Snacking on Chex Brittles During Summer Activities

I am excited to enjoy the summer sunshine doing simple things. Either sitting in the backyard, enjoying a book, making barbecue meals, watching the children play, or going on long drives and road trips are wonderful ways to make memories and enjoy the sunshine. While doing all these things everyone in my family look for yummy snacks to munch on, so I made these Chex Brittles with Chex Cereal.

Feel The Tropics As You Enjoy Baking and Eating This Aloha Bread

April showers are ending and May-flowers are blooming, which excites my family and I, as we have been waiting for the weather to get warmer and soak up some sunshine and enjoy the warm outdoors. Many of you like us are probably waiting for the upcoming celebrations, the long weekend and the school holidays for the summer, which will be here before we know it :) Since I am missing the warmth of the sunshine with the cold rain and wind we are having these days, I decided my family and I need to taste something tropical to lift our moods up. 

Travelling Without Leaving, With This Nostalgic Clay Pot Fish Curry

As the weather warms up, I enjoy cooking on my barbecue and the stove top outdoors. I miss cooking outdoors in my clay pots during the winter, since clay pots tend to crack due to extreme temperatures from hot to cold. I cooked this spicy, flavourful fish curry using king fish on my clay pot that I bought last year during our summer vacation to Sri Lanka. It allows me to travel to the flavours that I crave, without packing my bags :) and brings back lots of good memories.

Carrot, Coconut, Apple Muffins Perfect for Breakfast or Snack

My family and I excited about the upcoming March Break next week. It is a much needed time-off from school and the routine during this long winter season. I just wish we will have some good weather :) 

During school holidays I like to make and keep snacks like healthy muffins, so my family and I can have it for brunch, breakfast, snacks or take with us when we travel to see attractions. This Carrot, Coconut, Apple Muffins recipe from the Model Bakery cookbook makes about 20 muffins. The muffins can be baked and stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 day.

Celebrate With This Easy to Make Tiramisu

February is a month of celebration for many of us, and there are lots of things happening this month in our home from a special birthday celebration, family day and more. So, I will be making Tiramisu at least a couple of times this month because everyone in my family enjoys this easy to make dessert. We can make this alcohol free, children friendly Tiramisu ahead of time. During these cold winter months we all need a "pick me up" dessert, so here is my recipe to make Tiramisu at home.

Kale Orange Salad

Happy 2014 everyone! New year is a time to make new resolutions, so the beginning of the new year I always start by making resolutions to eat healthy and stay fit. I learned to make this healthy Kale Orange Salad recipe at the Cooking With Cutco event, which is delicious and easy to prepare. This recipe is a good way to add the super food Kale into our healthy eating lifestyle.

Perfect Treat to Take to a Holiday Potluck

This cheesecake made with yogurt is flavourful and delicious, it would be a delightful treat to take over to a potluck. We can bake it a day ahead and keep it ready to go in the fridge. Keeping it overnight in the fridge makes it more delicious. I used a Cake Stencil to turn this simple cheesecake more presentable.

Make Ahead of Time Classic KFC Style Coleslaw

I make this classic KFC Coleslaw very often in our home because it is easy and flavourful. It is a delicious salad to make ahead of time and keep in the fridge for our guest during the holiday or to accompany a meal. The coleslaw tastes better the second or third day and keeps fresh for up to a week. To make this at home, you will need...

Cooking Up Our Fall Pumpkin Harvest

For the first time this year, I planted a couple of pumpkin seeds during spring in our garden. We were super excited to see lots of flowers, huge prickly leaves and a couple of fabulous tasting pumpkins grow in our small pumpkin patch. I saved the seeds from an acorn squash we bought last fall. You too can try growing pumpkins next year with the seeds you save up from this season.

Strawberry Banana Milk Bars

With the summer heat we are always looking for ways to cool down, so I made this delicious milk bars or popsicles with strawberry and banana. In June when it was strawberry season in Ontario, it has become our tradition to take the kids and pick our own strawberries in a local farm close to home. I usually remove the top and cut the strawberries into two and freeze it. 

Giant Giveaway From Green Giant

Sharing giant good news is always relieving isn't it? :) When I have big news to tell, it is quite hard for me to keep it to myself until I tell someone about it. Just like me, Green Giant is also excited about their two brand-new Green Giant Chips. We are glad we got to taste these healthy chips that make a perfect snack for anytime we are craving something to munch on.

