cooking

Top 5 Easy Meals For Kids To Make

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Top 5 Easy Meals For Kids to Make | SobeSavvy.com & @outandaboutAva

Moms/Dads, raise your hand if being in quarantine and cooking all the meals has gotten old 🙋🏽‍♀️? So when our daughter, fondly referred to on the blog as @outandaboutAva showed an interest in creating dishes and sharing her meals online..we said go ‘head girl, get your cook on! She wanted to make Tik Tok videos showing off her kitchen skills and came up with a name for her cooking show: Ava Brings The Flava! She has so much fun doing these videos and we just love supporting her. One of our friends has even sent her some customized cooking utensils for her recent 9th birthday to keep encouraging this hobby of hers. Needless to say..Ava was so surprised and happy to receive this gift.

I am more than happy to sit back and let her make her own meals as long as she doesn’t burn down the house. So far, so good y’all! Ava has really grown in the kitchen and used these Covid-19 times to hone her skills while social distancing at home. These are the Top 5 Meals Easy Meals For Kids to Make presented by our 9 year old foodie/cook Ava!

Breakfast

Recipe: Ava-cado Toast

Lunch

Recipe: Pizza Piadina

Snack

Recipe: ChickPea Salad

Dinner

Recipe: Pesto Salmon

Dessert

Recipe: Mango Creamsicle

Which one of the recipes above have you made or would like to try? If you’d like to follow more of my girl’s cooking journey, follow along here:

TikTok: @leslieissobesavvy

IG: @outandaboutAva, @SobeSavvy

Hashtag: #AvaxFlava

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Does your kid like to cook or do you have an easy recipe that my daughter should try next? Please share below and thanks for reading!

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❤ Make a Heart Healthy Dinner at Home for your Valentine with Ungraded Produce @ungradedproduce

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Disclaimer: I received a complimentary box of goodness from Ungraded Produce in exchange for my honest review.

Did you know that February is Heart Healthy Month? Time to focus on keeping our hearts healthy through exercise and healthy eating habits. You know the saying..Happy Wife,Happy Life. Well this month, we’ve remixed that saying to ..A Healthy Husband and Wife leads to a Happier & Healthier Life. So I’ve partnered with Ungraded Produce to share a healthy husband and wife meal idea just in time for Valentine’s Day! ❤

■ Ungraded Produce…Who Are They?

They are a produce delivery service that provides customers with an easy way to fight against food waste. Fact: 1.2 million tons of food go to waste in NC each year! Founded in June 2015 by Courtney Bell, Ungraded Produce saw an opportunity to connect consumers with a supply of delicious but imperfect looking produce at 30-50% cheaper than supermarket alternatives!

■ What Do They Do?

Fact: 20% of the produce grown in the US gets left in the field or tossed for being “ugly”.

Ungraded Produce is working to fight these statistics by rescuing produce, packing/delivering it to the customer’s door and making an edible impact against food waste!

■ How Does It Work?

Fact: 40+ million Americans lack access to a convenient and affordable source of fresh produce.

With Ungraded Produce you get farm to door service when you get a subscription. Boxes ranges from 5-15 pounds and you have the option of weekly or biweekly delivery options. At any time you can cancel,pause or change products at any time!

*SobeSavvy Tip: New Customers SAVE $5 on your first box with promo code (HEALTHYNC)

Register at www.ungradedproduce.com

With your subscription, you are joining in the fight against food waste! Note: They deliver to most towns that border Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill only.

■ Why Should You Subscribe?

Make your health your wealth and priority this year. Treat yourself and family to affordable, easy, sustainable fresh fruits and vegetables. It is also very convenient to receive this special delivery right to my door! In my Large Mixed Produce Box, I received 15 lbs of FRUIT|honeydew melon, apples, tangerine mandarin oranges, bosc pears + VEGETABLEs|vidalia onions, spaghetti squash, poblano peppers, carrots, brocolli, tomatillios

■ How do I plan to use my box?

So far, I have made fresh juice from carrots and oranges in the morning!

