Fun Food Ideas: Baseball Breakfast Burrito

My kids told me that they were getting tired of waffles for my food art, so I've been brainstorming some new creative breakfast ideas with ingredients other than waffles...

I was inspired by our recent trip to Yankee Stadium and created this Baseball Breakfast Burrito and it was a hit (get it?!) with the kids! The only daunting part was the baseball stitches, which I used a toothpick to "paint" ketchup on. I thought afterward that you could probably also use a red pepper, by cutting up little pepper pieces (I would do this the night before). 

Baseball Breakfast Burrito

Ingredients (per serving): 

• 2 Egg Whites
• 1 Cheese Slice
• 1 Spinach Tortilla
• Ketchup

Directions: 

• Cut the round tortilla into the shape of a baseball field

• Cook the egg whites (I had a baking device that keeps the eggs in a round shape while it cooks, but you could also cook the egg whites and then use a small bowl or a cookie cutter if you have one big enough to make the round shape)

• While the eggs are cooking, cut the cheese into 4 squares and place them on the tortilla as bases. 

•  Place the round egg white in the middle and then with a toothpick, "paint" your red stitching with ketchup or use the red peppers. 

Peach Ginger Crockpot Chicken

I love my crockpot in the summer as much as I do in the cooler months, especially when I can combine summer flavors in my recipes!!

Peach Ginger Chicken 

Ingredients:
2 lbs chicken breast
1 tsp kosher salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1 tsp ginger (I used minced)
1 tsp nutmeg
12 basil leaves
1 cup orange juice
4 large peaches - sliced thinly

Directions:
1) Season the chicken with the salt and pepper on both sides
2) Put chicken in the crockpot
3) Add remaining ingedients into the crockpot with the chicken
4) Cook on low 3-4 hours



Here are the two dinners that I made with the chicken:

Peach Chicken on Wild Rice

 

Peach Chicken Salad with Goat Cheese and Honey Roasted Pecans

Mixed Greens
Sliced Peach Chicken and Peaches
Honey Roasted Pecans
Goat Cheese
Balsamic Vinegar

 

 

 

 

 

Raspberry Chocolate Chip Zucchini Muffins

 

One of my favorite healthy recipe sites is Skinnytaste.com - she has healthy, simple and delicious recipes for just about everything!!  This week, I had produce in the fridge that needed to be used, so I started looking for some recipes on my favorite site. I found a great chocolate chip zucchini bread recipe and I thought I would try adding raspberries as well - the result was DELICIOUS!!!

 

I made both regular muffins and mini muffins for the kids, which has been a perfect on the go breakfast this week.

 

Skinnytaste's Recipe :

 

As Muffins:
Servings: 12 • Size: 1 muffin • Old Points: 3 pts • Points+: 5 pts
Calories: 175.6 • Fat: 5.7g • Protein: 3.4g • Carb: 31.9g • Fiber: 3.2g • Sugar: 15.5g
Sodium: 248.4 mg 

Ingredients:

• 1 cup all purpose flour (I used unbleached)
• 1 cup white whole wheat flour (regular whole wheat flour would work)
• 1/2 cup brown sugar (not packed)
• 1-1/8 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup chocolate chips
• 1 large egg, beaten
• 2 tbsp melted butter
• 1 cup apple sauce
• 1-1/2 cups shredded zucchini (not packed)
• 1 cup of fresh raspberries

Directions:

Preheat oven to 325°.

Combine flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl. Mix well.

Add chocolate chips and gently mix to combine.

In a medium bowl, mix egg, vanilla, melted butter, apple sauce, zucchini and raspberries. Add to the flour mixture and stir until just blended.

Bake at 325° for 25 minutes (mini muffins for about 10-15 minutes), or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool for about 10 minutes.

Thank you Skinnytaste for the great recipe and the raspberries added a unique fruity pairing with the chocolate!

DIY Personalized Drink Tray

I found this cool tray at Marshall's and thought it would make a great addition to an "Al Fresco Dining" themed gift. I wanted to make it more personalized so I added an easy and inexpensive touch that made it the centerpiece of the gift.

 

The tray itself was rustic so I thought some burlap would be perfect for it. I found this laminated burlap at Joanne's Fabric. It cut perfectly (no frays!!) and was sturdier than standard burlap which made it just right for a placemat to have drinks or food carried out on it.

I cut the laminated burlap to fit the base of the tray.

Then, I used a permanent black marker and stenciled in the first letter of their last name (this was part of a wedding gift, so using the new married last name initial was perfect!!).







I used my spray adhesive to secure the burlap into the tray. It really made the gift look much more personal and it took about 5 minutes!!

I thought this gift theme was such a fun idea for a new homeowner, bridal shower or wedding!! Below are some ideas that you could include.

