Metal Detecting with TricDigger

 

One thing that our oldest son has become fascinated with is metal detecting. It has quickly grown to a family and friends thing with him. He loves going out and spending time in nature as it is but the metal detecting has him going on adventures now. Not only is he finding neat things but also historical stuff. This hobby has proved to be a awesome one because it also helps clean trash and broken glass out of our rivers and lakes. 

Do It Yourself Sugar Scrub

 

I love how my skin feels after I use a sugar scrub on it. I do not however like the price of most sugar scrubs. I am also weary of buying them because I do not know what all is being put in them (chemical wise). When I started my new journey with Young Living Essential Oils it opened the doors for me to be able to make my own beauty and cleaning supplies. The first thing I made was a sugar scrub and I love it and how easy it is to make. 

Ulysses Press: Smart Mom's Guide to Essential Oils

 *This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, you'll be helping to feed the little angels here at Snowbirds to Seashores.

Since I started my new journey with Young Living Essential Oils I have been trying to build my collection of books that go along with Essential Oils. I love having books with recipes and ideas of how to treat my family with a more holistic approach. I have also been switching my cleaning supplies over to more natural things. I am very excited about my newest book Smart Mom's Guide to Essential Oils: Natural solutions for a healthy family, toxin-free home and happier you. 

Treat Your Family to Imagine Soups

 

  

 I live with very picky eaters. My oldest doesn't like what the middle boy eats and the baby doesn't like it if its not eggs or chicken. I received the Imagine soups and knew this was going to be something that I ate by myself. I was not upset about that though. I just love soups. They are easy and usually last a day or two. The bad part about soups most of the time though, is the fat, calories and stuff they add that is not healthy or needed in a soup, in my opinion. When I got the Imagine Soups the first thing I noticed immediately was that they say Organic on a few of them. The next thing was I flipped them over and seen on the back of them it states *NON-GMO ingredients, non dairy, no added MSG, no artificial ingredients or preservatives. Some of them are also gluten free so there is a soup for everyone. The first one I tried was the organic vegetable broth. I ended up putting it in vegetable soup and it was so yummy. It is pre-seasoned which was so helpful to me because I usually end up forgetting the seasoning till its done and I eat it. I used the organic chicken broth in chicken and dumplings. I saved some of the broth and used it in mashed potatoes too and it made it so creamy and flavorful.

Homemade Flubber (water putty)

 Homemade Flubber (water putty)

Are you looking for a fun activity to do with your kiddos? How about making homemade Flubber also known as Water Putty...
As you do, this activity think about our need for clean water and ways to use it wisely.

Chicken Noodle Soup

 Chicken Noodle Soup

What you will need:
1 1/2 lbs chicken cooked and either shredded or cubed (leftover roisterer chicken works the best)
2 stalks of celery chopped
3 carrots chopped
1 tablespoon butter
1 tablespoon flour
2 cans or 3 1/2 cups Organic Chicken Broth
1 cup water
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/2 teaspoon fresh parsley
2 cups uncooked egg noodles

What you will do:
Melt the butter in a skillet and saute' the carrots and celery for 3 minutes. Then add the flour and cook for another minute. Add the carrots and celery and remaining ingredients to your crock pot then gradually stir in the broth, water, salt and pepper. Cook on low for 2-3 hours or until the noodles are tender.

ENJOY!! 

Quarto Doodling Books

 *This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, you'll be helping to feed the little angels here at Snowbirds to Seashores.

Pumpkin is one of the artists in the family and loves getting books that teach him new techniques. He keeps all his drawings into a big 3 ring binder so he can show them off. The binder goes with him everywhere even school. I love his creativity and his unique drawing style. I am so excited and can not wait to give him two wonderful doodling books for Christmas.

Sneaky Blends Cookbook

 *This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, you'll be helping to feed the little angels here at Snowbirds to Seashores.

 

  I am all about eating and being healthy. The only problem I really have with that is, the food I do not like is kale, broccoli, spinach which are pretty much what is good for you. I have the Sneaky Chef book which tells you how to sneak healthy ingredients into foods and the kids do not even know they are eating healthy. The kids could not tell that they were eating the healthy foods and they could not taste it so I decided to try it for myself. This book is by the same author so I knew it would be great. I received the Sneaky Blends book by Missy Chase Lapine.

