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Salted Caramel Sheet Cake

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Salted Caramel Sheet Cake on a surface

Sheet Cakes are my new thing! I used to think they were boring, however lately I have realized that is just not so. This Salted Caramel Sheet Cake is anything but boring, and the perfect treat for a Birthday or special occasion.


Yesterday was my husband’s Birthday. It started as just “one of those days” where everything goes wrong all at one time. We started the day with no power due to a bad storm the night before. We figured by the time we woke up that the power would be restored, however it wasn’t. Next I decided I would go out to the grocery store to pick up a couple things we needed and our van wouldn’t start. When it rains it pours! Finally at about 5 Pm we had power and I thought great, I need to at least bake him a cake.

Totally on the fly I thought, Salted Caramel! He loves peanut butter but we didn’t have any on hand so this was the next best thing I could think of. I used my favorite Vanilla Sheet Cake base. Then I made some American Style buttercream with a hint of cream cheese while the cake was baking. At the end I boiled some sugar and made a homemade caramel sauce to put in the buttercream and top the cake. We had vanilla ice cream on hand as well, which was a perfect addition. At the end of the day we got to sing Happy Birthday to him and he got to enjoy a big piece of cake despite not having power most of the day.

Salted Caramel Sheet Cake with a candle on a plate with a spoon

Salted Caramel Sheet Cake Tips and Tricks

  • For the Vanilla Sheet Cake base, I use my favorite cake mixing and baking method. This calls for a cup of boiling water at the end. Do not fear, the boiling water will not cook your eggs. This helps yield a super moist cake.
  • I always use Watkin’s brand Vanilla Extract. You guys, trust me when I say this is the best vanilla extract I have found.
  • American style buttercream is basically butter and powered sugar. I always add a hint of cream cheese to my icing to add flavor. This will take your desserts from fine to amazing! I also added 2 Tablespoons of the homemade caramel sauce to the icing and it gives just a hint of caramel which is what I was looking for.
  • Cooking homemade caramel sauce is not as hard as you would think. You just boil sugar (without stirring) until you see it starting to turn an amber color. Then you add your heavy cream and butter and you are done. If you have never made homemade caramel sauce before my best advice is do not walk away from it. It can go from good to burnt very quickly. I was mixing my buttercream while my caramel sauce was cooking, however once I saw some color I stopped my buttercream and focused all of my attention on my caramel sauce.
  • I always use parchment paper to line the bottom of my sheet cake pan. This makes it easy to lift the cake out once it cools to icing and cut. I put my parchment paper right on a cutting board and use a large chef knife to cut the cake. After each cut, I wipe the knife off to ensure the next cut is clean and pretty.

Homemade Caramel Sauce

  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1/3 cup water
  • 3/4 cup heavy cream
  • 2 Tablespoons butter
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions: Add sugar to a heavy bottomed pot. Add water to pot and mix to combine sugar and water. Place over medium heat and bring to a boil, do not stir. When sugar is completely dissolved and clear, raise heat to medium high. Cook until sugar starts to turn from clear to amber in color, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat immediately. Stir in heavy cream, butter, and vanilla extract. Your mixture will bubble up when you add these ingredients, just keep stirring. When the caramel is cool enough to give it a try, stir in a dash of salt at a time until you’ve reached your desired taste. If your caramel is lumpy, give it some heat and stir until it is smooth.

Recipe adapted from Fifteen Spatulas. For a full caramel tutorial with pictures, go check out Fifteen Spatulas recipe!

Salted Caramel Buttercream

  • 2 sticks unsalted butter
  • 1 (8 ounce) block cream cheese
  • 2-3 cups powdered sugar
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 2 Tablespoons homemade caramel sauce
  • dash of salt to taste

Directions: Place room temperature butter and cream cheese in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Cream on medium speed until smooth. Do not use cold butter and do not microwave your butter. Microwaving will cause hot spots that could cause your buttercream to become lumpy. Add powdered sugar 1/2 cup at a time. Add vanilla extract and homemade caramel sauce.

Salted Caramel Sheet cake on a plate with a spoon and a candle

A spoon and plate with a salted caramel cake and candle

Brioche French Toast

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One thing that the 2020 Quarantine has brought my family is more delicious breakfasts together. Where we used to only have the weekends to sit down together as a family for breakfast, we now have everyday!


I posted my Summer Berry Stuffed French Toast recipe a while back, and that is a bit more complicated of a recipe. If you are making French Toast for a crowd, I would totally go with the Stuffed French Toast. It is way over the top and has gotten rave reviews from my friends. If you are making French Toast for just your family to enjoy, then this Brioche French Toast is for you! It is a classic French Toast recipe that my kids and husband all love. We like to serve our French Toast with a sprinkle of powdered sugar, real maple syrup, and whipped cream.

French Toast Recipe

Brioche French Toast Tips and Tricks

There isn’t anything particularly amazing or different about this French Toast recipe except the bread choice. I have tried to make French Toast with several different types of bread, and some have failed. My biggest fail was trying to make French Toast with sprouted grain bread. Obviously, sprouted grain bread is healthier than any white bread however let me just say it does not yield a French Toast worth the cooking time. Hard and eggy tasting is what I got. My kids didn’t want to touch it with a 10 foot pole and neither did I!

After that I learned my lesson. If I wanted to make French Toast, then I should use the bread that yields the best end product and enjoy it. A friend of mine mentioned using a Brioche loaf for a French Toast bake, so next time I was at the grocery store I picked one up. My friend was so right, Brioche is the perfect bread for French Toast for a few reasons:

  • The bread is very moist to begin with so you get a fluffy inside.
  • It has a bit of a sweetness to it already.
  • It is easy to slice up yourself for the perfect not too thick but not too thin slices.
  • With a hint of brown sugar and egg, the outside cooks into that perfect crust we all love.

For cooking, I use a cast iron skillet or my outdoor flat top grill. Both of these options yield the same result.

*We have found Brioche loaves at all of the grocery stores we shop at. They are in the bakery section, not the bread isle. We have always found that they are wrapped in clear white cellophane and usually have a liner on the bottom of them. Ours have never been sliced which is perfect.

 

 

Cheeseburger Shells and Cheese

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Cheeseburger Shells and Cheese

Hello again from quarantine! We’ve made this recipe two times already in the past week, so I figured it was good enough to share. Cheeseburger Shells and Cheese is a fancy name for a one pot meal that is kid friendly and fun for Mom and Dad too. It is very reminiscent of my favorite boxed meal as a kid, Hamburger Helper, and so easy to make without the box!


A couple other quarantine updates:

  • Today was such a beautiful Spring day! My husband has been working really hard to dig out our flower beds and get them ready for summer. We have always said we don’t have enough time to make our yard look nice so I guess this year is the test. We spent a lot of time outside today with the kids. Taking walks down the block and letting them play with their toys outside. We have a couple trees that are in bloom right now too and everything looks so beautiful.
  • I am still cooking and baking a lot!
  • At home learning started today. It was good. We have three kids in school. One in 1st grade, one in 2nd grade, and one in 7th grade. I can easily say the elementary kids did a much better job than our middle school child. He had himself convinced that all of the work was optional, I had to tell him about 100 times it was not. I ended up learning a lot about Mark Twain and Amphibians if that is any indication how it went. HA

 

Cheeseburger Shells and Cheese

Cheeseburger Shells and Cheese Recipe Tips

  • This recipe is very similar to my Homemade Hamburger Helper recipe! The difference here is I switched out the milk and water for beef broth to develop a slightly different flavor.
  • The ketchup and mustard sound a little odd, but trust me the flavor you get from these ingredients is not overpowering. I actually didn’t tell my kids that the recipe included these ingredients and they would have never known. Everything blends together really well.
  • If you get to the end of the recipe and your sauce is thin (which has happened to me once or twice), go ahead and mix another Tablespoon of flour with cold water and add to your pot. Make sure you get all lumps out of flour before adding or you will end up with a lumpy sauce. Crank up your heat a little when you stir it in and you should end up with a thicker result.
  • Additional cheese or parmesan cheese is totally acceptable!

Cheeseburger shells and cheese

 

Heath Brownies

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Heath Brownies


Attention! They may not have chocolate chips at the grocery store right now, but they have Heath chips. If you love a decadent, fudge brownie base with little bits of toffee throughout and a big scoop of ice cream on top, then these Heath Brownies are just for you.

Speaking of grocery stores, I went to Wegman’s today. My home away from home. My happy place. They don’t beat Target, but man they are pretty close. There were many items I could not get (Covid-19 hoarding), and I’ll be honest, I was a bit disappointed. I REALLY wanted Jasmine Rice. I REALLY wanted yeast. The produce section wasn’t what it normally is. There was no sanitizing wipes or cleaners at all, and toilet paper was scarce.

What I can say, is that all the workers at Wegman’s were doing a fantastic job. They were smiling, and moving about their day as if nothing was going on in the world. They are braver then myself, and I have so much respect for the essential workers there who are putting their own lives in danger to serve the community.

Wegman’s was taking a couple extra precautions to try to keep customers as safe as possible. Hand sanitizer was located at the entrance. The cashiers had plexiglass barriers to prevent customers from getting too close or coughing/sneezing/breathing on them, and they had a security guard at the front of the store. It was definitely a different shopping experience but again, I am just Thankful I am still able to get what I need for my family.

