Attention Kitchen Gadget Lovers! Recipe Rock Review

Are you tired of getting ingredients all over the cards and papers with your favorite recipes on them? Who woulda thunk it? A "rock" and a magnet = the Recipe Rock by Architec. Well, it's not exactly a rock. Let me show you what I'm talking about:

Now, would you think that this kitchen gadget would actually keep your recipes nice and clean and wrinkle-free? I wouldn't, but the curve in the "rock" and the exact placement of the magnet holds even a full-sized piece of paper that you would print a recipe on from your computer like this:

The Recipe Rock holds upright even flimsy magazine pages with it's special contours.  

And it holds papers and recipe cards up at an angle that is perfect to reference while you're cooking. So, let's put it to the test...how many papers will this little Recipe Rock handle at one time? Let's say you're cooking up a dinner for the entire family for a holiday...you should be able to stick up to 8 pages between the magnets before the Recipe Rock gives out.

Need to move to another area of the kitchen? Grab the Recipe Rock from the back and it easily becomes portable.

Cooking with the Kids

Yes, cooking with the kids is lots of fun, but they make messes, spill ingredients...and how many times have you had to quickly wipe of your recipes with a paper towel, wishing there was a better way? Enjoy cooking and baking time with the kids without having to worry about that, because the Recipe Rock protects your papers by holding them above the counter.

I think the Recipe Rock is a simple, yet practical an ingenious little must-have for the kitchen!

Unique Gift Idea!

You can also purchase a Recipe Rock for a friend, for any occasion. For those hard-to-buy-for people, this may be the out-of-the-box idea that you've been searching for. While it's great in the kitchen, the Recipe Rock can also be used in the office, holding papers right in plain sight on a desk, on the television, with important notes for the children, or on the mantle, to display a child's award from school. The ideas are endless...

You can find the Recipe Rock on Amazon in light blue or green for $9.99 or gray for $13.99.



I received a Recipe Rock for the purpose of this review. No monetary compensation was exchanged.

Easy Dinner in 20 Minutes: Chicken Pillows and Kid-Approved Waldorf Salad

Are you out of quick dinner ideas? Or do you just have random ingredients sitting around without an obvious purpose? Try these super easy and fun recipes that your kids will love. Try chicken pillows as a simple alternative to leftover shredded chicken. These light chicken-filled pastries cook up fast, and are really fun to roll up. Your kids may even want to join you in the kitchen as special helpers! Then, pair your chicken pillows with a classic waldorf salad. All you really need is a rotisserie chicken, a can of crescent rolls, shredded cheese, apples, grapes, celery and walnuts, but, just in case, there is a detailed shopping list that includes both recipes below.

Shopping List:

Bag of walnuts

Celery

Red seedless grapes

Green apple

Mayo

3 Lemons or jar of lemon juice

1 can of crescent rolls

Shredded cheese

Rotisserie chicken (or 2-3 cups shredded chicken)

Eggs

Crackers

1. Waldorf Salad Recipe

Ingredients

* 1/2 cup chopped, slightly toasted walnuts

* 1/2 cup celery, thinly sliced

* 1/2 cup red seedless grapes, sliced (or a 1/4 cup of raisins)

* 1 sweet apple, cored and chopped

* 3 Tbsp mayonnaise

* 1 Tbsp fresh lemon juice

* Salt

* Pepper

Method

Whisk the mayo and lemon juice together in a medium sized bowl. Add the salt and pepper. Stir in the apple, celery grapes, and walnuts. Let the salad sit as you make the chicken pillows, or, better yet, overnight. Serves 2.

2. Chicken Pillows Recipe

The original recipe calls for a filling of cream cheese and butter, but you can really cut down on the fat content by simply replacing those ingredients with a sprinkling of shredded cheese.

