Here is an easy and healthy lunch that everyone will enjoy!
Basil and Ham pinwheels
6 (10 inch) whole wheat flour tortillas
1 (8 ounce) package reduced fat cream cheese, softened
12 slices of ham
4 ounces fresh basil, whole
1 cup sun-dried tomatoes
12 leaves red leaf or romaine lettuce, washed thoroughly
Spread each tortilla lightly with cream cheese
Place 2 ham slices across middle of tortilla
add a layer of basil, then a layer of sun-dried tomatoes
Do not place ingredients too close to the edge of the tortilla
place 2 pieces of lettuce leaves in the center of tortilla
stating at one end, tightly roll up each tortilla. Place toothpicks in four even spaced spots of tortilla roll
place tortilla rolls into a dish and cover. Refrigerate for 2 hours.
Slice each roll into 4 evenly sized pieces and serve immediately.
Serves:6
Kids will love the colors and Moms love that it's healthy... Just don't tell the kids that!!!
Have a great Day!
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Michelle's Banana Bread!!!
I haven't even shared this recipe with my family. I hold it hostage and watch as they devour the loafs but I refuse to tell anyone how I make it...UNTIL NOW!!!
Oh by the way... if you try it please please post a comment and let me know how it turned out!!!
1 3/4 cups of all-purpose flour
3/4 cup of white sugar
1 teaspoon of baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon of salt
1/2 teaspoon of ground cinnamon
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
1/2 cup of unsalted butter, melted and cooled.. (you can use regular margarine too)
3 or 4 large ripe bananas mashed well (about 1-1/2 cups)
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Garnish (optional)
1 large banana, sliced or dried banana chips
(a handful of crushed roasted walnuts can be added if desired)
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C) and place oven rack to middle position. Butter and flour (or spray with a non stick vegetable/flour spray) the bottom and sides of a 9x5x3 inch loaf pan. Set aside.
Place the nuts (if using) on a baking sheet and bake for about 8-10 minutes or until lightly toasted. Let cool and then chop coarsely.
In a large bowl combine the flour, sugar, salt, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, salt and nuts, set aside.
In a medium-sized bowl, combine the mashed bananas, eggs, melted butter, and vanilla. With a rubber spatula or wooden spoon, lightly fold the wet ingredients (banana mixture) into the dry ingredients just until combined and the batter is think and chunky. Over mixing will result in tough rubbery bread. Scrap the batter into the prepared pan and place the slices of banana on top of the batter for garnish. Bake until bread is golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.. about 55-60 minutes. Place on wire rack to cool and then remove the bread from the pan.
Serve warm or at room temperature!
This bread can be frozen and can last in the freezer for about 2 months if place in a air free zip lock freezer bag.!!!
Other thing you can add is:
a handful of chocolate chips, white or milk chocolate.
a handful of Blueberries,
reduce to 2 large bananas and add 3/4 cups of applesauce or 1/2 cup of peanut butter
Play around with it....
the possibilities are endless!!
It's a great recipe to make with the kids!
My 3 year old mashes the bananas for me and helps me break the eggs!
Have fun and enjoy!
Michelle
Oh by the way... if you try it please please post a comment and let me know how it turned out!!!
1 3/4 cups of all-purpose flour
3/4 cup of white sugar
1 teaspoon of baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon of salt
1/2 teaspoon of ground cinnamon
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
1/2 cup of unsalted butter, melted and cooled.. (you can use regular margarine too)
3 or 4 large ripe bananas mashed well (about 1-1/2 cups)
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Garnish (optional)
1 large banana, sliced or dried banana chips
(a handful of crushed roasted walnuts can be added if desired)
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C) and place oven rack to middle position. Butter and flour (or spray with a non stick vegetable/flour spray) the bottom and sides of a 9x5x3 inch loaf pan. Set aside.
Place the nuts (if using) on a baking sheet and bake for about 8-10 minutes or until lightly toasted. Let cool and then chop coarsely.
In a large bowl combine the flour, sugar, salt, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, salt and nuts, set aside.