Heath Brownie Recipe

Heath Brownie Tips and Tricks

  • I love a fudgy, decadent brownie. Some brownies are cake-like, and while they have their place in the world, these brownies are not cakey. They are moist, dense, and loaded with chocolate flavor. For this reason, I am using an 8×8 baking pan. You really only need one brownie (or even a half!) to satisfy your chocolate dreams.
  • I always line my baking pan with parchment paper. It is totally fine if it isn’t perfect. You will want some paper to go up the sides so you can grab the paper and lift your brownies out to cut. This is perfect for two reasons. You don’t cut up the bottom of your pan, and your brownies can be cut perfectly. If you have kids, this is even better so that your kids can’t go butcher the whole pan trying to get one brownie out. If you are serving them at a gathering or party this will also enable you to cut perfect brownies.
  • I lift my parchment paper and brownies right out of the pan and place them onto a cutting board. I use a large chef knife to cut them. Instead of dragging your knife through the brownies, I suggest placing your knife on top and cutting down. After each cut, use a cloth with hot water to wipe your chef knife off. This technique will get you perfect brownies!
  • The Heath baking bits can be found in the baking isle of most grocery stores. They are in the same section as the chocolate chips. Heath Brownies would obviously not be a thing without the Heath baking bits.

Heath Brownie Recipe

Traditional Meatballs

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Traditional Meatballs

I admit, I have had my fair share of meatball recipe fails. From being dry and tasteless to having a weird texture, meatballs can be hard to master. These Traditional Meatballs bring the flavor and tender texture without the hassle.


This Traditional Meatball recipe is SIMPLE. It is minimal. It does not require mincing onions and garlic and buying several different cuts of meat. It is kid friendly, picky eater friendly, and yields a delicious, tender meatball that will swim perfectly in your favorite sauce. I know, I know, there are a million other meatball recipes out there, but just take my word for it, this one is good!

How to Make the Perfect Meatball

  • Skip lean cuts of meat. I always use 80/20 when making meatballs. I have tried 90/10 and from my experience this is exactly how to get a dry meatball.
  • Soak the breadcrumbs. You will want to give your breadcrumbs a brief soak in the milk and eggs before you add them to the meat. This also ensures your meatballs won’t be dry.
  • Do not over mix. I get my hands in there and mix everything quickly instead of using a spoon or fork. You’ll have to get your hands dirty to get all of your ingredients distributed properly, and that’s ok! Give your mix a few good squishes and you should be good to go.
  • Season your meatballs properly. The WORST meatballs are bland and tasteless. No amount of sauce or salt afterward will make your meatballs taste better, so you must season as you go. I use a mix of coarse kosher salt, parmesan cheese, Italian breadcrumbs, and a small amount of soy sauce to ensure my meatballs are properly seasoned and taste anything but bland.
  • Do not bake the life out of them. I prefer to start my meatballs in the oven at 400 degrees. This will give you that beautiful, brown outside crust that we are looking for. However, overtaking can also yield a dry result. I have found about 20 minutes is plenty of time in the oven, then I put them right in the sauce for simmering.

Traditional Meatballs

To finish off my meatballs, I paired them with pappardelle pasta. For the sauce (because I have extremely picky children) I used Simply Ragu Traditional. If you have children who like a very smooth sauce, Simply Ragu Traditional is your best friend. I added a little bit of sugar and salt to the sauce and gave my meatballs a quick simmer and viola!

Whipped Coffee (Dalgona Coffee)

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Can we all just appreciate the trends that are coming out of quarantine life? Tik-Tok videos, bread baking, hoarding toilet paper and Lysol wipes, and my favorite…. Whipped Coffee.


This whipped coffee, also known as Dalgona Coffee, is what I like to call the Starbuck’s Cold Foam Cold Brew upside down. Instead of whipping up a foam, commonly made from dairy products, you whip the coffee and put the dairy on the bottom. I used half and half, but you can put anything your heart desires on the bottom.

Whipped Coffee Recipe

How to Make Whipped Coffee

Preparing the whipped coffee is simple. You will pour the contents of a pack of instant coffee, along with a tablespoon or two of sugar, and hot water into a cup or bowl. I stirred it around pretty good to make sure the instant coffee was dissolved (if there are a few granules left don’t fret). Next, I poured it into the bowl of my KitchenAid stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment and a couple minutes later I had whipped coffee. If you don’t have a stand mixer, no problem. A handheld mixer works just the same.

I prepared two cups ahead of time with ice and half and half on the bottom. When my whipped coffee was finished I spooned it right over my half and half and gave it a try.

How Does Whipped Coffee Taste?

I am not a black coffee kind of gal. At first taste, I kind of hated the whipped coffee. However, once I got a sip that was equal amount whipped coffee to cream I started to understand the trend. It was delicious! I wouldn’t whip up the concoction in the morning, however whipped coffee would be a perfect afternoon treat or compliment to a dessert.

Overall, I would totally make it again and will probably make more this afternoon!

Whipped Coffee

Vanilla Sheet Cake

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We are in unprecedented times people. What am I doing to take my mind off of all the scary things going on in the world, you ask?

I am cooking and baking! I have been lucky enough to keep a stock of flour, sugar, butter, and other baking items on hand. I know some grocery stores are not able to stock these items, so if you have them consider yourself lucky! Cooking and baking (and photographing food) is something that I have always loved, but these past couple of weeks it has kept me sane and moving. I’ve absolutely loved spending time in the kitchen.


My hope is to continue posting recipes I have made in quarantine and talk about what my family is experiencing and the things we have been doing to keep ourselves busy. 🙂

Vanilla Sheet Cake Recipe

Let’s Talk Vanilla Sheet Cake!

Ok, I’ll admit that I am not a huge fan of icing round layer cakes. The Instagram videos make it look really easy, however in my experience, it can be frustrating. We have all seen the Pinterest and Instagram fails and I have been there.

It takes a level of skill and understanding to make a layer cake look perfect. For most home bakers, we haven’t spent the time perfecting those skills because we aren’t making dozens of cakes a day.

Here is where the sheet cake comes in! You can practically put icing on a sheet cake with your eyes closed and it looks wonderful. Add some sprinkles and perhaps a few rosettes, and you have a semi-professional looking cake without all the hassle and tools it takes to put together a layer cake.

This particular recipe is a home run! I adapted this recipe using my favorite chocolate cake recipe (coming soon) and I had no idea how it was going to turn out. The results were one of the best cakes I have ever made. This vanilla cake tastes VERY similar to something that comes out of a box, I would argue way better. It is moist and not lacking flavor. That is exactly what I am looking for with any cake recipe.

Vanilla Sheet Cake

Vanilla Sheet Cake Tips and Tricks

  • Ingredients. I know I just explained that some grocery store shelves in the baking isle are empty but I would NOT use old ingredients. Have you ever tasted a baked good and thought you could taste “something else” in it too? It was probably because ingredients were sitting next to spices and were OLD. If you don’t remember when it was purchased, then toss it and get some fresh ingredients.
  • Using Pastry Flour (cake flour) will give you a delicate, moist cake. I used Wegman’s brand pastry flour because King Arthur was not stocked. My top pick is always King Arthur though.
  • Good quality Vanilla extract is also very important. I have a brand, Watkins, that I 100% recommend over any other brand for taste alone.
  • I always use butter over oil in baking recipes. Oil is lacking flavor and although it can make the texture of some baked goods better, it does not add flavor so I avoid it all together. The original recipe I adapted from suggested 1/2 cup oil so I replaced it with 1 stick of unsalted butter.
  • When you line your sheet cake pan with parchment paper, don’t worry if it isn’t perfect. When your cake is cooled and you remove it from the pan, you can always trim the edges. Simply place your cake on a large cutting board and use a large chef knife to trim any edges that are uneven.
  • POURING IN THE HOT WATER: What sets this cake apart from most all other vanilla cake recipes is the use of boiling water at the very end. This yields an extremely moist cake. The first time I made a cake like this I kept imagining the boiling water cooking the eggs in the batter, however that did not happen.
  • ICING THE CAKE: Do not try to ice a cake that is still warm. I have been tempted many times myself, but don’t do it! Your icing will melt all over the place creating a huge mess. I plopped all of my icing right in the middle of the cake and used an offset spatula to move the icing around. When getting close to the edges, don’t worry if you aren’t right at the edge with your icing. Nobody will notice and it can become a hassle trying to get it perfect.
  • CUTTING THE CAKE: One thing that will also make your sheet cake look beautiful is cutting it properly. Put away the butter knives! You will get a nice and precise cut from a large chef knife. I also avoid “running my knife though” the cake. You want to insert the knife and press down instead of running it sideways. When you run it sideways you will grab cake crumbs and tear up your cake, making it look ugly. We eat with our eyes first so cutting it nicely is important. After each cut wipe off your knife. This also ensures with your next cut you will not tear up your cake.
  • DECORATING THE CAKE: I used a mix of rainbow sprinkles and flat round Wilton Sprinkles. I could not find a link to the flat sprinkles I used. I also used a piping bag with a large star tip to make the rosettes.
Vanilla Birthday Cake

Vanilla Icing Recipe

I will start by saying, I love using cream cheese in icing. It will set apart your cake from all others and create a deeper flavor. By mixing butter and cream cheese, you develop a beautiful American style buttercream with a hint of cream cheese to make it really pop. It doesn’t stand out as cream cheese icing, however it doesn’t taste like sickeningly sweet American style buttercream using powdered sugar to sweeten it. It is the perfect balance and will not disappoint.

