15 Healthy Recipes You Can Make With Your Toddler

One of my friends from high school contacted me on Facebook last week saying I seemed like a healthy mom and could I help her find some good recipes she could make with her pre-school class. (side note: I am always amused when people pick me out of crowds, including facebook, as "the healthy mom." Or "the kind of person who would use cloth diapers." I swear, I don't wear gypsy skirts or own anything made of hemp. Maybe someone I know in real life can tell me how I put out this vibe. But I digress...).

My little guy loves helping me in the kitchen and has his own little apron he likes to wear when he helps. I realized when my friend asked, though, that I hadn't focused much on my blog about food you can make with your toddler. What a great idea!

15 Healthy Recipes You Can Make

{With Your Toddler}

(clockwise from upper-left)

1: Chewy Chocolate Coconut Bars from Mad in Crafts. Have your kids help you mix the ingredients and let them have fun packing the granola down into the pan (put down a wax paper barrier and they can use their hands).
2: Healthy Creamy Apple Dip from C.R.A.F.T. This has only three ingredients (peanut butter, yogurt, cinnamon) and would be great for dipping organic apples into.
3: Personal Baked Apples from Having Fun at Home. You peel and core the apple and then let kids fill it with cold butter, cinnamon sugar (and I would add raisins and other dried fruit to the mix) before wrapping the whole thing pie crust and baking. Yum!
4: Peanut Butter Cracker Spiders from Mad in Crafts (scroll to the bottom below the costume). Even though Halloween is over, kids love insects any time of year. Up the health factor by using whole grain crackers and homemade peanut butter (below).

(clockwise from upper-left)

5: Peanut Butter from Carissa's Creativity Space. Peanut butter is super easy to make and a great way to connect kids with where their food comes from. Let kids pour the ingredients into the food processor and then press the buttons once the lid is locked on.
6: Crispy Almond Butter Power Balls from Rook No. 17. These are packed with calcium, omega 3's, whole grains, protein and antioxidants. Eat them right away or store them in the freezer for up to 3 months.
7: Chunky Cinnamon Crockpot Applesauce from Mad in Crafts. There are few snacks that kids seem to love more than applesauce. Making your own is really easy. In a classroom, you could set this up in the morning, cook it on high and have it ready to go by lunch time.
8: Banana Mint Ice Cream from C.R.A.F.T. We make banana ice cream in a similar way in our house and I LOVE how it tastes like ice cream when it's pretty much just fruit. Jamie adds honey to hers but we never do and find it's plenty sweet.

(clockwise from upper-left)

9: Whole Wheat Pita Pizzas from The Picky Eater. I love pita pizzas. Using pitas instead of dough makes this project easier for kids (and easier to do in a large group). Give the kids plenty of healthy topping options and let them make their own masterpiece.
10: Pumpkin Pancakes from Modern Mom. This is a tasty way to get more veggies into your kids diet and  they will love you for it. Leanna from All Done Monkey says you can do something similar with sweet potatoes for a different flavor and a boost of vitamin A.
11: Zots (Zucchini Tots) from Carissa's Creativity Space. These are great if you can find anyone with zucchini left (I personally have a large one still on my counter) or just pick one up from the store. These are a fun alternative to tater tots and easy for kids to help make.
12: Healthy Breakfast Cookies from Mad in Crafts. These are full of fruit, seeds, and whole grains. Let the kids pick what to add and calling it a cookie makes them feel like they are getting a special treat.

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13: Strawberry Yogurt Waffle Stack from Carissa's Creativity Space. As written, this recipe is sized for a grown up, but you can make it toddler friendly my using mini whole wheat waffles (we like the ones from Earth's Best).
14: Chewy No-Bake Granola Bars from Money Saving Mom. I love that you don't have to make these and you can add whatever mix ins the kids prefer.
15: Apple Cinnamon French Toast from Carissa's Creativity Space. Use leftover apple sauce from idea #7 and help your kids make a tasty apple cinnamon breakfast treat that tastes like dessert.

