Fun Pizza Bites

Fun Pizza Bite

A little while back, I posted about pizza pockets. Here's a fun take on those. Get out your cookie cutters,  and cut two of the same shape out. Spread one with sauce and then put on toppings. I would roll the dough out thinner next time, I was a bit rushed that day and also would use mozzarella cheese rather than American, hey I was using what was in the house. Top with the second shape using a fork to seal the edges. Bake until  a light golden brown, time will vary depending on your pizza recipe.  Yummy! Great for picky eaters.

Wilton 2304-1050 101-Piece Cookie Cutter Set

Simple, triangle turnover-no cookie cutter

Yummy !

Creamy Mac N Cheese Part 1

Saw a recipe on pinterest for macaroni and cheese recipe that boils the pasta in milk. Boiling pasta in milk sounds good, doesn't it? I had some time, so decided to try it, but I adapted the recipe a bit. Googling it, turns up quite a few versions, which are all pretty much the same, I used this one:
http://heavenlyhomemakers.com/high-five-recipe-creamy-mac-and-cheese
The idea is that the starch that's released from the noodles thickens the sauce and the milk makes it creamy and if you ask me, evaporation helps to make it thicken.

I filled up pot with milk, added the pasta, cooked it for 15+ minutes (pasta wasn't cooked after 15 minutes, I think it took more like 20 minutes for me). Didn't have shredded cheese, so tore up American Cheese Slices and added that, till it seemed thick and creamy enough.

Creamy Mac N Cheese
with bad lighting, but I think you get the idea of the cheesiness and it's potential awesomeness,
if  you don't find it too sweet like I did

So here was my take on it: Not bad, a little too sweet for me. Prefer my version which has a similar effect with less work and much faster.


This Version:                                                                            My Version:

didn't like, too sweet                                                                 Flavor is not too sweet, just right
too long to make                                                                       Whips up pretty fast
stir constantly 10-15 min or in my case even longer                 Not stirring pasta constantly

              some people may like it                                                                 I like it


Since this is similar to my version, I think I will stick to my version because a) I like it better and b) it's quicker (at least it seems like it-didn't actually time it to the second)

Stay Tuned for Part 2 with my version-coming soon-I call mine Macaroni with Cheese Sauce.

Here it is Mac N Cheese Part 2

Back to School Making Lunch Fun

Good Morning,

Some places have started school already and some schools don't start until after Labor day. I've started my semester and the holidays are coming up, so we might just be getting busier over here. The next few posts will be school related post unless they aren't for some reason that I currently don't know and that I may or may not reveal to my readers.

Today's is about Making Lunch Fun

1. Use cookie cutter's to cut out sandwiches-use the leftovers for bread crumbs or stuffing. You can use cutters specifically made for sandwiches or use cookie cutters that you already own. I like the sandwich ones' because I feel there's less waste of the bread with those or less bread to put to another use. If you'r going to be using your own cookie cutters and saving the bread for another use, I recommend cutting the bread before filling it-no one wants peanut butter and jelly flavored breadcrumbs.



I love these, I think they're so cute and would be great for picky eaters
              my favorite one of them all-    


2. Pack jokes with your kids lunches that's sure to put a smile on their face

Here are some sites to help you out:

The Gunny Sack
Caps Creations
Pinterest-Lunch Box Notes
Spoonful

3. If you use paper bags you can decorate the bags


You can make Hello Kitty lunch bags:

Buy white lunch bags
    


and print out the picture from the link below.


Hello Kitty Picture

You might need to enlarge the picture to fit the width your bag.

You can either use my trace method to trace the picture onto the bag or you can cut out the bow, the eyes and the nose, (whiskers are optional just because you might find it easier to draw your own). Color the bow red-this is something your child can do, unless you'd like it to be a surprise.

Paste on the bow, eyes and nose in appropriate spots. Draw or paste on your whiskers.

To make this a craft that your child can do:
Mom should use the trace method to trace on the picture and cut out the pieces. Have your child color the pieces and match the pieces, to mom's tracing. While this way is a little more effort, your kid can be involved and it's good for their development.

The trace method can be used for any picture and doesn't necessarily have to be a white lunch bag.

While we're not going for party bags over here-it does help to have an idea of what the final product is supposed to look like-so I found this picture, which while not quite the look were going for it is similar and if you want to use her suggestions and dress yours up a bit. Feel free to knock yourself out (that's not supposed to sound rude-but it might come across that way-sorry if it comes across that way to you).

Source: Presently Pink
while I believe these are quite nice,
the whiskers are a little too long for my taste
and for lunch bags we can forgo the glitter and the tissue paper.

So I cropped this picture to give you an idea of what it's supposed to look like
-sorry no little girls over here to make this for and

tada-aren't they cute

You can also use white lunch bags to make snowman, draw or cut out a scarf, draw or cut out a carrot for the nose, you can add real buttons or draw on some, be creative. 

You can also make puppet lunch bags or Funny Face lunch bags

For the puppet lunch bags you need to lift the flap and color it red. Then add your own eyes and ears, you can make it be anything you want, a dog, a cat etc. You can also funny face stickers and make funny faces on the lunch bag.

Here are some sites with great ideas and some are can be quite appropriate for different times of the year.

Family Crafts

DLTK_KIDS-this one's got a ton of ideas

Enchanted Learning

Child Drama

Wow! I think this post should keep some of you super moms out there busy, er enjoying yourself or the time off before school starts with your kiddies or busy while you miss your kiddies who have started school.