Christmas Morning Fruit Cup

Hoping to add a bit more nutrition and substance to our traditional cinnamon roll breakfast, we came up with this. Once again, a combination of several recipes to fit what we like and what is on hand. (doesn't everyone cook this way???) This recipe was great as the kids could basically do it all and it was done ahead of time, all we had to do was take it out of the freezer so it could thaw a bit before eating.

Christmas Morning Fruit Cup

2 cans crushed pineapple- in it's own juice (not drained)
1 pkg sliced sweetened strawberries
3 bananas, diced
1 cup frozen raspberries
1 large can mandarin oranges, drained
1/4 cup maraschino cherries, quartered
1 can diced peaches in their own juice, or light syrup

mix all together, fill plastic cups. freeze. remove from freezer about 20 minutes before eating. we made 3/4 cup servings.

Panko Chicken Strips

As I generally don't cook from recipes, just get my ideas from them....I figured I'd better record this one as the chicken was devoured and Paperman commented several times on the yummy lunch and best chicken he's eaten. When we made these today dd3 was taking care of the chicken to the flour, I was in charge of moving the chicken from the flour to the egg and DD2 seasoned and dipped the chicken in the panko crumbs. Ds was just busy climbing from chair to chair and dipping his hands in the flour. It is a great way to get kids involved, plus I do agree, they tend to eat better if they help make it.
We used honey mustard, bbq sauce and ketchup for dipping.

Panko Crusted Chicken Strips

1 1/2 lbs chicken breast, cut in strips/tenders
2 eggs, beaten
1 t franks red hot sauce

flour


1/2 pkg panko bread crumbs (can be found in the Asian section)
2 t olive oil
salt, pepper, garlic powder and paprika
(mix bread crumbs, oil and seasonings)

prepare a baking sheet by covering with foil, spray with cooking spray, place a cooling rack on the foil and spray that also.

add the hot sauce to the eggs (it really doesn't make it spicy). dip chicken pieces in the egg, then flour then seasoned bread crumbs. place chicken on cooling rack/pan. repeat. spray chicken with cooking spray. bake 375 degrees until golden brown and cooked through. cooking time will vary based on size of chicken pieces.

Play dough

Today was day two of "too sick to go to school too well to nap or hang out on the couch" with dd2. I enjoyed her company and her sweet spirit even when she's not feeling quite up to par. Only once did I hear, "I'm bored" as I was trying to remember fun things to fill her days between a tv show, some webkin games, coloring, catching up on homework, reading books together and her reading to ds, puzzles..... Home made play dough! She got to pick colors, do the measuring and the beginning stirring. Once her arm was tired, it was time for my bicep workout. We used the recipe below and made 2 batches. One pink, one green. They made great ladybugs, flowers and pizza.

1 1/2 c flour
1/2 c salt
1 1/2 c water
4 t oil
1 T cream of tarter (I try to keep a couple of containers on hand, just for this project)

Mix dry ingredients. Stir in wet. Heat on medium, stirring constantly until it forms a big ball of dough. Turn out on the counter or cookie sheet, let cool slightly then knead until smooth. Turn contents over to patiently waiting artists and watch the flowers bloom.

Scarf along with me??

My new adventure. Learning to sew and create. I have some limited sewing experience under the watchful eye of my Mother, 4-H leaders, home ec teacher, Grandmother and Mother In Law. My creations that I remember were a quilted table runner, tshirt and Indian Halloween costume for dd1. I have been reading www.joyshope.com for several months and she inspires me, but never to the extent of doing anything about it (my fault, not hers!). I was happy to admire pictures of her masterpieces and creativity. Now, she is sharing with her readers. I can't wait to join in. I'll post pictures of the final project. The timing is wonderful as I have nearly completed the transition from the guest bedroom to the family closet/craft/sewing/storage room. Pictures to follow on that also. Wish me luck, perseverance and a steady hand with the seam ripper.

Apple Butterscotch Cake

Being dubbed "the best dessert you've ever made" by Paperman, I decided I must get my paper copy of this recipe recorded in another area too. This is the second time around, and for some reason, it made quite an impression this time. If Paperman enjoyed it this much, next time it just won't taste the same. The apples were from his Mom's tree and the applesauce was homemade from those apples too. Maybe I can duplicate it next fall if there is a good apple crop!


Apple Butterscotch Cake

1 cup all purpose flour
3/4 c whole wheat flour
3/4 c sugar
1/4 ground flaxseed
1 t baking powder
1 t pumpkin pie spice or cinnamon
1/2 t baking soda
1/2 t salt
3 large eggs, beaten (I used egg beaters)
1/2 c unsweetened applesauce
1/2 c canola oil
2 large apples, grated
1/3 c butterscotch chips (and a few extra to sprinkle on top-optional)

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Spray 9x13 pan with nonstick spray. Whisk together the two kinds of flour, sugar, flaxseed, baking powder, pumpkin pie spice, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl.

