Happiest Little Baker Giveaway!

I am not a very crafty person.  Some moms have the most pinterest-worthy art projects up their sleeves, but when it comes to doing something creative with my kids, I've always preferred baking.  Which is why I was THRILLED to discover the Happiest Little Baker - a subscription based monthly kit that comes equipped with pre-measured, non-perishable ingredients and simple-to-follow, adorable recipes!  It was created by a woman named Linsdey and her husband Mike - parents who love baking with their own two children.  Their kid-friendly approach is obvious in every detail - they even include an activity sheet to kill time while your treat bakes.  After our 'Witch Hat Cupcakes' were done, my son proclaimed, "this is SO MUCH FUN, please sign up for every month!!"    

So for the giveaway, HLB is going to give one winner a 3-month subscription for FREE!  To qualify to win, you must officially follow this blog, as well as follow HLB on Twitter, Instagram and like them on Facebook.  Please leave a comment below to enter the giveaway, letting us know what you like to bake with kids.  A winner will be chosen at random on Wednesday at 9am EST.  Good luck!  

Read More

Turkey, Cheese & Cauliflower Meatballs

I make a lot with cauliflower, because it's a vegetable that my children will actually eat, but chopping it up is one of my least favorite things to do.  It's messy, tedious and time consuming.  But yesterday I was at Target, and I came across these Cauliflower Crumbles (did you know if you're a mom and you find yourself with a few free hours you car will actually DRIVE YOU TO TARGET all by itself??? so weird).  Yes, these crumbles are a major short cut BUT WHO CARES!?  Short cuts at dinnertime make for a happy household.  So last night, I made a version of these meatballs with cauliflower crumbles instead of the other vegetables it called for.  They were so yummy!!  They even went to the party, the party in our tummies, because sometimes we have to sing that song while we eat...

Thank you for the recipe, Audra!

Also, a Cauliflower Quesadilla and a Cauliflower Rice Bowl.

Read More

Veggie Pizza Balls

By now, if you're a parent, your children are probably back to school (if not, I offer you my deepest condolences).  You're probably also in major "fall schedule" mode.  Back-to-school shopping and haircuts and soccer and dance (and figure out those carpools!) and school open houses (with so many forms to fill out) and easing back into homework.  It's a lot!  It's so much!  And on top of it all, you probably keep forgetting you need to feed your children breakfast and pack their snacks and lunches and figure out something (what!?) to make for dinner.  Which is why I love finding things you can make the night before, or in the 20 spare minutes you find during the day, and can pop in the oven that night.  Weelicious to the rescue!  If you're not familiar with her site, check it out.  She offers a slew of easy, healthy, kid-friendly recipes.  Like these Pizza Balls you can stuff with anything!  Cheese, marinara and then, if you think your kids will eat it... veggies.  I added some finely chopped cooked cauliflower to mine.  My kids loved them (oh, and I ate 10).  Check out the recipe here.

Read More

Back-to-school on Rachael Ray

Back-to-school for the kids, back-to-work for mama!  I had a blast on The Rachael Ray Show this morning testing out 3 adorable snacks for the kiddos: edible crayons, rainbow pasta and homemade fruit leather.  They were extremely easy and Rach and I gave them four thumbs up, because we each have four thumbs (you know what I mean).  If you missed the segment, you can check it out here!

Read More

Pink Ombre Cake

When I asked my daughter what kind of cake she wanted for her third birthday, her reply was simple: "pink!"  So I went a little overboard, and made the inside of the cake three shades of pink, with pink frosting, pink edible glitter and pink heart sprinkles.  Were there pink candles?  Um, duh.  And I splurged a bit on this cake topper from Etsy because an all-pink cake deserves a little bling.

To make the cake ombre, all you need is a little food coloring!  Simply bake as many layers as you'd like, evenly distribute the batter into different bowls, and use varied amounts of food dye to create different shades.  I made 4 different layers, but the cake started to look absurdly tall so I ditched one of them.  I used boxed white cake (two boxes) with neon pink food coloring, and followed this recipe for the Vanilla Buttercream.  It was a hit amongst the pink-loving crowd.

