I recently followed a recipe for homemade granola, and instantly fell in love with the results. What a fabulous snack, topping, or addition. I used a book called, "The Teen's Vegetarian Cookbook" by Judy Krizmanic, and changed just a few of the ingredients to suit my taste. The recipe was easy, though there were a decent amount of ingredients, and the cook time was not even 20 minutes. I have been eating it ever since, and plan to make a second batch as soon as this one is finished. Here is the recipe, and some ideas on how to use it will follow.
1 cup of sunflower seeds (without the shell)
1/2 cup of sesame seeds
1/4 cup of chopped or slivered almonds
3 cups of rolled oats
1/4 cup flour
1/2 cup brown sugar
5 Tbls veg oil
1/2 tsp salt
1 Tbls vanilla
3 Tbls honey
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 cup of dried fruit (I used chopped apricots)
Preheat oven to 350. In a dry skillet, toast sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, and almonds until they become fragrant. This should be done using low heat, and should be stirred frequently. In a large bowl, combine all ingredients, except the dried fruit. (Yes, the toasted seeds and nuts should be added to the bowl). Spread the mixture onto cookie sheets, and bake for about 20 minutes, or until golden. (My oven took 17 minutes). Stir the mixture a few times while baking. Add the dried fruit when you take the granola out of the oven. Let it cool on the cookie sheet. Once cool, store in an airtight container.
Granola Uses:
Add 1/4 cup to yogurt
Add to cereal and milk
Mix with berries and cool whip
Use in trail mix
Add to vanilla ice cream/frozen yogurt
Mix with banana and peanut butter
Monday, June 11, 2012
Friday, June 8, 2012
Fall Off the Bone Indoor BBQ Chicken Legs
This is a true story, which will be followed by a real recipe. Yesterday was one of those days where I could not get my daughter to eat anything. I offered her all of her favorite foods, and kept suggesting things for her to eat. Nonetheless, she said "no" to everything, and in fact, refused to even sit in her highchair. During naptime, I made chicken legs for dinner. It was still hot, and sitting in a covered pan on the stove when my daughter woke up. We played together for a little while, and I started offering her some meal ideas. It was now 4pm, and the only time she had eaten was breakfast. Still refusing food, I brought her into the kitchen. When she saw the pan on the stove, she asked to "see" what was in it. I took the cover off and told my daughter I made chicken for dinner. She said, "highchair, chicken!" I was hesitant at first, there were 5 pieces of chicken, and there are 3 of us. It was the last day before grocery shopping, so there were no other dinner options. However, I caved and gave her some, out of the pure excitement that she finally showed interest in eating. Well, here is how the story ends; my little nugget ate two whole chicken drumsticks, along with some corn. When my husband came home from work, she ate more of his chicken also. Moral of the story, that was some good chicken! Here is the incredibly easy recipe:
Serves 3
5 chicken drumsticks, skins removed
one vidalia onion sliced into rings
4-5 Tbls store bought bbq sauce
salt and pepper
canola oil for the pan
Heat a large saute pan over med-high heat. Add oil, enough to cover the pan. Season chicken with salt and pepper. Once the oil is very hot, add the chicken. Brown on all sides. Lower the heat to low, add the onions to the pan, and drizzle bbq sauce on chicken. Cover the pan, and cook on low for about 45 minutes, turning once. You will know chicken is done when it starts to fall apart.
**I made instant brown rice and frozen broccoli and mixed them together. When the chicken is finished, put the pieces on top of the rice, and pour the sauce from the pan over everything.
Serves 3
5 chicken drumsticks, skins removed
one vidalia onion sliced into rings
4-5 Tbls store bought bbq sauce
salt and pepper
canola oil for the pan
Heat a large saute pan over med-high heat. Add oil, enough to cover the pan. Season chicken with salt and pepper. Once the oil is very hot, add the chicken. Brown on all sides. Lower the heat to low, add the onions to the pan, and drizzle bbq sauce on chicken. Cover the pan, and cook on low for about 45 minutes, turning once. You will know chicken is done when it starts to fall apart.
**I made instant brown rice and frozen broccoli and mixed them together. When the chicken is finished, put the pieces on top of the rice, and pour the sauce from the pan over everything.
