Pumpkin & Apple Breakfast Quinoa

Here's a delicious fall recipe that I made for breakfast the other day.  Packed with flavor and nutrients, but low on WW points, this is a definite crowd pleaser!  Here's how Mama makes it:

Pumpkin & Apple Breakfast Quinoa

Ingredients:
- 1 c. uncooked quinoa

- 2 sprays cooking spray

- 1 T. salted butter, divided

- 2 medium apples, chopped or diced
- 1/3 c. dried cranberries

- 2 c. cold water
- 1 c. canned pumpkin (not the pie filling)

- 1/2 t. ground cinnamon
- 1/2 t. pumpkin pie spice

- 3 T. packed brown sugar

- 1/4 c. skim milk

- 1/4 c. chopped pecans, for garnish

Grape Jelly Turkey Meatballs

Here's a quick and simple recipe that's sure to become a tailgate favorite.  In honor of Butler's homecoming (which sadly I'll be missing this year since I have to work), here's a 3 ingredient staple of any tailgate or football watching day.  Go Dawgs!!  Here's how Mama makes it:

Grape Jelly Turkey Meatballs

Ingredients:

-1 package frozen turkey meatballs

- 1 small jar grape jelly

- 1 bottle BBQ sauce (I used Sweet Baby Rays)

Pie Crust Cookies

In honor of my mom's birthday today, here's one of her favorite recipes that she used to make a lot when we were kids.  (Minus the honey of course, because she's not a fan.)  It's simple, yet oh so yummy and will satisfy any cinnamon/sugar craving.  I decided to make some the other night as a special treat for my family with the extra pie crust I had in the fridge.  Annalyn and Michael definitely approved!  Here's how Mama makes it:

Pie Crust Cookies

Ingredients:
- 1 pastry for 1 crust pie (I used an extra Pillsbury roll out crust I had on hand)
- 2 T. yogurt butter
- 2 T. cinnamon/sugar
- 1 T. honey

Directions:

1.  Preheat oven to 450 degrees.  Line a cookie sheet with parchment.  Roll out the pie crust and place on the prepared pan.

2.  Spread butter evenly across the pastry, then sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar.

3.  Fold the pastry in half and cut into slices.   Sprinkle with a little more cinnamon and sugar.  Separate slices slightly, then bake in preheated oven for 10-12 minutes until golden brown.

4.  Remove from oven and drizzle with honey.  Serve warm alone or with a little ice cream or whipped cream.

printable recipe



Peanut was pretty excited for her evening treat!  Especially when we handed her a whole one - "Big one!  Mmmm, delicious!"  (one of her latest and most adorable sayings!)





Baby Product Review: Sucup Feeder

Here's a new innovative product recommended by one of my readers.  As you all know, I'm a complete sucker for gadgets, especially baby gadgets, so I was super curious.  After checking out the site (www.sucup.com),  I was so impressed and intrigued by this unique design that I couldn't resist ordering one just to see how it worked. 

The product is made in the UK and received a prestigious double gold award at the British Invention Show in 2012.  The Sucup comes in two different models - the Teeny-Weany for babies 4+ months just starting on solids, and the Toddler for babies 10+ months which is designed for lumpier foods and purees.  (Obviously I ordered the Toddler version for Annalyn since she's 19 months and been eating table food for awhile now.) The cost from the US was $16.37 and I received it within a week!

After ordering the product, I actually received a personal email from the inventor thanking me for my order and asking for my feedback.  Wow, talk about amazing customer service!  They even waived my postage charge since I was their first overseas order (though I'd imagine there will be more coming soon!).

At first look, the Sucup may seem a little intimidating because of all the parts, but it comes with great directions and is super easy to put together and use.  Here's my step by step directions on how to assemble the product: