Helpful Microwave Hints
The microwave is one of those inventions that has changed the way we operate in the everyday kitchen. It saves me time everyday as I prepare dinner and fix lunch for the kids. I love that I can toss a bag of popcorn in and walk away to work on something else and come back to a bag of beautifully popped popcorn.
When we built our house the microwave was carefully planned into the kitchen design and cabinet layout. It’s shiny, reflective, stainless steel front adds a little bling to the kitchen and although I don’t use it for much it looks like it belongs. The most commonly used functions of the microwave in our house are defrost, reheat and the popcorn mode. Other than that it just sits and looks pretty.
The lack of use of the microwave for other tasks is because the user (me) isn’t educated enough to use it to it’s full potential. There are so many things you can do with the microwave. It’s part of the reason it is such a great invention.
I recently pick up a few tips for using the microwave. Some of them I had never thought of before. Although I’m not quite sold on baking or cooking in the microwave some of these tips might help if your in a hurry and need to get things done.
5 Helpful Microwave Tips
1. Meat & Vegetables – If your going to cook meat or vegetables in the microwave make sure to cut them into uniform shapes. Dicing the meat or veggies up evenly will help them to cook evenly too.
2. Cake Baking – I’ve never attempted to bake a cake in the microwave but it might be interesting to try. When baking a cake in the microwave use a round pan instead of a square one. It will bake more evenly and eliminate the problem of overcooked corners.
3. Refresh Snacks – Use the microwave to refresh stale snacks. Place a plateful of potato chips, crackers, cereal or other similar snack in the center of the microwave. Heat for 30 to 45 seconds and let stand for 1 minute to let crisp. (I’m not sure I would try this with foods after their best by date. But it might be good to try if you find the kids left the container open and the snacks are slightly stale.)
4. Scald Milk – Do your recipes ever call for scalded milk? You can use the microwave to scald milk. Place 1 cup of milk in the microwave and cook for 2 to 2 1/2 minutes. Stop each minute to stir.
5. Nuts – Place 2 cup of nuts in the center of a casserole dish with 1 cup of water. Cook for 4 to 5 minutes. Remove the nuts from the microwave crack the shells and the nuts should slip out whole.
Celebrating 100 Years Of The OREO Cookie
Milk’s favorite cookie turns 100 today! This double sided chocolate flavored biscuit embracing a cream filled center is one of the most popular cookies sold in the United States. Many of you like me have memories of eating Oreos as a child. They seemed to be a staple in our house. However the dispute was never settled, which way is really the best way to eat an Oreo cookie? My kids are twisters and my husband a milk dunker. I think the real question is – “Is there a wrong way to eat an Oreo cookie?” Maybe it depends on how much you love milk that influences your answer, but I say there is no wrong way to eat this 100 year old cookie.
In the grocery stores this year you can find the limited edition Birthday Cake OREO in honor of the 100th birthday of this famous cookie. OREO’s first appeared on the grocery shelves in 1912 when Nabisco sold them to a grocer in New Jersey.
You may remember some of the Oreo cookies famous slogans.
Oh! Oh! Oreo! (1950)
For the Kid in All of Us (1980)
The One and Only (1982)
Oreo, The Original Twister (1990)
Milk’s Favorite Cookie (2004)
The Oreo cookie has been such a staple that it has inspired several other sweet recipes to be created around the cookie itself. From cookies, cakes and ice cream to bon bons, a quick search of the internet and one can find a variety of recipes that were inspired by Oreos. There are countless ways to eat and enjoy this cookie. So take a minute to sit back, relax, share the joy of an Oreo with someone you love and remember the kid inside.
Cookies For Breakfast – Breakfast Cookie Recipe
I wish I had the time to make a hot breakfast for my family every morning. The truth is with our busy schedule the everyday breakfast in our house is more like a bowl of cereal with milk and if they are lucky maybe some fruit. I’ll admit there has even been the occasional morning when I’ve tossed them a granola bar as they are running out the door to catch the school bus. I’m afraid these times are not my finest moments as a mother. We all know breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Some days it seems like we just don’t have time for breakfast much less a nutritious one.
In my quest to find healthy and quick options for breakfast I came across a breakfast cookie recipe. There are a few different things I like about this recipe. The ingredients are simple, most of them I had in the pantry. I comes together quick, in just minutes it was ready to go into the oven. It has no sugar, is filling,the taste resembles banana bread and it uses up the last of the bananas on my counter in something other than banana bread.
