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Cooking, Parenting

Pancake Art Ideas: Kid Food

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pancake drawing

Ideas how to make Pancake art.. talk about a fun activity to do with older kids on a day off school or a weekend morning. Pancake drawing is very easy you need a flat top griddle, Large squeeze bottles, food coloring, and Pancake mix.

I got my 24oz squeeze bottle at a restaurant supply store for $6.00 for all 6 bottles. I  choose the large bottles so they were easy to clean (the ones I bought were dishwasher safe).

This is the art we created,  my husband did the owl.  I did the flower, palm tree, and Turtle.  My son did the large flower.pancake art

KID TIP: I recommend this project for a kid over 8 and supervised since you are dealing with a HOT surface

Ingredients:

  • Pancake mix – add water kind
  • water
  • food coloring
  • powdered cocoa (for brown)
  • Non Stick spray

Tools:

  1. Make pancake mix in a separate bowl  I used add water pancake mix so I could adjust the thickness too thin it runs too thick it wont come out of the bottle (think thick homemade ranch dressing)
  2. Pour pancake mix in to squeeze bottlessqueeze bottles filled with colored Pankcake batter
  3. Add food color or powdered cocoa for brown , replace top, cover with finger and shake (It will spit out a little from pressure of shaking)
  4. Turn on electric griddle on low temperature setting while creating art,  so to not over cook/burn before done
  5. Spray Griddle with non stick spray
  6. Start drawing  NOTE if the squeeze bottle clogs smack bottom on table, use toothpick, or add more water if needed.
  7. You have to build the pancake art picture in reverse, (see I wrote love backwards and put it down 1st)pancake word on a griddle
  8. Then draw the next layerpancake
  9. Then fill in with a background color  to hold the drawing together.
  10. Turn the electric griddle to a high temp to cook the pancake.
  11. Wait for the pancake to bubble and dry out before flipping (check stability of pancake art before flipping you can add more mix behind the art to insure stability)pancake with love written on it

This is my daughter house:girl making pancake art

Great way to teach a kid to think differently about layers.  Eatable art for a fun morning.

For More Great Kid Food Ideas check out my Kid Food Pintrest Board

How often do you make pancakes from your crew?

Disclosure: This Post does contain affiliate links to help support the cost associated with run this blog

Cooking

Onion Soup Bites and Menu Planning

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onion soup bitesOnion soup bites or onions soup pockets pillows, the first time I had them was at the Continental  restaurant in Philly. Onion Soup bites one best appetizers that has all the lovely flavors of a bowl of onion soup.   I seriously have dream about there yummy bites.  Think onion soup with all its salty savoir covered in bubble slightly brown cheese on top.   Now imagine it in one bite…drooling yet. The Continental serves these yummy onion soup bites in an escargot pan,  with bubbly cheese on the pan.

I had a hard time finding a escargot pan,  so I used a cake pop pan. Wow who knew I would find another use for my cake pop pan.cakepop pan

Onion Soup Bites

Makes 36 bites

  • 3 onions
  • 2 teaspoons of butter
  • 1 teaspoons of minced garlic
  • 2 tablespoon spoons of soy sauce
  • 2 tablespoons of Worcestershire sauce
  • Salt, pepper, parsley, rosemary
  • ½ red wine
  • 1 cup of beef broth
  • 1 package Spring roll wonton wrappers
  • 8oz Gruyere cheese
  1. Dice 3 onions diced onions
  2. Add Onions, Sprinkle with Salt, pepper, parsley, rosemary,   1 teaspoon of minced garlic, with 2 teaspoons of butter in sauce pan
  3. Sauté onions  sauce pan till translucent
  4. Sprinkle with Salt, pepper, parsley, rosemary
  5. Add garlic, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, and red wine to onions
  6. Cover onions cook low for 30 minutescooked onions
  7. Remove onions from heat and allow to cool slightly
  8. Take a wonton wrappers  and divide a sheet into 4 squares
  9. Put wrapper in cakepop panwonton waper in cake pop pan
  10. Fill wrapper with 1 tablespoon of onionsonion in wrapper
  11. Fold over wrapperonion soup bites
  12. Cover with Gruyere cheese and place under boileronion soup bites
  13. Watch closely till Gruyere cheese is brown and bubblyonion soup bites

Here is a Printable version of Onion Soup Bites

So what am I making this week for dinner?