Ingredients:

1 can of 8 Pillsbury crescents

2-3 cups shredded cooked chicken

2 cups shredded cheese

1 egg

Crushed crackers

Method:

Preheat you oven to 400 F. Place the shredded chicken in a bowl and add the shredded cheese. Mix. Lay out your crescents on a cookie sheet and stretch them out. Put a spoonful of the cheese and chicken mixture onto the center of each crescent. Next, roll up the crescent around the filling and close it up so there are no cracks. Whisk the egg and a bit of water together in a bowl and dip the pillows into the egg. Then, dip them into the crushed crackers to make a crunchy topping. Cook the pillows at 400 F for 20 minutes, or until golden brown.

Alvina Lopez is a freelance writer and blog junkie, who blogs about accredited online colleges. She welcomes your comments at her email Id: alvina.lopez @gmail.com. 

Tips for Baking the Perfect Cookie

Isn’t it weird how something as simple as a cookie can either look delicious and just perfect, or a burnt mess on the baking tray?

If your cookies always seem to fall into the second group, make sure you follow these tips to ensure they come out just perfect every time from this moment on.

Insist on the best ingredients

Which ingredients should you go for? Should you get the cheapest ones to save money or the most expensive ones to get better results? If you want truly amazing cookies you have to invest in them.

Go for butter, not margarine

Let’s face it cookies aren’t the healthiest food on the planet. But it’s a lot trickier to make them successfully if you’re using margarine. Stick to butter and you’ll notice a better taste and appearance.

Use different sugars for different cookies

If you come across a recipe that calls for brown sugar, don’t just throw white sugar in and expect to get the same results. Brown sugar is used in cookies that need to have that chewy texture in the middle once cooked. White sugar will enable them to go crispy and crunchy instead.

Don’t over mix

This is especially important when it comes to adding the flour. If you mix it too much the dough will dry out, and that will be evident when the cookies are baked.

Put the finished dough in the fridge for a bit

One of the biggest issues people seem to have with cookies is that they go flat and don’t hold their shape. If you have this problem you can usually solve it by creating the cookie mix and then putting it in the refrigerator. Once it is cold it will hold its shape far more easily – even when it goes in the oven.

Use the right flour

People often assume that flours are all pretty much the same. But this isn’t the case. It’s actually easier to get the right results from each cookie mix by using exactly the right flour as stated in the recipe.

Summary

If you follow all the tips above you should notice a marked improvement to your next batch of cookies. By putting a few simple tips and hints into practice you’ll be amazed at how impressive they can be. So if your cookies never quite turn out as you’d hoped, you might now have the solution.

Oh and another thing

  

If all else fails, plan B is to buy some tasty vegan cookies right here and just tell everyone that you made them!

This guest post was written by Ricky from Lauraswholesomejunkfood.com. Thanks for reading!

A Healthy Mediterranean Valentine's Day Recipe

Frozen grapes are a healthy Valentine's Day recipe your lover will "love". These are extremely easy to make, healthy and fun for the entire family. Making this tasty dessert is an ideal way to spend time with loved ones during the holiday. This is an easy recipe, and your lover will love to help in the kitchen. Grapes are a healthy fruit, and freezing these maintains all the nutrients that are found in the raw product.

This dessert is easy to prepare, and the prep time is minimal. The dish can easily be prepared in about five minutes, and there are only a few steps that need to be taken. The first step is to ensure the grapes are thoroughly clean. Many growers use a variety of pesticides and other chemicals on their fruits, and washing can remove these products. Cold water can be used to wash the grapes, and they can be dried with a paper towel.

A baking sheet makes an ideal dish to use for freezing the grapes. This sheet should be lined with a paper towel, and the grapes can be placed on the paper towel. This will help to absorb any water that is left on the grapes and will enable them to freeze better. The grapes can then be placed in the freezer for several hours or until firm. This dessert tastes much better, and the grapes have a texture like sorbet, when they're frozen solid.

One grape has about three or four calories, and this makes them great for people concerned about their diets. One serving of grapes has only about 100 calories, and this usually consists of a cup of the fruit. There are also many vital nutrients that are found in grapes, and they have a variety of anti-cancer properties. They contain phytochemicals as well as Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids. These are important anti-oxidants that fight free radicals.

