Not a Treat, Just Plain Trash

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Just in case you had any doubt, the above item is trash, not a treat. A quick read of the ingredients will confirm that:

Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Fruit Juice (Contains One or More of the Following: Apple, Grape or Pear Juice from Concentrate), Contains Less than 2% of the Following: Citric Acid, Natural and Artificial Flavors, Sodium Benzoate and Potassium Sorbate (Preservatives), Red 40, Yellow 5, Yellow 6 and Blue 1.

Try my watermelon popsicles instead!

Cost of Food – Unhealthy Vs Healthy Food

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There are no excuses for poor food choices, just poor planning. Eating nutrient-rich foods doesn’t have to break the bank, but you do need to have a plan in place in order to make healthy meals, prepare snacks to have on hand, and make the best choices in the grocery aisles. Take the extra time and effort to plan ahead now that you can see from the above image that the high cost of healthy foods is no longer an acceptable reason for not eating right.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cooking with Kids – One of my Favorite Parts of Summer!

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Last week, I once again had the honor of opening up my home and kitchen to a handful of kids. We spent time around the table creating some fun meals. Below are the menus we whipped together and enjoyed together as well. Click on the menu items to take you to the recipes so you and some of your favorite little ones can also create and eat!

Mexican Feast

Italian Cafe

Brownies for the Finale

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This was another recipe I searched for online since the kids in last week’s cooking class requested brownies for our final day. I made these brownies exactly according to the recipe, and they turned out great! I will be making these again but will try replacing the butter with coconut oil or extra light olive oil. I will also decrease the sugar by 1/4 cup and add in 1/4 cup of local honey to replace it. We topped off our brownies with fresh whipped cream and strawberries!

  • 1/4 cup organic butter

  • 1/2 cup organic sugar

  • 2 eggs

  • 1/3 cup unsweetened applesauce

  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

  • 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

  • 1/3 cup white whole-wheat flour

  • 1/4 teaspoon salt

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour an 8-inch square pan.

Melt 1/4 cup butter in a large saucepan over low heat. Remove from heat and stir in sugar, eggs, applesauce, and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract. Beat in 1/3 cup cocoa powder, flour, salt, and baking powder. Spread into prepared pan.

Bake in preheated oven until brownies are just set in the center, 20 to 25 minutes.

 

Homemade Pizza

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I found this recipe online as I researched whole grain pizza crusts. This was recipe #2 that I tried, and it was the winner! Next time I will try to mix a higher protein flour (like chickpea or brown rice) with a lighter protein content flour (like a whole wheat pastry flour) just to see how it turns out.

      2 c. whole wheat flour
      1 pkg. rapid rise yeast
      3/4 tsp. salt
      1 c. warm water
      1 tbsp. olive oil
      1 tsp. honey

Pour flour into a large mixing bowl. Add yeast and salt. Mix well. Add water, oil and honey; mix well. Spray with olive oil and cover with plastic wrap and place in a warm spot for 10 minutes to rise.
Punch down. Lightly cover pizza pan with cornmeal. Press dough onto pan. Spread sauce and other ingredients on pizza crust. Bake at 425 degrees for 15 to 20 minutes or until crust is golden brown and cheese is melted.

A Bright Reminder for Kids (Young and Old!)

ikeaTonight at church, I was able to cook and create dinner with our kids for our summer Wednesday night activity. After making and thoroughly enjoying a healthful meal, I passed out these IKEA utensils to each child. These are to serve as a reminder that our plates should be colorful – full of the rich and bright spectrum of fruits and veggies that God created!

Fresh and Simple Salsa

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Here is one of the recipes we made today in my kid’s cooking class. I love the coolness of salsa on a hot summer day!

Fresh Salsa

6 Roma tomatoes

½ large green pepper

⅓ cup finely chopped sweet onion

2 teaspoons minced garlic

2 key limes

Salt and pepper to taste

Fresh cilantro or parsley

Cut tomatoes and green peppers into small pieces. Place into a medium bowl and add onion and garlic. Squeeze the key limes over the veggies. Add salt, pepper, and fresh herbs. Stir and chill for at least 3 hours. 

Monday Motivation

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A little inspiration for your Monday morning!

Top Hydrating Foods

Most of us will be outside tomorrow enjoying our Nation’s Birthday. Eat up and stay hydrated AND healthy!

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Oven Fries with Balsamic Ketchup

20130629-214900.jpgHomemade Balsamic Ketchup

  • 1/2 cup balsamic vinegar

  • 1 Tablespoon tomato paste

  • 1-2 teaspoons crushed garlic

  • 1 sprig fresh oregano

Place vinegar, tomato paste, and garlic into a small sauce pan. Whisk together until the paste is incorporated. Put in oregano. Allow the mixture to sit over medium heat for about 5 min. Reduce to a simmer and allow to reduce until it becomes a thick syrup. Remove from heat, discard oregano, and serve with oven fries (or chicken, pork, or with whatever floats your boat!)