May 2015 – Mom on the go in Holy Toledo

Let’s Talk Salsa! (Giveaway)

May 28, 2015May 28, 2015momonthegoinholytoledo

May is national Salsa month! Woo-hoo! I don’t know about your family but salsa is a staple in our family, it is right up there with eggs and coffee (coffee being #1, eggs #2, and salsa #3…although, what’s the point of having eggs if there is no salsa? Right!? So, let’s make that salsa #2 and eggs #3).

Salsa tastes amazing on everything or simply by itself. There is no shame in standing in front of the fridge with the doors open sneaking a spoonful of salsa. All I ask is that you be respectful of others & plan ahead, if you want 3 spoonsful then grab 3 spoons, don’t use the same spoon each time.

Salsa is like a magic potion that can transform the worst dishes into something spectacular. I can’t tell you how many times I have just royally messed up dinner, undercooked, overcooked, burnt it, seasoned it with the wrong seasoning, you name it and I have probably done it, but thankfully salsa saves dinner every time! So, if for no other reason, have salsa on hand for the next time you burn dinner…just keep it right next to your fire extinguisher. Haha!

My latest salsa obsession….salsa in a baked avocado! It taste amazing! Thanks Floating Kitchen for the inspiration…and this pic, this is her delicious meal…mine burnt. No need to worry, the salsa saved the meal but it didn’t look as beautiful as hers. You seriously have to try this!! I also like my avocados with a huge heaping spoonful of Dei Fratelli seasoned diced Tomatoes…bake at 400 degrees for 8 minutes, remove, & drizzle with balsamic vinegar, so good!!!! Just make certain you set your timer. 😉

Here are some fun facts about salsa:

Salsa dates back to the ancient Aztecs, as early as 5200 B.C., where they would combine chili peppers and tomatoes into a sauce and serve with meat.
The hottest salsa reigns in more than one million Scoville Heat Units (SHU) compared to a Tabasco sauce, which only brings in 2,500-5,000 SHU.
Chili pepper-based salsas contain capsaicin, which has been shown to reduce inflammation!
Many salsas are tomato based, which mean they contain lycopene that has heart-protecting properties!

There are so many different types of salsas, Chili, Cherry, Corn, Mango, Black Bean, etc. it is fascinating! But sometimes the very best is the kind you make together as a family. Here is a great recipe to try with yours….the Dei Fratelli Secret Salsa. The secret is the Dei Fratelli Chopped Mexican Tomatoes & Jalapenos which add the perfect kick! (shhh)

Secret Salsa recipe

Ingredients:

2 cans Dei Fratelli Chopped Mexican Tomatoes & Jalapeños

5 – 8 Roma tomatoes

2 – 3 bunches Green onions, chopped

1 – 2 Red sweet onions, chopped

1 Lime

1 bunch Fresh cilantro, chopped

1 clove Fresh garlic, minced

1 small Jalapeño

Salt and pepper to taste

Preparation:

Combine all ingredients except lime, cilantro, salt, and pepper and jalapeno in a blow. Add cilantro last and salt and pepper to taste. Cut the ends of the jalapeno and leave whole in the bowl. Salsa tastes best if it has a few hours to mix flavors in the refrigerator before it is served. Serves 6-8.

Don’t have time to wait for those flavors to marinate? Don’t worry, Dei Fratelli to the rescue!! Dei Fratelli has 2 different salsa options. The Original Salsa Medium and Original Salsa Mild. Salsa Medium boasts exceptional flavors of their vine-ripened tomatoes and jalapeno peppers boost the zest level of the original salsa. The flavor is perfected with an ideal blend of only the best peppers, onions, and garlic. The Original Mild Salsa consist of sturdy diced tomatoes that add more body and a delightful flavor that transforms everyday to perfection with just the right amount of peppers, onions, and garlic. Both taste amazing! but don’t take my word for it! You can get your hands on your own bottle at your local Publix, Harris Teeter, Piggly Wiggly, and Wal-Mart stores. And be sure to enter the giveaway!!!

