We love beef jerky in our home and we tend to make it weekly. It's really easy to do and MUCH MUCH cheaper than buying it in the store. You do NOT need a food dehydrator to do it either. Because we make it so often we did invest in a food dehydrator, but again it is certainly not required.You will need:a large beef roast (sliced- you can slice it yourself or have the butcher do it for you)1 cup soy sauce3/4 cup Worcestershire sauce1 T red pepper flakes1/2 tsp liquid smoke1/2 tsp Cayenne pepper1 tsp black pepper3 T honey3T maple syrupa pinch of garlic powderPlace your sliced beef into the mixture of marinade and let set for a MAXIMUM of 15 minutes (if you leave it in the marinade longer the taste will be incredibly strong)Lay the beef out on a cookie sheet and place in the oven at the lowest temperature setting (usually 125-150 degrees F) and leave over night. The beef will dehydrate and dry up by morning and you will be left with some awesome homemade beef jerky. Enjoy! … [Read more...]
7 Unique Valentine Treats
Welcome to day 13 of Toys In The Dryer 14 Days of Valentines! From January 25 through February 7 we'll be posting non-stop Valentine's posts to celebrate this lovely holiday.Like most Holidays, Valentine's Day has some awesome treats associate with it. Once again, we've scoured the internet in search of some unique morsels to share with your kids.1. Just For You Giant Valentine Cookie--Who doesn't love cookies? Giant ones are even better!2. Love Potion #9--Considering raspberries are my favorite fruit, I'll take this potion any day!3. Valentine Play Dough Cookie Pops--They're actually made from cookie dough but you roll it and shape it like Play Dough.4. Heart Shaped Pizza--Almost all kids love pizza. Add a Valentine twist by shaping it into a heart.5. DIY Personalized Valentine Treats--These are sure to make any kid feel special.6. Love Shack--The only thing I can say is that this is WAY too cute!7. Shirley Temple--Typically a summer drink, this will add a refreshing … [Read more...]
Dot Candy Valentine’s
Welcome to day 3 of Toys In The Dryer 14 Days of Valentines! From January 25 through February 7 we'll be posting non-stop Valentine's posts to celebrate this lovely holiday.Disclaimer: I originally made the paper dot candy just for fun but then realized that they would make great additions to Valentines for kids. I ran out of red dye so I was unable to make more in Valentines colors that's why my photos look more Easter-like than Valentine-like.Do you remember paper candy? I sure do! I don't remember if I actually liked the flavor or if I just like the appeal of it...you know...trying hard to get the dot of candy off the paper without leaving too much paper left stuck to the back of it. I like to think of all that paper consumed as fiber! ;)Want to make your own??? It's actually really easy to do and kind of fun! You can stick with the traditional colors as I did or you can make them festive to the season such as pink, red and white for Valentines.The recipe:3 3/4 powder sugar2 egg … [Read more...]
Homemade Mozzarella Sticks
It's been freezing in Minnesota this week. We're talking highs of -4° F with wind chills of -20s to -30s F. What do Minnesotans do when it is this cold out (besides act normal, because hey, it's Minnesota and this is nothing new)? We eat. We eat fatty, carb loaded foods, and we love it!*tee hee hee...Lindsi is hijacking this post...ohmigosh that sounds AMAZING!*Yesterday Tottie and I made homemade mozzarella sticks for our snack. They were warm, hearty, and most of all, super yummy! Oh, did I mention they are easy-peasy to make too? Ingredients:4 string cheese sticks1/4 cup flour1 egg1 Tbsp milk1/2 cup Italian style Panko bread crumbs Or 1/2 cup plain Panko bread crumbs plus 1/2 to 1 Tbsp Italian seasoning1/4 tsp garlic powderThings you'll need:3 bowlsgreased cookie sheetoven pancake turnerStart by preheating your oven to 400°. Next cut the cheese sticks in half and put them in the freezer while you prep the rest.Line up your bowls to make an assembly line. In the first bowl put … [Read more...]
Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookies–Guest Post
People have become aware that more children nowadays have what is called a gluten intolerance. The National Institutes of Health, Univ. of Chicago Celiac Disease Center reported in 2012 that between 5% and 10% of all people suffer from a gluten sensitivity of some form. Many bakeries have also become aware of the growing need for different options of baked goods and have started providing gluten free alternatives. As parents, chances are that we all have at least one friend of the family who's child has a gluten sensitivity. It is a good idea to have ingredients and a recipe on hand for playdates. Below is a gluten free chocolate chip cookie recipe that all kids can enjoy. This recipe makes 3 dozen cookies. Ingredients 3/4 cup softened butter 1 1/4 cups packed brown sugar 1/4 cup white sugar 1 teaspoon gluten-free vanilla extract 1/4 cup egg substitute 2 1/4 cups gluten-free baking flour mix 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon baking powder 1 teaspoon salt 12 ounces … [Read more...]
Peanut Butter/Banana Smoothie
My family loves bananas but sometimes we don't eat them before they start to get a little too brown. I usually end up putting the overly ripe bananas in the freezer for making cookies or banana bread later. Yesterday, during one of my "duh" moments, I decided to make a smoothie out of one of the bananas.For my smoothie I used:*One over ripe frozen banana*One cup milk*1 Tbsp peanut butter*1/2 tsp vanilla*1 tsp sugar substitute (optional for a little extra sweetness)*1/8 cup oatmeal (optional)I microwaved the banana for about 10 seconds, just long enough so I could peal it but keep it frozen/slushy. Then I sliced it up and put it, along with the rest of the ingredients in my awesome Magic Bullet. I blended till smooth, poured it into glasses and served it to myself and my girls. We LOVED it! Does your family drink smoothies? What type do you like? … [Read more...]
