Recipes & Mealtime

Shake up your mornings with these Frothy Banana Shakes

frothy banana shaker
Some mornings can be such a drag! On those days, it looks like everyone is exhausted and moving slow (especially the kids), getting ready seems like a big chore, and making a wholesome and hearty breakfast feels nearly impossible.

You look at the clock, and, minute by minute you’re running even more behind. There is no time for a big breakfast with syrups and jams. You’re in a pinch and you need something fast, nutritious, and filling for you and your loved ones.

Freshen up your morning with this Frothy Banana Shake, which is a simple and perfect on-the-go breakfast option. It’s healthy with fresh bananas, sweet with a hint of vanilla and frothy with blended dairy products.

Recipe: Okra-Shrimp Beignets

Okra is in season! We’ve been noticing some beautiful okra in our local grocery stores lately. But what does one do with this slimy green veggie? First of all, you should know that okra is a nutritious food with many health benefits. It's rich in magnesium, folate, fiber, antioxidants, and vitamin C, K1, and A. Okra maybenefit pregnant women, heart health, and blood sugar control.

You can batter and fry okra, sauté it, or even throw it on the grill. Whenever I think of cooking okra, I think of making a mean gumbo or some type of creole soup. But the weather’s not quite cold enough for that. I adapted this Southern Living recipe I found to create these delicious Okra Shrimp Beignets that ended up being a wonderful crispy and savory midday treat for my family.

School Lunches to be proud of!

Magazine-worthy school lunches. That's what we all want for our kiddos, right? It's actually not so hard to kick the PB&J to the curb when you have fingertip access to the WoodlandsMommy.com "School Lunches" Pinterest board! Your kids will never want to go through the lunch line again! CLICK HERE to view our curated ideas on Pinterest, including this cute lunch box put together by Kitchen Fun with My 3 Sons. *Editor's Tip: We love sending out kid lunches to school and the park in these durable and stylish Bento Boxes [ad].

Autumn Sunday Dinner: Chicken Gnocchi Soup

This lovely fall menu and recipe submitted back in 2014 by Jenni Fisher has been a true delight in our homes for many years! We're bringing this feature to the forefront again so your family will enjoy Jenni's Chicken Gnocchi Soup this season!

THE MENU:
- Chicken Gnocchi Soup
- Spinach Salad with Strawberries, Almonds
- Feta Crusty Bread

Super Easy "Hot Lunch" Menu Ideas

Summer lunches need to be quick, delicious, varied, and easy to prepare. Cold cuts are a definite winner, but try to throw in a hot meal a couple of times a week. When you're out of ideas, choose from our list:

· Fried or grilled chicken tenders with mixed veggies

· English Muffin mini pizzas

· Chunky chicken noodle soup with crackers

· Macaroni and cheese with cut-up hot dogs

· Grilled sandwiches with chips

· Sloppy Joes

· Brown rice with meatballs and gravy

· Cheese quesadillas

· Spaghetti with meatballs

· Pot pies (made from frozen)

· Turkey dogs with fruit salad

· Stuffed baked potatoes

· Noodles with butter and salt

· Grilled chicken Caesar salad

· Fish sticks with sweet potato fries

· Roast beef and cheddar roll-ups

· Grilled cheese sandwiches

· Sliced turkey with cornbread stuffing

Throw-In-Your-Bag Snacks

Heading out the house for more than a few minutes? Don't even think about leaving the house without packing a snack. They're sure to get hungry (even if they've just finished eating!) Have these snacks on hand for convenience:

· Granola bars

· Boxes of raisins

· Fresh fruit

· Grape or cherry tomatoes

· Mini Carrots

· Sugar snap peas (raw)

· Applesauce cups

· Pepperoni sticks

· String cheese

· Yogurt in a tube

· Pretzels

· Fat-free pudding cups

· Gelatin cups

· Rice cakes

· Graham crackers

· Roasted almonds

· Mini whole wheat bagels

· Bottled water

· Fig newtons

· Trail mix