The thing I dread most about the OBGYN is getting on the scale, gaining too much weight and being politely lectured about it by a man with a beer belly hanging over his belt!

The good old days of “you’re eating for two” have been replaced by prenatal Pilates and magazines dubbed “Fit Pregnancy,” featuring articles like: “Jog into your 7-month!” As if it wasn’t enough that we have to compare ourselves to supermodels and celebrities when we’re not pregnant, now we have to compare ourselves to the new generation of yoga-bending, quinoa-eating pregnant mommas-to-be! The problem is, that was just who I wanted to be with my second pregnancy.

I swore I would do it differently this time around. I envisioned myself continuing to eat vegan at least for the first trimester and going on my morning walks everyday! I would stay within my recommended pregnancy weight gain bracket to better allow myself to easily loose the baby weight after the birth! I would NOT allow myself to gain the 78 pounds that I did with Kysen after reaching the lowest weight I had been since college! Yes ladies, the pipe dreams were vivid and they lulled me into thinking this would all be easy.

I had a vision of being the perfectly-pregnant earth-goddess this time around, now it's looking like anything but.

After getting pregnant on our first try, right in the midst of the holiday season, and having a totally different experience than I’d had with my first, my best laid plans were engulfed in the flames of a tumultuous first trimester. With my first pregnancy I had NO morning sickness–I was very lucky then and very naive to think that “it can’t happen to me.” The never-ending morning sickness hit me hard and fast, and was all delightfully kicked off by a bout of gastroenteritis. I went into what my OBGYN lovingly refers to as “survival mode,” since eating was the only thing that temporarily made me feel better from the nausea. When I didn’t eat the nausea got worse, when I was hungry it was almost unbearable. And what did I want to eat? Well, just think the total opposite of a vegan diet! Vegetables made me sick and I insisted that everything I ate was covered with melted cheese! By the end of my 1st trimester I had gained 11 pounds. Then the self-loathing set in!

HOW MUCH WEIGHT SHOULD YOU GAIN DURING PREGNANCY?

I honestly feel bombarded my this convenient little ditty (of course being really bitter doesn’t help). My body obviously doesn’t care about what the medical community recommends for pregnancy weight gain. But here it is for your viewing pleasure:

• A woman of average weight before pregnancy should gain 25 to 35 pounds during pregnancy.
• Underweight women should gain 28-40 pounds during pregnancy.
• Overweight women may need to gain only 15-25 pounds during pregnancy.

WHERE THE RECOMMENDED WEIGHT GOES:

This is the scientific justification that makes the junk up there make sense.

• Baby = 8 pounds
• Placenta = 2-3 pounds
• Amniotic Fluid = 2-3 pounds
• Breast Tissue = 2-3 pounds (Seriously? That’s it? They obviously haven’t seen mine!)
• Blood Supply = 4 pounds
• Fat Stores (for delivery & breastfeeding) = 5-9 pounds
• Uterus Increase = 2-5 pounds
• TOTAL = 25-35 pounds (How cute, barf!)

Who are they basing this off of? I am a six-foot person, there is no way my uterus weighs the same as a woman who is 5 foot 3 inches! My body is just plain bigger, so of course my blood supply is more than the average height woman. (Justify much?) Our ideal weights are based on our heights, shouldn’t this be adjusted as well? Can’t they make us a calculator that’s based on our height and frame?

THE TRUTH ABOUT NOT GAINING TOO MUCH WEIGHT DURING PREGNANCY:

The truth is, staying within the recommended weight range for pregnancy takes the same thing that maintaining your normal healthy weight does: a whole lot of WORK and DISCIPLINE. Controlling your portions and what you eat during pregnancy is especially challenging for me. There is no payoff, like when you’re not pregnant. Normally, if you eat less you loose weight, but when you’re pregnant and you don’t go crazy and eat everything you like you don’t loose anything! You keep gaining–just not as fast and not as much.

Unless you’re blessed with great genes, you are working hard at keeping a healthy weight during pregnancy. I honestly admire the dedication of such mommas, but I’ve realized I’m just not one of them. I also believe that bodies interpret being pregnancy differently, some retain water and pack on weight while others don’t. I’m guessing I can be found in the pack-on-the-weight category.

THROWING IN THE TOWEL:

After my 1st trimester I felt pretty bad about myself. The ideal that I had in my head before getting pregnant was unattainable. I wanted the perfect bump–you know where it is all bump and nothing more–just me with a bump! I had to come to terms that it’s going to be me covered with a layer of fat and then a bump. I’m done beating myself up for not meeting this ideal I had in my head. Some women are blessed with looking fabulous during pregnancy, and that’s just not me. My arms get fat, my legs gets fat, my face gets fat, and I just don’t feel my best. I’ve decided that I don’t have to be anything other than what makes me comfortable. I’m taking a stand! Honestly, I’m not buying the one-size-fits-all pregnancy weight gain guidelines anymore.

