Fruttata Banana Pancakes

My son Roo is on a kick where he will eat nothing but pancakes. Seriously. Nothing but pancakes! So when my pals at Fruttata sent me this recipe I knew we had to try it to bring a little something to the daily pancakes that my son insists on eating.

I loved that I could add something nutritious to his favorite food and jazz them up a little. He was not thrilled with the idea of bananas being added in, but when he realized I wasn't making a second batch of plain ones he ate them. 

Fruttata Banana Pancakes

Ingredients

• 1.5 cups flour
• 3.5 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 3 tablespoons butter, melted
• 1 egg
• 1.25 cups milk
• cooking spray
• .36 oz bag of Fruttata Banana crisps freeze dried fruit

Directions

• Sift together flour, baking powder and sugar in a large bowl.
• Whisk in melted butter, egg, and milk until combined. Let batter rest 5 minutes.
• Preheat large skillet over medium heat. Spray with cooking spray.
• Pour batter into skillet, 1/4 cup of batter each pancake.
• Cook 2-3 minutes.
•  Flip and add contents of dried fruit bag chopped into smaller desired pieces.
• Cook until golden, about 1-2 minutes

Do you have a favorite fruit pancake recipe? I would love to hear about it.

Savory Blueberry Pizza

I love pizza... but pizza with blueberries? Hey, why not!? My friends at the Blueberry Council sent this recipe and I was thrilled to have the chance to share it with you.

Savory Blueberry Pizza

Ingredients:

• 1 pound pizza dough
• 1-1/2 cups grated mozzarella cheese, divided
• 1/2 cup crumbled gorgonzola cheese
• 4 ounces diced pancetta (can also use bacon or ham if pancetta is not available), cooked and drained
• 1/4 cup thinly sliced red onion
• 1 cup fresh blueberries
• 1/4 cup thinly sliced fresh basil
• Freshly ground black pepper

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 450°F.
2. Lightly flour a work surface.
3. Pat and stretch dough into a 10 x 14-inch oval; place on a large baking sheet.
4. With a fork, pierce dough in several places.
5. Leaving a 1-inch border, sprinkle dough with half the mozzarella, the gorgonzola, pancetta and red onion.
6. Bake until crust is golden brown, 12 to 14 minutes.
7. Sprinkle blueberries and remaining mozzarella over pizza; bake until cheese is melted and crust is golden brown, about 2 minutes longer.
8. Remove from oven; top with basil and pepper.

How do you like your pizza? Have you ever had it with blueberries as a topping? I can't wait to talk pizza with you- leave me a comment ;)

Dirty Little Secrets

Today I want to talk about dirty little secrets. We all have them, but we don't share them. In this age of social media it is so important to keep our lives polished and presentable for the masses. But, I am not polished or pristine. I may not even be presentable sometimes if we are being honest.

Thanks to BIZ for sponsoring this post. The thoughts and opinions are my own.

I am a hot mess mom. If you stop by unannounced I am going to look like a wreck. I am guaranteed to have flour, paint or cement on my person. I am also an unprepared hot mess most of the time. I get an idea and I run with it. So my favorite shorts, my most flattering skirts and all of my tops pay the price for this by the seat of my pants lifestyle.

I used to replace favorite outfits seasonally. Ruin a pair of shorts then go buy them again. Toss a top in the trash and get a similar one. It is expensive to have a fashion sense such as mine.

Then I got this laundry changing opportunity to be a BIZ ambassador. I have tried laundry boosters and stain removers before, but I am a mess; my kids are a mess. My favorite quilt was covered in black marker from this creative vibe we have and the lack of planning I am cursed or blessed with.

But, BIZ is ideal for cleaning up this messy life. Without taking away from our fun! I can let everyone get messy, save money and keep my peace with a $3 addition to my shopping list. BIZ stain fighter does just what it says it will, and makes it easy for me to keep everyone looking great in their favorite clothes. It is as easy to use as adding it to your favorite detergent and letting the washing machine and the stain fighter do the work! I love that it is available in both liquid and powder and it is so affordable. And yes, the marker came out with no trace!

Laundry is the least of my worries these days now that BIZ is a trusted part of our family. But, stains happen! If you have a great stain removal tip, be sure to share it in a comment!

