So this year Daniel will be in 1st grade! Where did the summer go? My mom is already in Florida and had her Open House last night! AHHHHHHH!
I really want to create some family traditions for our children so that this time of year is not such a downer. I have been cruising the internet trying to come up with ideas. And trying to remember the things that made this time of year special when I was a kid.
Of course, the back to school shopping was always a big one. I was talking with Dan about this because he didn't understand why I was getting new backpacks and lunch boxes and shoes for the kids. This was not a real tradition in his family. I said, well, it will be in ours. Especially when I can get the backpacks on sale for $4! We will embellish them for fun and this weekend and everyone will be happy!
But the big thing that I remember is that when I was in 4th grade, it was a really hard year for me. I had to go to a new school. I had a new baby brother. My sister was in kindergarten and very sick, so she needed a lot of attention. I didn't feel like there was anything special for me. So my clever mother created the "Lunch Box Fairy". Up to that point I was responsible to make my lunch (I think). But mom would get up extra early, make my lunch and leave a note on a napkin, a special sticker, a special treat that was only for me. The other kids in the family were not given the same things. I felt SO special! Sometimes it is just the little things that our kids need. I think that that is hard to remember. We get caught up in the trendy things and forget that our kids are much more simple.
So I have a bunch of lunch recipes to share. I did a back to school enrichment when I was the enrichment leader and here is what I shared. Hope that you enjoy it!
Pizza Sub- sub roll
- ¼ cup pizza sauce
- ½ bell pepper, sliced (any color will do, but I like yellow!)
- ¼ - ½ cup sliced turkey pepperoni (Hormel makes some that tastes just like the real thing)
- ¼ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
Spread the sub roll with pizza sauce. Top with bell pepper, meat, and cheese. The yummy sandwiches can be served cold for the lunch box or warmed in the oven at home!
- Southwest Turkey Wrap
- 1 large flour tortilla
- ¼ cup cream cheese (low-fat works fine too)
- ¼ cup mild salsa
- 2-3 slices of deli turkey
- shredded lettuce
- shredded carrots
Mix together the cream cheese and salsa until creamy and spreadable (this mixture keeps well, so you can make extra and use it later). Spread cream cheese mixture on tortillas. Layer the tortilla with turkey and sprinkle with lettuce and carrots. Fold over ends of tortilla and roll up (cut in half before packing).
TIP – Replace the lettuce with raw, chopped spinach for extra nutrition!
- Tuna
- 1 (6 ounce) can tuna
- 1/4 cup diced celery
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh dill weed
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
- 2 tablespoons thinly sliced green onion
- 3 tablespoons fat-free mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons plain low-fat yogurt
- 1/2 teaspoon prepared Dijon-style mustard
Drain tuna and mix with celery, dill, parsley, chives, mayonnaise, yogurt, and mustard. Mix well.
Cut the crusts off the wheat bread and make the sandwich. For a cute alternative, use cookie cutters to cut fun shapes.
- Applesauce Treats
- ½ cup prepared applesauce
- 2 T “Red-Hots” candies
- 2 small flour tortillas
- Cinnamon-sugar
Mix together the applesauce and Red-Hots in a small container with a lid, set aside. Mist tortillas with water and liberally sprinkle them with cinnamon-sugar. Slice tortillas into 1-2” strips. Place on cookie sheets and bake at 350° until crisp. Cool tortillas completely before packing.
Kids can dip the crisp tortialla strips into the applesauce mixture. This cinnamon-y dipping treat is a favorite for kids of all ages!
- Super Easy No Bake Cookies
- ½ cup graham cracker crumbs
- 2½ cups oatmeal
- 1½ cups brown sugar
- 2 tbsp. cocoa
- ½ cup milk (lowfat is okay!)
- ½ cup margarine
- ½ cup peanut butter
- 1 tsp. vanilla
Combine graham cracker crumbs and oatmeal – set aside.