What did you expect to gain before you got pregnant? What did you end up weighing? Did you gain more than the recommended range? Are you feeling down about your pregnancy weight gain?

CHECK OUT THIS COMEDY ABOUT PREGNANCY:

Inspired by the perennial New York Times bestseller of the same name and the first book in a series that has sold over 32 million copies worldwide, WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN YOU’RE EXPECTING is a hilarious and heartfelt big screen comedy about five couples whose intertwined lives are turned upside down by the challenges of impending parenthood. The cast includes huge stars like Cameron Diaz, Jennifer Lopez, Elizabeth Banks, Chace Crawford, Brooklyn Decker, and more!

Baby-crazy author and advocate Wendy (Elizabeth Banks), gets a taste of her own militant advice when pregnancy hormones ravage her body. Just like Kristen from MyMommaToldMe.com, Wendy discovers that some pre-conceived notions about pregnancy don’t always turn out to be reality! Check out this kaleidoscopic comedy, coming to a theater near you May 18th.

Disclosure: Compensation was provided by Lionsgate via Glam Media. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Lionsgate.

This casserole perfectly combines so many flavors: sweet, spicy and savory! Beware: you will be asked for this recipe!

Looking for the perfect Cinco de Mayo recipe?  This is a delicious casserole-pie that is sure to impress!

This is a recipe adapted from the show “Simply Delicioso with Ingrid Hoffman.”  Just a word of caution for you Mommas: if you have little ones (8 or younger), this dish might be too spicy.  My advice would be to cook everything up to adding in the spicy ingredients and place the mixture in a cupcake tin and top with the cornbread mixture and bake separately.  This will ensure you avoid that annoying “Mommy, it’s too spicy”-when-all-you-did-was-add-a-pinch-of-black-pepper situation that Mommas dread!

Serve with a simple and fresh avocado salad, no need to supply any additional carbs as the cornbread “crust” does the trick!

CHIPOTLE TAMALE PIE adapted from Ingrid Hoffman

Ingredients:

If you have picky eaters in the family just cook up to this step (pre-spicy ingredients) and add the tomato and cheese and cook separately in muffin pan!

• olive oil
• 1 pound ground turkey
• 1-15 ounce can pinto beans, drained
• 1-8 ounce can diced tomatoes (I used Trader Joe’s Fire-Roasted Tomatoes with Chiles)
• 1 yellow onion, chopped
• 1 green pepper, diced
• 2 cloves garlic minced (I used 4 cloves)
• 2 teaspoons cumin (I used more than double the recommended spices)
• 1 can Chipotle peppers in adobo sauce (I used 3 large peppers, chopped, and 1 tbsp. of the sauce)
• Tobasco Chipotle sauce, to taste
  
• 1 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• 1 tbsp. butter, room temp
• Optional: 1/2 cup chopped cilantro (I forgot to add this and it still tasted great!)

For the cornbread:

• 1 package Jiffy cornbread mix
• 1 egg
• 1/3 cup milk

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Grease a casserole dish with the softened butter–I used a round glass dish with lid.  Set aside.
2. Make the filling: Heat about 3-4 tbsp. olive oil in a skillet on medium.  Add the green peppers first,a s they take a bit longer to soften), saute for about 3-4 minutes, add onion and continue to cook another 3-4 minutes.  Add the garlic and cook until all vegetables are cooked, being careful not to burn the garlic.  Add the ground turkey, season with salt and pepper to taste, and break apart with a spatula as it browns.  Add the beans, tomatoes, chipotle peppers and Tobasco.  Bring to a boil then reduce to a simmer on medium-low heat for the sauce to thicken, about 5-8 minutes.  Add cheese.   
3. Spread the turkey mixture into your prepared baking dish and even it out.  Combine the cornbread mix, milk and egg and spread the cornbread batter over the turkey filling.
4. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the cornbread has set and is golden-brown.  Let the pie sit for at least 5 minutes before cutting and serving. 
5. Serve with your favorite salad or try out this super-easy avocado salad!

Are you preparing a special Cinco-de-Mayo inspired dish this weekend?  Let us know!

This chicken-less version of the classic pizza topping, will leave your family amazed that it's meatless!

One of my favorite vegetarian “junk” foods are Morning Star’s Veggie Buffalo Wings.  I call them “junk” food because they are very processed and have an overly-lengthy ingredient list.  Still, they are far better for you than a fast food fried chicken sandwich any day!  I eat these soy nuggets by themselves and dunked in hot sauce or I make them the star of a brand new dish that I create.  So far I’ve used them in this homemade buffalo chicken-less pizza, a chicken-less sandwich (that tastes SO similar to Burger King’s classic version) and buffalo chicken-less tacos!

I will be posting all of these recipes over the next few weeks in honor of the “Meatless Monday” campaign that has been gaining traction around the U.S..  By having your family eat meatless at least one day a week you can improve your health and can help reduce your carbon footprint and save precious resources like fresh water and fossil fuel!

BUFFALO CHICKENLESS PIZZA

These Morning Star Veggie Buffalo Wings are the perfect vegetarian treat, that make you feel like you're cheating!

Ingredients:

• pizza dough (make your own favorite batch or get pre-made dough, I used Trader Joe’s)
• pizza sauce or marinara sauce (I used Trader Joe’s Pizza Sauce)
• shredded cheese of your choice (I used traditional mozzarella)
• green onion (white and green parts)
• 1/2 box Morning Star Veggie Buffalo Wings
• Ranch dressing
• Optional: Siriacha Vietnamese hot sauce (or hot sauce of your choice)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven.  I suggest pre-cooking the Morning Star veggie wings before they go on the pizza.  If you have a toaster oven, you can pop them in there for a few minutes or you can even put them in the microwave for just a minute to warm them through.  Cut them into thirds, or bite-sized pieces.
2. Slice the whites of your green onions.  These will be put on the pizza to bake with the cheese and add flavor.  Chop the green part to reserve as a garnish. 
3. Prepare the pizza dough to specifications.  I used a refrigerated pizza dough from Trader Joe’s that you just have to roll out and bake. 
4. Add your desired amount of pizza sauce or marinara (we like our pizzas saucy!) and sprinkle the top with the shredded cheese and the whites of the green onion. 
5. Bake until 3/4th of the way done–cheese should just have started to melt.  Add the veggie wing pieces, arranging around the pizza.  Continue to bake until finished.
6. Drizzle your pizza with your favorite Ranch dressing and hot sauce and garnish with the reserved dark green tips of the green onion.

I hope you enjoy this vegetarian version of the classic Buffalo Chicken pizza!  What meals do you make over to be vegetarian?  Have you instituted Meatless Mondays in your household?

Welcome to my Easter village! This will be the main house to my soon-to-be three house Easter village!

I was very ambitious with my Easter crafting this year–I know that with a baby on the way my crafting days are severely numbered!  I had planned on making an entire Easter village but only got around to this one house.  I have been IN LOVE with the vintage Christmas glitter houses that were so popular in the 1920′s through 50′s and made popular again by Martha Stewart back in 2004.  I had wanted to make a Christmas glitter house village but never got around to it and figured I could use Easter as a good prep and trial run.

I didn’t use any intricate patterns or techniques (although you can find plenty of those online), just an old tofu sausage box from Trader Joe’s, a ruler and a pen!  This is an excellent recycling craft and fun to make with your 7-and-up kids!  I use a lot of the same materials as the mini Easter basket tutorial, so if you order the bunnies from Hobby Lobby you can put them to good use!

EASTER VILLAGE HOUSE:

Here's the house before I put on the Easter garland, rabbits and eggs--I bit too plain for me!

Materials Needed:

• 2 cereal boxes (or other small cardboard boxes) try finding ones that have white cardboard on the insides
• scissors
• pen
• ruler
• white craft glue (I use Elmer’s All Purpose)
• acrylic paints
• small paint brushes
• Easter grass (I prefer paper)
• Coarse crystal glitter (find it in the Martha isle at Michael’s)
• wooden picket fence (found this at Jo Anns for $3.99)
• Glue Dots
• scrapbooking paper (for door and chimney)

Optional Materials:

• stickers or other embellishments for decorating
• colored string (for garland)
• flocked miniature bunnies from Hobby Lobby
• miniature plastic eggs (I found these on eBay)
• paper boarder punch (for roof trimming)

Directions:

