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. 

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.

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!! 

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.

Yummy Turkey Cookies

 Turkey Cookies

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!! 

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. 

Baked Salisbury Steak

 Baked Salisbury Steaks:

1 1/2lbs lean hamburger (93% or Organic meat)

1/2 cup dry Italian Bread Crumbs

1 egg

1/4 tsp salt

1/8 tsp pepper

1 Tbsp Onion Onion 

1/2 tsp Garlic Garlic

1/2 Tbsp Bacon Bacon

2 packets brown gravy mix

Sliced Mushrooms and Onions - Optional

What To Do:

Combine all ingredients except the gravy. 

Form into 6 oval patties and cook each patty in a skillet until browned on each side.

Then place them into a baking dish. 

Prepare the gravy as directed on the package and then pour over the steak patties. 

You can add sliced mushrooms or onions into this before baking if you would like.

Cover with aluminum foil. 

Bake in a 350*F oven for 1 hour. Serve with fresh steamed veggies.  

Scalloped Potatoes

 Scalloped Potatoes

What You Need:

2 pounds of potatoes washed
3 tsp butter, melted
olive oil spray (or any cooking spary)
1 tsp of salt and pepper
1 tsp garlic powder
4 oz cheddar cheese
1 1/4 cup milk
1 tsp bayleaf
1 tsp thyme


What You Do:
First peel and slice your potatoes they should be able 1/8 in thick.

Next place your sliced potatoes in a bowl with the melted butter, salt, pepper and garlic powder; toss to coat the potatoes.

In a saucepan bring the milk, thyme and bayleaf.

While waiting for your milk to boil, add a single layer of potatoes in a greased baking pan. Next, add a layer of cheese, then add your remaining potatoes. Add the remainder of the cheese and pour your milk over the potatoes.

Bake at 425 degrees for 40-50 minutes, let cool and enjoy!

ENJOY!!!

Protein Fruit Smoothie

 Protein Fruit Smoothie

What You Need:

1 cup Greek Vanilla Yogurt ( I used Chobani because it has the most protein)1/2 cup Vanilla Almond Milk1 cup fresh fruit
What You Do:Place all ingredients into your blender and blend until smooth. I then freeze the smoothie and place it in Pumpkin's lunch box and by the time he has lunch it is thawed and he can drink it.

In the smoothie pictured we used 1/2 cup fresh blueberries and a half of a banana. We have also done a mixed berry with fresh strawberries, blueberries and black raspberries. 

Fried Green Tomatoes

 Fried Green Tomatoes 

What You Need:
4 Large Firm Green Tomatoes
2 eggs
1/2 cup Buttermilk
1 cup flour
1/2 cup cornmeal
1/2 cup plain breadcrumbs
2 tsp coarse kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
vegetable oil for frying


What You Do:
Slice the tomatoes into 1/4 in thick slices and discard the ends.

Whisk the eggs and buttermilk together in a medium sized bowl. Place the flour onto a plate. Mix the cornmeal, breadcrumbs, salt and pepper on another plate. Dip the tomato slices into the flour to coat. Then dip them into the egg and milk mixture. Dredge in the breadcrumbs to completely coat.

In a large skillet pour the vegetable oil ( you'll need enough so that there is 1/2 inch of oil in the pan) and heat over medium heat. Place the tomatoes into the frying pan in batches of 4 to 5, depending on the size of your skillet. You do not want to crowd the tomatoes they should not touch each other. When the tomatoes are browned, flip them over and fry on the other side. Drain on a paper towel.

ENJOY!!!

Buffalo Chicken Dip

 Buffalo Chicken Dip

Ingredients:

2 (10 oz) cans of chunk chicken, drained

2 (8 oz) packages of cream cheese softened

1 C. Ranch dressing

3/4 C. pepper sauce, such as Franks Red Hot (I used a cup of Franks Red Hot b/c my family likes Hot Stuff)

1 1/2 C. shredded cheddar cheese

Directions:

Heat the chicken and hot sauce in a skillet over medium heat until heated through.  Stir in cream cheese and ranch dressing.  Cook and stir until well blended and warm.  Mix in half of the shredded cheese and transfer to a slow cooker.  Sprinkle remaining cheese over the top, cover, and cook on low setting until hot and bubbly.   Serve with celery sticks, crackers, tortilla chips or bread.