As far as being kid friendly my boys all gave it a thumbs up and said this is a recipe they would eat again. They are especially yummy right out of the oven, and still good the next day cold out of the refrigerator. You can wrap them individually and freeze them so they are ready when you need them.
Recipe : Breakfast Cookie
1 1/2 cups regular rolled oats
1 cup coconut flakes
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon allspice
1/4 cup of almond meal (ground almonds /almond flour, I just ground my own almonds in the food processor.)
1/2 cup mixed nuts, finely chopped
1 cup dried fruit (I used 1/2 chopped dried dates, and 1/2 craisins but anything will work)
3 ripe bananas, mashed
1/4 cup canola oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Mix all the dry ingredients together, oats, coconut flakes, salt, cinnamon, allspice, almond meal, nuts, and dried fruit. In another bowl mash the bananas and then add the canola oil and vanilla and mix well. Combine the wet and dry ingredients. Then shape will a cookie scoop or spoon. Mixture will be loose press the tops down slightly. Bake @350 degrees for 20 minutes.
Happy 108th Birthday Dr. Seuss
If you think back to your childhood you just might remember being read to from one of the many children’s books written by the well known author, Dr. Seuss. As a child I loved his books. The imaginative words that always made sense seemed to sing me to sleep at night as the words fell upon my ears.
Even now my children love his books and I love reading them to them. I remember taking my children to the library and my second oldest son would quickly gather as many Dr. Seuss books as he could find and then head straight to the front desk to check them out.
Theodore Geisel, also known as,Dr. Seuss, became famous for his use of rhyming prose and unique illustrations in the books he wrote for children. Although Dr. Seuss never had any children of his own, he went on to publish over 40 children’s books, win three Academy Awards and was awarded the Pulitzer Prize in 1984.
In his own creative way he discussed real life issues with wisdom that even a child could understand. Some of his well known titles include, “How the Grinch Stole Christmas”, “Oh the Places You’ll Go”, and “Green Eggs and Ham.”
“Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You.”
― Dr. Seuss, Happy Birthday to You!
So what better way could there be to celebrate than to take time to read to a child today. Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss!
How Sweet It Is – Sugar Substitutes
I have a love affair with sugar, I’ll be the first to admit it. If you look deep in my pantry and cabinets you’ll find my secret stashes. Some of my favorite things like chocolate are loaded with it. Generally speaking, if it’s sweet it taste good to me.
Since the beginning of the year I have been trying to make healthier choices for myself and my family. This includes cutting back on the sugar. So now when I bake or cook, I’ve been looking for ways to cut back the sugar or substitute it in my recipes. I’ve been surprised at how many sugar substitutes there are an thought I would share them with you. You might be surprised at the options too.
Option 1: Saccharin – You’ve probably heard of saccharin. It’s artificial sweetener and has been around for awhile. It can taste pretty sweet. It may taste 200 – 700 times sweeter than sugar. It’s great for baking, cooking and sweeting drinks.
Option 2: Aspartame – This is another artificial sweetener it is often found in things like diet soda. On the sweet scale it ranges anywhere from 180 – 200 times sweeter than sugar. It is a good choice for sweeting and cooking but not the best option for baking because the sweet taste of it is destroyed when exposed to high temperatures for an extended period of time. There also have been many studies that say aspartame may be bad for you but the nutritionists I spoke with said there is not enough evidence to cut it completely out of your diet.
Option 3: Sucralose – Another artificial sweetener that is super sweet. On the sweet scale it is about 600 times sweeter than sugar. It is also said to be great for baking, cooking and sweetening.
The first three are artificial sweeteners and I am not a huge fan of consuming large quantities of artificial products but I think all things in moderation. Choose an option that works for you.
Then onto the natural options.
Option 4: Stevia – This low calorie natural sweetener is about 250 – 300 times sweeter than sugar so it’s pretty sweet. It’s a good option for baking, cooking and sweeting food and drinks. My son has found a soda made with Stevia that he really enjoys. You can find it on the health food isle at your local grocery store and it only has 5 carbs for the whole drink.
Option 5: Agave Nectar – This is also a natural sweetener that is just about the same as sugar. It’s a good choice for cooking and sweetening but it is a little tougher to bake with since it is a syrup like liquid and you need to follow the directions until you get used to the substitution measurements. Another benefit to agave nectar is it is low on the glycemic index, it’s really a good option if your watching your blood sugar.
