SUNDAY BAKER

{Nature Magnets Craft}

2013-06-16T16:09:00.001-05:00

I made these with Henry and friends the other day for Father's Day gifts, but I think they are really fun to make for any time of the year. The kids really liked doing this easy project. We started off with a "nature" hunt through some little forested areas around our house to find various flowers and leaves. They then each chose a favorite to use for the project. I used this oven-bake clay from Walmart:

The kids softened the clay by rolling it in their hands for a few minutes. Then we rolled it out for a bit with a rolling pin and used a small plastic knife to cut our desired shape. We laid the leaf/flower onto the smoothened dough and then used a rolling pin to softly roll over the leaf and impress the image onto the clay. Carefully remove the leaf.

Next I baked them for about 20 minutes in a glass dish and a 275 degree oven, and let them cool completely. The kids painted them with Tempera paints and then we used a cotton swab to softly rub other paint colors over the images to bring out the pattern. I then sealed it with a paint sealer and hot glued on magnets once dry. So simple! We wrapped them in brown paper bags and made cards too.

Fridge art!

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Week In Photos: Nature's Revelations

2013-06-09T16:06:00.000-05:00

School's out. We've been hiding away camping and there, amongst pure and raw nature, I always find peace in my heart and the revelation that events in life do not have to be large and grande and fancy to be completely fullfilling.

Hearing the loon's mysterious cry to it's partner across the lake...watching an eagle soar over the water looking for it's next meal....seeing my sons run and play with their arms stretched out in the sunshine... all of these things quiet down that voice in my head that says, "You need to do more in your life, accomplish more, have more, get more!" Go go go go go! That is our life and our focus, sadly, while all around us is this absolutely magnificent earth filled with liveliness and splendor than any of that other "stuff". As I sit and watch I can feel the stress exiting my body and I literally change inside.

Being out in the elements amongst nature's finest is not for everyone, but it should be. I highly recommend it!

Rich found this nest in our yard after a windy storm. The inner layer is made out of our dog Sophie's hair. How cool is that? I just feel bad for the poor birds that worked hard to make the nest and lost it.

If you haven't tried PB2 (no, I'm not paid to talk about it!), do so! It's peanuts pressed into powder, therefore removing the fatty oils, therefore WAY less cals and yet awesome taste! I've been putting it in and on my oatmeal and it has me hooked. Delicious and good for the waistline ladies!

Don't forget to enter for the chance to win an LG Easy-Clean Double Oven of your own HERE!

{More} Printer Art ~~Spring and Summer

2013-06-04T18:13:00.000-05:00

I was going through my basement and found a bunch of old frames. I have quite a bit of empty space on my walls so decided to try out some more printer art. What's printer art? Well, it's art that is free and easy and can be changed at any time because it's virtually just a piece of printer paper taped into a frame.

I am really cheap when it comes to art because I tend to get tired of looking at it after awhile and therefore want to change it. If I paid a lot of money for it I feel guilty doing that. So , I usually make my own or print it off.

I found a great site full of free printables called Vintage Printable and printed off some pretty botanical images as well as a cool vintage flower pattern. I think it turned out very spring-like and pretty and now I have a completely free piece of artwork for my entry area!

vintageprintable.com

vintageprintables.com

There are several other really wonderful sites out there with free printable images. I browse them for hours sometimes. Just print, measure, cut, and tape!

Summer break starts Friday....I'm really excited! I always post more in the summer months due to more time. This summer I plan on doing a really fun weekly post on interviews with people who inspire me, fitness and healthy recipes, kids crafts, beauty and more. Hope you'll join me!

Messy Kitchen Fun! {Product Feature and Giveaway!}

2013-05-22T06:00:00.001-05:00

I've never met a kid who doesn't love to bake. Usually they don't care what they get to do, as long as they get to help. Whether it's cracking open some eggs, stirring the flour (all over the kitchen), or filling the cupcake tins, they are just giddy to be a part of creating food and being a helper. My favorite thing to do is to find a recipe that gets the whole family together in the kitchen.

One of the most fun recipes to make and eat is "Cupcakes in a Cone". I think we've all attempted this one time or another. If you have, you know it is a MESS! A fun mess, but a really not-fun one to clean up. The batter gets all over the kitchen, dries like glue, and drips down into the bottom of the oven as it bakes. In fact, most of my batches end up doing this:

Oh boy!

But because they are so loved, we just keep trying and eventually get a batch that doesn't resemble a bunch of volcanoes. These are really fun to decorate too.

photo: fakeginger.com

Cupcakes in a Cone
Yield:24
I like to use this white cake recipe minus the Jello
24 ice cream cones
favorite frosting
sprinkles

1. Set the cones in muffin tins. Fill until 3/4 full with the cake batter. Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes or until a light golden color. Remove and cool. Frost and decorate and enjoy!

