Happy Birthday, Dr. Seuss 2012

Happy Birthday, Dr. Seuss!

It's been a while since I have blogged. One of the reasons I stopped was I no longer had a working camera. Since I do now, I am going to be blogging much more. Today's entry is about one of my favorite days of the year. Dr. Seuss's Birthday! I love to make whacky food for my kids. They look forward to it. I just think its so much fun.

For breakfast we had Cat in the Hat Pancake Stacks! I used the recipe from this site - only I didn't tint all of the batter. These pancakes are easy to make and delicious!

Next up was lunch. Again, I made my daughter Poodles of Noodles - rotini pasta salad. Along with that in her lunch box was a special Seuss snack Mix!

All 3 kids got these in their lunchboxes.

Finally, Cupcakes for the boys' classes as well as a special dessert for L's lunch box. Lorax Cupcakes!

Until next time!

Also, a Very Happy Birthday to Jon Bon Jovi!

Pancakes + Muffins = Puffins (?)

Hello!  I've missed blogging!  It was such  a pleasure to make breakfast at a leisurely pace today!  I'm so happy it's summer!!!!!

As I've told you before, I love Bakerella.  I visit her site at least 5 times a week and I follow her on Twitter.  I wish I could make those cute little cake pops as fancy as she does.  Maybe someday. With practice... and other people to eat them!  Anyway... about two weeks ago I noticed a side bar that said, "Sweet of the Day".  That particular day it was muffins.  I clicked to check them out.  They weren't any ordinary muffin, they were pancake muffins!  I haven't been able to stop thinking about them.  I KNEW my kids would like them.  However, I was out of baking soda AND baking powder, so I had to wait.  I hit the grocery store the other night, so now I'm fully stocked.  Today is the first day of summer vacation.  What better way to start the summer than with an awesome breakfast!
I followed Bakerella's recipe with just a few changes.  I substituted whole wheat flour for the white flour.  I also used regular milk, instead of buttermilk and I eliminated the sugar.  A pancake that has 2 tablespoons of maple syrup and chocolate chips is plenty sweet!  I also didn't use as many chips.  I used mini, probably about 2-3 Tablespoons and I sprinkled them on top.

*Chocolate Chip Puffins*

Each of the kids got 4 muffins and fruit, with a little maple syrup for dipping.  They were all full when they were done.

They only took about 10 minutes to whip up and 10 minutes to bake.  The recipe says 24, but my mini muffin pan must be a little bigger.  Mine made 15.  I'll definitely double the recipe next time.  I'll also butter the pan, since the spray didn't keep them from sticking a little.  

Yes, I took the time out to make sure each of my kids got a smiling puffin.  Puffins made my kids smile.  Try them out, you won't be sorry!

When life gives me snow... I make breakfast!

Today is a snow day.  I know I know, it's spring, you only got rain, blah blah blah.  We have snow.  School is closed.  I COULD catch up on laundry, mop the floor and do all that fun stuff, but instead I made breakfast!

First I made this loaf of bread in the bread maker.  I only made the following changes:

1. I used buttermilk instead of the oj concentrate.
2. I used old fashioned oats, because it's what I had. 

It came out really good.  I guess I should have taken a picture of it, but I cut it up already!  The kids loved it.  I made it into french toast.  All ready for tomorrow morning!

Another  French Toast  recipe I REALLY want to try!  This may have to wait, since I'll have to bake the bread :)  

While I have the griddle out, I'm going to attempt to make this pancake recipe using whole wheat flour and and this chocolate pancake recipe.

My kids have been asking to eat the french toast all day, so I guess that's a good sign :)

***UPDATE**** The first round of the chobani pancakes came out GREAT!  Using the whole wheat flour worked fine, just needed to up the liquid a little bit.  The kids LOVE them! WOOHOO

Thinking of trying some new things....

Yesterday I made a quadruple batch of waffles.  That will feed my kids three days of breakfast.   I was thinking back to the days of Eggo's and Aunt Jemima, I felt bad that they don't have as much variety.  Then it hit me, I'm making this stuff FROM SCRATCH I can be as creative as I please.  I was in the shower, that's where I do my best thinking, and it hit me, apple raisin, apple cinnamon, plain cinnamon, cocoa,  pear, banana, cranberry, the list goes on and on... I can make pancakes AND waffles.  Then as if a giant light bulb was switched on over my freshly shampooed hair I though of cinnamon bread french toast!  I'm hitting the food store so I'm definitely going to buy extra eggs and a GINORMOUS container of cinnamon!   I found a recipe for whole wheat cinnamon bread to put in the bread machine.  Once I try it, I'll post it here.

