Oatmeal Breakfast Bars

I am obsessed with breakfast foods. I left the grocery store yesterday with turkey sausage patties, turkey sausage crumbles, a dozen eggs, a carton of egg whites, and a box of my new found love Jimmy Dean Delights (so good!!). A few months ago I made my own granola bars, so I had a bunch of quick oats sitting in the pantry. This afternoon on my lunch break (this was so easy), I found a recipe for these breakfast bars and mixed together the ingredients in less than five minutes. I threw the dish in the fridge and returned to work. Later I baked these bad boys for a few minutes while watching "My Best Friend's Wedding". Since the "batter" was already prepared, I didn't miss a second of this amazing flick.  Unfortunately I do not have the nutritional value of the bars. Here's how it goes:

Oatmeal Breakfast Bars

4 cups dry oats

1.5 cups flour (I used whole wheat)

1/2 cup sugar (mine was organic)

1 cup brown sugar

1 tbsp cinnamon

1/2 tbsp salt

3/4 to 1 cup canola oil

4 eggs

1.5 cups Craisins (or any other dried fruit)

Mix all ingredients together in a large bowl until the mixture is moist and lumps are removed

Firmly pack the mixture into 13 x 9 in well greased casserole dish and bake uncovered for 20 -25 min.

Once cooled, cut the bars however you please and enjoy!!  The best part of these breakfast bars is that you can add or replace any of the mix-ins. The original recipe called for raisins. I prefer Craisins, plus I already had some in my pantry.  I personally think adding some nuts, like almonds, would be awesome. Or maybe even some chocolate chips if you are feeling adventurous!

*For the freezer:  After cutting, individually wrap each bar in wax paper and freeze. Defrost for a few seconds in the microwave and you're good to go!

Chicken Shiitake and Wild Rice Soup

A few weeks ago we had our first "dusting" of snow. I decided to make a yummy, yet healthy, soup for the cold weather. I found this recipe from Skinny Taste.  This soup was so good! The best part is how healthy it turns out. One serving is 1.5 cups. 237 Calories per serving and 14g of protein!

Here's what you need:

1 tbsp butter

1 small onion ( I bought pre diced onions)

1 tbsp flour (I used whole wheat)

8 cups (64 oz) fat free low sodium chicken broth

1 cup water

2 carrots, chopped

3 garlic cloves

2 celery stalks, chopped

4 skinless chicken thighs

4.5 oz long grain rice and wild rice combo

1/2 cup long grain white rice

4 oz. shiitake mushrooms, sliced

2 tbsp light sour cream

salt and pepper

• Melt the butter in a large pot and sauté the onions for a few minutes. Then add the butter and sauté for another minute. 
• Add chicken broth, water, carrots, celery, garlic, and chicken. Cover and simmer for about 20 min
• Add rice, mushrooms, and salt and pepper to taste. The originally recipe says to simmer for about 35 min, but I let my simmer for about 40 so the chicken fully cooks and the rice thickens. 
• Remove and shred the chicken, then return to pot. Add the sour cream and stir. 

  **I let the soup sit for another 15 minutes or so for the soup to thicken even more. 

This was so great on those cold days. It was just as good reheated the next day for lunch!

Here's a neat idea!

Pour your soup into a large muffin tin and let it freeze over night. Store the frozen soups in a large freezer bag. When craving your delicious soup, put a frozen cup into a microwave safe bowl or mug and defrost then reheat. Perfect serving sizes and so easy!

Burlap and Oysters!

Oyster Roast season is almost over! What ever will you do with all those empty oyster shells?! [The best bet would be to recycle them into the Elizabeth River, but we won't get into that right now.] At the peek of the oyster roast season, I came across the idea of making an oyster shell wreath for my parent's house. The oysters were found off of Cedar Island, VA and were quickly consumed here in Norfolk. My dad always roasts his oysters in a burlap sack, so I thought burlap would be the prefect material for mounting the shells. Unfortunately I made this back in December, so I do not have step by step pictures for the reading impaired. Have fun, the creative freedom on this project is endless!!

