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    Family Fun at Dutch Winter Wonderland [Discount]

    December 6th, 2019

    Thank you to the folks at Dutch Wonderland for hosting us last weekend after Thanksgiving.

    Family Traditions

    As our family has grown, we have tried to establish some traditions but truthfully I believe that now that my girls are older, it is easier to make them. When they were younger, we would have Thanksgiving by ourselves and even perhaps there were some years that we were invited to a friend’s home.

    This year we had the privilege of hosting 4 families who do not have family near. It was so dear and such a great time was had by all. There is really nothing like bringing people together over a large meal. It is something to be truly thankful for.

    Black Friday

    In past years when it was only me and my husband, we would go Black Friday shopping but as we kept adding kids, the experience seemed daunting. Online shopping just ended up being easier. This year we decided to leave everything behind, and enjoy a day in Lancaster country. We used to live closer when we were in Chester County but now we have a longer trek.

    We all enjoyed a nice road trip, but guess what? We ended up checking out some outlets and we regretted it because it was pure mayhem. We enjoyed an early dinner before we surprised the kiddos on a visit to Dutch Wonderland. There is nothing like having family fun during the holidays.

    Dutch Winter Wonderland

    Have you ever visited a theme park over the holidays? I am not quite sure I have or else I have mom brain, but this was for sure, my girls’ first time. There are so many things to offer at Dutch Wonderland liked themed rides, special entertainment, and not to mention, a fully-decorated theme park with sparkly lights.

    Since we have three daughters varying in age, we enjoyed some rides together and some split up. My 4-year old daughter is definitely more sensitive to motion so we enjoyed toddler rides and even the sky ride. The sky ride was probably the best ride to see the whole park decorated.

    Was it cold? Yes, it was, but as we kept moving, it kept us distracted. We arrived bundled in our coats, hats, and gloves and there were sections of the park that provided heaters.

    Park Hours and Discount Code

    Are you looking for something different to do with your family over the holidays? I heard from locals that as the month goes by it gets busier but it only means it is worth enjoying! Check out the calendar for select dates and times to visit the event this season.

    GO to the website and use my discount code, DWWBlog19 to receive a discount this season. Tag me with #singerinkitchen when you visit with your family and friends!

     

    Dutch Wonderland Family Amusement Park

    2249 Lincoln Highway East
    Lancaster, PA 17602

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    Low Carb Eggs Benedict with Quick Hollandaise

    December 2nd, 2019

    Eggs are such a big staple in our fridge. There really is no day that my husband or I will go without eating eggs. We love how filling they are and how it makes us empowered to start our day on the right foot. Thanks to Pete and Gerry’s for making our mornings so much more with a reliable product as yours.

    Low Carb Eggs Benedict with Quick Hollandaise Sauce -hero

    My favorite months

    November and December are two of my favorite months of the year. I wish fall lasted long enough within the month of December, but as usual, forecasts are constantly reporting snow and flurries. Even so, that does not usually stop me.

    November is all about baking and planning for Thanksgiving and December is still another month to bake with my family. My three girls LOVE to be in the kitchen so you can only imagine fighting that takes place when it comes to mixing, adding and making baked goods. You should be here.

    Really. 🙂

    Low Carb Eggs Benedict with Quick Hollandaise - full plate

    Jump to Recipe

    Planning for meals

    When it comes to planning on meals during these 2 months, I start making lists of recipes and ideas. I make sure that if we have company coming that I include something that is suitable for them.

    My husband and I love brunch on Thanksgiving morning and Christmas Day. I plan on recipes that I grew up that my grandmother made and I add a few that are my husband’s favorite as well. This year he and I are on different eating plans so while I eat low-carb, he and my girls eat normal foods. How do I make it all work out?

    Low Carb Eggs Benedict with Quick Hollandaise Sauce 4

    Low Carb Eggs Benedict

    Eggs Benedict is simply an elegant meal that can be served for any time of day, in my opinion but I decided to focus on our brunch menu for this year. Instead of focusing on an egg casserole I decided to make something fancier. While I prepared a traditional recipe for Eggs Benedict for my husband, I made one for myself that was entirely unique.

    If you are living a low-carb lifestyle or you are simply trying to limit the carbs, because veggies and fruits still have their carbs, my zucchini cakes make a great substitute for English muffins.

    Zucchini pancakes

    I grated zucchini and added Pete and Gerry’s Organic Egg Whites along with some reduced fat Parmesan cheese. I added a pinch of salt and created 2 cakes on a griddle. Meanwhile I poached 2 Pete and Gerry’e eggs in slow simmering water and pan-fried some Canadian bacon.

    poaching eggs

    My hollandaise was my favorite because it was SO SIMPLE. I used the remaining yolk and mixed in lemon juice, pepper and fat free Greek yogurt and zapped it quickly in the microwave.