Dei Fratelli Giveaway!

Oh the possibilities!! Salsa, their AH-mazing pizza sauce (my kids will only eat the Dei Fratelli pizza sauce when we make pizzas…I have created monsters! Haha!), unbelievably delish spaghetti sauce, the diced can tomatoes taste so fresh I have used them in place of tomatoes in some recipes (why waste all that time washing and dicing when Dei Fratelli did it for me, no brainer!?), and the tomato sauce, Italian sauce, and crushed tomatoes have been really helpful and accommodate our new and improved healthy eating lifestyle. ALL this could be yours!

How to enter the giveaway:

1-Like Mom on the go in Holy Toledo on Facebook

2-Follow @mamaof3onthego on Twitter

3-Follow Dei Fratelli on Instagram (if you have an account)

4-Like Dei Fratelli on Facebook

5- Follow Dei Fratelli on Twitter

6- Comment stating what your favorite type of salsa is….black bean, corn, mango, traditional, etc.

Winner will be randomly selected June 8th @11:59pm and posted here June 9th

Good luck and thank you for your time!

Cheers!!

Why I am a Bad Catholic

May 26, 2015May 26, 2015momonthegoinholytoledo

The other day I found myself in a heated discussion and I slipped up and said a four letter word, and it wasn’t love! To which the other person replied, “What a good Catholic!” It was meant as a jamb, said sarcastically, a way to get a rise out of me. And let me tell you, it worked! I continued to yell in frustration, I can’t even remember what I said but I needed to get the rage out… I was drunk with rage. I was in a bad state. I wasn’t being a good Catholic. Then it got me thinking, what is a good Catholic?

I have a friend who once told me that her mother said she was going to go to Hell because she lived with her boyfriend before they got married. Was that a good Catholic?

Over coffee the other day with some ladies one suggested that all child molesters should be given the death penalty. Is that a good Catholic?

A husband cheats on his wife who he has been married to for 20 years and they work things out, their marriage ends up being better than ever! Is that a bad Catholic?

A young mother has turned to prostitution in order to provide shelter & food for her two young children after her boyfriend ran out. Is she a bad Catholic?

So where am I going with this? The one, of many, beautiful & comforting aspect of Catholicism is the fact that I do not have to pass judgment! Thank you God! Talk about a relief! There is no way I could live with that kind of pressure, that kind of burden, day in and day out.

Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. Ephesians 4:29

I am so thankful that my job is to love and pray for ALL souls, sinners & saints! And speaking of sinners, guess who has two thumbs and is a sinner, this girl!!

Yep, I am a sinner. Does that make me a bad Catholic? Jesus’s was crucified so that EVERYONE’S sins could be forgiven. He wasn’t crucified so that only some people’s sins would be forgiven. But there is a bit of a catch. See, you can’t just say, I accept Jesus as my savior and be done. There is this miraculous thing called confession. I tell ya, it is like a day at the Spa for the soul, it feels phenomenal! Nothing compares to acknowledging your sins, repenting, asking forgiveness, and receiving God’s grace. But I know I don’t go to confession near enough. Does that make me a bad Catholic?

There is also the Act of Contrition but again, I know I don’t do that near enough either, perhaps I am a bad Catholic?

Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. Now this is a tricky one. See, it had me thinking about the person who got this whole mess started, the person who made the comment originally, about me not acting like a good Catholic. And what I have realized is that people make their own assumptions. And because I take my children to church on Sunday, because the Eucharist is my main driving force, because I pray the Rosary with my children that somehow makes me out to be someone who judges, is hypocritical, who thinks they are perfect? I am not certain how this assumption came to be but I don’t think I am alone in feeling the repercussions of such assumptions. It does hurt badly when someone says that you think you are perfect and better than someone else especially when you think NOTHING of the sorts. And the hardest part is having to forgive them for they do not know what is in our hearts, but GOD does, God knows our intent and we must find console in that and forgive those who trespass against us.