1. Carefully unfold your cardboard box, making sure to keep the seam as clean as possible.  Fold the box with the wrong sides out and score the folds to make sure it stays crisp.  Note: to “score” a fold just use your ruler and the back of a pen and press down hard along the length of the fold.
2. Use your ruler and mark the point of your roof on the larger panel of your unfolded cardboard box (there will be two larger panels and two smaller panels).  I made my house about 4 1/2 inches high.  Just mark a dot on the middle of the two larger panels–these will serve as the peaks of your roof.  On the smaller panels draw a line across the top at about 2 1/2 inches.  Now take your ruler and connect each of the dots to the corresponding lines on each smaller panel–and you have the pitch of the roof!  Take your pen and draw out flaps that you will fold under and use to help glue the roof to the top of your house and your bottom of the house to the base.
3. I used the excess length of box from the smaller panels to serve as my roof panels.  I made them extra long so there was a cute and dramatic overhang to the roof.  Using your other cardboard box cut out a base for your house.  I used a square piece that was about 6 by 6 inches.  I also created a little elevated porch with my other cardboard box.  Simply keep the piece of cardboard flat while you draw out the dimensions and then score your folds (make sure you leave flaps for gluing in place).
4. Cut out all of your pieces and begin gluing.  Start with the house and glue the original box seam into place (now with the box design facing in).  Use a small paintbrush to coat the glue evenly.  You may need to use chip clips or clothespins to keep the seam in place as the glue dries.  Allow at least 4 hours for each component to dry.  After the body of the house is glued in place, glue the roof panels on. 
5. While the pieces are drying begin to paint the base of your house, this will be your Easter grass yard.  Use an acrylic paint that is the same color as your Easter grass; allow to dry.  If you are using an elevated step at the door, paint that piece after its form has been glued and dried. 
6. NOTE: If you are using traditional brown cardboard boxes make sure to apply 1-2 coats of plain white acrylic paint before you paint on your desired color.  Paint your house and allow to dry before gluing it onto the base. 
7. Glue your painted and dried house onto the painted and dried yard-base.  If you will be using the wooden picket fence, now is the time to apply it.  Simply bend the length of the fence so it goes around the boarder of your base, leave some room in front of the fence for eggs to be added later.  After you have bent the fence into your desired shape, snip off any excess part of the fence with scissors and bend the excess wire back for safety.  Take your Glue Dots and apply 2-3 on each picket, press into place on your base.  Repeat until all the pickets are secured on the base.
8. Next, apply your Easter grass.  I cut my grass into smaller pieces to fit the scale of the house, this also makes the grass easier to apply.  Use your white craft glue and drizzle over a section of your base; sprinkle with bits of Easter grass.  Repeat until the entire yard is covered in grass. 
9. Using your cardstock, create a small door for your house.  Make a simple chimney by folding a piece of cardstock four times at an inch each fold.  On the last fold draw out a flap to glue in place.  Next take the pitch of your roof and draw a corresponding line on two of your chimney panels (the ones that will be facing out).  Then measure the other two panels and cut accordingly (leaving a flap for gluing).  Glue the door and chimney in place; allow time to dry.  Glue on front step if desired. 
10. Using your white craft glue and small brush, brush a layer of glue onto the top of your painted roof.  Sprinkle with coarse crystal glitter and allow to fully dry.  Add any stickers or other decorations to the facade of the house as you desire.  I made the front “Easter” garland with a set of Easter stickers and some twine I found at the craft store.  I also put a flower sticker (from Martha Stewart) on the peak of the roof.  Another option is to use coordinating carstock and a paper punch boarder to add a trimming to the roof.
11. The final step is to use the glue dots to secure the flocked bunnies in place in front of the house.  You can also glue the mini eggs down with regular craft glue, for notes on how to glitter-coat the mini eggs please see directions here.

I hope to be adding to my Easter village each year and with the flocked bunnies coming in green, blue, white and purple too you can have a candy-colored confectionery Easter village in no time!

I had so much fun making these cute little Easter baskets! They are perfect cupcake toppers that the little ones will love!

Sorry I’m a bit late posting this Easter craft tutorial, but hopefully it can be of use for your 2013 celebrations!  These super-cute mini Easter baskets can be made with used plastic eggs, scraps of paper and Easter basket grass.  So, this is actually an excellent craft to do now after the Easter enthusiasm has died down and you’re sick of seeing the kid’s Easter baskets laying around the house!  The only “new” things I got for these baskets were the little flocked bunnies, which can be found online at Hobby Lobby and the miniature Easter eggs that I purchased on eBay.

What I love about these mini baskets is that you can use them in so many ways: cupcake toppers, place cards for Easter brunch or as ornaments for your Easter tree!  You can also make these baskets plain without the bunny and eggs and fill with small candies instead.  Whatever you decide to do with them they are sure to bring Easter cheer!

Make these mini baskets to adorn your family Easter tree, you can even add the year and the names of your family members!

MINI EASTER BASKET CRAFT

Materials Needed:

• smaller halves of plastic eggs (re-use)
• Easter basket grass (re-use)
• ribbon
• colored paper (I used scraps of origami papers)
• double-sided tape
• glue stick
• Elmer’s All Purpose glue (or similar white craft glue)
• scissors
• pencil

Optional materials (for baskets with bunnies):

• flocked miniature bunnies from Hobby Lobby
• miniature plastic eggs (found mine on eBay)
• acrylic craft paints
• glue dots

Directions:

Painting your bases the same color as your Easter grass helps keep sparse areas camouflaged!

