Valentine's Day Cookie Sampler

I’m always looking for cute gifts that I can send easily by mail to my friends and family in other cities for no reason or little occasions. Gifts that are $10 or less to send but still make an impact. I found an advertisement today for this adorable Valentine’s Day New Cookie Flavor Sampler from Cheryl’s. For just $9.99 you get 2 new Cocoa Sugar cookies, a Buttercream Frosted Hug Bug cookie, and 3  buttercream frosted heart shaped cut-out cookies in a cookie card box. And that includes the price of delivery!

Make someone’s day special with a cookie Valentine box for less than $10.

I am not a gourmet cook. I don’t even try new recipes all that often. I experiment a little but tend to stick with recipes that my family likes and I can make quickly while I am working. This Chicken and Noodles recipe is one that I have been experimenting with for about a year and always get rave reviews over. I think it is finally ready to pass along!

Slow Cooker Chicken and Noodles

Family Favorite Slow Cooker Chicken and Noodles

3 skinless chicken breast halves
4 cups chicken broth (2 cans)
2 cups water
16 oz. package Reamers frozen egg noodles (homestyle)
1 package frozen crinkle cut carrots
2 stalks of celery (optional)
onion
salt
pepper
poulty seasoning
2 T cornstarch

Directions:

1) Place the chicken, water, broth, salt (to taste), pepper (to taste), and celery (optional) in the crockpot on low for 4-6 hours until chicken is cooked the whole way through but not falling apart.

2) Remove the chicken and set aside. Put the noodles and carrots into the crockpot for 30-45 minutes depending on how soft you like your carrots.

3) Shred the chicken and sprinkle it with poultry seasoning to taste. Dissolve the cornstarch in a just enough water to liquify it.

4) When the noodles and carrots are done, return the chicken to the crockpot as well as the cornstarch mixture.

Cook for at least 30 minutes on high or leave it for up to a couple more hours on low, depending on how much you want the broth to turn to “gravy” as opposed to broth. You can even make it one day like this and refrigerate overnight and then return it to the crockpot to heat up briefly the next day if you like the gravy to be really thick or are making it ahead for company.

Chicken breasts are the easiest way to make it, but it will be more flavorful if you use other chicken parts. I always throw them in if I have them (like leftover rotisserie chicken). You just have to be very careful to strain your broth for bones before you put the noodles in. I also sometimes use frozen mirepoix (celery, onion, carrots) if I have it instead of the crinkle carrots. You can also cut everything up fresh, but the point of the recipe is to keep it as simple as possible!

At our house, we absolutely love the holidays. We love the family parties (my kids particularly relish time with their cousins), the music, the decorations, the iconic 1960s shows (Heat Miser, anyone?), even silly games in the car to make travel go by faster.

And we love, love, love the food.

Unfortunately, holiday food doesn’t always love us. My children may not be old enough to worry that a minute on the lips might really translate to a lifetime on the hips (or around the middle), but there’s more to it than that.

With our constant reminders to our kids of what’s healthy and what’s not, and what should be eaten in moderation — not scarfed down at top speed a la The Holidays — how can we justify feeding our children a steady diet of frosted cookies and white bread stuffing for the entire month of December?

Don’t get me wrong: we’re not perfect around here (and we wouldn’t want to be – we love being “us,” quirks and all). I aim for healthy, but when the holidays come, I’m dreaming of gingersnaps and gooey icing like everyone else. Is there a happy medium between “yum!” and “I can still close my pants?” In our house there is! My clever husband began coming up with healthy yet yummy food substitutions after experimenting with a cake for a kids Yo Gabba Gabba party at his neighbors, and I’ve taken up the challenge with ideas of my own.

Here are some of our favorite healthy, delicious holiday food substitutions. If you use even a few of these, you’re on the right track. And you’ll be teaching your kids that there really is such a thing as “good” and “good for you.” Enjoy, and happy holidays!

Delicious Holiday Appetizers and Drinks

• Festive fruit appetizer plate v. cheese and crackers. We found cute mini cookie cutters in holiday shapes at our local dollar store and an idea was born. Cut various fruits into slices, then use the cookie cutters to create festive shapes. Serve on a decorated holiday dish.
• Low-fat dips v. traditional dips. Nobody will ever know the difference — just sub low fat sour cream or low fat softened cream cheese (try neufchatel, which is naturally lower in fat) for the regular stuff.
• Wine v. holiday liqueurs. Obviously, this sub is for grown-ups only. You’ll save loads of calories and often, a dose of sugar by sipping some fabulous red wine with your holiday meal rather than something heavier.
• “Spritzers v. straight-up juice. Juice may come from fruits, but the processing means the sugars are highly concentrated. Add sparkling water or seltzer to your wine and to your kids’ holiday cranberry juice and cut the bad stuff down while maintaining a holiday flavor and feel.