As for the big mess...this is my least favorite part of baking. Honestly, my oven looks like a food war zone inside because I bake so often and don't always have time to clean it out.

That's why I was excited to discover an oven that does it for you! How cool is that? Without the use of harsh chemicals or high heat (or any elbow grease from me), LG’s EasyClean™ Double Oven Range provide a quick and convenient way to clean your oven, while still being able to use the conventional self-clean method. EasyClean works in three simple steps:

1.Spray the oven interior with water
2. Press the EasyClean button
3.Then in just 20 minutes, wipe away any residual bits of grime*. No chemicals or high heat needed to keep your oven sparkling clean (*Heavy build-up may require additional manual effort or use of the full self-clean feature).

For more information on this awesome oven, click here:
EasyClean™: A Clean Oven in Minutes, Not Hours

If I showed you my oven right now, you would see how badly I could use an oven like this! I really love the invention of appliances like that that make it so much easier for those of us who spend a lot of time in the kitchen, to spend a little less time cleaning up and more time being with our families. This is a big deal for me because I like to have everything in my kitchen neat, tidy and fresh. I just love the idea of something that makes that easier!

Your turn!

What is YOUR favorite recipe that leaves your oven messy?
Let me know in the comments for your chance to win your own LG EasyClean™ Double Oven Range!

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Photo Dumping Ground

2013-05-19T16:37:00.000-05:00

I've decided that every Sunday I'm going to "dump" the iphone/Instagram pictures I took during the week here to share. I'm rejoicing in the beautiful weather today!

Spring Bloom!

My Loves!

Clean Banana, Cocoa, Peanut Butter Oatmeal drizzled with honey-ate this 3 times this week. Yum!

Baha-ing!

A good hair day before work

Sam's first prom...!

Gorgeous!

One more week until Memorial Day weekend.

Share your photo dump link in the comments if you have one!

{A Quick Rainy-Day Toddler Activity}

2013-05-09T14:06:00.000-05:00

We just can't shake the sick bugs around here lately. We've all been sick and just when I think we're done, someone will get ill again. Rich and I have been taking turns staying home with Henry, who of course gets hit the hardest with the daycare germs.

Here's a fun activity we did the other day when Henry was holed up but feeling pretty good after a morning of napping. I hung a piece of line from one kitchen cabinet to another and gave him a basket of his socks and a bag of clothespins.

He spent over an hour playing with this! What a great activity for fine motor skills and hand eye coordination. He lined up all the socks and then counted them and even sang the ABCs with them. You could also have your child do a pattern or match all of the socks after doing the laundry. Very cheap and seriously the kids love doing this easy idea.

Do you like Henry's pajamas? He chose them himself. :)

Anyone else out there who can't seem to shake the sickness this season?

{7 Recipes That Use Pure Maple Syrup}

2013-04-30T16:33:00.000-05:00

Here in Northern Wisconsin, several folks I know have their own maple syrup operation. It is a really cool process. Buckets, like the one in the photo above, are hung on a tap that is pounded into the tree (it does not harm the tree). In spring, when the nights are chilly and the days are warm, the maple trees start to drip their sweet sap into the buckets. The buckets are harvested and put into a large tank that transfers the sap to a big oven, fired by wood. They boil down the sap until it's concentrated and dark and what we know as maple syrup. The aroma of the sap boiling is heavenly!

Most of the stuff we see in the stores is made with corn syrup. It's fake.

My friend's syrup shack-the big oven is inside.

Pure maple syrup is one of my first choices to use in place of processed sugar in sweet recipes. I love the delicious, golden taste and it's natural qualities. I like that it's nature made and nothing is added to it. I feel better feeding it to my family. It's worth the extra cost (it's at least twice the cost of the fake stuff).

Here are some of my favorite recipes that use maple syrup as the main sweetener:

Fruit and Yogurt Muffins

Grilled Chicken Marinade

White Chocolate Cranberry Muffins

Banana Oatmeal Chewies

Chocolate and Oat Cookie Chews

Oat and Almond Pumpkin Cookies

Nutrition Packed Baked Oatmeal Cups

Eggs In A Basket

At the maple syrup shack we visited, they poured it over vanilla ice cream. It was quite a hit!

{Healthier Peanut Sauce}

2013-04-23T10:59:00.000-05:00

I'm a paraeducator and I work one on one with students in the classroom. This year I'm working in the Kindergarten classroom. The teacher I work with, Carrie, is sort of my food soul mate. We don't get a lot of time to chit-chat, but when we do it's almost always about food! We both love food, and nutritious and healthy, clean food. I think she and I could talk for hours about recipes and ingredients. She's probably the first person I've ever met who has as much passion, if not more, about eating healthy but finding a delicious way to do it.

