In video Carson and I share our favorite quick toast hacks for easy and healthy snacks (or breakfasts). You have to give these quick ideas a try– they are so simple but make you feel like you are eating something special! Check out Lainey’s video @ Simply Bakings here!
*This is not a sponsored post. All opinions are my own.*
Keeping your fridge organized and having quick and easy bulk meals are two things that can make your week a whole lot less hectic. And honestly, I don’t have time for all the frills, so here’s how I keep it really simple. These hacks and quick solutions keep us eating well and prevent us from wasting food.
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**CLICK TO DOWNLOAD FEATURED RECIPES HERE!**
*Thanks Ibotta for sponsoring this video! YouTube has been such a blessing, and I am fortunate to get to work with many brands that I love and use daily! I have been using Ibotta since 2013 and have saved hundreds using this app. As always, all opinions are 100% my own.*
*Thanks to Jimmy Dean for sponsoring this segment of Cooking with Carson! All opinions are genuinely our own…including Carson’s commentary ;)*
Getting breakfast ready in the morning can be stressful. Especially if you are constantly running late like me! Ha! Here are some :45 second breakfast ideas that are easy to have on hand to keep busy mornings simple.
**Want more easy breakfast ideas? Check out Jimmy Dean Breakfast on YouTube!
**Also, don’t forget to download your $1 off Jimmy Dean Fully Cooked Sausage coupon!
****SAUSAGE AND PITA SANDWICH****
Cook sausage for :45 seconds (it’s really that fast because it’s fully cooked!) Add your pita, cheese, and grape tomatoes and you’ve got an instant on-the-go breakfast!
MONEY-SAVING BONUS TIPS:
****READY-GO SMOOTHIE****
Add ingredients to individual baggies and freeze for up to 3 months. Keep in a tupperware to prevent freezer burn. Add a cup or so of juice to the frozen packs in a blender and you have a smoothie that is ready to eat in seconds.
MONEY-SAVING BONUS TIP: Frozen and Fresh berries usually pack an equal amount of nutrients so when in season, buy fresh, and when out of season, buy frozen. You’ll get the biggest bang for your buck. Want organic? Frozen is almost always the way to go!
****FRUIT AND YOGURT ROLL-UPS****
Add a frosting layer of Greek yogurt to a tortilla. Top with berries and roll like a burrito. Spray with spray butter and run through combined sugar and cinnamon on a plate. Flash freeze for 2 hours then cut in half and put in individual Ziplock backs in a tupperware in the freezer. Let thaw a few minutes before eating and enjoy!
MONEY-SAVING BONUS TIP: Look for cash back on fresh food, yogurt, tortillas and more from mobile coupon apps like Ibotta (the app is completely FREE).
****INSTANT SAUSAGE AND EGG****
Whisk egg and cheese in a small mug. Add sausage to the mug and microwave for :45 seconds to 1 minute 10 seconds. Turn mug over and serve on a plate with your favorite fruit!
****READY-GO INSTANT OATMEAL****
Add a serving of oatmeal to a snack-size ziplock baggie. Add 1 tsp. of Brown Sugar and 1 tsp. Coffee creamer to each baggie for sweetness and smoothness.
Gingerbread houses are a lot of work. I mean seriously. Who has time for this? So we decided to get simple ice cream cones, frosting and some sprinkles and made these mini Christmas trees. It’s the PERFECT toddler craft and couldn’t be easier.
Hope you give it a try!
*This is not a sponsored post. All opinions are genuinely my own.*
In this Cooking with Carson segment, I’ll be sharing quick way to make your own Velveeta cheese and an easy holiday (hearty!) appetizer.
I stumbled upon this Velveeta Cheese dupe from MOMables. We’ve used it for almost a year, and it holds up great in any Velveeta cheese recipe where you need a substitute!
One of our favorite Appetizers is HANKY PANKIES! These are a family secret, and while they aren’t lookers (you won’t win any awards there), these are amazing on the taste buds.
*LOOKING FOR THE FREE DOWNLOAD OF THIS RECIPE? CLICK HERE!*
*This is not a sponsored post. All opinions are my own.*
The scent of fall always make me feel warm and fuzzy inside. In this episode of “Cooking with Carson”, be prepared to fall in love with fall all over again. Here is an easy (and all natural) way to make your own home fragrance or home scent. Your kitchen will thank you.
