Dine Without Whine Recipes, Tips & Resources

We've Moved

2006-09-24T20:17:00.000-07:00

This blog has moved to www.themenumom.com Please head on over and visit us there. THANKS!

Dinner Planning For Busy School Days

2006-09-18T12:31:00.000-07:00

Hi, how's it going? I spent the weekend painting. Not my favorite task, but it turned out good! Anyway, just a quick note to let you know that I posted a new article on the Dine Without Whine site. You can find it here: Dinner Planning For Busy School Days.

Christine

My Favorite Kitchen Appliance

2006-09-12T21:17:00.000-07:00

As I was making my smoothie this morning, I was reminded that my Vita Mix Blender is honestly my favorite kitchen appliance. We use it almost every day. You can read my complete thoughts on it here: http://www.dinewithoutwhine.com/vita-mix.htm

I also have a great free smoothie recipe book for you here: http://www.healthymenumailer.com/healthy-breakfast-smoothies.pdf

Smoothies are a staple at our house. Such a great way to sneak some extra fruits, veggies and protein into ourselves (and our kids!)

C-

Breakfast Bagel Casserole

2006-09-10T19:59:00.000-07:00

Breakfast Bagel Casserole

3 plain bagels (thinly sliced)
12 eggs (beaten)
1/2 pound cooked ham (diced)
1/4 cup finely chopped onion
1 tablespoon fresh chopped parsley
1 cup grated cheddar cheese
1 cup milk
Salt and pepper to taste
2 tablespoons butter

Place butter in heavy skillet. Add ham and onion. Sauté over low heat until tender (approximately 2 minutes). Set aside. Slice each bagel into 4 thin slices. Arrange 6 bagel slices at bottom of lightly greased baking dish. Top bagels with ham and onion mixture. Then top with cheddar cheese. Finally top with remaining bagel slices. In a separate bowl whisk together eggs, milk, parsley, and salt and pepper to taste. Pour the egg mixture over the bagel layers. Bake at 375F for approximately 30 minutes or until eggs are firm and cooked through.

Banana Muffins - YUM!

2006-09-06T12:53:00.000-07:00

I had some bananas that needed used up (which doesn't happen too often around here - they usually get eaten quite quickly) so I pulled out this recipe. They were delicious and were gobbled up extremely fast at our house. I guess the boys were hungry!

Banana Muffins
1 1/2 c. Flour
1 t. Baking Powder
1 t. Baking Soda
1/2 t. Salt
1 t. Cinnamon
3 Large Bananas
3/4 C. Sugar
1 Egg
1/3 Cup Butter, Melted
1 t. Vanilla

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. Coat muffin pans with non-stick spray, or use paper liners.

3. In a medium bowl combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cinnamon. Set Aside.

4. In a large bowl beat bananas, sugar, egg, melted butter and vanilla.

5. Add flour mixture and beat until smooth.

6. Scoop into muffin pans

7. Bake for 20-25 minutes.

I hope you enjoy them as much as we did!

My FREE Soup Came!

2006-09-02T21:42:00.000-07:00

My free soup came today! (see previous post) We had some for dinner and I must say it was VERY Good and I plan to order more. The creamy potato one was like the Bear Creek mix we used to buy at Costco (at least I think that was the brand…) It was a bit spicy for my taste (which isn’t saying much…) but it was good. I also made Chicken Noodle, and I am pretty sure that is going to become a stable at our house this winter. It has the Noodles like what come in Lipton Noodle Sides - but this is soup. It was PACKED with noodles. Generally at our house we fish out all the noodles and then have a pot of broth leftover. Well, this time, I fished out enough noodles for everyone and still had lots left in the pan! It also didn’t leave you with that “thirsty for the rest of the night” problem because it was so salty. It was packed with flavor but not so salty that you feel like you had your salt intake for a week in one serving. (Like many canned soups I’ve had). Generally in our house my four year old and I are the soup fans. But everybody gobbled this up! My four year old had seconds, and even my 23 month old tipped his bowl up and slurped the last drop. (which is saying a lot!) I made some biscuits to go along with it and we were full! I love that it comes in little packets too - less space in the pantry then those cans take, and each packet is equal to 2+ cans of soup. (although they also have single serve and bulk packets available) If you haven’t ordered your free sample yet you can do so here: www.dinewithoutwhine.com/soup (There is a small shipping charge, but it is worth it!)
Enjoy!

