These “Mini Muffins” taste just like cinnamon & sugar doughnut holes, they’re quick and easy to make and a real hit with kids and adults alike! They’re easy to grab when you’re running out the door for a quick breakfast on the go, or just a yummy snack. They’re bite size perfection all around; just make sure to remember the nutmeg, it’s the secret ingredient that makes these donut muffins so irresistible!

What You’ll Need:

•  1/2 cup white sugar
•  1/4 cup margarine, melted
•  3/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
•  1/2 cup milk
•  1 teaspoon baking powder
•  1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup margarine, melted
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Baking Directions:

1.  Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease 24 mini-muffin cups.
2. Mix 1/2 cup sugar, 1/4 cup margarine, and nutmeg in a large bowl. Stir in the milk, then mix in the baking powder and flour until just combined. Fill the prepared mini muffin cups about half full.
3. Bake in the preheated oven until the tops are lightly golden, 15 to 20 minutes.
4. While muffins are baking, place 1/4 cup of melted margarine in a bowl. In a separate bowl, mix together 1/2 cup of sugar with the cinnamon. Remove muffins from their cups, dip each muffin in the melted margarine, and roll in the sugar-cinnamon mixture. Let cool and serve.

•  PREP 15 mins
•  COOK 15 mins
•  READY IN 40 mins
• Cook’s Note – Use either butter or margarine.

Recipe source: allrecipes.com

As we are approaching the last few weeks of summer I can’t help but think back to a few months ago. It was around the time that the weather started warming up and preparations for the upcoming summer were starting to be made (wow, where does the time go?)  Scheduling trips, signing up for camp, shopping for a new summer wardrobe; one way or another we were busy preparing.

With preparing comes anticipating. So it goes. Children anticipating their summer days of fun, and parents anticipating how the summer would shape up. Perhaps some were looking forward to quiet time at home with the older children away at sleep away camp, others were anticipating family bonding time with everyone being around, traveling together or perhaps a weekend getaway with their spouse). Whatever the plan there was definitely anticipation in the air. And as June came nearer, summer anticipation was in a frenzy.

I actually find anticipation to be more exciting than the event. You see life is an ongoing cycle, moving quickly from one phase to the next. As it is moving we yearn to be moving as well, while we hope to be changing and growing for the better as we tackle life’s challenges. Part of moving forward is anticipating the next happening in our lives. Whether it be the next season, holiday, vacation, special occasion; the constant flow of change is what keeps our lives fun and exciting.

Before we know it, camp will be over and we’ll be shopping for school supplies and uniforms, (some of us already have 😉 And even though summer seems to be the most fun part of the year, and it certainly is in many ways, it is merely a piece in the puzzle of each year. Most children seem happy to shop for school supplies and get ready to move up a grade.  This fits in with the way we are as humans. No matter how good a certain time period may be, we anticipate moving forward to the next stage in our lives. Part of the excitement of summer is the fact that we’re entering a new phase.  If we had summer year round it would hardly be exciting and would probably get pretty old really fast.

Either way, summer is fun, there’s no denying. It’s just good to remember that every part of the year is fun in its own way, and an important part in our lives.

In the meantime I’m off to catch some sun before she takes her vacation till next summer.

Instead of buying pricy energy bars, fuel your fitness routine with this great-tasting homemade energy bar recipe. Whether you use these energy bars as a pre-workout snack or to refuel and recover post-workout, they’ll give your body what it needs. Best of all, you can make this energy bar recipe in minutes.

This energy bar is also a great snack idea for your kiddies; especially when you’re on the run. They are healthy, filling, and delicious. They are also easy to grab and store. The perfect combo for your summer day trips!