My husband has entertained us with his Ungraded Produce juggling pre-dinner show…

…and together we have made a romantic dinner at home using all the unbelievable goodness from Ungraded Produce. Want to make a heart healthy dinner for your Valentine? ❤ Check out what we made using Ungraded Produce.

SANGRIA | Red wine in moderation is healthy right?! I added pears,apples,honeydew melon and voila..you are ready to raise a glass and toast to your Valentine.

DINNER | With the help of my friend Google, I mashed up a couple of recipes and came up with a delicious and healthy entreé to serve for our romantic dinner at home. First the sauce…

ITALIAN GREEN TOMATO SAUCE..inspired by this recipe>>here. After roasting the tomatillos, I added them to a blender to make a sauce to use for my spaghetti squash pasta.

SPAGHETTI SQUASH PRIMAVERA inspired by this recipe>>here. First let me say thank you to whomever came up with idea to put the directions on how to make spaghetti squash in the microwave right on the label! Such a time saver.

After washing, dicing, slicing, sauteing, seasoning the veggies, it was time to add the green tomato sauce, the parmesean cheese, the spaghetti squash and L-O-V-E ❤!

The table was set for a night and meal he’ll never forget. I took a cue from Johnny Gill and ..🎶 put on my red dress, slipped on some high heels, and some of that sweet perfume 🎶..and My, My, My our meal was so good tonight! We enjoyed our romantic dinner at home made with Ungraded Produce. I hope you are inspired to subscribe and make something healthy and special for your Valentine too! ❤

■ Do you plan to dine in or out for Valentine’s Day?

■ Have you used Ungraded Produce service before?

Let me know in the comments below. Thanks for reading! ❤

#GiftIdeas For Her | Four #Books To Give Every Female Bookworm

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*Disclosure: This content uses some affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy for more info: here

Do you have any female bookworms on your ‘Nice’ list this year? This holiday season, give a unique gift that they can enjoy all life long…a book! Books make wonderful gift ideas for her especially when they provide helpful information. Here are four books to give every female friend, family, co-worker, bookworm that you know!

For your workout buddy and any woman who loves wellness gifts 📘A Beginner’s Guide to Essential Oils: Recipes and Practices for a Natural Lifestyle and Holistic Health by Hayley Hobson

Homeopathic medicine and alternative medicines are gaining in popularity daily. A Beginner’s Guide to Essential Oils by Hayley Hobson can become your first step to a healthier life—your first step to holistic health. Hayley is an internationally known author and inspirational speaker. She presents uplifting and educational programs in over 50 countries and promotes a holistic path to wellness by incorporating the use of essential oils with a regimen of exercise, healthy eating, and mental and emotional wellness practices. As a coach, she passionately empowers others to live their dreams and create lifestyle transformations by supporting them in becoming the best possible WHOLE versions of themselves. In her book, you will find real life stories and natural lifestyle principles. You’ll discover why we get out of balance in the first place—and find out how to fix it. You’ll learn about Hayley’s signature recipes and their specific purposes, helpful remedies and daily changes, safe handling and usage, and much more.

Buy on Amazon: here * and pair it with an essential oil set * as a gift idea!

For the woman who is #perfectlyflawed and on a healthy lifestyle journey 📙Be Iconic: Healthy and Sexy at any Age by Dr. Eudene Harry

Opening up the conversation of true beauty and acceptance, Eudene Harry MD writes her latest book, Be Iconic: Healthy and Sexy at any Age. Discussing that your diminished self-worth and confidence shows up in a variety of ways—the extra weight you carry, the sleepless nights, the chronic illness, and your lack of joy—Dr. Harry offers an all-encompassing guide to your health.

In this motivating and inspirational workbook, Be Iconic explores:

  • Sexy doesn’t mean perfect! 5 ways to know what makes you sexy

  • How patterns of negative thoughts diminish your health

  • The connection between beauty and sleep

  • Tips for beautiful hair for the aging woman

  • Minimally invasive techniques to love the skin you’re in

  • And, so much more!