    For 320 calories, I enjoyed a guilt-free version with a side of fresh tomatoes.

    Low Carb Eggs Benedict with Quick Hollandaise Sauce

    Pete and Gerry’s Organic Eggs

    Eggs are usually central to the brunch I prepare. I either have an egg casserole or other savory options. Pete and Gerry’s Organic Eggs are always free from pesticides, added hormones, antibiotics, and GMOs. All the eggs from this company come from small family farms that are dedicated to humane animal treatment, safety, and environmental sustainability.

    Low Carb Eggs Benedict with Quick Hollandaise

    A healthy alternative for the traditional Eggs Benedict using Pete and Gerry's Organic Eggs.
    Prep Time15 mins
    30 mins
    Total Time45 mins
    Course: Breakfast
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: brunch, eggs, low carb
    Servings: 2 servings

    Equipment

    • small pot
    • non-stick pan

    Ingredients

    • 4 Pete and Gerry’s Organic eggs
    • 4 Canadian bacon slices
    • 1 Tablespoon white vinegar
    • 6 ounces shredded zucchini
    • 3 Tablespoons Pete and Gerry’s egg whites
    • 3 Tablespoons reduced-fat Parmesan cheese
    • Pinch of salt and pepper
    • ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
    • For Hollandaise:
    • 1 Pete and Gerry’s Organic egg
    • 2 Tablespoons fat free Greek yogurt
    • 2 teaspoons lemon juice
    • Pinch of salt and pepper

    Instructions

    • To poach eggs: Fill small pot with water, half filled. Allow water to boil and reduce heat to simmer. Add 1 Tablespoon vinegar.
    • While the water is boiling, shred the zucchini and using paper towels or a sieve, try to remove moisture from zucchini. Add to a small bowl and mix in egg white, Parmesan cheese, and a pinch of salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
    • Heat a non-stick pan on medium and spray with olive oil spray. Divide the zucchini mixture to make 4 patties. Cook for 4 minutes on each side until firm and set aside.
    • Meanwhile, continue by poaching eggs by gently cracking an egg in a separate small dish. Swirl a spoon in the center of the simmering water and pour in the cracked egg. Cook for 3-4 minutes. Repeat with the rest of the eggs.
    • After the zucchini pancakes are finished, heat the Canadian bacon.
    • Assemble by placing two zucchini pancakes on each dish, add a Canadian bacon on each pancake and top with a poached egg. Prepare the hollandaise sauce below.
    • For Hollandaise: Crack an egg in a small ramekin and whip until mixed well. Add the Greek yogurt and salt and pepper. Place the ramekin in the microwave and heat for 30 seconds and mix. Add for another 30 seconds and remove from microwave. Add the lemon juice and mix and divide sauce between both plates.

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    Coffee Two-Ways with Keurig K-Duo

    September 9th, 2019

    Coffee is an every day thing for many of us but sometimes there is little time for it. Keurig® has come out with a new appliance that works in a way that helps the household in many ways. The Keurig® K-Duo can save everyone money by in many ways. Check out the link at the end to know how to purchase this awesome coffeemaker.


    Coffee time

    Our mornings start as soon as the kids are up and the coffee is brewed. As many times as I try to schedule the coffee to be ready in the mornings, I usually forget. My husband is usually the same so if there are mornings we have no coffee, it can be seriously dangerous.

    After that, having any coffee is futile. I can only focus on getting the kids their breakfast and getting them to school. Once 10:00 rolls around, it is virtually impossible. Does anyone go through the same issue? Sometimes I fool myself thinking it is okay to reheat coffee from the previous day. I get scolded. Amusing yet?

    Keurig K-Duo Essentials Coffee Maker

    We have been long time fans of Keurig®but it has been a few years since we have purchased a new appliance. My husband’s Keurig®at the office keeps his coffee drinking in order while my Keurig®Rivo works like a gem making espresso, cappuccinos and lattes.

    Keurig® K-Duo Essentials™ Coffee Maker can serve two purposes and it includes a K-Cup® and brewing coffee with ground coffee. I was able to try the Green Mountain ground coffee and K-Cup® option and they were both comparable. On a busy morning, I inserted a K-Cup®pod and depending on my coffee mug size, I could make an 8-ounce, 10-ounce or 12-ounce cup of coffee.

    On another morning, I was able to use my travel mug to brew my 12 -ounce coffee before I left for my errands. It was quick and convenient.

    What about brewing coffee on a low-key day or evening when entertaining friends? The Keurig® K-Duo Essentials™ Coffee Maker can also brew coffee pretty quickly for 12 people. After having a dinner party a few days ago, I knew I was going to need one more pot of coffee and well, having an extra pot was GREAT!