Frozen grapes make a delicious treat, and this project is a fun way to include your lover in Valentine's day festivities. This dish is easy to prepare and can be made in as little as five minutes. Frozen grapes still have the flavor that everyone loves, but they take on the luxurious texture of the lightest sorbet. For people on a diet, grapes are the perfect food. A single grape has, at most, four calories. They also have many nutrients that are essential for fighting free radicals.

E. F. is the author of the Mediterranean book healthy eating blog to help people learn how to follow the Mediterranean diet meal plan to become more healthy and lose weight. 

Christmas Foodie shortcuts - 4 quick and simple recipes for families this Christmas

It's that time of year for family gatherings and foods to celebrate the holidays. You would like to serve your family and friends a healthy meal, but do not want to spend much time in the kitchen. You want to spend more time celebrating the holidays with your family and loved ones. It can be done. Here are some Christmas foodie shortcuts that contain four quick and simple recipes for families this Christmas. Get all family members into the kitchen, including your kids, to help out and reduce your stress level.

For a snack, make some:

Holiday Stuffed Celery Sticks

    * Buy a bunch of celery hearts or celery. Cut off the bottom 1" portion of the celery bunch, so you can easily separate the stalks. Clean thoroughly with cold water and cut into 2" pieces. *

    * Divide the celery stalks into two portions. One portion will go onto the serving tray. The other portion needs to be set aside for filling purposes.

    * Prepare a large serving tray by placing a large cup in the center part. Place one portion of the celery chunks onto one-half of the tray. For more variety, place some peeled baby carrots on the tray. Let the kids place the veggies on the tray, it's simple and easy.

    * For the filling, let a package of cream cheese sit at room temperature for an hour. This allows the cheese to soften enough to work with properly.

    * Make a filling called Herbed Cream Cheese. This recipe calls for:

Placing one package of softened cream cheese into a small mixing bowl.

Chop up some fresh parsley, basil, rosemary and thyme.

Add the herbs to the creamed cheese.

Mix the herbs into the cream cheese until evenly distributed.

Divide the mixture in half.

Place half the herbed cheese mixture into the serving cup on the large vegetable serving tray.

Use the other half to fill the center of the celery sticks.

Have the kids help fill up the celery sticks. It's easy and fun.

Or, for ease, simply mix the creamed cheese with some dried Italian seasoning.

    * For variety, have the kids fill up some celery sticks with peanut butter. Placing some raisins on top adds extra taste and fun.

Starter Recipe:

Have a tasty and nutritious bowl of minestrone soup as your starter dish. For a quick and simple recipe, buy a bag of cut fresh veggies. Find a bag from your grocery store that contains broccoli, carrots, onions and cauliflower.

    * Fill a Dutch oven with 4 cups of water.

    * Place the pan on a stove burner over medium heat.

    * Add the veggies to the water.

    * Add two 15-oz. cans diced tomatoes.

    * Add 2 tbsp Italian seasoning.

    * Add one 15-oz. can kidney beans.

    * Bring the water to boil and stir thoroughly.

    * Reduce heat and cook for about 20 minutes, until veggies are tender.

    * Serve with crackers or bread for a simple and quick starter dish.

Main Course Recipe:

Casseroles are great main courses that do not require much time in the kitchen, giving you more time to enjoy the festivities.

Let's make a Turkey Veggie Casserole

    * Mix in a large mixing bowl:

3 cups cooked turkey, diced

1 cup carrot, peeled and sliced

1 cup broccoli, cut into pieces

1 medium onion, sliced

1 8-ounce mushroom gravy

1 cup water

1 Tbsp. Italian seasoning

    * Preheat oven to 350.

    * Prepare a stoneware or glass casserole dish by lightly spraying with oil. Place the ingredients into the casserole dish. Cover. Cook for 30 minutes, until you can poke the veggies easily with a fork or knife.

    * Serve warm with a roll.

Dessert Recipe:

Peach Smiles

Kids love peach smiles because they are fun. Adults love them because they are healthy.

    * For this simple and quick dessert recipe, you will need some raisins and canned peaches. Get some canned cling peaches that are cut in half. Buy the peaches that are canned in their own juice to cut down on sugar.