She gave me her recipe for a healthier peanut sauce. I was so excited because I LOVE peanut sauce but stay away from it due to it's high sodium/calorie/fat content. This version uses lighter ingredients but is still packed with flavor and even a little heat.

Carrie recommends serving it over whole wheat pasta. I've been making refried bean/spinach tortilla (100 cals from Trader Joe's)/chicken wraps with a touch of brown rice and dipping them in the sauce. So delicious!

{Healthier Peanut Sauce}

Yield: 4 servings

1 T. sesame oil

3 T. all-natural peanut butter

1 T. fresh grated ginger or 1 t. ginger powder

1 t. red pepper flakes or 3/4 t. cayenne pepper (optional)

3 T. boiling water (add more or less for thickness preference)

1 clove garlic, finely minced

2 T. lite soy sauce

1 T. red wine vinegar

1. Combine all the ingredients in a small mixer, or whisk together in a bowl.

Serve over whole wheat pasta, brown rice, or use as a dipping sauce. Optional Add-ins: chicken/tofu, sugar snap peas/pods, broccoli, bell peppers, onions/scallions, finely sliced carrots/celery.

Thanks Carrie!

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{Oatmeal & Apple Butter Bars}

2013-04-07T15:27:00.000-05:00

When I was a kid, I remember my mom making me toast with warm apple butter on it. It was always one of my very favorites. As an adult, I don't really see it used too often, but I really think it should be. The kind I found has only apples and cinnamon for ingredients, with no added sweeteners of any kind. Get this, it only has 10 calories per tablespoon and 1 gram of sugar. I don't know how it tastes so good and is so good for your waistline, but it is!

These bars are filled with good things. They are perfect for a mid-morning snack filled with fiber and nutrition. They stay together nicely as well. I love the richness of the dates, combined with the spiciness of the apple butter, and texture that the oats give them. They have just enough sweetness to satisfy without compromising your healthy diet.

{Oatmeal and Apple Butter Bars}

Yield: 18 mid-sized bars

3 c. quick cooking or old fashioned oats

2 t. ground cinnamon

2 T. flax meal

1/4 c. raw cashews, ground

1-1/2 c. dates, ground in the processor *see below

1 c. unsweetened apple butter

2 T. pure honey

Method:

1. Stir together the oats, cinnamon, flax and cashews in a medium sized bowl. Set aside.

2. In a separate bowl, whisk together the remaining ingredients, including the dates. Add the wet ingredients to the dry and mix well. The mixture will be very thick. It should stick together in one big ball with no crumbs. Using your hands works best.

3. Line an 8x13 baking pan with parchment and spray lightly. Press the mixture into the pan, leveling until smooth with the back of a spoon.

4. Bake in a 350 degree preheated oven for 15 minutes. Remove and cut into bars, but leave in the pan until cooled completely.

{Nutrition Packed Baked Oatmeal Cups}

2013-04-03T18:09:00.000-05:00

Can we talk about hormones for a minute? I realize that nobody really wants to read about hormones on a recipe post, but they are a big part of most women's lives. My daily diet (and please be clear that by "diet" I mean what I consume, not a weight-loss plan!) is pretty clean and healthy and I thrive on that. I feel energized and ready to go most of the day. I can fight cravings and most disappear after awhile because I'm full of good, healthy foods that meet all of my nutrional needs.

Then, one week of the month, those horrible hormones rear their ugly heads and sabotage me! I turn into this crazy monster who hunts down her pantry and fridge for anything that contains chocolate and whites. When I find some, I don't even think, just shovel it in and look for more. Hormones really do some funny things to our bodies. They can make us feel bloated and chunky and miserable. I decided, after a hormone induced bin of eating 1-1/2 Trader Joe's dark chocolate bars without flinching, that I was going to find a way to stop hormone binging.

I know I'm not alone. I hear women say it all of the time: "It's that time of the month and I CAN'T STOP EATING!"

I find that even if I just have a small taste of chocolate in something, it satisfies most of that hormonal craving, so I need to stick with healthy recipes that will fill me up and have a touch of my craving. These oatmeal cups really do it for me because they make me feel so full and satisfied. They are 100% clean, with the exception of the handful of mini chocolate chips, I throw in and packed with good for you ingredients. I love other add-ins that are healthier choices as well, such as:

fresh berries

ground nuts of your choice

raisins

craisins

unsweetened dried fruits, chopped

Typically oatmeal is a breakfast food, but I eat these as part of a meal or snack any time of the day. I even pick them up and eat them like a cupcake right out of the fridge. Take that, hormones!

Another thing I've noticed- If I'm eating a well-rounded, healthy diet, my cramps and bloated feeling is reduced almost 100%. It's awesome!

I love to add flax or chia seeds to recipes. Chia seeds are SO good for you. One tablespoon has 6 grams of fiber, 3 grams of protein, and 2.9 grams of Omega-3 fatty acids.

