Girls Night Zucchini & Corn Pancakes

I love Girls Night Out.

You really need it from time to time.

healthy snacks for kids memoirs from mommyville kids lunch ideas kid favorite recipes side dishes featured dinners on a dime 2    Girls Night Zucchini & Corn Pancakes

Recently we’ve switched girls night out…

To Girls Night In.

healthy snacks for kids memoirs from mommyville kids lunch ideas kid favorite recipes side dishes featured dinners on a dime 2    Girls Night Zucchini & Corn Pancakes

We gather at someone’s house…

Everyone brings a dish.

And a bottle…

And then we really dish.

And you know me…being Ma and all.

I have to try and make the best offering.

This is my latest…

It was a hit!

Had to take advantage of all that zucchini in the garden…

Not to mention the boys gobbled these up…

And didn’t even know they were loaded with veggies!

healthy snacks for kids memoirs from mommyville kids lunch ideas kid favorite recipes side dishes featured dinners on a dime 2    Girls Night Zucchini & Corn Pancakes

 

WHAT YOU NEED:

2 medium to large zucchini grated

2 T grated red onion

1 cup corn off the cob (I slice mine from leftover grilled corn)

2 large eggs, lightly beaten

6 – 8 T flour

1 t baking powder

S&P

1 T butter

Olive oil

 

Toppings:

Smoked Salmon

Creme Fraiche

Chopped Scallions or chives

Capers

 

 

WHAT TO DO:

Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F.

In a large bowl combine zucchini, onion, and corn.

Stir in your eggs.

Add about 5-6 tablespoons of flour, the baking powder, and S&P. (If the batter gets too thin from the zucchini liquid, add the remaining flour.)

Heat a large  pan over medium heat and melt 1/2 tablespoon butter and 1/2 tablespoon oil together in the pan. When it’s hot lower the heat to medium-low and drop heaping soup spoons of the zucchini batter into the pan.

Cook the pancakes until browned on each side…about 2 minutes apiece.

Remove from pan and set aside on a sheet pan…you can keep warm in the oven. They’ll stay warm in the oven for up to 30 minutes.

Serve hot.

healthy snacks for kids memoirs from mommyville kids lunch ideas kid favorite recipes side dishes featured dinners on a dime 2    Girls Night Zucchini & Corn Pancakes

Top with a dollop of creme fraiche, a bit of smoked salmon, some scallions and a caper.

 

 

And the littlest Fitz is off

Little teary around here this morning.

memoirs from mommyville kid favorite recipes featured    And the littlest Fitz is off

 

The Littlest Fitz has officially started school.

Poor Coop…

Being the youngest of three boys…

memoirs from mommyville kid favorite recipes featured    And the littlest Fitz is off

Rarely gets to do anything on his own.

He didn’t get organized playdates…

He didn’t start soccer at 3…

He didn’t have endless Mommy & Me playgroups…

OH NO!

He went to Target.

memoirs from mommyville kid favorite recipes featured    And the littlest Fitz is offHe went to the grocery store…

memoirs from mommyville kid favorite recipes featured    And the littlest Fitz is off

He went to the DMV…

memoirs from mommyville kid favorite recipes featured    And the littlest Fitz is off

Truth be told…they LOVED Cooper at the DMV!

But now it’s his turn to go to school.

All on his own.

memoirs from mommyville kid favorite recipes featured    And the littlest Fitz is off

His brothers took him and helped get him settled.

They helped him find his cubby and watched as he walked and took his space on the rug with his classmates.

They were just as proud as I was.

Good luck to our littlest Fitz!

Cooper is on his way.

memoirs from mommyville kid favorite recipes featured    And the littlest Fitz is off

 

We’re very proud of you, buddy!

Back To School

Is there anything better than the first day of school?

Some parents get teary…

memoirs from mommyville kid favorite recipes featured    Back To School

Some parents get happy…

memoirs from mommyville kid favorite recipes featured    Back To School

I just can’t believe how fast they’re growing.

Keegan & Brady were off for their first days of 2nd and 1st grade.

memoirs from mommyville kid favorite recipes featured    Back To School

Cooper sent them off with a smile…

memoirs from mommyville kid favorite recipes featured    Back To School

And their new school has a little prayer service to start off the school year.

memoirs from mommyville kid favorite recipes featured    Back To School

So nice for the parents to see them off and for the boys to see all their friends again.

memoirs from mommyville kid favorite recipes featured    Back To SchoolCan’t wait to see what the school year brings!

Off home to make the special welcome home treat on the first day of school…

Homemade Chocolate Chip Cookies!

Do you do anything special for your little ones on the first day?

 

Back to school week – lunch box makeovers

When I was a kid I remember sitting down at the lunch table…

And then the swapping would begin!

