it's been a while...

Sorry to all of my readers... it's been a while. A few weeks actually. We've had a few rough weeks here at home, and on top of that we have ALL been sick, and still are in fact. A lot of people we know have been sick. I think it's just that time of year.
I have not quit... I've just been trying to decide what to do next. To be honest, I don't want to make some of the things in the book, because well to be blunt - they look kind of gross. I mean - there are certain things you can hide veggies in - and there are certain things you cannot! I might have to tweak things a little. Let's be honest with ourselves - kids are not stupid! I will try, but now Bailey knows that I hide veggies in things. Being that he didn't freak out gave me a LITTLE confidence, but we will see. Stay tuned - I am back in business as soon as everyone is healthy again! Hopefully by next week. Thanks for your patience!

Day 25: Buttered Noodles & Aloha Chicken Kabobs

Is it bad that my children cry when I make them food? Is it worse that I laugh at them for crying??
...I think I laugh to keep from crying myself.
Today I made buttered noodles - by far the easiest thing in the book to date. Is just like what it sounds. Buttered noodles, with a little milk, Parmesan cheese, and salt - oh yeah -and Yellow Squash puree. I made it with Tri-colored Rotini to give it a little color. Reese refused to try this, and Bailey chose to try some green pieces, and promptly gagged/threw them up. Okay- it didn't help that he was watching Zaboomafoo, and there was a creature eating little green worms... oh well. To be honest, I thought it was a little bland too!
I also Made Aloha Chicken Kabobs. These have shredded coconut, pureed Pineapple, and Pureed sweet potato. So you'd think these were sweet - but they weren't really. Unfortunately, I didn't have any raw chicken, so I had to used pre-cooked chicken. It didn't stay too well on the skewers, and it turned out a little dryer than I would have liked. And I didn't have any egg, so the coating didn't stick as well either. The recipe directions said to fry them, but learned from the chicken nuggets that baking works much better - so I baked them in the toaster oven so the house wouldn't heat up too bad. Bailey had a hard time trying the chicken, and Reese tried 1 bite. We agreed she could have pineapple instead, but cried when the pineapple touched the chicken bread crumbs. I had to wipe them off. Seriously?? Oh well - on to the the next thing...

DAY 24: Brownies, Banana Bread & Chocolate/Peanut Butter Dip

I'm baaaaaaack! I had a birthday, went out of town, and got really sick - one promptly after another! So- now, that I am healthy- I am back, and in the kitchen once again.
Let me fill you in on the taste test in Pasadena. I made Brownies, Banana Bread & Chocolate/Peanut Butter Dip. I made plenty of food the week before, and packaged it up all pretty. Then my daughter decided to get sick... so- I froze all the food - luckily, it saved well. I just had to get some new apples for the Choc/PB dip. I also brought the white bread from the night before, and the Chocolate Chip Cookies.
The game we played was: Guess the vegetable that is hidden in it?
Brownies: Spinach & CarrotsBanana Bread: Bananas & CauliflowerChoc/PB dip: CarrotsWhite Bread: CauliflowerChoc Chip Cookies: Chickpeas (Garbanzo Beans)I must have had 25-30 people try everything, and they were thoroughly amazed! It was fantastic - Talk about my ego being boosted! People asking for the recipes, people asking if I was gonna start a bakery? To my surprise, the one that got the most comments was the Banana Bread. I was a little hesitant to let people try that one because I'm not sure if it cooked all the way, it was really soft, then it got kinda mashed in the freezing process, but wow- did it get good reviews. Many people came back for seconds (and thirds) on that one. Just affirms my diagnosis:  My kids ARE crazy.

The weirdest question of the night: What’s in the apples? Ummm… Apples. Not a trick, folks – these are ACTUAL apples!
Bailey was helping me tell people what was hidden in it. So now- he knows it is vegetables I am hiding in these things. He wasn't even grossed out when I confessed it was "Spinach" that colored his green eggs. He is okay with this. So now- AFTER he tries the food, he will be told what vegetable is in it.
The only bad review I got in Pasadena, was from my own mom, who didn't like the white bread. She said it just tasted a little weird. That's okay - maybe my kids get their taste buds from her. Also, a guy that was visiting from Arkansas tried everything, but said NOT to tell him what was in it. He DID NOT want to know. I asked him a few days later if he wanted to know (now that it was out of his system), and he said - No, you NEVER have to tell me. Okay... whatever...


Brownies



Banana Bread



Chocolate/Peanut Butter Dip