Oatless Oatmeal

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Is it cereal?  Is it granola?  Is it oatmeal?

 

 

Well, it's really whatever you want it to be!  Little Lady has been asking for oatmeal lately.  I guess she is tiring of the egg or paleo pancake breakfasts.  Of course, oatmeal isn't really a paleo food, so I set out to find an alternative.  A friend had mentioned Steve's Original, which is basically a paleo cereal you can order online, but I wanted something I could make at home.  I'm cheap crafty like that.  After looking at several different options, I settled on this recipe.  Putting it together is also a super kid friendly activity.

 

You'll Need





Honey

Vanilla Extract

Coconut Oil

Almond Meal

Pumpkin Seeds

Sunflower Seeds

Flax Seeds (I added this for fun)

Shredded Coconut

Chopped or slivered almonds

 

 

Please go through the link above to get the quantities.  Also feel free to add whatever else you want or to change some of them up.  Add more nuts, omit certain seeds, add some dehydrated fruits - I think this will work well with any of those alterations.  I just did the basic recipe to start out with to make sure it went over well.

 



 

Gather all your ingredients and a ready and willing child.  You can still try it without the child, but you might finish much faster and with lower blood pressure than expected.

 

Preheat your oven to 350.

 

 

Combine the first three ingredients in a small bowl.

 

 

Remember to melt your coconut oil when measuring it. 

 

 

 

Talk about the different measurements and count them out with your child.

 

"One teaspoon."

 

 

"TWO teaspoons."

 

 

Allow the tiny hands to whisk it, and then take you're turn and get it all whisked together.

 

 

Take a not-so-quick break to change and strap on the under-the-weather Little Man that just woke up from his nap.

 

 

Measure out the other ingredients and let the kiddo helper dump them together in a large bowl.   My measurements for the flax seeds were two kid size hand fulls.

 

 

Point out all the neat layers to your child, then mix them all together.  They are going to want to help with this too.

 

 

Take another break to move the sick baby to the front, since they keep crying on your back.

 

 

Take the bowl with your first three ingredients, whisk it up again, and add it to your dry ingredients.  Mix it all up well.

 

 

Spread the mixture on a cookie sheet and stick in the oven for 10 minutes.

Toss it around a bit and then cook for about 8 minutes more.

 

 

Take it out and let it cool.  It hardens up as it cools.

 



 

Get a little sample ready for your helper.  Per my friends suggestion, I made it into oatmeal by simply adding almond milk and microwaving it for a couple seconds.  You can enjoy it as cereal by eating it with cold milk or as granola by eating it on it's own.

 

 

Allow your kiddo to taste test it.

 

She approved!

 

Just store it in an airtight container.

 

Pretty easy, huh?  Next time I think I'll add some dehydrated apples or bananas.

 

For a delicious non paleo granola idea that is fun to do with the kids, check out this recipe from Delia Creates.  Both of these would make a great gift too, just wrap it up in a pretty bag!

 



 

Adventures in Canning and Dehydrating - the introduction

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I've always had an interest in canning and other "old school" aspects of housekeeping.  Our household also has a keen interest in a more self reliant lifestyle.  This past summer I ventured into the world of canning.  Let's just say it is a learning experience!  I have actually arranged for a basic canning and dehydrating demonstration at my house for a bunch of us that would like to get into it.  I plan on sharing what I learn with you and we can start out on this journey together.  I've done a little on my own already, and I'll share with you how that went.  You can just learn from my mistakes so you don't have to make them! 

Here are two posts from my family blog from this summer:

CANNING!

I tried canning for the first time.  Chris was able to swing a day off since he worked so much overtime the other week, so I was able to try this out since he was able to sit in the yard and study while Little Lady played outside - although she still helped out every now and then. Let's just say it was a learning experience....

I got "suited up" and realized I should make an apron for pregnancy....

She got her apron on too and was ready to help! I believe this is an old family apron? Either that or just from when I was a kid?

First we made blackberry jam from the berries we picked. This is not canned, just put in a jar in the fridge. It was thickened with cornstarch instead of pectin (don't have any), so I wasn't sure that was okay to can and I couldn't find a sufficient answer on the Internet. I'm actually going to pick up some pectin at the store today and use that for the rest of the blackberries I have and can those.

Next up, tomato sauce. It felt like I had a ton of tomatoes, but I realized it was probably only enough for one quart size jar. It takes at least 5 pounds to make on jar.

First, all the skins had to be peeled off. Just put them in a pot of boiling water for about 35-45 seconds and then immerse them in a bowl of ice water. The skins then pretty much peel right off.

I then had to quarter all of them and remove any tough parts (stem area) and remove the seeds and squeeze out extra water. You can keep the juice to drink if you like. I put them in a strainer to drain any extra water while I was processing.