Recipe:

  • 2 sticks (1 cup) unsalted butter
  • 8 ounces cream cheese (I prefer Philadelphia brand)
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 1/2 cups powdered sugar (more to taste)

Directions: Soften cream cheese and butter ahead of time. Temperature of these items matters as you do not want lumps in your icing. Once the lumps are there, they are hard to get out.

Cream butter and cream cheese until smooth. Add vanilla extract, and powdered sugar 1/2 cup at a time. As I mentioned, I am not a fan of sickeningly sweet American style buttercream, so you may want to add an additional cup or two of powered sugar depending on your taste.

 

Vitamix vs Ninja Blender Review

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Full disclosure: I am in no way affiliated with Vitamix or Ninja. The opinions expressed on this Vitamix vs Ninja Blender Review are my own. I was not paid by Vitamix or Ninja to review these products. I am an Amazon Associate and do receive a small commission for referring purchases. These commissions keep Pretty Little Apron running and enable me to review more products to help other consumers. 

You guys. I have been waiting for YEARS to do this in Vitamix vs Ninja Blender Review! Today I tested the Vitamix vs Ninja to find out which blender preformed better. The results + overall review should be able to point you in the right direction as to which blender is ideal for you.

The Vitamix



The Vitamix model used in the review is the Explorian Blender with the 64 oz low profile container. Just to disclose all details, I am the owner of this blender, which I have talked about on other posts. I purchased this blender on Amazon Prime Day as a certified reconditioned blender. When it arrived to my house I would have never known it was reconditioned because it was in perfect condition. The Vitamix Explorian has a 1200 watt motor.

One thing I love about the Vitamix line is that they are continually upping their game. They have quite a few different containers that do different things, all while using the same base. Their newest addition is the aer disc container which whips, muddles, foams, and emulsifies.  Put it on my Christmas list now! 🙂

Products from Amazon.com

Vitamix vs Ninja

The Ninja


The Ninja model I used was the Ninja Professional. The Ninja Professional appears to be the Ninja model designed to compete with high end blenders, like the Vitamix. The Ninja Professional features a 72 oz. container that is capable of holding 64 oz. It features a 6 blade assembly that Ninja claims crushes ice faster and smoother then other blenders. The Ninja Professional has a 1000 watt motor.

The Ninja does not have any add ons or attachments at this time.

Vitamix vs Ninja

The Vitamix Vs Ninja Body Comparison

The body of the blenders are completely different. Here are the most notable differences in look and quality that I noted about the blenders.

  • The Vitamix’s overall construction was superior to the Ninja. Where the Vitamix had metal, the Ninja had plastic, specifically the spinning apparatus.
  • The containers are obviously different shapes. The Vitamix is circular, while the Ninja is square.
  • The Vitamix has one blade that is at the bottom of the container. The blade is attached to a metal spinner that connects to the base of the blender. This is what spins that blade and blends the contents of the container.
  • The Ninja has a longer blade that extends up into the container. The blade is connected to a spinner similar to that of the Viamix, however the parts are plastic instead of metal. The Ninja is turned and clicked onto the base.
  • The Vitamix container is self cleaning. You put water and a drop of dish detergent into the container and blend for 30-60 seconds. I do still rinse the container again and dry it with a paper towel.
  • The Ninja does not claim to be self cleaning, however I do think you could use the same water + detergent mix to get a decent amount of excess off of the container before cleaning it.
  • The Vitamix has a spout that makes it easy to pour liquids out of the container without spilling.
  • The Ninja also has a spout that opens and closes. I did note that the spout was not as long as the Vitamix, and contents did spill out of the container onto the side of my cup.
  • The Vitamix has 10 speed settings, while the Ninja has just 3.
  • The Certified Reconditioned Vitamix has a 3 year warranty, while the Ninja has a 1 year limited warranty.
  • The Vitamix comes withe a tamper, while the Ninja does not.
  • The Vitamix has a handy dandy cord hider underneath the base, while the Ninja does not.

Vitamix vs Ninja Test

For my officially official Vitamix vs Ninja Blender Review test I used the exact same recipe in each blender as follows:

  • 1 cup almond milk
  • 1 cup mixed berries
  • 1 scoop protein powder
  • 2 Tbsp oats

This is a standard recipe that I use on a daily basis. I put the ingredients in both containers in the same order and made sure to get a good mix of all berries in both of the cups. I blended both for the same amount of time.

The Results

The results of this test are so fascinating and literally SHOOK my 30 year old kitchen appliance loving self!  LOOK AT THE DIFFERENCE YOU GUYS!

Our Viamix produced a smoothie was that extremely smooth and juice like. It obviously produced a smoothie that was far darker in color with less visible chunks of ingredients.

Vitamix vs Ninja

The Ninja produced a smoothie that was almost mousse like. It was much more airy and fluffy. It  probably would have been best eaten with a spoon rather then drinking it. The smoothie was much lighter in color and had a lot of visible particles. When drinking the smoothie there was a grit to it, unlike the Vitamix which was super smooth. The longer the Ninja smoothie sat, the more visible particles I was able to see.

Blender Review

Overall Opinion on Vitamix vs Ninja Blender Review

Construction

Overall construction hands down goes to Vitamix because the Vitamix is sturdier and made of higher quality materials. I didn’t love the fact that most of the key blending components of the Ninja were made of plastics. The Ninja’s lid and base both felt a lot cheaper then the Vitamix’s. The Vitamix’s pouring spout was perfect for not having spills, whereas the Ninja did spill on me and well…. ain’t nobody got time for that mess.

The one bladed Vitamix seemed to create a better textured smoothie as well. With 6 blades in the Ninja, the finished product was more of a mousse to be eaten with a spoon then a smoothie. I also love the little things like the way the cord fits underneath the base of the Vitamix and how it comes with the tamper.

The Finished Product

The proof is clearly in the pictures that the Vitamix out preformed the Ninja in the finished product. The smoothie had little to no identifiable chunks, and was smooth as a baby’s butt. This is probably the most important aspect for me only because I do blend ingredients like kale and spinach and having chunks in those drinks is just gross.

The Price Point

Obviously, I thought the Vitamix was worth the price because I own one. My main motivating factor in making the purchase was that I needed a machine to make me something super healthy that didn’t seem super healthy. Since purchasing, I have used it almost every single day. The price point of the Vitamix blender is in the high end region for me. I stalked those blenders for almost a year before actually pulling the trigger on a purchase because of the price point. I knew that the Vitamix was what I wanted, and I wasn’t willing to settle for anything else. If you are like me, the Vitamix is the blender for you!

Obviously the Ninja is a lot more affordable. However, I just kept thinking that you get what you pay for when I was looking over the quality of the Ninja. For the price point on the professional, I feel it is over priced a bit. It just feels cheap compared to the Vitamix. One other thing I kept thinking about the Ninja Professional was that  it was almost exactly like my Ninja Master Prep.


The Master Prep is actually even cheaper then the Ninja Professional, and the results are nearly identical. I used the Ninja Master prep for 5+ years primarily to make dressings, sauces, and baby food. The Master Prep uses the same multi-blade component but is about half the price. If you aren’t going to use your blender everyday, or if you don’t really care about texture/chunks in your smoothies, then I would suggest skipping over the Ninja Professional all together and grabbing the Ninja Master Prep. After all, if you are going to get a cheaper blender why spend $100 when you could spend as little as $49? The quality is nearly the same between the two.

The Deciding Factor

When my Ninja Master Prep finally gave out and it was time to get a new blender I knew I wanted the best of the best. As a 30 year old Mom of 5, I have so many uses for this blender, specifically making healthy drinks for my family. I knew my boys would never even take a second look at a smoothie that was chunky. They would immediately be turned off to the idea and my hopes of making them green smoothies would be gone forever. I wanted a quality kitchen appliance, and that is what I got.

A couple years ago, I wasn’t in the position to spend the money on a nice blender. My Ninja Master Prep that cost $49 was a big purchase for me then. It did the job. It wasn’t perfect but it worked and  it was kind of pain in the butt to clean and well, the quality wasn’t the best but guess what? I got 5 years out of a $49 blender, and that  is pretty darn good. It got me through home made dressings, making baby food for several kids, blending smoothies to loose the baby weight, blending more smoothies to fix a pregnancy craving, and even starting a food blog. It kind of has a soft spot in my heart but guess what? Every time I used my Ninja in the back of my mind I kept thinking one day I was going to get a Vitamix! My brand new beautiful high quality blender is much more appreciated today because I know how much I wanted it for so long. 🙂

Products from Amazon.com

Products from Amazon.com

50 Words of Advice for New Moms

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I have 5 kids. They are all alive and well, so I must be doing something right. I was a teen Mom, and at the ripe old age of 19 I brought my first baby home from the hospital. I had no clue what I was doing, but I made it, and you will too!

