One of my dear (unfortunately, former) neighbors, Kim Vollendorf, was known for her frugal, quick dinners. She had one particular recipe that all of us neighbor girls really liked, so she shared, of course. She called the recipe “chicka-babies” and they now serve as the centerpiece to my daughter’s favorite meal.

Here’s the very simple recipe.

CHICKA-BABIES

Package cream cheese

4 cups cubed chicken

3 tablespoons melted butter

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon pepper

4 tablespoons milk

2 tablespoons onion powder

2 cans crescent rolls

Cook chicken and cube. Blend cream cheese in butter until smooth. Add salt, pepper, milk and onion powder; mix well. Separate crescent rolls into four triangles and press together to make a rectangle. Spoon mixture into center of crescent roll and pull sides up to the middle. Pinch together. (It ends up looking like a little bundle.) Bake on ungreased cookie sheet for 25 minutes at 350.

We also love these No-Bake Cookies at our house. They’re yummy and so easy to make. I remember sending these to my brother when he was in the Navy.

NO-BAKE COOKIES

2 cups sugar

4 tablespoons cocoa

1/2 cup milk

1 stick butter

1/2 cup nuts (we leave these out)

1/2 cup peanut butter

2 to 2 1/2 cups minute oats

2 teaspoons vanilla

Mix together sugar, cocoa, milk and butter. Boil for two minutes, remove from heat. Stir in peanut butter, then oats, vanilla and nuts. Drop onto wax paper, 1 teaspoon at a time. Don’t burn your tongue. When they cool, enjoy!

Mamas, we know you appreciate Chick-fil-A as much as we do on those days we just DON’T want to cook! And if you’re watching your weight, we love that they have a nutrition guide that includes a meal calculator, diabetic exchange and more useful information. CLICK HERE to go that section of the national website. We’ll see you near the play area!

We know eggs are a staple for most families, and the good news is that there are still several brands of eggs available that are NOT affected by the recent egg recall issued on August 13th. If you’re looking for a brand NOT affected by the recall, you can still buy egg brands manufactured by CCF Brands, a Northwest Arkansas company we profiled a few weeks ago. (Click here to read that article.) The CCF egg brands include Great Day All Natural Eggs and Great Day All Natural Omega-3 Eggs, Ozark Farmers Market Eggs, and Wagon Trail Farmers Market Eggs. CCF also supplies the following brands not affected by the recall: Farmers Harvest Free Range, Farmers Harvest Organics and Farmers Harvest Brown Eggs.

We checked with executives at CCF Brands today and they confirmed that their brands are NOT affected by this recall. Below is the statement found on the CCF website:

“CCF Brands confirmed that eggs we have distributed are not included in the recent nationwide egg recall. The recall was initiated by Wright County Egg of Galt, Iowa on Friday August 13, 2010.”

For more information about the recall visit:
http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm222501.htm

Hope this info helps with your next trip to the grocery store!

 

Eating Innately is a new food blog written by local mom and chiropractor Dr. Mandy Warren. She focuses on real ingredients and often uses videos to show how she puts the recipes together.

Two of her favorite desserts are (healthy) Chocolate Mousse and Peach Cobbler. For dinner she recommends Garlic Burgers with Cheese & Guacamole, which her son Jude likes!

Chocolate Mousse

• 1/4 C pitted medjool dates, soaked
• 1/4 C agave nectar or maple syrup
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 3/4 C mashed avocado (1 1/2 avocado)
• 1/4 C plus 2 Tbsp cocoa powder
• 1/4 C water (I had to add a bit more)

Add all ingredients to vita-mix and viola! We added some fresh strawberries and then I decided to get creative and layer the mousse with Vanilla Creme Sauce (see recipe below)

Vanilla Creme Sauce

• 1 C soaked raw cashews
• 1/4 C plus 2 Tbsp water
• 2 Tbsp agave nectar or maple syrup
• 1 tsp vanilla extract or 1 vanilla bean

Place all ingredients in blender and process on high until smooth. Chill for 30 min before serving.

