Family, Friends & The Hand Drying Song

So many children, so many reasons to use the Kleenex Hand Towels. Here is an example of a video you can submit for 25 bonus entries for the $50 Gift Card Giveaway:

Cold Cereals that The Kids Love

Many of us know that preparing a home cooked breakfast each morning does not always happen so we need some quality cold cereal's to count on. Now, many of you know that I am a big label reader so I have a few criteria for cereals: I look for acceptable sugar levels, the quality of ingredients and whether there are vitamins and minerals provided. Although many cold cereals are not the best nutrition you can choose for a breakfast, the cereals below are some of our favorites that I am not ashamed to serve.

Kashi: You can not go wrong with any of Kashi cereals really but these are the kids absolute favorites: Mighty Bites & Honey Sunshine.

Mighty Bites: My children call it the 'little people' cereal. They are quite affordable and I find them at Shaw's or Trader Joe's. These little guys are mighty indeed as they are packed with tons of vitamins & minerals!



Honey Sunshine: These are referred to as 'little pillows' in our house and I must admit, they are my little snack when no one is looking and I am craving some crunch and sweetness.



Cascadian Farms: The newest in their line of Organic cereals is Fruit O's. They state that their foods are 'grown without synthetic pesticides, chemical fertilizers or genetically engineered ingredients'. And no artificial flavors or preservatives. The O's contain 25% DV of Iron, Niacin, Vit. B6 and Folic Acid. The other vitamins & mineral levels are also impressive.



Mom's Best Naturals: Now, I was actually planning on writing these folks to see if I could get some samples when they wrote me asking if they could send some to me. In fact, they sent me two full boxes. I had been interested in trying them as they promised no artificial 'junk' and had a great price point. So, why do I like these? They are made with whole grain wheat and rice, no artificial ingredients, no added hydrogenated oils and no high fructose corn syrup. They taste great and I found them at a generous 'family size' box at Walmart for a great price. I do not have anything negative to say about the two options I tried so these are staying on our list of cold cereals that I will buy. I am planning on trying their oatmeals next.

Toasted Cinnamon Squares


Oat and Honey Blend

Kleenex Hand Towels, The Hand Drying Song & a $50 Gift Card

Contest is closed

Recently we celebrated my daughter’s 6th birthday with a party at our house and naturally it was a rainy day. That meant that there were 12 children and all of the parents in our house so this was the perfect opportunity to use a box of Kleenex Hand Towels.

What are Kleenex Hand Towels? They are a fresh clean towel that pop-ups from a nicely designed box that you display in your bathroom or even on the kitchen counter top. What I appreciate is that the sheets are free of inks, dyes and fragrances. When I was young, my mom always put out a nice pile of napkins on the bathroom sink when guests were coming. These napkins always had some nice little colorful design on them but these are a better option. They are also sturdy so I have taught my children that after washing, they can wipe the sink as there always seems to be water on the edges or on the counter.

Normally, we have a hand towel hung in the bathroom and with four of us in the house, it usually lasts a two days or so before I switch it out. If I really think about it, most kids (never mind the adults) do not even bother washing the recommended length of time with soap so we really are sharing germs aren’t we? Yuck! And that is why I am Kleenex Song Ambassador as part of a campaign with The Motherhood and Kleenex. While researching about hand towel useage, I was startled by the CDC facts about hand cleaning, drying and germs.



*Did you know that the Center for Disease Control (CDC) recommends drying Hands with a single-use towel to help prevent the spread of germs? That’s right, they state that drying of hands with a reusable cloth towels is not recommended and should be avoided.

*The CDC also wants us to know that despite our perception, hand drying is just as important as proper hand washing and that even if a hand towel is not visibly dirty it doesn't mean that it is in fact clean. There are even more hand drying facts here.

Not only were these perfect during the birthday party but I think they are perfect when we have guests over, we have an open house or when there are sick people in the house!

