I know it's been a while. I'm trying to watch what I eat among the holidays, a wedding and being sick. Now that things are sorting out a little, I'm hoping to get back into the swing of things. This morning I thought, what better way than with more dessert for breakfast? This is a short and simple recipe but it sure makes for some yumminess!!
Pancake Mix
Water
Apple Butter
Vanilla Extract
Mix Pancake batter with water as directed on the box. Add 1 tsp Vanilla and 2 Tbsp Apple Butter to batter. Mix through and make pancakes as usual.
These were just right, I didn't even need syrup. I just put a little butter on the pancake and ate them up!!
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Friday, October 15, 2010
Banana Berry Oatmeal
As you've all probably seen, lots of things come in the strawberry banana flavor. However, oatmeal is not one of them. They make bananas and cream and strawberries and cream but never a combination of the two. So, I decided, why not give it a try? The worst that could happen is that no one likes it. I cooked up a batch and the kids ate it up...strawberry banana is always a good combination!
1 3/4 Cup water
1 Cup quick oats
1 Tbsp vanilla extract
1 mashed banana
1/2 Cup frozen strawberries
1/4 Cup sugar
In a medium sized saucepan, boil water. Add quick oats and return to a rolling boil. Add sugar and vanilla, mixing until all sugar is dissolved. Stir in banana and strawberries. Continue mixing until oatmeal is fully cooked.
Now, as I've listed, I used the frozen strawberries because they were easier to get my hands on. While the kids loved the pink color the strawberries added to the oatmeal, there was a definite watered down tast. Next time I will most likely go for fresh berries. You can try whichever you'd like. If you find another banana berry combination you like, let me know, I'd love to try it!
1 3/4 Cup water
1 Cup quick oats
1 Tbsp vanilla extract
1 mashed banana
1/2 Cup frozen strawberries
1/4 Cup sugar
In a medium sized saucepan, boil water. Add quick oats and return to a rolling boil. Add sugar and vanilla, mixing until all sugar is dissolved. Stir in banana and strawberries. Continue mixing until oatmeal is fully cooked.
Now, as I've listed, I used the frozen strawberries because they were easier to get my hands on. While the kids loved the pink color the strawberries added to the oatmeal, there was a definite watered down tast. Next time I will most likely go for fresh berries. You can try whichever you'd like. If you find another banana berry combination you like, let me know, I'd love to try it!
Monday, September 27, 2010
PB & J Pancakes
This is a fairly simple recipe and I'm not sure why it took me until now to try this. I mean, who doesn't love PB&J? I don't know many kids that don't eat it either. This, to me atleast, seems like a much healthier version of pancakes.
Your favorite pancake mix
Water
2 tbsp peanut butter
1 tbsp honey
cooking spray
your favorite jelly or jam
In a medium bowl mix pancake batter and water as directed on the box. Add peanut butter and honey with a wisk. Mix until peanut butter is thoroughly mixed into the batter. Spray cooking spray onto a skillet or griddle. Cook pancakes until golden brown on both sides. Spread your favorite jam or jelly on your pancake. Fold it in half and eat it up!
Let me tell you, this was a much cleaner breakfast than any I've had in a while. The kids loved it and there was less sugary mess.
Your favorite pancake mix
Water
2 tbsp peanut butter
1 tbsp honey
cooking spray
your favorite jelly or jam
In a medium bowl mix pancake batter and water as directed on the box. Add peanut butter and honey with a wisk. Mix until peanut butter is thoroughly mixed into the batter. Spray cooking spray onto a skillet or griddle. Cook pancakes until golden brown on both sides. Spread your favorite jam or jelly on your pancake. Fold it in half and eat it up!
Let me tell you, this was a much cleaner breakfast than any I've had in a while. The kids loved it and there was less sugary mess.
