Celebrate Whole Grains Month with Post Great Grains {A Feature}

Welcome to September, and Happy Labor Day! Did you know that September is also National Whole Grains Month? Don't feel bad, I didn't either until my friends over at Post Great Grains filled me in, and I'm more than happy to celebrate with them!

And what a better way to enjoy an entire month dedicated to whole grains than with a new fun recipe including Great Grains cereal? Did you know that each Great Grains variety has at least 30g of whole grains per serving and is an excellent source of fiber? Just what you're looking for in a breakfast to fuel your entire day! Or even better, take what you love from your cereal bowl, and experience it in a whole new, unique way? 

This recipe can be enjoyed for breakfast, a midday snack or even a nutritional dessert. Oh, and did I mention, it's super simple too??!! Give your kids something fun they will gobble down before the school bus comes, or give them something to look forward to after a full day of classes. Packing lunches for school and/or work? These would be great for that too! So versatile, you will find a hundred different ways to use it, each more tasty than the last. 

Whole grains are something we are all looking to add more of into our diets, and with yummy recipes like this, and delicious cereal from Post Great Grains, it's so easy to do just that!

Banana Crunch Parfait

1 cup Great Grains Banana Nut Crunch cereal 

1 cup vanilla low-fat yogurt

1 cup honey

1 medium banana, sliced 

1 can (20 oz.) pineapple chunks, drained

Spoon half of the yogurt evenly into six parfait glasses; top with layers of half each of the bananas, pineapple, cereal and remaining whipped topping. Repeat layers. Drizzle honey over final layer.

Disclaimer: I was provided with free samples in exchange for this feature. All thoughts and opinions are my own. 

Even More Extra Calcium

Back in January when I shared my Strawberry Yogurt Bites, they were a huge hit! One, because they are super simple. Two, because they taste insanely good and are highly addictive. And three, because so many moms out there discovered, like me, they were a fantastic way to get extra calcium into our kids!

And today I've got yet another way to sneak that calcium in and your kids will have absolutely no idea. Not to mention, if you thought the ones made with jello were easy...you "ain't" seen nothing yet!

The idea for these came to me via my Church Supper blog hop I host each weekend, where a couple weeks ago my great foodie friend Sheryl aka Lady Behind The Curtain shared her version and I instantly knew it was something Alex would love, and I would love to share with all of you. I know many of you never get the chance to drop by on Sundays, so these could be missed by many EMM fans, and it was too good of an idea not to make sure it reached as many people as possible.

A great after school snack, or simple dessert, these are fun to make and fun to eat. In fact, they are so simple, they are a great way to get the kids into the kitchen! With a little supervision, they could basically do the entire process themselves, which only leads to them wanting to eat them even more. Kids loving taste testing, but they love it more when they've gotten their hands dirty creating something. Plus, depending on the flavors you choose, the pretty pastel colors are perfect for Easter too.

I know many parents out there are struggling to get proper nutrients into their kids, and if you have resorted to covert operations, I say bravo! You gotta do what you gotta do. But with these, the guilt literally just melts away!

Frozen Greek Yogurt Bites Inspired by Lady Behind The Curtain

Assorted Flavors of Nonfat Greek Yogurt

Blueberry

Lemon

Black Cherry

Place yogurts in 3 separate plastic bags. (I added a few drops of yellow food coloring to the lemon to get a richer yellow color.) Snip corner of each bag off. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Squeeze out small buttons of yogurt. Place in freezer until solid. Remove from parchment and keep in airtight container in freezer.

Shared on Miz Helen's Country Cottage Mar. 21, 2013
Shared on The Country Cook Mar. 22, 2013
Shared on Mandy's Recipe Box Mar. 26, 2013

Just A Little Greek

Do you have a food or a dish that each time you eat it you feel...how shall I say it..."fancy"? You don't know why but it just makes you feel like you aren't sitting in your pajamas in front of the television eating it, but instead in a very sophisticated setting with crystal water glasses. For me that food is olive tapenade.

For those of you who have never had it, let me explain. Olive Tapenade is a dish consisting of pureed or finely chopped olives, anchovies, capers and oil. It comes from the French word for capers and is usually eaten as an appetizer in the South of France, but is also seen in Italian and Mediterranean cuisine.

