Guess What I had for breakfast..

Did you know that there are over 13 flavors of Cheerios? Crazy huh? But AWESOME!

My kids LOVED the yogurt blends when they were teething. My daughter would pick them out and eat those and give me the non yogurt ones.

I haven't tried the Peanut Butter ones yet, But they are in my pantry for tomorrow morning.

This is the one I had this morning. It was like sitting in Heaven. YUMMY! I wonder how it would taste if I mixed the Chocolate ones with them!

These are Divine as well. I think I will get a box soon and try them out with the peanut butter ones as well!

But this is the families all time favorite. We LOVE them. My kiddos aren't into all the sugary cereals that they have on the market believe me I have tried them out. So I finally just gave up on them and we are SATISFIED with our Cheerios! Go HERE for some yummy recipes! Great way for your stock that you may have in your food storage!

What is your favorite Cheerios flavor?

The Kids are making Dinner!

Its crazy I know especially since my kids are still in the toddler years (5, 3 1/2, 2). Its also true that your kids will eat better when they help you in the kitchen. My oldest is getting so independent now and she loves to help with everything. (I have been waiting for this day!!!) She now sweeps the floor, washes the table off, and helps daddy make sure the garbage is ready to be taken out. I love having her help!
I am a person who LOVES to try out a new recipe. But as of lately... give me something that is care free and take only seconds to prepare. I don't know how our Mom had dinner on the table at 5 while taking care of 6 plus kids that ranged in the ages from 1 to 10. Mom would always make everything for scratch and it would take all day for dinner. Me, I like to find a fast easy way out.
For instance.... We made Pizzas for Dinner the other night. The kids loved them!! Why? Because they made them. I thawed some Rhodes Rolls and the kids made their pizza rounds then we simply added our toppings. Then put in the oven until the crust was golden! Even my 2 year old could do this. They each ate 2 of them! They loved using their "Chef" skills. And now ask me if they can make Dinner tonight. (I dont know if I am ready for Pizza everynight, but maybe once a month we can have a special Pizza night!)

What are you making for Dinner tonight? Do your Kids help you in the kitchen?

It's Miracle Soup!!

We are still under the weather over here (the reason of lack of postings)

The other night for Dinner I made this DEVINE Chicken Noodle Soup My kids (including the Hubby) Felt almost instantly better. Its that type of soup. Packed FULL of Flavor!

Because I wasn't feeling any better then the rest of the clan I made a couple easy steps to it. Instead of cutting all the veggies I used frozen veggies and I didn't have any egg noodles or the energy to go to the store to get any so I used Quinoa (keen-wah). It was great! Everyone asked to have it for lunch the next day. My 5 year old told me that this soup is her most favorite ever and that she isn't sick anymore! IT'S A MIRACLE Soup!!!

I also love to freeze the extra broth for another day. Warm it up in a mug and you really do feel better! Thank you to the Chef of this fine Meal!!!

What meal warms you up?

Menu Monday: Snack- Homemade Microwave Popcorn

I don't know about you, but popcorn is a main staple at our house. Not only do we grind it up as corn meal, but we also use it for homemade popcorn. We tried the old fashion stove top way with some success. But there had to be an easier way without the purchase of yet another kitchen appliance, right? I found out how to make Homemade Microwave Popcorn Here We keep several of them ready to go in our pantry

This is one of my kid's favorite popcorn topping.

Hubby's favorite is my mom's Peanut Butter Popcorn

Peanut Butter Popcorn

2 bags popped popcorn

1/2 Cup Sugar

1/2 Cup Corn Syrup

1/2 Cup Peanut Butter

Pour popcorn to large bowl (I try to remove as many unpopped kernels as I can)

Combine next three ingredients in small saucepan until sugar has dissolved almost a boil. Pour Peanut butter mixture over popcorn and stir until popcorn is evenly coated. This is best served warm, but you can store it in an airtight container.

If you want to see my favorite popcorn topping go here

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Leftovers make Cupcakes

I had left over pumpkin from when I made Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies the other day. And left over Apple Juice from the Doughnuts. SO made cupcakes!

Instead of adding the egg and oil that the box asks for I added pumpkin (half can if its the large can and full can if its the smaller) then instead of water (just to add more of a kick) I added the juice. I didn't know how they would turn out so it was a gamble. Then cool and frosted with
cream cheese frosting! They are EXTREMELY moist and do need to be cooked a little longer then on the box so watch them. I preferred them chilled!

