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Dad can be hard to shop for sometimes. Of course, he can never have too many ties, coffee mugs or tools. But doesn’t the man who taught you how to ride a bike, to play catch and to always try your best deserve something more personal and unique.

Sure, he will be happy regardless of what you get him, but why not help him enjoy more time with the interests he has outside of being a great father. Here are some Father’s Day gift ideas for every kind of dad – from the grill master to the car enthusiast and the clean freak to the hygiene centric and every kind of dad in between.

Let Dad Stand Out with a Million-Dollar Shine

Your dad can now achieve the million-dollar appearance of Barrett-Jackson car auctions in his garage. Their Premium Auto Care line includes washes, waxes and detailers formulated with synthetic hydrophobic polymers and genuine carnauba wax for lasting brilliance and easy application. Learn more about how to bring a long-lasting and brilliant, deep shine to your dad’s car at Barrett-JacksonAutoCare.com. Barrett-Jackson Premium Auto Care products, which range in price from $5.49 to $17.99, are available at retailers nationwide, including Walmart, Pepboys, Menards and select Home Depots, and through online retailers including Amazon.com. For the ultimate gift, go a step further and wash his car for him.

For the Dad Who Loves to Drive

What do you get a dad who loves his car and truly loves to drive? How about something that connects him to his car, like a shoe that enhances his driving experience? While comfortable and stylish enough for everyday wear, the Piloti Spyder S1 driving shoe features patented Roll Control heel technology, superior red suede and mesh panels for maximum comfort and flexibility as well as the perfect combination of support, size, grip and feel. Check out the Spyder S1 ($150) as well as Piloti’s complete line of luxury, casual and performance driving shoes at Piloti.com.

A Gift Dad Can Sink His Teeth Into

Make Father’s Day complete with a dinner he’ll remember for years. The Omaha Steaks Father’s Day T-Bone Gift package is a meal dad will be willing and eager to fire up the grill for. The package is headlined by two 18-ounce T-Bones and includes four Brisket Burgers and four Gourmet Jumbo Franks along with Omaha Steaks Seasoning. Regularly $194.95, you can now bring the family together to enjoy this incredible fare for just $69.99. For more information, visit omahasteaks.com.

A Spotless Man Cave, Workshop and Car

It’s the ultimate gift for dad and his man cave. The Dirt Devil FlipOut™ is a premium cordless hand vac, perfectly designed to keep his man cave, workshop or set of wheels spotless. The 16-volt, fade-free lithium battery means faster charging, longer runtime and continuous power. It’s compact and lightweight, and has versatile tools for quick and easy cleaning. The FlipOut is $49.99. For more information, visit DirtDevil.com.

Power Dad’s Smile

Be the power behind dad’s smile this Father’s Day with the Oral-B 7000 SmartSeries Electric Toothbrush with Bluetooth connectivity. The brush connects to the Oral-B App, which provides real-time guidance while brushing and records brushing activity that can be shared with dental professionals. With six different cleaning modes, it removes 300 percent more plaque compared to a manual brush. Upgrade your dad’s oral care routine and visit oralb.com for additional details.

Photo courtesy of Getty Images

*FF

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Have you ever thought if the food you are eating is causing you to be depressed?  Can you boost your mood by eating the right foods? We often choose comfort foods when we are tired and depressed, but these types of foods often lead to more depressive feelings after eating it, creating a viscous cycle of poor nutrition and overeating.  Maybe you should be choosing food based on how you want to feel after eating it versus how you feel while you are eating it.

According to the Mayo Clinic, research shows that a diet of junk food or highly processed food high in fat and sugar are more likely to cause a person to feel depressed (Zeratsky, 2012).  A diet of junk food triggers inflammation which increases the risk of depression.  The Harvard School of Public Health researchers found the women consuming an inflammatory diet such as highly processed foods, red meat, margarine, sugar, and diet drinks increase their risk of developing depression by 41% (Inflammatory Dietary Pattern Linked to Depression Among Women, 2013).