ABC Pancakes with Krusteaz

Thanks to Krusteaz for hooking us up with yummy mixes!

My 4 year old is going through a phase... the phase of "I don't like it..." He refuses to eat everything from yogurt to chicken, to crackers and fruits, he doesn't like anything except pancakes. So I make a ton of pancakes these days.

I have been making my sons food of choice into a fun learning experience, because face it, food should be fun to prepare and eat.

Krusteaz was kind enough to send us Honey Wheat Pancake Mix. {This stuff is so good! No wonder the kid wants to only eat pancakes!} and I got busy in the kitchen making pancakes for Roo that offered him a yummy breakfast and a chance to practice his ABC's.

I followed the directions on the package and created a batter.

Using a squeeze bottle I wrote letters on the hot griddle.

 After about 30 seconds I added a scoop of batter to the top of each letter and allowed them to cook as normal.

This created letter pancakes for the kids.

My son really liked telling us about the letter he was eating, this included letter sounds, who has a name that starts with a letter and son on.

Breakfast, lunch and sometimes dinner too, Krusteaz pancake mixes make a delicious option for my family. My son is a huge fan! I am too because I can make a huge batch and freeze them for a quick breakfast during the week to the delight of my family.

Cheesy Roasted Baby Potatoes

I am a proud partner with Tasteful Selections Potatoes. 

In March I had the opportunity to visit with the Tasteful Selections family in Bakersfield. To witness their passion for potatoes sparked something in me. Potatoes are awesome. I am a big fan of the tuber, but it seems as if this tasty dinner addition doesn't get much play from me. That is about to change! I am thrilled to continue working with my favorite baby potato company, to have the chance to share easy and yummy potato recipes with you, and to find ways to introduce my children to new dishes.

Tonight was one of those nights that I just didn't really want to cook... but my stomach insisted that I get in the kitchen and whip up something that I could serve for dinner.

Crab cakes are my favorite food... I could eat them rain or shine, morning or night, every day! I whipped up a small batch of crab cakes but needed a side to accompany our salads. I had Organic Honey Gold Tasteful Selection Potatoes in my refrigerator, so I opted to whip up something fantastically yummy and I can't wait to share this very simple recipe with you!

This recipe makes 2 servings of cheesy potatoes.

Ingredients

7 baby honey gold organic potatoes

1 tablespoon of EVOO

1/4 teaspoon of freshly ground black pepper

1/4 teaspoon of garlic and herb seasoning

1/3 cup of shredded cheddar cheese

*note*

I made this dish in a wok, because I have one and I like to use it as much as I can. You can also just use a skillet on the stove top.

Instructions

Cut your Tasteful Selections honey gold potatoes into quarters

Heat Wok to 300 degrees {or skillet to medium high heat}

Add 1 Tablespoon of Extra Virgin Olive Oil to the Wok

Add quartered potatoes, fresh black pepper and garlic herb seasoning to the wok and stir.

Allow your potatoes to cook for about 3 minutes then stir. You want to keep stirring every few minutes to insure your potatoes are crisped evenly on all sides.

When your potatoes are golden brown and slightly crispy reduce the heat to about 250 degrees, add 1/3 cup of cheese and stir

Allow your cheese to melt completely then serve to the delight of your family. Who doesn't love crispy potatoes and lots of cheese?! 

What is your favorite way to enjoy potatoes? Tell me all about it!

Summer Style for a Mom on the Go

Summer is here and we are on the go! We have been visiting parks, playgrounds and museums. We have had a million baseball games and play dates, and with so much time spent running, it is the season to see and be seen. This year, I am looking fashionable  while staying functional on a budget and I know you are going to want to hear my secrets to achieving a great look for your summer mom adventures.

This post contains partner links. Samples were received to facilitate the style guide.

