Kale chips for one

I love kale chips. But I never make them because I don't want to preheat the oven and dirty a cookie sheet. Not for something that will take me 40 seconds to eat.

So now I make them in the toaster oven on aluminum foil. I make them while I prep the rest of my snack, so there's no extra time. Then I just throw the foil away, easy.


You will need:

Fresh kale, cooking spray, garlic salt, and aluminum foil.

Cut a piece of foil to fit the rack of your toaster oven. Tear the kale off the stem and discard stem. Break kale leaf into small pieces and arrange on tray.

Spray lightly with cooking spray and sprinkle with garlic salt.

Bake in toaster oven at 350 degrees for 5 to 7 minutes, just until crisp but still bright green.

Enjoy!!

Healthy cookies

Here is my take on the banana cookies going around the web.

You will need:

1 banana
1/2 cup of regular oats
2tsp PB2 powder
a few drops of vanilla extract
1tbsp mini chocolate chips

Mash banana in a bowl with a fork, add remaining ingredients and stir until well incorporated. It will seem too dry at first but it won't once it's all mixed well.

Spray a small cookie sheet lightly. Spoon the mixture into four dollups, and flatten them into thin disks. You want them as thin as possible without being too thin.

Bake in a 350 degree oven for 12 minutes. Let cool for 1 minute on cookie sheet, then carefully remove with a spatula. Serve warm.

Easy meal: Sausage and zucchini with feta

This takes only minutes, a handful of ingredients, and a single cookie sheet to make. It's great when you are short on time, energy, and dinner ideas.

You will need:

Smoked sausage (we use turkey)
Zucchini (summer squash, bell peppers, or mushrooms also work well)
Onion and garlic (as much or as little as your family likes)
Olive oil
Spray
seasoning
Feta cheese (or shredded parmigiano)

Preheat oven to 375. Spray a cookie sheet with cooking spray. Slice zucchini and sausage on the bias, this makes it look a lot more elegant than a 5 minute meal normally would.

Chop onions as desired, add garlic, seasoning, and drizzle with olive oil. Use your hands to toss everything together right on the cookie sheet.

Put in hot oven and cook for 30-40 minutes. Take out and sprinkle cheese on top. Serve with rice, filled pasta, breadsticks, or on its own for a low carb meal.

Easy cookie project

Decorating individual cookies.


My kids are 8, 5, and almost 3. They can all do this and they love it.

You will need cookies or mini cupcakes, frosting, various decorations and small paint mixing trays from the dollar store.

I got a box of 72 frozen sugar cookies from GFS on sale for $2.99 a few weeks after Christmas. They are normally $10. I can take out just three at a time on days that I need something extra for the kids to do and this doesn't make a mess of the kitchen or hours cutting out cookies.

Once cooled, spread with frosting. You can use store bought, but we like homemade buttercream. It's easy to make a small amount for this.

You will need:

2tbsp softened butter
1 drop vanilla extract
about 1/3 to 1/2 cup powdered sugar
1tsp half and half (feel free to use milk or heavy cream)

Mix butter, powdered sugar, and vanilla with a fork until well incorporated. Stir in half and half and mix well.

This makes enough to frost 4-6 cookies. Older kids can be given unfrosted cookies to frost by themselves, with toddlers it's better to frost them first. Now fill the paint trays with whatever you have on hand, sprinkles, colored sugar, marshmallows, chocolate chips, etc.