Ingredients

• 1 cup lightly salted dry-roasted peanuts, coarsely chopped
• 1/2 cup crispy brown rice cereal
• 1/2 cup old-fashioned or quick-cooking rolled oats
• 1/3 cup raw pumpkin seeds or sunflower seeds
• 1/4 cup dried blueberries
• 6 dried apricots, diced
• 3 tablespoons mini chocolate chips
• 5 tablespoons brown rice syrup or light corn syrup

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 325°F. Line the bottom and sides of an 8-inch-square baking pan with foil and coat with cooking spray.
2. Combine peanuts, rice cereal, oats, pumpkin (or sunflower) seeds, blueberries, apricots and chocolate chips in a large bowl. Drizzle with syrup and gently stir until thoroughly combined. Spread in the prepared baking pan. Coat another piece of foil with cooking spray and place on the bar mixture, sprayed-side down. Place another pan on top and press firmly to compress the mixture. (Pressing before baking helps the bars hold together after baking.) Remove top pan and foil.
3. Bake until just beginning to turn golden at the edges, 20 to 24 minutes (metal pan) or 30 to 35 minutes (glass pan). Cool in the pan on a wire rack for 10 minutes.
4. Carefully lift the baked square out of the pan by holding the edges of the foil and place on a cutting board, leaving the foil underneath. Cut in half, then cut each half crosswise into 6 bars. Let cool completely before lifting the bars off the foil.

Nutrition

Per bar: 167 calories; 9 g fat ( 2 g sat , 4 g mono ); 0 mg cholesterol; 19 g carbohydrates; 6 g added sugars; 5 g protein; 2 g fiber; 28 mg sodium; 175 mg potassium.

Carbohydrate Servings: 1

Exchanges: 1/2 starch, 1/2 carbohydrate (other), 2 fat

Recipe Source: eatingwell.com

Why does bedtime have to take so long? You would think it would be quick since all it involves is getting into bed. Pretty simple, right? Wrong! Oh, so wrong! Bedtime is one of the longest processes of each day with many tired and frustrated parents caught in the thick of it.

For some reason, most children don’t like going to bed. I say most and not all because there are a select few who actually do like going to bed. I’m not sure why and have yet to meet one, but I have heard that they exist and just advise those parents to count their blessings daily and make sure to give those special children an extra portion in the will. After all they totally deserve it as they have spared their parents much heartache at bedtime and have therefore helped Mom and Dad will into old age.

In any case, the majority of kids out there do not like going to bed. It’s so hard for adults to relate to because for most of us, it is the best part of our day! Getting into your cozy bed with a good book or TV show, there’s just nothing like it. When all is quiet in the house and all little people are off in la-la land; it’s just you and Hubby in your world once again, does it really get any better than this?

It seems that children are afraid of missing out on something when they go to sleep. I actually can’t blame the kids who go to bed at 6 o clock sharp every night. They are definitely missing out on things. For starters, they miss seeing a sunset. They’re also may miss out seeing older siblings who arrive home from school late. They almost always miss interacting with Dad after work.  I actually feel sorry for these kids. They have every right not to want to go to bed before their play date has even been picked up from their house!

No matter what time is bedtime, kids seem to be resistant to it, and this is very hard on us parents. We have finally managed to clean up some of the toys with our children so they learn responsibility for cleaning up their mess. We have figured out what to make for dinner, which is never an easy feat. We have made dinner, also not easy, and served it. Let’s not forget about cleaning up dinner (a chore best left for after “the kids are in bed”). Then we manage to get all the kids to get undressed and in the bath. We hope the older ones wash up well, and beg all the kids to please brush at least some of their teeth and not just suck the toothpaste off the toothbrush! Then there’s reading time.  Each child chooses a book and lucky me, I get to read it, again for the 5^th night in a row. Finally it’s time for bed, which should be the easiest and best part of the whole routine, but, guess what?

Jeremy is hungry. Hungry??? How could that be? He just ate 6 hotdogs and 3 ears of corn on the cob and he’s only 3 and half!  Stacey is hungry as well, which makes more sense since she refused to eat anything for dinner. “We have nothing good to eat in this house!” I guess everything’s relative since Jeremy didn’t seem to feel that way. You warned Stacey many times that this is dinner and after that, the kitchen is closed. You feel horrible to deny any of your “hungry “children of a bedtime snack. How can I let my child go to bed starving? So you compromise and bring them cereal in a bag to their beds. Next, they’re thirsty! Well obviously! And so on and so on…this one has a belly ache, and that one is scared because he heard weird noises, I mean it just doesn’t end. You are trying to hold it together as best as you can and praying in between going in to each kid that this will be the last one calling for the night, but at some point, you just can’t do it anymore. That’s the point where the kids know, Mommy means business, and they abort their plan and finally go to sleep.