Meal Planning:

Monday:  Chicken legs cooked over rice

Tuesday: Pork fried Rice with vegetable egg rolls (I have a lot of wrappers left)

Wednesday: Fish with asparagus and couscous

Thursday Spaghetti and meat sauce

Friday: Tacos, refried beans, fresh guacamole

My husband and I have been having a smoothie every morning.  This week we had beets,kale, kiwi, pineapple, and mango

I am linking up to Organizing Junkie Menu Planning Monday

What are you cooking for dinner?

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.

Cooking, Product Reviews

Homemade with love Book Review & Meal Planning

bowl of soup next to cook bookI received  Jennifer Perillos book  Homemade with Love free for this review,  the opinions stated are my own. I just finish reading Homemade with Love.. What can I say I love this cookbook. It is like having a best friend in the kitchen. So easy to use and written with love. It  is watering read.

So far I have tried her soup “kale with white bean and ravioli” verdict Yummy. I love the conversation that Jennifer  has with the reader.  This week I am try the apricot butter and make my own ricotta.  The book is inspiring,  it point out the benefits for health and pocketbook on making it yourself.

When I received the book I read it cover to cover while waiting for a 2 hour swim team practice.    The quality of the book is top notch.  I can’t wait to try more recipes.   She labels the recipes if they are vegetarian, vegan, gluten free,  she also has recipes for those of us who are meat eaters.

Healthy and all homemade.. great book for a beginner cook or more advanced on how to make your kitchen more natural and food more homemade.

Meal Planing this week:  we have a busy week baseball and  swim team .

Monday : Grill Cheese and tomato soup

Tuesday: Roasted chicken

Wednesday: Pork Tenderloin fresh veggies

Thursday: Spaghetti with meat sauce

Friday: Taco Night

This week I am linking up to Organizing Junkie Menu Plan Monday

 

Cooking

Easy Perfect Fish Recipe and Meal Plan Monday

10 Comments

fish

Easy Fish Recipe One of my family’s favorite meals lately, this is my easy Fish recipe  in one pot. The white fish  is steamed cooked on top of a Pearl Couscous, mushrooms, onions and veggies.  They fish is tender, healthy, and tastes amazing.  I use my Ninja MC701 Multi Cooker 3 in 1 Cooking System
I used Basa fish which is a Asia version of cod.   My brother works for food distributor and is teaching me how the classification of fish is not as you would think. White Fish= a fisheries term referring to the flesh of many types of fish Any white colored fish can be called White Fish,  so ask what is the white fish. (from cod, white fish, monk fish, basa, catfish,  pollack, sea bass, and more)

The other trick making it amazing is the Israel Pearl Couscous it is bigger then normal sandish couscous, (my husband hates the sandlike couscous).  The pearls absorb the flavor and is like a toasted pasta.  I used this one, I found it at Target in the ethnic food isle.pearl couscous

I found the Basa at the local Asian Markets Fish counter. It was reasonable priced at $4.99 lb,  the fish was thick and mild.   I highly recommend going to an Asia market for fish.  I have found it to be fresh, better priced then typical grocery stores. I try to go to an Asia Market every 2 weeks.  My kids like to go, see the fish, and it exposes them to new food.

Easy Recipe for Perfect Fish

  • 1 1/2 lb of white fish
  • 1 teaspoon of butter or oil
  • 1 teaspoon of garlic
  • 10 mushrooms sliced
  • 1 small onion diced
  • Israel Pearl  style couscous (I found mine at Target in the ethnic food isle)
  • 1 can 14oz of chicken broth
  • 1 bunch of broccoli or asparagus
  • salt & pepper for fishuncooked fish
  1. Tools a Ninja cooking system or a pot with steamer basket (I prefer my ninja for simple clean up and cooking method) It is a layered method.
  2. Saute with butter, onions, garlic, and mushrooms in bottom till onions are translucent
  3. Add couscous with 1 can of brothcouscous
  4. Then layer the vegetable (broccoli or asparagus)
  5. Season fish and place in mesh steamer basket and place on top of veg/couscousfish layered over the couscous
  6. Cover and cook for 15-20 mins till the fish is done-white

how to cook the prefect fish Have fun cooking your fish.  Easy Print recipe Easy Recipe for Perfect Fish

So what is my Meal Plan for this week.

