Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Granola Bars

*Reid and I liked them but Lucy thinks pumpkin smells funny so she wouldn't go near them.

Ingredients:
3 1/4 cups old fashioned oats
1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon salt
¾ cup brown sugar
½ cup pumpkin puree
¼ cup applesauce
¼ cup honey
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup chocolate chips

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray an 8 by 8 baking pan with cooking spray and set aside.

2. In a large bowl, whisk oats, spices, and salt together. Set aside.

3. In a medium bowl, whisk brown sugar, pumpkin, applesauce, honey, and vanilla extract until smooth. Pour over oats and stir well, until all of the oats are moist. Stir in chocolate chips.

4. Evenly press oat mixture into prepared pan. Bake for 30-35 minutes or until golden brown. The pumpkin keeps the bars moist, so make sure they are golden and set-you don't want them to be under baked. Remove from oven and let cool on a wire rack for 5 minutes.

5. Using a sharp knife, cut into bars. Remove from pan and let cool completely.

Snack Bites

* Reid and I liked these but Lucy passes on them...

Ingredients:
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup chocolate chips
1/3 cup honey
1 cup oats
2/3 cup coconut
1/2 cup flaxseed or wheatgerm

Stir, chill, and roll in to balls.

Brilliant Snack Ideas {from superhealthykids.com}

Bell Pepper Nachos - melt cheese on top of sliced bell peppers in the oven

3 minute apple pie: Chop apples * sprinkled the sugars and cinnamon over the apples * Microwave for 1 minute * Stir * Put it back in for 1 more minute * Scooped onto a graham cracker with cream cheese spread on top

Apple Wedge Desserts: Slice * Spread pb of cream cheese * Dip in toppings

Granola via itsallbigstuff.blogspot.com

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Combine in large bowl:
 4 c. oats (not quick oats)
 1 c. sliced or slivered almonds
 3/4 tsp. cinnamon
 1/2 tsp. ground ginger
 1/4 tsp. salt
Whisk together:
 1/2 c. brown sugar
1/2 c. unsweetened applesauce
1/4 c. honey
Drizzle wet ingredients over dry and mix until all the oats are moistened. Spread on prepared baking sheet and bake for 20 minutes. Turn granola over with a spatula and bake for another 8 – 10 minutes, until crisp and golden. Cool completely on baking sheet. Break up into pieces and add in dried fruit (I do craisins) and some extra dark chocolate pieces.

“Listen earnestly to anything your children want to tell you, no matter what. If you don’t listen eagerly to the little stuff when they are little, they won’t tell you the big stuff when they are big, because to them it has always been big stuff.” - Catherine M. Wallace

Learning Letters

Spelling (Margaret Atwood)

My daughter plays on the floor

with plastic letters,

read, blue, & hard yellow.

learning how to spell,

spelling,

how to make spells.

*

and I wonder how many women

denied themselves daughters,

closed themselves in rooms,

drew the curtains

so they could mainline words.

*

A child is not a poem,

A poem is not a child.

There is no either/or.

However.

*

I return to the story

of a woman caught in the war

& in labor, her thighs tied

together by the enemy

so she could not give birth.

Ancestress: the burning witch,

her mouth covered by leather

to strangle words.

A word after a word

after a word is power.

*

At the point where language falls away

from the hot bones, at the point

where the rock breaks open and darkness

flows out of it like blood, at

the melting point of granite

when the bones know

they are hollow & the word

splits & doubles & speaks

the truth & the body

itself becomes a mouth.

This is a metaphor.

*

How do you learn to spell?

Blood, sky, & the sun,

your own name first,

your first naming, your first name,

your first word.

With Snacks

From justcallmechris.blogspot.com

With Sand

http://jen-peacefulparenting.blogspot.com

With Sheet Protector 

http://onehotcrafty-mama.blogspot.com

With Rocks

http://www.etsy.com/listing/64654867/alphabet-sea-stones

Avocado Ice Pop

Avocado Ice Pops

(Adapted from Paletas, by Fany Gerson) found via Cup of Jo

1 cup water

½ cup sugar

2 small ripe avocados

Pinch of salt

2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice

Combine the water and sugar in a small saucepan and cook over medium-high heat, stirring, until the mixture comes to a boil and the sugar has dissolved. Let cool to room temperature.

Cut the avocados in half lengthwise. Remove the pit and scoop the flesh into a bowl, along with the cooled syrup and salt. Mash and stir until smooth. (You can also do this in a blender, but we just stirred by hand.) Add the lime juice and stir just until combined.

Divide the mixture among your popsicle molds, snap on the lid and freeze until solid, about 5 hours.

