Back to School Breakfast Smoothies and Shake Recipes

Back to School Quick, Healthy Breakfast Smoothies and Shakes Back-to-school means that many families must rethink their meal schedules. Many students need to up and out the door so early that there's little time for breakfast. Here are super fast healthy breakfast blender smoothie recipes. Read More

Hostess Twinkies Minions Cupcakes for Despicable Me Party

"Despicable Me", "Despicable Me 2" and "Minions" are huge hit movies with kids and adults. Gru's yellow capsule-shaped minions are especially popular. Need ideas for Despicable Me or Minions birthday cakes? Here are recipes for Despicable Me birthday cakes, using Hostess Twinkies to make Minions. You can actually make Twinkie cake Minions recipes as party games or crafts. Use Twinkies Minions for party favors or edible decorations (eating the party decorations would be very Minion-like indeed!) Here are recipes for Despicable Me Twinkie cake Minions.

Hostess Twinkies: Party guests should get to decorate their own Twinkies Minions to eat.

Bowls of frosting or spray cans of decorator frosting in these colors: blue, black and white

Pep-O-Mint Lifesavers or other small round white candies with holes. If you can find candy necklaces or bracelets, cut the string apart and remove the candies. Cheerios or Alpha-bits cereal would work for Twinkie cake Minions.

blue Betty Crocker Fruit Roll-ups, blue fruit leather or blue frosting

string black licorice

yellow licorice, cylinder Good n Fruity, Runts or Mike 'n Ike Candies or cylinder cookies (for arms)

Tootsie Roll midgets

To make Despicable Me minions birthday cakes, unwrap Hostess Twinkies. For Minions' safety goggles, attach white candies to front with frosting. Fill in with white frosting then black dots in the center. You can also make a ring of silver frosting with white frosting inside and tiny black dots of frosting in the center. Use black frosting to draw goggles band around the Twinkie cake Minions heads.

Make Minions overalls by wrapping a strip of blue Fruit Roll-Ups wrap around base of Twinkie cake Minions. Draw overall straps with blue spray frosting. If you wish, you can also make overalls entirely from blue frosting. Poke yellow cylinder candies or cookies in sides for arms. Put dabs of frosting on the end for gloves. Attach two unwrapped Tootsie Roll midgets on bottom for feet. Poke bits of licorice in the top for hair.

Guests might name their Twinkies Minions and give them personas. You can also arrange decorated Despicable Me Minions upright on their Tootsie Roll feet and place atop birthday cakes. Or make them into Minions army birthday cakes! Children will love making their own Despicable Me minions treats.

Graduation Cap Candies and Cookies

Graduation Party Mortarboard Hat Cookies and Favors Recipes Sheet cakes for graduation open house parties are very expensive. And pretty though the cake may be, they usually taste like cardboard and sweetened shortening. So how

about a recipe for cheap, easy graduation hat cookies? Graduation hat cookies, also called mortarboard cookies, are the perfect graduation open house party dessert alternative to cakes. Make

enough for two per guest.

Graduation Mortarboard Cookies ingredients

small Reese's' Peanut Butter cups or any 1-inch diameter chocolate cup-type candies (mix it up with

caramel cups). Rolos work well too.

small square vanilla or chocolate covered cookies: chocolate mint cookies, Keebler Fudge Shoppe

Deluxe Grahams, Lorna Doone, Pepperidge Farm Chessmen or generic equivalent.

M&Ms in one of graduate's school colors

can of decorator cake frosting in the other school color

To Make Graduation Mortarboard Hat Cookies

Remove wrappers from peanut butter cups.

Invert peanut butter candy and "glue" cookie to base of candy with a dab of frosting.

Make frosting tassels with by using narrowest round tip on frosting can.

Place M&M on frosting tassel for center button of mortarboard hat.

Options:--Buy M&Ms and frosting in both school colors and alternate.--Frost plain square cookies in school colors.

--Add candy numbers in school year. Write numbers with frosting.--Use graduation hat cookies as edible place cards.--Use large Reese's Peanut Butter Cups or Mallo Cups and frosted graham cracker halves

10 Great Tomato Snack Recipes with cancer fighting lycopene

Are you a tomato addict? Could you eat tomatoes for breakfast, snacks, appetizers, lunch and

supper? That's great because tomatoes are rich in vitamin C and lycopene (which is great for prostate

health and sexual prowess.) And, in the news, you can kick cancer butt with lycopene foods. Along

with cancer fighting lycopene, tomatoes have few calories, no fat and are satisfying. Here are the 10

best tomato recipes, tomato appetizers and healthy vegetarian breakfast recipes with tomatoes.

These cancer fighting tomato recipes help with weight loss, too.

Cancer fighting breakfast recipes of tomatoes and hummus: Mediterranean hummus, or tahini with

chickpeas, has become is a go-to protein supplement. For a snack, cut a tomato in bite-sized pieces

and dip in hummus (Greek hummus or hummus with pine nuts are the kinds). Make your own hummus

by blending chickpeas, lemon juice, garlic and tahini. For low calorie weight loss hummus swap olive

oil for liquid from chickpeas.