Now if someone could just help me figure out how to explain to a three-year-old that her next birthday is an entire year away...  

Read More

Tuna Melts: Big and Small

When we were visiting The Voice set over vacation, I discovered something FANTASTIC.  My almost-three-year-old PICKY eater will eat tuna salad!  You see, television sets are a dangerous, dangerous place for little kids.  There are scattered jars of M&M's and jelly beans and gum (so much gum!) and then trays of cookies and bars and sometimes they bring out something called Cookie Pie and serve it with ice cream and I die.  Like I said, television sets are dangerous places for grown women who write food blogs.  Anyway, I was bribing Etta to eat SOMETHING healthy before she dove into the candy jar, and tuna salad it was.  We had tried it at home before, but after eating "The Voice" tuna (weird) I realized what I had done wrong.  Mine was too chunky.  This was whipped, and fluffy... a spread-like consistency.  So when I got home, I decided to put my tuna in the food processor.  It was delicious!  Some mayo, some garlic salt, fresh lemon juice and salt and pepper...

Now we make Tiny Tuna Melts for the kids on crackers with white cheddar, and grown up versions on sourdough bread with sliced tomato and avocado.  I pop both versions under the broiler and watch until the cheese gets bubbly and slightly golden (adding the avocado for the adult sandwiches at the end).  You should definitely try the food processor trick for your tuna if you haven't already!

Tuna Salad

(Serves 4-6)

Printable Recipe

12 oz. tuna (I like solid albacore in water)

1/2 cup light mayo

Juice of half a lemon

Garlic salt

Salt and Pepper

Drain tuna, and place in food processor or blender.  Pulse until smooth.  Place in bowl, and add mayo and lemon juice.  Stir until smooth.  Add garlic salt, salt and pepper and taste until desired consistency is reached!

Also, Tuna Avocado Toast and Tuna Casserole

Read More

Homemade Funfetti Cake

My baby turns ONE on Thursday.  Today, August 17th, was my due date, and it feels like just yesterday that I was waddling around, complaining about still being pregnant, shoving absurd amounts of carbs in my mouth.  Now she's almost one, moving into toddler-ville, drinking real milk and trying to walk.  I would do it all over again, each and every loooong pregnancy, just to savor these baby years.  Yet I know they must grow up, and therefore we must celebrate and that means CAKE.  We had a little pre-party the other day, and I baked a homemade Funfetti Cake following this recipe.  It was moist, delicious, and easy.  And um, fun... DUH.  

Instead of one of those giant number candles, I made a "1" using a wax paper stencil I made myself.  Simply cut out a design, place over the cake (gently), add your sprinkles and remove!  

More birthday cake fun:

Jack's 5th birthday cake.

Jack's 4th birthday cake(s).

Jack's 3rd birthday cake.

Jack's 2nd birthday cake.

Jack's 1st birthday cake.

Etta's 1st birthday cake.

Etta's 2nd birthday cake.

(And in case you're keeping track, for Jack's 6th birthday I bought an ice cream cake because that's what he wanted and I only pouted about it for a week or so.)

Read More

Baby Brezza: Tropical Smoothie

You know those "first kid, second kid" commercials?  I think that perhaps I write them in my sleep and submit them to the diaper companies.  There is nothing more true than how much your parenting mentality changes from one kid to the next.  Our first kid had only age appropriate toys that I sterilized once every few weeks in a bucket of soapy water.  Our third kid plays with (and sucks on) my car keys.  It's just the way it goes!  Similarly, I made ALL of Jack's baby food.  All of it.  Down to pureed ground lamb, turkey and chicken that I called "meat paste" - oh man, did it look revolting.  Second and third baby?  Well, I definitely made a few things... but those baby food pouches are just SO convenient (enter major mom guilt!).  