I first had it a few years ago as a spread on baguette bread, and it was love at first bite. I'm not surprised. I love both olives and capers; and their briny, salty flavor. But until that moment, it was always something I had thought of as a delicacy and therefore, it retains this image in my mind every time I eat it. Not to mention, I just love the stuff!!

So you can imagine how thrilled I was when I found a burger recipe using it as an ingredient, not just a "topper". These burgers may be small, but they pack a punch of big flavor. Perfect for a party or family meal, they are also super simple. Plus, they are made with ground turkey, so you can feel good about having three!

If you have never had olive tapenade, I encourage you to try this recipe one because they are delicious; but also because there is enough in a jar you will have some left over and it's the perfect snack with some crackers or pita chips!

Greek Turkey Sliders Adapted from Betty Crocker

1 lb. ground turkey

1/3 c. olive tapenade

6 tsp. dried parsley, divided

1/2 c. plain Greek Yogurt

1/2 c. sour cream

1/2 c. cucumber, peeled and chopped

8 slider buns

16 thin slices cucumber

Salt and Pepper to taste

In a medium bowl combine turkey, olive tapenade, 4 tsp. parsley, salt and pepper. Mix well using hands and form into 8 small patties, about 1/2 inch thick. Spray grill pan with cooking spray and cook patties for about 5 minutes per side. In a small bowl combine yogurt, sour cream, chopped cucumber, 2 tsp. parsley, salt and pepper. Mix well. When burgers are done, spread sauce on bottom of bun, add 2 slices of cucumber and burger. Top with bun and serve.

Shared on Lady Behind The Curtain Mar. 6, 2013
Shared on Miz Helen's Country Cottage Mar. 7, 2013
Shared on The Country Cook Mar. 8, 2013

Extra Calcium

I am a lucky mom. I have a child who has such a wide palate that we can honestly say "If it's food, he likes it." Sure he has his favorites, and even his few things that he doesn't truly care for, but for the most part I never see meal time as a struggle. Now there was a time though when he was about 13 months old, we did have a small conundrum on our hands; but in the scheme of things, and compared to other parents dealing with picky eaters, I know it was on a very small scale.

You see, as soon as Alex could drink whole milk, and we could finally stop buying those pricey cans of formula, he wanted no part of it! The only way he would drink milk was in is bottle, warmed up, the same as he enjoyed his formula. Well, by this time, he was down to only 1 bottle per day, right before bed. I remember feeling so helpless because I could not get him to drink it any other way, any other time of day. I spoke to my doctor and she suggested a couple things. One, he's only a little over 1, so if he still wants a bottle, wait a little while to wean him. So we did. My child took that bedtime bottle until he was 15 months old, and then one night quit cold turkey! Two, she suggested flavoring it to help ease him into drinking it from a cup. She said to try a powdered mix that contained extra vitamins and minerals. I must have had a look of horror on my face upon this suggestion because she said "Look, I know as a parent you don't expect me to tell you that, but sometimes parents make it so hard on themselves, and if putting a little flavoring, that does have some nutritional value, into his milk makes your day a little easier, and does indeed result in him drinking it, I say go for it." So that's exactly what we did. For those few months until he was weaned, the milk he drank through the day was vanilla flavored, and I was okay with that. He was getting the milk he needed and I wasn't in tears during lunch anymore. Then when the day came when the bottles were a thing of the past, and he was used to drinking it, and even enjoying it, the flavoring became not so necessary.

But during this time I also made sure he was getting calcium in other ways too, which to this day I still to, even though he will happily sit down and drink a glass of milk...heck, he will even ask for it! He takes 6 vitamins per day, a multivitamin, one with extra immunity and one with extra calcium. And he is the kid that loves cheese and yogurt. Not likes. Loves! And I know there are many of  parents out there simply trying to get your kids to eat ____. Fill in the blank. But for those that would finish that sentence with calcium or dairy, I've got the perfect treat for you! It's 2 ingredients, and one of those is yogurt! These are super fun, and the kids can even help make them. They make a great mini dessert or even an after school snack. And with all the yogurt/gelatin flavors the combinations are endless.

