Friday Funny

School is back in session and I have some Friday Funnies for you!

My class has 25 children, the most I have ever had!

We were doing a measurement scavenger hunt and they had to find items that were different lengths.  One of my kiddos came up and said, "Look, Miss Cremer, my belly is exactly 1 meter around!"

Trader Joe's Instant Oatmeal ~Fancy Style

My detox diet a few weeks ago had me eat oatmeal, with flax seed & brown sugar.  This has become my new go-to breakfast! It is quick (1 minute), and easy! Flax seed also has many great benefits. I accidentally bought the blueberry flax seed, and I think it was a great mistake! There are bits of dried blueberries mixed in with the flax seed. 

 

Ingredients:

1 packet instant oatmeal

2/3 cup milk (I used skim) you could also use water

1 t brown sugar

1 t blueberry flax seed

Directions:

Mix all ingredients together and microwave for 1 minute! 

It would be really great with some fresh fruit on top.

Back To School 2013

 Back To School activities! I blogged about these last year, but switched them up a bit this time.  I used their Wordles as my door decorations.  I hope they stay up all year!

The Guess Who activity, I had to do smaller, since I have a larger class. I shrunk down the clues, and under the flap is their first day of school pictures! 

 They loved guessing, some of them were real tricksters! I have 7 kids with J names, so lots of them used that clue!

We are still working on our Top Secret stories, but they will be up soon!

Meatloaf

This weekend I went to the Farmer's Market and bought some grass fed beef. I wanted to see what the hype was all about.  I had to think of a dish that would really focus on the meat.  I found a recipe for meatloaf in Cooking Light. I had all the ingredients on hand, so I went ahead and tried it.

Ingredients: 

cooking spray

1/2 cup chopped onion 

6 T ketchup, divided

1/2 cup panko

1/3 cup chopped parsley

1 t. Worcestershire sauce

3/4 t. dried oregano

1/4 t. salt

1/4 t. pepper 

3/4 lb. Grass Fed beef- (CL called for 1 lb sirloin)

1 egg

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350*

Heat a small skillet over medium heat, spray with cooking spray.  Add onion and cook until lightly browned.  

Combine onion, 3 T ketchup, and remaining ingredients in a bowl.  Gently combine (I used my hands!)

Place meat mixture on baking sheet coated with foil and cooking spray.  Shape into an 8x4 loaf.  Brush top of loaf with remaining 3 T of ketchup.  Bake at 350* for 35 minutes, or until a thermometer registers at 160*

Let stand for 10 minutes, cut into slices. 

Zucchini Fries

I made these using fresh zucchini from my garden, before the dreaded squash bug ate all of my plants! If anyone knows good ways to keep those darn bugs away, let me know! The last 2 years, I have had about 2 weeks of tons of squash, then they all die! 

Ingredients: 

Zucchini- sliced into "fry shape" 

1 egg

1/2 cup bread crumbs - I used Italian seasoned

1/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese

cooking spray 

Optional dipping sauce- I used the new Kraft Miracle Whip Kickin' Onion Blossom Dipping Sauce

Directions

Preheat oven to 425° and cover baking sheet with foil.

Slice zucchini.
In a bowl beat egg with a fork.
Put the breadcrumbs and cheese in a bowl and mix well.
One by one, dip the zucchini sticks in the egg whites and roll into the bread crumb mixture, to coat well and place on the baking sheet.
Spray fries lightly with cooking spray.
Bake for about 20 minutes, turning over half way through. Cook until crispy and golden brown. Serve with dipping sauce or marinara.

Trader Joe's Tilapia & Brown Rice

With school starting, it is much easier to get into a routine.  I am doing this 3 day detox diet, and one of the meals was fish, rice, and spinach. I am the worst rice cooker, so when I saw pre-cooked brown rice at Trader Joe's I was sold.  I'm not a huge fish fan, but can handle the mild taste of Tilapia.

This recipe (fish & rice) only required me putting it in the oven and microwave! Trader Joe did the rest! If you want a quick, easy, and healthy meal, head to your nearest Trader Joe's! The fish came with 3 fillets, and the rice was about 1 1/2 cups.  So it could make a meal for 3.  I froze one fillet to have later!

These fillets would be great for fish tacos too!

Place under broiler (lower rack) on low for 10-12 minutes. 

Open pouch to vent, heat for 60 seconds in the microwave! 

I did squeeze the lemon it came with over the fish. 

Place on foil, sprayed with cooking spray. Broil on Low for 10-12 min

Serve tilapia over rice! Enjoy!

Barefoot Baby Sandals

A few months ago, I bought a Hot Summer Days Goodie Box from The Plaid Barn.  It came with a bunch of craft stuff, including these cute flowers and colored elastic.  My original plan was to make headbands with them. But after I saw some barefoot sandals, I knew I needed to make these for some of my favorite babies! 

You need 2 flowers (or any other embellishment! Look online for ideas), colored elastic, and a hot glue gun.  

First, measure the elastic. You will need to cut 4 pieces the same length.  

• Newborn 2.5″
• 0-3 Months 3″
• 3-6 Months 3.5″
• 6-12 Months 4″
• 12-18 Months 5"

You could also measure around the foot and ankle of your baby. 

Hot glue the first loop in the center of both flowers. 

Make the ankle strap by looping it around and matching it up with the first elastic.  

If the elastic/hot glue/flower area is rough, you can add a square of felt to cover up the area. 

Baby Reese trying on her shoes. What are these Mom?!