Fun for Kids – Page 3 – Parmesan Princess

16
Apr
2014

Etsy in Wonderland…What a Talented World!

categories: Fashion, Fun for Kids, Party Time, Shopping

Carnival Party for two, please! My oldest is 5, sooooooooo this is probably the last time he will ever want a birthday party with his little sister. (Until he wants to hang out with her friends when they get older!) As soon as I have a theme, I search Etsy. Call it my Pinterest, I like browsing Etsy vendors first because you can click add to cart and buy it right there!

I love to do cupcakes for kids birhday parties! Super easy! No cutting/serving/forks nightmare. — I love to do cupcakes for kids’ birhday parties! Super easy! No cutting/serving/forks nightmare.

I decided on an old fashioned carnival theme, red and turquoise for my color palate, and found the perfect invitation through CustomWrappers4U! I had Theresa create matching return address labels, thank you notes and favor tags. I received them in no time, they were in envelopes and ready to go! I have never experienced this kind of delivery speed and customer service with any other vendors!
https://www.etsy.com/listing/159363594/carnival-circus-tent-birthday-party-baby

Favor tags are easy details that add a nice personalized "thanks for coming " message. Yes, I still send a formal thank you note later. Remember, I'm old school. Many have told me it is outdated. (According to Emily Post, it is necessary!) — Favor tags are easy details that add a nice personalized “thanks for coming ” message. Yes, I still send a formal thank you note later. Remember, I’m old school. Many have told me it is outdated. (According to Emily Post, it is necessary!)

The address RSVP is cut off but these invites were perfect!!

Etsy vendors make the best custom kids party outfits! I found the perfect tutu birthday outfit for Bella on www.etsy.com/shop/taddletellshop !

Taddletellshop makes the fullest, most gorgeous tutus I have ever seen! Two sisters custom make these beautiful creations by hand! They carry a full line of birthday cupcake tutu sets as well as tutu Halloween costumes! I was wowed, totally impressed…and I’m a princess!

I wanted a matching shirt for Brady so I searched for a red and turquoise carnival theme boys shirt and found a circus tent shirt on GreatStitch! What a great story! Brenda’s great-grandma made a decorative, masterfully stitched coat for her mother out of simple flour sacks! This coat is Brenda’s inspiration along with her motto “cute kids need cute clothes!”

https://www.etsy.com/listing/166941070/greatstitch-circus-tent-birthday-shirt

I was lucky that they matched because I ordered from two different vendors. Usually a definite Etsy rookie mistake! Somehow, they were perfect! Thank you Jesus!

I love supporting small business! The talented moms and grandmas who create these masterpieces are amazing!

Next time you need a party outfit, flower girl outfit, a special personalized T-shirt or a new supercute scarf for yourself, check out ETSY! It has been good to me!

Thank you to CustomWrappers4U, GreatStitch and Taddletell for selling your wonderful products on Etsy for all of us to find and enjoy!

Coming up…the magician, the face painter, the decor, the menu! A carnival is a great party theme!!

Ciao!

14
Apr
2014

Prantl’s Bakery in Pittsburgh named “The Greatest Cake America Has Ever Made!” Sweet!!

categories: Fun for Kids, Healthy Living, Recipes, Shopping, Travel

Pittsburgh’s own Prantl’s Bakery’s Burnt Almond Torte has been named “The Greatest Cake America Has Ever Made” today by Huffington Post! I spoke with co-owner Lara Bruhn at Prantl’s downtown store located in Market Square!! She was absolutely beaming amidst the super sweet news!
http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/5133580

Prantl's Downtown location shares a space with Mancini's Bread! One stop baked goods! — Prantl’s Downtown location shares a space with Mancini’s Bread! One stop baked goods!

A Pittsburgh institution for over 40 years, Prantl’s flagship bakery in Shadyside has been a bakery for over 100 years!

