We have been pretty busy around here lately. I cant believe summer is almost over! Well, I don’t really mind too much because I LOVE fall!! My kids and I even decided to start our own school this year (which is basically modeled after the big kid school)… with lessons, experiments, field trips, art classes and other activities… Naturally, I am the teacher (even though there are times when the role seems reversed! There is nothing like kids to humble you… Sometimes they teach me a lesson about a thing or two… most often it is a lesson on patience! Hahaha) The kids have really been loving it! We checked out several “Little Hands” learning & activity books from the library… great books, by the way, if you have a kid around 2-6. They have some great ideas on ways to teach science, math, you name it.
I just cant wait to be carving pumpkins, visiting the pumpkin patch, dressing up & decorating for Halloween, making seasonal arts and crafts, preparing for the holidays, baking fall goodies that smell up the house, and just opening up the windows and enjoying the nice cool crisp air! (And it doesn’t hurt that my birthday is this week either, which means we are going to eat at my favorite restaurant in town, The Grit!) Hey! That also means my blog is about to be 1 year old! Wow! I can’t believe it! I hope you have been enjoying watching my little blog baby grow this year! 😉
Those of you who truly know me know that I am a list maker… And well, I have already been compiling quite a long list of all the awesome “fall foods” I’m hoping to get around to making this year! I’m gonna be trying my hand at making vegan caramel (and caramel apples!) and candy apples, all of which I have never tried… And of coarse I love making the usual fall classics… pumpkin bread & pumpkin pie (or any kind of pie for that matter!) and Thanksgiving (sigh)… Mmmmmm… Thanksgiving!! … And it will be here before we know it. (My mouth literally started watering just thinking about Thanksgiving!!)
Oh yeah… I wanted to say I’m sorry it’s been so long since my last Dinner and Movie post. We will be watching Charlotte’s Web (the cartoon version) this week and making… you know what?… I’ll just let it be a surprise! Tee hee hee! We have been reading the book and we are almost finished! My kids love it! It was one of my childhood favorites as well.
ANYWAY! Enough babbling! Here’s what we’ve been up to in the kitchen lately!
PRESERVING OUR SUMMER BASIL
Not very long ago, I made this easy basil walnut pesto,which I hope you enjoyed! I read about this easy method of preserving pesto, so I thought I’d give it a try…
First, I froze the pesto in one of those little rubbery ice tray things (mine happened to be heart shaped) and covered it in saran wrap and put it in the freezer. Then I popped them out several hours later after they were good & frozen and put them in a ziplock freezer bag, separating the hearts with some wax paper. They can be used to throw into sauce, straight onto noodles, you name it. I’m so happy I learned this cute and easy way to save my summer basil! (Hopefully they will end up tasting as good as they look!)
MAKING A HEALTHY “FUNNY FACE PANCAKE”
Last weekend, I treated my kids to a healthier version of the “IHOP funny face pancake”. I just used my regular pancake recipe and added 1/3 cup cocoa, 1/2 cup vegan chocolate chips and changed the water amount to 1/3 cup. All you need for decorating is your fruit of choice!! No whipped cream needed! I thought they turned out adorable, don’t you?! The kids just loved them!
SOMETIMES A SURPRISE TREAT IS THE BEST KIND!!
We accidentally ended up with some chocolate covered strawberries when I left my box of vegan truffles on the stove as it was warming up! Oops! But hey, this was so beautifully meant to be, I’m NOT complaining! They were magnificent! I think I may do that again on purpose! We dipped them, chilled them… then devoured them!
HERE”S SOMETHING I’D LIKE TO MAKE!
This Sesame Street inspired snack wasn’t made by me… yet! This is on my list of things to make asap! Isn’t it just adorable? How gloriously fun (& healthy) to eat!
Your Vegan Neighbor 