An Easy Meal We Made During Our Camping Trip

When we went on our camping trip we made hotdog buns and other goodies for a meal. This delicious hotdog bun was fun and easy to make. 

To make these buns you will need...

General Mills Has Launched Eight Brand New Products

General Mills has launched eight brand new products this month. In celebration of the launch General Mills will be giving free product coupons on their Facebook page from June 3 to 25 (while supplies last).

There are two coupons, one for the cereals and one for the snack bars. Each has a specific one-day redeem date. For the cereals it is July 16 and for the 6 bars it is July 23.

General Mills Partnership with Dairy Queen Just in Time for the Warm Weather

General Mills has partnered with Dairy Queen® to offer Canadians fabulous coupons as a bonus on top of their cereal. We are so excited about this with the weather warming up, as we love our ice creams and cold desserts :)

As a child, I used to go to DQ with my parents and brothers to get treats during summer evenings, and sometimes even in the middle of winter to get ice cream cake :) I am so glad DQ has the same wonderful treats so I can start to make new memories with my children.

Win a prize pack to stay fit and healthy (value of over $100)

General Mills family is welcoming Yoplait Source Greek Yogurt, which is a thick, creamy, delicious low-calorie yogurt the whole family will enjoy. This yogurt has twice the protein of regular Yoplait Source yogurt with only 50 calories and no added sugar. 

There are different yogurt flavours for us to choose from. We can enjoy it for breakfast, snack, and dessert or include it in our baking and cooking. I like using yogurt in desserts as it is a healthier substitute and I also include plain greek yogurt to thicken curries and to give it flavour. I make this choice of using yogurt in our diets so we can stay healthy and active.  

I use the plain yogurt when making this naan, baked Indian bread

Cookies to celebrate spring

We made these cookies to celebrate the arrival of spring. These soft, delicious cookies would be wonderful to take on our upcoming trips to the park.

Crocus

These cookies are also easy enough for little ones to help make and give as gifts to grandma, mom and loved ones. Adding Callebaut Crispearls* to the cookies give it a slight crunch and adds colour. Callebaut Crispearls* are tiny toasted biscuit kernel coated with chocolate.

Make this Almond Biscotti for your loved ones

With all the fabulous family and love-oriented holidays this month, here is an easy to make delicious biscotti recipe. This would make a wonderful homemade treat to serve or take over to your loved ones. 

Your chance to Win: Movie offers and Peanut Butter Cheerios kit ($50)

Look for specially-marked boxes of General Mills cereals like Lucky Charms, Cheerios and Oatmeal Crisp, Golden Grahams and others to get a ‘free movie offer’ from Cineplex®.

Starting February 3rd.  

From March 3rd to May 30th you will find a ‘Buy One, Get One Free’ General Admission to the movies at Cineplex® on these same cereal brands.

From February 3rd until May 30th you’ll find:

• ‘Buy One, Get One Free’ Child Admission when purchasing any two specially-marked treats like Betty Crocker® Dunkaroos®, Fruit Gushers® or Fruit by the Foot®
• ‘Buy One, Get One Free’ General Admission when purchasing any two specially-marked snacks such as Nature Valley® Sweet & Salty & Crunchy products.
• Free movie snacks on specially-marked boxes of Old El Paso® products including the Extra Mild, Super Tasty Dinner Kit, the Hot & Spicy Fajita Dinner kit and the Hard & Soft Taco Dinner Kits. Way to spice it up!

Once you find the unique voucher code inside the package, go to www.Cineplex.com/freemovieoffer and redeem your free movie ticket*  These offers are valid February 3rd to May 30th 2013 for show times Sunday through Thursday (inclusive) only.

*Old El Paso® free movie snacks are redeemed in theatre, not online.

Peanut Butter Cheerios

My children are big fans of peanut butter, and when I told them about the upcoming peanut butter flavoured Cheerios they became super excited :) 
After tasting it their verdict was that it tastes just like peanut butter and would have it for breakfast and snack everyday.  Peanut Butter Cheerios will be available for a limited time in stores starting March 4^th. 

We enjoy making these peanut butter cookies that does not last too long in our home.  It is easy to make these cookies within a few minutes.  

Here is what you will need to make these cookies...

2 oz butter
3 oz peanut butter

4 oz brown sugar
1 egg
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
4 oz flour

Mix the butter, peanut butter and sugar with a hand beater until it is mixed.  Then add the egg to the mix.  Mix the baking powder and salt with the flour and add mix it into the butter mixture. 

 

Take a teaspoonful of mixture and make a ball shape and place it in a lined baking tray 2" apart.

