Mini Chefs

What was on my breakfast menu for this #mmmMonday?! Almond Flour Banana Muffins curtesy of my big girl and her buddy! I gave them the following recipe this weekend and tried to stay out of it. They were instructed to divide the recipe in half so they could each be in charge of their own bowl. Selfishly this was to head off any potential arguments and this conniving mom enjoyed sneaking in a math lesson.

Ingredients:

• 4 ripe bananas, mashed
• 2 eggs, beaten 
• 1/2 cup stevia 
• 1/3 cup milk 
• 1/3 cup oil 
• 1/4 cup ground flax seed 
• 1 tsp vanilla extract 
• 1 cup oats 
• 1 cup almond flour 
• 1 Tbsp baking powder 
• 1/2 tsp salt 

Instructions:

1. Mix bananas, eggs, sweetener, milk, oil, ground flax seeds & vanilla. 
2. Combine oats, flour, baking powder & salt - stir into banana mixture. 
3. Stir in any additions.
4. Spoon batter into prepared muffin tin. 
5. Bake at 400 for 18-20min 

Addie used almond flour as suggested, mixed in 1/2 cup+ walnuts into the batter while her buddy opted for white flour and 3/4 cup mini chocolate chips. They both used Ripple Unsweetened Original Pea Protein Milk because that is what we use in this house. It is the best dairy alternative milk I have had.... zero sugar & more protein plus uses less water to grow pea plants then almonds!

Too bad she cannot take the muffins to school because they are not nut-free. It would have been fun to think about Addie proudly pulling a muffin out for snack time. I got to reap the benefits this morning though and one actually satisfied my large appetite. I agree with this one - two thumbs up!

Popeye would approve

Spinach Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting… are you still with me!? I promise I have not lost my mind. Think about carrot cake or zucchini bread before you brush it off completely.

I recently went thru a big stack of recipes that were overtaking a corner of my pantry trying to only keep ones I actually see myself making in the near future. I wouldn’t have kept this one had I not just seen vegan cream cheese at my grocery store. It was sitting atop my slimmed down pile when were invited to dinner at a friend’s this weekend. “I’ll bring dessert!” It was fairly simple to make and I really liked using my blender for all the mixing. While Jim did not finish his slice both our hosts did and even asked for the recipe! I choose to believe she wasn’t just being polite. I hope so because I’ll certainly make it again.... Christmas or St Patrick’s Day maybe?! 😉

Recipe notes: I (accidentally) left out the salt, added extra spinach (to finish out a container), used lemon juice and then olive oil out of the choices listed and did half all purpose flour/half coconut flour. If I didn’t ruin it, you won’t! Enjoy!

Chef Addie is 7!

My Chopped Junior loving kid knew right away she wanted to have a cooking themed birthday party. She and her friends got to make their own pizzas, decorate cookies and just run around at the Harris YMCA to celebrate her seventh birthday. HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY BIG GIRL!!! We love you, love you more, love you MOST!

Digital invitation created by: rkDesigns

Junior Chef Camp

This was a special one day, all day camp and so far has been one of my favorites. They visited and got to pick from the Harris YMCA Organic Garden, they made their snacks, lunch and dessert for the day and how cute are the coordinating crafts?!

Rescheduled Valentines Day

The Valentine's Addie really did help me on. They also served as craft/entertainment during the snow days.

Instead of a classic candy filled party her preschool class talked about heart health and "ate the rainbow".

ROYGBIV

Red peppers, apples & strawberries | Orange peppers, clementines & pumpkin muffins | Yellow banana, pineapple & cheese | Green grapes, sugar snap peas & edamame | Blue corn chips & blueberries | Indigo/Violet - purple potatoes

 (Even more impressive is that the kids really did eat most of their plates!)

 

Happy Hearts & Happy Bellies

Since we had been home-bound (thanks to the snow and my leg) most of the week, the day was not as filled with special treats like last year but we had a fun day! Highlight for everyone was easily the food though.

Feliz Navidad

Christmas morning highlights!

 

Family First

We woke up to Santa is our own house Christmas morning but being in charge of Christmas Eve dinner and more amazing is that we used the china we got for our wedding! {Only took 7 years!} The meal wasn't very fancy, certainly wasn't a Nonnie or Grammy spread and ignore the casual place mats, but it was delicious and kid-friendly so we all enjoyed it. Munchkin especially enjoyed drinking out of the tea cup.

Driving back into town on Christmas Eve didn't leave time to prepare much at home so I reserved a ham at HoneyBaked Ham Company. Picking up in the afternoon on Christmas Eve could have been terrible but it was a great experience! Fantastic customers service, very organized and the most pleasant staff, one even scanned a previous customer's coupon on my order saving me $4.

Master Chef-in-Training

Grammy got us matching aprons so since "we" were tasked with providing dessert for her preschool Thanksgiving Feast, she asked to wear them. {Her favorite things to do are crack the eggs and lick the batter - obvious choices!}

 

 

Mother-Daughter Weekend

Daddy went to Asheville for the Beer City Cup with our co-ed soccer crew. (The team didn't get the big house we typically stay in, no other kids were going so and I am heading out for a girls mtn trip next weekend so told him to go have a good time.) My sidekick and I had a packed weekend of fun as well though!

SATURDAY we ran along the Greenway and went out to breakfast. Then that night went to the Food Truck Block Party with our good friend The Kobsiks. It rained shortly after we got there but it didn't dampen the spirits of these two. The little hippies barely ate because were too busy dancing in the rain. Had to strip her down before putting her in the car. Luckily had a dry tshirt to put her in.

SUNDAY, we headed up to Lake Norman for a cookout. It was a very nerve racking experience at first but eventually Addie learned to trust the life jacket.

MONDAY we went over to The Yonchaks' for some cousin play time, burgers & s'mores! Happy Labor Day!

Saturday nights are meant for dinner and dancing!

"Get up and dance, get up and smile, get up and drink to the days that are gone in the shortest while."

We headed to Hickory Tavern for dinner and to our delight, a jazz trio set up outside. The weather was nice so I picked the restaurant for the outdoor seating... it overlooks The Greenway. Was not aware that the MetLive Concert Series was still going on but what a bonus! I will certainly be back!

Sprinkle

Once again Mama Yonchak isn't finding out the gender of her little one, so we decided to play with that for the "theme". We took a much more divide and conquer approach to hosting this time and think it turned out perfect! A dessert table was arranged so that it had mirrored displays of pink and blue treats. (I tried my hand at home made cake pops, or brownie pops in this case. They are sinful but were delicious.) We even had pink and blue lemonade to complete the presentation. {We love you littlest one already!}

Ginger, Whitney, Mama Yonchak who doesn't even look pregnant here, myself & Molly

Hippity Hoppity Easter's On It's Way