The Best Quick Loaf with Crumble-Top

This moist and lightly sweetened quick loaf is fun to wrap up in pretty

packaging - perfect as a hostess gift or to bring to a teacher or

neighbour. The hardest part is deciding which variation to make,

apple, pear or carrot, full-size or mini?

Baking Time: 45 to 50 minutes

Preparation Time: 15 minutes

Servings: 12

Ingredients

• 2 cups (500 mL) all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup (125 mL) packed brown sugar
• 2 tsp (10 mL) cinnamon
• 1-1/2 tsp (7 mL) baking powder
• 1/2 tsp (2 mL) each baking soda and salt
• 1/4 tsp (1 mL) ground nutmeg
• 1 Ontario Egg, beaten
• 1 cup (250 mL) buttermilk
• 1/3 cup (75 mL) butter, melted
• 2 tsp (10 mL) vanilla
• 1 cup (250 mL) diced Ontario Apples (unpeeled)
• 1/3 cup (75 mL) toasted chopped walnuts 
• Crumble-Top:
• 1/4 cup (50 mL) each all-purpose flour, large-flaked rolled oats, packed brown sugar
• and chopped walnuts
• 1/4 cup (50 mL) butter, melted
• 1/2 tsp (2 mL) cinnamon

Preparation

Crumble-Top: In small bowl, combine flour, oats, sugar, walnuts, butter and cinnamon;

set aside.

In large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda, salt

and nutmeg. Make well in centre; add egg, buttermilk, butter and vanilla. Sprinkle with

apples and walnuts; stir just until combined.

Spread into parchment paper-lined or buttered 9- x 5-inch (23 x 12 cm) metal loaf pan,

smoothing top. Sprinkle with crumble-top. Bake in 350°F (180°C) oven for 45 to 50

minutes or until tester inserted in centre comes out clean. Let cool in pan on rack for 15

minutes. Turn out onto rack to cool completely. 

Variations:

Pear-Pecan: Substitute pecans for walnuts. In loaf, reduce cinnamon to 1/2 tsp (2 mL)

and add 1-1/2 tsp (7 mL) ground ginger. Switch apples with Ontario Pears.

Carrot-Walnut: Substitute 1 cup (250 mL) shredded Ontario Carrots for apples.

Mini-Loaves: Use three approximately 5- x 3-inch (12 x 8 cm) loaf pans and bake 20 to 25

minutes.

Tips: Wrap in plastic wrap and store at room temperature for up to 3 days. Or, place into

freezer-safe bags and freeze for up to 3 months.

Nutrients per serving1 Serving: 

Protein: 5 grams

Fat: 13 grams

Carbohydrate: 36 grams

Calories: 280

Fibre: 1.5 grams

Sodium: 295 mg

Keepsake Christmas Ornaments

How our tree has grown since the kids have come into our lives.  Each year, as we put up our tree, we take time to look at the ornaments that we have collected over the years.  There is the one we got for a wedding gift, our first home, baby’s first Christmas times two – one pink and one blue.  We have received some ornaments as gifts over the years as well.  There are ballerinas and Legos, drum sticks and running shoes.  Our tree tells a story of us, our family. 

Every time we visit a new or interesting place, we try to pick up a souvenir ornament in the gift shop. It is a great way to remember some of our adventures.  Some years, the kids have made beautiful keepsake ornaments at school.  I also like to make a few at home.  The salt dough handprints are my absolute favourite.  I try to do them every couple of years as the kids grow.   Last year we decorated shells from a trip to Mexico and this year we are making  time capsule ornaments for the year 2013! 

Time Capsule Ornament

You will need:

A clear plastic ornament (available at craft stores)

You child’s school picture

Paper

Small piece of ribbon

Modge Podge

Sponge Brush

I started by helping the kids to write out their memories and milestones from this year – what grade they are in, their teacher’s name, their best friend, favourite book and tv show, trips we took and what they did for their birthday are all  good things to record. You could also print these out on the computer.

I gently took the top off the ornament by squeezing the metal prongs. Then I cut the lines of printed memories into strips and slipped them into the ornament and replaced the top.

MITK Tip:  Buy more than one ornament.  You never know!

I cut the school picture into a circle and painted modge podge on the back to stick it to the ornament.  Then I brushed another layer of modge podge on the edges of the picture and smoothed it out with my fingers.  Once the edges dried, I brushed another coat of modge over the entire photo. 

I topped it off with a pretty ribbon hanger.

Salt Doug Hand Ornament

This is what you need:

4 cups of flour
1 cup salt

Food coloring
Large Mixing Bowl
Water to moisten
Cookie sheet
A little oil
Small rolling pin
A drinking straw
Ribbon
A plate for a guide
Paint to decorate

This recipe will make three ornaments.

In your mixing bowl ~ gradually blend in your flour & salt with water to make the dough. 

MITK tip *Remember to add gradually, because you can always add more water but it is hard to take it away.