Something really fascinating is happening. I’m 30 years old and my friends are actually starting to have children now. All of a sudden they are interested in my life in a way they never were before. I’ve experienced things that are a mystery to them and they are coming to me for advice. I felt compelled to write this to help them out!


50 Words of Advice for New Moms

  1. Labor is not like anything you have ever experienced in your whole life. No amount of research can prepare you for what is coming.
  2. This is what having an unmedicated birth looks like…. Advice for new moms
  3. As soon as your baby is born, the pain goes out the window and you’ll start telling people it wasn’t that bad. It was.
  4. The first week is hard. Behind every perfect image of a new family are two frazzled and stressed parents who have just been hit with the wrecking ball that is parenthood. Don’t compare yourself to those perfect people because they aren’t actually real.
  5. You’ll probably be crying for a week straight about everything and nothing at the same time. Hormones will do that to you. You will look back on this and have a good laugh one day.
  6. Ask for more hospital underwear and thank me later.
  7. Your body might be a hot mess for a while, and that’s ok. The people bouncing back in a week aren’t actually real either.
  8. Getting a hot shower is now a luxury.
  9. Breastfeeding is hard and it can be painful. Take a breastfeeding class if you can and ask the veteran mommas for help!
  10. Breastfed babies eat all the time! This doesn’t mean you aren’t producing enough milk!
  11. Breastmilk is liquid gold, for real.
  12. You might start to wonder how any of your friends ever survived with a baby.
  13. Coffee is life.
  14. All of that baby gear wasn’t really necessary. Get yourself a good bassinet, this bouncer, this swing, and a couple muslin blankets and you are good for a few months.
  15. Do everyone a favor and create an Amazon Baby Registry so we can shop and drink wine at the same time.
  16. Your child might come out looking exactly like your husband. This will make you love him even more.
  17. The first time your baby smiles at you, your heart will melt into a million pieces. 🙂
  18. The first time your child tells you no, you will pick those pieces back up and construct a time out chair for them.
  19. Puke is now a fact of life. Get rid of that expensive, white bed comforter and exchange it for something that is easy to throw in the washer at 2 a.m.
  20. You might end up sleeping in pee one day. You won’t care. 🙂
  21. Poop is now a totally acceptable topic of conversation.
  22. Rice cereal isn’t necessary. You can totally skip it all together if you want to.
  23. The first 6 months feel like 2 days.
  24. Everything is easy until your child is on foot. Then the real fun starts.
  25. On that note, takeout is a really good option if you have a toddler.
  26. Potty training isn’t that hard. Just stay home for a couple of days and take the diaper off.
  27. If you have a boy, there will be pee. Everywhere. Everyday. You can try to fix that but it won’t matter. My husband is living proof. Advice for New Moms
  28. Your child might insist on certain things/colors/clothing. One day you will give up and your child will be wearing high watered pants with a non-matching shirt and sandals with socks. You are now THAT person. You will laugh and cry inside at the same time.
  29. If you don’t already have a favorite Disney movie, you will now!
  30. The music on cartoons is so catchy you might find yourself singing those tunes all by yourself. Alone in your new mini-van. On your way to Target.
  31. You need this bumper sticker.
  32. Don’t give your kids scissors at a young age unless you want to take them directly to the hair salon afterwards. As a matter of fact, just throw away the scissors, crayons, markers, paint, and every other craft item you can find until they are in middle school.
  33. If anyone gives your kid glitter just know they actually hate you.
  34. You will feel a sense of accomplishment when your child is in bed each night. Hallelujah!
  35. Your child might want to sleep with you. You might give in, that is ok. Don’t be ashamed of bed sharing if that is what works for you. Advice For New Mom
  36. One day you might wakeup with someone’s butt on your head. You’ll just be be happy you got to sleep.
  37. The Magic Years (0-5) go by really fast. What all those people told you was true!
  38. What your Mom told you was also true. You are now basically your Mom. She was so right about everything she ever said to you.
  39. Pre-school is super adorable. Let them get the cheesy light up shoes with Paw Patrol on them. This will never be acceptable again!
  40. The crafts your kids make at pre-school were actually 95% constructed by the teachers.
  41. All school teachers deserve a special kind of Saint-hood and a glass of wine at the end of each day.
  42. T-ball and Soccer Shots are kind of a hot mess so relax and just let your kid run off the field or pee on first base. Its ok, this won’t ruin their chances at a full scholarship to college.
  43. One day you will wake up and wonder who you even are anymore. It may be time for a girl’s night.
  44. Find a tribe and laugh together. Advice for New Moms
  45. The more kids you have, the more organized and on time you may become.
  46. You might cry when your child starts Kindergarten.
  47. You might also cry when you are the person responsible for entertaining your child all summer long.
  48. It is ok if you don’t sign your child up for every sport, activity, and club. They can survive playing outside with other children in the neighborhood.
  49. Make family dinners a priority.
  50. Chik-fil-a drive through is life.
  51. Show your children what it looks like to be kind to everyone. Give the server a good tip, or buy the drink for the person behind you. Little eyes will always be watching.
  52. You will never know the love of having your own child until you do. 🙂

Advice For New Moms

The Honest Company Diaper Review

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*If you’d like to shop The Honest Company Diapers after reading my Honest Company Diaper Review…. here you go! 

Hi Friends! Today we are mixing it up a bit and we are going to talk diapers. You know, the really expensive toilet alternative for babies that I may or may not go to Target and drop $50+ a pop on? Yeah. That’s what happens when you have 5 children. You walk out of Target thinking of all the other things you could spend $50 on other then sh%*. 🙂


I have two children currently in diapers full time, and an additional 2 that wear pull-ups at night. FOUR. You guys FOUR butts to diaper/pull-up everyday. Don’t even get me started on what happens after the diapers with boys. Pee. Lots of pee. Everywhere. That is all.

Diapers are expensive, and can be an issue if I don’t stay on top of it. Nobody wants to do a Target run at 8:00 at night when you realize that you just used the last diaper you had and your husband will be working a 12 hour day tomorrow. I try to stay as far away as possible from any store with my children by myself because we’re a hot mess of a circus that need not walk into any store that sells toys/candy.  IT NEVER ENDS WELL.

Enter… The Honest Company Diaper Bundles. You guys. LIFESAVER. Not only are the diapers totally adorable, they also save me time and money.

Time = not having to run to Target after a massive fail in realizing the diapers are gone.

Money = not having to run to Target and have an additional $50 worth of goods accidentally drop into my cart.

The Honest Company also has a ton of amazing deals, so the adorable diapers are no more expensive then other options at Target. Win-Win all around. Here are all the details!

So What’s the Deal with the Bundle?

Ok, so this is something I have never done in the past, but after the baby was born I realized my sanity was at stake any time I walked through the doors of a store. Have you ever tried shopping with a toddler + a baby? Add 3 additional kids to that and you have my walking circus. Yes, I’m the lady at Target whose kids can’t even fit in a cart. The struggle is real.

With that being said The Honest Company Diaper Bundles are basically my new best friend. When you realize that you do not need to enter a store anymore to get essentials like diapers, baby items, cleaning supplies, and personal care items a weight will be lifted off your shoulders. UPS will roll right up to your door with the goods and YOU DON’T EVEN HAVE TO PUT ON YOUR GOOD YOGA PANTS OR DO YOUR HAIR IN THE CAR WINDOW WHEN YOU ARRIVE!

The Bundles make it super easy to NOT run out of diapers. You get 6 pack of diapers + 4 packs of wipes. You get to customize your diapers according to size and pattern. Yep, you do NOT have to get all of the same size. I can get diapers for my baby + toddler in the same bundle. Training pants and nighttime diapers are also available so you can get a mix of everything you need in one bundle.

After you order your first bundle, you get to choose when your next bundle will ship. Nothing is set in stone, so if you find that you still have a lot of diapers left and your bundle is set to ship soon, you can delay your shipment in one click. It is a super simple drop down calendar. You just click on a date and that is it. You can also cancel your bundle at any time, so when you potty train you are not obligated to keep buying anything. I was hesitant at first because I thought maybe there would be something hidden, but there really isn’t.

The Honest Company Diaper Review || www.prettylittlepapron.com

Add-On Items and Save

The add-on items are another awesome feature that I love! When you order your Diaper bundle, you get the opportunity to add-on 3 items to get 25% off each item. That means I can order my Diapers + baby wash, sunscreen, bibs, or anything else I might be grabbing at Target. You don’t have to add anything to your bundle, but who doesn’t love to save money on things they will already be purchasing? The best part is, your add-on items can always be different things.  You basically get to try new products at a discount, which is nice. I absolutely LOVE the baby wash/bubble bath scents and slathered myself in their lavender sent the whole time I was pregnant. I couldn’t get enough of it! The smell is light, and is great for nighttime baths. There are so many good things, go check them out!

But Do the Diapers Work?

Let me start by saying that the diapers are JUST as adorable as they look. I’ve gotten so many comments on how cute the diapers are. I mean, if you have to deal with poop… at least this is the upside, right? So yes, the prints are ah-mazing. They also have seasonal prints which is fun because your diapers will always be different. In my bundle shipping next week I’ll be getting a seashell print + whales/beachy stuff in addition to some of my other favorites. They have quite a few unisex prints too so if you are buying for a Momma to be who is team green you will have plenty of options.

