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Archive for the ‘Ultimate Feeding – Food & Snacks’ category

UltimateMama recently learned about a 3 color piping bag kit that will turn any ordinary cupcake into an extraordinary delight. The Wilton color swirl decorating kit is easy to use with fantastic results. Pick any 3 colors of frosting and you will have gorgeous cupcakes that look professional!

UltimateMama made and decorated tennis ball inspired cupcakes for her daughter’s recent team dinner party. The tennis ball cupcakes were easy, cute, and yummy! These cupcakes were made in green wrappers, decorated with vanilla frosting with a few drops of green food coloring, and detailed with Wilton’s white decorative icing.

UltimateMama and her kids love making and serving these super easy prosciutto and salami wrapped mozzarella sticks.  Guests can pick them up with no mess, plus they can be made in advance of your gathering.

To make:

8 ounces of whole milk Mozzarella cheese (chunk or “brick” loaf style so it can be easily cut)

4 ounces of sliced prosciutto

4 ounces of sliced salami

Prepare mozzarella cheese by cutting into 4 inch long, 1/2 inch thick pieces

Roll either the prosciutto or salami around the cheese

Repeat until all ingredients are done

Serve and enjoy! (adding pitted olives and stuffed grape leaves is a nice bonus for friends)

UltimateMama’s two kids were craving doughnuts last weekend so they put the Sur La Table frosted rainbow sprinkle doughnut mix to the test.  Not only was it easy to follow (except a cupcake tray was used for “holeless” doughnuts) but also hit the spot on taste!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

UltimateMama often forgoes serving soda at her children’s birthday parties or family holiday parties due to the high sugar content.  Seltzer water is a decent alternative but UltimateMama has heard a few complaints about the carbonation on more than one occasion.  Over the years, UltimateMama has created infused water recipes for special gatherings.  It is a quick, healthy, and cost-effective way to appease both children and adults (not to mention no-mess, no-stress).  And, if your guests close their eyes they will feel like they are at a top spa!

A few infused water ideas include:

– Cucumber slices

-Strawberry, mint, lime

– Raspberry, pineapple

– Apple, cinnamon stick

– Strawberry, cucumber

– Rosemary, grapefruit

– Honeydew, watermelon, mint

– Thyme, lemon

– Orange, blueberry

– Blackberry, mint

– Orange, kiwi

– Cucumber, lemon

– Lemon, lime, mint, ginger

– Cucumber, celery, lemon

– Blueberry, lemon

– Blueberry, orange, basil

– Jalapeno, cucumber, mint

– Orange, lemon, basil


UltimateMama discovered a clever way to entice her kids, their friends, and any adults nearby to eat more vegetables.  Shot glass crudité!  These fancy appetizers or after school snacks are easy to make and incredibly pleasing to the eye.  They are great to serve at parties, picnics, or BBQs too.

The 2 step shot glass crudité recipe takes only a few minutes to complete:

– Fill the bottom of the shot glass with hummus, ranch dressing, smashed avocado, or other vegetable dips

– Place pre-cut vegetables such as carrots, celery, asparagus, tomatoes, peas, broccoli, or peppers in the glass

– Serve

If serving kids vegetables in shot glasses sounds a bit risqué (or inappropriate) UltimateMama suggest you try using boiled egg cups or holders instead!

UltimateMama believes an easy way to spruce up boring cupcakes is to pipe frosting in a creative pattern and place a decorative cupcake pick on top.  Cupcake picks (which are basically toothpicks with clever themes or messages on top) can be found in many grocery, party, or craft stores and are an inexpensive way to jazz up cupcakes for any occasion! A pack of 36 costs under $5 and if you have leftovers you can use them for appetizers too.

We really can get inspiration from our kid chefs.  UltimateMama is not one to give her children dessert after dinner each night.  Moreover, due to her crazy schedule she doesn’t always have the typical ingredients to make a dessert at her disposal.  However, she is not one to deprive her children of a tasty treat when they have the vision.  Recently, much to her delight, her kids created a quick, easy, and delicious dessert treat using only 3 ingredients:

Kellogg’s Eggo Minis waffles

Blueberries

Whipped Cream

To create:  toast the mini waffles, put a dollop of whipped cream (or yogurt for a healthier version) on top, and sprinkle blueberries to garnish!


 

UltimateMama and her kids had a fun time berry picking at 7 Ponds Farm in Water Mill, NY last week!  With so many berries we brainstormed recipe ideas but ultimately came up with one of our own.  A quick and easy Three Berry Pie that pleases everyone – recipe as follows:

2 Deep dish pie shells (approximately 9 inches each)

For the filling:

2 Cups of blueberries

2 Cups of blackberries

2 Cups of raspberries

2/3 Cups of sugar

1 1/2 teaspoon Vanilla

3 Tablespoons cornstarch

For the topping:

1 Cup brown sugar

1/2 Cup of white flour

1 Cup of oats (we used old fashioned oatmeal)

1/2 cup melted, unsalted butter

Instructions

Preheat oven to 370

Use a big mixing bowl and a wooden spoon and mix all the topping ingredients together.

On the stove top in a medium to large pot cook all the filling ingredients on medium heat.

Pour filling into the 2 pie crusts.

Use a wooden spoon and gently put the topping on top of the filling in the pies.

Bake in the oven on the middle rack for approximately 35 minutes.

Cool or serve warm.

Store in refrigerator.

 

When she is not hard at work, UltimateMama is always on the go with her kids.  And she loves to treat them to nice restaurant dining experiences once in a while (usually for lunchtime) after one of their excursions to a museum, craft studio, performance, or extracurricular activity.  The bread basket that is often placed in the middle of the table is not only tempting to UltimateMama but also to two little stomachs seated on either side of her when dining.  In order to avoid stuffing faces and filling tummies with breads, UltimateMama usually brings Vermont Village Organic Applesauce with her so her kids can happily enjoy their “appetizer” before their meal arrives.  This way, the kids are not climbing the walls out of hunger or eating too many carbs before mealtime.  And they are getting some great nutrients while waiting for their main course to arrive!  Not to mention two little containers of applesauce easily fit in UltimateMama’s purse.