Homemade Chicken Fritters

Today I made chicken fritters for supper. M has only had Ian's chicken nuggets and I wanted to made some homemade ones that he would like. We all enjoyed them.
I used two boneless Chicken breasts and we had enough for 2 adults and 2 children.

First, I cut any fat off the chicken. Then I sliced the chicken breast into strips.

 

I prepared my corn starch in one bowl. Then I put the rice milk in another bowl. First, dip the chicken in the milk and then coat it in the corn starch well.

 

Add about 1/2-1 inch oil in deep frying pan. Place chicken in pan and cook until browned. Flip over and cook until both sides brown. It tastes delicious.

 

 

Homemade Chicken Fritters

 

2 Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts

2/3 cup Corn Starch

1/2 tsp Salt

1/2 tsp Pepper

1 cup Rice Milk

Canola Oil

 

Slice Chicken into strips. Set aside.

 

Mix Corn Starch, salt and pepper in a medium bowl.

 

Pour Rice Milk in a separate small bowl.

 

Pour oil in a deep frying pan with cover until about 1/2-1 inch deep- 1 inch will cook chicken faster. Heat on medium.

 

Follow these steps for perfect chicken fritters.

 

1. Dip chicken in rice milk until coated well. (Discard rice milk after use.)

2. Put in corn starch mixture, flipping with a fork to coat evenly.

3. Carefully put chicken in oil, if oil splatters, reduce heat.

4. Put cover on and let cook approximately 10 minutes until bottom is golden.

5. Flip chicken over with fork. (You can use tongs but the corn starch will stick to them maybe it messy.)

6. Let cook until golden on both sides. Remove from oil. Allow to cool for 10-15 minutes before eating.

 

Enjoy with your favorite dip. We used barbeque sauce.

 

Joshua 24:15 craft

 

A craft for a toddler doesn't have to be fancy or hard. The more you allow your child to be independent and not worry about the final project, the more they have fun and learn.

All you need for this project is a few simple craft supplies and some imagination.

 

This idea came from Hooked On The Book.

 

This is a craft that can be easy and simple or more complex. It can easily be adapted to any age. To make the easy craft we made, we just used paper, markers, popsicle sticks and glue. And both boys were having a great time.

 

Tip: To allow your toddler to use glue with less mess, squirt glue in a small dish and let them use a Q-tip to spread the glue themselves.

 

B enjoyed making his unique house. After he was done, he was walking around the house saying, "We will serve the Lord".

M kept moving the popsicle sticks around but he was having fun.

 

I just let them color the paper with markers. And then I helped them glue the sticks on their paper. After their 'house' was made, I wrote with a permanent marker, 'As for Me and my house, we will serve the Lord'. It was easy and we had lots of fun.

 

Macaroons

 

 

Today I found gluten-free oatmeal that M can eat. I decided to try homemade Macaroons. They turned out so delicious. When you make these you will not be able to stop eating them, they taste so good.

 

 

 

First, I gathered together all the ingredients, including Earth Balance Butter, Enjoy Life Chocolate Chips, Only Oats Oatmeal and Wholesome Goodness Rice Milk.

 

 

In a large pot, I added my butter, brown sugar, white sugar, vanilla and rice milk. I heated them together on medium-high until butter was melted and they began to boil. Allow to boil for three minutes.

 

Then, I added chocolate chips and stirred until melted. Boil an additional two minutes.

 

Next, add oatmeal and coconut. Stir and remove from heat. Spoon onto wax paper covered cookie sheets.

 

 

Let sit in fridge until hardened. Enjoy!

 



 Here is B and M after they enjoyed their first bites of delicious Macaroons.

 

 

Macaroons Recipe

 

2/3 cup Brown Sugar

2/3 cup White Sugar

1/2 tsp Vanilla

1/2 cup Soy Free Butter

1/2 cup Rice Milk

1 cup Enjoy Life Chocolate Chips

2 2/3 cups Oatmeal

1 cup Coconut

 

Prepare 2 cookie sheets by lining with wax paper and setting aside.

 

Pour first 5 ingredients into large pot. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Boil for 3 minutes.