Speaking of bread machines, I've been using a borrowed bread machine.  I feel it's time I return it to it's rightful owner.  My rock star of a friend, Eileen (HI EILEEN!)  I definitely need to purchase one for myself.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!!!

HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY!!!!!!

Today's blog is brought to you by the color GREEN!!!!!!

I am going to have to add the pictures in later, but here's what we made.

Breakfast was whole wheat pancakes, tinted green, in the shape of shamrocks.

Lunch was GOING to be mac & cheese, tinted green... I used taco cheese, thinking it would give it a good taste.  The whole thing was horrible.  Maybe my butter browned too much, maybe I shouldn't have used whole wheat flour for the rue, whatever it was, it was HORRIBLE!

I thought quickly, I rinsed off a bit of the pasta, put some broccoli, olive oil and garlic in it.  

L's lunchbox:

*Spirals with broccoli, garlic and olive oil

*Cucumbers - cut into the shape of shamrocks (I used a v-cutter)

*Peppers - cut across instead of up and down, so they look like shamrocks

*Pudding tinted green

R & J will get the veggies and the pudding. 

Tonight's dinner, corned beef, cabbage and boiled red potatoes.

Irish Soda Bread!

Enjoy the day!

Cereal...on the OTHER side of the aisle

My kids and I ran into Shop Rite on Thursday.  Our intention was to pick up the ingredients we needed for the Cat in the Hat cupcakes, a few produce items.  Silly mom thought we could get down the cereal aisle safely.  My plan was to buy a bag of the puffed wheat, it's $1.79.

Our Shop Rite has all the "earthy" cereals on one side of the aisle and the major brands, sugar cereal on the other.

We've purchased EnviroKidz Panda Puffs before, at Trader Joe's.  I knew our Shop Rite carried them, but I just never purchased them there.  L (the panda freak) wanted them.  In the cart they went.

R saw these EnviroKidz Frosted Flakes and in the cart they went.

J took a little more time looking around.  The three of them kept turning around to look behind them, seeing all the names they see on TV commercial.  I just nicely told them, let's pick from THIS side of the aisle.

John ended up with Barbara's Puffins.

He keeps calling them penguin puffs.  I've tried to explain them that the puffin is a bird.  The picture on the box is a puffin... yet, he still calls him a penguin!

While all three of these ARE gluten free.  We do not have a gluten issue in our house.  L's problem seems to be with digesting white flour.  I have YET to find any other person that has this issue, so if you know someone send them my way.  The doctors all go , "hmm" and move on.  My pediatrician thinks that I am doing a good job with the food choices I make for my kids.  Thank you!  BUT, I wish someone could tell me WHY my kid can't have the white flour.  Not that I'm complaining... they all love the whole wheat everything and don't complain.  

Back to the cereal!

I sampled all three of these:

*The panda puffs are basically Kix w/peanut butter.  A corn cereal with a peanut butter coating.   The difference is the ingredients.  Compare the two boxes, next time you are in the store. 

*While nothing tastes like Kellogg's Frosted flakes, the Amazon Flakes definitely can substitute for them.  They taste more like Kellogg's Corn Flakes, with a sweet coating.  They got the approval stamp from all 3 kids... even my husband said they were good.  He said "They not Frosted Flakes, but they are good."  

*The Puffin's are the new favorite by a landslide.  The box is almost gone.  All three kids had them for breakfast on Friday and both boys had them today.  I'm definitely adding them to our list.    

There is a coupon on the Barbara's Bakery Website.  It takes $1.00 off.  Give them a try!  There is a HUGE variety of Barbara's cereals.  

