Bite-Size Cherry & Strawberry "Pop Tarts"

Sometimes it's the little things. Like being able to swing your legs out of bed and slide your feet into fuzzy slippers to shield you from the chill on the floor. Like shuffling half-asleep and blurry-eyed into the kitchen and having the sweet scent of freshly brewed coffee to welcome you. Like pouring that first cup of elixir, stirring in a splosh of milk and sandy sprinkling of brown sugar and then lifting it waiting lips and drinking in your first sip of morning magic.

Kids On Food: Cinnamon Crunch Biscuit Bites

How big can one moms smile get?  So big that her cheeks ache and her eyes water and she feels like her heart will burst.  Come on moms...you've all been there numerous times and you know what I'm talking about, right?  Sweet Thang has library day once a week at school and gets to pick two books per week to bring home.  How awesome is it that one of the books he picks (quite often, actually) is a kids cookbook!?  He flips through it and has a few choices picked out by the time he brings it home.  The very first thing that he showed me he wanted to make in his latest selection was (amazingly) something that we had all of the ingredients in the house for already. Yes, I let my kids eat Cinnamon Toast Crunch.  And for some reason, I felt an urge to buy a couple cans of refrigerator biscuits when they were on sale for dirt cheap just a few days before.  Kismet.  They turned out to be a fun snack that scented the house with comfort and anticipation.  Warm and straight from the oven with a cold glass of milk...yum.

Cinnamon Crunch Biscuit Bites

inspired by/adapted from Pillsbury Kids Cookbook

makes 32-48 bites

¼ c. sugar

1 tsp. ground cinnamon

1 tube (16.3 oz.) Large Homestyle Buttermilk Biscuits (like Grands, 8 per tube)

 6 Tbs. butter

2-3 c. Cinnamon Toast Crunch Cereal

Preheat oven to 400° F.

Combine sugar and cinnamon in a gallon-size zippered baggy.  Cut each round of biscuit dough into four or six wedges (depending on how big you want the bites).  Drop into the baggy with cinnamon-sugar mixture.  Zip up the bag and shake and toss and turn to coat.  Pour everything into a large, wide bowl or deep dish.

Melt the butter in the microwave or on the stove top.  Pour the cereal into the same baggy that you just emptied out.  Seal it and crush the cereal with a rolling pin.  Drizzle the melted butter evenly over the cinnamon-sugar coated dough wedges.  Toss around so that all of the surfaces are coated.  Now pour the crushed cereal over the top of that and toss them all around until the crushed cereal sticks to the butter coated cinnamon-sugar dough wedges.  Basically, you're breading them.

Spread out evenly on a sheet tray that has been lined with a silpat, parchment paper, or foil that has been sprayed with cooking spray.  Make sure none of the wedges are touching...they need space to brown well.  Slide into the oven and bake for ~11-13 minutes, or until golden.

Eat warm with a big glass of milk to wash them down.  Or pop leftovers in your mouth later.  They're still good.

We decided that next time we were going to try this using our favorite homemade biscuit dough.  We'll simply roll it out and use a biscuit cutter per usual, then cut the biscuits into wedges like we did for the refrigerator dough.  It might take a few moments longer, but I'm guessing they'll be even better this way.  No matter which dough you decide to go with, this is fun business for the whole family to get involved in...the eating and the making.

I am sharing this post with:

Whole Wheat Goldfish Crackers ...and a few Sharks (for good measure)

HERE'S WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING...

"I think these taste better than the store kind."  ...Drama Queen

"Good.  They taste like cheesy bread." ...Lyrical Teen

"Awesome." (with the 'ok' sign formed on his hand held high) ...Sweet Thang

Met with strong reviews, these Whole Wheat Goldfish Crackers have earned a place on our pantry shelves.  This was one of those recipes that I knew I was making before I even read past the title.  Kids love goldfish crackers.  At least I think I can generalize and say "kids"...because I've never met one that didn't.  I imagine there's a few out there that don't (mingling with the kids who don't like pizza), but for the sake of being right, I'm going with the generalization.

