Today's Toddler Breakfast: Mini Frittata

I mentioned awhile back that we are in a breakfast rut, which led me to morning smoothies.  But I've also been making a very concerted effort to pack a good protein punch into our morning meal.  Which means we've been eating a lot of scrambled eggs.  That's the only way I know how to make eggs ... scrambled.  Don't know how to fry them or poach them or even turn them green.  But now I do know how to frittata them, and I will be frittata-ing again very soon. 

This recipe was so simple and quick and delicious - that's pretty much my checklist when cooking anything.  Throw in there, toddler-pleasing, and you've got yourself one happy mama!

What?  Your mouth is watering?  You want mini frittatas for breakfast tomorrow morning?  Oh, you want the recipe?  Sure, no problem ... just so you know, I halved the recipe and it was plenty for me and NHV; the leftovers are good, too!

Ingredients:

• 6 large eggs
• 1/3 cup milk
• 1/2 tsp. kosher salt
• 1/4 tsp. freshly-ground black pepper
• 2 Tbsp. chopped fresh parsley
• 1/4 cup chopped turkey pepperoni
• 3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Preparation:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a mini muffin tin with cooking spray.
2. Whisk together eggs, milk, salt, pepper and parsley. Stir in pepperoni.  This is a great chance for your toddler to help :)
   
3. Divide cheddar cheese among 24 mini muffin cups. (Again, I only made 12 - with three eggs.)
   
4. Pour egg mixture into a measuring cup with a spout. Pour egg mixture over cheese, filling cups to the top.
5. Bake 10-14 minutes until mini frittatas are puffed and golden brown on top.  (We snuggled up and read a book while we waited for our "egg muffins" to bake.)
   

Original recipe (no, not the Colonel's) can be found here.

Moon Sand

This stuff is C-double O-L!

My toddler and I ventured to the local kid's museum today. Last week was Super Clean Week. This morning was an hour for members only. It was delightful.

Even more delightful, the new exhibits that were recently added - a giant Light Bright and a Moon Sand table. As soon as I saw it, I just had to put my hands in the Moon Sand. It looks like really soft beach sand, but it's different. It's pliable and moldable and not nearly as messy as regular sand. Clearly, NHV and the other kiddos loved it! And so I added "research Moon Sand" to the top of my To Do List, and here I am ... sharing what I've learned with you.

Here's the product summary from the manufacturer:

Moon Sand let's anyone bring home the beach and in colors too. This revolutionary new material feels and acts like wet sand and molds to any shape you can imagine. Squish it, shape it, mold it, Moon Sand never dries out and can be used over and over again for never ending fun. It's even water and liquid repellent. Bake your creation in a low oven and it becomes rock hard, even suitable for carving. Bake it again and it crumples back into its original shape to be used over again and still won't dry out. Clean up easily and won't stick or stain. Sand expands to twice its size out of the package.

I found this information on Amazon along with a 5lb bucket for under $10 + shipping. Looks like it's also available at Target, which would save you the shipping.

And leave it to all those clever bloggers out there. I also found a recipe for homemade Moon Sand. I can't recommend it - one way or another - because I haven't tried it YET, but I will ... and I'll let you know.

RECIPE FOR HOMEMADE MOON SAND

This makes 1 "batch" - probably enough to get your kiddo started and figure out if you like it or not. I will probably get all the supplies and then host a playdate where everyone makes some Moon Sand to take home with them. (resource)

• 6 cups of play sand (I think you can get a big bag for like $5.)
• 3 cups of cornstarch
• 1 1/2 cups of cold water
  

1. Mix the water and cornstarch together thoroughly, this will take a few minutes to get it nice and smooth.


2. Gradually mix in the sand, one cup at a time. You'll need to really work it in with your fingers.


3. Play with it!


4. When you're all done, pop it in an airtight container.


5. When you next play with it, you'll need to revive it with 2-3 tablespoons of water. Just sprinkle it over and work it in.


6. If you want the Moon Sand to be colored, add a few drops of food coloring

Homemade Play Dough Recipe

My toddler is currently all about the Play Doh. My highly sensitive pregnancy sniffer, not so much. Everyday she asks me to "pay pay doh," and everyday I tell her that daddy will be oh-so-happy to play Play Doh when he gets home. Because, let me be clear, I cannot stand the smell of that stuff ... at least, not right now. However, I am starting to feel a little guilty about constantly saying no to Natalie's request. I am even starting to feel kind of bad about pawning off the Play Doh responsibilities to my sweet husband. In a guilt-stricken moment, I came up with the idea of making homemade play dough. I remember doing this as a kid, and the smell was decidedly different than the name brand stuff. So I thought I'd give it a try; thankfully, finding a recipe was easy.

While this recipe involves cooking, it is important to note that this is filed under FUN, not FOOD :)

What You'll Need:

• 1 cup flour
• 2 tsps. cream of tartar
• 1 Tbsp. cooking oil
• 1/2 cup salt
• 1 cup water with food coloring*

What To Do:

Mix all ingredients in a saucepan. Cook for about 3 minutes, stirring constantly until a firm ball is formed. Knead a few minutes. Store in an airtight container. This needs no refrigeration and will last a long time. It is not edible!

*I also read or heard - somewhere - that you can add Kool-aid to this concoction to give your homemade play dough color and fragrance. I didn't try this because I am drinking my Kool-Aid these days - one of my current pregnancy cravings - and didn't want to "waste" any on the play dough.

Teacher Thought: Use the play dough to practice those sorting skills - size and color. Make several "snakes" and ask, "Which is the longest? The shortest?" Do the same with balls of dough or shapes you "cut" with cookie cutters. (You can also count the dough shapes you make.)

Bit of Randomness: And while I was in the Play Doh frame-of-mind, I visited the website and found their Fresh Ideas link to be a rather refreshing ... and odor-free experience :) Each image even includes step-by-step directions and photos of each step - now that's serious Play Dohing!

Kid Kabob Recipe

Considering how much time - everyday, all day - toddlers spend eating or snacking, it's clear that food is pretty darn important. And providing a variety of foods that are high in protein and nutrients, well, that's pretty darn important, too. When it comes to feeding my little monster, I have two priorities: Meals that are easy to make and fun to eat.


My dear friend Missy, momma to Emmett, sent me this recipe just the other day, and I am passing its simple brilliance and yumminess on to you ...


Just skewer frozen chicken pieces or nuggets (thawed in microwave for a minute) with squash or zucchini (or whatever veggie your toddler will tolerate) and a can of biscuits halved. Bake in oven according to biscuit instructions and top with a little melted butter and honey (or let your toddler dip them).


Did you catch the fact that these kabobs include biscuits? You know the truly delicious kind you POP out of their cute little can? 'Cause she had me at "biscuits," if you know what I'm saying! Kid Kabobs, nothing; I'll be eating a kabob or two myself!