While I am very lucky to have the child who pretty much eats anything and everything, I do sympathize with those out there who aren't so lucky and hope this helps even just one make dinner time a little easier.

Strawberry Yogurt Bites From JELL-O

3 (6 oz) containers strawberry yogurt

1 (0.3 oz) package strawberry gelatin

Fresh strawberries, optional

Line muffin tin with paper liners. (Mine made 10 large) Mix yogurt and dry gelatin mix in microwavable bowl. Microwave on HIGH for 2 minutes. Stir. Microwave 2-3 minutes more until gelatin completely dissolved, stirring after each minute. Spoon mixture into prepared muffin tin. Chill for at least an hour to set. Top with fresh berries. Peel from paper and serve.

*NOTE* This can easily be made with light yogurt and sugar free gelatin.

Shared on Make Ahead Meals Jan. 21, 2013
Shared on Mandy's Recipe Box Jan. 22, 2013
Shared on Hun What's For Dinner Jan. 22, 2013
Shared on Miz Helen's Country Cottage Jan. 24, 2013
Shared on The Country Cook Jan. 25, 2013

Cool Treats and Grilled Meats {Indiana Family of Farmers}

I am so excited for this post! It is my first as a Table Talk Contributor for Indiana Family of Farmers.

 I am so proud to be a part of this wonderful organization supporting my home state and our amazing farmers. I may not have grown up on a farm, but I have lived in Indiana my whole life, surrounded by some of the nation's top producers of the grains, produce and meats Americans eat every day!

Summer time means a lot of things in the realm of food. Maybe in your family it's the time you enjoy eating fresh fruits and veggies from your backyard garden. Or maybe it means anything and everything you can throw on the grill will find it's way to the table with a "cooked open an open flame" flavor. Or maybe it's the time of year your family loves to bust out the ice cream maker and cool off with something sweet on those hot summer nights. (After all July is National Ice Cream month! And Indiana is #2 in the nation for ice cream and low fat ice cream production!)

All of these describe my family and we find as many ways to make them happen as we can all summer long. But ice cream isn't the only cool treat we love to include in our summer ritual. How about popsicles? I love to see Alex enjoying a cold, dripping down his hands, popsicle in the hot summer sun. There is just something so nostalgic about it. 

What about making your own popsicles? Until now, I never have, but thanks to IFOF we are now homemade popsicle makers for life! The flavor combinations are endless, and IFOF even has some recipes to inspire you! As soon as I saw the one with orange and cream, I knew exactly which one Alex would love the most! How fun and easy for little ones to get in on the action! Getting kids into the kitchen making sweet treats is a not only a "cool" activity for summer vacation, but it also gives parents a chance to teach them about the foods they love, promoting healthy eating habits for life!

Want another great activity for kids to learn more about the foods they eat, and where they comes from? After you purchase the ingredients for this recipe, go to WhereisMyMilkFrom.com and find out the source of your dairy products. What a fun, interactive way for your kids to appreciate the foods they enjoy every day, and those who work so hard to make them available!

Alex stirring the popsicle mixture.

So get your kids into the kitchen and whip up some yummy refreshing popsicles for the next 90 degree day (we've had a lot of those this year in Indiana). Have fun! Lick away!

Want to learn more about IFOF? You can also find them on Facebook and Twitter.

Orange Cream Popsicles

6 oz. can orange juice concentrate, thawed

2 c. vanilla yogurt

2 tsp vanilla extract

Popsicle molds OR 3 ounce cups and craft sticks

Stir all ingredients together until smooth.  Pour mixture into popsicle molds or paper cups. Insert sticks and freeze.

Yummy cool treat on a HOT day!

Shared on Make Ahead Meals July 22, 2012
Shared on Bobbi's Kozy Kitchen July 23, 2012 
Shared on Mandy's Recipe Box July 24, 2012 
Shared on Lady Behind The Curtain July 25, 2012 
Shared on Miz Helen's Country Cottage July 26, 2012 
Shared on The Country Cook July 27, 2012

*These were made with the Zoku Quick Pop Maker provided to my family by IFOF*
 

Disclaimer: IFOF provided me with a gift package for inspiration on this post. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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