Thankful in November: Day 5 & 6

Day 5: Color by Number turkeys and a peanut butter turkey snack!

Color by Number pages are becoming increasingly more popular with the boys these days, especially Owen. I have to get a little more creative with Eli, letting him use the easel, or pretending to race him to color a certain space or rolling dice to decide what color to use next, but the end products turn out great and they are so proud of their work.

Day 6: Scarecrows! We used a Color by Number page, a leaf coloring page and a 1-20 maze today, all from here. There are so many cute resources available!

For Dad: King of the Grill

These cupcakes from FamilyFun.com look so fun and fantastic that I might just have to try them out this year for Father's Day (nevermind the fact that we haven't grilled anything since we started moving all around the country two years ago!) That doesn't change the fact that Charlie grills a mean steak and I love a good lookin' cupcake ; )

To make a batch of 12, place liners in a muffin pan, oil them, and fill them 2/3 full of your favorite brownie batter, then bake according to the recipe directions. Let the brownies cool. In a small bowl, mix 1-2 drops of black food coloring with 1/4 cup white frosting. Transfer the frosting to a ziploc bag and snip a small section from the corner. Pipe grate lines onto each brownie and let them set for 20 minutes. Add embers with a sprinkle of orange sugar. Prepare the grill food like this:

KEBABS: A caramel cream and red, yellow and green candy fruit slices, cut into small pieces + toothpicks for skewers
PORK CHOP: 2/3 of a caramel cream, molded with fingers + black food coloring applied with a toothpick [note: I think most grocery stores also carry chocolate creams, which would make a very cute steak]
HOT DOGS: hot tamales candies + black food coloring applied with a toothpick

I have a few ideas up my sleeve for Father's Day this year, but I don't want to show my hand yet for fear that Charlie will read this ahead of time.

What are you doing for the dad in your life this year?

Awesome Applesauce Muffins

I was motivated to make apple muffins by my cousin Shaloma's post, but didn't have any whole apples in the house, so I went on a search for applesauce muffins instead and landed on this recipe that I think turned out great! They are light and fluffy, loaded with applesauce and spices and a surefire winner with the boys. I'd probably add a pinch of salt next time, but that's my only critique.

Ingredients:
4 cups flour
1 T ground cinnamon
1 T ground allspice
2 t baking soda
1 c butter, softened
2 c sugar
2 eggs
2 c applesauce
2 T vanilla extract
1 c raisins (I omitted these & hate cooked raisins)

Combine flour, cinnamon, allspice and baking soda in a bowl and set aside. In a separate bowl, cream the butter and sugar. Mix in the eggs, applesauce and vanilla. Stir into dry ingredients, just until moistened. (Fold in raisins) Fill greased or paper-lined muffin tins 3/4 full. Bake at 350 for 20-22 minutes. Cool in the muffin pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack.

Before baking, I also sprinkled a packet of cinnamon oatmeal on the top of half of the muffins to test a hypothesis and they turned out better than the muffins without the oatmeal! I have another dessert recipe to share later (that you make in a crock pot!) where I learned that little trick and it's gonna be my go-to addition to many muffin recipes.

I thought it sounded like a lot of cinnamon, allspice and vanilla, but I usually like to stick to a recipe for the first time and then alter it afterwards, but this was right on. Like I said, I think the muffins need a little salt, but I wouldn't have known that until trying them. Anyone know how much salt to add to a muffin recipe?

Have you cooked/baked anything fun lately that you can share?

Valentines Day, Part 1: Fun with Food

Valentine's Day is this weekend!! Sure, Valentine's Day was fun as a dating or young married couple, but when you throw kids into the mix, sometimes an expensive dinner out just doesn't make sense anymore, especially when you factor in hiring a babysitter. As kids get older, they will love getting into this lovey dovey holiday and you'll love seeing them transform into little romantics for the day. Try some of these this weekend!

1. Bake a heart shaped cake and decorate it together
2. Make Valentine's Day sugar cookies together and decorate - different sized hearts, letters to spell love, add red food coloring to the batter to make it red or pink
3. Buy your child his/her favorite candy it give it with a note that says 'You're my Valentine'
4. Bake something together and deliver it to a neighbor who is lonely this year
5. Add a few drops of red food coloring to milk to make it pink, or buy strawberry milk
6. Make 'Love Muffins' - any flavor you want, just call them Love Muffins
7. Dip oreos in white chocolate (or pink or red - available at craft stores in the baking section) and decorate with sprinkles or icing
8. Make Cranberry Sweetheart Scones for breakfast (recipe from http://www.familyfun.com/)
9. Make Raspberry Heart Tarts for dessert (recipe from http://www.familyfun.com/)
10. Put Hershey's Hugs and Kisses in your child's lunchbox

I have a few ideas for Valentine's Day activities too (not food related)... but was wondering: Do you do anything special for your family/husband/kids on Valentine's Day? Do you have any traditions that you already do with your family or that you'd like to start this year?

