Showing posts with label yummy. Show all posts

Saturday, September 8, 2012

Oatmeal in a Jar........

Feeding your kids a healthy breakfast is hard when you have a busy family. I am always looking for ways NOT to grab the cereal box. When I go to bed at night....I am thinking I will get up early, make pancakes and have a Brady Bunch morning. But instead it's more like, I get up late because someone shut down the alarm, then run through the house screaming..... WE ARE GOING TO BE LATE!!! GET UP!!!! And our day begins. Hectic and cold... with bowl of cereal :(
When the kiddos were little the loved instant oatmeal packets. Now that they are all pretty darn grown up. That lil' packet doesn't do the trick. Plus, those little packets are kind of expensive.

My solution....... Oatmeal in a jar.
I love oatmeal....and I love jars!!!
This works out really well. Very filling, pretty healthy and when it is a cold morning they warm up the hands pretty nice too. Perfect for those cool fall mornings that are around the corner.

When I am running really late. I can let them eat in the car on the way. They arrive with full tummies, warm hands and big smiles.

Here is how I do it.

I gathered up some jars, 8 ounce works well for this. I dug around until I found my jar filling funnel.

What do you put inside the jars you ask???

I am using Quaker Oats the quick stuff.
Nuts, raisins, cinnamon, coconut, brown sugar and salt.
If you want the fruit and cream kind....Dried fruit, powdered milk and white sugar. Should do the trick.

Put 1/2 cup oatmeal in a jar (1/3 for littles)
2 T. Coconut
A healthy sprinkling of cinnamon.......

Add few raisins, and a few chopped walnuts
Then a couple teaspoons of Brown sugar depending on how sweet you want it.
And a pinch of sea salt.( Don't skip the salt... It makes all the difference between a great oatmeal or flavorless mush)

Look at the pretty layers in the jar :)

Screw on some lids and your done.
Put them away on a shelf for a quick breakfast.
At home or on the go.

When you are ready to eat........

Poor in a 1/2 cup boiling water , give it a good stir. Then screw the lids on tight.
Wait for 5 minutes.

Then open, stir, eat, be warm and smile.

I hope you enjoy some oatmeal in a jar.
Happy Eating!!!

Some quick notes...........

When you use walnuts.

Try to always give them a quick toast in a frypan. Just put them in a med. hot pan and stir, or toss if your talented like that, until the start to glisten and you can smell them....
This releases the oils and you get such a better flavor.

Vanilla bean brown sugar.......oh yay!!!
Scrape the seeds from the vanilla bean in a container of brown sugar stir then throw the pod in too.. you will be amazed at the flavor. It is sooooooooo good in coffee. And in anything else you can think of putting it. The brown sugar sucks every bit of oil out of the pod. So in a couple days you will want to discard it.

Linking Here......

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Back to Sick Time.......

Every year it is the same story. The kids are so excited to get back to school. Mom feels like she has her life back. We all settle into a nice routine.... Ahhhhh. Then Wham-O!!! Someone gets sick. Then it spreads like wildfire through the house. Having a big family means we lose about 3, on an average, and I have at least one of the kiddos home for about 10 days. Luckily we only seem to go through it once or twice a year...but it still sucks!!!!!
Even though we get sick and it doesn't seem to matter how sick we get....There is still energy for creativity :)

Bronte was the first to be stricken. Senior year is not the time to miss school. But it was strep so she was out!!! When she came to. She worked on this Comic ....It was for her AP Lit. Based on a British book...... They could choose any medium and create something that portraid a scene from the book. She painted this on a canvas. She kind of amazes me. She did this in a couple hours.

Then it was my 9 year old Breven's turn to be sick. She decided to spend her sick leave from school painting also. This is what she did. Also on a canvas. I would love to have this on fabric (says the quilter in me).

This painting now hangs in her 4th grade classroom.

I created soup. Whenever the kids are sick. I make Homemade Chicken Soup. It takes half the day and the house smells fantastic..... But this time....I was coming down with it too........ So, a very quick soup it was!! I realized this is almost as good and is way easier!!! I will share.

Quick Chicken Soup for Sickies.......

1 Rotisserie Chicken from the supermarket
2 boxes chicken stock
1 red pepper chopped into lil' chunks
2 cups celery thinly sliced
2 cups carrots thinly sliced
1/2 sweet onion finely chopped
2 Knorr bouillon cubes
1 tsp. curry powder
minced garlic ...a clove or 4 depending on how much you like garlic.
1 to 2 packages egg noodles ( I used 1 package of egg noodle flakes)
4 cups water

In a Large pot....... poor in chicken stock and water. Add bouillon cubes, curry, onions and garlic.
Turn it on high and get it boiling. Let boil for about 10 minutes to reduce a little, and flavor up.
While that is happening. Pick all the chicken meat off the chicken and shred a bit. Gather and chop the veggies.
All at one time add the chicken and the veggies to the pot. Turn down to a medium simmer and let the veggies cook for 7 minutes. Then add your noodles( 1 package for girls ...2 for boys, Boys like noodles!!) and return to a boil until the noodles are done.

