Kid Friendly Friday - Making Yogurt

You have been seeing it all over other blogs (or maybe that was just me) but have you tried it yet?? I made yogurt in my crock pot this week and it was the easiest thing ever! Granted, it took many hours but it only took about 5 minutes of work. Talk about amazing your kids....it's like magic.

1. Pour 1/2 gallon of milk in crock pot (I used whole milk) and turn to LOW.

2. Wait 2 hours and 45 minutes.

3. Turn off.

4. Wait 3 hours.

5. Take a little bit of milk out of crock pot, mix with 6 ounces of store bought yogurt (with live cultures, which is pretty much all yogurt), put it back in the crock pot. Whisk it all together.

6. Wrap crock pot in a towel and put it in the oven (the oven is OFF!!!)

7. Wait 9 to 12 hours.

8. Hold breath.

9. You have yogurt!! Add fruit, vanilla, whatever.

10. You are supposed to let it refrigerate for 8 hours but I had to try it right away. Wow! I made yogurt :)

If your family goes through a lot of yogurt this is certainly kid friendly! When you are putting it away hold about a cup of it for your next batch so you don't have to buy any more. I guess it keeps getting better with every batch you make. Can't wait to see for myself. Can't wait to make frozen yogurt with it :)

What kid friendly idea have you come up with this week?? Link to Mr. Linky below!

Enjoy your weekend!

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FNCCC Assignment #2 - Aida Mollenkamp

Next week's chef is Aida Mollenkamp. "With a diverse culinary background and a passion for sharing her knowledge with food enthusiasts, cooking expert Aida Mollenkamp prepares delicious dishes while providing answers to questions submitted by Food Network viewers in her interactive cooking show, Ask Aida."

Aida is also the Food Editor over at CHOW.com If you haven't yet checked out this website, it is a must for foodies.

We'll post recipes from Aida on Wednesday, September 9. Can't wait to see what you are cooking!

Enter my giveaway for $50 from Cookware.com!

Kids in the Kitchen - Chocolate Covered Bananas

These were among Aida Mollencamp's recipes as Mexican Chocolate Frozen Bananas - the chef for next week's challenge. Thought they were too easy for the challenge but PERFECT for Kids in the Kitchen!

The actual recipe is linked above but we just melted some chocolate melts and cinnamon in a plastic bag (omitted the oil it calls for). The girls drizzled it on the bananas, smeared it around with their fingers and covered them in toppings (coconut and sunflower seeds). We did this at breakfast time so they would have plenty of time in the freezer for an after school snack.

Go over to A Little Fun With Me and Lu to check out more Kids in the Kitchen posts!

Enter my giveaway for $50 from Cookware.com!

Thousand Word Thursday - Mimi's first day

Little Bit is so sad that both of her sisters are back to school. Mommy just doesn't entertain like they do.

Cheaper Than Therapy holds A Thousand Word Thursday each week. Go visit to check out other pictures!

$50 from Cookware.com Giveaway!!

I just received my Cuisinart Automatic Frozen Yogurt-Ice Cream & Sorbet Maker and cannot wait to start making frozen treats. The bowl is in the freezer to prepare for tomorrow. I have plans for peach ice cream, no-cook chocolate ice cream, lime sorbet, strawberry frozen yogurt (I am making my own yogurt as I type this!), and many more. I love ice cream (and I'll be making plenty of it) but also want to make a lower fat, lower calorie type treat. I'll be posting recipes along with a review of the ice cream maker during the giveaway.

The giveaway is sponsored by Cookware.com , which has an awesome variety of items at very reasonable prices. They are a part of CNS Stores, a network of hundreds of stores which carry things like Kitchen Furniture, baby car seats, toys and games and pubs sets. You'll be surprised at the variety.

To enter this fabulous giveaway head over to Cookware.com and find what item you would spend your $50 on. Your first comment must include this information. Make sure you include an email address if you do not have one visible in your profile.

Additional entries (leave each entry as a separate comment):
1. Blog about this giveaway.
2. Follow my blog.
3. Subscribe via email to my blog.
4. Add my button to your blog - the HTML is on my side bar

You have until September 16, 2009 at 7:00 PM EST to comment. I will use random.com to pick a winner. The winner will be emailed and will have 2 days to respond. I will give your information to the Cookware.com representative, who will get in touch with you and arrange for your $50 purchase. Simple! Good Luck!

