St. Patrick's Day Treats

Since St. Patrick's is on Sunday this year I thought I would include some all day meals, snacks, drinks,  and treats to make.  Most of us will be home so why not make it a festive occasion. 

I love these Rainbow Pancakes from Mom to 2 posh little divas. What a fun way to start the day! The bananas make great clouds.  Serve it with some Shamrock juice from Creative Juice. 

These St. Patrick's Egg Rolls look so yummy and easy to eat. Check out the recipe from sweet Peas Kitchen. This would make a great lunch for the whole family. 

For dinner I think I am in love with a site I just discovered called skinnytaste.com. She has some amazing looking food and the best photographed. I am a visual person so I love seeing pictures of the recipe. Try her easy Crock Pot Corned Beef and Cabbage and pair it with these Guacamole Deviled Eggs. Plus they are both Gluten free. She has a whole section of St. Patrick's Recipes be sure to check them out!

Now on to the good part: SWEETS!

I made these a while back and they are so good! Check out the reciepe Em's Key Lime Truffles from Tastebook. 

If you love fudge this one is looks divine. Its Bailey's Irish Cream & Pistachip Fudge from Lea & Jay. I love the flavor of Irish Cream. 

An Irish float from Heart and Country. . This one is made with beer,but I don't drink and will be with my kids so I will simply use some good old root beer. Love the simplicity. 

Fruit skewers whether you prefer that all green version from Creative Juice or the rainbow version from The Family Kitchen both are sure to make you smile. Its a great way to get kids to eat their fruit as well. 

Love the push pop idea and the option to make it as a trifle. Check out the easy reciepe from HoosierHomade.com

Jello rainbow cups, with a "pot" of gold. This is a fun idea for all ages thanks to Glorious Treats for the inspiration.

This is a fun rainbow cupcake that is rainbow inside and out. I like the simplicity in decorating them, it really wouldn't take much time. Check out the tutorial from The Fickle Pickle. 

Thanks for this fun and easy idea from Crazy for Crust. 

Check out this not too sweet and not too heavy Glazed Key Lime Snack Cake from sprinkled with flour. The color and flavor are spot on for St. Patricks Day. 

Zucchini Waffles & Peach Syrup

We got tons of zucchini out of our little garden last year and we love it but couldn't eat it all. So I shredded it and froze it in 2 cup bags. We pulled it out to make pumpkin zucchini bread and had some leftovers so I made zucchini waffles. They are yummy, super easy, and adds a little nutrition. I also served them with homemade peach syrup.

Buttermilk Zucchini Waffles

2 Eggs

1 cup buttermilk

1/2 cup-1 cup frozen zucchini shred

6 TB melted butter

1/2 tsp salt 

1/2 tsp baking soda

1 1/2 tsp baling powder

1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice

1/4 tsp cinnamon
1 1/2 cup flour

Mix it all together and cook in your waffle iron. Be sure not to overfill since they do puff quite a bit while baking. I freeze the leftovers for a quick toaster breakfast. Makes about 12 waffles give or take. 

* Substitution tip: I keep powdered buttermilk in my fridge or  if I don't have buttermilk on hand I use a ratio of 1 cup milk to 1 TB vinegar  Just mix them together and let them sit for 5 minutes are so it will look weird  but its buttermilk. I like to use my apple cider vinegar for the waffles, adds a little more flavor. 

Peach Syrup

1 29 oz can peaches with the syrup

1/2 cup white sugar

1/2 cup brown sugar

1 TB corn starch

1 tsp- 2 tsp vanilla

1. Pureee the peaches in your blender to desired consistency. 

2. Pour in sauce pan with sugars, cornstarch, and vanilla. Mix the cornstarch in well before turning on any heat.

3. Heat for 5 minutes on med heat until the sugars dissolve and the sauce thickens. 

It will store in your fridge for a week or 2. If its too thick add a little water about 1/4 cup max. My mom always made this for us growing up and I love it!

Movie Reiview: The First Grader & Inspirational Elders

A photo from the movie

The First Grader, an inspirational movie which shows that no one is too old to learn and we need to study history. This is based on a true story that took place in 2003 when a radio announcer in Kenya tells that the government is supplying free primary school (grade school) to all. The man is inspired to read a letter sent to him from "The Office of the President". He wants to get the education that was not available when he was growing. He struggles to get the school to allow him to join and is told he must go to adult school. 

Mau Mau Suspects Being Held 1952

As the movie goes on you learn more about what he has gone through in life. He was a fighter with the Mau Mau in 1953. I did a little more reading about the Mau Mau Uprising after the movie and it was so interesting and something I had never learned about in school. what I found most interesting is that the men in these movements where held in camps much like those in prisoner of war camps and Nazi Concentration Camps. It is amazing that we seem to never learn from history and that we fail to see what happens when we forget. 

