Homemade, No-Sugar-Added Kids' Snacks (Two Recipes!)

I have been racking my brain, trying to find some new healthy snacks for my brood of 4.  I get anxious around the 3:00 mark when I hear them start saying, "I'm hungry, do we have any snacks?"   Now, I can say "YES!" with enthusiasm :)  We do have snacks, and they are good for you!  Although, I do usually keep that last part to myself...

 

 

The first recipe I'll share with you is for a homemade Larabar.  Have you ever tasted those over-priced energy bars?  They are fantastic, but not for $1+ per bar!!  Ouch.  So, I have researched and formulated my own.  Here's what you'll need to make a batch:

 

 

1/2-1 cup nuts (pecans, cashews, almonds, etc.)

1 c dates

1/2 c chocolate chips ( I used Enjoy Life mini chips)

pinch sea salt

 

Using a food processor, chop the dates, nuts and salt until the mix is workable consistency.  I would start with fewer nuts, then add as you go.  If you use too many nuts, the consistency will be too dry and the bars won't stick!

 

Remove from the processor and fold in the chocolate chips.  I formed bars by folding the mixture in wax paper and pressing them with a rolling pin, but  you could also make bite-sized balls...

 

 

 

 

 

Even my picky eater liked these!  They are great for snacking but packed with good energy foods. :)

 

 

The next recipe is for wheat-free, sugar-free oatmeal/banana cookies! The ingredients are so simple, too!  Here's what you need:

 

3 very ripe bananas

2 c organic rolled oats

1 c chocolate chips (I used Enjoy Life mini chocolate chips)

1/3 c coconut oil

1 t vanilla extract

 

Pre-heat oven to 350 F

Puree bananas in a food processor and add to rest of ingredients.

Place in spoonfuls onto cookie sheet (these may or may not hold together well- don't worry!)

Let rest while oven heats.

Bake for about 20 minutes, or until golden brown.

 



 

We enjoy these after they are chilled in the refrigerator!  They have a banana bread flavor that my youngest son loves.

So, feed your kids a healthy after-school snack.  These treats will leave them satisfied til dinner :)  Enjoy!

Homemade Healing Salve

This post was inspired by a friend's request for help with first-aid items to keep on hand :) 

As you can see, we have already dug into this salve- actually, my kids reach for this salve regularly!  They have learned that it can soothe the itch of a bug bite or help bruises heal more quickly.  Since I have added lavender essential oil, it also smells great :)  We use this salve for anything and everything- scrapes, bug bites, blisters, chapped skin, bruises, sun burn, etc.  If I had a baby in the house, I would also use this to prevent/treat diaper rash!

Here's my recipe for healing salve: (all herbs are dried)

2 parts plantain leaf

2 parts comfrey leaf

1 part calendula

1 part yarrow

1 part echinacea

1/2 part rosemary

olive/coconut oil

beeswax

Depending on how much you are making, choose your measuring tool (anything from a tablespoon to a cup).  Fill a canning jar about 1/3-1/2 way with herbs, then cover the herbs with olive oil, coconut oil, or a mixture of both.  Cover tightly with lid.

Next, set your jar on a thick cloth in a crock pot.  Fill crock pot with water, up to lid of jar.  Set crock pot on "warm" setting and let it warm the herbs for 2 to 3 days.  Shake once a day to keep herbs circulating (add more oil if the herbs are not covered).  Add water to crock pot as it evaporates.

After infusing your oil, strain off herbs into cheesecloth or other thin towel.  Place infused oil into a small saucepan.  Add 1 oz beeswax for every 4 oz infused oil and heat until beeswax is melted.

Remove oil from heat and add essential oils (I like lavender)- pour into containers while still warm.

Your homemade salve is ready to use when it is completely cooled!  

Homemade Sushi Rolls

I have always enjoyed sushi.  Ever since my first trip to a sushi bar, I have wanted to make my own at home... now that I am older and have more confidence in the kitchen, I make sushi regularly!  It is a very light but filling meal and so easy when you get the hang of it.