*****I don't need things to be super sweet, so if you are, definitely up the amount of honey or maple syrup you use.

{Baked Oatmeal and Chia Cups}

Yield: 8 large muffin cups

2 c. old fashioned or quick oats

1-2 t. cinnamon

1/2 t. nutmeg

dash of salt

1 t. baking powder

2 T. chia seeds

2 T. ground flax

1-1/2 t. pure vanilla extract

1 large, ripe banana, mashed

2/3 c. all-natural unsweetened applesauce (more if you want more sweetness)

1/4 c. pure maple syrup or pure honey

2 egg whites

1 c. water

1/2 c. add-ins of your choice

Method:

1. In a medium bowl, combine the oats, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, baking powder, chia seeds, and flax.

2. In a separate bowl, whisk together the banana, vanilla, applesauce, syrup or honey, egg whites, and water. Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet and stir with a spoon just until combined. Mix in the add-ins of your choice.

3. Fill sprayed muffin tins almost to the top (these won't really rise). Sprinkle the tops with a little more cinnamon. Heat in a 350 degree preheated oven for 25-30 minutes, depending on how you like yours. Less time for more moist, soft oatmeal and longer for firm, darker cups. Eat warm.

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

{Break!}

2013-03-28T14:33:00.001-05:00

We've been on spring break this week, though it hasn't really gone off as planned. We had a nice trip to Minneapolis to visit family, but Henry started to get ill Sunday night. He just started at a new daycare, so I wasn't surprised, only I didn't expect it to hang on the entire. spring. break.

He's had fevers every single night since and is tired and sickly during the day with coughing and congestion. Two doctors visits, one doctor says pneumonia and ear infection, the other doctor says bronchiolitis and RSV or influenza (the joys of small town medical care). Either way he's sick and down in the dumps and I just feel bad for the poor guy!

Poor Lucy had to get a shave...world's ugliest dog? I'm not sure which one has the worst hair-do here!

We did manage to get in an Easter egg decorating party! We used Sharpies, stickers and stamps in place of dye. **Tip: The silver Sharpies worked great on the eggs.

We finally have sun and I feel so energized! I've been getting in some great workouts and working on some healthy and delicious recipes. I also managed to reorganize my horrifying looking pantry. Organizing always makes me happy once it's done!

The pantry before. I always mean to keep it organized, but work gets in the way of things like that!

I bought wide lid quart canning jars for all of my dried nuts, fruits, legumes, etc. I eat these all on a regular basis and replenish often, so I cut the label off of each package with nutrition info and taped them on the backs of the jars. I'll just keep refilling the jars as needed and throw away the packaging to make it tidier and easier to find. I wrote the name of each on a label and put it on the lid with the expiration. I can just put a new label over the old if needed.

I cut out the cooking instructions and put them on the Kitchen Recipe Board for later use.

Command strips work great to hang and hide lunchboxes in the sides of the pantry.

Pantry after: much more functional and appealing.

Happy Spring Everyone! Enjoy the sunshine!

{Clean, Mean Banana Ice Cream}

2013-03-26T14:14:00.000-05:00

I had pinned a similar recipe this months ago and forgot about it (from userealbutter.com). Then my coworker, who shares in my love of healthy living (and making healthy imitations to junk food), told me that she had been making this and it was so good.

So I tried it. Oh my goodness you guys....it is AWESOME! Run to your kitchen and get those bananas in the freezer so you can make this tonight. It's virtually guilt free. It's not much more than eating a banana!

Clean Mean Banana Ice Cream

Yield: about 2 cups

2 ripened bananas, sliced

1 t. cinnamon

1 T. all-natural peanut butter (I like it nutty)

1 T. unsweetened cocoa powder (I used Trader Joe's brand)

1 t. pure vanilla extract

Method:

1. Freeze the banana slices for a couple of hours. You want them frozen solid for best results. Remove from freezer, and immediately put into a food processor. Process for several minutes, stopping to scrap the sides of the bowl. ***See pics below Stop when the texture is that of a soft, creamy whipped ice cream.

2. For "vanilla" ice cream, you can just eat it as is or add a bit of vanilla, and peanut butter. For "chocolate" ice cream, add in all of the ingredients and process a bit more until ingredients are incorporated.

Eat it immediately. It is soooo delicious and satisfying it is hard to believe there's no milk or fat added. Crazy goodness!

5 Things

2013-03-16T17:31:00.001-05:00

1. My favorite workout accessory. This kid has so much energy lately I don't know what to do with it (cabin fever?), so he has started to join me in my workouts. We are definitely sleeping good at night!