First, comfy shoes are a must. I have been rocking a pair of Lugz Regent Lo in White. These oxford style shoes are so comfy and supportive that I can chase kids all day long and still look stylish when I dash into the grocery store. Retailing at under $45 I love that this pair of shoes offers a casual look for any on the go  woman this summer. Lugz are a family favorite option here as they are durable, affordable and always stylish. {ADD PHOTO AND LINK}

Next, a bag that can do double duty is important. I love the Retro Metro Bag from Thirty One. It is spacious, with side and interior pockets keeping track of your keys, phone and chapstick is a breeze. I love that the interior has enough room to hold my necessities plus my mom gear. This is the bag you can always find on my arm these days. I have officially retired my coach collection for Thirty One. {ADD PHOTO AND LINK}

Adding an accessory is a fun way to style this summer. Thirty One has these awesome Just Write Snap Bracelets that you can make your own. These would be great to layer, or maybe get two and share one with your bestie. {ADD PHOTO AND LINK} I also swoon over every bracelet in the Luca and Danni collection. This Hudson bangle is my go to for light and summery looks while the Druzy Metallic in Blue is my favorite statement bracelet.

Skirts are perfect for summer; and I just got a really nice A line from Novashe, at unbeatable price for the quality. It is well made, elegant in appearance and great for a chic summer evening outfit.  {ADD PHOTO AND LINK}

NatureSweet Cherubs Greek Salad

My friends over at NatureSweet asked me if I would like to share a recipe with my readers, just in time for spring. Of course I jumped at the chance!

Course Type: Side Salad

Preparation Time: 10 minutes

Short Summary: A classic Mediterranean favorite

Ingredients:

• 1 pkg Fresh Express® Spring Mix
• 2 Tbsp pitted black olives, sliced
• 1 cup NatureSweet® Cherubs® Tomatoes
• 1/2 cup red onion, sliced
• 1/2 cup feta cheese, crumbled
• 4 whole pepperoncinis
• Your favorite balsamic or tarragon vinaigrette dressing

Instructions:

1. Place Fresh Express® Spring Mix into a large salad bowl.
2. Top with olives, NatureSweet® Cherubs® Tomatoes and onions. Add cheese and pepperoncinis. Drizzle dressing over salad.

Stay tuned, I will be developing a recipe that is perfect for spring and summer eating featuring my favorite little tomatoes!

6 Things Not To Bargain Shop For

6 Things Not To Bargain Shop For

We all love a good bargain. Saving money is awesome and unless you are one of the nearly 500 billionaires in the United States, it is often a necessity.  As the financial adviser in my family, I try my best to get the most bang for my buck on every purchase. I check ebates to see if I can earn cashback.  I use my paypal debit card to purchase nearly everything I buy because I earn 1% cashback each month, which adds up! I look for sales, coupons and discounts. I even shop the closeout stores like Big Lots and Ollie's Bargain Outlet. Who doesn't like buying stuff at a lower cost?

In all of my attempts to save money, I have discovered things you should not scrimp on. Things that are just worth the cost in the long run. I want to share these suggestions with you to help you in your attempts to save as much as you can.

1. Laundry Detergent 

I say buy something good for several good reasons. One your clothes are meant to last. Washing them in something like the brand from Dollar Tree is going to take a toll on your clothes. You can take my word for this. I bought a new pair of jeans, washed them in the cheap cheap LA Awesome (or something like that) brand exclusively. Ya know what? In 6 months time the denim was so worn and threadbare all over that I was afraid to go outdoors in them for fear they might just fall apart! I bought a new pair of jeans to replace the holy than thou pair and went back to Tide... same brand of jeans, same style. That was 5 years ago... I still have the 2nd new pair today. Secondly, your clothes should look and smell good after washing them. A cheap detergent is mostly water, it just can't do the job as well as Tide.

2. Deodorant

This should be a no brainer. Buy something good, don't try to save money here... cause no one wants to smell your attempts to save money on a hot summer day....

3. Pet Food

If you can't afford to feed a pet quality food, you shouldn't have a pet. Feeding off brands of food, such as EverPet, will lead to health issues. Pets deserve to be cared for in many ways, but their diet is vital to the overall health and well being of any pet. 

4. Trash Bags

I have bought cheap trash bags before and ended up picking my trash up off the lawn as the bag rips, tears or whatever on the way to the curb. No fun, not worth saving $2 in my opinion.