Mix together next four ingredients (sugar-margarine) in a small saucepan; stir over medium heat until dissolved. Remove from heat and stir in peanut butter and margarine.
Blend in dry mixture, beating until thickened. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto wax paper and cool in refrigerator (best if kept cold)
Raspberry Granola Bars
- ¾ cup shortening
- ¾ cup sugar
- ¼ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp almond extract
- 2 eggs, separated
- 1½ cup flour
- 1 cup seedless raspberry preserves
- 1 cup granola
Beat together shortening, ¼ cup of sugar, and salt until light and fluffy. Add almond extract and 2 egg yolks. Slowly mix in flour until fully combined. Spread this mixture over the bottom of a 9x13 pan, coated with cooking spray. Bake at 350° for 15 minutes.
Spread preserves over crust immediately after removing it from the oven. Sprinkle with granola.
Beat the egg whites until they are foamy. Add remaining ½ cup of sugar until, beating until stiff peaks form. Spread egg white mixture on top of granola. Bake at 350° for additional 25 minutes.
Cool completely and cut into bars.
- 2 c. Flour
- 1 T baking powder
- 1 tsp salt
- ¼ cup shortening
- ½ cup cooked ham, diced
- ¼ cup mild cheddar, shredded
- 1 cup milk
Combine all ingredients until mixed well – dough mixture will be lumpy. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto cookie sheet coated with cooking spray. Back at 450° 12-15 minutes or until golden.
Apple Gingerbread Muffins
- 2 c. flour
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- ½ tsp ground ginger
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp allspice
- ½ cup light molasses
- ¼ cup milk
- 4 T melted butter
- 1 egg
- 2 medium apples (sweet rather than tart), cored, peeled & finely chopped
Combine flour, sugar, soda, and spices. In a separate bowl, beat together molasses, milk, butter, and egg. Slowly add wet mixture to dry (batter will be lumpy). Stir in apples. Spoon into prepared muffin cups and bake at 400° for 20-25 minutes, until toothpick inserted comes out clean.
Honey-Almond Granola
- 3 c. oats, uncooked
- ¾ cup honey
- 4 T melted butter
- 1½ tsp vanilla
- 1 cup chopped almonds
- ½ cup wheat germ
- ½ cup sesame seeds
- 1 cup dried cranberries
- ½ cup dried apricots, chopped
- ½ cup golden raisins
Bake oats on cookie sheet at 350° for 15 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes. Combine honey, butter and vanilla in a large bowl. Add oats, nuts, wheat germ, and sesame seeds, stirring to coat.
Return the mixture to a cookie sheet and bake at 350° for 15-20 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes. Remove from oven when mixture is golden brown. Cool completely.
Transfer baked mixture to large bowl and mix in fruit. Serve.
Fun Fun Fun Ideas!
HOW TO DO IT
Professor Eggs:
- Use a colored permanent non-toxic marker to write school related topics onto each egg. For example: 2+3=5, 9-4=5. Write a question on one side of the egg and provide the answer on the other side. For example: What is the capital of California? Sacramento!
- Let the eggs set for a few minutes before packing them into the lunch so that the marker does not smear.
- Complete this fun Back to School lunch with your child’s favorite cheese, veggie sticks and a box of JUICY JUICE.
TIPS
- Draw a silly face that you call "Professor Egg Head" on one side of the egg and math signs or words on the other side.
- Each time you make an Egg Head Lunch, add new facts or questions. You can gear them to the subjects that your child is currently studying in school.
HOW TO DO IT
- Keep several boxes of JUICY JUICE in the freezer.
- Before school, put one frozen juice box into a small plastic bag and place in your child's lunchbox or bag.
- The drink box will thaw and keep cold until lunch time.
TIPS
- The drink box will also keep other lunch items cool.
HOW TO DO IT
- Print out the gummy bugs template.
- Have your child color in the Ladybug, Snail, Worm and Spider using crayons and colored markers.
- When the coloring is done, cut out each bug.
