Fiber One Trail Mix

My kids and I have been coupon clipping.  Really more for fun than savings since I can't seem to use the darn things like those women on "Extreme Couponing."  But we make a big game out of it at the grocery store and they seem to get into it.  Two bonuses:  1) Lessons in math and value 2) Gets them really excited about saving money (who knew???).

One trip we got a great deal on Original Fiber One Cereal.  Two boxes for like $2.00!!!  Well, it turns out that our enthusiasm got the best of us.  Apparently, Original Fiber One Cereal, while extremely nutritious, has a flavor that is...shall we say...subtle.  We tried it with honey, with straight up sugar, with raisins, one of the girls even tried putting syrup on it.  Nothing.  So there it sat...for like a week. 

Not one to waste, I desperately tried to think of something I could do with these sad boxes of unloved cereal.  After scrounging through the cabinets, I came up with an idea for trail mix using cereals.  With a big sporting season upon us, it seemed like a great solution.  There is a good bit of sugar in the mix, but for active kids and adults, the healthy trade-off is fair.  Not only was I able to use up the leftovers, but now they make sure to add Fiber One to the list when we go shopping. 

I usually portion the mix into plastic baggies or containers so they can grab a bag for breakfast on the go, lunch boxes, or after-school/pre-sports snack. See the bottom for a variation to turn them into cereal bars and don't be afraid to mix and match the cereals to your family's taste.  All the dry ingredients are optional/interchangeable so have fun and experiment. One note, the cereals you use should be rather hard because of all the mixing and crunching, so rice and puffed cereals probably won't work.

Fiber One Trail Mix

Bang for Your Buck Baked Ziti

Baked ziti is a family favorite - easy, warm, and serves a big crew.  As delicious as the perfect mixture of cheese, sauce and pasta is, it's a little lacking in nutritional content.  So how do we improve on something so yummy?  Bring on the veggies!!!  Adding a whole bunch of vegetables to the ziti will up the nutrition...and of course the taste!

I tried this out on a vacation for the first time and oddly enough, it's become a traditional beach house food for us.  While not exactly summery, it's loaded with good stuff.  Perfect for after a long day at the beach, to carbo load  before a big game or race, or just to feed your army of hungry kids any ol' time.  To make it even easier, you could toss the ingredients into a crock pot and cook on low for an hour or two instead of baking in the oven and heating up the house. 

The vegetables can be added, subtracted or changed to your tastes. So experiment a little.  Have fun!

Bang for Your Buck Baked Ziti

Spicy Shrimp Stew

The heatwave ended and the humidity has gone the way of summer vacation.  The smell of fall is in the air...finally!  For many of us, cooler weather means warmer foods.  I don't just mean heated up, I mean the kind of foods that warm your very soul.  The kind that put a dreamy, comfy smile on your face thinking about a hot bite, a good book and a cozy blanket. 

Everyone in our house had a satisfied smile after a hearty bowl of spicy shrimp stew.  As one of my daughters so eloquently put it, "It's not spicy on your tongue, but all inside of you." 

So take the soup pot out of its seasonal resting place and try this stew as a welcome to cool weather and happy homes. 

Spicy Shrimp Stew