Bugs & Dirt Cake and A Birthday to Remember!

My second born turned 6 this month! He requested another bug themed birthday that complemented the big outdoor party we were able to plan this year and it was a great success. We made the cake for his school snack on his actual birthday and it was by far the easiest birthday cake design I have ever done and it turned out the best! (So good, I wish I would have saved it to show off at the party!)

I toyed with the idea of creating another bug shaped cake (I did a caterpillar for his 3rd birthday) but I just didn't have the time to experiment with the different pans I had on hand since we were busy preparing for the "big party" on Friday. Thanks to Google I came across this idea and I added a few elements and the results were fantastic! 

I started by using 2 boxed cake mixes, prepared as directed. I divided the batter between 1 - 9x13 pan and 1 small pyrex bowl. The cake in the bowl took a little longer to bake but I just kept a close eye on it and did a tooth pick test every 5 minutes or so towards the end. I used a bread knife to cut the lump off the top and make a level bottom to my "hill". I flipped it over and placed it on the 9x13 cake. I iced used chocolate icing over the entire cake, and the best part I didn't have to worry about getting crumbs in the icing or making it look uniform. 

While the cake was cooking I prepped the "dirt". I couldn't find any chocolate animal crackers at my local Walmart so I ended up buying Cocoa Puffs chocolate cereal, and it resulted in the best looking and best tasting dirt I've ever made! I dumped some in a ziplock and smashed it up with a rolling pin. I slightly pressed handfuls of the crumbs onto the iced cake covering the whole surface including the sides. 

I added some green icing color to the chocolate icing and used a small ziplock to apply the grass. I didn't have a multi opening icing tip, so I just poked a few holes in my baggie and squeezed out the icing in a random pattern. The birthday boy placed the plastic toy bugs on the cake and we sprinkled some green sugar sprinkles in the grass. That's it! Super Easy! (Sorry some of the pictures are blurry, I didn't realize I had a smudge on my phones camera until afterwards!)

The party that Friday was a huge success, minus some strong winds early in the evening that kept the bon fire from getting big, but thankfully it calmed down enough to roast hot dogs and marshmallows. 

I made a spider piñata from a box and tissue paper. Similar to the Minecraft TNT I made for my oldest 7th birthday but after watching my hard work get smashed to pieces in one swing, I decided to go quick and simple for this time. I just wrapped the box in tissue and taped on some legs. The kids loved it! They even took home the legs and head as souvenirs! 

We did dirt and worm pudding cups in addition to the S'mores for treats. I used the leftover cake crumbs and cocoa puffs from the birthday cake and gummy worms. 

The rest of the party was free play time. I set out bubbles and balls and the kids made their own fun.

We had a grand time and felt so much love from our new community. 

It was a great way to kick off a beautiful spring and celebrate this boys birthday and love for the outdoors!

Until Next Time,

Sonja

Build Your Own Nachos: Gluten Free with Dairy Free Options {THM S, E or Crossover}

With a family of six, it is often difficult to make a meal that everyone can enjoy without complaint. Which is why Nacho Night is one of our family favorites.

Build Your Own Nachos empowers everyone to get what they want without any extra work on my part. It is also flexible with what you have on hand in the fridge or whatever produce maybe on sale at the store, making it a win for the budget as well as the tastebuds.

Build Your Own Nachos:
Blue Corn Tortilla Chips
1 lb of Ground Meat of Choice
Sweet Bell Peppers
Lettuce
Mexican Style Shredded Cheese (Or Hello Cheese pg 487 THM Cookbook for Dairy Free)
Salsa
Plain Greek Yogurt or Sour Cream
Guacamole

Everyone gathers around the table and builds their own plate as they please, dairy free for me, mild salsa for the kids, spicy options for my husband. It's the perfect dinner to accommodate all of our different tastes and dietary needs. 

Notes for Trim Healthy Mamas:

For an {S} Meal, skip the chips and add more peppers for a nice crunch

For {E} Use Baked Blue Corn Chips, skip the cheese (or use Hello Cheese) and guacamole and add fat free refried black beans for creaminess

Simple, Tasty, Kid Friendly, No Special Ingredients... It truly is food freedom!