(If it's not too much trouble, please post comments here instead of on Facebook so all the readers can see your ideas, not just the ones who are my FB friends. THANKS!!)

The BEST Pumpkin Muffins EVER!

Granted, I've almost never met a muffin I didn't like, but these Pumpkin Muffins take the cake ; ) Do yourself and your family a favor and make these today - they are fast, easy, moist and delicious. I'm already on #3 and they just came out of the oven!

Ingredients:
3 c sugar
1 c vegetable oil
4 eggs
3 1/3 c flour
2 t baking soda
1 1/2 t salt
1 t cinnamon
1 t ground nutmeg
2/3 c water
15 oz pumpkin

Instructions:
In one bowl, beat the sugar and oil with an electric mixer until it looks like wet sand. Beat in the eggs and set aside. In another bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg. Alternately add the dry ingredients and the water to the sugar mixture, beating on low after each addition just until combined. Beat in the pumpkin.

This recipe makes TWO 9x5x2 loaves of bread or one loaf and 24 muffins. Cook the loaves in a 350 degree oven for 55-65 minutes; cook the muffins in a 350 degree oven for 22-25 minutes.

You won't be disappointed!

Please share - what is your favorite muffin/breakfast bread to eat? Have any good recipes to share?

Souper Easy Taco Soup

Am I the only one who loves easy dinner ideas?!

I was in the mood for Taco Soup yesterday but couldn't find a recipe that I really liked (or had all the ingredients for) so I made this up and it was so fantastic that I just had to share it. It hardly took any time at all either, and I threw it together with staples that I had on hand already.

Ingredients
1/2 a large yellow onion, diced
1 T butter
2 c chicken broth
1 packet taco seasoning
1 (14 oz) can kidney beans
1 (14 oz) can black beans
2 c frozen corn
3 boneless skinless chicken breasts

Saute the butter and onion until the onion softens. Add all other ingredients except the chicken and bring to a boil. Once boiling, put the chicken in the soup (whole and raw). Let it cook in the soup for about 10 minutes, then take it out and allow it to cool slightly before shredding and putting it back in the soup. Turn the soup down to a simmer until ready for serving (mine simmered for about 2 hours and it was awesome).

I added a handful of Mexican shredded cheese to the pot and sprinkled a little more on each bowl before serving. I would have added canned tomatoes if I had them on hand, but it wasn't lacking without them. I probably would have added more taco seasoning too, if the boys weren't eating the soup with us, but I wanted to keep the spice level 'mild' and it was very flavorful.

I served it with homemade cornbread and orange slices and it was a HIT!

Do you have any simple soup recipes to share?

Cupcake Magic

Witch Cupcakes

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups chocolate frosting
1 package Oreo sugar cones
Orange sprinkles
1 can (16 oz) vanilla frosting, divided
Neon green food coloring
12 cupcakes, removed from paper liners
Chocolate chips
Green and red tube icing
Mike and Ikes
Chocolate sprinkles

Directions:
Place chocolate frosting in a ziploc bad and snip off a small corner. Pipe base of cones, dip in orange sprinkes, and set aside. Place 1/2 cup vanilla frosting in another ziploc bad and snip off a small corner. Tint remaining frosting green and frost cupcakes. Turn cupcakes on sides, then place decorated cones on top. Using vanilla frosting, pipe eyes on cupcakes. Attach chocolate chips for pupils and pipe a dot onto chips. Use red icing for mouths, green icing for warts; shape Mike and Ikes into noses. Pipe chocolate icing onto cupcakes for hair and sprinkle with chocolate sprinkes.

Gummy Mummies

Ingredients:
1 box (22.5 oz) brownie mix
1 can (16 oz) vanilla frosting
Green sour apple bubble tape gum
M&Ms

Directions:
Heat oven to 350 degrees. Prepare brownie mix according to package directions. Divide batter among lined mini cupcake pans to make 36. Bake 20 mnutes and let cool completely. Spread frosting onto brownies. Place a piece of trimmed gum across center of cupcake. Top with M&Ms for eyes. Place more pieces of gum at slight angles to cover tops, leaving eyes visible.


These recipes are from Parents.com

Spooky Snacks

I can't wait until my boys are old enough to really get into holidays! Even if we don't throw a Halloween party every year, some of these treats are too fun to pass up, even just as an after school (or after trick-or-treating) snack. Try them out this year!

