LilSugar

Delilicious: Cheese, Onion, and Olive Toasts

LilSugar — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 12:00:16 -0800

If your kids get a case of the midnight munchies tonight, steer clear of sugar treats and curb their hunger with a more nutritious snack. Now matter how picky a tot is, they usually have a taste for toast and cheese. So whip up this incredibly easy, warm appetizer that takes a matter of minutes and uses a handful of ingredients. Simply mix shredded cheddar cheese with a sprinkle of finely sliced green onion, and then sprinkle in some diced black olives. Spread the mix on baguette slices and pop it in a 350°F oven until the cheese bubbles. Let them cool for a few minutes before serving to those with tired eyes and growling bellies. For parents and those with more adventurous pint-sized palates, substitute the cheddar cheese with Monterey jack and add some diced green chilies.

Delilicious: Ring in Rosh Hashanah With a Round Apple Challah

LilSugar — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 13:30:16 -0700

Let the celebrations begin! Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, begins at sundown tonight, and the holiday is filled with Fall flavors to kick off the Autumn season. As a religious celebration, Rosh Hashanah is ripe with foods that symbolize the cyclical nature of the calendar and the sweetness that comes with the new year.

To usher in the holiday, we brought the kids to the kitchen so they could enjoy the fun of whipping up a modern twist on the classic challah, or egg bread. Unlike traditional challahs, this one is round (to celebrate the cycle of a new year) and includes plenty of apples and sugar to guarantee a sweet year ahead. Best of all, the bread can be enjoyed by everyone throughout the year.

See the recipe and step-by-step directions when you read more.

New Year's Apple Challah
From Tammy's Recipes

Ingredients

Dough Ingredients
1 cup warm water (110 degrees F)
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup oil or melted butter
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
2 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
2 tablespoons dry yeast
5 to 6 cups flour

Apple Filling
3 cups coarsely chopped apples
1/2 cup sugar
1 tablespoon cinnamon
1 tablespoon lemon juice (skip if apples are tart)

Egg Wash
1 beaten egg
1 teaspoon sugar
Coarse sugar, for sprinkling (optional)

Directions
1. In a large mixing bowl, combine the first seven dough ingredients, in order listed. Stir in a cup or two of the flour, then add yeast.

2. Add enough additional flour to equal about 5 cups, and stir/knead into a smooth dough, adding additional flour if needed. Knead dough for 8-10 minutes. Shape into a ball, place in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 45-60 minutes.

3. Place apple filling ingredients in a medium bowl and toss to coat. Set aside.

4. Punch down the risen dough, kneading to remove excess air bubbles. On a lightly-floured surface, roll the dough into a large round, about 1/2-inch thick. Spread apple mixture over the dough.

5. Fold the edges of the dough over the apples and continue to fold/roll the dough to make one big lump with the filling enclosed. Let rest 5 minutes.

6. Grease a 10-inch springform pan. Place springform pan on a large cookie sheet (to catch any leaks during rising/baking).

7. Using a sharp knife, cut off chunks of the dough and place them in the prepared pan. You should end up with 15-20 chunks of dough (though a particular number doesn't matter). The apple pieces should be randomly dispersed throughout the dough chunks. Sprinkle with any escaped apple pieces.

8. Combine the egg and sugar, and then dab the egg wash over the top of the dough. Sprinkle with coarse sugar if desired. Cover gently with a piece of plastic wrap and place pan in a warm location to rise.

9. When dough has almost doubled in size, preheat oven to 350 degrees and then place baking sheet/springform in the middle of the oven (remove the piece of plastic wrap first, of course!) to bake for 45-55 minutes or until done. When I make this, usually the edges of the top get well-browned before the middle is cooked. So, after about 25-30 minutes, I cover the darker areas loosely with foil - sometimes forming a large loose "ring" of foil (with no foil in the middle) to lay on top.

10. When challah is done, remove from the oven and cool in the pan for 10 minutes. Turn out of pan onto a cooling rack and cover with a clean towel until completely cool.

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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.

