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Perfectly Sweet Healthy Birthday Snack
A very Happy Birthday to my middle-son today! 7 years old and I feel like he should be turning 3 or 4. How does time pass so quickly? Every child loves to bring in a sweet treat to school to celebrate their special day. Before Spring Break I sent in a note to his teacher asking if I could send in cupcakes, a sweet-tooth favorite for the birthday boy. The note that came home was a bit disappointing. “We would love a birthday treat, but please send in something healthy.” Humph… My thought, ‘Come on! It is a Birthday!’ But I polled Facebook friends for a healthy, yummy treat that would satisfy…
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A Moment Out of the Norm Cooking with GrandBrat
Her name is *E*. She has eyes that shine, a mind that zooms, a sea of energy and a steel trap memory. She is my grandbrat: child of my Brat. Military kids pass on the zest of life and love of challenges.*E* loves action and is at home in the kitchen.After a trip to the farmer’s vegetable stand it was time to put up some tomatoes. Every tomato was washed… 67 tomatoes… 78 gazillion gallons of water.Step one: clean the sink. Scoured and ready to go without a trace of anything left in the drain… good job. Oh how affirmation is uplifting! *E* tenderly sponged all tomatoes. I stood next…
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A Slice of Summer
Ahhhh Summer Fare. There are so many good, fresh, healthy foods out there this time of year. It is my favorite time for munching and crunching! Fresh, healthy foods are an investment in your health as well as your wallet. Before we dive into some of my favorite recipes I want to share just a couple of money saving tips for your eating pleasure: The Garden, my passion, on so many fronts. It embodies good health, good stewardship, and good eats! According to USAA: “A National Gardening Association study found that families with gardens spent an average of $70 on supplies and reaped $600 of food a year.” Grow Money in Your…
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Cold Summer Grape Salad
Seedless green and purple grapes cold from the refrigerator have a way of bursting a summer gush of refreshment right there in your mouth! This simple, delicious healthy salad is perfect for a dinner side dish. I make a lot, as this dish seems to call for just one more spoonful.. just one more and more and so on.Cold Summer Grape Salad1 bunch of seedless green grapes1 bunch of seedless purple or black grapes1 8 ounce brick of cream cheese, room temperature1 c. sour cream2/3 c sugar1 c chopped walnuts or pecansWash grapes and remove pieces of stems, drain so they are not dripping water.In a mixing bowl combine cream…
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Tasty Tuesday Basil Butter and Corn
In Michigan it is corn season. Some call it summer, the rest of us know that it is fresh corn on the cob – roadside stand season. The varieties are out there, one field is a bit different than an other. I suppose it is like wine vineyards… the soil content, the water, the hours of sunlight and temperature of the ground give the grapes their subtle taste value… so I am told. I can just tell you that here, each stand is a marvel. Then to top it off, Fridays in Middleville is Farmers’ Market day. So, a stroll down the booths lets one see different color ears, price…
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Finding Support: Growing Together
A dear friend of mine sent this my way and I wanted to share it with all the military-families out there. I hope it gives a little reminder of what “support” can do for you! Not only can it help you flourish but it can help you learn how to support others when they most need it! Once upon a time, there was a little grape stem. She was so glad to be alive. She drank water and minerals from the soil, and grew and grew. She was young and strong and could manage quite well, all by herself. But the wind was cruel, the rain was harsh, and the…
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Fruit Basket Upset
Childhood games were the best: interaction, laughter and goofiness reigned in my ‘organized fun time’. Fruit Basket Upset required at least 10 friends, names of fruits: each child picked a fruit type. Then, with one less chair we waited for the ‘it’ to call out two or three fruits – at that time up we would jump and change chairs before ‘it’ could take our spot. Perfect name and game for this time of year. Soon the Thanksgiving fruit bowl will be assembled: pineapple, pears, apples, grapes, bananas, oranges and tangerines. The table will be arranged… and usually there is one less ‘good’ chair than I would like. (NEVER too…
