Peanut Butter and Banana Sandwich!

My father, or Gumpa as he is known to my children, has taught my girls many a way to eat Peanut Butter. I do believe it is his favorite food. It wasn't until I was probably 10 that I learned not everyone eats Peanut Butter on their Pancakes, Banana's and breakfast cereal. Ahhh - there's nothing like a big bowl of dry Rice Crispy's in the morning with a gob of Peanut Butter sitting on top. Take a bite, dip the spoon, Take a bite, dip the spoon - that was my favorite morning "exercise" as a kid!

My girls have come to LOVE Gumpa's Peanut Butter and Banana "sandwich" (pictured above)! He, of course, will offer the Peanut Butter "Coin" option as well (where you slice the banana into little "coins" and plop a dollop of Peanut Butter on each one - but inevitably they always go for the "Sandwich"! Try one tomorrow morning with your child and make a memory that will last a lifetime!

The Great Grape Debate!

Let me set up the scenario: Mom packs pretty healthy school lunch, adds a few little treats. Upon returning home, child has eaten entire lunch except the healthy part of meal! This drives me crazy! I can't tell you the number of times my kids come home with the fruit cup, apple sauce cup or bag of grapes left over from their lunch. My solution for the fruit cups is as follows: 1. Explain to child they need to eat the healthy part of the lunch first. 2. Explain money doesn't grow on trees and 3. Put fruit cup back in lunch box for tomorrow - with a "Healthy" warning about what will happen if they don't eat it the next day. My solution for the grapes is a little different. For some reason my kids think frozen grapes are the next best thing to a slushy at 7-11. If my kids comes home with their bag of grapes - which, by this time look a little worse for wear since they have been roaming around a lunch box all day - I throw them in the freezer - (the grapes that is.)



When snack time comes around after school the next day - they think they have died and gone to heaven - as I pull out the baggies of frozen grapes! No waste in this house...and besides how can you be mad at a face like this?

2 Cheap Chicks & a 20! Wegman's Style! Part 2

Oh - Just looking at this salad makes me want to make it again. I had clipped this recipe out of my Cooking Light magazine in March of 2003 - and this was the first time I tried it - but it won't be the last. My whole family loved it and gave it 2 thumbs up!



Spinach, White Bean, and Bacon Salad with Maple-Mustard Dressing:
1/4 cup maple syrup
3 Tablespoons cider vinegar
1 Tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1 Tablespoon Dijon mustard
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
1 (15 oz) can Great Northern Beans, rinsed and drained.
1/2 cup thinly sliced green onions
1/2 cup finely chopped red bell pepper
5 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
2 (7 oz) packages fresh baby spinach



1. Combine first 6 ingredients in a small microwave-safe bowl, stirring with a whisk; microwave at HIGH 1 minute or until hot. Place beans in a 2 cup glass measure; microwave on HIGH 1 minute or until hot.
2. Combine onions, bell pepper, bacon and spinach in a large bowl. Add syrup mixture and beans; toss well to combine. Serve immediately. Serves 8



Baked Apples:
4 apples - your choice.
4 teaspoons brown sugar
4 teaspoons crushed walnuts
4 Tablespoons butter
Carmel Ice cream topping

Core apples. Place 1 teaspoon brown sugar in each apple. Place 1 teaspoon nuts in each apple. Place 1 Tablespoon butter on top of each apple. Bake in 350 oven for 30 minutes, uncovered.
Let cool 10 mintues. When serving, drizzle with carmel ice cream topping.

Note to self: Kids do not accept this as dessert, but rather a tasty "Side".



Don't forget to take a look and see what Big Red Kitchen did with her 20 dollars!

Bobi's Bites: Stuffed Baked Apples!

My mother, bless her heart, has been pumping out more blogs then I have lately. It usually starts with a call that goes something like this... Rindy, I'm going to such-and-such house and I am going to try a new recipe. Do you want me to take pictures of it for your blog? To which I ALWAYS reply "YES"! I have been benefitting greatly from my mom's active social life. These apples did sound great when she was describing them to me and by the pictures I know they were a huge hit at the party she was attending. Thanks mom for blogging for me and sharing this recipe for yummy Stuffed Baked Apples. I'm sure it will be an additional THANKSGIVING Dessert everyone will love! Keep up the good work (and active social life)!

Preheat oven to 350
Bobi's Bites: Stuffed Baked Apples!
You will need:
10 X 15 baking dish
About 20 medium gala or delicious apples
32 oz. container of cider or Cranapple juice
1 stick butter (8 tblspns)
10 firmly packed tablespoons brown sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 cup graham cracker crumbs
1 cup sliced almonds

Granola Topping
Two cups
(You may make your own or buy a good quality granola cereal.)

Caramel Sauce
1 1/2 cups firmly packed brown sugar
` 4 1/12 Tablespoons water
1 stick butter
3/4 tsp. vanilla extract
(makes about 1 1/2 cups)



Cut off tops of apples. Using a melon baller remove core, cutting to
but not through bottom of apple.
Hollow out apples leaving 1/4 inch thick shell (reserve apple flesh
for filling.)
Place apples in 10 x 14 baking dish and fill apple shells with cider.
Bake at least 20 minutes or until apples are slightly tender. Drain, discarding juice.



In a saucepan combine apple flesh, butter, brown sugar, vanilla and
cinnamon. Cook over medium-high heat until apples are tender.
Stir into above mixture graham cracker crumbs, sliced almonds, and about two cups of apple cider left over from filling apples before baking.
Spoon above filling into prepared apples.
Sprinkle with granola topping.
Serve with a dollop of whipped cream, just plain heavy cream or
ice cream to which you may or may not want to add carmel sauce
which you can make or buy