In a medium-sized bowl, combine the mashed bananas, eggs, melted butter, and vanilla. With a rubber spatula or wooden spoon, lightly fold the wet ingredients (banana mixture) into the dry ingredients just until combined and the batter is think and chunky. Over mixing will result in tough rubbery bread. Scrap the batter into the prepared pan and place the slices of banana on top of the batter for garnish. Bake until bread is golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.. about 55-60 minutes. Place on wire rack to cool and then remove the bread from the pan.
Serve warm or at room temperature!
This bread can be frozen and can last in the freezer for about 2 months if place in a air free zip lock freezer bag.!!!
Other thing you can add is:
a handful of chocolate chips, white or milk chocolate.
a handful of Blueberries,
reduce to 2 large bananas and add 3/4 cups of applesauce or 1/2 cup of peanut butter
Play around with it....
the possibilities are endless!!
It's a great recipe to make with the kids!
My 3 year old mashes the bananas for me and helps me break the eggs!
Have fun and enjoy!
Michelle
Meal Time Solution
Hi All, This is A.J. and welcome to my first post!
On Help me mom, I’d like to share with you one of the greatest dilemmas surrounding families today: Dinner time. With T.V, Internet, Game boys, and what seems like 1000’s of other things fighting for your kid’s attention, dinner as a family is often overlooked.
We have been fortunate with this because we have always taken it as a must, to eat dinner together at the table as a family. Everything else is turned off and its a gathering, we make it a social event, to see how everyone’s day went, ups, downs, everything.
One of the most common complaints we hear is “My kids won’t come to the table” “They don’t want to eat anything I cook” Or the infamous “If it’s not covered in ketchup she won’t touch it!”
If you have trouble getting and keeping your family at the table, do the same make sure, everything else is off. Another Highly overlooked fact is that kids CAN help. (In their own way of course) If a child is involved in the making process they are more apt to not only eat it, but DEVOUR IT!
Here are some basic age guidelines:
2 years old:
Wiping the table
Tearing lettuce or other salad greens
Snapping fresh beans
Crushing up cracker crumbs (one of our daughter’s favourites!)
Scrubbing fruits and veggies
3 years old:
Mix ingredients in a bowl
Shake things up in a container
Knead dough
Spread peanut butter, cream cheese etc. On celery and crackers
4 Years old:
Mash soft fruits and vegetables with a fork
Set the table, juice oranges, lemons, limes,
Beat eggs with whisk
Mix dry and liquid ingredients together
5- 6 Year old:
Measure Ingredients
Use a mixer
7+
Most kids at this age can handle most kitchen related tasks WITH supervision of an adult. You know your child best so keep that in mind when deciding what they can and can’t handle.
Valuable Tips!
Research shows that children are more open to trying new foods if they helped cook them!
Sharing meals gives parents one of the easiest ways to serve as role models by letting them see you using manners, trying a variety of new and healthy foods, ( remember Kids Live What they Learn)
It’s a great bonding experience, for both you and your children
It’s also been proven that families that constantly share meals together: have children with higher self esteems, and better academic performance, as well as showing your children that the doors of communication are OPEN! Make that impression now and reap the benefits all throughout the dreaded teenage years!
Now I’m not saying that you have to eat dinner together every night or your children will suffer. I myself don’t because of a hectic unstable work schedule but take advantage of the opportunity you can, train yourself to identify these opportunities, and seize them like they were a fine jewel....because they are.
One of my personal favourites Is breakfast! The Whole Thing, Pancakes, eggs, bacon, hash browns, toast, fresh fruits, It’s easy to dress up, down healthy or decadent. Replace bacon with Back bacon; add egg whites to your normal scramble, whole wheat toast instead of white, are just some of the healthy options.
**quick note** people who eat whole wheat bread vs. white bread have a 30% less chance of getting certain types of cancer. Courtesy Of Men’s Health
Pancakes, to me, are the best “everyone helps” items. They taste great, can be as healthy as you want, but most of all they are FUN!
Here is the basic Pancake or Griddle cake recipe
Makes about 4 six inch pancakes
Classic Pancake the basis for seemingly endless amount of variations.
1 ½ cups all purpose flour
3 Tablespoons Sugar
1 ¾ Tablespoon baking powder
Combine in another bowl
1 ½ cups Milk
3 tablespoons butter, melted
2 eggs
½ teaspoon vanilla extract.