Pancakes

2006-09-02T08:15:00.000-07:00

My kids love Saturday Morning Pancakes! (I personally do not care for panckes, but I think most people like them...)

Here is a basic recipe. We sometimes add bananas or chocolate chips too.

Basic Pancake Recipe
Makes approximately 8 pancakes

2 cups flour
2 cups milk
2 eggs (beaten)
1/3 cup butter (melted)
2 tablespoons sugar (optional)
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt

In a large bowl combine flour, milk, beaten eggs, 1/3 cup melted butter, sugar, baking powder and salt until just blended. Preheat lightly greased griddle or frying pan. Pour about 1/4 cup of batter into pan per pancake. Cook until pancakes begin to bubble. Flip once and cook for 1 to 2 minutes longer. Serve with maple syrup, jam or fruit.

Happy Labor Day Weekend!

Getting Your Kids to Eat Their Veggies – Six Easy Tips

2006-08-30T12:10:00.000-07:00

One common struggle that most moms will face at some time or another is getting your kids to eat their veggies. Most kids will turn up their nose at the site of anything green. So how do you get around the veggie issue? Here are some fun and easy ways to convince your kids to gobble up their veggies.

Fun Presentation – Kids love fun and colorful food. Cut up some carrot sticks, cucumber rounds, sliced cherry tomatoes and sliced bell peppers and arrange them all in a plate. You can make a face using the cucumber rounds for the eyes, carrot sticks for eyebrows, cherry tomatoes for nose and mouth and arrange the pepper strips to form the face. Serve with hummus and cut pita bread on the side.

Make it Routine – Try to serve at least one veggie with each meal your child has. You can alternate between salads and cooked or cut veggies but always serve at least one with each meal. Your child may not eat them at first but if they see that veggies are a standard part of meal time they just may start trying them.

Set a Good Example – This one goes without saying. Just like making veggies a routine part of meals it will also help kids to see mom and dad eating their fair share. Show your kids how nice veggies can be by filling your plate up – adults need veggies too!

Get Creative – Okay this is a little sneaky but definitely works. Most kids love spaghetti so place some steamed veggies such as broccoli, cauliflower, peppers into a food processor and whiz until liquid. Add the mixture to your spaghetti sauce for a nutritious meal. Just make sure you don't go overboard and add too many veggies, as this will change the taste of the sauce. The trick is to start out slow and gradually increase the amount of veggies as your kid's taste palette changes.

Veggie Muffins – Add a little grated carrot or zucchini to your standard muffin recipe. Banana carrot muffins are delicious and so are zucchini chocolate chip muffins. You can also bake pumpkin muffins or cake. This is a great way to give your kids a yummy treat and still ensure they’re getting a good serving of veggies.

The One Bite Rule – We have a rule in our house. Even if the kids don't like the look of the veggies they must at least try one bite. If they actually don't like it then they don't have to eat it. This avoids a lot of meal time tantrums and a lot of times the kids will actually like the food once they taste it. Try it, you may be pleasantly surprised at how many different foods you kids will actually eat.

Banana Picnic Cake

2006-08-25T09:47:00.000-07:00

Banana Picnic Cake

2 cups flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/3 cup butter (softened)
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
2 ripe bananas mashed
2/3 cups plain yogurt
1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

In a bowl combine flour, baking powder and baking soda. In a separate bowl mix butter and sugar until well combined. Add eggs and mashed bananas to butter mixture. Add to flour mixture along with the yogurt and mix together well (until smooth). Spoon batter into lightly greased baking pan and top with walnuts (if using). Bake at 350 degrees for about 35 minutes or until baked through.

Newsletter Up

2006-08-22T19:52:00.000-07:00

This week's free newsletter is up and ready. You can find it here: http://www.dinewithoutwhine.com/beef-enchiladas.htm Included is a yummy beef enchilada recipe and an article on avoiding packed lunch boredom. Enjoy!

