Nosh

I love ideas so genius, yet so obvious...Forehead slapping, "Duh, why didn't I think of that?" ideas. Alisa of the The Tidy Nest has shared her make-ahead freezer smoothies which is one such idea. I love that these smoothies are so mind-numbingly simple to put together and carry one powerful punch. A punch sometimes needed when one over sleeps and needs to get one's self and 2 others out the door with no time to spare for breakfast.

I know, I know, I KNOW I just posted something about one of the projects featured on From Glitter to Gumdrops. And while I'm not in the habit of doing this I just couldn't pass up the chance to pass on this clever tutorial for personalized tortillas.

Three years ago my daughter (then 2 years old) and I began a pre-shabbat tradition of baking the challah for our Friday night holiday. Now, I'm not one that bakes...outside of the occasional batch or two of Nestle Tollhouse's chocolate chip cookies so it's taken three years to figure some stuff out.

This turkey shaped sandwich from Jill of Meet The Dubiens is going to be THE turkey sandwich that will finally convince my kids to give bell peppers a second chance (I hope). Who wouldn't want to gobble up this sweet as pumpkin pie lunch? It's super easy to assemble giving you no excuse to give it a try while giving your picky eaters a reason to broaden their veggie horizons in preparation for your Thanksgiving feast.

Uber-cool craftster chick Megan Reardon of Not Martha contributes this awesome tentacle pot pie how-to on Babble. Simple, spooky, fun and tasty...I think I've just found the perfect Halloween night dinner idea to warm up and fill up my tiny trick-or-treaters pre-candy coma!

Megan:

Just in time for Halloween Gather and Nest has shared a meat loaf idea sure to transform your "meatloaf, smeatloaf, double-beatloaf" standby into a magnificent mummified meal. If your kids are like mine and constantly snub the loaf (what's their problem? I have proof I mix up a mean loaf?) then this Halloween themed dish which tosses in some pasta, cheese and olives is sure to convince them that the loaf is yummy and (at times) good for a laugh. Go mummy meatloaf!

I'm not one for baking with over processed commercial products. However, that doesn't stop me for borrowing an idea or two from their sites. And who'da thunk that Betty Crocker would be queen of birthday cake ideas? Ok, ok, ok...you're probably thinking "Um, duh, how about anyone who has ever "homemade" a cake from one her boxes and cans?" But seriously, I was blown away by the site's awesome collection of birthday cake tutorials.

When author Michael Pollan talks I first think "Oh crap, what am I doing wrong now?" Then, I get over myself and prick up my ears to what he's saying because the man knows food.

Even though the school year is still brand new, just about now you've already burned your kids out on the turkey and cheese on whole wheat/PB&J pita lunchbox rotation. And they, understandably so, outright refuse to toss in a hot lunch once a week, unless that week's offerings includes a chimichanga.

If given the choice my son would eat Lunchable for ever meal. Although I'm not a fan of sending my son off to school with one of these yellow box o'processed edibles Kraft is attempting to improve the nutritional quality of their Lunchables and they are also doing something pretty great right now...that's worth a few kudos.