Today's Food Art: Lunch - Homemade Chicken Nuggets

This chicken nugget meal was unbelievable! You have to get a bit messy, but man is it worth it! Super moist and full of flavor. I made some honey mustard to go with it.

• 1 cup breadcrumbs
• 1/2 cup flaxseed meal
• 1 tablespoon grated parmesan
• 1/2 tsp paprika
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp onion powder
• 1 cup broccoli, spinach, sweet potato, or beet puree
• 1 large egg, lightly beaten
• 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts (I used chicken tender strips), cut into small chunks
• 1/2 tsp salt
• nonstick cooking spray
• 1 tablespoon olive oil

1. In a bowl, combine the breadcrumbs, flaxseed meal, parmesan, paprika, garlic and onion powder. Spread on paper or foil.

2. In a shallow bowl, mix the veggie puree and egg with a fork and set the bowl next to the breadcrumbs.

3. Sprinkle the chicken with salt. Dip the chunks in the egg mixture and then toss in the breadcrumbs until completely coated.

4. Coat large nonstick skillet with cooking spray and set over med high heat. When the skillet is hot, add the oil. Place the chicken nuggets in the skillet in a single layer, being careful not to crowd the pan. Cook until crisp and golden on one side, 3-4 min. Then turn and cook until the chicken is cooked through, golden brown and crisp all over, 4 - 5 min longer. Serve warm.

Curls and Bows

Today she sported her new outfit... Including her new bow from Sadie's Bowtique!

Today's Food Art: Breakfast - Spinach and Yellow Squash Egg Puffs

Here's what Isla, Sue and I had for breakfast this morning. I added the bacon and onions to the recipe.

Today's Food Art: Breakfast - Pumpkin Pie Oatmeal

This is a super easy recipe. Delicious and healthy!

• 1 cup milk
• 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/4 cup canned pumpkin
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice
• 1 cup old-fashioned oats (or quick oats)
• Dried fruit and nuts (optional)
• Pure maple syrup, for serving (optional)

1. In a small saucepan, combine the milk, sugar, pumpkin, vanilla and spice. Bring to a gentle boil and stir in the oatmeal. Reduce the heat and simmer for 2 to 3 minutes, until the oatmeal is soft and creamy.

2. Spoon the oatmeal into bowls, sprinkle with dried fruit and nuts, and serve warm with maple syrup!

Serves 2-3 (Depending on appetites) :-)

Today's Food Art: Dinner - Pita Pizzas w/ Spinach

So this recipe normally calls for 4 inch pita bread - but I had some pita pockets that I could use up. This was, yet again, a DELICIOUS meal! Too bad Rich didn't get to enjoy it with us! :-( Isla loved it too.

I used pizza sauce instead of tomato sauce. It was super simple to make:

Basically spread some pureed spinach on the pita. Then the sauce. Then the mozz cheese. Toss it in the oven at 400 for about 5 minutes... and voila!

Blanching and Freezing Carrots

I'm trying something new today! I have all of these carrots from my garden, and there is NO way I can use all of them before they go bad. I have decided to freeze them.

I got the "recipe" on this site. Seems pretty cool and I will continue to use it: http://www.pickyourown.org/carrotsfreezing.htm

I'm wishing I would have done this for all of my veggies... There's always next year! ;-)

Today's Food Art: Lunch - Butternut Squash Grilled Cheese

Today I made Butternut Squash Grilled Cheese Sandwiches for lunch. So yummy and simple. Rich LOVED them! So much nutrients in this delish dish! Forgot to take a pic.

Aslan and Sparky

Isla and I are making some changes... For the GREAT!

Now that Isla and I are getting into our groove of being together 24/7, I thought we could start up our blog again! Of course a lot has happened in the last six months, so I will catch up as BRIEFLY as possible ;-)

Isla Betty, in short, is doing everything she is supposed to be doing (and more) as a 16 month old. Walking/running, jibber jabbering,  playing, puzzling, playing, stacking, playing, climbing/standing on things she's not supposed to... You know, all of that normal stuff. :-)

We both have met lots of new friends in MOMS Club! I enjoy the MOMS' company and also putting together the MOMS Club of Belle Plaine Newsletter!

We are still using and loving FuzziBunz, too!  Cloth diapering has saved us so much dough! It's great!

And now I am spending all that money we saved on my new-found love of cooking! We base our menus on Jessica Seinfeld's cookbook "Deceptively Delicious," using the hidden technique of adding pureed fruits and veggies to all of our meals! So far Rich and Isla LOVE my cooking! YAYY! :-) My next step is to get her second cookbook "Double Delicious! Good, Simple Food for Busy, Complicated Lives" now that I am working part time (with Isla) at the Chaska Community Center Daycare.

We got a kitty, too! Here's a pic...

He's MUCH bigger, now... But that's the only photo I had on the computer at the moment. :-) He and Sparky are best friends. He's extremely cool... coolest darn cat I've ever met! Most agree.