Baked Rice Pudding

2006-08-19T12:14:00.000-07:00

Yum, a friend just shared this recipe with me. I love rice pudding! (Minus the raisins...) I'm going to have to go try this one. ENJOY!

Baked Rice Pudding Recipe

1/2 cup cooked rice
3 eggs (beaten)
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup raisins
3 1/2 cups milk
Ground nutmeg

In a large bowl, mix all ingredients except nutmeg. Pour mixture into a lightly buttered shallow baking dish and sprinkle with nutmeg. Place baking dish in a pan of hot water in oven and Place baking dish in a pan of hot water in oven and bake at 300° for about 1 1/2 hours, or until set.

Quick and Easy Dinner Ideas

2006-08-19T11:36:00.000-07:00

Quick and Easy Dinner Time Ideas
It’s 6:00 p.m. the kids are hungry, homework needs to be done, you’re stressed and then they ask… “Mom, what’s for dinner?” Sound familiar?

It’s not easy juggling our busy lives while trying to feed our families a hot nutritious dinner every night. Here are seven quick and easy dinner ideas that will help take the stress out of family meal times.

1. Plan a Menu and Grocery Shopping List – (Or let us do it for you – www.dinewithoutwhine.com) Menu planning does take organization and time but it’s definitely worth the effort. Find a few minutes during the weekend and plan your meals for the upcoming week. Write a quick menu, do your shopping and stick the menu on your fridge. Every morning quickly glance at it, take out the foods that need thawing, and look ahead to see how much time you need to prepare the meal.

2. Befriend the Slow Cooker – Okay, this little invention may not be the coolest kitchen gadget around but it can definitely be a lifesaver. With a little planning you can have a nutritious dinner ready before the kids can even say “mom…” (Dine Without Whine includes one slow cooker recipe per week)

3. The Casserole is Back – Similar to the slow cooker, but great for days when you forget to plan ahead. Casseroles work great with leftovers or just about any items you can find in your pantry. Throw together some pasta, tuna, corn kernels, peas and cream soup for a quick meal. Casseroles made with rice or potatoes are just as easy. Keep a few easy recipes on hand and add or omit ingredients according to what you have in your pantry.

4. Easy, Versatile, Pasta – By far the easiest way to quickly throw together a healthy family dinner. To avoid boredom try to avoid the usual jar of sauce and pasta dinner. Try this, heat two tablespoons of olive oil over very low heat and add one crushed garlic bulb, stir for about a minute and add a can of drained crab meat or cooked chicken, the juice of one lemon, a little salt and pepper to taste, and finally add a little chopped cilantro or parsley. Serve over your pasta with some garlic bread and a green salad on the side for a delicious meal in minutes.

5. The Incredible Edible Egg – Eggs aren’t only for breakfast, they’re also great for quick dinners. Make an omelet and fill with a little ham and cheese, you can also add some chopped tomato, onions or mushrooms. Serve along with a muffin and you’re set. Or make a Spanish tortilla. Scrub, peel and thinly slice a couple of new or small potatoes. Boil potatoes until soft, about 8 minutes. Drain. Add a little oil to a nonstick frying pan, add the potatoes, beaten eggs and a little chopped onion (optional) cook on low until the bottom starts to set. Then stick the frying pan under a broiler until the top of the tortilla sets. Serve with a side salad.

6. Sandwich Bar – Some days you just don’t have the time or energy to cook a hot meal, but you can still feed your family a nutritious meal in the way of sandwiches. Put out some bread rolls (whole wheat is best), add a platter of cheese, ham, turkey, tuna or any other favorite fillings. Add another platter of chopped lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers and any other favorite veggies. Now let your kids put together their own sandwiches. Serve with some pretzels, a salad or cut up veggies and dip.

7. Wrap It – Wraps are great for quick dinners. You can fill them with just about anything. For a Mexican wrap cook a little ground beef, drain and fill wrap. Add some chopped tomatoes, grated cheese, sour cream or guacamole. You can also fill it with heated tuna, some corn kernels and a little mayonnaise. Or try scrambled eggs, chopped ham and tomatoes. Leftover chicken with cheese and lettuce works great too.

FREE Soup!