Whisk together eggs, applesauce, and oil in a separate bowl. Stir in apples.

Pour liquid ingredients over the dry. Stir until moistened. Stir in chips.

Pour into pan. Smooth top.

Bake 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool on a rack before cutting.

Yummy Muffins

After much trial and error to find a healthy muffin recipe I felt good about and Paperman and the kids enjoyed....I think we found it. Thought I'd share....posting original recipe with my changes.

Whole Wheat Blueberry Muffins

INGREDIENTS (Nutrition)
3/4 cup all-purpose flour (used all whole wheat)
3/4 cup whole wheat flour
3/4 cup white sugar
1/4 cup oat bran
1/4 cup quick cooking oats
1/4 cup wheat germ
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup blueberries
1/2 cup chopped walnuts (substituted 1/4 c flax seed)
1 banana, mashed (substituted 1/4 c vanilla yogurt)
1 cup buttermilk (1 c milk minus 1 T plus 1 T white vinegar)
1 egg
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Sugar in the Raw for sprinkling on the tops before baking (optional-though it does add to the yum factor!)



DIRECTIONS
1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 12 cup muffin pan, or line with paper muffin cups.
2. In a large bowl, stir together the all-purpose flour, whole wheat flour, sugar, oat bran, quick-cooking oats, wheat germ, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Gently stir in the blueberries and walnuts. In a separate bowl, mix together the mashed banana, buttermilk, egg, oil and vanilla. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry, and mix just until blended. Spoon into muffin cups, filling all the way to the top.
3. Bake for 15 to 18 minutes in the preheated oven, or until the tops of the muffins spring back when lightly touched.

What time is it? Part 2

Seriously? Really? Are you SURE? I am, like most every other parent, in awe of how quickly 2 months can fly by. Especially months filled with no alarm clocks, no strict bedtimes, ball games, swimming, bike riding, picnics, parades, county fairs, slip and slides, lemonade and dentist appointments. We did our reading programs, shrinky dinks and are on book 2 of the Little House books. The two oldest have learned some new cooking skills and dd3 has a bike with no training wheels. Ds is learning that sleep isn't a "given" and you can pee on the floor if you take your diaper off without anyone noticing. Now, two full weeks left...crunch time. Time to find a sleep schedule for 4 kids with an age gap of 8 years. Time to fulfill the promise of sleepovers to christen the new rooms all 3 girls got this summer. We haven't been fishing, ice skating, had a camp out or kept the garden weed free. Two weeks? Let's see what we can do!

What time is it?

SUMMERTIME! I couldn't resist answering DD1's question that way this afternoon. (I do apologize to any High School Musical knowing people who will have that song stuck in their head the rest of the day....) I always have big plans, ideas for activities, learning experiences, fun outings.... We purposely have not scheduled anything in the summer besides swim lessons and softball games, all finished by the fourth of July. Downtime and fun time, that's the goal for the summer. The routine book will be out every morning, just to keep things in shape and make sure we can make it out of the house before 11 am. An early summer tradition has been to have each child make a summer list. A list all their own filled with activities they want to do during the summer. The list is not a guarantee of anything, only a guide and a way to look back in Mid August and see, yes, we DID do things things this summer. So far there is swim, camp out with friends, bike rides, State Fair, ice skating, fishing, and birthday parties (we have a lot of Summer birthdays in our family). Looks good to me....a few things I have on my list include reading programs, regular family time in the garden to keep the weeds under control, shrinky dinks, reading to the girls from a book picked out together (maybe the little house books), teaching each older child 2-3 recipes they can master and make without (much) help and allowing some guest blogging if they are so inclined. The first 1/2 day is over, a summertime to go.

Inspiration...

If you ever thought you couldn't,
Read this post....
http://www.trendydollar.com/
They did. You can. :) Congratulations Heidi and Family. You rock.

a little funny

Q. What did the zero say to the eight?

A. Nice belt

(Thanks Aimee!!)

Out of the mouths of (my) babes....

"When I do this, there won't be a white carpet for me....I'm gonna have a RED one." (DD1 to me while attending a family wedding last week)

"Can I smell your bunny?" (DD2 to DD3 on Easter morning, referring to her white chocolate bunny)

"wuv oooo" (DS's new phrase, and my most favorite to date!)

"Why does SHE get all the bubbles?" (DD3 to me while I blew bubbles for her and Zoey)