Category: breakfast

October 13, 2019

Kid-Friendly Kettle Corn Granola Recipe

Kettle corn granola is a little salty and little sweet. You get the flavor of kettle corn in your breakfast bowl!

Granola is one of my absolute favorite foods. I got hooked on it in college…and ate it every day. I wish I had known back then just how easy it is to make your own granola.

Now I make it all the time. I always have some on hand for an easy snack or quick breakfast. It’s great mixed in yogurt or eaten plain with milk. I even love putting some in my daughter’s lunch for a filling finger food.

A super easy breakfast that my kids love is a granola bar bowl – you get the taste of granola bars without the work. Grab the recipe here.

Sweet and Salty Homemade Granola

I’ve been making granola for many years now. I have several granola recipes already on the blog. I don’t usually follow a recipe anymore. I just use what we have on hand and create something new every time.

But this version of granola is hands down my favorite!

It’s salty and sweet and very addictive!! I call it kettle corn granola because it really tastes like kettle corn.

Easy Finger Food Snack

My kids love to munch on this stuff. As you can see my son had no problems helping me make the granola and being my taste tester.

One of the great things about granola is that you can make a huge batch (I usually do about 10 cups of oats at a time – a double batch of this recipe) and freeze it. Then when you want granola you are set.

You don’t even have to thaw it! Granola is ready straight from the freezer. I usually keep a small jar in the cupboard and refill it from the freezer stash as we use it up.

Budget-Friendly Breakfast

The other thing I love about granola is how much money it saves. Have you looked at the price of granola made with quality ingredients? I was recently at a small meat market. They had locally made granola…$4 for about 6 oz.!!! That is insane. My kids would eat that much in one sitting.

When you make granola at home you control the ingredients AND you save a ton of money. Always good.

You also make a very allergy-friendly breakfast treat. This one is gluten, dairy, nut and egg free.

Quick-Prep Homemade Granola

Granola only takes about five minutes to prepare. The end result is a huge batch of homemade cereal that will last a long time. It is also the perfect project to do with kids. When I make granola each kids gets his or her own bowl to create their own batch. They can add whatever they like. My kids love being creative with granola. Sometimes we end up baking theirs, but usually they eat it before it gets to the oven.

This would make a great Christmas gift. Make a couple batches, package it and pass it around to family and friends. Throw a few mini chocolate chips in after the granola has cooled and you’ll really be giving a delicious treat.

Soaked Granola Recipe

If you want to be sure you’re really getting all of the nutrients out of your granola you can make this into a soaked version. You’ll have to plan ahead, but it’s still oh, so delicious!

Do you like the salty sweet combination of kettle corn? Now you can enjoy it for breakfast with kettle corn granola.

Kettle Corn Granola

2014-10-30 06:08:22

A delicious granola cereal that has the sweet and salty flavor of kettle corn.

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Unsoaked

5 cups old fashioned oats
1/2 cup water
3/4 cup coconut oil and/or butter
1/2 cup coconut sugar
1/4 cup honey
1/4 cup maple syrup
1 tsp. unrefined sea salt

Soaked

5 cups old fashioned oats
2 1/2 cups warm water + 2 Tbsp. yogurt, kefir or lemon juice
1/3 cup coconut oil and/or butter
1/2 cup coconut sugar
1/4 cup honey and/or maple syrup
1 tsp. unrefined sea salt

Unsoaked

Heat the oven to 350*F.
In a large bowl combine the oats, water and salt.
In a saucepan heat the sugar, honey, syrup and oil until the oil is melted and the sugars and oil combine.
Pour the sugar/oil mixture over the oats. Mix until well combined.
Spread the oat mixture onto a large parchment lined baking sheet.
Bake for about one hour, stirring every 20 minutes, until golden brown.
Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely.
Store in an air tight container in the cupboard or in the freezer for long term storage.

Soaked

Combine the oats, warm water and soaking agent.
Cover and let sit 24 hours.
Spread the oat mixture onto dehydrator trays and dry until crisp, about 8 hours.
Crumble dried oats into a large bowl.
Heat oven to 350*F.
In a small saucepan combine the salt, butter, sugar and honey.
Cook until melted and combined.
Pour the butter mixture over the oats. Mix well.
Spread onto a parchment lined baking sheet (it may fit on one large sheet or you may need to spread it on two sheets).
Bake for 30 minutes.
Allow to cool completely.
Crumble the granola and store in an air tight container or in the freezer.

Notes

This recipe easily doubles or triples and freezes well.
Granola is ready straight from the freezer.

By Mary - justtakeabite.com

Just Take A Bite https://justtakeabite.com/

This post is linked to From The Archives Friday.

May 18, 2019

Gluten-Free Sunbutter Breakfast Cookies

In need of an easy, allergen-free breakfast? These sunbutter breakfast cookies only take a few minutes of prep time and are free of gluten, dairy, eggs, nuts, rice, corn, soy and coconut.

When I ask my kids what they want for breakfast nine times out of ten they say breakfast cookies.

I don’t blame them. Who doesn’t want a cookie for breakfast?!

Easy Gluten-Free Breakfast Cookies

I’ve been making a variety of breakfast cookies for years. But recently we experimented with an egg free diet for my oldest. So I had to come up with yet another version.

Sunbutter makes a great allergy-friendly substitute for eggs. Not to mention it is delicious! It also replaces the fat. So there is no need to use dairy or coconut.

I also add some ground flax seeds to make sure the cookies hold together.

Soak Grains for Better Digestion

Sunbutter breakfast cookies start with a long soak to reduce the phytic acid content. This is especially important when using oats as they are very high in phytic acid.