Filling Snacks

http://charlottetrounce.tumblr.com/

Whole grain cracker + hard boiled egg + tomato slice

Carrots + hummus

Wheat english muffin + turkey + avocado + strawberry

Apple + pb + honey

Whole grain bread + tuna + cheese (broil)

Toddler Treats

http://www.ontobaby.com/2011/11/matryoshka-doll-birthday-party/

http://almostunschoolers.blogspot.com/2011/05/orange-slice-butterflies.html

Print @ http://www.scribd.com/doc/61965781/Mason-Jar-Lunch-Printable

1. Apple slices

2. Home popped popcorn

3. Celery sticks

4. Hummus and veggies

5. Tuna on crackers

6. String cheese

7. Roasted pumpkin seeds or squash seeds

8. Applesauce

9. Frozen grapes

10. Almonds

11. Craisins

12. Olives

13. Guacamole and chips

14. Clementines

15. Quick fruit smoothie (frozen berries, ripe banana, yogurt)

16. Hard boiled egg

17. Roasted chickpeas

18. Cottage cheese with peaches

19. Cinnamon raisin almond balls

20. Fruit leather

21. Crackers and cheese

22. Mini fruit salad (Strawberries, kiwi, blackberries)

23. Dip banana slices in yogurt, roll in coconut and freeze

24. Cantaloupe

25. Apple slices with nut butter, cinnamon, and raisins

26. Yogurt

27. Chips and salsa

28. Whole wheat bread spread with nut butter

29. One ingredient banana ice cream

30. Kefir smoothie

31. Pineapple

32. Homemade popsicle (Blend together frozen berries, yogurt and banana, pour into molds, freeze.)

33. Granola

34. Raisins

35. Nectarine

36. Baked cheese crisps

37. Parfait (Yogurt, strawberries, granola)

38. Pickles

39. Homemade Larabar

40. Carrot sticks

41. Grapefruit

42. Cucumber slices

43. No-bake energy bites

44. Grilled cheese sandwich

45. Crackers spread with nut butter

46. Frozen banana bites

47. Trail mix (Make your own by throwing together craisins, almonds, sunflower seeds, and dried blueberries or cherries)

48. Dried apricots

49. Tropical smoothie (Mango, pineapple, strawberries, yogurt)

50. Apple chips

51. Broccoli florets

52. Fruit sushi

53. Blueberries

54. Fruit kabob

55. Baked potato

56. Pink hummus and veggies

57. Frozen pineapple

58. Dried fruit mix

59. Pistachios

60. Kale chips

61. Beef jerky

62. Yogurt frozen

63. Homemade graham crackers

64. Banana

65. Frozen applesauce slushy

66. Pears sprinkled with cinnamon

67. Oven roasted fries

68. Granola Bars

69. Yogurt bites

70. Cheese slices

71. Spinach artichoke dip and crackers

72. Watermelon (For added fun, cut into shapes with cookie cutters)

73. Kiwi (Cut in half and scoop out with a spoon)

74. Orange slices

75. Toast

76. Zucchini chips

77. Tortilla and cheese

275 degrees 2 hours for apple chips

via http://www.delightedmomma.com/

Yogurt + Wax Paper + Freeze

(+ frozen and dipped in chocolate)

Smoothies

Kate’s Power Smoothie

Recipe by Our Best Bites

1 cup orange juice (preferably the good stuff, like the not-from-concentrate orange juice)

3 tablespoons oat groats or 2 tablespoons steel cut oats (optional…kind of…)*

3/4 cup fat-free vanilla Greek yogurt (make sure it’s Greek and not Greek-style)

1 1/2 cups frozen blueberries

3 cups baby spinach leaves

1 1/2 cups crushed ice

*To help your blender out, you can soak the oak groats in the orange juice overnight (either in the jar of your blender or in in a glass). This will make it easier to blend and will also eliminate a lot of the grittiness from the oats.

Oatmeal Smoothie via Martha Stewart 1 cup ice 1/2 cup frozen raspberries 1/2 cup plain lowfat yogurt 1 banana 1/2 cup old-fashioned rolled oats 1 tablespoon honey 1 cup coconut water (or other liquid, such as juice)

Ice + cream of coconut + frozen limeaid + water

Orange Push-Up Smoothie via loveveggiesandyoga.com

1 can orange juice concentrate, slightly thawed (Hawaii's Own Mango Orange)
1 cup milk (half and half, cream, nut milk, soy milk)
1/2 cup sugar, or to taste (you can reduce the sugar or use an alternate sugar substitute such as stevia but it won’t taste as close to classic Orange Push-Ups. Many people use much more than 1/2 cup, myself included. I used about 1 cup in my version)
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups ice, or to taste
Combine all ingredients, except ice, in a large blender or Vita-Mix and blend until smooth and creamy, taking care the sugar has dissolved and is well incorporated.  If desired, add a splash more water or more milk.  Add the ice and blend until smooth.
Makes approximately three eight-ounce portions.