- Place a piece of double stick tape on the back of each bug and let your child use the bugs to decorate the front of a green lunch bag.
- Now fill the lunch bag with a lunch that is Bug-a-lishous! Here are some suggestions:
- Make your child's favorite sandwich and cut it in the shape of a bug using a cookie cutter or paring knife.
- Include celery stick and black olive "worms". Cut celery into thin sticks for the worm's body. Add a black olive to one end of the celery stick for the worm's head.
- For dessert, tuck in some bug-shaped treats like SweeTARTS Gummy Bugs!
TIPS
- If you can't find a bug shaped cookie cutter, draw a simple bug shape on a piece of heavy paper. Cut out the shape, place it on top of the sandwich and cut out with a kitchen paring knife.
HOW TO DO IT-Mystery Number Lunch
- Using the marker, write "What is the mystery number?"
- Wrap the same number of each food item and place them in the lunch box or bag. For example:
- 3 crackers
- 3 slices of a luncheon meat or cheese slices or a sandwich cut in thirds.
- 3 pieces of vegetable such as celery or carrot sticks
- 3 orange slices
- 3 fun-size candy bars (BUTTERFINGER, NESTLÉ CRUNCH, AND BABY RUTH)
- Remember to ask your child what was the mystery number.
FOLLOW-UP FUN
- Have your child explore what kinds of household or clothing items come in pairs.
- Recite nursery rhymes or poems, such as "One, two, buckle my shoe" with your child.
WHAT YOU NEED
- Brown paper lunch bag
- Leaf stamps (available at craft stores)
- Red, orange and yellow acrylic paint
- Large and small leaf-shaped cookie cutters (available at craft and cooking stores)
- Two pieces each of whole wheat and white bread
- Your child's favorite tuna salad recipe
- Honeydew melon and cantaloupe
- 1 NESTLÉ TOLL HOUSE Candy Bar (Available in two varieties: Cookie or Brownie)
HOW TO DO IT
Decorated Lunch Bag
- With red, orange and yellow acrylic paints, stamp different leaf shapes on a brown paper lunch bag. Let it dry while you are making the lunch.
Fall Leaves Lunch
- Cut out two white and two whole wheat bread leaves using a large leaf-shaped cookie cutter.
- Fill with tuna salad to make two sandwiches.
- Cut shapes from cantaloupe and honeydew melons using a small leaf-shaped cutter.
- Add a NESTLÉ TOLL HOUSE Candy bar, for a special lunch box dessert treat!
TIPS
- You can also include pieces of white and yellow cheese that you and your child can create with the small leaf-shaped cookie cutters.
FOLLOW UP FUN
Suggest other activities that you and you kids can do together while the leaves are changing. You might take them on an outing to gather leaves. When you get home, you can create crayon leaf rubbings or an autumn wreath
WHAT YOU NEED TO PACK A RECTANGLE LUNCH
- A rectangular lunch box
- Rectangular food
- Rectangular LIBBY'S JUICY JUICE box (4.23 oz or 6.75 oz)
- Note card or piece of paper
- Marker or pen
HOW TO DO IT
- Make a sandwich for your child's lunch. Cut in half and trim the crusts. You now have two rectangles.
- Include rectangular shaped crackers
- Cut slice of cheese in half to form two rectangles
- Include graham crackers (they're rectangular)
- Include a note card or piece of paper and a marker or pen in the lunch and ask your child to write down which shape you packed today.
- Include your child's favorite flavor of JUICY JUICE in its rectangular juice box.
FOLLOW UP FUN
- Pack a regular lunch with a variety of shapes and ask you child to write down as many shapes as he or she can identify.
- Let your child help you turn dinner items into shapes and then "test" the rest of the family.