If you’ve never soaked your grains before, rest assured it’s a very simple thing to do. Mix the grains with water and lemon juice. Done.

When you are ready to bake all you have to do is add the remaining ingredients, mix, scoop and bake.

Kids in the Kitchen

This is a great recipe to let little ones help with. No chopping. No egg cracking. No butter melting. Just measure, pour and mix.

You can teach even your youngest children all the necessary skills for making these delicious breakfast cookies with the Kids Cook Real Food eCourse! Check it out HERE.

Kids can even sample the ingredients as you go. Somebody has to make sure the honey tastes good, right?!

You can add whatever extras you like to sunbutter breakfast cookies. My kids always ask for mini chocolate chips. Dried fruit, nuts, seeds and coconut all work, depending on your dietary needs.

Seasonally-Inspired Breakfast Cookies

Change up the flavor of your sunbutter breakfast cookies by adding seasonal ingredients.

In the summer add diced strawberries, blueberries, or peaches.

For fall you could add some diced apples and cinnamon. Be sure to chop the apples finely enough to make them bite sized for kids.

Dried cranberries make a very festive cookie during the holidays.

Are you looking for an allergen friendly breakfast treat for your family? Sunbutter breakfast cookies will be a family favorite.

Easy Prep-Ahead Breakfast Cookies

Be sure to make a big batch so you can stock the freezer for effortless breakfasts on busy school mornings. Paired with a big glass of homemade rice milk you’ll have breakfast on the table in under a minute!

You can also add them to lunch boxes for a delicious and healthy treat.

I have to share a fun fact that I learned while making these.

When you mix a lot of baking soda with sunbutter it turns green!

Don’t worry. I adjusted the recipe so you won’t have green cookies like we did. But it is perfectly safe to eat them even if they are green.

5 from 1 vote

Allergen Free Sunbutter Breakfast Cookies

A simple breakfast cookies that is free of gluten, eggs, dairy, nuts, rice, corn and coconut.

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes

Servings 20

Ingredients

2 1/2 cups gluten-free oats
1/2 cup sorghum flour or brown rice or amaranth
3/4 cups warm water
2 Tbsp. lemon juice
1/2 cup sunbutter unsweetened
2/3 cup honey
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/4 cup ground flax seeds
1/2 cup add-ins: chocolate chips dried fruit, coconut, seeds, nuts

Instructions

Combine the oats, sorghum, water and lemon juice in a bowl. Cover and let sit 24 hours.
Heat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
Add the sunbutter, honey, salt, soda, and flax seeds to the oat mixture. Mix well.
Stir in the add-ins.
Scoop mounds of dough onto the prepared baking sheet (as large or as small as you like).
Bake for 15 - 20 minutes (less time for smaller cookies, more time for larger cookies).
Let cool.
Store in sealed container in the refrigerator for up to a week or in the freezer for up to a year.

This post is linked to Savoring Saturdays.

April 28, 2019

Pectin-Free Easy Strawberry Freezer Jam

Summer preservation just got a little easier. This pectin-free easy strawberry freezer jam is the perfect way to use fresh strawberries. Just FOUR real food ingredients!

You know summer has arrived in Michigan when strawberries are in season. It’s an exciting time of year! But at the same time it means preservation season has also begun.

For me this lasts from June to November. Literally half of the year I am preserving food for the other half of the year! It’s a lot of work, but so worth all of the effort.

How to Preserve Strawberries

I’m always so thankful that we kick off preservation with fruit like strawberries. I can ease into it instead of jumping right into the labor intensive canning. Fresh strawberries are so easy to work with. Simply wash, hull and freeze. We usually freeze at least four gallons of strawberries to use all winter in yogurt, smoothies, and muffins.

While the strawberries are still fresh I like to make a lot of strawberry jam. It has recently become my preschooler’s favorite food. Our homemade gluten free bread toasted with butter and strawberry jam. No other flavor. Only strawberry.

How to Make Pectin-Free Strawberry Freezer Jam

There are so many ways to use strawberries when they are fresh. There are even plenty of ways to use them once they are frozen. But one of the best ways to use them, fresh or frozen, is by making strawberry jam!

I’ll confess. I’ve never been that great at making jam.

I followed recipes exactly. I bought various types of pectin. It just never seemed to turn out well. I think my husband was starting to wonder if I would ever make jam that wasn’t like liquid or totally solid.

So I created my own recipe for pectin-free easy strawberry freezer jam. And it is amazing!

I love this recipe because you don’t need pectin (the debate is still out on whether or not pectin is really that great for you). Instead it uses grass-fed gelatin (Use the code TAKE10 to get 10% off gelatin HERE).

How to Stock Your Freezer with Jam

This pectin-free strawberry freezer jam recipe makes about five half-pints of jam. Since it only takes about fifteen minutes to make you can easily cook several batches in one day while you have fresh strawberries.

Pectin-free easy strawberry freezer jam is great on toast. But you can also spread it on pancakes, mix it into yogurt, or even use it as an ice cream topping! My kids like to eat it by the spoonful. It’s that good.

Since creating this strawberry jam recipe I have upped my game in jam and jelly making! We now enjoy homemade pectin-free concord grape jelly, 5 minute peach jam, and red plum raspberry jelly! They are all pectin free!

Whether you still have fresh strawberries available or you already have your stash in the freezer, try making pectin-free easy strawberry freezer jam.

You’ll have a little taste of summer ready in your freezer all year long.