Natural Fall Scent (for use in wax melt warmers)
Melt coconut oil in warmer and mix in dry ingredients. Let your home fill with fall goodness. As the smell starts to fade, just sprinkle in a bit more of the ingredients and you please. After letting cool, you will notice that the dry ingredients sink to the bottom and the oil stays on the top. When you warm it again, mix everything up to help re-activate the smell!
*This is not a sponsored post. All opinions are my own.*
Hey, all! Here is a new staple at our house! One of my favorite recipes, adapted to suit our tastes. Hope you enjoy!
*This is not a sponsored post. All opinions are my own.*
In this segment of cooking with Carson (apparently this is a thing now!), we’ll share a great recipe for Chickpea Popcorn! (Thanks, Dr. Oz for the inspiration!)
Easy Chickpea Popcorn
Drains and rinse garbanzo beans. Place on a rimmed sheet with parchment paper. Sprinkle dry ingredients over chickpeas, drizzle olive oil, mix to coat. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes (or until crunchy). Serve immediately and enjoy!
If you like a little more “kick to your popcorn…you can try the recipe below, too!
SPICY Chickpea Popcorn
Drains and rinse garbanzo beans. Place on a rimmed sheet with parchment paper. Sprinkle dry ingredients over chickpeas, drizzle olive oil, mix to coat. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes (or until crunchy). Serve immediately and enjoy!
*This is not a sponsored post. All opinions are genuinely my own.*
Baby wipes are expensive. And loaded with tons of ingredients you can’t pronounce. Carson gets diaper rash very, very easily (it’s insane), and even though he is potty trained, he still wears diapers for naps and bed-time, and we still used wipes after going potty!
I wish I would have found a recipe I loved sooner. There are lots of options out there (many use baby shampoo and oil), but the proportions are all wrong and they leave a residue on your skin.
After some research and experimenting, we found wipes we LOVE and won’t be switching to store-bought any time soon. Besides, you won’t believe the money you save. Just one container of these wipes uses around $1 of ingredients, and considering you pay $4 at the store for the same amount, I’d say that’s a pretty killer savings.
P R O D U C T S U S E D:
Storage Containers (also BPA free)
Fiora Paper Towels
Burt’s Bees Shampoo (natural ingredients, tear free and safe for babies)
Burt’s Bees Body Oil (all natural and safe for babies)
Coconut Oil
Distilled Water
M E A S U R E M E N T S:
1/2 paper towel roll in a 64oz container
1 Tbs. coconut oil
1 squirt baby shampoo
1 squirt baby oil
2 cups distilled water
Combine coconut oil and liquid ingredients (make sure water is warm). Pour over 1/2 a paper towel roll (cut with a non-serrated knife). Remove center roll and pull out wipes from the center. Squish roll down using the lid. Keep sealed for up to 2 weeks.
Let me know if you give this easy recipe a try!
*This is not a sponsored post. All opinions are genuinely my own.*
Can you believe this jar is $11 from Vitacost? Crazy!
For the price the grocery store charges for almond butter, you should be cracking open a can of liquid gold. Or at the very least prime rib. The cost is outrageous. Almond butter can run you $8-$9 PER SMALL JAR. I can’t think of another explanation other than it’s the health-food industry capitalizing on a “trendy” food with a lot of added health benefits. And considering how fast we go through it in our house, I was really excited to discover how easy it was to make your own.
Almond butter is loaded with vitamins and minerals and is great for your health. Peanutbutter is good for you, too (has lots of protein), but isn’t good to be consumed in mass quantities…especially if you have the 24-7-PB&J-requesting-kid. It’s so easy to switch it up with some almond butter with ZERO preservatives and keep your family eating healthful, varied foods on a budget!
Process the almonds for 10-15 minutes (stirring occasionally with a spatula) until smooth and creamy like peanut-butter. Store in mason jars in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. We love to label ours with dissolveable labels.
I hope you give this easy recipe a try. Carson and I will show you how simple it really is!
*This is not a sponsored post. All opinions are genuinely my own. Links contain affiliates.*
