Kids In The Kitchen

  • Gingerbread Boy Meatloaf (Diary & Egg Free Recipe)

    The girls have been asking me to bake something in the gingerbread man pan this week.  Since we have already made several different cookies (sugar, gingerbread, and shortbread) I decided that we didn’t need any more sweets so we decided to bake a gingerbread boy meatloaf for our meal. If you don’t have to worry about dairy or eggs you can use the same amount of regular milk and eggs in this recipe instead of the non-dairy and egg substitutes.

    Gingerbread Boy Meatloaf Recipe

    Topping:

    • 1/3 cup Brown Sugar
    • 1/2 cup Ketchup
    • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire Sauce

    Meatloaf:

    • 1 pound Lean Ground Beef
    • 1 Teaspoon Worcestershire Sauce
    • 1/2 cup Onion, chopped
    • 1 Garlic Clove, chopped
    • 1 1/2 teaspoon Salt
    • 1/4 teaspoon Black Pepper
    • 1/2 cup Almond or Soy Milk
    • 2 Egg Substitutes (Ener-G Egg Replacer works awesome!)
    • 1 cup Bread Crumbs

    Preheat over to 350 F.  Spray oil into the bottom of a “Gingerbread Boy”, 8″ x 8″ dish, or 9″ x 5″ loaf pan.

    Press the brown sugar evenly into the bottom of your oiled dish.  Mix together the ketchup and 1 teaspoon of worcestershire sauce.  Spread the mixture over the brown sugar.

    Combine the ground beef, onion, garlic, salt, and pepper.  Mix in the 1 tablespoon of worcestershire sauce, non-dairy milk (almond or soy), Ener-G Egg Replacer, and bread crumbs.  Press the meat mixture into the pan shape.  If you like your meatloaf a little sweeter you can another layer of of the topping layer.

    Bake for 1 hour or until cooked through.  Once done flip the meatloaf out of the pan onto a plate or pan and serve hot.

  • Jello Jigglers

    The girls had a lot of fun making Jello Jigglers after school to share with their friends who were coming over after dinner.  We had a great time doing this treat together while talking about memories, the girls day at school, and the fun we were anticipating having with our friends that evening.

    I remember making Jello Jigglers when I was a little girl with my Great Grandma Vi so this activity brought back a lot of sweet memories of my Grandma Viola.   It is wonderful being able to carry on this fun tradition with my girls too.

    The girls had a wide variety of shapes and animals from birds, flowers, Mickey Mouse, hearts, bears, rabbits, and more.  They had a blast choosing the cookie cutters and getting this special treat together to share with their friends.  I would say it was a big hit because there were only a couple “jigglers” left by the end of the night.  🙂

  • Fresh & Healthy: Lunch Box Meals

    It was great having some extra time this past weekend with the family over Memorial Day.  Only a couple more weeks of packing school lunches and then we’ll be into Summer Break!  I am really excited about having the girls home for the summer and we have a lot of super fun activities planned.

    Lunch Box Meal

    • Ham Sandwiches
    • Fresh Carrots
    • Pickles
    • Animal Crackers or Granola Bar
    • Chips
    • Fresh Apple
    • Vanilla Yogurt
    • Juice Bag

    The girls are getting really good at packing their lunches, but I know they will enjoy having a little break once summer hits.  Thankful they are still excited about bringing their lunch to school.  Every once in a while we’ll have them eat at school as a special treat and even then sometimes they prefer to take their own lunch.

  • Fresh & Healthy: Lunch Box Meals

    The girls always love taking school lunches.  It is hard to believe that before long the girls will be done with school and summer break will be started.  We are looking forward to a lot of fun activities over the summer together.

    Lunch Box Meal

    • PB&J Sandwich for Karlie & Soy & Jelly Sandwich for Brina
    • Homemade Cinnamon Applesauce
    • Yellow Pear Tomatoes
    • Apple Slices
    • Strawberry Yogurt
    • Chips
    • Water Bottle

    Thankful the girls enjoy taking lunch to school.  It is nice knowing exactly what the girls are eating for lunch.  Over the next few weeks we’ll have a few field trips and other activities over lunch so not too many more days and they’ll have a break from packing their lunch boxes everyday.  We’ll have to make sure to go on a few picnics this Summer to keep up the  fun.

  • Kids in the Kitchen

    Karlie’s so proud of her “heart” shape plum

    The girls love hanging out with us in the kitchen.  They pack their own lunches for school (almost everyday) plus they like to pitch in with making dinner many nights too.  Learning to use a knife to cut fruit, vegetables, and other items was an interesting process, but they have done really well and are getting better.  While they are cutting produce and we are making dinner we enjoy a few minutes of chit-chat and catching up from that days events.

