1. Rinse beans in cold water and discard any broken pieces.
2. In a large pot add your beans and cover with water. At least 2 inches above the beans.
3. Bring the pot of water with beans to a boil and boil for 2 minutes.
4. Once the two minutes are complete, cover beans with a lid immediately, remove from stove, and allow to sit for 1 hour uninterrupted.
5. After the 1 hour, drain the beans. Refill pot with water covering the beans completely.
6. Bring pot of beans to boil and then lower to a 1 or 2 on stove and allow to simmer for 2 to 2 1/2 hours. (Mix often and add 1/4 cup water at a time if necessary. You want to make sure it’s constantly at a soft, low simmer.)
7. Add the salt 30 minutes before beans are done and add the fresh cilantro. Mix well.
*you can add bacon to the beans, or onion, peppers, etc, all optional*
Mash or serve as is with eggs, tacos, enchiladas, carnitas, anything!
Enjoy!
Try Bean And Cheese Tacos
Place corn tortillas on some foil, add a little bit of olive oil to each tortilla and rub it all over, turn over the tortillas and place your beans and cheese, fold over, and bake at 350. 10 minutes on each side.
2. Line a baking sheet with foil and place bacon strips on the sheet. (If you have a metal rack you can place that on the foil and then lay the bacon on that. This is optional and not absolutely necessary. If you don’t have a metal rack it will still come out yummy!)
3. Bake bacon for 12 minutes; when it’s sizzling and brown a little. Pull bacon out, flip the strips, and sprinkle on brown sugar mixture. Allow to bake for an additional 8 to 10 minutes or to your liking.
4. Once done use tongs to lay on a plate and pat dry with a paper towel to soak up excess grease. Serve warm or room temperature!
1 Tablespoon of Olive oil for cooking the tomatoes
Cooking spray for the egg
Steps:
1. Heat up a small skillet on a low medium heat. While that is heating up slice open your avocado and smash it into a bowl seasoning it with salt and pepper.
2. Throw the tomatoes on the skillet in the olive oil and garlic. Sauté until soft. Set aside.
3. Spray the pan with cooking spray leaving behind a little bit of the leftover olive oil and garlic from the tomatoes and begin cooking your egg seasoning it with salt and pepper.
4. Place bread in toaster. (This is where you gotta move fast.)
5. Once the toast pops, smear on your avocado, place the roasted tomatoes right on top, place your fried egg gently on top of the tomatoes, season with some rosemary.
2/3 cups of flour sifted (I used a small strainer and it works just fine)
2/3 cup of milk
2 tablespoons of soft butter
2 tablespoons of powdered sugar and honey for drizzling (optional)
Would also be great with some fruit compote, maple syrup, or baked apples with cinnamon
Steps:
1. Heat oven to 400 and butter the cake pans well.
2. Best eggs well, and then add remaining ingredients.
3. Once mixed well pour evenly into the two cake pans.
4. Bake for 20 mins at 18 mins. Then open oven to release some heat and turn down to 350. Bake an additional 8 to 10 minutes or until golden brown.
Enjoy!
If it begins to expand in the middle that’s fine! It will go down some when it comes out and will still be delish!When I took it out this is what I looked like.Honey and powdered sugar is usually are go to but you can get really creative with it!
First mix 1/3 cup of brown sugar and 1 teaspoon cinnamon together in a bowl; then set aside. In another bowl toss apples with the 2 tablespoons of brown sugar and 1 teaspoon cinnamon.
Beat the butter and the 2/3 cup of white sugar together in another medium bowl with an electric mixer until creamy. Add eggs and vanilla extract; mix well.
Whisk the flour and baking powder together in another bowl, then add to the butter mixture and beat until blended. Mix 1/2 cup milk into batter until smooth.
Pour half the batter into the prepared loaf pan then add half of the chopped apple mixture.
Sprinkle half of the brown sugar/cinnamon mixture on top of the chopped apple layer.
Pour the remaining batter, and top with remaining chopped apples, then the remaining brown sugar/cinnamon mixture.
Lightly pat apples into batter; swirl brown sugar mixture through apples using a knife or spoon.
Bake at 350 for 1 hour or until a toothpick comes out clean.
Note: comes out more of cake texture but still incredibly delicious!
Goes perfect with that morning coffeeWhat it looks like before going into ovenFresh out of the oven.