Poor in cups or bowls serve with hot buttered bread if you like, I like!!

I don't know if it is the curry, the garlic, the chicken or what. But chicken soup always makes you feel better.

It worked for me. I am up bloggin' sewin' and barkin' at my kids. I guess I am healed.

All the kiddos are back to well also. Hope it sticks until at least spring.

Have a fantastic weekend!!! And Stay Well!!!!

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Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Little Tart........

Little Round Tarts.....

So Cute ....And so Yummy!!!!!
It's a little round version of a pop tart....but from scratch. And, like, a million times yummier!!!

We made 3 flavors.
Blackberry, Peach and Brown Sugar Cinnamon.

The cinnamon is my favorite!!!
The kids prefer the peach.
Dad likes the Blackberry

Nutella would be awesome......but we were out. Sad but true.

I started with my favorite pastry recipe. It is the one that came with my food processor.
It is the flakiest crust ever.
If you don't want to make your own. The pillsbury role out crusts are pretty fantastic. Always flakey ...zero hassle.

Pastry Recipe from Cuisenart

3 cups all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon baking powder
16 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut in ½-inch pieces, well chilled
2 tablespoons shortening (Crisco), cut in ½-inch pieces, well chilled
5 to 8 tablespoons ice water

How to do the pastry.....

Insert the metal blade. Process the flour, salt and baking powder to sift, 10 seconds. Add the well chilled butter and shortening. Use short rapid pulses until the mixture resembles coarse corn meal and no pieces of butter larger than a “pea” remain visible, 15 to 20 pulses. Sprinkle half the maximum ice water on the flour and butter mixture, then pulse 5 or 6 times. The dough will be crumbly, but should begin to hold together when a small amount is picked up and pressed together. Sprinkle on more water, a teaspoon (two for the two-crust recipe) at a time, with 2 to 3 quick pulses after each addition, adding just enough water for the dough to hold together easily when pressed into a ball. Add the liquid sparingly so that the dough is not sticky. Do not over process or the pastry will be tough, not tender and flaky.

Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Press together into a ball, then flatten into a disk about 6 –inches in diameter (two disks for the two-crust recipe). Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour before continuing to allow the glutens in the flour to rest. The dough will keep refrigerated for up to 3 days, or may be frozen (double wrapped) for up to a month, thaw at room temperature for an hour before using.

Now for the tarts.

You will need some fillings. I used spreadable fruit. If you use jam... I would add a tablespoon of cornstarch mixed with a tablespoon of water....Stir into a 1/2 cup jam.I also made a paste of brown sugar cinnamon and softened butter like for cinnamon rolls. A 1/2 cup of filling does 10 to 12 tarts.

1 egg whipped smooth. And a pastry brush.

Some icing. And sprinkles if you like......

How to assemble the tarts

Roll the chilled disk out into a big circle (or take out of box and unroll if using store bought). It needs rolled out to be about an 1/8th inch thick. I always roll my crusts out on a floured dish towel. It is how my Granny did it. It always worked well for her...... She made amazing pie.

Using a 3 inch round cutter ( If you don't have one, you could use a clean soup/veggie can with the top and bottom removed).
Cut out your little crusts.

Put your little circle on a baking sheet and brush with a egg wash. Put a spoonful of filling in the middle. Then top with another circle. Press edges together and seal with the prongs of a fork. Poke a few holes in the little tart to let steam escape
(Heart shape is nice)....

Bake until golden and flaky.......

Remove from the pan and let cool on a rack......

The are perfectly good to eat just like this !!!!!

But if you want to get fancy.....

These are the peach .......

Very Pink Blackberry.....

Cinnamon Brown Sugar..........

We made about 30.

After school snack rocked today!

Happy Baking .... XO!!

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Monday, August 27, 2012

This lil' doggy reminded me of......

I saw this pin on Pinterest, and just about died.

How cute is he????

It reminded me of a post from a while back where I made the Hot Dog Wraps from my youth....

So, I decided to share again.

I would love to make these little doggy dogs.

You can too using my recipe below .

Or go to this link on

Rhodes Bread ...There is even a video!!!!

Super Duper!!

Original Post:

A Trip in the Way Back Machine......

Do you ever do something and it brings up a rush of childhood memories?

Well, I did that today. It was fantastic.
I was looking around the kitchen trying to figure out what to feed the troops.... I did not want to make that dreaded trip to the store. I hate the store. I saw hot dogs....
And just like that ....I thought of the wiener wraps they served in my grade school cafeteria.
It was a strange wave of memory and emotion.
At the time we complained, as little kids do, about they horrible lunch room and the evil lunch ladies who made us finish our veggies and they wore those fishnet
covers on their heads.
We really didn't know what we had....But now.....I wish my kids could eat fresh prepared,
well balanced, healthy and tasty meals made from scratch like we were blessed with.

