Mini Chocolate Chip Banana Muffins

Mmmmm we've made these mini chocolate chip banana muffins quite a few times already and they are always such a hit! Probably because of the chocolate chips but I'll keep thinking maybe it's the banana :)

Here's what you need to make these yummy little things:

Makes 24 mini muffins

• 1 1/2 cups of flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 3 bananas, mashed
• 1/4 cup honey
• 1 tablespoon vanilla
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 egg
• 1/2 cup plain greek yogurt
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1/2 cup chocolate chips

First, get yourself a cute little helper :) - Then preheat your oven to 350 degrees.

Then mash your bananas separately then combine all ingredients. I've mentioned before that I don't seperate the wet and dry and I've never had a problem. I know that is so against any bakers rule, but hey, I do what I want :)

Put the mixture evenly into a 24 mini muffin tin - like this one. 

Bake for 12-15 minutes or until a toothpick or fork comes out clean

Enjoy!!

recipe adapted from here

*linking up with Lindsays Sweet World & Our Pretty Little Girls & The Blended Blog


xo,
Lizzie

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Zucchini & Carrot Muffins

Happy Wednesday! I just noticed I said Happy Wednesday, correction, it is Thursday, LOL

I'm here today to share a super yummy, kind of healthy, recipe for zucchini & carrot muffins.  My kiddos helped make these and while they were a little disgusted by the zucchini at first, once they were done, they inhaled them!

I originally found the recipe here but tweaked it to fit what I had and to also lessen the sugar.



Here's how to make these delicious muffins:

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup rolled oats
• 2 1/2 cup all purpose flour
• 1/2 cup sugar + extra for sprinking on the top
• 3/4 cup of pure maple syrup
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 4 eggs
• 3/4 cup coconut oil
• 1 cup grated zucchini
• 1 cup grated carrot
• 1/2 chocolate chips

Instructions:

**I'm going to start by saying most baking recipes always call to mix dry ingredients separate from wet, but I don't do that.  You can if that's what you prefer, I just don't feel the need to dirty another bowl when in my opinion, the outcome is the same :)

First, grab yourself a couple of cute helpers :) Not necessary but will make it more fun (or not, depending on how it goes)

Preheat oven to 350.

Mix all of the above ingredients into 1 large mixing bowl.  Line your muffin tins with liners and spray with Pam. 

Fill each muffin tin about 3/4 full.  I had enough mix to make 18 muffins. Sprinkle a little sugar over each.

Bake for 25-30 minutes.  You will know they are ready when you put a fork in and it comes out clean. 

Seriously, these are so so good and an easy way to sneak some veggies into your kids, even if there's chocolate chips involved :)

Enjoy!

Baked Spaghetti with vodka sauce

Happy Hump Day! I'm not sure how it's already Wednesday - I totally thought this first week back from our mini vaca would drag but it's not seeming so.


I'm sharing today a super easy and super yummy dinner! This isn't the healthiest dish with the cream cheese but it's a household hit nonetheless (and to me that's all that matters these days)

Ingredients:

• 1 lb of spaghetti 
• 1 bar of cream cheese
• 1lb of ground beef
• 1 jar of your favorite vodka sauce
• Parmesan cheese

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Take your cream cheese out so it is soft by the time you are ready for it.

Boil water and cook your spaghetti al dente. While your pasta cooks, brown your ground beef.

Once the spaghetti is done, put it into a large mixing bowl.  Add your cream cheese and mix together well.

Grease a 9 x 13" baking dish and pour a little of your vodka sauce onto the bottom.  Once your meat is browned, add that to another mixing bowl with your remaining vodka sauce.

After you've mixed your noodles and cream cheese together well, place it on top of the bottom layer of vodka sauce in your dish.

Next, pour your meat/sauce mixture all over the noodles.

Sprinkle with parmesan cheese and pop in the oven for 25-30 minutes.

You'll have to let me know if you try it! This is definitely on the regular rotation around here.

Easy No Bake Granola Bars

I love me some good homemade granola bars! I really have been trying to avoid the pre-packaged crap at the grocery stores and this is one food that is so easy to give up buying boxed and make yourself.  I have tried a few different recipes and came up with my own over time.  Brayden loves being my helper when we make these and I'm sure if you asked him, his favorite part would be when we add the chocolate chips :)

So here ya go - a foolproof recipe for yummy homemade granola bars that even your kids will love!

INGREDIENTS:

• 2 ½ cups Rice Krispies 
• 1 ¾ cups rolled oats (I'm sure you could use quick oats too)
• ½ cup Cheerios
• ½ cup honey
• ½ cup brown sugar 
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 2/3 cup peanut butter
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• handful of chocolate chips

First, grease a 9 x 13 pan and set aside. Then add the honey, brown sugar, and salt into a saucepan. Cook over medium low heat until it starts to bubble.  Make sure to mix it good while waiting for it to boil.  Let it boil for about a minute then remove from heat.  Stir in the peanut butter and vanilla extract.

Next add the rice krispies, rolled oats, and cheerios and mix it all together.  Make sure to scrape the bottom to ensure you're getting a good mix.