Friday, September 10, 2010
Apple Pie Oatmeal
In keeping with my last post, I wanted to have dessert for breakfast again this morning. I'm not a fan of dessert but if I'm going to have it, I want pie. Apple pie is one of my very favorites. Here I've added applesauce and pie spices to make oatmeal a dessert for breakfast. The kids were a little unsure because, it was oatmeal, but they all seemed to like it once they tasted it. Carrasa on the other hand loved it. Thank goodness someone likes my cooking!
1 3/4 cup water
1 cup quick oats
1 tbsp vanilla extract
1 1/2 cup applesauce
1/4 tsp ginger
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 cup sugar
1 tbsp butter
In a medium saucepan boil water. Add oats and reduce heat. Stir in vanilla, applesauce, ginger, nutmeg and cinnamon. Return to a simmer. Add sugar and stir well until melted. Melt butter into oatmeal right before serving. Makes 4 cups.
1 3/4 cup water
1 cup quick oats
1 tbsp vanilla extract
1 1/2 cup applesauce
1/4 tsp ginger
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 cup sugar
1 tbsp butter
In a medium saucepan boil water. Add oats and reduce heat. Stir in vanilla, applesauce, ginger, nutmeg and cinnamon. Return to a simmer. Add sugar and stir well until melted. Melt butter into oatmeal right before serving. Makes 4 cups.
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Banana Split Pancakes
Well, Ms. Emmy asked me for some pancake recipes. I've always been one to doctor my pancake batter, as I'm not much for the syrup. I don't like really sweet stuff in the morning so, I alter the batter to avoid needing a lot of syrup. Emily's challenge got me thinking of other ways to make pancakes. I had a few bananas sitting out that either needed to be used for baking or thrown out. They'd gotten far too soft to just eat. The thought hit me that banana split pancakes might be really good. Some mashed banana, chocolate chips and strawberry gel for a topping. Who doesn't want dessert for breakfast sometimes?
1 ripe banana, mashed
1/4 cup chocolate chips
1 tsp almond extract
2 cups pancake mix
1 cup water
In a medium bowl mix together the pancake mix, almond extract and water. Add mashed banana, mix completely. Add chocolate chips. You can add more water if you need a thinner consistency. Scoop out pancake batter with ice cream scoop onto hot griddle.
Strawberry Topping
1 cup frozen strawberries
1/4 cup water
3 tbsp sugar
1 tsp corn starch
In a medium saucepan boil water and strawberries until berries are completely thawed. Add sugar and continue to boil until sugar dissolves. Add cornstarch. Reduce heat, simmer until sauce begins to thicken. Remove from heat and dish over pancakes.
Now obviously, you could make it simple by using pre-made strawberry topping or strawberry preserves. Either way, it tops off the pancake nicely. Another option, if you'd prefer not to use chocolate chips would be the addition of a tablespoon or so of bakers cocoa. Whatever other toppings you might prefer would be up to you. Just like a banana split there are lots of flavors you can mix. If you try something that you like, let me know. I'd love to try it too!
1 ripe banana, mashed
1/4 cup chocolate chips
1 tsp almond extract
2 cups pancake mix
1 cup water
In a medium bowl mix together the pancake mix, almond extract and water. Add mashed banana, mix completely. Add chocolate chips. You can add more water if you need a thinner consistency. Scoop out pancake batter with ice cream scoop onto hot griddle.
Strawberry Topping
1 cup frozen strawberries
1/4 cup water
3 tbsp sugar
1 tsp corn starch
In a medium saucepan boil water and strawberries until berries are completely thawed. Add sugar and continue to boil until sugar dissolves. Add cornstarch. Reduce heat, simmer until sauce begins to thicken. Remove from heat and dish over pancakes.
Now obviously, you could make it simple by using pre-made strawberry topping or strawberry preserves. Either way, it tops off the pancake nicely. Another option, if you'd prefer not to use chocolate chips would be the addition of a tablespoon or so of bakers cocoa. Whatever other toppings you might prefer would be up to you. Just like a banana split there are lots of flavors you can mix. If you try something that you like, let me know. I'd love to try it too!
