Fabulous NO SUGAR ADDED Applesauce Recipe that take minutes!

I wish I could remember where I found this recipe on the web.  Thank you to the person who shared/created this fabulous applesauce.  I am calling it:

Pink Cinnamon Applesauce

8-10 cooking apples
1/4 cup orange juice
2 tsp ground cinnamon
2 tsp vanilla extract

Wash, core and quarter apples.  Put in pot.  Add rest of ingredients.  Simmer until soft.  Stir occasionally.  Serve chunky with skins (good source of  nutrients) , or, strain until smooth.

TIPS: If it appears to be a bit dry when first cooking, add a little more orange juice. 

When serving it one evening, I topped it with a few fresh raspberries – was out of this world delicious!  What berries would you put on top of this applesauce?

… for the health of your family,
ellen

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Halloween Pizzas by Jaimie

 

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

PIZZA BASE
 - 4 small (6-inch) whole grain pitas
 - 2 tsp extra virgin olive oil
 - 1/8 tsp garlic powder

Place pitas on cookie sheet or pizza stone.  Brush each with 1/2 tsp oil and sprinkle with garlic powder.  Place in oven for about 10 minutes or until golden and starting to crisp.  Remove from oven.

 BASE PIZZA TOPPING

  – 1/2 cup spaghetti sauce (reduced sodium)
  – 1/2 tsp dried oregano
  – 1/2 cup fresh spinach, finely chopped

Divide spinach, sauce, and oregano evenly among pitas.  Spider Pizza: on 3 pitas sprinkle first with spinach and oregano, then sauce.  Frankenstein Pizza: add sauce first then oregano and spinach in a rectangular shape (the green will show through the cheese).

 
SPIDER TOPPING DECOR
  – 1 block Cabot Reduced Fat Cheddar Cheese
 -  Black olives

    Lengthwise, cut off a little less than 1/4 the cheese.  Slice into long thin strips for the spider web.  (Shred the rest in a food processor ).
    Slice a black olive in half lengthwise for the spider's body and use small olive slices for legs. 

FRANKENSTEIN TOPPING DECOR
 - Black olives
 - Green olives
 - Red bell pepper
 - Green bell pepper
 - Small fresh mozzarella balls

Add shredded cheese in a rectangular shape for frankenstein's face and outline with green bell pepper.  Decorate face as pictured using the "decor " items.  Or , create you own version

OTHER IDEAS
    Jack O'Lantern:  Sprinkle cheese evenly over another pita and decorate with black olives for jack o'lantern face.  Add red bell pepper outline and green bell
                                  pepper stem. 
    Ghost:  Sprinkle cheese in the shape of a ghost over another pita.  Add black olive halves for eyes and a large olive half for mouth.
 
COOKING PIZZAS:  Place in the oven about 5 minutes or until cheese is melted and pizzas are hot.  Serve immediately.

Options:  Hand grate the cheese if you don't have a food processor.  Use other veggies for toppings such as eggplant for the ghost's mouth, mushrooms for the bolts in Frankenstein's neck, etc… Get creative using uncured turkey pepperoni or sausage for decorating.  Let your kids decorate!  (Though you'll have to do the chopping unless they cut shapes out using small cookie cutters.)  Make all of one kind of of pizza.  If you are pressed for time, the ghost and jack o'lantern are easier to make.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

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The truth about School lunches

There is an improved awareness in the school systems that healthier foods need to be on their menus.  Chef Carlino, who serves school lunches, reminded me of the obstacles in front of decision makers.  So before you go storming in and demand better food for your kids, take a look at what these obstacles are; then make your move.

1. Food DIstributor's make deals with food companies.  Food companies are known to off load their over-runs or soon to be out of date products to school lunch 
    distributors for pennies on the dollar.  This fits the school's food budget.

2. Contracts with food distributors and food companies are made for multiple years.  In order to change the planned orders, these contracts have to be broken at
    a price, or, they have to run their coarse. 

3  Cafe managers and workers need to be educated about healthier products and menus.

Chef Carlino suggested that parents "create a demand, not a protest."  In other words, offer constructive practical solutions without being negative or angry.  A group of parents has more power than a single one so work together.  Talk to principal, supervisors, cafe managers in a helpful mode.   

Number One way to change the system – don't use it.  If most of the kids brought their own lunches to school, the school lunch program would fail – it could not survive.  Then the school would need redesign their school lunch program. You could be right there to help them!

Chef Carlino offers more helpful and delicious school lunch ideas in our interview with himClick HERE. to listen.

… for the health of your family,
ellen

 

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Recipe. Blueberry Lemon Muffins

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Thanks to a mom of two, we have another great muffin recipe, using our Kid Kritics Approved product of the week, Fair Trade Honey (Wholesome Sweeteners).  How can you miss with Blueberry Lemon Muffins? The kids loved these. Click Here for this recipe.You and your kids will be so glad you made these for breakfast, lunch and snacks. They are great as pregame easy to digest energy food.  Make a bunch in the mini size. 

… for the health of your family,
ellen

NEW Sweepstakes Prize this week: A case of Yummi Bears Organics Super Vision by Hero Nutritionals. Enter to win! New www.KidKritics.com/sweepstakes.