Tomato Basil Soup

 Tomato Basil Soup

- Depending on the amount of soup you'd want, get between 25 and 30 large, ripe tomatoes. (These also come in cans if you don't want to peel them yourself).
- Peel the skins off all the tomatoes, and put them in a large pot with the juice on low heat.

- Sprinkle in some pepper. This is done to taste, so don't go overboard here because you can always add some later if needed.
- After the tomatoes have been simmering on a low heat for around 45 minutes to an hour, use an immersion blender or scoop the still-whole tomatoes into a blender and puree.

- Put about a cup and a half  of whole basil leaves in a food processor, and grind them up. This is to taste though, so add slowly until you reach the desired basil-ness. Add to the soup. You can also use dried basil if fresh is not available to you.

- Continue to let the soup simmer, the thicker and less watery it becomes.


 Enjoy this wonderful soup with Grilled Cheese or some fresh sourdough bread.

Chocolate Chip Cookies

 Best-Ever Chocolate Chip Cookies

What You Need:

2 cups plus 2 tablespoons all purpose unbleached flour

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt
12 tablespoons (1 1/2 sticks) butter, melted and cooled a little
1 cup packed light brown sugar
1/2 cup granukated sugar

1 large egg and 1 egg yolk
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract ( I used Haitian Vanilla but I know not everyone has that available)

1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

What You Do:

Preheat your oven to 325* degrees.

In a medium bowl whisk the flour, baking soda and salt together. Set aside. Either by hand or with your mixture mix together the melted butter, salt and light brown sugar until thoroughly blended. Mix in the egg, egg yolk and vanilla until combined. Add the dry ingredients and  beat on low speed (or mix by hand with a spatula) just until combined. Stir in the chocolate chips. Make about 1 in balls and place on your cookie sheets. Bake for 15-18 minutes and then allow to cool on cookie sheet.

This recipe yields about 2 dozen cookies

ENJOY!!!

Yummy Turkey Cookies

 Turkey Cookies

Have a Bite to Eat of this Frightful Treat - Jack Skellington Cookies

 

It's time to get into the Halloween spirit by creating yummy treats at home with your family. Homemade decorative sugar cookies are the perfect treat for this ghoulish season! Here is a recipe for delicious Jack Skellington Sugar Cookies courtesy of Walt Disney Parks & Resorts:

Jack Skellington Sugar Cookies

makes 18 cookies

Spinach & Herb Chicken

Spinach & Herb Chicken

  

What you will need:
8 chicken tenders or 1 1/2lbs chicken breasts
2 Tbsp Spinach & Herb Dip Mix
1/2 cup EVOO (Extra Virgin Olive Oil)
1 1/2 Tbsp White Wine (I use the cooking kind)
1 cup chicken broth
1 box of CousCous cooked according to package


What you will do:
 Add the chicken to your crock-pot. In a bowl combine the EVOO, Spinach & Herb Mix and White Wine.
Pour the mixture over your chicken and allow to cook on low 6-8 hours or until chicken is tender. Serve the chicken over couscous.

Makes 4-5 servings.


ENJOY!! 

Homemade Sloppy Joes

 Homemade Sloppy Joes

What you will need:
1.5 lbs lean ground beef
1 can tomato soup
1 can tomato paste
 1 can tomato sauce
1 small onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
1 red bell pepper, chopped
1/4 cup brown sugar
salt and pepper to taste
package of your favorite rolls or buns

What you will do:
Brown the hamburger with the onions and drain off fat. Transfer the meat to your crock pot and add remaining ingredients. Cook on low for 2-3 hours.


ENJOY!! 

FRANKENWEENIE inspired Recipes

 FRANKENWEENIE

And here are some yummy recipes just in time for Halloween!!