If you have come in contact with someone who calls themselves a good Catholic, I am sorry, and please pray for them. If you have a friend or family member who is judgmental and Catholic please don’t make an assumption that all Catholics are that way, and again, please pray for them. Catholics are humans, we are flawed, we are far from perfect, we make bad decisions, we are sinners, we are forgivers, we are thankful, we are givers, we are not better than anyone else, we are charitable, we are all equal, we are loving, we are fun (FYI-our festivals include gambling & beer…told ya, not perfect!), we are broken, we are recruiting, you interested?

The conclusion I have drawn after carefully analyzing my own behavior and what Catholicism stands for I realize that there are no good or bad Catholics, just Catholics. God knows we are all a work in progress. He has given us free will, what a magnificent gift yet we do not always make the best choices which are why he sent us his son and why his son was crucified so that our bad decisions & sins could be forgiven. We are all good people but sometimes we make bad decisions.

Flower Power at the Farmers Market!!

May 23, 2015May 24, 2015momonthegoinholytoledo

This weekend is Flower Days Weekend at the Farmer’s Market!! Finally!!! This marks a HUGE milestone for us Midwesterners, no more frost! Oh the power of those flowers, people come two by two, with their four-legged friends, strollers, wagons, etc. to get their hands on the perfect flowers! The flowers might be the power that gets you there but it’s the food, the Flying Rhino coffee, Holey Toledough Doughnuts (FYI-if you want a doughnut get there early!), face painting, the running into family & friends, the sense of community that will having you stay!

I told my husband that the girls and I were buying flowers so naturally my first stop would be to buy some honey. lol! I heard that if you use organic local honey it is supposed to help with allergies. And we have some peeps with allergies in our household so it just made sense, right!? And just look at that golden sweetness…okay, so maybe I let my sweet tooth make that purchase. Trust me, my entire family will be thanking me tomorrow at breakfast. 😉

One impulse buy down and the potential for a second was looking promising. It is not my fault, it is all these talented peeps we have in Toledo’s fault. (Totally rationalized that!) But seriously, we really do have so many talented individuals in Toledo and the surrounding area….growers, jewelers, bakers, etc. it is fascinating! And it feels so good when we support one another. But back to the initial task at hand….

There were so many flowers it was absolutely breathtaking! The girls finally decided on a beautiful combination of marigolds…for a price that couldn’t be beat! (great deals!!)

Then we were off to our next impulse purchase. After walking through the Farmers Market and smelling them the entire time, these quickly became a necessity, French fries! I am fairly certain making your children smell those fresh cut French fried goodness and then not letting them taste one might fall under the realms of child abuse. Lol! So we noshed on our fresh cut fries and enjoyed some music!

Then we headed home to plant our beautiful flowers!

Ahhh, it is fascinating what a little flower power can do….it can bring the community together, inspire a bonding opportunity with loved ones, and brighten up even the dreariest of yards!

So what kind of flowers are you planting this year?

FREE Play Time exhibition at the Toledo Museum of Art

May 22, 2015May 22, 2015momonthegoinholytoledo

When you hear the words Art Museum what comes to mind? Quiet, old, cold, boring!? (Or at least that’s probably what my husband would say). And the thought of bringing the children along just sounds, well, expensive!! Let’s be honest, there is decorum to follow when touring the Art Museum’s galleries. Things they frown upon include, breathing near the art (again, something my husband would probably say, ha-ha!), touching the art, standing too close to the art, climbing on the art, sitting on the art, and playing with the art. But not this summer! This summer the Toledo Museum of Art is hosting Play Time!!!

