Baked Mozzarella Sticks

Mozzarella Sticks are my daughters all time favorite appetizer.  Knowing how bad they are for you I decided to try to make them but on the lighter side.  So while at the store today we picked up some egg roll wrappers, some light string cheese, marinara sauce and gave it a try.  The outcome was thumbs up from the entire family and the Mozzarella Stick LOVER herself thought they were great.

12 Egg Roll Wrappers

12 Light String Cheese
Some Light butter
Marinara Sauce

Easy Easy Easy










Lay out egg roll wrapper.

Place one piece of string cheese in the wrapper and roll up.

This is something super easy for the kids to help with.








Place on baking sheet.  Brush with light butter.  Bake in the oven at 400 until bubbling and light brown, turn the sticks over and brown the other side.










Serve with warm Marinara Sauce.  Enjoy!

Lasagna Cups

This recipe was a HUGE hit with my family and I LOVE it because it is quick, simple & yummy.

INGREDIENTS

1

 cup uncooked rotini pasta

1

 lb ground beef

1 1/2

 cups tomato pasta sauce

3/4

 cup cottage cheese (some may perfer ricotta)

1

 can (16.3 oz) Pillsbury® Grands!® refrigerated buttermilk biscuits

1

 cup shredded mozzarella cheese 

              DIRECTIONS:

1Heat oven to 350°F. Cook and drain pasta as directed on package. Meanwhile, in skillet, brown ground beef until no longer pink; drain. Stir in pasta sauce, cottage cheese and pasta; cook 1 minute.2Separate dough into 8 biscuits; press each biscuit to 5 1/2-inch round. Firmly press 1 biscuit in bottom and up side of each of 8 ungreased jumbo muffin cups, forming 1/4-inch rim. Fill with hamburger mixture; sprinkle with mozzarella cheese.3Bake 28 to 32 minutes or until golden brown. Cool 1 minute;

Pizzafied Chicken from Hungry Girl

PIZZAFIED CHICKEN (honestly one of my most favorite meals)

5 oz. raw boneless skinless lean chicken breast cutlet, pounded to 1/2-inch thickness
1/4 tsp. garlic powder, or more to taste

1/4 tsp. onion powder, or more to taste
1/8 tsp. salt, or more to taste

1/8 tsp. black pepper, or more to taste
1/4 cup diced green bell pepper

1/4 cup sliced mushrooms
2 tbsp. diced onion

1/4 cup canned crushed tomatoes
1 stick light string cheese

4 slices turkey pepperoni, (like the kind by Hormel), chopped

1 tsp. reduced-fat Parmesan-style grated topping
Optional garnishes: crushed red pepper, fresh oregano

from Hungry Girl 

Smoothie Packets

This year things are busy...what's new right? So I am trying to prepare things ahead of time.  Last year I became a HUGE fan of the crock pot and received a new one for Christmas...YIPPEE.  Now, however,  I am putting together some healthy snacks for the kids, that are quick & easy to grab.  My kids Love fruit and smoothies, but so many times when they ask for it, I don't have the time to get everything out, wash it, cut it up, make it and then clean up.  So today I put together Smoothie Packets for the freezer and Chocolate Banana Bites also for the freezer.  These make things nice and easy and were extremely simple to make.

Smoothie Packets

Put light yogurt into mini muffin tray.  Place in freezer. 

Then cut up any fruit you would like to have in your smoothies. 

This is Nebraska...in January, although it has been unseasonably warm, we do not have A LOT of FRESH fruit to choose from.  So I chose to do some fresh, some frozen...all still good :)

Once the yogurt is frozen, just pop them out of the muffin tin, put them in a snack bag with your fruit and you are done.  Now when the kids want a smoothie they just pull out a packet, add it to some milk or orange juice, blend it up and enjoy! 

Chocolate Banana Bites

Super simple...Super Yummy

Cut up a few banana's into 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch pieces.

Place on parchment paper.

 (I put my parchment paper on a cookie sheet to make it easy to transfer to the freezer.)

Top each piece of banana with a bit of natural peanut butter.

Next melt 1/2 cup Chocolate chips and 1/4 cup milk in Microwave.

I microwaved them in 15 second increments.

Once melted together and a dipping consistency, place a banana piece into the

chocolate and lift out with fork and place back on parchment paper. 

Place Chocolate Covered Banana Bites into the freezer.  

Once frozen place in air tight container and store in freezer.

Enjoy!

Stay tuned for what else we come up with or find to try along the way.
Looking for things that are simple, easy, healthy, &
can prepare ahead of time to grab and go!