They then went into a pot to boil down. I still used a masher to help break them up - I had lots of roma tomatoes. They also have lots less water, so I didn't need to boil it down as long, maybe that is why they didn't break up on their own as much.

Then came the real learning part for me. I put the sauce in the ONE sterilized jar, closed it up, and put it in the pot of boiling water that was ready and waiting. I then realized that it really didn't cover the top of the jar with at least an inch of water......hmmmmm.......I decided to let it continue boiling while I pondered that. Then I also realized the pot kept boiling over and putting out the flame. **Sigh**.....so I think I got about 15 minutes of boiling, rather than the 45 required, before I came to terms that it wasn't gonna work. I removed the jar and let it cool and then put it in the fridge, to be used this week. If I'm going to do quart size jars I need to get a larger pot. That was an AWFUL lot of work for a jar of tomato sauce. I am ALL about opportunity cost - and buying a jar of sauce at the store makes much more sense - but the lesson was invaluable and I do have concerns about what goes into our bodies. I'm also not earning money right now - and trying to save money - so canning is still a valuable tool. I just need to try it on stuff that is a bit easier to prep. Processing all those tomatoes was killer on my legs and back right now - several hours of standing. I was very disappointed after it all, but I now feel better about it. I had been very anxious before trying it - as most people are with anything new - but I gave it a try, didn't totally succeed, but learned some lessons and am willing to try again. What more could I ask for?

 

 

ADVENTURES IN CANNING ROUND 2!!!!

 

Now......what did we do with 11 pounds of strawberries?

This time I set it up so I could sit at the table and process. Washed 'em and removed the leaves/stem.

Mashed them up and combined them with the pectin and sugar. I must say, I'm dismayed by how much sugar is required when using pectin. I'll have to explore what other, healthier, options there are. I just used the recipe that was in the pectin box.

I then also realized I was supposed to have a tray of some sort in the pot for canning. Solution: trivet.

Canning round 2 was ALSO a learning experience. I used a pot larger than the directions called for and....hmmmm...as soon as it reached a boil (which you are supposed to maintain for a short period) it boils over - crazily - ridiculously - seriously. Nothing comes easy...

We got the strawberry jam into the jars, boiled and took them out to cool. She kept an eye on them and listened to the "pop" of the sealing lids! I will say, it is very satisfying to hear that sound.

SO - strawberry jam was a success! And still a learning experience for the whole foaming thing.....

Next up - packing fresh strawberries in a simple syrup!

I got some great strawberry info from Local Kitchen Blog.

I got the recipe for this from Recession Depression Therapy. She gave the option of substituting honey for half of the sugar. Great way to use some Idaho honey!

Fresh, cleaned strawberries, ready for syrup.

Filled up and ready for a lid and boiling!

Still had some more strawberries - so I decided to dry the rest.

All done - with a couple left over for snacking on!

There you have it! Strawberry Jam, Strawberries in simple syrup and dehydrated strawberries!

 

 

So this is what my canning experience has been so far.  I'm looking forward to the presentation and sharing what I learn.  I will also be doing lots of dehydrating thanks to an awesome new dehydrator I got for Christmas!

 

Hopefully you'll join me for the adventure!

 

 

 

Learn something new every week: Paelo awesomeness

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It is hard to pick the best things I learned this week, but here goes.

We've gone paleo.  We are trying it for a month and seeing how we feel.  I'll be honest though, once you do it, I don't know that you can ever go back.......

I've learned two amazing paleo recipes that I want to share with you.  Seriously life changing stuff here.  Life changing in that even my two year old eats them no problemo. 

First off is paleo pancakes.  Eggs, bananas, almond butter, voila.  Yup, that's it.  The almond butter is even optional.  Okay, I'll make it a little more formal.

 

Easy Paleo Pancakes

 



2 Bananas

2 Eggs

1 spoonful of almond butter (optional)

 

Mash up the bananas, add the eggs and almond butter.  Stir up.

Melt coconut oil (or butter if you're not doing paleo) in a pan and cook these like regular pancakes.  Only difference is you won't be looking for "bubbles" like regular pancakes, just keep checking them for the right consistency to successfully flip.  This will feed 2- 3 people.

 

 

There you have it.  Kids eat them right up.  Want a little something special? 

Drizzle some honey on top.

 

 

Next up, Cauliflower Rice!

 

Rice is not on the paleo plate, but this is an awesome replacement.

 

 

Cauliflower Rice

 

1 head of cauliflower

Garlic

Olive Oil

Sea Salt

 

Cut off cauliflower florets, microwave for 4 minutes.  Put the cauliflower through a processor or blender.  Saute some garlic in olive oil and add the cauliflower.  Saute for about 7-8 minutes.  Add sea salt.

Serve like rice!  Feeds 3-4.

 

 

Really, how much cooler could these get?!

 

 

Also, did you know Brussels Sprouts came like this?

 

 

I had no idea....