At the Main Table

• Wild rice stuffing v. all-bread stuffing. Simmer wild rice in chicken stock; add one-quarter to one-half cup to your standard bread stuffing recipe. Stuff in your bird of choice or place in a greased baking dish, cover tightly with aluminum foil and bake in the oven at 350 for 45-60 minutes (always refer to your own recipe for temperatures, times and liquid amounts). Serve as a side dish.
• Mashed sweet potatoes v. a marshmallow-topped casserole. Really, sweet potatoes are sweet (hence the name) all by themselves. Scrape sweet potatoes and cut into thick chunks. Boil until just soft. Drain well. Mash as you would regular potatoes with a sprinkling of salt and some butter or Earth Balance spread. Mmm!
• Yogurt v. sour cream in holiday recipes. Plain yogurt has a tang and no sweetness; you’ll be surprised how much it really does taste like real sour cream. Look for yogurt with live, active cultures for the greatest health benefits.
• Whole grain flour blends for biscuits v. white flour. Just because it isn’t white doesn’t mean it isn’t delicious. Substitute half of the white flour in your recipe for whole wheat flour and you’ll add nutrients and fiber.
• Poultry v. red meat. Around here, we don’t believe red meat is the devil…but it does generally carry more fat per serving depending upon the cut. Remember: turkey isn’t just for Thanksgiving – it’s perfect for Christmas too. (Watch out for birds that really are high in fat overall, such as duck.)

Time For Dessert!

• Angel food cake v. fruitcake. Come on, nobody really eats the fruit cake anyway. But they will if you serve light, delicious angel food cake sprinkled with low-carb, delicious raspberries, blackberries and blueberries. Voila — you’ve cut your calories by better than half.
• Healthy quick breads v. regular cinnamon rolls or muffins. “Quick bread” simply means you’re not using yeast, so you don’t have to wait for the bread to rise. Try zucchini bread, pumpkin bread and carrot bread. You can even keep the cinnamon tradition by adding this yummy holiday spice to your quick bread of choice. Lower the sugar by 1/3 in your recipe and sub apple sauce for the butter. Frost with low-sugar cream cheese icing.
• Jelly or jam bars v. frosted cookies. My kids love helping me make these. They do include sugar, but rather than heaping more of the sweet stuff on top, you’re putting real fruit in the middle. Use no-sugar added jam. Delish!

Remember: when it comes to teaching healthy eating habits for a lifetime, your aim is progress, not perfection. Very few people can eat healthfully 100% of the time. There’s a place for tradition too – on the table and in our hearts.

Treat yourself and your family while making a few of the substitutions above and you’ll truly have a healthy and happy holiday.

Melanie Henson is a wife, mommy and occasional overachiever who believes kids really can like things that are good for them. As a contributor to Themeaparty.com, Melanie writes about hosting birthdays and organizing for the holidays, from décor to activities to yummy foods for both kids and adults. Check out some ideas for a party, where she shares her ideas and planning efforts with other busy parents just like herself.

Image credit: reutC/Flickr

Summer has passed and in the midwest all of the fresh fruit has gone with it. The price of strawberries has shot back up again and about the only thing priced right that looks good are the apples. Fruit is being shipping in more and more from all over the world and it doesn’t seem as ripe and fresh as it did just months ago. Every peach and pear that I buy now is hard and tasteless.

Did you know that you can easily ripen those fruits in a paper bag to make them softer and sweeter? Through some science involving ethylene gas, you can ripen up your fruit in just a day or two on your counter. The worst thing that you can do is keep the fruit in the plastic grocery bag and toss it into the refrigerator. Instead, stick a few pieces in a paper bag and close up that bag on your counter for 1-2 days. You will be amazed at how much better the fruit tastes when given a chance to ripen.

My first attempt at a garden produced HUGE zucchini. The irony is that my family doesn’t eat zucchini. But they were willing to give zucchini bread a try. I ended up combining a couple of different recipes and came up with the Zucchini and Chocolate Muffin recipe below. We tried out our new Slice products while making them (video at the bottom). The end result was a huge hit! The kids love them and all 24 were gone in 3 days. Luckily I froze enough shredded zucchini to make 2 more batches!