As far as leaking/feel of diapers I’m super pleased. I’ve tried just about every diaper brand on earth, and I would say these are most comparable to Seventh Generation brand in how they feel. They do not have any fragrance, and the inside does not have lining (like Pampers brand). Due to the prints, there is not a wetness indicator on the front, but I would say it is pretty obvious when a diaper is wet so that wasn’t a make it or break it for me. The prints trumped that for sure!

We’ve had one or two massive blowouts in these diapers but I’m pretty sure it wouldn’t have mattered what diaper she was wearing when it happened. Yes, it was that bad!

The wipes are absolutely the best wipes I have ever used. They are medical grade, super thick, and textured. They feel a lot stronger then your average wipe. They are also fragrance free, so no weird fruity smells here.

Overall  I would recommend the Diaper + Wipes bundle! The Honest Company is always running specials on first bundles so make sure to look for a coupon code before you make your purchase. My first bundle was purchased for almost half price with a code, and who doesn’t love a good deal? If you try a diaper bundle, make sure to let me (and the readers) know what you thought! You can shop The Honest Company here.

 

 

Keto Approved Burger Recipes

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I am SOOO excited to share these Keto Approved Burger Recipes today! But first, since this is my first Ketogenic Diet related post, here is a bit of backstory and information.

Baby weight. It has been a constant thing in my life for the past 11 years. I have 5 kids, things are umm… deflated. Let’s be real… dieting is NO FUN. The food struggle has been real. With each pregnancy I have held on to a little bit of weight, and at this point I’m just really ready to drop it! After my last son I tried the 21 day fix and let me tell you…. torture is the only word that really comes to mind regarding that diet. HELL. By the end of each day I would be standing in front of the cabinet wondering what I could eat. I’m really not here to bash any diet in particular but this one was a low point for me. If that was what dieting the right way looks like then let me just be wrong forever because it was not something I could have done for more then a couple of weeks. Even that was pushing it. On a scale of 1 to I’m going to punch someone if I don’t eat something soon, the 21 day fix is about a 20. So there’s that.


WELCOME…. the Ketogenic diet, or Keto for short. Contrary to popular belief, it is not just about eating steak and bacon. Yes, that is absolutely part of the diet if you like those foods. In short, it is a high fat, moderate protein, low carb diet. Yes, you will see the people posting photos of #allthefat, but the diet does also contain a lot of other foods, with an emphasis on leafy greens and vegetables, high quality fats, and meats like beef, chicken, and fish. What I have found great about the diet is it is totally relatable to real life. I can actually go to functions and eat the food there without feeling like I’m dieting. I’m not carrying around measuring containers, worrying about putting too much dressing on my salad, or micro-managing calories. THERE ARE NO LITTLE STUPID TABLESPOON CUPS FOR DRESSING. Thank You God!

Don’t get me wrong, it still isn’t easy breaking addictions to sugar and low quality carbohydrates. Any time you are restricting food in any way there will be temptations and feelings of want. There are hard days when I want to just eat a thing of ice cream (I’ve done it). There are also awesome days when I step on the scale and see quick progress. It has kept me going thus far and in my first week I’ve gotten rid of 6 lbs! PROGRESS!! 🙂 🙂

I’m going to be putting together a little Keto Q & A section of the blog since I’ll be posting Keto friendly recipes for the foreseeable future. This will help anyone who comes here wondering what all the hype is about and answer some other questions regarding the ins and outs of the diet. First and foremost though, I’m a beginner here too and what I say is not coming from a doctor, nor is it gospel. So keep that in mind! I am also breastfeeding so my needs are a little bit different then your average person.

One thing that led me to creating this post was seeing others on the diet being hung up on eating the same thing over and over and over and over again. Like ME TOO ya’ll. I’ve been doing the same thing. So I decided to reach outside of my routine and create some different burger recipes to eat each week and mix things up a bit. Add a different seasoning and toppings and viola! A whole new meal.

*All macros have been calculated through the Keto Diet App.

  1. Cajun Bacon Bleu Cheese Burger

    Keto Diet

Season burger with cajun seasoning (or old bay), pink himalayan salt, and pepper. Top with bleu cheese crumbles and bacon.

MACROS:
  • 4 oz. burger, 1 oz. bleu cheese, 1 slice bacon, 1 slice tomato, 14 baby carrots

Fat: 38 grams

Protein: 31 grams

Carbs: 8 grams

2. Queso Fresco Fiesta Burger

Ketogenic Diet Burgers

Season burger with cumin, chili powder, adobo seasoning,  pink himalayan salt, and pepper. Top with queso fresco, avocado, sour cream, and fresh cilantro.

MACROS:
  • 4 oz. burger, 1 oz. queso fresco, 1/2 avocado, 2 Tbsp. sour cream, 1 tomato slice, 1 cup strawberries, 1 cup organic spring mix

Fat: 48 grams

Protein: 29 grams

Carbs: 13 grams

3. Cheddar Bacon Avocado Ranch Burger

Keto Diet Burgers Season burger with garlic powder, onion salt, pink himalayan salt, and pepper. Top with cheddar, bacon, avocado, and ranch dressing.

MACROS:
  • 4 oz. burger, 1 oz. cheddar cheese, 1 slice bacon, 1/2 avocado, 1 slice tomato, 2 Tbsp. ranch dressing, 1 cup strawberries, 1 cup organic spring mix

Fat: 65 grams

Protein: 34 grams

Carbs: 15 grams

4. Bacon Provolone Mushroom Burger

Keto Diet Burger Recipes

Season burger with garlic powder, onion salt, pink himalayan salt, and pepper. Top with melted provolone cheese, mushrooms, and bacon.

MACROS:
  • 4 oz. burger, 1 slice provolone cheese, 1/2 cup mushrooms, 1 slice bacon, 1 slice tomato, 14 baby carrots, 1 cup organic spring mix

Fat: 32 grams

Protein: 32 grams

Carbs: 10 grams

5. Pepperoni and Parmesan Burger

Keto Burger Recipes

Season burger with garlic powder, onion salt, Italian seasoning, pink himalayan salt, and pepper. Top with pepperoni and shaved parmesan/romano cheese blend.

MACROS:
  • 4 oz. burger, 1 oz. pepperoni, 2 Tbsp shredded parmesan cheese, 1 tomato slice, 14 baby carrots, 1 cup organic spring mix

Fat: 32 grams

Protein: 29 grams

Carbs: 9 grams

Ketogenic Burger Recipes

 

 

Homestyle London Broil

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I used to get all kinds of annoyed when my husband would bring home a piece of meat from the grocery store labeled “London Broil.”

What. Do. I. Do. With. This. Thing. I went to pastry arts school, remember?


So I took a few different approaches as any aspiring chef wife would. I think it went something like marinating, grilling, ovening.  Marinating it to death for 24 hours just praying this thing doesn’t die on me. Praying a second time that my husband stops buying these things because.. why!?!?! Just get a cut of meat I know what to do with already! Are there not a dozen other choices there?

Then, after the first epic fail, the unthinkable happens. My husband comes home with not one, but two London Broils. In my head I’m thinking, didn’t we realize we don’t like these things the first time? This time I thought maybe I would just put it in a crock pot and see what happens. What could really go wrong in a crock pot? Could it die again in there? Could I burn the house down? Will he stop this nonsense already and just bring home a chicken breast next time?

The moment of truth came at a friends house, because I had a photo shoot in the morning and was running so low on time that I threw the two London Broils in a crock pot with roast seasoning and carrots and hoped for the best. We showed up and I warned everyone I had no idea what was going to happen when I took the lid off of this thing. Everyone assured me that it would be fine, they would love me even if this was harder then a brick. My husband sliced a piece and to my surprise it was good!

Most recently, I got really brave and actually purchased one BY MYSELF at the grocery store. Literally I went to Giant and went directly to the meat section without passing go and picked myself up a brand new and shiny London Broil that I was going to go home and turn into a delicious dinner.

Seriously, who am I anymore!?!?!

When I Figured Out This Whole London Broil Thing

What I realized was that a London Broil was very similar to the cuts of meat they label as roasts or rump roasts. I noticed them to be a bit leaner, with a lot less marbling throughout and less fat on the outside as well. What I also noticed was that they are priced HALF THE PRICE of the roast cuts. Maybe my husband was on to something here?!?! They are almost always on sale. The London Broil I purchased was $7.00 and it was almost 3 lbs of meat. So winning when you have 4 kids!

I used my dutch oven that regularly collects dust inside my cabinet to make my Homestyle London Broil because I have a wonderful double burner on my gigantic stove so I figured, why not? It turned out to be the perfect way to cook my Homestyle London Broil because I was able to start it on the stove, browning both sides as well as my onions. Then slow cook it in the oven for a few hours, and to finish pop it right back on my double burner to make a delicious gravy out of the broth. I need to use this method more often because it was super easy!

Recipe Tips

I always say this when preparing meats but if you don’t have any course kosher salt in your life you need to get you some! It can take a just fine meal and make it so much better! I generously seasoned my London Broil with a mix of course kosher salt, cracked black pepper, onion salt, and granulated garlic. It is THAT EASY. Generously is the key word, do not be afraid to semi-coat your meat in the spices, just make sure you don’t over-do the onion salt due to the fact that you are using course kosher salt and beef stock as well.