Oh, I bet you are dying to know about the Hand Drying Song mentioned in the post title right? Oh, I just love it and so do the kids (trust me, I will post a video and show you)! Kleenex wants you to enjoy this song as part of teaching your children proper hygiene (washing and drying) and have it be fun. Take a listen and sing along:

My hands are gonna be clean

When I wash and I dry with mommy and sing

This song that's exactly two clean hands long

Warm water and soap and bubbles that shine

A Kleenex Hand Towel that's mine all mine

And a song that's exactly two clean hands long

No yucky old towel's gonna ruin my day

I dry my hands the Kleenex towel way

So if you're a fan of clean hands too

Roll up your sleeves and I'll sing with you.

To encourage even more excitement for the Kleenex Hand Towels and the Hand-Drying Song, we are having a contest for a $50 ServiceMaster Gift Card (good for use at Merry Maids. Trugreen and more).

TO ENTER (Please be sure that I have some way of emailing you!): US residents only
*Leave a comment telling me what else you do at home to help prevent the spread of germs.*

Additional Entries: Choose one or all
For 25 bonus entries:
*Make a video of your family either singing the song while washing your hands or listening to the song while you wash your hands. The video needs to be posted on one of the following: The Motherhood Hand Drying Circle OR SavortheThyme YouTube Channel and I need a comment with a link to the video on this post.

For 10 bonus entries each:
*Join The Motherhood's Hand Drying Song Circle and leave a comment on this post AND The Motherhood Circle.

*Post photo/s of your family using the towels on The Motherhood Hand Drying Circle containing a link to this contest/post AND leave a comment here letting me know you posted the photos.

For 5 bonus entries each:
*‘Like' the Savor the Thyme Facebook Fan Page and leave me comment on the fan page AND on this post.

*Subscribe to my Newsletter via Facebook and leave a comment that you subscribed.

*Tweet the following (once everyday for 5 pt each day!) : 'We are singing the Kleenex Hand Drying Song & Entered to win a $50 Gift Card via @savorthethyme http://bit.ly/dazvLf #KleenexSong' then leave the tweet ID in a comment on this post.

This contest ends May 15th

**Disclosure: This is a compensated promotion with TheMotherhood.com and Kleenex**

Strawberry Mice - Getting kids to eat Fruit at a Birthday Party

This past weekend including a birthday party for my daughter and in addition to the fruit and vegetable platter which kids would probably overlook, I wanted to give them something irresistible. It came in the form of eating mice. What you say? Yup, I wanted the kids to eat mice.

The idea came from Family Fun however, I modified it and used some items we already had. The eyes were mini-chocolate chips and the nose was some icing I had used on the kitty-cat birthday cake. Instead of running out to get some strings of licorice, I simply made some 'tails' on the plate behind each mouse. The kids went nuts for them and even though I thought someone would pull the almond slices out, they were too enthralled with popping a mouse in their mouth than paying attention to the fact that the ears were almonds.

A step by step pictorial here on Whrrl

Baked Tortilla Chips: Salt, Chili-Lime & Garlic-Cayenne

A few weeks ago, I had bought 2 packs of Whole Wheat tortillas because they were on sale as a Buy 1 Get 1. After having quesadillas one night, I had a choice to make: freeze the other package or use them in a recipe. I decided that it would be fun to make our own baked tortilla chips and have some fun with the kids while experimenting with flavors.



We made three flavors: Salt only, lime-chili and a cayenne-garlic. We started by cutting the tortillas into 8 wedges, spraying them with Pam Olive Oil Spray and then baking them until crispy. The kids loved being able to shake all the seasonings on the chips (minus the cayenne) and then pick their favorite flavor.

I was a bit concerned that we would regret using the Whole Wheat tortillas and wishing we had saved this experiment for Corn Tortillas but we truly enjoyed the flavor and texture.