These are definitely a little pricier than the major label brands.  But I think it's worth it.  I love that I can actually read the ingredients in these cereals.  I purchase Kashi Go Crunch Lean at Costco, about every 4 weeks.  They cost approximately $9.00 for a giant box.  If I add in the $10-12 for these 3 cereals, which I would probably have to purchase every 2 weeks and the $6 for the Honey Nut Cheerios, at Costco.  I'm spending about $35 a month for cereal.  I don't think that is SO outrageous.  That is less than $10 a week.  Which if you buy 2 of the big boxes of a "sugar cereal", that's $10 right there!  They don't eat cereal everyday.  We also have waffles, pancakes, eggs, yogurt, so I could definitely stretch these boxes out.  I think my next step is going to be, finding a replacement for the Honey Nut Cheerios... I think my new BFF Barbara has a variety! ;-)  

By the way, I never did get my puffed wheat!!!!!

Happy Birthday, Dr. Seuss!!!

Dr. Seuss is a big deal in our house.  Our kids LOVE to read all of his books.  So, in honor of his birthday, we had a Seuss inspired breakfast and Seuss filled lunch boxes!

First up, Breakfast!  Green Eggs & Ham!

Just scrambled up some eggs and added some green food coloring.

Served it with some lean canadian bacon!

The kids LOVED it!

L's Lunchbox:

The "Menu"

"Poodles of Noodles" - Whole wheat pasta, cucumbers and tomatoes with an oil and vinegar dressing.

"Pink Ink Yink Drink" - Strawberry Yogurt Smoothie - Strawberry Yogurt, Strawberries and Milk

This Cat In The Hat cookie didn't photograph too well.  I took apart 3 Vanilla Sandwich cookies and put a small dot of red frosting in between each layer of the vanilla cream (which came off the cookie surprisingly easy!)

Cat AND a Hat cookie!  

Happy Birthday, Dr. Seuss - And Happy Birthday to Jon Bon Jovi, too... what kind of Jersey Girl would I be if I forgot to mention that!!!!!

Waste: Just the paper the menu was written on :)  

Links I'd like to share...

My friend Kathy gave me these recipes and I found the link... I really wanted to share with everyone.  I can't wait to try each and every one of these banana recipes:
Health Magazine - Bananas: Ultimate Hunger Buster

While some dislike her, I LOVE Martha Stewart.  I think she has some wonderful ideas.  Her Whole Living Magazine/Webzine is becoming one of my favorites.  I've always loved Living and quickly fell in love with Every Day Foods... and let's not forget the Weddings!!!!  Anyway, this link popped up on my facebook.  I thought some of the ideas put a nice little twist on some snacks.  Hope you enjoy this:
Martha Stewart - Heatlhy and Easy Snack Ideas


Happy Monday :)

Snacks, Snacks, Snacks

There are two types of snacks in our house, healthy snacks and treats. 

I really try not to buy too many treats.  The less treats in the house, the more healthy snacks the kids eat.  I am, however, human.  I like chocolate and cookies.   How could I let myself eat a square of chocolate and tell my kids they can’t!?!  I don’t.  We just made a little rule in my house.  You need to eat a healthy snack, before you get a treat.  About 90% of the time, this works.   Another thing I do, I look at their day as a whole.  If my daughter had a great breakfast, lunch and all healthy snacks throughout the day, I’ll let her have the cookies.  I’m trying to teach them about balance and moderation. 

So, what counts as a “healthy snack” at my house?

1. Fruit
2. Vegetables
3. Cheese
4. Yogurt
5. Humus – The kids recently discovered how much they love this.   I can’t keep it in the house!  It’s the first snack they go for when they see it in the refrigerator.  It’s gone the same day we buy it.  We dip carrots, celery or triscuits in it.  Any other suggestions on what we could dip?  

Our favorite is the roasted red pepper Sabra!

That's it, that’s how simple it is.  These are also knows as, “anytime snacks”.  Around here that means if dinner is in 30 minutes and you can’t wait, pick one of the above.  These are also the 5 groups they can choose from for a snack for school.  They are a contained audience in school.  It’s them and what is in that lunch box.  If you want your kids to eat less junk, start with not putting any in their lunchboxes.  Then, when they get home, if they want a cookie or some pretzels or chips, you won’t feel so bad. 

I won’t list the “treats” as that list could go on forever.  I do try to buy cookies that do not have high fructose corn syrup in them.  Also, they LOVE the Trader Joe’s Honey Wheat Pretzel Twists.  

Sometimes, we combine the treat and the healthy snack, i.e., apples and nutella... oh and those honey wheat pretzels and nutella is delicious, but that's more of a treat-treat!!!!  

