• Fresh & Healthy: Lunch Box Meals

    Karlie’s lunch is packed and ready to go

    The girls and I try to clean out their lunches after school and homework so we can re-pack them for the next day.  It is easier for our family make the lunches the night before and stick the whole lunch bag into the fridge.  The mornings tend move quickly and I want them to go as smoothly as possible for everyone.

    I am really excited about the girls new lunch bags from Thirty-One!  They are spacious and easy to clean.  The girls were SUPER EXCITED to get them!  A big thanks to Jennifer Kauffman for helping me get these bags ordered and monogrammed!  If you are looking for a monogrammed bag for yourself, a child, or to give as a gift Jennifer would be happy to help you.

    What’s for lunch today?

    Lunch Box Meal:

    • Beef Stew & Jasmine Rice
    • Fresh Banana Bread
    • Apple Peel Confetti Crisps
    • Pickles & Dip
    • Batman Fruit Snacks
    • Strawberry  & Lemon Circle Crisps
    • Spiderman Cheez Its or Grahams Bug Bites
    • Peach Yogurt or Sugar Free Strawberry Jello
    • Oyster Crackers
    • Jelly Beans
    • Fruit Punch Juice

    Beef Stew, pickles & dip, homemade banana bread and more!

    It has been better for our family to send our girls lunches to school.  Before sending lunches a lot of afternoons the girls would come home from school starving.  When I asked them what they ate for lunch they could never remember.  I like knowing what they are eating and I make sure to pack enough so they can have a snack after school too since we go to after school activities every day.  If they finish everything in their lunches then they can get something else to eat once we are home.

    Brina’s lunch is packed and ready!

  • Fresh & Healthy: Lunch Box Meals

    Lunch Box Goodies

    School lunch box goodies for the kiddos!  Today the girls picked out some delicious items for their lunch.  After they went to bed I made them a homemade chicken salad sandwich and put it in a pretty princess bag for them.  Here’s what they packed:

    • Homemade Chicken Salad Sandwich
    • Fresh Banana
    • Fresh Cauliflower
    • BBQ Chips
    • Yogurt
    • Shared a Honey-bun
    • Juice Bag

    Always something fun to eat in the lunch box.

  • Recipe: Liege Waffles (Gaufre de Liege)

    My cousin Renelle made these waffles a few weekends ago and they are AMAZING!!!!  You don’t even need to put syrup on the waffles!  I ate mine with blueberries on top.  Later that weekend I had them just plain and they were sweet and tasty. You may want to make these the night before if you are planning on an an early breakfast otherwise they would make a great brunch since the dough has to rise.  They are just as delicious reheated as well.  Renelle made deep Belgian waffles for everyone, thanks Renelle for sharing such an awesome recipe with us!!!

     

     

    Liege Waffles:

    Sponge –

    • 4 1/2 teaspoons Active Dry Yeast
    • 1 1/3 cups warm Milk
    • 1 3/4 cups Flour
    • 1 tablespoon granulated Sugar
    • 1 Egg, lightly beaten

    Batter –

    • 9 tablespoons unsalted Butter (room temperature)
    • 1/4 cup Flour
    • 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
    • 1/4 teaspoon Baking Powder
    • Pinch of Salt
    • 2 tablespoons Granulated Sugar
    • 3/4 cup Pearl Sugar
    • Extra Flour (for sprinkling)

    Directions

    Sponge –

    1. In a small bowl, sprinkle yeast over the milk.  Add 1 tablespoon of flour and sugar; set aside for 5 minutes or until foamy.
    2. Sift remaining flour into a large mixing bowl.  Make a well in center and add yeast mixture and egg.  Stir well to make a smooth batter.
    3. Cover with plastic wrap; set aside in a warm place and let rise until doubled or tripled in bulk, about 2 hours.

    Batter –

    1. Place butter, flour, vanilla, baking powder, salt, granulated sugar, and pearl sugar into a bowl and work with back of a wooden spoon to form a paste.
    2. Work butter mixture into a sponge mixture until well combined.  Cover, and set aside for 10 minutes
    3. With floured hands, shape dough into 10 balls.  Flatten one slightly and dust it with flour.  If dough seems too wet to handle, just pour the batter directly onto the waffle iron.
    4. Heat a waffle iron until medium hot.  Place a flattened ball in the middle of the iron; close top.  Cook for 3 to 4 minutes.  If waffle iron is too hot, sugar will burn.  Continue baking until all the waffles are done.  Waffles may be kept warm in a 200 degree oven until ready to serve.

    Yields:  10 Waffles

    Photo by EvinDC