Changing Up Breakfast

Breakfast has always been an important meal in our house.  It's one of the best meals our kiddos will eat and they all wake up asking for it.  I do my best to keep our breakfasts as healthy as I can.  We limit their intake of "sugar cereals" like Fruit Loops and Apple Jacks to special occasions and have kicked frozen breakfast foods like Toaster Strudels and Eggo Waffles to the curb.  While they are very convenient to serve, I do my best to avoid frozen processed foods, as I prefer to not serve food filled with preservatives and words I cannot pronounce.

Now that the school year is in full swing, I really try to make sure our kindergartener gets a breakfast that will hold him over until his lunchtime at noon.  His personal favorite is simple:  Quaker Quick Cook Oats with a spoonful of brown sugar.  I feel like this is a pretty nutritious and filling choice (yes, I understand brown sugar is not in a "healthy" category, but it's a small spoonful!).  We have plenty of cereal days with our younger two and they prefer Multi-Grain Cheerios, Kix, or Rice Krispies.  We always have cereal in the house, though it has become such an expensive item to buy that I've begun to look for alternatives.

As you know, I enjoy baking and have come across a few healthy and filling muffins that I have added to the mix.  Muffins are great, because you can either eat them right away or pop them in the freezer and pull them out for a later date.  There also a pretty quick breakfast for those rushed mornings.  We also like to make homemade waffles, which can also be frozen and toasted later.  Any of these options paired with some fruit make for a good start to the day!  

Today I'd like to share with you a great muffin recipe (it includes a vegetable!) and our waffle recipe.  Next week I'll share a few more muffin recipes with you to enjoy!

Cooking Light Zucchini Muffins

1 scant cup whole wheat flour
2/3 cup all-purpose flour
1 t. cinnamon
1 1/4 t. baking powder
1/2 t. baking soda
1/4 t. salt
1 1/3 c. shredded zucchini
1/2 c. skim milk
2 T. Canola oil
2 T. honey
1 large egg
(Raisins may be added)

Preheat over to 400 degrees (375 degrees for a dark pan).  Combine dry ingredients (first 6).  Stir with whisk.  Combine zucchini, milk, oil, honey, and egg in small bowl. Blend.  Make a well in center of flour mixture; add egg mixture.  Stir just until moist.  Spoon mixture into 12 muffin cups.  Combine 1 T. sugar (or brown sugar) and 1/4 t. cinnamon.  Spoon mixture on top of muffins and bake for 15 minutes.

Zucchini Muffins

Waffles

2 eggs
2 c. sour milk (to 1 c. milk add 1 T. lemon juice or vinegar; let stand 5 minutes)
1 t. soda
2 c. flour
2 t. baking powder
1/2 t. salt
6 T. soft butter

Beat eggs well.  Add rest of ingredients and beat until smooth.  Batter will be thin.  Make using a waffle iron.

Crocking Monday

My posts are brief and recipe-filled these days!  I have had sick kiddos for a week and it still continues. Waiting for some reprieve!  Since it's Monday, here's a crockpot recipe that we like to use when we have family functions, but it could definitely be used for everyday.  It makes a lot of food and if you have a crockpot that's large, it could be doubled!

Company Chicken Casserole

8 oz. egg noodles
3 c. cooked chicken, diced
1/2 c. celery, diced
1/2 c. green pepper, diced
1/2 c. onion, diced
4 oz. mushrooms, canned, drained
1/2 c. chicken broth
1/2 c. parmesan cheese
2 T. melted butter
1 c. sharp cheddar, grated
1/2 t. basil
1 1/2 c. small curd cottage cheese
1 can cream chicken soup

Cook noodles according to package directions until barely tender, drain and rinse.  In large bowl, combine the remaining ingredients with the noodles, making sure the noodles are separated and coated with liquid.  Pour mixture into a greased crockpot.  Cover and cook on low 6-10 hours.  Can cook on high 3-4 hours.

