Happy Birthday, Boo!

Make a Smilebox greeting

Holiday Food Detox Plan

Now that we have all indulged over the holidays, it is time for some serious detox in hopes of trimming our waistline and improving our health. Whenever I need some assistance with lowering the calorie count, I always turn to my favorite standby, Cooking Light. Thanks to their website with thousands of recipes, you can enjoy some healthy cooking without a subscription. Here is the meal plan for the weeknight dinners this week...enjoy!

Monday:
Asparagus, Ham, & Fontina Bread Pudding

Tuesday:
Blackened Shrimp with Pomegranate-Orange Salsa & Basmati Rice

Wednesday:
Paella Valencia

Thursday:
Roasted Chicken with Asiago Polenta & Truffled Mushrooms

Friday:
Chunky Potato & Crab Chowder

Kids' Crafts: Crayon Recycle

This is a great way to use up all of those broken pieces of crayon in the bottom of the crayon tin. Just melt the broken pieces into fun shapes using mini cake pans or shaped cookie sheets. Easy peasy!

Supplies:
Broken crayon pieces
Kitchen knife
Cookie sheet or mini cake pans

Directions:
1) Preheat oven to 180 degrees F.
2) Cut broken crayons into pea-size pieces using a kitchen knife.
3) Let kids fill the shapes on the cookie sheet or mini cake pans with the crayon pieces. (FYI: They don't have to be filled to the top for this to work.)
4) Place pans or sheets into oven and heat for 15 to 20 minutes or just until wax melts.
5) Remove from oven as soon as wax is melted. Let cool in pans before placing pan in refrigerator for 30 minutes.
6) Pieces should pop out of pan easily after cooling in the refrigerator. Have fun coloring!

Favorite KIDS' Recipe: Christmas Krispies

The Fred and I decided that we needed to make some sweets this week, so I wanted to try out some kid-friendly recipes. These were a lot of fun to make...and even more fun to eat! Enjoy!



Ingredients:
4 tablespoons butter
1- 10.5 ounce bag miniature marshmallows
5 cups rice krispies
green decorating sugar
red decorating sugar

Directions:
1) Melt butter in a large pot over low heat.
2) Add bag of marshmallows and stir constantly until melted. Continue stirring until mixture is a smooth consistency. Remove from heat.
3) Add rice krispies to marshmallow mixture. Stir well to combine.
4) Transfer mixture to a 9x13 glass dish coated with cooking spray. (Hint: Once mixture has been added to dish, press down with a spatula that has been sprayed with cooking spray to prevent sticking.)
5) Allow treats to cool completely before cutting into squares. Decorate squares with red and green decorating sugar.

Elf Yourself- Hip-Hop

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Elf Yourself- Disco

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Elf Yourself- Singing

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Favorite KIDS' Recipe: Chick-fil-A Style Chicken Nuggets

I know very few kids (and parents) that don't just absolutely love chicken nuggets from Chick-fil-A. There is something about those little perfectly seasoned nuggets that is just irresistible. I have always wished that I could make something just as good for the kiddos at home...well, now I can. This recipe tastes just like the real deal! Give it a try and save yourself the headache of having to climb into the indoor playground to retrieve your child during your next meal (I know that I am not the only one who has had to do that). FYI: This recipe requires prep 12 hours or more before it can be served. Enjoy!

Ingredients:

2 cups boneless, skinless chicken breast, cubed

1 cup flour

1 and 1/2 cups cracker meal

1/4 teaspoon paprika

2 cups water

2 chicken bouillon cubes

2 and 1/4 teaspoons McCormick Season-All

peanut oil

Directions:

1) Place water in a large bowl and add 1/4 teaspoon of season-all. Dissolve bouillon cubes in water.

2) Place cubed chicken in water, mix well, cover, and refrigerate for 12 to 24 hours.

3) After chicken has soaked, prepare flour mixture. Mix together flour, cracker meal, 2 teaspoons season-all, and paprika.

4) Heat peanut oil for deep frying.

5) Drain chicken. Coat nuggets in cracker mixture and fry until golden brown.

6) Remove chicken from oil and place on paper towel lined plate.

Dear Santa...Me Too!

The Fred's Wish List:

1) Disney Princess Keyboard Vanity

2) Caring Corners Mrs. Goodbee Interactive Dollhouse

3) Leap Frog Leapster 2 Game System

4) Ultimotion Disney Fairies Game

5) Easy Bake Oven

6) Dress-Up/Sleeping Gowns: Disney Princess Gown, Cinderella Gown, Disney Fairies Tinker Bell Gown

StickyBun-Scotti's Wish List:

1) Super Lunar Rescue Team RC Car

2) Deluxe Canyon Road Track & Train Table

3) Leap Frog Leapster 2 Game System

4) LEGO Duplo Bricks & More Basic Bricks

5) One Touch Play Tent

6) Melissa & Doug Wooden Train Cars