There are some violent aspects in this movie so it is probably not suitable for young children, unless you fast forward through those parts. As Mauge continues on through the movie you see the continual struggle of the masses and bullies  who very much reminded me of whites in the 1950's when they oppressed blacks.  Maruge ent on the do anything things and inspired a whole new generation to get an education. He is to date the Worlds Genuis Book oldest person to go to primary school. I really don't want to give away too much more of the movie, so you must go watch it. 

Kimani Maruge

It just goes to show that when you do what is right men can move mountains, no matter the age. In thought of learning from our elders here are some more inspirational elders:

Ruth Hamilton

Olive Riley

Ruth Hamilton (1898-2008) and Olive Riley (1899-2008), these two amazing ladies actually blogged until their deaths Ruth was almost 110 and Olive 108. It is amazing to see that technology can be learned no matter how old. 

Arthur Winston (1906-2006) worked for 75 years for the Los Angelos Transit Authority. He only took one day off for the funeral of his wife. What an inspiration of hard work and dedication, he retired on his 100th birthday. 

Partor Lee Jong decided he wanted to help with all the abdone babies on the streets of Korea. I have never been there but would deffinately be in shock seeing a baby abandon on the street and let it die. He has no education or trained created a "Drop Box" where people could leave unwanted babies. Most of the babies have birth defects or disorders. He and his wife have raised about 3 dozen children since 1998. There will be a documentary about them coming out shortly cant wait!

Freezer Cookie Dough

Who loves cookies?

I am sure everyone out there cannot resist the temptation of a fresh baked homemade cookie. I just baked 2 different kids in 18 min. roughly and this is what my mixer looks like and all I have to clean up:

This is why I love freezer cookie dough. I freeze mine in logs that will make roughly 2 dozen each. Although the dough sometimes gets eaten before it can bake. All I do is take it out of the freezer microwave about 45 seconds, slice (they are still frozen, but cut-able), and bake. We didn't get home till late today and we still get yummy cookies to enjoy.  I will included some recipes later...

Chocolate Chip & Chocolate Peanut Butter Swirls (they slice perfect when they are still frozen).... 

My #1 fans right now

* A little cookie tip: with almost all cookies pull them out when the look almost done, leave on cookie sheet for about 2 minutes then a cooling rack they are usually cooked perfect and dont fall apart. 

Southwestern Flair Breakfast Burritos - Freezer

These breakfast burritos are awesome, we eat them like crazy when we have them and they are so much better than cold cereal for breakfast. Today we are just making them to eat with a small batch, but I do need to make another batch for the freezer shortly. Use a large skillet to prepare it much easier. I just wish I could figure out homemade tortillas to make them even better.

Southwest Style Freezer Breakfast Burritos

Ingredients:

1 lb. Pork Sausage (we like Jimmie dean maple)

1 lb. Bacon

4 lb. Hash browns

1 green, yellow, and red bell pepper chopped

½ Onion chopped

2 Jalapenos chopped (optional)

2 dozenLarge eggs

1 tsp cumin

1 springs fresh basil

¼ tsp dried basil leafs

¼ tsp pepper

1/2 tsp salt

1 cup milk

16oz pkg. shredded cheese (mexican blend, cheddar, or pepper jack)

2-3   pkg. flour tortillas (depending on the size)

1.  Cook hash browns in the same pan, oils will help cook the hash browns.

2.. Brown sausage and bacon - drain on a paper towel.

3. While the hash browns are cooking -In a large metal mixing bowl, whisk eggs, cumin, thyme, basil, salt & pepper, and milk.

4. Add browned sausage and chopped bacon back to the pan with the cooked hash brown and the egg mixture. Cook till eggs are done stirring gently

 5. Place 5-10 tortillas on a plate. Cover with a wet paper towel. Heat in microwave for 30 seconds, Heat the tortillas in batches.

If your eating them now enjoy! For freezer continue on…

6. Line a cookie sheet with parchment/wax paper to place your burritos on.

7. Add ½-¾ cup meat mixture and some cheese, then fold in the sides of the tortilla. Roll burrito up, make sure the seam is on the bottom and it is tightly rolled.

8. Freeze on cookie sheet for a couple hours

9. Place in gallon freezer storage bags or wrap the burritos in plastic wrap. Then place the wrapped burritos in freezer zip-lock bags for a more on the go option

* I don’t wrap mine since we usually heat them before we leave or I can just throw them in a little ziplock bag.

*Depending on how many eggs you use and how large you make each burrito will determine how many burritos you will end up with. It makes a lot, but they get eaten fast.

*For one meal ¼ the reciepe for about 4 people

When you are ready to eat - take the number of burritos you want out of the freezer (we usually only do two at a time) - unwrap - place in a wet paper towel and warm 2 burritos for 45 seconds – flip - warm another 45 seconds.  Unwrap and warm for 30 seconds more. This is the best way to avoid a soggy or crunchy shell. Microwaves vary so you may need to add or subtract a little time, just follow the process.

Printable recipe and shopping list: Southwest Style Freezer Breakfast Burritos