Our family tried some new veggies tonight. They are by Birdeye and are in the freezer section. They come in a bag just like regular freezer veggies (although a bit smaller) and are called Steamfresh. You pop the entire bag in the microwave (don’t even open it) and cook for 5 minutes, and viola, you have perfectly steamed veggies. They were really good and soooo easy! Definitley a product I will be buying more of.
April 27, 2007
Product Review - Steamfresh Veggies
April 25, 2007
A Solute To Military Moms
I want to take a quick moment to salute all our Military Mom subscribers!
Being the wife of a Military service member is tough! When you add kids and a home business to the mix, life can get downright challenging!
MilitaryMomsGuide.com, a site KidApprovedMeals.com partners with, is here to help support working at home from a military perspective.
Sign up for their newsletter, “Military Moms Minute” for short daily “bursts” of encouragement delivered right to your inbox. Visit www.MilitaryMomsGuide.com to get your free subscription today.
April 22, 2007
How To Get From New York To London - According To Google
All right, this doesn’t really have anything to do with meal planning… But it’s a good laugh.
Go to http://maps.google.com/maps
Click on Get Directions
Type New York in the ‘from’ box
Type London in the ‘to’ box
Click “Get Directions”
Scroll down to step #24
April 17, 2007
Slow Cooker Primer
When you are using your slow cookier:
- Don’t peek - For best results keep the lid closed. You should extend the cooking time 15 minutes for every time the lid is lifted.
- No stirring is required unless the recipe specifically says to.
- Any recipe can be cooked on either high or low. General rule of thumb is 3-5 hours on high 6-8 on low.
- Try to use fresh herbs and spices. They take longer to release their flavor than dried herbs and spices and they are better equipped to withstand extended cooking times.
- The best size of cooker for 1-2 people is 3-4 quart slow cooker, for 3-4 people a 3 1/2 - 4 quart slow cooker, and for 5-7 people a 5-6 quart cooker.
- You can cook frozen meats by adding an extra cup of warm liquid to the stoneware before adding the meat.
- Save the leftovers - Slow cooked food often tastes better the next day!
Happy Slow Cooking - They are extremely nice for busy days!
April 13, 2007
Sticky Rice Like….
Last night I was preparing dinner and I told my four year old I needed to start the rice cooker. He says “Can we have that sticky rice… like boogers?” Totally cracked me up. Just thought I would share and maybe give you a laugh as well. We generally do two kinds of rice at our house - white sticky rice or rice a roni.
April 12, 2007
The Organic Food Trend
This article is from the free soup people! Have you ordered your sample yet? It is sooo good! www.dinewithoutwhine.com/soup
With the demand for organic food in constant growth, the supply is ever-increasing, in turn propelling even more people to turn to organics. The trend is so widespread that now many big companies have an organic food line, offering even more choices to the consumer. But what exactly is organic? Is it really better for you? And why is it so popular?
An organic food is one that is grown without the use of pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, sewage sludge, genetically modified organisms, or ionizing radiation. Animals that produce meat, poultry, eggs, and dairy products do not take antibiotics or growth hormones.
The organic food trend has been on the rise for quite a few years now, driven mainly by increased awareness of what’s good and bad for our planet. With so much talk of rising pollution, global warming and the need to fix it, it’s no wonder that food eventually made its way into the discussion. With pesticides being a major factor in pollution, many people are finding that if it’s bad for the planet, it can’t possibly be a healthy choice to be putting it in your mouth.
However, many people are still skeptical about organics. Most of it has to do with prices, as organic food is still largely more expensive than non-organic food. Followers of the trend claim, though, that once you weigh in all the health and environmental factors, organics are a bargain. Is it better to pay a bit more for healthier food today, and save on medical costs in the future? And even though you might eat organically, it is nearly impossible, if not totally, to live in an completely “organic” environment, as air pollution is everywhere.
The other barrier for some people is that you have to be very vigilant if you’re serious about eating organic food - if it’s not certified organic, it’s not organic. Natural isn’t organic, and neither is free-range. And you might be surprised to know that organic doesn’t necessarily mean pesticide-free, as pesticides are so pervasive in the air and environment that no outdoor crop can be declared completely free of any and all chemicals.
So with all of this to consider, some people shy away from the growing trend. But the good news is that because it is becoming so popular, many companies now have their own line of organic food products and so they are becoming more and more accessible. At the same time, the government is imposing stricter standards for organic certification, so the consumer can be sure the food is truthfully so.
There are also many foods that are made with organic ingredients, which means that while they are not 100% organic, they do contain at least 70% of organic ones, with strict restrictions on the remaining 30%. In the US, it is important to be aware that foods labeled “organic” have at least 95% of organic ingredients, and only those with a “100% Organic” label are so in their entirety.
April 10, 2007
Kitchen Fun with Children: An Important Life Lesson
One of the easiest and most fun ways to spend time with your kids is by working together in the kitchen. You’ve got to eat anyway, so you might as well have some fun with your kids. It’s better than sitting them in front of the TV or Video Game machine and cooking alone, right?
Cooking with your kids is not only a great way to spend quality time, it teaches skills that your children will need later in life. There’s nothing sillier than a college freshman who doesn’t know how to make spaghetti or hard-boil an egg. These are simple life skills that every child should learn and are as important as math and science, without a doubt.
Here are a few ways you can spend time with your children in the kitchen. Each will give you a chance to communicate while teaching your child valuable life skills (and giving you ample photo opportunities).
Age-appropriate Cooking
How to do you incorporate cooking with your kids into your day? Start by finding some age-appropriate children’s cookbooks. If your child is younger than 12, make sure the books have many pictures – and fun names for the recipes. Encourage your children to select the meals that appeal to them.
Older children, can, of course, cook from an adult cookbook, if they’d prefer.
Then, when your child serves the meal, take a picture of the proud look on his or her face. Invite a friend or grandparent over to enjoy the delicious meal and let your child show off her new talents.
Picnic
Another option for encouraging important cooking is to help your child make some sandwiches and eat them outside. Let your children choose the menu and make all the foods.
Some simple sandwich combinations are:
Peanut Butter & Honey & Bananas on Raisin Bread
Cream Cheese & either Turkey or Ham on a Tortilla
Bologna & American Cheese with Potato Chips on White Bread (Don’t even tell me you didn’t love this when you were a kid.)
I’m sure your child will come up with some “interesting” combinations of his own. Have fun with it and enjoy!
Tea Party
Grab the stuffed animals and treat them to a delicious cup of imaginary tea. Allow your child to bake muffins or scones with your help. This is, not only a great way to teach food skills, it’s a wonderful opportunity to reinforce manners. Of course, teddy bears have excellent manners when enjoying tea and they always say “please” and “thank you”.
These are only a few of the countless ways you can enjoy preparing foods with your children. Now, get cooking!
Article by:
Nicole Dean is a co-founder of the Kids Activity Calendar - www.kidapprovedmeals.com/KAC — a resource to help parents teach their kids the alphabet in a fun, positive way.