Cooking For Busy Moms

Are you a busy Mom?  The summer has come to an end and it’s time to get the kids back in school. That means juggling carpools, PTA meetings, sports, after school activities, and homework help. Do you find yourself looking at the fridge after a busy day thinking “What’s the pizza guy’s number?”

Fast Recipe Ideas For Busy Moms On The Go

If you are on the go, these recipe ideas will fit into your busy life, so put on your aprons busy moms and bring out the spatulas. Wonder Mom is here!  Imagine if you were able to cook once and eat all week.  Imagine the time you’ll save- the meat is cooked, the recipes are planned and on busy nights, you just tie it all together. Everyday cooking for a busy mom can be challenge but with investment cooking you don’t have to worry about what’s on the dinner menu.

Here’s how it works. Prepare more meat than necessary for one meal, and than freeze the remaining meat for use in later recipes. It’s a life-saver on those extra busy days.

For example, brown 10 pounds of ground beef at one time fo a Hearty Meat Sauce as a base for Beef Tostadas, Taco Salad, Saturday Stroganoff, Chili Bread Bowls, Busy Day Casserole, Sloppy Joes and Pasta Roll Ups.

Choose a day, once a week, during the weekend, or a day that works best,  make triple the amount of one type of meat.

Review your weekly grocery store ads, most grocery stores put out their weekly specials on Wednesdays just in time to plan on a your shopping list.  Purchase items on sale.  Be sure to check your pantry and write down any necessary spices or rubs that your recipe calls for. This help avoid duplicating what you already have.

Shop on one day and do your cooking the next. Set out everything you need in regards to kitchen tools ahead of  time. This will save you time when preparing.  The day of, chop vegetables such as carrots, celery, onions or mushrooms. Than move on to meat preparation.

Cooking Tip: Try cooking three meats together in a Roating Pan and get a head start on your recipe preparation for the week. all meats should be close in weight to ensure cook times are the same.

Stay tuned for another episode of: The Adventures of Cooking:Dinner Tonight.

One site I also recommend for once a week cooking tips is Once A Week Cooking.
Visit Once A Week Cooking!

Celebrate The First Day Of School

Sharing the first day of school can truly be an exciting time for both you and your child. There always seems to be a twinkle in their eyes and they are eager to see old friends and happy to make new ones. For those who are nervous, parents do their best in offering encouragment to relieve their anxiety.

First Day Of School Traditions

One of the things we can do as parents is make sure our children have a healthy breakfast before school.  Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. It gives them energy and motivation to start their day. That’s why breakfast is the perfect time to make it a pleasant family gathering to start the day.  By making a special breakfast, your children will be off to a great start. Here’s a recipe I’ve been making for my children.

Cinnamon French Toast

2 eggs

1/3 cup soy milk or non-fat milk

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 tablespoon unsalted butter

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

6 slices of whole wheat or whole grain bread

Directions

In a bowl, beat eggs, milk and vanilla and cinnamon. In a large skillet over medium heat, melt butter. Dip slices of bread in batter, covering both sides. Brown the bread on one side for approximately 3-5 minutes, flip and repeat with other side. Remove from skillet and top with a maple yogurt sauce.

Maple Yogurt Sauce

Blend together 1/2 cup of non-fat plain yogurt with 1 tablespoon of pure maple syrup. Add more syrup to taste.

Share Your Tips: How Do You Help Your Child Have a Great First Day of School?

Great American Bake Sale

After nearly months of planning and deciding, our 2nd Annual Great American Bake Sale is coming up this weekend! Saturday will be a Spectacular day of events- our Nevada County Bakers will be selling homemade, nutritious baked goods at Pioneer Park in Nevada City and members of the community will be participating in the Food Bank’s Race To End Hunger . The 5K/10K runs and 5K walk begin simultaneously and start and end at Pioneer Park Parking Lot (Park Ave.). Scenic course leads runners/walkers through Nevada City, to American Hill and out Old Downieville Hwy. There will be Food, Fun and Festivities for everyone after the event!

I feel blessed to have the opportunity to be able to teach families in the community how to use food and cooking as a means of performing a great community service.