Vegetarian breakfast recipes with grilled tomatoes: These healthy tomato recipes are filling, quick

and light. Dip tomatoes in panko crumbs seasoned with rosemary, basil, sage, garlic, onion and

thyme. Or use seasoned textured vegetable protein. Sauté or grill in olive oil, truffle oil or non-stick

cooking spray. Top with fresh basil and crumbled feta cheese.

Bread and tomato salad breakfast recipes: Chop tomatoes, onions, green peppers (or any color

peppers) and cucumbers. Add fresh basil, rosemary, sage and stale bread cubes. Dress with olive oil,

pomegranate vinegar, cracked pepper and a dash of salt. Add crumbled feta cheese or Parmesan

cheese if desired. These easy tomato recipes use up leftover bread and vegetables. It makes

delicious, healthy delicious lunch. Bread salad is low in fat and full of healthy goodness. Or make

cancer fighting tomato recipes without bread, using couscous. Add chopped mint, lemon juice and

parsley instead of basil and you'll have tabouleh.

Tomato sandwich breakfast recipes: Toast two slices of light oat grain bread. Spread with low-fat

cream cheese. Layer with sliced tomatoes, cucumbers, avocado and spinach. Season with black

pepper. Or swap bread for whole grain bagels and plain cream cheese for salmon cream cheese and

you'll have light bagels and lox. Or serve on English muffins, for eggless vegetarian Mc-Tomato

Muffins

Lycopene loaded tomatoes: Remove stem and core of tomato. Mix feta, Parmesan, shredded

mozzarella or Monterey Jack cheese with pepper, chopped onion and garlic. Chop mushrooms and

mix by hand. Add shrimp for super fun breakfast recipes. Fill center of tomato. Grill or broil until

cheese is melted.

Tomato cucumber salad: For these vegetarian breakfast recipes, slice fresh cucumber and tomato

and fresh basil, sage, rosemary and red or sweet onion. Blend blend EVOO olive oil, mayonnaise, sour cream, acai vinegar, salt and pepper. Pour over vegetables. Add chopped green pepper if desired.

Pizza pasta salad breakfast recipes: Cook and drain Barilla Protein Plus pasta. Barilla Protein Plus has

fewer calories with extra protein and omega. Chop Roma or salad tomatoes or slice a quart of grape

tomatoes in half. Add chopped onion, green pepper, green and black olives and cubed Colby cheese

or feta cheese. Dress with olive oil and balsamic vinegar, rice vinegar or white vinegar. Add sliced

mushrooms if desired. Season with black pepper. Chill.

Fiesta vegetarian beans and rice: Blend equal portions canned (drained) beans with cooked Jasmine,

brown or wild rice. Add sliced scallions, fresh cilantro, chopped tomatoes, avocados, garlic, green

peppers, canned chilies and pineapple, mango or papaya (if desired). Season with cumin, red pepper

and chili powder. Serve topped with melted cheese. Use any canned beans but the best are adzuki,

black (or turtle) beans and black eyed peas.

Lycopene filled breakfast recipes of tomatoes in cottage cheese: Cottage cheese has been a dieter's

delight for decades. Low in fat and high in protein, cottage cheese is a healthier dairy product. You

can use Greek yogurt, too. Dice fresh tomatoes and blend with cottage cheese and pepper.

Cancer fighting breakfast smoothies. Blend chopped tomato, grapefruit, black raspberries,

strawberries, blueberries, carrots, spinach and Greek yogurt for off-the-charts lycopene tomato

recipes.

Easy, Inexpensive Graduation Open House Party Planner

Hosting a graduation open house and need easy, budget-friendly tips? Use this party planning guide

to throw a cheap, nice backyard bash for your graduate! Here are recipes, tips shopping lists for

groceries, supplies, decorations and equipment. DIY alternatives save you money and hassle!

Graduation open house menu: Buy enough food for one serving per guest. Shop dollar stores, Aldi's,

Walmart, Sam's Club, Costco, Gordon Food Service and Target. Don't fuss with outdoor electrical

outlets. Prep ahead, chill or warm, and serve. Here's a cheap graduation open house buffet menu

under $100.

* Diploma roll-ups appetizers--flour tortilla shells --cream cheese --sliced ham --spray cheese

Spread cream cheese on tortillas, Place ham on top. Roll thin. Slice in half lengthwise. Draw "tie" with

spray cheese (or use licorice ropes). Arrange on serving tray. Chill.

* Watermelon basket: Cut watermelon in basket shape. Make two cuts two inches apart in center. Cut

one-third of the way down on each side. Cut a horizontal line around each side (connecting with the

vertical. Remove cutaway portions, leaving handle. Clean out fruit with melon baller (save melon

balls). Cut a scalloped or zigzag edge if desired. Carve "Congratulations Class of ____" on side. Mix

melon balls with partially thawed 4# bag Walmart frozen tropical fruit (reserve two cups). Fill basket.

