Good Ol' Peanut Butter Balls

Kids' sports are kind of insane these days. Don't get me wrong, I do think that kids should be active, and also that they should do well in school, and that they should get enough down time, and twelve hours of sleep a night, and 3 solid healthy meals a day, and plenty of one-on-one time with a loving parent...   Look, if you can tell me how to make all of this happen in just 24 hours and then keep it going day after day after day, PLEASE fill me in!

Afternoons and evenings have been crazy for us with football season. The kids get home from school and there's about 2 hours before we have to start getting ready and off to practice, which is two hours long, and then we're eating dinner at about 8:15 at night. Those two hours after school are packed with completing homework, chores, whatever social/electronics time the kids get for the day, prepping to make dinner smoother, and getting a good snack in them before they go to get 2 hours on the field in.

I've mentioned before that my little man is super picky. He still doesn't eat meat, except in bacon or chicken tender form. But he's a tackle, a big guy on the team, and he's got to have that protein to build up those muscles. So I'm scrambling to get every ounce of good stuff into him. Yogurt, cheese, milk, and the constant favorite: peanut butter.

Magical Granola Dust

I think that every parent walks the line between feeding their kids healthy food and feeding their kids food that they don't have to fight with them over. With my kids being more active lately, they need more energy, and they always seem to be "staaaaaaarving". So, when I can find recipes that they enjoy that are easy and nutritious, I feel like I've hit the jackpot.

Granola dust is one of those recipes. I came across the idea from a Jamie Oliver recipe, and adapted it to better suit my kids' tastes. It's packed full of nutritional powerhouses like oats, nuts, seeds, and antioxidants, and I tried to keep the sugar down while still making it sweet enough that my kids don't feel tempted to add their own. 

Cider Cinnamon Nuts

Well, it turns out that my Facebook fans are nutty for nuts!  So, by popular demand, here is my quick, easy, and mouth-watering recipe for Cider Cinnamon Nuts!

First, take 2 cups or so of the nuts of your choice.  I went with almonds this time because I enjoy them, plus I have a ton of them right now...thanks, Costco.  I think this would be awesome with pecans too, or mix it up with any variety of nuts!

Gingery Gingered Ginger Cashews

Do you like ginger?  I mean, really REALLY like ginger?  Here's yet another variation on easy candied nuts: Ginger Cashews.

I knew I wanted to make some candied cashews with candied ginger, and I was trying to figure out what liquid I wanted to use to make the syrup.  Then, something clicked.  Ginger beer!  How many ways could I slip ginger in?  I could use fresh ginger in the syrup too!  And why not just go for the gusto and add powdered ginger as well?  

Kahlua Spiced Mocha Nuts

Remember when I made Malibu coconut almonds and I told you that there are endless ways you can mix the recipe up?  And also how easy and quick it is?

Well, here's backup for my argument.  Kahlua spiced mocha nuts.  I timed myself making them, and they were, start to finish, 17 minutes.  And I also switched laundry in the middle of that!

Malibu Coconut Nuts

I am all about nuts lately.  I know, ha ha, "nuts", but at any given moment these days, my kitchen smells like one of those irresistible vendor stands with cones of deliciousness wafting their siren song as you walk past.  I've been really hooked on this recipe for Lavender Rosemary and Cinnamon Spiced Nuts from Redpath Sugar.  It's great, and I've been bringing it to lots of friend and family gatherings.  This has lead to may, many mature jokes about my nuts, how delicious they are, how people can't stop putting my nuts in their mouth...basically, my nuts have been all over Facebook.

Anyhow, a lot of people have been asking me to put my nuts on my blog.

I'm sorry, I'm still snickering.