Ingredients (Salt):
Whole Wheat Tortillas
Pam Olive Oil
Coarse or Sea Salt

Ingredients (Chili-Lime):
Whole Wheat Tortillas
Pam Olive Oil
Coarse or Sea Salt
True Lime - 1 packet
Chili Powder

Ingredients (Garlic-Cayenne):
Whole Wheat Tortillas
Pam Olive Oil
Coarse or Sea Salt
Garlic Powder
Ground Cayenne

Instructions:
1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F

2. Cut each tortilla into 8 wedges and place them in a single layer on a cookie sheet.

3. Combine the seasonings (I did not measure them out so have fun with it) in a small bowl and set aside.

4. Spray the wedges with Olive Oil spray and dust with the seasoning mixture. Flip the wedges over and repeat.

5. Bake for 7 minutes, flip the wedges over and bake another 7 minutes. You can probably skip flipping them over and simply rotate the pan if you prefer.

Popcorn Trail Mix - Snack in a Bag

Spring time is finally here and we are all going to be spending more time outside and that means we need to bring snacks along for the ride. And since we all love popcorn, feel free to utilize it in this trail mix.

Hey, no picking out popcorn and cereal allowed, only handfuls with fruits & nuts to be consumed.


Ingredients:
3 cups plain or lightly buttered popcorn
½ cup unsweetened dried cranberries
1/3 cup whole raw almonds
1 cup honey nut O cereal

Instructions:
1. Pop the popcorn according to manufacturer’s instructions

2. Meanwhile, place the cranberries, almonds and cereal in a bowl.

3. Add the popcorn, toss well and distribute 1 cup each into a bowl or plastic bag for easy transport.

Yield: 4 servings at 1 cup each

Sahale Snacks = Snack Better

A while back, you may recall a did a Whrrl story about some new snack options at Starbuck's. I frequent Starbuck's as I use it as my 'office' each week and noted some new snacks they had. I immediately grabbed a bag of the pricey but exotic and promising 'Almonds with Apple, Flax Seeds, Date, Balsamic Vinegar + Red Pepper'. I mean how often does your snack have that kind of title? I love how they have a delicate sweetness and the heat from the red pepper had me sold.

Since then, I have had the Almonds with Cranberries, Honey + Sea Salt and my son's favorite Cashews with Pomegranate + Vanilla .

So why else does this line appeal to me? A quote straight from Shale Snacks : "The company was founded on a simple idea: take all-natural ingredients, add a dash of culinary magic, and produce great tasting snacks."



Try some and feel free to share them with the kids.

Making Faces: Facebox and Zoobox

Forget the kids, I want this. Wouldn't this be a blast for a Game Night?

For once you would not get in trouble for making faces. You can order 'Facebox' or 'Zoobox' at Delight.com

A Year to Savor the Thyme Tip #11 -> Trying New foods with your Kids

Trying new foods with kids can be fun, rewarding and frustrating. I make sure we bring new foods into the house regularly as well as have the favorites available. We all have different taste preferences so sometimes the foods are a hit and sometimes, they may only be appreciated by one of you. Do your best to expose the family (and yourself!) to new foods and remember, you often have to do this a number of times before the kids may even try them but do not give up after one attempt.

As you can see, I have one that is willing and one that is not so so I can sympathize with you. Keep the foods out, let them look, smell and explore with them. And yes, after the video, my son ate 2 figs but did not care for the golden raspberries.

Broccoli and Squash Macaroni & Cheese: 30 Days 30 Ways

Happy Monday Everyone,

I am taking part in the 30 days, 30 ways with Macaroni & Cheese. You can find my contribution of Broccoli and Squash Macaroni & Cheese today. Enjoy and indulge.

Baked Fish Sticks - Frugal & A Favorite

Everyone loves fish sticks but the offerings in the frozen food section contain more thick 'batter' than fish so I decided to use real foods and make a baked version that will be demanded in your house. Buy the white fish on sale and make this very economical.




Ingredients
Canola oil cooking spray
¾ cup whole-wheat Panko breadcrumbs
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/3 teaspoon Szechuan Style pepper blend
½ tsp dried dill
1.5 Teaspoon Asiago or Parmesan cheese--grated
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1 large egg, beaten
1 pound Tilapia fillets, cut into 1/2-by-3-inch strips (or cod if on sale-but thicker pieces)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 425°F. Set a wire rack on a baking sheet and coat it with the cooking spray.