 

Then add chocolate chips. Stir. Boil an additional 2 minutes.

 

Add Oatmeal and Coconut. Stir well. Remove from heat.

 

Spoon onto prepared cookie sheets. Place in fridge until hardened. Enjoy!



 



Food Allergy Music





If you haven't  heard of Kyle Dine, he is a food allergy musician. My kids love his songs, especially Food Allergies Rock.

 

Kyle Dine encourages you to look at the bright side of life. He travels across Canada and the United States to share an important message to children about food allergies. From schools to public concerts, he performs his original food allergy songs using puppets and music to make children aware and help those with food allergies to be safe.

We just ordered one of his CD's "Food Allergies Rock". I am excited for it to arrive as we love how his songs help teach B and M about food allergies. He has two music cd's "You Must Be Nuts" and "Food Allergies Rock". He also has a new DVD geared for kids ages 4-11. This is going to be a great DVD to teach kids about food allergies. It is made for schools but you can order it for personal use as well. They are taking pre-orders now, release date is June, 2015.

For more information go to www,kyledine.com.  I hope that you enjoy learning through music as well.

Flying a Kite

Today is another rainy day. Its been a rainy Spring week. For an outdoor project today, I decided to share a project that you can create inside for the outside. We made kites with our boys although it is too rainy to try them out.

 

I used an old bed skirt and cut it up so that we would be able to color the kites. They had fun decorating their kites. We can't fly them today in the rain but we will try them on a nice day soon.

Find instructions to make your own at My-Best-Kite.com. Enjoy a kite flying day with your toddler.

This post is part of my weekly series.

Homemade Pancakes

We love buttermilk pancakes, this is my alternative recipe which we enjoy better than the original recipe. Enjoy these with maple syrup or your favorite pancake toppings. These are delicious and fluffy, the perfect allergy free pancake. They do contain eggs but are free of other top allergens.

Mix dry ingredients in large bowl. Whisk wet ingredients in small bowl, I used a glass measuring cup. Beat egg whiles in small bowl with fork.

 

I cooked my pancakes in a frying pan using 1/4 cup of batter for each one. This way it is easier to flip because the batter is runny on top.

Homemade Pancakes

3/4 cup Corn Flour
3/4 cup Robin Hood Gluten free flour blend
2 tbsp. Brown Sugar
1 tbsp. Baking Powder
1/2 tsp. Baking Soda
1/4 tsp. Salt

2 Large Egg Yolks
1 1/2 cups Rice Milk
1 tsp. Vinegar
3 tbsp. Canola Oil

2 Large Egg Whites

Mix dry ingredients together in large bowl. Make a well in the center,
Whisk next 4 ingredients together in small bowl and pour into well in flour mixture. Stir just until moistened. Batter will be lumpy.

Beat egg whites with a fork until peaks begin to form. Mix whites into batter gently.

Heat cooking oil or spray in frying pan or griddle on medium-high. Use about 1/4 cup batter for each pancake. Cook for about 3 minutes until bubbles form and each is dry. Batter will be quite runny on top. Turn pancakes over and cook for another 3 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove to plate.

Repeat with remaining batter, adding oil or cooking spray as needed to prevent sticking.

Makes 15 pancakes.

10 Places to take your Toddler this Summer

Toddlers love to explore and they love to learn new things. This summer, we made a list of places we want to take our boys and things we want to do with them. Here are 10 places that your toddler will love, and you will enjoy as well.

1. Playground- Swinging, slides and new friends, a playground is fun for all kids.

2. Zoo- Pony rides. petting goats, feeding deer, watching silly monkeys, whatever animals you see, you will be creating memories you and your family will treasure for years. B is still talking about the monkeys at the zoo from last year.

3. Local Museum- Discover local history with your family.

4. Community Gardens- Watch your child's face glow as they discover new flowers and enjoy the beauty of God's creation. Man plants the seed, God creates the flower.

5. National Park- Explore your local area and enjoy nature at its fullest.

6. Beach- Be sure to capture the first moments of your baby or toddler with the waves at their feet and building sandcastles in the sand.