This could be something that I end up making 'til the end of time, because there will always be kiddos needing snacks.  I varied from the original recipe in that I added a bit of garlic powder to the dough.  I also went with the higher amount of onion powder.  While they went over well, I'll probably try them next without that pinch of garlic and with the lesser amount of onion.  Plus, you could "un" whole wheat them and use all all-purpose flour, too.  I'll probably try that one of these days, too.  And now that I have the cute little fish cutter, I'll probably try making fishy graham crackers, too.  And I've been wondering how they make the pretzel goldfish.  I haven't looked into it yet, but how fun would it be to make mini-pretzel goldfish?  Is that even possible?  We'll see...

Kids on Food Book Review: The Gigantic Sweet Potato by Dianne de Las Casas & some Sweet Potato Pie

Happy Thanksgiving!  I hope you enjoy turkey day & that you have many blessings for which to be thankful... Salud!

photo credit

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Isn't it funny how in the midst of pie baking, bread rising, turkey brining, stock making, cranberries bubbling, apples smooshing, sweet potatoes baking, green beans casseroling...regular day to day life still wants to continue?  Sheesh.  I mean, people still expect to be fed and clothed and helped with their homework.  Sometimes they even want to sit down and read a book to you...or be read to.  So, take a deep breath and read a book with the kids.  Even better, read one in the spirit of the season!

The Gigantic Sweet Potato by Dianne de Las Casas is a fun little adventure into the garden.  Ma Farmer develops a craving for some Sweet Potato Pie that she just can't shake.  Unfortunately she doesn't have any sweet potatoes growing in her garden, and since she prefers  home grown food, she decides it's time to plant one.  With a lot of love and care, that sweet potato grows bigger than she ever imagined, and it took the help of many to pull it from the ground.  It demonstrates the fact that no matter how small you are, you can do anything you set your mind to!  The Gigantic Sweet Potato is a great story for younger kids...and it ends in the sweetest way possible...with a recipe, of course!  Ma Farmer finally satisfied that urge for some Sweet Potato Pie...and we added it to our Thanksgiving table.

A few thoughts from the kiddos themselves...

Sweet Thang:  If you try, you can do anything!  It was great.

Drama Queen:  That sweet potato was gigantic.  Oh look, there's a recipe!

Both: Can we make it!? (of the pie)

...pshaw.  Like they even needed to ask.  It was a bit different from my "usual" version of sweet potato pie...which includes Bourbon...but we liked it!  And it super easy to make.  Dump all of the ingredients into a bowl and let the kids mix away.  Pour into your unbaked pie shell, bake...that's it!  The kids had a blast making it and can't wait to share it with the extended family.

Ma Farmer's Sweet Potato Pie

“From THE GIGANTIC SWEET POTATO by Dianne de las Casas, illustrated by Marita Gentry © 2010. Used by permission of the publisher, Pelican Publishing Company, Inc. All rights reserved.”

1 lb. sweet potatoes, cooked and peeled

½ c. butter, softened

¾ c. sugar

¼ c. brown sugar

½ c. sweetened condensed milk

2 eggs

½ tsp. ground nutmeg

½ tsp. ground cinnamon

1½ tsp. vanilla extract

1 (9") pie crust, unbaked (my pie crust)

In a mixing bowl, mash the sweet potatoes.  Add butter.  Mix thoroughly.  Stir in sugar, brown sugar, condensed milk, eggs, nutmeg, cinnamon, and vanilla.  Mix until smooth.  Pour into an unbaked pie crust. Bake at 350° for 55-60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.  Serve warm with a large dollop of whipped cream.  Mmm, mmm, mmm.

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*Although I received this book free of charge to review from the publisher, the opinions in this post were all mine.  And Sweet Thang's.  And Drama Queen's.

Green Eggs and Ham - Happy 50th!

"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind."   ~Dr. Seuss

That's right!  Green Eggs and Ham hit stores 50 years ago this month!  Dr. Seuss is a genius and has been one of my favorite authors since I could read all on my own.  I know he was one of my earliest influences (aside from mom & dad).  His books were always my favorites...I can remember reading them over and over with my mom...There's a Wocket in my Pocket, In a People House....Green Eggs and Ham.  Even in my public speaking course in college...I chose to read The Lorax as a speech.  I love his writing, his inflections, his messages!  Although I could go on and on about Dr. Seuss...I'm just going to focus on celebrating 50 years of encouraging us to try things before we make up our mind about whether we like them or not.