Oyster Shell Wreath

Materials:

about a bushel of oyster shells

steamer (optional)

bleach

hardcore scrubbing brushes (such as a willow pad or steel wool)

styrofoam ring (which ever size you want!)

one long piece of burlap (about 4 inches wide)

hot glue gun and glue

fake spanish moss (optional)

First I steamed the shells for about 15 minutes on very high heat.  This process potentially loosens the yucky stuff on the shells.  Now the hard part, scrubbing. I used willow pads and a toothbrush with steel brushes. I scrubbed each individual shell until my fingers bled! But the finish product was worth the hard work.  Next I soaked all the shells in the sink with hot water and bleach for about 2 hours. After draining the shells and allowing them to dry over night, I could begin the wreath! I simply wrapped the styrofoam ring (mine was a 18 inches in diameter) in the burlap and secured it with the hot glue from the glue gun.  Then you can really get those creative juices flowing. I opted to glue my shells with the "shiny side" out in a circle pattern. I love how some shells are piggy-backing others, and the mussels also add a nice touch. 

I also made two smaller wreaths (12 inch diameter) with extra materials and the smaller oyster shells. On top of the burlap I glued a thin layer of spanish moss and patterned the shells, some shiny side out, some rough side out. 

One Dollar Picture Frame

Materials:

Dollar Store frame

acrylic paints

left over burlap

a cute picture!

This was so cheap and extremely easy! I bought a wooden frame (8.5 x 11) at the Dollar Store, globbed on a few coats of paint which I already had, taped a cute picture of my honey and I to some burlap, framed it, and Voila! A beautiful, expensive looking picture frame for just $1.00!

One Dollar Message Board
(picture to come later)


Materials:
Dollar Store frame
left over burlap
dry erase marker

Yet another basically free project! I framed burlap a 8.5 x 11 inch frame. Then I hung it on the wall in our kitchen, and with the dry erase marker I posted our monthly bills and when they are due. This was almost too easy!

Belated Valentines Post

  Valentine's Day should probably be dubbed "Chocolate Day".  I have never received so many different forms of chocolate in my life.  With this new workout and get-fit craze, I thought it was important to give my little kiddos something salty rather than sweet this year. I found this Valentine idea on Pinterest, along with many other cute non-candy ideas.  Goldfish are the equivalent of catnip for my class of one year olds. Therefore I decided on this!!

  

 My school is located in a Presbyterian church here in Norfolk. We try to encourage Christian values into all of our young sponges.  One year old's obviously do not understand too much about religion, faith, and God. However we still say a little prayer at snack time (God is great. God is good. Let us thank Him for our food. Amen), and they definitely are caught singing different Christian based songs learned in our daily music class.  This craft was more for the parents than the children, but I absolutely loved the idea for decorating the hallway outside of our classroom. 

Who would have guessed that John 3:16 had a hidden meaning?!

First Blog Ever!!

I'm so excited to venture into the blogosphere! A little bit about myself: I am a 23 year old Preschool Teacher who recently discovered Pinterest.  If you know this site, you know how drastically it can change a woman's life for the better! If you do not know of this site, you are truly missing out.  Pinterest has inspired my new found love of cooking and baking, DIY projects, and preschool arts and crafts.  I'm hoping to start this blog to post and document my new creative side. It may be more for myself, but if you come across my blog please enjoy the ride!

But what's with the "Kitchin"?

People have always been fascinated by my middle name: Kitchin. Many Roanoke College alumni still believe that my parents were hippies and named me for the room where I was conceived (drunk people are so gullible).  Growing up it took me a while to accept that I will have this name for the rest of my life. But once I discovered the awesome genealogy behind the name, I became much more willing to share the true meaning behind the "K" in my monogram.  Turns out my Great-Great-Great-Grandfather (I think he was that great), was Governor William Walton Kitchin, the 52nd governor of North Carolina! Pretty cool, right?

 I've always pictured a restaurant or cafe called "Kitchin's Kitchen", but while I do not own a contemporary eatery, this is the next best place to publish my quirky middle name!