    * Have the kids place a peach in the center of a small serving plate. Then, as a demonstration, place a raisin where the eyes, nose and smiling mouth would be. Squirt on some whipped cream for the hair. Give everyone a spoon and let them enjoy!

    * Not only will you be serving nutritious food that your family can enjoy, you will be spending less time in the kitchen preparing it.

Contributed by Claire from AuPair.org

Easy Recipes & Cooking Ideas!

If you're anything like me, you are constantly looking for different types of food recipes to add to your collection. And, if you have a big family like mine, you are searching for easy recipes that are simple to whip up when the house is crazy and it's coming up on dinnertime! There are six kids asking, "Mom, what's for dinner, when will it be ready?" (Because the little one can't talk yet) and there's not much time to plan it all out! Then, there's dessert...


So, it was really cool to come across MyDish! I mean, the pictures on the site make your mouth water...like the Scrummy Banoffee Pie recipe:

If that doesn't make you want to run to the kitchen and start baking, I don't know what will!
 

Slow-Cooker Recipes for Quick and Easy Dinners

Then, one of my favorite things to do! I love using my slow-cooker, because all you really need to do is add all of the ingredients and the slow-cooker does the rest. And, I don't think I've EVER made anything in the slow cooker that didn't come out just perfect. Like this chicken casserole in slow cooker recipe. And, the recipe can be modified to your liking. For example, if your family simply doesn't like celery, just drop the celery and add some broccoli!

That's the other cool thing about cooking in the slow cooker - you can add whatever tempts your palate and take out ingredients that aren't so yummy. One last thing that I loved about the Chicken Casserole recipe: the fact that it was the perfect amount for my family of nine...

Yes, you read that right. It's the perfect recipe for our family of nine, because only 8 of us are eating food right now...the baby is not yet able to enjoy the delicacies that My Dish offers. And, the two other little ones eat about 1/3 to 1/2 a portion, so this recipe was perfect for us!

Beef & Red Wine

Speaking of slow cooker recipes, I'll share a quick one of my own with you. I know that I found it somewhere and then tailored it to our liking, but it goes a little something like this:

Beef, cut up in small pieces. Add whatever veggies you like - carrots, broccoli, celery, you name it. The kicker is the red wine and Worcestershire sauce.  Now, I just pour it in, no measurements. Of course, you use wayyyyy less of the Worcestershire sauce than the red wine. I made this recipe for a small party that I had at my house and everyone LOVED it!

Breakfast Yummies

I did a quick search with the keyword "breakfast". Oh, my! You see, breakfast is my favorite dish of the day...not because I like to eat in the morning...I could eat a breakfast dish anytime of the day! What I love is the fruits and pancakes and scones and...the list goes on and on. If this pancakes with orange and cinnamon sauce doesn't make your mouth water, you know, I just don't know what will!

Search for Recipes

Anyways...they have a simple search engine that you can use to find recipes by keyword, course, cuisine, occasion, and they even let you search by certain food requirement specifications, including dairy free, diabetic or gluten free, just in case you have someone in your family (or on your dinner guest list) who has a restricted diet.

You can even join the community and share recipes of your own! For foodies - or simply work-at-home moms like me who need to add a little spice to the dinner (or dessert, or breakfast) lineup, I would definitely recommend taking a trip to My Dish to see what's cookin' (or should be cookin').

And, if you try out any of their recipes, do me a favor and come back to Mommy Rantings and leave me a comment to let me know how it comes out! Happy eating!

Great Foods for Fall that Your Family Will Love

When the kids go back to school, the colors start to change on the trees and frost begins to replace the morning dew, you’ll likely be ready to give up the cold salads, fresh fruits, and icy ades of summer in favor of the heartier comfort foods of fall and winter. But if you’re tired of the same old casseroles and crockpot dishes that you make every year, you might be on the prowl for an entirely new menu. You just need to find some foods that will receive approval from the whole family. So here are a few that will offer you the satisfaction you crave along with the opportunity to try something new.

