Kid Friendly
Oatmeal Cake-great for Easter brunch
Easter brunch is a fun family tradition and I love to have a few recipes on hand that can be made ahead of time. This Oatmeal Cake is easy to make and everyone just loves it. This cake is moist and has the hidden benefit of extra nutrition by adding in the oatmeal. The topping combines nuts and healthy coconut which adds a bit of sweetness to any brunch coffee cake. You can also serve the as a light dessert with fresh strawberries or raspberries. Another wonderful thing about this recipe is that it can be made ahead and frozen for a few days. Just take out of the freezer the night before and warm it up for a few minutes before serving. Hope your family likes it as much as ours and who knows it could become a new addition to your Easter brunch menu.
Oatmeal Cake
1 cup oats
1 ¼ boiling water
½ coconut oil
¾ cup white sugar
¾ cup brown sugar
2 eggs
1 1/3 cup flour (I used whole wheat and white combined)
1 teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
1 ½ teaspoons cinnamon
6 Tablespoons melted butter
¾ cup brown sugar
1 cup coconut
1 cup chopped walnuts
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/3 cup sweetened condensed milk
Combine oats and boiling water and let sit for 20 minutes. Cream coconut oil (slightly softened) and ¾ cup brown and ¾ cup white sugar. Add eggs and mix until combined. Add oatmeal mixture and mix until combined. Add flour, salt, soda and cinnamon and mix until smooth batter is formed. Pour into a greased 9×13 pan and bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 35 minutes. While baking the cake, make topping by mixing melted butter, coconut, nuts, vanilla and sweetened condensed milk and stir …
Read MoreMom Hacks for Easter
Easter is coming up next week! Busy mom life gotten in the way of your desired Pinterest worthy ideas? Don’t stress – here are some tips and tricks to having a great, simple, and still adorable, Easter!
CARROT BAGS
If your time is limited, but you want to do something cute for your kids’ buddies or classmates – this is perfect for you! These bags are so cute! All you have to do is fill them with an orange treat (Goldfish, Cheddar Bunnies, Orange M&M’s), tie them off, add a cute label and you’re set!
EASTER BASKETS
Find cute containers or baskets that can be used after Easter. These are $1 at Target and I plan to use them for toy organization and storage after they are filled with some fun Easter goodies.
Tip for Easter Baskets
Fill Easter baskets with things your kids NEED, not just candy and trinkets.
Clothes and shoes for the warmer weather, an Easter outfit (that can be worn throughout Spring and Summer, too), new school supplies, a craft idea with all the supplies that will give you and your child some quality time together!
Check out some of our favorite (and always simple) ideas to have a super fun, Jesus-filled Easter!
https://www.growingweisser.com/2017/04/05/what-easter-is-really-all-about/
https://www.growingweisser.com/2017/04/04/easter-craft-to-share-love/
https://www.growingweisser.com/2016/03/09/planting-jelly-beans-in-home-grown-easter-grass/
https://www.growingweisser.com/2017/04/14/easter-egg-ercise-get-your-bunny-tails-moving/
https://www.growingweisser.com/2017/04/05/donut-forget-jesus-on-easter-the-empty-tomb/
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Food Science – St. Patrick’s Day Themed
This week is Girl Scout Week, where we celebrate the birthday of Girl Scouts by participating in different activities each day. I love being a part of Girl Scouts, and being a leader for my daughters.
One of the activities to choose this week was to do a food science activity.
I found an activity for “Leprechaun Sand” that looked fun, simple, and I had all the ingredients on hand. PLUS, it is holiday themed, so MOM WIN!!!
You can find the original post here along with fun questions to ask the kids during and after the experiment.
Warning: This activity is really messy. And you do use green food coloring, which stains. So I recommend washing hands immediately following your fun with the sand!!
You will need:
baking soda
vinegar
green food coloring
droppers
a baking pan (with sides to keep the liquid in)
aprons or play clothes
First, pour out the baking soda into the pan. We used A LOT and probably could have used more! Add the vinegar to a bowl or cup and add the food coloring. Use the droppers to slowly add vinegar to the baking soda.
(This took a REALLY long time, so eventually I just slowly poured the vinegar over the baking soda). Don’t use too much though, you want the mixture thick enough to play with. That’s what make the “Sand!”
The girls had a lot of fun with this and it was very easy for me to set up!
Mom approved!!
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Sharing the Real Meaning of Easter with your Children and Grandchildren
Easter is the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
The whole Christian faith is based on Easter
Easter is a season when we reflect on the suffering, sacrifice, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
It is impossible to reflect upon Easter and all of its hardships without letting it reflect in and through us. The beauty of the Lenten season is that it encourages the development of a humble heart. In Lent, we are invited to look deeply inside, identify what is impeding our ability to follow Christ along the path of humility, and ask God to help us begin to make changes.
Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life.
Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in
me shall never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25-26)
We have always used the resurrection eggs help our children and grandchildren understand the true meaning of Easter. If you have never used Resurrection eggs to tell the Easter story to your kids, here is the link to purchase a set of eggs or you can make them yourselves. To buy them click here Resurrection Eggs. To make your own, click here DIY Resurrection Eggs.