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A special thanks to all the bloggers that featured such great content for me to share. I was delighted to feature you.  If you like showing off your "as seen on" swag, please feel free to grab a button:

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A Natural Mom's Guide to the Fourth of July

Forget fireworks, bugs and sun burns, this natural mama's biggest fear on the fourth of July is all the crazy artificially colored foods packed with sugar that are going to be at family festivities. Don't get me wrong: I love a cute Pinterest project, but can we do it without tons of Blue 2 and Red 3? (and you know, the risk of thyroid disease, cancer, food allergies and hyperactivity associated with them? If food coloring issues are new to you, check out this short article from the Food Network).

Now, there are natural food coloring alternatives out there. Check out this great looking kit from India Tree (which I have not used myself but it looks pretty awesome) made from concentrated vegetable color. But when nature makes so many beautiful and tasty foods come in patriotic colors all ready, why go to the extra time and expense?

Check out some of my favorite natural Fourth of July recipes!

(remember many of these recipes contain berries which absorb pesticides that can't wash off. Go organic when you can)

Drinks

Left: Strawberries, blueberries and pineapple are the star of the show in this patriotic sangria from PunchBowl.com.

Center: Make a pretty, red, watermelon strawberry lemonade following the recipe from Frosted Bake Shop (is it just me, or does this look like the best thing ever?).

Right: If you're looking for something a little deeper red and less sweet, Good Housekeeping has a great recipe for Red Strawberry Tea that features red tea, strawberries and pomegranate cranberry juice. Make a pitcher for everyone and then make a seperate pitcher for the grown ups with a little something-something added in.

Naturally Red, White and Blue

Left: There is no summer side more classic than a potato salad. Use a mix of red, white a blue potatoes to make yours pop with this recipe from Proud Italian Cook.

Center: Berries are a natural choice for a sweet side. Serve them simply as they come in paper cones to make it easy to mingle and snack on a small handful. Photo from Better Homes and Gardens.

Right: Both potato chips and corn chips come in natural red and blue varieties (though the red corn chips are usually a result of adding tomato) that are easy to find at local supermarkets. Serve up red and blue chips with a creamy white dip. Like the fancy cones? Follow Martha Stewart's post here to make your own.

Printables

Left: Your food doesn't need to be red, white, or blue to be festive! Download the free printables from Le Partie Sugar to dress up your otherwise plain foods. I also love her addition of colorful paper straws to add flair.

Center: Make patriotic little snack cups for pretzels, nuts or trail mix using these printable snack cups from the Mardi Gras Outlet blog.

Right: Magnolia Creative Co. has a variety of patriotic printables available for free as well. I particularly love the hot dog wrappers.

Dessert

Left: Make a heaping cherry and blueberry pie following this recipe from Women's Day that focuses on using pre-made ingredients so you can spend more of your day enjoying your day.

Center: Top your favorite cupcakes with blueberries, raspberries and coconut and arrange like a flag or follow this recipe from Good Housekeeping to make a tasty lemon cake from scratch.

Right: Follow Betty Crocker's recipe for shortcake stars to make a showstopping dessert from your latest trip to the you-pick berry fields.

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I hope whether you're a natural mama or you're just starting your journey of avoiding artificial junk in your food that you found at least one idea that will make your Fourth of July holiday a little more festive and worry free.

A special thanks to all the bloggers and women's websites that featured such great content. I was delighted to feature you.  If you like showing off your "as seen on" swag, please feel free to grab a button if you'd like one.

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Beautiful Spring Wreaths

It's official: Spring is on it's way! Yesterday was the warmest day of the year so far where I live in Northwest Oregon. We've been graced with sunny, dry weather and I just can't wait for the danger of frost to pass so I can get my garden going.

Since it's not quite time to get some spring color in the ground, I wanted to feature some of my favorite front door spring door bling from around the blogosphere. Hopefully they will inspire you to make something fabulous and colorful for your own abode!

Pin It

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Spring Wreath from Under the Sycamore

I love this beautiful wreath wrapped in yarn and moss and sprinkled with beautiful butterflies. Visit her site to get the full tutorial.

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Mossy Spring Wreath from The Magic Onions

Moss is a theme I love for spring decor - especially since I'm surrounded by it as the weather warms up here. Keep moss where it belongs...on your front door (instead of in your yard!). Click the link above to visit the full tutorial.

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A Quick and Colorful Wreath from Kiki Creates

If you're in an upcycling mood, turn some fabric and sewing scraps into cute flowers and leaves to make this bright Spring wreath. Kiki doesn't have a tutorial for her wreath but she's got some great close up shots on the blog so be sure to visit to check it out!

