Cook It

HopeFULLs ~ Nutritional Pops for Children and Adults

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The HopeFULL Company is working to meet the needs of children and adults who have trouble eating by providing nutrient-dense, easily edible food. Whether you have a child who is ill or maybe you know an adult who is suffering side effects from chemotherapy; these products might help meet their nutritional needs.

Through the magic of cyber space connections and relationships I was contacted by the ladies from the HopeFULL Company. I described to them that we have a friend who is suffering from severe side effects from cancer treatments and had sent the family the website. After another contact through a Facebook group, the HopeFULL ladies generously sent me their kits and recipes so that I could make some pops to share.

This is the HopeFULL Kit. It focuses on the needs of adults. It comes with a popsicle mold, insulated bag, spoons, and beautiful recipes cards. Some of the recipes can be eaten warm which suits the need of our friend.

The BellyFULL Kit is designed for children and comes with a cute little chef’s hat instead of the insulated bag. The recipes are very kid friendly.

It is all simple! My friend choose a few recipes that appealed a bit and could be warmed. Here are some of the ingredients for a peanut butter and jelly pop:

Pour the ingredients into a blender and give a whir until all ingredients are fully pureed:

Pour into the molds, place the birchwood spoons (their version of a popsicle stick) and freeze:

To help them loosen just a bit I set them into container of warm water for just few moments:

Yes, I managed to leave out a spoon, but considering these are going to be warmed up, I should have left out all of the spoons.

I have fixed three of the recipes and each one was smooth and tasty.

I was given the HopeFULL kits with no strings attached, the HopeFULL company did not request a review. Their recipes and products were wonderful and I wanted to share them with you. I would recommend the kits for: children, picky eaters, adults and children who have eating difficulties.

Many thanks to the ladies of the HopeFULL company for sharing the products with me! This is the HopeFULL Company’s website. Go check them out!

A Cup of Chocolate Cake!

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After a long day when the kids are in bed, have you ever yearned for just a bite or two of chocolate to go with a cup of tea?

~Warning~ If you are committed to healthy eating habits you may want to click away.

I had this experience just the other evening. I wanted a little something chocolatey, but didn’t want any leftovers. After a quick peruse of the kitchen I put together this sweet little concoction to appease the need…er..want.

Ingredients:

  • 3 tbsp of chocolate cake mix
  • 2 tbsp of diet coke
  • nuts, chocolate chips – optional

Put 3 tbsp of cake mix into a small microwave safe bowl or cup:

Then add 2 tbsp of diet coke (or any cola):

Stir it until smooth, then sprinkle with nuts and chocolate chips:

I microwaved this for 30 seconds on high, then checked it and microwaved it for 10 more seconds. It will be piping hot, let it set for a few minutes before serving. You will need to monitor your cooking time as it will vary depending on your microwave. It will easily over cook.

This is a quick and tasty treat!

I wish I could take credit for this idea, but I was inspired by this brownie recipe I found on Pinterest.

To take care of that opened cake mix, I’m using it in a dessert for work on Friday. It will be gone for good!

Enjoy your delicious chocolate cake!

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Jack-O-Lantern Cups

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These little dessert cups are super simple and kid friendly to make. We made them to serve nearly 125 people at our Turkey Fest last year. They were a big hit. I’ve posted this recipe before, so if it seems familiar it is!…

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An Apple Extravaganza!

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Laura Ingalls Wilder, author of the “Little House” books, referred to southwest Missouri as “the land of the big red apple”. While we no longer live in that beautiful area of the state,  we have always enjoyed the fall expedition to our local apple orchard, complete with wagon ride and cider. We are talking about apple cider so good it was just like drinking an apple! Yummy!

These activities will help you extract every ounce of juicy learning from your apples.

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Blueberries for Winter

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To save money and time; and to encourage healthy eating this winter I ordered and  purchased a lug (about 10 lb. box) of Michigan blueberries. They are wonderful!

Out of the entire box I threw away three squishy berries.  Thanks Michigan!

I freeze them and use them for smoothies, pies, muffins, pancakes and etc.

Freezing fruit is a time and money saver with such excellent nutritional value that I wanted to share this with you; and encourage you to take advantage of the seasonal fruit in your area.