WHAT YOU NEED
- 1 brown lunch bag
- 1 sheet of white construction paper
- 1 sheet of black construction paper
- Safety scissors
- Ruler
- 1 thin point orange marker
- 1 thin point black marker
- 2 google eyes
- 1 ghost cookie cutter (available at craft or cook's stores)
- 2 slices of white bread
- Your child's favorite sandwich filling
- Black olives
- Carrot sticks
- "Creepy, Crawley Cookies" (See Related Activities)
- NESTLÉ Villains Fun Size bars
HOW TO DO IT
- Print out the template.
- Cut the ghost out of white construction paper.
- Cut the "Boo" out of white construction paper.
- Cut two bats out of black construction paper.
- Glue the ghost to the front of the brown lunch bag.
- Glue the two google eyes to the ghost's face.
- Use a black marker to form the mouth.
- Glue the two bats and the "Boo" over the ghost.
- Assemble your child's favorite sandwich using white bread.
- Make the sandwich into a ghost shape using a cookie cutter.
- Make "witches fingers" by placing black olives on the ends of carrot sticks.
- For a special Halloween treat, tuck in a few "Creepy Crawley Cookies" (See Related Activities) or some NESTLÉ Halloween candy like NESTLÉ Villains Fun Size bars.
TIPS
- Put the sandwich into the freezer for about 15 minutes so that the bread doesn't squeeze together when you press down on the sandwich with the cookie cutter
WHAT YOU NEED
- 1 Brown paper lunch bag
- 1 sheet each of orange and yellow construction paper
- Black marker
- Cellophane tape
HOW TO DO IT
- Print out template.
- Use the template to cut out 3 paper feathers from orange construction paper, 2 paper feathers and 1 beak from yellow construction paper.
- Fill the paper lunch bag with a lunch your little "gobbler" would love. For example: A turkey sandwich, corn muffins, a piece of fruit and some NESTLÉ fun size bars.
- Fold over the lunch bag and secure with cellophane tape.
- Use a black marker to draw two circles for eyes on the folder flap of the bag.
- Tape the construction paper beak to the end of the flap.
- Tape the construction paper feathers to the back of the lunch bag.
FOLLOW UP FUN
Tell your children interesting Turkey Facts:
- Did you know that "Gobble" "Gobble" is the sound that male, or Tom turkey makes when he hears loud noises? This "Gobble" can be heard over a mile away!
- Did you know that Benjamin Franklin wanted to name the Turkey our National Bird instead of the Bald Eagle?
- Did you know that the Native American name for turkey is "firkee"? That may be how the turkey got its name.
HOW TO DO IT
- Using the note card or paper, write a silly joke for your child. Check out Wonka.com for joke ideas.
- Attach the joke card to the back of one LAFFY TAFFY with tape.
- Place paper with LAFFY TAFFY in your child's lunchbox.
- Add a few more pieces of LAFFY TAFFY for your child to share with friends. They'll keep giggling when they read the jokes inside the wrappers.
FOLLOW UP FUN
- Depending on the age of your child, he or she can write a silly joke to add to mom or dad's lunchbox or briefcase.
WHAT YOU NEED
- Brown lunch bag
- Pink and white construction paper (white is optional)
- Cotton balls
- Safety scissors
- Cellophone tape
- Black marker pen
- Carrot sticks
- Egg salad sandwich
- 1 bag of NESTLÉ CRUNCH, BUTTERFINGER or BABY RUTH Miniatures.
HOW TO DO IT
- Pack a brown paper bag lunch with carrots, an egg salad sandwich, and NESTLÉ CRUNCH, BUTTERFINGER or BABY RUTH Miniatures.
- Fold brown bag over and tape shut.
- Using the template, trace the bunny ears onto the pink construction paper and cut out. Tape them to the top back of the bag.
- Again, using the template, cut out the eyes, whiskers, and teeth. Tape in place on the front of the bag.
- Glue on two cotton balls for the bunny's cheeks to finish the bunny's face.
- Send you little one hoppin' to school.
LITTLE KITCHEN HELPER HINTS
- Ask your child about their favorite animals and then help them create other lunch bag critters.