Slimy Snack
Prepare a package of lime or apple jello as directed and divide among 8-ounce mason jars or clear bowls, filling only halfway; refrigerate until firm. Prepare another jello flavor such as cherry, berryblue or grape. While jello is cooking, place three gummy worms on top of set jello and let another hang over the lip. Pour second flavor over the worms, filling to the top; refrigerate.

Frankentreats
Make rice krispie treats and cut into bars (or use store bought bars). Push each bar onto a skewer; set aside. Melt 1 cup white chocolate chips and 1 tablespoon shortening; stir in green or neon green food coloring. Spoon melted chocolate over all sides of bars, place on wax paper lined cookie sheet. Use M&Ms to create eyes and ears, a piece of gummy worm for the mouth, and jujubes for the neck bolts. Refrigerate until the chocolate has hardened, then remove the skewers. Draw on the hair and dot eyes wth black decoratin icing.

Witch on a Stick
Melt 1 cup white chocolate chips, 1 tablespoon shortening and a few drops of green food coloring; stir until smooth. Dip the end of the pretzel rod into the chocolate, covering the top 2 inches. Place on wax paper and sprinkle the sides of each rod with coconut flakes to form hair. Top each with a Hershey kiss and refrigerate until the chocolate has hardened. Draw on eyes, nose and mouth with black decorating icing; fising my covering the kiss too.

These recipes are from the October 2008 issue of Parenting magazine.

Feeling Like a Creative Genius!

My previous post was about having picky eaters... and today I think I cracked their code! My boys love sandwiches and tortillas. My first few tries at getting them to eat new things (meats, beans, vegetables) included cutting them up in little pieces and putting them on their trays. They would eat what they liked and throw off what they didn't. My *new* approach is to put the new things IN the sandwich or tortilla! It sounds so simple, but I don't know why I didn't think of it before!

For lunch today, the boys are enjoying (read: loving!) a tortilla with cream cheese and smashed chick peas. The very same chick peas that they wouldn't touch for the last three days. Yes! My next attempt will be to shred the chicken or pork that they won't eat solo into a quesadilla. I think that shredding carrots to put in these tasty treats will also be a good way to get them to eat their veggies.

I would like to get them to eat black and kidney beans. Can you help me out with some sandwich/tortilla combinations that would make beans more appetizing? What vegetables other than carrots would work in this approach?

Berried Treasure

Summer always makes me crave berries. Strawberries in May, blueberries in July and raspberries whenever I can fit them in my budget! (Are raspberries ever on sale?!) If you love berries like I do, try out these fun recipes...

Breakfast
Make a raspberry sauce to pour on pancakes or mix in yogurt. Puree a cup of berries in the blender, then whisk in 3 teaspoons lemon juice and 1-1.5 tablespoons sugar.

Lunch
Skip the mayo and place 10 raspberries in a turkey rap. The berries will get smooshed, but that's part of the fun. Call it a 'fruit roll-up'!

Dinner
Sweeten your side dish. Toss cooked whole-wheat couscous with raspberries, crumbled feta cheese, chopped red onion and a little olive oil.

Snack
Make two kid-sized smoothies simply by blending together 1 cup raspberries, a ripe banana, 1/2 cup plain low-fat yogurt (or vanilla) and 1/2 cup ice.

Enjoy!

Lunch Box Challenge

School is starting all over the country, but even if you don't have school-aged kids, that doesn't mean you can't make a fun and creative lunch for your little ones (and yourself!) When I realized that I'm already falling into a rut with my kids' lunches, I thought that this website was a lifesaver. They are going to provide 30 lunch ideas in 30 days (they are on day 15 right now), so bookmark this page and return to it to see what else they have come up with. Sometimes they provide recipes, other times they provide ideas on preparation. Here are two to whet your appetite: Mix n' Match Gorp Gourmet Grilled Cheese On Day 3, there was a link to a website called Funky Lunch. You have to click this link! It's adorable! Nemo, Sponge Bob, giraffes, dinos, lions, pianos... here are a couple works of art to create and devour yourself. Article featured in the August issue of Cookie magazine.

A New Spin on FroYo

With summertime comes the craving for cool, sweet treats. Next time your kids ask for a popsicle or ice cream, try out this easy treat on an edible stick. Delicious!

In a bowl, gently stir together:
- 2 cups low-fat vanilla yogurt
- 1 cup assorted berries (blackberries, raspberries, blueberries, straberries)

Spoon into popsicle molds (if you have them) or small (about 3 oz) paper cups. Cover with foil. Cut a small slit in the foil and insert a pretzel rod as the 'stick.' Freeze until firm, about 3 hours. Remove yogurt from molds or cups and discard foil before serving.

In case your kids aren't crazy about vanilla yogurt or berries, here are some flavors by Yoplait Light (buty ou can use any brand you like best). Pick any of these and try mixing in banana slices, peaches, berries, chocolate chips, flaked coconut... the sky is the limit!