How to freeze blueberries:

We used blueberries but, again…take advantage of whatever fruit is in season in your area.

***For detailed directions for freezing and canning check this website from Ball. It is a wonderful resource. Not all fruit can be frozen using this method.

1) Wash the berries, allow to them dry or gently pat them dry, and place them in a single layer on a cookie sheet.

2) If you layer them, put wax paper or plastic wrap between the layers. I layered them in this 13X9 inch pan.

3) Place them in a freezer until they are frozen solid.

4) Take them out of the freezer and bag them. You have bagging options. Snack bags hold about a 1/2 cup which is great for smoothies, putting in cereal, and for pancakes. This is our favorite size. Then I also fill a few bags that contain 1, 2, and 4 cups of berries for pies, muffins, and other recipes.

5) Here is the snack bag size:

6) Once we have our little bags full we put them in a large zip-top freezer bag. They are ready to be placed back into the freezer for future delicious use! I usually send some to school with my college girl. Her roommate from Guatemala had not ever had blueberries and she  loved them. It was fun to share them with her.

How can you include your child in this process?

1) Let them measure and scoop the fruit  into the bags.

2) Once the bags are filled, count the number of bags you have produced.

3) Talk about the fruit: how it grows, where it comes from, recipes and foods that you like to make, and family memories such as your grandma’s blueberry pie. This is excellent for language development and conversational skills, but you are also bonding and building memories together.

4) You are teaching your child life-skills, nutrition, and food preservation.

I remember picking strawberries in my grandma’s strawberry patch. We would pick them and chat. I would watch her wash them and ‘help’ her too.  Then we would pick off the stems and rinse them again. She liked to mash them with a potato masher because when she sprinkled on the sugar, they would became super juicy.  I ‘helped’ mash the berries too. She was a very patient woman. 🙂

Do you like to cook with your child? What is your favorite recipe?

Have fun cooking and making happy memories together!

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Crispie Dippers

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Adam, my son-in-law, Facebooked me this recipe for CCK, so he and Bethany made this sweet, simple treat, while I took pictures. This is our variation, but the exact recipe can be found right here.

They tasted great and didn’t heat up the kitchen. Your children can help by pre-measuring the rice crispies and marshmallows into a separate bowls. They can then sprinkle the candies on the final product. This activity can enhance math skills (count the cups of ingredients), fine motor (pouring), cooperation, and life skills. As always, provide careful supervision in the kitchen when you cook.

You need: 6 cups of rice krispies, candy sprinkles, 3 tbsp of butter, 4 cups of miniature mashmallows, 1 package of chocolate chips (or white chocolate chips)

Melt the marshmallows and butter in a large pan.

Pour rice crispies into the marshmallow mixture and stir them.

Once stirred together, pour the mixture into a greased 13 X 9 inch pan.

Press them into the pan. Our treats were very sticky, so if needed, put a little baking spray onto a spatula and use it to press the mixture evenly into the pan.

Once they are cool cut them into squares. We pressed them together a bit so that they would be firm enough for dipping.

Melt the chocolate chips in a microwave or double boiler. I tend to burn chocolate in the microwave so we used my make-shift double boiler.  It is a large sauce pan and glass bowl. Melt the chocolate on low heat, stirring frequently. Then dip the bars into the chocolate. So good!

Sprinkle them with the candy sprinkles and refrigerate to firm up the chocolate. At least that is what you have to do if you live in our hot, humid neck of the woods. 🙂

Here you go! You can also use white chocolate.

Fast Food ~ The Crescent Roll

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A favorite fast and flexible food that is a staple at our house is the crescent roll. 🙂 We use them for our Easter Empty Tomb rolls. They are easy and a great opportunity to include your child in the kitchen because they are totally kid friendly.

First, there is nothing original about the ‘recipe’ below. You can put a anything in a crescent roll. These ingredients just happen to be what we like, and what my son-in-law picked up for me at the grocery store.(If you follow CCK on Facebook, I mentioned that I fell out of a hammock and hurt my tailbone and back.  Movement is limited but… I am beginning to feel better!  Also…son-in-laws are awesome!)