Until Next Time,

Sonja 

"Noatmeal" a Hot Cereal Makeover - Dairy, Gluten, and Sugar Free (THM S)

My plans of writing more frequently have been interrupted by what I like to call "the blue screen of death." It is the error screen that shows up every time I turn on my PC informing me of its dismal state.

Until a decision is made on how to repair (or replace) it I am limited to the use of my smartphone. And it is just not the same as sitting down and using a keyboard. 

That being said I had to share my new favorite breakfast with you.

Having recently moved north we are adjusting to colder temperatures. I love it! I love fuzzy slippers, cozy sweaters, and sipping hot tea all day.

However, breakfast can get a little boring. I normally save eggs for dinner and now that I am gluten and dairy free I have even left my standard oatmeal breakfast behind. Thanks to Pinterest I found this recipe for Noatmeal and it hits the spot! It is fast, easy, warm, and filling. Everything I need in a breakfast. It has more of a Malt-o-meal texture than oats but it is just as versatile. Here is my take on the recipe:

Noatmeal
Ingredients:
2 Tablespoons Chia Seeds
2 Tablespoons Ground Flax
1/2 Cup Almond milk (or dairy free milk of choice)
1 Tablespoon Pyure Stevia
Pinch of Mineral Salt
Dash of Vanilla

Optional Add Ins:
Liquid Egg Whites (see note)
Cinnamon
Maple Flavor

Mix ingredients in small saucepan, and cook over medium heat, stirring frequently until desired thickness is reached. Mine takes approximately 2 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in desired add ins.

Transfer to bowl and serve (or save a dish and eat it straight from the pan) So easy!

Note: I wait to whisk in my egg whites until after cooking, but while still very hot. This adds a nice creamy protein source without adding any eggy flavor to the dish.

I hope you can enjoy your cozy winter morning even more with this yummy hot breakfast.

Until Next Time,
Sonja

Spiced Sweet Potato Muffins - THM {E}, Gluten Free, Sugar Free, Low Fat

Summer has officially arrived at our house. My oldest graduated from Kindergarten this week! All A's and the Reading Achievement Awards... It was a proud Mommy moment. :-)

Having all four boys home from school for the summer means LOTS of snack requests. As we continue in our journey of healthy eating I am always on the look out for easy recipes to fill my picky eaters with nutritious snacks rather than empty calories. We have enjoyed this Whole Wheat Sweet Potato Muffin recipe in the past, with whole wheat and honey it is great for the kids as is. However, since I have been a Trim Healthy Mama (affiliate) since March 2014 I wanted to convert the recipe to be on plan and be able to enjoy some of these yummy muffins as well.  I am please to say they turned out great!


Spiced Sweet Potato Muffins - THM {E}, Gluten Free, Sugar Free, Low Fat
Makes 12 Muffins

Ingredients:

1 Medium Sweet Potato, Cooked

Dry:
2 Cups Oat Flour (Ground Old Fashioned Oats)
1 Teaspoon Baking Soda
1/2 Teaspoon Salt
1 Teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
1/4 Teaspoon Ground Nutmeg
1/4 Teaspoon Ground Ginger
1/4 Teaspoon Ground Cloves

Wet:
1/3 Cup Liquid Egg Whites (or whites from 2 large eggs)
2 Teaspoons of Vanilla Extract
1 Cup Plain Greek Yogurt
1 Cup of Water
1/4 Cup Sweet Blend/Truvia

6 doonks* (1/32 of a Teaspoon) Pure Stevia powder
*We started with just the Sweet Blend and added the Stevia, 2 doonks at a time until the desired sweetness was reached

Directions:
Cook Sweet Potato with desired method (I used the Potato Sensor Cook option on my Microwave - could bake in 400 degree oven for approximately 40 minutes)

Preheat (or reduce) oven to 350 degrees. Prepare muffin tin with paper liners

In Large Bowl: mix dry ingredients.
In Medium sized bowl: Peel and mash sweet potato add wet ingredients; except Stevia Powder. Mix well (I blended mine with an immersion blender until smooth, because I got one for Mother's Day and I love it and use it for everything!)

