Dedicated to the Breadman

Muffin tin deliciousness was featured at dinner last night with top-your-own pizzas. This is the first time I have done this with the boys.

I started the pizza dough in the bread machine, but about 10 minutes into the cycle it died on me. I had to finish it by hand...the horror of it all! The machine is pictured above, in the background behind the boys...waiting for a proper burial. RIP Breadman...it was a good 11 years.

The evening’s toppings were: fresh pineapple, ham, black olives, mushrooms, and red onions.

The onions and mushrooms were requested by Vincent- he has been going through this spicy food phase.

When Franklin initially saw the muffin tin he was a little worried, thinking dinner was served. Once he understood the concept, he set to work.

Frankie likes lots of pineapple.

Vincent likes lots of everything.

Colette likes to sit at the table like a big girl.

It was a successful dinner, and nice way to end the weekend.

Have a great week friends!

Do It Yourself Trail Mix

Trail Mix is a popular snack in our house. It took me a while to not worry about the boys choking or going into anaphylactic shock every time they had a nut, but now that I am over that, trail mix is a mainstay.

The biggest issue I have with trail mix is there is always a little something left over- Vincent isn’t crazy about cashews, and Franklin doesn’t like whole almonds. To remedy this I have started buying our trail mix ingredients separately, instead of pre-mixed. I have found that it is cheaper, lasts longer, and I can add the stuff each child likes.

Most importantly, I am not compelled to 200 calories worth of leftovers so they don’t go to waste because there is usually nothing left for me.

Today, I decided to let the boys mix their own snack, muffin tin style. Their mix choices were: a medley of raisins, dried tropical fruit, Craisins, sunflower seeds, honey roasted peanuts, and M&Ms. Coco had hers sans nuts.

Other items that we often use are pistachios, mini marshmallows, Multigrain Cheerios, chocolate chips, Chex, Apple Jacks, peanut butter chips, macadamia nuts, mini pretzels, goldfish, granola clusters (Trader Joes has really good ones), banana chips, shredded coconut and dried pineapple chunks.

It always amazes me that they share and still get their fill of what they want. Maybe it is brotherly love...or my threats to never do anything fun again if this doesn’t go well.

Either way, this is what was left over after mixing.

I couldn’t let those M&Ms go to waste.

What is the go to snack around your house?

Disney Muffin Tin

We are surprising the boys by taking them to Disneyland tomorrow, so I thought I would do a Disney character muffin tin lunch today.

With the amount everyone has been ill lately, I thought it best to wait until the last minute to let them in on the plan.

We had fun discussing over lunch all the characters and the rides we want to go on “next time” we visit the Magic Kingdom.

We ate the character’s favorite foods:

Mickey and Minnie Mouse- cheese

Pluto- Dog Bone aka: PB &J sandwich

Princesses- mango (I admit, it’s a stretch, but I needed to incorporate a fruit and I didn’t want to give them a Snow White apple!)

Donald and Daisy Duck- carrots and jicama

Buzz and Woody- Their faces on Cheese Its (that Buzz Lightyear is pretty self absorbed)

Chip and Dale- Granola and Nuts

They enjoyed their lunch and I now know exactly which rides we will be hitting first thing in the morning.

Next time, I may try to do a Seven Dwarfs Muffin Tin. Sleepy's "mild sedative" would be for me!

Faux Fondue

Our MTM is actually dessert from this weekend.

Now that it is Spring we are starting to eat outside as often as possible.

This weekend was perfect. After a long hot morning at the soccer field and an afternoon full of yard work, we grilled ribs and the kids had a Muffin Tin Faux Fondue.

It was a huge hit.

Here it is: Cinnamon graham crackers, homemade Chocolate Royale Sauce (my Grandmother’s recipe), sliced bananas, mini marshmallows, strawberries and angel food cake cubes.

Vinny didn’t waste any time digging in.

Frankie has this cheesy-smile-thing going for him.

And Coco is a hot mess.

Happy Spring!

Muffin Tin FAIL

I had the CUTEST plan for our Muffin Tin Meal today.

It started off with my new mini flower cutters, continued with the Spring colored sprinkles, and was totally foiled when I went to get the other ingredients from the pantry and found them missing. Patrick ate them.

In his defense, I never told him they were off limits, but that didn't prevent me from huffing around the kitchen for a good 5 minutes.

Our salvaged, but boring meal today is cherry yogurt with the aforementioned sprinkles, baby carrots, flower shaped PB&Js, fresh oranges and yogurt star cookies (Trader Joe's).

At least you get to see my pretty new Spring place mats.

Bunny Food

If I were to serve the kids veggies for a snack they would either throw a fit, whine, or cry- it all depends on their level of tiredness. If I serve them veggies in a muffin tin and call it "bunny food" they share nicely and eat all of it without complaining.

Being a mom is similar to being a con artist.

Today's "bunny food" snack consisted of Trader Joe'sWhole Wheat Pretzel Sticks, grape tomatoes, celery sticks, baby carrots, ranch dressing, and Ritz Crackers.

The weather has been perfect today so they ate outside under the patio pergola, which explains the terrible photo.

We had two E.R visits this week (more on that another day), so this is as good as it gets for today. Have a HEALTHY week!!!

Linked up to Muffin Tin Mom.

St Patrick's Day Lunch and Shamrock Art

If I allowed it, the kids would live on fruit and yogurt.

In honor of Saint Patrick’s Day, I made a rainbow colored, deconstructed fruit salad of strawberries, oranges, pineapple, and blueberries, vanilla yogurt (with a little help from green food coloring) and shamrock shaped PB&Js.

I don’t know if it is the muffin tin meal or the picks they get to eat with, but I could probably serve them anything from a muffin tin and they would devour it.

Our after lunch activity was making heart clovers and shamrocks. The boys choose some paper from my scrapbook supplies and we traced heart cookie cutter- 3 for shamrocks and 4 for clover. They then cut out the shapes.

Franklin cut out one by himself and I did the rest.

I love the look of concentration on Vincent’s face.

Then they glued the hearts on their construction paper to make the appropriate shape.

Vinny decided to make another one for Patrick’s office...on pink paper. LOVE it!

Mardi Gras Muffin Tin Lunch

We had a Mardi Gras themed Muffin Tin lunch today in anticipation of Fat Tuesday tomorrow. All three Mardi Gras colors were represented- purple grapes, green cucumbers and Tzatziki dip, yellow cheese cubes and crackers, and dessert- purple and green Skittles.

A Mardi Gras celebration would not be complete without beads and masks.

I know I am subjecting Vinny to public ridicule, allowing him to wear his Niners sweatshirt in public after the season they had. Good thing he is shielded by the spider.

Being the frugal and prudent mother I pride myself to be, I ensured nothing went to waste after lunch...by eating the rest of the Skittles myself.

Laissez Les Bons Temps Rouler!

Linked up to Muffin Tin Mom.