiches, with crackers, or straight from the bowl.  It doesn’t matter.

 

So in celebration honor of the First Day of School, here is my chicken salad recipe.

1 whole chicken, stewed or roasted (whichever you like best)
2 hard boiled eggs, chopped
1/2 cup chopped dill pickles ( more if you really like the pickle flavor like my kids )
3/4 cup chopped celery
4 ounces softened cream cheese
1/3-2/3 cup light mayonnaise (depending on the creamy consistency you would like
salt and pepper to taste

Remove the chicken from the bones and combine all of the ingredients thoroughly using a fork and chill before serving.  Cut sandwich bread into desired shapes and spread chicken salad on them.

 

I love this recipe because it is so versatile.  Leave out the pickles and egg; add 1/2 cup chopped pecans, 1/2 cup of freshly chopped cucumber, and 2 Cups grape halves for a fruity version.  Mix green and purple grapes for even more flavor.

Making my kids feel special is so much fun!  I love to drop two or three Hershey Kisses in their lunch for them to find when they open their bags, or even a note.  Most of mine are handwritten now, but for younger children, here are a few great holiday notes you can add to a child”s lunch.  I also have a book, “Love Notes in Lunchboxes” that is filled with fun ideas for making your kids feel special at any age.