Fighting Childhood Hunger

The fact of the matter is, every night one out of six children go to bed and wonder when their next meal will come. Many people don’t realize that hunger is a real problem in the United States. Statistics show that 12.4 million children go hungry. That’s one in six.

The biggest need in our community is financial support. We need the help of our community in joining together throughout Nevada County.

It’s a fantastic sense of accomplishment, knowing that we will make a difference to hungry children in our community. So join us in making a difference in the lives of so many, there is strength in numbers.

Don’t stand For Hunger! Run For Food!

I’m excited to say that the Nevada County Bakers will be holding another great Bake Sale on Saturday, August 22, 2009. This time the Bake Sale will take place at Beautiful Pioneer Park in Nevada City, CA.  during the Food Bank of Nevada County’s Race To End Hunger. Two Great Exciting Events!

Our last Bake Sale, during the City Wide Yard Sale, we raised $250 in just a couple of hours on a rainy day. We had a lot of support from many mothers, fathers, grandma’s and grandpa’s in making it such a great event.

Gather your friends, family and neighbors in joining the efforts of the NC Bakers as we sell homemade nutritious snacks, muffins, pies, jams, etc. at the Race to End Hunger to raise money to feed hungry children in our community.

It’s a fun solution with a large impact. This is a great way to benefit a good cause, give people an opportunity to learn about Childhood Hunger in our community and help children in our community. It’s a win-win situation!

So join us in making a difference in the community and lives of children.

Special thank you again to the generous supporters of this Team. Your generous support will ensure that children across the country get the regular, healthy meals they need to learn, grow, and thrive.

All proceeds will be donated to the local schools individually in Nevada County and our local Food Bank of Nevada County and will help us towards our goal of raising $1,000 for this worthy cause.

For more information on how you can help our team, please contact Noel Chapman at (530) 432-5505 or by illyab469@aol.com  Stay tuned for some great recipes at Noel’s Kitchen Tips.  To make a donation to Nevada County Bakers, please visit  our Team Page.

  Stay tuned for some great recipes at Noel’s Kitchen Tips.  To make a donation to Nevada County Bakers, please visit  our Team Page.

Healthy Snacks For Kids

Previously I wrote about school lunch ideas, so it seems fair to complete the lunch box with some simple recipes for easy desserts. Many children’s sweet tooths can be satisfied by a piece of fresh fruit, but many the great finale to lunch is a simple little treat to make their day. Because kids have different palates, I included two different types of treats.

Here are a few of our favorite bar recipes that are not too sweet, quite nourishing and they transport well. For best results, store them in airtight containers in your refrigerator.

Kids In The Kitchen

This recipe is really good for those who keep prepared granola cereal on hand for breakfast. And it is so easy the kids can even throw it together.

Simply Granola Bars

Ingredients:

3/4 cup melted butter or margarine

1/3 cup brown sugar (omit if granola is very sweet)

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/2 teaspoon salt

3 eggs

4 cups granola cereal

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In a mixing bowl, mix together melted butter and sugar. Add vanilla, salt and eggs. Beat until smooth. Stir in granola and press into a greased 9×13 baking dish. Bake in oven for 15 to 20 minutes or until well set. Cool and cut into bars.

These are an absolute real treat and especially nice if you have made a strawberry or peach jam during the summer.

In this following recipe, carob powder is used. Carob is often called ‘the chocolate substitute.” It makes baked goods dark and moist. It is made from the pod of the carob tree, also known as St. John’s bread. It is low in fat, high in protein and minerals.

 Carob-Nut Brownies

Ingredients:

2/3 cup softened butter or margarine

2/3 cup honey

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 cup carob powder

1 cup unbleached flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/3 cup hot water

1 cup chopped walnuts

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a mixing bowl, cream together the butter and honey. Beat in eggs and vanilla. In another bowl combine carob powder, flour, baking powder and salt. Stir into butter mixture. Add hot water and walnuts. Stir well. Spread into a lightly greased 8 inch square baking pan. Bake in oven for 20 to 25 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool and cut into squares.