  • Monday: Spring rolls, bean thread noodles, and my Asia meatballs
  • Tues: Kale Bean Ravioli Soup from Jennifer Perillos book  Homemade with Love  and homemade bread from Make and Take
  • Wed: Curry Chicken over Rice (another trip the Asia market .. the lady talked me into a box.. we loved it)
  • Thursday: My Easy Fish Recipe  over couscous  with Asparagus
  • Friday :Taco night with refried beans and left over Rice

New things I am trying to do this week. Cooking with raw beets (roasting them)  My husband did it Sunday night,  yummy.  He is using them in our smoothies, and we ate them straight. (Beet Red smoothies)beet

I am reviewing Jennifer Perillo Homemade with Love cookbook which I already read cover to cover the 1st day I got it at swim team 2hr Practice.   Watch out for the full review next week,  But it is excellent like have a friend in the kitchen.  I might try to make my own Ricotta cheese, per Jennifer’s book.  (next week I might make yogurt)

This week I am linking up to Organizing Junkie Menu Plan Monday


Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links to help offset the cost associated with running this blog

Cooking

Brendas Chocolate Caramel Pie

18 Comments

chocolate PieEasy Chocolate Caramel Pie: Today is Pi day.. ok not for the food but for 3.14 Pi.    In honor of Pi day My son had to bring a pie to math class. So I asked my aunt for advice since my husbands family women are the “Queens” of all things sweet.   She provided me with her cousins Caramel-Chocolate Pie.  It  super easy to make and no baking need.  My kids helped make it the hardest thing was them not eating the caramels.  I have to say it is like eating a Carmello, or Rollo in Pie form.  A layer of fudge with caramel, how could that ever be bad.  You can top with nuts but we have a nut allergy Sea salt would also be a great contrast.

Brenda’s Chocolate Caramel Pie

Ingredients:

  • 28 caramels (un  wrapped)
  • 1 stick of butter
  • 6 oz semi sweet chocolate chips
  • 1 cup of heavy cream
  • Gram cracker Pie crust
  • Sea  salt (optional topping)
  • Nuts (Optional topping)
  1. Melt caramels, 2 tbls spoons of butter and ¼ cup of the heavy cream in pancaramels, cream,butter
  2. Pour caramel  into pie crust, sprinkle a few of the chocolate chips on  caramelcaramel
  3. Melt chocolate, 6 tablespoons of butter, ¾ of heavy cream in pan,  on low heat stiring slowly,  do not boil,  the chocolate and cream will separate.. slow  and stir the entire timechocolate and cream
  4. Pour chocolate on caramelpouring chocolate
  5. Refrigerate for several hours
  6. Top with toasted  nuts, or sprinkle some sea salt.. or just eatchocolate caramel pie

Sorry for the picture I want to make sure you were drooling.

For an easy print  version Brenda’s Brenda Chocolate Caramel Pie

Are you making a Pi for Pie day?  Happy Pi Day!

 

Here are some other other post you should check out:

Need a salad in Minutes Try Strawberry Spinach Salad with Lemon Dressing

Mix Berry Spring Rolls Easy and Impressive

The way to your lovers heart easy BBQ Ribs

Sparkle every day ! Learn How to apply Glitter Tattoos

Tired of sheets that fall off your bed at Night?  My Quick Fix for Fitted Sheets

Cooking, Fitness Fridays, Product Reviews

NutriBullet Review and Ice Pop Recipe

10 Comments

strawberry ice popsI was so excited when I received the NutriBullet to review.The idea of a smoothies as a meal has always been a good idea but a lot of work with a traditional blender.  I have been using the Nutri Bullet NBR-12 12-Piece Hi-Speed Blender/Mixer System
for a few weeks.  I really love how smoothly the Nutribullet blends the ingredients, with less clean up. The Nutribullet has so many uses in my kitchen, from a apple,kale, and avocado smoothies or blending oats fine to be part of a meat loaf. I keep finding new ways every day to use it.  The Nutribullet keeps all the nutritional value of the food so I can add or blend it in my families food. nutribullet

NutriBullet comes with 2 different blades one that keep the food in pieces and one that purees.  I find that I am finding uses for both on a daily basis. They nutribullet system comes with 3 different cups,  so I can make many different shakes for my family in the morning to everyone in the house. Also since all the parts are easy clean and dishwasher safe it is a breeze to use.  I am leaving the Nutribullet out on the counter since take up little space and get used so often.

