Taking Lunch to the Park

So my girlfriend says 'Lets go to the pool/park tomorrow'.  This presents a problem as my kids get out of summer school at 12pm and the pool opens at 1pm.  That does not give us time to go home for lunch so I have to pack something to go.  I really don't want to take the big cooler but I also hate warm veggies, yuck! This is my solution...

Using my cake caddy

I put ice and ice packs in the bottom.  The ice melted too quickly.  More ice packs and no ice next time.

I put fruit on the bottom of the next level. Now you ask why not put the veggies closer to the ice, well I didn't want the cantaloupe juice to run on the veggies.

Then put some veggies

Then sandwiches and cupcakes, divided by napkins.

Add some water, bathing suits and a half eaten bag of chips and AWAY WE GO.

THANK YOU FOR CHECKING OUT MY BLOG.  TILL NEXT TIME. CHEERS.

Cleaning the wax from the Menorah

I have to do a Hanukkah presentation at my kids school today and was trying to dig old wax out of the Menorah. After having no luck I tried the corkscrew and viola, it worked like a charm!

Push the corkscrew into each candle holder and turn like you were opening a bottle of wine. The wax will come up with each turn. Repeat till all holders are empty.

Happy Hanukkah!

Making A Healthy Alternative to Rice Krispy Squares

3 tbsp. Margerine or Butter
1 tbsp. Vanilla
4 cups. Mini Marshmellos

4 cups. Fibre One Cereal (1 sleeve)
1 cup. Dried Apple Rings, coarsely chopped
1 cup  Banana Chips, coarsely chopped
1 cup Dried Cranberries
4 - 6 cups. Multigrain Cheerios Cereal

1.  In a microwave bowl melt margarine. Add vanilla and Marshmellos and toss to coat. Microwave 1 minute at a time until melted and puffed up.
2. Add remaining ingredients and mix thoroughly.
3. Spray 9x13 and 8x8 cake tin with baking spray. Cover hands in margerine and Press mixture into baking tins.
4. Chill and cut into squares. Serve or freeze.

I'm back!

Ok SAHM so family only has one income but I want a cell phone.  I go and try and get the best deal and then am looking around a month later for a friend and find a better deal.  Obviously can't do anything about it now but now I am feeling bad that I didn't get the best deal for my family.  Stupid I know. What to do?

the Angry Toddler

My son wanted so badly to eat his dinner outside and when told no repeatedly he got so mad that he turned around and licked the window.  Take that mommy.

Baby Food Made Easy and Cheap - Bite Sized Foods

Start really small.  Mine started around 8 months

• Cheese cubes
• Cereal - Multigrain Cheerios, Corn Bran
• Toast cubes
• Cooked apples - Peel and core apple, cut into 1 cm squares. Place in small pot and cover with water. Boil for 5 - 7 minutes till tender. Drain and run under cold water. Dry on paper towel and serve.
• Other fruit - Soft. Barlett pears, banana, blueberries, oranges.
• Graham crakers broken up. Good fibre.
• High fat yogurt around 9months.  I found 5% or higher plain Greek yogurt and added apple sauce or other fruit puree

Baby Food Made Easy and Cheap - Pasta

Equipment
2 cup electric Food Processor ($15 or less)
4 ice cube trays ($2 at dollar store)
Medium - Large pot
Large Ziploc Freezer bags
Pen - I like a black Sharpie

Foods
I will tell you what I did for my kids. After 1 box of every cereal Rice, Oat, Barley but leave Wheat to last for the single grain and then if the baby is fine with those try Mixed Grains. Then I had them try every veggie there was. No fruit till they can hold it themselves due to the sugar content. Then came the pasta. When it comes to pasta it is whole wheat all the way for my family.  

Ingredients

Any Whole Wheat Noodles

Water

Instructions

1. Fill pot with water without salt or any other spices and bring to a boil.
2. Add pasta and boil 5 minutes past the recommended time.
3. Drain and put in processor.
4. Process till in pea-sized pieces.
5. Put in ice cube tray and place in freezer.  Freeze for 12-24hrs. No longer than 48hrs.
6. Remove from trays and put in Ziploc. Write the date on the bag. Use within 3months.
7. Microwave as many cubes as your baby will eat.  Start with one. Stir thoroughly before serving.
8. It sounds grosse but add breast milk, or formula, if you want to add creaminess. Or even mashed sweet potato or yams for taste but only if you have already tried it for 3 days. 