Add wet ingredients to dry and mix until combined.  Taste and add Stevia accordingly.
Spoon batter evenly into prepared muffin cups.
Bake in preheated oven until golden and the tops spring back when lightly pressed, 12-15 minutes

Notes:
The original recipe calls for a almond/oat topping, I left this out as to not have to worry about adding any fat to this recipe to keep it well within {E} boundaries. 
Also, you could use all Stevia with this recipe and leave out the Sweet Blend, I might try this next time and add 1/4 Cup more water to make up the difference in bulk if necessary.

Converting recipes is always an experiment. I am grateful for my Trim Healthy Mama lifestyle and how it has not only given me food freedom but also more confidence in the kitchen!

Enjoy and have a happy and healthy summer!

Until Next Time,
Sonja

Caramel Apple GGMS

Having great options for food and drinks is one of my favorite things about being On Plan with Trim Healthy Mama.(affiliate)

Just wanted to take a minute and share my favorite way to make Good Girl Moonshine (GGMS).

For a 1 quart jar:
1 Tbsp Apple Cider Vinegar
1 cap full (approximately 1/2 tsp) Caramel extract
1 rounded doonk of Stevia
A few shakes of Apple Pie Spice
A pinch of salt

Swirl to mix well. Fill jar with water and ice enjoy!

DIY Liquid Laundry Soap: Effective, Easy, and Cheap.

Four boys produce endless amounts of dirty laundry. This is a fact I am slowly coming to terms with and I am finding new ways to make laundry day(s) more enjoyable. I started with my laundry room makeover and I love my laundry room now. I am always reminded to be grateful to have a place to tackle the (sometimes overwhelming) task of cleaning clothes and a door to hide the mess when I just don't have the time to get to it!

Laundry soap was another area I have been looking to change up; from buying store bought to making my own. I have tried a couple different recipes and after a few months of use I have found this one to be faithful and true. Not only is it super easy to make it, it is very cost effective and WORKS SO WELL!

I have tried it on my toughest jobs (like dried on blueberry stains!) and each time the boys clothes come out clean and fresh.

What you need:

• 3 Tbsps Borax
• 3 Tbsps Washing Soda
• 2 Tbsps Blue Dawn Dish Soap
• 2 Cups Hot Water
• One Gallon Container

Find a one-gallon container with a tight-fitting lid. I reused my store bought detergent dispenser and it works perfectly. Pour in the borax, washing soda and liquid Dawn. Add two cups of very hot water. Apply the lid and shake until the soda and borax have dissolved. Now fill the container the remainder of the way with cold water. That's it. You now have highly effective laundry detergent and you didn't have to grate/cook/blend or wait for anything.

This recipe multiplies well. I made 1.75 gallons (the size of the store bought detergent dispenser) using this conversion which is slightly more concentrated, so you can tweak it to your needs:

• 1/2 cup Borax
• 1/2 cup Washing Soda
• 1/2 cup Blue Dawn

I use the cup that came with my store bought detergent and fill it 3/4 full for most loads (it comes to approximately 1/2 cup). I also add 1-2 Tablespoons of Oxiclean to all my laundry. If I remember or happen to catch a stain I try to pretreat with Shout, but it doesn't always happen. I also use Cleaning Strength Vinegar in my rinse cycle. I add it directly to my fabric softener dispenser in my washer. This helps soften and prevent potential soap build up in the clothes.

As I go about detoxifying my home I am planning on making this recipe with Pure Castile soap in replace of the Dawn, but for now this works great and saves a lot of money!

Until Next Time, enjoy saving some time and money and getting clean clothes!

Sonja

Cake Mix Cookies

I love simple tasty recipes. This is by far one of my favorites. Since it is holiday baking season I had to share it with you!

Pick out your favorite cake mix flavor and accompanying ingredients and grab a bowl, two eggs, and a half a cup of oil and you are ready to make super yummy cookies

My personal favorite is Butter Pecan Cake mix with Toffee Chips! So good! 