Apple Turnover

Apricot Mango

Banana Cream Pie

Berries 'N Cream

Blackberry

Blueberry Patch

Boston Cream Pie

Harvest Peach

Key Lime Pie

Lemon Cream Pie

Orange Crème

Pineapple Upside Down Cake

Raspberry Cheesecake

Red Raspberry

Strawberries 'N Bananas

Strawberry

Strawberry Orange Sunrise

Strawberry Shortcake

Very Cherry

Very Vanilla

White Chocolate Strawberry

Freeze some up today!

The original recipe is from the April 2009 issue of Parents magazine.

Menu Planning for Dummies

We just had the most fantastic week of dinner/revamped leftovers, so I thought I would share my culinary genius with you : ) Afterall, it's not often that I can figure out what to do with leftovers to make them into something different the next time we eat them. You might not like all of these options, but that's all they are - options! Hope you enjoy!

Day 1
Pecan crusted salmon (recipe below)
Oven fries (tossed potato wedges with olive oil, fresh parsley leftover from salmon, seasoning salt and pepper)
Salad (using romaine or something similar)
French bread

Day 2
Marinated chicken (use any marinade mix you like)
Sweet potato fries (tossed potato wedges with olive oil, cinnamon and salt)
Corn on the cob

Day 3
Burritos (or tacos) with grilled peppers (recipe below)

Day 4 - Revamp #1
Salmon salads with homemade croutons (recipe below)

Day 5 - Revamp #2
French toast (recipe below)
Bacon

Day 6 - Revamp #3
Chicken wraps (recipe below)

Here's how it worked:

• Made the salmon with the intention of having two pieces leftover for salads
• Made the chicken with the intention of having two pieces leftover for wraps
• Used a few slices of the leftover french bread to make croutons for the salads
• Put leftover fries in the toaster oven to eat on salad too (how's that for Pittsburgh!?)
• Used the rest of the french bread (stale by now anyway!) to make French toast
• Chicken wraps used leftover grilled peppers, more romaine lettuce and extra bacon
  

RECIPES:

Pecan Crusted Salmon
4 pieces of salmon
2 T dijon mustard
2 T melted butter
1 1/2 T honey
1/4 c. chopped pecans
1 T fresh parsley
1/4 t salt
1/8 t pepper Put salmon in a 9x9 pan. Mix everything else together except the pecans. Pour sauce over the salmon. Sprinkle with chopped pecans. Bake in 45o degree oven for 20 minutes. Delicious!

Homemade croutons
Cut french bread into cubes. Toss with olive oil and seasonings (I just used sea salt and pepper). Bake in 350 degree oven for 10-15 minutes (or until golden brown)

Grilled Peppers

Cut one yellow and one red pepper (or whatever color you have on hand) into skinny strips. Toss with olive oil and a little salt. Cook in a skillet on med/high heat. Don't toss very often, that's how you'll get the black color on the skin like you see in restaurants!

French Toast
2 eggs
2/3 c milk
1/4 t cinnamon (or as much/little as you like)
1/4 t nutmeg
1 t vanilla
1/8 t salt
8 thick slices of french bread (hopefully stale by this point)

Beat eggs, milk, spices, vanilla and salt together. Dunk bread in liquid (to saturation point). Put in a buttered, heated skillet. Cook until golden brown on both sides. Great with berries and/or powdered sugar on top.

Got Milk?

When I saw these recipes, the first person I thought of was my sister, who has two kids who refuse to drink milk. Chocolate helps, but these recipes seem like instant hits with any kids. Do you have a picky milk drinker? Let me know if any of these work for your little ones, or if you have your own tricks.

Real Strawberry Milk

Mix 3 cups fresh, hulled strawberries and 1.5 cups lowfat of fat free milk (though you could substitute whole milk if your child is less than 2 years old) in a blender until smooth. Garnish with a strawberry. Makes 2. As directed, 135 calories and 1 gram fat.

Peach Parfait

Mix 1 cup fresh sliced peaches, 1.5 cupes lowfat or fat free milk and 1/8 teaspoon almond extract in a blender until smooth. Mash 1 cup raspberries with a fork. Layer milk mixture and raspberries in a class. Makes 2. As directed, 125 calories and 1 gram fat.

Orange Freeze

Line the inside of two glasses with orange slices (the bottom and up the slides); cover them with plastic wrap and freeze until firm (1-2 hours). In a small pitches, stir together 1.5 cups low fat or fat free milk and 1/3 cup thawed orange juice concentrate. Remove plastic wrap and pour into the glasses. Makes 2. As directed, 137 calories, 1 gram fat.

These recipes were featured in the June 2009 issue of Parents magazine.