How I Got My Kids to Eat Cooked Carrots

My kids happen to like most fruits and vegetables, but for the longest time they refused to eat cooked carrots.  My daughter would turn her nose up at crinkle cut carrots and my son would pretend to gag if I set them in front of him.  I remember watching an episode of Jon and Kate Plus 8 years ago and Kate mentioned all the sneaky ways to sneak vegetables into your child's diet.  So I gave it a try, shredded carrots mixed in with mashed potatoes, chopped carrots in spaghetti sauce and pureed carrots in our smoothies.  They couldn't taste a difference and I loved that they were getting an extra dose of vitamin A.

Then one day it happened, we were out to dinner and carrots were on the menu.  I begged my kids to just try them and guess what, they really enjoyed them!  I knew I wouldn't have much luck asking the chef for the recipe, so based on the flavors in the dish I came up with my own.  My kids love this recipe and I bet yours will too.  I can't wait til Thanksgiving to serve it to all my cooked-carrot hating guests!

    

Ingredients
1 pound carrots, peeled and  cut
1 cup chicken broth
2 tablespoons butter
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon dried parsley  

Directions
Add butter and chicken broth to a large skillet over medium-high heat.  Once the butter has melted, add the carrots and saute for about 6-8 minutes or until carrots are tender and the liquid has cooked down.  Make sure to stir occasionally.  Remove from heat and toss with salt and parsley. Serve warm and enjoy!

I am linking this post to: Kelly's Korner

Homemade French Fries

Today we're going to have a little fun and pretend fried foods are good for you!  Even though they're not very healthy, I could seriously eat french fries after having my wisdom teeth removed.  They're that good people!

I don't think it's bad to enjoy french fries, but it would be bad to indulge in them everyday.

So every once in awhile I make these homemade fries and it seems to satisfy my french fry craving.

We just purchased a deep fryer, it makes frying so much easier.

  

Although we don't use it that often it's nice not to have the hot oil spattering and popping in your face.

Crispy and Delicious!

As easy as it is to drive thru the world's largest fast food chain, you can make your own hand-cut fries at home.

Ingredients 
2 pounds Russet Potatoes 
Canola Oil For Frying 
Sea Salt

Directions
Heat oil in a fryer to 350 degrees.  Peel and cut the potatoes into wedges.  *The thicker they are, the longer they will take to fry.  Place the potato wedges in large a bowl and cover with cold water.  Allow the potatoes to soak for a few hours.  Once you are ready to fry, remove the potatoes from the water and pat them dry.  Carefully place the potato wedges into the hot oil.  Do not fry the entire batch at once– you’ll need to fry them in several smaller batches for the best results.  Cook until the fries are golden and crisp; about 8 minutes.  Remove from fries from oil and drain them in the fry basket then on paper towels.  Sprinkle fries with sea salt and enjoy!

Recipe adapted from: http://www.theprairiehomestead.com/

Embroidery Hoop- Laundry Hamper

My son is pretty good at keeping his room clean, however despite having the laundry hamper right outside his bedroom he leaves his dirty clothes all over his room and bathroom floor after he showers.  He tends to be forgetful!

So my solution was to create hanging hamper for his room.  I was inspired by this idea on Martha Stewart’s website.  I didn't have a pillowcase available, but I did have over a yard of fabric I received from Online Fabric Store in our Haven Conference- swag bags.  I started by staining my embroidery hoop; not a necessary step, I just wanted mine darker. Then with my fabric a sewed a very simple pillowcase then folded the fabric around the embroidery hoop. I wrapped some twine around the hardware to create a loop for hanging. 

A simple solution without taking up any floor space.

And now there are no more clothes on the floor!  I wonder why I didn't think of this solution sooner. 

 

Helpful Tips for Decorating with Faux Flowers

When it comes to decorating my home with flowers fresh blooms are the obvious choice.  But buying fresh cut flowers can be costly and I'm always sad to see them die so quickly.  

I decided to take a walk on the wild side and purchased a selection of artificial flowers yesterday.

With a small budget in mind, I was pleasantly surprised with the great assortment of flowers available at Dollar Tree.

If you choose to buy artificial flowers then I have a few tips to make your flowers appear less fake!  

1. When choosing flowers try to choose flowers that appear realistic and in season.

2. Remove the artificial greenery and replace with fresh filler greens that can be found in your own back yard.

3. When using a clear glass vase fill the vase with water. 

4. Give your flowers a few spritzes of water.  Cut flowers eventually wilt.  The weight of the water will allow each petal to naturally droop.  *Just be sure you don't saturate your flowers with water otherwise the dye from the flowers will run off onto whatever surface you place them on.

My final tip has do with purchasing a vase.  Toothbrush holders make the perfect decorative vase.  They are the perfect size for a small arrangement.  I've wanted a mint julep cup for a long time, but they can be expensive.  While browsing the bath section in Home Goods I came across a toothbrush holder that was very similar to the mint julep cups I'd seen.  Priced at only $5.99 I made my way to the register without a second thought.
   

Nothing beats a live plant, but decorating with artificial flowers can be fun and easy. 

Disney World Inspired- Pineapple Smoothie

A few weeks after my children began their summer break from school we celebrated with our first ever trip to Disney World.

I anxiously looked forward to trying a Dole Float.

I enjoyed the vanilla-pineapple swirl.  It was so refreshing in the sticky Florida heat.

With just a few simple ingredients and a bunch of ice,

I concocted my own version of the Disney favorite that can be blended in your own kitchen.

It's not quite the same as the Disney treat, but it still tastes yummy.

Ingredients 
1 (20-ounce) can pineapple chunks in 100% pineapple juice(do not drain)
1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk 
1 tsp vanilla extract
8 ice cubes
pinch of salt

Directions 
Using your blender, blend all ingredients until smooth.  Enjoy! 

Dresser Top Tray

The top of my dresser is the least organized spot in the house.  Imagine piles of clutter where everything that doesn't really have a home ends up.  I blame my husband!  He claims not to notice the mess!

This weekend I was determined to keep my dresser clutter free.  After putting things back where they belong, I decided to leave a few items out that my husband uses the most.  I took an old tray purchased at a thrift store and gave it a quick makeover with decorative scrapbook paper and metallic paint.  Once the paint dried, I sealed the top of the tray with Mod Podge. 

Everything feels more organized, instead of sitting on top of the dresser I placed a few of his everyday items on the decorative tray.

Having a place for everything makes it much easier for him to find his things.  The clock is ticking on how long this tidy dresser will last. Ha!

Fresh Ideas from Minted.com

On lazy Sunday afternoons, I find myself browsing the Internet for fresh ideas and usually I find amazing items and websites that strike my interest.  Recently, I came across Minted and I immediately fell in love. They're perhaps best known for their Christmas cards.  Minted is a website that caters to many of your stationary needs, whether you need Sweet Sixteen party invitations or Save the Date cards. 

Another great thing about Minted is that they also sell artwork that can fit any style you desire (their section of children's artwork is a personal favorite).  I love that you can choose a size and actually see how large or small it is compared to someone holding it.  You have no idea how many times I ordered something with the expectations of the dimensions being correct when in reality, I totally misread "centimeters" as "inches"! 

What really got my attention was their eye for detail.  You get great quality stationary and decor without breaking the bank.  Plus, everything is customizable to fit with your personal preference!  This website is now one of my favorites and a go-to for getting any stationary products in the future!

*No financial compensation was received to share this post, however I will receive a credit covering 150 business cards.  All opinions are my own