- Talk with them about what kinds of food those animals might enjoy. For instance, if they choose a horse, you might include an apple or a carrot. Birds might enjoy sunflower seeds, monkeys might like bananas.
WHAT YOU NEED
- Brown bag
- Colored marker
- Plastic bags of various sizes
- Food items that begin with the same letter
- NESTLÉ BUTTERFINGER, BABY RUTH, NESTLÉ CRUNCH fun-size bars.
HOW TO DO IT
- Using the marker, write on the outside of the brown bag.
- For a younger child:
- "Remember to tell me the beginning letter of all of the food in the bag."
- You may need to read or explain the clue to your young child.
- For an older child:
- "What does all the food in your lunch have in common?"
- Place the food items that begin with the same letter in plastic bags.
- Some " B" lunches might include:
- Bread or Bun
- Bologna
- Banana
- BABY RUTH
- BUTTERFINGER
- Some " C" lunches might include:
- Crackers
- Cream Cheese
- Cottage Cheese
- Carrot Slices
- Cookie
- CRUNCH Bar
FOLLOW-UP FUN
- Select lunch items based on another theme such as the same shape or color.
WHAT YOU NEED
- Gold 8 inch by 10 inch two handled gift bag (available at greeting card or craft stores)
- 1 sheet of green card stock
- Gold puffy paint
- Glue stick
- Narrow green ribbon (2 feet)
- 1 St. Patrick's Day lunch (see below)
- 1 Leprechaun's Surprise (see below)
HOW TO DO IT
- Print out shamrock diagram onto green card stock, cut out.
- With a glue stick, glue the shamrock onto the front of the gold bag.
- Paint your child's name to the front of the shamrock with gold puffy fabric paint.
- Tie the bag closed with a green ribbon.
- Fill the decorated bag with a St. Patrick's Day Lunch. For example:
- A Shamrock shaped sandwich (use a shamrock cookie cutter)
- Green celery sticks, green apple wedges and green olives.
- Leprechaun's Surprise (see below)
Leprechaun's Surprise
WHAT YOU NEED
- 1 NESTLÉ WONDERBALL
- 1 - green #1 lunch pack paper bag (3 1/2 by 6 3/4 inches)
- 12 inch length of narrow gold ribbon
- 1 unlined index card
- 1 green ink pen
HOW TO DO IT
- Place a NESTLÉ WONDERBALL into the small green bag.
- On an unlined index card, or other small sheet of paper, write a limerick* from the Leprechaun to your child. For Example:
A Leprechaun leaves you this treat
That he thinks is awfully neat!
It's an Irish surprise
From that sneaky green guy
That is Wonderful, and hard to beat! - Place the limerick inside the bag with the WONDERBALL.
- Tie the filled bag with narrow gold ribbon and tuck inside your child's Lucky Leprechaun Lunch.
limerick (lim'ur•ik),
(noun)
A kind of humorous poem in which lines one, two and five rhyme, and lines three and four form a rhymed couplet.
[1895-1900; Limerick, Ireland]
Random House Websters College Dictionary Copyright © 1997
by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
FOLLOW UP FUN
- Check out a book on Irish Limericks from the library to share with your children on St. Patrick's Day.
- Help your children write their own limericks. Everyone can read the limerick that they've written at the dinner table on St. Patrick's Day.
- Send a plate of Chocolate Chip Shamrock's (See recipe in Related Activities) to school with your child to share with classmates. Make sure that there is enough for everyone!
WHAT YOU NEED
- Plain lunchbox (without designs) or a brown paper lunch bag
- Food, drink and NESTLÉ WONDERBALL
- Colored marker or paint pens
- Wrapping paper or aluminum foil
- Ribbon
- Construction or plain paper cut into small note papers or small index cards
- Cellophane tape
HOW TO DO IT
- Using markers or paint pens, draw a big "question mark" on the lunch box or bag.
