Sunday baking.....

Yes, I'm still here and still preparing on a Sunday for the week ahead.  I know I don't update on here near as much as I should, but I want to!!  I really do, I have ideas and things to post - just not the time.  I'm working on it though....

So today I made:
* Granola Bars - peanut butter & cranberry.  These are the easiest bars to make, and yummy too!  I take one cup of honey and one cup of PB and melt them in a pot.  Just until they are runny, not until boiling.  Then I turn off the heat and add in 3 cups of oats.  At this point I also add in any extras - today cranberries were all I had, but it can be anything ~ raisins, m&m's, choc chips, nuts, pretzels etc.  Stir it all up, put it in a casserole dish and put it in the fridge to cool & set.  It's as easy as that!!

* Blender Wheat Pancakes - from one of my very favourite blogs Super Healthy Kids (you may have seen me mention her before), here http://www.superhealthykids.com/blenderwheatpancakes.html

* Hard Boiled Eggs

I didn't get around to the smoothies or muffins because I was missing ingredients.  I'm going to do peach smoothies, and cheese & ham muffins from this recipe here: http://www.theworldwidegourmet.com/recipes/ham-and-cheese-muffins/

Hopefully I'll be able to make a post or two this week about something other than baking, lol :D

Back to School!!

We're one week into school here.  My big girl really is big - she's now in First Grade!!  I can't quite wrap my head around it!!  Luckily she's taken to it really well, which makes me happy.  She was a little nervous at first, but once she met her teacher & got in line with her class she was all smiles.  I think we're going to have a great year!!

A little nervous

Happy & looking forward to the first day

Her being back at school means hurried mornings, and packed lunches once again (she buys lunch once a week as a "treat").  This year I have resolved to try to rely as little as possible on processed, pre-packaged foods.  Some of them are fine, or even good, but most are over-priced and full of additives, chemicals and various other unpronouncable things.  I know I'll never eliminate them completely , because they are convenient, and I'm not the anal type - but I AM trying to make more of our own stuff.

In an effort to do this I'm spending a good deal of time on the weekends baking and prepping for the week ahead.  Here's this weekend's plan -

1) Fruit/yog/milk smoothies - we make them and freeze them in little gladware containers and I take them out of the freezer the night before so that they are defrosted in time for breakfast.  That way I know she's having something good to eat, even when she's too tired or rushed to actually eat.  This week it's raspberries, bananas & strawberry yogurt.  I even make extra for my husband to pack in his lunches.

2) Cinnamon Tortilla Chips - I take whole wheat tortillas, brush them with some melted butter & sprinkle a little cinnamon & sugar on them and I cut them into "chips".  Then I bake them for about 10min at 400F, until they get crispy. (Unfortunately the kids have already eaten the first batch of these, I'll have to make more!)

3) Strawberry Pear Applesauce - I made this before with equal parts strawberries & applesauce (the natural, no sugar added kind) but today I only had a few strawberries on hand, and a couple of pears that were getting over-ripe, so I added those in to the blender together with the applesauce.  Blended until smooth.  Yummy!

4) Granola Bars - I'm trying a new recipe for these tonight, I can't wait.  One of my favourite blogs is http://www.superhealthykids.com/, and I'll be trying out her recipe for granola bars.  They look delicious!

5) Granola - I have a recipe that I pulled out of a magazine ages ago for making granola in the crockpot.  I made it last week for the first time and it was scrumptious & good for you too :)  If anyone's interested I can post the recipe.

6) Pizza Rolls - I have a plan to try to make these with wonton wrappers like this.  I got a new Funtainer for the big girl and I'd love to pack these warm for her lunch.  I hope they turn out good!

I think that's it for this weekend - we already have pancakes & muffins in the freezer for breakfasts :)

This coming week my little man is starting preschool (no packed lunches for him thank goodness) - he's SO excited!!  I am not sure how I feel, so looking forward to getting a moment alone but also sad that my baby is no longer a baby :(

And then to top it off next weekend my big girl turns 6!!  We're planning a medieval type princess & knight party, with crowns & swords & jousting .....should be fun!!

Making & Baking - Challenge Day 5

One of my daughter's favourite things is going with her Dad to the Home Depot Kids Workshop - which happens on the first Saturday of every month.  She puts on her orange apron (which she got at her first workshop) complete with all the pins from all the things she has built - a rain gauge, a toolbox and a plant stand to name a few.  Today it was a Foosball table.  She's been going for more than a year now, and is getting better and better at handling the tools. These days she does most of the construction herself.  She gets a kick out of being able to make things, but I think most of the enjoyment comes from the one on one time with her Dad.  I love that Home Depot offers these free workshops and provides all the tools and materials.  It's something for both father & daughter to look forward to!

Here she is playing with her newly made Foosball table.

And a close-up of the Foosball table.

In the afternoon we baked some banana nut bread.  I had some bananas that had to be used today, or else I was going to have to freeze them, so I braved baking with both kids.  They're at vastly different levels, so it's hard to make it work with the two of them.  I had the big girl read the recipe to me, the little guy stirred a bit but mostly wanted to taste everything.  It was frustrating at times, but worth it to all work together on something.  What was funny was the parts the kids enjoyed - my daughter felt very grown-up being allowed to crack the eggs, but the little guy was ALL about licking the bowl :)  The bread turned out rather yummy, but surprisingly the little one wanted nothing to do with it when it was cooked - little stinker!

Still enjoying the 30days, 30 posts challenge over at Peanuts Are Evil.