2. Prepare three bowls:
In one; mix the breadcrumbs, garlic powder, pepper blend, dill, cheese and salt together.
In the second: the flour and dash of salt.
In the third: The egg, well beaten

3. Dredge each strip of fish in the flour (shake off excess), dip it in the egg and then coat all sides with the breadcrumb mixture and place on the prepared rack.

4. Lightly spray the fish sticks with the cooking spray.

5. Bake for approximately 10-12 minutes, until the fish is cooked and the breading is golden brown.

6. Dip in tartar sauce (to be posted later)

Make Daddy Do It - Ham, Lettuce, Red Onion & Pickle Sandwich

Another tip: Have the 'fun' parent do it! Being the chief mess hall officer and cook can set you up for rebellion. Period. I had brought home some oranges and lettuce as requested. Naturally, the youngest had to complain and so daddy innocently walked over with his sandwich and it was in demand.

Therefore, if you want the kiddos (or yourself) to try something, have someone, or the 'coolest' parent make it and place some new items in there. The youngsters usually do not appreciate a raw stronger red onion flavor but maybe it was the salt of the pickles that made this so appealing and tasty. I may utilize spinach next time since they went for this combo.

Cutting a Pomegranate - A Science Experiment

As I have told you before, we love our pomegrante juice so when the kids asked me how the juice is made/comes from, I realized that I had not actually brought the actual fruit into the house. Gosh, amazing that all these years have passed without eating the seeds from the actual fruit.

I began to really think about how long it had been since I had opened one and ate the seeds. I think I was 12. As you will see in the video, the kids are excited as this like some sort of science experiment. They are looking forward to seeing what it looks like inside and see what Mom is doing. Try this with your own kids.

By the way, you will see in this video (as with others), my youngest is a bit of a challenge. However, 99% of the time, he gives it a try, but at his own pace. I can respect that.

Pumpkin & Oatmeal Muffins

The story of Pumpkin Muffin Love: Daddy takes kids to the bakery. They return home and beg mom to make Pumpkin Muffins. Mom sets off on a mission. The results are below and include the boost of oatmeal.

Pumpkin-Oatmeal Muffins

Inspired by Whole Living

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups whole-wheat flour
1 1/2 cups organic all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 tablespoons cinnamon
1 tablespoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/3 cup oatmeal

3/4 cup vegetable oil
2 cups organic pumpkin puree
1 cup plain organic low-fat yogurt
3 large organic eggs
1 1/3 cup brown sugar plus 2 tablespoons more for sprinkling

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Coat muffin pans (~22-24 muffins) with baking spray.

2. In a medium bowl, whisk together flours, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking soda and oatmeal; set aside.

3. In a large bowl, whisk oil, pumpkin puree, yogurt, eggs, and sugar to combine

4. Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients and mix just until moistened (do not over mix).

5. Spoon approx. 2 tablespoons of batter into each muffin tin and sprinkle with remaining sugar.

6. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center of a muffin comes out clean, 20-25 minutes. Cool 5 minutes in pan.

Great topped with some cream cheese or pumpkin butter!

EatingWell Wednesday - Apple Cupcakes

There are times where you want or need to make a little dessert or 'treat' so why not take the opportunity to up the nutritional value? I found this tasty apple cupcake recipe on EatingWell. Now, I actually changed it a bit but I am certain in it's original state, it is fabulous as well.

Since I did not have dried apple or cake flour, I went off on my own. It also came out more like a muffin to me than what I think of as cupcake consistency so give both my version and EatingWell version and see which is your favorite.


photo pre-icing

Recipe:
I omitted the dried apples and used regular unbleached AP flour in lieu of cake flour. If you use this recipe, add 1.5 teaspoons cinnamon so there is more of a cinnamon presence. I found it to have a muffin consistency.

The icing is perfect as is.

Fast & Frugal Friday: Pretzel Crusted Baked Chicken Tenders

The family can not get enough of Mom playing around with different coatings on chicken tenders so this time I bring you a recipe with organic oat pretzels. Many of you can go grab these pretzels at your local Stop & Shop as part of their Nature's Promise line.

