Leftovers Turn Into AWESOME Spaghetti Sauce!!
Last week we had our usual family favorite… “Built Your Own Soft Taco/Burrito Night” – The kids love it… and I love it because they always seem to eat best when they make the food themselves 
I made sure to cook some extra ground Turkey — that we spiced just enough to make it have a great mexican food flavor. (You can even use one of those Taco seasoning packets from the store!)… Two nights later, I pulled the leftover meat from the freezer – and heated it up along with a jar of spaghetti sauce. It simmered for about 30 minutes before we poured it over the noodles… YUMMY! Just enough kick… everyone loved it!
We did this a couple of years ago when we made dinner for a couple of nights while staying at my brother’s house… everyone wondered what my secret ingredients to the sauce (they knew we had used jar sauce). They couldn’t believe that it was the left over meat from the taco night that made it taste so great!
Do you have a secret way to make something ordinary have some zing?
Baby Sling OUTLET – Some amazing pouches for CHEAP!
Okay – so the economy sucks right now… but, you can still carry or wear your baby with style at a reasonable price! Zolowear has great pouches (and slings) that are absolutely beautiful! I just got an email with their newest designs and it almost makes me want to have another baby just so I can get a new sling! Actually… I still have my zolowear pouch from my youngest – but, was going to sell it at a yard sale next month… haven’t been able to part with it until now (my youngest is THREE!). I bought the sage pouch for $29 in the Zolowear outlet – but, I just noticed that they have it now for only $20! Plus some other incredible designs… AND, excellent customer service and video tutorials!
If you have thought about getting a sling or pouch for your little one – zolowear is worth taking a look at!
Here is a picture of what my pouch looks like…
(this isn’t me… it’s Darien – the creator of zolowear)
Check out these other beautiful designs:
OR…
These are pics from the OUTLET… just wait until you see what is in the regular part of their store!!
Happy shopping!
www.zolowear.com
Little Changes To Snacks For Kids Make a BIG Difference
Along the same lines of the Macademia and Cashew Butter change I made a few weeks back…
I was thinking about how I can make changes to other favorites my kids have. One favorite is yogurt… but, they get tired of it. So, I’ve been buying different varieties of yogurt… not flavors – but, for example… in one shopping trip I’ll get a bunch of regular yogurt cups, yogurt drinks and go-gurts to go. The kids love to ‘drink’ their yogurt… and I freeze the gogurts. They can either eat them out of the tube or I’ll put it in a bowl and my 3 year old still thinks he is getting ice cream 
Of course another way to make little changes to regular favorites for kid snacks is with fruit. Try freezing, putting it in a smoothie, serving with yogurt – or even whipped cream for a little treat.
Something Different From Peanut Butter…
All year I have been trying to be creative as I plan my children’s lunches for school. My oldest is in 2nd grade and goes to a school where there are a few students with severe peanut allergies – so peanut butter isn’t allowed. The only problem is that my son absolutely loves peanut butter and jelly – and trying to get him to eat any other type of sandwich or creative alternative just seems to stay in his lunch box.
I don’t know why it took my so long… but, I finally decided to try Macademia and Cashew Butter from Trader Joes… he LOVES it! Finally – he is eating his sandwiches at school and enjoying it! Now, he doesn’t get it every day… I have found that it makes a huge difference to not get into a rut with lunches – but, every single time I’ve made a sandwich with this Macademia and Cashew Butter – he eats it! (too bad it’s $10 a jar!!)
Lesson to learn… we can go crazy trying to come up with something NEW for our children to eat – but, sometimes we just need to make a small change to one of their favorites to make it fresh.
Running Out Of Time For Breakfast?
Since my car accident in late February I have been going to the doctor almost 4 days a week… not an easy task when I need to shuffle three little ones around to accommodate these appointments.
So, I’ve been keeping an eye out for easy, healthy, on the go breakfast ideas… and just yesterday I heard some great suggestions on the radio.
If you are rushing out the door in the morning… and need to bring a healthy breakfast for your kids – check out these ideas.
- Pour cereal and milk into a zip lock bag. Bring along a straw and spoon and you have an instant breakfast without the bowl
- Fill an ice cream cone with yogurt, fruit and granola and eat the whole thing! You could even fill the cone the night before and put it in the freezer A HUGE hit with kids!
- Make a smoothie – throw frozen fruit, yogurt, apple juice in a blender and pour it in some take-along cups with straws for the kids!
Have anything to add? What is your secret to a quick, healthy breakfast for your little ones?
