Search Results for: blog let them eat chocolate

Let There Be Light

I can see it, smell it, and almost touch it. It’s the light at the end of the tunnel. And by tunnel I mean my daughter’s school year. In two weeks I will enjoy a treasured reprieve from the worst mom job ever—packing school lunches. I abhor the near daily ritual, which hurts my brain, as much as it does my wallet. I’ve endured this penitent practice for nearly three years and I still haven’t figured out what I can pack that my now 8-year-old won’t toss into the school’s 80-gallon garbage barrel. Aside from the torment of devising a … Continue reading →

Affordable Easter Treats That Won’t Cause Cavities

When Peter Cottontail’s cousin comes hopping down the bunny trail this Easter he’s sure to leave behind a smorgasbord of sugary treats, much to the delight of your children… and their dentist. While there’s nothing inherently wrong with indulging in a few Easter goodies, parents may want to supplement their kids’ saccharine-laced haul with a couple of holiday treats that won’t cause cavities. Easter-themed books starring popular children’s literary characters are a wonderful alternative to gigantic jelly beans, colossal chocolate creatures and marshmallow menageries.  What’s more, you won’t have to go into debt purchasing these fun-filled page turners that are … Continue reading →

Holiday-Themed Sanity Savers

Whether you are hosting a Christmas party, a Hanukkah get-together or you simply need ways to keep your kids busy while they are home from school during the holiday break, the following ideas will go a long way to preserving your sanity: Games:  Get into the holiday spirit by modifying traditional kids’ games, such as “Duck, Duck, Goose.”  A holiday version could be “Reindeer, Reindeer Rudolph” or “Elf, Elf, Buddy” (Will Ferrell’s name in the movie “Elf”). Another option is to turn “Simon Says” into “Santa Says.”  These types of interactive games are great ways for kids to burn off … Continue reading →

The Trick Behind Halloween Treats

Depending on where you are collecting candy on Halloween, the free items can be more trick than treat. One word: Raisins. Dehydrated grapes that look more at home in the bottom of a toilet rather than the bottom of a plastic pumpkin shouldn’t be considered a Halloween treat. Ditto for toothbrushes, individual pennies, polished rocks and the errant canned good. Rocks, canned soup and raisins. Really? Who does that to a child on Halloween? Geez, the kid went through the trouble of dressing-up, braving chilly temps and navigating around mountains of fallen leaves in the dark. Doesn’t that warrant at … Continue reading →

Double Chocolate Zucchini Bread

Oooh, does my house smell good today. I just finished baking two loaves of double chocolate zucchini bread. The aroma reminds me that the holidays are coming soon. Now the only question is do I freeze one or leave them both out for the family to gobble all up? Zucchini bread is a lot easier to make than you might think. The most tedious part is grating the zucchini, but I have a short cut for you. I use the grating attachment on my food processor, which makes the grating a very quick step. Most food processors come standard with … Continue reading →

Let Them Eat Chocolate

I’ve confessed to my “Mommy addiction” in previous posts. It’s not Downton Abbey, Facebook or expensive leather handbags (though, I wouldn’t balk if Santa happened to leave a Hermes Birkin bag under the tree this Christmas). Rather, my obsession is much higher in calories: Nature Valley Dark Chocolate Granola Thins. A.K.A. Crunchy crack. Crispy, chocolatey, OOOOHHH-EMMM-GEEE! drool-on-your-keyboard crack. Don’t let the name fool you; the granola part is just a guise. The fact is; I’m all about the chocolate. I love me some chocolate… and so does my 8-year-old. Unfortunately, as parents we’re supposed to set good examples, so eating … Continue reading →

Cats Eating People Food

Yesterday a good friend of mine posted on her Facebook that she caught her two cats eating coleslaw. It’s not the first time her cats have gone after people food; one ate a strawberry last week, and when they were kittens she had to lock them in a room when I’d have lunch at her house. Otherwise they’d jump up on the table, put their paws in our water glasses, and otherwise view our plates as their personal buffet. When I think about it, I can recall many incidents of cats I knew eating people food. My old roommate’s cat … Continue reading →

Let the Valentine’s Day Fun Begin

Punxsutawney Phil is back in his hole, the NFL crowns its champ tonight, and 15-day celebration to usher in the Year of the Dragon wraps up at midnight. That can only mean one thing: Let the Love Day games begin. Valentine’s Day is just about a week away, and even though Wal-Mart and Target have been selling Love Day merchandise since December 27th, now is the time to really solidify plans for the heart-shaped holiday. If you are planning a Valentine’s Day party you’ll want to get your shopping list set. Think: pink, red and silver confetti to sprinkle on … Continue reading →

Buttery Chocolate Chip Cookies

My kids would eat a dozen of these in one sitting, if I let them. Because of the high butter content, these cookies will spread if the dough isn’t chilled first. Just stick the dough in the fridge for 30 minutes or longer. Personally, we don’t mind flatter cookies, but I thought I would warn you about this. These cookies melt in your mouth. Here is a tip: Use a cookie scoop for evenly-sized cookies that are easy to drop on the cookie sheets. 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon salt 1 cup (2 sticks) … Continue reading →

A Very Chocolate Christmas

Just because the CDC issued a warning not to allow kids to consume raw cookie dough, doesn’t mean you should put the kibosh on holiday baking with your little ones. My 7-year-old loves to help out in the kitchen, especially this time of year when she can fine-tune her cookie-creating skills. In addition to fostering your child’s creative side, baking also allows kids to sharpen their math skills. By giving them the chance to assist you in the kitchen, youngsters also get schooled in time management, teamwork, and depending on how well the recipe turns out, you will likely see … Continue reading →