5 from 2 votes

Pectin-Free Easy Strawberry Freezer Jam

Simple strawberry freezer jam with only four ingredients and no pectin.

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes

Total Time 15 minutes

Author Mary | Just Take A Bite

Ingredients

1/4 cup organic lemon juice
3 1/2 tsp. grass-fed gelatin
3/4 cups organic cane sugar or coconut sugar or honey
5 cups strawberries, washed, hulled and roughly chopped fresh or frozen

Instructions

In a medium sauce pan combine the lemon juice and gelatin. Let sit 2 minutes
Add the sweetener and strawberries.
Cook over medium heat, stirring and mashing berries with a potato masher, for about 10 minutes.
Pour the jam into half-pint jars.
Chill jam in the refrigerator until set.
Use the jam fresh or freeze until ready to use.

Recipe Notes

This makes about five half-pints.
If using frozen berries, thaw them at least partially before making the jam

February 3, 2019

Gluten-Free Golden Grahams® Cereal {egg free, nut free, dairy free option}

No need to forgo your favorite cereal to eat healthier. Gluten-free Golden Grahams® is easy to make, allergy-friendly and contains quality ingredients.

Whether it’s hot outside and you want a cold breakfast or you are just too busy to cook, it’s very convenient to have cereal on hand.

For those mornings where the kids are up early and need to make their own breakfast. Or when Mom has been up all night with the baby and needs some quick energy. And you don’t happen to have leftover muffin bread pudding on hand. Gluten-free Golden Grahams® really come in handy. Not to mention they taste great!

Why Cereal is Unhealthy

Even though I was a cereal junky for many, many years (HAD to have it every morning), I stopped buying it regularly when we switched to real food. It really is not healthy, even organic.

Cereal typically gives you lots of processed sugar, synthetic vitamins/fortification (like Vitamin A!), artificial or “natural” flavors and artificial colors, GMO’s and glyphosate. Not to mention they are made with an extrusion process that makes the grains toxic.

We do still like cereal. And I’ll be honest – we do have some organic gluten-free cereal in the cupboard for a once-in-a-while snack. But my preferred choice if we are craving cereal is homemade. Over the years I’ve made:

Did I mention I used to be a cereal addict? I had to make lots of homemade varieties while I transitioned away from processed food. They were delicious experiments.

Allergy-Friendly Homemade Cereal

Once we started down the road of food allergies (like going gluten-free) I decided to make my own allergy-friendly versions of our favorite foods. Yes, even cereal!

My kids love them.

Are Golden Grahams® Gluten-Free?

The processed, store-bought version of Golden Grahams® are NOT gluten-free. But this simple homemade version is!

Gluten-free Golden Grahams® are crunchy and sweet. They make a perfect breakfast treat or a fun snack any time of day. My kids love them plain or even mixed into yogurt.

Fair warning – they are addictive. And it’s easy to eat a lot since they are so small. Just keep popping a few in your mouth here and there and you’ve eaten quite a few before you know it. No idea how I know that…

Easy Gluten-Free Snack

Gluten-free Golden Grahams® make a great finger food for on the go. It’s tough to figure out what real food to stash in the diaper bag sometimes. Homemade cereal works very well.

We also love to have a bowl with homemade rice milk for an afternoon snack. It satisfies both your sweet and crunchy cravings – without the extruded grains!

Do you still enjoy cereal? Do you need a healthier, allergen-free version?

Try these homemade Golden Grahams®. You won’t be disappointed.

Gluten-Free Golden Grahams®

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes

Total Time 30 minutes

Ingredients

1 1/4 cups white rice flour
1/2 cup amaranth flour
1/4 cup teff flour can be replaced with white rice or amaranth
1/2 cup organic cane sugar or sucanat or coconut sugar
1/2 tsp. sea salt
1/2 tsp. vanilla
4 Tbsp. honey
2 Tbsp. maple syrup
1/2 cup butter or coconut oil

Instructions

Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Cut 4 pieces of parchment paper the size of a baking sheet.
Melt the butter/oil. Set aside.
Mix the flours, sugar and salt in a large bowl.
Add the vanilla, sweetener and the butter and mix until well combined. The dough should hold together when squeezed. If it is crumbly add more honey or butter.
Split the dough into 3 equal parts. Lay one piece of parchment paper on a table. Put 1/3 of dough on the paper. Lay a 2nd piece of parchment on top of dough. Squish the dough down a little with your hand. Use a rolling pin to roll the dough between the parchment paper. Roll the dough until it is very thin (1/16th" or so). Remove the top piece of parchment paper.
Cut into small squares with a pizza cutter or knife. Place on a baking sheet (on the parchment paper...just move the whole thing onto the baking sheet). Repeat for rest of dough.
Bake for 8-10 minutes. Turn the oven off, but leave the cereal in to get crisp. Remove after 5 min.
Let cool completely. Store in airtight container for up to 2 weeks or in the freezer for up to a year.

Recipe Notes

Makes about 2 quarts.

Any 2 cup combination of gluten free flour will work - this combination gives a very neutral flavor.

This post is shared on Allergen Free Wednesday.

January 27, 2019

Easy Allergen-Free Bread

Looking for a great gluten-free bread that holds together without allergens or gums? This allergen-free bread is easy to make and tastes great!

A couple years ago I spent at least six months trying to come up with a decent gluten free bread. I probably made at least fifty experimental loaves.

What did I come up with?

My “not-quite-perfect” gluten free bread. It tastes good. But it’s not quite as sturdy as I’d like. And it seems to turn out differently every time I make it!