Today I am making Chocolate Toffee Cookies (because that's what I happen to have in the pantry) to take to our Playgroup Thanksgiving Potluck. 

What you need:

1 Cake Mix
1/2 Cup Vegetable Oil
2 Eggs
1/2 Cup Chips/Nuts, etc (optional) 

Mix Cake mix, Eggs, and Oil until well blended.
Fold in any additional ingredients.
Drop in any size or shape onto a cookie sheet.
Bake at 350 for 10-12 minutes or until cookies rise and begin to crack on top.
Remove from oven and let cool on the pan.

Tips:

•  Only put one pan in the oven at a time.

• This method produces a lovely chewy cookie. If you prefer a crunchier cookie, simply leave in a few minutes longer.

• If you accidentally left them in too long, just remove from the pan immediately so they do not continue to cook.

I use one bowl and a fork. It takes about 15 minutes total (inculding clean up!) It really is that simple.

I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving! And Until Next Time, Enjoy some yummy cookies!

~Sonja

Cinnamon Lover's Muffin in a Mug (with Variations) - THM {E}

I love quick and simple food ideas. I am a mix between a "Whole Grain Jane" and a "Drive Thru Sue" but mainly out of necessity. Having four boys under five has taught me that if I want to eat anything the first time it is heated, I better do it quick or someone will need me before I get to finish... So I have come to cherish the In a Mug/Bowl recipes shared in the Trim Healthy Mama (affiliate) book. However, I have also been "On Plan" long enough to discover my body operates more efficiently when I stick to an {E} breakfast.

I routinely grab some oatmeal in the morning, but every once in a while I like to change it up.  I usually don't have the special ingredients to make the Muffin in a Bowl recipe [p.258] (Because 2 in diapers + 1 income = Tight budget) So, I experimented with a fuel switch on the Muffin in a Mug recipe [p. 256]. This was a big step for me, I am typically a strict recipe follower, and overly cautious when it comes to culinary experiments. I hate waste and will choke down whatever recipe fail I am subjected to. But THM has given me more confidence to “Own it!” and thankfully this risk was worth the reward!

Check it out and own it for yourselves. {Pin It}


Cinnamon Lover’s Muffin in a Mug (with Variations) – THM {E}

The Ingredients:

2 Tbsps. Oat Flour (ground Old Fashioned Oats)

1 Tbsp. Flax Meal

1 Tbsp. Cinnamon

4 Tbsps. Liquid Egg Whites

1 Tbsp. Fat Free Greek Yogurt

½ Tsp. Baking Powder

1-2 Doonks Pure Stevia Powder

Pinch of Salt and a splash of Vanilla (optional)

The Directions:
Add to your favorite mug and Mix well, Microwave for 1 minute (or pour into a waffle iron for a yummy cinnamon waffle!) and Enjoy.


The Variations: 
After the confidence boost that resulted from my success I attempted a couple other flavor combinations. 

Chai Spice: Reduce the Cinnamon to 1 Tsp and Increase the Oat Flour to 2 ½ Tbsps. Add ¼ Tsp. Cardamom, 1/8 Tsp Black Pepper and 1 Tsp Vanilla

Apple Pie: Reduce Cinnamon to 1 Tsp and Increase Oat Flour to 3 Tbsps. Replace Greek Yogurt with Unsweetened Apple Sauce and Add 1/8 - 1/4 Tsp Apple Pie Spice. Add chopped Apples (optional) 

All of these variations turned out nice and moist. I think this would be wonderful topped with Fat Free Redi Whip, but I didn’t have any. I tried a Greek Yogurt topping but I didn’t like it very much (but yes, I ate it all anyway.) I also tried to use all Oat Flour as the Flax adds approximately 2.2 grams of fat, but I liked the texture better with the Flax meal. I think the possibilities are endless; Blueberry, Pumpkin, Banana... I'm excited, and hungry!


Until Next Time, be brave in the kitchen and enjoy your food freedom!

Sonja

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