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Taco Pasta
As I've mentioned once or twice before, my boys will eat just about anything on a tortilla. Tacos are a constant favorite that we generally have once a week. My kids at the daycare however, are not tortilla fans. They unroll the taco or burrito and dump everything out of it, wherever it may land. They are though, pasta eaters. I can mix just about anything with noodles and they'll eat to their hearts content, not realizing it may be something they wouldn't otherwise eat. So, being as we had tacos for dinner and I'm a fan of using leftovers, I needed a way to use the taco meat that my girls would want to eat. Below is the recipe for taco pasta. You can of course add any of your favorite toppings. I kept it simple because my kids, at home and at daycare, prefer it simple.
1 lb ground beef
1 packet taco seasoning
1/4 cup water
1/4 cup taco sauce or salsa
1 small tomato, diced
2 cups penne (or whatever you favorite pasta is)
Shredded Cheddar Cheese
Brown ground beef in a medium skillet. Drain. Return meat to pan and add water and taco seasoning. Continue to cook, stirring to mix seasoning thoroughly. In a medium sauce pan boil water for pasta. Cook pasta to your preferred softness. Drain. Dish pasta into bowls. Mix Taco sauce/salsa and diced tomato into seasoned meat. Scoop spoonfuls of meat mixture on top of pasta. Top with shredded cheese and any other topping you'd like. Enjoy!
I've found this to be an easier and less messy way to enjoy tacos. I hope you all try this and let me know what you think.
1 lb ground beef
1 packet taco seasoning
1/4 cup water
1/4 cup taco sauce or salsa
1 small tomato, diced
2 cups penne (or whatever you favorite pasta is)
Shredded Cheddar Cheese
Brown ground beef in a medium skillet. Drain. Return meat to pan and add water and taco seasoning. Continue to cook, stirring to mix seasoning thoroughly. In a medium sauce pan boil water for pasta. Cook pasta to your preferred softness. Drain. Dish pasta into bowls. Mix Taco sauce/salsa and diced tomato into seasoned meat. Scoop spoonfuls of meat mixture on top of pasta. Top with shredded cheese and any other topping you'd like. Enjoy!
I've found this to be an easier and less messy way to enjoy tacos. I hope you all try this and let me know what you think.
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Meatloaf Burgers
As I mentioned in my first post, our oven does not work. Richie loves meatloaf but unfortunately, due to our lack of an oven, we can't make meatloaf. I've tried recipes that use a slow cooker to make the meatloaf but it usually comes out so greasy that it makes us all sick to our stomachs. I'd been trying for a while to come up with a way we could still have meatloaf without the oven. Last night I believe we found a way that everyone can agree on. I made meatloaf burgers and Hunter, who doesn't like anything, ate it up. Below is the recipe I used but feel free to mix your burger meat in whatever fashion constitutes a meatloaf for you.
1 small bell pepper
1 small onion
2 lbs ground beef
1 egg
1 1/2 cups Ketchup
1/2 cup bread crumbs
2 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
1 tsp crushed red pepper
1 1/2 tsp seasoned salt
In a large bowl combine ground beef, ketchup and egg. Mix well until meat is fully coated. Dice onion and bell pepper. Add onion, bell pepper, bread crumbs and seasonings to the meat mixture. Mix together completely. Separate mixture into hand fulls. Pat each hand full into a patty and grill or fry as you would a hamburger. Serve on bread, buns or alone.
I also made mashed potatoes and gravy which the kids loved. Bobby ate his meatloaf burger on a bun with gravy on top while I ate mine alone with just ketchup. All in all, it was a success and a great way to make meatloaf without all the time and fuss!