7. Water Park- You can take your family to a large water park with water slides and wading pools or enjoy a quieter location such as a city park with a wading pool or a splash park. Our closest city has a splash park at a city park that we are planning on taking our boys to this summer.

8. Amusement Park- We took B to an indoor amusement park for his second birthday and he had a blast. They closed so now we probably won't be able to go to an amusement park this year. But if you are close enough your kids will love it.

9. Ice Cream Stand- I remember going to our take out as a kid and getting to choose from 20 or more flavors and getting a huge cone for only $1. Times have changed and it costs more then that, but make it a special treat and you'll have a new memory. This idea is for a day out with B.

10. Mini Golf- Luke is a golfer and I am a mini golfer. B and M are still a little young for golfing but mini golf is a perfect game for them. Even if you don't golf, your kids will love playing mini golf with you.

Sweet & Tangy Ribs

Sweet & Tangy Ribs
Cut Pork Back Ribs into spare ribs. Put in slow cooker. Make sauce, double or triple as needed. For a whole back rib, you will need a double batch. Pour sauce over ribs, coating evenly. Cook 6 hours on high.


Sauce for 1 lb of Back Ribs
1/4 cup Brown Sugar
1 tbsp Garlic Powder
1/4 tsp Ginger
1/4 tsp Sesame Seed
1 tbsp Lemon Juice
1/4 cup Ketchup
1/4 cup Warm Water

Mix all ingredients together. Pour over ribs. Cook. Enjoy.

Yummy Meatballs

We love Chinese food, we used to call and then go pick it up occasionally. Since we are now allergy free, I have made homemade Chinese food and we love it better then the take out. This week we had Chinese food night and I made Vegetable Fried Rice, Delicious Spare Ribs, Eggroll Balls and Yummy Meatballs. My favorite was the meatballs as well as both boys. For Luke it was the rice. 

I hope that you enjoy this slow cooker recipe. If you try it, let me know how your family enjoys it in the comments below.

Yummy Meatballs

1 lb Ground Pork (or your favorite burger)

1/3 cup allergy free Mozzarella Cheese

1/4 tsp Ginger

1 tbsp Chives

1 tsp Brown Sugar

1/3 cup Gluten free Bread Crumbs, softened in warm water

Mix all ingredients together in a large bowl. Form into balls and place in slow cooker.Pour sauce over top. (recipe below) Cook on high for 4-6 hours, until burger is cooked well. Enjoy. 

Meatball Sauce

1/4 cup Molasses

2 tbsp Cooking Oil

1/4 tsp Salt

1 tbsp Sugar

1 tsp Garlic Powder

1/2 tsp Cumin

1/4 tsp Ginger

1 tsp Paprika

1 tbsp Ketchup

1/8 cup Water

Mix ingredients well and pour over meatballs in slow cooker. 

Rainy Day Outdoor Fun

Today is a rainy day but it is also cold. One good thing about this rainy day is the snow is melting away. We still have about two feet of snow on our lawn and I can't wait for it to leave. As soon as we can, we are going to build a fence to make a play area in the backyard for the boys. 

Here are some outdoor activities for those rainy days that you need to get outside and have some fun with your kids.

1. Take a walk in the rain and enjoy nature. Kids love to play outside year round, sun, rain or snow and taking them for a walk in the rain is a fun way to explore

2. Jump in the puddles. Pull on your rain gear and watch your kids jump in the puddles.

3. Make mud pies. Nothing more fun than playing with mud.

4. Sing in the rain. Dance and sing with your kids and enjoy the day that God has made.

5. Mud Kitchen.  Have some old pots and spoons. Donate them to your child's Mud Kitchen. It's sure to bring lots of fun and smiles all around.

And when the rain is over,

Look Up and find the Rainbow in the sky.

Scripture Photos

Photos I have taken that bring to mind verses in the Bible. 

Through every moment of life, God is with us.

God's handiwork is amazing.

Children are such a blessing and I thank God for my sons daily.

God's creation

The signs of God are everywhere.

Jesus Loves The Little Children

God choose Noah to do a mighty work. We all need to remember that God has a work for us as well.