“As we grow up we tend to trivialize play and relegate it to childhood, but it’s an important element of life that we wanted to explore in this exhibition,” said Halona Norton-Westbrook, the Museum’s Mellon fellow and associate curator of contemporary art. “This show is not only about play in the traditional sense, but also the idea of being in the moment, of inspiring wonder, of invoking your natural curiosity.”

Invoking your natural curiosity, that statement is spot on! Our adventure in Play Time began downstairs where we contributed to the community art project featuring interactive components designed by Varujan Boghosian and Werner Pfeiffer. How it worked?

There was paper provided and directions for making a paper cube. Full disclosure, it took me WAY too long to try and figure out how to make that cube. Haha!

That exercise did a marvelous job of setting the tone for the rest of our Play Time tour. What tone? One of lightheartedness, fun, we were definitely forced into the moment! I loved it! And the coolest part is we can now say that we contributed to an instillation at the Toledo Museum of Art….that’ll look great on my résumé. (wink, wink).

Then we made our way upstairs to what I can only describe as pure awesomeness, Harmonic Motion!! Harmonic Motion, by, Toshiko Horiuchi Macadam and Charles Richard MacAdam is a hand-crocheted textile installation. It is huge, colorful, just a sight to behold!

As we entered they requested that we take our shoes off before climbing in. What!? It was difficult to wrap my head around the fact that I was not only taking my shoes off at the Art Museum but was also climbing on, in, around, and breathing ALL over the art!! Finally an exhibit my husband will happily accompany me too!! Talk about a FUN date night!!

Next stop, Swing Space! Swing Space, by, Jillian Mayer was a really cool idea; you literally sit and swing into the clouds which are projected onto the wall. It was a neat experience. I can finally cross off swing at the Art Museum from my bucket list!!

Ground Control by, Edith Dekyndt was our next destination on our Play Time adventure! This one was a little eerie. You walk into an empty room that contains a huge floating black ball. The ball is filled with a combination of oxygen and helium and the reaction is surprising. I won’t give it away, this one you will have to check out for yourself!

Anything Can Break, by, Pinaree Sanpitak was one of our last stops. Truth be told, we have already visited this installation a few times but it is one of our favorites!! There are motion sensors in the ceiling of the installation that trigger various sounds as you walk underneath. It is so much fun to walk around and see what kind of music you can make.

There are so many more instillations in the exhibit. There are also fun hands-on activities placed throughout the museum…gone are the days of old, cold, and boring!

Fun events are going on throughout the summer at the Toledo Museum of Art. Click here to view the calendar. Also, be sure to check out the Toledo Museum of Art’s amazing Family Center while you are there!
Now, if you’ll excuse me I have an awesome date night to plan….It’s Friday at the Toledo Museum of Art!

Why Costco? (Giveaway $190 value!)

May 21, 2015June 10, 2015momonthegoinholytoledo

Fact, my 4 year old jumps up & down at least 8x a day! She will pretty much start jumping for any reason, like seeing a bird, not wanting to go to bed, because it is Monday, etc.

Fact, I am an adult. Fact, I do not jump up & down 8x a day. Fact, I do jump up & down like my 4 year old daughter twice a month. There is only one thing in this world that makes this 35 year old woman jump up & down like a preschooler flaring limbs about, and that is, a trip to COSTCO!!!

I am getting excited just thinking about our next trip!! Why? Why would a grown woman be so excited to go to Costco? (In no particular order)

1. Samples- Um, hello! Who doesn’t love samples? I adore the fact that you can try it before you buy it especially when you have a picky eater at home. Thankfully my pickiest eater accompanies me so she can sample too! Another added bonus of the samples is it gives my 4 year old something to look forward to in-between isles & the food occupies her mouth for lapses of time so I can actually enjoy a moment of silent (so wrong, but, so true! Haha!)