2. Sam was inducted into the NHS...we are beaming with pride! Everyone says teenagers are tough. I never want mine to leave :(

3. I'm suffering from some sun-deprivation issues. We are having a prolonged winter season here and it is TOUGH. Ugh! We literally get about 1/2 a day of true sunshine a week and more snow than we'll ever need (and more is on its way). The temps have been downright cold also. I'm not as depressed as this picture portrays, but I am plain old sick and tired of it! I think I live in the wrong state?

4. I've been playing around with a lot of healthy recipe variations and can't wait for spring and summer break to start sharing more of them here with you. I will actually have down time!

5. I'll be doing many more posts similar to this as summer nears...sharing more. Hope to see you here! Also, join us at my Sunday Baker Facebook page here for some really fun discussions!

{Peanut Butter & Cocoa Granola Topping}

2013-03-03T10:38:00.003-06:00

Rich has been traveling a lot for work, which I'm very used to, but it also means dealing with sick kids (Henry has the stomach flu today) by myself, along with a million other things. I've been eating a very healthy, nutrient rich diet and let me tell you what a HUGE difference it makes in my energy levels!

Some days I go with only 5 hours of sleep. Bad I know, but when you have so much to get ready for work/daycare/teenager stuff at night time, and you have to get up at 5 a.m daily to get things going for the day, it's inevitable. Those hours of sleep I do get, though, are pretty quality. I crash!

So, lack of sleep, along with cabin fever from winter would normally pull me so deep down into the dumps I feel like bawling. But that has changed as my diet was cleaned up and I rid it of processed sugars and chemicals. It has made a major difference.

I wrote this recipe because I was getting a little tired of plain greek yogurt and needed a yummy topping. This granola is right up my alley with the peanut butter and chocolate and almonds, and it contains no processed junk. I have to watch how much I put on because it's still high in calories, but I just love the texture and taste!

{Peanut Butter and Cocoa Granola}

dry:

2 c. quick cooking oats

1/2 c. raw almonds, chopped fine

2 t. cinnamon

2 T. baking cocoa

(mix all of these ingredients together in a medium bowl; set aside)

wet:

5 T. all natural peanut butter (crunchy or creamy)

3 T. pure honey

1 t. pure vanilla extract

(whisk these together, then microwave for about 45 seconds until the mixture is foamy/bubbly and melted)

1. Add the 2 mixtures together until well combined. This may take a bit. It's easiest to use your hands and really make sure the dry mixture gets coated well.

2. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a sheet with parchment and pour the mixture evenly on the sheet. Bake for 10-15 minutes, or until the granola is somewhat crunchy and crisp. Don't overbake. Stir half-way through baking.

Store in an airtight container.

Vegan Oatmeal & Bean Burgers

2013-02-20T16:39:00.000-06:00

Where in the world have I been you say? Well, I've been in the depths of frozen tundra winter hell. It's that time of year that always pulls me down, down, down. However, this year hasn't been as bad as others simply because I've been way too busy for that nonsense.

I've been eating almost exclusively vegetarian lately. I do have some chicken here and there and I love me some fish, but red meat is out.

I made these "burgers" that are completely meat-free, and was eating one in the lunchroom at work. Several coworkers gave it a try (all meat-eaters) and said it was good and tasted like a real burger. The ultimate test I say!

I love these and have been eating a lot of them lately. They make a huge batch, so plan on freezing them if you aren't going to eat them up right away.

Vegan Oatmeal and Bean Burgers
4 c. water (add 1/2-3/4 c.lite soy sauce to water)
1/2 c. lite soy sauce
4 c. quick-cooking oats
2 T. flax meal
1 c. bulghar, cooked
3/4 c. cooked black beans
1 c. chopped nuts (walnuts, pecans, almonds, etc.)
1/4 c. minced onion
1 T. minced garlic
1 t. italian seasoning
1 t. garlic salt
dash of salt and pepper

Method
1. Bring water and soy to a boil in a large saucepan. Stir in the oats until blended. Add all of the rest of the ingrediens and stir well.

2. Line a baking sheet with parchment or foil. Use a round cookie cutter and place it on the sheet. Fill with the batter and level the top with a spoon. Carefully lift the cutter to leave a formed "burger" on the baking sheet. Repeat this until batter is used up. Bake in a 375 degree oven for about 25 minutes, or until the burgers are darkened and firm in the middle. Flip over half-way through baking. These can also be fried in a sprayed pan.

The Flu: Fight Back! (Enter for a Great Giveaway!)

2013-01-24T05:23:00.001-06:00

The stomach flu already hit our home, and it was not a fun one. While I was sick with it, Rich was obsessively trying to keep the surfaces of the house clean so they wouldn’t all get it too. While I was laying there in agony, I kept thinking about the big flu, the respiratory flu that can make the stomach flu look like nothing.

I realized that because I work in an elementary school, Sam goes to a high school, and Henry goes to a very busy daycare, I need to take more action to keeping germs away from our home. Henry has problems with he gets a respiratory illness because he had RSV as a baby. He gets hit harder than the average person. With this year’s massive flu outbreak, it’s more important than ever to have our family prepared to fight the flu, both at work and school AND at home.