And there it is mix wet & dry ingredients until smooth and you've got your ground work for your families favourite breakfast. From here you can add, chocolate chips, frozen blueberries, bananas wheat germ, oatmeal, crushed all bran cereal, buckwheat, Coconut, cheese, diced nuts, even crumble bacon. ANYTHING!!
My families favourites’ include mashed bananas, crushed all bran cereal, flax seed, and of course chocolate chips and blueberries. But the most Important ingredient .......you guessed it LOVE
My children love to blow kisses into the bowl after everything is mixed.
**Time Saving Tip**
Double the ingredients and make far too much, take the leftovers and freeze them individually for the busy week ahead. Pop them in the toaster and you have homemade breakfast in a flash! You may find Eggo's has nothing on these Pancakes!
Hope our secret ingredient is as delicious on your table as it is on ours!
Cheers
A.J.
On Help me mom, I’d like to share with you one of the greatest dilemmas surrounding families today: Dinner time. With T.V, Internet, Game boys, and what seems like 1000’s of other things fighting for your kid’s attention, dinner as a family is often overlooked.
We have been fortunate with this because we have always taken it as a must, to eat dinner together at the table as a family. Everything else is turned off and its a gathering, we make it a social event, to see how everyone’s day went, ups, downs, everything.
One of the most common complaints we hear is “My kids won’t come to the table” “They don’t want to eat anything I cook” Or the infamous “If it’s not covered in ketchup she won’t touch it!”
If you have trouble getting and keeping your family at the table, do the same make sure, everything else is off. Another Highly overlooked fact is that kids CAN help. (In their own way of course) If a child is involved in the making process they are more apt to not only eat it, but DEVOUR IT!
Here are some basic age guidelines:
2 years old:
Wiping the table
Tearing lettuce or other salad greens
Snapping fresh beans
Crushing up cracker crumbs (one of our daughter’s favourites!)
Scrubbing fruits and veggies
3 years old:
Mix ingredients in a bowl
Shake things up in a container
Knead dough
Spread peanut butter, cream cheese etc. On celery and crackers
4 Years old:
Mash soft fruits and vegetables with a fork
Set the table, juice oranges, lemons, limes,
Beat eggs with whisk
Mix dry and liquid ingredients together
5- 6 Year old:
Measure Ingredients
Use a mixer
7+
Most kids at this age can handle most kitchen related tasks WITH supervision of an adult. You know your child best so keep that in mind when deciding what they can and can’t handle.
Valuable Tips!
Research shows that children are more open to trying new foods if they helped cook them!
Sharing meals gives parents one of the easiest ways to serve as role models by letting them see you using manners, trying a variety of new and healthy foods, ( remember Kids Live What they Learn)
It’s a great bonding experience, for both you and your children
It’s also been proven that families that constantly share meals together: have children with higher self esteems, and better academic performance, as well as showing your children that the doors of communication are OPEN! Make that impression now and reap the benefits all throughout the dreaded teenage years!
Now I’m not saying that you have to eat dinner together every night or your children will suffer. I myself don’t because of a hectic unstable work schedule but take advantage of the opportunity you can, train yourself to identify these opportunities, and seize them like they were a fine jewel....because they are.
One of my personal favourites Is breakfast! The Whole Thing, Pancakes, eggs, bacon, hash browns, toast, fresh fruits, It’s easy to dress up, down healthy or decadent. Replace bacon with Back bacon; add egg whites to your normal scramble, whole wheat toast instead of white, are just some of the healthy options.
**quick note** people who eat whole wheat bread vs. white bread have a 30% less chance of getting certain types of cancer. Courtesy Of Men’s Health
Pancakes, to me, are the best “everyone helps” items. They taste great, can be as healthy as you want, but most of all they are FUN!
Here is the basic Pancake or Griddle cake recipe
Makes about 4 six inch pancakes
Classic Pancake the basis for seemingly endless amount of variations.
1 ½ cups all purpose flour
3 Tablespoons Sugar
1 ¾ Tablespoon baking powder
Combine in another bowl
1 ½ cups Milk
3 tablespoons butter, melted
2 eggs
½ teaspoon vanilla extract.
And there it is mix wet & dry ingredients until smooth and you've got your ground work for your families favourite breakfast. From here you can add, chocolate chips, frozen blueberries, bananas wheat germ, oatmeal, crushed all bran cereal, buckwheat, Coconut, cheese, diced nuts, even crumble bacon. ANYTHING!!
