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Fun & Healthy After School Snacks

By 3 Comments

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, INC. and The Coca-Cola Company, all opinions are mine alone. #AFreshIdeaForAfterSchool #CollectiveBias

We are finally starting to settle into a routine with our new school year here at the Moscato household. A lot changed this year with Midge heading off to Middle School and the Teen heading off to college. One of the biggest adjustments for us has been meal times. With everyone getting home much later we have had to shift everything from snack time to dinner time and even bedtimes to accommodate the new schedule. Our biggest struggle has been Midge getting home from school “starving” only about an hour before dinnertime. I have had to come up with creative after school snacks that satisfy her but do not ruin her appetite so that she will still eat a healthy, wholesome dinner.

Growing up in the South sweet tea is just a staple. No matter what time of day – breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snack time – we drink sweet tea. I keep several of the 64oz bottles of Gold Peak® Tea on hand so anyone in the family can grab a glass. Gold Peak® Tea comes in several varieties, but the Sweet Tea is our favorite. Made with real sugar and no preservatives, Gold Peak Tea tastes like freshly brewed tea without the wait! I have recently started drinking the Gold Peak Green Tea too - it is delicious! And they both have just enough sweetness to pair perfectly with these savory after school snacks!

When it comes to after school snacks I have a few things I insist on. One is that it is a snack that is satisfying but not too filling so that she will be hungry again for dinner just over an hour later. Two it needs to be something I can put together quickly that taste great. And Three - it needs to be fun! I know she is getting older, but with the seriousness and toughness of middle school, I want her to be able to come home and spend a few minutes telling me about her day while... well playing with her food. Snack time is kind of our time to laugh and play and goof off before our evening routine of homework and getting ready for the next day begins and if I can get her laughing when she walks in the door, it just makes everything run more smoothly the rest of the night.

My Go To Snack is Turkey Roll Ups because they are simple and delicious and packed with protein. Plus they make super fun Snack Critters! All you need is large flour tortillas, your favorite herbed cream cheese, and deli meat turkey. Smear your cream cheese on the tortilla and lay out turkey slices. Starting on one side, tightly roll up making sure to keep the turkey from sliding. Then run into the refrigerator to chill for about an hour. Slice with a sharp knife and make into your favorite critters - like carrot snails and butterflies! I actually like to make the roll up first thing in the morning along with her lunch so they are ready to be sliced up the minute she walks in the door from school.

Once you have your easy Turkey Roll Up sliced you can place one on top of a carrot stick to make a super cute snail! Use four slices with a carrot stick to make this adorable butterfly! If you have candy eyes you can use just a dab of your whipped cream cheese to make them stick to give your snacks even more personality! How adorable are these!? And so fast to throw together. You can also use a toothpick or skewer to make a Grape and Tomato "Caterpillar" friend for them too! They are almost too cute to eat!

I also love working avocados into her snacks because they are so good and so good for you! Recently I have had great luck in finding perfectly ripened avocados so we have been eating at least one a day! I surprised Midge with an Avocado Turkey - she loved it! Did you know that you can put an unripe avocado in a paper bag with a banana and it will ripen faster? Neat, right? No more waiting days and days and risking an avocado getting too ripe when you are not ready to use it!

Once your avocado is perfectly ripened simply cut it in half, remove the seed, and gently peel the outside. Voila, the perfect turkey body! A few fresh bell peppers and pretzel sticks for the feet and you are good to go with a super fun after school snack! I even sprinkled a little "everything" seasoning on the avocado for ummm...feathers?! Super easy, super delicious, and so much fun. I think food just tastes better when it looks fun!

Whether you are making a crazy fun after school snack or just need a quick drink, stock up on Gold Peak Tea at your local grocer. And forget what you learned about not playing with your food!! Make these quick and delicious After School Snacks for your kids!

Pressure Cooker Mozzarella Stuffed Meatballs Recipe

By 8 Comments

These Pressure Cooker Meatballs are on the table in minutes - but will taste like they have been cooking all day!

pressure cooker meatballs in front of power pressure cooker xl

I remember when I was a little girl my grandmother had a pressure cooker that she seemed to cook everything in. It was a silver pot with a locking top and a little, weighted knob that would whistle when it steamed.