    Brina cutting up her peach

  • A Side of Fresh Fruit

    Fresh fruit is always a hit at our house.  The girls love fruit and we try to have a variety in the fridge at all times.  When there’s fruit as a side dish at dinner table we have to make sure the girls eat the rest of their meal before digging into the fruit because they love it so much.

    Having a side of fresh fruit at the dinner table not only add color to the meal but a lot of great nutrition too.  The best part about having a variety a fruit is everyone can pick what they like.  I haven’t found a fruit that the girls didn’t like yet so they usually enjoy a little bit of each one.  My favorite way to serve it is fresh washed (and sliced if needed) without anything on it.  Although, we do have quite a few fruit salad recipes we enjoy too.  What is your favorite fruit to serve at dinner?

  • Chocolate & Peanut Butter Banana Bites

    Awhile ago I got some bananas on clearance and had an event coming up so I decided to try a variant of a recipe that I had seen somewhere months ago.  It was pretty easy to do and tasted delicious.  The girls loved putting these together and enjoyed eating the frozen delicious bananas too!

    Chocolate & Peanut Butter Banana Bites

    Bananas cut and ready to be dipped

    1 cup of milk and white chocolate swirls with 1/4 cup of creamy peanut butter

    Melted chocolate and peanut butter is ready to have the bananas dipped into it.

    Once the bananas are dipped into the chocolate and peanut butter put them in a single layer in a pan and put into the freezer until they are completely frozen.  After they are frozen you can transfer them into a ziplock bag.  Pull them out immediately before you serve them (if you keep them out too long they will start to melt).

  • What’s for Dinner: Our Weekly Menu Plan

    C

    Last week was pretty full of fun activities with the girls off from school for Spring Break.  We got to spend some time together with our family both at home and a few days in Charleston.  I was so sad that the girls had to go back to school this morning, but thankful for our fun time together.  Having the menu ready in the evenings has been a big benefit for our family and makes the evenings go much smoother.   Here is our menu plan for the upcoming week:

    Our Weekly Menu Plan

    • Monday (Beef or Seafood Entree):  Spaghetti & Meatballs, French Bread
    • Tuesday (Kid’s Night to Cook): Sandwiches, Fruit Salad
    • Wednesday (Chicken or Vegetarian Entree): Chicken Pot Pie, Fresh Fruit
    • Thursday (Pasta or Pork Entree):  Pasta Casserole, Steamed Vegetables
    • Friday, Saturday, & Sunday:  Leftovers, Family Preference, and Hosting

    I have a general pattern I try to follow for my weekly Menu Plan (for example Monday we have a beef or seafood entree and so forth).  It is my goal, at least in the beginning, to have at least the main dish and one side planned.  I will put together the remaining side dishes (veggies / fruits) based on the food items that need to be used up first and compliment the main entree.

    Setting a weekly menu plan helps me utilize my time better, thus freeing up extra time to spend with my family.  On the days that I am working longer hours I can prep the meal in advance so it will be easier to pull together once I am home.  As I go through the menu planning process I will try to share some of our favorite family recipes.  If there is a specific recipe you would like please let me know and I will do my best to accommodate (some recipes are a toss together meal and I do not use any set measurements).

    As a family of four our life can get busy.  What’s for Dinner is our weekly menu planning series and one of the ways to help keep us organized, on schedule, and within budget.  Our family typically eats 6 to 7  dinner meals at home a week.  We do try to go out to eat at least once a month as a special treat.  Breakfasts are eaten at home before work and school, lunches are eaten at work, school, or home, so dinner is our main meal together as a family.  Dinner is our time to reconnect, share, and enjoy being together after a busy day.  Our weekly menu plan covers Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday only because the weekend (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday) is our time to spend with family and friends.  The weekends tend to be more spontaneous and my husband (who is the better cook) likes pitching in therefore we keep the menu open for variety.  We use up the leftovers throughout the week for our lunches and on the nights that we are busy or can’t cook.

    Photo by Liz

  • Silly Clown Snack

    Clown snack

    The girls love it when they get simple silly snacks.  One weekend evening recently we were especially busy, by the time we got home it was already bed time so while they jump into the shower I made a quick supper for them to eat.  They gobbled up this silly “clown” as they named it.