This is definitely frugal because you use the boneless, skinless breasts you bought on sale and cut them into strips yourself. Then use the bag of pretzels you have been stashing to make a tasty dinner. I tossed some chopped olives on the side along with some sauteed sugar snap peas and the chow down commenced.

Baked Tenders:
1 lb. chicken cut into strips (I found organic chicken at BJ's wholesale)
~2 cups of organic oat pretzels, roughly crushed (do not make too tiny or will not be crispy)
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1 organic egg
2 tablespoons 1% organic milk
salt & pepper

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

2. Place a cooling rock onto a baking sheet. This is key to a crispy crust.

3. Mix egg and milk in one bowl and combine. Place flour on a plate and season well. Place lightly crushed pretzels on a separate plate and season well. Create an assemble line from left to right as follows: flour, egg mixture, pretzel, cooling rack.

4. Dip chicken strip in flour and shake excess. Dip into egg, then cover with cereal and place on rack.

5. Bake approx. 15 minutes

Serve with Jen's mustard dipping sauce.

Did you see that I am giving away a ticket to the TypeAMom Conference?

Baked Chicken Tenders with Nature's Path Organics

I have often stated to people that there are some good examples of marketing to children and a good example is Nature's Path. It began with 'Cheetah' bars a few years back. It then expanded to Koala bars, and I became obsessed with the Pumpkin Flax Plus Granola (you may have seen the pumpkin bar post). I also try to put my money into companies that have values that I share: real food, educating people about good food choices and believing in sustainability.

Wait, you came for baked chicken tender recipe right? Yes, I am getting to it. The reason I took off on a Nature's Path tangent is that I made some tenders with two of their cereals: Gorilla Munch and Flax Plus Multigrain. Aren't I silly?

So, my inspiration was this: I saw some chicken tenderloins on a ridiculous sale yesterday and wanted to switch things up a bit so I looked around and noted the cereal on the counter and thought 'what the heck'. The gorilla munch is not a super sugary kids cereal and thought, maybe with some salt, we could create the salty/sweet combo so many love. The multigrain seems great as I knew it would make a crunchy crust.

This is a quick item to make but it is rather impressive I must say...oh, and make my dipping sauce, trust me.

Baked Tenders:

1 lbs chicken cut into 'tender' strips.

~2 cups of cereal, roughly crushed (do not make too tiny or will not be crispy)

1/2 cup whole wheat flour

1 egg

2 tablespoons 1% milk

salt & pepper

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

2. Place a cooling rock onto a baking sheet. This is key to a crispy crust.

3. Mix egg and milk in one bowl and combine. Place flour on a plate and season well. Place lightly crushed cereal on a separate plate and season well. Create an assemble line form left to right as follows: flour, egg mixture, cereal, cooling rack.

4. Dip chicken strip in flour and shake excess. Dip into egg, then cover with cereal and place on rack.

5. Bake approx. 20 minutes (my strips were thick so check after 15 minutes for doneness.)

Savor's Mustard Dipping Sauce:

Mix the following together and dip away: 2 teaspoons reduced fat mayonnaise, 1 teaspoon yellow mustard, 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard and 1/4 lemon juice.

FYI: The kids preferred the gorilla munch while the adults preferred the multigrain. Also, Nature's Path had sent me some of their newest products and you really should look into trying their new line from Dr. Weil and some great granolas.

Lunch Box Special - Part II Sandwiches & Main Choices

Today was the day: The first day of Kindergarten however, it was only a half day so I only needed to pack a snack. The snack consisted of a container of water, organic purple grapes and some Annie's graham bunnies. This did get me thinking about the practice of packing snacks and a full lunch starting next week. So onto Sandwiches/Main Items ideas:

Breads and Alternatives (how about varying the types of breads you use**see video):

• Multi-grains, seeded (flax etc) and whole wheat.
• Pitas
• Bagels. Better yet, mini-bagels.
• Local Bakery: Local bakeries often make preservative free bread with all kinds of additions such as sun-dried tomato and garlic.

