Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss!!!

Who Doesn't love Dr. Seuss?! I'm just glad that his wonderful stories continue to flood the theater, television, libraries, schools...and even my house! I don't think his creativity ever gets old, so in honor of one of my all time favorite authors...Here is our tribute (through eating of course) to Dr. Seuss. 

To start off the day, I packed a fun lunch for the girls. I found this cute lunch idea online here.

Then, I decided since my girls probably wouldn't eat the jello and 3 hard boiled eggs, I created my own version with plastic green easter eggs and packed a homemade lunch-able. I included diced ham, cheese cut into cupcakes (since it is my daughter's birthday and Dr. Seuss's birthday tomorrow) and then stuck some crackers into a larger egg.

Then I included a little paper that read, "Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss...do you like green eggs and ham?"
I also created my own version of a Cat and the Hat themed 'hat' by layering fresh diced strawberries and cool whip. Then, threw in a little green grass, green 'egg' grapes and green spoon, with a 'Horton Hatches the Egg' treat.

 DISCLAIMER: I wanted to share these ideas incase anyone was interested in using them for Dr. Seuss's official birthday tomorrow, so none of the pictures have been edited and all of them were taken quickly, so although they aren't the best, hopefully you get the idea.

Here is what I have planned for after school snacks and dinner tonight:

 Mr. Brown Can Moo Chocolate Milk

Horton Hears a Who Bugle Snack

One Fish Two Fish Red Fish GREEN Fish- sorry fish crackers don't come in blue so I improvised!

Truffula Trees from The Lorax- There are several cute versions online, but I just used green Easter Rolos for the base, twisted pretzel sticks for the trunk and Cotton Candy for the top of the tree.

Ten Apples Up On Top Apple and Grape Skewers

There's A Wocket In My Pita Pocket- Ham and cheese pitas.

I haven't had a chance to fix the marshmallow hats yet, but thought the girls might have fun making them too, so here is one of the cuter versions I also found online just so you have a visual to follow.

Here is the link and details on how to make these super fun chocolate dipped mallows.

AND- Who could forget about David Donald Doo and his vast love for donuts. His love for donuts runs so deep, he dreams dreams about a dozen donuts probably on a regular basis!

Don't Forget the Hop On Pop Popcorn either!

Hopefully some of these ideas will inspire you to create some cute treats for a fun filled weekend where you can FEAST FEAST FEAST FEAST even with a Grinch on a train or in a box or with a fox!

*I HAVE PRINTABLES AND LABELS FOR EACH ITEM, I ADAPTED EACH BOOK TO FIT MY THEMED FOOD (i.e. ONE FISH TWO FISH RED FISH GREEN FISH and THERE IS A WOCKET IN MY PITA POCKET) IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN PRINTING THEM OFF, JUST SHOOT ME AN E-MAIL, THEY CAN ALL BE PRINTED IN COLOR BUT APPARENTLY MY PRINTER IS STILL CURRENTLY HOLDING A GRUDGE AFTER TOO MUCH HOLIDAY PRINTING.* ENJOY!

Leap Day Fun

 Well, since leap day comes but every four years, I had fun creating a 'leaping' frog lunch. I think the girls' favorite part was that I included a 'happy meal' toy (a wind up frog that flips) in their lunch...and I wonder why we are always running late in the morning?! hmmm.

Valentine's Day Bento Lunches

I LOVE VALENTINE'S Day (are you sick of hearing this yet?) because you can take any ordinary food, shape it into a heart and instantly you have created a festive holiday lunch-Yeah! My girls told me the heart sandwich was best sandwich ever. I decided not to bother telling them it is excatly the same kind they request on a regular basis. I guess my magical heart-cutting skills add pizzazz and alter taste buds too, who knew?!

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

Happy Valentine's Day Continued...

Gee, did I already mention that I LOVE Valentine's Day?!!!! I Totally do. Maybe it's because 1.) I met my husband on Valentine's day? Sappy I know. Or 2.) maybe it's because it revolves around my favorite color pink? Or 3.) maybe it's because I can do cheesy things [As posted below] ALL WEEK LONG?! I'll go for option 3...

