Frozen Fruit & Yogurt Roll Ups

These are delicious! The kids were none too happy with them, but I scarfed them down. I would let them thaw a bit from frozen.

Source: tidymom.net via craftyashley on Pinterest

10 flour tortillas
1-1/2 cups Vanilla yogurt
frozen berries
1/2 cup sugar
1 T. cinnamon
spray butter

Directions:

Mix cinnamon & sugar on a large plate. Spray one side of a flour tortilla with butter, covering the entire surface, then place butter side down on plate with cinnamon and sugar. Press down and move around, coating one side of tortilla in cinnamon and sugar.

Next, place tortilla, sugar side down on another plate. Spread about 1/8 cup of yogurt (I just eyeball this, I don’t measure) in a strip a little left of the center. Add some frozen berries (I bought a bag of mixed, strawberries, black berries, raspberries and blue berries- I cut the strawberries up). Roll the tortilla tight and place on a large cookie sheet.

Continue the process with the rest of the tortillas.

Place the cookie sheet in the freezer for about 2 hours. Remove from freezer, cut each tortilla in half and place them in a large zip lock bag and put them back in the freezer for storage.

To Serve:
Take out of bag and eat immediately. You can let them thaw a little bit, but if you let them thaw too long, they’re mushy, but can be eaten that way too.

Variations: you can try this with different flavors of yogurt and different fruits. Strawberries and bananas would be good…..just be sure to cut the strawberries up, a whole strawberry is hard to eat when frozen.

Aquarium Cups

I am going on a blitzkrieg of dessert cooking this weekend. Mostly from a random Jell-O recipe book my Mom picked up at the checkout line. Either way! Good stuff!

From Kraft

How fun would these be for the twins?! So much fun I tell you.

Here's whats what:

3/4 c. boiling water
1 pkg. (3 oz) Berry Blue flavor gelatin
Ice cubes
1/2 c. cold water
1/2 c. chopped strawberries (I'm using mandarin oranges instead)
4 bite size fish shaped chewy fruit snacks

Add boiling water to gelatin in a medium bowl. Stir 2 mins. or until completely dissolved. Add enough ice cubes to cold water to measure 1 1/4 c. Add to gelatin, stir until slightly thickened. Remove any unmelted ice. If gelatin is too thin, refrigerate more.

Place berries in 4 clear plastic cups; cover w/ gelatin. Press fruit snacks into gelatin until completely submerged.

Refigerate 1 hr. or until firm.

Butternut Squash Casserole

(will henceforth be named mac & cheese with oranges- heh)
The roasted squash gives this mac extra fiber and vitamin A. Thank you, Parents Mag!

2 c. cubed & peeled butternut squash (about 1/2 in. cubes)
2 tsp. olive oil
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 lb. elbow mac (make it whole wheat!)
2 tbl. butter
2 tbl. flour
1 1/2 c. milk
1 1/2 c. shredded cheese (chedder, monty, whatever!)

- Toss squash with oil and salt and arrange on a foil-lined tray. Bake at 375 for 20 minutes, until tender and set aside.
- Cook pasta for 2 minutes; (less than package directions) drain and place in a bowl with squash. Meanwhile, melt butter over low heat, whisk in flour; cook for 2 minutes. Slowly whisk in milk, bring to a boil then simmer. Cook 3 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Add cheese and stir until melted. Stir cheese sauce into pasta and squash. Spoon into a greased 6x6 pan, sprinkle extra cheese on top and bake at 375 for 10 minutes.
Serves 6.

Crunchy Fish Sticks

I'm not a big fan of fish, but it's important in brain development for the kids. Thanks to Parents Mag, I have a recipe. Those frozen fish sticks seem, well fishy about the ingredients and stuff, so this seems like a doable solution! Have fun!