Peach Cobbler

Crust

• 3 C pecans (soaked and dried)*
• 1/2 C coconut flakes
• 1 tsp alcohol free vanilla
• couple sprinkles of salt
• 5 dates

Syrup

• 5 dates
• 3 Tbsp coconut oil
• 1/2 tsp vanilla
• 1/2 C water

Filling
5-7 peaches depending on size (about 6 Cups)

To make the crust process pecans, vanilla and salt until coarsely ground. Add dates and process until the mixture starts to crumble together. Use half of mixture to press into the the bottom of a pie dish, set the other half aside.

To make the syrup, process all “syrup� ingredients and then mix in with the peaches. Spoon the peach/syrup mixture onto the crust. Top with remaining pecan mixture, and eat it up, it will go fast!

*Crispy Pecans
4 C pecans
1 1/2 tsp Himalayan sea salt
enough water to fully cover the nuts in a large bowl
Soak overnight and then dehydrate for 12-24 hours or place on a cookie sheet and leave in the oven on warm for 6-8 hours.

Garlic Burgers with Pepper Cheese & Guacamole

Garlic and beef (haha…it really is that easy!) We normally use 3-4 cloves and mix in with 1 pound grass feed beef and then grill to your liking with sea salt and black pepper.

Guacamole

You can get fancy with this, but we were going for a fast and easy supper. I used 1 and half avocados, fresh lime juice and garlic salt to taste.

Black Pepper Cheese

• 1 C cashews (soaked mine for a few hours)
• Juice of 1 lemon (~2 Tbsp)
• 2 garlic cloves
• 1/4 tsp black pepper
• 1/2 tsp sea salt
• 1/8 C water

Blend in vita-mix until smooth and creamy.

Place on top of a some mixed greens and veggies and enjoy! I used some guac and cheese as baby food for Jude and he loved it!

Below is a video of Mandy blending up some peach ice cream (don’t miss the nekkid toddler tush as her toddler walks by in the background!)

Mealtime Mama is sponsored by Chick-fil-A on Razorback Road, owned by Paige Frost. If you don’t have time to cook tonight, make the kids happy with their favorite: Chick-fil-A!

The mamas love, love Rice Krispies Treats and these just look so summery and delicious that we wanted to share! These would be perfect for a party or any old day, in our opinion. The Rice Krispies website has lots of ideas here on other ways to improve upon this gooey, delicious treat.

RICE KRISPIES TREATS ON A STICK

INGREDIENTS:

3 tablespoons butter or margarine

1 package (10 oz., about 40) regular marshmallows

- OR -

4 cups miniature marshmallows

Food coloring

6 cups Rice Krispies®

- OR -

6 cups Ready-To-Eat Cereal Cocoa Krispiesâ„¢

12 wooden ice cream sticks

Flaked coconut

Multi-colored sprinkles

Semi-sweet chocolate morsels, melted

DIRECTIONS:

In large saucepan melt butter over low heat. Add marshmallows and stir until completely melted. Remove from heat. Stir in food coloring, if desired.

Add KELLOGG’S RICE KRISPIES cereal. Stir until well coated.

Using 1/2-cup measuring cup coated with cooking spray divide warm cereal mixture into portions. Using buttered hands shape each portion into ball. Cool. Insert wooden stick, if desired. Decorate with coconut, multi-colored sprinkles and/or melted chocolate, if desired. Let stand until firm. Best if served the same day.

MICROWAVE DIRECTIONS:

In microwave-safe bowl heat butter and marshmallows on HIGH for 3 minutes, stirring after 2 minutes. Stir until smooth. Follow steps 2 and 3 above. Microwave cooking times may vary.

NOTE:

For best results, use fresh marshmallows.
1 jar (7 oz.) marshmallow crème can be substituted for marshmallows.
Diet, reduced calorie or tub margarine is not recommended.
Store no more than two days at room temperature in airtight container. To freeze, place in single layer on wax paper in airtight container. Freeze for up to 6 weeks. Let stand at room temperature for 15 minutes before serving.

Mamas, we know you appreciate Chick-fil-A as much as we do on those days we just DO NOT want to cook! And if you’re watching your weight, we love that they have a nutrition guide that includes a meal calculator, diabetic exchange and more useful information. CLICK HERE to go that section of the national website. We’ll see you there!