(to make the pumpkin cookies just mix spice cake mix, 1 can of pumpkin (the smaller on if using lg just use half of it) the add Chocolate chips. Bake at 350 for 13 mins. EASY and something simple the kiddos can help with!)

Sunday Dinners

Looks DE-LISH huh? We got a pork pic-nic butt roast over the weekend ($1.48 a pound) and I roasted it for 5 hours at 350. I sprinkled Moms favorite seasoning of all times....OLD BAY and that was it. It reminded me of all those wonderful Sunday Dinners that would bring us all together. And not just our immediate family...everyone could smell our parents cooking and everyone enjoyed it until there were NO leftovers.
One summer we had our family (parents plus 6 kids) and our Moms sister's family (parents plus 6 kids (they were visiting for TX for a couple of weeks)) so meal time at the house was a HUGE ordeal. One morning they made a MASSIVE amount of pancakes and eggs and bacon and toast..you name it if it was a breakfast food it was on the table. Mom was teasing one of the older boys (a Nephew) that the last one form the table had to finish everything! There wasn't room in the fridge for all the leftovers. SO needless to say he was the last and he finished eating everything on the table. It was one thing that mom and him remembered to talk about EVERY TIME they got together. She would always ask if he wanted pancakes! (I think he still turns green if you mention them!)
Great food, Great company and most of all GREAT memories.

Who says a Doughnut has to be Round?

Mom always told everyone that I NEVER did things by the book. It would get done.. but in my time and the way that I wanted. Mom was also a perfectionist. For example her sewing, She would have to have the PERFECT stitch in place before continuing on. ME on the other hand would keep serging the neck hole til it feel off my shoulders (which it did and in the 80's it was the style. I would just put on a tank top under it!)

I wonder what she would say about the shapes of my yummy Doughnuts that I made. I know what she would say.. "These are delicious. You need to make them every time I visit." Which I would respond.. "uh-huh, Right on top of that Rose" (from the movie Don't Tell Mom the Babysitters Dead...I have said that ever since I saw the movie... its the perfect line!)

These are Apple Cider Spice Doughnuts I found them on the Our Best Bites Site. Mine aren't as cute as theirs but the are pretty darn good. And I agree with them. They do taste better the next day! I love this site they have some de-lish recipes. I am going to try these tonight!

Gimmie Cookie!

Go here and check out cookie mixes that are now available. My friend Stephanie at Red Riding Hoods Basket has just started selling her cookies in mixes!!!! I am so excited about this, her cookies are the BEST! My hubby would have hers any day over mine...well so would I. They are everything a cookie should be. I will be ordering mine soon. They will also make great gifts!

I got our BB this morning!

This is our first Bountiful Basket

2 Lemons,10 Banana's, 8 Apples, 16 oz. Strawberries, 5 Oranges, 5 pounds Potatoes, 2 pounds Carrots, 1 bunch Broccoli, 1 bunch Swiss Chard, 1 bunch leaf lettuce, 3 bunches Asparagus, and 10 Cucumbers Amazing and all for $15!!!! (there is a $3 charge for first time and $1.50 handling)
I also had the opportunity to volunteer and I think that I will do that EVERY time. Not only do you get your basket first but you get a little extra (2 small items or 1 big item) if there are leftovers after the separating is done. I really enjoyed it. Great people and so much fun.

I am HOOKED!!

Healthy for You and Kids

I have just recently joined a Co-op called Bountiful Baskets and rumor has it that this week there might be some Swiss Chard in the Veggie basket.

So not ever having Swiss Chard in my life and wanting to introduce new things to my family I went on a search for a recipe that MIGHT be worth trying out. I came across Natural Family Recipes and found this. I am SO looking forward to my BB and hope that the Chard is in it so I can try this for Sunday Dinner!

Here's to the start of Healthy eating.... I will let you know how it all goes!

Calzone...

One of my hobbies that I picked up from Mom was baking. We would always try new recipes or at least tear it out of a magazine in hopes that we would try it.
So I thought that I would share with you what my 2 year old daughter and I made for Dinner one night last week. CALZONES!!!
You can use whatever pizza crust recipes that you like. I just used one out of the Betty Crocker Cookbook and because I am trying to start making things that are food storage friendly I ground up some wheat and did the half white flour half whole wheat flour.
Just roll out the dough into small rounds and let the little one go at it with the toppings. My daughter LOVED this part.

Fold over and press with fork around the edges and brush with 1 beaten egg. then bake. About 350 for 20 mins or until nice and golden.

And Presto..... delish!