    Even though it only took me a few minutes to put something together it is somehow more special when it is shaped differently.  Plus it seems like they eat a little better when their food is a little entertaining because they are so busy looking and talking about it before they know it the food is gone.  Included in this snack is one hotdog, one hotdog bun, ketchup, mustard, one cherry tomato, two pringles chips, and one purple green bean cut in half.

  • Intentional Living: Weekly Goals

    We had a great Easter weekend with the family.  I am super excited about spending some extra time with the kids since they will be out for Spring Break this week.  A lot of my goals for the upcoming week center around time spent with the family.

    Last week’s goals

    Family Goals

    1. Read These Happy Golden Years by Laura Ingalls Wilder to the girls (Book 8) – still reading through with the girls
    2. Read Imagination Station: Attack at the Arena by Marianne Hering and Paul McCusker (Book 2) – haven’t started it yet
    3. Lunch Boxes & Book Bags packed the night before
    4. Daily School Activities & Homework Completed
    5. Attend After School Activities
    6. Plan one special Activity with the Family
    7. Volunteer One Day at Girls School
    8. Easter activity & celebration
    9. Get together with Family and/or Friends

    Personal Goals

    1. Exercise at least 5 days this week
    2. Drink 8 glasses of water each day
    3. Continue my YouVersion plan(s)
    4. Finish reading One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp – hoping to get back into it soon
    5. Finish reading Overcoming Dyslexia by M.D. Sally Shaywitz (someone gave me this to read) – reading through it

    Home Management Goals

    1. All laundry for the week washed, folded, and put away in one day
    2. Weekly Dinner Menu planned out for the week
    3. Pay all upcoming bills

    Business Goals

    1. Work on ideas for upcoming blog posts
    2. Keep up with the day to day items that need my attention
    3. Work completed for clients

    Ministry Goals

    1. Meet a friend or family member for Breakfast or Lunch
    2. Write and Send Out Community Group Email

    Financial Goals

    1. Groceries $40 for 4 – went a little over with the Easter items
    2. Payoff the Van – made another payment
    3. Pay medical bills in full – making payments

    My goals for the upcoming week

    Family Goals

    1. Read These Happy Golden Years by Laura Ingalls Wilder to the girls (Book 8)
    2. Read Imagination Station: Attack at the Arena by Marianne Hering and Paul McCusker (Book 2)
    3. Ride bikes / scooters / skates / roller blades with the family
    4. Go on a picnic with the kids
    5. Play in the park together
    6. Visit a Museum
    7. Plan one special Activity with the Family
    8. Go on a family walk
    9. Get together with Family and/or Friends
    10. Play a board game
    11. Go on a special road trip
    12. Slumber party
    13. Go out to dinner one evening
    14. Watch a movie or TV show together one evening

    Personal Goals

    1. Exercise at least 5 days this week
    2. Drink 8 glasses of water each day
    3. Continue my YouVersion plan(s)
    4. Finish reading One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp
    5. Finish reading Overcoming Dyslexia by M.D. Sally Shaywitz (someone gave me this to read)

    Home Management Goals

    1. All laundry for the week washed, folded, and put away in one day
    2. Weekly Dinner Menu planned out for the week
    3. Pay all upcoming bills
    4. Start Spring Cleaning

    Business Goals

    1. Work on ideas for upcoming blog posts
    2. Keep up with the day to day items that need my attention
    3. Work completed for clients

    Ministry Goals

    1. Meet a friend or family member for Breakfast or Lunch
    2. Write and Send Out Community Group Email

    Financial Goals

    1. Groceries $40 for 4
    2. Payoff the Van
    3. Pay medical bills in full

    I think it is important to share and encourage each other as we seek to improve our lives and the lives of those around us.  I want to live intentionally not just hope all my dreams and goals come true.  When I focus on small steps of improvement I am able to see results as I get closer to my goals.  Some weeks I get closer to the goals I have in my life and other weeks a take a few steps back (life happens, emergencies occur, people get sick).  Once the goals are written down and shared it provides a guideline for what I aim to accomplish this week.

    Why Share My Goals?

    • To keep me accountable
    • To share a piece of my life with you as I strive to be a better Child of God, Wife, Mom, Friend, Homemaker, Entrepreneur and the many other roles I have each week
    • To have my goals consistently written down so I can gauge progress more accurately
    • Create healthy habits in my life
    • To encourage you to share your goals with me as you continue to grown and learn

    How did you do this week on your goals?  Feel free to share or link to your list of weekly goals.

    The picture above is one that I created for my own purposes, however, The “SMART” acronym was originally coined 30 years ago by Peter Drucker in his classic work, Management by Results.