5. Shoes

I think buying quality footwear is important. Not only do your feet feel better in great shoes, but they are safer. When my son was about 18 months old and on the go, go, go we found a great deal on a pair of well known kids shoes. I jumped on them. Days later I realized why they were so affordable... the hard way. The sole of the shoe detached, causing my toddler to fall and he got a black eye out of it. Since that moment, no more bargain buys on shoes. Find the new air force 1 here.

6. Pillows

Repeat after me. "I will not buy a $5 pillow. I will not buy a $5 pillow." 

I am not saying you need to spend a few hundred on a great pillow, but invest in one that is going to give you a good quality of sleep. I use a Technogel pillow. I love it. I can't sleep without it, without waking up in pain or exhausted. A good pillow is an investment in your quality of life. 

Do you have any items to add to this list? What do you think you should buy without bargain hunting?

Easy Banana Pancakes

We love Post cereal in my home. We are thrilled to have the chance to share another recipe on their behalf with you!

Easy Banana Pancakes

Ingredients

• 1 egg
• 3/4 cup milk
• 2 Tbsp. oil
• 1 cup pancake and waffle mix
• 1 cup Great Grains Banana Nut Crunch Cereal
• 2 Tbsp. powdered sugar

Directions

1. Beat egg with milk and oil in large bowl with wire whisk until well blended. Add pancake mix; beat until well blended. Stir in cereal. Let stand 5 minutes.
2. Ladle batter onto hot griddle or into hot skillet, using 1/4 cup batter for each pancake. Cook until bubbles form on tops, then turn over to brown other sides.
3. Sprinkle with powdered sugar.

Summer Sauteed Corn and Squash

Sauteed corn and squash makes for the perfect addition to any summer meal. It is delicious enough to make a meal on its own! Made with fresh and simple ingredients, this dish comes together in a matter of moments and is going to get rave reviews from anyone that samples it!

Summer is here you guys! I have never been so happy to hit the farmers market! After a long winter with access to a sad selection of fresh veggies, to see food grown with care and pride inspired my stomach and my menu planning.

I made the easiest dish for dinner last Sunday. It was a lazy summer day. The kids had been playing outside most of the day and I turned to my farmers market finds to create dinner. This recipe is so easy you guys it makes only 3 ingredients and the prep time is minimal, so you can spend more time making summer memories.

Chefs notes:

Use real butter. Butter is something that should not be sacrificed in any kitchen. I firmly believe that using butter to cook is healthier than turning to some scientifically created food like substance. Butter- just do it guys. 

At the last moment, I tossed roughly chopped fresh parsley into the veggie mix to add a splash of green and a little extra flavor. This is optional

This post contains affiliate links

Ingredients

1 yellow squash

2 ears of corn on the cob

2 tablespoons of real butter

parsley to taste (optional)

Directions

Shuck your ears of corn 

Cut the corn from the cob

Chop the squash into chunks

Heat a skillet at a a medium heat setting

Add butter

Add corn and squash

Add parsley if desired

Sautee for about 20 minutes, stirring frequently. When your squash is tender you can remove from the heat and serve.

I served this along with garlic roasted asparagus for a delicious dinner that was extremely delicious and healthy. It offered a colorful plate packed with summer veggies! This is one of the many ways we love to enjoy summer squash.

 I would love to hear how you enjoy summer squash!

This dinner was so economical. It is one of the many examples of the reality that you can eat wholesome and healthy foods even on the tightest of budgets.  I always hear people claim that it costs too much to eat healthy. Recipes like this dispell that myth. While I didn't add meat to the meal- you could easily do so if you desired.

Summer squash {1/3 of a pound} In stores squash sells for $.99 to $1.59 a pound in my area. I paid 50 cents for the squash at my farmers market.

Corn was on sale for 12 cents an ear. I used 2 ears for a total of 24 cents.

Figuring butter into the equation would be about 15 cents for the amount used in this recipe.

Asparagus was on sale for $1.49 a pound. I used 1/2 a pound with this meal for .75 .

Seriously, this was one of the best dinners I have eaten in a week and I served this to 2 adults for a total of $1.64. We both left dinner incredibly satisfied. This is a completely healthy dinner that is budget friendly for proof that eating healthy is not as expensive as everyone wants you to believe.