God's Promise to Abraham

This is a man made waterfall but it still reminds me of the beauty of God's handiwork.

As we look around at the world, let's remember God's creation and reflect in the love He shows us throughout each day.

Coconut Cream Pie Pudding

For Easter Dinner, Luke wanted a coconut cream pie for dessert. I have not attempted to make an allergy free pie crust yet so I asked him if coconut cream pie pudding would work. He said it would so I readjusted our favorite pie recipe to make it allergy free and we all enjoyed our delicious dessert. And you couldn't tell it was allergy free.

You can use the pudding as a filling to your favorite pie crust as well.

Coconut Cream Pie Pudding
2 1/4 cups Rice Milk
2/3 cup Sugar
1/2 cup Corn Starch
1/4 tsp Salt
3 large Egg Yolks
2 tbsp Butter (such as Earth Balance)
1 tsp Vanilla Extract
1 cup shredded Coconut

In a small bowl, combine together Egg Yolks, Butter and Vanilla. Set aside.

Whisk milk, sugar, corn starch and salt together in a medium pot. Boil on medium, stirring constantly until thickened.

Remove about 1/2 cup hot milk mixture from pot and add to your egg yolk mixture you had set aside. Stir until butter is melted. Slowly add the egg yolk mixture into the hot milk mixture, Heat and stire contantly until boiling.

Remove from heat. Add coconut and stir well.

Pour into serving bowls. Makes 4-6 servings depending on size of serving bowls. Cover each bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate until firm. Serve chilled.

Enjoy!

The Best Toddler Snacks for Children With Allergies

Not long ago I stood in one of the aisles of the grocery store and looked up and down the aisle. I told Luke I would give him $100 if he could find one item that M could eat in the aisle. He looked down the aisle and said he couldn't, he would definitely lose the challenge. There were 2 items in the aisle that I thought would be safe. One was sunflower seeds and the other was popcorn. He has had sunflower seeds in snack bars but popcorn is too much of a choking hazard. We walked through the entire aisle without adding one item to our carts and I was happy knowing that I had better options for my children.

A year ago, when I first found out about M's allergies, it did bother me. I wondered what I was going to feed him. I couldn't believe that there were more items in the grocery aisles that he couldn't eat then safe items. Now, I have a list of allergy free foods and I am happy to feed my children safe, healthy foods and I know that we are better off without the prepackaged varieties.

I am always looking for ways to save on the snack portion of our grocery budget. I do buy some of those expensive prepacked allergy free snacks occasionally but those are special treats. I have searched and found other cheaper options of snack foods that my children love. I have compiled a list to help others find snacks without breaking your grocery budget. Always be sure to read the labels to make sure that the items are not prepared in a facility that also makes any allergens you or your children have.

Toddler Snack Ideas

Fresh Fruit- our favorites are bananas, grapes(quartered), pineapple, cantaloupe, blueberries, and pears.

Original Rice Cakes- I like to get them on sale for $1 or $1.25 and buy a couple extra bags.

Applesauce- We use jars at home and pouches for traveling. You can get 4 pouches in a box at Dollarama for $1.50.

Raisins or Craisins- I find it cheaper to buy a big bag and put in small containers for traveling.

Dried Fruit such as Mickey Mouse Clubhouse fruit snacks found in Baby food section. They also sell packages at Dollarama.

Regular Potato Chips- cooked in Canola Oil such as Compliment brand or No Name brand. Don't give to a child that chokes easily.

Freezies- Good alternative to costly ice cream for hot summer days.

Homemade cookies or muffins- I usually add bananas or pumpkin to these.

Homemade pudding- I sometimes use blended up frozen berries as an alternative to sugar.

Mini Carrots- for older toddlers less likely to choke. B loves these.

Coconut milk yogurt- it is expensive but a good healthy treat occasionally.

Frozen Fruit cups- Place cut up fruit in freezer safe cup, add juice to cover. Let freeze. Best if you let it thaw until slushy, about 30 minutes, and enjoy.

Homemade Popsicles- Blend frozen berries and milk together and pour in popsicle molds and freeze, You can use any of your favorite smoothie recipes.