I’ll trade you a pudding pack for a fruit roll up?

getting kids to eat cooking tips    Back to school week   lunch box makeoversLet’s be honest…

Many of the things in a school lunch box can leave your kiddos feeling…

Well…

getting kids to eat cooking tips    Back to school week   lunch box makeoversA bit flat…

So here are some quick and easy lunch box makeovers that’ll keep your kids moving!

 

Bagged Potato Chips

 

Everyone knows that potato chips are bad for you.  They’re high in calories, fat, sodium and carbs. Yet they are a staple in almost everyone’s lunch box.

 

Next time try a cup of roasted kale chips.  It’s delicious, crunchy, and good for you, and a fraction of the calories, fat and carbs.  Perfect along side a sandwich.  Not to mention you cut out massive amounts of calories and you can make your own and pack it in re-useable snack packs saving money and the environment!

 

Fruit Roll Ups

 

These sugary sweets are lurking in almost every brown bag at the lunch table!  They pack an enormous 100 calorie punch for very little nutritional value.  They contain 4 different variations of sugar and plenty of dangerous food colorings.  Plus they come stuck to those plastic backings that will still be in landfills at the dawn of the next ice age.

 

Instead try some delicious dried fruit like pineapple and mango.  They offer the same sweet soft taste but don’t have any of the chemicals, and you get the benefit of added fiber!  Pair it with some shelled sunflower seeds and roasted almonds in another re-useable snack pack and your kids will benefit from the added protein punch!

 

The ol’ PB&J

 

We all love our peanut butter and jelly, but in today’s schools it may be downright dangerous.  Many schools how outlaws all tree nuts so that pb&j is contraband.

 

Instead of the old sandwich standby try some soup in a thermos for lunch!  Pack a whole serving of veggies with some minestrone or tomato.  Show them you’re thinking of them with some homemade chicken and whole wheat noodle.  Soups are a fantastic way to get wholesome foods easily into your kids and if you use that thermos everyday, think of all those plastic sandwich bags you’re saving from the landfill!

 

Back to School Week – Lunch Box Tips

My two oldest boys are super excited.

This is the first year they both get to eat in the cafeteria at school.

EVERY. DAY.

getting kids to eat featured cooking tips    Back to School Week   Lunch Box Tips

Suddenly, the pressure seems immense…

Not only do I have to please their palates…

But of course I feel like I have to pack a lunch that would make all the other kids at the table want to trade for…

But they wouldn’t trade right?

I mean they wouldn’t dare….

So here is some lunch time help for you….

A few lunchbox tips to make the back to school re-entry extra smooth.

getting kids to eat featured cooking tips    Back to School Week   Lunch Box Tips

1.  Let your kids pick their own fun lunch box for the year.  They’re more likely to eat it if it comes in a fun carrying case.

For the record, Keegan and Brady both picked Star Wars…just like my little brother 20 some odd years ago…

2.  Be sure to stock up on plenty of portable ice packs.  It’s very important to keep your child’s lunch cold.  In my experience, these have a tendency not to make it home, so I buy extra.

3.  Switch it up.  Don’t pack the same ol’ sandwich every day.  Try different breads or roll, maybe a wrap or hotdog or quesadilla.

4.  Provide extra protein with dips like hummus or quacamole along with veggies sticks and crackers for your kids to dip.

5.  Let your children come to the store with you to pick out healthy snacks and sandwich staples.  They’re more likely to eat what they had a hand in picking.

6.  Don’t forget the fruit.  It can act as a dessert and gives kids the fiber and boost to get through the remainder of the day.

7.  Skip the soda!  Pack your kids a frozen water bottle (acts as an ice pack) or low fat milk or low sugar juice box.  Most drinks are just empty calories so it’s best to stick with the H2O!

8.  Use cookie cutters to cut your child’s sandwich into fun shapes.

9.  Don’t forget to pack a note telling them to have a good day.  My mom used to write notes on my napkins and my dad would write “I love peanut” on the front of my lunch bag.  Not the least bit embarrassing!

Thanks to wikipedia for the use of the pictures.

Doesn’t get more local!

You hear me say it ALL. THE. TIME.

Buy Local!

Eat Local!

Well it doesn’t get any more local than this!

getting kids to eat featured cooking tips    Doesnt get more local!

We’ve taken to our back deck to make our own herb garden!

Now if you’ve been following along for a while now…

You know that I have green thumb issues.

But since the nice folks at my CSA keep giving me herbs I decided to get on it.

With my special helpers of course!

getting kids to eat featured cooking tips    Doesnt get more local!

So we are on our way to super local grown herbs.

5 steps away local.

We’ve got

Basil…

Dill…

Oregano…

Thyme…

Chives…

and Sage.

getting kids to eat featured cooking tips    Doesnt get more local!

Here’s to hoping I don’t kill ‘em too fast.

 

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