We have had our flu shots, but here are some other things we can do to up our chances of holding off the nasty, evil flu germs that seem to be everywhere:

--Wash your hand frequently, and with warm water for at least 20 seconds (that’s longer than most people usually do!)

--Disinfect germ hotspots spots you and your family touch frequently like the remote control, door handles, light switches, faucets, phones, keyboards, and toys. Clorox® Disinfecting Wipes work wonderfully for this, and they KILL the flu virus germs.

--Do the elbow cough (sneeze, cough into your elbow instead of your hands) and teach your kids this also. I’m constantly showing kids at school this technique. If they cough into their hands and don’t wash, it’s a field day for those germs to spread.

--Finally, follow good health habits such as eating right, exercising, and get plenty of sleep to boost your body’s ability to fight off flu and colds.

-I washed down all of our bathroom surfaces with this:

To learn more about the importance of disinfecting and tips to keep your family healthy visit Clorox.com

It is just the perfect time to have the opportunity to use more of Clorox's disinfecting products just at the right time! Our family gets double whammied from all sides with these nasty germs and bacteria, and I do feel so much better with a wipe and a spray of these products that kills them. I'm working with the entire family to start wiping down surfaces after they use them to cut down on the spread of germs.

I'm also taking a container of Clorox Disinfecting Wipes to work with me to wipe down anything and everything!
*Use as directed

"Visit Clorox.com to learn more about the importance of disinfecting and other tips for keeping you and your family happy and healthy."

"Which are your favorite Clorox cleaning products that help keep you and your family healthy?"

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Kitchen Recipe Board

2013-01-22T11:09:00.002-06:00

While I love Pinterest (and here are my boards if you'd like to follow me), I get mildly annoyed every time I need a recipe and have to log in and find it on my boards. I also tend to just forget about most of the recipes I've pinned.

I really like just having an old fashioned, written recipe in front of me.

I made this real-life board of pins and pins of recipes I want to make, have made and like, or am inspired by. I "pin" from magazines and old recipe cards from relatives, and especially love the hand-written cards. I pin pictures that inspire me or make me smile in the kitchen, keep a magnet container with current coupons, and even my little store list. It's all in one place and right in the heart of my kitchen so I don't forget about those much-anticipated recipes.

I just love it and it's so easy and cheap.

The magnet board is from Ikea: Magnet Board for $12.99
Magnetic Spice Containers $4.99/3 pack

{A Simple, Well-Loved Playroom}

2013-01-02T11:36:00.002-06:00

When we bought this house, it had 4 nice sized bedrooms. The 4th bedroom was at the end of the hallway and away from the rest. It always seemed out of place to us. So years ago, we removed the doorway, added some french doors, and made it into a media/family room of sorts. Then Henry came along, and along with a little boy, come more toys than I had ever planned on buying again!

We still use this space as a computer area for Sam (we took out the closet and put in a desk), but the rest of the room is now Henry's playroom. It's pretty much perfect for that because it has ugly wood wainscotting all around the room. I had thought about changing that, but then realized it was perfect for a little guy and his friends to bang against and not have to worry about it.

So I kept everything simple and love the space it turned into. I didn't add any fancy artwork, though that was my original intention. Instead, Henry's art hangs on the walls. I moved our kitchen chalkboard in there for a little personality as well. The furniture is all inexpensive or self-made.

But who cares if I like it. The most important thing is that Henry loves it :)

This corner of the room became the kitchen/market area. He loves making food in his microwave and serving it to us. The table and chair set is so light that he moves it all around the room to play. Just what I wanted.

This corner of the room houses his Reading Tent that we made awhile back. It's still a favorite for him and I'm so glad we have it. I like to throw his stuffed animals in there too, as I'm not a fan of them laying all around the house.

The curtains are sheer but still cute and fun, adding a little personality to the room.

One thing I've learned about kids is that if they have too many toys and choices, they really get overwhelmed and don't play with anything long enough to even appreciate it. I rotate Henry's toys a lot, and half of them are stashed away in the basement. I have an entire closet devoted to all of the building sets and craft supplies so those don't get thrown all over the house. He knows that he can only take from that closet if he asks first. More is not better, really!

Here's the list of items in this room and where to get them (and I can guarantee you it's all inexpensive!):

Chalkboard

Kitchen

Table

Train

curtains

The shelves are very inexpensive shelving from a discount store years ago. I had them in my old pantry and they worked nice in the playroom because they are so neutral, and again old and ugly so they can be beat up and drilled on with playdrills and beat on with play hammers!

{Empanadas}

2012-12-31T09:44:00.002-06:00

Sam needed a Spanish dish for his Spanish class fiesta. We decided to make empanadas, though I hadn't made them before. Turns out they are super easy to make, extremely versatile (when it comes to fillings), and delicious too.