8 tablespoons of melted unsalted butter plus additional for spreading on pans
3/4 cup of whole milk at room temperature
3 1/4 cups of all purpose flour, plus additional for dusting
1 package instant dry yeast ( 2 1/4 teaspoons )
1 1/4 teaspoons of salt
Cooking spray
Just a bit of heavy cream (optional)
What You Need For The Filling:
1 cup packed of light or dark brown sugar
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
Pinch of salt
2 tablespoons of melted unsalted butter
What You Need For Icing:
8oz of softened cream cheese
3 tablespoons of heavy cream
1/4 cup of unsalted butter
1 1/2 cups of powdered sugar
1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
Steps:
For the dough: in a large bowl whisk the egg yolks, whole egg, sugar, butter, and milk. Add 2 cups of the flour along with the yeast and salt; whisk until combined. Add the rest of the remaining flour (1 cup and 1/4). Begin to knead dough (will be a little sticky, add just a little bit of flour if necessary, I always add a little extra, like 1/4 extra.)Continue to knead until combined and doughy. (Dough should be stretchy. If kneading by hand, knead for about 20 mins)Lightly oil a large bowl and transfer the dough to the bowl, lightly oil the top of the dough, cover with plastic wrap and allow to sit out for 2 to 2 1/2 hours.
Combine the brown sugar, cinnamon and salt in a medium bowl. Mix well and set aside.
Butter a 9 by 13-inch glass baking dish. On a floured surface shape the dough into a large rectangle. Brush the dough with the melted butter. Sprinkle the filling mixture over the dough, pressing the filling into the dough. Roll the dough into a tight cylinder. Using a sharp knife, slice the cylinder into 1 1/2-inch rolls; making 12 rolls. Arrange rolls cut side down in the baking dish; cover tightly with plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator overnight.
Take the rolls from the refrigerator and place in an oven that is turned off. Fill a pan or pot of boiling water and set on the rack below the rolls. Close the oven door and let the rolls rise until they look slightly puffy; 30 mins or so.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Pour a little bit of heavy cream over each of the rolls, covering the bottom of the pan. (Optional; this gives a more buttery, doughy taste/texture. While without is more original)
When the oven is ready, place the rolls in the oven and bake until slightly golden on top; bake for 8 mins. Oven time may vary.
Mix together ingredients for the icing starting with whisking the cream cheese first, then adding the heavy cream, next the butter, then gently adding the sugar. Spread on cinnamon rolls. Allow to sit for 30 to 1 hour and then enjoy!
Note: whatever is not eaten make sure to refrigerate. When ready to eat pull out and allow to sit for 1 to 2 hours until at room temperature.
Additional note: try using vanilla spice eggnog instead of heavy cream! It’s delish!
Enjoy!
The dough after 2 1/2 hours. Ready to create and roll.Rolled up ready to sit overnight.After coming out of oven above boiling water. step 4.I’ve added a little bit of cream…….And I’ve added a lot…… but come out good.Naked without cream. It really depends on the texture you like. Without cream is more bread like, and with cream it more doughy.
This batter is delicious. Works great for pancakes OR waffles. Whatever you and your family are in the mood for!
This batter is good for 3 days in the fridge. What you can also do is make ahead and then freeze. Great for school mornings. Just pop the waffles in the toaster!
Quantity: Makes about 8-10 waffles or pancakes. We are a family of 5 and we usually always have leftover batter.
What You Need:
2 cups of all purpose flour
1/4 cup of sugar plus a few dashes of cinnamon
1 teaspoon of salt
1 tablespoon of baking powder
2 teaspoons of baking soda
2 cups of milk
1/2 cup of vegetable oil plus 2 tablespoons
2 eggs
(Unsalted for butter for pan or waffles maker)
Steps:
1. In a medium size bowl add flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and sugar. (Dry ingredients) mix and set aside.
2. In a different medium size mixing bowl mix together the milk, vegetable oil, and eggs. (Wet ingredients)
3. Add wet mixture to dry mixture and mix well. Set aside for 25 mins.
4. If you are making pancakes: add 1 tablespoon of butter to pan until melted. Add a ladleful of batter to skillet. When batter begins to bubble flip over pancake until both sides are a golden brown color.
If you are making waffles: spray your waffle maker with a vegetable oil spray. Add a small ladle size of batter to waffle maker. Careful not to add too much otherwise it will spill over. Press waffle maker until light turns green or a nice golden color.
Serve with fresh fruit and maple syrup or a type of fruit compote with whip cream. yum!
Sometimes you want to make pancakes only to realize you don’t have any eggs! Which is exactly what happen to us. However delicious pancakes are still achievable even if you don’t have any eggs!
We hope you enjoy these eggless pancakes, courtesy of “eggless cooking”. You have to try these!
