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Sweet Biscuit Mix
Yield: 2 1/2 cups
Ingredients:
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon powdered milk
1 tablespoon baking powder
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup vegetable shortening or lard
Directions:
Combine all the ingredients except the shortening in a bowl.
Cut in the shortening until the mixture resembles coarse cornmeal.
Place in an airtight container and store in a cool place.
Shera is mom to six very active boys (14, 12, 10, 7, 4 and 4) and when she isn't trying to keep them busy so nothing is destroyed, or in the kitchen cooking for them, she's usually hanging out at her blog A Frog In My Soup, or designing blogs at Sweet 'n Simple Design.
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Getting my children to eat healthy whole foods as often as possible is definitely a top priority for me. What I don't pay as much attention to though is my own eating habits.
Sure I definitely try to eat healthy foods and portions. Lunch for me will most often be cheese, apples and a little peanut butter and celery, or maybe a salad.
My oldest has been skipping breakfast a lot and when I talked to him about the importance of breakfast he actually looked me straight in the eye and said, “but mom you don't eat breakfast.” I'm sure that my eyes got as big as saucers as the truth of that statement totally sunk in.
I am guilty of showing my kids less than great eating habits. It's all fine and good that the food I do consume is healthy, but there's definitely more to it than that. I'm not saying that we need to count every calorie and be precise in our timing of meals, but to be aware of what and how often we are eating.
Today I just want to offer a little reminder that food is yet another area where what we do, not what we say is still most often what our children pick up on. So here are some suggestions for moms:
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Banana Oat Peanut Butter Breakfast Cookies
One of my boys' favorite combinations is definitely peanut butter and bananas, so here's a cookie that makes their dreams come true.
(obtained from GroupRecipes.com)
Ingredients:
Nonstick cooking spray
1 large banana, mashed (1/2 cup)
1/2 cup chunky natural peanut butter (unsalted and unsweetened) or regular chunky peanut butter
1/2 cup honey
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup rolled oats
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1/4 cup nonfat dry milk powder
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup dried cranberries or raisins
Directions:
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Who said a special breakfast should take a ton of time to prepare? Well, don't believe everything you hear! Personally I have found that some of the very best big family breakfasts were actually quite simple fare.
Breakfast burritos are definitely great main dishes that fit the bill when it comes to simple to prepare. All you have to do is choose the ingredients, and they are as flexible in what you put in them as your family's tastes. Here's some very simple ideas to get you started. Serve them with fresh fruit and maybe even some country potatoes (potato wedges that are seasoned and baked until soft and golden brown).
Breakfast Burritos
(from Cooks.com)
Ingredients:
1 pound bulk breakfast sausage
8 eggs
Shredded cheese
Sliced avocado
Sour cream
Salsa
4 flour tortillas
Directions:
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I recently had the opportunity to speak with Ellie Krieger, registered dietitian and Food Network host. It was such a great opportunity because, as you may have noticed, I really love finding simple ways to make everyday meals healthier without it being a major ordeal.
Since that's what her recipes offer, it was the perfect way to get a few tips. As we talked about the various ways to keep kids interested in foods, I discovered that we definitely think along the same lines in that regard. For example, getting kids involved in choosing meals or even shopping for the food is a great way to get them to eat more variety.
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When it comes to certain recipes I simply have to pull out the Betty Crocker's Picture Cookbook that I have had since my wedding day. Sure, it isn't pretty, it's been used a lot over the years. There are a few pages that sort of stick together from my somewhat less than tidy cooking techniques, which of course I no longer have ha, ha.
I simply love making crisps! They are so simple, use basic ingredients that I always have on hand, can be thrown together quickly, use much less sugar (in my opinion) than most other desserts and are simply yummy.
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Growing up, we often had homemade popsicles. Sometimes we used a product specifically for that purpose, but other times we got...well...creative, and so can you.
Popsicles aren't very expensive, but most of them are loaded with mainly sugar and food coloring which is just no good for the kiddos. As with anything else, when you make this yummy summer kid favorites at home you know what's going into it so you are in control of the nutritional value for your family.
No matter your budget, it is likely that you can find a method of making popsicles that will work perfectly for you. So let me introduce you to creating popsicles that can even make a very creative family summer tradition if you want.
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My family loves smoothies, but even though I have the greatest kitchen gadget in the world for making them, I don't have a variety of smoothie recipes sitting around, so sometimes I go browsing for a little inspiration. As I searched online, I was drawn to one particular blog simply because of the name....Meal Makeover Moms.
See, just the name sounds like something I can definitely go for! Making over meals to be healthier and still kid friendly is definitely up my alley (as I think you may have guessed by now).
So, after getting the recipe I was after, I continued browsing around and definitely encourage you to do the same. I think you'll find some great ideas and recipes there to try with your family.
The thing I love most about a recipe like this (in addition to the excellent nutritional value) is that I know that most children love food & drinks that are very colorful and this one definitely is!
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Summertime is such an amazing time of year for food...especially healthy food. Fresh fruits and veggies can be found at local farmer's markets, supermarkets and even your own garden.
I try to make a point to purchase fresh local produce each time I go to the store. From there I can create meals incorporating these as often as possible.
The other night I was running behind and had made a veggie tray the day before. There were sliced bell peppers and fresh snap peas left over. In my fridge I had a couple zucchini, onion and garlic. The result was so yummy...here's the recipe.
Fresh Veggie Pasta
Serves 8-10
Ingredients:
1-2 red, orange, and/or yellow bell peppers, sliced
1 cup snap peas
1 medium onion diced
2 zucchini sliced about 1/4 inch thick
3-4 cloves of garlic (minced)
1/2 cup butter (1 stick)
salt and pepper to taste
22 ounces dried pasta (any thick pasta will work great - egg noodles, bowtie, etc)
2 tablespoons olive oil
Directions:
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