Valentine's Day Crepes

Could this really get any cuter?! I saw this idea here several weeks ago and just couldn't really sleep soundly until I made them!  It sounds kinda of silly, but I thought they were so cute I could hardly contain my excitement to share these with my kids.  Lucky for me, I have three girls who were equally giddy over them and made me feel like a pretty cool mom!  I LOVE girls when it comes to anything cutsie-they have been trained to know exactly when to cue in with the right comments-yeah!

These were super simple and I just covered the top with a large conversation heart before sprinkling with powdered sugar.  I also filled with a cream cheese filling and then used the left over crepes and filled with Nutella for their lunches the next day.  I also really love the crepe recipe I grew up with, so although it is similar to the one I found online, this is my go-to crepe recipe.

Crepes

1 cup flour

1 1/2 cup milk

2 eggs

2 tbsp sugar

1 tbsp oil

1/8 tsp salt

Makes: 10-12 medium crepes

-Add all ingredients to a blender and blend until evenly mixed.  I usually add liquid first to keep dry ingredients from clumping around the edge of the blender.  Also, if I want extras, I usually double the batch.

-Heat a skillet over medium heat and spray with a small amount of non-stick cooking spray.  Once pan is heated, gently pour a small amount of batter into the center of pan and tip to spread batter around to coat the whole bottom of the pan.  Once several bubbles have formed on the top of the crepe, flip and cook for 30 seconds to 1 minute longer.  

-Top with your favorite pancake toppings.  My girls love fruit and whipping cream or cinnamon-sugar and whipping cream.

Here is the recipe for the Cream Cheese filling.  It is thick, and if you want it to be a little less dense, add 1 cup whipped cream.

Cream Cheese Center:

1 8 oz package cream cheese

3 Tbsp brown sugar

1 tsp vanilla

Soften cream cheese, add brown sugar and vanilla and mix until smooth.  Add whipped heavy cream if desired.  Place a few tsp of topping in center of crepe, roll up and top with fruit.

Serve on a polka dot platter and ENJOY!

Homemade Lasagna

Valentine's Day Romantic Dinner #3: 

ITALIAN

I have a couple of 'foodie' friends who lived in Italy for awhile and have introduced me to some AMAZING food I am in love with.  This Lasagna recipe is one of them, this is definitely worth the effort.  It is loaded with homemade-gooey cheesy goodness and by far my favorite lasagna!  I have had several varieties of lasagna in my life with layers of cottage cheese and ricotta etc..., but this in my opinion surpasses them all. Yum...if it wasn't currently 10pm, I might even be tempted to make it now!

Lasagna

Red Sauce:

2-4 tbsp extra virgin olive oil (enough to generously cover bottom of sauce pan)

5 cloves garlic, minced

1 small onion, chopped

1- 28 oz can crushed tomatoes

1-1/2 tsp sea salt

1 tsp brown sugar

handful of fresh basil leaves

1/3 cup cream

1/3 cup fresh parmesan, grated

8 oz italian sausage (optional)

-In a medium sauce pan over medium heat, add olive oil, onion and garlic and cook just until onions are soft and blonde in color and garlic lightly browned.

-Add: canned tomatoes, sea salt and brown sugar.  Reduce heat and simmer over low heat for 45 minutes or put in a crock pot on low for 1-2 hours, stirring occasionally.

-Tear basil leaves by hand (to release flavor) and simmer 10 more minutes.  At this point add more salt or brown sugar to taste if desired.

-Add heavy cream and freshly grated parmesan and simmer 5-10 more minutes. Remove from heat until ready to layer.

-If desired, brown italian sausage separately and add to mixture, or cook sausage with onion and garlic and reduce amount of olive oil. 

Bescamela (White Sauce):

2 Tbsp butter

2 Tbsp flour

1 cup whole milk

Salt (to taste)

dash of nutmeg

-In a sauce pan, melt butter over medium heat, once melted, add flour, stirring quickly and cook 1 minute, but don't let flour brown. Whisk milk in, in small drizzles to avoid a lumpy sauce. Once mixture is smooth, cook to slightly thicken, and add salt and nutmeg.  