They are fun to make with the kids also. I adapted from a recipe that I found on allrecipes.com, though I'm pretty sure that these are not traditional empanadas since the dough contains cream cheese. I also found that you do not need to refrigerate the dough overnight or for a few days as the original recipe recommended. I refrigerate it for about 4 hours and it always comes out great.

{Empanadas}

Yield: 2-1/2 dozen

1/2 c. butter, room temp

3 oz. soft cream cheese

1 c. all-purpose flour

1 c. fruit preserves, any flavor

1/3 c. granulated sugar

3 t. cinnamon

Method:

1. With an electric mixer, cream together the butter and cream cheese until soft and fully combined. Slowly add in the flour until it forms a stick dough. Remove the dough onto a large piece of saran wrap and form it into a large ball. Wrap in saran and refrigerate for 4 hours or overnight.

2. Remove dough from the fridge at least 30 minutes before using. On a floured surface, and with a floured rolling pin, roll the dough very thin. With a 4" round cookie cutter, cut circles and place a few teaspoonfuls of preserves (or filling of choice) in the middle of each circle.

3. Fold the dough circle in half and softly press to secure with your fingers. Pull up both corners and dogear the dough to secure the edges. Take the end of a fork to seal the rest of the edges.

4. Mix together the cinnamon and sugar in a bowl. Set aside.

5.Bake in a 350 degree preheated oven for about 15 minutes, or until the dough is softly golden. Cool very slightly and then carefully roll each empanada in the cinnamon/sugar mixture and place on a rack to cool.

6. These can be made with so many different fillings, both sweet and savory (minus the cinnamon/sugar) I've made blueberry, apple, banana and picadillo (beef). Delicious everytime and the kids love them!

Join me and all of my friends over at my fun Facebookpage where we have great discussions about everything you can imagine.

Blessings to all of you in 2013!!!

{From Us To You}

2012-12-23T13:46:00.001-06:00

{artwork by Henry}

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

Santa visited us early at the Belanger house. He showed up in Henry's toy room with a sleigh made out of a wheelbarrow, craft table, and various toys. His reindeer were various creatures. ("I'm santa mom, this is my sleigh. I'm ready to take off!") This was how he spent his entire morning.

{Rudolph}

I have my baking almost done, and the boxes of cookies made up for the neighbors.

Christmas and New Year blessings from our family to yours!

{Henry's 3rd Birthday- Dino Party!}

2012-12-16T19:02:00.001-06:00

My baby turns 3 tomorrow. THREE! Wasn't is just yesterday that I announced on here we were pregnant? And now he is a blonde haired, walking, talking boy. Too fast, too fast.

We had a "kid" party to celebrate this weekend and the theme was DINOS! I have always just loved to throw kid parties. I could do this for a living! I think I might just enjoy it more than the kids.

Here are some pics from the party:

"Take-n-Toss" cups worked great for no spills

{Dinosaur "bones" made from pretzel sticks with a marshmallow on each end, then dipped in white chocolate.}

{fossil cookies (made with imprints of dinosaurs}

I painted this mural for a picture backdrop-the kids were so funny with it!

We played all kinds of fun dino games and it was just a wonderful time!

{Nature's Snow Tree}

2012-12-13T16:48:00.000-06:00

One of my favorite Christmas books to read to the boys is called The Snow Tree. It's a story about a bear who awakes to a world of white winter snow, but then his forest friends find objects from nature that add color to their forest tree.

This sweet story was the inspiration for our simple tree this year. I know it's silly, but I always think about how the tree had to give it's life for us to enjoy, so I need to put time and thought into decorating it.

I picked pinecones from our yard and painted the tips white and hung them with yarn.

I used modge podge and old book pages along with some printed animal images to cover some old ornaments. I just love how they turned out!

I found some fun animal ornaments at Walmart and Target and some cute little glass pinecones.

And wrapped all our packages in brown kraft paper, plain white, and some fun owl printed paper from Target, and yarn to match the ornaments. The boys and I will still string some cranberries to finish it off.

{Top Gift Picks for 3 to 5 Year Olds} Christmas 2012

2012-12-09T09:20:00.000-06:00

I'm a researcher when it comes to buying toys (when it comes to buying anything actually). I usually spend quite some time on the net reading reviews and comparing prices. When it comes to buying toys, games, or art supplies for Henry, I'm pretty picky about it. I don't like a lot of toys cluttering the house up, so if it's going to be sitting around I want it to be something that is well made and that he will love to play with for more than a day.

Here's my list of gifts for the 3-4 year old boy or girl that I really think you can't go wrong with. I worked in the 4k classroom for 2 years, and many of these items were big favorites in there.