Zucchini and Chocolate Muffins (make 24)

Dry Ingredients
3 c all-purpose flour
1-1/2 c sugar
2 t cinnamon
2 t baking soda
1 t salt

Wet Ingredients
2 eggs, beaten lightly
1 c  vegetable oil
1/2 c milk
2 T lemon juice
1 t lemon zest
2 t vanilla extract

2 c shredded zucchini
1 c semisweet chocolate chips

Directions:
Mix dry ingredients in one bowl. Combine wet ingredients in separate bowl. Stir wet into dry ingredients until moistened. Fold in zucchini and chocolate chips. Fill greased, paper-lined muffin cups 2/3 full. Bake at 350 F for 22-25 minutes.

(I really don’t like spelling zucchini! I ended up looking for “zucini muffins” “zuchinni muffins” and a bunch of others before I finally got it right!)

With only a few weeks left before my kids go back to school, I’m pulling out all of my favorite summer recipes to make sure that we get through all of them at least one more. This is one that everyone asks me for each time that I make it. When I got it, it was called Celebration Cake, but I have heard other people call it Sunshine Cake, which I like better. It also helps clear up the confusion between this cake and the Celebration Cake that you can get on Disney cruises. It’s simple and low fat and great for summer!

Also, you can experiment with the cake flavors and pudding flavors. I like to use lemon in one or the other (but not both, it’s overkill–trust me). I also top with colored sprinkles.

Celebration Cake (Sunshine Cake)

Yellow Cake Mix — 1 box
1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
4 eggs (I use eggbeaters instead)
11 ounces mandarin oranges — 1 can

“Frosting” Ingredients
8 ounces Cool Whip Lite® — 1 small container
1 ounce fat-free vanilla instant pudding mix — small box
15 1/2 ounces crushed pineapple in juice — 1 can

Preheat oven to 350*. Stir together all ingredients by hand for 2 minutes.
Spray 9×13″ pan w/ cooking spray. Pour batter into pan. Bake 30-40 minutes.

FOLD all frosting ingredients together when cake is cool. Spread icing on cake & refrigerate.

Per serving: 215 Calories (kcal); 5g Total Fat; (20% calories from fat); 3g Protein; 39g Carbohydrate; 47mg Cholesterol; 248mg Sodium Food Exchanges: 0 Grain (Starch); 0 Lean Meat; 0 Vegetable; 1/2 Fruit; 1/2 Fat; 1/2 Other Carbohydrates

Serving Size: 16

The other day I was looking for a couple of Lunchables to grab for my kids. I’m not a huge fan of them, but sometimes they are really convenient. I happened to notice two new ones by Oscar Mayer that said “Sandwich Combos” on them and another woman was also looking at them and talking about them with her teen daughter. I grabbed the “Honey Ham and Swiss” to investigate more closely.

The Combo contained one of those “thin sandwich bun” things (all the rage on Weight Watchers these days), reduced fat Swiss cheese, honey ham, deli mustard, a JELL-O Sugar Free Mousse Temptation in chocolate, and a NABISCO 100 Calorie Ritz Baked Snack Mix. I eat all of those! So I bought it and had it for lunch yesterday. It was actually really good. The nutritional information says that it is 390 calories with 13g of fat and 6g of fiber. Not too bad for a lunch. The only thing missing was a piece of fruit or some carrot sticks.

I will definitely buy these in the future when I am in a hurry or need something to quickly grab for a picnic lunch. They had a turkey variety as well but I can’t remember what else was in it. I’m very happy to see Oscar Mayer promoting healthier choices!

I’m not a huge cook, but I do try to make healthy meals for my family most nights. I am an avid slow cooker user (at least once a week–and sometimes 2 of them at a time). That’s why my very favorite cookbook is Fix-It and Forget-It Lightly by Phyllis Pellman Good.

I was originally turned onto the cookbook by some friends in the Sunshine Rewards forum. Since I have started using it, I get requests from my other friends almost every time I make a recipe out of it. Crowd favorites are Taco Soup, Roasted Chicken, and Chicken and Dumplings. I made the Chicken Soft Taco recipe for Bunko one night and ended up making 5 copies of the recipe to send home with people.