2006-08-10T06:53:00.000-07:00

Hi there, I just found a great deal! FREE Soup for the upcoming fall months. I just ordered my large free sample. From what I hear this soup is delicious! There are several sample choices - most valued around $17.50. Click here to order yours!

We're Offering Great Prizes in August!

2006-08-05T21:29:00.000-07:00

I'm happy to announce that Dine Without Whine is offering a great contest during the month of August. Here's the scoop: All you have to do to be entered in our drawing for awesome prizes (more info. on the prizes will be coming very soon) is to send at least one visitor our way during the month of August using your affiliate link. So you don't have to have your own website or a huge mailing list in order to take part in this drawing! You don't even have to make a sale! Aoo you have to do is lead someone to our site. Take a moment to log into your affiliate account and pick up your banner or link. Here's where you sign in: http://www.dinewithoutwhine.com/amember/member.php If you aren't already a DWW affiliate you can find out more here: www.dinewithoutwhine.com/affiliate. You can add the link to your website or blog, or send it out to your newsletter list. Include the link in outgoing emails and add it to your signature files on message boards and forums you participate in (only if the forum rules permit it of course). This is going to be a lot of fun! We can't wait to share the awesome prizes with you! (Oh and of course you will receive your 40% commission if you do make a sale as well.)

One More Day...

2006-08-01T14:09:00.000-07:00

Due to technical issues yesterday, I have postponed the price raise until tomorrow - Aug. 2nd

The new prices will be as follows:
1 month - $4.95
3 months - $14.75
6 months - $27.50
12 months - $55.00
Lifetime - $135.00

C-

The Count Down Is On!

2006-07-25T11:08:00.000-07:00

Just a reminder that on August 1st my prices will be rising slightly. Grab or renew your subscription now before the prices go up!

Hear Me On WAHM Talk Radio

2006-07-18T14:36:00.000-07:00

See two posts in one day - AMAZING! I forgot to mention that I am a guest on Work At Home Moms Talk Radio this week! Head on over and listen when you get a chance.
Christine

My Poor Lonely Blog!

2006-07-18T10:49:00.000-07:00

My poor lonely blog has been neglected. I apologize for all of you who have been checking back again and again and AGAIN only to not find an update.... My bad. I have considered just deleting this blog, but I have decided to try to give it another go....

Today I am excited to announce a new website for my affiliates. The site is www.partnerupdates.com. Please do go take a minute to visit. We have training materials available to help you learn all the ins and outs of affiliate marketing.

There are also many new recipes, articles, product recommendations and life updates in my archives area.

Christine

Valentine's Ideas

2006-02-11T09:17:00.000-08:00

It's almost the day - Valentine's Day! I have added three articles with ideas for you to consider.
Prepare A Romantic Dinner At Home For Valentine's Day
Valentine's Day Treats For Work And School
Say "I Love You" With Valentine Cookies

ENJOY!

A Shameless Plug

2006-02-02T20:16:00.000-08:00

A Shameless Plug for my mom. :) She has been sewing up some of the cutest outfits and we are offering them on e-bay. Take a look here: http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQsassZlittle*blessings*boutiqueQQhtZ-1

Special Treats for Valentine's Day!

2006-01-23T21:10:00.000-08:00

Are you beginning to think about Valentine's Day? Matt and I had our first kiss back in the day on Valentine's Day...... Memories... Anyway, It's the perfect day for a treat. I just added today's newsletter on the site featuring a Cherry Cheesecake Recipe. This week's menu plan will feature a great easy sugar cookie recipe. Enjoy!
Christine

Chicken Enchiladas YUM! YUM! YUM!

2006-01-10T13:29:00.000-08:00

How about some warm comforting Chicken Enchiladas for Dinner? Enjoy!

Weekly Newsletter Posted

2006-01-02T21:33:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year! I am so excited to see what 2006 has in store. I just posted today's free recipe newsletter. Included is a yummy Easy Lasagna Recipe & A Great Article on How To Teach Your Child To Cook. ENJOY!

Pizza Burgers And Bread Machine Tips

2005-12-28T21:16:00.000-08:00

This week's free newsletter was just posted! Enjoy Pizza Burgers and Bread Machine Tips this week.