Al Fresco Dining Gift Box:

- Personalized Drink Tray
- 4 placemats
- 4 napkins
- Napkin Rings
- Table Cloth
- Candle holder (a tall round one could be a candle votive or a wine bottle holder)
- Bread tray with dip bowl
- Gourmet Olive Oil
- Seasoning for bread dip
- Bottle of Wine
- Shatterproof Govino wine glasses
- Chalkboard for menu or fun message to be printed on

Chicken Caprese Kabob

I love grilled chicken and this summer, we've been grilling extra chicken and using the left overs for meals during the week.

Here was a really simple but delicious and healthy left over chicken meal that I made this week.

Chicken Caprese Kabob 

Ingredients: 
Grilled Chicken Breast - cut into bite sized pieces
Cherry Tomatoes
Fresh Basil leaves
Fresh Mozzarella cut into squares
Balsamic Vinegar (I use the kind in the spray bottle)
Pasta (you can really use any pasta, I had fettuccine in my pantry so that what I used!)
Olive oil (just a tsp or so to toss in the pasta)

Directions: 
Put chicken, basil, mozzarella and tomato onto a skewer in a repeating pattern.
Cook pasta and toss with olive oil and some basil
Place skewer on top of pasta on a plate and spray with balsamic vinegar

**Tip: If you are looking for an easy appetizer, I love putting fresh mozzarella, basil and a tomato on a toothpick and spray with the balsamic vinegar!!  

Fun Food Ideas: Flag Waffle

Here is my sister's patriotic waffle for our 4th of July breakfast! Everyone is getting into the waffle art trend!!! :o)

DIY Gourmet S'more Bar

 

 

 

My kids LOVE making S'mores in the summer but the bonfire or firepit takes time to get started, you smell like smoke, kids get waaaay to close to fire, plus I inevitably become the gatekeeper for the chocolate and marshmallows to keep dirty little hands from touching the entire supply!!! It is just not as enjoyable for me as it is for them!

This 4th of July we had a family BBQ and the kids wanted S'mores so I started researching some other options that would bring a little more serenity to the tradition. I ended up creating a Gourmet S'More Bar and it worked out really well!! So if you are looking to make a S’more bar – here is what you need:

The S’mores

I made individual S’more kits which meant no need to be the gatekeeper! Plus, with doing the gourmet s’mores, I had the combinations already put together for people.


Kits:

• Clear favor bags (I used Wilton party bags 4x6 that I got at Joanne Fabrics in the cupcake decorating aisle).

• 2 ½ inch Wired Ribbon – I used a patriotic color scheme to go with the holiday, but you can use any kind and customize the look of the kits for your event or your style.

• Stapler

• Scotch Tape

Directions:

• In each bag, place the graham cracker and marshmallow along with chocolate or other ingredients (see my gourmet s’more list below for some fun ideas!)

• Cut the wired ribbon to the length of the bag opening

• Fold over the top of the bag and tape it closed.

• Fold the ribbon over the top and staple the two ends to attach it to the bag.  

Note: I made the kits the night before and I placed them in the fridge so that the chocolate didn’t melt all over the bag!!

Gourmet S’Mores: 

Here is a list of possible s’more combinations that can be made into kits. I made 4 options and did twice as many “Classic” s’more kits than the others but the gourmet ones got devoured as well!!! 

“The Classic” – graham cracker, marshmallow, Hershey chocolate

“The Grasshopper” – grahams cracker (or chocolate graham cracker), marshmallow and peppermint patty or Andy’s Candy. 

“The Samoa” – graham cracker, marshmallow, chocolate carmel (I used Dove but you could also use Ghiradelli) and toasted coconut (buy shreadded coconut in bulk and then place on a baking sheet in over at 300F for 20 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes). 

“The Nutty Buddy” – graham cracker, marshmallow and mini peanut butter cup

“The Girl Scout” – graham cracker, marshmallow and thin mint 

"The Razzle-Dazzle" - graham cracker, marshmallow and chocolate raspberry square

Alternatives to Graham Crackers: Ginger Snaps, Chocolate Chip Cookies,  Nilla Waffer, Pizzelle

The Tabletop S'more "Fire"

I saw these on Pinterest and they are really easy to make and was so much more practical than a fire!

What you need: 

Container (no plastic or anything that would melt or catch on fire!). I found this little one at Target.

Sterno cooking fuel (you can usually get them in a pack)

Sand or gravel  to put in the bottom on the container to anchor the sterno containers.

River rocks to add around the sterno.

Additional Items:

Baskets or containers to put the S'more kits in

Something to label the different S'more options (I found these chalkboards at Joanne's in the wedding section)

Wooden or metal sticks to toast the marshmallows

Small plates and napkins

Garbage can to dispose sticks, empty kits, etc