Snap, Crackle, Pop!

Millie has a new favorite snack...Gluten Free Brown Rice Krispies (got 'em BOGO at Publix!) and Rice milk.  She wanted more and more, I refilled her suction cupped bowl 3 times!  Cute little thing.

Banana Walnut Muffins

I LOVE to bake....mostly because I love to EAT baked goods! My old banana muffin recipe was always a little dry for my taste. So when I found this one, I was excited to try it and boy did it deliver! Perfect with a cup of coffee or a big glass of milk...kid tested and approved! I'll post again soon with a recipe to use up that big ol' thing of buttermilk ....

(courtesy of Prevention Magazine, September 2009)

1 1/2 c. all-purpose flour
1/2 c. brown sugar
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
1 c. mashed ripe banana (2-3 bananas-I used 3)
1 lg. egg
1/4 c. 50/50 butter blend (I used regular unsalted butter)
1/4 c. 1% buttermilk
3 Tbs. canola oil
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1/3 c. plus 2 Tbs. chopped walnuts, divided

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Coat 8 cups of a standard-size muffin pan with cooking spray.
2. Whisk flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a bowl.
3. Mix banana, egg, butter, buttermilk, oil, and vanilla extract in large bowl until smooth. Gradually add flour mixture and stir until blended. Add 1/3 cup of the walnuts and mix thoroughly.
4. Fill muffin cups three-quarters full. Sprinkle remaining 2 Tbs. walnuts over tops.
5. Bake until a wooden pick inserted into center of muffin comes out clean, 15-20 minutes.

Banana "Kisses"

Concocted this one today for an after-school snack: thick slices of banana, topped with a dollup of peanut butter and a chocolate-covered raisin on the top.

I'm thinkin' this would be great with any number of toppings...soft cream cheese with strawberry bits; sunflower seed butter with a raisin on top, the possibilities are endless! These little treats disappeared in about 2 minutes FLAT!

A Yummy After-School Treat...

Sliced apples with peanut butter (slightly softened for about 10 seconds in the microwave) make a yummy, filling after-school snack. Though we are out right now, we also enjoy softened almond butter for dipping. Pumpkin gets all happy when the food looks cool on the plate. :) For this easy treat I was rewarded with "momma, you are the bestest food maker".

Snackin' Soybeans

Found this one in the T*rg*t freezer section a few days ago...Pumpkin actually asked me if I was gonna put some "Dora peas" in his lunchbox today! Still working on sweetpea, hopefully the "Dora" gimmick will be appealing?

Soybeans are a complete protein, and a good source of essential fatty acids, they contain (among other nutrients) vitamin A, C and Iron.


They had two kinds on the shelf: Spongebob unshelled Soybeans (still in the pods) and Dora shelled soybeans. These come frozen, and I just pop one in the lunchbox-it's all thawed out by lunchtime. These can also be served warm-just steam them to your desired texture, or nuke 'em in the microwave. Enjoy!