To learn more visit, www.drharrymd.com

Now available on Amazon: here * and gift it with this motivational wall art !*

For your crafty chicks, DIY gal pals and any hostess with mostest 📗Cooking, Baking and Making: 100 Recipes and DIY Ideas for All Seasons and Reasons by Cynthia O’Hara

From the creative mind of the “Harried Housewife” blog comes a beautifully packaged one-stop-shop book bursting with DIY recipes and ideas for the entire year! Cooking, Baking, and Making includes 60 DIY recipes with bonus designs and 40 DIY ideas that tie your home together for all 365 days. For spring, serve Herbed Cucumber Tea Sandwiches and a make a Spring Centerpiece as you watch the flowers bloom. In the hot summer, delight your guests with Fresh Berries and Cannoli Cream and make your own decorative coasters. In autumn, admire the turning leaves as you bake Dilled Beer and Cheddar Bread and make Autumn Harvest Potpourri. And in winter, enjoy Creamy Eggnog Cupcakes and make Festive Votives while snuggling by the fire. Cynthia O’Hara presents incredibly user-friendly projects and dishes that make replicating her flavors and designs as natural as the changing of the seasons. The Harried Housewife has written articles and developed a wide variety of recipes that reflect a simpler time and are ideal for budget-conscious families. The “Harried Housewife’s Recipe Box” column is syndicated nationally in regional newspapers.

Get this book on Amazon: here * and pair it with these cute apron sets for a great gift!

For the Mom friend or little girl in your life who has an interest in ancestry 📘Famous Family Trees by Kari Haug

Explore the fascinating family histories of Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King Jr., Charlotte Bronte, John F Kennedy, Laura Ingalls Wilder, Maria Tallchief, and many more with 30 family trees from around the world.

This accessible, visually-stunning compendium of family trees features some of history’s most loved — and loathed — famous faces and is great fun for the whole family to explore.

Genealogy and history combine to make a fascinating, fact-filled treasury of family trees belonging to famous people throughout the ages. Spark conversations with children about their own family histories this holiday season.

Purchase on Amazon: here * and add this family tree picture frame to give as a unique gift!

As you can see there are amazing gifts for every woman, mom, sister, girl, friend on this list. I found these books to be helpful, inspiring, empowering and encouraging. I am grateful to have received these review copies to add to my bookshelf and to share these thoughtful gift ideas with you!

📚What Books Are You Reading?📚 Are you gifting books this holiday season?

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Celebrate #NationalCookieDay with @NocciolataUSA @RigoniAsiagoUSA Dairy Free Hazelnut Spread Recipe

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​December 4th is National Cookie Day and with the holidays upon us and cookie swaps quickly approaching, I thought I’d share this recipe for Dairy Free Chocolate-Hazelnut Sandwich Cookies ! The star of these cookies is a brand-new dairy-free (and 100% vegan) organic chocolate hazelnut spread called Nocciolata Dairy Free.

Each batch of Nocciolata Dairy Free takes 36 hours of artisanal preparation, which combines top-quality hazelnuts, cocoa and cocoa butter, environmentally-responsible cold-pressed sunflower oil, natural vanilla extract, and raw cane sugar. It contains no palm oil (which is high in saturated fat and whose cultivation devastates the environment), hydrogenated fats, artificial colors, aromas or additives. This product is USDA Organic, Non-GMO, Dairy Free, Vegan and Kosher Certified, Gluten Free, and full of flavor ! 

I  whipped up a batch of these cookies using the following recipe:                

 Dairy Free Chocolate-Hazelnut  Sandwich Cookies

Makes about 10 large cookie sandwiches

Ingredients
1/2 cup walnut halves
1/2 cup sliced almonds
2/3 cup unsweetened coconut
2 1/4 cups powdered sugar
1/4 cup plus 1 heaping tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder (I prefer natural but you can use Dutch process)
large pinch salt
1/2 cup dark chocolate chips
3 large egg whites, at room temperature

Jar of Nocciolata Dairy Free

Instructions

1.       Preheat oven to 325°F.

2.       Spread the walnuts on a baking sheet and bake for two minutes. Add the almonds to the tray and bake for 3-4 minutes more until the nuts are fragrant and just barely golden. Transfer to a bowl to cool. When cool enough to handle, break the walnut halves unevenly into smaller pieces.

