Happy December! (And a Snowflaked Themed Lunch)

Happy Happy December! Is it cold where you are? Are you wearing boots and scarves? Making snowmen? Dancing in the falling snow?

Welp. I’m in shorts. With my A/C on. Dreaming about a cold winter. It’s a pipe dream, really, for us Florida folks.

So, I’m pretending it’s cold. My house is DECKED out in Christmas, I drink hot chocolate, I wear Christmas themed t-shirts. I’m trying, people.

I wanted to make a special December 1st lunch for my big boy for today, but I had a horrible migraine. So, I am made some today for both my boys for tomorrow.

A chilly, wintry themed one.

 I made snowflake shaped jam sandwiches and added details with my Food Writers. I also packed goldfish crackers, colby jack cheese, dried cranberries, a mandarin orange (Bigs), a Go-Gurt (Bigs), grapes (Smalls), and a snowball donut (that was leftover from the special breakfast our elf Duncan [Donuts] brought the boys this morning).

“Silently, like thoughts that come and go, the snowflakes fall, each one a gem.”

-William Hamilton Gibson

Blessings!

Kristin

Perfect Sweet Potato Casserole (and another squirrel themed lunch)

It is THAT time of year again! I adore Thanksgiving. It’s my favorite holiday. Not just for the food, although that’s a huge part of it. I love the tradition, the memories I have of Thanksgivings past, the new memories made with family, the way people become so introspective about thankfulness. I love the traditional food that I make each year, and the new recipes I come up with. I love the crafts. I love every part of it. It makes me happy.

I always seem to make mini Thanksgiving meals in the weeks prior to the Big Day, in hungry anticipation. Last week, I made a turkey and cranberry meatloaf which I paired with my traditional macaroni and cheese casserole, green bean casserole, and sweet potato casserole (#casseroleallthethings). This week, I paired a new sweet potato casserole with a honey and dijon mustard glazed ham. And this SPC was SO dang good, that I just had to share the recipe with you. It also happens to be dairy and gluten free, which for my family, is a bonus!

It’s creamy on the inside, studded with little jewels of dried fruit, and topped with two kinds of marshmallow, which have been toasted just the perfect amount.

**Caveat** This recipe has raisins in it. I know for a fact that many people do not like raisins. I don’t care for them in cookies. They ruin cookies for me. But in this? They added a chewy, lovely texture.

Perfect Sweet Potato Casserole

Recipe serves 2 adults and 2 kids, with leftovers

3 medium to large sweet potatoes, peeled and chopped

2 T melted coconut oil

splash of coconut milk

1 egg, lightly beaten

3/4 C dried cranberries

2/3 C golden raisins

1/2 small jar marshmallow fluff

1/2 bag of mini marshmallows

Boil the peeled and chopped sweet potatoes until they are tender. Using a hand mixer, blend together the next three ingredients, until creamy and smooth. Fold in the dried fruit. Pour into a greased pan (I used a 9×9) and bake in a 350F oven for about 25 minutes. Melt the marshmallow fluff in the microwave. Pull the casserole out and spread the fluff over the top. Sprinkle the mini marshmallows over that and place back in the oven, with the broiler on high. Make sure not to burn the marshmallows, but see that they get nice and brown!

It is dang good. ENJOY!

Also. I made yet another squirrel themed lunch. This is my last week of fall and Thanksgiving themed lunches, so I am doing repeats allll day.

I made squirrel shaped sunbutter and grape jelly sandwiches. I cut acorn shapes out of fruit leather for the little tree rats to snack on. I also packed goldfish crackers, dried cranberries, more dried fruit, colby jack cheese (Bigs), a mandarin orange (Bigs), green grapes (Smalls), and a Linzer cookie for each.

Peace ‘n’ Blessins’,

Kristin

Squirrel Themed Kindergarten & 3’s School Lunches

HAPPY FRIDAY! I am so glad it’s Friday. Forrealz. I made squirrel shaped apple butter sandwiches for my boys. I also packed dried cranberries (Bigs), corn, cheese (two different kinds for two different tastes), mandarin orange (Bigs), grapes, and a cranberry cookie (Smalls).

TGIF!

Kristin

Jack-o-lantern Themed Kindergarten School Lunch

For yesterday’s lunch, I made a sunbutter and jam jack-o-lantern sandwich. I cut out eyes, a mouth, and a little nose, and added some color with my Food Writers. I also packed colby jack cheese, cheddar sandwich crackers, grapes, a teeny piece of homemade pumpkin pie and one little candy corn. I decorated with a spider ring, a ghost ring, and a little grody rubber rat.

