snacks?

We're kind of in a rut at our house when it comes to snacks...what do you like to have or give your kids for a snack? A couple of our favorites are fruit and cheese or a slice of homemade wheat bread with 1/3 less fat cream cheese (Neufchatel) spread on it. What are your favorites?

Microwave Minestrone

This is another Martha Stewart recipe that we tried tonight. I love that you can cook it in the microwave in 10 minutes, it's full of veggies and really yummy with some good French bread!




Serves 4 ( it was enough for our family of 5 because the kids had smaller servings)
2 teaspoons olive oil
2 carrots, halved lengthwise and thinly sliced crosswise
1 red bell pepper (ribs and seeds removed), cut into 1/2-inch pieces
8 ounces green beans, stem ends trimmed, cut into 2-inch lengths
3 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
1/3 cup couscous
1 can (14.5 ounces) reduced-sodium chicken broth
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1 can (15.5 ounces) navy beans, drained and rinsed
coarse salt
flat-leaf parsley leaves(optional)
shaved Parmesan cheese, for garnish (optional) *we shredded our cheese and we liked it with a good 2 tbs of it at least!*


Directions
In a 3-quart microwave-safe dish, place oil, carrots, bell pepper, green beans, and garlic; stir to coat. Cover and microwave on high for 5 minutes.


Add couscous, broth, tomato paste, navy beans, 1 cup water, and 1/2 teaspoon coarse salt. Cover; microwave on high until vegetables and couscous are tender, 5 minutes. If desired, stir in parsley, and garnish with cheese.

Berry Almond Crumble Oatmeal

I've been feeling bad that I have not posted anything lately. To be honest, I haven't really cooked much (that first trimester will get you every time!). But, today the only thing I wanted was some oatmeal. Here is one of my favorite recipes (from quakeroats.com)



Ingredients
1/2 cup Quaker® Oats (quick or old fashioned, uncooked)
1/4 cup sliced almonds
1/3 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
3 cups fat-free milk or lowfat soy drink
1-1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
2 cups Quaker® Oats (quick or old fashioned, uncooked)
1 cup frozen (do not thaw) or canned (drained) blueberries

Preparation
For topping, combine oats and almonds in medium skillet. Cook over medium-low heat 4 to 6 minutes, stirring occasionally, until both are lightly browned. Cool completely. In small bowl, combine brown sugar and cinnamon. Add oat mixture; mix well.


For oatmeal, bring milk and cinnamon to a boil in medium saucepan; stir in oats. Return to a boil; reduce heat to medium. Cook 1 minute for quick oats, 5 minutes for old fashioned oats, stirring occasionally. Gently stir in blueberries. Continue cooking, until blueberries are heated through and most of liquid is absorbed, about 1 minute.
Spoon oatmeal into five cereal bowls. Sprinkle topping over oatmeal.


*I have also made the topping in smaller quantities for when I am just making a bowl of oatmeal in the microwave. I love the crunchy-sweet topping and it's great because it adds some protein!