Thursday, June 7, 2012
How I Organize, Track, and Use Coupons
It is common knowledge that clipping coupons can help save money. Knowing how to institute a coupon system on the other hand, is not as easy. Before I had a structure to follow, I rarely used the coupons I had. Most of the time, they sat in my purse, and I forgot I even had them. When I finally remembered, they had already expired. Now, I have a solid coupon routine, and it helps enormously. I save an average of $15 a week on groceries just using the coupons found in the Sunday paper. I need to add here that I am not one of those coupon clippers that buys a pallet of deodorant just because it was free. I purchase healthy items that my family needs and likes. Here is my coupon tools, methods, and strategies:
I have a small binder divided into multiple sections or categories. My divider is called "The Couponizer" and can be found online. If you want to make your own, you can use a small 3-ring binder, sandwich zip lock bags, and labels. There is an empty section in the front that I use during my shopping trip to keep the coupons I will need at the register. The rest of the sections are alphabetically ordered categories, and are as follows:
Baby
Baking & Staples
Beverages
Bread & Bakery
Breakfast
Canned Goods
Condiments, Dressings, & Spices
Dairy
Frozen Foods
Health & Medicine
Household Cleaning
Household Maintenance
Laundry
Meat
Paper & Plastic
Pasta & Quick Meals
Personal Hygiene & Beauty
Pet
Snacks
Vegetarian
I shop the same day every week, Friday, which helps to keep track of what I am doing. I also keep a running list of items we need on the dry erase board on our refrigerator. I write down items that are running low a few weeks before we will actually run out. This gives me time to buy it when it is on sale.
Every Monday, I go through the binder and throw out any coupons that are expired, or will be expired by my next shopping trip.
On Wednesdays, I clip coupons, and put them into the appropriate category of my binder. I check online to see if there are any coupons I can use, and I check my store website as well, since they have digital coupons that they add directly to my price plus card.
The rest of my week consists of matching coupons to the current store circular. I go through the circular and circle items that are both on sale, I have coupon for, and my family can/will use. I put a little "c" in the circled item to remember I have a coupon. After that, I look through the circular and mark items that are just on sale and are worthwhile.
Next, I make my shopping list using the store advertisement that I marked. When writing my list, I put the"c" mark next to products I have a coupon for. When I use my list at the supermarket, I know to find the coupon for the particular item marked with a "c," and I put that coupon in the empty space in the front of the binder. At the register, I simply pull out all the coupons in the front section, and hand them over!
I have a small binder divided into multiple sections or categories. My divider is called "The Couponizer" and can be found online. If you want to make your own, you can use a small 3-ring binder, sandwich zip lock bags, and labels. There is an empty section in the front that I use during my shopping trip to keep the coupons I will need at the register. The rest of the sections are alphabetically ordered categories, and are as follows:
Baby
Baking & Staples
Beverages
Bread & Bakery
Breakfast
Canned Goods
Condiments, Dressings, & Spices
Dairy
Frozen Foods
Health & Medicine
Household Cleaning
Household Maintenance
Laundry
Meat
Paper & Plastic
Pasta & Quick Meals
Personal Hygiene & Beauty
Pet
Snacks
Vegetarian
I shop the same day every week, Friday, which helps to keep track of what I am doing. I also keep a running list of items we need on the dry erase board on our refrigerator. I write down items that are running low a few weeks before we will actually run out. This gives me time to buy it when it is on sale.
Every Monday, I go through the binder and throw out any coupons that are expired, or will be expired by my next shopping trip.
On Wednesdays, I clip coupons, and put them into the appropriate category of my binder. I check online to see if there are any coupons I can use, and I check my store website as well, since they have digital coupons that they add directly to my price plus card.
The rest of my week consists of matching coupons to the current store circular. I go through the circular and circle items that are both on sale, I have coupon for, and my family can/will use. I put a little "c" in the circled item to remember I have a coupon. After that, I look through the circular and mark items that are just on sale and are worthwhile.
Next, I make my shopping list using the store advertisement that I marked. When writing my list, I put the"c" mark next to products I have a coupon for. When I use my list at the supermarket, I know to find the coupon for the particular item marked with a "c," and I put that coupon in the empty space in the front of the binder. At the register, I simply pull out all the coupons in the front section, and hand them over!
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Purely Sappy, Extra Corny
I am a naturally positive person, and I sometimes wonder if I ever annoy anyone with my attitude. I can find the good in almost anything, and can always make myself smile. I am giddy, energetic, and goofy, which at my age can be quite ridiculous (not that I plan on changing, sorry Babe)!
Besides my perky disposition; I am also a dreamer, emotional, and sentimental. I copy inspirational quotes from a book I have onto the dry erase board on my refrigerator . I write poetry, and love listening to the lyrics of songs. I read memoirs because I love people, and I can find the good in everyone.