Lightly press the balls with a fork to make a tic-tac-toe pattern and bake in a lined baking sheet for 10 minutes in a 350F preheated oven.  Don't over bake as the cookies will burn on the bottom.  Let the cookies cool for 5 minutes then move it to a wire rack to cool down.

Offer:

Starting February 4^th Get your Peanut Butter Cheerios FREE coupon when you buy another Cheerios flavour (BananaCheerios, Apple Cinnamon Cheerios, or Chocolate Cheerios). 

During the March 16^th – 17^th weekend you can redeem the free coupon at your nearest store.

Peanut Butter Cheerios kit

Giveaway:

You may enter this Peanut Butter Cheerios kit ($50) giveaway on multiple blogs, but may only win one prize.  This giveaway is open to people in Canada until Feb 28th.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure:  I am participating in the Life Made Delicious Ambassador program and receive special perks as part of my affiliation.  All rights reserved on photographs and written content Createwithmom © 2011 - 2013. Please Ask First

Gingerbread cookies and Celebrating the Joy of December

In the month of December more than any other month through the year, I feel that my family and I tend to be in a celebrating mood :)  The lights, snow, family gatherings, the relaxing feel, cozying up, baking, giving, getting gifts, making new plans, our son's birthday are some of the things in December that we look forward to.  

To keep our children occupied and to make the holiday season memorable we make holiday crafts, bake cookies and go for a drive just to see winter lights covered in blankets of snow.  We made these holiday Gingerbread cookies adapted from Joy of Baking site.  My children helped me bake and decorate, if you would like to make a batch with your little ones you will need...

3 cups flour
3/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp ground ginger
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground cloves
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
1/2 cup unsalted butter at room temperature
1/2 cup sugar
1 egg at room temperature
2/3 cups molasses

We can use a paddle attachment in the stand mixer or hand mixer to make the dough.
Beat butter till it is creamy, add sugar and beat till the mixture is light and fluffy.  
Add the egg and beat.  
Spray the container with oil spray before measuring molasses so it doesn't stick to the measuring cup.  Then add the molasses to the mixture and combine.

Add the sifted dry ingredient 1/3rd at a time to the wet mixture.  After adding and mixing all the flour, gather the dough into a ball and cut it into two parts before covering it with a plastic wrap.  Leave the dough in the fridge to chill overnight or until it is firm so it can be easily rolled.

Flour the surface, rolling pin, cookie cutters and hands well with flour and roll the dough about 1/2" thick.  Keep turning and lifting the dough so it doesn't stick.
Prepare a tray with parchment paper and butter before placing the cut shapes.  Space about 1"between the cookies and leave the tray in the fridge for about 10 minutes before baking.  Bake in a preheated 350F oven for 8 to 10 minutes.  The cookies should barely brown around edges if baked too much it will become too crispy.  Cool completely on a wire rack before decorating.
The cookies will stay well covered for up to two weeks if it lasts that long :)

For more holiday cookie and baking ideas check LMD Facebook page as Pillsbury will be sharing their ideas from December 3rd to the 15th and Betty Crocker will be sharing their ideas from December 17th to the 31st.

Disclosure:  I am participating in the Life Made Delicious Ambassador program and receive special perks as part of my affiliation.  All rights reserved on photographs and opinion of the written content Createwithmom © 2012.  Please Ask First

Fall into Flavour with Puff pastry Apple pie

Fall is the time, I like making apple pies with puff pastry. My family and I cozy up to enjoy these apple pies for dessert, snack and breakfast :) The smell of cinnamon, which is our favourite spice with soft sweet apples inside the flaky puff pastry makes these goodies irresistible. Little ones are sure to love this dessert.

To make these puff pastry apple pies you will need...

3 apples

3 tbsp brown sugar

2 slices of bread

2 tbsp flour

1 tbsp cinnamon

puff pastry

1 egg

Remove peels of the apple if you wish, and chop into pieces. Toast the bread and crumble it. Toss the apples with the bread, cinnamon, sugar and flour.

I used store bought puff pastry. Fill the pastry with the apple filling and make a wreath shape. Apply the beaten egg on top and sides of the pastry. Make slits so the air will escape and the pastries will puff well. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes in a glass baking tray lined with a baking sheet at 375F until the pastry is golden and puffed. Cool for about 10 to 15 minutes before cutting and serving. 

All rights reserved on photographs and opinion of the written content Createwithmom © 2012. Please Ask First