Oatmeal on the Go

This quick, simple breakfast can be eaten on the go! Whether you drive or walk to school with your kids in the morning, I'm sure most mornings are rushed- leaving little time for sitting and eating breakfast. These oatmeal bars will keep your kiddies full until lunchtime- and the best thing is, you can pre- make them the night before!

My friend Gina of Skinnytaste made breakfast cookies and I was intrigued! I attempted making them but was missing the chocolate chips that the recipe called for. In place of the chocolate chips I used peanut butter- but it just didn't do it for the cookies! I was determined to make such a simple breakfast, so I got crack-a-lackin and came up with these oatmeal bars.

My husband ate 3 of these yesterday- this proves how good they are! Normally, he's not one for my healthy antics! Chloe had hers on our morning walk to school and loved the chocolate chips- she is my daughter after all! 

You can mix it up and throw in some raisins or craisins in place of the chocolate chips. In my house- chocolate prevails all! 

Yummy Mummy Marshmallow Treat

Seeing Chloe and Max's faces light up when they came home to these marsh-mummies was a treat in itself! They both love marshmallows so I kinda knew these easy Halloween treats would be a hit. I plan on making a batch for each of their classes fall festival celebrations - since I love seeing little faces light up so much!

I'm absolutely loving this fall. The weather, the festivities, the sweaters and boots, and of course-the food. I'm happy to be enjoying another season as much as I do summer! This is definitely a new found love for me- but I'm welcoming it with opened arms! The kids and I went pumpkin picking on a farm last week with friends. We went on a hay ride and fed some bunnies along with some other smelly animals! As much as I enjoyed myself, the city girl in me cannot handle smelly animals! Luckily there were also some good smells too, like that of roasted corn on the cob! The farm had it's own gourmet market that had many yummy things to buy such as zucchini chips and butternut squash & apple soup. My friend Gina and I shared a fresh mozzarella panini with balsamic reduction that was pretty darn good! The market is where I got the inspiration for these marsh-mummies.  It was a great day with friends and my favorite little peeps! 

Spaghetti Squash Mashed Potatoes

As a child, mashed potatoes were by far one of my favorite foods. My German grandma made them for me with almost every meal. Now that the weather is cooling off here in New York, my body is craving the warmth certain foods offer. Warm cups of tea, soups, oatmeal, and of course - mashed potatoes. I can't eat them like I did at Grandma's because I wouldn't want to house an extra ass on my body this winter- although it would provide additional warmth- it's not welcomed! 

I made spaghetti squash on it's own with a little salt, pepper, and butter but the kids didn't care for it much. I baked one in the oven yesterday and knowing the kids wouldn't eat it, thought blending it with some potatoes I was mashing would be ingenious! They were amazing- the kids ate them without any suspicions, and they made the perfect side dish for my roast beef. 

Pumpkin Oatmeal Muffins

I'm a summer girl at heart. I love the beach, not wearing a jacket or having to bundle up the kids, and of course, flip-flops! My feet were seriously rejecting my boots the first day I wore them last week! However, fall...you had me at pumpkin! I embrace the fall by indulging in the many pumpkin-y treats this season has to offer. 

I like Chloe and Max to come home to a healthy after school snack. They both come have ravenous, as if they haven't eaten in days! This is when I introduce something new- giving them little choice to decline! Who would turn down a muffin served by a spider waiter anyway?

I wanted to make a healthier pumpkin muffin. I try to sneak wheat germ into anything I can because it's such a superfood. I used oatmeal instead of flour. Oats are low in fat, and are sodium free, cholesterol free, and preservative free. Oats add fiber, texture and a mild nutty flavor to baked goods. I had semi-sweet chocolate chips in the house and I knew the kids would definitely be more open to eating anything with chocolate!

Pumpkin Oatmeal Muffins

• 1 cup canned pumpkin
• 1/2 cup applesauce (I use Mott's Medleys because it has blended vegetables in it)
• 1/2 cup of plain yogurt
• 2 eggs
• 1 1/3 cup of old fashioned oats
• 1/3 cup of wheat germ
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1 tbs pumpkin butter (optional)
• 1/4 cup chocolate chips

Directions:

Heat oven to 350 degrees

Line your muffin pans with cupcake baking cups- or spray the muffin pan with non-stick spray

Blend all the ingredients until mixture is smooth

Fill approximately 14/15 muffins with mixture

Bake 25 minutes or until tops are brown

These are even better the next day- so if you can, bake ahead! These don't just make for a great after school snack, they make a great breakfast as well!

Ghost Toast & Three Little Ghosties- Books to Belly Halloween Edition!

I bought these awesome ghost and bat cookie cutters to fulfill all of my quirky food fantasies for the kiddies! Target has lots of great Halloween goodies that make this time of year that much more fun. 

On our last trip to the library, the kids chose some books, one of them being Three Little Ghosties. Upon finishing their burnt toasties, the three little ghosties set off to scare some girlsies and boyses but their plan doesn't exactly work out for them! How much trouble can three harmless little ghosts get into in one night? Plenty! Maybe they are hanging around my house! 

We read our story before our breakfast of Ghost Toast which I made with fluff and peanut butter dotted eyes. You can also use cream cheese and dot jelly eyes. The bats are made with Nutella and I dotted the eyes with fluff. The kids ate this up like the ghosties were coming! 

Today was a perfect Books to Belly day. Both kids were home sick so it was a nice little reading activity to do with them. Chloe and Max enjoyed eating their ghost toasties while trying to scare one another like the ghosts in the story! Nothing like making connections! 

I hope your lil guys & ghouls enjoy this Halloween edition of Books to Belly!! 

Mummy Dogs- Revamped!

When I made these mummy dogs last Fall, Max was eating turkey and chicken hot dogs. As the seasons change, so does that of a newly 4 year olds palette! 

Once he had the taste of a beef hot dog, he wasn't going back. I don't mind him eating them at an occasional BBQ- however, I'm not giving them to him at home. I bought Applegate organic hot dogs because they are all natural, have no nitrates and are hormone free. They are also less fattening than your average hot dog. If he's eating a hot dog, I feel better giving him these!

Max absolutely loves mummy dogs! He was so excited when I gave him his lunch in it's little coffin! He was cracking up when he opened it up! You can buy the coffin at Michaels for $1.00! 

Mummy Dogs

• 1 package of Applegate hot dogs
• Pillsbury crescent rolls
• mustard

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees
• Line a cookie sheet wit tin foil (no spray)
• Take crescent rolls out one at a time and cut into 1 inch strips with a kitchen scissor
• Wrap crescent rolls around the hot dog- there is no rhyme or reason to wrapping!
• Bake for 18-20 minutes 
• Let the dogs cool 5 minutes before dotting on mustard eyes! 

These are so simple - yet, so much fun! Enjoy!!!!