1 small bell pepper
1 small onion
2 lbs ground beef
1 egg
1 1/2 cups Ketchup
1/2 cup bread crumbs
2 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
1 tsp crushed red pepper
1 1/2 tsp seasoned salt
In a large bowl combine ground beef, ketchup and egg. Mix well until meat is fully coated. Dice onion and bell pepper. Add onion, bell pepper, bread crumbs and seasonings to the meat mixture. Mix together completely. Separate mixture into hand fulls. Pat each hand full into a patty and grill or fry as you would a hamburger. Serve on bread, buns or alone.
I also made mashed potatoes and gravy which the kids loved. Bobby ate his meatloaf burger on a bun with gravy on top while I ate mine alone with just ketchup. All in all, it was a success and a great way to make meatloaf without all the time and fuss!
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Peanut Butter & Banana Quesadillas
Today we were scheduled to have peanut butter/banana sandwiches. However, I didn't realize until I was already here at work that there wasn't enough bread here for everyone. Looking around I found tortillas and considered just making wraps but that always results in a mess. The kids unroll the tortillas and dump the contents anywhere and everywhere they can. So, I thought about quesadillas, I mean, what harm can it be to try it? I've heard of fried peanut butter and banana; why not in quesadilla form? I served these with yogurt, a mixed berry sauce and some honey. The kids dipped their quesadillas into each and ate everything!
Quesadilla
4 flour tortillas
Peanut Butter
2 medium sized bananas
cooking spray
Slice bananas into round pieces. Spread peanut butter on two of the tortillas. Place banana slices onto the peanut butter and lay a plain tortilla over each. Spray cooking spray in a skillet and lay the quesadilla into the hot pan, banana side down. Allow tortilla to brown and crisp slightly, then flip to allow the other side to brown also. cut into four slices and serve with any "sauce" you'd like.
Berry Sauce
1 cup frozen berries
2 tbsp sugar
1 1/2 tsp cornstarch
1/4 cup water
Put water and berries into a small sauce pan. Allow to boil. Add sugar and simmer until dissolved. Add cornstarch and mix completely. Allow sauce to cool and thicken some before serving.
As I said before, I also squirted honey on the plate and put a few dollops of strawberry yogurt on too. The kids ate every bite and acted like they were having a dessert instead of lunch!
Quesadilla
4 flour tortillas
Peanut Butter
2 medium sized bananas
cooking spray
Slice bananas into round pieces. Spread peanut butter on two of the tortillas. Place banana slices onto the peanut butter and lay a plain tortilla over each. Spray cooking spray in a skillet and lay the quesadilla into the hot pan, banana side down. Allow tortilla to brown and crisp slightly, then flip to allow the other side to brown also. cut into four slices and serve with any "sauce" you'd like.
Berry Sauce
1 cup frozen berries
2 tbsp sugar
1 1/2 tsp cornstarch
1/4 cup water
Put water and berries into a small sauce pan. Allow to boil. Add sugar and simmer until dissolved. Add cornstarch and mix completely. Allow sauce to cool and thicken some before serving.
As I said before, I also squirted honey on the plate and put a few dollops of strawberry yogurt on too. The kids ate every bite and acted like they were having a dessert instead of lunch!
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Suggestions?
I'm in need of suggestions as to what meals I should try to remake. Though I'm considering doing something with meatloaf, budget and time are a major factor. So, hit me with your best shot. What should I work on? What would you like me to try?
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Spaghetti Joes
Now I'm a firm believer in reusing leftovers. Since I run a small daycare, I often bring the leftovers in for my kids at the center. Last night we had spaghetti so I brought the leftover sauce in for lunch. What I forgot to bring however, was the box of spaghetti noodles sitting in my cabinet. So, when I got here and realized I didn't have time to go back out, I started thinking of other ways to serve the kids.
In our house, spaghetti is almost always served with some form of garlic bread. One of mine and Richie's favorite things to do is eat the bread with the sauce over it a la biscuits and gravy. From those thoughts the concept for Spaghetti Joes was formed. Now, I usually use canned spaghetti sauce but if you want to make it from scratch, go for it!