Easy Allergen-Free Bread

Then when two of my kids added a bunch of new allergies I just stopped making bread. I really didn’t know how to bake anything safe for them. Back to experimenting.

Eventually I got the hang of making decent muffins (my poor husband with texture issues had to suffer through some over-moist and dry, crumbly experiments).

Can You Bake Gluten-Free Bread Without Xanthan Gum?

One day I decided to try making a loaf of bread. Just to see what would happen.

Imagine my surprise when it turned out great! Actually way better than the gluten-free bread I had tried to create for so long.

Who knew you could cut out the eggs, dairy and binders and get something better?!

My allergen-free bread has no gluten, eggs, dairy, nuts, coconut, rice, corn, seeds or soy. And as with all of my baking it has no gums. As an added bonus, it is soaked so it’s gentler on the tummy.

Kid-approved Gluten-Free Bread

Want to know what my kids think about this allergen-free bread?

First kid: “This is AWESOME!”

Second kid: “This is only for me! Nobody else can have it.”

What Can You Make with Allergen-Free Bread?

Life sure is easier when you have bread. My son can enjoy sloppy joes, sandwiches with homemade lunch meat or toast with sunbutter (we love this brand because it is made in a peanut and tree nut facility). We even use it to make mini pizzas with our nutrient dense pizza sauce (no cheese necessary)!

Sometimes we use leftover pancakes or tortillas as “bread.” But this allergen free bread is definitely our first choice. I try to keep some in the freezer at all times for quick snacks, breakfasts and lunches. I even pre-slice it so I can just grab one slice at a time.

Just a few simple ingredients, mixed by hand gives you a delicious and versatile bread. Soak the flour the day before (or skip that step if you didn’t plan ahead). Then it takes about five minutes to get the bread into the oven.

Just because you have allergies doesn’t mean you have to miss out on freshly baked bread. It also doesn’t mean you have to resort to strange ingredients and binders (that actually often contain allergens!), like most store-bought versions have.

Looking for Homemade Allergen-Free Bread?

Give this allergen free bread a try. Your kids will be begging for more.

Better yet, get your kids in the kitchen to help make it! They can practice, measuring, pouring and mixing. This will definitely be on our list of things to bake as we go through the Kids Cook Real Food eCourse. Click here to learn more about it!

5 from 1 vote

Easy Allergen Free Bread

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 55 minutes

Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes

Author Mary | Just Take A Bite

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups organic sorghum flour
1/2 cup organic tapioca or white rice flour
1/4 cup psyllium husk
2/3 cup warm water
1 Tbsp. lemon juice
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. cream of tartar
1/2 tsp. salt
3 Tbsp. honey
5 Tbsp. olive oil or avocado oil
3 tsp. grassfed gelatin
1/4 cup cold water
3/4 cup hot water

Instructions

Combine the flour, psyllium husk, warm water and lemon juice. Mix to remove any lumps. Cover and let sit 7 - 24 hours.
Heat the oven to 350*F. Grease or line with parchment paper one medium bread pan.
Combine the gelatin and cold water. Set aside.
Add the baking soda, cream of tartar, salt, honey and oil to the flour mixture. Stir well.
Add the hot water to the gelatin water and mix until dissolved.
Add the gelatin water to the flour mixture. Blend well with a hand mixer to remove any lumps.
Pour the dough in the prepared pans.
Bake for 55 - 60 minutes, until golden.
Allow to cool for 30 minutes before removing from the pan.
Allow to cool for at least an additional 60 minutes before slicing.
Store in a sealed container at room temperature for up to 5 days, in the fridge for up to a week or in the freezer for up to a year.

Recipe Notes

You can slice the bread before freezing.
You can replace any of the water with yogurt, whole milk, coconut yogurt, coconut milk, almond milk or rice milk for a moister bread.

November 18, 2018

Grain Free Pumpkin Spice Breakfast Cookies

I’ve got a solution for your busy weekday mornings. These grain free pumpkin spice breakfast cookies are so easy to make and loaded with good stuff. Plus kids love them!

*I am working with Perfect Supplements for this post. I have been compensated for my time commitment, but all opinions are my own. Some links are affiliate links. Using the links will not change the cost of anything for you.*

Life is BUSY. And just when you think your current busy situation is coming to an end…something else comes up. Last year we had so many activities. I was driving the kids here, there and everywhere. I hated it.

Fast forward a year. Now we are home a lot more. But we have a baby that requires a lot of my time and attention. It feels just as busy. Just in a different way.

Busy life = less time for making good food.

But I’m not giving up! No way. I came up with the perfect fall breakfast that you can prepare in advance. You can even make a double or triple batch to stock your freezer for weeks. And if you are teaching your kids to cook they can actually make them for you. How’s that for freeing up some time?!

Allergy Friendly Pumpkin Spice Breakfast Cookies

These pumpkin spice breakfast cookies are loaded with nourishing ingredients. Plus they taste great! They are super allergy friendly too. No grains, dairy, nuts, eggs or soy.

There is one secret ingredient that is really the star of the show.

Gelatin!

I love the grass-fed gelatin from Perfect Supplements. There is no strange smell. It gels beautifully. And since I do a lot of egg free baking it is my go-to ingredient.

These pumpkin spice breakfast cookies are also packed with coconut oil for healthy fat. Combine that with gelatin and garbanzo bean flour for protein. Plus tapioca flour for starch. It’s a complete breakfast that you can hold in your hand.

Grab a couple for the road, pair it with bacon and fresh fruit or pack one in your child’s lunch box. You get the flavors of fall in a nutritious cookie.