As a little girl, I remember her warnings to not touch that little knob - that it would explode from the pressure inside. I would be mesmerized watching that little knob rock side to side - just willing me to pull it off and see what would happen.

When I had the opportunity to try the new Power Pressure Cooker XL™ from TriStar Products, I was excited to see if I could cook as good as my grandma could.

This thing has become my new favorite appliance and I have cooked everything from steak tips and rice to chicken tacos and our new favorite - Mozzarella Stuffed Meatballs!

pressure cooker meatballs on spaghetti in a white bowl

The Power Pressure Cooker XL™ is super simple to use, even easier to clean, and makes getting in and out of your kitchen a breeze. With me teaching six POUNDFit classes a week now, I need meals that are quick and easy.

The Power Pressure Cooker XL™ can cook meals up to 70% faster than conventional methods. Plus with the "set it and forget it" programming I can come in from a class, toss everything I need into my Pressure Cooker - and go jump in the shower while it cooks!

You can cook meats, veggies, stews - even desserts! There is even a slow cooker setting - so I have been able to replace my beloved slow cooker with this all-in-one! Yay for having more space in the kitchen!

Power Pressure Cooker XL behind spaghetti and meatballs

The Power Pressure Cooker XL™ is available in 6-quart, ($99.99), 8-quart, ($129.96) and 10-quart, ($159.93) models. I got the 6-quart size and it is plenty big for our family of four to have dinner and leftovers the next day!

However I like the idea of being able to cook a whole bird in it, so I may have to upgrade some day. It is also great for canning and comes with a complete Canning Guide along with Pressure Cooker Cookbook.

The Cookbook made me think of a recipe I did in my slow cooker months ago that my family loved - Mozzarella Stuffed Meatballs. With Mike out of town this week I was pressed for time between classes to get dinner on the table, so I put The Power Pressure Cooker XL™ to the test to see just how quickly this normally all day recipe would take.

I was delighted when about 30 minutes later we were sitting down to eat.

I highly recommend the Power Pressure Cooker XL™ for any kitchen! I have really fallen in love with it and can not wait to make more meals for my family. Next, I want to try making homemade BBQ pork - how nice will it be to have that done in under an hour?!

Pressure Cooker Meatballs

Pressure Cooker Meatballs

These Pressure Cooker Meatballs are on the table in minutes - but will taste like they have been cooking all day!

Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes

Ingredients

  • one pound ground chuck
  • ½ cup Italian Seasoned breadcrumbs
  • ½ cup grated parmesan
  • 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
  • 1 block fresh mozzarella
  • 1 egg
  • one large can Italian style crushed tomatoes

Instructions

  1. Mix together meat, breadcrumbs, parmesan, seasoning, and egg in a large bowl. Using your hands, mash and knead together.
  2. Cut fresh mozzarella in to one inch squares.
  3. Pinch a portion of the meat mixture and gently wrap it around your mozzarella squares - making sure no mozzarella is showing.
  4. Place stuffed meatballs on a cookie sheet and bake at 425* for 10 minutes to sear.
  5. Pour crushed tomatoes into the inner pot of the Power Pressure Cooker XL™. Add the seared meatballs.
  6. Place the lid on the pressure cooker, lock the lid closed, and switch the pressure release valve to closed.
  7. Press the Soup/Stew button and press the Time Adjustment button until you reach 20 minutes.
  8. Serve with your favorite pasta! Voila!

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

  • Powercooker XL 8 QT. Deluxe (Copper)
    Powercooker XL 8 QT. Deluxe (Copper)
  • Progresso Bread Crumbs, Italian Style, 2-pack 40 Ounce Canisters
    Progresso Bread Crumbs, Italian Style, 2-pack 40 Ounce Canisters
  • Tuttorosso 100% Natural Crushed Tomatoes, 28 Ounce (Pack of 6)
    Tuttorosso 100% Natural Crushed Tomatoes, 28 Ounce (Pack of 6)

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

4

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 467Total Fat: 27gSaturated Fat: 11gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 12gCholesterol: 163mgSodium: 640mgCarbohydrates: 15gFiber: 2gSugar: 2gProtein: 40g

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© Moscato Mom
Cuisine: American / Category: Easy Recipes

 

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