So, which foods should you eat to boost your mood?  Stick to whole foods that are rich in nutrients such as fruits and vegetables, lean protein, and complex carbohydrates that give you lasting energy.  Eat at regular times throughout the day.  Going without food for a prolonged times, makes you more likely to pick up unhealthy, quick foods that will likely give you a crash soon afterwards.  When you think you don’t have time for a healthy food, avoid the drive through and reach for nature’s fast foods, such as an apple or orange.  Eat fish rich in omega 3 fatty acids, such as salmon, tuna, and mackerel. The best way to get omega-3 is through food, but you are not fond of fish a supplement will also help.  Eat more folate rich foods such as lentils, grains, spinach, and kale.  Folate deficiency has been linked to the occurrence as well as the remission of depression (Stein, 2013).

Many of us feel guilty for reaching for a piece of chocolate, a glass of red wine, or a spoonful of peanut butter to comfort us, but they are actually good for your mood.  They all contain an antioxidant called Resveratrol that boosts endorphins and serotonin leading to a better mood (Walcutt, 2014). This is one time it is okay give in to your cravings in moderation.

The next time you are having a moody day, check to see what you have eaten.  Most likely your foods have consisted of unhealthy processed foods.  You can quickly turn your day around with a healthy snack and even indulge in that afternoon chocolate fix or the evening glass of wine without feeling guilty.

The post Boost your mood with food! appeared first on AKAMom Magazine.

My favorite part of the 4^th of July is the big cookout that we host every year!  I am always looking for new, festive recipes to impress all of our friends and family.  This year I got a little help from our friends over at allrecipes.com who sent over their most popular recipes for Independence Day!  Read on to hopefully gain some inspiration, I think this might be our best cookout yet!

I always like to have two choices for the main dish, each featuring a different kind of meat.  This year we will be making (Actually) Delicious Turkey Burgers and Rosemary Ranch Chicken Kabobs.  These are slightly healthier options than typical backyard barbecue food.  As impressive as they sound, they are both surprisingly quick, easy and perfect for entertaining!

Actually Delicious Turkey Burgers

Ingredients

• 3 pounds ground turkey
• 1/4 cup seasoned bread crumbs
• 1/4 cup finely diced onion
• 2 egg whites, lightly beaten
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
• 1 clove garlic, peeled and minced
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

Directions

1. In a large bowl, mix ground turkey, seasoned bread crumbs, onion, egg whites, parsley, garlic, salt, and pepper. Form into 12 patties.
2. Cook the patties in a medium skillet over medium heat, turning once, to an internal temperature of 180 degrees F (85 degrees C).

Serve with your favorite toppings, I also like to toast the buns with a little butter to make them extra yummy!

Rosemary Ranch Chicken Kabobs

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup olive oil
• 1/2 cup ranch dressing
• 3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tablespoon minced fresh rosemary
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon white vinegar
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper, or to taste
• 1 tablespoon white sugar, or to taste (optional)
• 5 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves – cut into 1 inch cubes

Directions

1. In a medium bowl, stir together the olive oil, ranch dressing, Worcestershire sauce, rosemary, salt, lemon juice, white vinegar, pepper, and sugar. Let stand for 5 minutes. Place chicken in the bowl, and stir to coat with the marinade. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
2. Preheat the grill for medium-high heat. Thread chicken onto skewers and discard marinade.
3. Lightly oil the grill grate. Grill skewers for 8 to 12 minutes, or until the chicken is no longer pink in the center, and the juices run clear.

For side dishes I always do bowls of fruit and chips, but this year I will also be adding the Sweet Restaurant Slaw!

Sweet Restaurant Slaw

Ingredients

• 1 (16 ounce) bag coleslaw mix
• 2 tablespoons diced onion
• 2/3 cup creamy salad dressing (such as Miracle Whip™)
• 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1 tablespoon white vinegar
• 1/4 teaspoon salt  
• 1/2 teaspoon poppy seeds

Directions

1. Combine the coleslaw mix and onion in a large bowl.
2. Whisk together the salad dressing, vegetable oil, sugar, vinegar, salt, and poppy seeds in a medium bowl; blend thoroughly. Pour dressing mixture over coleslaw mix and toss to coat. Chill at least 2 hours before serving.

This recipe is as easy as it gets, but note that it needs time to chill!  This is definitely going to be the first thing I make early in the day.