Grain Free Pumpkin Spice Breakfast Cookies

2016-10-09 12:58:32

Yields 15

An allergy friendly breakfast cookie loaded with healthy protein, fat and carbs.

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Ingredients

1 cup amaranth flour
3/4 cups tapioca flour
3/4 cups garbanzo bean flour
3/4 cups water
2 Tbsp. Perfect Supplements collagen
1 Tbsp. organic lemon juice
1/4 cup coconut oil, melted
1/2 cup pumpkin puree
1/2 cup organic cane sugar
3 tsp. Perfect Supplements gelatin
1/2 tsp. unrefined sea salt
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 - 1 cup mix-ins of choice: raisins, dried cranberries, mini chocolate chips, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds

Instructions

In a large bowl combine the flour, water, collagen and lemon juice.
Mix well.
Cover and let sit at room temperature 7 - 24 hours.

When ready to bake

Heat oven to 375*F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silpat.
Add the coconut oil and pumpkin to the soaked mixture. Stir to combine.
Add the sugar, gelatin, salt, baking soda and cinnamon. Mix well.
Stir in your mix-ins of choice.
Drop by large mounds onto the prepared baking pans.
Bake for 25 - 30 minutes, until golden brown.
Remove from oven and let cool for 5 minutes on baking pan.
Serve warm or at room temperature.
Store in a sealed container at room temperature for 3 days, in the refrigerator for up to a week or in the freezer for up to a year.

By Mary - justtakeabite.com

Just Take A Bite https://justtakeabite.com/

Prep Ahead Breakfast Cookies

I soak the seed and bean flours to help with digestion. I also prep the rest of the ingredients the night before. In the morning I just pour, mix and bake. I can have a batch of pumpkin spice breakfast cookies in the oven in about five minutes. Then we can eat some fresh and stick the rest in the freezer for a quick breakfast any day of the week.

Or if you like to do all of your prep work on the weekends that works too!

Add whatever mix-ins you like. Pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, flax seeds, chia seeds, mini chocolate chips, raisins, dried cranberries…they’re all good.

My kids LOVE these cookies. I think my toddler ate THREE one morning (yes, the toddler that used to barely eat anything). They are that good.

More To Love From Perfect Supplements

If you’ve never tried Perfect Supplements gelatin I highly recommend it. The quality is exceptional. But don’t stop there. Perfect Supplements carries such a wide variety of products.

Collagen

Like the collagen that I also use in the pumpkin spice breakfast cookies. I use it in all of our smoothies (like this blueberry spinach smoothie or this squash cherry smoothie). It was a life saver (literally) for my toddler when she was barely eating (check out how I got her to eat again with this “squash milk”).

Greens

We also recently tried both the fermented kale powder and the aquatic greens. They are perfect for smoothies. And the aquatic greens are especially great for those with allergies. I use it for my big kids as often as possible.

I could go on and on about all of the great products. But I’ll let you do some looking for yourself.

How to Save Money on Breakfast

Now for the best part.

You can use the coupon code TAKE10 at checkout to get 10% off your entire order!

I’ve got another great recipe that uses Perfect Supplements gelatin to share with you!

What is your favorite way to use gelatin?

Need more ideas for fun ways to add gelatin or collagen to your diet? Try these:

Strawberry Kiwi Gummies

Lemon Elderberry Gummies

Dairy Free Grilled Cheese

Homemade Fruit Snacks

Healing Hot Chocolate

Molasses Tonic

Squash Milk

Allergy Friendly Vanilla Cake

Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

August 7, 2018

Healthy Gluten Free Instant Porridge with MCT Oil

Looking for a simple, yet nourishing breakfast that you can get on the table quickly? This picky eater approved gluten free instant porridge with MCT oil will be a new family favorite. No cooking. No allergens. And best of all the kids can make it!

I’m definitely a creature of habit. When it comes to breakfast I tend to serve the same things to my family every week (one less thing to think about when meal planning!). Monday is yogurt. Tuesday is a smoothie. Wednesday is eggs. And Thursday is usually oatmeal.

There’s just one problem. My oldest son is allergic to oats!

Easy Oat-Free Breakfast

So I always have to come up with an alternative for him. Sometimes I make a different hot cereal, like teff porridge. But I’ll be honest…I usually do not feel like cooking a second breakfast. Especially now with a new baby. I just don’t have time for that.

One day I just started tossing some miscellaneous food in a bowl for him. His own instant porridge. And he loved it!

In fact, it looked so good my daughters were jealous that he got instant porridge when they had oatmeal. So now I make it for all of them! Or better yet, they can make it for themselves since they know how to cook. It’s that easy.

Want to teach your kids to cook? Check out the Kids Cook Real Food ecourse HERE! You can get a set of FREE kids make breakfast videos when you sign up by August 8!

Not to mention it’s very versatile. You can partially prep it the night before, 30 minutes before or just before breakfast. It can be gluten-free or grain-free and dairy-free.

Instant Porridge Packed with Nutrition

The key ingredient is chia seeds. They pack a nutritional punch with omega-3’s, vitamins, minerals, fiber, and protein.

There is another superstar ingredient that we add – MCT oil. If you’ve never tried it, you should. It comes from coconuts. Here are some of the benefits:

Increase Energy Levels
Improve Mental Clarity, Reduce Brain Fog
Improve Mood
Improve Gut Function and Digestion
Support a Healthy Metabolism
Aid In The Process of Reducing Stored Body Fat
Promote Healthy Brain Function
Keep Excess Inflammation in Check
Promote Healthy Heart Function
Helps Maintain Healthy Blood Sugar Levels
Variety of antimicrobial and anti-fungal effects

Anything that improves brain function and blood sugar regulation is wonderful for kids! Not to mention it boosts nutrition, which is a key factor in dealing with picky eaters. It’s great for Mom and Dad too!