"Souper" Sunday

With the official kick-off of NFL football this weekend, it's time to get into the fall mode of cooking up a delicious soup recipe on Sunday.  I have been looking forward to "soup season" and today have a nice pot of chili cooking away on the stove.  My chili is pretty boring.  I'm not really into spice, so it's very basic and my husband spices it up on his own with some Tabasco sauce, onions, and peppers.  Since it's pretty bland, I won't share that recipe with you (at least not today)!  Instead, I'd like to share with a rich and creamy baked potato soup that is sure to fill you up!

Baked Potato Soup

4 large baking potatoes
2/3 c. butter
2/3 c. flour
6 c. milk
3/4 t. salt
1/2 t. pepper
4 green onions
12 slices baken, cooked and crumbled
1 1/2 c. cheddar cheese, shredded
1 8 oz. carton sour cream

Bake potatoes and cube.  Melt butter over low heat.  Add flour, cook 1 minute.  Add 6 cups milk.  Cook over medium heat until thick and bubbly.  Add potatoes, salt, pepper, green onions, 1/2 c. bacon, and cheese.  Heat.  Stir in sour cream.  Simmer until hot and serve.

This recipe is great served with a side of fresh, warm bread.  Enjoy!

Tailgate Treats!

Today is the big Hawkeye/Cyclone rivalry game and I am thrilled to be heading out to Iowa City this morning!  I am taking our oldest son to his first game (that he'll remember) and we are so excited to be heading west.  One of the best parts of going to the game is...TAILGATING!  I've had a few sick kiddos this week, but with a last-minute trip to the store and some cooperative cooking with Grandma, we have a good spread for the game.

We plan on having sloppy joes, bacon wrapped wienies, fruit with fruit dip, cheese and crackers, chips, and cookie bars.  Today I thought I'd share a few recipes with you in case you are in the mood to tailgate, too.  Go Hawkeyes!

Bacon Wrapped Wienies

1 package Little Smokies
1 lb. bacon
1 lb. light brown sugar
Toothpicks

Line a jelly roll pan with parchment paper.  Cut entire slab of bacon into thirds.  Wrap wienies in bacon, secure bacon with toothpick, and sprinkle brown sugar on top.  Bake at 350 for about 35 minutes.  Enjoy!

Fruit Dip

1 jar (7 oz.) marshmallow fluff
1 package cream cheese (I use light)
1 T. orange juice

Beat cream cheese with a hand mixer, add marshmallow fluff and orange juice, mix until well blended. Serve with your favorite fruit.

Go Hawkeyes!

Take Advantage of those Diaper Changes!

Yes, the title sounds a bit funny, but I have discovered that having three kids is (gasp) a challenge in many ways.  As you know, I suffer from extreme "mom-guilt" and one of those issues that I feel guilty about is the amount of time I spend with our youngest son working on little skills like counting, the alphabet, and singing those fun childhood songs.

Well, I've come up with a little solution to help relieve some of that guilt.  For quite some time now, I have taken the few minutes I have changing his diaper several times a day and turned it into fun learning time.  This also works as a great distraction for the wiggly, impatient toddler who does not want to have his diaper changed!

During this time we work on counting and I provide a prompt for the next number when needed.  He does great up to the teens and then needs some help.  Generally, I find that he'll repeat what I say and we count up to 20.  To work on counting, you could also add in some fun little rhymes like "One, Two Buckle My Shoe," "Five Little Monkeys Jumping on then Bed," "Five Green and Speckled Frogs," or make up a tune of your own.  Usually those made-up tunes are a big hit with the little crowd!

We also work on singing the alphabet and other fun songs that require some interaction and motions.  One of his favorites is "The Wheels on the Bus" and it can go on forever (works great for that change that's going to take awhile!).  He loves to fill in the action word once I give him the cue (i.e. "The mommy's on the bus go...").  Pausing and giving them the opportunity to fill in the blank is a great way to build on those cognitive skills.  You can also substitute the bus for something else they like (train, tractor, etc.).  Some of our other favorite diaper change songs are "The Itsy-Bitsy Spider," "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star," and "Take Me out to the Ballgame."

