Sweet Pennies from Heaven

Cat in the Hat Kabobs with Cherry Tomatoes and Cheese – It’s Dr. Seuss Week

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Cat in the Hat Kabobs

Cat in the Hat Kabobs

Little man’s school is celebrating Dr. Seuss week this week at school. I thought it would be fun to make a few different Dr. Seuss Cat in the Hat snacks to celebrate at home too. We already made these Cat in the Hat Strawberry and Marshmallow Kabobs AND these yummy Dr. Seuss Cat in the Hat Waffles!

It’s all Dr. Seuss up in here!

These kabobs are so easy and they’re also a super healthy snack! I wanted to share how we made them in case you’re looking for an easy way to celebrate Dr. Seuss at home (or school) too.

Cat in the Hat Kabobs

What you’ll need for the Cat in the Hat Kabobs:

  • Skewers
  • Grape Tomatoes
  • Mozzarella Cheese Cubes (or sliced sticks)
  • Ranch Dressing (for dipping)
  • *Another fun adult option would be pesto drizzled onto the kabobs vs. dipping in ranch! We love pesto too!

All you do is layer the tomatoes and cheese cubes onto the skewer so that it resembles the Cat in the Hat’s hat! Told you it was super simple.

Cat in the Hat Kabobs

What are some fun ways you’re celebrating Dr. Seuss Week? Eli gets to go to school in his favorite pajamas one day this week. I’m not so sure how I feel about that, but we’re going with it…LOL!!

For more fun healthy recipe/snack ideas…check out these recipes!

Quick and Healthy Snacks on the Go – Kid Approved

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Quick and Healthy Snacks on the Go

Quick and Healthy Snacks on the Go – Kid Approved

Quick and healthy snacks on the go can make your lives so much easier when you have a busy schedule! It keeps you from having to stop at a fast food window, plus you can ensure that your kids are getting healthy snacks! I find that it’s easier to write out and plan a week’s worth of breakfasts, lunches, dinners, and include snacks too! That way I don’t have to guess and stand there at the cabinet or fridge trying to decide what to serve.

eMeals makes this process super duper easy for me. Have you heard of them? You must check them out…they’re my #1 source for saving money on my grocery bill (besides coupons of course).

First of all, how does having a weekly meal plan with a coordinating shopping list sent to you sound? Already made, with no work on your part! Who wouldn’t love that?! That is exactly what eMeals does for me, each and every week. They offer many different meal plan options. You can choose from the classic meal plan, paleo, gluten free, vegan and more.

eMeals really focuses on creating different and delicious meal plans using common ingredients. They also plan meals based on items that are often on sale or in season. They know that in season produce is cheaper than out of season produce. You can even choose your own store to shop at, and eMeals will send you your shopping list with prices based on the store you choose. You can opt for Walmart, Kroger, Target, Aldi, Publix, Whole Foods and more!

eMeals

This service saves me SO much time and money! I always stick to my weekly meal plan and shopping list, and then just buy the occasional snack foods and things that aren’t on the list that we need in addition. Dave Ramsey recommends eMeals to help families who are budgeting and saving money! I can say first hand that it helps us save money each and every week and I wouldn’t know what I’d do without them! Their year’s subscription is just $5 per month!! That works out to roughly just $1.25 a week!!


Here are (5) Kid-Approved Snack Ideas, courtesy of eMeals:

  1. Make your own trail mix by combining raisins, freeze-dried fruits, nuts, sunflower seeds, and whole grain cereal.
  2. Serve apple slices with string cheese and whole grain crackers.
  3. Make half a sandwich with whole grain bread, peanut butter, and banana slices.
  4. Serve hummus with whole wheat pita and baby carrots for dipping.
  5. Build your own yogurt parfaits with low fat yogurt, fresh berries, and whole grain granola.

What sorts of healthy snacks do you give your kids? Preferably healthy snacks that travel well?! Leave us a comment, we’d love to hear your snack ideas!!

Almondina – Delicious Cookie without All the Guilt + a Giveaway Ends 7/2

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Almondina


I love cookies…cookies of all kinds! Soft cookies, chewy cookies, even crunchy cookies. I recently was sent a big sample pack of Almondina. I had never heard of them before but who am I to deny cookies, right?! The box arrived and I opened up the package to see several varieties. First – I have to say that these little almond biscuits/cookies are sooooo good! They’re super crunchy with nice chunks of almonds in every bite. Love the taste and the texture!

 

Almondina

Here’s a little backstory about the company:

After reading more about the company, I found out that Almondina which is based in Ohio, is an inspiring success story about a man named Yuval Zaliouk, whose passions included music and wonderful food. For generations, his family enjoyed his grandmother Dina’s most secret cookie, which she called Petit Gateau Sec. Long after his grandmother’s death, he started making and selling this delicious cookie and renamed it Almondina, after his grandmother.

