LilSugar

Delilicious: Sugar Cookie Cut-Outs

LilSugar — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:00:37 -0800

Lisa Barnes, author of Petit Appetit: Eat, Drink, and Be Merry, shares with LilSugar a classic sugar cookie recipe that works for all seasons - though it's especially great for a holiday party, cookie swap or playdate activity. Kids can help dump the measured ingredients into the mixing bowl and turn on and off the electric mixer to help make the dough. Of course the fun really begins with the cookie cutting and icing decorating.

To see how to make this tasty and classic holiday treat with your tots, just read more.

Sugar Cookie Cut-Outs
From Petit Appetit: Eat, Drink and Be Merry

Ingredients

2/3 cup organic unsalted butter, at room temperature
¾ cup sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
¼ teaspoon salt
1 large cage-free organic egg
1 tablespoon organic milk
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour

Directions
In a large mixing bowl, beat butter with an electric mixer on medium speed for 30 seconds. Add sugar, baking powder, and salt and beat until combined. Beat in egg, milk, and vanilla until combined. Beat in the flour, ¼ cup at a time, until all is incorporated.

Cover and chill dough for at least 30 minutes. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.

On a lightly floured surface, and using a floured rolling pin, roll dough out to 1/8-inch thickness. Cut into desired shapes. Place 1 inch apart on prepared baking sheets.

Bake for 7 to 9 minutes, until edges are firm and bottoms are very lightly browned. Transfer to a wire rack to cool.

Once completely cool these can be frosted with your child’s favorite royal or powdered sugar icing. For easy, frosting set out small spreaders and squeeze bottles so frosting ends up on the cookies and not your child, floor, and table. Add sprinkles to wet frosting for even more fun (and mess).

*Makes about 35 (2½-inch) cookies

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What Sugar Free "O" Cereal Do You Recommend?

Lil Community — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 06:00:38 -0800

This question comes from the group The Children's Table from member chab.

Does anyone out there know of a sugar free "O" cereal? I used to get Cascadian Farms "O" cereal because it was organic and sugar free, but it seems like they changed their product as it now has sugar. I compared old and new and they are definitely different looking, too, in addition to having different ingredients. Any recommendations out there?

Do you have a favorite product or recipe that your tots love? Share it with other lunch making mamas in The Children's Table group over in the LilSugar Community!

Did You Trade Dine In For Takeout After Having Children?

LilSugar — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 06:00:13 -0800

Couples may enjoy white tablecloths and candlelight before baby, but after becoming parents hearing that there's an hour-long wait at a hot eatery isn't as enticing. Getting food to go allows mom and dad the chance to eat their favorite entrees without any of the worry of entertaining their tots during the experience or public mid meal meltdowns. Once you had children did you table your reservations and turn to takeout more often?

12 Homemade Kid-Friendly Halloween Treats

LilSugar — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 14:30:06 -0700

Halloween's focus may be on a youngster's costume and the candy he gathers as he makes his way through the neighborhood, but that doesn't mean the party can't start early with some tasty treats.

From school-sponsored bashes to kiddie soirees, Halloween parties offer lil ones another opportunity to show off their costumes and indulge in some sweets to kick off the spooktacular holiday. And if you're planning a haunted house party you'll want simple sweet treats that wow the entire crowd. Be inspired by 12 delicious Halloween treats we've whipped up in the name of the candied holiday.

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Delilicious: Marshmallow Sprinkle Skulls

LilSugar — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 08:00:00 -0700

After seeing BabySugar's ghostly cupcakes, I wanted to bake something Halloweenish for my wee ones. I was thrilled when I found these simple and adorable marshmallow skulls – a perfect decoration for a Halloween baked good. With only a bag of marshmallows, color sprinkles and a knife, I turned a regular marshmallow into a spooky skull.

Rather than make elaborate chocolate-coated Madelines as the recipe called for, I made a simple brownie recipe. I cooked the brownies in a muffin tin for easy individual servings. Rather than coat the brownies in frosting to attach the skulls, I waited for the brownies to cool slightly and the warmth melted the marshmallows just enough. If you want to decorate your tasty treats with spooky and squishy skulls, keep reading.

Jell-O Jiggler Jack-O'-Lanterns and Bats

babysugar — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 04:00:17 -0700

Tired of the same ol', same ol'? Almost every Halloween soiree is guaranteed to offer up candy and caramel covered apples. Take the opportunity to serve up something refreshing, fun and super easy to make. Whip up some Jell-O jigglers in festive colors and shapes. Tots will get fired up to offer a helping hand and mama will delight in the easy clean up and simple recipe.

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To see how to make these wobbly creatures, just read more.

Pick out colors to suit your fancy. I chose orange and purple for their Halloween spirit and their tasty purposes.
Use the Jell-O jiggler recipe given on the side of the box - it is not the same as regular Jell-O!
When the Jell-O has settled, pull the trays out of the refrigerator and place it on a larger bin or warm water to loosen the bottom of the Jell-O.
For ease, I cut the Jell-O into squares with a wet knife and then removed the pieces and placed them on a level cutting board.
Dip the your cookie cutters into water before using it on the Jell-O -it makes for smoother edges.
Peel the excess away from the cookie cutter and use your spatula to remove the jiggler from the cutting board. Place it on the serving tray.