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My Spring Wreath

Last year I made this spring wreath from some dollar store sprigs and a grapevine wreath. I can't wait to take it out of storage and hang it on my door!

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If I featured your project, please feel free to grab a button if you'd like:

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Can't get enough wreaths? I pin my favorite Wreaths year round on my Pinterest Wreaths board. 

If you've got a fabulous wreath you've made, leave a link in the comments. I'd love to pin you, too!

Capture the Love with...Photo Valentines!

Have you decided what you (or your kids!) are giving out for Valentines Day yet? To be honest, I wasn't really into the whole V-day thing until I had a kiddo of my own and decided that there is no better time to capture that sweet little face and turn it into a fun card for our families and friends.

This was the card we gave out last year:

2011 Valentine's Day Photoshoot and Cards at Carissa's Creativity Space

If you're still deciding what you'd like to do and looking for ideas check out some of my favorite Valentines photo ideas from around the interwebs!

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I love these adorable photo pockets. They are so fun and can show off your little one's personality.

[Pop] Rock Star Valentines Pocket Cards from I am Momma Hear Me Roar

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Cute and Easy Photo V-day cards. I"m sure you could find a variety of fun heart shaped candies to tape in their hand

"I Give You My Heart" Photo Cards from Smashed Peas and Carrots

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I've also seen these done with lolliops without a label to mimic the look of a  large balloon.

Giant Balloon-Like Lollipop Cards from Remodelaholic

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Like the lollipop card idea but don't have a kid? Borrow a pet or robot!
Non-Kid Lollipop Cards from Saucy Pants

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Another great project from I am Momma, Hear Me Roar: Use more than one photo to make a great bag topper and fill it up with more than one candy.

Bag Topper Photo Valentine from I am Momma Hear Me Roar.

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Want something quick and easy with no candy, gluing or taping required? Check out these cards from Eighteen25. Follow the links in the post to download free .PNG files and personalize them with your own photos.

Custom Valentines Photo Cards from Eighteen25

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If I featured your project, please feel free to grab a button if you'd like:

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Can't Get Enough Valentine Ideas?

Join me and five other fabulous craft bloggers for a live chat on the Motherhood later today!

When: Tuesday, Feb 7th, 2012 at 1pm EST (that's 10am Pacific)

Where: The Motherhood (registration is free)

Featuring: Amanda from Crafts by Amanda will be doing a live video demo.

Live Chat Hosts:

Carissa from Carissa's Creativity Space (that's me!)

Heidi from Honeybear Lane

Lisa of Condo Blues

Breanna of Dollar Store Mom

Colleen from Mural Maker and More

I hope I'll see you there!

Wondering where the DIY Play Kitchen posts went? Don't worry! We're just taking a quick break to spread the v-day love. I'll be back with part 3 of the DIY Play Kitchen series later this week!

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2011 Year in Review

As 2011 comes to a close, I want to let all of my readers know I am so grateful for you! Whether you subscribe via e-mail, check me out through a reader or just dropped in from Pinterest, thanks for reading! In 2012 I hope to have more great tutorials, craft ideas, recipes and green parenting tips to share. I hope you'll stick around for the fun!

And in keeping with year-end traditions everywhere, I wanted to share with you my 2011 bloggy year in review (as determined by readers!).

Top Five Posts of 2011

#5: "Garden Bling"

Four different styles of garden markers that are easy to make and fun to use in your garden

#4: How To Make Ginger Syrup

This syrup is easy to make and delicious! Give it as a gift or use it to make your own ginger ale.

#3: Make Baby Cinnamon Rolls

Baby cinnamon rolls are easy to make in minutes using ingredients you probably have in your pantry or fridge.

#2: DIY Non-Toxic Glass Travel Cup with Stainless Straw

Upcycle a jar you have on hand to make a travel mug that won't leach toxins into your drinks.

My #1 Most Popular Post of 2011:

Mustache Binkies

A fun gift for a baby shower or just to make you giggle. 

I hope you found something you love that you haven't seen before. Don't forget to pin or stumble projects you love so you can remember to come back later.

Stay safe out there and...

Happy New Year!


