We have two weeks until Quinby’s school year is done and older sister PZ is waffling about just how much school she’d like to have over the summer. However it turns out, we’re looking at a lot of Mama and girls time. This means I need to start thinking about all new routines and coming up with activities that are time consuming and educational as well as being fun.
I’m hoping to experiment with more food projects – cheese making, pasta baking, popsicle freezing, smoothie blending, meat dehydrating, jam preserving, and vegetable pickling. I’d really like to have at least one food project a week.
I know a lot of our summer days will be spent walking the neighborhood and going to the local playgrounds and parks, but I’m hoping to get some regular hiking in as well. And we’ve got a few short trips planned, so I’d like to figure out a fun way to prepare for those adventures as well as preserve the memories once we return.
I’m looking to find some fun science/art projects that we can do outside. And am always on the hunt for great kid’s books. I’ve got a fun boredom buster idea bumping around in my head that you’ll hear more about later. And I’d really like to get myself and my girls more in touch with our household and the joy of homemaking. PZ especially is 5 now and really ready to begin taking on some responsibilities around the house.
It would thrill me to help nurture the creative spark both my girls are exhibiting toward art and painting. Plus I think PZ is probably ready to try her hand at small sewing or yarn projects.
As you can see I have a lot to mull over. Anything you can share would be great! You’ll be benefitting from my research, too, I promise. Like today, I decided to do some research on the supposedly most important meal of the day – breakfast! With the kids at home, I won’t be able to skip it or wait until the brunching hour like I’ve been doing the last few months. I’m sure we will go to restaurants for breakfast on occasion, but I’d like to keep that at a minimum.
Breakfast is probably the one meal of the day where I feel somewhat comfortable. I can make eggs, although the girls haven’t been eating those as much lately. I can make toast, pancakes, muffins, anything that needs baking. Yogurt and granola is a no-brainer. But what I’d really like is to find some recipes that are good, nutritious, interesting, and easy enough that Mama can make breakfast without getting into a funk that messes with our entire day.
Do you know anything that fits the bill? Let me know. In the meantime here’s what I’m looking at…
This peanut butter and banana smoothie recipe from Fitness magazine looks super yummy. Its like starting your day off with a great tasting, good for you milk shake. My girls would love this and would be able to help make them which is a big plus.
This Apple Jack Breakfast Wrap found at Food.com looks scrumptious and easy and we all know what they say about an apple a day…
This carrot cake pancakes recipe found at MyRecipes.com sure looks interesting. Some of the reviews say that more spice was needed. My family loves cinnamon, so I’d make sure to put more of that in. I’m also wondering if cream cheese wouldn’t be the perfect topping for this breakfast cake.
Family Fresh Cooking has this wonderful looking recipe for Peanut Butter Pumpkin Coffee Cake. I am for sure making this one! We LOVE pumpkin year ’round in this household and it is so good for you. The girls and I are old pros by this time at baking breakfast breads and I’m betting this one will become a new favorite.
Maple-Nut Granola from Eating Well magazine would be the first granola we’ve tried making. I’m a big maple-nut fan and this one looks fairly healthy. Do you have a favorite granola recipe?
I’ve had pizza for breakfast before, but never a breakfast pizza. This breakfast mini pizza from Eating Well magazine looks like it would be fun to make and fun to eat. I can imagine we would play with the toppings to make different pizzas for different days. Great idea!
This Sweet Potato Oatmeal Breakfast Casserole from Oh She Glows looks spectacular. I’ve never seen anything like this before and I just know my vegan friends would love it. This would be a great one for the weekend or for those mornings we might have an early play date.
This last week I did the Elsie Marley Kids Clothing Week Challenge and had a lot of fun. I realized that I am a lot happier when I take the time to allow myself creative achievement. Even just an hour a day (which was the challenge) of sewing made me much more patient and glad to see my little ones. So I’m really hoping to be able to find that balance this summer. Wish me luck and send me your ideas. We all need them!
The Yummy Life’s blueberry maple refrigerator oatmeal – this one looks right up my alley. The fact that it is a make ahead is wonderful for those busy school mornings and the chia seeds will keep us all full until lunch.
The Clothes Make the Girl’s scotch eggs – this looks like something my girls would love to eat for breakfast, snack, and anytime in between. Can’t wait to try these out.
Make and Takes’ chocolate zucchini bread – while we don’t have any zucchini in our garden this year, I’m hoping to trade some tomatoes for one just so I can try out this recipe. Choc-o-late!
The Handmade Experiment 