Here is a list of healthier snack options for whatever the need be. Whether it’s for you or your children you’ll be sure to find some good snack choices!
1. Sliced Apples With Peanut Butter Or Almond Butter
Apples are rich in fiber which means they are filling! Also a great snack for a child who may have a little constipation. When it comes to peanut butter stick with natural (check the ingrediants) some peanut butters have added sugars which is what you want to avoid. The apple has enough good sugar in it. If you’re not much of a peanut butter person almond butter is another great option that taste great on apple slices.
2. Multigrain Toast With Nutella, sliced strawberries and chia seeds
This is one of our favorites in our home. This makes for a great snack or hearty breakfast. The chia seeds is an added dose of fiber for your little to keep them full longer.
4. Sliced cucumbers; lightly salted
A little salt brings out the flavor. You can also take the cucumbers and serve it with a dip. Or on some avocado toast like the picture above! My kiddos love ranch. Some like to peel the skin I prefer to give them a good scrub and just slice them with the skin on. Most of the nutrients are found in, you guessed it, the skin.
5. Raisins
Some kids like them, some kids don’t. Try it out and see how they react! I forgot all about raisins until my kids came home with them from school. Obviously they weren’t too interested since they came home with them.
6. Pistachios
Yum. A snack I often forget about, but what a great snack! And if you ask me, highly addicting! Refrain from eating strait out of the bag and just put a handful in a bowl or small jar.
7. Beef Jerky
A great school snack for lunch time. Full of protein and something that keep you full until your next meal. There are so many different kinds and types. Beef jerky can be expensive, but if you ask me you get what you pay for when it comes to jerky. If you can afford to pay a little extra for the good stuff it’s worth it.
8. Dates or Prunes
Believe it or not one of my daughters LOVES prunes and dates. I tell her though she can’t too much though, otherwise she’ll have diarrhea. Am I lying?
9. Crackers (look for wheat or multigrain)
There are so many crackers to choose from. Specifically look for multigrain or wheat. Eat them plain or load them up with meat and cheese, peanut butter, hummus, tuna, whatever your little heart desires!
10. String cheese
String cheese is a child favorite. It’s delicious and it’s just fun! Who doesn’t enjoy pulling it apart and dangling it in your mouth like it’s spaghetti. I’m not the only one, right?
11. Almonds
This is great snack for on the go or lunches. Protein and fiber in a little nut. Eat them plain or flavor it up! Have you tried the wasabi and soy sauce ones!? So good!
12. Popcorn (lightly salted or buttered)
People forget about popcorn. As long as it is not saturated in butter and salt then it’s not that bad of a snack. We enjoy the smart food popcorn or just the lightly salted pop secret.
13. Trail mix
This was one of my favorite snacks back in the day. I actually don’t buy this too often because my kids right now will just pick out the m&m’s and leave the rest. Those little stinkers.
14. Yogurt/yogurt parfaits
Eat it plain, make a smoothie, make a parfait, mix it with fruit, granola, we love yogurt!
15. Applesauce
Perfect snack for school lunches. Opt for sugar free if you can. Add a little cinnamon, that’s our favorite.
15. Carrot sticks
Love me some carrot sticks! My kids enjoy dipping them in ranch! I’m always telling them it’s good for your eyes! Which they are! Carrots sticks are a great school lunch snack.
16. Celery sticks
I’m not going to lie, I’ve never really enjoyed celery sticks. But my husband likes them and so does one of my daughters. I know eating them with peanut butter is popular among the cool kids.
17. Chopped up fruit like strawberries, canalope, watermelon
Spice it up a little and add some tajin! If you’ve never tried tajin seasoning you need to try it. Or put a little whip cream on the fruit. Another thing to try is a yogurt dip. Of course eating them plain is good too.
18. Blueberries
“They help you poop.” I’m constantly saying this to convince them to eat their blueberries. My girls usually eat them as it but they are also yummy mixed with chopped strawberries. What a fun idea too to put them in an ice cream cone!
19. Sweet potato chips
When you’re craving something salty and crunch these make a great snack to curve that craving. And I believe this is something your child can get away with taking to school for sure! Store bought or try making them yourself!
20. Veggies straws
Another salt and crunchy snack to satisfy the craving. Light and airy. My kids love these. Preferably the ranch flavor. Usually found in the chip aisle at the grocery store.
21. Pretzels
Such a yummy salty snack. I like to put Nutella on the side for my girls or peanut butter. We also love DOTS highly addicting pretzels or the cheddar flavored ones. So good.