C-

An Unusual Event!

2005-12-27T21:10:00.000-08:00

It is so unusual for me to post twice in a day! One of my goals of 2006 is to blog more frequently.

Anyway, I couldn't help but post. There is an excellent article on the importance of family mealtime! It can be found here:
http://archives.seattletimes.nwsource.com/cgi-bin/texis.cgi/web/vortex/display?slug=familydinners31&date=20050131

You do have to do a quick sign-up to read it, but it is worth the read.
Christine

New Feature On DWW

2005-12-27T16:21:00.000-08:00

Whew, boy am I glad Christmas is over! It was great, but I never really enjoy it - it's too rushed and busy and stressful. Our family needs to work on that!

Anyway, just a quick note to let you know that I re-worked the DWW site a bit. The best new feature is that members can log-in to pick up your newslettter for the week if for some reason you are not near your e-mail box before you go to the grocery store, if it accidentally gets deleted from your inbox - or whatever!

I have some awesome plans for 2006!
Christine

DWW - Featured on Whirlpool's American Family Program

2005-12-06T09:17:00.000-08:00

Dine Without Whine is featured in Whirlpool's American Family Podcasts this week! The topics are Cost Savings from Meal Planning and Baby Food to Table Food Transitions. www.whirlpool.com/family
ENJOY!

Thanksgiving Meal Planning Help

2005-11-16T13:55:00.000-08:00

Are you expecting a house full this Thanksgiving, but you have no idea what to cook? Are you attending a gathering and you need to bring a special dish? I am ready to help with your Thanksgiving Meal Planning. I have developed a short mini Thanksgiving cookbook full of recipe's that will make your holiday a little easier. Simply e-mail me at christine@dinewithoutwhine.com with the subject line: Thanksgiving Recipe Request and I will send a copy your way!

New Free Recipe Newsletter

2005-09-24T20:51:00.000-07:00

I wanted to take a minute to share that I have added a new publication option to Dine Without Whine. It is a FREE Newsletter! It will be sent out every Monday and will include a personal note, weekly sponsor, weekly recipe exerted out of our menu planning service, and exclusive tips and articles. I invite you to join today! http://www.dinewithoutwhine.com/Menu-Plan-Free-Newsletter.htm

New Recipe's

2005-09-12T19:13:00.000-07:00

Hi There! Just a quick note to let you know that I added a new sample menu plan to my site today! Here is the link.
http://www.dinewithoutwhine.com/Menu_Plan_Sample.htm
I am also working on improving the affiliate program and adding some other fun things, so check back soon!
C-

Long Time No Blog!

2005-08-16T12:37:00.000-07:00

Sorry it has been a bit since I have posted! We have been out of town quite a bit and we are moving in two weeks! YIKES! I have a ton of boxes to pack this week. Anyway, I am still here - life is just a bit hectic at the moment. I'll be back with some yummy fall recipe's soon!

Fresh Lemonade Syrup

2005-07-31T22:21:00.000-07:00

It's nice and warm here in the Pacific Northwest. Time for a nice cool drink!

3 C. Sugar
1 C. Boiling Water
3 C. Lemon Juice
2 T. Fresh Grated Lemon Peel

In a 1 1/2 quart heatproof container, dissolve sugar in boiling water. Cool. Add lemon juice and peel; mix well. Cover and store in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. Makes 5 1/2 C. of Syrup.

To Prepare Lemonade: For 1 serving, combine 1/4 to 1/3 C. syrup and 3/4 C. cold water in a glass; stir well. For 8 servings, combine 2 2/3 C. syrup and 5 C. cold water in a 2 qt. pitcher; stir well. Serve over ice.

Enjoy the summer weather!

Don't Miss WAHM Hot Seminar Series - Featuring DWW!

2005-07-17T06:46:00.000-07:00

Join me this Wednesday July 20th at 9:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time at http://www.hotseminarseries.com/ for the Work at Home Mom Talk Radio Hot Summer Seminar Series. I will be sharing some cool easy summer recipe's that kids will love! You will also have the chance to win a FREE 6 month subscription to www.dinewithoutwhine.com . Hop on over early, scroll all the way to the botom of the page at www.hotseminarseries.com and sign-up. Then, at 9:00 p.m. EST you can either call in on the phone or log-on using your computer. Hope to see you there!