1. Butternut squash. You might be surprised just how many amazing ways you can serve this delicious fall vegetable. Not only can you serve it steamed as a side dish, you can also boil and mash it in place of potatoes (or put it mashed into a casserole dish and broil it with some goat cheese crumbles on top), you can also turn it into soup, use it to fill ravioli, and even puree it with fat-free milk and mix it in with baked macaroni and cheese (as a way to cut out a portion of the cheese and sneak your kids some veggies). This power food not only delivers great taste, but also a healthy dose of phytonutrients, antioxidants, and dietary fiber, amongst other vitamins, nutrients and minerals.

2. Apples. One of the few fruits that are available (and seasonal) year-round, apples offer not only a whole lot of vitamins and antioxidants, but also a multitude of options for serving. You can eat them as-is or incorporate them into other dishes in a variety of ways. For example, you may cut them up to add to a colorful fall salad. Or you might mash them into applesauce, throw them into a casserole, or roast them in their own juices and add some caramel for a tasty, warm dessert.

3. Shirataki. Pasta is practically a must when the weather starts to turn cold, but stuffing your family full of high-calorie carbs may not sync with your idea of healthy eating. Shirataki noodles can help. This pasta alternative is made from tofu, but mimics the noodles you love in texture and taste. The only difference is that it comes with about a fifth of the calories (and carbs) of regular fare.

4. Pie. This fall classic will make your whole home smell great and provide a warm dessert that everyone loves. But like many fall foods, it comes with a pretty high calorie count. Luckily, there are ways to make a healthier pie that still tastes great. Simply swap in alternatives for a portion of the sugar (stevia is not only sweet, but it lacks the chemicals found in many sugar substitutes), try reduced-fat pie pastry, and opt for fat-free whipped topping.

5. Meatloaf, with a twist. Is there any food that makes your home feel homier than meatloaf? Unfortunately, your family may have grown tired of grandma’s plain recipe. So spice it up by using BBQ sauce in place of ketchup, subbing veal for half of the beef, or slicing it up and serving it as an open-faced sandwich (with spicy gravy). By updating this classic you can scratch your itch to try something new while making your favorite fall comfort food.

Sarah Danielson writes for BluWiki. Aside from finding discounts on gourmet food, you can also find Panera Bread Coupons and Cheesecake Factory Coupons.

Thank you, Sarah, for your contribution to Mommy Rantings! Those are some excellent ideas for fall foods that include nutrition and heartiness for the cooler weather!

The Stocked Kitchen Recipe Book Review

I found a gem of a recipe book! It's called The Stocked Kitchen - and it's 300+ pages chock full of unbelievably delicious recipes based off of only 1 shopping list! When I was offered the chance to review this book, I had no idea what a surprise I was about to receive!

First of all, when you open it up, it starts reading like a regular book, with "The System"...

"Start With the List"

"We've all had that moment during the day when we ask, with a knot in our stomach, 'What am I going to make for dinner?'" (Oh, my goodness! That thought crosses my mind about 6 times a week!)

Then, the awesome authors (above, Sarah Kallio and Stacey Krastins) go on to tell you how to effectively use the recipe book, with "Using the System", still all the while writing in a down-to-earth, fun and, of course, informative fashion. What's even better is that they have come up with a basic list of about (I didn't exactly count) 200 ingredients. And, every recipe in the whole 300+ pages of the book, about 300 pages of which are all recipes, are derived from that one shopping list.

One Shopping List

That's the true beauty of this recipe book! Every other recipe book that I have ever owned required me to search through the recipes, find what I liked and then create my shopping list based off of the recipes that I wanted to make. This book does it all for you! They even include about (again, I didn't count) 15 pre-printed pages in the back of the book with the complete shopping list and boxes to check off while you are shopping. So, you can pull out a page and head to the store right away!

Okay, but that's not the best part! Well, maybe it is...no, I guess it's not. Okay, I'm torn! The recipes! The recipes are so expansive and delectable...it's difficult to believe that one grocery list covers all of the recipes in this book! Some are made from scratch and some are quick and simple. After looking through the recipe book for a while, I still haven't found a recipe that seemed really hard to make - they're all pretty simple, most with under 10 steps of directions and many with only 3-5 steps.