However, I always say to new moms: it is SO simple to make homemade baby food.  Chop, steam, blend... it's truly that easy.  You can even make large batches of food at once and freeze individual portions.  Products like the Baby Brezza make the process foolproof.  At the touch of a button, you can steam and blend your food at desired intervals, or you can steam only, blend only, etc.  The other day, I made a smoothie for London with strawberries, mango, banana and yogurt, and with the leftovers I made frozen push-pops for the big kids.  6 thumbs up from them!  I do math!  

Tropical Baby Food Smoothie

(Makes 4 small glasses, or 4 frozen push-pops)

Printable Recipe

1/2 cup fresh or frozen strawberries, roughly chopped

1/2 cup fresh or frozen mango, roughly chopped

1/2 banana, sliced

1/2 cup whole milk yogurt

Place first 3 ingredients into the Baby Brezza.  Choose the 'Steam and Blend Only' feature for 15 minutes.  Once the fruit has been blended, add the yogurt, and choose the 'Blend Only' feature until your desired consistency is reached.  Pour into glasses and place in fridge to cool.  I poured some into push-pop molds and froze for the big kids. 

Found my "Cool Cones" at Michael's, but can also be purchased here.

Read More

Frozen Peanut Butter Banana

Carson came home from work the other day and was raving about this easy recipe: a banana, sliced in half, smothered in peanut butter and frozen.  What a great thing to keep in your freezer for a sweet, savory, healthy snack!  I, of course, would dip it in dark chocolate, maybe roll it in coconut... but I don't know when to stop.  You should make this, thanks Joy Bauer!    

Speaking of Carson, I wrote a little something about him for Father's Day here.  If you enjoy, please share, and vote, or better yet... join the site and write your OWN!    

Read More

Today Parenting Team!

Are you familiar with the Today Show Parenting Team?  It's a community in which anyone can join and share their parenting advice, stories, photos and wisdom.  There are monthly topics and challenges that have spewed such wonderful articles, like this one (she's my hero).  It's really fun, and if you're a parent or grandparent or godparent or auntie or teacher or you have, like, a thousand cats... you should join.  We're in this together people!

I recently wrote an article about "letting go of stress" - because I am NEVER stressed.  Nope, not me, I'm perfect.  Click here to read, it's called: Teenagers Don't Wear Diapers!  If you enjoy the read, would you consider voting for me?  And sharing it with your friendly friends?  Thanks!!

Back later with a delicious Salmon + Garlicky Mashy Peas recipe...     

Read More

Mini Chipwich's

I am exhausted.  Like, beyond.  I spend all night in my 7 month-old's room, trying to coax and nurse her tiny, teething body back to sleep (because she's all, HELL NO to this sleep training rubbish).  I spend all day negotiating with my 2 year-old who is on a very productive hunger strike... have one ITSY BITSY bite of food to MAKE MOMMY HAPPY BECAUSE MOMMY IS SAD (it doesn't work).  As I type this, I have asked my 6 year-old to go potty and get dressed for school 17 TIMES and I've even threatened that our neighbor with his scary dog will have to drive him if he misses the bus.  I'm exhausted.  There used to be room in my brain to think about food.  Now, I'll realize it's 10am and I haven't eaten a thing yet and I'll drive my minivan into the wall of a Starbucks and buy every breakfast sandwich they have.  I'm sooooo tired.  But, then I'll read an article like this one, and I'll laugh and ugly cry simultaneously, and I'll remember... these are the days I'm going to miss.

(And then I chant that over and over again like a lunatic)

So, until my brain regains some sense of normalcy, all I have for you are these Mini Chipwich's I brought to a dinner party last night (because an "adult dessert" is waaaaay beyond my comprehension right now).  I used this recipe for a "cafe-style" cookie, made them as small as I could, flattened them prior to baking, smushed some vanilla ice cream in between the cooled cookies and rolled the sides in mini chocolate chips.  I may be brain dead, but they were delicious.  

Read More

Vanilla Snow Cream!