A traditional German bakery, they can’t help but get excited about their new offerings like the most buttery, light and fluffy croissant you have ever put in your mouth!

Photo courtesy of Huffington Post! Perfectly Pittsburgh Burnt Almond Torte!

Don’t live in Pittsburgh? No plans to visit? No problem!
Prantl’s will ship their famous Burnt Almond Torte!!

http://www.prantlsbakery.com/order-online/

Enjoy!
Ciao!

13
Apr
2014

Totally Amazing Auricchio Artichoke And Tomato Pasta Salad!! Meet The Best Member Of The Provolone Family!

categories: Fun for Kids, Healthy Living, Homemade Italian, Party Time, Recipes, Sides

Auricchio Provolone has an unmatched taste and texture! Super easy to cube for my pasta salad! I find the largest selection and most cheese knowledge in town at Pennsylvania Macaroni in Pittsburgh’s Strip District.

Auricchio is very sharp and aromatic! Brush before kissing for sure with this one!

According to Pennsylvania Macaroni’s website,
“Auricchio Provolone is an aged Italian Provolone that is particularly sharp. It is often regarded as one of the best-tasting Provolones in the world. In Italian grocery stores, this cheese is often seen dangling by rope from the rafters, which makes it a very well known cheese throughout Italy. The aging process allows for the flavor of the cheese to develop over time, which ultimately adds character to its eventual taste.”

My kids love cheese! They love the cheese counter and taste testing! Bella's favorite is Havarti! — My kids love cheese! They love the cheese counter and taste testing! Bella’s favorite is Havarti!

Dear Heart will gladly give you a taste when you visit Penn Mac in the Strip! Or buy online!
http://www.pennmac.com/items/236//aged-italian-auricchio-provolone

Auricchio Artichoke and Tomato Pasta Salad!

Feeds a party as a side dish!

Ingredients:
2 lb. auricchino provolone, cubed
1 15oz. jar artichoke hearts in water, chopped
5-6 Roma tomatoes chopped
4 tbsp. olive oil
1/4 cup Salad Supreme pasta salad seasoning
1 1/2 lb. cavatappi pasta cooked

Only add two or three ingredients into your pasta salad. It is easy to get carried away!

Directions:
Mix it all together and refrigerate!

I make my pasta salad the night before a party! The flavors will have time to mix and it is perfectly chilled through when served!

This recipe will serve 25+ as a side dish. Feel free to half it! It is great to make ahead and chill overnight! Just add a few tsp. of lemon juice and stir!

Always top with freshly grated Parmesan!
It’s party time!
Ciao!

10
Apr
2014

Super Chips! Garlic Parmesan Baked Kale Chips!

categories: Fun for Kids, Gluten Free, Healthy Living, Healthy Snacks, Recipes, Sides

Healthy. Superfood! Delicious. Superfood! Bonus, Kid friendly! Superfood!
Kale chips can be a healthy snack or a side dish served with paninis for lunch! Whether dressed up or dressed down, kale chips can be accessorized with salt, garlic salt, freshly grated cheeses, hot pepper, hot sauce, taco seasoning…their styling possibilities are endless!! Experiment!

Garlic Parmesan Kale Chips

Preheat oven 350 degrees.

Separate kale leaves from thick stems.

Rinse and dry well.

Rip kale into chip size.

I have found that the kale chips bake the best on a parchment paper lined cookie sheet!

Place on a parchment paper lined cookie sheet.

Brush or spray with olive oil.

Use any flavors you like! Sea salt, paprika, cayenne pepper, etc!

Shake on freshly grated Parmesan cheese and garlic salt.

Bake for 10 minutes or until chips are brown around the edges.
(There is a fine line between crispy and crumbling. You might need to experiment!
10 minutes seems to be perfect!

Enjoy!
Ciao!