One of my favorite snacks to make for the kids is vegetables and dip.  We discovered a few months back that plain greek yogurt can replace sour cream as a dip base and it tastes delicious!  While it’s not natural, healthy or any of the things I’m trying to feed my kids, I love love love Hidden Valley Ranch Dip Mix (it’s a dry mix and comes in a packet near the salad dressing) and use it as a seasoning for several things.  Mix some of that in with the plain greek yogurt and let the kids dip, dip, dip! 

My kids are also huge fans of cut up fruit.  R will eat an entire quart of strawberries or blueberries in one sitting, if I let him.  Mangoes are like gold in my house.  Once I learned to ripen and cut up a mango, there was no going back! 

We also don’t buy junk food yogurt.  Trix yogurt is not a healthy snack!  My kids love love love greek yogurt.   They eat the plain, sweetened with honey.  They love the ones with fruit and fight over who is getting the last of their favorite flavors.  I spend approximately $25 every 2 weeks on yogurt.  Think about how much a bag of chips cost.  The big ones are about $4-5 each.  Would 5 of those feed your kids snacks for 2 weeks, without going stale?  I know that when we have chips, they last one day.  So, if I were to give my kids chips everyday for a snack, it would cost me a lot more than buying them yogurt!  I can't wait to get more into comparing the cost of healthy food and junk food.... I'll save that for another day, though!

Having fruit and a big bag of baby carrots in the house at all times is a big help to them and me.  They each have their favorites.  L loves apples, R is a berry boy & J is a basic apple, orange, banana kid. 

Another favorite around here, which we also serve for breakfast, “banana splits”:

·         Take 1 whole banana and slice it in half long ways.

·         Using an ice cream scoop, scoop 2 small scoops of yogurt onto the banana.

·         Top with sliced strawberries, blueberries, peaches, pineapple, or whatever fruit you love.

·         Drizzle a little bit of honey to make “caramel”

·         Sprinkle some granola or nuts for some crunch.

You would not believe how filling this is!  It’s delicious, good for you and so easy to make.  You could also sprinkle some mini-chocolate chips on it, for fun. 

Never underestimate the power of a stick!!!!

Putting a snack on a stick, or even just serving it with toothpicks makes it more fun and appealing!

Fruit and cheese kebabs!

Cheese and cherry tomatoes speared onto a toothpick

Melting some cheese and using a skewer to dip some veggies into it.

Especially, if you have a boy, Sticks = FUN!!!!!

We don't have to deprive our kids of the fun treats, just balance them out with something good. :)  I am looking forward to sharing more snack ideas as I find them.  I'm also REALLY looking forward to some feedback and suggestions!  Tell us what your kids' favorites are!

Wonderful Whole Wheat Waffles!

This recipe comes from my sister in pioneering, Kelly.  She's hard core pioneer, canning and stuff!  I'm about 1/2 the pioneer girl that she is... and I wear more leopard print.

This recipe is a great starting point.  You can start with all the flour whole wheat or use some white flour and gradually add more whole wheat with each batch, to get your kids used to it.  I've even replaced 1/2 cup of the flour with oats!  You can certainly add berries, chocolate chips, bananas, pumpkin etc.  

You will need a waffle maker in order to make these!!!

3 tablespoons melted butter

1 ½ cups whole wheat flour

1 ½ teaspoon baking powder

pinch of salt

2 tablespoons of honey - you could use sugar or even an agave nectar or an artificial sweetener, I always use honey.

1 ½ cup milk 

2 eggs

Mix your dry ingredients together in a large bowl.  Mix the eggs into 1 cup of the milk and the honey.  Blend it all together, adding the butter.  Add more of the milk if your batter is too dry.  Your batter should be some what thin.  After your batter is all mixed, you can add your fruit, chocolate, etc.  **CAUTION - If you are using frozen berries, gently fold them in or your waffles will turn a purplish-gray.  I speak from experience!**

Follow your waffle makers directions for cooking.  Mine has me spray w/non-stick spray and cook until the steam stops. 

Serve with your favorite toppings!!!

I always at least DOUBLE this recipe.  I add 2 cups of flour and 1 cup of old fashioned oats. They come out so good!  Once they are cooled, you can freeze them.  I've also stored them in the refrigerator for a day or 2. Toast in the toaster or the oven to reheat!

Enjoy!