- Wrap each food or drink item in wrapping paper or aluminum foil to cover. Tie with a ribbon.
- On each small piece of paper or index card, write a riddle with clues like:
What's wet and wild and white all over? - It helps build strong bones.
- Some people call it "moo" juice.
What ball has a surprise inside?
- It's round.
- It's sweet and you eat it for a treat!
- Continue writing notes for each item in the lunch.
- Tape the notes to the outside of each gift-wrapped lunch item and pack into box or bag.
FOLLOW-UP FUN
- Have your child help pack a mystery lunch for you.
- Have your child place a mystery snack on the table. You cover your eyes, ask clues and guess without tasting.
- Write a clue sheet describing what's for dinner as a fun family guessing game.
Tips for flatbread roll-ups:
- With pita bread, first cut around the edges to separate the two layers and use each separately. Place fillings on the inside surface.
- Spread fillings over the bread, leaving a 1/2 inch border around the edge. This keeps the filling inside the bread as it gets rolled up.
- Place the rolled-up sandwich on a sheet of plastic wrap or wax paper.
- Wrap around the sandwich tightly, twisting the ends and turning them down.
- To eat, untwist one end of the wrapper and peel it down. The wrapper helps to hold the sandwich together.
Tropical peanut butter mash
Try this updated peanut butter classic. You need:
- 1/2 cup peanut butter
- 1 large banana
- 1 tbl. shredded coconut
- 2 tbl. raisins or dates
- Mash together the banana and peanut butter.
- Spread on bread.
- Sprinkle with coconut and raisins.
- Roll up.
Part One: Quick and Easy Ideas
These are for those days when you wake up late, the kids are going slow, or you forgot to start something the night before. Whatever the reason, when you are pressed for time, you can still have a great breakfast!
Fruit Shakes
We did an entire article on Summer Shakes, which also make great, instant breakfasts. Try to keep some peeled bananas in the freezer (in ziploc bags.) There are tons of combinations to make. Serve with toast, muffins, cold cereal, or more fruit. Though these are filling, kids will get hungry later on. If they are in school, make sure they have something to go along with these so they don't starve before lunchtime.
Here are a few shakes that go great with breakfast and are fast:
Monkey Milk - blend a banana and 1 cup of milk, add a little yellow food coloring
Purple cow - grape juice and milk blended together
Julius Shakes
Basic recipe:
- 1 cup juice
- 1 cup water
- 1 egg white
- 3/4 tsp. vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1 cup ice (crushed is best)
Blend at high speed. Serves 2.
Note: The egg white is to make the drink frothy, which it is famous for. You can omit the white, or use that powdered egg white (I think it's called meringue powder) that is sold in the Wilton baking section of most stores.
Here's what I do: I wait for a sale on eggs, then get them home, separate into whites and yolks and freeze. I freeze the whites in small ice cube trays. I put the yolks into juice cans with 1/2-tsp salt and once frozen, put in a Ziploc-type bag. When I want to make a Julius or meringue, I take out the white in cubes and throw them in.
Variations: Try any juice. Some of my favorites are pineapple, strawberry, lime or cranberry. Try mixing different kinds too. Cranberry and orange would be great together, and there are so many juice blends at the store- experiment to your heart's content!
Fresh Fruit
They even come in their own wrapper! Slice apples, bananas, and orange sections for slow and/or little kids. Not filling alone, so serve with toast, muffins, instant oatmeal or cold cereal. Our favorite speedy fruits are grapes, bananas and berries.
Eggs, Bacon and Toast
I can make eggs, bacon and toast in about 5 minutes. I buy the turkey bacon and have one of those microwave bacon trays with the grooves on them to drain the fat. I microwave 5 strips of bacon for 2 1/2 minutes on high, then turn once and microwave for another 2 1/2 minutes. The turkey bacon has very little fat and doesn't shrink. While the bacon is going, I put some toast in the toaster, and scramble up some eggs. Easy and classic!