Sandwich Fillings (remember to use a cold pack when appropriate):

• PB&J: How about trying almond or cashew butter (some schools do not even allow peanut butter)
• Deli Meats: Ham, Turkey and Chicken are staples but look for no nitrate/ites added and preservative free. Pair with tomatoes, different lettuces and mustard.
• Vegetables: Pack all their favorites together with a spread (hummus maybe)
• Tuna or Salmon (with lemon juice and onion with just a touch of mayo.)
• Steak sandwiches
• Burger Patties: Hamburger, Turkey, Bison
• Quesadillas
• Tacos
• Egg or Chicken Salad
• Hard boiled eggs
• Pita chips with hearty dips
• Quiches (a slice or make individual minis)
• Alternative spreads: cream cheese, pesto, hummus, mashed avocado or bananas.
• Leftovers from Dinner such as grilled chicken

Miscellaneous:

• Baked Chicken Tenders (send with mustard dip)
• Salads (green leafy or pasta)
• Cereal with a side of milk

Drinks:

• Milk (Plain or Horizon Organics has vanilla, chocolate and strawberry varieties)
• Juice (Dilute apple, white grape, orange juices)
• Water. Do not feel guilty if you send you kids to school with milk and water. They do not need juice every day.

Healthy Breakfast Options - Earth's Best

We have heard it a million times: a healthy breakfast is the way we are supposed to start our day and if you have children, you know from experience that it is essential! But we do not always have the time to make or put together a healthy spread and so we need to rely on quick and nutritional choices.



Luckily, Earth's Best Organics makes a number of organic and wholesome breakfast choices in their Sesame Street Line that my little ones love. The 'On the Go O's come in both honey nut and apple cinnamon. The Mini Waffles come in blueberry and home style. And, my sons favorite's lately, are the Yummy Tummy Instant Oatmeal as he and daddy have a morning ritual.



Earth's Best believes in building healthy minds and bodies. Their Sesame Street products are fortified with 8 essential vitamins and minerals to ensure that your toddler gets the most nutrition in every bite.

To help encourage your kids to develop and maintain healthy habits, there is a great 'healthy habits' chart on the website. Plus, as they fill it out, they can feel proud of themselves.



What are some of your kids favorite breakfast foods?

Kiwi-Strawberry Muffins

I was made aware of the Zespri KiwiFruit Lunch 2.0 contest at BlogHer when a woman handed me a flyer in the EXPO hall. She began to tell me about it and before she could even finish, I said "I know exactly what I am making."

At that moment it hit me that I could not recall even introducing my children to Kiwi and at the same moment, I knew exactly how I would. No, not by presenting some fuzzy brown oval of a fruit and telling them to try it. Nope, I would combine this lively fruit into a favorite recipe of theirs: Strawberry muffins. So after some tinkering, we have the perfect muffins for lunch boxes, snacks or even breakfast. These will definitely be in my daughter's lunch box this year!

These would be great to freeze and have on hand.

Ingredients:
½ pound (8oz) fresh strawberries, hulled, rinsed and cut into small pieces

1 green kiwi, skin removed and cut into small pieces
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 cup organic unbleached all purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 salt
1/2 cup agave nectar, light
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup canola oil
1/2 cup organic applesauce, no sugar added
2 eggs
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a muffin tin with baking spray. In a small saucepan, bring strawberries and kiwi to a boil over medium heat, mashing gently, while they cook for 1 minute. Pour into a bowl to cool.

2. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, cinnamon, baking powder, and salt; set aside.

3. In a separate bowl, beat nectar, sugar, oil, applesauce, eggs and vanilla until combined.

4. Add dry ingredients to wet and fold to combine. Fold in the kiwi & strawberry mixture.

5. Fill muffin pan-makes about 15 muffins or just overfill one pan to make 12 muffins.

6. Bake until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, about 22 minutes. Cool completely.

I brought the muffins out to them while they were outside playing with a friend and said nothing except 'snack time.' After they consumed them I told them those were Kiwi-Strawberry muffins. My son asked 'What Kiwi Momma?' and I told them it is a fruit. In unison, I heard 'Yum'.