Kristin

Homemade Lunchables Kindergarten School Lunch (again!)

I made a homemade Lunchable(s) for tomorrow’s school lunch. I packed plain graham crackers, sliced colby jack cheese, sliced and rolled ham, dried cranberries, pickles, homemade cinnamon applesauce, and a cut up Little Debbie Star Crunch. And just in case you’re wondering…yes, I eat a teeny portion of that Star Crunch each time I cut it.

Kristin

Animal Kindergarten & 3’s School Lunches (and a fun counting game!)

For last Friday’s lunch (I am OBVI up to date with and on top of all things in my life), I went with a piggy theme. My little one is learning about farm animals and I thought my big one would just appreciate a piggy shaped sandwich (who wouldn’t?).

I made piggy shaped sunbutter and jam sandwiches, and used Food Writers to add details. They are perched upon their crusty hay. I also packed Terra chips, plum, corn, and yogurt covered pretzels.

Oink.

Part of today’s homeschool assignment for my Bigs was to create a numbers game that he could share with his class tomorrow. We came up with an elephant themed one.

I wrote numbers from 5 – 100 (by denominations of 5) on peanuts. We stapled some elephant cupcake picks to paper bags and cut a hole in one side of the paper bags, so when you lift the elephant flap, you can feed them. The directions are to feed each elephant according to their tastes – one likes only peanuts counting by 5’s (minus those ending in 0’s), and the other by 10’s. The kids are to say the numbers as they pick them up, as well.

So, for tomorrow’s lunch, I went with an elephant theme.

I made an elephant shaped sunbutter and apple jelly sandwich. I outline him just for a little more detail. I also packed cheddar sandwich crackers, colby jack cheese, corn, plum, and a Little Debbie Star Crunch.

Kristin

Sunbutter Triangles Kindergarten School Lunch

For tomorrow’s lunch, I packed a sunbutter and strawberry jam sandwich, cut into triangles. I also packed colby jack cheese, a plum (my Bigs’ favorite!) and a cut up Star Crunch (also a childhood favorite of mine!!).

Happy Thursday!

Kristin

Monster Sandwich Kindergarten & 3’s School Lunches

I love these little guys! These monster sandwiches came out great (in my humblest of opinions, of course). I made crustless sunbutter and apple butter sandwiches and cut them almost in half, but in a funky shape. I added googly eyes, of course. I stuck them on with extra apple butter. They look extra googly because of that. Sort of works on a monster. I made funky hair out of huge grapes (Smalls’ have been cut in half) on mini skewers. I also packed colby jack cheese (Bigs), carrot sticks (I’m positive Bigs will fight me on this and they’ll come home uneaten, but hope springs eternal!), broccoli (Smalls), dried cranberries, and a Trader Joe’s mini pumpkin pie for dessert.

Today was much better, if you can’t already tell.

Kristin

Cinnamon Raisin Bread Kindergarten School Lunch Part II (again)

My kids told me that they loved their lunches today so much that they wanted the same again for tomorrow. That couldn’t make life any easier for me! I made another pumpkin cream cheese and cinnamon raisin bread sandwich. I also packed cubed colby jack cheese, a little more rolled up ham this time, dried dates, dried cranberries, dried pineapple, snap pea crisps, and a few little pieces of brownie brittle (brilliant).

Almost Friday. It’s almost Friday.

Kristin

Catch Up Lunches

I’m baaack. It’s been a week. My oldest son broke his clavicle at the end of last week. I’ve been so busy with him that a) I’ve made crappy blog-unworthy lunches and b) I haven’t had time to write any posts. Not that you’d want to see them on those lunches anyway. #sorrykids

Here is what I’ve packed for this week so far:

I made turkey, cheese, and mayo sandwiches on multi-grain bread. I also packed Terra chips, corn (for Bigs), grapes, a Little Debbie pumpkin cupcakes (Bigs), and a few candy corn (Smalls).

For today’s lunches, I made pumpkin cream cheese and cinnamon raisin bread sandwiches. I also packed cubed colby jack cheese, rolled up ham, grapes, Goldfish crackers, Little Debbie pumpkin cupcake (Bigs), and broccoli (Smalls).

Have a great week!

Kristin