1. Board Games. This is the age that they LOVE when mom and dad sit down with them and play something they have to think about a bit. These 3 games are age-appropriate, and challenging enough without being difficult to the point they will check out. The part they will love best is playing it with YOU!

Richard Scarry's Busy Town

This game has a 6 ft long board and involves using a magnifying glass to look for things in the pictures.

The Sneaky Snacky Squirrel

How cute is this? I love the visuals for the kids. They learn to count, take turns, and hopefully how to be a good sport when they lose some acorns!

Zingo

Kids just love "zinging" the pictures out of the machine and then checking to see if they have a match. Bingo for beginners. They have other versions as well, including one with sight words-awesome way to learn!

2. The {Large} Wheely Bug Ride-On

These ride-ons (available in other animals as well) are not made of junky plastic, but instead are super durable and will provide years of fun. They wheel in all directions and are perfect for in the house during those long winter months. They make a smaller version for young toddlers, but this larger version is for ages 3-5. They are a bit pricey, but well worth the price imo!

3. Gears!

Pre-k kids can't get enough of gears. They lock together, can be built up or across, and rotate to their delight.

4. Books. These are some of my favorites right now:

Press Here

Such a simple idea, but so engaging for those eager little fingers.

The Game of Finger Worms

Your finger is the star of the book!

No David!

When this book is read at school, every eye is on it. Kids are fascinated by David's naughty adventures, but in the end there's always forgiveness.

Of course there are a million more selections that we can't get enough of. Children's books have always been a passion of mine!

5. Straws and Connectors

These straws are another huge hit, especially with boys, and really encourage creativity. Definitely not for the younger toddler, though, as the connectors are very small and would be big choking hazards.

6. Pottery Barn Kids Anywhere Chair

This is one of the best gifts Henry ever received. He uses it every single day. It's sturdy, holds up, and the cover removes for washing. He can bring it room to room also. Top pick for sure!

7. Stomp Rocket Jr

Pretty simple concept here: stomp on the stomp pad and the rocket goes flying into the air! Inexpensive and loads of fun!

8. Melissa and Doug Jumbo Cardboard Blocks

If you have the room for these, get them! I found a wooden shelf where we stack ours up so they are out of the way when he's done playing. Serious favorite of 3-6 year olds.

9. Melissa and Doug Wooden Blocks

They build, sort, pull in wagons and don't break the bank. You can't go wrong with these as a gift!

10. Boxes!

Yes, still a favorite for my almost 3 year old!

{Fa la La la La!} La la la la....

2012-12-08T04:50:00.000-06:00

We are busy, lost in Christmas magic around here....

Or maybe I should say Christmas and holiday craziness.

Shopping, shopping, shopping

Planning a Dino birthday party for a soon to be 3 year old

school programs

parties

Not nearly enough Christmas cookies

more shopping

Working

So much hoopla, when all I really want is my family to be relaxed and with me.

Well, that and Christmas cookies, preferably healthy ones that won't make me gain a million pounds.

We need a little more Snoopy and Charlie, and that simple little tree.

I'll be back soon with birthday party pictures and other Christmas fun!

{Easier To Make Rolo Cookies} ~ Holiday Baking

2012-11-18T14:58:00.000-06:00

It's that time of year again where the guys are out hunting and I'm at home finding ways to make my pants fit tighter.

I started my holiday baking. Except I don't freeze or store my early baking, I just put it out and share it right away and keep making more throughout the season.

I know these Rolo-stuffed cookies have made their rounds on the net for awhile now, but they have been a Christmas favorite at our house for years. They are so easy to make, with the only annoying part being having to take the wrapper off the Rolos. Great job for the boys.

The other part that is a bit time consuming when making this treat is wrapping the dough around the Rolo. I've found a way to do that, and it's super easy and way faster. You can also roll these in sugar before baking.

{Rolo Cookies}

Yield: 4 dozen

3/4 c. butter, soft

1/2 c. all-natural peanut butter

1/2 c. granulated sugar

1/2 c. brown sugar

1 large egg

1 t. pure vanilla extract

1-1/2 c. all-purpose flour

1/2 t. baking powder

1 t. baking soda

Rolo candies

{Method}

1. With an electric mixer, beat together the butter, peanut butter, sugars, vanilla and egg until creamy and well combined. In a separate bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, and baking powder. Slowly beat the flour mixture into the butter mixture until a thick dough forms.

2. Fill a 1" cookie scoop with dough. Press an unwrapped Rolo through the middle of the dough (while it's still in the scoop) and press the dough, that pushes up when the Rolo is inserted, around the Rolo until it's completed covered. Place the ball on a parchment lined baking sheet and leave as is (see photos below). Place the balls about 2" apart.

3. Bake in a 350 degree oven for about 10 minutes, or until the top of the cookies is light golden. Cool completely before removing to a wire rack.