09
Apr
2014

S’Mores Oatmeal For A Healthy Breakfast?? Use Oatmeal And Chia Seeds To Curb The 11AM Binge!

categories: Breakfast, Fun for Kids, Healthy Living, Recipes

My name is Terri and I am a breakfast skipper. BSA- Breakfast Skippers Anonymous, anyone? We need meetings! We all do it! Coffee only in the early AM and by 11 we are shoving anything and everything into our mouths. On my quest for health and anti-aging, I have incorporated oatmeal 4-5 mornings into our family’s breakfasts. Boring yucky oatmeal? No way! You should know me better than that by now!

Sidenote, the kids are eating it and loving it, too!
I have adapted my mason jar oatmeal recipes from this I found on Pinterest-
http://www.grocerybudget101.com/content.php/611-Easy-Refrigerator-Oatmeal

Photo from grocerybudget101.com. The flavors are endless!!

Basic Mason Jar Fruit Oatmeal Recipe:
Ingredients:
1/4 cup old fashion rolled oats,uncooked.
1/3 cup almond milk
1/4 cup vanilla Greek yogurt
2 tsp. chia seeds
Additions based on flavor-
1/3 cup fresh fruit/nuts
1 tbsp. honey

Directions:
Add oats, chia seeds, yogurt and almond milk to a mason jar and shake well.
Add fruit and other additions.
Add plastic lid. (Get these on amazon)
Refrigerate overnight and use in 3-4 days.

Here is our favorite right now!

After shaking, we add strawberries, blueberries, raspberries and 1tsp. honey! Mix! Refrigerate! Use within 3-4 days!
Please visit their page- many, many flavors to try!!

I get my jars and lids on Amazon! $8.00/12 pack! Grab plastic lids, too- easy to work with!

http://www.amazon.com/Ball-Jar-Crystal-8-Ounce-Quilted/dp/B00B80TJUI/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_til?tag=wwwparmesanpr-20&linkCode=w00&creativeASIN=B00B80TJUI

Today, we made warm S’mores Oatmeal! It was a total hit!

S’mores Oatmeal!

Ingredients:
1 – portion quick oats, cooked
1 graham cracker crushed
1 tbsp.dark chocolate chips
1 tbsp. raisins
1 tsp. chia seeds
2 tbsp. mini marshmallows
A little drizzle of Hershey’s chocolate syrup!

Directions:
Mix in chocolate chips and raisins, chia seeds and marshmallows.
Top with graham cracker crumbles and drizzle with chocolate syrup!

Enjoy!
Ciao!

07
Apr
2014

Super Breakfast!! Chia Kale Egg White Super Muffins!!

categories: Breakfast, Fun for Kids, Healthy Living, Healthy Snacks, Recipes

Why not add superfoods to our breakfast? Whether it is a quick healthy smoothie, a super muffin or a grab and go breakfast bar, the addition of superfoods gives us more energy for the day! This super breakfast gets us going!! Especially on Mondays!

Start healthy Monday mornings!! No excuses!

Chia Kale Egg White Super Muffins

Ingredients:

2 tbsp. egg whites per muffin
(3 egg whites for 6)
1/2 cup chopped kale

Don't have kale? Use broccoli, spinach green pepper or any other veggies you have! — Don’t have kale? Use broccoli, spinach, green pepper or any other veggies you have!

2 tbsp. chia seeds
1/4 cup shredded mozzarella/cheddar cheese

Directions:

Preheat oven 350*
Spray muffin tins with Pam.

My kids love to help! Let them add the veggies, cheese and chia seeds! Are your kids not big on veggies? When kids get involved they will eat their masterpieces!!

Add kale, cheese and chia seeds to each.

Pour 2 tbsp. of egg whites on top of each tin.

Bake 20 mins or until egg is cooked.

20 mins was perfect for my 6 tins! Watch as soon as the egg muffin forms and the edges turn golden!

Of course we sprinkle ours with freshly grated Parmesan cheese! Enjoy!

Make a whole pan and refrigerate for quick, healthy grab and go breakfasts for the week! Slice a super egg white muffin in half and enjoy between wheat toast! Add hot sauce for a little kick!