FNCCC Assignment #1 - Aaron McCargo, Jr.

Welcome Everyone! I'm so happy that you are joining me for the FIRST Food Network Chefs Cooking Challenge assignment. Go HERE to see some more of the schedule for the challenge.

I was pleased that Aaron McCargo, Jr. has lots of recipes to choose from, especially for this first challenge. Everyone should have been able to find something pretty comfortable to make. I chose the Mini Shepherd's Pie. I was very tempted by the 14 Layer Bars but didn't have anywhere to take them - and I would have eaten entirely too many myself!

Mini Shepherd's Pies

I made a few adjustments.....(IN PARENTHESIS AND CAPS)

Ingredients
Cooking spray
1 can biscuits (12) (recommended: Grands) (I MADE MY OWN ~ HERE IS THE RECIPE)
2 tablespoons olive oil (DIDN'T USE)
1 pound ground beef (USED GROUND CHICKEN)
1/2 onion, minced (DIDN'T ADD BECAUSE I WAS OUT)
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 tablespoon cracked black pepper (I DIDN'T EVEN USE A TEASPOON, IT SEEMED LIKE A LOT)
1 tablespoon minced garlic
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/2 cup beef stock (I USED CHICKEN BROTH)
1 cup frozen mixed vegetables
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley leaves
1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary leaves
1 1/2 cups leftover mashed potatoes
1 tablespoon granulated garlic powder (FORGOT TO ADD)
2 tablespoons granulated onion powder (FORGOT TO ADD)
2 cups shredded Cheddar

Directions
Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.

Spray a 12-count muffin pan with cooking spray. Mold biscuits to the shape of each muffin cup. Par-bake biscuits for 6 to 8 minutes until light golden. Remove from oven and set aside. (THE BISCUIT PUFFED UP SO MUCH THERE WAS NO LONGER AN INDENTATION. I USED A TART PRESS AND SMASHED THEM DOWN SO THERE WAS SOMEWHERE TO PUT THE TOPPINGS).

Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add ground beef and brown. Stir in the onions, salt, pepper and garlic and allow to cook together for a couple of minutes.

Mix flour into the meat mixture and stir until a paste consistency is reached. Add beef stock to pan and stir in vegetables and herbs, the last few minutes, until combined.

Reheat mashed potatoes in a microwave for 5 to 6 minutes. Stir in granulated garlic and onion powder (FORGOT, ALTHOUGH MY MASHED POTATOES WERE SEASONED WELL).

Spoon equal amounts (approximately 2 tablespoons) of warm potatoes on the bottoms of each par-baked biscuit. Then top with equal amounts of beef mixture (approximately 2 tablespoons). Finally top with equal amounts of Cheddar. (THERE IS NO WAY THAT THAT MUCH TOPPING WOULD FIT IN MY MUFFIN CUPS. YOU WOULD NEED JUMBO CUPS. I MADE A BIG SHEPHERD'S PIE IN A 4x6 PYREX DISH WITH THE LEFT OVER INGREDIENTS)

Return to oven and bake for 12 to 15 minutes until cheese is melted and browned. Remove from oven and allow to cool slightly before popping individual pies out with a knife.

Photography (especially of food) is not a strong point of mine. I debated even adding the picture because it looks so bad. Check out the picture on FN that goes with the recipe. Any food photo tips for me :)

VERDICT: I loved them because of the biscuits and the full flavor. I didn't even add all of the spices, when I am usually adding more than it calls for. I'm excited for the leftovers. My husband thought they were pretty good. My 6 year old ate two (that is a victory) but said she wouldn't want to eat them every week and my 4 year old didn't like it (although to be fair, she only eats fruit and sweets willingly). The muffin cup shape was a plus for them. They liked that they could eat it with their fingers. The biggest surprise was that the baby couldn't get enough of the ground chicken filling. She is not a meat eater so this was a nice change. Looks like I'll be cooking with ground poultry more often. I will definitely be making the biscuit cups again as there are endless possibilities for fillings, even if it is just a dab of butter and jam.

So what did you make?? Post your link to Mr. Linky below. I'm so excited to see the different entries!

Next week's chef is Aida Mollenkamp from the show Ask Aida.

Enter my giveaway for $50 from Cookware.com!

New Cake

I made a Dora cake for my niece this weekend - HERE! I would love to see your cake decorating creations. Post a link in the comments!