2. Cost- Total disclosure, Costco is where I get half my wardrobe. I know it sounds silly but they have comfortable, modern, classy, even fashionable outfits & they cost WAY less than the department stores! They also have clothing for men too…great picks for Dads (wink, wink, Father’s Day is coming up!) and then there is the kids’ clothes, books, toys, etc. I buy all birthday & baby shower gifts there (jigs up on that one! haha!). And I also fill up the gas tank before I leave since it is always cheaper than the other stations (Costco is literally my one stop and shop for everything place!)

3. Quantity- I think this one is a no brainer!! Haha!

4. Quality- Sometimes people have this idea that if you buy more it somehow makes the quality less and that could not be further from the truth when it comes to Costco. The quality of their food is amazing. I am a huge fan of their produce. My favorites are the Organic Spinach (I often buy two…I am a spinach freak!), strawberries, melons, peppers, and I could go on and on. What I like most about Costco is if you do get home and realize you purchased say, a bad melon, they will happily exchange it. The customer service is amazing!

5. Selection/Variety- We recently made a HUGE change in our house, we stopped eating cereal and have cut way back on all breads/grains. I was afraid that maybe I wouldn’t be able to shop Costco anymore and Costco is this Kat’s meow (too much?). Thankfully what I found, once I stopped honing in on all the stuff we couldn’t get anymore, is that Costco offers a nice variety of foods for all diets and lifestyles. Checkout all the goodies I purchased at my last visit!

6. The people- Last but certainly not least, the people who work at Costco are the nicest!! They are always so sweet with my daughter…her second favorite part of Costco is the smiley face she receives on the back of our recipe. The cashiers are always so kind and friendly. In fact I have even befriended a few…maybe I spend too much time there? But they don’t talk back to me, they listen, it is like a mini vacation for moms. Lol!

There you have it folks, Costco is a mom’s mini-vacation destination! Haha! It will have you jumping up and down like a 4 year old in anticipation for your next trip! No joke!

And Guess What!!! I have some exciting news to share!! Costco will be giving birth to a new store in Perrysburg, OH June 11^th 2015!! As far as I know it is a drug free birth…hopefully it won’t be a water birth but if it is just bring your umbrella! 😉

Join today & receive Costco cash card!!

While they are managing their labor pains they are giving you a shower!! When you give birth to a store that’s how it works, they give you the shower, lol! They are showering one lucky follower with ALL these goodies valued at $190!!!

So, whats in the bag? These amazing Kirkland Signature items:

Organic Maple Syrup
Variety Snack Nuts
Surface Wipes
Dried Blueberries
Almond Butter
Coconut Oil
Himalayan Pink Salt
Albacore Tuna (8pk)
Jelly Belly
Macadamia Nut Clusters
Paper Towels
Steak Strips
Unsalted Fancy Mixed Nuts
Organic Salsa
Peanut Butter Pretzels
Body Lotion
Chocolate Covered Almonds
Apple Sauce (24pk)
Microwave Popcorn (44pk)

To enter the giveaway:

1-Like Mom on the go in Holy Toledo on Facebook

2-Follow @mamaof3onthego on Twitter

3-Like Costco on Facebook

4-Comment stating when you’re taking your next trip to Costco

Giveaway is limited to individuals who live in Toledo and surrounding area (within 30 miles)

Winner will be randomly selected June 10th @11:59pm

Disclosure: I was given 3 sweet Kirkland products for my family and the BIG bag of goodies to giveaway! No additional compensations was received and all opinions expressed are my own.

10 Tips for Hosting a Slawesome Cookout!! (Contest Link included)

May 18, 2015May 18, 2015momonthegoinholytoledo

Ever been to one of those cookouts where you are just bored out of your mind? You try to determine what is an adequate amount of time to stay without seeming to eager to leave? Ever come up with a carefully planned reason why you have to head out early? Ever had a special code word? Now imagine you were the poor hostess and your guest kept blurting out, kumquats, supercalifragilisticexpialidocious, and other random weird words moments before making up a reason why they had to bolt! Don’t be that hostess!! Don’t forget the Slawsa!!