I don't even know where to start, but here are some of the recipes you will find:

pineapple upside down cake
meat loaf
cinnamon roll loaf (and the pic of this - yes, there are pics, too! - looks yummy!)
turtle pancakes (mmmhmmm...with the nuts on top)
veggie pizza
chocolate chip almond bars
cream cheese coffee cake
pancake batter fried shrimp
moo shoo shrimp stir-fry
italian burger
stovetop mac and cheese
hamburger buns
crab rangoon with sweet and sour sauce
bacon-wrapped pineapple
bacon-wrapped ranch chicken
cinnamon french toast bake...and if that's not enough, there's a raspberry french toast bake, too
margarita bars
lemon layer cake
marinades! honey-lime, italian, asian, greek, java, lemon-pepper, moroccan
egg salad
curry chicken salad
apricot chicken salad
asian lettuce wraps
deviled eggs
chicken pot pie
chicken florentine
cinnamon chip scones
pesto spinach pizza
chocolate truffles


I could go on and on and on...that's just the tip of the iceberg! There are over 300 recipes to choose from...if you can't find a ton of recipes for your family in this book, there's something seriously wrong with you. And, again, there is only one shopping list to work with. Forget about the hunt-for-the-recipe, check the pantry method of cooking. Shop with one list, make anything you want in the book.

As a busy mom of six and a new baby on the way, I love the concept and will be shopping with the grocery list next shopping trip! I'm excited about how much easier this recipe book will make my life! Don't forget to get your copy! They'll be on sale July 5, 2011!

Delicious Easter Recipes For You and the Kids -Yum Yum!

With spring fast approaching, Easter is nearly here.  One of the most popular holidays is Easter and part of the reason why this holiday (and most others) is so much fun is the food associated with it.  If you are planning an Easter dinner with your friends or family this year, here are some awesome hints for some yummy Easter recipes.

Maple Syrup Ham and Sweet Potatoes with Marshmallows

One of the most desired types of food to eat at Easter is ham and you can sweeten up the flavor of ham by adding some tasty maple syrup.  While your store purchased maple syrup should work, try to purchase maple syrup that is 100% pure and not made with corn syrup.  Adding pure maple syrup will add a sweet, delicious taste that your friends and family will love.

You can simply complement your maple syrup ham with some yummy sweet potatoes smothered in minature marshmallows.  Sweet potatoes should be your maple syrup ham’s best friend.  For an extra treat, add minature marshmallows and you will definetly get some smiles from children and adults alike.

Easter Bunny Cookies

While chocolate bunnies are pivotal to Easter, cookies can also be a desired treat.  Just like Christmas cookies are fun to make and tasty to eat, so can Easter bunny cookies.  Most grocers, discount stores and craft retailers sell Easter Bunny cookie cutters to make your favorite chocolate chip or sugar cookie into some fun Easter bunny shapes.

Easter Egg Cup Cakes

Easter Egg Cup Cakes are a fun way to add excitement to the holiday’s for your little ones.  Easter Egg Cupcakes are an easy and fun way to bring color to any Easter dinner dessert.  Instead of using cup cake holders, try to use small waffle cones instead to hold your cup cake mixture.  Once baked, add coloring, sprinkles, candy, etc. to your creation.

Easter Bunny Carrot Cake


Easter bunny carrot cake is a great way to add color and fun for the whole family.  What goes better with bunny rabbits than carrots and a yummy carrot cake goes with an Easter meal.  You can easily purchase a carrot cake and decorate the top by hand.  Many people create their own icing adding food coloring to color the carrot cake to look like an Easter egg.

Easter Cocktails

For those adults that prefer to top off their dinner with a delicious alcoholic beverage, there are many flavorful cocktails that compliment the atmosphere of an Easter meal.  For example, certain liquors come in several colors such as grenadine for crimson, blue Curacao for blue and mixing clear liquor with various fruit juices for multi colored Easter drinks. For those that crave a cocktail without the alcohol, it’s simple to add color to your dinner with a variety of fresh fruit smoothies, just by adding fresh fruit with cream or milk.  Some people even add some yogurt to the mix.

