The Multifry combines a low-oil fryer and a multi cooker so you can create everything from pizza to french fries. It can also be used to make cakes, meat, fish, and fried vegetables. A removable mixing paddle is included, to help stir mixes, and can be taken out for things like cake or pies. With a double heating element, the Multifry is speedy and holds close to 4 pounds of food. The BPA-free transparent lid made it easy to constantly watch our mozzarella sticks cook before our eyes!

One of out favorite perks of the Multifry is its lack of a mess it made. When we want to deep fry something on the stove, an abundance of oil pops out of our pan while our food cooks. More often than not, it makes an oily mess on our stove and kitchen floor that is tough to clean up. With the Multifry, we didn’t have to use much oil to get the job done. To clean it, all we had to wash was the removable top, and paddle and bowl.

Mozzarella Sticks with the De’Longhi Multifry

Despite not much oil and no cooking spray, the pan was simple to clean out; a huge plus for our busy family. Tonight, for an appetizer, we decided to make breaded mozzarella sticks. Since it was hot outside, we were thankful for the ability to enjoy the taste of something deep-fried, without feeling like our food was drenched and oil, and without an oven or hot stove heating up or house.

If you don’t enjoy trying or creating new recipes, the Multifry comes with a recipe book, filled with 20 basic recipes with step-by-step instructions in English, Spanish, and French. We were also excited to find even more recipes on the De’Longhi website, for endless possibilities. The only negative we found was the size; with two heating elements and two fans, it cooked quickly and evenly, however takes up quite a bit of space. However, it is smaller than a deep fryer, and can do much more, on a lot less oil. Overall, we enjoyed our Multifryer and will definitely be using it in the future!

Mozzarella Sticks Ingredients

• 12 mozzarella sticks
• 1.5 cups Italian bread crumbs
• 3 eggs
• 1/2 cup flour
• Italian dressing

Yield: 24 mozzarella sticks Time: 30 minutes Cut mozzarella sticks in half. Whisk the eggs in a small bowl. Put the Italian bread crumbs in another bowl, and the flour in another bowl. Evenly coat the mozzarella sticks with flour. Dip the mozzarella sticks into the egg mixture, and then into the Italian breadcrumbs. Wait a minute or two and repeat the process, for a thicker coating. Fill oil to the level 3 mark on the De’Longhi Multifry, and stick in the oil in the MultiFry bowl. Turn on the heater for a minute. Turn the Multifry heat level to level 3, medium heat. Stick mozzarella sticks in the Multifry for about 10 minutes. Open the Multifry and flip them. Afterwards, wait another 10 minutes.

Directions

1. Cut mozzarella sticks in half. Whisk the eggs in a small bowl. Put the Italian bread crumbs in another bowl, and the flour in another bowl.

2. Evenly coat the mozzarella sticks with flour.

3. Dip the mozzarella sticks into the egg mixture, and then into the Italian breadcrumbs. Wait a minute or two and repeat the process, for a thicker coating.

4. Fill oil to the level 3 mark on the De’Longhi Multifry, and stick in the oil in the MultiFry bowl, and turn on the heater for a minute. Turn the Multifry heat level to level 3, medium heat.

5. Stick mozzarella sticks in the Multifry for about 10 minutes. Open the Multifry and flip them. Afterwards, wait another 10 minutes.

6. Enjoy!

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of De’Longhi, Kenwood, Braun. The opinions and text are all mine.

The post Easy Mozzarella Sticks with De’Longhi’s Multifry first appeared on True Aim.

With five children and a full time business, our family is constantly on the go. Four out of our five are homeschooled. Three are in high school, and have busy schedules ranging from gymnastic practice, music lessons, and dual enrollment at a local college. Keeping a balanced diet doesn’t have to be complicated or time-consuming, and can be as simple as slipping a Capri Sun Organic juice drink into your bag before heading out the door! 

Capri Sun Organic is a simpler, positive addition to an action-packed day. Capri Sun Organic is offered in four kid-friendly flavors; Fruit Punch, Tropical Punch, Grape, and Apple. We decided to try our favorite flavors, Fruit Punch and Tropical Punch, and instantly fell in love with them. Their flavors are just as delicious as their traditional line, but they have been certified organic by the USDA.