* Hawaiian meatballs. Blend and heat in large disposable foil pan:--16 ounces ketchup --5# frozen meatballs --16 ounces grape jelly 

--reserved tropical fruit

* Veggie tray:--baby carrots --celery stalk --cucumbers --green peppers --dip

* Mac and cheese: Mix in large disposable aluminum pan and bake:--3# cooked mini seashell pasta --2 large cans mushroom soup --2# Velveeta cheese (cubed) --French friend onions (top with)

* Mortarboard graduation hat cookies (in lieu of cake).These went over crazy-well at our youngest

son's open house. Here's my tutorial and recipe for graduation cap cookies. You'll need:--peanut butter cups (Reese's, Palmer, generic) --chocolate covered graham cookies --M&Ms (school colors) Set extras out for party favors. --spray frosting (in one school color)

Additional groceries and supplies: For dual purpose decorations/ utensils, buy serving supplies and

paper products in school colors.--assorted chips/pretzels --assorted 2-litre bottles of soda (clear, cola, fruit-flavored, diet, caffeine-free) --water --instant coffee --tea assortment --creamer --sweetener --2 disposable rectangle aluminum pan (turkey size) for meatballs and mac and cheese --2 large plastic serving trays (for veggies and Diploma roll-ups) --large plastic bowls (for chips or pretzels) --2 plastic tablecloths (for buffet and gift table-guests don't need to sit at tables) --plastic spoons and forks --napkins --paper plates --congratulations banner 

--streamers (hang in trees) --balloon bouquet (cheap at Dollar Tree)

On-hand or borrowed supplies--2 picnic or outdoor buffet tables --folding chairs (campfire chairs work great) --portable awning or large umbrella (for food) --30-cup coffee pot or large carafe (for hot water) --2-gallon insulated beverage cooler --2 coolers (for ice, pop)

Decorations:

Make a memory table of your graduate. Arrange memorabilia, artwork, photos, projects, mementos,

awards, instruments, sports equipment, ribbons, trophies, scrapbooks, baby pictures. Place box

discreetly for cards.

And now, you wonderful parents you, relax, visit and enjoy. You've earned it! 

Healthy Popcorn, Caramel Corn and Cheesy Popcorn Recipes

I know and you know that plain, air-popped, unsalted popcorn without butter is a healthy snack, especially for dieters. But who wants plain popcorn? Do we have to sacrifice tasty popcorn snacks for health and weight loss? Not with these popcorn recipes! Love that buttery rich movie theater popcorn, caramel corn, cheese popcorn, chocolate drizzle popcorn (be still my heart) or the ultimate popcorn experience Chicago style popcorn? Here are delicious ways to create the tastes you love without the major calories, sugar, sodium and fat explosion.

Healthy "Caramel Corn" 

1/4 cup Olive oil margarine or Smart Balance Butter

1/4 cup natural peanut butter (or sunflower, cashew or almond butter for those with peanut allergies)

1/3 cup honey

2--3 quarts popped corn

crushed salted pecans (optional)

Combine first three ingredients in saucepan over medium heat until blended. Mix popcorn and nuts. Pour peanut butter sauce over popcorn and nuts and toss until well-coated. Spray two cookies sheet with olive oil pan spray or cover in aluminum foil and coat with pan spray. Arrange popcorn in single layer over both pans. Bake 20 minutes @ 350 degrees. Store in airtight container.

Healthy Cheese Popcorn

1/2 cup Parmesan cheese

1/2 teaspoon crushed oregano

1/3 cup ghee, melted 

2 quarts popped popcorn

Blend first three ingredients. Pour over popcorn and blend thoroughly to coat each popcorn kernel. Toast in oven for a few minutes. Serve warm. Popcorn is best if served several hours later.

Healthy 'Buttered' Popcorn

If you love popcorn popped in oil with butter and just can't abide air popped popcorn, here's a little secret. In your popcorn kettle, use olive oil to pop popcorn. Pour enough non-EVOO olive oil to cover the pan bottom and add one layer of popcorn. When popcorn is done, add a little salt and mix with hands. Ghee works too. Olive oil makes a healthy tasty butter substitute that tastes just as good as delicious.

For the grande Chicago popcorn, combine the first two! For chocolate drizzle popcorn, make healthy buttered popcorn. Melt 70% cacao or higher chocolate chips or bars and toss with hot popcorn. Or just mix chocolate chips with popcorn. 

10 Most Unhealthy, Disgusting Gourmet Foods and Delicacies
The word 'festivities' comes from the word 'feast'. However, many gourmet holiday delicacies are unappetizing, unhealthy and downright scary. Here is the definitive list of holiday gourmet 'indelicacies'.
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