The cookbook sells for less than $10, and I just saw that there is a revised and updated version coming out this month. My own version is about 7 years old, but I will probably buy the new one just to see what has changed. It might also help to have some clean pages because mine are well worn! The new version says that it contains 600 recipes. I’m not sure about my version, but it is probably close to that. They all have the nutritional information listed so that you can see exactly what you are eating. In my case, I also use it to figure up Weight Watchers points.

Check out both the old and new versions of Fix It and Forget-It Lightly. Buy one for a friend and you will both love it!

If your daughter never misses an opportunity to play dress up, chances are good that she will love having a tea party with her closest friends and you. In fact, she may have already asked you about hosting one in your home for her upcoming birthday. Especially with somebody’s royal wedding coming up, chances are that “tea party” will again mean tea, crumpets and silly hats!

The Invitations

Given that tea parties are about your daughter’s first attempt at being a grown up, you could offer to have her invitations printed up. Indeed you would likely never indulge this luxury if she were having a party with 25 of her closest friends, but a tea party to be “just right”, you’ll want to have no more than the number of girls that matches your daughter’s upcoming age.

The invitations could read something like this:

Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Payne
Request the honor of your presence as they celebrate the joyous occasion of
their daughter Emily Jane’s eighth birthday.

Please wear your fanciest dress as we sip tea and eat sandwiches.

Hats and gloves are encouraged

Tea starts promptly at 4 o’clock in the afternoon of 16, April 2011
Please RSVP by or before 10, April 2011

If you don’t already own a formal tea set, you can easily find one at your local vintage shop. If you do not live near one or they have one, but it’s missing a teacup or two, eBay will undoubtedly have one that your daughter will fall in love with. Given that it’s eBay, you’ll likely be able to bid or one for a relatively inexpensive. It may have been used before and perhaps quite antique. It may also be a new one, still in its original packaging. You never know precisely what you’ll find (and sometimes that’s very cool!)

The Table Centerpiece

Depending on the length and shape of your table, you can add a few adornments to the centerpiece, such as something she holds dear – a stuffed animal, or perhaps or a photograph of her grandmother or other ancestor. Be sure to place at least one sugar and one creamer at either end of the table to avoid spills and too much reaching with little arms.

Might I Suggest a Sandwich to Accompany Your Tea, Mademoiselle?

Traditionally, cream cheese and cucumber sandwiches, with a touch of dill, are served at formal teas. Below are some recipes to consider making:

Cucumber and Cream Cheese Sandwiches

Ingredients

• 10 whole wheat bread slices
• All natural cream cheese
• 2 Cucumbers, peeled and sliced thinly

Prep:

Let cream cheese sit out for about two hours to soften up. (Alternatively, you can put in a food processor).

Spread your cream cheese onto half the slices of bread. Add 4 cucumber slices and a sprig of dill. Knowing how much little girls despise edges, best to remove them. Lastly, create fun shapes – triangles, rectangles, circles, etc.

Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwiches

Make these sandwiches as you would normally. Again, slice off the edges and cut into fun shapes. If there’s still some room on the platter with the cream cheese and cucumber sandwiches, add them.

Ham and Cheese Sandwiches

Ingredients

• 10 slices whole wheat bread
• 1 pound your favorite ham, sliced
• ½ pound sliced cheddar cheese
• ½ pound sliced Swiss cheese
• Mustard and mayonnaise

Prepare these sandwiches as you normally would. After you’ve removed the edges, and cut into cute shapes, add to a platter.

Your Daughter’s Favorite Fruit and Whip Cream

Whipping cream is very easy. In a mixing bowl, blend 2 cups of heavy cream and 4 tablespoons of sugar. Mix until whipped. Pour over berries.

Preparing Tea

You may use tea bags or a strainer filled with your daughter’s favorite black tea. If you have concerns about giving that many little girls such a large boost of caffeine to go with their already “amped up” energies, (given all the sugar in the cookies and jelly), use decaffeinated or herbal teas. A teaspoonful of tea leaves per cup of boiling water promises the best flavor.

As Guests Arrive

Be sure to greet your daughter’s guests by referring to them as “Miss” or “Mademoiselle” and welcome them into your home, offering to, if appropriate, remove their coats. Show them to the table and ask your butler (aka your husband) to begin the festivities. Do ensure you take plenty of photographs. Enjoy!

About the Author: Chris has 2 preschool daughters, and his eldest has already been to a fairy princess tea party. Daddy will definitely be a butler for her and her friends this spring! Chris writes about party themes and is editor of Themeaparty.com.