1. Prepare the handles: Take your colored paper and measure 6 inches long and 3/4 an inch wide, cut out.  Fold the paper lengthwise, twice so you have two folds at 1/4 inch each.  Take your scissors and trim the bottom flap about half way.  Take your glue stick and cover all of wrong side of handle.  Fold in both sides (with shorter side last) and press well with your fingers.  Before the handle completely dries mold it into the arch shape that wills serve as your basket handle.
2. Attach the handles: Take your basket handle and measure where on the egg half you want the handle to attach.  For example, you may want the handle to be taller if using it for an ornament and shorter if using it as a cupcake topper.  Use your double-sided tape to secure the handles on the inside of the egg half.
3. Trim the baskets: I used double-sided tape cut evenly down the middle to secure my ribbon to the edge of the eggs.  I also used some felt rick rack scrapbook stickers from Martha Stewart that I had leftover from a previous craft.  Use whatever you have on hand or even fabric rick rack would work, just hot glue in place.
4. For regular baskets (without the bunnies):simply fill your basket with a little pat of Easter basket grass.  You can keep them plain or fill them with jelly beans, malted eggs or other candies.
   

   Fill your plain mini Easter baskets with small candies or small chocolate rabbits or leave them plain for a cute place setting!

5. For baskets with bunnies: Using a 1 inch round paper punch, punch out a cardboard base for your egg (I used an old cereal box).  You can pain the top of the circle the color of the grass you will be using (this helps camouflage the sparse spots).  After the paint has dried, take your Easter grass (I used a paper-based variety) and cut it into smaller bits.  Coat your cardboard base with white craft glue and attach the bits of Easter grass.  Let this dry completely.
6. Baskets with bunnies continued:  After the base has completely dried, attach the flocked bunny using glue dots (3-4 per bunny).  Then, with your white craft glue make a large drop of glue in front of your bunny and arrange 2-3 miniature eggs in front; allow to dry in place.  The final step for the basket with bunny is to fill the basket with a ball of regular-length Easter grass and place the base (with bunny and eggs) on top of the ball of grass; push down well to keep in place.  You can also glue the base in place if you desire.
   

   Keeping each basket mono-chromatic adds to the charm of these fun-to-make mini Easter decorations!

7. Notes: I coated one of my eggs with crystal glitter for added contrast.  Just take your mini egg and paint half with white craft glue and dip in fine, crystal glitter (I used Martha Stewart’s); allow to dry and then repeat the process on the second half of the egg.  Once the baskets have the base with bunnies and eggs it will no longer be able to balance and stand on its own and that’s why I suggest it for cupcake toppers and tree decorations.  If you leave the baskets with just Easter grass they can stand on their own and would make great place cards (just add a strip of paper with name)!

I hope you crafty Mommas enjoy this eco-friendly and super-cute Easter craft!  This is a great craft activity for your 7-and-up kiddies to so make sure to get them involved!

By making your french toast in your toaster oven, you reduce your family's exposure to hazardous chemicals found on non-stick griddles!

On the advice of my playgroup, we recently got a Chefmate toaster oven from Costco.  We’ve used it so much already and it is going to be perfect for the hot Summer months to come!  Instead of heating up the big oven for Kysen’s 6 chicken nuggets, we can just pop them in the toaster oven instead.  It takes much less time to heat up and keeps the kitchen nice and cool!

I’ve been experimenting with new recipes that can be made in the toaster oven and here is my latest offering!  French toast that you can make in the toaster oven instead of on the griddle!  With all the strange chemical coatings to be found in non-stick cookware, I thought it best to try this family favorite with a new cooking method–it worked out beautifully!

TOASTER OVEN FRENCH TOAST:

Your kids will devour this french toast and you wont have to spend your time tending to the toast on the griddle!

Ingredients:

• your favorite brand sliced bread (I used Milton’s Multi-Grain from Trader Joes)
• 2 eggs per 2 slices of bread (adjust to the amount you want to prepare)
• 1/2 cup milk (almond milk tastes yummy!)
• 2 tsp. sugar (per 2 slices bread)
• 1 tsp. cinnamon per 2 slices of bread (optional, I didn’t use it)

Directions:

1. Whisk together eggs, milk and sugar and place in shallow dish for soaking.
2. Soak your bread slices for at least 5 minutes on each side.
3. Place your soaked bread slices on a foil-lined baking pan sized for your toaster oven.
4. Set your toaster oven on “Convection” mode at 350 degrees temperature.  Cook your slices for 7 minutes on each side.
5. To get the perfect finish: set your toaster oven to “Toast” mode, on level 4 and toast each side of your toast.
6. Add butter and berry sauce, serve with 100% pure maple syrup, enjoy!