Pizza Lasagna

 Pizza Lasagna

What You Need:

1 jar of pizza sauce

1 large can of crushed tomatoes

1 large container of cottage cheese or ricotta

1 package (4 cups) mozzarella cheese

2 eggs

2 packages of pepperoni about 45 pepperonis

2 tablespoon Mama Mia Marinara Sauce Mix

1 box of lasagna noodles (can be oven ready)
Anything you like on your pizza can be added to this recipe just add in with the pepperoni layers

What You Do:

Preheat your oven to 375* degrees. While the oven is preheating if you are using noodles that need cooked cook them now. Spray a 9x13 baking dish with non-stick cooking spray.

In a large bowl mix the pizza sauce, crushed tomatoes and 1 tablespoon of the Mama Mia Marinara Sauce Mix together. In another medium sized bowl combine the cottage cheese, 2 cups mozzarella, 2 eggs and 1 tablespoon Mama Mia Marinara Sauce Mix. 

Spread some of your pizza sauce mixture in the bottom of your 9x13 baking dish then add a layer of noodles. On top of your noodles add a layer of the cheese mixture, a layer of pepperoni, top with sauce and then continue your layers. You should get about 2-3 layers after you do the final layer of noodles add sauce on top of noodles then the remaining 2 cups of mozzarella cheese and another layer of pepperoni's. 

Bake for 25 minutes covered and then uncover and bake for an additional 5 minutes or until cheese is starting to brown. Serve with garlic bread and a tossed salad.  

ENJOY!!!

Handy Tips for Traveling Abroad with Kids

 

Handy Tips for Traveling Abroad with Kids

 

Traveling with children can be a headache at times, and that can be even more so when going overseas. Travel times are longer, the kids are more on edge from being out of their element, and depending on where you go, the parents also have the added burden of trying to handle things in a place where no one speaks their language. Despite all that, it’s still worth it. Here are a few tips to help.

Take Pics of your Kids

It's a vacation, so you're going to be taking pictures of your children all over the place. What we mean here is something different, and not nearly as fun as funny poses in front of the world's art treasures. Every day before going out, take a full body picture of your kids dressed in what they'll be wearing for the day. Should the unthinkable happen, or they simply get lost, authorities will have a current image to help them in the search.

How Do You Say Goodnight?

 *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 recently received the opportunity to review an adorable bedtime book with the kids titled How Do You Say Good Night? I quickly feel in love with this adorable book and have been enjoying reading it with the little ones before bed. I am not sure about you but we love to read a good story and cuddle before bed. I think it creates wonderful lasting memories not only for me and Mr. Anderson but also for the kids. It also enhances their love for books. 

Tips for Planning a Family Ski Trip

 

As the weather gets chillier and the school holidays approach, lots of families are excitedly looking forward to hitting the slopes for some skiing and snowboarding. Whether you’re a lifelong skier and are looking forward to teaching your kids for the first time, or you’re all beginners excited to play in the snow, it’s great fun for all. We all know that travelling with kids can be challenging, especially when they’re young - so here’s some tips for a fuss-free holiday.

Getting the Most Out of a Family Vacation

 

Getting the Most Out of a Family Vacation

Family vacations are meant to bring loved ones together on an adventure of a lifetime. Without proper planning, however, these getaways can be more stressful than relaxing. It's possible to have a spectacular vacation on nearly any budget when travelers consider their interests and plan itineraries several months before the trip. Get the most out of a family vacation by following a few simple guidelines.

Goodbye Summer 2021

 

 It seems like Summer came to a end to quickly this year. Luckily we had planned a great family trip to close out the kids summer before school started back into session. Though the trip started off on a very rocky note thanks to our car dyeing as soon as we got into Florida we did not let that keep us from making the most of everything. We got to spend a week away with the kids just relaxing and reconnecting. 

7 Fitness Tips for Summer Vacation Travel

 

It's vacation season, and for many that means visiting faraway friends, exploring new places and possibly even crossing some things off the ol' bucket list.

Unfortunately, traveling often also means lots of sitting, interrupted sleep patterns due to time zone changes, unhealthy eating, and workout routines that are sporadic, if not nonexistent.

According to Orrville physical therapist Jason McDonald, however, travel doesn't have to be synonymous with unhealthy habits and a lack of exercise.

"Vacations are a time to reboot mentally while reconnecting with friends and family, but this doesn't have to happen at the expense of your health," said McDonald, co-owner of Onsite Therapy Solutions in Orrville. "With just a little forethought and planning, you can stay active and healthy throughout your trip, whether it lasts a few days or a few weeks."