Kid Friendly Valentine Cards

Is it just me or does every Valentine you find on Pinterest that is supposed to be made by kids really just look like the mom did everything but write the kids' names?  

This year I found some cute ideas out there, but then I made my kids do everything.  I just made it easy for them to this by providing supplies. 

Our first Valentine says, "Have a FAN(TACHE)TIC Valentines!"

The next says, "You're Cute as  Button."

   What made these easy for the kids to make is the stamps I made out of sponges.  I just bought some cheap sponges at the store and cut them into a heart and a mustache.  I also cut the paper into rectangles.

So to start the kids just stamped each sheet of paper with a heart or a mustache.

 We let them dry and then we added the words and some decorations.  I found this cute tape at Walmart that added easy flare.  Stickers are always good too.  We glued buttons to the "Cute as a Button" cards.

 Then we punched two holes in each card and added a sucker because really what is a Valentine without some candy?

Oatmeal Breakfast Cups to Freeze!

 I'm always looking for something healthy and fast to make for breakfast because I'm usually the last one to eat after I help my kids get ready, make their lunches, and feed them breakfast.  

So I found these Oatmeal Cups and fell in love.  Their healthy, fast, AND you can freeze them!

Ingredients:

2 eggs

1 tsp. vanilla extract

2 cups unsweetened applesauce

1/2 cup banana or about 1 banana mashed

1/2 cup honey or some other kind of sweetener

5 cups Old Fashioned rolled oats

2 tbsp. flax seed meal (LOVE this stuff!)

1 tbsp. cinnamon ground

3 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. salt

2 1/4 cups milk (I used powdered milk to try to use my food storage and water of course.)

Optional toppings: nuts, berries, raisins, chocolate chips

    Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.

    Mix the wet ingredients: eggs, vanilla, applesauce, banana, and honey.  Then mix in the dry ingredients.

You can either add in the extra toppings now so they are baked throughout the cup or you can sprinkle them on top and individualize them.  I used blueberries and chopped pecans in mine.  But if your kids like chocolate chips and you don't add some chocolate chips on the top of a few.

    Spray two muffin tins or put in cupcake liners.  Fill each muffin tin cup so they are all even.

    Add any extra toppings now and put the tins in the oven for 30 minutes until you can pierce it with a toothpick and it comes out clean.

     Cool on a rack completely and place in freezer bags.

     I pull out one or two oatmeal cups for breakfast and microwave them for 30-40 seconds.  

Puff Pastry Hearts with Cream Filling

My New Years resolution is to keep track of my recipes better, especially the ones I change.  So what better way than to blog?

   Last week I tried an alcohol and coffee free Tiramisu recipe that turned out disastrous, but the cream was delicious so I decided to try that part again.  Then my kids voted on what recipe looked the most ideal to try it on.  We got the idea from here.   We did change it a bit though.

Ingredients:

     1 Package Puff Pastry Dough thawed

     4 egg yolks

     1/2 cup granulated sugar

     1/8 tsp. salt

     1/4 cup heavy whipping cream

     8 ounces mascarpone cheese

     1/2 cup heavy whipping cream

     berries of your choice

 Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.  Roll out the Puff Pastry dough just a little bit and cut it into heart shapes or whatever shape you desire.  Place each heart on a baking pan covered with a Silpat or Parchment paper. Prick each heart with a fork to keep them from puffing up irregularly.  You can also sprinkle some sugar on top if you desire.  Bake for 12-15 minutes until golden brown.  Put these on a cooling rack.

    Now start making the mascarpone cream.  In a medium saucepan start two inches of water simmering.   In a heat proof bowl beat four egg yolks.  Add 1/2 cup sugar  and 1/8 tsp. salt and mix some more.  Then mix in the 1/4 cup cream.  Now beat this mixture over the simmering water for 4-7 minutes until it coats the back of a spoon.  After four minutes mine did coat a spoon but it was thin.  Doing it longer will make it thicker.  Take it off the heat and allow it to cool for 15 minutes and then add the mascarpone cheese.  

    Whip the whipping cream and slowly add the cheese mixture.  

    Then cut each puff pastry heart in half and spread each side with the cream.  Insert a berry in between each side and enjoy!

                                           

                                                      The missionaries loved them.