Horse Chow (from Simple Food for the Good Life)
I had doubts about this recipe until I tried it. My kids now love this. Horse Chow is a combination of raw oats and dried or fresh fruits. You can also add nuts and seeds as well.There are about a million combinations. It's delicious, healthy and cheap. I road-tested this one several times before considering it for this article. The kids like to add their favorites, and eat this fast, uncooked oatmeal/granola.
Here is the basic recipe:
- 4 cups rolled oats (old-fashioned, not instant)
- 1/2 cup raisins
- juice of 1 lemon
- dash of salt
- a little vegetable oil to moisen
Mix all together and eat.
Note: Everything but the oats is optional. I substituted blueberries for the raisins, which was great! We have also added apples and cinnnamon, and done strawberries with some milk. You can serve this with any fresh or dried fruit, and add a little milk. It then becomes a quick version of Muesli, a favorite European breakfast.
Instant Oatmeal (homemade version)
Did you know you can make your own instant oatmeal? Here is one we came up with out of desperation:
Kim's Oatmeal-in-a-hurry
Per person:
- 1/2 cup instant or "quick-cooking" oatmeal
- 1/2 cup water or milk
- 1/4 cup or less of sugar (to taste)
- dried fruits of your choice- raisins, blueberries, cherries, apples, apricots, dates, etc.
- fresh fruit if you like- bananas, berries, etc.
- spices- cinnamon, nutmeg, pumpkin pie spice, depending on what combination you are making
- Squirt of honey, jam, or chopped fruit for garnish
1. Combine all, according to taste.
2. Microwave on high 1-2 minutes, until oatmeal is thickened.
3. Garnish as desired (with honey, syrup, chopped bananas, marshmallows, sprinkles, whatever!)
Possible combinations-apples and cinnamon, pumpkin pie (use canned pumpkin or pumpkin pie spice), peaches and cream, strawberries and cream, peanut butter and jelly, tropical (bananas, pineapple, mangoes, dates, coconut, whatever you have), lemon-blueberry, maple syrup and brown sugar, maple syrup and pecans.
Someone sent this one to me:
Oatmeal Packets (from Make Your Own Groceries by Daphne Metaxas Hartwig)
Serving Size : 8
- 3 C Quick-Cooking Oats
- Salt
- 8 Plastic Sandwich Bags
Put 1/2 C. oats in a blender and whirl at high speed until powdery; reserve in a small bowl and repeat procedure with an additional 1/2 C. oats. If you're using a food processor, powder the 1 C. of oats in one motion. Into each sandwich bag put 1/4 C. unpowdered oats, 2 T. powdered oats, and a scant 1/4 t. salt. Store in a box or airtight container.
To serve : Empty packet into a bowl. Add 3/4 C. boiling water; stir and let stand for 2 minutes. For thicker oatmeal, use less water; for thinner, use more water. (I microwave for 1 1/2 - 2 1/2 minutes or until done on high)
Variations:
Apple-cinnamon : To each packet add 1 T. sugar, 1/4 t. cinnamon, and 2T. chopped dried apples.
Sweetened :To each packet add 1 T. sugar
Cinnamon spice : To each packet add 1 T. sugar, 1/4 t. cinnamon, and a scant 1/8 t. nutmeg.
Raisins and brown sugar: To each packet add 1 T. packed brown sugar and 1 T. raisins.
Wheat germ: To each packet add 2 T. any kind of wheat germ
Fruit and cream: (This is my own to satisfy the kids) To each packet add 1T. dry milk and 2T dried fruit or fresh fruit after cooking or jam.
Cold cereal
Ok, I'll readily admit that even after being frugal for so long, we still buy cereal. Cold cereal is our "emergency food" for those really stressful mornings! We like to stock up when the prices are low and we have coupons. Once, we found Chex on sale for 99 cents and had a bunch of $1 off coupons. We bought 128 boxes of Chex for $1.28! (We had to pay the 1-cent tax per box). We did everything we could think of with Chex- party mix, muddy buddies, etc. We gave boxes away to friends and cases away to the local mission. My husband bragged that he could have taken a bath in Chex if he wanted to! We still get a good laugh from that.
