The Not So Simple Mommy

Monday, May 18, 2015

Mexican style couscous salad

Since it is getting hotter outside, we have been going on a ton of picnics. So I have had to get creative and make more than a ham sandwich and potato chips. I came up with this easy and delicious couscous salad.

What you will need
3 cups couscous, cooked
1 diced tomato
1 can of black beans, rinsed
1 can of corn, drained
1 avocado, diced
Juice of 1 small lime
2 tsp guacamole mix

Chopped cilantro

Mix all ingredients in a large bowl.
Top with extra cilantro

Let sit for an hour for flavors to combine

Can be eaten at room temperature or chilled

Chocolate chip cake cookies

Yep, you read that right. Cake cookies. Your 2 favorite things combined! These are so decant and chewy plus the chocolate chips add a little something extra. Feel free to add more ingredients and make this your own! I plan to add walnuts next time.

First preheat your oven to 350

What you will need

1 box of cake mix (I used butter flavor)
1 tsp vanilla
2/3 cup of applesauce
1/3 cup coconut oil, softened
1 1/2 cup chocolate chips

Mix all ingredients in a large bowl
Form into small balls of dough
Bake for 10-12 minutes and they should be a beautiful golden color

*bake times vary on these cookies so keep an eye on them*

My son absolutely adored these cookies

Leftover Herbs

I really dislike wasting food. Since it is spring time and all of my herb plants are blooming, I have an excess of them. Thankfully I've found the perfect solution for storing and saving them so they stay fresh for months! TAKE THAT WINTER! I can still have beautiful fresh basil even in the snow.

So this is how I do it!

Wash your chopped herbs.

(I personally like to leave some whole and some chopped)

Place in an ice cube tray

Cover with Extra virgin olive oil

Freeze

Aren't these cute?!?! Perfect to liven up stews and sauces that have been cooking for hours. Or just add to eggs for a beautiful twist on a breakfast dish!

Saturday, May 16, 2015

The ultimate B.L.T

Every household in America has had a B.L.T. It's the same boring bacon sandwich with lettuce and tomato. Let's amp up your idea of this drab lunch item and make it into the ultimate experience.

First thing is first. Amp up that mayo!!

Mix 1/2 cup of mayo with 1 tsp of fresh dill, 1 tsp of fresh parsley, the juice of half of a lemon, salt, pepper and a dash of garlic powder. Ziinngg! The perfect tangy herb spread!

Next TOAST YOUR BREAD
no other info needed on that right?

Skip the curly shrunken bacon with a huge delicious crispy slice of bacon by running your bacon slices under cold water, pat dry and fry in your pan! (Trust me!)

Season your tomatoes with salt and pepper for an extra dimension and added flavor

Next, add more veggies! I love avocado on my sandwiches!

Dont forget your lettuce. I prefer iceberg for that extra crunch.

Oh yes this is the ultimate sandy!

Cutting Watermelon

As a mom, I'm all about easy. I love this option for dicing an entire watermelon in just a matter of a couple of minutes. No mess and no fuss (and don't get me started on easy cleanup!)

I hope you guys enjoy my first video!!! Thanks for all of your support!

Friday, May 8, 2015

Baked eggs

I love breakfast. I think I have emphasized that enough on my page...
My least favorite breakfast item?
EGGS
But I have found a delicious recipe that has changed my perspective for the better.
The eggs steal the show and I actually LOVE this dish!

What you will need

1 pound ground turkey
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 can diced tomatoes
1 Jarred marinara
5 Eggs
parmesan
Salt
Pepper
Onion powder
Garlic powder
Sugar

parsley
basil

Preheat your oven to 425°

Brown ground turkey, set aside

Cook down 1 can of diced tomatoes.

Season to taste. I use onion powder, garlic powder, parsley, salt and pepper

Once thickened, add browned turkey

Pour in 1 jar of marinara (The good stuff not the cheap pizza sauce)

Once cooked it has cooked for about 15 minutes,

Stir in 1 tablespoon of sugar.

(After a sauce is cooked for a long period of time, you need something to bring it back to life and brighten the flavors back up. For tomatoes, I always use sugar.)

Gently Crack 5 eggs into your skillet

Cover with pepper and basil leaves

Bake at 425 until the eggs start to set
(About 8 minutes)

You want the egg whites to set and cook through but the yolk to still be runny

Cover with parmesan cheese

ENJOY!

Serve with a bread of some sort so u can sop up that delicious sauce

I served with coconut oil biscuits and let me tell you, this breakfast is absolutely amazing

Sensory activities and popsicles

Today during learning time, Baby C and I went outside for a little fun in the sun!!!

We love doing sensory activities and today was so simple

What you will need

Soapy Water

Plastic Container (I used an old coffee can)

Whisk

I knew I wanted to do something water related since it was so hot so I added a few drops of dish soap to a container of water and we got to make bubbles! It was so adorable watching him eagerly whisk the water and seeing all of the bubbles form.

He loved to check the whisk and make sure it was still covered In bubbles

Then it was back to stirring!

He shrieked, he smiled, he laughed!

He switched hands and tried to experiment using both

He also decided to try feeling the bubbles with his hands.

This was extra fun!!

He definitely enjoyed this activity and it didn't cost me anything since I already had everything for it!

Play time doesn't have to be expensive!

Afterwards, we put our new whisking skills to the test with HOMEMADE BLACKBERRY POPS!

We made our own concoction of soy milk, Greek yogurt, agave, vanilla and of course blackberries!! We LOVED how they turned out but you might want to tweak the recipe to your families taste

What you will need for THREE pops

1/2 cup greek yogurt

1/4 cup soy milk

splash of agave

splash of vanilla

blackberries

Mix ingredients together in a medium sized bowl,

add to popsicle mold and freeze