Make a super-simple strawberry sauce by defrosting frozen strawberries in the microwave.  Add a teaspoon of sugar if the berries are too tart and pour over your crispy french toast!

Make the perfect Peeps-themed Easter party with chocolate-covered Peeps at each place-setting and this beautiful Peep flower arrangement!

Children love Easter Peeps, no denying it–those sugar-crusted critter-shaped marshmallows put a smile on faces old and young alike!  Make your special family Easter brunch or dinner Peep-themed by placing a chocolate-covered Peep at each place-setting and some of these beautiful Peep flower centerpieces along your table-scape!

PEEPS CENTERPIECE:

Materials Needed:

• two glass vases (cylindrical), one smaller and can fit inside the larger one with about 1 to 3/4ths of an inch between the vases (you can find these at Michael’s)
• wooden skewers
• Bunny rabbit Peeps in your favorite color
• coordinating flowers in the same color

Instructions:

1. Place the Peeps around the interior of the larger vase and make sure their faces are looking out.  Place the smaller glass vase inside the larger so that the Peeps are held securely in place in between the vases. 
2. Fill the smaller vase with water and trim your flowers so they are not too high (you’ll want everyone to be able to see each other across the table).
3. After your flowers are arranged and well packed begin making your Peep skewers.
4. Cut your wooden skewers to your desired length making sure they are long enough to be seen above the flowers.  Stick each Peep about 3/4ths of the way down on the skewer and make sure none of the wood is visible.
5. Arrange your Peep skewers within your flowers.

Make a batch of these super-simple chocolate-covered Peeps for your Easter celebration! Your kids will love helping you dress these Peeps for Easter!

Nothing says Easter to me quite like marshmallow Peeps!  No matter the color or shape (bunny or chick) I love to indulge in this childhood favorite!  This recipe is super-simple and a fun treat to make with the kiddies leading up to Easter Sunday.

Ingredients: All you’ll need are your favorite color and shape Peeps, some tempered chocolate (I used Ghirardelli white chocolate chips) that you can easily make in the microwave, and your kids favorite sprinkles!

Directions:Set up your work area (this is especially crucial if you’re having the kids help!).  Tip: A wire baking rack works well especially for the chick-shaped Peeps to dry on (you just stick their beaks into the wire grid squares and it keeps their cute little chocolate-covered butts in the air while they harden!  Next, temper your chocolate chips by putting them in a microwave-safe bowl and heating on high for 30 seconds.  Stir well then heat for 10 seconds until desired consistency is achieved.  Dip the bottom half of your Peeps in the tempered chocolate and immediately sprinkle with your favorite decorative sprinkles.  Cool to harden for at least 15 minutes.

Wrap these chocolate-covered Peeps in plastic baggies and tie with coordinating ribbon, they make the perfect addition to your child’s Easter basket or a sweet treat for your family’s Easter brunch!  To make a beautiful Peeps-themed Easter party try making this Peeps flower arrangement with your chocolate-covered peeps!

These wooden eggs evoke the same sweet simplicity of traditional dyed eggs but without the waste!

With Easter approaching quickly, I am getting “in the mood” for Easter egg decorating.  The most unfortunate part of Easter is the fact that you have to throw away your artwork!  Sure I can give the hard boiled eggs to my doggie (so I don’t feel like I’m being super-wasteful), but I still feel like it’s such a shame to throw away such beautifully decorated eggs!

So, in the spirit of reusing and not being wasteful, I’m going to embark on making permanent Easter eggs for decorations!  I ordered a baker’s dozen of paper mache eggs from Hobby Lobby and I have a good supply of Martha Stewart acrylic paints ready to go!  I’m thinking pale hues, frosted with crystal glitter.

Stay tuned for the results!

Choosing pastel-hued fabric strips make your rag wreath a easy Easter decorating craft idea.

This is such an easy Easter decoration that you can commission your kiddies to help you create.  The other great thing about this craft is that you can reuse fabrics (like bits of the kids clothes that are damaged and stained i.e. not good enough to give away) or finally find a productive project to utilize all of your fabric scraps.  There are a few different methods for making a rag wreath, I’ll post the instructions for both (one method is a bit more kid-friendly than the other).

Tie-Method Rag Wreath (more kid-friendly):

Materials Needed: Wire wreath shape or wire ring (you can find these at Michael’s or Jo Ann’s); scraps of fabrics, cut into strips

Directions: Cut your fabrics into long strips, depending on the width of your wreath shape your strips should range in length from 4 to 6 inches.  Simply tie your fabric strips so that the knot is facing the front, placing each knot close to the other until the wreath shape is fully covered.  The back of the wreath should be completely smooth and the front should have all of the knots.