Capri Sun Organic is sweetened with only fruit juice. Each pouch contains one serving of fruit in each pouch. (Each pouch provides 1/2 cup fruit juice, which is one serving of fruit according to the U.S. Dietary Guidelines.) The six-ounce pouches are made with 66% fruit juice, and contains no added sugar. Capri Sun Organic contains no artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives. Each pouch also contains 100% of the daily recommended dose of vitamin C – an extra plus for busy moms that choose wholesome! Capri Sun Organic is available nationwide at retailers such as Walmart and Target, for $4.29 for a package of 10. Each pouch is proportioned at six ounces; one serving.

5 Ways to Eat Healthy

1. Plan your day ahead of time.

Planning ahead is not only frugal and prevents impulse buys, it also allows for healthy eating. I enjoy a daily fruit smoothie, but often make it early in the morning so I can enjoy it in the afternoon. With no mess and no preparation needed, Capri Sun Organic is simple to throw in a lunchbox for a wholesome on the go drink.

2. Plan your snacks ahead of time.

Likewise, if you know a long day is ahead, pack snacks the night before. Throwing healthy snacks in your bag before heading out the door, or the night before, can eliminate impulse trips to the vending machine or fast food line. Capri Sun Organic is not required to be refrigerated, so it can easily be packed the night before.

3. Have wholesome snacks in your cabinet.

Since we eat lunch on the earlier end of the things, often times our toddlers need a quick tide-over until dinner. Convenient snacking doesn’t have to be complicated or processed, and Capri Sun Organic offers a guilt-free and wholesome alternative to traditional fruit, while still providing a serving of fruit.

4. Pack simpler snacks.

Since Capri Sun Organic comes unopened and with a sealed straw, they’re easy to throw in your purse in preparation for a long dance recital or late soccer practice. It is also proportioned for one serving, making this a convenient fit in an exhausting day.

5. Make healthy eating delicious.

Healthy eating often has a negative stigma. Flavorful and delicious organic snacks such as Capri Sun Organic can shed a new light on this; giving kids something they love, while providing parents with a stress-free and wholesome drink.

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

The post 5 Ways to Eat Healthy During a Busy Day first appeared on True Aim.

After giving birth to my 5th child, I really felt like I was dragging. It’s not like your first where you get to take naps whenever the baby sleeps. It isn’t even like the second where you can put them down for a nap. With 5 young kids you are always on the go. I knew I needed to make a change to my eating habits.

I made a resolution that was a lot easier to keep than most that I see people make. Instead of giving up ice cream, I vowed to replace it with 100 Calorie Greek Yogurt from Walmart and eat a salad every weekday. I’ve kept my resolution and feel a lot better for it.

Yogurt Recipes

Yogurt is good on it’s own, but it really satisfies my cravings by adding my own special twist. So instead of ice cream cones, here are 4 different ways I 1-up my Yoplait® Yogurt!

1. Cake Batter – Vanilla or vanilla bean Yoplait® with 1 tablespoon of sprinkles.
2. Cobbler – Peach or Berry Yoplait® with 1 tablespoon granola and a tsp of candied pecans.
3. Cranberry Harvest – Vanilla or Cinnamon Swirl Yoplait® with 1 tablespoon chopped pistachios and 1 tablespoon chopped cranberries.
4. Banana Split – Strawberry Yoplait® with 1-2 tablespoons chopped bananas and 1 tsp mini chocolate chips

These four combinations are full of flavor and taste like a real dessert. My favorite is the Cranberry Harvest because I love the salty crunch of of the pistachios with the sweetness of the cranberries. Click here for more mix-in and yogurt recipe ideas or visit the Yoplait® Pinterest Board.

These are great alternatives to an ice cream party for the kids. They can choose their flavor of yogurt and then help them put in their mix-ins!

Yogurt is also great to use in baking because it keeps everything moist. Here are more yogurt recipes that our family loves.

Pumpkin Donuts with Greek Yogurt

Lemon Blueberry Yogurt Muffins

3 Healthy Yogurt Snacks Kids Can Make

What kind of yogurt recipes do you like to make with Yoplait®?

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of General Mills. The opinions and text are all mine.

The post Healthy Snack Solutions: Yogurt Recipes first appeared on True Aim.

I like to call these better-for-you because you can use healthier ingredients to make them more like breakfast, and less like dessert. It’s just like eating a muffin, but better!

Pumpkin Donut Recipe

To make these pumpkin donuts, instead of buttermilk I use Yoplait Greek 100 Yogurt that I got at Walmart. It makes them puff up nicely.

To mix up the batter, I enlisted my little donut Emma to help Actually she asked to help and how could I say know to such a sweet face!