In case you missed the segment on WTOL Saturday morning here is a quick run down…we made some mouthwatering deviled eggs (click here for recipe) with my favorite condiment, SLAWSA!!! And we talked cookouts!!

What is Slawsa?

SLAWSA breaks the mold of modern condiments, boldly creating a whole new category of food, and standing alone in its realm of flavor. A delicious cross between a slaw and a salsa and far healthier than other toppers, more versatile and is a must-have for your pre-game tailgate, grilling at your backyard barbecue or to spice up your mid-week family dinners. We beg you, don’t serve your guests boring condiments.

Simply put, Slawsa is the Gourmet Topping for Everything without the gourmet price.

You can feel confident that Slawsa is:

all-natural
fat-free
cholesterol-free
gluten-free
very low in sodium
kosher
vegan

Source

Here are 10 tips to host a SLAWESOME cookout:

Keep it simple-no one likes a stressed out host. Go low budget on the decorations, use items from around the house, use napkins/bandanas as decorations, use real plates & utensils…not only is it cheaper but the planet will thank you!
Have guest bring a dish to pass- it means less for the host to have to provide & it gives everyone a special contribution…everyone wants to feel needed.
Have an Ice Tea bar- guests can add their own mint, fruit, alcohol, sugar, etc.
Background music is a must- Billy Holiday & Dean Martin are great choices for parties with multi-generations
Have all the must-haves handy for your guests- mosquito repellant, sunblock, hand sanitizer, wet wipes
Slawsa!! This sassy condiment will be the talk of the party…it is literally a symphony for your taste buds, AH-mazing!! (Available at Kroger & Meijer down the condiment isle, next to the relish…what, a girl can’t know her condiments? Haha!)
Photo Booth-this is a great way to get everyone involved in the fun! And as a bonus you will have pics to add to any future calendar, card, and/or photobook! Or if you are feeling really ambitious you could send out thank you photo cards to your guests.
Games/activities are a must! Bingo, bocce ball, croquet, hide items & have a scavenger hunt (have the older kids read the clues and younger once run and find them), have an art show- chalk on sidewalk or grab some fun crafts from Hobby Lobby and pass out awards to the artists
Have a plan B in case of rain-move the party inside, have a tent, umbrellas, etc.
Have to-go bags/containers for guest so they can easily take home food

Any tips you would add to the list? What do you worry about most when entertaining? Do you have Slawsa in your fridge? If not, why? What are you waiting for??

Interested in winning $50? Here is the link to the Photo Contest Slawsa is running now through the end of June! Get your Slawsa on!!! And good luck!!

Mother of 3, Blogger, & Cereal Killer!

May 11, 2015May 11, 2015momonthegoinholytoledo

Growing up we were NEVER the “cool family”. We never had fun cereal, junk food, or cable! Looking back I have no idea how we survived! Thank goodness for our friends, because we wanted our MTV! At the time I just figured my parents hated us and didn’t want us to enjoy ANYTHING in life. Turns out they actually loved us and just wanted the best for us. And guess what, guess who doesn’t have cable or buys the “fun cereal”? This mom! And all this time I thought I was doing right by my children. I assumed fortified cereals were good for them, much better than the stuff with all the sugar and dyes, right!?! Wrong!

Our adventure began 8 weeks ago. The standard in our home has always been cereal for breakfast. They would eat their bowl of cereal, beg for more because they were still hungry, be exhausted a half hour after eating their cereal, and also a tad cranky. I had always assumed that was just the way kids were then one weekend I made eggs and bacon. The children were not hungry after they ate the eggs & bacon, they were not tired a half hour later, and they were a joy to be around. My first thought was, what was in those eggs? Haha! My second thought was that there might actually be a correlation between the cereal and the children’s behavior. So for the next few mornings I alternated the cereal with eggs and/or steel cut oatmeal. And my findings were spot on, each time the children had cereal they were still hungry, cranky, and tired but when they had eggs and/or the oatmeal they were pleasant and full. But how could this be since I only purchased the “good for you cereal”, the fortified cereal with fiber and less sugar? So I did some research online and came across a few interesting articles.