Pin-Method Rag Wreath:

Materials Needed: soft-body wreath shape (like foam), fabric squares or strips, colorful straight pins

Directions: Wrap your wreath shape with one long strip of fabric and pin to secure.  Cut your fabric into small squares or rectangles.  Simply pin each fabric square into the wreath shape, placing them close enough together to create a ruffling effect.  You can go around the back-side of the wreath or just the front.

Your kids will go bananas for these cute deviled egg chicks! Make sure to serves with plenty of fresh veggies for dipping!

These deviled egg chicks are so much fun to make and they are sure to impress your little ones at your Easter meal!  There is a lot more of the yolk needed for each egg so be sure to serve your chicks with loads of fresh veggies for your kiddies’ dipping pleasure!  Baby carrots, cucumber spears and celery would make the perfect accompaniments for this rather rich, kid-friendly appetizer!

Make sure you have plenty of hard-boiled eggs on hand as these chicks require about two yolks for every egg white shell.  All you need to do is prepare your favorite deviled egg recipe filling (or try my extra-classic version that the kids will love) and get to piping with your decorator bag and 1M Wilton star tip!

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Start with a batch of deviled egg filing (see here for recipe), but do not slice the eggs in half lengthwise when harvesting the yolks for your filing.  Instead, take a small knife and cut a zig-zag about 2/3rds of the way across the top of your egg.  Gently remove the egg yolk (Note: you may need to break it up with a knife first then scoop it out with a small spoon).
2. After the deviled egg filing is finished and you have made your “cracked egg shell” egg whites with the zig-zag pattern, begin to decorate the eggs. Using a 1M (or large star tip) and a decorator’s bag, fill the bag with your yolk mixture.  Pipe a large star into the larger of the egg shell halves (Note: you may want to cut the bottom of the large egg shell so it stays upright on your plate).  Next, pipe a head by doing a shell that goes perpendicular to the large star you first piped.  Finally, pipe two wings that are supported by the egg shell.
3. Decorate your chicks with edibles you have on hand.  I used two peppercorns for their eyes (make sure to remove these before the kids dig in) and a triangle cut of red pepper for their beaks.  You can also use pimento-stuffed olives for their eyes and carrots for their beaks.

Offer your guests two different flavor deviled eggs: classic and chipotle pepper!

I may be too early for Easter, St. Patrick’s was just a few days ago, but when you’re pregnant do you really need to wait to enjoy deviled eggs?  I think not!  Here is my version of classic deviled eggs and deviled eggs with a twist: chipotle.  Since I’ve been pregnant I’ve been addicted to Tabasco’s Chipotle smoked hot sauce flavor!  So marrying it with deviled eggs seemed like a devil-y delicious idea!  The consistency of the deviled egg filing does change and becomes a bit more runny, so you’re not able to pipe it into the egg white like you can with the traditional filling–that’s my only complaint!

I like to keep the flavor profile of my deviled eggs very simple, I’m not one to put bacon bits or chives inside–to me those are better served as garnishes on top of the eggs.  For this recipe I topped each traditional egg with a caper and each chipotle egg with a red pepper strip.  Also, check out this version of classic deviled eggs for the kids in the shape of baby chicks!

CLASSIC DEVILED EGGS:

Save your busy-self loads of time by picking up a pack of already hard boiled eggs!

Ingredients:

• 1 package Trader Joe’s Cage Free hard boiled Eggs
• tbsp. Dijon mustard
• 1 cup organic Mayonnaise
• salt
• pepper
• Optional: Chipotle Tabasco sauce 1 tbsp.

Directions:

1. Save yourself LOTS of time and frustration by buying a pack of already hard-boiled eggs!  Simply cut in half lengthwise, slowly scoop out the egg yolk with a small spoon and reserve the egg whites for filling.
2. With a fork crush all of the egg yolks until you have the consistency of an almost-powder.  Add the mustard and mayonnaise and continue to mix well, taking care to crush any bumps with your fork.  Add salt and pepper to taste, and adjust for more mustard if desired.
3. Use a decorating piping bag with large 1M star tip and pipe into egg whites.  Garnish with capers.
4. Chipolte option: Reserve 1/2 of the yolk mixture and add Tabasco sauce.  Spoon into egg whites, garnish with red pepper or pimento strips.   

Children and adults alike will love the sweet tartness of these Spring-inspired cookies!

Hailing from Florida, I have a deep love of all things key lime!  Welcome Spring with these delicious shortbread and key lime frosted cookies!  Decorate with green sprinkles for the perfect puckery St. Patrick’s Day dessert or adorn with piped pastel flowers for a Springtime treat!

Shortbread tends to be a crispy, crunchy kind of cookie.  What I love about this recipe is that the cookies turn out perfectly soft!  The key is to under-bake the cookies, so remember that ovens vary!  Make sure to keep a good eye on your shortbread cookies during the last 5-7 minutes of baking.