 

Almondina

Almondina

These yummy cookies are now available in all 50 states. Almondina is all natural and the best part (besides the crunch and flavor) is that they do not contain cholesterol, added fat, trans-fats, salt, or preservatives. Love!! We’ve tried all the flavors that they sent us. I have to say that my 2 favorites were the Choconut and the Cinnaroma. Both of those, I could have ate my weight in, especially with a nice hot cup of coffee. I was even shocked that my SUPER picky 7 year old enjoyed all of them and that’s saying a lot!

You can find Almondina is these stores: Fairway, Publix, Hy Vee, Giant Eagle, Brookshire, Mollie Stone’s, Hannaford, Jewel, Whole Foods, The Fresh Market, Walmart, Trader Joe’s, Cost Plus World Market, TJ Maxx, Marshalls and many others. You can also check the store finder here to find a store near you! http://www.almondina.com/

Almondina

I was sent the following flavors and the really awesome thing is that one lucky reader will win the same sample pack that I received which is valued at $41.00.

Original – America ‘s all natural favorite with almonds and raisins

Chocolate Cherry – We combined the world’s finest dark chocolate with plump cherries to produce an irresistible, decadent treat without guilt.

Choconut – Rich tasting crunchy chocolate, but low in calories
Cinnaroma® – The original biscuit for cinnamon lovers
Gingerspice – Trend setting, with chunks of Australian ginger
Sesame – Irresistible, exotic, flavorful

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: I received a sample pack of Almondina in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are 100% my own.

Chicken and Cheese Quesadillas Recipe

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quesadillas

Chicken and Cheese Quesadillas

 

It’s no surprise that I love food, quesadillas included! I’ve been sharing alot of recipes from my recipe box lately but I have to say that Chicken and Cheese Quesadillas (foldover style) are probably my most favorite thing EVER to fix at home! To be honest, I had never even had them until I watched Dan’s season of Big Brother!! I watched him make them on Showtime’s Big Brother After Dark one night and I’ve been hooked ever since!

These are SUPER easy to make and better yet…if you’re on a low fat diet, these can be customized using different ingredients. Here’s the way we make them but I’ll add some variations towards the bottom of the post for healthier versions. Side note: The real way to make them is by placing another tortilla shell ontop instead of folding them over. Personally, I like folding them over better. They make less of a mess that way ;)!

Quesadillas (foldover style) Ingredients:

1-2 boneless skinless chicken breasts (you can use canned chicken if you prefer)
1 pack of flour tortillas
1 pack finely shredded cheese (any kind you like, we use Fiesta or Mexican blend)
Butter

Directions:

If you’re using raw chicken, boil it on the stovetop in water until it’s tender and done. Drain and shred the chicken. If you’re using canned chicken…just drain the juice and shred a little bit.

Get a skillet or griddle nice and hot on medium heat. Butter one whole side of a flour tortilla and place in skillet buttered side down. Quickly place a handful of cheese in the middle of the tortilla then a handful of chicken and FOLD the tortilla over on top of itself.

quesadilla

Once one side is golden brown flip it over and finish browning the other side. Lay on a plate and cut in half with a pizza cutter. Keep doing this with each tortilla until you’ve made as many as you’d like.

We usually make 10 or however many shells are in the pack. They’re great to have for lunch the next day!! Just serve these with salsa and sour cream dolloped on top. Yummy!

Healthier Variations:

  • Use reduced fat cheese instead of regular cheese
  • Fry in extra virgin olive oil vs. butter
  • Use greek yogurt in place of sour cream
  • Add some peppers and onions if salsa has too much sodium for you

If you’re looking for some more fun recipes, below are some reader favorites. You can also check out my Pinterest boards for more cooking inspiration!!

  1. Quick and Easy Spicy Chili
  2. Mashed Potatoes with a Twist
  3. Honey Bunches of Oats Baked Chicken
  4. Frappe Recipe (tastes like the ones from McDonalds)
  5. Homemade Chocolate Bread
  6. Chocolate Covered Peanut Butter Balls

It’s obvious that we love to eat over here! If you have a great recipe that you’d love to share, leave me a comment!!! I’d love to hear them and may share them on the blog!!

Topic: Quesadillas Recipe

the chick behind this blog! I'm your ordinary, everyday wife and mom to an incredible pair of stinky guys! I am a self diagnosed coffee addict with a ginormous sweet tooth, preferably baked goods!! My hope is to help you, teach you, and entertain you on your way to a more thrifty and frugal lifestyle! Along the way, you'll find awesome recipes, great tips, and tons of randomness! We have loads of fun, so ya'll come back now, ya hear?!

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