22. Granola
I like to make homemade granola. And my kids typically eat granola like they do cereal. They love when I make granola. I like that I get to control the content. Incredibly filling and great for constipation.
23. Chex Mix
Try making a Chex mix yourself! Get the kids involved! Homemade muddie buddies are so good!
24. Wasabi peas (if you can handle them)
These are so good! Might be more of a snack for you than your kids though. They have kick!
25. Ritz crackers with peanut butter
Another fan favorite. Perfect for on the go and I can count on it to fill my kids stomach. Make them yourself or let your child do it. Make it into a fun activity.
26. Grapes
Red or green. Which do you prefer? I know some parents like to put the grapes in the freezer. They say it taste like candy. You be the judge!
27. Avocados slices with everything bagel seasoning or soy sauce
So simple. So delicious. You don’t even need bread. Soy sauce also taste great. My two year old loves avocado slices with a little bit of soy sauce. Try it out !
28. Dried fruit such as mangos
Yum! Can’t get enough of dried mango! Perfect for snack time, lunches, or even car rides!
29. Smoothies
My go-to when I want to get some veggies in my kids. I also tend to sneak spinach in their somewhere and they don’t even notice. Or what I also love to throw in is avocado. It’s creates such a creamy texture. It’s delicious.
30. Banana chips
Buy them or make them yourself! I’ve never made them, but they can’t be that hard right? Right????
31. Peanut butter on a spoon
Sometimes you just gotta keep it simple. My kids love peanut butter on a spoon and I did as well when I was a kid.
32. Frozen banana pops
Break a banana in half, insert popsicle sticks, and freeze! If you really want to get creative you can dip in peanut butter or chocolate.
33. Oatmeal
I never considered oatmeal a snack but I guess it could be! My girls love strawberry and banana flavored oatmeal.
34. Hard boiled eggs
Have you ever had a hard boiled egg with everything bagel seasoning! This snack is full of protein and fun for the kids. What I mean by fun is kids enjoy picking the hard shell off. Snack time meet sensory activity. Win win lol!
Lunch meat once was one of my favorite snacks. I use to love bologna. Although being older I don’t eat it now I do enjoy turkey or ham and my kids do too. I’ll cut it in strips and let them eat it as is. They seem to enjoy it.
36. Pickles
What’s funny about pickles is I couldn’t stand them before but once I became pregnant I grew a love for them. I love pickles now. Strange right? Pickles don’t have to be just a snack you get at Disneyland!
37. Energy balls
Energy balls consist of oats, peanut butter, honey, flax seed, coconut, chocolate chips, all rolled up into a ball! NO BAKE Coconut Almond Oatmeal Bites
38. Hummus dip with crackers or veggies
There are so many different types of hummus dips you’ll be sure to find one your kiddo likes. Serve it them with some grainy crackers and fresh veggies.
39. Peanut butter and banana quesadillas
You know, I’ve never tried this. But I keep hearing good things. I need to make this!
40. Half of a Peanut butter and jelly sandwich
Make your child a full sandwich. Cut in half. Pack one for school and the other half can be eaten after school. No food wasted.
41. Olives
My husband loves to snack on olives. I personally can’t eat them plain. On pizza, sure! A pasta? Yum!
42.Frozen fruit pops (check the sugar content)
So many different types of fruit pops. I think this would be a great after school treat. Save it for Friday’s!
43. Edamane
Typically we only eat these when we go out for sushi. But this is a great healthy snack to eat after school or whenever!
44. Baby Bell peppers with dip
45. Multi grain bread toasted with some unsalted butter (a little sugar and cinnamon – optional) and some sliced bananas
46. Cottage cheese
Honestly, I don’t eat cottage cheese. It’s the smell or texture….I just can’t. However my husband enjoys this and I know many others do as well which is why it’s on the list. I think many people eat it with fruit preserves.
47. Tuna Melts
This was my ultimate favorite childhood snack. Tuna, cheddar cheese, and tomato! So good!
48. Fig bars
Filling, delicious, full of fiber, a great snack that doesn’t make much of a mess either. Score!
49. Kiwi
When I was in grade school there was a girl who alway brought kiwi to school. I thought it was so pretty, the vibrant green. But my mom never got kiwi I have no idea why. Kiwi is so delicious! My girl love them! Eat them with a spoon, squeeze the fruit out, or slice it up.
50. Pretzel nuggets filled with peanut butter
I forgot about these! The little pretzel nuggets are a fan favorite! These are great for the lunch boxes or a snack after school.
If you have another healthy snack in mind please comment and let us know!
The Wild Gems 