1 can of your favorite spaghetti sauce
1 lb ground beef or italian sausage
4 hamburger buns
3 tbsp butter or margarine
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup italian cheeses of your choice
Preheat over to 350. In a skillet brown the ground beef or sausage. Drain. In a medium sauce pan combine browned meat and can of sauce. Heat sauce on low until hot. In skillet melt the butter then add the garlic. Sautee garlic until it browns slightly. Lay hamburger buns open in a single layer on a cookie sheet. Brush a tsp. of the garlic butter over each bun half. Bake until they begin to brown. Remove cookie sheet from oven and sprinkle cheeses over each half a bun. Return cookie sheet to the over until cheese melts. Scoop 2tbsp of sauce and meat mixture onto each bun. Enjoy!
In our house, spaghetti is almost always served with some form of garlic bread. One of mine and Richie's favorite things to do is eat the bread with the sauce over it a la biscuits and gravy. From those thoughts the concept for Spaghetti Joes was formed. Now, I usually use canned spaghetti sauce but if you want to make it from scratch, go for it!
1 can of your favorite spaghetti sauce
1 lb ground beef or italian sausage
4 hamburger buns
3 tbsp butter or margarine
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup italian cheeses of your choice
Preheat over to 350. In a skillet brown the ground beef or sausage. Drain. In a medium sauce pan combine browned meat and can of sauce. Heat sauce on low until hot. In skillet melt the butter then add the garlic. Sautee garlic until it browns slightly. Lay hamburger buns open in a single layer on a cookie sheet. Brush a tsp. of the garlic butter over each bun half. Bake until they begin to brown. Remove cookie sheet from oven and sprinkle cheeses over each half a bun. Return cookie sheet to the over until cheese melts. Scoop 2tbsp of sauce and meat mixture onto each bun. Enjoy!
Monday, August 23, 2010
Not So French Toast
Let me start by saying, I'm not a sweets person. First thing in the morning I could be starving to death and if all there was to eat was something covered in sugar, I'd most likely starve. However, the boys in my house, including the big one, love french toast and pancakes. A box of donuts is not safe in our home, neither are cookies. My kids and Donnie think if it even remotely resembles a muffin, it's breakfast food so cupcakes are even acceptable.
As I am trying to get our family to eat better, I try not to even purchase things I know the boys will devour without thought. Which leads we to my first "do over" experiment: not so french toast.
Tacos are a family favorite in our house so I thought I'd play on that. You see, our oldest will eat almost anything wrapped in a tortilla covered in taco sauce. This had me considering a way to make something similar to french toast but more on the savory side. So, instead of mixing cinnamon and nutmeg into my egg batter, I mixed in chili powder and garlic. The results were a hit! Hunter took a look at my plate and at first insisted on having regular french toast but, one bite of mine had him asking for what I was making. For the first time in I can't remember how long, both of my little boys cleaned their plates.
The recipe for not so french toast is as follows:
3 eggs
1/4 cup milk
1/2 tsp. chili powder
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 tsp. salt
dash of paprika
5 slices of bread
taco cheese
taco sauce
1 whole bell pepper
1 small onion
butter
Dice bell pepper and onion. Set aside. Mix together eggs, milk and spices in a cereal bowl. Melt butter in a skillet. Dredge bread through the egg mixture and cook until golden brown on both sides. Lay cooked bread slices on flat surface and sprinkle with cheese. Sautee bell pepper and onions in skillet, adding butter as needed. Divide bell pepper and onions evenly over toast. Top with taco sauce as desired. Enjoy!
I hope some will try this, I know we'll eat it again!
As I am trying to get our family to eat better, I try not to even purchase things I know the boys will devour without thought. Which leads we to my first "do over" experiment: not so french toast.
Tacos are a family favorite in our house so I thought I'd play on that. You see, our oldest will eat almost anything wrapped in a tortilla covered in taco sauce. This had me considering a way to make something similar to french toast but more on the savory side. So, instead of mixing cinnamon and nutmeg into my egg batter, I mixed in chili powder and garlic. The results were a hit! Hunter took a look at my plate and at first insisted on having regular french toast but, one bite of mine had him asking for what I was making. For the first time in I can't remember how long, both of my little boys cleaned their plates.