My favorite part of the meal is absolutely dessert!  I always have too many ideas about what to make and end up making it all, but is too much dessert really a bad thing?  Not in my house!  The first dessert that we are going to make is about as traditional as it gets, Southern Peach Cobbler. 

Southern Peach Cobbler

Ingredients

• 8 fresh peaches – peeled, pitted and sliced into thin wedges
• 1/4 cup white sugar
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
• 2 teaspoons cornstarch
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup white sugar
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, chilled and cut into small pieces
• 1/4 cup boiling water
• Cinnamon Sugar (Mix: 3 tablespoons sugar  and 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
2. In a large bowl, combine peaches, 1/4 cup white sugar, 1/4 cup brown sugar, 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon, nutmeg, lemon juice, and cornstarch. Toss to coat evenly, and pour into a 2 quart baking dish. Bake in preheated oven for 10 minutes.
3. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, combine flour, 1/4 cup white sugar, 1/4 cup brown sugar, baking powder, and salt. Blend in butter with your fingertips, or a pastry blender, until mixture resembles coarse meal. Stir in water until just combined.
4. Remove peaches from oven, and drop spoonfuls of topping over them. Sprinkle entire cobbler with the sugar and cinnamon mixture. Bake until topping is golden, about 30 minutes.

I love serving warm cobbler with ice cream, it gets melt-y and delicious!

Finally I love baking cakes for special occasions.  This year I will be making two; one that is impressive on the outside, and one that is impressive on the inside!

Red, White and Blue Strawberry Shortcake

Ingredients

• 1 (18.25 ounce) package yellow cake mix
• 1 (8 ounce) container frozen whipped topping, thawed
• 1 pint blueberries, rinsed and drained   
• 2 pints fresh strawberries, rinsed and sliced

Directions

1. Prepare cake according to package directions and bake in a 9×13 inch pan. Cool completely.
2. Frost cake with whipped topping. Place blueberries in a square in the corner, and arrange sliced strawberries as stripes to make an American flag. Chill until serving.

This cake could be made using whatever cake recipe or mix is your favorite.  I am thinking about red velvet cake to make it even festive!

American Flag Cake

Ingredients

• 3 (10.25 ounce) packages white cake mix
• 9 egg whites
• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 3 3/4 cups whole milk
• 2 tablespoons clear vanilla extract
• 2 tablespoons red food coloring
• 1 tablespoon blue food coloring
• 1 cup white chocolate chips
• 10 cups fluffy white frosting
• 1 tablespoon white chocolate chips, or as needed
• 2 tablespoons white sugar, or as needed
• 1 4-inch round paper or cardboard stencil