4th of July Yummy Pie Recipe

2005-07-01T00:15:00.000-07:00

Are you ready for the 4th? I wanted to add one of my favorite independence Day Recipe's. This was also shared in my weekly menu planner, so if you are a subscriber you can just ignore this post. :)

Red, White and Blueberry Pie
Makes 8 servings

4 squares (1 ounce each) white baking chocolate
8 large fresh strawberries halved lengthwise
1 reduced fat graham cracker pie crust
3/4 cup sliced fresh strawberries
1 8-ounce package reduced fat cream cheese cubed
3/4 cup confectioners' sugar
3/4 cup fat free milk
1 3 1/2-ounce box instant vanilla pudding
1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries
1 cup reduced fat whipped topping

1. In a microwave or heavy saucepan, melt white chocolate, stir until smooth. Dip the 8 halved strawberries halfway in the chocolate. Place cut side down on a waxed paper-lined baking sheet. Refrigerate for 15 minutes or until set. Spread the remaining melted chocolate over the bottom and sides of crust. Arrange sliced strawberries in crust.

2. In a mixing bowl, beat cream cheese and confectioners' sugar until smooth. Gradually add milk, mix well. Beat in pudding mix on low speed for 2 minutes or until thickened. Spread evenly over sliced strawberries.

3. Place blueberries in center of pie. Arrange dipped strawberries around the edge. Pipe or dollop whipped topping between the strawberries and blueberries. Refrigerate until serving.

Quick Defrosting Tip

2005-06-24T23:31:00.000-07:00

Well, it happened tonight...Usually I am pretty good about getting things out of the freezer well in advance of actually needing them; but once in awhile I goof. It was an hour before dinner, and yup you guessed it, I hadn't defrosted the tortillas I was planning on using for dinner. They were nice and rock solid - frozen together in one big pile. I tried setting the on the counter in the sun, but that wasn't working, so I quickly remembered a tip I had read somewhere in the past and filed it away in my head "just in case". Turn on your oven to preheat for approx. 5 minutes and then turn it off. Stick your tortillas (or other bread items) in the oven and let them sit for 30-60 minutes and viola, they are quickly defrosted in your nice warm oven. So, if you are like me and once in awhile suffer from "defrost in advance amnesia" file this tip in your head for safe keeping and you'll be set.
Christine

My Rice Cooker Secret

2005-06-20T22:37:00.000-07:00

Do you own a rice cooker? If you are a subscriber to my weekly menu planner , then you are aware that rice is one of my staples. The kids eat it, and best of all...It's easy to make. So, the other night instead of the plain white sticky rice I generally make I decided I would cook up a box of Rice A Roni that was sitting in my pantry. I grabbed it, read the directions and discovered that if I actually followed the directions I would have to stand over the stove for 25 minutes cooking the stuff. Not exactly what I wanted to do on a nice warm day. So.....the experiment began. I emptied that box, (with the seasoning) along with the required amount of water and butter right into my rice cooker and turned it on. Afterall, what was there to loose? A $.99 box of Rice a Roni and a Rice Cooker Pot I would have to wash - not too big of an investment. I carried on with the rest of the meal preparation and low and behold....it WORKED! I will never prepare Rice a Roni the old fashioned way again! Grant it needed to sit for a few minutes after it was done cooking to fully set-up, but it tasted great. So, moral of the story? If you don't have a rice cooker and your family likes rice, go pick one up! It will save you a lot of time.

Kids Favorite FUN Summer Recipe's

2005-06-12T14:03:00.000-07:00

I thought I would take a step away from yummy food recipe's as featured in my menu planner and take a few minutes to share some FUN summer play recipe's to create with your kiddo's.

SLIME
2 C. White Glue (such as Elmer's)
2 C. Water
1 t. Borax
Liquid Food Coloring

1. Pour glue into a mixing bowl. Slowly add 1 1/2 C. of water and several drops of food coloring.

2. In another bowl, dissolve borax in 1/2 C. of water.

3. Add dissolved borax to glue mixture. Knead for 10 minutes, until slime separates between your fingers. Let slime condense in an airtight container overnight before using. Store in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.