So here I am rambling on about myself, and I bet you are wondering the topic of this post. I am giving you a list of some reasons I love life. Now I am guessing you want to know why. Well, for one, there is probably at least one love we share, and if not, I bet I can at least get you to think of something. It is nice to remember things we love, for no other reason than to smile, and reminisce. Our days are usually ridiculous, busy, stressful, and chaotic. I am writing this so that for the few minutes it takes you to read this post, you can do nothing but think of something you love and hopefully, smile.
Besides my perky disposition; I am also a dreamer, emotional, and sentimental. I copy inspirational quotes from a book I have onto the dry erase board on my refrigerator . I write poetry, and love listening to the lyrics of songs. I read memoirs because I love people, and I can find the good in everyone.
So here I am rambling on about myself, and I bet you are wondering the topic of this post. I am giving you a list of some reasons I love life. Now I am guessing you want to know why. Well, for one, there is probably at least one love we share, and if not, I bet I can at least get you to think of something. It is nice to remember things we love, for no other reason than to smile, and reminisce. Our days are usually ridiculous, busy, stressful, and chaotic. I am writing this so that for the few minutes it takes you to read this post, you can do nothing but think of something you love and hopefully, smile.
- Cool showers on hot summer days, and warm showers on cold winter days
- The beach
- The smell of coffee first thing in the morning
- Playing in the snow
- . The accomplishment you feel after finishing a good book
- Getting together with friends
- Days when the weather is your own perfection (for me, that is sunny and 70 degrees!)
- There is a good quote to fit whatever mood you are in
- A favorite song being played on the radio when you are driving alone (I totally sing and dance by myself)
- Seeing my daughter finally do something she has been practicing for a while
- Going for a walk on a trail
- Cooking good food
- Finding a great new workout DVD
- Getting cozy at night
- Hugs
- Ice-cream
- Chick-flicks
- Hammocks
- Having people to love
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
Getting A Toddler to Listen
Let's face it, no matter how good your tactics are, sometimes children do not follow directions. It is a part of being a child, and it is going to happen. However, I use several different approaches depending on the situation, and I can happily say that my daughter USUALLY ends up cooperating. As I have said in a previous post, nothing about being a parent is predictable, so that should always be in the back of one's mind. Nevertheless, there are strategies that work better than others, and I have been mostly successful.
Before I share these approaches with you, I feel it is necessary to share what toddlers are going through at this particular stage of development. I think that understanding a toddler's struggles can help when faced with certain situations.
Toddlers are constantly attempting to learn and master new and challenging skills, such as walking, running, and climbing. Although I do not remember these milestones in my own life, I am watching my daughter go through them. It is exciting and wonderful, while being frustrating and scary.
Along with physical growth, toddlers are also trying to gain their independence. I have found that this is the most challenging aspect as a parent. This toddler mission explains why children of this age use the word "no" so many times in a day, and want to do things their own way. In learning to be an independent individual, toddlers might test limits, and refuse to do things. It is hard to balance the need for independence when one is still so dependent on others.
In addition, one and two year old children are learning to talk, but cannot always clearly express their wants and needs. Toddlers also do not know how to appropriately display emotions, they are still learning.
Keeping all of this in mind, here are some helpful tips to get through this fun and active time in your child's life:
1. Offer choices as much as you possibly can, even if it seems silly. Make sure the choices are clear, and keep it simple. Also, there should be a definite answer, "no" cannot be and option. Here are some examples of times and ways I offer my daughter choices.
"Would you like the blue plate or the orange plate?"
"Who is going to brush teeth with you tonight, Mommy or Daddy?"
"Are you going to wear your green shirt or your purple shirt?"
"Do you want to get your diaper changed on the table or the bed?"
2. Countdowns help end activities, or give warning to upcoming events. I do five minute countdowns for my daughter. I remind her how much time is left after each minute. Examples of how I use this approach:
"There are five minutes left until bedtime."
"In five minutes we are leaving the park."
"We are going into your stroller to walk the dog in five minutes."
3. This advice was passed down from a very good friend, and a mom of three. Have your child say "goodbye" to things/places when it is time to leave or stop the activity. It gives your toddler a sense of closure and control, and it works well for my daughter. Here are some times I use this method:
"Say goodbye to the park. Bye-bye swings, bye-bye slide and sandbox. See you soon"
"Time to say goodbye to the bath. Bye-bye bath, thank you for getting me clean."
4. Use distraction. In other words, if your child is doing something you do not care for, try getting their attention on a different activity. For instance, if your little one is throwing toys, start reading a book to a bunch of his/her dolls.