Come recap 2011 at these great blog parties:
* Top Projects of 2011 at Southern Hospitality * Favorite DIY Project of 2011 at Addicted to Decorating * Favorite Post of 2011 at Home Stories of A to Z * A Pinteresting Link Party at Tutus and Tea Parties *

Last Minute Crafty Christmas Gifts

What's that you say? We're less than two days from Christmas and you still haven't figured out what to get for Aunt Mildred. Or Grandpa Eddie. Or your sweet little niece and nephew? You love handmade gifts but have run out of ideas and you might just buy a gift card.

Before you run out and drop your hard earned cash on a piece of plastic check out these great gift ideas that you can make (even last minute), sometimes even with things you already have on hand. You'll be able to give a clever handmade gift and look super thoughtful doing it.


Food Gifts

1. Homemade Chocolate Syrup from Small Notebook. Most chocolate syrup bought in store is full of ooky mystery or genetically modified ingredients. I love that you know everything that goes into this one and it's a gift any mocha drinker or parent of children who drink chocolate milk will appreciate.

2. Homemade Ginger Syrup (my recipe). This is super easy to make and is also easy to make in large batches so if you need to make a gift for several people, you can crank out several bottles of this with less than an hour of hands on time from you.

3. Cookie Mix in a Jar from Bakerella. This is another one that would be great for making in multiples. Just set everything up assembly line style and crank out a dozen in an afternoon.

4. Candycane Hearts from In His Grip. These look easy enough to make and would be a fun project to involve kids with, whether it's dolloping chocolate or sprinkling crushed candy canes on top. If you have a stoneware cookie sheet, make these even faster by freezing your stone for a a few hours and then making the hearts on parchment paper placed on top. This will set the chocolate even faster.




Gifts for Parents and Grandparents

1. Framed Art & Artist Photos from Southern Exposure. Let your kids create a masterpiece and snap a photo while they're doing it. Frame both together and you've got a winning combination!

2. Thumbprint Holiday Cards from Meet the Dubiens. Pair one of these with a store bought gift to add a personal touch.

3. Personalized Candles from A Girl in Paradise. Let your kids draw or decorate a design that you transfer to a candle with a little help from a grown up.

4. Front and Back Bookmarks from Having Fun at Home. Snap some pictures of your kiddo(s) from both sides, upload to a site like Shutterfly or Walgreens that lets you swing by to pick up the pics later and you've got a fun meaningful gift that will be used by a bibliophilic grandparent.




Gifts for Children

1. Mustache Binkies (my project). They only take minutes to make but they are tons of fun for both kids and grown ups.

2. Tool Belt or Art Apron from Outnumbered. Nikki writes a great tutorial for making a tool belt for play toys. You could also follow the same tutorial to make an art apron that crayons or markers fit into.

3. Personalized Board Book from Chef Messy. Raid your photo archives or scan facebook for photos of family members to make a personalized board book. If you don't already have a spare board book lying around, check out Dollar Tree as they frequently sell two-packs of small board books for $1.

4. Gingerbread Playdough from The Sweet Adventures of Sugarbelle. Whip up a large batch of heavenly scented non-toxic playdough for all the kiddos in your life using ingredients you already have in your pantry..

Or just add some bling...

 

At the end of the day if you decide to give a gift card anyway, you can always give it a festive DIY touch by packaging it in a fun snow globe using this tutorial from The Creative Mama.

A big thanks to all the bloggers who shared their great ideas to help us procrastinating crafters come through with great gifts just in time!  If your project was featured, please feel free to grab a featured button:

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And if we don't see each other until then...

.Merry Christmas!

I'm Dreaming of a . . . DIY Play Kitchen

Edited 01-16-2012 to add: I've done it! I finally finished my play kitchen. Please come check out my DIY Play Kitchen Reveal here!

My son is 19 months old and is just beginning to discover imaginative play. A few months ago, he decided that his stuffed dog needs to be walked outside on a regular basis but that was really the extent of pretend play until last month. Over Thanksgiving while my sister and I were cooking in the kitchen and wearing our grandmother's vintage aprons, my son came in the kitchen and decided he needed to wear an apron, too. We happened to have the apron my grandmother made my brother when he was a little kid so we threw that on him and he was happy as a clam. A few days later, he was carrying around baking pans and pretending to mix things up inside. That's when it dawned on me: he would totally dig a play kitchen.