DIY Kids Reading Nook and Book Storage Solution

We have moved into our house and are now in the stages of making it work for us. The rooms are all spacious, there are closets! But we have a mass of childrens books fitting for a small library. After filling the only 3 shelves available with books, I had to get creative about storing them but I also wanted to come up with something functional.

I got an under the bed storage tote. I filled it with about 50 books.

I placed the lid on it and immediately my daughter dashed into see what was up. She is a little bookworm and the idea of several hundred available books really appealed to her... and the mess maker in her too.

                  From here I got a soft blanket. and covered tote of books.

I added a few favorite stuffed animals, but they were instantly snatched away by the kids. so I gave them a pillow and a small basket of books at the side of this reading nook.

As you can see, it was instantly put to use by my sweet book loving daughter.

So, for about $8 I created a storage solution and a seating area for the kids! This has worked well because the kids like to lay down and read, and the tote filled with books supports their weight and is just the right length for them to do so.

Grape-Nuts Crunchy Curried Hummus

If you like hummus you are going to love this recipe inspired by my friends at Post!

Grape-Nuts Crunchy Curried Hummus


Ingredients

2 cans (15 ounce each) chickpeas, rinsed and drained
1 garlic clove
1 Tablespoon curry powder
1 teaspoon toasted cumin seeds*
2 tablespoons tahini
1/4 cup water
3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 Tablespoons olive oil (recommend Extra Virgin Olive Oil from Gundry MD, click here to learn more about the product)
1/3 cup Grape Nuts Cereal
Cauliflower florets and carrot sticks

Directions

In the bowl of a food processor add chickpeas, garlic, curry powder, cumin seeds, tahini, water, lemon juice and salt. Pulse to combine. With the motor running, stream in olive oil and process until smooth.
Remove from food processor and place in serving bowl. Fold in Grape-Nuts cereal. Top with a light drizzle of olive oil and sprinkle with additional Grape-Nuts cereal for added crunch. Serve with cauliflower florets and carrot sticks.

*Note: To toast cumin seeds, place seeds in a dry pan over medium heat. Toast until golden brown and fragrant.

If you like Hummus, you have to try this awesome recipe. It is flavorful and perfect for parties! I would love to hear about your favorite hummus recipe if you have one!

Kindness Rocks

Hot Kindness Rocks are a fun way to decorate rocks to hide to share with others!

Harper and I found a kindness rock in the woods one day and we were inspired to make some of our own! This was a fun multi part project for us. As we had to find rocks, decorate them and then hide them!

We found a super special rock that had a chip in it. The chip was in the shape of a heart. We knew this special love rock needed to be placed someplace special. We knew just the place! Preschool! We headed there to hide it in a special spot!

These rocks were fun to make, but truly not kid friendly. 

To begin I heated rocks in the oven at 200 degrees for an hour.

When they were hot I melted crayons on them.

After they cooled for several hours we were ready to share them!

Peanut Butter Chicken {$7 Dinner Series}

Summer is creeping up on us. For my family, that means all 4 of us are home for 3 months.  Sounds fun right?! It is, if you can take the increased cost of living out of the equation. My water and electric bills sky rocket over the summer, we spend about 3 times more on gasoline in the summer. My grocery bill makes me want to cry. With my husband and son eating all 3 meals at home for 3 months it more than doubles every week. We haven't even got on the subject of entertaining the family, the sports and so on.

This summer, I am going to reign in our spending. I am taking that depression inducing grocery bill on first. I have made it my mission to discover the recipes that taste amazing and are economical too. I am giving them a bonus star if they can be prepared without use of the oven.

This has led me to start a little series over here called the $7 Dinner Series. I will be featuring recipes that you can make for your family for under $7 that will earn cheers instead of jeers for budget cooking!

I love peanut chicken from the Chinese Restaraunt, but taking the family out for dinner every time I crave Peanut Chicken is definitely not budget friendly! Luckily, I came up with an incredibly easy and delicious alternative.

Before you groan at the thought of eating peanut butter coated chicken, let me tell you, this is incredible. It is such a scrumptious combination. If you try it, you are going to like it. I promise!

This meal features fresh veggies and chicken. To give you a run down on the cost

I purchased a 2.5 pound bag of store brand chicken tenders for $5.47 I used 1/2 of the bag for this recipe to feed 4 people. That made the cost of chicken for this recipe $2.74.

