~Mommy Advice Column~

Healthy Shakes For The Kids

2012-02-21T11:30:00.000-08:00

Do you have a hard time getting milk or fruit into your kids' diet? Try this 2 minute recipe for all natural, delicious shakes that are so yummy the kids have no idea it's good for them! Bonus: You can add flax seed, Miralax, etc. if your child is experiencing constipation. Double bonus - you can save fruit that is starting to go bad by throwing it in a ziplock in the freezer for future shakes!

Ingredients:

Per serving:

- 2/3 cups milk (can even be 2% milk)

- 1 frozen banana

And/Or
Frozen strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, etc.

- 1 heaping Tablespoon creamy peanut butter (optional - good source of protein)

If your child absolutely refuses anything that isn't chocolate, you can add a little Hershey's syrup or a scoop of chocolate ice cream (but you didn't hear that from me!).

Combine on high in blender until desired shake or smoothie consistency. Add ice for thicker shake. Serve alone or topped with whipped cream and a cherry.

For soft-serve ice cream-like consistency, use more frozen fruit or add ice cubes, and serve with a spoon!

Enjoy!

NEW YEARS EVE PUNCH

2011-12-30T18:38:00.000-08:00

This is my all time favorite punch! It is a crowd pleaser for adults and kids alike, as you can make it either with or without alcohol, with a bottle of champagne on the side for those who want a little "punch" in their punch!

Ingredients:

1 1/2 gallons of orange sherbet
2 liters Ginger Ale (chilled)
1 bottle champagne (chilled)(optional)

Directions:

Place one gallon of orange sherbet in center of punch bowl.
Add 2 liters of Ginger Ale & 1 bottle of champagne (optional).
Stir until sherbet is dissolved.
Just before serving, add last 1/2 gallon of sherbet in scoops to float on top of punch.

If making non-alcoholic version, do not pour champagne in but leave bottle nearby & instruct guests to add it to their own cups of punch!

Feel free to add orange juice, pineapple juice, lemon-lime soda or different flavors of sherbet to this recipe to suit your own taste!

~ ~ ~ ~ HOLIDAY CANDY TREAT: CHOCOLATE BUCKEYES ~ ~ ~ ~

2011-12-10T13:48:00.000-08:00

Bonnie Grippe & daughter Jacqueline Laurita

Looking for a yummy treat to serve this holiday season? Try this delicious peanut butter & chocolate candy favorite, graciously submitted by Bonnie Grippe, mother to New Jersey's favorite housewife, Jacqueline Laurita!

~Chocolate Buckeyes ~

Ingredients:

1 cup soft butter
1 12oz pkg semi-sweet chocolate chips
2 cups peanut butter
1/4 cup paraffin
3 cups confectioners sugar

Directions:

-Mix butter, peanut butter and sugar until smooth. Refrigerate for 1-2 hours.
-Remove from refrigerator and form into small balls. Place balls on wax paper-lined cookie sheet and return to refrigerator.
-Mix chocolate chips and paraffin in a double boiler. Melt together over low heat.
-Remove peanut butter balls from refrigerator and dip each ball into chocolate with a toothpick, leaving a little of the peanut butter uncovered.
-Refrigerate again until serving and smooth over toothpick holes.
-Enjoy!

Thanks Bonnie!

Thanksgiving Treat! Turkey Shaped Appetizer/ Dessert/Centerpiece All In One!!!

2011-11-15T06:20:00.000-08:00



Here is a super-simple, creative Thanksgiving treat that can be used as an APPETIZER OR DESSERT, AND makes a great CENTERPIECE!

Ingredients:

Instructions:

Stabilize the melon body by cutting a shallow slice off the rind to form a flat base.
Using a section of bamboo skewer, attach a Bosc pear head to the melon, as shown.
Cut a cheese triangle beak and red pepper snood. Attach both, along with raisin eyes, to the head with sections of toothpick.
Cut red pepper feet and set them in place.
For tail feathers, skewer cheese cubes and red grapes, then insert the skewers as shown.
Pin pepper side feathers in place with toothpicks.

Feel free to substitute skewer ingredients - such as pineapple chunks, cherries, cantaloupe, melon etc. Enjoy!

(This recipe was adapted from http://www.celebrationideasonline.com/thanksgiving-dessert-recipes.html)

Valentine's Day Heart-Shaped Chocolate Chip Pancakes

2011-02-11T20:35:00.000-08:00

Prep Time: 10 mins

Cooking Time: 5 mins

Level: Easy

Yields: 18 pancakes

Ingredients

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup (6 ounces) semi-sweet chocolate mini morsels
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 3/4 cups milk
2 large eggs
1/3 cup vegetable oil, plus more for the griddle and cookie cutters
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
3-inch heart-shaped metal cookie cutters (optional)
Powdered sugar

Directions:

COMBINE flour, morsels, baking powder and salt in large bowl. Combine milk, eggs, oil and brown sugar in medium bowl; add to flour mixture. Stir just until moistened (batter may be lumpy).

HEAT griddle or skillet over medium heat; brush lightly with oil. Pour 1/4 cup batter onto hot griddle into the shape of a heart; cook until bubbles begin to burst. Turn; continue to cook about 1 minute longer or until golden. Repeat with remaining batter. (For perfectly shaped pancakes, brush inside of cookie cutters with oil; place on griddle. Pour about 1/4 cup batter into the cookie cutters and cook until bubbles begin to burst. Remove cookie cutters. Turn; continue to cook about 1 minute longer or until golden.)

SPRINKLE with powdered sugar before serving.

*Note: For an even easier recipe, buy pancake mix and mix in chocolate mini morsels!

Holiday M&M Pretzels

2011-02-11T15:02:00.000-08:00

Ingredients

Bite-size, mini pretzels
Hershey's Kiss or Hershey's Hug
M&M's candy

Instructions

Heat the oven to 170F. Place bite-size pretzels (one for each treat) in a single layer on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper, then top each pretzel with an unwrapped Hershey's Kiss or Hershey's Hug.
Bake for 4 to 6 minutes (the white chocolate will melt more quickly), until the chocolates feel soft when touched with a wooden spoon. Remove the cookie sheet from the oven and quickly press an M&M's candy into the center of each Kiss.
Allow the treats to cool for a few minutes, then place them in the refrigerator to set, about 10 minutes.
Enjoy!