Flaxseed and Healthy Baked Fried Chicken

FLAXSEED...so have you heard of this?  Do you use it?  Do you know how you can use it?  Well it is a great way to add Fiber and Omega-3 fats to just about anything.  

I have added it to oatmeal, smoothies, spaghetti sauce, you can slip it into baked goods...again just about anything.  So go out and buy some the next time you get your groceries.  I suggest you keep it somewhere you will think about it and use it,  maybe a little container by the stove so you can sprinkle it in when you are seasoning your current dish of choice. At least until you get yourself in the habit...otherwise it is one of those things you buy and it sits in the pantry without ever being touched. 

Here is a recipe that my we just tried the other day, which my kids, husband and myself LOVED...I also tossed in some flaxseed in this recipe even though it was not a listed ingredient. 

Place thawed chicken breast tenderloin strips in a bowl of milk. Let soak for 20-30 min.

In large bowl I mixed:

1/2 tsp. Salt

1 T Season All

3/4 tsp Pepper

1 c. Flour

2 tsp. Paprika

(Here I added a couple tbsp of flaxseed)

THEN:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Cut 1/2 stick of butter into a few pieces and place in a 9x13 pan. Melt butter in pre-heated oven.

Spread melted butter around the bottom of the pan. 

Shake excess milk off of chicken and completely coat each piece with the seasoning mix by dipping each piece in the bowl until coated.

Place each piece of chicken in the pan.

Cook for 20 min. Turn each piece of chicken and continue cooking for 20 more minutes, or until cooked through.

This is fabulous...add some vegetables and you have a meal loved by kids and adults alike!  

Recipe adapted from The Wonder Twins

Daily Gratitude Photos January 2012

January 31, 2012
I was able to get my cupboards cleaned out today.  So I am Grateful for Clean Cupboards :)  That's alwasy good.

January 30, 2012
Grateful for the gorgeous 63 degree weather we had today...yes check the date, January 30th!  wow!  Enjoyed a great 45 minute walk with the daycare kids!  GRATEFUL!

January 29, 2012
Grateful for this sweet little dog, who loves to curl up on my lap and sleep knowing he is safe and loved.

January 28, 2012
Had some fun girl time with my Kati today.  We decided to get our nails done...check out how close in shade the colors are...like mother like daught :)

January 27, 2012
Grateful for this beautiful sunshine, even as it was shining right in my eyes on our way to Columbus to Nick's gymnastic's meet.

January 26, 2012
No words needed...Just brings a SMILE!

January 25, 2012
So one of the greatest parts of today was going on a date with my wonderful husband Curtis.  I was enjoying our conversation & dinner so much, that I forgot to get a picture of this event.  However, coming home and relaxing with the kids and seeing him with Kati just makes me fall in love with him all over again.  A wonderful husband & a Super Daddy! Definitely a little spectacular moment!

January 24, 2012
Well it snowed...not near enough to have a snowday...but enough for my crazy kids to run outside in whatever they were wearing...(yes Nate is in shorts), spin around a few times and run back inside.  I love letting them just do fun crazy things together. Makes me SMILE!

January 23, 2012
Today the kids heard we are to get some snow (not a lot of snow...but snow is in the forecast) Since we have not had ANY snowdays this winter, they thought they were try their luck at a snowdance & song.  It was FABULOUS...The song was to the tune of "It's Raining Men" the lyrics were...

It's snowing snow

hallelujah

It's snowing snow

yes snow

2, 4, 6. 8

that was be just really great

it's snowing snow!

January 22, 2012
Today I am grateful for an unexpected suprise. The kids went up to their rooms to clean them (as on their chore list)  I too went to my room to organize my closet.  As I went to switch over the laundry I noticed everyone was working hard to organize their closets and rooms.  Dad was even in helping the kids.  A great day together and a huge feeling of accomplishment.

And when Nick finished his room & closet he chose to read.  I Love This!

January 21, 2012
Grateful for an entire day together as a family.  Began in the morning with Nick's first gymnastics meet of the season, then out for lunch, to a movie, "We Bought A Zoo", Ice Cream and then Nate's basketball game, dinner and home to hang out and watch "Fact or Fiction" One of the best days ever.

January 20, 2012
Grateful for a husband who loves being a Dad and playing with his kids!

January 19, 2012
Today I am was so grateful for the Live Mentoring session online with my friend Pamela! So many good reminders that are needed to continue to put them into practice.  Thankful that I found her and am able to truly take advantage of this opportunity given to me.

January 18, 2012
Today I just had that overwhelming feeling of gratefulness when I dropped the kids off at church for midweek.  So of course I made them turn for a quick picture.  Love our church and that it is a place where my entire family feels comfortable. Thanks GOOD SHEPHERD LUTHERAN!