To make them healthier, in place of refined or brown sugar, I like to use honey or another natural sweetener. Instead of butter, you can substitute apple sauce or apple butter for a more intense flavor. In place of regular flour, try whole wheat pastry flour.

After you make your pumpkin donut batter, you can put it in a gallon ziplock bag and cut the tip off of one end to make it easy to put in the donut tin if you have one. I don’t have one, so I use a mini muffin tin and put about a tablespoon in each mini muffin cup. You can also double the recipe and freeze half of it for later. Just defrost it in the fridge before baking.

You can also try cooking them in a cake ball maker. I’ve tried that too and it works great. Just cook them for 10-12 minutes.

These little babies are versatile! You can also freeze them after they are cooked. To reheat, just warm them from freezing in a 350 degree oven for about 10 minutes.

Healthier Pumpkin Donut Recipe with Greek Yogurt

 

Print

Prep time

10 mins

Cook time

20 mins

Total time

30 mins

 

This pumpkin donut recipe uses greek yogurt to make them light and fluffy, plus reduced sugar and natural ingredients make them more of a breakfast food and less like a dessert.

Author: True Aim

Recipe type: Dessert, breakfast

Cuisine: American

Serves: 2 dozen mini donuts

Ingredients

• 1 tbsp butter, apple sauce, or apple butter
• ½ cup honey or brown sugar
• 1 cup pumpkin puree
• 1 egg white
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1 container Yoplait Greek 100 Yogurt (about ½ cup)
• 1 cup All purpose flour or whole wheat pastry flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• ½ tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and prepare your donut pan or muffin tin with cooking spray.
2. Beat together butter, sugar, pumpkin, egg, vanilla and yogurt until smooth.
3. Add in dry ingredients and mix until incorporated.
4. Put batter in a gallon ziplock bag and cut the tip off to help you fill your donut pan or scoop 1 tbsp of the batter into your mini muffin cups.
5. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
6. Sprinkle with powdered sugar if desired.

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My kids prefer the powdered sugar though! Besides, just a little bit of it goes a long way.

Have you tried to make donuts at home? Share your experience below!

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of General Mills. The opinions and text are all mine.

The post Healthier Pumpkin Donut Recipe with Greek Yogurt first appeared on True Aim.

This is such a simple recipe! It makes great gifts, your house smells like autumn heaven, and most of all every jar you open is better than the last!

Homemade Apple Butter Recipe

First step; make applesauce! Cut up your apples into large slices and boil them on medium-high until tender. You can also use pears and try some pear butter too!

We used a food strainer/sauce maker to grind them up. If you don’t have one, you’ll have to peel and core your apples and use a potato masher or blender.

Next step; bake! Mix in your seasonings and sugar, transfer to a large baking dish and bake your applesauce until it starts to thicken, about 3-4 hrs. You could also try the slow cooker on low with the lid off. This is my favorite part, it smells SO good. They really need to make an apple butter candle scent or something!

If you’ve never canned before, you might be intimidated by the next step, but you could always freeze it instead.

Canning these jars were SO easy! Just make sure you have some new lids and boil the cans until you hear them pop and seal, about 10 minutes.

Edible Gifts: Homemade Apple Butter

 

Print

Prep time

15 mins

Cook time

2 hours

Total time

2 hours 15 mins

 

This Homemade Apple Butter is addicting!

Author: True Aim

Recipe type: Appetiser

Cuisine: American

Serves: 2 quarts

Ingredients

• 8 Cups Applesauce
• 3 Cups Brown Sugar
• ½ Cup Vinegar or Cider
• 1 clove
• 1½ Tbsp Cinnamon

Instructions

1. Combine all ingredients thoroughly and pour into a baking dish or casserole.
2. Bake at 350 degrees for 2-3 hours or until thickened, stirring occasionally.

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Have you ever made apple butter before? I’d love to try some cranberry butter some day! If you have a good recipe, please leave a comment

The post Edible Gifts: Homemade Apple Butter first appeared on True Aim.

Welcome to Mom’s Library

This post is filled with parenting tips, activities for young children, crafts, devotionals, recipes, and more!

Be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss the next Library!