I had peanut oil on hand.

I used about 1/3 of a cup of peanut butter this would add about 45 cents to the price of dinner.

Asparagus was on sale for 99 cents a pound.

Sliced mushrooms were on sale for $1.09

I used about 1/3 of a stick of butter which would add about 30 cents to the price of dinner.

That brings this meal for 4 to $5.57.

My husband says it is even better than take out, and seriously I couldn't go out for Peanut Chicken solo for $5.57!

Ingredients Needed for Peanut Butter Chicken With Asparagus and Sauteed Mushrooms

1 1/4 pound of frozen chicken tenders
1/3 cup of smooth peanut butter
3 tablespoons or so of peanut oil {you can use vegetable oil if that is what you have on hand!}

1 pound of asparagus, fresh with trimmed ends
2 1/2 tablespoons of butter

1 cup of sliced mushrooms
2 1/2 tablespoons of butter

Salt and Pepper as desired

Directions 

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.

Place mushrooms in a frying pan with butter over medium heat. Allow to cook, stirring as needed until the mushrooms have a lovely golden brown color to them.

Place your trimmed asparagus on a baking dish. Add butter to the top of the asparagus and sprinkle with salt and pepper if you wish. Place this in the oven to roast for about 15 minutes.

Begin to fry your chicken tenders in peanut oil at a temperature of about 300 degrees. {I use a wok}

As the chicken has fried and reached the recommended temperature of 165-170 degrees remove it from the pan or wok and cut it into smaller chunks.

 Discard oil remaining in wok/pan after it has cooled down a touch.

Return chicken chunks to the pan/wok, turn to a medium heat setting.

Add the peanut butter to the wok.

Stir as it melts, make sure the chicken is coated.

Remove mushrooms and asparagus from heat and serve with the  Peanut Butter Chicken!


This is such a great recipe. It is delicious, it cooks easily and quickly and it is economical. You really can't beat it!

Do you have a favorite economical dinner that you often make for your family? I would love to hear about it!

You might also enjoy this cute cupcake decorating idea!

You won't want to miss this collection of Lo Mein recipes.

Story Time and a Jam Sandwich Craft

My kids are too stinking cute. I love their creativity and eagerness to dig into any project and give it their own unique touches. Several times a week Roo will ask to make a craft, similarly several times a week Harper will raid our craft closet and take off with anything she can reach... We now know they like to craft; if you add a good story into the mix it quickly turns from like to love.

A few weeks ago we checked out The Giant Jam Sandwich by John Vernon Lord. I thought this would be a fun book to check out, it also seemed like a good way to explain wasps to Harper and give Roo a reminder to avoid them!

I also hoped that a story about a giant jam sandwich and a cute craft would inspire my son to try something new. Something he has been adamant about not trying, jelly and jam!

                                                                  

In the story, 4000 wasps descend upon a town. They are quite a bother but the townspeople roll up their sleeves and get to work making one giant wasp trap jam sandwich!

The kids found the book entertaining. Roo was not sold on the idea of jam at all. He said "That's not good. That's sick." He was pretty determined that he wouldn't like jelly, nor jam. 

Up next we made Jam Sandwiches. My kids go CRAZY for paper food crafts. Like drop everything,  We are making a sandwich!? From paper?! Will there be glue sticks involved?

Getting ready, supplies needed

I cut 2 slices of bread shapes in off white paper

I cut 2 slightly larger slices of bread shapes in brown paper

I offered my kids red finger paint and paint brushes

Of course, glue sticks were needed.

Baby Wipes... You will want these!

Instructions

I gave each kid a brown slice of bread and a glue stick

They smeared glue around the brown paper and topped it with the off white paper

That was pretty satisfying to the kids. They really like to glue things!

They were thrilled to see the finger paint and paint brushes!

I told them to paint the jam on their toast. They agreed this was pretty great. Glue and paint after a story? It couldn't get much better!

This was a great activity for the kids. They always want to help me cook, so to create their own food craft was a hit. 