Yay!!!! It’s shocking and overwhelmingly exciting when you realize that they have finally all dozed off. It’s as if you’ve been liberated, and can’t decide what to do first. Should I eat? Clean up? Relax? Shower? Make calls? Finish up some work? Go to bed early?…….. I mean the options are endless. You are in such a happy state that you almost forget how hard you just worked to get there. And maybe because you just worked so hard it’s that much better. Who knows?

I really wonder why bedtime has to take so long. They say that good things only come through hard work. And while getting our kids to bed is certainly very rewarding to us parents, who now have our free time, there is another “good” part of it. Peeking in on those sleeping little angels who look so innocent and pure is such a moving and pleasurable experience. It almost makes you want wake ‘em up!

Well…almost….!

Ever wonder what the big hype is around coffee?

What is it about coffee that enamors most adults?

Is it the delicious smell and taste?

Is it the soothing feeling of a warm drink that has been slightly cooled with milk? So unlike tea,we can sip it immediately, and not have to wait 3 hours before daring to touch it to our lips?

Is it because it’s so easy to make, but always looks impressive?

Is it because it’s a great low calorie substitute for dessert, a snack, or even breakfast?

Or is it really all about the energy boost?

I can actually say, as someone who is allergic to caffeine, and therefore a decaf drinker, that I too get that excited feeling when I’m offered a coffee.  I really don’t believe that caffeine is what makes coffee so attractive, although there definitely is a certain awakening feeling when one drinks a cup of coffee; whether decaf or regular. Not because of the caffeine per se but because we have all be trained to believe that coffee is something that wakes us up and keeps us alert.

Being a coffee drinker is like being a part of an unspoken elite club. The club is exclusively for adults and there is something grown up about being a part of it.

There are often mornings when my husband and I allow our children to have a coffee with breakfast. When one of my friends learned about this, she was completely horrified. She felt it was a boundary that shouldn’t be crossed. When I tried to understand the reasoning behind her reaction. She said, “Coffee is mine, I would never share it with my children.” I totally understood her point. This is exactly one of the attractive points of coffee, it’s exclusivity for adults.

It is interesting because there are definitely many adults who do not drink coffee at all. It is almost like another club; the club of “non- coffee drinkers”. These adults are often greeted with shock when they announce that they do not drink coffee. Coffee drinkers cannot understand that someone could not like coffee, and would voluntarily choose not to drink it. It just doesn’t make sense.

There are those who say coffee isn’t healthy, but then there are those who say coffee is very healthy. So this is just unclear, like it is with many things. For example: Too much sunlight is bad for your health but too little is equally unhealthy.  Milk products may not be good for you, yet it is so important to drink milk and it is essential for bone health. Same goes for animal products. I think the only thing agreed upon that is completely good for us is exercise and of course it requires lots of effort and hard work.

My boss always says that he must make sure to be well stocked on coffee because, “No coffee, No work.” There is something about coffee in the work place. If you walked into an office and smelled freshly baked chocolate chip cookies you would probably think that aroma is out of place. But if you walked into an office and didn’t smell coffee you wonder what’s missing from this office? Is this a place where I would be comfortable working?

All in all I think it’s certain that coffee is a universal staple beverage very much enjoyed by most adults around the world. My Mom doesn’t even consider herself awake in the morning until she’s had her “first cup”.

What’s your take on the hype about coffee?

I’ll check back in to see your responses once I’ve gone to make myself a cup 🙂

Summer is here! It’s time to vacation. Let’s make all the calls, book the place, pack up the car, and be on our way!!!!

During the drive there, we’ll play traveling games, stop for a picnic, and then make sure the kids nap so that we can all arrive refreshed and ready to go….

We’ll quickly unpack, and call our new place home. Jump in the pool, and get the grill going. Dinner and baths and tuck the kids in to bed. Then it’s time for Mom and Dad to relax and have some quiet time.

We all sleep till 8, and then start our new day with a healthy breakfast and a quick swim. Then we pack up and out for some hiking and fun. Another great day on our summer vacation!

This all sounds like a dream! Perfectly planned and played out. I didn’t even hear about any kids fighting…..