Once done, spread the mixture into your 9x13 greased pan and pat down (I use a spoon to help spread it around and flatten down a little)  Then add your chocolate chips and slightly press them into the bars.  I put mine in the fridge right away for a couple of hours and then they are ready to go!

I also keep mine in the fridge so they last longer (you can also freeze) but when I go to take one out, I let it sit out for a minute or two so it softens up a bit.  These are so chewy and addictive, I bet you can't eat just one :)  

Best of all my son begs for these once they are ready! They are good for breakfast or an easy, fast snack!

Easy Mac N Cheese...with a secret ingredient

So we loooooove mac n cheese around our house and once I had kids I realized I should probably get them eating a better version than the boxed kind (although that stuff is pretty good)  Homemade mac n cheese is super easy and I have tried several different recipes and ended up combining a little of everything into my own recipe that is amazing, if I do say so myself.

The little secret ingredient that I think makes this extra yummy is….hot sauce! And yep, I use hot sauce and my kids still eat this, it’s not hot at all, it just gives it that extra kick of flavor.

This recipe is so awesome because it is all cooked in 1 saucepan and you never have to drain anything, just mix it all and cook and BAM, a delicious mac n cheese meal is served.

Ingredients:

16oz pasta (I love using wagon wheels, I think it’s the kid in me)

3 ½ cups of water

1 cup of milk

1 teaspoon of flour

½ teasopoon of hot sauce (more if you would like)

8oz bag of cheese of your choice (I like using Colby Jack)

In a saucepan, combine the pasta, water and milk.  Cook on medium-high heat for about 9-12 minutes, until the pasta is cooked.  After the pasta is cooked to your liking, add the flour and hot sauce, stir together and let it all simmer for a few minutes, your sauce should start to thicken, but it won’t be completely thick.  Once you’re done with that, remove from heat and add your cheese.  Stir well and that’s it, all done, all in one pot and in less than 20 minutes.

I hope you enjoy this as much as we do!

Cheesy Quinoa Bake with Broccoli

I love love love quinoa.  This is a household favorite recipe, except for the hubs, he likes it, but it's not one of his faves.  He likes his meals more hearty.

I like that this meal is healthy, easy and kid friendly.  Both of my kids really love this and when that happens it's close to a miracle!

I adapted this recipe from here but changed quite a few things and worked with what I had and didn't use chicken.

Ingredients Needed:

• 1 1/2 cups cooked quinoa
• 1 cup broccoli (fresh or frozen works) 
• 3 tbsp of butter
• 3 tbsp of flour
• 1 cup of milk
• 6 oz of cheese
• Salt & pepper to taste
• Garlic powder
• Dash of crushed red pepper flakes

Preheat oven to 400*

Cook your qunioa while making the cheese sauce.  To make the cheese sauce, melt the butter in a skillet, add the flour, garlic powder, and crushed red pepper and whisk together for 2 minutes.  Slowly add milk and let simmer for about 5 minutes or until it starts to thicken.  Meanwhile I like to cook my broccoli in water either in the microwave or in a small skillet on the stove.  Once the sauce has thickened add the cheese, mix good.  Toss in the broccoli and your cooked quinoa and transfer to a baking dish.

Bake for 20 minutes uncovered.  

This dish is so yummy and I didn't lie, even my kids love it!

Snow Cones from Real Snow!

This weekend Brayden and I made snow cones with the snow from our backyard.  It's something I've been wanting to do with him ever since he discovered eating snow (of course I steer him away from the yellow snow!)  I remember being a kid and always eating the snow, it always tasted so good to me.  Kind of funny to me now that I'm older, but I love watching Brayden do something I use to do.  

This was a really fun experience and I would recommend it to anyone with kids!

 

 Recipe for the snow cone syrup:

• 2/3 cup of sugar
• 1/3 cup of water
• .14 oz (1 packet) of any flavor Kool Aid

Boil the sugar and water then add the Kool Aid - allow it to cool and pour over your snow :)

Healthier Pizza My Toddler Will Eat!

Being a working mom, I am usually flying by the seat of my pants once I get home from work.  I have really been trying to meal plan lately but sometimes I don't.  I made these for dinner the other week and it was so quick and easy but best of all, Brayden actually loved it! Yes - even the zucchini pizzas!

 

Crescent Roll Pizzas

 



I originally saw this recipe on a Pilsbury commercial

You will need:

• Any brand of crescent rolls
• Pizza sauce
• mozeralla cheese

 Just add the ingredients to the crescents and roll up and bake as the crescent roll can indicates - I believe it's 375 degrees for 10-12 minutes

After I made these, I realized I can sneak in veggies without Brayden  knowing (hopefully!) Next time, I'll try adding some onion or mushrooms.

For more really easy recipes using crescent rolls just go here

 Mini Zucchini Pizzas

I saw this recipe on FB from a page I follow - MOMables - she sometimes posts recipes and they always look good - if you are looking for good healthy kid recipes, check her page out and like it!

You will need:

• Zucchini
• Mozeralla cheese
• Pizza sauce

Wash and cut your zucchini into cirlces or whatever thickness you like - add pizza sauce and mozzeralla cheese.  I just throw these in with the crescents and bake for about 7-8 minutes (but keep checking)



I was so happy this was a hit with Brayden, he has become quite the picky eater lately!