UltimateMama needed a day off from cooking 3 meals a day so she opted for this quick, easy, and nutritious yogurt treat for breakfast. To assemble:
-Place some Greek yogurt with honey on a platter
-Put some fresh berries in little glass bowls (strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, blackberries work well)
-Set a bowl of granola in the middle
-Let each child or adult assemble their own yogurt, fruit, and granola parfaits
UlimateMama and her kids whipped up a quick, delicious banana bread this morning that delighted all who sampled the end result (our family of 4). The recipe:
Ingredients:
3 ripe bananas (mashed)
1 cup white granulated sugar
1 egg
1/4 cup butter (melted)
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 pinch salt
To do:
Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
Grease a 9×5 loaf pan.
Combine bananas, sugar, egg, and butter in a bowl. Mix flour and baking soda in another bowl. Stir into banana mixture gently. Pinch a little salt into the mixture. Pour batter in to prepared loaf pan. Bake in oven about 50 minutes (test at 45 minute mark to see if toothpick is clean)!
UltimateMama wishes all of you a Happy St. Patrick’s Day. A few ideas to make this holiday fun for the kids as follows:
-Start the day off with green bagels
-Place festive green napkins at each place setting
-Gift your family members with St. Patrick’s Day headbands (UltimateMama loves the “Kiss Me I’m Irish” variety) or hats
-Read your children a book about St. Patrick’s Day (UltimateMama enjoys The Story of St. Patrick’s Day by Patricia A. Pingry for younger kids)
-Do a St. Patrick’s Day craft project (creating friendship bracelets with green yarn is fun)
-Listen to music from Ireland
-Cut out shamrocks from green construction paper
-Paint nails green
-Bake cupcakes and make green frosting
Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
UltimateMama’s girls tried an amazing tie dye kit from Amazon called Make it Mine Premium Tie Dye Brights for their white sneakers. It was fun, easy, and fast! The results from their white Converse sneakers were stellar!
UltimateMama started her Valentine’s Day shopping early this year to ensure everything would arrive on time. With items from Williams Sonoma, Amazon.com, and Lindt, UltimateMama’s kids will be in for a great holiday treat!
–American Girl by Williams Sonoma Cookbooks $11.99 each (from $19.95)
–Gray Malin 500 piece puzzle $20.29
–Ravensburger 300 piece puzzle $18.49
–Lindt assorted chocolates $5.99 (from $11.99)
–Disney Frozen II Holiday Mug with Double Chocolate Cocoa Mix & Marshmallow Pop $5.99 each
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
Whether your child is celebrating a birthday party, first communion, Bar or Bat Mitzvah, holiday event, or end of season team championship, UltimateMama believes a Donut Wall would make everyone excited. A Donut Wall is perfect for any occasion and is great for kids of all ages (not to mention adults).
To add a bit of pizzazz, one could offer assorted toppings for the donuts, including frostings, icings, chocolate sauce, strawberry sauce, caramel sauce, nuts, shredded coconut, sprinkles, red hots, nonpareils, dried fruit, candy (M&Ms), cookie crumbles, (Oreo, Fruit Loops, Rice Krispies, etc.), or candied citrus peel.
Donuts are the perfect dessert for any kids party or even an ideal party favor to take home in a box (hello tomorrow’s breakfast)!
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 realizes the holidays are sneaking up on everyone so she wanted to give her recommendation on a quick and easy centerpiece idea for entertaining. Pre-made, fresh, floral bouquets are an affordable and convenient way of sprucing up any table place setting.
UltimateMama loves to use fragrant flowers such as roses. She always lets her children select the colors. It is so easy to create a festive centerpiece as one just places the bouquet (or bouquets) in a vase and the table is ready for any party or event. For longer tables, UltimateMama is a fan of alternating the bouquet colors in beautiful crystal vases.
Since the fresh flowers in the bouquet arrangement usually last for a few days the bouquet vases are great addition to the table for all meals when one has overnight or weekend guests!