Well, that’s because it IS a dream. It’s not real. It’s fun and ideal, but almost impossible. Let’s take a look at what a real summer vacation with the kids looks like.

Summer is here! It’s time to vacation. Let’s make all the calls, and then keep making calls, and then make some more calls. This place is too far, and this price is not right. This place seems so weird, and this one doesn’t have a pool!!! So let’s keep making calls while the hours slip by. The kids are all bored, they have nooothing to do! They’re screaming and fighting and complaining too.  After 3 days of investigating, we’ve finally found a place. It doesn’t sound perfect, and doesn’t fulfill all of our requirements, but we just gotta get out of here already before somebody loses a leg!

Next morning at 7 we pack up the car; each kid trying to be helpful and offering lots of suggestions. We’re holding it together, and keeping it cool, and by 11:15 we’re pulling out; not bad considering last year it took us 5 hours to pack up and out. Trying to look at the bright side here!

We attempt to play I spy, over the baby’s wailing. It’s semi-successful. We make an emergency bathroom stop, and figure we’ll eat lunch once we’re already pulled over. So what if it’s in a crowded gas station, with no seats to be found?

We finally arrive at our hotel a la dump, and try not to let the excited kids in on the fact that we are majorly disappointed. We head to the pool after hours of unpacking and getting everyone into bathing suits.  We enjoy being in the water, even if it’s only for a half hour; the pool closes once it gets dark out.

It’s too late to barbeque so we eat PB&J sandwiches for dinner. Bathe all the kids and tuck them into bed. Now for some quiet time for Mom and Dad to relax…. actually, change of plans, the baby just woke up with a rash all over her body, oh well, there goes relaxation time. 🙁

The next morning all the kids are up at 6, jumping on our heads! We decide to skip the swimming and just head out. We give each kid a chocolate bar in the car for breakfast. My husband and I decide to pass on the chocolate and on breakfast all together. At this point it’s just easier. We’re headed out for another exciting day of kids screaming, arriving late to places, and getting very little accomplished!

After our week of “fun” we arrive home and are the talk of the town for the next few days. All of the neighborhood kids wish they could go on vacations as great as ours. After all, we give our kids chocolate bars for breakfast!!

With its tender, delicious, & sweet BBQ goodness, this recipe is a winner for the whole family. We’re cooking this in a crock pot so it’s great for summer days when you’re heading out for a family trip! Set it up in the morning, before you go and when you get back, dinner is ready! Not only is this simple, it’s also a huge hit with kids. Trust me, your kids will ask for it again and again.

What You’ll Need:

• 1 -2 lb boneless skinless chicken breast
• 1 (18 ounce) jar of your favorite barbecue sauce (I love K.C. Masterpiece!)
• 1 medium sweet onion, sliced
• 4 -6 hamburger buns

Cooking Directions:

1. Remove all visible fat from the chicken and toss it in the crock pot.
2. Place the onion slices on top of the chicken.
3. Pour the barbecue sauce over top.
4. You may not need the entire jar, just enough to cover the chicken.
5. Cook it on LOW for 8 hours or until the chicken is nice and tender.
6. Shred the chicken with a fork and knife; scoop the mixture onto the bottom buns and top it with the top buns.
7. You can also leave the breasts whole and eating it that way.

Serve with coleslaw or salad & Enjoy!

Recipe source: Food.com

It’s so hard to juggle it all!

I wake up every morning at 7. Not sure if I’m hoping that at least some of the kids are up so that I don’t have to spend the next 15 minutes trying to drag them out of bed or if I’d rather the house be silent so that I can have a few minutes of quiet before the mad rush begins.

Either way, it eventually gets crazy. “I can’t find my socks!” “Casey’s taking forever in the bathroom and I need to get in there already!” “Where’s my math book?” “I can’t be late again today!” “Mom, you know I hate tuna sandwiches!” The loudness and complaining continue until…. they’re all gone 🙂 I can’t believe that I have witnessed this open miracle once again. Somehow I got all of the kids out to school! They were fed, dressed, had lunch and snacks all packed up, each got a kiss, and…. a late note. Well, at least they all got out, even if it was a few minutes, or hours late!