Want more superfood breakfast recipes? www.parmesanprincess.com
Blog Posts:
No Bake Health Bars
Chia Blueberry Muffins
Ch Ch Ch Chia!!!

Ciao!

05
Apr
2014

Warm Apple Pie Oatmeal! A Special Treat For A Rainy Weekend Morning!

categories: Breakfast, Fun for Kids, Healthy Living, Recipes

Warm Apple Pie Oatmeal

Ingredients:
2 apples chopped with skin
1 tbsp. cinnamon
1/2 tbsp. nutmeg
1 tbsp. sugar
1 pat of butter 1/8 inch thick to coat pan.
1 cup water
1 cup Quaker quick oats

Do you have one of these apple corer dividers? So easy to use!

$9.99 on Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00004OCKT/ref=redir_mdp_mobile

Directions:

Put a frying pan on medium heat.
Coat pan with butter, it will melt.

Stir and coat apples well with the spices.

Add apples and spices and cook for 10 minutes until apples soften.

This would also be delicious with pecans! I didn't have any this morning! — This would also be delicious with pecans! I didn’t have any this morning!

Add water and when it is simmering add oats.
Cook an additional 3-5 minutes!
Sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar and serve!

My monkeys wanted theirs topped off with a squirt of whipped cream! Love them!

Ciao!

02
Apr
2014

NatureBox! Delivered To Your Door! Healthy, Tasty, Affordable Snacks!! Sign Up Today!

categories: Fun for Kids, Healthy Living, Recipes, Shopping

We are adding chia seeds to our meals, making fresh veggies a staple, and preparing homemade healthy meals instead of going out, BUT what are we eating in between meals?? Yeah, I took a fork to my son’s leftover birthday cake today because it was sitting on my kitchen counter saying “Eat Me!!!”

I didn't even cut a piece...who knows how much I ate!!! — I didn’t even cut a piece…who knows how much I ate!!!

What if we had super healthy snacks that could satisfy our sweet, salty, spicy cravings?? And were sitting on the counter ready to grab???
I found it!!

LOGO – “over 100 ways to snack happy” Sounds good !

NatureBox!!! NatureBox ships one box of delicious healthy snack made from wholesome, minimally processed ingredients for you to enjoy every month!

How Do You Sign Up?

1. Pick a monthly box size of 5-10-20 snack bags!

2. Choose snacks or be surprised!

3. Receive your box and Enjoy!

https://naturebox.com//select

Friends, Use code: snackhealthy and get 50% off your first box! Shipping is always free!!

I just ordered my first box! I can’t wait to hear from you! Will we love it??

Ciao!

01
Apr
2014

My 5 Year Old’s Birthday Dinner Menu…Old Bay Steamed Shrimp, Gourmet Mac ‘N Cheese and Jello!!

categories: Dinner, Fun for Kids, Party Time, Recipes, Sides

Pizza, pasta, dessert for dinner…not my kid! Shrimp and gourmet mac ‘n cheese and, Oh yea, jello! Love this kid to death! I can’t believe he is 5!! Where does the time go? Enjoy these recipes with your family and make some great memories!

Old Bay Steamed Shrimp!

I use equal parts beer, white vinegar and water in my largest deepest frying pan. Don’t be afraid to do 2-3 different batches. Ideally, you want one layer of shrimp so they can cook evenly.
Shake on the Old Bay!
Cook until pink!

This classic Old Bay Shrimp recipe is amazing! Look at the size of these !!!

(seen in post from 02/28/14- Old Bay Co.Shrimp Recipe)
http://www.oldbay.com/Recipes/Shrimp/Appetizers/OLD-BAY-Steamed-Shrimp-with-Cocktail-Sauce.aspx

Gourmet Mac ‘N Cheese
1 lb. Cavatappi pasta, cooked to al dente
2 tbsp. olive oil
3/4 cup sour cream
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream (more if too dry)
4 cups freshly grated white sharp cheddar cheese
1/4 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
Salt, pepper.

