Fun Summertime Foods… Hummus

I have to admit, I was a bit skeptical about HUMMUS… My sister is amazing and for the last 3 years has been trying to get me to even try hummus. It is UGLY and (I think) smells FUNNY. But, then I gave in and now, for the last 6 months we ALWAYS have homemade hummus and pita chips for a snack. Yes, I admit, I was wrong!! It is SO GOOD! Thanks Jen for finally just shoving a chip with hummus down my throat. I am sorry that I acted like a 2 year old and wouldn’t try it.

Hummus and chips is a good snack for kids in the summer-time. We make the chips from scratch along with the hummus… when have I not made anything from scratch!?!?

Since Pita chips and hummus are now a staple in our home, I wanted to share with you how to make BOTH! It would even make a good snack to take on a picnic this summer!!

Hummus is VERY easy!!!

Our “chunky” hummus

Fun Summertime Foods – Mojito for Kids

My kids don’t get to drink soda often.. but occasionally, like Sunday dinner with the grandparents or a special occasion like a party or holiday we make this fun and refreshing drink. This drink is a kid-friendly and can be made into an adult only.

We have been tweaking our recipe for years, but now that we have an abundance of mint growing throughout our yard, we are making so many recipes with mint. For drinks,  I make a lot of mint infused water to drink during the day and we dry mint leave to make mint sun tea to drink.

We picked up a container that has a sport on the side so that this crew can serve themselves. My container is one gallon and during the summer, I fill it with water, mint or lime/lemon slices and ice and have a selfserving water center for the kids. It keeps them out of my fridge!

Another summer-time tip it to purchase a set of “solo party cups”. I write each child’s name on their cup and they use it over and over again. This makes doing dishes so much easier and kids are not reaching for a new cup out of my cabinet every time that they need a drink. Instead, they use their cup over and over… and their name is on it!

Kid Mojito

2013-06-02 10:06:44

Refreshing, fun summertime drink for kids (Adults can add a bit of rum for a little "zing")

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Ingredients

12 mint sprigs, or spearmint, 8 roughly broken apart. (I remove leaves and cut into strips with kitchen shears)

3 the juice of 3 limes

1/2 cup sugar

2-2liter bottles of Diet lemon-lime soda or club soda (We only use the diet because we add sugar back into it)

Ice

Instructions

In a glass bowl, add lime juice, sugar and mint leaves. Crush the leaves with a muddler or a spoon in the mixture, set aside to "seep" the leaves.

In a punch bowl or serving container, add the 2-2 liter bottles of soda.

Add the mint mixture and stir lightly. (note: when you add the mint, the soda will bubble up, so add slowly.

Finally, add Ice and serve.

*adults can add rum or other alcohol to their own cup to taste.

By Kris Mazy

Kris & Larry at Scrapwarrior http://scrapwarrior.com/blog/

Cilantro Lime Chicken in the crockpot

I absolutely LOVE any meal that I can make in the crock pot or in my solar oven. The “make it and forget it” style cooking is something that I use to keep up with a busy life with 7 kids. This type of cooking allows moms to be moms and spend more time with their kids and have a home-made from scratch meal on the table . This recipe is a favorite in our house. Kids love to pile on the toppings.

Cilantro Lime Chicken

• 6 large chicken breasts
• juice from 3 limes
• 1 bunch fresh cilantro, chopped
• 4 Tomitillos, chopped (optional)
• 1 jalapeno, chopped (optional)
• 2 cans of  corn (undrained)
• 2 minced garlic cloves
• 1 red onion, chopped
• 2 cans of black beans, drained and rinsed

Cranberry Fool – One of my FAVORITE Desserts!

Here is a recipe that our family has make every new year’s eve as far back as I can remember as a child and often other times during the year. In the summer time, we substitute blackberries or raspberries for the cranberries.   

A “Fool” is a dish made of fruit, scalded or stewed, crushed and mixed with cream.

This recipe is included in my upcoming cookbook, “A Kitchen Full of Kid Tested, From Scratch Recipes” being released in January of 2013.

Cranberry Fool

Ingredients:

• 16 oz cranberries, fresh or frozen (thawed)*
• 3 Tablespoons orange zest
• 1/2 cup orange juice
• 1 teaspoon almond extract
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 cups whipping cream

Directions:

Simmer cranberries, 1 Tablespoon zest, 1/2 cup sugar and orange juice on stove until cranberries have “popped”.

Remove from heat. Add 1teaspoon almond extract and stir. Set mixture aside to cool.

Whip 1/2 cup sugar and 2 cups whipping cream in a chilled mixing bowl on high speed until fluffy.

Once the cranberry mixture is cooled, pulse-chop the mixture in a food processor or blender.  Set aside 1/2 cup of mixture for use as topping.

Fold cranberry mixture into whipped cream. Drizzle the 1/2 cup of cranberries mixture that was set aside on top of  folded dessert. Sprinkle with remaining zest.

Chill and serve. Makes 12.

*Cranberries freeze incredibly well. Buy them in bulk during the holidays while they are on sale, freeze and use them year-round.

Peanut Butter Blossom Cookies

It has always been fascinating to me to see the child’s eye when they experience something for the first time. My children have always been in the kitchen with me and I know that I take that for granted. We have children come in and out of our house though foster care who get to experience life and family for the first time in our home. It still always shocks me when I hear that they have never made cookies from scratch or know what a Christmas tree is.We as a family have decided to give them exactly this, even if for only a day or a week or a month.

Making cookies has been a HUGE treat in our house, especially lately. And I was able to share this today… We decided to make a very special cookie – Peanut butter blossoms – These are SO YUMMY and use one of my favorite candies – Hershey Kisses. (and I think that the kids ate more chocolate as they were peeling the wrappers than what ended up on the cookies!!)

Peanut Butter Blossoms

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1 cup packed brown sugar

1 cup creamy peanut butter

1 cup butter or margarine, softened ( I only use butter in my house for cookies… tastes SO MUCH BETTER)

2 eggs (These are fresh from our chickens and ducks)

3 cups  all-purpose flour (I only use whole wheat fresh ground, but any bleached white will work as well)

1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda

1 teaspoon baking powder

Additional granulated sugar (about 2 tablespoons)

About 6 dozen Hershey’s® Kisses® Brand milk chocolates

• Heat oven to 375°F. In large bowl, beat 1/2 cup granulated sugar, the brown sugar, peanut butter, butter and eggs with electric mixer on medium speed, or mix with spoon. Stir in flour, baking soda and baking powder.
• Shape dough into 1-inch balls; roll in additional granulated sugar. Place about 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet.
• Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until edges are light brown. Immediately press 1 chocolate candy in center of each cookie. Remove from cookie sheet to wire rack.