Here are some other great resources for Moms young and old to use with their kids or grandkids to prepare them for Easter.
http://familylifetoday.com/program/making-preparations-for-easter/
http://familylifetoday.com/program/creative-ideas-for-easter/
This year I thought it would be fun to try something new. I found a wonderful resource called The Easter Story Egg, www.StoryEgg.com is the website. This year I purchased an Easter Story Egg for each of my daughters to use with their children.
Here is the creator’s explanation of this tool….
“The Easter Story Egg™ is a tradition that celebrates the true meaning of …
Read MoreVegetarian Mexican Lasagna
This vegetarian Mexican casserole is a show stopper. Combining all the delicious flavors of an enchilada casserole with the unique flavors of roasted vegetables makes one of the best Mexican dishes. Using mozzarella cheese adds a flare and thus the name…Vegetarian Mexican Lasagna. I first tasted this at a friend’s home and she was eager to share her recipe. I made a few healthy adaptations and viola…..
Ingredients
4-5 cups butternut squash
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 onion, chopped
1 green bell pepper, chopped into cubes
1 red bell pepper , chopped into cubes
3 teaspoons cumin
2 teaspoon chili powder
1 can corn, rinsed
1 can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 cup salsa (we used Pace)
12 corn tortillas, 6 inch diameter
1 ½ cups greek plain yogurt
1 bottle Trader Joes enchilada sauce
1 ½ cups Mozzarella cheese
Preheat the oven to 375 F.
Prepare the vegetable filling:
- Peel the squash and slice it into 3/4 inch cubes. Toss the squash cubes in a large bowl with 2 tablespoons olive oil and generously sprinkle with salt.
- Put butternut squash on a roasting sheet pan and roast for about 30 minutes, until soft. Flip the squash cubes over midway through baking. Let it cool slightly.
- Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet on medium-high heat. Add chopped onion, chopped green bell pepper, and chopped red bell pepper, 1 teaspoon cumin, and 1 teaspoon chili powder, and saute the vegetables and spices on high heat until charred just a bit. Mid-way through, add corn, then rinsed and drained black beans. Add roasted butternut squash Add more salt if needed. Add more chili powder or cumin, than indicated in the recipe, if needed.
Assemble the casserole:
- Use a casserole dish either 9×13 or 11
A Sticker Chart for a New Year
My focus for the year is to get more organized. This “organized” is all encompassing, including organizing the things in my home, my scheduling with a better routine, and my mindset as a mom. The “mindset as a mom” is a big one for me as I have often felt recently like I am always catching up instead of being ahead of the kids’ new transitions and phases. As a result, I am wanting to do more intentional parenting this year so that I can feel more on top of what my kids are going through and have a more smooth ride through each phase.
Lately, Sophie has been as curious as ever and testing more and more with each new day. It is sometimes hard to remember that just as I am learning everyday more of how to be a mom, she is learning how to go about life and how to grow and develop through different stages of life. And with that comes a lot of frustration and days filled with “No”. I was tired of having the same day over and over again and not doing anything to make a change.
Sophie has been very into stickers recently! She loves to make cards with stickers to send to her cousins and she loves to put stickers on her shirt. I decided to take this new interest and match it with something to encourage good behavior- A Sticker Chart! It is so simple to make and, so far, quite effective!
Here’s what I did…
- Choose your categories – Find a few tasks that your child can work on where you know they will be able to have some success. This is important for them to understand the concept of the sticker chart and to feel encouraged to continue
Fruit and Nut Healthy Snack Bars
Fruit and Nut Healthy Snack Bars will be your new go-to snack for on-the-go nutrition. Packed full of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory foods, this bar will be a new family favorite. They are easy to make and they freeze easily. Have fun adding other dried fruits and nuts that you like for a variety of flavors. You can substitute apple sauce or pumpkin puree for the banana. I love having an easy snack to reach for in the mid-afternoon that will curb my sweet-tooth and give me a quick dose of high energy food. For so many of us that over extended in many ways during the holidays (excessive lack of sleep, overindulgence in activities and over eating) , this healthy snack bar is a great option. Bake up a batch and enjoy!
Ingredients
1 cup oats
1/2 cup sunflower seeds
1/2 cup toasted wheat germ
1/2 cup dried apricots
1/2 cup walnuts
1/2 cup raisins
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1/2 cup coconut flour (nonfat dried milk can be used)
1/4 cup ground flax seed meal
1 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/3 cup maple syrup
2 large eggs
1 ripe banana, peeled mashed (unsweetened applesauce can replace banana)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Coat a 9 × 13-inch baking pan with nonstick spray. Combine the oats, sunflower seeds, wheat germ, apricots, pecans, raisins, cranberries, coconut flour, flax seed meal, and cinnamon in a food processor. Pulse until the mixture is finely chopped. In a separate bowl combine the syrup, eggs, mashed banana, and vanilla and mix until well combined. Add dry ingredients from food processor to wet mixture in the bowl and stir until combined. Transfer the mixture to the pan and press down. Bake 20-25 minutes until the mixture is golden brown and firm to the …
Read MoreSweet and Spicy Chex Mix
Happy New Year! We are back with many wonderful ideas to share. Even though it is a week past New Year’s Eve and most of us have put away all our holiday decorations…there may be a gathering or two that pop up this month and you may need a sweet and savory snack to take to share with friends and family. Here is a tasty and somewhat healthy easy to make snack to make and take.