Gumbo for Mardi Gras

For those of us who live outside New Orleans, (ie North Dakota), having a parade outside, dressing in silly costumes and finding ways to collect beads (ahem) may not work well if your upturned jester shoes keep slipping on the ice and your mask keeps freezing to your face. Most cities will have their own Mardi Gras festivities, but you know what, this is a perfect occasion to invite friends and family you haven’t seen since … New Year’s. If you and your house have the winter blues , it’s time to inject some jazz and Louisiana Cajun spices into the air. Put the call out for a gumbo party!

Costumes May Apply

First, decide if you want the costumes. Come on, let’s make this fun! Nothing elaborate, most of what you and your guests will find may likely already be in the closet. Just look for anything purple, yellow and green. Or make one yourself.

An easy way to make your own costume is to find some sweat pants and a long or short sleeved T-shirt in one or two of the Mardi Gras colors. Use a pair of scissors to cut the shirt sleeves in long fringe strips. Do the same to the midriff. If you really want to go all out, find some craft sparkle beads and thread them through the fringes. Wear a short sleeve black or dark purple shirt underneath if you don’t want your kids peering at the lint in your belly button. Do the same to your pants, up to the knee.

Okay, now you look like a Mardi Gras hippie, and that’s okay! Don some beads, a simple mask with some feathers and glitter glue pasted on (hmm, craft idea for your kids), and you’re all set!

In your invitations, indicate what guests should wear, and of course have the option to allow simply a mask or even just beads to show the spirit. It’s all good! Buy a bunch of beaded necklaces (available at any dollar store) so everyone will be wearing at least one piece of Mardi Gras attire.

Gumbo Parade

Even if you don’t know much about Mardi Gras, you’re probably aware that it involves a very colorful parade. What you probably don’t know is that in the Cajun Tradition, the parade is a daylong quest for Gumbo ingredients. Costumed men on horseback go door to door begging for ingredients, and usually go through humorous tasks like chasing down live chickens to get them. This is the main event of the holiday.

I wouldn’t recommend introducing live chickens to your house (it just gives your husband that chance to quip about the pecking of hens), but cooking gumbo should still be at the center of your activities.

A fun idea would be for everyone to bring a surprise Gumbo ingredient. Make sure you have the essentials, a broth, and okra, but beyond that, anything goes. People can bring a spice, meat (already cooked), or vegetable that they want to contribute to the gumbo.

Make concocting the Gumbo the first activity of the evening. Throw all the bits and pieces in a crock pot, and call it gumbo. Let it stew for an hour. It’s sure to be tasty and surprising!

Other Treats

While the Gumbo simmers, be sure to have some other treats available. One dish that will be perfect as a side is called ‘dirty rice,’ a Cajun-style fried rice. It’s made by sauteing chopped onion, celery, garlic, green pepper, spices, and cooked rice together. It is not uncommon to use chopped chicken livers and/or giblets, which give it the ‘dirty’ look.

The traditional drink of the day is beer (who knew?) If you choose to go with this option, be sure to have a couple different types available. Try an amber brew with some spice to it, as this should compliment your gumbo nicely.

Another, more unique southern cocktail is Brandy and Herbsaint Milk Punch. Herbsaint is a liquor that tastes of anise.

For 8-10 people:

• 1 quart whole milk
• 1 1/4 cups brandy
• 1/4 cup Herbsaint
• 1/4 cup sugar

Mix it all together and serve it in a punch bowl with ice. You can add more sugar or brandy to match your personal preference. Have a small spice shaker of nutmeg available to garnish. This drink appeals to a rather specific taste.

If that’s not the taste of your guests, try a Hurricane:

For 2 -3 people:

• 3 parts light rum
• 3 parts dark rum
• 2 parts orange juice
• 2 parts lime juice
• 4 ounces passion fruit syrup
• 2 teaspoons of pomegranate grenadine or pom juice

For the kids, replace rum with ginger ale and orange juice.

Finally, try the classy 1900s Highball, the Roffignac:

• 2 parts cognac
• 1 part raspberry syrup
• Top off with club soda

Good food, good company, sparkly beads and gumbo. Sounds like my idea of a great party! You and your guests will be bringing the warm south into your home, and all will get a satisfying taste of the more rural Mardi Gras traditions. Enjoy, because Lent is the next day!

Written by Chris Molnar, owner of Themeaparty. Definitely not a native of the south, he nevertheless stumbles through the winter’s snow to grab gumbo ingredients and Cajun spices, then listens to Jazz while cooking. Check out his Mardi Gras party page for more ideas.