So I started checking out play kitchens (to purchase) online. Most of them where huge chunks of plastic OR super expensive. Not our style and not in our budget. So I did what any crafter would do: I turned to Pinterest...and then I cruised Craigslist for a week and bought this:

(This is the photo from the Craigslist posting)

Several bloggers have been making play kitchens at home from cast off furniture. A lot of them are moms to boys who needed non-pink play kitchens or green moms on a budget who didn't want to sink money into a huge piece of plastic. Since I definitely fall into both of these categories, I can learn from these ladies!

Reasons why I'm loving the idea of a DIY Play kitchen instead of one from a box:

• I'm saving money
• I have complete control over the look and color theme of the finished piece (which is important since the downstairs of our home, where it's going to go, is an open floor plan)
• I can choose green materials to reduce toxins and VOCs
• Way more love goes into making something than buying it

If you're dreaming of making of play kitchens, too, check out these awesome inspiration pieces. These are all links to real blogs that show awesome in-progress pictures as well.

Chelsea from Finding Joy made a great play kitchen for her son, Jarvis.

 Amy from Giggleberry Creations blogs about the awesome play kitchen her parents made for her daughter.

Britt from Britt & Her Boys blogs about the play kitchen she made for her son including how she did a lot of the details like the "granite" countertops.

Jenna from SAS Interiors made this great play kitchen from an old nightstand. Perfect if your kitchen needs to fit in a smaller space.

Read through the great links above (they all show useful in-progress photos) or check out my "Play Kitchen Palooza" pinboard where I'll continue adding great play kitchen and play food ideas. And of course don't forget to check back here over the next couple weeks (or better yet, subscribe by e-mail!) to see the big reveal of MY play kitchen and, of course, learn how I made all the details that's going to make mine unique.

Thanks, also to the great bloggers featured above who shared their work with the world. Please grab a featured button if you'd like:

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A Few of My Favorite Things: Thanksgiving

Now that Halloween is over, there is only one thing standing in the way of me and Christmas: Thanksgiving.  That and about 36 days. Don't get me wrong: I love Thanksgiving. I love food and fall colors and family...what's not to love?

These are some of my favorite things from around the internet that may inspire you to make your Thanksgiving even more fabulous.

Fabulous Food

Cinnamon Roll Pie Crust by Taste for Adventure

This pie crust was originally designed to be used to make a sweet potato pie. I'll be honest: I don't like sweet potato pie. Or sweet potato anything, really. But you know what I do love? Cinnamon rolls. And this pie crust idea blows. my. mind. Use this great tutorial to make an amazing pie crust for what ever kind of pie you fancy.

Bacon Wrapped Green Beans by Just Cook Already

Nobody will want to eat Aunt Mildred's green bean casserole once you wow your family with this super tasty (and vegiphobic family member friendly) green bean dish. Sign up to bring the veggie dish and you may even steal the show from the turkey.

Turkey Cake Pops from Bakerella

A fun alternative to pie for the kids or the pie-adverse (or something to bring just because they are super fun!). I heard a rumor my brother's girlfriend is going to be making these for our family for Thanksgiving. Sounds like sister-in-law material to me! Don't worry, Chantal. I don't just love you for your cake pops.

Divine Decor

Stacked Pumpkins in Skinny Vases from FallWeddings.com

I love the look of fun things filling vases. Their different sizes and lopsidedness makes them more fun and whimsical just simply filling vases or bowls with nuts or cranberries.

5 Minute Autumn Centerpiece from SAS Interiors

Facebook fans will recognize this project from SAS Interiors that I linked to last month. It's so simple, beautiful and easy that I just had to spotlight it here, too!  Jenna's great tutorial walks you right through how to make this easy but impressive looking centerpiece.

THANKS Glasses from Naptime Decorator

If you have more than five minutes, check out this beautiful mantle decoration that Liz from Naptime Decorator made from Dollar Store materials. This would look great along the back of a buffet table, on a bar, the top of your china cabinet...or pretty much anywhere!  Liz walks you through how she made it with great pictures on her blog.

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I hope you found a little bit of inspiration for how to make your Thanksgiving even more special this year. If I featured your project, thank you for sharing your creativity with the blog community. Please feel free to grab a button!

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