Watermelon Frosty: 2 1/4 cups frozen watermelon cubes
1/2+ cup water
2 Tbsp maple syrup
1 lemon, squeezed
1/2 banana


2 cups ripe mango chunks (from 1-2 mangos)
2-3 tablespoons fresh lime juice
2 cups unsweetened coconut water
Pinch of cayenne powder

1 cup kale or collard greens firmly packed, stems removed, coarsely chopped (4 oz.)
1 Granny Smith apple, coarsely chopped
1 ripe banana
1/2 cup loosely packed fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves
2 1/4 cups water

1 ripe banana
1 1/2 cups frozen blueberries (6 oz.)
1 tablespoon lemon juice
3 tablespoons almond butter
2 tablespoons flaxseeds
3 dates (Medjool or Deglet), pitted
2 cups water

2 cups mixed frozen berries (9oz.)
1 cup unsweetened pomegranate juice
1 cup water

1 small red beet (equivalent to 1/2 cup), peeled and coarsely chopped
1 medium-sized carrot, peeled and coarsely chopped (about 1/2 cup)
1 sweet apple, such as Honeycrisp or Pink Lady, coarsely chopped
1 ripe pear, such as red Bartlett or red D'Anjou, coarsely chopped
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
2 teaspoons minced fresh ginger
2 cups water

1 cup boiling water
1 cup raw cashews
1 cup ice
1 vanilla bean, seeds scraped (reserve the bean itself for another use), or 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 tablespoon agave nectar

2 navel oranges, peel and pith removed, cut into chunks
1 cup frozen blueberries
1 cup frozen raspberries

1/2 cup silken tofu
1 ripe banana
2 cups frozen mixed berries
1/2 cup fresh orange juice

1 ripe banana
2 cups frozen strawberries (8 ounces)
1 cup soy milk
2 tablespoons honey


1 cup low-fat buttermilk
2 ripe bananas
11 dates, dried and pitted
1 teaspoon honey
Pinch of salt
1 cup ice

1 1/2 cups frozen blackberries
1/2 cup low-fat plain yogurt
1/2 cup low-fat buttermilk
1 tablespoon honey
1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 ripe banana
1 1/2 cups frozen strawberries (10-oz. package)
3/4 cup plain low-fat yogurt
2 tablespoons honey

1 ripe banana
1 cup frozen blueberries
1 cup low-fat plain yogurt
4 teaspoons flaxseeds
1 tablespoon honey

1 ripe banana
2 teaspoons freshly grated ginger
1 cup fresh orange juice
2 tablespoons honey
1 cup ice

1/2 ripe avocado, peeled and pit removed
1/4 cup low-fat plain yogurt
1/2 cup pear juice
1 tablespoon honey
1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 cup ice

2 cups frozen mango chunks
1 cup fresh carrot juice
1 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
1/4 cup fresh herbs, such as mint, tarragon, or basil

4 ripe kiwi, peeled and halved
1/2 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
1 tablespoon agave nectar
1 cup ice

1 ripe banana
1/2 cup low-fat plain yogurt
1/2 cup skim milk
1/4 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
2 teaspoons flaxseeds
1 tablespoon honey
1 cup ice

1 ripe banana
1 cup low-fat milk
1/4 cup peanut butter
2 tablespoons honey
1/2 cup ice

1 ripe banana
1 cup low-fat milk
1/4 cup almond butter
1 tablespoon honey
2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 cup ice
1 ripe banana

1 1/2 cups frozen blackberries (8 oz.)
1 cup fresh orange juice
2 tablespoons toasted wheat germ

1 cup fresh carrot juice
1 green apple, peeled, cored, and chopped
2 teaspoons freshly grated ginger
1 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
1 tablespoon honey

1. Freeze carrot juice in an ice cube tray.
2. Combine with remaining ingredients in a blender, and blend until smooth.

1/2 English cucumber, peeled and chopped
1/2 honeydew melon, peeled and chopped (2 cups)
1 cup pear juice
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1/4 cup fresh mint leaves
Combine all ingredients in a blender, and blend until smooth.

Read more at Wholeliving.com: Whole Living Action Plan 2011 -- Food and Recipes -- 28-Day Challenge