Holidays,


If these recipe ideas don't make your tummy growl for Easter dinner, I don't know what will!

Visit Kid Approved Meals for more fun ideas! Happy Easter!

Easy Valentine's Day Breakfast Ideas for the Kids (and You!)

Breakfast happens to be my (and my children's) fave meal of the day! You name the breakfast, we most likely love it! So, I thought I would share some very simple ideas that you can make for Valentine's Day breakfast this year for the kids (and you). 

Now, Valentine's Day falls on a Monday this year...and on Mondays, who has time to make a special breakfast? Have your Valentine's breakfast on Sunday, that way you will have plenty of time to make it and savor the tasty foods you create!

For some of these ideas, you will want to grab a heart shaped cookie cutter (or two or three, for a variety of sizes).

• Valentine's French Toast- using a heart cookie cutter, cut the heart shapes from the bread and then proceed with your favorite french toast recipe. Add some canned whip cream and red and white sprinkles to top it off!
• Valentine's Pancakes - First of all, you can add red and white sprinkles to the batter to make the pancakes fun and colorful. Then, put the metal heart shaped cookie cutters directly on the pan (assorted sizes at the same time) and then spoon the batter into the cookie cutters. Using tongs, remove the cookie cutters completely when it is time to flip the pancakes, and then flip them. Isn't that fun?
• Valentine's Toast - Toast the bread and then use the heart cookie cutters to make heart-shaped toast. Spread with a red jam. Sprinkles could be used on the jam to make it even more colorful and fun!
• Valentine's Oatmeal - If your children absolutely love oatmeal, drizzle a heart shape over their oatmeal. Again, if you want to add sprinkles, your children will love the visual appeal (and the fact that it looks like an ice cream sundae!
• Valentine's Cinnamon Rolls - Using the cinnamon rolls that come in the can (quick & easy peasy!), unravel each cinnamon roll and work into the shape of a heart. Bake as directed and ice with pink icing, rather than white.
• Valentine's Breakfast Sandwich - Make the biscuits using the heart shaped cookie cutters, fry up some eggs and some bacon, sausage or ham, and throw it all between two heart shaped biscuits.
  

If you just don't like the idea of putting sprinkles on breakfast foods as toppings, you could always add some colorful fresh fruit. And, for Valentine's Day, you can use strawberries or raspberries to add a little red color to the ensemble.

Have fun with breakfast this year for Valentine's Day! Yum yum!

New Year's Eve Drinks For Kids

Why Do The Adults Get To Have All The Fun?

When you're toasting in the New Year the night before, the children should be able to make their own toasts, too, right? If you haven't created this easy New Year's Eve tradition before, it's time to make a new resolution! Get the kids involved, let them make some New Year Resolutions and give them a super cool and yummy drink to toast with.


Here's some quick ideas:

New Year's Eve Punch

2 c cranberry juice
1 c orange juice
1/2 c pineapple juice
1/4 c lemon juice
1/4 c water
1/4 c sugar
1 tsp almond extract

In a Kool-Aid type pitcher, mix the ingredients and serve on ice. Yields 4 cups.

Resolution Slushies
1 can frozen orange juice concentrate
1 pt pineapple juice
3 ripe bananas or other choice of fruit
Mix ingredients in pitcher. Put the pitcher in the freezer until the mixture is slushy. Drop 5 - 6 Tablespoons (or more, if desired) into a wine glass and add ginger ale. Serve as is.

AND MY FAVORITE!

Shirley Temples

This is quick and simple. Buy some Grenadine. Pour a glass of your choice of clear sodas (7-up, Sprite, etc.) - this makes the drink bubbly! Pour enough Grenadine in the clear soda to color it light pink-ish. The more Grenadine you add, the cherrier it tastes. Then, add a cherry (or two...or three or four - if you're my own kids) and a lemon, lime or an orange slice.

If you have any great drink ideas for kids, leave a comment! I would love to try your ideas!

Enjoy!