I know this isn't rocket science by any means, but if you find yourself rushed or have difficulty finding some uninterrupted time, this is a great way to steal a few minutes at a time to interact and have some fun with your kiddos.  Of course, you can always do these activities in the car as well.  A few minutes here and there can go a long way!

"Five Green and Speckled Frogs."

Five green and speckled frogs, sat on a speckled log, eating some most delicious bugs (rub tummy).  Yum, yum!  One jumped into the pool, where it was nice and cool, now there are four green speckled frogs.  (Continue through one).

"A Day in the Life Of..."

A few years ago I went to an organizational talk at my son's preschool.  I got some great ideas for organizing my "hub" and still use those ideas today.  One of the best suggestions I received at that brief workshop, though, was to create an informational folder in case were are unable to be around because of an emergency or (cringe) in case something happened to us.  It was a wonderful idea, but really common sense.  This is especially true when your kiddos are young and have their routines that must be followed!

Last fall, my husband and I took our first extended vacation just the two of us.  This was the perfect time to gather all of the information and put together my little folder that I affectionately called "The Directions."  While this was necessary for the grandmas to have while we were gone, it has become a wonderful safety net to pull out in case we are away.  

What do you include in this little folder?  Here's a quick rundown of the information I included.  My first page was titled "A Day in the Life of the (Insert Name) Kids."  I went through their daily routine from their typical wake-up time to bedtime.  I made sure to include things such as what special items are taken to bed, what songs are sung, diaper sizes, and approximate meal times.  I also included some of their favorite play activities and specific bedtime routines for each kiddo.  

My next section was titled "Odds and Ends."  This included school times and anything that needed to go to school with them, medicine dosages for each kid, and where medical items were located (i.e. thermometers, bandaids, medicine, etc.).  I also included our health care provider information (doctor, dentist, ER), our insurance information, and what pharmacy we used.  To conclude that page, there was a list of important phone numbers from relatives to neighbors to the school.

This may seem funny, but I included a detailed "TV Instruction" page.  Given the variety of cable choices and additional media sources other than the tv, this was imperative to include for the grandmas! It also worked well for the babysitters.  I included their favorite tv shows and movies, as well as what channels those shows could be found on.

The last section was titled "The Food Guide."  I broke it down by meals and included their favorite foods, as well as how much of certain items (like oatmeal) they typically eat.  I listed snack options, meal options, and a recipe on how to make homemade smoothies, since these are a staple in our home.  Food and kids can be tricky, so the more detailed you can be and more options you can provide for meals, the better.

This may sound like a lot of work or a little over-the-top, but I know how much my kids depend on their routine to get through the day as well as their little quirks that, if addressed, can prevent a major meltdown.  I keep this folder in my "hub" and have it handy to pull out if the need ever arises.  The supplies are simple:  a pocket folder with brads and your typed out instructions!

Happy Labor Day!

I know that Monday is usually reserved for "Crocking Monday," but in honor of Labor Day I thought I would share a quick and simple grill recipe that we always get compliments on at BBQ's.  The recipe is for grilled red potatoes and they are delicious!

Grilled Red Potatoes

Red Potatoes, washed and cut into chunks (leave skin on)
Olive Oil
Oregano and Basil (or All-Purpose Seasoning)
Onions, sliced (optional)

Prepare as many potatoes as you will need for your gathering (we use 3-4 for our family, but have done up to an entire bag for a larger BBQ).  Spray foil with nonstick cooking spray.  Place potatoes (and onions if using) on foil, pour olive oil onto potatoes, and sprinkle on oregano and basil (or all-purpose seasoning) to taste.  Wrap up tightly in foil and place on grill.  Cook 25-30 minutes.  Remove from foil and serve.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Labor Day.  We had a fun afternoon with neighbors and sufficiently wore all of the kiddos out!  "Crocking Monday" will return next week!