Also see Baby Food Made Easy and Cheap - Vegetables

Baby Food Made Easy and Cheap - Vegetables

I saw this advertisement for the Baby Bullet and it was really expensive.  I thought there has to be a way for those who can't afford or don't want to spend so much money on this product.  So this is what I came up with...

Equipment
2 cup electric Food Processor ($15 or less)
Potato masher ($2 at dollar store)
4 ice cube trays ($2 at dollar store)
Medium - Large pot
Large Ziploc Freezer bags
Pen - I like a black Sharpie

Foods
I will tell you what I did for my kids. After 1 box of every cereal Rice, Oat, Barley but leave Wheat to last for the single grain and then if the baby is fine with those try Mixed Grains. Then I had them try every veggie there was. No fruit till they can hold it themselves due to the sugar content.

Veggies in order: Sweet Potato, Yam, Butternut Squash, Carrots, Peas, Brocoli, Cauliflower, Potato. I avoided Tomato or anything high in acid.

Instructions - Sweet Potato, Yam, Potato, Carrot
1. Peel vegetables and cut into 2-3 inch pieces.
2. Place in pot and cover with water. No salt or spices.
3. Boil for 20 - 40 min or till vegetable is easily pierced with fork.
4. Drain.
5. Put in food processor till smooth.
6. Put in ice cube tray and place in freezer.  Freeze for 12-24hrs. No longer than 48hrs.
7. Remove from trays and put in Ziploc. Write the date on the bag. Use within 3months.
8. Microwave as many cubes as your baby will eat.  Start with one. Stir thoroughly before serving.

Instructions - Broccoli, Cauliflower

1. Cut florets apart.

2. Place in pot, with a steamer and enough water to steam.

3. Steam for 10min or till vegetable is easily pierced with fork.

4. Remove from pot. 

5. Put in food processor till smooth.

6. Put in ice cube tray and place in freezer.  Freeze for 12-24hrs. No longer than 48hrs.

7. Remove from trays and put in Ziploc. Write the date on the bag. Use within 3months.

8. Microwave as many cubes as your baby will eat.  Start with one. Stir thoroughly before serving so you don't get hot spots.

Instructions - Peas
1. Use frozen peas not canned.
2. Fill a pot with water and bring to a boil.
3. Drop frozen peas in and boil for 5min
4. Drain and mash with potato masher.

5. Put in ice cube tray and place in freezer.  Freeze for 12-24hrs. No longer than 48hrs.

6. Remove from trays and put in Ziploc. Write the date on the bag. Use within 3months.

7. Microwave as many cubes as your baby will eat.  Start with one. Stir thoroughly before serving so you don't get hot spots.

See Baby Food Made Easy and Cheap - Pasta

Baby Food Made Easy and Cheap - Tips

• Start with single grain baby cereals, Rice, Oat, Barley but leave Wheat to last because of allergies.  Then Mixed grains.
• At about 7 1/2 months, you can put 9-grain Oats in the processor and process to the consistency of cornmeal.  See recipe for homemade baby cereal.
• Serve only 1 single food every 3 days to test for allergies. 
• Start with all vegetables before fruit.
• Start by making it quite thin and work toward thicker and lumpier. This gets the baby ready for real food.
• If it is too thick mix with breast milk, formula, or water but not milk.
• If it is too thin, mix in a little baby cereal.

Homemade Baby Cereal

Ingredients
1 cup 9-grain Oatmeal
1/4 cup Single grain baby cereal
Breast milk, Formula or Water

Instructions

1. In processor add 9-grain Oatmeal till the consistency of cornmeal
2. Add single grain baby cereal.  Pulse 2 more times.
3. Mix 1 part baby cereal and 2 parts breast milk, formula or water. Not milk till 1 year.
4. Microwave in 30sec segments, stirring each time, till getting warm and creamy. If it gets too dry add more liquid.