School Year's Resolutions: Lunch Box Makeovers

LilSugar — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 05:00:34 -0700

You've moved from brown bagging munchies to an eco-friendly lunch bag, so now it's time to upgrade its contents! Get out of the everyday sandwich rut and start getting creative with what you pack to sustain your kids.

Shape up. Simply changing the shape of the food you are packing can make a big difference. Use cookie cutters to create sandwiches that will put a smile on your lil one's face.
Roll it up. Use creative "packaging" to put a sandwich together. Wraps and pitas can add some interest to the lunch box, as can turning an ordinary tuna sandwich into a sushi-style roll.
Put it on a stick. String some fruit and veggies onto a stick for a mini-kabob that looks more enticing than fruit in a baggie.
Repurpose dinner. Cook up some extra pasta at night and mix it with fresh vegetables and some protein to make a tasty cold noodle salad.
Build it up. Put the ingredients for a nutritious sandwich in the lunch bag and allow the kiddos to build their own creation, in the order they want.
Make it brunch. French toast and fruit salad can easily make their way into the lunch box for a fun alternative.

For some added inspiration, check out these books filled with lunch-bag-ready recipes.

Enter to win a $1,000 wardrobe for your child from Tea Collection!

The Next Food Network Star Keeps a Kid-Friendly Kitchen

LilSugar — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 07:00:35 -0700

There are barely enough hours in the day for moms to get everything done so some cut corners in the kitchen. But, now that The Next Food Network Star, Melissa d'Arabian, a stay-at-home mother, will be cooking up quick, budget friendly recipes to inspire fellow busy women, we may see more parents tying on aprons. The 40-year-old Texas mama explained that her show, which will air next Sunday, focuses on feeding four people a meal for $10 or less. The competition's self-proclaimed dark horse who had no professional culinary experience, used tidbits about cooking for her daughters (like serving raw brussels sprouts so they have the crunch of an apple) to wow the judges in an unconventional way. Prior to winning, Melissa explained why she wanted to be The Next Food Network Star. She said:

I have four kids (aged four and under), but I think the fact that I'm not "supermom" makes me accessible. I want parents across America to breathe a sigh of relief when they see me on TV and to say to themselves, "if she can do it, then so can I."

Non Voyage: A Capital Celebration Where You Need DC to Be

LilSugar — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 10:00:16 -0700

If the new administration has your family dreaming of our nation's historic roots, a trip to Washington DC is sure to inspire the next generation of public servants. We continue our week of big-city non voyages in the nation's capital with activities and food that will help families recreate the DC experience without breaking their wallets.

The National Mall is lined with some of the best museums in the world, and one of the most popular is the National Air and Space Museum. Teach your budding astronauts about the history of manned space flight and then have them create their own rocket ship that will transport them to the moon. Rockets can be built out of blocks, cardboard or with any scraps you have lying around.
The International Spy Museum is one of the most unique places to visit in DC, where children and adults alike can learn about the CIA and FBI's covert operations and the techniques used to keep the nation from harm. Recreate the experience with a backyard scavenger hunt where lil ones can search for hidden treasures and practice their detective skills. Don't forget the trench coats and magnifying glasses to make them feel official.
Even in the age of email, everybody still loves to get mail and the National Postal Museum shows kids how their letters get delivered. Visit your local post office and have the kids pick out their own stamps and mail letters to their family and friends. See if the postal workers will allow your tots to view the sorting machines in the back too.
It's hard to imagine what life was like before cars, computers and modern conveniences, but Mount Vernon, George and Martha Washington's home, does just that. Give your children the colonial experience by turning off the phone and computer for an afternoon of retro cooking with recipes from the birth of our nation, including johnny cakes, shepherd's pie and apple butter.
Washington DC brings Southern hospitality and Northern sophistication to the Mid Atlantic and the city's food reflects those cultures. President Obama has already visited the famed eatery, Ben's Chili Bowl, where the deliciousness is used to smother hot dogs, sausages and burgers, so make some of those goodies at home. The Obamas are also ushering in a new era in organic cooking at the White House so take your youngsters to the local green market or farm and let them choose the ingredients they would like to nosh on that night.