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Recipe. No Fry Chicken Nuggets

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These No Fry Chicken Nuggets are better than the best! So easy.  Key: buy taste chicken breasts from naturally raised chickens.  Cut them into nuggets sizes, sprinkle both sides with paprika, dip them in egg and then into a bag of  a crumbled crackers (used Annie’s Buttery Rich) mix with a little olive oil. Bake and Voila! Make a lot because you kids will be popping and chewing as many as they can. Recipe

Recipe creator, Healthier Recipe Mom, Shonda, said, “The chicken came out crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. The subtle buttery taste of the crackers added a nice flavor. My daughter LOVED them! We will definitely make these again!”

… for the health of your family,
ellen

New Sweepstakes Prize: win a Case of Sugar Free Coconut Cookies by Joseph’s Lite Cookies.  If you are going to eat sugar-free cookies, we recommend Joseph’s as he uses a proprietary sweetener formula.  www.KidKritics.com/sweepstakes.  Enter more than once to up the odds!

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Grocery List… add Gluten Free Mini Pretzels

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The crunch sold these pretzels; kids love the feel and sound of crunch. In fact, we had fun with this and put a mike to their mouths for all to hear.  You could say kids love the taste of crunch. “Fantastic!”

We think everyone should eat less wheat so these Gluten Free Mini Pretzels or Sticks by the world famous pretzel maker, Snyder's of Hanover, are great treat picks.  And, they can be used as dippers in nutrient filled dips such as hummus.  Try them!

… for the health of your family,
ellen

And why not win a whole case of these pretzels?  Enter the Kid Kritics Approved Food Giveaway Sweepstakes today,  www.KidKritics.com/sweepstakes.

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Recipe. Gluten Free Trail Mix

Recipe,GlutenFreeTrailMix

Yummy trail mix you can personalize to your own family's preferences … plus it is gluten free! Try it!  RECIPE

Thank you Rebecca (Healthier Recipe Mom of two) for creating this crunchy breakfast, lunch and snack filler solution.

… for the health of your family,
ellen

New Prize!  This week win a case of Gluten Free Mini Pretzels by Snyder's of Hanover. www.KidKritics.com/sweepstakes

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Kid Kritics Cooking “Egg Salad Kids Love”

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These kids not only made egg salad, they ate it!  Some confessed they never have eaten eggs… thought they were yucky.  But, they really liked these.  Want the recipe? CLICK HERE 

… for the health of your family,
ellen


Win a Case of Organic Bunny Classics Buttery Rich Crackers by Annie's Homegrown.  A mom used them to make No-Fry Chicken Nuggets that are so good, the Kid Kritics awarded this recipe their Seal of Approval. (Click Here for Recipe) Enter to win: www.KidKritics.com/sweepstakes

 

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Grocery List: Puffin Puffs Fruit Medley Cereal

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Crunchy wheat-free 100% Natural Cereal: a good fun snack for kids.  This cereal is made with yellow and blue corn giving it's real food colors.  Oat Hull Fiber is a big nutrient plus, as is the Expeller Pressed High Oleic Acid.  There are zero saturated and zero trans fats.  It is free of dairy, eggs, peanuts, trees nuts and wheat.  Plus a serving gives your kids about 20% of their needed Vitamins A and C.  Relative to other cereals, it is not only lower in sugar, the source is evaporated cane juice – nothing fake or highly processes.  We are fans of Barbara's Bakery products because they care about the health of your family. 

Check out the Fruit Medley Yogurt Pudding recipe made with Puffin Puffs Fruit Medley Cereal.(Click Here)  It is an easy and nutrient filled breakfast, lunch, or snack one the Kid Kritics highly recommend, "Seconds, please can I have seconds?"  All but those who are not banana fans want it served at home. Try it!

… for the health of your family,
ellen

How would like to have a case of Creamy Almond Butter with Omega 3s by Once Again Nut Butter delivered to your home?  Enter to win: www.KidKritics.com/sweepstakes.

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Grocery List. Cashew Nut Butter

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“I like the cashew flavor and really love the way it feels on my tongue.” (Kid Kritics quote). Cashew butter offers a delicious alternative to other nut and seed butters.  It happens to be powered with minerals: zinc, selenium, phosphorous, iron, magnesium.  Plus you can count on it to supply you with protein, antioxidants and phyto-chemicals. Bottom line: it feeds your brain, nerves, heart, hair, nails, skin, bones and immune system. This is another food where a little goes a long way. Since it keeps well in the refrigerator, you use a little at a time, over time.  When your kids needs a nutrient-packed snack, use cashew butter as a dip for carrots, celery and apple slices.

… for the health of your family,
ellen

WIn a whole case of Greek-Style LowFat Plain Yogurt by Cabot of Vermont. Think of all the smoothies, dips, sauces, fruit yogurts you will be able to make with it.  Don’t forget it freezes will – put some in ice cube trays for future frozen yogurt summer treats.  To enter, www.KidKritics.com/sweepstakes. Enter more than once to up your odds.

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