A peek Into My Kitchen: Oven-dried Apple Chips

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I am always looking for easy, fun and healthy snacks to give my kids after school…and, quite honestly, for them to snack on on their way out the door in the morning if they haven’s had time to eat a real breakfast.

Making apple chips is surprisingly simple and, though I wish that I had one of those handy-dandy dehydrator gizmos, doesn’t require anything more complicated in the way of tools than an oven and a cookie sheet.

I like to cut the core the apples and cut them in circles, because I think they’re more fun to eat that way.  If you’d rather cut them in slices, that could work just as well. I like to make a bunch at a time because, though this recipe couldn’t be more simple, it does take time and patience.

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A peek Into My Kitchen: Rice and Beans with Plantain Chips (recipe)

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Easy, cheap and totally kid friendly…and except for the plantains, made from the contents of your pantry.

What more could a busy mom ask for?

 Super Easy Black Beans and Rice (serves 4-5 as a main dish)

2 cups brown or white rice, made according to package directions

2 Tbsp olive oil

1 medium onion, chopped

2 tsp garlic powder or 2 cloves garlic, minced

2 15-oz cans black beans, undrained (or 1 drained and 1 not, if you prefer less liquidy beans)

1 c vegetable broth

a splash or two of red wine vinegar (about 2 Tbsp)

2 bay leaves

1/4 tsp cumin

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Happy Birthday Baby! Wheat, Nut and Egg Free Birthday Cupcakes

My daughter has not exhibited any allergies, but, with  nut and fish allergic older brother, I see no reason to rush into any potential allergens, such as wheat or eggs.  I will probably introduce egg yolks and then whites to my little one in the next few weeks, but, until then, this birthday cake will have to do.

This recipe turned out even better than I had hoped.  Basically, I experimented a little bit with some alternative flours, settling on a flour mix which I based on a few different sources including the Land O Lakes website and Rebecca Reilly's  Gluten-Free Baking.

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