Open Talk Mom

Drink Your Breakfast

Posted on27. Aug, 2009 by Mary Lutz.

photo credit: Ed.ward
One way to get the nutrition we need to start our day is by making a morning smoothie, shake or other breakfast drink. As moms we don’t think we always have the time to make a smoothie in the morning with all the slicing and blending required. But, with the following recipes, you will find there is little or no slicing required, and they are made with ingredients you probably already have on hand.

Easy Orange Cream Smoothie

Combine the following ingredients in blender for a quick and easy, but delicious smoothie:

• 1-6 oz. can frozen orange juice concentrate
• 1 cup water
• 1 cup milk
• 1/4 sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 10 ice cubes

If you don’t have frozen orange juice use regular and omit the water. Pour into containers and freeze for consumption at a later time, if needed. Since this recipe is so easy, however, you may find you have time to whip it up in the morning.

Easy Banana Latte Smoothie

This is another easy to make smoothie recipe especially for coffee lovers.

• 1 cup milk
• 3/4 cup strong coffee, chilled
• 2 bananas
• 6 ice cubes

Combine all of the above ingredients and blend until smooth.

No Monkey Business Here Smoothie

Kids will enjoy this one, as well as adults.

• 1 cup milk
• 1/2 cup vanilla ice cream
• 2 tbsp. peanut butter
• 1 banana, frozen

Break banana into chunks, then combine with other ingredients and blend until smooth. This smoothie is thick enough to eat with a spoon. To thin it out some, add more milk until you get the desired consistency.

Berry Fruity Smoothie

This recipe calls for frozen fruit and you can use whatever combination of fruit you like or have on hand.

• 1 cup frozen fruit
• 1 cup milk
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 1/4 cup sugar

Combine all ingredients and blend until smooth. Easy-schmeezy and ready in just a couple of minutes.

Making smoothies and serving them for breakfast is not only a fun treat your kids will love, but they will also give you the needed nutrition to start your day. Next time you don’t have time to cook breakfast, think smoothie.

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10 Quick and Easy Ways to Use Sausage

Posted on25. Aug, 2009 by Mary Lutz.

photo credit: petrr

Sausage is a popular breakfast item because it’s tasty and can be used in a variety of different ways. Sausage is usually bought ground or in links and there are even quick cooking varieties in both patties and links. If you are looking for ideas for using sausage, you’ve come to the right place. Below are 10 different ways to use this popular breakfast food that are quick and easy for those on-the-go mornings.

1. Breakfast Burritos: Add some cooked ground sausage to scrambled eggs and wrap in a warm flour tortilla for a yummy breakfast burrito.
2. Pancake Griddlers: Place a sausage patty between two silver dollar pancakes for a quick breakfast that’s easy to eat on the go.
3. Quiche Cups: Use crumbled ground sausage in a mixture of eggs. Pour into cupcake liners and bake on 350F for 20 minutes. Freeze and reheat for quick on the go breakfast treats.
4. Sausage Breakfast Sandwiches: Place a sausage patty between a bagel, an English muffin or a biscuit cut in half. Add a piece of sliced cheese if desired.
5. Sausage Pinwheels: unroll refrigerated crescent roll dough into a rectangle. Spread uncooked ground sausage over dough and roll from long side. Cut into 12 slices, place on ungreased cookie sheet and bake on 375F for 12 to 16 minutes or until golden brown. These can be prepared ahead and frozen for future use. Simply reheat in microwave for 1 to 2 minutes.
6. Sausage Cheese Balls: Cook 1 lb. ground sausage in large skillet and drain. Combine 4 cups buttermilk biscuit mix and 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese in a bowl. Add sausage and stir until well blended. Add 1 cup of water just until mixed and shape into 1-1 1/2 inch balls. Place on greased baking sheet and bake on 375F for about 15 minutes or until golden. These can be frozen and stored as well for future use.
7. Sausage Pita Pockets: Cook and drain 1 lb. ground sausage. Add chopped onions and garlic powder to sausage. Then add 6 beaten eggs to the sausage. When the eggs are done, scoop into pita bread cut into halves. You can warm the pita in the oven first, if so desired, by wrapping it in foil. The pockets are handy for eating on the go.
8. Pigs in a Blanket: Kids love this traditional treat. To make it fast and easy, wrap a sausage link in a piece of bread or toast. The traditional recipe is fairly quick and easy to make as well: Using a can of refrigerated crescent roll dough, separate and unroll each crescent roll. Then wrap the dough around a sausage link. Press and seal the seams and bake according to the package directions. Another idea is to wrap a couple of links in a flour tortilla with some cheese for a fun and tasty twist.
9. Sausage Egg Muffins: Prepare these ahead of time and you will have a quick breakfast to heat, eat and run. Cook ½ lb. ground sausage in a large skillet, drain and set aside. In a large bowl combine 12 eggs, 1 can chopped green chili, 1 small chopped onion, 1 tsp. garlic, salt and pepper to taste and sausage; mix until well blended. Pour ¼ cup mixture into each cup of a greased muffin pan and bake on 375F for 15 to 20 minutes. You can refrigerate or freeze the muffins, reheat and go.
10. Breakfast Sausage Subs: You and your family are sure to find this *handy* meal yummy and easy to make. Cook 1 lb. ground sausage, drain. Add 12 beaten eggs to sausage and cook until firm. Serve on sub buns. Optional ingredients to add are chopped onions, chopped green peppers, chopped green chili, sliced mushrooms, shredded cheese and your choice of seasonings like garlic, salt and pepper.

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Healthy Breakfast When You Don’t have time to Cook

Posted on23. Aug, 2009 by Mary Lutz.

photo credit: grongar

Even when you’re in a hurry to get out the door in the morning, feeding your family a healthy breakfast is still important to you. I know because I am a mom and as mom’s it’s our job to make sure our families eat healthy. Instead of going through the drive through though, here are some suggestions you can use that are quick and healthy, on the go breakfast ideas.

The first thing to do is plan ahead. Planning makes any meal time so much easier, especially when you’re in a hurry. Healthy items to have on hand and that are easy to grab and go are:

• Healthy cereal bars
• Granola bars
• Baggies of whole grain cereal
• Graham crackers
• Bagels
• Sliced Cheese
• Sliced ham
• Nuts
• Sliced Fruit
• Flour tortillas
• Sliced whole grain bread
• Seedless Grapes
• Peanut butter
• Crackers
• Raw veggies such as celery stalks and baby carrots
• Raisins

When you have the above items on hand, you can either eat them alone or you can combine them quickly for a fast, healthy breakfast.

• Spread some cream cheese on graham crackers or bagels.
• Make a cheese sandwich
• Toast some bread and top with cream cheese and sliced fruit
• Spread some peanut butter over saltines
• Cream cheese on saltines is also good
• Celery stalks with peanut butter or cream cheese and raisins
• A slice of cheese and ham rolled together

The point is you don’t have to skip breakfast when you don’t have time to cook. And you don’t have to skimp on health by running through a drive through. Save time and money simply by using your imagination and with a little planning. Your kids will like the new ideas and may even begin to eat breakfast better.

Remember; don’t ask your kids what they want. Simply make it and hand it to them. They may think it’s weird at first, especially if it’s not a typical breakfast food. However, they will most likely think its fun to eat something a bit out of the ordinary. Make a game out of it and they’re sure to “bite.” Pretend you are on a deserted island or on a ship lost at sea. It’s the only food left on earth and you have to eat it or you won’t survive.

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