    One of the great features of this coffee maker is the the pause & pour feature allowing the Keurig®
    K-Duo Essentials™ Coffee Maker to be paused in mid-brew for 20 seconds, so anyone can pour fresh, hot coffee right away.

    More Features

    There is really no clean-up fuss with this coffee maker. With an auto-off feature for both the brewer and heating plate, this energy-efficient coffee maker also contains a unique 60 oz. single reservoir that is shared between single serve and carafe brewing making refilling easy.

    When I have shared with friends about this appliance they are astounded at how affordable it is. The K-Duo Essentials™ Coffee Maker has wonderful options for the every day busy family and can only be purchased at Walmart. Check it out below:

     

    If you want to know about the products, check out Keurig on social media:

    facebook.com/keurig
    twitter.com/keurig
    instagram.com/keurig

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    Baked Turkey and Cheese Empanadas – Power Your Lunchbox

    September 3rd, 2019

    We are happy to see the school year start again even though we had a super fast summer. Back to school means a lot of planning and thinking of healthy meals for my family. If you struggle with this on a daily basis, do not worry! There are so many resources, like Produce for Kids, a cause marketing organization that creates programs that provide fun and easy recipes for busy families. In addition to these resources, Produce for Kids has partnered with 9 produce brands for the back-to-school initiative called Power Your Lunchbox. I will share what it is all about below.

    Pushing Past Picky

    Do you constantly struggle what to pack your kids for school because either it basically all comes back home or it is simply wasted? One of the biggest desires for my kids has been for them to learn how to eat and to basically choose what is good for their bodies. Is this to hard for a 7, 6 and 4 year old? Perhaps for the youngest, but it truly starts at home.

    When I started preparing foods when my girls were babies, I made sure at least 85% of everything I gave them was homemade. I also loved giving them a variety on their plate so they could savor and enjoy the fruits and veggies. I can truthfully say that my older girls can be very outspoken on what they do and do not like because they have tried them but either the consistency or flavor of some random fruit or veggie will not be the end of the world.

    Giving Choices

    I start with asking my girls what favorite meals they would love at lunch time and I make a list. I know my two girls love:

    • tuna fish and crackers
    • rice and beans
    • hummus and pretzels
    • peanut butter and jelly

    Other times I will surprise them and create something for them. What makes it even more fun is having a variety of color in a lunch box. If you do not have a bento box, you could vary lunches by using one like this one by Bentology. Each compartment can hold a fruit, veggie, protein, treat and perhaps a dip or healthy carb. If you do not use one, you can still pack a variety of small portions. These kids only have about 20 minutes to eat lunch so it should not be so complicated.

    This year I am introducing the Thermos food jar so I can send in their favorite soup, chili or leftovers.

    As I created a special recipe for my girls I decided to share the recipe with you.

    Baked Turkey and Cheese Empanadas - #poweryourlunchbox

    Power Your Lunchbox

    Produce for Kids has done a great job creating a space to inspire families and schools around. They want to see you create nutritious lunches and meals to make a healthier school year. Why don’t you join us and show us your creations using #poweryourlunchbox? Check out the website to see how you can support this initiative by finding kid-friendly and dietitian -approved lunchbox recipes.

    Power Your Lunchbox Sweepstakes

    This year, the program’s health-conscious brand partners have committed to providing 180,000* meals to Feeding America’s programs that impact families and children. These brands are:

    • Bee Sweet Citrus, Crispy Green®
    • GROW Bananas
    • Litehouse®
    • NatureFresh™ Farms
    • Pero Family Farms®
    • RealSweet®
    • WHOLLY® GUACAMOLE
    • Zespri® Kiwifruit

    *$1 helps provide at least 10 meals secured by Feeding America® on behalf of local member food banks

    Check out the website for ideas and at the same time check out the sweepstakes to win an Echo Show. Good luck!

    Baked Turkey and Cheese Empanadas - inside

    Baked Turkey and Cheese Empanadas

    Prep Time: 20 minutes

    Cook Time: 20 minutes

    Ingredients (serves 10)

    • 10 defrosted dough discs (Found in freezer section by Goya)
    • 8 ounces turkey deli, chopped
    • 1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
    • 1/3 cup Dijon mustard
    • 1/2 cup black olives, sliced
    • egg wash (1 egg whipped)

    Instructions

    Remove dough discs from packaging. Preheat oven to 375F and begin assembling empanadas.

    Baked Turkey and Cheese Empanadas - prep

    Spread 1 Tablespoon of Dijon mustard in the dough disc. Add 1-2 Tablespoons chopped turkey, 2 Tablespoons of shredded cheese and 1 Tablespoon of sliced olives in the middle of the disc. Bring dough edges together and seal. Use a fork to finish sealing the edges.

    Baked Turkey and Cheese Empanadas - egg wash

    Repeat with the rest of the dough. Place the empanadas on the baking sheet about 1 inch apart and brush each empanada with egg wash. Bake for 20 minutes and remove from oven.