January 17, 2012
Today I was grateful for a simple, silly, wild pair of workout pants!  Made our group fitness class fun and something crazy gives you a bit more energy and lots of smiles!

January 16, 2012
Grateful today for a fabulous day at home with the kids.  They had the day off from school and we did projects, homework, cleaning and played video games.  Love days when we can hang out in our sweatpants and not have to run run run!!!  Here is one result from our team work today!
Very GRATEFUL!

January 15, 2012
Grateful for a wonderful dinner together as a family.  Love evenings at the Dinner Table and enjoyed our new Dinner Table Devotions Book!  Not too many things that can top that!

January 14, 2012
Grateful for the opportunity to get my hair done today...definitely not something that HAS to be done, but sure makes a woman feel good when it happens :)

January 13, 2012
Let me clarify...this is Friday the 13th....however it was an extremely LUCKY day for the Harmon Household.  We went to our church for family Bingo Night.  Enjoyed time together with family & friends and left with FOUR Wonderful prizes.  Each one of the kids won and so did mama!  Great fun!

January 12, 2012  Daddy's Home!!!

January 11, 2012
Watching Kati color, decorate and hang a banner for her Dad.  "Welcome Home Dad" after his long week away in Arizona.

January 10, 2012
Oh yes today's daily Gratitude photo...ROCKS!  Coming home tonight after workout I caught my two "Middle School" boys cleaning up the kitchen!  This brought a smile to my face and gratefulness in my heart! LOVE THEM!

January 9, 2012
This week Curt is out of town and so the kids and I are making due without dad around.  Things have been going really well.  Last night however they had the idea of having a sleepover in my room since dad wasn't here.  I have to admit I was really excited about this.  As I laid down I couldn't help but just smile.  Here I am with all 3 of my kids...kids that are growing up FAST, my goodness the boys are in 6th grade & Kati is in 5th...it was nice to know that even at this age they wanted to have a sleepover and have ALL of us together.  So I jumped out of bed and quick grabbed the camera...goodness knows if this will ever happen again.  So my daily gratitude came last night and I LOVE IT!

January 8, 2012
Had a GREAT Sunday with my kids!  Did water marble nails with Kati.  Watched our beloved Steelers play with my fabulous kiddos! (wish the outcome would have been different) but we Love our Steelers and always will.  A great thing we will always share as a family!

January 7, 2012
Spent A LOT of time in the car today...going to gymnastics, the Dr. ofc., the pharmacy, back to gymnastics, home, gymnastics, the store, home and basketball game.  Not complaining because my Gratitude Photo came while in the car.  Nick and Kati were back there singing "Tonight, Tonight" by Hot Chelle Rae and it has been playing in my head ever since!  Loved it!  So glad I held the camera up and clicked :)

January 6, 2012
Well tonight Kati is at a birthday party sleepover, Nate was just asked for a sleepover and Curtis is in Arizona so it was Nick and me at home.  Grateful for this time with him and had a great time making homemade Pizza!

January 5, 2012
Today I am grateful for the opportunity to listen to my son Nick play his trumpet for me.  It is amazing how far he has come from the beginning of this school year...it was a bit tough at the beginning and even then I was glad I could be a part of his journey...HOWEVER it was really nice to hear him tonight and really know what tune he was playing without being told. (grin)  Also, put our cute little dog in the picture...who isn't sure if he enjoys this or absolutely hates it, and you have an amazing "Picture of Gratitude" for January 5, 2012

January 4, 2012
Ok, today I am grateful for my NEW Brooks Shoes.  Not only am I grateful for the "item" of new shoes, but I am also grateful that I was able to wear out the pair of shoes I had bought last year after Christmas...due to running and teaching classes & just getting up and getting it done for me!

January 3, 2012
As much as I wish I would have had a bit more time relaxing and enjoying my kids on our Christmas Vacation Time...it is unfortunately already time for them to get up each morning and head off to school and the hustle and bustle of sports activities begin.  Today however, I am grateful for these 3 little one's I have the priveledge of taking care of throughout the day.  They are all growing and advancing so much and they bring a huge smile to my face.  I can definitely say I Love my Job and know in my heart I truly mean it!

January 2, 2012
Grateful for the opportunity to watch some College Bowl Games with a Good Lifelong Friend!

January 1, 2012
I have been challenged to take 1 photo a day of something I am grateful for, for the entire year.  This is going to be a life changing challenge for sure!  So here we are day one January 1, 2012...ready for a movie night in our jammies!  Tonight's flick of choice is The Smurfs...wow takes you back in time a bit!