3.       Spread the coconut on the baking sheet and toast it for 3-4 minutes until slightly golden. Add it to the bowl of nuts.

4.       Whisk together powdered sugar, cocoa powder, and salt.

5.       Add the walnut-almond-coconut mixture and the chocolate chips and stir to combine.

6.       Add the egg whites and stir just enough to moisten all the dry ingredients.

7.       Spoon about two tablespoons of batter onto a parchment-lined baking sheet, leaving several inches between cookies.

8.       Bake for 12-14 minutes, turning the baking sheet once.

9.       Once cooled, spread Nocciolata Dairy Free chocolate hazelnut spread between two cookies and assemble the sandwiches. 

These cookies were a tasty treat for me and my little one! I was happy to try the dairy free option but I am a huge fan of the Rigoni Di Asiago Nocciolata Organic  Hazelnut spread made with cocoa and milk ! (I like to add it to oatmeal drizzled on strawberries, rasberries or bananas..so good!) I also have been known to tie a ribbon around a gourmet jar of this rich creamy chocolate hazelnut spread. Whether its the Dairy Free spread or  this one, they both make a lovely hostess gift!  

#TastyTuesday Spotlight on @HelloFresh Family Meals ! Check out these #HelloFreshPics ..#YUM

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DISCLAIMER: This is a sponsored post. I received a HelloFresh box for review, however 100% of the opinions are my own. 

Hello November! It’s time to start preparing for the holidays. Some feel this time of year can be stressful and expensive, but it does not have to be. Something I like doing to relieve stress is cooking with my family and for my family. So when I heard of HelloFresh offering a convenient and easy way to cook healthy meals at home, I wanted to try it.

What is HelloFresh ?  It’s a weekly recipe-kit delivery service where you get to choose from delicious recipes and receive a box full of fresh ingredients at your door for you to cook at home. Here is what my box looked like:

*Surprise..A lovely apron was included!

You can choose from 3 Meal Plans: Classic, Veggie or Family Plan, which is what I received,  filled with family friendly ingredients. It came with the following 3 handpicked recipes: 

…and a cocktail recipe card was included also! 

Each meal recipe card is yours to keep. It gives a description on the front and list of ingredients, recipe details and nutrition per person info on the back. I liked the size of the cards which makes reading the recipe easy. 

Now let’s talk about the dishes. First meal made was the Shrimp Lo Mein. Out of all 3 recipes, this was the families favorite. It had all the flavors of Chinese takeout without the high fat and sodium. Plenty of shrimp were provided and fresh produce. They say variety is the spice of life but I say sauce is the spice of life!  I really enjoyed the soy and hoisin sauce in this dish giving it a balanced sweet and salty flavor.

Next meal was the Baked Parmesan Chicken Strips. This one was a good one to get all family members involved. I had my daughter washing produce and my husband chopping while I breaded the chicken strips with toasted panko and parmesan cheese. My least favorite thing about this meal is that string beans were being repeated. Since they were already featured in the Shrimp Lo Mein meal, it would have been great to pair with a different green vegetable. This meal was adult and kid approved because we all loved the rosemary potatoes and dipping the chicken strips in the homemade honey mustard dressing was fun. Here is a fun video we made of our Hello Fresh Meal #2 : https://www.instagram.com/p/BMRutuVAH_F/

Lastly, we had the Honey and Orange Chicken Jambalaya.  This Creole dish is served with tomato rice and was given a burst of citrus flavor by adding orange zest. My daughter thought it was too spicy, so this was her least favorite. All the meals were nut free and took about a total of 45 mins to make. 

HelloFresh encourages us homecooks to share our masterpieces on social media. Take a look at #HelloFreshPics and follow HelloFresh on Instagram, Twitter and FaceBook to get inspired!  

Savvy Tip:  Get $40 off your first box here