The best source for MCT oil is Perfect Supplements (I trust them for all of my favorite supplements like desiccated liver and collagen). It is 100% pure (read more about it here)!

Grab your MCT oil HERE. Use the code TAKE10 to get an extra 10% off!

If you’ve never used MCT oil, make sure you start with a small dose (about 1 tsp.) and work your way up to 1 – 2 Tbsp. It can upset your digestive system if you eat too much too quickly.

To your chia seeds and MCT oil add your favorite type of milk (we us raw milk, coconut milk, almond milk or rice milk), seeds, and fruit. Then my personal favorite topping of coconut chips (advanced warning…they are so addictive!).

Healthy, Prep-ahead Breakfast

You can prepare and eat it immediately. Or you can let the chia seeds soak in the milk for a few minutes or even over night to thicken. Sometimes we add brown rice puffs or quick oats (depending on who’s eating it) to thicken it as well.

My three-year old has been measuring ingredients and slicing bananas since she was two. She loves to make instant porridge herself. Plus each child gets to choose their toppings when they make it. And they learn how to serve themselves proper portions.

If your mornings are really hectic mix the chia seeds and milk the night before. In the morning set out bowls of toppings for the family.

Instant porridge. Instant breakfast. Instant nutrition.

That is my kind of breakfast!

5 from 1 vote

Healthy Gluten Free Instant Porridge with MCT Oil

A simple, no-cook breakfast porridge that is allergy friendly and loaded with nutrition.

Prep Time 5 minutes

Total Time 5 minutes

Servings 1

Author Mary | Just Take A Bite

Ingredients

1 cup milk or yogurt of choice
2 Tbsp chia seeds
1 Tbsp. hemp seeds (optional)
1 Tbsp. MCT oil (start with 1 tsp. if you've never used it before and work up to 1 Tbsp.)
2 Tbsp. brown rice puffs or rolled oats (optional)
1 banana sliced
2 Tbsp. coconut chips
dried or fresh fruit of choice (optional)

Instructions

Combine the milk/yogurt, chia seeds, hemp seeds, MCT oil and puffs/oats.
Allow to sit for 5 - 10 minutes or overnight (in refrigerator).
Add banana, coconut chips and fruit.
Serve.

Recipe Notes

Any form of dairy works - coconut milk, almond milk, rice milk, etc.

This serves 1. Multiply for as many servings as you need.

What is your go-to quick and healthy breakfast?

Don’t forget to grab your MCT oil and all your other favorite Perfect Supplements products like desiccated liver and collagen HERE! Use the code TAKE10 to get an extra 10% off.

December 18, 2017

Candy Cane Mason Jar Fruit Salad

Looking for that perfect Christmas breakfast or dessert? This adorable and easy candy cane mason jar fruit salad is great for both kids and adults!

I am working with Stonyfield Yogurt for this post. I have been compensated for my time commitment. All opinions expressed are my own. I have not been paid to post positive reviews.

When it comes to holiday entertaining (for a crowd or just for my own family) I have two requirements:

Nutritious
Simple

I’ve learned how to host a crowd without stress and still serve real food. The big stuff is easy – meat, potatoes, veggies, etc. But I tend to neglect the little things like breakfast, dessert and fruit sides.

Three-in-One Recipe

Today I’m sharing my solution for all three!

Candy cane mason jar fruit salads work for breakfast, dessert or a simple side dish.

Start with whole milk Stonyfield yogurt that you strain to make it really thick. We like to use the vanilla, but you could use plain to make it without any added sugar. The strained vanilla yogurt is a simple alternative to whipped cream that has probiotics! My kids could not get enough of it! And I always have quarts of Stonyfield yogurt on hand. Actually I usually have about four or five in my fridge because we eat it so often.

I add our own fruit, sweeteners and other add-ins (like kettle corn granola and chia seeds) to the plain, whole milk organic yogurt for an easy breakfasts a couple times a week. That way I know we’re eating good quality food! I love that Stonyfield is all organic and is committed to using quality ingredients.

And if you’re concerned about sugar content, Stonyfield has less sugar than other brands.

If you like your yogurt/cream really thick (like I do!) you can even use strained Greek yogurt for the fruit salads. But it would be a bit on the tart side. The strained yogurt works perfectly for these fruit salads so the fruit does not sink into the yogurt. You can really see those layers!

Fruit Stripes

Once strained, simply layer the yogurt with your favorite festive fruits. We use pomegranate seeds, kiwi, raspberries and grapes. Taylor it to your tastes and the look you like. Little kids might not be keen on pomegranate seeds. While adults might like a mix with everything. My toddler enjoyed a combination of raspberries and green grapes. But my big kids loved the pomegranate seeds and kiwi.

I make a variety and let everyone choose what they like. I keep some all green and some all red and some I mix. They look so festive! Like a candy cane in a jar.

How to Save Time

Best of all? You can make them ahead of time for a super easy breakfast or dessert. Don’t want to interrupt opening Christmas presents to make breakfast? Make these fruit salads the night before and munch while you unwrap. Or prep them before your guests arrive for a super easy dessert.

If you’re really busy you can skip the last step and simply turn breakfast into a candy cane parfait buffet. Set out all the ingredients and let everyone assemble their own! Add granola, chia seeds and nuts for a complete meal. This works very well for a big crowd.

