Homemade Gift Idea

Coconut Lotion

Ok, so this gift isn't exactly edible, but it uses an edible ingredient, so I figured I blog about it! I did these this year and loved the way they turned out! It's homemade coconut lotion. Simple, affordable and pretty- they make the perfect small gift!

Simply whip 1 jar of Trader Joe's Organic Coconut Oil with 2 tbs of vitamin E oil for about 5 minutes.  I did this in a mixer. Put into small containers (try the Container Store) and Mod Podge a paper label to the top. I added glitter too.  This recipe made about 10 2oz containers. So easy and so cute!!!

Enjoy!

Holiday Food... on a Stick!

Getting kids (and adults) to eat veggies is often tricky, but put some on a stick... and suddenly it's fun!

These are super simple and can be done year round. But with these colors, I think they'd make an awesome Christmas dish:

All you need for these are grape tomatoes, slightly steamed asparagus (cut into 1 inch pieces), fresh mozzarella balls (cut in half, I used marinated), cooked cheese tortellini (optional). I bought some small bamboo skewers and put the ingredients on like this: tomato, asparagus, cheese, tortellini, cheese, asparagus and tomato. Simply drizzle with a vinaigrette before serving (olive oil, white balsamic vinegar, salt and pepper).  It's perfect for kids and adults at home or for parties!

Enjoy!

Today is Food Day!!!

I just love the sound of that! Who can't love a name like Food Day???

Straight from the foodday.org site here's a little more info:

Food Day is a nationwide celebration and a movement toward more healthy, affordable, and sustainable food. Food Day, created by Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), is powered by a diverse coalition of food movement leaders, organizations, and people from all walks of life. Food Day takes place annually on October 24 to address issues as varied as health and nutrition, hunger, agricultural policy, animal welfare, and farm worker justice. The ultimate goal of Food Day is to strengthen and unify the food movement in order to improve our nation’s food policies. Join this push for a stronger, more united food movement by signing up to organize or attend Food Day events in your community.

Check out their web site and if nothing else, take some time today to think about how you eat and learn where your food comes from!

Whole Wheat Apple Pancakes

Well it's nice to finally feel like eating and blogging again! Sorry it's been a bit since my last post. I'm 22 weeks pregnant now with #3 and he/she gave me a bit of a rough go around for the first trimester (and then some)! 

I tried this recipe today for lunch with the kids and it was awesome. These pancakes are sweet enough to skip the syrup, saving lots of extra sugar. And because they are 100% whole wheat, they make a pretty heathy meal.

Whole Wheat Apple Pancakes

3/4 cup milk

2 tbs white vinegar

1 cup whole wheat flour

2 tbs brown sugar

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp cinnamon

1 egg

1 tsp vanilla

2 tbs melted butter 

2 apples (washed)

cooking spray 

First, prepare the batter. Add the vinegar to the milk and let it sit for 5 min. Stir all of the dry ingredients together in a bowl. Add in milk mixture, egg, vanilla and butter. Stir until just blended.

Slice the apple and remove the cores with a melon baller (or knife). Heat pan on medium heat and coat with cooking spray. Dip the apples one at a time into the batter and place on the pan. Flip when golden on one side and cook through. Sprinkle with powdered sugar and serve! 

My kids loved these! Both polished off about 4 in no time!

Enjoy!

Best Beets Ever!

I'd say most folks either love or hate beets. There really aren't that many ways typical Americans eat them. Cold on the salad bar just doesn't do them justice. They are a powerhouse of nutrition... full of folate, vitamin c and fiber. Beets are also a unique source of phytonutrients called betalains which have been shown to provide antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and detoxification support. Here's a new twist on the cooked beet that I think can turn even the pickiest of eaters into a beet fan. This can be done with either the beets or the beet greens!


Boil the beets for about 20 minutes or until soft. drain and peel (usually the skins just slip off while rubbing under water). Leave the beets warm or refrigerate... this recipe works either way. Toss them with a little olive oil, salt, pepper, and a tsp of orange zest. Top with walnuts and blue cheese (can also be goat cheese- kids tend to prefer it's milder flavor). 


Enjoy!

More on (in) Little Cups!

We were in Starbuck's the other day (mama needs her coffee!) and my daughter really wanted to get one of the fruit and cheese packages there. At $6 each I quickly thought about how I could convince her I could do it even better at home. For kids, it's all about the packaging! It's gotta be fun, and divided. Most kids don't like things touching. So, what better way to do that than using those silicone muffin cups? You can fill them with a variety of fruits, nuts, veggies, crackers and cheese. Both of my kids loved them, and I saved about $11!

Enjoy!

Homemade Plantain Chips

I love plantains... probably would have never discovered them for cooking at home if it weren't for my Honduran Mother in Law. It seems almost every time she comes by she brings a mango and plantains. She typically fries the plantains, which is really tasty, but I decided to try baking them today to save a few calories. Plantains are actually really good for you! They are high in fiber, potassium, vitamin A, vitamin B6 and vitamin C!


I started with about 3 yellow plantains which I peeled and sliced (to peel you have to actually cut off the outside, they don't peel like a banana). The thinner you slice them, the crispier they will be. I like them a little thicker so they have a softness inside. I then tossed them with a few tbs of olive oil and a sprinkle of salt. Bake for 20 min or so in a 375 oven and presto... an instant healthy snack! I eat them plain or even dipped in salsa and sour cream. 


Enjoy!