Lil Links: Great Gifts For Mother's Day

LilSugar — Fri, 08 May 2009 11:00:48 -0700

45 Mother's Day gift options - Cookie
Chyler Leigh welcomed daughter Anniston - Celebrity Baby Blog
Mary Stuart Masterson is expecting her first child! - Celebrity Baby Blog
Seven kid-friendly recipes to make with your children - YumSugar
CASAKids sustainable loft bedst - Inhabitots
How bad is sugar for your kids? -ParentDish
Handmade photo cube for mama - Alpha Mom
Restaurant meals you can eat without the guilt - Health
Should you worry about a babe's birthmark? - CafeMom

Tamra Davis Cooks Up a Show For Her lil Beastie Boys

LilSugar — Thu, 07 May 2009 09:00:59 -0700

Rachael Ray claims that a meal only takes 30 minutes, but she doesn't have a toddler running into the kitchen and latching onto her leg or a preschooler who needs help reaching the scissors. That half hour easily grows into three-quarters of one.

After spending many years building her career as a film, television and music video director - she has both Tone Loc's “Wild Thing" video and Billy Madison to her credit, Tamra Davis hit the kitchen. Wife of the Beastie Boys's Mike D. and mom to two young sons, she now has a series of web-based 3 to 5 minute cooking videos called The Tamara Davis Cooking Show, which feature primarily organic, kid-friendly recipes.

Filmed in Davis's homes the shorts show Tamra's kids running in and out of the room, offering to help and eventually tasting most of her creations. She said:

"I really hope to inspire moms to make delicious, healthy meals for their families. I always wanted to put a camera in a woman's hand, now with my passion for children's health issues I want to put a pan in her hand too."

lil links: Usher and Son Have Fun in the Sun

LilSugar — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 11:33:47 -0700

Usher and his adorable son have fun in the sun - Celebrity Baby Scoop
Matthew McConaughey says, "Sure, maybe" to question about more kids - Celebrity Baby Blog
Grains like millet can stop your nausea - Cookie
Pregnancy recipes should be healthy and delicious - Health
Swine flu alert! How far would you go to keep your kids healthy? - Parentdish
Suit up for Summer with Bummis eco-friendly reusable swimmi diapers - Inhabitots

Bauer-Griffin Online

Delilicious: Passover-Friendly Choco-Toffee Matzoh

LilSugar — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 10:00:36 -0700

Though some parents do not require their kids to keep Passover's dietary laws, the holiday's central food item - matzoh - is something that can be enjoyed by any tot comfortable eating solid foods. As a replacement for bread, or chametz, matzoh is transformed into many forms throughout the holiday - from matzoh balls (dumplings in soup), and farfel (stuffing) to matzoh brei (omelette) and desserts. In an effort to transform a sheet of matzoh into a sweet Passover snack, a friend and her baker-in-training got to work on some choco-toffee matzoh that allowed him to use his preschool creativity when adding toppings to the scrumptious treat.
To see how to make this kid-friendly recipe, read more.

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Adapted from Marcy Goldman's BetterBaking.com
Ingredients:
4 to 5 pieces of matzoh
1 cup firmly packed dark brown sugar
1 cup unsalted butter
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
Toppings, as desired (we used marshmallows, sprinkles and dried apricots)

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit, and line a baking sheet with aluminum foil
Place the matzoh in one layer on the baking sheet
In a saucepan, melt the butter and brown sugar over medium heat, stirring constantly. Once the mixture reaches a boil, continue to cook for three minutes, still stirring, until thickened and just starting to pull away from the sides of the pan.
Remove from heat and pour over the matzoh, spreading an even layer with a heat-proof spatula.
Put the pan in the oven, then immediately turn the heat down to 350 degrees. Bake for 15 minutes, watching to make sure it doesn't burn.
After 15 minutes, the toffee should have bubbled up and turned a rich golden brown. Remove from the oven and immediately sprinkle the chocolate over the pan.
Let sit for five minutes, then spread the now-melted chocolate evenly with a spatula.
Add your favorite toppings while the chocolate is still melted.
Let cool completely, then break into smaller pieces and store in an airtight container.