It’s really sweet 😉 how many options of sugar substitutes there are to choose from if your trying to watch the amount of sugar your consuming. I hope you find this information as helpful as I have. 🙂
Fun Facts About Leap Year
Happy February 29th. Take a little time to enjoy it because it only comes around once every four years. In a leap year the month of February has an additional day bringing the total for the year to 366 days as opposed to every other ordinary year that has 365.
This all happens because the rotation of the earth actually takes a little longer than 365 days to completely circle the sun. In fact scientist have figured that it takes us 365 days, 5 hours, 48 minutes and 46 seconds to complete a single rotation around the sun.
The ancient Egyptians are given credit as first discovering that the man made calendar and the solar year didn’t quite jive and the Romans were the first to assign the leap day to February 29th.
Julius Caesar is know as the “Father of the Leap Year.” When the Romans added an extra day to the calendar 2000 years ago it was added to their February which on the Roman calendar was the last moth of the year.
In Ireland it’s a tradition for the women propose to men on a leap year. And if the proposal is rejected the men are required to buy her 12 pairs of gloves to hide the missing engagement ring. ( I think that’s getting out of it pretty easy if you ask me 🙂 )
In Greece it is considered to be unlucky to marry during a leap year and the superstition encourages long engagements to keep the couple from setting into motion a series of unfortunate events.
The nick name “leaplings” has been given to those born in a leap year.The odds of being born on a leap year are 1 in 1,461 and approximenly 4 million people celebrate their birthdays on February 29th. Astrologers say that those born on a leap year are known to posses unusual talents linked to their zodiac sign of the Pisces and their February 29th birthday.
Happy Leap Year!
Recipe : English Muffin Bread
With growing boys I feel like I am always running to the grocery store trying to keep our shelves stocked. Trying to keep the grocery budget contained and the boys satisfied is always something I’m working on. I love when I can make things from scratch and stretch our dollars. My boys love bread and toast so when I came across a recipe for English Muffin Bread, I thought this is one I have to give a try.
It’s an easy recipe to pull together and only requires a few ingredients. It makes excellent toast and this morning as my crew consumed their breakfast they all agreed this is a recipe we should make again.
I enjoyed this recipe because it was so easy to make and you get four loaves out of it. I figure a 5 pound bag of flour cost about $2.00 and that contains about 20 cups of flour. This is where a majority of your cost are when making this recipe. So for a little over $2.00 you get 4 loaves as opposed to buying english muffins for around $2.00 for 6 english muffins.
Recipe : English Muffin Bread
5 1/2 cups warm water
3 packages yeast
2 Tablespoons salt
3 Tablespoons sugar
11 cups flour
Mix all ingredients together in a mixer or larger bowl. Let stand until doubled or it reaches the brim of the bowl. Grease 4 bread pans and distribute dough in to each pan. Let rise until it has reached the top of the bread pan. Place in an oven preheated to 350 degrees. Bake for 35 mins, pull bread out and brush with butter. Bake for another 10 mins or until golden brown. Let cool and enjoy.
Baking Soda or Baking Powder – What’s the difference?
Baking soda or baking powder? Have you ever wondered just what exactly they do? Both are leavening agents that help your baked goods to rise. When added to a mixture and in the right conditions baking soda and baking powder create carbon dioxide. This causes baked good to rise added a lightness to your cookies, cakes and other baked items.
Baking soda is straight sodium bicarbonate. In order for it to release carbon dioxide and help make the environment that will in make the bake good rise it must be combined with an acidic ingredient. Examples of acidic ingredients include things like yogurt, lemon juice, buttermilk, sour cream or honey. For fluffy results when using baking soda, get the item into the oven as soon as possible because the reaction begins as soon as the baking soda is added to the recipe.
Baking powder also contains sodium bicarbonate but it also includes a built in acid like cream of tartar and a drying component like starch. Recipes using a single acting baking powder will need to be placed in the oven as soon as possible. This is because it reacts in a similar way to baking soda and responds best when heat is added. Double acting baking powder can sit at room temperature for a little longer than single acting baking powder. It will release some gases at room temperature but a majority of the gases will be released when heat is added.
Depending on the recipe and what is being made will determine if baking powder or baking soda is needed. Baking soda tends to leave a bitter taste and will need to be balanced by an acidic ingredient. This will help the baked good to have a pleasant taste. Baking powder has a more neutral taste and if often used for cakes and biscuits.
Tip:
Although there is no real substitution for baking soda there is a substitution for baking powder. Create a home made version of baking powder by adding two part cream of tartar to on part baking soda and measure according to the recipe.