It’s fortified with nutrients my children need, right?!

“Millions of children are ingesting potentially unhealthy amounts” of vitamin A, niacin and zinc, and fortified cereals are the leading source, said a new report from the Environmental Working Group, a Washington -based health research and advocacy firm.

A variety of health issues are at stake for children who consume too much vitamin A, zinc and niacin, like liver damage, abnormal immune function and short-term issues like rashes and vomiting, the report says.

http://www.nydailynews.com/life-style/health/fortified-cereals-bad-kids-report-article-1.1842365

It is loaded with fiber that should help make them feel full longer, right?!

11 of the 13 most heavily sugared children’s cereals feature marketing claims like “Good Source of Fiber” that suggest misleadingly that the products are healthful.

http://www.ewg.org/research/childrens-cereals

It contain less sugar than in the past, right?!

The lack of progress on the sugar front is discouraging. After reexamining the 84 children’s cereals assessed in 2011, EWG found that while the sugar content of 11 cereals decreased slightly (in 10 cases, by just one gram; in one case by an underwhelming two grams), all other cereals remained unchanged (except Frosted Mini-Wheats Big Bite, which actually upped its sugar content by 20 percent).

The report also highlights some particularly terrible cereals in its “Hall of Shame,” which includes 12 cereals that contain more than 50 percent sugar by weight. (Lieber’s Cocoa Frosted Flakes took home the insanity prize, packing 50g of sugar per serving; the cereal is 88 percent sugar by weight, delivering a whopping 167 percent of the recommended daily sugar intake for children in a single serving).

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/chris-hunt/cereal-offenders-ewg-expo_b_5330975.html

The more digging I did the more I found…..

GMOs: Most conventional cereals contain sugar and corn made from GMO products. Note that these same manufacturers create GMO free cereals for distribution overseas.

Annatto: This natural flavoring is now entering into controversy. According to WebMD, it can affect blood sugar levels so if your child has diabetes, please be aware of that. It also has been linked with allergies, and the Food Intolerance Network has gotten reports linking it to headaches and irritability. If you have a sensitive eater or a child prone to allergies, you may want to avoid this flavoring.

BHT is also a chemical additive and may be a possible ADHD trigger.

http://www.mamavation.com/2015/01/top-10-toxic-kid-cereals-to-avoid.html

I probably could have gone on for days researching all the ways marketing had fooled me into believing I was doing the best by my kids’ health. I had read enough and witnessed with my own eyes the effect cereal had on my children. So what’s the solution? Make breakfast every morning? Who has the time? At least cereal was convenient…but at such a huge cost! I don’t want my children becoming diabetics because I couldn’t get out of bed to make them breakfast…I don’t need that kind of mommy guilt lurking over me! The solution, cookies, bars, & cakes! Yep, you read right!

I started by making these amazing cookies!! Here is the recipe I made them the night before and did not tell the children what was in them…for some reason the moment you say healthy kids won’t eat them! And they loved them! They even requested them for breakfast the next morning….then I let them in on my little secret. If the cookies could be this delicious what else was out there? Turns out A LOT!

Pancakes….Click here for the recipe

Bars……Click here for recipe (I did add a few chocolate chips)

Carrot Cake…..Click here for recipe

Breakfast burritos….we had leftovers from fajitas the night before so we simply added eggs and voila! Peppers, steak, mushrooms, guacamole, and eggs in homemade tortillas!

Before I knew it I had settled into a routine of cleaning up dinner, doing the dishes, and making breakfast. Because I know there is no way I can make these in the morning…but perhaps you are a better morning person than I and you like to just chill in the evenings…the key is to find what works best for you, no one knows you better than you!!