Share some of your favorite toddler snacks in the comments!

Gluten Free Playdough

Keeping my boys busy is a full time job. Since it is Easter weekend, I wanted to make the weekend fun and focus on activities related to Easter.

I had some Easter cookie cutters that I thought would be fun to use with playdough. I decided to mix up a batch of homemade gluten free playdough. M needs to taste everything so I wanted it to be safe for him. 

 B was my helper. He poured everything from the measuring cups into the bowl and helped stir. First we added the corn flour and salt. Then we poured the warm water in and stirred it up. After the water was mixed in, we finished mixing with our hands. It was soft and the perfect texture. 

They played with the playdough for a while and then I decided to add some colors. I used food coloring. I rolled about one third of the playdough into a ball and put an indent in the middle with my finger. I put 1 drop of red food coloring into the hole, then covered it over, knead carefully and you can color the playdough without coloring yourself. Then I repeated with blue and green. The result was pretty pastel colors. B mixed all the colors together to make pastel playdough, perfect for Easter. 

M only playdough for a few minutes. After he tasted it, he decided since it wasn't good enough to eat he didn't want to play. B on the other hand, played for a good hour. Finally, something to keep his attention for more than 30 seconds.

Gluten Free Playdough

1 1/2 cups corn flour

1/2 cup salt

1 cup warm tap water

Pour flour and salt in a large bowl. Add warm water stirring well. Knead dough and play. If dough is sticky, add more flour. Color if desired.

Homemade Easter Chocolates

These chocolates are so cute I wanted to share again for anyone looking for an allergy free chocolate option this Easter. 

Last year M was only 7 months old at Easter and it was the same time that we learned about his allergies, so I didn't worry about chocolate for his Easter basket. This year, I wanted to make some small chocolates to fit inside plastic Easter eggs for hiding and also make a larger Easter bunny for his basket. 

Here are the molds that I have for Easter. I couldn't find any large bunny molds so I found the green mold at Dollarama. The other two I have had for years but have never used them before.

In a medium pot, I placed 1 tbsp canola oil and 1/2 cup Enjoy Life chocolate chips (this is the only brand M can eat). I melted the chocolate on medium until smooth stirring constantly. It only takes a couple of minutes so watch it so it don't burn.

Next, I poured the chocolate into the molds.

I made two batches of chocolate, the first I used pure chocolate. The second, I separated in half and mixed 1/4 shredded coconut in half of chocolate and the other half I mixed in 1/4 cup of granola (I used Enjoy Life Very Berry Crunch). 

Spring Time!

We had fun this week enjoying the spring weather. It was perfect to play outside. We have been cooped up for most of the winter with tons of snow and lots of cold winds forcing us to stay inside for much of the winter. Now, Spring is finally breaking through. 

Luke pulled B and M around on the sled and we dug some toys out of the gazebo for them to play with. J loved being in the Snuggli enjoying the fresh air.

Follow me on Pinterest for lots of Backyard fun.

And be sure to check back  Every Friday for Friday Ourdoor Projects and Activities to keep you and your children busy this entire summer.

Easter Craft

Today we decided to make an Easter Craft with B and M. I cut out the crosses out of black construction paper. I gave B and M each a piece of white construction to color for the background. I helped B with his and Luke helped M color his. I would have just let them color it all themselves but they were not coloring very much so we helped them just to make them pretty. 

After their papers were colored, they glued the cross picture on top.  B glued his on himself, M was only interested in trying to eat the crayons so Luke glued his on for him. Here is the picture of their crafts, a simple Easter toddler craft.

My inspiration for this craft came from Happy Home Fairy. 

I didn't have any paper plates so we used construction paper but the plate cross craft and really cute as well. There is a link to a pattern as well. They also have other Cross Crafts as well.

After we made our craft, we colored He is Alive pictures in our coloring books. 

Then we read The First Easter by Carol Heyer. 

We sang God's Not Dead and Alive, Alive, Jesus is Alive. 

Enjoy this Easter weekend with your family and celebrate the true meaning of Easter.

What are some fun ways you teach your children about Easter?