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and line 4 8-inch round cake pans with parchment paper.
2. Combine white cake mix, egg whites, vegetable oil, milk, and vanilla extract in a large mixing bowl. Beat for 30 seconds using an electric mixer on low speed. Increase mixer speed to medium and beat for 2 more minutes. The batter will still be slightly lumpy.
3. To make the red cakes, measure half the batter into a separate bowl and whisk in red food coloring. Evenly transfer the red batter into 2 of the 8-inch prepared cake pans; smooth tops of batter with a spatula. Transfer half of the remaining uncolored batter into a 3rd prepared cake pan; smooth top as before. This will be the white cake portion.
4. Add blue food coloring to the remaining uncolored batter in the large mixing bowl; fold 1 cup white chocolate chips into blue batter until combined. Transfer batter to remaining prepared 8-inch cake pan; smooth top of batter with a spatula.
5. Bake all 4 cakes in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center of each cake comes out clean, about 30 minutes. Remove the cakes from oven and place onto cooling racks until cooled completely.
6. Run a knife around edge of each cooled cake. Invert cakes, remove pans, and peel off parchment paper. Use a sharp knife to trim tops of cakes flat and even.
7. Cut both of the red cake layers and the white cake layer in half horizontally. You will have 4 thin red cake layers and 2 thin white cake layers.
8. Place a 4-inch round stencil on top of 1 thin red cake layer; cut out a 4-inch red cake round. Repeat, placing stencil on 1 thin white cake layer to make 1 4-inch white cake round. Center the 4-inch round stencil on the blue cake; cut out and remove center portion covered by the stencil to make a blue cake ring.
9. To assemble the cake, you will need 2 thin 8-inch red cake layers, 1 thin 8-inch white cake layer, 1 4-inch thin red cake circle, 1 4-inch thin white cake circle, and 1 blue 8-inch cake ring. Reserve the leftover thin red cake layer and other cake pieces for making crumbs for decorating.
10. To assemble cake, place 1 8-inch thin red cake layer on a cake pan and frost the top generously with white frosting. Place the thin 8-inch white cake layer on top of the red one, and frost the top. Place remaining 8-inch thin red cake layer atop the white one. Frost the red layer.
11. Place the blue ring cake on top of the 2nd red cake layer and carefully frost the inside of the blue cake ring. Gently fit the 4-inch white cake layer into the blue cake ring. Frost the top of the 4-inch white center. Place the 4-inch red cake layer on top of the white one. Gently press small cake circles flush with the top of the blue ring.
12. Frost the entire outside of the cake generously with the remaining frosting.
13. Crumble red and blue pieces of leftover cake into 2 separate bowls. Score lines into the top of the cake’s frosting with a kitchen knife to make a flag design on top of the cake. It should have a 2-inch square at the upper left for blue field and white stars, and 7 thick horizontal stripes about 1 inch wide.
14. Fill the square field at the upper left with blue crumbs and press 1 tablespoon white chocolate chips upside-down into the blue crumbs to make ‘stars.’ Fill the bottom stripe and every other stripe with red crumbs to make red stripes. Sprinkle white sugar generously into the white stripes to make them stand out.
15. To serve, cut cake into wedges. The inside of the cake will reveal its layers of red and white stripes and blue field with white chocolate chip stars in every slice.

I am so excited about this cake, I think I am going to make the extra cake pieces in to cake pops for the kids!

Hopefully this will give you some ideas for your own celebration!  Happy 4^th of July!

Recipes courtesy of Allrecipes.com

The post Make it a delicious 4th of July! appeared first on AKAMom Magazine.

A busy lifestyle can make it tough to find the time to make meals you can feel good about feeding to your hungry family. To help ensure loved ones are eating fresh and wholesome meals and getting to spend quality time together, Zoës Kitchen, a fast-casual Mediterranean-inspired restaurant, is servingup fresh and convenient dining solutions. With delicious menu items like Chicken Kabobs and Dinner for Four, busy moms can step out of the kitchen and enjoy some extra time with the family! Families can even create recipes with Zoës Fresh Take Tubs, a simple solution for grab and go goodness you can make together.

The post Give yourself a gift for Mother’s Day with Zoes Kitchen appeared first on AKAMom Magazine.

To tell you the truth, as much as I love crafty things, I am not the most artistic person in the world.  The good news is that I have learned tricks over the years to compensate for my lack of artistic ability and my crowning jewel is my Easter Bunny cake!  This is the easiest cake and the kids love to help decorate it. *The pictures are from the bunny cake that I made with my family made last year.  We are big chocolate fans so we chose to do a chocolate cake with chocolate frosting and sacrifice a little on the looks!  The cake looks more like a traditional Easter Bunny when it is vanilla.

What you will need-

Ingredients:

• One recipe of your favorite cake batter
• Two recipes of your favorite frosting
• 2 bags of shredded coconut
• Green and red food coloring
• Jellybeans
• One piece of licorice

Supplies:

• One 9-inch round cake pan
• Two 4-inch round pans (or oven safe dishes)
• A cupcake tray
• One small piece of cardstock or cardboard (aprox. 8 x 5 inches)
• Flat serving tray or cookie sheet
• Wax paper

Step One Mix up your favorite cake batter and divide it between the 9-inch, the 2 4-inch pans and 3 cupcakes (these 3 only need to be about half full).  Don’t forget to grease the pans, put wax paper in the bottom of the 9-inch pan and cupcake wrappers in the 3 used spaces in the tray.  Bake the cakes according to the recipe but be sure to keep a close eye on them, the various sizes will take different lengths of time.  Use a toothpick to test if they are done!  