Since I started using the Nutribullet I noticed that I have had an easier time maintaining my weight.   Actually I have been noticing a lower weight than normal.   So I am excited to see the long term results (I will keep you posted)

I have been replacing one meal a day with the Nutribullet smoothies and really feel better.  I have been following the smoothie recipe book that was included with the NutriBullet System.  I also like  creating my own treats for the family.  Like these all natural fruit pops.

nutribullet making a ice popNutriBullet Strawberry Banana Ice Pops

  • 2 bananas
  • 5 strawberries
  • 1 cup of milk
  1. Blend using double Nutribullet blade
  2. pour in to molds
  3. freeze for 4 hours , enjoy

kids eating an ice pop

Overall Opinion:  The NutriBullet is a great blender/smoothie maker.  The600rpm  power of this product is amazing it is fast and efficient.  The cost is over $100,  I think the unit is worth the price because of how finely and smooth it makes the food it process.  Which make tougher greens palatable and enjoyable therefore being healthy.  I am really impress with the Nutribullet. I did have a friends Dad tell me all about the NutriBullet prior to me reviewing it.  He said it changed his life,  making him healther so I had high expectation going into the review.  I have to say the Nutribullet did not disappoint. I would recommend the Nutribullet.

Disclosure: I received the Nutribullet  to review,  this review is of my own opinion,  This post does contain affiliate links.

Cooking, Product Reviews

Easy linguini and clam sauce w/ Progresso® Recipe Starters

3 Comments

linguini and clam sauceEasy linguini and clam sauce great for a quick meal.  General Mills sent me a Box Top pantry stock up and with the food that was provided was Progresso® Recipe Starters Roasted Garlic.    I normally make my Linguini and clam sauce from scratch.   I decided to try the Recipe Starter, because I want a quick meal with less oil.

Ingredients

  • Progresso® Recipe Starters Roasted Garlic
  • 2 Cans of clams minced – Drained
  • 1lb of Linguini or Pasta
  • 1/4 cup of Parmigiano-Reggiano
  • 1/4 teaspoon Oregano

Make pasta following instructions

  1. To make clam sauce Add the Progresso® Recipe Starters,  drained Clams, and cheese to a pot heat till warm
  2. Drain pasta once cooked .. do not rinse (it wash away the starch that holds the sauce)
  3. Pour the  Sauce over pasta.. sprinkle cheese

Eat and enjoy!

Less oil then a traditional linguini and clam sauce.  Great with a salad and bread.

I really thought it was yummy  and quick,  not all the oil and butter as a normal clam sauce.

Other ideas:  use the Progresso® Recipe Starters,  would be good as a base for a Mushroom soup or mushroom pasta.  Using a variety of mushrooms oyster, buttons and portables. Just a thought for a vegetarian option.Progresso Recipe Starters

Check out to see if there is a coupon for it on there site..  Progresso Coupons Save the Box Top on the can to give to a Local School for education.

If you want to Win a Box Top Pantry stock up?  Head on over to my my Box Top Pantry giveaway ends 3/8/13.

What are you making for dinner?

Disclosure:  I did receive this product from General mills,  all the opinions in this post are my own.
Cooking, Crafting

Chocolate Leprechaun Hats : St Patricks Day Cookies

7 Comments

St Patrick day cookiesSt Patricks Day Cookies:   Chocolate Leprechaun Hats  using a chocolate marshmallow and sugar cookie. Cute little treat for the family on St. Patricks day.  Easy to make. They are also a no bake cookie. Here is how.