The photo below is where I went to elementary school. I guess this is what it looks like now. When I was there it was painted in a 50's style sage color. I attended John Gumm Elementary School waaaaaay back in the 70's.
I had such a great time there.......

Anyway, I decided to make some of those
wiener wraps of my youth.

They were pretty great. Just like I remembered. I told the kids a dozen stories from the way back machine.
While I was making dough.
It is nice to reminisce......
I fed them something other than a sandwich
or one of the other
boring lunches we have around here.

And, I made a little dessert.
All in less than 2 hours.
I got some Super Mom creds today!!!

Don't you wanna try 'em???

For the dough I used this tried and true bread dough recipe. I have made it a hundred times. Very easy for first timers.
The only thing I changed was that ........
I used rapid rise yeast for speed.

Amish White Bread

Ingredients

2 cups warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
2/3 cup white sugar
1 1/2 tablespoons active dry yeast
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/4 cup vegetable oil
6 cups bread flour

Directions

In a large bowl, dissolve the sugar in warm water, and then stir in yeast. Allow to proof until yeast resembles a creamy foam.
Mix salt and oil into the yeast. Mix in flour one cup at a time. Knead dough on a lightly floured surface until smooth. Place in a well oiled bowl, and turn dough to coat. Cover with a damp cloth. Allow to rise until doubled in bulk, about 1 hour.( 30 minutes for rapid rise yeast)
Punch dough down. Knead for a few minutes, and divide in half. Shape into loaves, and place into two well oiled 9x5 inch loaf pans. Allow to rise for 30 minutes, or until dough has risen 1 inch above pans.
Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

This is how we turn Amish Bread into lunch time fun!!

After step two in the recipe. Roll out the dough into a huge rectangle. 1/2 inch thick.

Mine was super huge, because in this house one must double all recipes.

Cut into squares about the length of the dog you are using. And how many dogs you wanna make.

I used the doggies that were in the fridge. But you can use turkey dogs. Ham rolled with a little cheese inside would be awesome too. Dontcha think.

Lay doggy on square.

Roll stretching a little as you go. you want to totally cover the doggy.

Pinch dough together at seam.

Pinch ends and tuck under.

Lay them all on a baking sheet sprayed with no-stick spray.
( for the little guys I cut doggies in half and rolled.You can see some little ones on the end). Let rise for about 20 min. Longer if you use regular yeast.

Pop them in a 375 degree oven until golden brown, about 30 minutes.

Cut and serve.

If they are a little doughy on the bottom just flip each one over and pop back in the oven for 5 min.

Just like back in the "Lunch Lady Land "!!!

I had some dough left over sooooooooo,

I mixed 1/4 cup softened butter with 1 cup of brown sugar and a 1 tsp. of cinnamon . I spread it on the leftover dough and rolled it up.

Cut in 1 inch sections

Laid them on a prepared sheet.

And baked with the doggies.

This is what I got. I am off to make some icing.

Delish!!!

Kids are happy....Momma happy

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Tuesday, August 21, 2012

My Long weekend......In instagrams

I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend. Mine was busy and lasted through Monday.

I tried to relax, and shake off a cold that has been going around the house.

But, no matter how hard a tried.....It got me.

Because we collectively have been feeling bit funky...........Some comfort food was in order.

I made our favorite chicken breasts,.

This is the easiest dinner. It is so very tasty.

And Yes, That is Bacon!!!

You don't need a lot to make this.

Chicken Breasts

Bacon

Rosemary

Olive oil

salt&pepper.

Pound out your chicken a little. Just enough so that all the breasts are the same thickness.

Toss them in some olive oil salt and pepper and a few sprigs of rosemary. Let sit for a few minutes to marinate.

Place your chicken is a very hot fry pan. Medium high flame hot.....searing hot!!!

Turn when the side are white, opaque and the bottoms are golden brown. Do the same on the other side. This should only take a couple minutes on each side. If your pan is searing hot.

(at this point I pour myself a glass of wine. Torrontés is a perfect pairing! )

Place that pretty chicken on a baking sheet. lay a piece of bacon on each breast. Put baking sheet in a 425 degree oven. Bake until the bacon is slightly crispy and the chick is done. About 15 minutes.

I made a sourdough dressing and some potatoes to go with. Delish!!!

Served.

Next on the weekend agenda.........My Beautiful daughter Brene's 14th Birthday. I can't believe how time flies.

Each one of my girls are true individuals. But, My Brene' is wonderfully unique. She is artsy and quiet. You can't help but smile when she walks in a room. She is funny and quirky. Has friends that mean a great deal to her. She has a true heart with no drama. I love this kid!!!!!!