KEY LIME SHORTBREAD COOKIES

Ingredients:

• 1 cup cold butter, cubed
• 2 cups flour
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1 tbsp. cold water
• 1 tsp. vanilla

Directions:

1. Mix the ingredients together by kneading with your hands.  Cover the dough with plastic wrap and place in the fridge for 1 hour.
2. Depending on the shape cookie you’d like to make you can roll out the dough with a rolling pin and cut with cookie cutters, or you can roll the dough into a log-shape and cut out rounds.
3. Bake at 325 for 15 minutes, making sure to check on the cookies frequently to not over-bake.  Do not let the cookies brown!

While you’re more than welcome to flavor the shortbread with key lime (just add key lime or lime extract), the key lime frosting has enough bite for itself and the shortbread!  The frosting recipe is from the Wilton website, enjoy!

KEY LIME COOKIE ICING:

Ingredients:

• 8 tbsp. unsalted butter, softened
• 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
• 2 tbsp. key lime juice
• 1 tsp. key lime zest or 1 tsp. lemon zest (add an extra 1/2 tsp. for more tang)
• 4 -5 cups confectioners sugar

Directions

1. In large bowl, cream butter, cream cheese, juice and zest with electric mixer until light and fluffy.
2. Add 4 cups of confectioners sugar, one cup at a time.  Continue beating until light and fluffy.
3. If icing is too thin add additional sugar 1 tablespoon at a time.

These virgin cocktails scream Spring and Summer! Perfect for a special family dinner or to upgrade an outdoor BBQ!

Even though grapes are at their peak in the Fall, this refreshing drink screams Spring and Summer!  With the first day of Spring right around the corner, get your family revved up and refreshed with this simple kid-friendly cocktail!

This drink is like making a homemade soda but without the guilty or mystery of what’s inside!  You control the amount of sugar you use so this is great for the kids, plus they will LOVE making it with you as it’s a novel way to enjoy the lunchbox staple of green grapes!

I found these plastic champagne glasses at the Dollor Tree and you can get 6 for just one buck!  So, go ahead and let the kids pretend that they are sipping on some bubbly, you’ll be surprised how they sit up straight and use their napkins without being reminded!

GREEN GRAPE SPRITZER:

The key to extracting the most juice from the grapes is a good blending and run through a fine metal strainer!

Ingredients:

• green grapes (about 2 cups makes 4-6 drinks)
• 1 cup water
• 3/4 cup sugar (or other sweetner)
• seltzer water, cold
• ice cubes
• grapes for garnish
• fresh mint for garnish
• blender (I used a Ninja)
• fine mesh strainer

Directions:

1. Make your simple syrup: dissolve the sugar (or desired sweetner) into 1 cup of water, stirring well over medium heat.  Set aside.
2. Pull the grapes off their vines and put them into your blender.  Blend until the consistency of a fruit puree.  
3. Strain through fine mesh strainer (I used my sugar sifter) and press down with a spoon to get as much juice from the grapes as possible.
4. Depending on the desired level of sweetness combine the simple syrup to the grape juice.
5. Depending on the size of your serving cups, add the sweetened grape juice to the glass followed by the seltzer water.  Stir with spoon. 
   

   Make special ice cubes for your kid-friendly cocktail by freezing half a grape in each ice cube!

6. Add ice cubes, mint leaves and grape for garnish.
7. Serve immediately!

TIP: I made a try of ice cubes and in half of them I put the half of a slice of a green grape for decoration and added color.  You can also freeze the grapes whole (they are a fabulous summer snack) and they can serve as your “ice cubes” for the drink!

Get in the spirit by making a special dinner night for your family or go all out and create the perfect St. Patty's bash!

Create the perfect St. Patrick’s party with these fun and easy decorating ideas and recipes!  I will be posting tutorials and recipes for all the items you see in the picture, grab the kids and get to crafting to create the perfect St. Patrick’s Day tablescape, even if it is just for the family!

Learn how to make a paper shamrock garland here, even if you only have a heart stamp in your inventory!

For a festive snack for you family try out these Cheddar and Pistachio Crackers here, or add some bacon and serve over crustini for the perfect St. Patrick’s Day party appetizer at your grown up party!

What better main course to serve at your family dinner party than beef stew?  Learn how to make your best beef stew here, with tips on cuts of meat and use of spices or just try out the included recipe!

Bake a batch of Key Lime Shortbread Cookies, they are sure to delight the kids and look very festive on a table-scape!  Try out these Green Grape Spritzers, a refreshing drink that kids and adults will both enjoy!  And check out these St. Patrick’s day decoration crafts: Leprechaun Headband and Table Centerpiece and Irish flag picks!