Step Two Once the cakes are cooled it’s time to assemble the bunny.  First cover the center of the try with a thin layer of frosting.  Next cut the round cake in half and frost the surface of one of the halves.  Now, form the bunny’s body by lining up the 2 halves next to each other, flat sides down and frosting side on the inside to connect the 2 halves.  Now that the body is assembled, frost the whole thing. 

Step Three Now its time to make the cake actually look like a bunny.  Attach all of the pieces with frosting.  Take one of the 2 small round cakes and cut it in half, these are the back legs.  Place them on either side of the body, flat side down, about an inch from the back edge of the cake.  The other small round cake is the head, prop it on the opposite end as the hind legs.  Next we have the cupcakes.  The first one is going to be the tail.  Position it opposite the head, in between the two hind legs.  The other two cupcakes make the front paws.  These go on either side of the body, about an inch back from the head.  Now the bunny is completely assembled, cover everything in frosting and make it look pretty.

Step Four All bunnies need to be fluffy, so it is time to add the fur.  Gently press the coconut in to the frosting to cover the whole cake until it looks like it looks nice and furry.  Next make some grass by mixing a few drops of green food dye with enough coconut to cover the tray.  Add frosting to the tray until it is all covered, then press the green coconut into the frosting on the tray.

Step Five The details really make this cake come to life.  First cut ears out of the cardstock/cardboard.  They should be about an inch wide at the bottom and 3 inches tall.  Cover them in frosting.  If you are really feeling crafty, dye a little bit of coconut pink (using a tiny bit of red food dye) and use the pink coconut in the middle of the ears.  Next take the licorice and cut 4 thin strips for whiskers and stick them on the face.  Find a pink jellybean for the nose and 2 blue, green or brown ones for the eyes.  Scatter the rest of the jellybeans in the “grass” to look like Easter eggs.

And just like that you have a super simple, adorable Eater Bunny cake that is sure to impress!

The post Easy Easter Bunny Cake appeared first on AKAMom Magazine.

Saint Patrick’s Day is right around the corner, and it’s time to plan an Irish meal for the family. For many Americans the first Irish meal that comes to mind is Corned Beef and Cabbage, but Corned Beef and Cabbage isn’t actually an Irish meal. It was created by Irish families after they immigrated to America. If your family would like to have a more traditional Irish meal this Saint Patrick’s Day, try this recipe for traditional Irish Shepard’s Pie.

Traditional Irish Shepard’s Pie:

• 1 Tbs olive oil
• 1 Tsp black pepper
• 1 lb of ground beef
• 1 large onion, finely diced
• 3-4 large carrots, finely diced
• 1 cup of frozen peas
• 3-4 sprigs fresh thyme, finely chopped
• 2 Tbsp flour
• 1 Tbsp butter
• 1 glass of red wine
• 2 Tbsp tomato paste
• 2 Tbsp Worcestershire Sauce
• 1 cup of stock
• 6 cups of fresh or leftover mashed potatoes
• 1 egg, beaten
• Grated parmesan cheese (optional)

Directions:

1-Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees.

2-Sauté carrots in the olive oil until starting to get tender.

3-Add in the onions and sauté for a minute or two then add the meat.

4-Season with black pepper and thyme.

5-Cook until browned then drain the fat.

6-Add the butter and peas.

7-Sprinkle with flour and stir through.

8-Add tomato paste, wine and Worcestershire Sauce.

9-Let this reduce slightly then add the chicken stock. Allow to reduce down until you have a thick, meaty gravy. Season to your taste.

10-Remove from heat. Grease an oven proof dish (9 x 13) with butter and add the sauce.

11-Spoon or pipe the mashed potatoes over top. Brush with egg and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese if desired.

12-Bake for about 20 minutes or until the potato is nice and browned on top.

13-Serve as is or with some crusty bread to mop up that yummy sauce!