You need crescent rolls and the items below are peaches, apples, walnuts, chocolate chips, dried cranberries, and peanut butter.

I mixed together the apples, walnuts, dried cranberries; added a tablespoon full of brown sugar and a sprinkle of cinnamon.  Then covered the bowl with plastic and microwaved for 1 minute, just to cook the apples a bit.

Place the mixture on a triangle of ‘roll’, tuck in the edges, and roll up!

The peaches were mixed with a bit of artificial sweetener, covered with plastic, and microwaved for 1 minute to start the cooking process. Then rolled into the crescent roll.

I also rolled up the chocolate chips and walnuts. My favorite!

Spray a baking sheet with non-stick spray, or you can use parchment paper or a silicone baking mat; and place the rolls on the baking sheet. Bake at 350 for 8-10 minutes; or until golden brown.

These are so good with a glass of milk, a cup of tea or coffee.

Here is the true golden nugget of information from the post ~ The Pillsbury Crescent Roll website!!!!

What does your child learn when cooking with you in the kitchen?

  • Conversational skills
  • An adult modeling the use of literacy skills as they use a recipe or check the internet
  • Vocabulary – names of fruits, vegetables, utensils…
  • The ability to listen and follow directions
  • Attention to task
  • Social skills
  • Motor skills
  • Most importantly bonding with a loved one and creating happy memories

I have many wonderful memories of cooking with my grandmothers in the kitchen. My sweet Grandma Oma did not use crescent rolls! She made hot rolls from scratch. They were absolutely wonderful and so was she! Today busy schedules don’t always allow time for home-made rolls, but do try some fast and easy alternatives.

Have fun and make a happy memory as you cook together in the kitchen! 🙂

Snow Day!

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Today is a snow day! The alarm went off at 5:10 and I waited in anticipation as I listened to the radio and waited for “the call”. Then it came! While I could have stayed in my warm cozy bed I was so happy to have an extra, unexpected day for holiday preparations that I couldn’t sleep. I loved snow days when my girls where little and we still have our favorite activities.

You may enjoy these snow day activities too:

Snuggle up on the couch and watch Anne of Green Gables.

Bundle up, play in snow. Make some snow sculptures!

Create with boxes:

Make play dough and kick it up a notch with play dough monsters:

Create a sensory box with left over tissue paper:

Make a bird feeder:

If you have lots of snow, make snow ice cream for the kids and a snow cream frappuccino for yourself!

I hope that you can share a snow day with your favorite little person.

Make a happy memory together!

Yummy Pumpkin Pie

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Cooking is a great way to connect with your child. It is also an opportunity to teach teamwork, cooperation, and basic concepts. Here is a super easy pumpkin pie recipe that you and your preschooler can whip up together.

No Bake Pumpkin Pie

Ingredients:

1 large can pumpkin pie mix (found by the canned pumpkin)

1 small instant vanilla pudding

1 can sweetened condensed milk

1 tub of cool whip

2 baked and cooled pie crusts or graham cracker crusts

Mix together the pumpkin pie mix, pudding, and sweetened condensed milk. Fold in the cool whip. Pour into the pie crusts. Chill until set; then serve.

Variation ~ Pumpkin Cups ~ Place 8 graham crackers into a plastic bag and crush. Pour a couple of tablespoons of crumbs into dessert cups. Pour pie filling into cups, chill, and serve.

How can you make this a learning activity for your preschooler?

Language – Talk about what you are doing. You are pouring, opening, stirring, crushing…etc. As your child helps ask her questions about what she is doing. For example: What color is the pumpkin? What color is the cool whip? What happened when you mixed them together? How did it change after being in the fridge? What do you think we should do next? Talk about the utensils you use.

Literacy – Read the recipe to your child so they see an example of how we read in everyday life. Have your child ‘write’ a recipe for their favorite food. Or they can dictate the recipe to you, and you write it for them.  It is so fun to see their perspective!

Fine Motor – Have them open the pudding and pour it into the bowl, let them scoop out cool whip, and let them stir the ingredients together.

Yes. This is a pathetic picture of a sad little piece of pie. But that is all that was left! It was devoured before I had a chance to take a picture.