Monkey Bars

1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 cup raw (turbinado) sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 ripe banana
2 eggs
1/2 cup flour
2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease a 9x9 inch baking pan.

In mixer bowl, beat together the oil, sugar, and vanilla. Beat in eggs and banana. Combine flour, cocoa, baking powder, and salt in a separate bowl and gradually add into mixing bowl until well blended. Pour into baking pan.

Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let cool completely.

Frosting:
4 TBSP softened butter
1/2-2 c powdered sugar
1/4-1 c creamy peanut butter

In a medium bowl, whisk the butter and 1/2 c. sugar until it resembles..... frosting. You may need to keep adding a little sugar at a time until it comes to the right consistency, and you have to put a strong fast whisk into it (or cheat and use the Kitchenaid with the whisk attachment).

Once the butter/sugar is frostified, add in 1/4 peanut butter and whisk it in to incorporate. Keep adding until it has the taste that you want, if it gets too soft add a little sugar at a time until its stiff and holds it shape.

Frost the bars and cut into squares.

Smoothie Sailing!

If you follow my facebook page or read my sister blog about my life outside the kitchen, you have probably seen the "31 Days to Healthier Kids" tips lately. Day 3 was to feed them breakfast, like smoothies with milk, banana, and peanut butter. I could not agree with this more, and for years have been making smoothies for breakfasts and snacks. I have a single serving blender in my desk at work, or we make a full-size blender at home if we are all sharing. As you know, I am huge into making everything yourself from whole ingredients, but sometimes the pre-packaged, just-add milk variety is just plain more convenient and cheaper than the drive-thru at the local fast-food spot or Smoothie Shop.

My Old Standby Smoothie
Fill blender of choice half way with chunks of frozen fruit (bananas, berries, peaches, melon). Add in about 1 TBSP of fat-free plain or vanilla yogurt PER SERVING (about 4 for a full-size blender).  Pour in milk (cow, soy, unsweetened almond) to cover fruit. Blend on high until smoothified. Plain yogurt will make a more tart smoothie, vanilla will be a little sweeter. If it is too bland for you, add a little honey to sweeten.

Quick and Easy Smoothie's To Go
Recently, Yoplait sent me a free Chocolate Banana Smoothie through the My Blog Spark program hoping I might write about it.  While skeptical, I must admit I was pleasantly surprised with the product. It was much easier to bring to work than individual ingredients, and technically makes 2-1 cup servings (but I had the whole thing as a quick breakfast). It was delicious, and it will be even better next time I make it and throw in a tablespoon of peanut butter. You can also throw in a scoop of protein powder. It is also perfect to split at home between my 2 kids, and to them its just a milkshake. Wanna try one?

Comment below, on facebook, or e-mail me at momvsfood@gmail.com by 10/15 when I will hold a drawing for a prize pack from Yoplait** including:
                 * A VIP coupon for a sample of Yoplait Chocolate Banana Smoothie
                 * Neck pillow
                 * Smoothie tumbler
                 * Lavender eye mask

Don't want to wait? You can get a coupon for a $1.00 off coupon here.  

However you choose to acquire your smoothies, it is a delicious way to get your calcium and fruit!

Want more info from Yoplait about their smoothies? Check out Yoplait.com . You can also check them out on facebook and get coupons thru their fan page.
** Disclosure: The Yoplait® VIP Coupon, information, and giveaway have been provided by Yoplait through MyBlogSpark.

Thai Meatball Chow Mein

1 lb ground meat

dash of siracha or hot sauce
1 TBSP soy sauce
2 cloves garlic, grated
1" piece ginger root, grated
2 TBSP chopped basil
1 beaten egg
1 cup crispy rice cereal
1/2 cup dry roasted peanuts, finely chopped

2 onions, halved and thick sliced
5-6 stalks celery w/ tops, sliced on a diagonal
2 large carrots, shredded
1 lime
3 TBSP soy sauce

crispy Chinese noodles
sesame oil

Preheat broiler on low setting. Mix first 9 ingredients together and form into 1/2-1" meatballs ...I meant to do smaller ones, but was rushing to get dinner on the table so went with larger ones.

Heat wok or large saute pan on high heat. Add 2 TBSP cooking oil. Once oil ripples, add onions and celery. Cook about 5 minutes without stirring. Sprinkle with salt and stir. Turn meatballs over.

Once onions begin to wilt, add carrots and the zest of the lime. Stir well to incorporate vegetables together and cook another 5 minutes.  Turn broiler up to high.

Squeeze lime juice and add soy sauce to vegetables. Remove meatballs from broiler and add to vegetables. Stir well to coat meatballs and serve over noodles with a light drizzle of sesame oil.

Quick Chicken and Broccoli Casserole

2 cups cooked chicken breast, cubed
2 cups cooked broccoli, chopped
1 cup brown rice
1 can cream of something soup
1 cup shredded cheese

Mix chicken, broccoli, rice, soup and half of the cheese together and pour into a greased casserole dish.  Top with the other half of the cheese, and bake in a 350 degree oven until hot and bubbly.

Mom's 40 Fave Football Foods

1. Teriyaki Meatballs  
2. Buffalo Chex Mix
3. Spinach Dip
4. Dump Cake
5. Calzones
6. Mac and Cheese
7. Stuffed Jalapenos
8. Baked Beans
9. Baked Tortilla Chips
10. Queso
11. Guacamole
12. Chili Cheese Dip
13. Pulled Pork
14. Homemade Pizza
15. Congo Squares
16. Chili
17. Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Bars
18. Peanut Butter Pie
19. Snickers Cake w/ Chocolate Cream Cheese Icing
20. Teriyaki Drum Sticks
21. Beer Braised Pork Ribs
22. Broccoli and Cheese Casserole
23. Mexican Mac and Cheese
24. Monkey Munch
25. Peanut Butter Cup Shake
26. Shredded Beef Tacos
27. Red Pepper Dill Dip
28. Broccoli and Cheese Potato Skins
29. Buffalo Drums
30. Steak Lover's Chili
31. Crockpot BBQ Brisket
32. Pork Wontons
33. Pull-Apart Pizza Bread
34. Sticky Ribs
35. BLT Dip
36. Angelic Deviled Eggs
37. Sweet and Sour Sausage Skewers
38. Steak and Cheese French Bread Pizza
39. No-Box Brownies
40. Cajun Chicken French Bread Pizza