The recipe for not so french toast is as follows:
3 eggs
1/4 cup milk
1/2 tsp. chili powder
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 tsp. salt
dash of paprika
5 slices of bread
taco cheese
taco sauce
1 whole bell pepper
1 small onion
butter
Dice bell pepper and onion. Set aside. Mix together eggs, milk and spices in a cereal bowl. Melt butter in a skillet. Dredge bread through the egg mixture and cook until golden brown on both sides. Lay cooked bread slices on flat surface and sprinkle with cheese. Sautee bell pepper and onions in skillet, adding butter as needed. Divide bell pepper and onions evenly over toast. Top with taco sauce as desired. Enjoy!
I hope some will try this, I know we'll eat it again!
Friday, August 20, 2010
Top Chef Action
So, as most people know, I'm a huge reality tv fan. One of my very favorite shows (to Donnie's dismay) is Top Chef. Don't get me wrong, I love Hell's Kitchen; Gordon Ramsey is amazing! Still, I like the Top Chef approach so much, I can't get past it. To my misfortune, the cable at our house doesn't allow me to watch when the episode actually airs so I have to watch online or wait for it to rerun through the following week.
This week's episode was one they do every season. The Cheftestants as they are called are each given a classic dish to recreate. I love these episodes because I always get some really awesome ideas. You see, I can't exactly relate to an issue where they are cooking with squid or eel, we don't eat that in our house. Shoot, I'm not a seafood person at all so that's not something I'd be particularly good with. However, I've made my fair share of meatloaf so coming up with a new approach to it seems like a great idea.
Each week when I watch the episodes, I love to think about the things I'd make if it were me in that Top Chef kitchen. Some times, my poor family gets to sample my inventions. Other times, the kids at the daycare become my test subjects. Sadly, neither are really a group I could measure public opinion by. Donnie and the boys are picky but the daycare kids are pickier.
Be that as it may, I'm starting an experiment of types. Each week, atleast once during the week, I'm going to take an old meal and make it new. There are many things to help push me on my way through this. Our oven is broken, which means regular meatloaf is out of the question. We run til late every evening with football, which means meals that can be made in a crockpot or in 30 minutes on the stove are what we serve through the week.
Each time I try something new, I'll let everyone know how it goes. I'll try to include a recipe for anyone who might want to try my "do over" as I'm calling it. I'll also welcome suggestions for meals that might need a new look. If you try a recipe, please let me know how it turns out!
This week's episode was one they do every season. The Cheftestants as they are called are each given a classic dish to recreate. I love these episodes because I always get some really awesome ideas. You see, I can't exactly relate to an issue where they are cooking with squid or eel, we don't eat that in our house. Shoot, I'm not a seafood person at all so that's not something I'd be particularly good with. However, I've made my fair share of meatloaf so coming up with a new approach to it seems like a great idea.
Each week when I watch the episodes, I love to think about the things I'd make if it were me in that Top Chef kitchen. Some times, my poor family gets to sample my inventions. Other times, the kids at the daycare become my test subjects. Sadly, neither are really a group I could measure public opinion by. Donnie and the boys are picky but the daycare kids are pickier.
Be that as it may, I'm starting an experiment of types. Each week, atleast once during the week, I'm going to take an old meal and make it new. There are many things to help push me on my way through this. Our oven is broken, which means regular meatloaf is out of the question. We run til late every evening with football, which means meals that can be made in a crockpot or in 30 minutes on the stove are what we serve through the week.
Each time I try something new, I'll let everyone know how it goes. I'll try to include a recipe for anyone who might want to try my "do over" as I'm calling it. I'll also welcome suggestions for meals that might need a new look. If you try a recipe, please let me know how it turns out!
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