Butterfly Baby Footprints!

One of the sweetest things about a little baby are those sweet little feet!  

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From the first time you feel a kick 

to first time 

you see them in an ultrasound. 

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They make a print on your life 

that makes your heart melt.

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When they're born, 

they love to kick 

and twirl those

sweet little feet!

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Sweet Little Baby Feet - They are my new obsession!  Everyday they grow bigger and I cannot get enough prints and impressions!
The best gifts can be made from those sweet little baby feet too!
For Mother's Day, I made butterfly prints on canvas with my nearly 2 year old and 5 month old.

It was very easy & with the help of my husband it did not take long at all!
This one was made for my Mama on Mother's day but my kids know her has Nannie!

Here's how to do it.

You will need

• A Canvas-Hobby Lobby has great prices on theirs
• Paints-I chose washable finger paint
• Paper Plate
• Sponge or Paintbrush or spaghetti
• Scrap paper
• Paper Towels/baby wipes
• Modge Podge or desired sealant(optional)

How to

1. Pour about a quarter size or so of paint in a paper plate.  Repeat with each color pouring it under the previous color.(like stacking a snowman but with dobs of paint)  I chose more pinks for a girl and more blues for a boy.
2. Take a paint brush(or spaghetti)and swirl the colors just a bit.
3. Before you dip your child's foot in the paint, practice placing their foot on the canvas to see how they will do..exp. some may squeeze their toes in or kick!  If you they will not cooperate get your spouse or someone to help you.
4. If you need help, one of you sit Indian style and hold the kid in your lap while the other one guides the foot.
5. Lightly dip their foot in the swirled paint & test/blot on scrap paper.  You don't want to press too hard but just firm enough.  I lightly placed my kid's foot and lightly tapped the top of the foot..but this has to be done quickly if they are wiggly! 
6. The right foot goes to the left side and the left foot should slightly overlap by the heels, on the right as pictured above.  
7. Use the baby wipes to wipe the paint from the baby feet so it doesn't get eaten & when they're all cleaned up, go back and paint the butterfly body.  I didn't put the ages on here, but it would have been nice to add.
8. Optional-To seal, apply modge podge over the dried painting.

Have fun with your butterfly feet creations!

Happy Birthday America!

~*~Happy 4th of July~*~

An Omelet Muffin or a Breakfast Cupcake

Breakfast time at our house is such a big deal and it's not always an easy one. Everyone is tired of the same old thing..eggs, sausage, bacon, toast, pancakes, cereal....
I've been attempting to try new things & different ways of cooking to get everyone interested in a more healthy meal.

This morning was such a success! 

 I was able to cook an omelet style breakfast muffin that even included broccoli in the mix!  My two year old thought he was a big boy eating what we ate and he thought he was getting a treat by the fact that it looked like a muffin or a cupcake!  The cheese on top made it even more appealing!

Today these were served alone.  Between my husband, my 2 yr old and my self, only one was left!  However, if you serve these with pancakes or other items they will probably go around more.

If a bigger portion were more your style, you could try different shaped muffin pans or perhaps a ramekin type dish.  You could even cook this in a casserole dish though you would need to alter the cooking times as I'm sure that size would be closer to the 20 mark.

The recipe found at the end makes about 12 muffins.  In my oven these cooked about 17 minutes. Here is what I did:

I added the broccoli to a microwavable bowl; added a few tablespoons of water and microwaved it for 7 minutes.  I have a small microwave so you should start with 5 minutes for a regular or larger size.  When the broccoli is tender, drain and mash with a fork & set aside.  If your kids are picky, you can chop the broccoli in a food processor or baby bullet if you have one.
(Sorry no picture of the broccoli.) 

Brown the sausage in a skillet over medium heat.  I used a mild sausage that comes in the tube that you can find near the bacon at the store.
It should be cooked until it's not longer pink but you don't want to overcook as it will be rubbery & will loose flavor.  I didn't time it exactly but I guess it took about 8 minutes or so.  You will know when it is done.
When done, drain and rinse the grease.  Mix in the broccoli with the meat.

In another bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, vegetable oil, melted butter and baking power.  Add salt & pepper and/or add any other spices that you'd like. 

Spray or grease a muffin pan with butter.  Spoon the meat/broccoli mixture into the muffin slots. 

Sprinkle some grated cheese on top if you are a cheese lover! I used mild cheddar and mozzarella.  I always grate my cheese on the spot as it is much better!  Prepackaged grated cheese will also work but I promise it will not taste as good as freshly grated cheese.  

Next, pour the egg mixure on top.  My mixing bowl had a  pouring spout, but you could also use a ladle, spoon or any other neat kitchen gadget that you may have.

After all the egg mixture has been added, top with cheese!  

 

Now they are ready to bake at 375!

I started with 15 minutes as I didn't want to over cook them.  When they start too look slighlty brown on top and on the sides, they are ready!  

These cooked for about 18 minutes. 

 See how they pulled apart from the sides slightly?

I can honestly say, these turned out just right!

l slid a nife around the edges and used a silicone spatula to get the muffins out of the pan and wala!

Enjoy and let me know what you think when you try them!  I would love to hear any variations you make.
I think I may try to add spinach next time as well.

Ingredients

• 1 lb or so of Sausage - (any flavor that you like, though if you're serving kids you may want to stay away from the hot blends.) 
• 1 cup broccoli 
• 9  large eggs
• 1/4 cup milk 
• 1/2 tbsp vegetable oil
• 1/2 tsp baking powder 
• 2 tbsp butter, melted
• Salt & pepper to taste 
• 1 block or pkg of cheese, I used Mild Cheddar & Mozzarella - Give or take; depending how much you like cheese.

Directions

1.  Preheat over to 375 F & grease a muffin/cupcake pan
2.  Steam broccoli-in a steamer, a microwavable dish with a few tablespoons of water for about 5-7 in the microwave, or boil in water on stove until tender.  When tender, mash with fork & set aside.
3. Cook sausage in skillet over medium heat until no longer pink.  Drain meat of fat/grease.
4. Whisk together eggs, milk, butter, oil and baking powder.  Season with salt and pepper.
5. Spoon out the sausage and broccoli mixture evenly into each muffin slot
6. Sprinkle some cheese on top
7. Poor the egg mixture over the sausage and broccoli mix.
8. Sprinkle remaining cheese on top - as little or as much as you like.
9. Bake 15-20 minutes.