All of those little bits and pieces and lovely brown color you get when cooking your onions is what I call flavor building. You can’t flavor build like this in a crock pot, that is why I didn’t just throw my ingredients in one. I would say you could totally use this recipe in a crock pot but the best way to do it would be exactly how the recipe says.

I just used a fork to pull apart my meat and it fell apart so easily. When making the gravy, I did not remove the meat. The stirring around helped pull apart the meat as well.

I did season to taste after everything was finished with just a pinch more salt and pepper. As with any recipe, if you feel it may be a tad bland, season to your own taste!

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Vote for your favorite #52NewFoods Recipes + Book Giveaway!

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Hola! Remember our #52newfoods challenge? We partnered with cookbook author and Mommy, Jennifer Tyler Lee, to bring you Jennifer’s fabulous book and ideas for helping your family incorporate new foods into family meals, all while making it fun. Genius!

Now here comes the fun part….all of YOU get to vote for your favorite recipes. Three winners will receive copies of Jennifer’s new book, The 52 New Foods Challenge! Here are my own #52NewFoods recipes:


Check you all of the recipes, and pick 4 of your favorites below!

Jennifer’s book is on sale now, and would make a fabulous gift for friends and family members looking to start cooking healthier with new ingredients!

5 Savory Quick Bread Recipes That Rock!

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Savory Quick Breads. Because not everyone is friends with yeast.


Although I spent a few months of my life doing NOTHING but making yeast breads, I tend to not want to go there at home. I’ve had too many “at home fails” because guess what? Yeast is picky, yeast is finicky, and I don’t have all of the professional equipment bakeries have, like huge mixers, confection ovens, and proof boxes. Sure, making yeast-based breads at home can be done, but to be honest I’m perfectly happy with the bread that we buy (Ezekiel Bread from Food For Life) so I don’t see a reason to make my own. I’ve found a bread product that is 100% whole, all natural, Non-GMO, and my kid’s love it, so why add one more thing to my “Mommy-Do” list?

CAUTION: I’m about to burst a Pinterest Bubble right now. Those perfect looking breads and rolls you see on Pinterest? Your version probably won’t look like them. It takes SKILL to roll and shape breads, know how to score them, and proof them just right. Temperature and equipment have a lot to do with how your yeast breads will turn out, and if you aren’t a professional your results may not come close to what you saw in the pictures. Sure, bloggers and professionals make it look simple. Trust me here, it ISN’T! I know, I know, who likes a Debbie Downer? I promise, good news is coming! 🙂

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Good news in the form of a huge, melt in your mouth, savory muffin-style quick bread? Yes Please!! Not only are these super easy, you can pretty much put anything on top of them to customize them to your liking. I’ve created 5 basic combinations that I think pretty much rock!

Here’s the deal-io. We make a base, fill the muffin cups (or loaf pan if you choose), then top the base with cheeses, veggies, herbs, and even MUSTARD to create these uber-delish mega-muffs perfect for slathering butter, dipping, lunchboxes, and pretty much any other event you can think of. You could even slice these babes in half and throw something in between to create a sandwich. A savory, mega-muffin sandwich?!?!? Is this real life???? 🙂

And we aren’t stopping there *in creepy infomercial man voice* because these muffins are WHOLE WHEAT, naturally sweetened, and flavored with fresh ingredients. Remember, we are all about #betterbaking here, and we are sticking to it!

Speaking of fresh ingredients, I highly recommend using fresh herbs as opposed to dried because you will not get the same results with dried. Now on to the recipe… enjoy!

*Recipe adapted from Food Network Magazine

Savory Quick Bread Base

Ingredients:

  • 1 and 3/4 cups whole wheat white flour
  • 1 and 1/2 tsp baking powder
  • 1/4 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp pink Himalayan or Kosher salt
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper
  • 3/4 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
  • 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 Tbsp pure maple syrup or honey
  • 1 cup sour cream

Directions: In a large mixing bowl whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, pepper, and parmesan cheese. In a separate bowl mix oil, eggs, sour cream, and sweetener. Add wet ingredients to dry and stir just to combine evenly. Grease 6 large muffin tins (batter will make 12 small or 1 loaf as well). Evenly distribute batter, then top with desired toppings. Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes (for large muffins) or 45-55 minutes (for loaf pan).

1. Tomato Mozzarella

Use bread base, top with cherry tomatoes and fresh mozzarella. Optional: fresh basil, garlic.

 2. Jalapeno Cheddar

Use bread base, top with jalapenos and cheddar cheese.

 3. Parmesan Peppercorn

Use bread base, top with freshly cracked black peppercorns, and freshly grated parmesan cheese.

 4. Caramelized Onion and Herb

Use bread base, caramelize onion, and add fresh rosemary and thyme. I used 1/4 onion per large muffin. If you are using a loaf pan I’d suggest 1/2 onion.

 5. Whole Grain Mustard and Feta

Use bread base, top with a big smear of whole grain mustard and crumbled feta cheese.

 

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100 Days of Real Food Cookbook Review

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I’ve been a huge fan of Lisa Leake of 100 Days of Real Food for quite some time. Lisa’s blog was actually the first real blog that I followed, so I am honored to be reviewing her book today!


First, I’m going to have to bring out the warm fuzzies for a minute because like I said, Lisa is awesome! Not only is she super classy (because she doesn’t even bat an eye at the drama people bring to her peanut butter posts), she is what I would call a Real Food Pioneer. Before Lisa, I’m not sure that people were really throwing around the term “Real Food” as much as they are today. That speaks volumes about how much she has accomplished through her blog, and is super inspiring.

Now I’m going to fan-girl out a little because Lisa SIGNED my book. *insert teenage-girl-pitched scream here* Yes, I’m officially cool! Ok I’m not but please don’t burst my bubble while I’m fan-girling (and don’t get a restraining order either) 😉

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So what makes Lisa’s book so awesome you ask? Everything! The book is broken up into two parts so I’m going to discuss my thoughts on both parts because… well I like to pretend like I’m organized sometimes. Just go with it. I promise I know what I’m doing, I’m a food blogger with a signed booked. That means I’ve got it together, right? Right.

Part One: The Plan

Although I love the recipes in Lisa’s cookbook, I find Part One to be the MOST important part of this book. Lisa goes through everything from how to read ingredient labels, to understanding the sugar content of packaged foods, to going through ingredient lists from popular products. The stuff she packed into part one is so valuable because it is a great tool for helping other people understand where you are coming from if you’d like to start changing the way you look at food. The information is also a great tool for beginners. One of the biggest questions I get is “Where do I Start” and Lisa’s cookbook goes over ALL of that. It even includes a 14 Week Mini-Pledge for those on the fence about Real Food in their life, and a tracking chart for progress. Lisa also talks about portion sizes, how to shop at Farmer’s Markets, and all of the tricky labeling companies use to confuse people about the ingredients in packaged foods. If you can think of a Real Food question, Lisa probably covers it in Part One.

I can’t tell you how many times I would have loved to have a “handbook” to show people what is actually in processed foods and why the ingredients aren’t what I want my family to consume. When people you know just don’t get it, this book is the perfect solution. Here are a few other highlights from Part One:

  • Identifying Artificial Sweeteners
  • Why Low-Fat Products are Not Real Food
  • How to Find “Real” Eggs
  • More Tips on Reading Labels
  • And MUCH, MUCH, more!

Even for someone like myself who is a food blogger already living an unprocessed life, I learned a lot from Part One and was reminded just how awesome it is to be eating real food. Believe me, when I looked at the pages that contained the ingredients in all the processed foods that a lot of people are still consuming on a daily basis, I was reminded of why I choose a Real Food, Unprocessed life.

Part Two: The Recipes

What I love most about the recipes in Lisa’s book is that they are all relatable to the everyday family. This isn’t the GOOP, or a super fancy and out of your league lifestyle book. It is a down to earth approach to making meals that your family will love. There wasn’t one recipe that I looked at and thought “What the heck is that ingredient?” There were a ton of recipes that I thought my kids would just gobble up (especially the Macaroni Casserole), and every recipe was accompanied by a beautiful picture. I mean seriously, there isn’t anything NOT to like about these recipes because… well… just take a look at a few of the recipes I will be adding to my Real Food Bucket list:

  • The Best Pulled Pork in the Slow Cooker
  • Veggie Pancakes
  • Teriyaki Flank Steak Salad
  • Cinnamon Apple Chips
  • Southwest Chicken Wraps

I have already tried one of the recipes, which far exceeded my expectations. The recipe I went straight to was the Cinnamon-Raisin Quick Bread, which was pictured in one of the lunchbox idea pictures. Lisa spreads cream cheese in the middle of the bread and serves it as a sandwich, which goes perfectly with the bread. She also suggests using it to make French Toast which I might just have to try tomorrow morning!

I should admit, this recipe calls for applesauce and I have NEVER tried baking with applesauce. Boy, I must have missed the “Knowers That Applesauce Makes the Best Quick Bread” club because the bread was so light, fluffy, and texture-ific. I made the bread in both a loaf pan and muffin tins and of course I took pictures of the muffins because their tops were bangin’. You know how I feel about those muffin tops! Overall, I loved the recipe and am sending a muffin in my son’s lunchbox tomorrow. My husband also highly recommends the muffins slathered with sunflower butter (had to throw that in there just incase the peanut butter haters are upon us). 😉 😉 But really, he did slather it with sunflower butter immediately and proceeded to eat half of the loaf.