5. Try not to use the word "no" or to make negative statements. Tell your toddler what he/she CAN do, rather than telling what they cannot do. For instance, if your little one starts to color on the floor you can say, "We can use crayons on paper." In my daughter's playroom, we have one rack of DVDs. When she starts to play with them, I say, "You can play with any of the toys in this room."
6. Set your expectations before starting an activity. State rules before you begin playing.
"Let's keep the play dough on the mat."
"We are going for a walk. We hold hands outside."
Keep in mind that every child is different, and every day is different. Sometimes one strategy will work one day, and not the next. One approach might work for one toddler, but not another. Experiment, and see which ones work for you and your child, and if you have any advice, please share!
Before I share these approaches with you, I feel it is necessary to share what toddlers are going through at this particular stage of development. I think that understanding a toddler's struggles can help when faced with certain situations.
Toddlers are constantly attempting to learn and master new and challenging skills, such as walking, running, and climbing. Although I do not remember these milestones in my own life, I am watching my daughter go through them. It is exciting and wonderful, while being frustrating and scary.
Along with physical growth, toddlers are also trying to gain their independence. I have found that this is the most challenging aspect as a parent. This toddler mission explains why children of this age use the word "no" so many times in a day, and want to do things their own way. In learning to be an independent individual, toddlers might test limits, and refuse to do things. It is hard to balance the need for independence when one is still so dependent on others.
In addition, one and two year old children are learning to talk, but cannot always clearly express their wants and needs. Toddlers also do not know how to appropriately display emotions, they are still learning.
Keeping all of this in mind, here are some helpful tips to get through this fun and active time in your child's life:
1. Offer choices as much as you possibly can, even if it seems silly. Make sure the choices are clear, and keep it simple. Also, there should be a definite answer, "no" cannot be and option. Here are some examples of times and ways I offer my daughter choices.
"Would you like the blue plate or the orange plate?"
"Who is going to brush teeth with you tonight, Mommy or Daddy?"
"Are you going to wear your green shirt or your purple shirt?"
"Do you want to get your diaper changed on the table or the bed?"
2. Countdowns help end activities, or give warning to upcoming events. I do five minute countdowns for my daughter. I remind her how much time is left after each minute. Examples of how I use this approach:
"There are five minutes left until bedtime."
"In five minutes we are leaving the park."
"We are going into your stroller to walk the dog in five minutes."
3. This advice was passed down from a very good friend, and a mom of three. Have your child say "goodbye" to things/places when it is time to leave or stop the activity. It gives your toddler a sense of closure and control, and it works well for my daughter. Here are some times I use this method:
"Say goodbye to the park. Bye-bye swings, bye-bye slide and sandbox. See you soon"
"Time to say goodbye to the bath. Bye-bye bath, thank you for getting me clean."
4. Use distraction. In other words, if your child is doing something you do not care for, try getting their attention on a different activity. For instance, if your little one is throwing toys, start reading a book to a bunch of his/her dolls.
5. Try not to use the word "no" or to make negative statements. Tell your toddler what he/she CAN do, rather than telling what they cannot do. For instance, if your little one starts to color on the floor you can say, "We can use crayons on paper." In my daughter's playroom, we have one rack of DVDs. When she starts to play with them, I say, "You can play with any of the toys in this room."
6. Set your expectations before starting an activity. State rules before you begin playing.
"Let's keep the play dough on the mat."
"We are going for a walk. We hold hands outside."
Keep in mind that every child is different, and every day is different. Sometimes one strategy will work one day, and not the next. One approach might work for one toddler, but not another. Experiment, and see which ones work for you and your child, and if you have any advice, please share!
Saturday, June 2, 2012
Convenience Foods that are Worth It
We do not eat many ready made foods. I buy very few things from the frozen aisles at my supermarket. However, I am a busy mom, and lets face it, it is 2012. Some things are just easier, and why mess with that? I have incorporated some convenience foods into our healthy diets. These are a list of the ones I feel are truly worth it, keeping both the cost, and ease of use in mind.
Frozen fish fillets that are pre-packaged in the seafood department are usually cheaper, and are de-boned. Be sure to check the ingredients to make sure the only one is fish, and check the package to be sure it is wild caught. I will admit that fish does lose some flavor when packed this way, but with the right seasonings and cooking methods, it is still delicious!
I will buy turkey or chicken sausage if I find it on sale. It can be high in sodium, but I make sure the rest of our meal is fresh. For example, I will serve the sausage with tons of veggies and baked potato.