Chex Mix has been an American favorite for years. This special sweet and savory version is an adaptation from a recipe that a dear friend makes every year. We were recipients of this snack mix for many years before I decided to ask if she would share her secret concoction. I have adapted it so that it is a bit healthier.
8 cups dry cereal (Wheat Chex, Corn Chex, Rice Chex, Crispix)
1 cup goldfish
1 cup mini twist pretzels
3 cups unsalted mixed nuts
1 ½ sticks of unsalted butter
6 Tablespoons brown sugar
1 teaspoon chili powder
1-2 teaspoons worchestershire
3-4 cloves garlic smashed (or 2 teaspoons garlic powder)
1-2 Tablespoons curry powder
Mix all dry ingredients in a large bowl. Melt butter in a small saucepan (or in the microwave0. add brown sugar, chili powder, worchestershire sauce, garlic and curry powder. Stir until all flavors are blended and the butter is melted. Pour melted flavored butter sauce over dry ingredients and mix carefully to coat all. Pour mixture into a large shallow baking tin or two and spread out so chex mix will cook evenly. Bake in a 250 degree oven for 1 ½ hours. Stir every ½ hour. Remove from oven and let cool. Store in an airtight container. Lasts for a few weeks. This is one of our favorite …
Read MoreCandy Cane Oreo Cookie Cheesecake
Bekah found this recipe and we decided to try it. Our cheesecake connoisseur, Ashkon, said he would prefer to have the candy canes only as decorations on the top rather than mixed into the cheesecake because it change the texture of the cheesecake to have crunchy candy inside. So do what you prefer candy canes can be mixed into the cheesecake or just used as topping. The flavor of the cheesecake and the consistency are absolutely perfect. Here is the original recipe. Change it as you like…..
Ingredients
30 oreo cookies or Trader Joe’s chocolate JO-JO’s
1 Tablespoon butter, melted
25 candy canes crushed and divided
4 (8oz) packages of Philadelphia cream cheese, room temperature
1 cup sugar
4 eggs
4 oz Baker’s semi-sweet chocolate
2 oz white chocolate
Heat oven to 325 degrees
Pulse 18 cookies until finely ground.
Pour into bowl and add melted butter and mix and press into 9 inch spring form pan.
Bake for 10 minutes.
Crush up 20 candy canes. Cut up 10 cookies. Mix cream cheese and sugar in a large bowl of kitchenmaid or mix master at medium speed until whipped thoroughly. Add eggs one at a time and mix thoroughly. Stir in crushed candy canes and cut up cookies and pour over crust.
Bake 55 minutes until center is almost set. cool and refrigerate 4 hours minimum.
Crush remaining 5 candy canes. Cut up 2 remaining cookies. Set aside. cover baking sheet with parchment paper. Melt chocolates separately according to package directions. (I melted in the microwave stirring after each 15 second interval until melted). Spread semi-sweet chocolate on parchment paper making a thin layer. Spoon white chocolate on top by spoonfuls and swirl to make a marble effect. Sprinkle candy canes and cookies on top and refrigerate until hardened.
When …
Mint Brownies
Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without baking cookies and preparing delicious family traditional recipes. These mint brownies are one of our family favorites…..Rich and delicious dark chocolate with a creamy minty frosting and dark chocolate glaze…
Ingredients
6 squares bittersweet chocolate
1 ½ cups butter
4 eggs
2 cups sugar
2 teaspoons peppermint extract
1 cup flour
½ teaspoon salt
1 cup chopped walnuts
2 cups powdered sugar
2 Tablespoons milk
3-5 teaspoons green food coloring
Melt 4 squares chocolate and 1 cup butter in the microwave. Start with 20 seconds and stir well them continue 15 second intervals stirring after each microwave until melted. Mix eggs, sugar, ½-1 teaspoon peppermint, flour and salt into a mixing bowl. Pour chocolate melted mixture into bowl and stir until blended. Add chopped nuts and stir. Pour into greased 9 x 13 pan for thin brownies or a 9-inch square pan for thick brownies. Bake in a 350 degree oven , 25-30 minutes for thin brownies and 40-45 minutes for thick brownies. Test with a toothpick to make sure they are done in the middle. Cool and frost.
Frosting
Mix 4 Tablespoons soft butter, 2 cups powdered sugar, ½-1 teaspoons peppermint extract, milk and green food coloring. Stir until soft and spreadable. Spread on cooled brownies. Melt remaining 2 squares of bittersweet chocolate with 4 Tablespoons butter. Stir until pourable. Drizzle chocolate glaze over frosting.
Chill and cut into small squares.
- 6 squares bittersweet chocolate
- 1 ½ cups butter
- 4 eggs
- 2