Is it snowing where you are?  Are you stuck at home with your kids because school was cancelled (again)?  STOP EVERYTHING YOU'RE DOING, go outside, scoop up some fresh (clean) snow and make Vanilla Snow Cream!  Ice cream made of snow!  It takes 3 ingredients!  You might not have sweetened condensed milk, in which case you might want to make a harrowing, 5 mph drive to your supermarket like I did, but it will be worth it.  Snow, vanilla extract and a can of sweetened condensed milk.  It's superb, I tell you, SUPERB!  Recipe here.  

Read More

Dipped Pretzels

Yes, Valentine's Day has come and gone... and these pink and red treats look like they should have been posted PRIOR to February 14th.  But, I don't do anything on time anymore soooo, there you have it.  When you have to put "shower!" on your to-do list, just like that with an exclamation mark, then you know you're not going to have your blog posts organized like the rest of the blogging world.  I'm sorry.  But only sort of sorry, because if you'd do me a favor and imagine that the candy melts are GREEN, then you could say I'm a month early for St. Patrick's Day treats!  I'm awesome!  

These are really easy to make and fun for children too (if you're okay with them looking extremely messy).  Simply melt candy melts (or chocolate) in a disposable decorating bag.  I do this in my microwave for 30 second intervals, massaging the bag in between each to help with the melting process.  This usually takes about one minute and thirty seconds... and make sure to fill the bag only 3/4 full so your candy doesn't ooze out.  Then, fold the top over a bit to make it easier to dip your pretzel.  Dip, twirl, let the excess drip off, and place on a parchment-lined baking sheet... 

Decorate with more piping, sprinkles or mini chocolate chips!  Mmm, coconut would be yummy too. The possibilities are endless, just make sure to decorate quickly because the candy sets fast.

I found pretzel bags that made them very presentable and easy to travel with.

Read More

Chocolate Peanut Butter Pretzel Sticks

What a week this has been!  Thank you for all the nice things you had to say about my Rachael Ray appearance.  I would love to go back, but I need your help!  Tell me if you've seen recipes online that baffle your little brain (just kidding... your brain is huge), particularly if they have to do with upcoming celebrations like the Super Bowl or Valentine's Day.  Ok?!  Ok.

I will leave you on this cold, snowy Friday with a messy treat that's fun for kids.  As you can hopefully tell from the photos, I let mine completely take over this project.  After all, it was my nearly-six-year-old's idea.  He said, mom, let's take pretzels and dip them in peanut butter and then chocolate.  I said, sure!  And so we did.  I melted some creamy peanut butter in the microwave for about 30 seconds, just to make it easier to dip.  Then we dipped, placed them on parchment-lined baking sheets, and placed them in the fridge for about an hour to set.  After that, we melted chocolate chips (for 30-second intervals in the microwave, stirring in between) and dipped again!  Warning: this is messy.  But the kids loved it, and I took deep breaths and let go.  Let it GOOOOOO...     

Pajama sword fight!

More chocolate dipped pretzels.

Read More

Jello Cookies

My little boy had a temperature yesterday, and he overheard the doctor telling us that she lets her own kids "cook" when their fever is low enough.  When we got home, he started asking me what he could make in the kitchen.  It was right before dinner, so I told him it wasn't the best time, until he insisted that the doctor wanted him to COOK.  Um, adorable!  How do you say no to that?  So we jumped on Pinterest and searched for kid cookie ideas.  He picked these Jello Cookies, and I happened to have every ingredient on hand (because my kitchen is a goddamn bakery).  If you ever wonder if everything on Pinterest is as easy and adorable as it looks, the answer is NO.  I couldn't get this dough to come together.  Even after adding milk, it was a crumbly mess.  But I was able to make 5 cookies out of it and Jack was happy, therefore, I'll categorize this as a success (let's pretend that the dinner I was planning on making wasn't totally neglected and I didn't order pizza instead).         

By the way, the lovely people at Alpha Grillers felt badly that they couldn't give ALL of you a Garlic Press & Peeler Set, so they're offering everyone 10% off should you want to buy one on Amazon!  Just use the code SIRIGP10, which is valid between now and December 24th.

Read More