After the story and the craft, I made a peanut butter and jelly for Harper, Roo came in and watched me spreading the glob of jelly around. With a very serious face he told me "That is sick. Bleck. No jelly for me please. I will have honey."

I love that kid. He is definitely a guy who knows what he wants. 

You also might enjoy this Paper Cookie Craft idea for preschoolers.

How To Make Paw Print Cupcakes

My best friend, my original baby, my dog, turned 10 a few weeks ago! To celebrate the day we got both of the dogs their favorite treats! A plain burger from Wendy's and a kiddie sized vanilla frosty... {Don't judge... my kids feed them everything and this is simply the favorite people food among my dogs...} but I couldn't stop there. I am a mom of furry babies and human ones too! My kids get really psyched for a birthday! The dogs are no exception!

This year, my 5-year-old declared that we should "invite everyone over!" to celebrate this awesome day, the birthday of one of our dogs...

Considering half of the everyone he wanted to invite are several hours away from our house, I asked him if we could compromise and have a little party with just us. He looked skeptical... he asked, "What about balloons and presents mom?" I said "Well, Fritz {dog} doesn't really like toys anymore, he is kind of like... a grandpa among dogs. He likes to eat burgers and ice cream on his birthday."

My 5 year old frowned. He said "Can there be cake? No? Maybe grandma should come, she can bring cookies..." I laughed at this. Gotta give the kid credit, he wants a treat too! 

We could have made homemade cupcakes, but you know, I have kids! Time for cupcakes was not planned on that day. I turned to a box mix and a can of icing... no special recipe to mention here. 

But, I do have an idea for decorating any kind of cupcakes! This easy (and cheap!) decoration idea might just leave a paw print on the hearts and tummies of everyone you share one with!

You will need per 12 cupcakes:

36 Junior Mints (you will need 3 per cupcake)

12 mini York Peppermint Patties 

Directions:

Bake Cupcakes according to the package.

Allow to cool completely.

Frost the cupcakes.

Place the York Peppermint Miniatures
near the bottom edge of the cupcake.

Add 3 Junior Mints
to the top of the York Peppermint Patty to make the toes.

Now you have a delicious and minty addition to your cupcakes! This is my favorite cupcake decorating tip! It is so easy to make and they are fun! 

Please do not feed these Paw Print Cupcakes to your dog! Yes, I know I made these for the dogs birthday and I told you that the dog got his favorite people food treats for his birthday- but I truly do not like my dogs to eat a lot of people food. I know, I am a sweet mom and all but I seriously, between friends, I NAG at my kids every day about feeding the dogs. Also, your dog should never have chocolate as a treat. It is very dangerous for the health of any dog!

I hope you liked hearing about my best friends birthday and I hope that you liked our special cupcakes!

You might also enjoy this Snickerdoodle Bundt Cake Recipe!

Easy Cheesy Chicken Tacos {$7 Dinner Series}

My favorite meals to prepare for my family are easy, economical and packed full of veggies. The less time I spend cooking and cleaning up the better. I would much rather play with my kids or read them a story after dinner than spend an hour cleaning up! I would also prefer to have time to listen to my son talk about his school day over cooking!

This recipe for Easy Cheesy Chicken Tacos meets all of my criteria for a great meal! This is so easy to make and you can create this recipe for about $7 with smart shopping!

To begin here is a run down of what I purchased to create this dinner for my family and how much each ingredient cost.

Tyson 2/5 pound bag of frozen chicken breast, sale price of $4.99. I used 1/2 of the package  for a total of $2.49
1 jar of Meijer brand salsa, sale price of $1.00
1 pacakge of Meijer brand soft flour tortillas $1.49
1/2 cup of shredded cheddar cheese 1.00
2 ounces of cream cheese .33 (a 6 oz package was .99)
1/2 an onion  ( sale price of 67 cents for a small sweet onion) .33
1/2 a green pepper .50



For a total of $7.14

Ingredients
1 1/4 cup of cooked chicken breast
1 jar of salsa
1 package of tortillas
1/2 cup of shredded  cheese
1/3 package of cream cheese
1/2 an onion
1/2 a green pepper


Directions 
Cook your chicken in a pan of boiling water when it has reached the recommended internal temperature, remove it from heat, allow to cool to a temperature you can work with and cut it into small chunks.