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Of course you can also throw some raisins around and put two liners on your muffins. I did, and it was really fun. Not to mention, it made for a great picture to show off those muffin tops!

Everything Else You Need to Know About The 100 Days of Real Food Cookbook (From 100 Days of Real Food)

  • No white flour or any refined grains are used
  • No sugar or any refined (or artificial) sweeteners are used
  • No recipes call for packaged foods containing more than 5 ingredients
  • Familiar and easy-to-find ingredients are used (you probably already have most of them on hand!)
  • 71 recipes are (or can easily be) Gluten-Free
  • 79 recipes are (or can easily be) Vegetarian
  • 49 recipes are (or can easily be) Dairy-Free
  • 42 recipes are Freezer Friendly (my secret weapon when it comes to packing wholesome school lunches!)
  • A beautiful color photo is included with each and every recipe
  • 70% new recipes – not previously published on the blog

 

If you are not familiar with who Lisa Leake is, this video describes her family’s journey and gives you a look into their life. Her book is also ON SALE NOW in stores and on Amazon.com. I’ve attached a link for your linking pleasure. Be sure to get one for yourself and gift one to a friend in need of some Real Food inspiration!

Thank you so much Lisa for inspiring all of us to change the way we think about the food we are eating, and a big congrats on your book dreams coming true! Make sure you check out the recipe for Lisa’s Cinnamon-Raisin Quick Bread as well!


Frozen Banana Acai Bowl

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acaibowl Breakfast can be a really chaotic time at my house, and with back to school approaching it is bound to get a lot worse. I am then going to be accountable for making sure another little human is well fed until lunch time. I sure don’t ever want to send my child to school with no food in his belly, but boy sometimes it is really tempting to whip out a box of crappy cereal and tell him to have at it! Then I would be able to get my last 5 minutes of sleep (does this qualify as a snooze button?) But who am I kidding, my son would be overjoyed if that happened! However, there is a healthy voice inside my head that says “Dana, it is time for breakfast, the most important meal of the day. It is now time to get up and make sure your son is nourished and energized to go to school and learn. Please get up and prepare something super awesome and nutrient dense for him!” Of course I always listen to the healthy voice because I know it is right! This year nutrient packed breakfasts might not be as hard as they used to be. I’m always looking for new ideas because let’s face it, when you don’t eat processed foods your options can be limited when time isn’t abundant. Most of our mornings contain eggs, oatmeal, or homemade whole wheat pancakes. Thankfully over the summer I found a new breakfast that my family has really been fond of to put into the routine….. acai (ah-sah-ee) smoothies and bowls! I know, it sounds really “health nut” of me, but I’m telling you… they are glorious! So, I have to throw this in here…I saw this “bowl” concept on Istagram and didn’t really get it. There were lots of colorful and nutrient dense foods on top but what was underneath? Well, I can’t say for sure that all of them are Sambazon Acai Smoothie Packs, but that is what I recommend and that is what this recipe contains. Essentially it is a thick, smoothie-like consistency that you put all of the beautiful toppings on. It is served cold, just like a smoothie. What makes this recipe I’m sharing a little different is the banana is frozen beforehand, so the consistency of the bowl is thicker, creamier, and even more delicious! Ok, I may or may not have gotten the frozen banana idea from Instagram too, but who is keeping tabs?!?! 😉 acaibowl1 (1 of 1) Let’s talk nutrients… this bowl is packed to the brim. Acai is loaded with antioxidants (2 times as much as blueberries) and also contains a heafty dose of Omega fatty acids. Hello awesome breakfast! Pair the acai with a banana, various other fruits, nuts, and oats, and you are set until naptime, I promise! My kids really loved the smoothies with watermelon and banana, and I really loved the bowls just like the ones pictured. Both are awesome options but you can really get creative and throw in what you have on hand. We don’t always keep the same fresh produce on hand so I tried a number of fruits in my Rio Bowl and all of them were great (watermelon was my favorite!!)

If you’d like to know where to find Sambazon Acai Smoothie Packs in your area their website can tell you exactly where to go! 2 stores in my area had their products and I don’t live in a huge city. They also have various other smoothies and health products in grocery stores as well. Also very noteable, their products are Non-GMO verified, USDA Organic, EcoCert Fair Trade, Vegan, and Gluten Free!!


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LunchBots Back to School Giveaway! (closed)

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a Rafflecopter giveaway


Just in time for back to school, one winner will receive a Quad Lunchbox courtesy of our affiliate LunchBots! I love their lunchboxes because they are durable, simple, and fun! My son loves taking his Lunchbots to school and guess what? It is easy to clean and comes home empty (ok unless he talking the entire lunch time!) No gimmicky, spammy e-mails to deal with just simply follow the directions above to enter. One winner will be shipped their Quad directly from LunchBots. Winner must reside within the United States.

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P.S. – If you want more from the blog, and to hear about future giveaways, subscribe to my feed and get new posts directly to your inbox 🙂

Here is the last lunch I put together with my own Quad this week!

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Balsamic and Bleu Steak Alfredo

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Yesterday was my mom’s birthday and since her friends and co-workers took her out to eat I decided to cook her a meal at home. With 3 young kids going out to eat is an ordeal every…single…time! I know anyone with kids has sat through an excruciating meal at a restaurant thinking “I’m never doing this again” the whole time. One kid is yelling, one kid is under the table, and the other one has to pee… at that very moment you promise yourself NEVER AGAIN! Yet somehow…. someway… you end up right back in that situation, reminding yourself again why going to a restaurant with kids is a horrible idea. On top of that, I know when I go out to eat trying to find something with real ingredients is nearly impossible unless I’m going somewhere that specializes in real food, and I don’t know of any places like that in my area. There are a few small cafes that I trust for some things, but most “from scratch” kitchens still use some ingredients I don’t use at home. The great thing in my situation is that I know how to cook restaurant quality food at home, from scratch with ingredients I don’t feel guilty about eating. This Balsamic and Bleu Alfredo recipe did not disappoint!


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I admit, this idea came from Olive Garden’s menu (don’t get me started on their ingredient lists and unethical marketing). My husband’s company had a Christmas party there last year and just about everyone ordered the dish that inspired this recipe. I don’t quite remember what they called it but the flavor combination was a bleu cheese Alfredo sauce, steak, and balsamic reduction. My version of this meal is definitely upscale, from scratch restaurant quality, but hey, Olive Garden gave it a good shot!

I started this recipe by making a balsamic reduction to put on my sirloin before I grilled it. I admit, this part of the recipe stinks, literally, but open a window in your kitchen and have at it! Making a balsamic reduction is really easy and is a flavorful addition to meals, fresh veggies, and even fruit. If you’ve never made a reduction before the name speaks for itself. All you are doing is reducing a liquid into a sauce-like consistency that would coat the back of a spoon when held sideways. Look for a vinegar that contains only naturally occurring sulfites and no preservatives!

After I made the reduction I trimmed the fat from my sirloin, cut it into chunks, and then used a tenderizer to flatten the sirloin a bit. I did this because it makes it a heck of a lot easier to grill, and the acidity from the balsamic reduction will work wonders in all of the little nooks the tenderizer impresses on the meat. Once I had all of the chunks cut and thinned, I GENEROUSLY sprinkled the meat with garlic powder, freshly cracked black pepper, salt, and whole wheat white flour. I really emphasize the word generously because if you don’t season your meat correctly, this dish will be lacking in the flavor department as far as the meat is concerned. You want to see a coating of garlic powder and black pepper on every piece of meat. This will ensure that your meat is not under flavored.

I used a cast iron grill pan to “grill” the sirloin, and it worked wonderfully. When I use cast iron, I always heat it up over medium heat in advance. Once it is nice and hot, I melt some ghee (clarified butter) on the pan, and reduce the heat to low. A temperature that is too high will increase the chances of sticking and that is never a good thing. I would recommend NOT to purchase a grill pan with a non-stick surface because some of the chemicals they use on the non-stick cookware are highly questionable. By using cast iron and a pat of ghee, there is no need for any additional chemicals to prevent sticking. If you’ve tried cast iron and had problems with sticking in the past, don’t give up! Reduce your heat and your sticking problems will probably be resolved.

Back to the sirloin! 🙂 Once my sirloin was on the grill I gave each piece a nice drizzle of balsamic reduction, and ohhhhh they were so sticky and delicious! Once I drizzled the balsamic on I turned every piece to get a nice coating and allowed each piece to cook for 2-3 minutes per side. You should have a really sticky, flavorful outside and a tender inside. It doesn’t get much more flavorful then this!

 

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For the Alfredo sauce, I knew I didn’t want to over-do the bleu cheese. I purchased a serious block of bleu cheese a few weeks ago, and I knew I wanted to make an Alfredo sauce with it. The only thing is, my bleu cheese is powerful. It is super stinky and super tangy so a little bit goes a long way. I only used about an ounce of bleu cheese in the recipe, but some bleu cheese’s are different. If your not getting a good hint of bleu cheese in your sauce, go ahead and add more.