1 1/2 c. flour
1 tbl. dry mustard
salt & pepper to taste
2 c. buttermilk
2 eggs
1 lb. tilapia or halibut (do the halibut even if it's more $. Tilapia are bottom feeders- ick) cut into 24 strips
3 c. panko bread crumbs (I've found these at the store- it just sounds like a weird ingredient)
1/2 c. canola oil- divided

In a large bowl, mix flour, mustard, salt & pepper. Add buttermilk and eggs. Coat fish with the egg mixture then bread crumbs. In a pan, heat some oil on medium high heat and Sautee fish in batches with more oil until done. (about 5 minutes, turning occasionally)

Inside-Out Pizza

Part pizza, part quesadilla, this snack sandwiches cheese, sauce, and toppings between two flour tortillas. Your kids can cut the finished pie into slices--like a traditional pizza--that are just right for sharing.

2 6-inch flour tortillas
1/4 c. grated cheddar cheese
1/4 c. grated mozzarella cheese
2 slices thinly sliced smoked turkey or ham
1 tbl pizza or spaghetti sauce
Optional toppings: sliced tomatoes, black olives, and peppers

Place a tortilla on a sheet of waxed paper and sprinkle with half of each cheese. Cover with 2 slices of turkey or ham, a tablespoon of sauce, and optional toppings. Sprinkle with the remaining cheese and cover with the other tortilla. Toast in the oven or a toaster oven until cheese is melted. Then cut into slices.

Four Cheese Pasta Bake

This gooey mac and cheese sneaks in 3 cups of fresh baby spinach.

• 1 lb. box penne or ziti
• 1 tsp. olive oil
• 4 green onions, chopped
• 3 cups fresh baby spinach
• 3 large eggs, beaten
• 1 lb. low-fat ricotta
• 1 cup shredded low-fat mozzarella
• 1 cup shredded low-fat cheddar
• 1 cup grated parmesan, divided in half
• 2 tbsp. chopped fresh dill
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• Nonstick cooking spray
• 1/4 cup seasoned breadcrumbs
• 1/8 cup chopped parsley

1. Preheat oven to 350º F. Prepare pasta according to package directions. Meanwhile, warm olive oil in heated pan. Add green onions and saute. Add spinach and wilt down. Set aside.

2. Combine eggs, first three cheeses, 1/2 cup parmesan, and dill. Mix thoroughly. Add spinach mixture. Fold in cooked pasta. Season with salt and pepper.

3. Coat 9" x 13" pan with nonstick cooking spray. Spread pasta mixture in pan. Stir remaining 1/2 cup of parmesan cheese, breadcrumbs, and parsley together and sprinkle over pasta-cheese mixture. Bake for 30 minutes.none

Cream Cheese Scrambled Eggs

My tiny twins are on a high fat/protein diet to gain some weight. I found this recipe- and they love it!

1 pkg. (3 oz) cream cheese- softened
2 tbl. half and half cream (can substitute whole milk)
8 eggs
1/3 cup shredded cheese
2 tbl. butter
1/2 cup bacon bits (optional)

In a small mixing bowl, beat cream cheese and cream until smooth. Add the eggs and cheese. Mix well Stir in bacon. In a large skillet, melt the butter; add egg mixture. Cook and stir over med. heat.

Toddler Pasta

1 c. acini de pepe or pastina
1/3 c. finely diced carrots
1/3 c. finely diced red bell pepper
1/3 c. frozen baby peas
1/3 c. finely diced broccoli
1/3 c. frozen corn
1 tbl. olive oil
1/8 tea. pepper

Cook pasta in boiling water for 7 mins. Stir in veggies and cook for 5 mins. Drain. Mix in oil and pepper.

Note: if you don't have a mini-food processor- you need one! It's perfect for making baby food, salsa, and this recipe! A must have in every kitchen.

Finger Foods Vol. 1

So these recipes are from this month's Parents mag. Sorry if you've already seen it. But I loved these ideas for the kids and thought I would share them! Coming up with healthy dinners and lunches for the kids are always the hardest!