P.S.  I'm thinking pumpkin waffles with some pumpkin pie spice for this weekend!!!  YUM!  What do you think?

Maybe I'll make pancakes today, maybe I won't....

There is no other way to word it my kids LOVE pancakes.  Before the big diet change, they ate those mini pancakes like they were never going to eat another meal again!  When my husband and I talked about making this switch, this was a big part of the discussion.  I said, "I'll just MAKE mini pancakes!"  (I imagine myself wearing a super hero cape and swishing it at this point, while aiming my mighty spatula to the sky).  So began the search for a 100% whole wheat pancake.  There are several frozen ones out there.  To me, they just had too many ingredients in them.  Also, why should I pay $4.00 for 8 frozen pancakes, when I can just make them for pennies!
I found a few recipes that I thought would work.  *Sidenote - most of my recipes start from a recipe found at All Recipes.*  I did some modifications on them, and this is what I came up with:

2 cups of whole wheat flour
1 tablespoon of honey or sugar
1 teaspoon of salt
1 ½ - 2 cups of milk
1 tablespoon of baking powder
2 eggs
2 Tablespoons of oil

You can add SO much to these, fruit, chocolate, bananas, pumpkin, food coloring.  We've tried it all and the kids still love them.  The banana and pumpkin do thicken up the batter, so you may need to add more milk.

(these are our Valentine's Day Pink Pancakes, just added some food coloring and shaped them into hearts)

(Some of our Halloween pancakes - Pumpkin shaped pumpkin whole wheat, with chocolate chips)

Combine your dry ingredients together.   Mix 1 ½ cups of the milk, with the eggs, oil and honey if you are using, together.  Pour into the dry ingredients and stir... adding more of the milk if mixture is too thick.  Thinner batter makes thinner pancakes.  I use an ice cream scoop, a small one for silver dollar size and a larger one for, as my kids call them "Big Pancakes".  Pour into a heated, greased griddle, (I found my electric grill w/the flat top on it cooks them perfect!) cook until bubbles form on top and the edges are dry, flip, cook until lightly browned.
Serve with your favorite topping!

The diet switch happened over night, there are a few items we let the kids "keep".... Log Cabin is one.  Honey Nut Cheerios and Frosted Flakes (only on weekends) are some others.

We use Log Cabin for 2 reasons.  1- It's the one Costco sells and 2- No High Fructose Corn Syrup.  That stuff is EVERYWHERE!!!!  I try REALLY hard to not buy products, except the HNCheeros and FF, with it in them.  It's in your bread, read the labels!  It's in PICKLES!  It's in Salad dressing!  The reason I converted the recipe to only have 1 T of sweetneer, is because the pancakes don't need to be super sweet, just sweet enough, because they ARE putting SUGAR on it!

Back to the pancakes...  Make a double or a triple batch - put them in the freezer (just let them cool first)...  Pop them in the microwave for 30-45 seconds and viola, instant breakfast!

So, maybe I'll make pancakes today, or maybe I won't... but now that you have my recipe, you certainly can!

Biscuits and Eggs

My first thought upon waking up this morning was, "UGH... it's too damn early."  My second was, "What should I make the kids for breakfast?"  Ok, maybe my second was, "I need coffee"... but it was close after that I started thinking about breakfast.  I definitely wanted them to have eggs.  They had been asking for scrambled eggs.  What to serve with them?  I didn't put any bread in the machine, so we don't have bread.  I have 50 lbs. of whole wheat flour... DROP BISCUITS!!!!
Here's what I did:
Preheat oven to 450°.

2 cups whole wheat flour
4 teaspoons baking powder
1 tablespoon of sugar - I think these would also be awesome with honey instead of the sugar
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup of butter - you could totally replace this with another oil, but REAL butter, makes them taste oh so good.  And it's only a 1/4 cup!
1 cup milk.

Combine all the dry ingredients in a bowl, mix well.
Cut in the butter, using a pastry cutter or fork until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
Add milk and stir until moistened.

I used an ice cream scoop and scooped out 12 biscuits.  I cooked them on my very seasoned Pampered Chef stone for about 12-14 minutes.

They were delicious!  Not too heavy, like you would expect a whole wheat to be and very buttery!!!

My kids asked the name, I told them Drop Biscuits... they renamed them Rock Biscuits because they LOOK like rocks, they don't taste like rocks though!