    Baked Turkey and Cheese Empanadas - in the oven

    Cool empanadas and pack 1-2 empanadas in kids’ lunches. These freeze well and can be thawed before packing into lunch.

    Baked Turkey and Cheese Empanadas - finished

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    Baked Turkey and Cheese Empanadas - Back-to-School Lunch
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    Grilled Veggie Salad with Tangy Flax Vinaigrette

    August 16th, 2019

    Grilled Veggie Salad with Tangy Flax Vinaigrette -hero

    The summer is almost over and all I want is more grilled veggies. Summer is for corn, squash, tomatoes and everything that is seasonal. I am thankful for a time to create after an evening of grilling. Barlean’s Flax Oil made a lovely ingredient in my Tangy Flax vinaigretteBarleans sponsored post

    Grilled eggplant

    Summer is for Grilling

    What is your favorite food to grill? I have too many to chose from but there is something special that happens when vegetables are grilled. There is not only char but there is a sweetness that comes out to each.

    • red bell peppers
    • onions
    • mushrooms
    • zucchini
    • corn (my husband’s favorite)

    Sometimes we grill burgers and add a side of grilled veggies and it is simply heavenly. After dining at Chima Brazilan Steakhouse and having a lovely grilled cold salad, I was inspired to make my own version.

    Marinated Grilled Veggie Salad with Tangy Flax Vinaigrette

    Barlean’s Organic Flax Oil

    I remember my grandmother keeping Barlean’s flax oil in the refrigerator. She not only took it as a supplement but also in her kitchen. Here I am, now making it part of my pantry and celebrating Barlean’s 30-year anniversary of making healthy oils and supplements.

    The organic flax oil is pure and is non-GMO, vegan, cold-pressed, raw, kosher and more! For every Tablespoon of flax oil there is 7,640 mg of Omega-3 fatty acids. Taking Omega-3s is helpful for the following:

    • depression
    • anxiety
    • eye health
    • brain health
    • reducing symptoms of ADHD
    • improving mental disorders
    • and more

    Grilled Veggie Salad with Tangy Flax Vinaigrette - plated

    Grilled Veggie Salad with Tangy Flax Vinaigrette

    The recipe is easy to make ahead of time and serve to guests the day after. The longer that the veggies marinate in the vinaigrette the better. The flavors just get better but I am sure this salad will be consumed pretty quickly.

    A variety of seasonal vegetables can be grilled and added to this salad but I chose to use:

    • eggplant
    • onions
    • mushrooms
    • peppers

    After grilling these vegetables I added a few fresh components: parsley, cherry tomatoes, and the vinaigrette. While the salad tastes really great the same day, it tastes even better the next day after the vegetables have marinated in the vinaigrette.

    Marinated Grilled Veggie Salad with Tangy Flax Vinaigrette - closeup

    Try this salad before the summer is over, or pin it for indoor grilling during the fall and winter season. Get creative with Barlean’s organic flax oil in your kitchen and try my recipe. It is also great drizzled on yogurt, oatmeal or smoothies too!

    Grilled Veggie Salad with Tangy Flax Vinaigrette

    by Noelle Kelly

    Prep Time: 10 minutes

    Cook Time: 20 minutes

    Ingredients (6 servings)

      Grilled Vegetables

      • 2 small Italian eggplants, sliced in half (about 2 cups after cooking)
      • 2 small white or yellow onions, peeled
      • 2 small yellow bell peppers
      • 6 button mushrooms

      Fresh ingredients

      • 1/3 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
      • 2 Tablespoons parsley, chopped

      Tangy Flax Vinaigrette

      • 1/4 cup Barlean’s organic flax oil
      • 3 garlic cloves
      • juice of 1 large lemon
      • 2 Tablespoon red wine vinegar
      • 1 teaspoon salt
      • 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
      • 1/2 teaspoon oregano
      • 1/2 teaspoon basil
      • 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasonings

      Instructions

      Grilled Vegetables

      Spray vegetables with olive oil spray and place eggplant halves on the grill, the whole onions, the whole peppers and the mushrooms. Cook for 20 minutes and remove from grill. Cool on a plate.

      Grilled Veggie Salad with Tangy Flax Vinaigrette - ingredients

      Vinaigrette

      Meanwhile, prepare vinaigrette. Add all ingredients in a jar and mix well.

       

      Assemble

      Chop up the eggplants in 1/2 inch cubes. Remove seeds and pepper core and dice the bell pepper. Quarter the grilled mushrooms and chop the grilled onions. Place in a salad bowl and toss with vinaigrette.

      Grilled Veggie Salad with Tangy Flax Vinaigrette - served

      Serve immediately or refrigerate overnight for an amazing salad with great health benefits.

      Powered by Recipage

       

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