Ok, now it’s time to straighten up the house, jump on the treadmill, shower and get dressed, make a few calls, throw in a load of laundry, do the breakfast dishes, pack my own lunch for work, and get out the door in…..exactly 27 minutes, darn!” Is my clock broken? How could it be so late already?” 38 minutes later I am running out the door after quickly straightening up, making one of my calls, throwing in a load of laundry, and putting on the closest outfit I can find. “Didn’t I wear that yesterday?” Oh well. No time for clean clothing. Gotta run!

I make it to work only 12 minutes late, not too bad! Make myself a cup of coffee, and throw myself into my work. Hoping that all is well with the kids, and that I’m not gonna get any phone calls saying, “Hi Mom, I forgot my English report at home, and today is the last day to hand it in.” or, “Hi Mommy, I’m not feeling so well, my belly is making funny noises.”

On the days that I receive such a call, I quickly call my husband for help with a solution. After taking many deep breathes, I get back to work. Next thing I know, it’s time for me to finish up what I’m doing and run to do pick up.

I’m back at home with the little ones, and trying to come up with a plan for dinner. “Think, what is yummy, healthy, easy, and something everyone in the family likes?” Answer number 1- Nothing, Answer number 2- Nothing, and answer number 3- Nothing.

I end up making meatballs and spaghetti, and a big salad. Is it yummy? Well I think it is. It’s relatively easy, and the big salad covers healthy. So what’s left? Does everyone in the family like it? For the most part, yes, and for those who don’t well that’s just too bad. Yeah, too bad on me, right? I either have to listen to them complaining about how hungry they are and there’s nothing in this house to eat, or I have to spend time making something else for them.

Once dinner and homework are out of the way its bath and bedtime. Yet another busy and crazy time at home. Somehow, it all gets done, even if there are some crying spells, and tantrums. What can I do? I just can’t hold back my tears or control my meltdowns!

Finally, the house is all quiet. I sit down with a cup of tea and breathe a sigh of relief. Ahhhh……. I made it through another day. The second open miracle I get to witness each day. When my husband gets home from work he goes in to kiss each kid while they’re sleeping. I follow him in to their rooms and see those precious souls angelically sleeping. There’s nothing like children when they’re asleep. They’re so innocent and loveable. In all seriousness, as challenging as the life of a mother may be, I wouldn’t trade it for anything!

Here’s an easy and fun snack for the whole family. It’s a great project to do with the kids on a quiet Sunday afternoon. This recipe is traditional, as opposed to the wacky new “Comet Corn”, or futuristic caramel corn made with liquid nitrogen, appearing at this year’s Minnesota State Fair, and it’s best served warm!

Easy Caramel Popcorn

What You’ll Need:

• 10 lg. marshmallows
• ½ c. butter
• ½ c. brown sugar
• 4 qt. popped corn

Cooking Directions:

• Bring marshmallows, brown sugar, and butter to a boil.
• Pour over popped corn.

Let cool and Enjoy!

Recipe Source: cooks.com

It’s so important to go on vacation with my friends.It’s my time to step out of my reality for a few days and relinquish all my usual responsibilities.

As full time mothers and wives, we need a special time and place to be able to get away and unwind.  We look forward to it all year!

We stay at a resort on the water, and alternate sitting by the pool and sea.  We spend our days tanning, swimming, eating, laughing, playing games, chatting, and laughing some more. There are no pressures and time is elusive.

No dishes, laundry, appointments, or phone calls, just relaxation and quiet. It is truly a dream come true!

When I go away I can be totally selfish and do whatever I want. If I want to sleep in, I can. There is no one counting on me for anything, nowhere I need to be, and no noise!

When I go down to dinner I only have one person to worry about, ME 🙂

I can relax with a book by the pool. I can take in the view and feel the sun.

I can exercise whenever I want. I can go out whenever I want. I can even be in a bad mood, whenever I want.

I find it to be a wonderful experience for the family back home as well. They are forced to function without Mommy. They usually rise to the challenge beautifully and feel proud of themselves. It surprises them to learn just how capable they are on their own (with Dad’s guidance of course). It helps them to become more independent and take on even more responsibly.

I highly recommend going on vacation for any Mother who can swing it. I look at it as a great investment for the whole family. Because after all, when Mommy gets what she needs, everyone gets what they need!