Added bonus…I put on a dress for Mother’s Day that was WAY to snug 2 months ago and guess what, IT FITS now! So apparently this eating healthier for breakfast is not only helping the kiddos but my waistline too. SCORE!! Bring on the cookies, cakes, and bars!

If this is the transformation for altering breakfast can you imagine the results if we altered lunch and dinner too? Baby steps! 😉

No Preservatives, Additives, or DRIPS!! (For $1!)

May 9, 2015May 9, 2015momonthegoinholytoledo

It is hot outside and the kiddos have been playing for all of 10 minutes. They want a snack along with half the other kids from the neighborhood who are in your backyard. Hmmm….what to feed them?! Want to offer them something that isn’t processed? That has no additives or preservatives? That has no dyes? No corn syrup? Why not throw organic in the mix too!? How does an organic refreshing blueberry Popsicle sound? One you made? You are probably thinking, because I know I was, been there done that and the gosh darn bags/popsicle molds/didn’t work! I also almost gave up on the entire concept until I came across these gems at the Dollar Store! Yep, the DOLLAR STORE! (Amazon wanted $9.99!) One container makes 4 popsicles, so you might want to stock up! And guess what, they actually work! I like the fact that all drips are caught and can be slurped through the straw on the side. So there is less mess. I am lusting after these things! They are the hot commodity in our household right now…I am having a tough time keeping them stocked!

Ingredients:

2 cups frozen fruit (fills 6-8 popsicles)

Kiddos really enjoy blueberry, strawberry, mango, & pineapple and you can mix the fruit…have them come up with their own flavor and name it! My little one made Purple Princess Blueberry Blush…it is fun to hear the crazy names they come up with!

1 tablespoon Agave

¾ cup water

Popsicle container

Directions:

Place all ingredients in the food processor or blender and blend baby, blend!! Then pour contents into the containers. Best part is since the fruit is frozen it literally takes an hour for the popsicles to be ready. SCORE! And then enjoy!!

Moms & Dads can also enjoy these delicious treats…FYI-they also taste great in a cocktails

Simple Mango & Black Bean Salad with a little kick!

May 6, 2015momonthegoinholytoledo

It is FINALLY that time of year!! I feel like we have been waiting forever! Time to live outdoors! Well, not entirely but at least during the day. Time to have family, friends, and the neighbors over for cookouts! Time to bring a dish to pass at the block party and lake! Time to ooh & aah all the ladies with your culinary skills! Time to stock up on the Dei Fratelli!!

This is one of my favorite recipes, it is literally like your taste buds are transporting you to the beaches of Cabo San Lucas…you can almost feel the sand between my toes (I have been there once and the food was unbelievable, fresh, authentic, mouthwatering delicious)

Mango & Black Bean Salad:

1 can black beans drained and rinsed

1 can of Dei Fratelli Chopped Mexican Tomatoes & Jalapenos (do NOT drain…the peppers, cilantro, onion, garlic, vinegar, and salt that is in the can will be the dressing…less work for you…thank you Dei Fratelli)

1-1/2 cups chopped Mangos (frozen or fresh)

2 Tablespoons Avocado oil

Optional: add 1 avocado sliced & mix with other ingredients

Serve with a small side dish of Greek Yogurt (taste just like sour cream) for guest to place on top

Directions:

Pour all contents into bowl and mix.

Refrigerate for a few hours before you serve, best if served cold. Don’t have a few hours? Then use frozen mangoes…I have a big bag of organic frozen mango slices for this very reason…well, they also taste amazing as a sorbet and/or smoothies)

And Enjoy!!

Cheers to many backyard gatherings this season!!

Mother’s Day Brunch (WTOL Segment)

May 2, 2015momonthegoinholytoledo

What is the perfect treat for Mother’s Day brunch, that doesn’t require a long list of ingredients, slaving over the stove, or massive cleanup? Click on the video for the answer.