When all of the jigglers have been cut out, mama can enlist her troops to decorate the lil fellas. Use miniature marshmallows and pink decorating gel for eyes and black decorating gel for the jack-o'-lantern's mugs. If you want to add some flair to the tray, use a small circular object and cut out small bits of Jell-O to the edges.

Elvis Pancake Sandwiches: Breakfast and Lunch!

LilSugar — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 08:00:39 -0700

Breakfast sandwiches are popular with rushing mothers and their kiddos on the go! From egg filled bagels to bacon and cheese caught between an English muffin they fill the tummy up right. My son favors waffles sandwiches. The handy breakfast is easy enough for him to munch on in the car if he doesn't finish it before I have to shuttle him to school. While all the hearty meal involves is the simple assembly of two whole grain waffles (store bought or homemade) and a slathering of fresh peanut butter between them, I recently watched Big Daddy over at the Food Network make a more inventive recipe for his boy.

A twist on a sandwich Elvis Presley was famous for - peanut butter and banana, the cook takes buckwheat pancakes, adds the protein spread, sliced bananas and a drizzle of honey to make a morning sammie that can be finished in the afternoon if you pop it in your kiddo's lunchbox. While the flavors appeal to wee taste buds, its quick prep time makes it a dish mama can accomplish even if she isn't completely awake.
To get the recipe, read more.

Elvis Pancake Sandwiches
Recipe courtesy Aaron McCargo Jr., Food Network

Looking for a meal that can be made for breakfast and finished for lunch? Try Big Daddy's Elvis pancake sandwiches.

Ingredients

Batter:

* 2 cups buttermilk
* 2 eggs
* 2 teaspoons baking powder
* 2 teaspoons sugar
* 1 teaspoon salt
* 6 tablespoons butter, melted
* 1 cup all purpose flour
* 1 cup buckwheat flour
* 2 tablespoons butter, cold plus more as needed
* Peanut butter, for topping
* Sliced bananas, for topping
* Honey, for topping

Directions
In a large bowl, whisk together buttermilk, eggs, baking powder, sugar, salt and butter.

In another large bowl mix together all-purpose flour and buckwheat flour.

Slowly add flour into the wet ingredients mixing with a whisk. Mix until there are no lumps and the batter is smooth and velvety.

In a large cast iron skillet or flat grill pan over medium-high heat, melt a tablespoon of butter. Ladle pancake batter onto skillet to desired size. Using the ladle, form pancake into circular shape. Cook on each side for 2 to 3 minutes or until golden brown. Set pancakes aside and keep warm. Repeat with remaining ingredients.

Once completed, spread peanut butter on a pancake, layer it with sliced bananas and drizzle it with honey. Top the pancake with another pancake to form a sandwich. Repeat with remaining pancakes and serve with extra honey.

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Courtesy of The Food Network.

Delilicious: Monster Candy Eyeballs

LilSugar — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 08:00:22 -0700

I know it is only a short while before my lil ones come home with bags of treats, so I wanted to try to make my own candy! Epicurious had a great recipe for a frightful version of buckeye candy; traditionally it is a peanut butter ball that is then coated in a thin layer of chocolate. With a little creative dunking and a bag of M&M's, these candies are transformed into a spooky, yet, scrumptious monster eyeball.

Kids can definitely help with the whole process because the recipe only requires a microwave. You might even be grateful as mixing the peanut butter and powdered sugar is best done by hand and can be a pretty messy job! The finished candies would be cute packaged in small gifts bags as a ghoulish treat for your kids' friends! Children of all ages (including adults) are bound to love this classic combination, so if you want to get started on your own eye-poppingly delicious candy for Halloween keep reading for my tips and recipe.

10 Foods to Curb Pregnancy Cravings

LilSugar — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 08:00:13 -0700

Move over pickles and ice cream, the pregnancy craving cops are onto you. The foods women crave may evolve as they make their way through their expectant days, but at the heart of it all are nutrients that the mama-to-be and her baby need as they continue on their journey. Keeping a fridge well-stocked with foods that fulfill these cravings will help eliminate the need for late night grocery runs and odd mixtures on mommy's plate.

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Delilicious: Jack-O'-Lantern Pumpkin Pancakes

LilSugar — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 06:00:21 -0700

Trying to trick your children out of sweet and fancy treats like Goblins, Ghosts and Spider Cupcakes?

Add a little festive flare to their breakfast by making pumpkin pancakes! Not only is pumpkin a great source of beta-carotene, vitamin C, and potassium, but a sprinkle of cardamom will help aid the digestive system.

Let your lil ones decorate their mini jack-o'-lanterns with a handful of chocolate chips, raisins or cookie icing for dramatic effect.

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To get the recipe, read more.

Pumpkin Pancakes
Health.com

Ingredients

1/2 cup canned pumpkin
1/2 cup low-fat vanilla yogurt
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 large egg yolk
1/4 cup cake flour
4 large egg whites
1/4 teaspoon salt
Cooking spray
Maple syrup or honey

Directions
Whisk together pumpkin, yogurt, baking soda, egg yolk, and flour. Whisk egg whites with salt; fold into pumpkin mixture. Heat a large nonstick skillet coated with cooking spray over medium heat. Spoon in 1/3 cup batter for each pancake. Flip when tops are covered with bubbles and edges are slightly brown (about 3 minutes per side). Drizzle with syrup or honey.

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