PLAY DOUGH
1 C. Flour
1/2 C. Salt
2 t. Cream of Tartar
1 C. Water
1 t. Cooking Oil
Liquid Food Coloring

1. In a heavy saucepan, combine flour, salt, and cream of tartar. Pour the water and oil into the dry mixture and stir well.

2. Cook over medium heat for 3-5 minutes, stirring constantly, until the dough pulls away from the sides of the pan. Remove from the heat.

3. Let cool in a bowl covered with a wet cloth for a minute. Add 10-12 drops of liquid food coloring and knead until smooth and blended. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for several weeks.

FINGER PAINTS
2 C. Cold Water
3 t. Sugar
1/2 C. Cornstarch
1 T. light Corn Syrup
Small bowls or jars with lids

1. In a small pot, stir water, sugar, and cornstarch. Whisk over low heat for 5 minutes until mixture is thick and clear.

2. Stir in corn syrup. Pour paint into small containers with lids.

3. Add a few drops of food coloring to each and shake until color is well mixed.

Use thick paper for finger painting - it will hold up much better.

ENJOY!
Christine

Keep a Lid on It!

2005-06-04T22:17:00.000-07:00

I love to use my slow cooker as you'll see in my menu planner - I try to use it at least once a week. It is so easy to throw your ingredients in there in the morning and viola, it is ready to go at dinner time. I love that! However, being a work at home mom, I am home during the day and as I walk through the kitchen I always get that urge....it must be the kid in me - I just want a little peek! You know... it smells so good and you just want to quick check it out. Well DON'T - be strong - Keep the lid on it! Every time you open that lid it takes your cooker 20-30 minutes to regain its original temperature, which leads to longer cooking times and can sometimes even affect the outcome of your recipe. So ladies, be strong and have patience and your meal will turn out better. That's it for my tip of the day.
C-

Work in Progress - Family First!

2005-06-02T10:25:00.000-07:00

I joined in last night to WAHM (Work at Home Mom) Talk Radio's Hot Summer Seminar Series for Mom (try saying that 5 times fast!) seminar on working outside the home or staying home with your children. It was great fun! You can listen to it here. I encourage you to check out Kelly's upcoming seminars. She has a great line-up and at the very bottom of the page you can sign-up for FREE! You can either call in or join via web-cast. Every seminar that she holds she will be giving away a FREE 6 month subscribtion to Dine Without Whine! (my weekly menu planner) to one lucky winner.

I was reminded through the seminar why I originally choose to stay at home with my kids in the first place... It made me re-evaluate my priorities and opened my eyes to the fact that I need to remember that my kids and family come first and that my business should not be taking me away from that. I don't want my kids to grow up being resentful of the time I spent on the computer...they are only young once and I need to make every second count! So, in the next couple days I am going to be really looking at my schedule to make it so that my kids can enjoy my companionship. Work times will of course be scheduled in - but they will be set. (That's why I work at home in the first place - so I can set my own hours and take off when I need to!) I'm not going to be sitting at the computer all day - leaving only when they desperately need something. (I am lucky that my husband is currently home with them as he is not working at the moment...they are not unsupervised by any means, but I'm missing out!) When starting a new business it is so easy to spend 18 hours a day on it trying to get things running. I am actually enjoying it, but my kids aren't. They miss mom!

So....off I go to play Spongebob video games. :) If you have kids at home (of any age) I encourage you to go spend some quality time with them - they will remember it forever (even if they don't act like they appreciate it).

Blessings,
Christine

Welcome to my NEW Blog!

2005-05-30T16:04:00.000-07:00

Hello Friends,
Welcome to my new Blog! For those of you who do not know what a Blog is....esentially it is an online journal. There are often times I would like to share more with you in my Menu Planner, but it just isn't the right place and I don't want to make the publication outrageously large. So, here we go! For those of you who want more recipes, tips, resources (and once in awhile my personal thoughts) here's the spot!

If you are not a Dine Without Whine Subscriber yet, we'd love to have you join us.

Come back often (at least a couple times a week) to see new blog entries.
Christine