Cut your onion and green pepper into small chunks

Add salsa, cream cheese, shredded cheese, chicken and chopped veggies to a medium size pan, over medium heat, allow the cream cheese and shredded cheese to melt, stirring several times. Once the cheese is melted you can serve this on soft tortillas for an easy meal your family will love.

Garnish with Sour cream or hot sauce if desired.

I often serve this with a side of Spanish Rice, or a light salad. The best part is this is one meal my entire family loves!


You might also enjoy this Peanut Butter Chicken Recipe from my $7 Dinner Series.

Feed Me Fine Motor Activity

I have always encouraged fine motor play in my children. Not only is it important for their development, but there are so many ways to offer an invitation to fine motor play!

A well-meaning friend purchased tennis balls for my senior dogs. Bless her heart, but my pooches are too old to do much fetching. As much as we love the dogs, truth be told, they are hounds and have always been prone to take it easy; to sleep in bed only waking for food, water, and a walk. As I type, both are snoozing on pillows at my feet. No fetch will be played willingly by these dogs!

My kids were delighted. Balls! In the house?! YAY!!

I acted fast. With a moment of my time and some very basic supplies, my kids were distracted from the idea of throwing balls and were enthralled with the idea of feeding the ball.

To make a feed me ball you will need

A tennis ball
A utility knife
2 peel and stick eyes or a black magic marker to draw eyes
A few pom poms or cotton balls

The first step is the trickiest. Use caution while using the utility knife to cut a slit in the tennis ball, this will become the mouth.

Next affix or draw the eyes. We went with what we had on hand and used small stick on eyes. The kids and I agreed that really big eyes would be lots of fun!

After the eyes have been added you can offer the pom poms or cotton balls along with the ball.

Play combined with fine motor skill development is ideal for kids of a variety of ages. Both of my kids have fun feeding things to the ball over the years. From cotton balls to barbie doll shoes. The fine motor aspects remain, but we have added in simple math, counting, and color sorting to the ways we use the feed me ball.

You might also enjoy these 7 Ways to Entertain a 3 Year Old.

Blueberry Turkey Burgers with Blueberry Ketchup

I love blueberries! They are pretty, sweet and a summertime treat. Every summer my family visits a little blueberry patch on the outskirts of town and we pick blueberries then feast on them in every way imaginable.

My friends at the Blueberry Council shared this fun recipe with me, and I didn't hesitate to squeal with delight at the idea of sharing it with you.

Blueberry Turkey Burgers with Blueberry Ketchup

Ingredients:

1 pound ground turkey

3/4 cup fresh or frozen (unthawed) blueberries

1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger

1 tablespoon minced lemongrass (optional)*

1 teaspoon coarse black pepper

2 tablespoons soy sauce

4 poppy seed hamburger buns

Lettuce and sliced red onion, optional

Blueberry Ketchup (recipe follows)

Directions:

In a large bowl, combine turkey, blueberries, ginger, lemongrass and black pepper; mix well.

Form mixture into 4 patties.

Brush soy sauce on both sides of burgers.

In an oiled skillet over medium-high heat, grill patties until cooked thoroughly, about 4 minutes each side.

Serve on buns with lettuce, sliced red onion and blueberry ketchup.

* Peel away woody outer layer from the bottom portion of the lemongrass stalk; mince inner flesh.

Quick notes:

Yield: 4 portions

Blueberry Ketchup

Ingredients:

1-1/2 cups fresh or frozen (unthawed) blueberries

1/2 cup minced onion

1/4 cup rice wine vinegar

1/4 cup dark brown sugar

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon pickled ginger (gari) or minced fresh ginger

Directions:

In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine blueberries, onion, vinegar, sugar, ginger and salt.

Bring to a simmer; cook about 15-20 minutes, stirring frequently.

Remove from heat and allow to cool.

Remove to blender or food processor; whirl until smooth.

Refrigerate until ready to use. 

How do you like your blueberries? Tell me about your favorite way to eat blueberries in a comment, pretty please ;)

You might want to hop over and check out the recipe for Fresh Blueberry Napoleons as well 

Best carpet cleaning auckland BusyBees.co.nz click here