Balsamic Pork Roast

Balsamic Pork Roast  

 What You Need:

2 pound boneless pork shoulder roast (sirloin roast)

seasoned salt, to taste

1/2 tsp garlic powder

½ teaspoon red pepper flakes

1/4 cup chicken or vegetable broth

1/4 cup balsamic vinegar

1 tablespoon honey 

What You Do:

Combine the salt, garlic and pepper flakes in a small dish then rub all over the roast. Place the roast in your crock pot. In another bowl combine the chicken broth and vinegar, then pour over the roast. Drizzle the honey over the roast. Cook on High for 4-6 hours or until roast is tender.

I served my roast with Honey Glazed Carrots and my Homemade Rolls.

Baked Sun Dried Tomato Crusted Tilapia

Baked Sun Dried Tomato Crusted Tilapia

 What You Need:

1 cup seasoned breadcrumbs 2 teaspoons onion powder1 teaspoon garlic powder2 teaspoons paprika1 teaspoon salt2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese8 sun dried tomatoes, packed in oil2 tablespoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil4 Tilapia fillets1/3 cup flour1 egg beaten
What You Do:
Place the breadcrumbs, onion powder, garlic powder, paprika, salt and Parmesan cheese into a food processor and pulse until everything is mixed well. Then add the sundried tomatoes and olive oil and pulse again until you have the consistency of coarse meal.Spread some olive oil in the bottom of your roasting pan and set it aside. Preheat your oven to 350*F. Rinse off your tilapia fillets with water and pat dry. Spread the flour onto a small/medium sized plate. Then put the beaten egg in a shallow bowl and the breadcrumbs in a bowl as well. Then you will start by dredging the tilapia fillets in the flour until lightly coated, then dip in the beaten egg until coated and let the excess drip off. Then place a handful of the breadcrumb mixture onto a large plate and place the fillet on top of the mixture. Then sprinkle a good amount of breadcrumb mixture over the top of the fillet and press them down with your fingers. When both sides of te fillet are well breaded, place the fillet in your roasting pan.

Place your roasting pan in the oven and bake for 15 minutes or until the fish is cooked through. To tell if the fish is done it will easily flake with a fork.

I serve steamed asparagus with hollandaise sauce with our tilapia. 

Nostalgia Electrics - Soft Pretzel Maker with Recipe

 

One thing my family loves to do is snack. But I try my hardest to give them the healthiest and best of everything which is not always easy. One of our favorite snacks it soft pretzels but the store bought ones are never as good as the fresh ones. With that said I am super excited to tell you about our new snack machine it is a Nostalgia Electrics soft pretzel maker. 

Chocolate Chip Banana Bread...Yummy

 This is one of my favorite recipes and I have won Blue Ribbons with it as well I hope you enjoy it as well.

Chocolate Chip Banana Bread:
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup butter (1 stick)
3/4 cup brown sugar
2 eggs, beaten
2 1/3 cups mashed overripe bananas
1 cup mini chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease 9x5 inch loaf pan.

In a large bowl combine flour, baking soda and salt. In a seperate bowl, cream together butter
and brown sugar. Stir in eggs and mashed bananas until well blended. Stir banana mixture into flour mixture; stir just to moisten. Stir in chocolate chips. Pour batter into prepared loaf pan.

Bake in preheated oven for 60 to 65 minutes, until toothpick inserted into center of loaf comes
out clean. Let bread cool in pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack.

BBQ Ribs

 BBQ Ribs

What you will need:
2 - 3 lbs pork ribs I use the ones that come individual so no cutting
1/2 cup light brown sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/2 tablespoon cayenne red pepper
1 tablespoon Rustic Herb
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1 medium onion, sliced
1 can cherry cola
2 cups of your favorite BBQ sauce ( we use sweet baby ray's)


What you will do:
Spray the inside of your crock-pot with cooking spray. Mix the brown sugar, salt, pepper, cayenne red pepper, rustic herb and garlic; rub the mixture into the ribs. Layer your ribs in your crock-pot along with the onion. Pour the cherry cola over the ribs. Cover and cook on low for 8-9 hours or until ribs are tender. When the ribs are tender remove them from the crock-pot and drain and discard the liquid from the crock-pot. Put your BBQ sauce in a medium shallow sized bowl. Dip the ribs into the sauce and then place back in the crock-pot and cook for 1 hour on low. These ribs will fall off the bone when done as you can easily see from my picture below. :-)

ENJOY!!