Polenta Flowers
Cut a log of refrigerated Polenta into slices. Use a cookie cutter to make flower shapes of the slices if you'd like. Arrange on a parchment paper- lined baking sheet, brush with a little olive oil, and sprinkle with finely shredded parmesan cheese. Bake at 450 for 10 minutes. Serve with a bit of tomato sauce for a dip.

Crunchy Fish Triangles
Cut 1/2 lb. Tilapia into triangles. Pour a few tablespoons of milk into a bowl, dip filets in milk, and then in a mixture of 1/3 c. unseasoned dry bread crumbs and 1 teaspoon dry ranch salad dressing mix. Arrange the triangles on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and spritz them with some cooking oil. Bake at 450 for 8-10 mins.

Cheesy Bruchetta Toast
Slice a 1/2 lb. baguette and arrange on a baking sheet. Bake at 450 for 6-8 mins until toasted, turning once. In a small bowl, stir together two seeded and chopped roma tomatoes, teaspoon olive oil, 1 tablespoon fresh basil, salt and pepper. Spoon mix onto each bread slice, sprinkle with shredded mozzerella cheese. Return to over and bake 2 mins. Until cheese is melted.

Pumpkin Pancakes

Jen gave me the idea to hunt for a recipe for pumpkin pancakes. I have had these at Mimi's before- and they were heavenly! So season-appropriate!

In large bowl mix:

2 c. flour
1 tbsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. ginger
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
1/2 tsp. salt
2 tbsp. brown sugar, packed
1 tsp. cinnamon

In small bowl, mix:

2 eggs
1 1/2 c. skim milk
2 tbsp. oil
1/2 c. canned pumpkin

Add small bowl mixture to large bowl. Stir just until moistened. Heat griddle, brush lightly with oil. Pour batter by 1/4 cup onto hot griddle. Makes 16 pancakes.

Healthy Banana Pancakes

These are more for my kids, I make 'em and freeze 'em in advance. Then toast 'em in the morning. But they taste good to grown ups too! Make sure you mash the banana pretty finely with the tines of a fork- or use a food processor.

2 c. flour - you can do all white, or whole wheat, or half & half
2 tbl. sugar
2 tbl. flaxseed meal
4 tea. baking powder
1/2 tea. salt
2 eggs
2 c. milk
4 tbl. cooking oil
1 1/2 -ish mashed banana

Mix wet and dry ingredients separately then combine in large bowl until moist, beat on low- batter will be lumpy.
Pour in 1/4 c. portions onto a hot griddle, flip when bubbles appear in the middle

Pita Pizzas

These are great for kids and parties! So easy, I could eat one every day. I make singles in our toaster oven for lunch sometimes.


Pitas
pizza sauce
mozzarella cheese- shredded
toppings- pepperoni, ham, chicken, olives, onion, green pepper, pineapple chunks, mushrooms, etc.

Preheat oven to 350, make up your own pita pizza and arrange them on cookie trays. Cook in the oven for 10 mins, until cheese is melted and golden.

Homemade Mac & Cheese

...because powdered cheese creeps me out. I had to look for a good recipe, and maybe I'm the only dummy who does that. But here it is, and the kids love it.

1 c. dry macaroni elbows (or any other type of fun pasta)
1 tbl. butter
1 tbl. flour
dash of pepper
3/4 c. milk
1 1/2 c. shredded cheese

Cook mac in unsalted water for about 10 mins. Drain & return to saucepan. In med. saucepan, melt butter & stir in flour & pepper. Add milk and stir until thickened Pour sauce over macaroni & add cheese. Cook over low heat for 3-5 mins. stirring frequently. Let stand to cool.

Makes 3-4 kid sized servings.

Cool Cucumber Dip

1 1/2 c. finely diced cucumber
2 c. plain yogurt
1/2 c. chopped parsley
Pita Chips (for dipping)

Combine & refrigerate. Serve cold.

6-8 servings