Kids Can Cook Too!

I really love that my kids can actually make these on their own. They’ve been learning to cook for two years now through the Kids Cook Real Food eCourse. So they are proficient with knives and many other kitchen tools. I could give them all the supplies and let them prepare the fruit salads as a fun project. Then I’m free to work on the main meals.

Interested in teaching your kids how to cook? Check out the Kids Cook Real Food eCourse HERE!

Coffee with Dessert?

Whether serving mason jar fruit salads for breakfast or dessert, a cup of coffee is an excellent accompaniment for the adults. If you like coffee that is. Me? I’ve never been a coffee drinker. But my husband and in-laws are! Whenever my in-laws come visit I have no drink to offer them with dessert. My brother and sister-in-law actually bring their own! They know I never serve any.

Thanks to Krups I now have a great coffee maker! And I can finally learn how to make some decent coffee. No more embarrassed hostess here.

Cutest Candy Canes

Now let’s be honest, the real reason we all want to make these mason jar fruit salads is simply because they are so stinkin’ cute! Seriously. Who wouldn’t want one? My kids were sad I hadn’t made two for each of them. I guess next time I know to make a huge batch. They could be easy grab ‘n’ go snacks or great additions to school lunches. Use seasonal fruit to change it up throughout the year.

Festive and nutritious holiday dishes don’t have to be complicated. Keep it simple and fun with these fresh, fruity candy cane mason jar fruit salads. They are sure to be a family favorite.

Candy Cane Mason Jar Fruit Salad

2017-12-09 13:50:55

Yields 6

A simple, holiday fruit salad that works for breakfast, dessert or a side dish.

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Ingredients

4 cups Stonyfield whole milk vanilla yogurt (or plain or Greek)
Seeds of 1 pomegranate
2 kiwis
Medium bunch of red and/or green grapes
2 cups raspberries or strawberries
(Optional) 2 Tbsp. chia seeds

Instructions

Strain the yogurt in cheesecloth for one hour. Hang it over a bowl to get as much whey out as you can.
While the yogurt is straining chop/seed the fruit into bite-size pieces.
Layer the fruit and yogurt in 1/2-pint mason jars, small glass bowls or festive dishes.
Top with chia seeds or more fruit.

Notes

The fruit salads can be made with all red fruit, all green fruit or a combination.
Older kids can help prepare the fruit and layer the salads.
This makes 6 - 8 1/2-pint mason jars, depending on the ratio of fruit to yogurt you like.

By Mary - justteakeabite.com

Just Take A Bite https://justtakeabite.com/

June 5, 2017

Oat and Nut Free Chewy Granola Bars

Missing your beloved granola bars because you can’t have oats? Problem solved! These oat and nut free chewy granola bars have the taste and texture of oats. You’ll never miss them!!

My son can’t eat oats.

We’ve been working through a myriad of food allergies with him for the last four years. And amazingly he has been able to get rid of almost all of them.

Except a few oddballs. Like oats.

We have added back dairy, corn, rice, seeds, bananas, apples, avocado – a whole assortment of foods – too many to list! But the oats are still a big no-go.

So every time I make a batch of granola bars he feels a bit left out. I’ve made rice bars before. Which are delicious! But they are more like a cookie than a granola bar.

Oat Free Bars!

We put our heads together and my son and I came up with a new version of oat and nut free chewy granola bars. They have some texture and lots of flavor. Plus they hold together well. Which is always a trick with homemade granola bars.

The secret ingredient is brown rice puffs. Cereal is a rare treat in our house. If we do have cereal, it’s often plain rice puffs. We eat them with milk or add them to yogurt for a little crunch. They work perfectly in this granola bar recipe to add texture.

Make it Double

I like to make a big batch (or two!), wrap them individually and stick them in the freezer. Then I’ve got an easy snack or breakfast component ready to go at any time. These chewy granola bars are ready to eat right from the freezer.

One batch makes about fourteen bars. But if you’ve got toddlers and preschoolers you can cut them even smaller to make a batch of twenty to twenty eight.

Probably the best part of these oat and nut free chewy granola bars is how easy they are to make. I can get a batch in the oven in less than ten minutes.

So what are you waiting for? Got ten minutes? Get into the kitchen and whip up a delicious snack that has no corn syrup, glycerin, thickeners or binders.

Don’t need to avoid oats? Both my chewy and crunchy granola bar recipes are great!!

Gluten, Oat and Nut Free Chewy Granola Bars

2017-06-07 05:52:23

Yields 14

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Ingredients

3 cups rice puffs, roughly chopped in a blender
1 1/4 cups white or brown rice flour
2 Tbsp. chia seeds
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 cup honey
1 Tbsp. organic cane sugar
1/4 tsp. unrefined sea salt
1/2 cup butter
2 eggs
1/4 cup unsweetened sunbutter
1/2 cup add-ins (raisins, chocolate chips, pumpkin seeds, cranberries, etc.)

Instructions

Heat oven to 350F.
Melt the butter, sunbutter and honey in s a small saucepan. Set aside.
Combine rice puffs, flour, chia seeds, cinnamon, salt and sugar in a large bowl.
Add the butter mixture and mix well.
Add the eggs and mix well.
Stir in opt-ins.
Spread the batter in a greased or parchment lined 9x13 baking pan.
Bake for 25 min.
Let cool 15 minutes. Cut into bars (but do not remove from pan).
Let cool 1 hour. Remove bars from pan.
Wrap individually or store in a large container in the refrigerator or freezer.

