Yummy | Keeping Life Creative

Mini Chicken Broccoli Pot Pies

2013

To go with our Three Little Kittens theme we made mini pies–apple crumble for dessert, and chicken broccoli for dinner. Thanks to pantry ingredients, this is a simple recipe and quick enough for a kid-friendly lunch, or busy weeknight dinner.

Mini Chicken Broccoli Pot Pies

1 package (2 crusts) refrigerated pie dough
1 can Progresso Creamy Roasted Garlic Recipe Starters
1 1/2 cups cooked and chopped chicken
1 cup chopped broccoli florets (or frozen mixed veggies)

Roll out one pie crust dough and use a cookie cutter or rim of a cup to cut 12 circles (approx. 2-3 inches). Spray regular-size muffin cups with cooking spray and lightly press a circle of dough into each cup. (I use and love these silicone muffin cups.)

Chop chicken and broccoli into bite-size pieces and place in bowl. Add can of Progresso Garlic Recipe Starters and mix to coat. Fill each crust-lined muffin cup with chicken mixture.

Roll out second pie crust dough and use cookie cutter or rim of a cup to cut 12 more circles. Place a dough circle on top of each filled muffin cup. Press edges of dough together with fingers or fork, to seal. Use a paring knife to cut a slit in the top of each mini pie.

Bake at 400F for 20-22 minutes, or until crust is golden brown. Cool slightly before serving.

To freeze: Bake as above. Allow to cool, remove from muffin cups. Place on a cookie sheet or plate and flash freeze. Once frozen, place mini pies in a freezer bag and seal tightly. To serve, remove from freezer and microwave 1-2 minutes or until heated through.

*This post is sponsored by Progresso Recipe Starters and My Blog Spark. Recipe, photos, and ideas are my own.

Filed Under: Creative Solutions, Freezer Cooking, Yummy

Gingersnap Cookies, with a Kiss

2012

Gingersnap Cookies, with a Kiss

1 1/2 cups butter-flavored shortening
2 cups sugar, plus more for rolling
1/2 cup dark molasses
2 eggs
4 cups flour
4 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons cinnamon
2 teaspoons ground ginger
1 teaspoon ground cloves
1 package Hershey’s Pumpkin Spice Kisses

In a large bowl, cream shortening and sugar with an electric mixer. Beat in egg and molasses. Stir in dry ingredients until well combined. Roll into 1-inch balls, and roll in sugar. Bake at 350F for 8 minutes. Cookies will start to crack on the top when they are done.

Remove cookies from the oven and immediately press an unwrapped Pumpkin Spice Kiss into the middle of each hot cookie. Allow to cool and set before serving. (You may want to let the Kiss-topped cookies set in the freezer or fridge.)

This dough freezes well, just place in a freezer-safe bag or container. When ready to bake, remove from freezer and allow to thaw, roll into balls, roll in sugar, and bake as above. You can also pre-bake the cookies, and then freeze them in a freezer-safe bag or container, if desired.

Filed Under: Creative Solutions, Yummy

Thrive Chopped Onions (Giveaway!!)

2012

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When I was in high school I waitressed at a soup and sandwich shop, and one of my duties was to prep the veggies for the day. I would slice onions and “cry” and “cry” from the sting of the vapor. Now it’s not so bad since I usually only need one or two at a time, but my eyes are still pretty sensitive to onions and it’s caused a love-hate thing with onions because I love the flavor they give, but hate chopping them.

A few months back when I started buying freeze-dried “food storage,” I didn’t really have a plan for using it. I just felt we needed some on the shelf in case there’s a “rainy day.” But after trying some samples and purchasing a few cans, unexpectedly, I became hooked and started incorporating much of it into my cooking. Onions and peppers are some of my favorite staple ingredients we’ve tried so far.

I will say I was a bit nervous the first time I tried the onions because my schema included those weird little bits on a dollar menu cheeseburger. But these are not those and I’ve been really impressed with how fresh the Thrive Chopped Onions taste and smell. I especially love that they come PRE-CHOPPED in the can! Maybe that’s lazy of me, but time is so precious these days.

Admittedly, when it comes to stirfry, roasted veggies, or a thick slice on a burger, fresh onions are still the way to go. But I’ve been replacing freshly chopped onions with the dried ones in recipes (and even omlets!), and they’re ah-mazing. Another bonus is that they’re chopped small enough that I don’t hear complaints from my kids who normally pick onions out of dishes.

Cost of Freeze-Dried Onions

But the cost. You know I’m all about saving money, and unfortunately, time-saving products are often expensive. So I was curious about the comparison and wanted to do some calculations to see if the cost of convenience was really worth it to me.

Here’s what I discovered:

I purchased a medium onion ($0.77/lb) at my local grocer for $0.47.
When using the Thrive chopped onions, 1/3 cup dried onions + 1/3 cup water = a medium onion, so a #10 can of Thrive chopped onions is the same as (about) 26 medium onions.
Based on the current sale price ($13.49) for a #10 can of Thrive onions, this makes each “onion equivalent” about $0.51 each.