I love the size, texture and chewiness of cavatappi pasta for Mac 'n cheese! — I love the size, texture and chewiness of cavatappi pasta for Mac ‘n cheese!

Directions:
Preheat oven 350 degrees!
Mix all ingredients together and add to baking dish.
Salt and pepper the top!

Add cheese last! Save about 1 cup to sprinkle on top once in baking dish!

Cover and refrigerate if you want to make ahead.

Mix in a large, deep mixing bowl and then spoon into your baking dish. This makes mixing much easier!!

Before baking, Cover with foil.
Bake for 45mins-1 hour until firm and golden around the edges.

Like a little crunch? Cover Mac n cheese with Panko breadcrumbs or crushed cornflakes! Broil last 5-8 minutes and keep watch! Pull it out of oven when top is golden brown!

We have some partying to do! Enjoy!
Ciao!

28
Mar
2014

Easy No Bake Health Bars! Traditional Peanut Butter 190 Calories/145 From Fat VS. PB2 54 Calories/25 From Fat…Really?

categories: Fun for Kids, Healthy Living, Healthy Snacks, Recipes

Health bars, granola bars, oat bars…we try, but what are we really buying? Often times, we are buying a way fattier version of what we think, and might have been better off with a bag of potato chips! Reminds me of Mean Girls, when Lindsay Lohan’s character gives Regina the “Caltine” bars that were supposed to taste amazing and help her burn calories and lose weight. Remember this? They were 1000 calories each! Poor thing!

Know exactly what ingredients are in your bars! Make them yourself in minutes! And refrigerate!

So lets talk peanut butter! High in fat, but a staple protein source for athletes, vegetarians, and many others! Delicious and creamy, a definite staple for my kids! What if you could trim the fat down by 85%? Have you heard of PB2? PB2 is a powder form of dry roasted peanuts that have been stripped of extra fats.

Pile creamy PB2 almond milk homemade peanut butter on fruits and veggies for a fresh, fabulous snack! — Pile creamy PB2 homemade peanut butter on fruits and veggies for a fresh, fabulous snack! Just add almond milk and Mix!

Some common everyday uses:

Add almond milk and make a homemade peanut butter!

Add to smoothies and protein shakes for flavor!

Bake with it, substitute PB2 when making homemade health bars instead of regular peanut butter!
Read more!! http://www.bellplantation.com/nutrition

Did I mention there is also PB2 chocolate? Yes, chocolate peanut butter. Mmmmmmm…

I whipped up my own, no bake, easy health bars using healthy ingredients in my pantry!

Easy No Bake Health Bars With Chia Seeds and PB2

Ingredients:

2 cups oats
2/3 cup honey
1/4 cup coconut oil
1/4 cup chia seeds
1/2 cup sunflower seeds
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1/2 cup shredded coconut flakes
1/3 cup PB2
(2 cups of oats and 2 cups of any other mixable dry ingredients you would like. Try dried fruits, nuts, chocolate chips, etc.)

Directions:

Heat Honey and Coconut oil in a small saucepan.

Get creative! Substitute any dry ingredients your family enjoys! — Get creative! Substitute 2 cups of any dry, healthy ingredients your family enjoys!

Add all other ingredients and coat. DO NOT COOK , just warm.
(If adding chocolate chips, you need to cool the mixture before adding or they will melt!)
Press into the bottom of a glass 9X13 pan or for 1/2 recipe 8X8 dish cover and refrigerate for 4 hours.

Cut the recipe in half if you want to bake approx. 6 -4inch bars! Press into 8x8 dish! — Cut the recipe in half if you want to bake approx. 6 -4inch bars! Press into 8×8 dish!

Cut into bars or spoon onto yogurt!

Enjoy!!

Ciao!

Category: Fun for Kids