Notes

Bars are ready to eat straight from the freezer.

By Mary - justtakeabite.com

Just Take A Bite https://justtakeabite.com/

May 1, 2017

Penguin Parfait and a Trip to the Zoo!

Want to make science fun? Spend a day at the zoo learning about your favorite animals. Top it off with a delicious penguin parfait!

My kids are true animal lovers. Just one more reason we moved to the country to start our own farm a few months ago!! But it’s not just farm animals. They are fascinated by just about any animal.

Science In Action

This is our first year homeschooling…and we chose to study land animals for science. They really, truly love animals! So when I heard that Stonyfield Yogurt was promoting World Penguin Day and Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Saving Animals from Extinction (SAFE) program I knew we had to see what it was all about.

We took a trip to our local zoo (John Ball Zoo) to see the penguins up close. I’ve been going to JBZ ever since I was little. Whenever I visited my grandparents they took us to the zoo, and we each got a balloon. It is one of the best (and only) memories I have of my grandparents (I was very little). But I cherish those memories. And I love that I get to take my own kids to John Ball now!

As luck would have it when we walked into the zoo they were just about to feed the penguins. So we hurried right over and got to see penguins swimming all over and enjoying fish. My kids thought it was great.

The fun didn’t end there. We spent the rest of the morning exploring tigers, bongos, spider monkeys, goats, chickens, chimpanzees and more. My animal-loving kids could have stayed all day. They really had fun on the new funicular. And, of course, we took a snack break and enjoyed some Stonyfield yogurt!

Penguin Fun

We can’t wait to go back to the zoo again this summer when we have more time to explore and more animals are active. But leaving the zoo didn’t put an end to our celebration of World Penguin Day.

At home we went on a waddle walk to see just how hard it would be to walk miles and miles like penguins do. The kids were out of breath after waddling across the yard. I don’t know how the penguins do it!

Later that day we watched some videos about penguins and learned about Emperor Penguins by watching Planet Earth. The kids were glued to the tv, fascinated by how the male penguins care for the eggs and wait for the females to return with food.

A Special Yogurt Treat

In honor of all of our Penguin Day fun we decided to make a special snack – a penguin parfait! This fun treat is easy to make and reminds us to do our part in keeping wildlife safe. I combined Stonyfield yogurt with tummy calming activated charcoal to create a black and white parfait you can enjoy for breakfast, lunch or a snack.

Yogurt has a great balance of sodium to potassium which is great for your heart! This parfait also contains a nice mix of protein, fat and carbohydrates. Activated charcoal is my go-to supplement for settling tummies after an illness or an allergic reaction. I sometimes give it to my kids to help with gentle detox as well. It’s great for tummy maintenance once in a while. So this parfait is more than just a delicious treat. It’s filled with nutrition too.

I encourage you to help your kids explore and discover God’s beautiful creation. Take a trip to your local zoo and learn about the animals and how you can help protect them (don’t forget you can earn FREE zoo tickets when you buy Stonyfield yogurt!). Then enjoy a penguin parfait!

Penguin Parfait

2017-04-29 13:19:21

Serves 2

A simple yogurt parfait to celebrate World Penguin Day.

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Ingredients

1 cup full fat plain creamy or greek-style yogurt
2 Tbsp. honey or maple syrup
1 capsule activated charcoal (260 mg)
1 medium-size ripe banana, halved and sliced
2 Tbsp. mini chocolate chips

Instructions

In a bowl combine the yogurt, honey and charcoal. Mix until charcoal is fully distributed.
Divide the yogurt between two cups.
Top the yogurt with a layer of banana slices and 1 Tbsp. chocolate chips per cup.

Notes

You can replace the yogurt + honey with two YoKids yogurt in your favorite flavor.

By Mary Voogt - justtakeabite.com

Just Take A Bite https://justtakeabite.com/

I am working with Stonyfield Yogurt on this post. I was compensated for my time but all opinions expressed are my own.

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How to Save Money on Breakfast

You can use the coupon code TAKE10 at checkout to get 10% off your entire order!

I’ve got another great recipe that uses Perfect Supplements gelatin to share with you!

What is your favorite way to use gelatin?

Easy Oat-Free Breakfast

Want to teach your kids to cook? Check out the Kids Cook Real Food ecourse HERE! You can get a set of FREE kids make breakfast videos when you sign up by August 8!

Instant Porridge Packed with Nutrition

Grab your MCT oil HERE. Use the code TAKE10 to get an extra 10% off!

Healthy, Prep-ahead Breakfast

Instant porridge. Instant breakfast. Instant nutrition.

Healthy Gluten Free Instant Porridge with MCT Oil

Ingredients

Instructions

Recipe Notes

What is your go-to quick and healthy breakfast?

Three-in-One Recipe

Candy cane mason jar fruit salads work for breakfast, dessert or a simple side dish.

Fruit Stripes

How to Save Time

Kids Can Cook Too!

Interested in teaching your kids how to cook? Check out the Kids Cook Real Food eCourse HERE!

Coffee with Dessert?

Cutest Candy Canes

Festive and nutritious holiday dishes don’t have to be complicated. Keep it simple and fun with these fresh, fruity candy cane mason jar fruit salads. They are sure to be a family favorite.

My son can’t eat oats.

Except a few oddballs. Like oats.

Oat Free Bars!

Make it Double

So what are you waiting for? Got ten minutes? Get into the kitchen and whip up a delicious snack that has no corn syrup, glycerin, thickeners or binders.

Science In Action

Penguin Fun

A Special Yogurt Treat

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