Tips for Saving Gas & Money
Every time I turn on the television or radio I am reminded by a friendly sounding voice or informative news anchor that gas prices are increasing across the country and consumers are going to take a hit in the pocketbook. I hear this and think of how I just spent my entire day in my car scurrying about to take care of errands that need to be done and running the kids to all the sports and activities they are involved. Sometime’s I toy with the idea of taking up residence in my car. Lucky for us there are experts out there with a few tips to stretch our gas money.
Speeding, rapid acceleration and braking in the car are all factors that lead to wasted gas dollars. So besides not driving, (which we do as little as possible because it is better for the environment) let’s focus on driving more efficiently. Here are a few tips to try and see if you can make your gas dollar burn a little slower.
Tips
1. Observe the posted speed limits. It has been studied and gas mileage decreases at speeds over 60 MPH.
2. Remove excess weight from the car. This is especially effective if you drive a smaller vehicle. For every extra 100 pounds in the car it can reduce MPG (miles per gallon) up to 2% when traveling.
3. Don’t sit idle. When a car is idling it can burn up to a half of a gallon of gas for every one hour it idles. So remember to turn off the car when your waiting.
4. Use the cruise control and overdrive gears of the car. Maintaining a consistent speed when driving will save you gas money and using the overdrive gears slows the engine speed of the car down reduce the amount of gasoline that is needed.
Walgreens – Alcohol Swabs 100 count 2/$3.00
We use these all the time and when I found this deal at Walgreens this week I though I’d pass it on. They are great for medical supplies but would also be a great addition to a first aid kit or emergency preparedness.
Walgreens Alcohol Swabs 100 count
2/$3.00
Strawberries Are Back In Season
I was pleasantly surprised as I walked into the produce department of our local grocery store to pick up a few things for dinner. I was greeted by a beautiful display of fresh strawberries available for purchase. These were not left overs from the previous season that had been put on ice to extend their life. No, they were fresh plump looking berries, a jewel toned color red with vibrant green leaves. No evidence in sight that they had sat on a truck and travelled to my wintery home. None of the normal signs like white fuzzy mold or soggy spots to be seen. As I stood in awe of this produce display I couldn’t recall anything that had ever looked so inviting to me. I even called my husband to announce, “Strawberries are back in season!”
I know your probably thinking this is a little over kill for such an average berry, it’s not like you struck gold. But strawberries are one of my favorite foods. I have loved them for as long as I can remember. Growing up in Southern California, I have memories of traveling down the freeway with my family. Peering out of the car window I could see the expansive fields containing neatly groomed and mounded rows of strawberry plants. Blessed by the sun, the workers moved meticulously up and down the rows, carefully picking berries and piling them into flats for sale. It wasn’t often that we made it home without stopping at one of the local road side stands on the farm to purchase a flat. As a kid I remember begging my parents to stop. I loved this ritual and thinking about it now it brings a smile to my face. The arrival of strawberries on the store shelf is just another reason to add to my list of why I love February.
A Little Extra Love At Breakfast – Heart Shaped Cinnamon Rolls
Whoever said the way to a man’s heart if through his stomach was right. Living in a house full of men I can attest to that. No one’s happier around our house when food is on the table than our boys.
It seem’s like life is so busy and just keeps getting busier. I’m sure many of you like us are always running from one activity to another. From sun up to sun down we have a million things to do and so little time. So when I can I try to add extra little touches to family meal time to make our meals fun and change it up a little.
On Valentines Day I tried to make a quick Valentines breakfast for my boys. I feel like it’s just one more way to squeeze an extra “I love you” into the day. Really it wasn’t anything spectacular but the boys loved it and felt loved because I included a little extra special touch to top it off.
Cinnamon rolls from a can with fruit and milk on any other day would be a pretty ordinary breakfast. Since it was Valentines Day I made heart shaped cinnamon rolls. It was quick and easy, didn’t really require much extra preparation and was fun. Here is what I did.
Quick and Easy Heart Shaped Cinnamon Rolls
1. Pop open the can of prepared rolls.
2. Unroll the prepared cinnamon rolls one at a time.
3. Roll toward the middle from each end until they almost meet in the middle.
4. Shape to form a heart.
5. Bake following the directions.
6. Frost the cinnamon rolls.
This simple expression of love was worth the smiles it brought that morning at the breakfast table. I though since February is the month of love this would be fun to try this weekend as part of our family breakfast. Just another thought, it might be fun to serve at a bridal shower too.