One of my FAVORITE convenience foods is instant brown rice. This is rice that is ready to eat in 10 minutes or less. You do not lose nutrients, it is a much better option than white rice, and it is super fast. This is a go to addition to almost any meal.
Jarred pasta sauce is another convenience food that I now buy. Before becoming a mom, I always made my sauce, however, this was an easy time-saving switch. Today, you can find jarred sauce that is lower in sodium and contains few ingredients. One of my favorite choices is Prego Heart Smart. I can find coupons for it, it goes on sale, and it has few ingredients. It also tastes good, and has low salt compared to other choices.
Salsa is one of those foods I absolutely LOVE to make, but I also have no problem buying a jar if I do not have the time. It is versatile, low in calories, and inexpensive.
Last, but most certainly not least, FROZEN VEGGIES! How can one resist?
Be sure to come back for a future blog, "Convenience Foods that are NOT Worth It!"
Frozen fish fillets that are pre-packaged in the seafood department are usually cheaper, and are de-boned. Be sure to check the ingredients to make sure the only one is fish, and check the package to be sure it is wild caught. I will admit that fish does lose some flavor when packed this way, but with the right seasonings and cooking methods, it is still delicious!
I will buy turkey or chicken sausage if I find it on sale. It can be high in sodium, but I make sure the rest of our meal is fresh. For example, I will serve the sausage with tons of veggies and baked potato.
One of my FAVORITE convenience foods is instant brown rice. This is rice that is ready to eat in 10 minutes or less. You do not lose nutrients, it is a much better option than white rice, and it is super fast. This is a go to addition to almost any meal.
Jarred pasta sauce is another convenience food that I now buy. Before becoming a mom, I always made my sauce, however, this was an easy time-saving switch. Today, you can find jarred sauce that is lower in sodium and contains few ingredients. One of my favorite choices is Prego Heart Smart. I can find coupons for it, it goes on sale, and it has few ingredients. It also tastes good, and has low salt compared to other choices.
Salsa is one of those foods I absolutely LOVE to make, but I also have no problem buying a jar if I do not have the time. It is versatile, low in calories, and inexpensive.
Last, but most certainly not least, FROZEN VEGGIES! How can one resist?
Be sure to come back for a future blog, "Convenience Foods that are NOT Worth It!"
Friday, June 1, 2012
Super Easy, Super Fast, and Super Yummy Glazed Chicken with Broccoli
I made this for dinner tonight, and immediately knew I had to share. This was a cinch to make, and came out delicious! My toddler ate all of the broccoli on her plate, and asked for seconds!
Serves 3
Ready in 20 min
Ingredients:
3 chicken breast cutlets
1 Tbls, plus more for the pan-olive oil
1 Tbls honey
1 Tbls spicy brown mustard
1 Tbls brown sugar
salt and pepper to taste
two heads of broccoli crowns cut into bite size pieces
Heat a large skillet over med heat. Meanwhile, wash and dry chicken. Using a meat tenderizer, flatten the cutlets. Season chicken with salt and pepper. Add olive oil to the hot pan. Add the chicken, and brown for about 3 minutes. Turn chicken over, and brown second side. Lower heat to low, and cook chicken an additional 3 minutes per side.
While chicken is cooking, whisk together the olive oil, honey, mustard, sugar, and a pinch of salt and pepper.
During the last minute or two of cooking, brush chicken with glaze.
Remove chicken from pan, and keep warm.
Add the broccoli to the same pan, and cover. Turn the heat up slightly to med-low. Cook until tender, about 5 minutes.
Serves 3
Ready in 20 min
Ingredients:
3 chicken breast cutlets
1 Tbls, plus more for the pan-olive oil
1 Tbls honey
1 Tbls spicy brown mustard
1 Tbls brown sugar
salt and pepper to taste
two heads of broccoli crowns cut into bite size pieces
Heat a large skillet over med heat. Meanwhile, wash and dry chicken. Using a meat tenderizer, flatten the cutlets. Season chicken with salt and pepper. Add olive oil to the hot pan. Add the chicken, and brown for about 3 minutes. Turn chicken over, and brown second side. Lower heat to low, and cook chicken an additional 3 minutes per side.
While chicken is cooking, whisk together the olive oil, honey, mustard, sugar, and a pinch of salt and pepper.
During the last minute or two of cooking, brush chicken with glaze.
Remove chicken from pan, and keep warm.
Add the broccoli to the same pan, and cover. Turn the heat up slightly to med-low. Cook until tender, about 5 minutes.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)