Click here to see all Mom’s Library Posts
 

Fall Snacks

Wild Alaska Berry Muffins – Erica Barker Get a head start on breakfast with these berry muffins!   Easy Grain-Free Egg Bake – Intoxicated on Life Eggs have many nutritional values. Check out this recipe with 18 eggs! Cinnamon Rolls – Do It All Working Mom Start your morning the right way – with these delicious cinnamon rolls!   Snickers Sundae {in a Mason Jar} – My Joy Filled Life  Curl up near a campfire with this simple Snickers Sundae recipe – in a mason jar!   Apple Butter Scones – Study at Home Mama Here is the perfect excuse to have some apple butter!   Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies – One Little Project

Add a fall splash of pumpkin to classic chocolate chip cookies!

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The post Fall Snacks and Mom’s Library #157 first appeared on True Aim.

My kids made a week’s worth of snacks all by themselves! No joke. It was really fun and easy and it just took one day with the help of a little yogurt.

First my daughter made mini Lemon Blueberry Yogurt Muffins. Then, my other kids helped make Yogurt Fruit Popsicles, Frozen Yogurt Sandwiches, and Yogurt Bites.

3 Easy Yogurt Snacks Kids Can Make

First, we started the Frozen Yogurt Sandwiches because it takes a little while for the yogurt to freeze up. We picked 3 different kinds of Yoplait yogurt, now made with 25% less sugar, to put in our sandwiches; strawberry, strawberry cheesecake, and orange cream.

You can add chopped fruit to make these even healthier. I put a little mango in the strawberry because I had a mango I needed to use up.

My daughter helped me keep an eye on the yogurt in the freezer. After 45 minutes, we tested the consistency and stirred it up so it wouldn’t get too hard in spots. Then we checked it every 15 minutes after that, stirring each time.

After about 1 hour and 15 minutes, it became thick, but soft enough to scoop onto our graham crackers. The 3 containers of Yoplait, made 6 large Ice Cream Sandwiches. I cut each into 4 pieces and so they are perfect for snacking!

Yogurt Fruit Popsicles

While the Yoplait yogurt was thickening in the freezer, we made our second snack. We used small paper cups, frozen fruit, 3 different kinds of yogurt, and sticks to make our popsicles.

Emma helped me with this snack and divided about a cup of frozen fruit between 6 small paper cups. Then she scooped the yogurt in and mixed it all up.

The sticks can be used to clean the inside of the cup. After you put the stick in, just tap the cup down on a surface to make sure there is no air on the bottom.

We put those in the freezer and they were ready in about 3 hours. To remove the cups, I just cut a slit in the top and tore off the cup.

Yogurt Bites

This was the easiest snack to make and I did it mostly for my baby, but popping a few of these in my mouth really helps suppress the need for something sweet in the evening before dinner.

I let my son have a little fun with this one. He helped me fill the plastic bag with yogurt and then squeezed it out on a nonstick baking mat. If you don’t have one of those you could use parchment too.

We slipped it in the freezer and then after an hour, they were ready to pop in our mouths for a cool and sweet bite!

Which snack do you think your kids would like the best?

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Yoplait®. The opinions and text are all mine.

The post 3 Easy & Healthy Yogurt Snacks Kids Can Make first appeared on True Aim.

Snacking has reached a whole new level in my house. My little boys can eat more than I can most days, and my girls are emotional wrecks without some sort of nourishment in the afternoon.

It can be hard to keep a variety of healthy snacks on hand for my hungry troop, but with a little planning I’ve got my family covered with these whole wheat lemon blueberry yogurt muffins.

Muffins are a power snack, but most recipes are loaded with sugar. My muffins aren’t. The Yoplait yogurt helps to add sweetness and flavor and now that their original yogurt has 25% less sugar, it is even better!

I shopped for Lemon Burst Yoplait at Walmart for my recipe and since I was doubling up the recipe to make extra snacks for the week, I bought 2 individual containers, plus other flavors for some more snacks throughout the week. I chose the Original variety, but you could also use Light, Greek, or even Gogurt® if that is what you already have in your refrigerator.

My daughter loves helping me in the kitchen and was really excited to make her favorite snack! Really, she asks me EVERYDAY for muffins.

By using a mini muffin tin, I can reduce the amount of muffins my kids eat and freeze some for later.  Plus, the small ones are easier to store and take with me for snacks on the go. However, this recipe works for regular sized muffins too.

I always use frozen blueberries in my muffins because they usually hold together better than the fresh berries. I also fill my muffin cups to the top or even over fill them because these muffins don’t rise very much.

Healthy Whole Wheat Lemon Blueberry Yogurt Muffins

 

Print

Prep time

15 mins

Cook time

10 mins

Total time

25 mins

 

Healthy, low sugar, whole wheat, you'll love these lemony blueberry muffins!