Now I’m no math whiz, so correct me if I calculated wrong, but when I realized it was just a few pennies difference in price, the time-saving convenience is worth it to me.

Maybe you can decide for yourself if you like them too? I’m giving away a can!! Enter below!

Do you cook with onions? Do your kids pick them out?

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Filed Under: Creative Solutions, Giveaway, Sponsors, Yummy

How to Prepare for a Road Trip With Kids: Eating on the Road

2012

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While preparing for our long trip and analyzing my stress triggers, I thought carefully about how we’d deal with meals on the road. Eating out was an occasional option, but since we’d be on the road for several days I considered the budget, the time it would take for each restaurant stop, and our overall health and energy levels from too much fast food.

We decided to bring most of our food, limiting restaurants to one meal a day. So the night before we left I did a big shopping trip, stocking up on easy-to-eat snacks, drinks, and sandwich-making supplies. Then we packed a box for paper goods, snacks and non-perishable foods, and a cooler for drinks and stay-cool foods.

In the cooler, reusable ice packs worked well because we were able to refreeze them each night we stopped (we mostly stayed with family or friends along the way). But we also bagged up ice from hotel ice machines or gas stations. (Just be sure to double bag with good quality ziptop bags so you don’t end up with a soggy mess!)

Some foods that traveled well for us included:

Bread or rolls
Lunchmeat, cheese, individual packets of condiments
Peanut (or alternative nut) butter, jam
String cheese
Beef jerky
Pre-cut/washed veggies such as celery, baby carrots, cucumbers
Easy to eat fruits like apples, bananas, grapes
Hummus
Bean dip and chips
Individual cups of fruit or applesauce
Trail mix
Yogurt tubes
Packaged cookies or crackers
Fruit snacks

How do you handle food on a road trip?

Filed Under: Creative Solutions, Meal Plans, Yummy

Game Day Snacks

2012

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This spring we entered into the world of team sports, and we’re currently spending 2-3 evenings a week at the tee-ball field watching Ryan twirl in the outfield, catch dust in his mitt, and bat at the ball. We cheer loudly and encourage him to play hard, but are mostly there for the fun of the game and the physical education rather than the hope of raising an all-star.

Last week it was our turn to take the team snack. The after-game snack and drink are by far Ryan’s most anticipated part of game day, so naturally he looked forward to making the coveted treat selection. I, on the other hand, was a bit nervous because the precedent already set by the other parents was processed bags of chips and cookies, and artificially-colored sugar drinks.

While I haven’t made a fussy scene or refused Ryan the after-game snack, our family does try to make healthier food choices and on my turn to provide I wasn’t about to condone a chocolate-stuffed cookie and sugared drink right before a six-year-old’s bedtime.

I was sick with worry as our first game day snack assignment approached. I paced the Walmart snack aisles for over an hour, questioned and requestioned my options, and even called Jared–practically in tears–for advice on what to take. I know it all sounds stupid when putting it out there like that, but for me, the issue was deeper than a game-day snack. The issue for me was, “Where do I stand?”

Some days I think it would be so much easier if I were content to blend in with the crowd. But I feel so much responsibility as a parent to do what I believe is best, not just what might be popular. And so there are times when I pray for confidence, suck in a deep breath, and then accept the challenge to take a risk and set a new trend.

And so that’s how it was with game day snacks. Game day came and went, the kids took the snack and went, and honestly, I’m not sure anyone even noticed a difference in the food selection. But I did. And I knew I could walk away feeling content about providing a healthier snack option for our growing ball players.

Game Day Snacks are a big part of the team-playing experience so there’s no need to damper the fun. But perhaps you’re like me and are ready to accept the challenge of setting a healthier trend?

A couple of tips to keep in mind:

Consider prepackaged. Not only for the convenience, but also to eliminate the worry about where it came from.
Be mindful of allergies. As the parent of a peanut-allergic son, I usually carry an alternate snack in my bag, just in case. But it’s always appreciated when others have been considerate of him.

Healthier Snack Ideas:

Mini water bottles
100% juice boxes/pouches
Sugar-free, dye-free sports drinks
Frozen yogurt tubes (my kids think these are as good as a popsicle!)
Mini bags of popped microwave popcorn
Small packages of crackers or pretzels
String cheese
Easy-to-eat fruits such as small apples, clementines, bananas
Individually packaged apple slices or baby carrots
Granola Bars (some kinds are better than others–watch for sugar content and nuts)
Fruit snacks, fruit leather, dried fruit, mini boxes of raisins or Craisins
Frozen fruit bar popsicles

What else can you think of? In the comments section, please share your ideas and thoughts on healthier snack options.

Filed Under: Creative Kids, Creative Solutions, Mommy Moments, Yummy