 

 

 



DIY Christmas Stocking

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This year I finally got around to making Little Lady a Christmas stocking, and of course made one for Little Man too.  There have been tons of fleece fabrics in the remnant bins, so I stocked up and they ended up being perfect for this project.

The first step was making my pattern.  You can hand draw this or just trace a stocking you already have onto papers taped together.

 

Cut out your fabrics.  I used a green fleece material for the outside and a nice red jersey knit (another remnant bin find!) for the inside.  Set them aside.

 

I wanted to put the kids' names on the front, so I found a font I thought was good and bold and printed out their names, stapled it to a piece of red felt, and cut out the letters.  Whenever I cut stuff out of felt I just staple it on.  It is super easy to remove the staples and it doesn't really damage the felt.

 

I then glued the letters on the front with fabric glue, being sure to leave space along the edges for my seams.  Then, since I do all this stuff after the kids are in bed, I thought it would be a good idea to let it dry 'till the next night.

 

Now this is where you can make a choice of how to proceed. You can sew the stocking and the liner together separately, essentially making two stockings and then sticking the liner stocking inside the main one.  This will leave a nice neat seam on the inside of your stocking.  OR you can just layer them all together and sew them all at once. I went ahead and did it that way because I didn't feel like having to anchor the lining and I figured no one would really notice.  I was also tired.  For that you just layer the main stocking fabric right sides together and then place one liner fabric on the top and one on the bottom, then sew all the way around - except for the top of the stocking.  Then turn the stocking right side out and it will look like stocking - just needs the trim at the top.

 

For the trim, I used a nice thick cream fleece material.  Basically measure the top of your stocking, multiply by two, add an inch for mess-up sake - this is how long you'll want it.  It is up to you how wide you want your trim.  I probably did about 5 inches down from the top of the stocking, so that means I cut it 10 inches wide, since I doubled it over.

 

Now this is where you'll have to make sure you're paying attention.  Your trim will be folded, wrong sides together (right sides facing out), and you'll pin it around the top, but basically the trim will be INSIDE the stocking, the opposite of where it will be when you're finished.  Look at the picture below, those are your layers.

 

I also wanted a little loop to hang the stocking with, so I stuck one through where the ends of the trim would be sewed together.  Once you've sewn all around the top of the stocking you trim any excess where the trim comes together and then sew the ends together.

 

Then fold that trim down over the seam.

 

It will now look like this.

 

This is what the inside of mine looks like, since I sewed the liner and stocking together all at once.

 

You really can't tell from the outside.

 

 

There you have it! These really were easy, came out nicely and cost well under $5 total to make.  That's my kind of project!

 

I realize I could have/should have done more pictures of each step. This was my first sewing tutorial, so I apologize. Hopefully it makes since. If not, just ask in the comments below and I'll try to clear it up!

 

 

 

 

Christmas Thank You Cards

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'Tis the season for thank you notes!

The past two years I've turned our thank you cards into a fun project I can do with my daughter.  Last year was potato stamps, this year we reused some wrapping paper.  I saw a neat idea for cards using old wrapping paper here, but I knew it would be asking a bit much from a two year old, so we did our own version.

 

We started out with our old paper.  I gave Little Lady a pair of kid safe scissors and told her to cut away and also gave her the option to rip it up into little bits. 

 

 

 

 

She opted for the scissors, since they were a novelty.  In reality, I made most of the scraps. She was pretty into those scissors.

 

 



This is a really great project for getting some "destructive" energy out.  Let them rip up the paper to their hearts content!

 

Next, we grabbed some big index cards (5" x 8"), and folded them in half.

 

Then give the kiddos some glue sticks, or a bottle of glue and have them spread it all over the front of the card.  A glue stick is probably best, but I somehow couldn't find ours when we were doing this.

 

Have them pick out scraps to place on the card.  While they are doing this you can ask what colors are on the scrap of paper or what shapes - use it as a teaching/learning project too.

 

Some of the pieces they put on will overlap the edge, just trim along the edge once everything is dry.

 

 

You'll then have a bunch of cards to let dry.  Admitedly, she did eventually tire of putting the paper on and wanted to go back to cutting with the scissors, so I finished up the last couple.

 

While they dry, hop on your computer and print up a sheet with a bunch of "Thank You" on it, in whatever font you want.  You can also just hand write it too, whatever works for you.

Cut them out, again, have fun with it.  I obviously did the cutting, Little Lady isn't quite there yet, but if you have an older kid they can do this part too.

 

I then pulled out the Modge Podge and did a quick covering over the front, "unifying" the papers on the front and the "Thank You" tag. 

Kids can help out with that part too, but I did it after Little Lady was in bed.

 

There you go!  The finished project - you have a pretty easy kid craft and personalized thank you cards!  Just stick them in some 4.375 x 5.75 envelopes and mail them off! 

 

 After you write in them, of course.