*If you are looking for a high quality, relatively inexpensive cast iron grill I highly recommend the brand Lodge! Here is a link to the grill pan I used.

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Whole Wheat Pie Crust

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wwpiecrust Whole wheat pie crust is one of the easiest switches to make if you are trying to eat less refined grains. When I discovered whole wheat pastry flour I was ecstatic! What rock had I been hiding under for all of my life, thinking the only pastry flour available was the refined white version? Soon I started using whole wheat pastry flour in most of my baking recipes (I just used it this weekend for cupcakes and nobody even questioned it being whole wheat!) and I love it! While I don’t do a ton of overly sweet baking, I do make quiche, and other savory tarts often. I got this recipe right off the Bob Red’s Mill whole wheat pastry flour bag and it is simple, quick, and tastes great! Thank you Bob Red’s Mill!

The Easiest Way to Make Your Own Pie or Tart Dough

Let me just throw this out there, making your own dough is quick and easy to begin with. However, the best way I’ve found is using a food processor, or Ninja. I have the Ninja Master prep and it has made dough making quicker then ever! If you have a food processor, you can use the same method. Here it is:

  • Put flour and salt in processor
  • Cut chunks of cold butter, throw in processor
  • Pulse processor a few quick times
  • Slowly add cold water until you see everything is wet and coming together
  • YOUR DONE!

This only takes about a minute or two and you have your very own whole wheat pie crust!

Store Bought Pie Crusts = Health Nightmare!

I should also mention, those store bought crusts are health nightmares.With ingredients like enriched and bleached flour, partially hydrogenated oils (aka TRANS FATS), and preservatives BANNED in other countries they are not a product I would ever purchase. Not only do they contain all of these hidden ingredients but  because they are usually frozen products there is no reason Pillsbury or any other company should be adding this stuff to their products. Any company using ingredients that are known to be dangerous will not see a dollar out of my pocket.. period!

Toddler Lunch Roundup 3

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 The Lunches


Day 17: Whole wheat apple and oat pancakes, mixed fresh fruit, carrot sticks, and scrambled eggs

Day 18 (Not Pictured): Lunch on the Go! Included my Fruity Nutty Oat Squares, organic cheese stick, and strawberries

Day 19: Maple-Dijon grilled salmon, skillet red potatoes, and “Green” Apple Pie Smoothie in Squooshi

Day 20: Homemade Tomato Soup, grilled cheese on Ezekiel bread, carrot sticks, and strawberries

Day 21: Mushroom “meatball” over whole wheat spaghetti, frozen carrot cake pop, mango, blueberries, and a red palm superfood cookie

Day 22: Raspberries, grapes, white bean taco, avocado, and kalamata olives

Day 23: Carrots, strawberries, raspberries, dye-free jelly beans, mushroom and eggplant over whole wheat penne tossed in my classic creamy Alfredo and Herb Sauce

Day 24:Red plum, raspberries, mayo-free egg salad on Ezekiel Bread, popcorn, and cheddar roosters

Day 25: Dippy egg, homemade shoestring fries, Ezekiel Bread, eggplant and mushrooms, and strawberries

Day 26: shredded whole chicken, potato and zucchini cake, carrot sticks, steamed asparagus, and homemade ranch

The Best Natural Baby Products

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BabyProducts

There is nothing more infuriating then reading the label on a baby product, only to find out it is loaded with chemicals, artificial stuff, and preservatives. There are harmful chemicals lurking everywhere in the baby market, even in products used by hospitals and pushed by pediatricians. I will never forget the day the pediatrician convinced me my baby would never survive without Vitamin D drops so I went to Target and purchased the only brand there. When I got home I realized it contained artificial dyes and polysorbate 80, a controversial preservative. I was furious Enfamil would be using these harmful ingredients in Vitamin D drops of all things!


I’ve compiled a list of some of the best natural products I have found for my kids, from trusted brands choosing not to use harmful ingredients. I’m covering everything from wash, to feeding products, to sunscreen, to Vitamin D drops so keep on reading!

 

The Best Natural Baby Products

1. Shea Moisture Baby

I can’t say enough about their products. The smell alone is enough for me to keep me coming back for more! Every time I smell their baby wash I think of how small Christian once was. To be honest I’ve been using their baby lotion for about 2 years now, and it has even helped lighten some of the stretch marks I had from being pregnant. All 3 of my boys currently wash with this daily and that is what puts it at the top of the list.

2. California Baby

I also found California Baby to be a great brand, using a really gentle formula for their washes. They have a huge line of products and have products that are unscented for even the most sensitive skin. I liked their calendula version the best out of their line, and we also used their conditioner for my son with thicker hair. I have to say, this wash will not lather hardly at all, but because it is so gentle I understand why. It still left my kids smelling distinctive and clean. They have everything from powder to sunscreen and also have a trial pack to see what you like. The price tag is big for this one, but it lasts forever! I think I only went through 1 and a half bottles in the first year of my son’s life.

 3. Lavanila Baby

 

I use the Lavanila line myself and LOVE their deodorant! I have routinely used their perfume and lotions for a few years now, and their baby lotion is just as amazing. I can’t even put into words how good their products smell, and the best part, they are 100% natural! This lotion is super hydrating yet gentle. This would make a great shower gift because it is not a brand people are that familiar with. The price point is spot on, and the product is wonderful!

4. Seventh Generation

When it comes to a chlorine free diaper, Seventh Generation is a great option. We used their diapers for quite some time and they are just like all the other disposables, without all the chemicals and chlorine. The best part, Seventh Generation runs coupons frequently so check around for those! They aren’t overpriced and I thought they compared to Huggies. Overall, I was always very happy with their diapers and wipes!

4. Child Life Essentials Vitamin D Drops

If you are breastfeeding and choose to go the Vitamin D route as suggested, Child Life Essentials has drops without the artificial dyes and questionable preservatives. Here are the ingredients in their drops compared to Enfamil’s:

Child Life Essentials:

Vitamin D3, Organic Virgin Olive Oil, Natural Mixed Berry Flavor

Enfamil:

Glycerin, Water, Polysorbate 80, Citric acid, Vitamin D3, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Hydroxide, Artificial Flavor, Artificial Caramel Color

The ingredients in Enfamil are just ridiculous, shame on them for using their already popular name to push a Vitamin D drop loaded with chemicals and artificial stuff!

6. Burt’s Bees

When it come to sunscreen there are many options out there for a more natural approach. I LOVE this sunscreen stick that contains no fragrances or parabens. The active ingredients are zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, which are common among sunscreens. Burt’s Bees also has a whole line of baby washes, and while I can’t say I’ve tried them, they are worth checking out. Also, when this stick says “No Mess” they really do mean NO MESS! I have not found a sunscreen that is easier to apply then this one. When it comes to putting sunscreen on a baby’s face the last thing you need is a messy product paired with a squirmy baby. With this nifty stick you will never have to go through that experience again!

7. Honest Company

I haven’t tried their diapers, but I have heard great things about them! Honest Company is awesome if you are looking for stuff for the whole family plus your home. They have everything from cleaning supplies to teethers! I love their mission and am totally on board with their silicon teethers, that are free of harmful chemicals that no baby should be chewing on. When your in the market for something your baby will be regularly putting in their mouth, of course you want to go the natural way!

8. Evenflo Glass Bottles

There is something I just don’t trust about plastics. Mounting research is showing even BPA free plastics leach chemicals into liquids so I don’t want to take that chance. Although my youngest wouldn’t take a bottle we were prepared to use glass because it is a safer alternative to plastic, especially given the fact that most people heat formula for babies before they drink it. These bottles are priced really reasonably and are a lot safer then plastic! There are also a lot of other brands selling glass now including Dr. Browns and Avent, likely because they know plastics are harmful and consumers are becoming more conscious of that.

9. Innobaby

Again, I don’t trust plastics. If you follow me on Instagram you might have seen this absolutely adorable bus plate by Innobaby. When I was on the search for a stainless steel baby plate for my youngest, I saw this and had to have it! It comes with a lid that makes it even better because it is easy to store food in the plate. Less containers equal less mess so I’m on board there! Innobaby also makes stainless steel sippy cups and a few other food related products. Check them out if you are on the market for stainless steel feeding items!

I would love to hear from other mom’s using natural products! If you love something tell me about it in the comments so we can share the natural goodness!

 

 

 

Toddler Lunch: Day 21 (Unrefined Superfoods)

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Today Theodore had mushroom “meatballs” on whole wheat spaghetti (i’m working on that recipe now), a frozen “carrot cake” pop, mango, blueberries, and one of my Red Palm Superfood Cookies. I have to say this is a lunch packed with nutrients and lasting energy for a growing toddler who is on the go.

The Cookie Struggle


Of course he went for the cookie first, which I feel fine about, I would too! There was a bit of a struggle after that because he wanted another cookie. I calmly told him no, and took the rest of the cookies out of his sight. He cried a bit more and walked away from his lunch. I don’t make a big deal about food issues like this because I know later in the day when the cookie struggle passes he will get hungry and come back to his food, which is exactly what happened. Right now he is sitting at the table eating the rest of his food.

On a side not we are going away for the Memorial Day Weekend and I am looking for some real food marshmallows. Anyone know of a good brand?