Divide dough mixture into three parts, lightly oil the cookie sheet, form and roll out dough. Be sure to make the dough thick enough to form the handprint.

Use the drinking straw to put a hole in the top for the ribbon. 

The best part is letting the kids press their hands into the dough to make their prints.

Place in a 150* degree oven for an hour. Or you can air dry overnight  for 24 hours.

Once dry, paint or decorate as you like. 

Shell Keepsake Ornaments

This is a simple way to keep memories of your family vacations.

While away on vacation last year, we collected shells on the beach.  I tried to find ones with holes in the top to make it easy to hang them on the tree.  When we returned from our trip, I tucked the shells into the Christmas box. 

What you need:

Shells

Ribbon

Sharpie

Sparkly paints

All you need to do to make this holiday ornament is to write the name of the place where you collected the shells and the year.   With writing on the shell, I gave the kids some sparkly paint and had them decorate as they liked.  Last, I tied a pretty ribbon to the top to ready them for the tree.

I hope that you and your family will enjoy creating these ornaments for your tree and that you will continue to add stories as the years go buy.

Happy Holidays. 

Five Minute Back to School Lunches

Make it a Muffin

Kids love muffins.  Make them bite sized for easier handling.  Try these recipes.

Morning Glory

One Bite Apple

Sandwich Bar

Lay out the lunch fixin’s for the kids to make their own.

• Bread (buns, wraps, bread)
• Cold Cuts
• Cheese
• Veggies

Tip:  Not big on bread.  Make a lettuce wrap. 

Veggie and Fruit Kebobs

Cut up in season fruit and vegetables and allow your children to choose their own. Have them make up their own snacks of veggies and dip or put together a sweet fruit salad. Make it fun by giving them skewers to make a kebob with any of the fruit, veggie or sandwich items.

Super Soups

In a pinch?  Go ahead and use a low sodium canned soup and add some lean meats and in season veggies to that soup. 

My kids love this Leek and Potato Soup.  It is great at this time with added sweet corn off the cob. 

Pack it Up

Choose the right containers to pack up lunches.  Thermos brand containers are great for keeping things warm or cold.  Bento boxes are ideal.  

Cooking up Life Skills

Welcome kids into the kitchen with help and resources from registered dieticians and Dairy Farmers of Canada.  

Summer’s longer evenings and relaxed schedules afford us more time to prepare and enjoy meals as a family.  It is the perfect time to welcome your kids into the kitchen to teach them about food, meal planning and cooking skills.  When children are involved in the kitchen, they are more likely to try new foods, eat better and build the confidence they need to prepare meals and snacks for themselves. 

Start our simple.  Preparing meals as a family doesn’t have to take a lot of time.  Start with one night a week and you will be surprised at how interested your whole family will become in cooking together.  Depending on your family dynamic and the ages of your children, have each person take responsibility for specific tasks in preparing a meal together.  My kids are great at using the iPad and computer and they can easily search for recipes.  Visit www.familykitchen.ca

 for ideas.  Start by looking under the recipes tab where you will find a nice selection of family-friendly recipes. Each one has a photo of the finished product and step by step instructions with icons to point out the tasks that are suitable for kids.

Need more inspiration?  Watch me as I showcase the Dairy Farmers of Canada mobile teaching kitchen, which will allows kids to practice simple cooking skills.

It is always fun to have the kids draw up a menu or a poster to hang in the kitchen announcing the upcoming meal and features. 

It is best to select one of the recipes the night before and have the kids prepare a shopping list.  There is a wide variety of fresh, in season produce available at this time of year.  Drop by your local farmers’ market or grocery store to shop.  Be sure to take the time to read labels and understand where the food comes from.      

As you begin to prepare dinner, invite all members of your family to help so that everyone is together in the kitchen.  Allow each child to take on a meaningful task.  Taking responsibility for a portion of the meal helps to build their confidence in the kitchen and gives them a sense ownership in this important family activity. Younger children can wash, mix, measure, peel or do some simple cutting.  Have the older children chop vegetables, use appliances, boil water for pasta or use the grill and barbeque. 

Everyone can help in presenting the meal, making it look appetizing on the plate and setting the table.  Be sure to take some photos of the finished products.  A family cookbook would make a lovely Christmas gift for friends and neighbours!   

Snacks for a Summer Road Trip

The August long weekend is approaching us and a lot of families planning to head out on a family a road trip. Along the way there is not a lot of choice for food.

It is great to have some food on hand or even pack a picnic of options.

A few ideas using all of our in season produce:

Curried Chicken Salad with Peaches. Switch it up and serve it on Romaine lettuce leaves, half a pepper or cucumber rounds.

With all the choice of fresh fruit, pack some straws and make fruit Kabobs. For a little sweetness add some sponge cake to the pattern.

If you have a chilled vessel, Peach Milkshakes are a favourite in our family.

Raw veggies served with hummus or a homeade herb dip is a good way to refuel.

All recipes are on Foodlandontario.ca

Be sure to pack wet wipes and a few road trip game ideas!