Author: True Aim

Recipe type: Snack

Cuisine: American

Serves: 24 mini muffins

Ingredients

• 4 tbs softened unsalted butter
• ¼ cup honey or brown sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• zest of 1 lemon
• ½ cup apple sauce
• 1 6 oz cup of Yoplait Lemon Yogurt
• juice of ½ a lemon
• 2 cups whole wheat flour
• ½ tsp salt
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 cup frozen blueberries

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and prepare a mini muffin tin or regular muffin tin with muffin liners or non-stick cooking spray.
2. Mix together softened butter and sugar until well combined. Add egg and vanilla extract and mix well.
3. Add the lemon zest, apple sauce, yogurt, and lemon juice and mix until combined.
4. Stir in flour, salt, baking soda and baking powder until just mixed in and then fold in the blueberries.
5. Fill muffin cups all the way, and cook for 8-10 minutes for mini muffins or 14-16 for regular muffins or until a toothpick comes out clean. Makes 24 mini muffins or 12 regular sized muffins.

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If you prefer more lemon flavor, you can always add a little lemon extract to enhance it. Don’t like lemon? Try blueberry, strawberry, or vanilla yogurt instead and just leave out the lemon juice and zest.

Now I have something healthy, exciting and easy to serve my kids at snack time. What kind of healthy snacks do you give your kids?

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Yoplait®. The opinions and text are all mine.

The post Healthy Whole Wheat Lemon Blueberry Yogurt Muffins first appeared on True Aim.

4th of July Snack Plate

To make your snack plate you just combine your favorite red, white, and blue fruit or veggies on a platter. I picked strawberries and blueberries and I also used pineapple cut into triangles to make a star shape in the middle. It might be easier to get a starfruit instead.

For the white in my platter, I used marshmallows. This was a special treat because of the 4th of July celebrations. My kids never eat them otherwise. We’ve also used Jicama before which is an edible root that will soak up flavors from the fruit. I like to put cinnamon on it to give it a little more flavor.

It’s totally up to you what you want to put on your fruit platter. The fun part is arranging it so it’s pretty. My son Colton helped me put all the fruit on the plate.

We talked about how our fruit looked like the colors of the flag and how 4th of July was coming up. He was pretty curious as to what that was. Not sure if he understood, but I did my best to explain it to a 3-year-old.

He sure did like this fruit plate! Gone in seconds, I had to reload it with more yummy fruit! Now I just need to figure out a fun veggie plate that disappears just as fast.

What kind of fruit will you use for your platter?

The post Easy 4th of July Fruit Plate for Kids first appeared on True Aim.

One of our favorite ways to make oats is into granola, but we don’t always have time to sit down and eat a bowl of cereal in the morning. That’s why I love making these easy Granola Bites with Kashi Oats.

Crunchy Peanut Butter Granola Bites

Once you mix them up, you can refrigerate them for a week or freeze them for a month so you always have a quick and healthy snack on the go.

The best part is, there’s only 4 ingredients. And if you’d like, you can add dried fruit or chocolate chips.

The kids love getting their hands dirty helping me make these. Licking fingers is the best part!

Crunchy Peanut Butter Granola Bites

 

Print

Prep time

15 mins

Total time

15 mins

 

A strong peanut butter flavor packed with protein in a little bite, what's more satisfying than that?

Author: True Aim

Recipe type: Snack

Cuisine: American

Serves: 4-6

Ingredients

• 3 cups Kashi Go Lean Crunch Cereal
• ¾ cup natural peanut butter
• ¼ cup honey
• ¼ cup wheat germ or ground flax seed

Instructions

1. Coarsely chop or grind the cereal in a food processor or blender.
2. Mix with all the other ingredients in a large bowl. Add fruit or chocolate chips if wanted.
3. Roll into 1 inch balls and refrigerate on parchment paper for 1-2 hours.
4. Keep in an air tight container for 1 week or freeze for 1 month and defrost in the refrigerator overnight. Makes 20-22 bites.

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1. Choose your store: Albertsons, Acme Markets, Jewel-Osco, Shaw’s or Stars Market

2. Get creative and share your favorite way to make oats and the healthy toppings you like to include.

3. Share it with your friends and invite them to vote for their favorite creation.

Don’t forget to share your creation with our readers in the comments below!

The post Snacks for Kids: Crunchy Peanut Butter Granola Bites first appeared on True Aim.