My families favourites’ include mashed bananas, crushed all bran cereal, flax seed, and of course chocolate chips and blueberries. But the most Important ingredient .......you guessed it LOVE
My children love to blow kisses into the bowl after everything is mixed.
**Time Saving Tip**
Double the ingredients and make far too much, take the leftovers and freeze them individually for the busy week ahead. Pop them in the toaster and you have homemade breakfast in a flash! You may find Eggo's has nothing on these Pancakes!
Hope our secret ingredient is as delicious on your table as it is on ours!
Cheers
A.J.
Friday, February 13, 2009
Tip of the Day!
OK so I had a request for some organizing tips.. well here goes..
Spend 15 minutes on a project at a time.. that way you don't feel overwhelmed by organizing and cleaning your house.. only take out to clean what you can put away in 15 minutes... Don't dump out an entire closet if you can't put it where you want it in the time frame that you have set for yourself.
Use a timer and live by it... Set the timer for 15 minutes and work until the bell goes off. Set the timer again for another 15 minutes and put your feet up, have a cup of tea, read a magazine.
After your "break" set the timer again and focus on another task. Why overwhelm your self with housework??? Is a spotless house really worth pulling your hair out?
I'm currently looking in my recipes for my banana bread card.. check for that in a few hours! Awesome, moist and delicious... the kids will love it for sure!
I just spent my 15 minute break with you! Off to another task!
Michelle
Spend 15 minutes on a project at a time.. that way you don't feel overwhelmed by organizing and cleaning your house.. only take out to clean what you can put away in 15 minutes... Don't dump out an entire closet if you can't put it where you want it in the time frame that you have set for yourself.
Use a timer and live by it... Set the timer for 15 minutes and work until the bell goes off. Set the timer again for another 15 minutes and put your feet up, have a cup of tea, read a magazine.
After your "break" set the timer again and focus on another task. Why overwhelm your self with housework??? Is a spotless house really worth pulling your hair out?
I'm currently looking in my recipes for my banana bread card.. check for that in a few hours! Awesome, moist and delicious... the kids will love it for sure!
I just spent my 15 minute break with you! Off to another task!
Michelle
Thursday, February 12, 2009
How do I get people to read my blog?
OK so I know that magically my blog isn't just going to be one of the most popular sites in the world..Who do I think I am?
I guess I'm just too new at this that it's taking time for people to notice that I'm here!!
The time will come, when i am swamped with emails and comments... that i might have to quit my job just to keep up with the blog!
Does anyone have an suggestions on how i can make this blog more exciting? Maybe I'll start posting some helpful hints tomorrow morning as well as a few recipes for my favorite things? Maybe that will help with the traffic flow...LOL
Signing off for the night,
Lonely Blogger!
I guess I'm just too new at this that it's taking time for people to notice that I'm here!!
The time will come, when i am swamped with emails and comments... that i might have to quit my job just to keep up with the blog!
Does anyone have an suggestions on how i can make this blog more exciting? Maybe I'll start posting some helpful hints tomorrow morning as well as a few recipes for my favorite things? Maybe that will help with the traffic flow...LOL
Signing off for the night,
Lonely Blogger!
Welcome to the first Message!!
First of I just want to say that I am not a doctor nor do I have any degrees in Psychology or in anything else..I am just a Mom.
I have three beautiful children who I love dearly... they all know which buttons to push and when. Don't all children know how to do that?
So here's my promise to anyone that subscribes to my blog...
If you have a question relating to parenting, cooking, cleaning or how to relax send me a message and I'll see what i can do...
I promise to post everyday! Each post could be a relaxing tip, a cleaning tip or a new recipe..
Check out the blog every week for something new!!
I hope that I can help at least one person!!!
Michelle
I have three beautiful children who I love dearly... they all know which buttons to push and when. Don't all children know how to do that?
So here's my promise to anyone that subscribes to my blog...
If you have a question relating to parenting, cooking, cleaning or how to relax send me a message and I'll see what i can do...
I promise to post everyday! Each post could be a relaxing tip, a cleaning tip or a new recipe..
Check out the blog every week for something new!!
I hope that I can help at least one person!!!
Michelle
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