For an after dinner treat, try out one of these recipes for a Shamrock Smoothie or an Irish Apple Tart:

Irish Apple Tart

To make the pastry:

• 3.5 Cups of flour
• 2/3 generous cup of fine sugar
• 1 1/2 scant cups of unsalted butter
• Pinch of salt
• 1 egg
• 2 egg yolks
• 1 Tsp natural vanilla extract

Directions:

Put the flour, sugar and salt in a bowl, cut the butter into pieces and work it into the flour with your fingertips. Now make a well in the middle of the flour-and-butter mixture and add the egg, egg yolks and vanilla extract. Stir with a fork to incorporate the flour evenly until you have to begin using your hand. Using only one hand, bring the dry and wet ingredients together (this might take more time in the winter). On a floured work-surface, knead the dough for a few minutes then roll into 1/4-1/2 inch thickness.

For the apple filling:

• 2 1/2 to 3 cups of thinly sliced apples
• 1/2 cup of sugar
• 2 Tsp of cinnamon
•  a squeeze of one lemon
• 1 Tbsp of grated fresh ginger

Directions:

Mix everything together and let sit for 30 minutes. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Place bottom pastry onto plate. Fill with apples. Place top of pastry case over apple filling. Bake for about one hour. Serve with freshly whipped cream or vanilla ice cream. 

Shamrock Smoothie

Ingredients:

• 1 cup lime sherbet
• 1 cup plain frozen yogurt
• 2 ounces pear juice
• 1 Tsp lime juice
• 1 Tsp sugar
• 1/2 Tsp spearmint extract
• 2 Tbsp grated chocolate
• Mint leaves

Directions:

Combine sherbet, yogurt, pear juice, lime juice, sugar and spearmint extract. Blend until smooth. Pour into glasses, garnish with grated chocolate and mint leaves. Serve. Makes about 2 servings.

Recipes and images retrieved from:

Dewdropdeb, . “Traditional Irish Shepard’s Pie.” Food.com. N.p.. Web. 10 Mar 2013.

McDonnell, Imen. “Irish Recipes and Food from Ireland.” IrishAbroad. N.p.. Web. 10 Mar 2013.

Perry , Beth. A Celebration of Non-alcoholic Irish-themed Drinks. N.d. HubpagesWeb. 10 Mar 2013.

The post Irresistible Irish Dishes appeared first on AKAMom Magazine.

Women are picky about men. We are selective about men, but willing to eat any meat-like substance cooked by a teenager at the local drive-through. It is time for us to start applying the high standards we have for men to food. According to Candice Kumai, “Just like men, food can be held to various standards, and yours should be top notch.” Candice’s new cookbook, Cook Yourself Sexy, will show you how to raise the bar for the food in your life.

Cook yourself Sexy is a surprising new cookbook written by Candice Kumai, who is a former model trained at Le Cordon Blue California Cooking School. This new cookbook teaches women to revolutionize how they look at dieting and promises that with this new way of looking at food, “You don’t lose the taste, but you will lose a dress size.” That was a promise that I had to take her up on. The first recipe that jumped off the pages at me was Candice’s Gone Bananas Chocolate Oatmeal. This breakfast is a deliciously creamy combination of peanut butter, chocolate and healthy oatmeal that my kids cannot get enough of. It is on a regular rotation in my kitchen now.

As Moms, we start out parenting focusing on healthy food during pregnancy, but we quickly move to eating whatever comes from a drive through while taxiing kids from school to lessons and athletics. Cook Yourself Sexy can help Moms get back that skinny jean feeling through delectable healthy eating and living right. Candice’s book focuses on portion size, water, and fresh ingredients. There are no pills, starvation or gimmicks involved, and these are realistic changes that can be applied at home.

To get you started, here is a recipe for Mac and Cheese that is to die for: 

Dreamy Butternut Squash Mac ‘n’ Cheese

Makes 6 servings

443 calories, 5 g fat, 16 g protein, 6 g fiber per serving 

Mac ‘n’ Cheese

2 ½ pounds butternut squash, peeled, halved, and seeded, then quartered and sliced into triangles

6 garlic cloves

1 thyme sprig

2 cups unsweetened almond milk

2 cups chicken stock, or vegetable stock (vegan)

1 pound small elbow macaroni or mini shells

2 tablespoons grated Gruyere

Herbed Breadcrumb Topping

¾ cup panko breadcrumbs

1 tablespoon finely chopped flat-leaf parsley

2 garlic cloves

¼ teaspoon sea salt

To make the Mac ‘n’ Cheese:

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. In a large saucepan, add the butternut squash, garlic cloves, thyme sprig, unsweetened almond milk, and stock. Cook until the butternut squash is fork-tender. Remove the sprig of thyme.

