No Bake Cookies

I forgot to set aside cookies for Tyler and Keira's teachers and school bus drivers. So i whipped up these cookies in a jiffy, threw them in the fridge for a quick cooling job and sent them with Tyler ten minutes later!

1 stick of butter
2 C sugar
3 T Hershey's co co powder
1/2 C milk

Boil in microwave--about 4 1/2 minutes

Stir and add...in this order
1 t vanilla
1/3 C peanut/almond butter
2-3 C dry rolled oats

Stir in oats until the mix is no longer runny. Use your Tablespoon to scoop out Tablespoon size cookies onto cookie sheet or wax paper and let cool. To help the cooling process along, I threw mine in the fridge.

Enjoy!

Yummy Recipe

I've been following Lil Runner's Blog and am dying to try this recipe! Yum! It has to be delicious and if it helps my children and husband eat veggies? I'm all about it!

Butternut Squash Quinoa Doughnuts

BUTTERNUT SQUASH QUINOA DOUGHNUTS
This was adapted from the banana quinoa muffins.


2/3 c quinoa flour (toasted ground quinoa)
1/2 c oatmeal
1 c whole wheat flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 to 3/4 c butternut squash
2 T maple syrup (might want to add more)
2 T coconut oil
1 T flaxseed (ground)
1/2 to 3/4 c almond milk
1 tsp vanilla

Topping
1-2 T Coconut oil
1-2 T Cinnamon
1-2 T Sugar

Mix the flours, oatmeal, powder, soda and cinnamon in a large bowl. In a smaller bowl, add the squash, maple syrup, coconut oil, flax, almond milk (start with 1/2 c) and vanilla. Microwave 20-30 seconds and let sit about 5 minutes. Add the wet to the dry. If the mixture is too dry, add more milk and/or squash. Bake at 325 for 13-15 minutes till set.

Dip one side into coconut oil then cinnamon sugar. Let cool. These aren't too sweet so the topping makes them!

 

Pasta with Tomato Cream Sauce

A dear friend of mine, Becky, made her weekly menu. One of her days included "Pasta with Tomato Cream Sauce", compliments of the Pioneer Woman. Of course, I had to start my "South Beach Diet" today which eliminates all carbs (God forbid!) for the first 14 days. But I do believe, yes....I'm quite sure...I'm digging this for dinner tonight and I'm going to add some grilled chicken to the mix in order up the protein a bit. Nom Nom!

Pasta with Tomato Cream Sauce

compliments of "The Pioneer Woman"

Ingredients

• 2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
• 2 Tablespoons Butter
• 1 whole Medium Onion, Finely Diced
• 4 cloves Garlic, Minced
• 2 cans (15 Ounce Each) Tomato Sauce Or Marinara Sauce
• Salt And Pepper, to taste
• Dash Of Sugar (more To Taste)
• 1 cup Heavy Cream
• Grated Parmesan Or Romano Cheese, To Taste
• Fresh Basil, Chopped
• 1-1/2 pound Fettuccine

Preparation Instructions

Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain, reserving 1 cup of pasta water.

Heat butter and oil over medium heat. Add onions and garlic and saute for a minute or so. Pour in tomato sauce and add salt, pepper, and sugar to taste. Stir and cook over low heat for 25 to 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Remove from heat and stir in cream. Add cheese to taste, then check seasonings. Stir in pasta and chopped basil and serve immediately. (Thin with pasta water before adding basil if needed.)

Posted by Ree on September 9 2010

Yogurt Popsicles

We a very simple project today during daycare: Yogurt Popsicles! Yogurt has high protein keeping bellies full longer and lots of vitamins making bodies healthy.  I highly recommend this project for children of all ages!

Supplies:

Yogurt--I used Organic French Vanilla

Fruit--Optional, but really makes it fun! We used bananas sliced in small pieces

Popsicle Sticks

Small Paper Cups

Freezer

Grab paper cups (the small ones work best) at your local grocery store.

Layer your fruit and yogurt in the cups: fruit, yogurt, fruit, yogurt...I'm sure you get the idea. Then place the Popsicle stick in the middle until it touches the bottom of the cup.

Place the cups in the freezer for five or more hours until solid. Peel the paper off the yogurt like a "Push-up Popsicle" and enjoy!

Chloe (in pink) and Paige (in purple) enjoying their Popsicles. Chloe went on and on about how "yummy" the "ice cream" was.

Ms. Keira and Mr. Miles

Keira pretending to lick Tyler's Popsicle.

Two Really Good Blogs

Since I watch 4 toddlers during the weeks I'm constantly trying to find new projects for them to complete. We are almost done w/ the alphabet. This week will be "X, Y, Z" and I needed to find other topic to "teach". It wasn't too hard to find seeing how I've been using a website called "Totally Tots--Now I Know My ABCs" which links up to the orignal site "Totally Tots". Now mind you, I've been focusing on the children recognizing and writing their ABCs--which they do very well for 3 year olds! I never explored the rest of the Totally Tots webpage, until today! Wow, they have a lot of good projects, including Biblical principles. I feel like I've found a treasure of information and can not wait to start exploring these other sites and lesson plans A.S.A.P. After-all as a parent and a "teacher" it's my job to enusre they are educated and have a solid foundation to build their lives.

The second blog I spied today is "Under the Table and Dreaming". She blogged about natural homemade cleaning products.  Being pregnant and on a budget, I'm estatic to find natural non-toxic cheap cleaning products. Her blog overall is fresh and fun to read with a range of topics: crafts, recipes, home DIY projects, etc...If your lucky you'll win one of her give-a-way prizes!

Until tomorrow...happy living and grab a breath of fresh air ;).