"You do not like them. So you say.  Try them!  Try them!  And you may.  Try them and you may, I say!"

Kids On Food: Pancakes!

I started thinking...especially after my Blog Talk Radio chat with Rebecca...how am I getting my children involved in the kitchen?  I mean, I am.  It's just a natural part of day to day activities around here.  Kind of hard not to be since I'm so food-centered.  But like everything I do, I want to be mindful and in-the-midst of what I'm doing, so I'm going to throw some of what the kiddos are doing into the fun here!  It may be sporadic...a little morsel of knowledge, something I learned from them (happens constantly), an observation they made, something they like to cook, something they are learning to create in the kitchen, food they like to eat...you get the gist.  More roads...leading to the kitchen.  Since food is such a big part of our life, I guess I realized they deserved their time here, too!  So, whenever you see the Kids on Food badge...you'll get a little bit of foodie fun with one or all of....

The Players:

...with appearances by yours truly and MexiChef.

An early favorite to both make and eat by these players...PANCAKES!  Pancakes are a great starting point for kids in the kitchen.  They can get involved at an early age, by learning about measurements.  Get them familiar by getting some fun, colorful measuring cups and spoons with large numbers and letters on them.  Ask them to show you which one is 1/3 c. or 1 tsp., etc.  Sneak in that learnin'!  What small child doesn't love to dig into the flour and count out the eggs?  They also love to crack the eggs.  Just make sure the eggs are cracked into the bowl first, or into a separate bowl so any accidental shell pieces can be lifted out before getting mixed in. 

ST likes to measure the ingredients and mix them up.  He's even pouring them onto the hot skillet...assisted, of course! 

DQ's favorite thing is cracking eggs...but she also enjoys measuring and mixing.  Just recently she announced that she can flip them without help.  She's right...she can!  That was one of the first things the kids learned...watching for the pancakes to be "ready"!

Of course, LT is a pro by now...he's usually the one to make pancakes around the house these days.  He wants to!  He does it from start to finish.  And they're beauties! 

First thing they learned once they were old enough to pour it on the hot skillet...to use their eyes!  Cooking is such a sensual experiences- we utilize them all!  Watch for the bubbles to form and start bursting, and for edges to start looking dry.  You can count on this to ensure a golden underside.  Okay, maybe your first one will be a little dark or a little light...this is the part that lets you know whether the heat is too high or not (they like that...being in control).

But the part they like the most...eating food that they made themselves.  You can see it on their faces! A sense of pride.  And that puts a big smile on my face.  Plus, it gives them bragging rights...who makes the best pancakes? 

"Pancakes have to be my favorite thing to make...'cuz they're easy and fun." ...LT

Our current favorite pancakes...they taste like the awesome ones you get when you go out to breakfast at the diner. The secret...malt powder!!  Plus, they're healthier w/ the addition of whole wheat flour (currently using half AP & half WW).  If your kids think they don't like whole wheat...start w/ replacing half of the white flour...and use White Whole Wheat flour.  Bet they won't even notice.  Sneak that wholesome goodness in...tell 'em later.
...don't forget the add-ins!  Simply add your choice to your favorite pancake mix recipe and enjoy.  Here's some the shout-outs (literally, I asked...they shouted!) in our house:

*Malt Powder/ Malted Milk Powder (regular, not chocolate...though come to think of it, that may not be all that bad, either)
*Chocolate Chips (any variety)
*Bananas, sliced or mashes
*Blueberries
*Bacon (cooked)
*Sausage (cooked)
*Cheese (shredded)
*Pumpkin (cooked & pureéd)
*Nuts
*Vanilla
*Cinnamon

...what are your family's favorite type of pancakes??

Stay tuned for more KIDS ON FOOD in the future.  I'm not really going to do it on a schedule, just as something comes along that they want to share...or I want to share... Knowledge is power, afterall!


------>While the kitchen is my refuge, my playground, my canvas and I enjoy spending "me" time here...I don't want to exclude the kids from it all the time.  Who knows?  One day one of them may find their refuge in the kitchen, as well.....