2. Place the squash mixture in a food processor or blender and puree until velvety smooth.

3. Meanwhile, cook the macaroni in salted water until it is al dente (semi firm). Drain and rinse with cool water.

4. Spread out the macaroni in a lightly greased 13-inch x 9-inch pan. Pour the squash puree over the noodles.

To make the breadcrumbs and bake:

1. Combine all the ingredients for the herbed breadcrumb topping.

2. Cover the mac ‘n’ cheese with foil, place in the oven and bake for approximately 45 minutes. Remove from the oven and evenly spread the breadcrumb topping and Gruyere cheese over the top. Transfer to the broiler and broil for 5 to 10 minutes, or until the cheese is brown and bubbly.

This recipe has been excerpted from Cook Yourself Sexy.

The post Cook Yourself Sexy! appeared first on AKAMom Magazine.

Many parents struggle with the never-ending task of wanting their kids to grow up strong and healthy, so we often encourage our children to eat their vegetables. As a daddy to six healthy children – two toddlers and four in their twenties – with one more on the way, I’ve learned a few tricks over the years that are sure to get your kids eating their veggies!

Lead by Example: One of the easiest things you can do when expanding your child’s palate to include vegetables is to lead by example. Eat vegetables often yourself, so your child can see it’s perfectly normal and that they are yummy too. Incorporating healthy servings of veggies into every meal is important, but including them at snack time is also key. Try to get a feel for which vegetables your child likes best and start there – then grow their palate over time.

Make Them Kid Friendly: There are plenty of ways you can make vegetables kid friendly. I suggest giving them a low-fat ranch dip for their snack-time veggies, encouraging them to make toothpick-veggie creations like dinosaurs and robots or making a dish like spinach dip that’s often perceived as tastier than a serving of steamed vegetables.

Start Young: It’s important to feed your child vegetables starting at a young age. There are plenty of blended baby food vegetable options, but don’t stop there. As your child begins to eat solid foods offer them vegetables often. Starting young will help establish the norm of eating healthy, and as your child grows up eating veggies it will become a part of their foundation and lifestyle.

Have a Garden: Creating a garden is a great way to get your child involved in growing and harvesting vegetables. It doesn’t have to be a big garden by any means; you could pick 2 or 3 veggies to grow on a small deck (if it gets consistent sunlight). If you’re lucky enough to have a yard, I highly encourage having a garden. You and your child, together, can water the garden daily and watch it grow. Your child will be excited when you finally get to harvest some of the food you’ve worked so hard to grow.

Encouraging your children to eat vegetables everyday is an important part of a healthy lifestyle. It might be tricky to jump in and create a habit out of it, but trust me – it’s worth it! 

Robert Nickell, aka Daddy Nickell, father of 6, offers his “5 cents” worth of advice to expectant and new parents.  Daddy Nickell is the founder of Daddyscrubs.com, delivery room duds and daddy gear for dads, and the Daddyscrubs.com blog where he covers topics about parenting and the latest baby and kids gear, all from a Dad’s perspective.

The post How to Get Your Kids to Eat Their Vegetables appeared first on AKAMom Magazine.

Have a Patriotic Picnic with these easy recipes!

Festive Fruit

Ingredients:

• Whole strawberries
• White chocolate chips or white melting chocolate
• blue sugar

Directions: Melt white chocolate, dip strawberries 3/4 into melted chocolate and then 1/2 into blue sugar. Set on waxed paper and allow to harden. Enjoy!

Funtastic Fruit & Cheese Tray

Ingredients:

• Cubed white cheddar (1/2 – 1 inch cubes)
• Cubed watermelon (seedless – 1 inch cubes)
• blueberries

Directions: Place blueberries in a small white bowl in the top left side of a square platter or dish. Make a line of watermelon starting at top of platter and then follow with a line of white cheddar in flag pattern. Continue until dish is filled.

Red White & Blue Burgers

Ingredients:

The post AKA Mom’s Fourth of July Food Favorites appeared first on AKAMom Magazine.