Most people are squeamish because they think all sushi is raw, but it's not!  In the following recipe I use smoked salmon, but you could very easily substitute crab meat or make an all-veggie roll- the choice is yours.

Here are the filling ingredients for my sushi roll!  I am using:

3 oz cream cheese

1/4 Japanese cucumber, peeled and sliced thin (you could also use a regular-variety, but be sure to remove seeds- you could also use avocado instead.)

3 oz smoked salmon (you could substitute smoked tuna, crab or leave it out altogether!)

about 1/2 c cashews, crushed

One of the staple ingredients for sushi is nori, or seaweed wrap.  I got a package of 6 from my local grocery store.  For this recipe, you will need two sheets of nori.

The bamboo mat is a special tool for making sushi rolls.  It is not necessary, but it makes things a lot neater!  When making sushi, I cover the bamboo mat with wax paper to prevent any spillage on the bamboo, which can be hard to clean.  Other people may use plastic wrap, but I find that wax paper is easier to work with.

Sushi also calls for rice, but not any rice!  My local grocery sells Sushi Rice, as well as the seasoning for it.  You will need 1 c rice for this recipe (rinsed until water is almost clear, then cooked in 1 1/4 c water.)  When the rice starts to boil, simply turn off the burner and let it sit, covered, on the warm burner for 20 minutes! To your cooked rice, you will need to add 1 1/2 T rice vinegar (non-flavored),  1 T sugar and a pinch of salt.  Stir until mixed.

I spread the rice on a cookie sheet to let it cool while I am heating the seaweed sheets in a warm oven (to make them more pliable).  Leave the sheets in a warm oven for about 4-5 minutes.

With wet hands, spread the cooled, seasoned rice onto nori.  If you do not keep your hands wet, more rice will stick to you than the seaweed!

When the rice is spread evenly, place 1/2 the filling off-center on top.  Then, very carefully, start to roll your sushi away from you on the bamboo mat. 

Make sure you do not roll the wax paper into the sushi roll.  :)

At the end of the roll, give the sushi a firm squeeze.  This is just to ensure that the roll will not unwrap.

Here is sushi roll #1!  I had a little spillage on each side... if you are a neat freak, you are welcome to trim this off to make it look more professional.  Then, with a wet knife, cut your roll into 9 pieces and arrange on a plate!

Even though this sushi looks good enough to eat right away, you need to make the second roll while the nori is still warm! :)  Be sure to serve your sushi rolls with naturally fermented soy sauce and wasabi paste- everyone will be amazed that you made these yourself! Enjoy!

 I wanted to show you my 7-year-old's chopsticks!  We found this neat little gadget made especially for kids, and I had to get one.  We call them his "clothes-pin chopsticks" because they have the same spring mechanism of a clothes pin... and they are great for little hands.

Homemade Play Dough

When the weather isn't ideal for playing outside, play dough is a good alternative :) I do not buy play dough anymore- not after getting a recipe from a homeschooling friend of mine in Louisiana! This play dough is soft, long-lasting and edible (although I wouldn't recommend it!).

The play dough in the picture is over a month old and shows no signs of age, no drying and is as pliable as the day I made it. My daughter likes to add colors to her play dough- this batch started out a cream color and very quickly became a dark green/black!

To make this wonderful sculpting medium, you will need:

1 c flour

1/2 c table salt
2 t cream of tartar
1 c water
1 T cooking oil

Combine all ingredients in a skillet and heat on medium-high heat.

Stir constantly until mixture pulls away from pan and can be formed into a ball.

Turn out onto counter top or cutting board and let it cool a bit, then kneed it until it reaches desired consistency- this won't take more than a minute or two.

You can add essential oils, food coloring, sparkles, etc. anything that might tickle your fancy!

Make sure to store your play dough in an air-tight bag or container to prolong its life.

Enjoy a breather and a cup of tea while the kids use their imaginations :)