-Set aside until ready to layer.

Lasagna:

1 package Barilla Lasagne Noodles, No Boiling Required

Fresh mozzarella, shredded 1 to 1-2 lbs, depending on how cheesy you want it

1/2 cup fresh parmesan

Red sauce

White sauce

-To assemble: Cover an 8x8 pan with a thin layer of red sauce. Place 3 noodles side-by-side to cover the length of the pan (if necessary, break one noodle in 1/2 length wise.

-Cover noodle layer with red sauce, then a layer of shredded mozzarella, then top with a layer of white sauce.  Cover with a second layer of noodles, but turn the noodles lengthwise in the opposite direction of the first layer of noodles.

-Repeat process two more times for a total of 3 layers.  

-Layer with a last (4th) layer of noodles and end with topping the final noodle layer with red sauce and parmesan cheese only.

-Bake in oven at 375 degrees for 25 minutes or until brown and bubbly.  Watch carefully because the fresh lasagna cooks much faster and can burn easily.

NOTE: This recipe is slightly labor intensive, so if you have freezer space, I recommend doubling the recipe and making a second batch to freeze for another day. Just place the frozen lasagna directly in the oven when ready to serve and double (maybe even triple) cooking time.

ANOTHER NOTE: This lasagna is also fantastic with fresh basil (broken by hand) and added to each red sauce layer.

Valentine's Day Cheesecake

Valentine's Day Romantic Dessert #3: 

ITALIAN

I LOVE to bake desserts, especially if they revolve around cheesecake and dense brownies, but I knew last Valentine's Day I didn't have time to make a full dessert but wanted something fun and chocolately, but easy to make...well, look no further my friend!  This was super simple and only required a few ingredients...that is if you buy a frozen cheesecake like me (shhh-don't tell!)

To make this cheesecake, simply unwrap enough hershey kisses to cover the outside edge of the cheesecake.  Create a heart with a fruit filling the center of the cheesecake and drizzle hot fudge over the top of the kisses for a little extra 'cute'ness.

OR...

You can take the more labor-intensive, but also very satisfying route...and make your own cheesecake!  I am sure I will have a million more cheesecake recipes to post, but here is one that is supposed to be a copy-cat of The Cheesecake Factory original cheesecake.  This is a light-fluffy cheesecake, compared to most that are heavy and dense, but nonetheless is equally as tasty!

Plain Cheesecake Recipe: altered slightly from here

Crust:

1/4 cup finely chopped walnuts
1/4 cup finely chopped almonds
3/4 cup finely chopped vanilla wafers
2 tablespoons melted butter

Filling:

1 1/2 lbs cream cheese
1 1/3 cups sugar
5 large eggs
16 ounces sour cream
1/4 cup flour
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 teaspoons lemon juice

Directions:

Crust Directions:

-Mix all nuts and vanilla wafer crumbs with melted butter and press into a 9 inch buttered springform pan, trying to line the sides as much as possible about 1 1/2" up the sides of the pan, set aside.

Cheesecake Directions:

- All the filling ingredients should be at room temperature.

-Beat the cream cheese until light and fluffy with an electric mixer set on low (keep the setting at low during the entire mixing process).

-Add the sugar a little at a time and continue beating until creamy.

-Add one egg at a time and beat after each egg.

-Add flour, vanilla and lemon juice, mix well.

-Add the sour cream and beat well.

-Pour cream cheese mixture into the springform pan.

-Place on the top rack in the middle of a 325 degree F preheated oven for one hour and 15 minutes.

-When time is up turn oven off, prop open oven door and leave in oven for one hour.

-Remove from oven and let cool then refrigerate for 24 hours.

-Remember this important tip : A cheesecake should season. The wait is worth it. The flavor ripens and becomes enriched.

-Serve with your favorite toppings: fruit fillings, whipping cream, chocolate or caramel sauce etc...Enjoy!