My point is, keep an eye out for great sales and keep the cereal coupons. I don't always have time to clip coupons, but I always try to clip the cereal ones and keep them in my purse. We have stocked up on Wheaties, bought for 25-50 cents a box with double coupons on sale, as well as Honey Comb, Raisin Bran, Rice Krispies, etc, all for under $1 a box.
Kids love to shop for cereal, so make them practice math at the supermarket by giving them the coupons and a budget. I tell them they can only spend up to $1.99 a box, and if they can get something for under $1 a box, they can get more. Teach them frugality as a game, give them the challenge, and you will be surprise what they come up with! They may wind up to be more frugal than you!
Snackmaster Turnovers
If you have a "snackmaster" or "sandwich maker", you can make these really fast. Just butter up to piece of bread, and add a filling. For breakfast, we like to put in a beaten egg and some cheese, with chopped veggies optional. You can use sweet fillings too, such as pie-filling, but I would recommend those as snacks or desserts instead of as breakfasts.
We've even done these as bacon, egg, and toast pockets. These "breakfast sandwiches" are hot and delicious, and only take a few minutes to make. The egg will cook right in between the bread. It usually takes a few minutes. Precook the bacon in the microwave, or use bacon bits. You could also try lunchmeat in these, or make an italian version with some pepperoni and tomato sauce. Voila! Breakfast Pizza Pockets!
More Ideas
Yogurt-Dress up plain yogurt with fruit and honey, or use jello mix to flavor. Presto- neon, cool-looking yogurt. Top with chopped nuts, dried or fresh fruit. Serve with muffins from the freezer.
Cottage Cheese- Place cottage cheese on toast and top with canned fruit. This is known as a "Weight Watcher's Danish". Mandarin oranges or crushed pineapple work really well.
Leftovers
Leftovers can be great for breakfast! Here are a few ideas:
Rice or cooked grains- heat and serve just like oatmeal, with your favorite dried or fresh fruits, nuts, etc..
Mashed potatoes- make birds' nests! Plop small mounds of potatoes on a greased cookie sheet, making a well in each mound. Crack an egg into each well and bake for about 15 minutes at 375, until the egg is cooked through.
Leftover meat and veggies- make omelets, or put into a tortilla with some scramble eggs. You then have yourself some breakfast burritos. I keep tortillas in the freezer for emergencies as well!
Soups- great for breakfast on a cold day. Serve with toast and eggs.
Biscuits and breads- serve with jam, or make breakfast sandwiches. Put some leftover gravy and reheated meat on top for a quick, filling breakfast.
Noodles- Heat with some butter, toss with Parmesan, add any leftover veggies. Pasta Primavera for breakfast! Tell the kids they are eating brunch. Add scrambled eggs if they are not convinced.
With a little ingenuity, you can make quick breakfasts for less. Remember, work smarter, not harder!
Coming Soon:
From the Freezer Breakfasts- for super-fast breakfasts, cook them ahead and reheat in the micro. Our upcoming article will give you lots of recipes and ideas, including: breakfast burritos, baked eggs, waffles, freezer french toast, pancakes, muffins, homefries, breakfast calzones/hotpockets, nutrigrain-type breakfast bars, bagels, English muffins
Overnight Wonders: These make-ahead dishes are ready to serve when you wake up.make ahead pancake/waffle batter, crockpot oatmeal and other crockpot breakfasts, yeast-raised coffee cake, breadmachine breakfast breads, slow-rise breads
Refrigerator Breakfasts: Mix up batters, casseroles, and other goodies that are ready to pop into the oven while you get ready for work, school, etc. Ideas include: quiches, Egg McMamas, donuts, danishes, breakfast casserole, fruit salads, breakfast pizza, yogurt, crepes