Ingredients:

Makes about 16-20 St Patricks Day Cookiescookie making supplies

  1. Melt chocolate following directions on package or if you have a Wilton Chocolate Pro Electric Melting Pot
  2. Dip the end  Marshmallow in to chocolate a place in the center of the cookie this fused the marshmallow with the cookiechocolate marshmellow cookie
  3. Allow the chocolate marshmallow cookie  to cool in the fridge for  10 minute till sethat cookies
  4. Roll the hat on the side in the chocolate till covered. I use a spoon carefully Place on wax paper to cool or place in fridge..away from blower to avoid bubbleschoclate covering cookiecookie in chocolate
  5. When cook decorate with band and clover-  I used glitter icing for my black it did not dry so I would use the same Betty Crocker  icing for both the black and white.
  6. You can buy little bags to protect the Chocolate Leprechaun Hats

You could also do Easter bonnets and use pastel chocolates.

For more tips on working with chocolate check out the Make and Mold Chocolate website

chocolate covered cookies that look like Leprechaun Hats

st. patricks day cookie

Have fun making a St Patricks Day Cookies

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links to help the cost affiliated with this blog.

Cooking

Beginners Baked Chicken legs and Menu Planning

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baked chicken meal

When My husband I 1st met.  His parents came to visit NJ,  they were from PA.  My mother decided to host a dinner for my husbands parents   (they were not inlaws yet).  My parents just moved in there new house days earlier and decided to host this last minute dinner.  My Mom made her baked chicken,  which was a standard in my family’s house growing up.  My Mother in law asked repeatedly for the recipe.  Directions are rub with oil put seasoning and toss in the oven till the skin is crispy about 40 minutes. So here is a picture of how to make baked chicken.   For me it is a beginners cook winning recipe.how to make baked chicken

So my meal Plan for this week.

Monday: Rice with beef, mushrooms, and gravy

Tuesday: Split pea soup starting with Mirepoix

Wednesday: Baked chicken, potatoes

Thurs: Linguini and clam sauce

Friday: Tacos

Saturday: Meatball Hoagies

I am linking this post up to I am a Organizing Junkie  Menu Planning Monday Link Up

Have a great week.

Cooking

Skinny Fake Fry Mushrooms and Meal Plan Monday

mushroomsMeal Plan Monday and Skinny Fake Fry Mushrooms. I love mushrooms and anything fried.  By my waist could stand to not eat the grease.  so I can up with a skinny fried (baked) mushrooms.  The not as golden or pretty as fried.. But my husband said I did good and I can defiantly make the skinny Mushrooms.baked mushrooms

Skinny Fake Fried Mushrooms

  • 1 pound of White Button Mushrooms
  • 1 egg
  • ½ cup all purpose flour
  • 2 tablespoons of pepper (you can use less,  but yummy)
  • 4 tablespoons of grated Parmesan
  • 1 tea spoon garlic salt
  • 1 teaspoon of onion powder
  • 1/8 cup Hot sauce
  1. Preheat oven to 425
  2. Mix flour will all dry ingredients
  3. Crack and beat raw egg
  4. Clean mushroom with paper towel (don’t wash with water), trim bottom of stems leaving  attached
  5. Dip mushroom in egg wash (if you want hot sauce – dip in hot sauce then egg)
  6. Dredge in flour mixture
  7. Place on baking tray
  8. Cook for 15-20 minutes
  9. Check increasing heat to 450 watch careful to make golden brown
  10. Remove and eat ( you can dip ranch  or blue cheese)

Easy Print recipe for the Skinny Fake Fried Mushrooms
skinny mushrooms

Meal Plan Monday  This weeks meals:

Monday: Sausage and Onions over egg noddles

Tuesday : Pizza –  I will be at toy Fair .. the husband is on his own

Wednesday : Ash Wednesday Meager meal at church  ( I am baking 6-10  loaves of bread using this bread in a bag method) Guess what? I am doing all day Wednesday

Thursday: Valentines Pick Shrimp and Scallops over pasta, skinny mushrooms

Friday- tilapia fish with rice and veggies  (I will head to the market and see what is up)

What  are you planning?  I want to hear it it great getting ideas.

Have a Great Week.

I am linking this post up to I am a Organizing Junkie  Menu Planning Monday Link Up